The general public are not getting any benefit due to inordinate delay in utilisation of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds for various development projects in Jharsuguda district.
Sources said that in the fourth board meeting of the DMF management committee, District Horticultural Department was sanctioned Rs 15, 25, 65, 318. However, till date, the department has spent only Rs 81, 69, 842 and the utilisation certificate for Rs 80, 2, 593 has been given.
The DMF sanctioned Rs 15, 25, 65, 318 in the name of Assistant Director of Horticulture department for completion of four projects. The concerned authorities have already been Rs 2, 45, 96, 900 out of the total sanctioned amount.
Out of four projects, the work of two projects is yet to be initiated. Out of these, planning is there for construction of one Agro fresh outlet to ensure sale facilities for the fresh produce of the farmers. On February 5 last year, Rs 30 lakh was sanctioned for utilisation during 2018-19 fiscal. But no further action has been taken in this respect.
Likewise, Rs 8, 45, 80,000 was sanctioned for construction of a cold storage. But it has not moved an inch further. The department has been dormant after sending land acquisition documents for approval. Similarly , out of two ongoing projects, one is the skill development for life management through Horticulture department in Lakhanpur block. For this project, out of total amount of Rs 5, 49, 85, 318 sanctioned on September 28 last, Rs 45, 96, 900 has been given.
Out of this, renewal for the second year is anticipated after spending Rs 68, 5, 278 in the first year. The other project is construction of a park in Pahadi temple. For this project , the entire amount of Rs 1 crore has already been given after its sanction on February 5 last year.
Some work has been started for this project spending only Rs 13, 64, 564. Due to rapid industrialisation utilising cultivable land, shortage of vegetables is faced in the district.
While the DMF is coming forward to finance for cold storage for the agricultural products , neither cold storage nor sale outlets are constructed to give any relief to the farmers of the district.