look news india
Once again clouds of conflict are looming large between the mineral rich state of Jharkhand and the Central Government. The Hemant Soren government of Jharkhand has adopted a very aggressive stance regarding the new amendments and provisions made in the Central Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act i.e. MMDR Act, which regulates the country’s mineral and mining sector. State Chief Minister Hemant Soren has clearly declared that these new mineral laws of the Central Government are a direct attack on the financial interests, autonomy and mineral wealth of Jharkhand, due to which the state exchequer may have to suffer huge losses. To deal with this situation, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government is in no mood to back down and has taken a historic decision to approach the highest court of the country i.e. the Supreme Court against this Act. The outbreak of this legal and political war has once again created huge tension in the relations between the Center and the State, the echo of which is being heard in the political circles of the entire country.
What is the new MMDR Act and why is there a huge uproar in Jharkhand government regarding it?
The main objective of the recent amendments brought by the Central Government in the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act (MMDR Act) is to bring uniformity in the mining auction process across the country and to speed up the exploitation of strategic minerals. However, for a tribal-dominated state like Jharkhand and the country’s largest mineral producing state, these new provisions are no less than a big blow. The state government strongly argues that the local people and the state government have the first right on the coal, iron ore, bauxite and other precious minerals present under the soil of Jharkhand. The implementation of the new Act will not only have a negative impact on the state’s royalty collection and revenue, but will also weaken local administrative authority in allocation of mines and policy decisions. Chief Minister Hemant Soren says that the Central Government is imposing such laws without any meaningful consultation with the states which are completely against the basic spirit of federalism and violate the rights of the state.
A serious threat looms on Jharkhand’s treasury and economic autonomy.
A large part of the economy of Jharkhand state depends on the mining sector and the revenue generated from it. A major part of the money coming into the state treasury comes from royalties on coal and other minerals, which fuel the state’s development work, social welfare schemes and infrastructure creation. Due to the way control is being centralized in the hands of central agencies under the new MMDR Act, the state government fears that in the future, Jharkhand may have to lose a large part of the profits it gets from its own land wealth. Economists and administrative experts also believe that if this law is allowed to remain in force without any amendment, the financial autonomy of the mineral states of the country will be badly affected. This is the reason why CM Hemant Soren has expressed strong objection to it, linking it to the identity and economic security of Jharkhand and has taken a bold decision to fight a legal battle.
Preparation for legal battle in Supreme Court and political strategic upheaval
The Advocate General of the Government of Jharkhand and a team of senior legal experts have started closely studying the various provisions of the new MMDR Act. This legal team of the government is preparing the outline under which articles of the Constitution and the distribution of powers these amendments of the Center should be challenged in the Supreme Court. Far reaching consequences of this decision are being seen on the political front also. Opposition parties and regional forces believe that the central government is continuously interfering in the rights of non-BJP ruled states. This move by the Jharkhand government to approach the Supreme Court has also intensified the stir in other mineral rich states of the country like Chhattisgarh, Odisha and West Bengal. If this case progresses strongly in the Supreme Court, it could prove to be a milestone in the history of the country’s federal structure and mineral rights.
This is the decisive phase to protect mineral wealth and state rights
These days, the only discussion in the political and administrative circles of Jharkhand is whether this conflict between the Center and the State will reach a concrete conclusion through the court. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has openly raised his voice against the attitude of the Center many times in the past and this time the call for an all-out fight regarding the Mineral Act has made it clear that Jharkhand will not tolerate the looting of its wealth at any cost. In the coming days, this legal battle will not only decide the direction of Jharkhand’s political future, but will also decide to what extent the states’ actual rights over the mineral resources in the country remain secure. The people of the state and the farmers and tribals here are keeping a close watch on this entire legal process, because this is a very sensitive matter directly related to their future and the prosperity of the state.