The State Government has asked the concerned authorities to prepare an Action Plan for the development of mining-affected areas in eight districts. The direction was issued by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi after chairing a meeting at the State Secretariat on Saturday.
The move followed the Government’s collection of `8,290 crore as penalties from mine owners for illegal mining.
Padhi said these funds would be utilised through the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) that has been constituted by the Government for development of the mining-affected zones.
Of the total target of Rs 17,576 crore, the Government could only collect `8,290 crore from the mine owners, who were found indulging in illegal mining activities from 2000-2001 to 2010-2011.
As directed by the Supreme Court, the amount is to be utilised for construction of roads, strengthening of the drinking water supply system, providing electricity connections and construction of houses for people in the affected districts, Padhi said.
The State Government has identified 691 villages under 30 blocks in eight districts where the money would be spent through the OMBADC. The districts are Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh.
Padhi said the Government would on January 17 file a Status Report in the Supreme Court on the amount collected from the mine owners and on the State's plan to spend the amount for the development of the affected areas.