BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) has commenced its operation in eight districts. The corporation was formed for undertaking developmental activities for inclusive growth in mineral-bearing areas of the State.
The first Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of the corporation held here on Tuesday discussed the proposed action plan worth Rs 818 crore. The major activities proposed under the action plan include improved social infrastructure, provision of drinking water, sanitation, irrigation and better health services.
Livelihood promotion, skill development for alternative livelihood and supplementary income, construction of roads and anganwadi centers, improvement of power supply infrastructure, development of sports, environmental sustainability and reduction of income disparity are the other activities to be taken up to improve the human development index of the people living in mining areas, official sources said.
The programmes will be coordinated and monitored through a district-level committee under the chairmanship of district Collector. The line departments, people’s representatives and NGO workers will be involved at the ground-level to ensure proper implementation of sanctioned projects.
Chairing the first BoD meeting, Chief Secretary GC Pati emphasised on inter-departmental coordination, involvement of local community and convergence of approved projects with ongoing programmes of the State.
The corporation will draw its funds from additional net present value (NPV) realised from mining leases. About 50 per cent of the NPV of Rs 2,563 crore will be utilised through the corporation. The State Government has provided Rs one lakh as token share capital.
In the first phase, it has been proposed to launch interventions in the eight districts of Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jajpur, Koraput, Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and Angul as a major portion of the total additional NPV of Rs 1,661 crore has been realised from these districts.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest JD Sharma is the Chief Executive of the corporation while Development Commissioner, Secretaries of Finance, Forest and Environment, Rural Development, Steel and Mines, PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden are BoD members.
The State Government formed the SPV in April following a Supreme Court directive to ensure inclusive growth of mineral-bearing areas.