Tue Mar 04 13:14:58 UTC 2025: ## Stalin Battles Center Over Gulf of Mannar Mining Project, Citing Environmental Concerns

**Chennai, India** – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has launched a scathing attack on the central government, opposing a proposed offshore oil and gas mining project in the Gulf of Mannar. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin warned of irreversible damage to the fragile marine ecosystem, highlighting the project’s proximity to a biosphere reserve teeming with coral reefs, seagrass, and mangrove forests.

The Chief Minister emphasized the critical role these ecosystems play in supporting coastal communities, providing food, medicine, and protection from storms. He specifically raised concerns about the impact on the dugong population in Palk Bay, a transboundary area between India and Sri Lanka, where the endangered marine mammals rely on the threatened seagrass beds for sustenance. Stalin cited the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s classification of the dugong as “vulnerable,” emphasizing their slow reproduction rate and sensitivity to human interference.

Stalin further warned of the devastating impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Tamil fishermen, stating that the risks of sediment plumes, toxic waste discharge, and habitat destruction are unacceptable. He criticized the lack of consultation with the state government before the auction of blocks within the Gulf of Mannar region, which includes approximately 10,000 sq km within the Marine Biosphere Reserve and the 448 sq km dugong reserve. He demanded the Prime Minister’s intervention to revoke the February 11th notification and remove all biospheres and biodiversity hotspots from the Petroleum Ministry’s Open Acreage Licensing Programme.

This latest confrontation adds to the growing tension between the ruling DMK and the BJP-led central government. Pre-existing disputes over alleged “Hindi imposition” through the National Education Policy and concerns regarding the delimitation of parliamentary constituencies for the 2029 general elections further fuel the conflict. While the center denies imposing Hindi, Stalin continues to express concerns about the potential reduction of Tamil Nadu’s Lok Sabha seats due to the proposed delimitation exercise.

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