Naveen Patnaik Urges BJP MPs to Reverse Mining Bill

Biju Janata Dal president Naveen Patnaik urged 20 Bharatiya Janata Party members of parliament from Odisha to seek a reversal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026. In a letter sent August 29, Patnaik described the August 13 passage of the legislation as a "black day for Odisha," alleging the bill was passed with less than ten minutes of discussion in the Lok Sabha.

Patnaik argues the law strips the state of control over mineral-bearing lands and will result in annual revenue losses exceeding 12,000 crore rupees. He noted that Odisha holds nearly 44 percent of India's mineral wealth and will be the most severely affected by the change.

Bharatiya Janata Party MP Dharmendra Pradhan rejected these claims as "factually incorrect," asserting that approximately 90 percent of mining-sector revenues will still accrue to state treasuries. Pradhan argued the amendment prevents uneven taxes that would harm the industrial ecosystem and accused the previous BJD government of mismanaging District Mineral Foundation funds. The Ministry of Mines further defended the amendment, stating it aims to stabilize the minerals sector and encourage domestic investment without removing state rights over land or taxes.