Indirectly mining affected people in Odisha get substantial DMF fund, CAG unearths

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has unearthed major irregularities in the utilisation of District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, meant to benefit people and areas affected by mining operations, with funds being spent without adherence to rules and to accommodate ineligible utilisation.

According to the CAG report on the performance audit of ‘Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) including functioning of District Mineral Foundations in Odisha for the year ended March 2024' tabled in the Odisha Legislative Assembly on Monday, the identification of directly and indirectly affected people was delayed in mineral-bearing districts.

As per Rule 10(D) of the Odisha DMF Rules, 2015, not more than 40% of the funds may be utilised for taking up activities in the indirectly affected areas.