After opposing establishment of the NCTC,Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today voiced his protest against certain provisions proposed in the MMDR (Mines and Mineral- Development and Regulation-Bill,2011 on the ground that those would infringe into the federal rights of state governments. "The proposed Bill,on the other hand,makes an attempt to transfer certain powers and functions now being exercised by states to the central government on its instrumentalities," Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. Stating that regulation of mines and mineral development was basically a state subject,Patnaik said that the union government while making laws on mineral development should not give to itself the supervisory role over the states. Welcoming setting up of National Regulatory Authority to perform as advisory,the state pointed out that it should in no way give direction to states or initiate legal investigation and lodge prosecution. "This encroaches upon the domain of state governments and not keeping with the federal structure envisaged in the Constitution," Patnaik said in the letter. Under Section 58 (1) of the Bill,the Central government will establish a national authority to be known as National Mining Regulatory Authority in relation to major minerals (other than coal).
