Mangaluru: 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.
The minister made the announcement while chairing a review meeting on the utilisation of the DMF fund held at the deputy commissioner’s office in Mangaluru on Friday.
Focus on development of mining-affected areas
Addressing officials during the meeting, Dinesh Gundu Rao said the DMF fund could play a major role in improving infrastructure and providing essential facilities in regions affected by mining-related activities such as stone quarrying, crusher operations and sand mining.
He stated that several public welfare and infrastructure projects could be undertaken through the fund in affected localities. These include road development works, school infrastructure improvements, construction of anganwadi buildings and other civic amenities required by local residents.
The minister emphasised that proper planning and coordination among elected representatives and officials were necessary to ensure that the funds are utilised efficiently and transparently for the benefit of communities living in mining-affected zones.
Rs 47.62 crore collected under DMF since 2015
Providing details about the fund, the minister said a total of Rs 47.62 crore has been collected under the District Mineral Foundation in Dakshina Kannada district since 2015.
He explained that nearly 10 per cent of the royalty collected from mining activities is being allocated to the DMF fund as per regulations. The amount is intended to support developmental initiatives in areas affected by extraction and mining operations.
According to the minister, the proposed meeting with MLAs from the district would focus on identifying priority sectors and regions where the funds can be utilised effectively. Discussions are also expected to cover long-term planning for infrastructure development and measures to improve the quality of life of residents in impacted villages.
Officials at the meeting noted that the proper utilisation of the fund could help address environmental and infrastructural challenges caused by quarrying and mining activities across the district.
Development works within mining impact zones
Deputy commissioner Darshan H V informed the meeting that the DMF fund can be utilised for development works within a five-kilometre radius of mining zones where environmental degradation or infrastructural damage has occurred due to mining activities.
He stated that several projects had already been implemented successfully under the scheme. According to official records, 57 development projects worth Rs 3.42 crore have been completed so far using DMF funds in the district.
The deputy commissioner also highlighted the role played by the fund during the COVID-19 pandemic. He said nearly Rs 1.59 crore from the DMF fund had been utilised to strengthen healthcare facilities in Dakshina Kannada during the public health crisis.
Officials said the fund had helped improve medical infrastructure and emergency response measures during the pandemic period.
Senior officials attend review meeting
The review meeting was attended by several senior district officials, including police commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer Narwade Nayak Karbari, superintendent of police Dr Arun K, deputy director of Mines Sandeep and Mangaluru sub-divisional officer Meenakshi Arya.
Officials discussed the present status of projects funded under the District Mineral Foundation and reviewed future proposals aimed at improving public infrastructure in mining-affected regions.
The district administration is expected to finalise additional development plans after consultations with legislators and concerned departments in the coming weeks.