Leader of the Opposition and Jharkhand BJP president Babulal Marandi on Friday questioned the Hemant Soren government’s delay in implementing the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), alleging that the move was linked to large-scale illegal sand mining in the state.
Marandi alleged that illegal sand mining was being carried out openly from the Subarnarekha river in the Bhuiyandih area of Jamshedpur, where sand is allegedly extracted using boats, stored in sacks along the riverbank and later transported for sale.
He claimed that despite a ban imposed by the Jharkhand High Court on sand mining, such activities were continuing unabated, with sand being sold at high prices. According to him, the government seeks time before the court but fails to act on the ground.
The BJP leader further alleged that the state government, the police and mining mafias were acting in collusion. He claimed that illegal earnings from sand mining were one of the reasons for the delay in implementing PESA, a law enacted to safeguard tribal rights in Scheduled Areas.
Questioning the chief minister’s commitment to tribal interests, Marandi said a government that does not implement a law meant to protect tribal communities cannot claim to speak in their name.
Challenging the chief minister, Marandi said that if the illegal mining was not happening with the government’s consent, the administration should demonstrate its resolve by stopping it and taking action against those involved. He claimed this would not happen as, according to him, the government and mining mafias had become mutually dependent.
Responding to remarks that the Opposition repeatedly raised issues related to sand, coal, stone and liquor, Marandi said these matters warranted scrutiny if they were being used as sources of illegal income. He added that if any of his allegations were incorrect, he was willing to admit it publicly, but asserted that accountability for the alleged plunder of Jharkhand’s natural resources could not be avoided.