Lok Sabha Question No. 2879 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-10
Subject: Illegal Mining of Sand Minerals
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: N.K. Premachandran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2879

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.07.2019

## ILLEGAL MINING OF SAND MINERALS

## 2879.SHRI N. K. PREMACHANDRAN:

Will the Prime Minister be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has prohibited the illegal mining and export of beach sand minerals  and  proposes  to  constitute  separate  mechanism  for  its  prohibition  and regulation;
- (b) If so, the details thereof and the action taken in this regard;
- (c) the details of licence issued by the authorities for mining of beach sand in the public and private sector;
- (d) whether the Government proposed to impose separate licence and also to make an umbrella system for mining of beach sand containing different radioactive minerals and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to relax the terms and conditions of mining of sand by private undertaking and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICER (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):

- (a) Yes, Sir.
- (b) 'Beach  Sand  Minerals  (BSM)'  which  include  Ilmenite,  Rutile,  Zircon,  Monazite, Leucoxene, Sillimanite and Garnet are defined as 'Atomic Minerals' under Part-B of First  Schedule  of  the  Mines  and  Minerals  (Development  &  Regulations)  Act,1957. These minerals occur together in beach sand mineral deposits.  BSM contain precious critical elements viz: Zirconium (Zr), Hafnium (Hf), Titanium (Ti), Rare Earth Elements (Lanthanides),  Thorium  (Th),  Uranium  (U)  etc.    which  are  used  by  Atomic  Energy, Defence  and  Space  sectors  in  various  strategic  applications  due  to  their  superior properties.  Presently  grant  of  mineral  concessions  for  Atomic  Minerals  is  regulated under the Atomic Mineral Concession Rules (AMCR) 2016.  Zirconium, Hafnium and Thorium  are  very  important  strategic  elements  for  the  ongoing  Nuclear  power installations and 3rd stage Nuclear Power Programme in the Country.  Monazite being the primary source of Thorium and Rare Earth, occurring in association with Beach

Sand Minerals, any loss or leakage of Monazite or Zircon due to mineral processing or handling of Beach Sand Minerals will be significant loss to the country affecting the National Security.  In view of the above, Government of India has taken the following action:

- (i) Ministry  of  Commerce  &  Industry,  Government  of  India,  vide  notification  No. 26/2015-2020,  Dated:  21.8.2018  amended  the  export  policy  of  'Beach  Sand Minerals'  and  declared  that  export  of  BSM  are  to  be  canalized  through  M/s. Indian  Rare  Earths  Limited  (IREL),  a  CPSE  under  Department  of  Atomic Energy(DAE).
- (ii) Ministry  of  Mines,  Government  of  India  vide  notification  No.  G.S.R.  134(E), dated:  20.2.2019  amended  the  threshold  value  of  'Monazite'  to  'Zero'  in Schedule-A of AMCR-2016 and declared all the BSM deposits / any other Placer deposits in association with monazite are above threshold.  This has resulted in all the BSM deposits or any other placer deposits containing BSM irrespective of the grade of 'Monazite' shall be regulated under AMCR-2016.
- (c) The  mining  lease  in  respect  of  First  Schedule  minerals  under  MMDR  Act,  1957 requires the previous approval from Ministry of Mines. In the case of atomic minerals, Ministry  of  Mines  refers  for  the  comments  of  DAE  and  after  receipt  of  No  Objection Certificate (NOC) from DAE, approval is granted by Ministry of Mines. Subsequently, the respective State Government grants the mining lease to the concerned applicant.

Mining  leases  are  granted  to  public  sector  undertakings  such  as  M/s.  IREL  (India) Limited and M/s. Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited in the State of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha.  Mining leases were issued for beach sand minerals in favour of private sector  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu,  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Maharashtra.  Termination procedures of these leases granted to private entrepreneurs have been initiated by the Government.

- (d) In  accordance with the notification issued by Ministry of Mines, Government of India G.S.R.  134(E),  dated:  20.2.2019,  all  the  mineral  concessions  with  respect  to  Beach Sand Minerals are regulated under the AMCR-2016 irrespective of grade of Monazite and  the  mineral  concession  rights  are  vested  with  Government  and  Government companies.  As per this, participation of private sector in mining of BSM is not allowed.
- (e)    No, Sir.

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