Rajya Sabha clears bill on fixed 50-year lease for offshore minerals

A bill to provide a fixed 50-year production lease for offshore minerals was passed by Rajya Sabha on Thursday amid a walkout by the opposition members over the situation in ethnic violence-hit Manipur. The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was passed by Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

In his reply to the discussion, Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi sought to allay the concerns raised by some of the members over the impact of offshore mining on the marine ecosystem and its implications on the livelihood of those dependent on the seas, especially fishermen. There are so many safeguards through legislations and rules, he said and asserted that “environment legislations will be followed and states and all other stakeholders also will be duly consulted and all laws will be applicable in the offshore areas.”