Government of Jharkhand. Opposition Mines Act Facilitates Coal Theft, Annpurna Devi Says

Union Minister Annpurna Devi. | Photo credit: ANI

Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Hemant Soren government while highlighting the merits of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act, 2026.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP state office in Ranchi, Ms. Devi said that the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) were trying to mislead and confuse people about the Act.

“The state government is not conducting auctions on time and is not seeking legitimate revenue for the exchequer. Instead, it wants to increase personal income – that’s why this bill is against. The Jharkhand government is against this bill to facilitate coal theft,” the minister said.

Claiming that the changes to this law will encourage new investment and create enough job opportunities in the state, she said the law will increase the chance of young people to find work in their own state and reduce migration.

“The primary objective of this Act is to streamline the tax system in the mining sector and bring transparency. The amendment will curtail the arbitrary actions of the state government. Earlier, the state government imposed new taxes and cesses after auctions, which caused considerable hardship to entrepreneurs. They faced exploitation and harassment under the guise of dues and unpaid taxes, a situation from which no interference will be imposed at the state center and will not be imposed now government,” she said.

‘Others welcome’

Ms. Devi pointed out that the MMDR Act has been implemented in states like Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Kerala; many of them are congressionally controlled states where the law is welcomed rather than opposed.

Earlier, Mr. Soren called it a “Black Bill” and an injustice to Jharkhand and its people. Defending his stance, he said, “Minerals belong to Jharkhand, land belongs to Jharkhand – so why should Delhi decide our rights and demands?

Published – 27 Sep 2026 01:04 IST