Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday chaired a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to assess the functioning and progress of the District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) across Odisha.
During the discussion, it was revealed that till the end of October this year, DMFs in 11 districts have collectively amassed ₹34,052 crore, of which around 55 percent has been utilised so far. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to accelerate spending so that essential public services reach people, particularly those living in mining-affected regions.
Officials informed that after the recent reconstitution of DMFs, Trust Board meetings have already been completed in 10 districts.
Majhi directed departmental secretaries to submit the annual and audit reports of all DMFs without delay. He also clarified that funds generated from minor minerals may be utilised anywhere within the respective district, stressing that such resources should focus on fulfilling core needs including education, healthcare, clean drinking water, sanitation, and transportation.
He instructed authorities to ensure delivery of all basic services in a saturation mode for communities residing in and around mining areas.
The Chief Minister further ordered immediate convening of DMF Trust Board meetings to expedite pending projects. He said that directly and indirectly affected villages must be identified and action taken to control pollution in localities adjacent to mining zones.
In a significant policy direction, Majhi announced that districts earning ₹10 crore or more annually from DMFs will create an Endowment Fund, to be invested in government securities, scheduled bank bonds, or fixed deposits. The corpus will serve as a long-term resource for generating sustainable livelihoods in areas where mineral reserves have depleted or mining activities have ceased.
Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Development Commissioner Anu Garg, Additional Chief Secretary (Steel & Mines) Surendra Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Saswat Mishra, and several senior officials attended the meeting.
