The State Government on Wednesday sanctioned as many as 11 projects worth about Rs 3, 540 crore from the OMBADC fund for nine minerals-bearing districts.
Chief Secretary AP Padhi approved the projects while presiding over the Board of Directors Meeting of the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC) held at the State Secretariat here. OMBADC CEO Uma Nanduri presented financial, administrative and technical aspects for consideration.
Padhi advised that OMBADC livelihood programmes should be taken up in convergence with the Odisha livelihood Mission. The Board decided to undertake additional drinking water projects for urban areas in the mineral bearing districts.
The Chief Secretary advised the Women and Child Development department to formulate innovative programmes to improve nutritional status of the children in order to reduce the IMR.
RWSS and Public Health Units in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts were asked to conduct iron content test of both the deep and surface drinking water sources on regular basis.
The Board sanctioned a flyover road near Joda town for curtailing the dust and pollution in the town.
The project is estimated to come up at Rs 229.71 crore in three years.
The Housing and Urban Development department was asked to take up appropriate projects for improving the quality of living in Joda and Badbil towns.
The newly sanctioned projects include mega pipe water supply projects for rural areas in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Jajpur district, drinking water supply project for urban centers in Mayurbhanj and Koraput, livelihood promotion activities through SHGs in all the nine districts, livelihood promotion through fishery, strengthening of integrated child development scheme, integrated watershed management project, water conservation and improvement of ground water recharge projects, afforestation, renovation of urban water bodies and solid waste management in urban bodies.
OMBDAC CEO Nanaduri said that nine districts namely Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Sundargarh districts have been brought under the ambit of OMBDAC fund.
With today’s sanction, the total amount of money sanctioned for these districts from the OMBADC comes around Rs 4,540 crore, she said.