1 week ago
BJD Calls MMDR Amendment Passage a Black Day for Odisha
The BJD says a new mining law is bad for Odisha.
It calls the law a “Black Day” for the state.
The party says Odisha could lose a lot of money from mining taxes.
It also says the state may not recover more than Rs 1 lakh crore in unpaid dues.
BJD leaders believe the law gives too much power to the central government and companies.
They questioned why Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has not spoken about the issue.
The BJP-led government and its supporters have pointed to higher mining revenue after an earlier 2015 law.
The BJD says it will keep protesting against the amendment.
The BJD called passage of the MMDR Amendment Act a “Black Day” for Odisha.
BJD leaders alleged the law could prevent Odisha from recovering more than Rs 1 lakh crore in outstanding dues.
The party claimed Odisha could lose around Rs 12,000 crore annually in taxes from mines.
BJD accused the BJP-led Centre of favouring corporate interests and weakening Odisha’s rights over mineral resources.
The party said it would continue its agitation, following Naveen Patnaik’s call for a struggle to protect the state’s interests.
- Who
- Biju Janata Dal leaders Gautam Buddha Das and Lenin Mohanty, along with party president Naveen Patnaik, are opposing the amendment; the BJP-led government supports the legislation.
- What
- The BJD criticized the MMDR Amendment Act, calling its passage a “Black Day” for Odisha and alleging major losses to the state’s mineral revenue.
- Where
- At the BJD headquarters; the specific location is not stated in the article.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not specify the date.
- Why
- The BJD alleges that the amendment could limit Odisha’s control over mines, restrict its ability to levy mineral taxes, and reduce or delay revenue and outstanding-dues recovery.
BJD’s Opposition
Government-Supporting Position
Impact on Odisha’s mining revenue
BJD’s Opposition
The BJD says the amendment will undermine Odisha’s financial interests, limit the state’s rights over mines and mineral resources, and cause substantial revenue losses.
Government-Supporting Position
Supporters of the legislation cited in the article point to mining revenue rising from around Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore after the 2015 MMDR amendment.
State versus central interests
BJD’s Opposition
The BJD alleges that the BJP-led Centre is favouring corporate interests at Odisha’s expense and questions the silence of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Government-Supporting Position
The BJP-led government and its MPs supported the legislation, although the article does not provide their detailed response to the BJD’s allegations.
Key facts
- Opposing party
- Biju Janata Dal (BJD)
- Legislation criticized
- MMDR Amendment Act
- Claimed outstanding dues at risk
- More than Rs 1 lakh crore
- Claimed annual revenue loss
- Around Rs 12,000 crore in mine-related taxes
- Political allegation
- The BJD accused the BJP-led Centre of favouring corporate interests.
- BJD’s next step
- The party said it would continue its agitation against the legislation.
- Supreme Court reference
- BJD leaders referred to a nine-judge Bench ruling and claimed Jharkhand recovered around Rs 45,000 crore in dues while Odisha recovered none.
Sources
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