Odisha CM asks officials to chalk out Rs 869 crore plan for mineral rich districts

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked forest and environment department to prepare elaborated plans to spend Rs 869 crore available funds to carry out developmental activities in eight mineral bearing districts of the state.

The money is deposited with the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), a company created by the state government in April 2014 for the purpose of carrying out developmental activities in mineral rich regions.

However, the office is being temporarily run by the state principal chief conservator of Forest (PCCF) and it is yet to start full scale operation.

Patnaik today asked the forest department to prepare district wise plans to spend the money, according to a release issued by the chief minister's office (CMO).

OMBARD has so far received Rs 869 crore towards the Net Present Value (NPV) amount paid by the miners for using the forest areas for their activity. As of now, the state government has received Rs 1,068 crore from the total receivable fund of nearly Rs 4,000 crore deposited by miners with the Centre as NPV.

In the review meeting, Patnaik directed the officials of the forest department to get in touch with concerned department of the Union government to get the remaining fund disbursed.

The objective of OMBARD is to improve social infrastructure such as provision of drinking water, sanitation, livelihood promotion, irrigation, skill development for alternative livelihood and supplementary income.

Besides, environmental upgradation, construction of roads, anganwadi centres, power supply infrastructure, health services, development of sports and other activities would also form part of the action plan.

As per modalities fixed by the corporation, the programmes will be coordinated and monitored through a district level committee under the chairmanship of collectors. The government departments will have to spend the money on behalf of OMBADC in eight districts - Angul, Jajpur, Dhenkanal. Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Sundergarh.

The chief minister also stressed on early disbursement of dividends to kendu leaf pluckers for the year 2014-15. In 2013-14, the total dividend disbursement was Rs 32 crore. It was also decided that the leaf pluckers would be included in the Pradhan Mantri Bima Surakhsya Yojna.

For tribals, the department informed that it has been decided to preserve at least 500 worship places in tribal areas in next three years, said the release.