Fishers decry hydrocarbon project in Wadge Bank

Opposition to the proposed hydrocarbon exploration project in the waters of Kanniyakumari has increased among fishers in the region.
According to them, though the project had been planned at 35 nautical miles from the shore, the designated area was a vital fishing ground.
The Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had issued a notice inviting bids under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy for exploration of oil and natural gas from three areas in South of Cape Comorin, covering 27,154.80 sq km. Of the three proposed sites, one spans 9,514.63 sq km and the other two, 9,844.72 sq km and 7,795.45 sq km respectively.
The region selected for exploration includes the Wadge Bank — a marine area in south of Cape Comorin, rich in fishery resources. Spanning approximately 10,000 sq km, it has long served as an abundant fishing ground.
Fishermen associations fear that implementing the project in such a sensitive area would impact the livelihood of fishers from Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Ramanathapuram districts in Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala, besides harming one of the most ecologically valuable littoral zones in the region.
C. Berlin of Neithal Makkal Iyakkam said, 'The place selected for the project falls under the Central government zone, but that does not exempt authorities from consulting the local fishing community....'
He further said that fishers who are dependent on Wadge Bank would be affected the most due to the project. Small-scale fishers would be forced to sail longer distances in search of fishing grounds, Mr. Berlin said, urging the government to revoke the proposed project.
A Journal on Petroleum and Environmental Biotechnology, released by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Resources and Studies of University of Alaska Fairbanks, highlighted the environmental impacts of hydrocarbon exploration. According to it, drilling and production operations could release pollutants into air and water.
Meanwhile, fishermen associations convened a meeting in Nagercoil on Sunday to raise awareness on the potential impact of the project. At the meet, fishers proposed that a memorandum be submitted to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and planned protests in the days to come.
Justin Antony, president of International Fishermen Development Trust, said Wadge Bank was a natural barrier that protected the region from disasters. The implementation of the project in south of Cape Comorin could weaken this barrier, he feared.
S. Rajeshkumar, MLA from Killiyoor constituency, said a plea pertaining to the project was already submitted in the Assembly and the Tamil Nadu government had not yet granted a no-objection certificate. According to him, there was neither any 'major prior intimation' about the project from the Centre nor a public hearing. He emphasised that the Centre revoke the project.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hindu

2 hours ago

• The Hindu

Central Travancore politics dives into floodwaters as local body polls loom

With local body elections on the doorsteps, political battlelines are being drawn not just on land, but across the rivers and lakes of central Travancore too. Environmental issues have surged to the centre of the political discourse as parties crank up their campaign machinery. The Kerala Congress(M), for instance, has sprung into action with a symposium on the recurring floods in the Meenachil river. Addressing the event, KC(M) Chairman Jose K. Mani called for a complete overhaul in water management strategies, urging the State to adopt long-term flood-control plans. 'River and stream storage capacities must be maximised. Check-dams should follow a seasonal protocol. Desilting and waste removal from waterbodies are crucial, and excess river sand must be auctioned,' he said. The party plans to compile the recommendations that came up in the symposium and present them to the State government. Interestingly, the KC(M) itself holds the State's Water Resources portfolio, with Roshy Augustine at the helm. The rival faction led by P.J. Joseph, on the other hand, is launching a protest campaign anchored on Vembanad Lake, which serves as the lifeline for the flood-prone Kuttanad and upper Kuttanad regions. Charging that neglect and government inaction have brought the lake to the brink, the first phase of its protest kicks off on Saturday, June 28, on the banks of Vembanad near the Vaikom boat jetty . 'Silt, mud, and garbage have choked Vembanad Lake, drastically cutting its storage capacity. Frequent floods and crop destruction have become the norm. The State and Centre have ignored the Swaminathan commission's recommendations. Even the much-hyped Kuttanad Package remains a paper promise,' the party said, in a statement. It is demanding immediate, targeted action: restore the lake, revive dying waterbodies such as the Kariyar and Thottappally, safeguard paddy fields, and rollout special flood-relief projects across Kottayam, Alappuzha, and Pathanamthitta.

India Gazette

2 hours ago

• India Gazette

"Why first deny, then allow?": Priyank Kharge asks MEA to explain "politics" behind its US trip approval

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 21 (ANI): Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Saturday asked the MEA to explain the 'politics' behind initially denying and then approving his delegation's US visit and accused the Centre of denying Karnataka its right to seek investments from abroad. 'This question should be asked of the MEA. Why did they deny the delegation led by me, and why are they allowing it now? What was wrong then and what is right now?' Priyank Kharge told ANI. 'We were supposed to be there on 13th June, and it is already 21st. Do you think World Expos and World Trade exhibitions will wait for us? No... The politics being played is also to be explained by the MEA,' he added. He said Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu are the states that drive 50% of the GDP of the country and neglecting those states has no use to anybody. 'We are one of the biggest economic growth engines for the we don't get to go abroad and seek is always Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu - we are the ones driving 50% of the country's GDP. Have you seen Uttar Pradesh's CM going abroad and getting investments? Have you seen the MP CM or the Bihar CM going and getting investments? It is always Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu. We are the ones driving 50 per cent of the country's GDP,' he said. 'And you doing such things is of no use to anybody. We are the ones who are creating the jobs. Have a look around Bengaluru and Karnataka, how many people from the North are coming here and you know anybody from Karnataka who is working in UP, Bihar, and Madhya Pradesh?' he added. In his detailed 'X' post, the Karnataka Minister highlighted that he sought permission for his US travel to represent the Karnataka government between June 14 and 27 on May 15 at two major global forums and hold 25 official meetings with top companies, universities and institutions for collaborations and pitch for investments. He explained that the application for the minister and his delegation was submitted on May 15, which was later rejected on June 4. Kharge added that an application for the officer delegation without the minister was submitted on June 6, and it got clearance on June 11. The Karnataka Minister said that he addressed a press conference on the matter on June 19, explaining the chronology and raising concerns about the possible political interference. (ANI)

Indian Express

2 hours ago

• Indian Express

Digital news publishers' body bats for copyright protection in AI model training

Amid growing concerns over the misuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and potential copyright violations, the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) has welcomed the Centre's initiative to review the complex intersection of AI and copyright law. 'DNPA firmly believes that utilising the content of digital news publishers, without consent, for AI training and subsequent generative AI applications, such as search assistance and information purposes, constitutes an infringement of copyright. The association advocates for a regime that ensures fair compensation for content producers, recognising their rights in the digital landscape,' it said. Any government initiative 'to ensure fair play' is vital for the growth of digital news media in the country, it said. This initiative is headed by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which will seek stakeholder feedback on how AI intersects with existing copyright laws. In its statement, the DNPA asserted that the use of digital news publishers' content without permission for AI training and generative applications constitutes copyright infringement. The association has strongly advocated for a regulatory framework that ensures fair compensation to content creators, safeguarding their rights in an evolving digital environment. 'DNPA looks forward to working with the ministry to formulate a fair and balanced regime that allows for fair compensation for content producers while allowing for AI models to build and evolve,' it said.