1 week ago
Jharkhand Leaders Clash Over Impact of New Mines Act
A new mining law has caused a political disagreement in Jharkhand.
Raghubar Das of the BJP said the law will make mining more legal and transparent.
He said this could help the state earn more money and reduce illegal mining.
He also argued that many approved mines are not operating.
Congress leaders disagreed and said the law could reduce Jharkhand's income by Rs 14,000 crore.
They said this could hurt social welfare programs, including the Maiyan Samman Yojana.
Congress plans to hold protests against the law.
The disagreement is about who should control mining taxes and how much money Jharkhand will receive.
Former chief minister Raghubar Das said the amended MMDR Act will benefit Jharkhand and India.
Das said the law would curb illegal mining, promote transparency and increase state revenue.
He accused the JMM-Congress alliance of misleading people and cited underused coal, iron ore and bauxite mines.
Congress leaders claimed the amended Act could cost Jharkhand Rs 14,000 crore and affect welfare programs.
The Congress announced phased protests from August 27 against the Bill passed by Parliament.
- Who
- Former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das and the BJP criticized the JMM-Congress alliance's opposition to the amended Act; Congress leaders opposed the changes.
- What
- The dispute concerns the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which restricts states' powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.
- Where
- The statements were made in Ranchi, Jharkhand.
- When
- Das made the remarks on August 26; Congress said its phased protests would begin August 27.
- Why
- The two sides disagree over whether the amended law will improve mining transparency and state revenue or reduce Jharkhand's income by Rs 14,000 crore.
Congress and JMM concerns
BJP and Raghubar Das's position
Effect on state revenue
Congress and JMM concerns
Congress claimed the amended Act would reduce Jharkhand's income by Rs 14,000 crore, including funds budgeted for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
BJP and Raghubar Das's position
Das said the Act would increase state benefits by curbing illegal mining, encouraging legal production and improving transparency.
Mining taxes and cess
Congress and JMM concerns
Congress opposed the restrictions on states' powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, saying the change could affect welfare schemes.
BJP and Raghubar Das's position
Das argued that the cess had reduced production, revenue and demand by making Jharkhand's coal and iron more expensive.
Responsibility for underused mines
Congress and JMM concerns
The article reports Congress's objections to the law but does not provide its response to Das's claims about inactive mines.
BJP and Raghubar Das's position
Das blamed the state government for failing to begin operations in most approved coal blocks and several iron ore and bauxite mines.
Key facts
- Bill
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Das's position
- The amended Act will curb illegal mining, promote legal mining and benefit Jharkhand and the nation.
- Congress estimate
- Congress claimed the Act could cause a Rs 14,000 crore loss to Jharkhand's state exchequer.
- Coal blocks
- Das said 34 coal blocks had been approved in Jharkhand, but only four were operating.
- Other mines
- Das said six of 15 iron ore mines and 17 of 37 bauxite mines were operational.
- Coal production
- Das cited a decline from 44.78 million tonnes in April-July 2024-25 to 37.25 million tonnes in the same period of 2025-26.
- Planned protests
- The Congress announced phase-wise protests beginning August 27 against the Bill's passage in Parliament.
Quotes
Raghubar Das
Former Jharkhand chief minister and BJP leader
“The newly amended Act will serve the interests of the state as well as the nation. It will curb illegal mining and promote legal mining with transparency, which will provide maximum benefit to the state. Ninety per cent of the total tax that comes from the mining sector goes to the state and the practice will continue.”
theprint.in
“According to government data, the coal production in Jharkhand stood at 44.78 million tonnes in the first quarter (April-July) of the 2024-25 financial year, but it dropped to 37.25 million tonnes during the same period in 2025-26.”
theprint.in
Sources
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