The minister assured that the government would explore all legal options to recover the dues. MLA Saryu Roy pointed out that by 2009, the principal amount was Rs 41,142 crore, while the interest had grown to Rs 60,000 crore. Interfering in between, Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore also informed the House about his meeting with Union Minister Kishan Reddy, who assured him that the Coal Ministry would look into the matter. According to Kishore, he has handed over a written memorandum to the Union Finance Minister demanding the outstanding of Rs 1,36,000 crore dues to Jharkhand. The Union Coal Minister has asked the officials to form a panel to calculate the exact amount of dues to Jharkhand so that positive steps could be taken to clear it as soon as possible, he said. Kishore asserted in the House that the state government is committed to recover its due and will also take legal resort if required. “We will recover the full amount, including interest. This is not a political issue but a matter of the rights of Jharkhand’s people,” said Kishore.According to government sources, out of the total amount of Rs 1,36,000 crore, Rs 1,01,142 crore is due as land compensation, Rs 32,000 crore under Common Cause and Rs 2500 crore are due as coal royalty. Notably, Jharkhand gets the highest royalty of about Rs 5500 crore from coal. About Rs 3200 crore royalties are obtained from iron ore. The remaining royalty is received from gold, uranium, stone, limestone, copper and other minerals.
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