Jaipur, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has urged the Bhajan Lal Sharma-led government to oppose the proposed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill in Parliament, warning that the legislation could weaken the state’s control over its mineral resources and related revenue.
In a post on X, Gehlot alleged that the Centre was seeking greater control over mineral-rich land and the taxes, royalties and cesses associated with mineral resources.
He said Rajasthan has 34,445 mines, generates around Rs 10,394 crore in revenue from the mining sector and provides employment to nearly 30 lakh people.
Gehlot warned that the proposed amendments could affect the state’s financial autonomy by restricting its ability to impose or recover certain levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land.
He specifically criticised proposed Section 9D, which he said would prevent states from recovering certain outstanding taxes, cesses or other levies imposed on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land before the amended provisions come into force.
According to Gehlot, the provision could result in revenue that would otherwise accrue to the states being lost.
Comparing the proposal with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Gehlot said assurances of a uniform tax structure had earlier resulted in financial losses for states.
“This is not an administrative reform,” he said, alleging that the proposed changes could make states increasingly dependent on the Centre.
Union Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy recently introduced the MMDR Amendment Bill in the Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to regulate taxes, royalties, cesses and other levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, while giving the Centre greater authority to prescribe conditions and restrictions relating to such levies.
The proposed amendments would also expand the regulatory framework to cover land containing common minerals.
Another key provision relates to taxes, cesses and other levies imposed by state governments before the amendments take effect. Under the proposed Section 9D, certain unpaid levies could cease to have a legal requirement for payment, while amounts already deposited or collected would not have to be refunded.
Gehlot has called on the Rajasthan government to take a clear stand against the proposed legislation, stressing the need to protect the state’s mineral revenue, economic interests and employment linked to mining.
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