Jamshedpur, Sept. 2 -- Former Jharkhand CM Champai Soren said that the production of coal and iron ore in Jharkhand dropped by 12-15% ever since the ruling Hemant Soren government imposed Rs.450 per ton cess on coal and Rs.600 per ton cess on iron ore, rendering them much costlier than their prices in West Bengal and Odisha. "When the price of thermal coal (G11) in Jharkhand is Rs.2,458 per ton, will not the customers buy the same grade of coal at Rs.1,708 per ton from neighbouring Odisha and at Rs.1,741 per ton from West Bengal. Now think how companies here will run," Champai Soren posted on social media on Tuesday. The former CM said the production of coal and iron ore in Jharkhand dropped by 12-15% due to this cess. Subsequently, the production of the Bharat Coking Coal Ltd drooped by about 5 million tonnes leading to substantial revenue loss. Central Coalfields Ltd production also dropped and it's profit reduced by 27%. Similarly, Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) suffered a loss of Rs.966 crore, he added. Reacting to the Jharkhand government's announcement of moving the Supreme Court against the Centre's MMDR Amendment Bill, the former CM advised that the state government should read the SC order in this regard again and carefully. "The SC has categorically stated in its judgement that the Parliament can pass and enact law to end or limit the power of the states to collect cess," Champai reminded. Accusing the ruling parties of misleading the people, Champai said the state's revenue earnings worth crores from the royalty, auction premium, DMFT fund and National Mineral Exploration Trust fund would not be affected by the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulations Amendment Bill (MMDR). "No Congress MP said a word against this Bill and it's governments in Karnataka and Telangana have not imposed any such illogical taxes. Why it is opposing here? The hullabaloo and the misinformation is only to continue the illegal mining, not to benefit the state exchequer," he said....