Jharkhand Rich in Minerals, Yet Unemployment and Closed Mines Prevail! Babulal Marandi Demands Answers from the Government
434 mineral blocks auctioned nationwide, only 3 in Jharkhand • Questions raised regarding ₹3,700 crore in DMFT funds • Issue of the dismal state of Saranda and Chaibasa heats up
Ranchi: Babulal Marandi, Leader of the Opposition in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly, launched a scathing attack on the state government regarding its mining policy and administrative failures. He stated that despite possessing approximately 40 percent of the country's mineral resources, Jharkhand continues to lag behind in the auctioning of new mines, mining production, revenue generation, and employment creation.
Marandi noted that during a recent visit to the Saranda and Chaibasa regions, he found that the leases of several mines had expired without being renewed or re-auctioned, leaving them shut for years. This has had a direct impact on local employment, trade, and the economy. He pointed out that Jamda Bazaar, once a hub of economic activity, is currently reeling under an economic slump.
Citing statistics, he stated that while 434 mineral blocks have been auctioned across the country since 2019-20, only three blocks were auctioned in Jharkhand. In contrast, 45 blocks were auctioned in Odisha and 41 in Chhattisgarh. He termed this a policy failure on the part of the state government.
Marandi alleged that approximately ₹3,700 crore had accumulated under the DMFT (District Mineral Foundation Trust) in West Singhbhum between 2016 and 2026, yet neither the annual report was made public nor were details of the projects provided. He noted that the last update on the website dates back to 2018, raising serious questions about transparency.
He further highlighted that most stone quarries in Noamundi are closed, and the 80-year-old ACC plant in Jhinkpani is on the verge of closure, a move that would affect around 1,600 families. He demanded that the government expedite the auction of closed mines, revive mining activities, boost employment, and make a full accounting of the DMFT fund public.
Marandi stated that people in mineral-rich regions like Saranda and West Singhbhum are still struggling for basic amenities. He questioned why the very people living in the areas that supply iron ore to the country's major steel plants remain deprived of development.
