IREL (India) Limited has initiated fresh steps to advance its large-scale mineral mining project in Tamil Nadu by applying for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance, months after being exempted from mandatory public hearings. The proposal, currently under review by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, marks a significant development in the project, which has been classified as having “strategic importance". Officials confirmed that the application for CRZ approval was submitted on March 26 and is now under examination.

The project is planned across coastal areas of the Kanniyakumari district, specifically in villages within Killiyoor taluk such as Keezhmidalam, Midalam, Enayamputhenthurai, Ezhudesam, and Kollencode. It aims to extract a range of atomic and heavy minerals, including monazite, zircon, ilmenite, rutile, sillimanite, and garnet, over an extensive area of approximately 1,144 hectares. The proposed mining capacity stands at 1.5 million tonnes per annum, indicating a large-scale operation with potential economic and strategic implications.

The latest move follows an amendment made in July 2025 to the project’s Terms of Reference (ToR) by the environment ministry, which granted the project exemption from public consultation requirements. This exemption has been justified on the grounds of national strategic importance, particularly due to the presence of atomic minerals that are critical for energy and defence-related applications. However, such exemptions have historically drawn scrutiny from environmental groups and local stakeholders concerned about ecological impact and community participation.

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With the CRZ clearance process now underway, the project has entered a crucial regulatory phase that will determine its future trajectory. Environmental considerations, coastal ecosystem protection, and compliance with regulatory norms will play a key role in the approval process. The outcome is expected to have broader implications for resource extraction policies in coastal regions and the balance between strategic development and environmental safeguards in India.

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