Fishermen associations from Kanniyakumri district expressed their apprehension over the Union government’s announcement of a proposed hydrocarbon exploration project along the southern coast of Tamil Nadu and the offshore mining project.
Their concerns were raised during the fisherman’s grievance redress meeting held at the Collectorate in Nagercoil on Friday.
Speaking to The Hindu, Fr. A. Dunston, Director of Coastal Peace and Development Organisation, said while the government initially had plans for deep-sea mining, it later proceeded with the project which led to protests in places like Kollam in Kerala.
Similarly, when the fishermen associations raised concerns about the hydrocarbon project with the department officials, they were assured that no such plans were in place. However, reports later confirmed that an area of 9,990.96 sq km in the deep-sea region of the Gulf of Mannar had been included in the tender for the hydrocarbon exploration, issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.
He further said the project would severely impact both the livelihood of fishermen and the region’s natural biodiversity. The Gulf of Mannar was known for its rich marine ecosystem, hosting a wide variety of rare and diverse species. Implementing the project would disrupt the delicate balance of the ecosystem, he added. He also alleged that in addition to Rameshwaram, three other locations along the Tamil Nadu coast had been included for hydrocarbon exploration projects.
The fishermen also emphasised that the Gulf of Mannar was a crucial region for fishing and implementation of the project would restrict the trawlers from venturing into these waters, significantly affecting the fishermen from Kanniyakumari, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Ramanathapuram districts.
Another major concern of the fishermen association and activists was the impact of offshore and deep-sea mining. They warned that such mining operations would deplete and eradicate the particular minerals of the specific mineral resources unique to the region.
The fishermen associations urged the district administration to take necessary steps to prevent implementation of the project and safeguard the livelihoods of fishermen and the region’s biodiversity.
Published - February 28, 2025 08:23 pm IST
