Calling it a “black day”, Patnaik questioned the BJP MPs over their support for the bill. In a letter addressed to all BJP MPs from Odisha, Patnaik said the legislation would have a far-reaching impact on the state, which owns 44% of India’s mineral wealth.
“The estimated annual loss would be more than ₹12,000 cro leading to lakhs of crores of rupees over time. But the bigger loss is that in a single legislative stroke the control over our own minerals and our mineral bearing lands was taken away from us. This law is an injustice to the children and youth of Odisha,” Patnaik wrote in the letter.
Patnaik urged the MPs to press for the withdrawal of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026.
Jharkhand had earlier also raised objections to the MMDR Bill passed by Parliament, with state CM Hemant Soren writing to the PM with a similar appeal.
