The Board of Directors meeting of the Odisha Mineral Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) on 24 August 2022, has given its approval for six projects worth Rs 2,752 crore in Odisha. The meeting headed by the Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra approved these projects related to water supply, agriculture, infrastructural development and education.
The approved six projects are;
- Natural Farming for year round crop in 36 Blocks of Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj and Sundargarh districts worth to Rs 250.72 crore that will benefit around 2,49,021 farmers in 216 panchayats
- Development of piped water supply scheme for 787 villages in 11 blocks of Mayurbhanj by investing Rs. 856.87 crore
- Establishment of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Centre in Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts amounting to Rs 106.36 crore
- Construction of all-weather connectivity roads in 23 blocks of Ghatagaon block with an investment of Rs 19.64 crore
- Infrastructure development in Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University amounting to Rs 29 crore
- Improving quality of education in 36 Odisha Adarsh Vidyalayas amounting to Rs 489.53 crore
The chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra had directed to include more projects to ensure sustainable livelihood and skill development in mining affected areas. Various departments were asked to sponsor more projects having direct linkage with income generation and enhancement of livelihood opportunities. OMBADC was directed to take up skill development projects for youths from mining affected areas in collaboration with skill development department.