Anbumani, leader of BAMAK, has written a letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu requesting assistance in preventing brown coal mining projects that are harming the livelihoods and environment of Tamil Nadu farmers, specifically in the Cauvery irrigated districts including Cuddalore. He states that Dr. Ramadoss has been fighting against environmental damage for 40 years, and that Patali Mahakal Party has held countless protests against NLC. He and the Proletariat People’s Party have held public hearings and farmers’ meetings, lockouts of NLC, and one-day shop closures across Cuddalore district. Anbumani requests that the Tamilnadu government not give permission to new mining projects, and that they stop the acquisition of land for the expansion of existing mines. He also suggests setting up a committee to study the social, environmental, and water resource impacts caused by NLC mines and thermal power plants in Cuddalore district and nearby areas, and submit a report within 3 months. Anbumani emphasizes the importance of protecting every acre of land for the sake of future generations, and urges the government to prioritize food security and the environment.
Chennai: “Rejection of permission to set up new coal mines in Cauvery irrigated districts including Cuddalore, NLC should abandon acquisition of land for expansion of coal mines, NLC should conduct a study on the various impacts caused in Cuddalore district and adjoining areas” to Chief Minister Stalin. BAMAK leader Anbumani has written a letter.
In the letter, “I am writing this letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to request your help to stop brown coal mining projects that are destroying the livelihood and environment of the farmers of Tamil Nadu, especially the Cauvery irrigation districts including Cuddalore. The social, livelihood, Dr. Ramadoss has been fighting against environmental damage for the past 40 years, even before the establishment of the Patali Mahakal Party.
Since the inception of the Patali Mahakal Party, countless protests have been held against the NLC. You know the history of this very well. As the earth cannot bear the damage caused by NLC mines, the central government and NLC are jointly taking steps to set up more mines and expand the existing mines. AMC protested against these actions against people and farmers. is struggling.
NLC plans to acquire a total of 25,000 acres of land for the expansion of NLC Mines 1, 1A, 2 and NLC’s third mine in Cuddalore District; The Ministers and District Collector of Cuddalore district are trying to acquire the land needed for mining expansion by using the government machinery and police department and avoiding repression. Those actions should be abandoned immediately.
In Cuddalore district, the Patali People’s Party along with the general public have been holding a series of protests demanding that the Tamil Nadu government should not give permission to the following projects to be implemented in the Cauvery irrigated districts including Cuddalore: Coal mining project east of Chetiyathope, Veeranam Coal Mining Project, Palayamkottai Coal Mining Project, Michaelpatti Coal Mining Project, Vadaseri Coal Mining Project. is conducting
The Proletariat People’s Party held public hearings and farmers’ meetings, lockout of NLC, one-day shop closures across Cuddalore district, resolutions in Gram Sabha meetings, consultation meetings with all farmers’ organizations, traders’ organizations, charities and other organizations. Subsequently, the Parliament brought a resolution drawing attention to this and insisted that these projects should be stopped.
Responding to it in the Legislative Assembly, Industries Minister Thangam Thannarasu said that no such projects will come to Tamil Nadu. But the minister’s comments were not true, Bamaka released evidence on the new plans. I also issued a detailed statement in this regard on April 4. The next day, he interrupted the detailed debate in the Legislative Assembly and said, “I also belong to the Delta district. You have promised that our Tamil Nadu government will not, will not, will not give permission for any new coal projects in the Cauvery Delta districts. Your stand on coal mines I welcome you on behalf of the BJP.
At the same time, the position and policy of the Tamil Nadu government should be that no permission should be given to any new coal projects not only in the Cauvery irrigation districts, but in the whole of Tamil Nadu, especially in the Cuddalore district. There are thousands of reasons and justifications for it. Not only in Tamil Nadu, but in the entire world, the demand for coal has ended. The world is transitioning from coal-fired power generation to solar and wind power generation.
