State has prepared blue print for several projects worth Rs 913cr
Bhubaneswar: In yet another move to develop the mining-affected areas in Odisha, the state government has come up with a blue print to develop Joda and Badbil (both in Keonjhar district) civic bodies as model towns.
The blue print was discussed and approved in principle at a high-level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here Friday.
Considering the present state of development in these two towns, Padhi directed the authorities to adopt a multi-pronged approach for integrated development of the area.
He also directed implementation of the programmes in convergence with ongoing projects and schemes of state government so as to avoid duplication and make those more outcome-oriented.
Concerned departments were directed to provide all technical, administrative and consultative assistance to the district administration in implementing the projects.
It was decided to constitute a steering committee at district-level and a working committee at Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) level for end-to end planning, implementation and monitoring of the projects at ground-level.
Deliberations in the meeting highlighted that these two areas are among India’s largest iron ore producing areas. Presently, around 21 mines in Joda and five mines in Badbil are producing iron and manganese ores.
The meeting identified four main focus areas such as improved living environment, equitable and sustainable infrastructure, economic diversification and harmony between culture and nature.
The project themes like Sabuja Sahar, Sukha Yatra, Nirapada Nagar, Samrudhi, Kaushal-Jibika and Prakruti & Sanskruti were envisaged for addressing the four focus areas.
The projects under these intervention areas were preliminarily estimated at Rs 913 crore. The Chief Secretary directed authorities to source funds from Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), District Mineral Foundation (DMF), existing schemes plans and programmes of both the state and Central government.
According to sources, these two towns have a total population of around 1.13 lakhs among whom 45 to 48 per cent belong to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. Around 7,000 mineral loaded trucks pass through the towns each day carrying minerals from mining sites to railway sidings and ports.
PNN