Sundargarh District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund trustee and Biramitrapur MLA Shankar Oram has openly expressed his anguish on irregularities in funds use and threatened to urge the CAG for an audit of the expenses. He also declared that in the coming Assembly Session, he would raise the issue in the House.
Oram said in 2015 as per the direction of the Union Government, the DMF was constituted in each mineral rich district.
Similarly, in 2014 the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) was formed as per the directive of the Supreme Court for undertaking specific tribal welfare and area development works so as to ensure inclusive growth of mineral bearing areas.
As per guidelines, 60% of the fund should be utilised in mine’s affected areas. But here in Sundargarh it was grossly violated for which the institution has not only lost its reliability; rather it is embroiled in various controversies, told Oram.
While the children are dying of malnutrition, crores of rupees from DMF fund have been spent for cosmetic decoration of urban areas. Even huge funds are spent for comfort of certain Government officials,nalleged Oram.
He further alleged that without his and other trustees’consent, huge funds are utilised in different projects in areas outside the minerals affected areas.
A serious point he raised was that neither had he proposed nor accorded consent to proposals for various projects which got approvedin his name falsely, including construction of the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium.
He said during the visit of Assembly Ethics Committee to Sundargarh district on October 22, he had brought the matter of irregularities in the DMF fund to the notice of the committee members.
Now, he has no other options than to raise the issue on the floor of the House in the coming Assembly session, he said.Besides, he said he would write to the CAG for an audit of the funds.
Oram said the people in the mining areas had high hope that with the mining activities the affected areas will be developed like anything.
“From Hemgiri to Koira, a number of mining activities involving coal, iron ore, manganese, lime stone are going on.
Basing on that, many industrial units have been established. But the reality is the inhabitants of mining areas are still deprived of minimum basic amenities like primary education, primary health, drinking water, road and electricity.
Still there are many villages having no road connectivity for which an ambulance cannot reach at the time of emergency,” alleged Oram.
It may be noted here that a few days earlier, the Hemgiri Adivasi Ekta Mancha had alleged irregularities and disparities in utilisation of DMF and OMBADC funds in affected areas.
The Manch had urged the trust members, including the local MP and MLAs to demand for CAG audit of the fund. In this regard a post card drive in favour of MP and MLAs was launched by the Mancha.
Also, a few days ago, a leaflet was roaming around in the wake of themuteness of the trust members on the irregularities of the fund.
It was alleged in the leaflet regarding the expenses of Rs 50 crore for different purposes like construction of a 5 km Sundargarh by-pass road, a few Government and non-Government buildings, colouring and art works on the walls of several Anganwadi centres from the mining funds though those projects are not mandated under the DMF fund.