Question : COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTIONAL PERMISSION

(a) whether the Government proposes to constitute any committee to keep vigil on granting statutory permission by the State and Central authorities in regard to exploration and research of atomic minerals, including nuclear raw material;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Atomic Minerals Directorate is responsible for taking decisions in regard to exploration and research related to atomic minerals and this is the first desired step in atomic fuel cycle; and

(d) if so, the progress made in this regard so far?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (SHRI V. NARAYANASAMY) :

(a) No, Sir.

(b) Does not arise.

(c) Yes Sir. The Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of Atomic Energy, is engaged in survey and exploration of uranium resources and other atomic minerals viz. thorium, niobium, tantalum, beryllium, zirconium and lithium required for the Nuclear Power Programme of the country.

(d) The activities of AMD include heliborne/airborne surveys, geochemical/ geophysical surveys, reconnaissance/detailed survey, exploratory drilling etc. AMD continues its efforts to locate additional resources of uranium by conducting such surveys in order to locate new uranium reserves in the country. AMD has so far established 1,75,010 tonnes insitu uranium (U3O8) resources as on March, 2012.