Rahul Gandhi writes letter to PM Modi to cancel offshore mining tenders, cites threat to marine life

NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged the Centre to cancel the tenders issued for

offshore mining

along the coasts of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar, citing a threat to

marine life

.
Condemning the central government's decision to permit offshore mining, Rahul Gandhi pointed out that coastal residents have been opposing the tender process, which proceeded without proper environmental evaluation.
"I write to you to strongly condemn the central government's decision to permit offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and Andaman & Nicobar. Our

coastal communities

have been protesting against the manner in which tenders for offshore mining have been floated without evaluating its

environmental impact

. Millions of fisherfolk have expressed grave concerns its impact on their livelihood and way of life," Rahul Gandhi said in a letter.

He highlighted that the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 faced significant opposition and emphasised the concerning nature of allocating offshore mining blocks without thorough impact studies, citing potential threats to marine ecosystems, coral reefs, and fish populations.
"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.
"In this backdrop, when the Ministry of Mines invited tenders for grant of license for 13 offshore blocks, protests erupted against this arbitrary move. Among the 13 blocks are three blocks for mining construction sand in the coast of Kollam - a vital fish breeding habitat, and three blocks for polymetallic nodules off the coast of the Great Nicobar islands- a marine biodiversity hotspot," the Congress leader said.
"Tenders were floated without any consultation with the stakeholders or an assessment of the long term socio-economic impact on coastal communities," he added.
Rahul Gandhi claimed that the ongoing survey of the Marine Monitoring Lab (MML) of the University of Kerala's Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries found that offshore mining could have a devastating impact on fish breeding, especially in Kollam.
With over 11 lakh people in Kerala dependent on traditional fishing practices, their livelihood remains at stake, according to the leader of opposition. Great Nicobar's globally recognised diverse ecosystems and endemic wildlife species face potential threats.
"In this backdrop, I strongly urge the government to cancel the tenders issued for the offshore mining blocks. Furthermore, the rigorous scientific studies must be undertaken to assess the environmental, as well as socio-economic impact of offshore mining. 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," Gandhi added.