Daltonganj: Palamu MP Vishnu Dayal Ram on Monday defended the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (MMDR) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying critics were wrongly projecting it as a central “imposition” on Jharkhand.“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 stakeholders — the state govt and the operators of mines and minerals,” reiterated the MP.Ram said his concern was a pragmatic understanding of the bill, not a political defence or rebuttal to opposition claims.Citing Jharkhand’s coal-block auctions, he said, “Jharkhand had put on auction 11 coal blocks in 11 years. Tell me if any of these are operational. None is any operational,” quipped the MP.On chief minister’s revenue-loss concern, he said, “Soren’s concern that state will be a loser of 7,110 crore is a misplaced one. I believe the CM ought to see this bill in right perspective.”Asked whether the Centre would gain larger control over Jharkhand’s natural resources, 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.” On a possible Centre-state showdown, he said, “I don’t think so.”Critics say the bill bars mining states from fixing royalty, cess and taxes on mines and mine-bearing lands without Centre’s approval, calling it direct interference in state control over natural resources. Sources said public perception is that the Centre is trying to gag Jharkhand’s mining revenue as political vendetta, while state BJP leaders are struggling to explain the bill convincingly.Ram countered, “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 bill does not affect minor minerals. Ram agreed it was not debated in Lok Sabha, but avoided citing reasons.
