Bhubaneswar: Accusing Odisha’s Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena of being involved in illegal sand mining, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday demanded his removal from the ministry.
Addressing a press conference in Bhubaneswar, BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty alleged that illegal mining of sand, morrum, and stones has increased sharply since the BJP came to power in the state.
He claimed that the recent raid by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Ganjam district has established the involvement of the Mines Minister’s authorised representative in
sand theft.
Claiming that the government’s failure to act has resulted in massive revenue losses, Mohanty said revenue from minor minerals has dropped from Rs 1,485 crore in 2023–24 to Rs 600 crore in 2024–25, while income from major minerals has fallen from Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 34,000 crore.
Unchecked illegal mining has led to a sharp rise in sand prices, increased road accidents, and deterioration of law and order, he said.
Claiming that the Mines Minister had officially designated Sunil Patra as his representative for dealings with the mines, police, and court authorities, the BJD spokesperson said Patra’s involvement in sand theft has come to light following the ED raid, which implicates the Minister.
Urging Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to act decisively, he said if the Chief Minister truly believes in good governance and accountability, he must remove the Mines Minister from the cabinet and prove his commitment to clean administration.