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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Jharkhand launches India's first-ever mining tourism to offer guided mine tours
Jharkhand has added a new dimension in its tourism portfolio with the introduction of the country's first mining tourism. As per the latest reports, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday (July 21, 2025) announced the launch of the country's first-ever mining tourism initiative in a groundbreaking move. Reports add that the Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) has signed a five-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) to bring this ambitious vision to life. The announcement comes shortly after CM Soren's visit to the Gava Museum of Mines in Barcelona, where he explored ancient mining relics and techniques dating back to the Neolithic era. Inspired by the experience, the government now seeks to showcase Jharkhand's own rich mining legacy in an engaging and educational format for tourists. Jharkhand, which accounts for nearly 40% of India's total mineral wealth, has long been recognized as a powerhouse of natural resources. Now, it's set to harness this identity to promote tourism, generate employment, and enhance the state's cultural profile. 'Jharkhand has been known as a mining state. We have taken the first step towards mining tourism in the state with CCL. Now, the mining sector is open for tourists, common men and educational groups,' said State Tourism Minister Sudivya Kumar. He also noted plans to create an additional circuit with Bharat Coking Coal Limited in the future. Read more: 5 hill stations you can do over a long weekend from Delhi CCL chairman and managing director Nilendu Kumar Singh praised the government's vision, saying, 'After three rounds of meetings with the minister and his team, the MoU has been done today. We will open more mines in future for the mining tourism circuit,' According to officials, this is not just a tourism project—it's a pioneering model of eco-industrial tourism. In its initial phase, the North Urimari open-cast mines in the Ramgarh district will be developed as a primary tourist site. JTDC will organize guided group visits of 10–20 people, while CCL will manage on-ground logistics, safety, and educational resources. Read more: Travel disruptions mount after Alaska Airlines grounds fleet; all key details here Tourists will be able to observe live mining operations from a safe distance, offering a rare insight into mining technologies, environmental protocols, and the daily lives of miners. The project is expected to appeal to students, researchers, and adventure-seekers alike. But mining won't be the only draw. The tourism circuit will also include nearby natural attractions like Palani Falls, Patratu Valley, and Tiru Falls to offer a well-rounded experience that blends industry with nature. The government also plans to develop three thematic circuits under this initiative: Eco-Mining Circuit 1, Eco-Mining Circuit 2, and a Religious Mining Circuit. These will integrate tourism with local heritage, aiming to boost employment, stimulate local economies, and reinforce Jharkhand's cultural identity. Interestingly, many of Jharkhand's older, now-defunct coal mine areas are being considered for redevelopment under this plan. JTDC is exploring these sites for their historical and tourism potential. With mining tourism now officially on the map, Jharkhand is poised to transform its industrial past into a vibrant and inclusive travel experience.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
State, CCL inks pact for mine tourism, bookings likely from next week
1 2 Ranchi: Taking a giant leap to bolster tourism sector in Jharkhand, state tourism department on Monday inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), country's biggest coal sector PSU, for rolling out first ever mining tourism programme. The formal MoU signing ceremony was held in presence of state tourism minister Sudivya Kumar and CCL's CMD Nilendu Kumar Singh and officials from tourism department and the PSU. The agreement will be in force for five years. On the initiative, Kumar said, "The beginning of mining tourism here marks a historic step to turn a new leaf. Mining tourism will not only showcase our state's industrial strength but also provide tourists with a unique perspective on the state's mineral richness, legacy and its contribution in nation building. With this, we hope to add a new dimension to tourism, industry, and cultural heritage." To begin with, guided mine tour programme will begin from North Urimari Mines and depending on the success and response, officials said that new locations will be added gradually with the mutual consent between both the stakeholders. Talking to TOI, JTDC's managing director Prem Ranjan said that in next few days, CCL will formally give mines safety clearance after which they will begin bookings for mine tours. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A genetic disorder that is damaging his organs. Help my son Donate For Health Donate Now Undo "Interested tourists can book this on our website or walk in to our offices or extended counters like they do for other facilities. Initially, we are planning for charge Rs 2,500 per person for mine tour which will include to and fro journey from an earmarked spot, and slight refreshments at the touring mine site. JTDC will provide CCL Rs 200 per person for on-site refreshment facilities," he said. As per the MoU, per group size will be between 10-20 individuals for the tour and tourism services will be available only two days a week, to be decided by CCL. "Only through advance bookings, one can avail this service," said Ranjan, adding that all the tourists will have to adhere to the rules set by CCL for visitor safety before and after entering the mines. "CCL will also provide expert guides to explain the mining operations to tourists," he said.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Jharkhand to launch India's first mining tourism project in tie-up with CCL
