Chennai, Apr 5 (Agency) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin today assuredthe State Assembly that the State government would not permit coal miningin the Cauvery delta region.Replying to a Special Call Attention motion given notice of by membersof various political parties, including DMK MLA T.R.B.Raaja, he said likehow the members were shocked on hearing that the Centre has chosenthree blocks in Tamil Nadu for coal mining auction in the Cauvery deltadistricts, he too was shocked on coming to know of it. He said soon after hearing about it, he wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to exclude the three blocks in Tamil Nadu from auction. He said he also sent copies of the letter to DMK Parliamentary Party leader T.R.Baalu and asked him to hand it over to the concerned Union Ministerand register the State’s opposition to it.
Since the concerned Union Minister was out of station, Mr Baalu could notmeet him in person, he said. However, he spoke to the Minister over phone and the latter assuredthat the Centre would definitely take into account the Chief Minister’sletter and asked him not to be worried. Mr Stalin said he was definitely more determined on the issue and thatthe Tamil Nadu government will not give any permission for coal miningin the Cauvery delta region of the State. ‘I am saying this not only as a Chief Minister but also as person belongingto the delta region (Tiruvarur district) that definitely the government willnot permit coal mining in the delta region”, he said, amid thumping of desksby the members of the Treasury Benches.