DMF: Union Cabinet Secy hails State performance

BHUBANESWAR: Union Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha on Wednesday appreciated the State’s performance in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) by using funds generated through District Mineral Foundations (DMFs).

Sinha reviewed progress of the programme in the mineral-bearing States including Odisha over video conferencing. Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan and Principal Secretary Steel and Mines RK Sharma represented Odisha in this video conferencing. “Odisha has taken up projects as per norms and objectives of the programme,” Sinha said.

Appraising Sinha about the steps taken by the State for implementation of the scheme, the Chief Secretary said, DMs have been constituted in all 30 districts of the State. A total amount of around `3,737 crore was collected till November 30 out of which around `1,369 crore came from coal and lignite, `2,351 crore came from major mineral other than coal and `17 crore from minor minerals.

Projects have been sanctioned under two broad heads - high priority and other priority projects. The high priority areas included projects like housing, drinking water, health, sanitation, roads, welfare of women and children and skill development. Projects worth `1,200 crore have been sanctioned in these areas.

Padhi said projects of worth `707 crore have been sanctioned under other priority areas like connectivity, public facility energy, irrigation and afforestation. Around `1,907 crore has been allotted to different districts against 5886 sanctioned projects. The Development Commissioner said the sanctioned projects would touch `6,000 crore by January-end.