Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Department of Atomic Energy on 12th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
This report outlines the measures taken by the Government of India to regulate beach sand mineral (BSM) mining and prevent the unauthorized export of strategic monazite. It highlights the discovery of the Pudupuram-Cuddalore BSM deposit and details a multi-agency regulatory framework involving satellite monitoring, mandatory certifications, and strict environmental clearances. Key actions include the canalization of exports through IREL and the requirement for radiological surveys prior to mining operations.
Key Points / Main Content
Exploration and Deposits
The Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) established the “Pudupuram-Cuddalore BSM deposit” in Tamil Nadu, containing 1.912 million tonnes of total heavy minerals.
The deposit includes Monazite (0.005 Mt), Ilmenite (0.926 Mt), and Zircon (0.063 Mt).
Regulatory and Export Controls
Monazite Threshold: The Ministry of Mines set the monazite threshold value to "0.00%," bringing all BSM deposits under the exclusive control of Government companies.
Export Canalization: Export of BSM is restricted and canalized through IREL (India) Limited, a Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy.
Certification: AMD has reintroduced mandatory Monazite Test Certification (MTC) for every export consignment of beach sand minerals.
Monitoring and Enforcement
Mandatory Reporting: Rule 45 of the MCDR 2017 requires all miners, traders, and exporters to register and report production and trade to the government to ensure end-to-end accounting.
Satellite Monitoring: The Mining Surveillance System (MSS) uses remote sensing detection technology to curb illegal mining through public participation and automatic alerts.
Enforcement Levels: State Governments are empowered under the MMDR Act, 1957, to set up Task Forces at State and District levels to control illegal mining and storage.
Environmental and Radiological Safeguards
Pre-Mining Requirements: Lessees must conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and a radiological survey by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to obtain clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Operational Standards: Mining is conducted without drilling or blasting; mined-out land is backfilled with monazite-free material to reduce background radiation to less than 0.5 micro-sievert per hour.
Restoration: Mining sites undergo topographical restoration followed by green belt development.
Continuous Oversight: The Health Physics Unit of BARC monitors radiological aspects across all IREL plants.
Impact Analysis
Government Companies (e.g., IREL)Impact: These entities now have complete control over BSM deposits and serve as the sole channel for exports.
Action Required: Manage the canalization of BSM exports and ensure all consignments adhere to established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Private Miners, Traders, and ExportersImpact: They are subject to strict registration and reporting requirements and are prohibited from exporting BSM directly.
Action Required: Register with the State Government and IBM/AMD; maintain transparent reporting of mineral trade and obtain MTC for all mineral movements.
State GovernmentsImpact: They hold the legislative and administrative purview to control illegal mining, transportation, and storage.
Action Required: Establish and maintain Task Forces at State and District levels to enforce mineral regulations.
Mining Lessees (Applicants)Impact: Project commencement is contingent upon rigorous environmental and radiological impact assessments.
Action Required: Conduct EIAs and BARC radiological surveys; secure MoEF & CC clearance before executing mining leases.
Key Entities Referenced
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957: The primary legislative act that empowers State Governments under Section 23C to frame rules for preventing illegal mining and unauthorized transportation of minerals.
Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR) 2017: Rules that mandate registration and reporting by all mineral stakeholders under Rule 45 to facilitate end-to-end national-scale accounting and reduce illegal mining.
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD): A unit of the Department of Atomic Energy responsible for mineral exploration and the reintroduction of Monazite Test Certification for export consignments.
IREL (India) Limited: A Public Sector Undertaking under the Department of Atomic Energy designated as the sole canalizing agency for the export of Beach Sand Minerals.
Mining Surveillance System (MSS): A satellite-based remote sensing monitoring system developed to detect and curb illegal mining activities through public participation and automatic detection.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ENVIRONMENTAL
SAFEGUARDS FOR HEAVY MINERAL SAND
MINING AND RARE EARTH MINERALS
प्रव तथ: 12 AUG 2026 3:05PM by PIB Delhi
Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD), a constituent unit of Department of
Atomic Energy (DAE), has carried out exploration in the coastal tracts of Cuddalore district, Tamil
Nadu, for Beach Sand Minerals (BSM) and established a BSM deposit, viz. “Pudupuram-Cuddalore
BSM deposit”, containing 1.912 Million tonnes (Mt) of Total Heavy Minerals (THM), including
Monazite (0.005 Mt), Ilmenite (0.926 Mt) and Zircon (0.063 Mt).
The steps adopted by the Government of India to curb illegal beach sand mining & unauthorized export
of strategic monazite sands in India are listed below:
1. Ministry of Mines (MoM) has issued Notification No. G.S.R 134(E) dated 20.02.2019 for amending
the Threshold value of "Monazite" for BSM occurring in beach sand or placer deposits as "0.00%"
in Total Heavy Minerals (THM), which resulted in bringing the overall BSM deposits of the
Country under the complete control of the Government companies.
2. Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and
Industry, Government of India issued Notification No. 26/2015-2020 dated 21.08.2018 on export
policy on BSM under which export of BSM have been brought under State Trading Enterprise and
shall be canalized through IREL (India) Limited (IREL), a Public Sector Undertaking under DAE.
3. Monazite Test Certification (MTC) by AMD has been reintroduced for every export consignments
of beach sand minerals as per the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for Canalization.
4. Rule 45 of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, (MCDR) 2017 makes it mandatory
for all miners, traders, stockiest, exporters and end-users of minerals to register and report on the
production, trade and utilization of minerals to the State Government(s) and Indian Bureau of Mines
or AMD as the case maybe. It facilitates end-to end national-scale accounting of all minerals
produced in the country from pithead to its end-use, reducing the scope for illegal mining, royalty
evasion, etc.
5. State Governments were requested to set up Task Forces at State and District Level to control illegal
mining.
6. The MoM through Indian Bureau of Mines, has developed the mining Surveillance System (MSS),
a satellite-based monitoring system which aims to establish a regime of responsive mineral
administration, through public participation, by curbing instances of illegal mining activity through
automatic remote sensing detection technology.Section 23C of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowers the State
Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals and
for the purposes connected therewith. Hence, control of illegal mining comes under the legislative and
administrative purview of the State Governments.
As regards, radiation hazard exposure to local fishing communities, adequate environmental safeguards
are being taken in India during the planning phase of the projects pertaining to extraction of rare earth
bearing minerals from the coastal area. Assessments to evaluate the potential environmental impact of
mining rare earth bearing mineral, including effects on land, water, biodiversity, and local communities
are conducted. In case of mining of minerals in coastal areas prior to execution of mining lease, a Letter
of Intent (LOI) is issued to the Lessee with a condition that the lessee will have to conduct
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and submit the report to Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change (MoEF & CC) including radiological survey of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
(BARC). Only after clearance of MoEF & CC which tantamount that the impact is not detrimental, the
lease is executed for mining.
Further, the mining operations for atomic minerals including RE bearing minerals from coastal areas
are environment friendly as no drilling and blasting are undertaken unlike bulk minerals. The mined-
out land is simultaneously backfilled, free of monazite on account of which background radiation in the
deposits reduces to less than 0.5 micro-sievert per hour and subsequently original topography is
restored followed by green belt development.
Health Physics Unit (HPU), an independent unit under Environmental Assessment Division (EAD) of
BARC, Government of India monitors the radiological aspects in each of the plants of IREL.
This information was given by Union Minister of State for Prime Minister’s office and Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh, in a written reply in the
Lok Sabha today.
*****
NKR/AK/NM
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2298193) आगंतुक पटल : 723
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही