BJP leader Babulal Marandi demands impartial inquiry into DMFT expenditure in Jharkhand

Chaibasa (Jharkhand), Jul 14 (PTI) Senior BJP leader Babulal Marandi on Tuesday alleged that the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) fund in Jharkhand was not being utilised properly, and demanded an impartial inquiry into it. The DMFT is a non-profit statutory body established by state governments under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act. It funds local welfare projects in areas affected by mining. It is financed by contributions from mining leaseholders. Marandi, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the DMFT fund to mitigate the problems faced by people in mining-affected areas. The JMM-led Jharkhand government, however, has miserably failed to implement it properly, the first chief minister of the state alleged while addressing a public meeting in Chibasa. Iron ore and other minerals being mined in West Singhbhum district have been boosting industrial development of the country, he said. "The DMFT fund was meant for overall development including education, healthcare, roads, drinking water and other basic amenities in mining-affected areas. But the situation has not changed over the past two and a half decades," said Marandi who was the CM from 2000 to 2003. He stated that during the last 10 years, West Singhbhum district received Rs 3,700 crore under the DMFT fund, meaning over Rs 300 crore annually. "Considering the volume of amount, I thought that the problems of the people living in the radius of 5-7 kms of mining areas would have been solved to a great extent. But I did not find any change in the condition during my ongoing tour of the West Singhbhum district," the BJP leader claimed. The situation would have been different today, had the fund been utilised properly, he said. The district lacks development as expected due to prevailing corruption and mismanagement, Maradi alleged. The opposition leader assured the villagers that he would take up the issue with the district administration and in the state assembly. "When I had visited the mining areas of the district 25 years ago, I found, among other problems, that people were forced to drink impure red coloured water because of the presence of iron ore. A similar situation continues to persist even today," Marandi said. In view of the frequent complaints by the JMM-led government about lack of funds to carry out development in these areas, Marandi said the DMFT fund was created to address it. Marandi emphasised that the DMFT fund should be solely utilised in the interest of those affected by mining and for the development of mining areas. BJP leader also interacted with villagers to understand the problems being faced by them. Marandi was accompanied by another former chief minister Madhu Koda and state BJP vice-president Geeta Koda. PTI BS NN