'Odisha trumped other states in utilising PMKKY'

Odisha has emerged the topper among all states in raising and utilising funds under Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalayan Yojana (PMKKY), the government said today.

It is also set to sanction projects worth Rs 6,000 crore under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) over the next 45 days, it said.

Odisha s performance in implementation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalayan Yojana or the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is found best among all states, said Odisha Chief Secretary A P Padhi, quoting Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha.

Sinha, during a video conferencing with all chief secretaries, said this. Padhi said,

Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan and Principal Secretary Steel and Mines RK Sharma represented Odisha in the meeting.

Reviewing the activities taken under the scheme in Odisha, Sinha reportedly said:, Odisha has taken up the right projects as per norms and objectives of the programme. The funds raised from different mines are being spent on healthcare, education, transport and communication, sanitation, child and women welfare programmes in the areas affected by mining activities in different parts of the state.

Appraising about implementation of the Scheme, Padhi said that District Mineral Foundation had been constituted in all 30 districts of the state.

A total amount of around Rs 3,737 crore was collected till November 30, 2017 out of which around Rs 1,369 crore came from coal and lignite, Rs 2,351 crore from major mineral other than coal and Rs 17 crore came from minor minerals.

The projects were sanctioned under two broad heads -- High Priority and Other Priority projects. The high priority areas included the projects like housing, drinking water, health, sanitation, roads, welfare of women & children and skill development. The projects worth Rs 1,200 crore have been sanctioned in these areas, Padhi said.

Besides, projects worth Rs 707 crore has been sanctioned for other priority areas like connectivity, public facility energy, irrigation and afforestation. In total around Rs 1,907 Crore has been allotted to different districts against 5,886 sanctioned projects.

Development Commissioner Balakrishnan said the sanctioned projects would touch Rs 6000 crore by end of January, 2018.

Padhi told reporters that Odisha has developed and applied an IT-based monitoring system in the shape of a web-portal for sanction and monitoring of the projects under DMF.

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