BJP lawmakers compromised Odisha’s interest by supporting mining law amendments: BJD

Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP Santrupt Misra. | Photo Credit: ANI The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) levelled a serious allegation against Odisha’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, claiming that they supported the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, despite being aware that the legislation could deprive the State of nearly ₹1 lakh crore in arrears.Addressing a press conference, BJD Rajya Sabha MP Santrupt Misra said the Odisha Government itself had, before the Supreme Court, maintained that the amount constituted a legitimate entitlement of the State.“On behalf of the Odisha Government, Advocate General Pitambar Acharya, in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, had stated that the ₹1 lakh crore in arrears was Odisha’s legitimate entitlement and that the State would suffer substantial financial loss if it did not receive the amount,” he alleged.Former Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik had earlier strongly objected to the insertion of Section 9D in the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026. The new provision stipulates that any tax, cess or other levy on mineral rights or mineral-bearing land whether assessed on the basis of mineral quantity, mineral value, royalty payable or otherwise which had not been deposited with or recovered by the State government before the commencement of the amended Act, would be deemed invalid at all material times.The provision further states that any such tax, cess or other levy that had already been deposited with or recovered by the State government before the commencement of the amendment would not be liable to be refunded.“Through the MMDR Amendment Act, the Central Government has permanently taken away the rights of State governments over mines and mineral-bearing land. In its judgment delivered by a nine-judge Bench on July 25, 2026, the Supreme Court held that States can impose taxes and levies on mines and mineral-bearing land,” Mr. Misra said.The BJD MP also referred to the Odisha Review published in November 2025, an official magazine of the Odisha Government, which had highlighted the potential financial gains to the State following the Supreme Court judgment allowing States to retrospectively levy taxes on mineral-bearing land from April 1, 2005.According to the publication, Odisha could see huge monetary gains with Supreme Court Order allowing states to charge taxes on mineral bearing land retrospectively from April 01, 2025. The state is likely to get more than ₹1 lakh crore in pending dues from 2005 onwards in instalments over a period of 12 years, starting April 2026. It will also get around ₹12000 crore annually as current tax under the Odisha Rural Infrastructure and Socio-Economic Development (ORISED) Act 2004.“While the Act goes against the interests of Odisha, BJP MPs supported it. This clearly proves that the BJP is not working to protect the interests of Odisha,” Mr. Misra alleged.The BJD has no representation in the Lok Sabha, where the BJP won 20 of Odisha’s 21 seats in the 2024 general election. The remaining seat was won by the Congress. Published - September 02, 2026 10:05 am IST