Activists Condemn Centre for Undermining Natural Resources in Tamil Nadu

The Natural Resources Protection Federation of Tamil Nadu has strongly criticized the Union government for allegedly attempting to destroy the state's natural resources. During a press conference in Madurai, environmental activists R.S. Mugilan and Kambur Selvaraj highlighted a 2025 notification issued by the Central government. This notification exempts mining proposals for 30 atomic, critical, and strategic minerals, including tungsten, from the mandatory public consultation process. The activists argued that this move strips states and local communities of their rights, removes necessary restrictions on mining activities, and severely impacts the livelihoods of local people. Furthermore, the federation condemned major regional political parties, specifically the DMK and AIADMK, for failing to address this critical environmental and social issue in their respective election manifestos. The group emphasized that the lack of political attention to these exemptions poses a significant threat to ecological balance and community welfare in Tamil Nadu. The press meet served as a platform to raise awareness about the perceived erosion of democratic safeguards in resource management and to demand accountability from both central and state-level political entities regarding environmental protection policies.