THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S
OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) :
(a) Sir, running mining projects of Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) are located at
Orissa Sand Complex (OSCOM) at Chatrapur (Odisha), at Manavalakurichi (Tamil Nadu) and at
Chavara (Kerala).
(b) No rare earth material occurring as an independent mineral has been mined by IREL
during the last three years. However, the monazite rich tailings resulting from mining
of Beach Sand Minerals have been stored as per the guidelines of Atomic Energy Regulatory
Board (AERB) for extraction of thorium, uranium and rare earth material from monazite in
future.
(c) The proposed projects are: Project for capacity expansion of mining and mineral
separation unit at OSCOM, and Separated high pure rare earths project at Rare Earth
Division of IREL at Chavara, Kerala.
(d) Yes Sir, due to limited availability of mineable land carrying raw beach sand, and
gradual decline in heavy mineral contents in the sand, the activities at Chavara and
Manavalakurichi are declining during recent years.
(e) To expand its activities in the region, IREL has identified options for:
(i) acquiring land from the land owners at Vellanathuruthu, Pandarathuruthu and
Ponmana area of Chavara mines; (ii) outright purchase package and/or lease package
for acquiring land at Karithura, Chavara; (iii) collecting raw sand from Neendakara
Port area with the help of State Government and Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd.;
(iv) purchase of dredged-out sand from Neendakara harbour area; and (v) acquiring
land for mining purposes from stake holders having surface right in the mining areas
of Chavara and Manavalakurichi.
