Bhubaneswar: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Odisha on Tuesday, senior Congress leader Srikant Jen has appealed to him to withdraw the petition filed before the Supreme Court by the Centre regarding the state’s authority on levying cess and taxes on mineral-bearing lands and minerals.
Jena said the Union Government has filed a petition before the Supreme Court to review its landmark judgment of July 25, 2024 and August 14, 2024. This review petition is against Odisha’s interest. The rulings of the Supreme Court allow states to levy taxes and cess on mineral-bearing lands and minerals. Odisha is the leading mineral producer in the country, accounting for nearly half of India’s total mineral production.
“After the Supreme Court judgment, Odisha stands to reclaim approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore in retrospective dues since 2005 which the state can start collecting from April 1, 2026 over a period of 12 years and additionally generate approximately Rs 50,000 crore annually by putting cess and taxes on future mining operations. This would be an economic boost for a state struggling with poverty and backwardness,” he said.
Stating that Odisha remains one of the poorest states and highest in the migration of labourers despite its abundant mineral wealth contributing significantly to the nation, the former Union Minister said this review petition filed by the Centre undermines the rights of the states. Withdrawing the review petition would allow Odisha to fully utilise its resources for its own development and the welfare of its people.
“At one hand, the right and authority of Odisha is being snatched away for levying cess and taxes on mineral-bearing lands and minerals and on the other hand, what is being offered in the overhyped Subhadra Yojana is Rs 27 per day to each beneficiary,” he said.
The review petition filed by the Centre is as good as backstabbing the interest of Odisha and benefits a few industrial houses and mining operators. In the larger interest of Odisha, the review petition should be withdrawn,” he added.
