Rahul Gandhi writes to PM Modi, urges Centre to cancel offshore mining blocks tenders

“But most importantly, all stakeholders, especially our fisherfolk must be consulted before any major decision is taken. Their lives are intertwined with the fate of our oceans. Let us work collectively towards building a sustainable future for all,” the Congress leader has written in the letter.

Gandhi has added that the coastal communities have been protesting against how tenders for offshore mining have been floated without evaluating their environmental impact, and millions of fisherfolk have expressed grave concerns about its impact on their livelihood and way of life.

Adding that The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, was met with strong objections, Gandhi said opening up offshore mining blocks to private players without any rigorous assessment of its impact was concerning. He also said studies point to its adverse impacts, including threats to marine life, damage to coral reefs, and the depletion of fish stock.

“It’s this backdrop, when the Ministry of Mines invited tenders for grant of license for 13 offshore blocks, protests erupted against the arbitrary move. Among the 13 blocks are three blocks for mining construction sand in the coast of Kollan, a vital fish breeding habitat, and three blocks for polymetallic nodules off the coast of the Great Nicobar islands, a marine biodiversity hotspot,” Gandhi wrote in the letter.

Gandhi pointed out that tenders were floated without any consultation with the stakeholders or an assessment of the long-term socio-economic impact on coastal communities.

Gandhi has highlighted that the ongoing survey of the Marine Monitoring Lab (MML) of the University of Kerala’s Department of Aquatic Biology & Fisheries found that offshore mining could have a devastating impact on fish breeding, especially in Kollam. Gandhi added that more than 11 lakh people rely on fishing in Kerala, and Great Nicobar is globally recognised for harbouring diverse ecosystems and is home to several endemic species of wildlife.

“Any damage due to offshore mining could potentially do irreparable damage. At a juncture where erosion of our coastal ecosystems has worsened the impact of natural calamities like cyclones, it is concerning that the government is wilfully greenlighting activities without a scientific assessment,” Gandhi has written in the letter.