Photo: OTVHuge amount of DMF funds have allegedly been misused in mineral-rich districts of Odisha Huge amounts of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds have allegedly been misused and siphoned off in the mineral-rich districts of Odisha. As per reports, though a huge amount of funds under DMF have been released many times for the development of different proposed projects in the mining areas, nothing has been completed yet. Take the case of Sundargarh district. An amount of Rs 25 crore was sanctioned from the DMF for the beautification of the ancient ‘Bijuli pond’. Though the work started in 2020, it is yet to be completed. A private company was given the contract to construct a park for the children on 16 acres of land, a water fountain and a food court. However, the construction works are still incomplete even after four years. Even the matter has reached the Green Tribunal as huge piles of garbage near the project have been polluting the area. “The way the work is progressing, it seems that it’s not going as per the plan. Around 15 crore from the total sanctioned money of Rs 30 crore has already been spent. However, no substantial work has been done yet. A huge amount of money has been siphoned off in the project,” said Sachin Biswakarma, a local resident. Apart from the pond beautification project, RTI activists have alleged that DMF funds to the tune of more than Rs 2,000 crore have been misappropriated in many other places of the district as well. “Huge amounts of DMF funds have been looted in various projects during 2020-2024. More than Rs 2,000 crore have been looted,” said Rashmi Padhy, an RTI activist. In response, Sundargarh Collector Manoj Satyaban Mahajan said, “Things will be checked as per the government process. Subsequently, the investigation will be carried out if any misappropriations are found and eventually action will be taken.” Similarly, huge funds have been spent from the DMF contingency fund in Keonjhar. In the last six years and especially before the last General Elections, more than Rs 33 crore has been spent for purposes like cleaning and repair of toilets, repair of computers, payment of salary to contractual employees and fuel expenses of vehicles. The development has triggered suspicion about the embezzlement of DMF. “Inquiry into the incidents will be conducted and action will be taken against the culprits,” said Keonjhar MP Ananta Nayak. Earlier on June 23, 2024, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had announced that those who are involved in the mining scam during the tenure of the previous government would land in jail. OTV News is now on Whatsapp Join and get latest news update delivered to you via whatsapp Join Now
Huge amount of DMF funds ‘siphoned off’ in Keonjhar and Sundargarh
