Published Jul 03, 2026 | 11:36 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 03, 2026 | 11:36 AM
Atomic mineral mining. Representative Image.
Synopsis: The CPI urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately withdraw its recent Government Order (GO) extending land allocation approval for a proposed atomic mineral mining project in Kanniyakumari district. The party said the government order was deeply concerning and argued that it was not merely an administrative extension but a political decision aimed at reviving a project that had already faced strong public opposition.
The CPI on Friday, 3 July, urged the Tamil Nadu government to immediately withdraw its recent Government Order (GO) extending land allocation approval for a proposed atomic mineral mining project in Kanniyakumari district. The party warned that the project could severely damage the environment and livelihoods of thousands of people.
In a statement issued on behalf of the party’s Tamil Nadu State Executive Committee, CPI State Secretary M Veerapandian criticised the state government’s decision to extend by one year the land allotment permission granted to Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) for an atomic mineral mining project spread across 1,144 hectares.
The party said the government order was deeply concerning and argued that it was not merely an administrative extension but a political decision aimed at reviving a project that had already faced strong public opposition.
According to CPI, the extension would allow IREL to move forward by securing environmental clearance and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) approvals, potentially paving the way for the project’s implementation.
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The party warned that the project could seriously threaten Kanniyakumari’s coastal ecology, groundwater resources, agriculture, fishermen’s livelihoods and the future of thousands of residents living in the region.
Criticising the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, CPI said the party had come to power promising to protect Tamil Nadu’s natural resources and environment, but was now moving in a direction completely contrary to those commitments.
The statement urged the state government to respect public sentiment and not fall in line with policies of the BJP-led Union government.
CPI also accused the Union government of weakening environmental protection laws in the name of developing “critical and atomic minerals,” alleging that the Centre was sidelining public consultations, ignoring federal principles and creating pathways for corporate exploitation of natural resources.
Calling the move “development for corporate interests rather than public welfare,” the party demanded that Tamil Nadu immediately revoke the extension order issued to IREL.
It further insisted that public consultations must once again be made mandatory and that comprehensive environmental impact studies should be carried out before any such project moves forward.
The party said the Tamil Nadu government must take a firm stand against what it called environmentally destructive and anti-federal policies of the Union government, while protecting Kanniyakumari’s coastline, groundwater, farmers, fishermen and the rights of future generations.
“Tamil Nadu’s natural resources are public assets. They should not be handed over for the profit of governments or corporations,” the CPI said in its statement.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
