Chennai: Amid opposition from various political parties, including the ruling DMK, the Centre on Saturday excluded three coal lignite mines located in the Cauvery delta region and Protected Agricultural Zone in the State from the 7th tranche auction.
The Centre’s decision was welcomed by various political parties in the State, including the DMK, AIADMK, BJP and PMK .
Union Parliamentary Affairs, Coals and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi in a tweet said “in spirit of cooperative federalism & keeping in mind interest of people of TN, I have directed to exclude them from auction.”
“@BJP TN Pres. Annamalai_K rushed to call upon me in Bengaluru with reqeust 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”, the Miniser said.
The coal blocks were located in East of Sethiathope, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri.
Leaders of various political parties hailed the Centre’s decision. Welcoming it, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister Thangam Thennarasu told reporters that because of the pressure exerted by Chief Minister M.K.Stalin the Centre has excluded the three blocks from the auction.
He said the Chief Minister, after coming to know of it, immediately wrote a letter to the Prime Minister and also asked DMK Parliamentary Party leader T.R.Baalu to hand over a copy of his letter to Mr Pralhad Joshi, register the State’s opposition and urged him to exclude the three blocks in TN from auction.
The Chief Minister also assured in the State Assembly no permission will be granted for coal mining blocks in the Cauvery delta region and that the farmer’s interest will be protected, he said.
“Because of the steps taken by the Chief Minister, the Centre has excluded the three blocks from the State from auctioneering”, he added.
