📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Naveen Patnaik
Politics
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Calls on BJP MPs to Reject New Mines Bill
✍️ The Economic Times
🗓 30 Aug 2026, 01:17 AM
👁 5
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urged Odisha’s BJP legislators to vote against the recently introduced Mines Bill, citing concerns over environmental and livelihood impacts.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik addressed a gathering of Odisha BJP MPs, urging them to oppose the Mines Bill that was tabled in Parliament this week. He emphasized that the legislation, if passed, could undermine the state's efforts to protect its forest cover and the rights of local communities dependent on mining‑free zones.
Patnaik highlighted that the bill lacks adequate safeguards for environmentally sensitive areas and could lead to unchecked extraction activities. He warned that such a scenario would jeopardise the livelihoods of tribal populations and disrupt the ecological balance of the region.
The CM’s appeal adds a new dimension to the political debate, as the central government seeks broader consensus for the bill. While the BJP at the national level has defended the legislation as a growth driver, Patnaik’s stance signals potential resistance from state leaders who prioritize sustainable development.
He concluded by asking the MPs to raise their objections in the parliamentary floor and to work with the state government to ensure any mining policy aligns with Odisha’s environmental priorities and social equity goals.
Patnaik highlighted that the bill lacks adequate safeguards for environmentally sensitive areas and could lead to unchecked extraction activities. He warned that such a scenario would jeopardise the livelihoods of tribal populations and disrupt the ecological balance of the region.
The CM’s appeal adds a new dimension to the political debate, as the central government seeks broader consensus for the bill. While the BJP at the national level has defended the legislation as a growth driver, Patnaik’s stance signals potential resistance from state leaders who prioritize sustainable development.
He concluded by asking the MPs to raise their objections in the parliamentary floor and to work with the state government to ensure any mining policy aligns with Odisha’s environmental priorities and social equity goals.