The VCK leader was speaking at a demonstration staged against the Union government’s proposed tungsten mining project, at Melur on Friday
The residents of Melur in Madurai district need not worry about the implementation of the tungsten mining project proposed in the region as the Tamil Nadu government’s approval is essential for taking it forward, said Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan.
He was speaking at a demonstration staged against the Union government’s proposed tungsten mining project, at Melur on Friday (January 10, 2025).
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has given an assurance, through the passing of a resolution in the State Assembly, that the project will not be implemented in the region, he added.
Moreover, all other political parties in the State, including the AIADMK and BJP, have shown their support for the people’s protest, he noted. “The issue is seen by the people as their own problem. This shows their interest in protecting the environment,” Mr. Thirumavalavan said.
He further observed that the amendment made to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, was a mistake and went against the rights of the State. “When the mining of minerals like gold and silver is essential for the growth of a nation, it should also be ensured that the public is not affected by such projects,” he added.
While other projects like quarry mining would affect the environment by causing pollution, tungsten mining would release toxic substances, which might be harmful to all living beings, he noted. These toxic substances are learned to cause diseases in people living in nearby areas, he added.
Additionally, the areas proposed for the project — like Arittapatti village — are rich in art and culture, he said. “The inscriptions at Mangulam hills carry the evidence of the Tamil language when it was known as ‘Thamizhi.’ This evidence should be protected to educate the future generations about the classic nature of the language and the civilisation that grew with it,” he said.
Even as the Union government has promised to exempt areas like Arittapatti from the project, it is a well-known fact that the heavy metals that would be removed along with tungsten would disrupt the entire region, he added.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Union government should cancel the project, he said.
Raising slogans against the project, Mr. Thirumavalavan urged the Tamil Nadu government to pass strong laws to prevent not just this project but also other such projects in the future.
Source : The Hindu