CM Hemant Soren Reminds Centre It Owes Jharkhand Rs 1.36 Lakh Crore

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren once again raised the demand for pending royalty dues from the central government, which the state is owed for its mineral resources. Soren brought up the issue during the 27th meeting of the Eastern Zonal Council held in Ranchi on July 10. The meeting was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Soren arrived in Ranchi late on July 9, after spending 15 days in Delhi with his ailing father, Guruji Shibu Soren, who is unwell.

The Hemant Soren-led Jharkhand government has repeatedly raised the issue of pending dues with the Centre through official letters. In fact, during the state Assembly election held in November 2024, the Chief Minister and his party leaders made the dues a key election issue. The state government claims that the Centre owes Jharkhand ₹1.36 lakh crore, and that this amount should be paid without further delay.

At the one-day meeting, held at Radisson Blu Hotel in Ranchi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured full cooperation from the Centre in eradicating Naxalism from Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar. He stated that the Naxalite problem would be completely resolved by March 31, 2026.

Hemant Soren also raised 31 state-related concerns, including the plight of Jharkhand residents whose money is stuck in Sahara Group investments, the ₹1.36 lakh crore dues from central coal PSUs for mined coal, and the long-standing demand for their own Sarna religious code for tribal communities.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said at the event that a committee has been formed to resolve outstanding matters between Bihar and Jharkhand, particularly those related to asset division after the bifurcation of the two states. Odisha and West Bengal also highlighted issues specific to their respective states.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Shah emphasised the importance of cooperation and coordination between the Centre and states. He called the Zonal Council meetings a vital platform for dialogue and joint development between the Union and the states.

The meeting was attended by around 70 representatives from Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and West Bengal, including chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, ministers, chief secretaries and police chiefs. Among the prominent attendees were Soren, Bihar Finance Minister Samrat Choudhary and Water Resources Minister Vijay Choudhary, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and Deputy Chief Minister Parvati Parida, and West Bengal Finance Minister (Independent Charge) Chandrima Bhattacharya.

Key issues discussed included inter-state water disputes, banking infrastructure, women and child safety, emergency services, infrastructure development, annual rural-urban planning, and inter-state conflicts. There was a focus on reviewing past decisions and implementing action plans, such as ensuring banking access in every village, fast-tracking legal investigations, setting up special courts, enhancing emergency response systems, and improving Centre-State coordination.

The Eastern Zonal Council meetings are aimed at strengthening development and security cooperation among eastern Indian states. These meetings are held annually. The previous (26th) Eastern Zonal Council meeting was held in Kolkata. The meeting dates are decided by the central government, particularly the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the host state manages the event.

Under the States Reorganisation Act of 1956, there are five Zonal Councils in India, Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Central, each covering different states.

The main objectives of these Zonal Council meetings are to foster cooperation between states and the Centre, collectively resolve regional issues, improve policy implementation through coordination, and peacefully settle inter-state disputes. These meetings are chaired by the Union Home Minister and attended by state Chief Ministers, Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries, Planning Heads, DGPs, and other senior officials.