New Delhi: The Ministry of Mines, headed by G Kishan Reddy, has decided to annul the auction of a Tungsten mineral block in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district on the request of the local community, said a statement on Thursday. “Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Shri G Kishan Reddy met with Ambalakarars (traditional community leaders) from Madurai district of Tamil Nadu at the Minister’s chamber in the Ministry of Mines, New Delhi. The Ambalakarars informed the Union Minister that the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten mineral block includes the Arittapatti Biodiversity Heritage Site and a number of cultural heritage sites,” said the ministry in a statement.
“It may be noted that Ministry of Mines in a press release dated December 24, 2024 had stated that after auction of the block, a number of representations have been received against the said auction on the ground that there is a Biodiversity Heritage Site within the block area,” said the statement.
“During the meeting on January 22, 2025, the Ambalakarars requested the Union Minister to cancel the auction of the Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block. The Union Minister patiently heard the delegation and expressed that the Union Government fully supports the bio diversity heritage protection,” said the Mines Ministry.
“After detailed deliberations, considering the importance of the Biodiversity Heritage Site in the area and the commitment of the Government of India under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership towards protecting traditional rights, it has been decided to annul the auction of Nayakkarpatti Tungsten mineral block,” said the ministry.
The Nayakkarpatti Tungsten block in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, covering an area of over 20.16 sq km was proposed for the auction as Composite Licence (CL) in the month of February 2024 and was notified again for auction as second attempt in June 2024. It was successfully auctioned to Hindustan Zinc Ltd on November 7, 2024.
However, after declaration of the preferred bidder for this block, a number of representations were received against the auction of this block on the ground that there is a biodiversity heritage site within the block area. And now, it has been finally annulled.