"Meanwhile, we have prepared draft district mineral foundation rules and optimistic of its operation in next two months," Odisha's Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallick said.
Stating that the District Mineral Foundation would fetch at least Rs 2000 crore, the minister said the funds could be utilised for the overall development and welfare of the tribal population living in mines areas.
Mallick gave all credit to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik who continued to demand additional funds for the development of the people in mines area before introduction of the MMDR (amendment) Bill in the Parliament.
Mallick also claimed that Odisha was the first state in the country to take a decision of putting all new mines and mineral reservers seeking second and subsequent renewals in auction while leasing them out.
Earlier the Union Steel and Mines Ministry had proposed to create a District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in every district affected by mining, which will be funded by an additional levy related to royalty.