November 21, 2008

Orissa BJD stage demonstration against New Mining Policy

SNS reported that, voicing its protest once again against the union government for not consulting the mineral rich states including Orissa for the formulation of National Mineral Policy 2008, the ruling BJD recently demonstrated in front of the official residence of the governor and submitted a memorandum addressed to the president of India seeking her interference in the gross injustice to the state.

It may be noted that, though chief ministers of 5 mineral rich states including Orissa have urged upon the union government time and again to share the draft mineral policy with the, the centre government tabled the National Mineral Policy 2008 in the Rajya Sabha on March 20th 2008 in a seemingly surreptitious manner, they alleged and added that the international mining companies and not the concerned states are going to benefit from it.

The chief ministers described the whole incident as a violation of the duty of the union government in upholding the spirit of federalism as enshrined in the constituency and questioned the timing, just before the house adjourned for recess.

They said that value addition at all stages should be attempted to add value to the exports, in stead of exporting minerals, which are the primary products. Value addition within the state would have been a boon for the state, even as it has embarked upon the industrialization path.