Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Legislative Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Saturday wrote to BJP MPs from Odisha, urging them to reconsider their support for the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which he alleged would have far-reaching adverse implications for the state.
In his letter addressed to the BJP MPs, Patnaik described August 13, when the MMDR Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha, as a “black day for Odisha”. He alleged that the legislation was passed with less than 10 minutes of discussion despite its significant implications for the state.
“This was not an ordinary piece of legislation. Odisha undoubtedly will be the worst affected by this legislation,” Patnaik said.
The former Odisha Chief Minister highlighted the state’s contribution to India’s mineral economy, stating that Odisha accounts for nearly 44 per cent of the country’s mineral wealth. He said the state’s mineral resources have, for decades, contributed significantly to the development of India’s steel, power, mining and infrastructure sectors.
Patnaik alleged that the amendment would result in an estimated annual loss of more than Rs 12,000 crore to Odisha, which, he claimed, could translate into losses running into lakhs of crores of rupees over time.
However, he said the financial impact was not the only concern. According to Patnaik, the “bigger loss” would be the alleged dilution of the state government’s control over minerals and mineral-bearing lands.
“And this happened under your watch,” Patnaik told the BJP MPs.
The BJD president also linked the issue to the interests of Odisha’s youth and future generations. He argued that the legislation would adversely affect people who bear the consequences of mining, including pollution, displacement, environmental degradation and other associated hardships.
Patnaik further said the amendment amounted to an injustice to the vision of an “empowered Odisha” capable of determining its own future through the responsible use of its natural resources.
Appealing to the BJP MPs to “listen to your conscience”, Patnaik urged them to support efforts to challenge and seek a reversal of the amendments to the MMDR Act, particularly provisions that he alleged would take away powers of the state government.
“History will judge you not by the party you stood with, but by whether you stood up for Odisha when it mattered most,” Patnaik said in his appeal to the MPs.
He said the BJP MPs were at a “historic juncture” and had a choice to stand up for Odisha and fight for the interests of the people who elected them to the Lok Sabha.
“I leave it to your judgment,” Patnaik concluded.
