Massive Protest by Farmers and Villagers in Melur
Over 10,000 farmers and villagers from Melur and nearby regions staged a large-scale protest on January 7, 2025, against the proposed tungsten mining project in Melur taluk, Madurai district. The demonstrators voiced concerns about environmental destruction and the loss of livelihoods, urging the cancellation of the mining project.
A 25-Km Procession for Justice
The protest began with a 25-km march from Narasingampatti to Tallakulam in Madurai city. Participants included farmers, local villagers, and prominent figures such as Madurai deputy mayor T Nagarajan and farmer leader P R Pandian. The march, involving cars, bikes, tractors, buses, and lorries, followed the Tiruchi-Madurai National Highway. Key landmarks like the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the district court witnessed the massive procession before it reached Tallakulam.
Protesters Defy Police Measures
Despite police efforts to block key junctions and manage the large crowd, protesters removed barricades and continued their march. Reports suggest that some protesters were detained by the police, sparking outrage among the demonstrators. Refusing to disperse, they raised slogans demanding the release of detained individuals and the immediate cancellation of the mining project.
Environmental and Livelihood Concerns
Protesters expressed grave concerns about the environmental impact of the tungsten mining project. “Plenty of damage has been caused to the environment through projects like granite-quarrying. We cannot withstand the destruction to our land anymore,” they stated. S Rethinavelu, president of the Agro Food Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the detrimental effects on agriculture, calling it the sole livelihood source for the region’s people.
Political Blame Game Intensifies
The tungsten mining issue has escalated into a political controversy. BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai accused the ruling DMK of staging a “drama” by feigning opposition to the project. “It did not oppose the project till the auction. As people started raising concerns, it is pretending to oppose it,” Annamalai alleged on social media.
Finance minister Thangam Thennarasu countered these claims, blaming the AIADMK for supporting the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, in Parliament. According to Thennarasu, AIADMK’s Rajya Sabha MP M Thambidurai supported the bill, which allowed the Union government to auction strategic minerals like tungsten, taking away state governments’ rights.
DMK’s Stand Against Tungsten Mining
Responding to a calling attention motion, Thennarasu emphasized that the DMK government opposed tungsten mining “in all forms.” He noted that the state government had introduced a resolution urging the Union government to cancel the auction, which was passed unanimously in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Chief minister MK Stalin also addressed the issue, stating that all 38 DMK MPs opposed the bill in Parliament. Stalin countered AIADMK’s defense, asserting that the party supported the auction bill. “I can submit the proof (of AIADMK’s support to the Bill) to the speaker. We can decide later,” he said.
AIADMK Defends Its Position
AIADMK deputy leader of opposition R B Udhayakumar refuted the DMK’s allegations, clarifying that their support was limited to the auction method and not mining. “Earlier, there was no proper method to auction minerals, and as the bill provided a proper auction method, our party supported it,” he explained.
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