Jharkhand chief minister wants ban on export of iron ore

Thursday, 01 Sep 2011

Jharkhand chief minister Arjun Munda suggested a ban on iron ore export to other countries keeping the country's future per capita requirement of steel.

Mr Munda, echoing similar demands voiced by iron ore producing states of Orissa and Chhattisgarh, asked “Why didn’t parties supporting the Centre raise the issue in Parliament demanding a total ban on the export of iron ore from the state?”

Mr Munda told reporters that "Now 5.6 million tonne iron ore is being exported, and the National Mining Development Corporation should stop export of iron ore for the benefit of the country.”

Mr Munda recalled a meeting in Delhi some time ago when he had suggested the Centre to keep future requirement of per capita iron ore in the country and should not export iron ore.

In all, there are 39 mining leases issued by the Centre in Jharkhand. Of them, 28 have been producing and exporting iron ore.

(Sourced from Telegraph & ET)

Jharkhand to take legal action against Tata Steel

Wednesday, 16 Mar 2011 | By ET

Jharkhand government would take legal action against TATA Steel for allegedly not paying rent on vast stretches of lease land in the state.

Jharkhand land and revenue minister Mr Mathura Prasad Mahato said that "We have decided to engage a 'good' advocate to initiate legal action them.”

His response came after Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantric) legislative party leader Mr Pradip Yadav accused TATA Steel of violating lease rules affecting the exchequer.

The JVM-P MLAs, however, staged a walkout in protest against what they claimed unsatisfactory answer by the minister on their other demand a probe into the land renewal agreement between Jharkhand government and Tata Steel in 2005, which they alleged had resulted in a loss to the state exchequer.