Odisha to spend Rs 900 crore for infrastructure development at 508 mining villages

The Odisha government on Monday decided to spend Rs 900 crore for the infrastructure development of 508 villages affected by mining activities in eight districts.

This was decided at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to discuss a formation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the development of areas affected by mining activities. The eight districts are Keonjhar, Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Koraput.

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"About Rs 900 crore will mostly be spent in the eight mineral bearing districts. The mining affected people will be provided with pucca (permanent) houses, safe drinking water and infrastructural facilities among others," said Forest and Environment Secretary S C Mohapatra.

He said the Mineral Bearing Development Corporation (MBDC) will look after the infrastructural development of the mining districts. "While there is a deposit of Rs 850 crore in the Mineral Bearing Development Corporation, funds will also come from the District Mineral Foundation for the development of the eight districts," Mohapatra said.

Mohapatra said the SPV under the chairmanship of the chief secretary will also focus on the livelihood of the people hit by mining activities in the 508 villages.