The Centre’s proposal to auction 13 offshore mining blocks triggered protests in Kerala (by fishermen and political parties), raising concerns about marine biodiversity and fish stock depletion.
Mining Blocks & Locations
The Centre proposed auctioning blocks in three specific regions in November 2024:
- Kerala Coast: 13 blocks for Construction-grade Sand.
- Gujarat Coast: 3 blocks for Lime Mud.
- Great Nicobar (Andaman & Nicobar): 7 blocks for Polymetallic Nodules and Crusts
Regulatory Safeguards & Bodies
. Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
- Definition: A clearly defined geographical space recognized and managed to achieve the long-term conservation of nature.
- Legal Framework: In India, MPAs are primarily notified as Sanctuaries or National Parks under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA).
- Status: There are 130 notified MPAs in India (e.g., Gulf of Mannar, Sundarbans).
- Restrictions: High level of protection; extractive activities like mining are generally prohibited or strictly regulated.
Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs)
- What are they? Biologically rich sites identified for conservation prioritization.
- Identified By: Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
- Count: 106 sites have been prioritized.
- Legal Status: Unlike MPAs, “ICMBA” is not a statutory category under the WPA, 1972. However, they serve as a scientific basis for declaring future MPAs or regulating activities under the Environment Protection Act (EPA).
Offshore Areas Mineral Trust (OAMT)
- Establishment: Set up under the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (as amended in 2023).
- Funding: It is a non-lapsable fund.
- Source: An additional levy paid by leaseholders (miners), capped at one-third of the royalty paid.
- Mandate: Funds are utilized for:
- Research and administration of offshore areas.
- Mitigation of adverse ecological impacts.
- Disaster relief in offshore areas.
Polymetallic Nodules
- Appearance: Potato-shaped porous nodules found on the deep sea floor (4,000–6,000m depth).
- Composition: Primarily Manganese and Iron, but crucially contain Nickel, Copper, Cobalt, and Lead.
- Importance: Essential for the Energy Transition (EV batteries, renewables).
- India’s Rights: India has exploration contracts with the International Seabed Authority (ISA) for these nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin.
