BHUBANESWAR: In a move aimed at development of mining affected areas, the State Government has prepared a blue print for developing Joda and Barbil urban local bodies (ULBs) in Keonjhar district as model towns. The blue print was discussed and given in principle approval at a high level meeting presided over by Chief Secretary AP Padhi in the Secretariat here on Friday. Considering the present state of development in the two towns, the Chief Secretary directed the Urban Development Department to adopt a multi-pronged approach for integrated development of the area.
Padhi said new programmes for these two towns should be implemented in convergence with the ongoing projects and schemes of the Government to avoid duplication and make them outcome oriented. Padhi directed the departments concerned to provide all technical, administrative and consultative assistance to the district administration in implementation of the projects. It was decided to constitute steering committee at district level and working committee at ULB level for end-to-end planning, implementation and monitoring of the projects at the ground level. India’s largest iron ore producing areas, Joda and Barbil have at least 26 iron ore mines.
Official sources said around 21 mines in Joda and five mines in Barbil are producing iron and manganese ores. These two towns have a total population of around 1.13 lakh among whom 45 to 48 per cent belong to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Around 7000 mineral-loaded trucks pass through the two towns each day from mining sites to railway sidings and ports. The meeting identified four main focus areas such as improved living environment, equitable and sustainable infras t r u c t u r e , e c o n o m i c diversification and harmony between culture and nature.
Project themes like ‘Sabuja Sahar’, ‘Sukha Yatra’, ‘Nirapada Nagar’, ‘Samruddhi’, ‘Kaushal- Jibika’, ‘Prakruti’ and ‘Sanskruti’ were envisaged for addressing the four focus areas. Around 14 intervention areas with definite action points were proposed and decided at the meeting. These included road and railway siding dust control, sustainable practices, air quality monitoring, water quality improvement, creation of green spaces, promotion of non-motorised transport modes like e-rickshaws, improving road condition, enhancing public safety and security, welfare of aged, women and disabled, enhanced urban infrastructure and imp r o v i n g l i v e l i h o o d opportunities.
The projects under these intervention areas were preliminarily estimated around `.913 crore. The Chief Secretary directed the Department to source funds from Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), District Mineral Fund (DMF), existing schemes plans and programmes of both, the State and Centre.