By Our Correspondent
ANGUL: Separate meetings of the 15th Rehabilitation and Peripheral Development Advisory Committee (RPDAC) and District DMF Trust Board of the Mahanadi Coal Field Limited (MCL) project in Angul district were held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at the office of the Angul District Collector.
In the first meeting, discussions were held with MCL and District Administrative Officers to prioritize public issues and work in the interest of the poor. Similarly, in the Angul District DMF Trust Board meeting, discussions were held on development work and welfare projects for the benefit of the people. Discussions were held on the investment of money from DMF funds and improvement works in areas such as drinking water, health, education, skill development, ancillary infrastructure, environmental protection, transportation.
Briefing the media after the meeting, Shri said that about 100 million metric tons of coal is being produced from Talcher and Chendipada blocks of Angul. The target is to produce 125 million metric tons of coal this year. The biggest raw material of coal is land and the RPDAC is the forum for determining a clear policy for land acquisition in the local area. For the benefit of the people, this meeting was held last February and it has been decided to meet today and later this year.
Many policies have been decided by the RPDAC to know the details of the people in detail. A special committee has also been formed for this. A policy has been prepared on making arrangements for acquiring land as per the convenience of the people. Steps will be taken to ensure that the people or displaced persons benefit more and get more compensation as per the laws and policies of the Government of India and the State. Arrangements have also been made on behalf of Coal India for possible assistance. Various issues ranging from pollution prevention to creation of artificial forests and protection of wildlife were discussed in the meeting.
On the other hand, Shri Pradhan thanked Coal India for spending more than Rs 1600 crores for the construction of the Purat Mohan Medical College in Talcher to fulfill the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting was attended by Dhenkanal MP Rudra Narayan Pani, MLAs of Angul, Chendipada and Talcher, Angul District Collector and other administrative and MCL officials.
