Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has demanded the centre to clear dues worth Rs 1,36,000 crores owed by the various coal mining companies of the state. While speaking at the 25th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council held in Kolkata in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah was also present he demanded the centre to clear the outstanding amount of Rs 1,36,000 crores for various coal companies like CCL, BCCL, and ECL as soon as possible.
The Chief Minister also raised some key points that mines closure should be done duly so that the environment can be protected and illegal mining can also be stopped. He said that an airport should be constructed in Sahebganj as it is being developed as a multimodel terminal and in the future, it will become a gateway to the North Eastern states.
Moreover, a key point mentioned was that the railway receives the maximum income from Jharkhand but still the state does not have a single zonal headquarters. He requested that instructions should be given to set up the Zonal Headquarters of Railways in Jharkhand. There has been no increase in the Centrally Sponsored Social Security Schemes by the Government of India for the last ten years. In view of inflation, there is a need for a substantial increase in this amount, he demanded.
Moreover, the manner in which the right of the Gram Sabha has been abolished in the Forest (Conservation) Rules, 2022, in the use of forest land, due to which the rights of 20 crore tribals and people living in the forests for generations have grossly encroached. To protect their rights, it should be amended in line with the Forest Rights Act, 2006 he said.
Hemant Soren further pointed that around 8,35,000 families in Jharkhand are still deprived of its benefits under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Instructions should be given to the Ministry of Rural Development to sanction accommodation to them. Furthermore, for the deputation of CMPF in the Maoists-affected and poor state like Jharkhand, the central government should not demand payment of the amount from the state government.
The Chief Minister also requested the home minister that the period of GST compensation should be extended for the next five years otherwise Jharkhand is likely to suffer a loss of about Rs 5,000 crores every year. The history of India is replete with the sacrifices of tribals, but their valour has not received the recognition it deserves.
Therefore, instructions should be given to the Ministry of Defense to constitute a tribal regiment in the army,” the CM added. Similarly, the earlier provision of approval by the State Government for the diversion of forest land up to five hectares should be restored.