Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has urged Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy to expedite the clearance of the state’s coal dues, amounting to ₹1.36 trillion. During their meeting, Reddy assured Soren that the central government would take necessary steps to address the issue, according to an official statement.

The discussion took place on Thursday in the presence of senior officials from the Jharkhand government, the coal ministry, and Coal India Ltd. In the meeting, the state government presented a detailed report on the unpaid mineral royalties. The Union minister directed central officials to collaborate with the state government to verify the claims, the statement added.

CM Soren emphasized the need for better coordination between the state and central governments to streamline coal mining operations, including production, transportation, land acquisition, and compensation. He also raised concerns about land that has been abandoned by coal companies after mining operations were completed, highlighting that these lands should be returned to the state government.

“There are numerous coal projects where mining work has been completed, but the land has been left unused, leading to illegal mining activities,” Soren said.

He further stressed the importance of minimizing environmental damage caused by mining and suggested measures such as establishing permanent training centers, promoting mining tourism, and relocating Coal India’s headquarters to Jharkhand from West Bengal.

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