Around 705 villages of 124 gram panchayats under 30 blocks in nine districts were brought under the coverage area of the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC).
A decision to this effect was taken at the OMBADC review meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi at the Secretariat on Thursday. Corporation Managing Director Uma Nanduri presented updates.
The Chief Secretary directed different departments to submit revised project proposals within 15 days while asking them to cover the basic requirements on saturation model in the identified blocks.
It was decided in the meeting that the UlBs located within the mining affected areas would also be included under the fund. Padhi directed the Housing and Urban Development department to prepare projects for such UlBs on drinking water, housing, sanitation, road communication, creation of livelihood opportunities, skill enhancement, health services, reduction in maternal and infant mortality rate, development of natural environment, soil moister conservation, enhancement of irrigation facilities will be taken up on a priority basis under the fund.
Nanduri said that a target was set to construct around 29,829 houses by May 2018 in the first phase. So far 29,640 beneficiaries have been given 1st installment for construction of houses. A total number of 15,321 houses have already been completed and it is expected that the balance houses being constructed through the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department within the scheduled time.
Similarly, 244 drinking water projects have been sanctioned under OMBADC. Out of this, 25 projects have already been completed. Water source have been identified in 208 projects and 140 projects have been tendered out. It was also decided to construct large sanitary wells. Besides, afforestation and soil moister activities like block plantation, avenue plantation, assisted natural regeneration, urban plantation, seeding distribution have also been done under the fund.