New Delhi

The Lok Sabha witnessed an unusual moment on Wednesday when the presiding officer himself posed a question during the Question Hour.

Krishna Prasad Tenneti, a leader from the Telugu Desam Party, was in the Chair when a question listed under his name on rare earth minerals was taken up. With the House’s consent, he proceeded to raise the query while presiding.

Addressing Union Minister Jitendra Singh, Tenneti highlighted the challenge of balancing environmental protection with the extraction of rare earth resources found along coastlines and seashores. He sought clarity on how the government manages this delicate balance.

Responding to the query, Singh explained that beach sand minerals—central to the issue—are sourced mainly from coastal deposits and certain rock formations. He noted that these minerals are typically found in combination with others and are already being extracted through regulated processes.

The minister also referred to past concerns over illegal mining. He recalled that around 2014–15, instances of smuggling had emerged, where contractors used graphite exploration as a cover to extract monazite, a mineral rich in thorium.

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To curb such activities, Singh said the government introduced stricter regulatory measures, including temporary restrictions, to ensure better monitoring and control over the extraction process.