Bhubaneswar, September 9: Intensifying its agitation against the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2026, opposition BJD on Wednesday reiterated its demanded for a special session of the Assembly to discuss the new legislation, alleging that the new law threatens Odisha’s fiscal autonomy and mineral rights.

The party staged a dharana outside the Lok Bhavan demanding roll back of the new mining legislation.

A delegation of BJD leaders, including Prasanna Acharya, Ranendra Pratap Swain, Debi Prasad Mishra and Niranjan Pujari met Odisha Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati at the Raj Bhavan and submitted the memorandum seeking President Droupadi Murmu's intervention saying that the amendment would cause no financial loss to Odisha.

BJD, the main opposition force in the State, requested the Governor to forward the memorandum to the President for constitutional intervention, saying the new law threatens Odisha's fiscal autonomy and mineral rights.

The regional party cited the Supreme Court's nine-judge Constitution Bench judgment, which recognised States' power to levy taxes on mines and mineral-bearing lands.

The party said that after the verdict, Odisha was estimated to be entitled to more than 1 lakh crore in mining arrears and around Rs 12,000 crore in additional annual revenue.

The party argued that the MMDR Amendment Act, 2026 could undermine the financial benefit arising from that ruling.

BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik has already expressed serious concern over the MMDR amendment. BJD MPs had opposed the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Earlier, the opposition Congress in Odisha also met the Governor and demanded a special session of the Assembly to discuss the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, alleging that the new legislation would curtail the State’s powers and cause a huge revenue loss.