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Offshore Mining in India – Policies,Environmental Concerns

11 Dec 2025 GS 3 Environment
Offshore Mining in India – Policies,Environmental Concerns Click to view full image

What is offshore mining?

  • Extraction of mineral deposits from the seabed at depths > 200 m.

  • Materials extracted include:

    • Polymetallic nodules (containing nickel, cobalt, copper, manganese, titanium, rare earth elements)

    • Lime mud

    • Construction-grade sand

  • Process: Nodules + sediments retrieved → unwanted sediments flushed back into sea.

Policy Framework

Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 (OAMDR)

  • Regulates mineral development in India’s maritime zones.

  • Offshore area includes territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and other maritime zones.

  • Central government has authority over mineral extraction in offshore areas.

Amendments introduced in 2023:

  • Allows private sector participation in deep-sea mining.

  • Competitive e-auction process for awarding leases.

  • Lease period extended to 50 years.

Offshore Areas Operating Right Rules, 2024

  • Prior consultation with stakeholder ministries is mandatory before notifying any offshore block.

  • Ministries consulted include:

    • MoEFCC

    • Department of Fisheries

    • Other relevant departments

  • All gave “no objection” before auctions were notified.

Offshore Areas Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2024

  • Before execution of operating rights, bidders must secure:

    • Consents

    • Approvals

    • Permits

    • No-objections from MoEFCC, Fisheries and other ministries.

Offshore Areas Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2024

  • No production operation unless a production plan is approved.

  • Plan must include:

    • Baseline environmental data

    • Environmental impact assessment

    • Mitigation measures

    • Environmental management plan

   

Marine Protected Areas and Biodiversity Exclusions

  • Government states: Offshore mining blocks exclude protected ecological regions.

  • MoEFCC has:

    • 130 Marine Protected Areas across coastal states and islands.

    • 106 Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs).

  • Blocks for auction were carved out by excluding these notified sensitive regions.

First Tranche of Offshore Mining Auction (28 November 2024)

Total: 13 offshore blocks
Includes:

  • 3 construction sand blocks off Kerala coast

  • 3 lime mud blocks off Gujarat coast

  • 7 blocks of polymetallic nodules and crust off Great Nicobar Island

  • No allocation to companies yet (as per government replies in Parliament).

Offshore Areas Mineral Trust (established 2024)

  • Autonomous, non-profit body under Section 16A of OAMDR.

  • Coastal States are members of the Governing Body and Executive Committee.

  • Funds used for:

    • Research and environmental studies

    • Mitigation of ecological impacts from mining

    • Disaster relief in offshore areas

    • Welfare of people affected by exploration/production operations

Kerala Case: Protests and Political Response

  • Geological Survey of India study:

    • 745 million tonnes of sand off Kerala coast

    • 300 million tonnes in three blocks off Kollam (depth 48–62 m)

  • Protests cut across political lines in Kerala.

Fishermen’s concerns

  • Offshore mining could:

    • Damage marine biodiversity

    • Reduce fish stocks

    • Affect livelihoods of 11 lakh fishermen from 222 coastal villages

  • Kollam Parappu (Quilon Bank) is among India’s richest fishing zones.

Centre’s stand

  • Kollam Parappu is at 275–370 m depth, not part of mining blocks (which are at 48–65 m).

  • Sand mining technology (suction from sea bed) creates less turbidity than dredging.

  • Mining blocks lie beyond territorial waters (state power up to 12 nautical miles).

Scientific and Environmental Concerns

Key risks of offshore/continental shelf mining

  1. Sediment plumes

    • Spread widely, block sunlight, disrupt photosynthesis in the euphotic zone.

    • Harm plankton populations and entire food chains.

  2. Benthic ecosystem destruction

    • Slow-moving organisms killed by direct contact with mining equipment.

    • Permanent habitat modification on seabed.

  3. Pelagic ecosystem impacts

    • Turbidity affects fish migration, spawning and feeding.

  4. Toxic metal release

    • Possible contamination of water column.

  5. Noise pollution

    • Disrupts marine mammals and fish communication.

  6. Fisheries impact

    • Decline in catch, navigational hazards from mining vessels.

Prelims Practice MCQs

Q. Consider the following statements:

  1. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002 allows States to award offshore mining leases up to 12 nautical miles.

  2. Offshore mining blocks auctioned in 2024 excluded Marine Protected Areas and ICMBAs.

  3. The Offshore Areas Mineral Trust includes coastal states as part of its governing bodies.

Which of the above statements are correct?

A. 2 and 3 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 1 and 2 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A
Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is incorrect. Offshore mining is fully under Central government control.

  • Statements 2 and 3 are correct.

Q. With reference to environmental safeguards in offshore mining, consider the following:

  1. A production plan must include baseline environmental information, impact assessment and mitigation strategies.

  2. All mining operations require approval from MoEFCC before execution of operating rights.

  3. The OAMDR Act mandates that Marine Protected Areas be included in offshore mining zones.

Which statements are correct?

A. 1 and 2 only
B. 1 and 3 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A
Statement 3 is incorrect; MPAs are excluded.



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