Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Political sparring has intensified in Jharkhand following the passage of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, by both Houses of Parliament. The ruling coalition has warned the Modi government by calling it a “black” bill, with Chief Minister Hemant Soren going so far as to declare that Jharkhand will launch a massive agitation that the entire nation will witness. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi argued that the state already receives royalties, adding that curbing mineral theft would automatically boost royalty revenues.
Speaking during his tour of Palamu, State Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore clearly stated that this amendment bill would cause severe losses to mineral-rich states, with Jharkhand suffering the most. He alleged that the Central Government has consistently displayed a “step-motherly” attitude towards Jharkhand.
He further explained that due to VB-GRAM-G, GST rationalization, and year-on-year cuts in grant funds, Jharkhand was already incurring a loss of around Rs 13,000 crore. Now, by introducing an amendment bill on mineral resources, the state’s economic autonomy has been stripped away.
The Finance Minister remarked that there could be two reasons for this move. He suggested that the Central Government might have become financially “bankrupt,” which seems plausible given its distribution of freebies under the Ujjwala Gas scheme and the distribution of Rs 10,000 each to people before the Bihar elections. He alleged that the Center now wants to siphon off funds belonging to states. He asserted that if a massive movement is required against this, it will be launched, declaring firmly: “We will not let Jharkhand’s coal go outside. The land is ours, the natural wealth is ours—how can the Center take the financial benefits?”
Taking a swipe at Babulal Marandi’s suggestion about curbing mineral theft to increase royalties, the Finance Minister criticized his logic, questioning how the state’s financial autonomy could be curtailed based on what the state government is supposedly failing to do. He informed that he had spoken with officials at the Chief Minister’s residence, advocating for an all-party meeting to see where the BJP stands on this issue.
Reacting sharply to the issue of the state losing its power to levy cess on minerals due to the MMDR Amendment Bill, Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi termed the state government’s stance as “hooliganism.” He emphasized that the state already gets royalties from minerals, making additional cess redundant. He asserted that if the state government simply stops illegal smuggling and theft of sand, stone, and coal, Jharkhand’s coffers will fill up automatically.
Marandi pointed out that Odisha holds 17% of total mineral reserves and receives Rs 44,000 crore annually in royalty, whereas Jharkhand holds 40% of reserves but receives only Rs 22,000 crore. He argued that this disparity exists because of rampant illegal smuggling, which causes the revenue shortfall. Thus, imposing additional taxes is completely unjustified.
