State governments have spent a complete of Rs 1,459.93 crore from District Mineral Foundation funds on numerous actions to curb COVID-19 throughout the previous greater than two years, in response to the ministry of mines.
The ministry additionally stated that a number of states, together with Odisha, Telangana and Karnataka, are nonetheless utilizing District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds to battle coronavirus.
District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is a non-profit statutory belief, which has been arrange for the welfare of the districts affected by mining-related actions. It is an initiative of the federal government to make sure that funds collected underneath DMF are utilised for the welfare of these affected by mining-related operations.
The complete funds obtainable underneath DMF as on March 28, 2020 was to the tune of Rs 14,694.47 crore, the ministry stated.
“State governments are continuing to use District Mineral Foundation funds to combat COVID-19, wherein Rs 1,459.93 crore has been spent till April 28, 2022,” the ministry stated, including that the quantity was spent between March 28, 2020 and April 28, 2022.
Of the whole quantity utilised throughout the pandemic, Odisha spent the utmost Rs 445.54 crore, adopted by Telangana at Rs 334.08 crore. Karnataka spent Rs 199.58 crore, whereas Rs 139.79 crore has been utilised by Andhra Pradesh and Rs 91 crore by Chhattisgarh.
Other states which spent DMF funds to fight COVID-19 are Assam, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand and West Bengal.
However, Bihar, Harayana and Kerala didn’t spend funds for actions associated to COVID-19 since March 28, 2020 until final month.
As on March 28, 2020, Bihar had DMF fund of Rs 84.50 crore, adopted by Haryana Rs 20.24 crore and Kerala Rs 2 crore.
DMF has been created in every district underneath the provisions of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015.
Source: www.financialexpress.com”