Question : MINERAL SAND MINING IN KERALA

(a) whether the Government has received any proposals from the State Government of Kerala for getting clearance to grant mineral sand mining from North of Kayamulam Stretching of Alapuzha coast in Kerala;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether some MPs have raised objections against the decision of the State Government to grant mining lease right to a company subject to the clearance of the Union Government;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF MINES (SHRI RAMESH BAIS)

(a) and (b): Ministry of Mines has received seven proposals from Government of Kerala for grant of mining leases for ilmenite, rutile etc. over various areas in district Alapuzha in favour of M/s Kerala Rare Earths and Minerals Ltd. (KREML) for approval of the Central Government under Section 5(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act). The details of these proposals are given in Annexure.

(c) and (d): Sri V.M.Sudheeran, Hon`ble MP and other MPs from Kerala have raised objections against State Government of Kerala`s decision to grant mining lease to KREML for an area north of Kayamkulam stretching Alapuzha coast on environmental grounds.

(e): The proposals regarding grant of approval of the Central Government under Section 5(1) of the MMDR Act and the references from the Kerala MPs have been referred to the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Interim reply received from DAE in some cases suggests that they have, inter-alia, requested KREML to inform whether Environment Impact Assessment/Environment Management Plan (EIA/EMP) studies have been undertaken and whether clearance from Ministry of Environment and Forest has been obtained.
ANNEXURE

Annexure referred to in reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1086 for 9.12.2003 asked by Shri V.M.Sudheeran regarding Mineral Sand Mining in Kerala State: KERALA - Mining Lease (ML)

District: Alapuzha
S.No.Name of the Party	Nature of Concession	Mineral(s)	Area (in hects.)	Date of receipt of proposal


1.M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile,	leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.5	4/6/2003

2.M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile,	leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.5	4/6/2003

3.M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile,	leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.65	4/6/2003

4.M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile,	leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.6529	6/10/2003

5.M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile,	leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.4395	6/10/2003
6.M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile,	leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.9384	6/10/2003

7M/s Kerala Rare Earths
and Minerals Ltd	ML	Ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene, zircon &	sillimanite	4.5425	6/10/2003