<div><div><strong>D P Sharan</strong><br><br>While the Congress party has sought action against Vasundhara Raje Scindia's dispensation in BJP-ruled Rajasthan for allegedly allocating hundreds of mines by flouting the set norms, the BJP-ruled state of Jharkhand has been accused of rendering nearly 5,000 jobless for want of mining operations in the state. Consequently, whereas beneficiaries, allegedly enjoying proximity to the powers-that-be in Rajasthan, are facing the possible threat of punitive action for mining operations, the Government of Jharkhand has come under a cloud for its decision to keep the mining operations under suspension that has led to large-scale unemployment and a possible threat of an increase in strength of Naxal outfits active in the area.</div><div> </div><div><table align="right" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="width: 200px"><tbody><tr><td><strong><img alt="" src="http://bw-image.s3.amazonaws.com/DP_Sharan.jpg" style="width: 200px; height: 214px; margin: 1px;"></strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>D P Sharan</strong></td></tr></tbody></table>The Opposition in Rajasthan has knocked on the doors of CAG and CVC to press for their demand for a probe into the improper allocation of 653 mines in the state. It is alleged that the allocation involves a scam of at least Rs 45,000 crore. They have claimed that these mines included a chunk of one lakh hectares of land with a mineral value of Rs 2 lakh crore. The allegation leveled against the Rajasthan Government is that it allocated the mines flouting the set norms that are required to follow auction-mode for the purpose.</div><div> </div><div>The Union Government had made the allocation of mining lease through auction blocks made mandatory on October 30, 2014 and reprimanded the state governments to sanction mining leases unless the amendments to the MMDR Act 1957 came into practice. But the Rajasthan Government allegedly allocated 653 mines in haste in clear defiance of the Union Government’s directives in this regard.</div><div> </div><div>On the other hand, the Jharkhand Government has cancelled leases to 21 iron-ore mines in Kolhan region of the State. In the light of the recommendations of the Shah Commission that was constituted at the behest of the Supreme Court to probe into illegal mining of iron-ore across the country, the mining lease to 21 iron-ore mines was cancelled in the Kolhan region of the state. The decision not only dealt a blow to mining operations and employment, but it had a major collateral impact on the functioning and employment at factories that depend largely on iron ore for their production and the crusher industries as well. Of the total 1978 crushers -- that also include those of stone-chips -- around 500 iron-ore crushers have been shut down in the area.</div><div> </div><div>As per the dossier, about 5,000 people were engaged in these mines, factories and crushers. This hapless workforce has been, unfortunately, left with no option except to fall prey to lucrative offers made by ultras active in the region. If well-placed sources in the intelligence agencies are to be believed, people who lost their jobs for want of mining operations are being lured away by ultras and they are joining outfits in different capacities in lieu of receiving livelihoods. Sources informed that while a few of them had joined naxalite outfits as cadres, others were working in tandem with ultras as sympathisers and informers too.</div><div> </div><div>Significantly, the unemployment scenario has also given an impetus to some of the mine-losers to take legal recourse. One of the mine-losers has filed a petition in the Jharkhand High Court seeking directives to reopen his mines in view of large scale losses accrued to him, loss of jobs to people and monetary losses to the state exchequer as well.</div><div> </div><div>As per an estimated figure, the government has suffered a loss of about Rs 500 crore due to cancellation of iron-ore mines since August 2014. During the corresponding period of 2013-14 fiscal, the Ggovernment had gained a revenue of Rs 460 crore from iron-ore mines.</div><div> </div><div>The Shah Commission is said to have found lessees of all 25 iron-ore mines in the area defaulters for flouting the set norms and recommended cancellation of mining leases to them. Of the total 25 mines, lessees of four mines including m/s Rungta Mines Ltd, m/s Tata Steels Ltd, m/s Vijay Ojha Mines Ltd and m/s Orissa Mines and Minerals Pvt. Ltd were, however, granted permission to continue with their mining operations for reasons best known to the authorities concerned in the state government.</div><div> </div><div>To top it all, contrary to such an appalling situation, Jharkhand has recently achieved 3rd rank in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index.<br><br><div> </div><div><em>The author, D.P. Sharan, is journalist by profession for the past 30 years and has served many national dailies, magazines and channels. He has also been a member at the Central Board of Film Certification, Mumbai under Information & Broadcasting Ministry, Government of India</em></div><div> </div></div><div> </div><div> </div></div>
