Kerala’s untapped wealth of strategic minerals

Mineral resources are not evenly distributed across the world. Some countries are mineral-rich while some are not.

So, what constitutes an economically viable deposit of minerals varies considerably in time and place — the higher the concentration of the substance, the more economical it is to mine.

While these are the universally acknowledged truth, what is also perversely true is the abject failure of some countries in deriving economic use of the mineral wealth that they sit on.

ABJECT FAILURE

Here in India, one does not need to look beyond one’s shoulders to get a rough idea. Consider the abundant coal reserves and how coal-fired power plants have failed to take off, leading to large shortfall during peak load demand, not to speak of outages and grid collapse.

Kerala provides a perfect sub-national context for the larger narrative. It doesn’t seem to know what to do with its heavy mineral sand deposits, considered among the largest in extent and best in quality.

On a global scale, heavy minerals are of crucial economic importance as non-metallic and metallic raw materials alike. Economic heavy mineral deposits are mainly located in tropical and sub-tropical countries — just as in Kerala.

Heavy minerals constitute important resources employing tens of thousands in the production and international trading of millions of tonnes per year. They are used in the manufacture of important construction and industrial products. Without ilmenite and rutile there would be no snow-white paints and airplanes and without zircon, no control rods for nuclear reactors. Some heavy minerals are not easily substituted and only available in a few countries. Many of them are thus very valuable and rare; wars have been and are still being waged because of them.

DETAILED SURVEY

A detailed survey of the coastal areas in Kollam and Alappuzha districts by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research under the Department of Atomic Energy, was revealing. It found that the mineral sand occurring between Neendakara and Kayamkulam Bar (the Chavara barrier beach and the eastern extension) over a length of 22 km with a width of 225 metres was one of the best in the world because of high titanium dioxide content in the mineral ilmenite. It is now the most important ore of titanium.

And titanium dioxide is a white pigment used more and more in paints as lead paint is considered a health hazard. In fact, the largest percentage (up to 95 per cent) of worldwide use for titanium is for the production of this white pigment. It has great lustre, good endurance, high opacity (it hides whatever is under it, which is important for paint) and a pure white colour. The pigment is also used to provide colour for rubber, plastics, textiles, ink, cosmetics, leather, ceramics and paper.

The reserve of total heavy mineral in the Chavara barrier beach is 127 million tonnes with ilmenite content of 80 mt from the total reserve of raw sand of the order of 1,400 mt. In the northern portion beyond Kayamkulam pozhi, extending up to Thottapalli in Alappuzha district, the reserve of total heavy mineral sand is of the order of 17 mt with ilmenite content of nine million tonnes from a raw sand of reserve of 242 mt.

EIGHT BLOCKS

Out of this area, the Chavara barrier beach is divided into eight blocks and is numbered I to VIII for separating ilmenite for titanium dioxide manufacturing. These blocks are apportioned between Kerala Minerals and Metals, a State Government undertaking, and the Indian rare earths, a Government of India enterprise, under the Department of Atomic Energy. Large tracts of these mineral sands are still unexplored. It would appear that mining leases have become the most debated but least ‘converted’ subject of policy-making.

A combination of factors has stymied effective law-making and purposeful action in this critically important sector in Kerala. Firstly, ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene and zircon are grouped under part-B atomic minerals of the first schedule and sillimenite of the second schedule of the Minerals and Minerals Act (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, of the Government of India. Prior approval of the Government of India is mandatory to grant mining lease as per proviso to section 5(1) (b) of the Act. The State Government can grant a mining lease only after the Centre gives its own approval. Secondly, unlike in other States, mineral resources cannot be exploited here due to peculiar features ranging from non-availability of land for mining, vast expanse of reserve forests and dense population.

GREEN CONCERNS

Mining also invites all kinds of environmental problems such as lowering of water table; noise and dust pollution; public safety; threat to flaura and fauna; contamination of water; and deterioration of river ecosystem.

There is high awareness about these issues among the public here, which has emboldened sections among them to put up strong resistance to any move for mining even in the joint sector, let alone private sector. There are also reports about vested interests making the best of the situation by outwardly supporting the protesters while being hand-in-glove with ‘people who matter.’ They are the ones who resort to mindless mining and smuggling of the ‘golden’ sands and striking allegedly huge bargains with end-users outside of the State. This has been going on for decades together; neither of the two main political formations coming to power every alternate term in the State has been able to come up with an acceptable solution to stop the loot.

NEW INITIATIVES

But both are aware of the problem at hand and have tried their bit at times to deal with it. For instance, the industries department has lately mooted a proposal for constituting a special task force under the Department of Mining and Geology to check exploitation and transportation of metals and minerals in the State.

At least six departments are involved in the conservation of water bodies and prevention of mining and transportation of sand. But the overall management and conservation of minerals and metals is vested with the department. It is also empowered to initiate action against illegal mining and transportation of metals and minerals, including sand from water bodies.

The Department is also developing an electronic system for placing mineral trade in the public domain. The National Informatics Centre has designed the first phase of the ‘mining activities management system’ as also the second phase employing GPRS technology for through-vehicle tracking.

The Web-enabled solution will be rolled out over both the Internet and intranet. Dealers will have to mandatorily maintain an electronic stock register in line with the objective of ensuring transparency in the movement of heavy mineral sand, among other valuable mined material.

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