By IANS,
Bhubaneswar : Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Thursday said his state had been seeking auction-based bidding for allocation of mineral resources including coal.
Patnaik’s statement came a day after Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal accused some opposition-ruled states including Odisha of blocking competitive bidding process for coal.
“Our government has been asking for an auction-based system for allocation of mineral resources, including coal, for the last few years,” Patnaik told reporters here.
“While the centre has done it for coal recently, it is yet to do it for other minerals,” he added.
“Coal is a subject on which the central government has complete authority,” Patnaik said.
“I have been demanding for mineral resource rent tax on the super normal profits made by private iron ore mines,” he said.
“This has been rejected by the centre on extremely flimsy grounds. This itself shows the attitude of the central government,” he said.