Tamil Nadu CM urges exclusion of Cauvery Delta from coal mine auction

06 Apr 2023 CW Team

On March 29, the nominated authority under the Ministry of Coal invited the 17th/7th tranche of auction for coal and lignite under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2005, and the Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Three of the 101 blocks up for auction across the country are in Tamil Nadu.

"Neither the concurrence of the Government of Tamil Nadu nor consultation with the State Government was obtained prior to the tender's flotation." "It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, has proceeded unilaterally in such a sensitive matter without consulting the states," Stalin wrote in his letter.

"Given the fact that valuable agricultural lands are involved and Tamil Nadu's food security is at stake, it would be appropriate if the three mining blocks in Tamil Nadu - Vadaseri, Michaelpatti, and East of Sethiathoppe - proposed for auction in the 7th/17th Tranche of Auction, are excluded from the auction process by the issue of a necessary corrigendum," he added.

Michaelpatti is located in the Ariyalur district's Udayarpalayam Taluk, east of Sethiathope in the Cuddalore district's Bhuvanagiri Taluk, and Vadaseri in the Thanjavur district's Orathanadu Taluk. The Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act of Tamil Nadu, 2020 includes Vadaseri and East of Sethiathope, while the Michaelpatti Block is in a major paddy growing area adjacent to a very fertile part of the Cauvery Delta.

He stated that Section 4(1) of the Act states that "no one shall undertake any new project or new activity specified in the Second Schedule in the protected agricultural zone." The Second Schedule prohibits "exploration, drilling, and extraction of oil and natural gas, including coal-bed methane, shale gas, and other similar hydrocarbons."

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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting that three coal blocks in Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Delta area be excluded from the Centre government's recent coal bidding process. The affected coal blocks are located east of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti, and Vadaseri. On March 29, the nominated authority under the Ministry of Coal invited the 17th/7th tranche of auction for coal and lignite under the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Act, 2005, and the Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Three of the 101 blocks up for auction across the country are in Tamil Nadu. Neither the concurrence of the Government of Tamil Nadu nor consultation with the State Government was obtained prior to the tender's flotation. It is unfortunate that the Ministry of Coal, Government of India, has proceeded unilaterally in such a sensitive matter without consulting the states, Stalin wrote in his letter. Given the fact that valuable agricultural lands are involved and Tamil Nadu's food security is at stake, it would be appropriate if the three mining blocks in Tamil Nadu - Vadaseri, Michaelpatti, and East of Sethiathoppe - proposed for auction in the 7th/17th Tranche of Auction, are excluded from the auction process by the issue of a necessary corrigendum, he added. Michaelpatti is located in the Ariyalur district's Udayarpalayam Taluk, east of Sethiathope in the Cuddalore district's Bhuvanagiri Taluk, and Vadaseri in the Thanjavur district's Orathanadu Taluk. The Protected Agricultural Zone Development Act of Tamil Nadu, 2020 includes Vadaseri and East of Sethiathope, while the Michaelpatti Block is in a major paddy growing area adjacent to a very fertile part of the Cauvery Delta. He stated that Section 4(1) of the Act states that no one shall undertake any new project or new activity specified in the Second Schedule in the protected agricultural zone. The Second Schedule prohibits exploration, drilling, and extraction of oil and natural gas, including coal-bed methane, shale gas, and other similar hydrocarbons. Also Read Berger’s contribution for longer durability of Indian Railway coaches Ministry of Mines announces record number of mineral blocks auctions

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