Thorium-based nuke doctrine. DAE notification of 18 January 2006 amending Atomic Minerals is NULL AND VOID with the coming into force of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015.
NaMo, ensure immediate protection of placer sands containing thorium and rare earths. These minerals are vital for the nation's thorium-based nuclear doctrine
Entrust the mining of these atomic minerals and rare earths to Indian Rare Earths Limited (under Dept. of Atomic Energy), cancelling all private licenses and leases.
Based on the classification by the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015, THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE LIST OF ATOMIC MINERALS (INCLUDING RARE EARTHS) specified in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.
This means that the DAE Notification S.O. 61(E) of 18 January 2006 is NULL AND VOID.
The DAE notification S.O. 61(E) of 18 January 2006, gazetted on 20 Jan. 2006 which revised the list of Prescribed substances, Prescribed equipment and Technology could have taken effect only if the Parliament amended the Act (1957). Now that the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015 leaves the List of Prescribed Substances (Atomic Minerals) unamended, the ATOMIC MINERALS continue to be as those identified in the Act, 1957.
All licences, leases, Memoranda of Understanding between the State Governments and private mining companies, for such atomic minerals issued pursuant to the 18 January 2006 of Dept. of Atomic Energy SHOULD THUS BE declared NULL AND VOID.
The mining of ATOMIC MINERALS (including Rare Earths) in placer sands should thus revert to the Public Sector Undertaking, Indian Rare Earths Limited, functioning under Deparment of Atomic Energy.
S. Kalyanaraman
Sarasvati Research Centre
January 14, 2015
MINES AND MINERALS (DEVELOPMENT AND REGULATION) AMENDMENT ORDINANCE, 2015 No. 3 of 2015 issued on 12 January 2015 amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 as follows:
...
Thus, as of 12 January 2015 when the Ordinance comes into force, there are the following categories of minerls:
1. Hydro carbons energy minerals: Coal and Lignite
2. Atomic Minerals (First Schedule Part B)
3.Notified Minerals: 1 Bauxite 2. Iron ore 3. Limestone 4. Manganese ore. (Fourth Schedule, clause ea of Section 3)
4. Second Schedule Minerals: with specific sub-categories (for purposes of rates of dead rent):
"precious stone minerals": gold, silver, diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, alexandrite and opal;
"high value minerals" means semi-precious stones (agate, gem garnet), corundum, copper, lead, zinc, asbestos (chrysotile variety) and mica;
”medium value minerals" means chromite, manganese ore, kyanite, sillimanite, vermiculite, magnesite, wollastonite, perlite, diaspore, apatite, rock phosphate, fluorite (fluorspar) and barytes ;
" low value minerals" means minerals other than precious metals and stones, high value minerals and medium value minerals.
[THE FIRST SCHEDULESPECIFIED MINERALSPART A. Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals
- Coal and Lignite.
PART B. Atomic Minerals
- Beryl and other beryllium-bearing minerals.
- Lithium-bearing minerals.
- Minerals of the "rare earths" group containing Uranium and Thorium.
- Niobium-bearing minerals.
- Phosphorites and other phosphatic ores containing Uranium.
- Pitchblende and other Uranium ores.
- [Titanium bearing minerals and ores (ilmenite, rutile and leucoxene)].
- Tantallium-bearing minerals.
- Uraniferous allanite, monazite and other thorium minerals.
- Uranium bearing tailings left over from ores after extraction of copper and gold, ilmenite and other titanium ores.
- [Zirconium bearing minerals and ores including Zircon].
PART C. Metallic and Non-Metallic Minerals
- Asbestos.
- Bauxite.
- Chrome ore.
- Copper ore.
- Gold.
- Iron ore.
- Lead.
- [ ]
- Manganese ore.
- Precious stones.
- Zinc.]
“THE THIRD SCHEDULE
(See section 9A)
RATES OF DEAD RENT
(APPLICABLE FOR ALL STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES EXCEPT THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL)
1. Rate of dead rent applicable to the leases granted for low value minerals are as under:
Rates of Dead Rent in Rupees per Hectare Per annum
First two years of lease | 3rd year onwards |
100/- | 400/- |
2. Two times the rate specified under (1) above in case of lease granted for medium value mineral(s).
3. Three times the rates specified under (1) above in case of lease granted for high value mineral(s).
4. Four times the rates specified under (1) above in case of lease granted for precious metals and stones.
Note: 1. For the purpose of this notification,-
(a) "precious metals and stones" means gold, silver, diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, alexandrite and opal;+
(b). "high value minerals" means semi-precious stones (agate, gem garnet), corundum, copper, lead, zinc, asbestos (chrysotile variety) and mica;
(c). ”medium value minerals" means chromite, manganese ore, kyanite, sillimanite, vermiculite, magnesite, wollastonite, perlite, diaspore, apatite, rock phosphate, fluorite (fluorspar) and barytes ;
(d) " low value minerals" means minerals other than precious metals and stones, high value minerals and medium value minerals;
2. The rates of dead rent for the State of West Bengal shall remain the same as specified in the notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Steel and Mines (Department of Mines) No. G.S.R. 458(E), dated the 5th May, 1987.”.
(F. No. 3/1/2002-MVI)