Naveen Calls MMDR Amendment Bill a ‘Black Day for Odisha’, Urges BJP MPs to Reconsider Support

Bhubaneswar: BJD President and Leader of Opposition in Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik has strongly opposed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, terming its passage a “black day for Odisha” and appealing to the state’s BJP MPs to reconsider their support for the legislation.

In a letter to Odisha’s BJP MPs on Saturday, the BJD President warned that the amendment could have “far-reaching adverse implications” for the state, particularly given its dependence on mineral resources.

The Bill, passed by the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session, seeks to restrict state governments from imposing differential taxes, cesses and other levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.

Naveen questioned the limited parliamentary debate on the legislation, pointing out that the Bill was discussed for less than 10 minutes in the Lok Sabha despite its potential impact on mineral-rich states such as Odisha.

Referring to August 13, when the Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, he described the day as a “black day for Odisha”. He underlined the state’s contribution to India’s industrial development, particularly in the steel, power, mining and infrastructure sectors, and claimed that Odisha possesses nearly 44% of the country’s mineral wealth.

According to Naveen, the amendment could lead to an annual loss of more than ₹12,000 crore to Odisha, with the cumulative impact potentially running into lakhs of crores over the years.

He maintained that the issue went beyond revenue. He alleged that the amendment would dilute the state’s authority over its mineral resources and mineral-bearing lands.

“This was not an ordinary piece of legislation,” Naveen said, stressing that Odisha’s mineral wealth has played a vital role in India’s economic and industrial growth.

He also raised concerns about the impact on future generations, arguing that the state’s natural resources are closely linked to employment, development and economic opportunities for Odisha’s youth.

He further drew attention to the challenges faced by mining-affected communities, including displacement, pollution and environmental degradation.

Appealing to the BJP MPs to “listen to their conscience”, Naveen urged them to oppose the amendment and seek its reversal.

He also invoked the historical responsibility of elected representatives, saying that the MPs would ultimately be judged by whether they stood up for Odisha and its people at a critical juncture, rather than by their political affiliations.

The development has added a fresh political dimension to the ongoing debate over the MMDR amendments, particularly concerning the distribution of powers and revenues between the Centre and mineral-rich states.