By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 19: UDP MLA from Shella Balajied Synrem on Tuesday sought clarity on the focus of allocation of funds under District Mineral Foundation (DMF), asking if the mining affected areas are the primary concern or the district as whole.
Raising this issue during the Question Hour of the Assembly, Synrem also lamented the non-inclusion of MLAs as members of the DMF despite of being more aware of the schemes that are required to be implemented in the district.
“From my understanding, the DMF is collected from all the areas in East Khasi Hills. The fund has been utilised throughout the district. What I am emphasising is that the concerned activities in utilising the funds should be more focus towards the mining areas,” the Shella MLA said.
Taking part in the discussion, TMC leader and former Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma pointed out quite a number of instances wherein programmes that were not as per the guidelines were taken up.
“There is a need to have an annual report on the implementation of this fund, which should be made available, also on the website,” he said.
In his reply, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said that under the scheme, 60 per cent of the funds must be utilised in providing drinking water, healthcare and education in the high priority areas.
The DMF, Conrad said, is basically a trust at the level of the district, with the Deputy Commissioner being its chairman.
He added that the identification, screening, sanction and the entire implementation is being done at the district level. “We are not in any way trying to intervene or interfere in the selection of the project or in sanctioning of the funds,” the CM, who holds the Finance portfolio, said.
Synrem, however, reiterated that the MLAs were not included as members of the DMF, even as he suggested that they should be consulted before the district administration takes any decision on implementing projects.
The CM said that a new government notification was issued on August 22, 2022, which says MPs and MLAs of the district have also been made members of the DMF.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had told the House that an amount of Rs 135.08 crore was received by the state government under the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) till date.