The Centre’s decision to exclude three coal mines situated in Tamil Nadu’s protected agricultural zone from its proposed coal blocks auction list has taken on political overtones.
The decision came after Chief Minister MK Stalin wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 April to exclude the three coal/lignite mining blocks located in the state’s Cauvery delta region from the proposed coal block auction by the Centre.
However, Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Saturday, 8 April, thanked the Centre for removing the coal blocks from the auction list at the “request” of the party’s state unit.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who holds the coal and mines portfolio, also tweeted that the decision to exclude Tamil Nadu from the auctioning ambit was taken in the interest of the people of the state after Annamalai had flagged the matter with him.
“@BJP4TamilNadu Pres.@annamalai_k rushed to call upon me in Bengaluru with request to exclude 3 Lignite mines from auctions in 7th tranche. In spirit of cooperative federalism & keeping in mind interest of people of TN, I have directed to exclude them from auction,” Joshi had tweeted.
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Will not allow coal mining: Stalin
Controversy was sparked over the inclusion of the state’s fertile Cauvery delta regions in the coal block auction list, with Chief Minister Stalin asserting in the Assembly that the DMK government would never allow coal mining in the region.
In his letter to Prime Minister Modi, Stalin had pointed out that two blocks that were proposed to be auctioned in the state fell within areas protected under the Tamil Nadu Protected Agriculture Zone Development Act of 2020, and the third block was a fertile paddy growing area.
The chief minister also took umbrage at the fact that the Centre did not consult or seek the concurrence of the state government before floating the tender.
“It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Coal has proceeded unilaterally with no consultation with the states in such a sensitive matter,” he wrote, adding that the issue had the potential of causing “considerable disquiet” in the Cauvery delta region — one of the main food producing areas of the state.
The Coal Ministry had put up 101 blocks across the country for auction. The three in Tamil Nadu were: East of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri.
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Annamalai thanks coal minister
“We thank our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl & Hon Minister Thiru @JoshiPralhad avl for considering our request and removing the coal blocks in TN’s Delta region from the coal auction list,” Annamalai said in a tweet.
PM Modi places importance on farmers’ welfare and stands with them, he added.
He had earlier taken up the matter with Joshi.
We thank our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl & Hon Minister Thiru @JoshiPralhad avl for considering our request and removing the coal blocks in TN’s Delta region from the coal auction list. #Vanakkam_Modi @Murugan_MoS @CTRavi_BJP @VanathiBJP https://t.co/lUtyc4qRzd
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 8, 2023
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