Why Kerala is seeing protests over the Centre’s offshore mining plan

The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002, (OAMDR Act), which deals with the development of mineral resources in the country’s maritime zones, was amended in 2023.

In the past, offshore excavation was under the aegis of central government bodies such as GSI, Indian Bureau of Mining, Atomic Minerals Directorate, etc. But this amendment opened up offshore mining to the private sector. The amended Act unveiled a competitive auction process to encourage private sector participation in the exploration of offshore resources such as polymetallic nodules, lime-mud, and construction sand.

The Centre launched the country’s first tranche of e-auction of 13 offshore blocks in November last year. Of the 13 blocks, three are off the Kerala coast, three off Gujarat, and 7 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The proposed lease is for 50 years.

Blocks off Kollam coast for offshore mining

A study conducted by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) along the Kerala coast has found that the state’s offshore has a huge deposit of construction-grade sand, around 745 million tonnes. At present, mining is under consideration at three blocks off the Kollam coast in southern Kerala. The study has found that these blocks have a deposit of 300 million tonnes of sand. The depth of the sea in that coast is from 48 meters to 62 meters.

Offshore area and Union government rights

As per the OMDR Act, ‘offshore area’ means the territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone and other maritime zones of India. Section two of the Act arms the Centre with the right to control mines and minerals in offshore areas. At the same time, fishing and related developmental activities up to 12 nautical miles in the sea is a State subject, as per the seventh schedule of the Constitution.

The Union mining ministry has told the state that the three blocks off the Kollam coast are beyond 12 nautical miles, and thus are not under the Kerala government.

Concerns of fishermen community

Kerala wants the Centre to drop the mining plan as it will lead to irreparable damage to the fisheries sector, the livelihood for around 11 lakh fishermen spread across 222 fishing villages.

Kollam parappu, which is also known as Quilon Bank, is among the highly productive fishing grounds along the south-west coast of India. Mining in this sector will lead to a decline in marine catch. Sea bottom mining will lead to the clouding of water, which will prevent light penetration, reducing the euphotic zone (where there is enough light for photosynthesis) of the sea.

Also, mining will trigger plumes of sediment, which will travel thousands of square kilometres beyond the mining sites, causing harm to fish and aquatic ecosystems.

Mining could also lead to the release of toxic substances into the sea. Huge vessels deployed for mining will hamper fishing activities and pose a threat to fishermen’s lives and vessels.

Also, the entire royalty from the mining will go to the Centre.

The Union government’s response

On March 16, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha that the offshore mining blocks have been carved after excluding 130 marine protected areas across the coastal states. He said 106 coastal sites have been identified as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) to take care of marine conservation.

The Centre also said the Offshore Areas Mineral Trust was formed with coastal states as members, and the funds accruing to the Trust could be used for mitigation of adverse ecological impacts and to help the affected people.