RANCHI: In a first of its kind initiative, Jharkhand government is all set to launch mining tourism project intended to boost employment opportunities in the state. The Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation (JTDC) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in this regard. The initiative was taken on the directions of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who recently had seen ancient mining techniques and Neolithic era remains at the Gava Museum during his visit to Barcelona. Notably, Jharkhand has been famous for its mines of coal, iron ore and other minerals. Now the government plans to bring the heritage of these mines and the mining process to the common people through tourism, so that theme-based and sustainable tourism can be promoted in the state. Under the mining tourism project, tourists will get a chance to experience coal mines, mining processes, equipment and historical features related to mining first-hand. State Tourism Minister, Sudivya Kumar said that as of now, Jharkhand had been known as a mining state only, but now it is open for mining tourism as well. 'We have taken the first step towards mining tourism in the state in collaboration with CCL and the mining area has been opened for tourists, common people and educational groups,' said the minister.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
‘No fundamental right to adopt US citizen': Bombay High Court dismisses couple's plea to adopt relative's son
The Bombay High Court Wednesday dismissed a plea by a Pune-based couple that challenged the decision of the Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA) to deny their request to adopt a six-year-old son who is a United States citizen. His biological parents are related to the petitioner couple. The court said it was 'clear that there was no provision in Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act (JJ Act), 2015 nor the Adoption Regulations providing for adoption of a child of foreign citizenship even between relative, unless the 'child is in need of care and protection' or a 'child is in conflict with law (CCL)''. A bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela K Gokhale in its verdict noted that the plea 'brings to the attention of the Court an unprecedented situation relating to the applicability of the JJ Act and the Adoption Regulations framed under the said Act, to the adoption of a child being a citizen of the USA by relatives of the child's biological parents.' Advocates Shirin Merchant and Stuti Oswal, for the petitioners, sought direction from the CARA to register them as prospective adoptive parents and issue a pre-approval letter to facilitate the adoption of the US national boy, who is the son of the petitioner woman's sister. The petitioner couple stated that as they were unable to bear a child, they desired to adopt the boy. He was born in the US in 2019 and holds a US passport. The petitioner couple, with the intention of adopting him, brought the boy to India when he was a few months old. The CARA rejected their request for adoption on the grounds that the regulations do not permit the facilitation of the adoption of an American citizen. The couple had also approached the Pune district court seeking adoption, which was pending due to the CARA's refusal to approve the adoption. Advocate Merchant claimed before the high court that US authorities were likely to refuse renewal of the boy's passport without a valid adoption order, and his stay in India may become illegal. The plea added that the child is attending school in India and is required to travel to the US every year to renew his visa, failing which he may become an illegal migrant in India; therefore, considering his 'stability, identity and future prospects', the CARA should be directed to give clearance for adoption. The petitioners sought the relaxation of guidelines and the granting of an exception to regulations by the CARA. Moreover, the biological parents of the child, through advocate Yugandhara Khanwilkar, claimed that the present adoption would fall under the ambit of in-country adoption and not inter-country adoption as the petitioners and their biological parents are Indian citizens. Justice Gokhale observed that such private and relative intercountry adoptions were 'incompatible' with the International Hague Convention on Adoption of Children, of which India is a signatory. The high court said such adoptions are not considered authorised adoptions. There is no fundamental right of the petitioners to adopt an American child who does not fall within the applicability of the JJ Act and the regulations, even if he is born to Indian parents, the court noted. 'Neither is there any violation of any fundamental right of the child of American nationality to be adopted by an Indian citizen,' the high court recorded. It added that while the petitioners' difficulty can easily be resolved based on the CARA's suggestion that the child can apply for Indian citizenship and then follow the procedure under the JJ Act, or the petitioners can process the adoption in the US as per the laws applicable in that country. However, the court noted that the petitioners were not inclined to accept the suggestion, and it was inclined to dismiss the petition.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Indian Express
