The Union Ministry of Earth Sciences clarified that offshore mining blocks auctioned for private companies have been carved out by excluding Marine Protected Regions.

Background

• November, 2024: The Centre proposed auctioning 13 blocks for construction-grade sand off Kerala, 3 lime mud blocks off Gujarat, 7 polymetallic nodule and crust blocks off Great Nicobar Island.
• Public Protests: Kerala Fishermen and civil society groups warned that offshore mining would destroy marine life, deplete fish stocks, and threaten livelihoods.
  • The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution opposing the auction.

Government Clarification on Environmental Safety

• Exclusion of Marine Protected Areas: The government clarified that 130 marine protected sites and  Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) located across coastal states have been excluded from the zones earmarked for offshore mining activities.
• Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024: Production activities can commence only after approval of a production plan, that ensure mining does not harm fragile marine ecosystems.
• Institutional Mechanism: The government has set up an Offshore Areas Mineral Trust, which includes coastal states as key stakeholders.
  • Resources accruing to the Trust will be used for Research and studies in offshore areas, Environmental administration, Mitigation of adverse ecological impacts caused by mining operations

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Laws and Rules Governing Offshore Mining

• Offshore Areas Mineral (Development & Regulation) Act, 2002: The OAMDR Act, 2002 governs mineral exploration and development within India’s territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and other maritime zones.
  • Key Amendments Introduced in 2023:
    • Allows private sector participation in deep-sea mineral exploration and mining.
    • Introduces a competitive e-auction system for allocating offshore mining leases.
    • Sets a 50-year lease period for mining blocks.

Offshore Areas (Existence of Mineral Resources) Rules, 2024: These rules apply to all offshore minerals except mineral oils and hydrocarbons. They do not override the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 or provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957 relating to atomic minerals.

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