Lok Sabha Question No. 1707 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-10
Subject: Offshore Deep-sea Mining in Kerala
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Dr. Shashi Tharoor

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1707

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 10 th  DECEMBER, 2025

## OFFSHORE DEEP-SEA MINING IN KERALA

## 1707. DR. SHASHI THAROOR:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that  persistent  protests in  Kerala  against the Centre's  plan to  auction offshore deep-sea mining blocks and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the mining proposals had environmental and social impact assessments and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of safeguards being mandated to protect the livelihoods of fishing communities, marine biodiversity and coastal ecosystems in Kerala; and
- (d) the details of the steps taken by the Government to suspend further auctions in ecologically sensitive coastal States pending a transparent, participatory review of the proposed offshore mining policy?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. JITENDRA SINGH)

- (a)  to (d) The  Central  Government  has  launched  the  first  tranche  of  auction  of  13  offshore blocks on 28.11.2024 for the grant of a composite licence, i.e. exploration licencecum-production lease. This includes three offshore blocks of construction sand off the coast of Kerala beyond the territorial waters.

As  per  Rule  5(2)  of  the  Offshore  Areas  Operating  Right  Rules,  2024,  prior consultation  with  stakeholder  Ministries/Departments,  including  the  Ministry  of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC), the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is mandatory before notifying any offshore area for  the  grant  of  operating  rights.  In  the  present  case,  the  Ministry  of  Mines  has consulted with the MoEF & CC, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Earth Sciences and other related Ministries/Departments before notification of blocks for auction and no objection from all Ministries/Departments was received prior to notification for auction.

Further, Rule 10(5) and Rule 18(3) of the Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024, mandate that the Successful/Preferred Bidder obtain all  consents,  approvals, permits, and no-objections required under applicable laws before commencement of production  or  exploration  operations,  including  those  relating  to  environmental protection.

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  prioritised  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.

Furthermore, 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  an environmental management plan indicating baseline information, impact assessment and mitigation measures.

Additionally,  Section  16A  of  the  Offshore  Areas  Mineral  (Development  and Regulation) Act, 2002 provides for the establishment of the 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 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.

Through these provisions, the Government has ensured that adequate safeguards are in place to protect the livelihoods of fishing communities, marine biodiversity, and coastal ecosystems, while maintaining a transparent and participatory framework for offshore mining policy.

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