Bhubaneswar: Urban centres in mineral bearing districts of Odisha now got Rs 640.64 crore worth of projects under OMBADC.

The projects include 11 multi- purpose stadiums besides development of the secondary schools and environmental monitoring. These approvals were accorded in the Board of Directors meeting held here on Tuesday under the chairmanship of chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra in on digital mode wherein chief executive officer (CEO) of OMBADC Uma Nanduri presented the necessity and expected outcome of the projects for discussion.
Giving nod to the projects, chief secretary Mahapatra directed to provide global level education and exposure to the students under secondary school development programme. Mahapatra said since the smart class room, e-library, science lab, ICT lab would be developed through the new project, the teachers must focus on providing best education to the students with global exposure. Such facilities, added Mahapatra “should enable our children to compete with any one at national and global level”. He also emphasized on development of the play ground and joyful ambiance and a learning eco-system. CEO Nanduri appraised that a total number of 889 secondary schools in the districts of Angul, Dhenkanal, Deogarh, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Mayurbhaj and Sundargarh districts were included under the project with estimated amount of Rs. 533.40 cr.
The proposal for development of multipurpose indoor stadiums estimated at a total of Rs.104.15 crore for eleven ULBs in mining affected districts were also sanctioned in the meeting. These included nine municipalities namely Belpahar, Brajrajnagar, Anandpur, Barbil, Birmitrapur, Rajganjpur, Rourkela and Vyasnagar Municipality; and, two NACs namely Champua and Joda. The facility would nurture and promote sports talents in these ULBs and their adjacent areas. Chief Secretary Sri Mahapatra directed to make best use of the facilities for nurturing and promotion of the sports talents in mining districts.
The project on application of ICT and data science for development of the environmental information system in the mining areas of Odisha estimated at Rs.3.10 cr was also sanctioned in the meeting. The project envisages development of a comprehensive data base on periodic environmental data collected from mines through different statutory returns, clearances and compliances. CEO Smut Mandarin appraised that the data generated should be used in curtailing of pollution and decision-making activities regarding mining operation.
Development Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Jena, principal chief conservator of forests Saris Kumar Ratio, principal secretary finance Vishal Kumar Dev, principal secretary school and mass education Satyabrata Sahu, member secretary Odisha Pollution Control Board Dr K. Murugesan, secretary sports and youth affairs,Vineel Krishna along with other members of the board of directors participated in the discussions. CEO, OMBADC Uma Nanduri presented the technical, financial and executive details of the projects.