Bhubaneswar: Former Union minister and senior BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday rejected Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik’s objections to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, saying the legislation would not undermine Odisha’s financial autonomy or deprive the state of its legitimate mining revenues.
Responding to Patnaik’s appeal to people to oppose the amendment, Pradhan, in a video message, said the apprehensions were unfounded and alleged that the former chief minister was attempting to mislead the public for political gains.
Pradhan said Odisha would continue to receive the auction premium, royalty and District Mineral Foundation (DMF) revenues accruing to the state. He argued that a uniform mining taxation framework would reduce multiple levies, improve ease of doing business and provide greater certainty to the mining and industrial sectors.
“The politics should remain in its place, but misleading the people of Odisha by hiding facts is not acceptable,” Pradhan said.
He claimed that Odisha’s annual mining revenue had increased from around Rs 5,000 crore to nearly Rs 50,000 crore following mining-sector reforms introduced by the Narendra Modi government, including mandatory auctioning of mineral resources and changes in royalty mechanisms. He also claimed that Odisha had received around Rs 37,000 crore through District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds.
Pradhan further defended the proposed restrictions on state levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, saying excessive and multiple taxation could increase the cost of minerals and adversely affect industries and consumers.
He cited iron ore as an example, claiming that under the existing system, Odisha receives auction premium, royalty and DMF contributions from mineral production.
Taking a swipe at the previous BJD government, Pradhan said the state had introduced the Orissa Rural Infrastructure and Socio-Economic Development Act in 2004, but the legislation was struck down by the Odisha High Court in 2005. He alleged that the matter remained pending before the Supreme Court for 18 years without an effective resolution.
Pradhan also contrasted Odisha’s debt position in 2000 and 2024, claiming that the state’s outstanding debt rose from around Rs 18,000 crore to over Rs 96,000 crore during the 24-year BJD rule.
Patnaik, meanwhile, has described the MMDR amendment as a threat to Odisha’s financial future and alleged that the state would lose control over its mineral resources and suffer substantial revenue losses. He has sought an all-party meeting and a special Assembly session to discuss the legislation.
State Steel and Mines Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena has also rejected Patnaik’s concerns, maintaining that Odisha’s interests remain protected under the amended framework.