OPCC Chief Slams Odisha Govt Over DMF Funds Utilisation

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik on Wednesday hit out at the Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government for its alleged failure to properly utilise funds under District Mineral Foundation (DMF).

Alleging that the state government has not taken up any developmental activity for minerals-rich districts of the state, the OPCC chief said that about 90 per cent of funds under the DMF have remained unutilised.

“What is the purpose of such funds, Naveen babu-spending on welfare of people or keeping them as showpiece in government’s accounts? 90 percent of funds under District Mineral Foundation are untouched! You could’ve done so much welfare of people in mining affected areas! You didn’t work,” Niranjan tweeted.

On Tuesday, the BJD had accused the Centre for allegedly maintaining double standards in its aspirational districts programme after it proposed to utilise the DMF for development of eight identified districts in the state. The ruling party had said that the Centre is changing its plans on regular basis while announcing and implementing different programmes.