Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 2:  Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday directed the rural development department to prepare a master plan within one and half months for the holistic development of seven mineral-rich districts in the state.

These mineral rich districts are Keonjhar, Sundergarh, Angul, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Jajpur and Rayagada. They would get funds under District Mineral Foundation (DMF).

These DMFs will be funded by additional levy on royalty, and the money collected used for the benefit of people affected by mining activities and for improving infrastructure in the mining-affected areas, officials said.

The mineral-rich districts of would benefit from improved basic infrastructure, including road connectivity, bridges and drinking water supply, Patnaik claimed.

The chief minister, who chaired an annual review meeting of the department, also directed the district collectors to make adequate planning for proper utilisation of funds.

In order to ensure better connectivity in rural areas, the state government has decided to construct 200 bridges each under ‘Biju Setu Yojana’ in the next four years.