BJD MLA tears water pollution act resolution copy in Odisha Assembly, opposition stages walkout

In a dramatic turn of events inside the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday, senior BJD legislator and eight-time MLA Ranendra Pratap Swain tore a copy of the resolution adopting the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, triggering uproar and a walkout by Opposition members.

The resolution, moved by Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, was passed through a voice vote amid loud protests from the BJD and Congress. As the minister responded to the proposal, Swain stood in strong dissent, ripped the document, and threw it away before storming out of the House with other Opposition members.

Opposition leaders alleged that the amendment favours corporate interests at the cost of Odisha’s natural resources. Speaking to reporters outside the Assembly, Swain said adopting the central Act would “hand over forests, water and minerals to multinational companies.”

“Where is the interest of Odisha in this resolution? Companies polluting the environment will escape criminal liability in the name of ease of doing business,” he claimed, calling the move unnecessary and harmful to the state.

No response on Swain’s allegations was received from the BJP till the time of reporting.

However, amid the unrest, the Odisha Assembly on Monday passed a resolution to apply a central Act on water conservation.

Also Read: Healthcare issues in Bolangir sparks showdown in Odisha Assembly

Earlier, the state cabinet on November 21, had adopted the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024, to streamline environmental regulations, enhance ease of doing business, and modernise pollution control.