Reacting to the Centre’s no to its administrative orders putting restrictions on mining lessees in the state, the Odisha government said that it is not bound to heed to the Central missive on the issue.

“They cannot compel us to withdraw the orders. We have not violated any act. These decisions were taken for benefit of stand-alone mineral based industries. We have followed all the rules and paraphernalia mentioned in the MMDR Act,” said Rajnikant Singh, state minister for steel and mines.