Jamshedpur |  April 17, 2017: Mining royalties collected by East Singhbhum district would henceforth be used to provide drinking water facilities and construct toilets in blocks as opposed to individual panchayats to boost the mission for a open defecation free (ODF) society.

At a meeting of the district mineral foundation trust (DMFT), held today for the first time this year, East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Amit Kumar directed drinking water and sanitation department to use the DMFT funds for a particular block and ensure all its panchayats were declared ODF.

"We have asked the drinking water and sanitation department to return the funds given by district mining officials and make fresh plans to construct toilets in each panchayat of a specific block where mining activities are being conducted so that the entire block can be declared ODF," Kumar said.

The district mining department collected Rs 13.5 crore royalty and deposited it in DMFT. In December last year, Rs 11.5 crore was handed over to the drinking water and sanitation department.

During today's meeting, it was found that toilets had been constructed in some panchayats, but water supply projects had failed to take off anywhere in the district as the tenders did not attract bidders.

District mineral foundation trusts are to make sure funds collected through royalties are used to build infrastructure in mining affected areas. The Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2015, provides for the establishment of DMFTs in districts.

Units granted lease for major minerals before 2015 are to shell out 30 per cent royalty to DMFT, while units granted lease after 2015 need to pay 10 per cent royalty for the benefit of the local population.

While PSU Hindustan Copper paid royalty for copper mines at Surda in Ghatshila sub-division, Uranium Corporation of India paid up for its uranium mines at Jadugora, Bhatin, Bagjata and Narwapahar (all in Jadugora) and Turamdih (near Sundernagar in Jamshedpur).

Private firm Manmohan Minerals and Industries made contributions to DMFT for its gold mines at Kunderkocha in Potka block.

Kumar said 60 per cent of DMFT funds would be used for construction of toilets and drinking water supply, while the remaining 40 per cent would be used for infrastructure development in health, education and roads.

(Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/)