Saryu Roy Raises Concern Over Delay in Fossil Heritage Bill

Jamshedpur: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy expressed deep disappointment after the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly failed to reintroduce his Private Member’s Bill — Jharkhand Geo-Heritage (Fossil) Bill, 2026 — during its recently concluded session.

Roy said he remained hopeful until the final day of the Assembly session that members would take up his bill for reintroduction. However, the Assembly did not act on it even on the concluding day, leaving him disheartened.

Roy revealed that he wrote two letters to the Speaker. In his first letter dated January 20, 2026, he formally notified his intention to reintroduce the bill. In a second letter dated March 13, 2026, he reiterated the procedural basis for reintroduction and cited the parliamentary reference book “Kaul and Shakdher’s Practice and Procedure of Parliament.” He stressed that established norms require a decision within a reasonable timeframe.

Roy pointed out that the Chair did not convey any response or decision even after more than one and a half months. He termed the delay “unexpected and disappointing” and said that, as an elected representative, he expects due consideration of his legislative proposal.

In his March 13 letter, Roy urged the Speaker to allow the reintroduction of the bill during the Fifth (Budget) Session of the Sixth Jharkhand Assembly. He emphasised that protecting members’ rights to introduce and pursue legislative initiatives is essential for a functioning democracy.

The proposed bill aims to fill a gap in the state’s legal framework by protecting Jharkhand’s geo-heritage, especially rare fossils. Roy noted that several districts, particularly the Rajmahal hills region, have reported significant fossil discoveries. He also highlighted that the state government has already established a fossil park in Sahibganj district.

He warned that human activities increasingly threaten these natural assets and said that without a dedicated law, their preservation remains uncertain. Roy called for urgent action to ensure the conservation of Jharkhand’s geological heritage for future generations.