Fishers oppose hydrocarbon project at Wadge Bank in Kanniyakumari
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.
Marine area
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
Gujarat's textile industry threatened by 50% US tariffs demands 10% export incentive
Gujarat's textile sector is staring at a severe crisis after the US announced a 50 per cent tariff on all imports from India — a move industry leaders say could force many exporters to shut shop. Industry stakeholders have urged the Centre to step in to take effective measures, including a 10 per cent export incentive to help offset the tariff's new duty was imposed by US President Donald Trump in two stages — a 25 per cent tariff on all Indian imports and an additional 25 per cent penalty over India's continued purchase of Russian oil. The Indian government condemned the decision and has refused to bow to American pressure to stop buying Russian blow is particularly harsh for Gujarat, home to major textile hubs Ahmedabad and Surat. India's total textile exports to the US are valued at USD 10–12 billion annually, with Gujarat accounting for more than 15 per cent of that trade. Sandip Shah, co-chairman of the textile committee of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said exporters had initially hoped the earlier 25 per cent tariff would be rolled back after talks. "But with 50 per cent now in place, trade with America has become impossible," he said. "For textiles, the US market is now almost shut".According to Shah, such a sudden halt in trade will create serious liquidity problems. "If this is not resolved quickly, it could take the industry more than six months to recover," he believe that Surat, known for its synthetic fabric exports, will be hit Gujarati, former president of the Southern Gujarat Chambers of Commerce and Industries, said the city alone accounts for Rs 3,000–Rs 4,000 crore in direct exports to the US. "The indirect impact will be even bigger — losses could touch Rs 10,000–Rs 12,000 crore because several allied industries depend on textiles," he some, the only option might be to shut down or relocate production. "If 50 per cent tariff is implemented, no one will be able to export to the US," said PR Kankaria, owner of Kankaria Textiles in Ahmedabad. "Units will close, artisans will lose jobs, and many will have to migrate".Industry bodies are urging the central government to step in. One proposal is for a 10 per cent export incentive to help offset the tariff's impact and redirect exports to other countries. "If we get incentives, our exports to other markets can triple," said Kankaria. "If not, everything will stop".advertisementThe US remains a key buyer of Indian textiles, and losing that market could have ripple effects across supply chains — from yarn makers to embroidery the sector has diversified exports to regions like Europe, West Asia, and Latin America, replacing the US market in the short term will be industry hopes for urgent action. "We still expect the government to make a decision in traders' interest so that losses are minimised," said the trade standoff now tied to geopolitical tensions over Russian oil, analysts warn the textile industry's fate may depend as much on foreign policy as on economic measures.(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)- Ends
Mint
3 hours ago
- Mint
Split with US: Fallout worries top officials
The Centre is increasingly concerned about the potential impact of worsening relations with the US on the large Indian diaspora, particularly in the tech sector, people aware of the discussions said. Senior officials told a parliamentary panel that they were concerned about the fallout on Indian professionals and students in the US including job losses and tighter immigration policies. This comes at a time when India and the US have differed over market access for various American goods, and the US has objected to India's purchase of Russian oil. The concerns were flagged by the government, represented by senior officials such as foreign secretary Vikram Misri, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal, and India's chief negotiator for the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US Rajesh Agarwal, during a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The officials told the committee, chaired by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, that the trade logjam may impact Indian professionals working in the US, said one of the three people cited above. The Indian diaspora contributes significantly through remittances, which extending India's soft power and acting as a crucial buffer against global economic uncertainties. While the absolute number of Indian students and workers in the US is not available, it is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands. Queries emailed to the ministries of external affairs, commerce, and Tharoor remained unanswered. The officials' alert comes as new data highlights a cooling job market for foreign workers in the US. Registrations for Indian H-1B visas for 2026 dropped by 27% to 358,000, and were more than 54% lower than the prior year. Only 120,141 of these registrations were selected to move forward, well above the annual 85,000 visa cap. The H-1B programme is a critical pathway for Indian tech workers seeking jobs in the US. "Strained trade ties could bring tighter visa rules, higher compliance demands, and caution in hiring, especially in tech and professional services," said Sonal Arora, country manager, GI Group Holding, a global staffing solutions provider. 'But with their adaptability, strong professional networks, and proven expertise, Indian professionals are likely to adjust quickly, find new opportunities, and continue playing a key role in strengthening economic and cultural connections," said Arora. The US has recently ramped up pressure on India in trade talks, imposing a 25% tariff on certain Indian goods in late July and a second 25% tariff on August 6 as a penalty for India's continued purchase of Russian oil. The second tariff is set to take effect just as a US negotiating team arrives in New Delhi for another round of talks on 25 August. India's remittances have more than doubled from $55.6 billion in 2010–11 to $118.7 billion in 2023–24. According to the Reserve Bank of India's Sixth Round of Remittances Survey, these inflows have financed around half of India's merchandise trade deficit and have generally remained higher than gross FDI, making them a stable source of external financing. After a pandemic-induced dip of 3.6% in 2020–21, remittances rebounded strongly between 2021–22 and 2023–24, growing at an average annual rate of 14.3%. Also, the remittances sent back home by Indians working abroad registered a 14% rise in FY25 to a record $135.46 billion. Indians working abroad sent home a record $129.4 billion in 2024. The RBI said the inflows, classified under 'private transfers," accounted for more than 10% of total inflows. The government also informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that the US has negotiated tough terms with all countries with which it has finalized bilateral trade deals. Citing agreements with Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the EU, officials noted that while the additional tariffs on these countries have been adjusted or reduced, they have not been fully removed despite the substantial concessions obtained from them. As India remains firm on its stance of not bringing non-negotiable issues to the negotiating table, the US imposed a 25% duty on 30 July, effective from 7 August, and announced an additional 25% duty as a penalty for buying oil from Russia on 6 August. The new 25% duty is set to come into force from 27 August, just a few days after a US team of negotiators is scheduled to begin the sixth round of negotiations from 25 August in New Delhi.
