Taking a strident stand against the Jharkhand government's proposal to open up Saranda for further private mining, union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh has said he would roll back the Saranda development plan (SDP) if this were to happen.

He said this while talking to reporters in Ranchi on Monday during his two-day visit to the Saranda area to review the development works. His ministry launched SDP together with the state government after the area was freed from the Maoists' dominance last year.

The locals of Saranda have been complaining that the Saranda development plan seemed more aimed at facilitating private mining firms as more stress was being laid on setting up police posts and roads, rather than their welfare. Their doubts were reinforced when the state government declared its intention to allow further mining in the area a few weeks ago.

Seeking to allay concerns of the development plan being waylaid by mining interests, the minister said, "I have said in the past that private mining companies should not be allowed in Saranda. I reiterate the stand today. Any allegation that the plan is linked to mining is mischievous and intended to misguide the tribals of Saranda. In fact, the rural development ministry will roll-back the SDP if any new licenses are granted to private mining companies."

The minister pointed out that he, as environment minister in 2009, had cleared only an expansion plan of the Steel Authority of India Ltd at Chiria (a panchayat in Saranda) because it was public sector undertaking with an excellent track record in taking care of the local communities' interests.