Bid to allow pvt investors to beach sands mining in AP decried
Monazite has been envisioned by DAE as fuel for third stage of nuclear development, loss of monazite would have serious adverse implications
image for illustrative purpose
Visakhapatnam: Social activist and former IAS officer EAS Sarma expressed serious concern over Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC)'s proposal seeking to process leases to private parties for 19 lease areas of beach sands covering an extent of 16,000 hectares along the coastal stretches of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and other areas of the State.
In a representation submitted to Dr Ajit Kumar Mohanty, Chairman, Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Government of India and V L Kantha Rao, Secretary, Ministry of Mines, he pointed out "you are aware of how private beach sand mining in Tamil Nadu resulted in significant quantities of Monazite being smuggled out, a fact that came to light in a case initiated suo moto by the Madras High Court. According to preliminary reports, the value of the Monazite so smuggled out would exceed Rs 5,000 crore. The court has evidently ordered a CBI investigation into the matter."
Sarma said more importantly, monazite has been envisioned by DAE as the fuel for the third stage of nuclear development and, as such, loss of monazite would have serious adverse long-term strategic implications involving the national interest. As a matter of strategy, the DAE should take all preemptive measures to plug the loopholes that exist in the case of private mining companies extracting monazite, which is a mineral closely associated with the other atomic minerals like Ilmenite, sillimanite etc. Considering that regulatory oversight in the past had been fragile and it resulted in monazite being surreptitiously exported by private miners, the DAE and the MOM should be extra-cautious in allowing private miners to take advantage of the regulatory loopholes, he opined.
"While the DAE may require that monazite-rich beach sand tailings be handed over to its agencies for surveillance and control, in reality, in view of the limited staff that the Atomic Minerals Division has at its disposal to attend to such a heavy responsibility and the logistic problems involved, it would be nearly impossible for your department to prevent monazite being extracted and unauthorisedly sold outside. Considering that every unit of thorium is strategically needed to sustain India's long-term vision of nuclear development, the nation cannot afford to take any chances with Monazite-rich Beach Sands available along the coastal stretches of Odisha, AP, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, as well as with Monazite available in river-beds." he stated. Sarma opined "in my view, it is highly impudent on the part of the Ministry of Mines and the DAE to have agreed to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act and the Rules made thereunder to permit private mining of beach sands, particularly after the sordid facts that came to light through the case taken up by the Madras High Court."
