691 villages identified for overall development under OMBADC

The state government has identified 691 villages under 30 blocks spread over eight districts for the overall development under the Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC).
The decision in this regard was taken at the OMBADC review meeting chaired by chief secretary A P Padhi. OMBADC's Chief Executive Officer and PCCF Subash Chandra Mishra said housing, drinking water, sanitation and afforestation activities on saturation mode in all these villages was the priority of the government.
Meanwhile, the state government has completed a survey of the mining affected areas and 691 villages under 129 Gram Panchayats of 30 blocks in 8 districts have been identified for inclusion under the OMBADC fund.

These districts are: Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Koraput, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh.
As of now, projects worth Rs 900 crore have been approved for development of these villages, Mishra said adding that these include 29,829 housing units, 196 drinking water projects, 855 hectare block plantation, 842 km of avenue plantation, 3600 hectare of assisted natural regeneration and 9800 seedling plantation in towns of the mining affected areas.
The chief secretary directed the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department to complete all the housing projects by December, 2017. The department was also asked to ensure pipe water supply to each and every household in the identified villages.

"Each new house being constructed, must have a toilet and running water," Padhi said.

The Forest department was asked to intensify plantation activities for increasing green coverage in the area. It was further decided to take up intensive soil and moisture conservation activities in all forest pockets of the identified area, Mishra said.
Padhi also directed all departments to implement the schemes of their respective departments on saturation mode covering all eligible households.
OMBADC, which was incorporated as a non-profit government company in 2014 for carrying forward holistic developmental activities in the mining affected areas, now has Rs 1,000 crore.

Mishra said that about 50 per cent of NPV (net profit value) collected from the mining leases would be utilised through this corporation for basic developmental activities in the identified villages.