Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Odisha BJP, BJD Clash Over New Mining Law
Odisha politicians are arguing about a new mining law.
Naveen Patnaik says the law could hurt Odisha’s control over mining land.
He also says the state could lose Rs 12,000 crore every year and more than Rs 1 lakh crore in pending dues.
Manmohan Samal disagrees with him.
Samal says Odisha will not lose revenue because of the law.
He questioned how Patnaik calculated the Rs 12,000 crore estimate.
The BJD says Samal supported the law and should explain how it helps Odisha.
Both sides are asking the other to justify its position to the people and lawmakers.
Manmohan Samal accused Naveen Patnaik of confusing MPs with claims that Odisha would lose Rs 12,000 crore annually under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026.
Samal said Odisha would not lose revenue and questioned how Patnaik calculated the estimated loss.
Samal said Odisha’s annual mining revenue had risen from Rs 5,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore.
Patnaik urged BJP MPs to seek reversal of the law, saying it would weaken Odisha’s rights over mining land and cause annual losses.
The BJD accused Samal of supporting the law and said Odisha could lose more than Rs 1 lakh crore in pending dues and Rs 12,000 crore each year.
- Who
- Odisha BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Manmohan Samal, former chief minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik, and the BJD.
- What
- A political dispute over the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, and its potential effect on Odisha’s mining revenue and rights.
- When
- Patnaik wrote to BJP MPs two days before Samal made the reported remarks; the article does not provide exact dates.
- Where
- Bhubaneswar and Parliament, in relation to Odisha and its MPs.
- Why
- The dispute concerns competing claims about whether the law will reduce Odisha’s mining revenue, affect its rights over mining land, and create losses.
Naveen Patnaik and BJD
Manmohan Samal and Odisha BJP
Effect on Odisha’s finances
Naveen Patnaik and BJD
Patnaik and the BJD say the law will cost Odisha Rs 12,000 crore annually and more than Rs 1 lakh crore in pending dues.
Manmohan Samal and Odisha BJP
Samal says the state will not lose revenue and has questioned the basis for the Rs 12,000 crore estimate.
Effect on state rights
Naveen Patnaik and BJD
Patnaik says the law would take away Odisha’s rights over mining land and is detrimental to the state’s interests.
Manmohan Samal and Odisha BJP
Samal says the legislation was framed after examining provisions from different angles, including legal implications.
Parliamentary support for the law
Naveen Patnaik and BJD
The BJD says Samal was among 25 MPs who supported what it calls a “black law” and should explain how Odisha benefits.
Manmohan Samal and Odisha BJP
Samal says Patnaik should convince MPs with a justified calculation rather than confuse them by urging opposition to the Act.
- Legislation
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026
- Estimated annual loss claimed by Patnaik and the BJD
- Rs 12,000 crore
- Additional pending dues loss claimed by the BJD
- More than Rs 1 lakh crore
- Mining revenue cited by Samal before
- Rs 5,000 crore per annum
- Mining revenue cited by Samal now
- Rs 50,000 crore per annum
- BJP MPs criticized by Patnaik
- 25 MPs: 20 in the Lok Sabha and 5 in the Rajya Sabha
- Samal’s position
- Odisha will not lose revenue under the new law