Fishermen protest against offshore mining as Union Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy assures their concerns will be included in the revised production plan.
The Ministry of Mines during Parliament on 23rd July assured that Production Plan and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) of future offshore mining projects would encompass fishermen and local community issues. Thirteen offshore blocks have been put up for auction by the Ministry of Mines, including three for construction sand in Kerala, three for limemud in Gujarat and seven for polymetallic nodules and crusts in Great Nicobar.
According to the response, before notifying offshore mining blocks for auction, the ministry of mining conferred with a number of ministries, including the department of fisheries and the union environment ministry.
Preliminary environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies are one prerequisite for offshore exploration. It has been added that granting a production lease to the Composite License Holder may then be taken into consideration.
According to the ministry of mines, related ministries were consulted but no EIAs were conducted. "Prior communication with relevant Ministries/Departments is required before notifying any offshore area for the issuance of operating rights, in accordance with Rule 5(2) of the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024. Before announcing the blocks for auction, the ministry of mines consulted relevant ministries and departments, such as the department of fisheries and the ministry of environment, forests, and climate change (MoEF&CC). Prior to the announcement of the auction, no objections were received from any of the ministries or departments, Reddy stated.
Auctioned 13 offshore blocks-three for construction sand in Kerala, three in Gujarat for lime mud, and seven targeting polymetallic nodules and crusts in Great Nicobar-after consultations with the Environment Ministry and the Department of Fisheries to assess stakeholder priorities
While Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) were not done before the auctioning, the ministry made clear that those studies would be needed while exploration happened. Only after meeting those environmental hurdles would production leases be given and thus assuring that stakeholder voices shape the project life cycle
Sensitively coastal ecosystems have been safeguarded because they are not classified as either marine protected areas or otherwise important to fisheries; subsequently these have been excluded from the auctioned blocks. The forthcoming production plan will have baseline ecological data and impact studies as well as mitigation strategies that primarily address resource uses by fishing communities
No mining can start without approved production and environment plans as required in the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024, and also by the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024. These regulations ensure transparency and community representation in the decision-making process.
The allotment of 62 offshore blocks, including blocks off the coast of Kerala, for the granting of exploration licenses was previously announced in a notice dated 07.06.2010. According to him, no Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) had been carried out before the notification was given at that time either.
