Bhubaneswar, Aug. 18 -- Opposition parties in Odisha on Tuesday joined hands to oppose the Mines and Minerals Development Regulation Act (MMD&R) Bill, 2026, demanding its immediate withdrawal and a special session of the State Assembly to discuss its implications for the state.
Leaders of the Congress, CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML) Liberation, Forward Bloc, NCP and Samajwadi Party met at Congress Bhawan here and discussed the Bill along with several other pressing public issues.
The parties alleged that the proposed legislation was against Odisha's interests and, if enacted, would adversely affect the state's mineral resources, revenue rights and federal powers. They warned that it could lead to greater corporate exploitation of mineral resources ...