Bhubaneswar: Criticising the 20 BJP MPs from Odisha for supporting the MMDR Act Amendment Bill, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Odisha’s principal Opposition party, today alleged the proposed changes would deprive Odisha of its rightful share of mining revenue.

Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, the BJD’s state headquarters in Bhubaneswar, former Minister Priti Ranjan Ghadai and the party’s Senior General Secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra alleged that a systematic attempt was being made to deprive the people of Odisha of revenue from the State’s mineral resources.

Ghadai said Odisha’s people were the rightful beneficiaries of the State’s mineral wealth and claimed the State could suffer significant financial losses if the MMDR Act Amendment Bill comes into force.

He also alleged since the BJP came to power in Odisha, the State’s mineral resources have been subject to widespread illegal mining and smuggling, while mining revenue has not been adequately utilised for the development of the people.

“The people of Odisha deserve an answer as to how the State BJP Government and the BJP MPs accepted this Bill, which strikes at the federal structure. It is unacceptable that Odisha’s mining revenue will not be invested in the development of the State but will instead be used for the development of other States,” Ghadai said.

Baxipatra alleged the Centre was attempting to “loot Odisha” by amending the MMDR Act and claimed that the Bill had been passed in Parliament for partisan interests.

“Despite the Supreme Court having ruled that the State Government has the complete right to collect revenue from the mining sector for the development of mineral-rich Odisha, the Central BJP Government is disregarding the Supreme Court’s judgment and taking away our rights,” Baxipatra said.

He further claimed although the Supreme Court had directed in July 2024 that ₹1.5 lakh crore in outstanding dues be recovered from mining companies, the Odisha government had made little effort to recover the amount.

Baxipatra alleged under the proposed amendments, the State government would no longer be able to recover such outstanding dues from mining operators.

The BJD leaders said the party had strongly opposed the MMDR Act Amendment Bill in the Rajya Sabha and announced the party would launch protests in the coming days to safeguard the interests of Odisha and its people.