India, July 22 -- There are approximately 7.23 million tonnes (MT) of in-situ rare earth elements oxide (REO) in 13.15 MT of monazite in coastal beach, teri red sand and inland alluvium in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, the mines ministry informed Rajya Sabha on Monday citing Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research (AMD). Mining is feasible for these resources as per the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), it added.

Mines minister G Kishan Reddy gave the information in response to Bharatiya Janata Party member Sumitra Balmik's question on the reserves of rare earth metals and ores in the country and the feasibility of mining. Balmik asked whether the ...