New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for the cancellation of tenders permitting offshore mining along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In his letter dated March 25, Gandhi expressed concerns over the environmental and socio-economic impact of offshore mining. He said that opening up mining blocks to private players without conducting a thorough assessment could harm marine life and affect coastal communities.
Gandhi highlighted that millions of fisherfolk depend on marine resources for their livelihood and have been protesting against the tenders issued without environmental evaluations or stakeholder consultations. He warned that offshore mining could irreversibly damage marine ecosystems and disrupt traditional livelihoods.
“I wrote to PM Modi to condemn the permission granted for offshore mining in Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands without consulting local stakeholders or conducting environmental studies.
Offshore mining will impact the livelihoods of millions of fisherfolk and irreversibly damage our diverse marine life. The government must immediately revoke this decision,” Gandhi said on his WhatsApp channel, the Hindu reported.
He pointed out that the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 had faced strong opposition. Gandhi also referred to studies which indicate that offshore mining can threaten marine life, damage coral reefs and deplete fish stocks. He said that the Union mines ministry’s move to invite tenders for 13 offshore blocks was also met with protests.
Among these blocks, three are designated for mining construction sand off the coast of Kollam, an important fish breeding habitat, while another three target polymetallic nodules off the Great Nicobar Islands, a recognised marine biodiversity hotspot, Gandhi said.
He cited findings from the Marine Monitoring Lab (MML) at the University of Kerala’s Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, which indicate that offshore mining could severely impact fish breeding, particularly in Kollam. He noted that over 11 lakh people in the state rely on fishing as their primary occupation.
Talking about the Great Nicobar, Gandhi said that the region is home to several endemic wildlife species and that offshore mining could cause irreversible damage to its ecosystems.
“In this backdrop, I strongly urge the government to cancel the tenders issued for the offshore mining blocks,” Gandhi said.
