October 7th 2024.
In recent news, the state Congress has come forward with a request for a special session of the Odisha Assembly. This request is in response to the recent rejection of the Centre's review petition by the Supreme Court, which pertains to the power of states to impose royalty on mineral extraction from their land. Senior Congress leader Srikant Kumar Jena, a former Union minister, has put forth several suggestions to the state government, in hopes of addressing this issue.
Jena's suggestions include holding a special session of the Assembly, doing away with the Orissa Rural Infrastructure and Socio-Economic Development Act of 2004, and introducing a new Bill that would better serve the interests of the state and its people. In a letter addressed to the state government, Jena highlighted the Supreme Court's decision on October 4, 2024, where they upheld their previous judgement from July 25 and August 14, 2024. This ruling allows mineral-bearing states to impose taxes and cess on minerals and mineral-bearing lands, providing some much-needed economic relief to Odisha.
Given this development, Jena urges the Odisha government to take immediate action and consider his suggestions. He suggests withdrawing the pending petition on the Orissa Rural Infrastructure and Socio-Economic Development Act of 2004, which challenges the Orissa High Court's ruling from 2005. Additionally, Jena proposes scrapping the ORISED Act of 2004 and introducing a new Bill in the Assembly. He also recommends calling for a special session of the Assembly to discuss these matters in detail, as it would be a crucial step towards the socio-economic development of the state.
The former Union minister also emphasizes the need to include several crucial provisions in the new Bill that would better serve the interests of Odisha. He suggests forming a committee of experts, chaired by a High Court judge, to determine the market value of minerals. This committee would ensure transparency and fairness in the valuation process, taking into account factors such as quality, demand, and location advantages. Jena also calls for the removal of the 20% tax ceiling on minerals, as mentioned in the ORISED Act of 2004.
In his letter, Jena highlights the abundance of bauxite and chromite in Odisha and suggests that the state should take advantage of their specific locations and quality. He proposes fixing the cess at 50% of the market value for these minerals. Furthermore, Jena recommends that 50% of the collected taxes and cess from minerals and mineral-bearing lands should be spent in the respective areas and districts. He hopes that the Chief Minister will take note of his suggestions and act promptly in the best interest of the state and its people. Implementing these changes would ensure that Odisha fully benefits from its rich mineral resources.
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