The resolution was adopted by the 24th Party Congress of CPI(M)
The 24th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemns the deep-sea mining policy of the Government of India for endangering the livelihood of millions of fisher folk, privatizing the natural resources to corporate interests, destabilizing the delicate marine eco system, and abridging the interests of the state governments.
The Offshore Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 2002, as amended in 2023 opens deep-sea mining and exploration to the plunder of private corporates. Before the recent amendment offshore mining required joint inspections by the GSI, the Indian Bureau of Mines, and the Atomic Minerals Directorate. However, the amended Act allows private companies to participate in exploration as well, raising concerns about potential unchecked exploitation and a lack of transparency.
The royalties from mining mineral resources are entirely assigned to the central government. Deep-sea mining may also threaten the viability of the public sector rare minerals units in Kerala that are dependent upon the mineral sands washed up on the shores.
Environmentalists point out that offshore mining creates sediment plumes and releases toxic wastewater containing heavy metals, posing long-term risks to marine life, and ecosystems reliant on marine resources. It may destabilize eco systems, weaken natural defenses against tsunamis, cyclones, erosion, and disrupt sediment dynamics, threatening aquatic habitats. Disturbing seafloor eco systems could release stored carbon, accelerating climate change by increasing atmospheric CO2 levels contributing to global warming.
The depletion of fisheries resources is a major livelihood challenge to Indian fishers and deep-sea mining will definitely aggravate the problem. For example, the sand blocks included for mining in the first phase of deep-sea mining happen to be on Kollam Banks, one of the richest fisheries resource belts in the Indian seas. All fisher folk irrespective of the political divide have come out against the proposal. The Kerala legislature has passed a unanimous resolution against the sea sand mining programme.
This action is a disaster waiting to unfold, and the 24th Congress of the CPI(M) demands that the central government abandon this initiative immediately.