MLA Warns Bill Threatens Jharkhand’s Mineral, Land Rights
Key Points:
- JMM MLA Launches Village-Level Awareness Drive in Potka
- Sardar Says Bill Could Hit Maiya Samman, Abua Awas Schemes
- MLA Cites Centre’s ₹1.36 Lakh Crore Pending Dues to State
POTKA – Potka MLA Sanjib Sardar launched a village-level awareness campaign against the MMDR Amendment Bill in Udal village on Monday, as part of a statewide agitation directed by the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha’s central committee.
Sardar interacted directly with villagers, explaining the potential adverse effects of the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Bill. He urged residents to remain alert about their rights in the face of the proposed changes.
The MLA said the party’s central leadership had directed every JMM worker to visit villages, hamlets and localities to spread awareness about the bill’s implications for Jharkhand. He himself was reaching out to rural areas as part of the same drive.
However, Sardar said the issue was not merely political but concerned Jharkhand’s resources, rights and future. He described Jharkhand as a mineral-rich state whose economy and development depend significantly on revenue generated from minerals.
Sardar argued that any weakening of the state’s rights and revenue under the amended bill would directly affect Jharkhand’s development. He said villagers needed to understand the bill’s provisions and raise their voices democratically to protect their rights.
Besides the immediate concerns, Sardar pointed to the state’s existing dispute with the Centre over pending dues of around Rs 1.36 lakh crore. He alleged that any further weakening of the state’s mineral and revenue rights would affect both the recovery of past dues and future revenue.
Meanwhile, the MLA said the resulting financial burden would ultimately fall on the state’s people and poor families. He warned that reduced state revenue would directly affect welfare schemes such as Maiya Samman Yojana, Abua Awas Yojana, social security pensions, scholarships, education, health, roads, drinking water and rural development.
In addition, Sardar accused the central government of failing to control inflation, citing rising prices of petrol, diesel, sugar, onions and other essential commodities. He said household expenses were continuing to rise, adding to the difficulties faced by poor families, and that any further weakening of the state’s finances would compound the burden on ordinary citizens.
Sardar further alleged that attempts were being made to politically weaken the state government and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, despite the people of Jharkhand having given their mandate. He said the state’s residents would not accept efforts to weaken Jharkhand’s mineral and economic rights through the amended bill.
He described Jharkhand as the land of Ulgulan, saying its people have always fought for their rights over water, forest and land. Sardar said the awareness campaign was the first step in the movement, adding that every resident of the state would be ready to take to the streets if required to protect their rights.
The campaign concluded with an appeal to villagers to unite and raise their voices collectively on issues of public interest.
The Potka constituency has recently seen other high-profile development activity, including preparations for the inauguration of a new hospital in the wider Kolhan region. Sardar’s campaign against the MMDR Bill comes amid a broader statewide protest by political parties against the legislation.
Besides JMM’s outreach, other parties have also weighed in on the issue, including JMM’s earlier protests over mining rights and a separate warning from the Centre de-sanctioning road projects impacting the Kolhan region. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren‘s government has repeatedly flagged concerns over the state’s financial dues from the Centre.
