A meeting of the Rehabilitation and Periphery Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) was held on Friday in the Jharsuguda DRDA conference hall under the chairmanship of RDC (Northern Division) and Chairman of the committee Anil Kumar Samal.
Various issues relating to the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited’s (MCL) Ib Valley, Orient and Lakhanpur mining areas were discussed threadbare.
RDC Samal told media that displacement issues were discussed in the meeting. Besides, MCL CSR funds would be utilised for converting some high schools into smart schools in the district. It was also decided to give due compensation to the displaced families within a reasonable timeframe. Further, more job opportunities would be created for local unemployed persons.
Steps would be taken to convene RPDAC meeting at least once in every two to three months, Samal said.
A review was done about the projects undertaken in the district through MCL CSR fund and how more fund can be utilised in welfare projects.
Brajrajnagar MLA Kishore Kumar Mohanty said public discontentment was continuing since long for mines issues. After detailed discussions on the matter, a positive mood is evident. In the coming days, the issues would be solved after discussions with the MCL management, people’s representatives and the district administration.
Bargarh MP Suresh Pujari, Northern Range Police IG Narasingh Bhol, Jharsuguda Collector Saroj Kumar Samal and SP Bikash Chandra Das and MCL Directors Keshav Rao, OP Singh and KR Vasudevan were present in the meeting among others.