Environment management fund collected from all minor mineral and sairat sources would be brought under the State Environment Management Trust (SEMT) for utilisation as per its mandate.
It was discussed in a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Monday. 5 per cent of the royalty of the minor minerals and all sairat sources would be collected as per provisions in Odisha Minor Mineral Concession Rules.
This fund would come to the SEMT already constituted under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary Finance. Reviewing the processes involved in the collection and utilisation of funds, Chief Secretary Padhi advised Member-Secretary State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) Rajiv Kumar to put the system of issuing ‘consent to operate’ the quarries online.
The board was also advised to put the option of offline mode open for those who find it convenient for them. Member Secretary Kumar further said that the authority to issue the consent for operation would be delegated to regional offices of the Pollution Control Board so as to make the system easier and quicker.
Replying to a media query after the meeting, Forest and Environment Principal Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said that State Management Environment Trust constituted from the year 2006 is presently working for environmental protection and development in the State. 5 per cent of the royalty collected as per the OMMC rules would add to its existing fund sources. The funds would be utilised for environmental conservation, restoration and regeneration activities like plantation both in rural and urban area, renovation of water bodies, creation of eco-parks, and plantation of the bald hills etc.
Steel and Mines Principal Secretary Raj Kumar Sharma, Revenue and Disaster Management Principal Secretary Dr Mona Sharma, OSPCB Member Secretary R Kumar, Director Environment Sraban Kumar Sinha and Deputy Director Mines Deepak Mohanty along with other senior officials were present.