(a)whether the Government is aware of the availability of uranium and other nuclear resources in Karnataka;
(b)if so, the details thereof and the manner in which the uranium resources are being controlled/exploited so that they do not fall into private hands;
(c)whether the Government has any report of the uranium and other nuclear resources being illegally transported out of the State; and
(d)if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (DR. JITENDRA SINGH):
(a)Yes, Sir.
(b)Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) has the mandate to identify and evaluate mineral resources of uranium, thorium, niobium, tantalum, beryllium, lithium, zirconium, titanium and rare earths containing uranium and thorium in the country. AMD has so far established 4,682 tonne (t) in situ U3O8 (3,970 tonne U) in Karnataka as given below:
District Name of the Deposit t U3O8 t U
Yadgir Gogi Walkunji-Yellakki 4,267 3,618
South Kanara 415 352
Total 4,682 3,970
[1 t U3O8 = 0.848 t uranium metal (U)]
Besides, 3.759 tonne columbite-tantalite (niobium and tantalum mineral),7.15 tonne beryl (beryllium mineral) and 65.61 tonne spodumeme (lithium mineral) have also been recovered from Marlagalla, Mandya district, Karnataka.
The uranium deposits established by AMD are mined by Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL), a Public Sector Unit of Department of Atomic Energy (DAE). Mining at Gogi, Yadgir district, Karnataka is at Exploratory Mining stage.
Considering the strategic nature of atomic minerals and following the amendment of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) [MMDR] Act, 1957 in January 2015, Ministry of Mines has notified the Atomic Minerals Concession Rules (AMCR), 2016, which stipulate reserving areas containing ‘atomic minerals’ (defined under Part B, First Schedule of MMDR Act, 1957) equal to or more than a certain threshold value for exploitation and conservation by Government agencies.
(c)No, Sir.
(d)In view of (c) above, does not arise.
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