Annpurna Devi accuses Jharkhand government of opposing mining law to enable coal theft

Union Minister Annpurna Devi has accused the Jharkhand government of opposing the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, to facilitate coal theft and protect unofficial revenue interests. Speaking at a press conference at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s State office in Ranchi, Ms. Devi said the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal were attempting to mislead the public about the legislation.

She alleged that the State government had failed to conduct auctions on time and had not sought legitimate revenue for the State exchequer. Instead, she said, it wanted to increase personal revenue, which she presented as the reason for its opposition to the Act. Ms.

Devi said the amendments would streamline taxation in the mining sector and introduce greater transparency. She claimed they would prevent what she described as arbitrary State action and end the imposition of additional taxes and cesses after auctions. According to the Union Minister, businesses had faced exploitation and harassment over cesses and outstanding tax demands.

She said the Centre would introduce uniform taxes and levies nationwide, without interference from State governments. Ms. Devi also argued that the amended law would encourage new investment and generate employment in Jharkhand, giving young people more opportunities to work in the State and reducing migration.

She said the legislation was already being implemented in Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka and Kerala, including several Congress-ruled States where she claimed it was being welcomed. Chief Minister Hemant Soren has described the legislation as a “black Bill” and an injustice to Jharkhand and its people. Defending his position, he said minerals and land belonged to Jharkhand and questioned why decisions over the State’s rights and entitlements should be made in Delhi.