JMM hits back at Babulal Marandi over mining revenue issue

Pioneer News Service

Ranchi

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) general secretary Vinod Kumar Pandey on Thursday hit back at BJP leader and former chief minister Babulal Marandi over his letter to the Union Finance Minister on issues related to mining and mineral revenue.

Pandey alleged that Marandi’s letter suggested he was more concerned about the costs and profits of mining companies than Jharkhand’s interests. “He should decide whether he is speaking as a leader of Jharkhand or as a spokesperson for mining companies,” Pandey said.

He said coal and iron ore were valuable mineral resources of Jharkhand and seeking the state’s rightful share in the revenue generated from them was legitimate. He questioned why the costs borne by Jharkhand in terms of land acquisition, forests, water resources, pollution, displacement and the impact on mining-affected communities were not being discussed.

“If the minerals belong to Jharkhand, the state should also receive a fair share of their benefits,” Pandey said.

Responding to references to Odisha’s mining model, he said developments in Odisha could not be used to dismiss Jharkhand’s claim to its rightful share of mineral revenue. He challenged Marandi to state how much revenue Jharkhand receives from its mineral resources, how many jobs are created for local people and how much tangible benefit reaches mining-affected areas.

On sand and stone mining, Pandey said the state government was working to address existing shortcomings. He said the government’s priority was to ensure a transparent system that benefited local people and vehicles. He also argued that problems in the mining sector had existed for years and that previous BJP governments could not be absolved of responsibility.

On the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT), Pandey said the funds were intended for mining-affected areas and communities. He questioned why, according to him, Jharkhand’s share of funds and rights from the Centre had allegedly been delayed for years.

Pandey also posed several questions to the BJP, including when Jharkhand would receive its rightful share from the state’s mineral resources, what the party’s position was on laws affecting mineral rights, and whether the greater share of benefits from mining would go to the people of Jharkhand or mining companies.

“Babulal ji, if you want to represent the interests of Delhi and mining companies, say so openly. But do not call it politics in the interest of Jharkhand,” Pandey said. He added that Jharkhand would continue to seek an account of its mineral resources and demand its rightful share.