Bhubaneswar: BJD Friday alleged the amended mines and minerals law passed by Parliament recently “snatches the rights” of states like Odisha and weakens their financial autonomy, a day after BJP MP Dharmendra Pradhan accused Naveen Patnaik of “misleading” people.
As the ruling BJP and the main Opposition party in the mineral-rich state locked horns over the passage of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, INDIA Bloc constituents — Congress, Left parties, NCP and SP — decided to hold a public awareness campaign against the law August 23 and 24.
They also decided to hold protests August 25.
The CPI(M)’s Odisha secretary Suresh Panigrahy said, “A state-level convention will be held here September 9, which will decide on a state-wide bandh and launching an economic blockade in mineral-rich districts.”
The BJD has been opposing the law, with its supremo and former chief minister Naveen Patnaik alleging that a “dangerous conspiracy” has been hatched against Odisha to weaken its economy and its people.
Former Union Minister Pradhan had hit back at the BJD president, accusing Patnaik of “misleading” people and claiming Odisha would not suffer any revenue loss under the new law.
The war of words intensified on Friday with BJD MLA Arun Kumar Sahoo and the party’s senior general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra daring the BJP to debate them over the new mining law.
They also alleged that all 25 BJP MPs from Odisha have voted against the interests of Odisha while enabling passage of the MMDR Amendment Bill-2026.
Sahoo, a former law minister, said every state has legal and constitutional rights over its mines and mineral resources..
“In July 2024, a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court examined the issue and held that states have rights over mines and mineral-bearing lands and, therefore, states can impose levies and taxes on minerals.”
He alleged that the new mining law snatches the rights of all mineral-bearing states, including Odisha.
“In the same judgment, the Supreme Court had stated that states could recover outstanding taxes from mining companies with effect from 1 April 2005.
“Accordingly, it was estimated that Odisha alone could recover around Rs 1.5 lakh crore as arrears. In addition, it was estimated that the state could earn an additional Rs 12,000 crore annually in mining revenue,” Sahoo pointed out.
He alleges that through the amended law, the Centre has taken away Odisha’s legitimate right. “It is unfortunate that Pradhan is accusing Patnaik of misleading people.”
“In whose interest was Odisha’s legitimate right handed over to the Centre? This was an attack on the federal structure of the country.”
About Pradhan’s accusation that Odisha’s debt burden had increased under the previous BJD government, Sahoo termed it a “childish and ridiculous” claim.
“Odisha had earned the distinction of being among the states with the lowest debt burden in the country. Its per capita debt was also among the lowest in the country.
“Dharmendra Pradhan is trying to mislead the people of Odisha with fabricated data,” he alleged.
Baxipatra said Pradhan’s claim that Odisha would not suffer any losses because of the law was far from reality.
“On behalf of the state government, Advocate General of Odisha Pitambar Acharya had filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court, stating that levies and taxes from mines were extremely important for Odisha and the state would suffer substantial losses if the outstanding mining revenue was not received.”
“If Pradhan’s claim of no financial loss is correct, then the affidavit would have to be considered false. The BJP must clarify which is correct,” Baxipatra asked.
He claimed the BJP government has incurred a debt of Rs 1,38,000 crore in just two years. “This clearly establishes who is misleading whom”.
Both the BJD and Congress have demanded a special session of the Assembly and an all-party meeting to deliberate on the new mining law.
PTI
