Fisherfolk associations in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Kanyakumari district are escalating their protest against the Central government&rsquo;s proposed hydrocarbon exploration project in the Kanyakumari sea.&nbsp;
A pivotal meeting took place on Sunday in Kanyakumari, bringing together fishing federations, representatives from coastal villages, and leaders from neighbouring Kerala to determine a unified stance and outline the next steps.
According to A Dunston, Director of the Coastal Peace and Development (CPD), the meeting involved multiple stakeholders with the primary objective of strengthening collective resistance to the proposal.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We are uniting federations and associations from across the region to send a clear message that this project threatens our lives and livelihood,&rdquo; he stated.
The exploration initiative stems from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas&rsquo;s 2023 Notice Inviting Offers, issued under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). The proposal covers oil and gas exploration in three offshore blocks located south of Cape Comorin, with a combined area of approximately 27,154.80 square kilometres.
Environmental advocates and local leaders have issued strong warnings regarding the potential consequences of the project, especially in relation to the Wadge Bank &mdash; a marine region near Cape Comorin known for its ecological richness and biological sensitivity.&nbsp;
SP Udayakumar, coordinator of the organisation Pachai Tamizhagam, cautioned that disruption in this zone would have far-reaching ecological and economic repercussions. &ldquo;This is not just about fishers in Kanyakumari. The ecological damage will affect communities across Tamil Nadu and Kerala,&rdquo; he said.
C Berlin, district secretary of Neithal Makkal Iyakkam, voiced similar apprehensions, describing the project&rsquo;s potential environmental impact as devastating. He warned that it could turn the sea into a &ldquo;marine desert&rdquo; and urged immediate cancellation of the plan to safeguard the marine ecosystem.
Concerns were also raised by Captain C Johnson, secretary of the Colachel Mechanised Fishers Welfare Association, who emphasised the livelihood threat posed by the project.&nbsp;
He noted that the initiative would restrict fishermen&rsquo;s access to key fishing areas. &ldquo;This is a direct threat to our survival,&rdquo; he said.
Fisherfolk across the region have resolved to continue their agitation until the hydrocarbon project is fully withdrawn.
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Fisherfolk, activists, and leaders unite in Kanyakumari to resist Centre’s proposed offshore drilling plan

Kanyakumari Fishers Oppose Offshore Hydrocarbon Project

Fisherfolk, activists, and leaders unite in Kanyakumari to resist Centre’s proposed offshore drilling plan

May 11, 2025 | 19:02 IST