Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, June 29, 2015 : Odisha government is all set to launch district mineral fund as mandated by the amended Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) [MMDR] Act.

The Odisha government will notify the structure of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) as proposed in the amended MMDR Act by the end of July, steel and mines minister Prafulla Mallick said here on Sunday.

The draft rules for the purpose are lying with the Chief Minister and are expected to be given approval by the end of this month, Mallick added.

“Draft rules for the purpose have been framed and are with the Chief Minister awaiting his approval. I am hopeful it would be approved by the end of this month and by July the programme will take off,” Mallick said.

The DMF will be set up in the mineral rich districts. The foundation would be chaired by the respective district collector with deputy directors of mines and officials of mining companies operating in the region as members.

The funds accruing to the DMF would be utilized for overall development of ecology of the area, which has been degraded by rampant mining. The Foundation will intervene in areas like education, health, roads and drinking water will be also undertaken by the foundation.