A political debate over Jharkhand’s mining policy intensified on Thursday after Leader of the Opposition Babulal Marandi accused the Hemant Soren government of delaying mine auctions and failing to utilise the state’s mineral resources. The Congress rejected the allegations, saying the government was balancing mining with environmental safeguards and tribal rights.
Addressing a press conference, Marandi said several mining leases in West Singhbhum had expired, while many remained closed due to delays in renewal or fresh auction. He said this had affected production, employment, local businesses and state revenue.
Referring to his recent visit to the Saranda region, Marandi said the closure of mines had impacted economic activity in areas such as Jamda and Noamundi. He also said the proposed closure of the ACC cement plant at Jhinkpani from August 16 would affect around 1,600 families.
Marandi claimed that while 434 mineral blocks had been auctioned across the country since 2019-20, only three were auctioned in Jharkhand. He also alleged that the state had fallen behind Odisha in iron ore production and mining revenue despite having large mineral reserves.
The BJP leader also questioned the utilisation of District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) funds in West Singhbhum. He alleged that around Rs 3,700 crore had been collected between 2016 and 2026, but details of expenditure and projects had not been made public.
Responding to the allegations, Congress spokesperson Akhtar Ali said the BJP was advocating a model of mining that ignored the interests of forests and tribal communities. He said the state government was committed to development while protecting natural resources and the rights of people living in mining areas.
Ali said the framework for the auction of major mineral blocks was governed by central laws and policies. He said the state had opposed mining in ecologically sensitive areas where required and had taken legal steps to protect forest land and the interests of affected communities.
The Congress also said the Centre should release Jharkhand’s pending dues, which it claimed amounted to Rs 1.36 lakh crore, to support development and employment in mining regions.
The exchange reflects differing approaches to mineral development in Jharkhand. The BJP has sought faster mine auctions to increase production, investment and employment, while the ruling alliance has maintained that mining should proceed within environmental safeguards and with protection of tribal rights.