Other States - Orissa   

‘BJD-BJP adopting double standards on mineral policy’

BHUBANESWAR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Saturday came down heavily on the ruling alliance of Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for exhibiting “double standards” in its approach to National Mineral Policy (NMP).

Addressing a press conference, Sate Secretary of the CPI (M) Janardhan Pati said the two parties were opposing entry of multinational companies as envisaged in NMP saying Orissa’s mineral resources would be misused in the event of large-scale export.

“But they are misleading people. They State Government has entered into understanding with South Korean steel major POSCO to make iron ore available to the company at Rs. 26 per tonne. However, price of iron ore per tonne in international market is Rs. 5000,” Mr. Pati said.

Going by the estimation, the State Government had already promised a benefit of Rs. 3,00,000 crores on iron ore only, the CPI (M) leader said adding many other companies had also been assured of mines.

Before the NMP came into existence, the Orissa Government had implemented the scheme in the State in its “true spirit”, he derided.

The BJD-BJP had already launched a concerted campaign against NMP charging that UPA Government had overlooked interests of mineral-rich states and tried to please international mining lobby through the new policy. The two parties had staged several demonstrations during last one month on the issue, he said.

Mr. Pati announced that the party had convened the meeting of State Committee on April 12 when a strategy on a sustained state-wide campaign against NMP would be finalised. “We will uild up a campaign for total halt to mineral export,” he said.

The Left party said the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, would burden the State governments.

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