Ahead of the scheduled visits of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to poll-bound Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday requested the Centre with folded hands to clear Rs 1.36 lakh-crore coal dues to the state.
Modi is scheduled to address two rallies in Jharkhand on November 4 while Shah will address three public meetings on November 3.
"The PM and the home minister are coming to Jharkhand. I once again request them with folded hands to clear the outstanding (coal dues) of Rs 1.36 lakh crore to Jharkhandis. This amount is crucial for Jharkhand," Soren posted on X.
He also appealed to BJP MPs to facilitate clearance of the amount.
"I would also appeal to my BJP colleagues, especially the MPs, to help Jharkhandis in getting our dues," Soren posted on the microblogging site, sharing a copy of a letter to the prime minister.
Soren emphasised that the dues with central PSUs, like Coal India, are "rightful" to the state and claimed that "non-clearance is causing irreparable harm to Jharkhand’s development".
"I, Hemant Soren, the chief minister of Jharkhand, am drawing your attention towards a serious issue which is creating obstacles in the path of state's development. Our dues from coal companies stand at Rs 1.36 lakh crore," Soren wrote in the letter to the PM.
"In spite of provisions in the law and judicial pronouncements, coal companies are not making any payment... These questions have been raised at various forums, including your kind office, Finance Ministry and NITI Aayog. But till now this compensation (Rs 1.36 lakh crore) has not yet been paid," he said.
A recent ruling by a nine-judge Supreme Court bench affirmed the state's right to collect its mining and royalty dues.
Soren pointed out that the development of Jharkhand and essential socio-economic projects are getting hampered owing to the non-clearance of dues.
"Jharkhand is an under-developed state and there are lots of social economic development projects which are getting hampered due to non-payment of our justifiable demands," Soren wrote.
Last month, he suggested a direct debit from Coal India's account to the state, similar to the arrangements made for Jharkhand State Electricity Board dues to the DVC.
"This delay in payment of the just demand raised by the state has constrained me to write to you that this negligence is causing irreparable damage to Jharkhand and its people. Various social sector schemes in education, health, women & child development, clean drinking water and last mile connectivity are unable to be translated on the ground because of lack of funds," Soren said.
Earlier, he accused the central government of indifference to the state's plight, highlighting the disparity in treatment regarding dues.
The Jharkhand assembly polls will be held in two phases – November 13 and 20.
The counting of votes will take place on November 23.
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