Tamil Nadu Chief Minister: Strongly objected to the Central Government’s notification for auction of Cauvery Basin blocks
Chennai: The Union government’s notice of the sale of a petroleum and natural gas block in the Cauvery Basin that is part of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve was sharply criticized by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday, claiming that the proposal “endangers a fragile ecosystem.”
“The GoI’s auction notification for petroleum and natural gas exploration in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve endangers a fragile marine ecosystem and the livelihoods of lakhs of fishermen,” CM Stalin wrote in a post on X, pleading with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and halt the sale of more than 9,000 square kilometers of the basin.
He further claimed that the Union government had decided on the sale without consulting the state government of Tamil Nadu.
“The Tamil Nadu government was not contacted prior to this decision, despite the significant ecological and socioeconomic ramifications. In order to preserve our marine heritage and coastal populations, I implore you (PM Modi) to take prompt action to revoke this auction announcement,” his message said.
The CM warned that conducting deep-sea mining in the region would “degrade the overall health of the ocean.”
“It will also affect the livelihood of the lakhs of fishermen who depend on the Gulf of Mannar for their sustenance,” the chief minister said.
On February 11, a notice of the petroleum and natural gas blocks’ auction was released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas’ Directorate of Hydrocarbon.
Under the block designation CY-DNHP-2024/1, this notice covers 9990.96 sq km in the Cauvery Basin, which is located close to Palk Bay and Wadge Bank and is part of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve.
Located 560 square kilometers off the beaches of Ramanathapuram and Thoothukhudi districts, the Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve is made up of a chain of 21 islands and nearby coral reefs that are home to a diverse range of marine life.
