Bhubaneswar: Claiming the recent amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act could significantly reduce Odisha’s mining revenue and affect its financial autonomy, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has strongly criticised the recent changes in the Act. 

Patnaik alleged Odisha’s economy was facing a serious threat following the amendment to the MMDR Act passed by Parliament. He also claimed the amendment was passed without adequate discussion and alleged only BJD MPs strongly opposed it in the Rajya Sabha.

Patnaik, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, said he had written to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi opposing the amendment. In his letter, he urged Majhi to convene an all-party meeting and a special session of the State Legislative Assembly to discuss the implications of the amendment for Odisha.

Stressing the need for political parties to come together to protect the state’s interests, the BJD president said, “No one is bigger than the interests of Odisha and its people.”

He said Odisha possesses some of the country’s largest reserves of chromite, bauxite, iron ore, coal and manganese, and claimed the amended legislation would undermine the state’s control over its mineral resources.

Patnaik questioned why Odisha should not be able to collect revenue from its mineral resources for the welfare of its people.

“People of Odisha will bear the dust and smoke, while Delhi will prosper from our resources,” he said, urging people to oppose what he described as an attempt to weaken the state.

'Always safeguarded interests of State' 

Recalling his 24-year tenure as Odisha Chief Minister, Patnaik said he had worked to safeguard the state’s interests even when different political parties were in power at the Centre.

He criticised the BJP government in Odisha and alleged the state had become increasingly dependent on the Centre within two years of the change in government in 2024.

Patnaik also criticised Odisha’s BJP MPs, alleging they had failed to raise the state’s concerns in Parliament. He claimed BJD MPs were the only ones to strongly oppose the MMDR amendment in the Rajya Sabha.

The BJD chief further claimed the amended legislation could lead to the loss of thousands of crores of rupees in revenue for the State annually. He said the lost revenue could otherwise have been used to build schools, colleges and hospitals and develop roads, bridges, power infrastructure and other public facilities.

The funds could also have supported welfare programmes and benefited farmers and poorer sections of society, he added.

“Can Odisha afford such a huge loss?” Patnaik asked, raising concerns over the impact on future generations and the prospects of Gen Z in the state.

He urged the people of Odisha to unite against what he described as a “conspiracy” to weaken the state and called for collective efforts to protect Odisha’s interests.