BJD Submits Memo to President Seeking Safeguards on Odisha’s Mineral Rights & Fiscal Autonomy
Dr.Badal Tah,Odushabarta
Rayagada, September 26: In a major political and constitutional representation, leaders of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Saturday submitted a formal memorandum addressed to Hon’ble President of India, Droupadi Murmu, seeking her intervention to safeguard Odisha’s constitutional rights, fiscal autonomy, and legitimate revenue interests in its mineral resources amid growing concerns over the MMDR Amendment Act.
After a massive rally from Biju Patnaik statue near Bus stand, the memorandum was formally handed over through the Collector of Rayagada by a high-level BJD delegation comprising senior leaders and elected representatives.
In the memorandum, the regional party expressed serious apprehension that provisions restricting the authority of State Governments to impose taxes, cess, or related levies on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands violate the core tenets of cooperative federalism.
The delegation highlighted the landmark 2024 judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, which reaffirmed the constitutional competence of States to levy taxes on mineral-bearing lands and mineral rights. The party cautioned that any subsequent central legislative measure seeking to dilute or curtail these powers directly encroaches upon the fiscal powers guaranteed to States under the Constitution.
Highlighting the local context, the memorandum underscored that mineral-rich districts like Rayagada have shouldered severe ecological and socio-economic burdens like extensive land degradation, deforestation, and environmental pollution, Displacement of traditional agrarian and forest-dependent livelihoods, a significant tribal demography whose daily existence remains inextricably linked to natural surroundings.
The delegation stressed that finite mineral resources constitute an intergenerational economic asset. Curtailed revenues would sharply undercut the State’s capacity to finance crucial welfare programs, healthcare, drinking water facilities, connectivity infrastructure, and environmental rehabilitation in mining-affected regions.
Key Demands Placed includes examining the contentious provisions of the MMDR Amendment Act that limit State fiscal authority, advising the Union Government to engage in structured, meaningful consultations with mineral-producing States prior to framing sweeping central policies, protecting the legitimate statutory revenues and levies of mineral-rich States in line with Supreme Court rulings to ensure local tribal and mining-affected populations receive an equitable share of the wealth extracted from their lands.
The rally was led and memorandum signed by prominent BJD leaders, including former ministers, legislators, and senior party functionaries namely, Jagannath Saraka, Pritiranjan Gharai, Sudam Marndi, Jhinna Hikaka, Bhrugu Baxipatra, Pradeep Majhi, Ashwini Patra, Debasish Khadanga, Chinmay Kumar Sahoo, Prithviraj Sahu, Anusuya Majhi, Saraswati Majhi, Pratima Panigrahi, Binayak Polei, Raghunath Gamango, Susanta Kumar Panda & Bibo Kumar Padhy.
