Opposition parties plan Odisha Assembly protest over new mining legislation

Opposition parties allied under the India bloc umbrella have announced plans for a legislative assembly 'gherao' in Odisha on September 29 to protest against new mining legislation they say favours the Centre at the expense of states.

The protesting parties argue that mineral-rich states like Odisha will suffer significant revenue losses due to provisions in the new mining law. According to their assessment, the legislation prevents states from recovering previously uncollected taxes, cess and arrears—amounts they contend run into lakhs of crores of rupees.

The timing of the planned demonstration coincides with broader political tensions between the opposition and the ruling government over resource allocation and federal fiscal arrangements. The assembly gherao represents an intensification of the India bloc's campaign against what it characterizes as policies that undermine state finances.

Odisha, home to substantial mineral reserves including iron ore, bauxite and coal, has traditionally relied on mining-related revenues to fund state development initiatives. Opposition parties contend that the new legislative framework undermines the state's capacity to levy and recover taxes on these resources.

The planned September 29 action signals the opposition's determination to escalate its challenge to the mining law through parliamentary and assembly-level demonstrations, seeking to mobilize public attention on the revenue implications for mineral-producing states.