New action plan to be prepared for R&R in mining areas: DC

The district administration is preparing the action plan for the rehabilitation and restoration of areas ravaged by mining in the taluks of Ballari, Sandur and Hosapete in the district.

The Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) had, in November 2014, sought a revised proposal after a three-year plan costing an estimated Rs 1,500 crore was submitted.

Thus, the five-year action plan worth Rs 3,700 crore is being prepared for submission to the KMERC, Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla told reporters on Saturday.

The action plan is based on a few guidelines given by the KMERC. The guidelines pertain to the departments of environment, skill development, checkposts, infrastructure, agriculture, sanitation, transport and communication, social and economic development, drinking water, forestation, animal rearing, women and child health, education and health.

Primary health centres will be strengthened in these three taluks. As many as 26 new health centres, four new ambulances and a new mobile hospital are part of the plan. Drip irrigation will be implemented so that water is utilised judiciously. The medical staff for these health centres, including psychologists, will be recruited through the outsourcing mode.

The deputy commissioner did not say whether the earlier plan had lapsed, but said that they were only following a direction for a revised plan.