BJD seeks Odisha Mines Minister Bibhuti Jena’s immediate removal

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday demanded Odishaa Mines Minister Bibhuti Jena’s immediate removal alleging increase of illegal mining of sand, morrum, and stone in the state.

Addressing a press conference at Sankha Bhavan, BJD spokesperson and media coordinator Dr. Lenin Mohanty said illegal mining of sand, morrum, and stone has increased sharply since the BJP came to power, allegedly with the patronage of the ruling establishment. He claimed the recent ED raid in Ganjam district has clearly established the involvement of the Mines Minister’s authorised representative in sand theft.

Dr. Mohanty said the government’s failure to act has resulted in massive revenue losses. Revenue from minor minerals has dropped from ₹1,485 crore in 2023-24 to ₹600 crore in 2024-25, while income from major minerals has fallen from ₹50,000 crore to ₹34,000 crore. He added that unchecked illegal mining has led to a sharp rise in sand prices, increased road accidents, and deterioration of law and order.

The BJD alleged that Mines Minister Bibhuti Jena had officially designated Sunil Patra as his representative for dealings with the mines, police, and court authorities. Following the ED raid, Patra’s involvement in sand theft has come to light, which, the party claimed, directly implicates the Minister.

The BJD challenged Chief Minister Mohan Majhi to act decisively. “If the Chief Minister truly believes in good governance and accountability, he must remove the Mines Minister from the cabinet and prove his commitment to clean administration,” Dr. Mohanty said.

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