Mining Yet to Begin, Says Fisheries Minister Amid Opposition Uproar in Lok Sabha
New Delhi, April 1 — Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh on Tuesday dismissed the Opposition's concerns over the alleged impact of offshore mining on Kerala’s fishing community, asserting in the Lok Sabha that no mining activity has begun yet.Responding to a Calling Attention Motion on the challenges faced by fishermen, Singh clarified that only three out of the 13 offshore mining blocks are situated off the Kerala coast, and all are located beyond 12 nautical miles, falling within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“When the mining hasn’t even started, how can it be affecting the fishermen?” Singh questioned during the discussion.
NDA Government’s Welfare Measures for Fishermen
The minister outlined multiple initiatives undertaken by the government to support the fishing community. Citing the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), Singh said that the Centre has focused on expanding fishing harbours, including in Kerala, and has funded modern boats and nets.As a result of these efforts, he highlighted:
- India’s fish production has nearly doubled, rising from 95.7 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 184.02 lakh tonnes.
- Seafood exports surged from ₹30,212 crore in 2013-14 to ₹60,523 crore in 2023-24.
- The fishing sector’s contribution to GVA (Gross Value Added) increased from 0.84% in 2014-15 to 1.12% in 2022-23.
Opposition Questions Government’s Intent, Demands Impact Assessment
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has demanded the cancellation of offshore mining tenders for Kerala, Gujarat, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, citing risks to marine ecosystems and lack of rigorous environmental assessments.Raising concerns in the House, senior Congress MP KC Venugopal said the fishermen community is under severe distress, especially post the 2018 Kerala floods, during which they played a critical rescue role.
He also questioned the government’s priorities:“Despite India being the second-largest fish-producing country, we lack reliable data on fishermen. How do we support them without proper information?” Venugopal asked, urging for cleaner water bodies and environmental impact studies before allowing mining operations.
“Are you working for the mining companies or for the fishermen? This activity could have severe implications.”
Arrest of Tamil Nadu Fishermen Raised in Parliament
The session also saw DMK leader TR Baalu raise the issue of Tamil Nadu fishermen being arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy, some of whom have reportedly been detained for over six months.In response, Singh said that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar have engaged with Sri Lanka on the issue, and a joint working group has conducted six meetings to address the matter.
Wide Participation in Fishermen Welfare Debate
Apart from Venugopal and Baalu, several other MPs spoke on the fishermen’s plight, including:- NK Premachandran (RSP)
- Shashi Tharoor (Congress)
- Hibi Eden (Congress)
- Rama Shankar Rajbhar (SP)
- Kanimozhi (DMK)
- Arvind Sawant (Shiv Sena – UBT)
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