Jharkhand News : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has directed officials to take stringent action against illegal mining, overloading, and sand mafias across the state. He emphasized that the state’s mineral wealth is a valuable asset and that its transparent and efficient utilization is essential to boost revenue while safeguarding the interests of local communities.
The Chief Minister was addressing a high-level review meeting of the Department of Mines & Geology and the Building Construction Department at the Jharkhand Ministry on Wednesday. During the meeting, he reviewed the progress of various schemes, projects, and pending works and issued necessary directives to officials.
Strict Monitoring of Illegal Sand Mining
Expressing concern over illegal sand mining, the Chief Minister directed the development of a technology-driven monitoring system. He said illegal mining not only causes significant revenue losses to the state but also poses serious threats to environmental sustainability and law and order.
Officials informed the meeting that Jharkhand has a total of 820 sand ghats. Of these, sand extraction is currently being carried out through Panchayats at 376 Category-I ghats, while 300 out of 444 Category-II ghats have already been auctioned. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure the immediate commencement of sand lifting operations at auctioned ghats and expedite the auction process for the remaining ones.
He also ordered a review of regulations related to the use of machinery for sand extraction and instructed officials to take necessary legal measures. Further, he called for joint enforcement drives involving the department, police, and district administration to strengthen inspections and monitoring.
Review of Closed Mines
Reviewing the status of closed mines operated by BCCL, CCL, and ECL, the Chief Minister directed that mining operations be resumed wherever feasible. In cases where production cannot be restarted, the process of lease cancellation should be initiated.
He also instructed officials to review mineral blocks that have been auctioned but remain inactive for long periods. Such blocks should be cancelled if necessary and re-auctioned after fresh revenue assessments. He stressed the importance of mapping both operational and non-operational mining areas across the state.
Focus on Increasing Gold Production
The meeting also reviewed the status of seven operational gold mines in Jharkhand. Currently, these mines produce approximately 20 kilograms of gold annually. The Chief Minister directed officials to identify and resolve bottlenecks affecting production and work towards increasing output.
He also emphasized expediting the auction process for other potential gold mining areas and focusing on technological upgrades, attracting investment, and improving management practices in the gold mining sector.
The Chief Minister noted that Jharkhand has significant gold reserve potential and that scientific and planned development of the sector could make it a major contributor to the state’s economy, while generating additional revenue and employment opportunities.
Strengthening JSMDC and JMECL
The Chief Minister directed officials to reserve more mineral-bearing areas for the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation Limited (JSMDC) and the Jharkhand Mining and Exploration Company Limited (JMECL). He said this would help increase state revenue and create more employment opportunities at the local level.
He also instructed the departments concerned to fill vacant positions in JMECL at the earliest and prepare Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for both organizations.
Timely Completion of Infrastructure Projects
During the review of the Building Construction Department, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that all government buildings and infrastructure projects are completed within stipulated timelines while maintaining high quality standards.
He stressed that transparency, quality, and timely execution must remain top priorities in all construction activities. Officials were instructed to regularly monitor the progress of government offices, residential complexes, educational institutions, and healthcare infrastructure projects, while adopting modern and sustainable construction technologies.
The Chief Minister further emphasized the need for regular technical inspections to ensure quality control and adherence to standards.
Mining and Infrastructure Key to State Growth
Concluding the review, the Chief Minister stated that mining and infrastructure development are two major pillars of Jharkhand’s economic progress. Ensuring transparency, efficiency, and accountability in these sectors will pave the way for accelerated development and sustainable growth in the state.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Avinash Kumar, Development Commissioner Ajay Kumar Singh, Departmental Secretary Arava Rajkamal, Mines Director Rahul Kumar Sinha, Geology Director Kumar Amitabh, and several other senior officials.
