Ranchi: Hitting out at the JMM-led alliance govt over its opposition to Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, passed by Parliament last week, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Babulal Marandi on Monday alleged that the ruling coalition was trying to divert public attention from the ongoing agitation by JPSC and JSSC aspirants in Ranchi.Addressing the media, Marandi described the govt’s campaign against the MMDR amendment as a “political drama”.Claiming that the state govt’s criticism of the legislation was based on misinformation, Marandi said the amendment would not deprive states of their mining revenue. He said that states would continue to receive their share from royalty, auction premiums, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) collections and GST revenues.“Centre is not snatching away Jharkhand’s mineral revenue. The real issue is the state’s inability to effectively utilise its vast mineral wealth,” Marandi said. He alleged that despite possessing nearly 40% of the country’s mineral reserves, Jharkhand had auctioned only four mines in the last six years and none had become operational.Drawing a comparison with Odisha, he claimed the neighbouring state had operationalised 35 mines and earned around Rs 87,000 crore as auction premium, while Jharkhand had failed to generate any such revenue. He also questioned the utilisation of nearly Rs 19,000 crore accumulated under DMF in the state.Marandi further accused the govt of waking up for dialogue only when students intensified their agitation. “Whenever students announce plans to gherao govt, it suddenly becomes ready for talks,” he said.The BJP leader also sought clarification from govt on allegations surrounding the appointment of JPSC chairman and demanded an impartial probe into the matter. Notably, CID, which is probing the alleged irregularities in the 14th JPSC civil exams, has so far arrested 20 people, including former chairman of JPSC L Khiangte.The state govt, on the other hand, said that after the imposition of the new mining Act, Jharkhand will lose nearly Rs 15,000 cr annually, which will hurt it in its welfare measures. JMM, which is leading an alliance govt, has called a meeting of all its cadre on Aug 20 to fine-tune plans to launch mass agitation against it.
