THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Jan 3: Mining activities in Palamu have come to a standstill due to delays in obtaining environmental clearances (ECs), creating significant barriers to progress. The extraction of graphite, limestone, coal, and sand has not yet commenced as the Jharkhand Environment Impact Assessment Authority in Ranchi has not granted the required approvals.
Palamu is home to 10 graphite mines, but nine remain inactive due to the lack of ECs, according to District Mining Officer (DMO) Sunil Kumar. Currently, only one graphite mine is operational. Similarly, the district’s only limestone mine is shut, awaiting clearance.
Coal Mining and Sand Operations Face Delays
Although environmental clearance has been granted for coal mining at Rajhara North, operations remain on hold. The project cannot begin until the Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) provides final approval.
“We expect DGMS approval for this coal mining project by January 2025,” said Sunil Kumar.
Sand mining faces similar setbacks. Of Palamu’s ten sand mines, nine are still non-operational due to the absence of ECs. All these mines are managed by the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation (JSMDC).
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Brick Kilns Struggle Under New Environmental Mandates
Brick kiln operations in Palamu are also facing disruptions after the state government-mandated ECs for their functioning. This requirement has added another layer of complexity to the region’s mining and construction sectors.
“There are 120 brick kilns in Palamu, and none of them have an EC. We have issued notices instructing them to obtain ECs first,” said the DMO.
However, the DMO added, “Stone quarrying is the one activity keeping us afloat. Revenue from stone mining has increased by 40% in this financial year.”
Palamu district has 68 stone quarries, 60 of which are operational, while eight lack the Consent to Operate (CTO).
Ambitious Revenue Targets Amidst Mounting Challenges
Despite the setbacks in mining activities, the Jharkhand government has set an ambitious revenue target of ₹413.57 crore for the fiscal year 2024–25, a sharp increase from the ₹305 crore target in the previous fiscal year.
“We are unsure how we will come close to this target with only 92 days remaining in the fiscal year, which ends on March 31,” said Sunil Kumar. “So far, we have collected just ₹108 crore by December, leaving us far short of the ₹413.57 crore goal.”
When asked about the previous fiscal year’s revenue performance, Sunil Kumar confirmed that the 2023–24 target was similarly high at ₹305 crore. “Against that target, we managed to collect only ₹158 crore,” he said.
Sources in the mining department in Ranchi questioned the logic behind such targets. “When only ₹158 crore was collected against last year’s ₹305 crore target, how can the government expect ₹413.57 crore this year? These targets seem unachievable,” said a source.
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District Survey Report Delays Cause Chain Reactions
One of the key factors contributing to the delays is the preparation of the District Survey Report (DSR), a prerequisite for mining activities. While other districts hired external agencies for this task, Palamu’s administration handled it independently, leading to months-long delays.
Without a completed DSR, environmental clearances and operational consents could not be issued, causing a ripple effect across the mining sector. This has led to a rise in illegal mining activities, including the theft of graphite, limestone, coal, and sand.
Brick kilns have also been significantly affected. Many rely on stolen coal to continue operations and are often set up near water sources. Shutting them down could displace over 150 labourers, most of whom belong to economically disadvantaged groups. For these small-scale operations, obtaining ECs remains an almost impossible task.
