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

Rahul Gandhi

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking cancellation of tenders allowing offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

In a letter to PM Modi, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha urged the government to cancel the tenders and called for rigorous scientific studies to assess the environmental and socio-economic impact of offshore mining.

"I write to you to strongly condemn the central government's decision to permit offshore mining along the coast of Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands," he stated in his letter to the Prime Minister.

The Congress leader said the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, was met with strong objections. Opening up offshore mining blocks to private players without a rigorous assessment of its impact was concerning, he said, noting that studies point to its adverse effects, including threats to marine life, damage to coral reefs, and the depletion of fish stocks.

Against this backdrop, when the Ministry of Mines invited tenders for granting licences for 13 offshore blocks, protests erupted against the move.

Gandhi said that amongst the 13 blocks, three are designated for mining construction sand off the coast of Kollam, a vital fish breeding habitat, and three for polymetallic nodules off the coast of the Great Nicobar Islands, a marine biodiversity hotspot.

"Any damage due to offshore mining could potentially cause irreparable harm. At a time when the 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," he asserted.