Mining firms in association with the Society for Geo Scientists and allied Technologists (SGAT) have chalked out an action plan for development of the Joda, Barbil and Koida mines areas. In a EZMA-sponsored workshop organised here, members of the mining fraternity and Govt officials admitted that development in the mines periphery areas has been inadequate and said corporate houses should make more efforts to bring development in these areas.
They viewed that if a District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is constituted as per the amended MMDR Act, Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts are expected to raise more than Rs 4,000 crore annually, which would be spent for developmental purposes. The participants insisted for rightful formation of the DMF and proper utilisation of funds. Besides DMF funds, the mining firms also held discussions on the areas and projects to be taken up with periphery development funds. As per norms, the companies would give 2 per cent of their plant profits for periphery development.
The ongoing social development projects of mining firms like EMIl, EZMA, JSPl, TEMPl, Rungta Mines and Tata Steel were also discussed and a consolidated action plan for use of periphery development fund was finalised. Some of the important projects proposed in the action plan include upgradation of Government and private hospitals and completion of Joda-Palaspanga, Suakati-Bonai, Banspal-Nayagarh and Beleipada-Nnuamudi roads. Similarly, establishment of schools, drinking water facilities and water reservoirs, organising of health camps and supply of electricity to househoels and construction of community centers in peripheral villages included in action plan.
Other issues like renewal of leases, environment friendly mineral exploration, forest conservation and pollution control in mining areas were also discussed. The workshop was conducted in two sessions in which Joda DDM Satyananda Sahoo, SGAT’s BK Mohanty and SK Sarangi, MoEF’s VP Upadhaya and BK Pattnaik, OSPCB’s Dr Sohan Giri, EMIl’s PK Panda, ESMA secretary Prabodh Mohanty, Tata’s MC Thomas, Jindal Group’s AB Mishra, TSIl’s DP Despande and OMC’s RC Sahoo participated as panel members.