Ban Illegal Miners From Auction Process: Odisha BJP

Bhubaneswar: While bids for as many as 38 mines have already been invited by the Odisha government, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Pradipta Naik has written to the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging not to allow the miners who were earlier penalised for illegal mining.

"I have written to the CM to issue a notification banning illegal miners. I have also requested not to allow such miners' family members, relatives and even their employees to take part in the auction process," said Naik.

Responding to the BJP leader's comment, Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik said such an argument of Naik is illogical. "Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC), Tata Company and even SAIL had been penalised in the past. If they aren’t allowed, who will be given the mining leases?" Patnaik questioned.

He further said that such comments of Naik are just cheap and biased arguments which will yield nothing.