Lok Sabha Question No. 4737 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Beach Sand Minerals
Ministry: MINES
Asked by: Pinaki Misra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINES

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4737

ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## BEACH SAND MINERALS

## 4737. SHRI PINAKI MISRA

Will the Minister of MINES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  size  and  value  of  the  beach  sand  minerals  industry  including  Ilmenite,  Rutile, Zircon, Garnet, Sillimanite and Monazite and the details of its growth in the last five years;
- (b) the  production  to  reserve  ratio  of  beach  sand  minerals  in  India  as  compared  to  the global average;
- (c) the policies guiding intervention in this sector and the steps taken to improve mineral extraction under the National Mineral Policy 2019;
- (d) whether  private  sector  intervention  has  been  prohibited  in  this  sector  and  if  so,  the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether  the  Government  would  consider  allowing  private  sector  investment  in  the sector and if so, the details thereof;
- (f) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  beach  sand  minerals  have  recently  been  listed  under  atomic minerals and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) whether it is a fact that IREL (India) Limited continues to export beach sand minerals despite their strategic value and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINES, COAL AND PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI PRALHAD JOSHI)

(a): Beach Sand Mineral (BSM) sand comprises of suite of seven minerals viz. Ilmenite, Rutile, Zircon, Garnet, Sillimanite, Monazite and Leucoxene.  The size of the BSM industry is around 8.24 lakh tons per annum. The annual growth of  the industry is  about 10%. The value of BSM industry in India is estimated at about Rs 1,400 crore.

- (b): Production (per annum) to reserve ratio of BSM in India is 0.0007, while the global ratio (Ilmenite, Rutile & Zircon) is 0.005 (as per IBM year book-2019).
- (c): The various policies guiding the BSM sector are:
- i. Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957,
- ii. Atomic Minerals Concession Rules, 2016,
- iii. Mineral Concession and Development Rules, 2017,
- iv. Atomic Energy Act 1962 and the Rules framed there under,
- v. Radiation (Protection) Rules, 2004,
- vi. Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Rules framed there under,
- vii. Mines Act 1952 and the Rules & Regulations made there under,
- viii. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Rules framed there under,
- ix. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1974 and the Rules framed there under, etc.

The principles of NMP 2019 for BSM are in place and complied in conformity with the  mining  and  other  related  laws  conforming  to  national  security  requirements  and established international protocols. Para 6.9 of the National Mineral Policy (NMP) 2019 deals with BSM. Extraction of the replenishable deposits of BSM is carried out in a sustainable manner for improved economic growth. (d): Ministry of Mines vide Gazette Notification G.S.R. No. 134(E) dated 20.02.2019 has amended the threshold value in respect of monazite in total heavy minerals for BSM from 0.75%  to 0.00 % in Atomic Minerals Concession Rules (AMCR), 2016.  As a result, mining leases  in  respect  of  BSM  above  threshold  shall  be  granted  to  Government  Company  or Corporation owned or controlled by the Government. (e): No such proposal is under consideration in this Ministry. (f): BSM  have  been  listed  under  atomic  minerals  vide  Gazette  notification  No.S.O 2356(E) dated 11.07.2016. BSM is a suite of seven minerals including Monazite which is a radioactive and prescribed substance and is a source of Uranium and Thorium. (g): BSM sand and BSM concentrate have strategic value due to the presence of Monazite, a Prescribed Substance as per the Atomic Energy Act 1962, as one of the constituents. IREL do  not  export  BSM  sand  or  BSM  concentrate.  Upon  processing  the  BSM  concentrate, radioactive  free  mineral  products  viz.  Ilmenite,  Rutile,  Zircon,  Garnet,  Sillimanite  and Leucoxene are extracted, which are not  restricted items and private sector can have access to these materials as per their requirement. More than 1500 industries in private sector, mostly MSMEs have been using these mineral products liberated from radioactivity in downstream industry  to  produce  value  added  products  and  there  are  no  restrictions  on  export  of  these mineral  products.  It  is  the  first  priority  of  IREL  to  meet  the  strategic  requirement  of  the country and to cater to the domestic industrial requirement of these minerals thereafter. The surplus  available  low  value  (low  grade)  product  after  fulfilling  the  strategic  and  domestic requirement are only exported, which does not find domestic consumption in the country.

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