Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 9: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced that a meeting with legislators from the district will soon be convened to discuss the effective utilisation of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund for the development of mining-affected areas and the welfare of local residents.

He was speaking while chairing a review meeting on the utilisation of the DMF fund held at the Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner’s office on Friday.

The minister stated that the fund can be used to improve infrastructure and essential facilities in regions impacted by activities such as stone quarrying, crusher operations and sand mining. Development works including road construction, school improvements and anganwadi buildings can be taken up in affected areas through the fund.

According to the minister, a total of Rs 47.62 crore has been collected under the District Mineral Foundation since 2015. Around 10 percent of the royalty collected from mining operations is being allocated to the fund. He said discussions with MLAs would focus on identifying priority areas and ensuring the funds are used effectively for public benefit.

Deputy commissioner Darshan H V informed the meeting that the fund can be utilised for development works within a five-kilometre radius of mining zones where environmental or infrastructural damage has occurred. He noted that 57 projects worth Rs 3.42 crore have already been completed under the scheme.

He also pointed out that during the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly Rs 1.59 crore from the DMF fund had been spent to strengthen healthcare facilities in the district.

Police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Zilla Panchayat CEO Narwade Nayak Karbari, superintendent of police Dr Arun K, deputy director of Mines Sandeep, Mangaluru sub-divisional officer Meenakshi Arya and other officials were present at the meeting.