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Politics
Naveen Patnaik Urges BJP MPs to Revoke Mining Act Amendment
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 29 Aug 2026, 07:40 PM
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Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has written to BJP MPs urging them to reverse an amendment to the Mining Act that stripped the state of control over its mineral resources.
Former Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik addressed a letter to all BJP Members of Parliament from the state, calling on them to seek a reversal of a recent amendment to the Mining Act.
The amendment, passed in a single legislative move, transferred control of mineral-bearing lands and the extraction of minerals from state jurisdiction to the central government. Critics argue that this shift undermines Odisha’s ability to manage its own natural resources.
Patnaik highlighted the economic and environmental implications of the change, noting that state‑level oversight has historically ensured better revenue distribution and sustainable mining practices.
In the letter, he urged the BJP MPs to use their influence to restore the state’s authority over its mineral resources and to protect Odisha’s long‑term interests.
The amendment, passed in a single legislative move, transferred control of mineral-bearing lands and the extraction of minerals from state jurisdiction to the central government. Critics argue that this shift undermines Odisha’s ability to manage its own natural resources.
Patnaik highlighted the economic and environmental implications of the change, noting that state‑level oversight has historically ensured better revenue distribution and sustainable mining practices.
In the letter, he urged the BJP MPs to use their influence to restore the state’s authority over its mineral resources and to protect Odisha’s long‑term interests.