Eleven new projects estimated around Rs 3,540 crore were sanctioned for nine mineral bearing districts on Wednesday. The projects will be funded by the Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation.

The Board of Directors of the Corporation headed by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi cleared the projects. Mrs Uma Nanduri presented the financial, administrative and technical aspects of the projects.

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Sanctioning the projects, chief secretary Padhi directed that livelihood programmes under OMBADC for mineral bearing areas of the concerned districts be taken up in convergence with Odisha Livelihood Mission.

The Board decided that additional drinking water projects for urban areas in the mineral bearing districts can be taken up under OMBADC. Women & Child Development department was asked to formulate innovative programmes for improving the nutritional status of the children and reducing the IMR in mineral bearing areas.

RWSS and public health units in Keonjhar and Sundargarh districts were asked to conduct iron content test of both the deep and surface drinking water sources on regular basis. Mr Padhi asked the concerned departments to monitor the water quality regularly in mining areas and take up necessary preventive steps.

A flyover road near Joda town was sanctioned in the meeting for curtailing the dust and pollution in the area. The project is estimated at Rs 229.71 Cr.

It has been targeted to complete the project within a period of three years from the date of commencement of the work. Chief secretary Sri Padhi directed the housing & urban development department to take up appropriate projects for improving the quality of living in Joda and Badbil towns of Keonjhar districts.

The newly sanctioned projects in the meeting include mega pipe water supply projects for rural areas in Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Koraput and Jajpur district; drinking water supply project for urban centers of Mayurbhanj and Koraput, livelihood promotion activities through SHGs in all the 9 districts, livelihood promotion through fishery; strengthening of integrated child development scheme, integrated watershed management project, water conservation and improvement of ground water recharge projects, afforestation, renovation of urban water bodies and solid waste management in urban bodies.

Replying to questions, CEO Mrs Nanaduri said 9 districts namely Angul, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Sundargarh districts have been brought under the ambit of OMBDAC fund.

Presently the projects around Rs 1,000 Cr under OMBADC are under implementation in these districts. With Wednesday’s sanction the total amount of money sanctioned for these districts comes around Rs 4,540 Cr.