Land Acquisition and Dispossession : Private Coal Companies in Jharkhand

This paper presents an investigation into strategies employed by the privately-owned companies to gain access to land for resource extraction in the state of Jharkhand where much of the land being put under the shovel is inalienable adivasi or tribal land and deedless commons. It concludes that although policy reforms are welcome, cosmetic changes in mineral governance laws is inadequate to protect the interests of the poor. The paper suggests an alternative vision, a complete overhaul of mineral ownership to allow the poor to share the revenue benefits. Once some co-management principles are introduced, the poor can fully participate in and benefit from mineral extraction rather than remaining mere spectators or becoming victims of mining projects