OMBADC begins Operations in 8 Odisha Districts
In another step towards catalyzing inclusive growth in mineral bearing areas of the State, Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC) has commenced its operation under Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati from 30th December,2014. Marking the commencement of the operations, the 1st Meeting of the Board of Directors was held under Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Pati in the secretariat conference hall last evening wherein Sri JD Sharma, PPCF & Chief Executive of the Corporation outlined the objectives of the Corporation and put forth the proposed action plan for discussion.
Chief Secretary has advised to focus on field level execution of the action plan through close monitoring and involvement of the community. The Corporation has also been advised to ensure interdepartmental coordination and convergence with ongoing programmes of the State.
The corporation will undertake area development and tribal welfare works for ensuring inclusive growth and environmental upgradation in mineral bearing areas of the State. The objective outlines of the Corporation include improved infrastructure facilitating livelihood enhancement, income enhancement of the tribal and vulnerable households, boosting up human development index, environmental sustainability and reduction of income disparity.
The Corporation will draw its funds from additional Net Present value (NPV) realized from mining leases. Sources say, about 50% of such NPV will be utilized through this Corporation. State Govt has provided Rs.1 lakh as token share capital. In the first phase, it has been proposed to launch the interventions in 8 districts like Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jajpur, Koraput, Jharsuguda, Dhenkanal, Mayurbhanj and Angul as major portion of the total additional NPV of Rs.1661 cr has been realized from these districts.
An action plan of Rs 818cr was discussed in the meeting. The major activities include raising social infrastructure, provision of drinking water, sanitation, livelihood promotion, irrigation, skill development for alternative livelihood & supplementary income, environmental upgradation, construction of roads, anganwadi centers, power supply infrastructure, health services, development of sports etc. The programmes will be coordinated and monitored through a district level committee under the chairmanship of Collector. The line departments, people’s representatives and NGO workers will be involved at the ground level for effecting better implementation. The Development Commissioner, Secretaries of Finance, Forest & Environment, Rural Development, Steel & Mines along with PCCF (WL) & Chief Warden Wild Life, Odisha have been taken as members in Board of Directors.
The Development Commissioner Sri U.N.Behera, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Sri R. Balkrishnan, Principal Secretary Steel & Mines Sri Rajesh Kumar Sharma along with other members of the Corporation participated in discussions.