Every day, we get bitesize summaries of the day’s main stories carried by various newspapers in Jharkhand directly to your inbox:
- In a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Hemant Soren, 63 proposals were approved, including the Jharkhand Mineral Bearing Land Cess Act 2024, which would impose a cess on mineral-bearing lands as per Supreme Court directives. The proposal imposes a cess of Rs. 100 per metric ton on Coal and Iron ore, Rs. 70 on Bauxite, and Rs. 50 on Limestone and Manganese ore. The Jharkhand Government will generate an annual revenue of Rs. 16,000 crores.
- The Jharkhand High Court sternly criticized the State’s December 2023 notification declaring Jamshedpur an industrial city, calling it unconstitutional and fraudulent. The High Court also stated that “At this rate, you’ll hand everything over to Tata, and tomorrow, even the control of local bodies in Ranchi, Bokaro, and others cities will be in Tata’s hands.”
- The Supreme Court issued notices to Jharkhand’s Chief Secretary and acting DGP Anurag Gupta over Ajay Kumar Singh’s removal as DGP after just 17 months. The removal violated court guidelines of a minimum two-year tenure of a DGP.
- The 20 MW solar power plant, built in CCL’s Piparwar area, will be inaugurated today by Coal Minister Satish Chandra Dubey, alongside top CCL officials.
- Coal India has agreed to cover a Rs. 1,300 crore deficit in the CPRMS (Contributory Post-Retirement Medical Scheme) fund for non-executive retirees. Rising retirements and insufficient contributions are challenging pension and healthcare support.
- The renewal of mining leases for smaller plots in Koderma may face issues due to excessive mining depths of 200-300 feet. Although 20-25 closed stone mines could reopen, but safety concerns arise, especially due to past accidents in these deep and unregulated mines.
- A Pollution Control Board team visited Hazaribagh’s Demotard industrial area for inspection and found several issues. The main concern was the illegal dumping of fly ash and its impact on the environment.
- NTPC will renovate Tandwa Community Health Centre in Hazaribagh for Rs. 3 crore under its CSR initiative.
- Bokaro Steel Plant inaugurated a Learning Centre at its Coke Oven and Coal Chemicals Department. This initiative aims to enhance employee skills and professional development through various digital resources.
- Students protested against irregularities at the Shubhra Ranjan coaching centre in Godda funded by DMFT. They accused it of falsifying attendance and failing to provide promised study materials.