Rajya Sabha today passed the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023. 
 
The Bill amends the Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002. The new Bill regulates mining in maritime zones of India. It allows the Government to reserve offshore areas that are not held under any operating rights. The Bill also allows the administering authority to grant a composite license or production lease to the Government or a government company. The Bill was moved by Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi.
 
Initiating the discussion on the Bill, MP from BJD, Dr. Sasmit Patra said that his Party is in support of the Bill as it will bring transparency in the allocation of minerals from the country's offshore basin. Speaking on the Bill, Dr. Anil Sukhdevrao Bonde of BJP said that the Bill has the provision to form Offshore Areas Mineral Trust which will work for the welfare of the people affected by the mining and will do the research work related to mining. Mr. M. Thambidurai of AIADMK said that his Party also supports the Bill as the Bill provides a grant of production through auction because in some States there is no provision for the auction. 
 
Ramji of BSP said that too much mining is creating a threat to the ecosystem and after the entry of Big Companies in the mining sector, it is going to affect the livelihood of small fishermen. Dr. K. Lakshman from BJP and V. Vijaysai Reddy from YSRC also participated in the discussion.