Bhubaneswar, Sept. 29 -- BJP MP from Puri Dr Sambit Patra has strongly defended the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, dismissing Opposition allegations that the legislation would undermine the federal structure and curtail States' powers to collect mineral-related revenue as "completely baseless and false".
Patra asserted that the amended MMDR Act was in the interest of Odisha and its people and rejected the Opposition's claim that the State had suffered a loss of Rs 1 lakh crore because of the legislation.
He alleged that Odisha had lost around Rs 62,000 crore in revenue arrears because the previous BJD government failed to make necessary legal amendments and allowed the matter to remain pending for 18 years.
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