Following is the letter.

I have several questions and doubts:

  • Is it possible under the central govt. policies on mines that the state can take over the mines?
  • What about the mines for which lease have been already granted? For example, the various leases that Tata Steel has? Can the state just unilaterally terminate the leases and take over the mines. I don’t think so. See http://mines.nic.in/faq.html.

I think Mr. Jena, if he is really sincere, should elaborate on how the state can take over the mines. Otherwise, he is just playing politics.