Bhubaneswar: Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari has directed coal mining companies to accelerate various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in the coal-bearing districts of the state.
A high-level review meeting was held at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of Minister Suresh Pujari to assess the progress of CSR initiatives being implemented by companies in the coal mine areas. The Minister instructed the companies to ensure timely and effective execution of people-centric welfare projects for the benefit of local communities.
Angul, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, and Sundargarh districts are the major coal mining regions in Odisha. Companies such as NTPC, OPGC, NLC, and MCL carry out mining and thermal power generation activities in these areas. Minister Pujari emphasized that providing welfare facilities to the local people is both a social and moral responsibility of these companies.
During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on various CSR projects being undertaken by these companies in the four districts. The Minister specifically directed prompt allocation of CSR funds for the proposed university in Jharsuguda. He instructed officials to identify suitable land at the earliest and start the project without delay.
He also directed the companies to mobilize funds and initiate work on other key projects, including a Cardiac Care Hospital and a stadium at Lakhanpur, along with several other proposed initiatives. Minister Pujari issued strict instructions to senior officials of MCL to clear all pending CSR funds. He also directed departmental officers to expedite project implementation and ensure proper utilization of the allocated funds.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr Arvinda Padhee; Minister’s Private Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sahoo; General Manager of NTPC Darlipali; Director (Operations) of OPGC Banaharpali; senior officials from various companies; and through virtual mode — the Revenue Commissioner of Northern Division, Sambalpur, District Collectors of Jharsuguda, Angul, Sambalpur and Sundargarh, MD of MCL Uday A. Kaole, General Manager of NLC Talabira, and other senior officers.
