Residents felicitate Union Minister for annulling tungsten mining project

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy addressing residents of A. Vellalapatti in Madurai district on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: MOORTHY G

Union Minister of Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and BJP State President K. Annamalai on Thursday met the residents of A. Vellalapatti in Melur taluk in Madurai district. They were felicitated by the people following the Union government’s decision to annul tungsten mining project in the region.

Addressing the residents, Mr. Kishan Reddy said that the decision to annul the project was taken after the village elders had met him in New Delhi with the demands of the people. This was taken forward. Finally it was decided to drop the project considering the biodiversity and the significance of the region, he said.

He said that the Modi government was committed towards the development of the nation by taking along the people and farmers.

Mr. Annamalai said the Modi government would not implement any project in Tamil Nadu that was against the people. The Union government realised the significance of the region and understood that the protests of the residents were genuine.

He hailed the residents for staging the protests in a dignified manner. The people took out a procession and only spoke about why they were opposing the project and did not speak ill about anyone during the protest, he said.

The project was dropped not because the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had adopted a resolution, but was dropped because of the people whose demands were genuine, he said. He urged the State government to announce the region as a protected zone.

The residents thanked Mr. Reddy and Mr. Annamalai for accepting the demand of the people.