The state has sanctioned 8,283 projects of which 2,872 are completed while 3,417 are in progress and 1,994 projects are yet to be started
New Delhi: The Odisha government has utilised 15 per cent of the total fund collected under district mineral foundation (DMF), a trust set up to work for the development of the people and areas affected by mining operations.
According to the data available from Ministry of Mines, the state collected Rs 5,182.32 crore between August 2015 and August 2018. Of the total collection, the state government has allocated Rs 3,774.79 crore (72 per cent) for various projects. However, only Rs 757.57 crore was utilized till August this year.
The state has sanctioned 8,283 projects of which 2,872 are completed while 3,417 are in progress and 1,994 projects are yet to be started.
According to the ministry, the DMF funds will be collected from additional contribution of 30 per cent of royalty by existing miners and 10 percent by miners granted mines after the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment with effect from January, 2015.
The Union government has formulated Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKY) to be implemented by the DMFs of the respective districts. It further stated that the DMFs should implement a development program for the mining affected areas that includes a certain minimum provision for the social and infrastructure needs.
In Odisha, DMF has been set up in all the 30 districts.
The Ministry of Mines will also hold coordination-cum-empowered committee (CCEC) meetings with 21 major mineral-bearing states in Ahmadabad Friday.
The meeting has been called to discuss on various agendas including progress and preparedness for e-auction of mineral blocks, progress of PMKKY and progress for auction of mining leases expiring in 2020.
As many as 31 mines will be auctioned in Odisha as their leases are due to be expired by 2020. Out of 31 mines, 24 are in operation.