Porsche car crash: JJB rejects police plea for trying 17 yr old minor driver as an adult
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) has today rejected the application by the Pune city police seeking an order that the minor accused in the Porsche car crash be tried as an adult. Two IT engineers Aneesh Awadhiya and his friend Ashwini Koshta, both aged 24 and hailing from Madhya Pradesh, were killed after the speeding Porsche driven by a 17-year-old boy allegedly in an inebriated state hit their motorcycle around 2.30 am on May 19, 2024. Same day, a first information report (FIR) was lodged against the minor car driver at the Yerwada police station. Subsequently, citing sections of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, the Pune city police filed an application at JJB, seeking an order that the child in conflict with law (CCL) be tried as an adult in this case. Prosecution had argued that CCL (minor car driver) accused committed a 'heinous offence' and was driving the Porsche car after consuming liquor despite knowing its consequences The defence lawyer opposed the application saying the present offence cannot be legally termed as 'heinous. The defence lawyer had also argued that the object of Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act is 'reformative' and not 'punitive'. A senior police officer confirmed that the JJB today passed an order in favour of the CCL. Earlier, when police had detained the minor and produced him before the JJB on May 19, he was granted by the JJB on conditions that he would 'write an essay of 300 words' on 'topic in effect of road accidents and their solutions', assist RTO officers and practice and study traffic rules for 15 days. But, following a public uproar, the minor was sent to an observation home on May 22. Apparently, the police again submitted applications at the JJB on May 21 and May 22, for trying the CCL as an adult. The minor's paternal aunt had then moved a plea before the high court (HC) and sought his release, claiming that as per the JJ Act 2015, it needs to be ensured that any conflict with the law does not result in him turning into a hardened criminal. On June 25, the HC ordered the minor's release and that he be handed over into the care of his paternal aunt. Subsequently, the minor was released from the observation home. Meanwhile, the police investigation had revealed that when the minor driver, who is son of a prominent realtor, was taken to the government-run Sassoon Hospital after the accident for a medical examination, his blood sample was allegedly replaced with his mother's. A police probe also confirmed that blood samples of the two friends of the minor driver, who were in the Porsche at the time of the accident, were also swapped at Sassoon hospital. Police arrested and chargesheeted ten persons including the minor's parents, Dr Ajay Taware, the then head of the Forensic Medicine Department of Sassoon Hospital, Dr Shrihari Halnor, the casualty medical officer at the time, Atul Ghatkamble, a morgue staff and others. They are booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 304, 279, 338, 337, 427, 120 (b), 201, 213, 214, 466, 467, 468, 471, 109 and sections of the Motor Vehicle Act and Prevention of Corruption Act. Special public prosecutor (SPP) Shishir Hiray had argued at the JJB that minor accused had been booked under IPC sections 467 (forgery) and 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), which attract punishment of life imprisonment or imprisonment for up to ten year. 'So he has committed a 'heinous offence' as per section 2 (33) of JJ Act, which says that offences having punishment of imprisonment for seven years or more are 'heinous', Hiray had argued. Prosecution had submitted that in case of a heinous offence, as per section 15 (1) of JJ Act, the JJB shall conduct a preliminary assessment of a minor's mental and physical capacity to commit such offence, his ability to understand the consequences of the offence and the circumstances in which he allegedly committed the said crime. Prosecution submitted that after the preliminary assessment under section 15 (1), the JJB can, under section 18 (3) of the JJ Act, pass an order for trial of the minor as an adult. SPP Hiray had argued before the JJB the actual driver of the Porsche had asked the minor not to drive the car. 'But still the minor drove the Porsche after consuming liquor and committed the crime. He knew the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was present at the Sassoon hospital when his blood samples were swapped. He knew swapping blood samples was a crime. So he was aware of the consequences of the offence and should be tried as an adult,' Hiray had said. Defence lawyer Prashant Patil submitted before the JJB that the CCL has no prior criminal record and the Porsche crash incident, though unfortunate, arose out of a moment of poor judgement, not criminal intention. Citing a Supreme Court judgement in Shilpa Mittal versus State of Delhi case, Patil had claimed that the present offence may not legally qualify as 'heinous' and hence section (15) of JJ Act should not be invoked in this case. Patil had also submitted that as per section 2 (12) of JJ Act, any person below the age of 18 years is considered a child. Patil argued the goal of juvenile justice is to 'rehabilitate' and not to punish the minor in the same way as for adults.
