Citing report of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the Congress party on Wednesday alleged that the ruling BJP Government in Chhattisgarh had failed to fulfill the core objective of drafting a people-centric plan for District Mineral Foundation (DMF).
Instead of benefitting the affected, the Government is utilising most of the funds in developing infrastructure, the party charged .
In a press conference held here at Congress Bhawan on Wednesday, Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CGPCC) Chief Bhupesh Baghel charged that the Schedule-V areas of Korba, Dantewada and Raigarh are the regions where maximum fund under DMF is collected.
Baghel while citing the report said works estimating Rs 3,133 crore were undertaken under the DMF and as per CSE, 28% of it was expended on construction work.
25% of the amount collected was expended in education and all the fund was utilised in construction rather than uplifting the education standard, the CGPCC Chief said.
In Raigarh, 40 % of the amount collected was expended in construction works while in Dantewada 34%, he said.
“There is an absence of transparency in expending the fund collected and participation of gram sabhas, public representatives and affected persons are not taken into consideration in framing the action plan”, Baghel said.
These areas being Scheduled areas need approval of gram sabhas before making any action plan, he added.
Baghel also alleged that by making amendments in law regarding ‘welfare works’ as per the party’s need to get the political mileage, the Government is diverting funds from the Central schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Ujjawala Yojana. We have also raised this issue in the State Assembly but the government didn’t give ear to it, he said.
Baghel, further, said mining affected community is not taken under confidence for utilization of the fund and District Collectors under political influence are making action plans as directed by the Government. More astonishing is the fact that till now, the State Government had not identified the beneficiaries in scheme under DMF and whatever is going on is on presumptions, Baghel alleged.
He further demanded probe over the utilisation of DMF and warned of launching an agitation soon.
Baghel also declared that if the Congress party forms the Government after the election they will maintain transparency in the utilisation and will ensure the participation of public representatives in it.