New mineral policy detrimental for Jharkhand: Former-FM

Jamshedpur, Jul 10 (UNI) Former Jharkhand Finance Minister Raghubar Das today opposed the Centre's move to hammer out a new mineral policy by the Group of Ministers (GoM), headed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

He said the policy would go against the interests of mineral-rich states like Jharkhand and Orissa.

The GoM had endorsed the recommendation of Hooda Commitee on July six in New Delhi and sent for cabinet's approval.

Talking to mediapersons here, Mr Das termed the decision of the GoM to give green signal to the new mineral policy as suicidal and that the future of the steel industries in the country was under jeopardy.

He said being the mineral-based state, Jharkhand would be the maximum looser and urged all the parties of the state, cutting across their political affiliations, to protest the new policy.

He also urged the MPs of Orissa and Chhatisgarh to oppose its tabling in the Parliament's monsoon session.

Mr Das also requested the Union minister from Jharkhand and Congress MP Subodh Kant Sahay to talk to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to desist the government from introducing the new mineral policy.

He also warned that the BJP would launch ''Khan Khanij Sampad Bachao'' agitation if the Centre introduces the new mineral policy.

Mr Das said if the new policy is implemented, then the states rich in mineral would be deprived of to control their own minerals and the Centre would directly distribute them.

UNI