₹13cr mineral fund okayed for green gyms flouting rules

Nagpur: At a time when a large number of villages affected by mining are without proper medical and self-employment facilities, the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) has approved ₹13 crore for setting up 200 green gyms though there is no provision in rules for such an expenditure.
On the other hand, demand for group health insurance for people from mining-affected villages has been ignored even though the central and state governments have made this specific provision in the rules.

General body of the zilla parishad (ZP), in a meeting held a couple of days ago, approved work order of ₹13 crore to M/s Friends Sport for setting up green gyms at 200 places in 11 tehsils in the district — Nagpur rural, Ramtek, Kamptee, Umred, Kuhi, Bhivapur, Mauda, Saoner, Parsheoni, Narkhed and Kalmeshwar.
According to sources, in a meeting held on July 11, 2022, the DMF headed by collector had approved mineral funds for this work and given the responsibility of execution to the ZP. Accordingly, the ZP has completed the tender process and is set to issue work order.
As per rules framed by the central government’s ministry of mines on September 16, 2015, and subsequently by the state government on September 1, 2016, there is no provision to spend mineral fund on green gyms. The rules specifically list the works which can be carried out using the mineral fund.