Hemant government to cancel allocation of 62 closed coal mines in Jharkhand

Jharkhand's Hemant Soren government has decided to cancel the allocation of long-closed mines and re-auction them. The mines and geology department, on the chief minister's directive, has begun reviewing closed coal, iron ore, bauxite and other mineral mines. Secretary Arva Rajkamal has directed all deputy commissioners, superintendents of police, forest division officers and agencies to act immediately and submit compliance reports.

Of 165 coal mining leases in the state, 103 are operational while 62 are closed, according to Prabhat Khabar. Of these 62 closed mines, 58 leases are with BCCL, CCL and ECL, the remaining four were allocated to SAIL, Tata Steel, Hindalco and Aranya Mines Pvt Ltd, Amar Ujala reports. A review meeting on 3 June 2026 chaired by the chief minister ordered that leases where mining has not started despite land acquisition, environmental and forest approvals be cancelled and re-auctioned. Beyond coal, 49 leases for iron ore, bauxite, limestone and graphite are also closed and will face similar action.

The government has also ordered that auction of sand ghats be completed soon and illegal mining be curbed. Of 444 sand ghats in the state, 300 have been auctioned. The chief minister directed installation of check posts and CCTV cameras at sand ghats and major exit routes.