Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution opposing the central government’s decision to allow private participation in offshore mineral exploration and mining. The resolution, presented by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, expressed strong concerns over the recent amendments to the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.
The state government argued that the amendments, which now permit private entities to exploit deep-sea mineral resources, could have severe environmental consequences and negatively impact the livelihoods of coastal communities. The resolution urged the Centre to reconsider its decision, emphasizing the need to protect Kerala’s marine ecosystem and the fishing industry.
During the discussion, the ruling LDF and opposition UDF unanimously criticized the Centre’s move, highlighting the lack of consultation with coastal states before implementing the policy changes. CM Vijayan stressed that deep-sea mining poses a serious threat to marine biodiversity and could disrupt the traditional fishing sector, which supports thousands of livelihoods in Kerala.
The resolution marks Kerala’s strong stance against the Centre’s offshore mining policy, with the state government vowing to continue efforts to safeguard its coastal environment and local communities.
