Chief Minister Raghubar Das has asked the officials to ensure safe drinking water, education and health facilities in areas badly affected by mining and quarrying activities in the State.
The measures would be taken under the provisions of the District Mineral Foundation Trust which has been made mandatory to be set up in the districts possessing major minerals under the Mines and Mineral Development and Regulation (amendment) Act, 2015.
Holding a high-level meeting in this regard on Wednesday, the Chief Minister was specific about areas such as Saranda which is badly affected due to excavations. “A scheme should be prepared for the entire district where mines are in operation keeping in mind the local needs such as drinking water, health facilities etc. Saranda where villagers are affected because of red water should be kept on priority,” said the CM.
He also directed the DCs for holding the meeting of the Trust as early as possible and prepare an action plan for the area based on the suggestions coming over there.
The CM would himself hold meetings with the DCs next month to finalise the schemes identified for every concerned district.
Objective of the DMFT is to work for the interest and benefit of persons and areas affected by mining related operations in the district.
Joint Secretary in the Mines and Geology Department Anand Mohan Thakur said that nearly Rs 143 crore has been accumulated in the Trust fund as of now. “The two per cent share of total royalty is to go to the fund. We have started getting contribution for one and half months only in the districts having major minerals such as Chaibasa, Dhanbad etc. No scheme has yet been taken up and after the meeting the exercise is expected to pick up,” said Thakur.
The Trust has a provision of constituting a managing committee that would exercise due diligence in carrying out its duties for protecting its interests of the Trust, ensure timely collection of contribution from the concerned mining lease holders, prepare the Master Plan or vision document for the activities of the Trust. It would also assist in the preparation of the annual plan and the budget of the Trust along with the proposed schemes besides, supervising and ensuring execution of the welfare schemes for the affected population.
The meeting also decided to expedite opening of health centres. After getting reports from the DC, works relating to lay pipeline for drinking water supply, building school premises, health sub-centres and PHCs would be assessed properly. Secretary of the Department Sunil Barnwal expected that the Trust statewide would get Rs 1000 crore accumulated this year coming out of the major minerals which would grow at the rate of 10 per cent annually.
Chief Secretary Rajbala Verma, Development Commissioner Amit Khare, Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of Health Department K Vidyasagar and School Education and literacy Secretary Aradhana Patnaik were also present in the meeting.