THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister P. Rajeev said that Kerala had earlier expressed strong opposition to the central government's moves related to offshore sand mining. He criticised that those who were not ready to write even a single amendment when the bill for this was introduced in the Lok Sabha are trying to make the state government responsible in this regard.

Kerala's strong protest was recorded in the first road show organised by the Union Ministry of Mining in this regard on January 11, 2025, in Kochi. At the event, Principal Secretary, Industries Department A.P.M. Mohammed Haneesh had conveyed the state's stand to Union Mines Secretary Kantha Rao. He informed the central ministry about the state's policy, stance, and current concerns. Additionally, he requested that necessary steps be taken to protect the state's interests by considering the various environmental and social issues that may arise from offshore mineral dredging.

On January 19, at the Central Geological Programming Board meeting held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, Union Mines Secretary Kantha Rao himself informed the meeting that Kerala was concerned about this matter. On February 13, the Principal Secretary of Industries wrote again to the Central Government that the bidding process for mineral exploration and mining should be started only by protecting the interests of the state. The government had expressed its readiness to protest in the Assembly in line with the opposition on this issue. The Chief Minister also expressed the same position. However, the opposition's position was that it had the strength to oppose alone. The minister also alleged that the attempt to weaken the broad consensus against mining was indirectly helping the BJP.