BJD MP Sasmit Patra Demands Coal Royalty Revision for Odisha

Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra from BJD urged the central government to revise coal royalty for Odisha, which has been pending for 12 years. He highlighted the state's massive contribution to energy security and the financial loss it suffers annually due to the unrevised royalty.

In a passionate appeal during the Rajya Sabha's Zero Hour session on Monday, Sasmit Patra, a member of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), called for an urgent revision of coal royalty rates for Odisha. He stressed that the state's rightful demand had been overlooked for the past 12 years.

Patra pointed out that Odisha is one of the top two coal-producing states in India, significantly contributing to the country's energy security. Despite this, the state's demand for revising the coal royalty, pending since 2012, has been ignored, resulting in a loss of about Rs 10,000 crore annually.

The BJD MP further noted that former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had repeatedly sought the revision. A study group formed in 2014 concluded against the revision, yet the demand persisted, most recently highlighted during the Eastern Zonal Council meeting in 2020. Patra emphasized that coal mining has adverse environmental effects on Odisha, compounding the need for higher royalties to support infrastructure development.