Keonjhar On Course To Inclusive & Sustainable Development

Bhubaneswar: In addition to the regular budgetary spending by the Odisha government, the District Mineral Fund (DMF) and Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC) sources have provided extra boost for inclusive and sustainable development in Keonjhar district.

This was revealed at a review meeting presided over by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi at the State Secretariat here on Tuesday.

Reviewing the progress, Padhi directed to focus on timely completion of the projects and take up drinking water projects in the district on saturation mode meeting requirement of all the villages. He also advised the district administration to plan such projects which add to the quality of service delivery particularly, in the sectors of health, skill development, additional nutrition to the women and children, quality education at primary level.

The review revealed that in addition to the ongoing projects and programmes financed from budgetary sources, more 564 numbers of projects have been envisaged for the districts from the DMF and OMBADC funds.

Present at the meeting, Keonjhar collector Ashish Kumar Thakare said that as of now, 551 projects estimated around Rs 1017 crore have been sanctioned under the DMF. These projects are in the sectors of health, infrastructure, education, skill development, irrigation, watershed development, women & child welfare and afforestation. Out of these 551 projects, around 120 projects have been completed and others are in various stages of implementation, he added.

Chief Executive Officer, OMBADC Uma Nanduri said 13 projects estimated around Rs 2500 crore for the district are under active consideration of the state government. The projects would be sanctioned soon for implementation in the district during the current financial year.

Development commissioner and additional chief secretary R Balakrishnan, principal secretary, Panchayati Raj Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, Mission Director, Panchayati Raj, Roopa Mishra, additional secretary, Planning & Coordination Debendra Kumar Jena and senior officers from respective departments were present at the meeting.