90% mineral fund not utilised in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Approximately, 90 percent of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund has not been spent in the mineral rich regions in Odisha.

The DMF has collected Rs 4,075 crore in the last three years since 2015-16. However, only Rs 389 crore was spent and remaining Rs 3,686 could not be utilised over the period. Thus, 90 percent of the fund remains unutilised.

While the fund was completely unspent in 16 districts, reports said that only six districts witnessed the utilisation of fund between Rs 1 crore and 6 crore.

This was stated during a seminar on occasion of annual function of the magazine ‘Bhumi’ held at Hotel May Fair in Bhubaneswar yesterday.

Attending the programme, eminent environmentalist Professor Radha Mohan raised doubt on the government behind constitution of the DMF.

The body is formed as part of strategy so that no one will oppose during the mining operation in the area, he said.

DMF is a trust set up as a non-profit body in all the districts affected by the mining operation to work for the interest and benefit of persons. The trust is funded by the miners.