MLAs query DMF spending, to flag fund ‘misuse’ in Odisha Assembly 

By Express News Service

ROURKELA:  Projects funded by District Mineral Foundation (DMF) of Sundargarh appear to be drawing consideration of the Opposition with two MLAs of the district deciding to boost the matter within the subsequent session of Odisha Assembly and search CAG audit into the spending on tasks. 

BJP MLA from Birmitrapur Shankar Oram and his Rajgangpur counterpart from Congress CS Rajen Ekka, each members of the DMF’s belief board, have determined to flag the problem.  For the final a number of months, there was a rising demand for CAG audit amid allegations of administration spending whopping DMF sums in non-priority tasks and non-deserving areas by reportedly protecting Sundargarh MP Jual Oram and 4 MLAs from mining-affected Assembly constituencies at the hours of darkness about prices and undertaking particulars. The Birmitrapur MLA stated within the final one 12 months, he has sought expenditure particulars of DMF and Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) thrice however is but to obtain a reply.

The MLAs have been saved at the hours of darkness about when and the way the DMF funds are being spent. Labelling critical prices of manipulation, the MLA claimed that he by no means gave his consent for organising the proposed Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium at Rourkela, which is scheduled to co-host the Men’s Hockey World Cup, from DMF funds. In a number of different DMF tasks, his title was included with out his information.     

Shankar additional stated throughout the go to of the Assembly Ethics Committee on October 22, he had identified irregularities in DMF spending and the panel members took cognisance of it. Similarly, Rajen stated he together with three different MLAs final month had apprised the Sundargarh Collector and DMF’s managing trustee concerning the damaging public notion on DMF spending and a number of complaints obtained by them. 

“Lack of transparency is a concern for all and the administration should focus on priority projects in deserving mining affected areas as per DMF guidelines before spending whopping sums on beautification like Bijli Bandh project. I would raise the issue in the next Assembly session and make appropriate recommendation for CAG audit,” he added. Earlier, Jual had claimed that as DMF members, they offer in-principal approval to tasks, however the execution is completed by the Collector.