BHUBANESWAR: The state government has sanctioned projects worth Rs 640 crore for mining-affected districts under Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC).
The OMBADC constituted in 2014 with contribution from mining lease holders for diversion of forest land for mining purposes.
Also, penalties collected from the lessees for illegal mining based on a Supreme Court order on August 2, 2017, was also deposited in OMBADC. The fund now has a deposit of over Rs 16,000 crore, official sources said. The board of directors of OMBADC headed by chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra has sanctioned projects like development of secondary schools, environmental monitoring and sports development projects.
Under the secondary school development programme, the state government has planned to develop smart classroom, e-library, science laboratory, information communication technology (ICT) laboratory and other infrastructure in 889 secondary schools in Angul, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts.
The aim of the school development programme is to provide exposure to students in the mining-affected districts. Around Rs 533 crore has been earmarked for it. The money will be utilised to enhance the learning eco-system in government schools in the mining-affected districts, said the chief secretary.
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