BJD criticises Centre's ordinance on MMDR amendment

Terming the Centre's ordinance to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act as "undemocratic", the ruling BJD today alleged the state government's view on the matter was ignored by the NDA government.
"Our suggestions on the issue were ignored. The Centre unilaterally took the ordinance route to amend the MMDR Act. This is undemocratic," said BJD spokesman and former minister Amar Prasad Satpathy.
Stating that the state government had sought for abolition of the provision of the Centre as authority for revision and to allow states to levy tax or cess on minerals, Satpathy said "We also asked for taking the state into confidence while leasing out mines."

Alleging that the Centre closed its eyes to the suggestions made by the state government, the BJD spokesman said the central government should again amend the ordinance.
BJP leader and former minister Manmohan Samal, however, defended the Centre's action and accused the state government of not properly utilising the natural resources in Odisha.
"Instead, mining scams happened in the state," he said.
Claiming that the Centre's ordinance would make mining activities transparent, the BJP leader said the auction of mines would fetch a good amount of revenue for the state.