Mail News Service
Jamshedpur: In a bid to enhance state revenue, the Jharkhand government has embarked on a mission to market its vast reserves of precious minerals. Despite holding 40% of India’s mineral wealth, the state’s revenue and employment levels have fallen short of their potential. This effort aims to address the gaps and attract investments into the mining sector.
A recent exhibition at Pragati Maidan in Delhi saw the participation of over 50,000 visitors, including industrialists deeply interested in Jharkhand’s mineral deposits. Officials highlighted the state’s rich deposits of uranium, gold, emerald, lithium, iron ore, quartz, mica, bauxite, and several other minerals to woo potential investors.
Mining industrialists have voiced concerns about significant challenges they face, particularly in law and order. Operating in remote rural areas often leads to disruptions in vehicle movement and work culture, with local issues frequently escalating into harassment. Despite over 95% of mining jobs being held by local youth, many mines remain non-operational due to these problems.
One industrialist remarked, “The management is often left helpless in the face of recurring disruptions. These challenges hinder progress and make it difficult to sustain operations.”
To bridge the revenue gap, a high-level team from Jharkhand is set to visit Odisha and Chhattisgarh to study their successful mining models. Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore emphasized the importance of learning from neighbouring states. “Despite having similar resources, Odisha generates annual revenue of Rs 50,000 crores from minerals, while Jharkhand lags far behind at Rs 11,000–12,000 crores. We aim to replicate their success here,” he stated.
The study will include strategies for efficient extraction and marketing of minerals. Once implemented, the state government hopes these efforts will unlock Jharkhand’s full potential and provide a significant boost to the economy.
