With a total collection of Rs 3,433.66 crore up to September 30, 2017, Odisha has topped all States in terms of collecting and utilising of District Mineral Funds (DMFs), said Steel and Mines Minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik at an ASSOCHAM conference on mining here on Thursday.
“As many as 9,896 projects with financial outlay of Rs 1,459.17 crore have already been initiated in different districts which cover drinking water, road infrastructure, education, health and other sectors,” said Mallik.
He said provision for DMF under the MMDR Act, 2015 has facilitated augmentation of funds to provide a permanent, sustainable solution to problems of tribals and poor people living in mining affected areas.
Talking about the need to emphasize more responsible mining, the Minister said that effective regulation and implementation of current laws is a pre-requisite for being able to continue mining of even most essential minerals.
“Prevention and mitigation of adverse environmental effects due to mining of minerals and repairing and re-vegetation of affected forest area and land covered by trees in accordance with latest internationally acceptable norms and modern afforestation practices needs to form an integral part of mine development strategy,” said Mallik.