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
From Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu and Odisha, states push small reforms to boost business
OVER THE LAST few months, Rajasthan eased restrictions on night shifts for women, Odisha spruced up building bye-laws so that small enterprises can use space more efficiently, and Tamil Nadu increased the number of industries for which entrepreneurs need not knock at the pollution control boards. Across India, states are advancing small, targeted reforms to cut red tape. While sweeping national reforms inch forward despite renewed calls for bold reforms amid tariff tensions, states are increasingly leading the way, recalibrating business rules on the ground, pointed out government officials. The Centre is helping nudge them towards deregulation, but states seem to be on board with the perceived benefits of these steps. The trend reflects a growing view at the highest levels of the Central government that progressive, state-level tweaks—faster to implement and with broader impact—should be prioritised for now. The Rajasthan Labour Department had, in a July 8 notification, allowed commercial establishments to employ women during night hours. Officials said this not only provided operational flexibility to enterprises but also was a step towards gender-inclusive employment. Delhi did the same on July 30, after having scrapped the requirement for restaurants and hotels to seek police approval the previous month on June 19. Odisha modernised building bye-laws in June to let MSMEs and IT/ITeS firms use space more efficiently. The state's Department of Housing and Urban Development of Odisha has introduced major amendments to both the Odisha Town Planning and Improvement Trust (Planning and Building Standards) Rules, 2021 and the Odisha Development Authorities (Planning and Building Standards) Rules, 2020, which are designed to streamline regulations and ease the compliance burden. For instance, parking requirements for industrial buildings have been reduced to 8 per cent from 30 per cent of the total built-up area to allow more productive use of space. Tamil Nadu, which is among the pioneering industrial states in the country, expanded the list of 'white category' industries from 37 to 609 in June this year. This exempts many non-polluting businesses from obtaining Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board. Privately, many foreign investors flag India's cumbersome bureaucracy, varying state laws, and heavy compliance burden as hurdles that create uncertainty and hinder investment. With states set on the reform path, some of those concerns could be addressed. On the ground, these tweaks by state governments are finding currency. Sandeep Anand Goyle, the Delhi chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), told The Indian Express that establishments such as hotels, eateries, discotheques, amusement parks, and auditoriums in the capital, which no longer need to register with Delhi Police to run their operations, are expected to generate significant revenue for the Delhi government. 'Many major domestic and international chains had previously avoided investing in Delhi—preferring Gurugram or Noida instead—due to cumbersome licensing norms, particularly the eating house registration from the police via the MCD's (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) unified portal for licensing,' Goyle said. 'We were spending six to eight months each year just following up on licence renewals. Even when our documents met the portal's requirements, the follow-ups were constant. It became a choice between focusing on the business or chasing licences,' he said. While the Centre is now pushing for reforms at the state level, a newly-formed Deregulation Cell in the Cabinet Secretariat is also targeting select national regulations. On May 27, it set up an inter-ministerial group to review quality control orders (QCOs) that could enable 'unfair trade practices' or hurt MSMEs. In June, it clarified that the National Building Code, 2016 is 'not legally binding' but a 'voluntary code of reference,' offering relief to the construction industry. Earlier, in February, the Economic Survey 2024-25 called for state-led deregulation to liberalise standards and controls, such as lifting restrictions on women's participation in factories and rationalising parking norms. It urged states to review regulations on administration, land, building and construction, labour, utilities, transport, logistics, local trade, environment, and sector-specific rules. 'The logic for staying small often is to remain under the regulatory radar and steer clear of the rules and labour and safety laws. Ironically, the biggest casualties are employment generation and labour welfare, which most regulations were originally designed to encourage and protect, respectively,' the Economic Survey 2024-25 said. 'Unburdened by licensing, inspection and compliance requirements, the people and small enterprises of India, with their high aspirations and intrinsic inventiveness, will find answers to the pressing challenges of growth, employment and development,' it said.
