Stalin asks Modi to ease Centre's role in TN's mining affairs

MINE | The Chief Minister says that bypassing public consultation undermines environmental transparency

- HD Bureau

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to annul a memorandum from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change that removes public consultation requirements for certain mining projects.

The directive—Office Memorandum No. IA-Z-11013/136/2025-IA-I, dated 8 September 2025—mandates that mining operations involving nuclear minerals under Part B, and "important and rare minerals" under Part D of the First Schedule to the Mines and Minerals Act must skip local stakeholder consultation.

Under the order, these projects will be assessed solely at the central level, regardless of the area size of the mining lease.