Drop proposal for offshore mining in Gulf of Mannar: CM Stalin urges PM Modi

Chennai: Opposing the proposal for offshore mining in Gulf of Mannar off Tamil Nadu coast by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Chief Minister M K Stalin dashed off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking deletion of all notified biodiversity rich areas from the auction keeping in mind the fragile ecosystem of the area.

The notification by the Union government issued on February 11 includes 9990.96 sq. km in the Cauvery Basin, which falls within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve and is near the Palk Bay and Wadge Bank, Stalin said, adding that the biosphere reserve consisting of a chain of 21 islands and adjoining coral reefs supports a wide variety of marine fauna.

“In addition, the Tamil Nadu Government has notified India’s first Conservation Reserve for the highly endangered Dugong (Sea Cow) in the Palk Bay in September 2021, covering 448 sq kms of coastal waters of Thanjavur and Pudukkottai Districts,” Stalin told Modi.

Given the fragile ecosystem of these areas and their rich biodiversity, deep sea mining for petroleum and natural gas may cause irreversible damage to marine habitats and degrade the overall health of the ocean, he said.

The Chief Minister also said the auction would further affect the livelihood of the lakhs of fishermen who depend on the Gulf of Mannar for their sustenance.

Any such disruptions caused by mining activities will also make the entire coastal area vulnerable and this has created immense anxiety among the coastal communities, Stalin said, even as he complained that the state government was not consulted by the Union government before notifying this block for auction.

“If due consultation had been done, we would have explained in detail all the issues highlighted above…I strongly urge you to reconsider this decision and delete all the notified biodiversity rich areas from the OALP for deep sea mining,” the Chief Minister added.