Lok Sabha Question No. 5091 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-02
Subject: Licenses for Offshore Mining
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Prof. Sougata Ray

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5091

ANSWERED ON 02.04.2025

## LICENSES FOR OFFSHORE MINING

5091. PROF. SOUGATA RAY:

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has started the process to grant licenses for production leases and composite licenses for offshore mining among seashore of the country;
- (b) if so, the details of the seashore mineral blocks proposed for offshore mining across the country, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any scientific study on the impacts in the fragile marine eco system and bringing an end to the livelihood of lakhs of fishermen of the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure the livelihood of fishermen of such areas?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):  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 licencecum-production lease, in accordance with the Offshore Areas Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002. These blocks include three blocks of construction sand off Kerala  Coast,  3  blocks  of  Lime  Mud  off  Gujarat Coast  &  7 blocks  of  Polymetallic Nodules and Crust off Great Nicobar Island.

(c) to (e): As per Rule 5(2) of the Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024, prior consultation with stakeholder Ministries/Departments including Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and Department of Fisheries is mandatory before notifying any offshore area for grant of operating right.

In the present case, the Ministry of Mines has consulted the MoEF&CC, Department of  Fisheries  and  other  related  Ministries/Departments  before  notification  of  above blocks for auction and the no objection of all Ministries/Departments was received prior to notification for auction.

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 by excluding these areas.

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.

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 Act provides for establishment of Offshore Areas Mineral Trust as a non-profit autonomous body. Accordingly, the 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  aforesaid  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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