BJD to launch protests, legal battle against Mines Bill

Bhubaneswar: The BJD has planned to pursue both legal action and public demonstrations to oppose the passage of the Mines and Minerals (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, arguing that the legislation poses a threat to Odisha’s fiscal autonomy.

The bill, which seeks to restrict states’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, was passed in the Lok Sabha Wednesday and in the Rajya Sabha Thursday. It now awaits the President’s assent.

The Union government has argued that the legislation does not seek to interfere with the autonomy or revenue rights of states, but aims to ensure uniform mineral rates across the country.

In a meeting of the BJD’s Political Affairs Committee chaired by its president Naveen Patnaik Friday, the party said implementation of the law will lead to massive revenue losses in mineral-rich states like Odisha and stifle its developmental agenda.

Patnaik has also written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging him to convene a special session of the Assembly to pass a resolution to oppose the bill and also hold an all-party meeting for unanimity among parties on the matter.

The Bill seeks to restrict states’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands, Patnaik said.

According to the BJD’s chief whip, Pramila Mallik expressed concern over the state’s BJP government and its 20 MPs supporting a Bill that is “against the interest of the state”. “If the law is enacted, it would lead to a loss of at least Rs 12,000 crore to the state exchequer,” she said.

In an official statement, the BJD said, “The party raised concerns that the newly cleared Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill will inflict heavy revenue losses on Odisha. The BJD plans to pursue both legal action and public demonstrations.”

Apart from this, the PAC resolved to mount a multi-front campaign against the state’s BJP government over different issues, Mallik said.

She said the party has expressed concern over the registration bottlenecks affecting sharecroppers for the upcoming paddy procurement and demanded immediate intervention of the government to protect the interests of the farmers.