New Delhi, July 29: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra demanded a revision in coal royalty for Odisha in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.
Speaking during Zero Hour session today, the BJD parliamentarian demanded the revising of coal royalty for Odisha, which he claimed is pending for the past 12 years.
"Odisha is among the top two states in the country that produces maximum coal, which pass the energy security of this country. However, it's sad that despite its strong contribution to power generation, energy security and coal production, its rightful demand for coal revision of royalty has not been done over the last 12 years," Patra said.
Odisha is losing about Rs 10,000 crore per annum due to unrevised coal royalty. The rates of coal royalty for Odisha were last revised on May 10, 2012, he added.
He said several demands for revision of coal royalty have been made by former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Patra informed the Parliament that on July 21, 2014, a study group was instituted to look into the coal royalty matter. The study group presented its report and said that revision of coal royalty cannot be done. Typically, royalty is paid directly by coal companies to the concerned coal bearing states.
"Despite that, the BJD government in Odisha at that time kept on taking up this matter and on 28 February 2020, at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting, it was again raised demanding that the revision of coal royalty for Odisha should be increased from 14 per cent to 20 per cent, but the government did not take notice," he complained.
