Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 3 -- Serious concerns have been raised in Kerala regarding the Central Government's decision to permit offshore sand mining along the Kollam coast under the Offshore Areas Atomic Act. Experts, political parties, and fishing communities have all warned of significant ecological and socio-economic repercussions.
Kollam, which is home to the state's largest fishing harbour at Neendakara, leads Kerala in fish production, contributing an estimated 5.5 lakh tonnes annually. A large portion of this catch is exported, making the fishing industry the district's primary economic driver and a vital source of livelihood for tens of thousands of fishermen and workers in related industries.
The Geological Survey of India has i...