Lok Sabha Question No. 3210 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-16
Subject: Illegal Smuggling of Atomic Minerals
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, T. RADHAKRISHNAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3210

TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2016

## ILLEGAL SMUGGLING OF ATOMIC MINERALS

3210.  SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the recovery of tonnes of beryl, which is used  in nuclear reactors, from some  persons  in  Rajasthan  for illegal smuggling to neighbouring countries and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry in this regard and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  such  incidents  in future; and
- (d) the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  stop  and  fight  the  threat  of nuclear assets being drained out of the country?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) Yes, Sir. The Government is aware of the recent recovery of approximately 31 tonnes  of  beryl  from  some  persons  involved  in  illegal  export  of  the  mineral from Rajasthan.
- (b) Yes, Sir. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department  of  Atomic Energy  (DAE), received the information  on  illegal  export  of  beryl  through  an  anonymous  letter.  The information was shared with the Central intelligence agency (IB) by DAE for enquiring into the facts and taking necessary action. After due verification by the  Central  agency,  the  information  was  shared  with  Rajasthan  Police,  who took up subsequent gathering of criminal intelligence in the matter. An FIR, under Section 14/24 of Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and Section 3 of Prevention

of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984 was registered by SP, AntiTerrorism Squad (ATS), Rajasthan Police, Jaipur on the written complaint of Regional  Director,  Western  Region,  AMD,  Jaipur.  During  the  course  of  the investigation, ATS, Rajasthan Police apprehended six accused persons. The Public  Prosecutor  filed  the  charge  sheet  against  the  six  accused,  under judicial custody, in the court of District Judge, Jaipur on 27.02.2016.

- (c) Beryl  is  one  of  the  'Prescribed  Substances'  (PS)  notified  by  DAE  vide Notification  No.  S.O.61  (E)  dated  18.01.2006  under  Section  2(1)(g)  and Section 3 of the Atomic Energy (AE) Act, 1962 (Category 0A 304).The Mines and Minerals(Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act 1957) lists beryl as one of the 'atomic minerals' in Part B of First Schedule. The AE Act, 1962  and  MMDR  Act,  1957  and  the  rules  made  there  under  contain safeguards with respect to mining, milling, processing and/or handling of PS and  'atomic  minerals'.  In  addition,  beryl  (Category  0A  304  -  SCOMET  list) also attracts the export control regulations and Foreign Trade (Development and  Regulation)  [FTDR]  Act  and  orders  there  under,  being  administered  by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  Vide Gazette Notification S.O. 428(E) dated 15.12.2015, the Central Government authorised Director, AMD or such other  officers  of  the  AMD  as  may  be  duly  authorised  by  Director,  AMD  to exercise  the  powers  of  entry  and  inspection  under  Section  8  of  the  Atomic Energy  Act  1962  for  the  purpose  of  Atomic  Energy  (Working  of  Mines, Minerals and Handling of Prescribed Substances) Rules ,1984.
- (d) The  existing  Acts  and  Rules  are  sufficient  to  stop  and  fight  the  threat  of nuclear assets being drained out from the country.

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