Tue Jun 24 14:23:07 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text and a rewritten news article based on it:
**Summary:**
Environmental activists in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, are petitioning the District Collector to protect the Palani Hills from potential molybdenite mining. They fear the Union government may initiate mining operations due to a Geological Survey of India report (allegedly hidden from public view until 2019) indicating a large deposit of the mineral. The activists emphasize the ecological and cultural significance of the Palani Hills (rich biodiversity, Murugan temple) and worry about the impact on local communities. They are urging the Tamil Nadu government to proactively pass a resolution preventing any mining permits from being granted, citing a similar situation with tungsten mining near Melur.
**News Article:**
**Palani Hills Face Mining Threat: Activists Demand Protection**
**DINDIGUL, June 24, 2025** – Environmental activists are raising alarms over the potential for molybdenite mining in the Palani Hills, submitting a formal petition to District Collector S. Saravanan today demanding protective measures.
The activists claim that the Geological Survey of India (GSI) has identified a significant deposit of molybdenite, a valuable industrial mineral, across approximately 100,000 acres of the Palani Hills region. Mugilan, a prominent environmental activist, alleges that the GSI’s findings, detailed in a report available since 2019, were not widely publicized.
“We fear the Union government may issue an order for mining operations at any time,” said Mugilan. “This would devastate the fragile ecosystem of the Palani Hills.”
The Palani Hills are not only home to one of the six most important Murugan temples in Tamil Nadu but also boast a rich biodiversity, harboring numerous plant and animal species. Activists warn that mining activities would disrupt the delicate ecological balance and negatively impact the livelihoods of communities dependent on the hills.
Drawing parallels to a recent tungsten mining initiative near Melur in Madurai, where local communities were largely unaware of the plans until the Union government issued orders, the activists are urging proactive action. They are specifically calling on the Tamil Nadu government to pass a resolution in the upcoming Assembly session to deny any future mining permits for the Palani Hills.
“We need the Tamil Nadu government to act now,” Mugilan emphasized. “Prevention is far better than trying to reverse the environmental damage caused by mining.”
The District Collector’s office has acknowledged receipt of the petition and stated it will be reviewed. The case highlights the ongoing tension between economic development and environmental preservation in the region.
First Piper 