Halt Sea Sand Mining Plan in Kerala Coast: KC Venugopal
Alappuzha MP and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal has strongly opposed the Centre’s proposal for offshore sand mining along the Kerala coast, warning of severe environmental damage and threats to the livelihoods of fishermen.
“The Ministry of Mines is moving forward with auctioning for offshore mining in Kollam South, Kollam North, Alappuzha, Ponnani, and Chavakkad. Offshore mining will devastate the fishing industry and marine ecosystem. It also poses a challenge to the livelihood of fishermen,” Venugopal stated on social media.
Raising concerns over coastal erosion and biodiversity loss, Venugopal said he had already written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the Centre to withdraw from the offshore mining project. He warned that “mining will destroy biodiversity and severely affect the natural defence against sea attacks during natural disasters, causing high waves to hit the coast.”
Highlighting the economic impact, he stressed that India is the second-largest fish exporter globally, a fact acknowledged in the last budget by the Finance Minister. “That achievement itself will be lost through offshore sand mining,” he added.
Venugopal further warned that seabed mining would disrupt fish breeding, reduce fish stocks, and endanger the livelihoods of millions of fishing families. He also criticised the Centre’s expedited process, stating that “the fact that the Ministry of Mines has invited tenders and started fast-track action has created considerable anxiety among fishing communities.”
Amid mounting concerns, the Fishermen’s Joint Committee has called for a coastal hartal (strike) on 27 February to protest against offshore mining. “No action will be allowed without studying the environmental and social consequences,” Venugopal asserted, demanding an immediate rollback of the Centre’s decision.
In a letter to Prime Minister Modi on 1 February, Venugopal reiterated his call for urgent intervention, warning of accelerated beach erosion, disruption of coastal ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity. He cautioned that these disturbances would weaken natural coastal defences against storms and rising sea levels, endangering both human settlements and marine life.
He also highlighted the cultural and economic implications, stating that traditional fishing practices in Kerala would face an existential threat. “These operations risk disrupting fish breeding grounds and migratory patterns, directly affecting the economic survival of local communities,” he wrote.
Calling for immediate action, Venugopal urged the Centre to analyse the environmental and social impacts of the proposal and recall the plan to protect Kerala’s fragile coastal ecosystem.
