Former Supreme Court Judge and Oversight Authority (OA) for OMBADC Justice AK Patnaik has expressed his happiness over implementation of projects in the tribal zones of the State, where mineral blocks are being operated.
Justice Patnaik was on a three-day field visit to Mayurbhanj district from June 23 to 25 to review the progress of OMBDC-funded projects sanctioned for the district since 2018.
Chief Executive Officer, OMBADC, G Rajesh accompanied Justice Patnaik, who extensively visited the far flung areas, where developmental projects are taken up in a big way.
These projects are approved under seven sectors like Drinking water, Education, Health, Livelihood, Rural connectivity, Environment Protection and Water Conservation. The total value of 36 approved projects is Rs 5709.92 crore. The projects are being implemented by several line department PIAs at the district level.
On June 23, the OA visited TTI Takatpur where OMBADC has provided funding support to develop it as a Center of Excellence (CoE). The OA was taken on a round to the different facilities that have been developed with OMBADC funding like the Mini Tool Room, Advanced Laser Welding and Tool Room. He also interacted with the enrolled youth and understood the advanced skilling efforts of the SD and TE department. The OA also visited the 24 x 7 DFT project at ward No. 25 under the Baripada Municipality.
In the evening, Collector Mayurbhanj Vineet Bhardwaj had called a meeting where the OA got an opportunity to interact with all the line department district level PIAs and understood their performance regarding project implementation. A PPT was presented by the Collector to update the OA on the existing status of the projects under various sectors.
After completion of the PPT, the CEO OMBADC G Rajesh highlighted certain issues related to slow progress in some of the projects like non availability of statutory clearances for the drinking water projects approved in the 21st BOD meeting, low achievement in installation of smart classes (only 23%), slow progress in infra projects in the establishment of CoEs project, slow progress in land identification for construction of Model AWCs etc. While concluding the meeting, the Collector took a commitment from the respective line department PIAs to complete the projects in the next 2-3 months.
On June 24, the OA visited several projects in Rairangpur like Model Anganwadi, individual water harvesting structure (farm pond) and mega nursery being utilised for growing seedlings at Saraskana block, the pilot project center for tasar seed station, 5T High school and Odisha Adarsh Vidyalaya falling under Bisoi block, mega piped water supply project under Rairangpur block and the Sub divisional hospital, Rairagpur. He also interacted with the school children and other beneficiaries to understand the outcomes of the project.
On 25 June 2023, Justice Patnaik made a visit to the Naskari Reserve Forest to observe the status of the completed SMC works, some livelihood projects like goat farming and mushroom cultivation, SSD girls school and infra projects at SDH Karanjia. He also interacted with the beneficiaries to understand the benefits that they have got out of the Livelihood projects and the improvement in quality education in students after implementing the 5T interventions.