Bhubaneswar: Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to convene an all-party meeting and summon a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to oppose the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which he alleged poses a serious threat to the state’s fiscal autonomy and constitutional rights over its mineral resources.
In a letter to Majhi, Patnaik said the legislation, recently passed by Parliament, would disproportionately affect mineral-rich states like Odisha by restricting their powers to levy taxes and cesses on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands.
Patnaik said Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MPs had strongly opposed the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, raising objections over what he described as an infringement on the state’s financial rights.
The former chief minister highlighted provisions of the amendment that, according to him, expand Union control over “mineral bearing lands” and restrict state governments from imposing any tax, cess or similar levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing lands, except under conditions imposed by the Centre.
He also raised concerns over amendments to Section 13, which he said would give the Union government greater authority to frame rules restricting states’ powers relating to taxation of minerals.
“Odisha’s natural wealth belongs to her people,” Patnaik said, stressing that revenue from mining operations was crucial for financing healthcare, education, social welfare schemes and infrastructure development in the state.
He alleged that taking away the state’s authority to levy taxes and cesses on mineral-bearing lands would undermine federalism and Odisha’s revenue autonomy.
Calling for immediate action, Patnaik asked Majhi to convene an all-party meeting to build a unified consensus on safeguarding the state’s federal rights and mineral revenues.
He also urged the chief minister to summon a special session of the Assembly to pass a unanimous resolution opposing the amendment and protesting what he termed the Union government’s “usurpation of state powers.”
Patnaik said the issue went beyond political affiliations as it directly concerned Odisha’s financial stability and future development.
“If the Central Government takes away the State’s authority over mineral-bearing lands and its right to levy cesses, only pollution, displacement and burden of mining will remain with Odisha, while the benefits are taken away from its people,” he said.
The BJD president urged the chief minister to act swiftly in what he described as the paramount interest of the people of Odisha.