The Government of Tamil Nadu under their leadership has made a policy declaration that by 2020 we will reach the level of 50% of the total electricity demand of Tamil Nadu through non-renewable energy. Apart from that, 15,000 MW hydropower projects will be completed by 2030, it has been announced in the financial statement for the year 2023-24. The Tamil Nadu government has announced that 20,000 MW of solar power projects will be implemented by 2030.
You yourself have announced that Tamil Nadu will be transformed into an organically balanced state by 2040. To reach that level, we must start gradually reducing the use of coal from now on. But totally against this, NLC is trying to increase the use of coal; It is a painful fact that Cuddalore district administration is also supporting the work of NLC including expansion of mines and construction of new mines. This is the opposite of what you stated.
The total electricity demand of Tamil Nadu today is only 18,000 MW. However, Tamil Nadu’s total installed power generation capacity is 35,000 MW. Therefore, Tamil Nadu has reached the status of being an electricity surplus state. In such a situation, it cannot be justified in any way to take away lakhs of acres of land from the farmers for the 800 MW electricity provided by NLC by destroying the nature and polluting the environment.
The NLC company, which has been operating in Cuddalore district for the last 66 years, is destroying all the resources and interests of that district. Ground water level has gone below thousand feet in Cuddalore district; The environment is severely affected; Agriculture and people have been severely affected by toxic gases released from mines and flying coal ash.
About 30 lakh people in Cuddalore district have been affected in one way or another by NLC mines. This cannot be denied. In such an environment, they should assure the Legislative Assembly that they will not allow new coal mines in any part of Tamil Nadu including Cuddalore district.
Currently in Cuddalore, Ariyalur and Thanjavur Districts, 1. NLC Third Coal Mine Project, 2. Coal Mine Project East of Setiyath Grove, 3. Veeranam Coal Mine Project, 4. Palayamkottai Coal Mine Project, 5. Michaelpatti Coal Mine Project. Project, 6. Vadaseri Coal Mining Project 6 new coal mining projects are to be implemented. Apart from Veeranam and Palayamkota coal projects, official announcements have also been made regarding the remaining 4 projects.
The central government has issued a tender notice for the Chethiyathoppu, Michaelpatti and Vadaseri mining projects. The board of directors of the institution has approved the implementation of Neyveli third coal mining project. One and a half lakh acres of land will have to be acquired to implement these projects. Of these, 1.40 lakh acres of land is within the Cauvery Protected Agricultural Zone. The remaining 10,000 acres of land is located in the Cauvery catchment area adjacent to the Protected Agricultural Zone.
All of them are Muppogam paddy growing lands. Out of the total 6 new coal mining projects, 4 projects will be located entirely in Cuddalore district. In Cuddalore district, which is already severely affected by NLC coal mines, if these new mining projects are implemented, no one can stop the district itself from turning into a desert. In view of this, the public expects that the Tamilnadu Legislative Assembly will give an assurance that the Tamilnadu government will not give permission to all the 6 new coal mining projects.
Brown coal which pollutes the environment is electricity… If it is food security, the Tamil Nadu government should definitely give priority to food security. The adverse effects of climate change are beginning to be felt in Tamil Nadu as well. There is a danger of food scarcity in Tamil Nadu in the next ten years. With that in mind, every acre of land should be protected. That is the greatest service we can do to our future generations. Considering these, I request you to publish the following three announcements in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly immediately.
1. Government of Tamil Nadu will not give permission to all 6 coal projects namely NLC Third Coal Mining Project, Coal Mining Project East of Settiathop, Veeranam Coal Mining Project, Palayamkottai Coal Mining Project, Michaelpatti Coal Mining Project, Vadaseri Coal Mining Project.
2. The work of acquiring and providing lands belonging to farmers through the Cuddalore District Administration for the expansion of NLC 1, 1A, 2 coal mines will be stopped.
3. The Government of Tamil Nadu will set up a committee consisting of IIT Chennai experts to study the social, environmental and water resource impacts caused by NLC mines and thermal power plants in Cuddalore district and adjoining districts and submit a report within 3 months.
I request you to publish these announcements in the current assembly meeting. I hope that through that you will establish yourself as an agricultural protector,” Anbumani Ramadoss said in the letter.