THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 22, 2026

The political battle over the MMDR (Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation) Bill intensified in Odisha on Saturday, with the Congress urging Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati to convene a special session of the state Assembly to debate what it termed a serious threat to Odisha’s mineral rights, revenue and tribal interests.

A Congress delegation led by Legislature Party Leader Rama Chandra Kadam met the Governor at Lok Bhawan and submitted a memorandum seeking an urgent two-day special session to discuss the provisions of the amended law and adopt a unanimous resolution against what the party described as its “destructive” provisions.

Kadam said the Congress strongly opposed the amendments and claimed they could cost Odisha nearly Rs 1 lakh crore, besides causing an annual revenue loss of around Rs 20,000 crore.

 “The amendments will adversely affect Odisha’s rights over its mineral resources and cause a huge financial loss to the state,” Kadam said.

In its memorandum, the Congress alleged that the amended law places the state’s sovereign rights over its mineral resources under greater central control, reducing the state government to a passive spectator. The party also raised concerns over provisions relating to areas covered under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, arguing that the mandatory requirement of obtaining free, prior and informed consent from Gram Sabhas and the Tribal Advisory Council has been diluted.

The Congress further alleged that the amendments weaken safeguards provided under the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006. It also expressed concern that Odisha’s control over District Mineral Foundation funds, intended for compensation, welfare and development in mining-affected communities, could be diminished.

Seeking immediate intervention, Kadam urged the Governor to exercise his powers under Article 174(1) of the Constitution and direct the government to convene a two-day special session without waiting for the regular Assembly calendar. The party said the session should examine the contentious provisions in detail and enable legislators to adopt a unanimous resolution protecting the state’s interests.

The delegation included senior Congress MLAs Tara Prasad Bahinipati, Bhabani Patnaik and Ashok Kumar Das, among others. Bahinipati had earlier opposed the bill and separately urged the Governor to convene a two-day special session.

The issue has also brought the opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) into the political fray. The party has described the legislation as a major assault on Odisha’s mineral revenue, federal rights and tribal interests. The BJD has claimed that the state could face annual revenue losses running into thousands of crores and alleged that substantial outstanding dues could be written off. It has called for an all-party meeting and a special Assembly session to register a united protest.

The ruling BJP, however, has rejected the opposition’s allegations, asserting that the MMDR amendments will not cause any financial loss to Odisha. The party has maintained that both the state and the general public will benefit from the more effective utilisation of mineral resources.

The BJP has also pointed to the increase in Odisha’s mineral revenue following the 2015 mining law and accused the opposition of misleading people by spreading incorrect information about the MMDR Bill. According to the party, the legislation will contribute to the broader objective of building a developed India by 2047.