TALCHER:Former member of Zilla Parishad and Congress leader Raj Kishore Sahu has demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged misutilisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL).
Speaking to media here on Monday, Sahu charged the company of not following the Central Government’s policy in earmarking funds for local area development.
“A specific amount has been fixed by the Centre for MCL to spend on its CSR activities. It is also stipulated that 8o per cent of such fund will be spent in local area with the rest diverted to outside places. But the guidelines are being violated by the coal company,” Sahu alleged.While Talcher region, where coalmines are located, is underdeveloped and people have no provision of drinking water, road and health facilities, the need for utilisation of such fund is very much here. Unfortunately, the fund is being diverted outside, he said.
Stating that Talcher is one of most polluted regions in the country today, Sahu said funds are not being used to tackle the menace.
The people of Talcher bear the brunt of coal mining effects but are deprived of developmental fund despite the Central guidelines, he added demanding a CBI inquiry into it.