Kerala vows strong opposition to Centre’s mining amendment Bill
Chief Minister Satheesan says the legislation amounts to ‘a serious encroachment on the State’s constitutional powers over land and poses a grave threat to India’s federal structure’
Kerala's Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has pledged strong political and legal resistance to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which passed in the Lok Sabha on August 12, 2026. The legislation, according to Mr. Satheesan, intrudes on the State's constitutional authority over land and endangers India's federal structure.
His primary concern is that the amendment attempts to incorporate land-related powers, a subject falling under Entry 18 of the State List in the Indian Constitution, into the Centre's jurisdiction. The Constitution delineates legislative powers among the Union, State, and Concurrent Lists; land, Mr. Satheesan emphasized, falls under the State List, thus falling under State jurisdiction.
The Centre is attempting to encroach upon this authority by defining "mineral-bearing land," even without excluding coastal areas and forests, he alleged. The State government would formally communicate its objection to the Centre and consider legal recourse if the Bill becomes law. Kerala's Vizhinjam International Seaport will commence direct export-import (EXIM) cargo movement from August 18, 2026, with around 60% of its current containers being inter-country.
This move marks a significant step towards Kerala receiving direct economic benefits from the international port. The Customs Commissionerate has issued public notices for the commencement of EXIM cargo movement, and a temporary road link to National Highway 66 has been completed. The absence of a Container Freight Station in Thiruvananthapuram necessitated the establishment of a Customs-bonded area inside the port.
The Cabinet also approved providing ₹2 lakh financial assistance to all beneficiaries on the Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslide rehabilitation list, amounting to over ₹5 crore. The Cabinet will also proceed with signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Urban (PMAY-U) 2.0, subject to certain conditions set by the Centre, including the acceptance of a specified logo or emblem.
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