Bhubaneswar, Aug 23 (IANS) The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Sunday stepped up its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over passage of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Amendment Act in Parliament, warning that it will soon hit the streets to safeguard the interests of the state.

Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhawan, former Minister and BJD Senior General Secretary Pritiranjan Gharai and Chandabali MLA Byomakesh Ray alleged that the amended Act strips mineral-rich Odisha of its revenue rights and places them under Central control to benefit private mine owners and industrialists.

BJD leader Gharai said that a nine-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in July 2024 while considering the matter, held that states have rights over mines and mineral-bearing lands and, therefore, states can impose levies and taxes on minerals.

The bench also ordered that states could recover outstanding taxes from mine owners with effect from April 1, 2005, enabling Odisha to potentially recover around Rs 1.5 lakh crore in past arrears.

Besides, it was estimated that Odisha could collect an additional Rs 12,000 crore annually as mining revenue.

However, the BJD leader claimed through the new MMDR Amendment Act, the Central government effectively takes away the state’s rightful revenue dues.

“It is a matter of great regret that the 20 BJP Lok Sabha MPs and five BJP Rajya Sabha MPs elected from Odisha raised their hands in support of an Act that is against Odisha. The BJD has challenged the BJP to come for an open debate if it has the courage, instead of making statements that mislead the people of Odisha,” Gharai said, describing the BJP as a “party of businessmen”.

Echoing similar concerns, BJD MLA Byomkesh Ray questioned Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s silence on the matter, alleging that despite hailing from the mineral-rich district of Kendujhar, the Chief Minister and the state leadership have failed to protect Odisha’s mineral resources.

“It now appears that he (Mohan Charan Majhi) was made the Chief Minister only to facilitate the looting of Odisha’s mineral resources. While Jharkhand has been able to recover its outstanding revenue, I ask why Odisha has been unable to recover more than Rs 1 lakh crore. This money could have been utilised for the development of the state, but instead, the people of Odisha have suffered losses. While neighbouring Jharkhand has moved to recover mining revenue dues, Odisha is being pushed toward severe financial losses,” Ray alleged.

He also highlighted that BJD supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has demanded a dedicated discussion on the issue in Parliament.

Announcing an intensification of its attack on the state government, the BJD warned that it would launch mass agitations and protests across the state in the coming days to safeguard Odisha’s interests.

–IANS

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