Radioactivity of thorium found in beach sand in India is in the
range of 0.32-6.44 Becquerel per kilogram (bq/kg). However,
radioactivity of thorium in monazite sand is 322 bg/kg, points
out the petition filed by Joy Kaitharath, secretary of Thrissur-
based Human Rights Protection Centre. The problem of radiation
arose when KMML, a public sector undertaking mainly
manufacturing titanium dioxide, began the practice of selling
waste sand returned after extraction of minerals needed for its
products, the petition says. Around 90 per cent of the sand
mined by KMML is returned as unutilized sand after processing.
When this waste sand is returned to the area mined, it would
mask the radioactivity of thorium in monazite. Citing 'Untold
Story of Mining', an article published in Down to Earth journal
in July last year, and information obtained using Right to
Information Act, the petitioner points out that KMML had sold
39,553 tonnes of waste sand in 2009. Such authorized sale of
waste sand, combined with unauthorized s