PNS
DALTONGANJ
The BJP and the JMM are interpreting the MMDR Amendment Bill 2026 in their own political optics where the BJP justifies the amendment bill, the JMM finds it an attempt by the centre to pocketing the money to come from the mines and minerals in the state.
Caught between justification and accusation Palamu BJP MP Vishnu Dayal Ram put forward his views on it, not any different from the party’s line and length.
He asks for a clinical understanding of the finer points in the MMDR amendment bill.
MMDR (mines and minerals development & regulation) amendment bill, 2026 is no ‘imposition’ on the state of Jharkhand, claimed the MP Vishnu Dayal Ram here in Daltonganj on Monday at his news conference.
He said “A fear bogey has been raised to describe the MMDR amendment bill 2026 as a super imposition in the state by the centre which is far from factuality of the ground.”
“Where is the harm if mines and mines bearing lands are regularised? It’s in the interest of both the stake holders – the state government and the operators of mines and minerals” reiterated the MP.
“I am not taking any political defense of this bill nor I am in any way out to contest the versions of opposition to it. My concern is for a pragmatic approach and understanding of the bill only” said the BJP MP.
“Jharkhand had put on auction 11 coal blocks in 11 years. Tell me if any of these are operational. None is any operational” quipped MP.
He said”Jharkhand CM’s concern that state will be a loser of 7, 110 crores is a misplaced concern. I believe the CM ought to see this bill in right perspective.”
Asked that the centre has a larger nose of it in state’s natural resources in this bill to which he said”No other mines and mines bearing lands’ states are in any uncertainty. It’s Jharkhand only that’s making a tinpot of the bill.”
Asked by this correspondent that a showdown between Jharkhand and Centre is imminent to which he said” I don’t think so.”
Sources said the popular perception among the masses is that the Centre is out to gag the mines and minerals revenue of Jharkhand as a political vendetta.
Sources said the BJP leadership of Jharkhand finds it hard to explain things ‘believable’ to the masses.
The amendment bill prohibits mines and mines bearing lands’ states to fix royalty, cess and taxes without the approval of the Centre and this is being seen as a direct interference of the Centre in state’s management of internal natural resources.
MP had a point when he said “Mines bearing lands don’t yield revenue, unless the mines bearing lands are explored and excavated. And here this amendment bill ensures predictability of revenue, setting aside any arbitrary high tax regime which drives away parties interested in the exploration of the mines and minerals.”
The MMDR amendment bill 2026 doesn’t touch minor minarels in Jharkhand or anywhere else.
A civil society activist comparing VB G RAM G ( replacement for MGNREGA) with the MMDR amendment bill said the centre will have its ‘teeth’ in the pies of the major natural resources in the state.
The BJP MP agreed that the MMDR amendment bill could not be debated in the Lok Sabha, reasons for which he quite deliberately avoided to count.
