Offshore Mining Blocks Outside Protected Areas, Says Centre

Scientists flag lack of clarity, call for comprehensive study before commencing mining ops

- MANOJ VISWANATHAN @ Kochi

Amid concerns from fishermen and scientists over allowing sand mining off the Kerala coast, the Union government has said that the offshore blocks have been carved out by excluding Marine Protected Areas and that there are adequate provisions in the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act to safeguard ecological balance, bio-diversity, and the interest of fishermen.

Answering questions raised by CPM leader John Brittas and Muslim League representative Harris Beeran, Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy told the Rajya Sabha that no allocation of offshore blocks has been made so far and that bidders will have to obtain all consents, approvals, permits and no objection certificates from the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEF&CC) and the department of fisheries before the execution of an operating right.