By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR/NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Lok Sabha said that till March 2022, Rs 3034.77 Crore spent in Keonjhar and Rs 74.55 Crore in Mayurbhanj under DMF. While till March, 2022, Rs 9063.37 Crore spent in 30 districts of Odisha under DMF.
Ministry of Mines has circulated guidelines for Pradhan MantriKhanijKshetraKalyan Yojna (PMKKKY) on 16.09.2015 to be implemented by the District Mineral Foundations (DMF) for taking up development and welfare projects/programs in mining affected areas. As per PMKKKY guidelines, at least 60% of the funds are to be spent on High Priority areas and up to 40% of the fund are to be spent on other priority activities. Government of Odisha has notified Odisha District Mineral Foundation (DMF) Rules on 18.8.2015 and subsequently amended the rules on 15.1.2016, 22.2.2016 and 01.10.2018.
Further, following directions have been issued by the Ministry to all the States for effective utilization of DMF funds –
Vide order dated 23.04.2021 to include MPs, MLAs and MLCs in the Governing Council of DMF and District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner/District Collector of the District as Chairman of Governing Council and Managing Committee of DMF.
Vide order dated 12.7.2021the fund available in DMF shall not be transferred to State exchequer or State level fund etc.Vide order dated 24.06.2022 for preparation of five year perspective plan for implementations of works using DMF funds.
