By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: It seems DMF fund collection is on decline mode in Odisha. Odisha had collected Rs 6905.49 Crore till March 2019 but it was reduced to Rs 3079.28 Crore in FY-2019-20 but it further reduced to Rs 2528.59 Crore in FY 2020-21 while it touched Rs 5393.97 Crore in FY 2021-22 and again reduced to Rs 2487.78 Crore in FY 2022-23. This was come to light after Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi in a written reply in Rajya Sabha said.
The Central Government under Section 20A of the MMDR Act has issued directions and circulated guidelines for Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan 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. Further, Section 9B and Section 15(4) of MMDR Act empowers State Governments to frame rules for regulating the composition, functions and working of the District Mineral Foundations in the State.
As per the guidelines, instruction have been issued to the DMFs for identification of affected areas and people to be covered under the PMKKKY scheme and spend at least 60% of the funds on High Priority areas and up to 40% on Other Priority Activities. The guidelines also envisage annual audit of the DMF funds to ensures that these funds are being utilized as per DMF rules framed by the respective State Governments. Additionally, as per PMKKKY guidelines, every year, the DMF has to prepare an Annual Report within three months from the date of closure of the financial year, on its activities for the respective financial year and place it before the State Legislative Assembly.
