By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, December 21, 2020: As part of the ‘Fiscal Reprioritization’ of the state, the projects under Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) being implemented through various departments have been put on fast track.

OMBADC was constituted in 2014 with contributions paid by mining lease holders on the diversion of forestland for mining purposes. Furthermore, the Supreme Court had directed the state government in August 2017 to collect the penalties on illegal mining and deposit the money into OMBADC.

The District Mineral Foundation (DMF) was an outcome of an amendment to Mines and Mineral (Regulation and Development) Act (2015), which envisaged a specified percentage of royalty to be paid into decentralised fund which is solely used to finance local areas development projects to benefit mining-affected people in consultation with affected communities.

Last month, Odisha Development Commissioner Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said that projects of around Rs 20,000 crore are being implemented under the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) and District Mineral Foundation (DMF). He said that projects should be completed in time and commissioned for providing service to the people.

Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy on Monday reviews these projects and set timeline for completion against each one in a high level meeting held in Lokseba Bhawan Conference, wherein Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) of OMDAC Smt Uma Nanduri outlined the issues for discussion.

Resolving the issues relating to ground level implementation of the projects, Tripathy directed concerned administrative departments to ensure quality monitoring of the projects through third party supervision. Chief Secretary also asked the departments to undertake micro level monitoring and management through independent technical professionals. Further, Tripathy advised that the furnitures, class room equipments and general materials necessary for modernization of educational and technical institutions be procured from local micro, small and medium enterprises promoted under Make in Odisha initiative. Target was set to complete infrastructure building civil work projects for by first quarter of 2021.

CEO Smt Nanduri placed the financial and administrative details of health, skill development, technical education, infrastructure development, primary and secondary education projects for review. Five category of projects like up-gradation of health infrastructure estimated around Rs.971.83 cr, improving access to health servicesestimated around Rs.95.31 cr, improvement in emergency care services estimated around Rs.19.06 cr, telemedicine care project in health institutions estimated around Rs.4.75 cr, and, special public health programmes estimated around Rs.207.90 cr” are being implemented in the OMBADC districts like Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj and Jajpur. Apart from that a 150 bedded maternal and child care hospital building in Jajpur have also been taken up.

Secretary Skill Development and Technical Education Sri Sanjay Kumar Singh said, “The projects for modernization of Government ITIs and Engineering schools along with skill development of tribal youths have been taken up under OMBADC funding”. The specific activities include placement linked training programme for 1200 tribal youths estimated around Rs.8.80 cr , construction of 4 hostels and 2 skill development centers estimated around Rs.8.05 cr and pre-recruitment training camps in 4 OMBADC districts estimated around Rs.0.97 cr”. So far, 243 youths have been completed the training and out of them 132 have been placed in different sectors like plastic processing, electrical , housekeeping, food & beverage , sewing machine, beauty therapy, retail and general assistance. Another 267 youths are undergoing training. The construction of 2 hostels (one for boy’s and one for girl’s) has progressed up to roof level in Mayurbhanj district. Similarly, construction of one boy’s and one girl’s hostel in Jajapur district have been expedited. Further Secretary Sri Singh appraised that modernization of 4 ITIs namely Govt. ITI Rourkela, UGIE Rourkela, OSME Keonjhar and Govt ITI Barbil have been taken up with estimated cost of Rs.47.40 cr.

Principal Secretary School & Mass Education Satyabrta Sahu said, “The projects for development of critical infrastructure and other facilities in elementary, secondary. Odisha Adarsha Vidyalaya and Kasturaba Gandhi Balika Vikash schools have been taken up under OMBADC funding”. The specific projects include developing additional class rooms, fire fighting facility, drinking water, electrification, provision of science kits, ICT laboratories, smart classes , CCTV, Wi-Fi connectivity, science laboratories etc. The estimated cost of these projects is around Rs.1652.20 cr. All these projects have been taken up. Chief Secretary Sri Tripathy directed the department to constitute a technical committee for expediting the projects at ground level.