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Aritapatti Tungsten Mine: Opposition Leaders Slam DMK’s Hypocrisy

The Commune
Aritapatti Tungsten Mine: Opposition Leaders Slam DMK’s Hypocrisy

Opposition leaders in Tamil Nadu slammed Chief Minister MK Stalin over his letter to PM Modi opposing the Nayakkarpatti tungsten mining project, accusing the DMK of hypocrisy for supporting the project initially but now shifting blame to the Centre after public backlash.

On 29 November 2024, Chief Minister MK Stalin sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling for the revocation of mining rights granted to Hindustan Zinc Limited for the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block. The move was widely seen as a political manoeuvre to shift blame onto the central government. In response, opposition parties in Tamil Nadu united to criticize the DMK’s hypocrisy, pointing out the party’s initial support for the tungsten mining project. They emphasized that the central government had granted permission based on the DMK’s own interest in the matter, condemning the party’s inconsistent stance.

K Annamalai – BJP

Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai, via his X official account, slammed the DMK government’s hypocrisy, stating, “On 18 October 2023, according to a report published in The New Indian Express, a senior official of the Tamil Nadu Mineral Resources Department said that tungsten metal has been discovered in Madurai and that the Tamil Nadu government has sought permission from the Central Government to set up a mine for it.”

“According to a statement released by the Central Government’s Department of Mines yesterday, the specifications given by the Tamil Nadu government before announcing the contract for setting up a mine in the area where tungsten was discovered in Madurai in February 2024 were implemented and that the Tamil Nadu government did not contact the Central Government regarding this contract or to object to setting up a mine for ten months from the date of the contract announcement to 7 November 2024, when the contract was awarded,” he explained.

“It was the DMK government that requested the Central Government to set up a tungsten mine in Madurai. It was the DMK government that gave the specifications for announcing the mining contract. The DMK government, which had been hiding this from the public for the last ten months, is now acting as if they do not know anything about it and is now protesting it,” he blamed.

“In the same Madurai Arittapati area, the Tamil Nadu government’s TAMIN company has obtained a lease for 30 years from 2008 to construct a granite mine on 47.37 hectares of land, and now TAMIN company has returned its lease license, and the DMK government has informed the central government that out of a total land area of ​​20.16 square kilometers in the Arittapati and Meenakshipuram villages of Madurai, 1.93 square kilometers has been declared as a biodiversity heritage site. Chief Minister Stalin is now trying to re-enact the same drama he staged about ten years ago, claiming that he had unknowingly signed a contract to extract methane from the Delta region. The DMK’s drama will no longer be tolerated by the public,” he finally said.

Anbumani Ramadoss – PMK

PMK Chief Anbumani Ramadoss criticized the Tamil Nadu government, questioning, “Why is the Tamil Nadu government playing a double game regarding the Aritapatti tungsten mine issue? People will not be fooled by the drama of pinching the child while rocking the cradle!”

He accused the state government of hypocrisy, pointing out that, “The Central Government has exposed the double game of the Tamil Nadu government in the issue of granting permission to set up a tungsten mine in areas covering an area of 2015 acres, including Aritapatti in Melur taluk of Madurai district. The people of Tamil Nadu will not believe the drama of the Dravidian model government, which is giving all its support to the construction of a tungsten mine on one hand and opposing it on the other, by pinching the child and rocking the cradle.”

“The Central Mines Department has released some details about the project, after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin wrote to the Prime Minister, stating that the construction of a tungsten mine in the Aritapatti area can never be allowed and that the project should be canceled. The Central Government has said, “Some inputs were received from the Tamil Nadu government before the auction of the Aritapatti tungsten mine. The Tamil Nadu government’s TAMIN company has handed over the lease for the granite mine covering an area of 47.37 hectares in the area to facilitate the auction of the tungsten mine. From the start of the auction process last February until the announcement of the results on 07.11.2024, there was no objection to the tungsten mine. There was no request from the Tamil Nadu government to cancel the auction of the tungsten mine,” he said.

“The Central Government has already informed the Tamil Nadu government about the details of the tungsten mine being put up for auction. The Tamil Nadu government did not raise any objection at that time. Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu government had sought the Central Government’s permission last year to set up a tungsten mine in collaboration with private companies. Thus, the Dravidian Model Government, which supported the setting up of a tungsten mine in Aritapatti in every way, is now acting as if it is opposing it after facing strong opposition from the people,” he added.

“Whenever DMK comes to power, it will prioritize its own interests over the interests of the people. There are many examples of the betrayals committed by the Dravidian model government, such as allowing methane gas exploration in Cauvery irrigation districts and approving the expansion of the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi. The DMK government is now committing the same betrayal in the Aritapatti tungsten mine issue. The Central Government should respect the sentiments of the people of Aritapatti and abandon the plan to set up a tungsten mine there. @PMOIndia @CMOTamilnadu,” he finally said.

Edappadi K Palaniswami – AIADMK

Previously, on 29 November 2024, speaking to reporters in Salem, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami claimed, “Now, after facing opposition from the public, the DMK is objecting to the project. Chief Minister MK Stalin is simply playing a political game by sending a letter to the Union Government opposing it.”

He also shared on his official X account, stating, “Newspaper and website reports indicate that the Vidya DMK government had sought permission to set up a tungsten mine in Madurai district in October 2023. Why did the “pen warrior” @mkstalin, who wrote a letter requesting cancellation of the permission, hide the fact that it was his government that had sought permission? The DMK, which has brought the NEET exam and is pretending to oppose it, using the same formula to deceive the people of Melur. The DMK government has made a hidden effort behind the screens to exploit the people by constructing tunnels and taking away their livelihoods. The people will teach them a suitable lesson in due time for this letter-play and drama-based deception that is currently being carried out.”

What Actually Happened?

According to the old report, the DMK government had sought approval from the Centre to move forward with the tungsten mining project, only to face significant local opposition. In response, CM Stalin appears to be playing politics with the issue, rather than pushing ahead with the mining plans.

After identifying significant deposits in the region, the state’s Department of Natural Resources requested permission from the Union Government to mine two key minerals, tungsten and molybdenum. These minerals are crucial for various industrial applications. A senior government official acknowledged the local community’s concerns and assured that the State had sought the Central Government’s approval in light of these socio-economic issues.

The DMK-led Tamil Nadu Government is considering joint ventures to develop these mineral resources. Molybdenum is seen as vital for establishing Tamil Nadu as a hub for hydrogen production, while tungsten has potential uses in energy storage. According to official sources, India’s total molybdenum ore reserves stand at approximately 19.29 million tonnes, with Tamil Nadu holding the largest share—around 9.97 million tonnes. This mineral is highly prized for its use in missile and aircraft components, as well as in the nuclear industry.

Molybdenum is also an essential alloying agent in steel, cast iron, and superalloys, improving strength, corrosion resistance, and wear durability. It is increasingly in demand for use in the automotive industry to produce lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Additionally, the metal is being explored as a potential raw material in the production of hydrogen electrolysers.

Tungsten, a rare and valuable mineral, is found in Madurai district. The Union Government has recognized its strategic importance due to its uses in high-capacity energy storage, particularly in lithium-tungsten oxide batteries. These batteries offer greater stability and energy storage potential, positioning tungsten as a critical resource for future technological advancements.

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