CM for early operation of 300 sand ghats to gain Rs 3000 Cr revenue 

Holds review of Mines, Geology and Building construction Depts 

PNS 

Ranchi 

In a major push to strengthen Jharkhand’s revenue base and curb illegal mining activities, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Wednesday directed officials to ensure the early operationalisation of 300 auctioned sand ghats across the state, a move expected to generate nearly Rs 3,000 crore in revenue. The directive came during a high-level review meeting of the Mines and Geology Department and the Building Construction Department at the Jharkhand Ministry. 

Emphasising the need for effective management of the state’s mineral resources, the Chief Minister said revenue generation from legal mining activities must be enhanced while simultaneously cracking down on illegal mining, overloading, and unauthorized sand extraction. He instructed officials to expedite all pending procedures so that auctioned sand ghats can become operational without delay. 

According to officials, Jharkhand has a total of 820 sand ghats. Of these, 376 Category-I ghats are currently being operated through panchayats, while 444 Category-II ghats have been identified for commercial operations. The government has already auctioned 300 of these Category-II ghats. Soren directed officials to ensure that sand lifting begins immediately from the auctioned sites and that the remaining ghats are auctioned at the earliest. 

The Chief Minister also ordered a review of restrictions on machine-based sand extraction and asked officials to explore necessary legal measures to improve regulation and revenue collection. He stressed that illegal sand mining and transportation cause substantial losses to the state exchequer and must be addressed through strict enforcement and technology-driven monitoring systems. 

Reviewing the overall mining sector, Soren directed authorities to accelerate the operationalisation of auctioned coal blocks that are yet to receive mandatory approvals. He noted that delays in commencing mining operations were adversely affecting the state’s revenue potential and instructed officials to remove bottlenecks at the earliest. 

The Chief Minister further took a tough stand on inactive mining leases. He directed officials to identify closed mines operated by companies such as BCCL, CCL and ECL and either restart production or initiate proceedings for cancellation of leases. Mineral blocks that have been auctioned but remain non-operational for extended periods should also be considered for re-auction after reassessing their revenue potential, he said. 

Special emphasis was laid on Jharkhand’s gold mining sector. Reviewing seven operational gold mines in the state, Soren directed officials to increase production, which currently stands at around 20 kilograms annually. He also asked the department to speed up the auction of new prospective gold mining blocks and resolve operational challenges to attract investment and improve output. 

The Chief Minister directed that more mineral-bearing areas be reserved for Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC) and Jharkhand Mining and Exploration Company Limited (JMECL) to boost revenue generation and create employment opportunities. He also called for filling vacancies in JMECL and preparing standard operating procedures for both organisations. 

Reviewing the Building Construction Department, Soren instructed officials to ensure timely completion of all government infrastructure projects while maintaining quality standards. He stressed regular monitoring, transparency, and the adoption of modern construction technologies to deliver durable public infrastructure across the state.