Bhubaneswar: The political tussle over the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026 intensified on Saturday, with leader of opposition Naveen Patnaik and former Union minister and Sambalpur MP Dharmendra Pradhan exchanging letters and presenting contrasting views on the legislation’s impact on Odisha.Naveen urged Odisha BJP MPs to seek a reversal of the amendments, alleging that they would undermine the state’s rights over its mineral resources and significantly impact its revenues. Pradhan, however, rejected the claims, accusing the former chief minister of creating “unfounded fears” and asserting that the new law safeguards Odisha’s interests while promoting economic growth.The exchange comes days after Naveen, on Aug 14, wrote to chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi seeking a special session of the assembly to adopt a resolution opposing the amendments. In his latest letter to Odisha’s BJP MPs, Naveen alleged that their support for the Bill in Parliament amounted to a “betrayal of Odisha’s interests”.Describing the passage of the legislation in Lok Sabha as a “black day for Odisha”, Naveen claimed the Bill was passed with minimal discussion despite its far-reaching implications. He argued that Odisha, which accounts for nearly 44% of the country’s mineral wealth, would be among the worst-affected states.The BJD president objected to provisions extending Union govt’s regulatory ambit to “mineral-bearing lands”, contending that they encroach upon the state’s authority over land and natural resources. He claimed the amendments could result in annual revenue losses of more than Rs 12,000 crore for Odisha and gradually erode the state’s control over mineral-rich areas.Calling the law an injustice to Odisha’s youth and mining-affected communities, Naveen urged MPs to seek the reversal of provisions that, according to him, curtail the powers of state govts. “History will judge you not by the party you stood with, but by whether you stood up for Odisha when it mattered most,” he wrote.Responding to Naveen, Pradhan said attempts to “mislead the people of Odisha” by spreading fears about the legislation were unacceptable. He described the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 as a “historic reform” that would strengthen economic growth, infrastructure development and industrial competitiveness while protecting state revenues.Pradhan disputed Naveen’s revenue-loss claims, asserting that Odisha’s financial interests remain fully protected under the amended law. According to him, roughly 90% of the mining sector’s revenues will continue to accrue to state govts through auction premiums, royalty collections and District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds.The Lok Sabha member also highlighted Centre’s 2015 MMDR reforms, which introduced mandatory e-auctions for mineral blocks and revised royalty structures. He said these measures helped Odisha’s mining revenues rise sharply over the past decade.Pradhan further argued that the amendments would prevent excessive taxation and regulatory overlaps that could adversely affect industries dependent on mineral resources. He maintained that the legislation strikes a balance between resource development and economic growth, while ensuring that states continue to receive substantial mining revenues.The MMDR Amendment Act has emerged as a key political issue in Odisha, with the ruling BJP and opposition BJD taking sharply divergent positions on its implications for the state’s control over mineral resources and future revenues.
