Lok Sabha Question No. 2133 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-12
Subject: Offshore Sand Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Adv Dean Kuriakose

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2133

ANSWERED ON 12.03.2025

## OFFSHORE SAND MINING

## 2133. ADV DEAN KURIAKOSE:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has called for tenders to conduct offshore sand mining in the country in co-operation with the private sector;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and especially the places in Kerala where the tender has been called for;
- (c) whether any proper scientific assessments have been made to the degradation to the marine ecosystem in the light of the sand mining that will be undertaken; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF COAL AND MINES (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

- (a):  The  Central  Government has launched the first tranche of auction of 13 offshore blocks  on  28.11.2024  for  grant  of  composite  licence  i.e.  exploration  licence-cumproduction lease. An Indian national, or a company as defined in clause (20) of section 2 of the Companies Act, 2013 which fulfill the eligibility conditions can participate in the auction of these mineral blocks.
- (b): As per the Coastal Regulatory Zone, 2019 the mining of sand, rocks and other substrata materials is prohibited within the Coastal Regulatory Zone which extends up to twelve nautical miles on the seaward side. The offshore blocks notified for auction are beyond the territorial waters off the coast of Kerala. The details of these blocks are as under:

|   S.N. | Block Name        | Offshore Region   | Coast/ Sea              |   Area (in sq. km) | Commodity         |
|--------|-------------------|-------------------|-------------------------|--------------------|-------------------|
|      1 | Kollam CS Block-1 | Off Kerala        | West Coast, Arabian Sea |                 79 | Construction Sand |

|   2. | Kollam CS Block-2   | Off Kerala   | West Coast, Arabian Sea   |   78.00 | Construction Sand   |
|------|---------------------|--------------|---------------------------|---------|---------------------|
|    3 | Kollam CS Block-3   | Off Kerala   | West Coast, Arabian Sea   |      85 | Construction Sand   |

(c)  &  (d):  In  order  to  conserve  marine  species,  MoEF&CC  has  notified  130  Marine Protected Areas across the Coastal States and Islands and 106 coastal and marine sites have been identified and prioritized as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) to take care of marine species conservation. The offshore blocks have been carved out by excluding these areas.

There  are  adequate  provisions  in  the  Offshore  Areas  Mineral  (Development  and Regulation) Act, 2002 and the rules made thereunder to safeguard ecological balance, bio-diversity and protecting the interest of fishermen.

As  per  the  provisions  of  the  Offshore  Areas  Mineral  (Auction)  Rules,  2024,  before execution of an operating right, the bidders are required to obtain all consents, approvals, permits,  no-objections  and  the  like  as  may  be  required  under  applicable  laws  for commencement of production operations. Further, as per the provisions of the Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024, no production operations shall be undertaken except in accordance with a production plan. The production plan inter-alia includes environment management plan indicating baseline information, impact assessment and mitigation measures.

Further, Section 16A of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002  provides  for  establishment  of  Offshore  Areas  Mineral  Trust  as  a  non-profit autonomous body. Accordingly, the of Offshore Areas Mineral Trust has been established vide S.O. 3246(E) dated 09.08.2024. The coastal States have been made members of the Governing Body and Executive Committee of the Trust.

The  funds  accruing  to  the  Trust  shall inter-alia be  used  for  research,  administration, studies  and  related  expenditure  with  respect  to  offshore  areas  and  mitigation  of  any adverse impact that may be caused to the ecology in the offshore area, due to operations undertaken, providing relief upon the occurrence of any disaster in the offshore area and for the interest and benefit of persons affected by exploration or production operations undertaken.

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