The Department of Atomic Energy provided a detailed parliamentary response on environmental safeguards for heavy mineral sand mining and rare earth minerals. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD) has explored coastal tracts of Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, and established the Pudupuram-Cuddalore Beach Sand Minerals deposit containing 1.912 million tonnes of Total Heavy Minerals, including 0.926 million tonnes of Ilmenite, 0.063 million tonnes of Zircon, and 0.005 million tonnes of Monazite.
Regulatory Measures Against Illegal Mining
The Government of India has implemented six specific measures to curb illegal beach sand mining and unauthorized export of strategic monazite sands. First, the Ministry of Mines issued Notification No. G.S.R 134(E) dated 20.02.2019 amending the threshold value of Monazite for Beach Sand Minerals occurring in beach sand or placer deposits to 0.00% in Total Heavy Minerals, bringing all BSM deposits under complete government control. Second, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade issued Notification No. 26/2015-2020 dated 21.08.2018 making export of BSM a State Trading Enterprise activity canalized exclusively through IREL (India) Limited. Third, Monazite Test Certification by AMD has been reintroduced for every export consignment as per Standard Operating Procedures for Canalization.
Fourth, Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017 mandates registration and reporting of production, trade, and utilization of minerals by all miners, traders, stockiest, exporters, and end-users to State Governments and Indian Bureau of Mines or AMD. Fifth, State Governments were requested to set up Task Forces at State and District Levels to control illegal mining. Sixth, the Ministry of Mines through Indian Bureau of Mines developed a satellite-based Mining Surveillance System using automatic remote sensing detection technology to establish responsive mineral administration.
Environmental Safeguards and Radiation Protection
Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowers State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals. For radiation hazard exposure to local fishing communities, adequate environmental safeguards are implemented during project planning phases for rare earth mineral extraction from coastal areas. Assessments evaluate potential environmental impacts on land, water, biodiversity, and local communities.
Prior to mining lease execution in coastal areas, a Letter of Intent is issued requiring the lessee to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment and submit reports to Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change including radiological survey by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Mining leases are only executed after MoEF&CC clearance confirms no detrimental impact. Mining operations for atomic minerals from coastal areas are environment-friendly as they involve no drilling or blasting. Mined-out land is simultaneously backfilled free of monazite, reducing background radiation to less than 0.5 micro-sievert per hour, followed by original topography restoration and green belt development.
Health Physics Unit under Environmental Assessment Division of BARC monitors radiological aspects in each IREL plant. The information was provided by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.