Odisha moots SPV for mines area development

The Odisha government plans to form a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to streamline efforts for optimum utilisation of funds to help achieve inclusive growth in areas affected by mining activities.

The SPV to be headed by the Chief Secretary B K Patnaik, will be registered under Societies Registration Act.

“Bharatiya Samrudhi Investment & Consultancy Services Ltd (BASIX) has been engaged to conduct a field survey on requirement of people and prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on the basis of its findings. The DPR is expected to be submitted within two months,” Patnaik said.

Patnaik has suggested that the SPV needs to be a body for coordination, planning, monitoring and canalizing of funds from different sources and dovetailing of various programmes for hastening inclusive development.

The major programmes are Tribal Sub-Plan Area Programme, Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Grants under Article 275 (1) of Constitution, Modified Area Development Approach, Dispersed Tribal Development Programmes, Special Plan for KBK (Kalahandi-Bolangir-Koraput) districts, Odisha Tribal Empowerment & Livelihood Programme, Tribal Development Co-operative Corporation of Odisha Ltd and Odisha ST & SC Development Finance Corporation.

The proposed SPV will harmonize the activities of these agencies and will plan for filling up the critical gaps in infrastructure and service delivery. The Director (mines) has been directed to provide the detailed list of villages and gram panchayats of mining bearing areas within two days. Participatory approach will be followed in implementation of various programmes of the SPV.

Initially, around 900,000 households in 3,000 villages affected by mining activities will be benefited.

It may be noted that the Central empowered cum coordination committee had recommended that 50 per cent of the additional Net Present Value (NPV) collected from mining lease holders is to be utilized for inclusive growth and development in villages, gram panchayats and peripheral areas affected by mining activities.