Off-shore sand mining would affect Kerala’s fisher folk, says Congress MP

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal speaks in the Lok Sabha during the Budget Session of the Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday (March 17, 2025).
| Photo Credit: ANI

Off-shore sand mining in Kerala would adversely impact the livelihoods of the fishermen in the State, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal said on Monday (March 17, 2025) as he discussed the issue in the Lok Sabha.

Raising the matter during Question Hour, Mr. Venugopal urged the government to stop the ongoing tender process till an “impartial” study could be conducted on its environmental impact.

The MP from Alappuzha in Kerala said the tender process for off-shore sand mining has started without Environment Impact Assessment and questioned the “logic” of entrusting the winning bidder with the responsibility of conducting environmental impact.

He also noted that nobody had consulted the key stakeholders — fishermen.

Referring to studies about the impact on environment and livelihood due to off-shore mining, he said the Quilon Bank — where most of the fish breeding happens — would bear the worst of the impact.

“I am a member from Kerala. I can say in this House, pardon me, we will never allow this type of mining in Kerala. Why don’t you stop the tender process and conduct an impartial study,” he said, as other Kerala MPs supported him.

N.K. Premachandran of the RSP, representing Kollam, also questioned about why the Environment Impact Assessment was to be done after the bidding process.

Fishermen in Kollam and Alappuzha in Kerala have been protesting against the approval for off-shore sand mining in 13 locations across the country, claiming that it would impact their livelihoods. The Kerala Assembly also passed a resolution opposing such mining.

Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Kirtivardhan Singh responded by saying that off-shore mining locations were carefully selected ensuring that fishing areas remain unaffected.

He said the concerns of fishermen and local communities would be specifically addressed during the preparation of the production plan and Environmental Management Plan, which every lessee is required to submit before commencing exploration or production activities.

The Minister said that the 2002 law was amended in 2023 after proper consultations with coastal States and Central Ministries concerned. He also said that adequate provisions were there in the rules and regulations to protect the interests of fisher folk.