The Congress on Wednesday demanded that a detailed list of the developmental works undertaken by the State Government under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) for the benefit of people living in mining-affected areas be displayed in the panchayat offices for people’s knowledge.
The party also demanded that panchyat-wise lists of developmental works be put up in the block offices.
The Government should recommend for CAG audit of the DMF trust funds and the Government should give a detailed year-wise list of receipts of the funds along with the projects undertaken, sanctioned amount and utilisation of funds as per Rule-10 for each panchyat. Party spokesperson Prasant Satapathy said the DMF funds must always be utilised for the permissible activities as mentioned in Rule-10 in the sectors like health, education, water and electricity supply, road connectivity, irrigation, sanitation, afforestation and environmental improvements, etc.
Satpathy alleged that the funds are diverted to certain other sectors of different minerals-rich districts. The Government’s announcement to build an international hockey stadium in Rourkela is one such example.
Instead of utilising the budgetary allotment for sports, the Government is misusing the funds exclusively meant for mining-affected areas. In 2017, the DMF fund was also diverted to works related to power supply to the Jharsuguda airport.
In another instance, the district administration purchased 25 patrolling vans for the Rourkela police and construction of boundary wall of circuit house and smart traffic management signaling system at Rourkela, which is not a mining-affected area.