(a) whether a huge quantity of Titanium was deposited in the Coastal Areas of South India as a
result of Tsunami;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has allocated Rs. 500 crore for the extraction of Titanium;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to extract Titanium?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE(SHRI PRITHVIRAJ CHAVAN)
(a) & (b) There is no substantial enhancement of heavy mineral deposit in the coastal stretches
of Tamil Nadu and Pondichery. However, Tsunami has resulted in enhancement of nearly 0.46 million
tones of Ilmenite and 0.03 million tones of Rutile in the known deposits of Chavara, Kerala.
(c) & (d) No Sir.The Department of Space has allocated Rs.99.50 crore for setting up
a 500 tons per year titanium sponge plant at Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited, Kollam based on
the technology developed at Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory.
(e) The beach sand mineral sector has been liberalized and private sector is also encouraged
to set up titanium extraction plants.