The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Odisha has raised serious allegations of mining irregularities in the state, amounting to approximately ₹9 lakh crore, and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the matter. The opposition party has accused the Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, of having knowledge of and supervising the alleged corruption in the mining sector during the period from 2000 to 2014.\
Addressing a press conference, the leader of the opposition, Jaynarayan Mishra, asserted that the total value of the mining irregularities reached ₹8,97,443 crore. He claimed that there was suspicion of corruption taking place under the supervision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and asserted that a CBI investigation was necessary to uncover the truth.
“It is suspected that ‘corruption’ in mining took place with the knowledge and under the supervision of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik,” Mishra stated. He further alleged that the irregularities were a significant scam and that ordering a CBI probe was the appropriate course of action.
Mishra’s allegations, however, were promptly rejected by senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Badrinarayan Patra. He dismissed the claims, labeling them as a habit of the opposition to mislead people and gain political mileage ahead of upcoming elections.
“It is their (opposition) habit of making such statements to mislead people and gain mileage ahead of the upcoming election,” Patra said, asserting that the opposition’s claims were an attempt to manipulate public perception.
The BJP leader went a step further by writing to various authorities, including the President, Prime Minister, Odisha Governor, and Chief Minister, highlighting the alleged mining irregularities. He also claimed to have spoken to the Prime Minister about the matter, stating that the PM expressed surprise over the scale of the irregularities.
Asked about the timing of the allegations and whether they were politically motivated due to the impending Lok Sabha and assembly elections, Mishra denied any such intention. He clarified that he had information about mining irregularities for a long time but was unable to bring them to the public due to health issues.
Mishra emphasized the need for a CBI investigation to uncover the truth and expressed concerns over the alleged adverse impacts of mining activities on the environment, rivers, rivulets, flora, fauna, and tribal populations in different parts of the state.
The BJP leader claimed that out of the 192 leased mines, 176 were located in forest areas, and 98 were operating without the required forest and environmental clearances. According to Mishra, 47 out of the 98 mines were running without forest clearance, and approximately 55 were adversely affecting various ecological elements and tribal communities.
He also alleged that excess exploration of minerals had been observed in around 75 iron ore and manganese mines, with many of them located near elephant corridors in Sundergarh and Keonjhar districts. Mishra argued that such mining activities were adversely affecting the lives of elephants and demanded the implementation of recommendations made by the Shah Commission to prevent irregularities in Odisha’s mining sector.
The allegations and demands made by the BJP have injected a new layer of complexity into the political landscape of Odisha. The ruling BJD is likely to counter these claims, and the issue may influence public opinion as the state gears up for crucial elections in the near future. The demand for a CBI investigation adds a legal dimension to the matter, and the political repercussions could be significant depending on how the legal battle unfolds.
