Ranchi, July 17: Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi on Thursday alleged that Jharkhand has failed to fully utilise its vast mineral resources due to policy shortcomings, administrative delays and a lack of transparency in the mining sector.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters in Ranchi, Marandi said Jharkhand, which possesses nearly 40 per cent of the country’s mineral resources, continues to lag in mineral revenue generation, production, employment creation and the auction of new mining blocks.
He claimed the situation has adversely affected the state’s economy and deprived local youth of employment opportunities.
Questioning the government’s mining policy, Marandi asked why only three mining blocks have been auctioned while several mines have remained closed for years after the expiry of their leases.
He said the delay in renewing or re-auctioning these mines has halted mining operations, leading to job losses and slowing economic activity in mining-dependent regions.
Referring to his recent visit to the Saranda region in West Singhbhum during the Hul Diwas programme, Marandi said the prolonged closure of mines has increased migration among local youth and weakened the area’s economy.
The BJP leader also raised concerns over the functioning of the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT), alleging a lack of transparency in the utilisation of its funds.
He claimed that around ₹3,700 crore was deposited in the DMFT fund in West Singhbhum between 2016 and 2026, but annual reports, budget details and information on projects undertaken have not been made public.
Marandi further alleged that the official DMFT website has not been updated since 2018, making it difficult for local residents to access information on the utilisation of the funds meant for mining-affected communities.
He demanded that the state government expedite the auction of closed mines and stone quarries, revive mining operations, prepare a time-bound plan to boost mineral production, create employment opportunities for local youth and ensure complete transparency by making all DMFT fund details publicly available.
The state government had not responded to Marandi’s allegations at the time of filing this report.
