BJD Presses for Special Assembly Session Over MMDR Amendment
BJD supremo Naveen Patnaik has urged Chief Minister Mohan Majhi to convene a special assembly session on the MMDR amendment, which he says erodes Odisha's taxing powers over minerals.
The Biju Janata Dal has stepped up its opposition to the recent amendment of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, with party supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging the state government to convene a special session of the Odisha Legislative Assembly to discuss the matter.
In a letter to Chief Minister Mohan Majhi, Patnaik contended that the amendment effectively takes away Odisha's constitutional right to levy taxes on its mineral wealth. He said the change has direct implications for the state's revenue powers over a key natural resource.
The BJD's demand for a special session is part of its effort to build pressure on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state over the legislation. By seeking a dedicated sitting of the House, the party appears to be pushing for a formal legislative debate on the amendment and its consequences for Odisha.
The amendment concerns the framework under which states exercise taxation authority over minerals, a subject of longstanding importance to Odisha given its substantial mineral reserves. Patnaik's letter frames the issue as one of constitutional entitlement rather than mere policy preference.
The state government has not yet responded to the request for a special session.