Bhubaneswar: The 27th Board of Directors Meeting of Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) was held today.
According to an official press release, the Board of Directors Meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary-cum-Chairman OMBADC Pradeep Kumar Jena.
In the meeting held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the Development Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg, and other Directors attended the meeting physically and some others joined online as well.
The OMBADC, a Special Purpose Vehicle of Government of Odisha incorporated under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 on 2nd December 2014.
The major objective of the company is to undertake tribal welfare and area development works in the mineral bearing areas of the State.
G Rajesh, CEO, OMBADC informed the Board members about the compliances made by OMBADC on the decisions taken in the earlier Board meeting. Further, the members were made updated on utilization of Compensation money funds.
The CEO informed that till October 2023, the Board has approved 60 nos. of projects under different sectors amounting to more than Rs 18,000 Cr from the total collection of Rs 20,700 Cr till October 2023.
The 18 Line departments have successfully utilized 72% of the released amount which stands at Rs 10,868 Crore. Departments which have utilized more than 60% of the released amount are – Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water (84%), School & Mass Education (63%), Housing & Urban Development (93%), Rural Development (84%), Skill Development & Technical Education (72%) and Farmers & Animal Resources Development (73%).
The Board was also apprised about some of the major achievements of OMBADC. To name a few, OMBADC has completed the Impact assessment of projects like Housing and Drinking water funded out of Adhoc CAMPA funds for 08 mining districts and the outcomes are very encouraging as the projects have served their purpose.
More than 28000 pucca houses have been allocated to eligible beneficiaries.
Similarly, 58,000 households in 08 mining districts are being supplied with tap water. Several Mega PWS projects approved in the FY 2019 have completed 90% of the work and expected to be commissioned by end of the FY 2024.
The MCH Hospital being constructed in Jajpur district is one of the flagship projects of OMBADC which is going to be completed soon.
OMBADC is also working for women empowerment and in collaboration with the Mission Shakti department has completed the Mission Shakti Bhawan at Jajpur.
Substantial nos. of WSHGs is earning enhanced livelihoods through showcasing and sale of their traditional products.
Several state-of-the-art ICUs and OTs have become functional in the mining district and providing advanced health services to the people in the mining districts.
More than 1300 secondary schools have been provided with advanced infrastructure and smart classrooms under the 5T initiative and students are benefitting out of the changes.
Approval of new proposals:
08 no. of new proposals worth Rs 96 Cr were also placed before the Board members by the CEO, OMBADC which were related to construction of roads in Morada constituency of Mayurbhanj, construction of one bridge over Bhandan River under Simlipal forest and 06 no. of proposals related to technology upgradation and placement of trained youth in Government.
ITI and Polytechnics spread across 08 mining districts supported by OMBADC. All the projects recommended by the Sub Committee of OMBADC were discussed in detail in the meeting.
Earlier approved projects under Health sector and Drinking Water sector were provided extension of time by the Board of Directors as some components have been delayed due to land related problems.
Some road projects required additional funds due to escalated labour rates and change in schedule rates which was also approved by the Board.
At the end of the meeting, the Chief Secretary cum Chairman OMBADC, Jena released the Annual Report of OMBADC for the FY 2022-23, brochures developed by OMBADC and small documentaries pertaining to OMBADC funded projects like Skill Development, Education etc.
The revised Website of OMBADC was also launched by the Chairman.
