Bhubaneswar: Voicing concern over the passage of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 by Parliament, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to take immediate steps to safeguard the interest of Odisha.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, Naveen alleged that the measure posed a serious threat to Odisha’s fiscal autonomy and rights over its mineral resources.
In his letter, the former chief minister claimed that several provisions in the newly passed amendment directly infringe upon state financial rights and land jurisdiction. Section 2 of the Act expands central control to encompass mineral-bearing lands alongside the regulation of mines, he claimed.
Furthermore, Section 9D explicitly prohibits state governments from levying any tax, cess, or similar levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands unless permitted under conditions set by the central government. Section 13 delegates sole authority to the Centre to frame rules restricting the tax-levying powers of state governments, claimed Naveen, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Odisha Assembly.
The BJD chief said revenues derived from mining operations play a vital role in funding education, healthcare, social welfare schemes, and infrastructure projects across Odisha. Stripping the state of its taxation authority deals a heavy blow to federalism and revenue independence, he said.
If the central government usurps control over mineral-bearing lands, Odisha will be left bearing the ecological and social burdens of mining such as environmental pollution and population displacement, while losing the economic benefits generated from its own natural wealth, he said.
To safeguard state interests, the BJD supremo urged CM Majhi to take two immediate steps. First, Naveen called for an urgent all-party meeting to build a unified political consensus on protecting federal rights and state mineral revenues. Second, he sought a special session of the Odisha Assembly to formally pass a unanimous resolution opposing the Amendment Act and protesting the central encroachment on state jurisdiction.
The issue follows strong objections raised by BJD MPs during proceedings in the Rajya Sabha, where opposition leaders criticised the bill for infringing upon state financial rights.
Naveen urged the Chief Minister to act swiftly in the interest of the people of Odisha, stating that fiscal autonomy remains a foundational principle of the federal structure.