Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and former IAS officer Sujata Rout on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the 20 BJP MPs from Odisha over the passage of amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, questioning their silence when the state’s tax rights over its mineral resources were allegedly curtailed.
“The silence of Odisha’s 20 BJP MPs on issues directly affecting the state’s mineral rights and financial revenue is deeply concerning. Odisha’s natural wealth belongs to its people, and our elected representatives in Parliament must advocate for the state’s legitimate share rather than remaining passive spectators,” she asserted in a video message.
Tracing the history of the dispute, Rout recalled that in 2004, the then-Naveen Patnaik government introduced the Odisha Rural Infrastructure and Socio-Economic Development (ORISED) Act to raise revenue from regional mining operations. Although the bill originally passed with unanimous cross-party support in the Odisha Assembly, including backing from the BJD, BJP, and Congress, it was subsequently challenged in court by major mining companies and leaseholders. The state government fought a long legal battle to defend its constitutional taxation rights, ultimately leading to a landmark July 2024 ruling by a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, which upheld state legislatures’ authority to levy taxes on mineral-bearing lands and allowed states to collect retrospective arrears dating back to April 1, 2005, in instalments starting April 2026.
According to Rout, this historic verdict unlocked an estimated ₹50,000 crore in pending dues and guaranteed over ₹12,000 crore in additional annual revenue for the state.
However, Rout alleged that the recent MMDR amendments systematically override the Supreme Court’s ruling and restrict the state’s taxing powers, directly harming local revenue collection. She rejected counterarguments claiming that Odisha receives sufficient funds through standard mining royalties and the District Mineral Foundation (DMF), pointing out that private mining companies previously relied on the same reasoning during litigation against the state.
Demanding active parliamentary intervention from Odisha’s elected representatives, she asked, “Are the state BJP leaders standing with the youth and future generations of Odisha, or are they supporting efforts to weaken our rights over mineral resources?”
She warned that the BJD will continue its protests until the contentious MMDR amendments are withdrawn, adding that a memorandum has already been submitted to the Governor as part of the party’s ongoing agitation.
ORISED ଆଇନ କ’ଣ ଓଡ଼ିଆଙ୍କ ସ୍ୱାର୍ଥ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ନଥିଲା? କାହିଁକି ସଂଶୋଧିତ MMDR ଆଇନ ଆଣି ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ଅଧିକାର ଛଡ଼ାଇ ନିଆଗଲା?
ବିଜେପିର ସାଂସଦ ଓ ନେତାମାନେ ସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ କରନ୍ତୁ ସେମାନେ କାହା ସହ ଅଛନ୍ତି? ମାତୃଭୂମି ସହିତ ନା ଆଉ କାହା ସହିତ? ଓଡ଼ିଶାର GenZ ଓ ଆଗାମୀ ପିଢ଼ିଙ୍କ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ସହିତ ନା ଯେଉଁମାନେ ଓଡ଼ିଶାର ସାମ୍ବିଧାନିକ… pic.twitter.com/BI2ZF1DWKs
— Biju Janata Dal (@bjd_odisha) September 23, 2026
Defending the Centre’s move, BJP MP Anita Subhadarshini stated: “The MMDR Act, 2026, is a significant step for the economy and development of mineral-rich Odisha. Our primary goal is to ensure the thoughtful and transparent utilisation of Odisha’s natural resources, alongside boosting state revenue, industrial growth, employment generation, and the welfare of the people.”
She also mentioned the Justice M B Shah Commission Report, which estimated that the scam in mining iron ore and manganese in just two districts of Kendujhar and Sundaragada during the previous BJD regime was worth more than Rs 59,000 crore. “Where was the concern and love for Odisha when the state was incurring such huge losses?” she asked.
The Asika MP further stressed that the e-auction system introduced by the Narendra Modi government fundamentally transformed how India allocates its natural resources, funnelling massive revenues directly into state treasuries. “The state benefitted as we moved from away from discretionary allocations to a transparent, electronic bidding mechanism. Odisha also gained from 15% hike in mineral royalty with revenue jumping from Rs 5,000 crore to 50,000 crore,” she added, while accusing BJD of misleading the people of the state.
