Projects of Rs 2,800 cr for 9 districts okayed

Eight new projects estimated around Rs 2,800 crore have been sanctioned from the OMBADC fund for nine mineral bearing districts.

Chief Secretary AP Padhi gave nod to these projects while presiding over the Board of Directors Meeting of OMBADC held here on Friday.

Chief Executive Officer, OMBADC Uma Nanduri presented financial, administrative and technical aspects for consideration.

Reviewing the progress of projects sanctioned earlier,  Padhi directed the concerned Collectors to complete the housing projects before August 15.

The Chief Secretary further directed the State Pollution Control Board to have regular measurement and monitoring of the water and air pollution level in mining areas.

The departments were also advised to take up projects for pollution containment.

The newly sanctioned projects in the meeting included skill development training to ST, SC, OBC and youths of minority community, horticulture activities, mega lift irrigation and strengthening

Adarsha Vidyalayas in all nine districts covered under OMBADC.

Apart from these, 12 mega lift irrigation projects for Keonjhar districts, check dam with lift irrigation projects in five districts, construction of ROBs at Jharsuguda, Keonjhar and Sundargarh, construction of critical road and bridges in mining hit areas were also sanctioned in the meeting.

Replying to a media query, CEO Nanaduri said nine districts, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Sundargarh, have been brought under the ambit of OMBDAC fund.

Presently, projects of around Rs 3, 517 crore are in different stages of implementation in these districts.

With today’s approval the total cost of the project sanctioned for these districts comes around Rs  6,317 crore, she said.