[Marxistindia] Resolution adopted at the 24th Congress of CPI(M)

[news from the cpi(m)]

Resolution

 

Against the Deep-Sea Mining Policy of Government of India

 

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
<https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/20-years-of-in
dian-ocean-tsunami-2004> tsunamis,
<https://www.drishtiias.com/to-the-points/paper1/cyclone-19> cyclones,
<https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-s-soil-e
rosion-crisis> erosion, and disrupt sediment dynamics, threatening aquatic
habitats. Disturbing seafloor eco systems could release stored carbon,
accelerating
<https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-editorials/economic-rip
ples-of-climate-change> climate change by increasing atmospheric CO2 levels
contributing to
<https://www.drishtiias.com/sambhav-daily-answer-writing-practice/papers/sam
bhav-2024/the-causes-and-consequences-of-global-warming-on-india> 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.

 

 

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