State to set up SPV for dev of mining areas

"As per recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee 50 per cent of the additional net present value (NPV) collected from mining lease holders will be utilised for inclusive growth and development in mining villages, gram panchayats and peripheral areas," official sources said after a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary B K Patnaik.

Around 9 lakh households in 3000 villages will be benefited under the scheme and about Rs 400 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose, the sources said.

Officials have been directed to prepare a work plan for ensuring better quality of living conditions for the people in these areas.

The state government has identified broad areas of intervention in inter-village and inter hamlet connectivity. It also includes water supply to households, toilets in households, quality power supply with dedicated transformer for each village, adequate irrigation, afforestation, construction of Anganwadi centres in each village, skill development of natives as per their need and employable opportunities available in the area.

Patnaik said the director of mines has been directed to provide detailed list of the villages and gram panchyats of mining bearing areas within two days.

A specialised consultant agency has been engaged to conduct a field survey about requirement of people and prepare Detail Project Report (DPR) on the basis of its findings. "BASIX has been asked to complete the DPR within two months," he said.

At present a number of developmental programmes in mineral bearing areas are being implemented in theses areas. The major programmes are Tribal Sub-plan Area Programme, Integrated Tribal Development Agency, grants under article 275(1) of Constitution, Modified Area Development Approach, Dispersed Tribal Development Programmes, special plan for KBK districts, Odisha Tribal Empowerment & Livelihood Programme, Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd and Odisha ST & SC Development Finance Corporation.