Parliament panel pulls up IREL over board-level vacancies, Odisha mining JV stuck awaiting clearances

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The Parliament’s Committee on Public Undertakings has flagged two key issues that remain unresolved in IREL (India) Ltd, the prolonged vacancies at the board level and delays in securing clearances for a joint venture mining project in Odisha.

IREL is a central public sector enterprise under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), engaged in the mining and processing of beach sand minerals and rare earth elements used in atomic energy, strategic metals, and other high-technology applications.

The Committee, in its Twenty-Eighth Report, presented in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on December 11, said these gaps persist despite its earlier recommendations.

The panel noted that the post of regular Chairman and Managing Director at IREL is still vacant, and four Non-Official Independent Director positions have not been filled. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) informed the panel that the Public Enterprises Selection Board has recommended a candidate for the CMD role and that approval from the Appointments Committee of Cabinet is awaited.

The DAE stated it has also asked the Department of Public Enterprises to expedite the appointment of Independent Directors. The Committee said the reply remains interim and asked the department to file a final action-taken note.

Delays in operationalising the IREL–Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha Limited (IDCOL) joint venture form the second issue where final responses are pending. The panel pointed to repeated revisions in the forest land schedule, pending compensatory afforestation approvals, and the need for coordinated decisions among state and central agencies.

The DAE reported that Terms of Reference for the mine plan were granted in April 2025, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) reports have been prepared. It added that the matter has been escalated to the state government and the Union Environment Ministry for resolution. The Committee said the issue will remain open until the clearances are obtained and operations begin.

The Committee accepted six other recommendations related to technology development, rare earth ecosystem building, project execution, environmental safeguards, foreign collaborations, and community engagement.

On technology and the rare earth ecosystem, the DAE said the Rare Earth and Titanium Theme Park in Bhopal has completed pilot-scale facilities for producing cerium, lanthanum and neodymium metals and for recovering rare earths from end-of-life magnets.

A joint venture with Kazakhstan’s UKTMP has been incorporated, and basic engineering work is underway. The Technology Demonstration Plant has also been completed, and process validation is in progress.

In project implementation, the department shared updates on mining plans in Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The Brahmagiri project in Odisha is moving through pre-project work, Mine Developer-cum-Operator selection and other preparatory steps. The Inayam-Midalam project in Tamil Nadu is under survey and is advancing through the Coastal Regulation Zone, environmental and forest clearance stages.

The IREL–Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited (TAMIN) joint venture has been incorporated, and land demarcation has been completed, while state-level approvals for nominating the prospective lessee are pending, it stated.

The Committee asked the DAE to ensure time-bound execution of all ongoing projects, furnish final replies on pending matters, and strengthen coordination with state governments and the environment ministry to reduce delays in statutory clearances.