BJD opposes mines Ordinance

--State wanted to take credit: Dharmendra

BHUBANESWAR: The ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday opposed the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Ordinance, 2015 which got Presidential assent on January 12.

The party in its reaction termed the Centre’s act as undemocratic and criticised the Central Government for taking unilateral decision. Party spokesperson Amar Prasad Satapathy said that the Centre has taken the decision through ordinance route by ignoring the State. The State Government has demanded for abolishment of the provision for the Centre as authority for revision and to allow States to levy tax or cess on minerals, he added.

“We also asked for taking the State into confidence while leasing out mines,” Satapathy said, adding, “The Centre closed its eyes to the suggestions from us.”

Meanwhile, the Congress also criticised both the State and the Centre on the MMDRA Ordinance. “This ordinance has been prepared to legalise the illegal mining in the country. There is a hidden agenda behind the ordinance which can be easily pointed out,” said Pradesh Congress Committee president Prasad Harichandan. 

Countering the allegations Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the State Government is shedding crocodile tears only when they failed to get success in their agenda. “Why Naveen Patnaik-led BJD Government didn’t come up with a law on auction of mines within its 15 years of ruling the State. When the Centre took a decision regarding mining, the State took a decision on that day to take false credit only,” said countering the BJD allegation.

Pradhan further said, “If the State had any problem regarding this, it should have informed the Centre before.”     

BJP leader Manmohan Samal said the BJD Government was unable to perform their duty. Proper utilisation of natural resources was not done. Instead, mining scams happened in the State. There was no way the powers of the state has been restricted, he added.