Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) on Saturday demanded a two-day special session of the Assembly to discuss the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
A delegation of Congress MLAs led by Congress Legislature Party leader Ramachandra Kadam met Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Speaker Surama Padhy in this regard.
“Odisha is a treasure trove of minerals. Due to the Central government’s move to monopolize the amendment to the MMDR Act, Odisha will lose Rs 1 lakh crore. In addition, the state will suffer a loss of Rs 20,000 crore every year. Congress is opposing this black law,” Kadam said.
He alleged that the BJP’s double-engine government came to power promising development of Odisha, but the MMDR Amendment Act has exposed its real face.
“The Congress is fighting to protect Odisha’s forests, land and water. We have requested the Governor to direct the government to convene a two-day special session under Article 174(1) of the Constitution,” he added.
The delegation included senior MLAs Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Prafulla Pradhan, C.S. Raazen Ekka, Pabitra Saunta, Mangu Khilla, Apal Swamy Kadraka, Nilamadhab Hikaka and Satyajeet Gomango.
