Here's why using #DistrictMineralFoundation funds for an air-strip constitutes misuse. Firstly, DMF is a targeted fund for mining-affected communities. It is as mandated under the MMDR Amendment Act, 2015.

Singrauli, generating 10% of India's coal based power, is one of the critically polluted belts,with high levels of air, water and soil pollution. @KaurRuhani documents ppl living in the shadows of coal power, with damning health consequences. https://m.hindustantimes.com/photos/india-news/photos-in-diptychs-the-journey-of-coal-from-the-power-plant-to-the-body/photo-wWqsOxSGiYKmB83CXvzGQK_photo.html?__twitter_impression=true

Water contamination with heavy metals, particularly mercury pollution is a huge concern. Despite and NGT order, clear drinking water is still a pipe dream.

While #NFHS5 data on districts is yet to come, NFHS4 shows high levels of malnutrition among children in the district: 34 % children are stunted & wasted; 53 per cent rural women anaemic; 13 per cent of villages have access to primary health centres within a 5 kms, radius.

Approx. 50% of Singrauli’s populn. lives below poverty line; In 86 per cent rural households highest earning member earns a meagre Rs 5,000 per month.

To begin with,Singrauli owes its people reparations for yrs of callous abuse of resources.Funds like DMF are means to improve livelihood,economic & health resilience for affected communities. To use, even a fraction for air-strip is brazenly unlawful,let alone misplaced.

@ChouhanShivraj @CollectorSGL @JoshiPralhad @MinesMinIndia @NITIAayog @amitabhk87 @RajivKumar1 @DMFwatch @sresthab @Bh_Chandra @rights_mineral @journomayank @kundanpandey158 @JamwalNidhi @AratiKumarRao @meeramohanty @rahulbasu @lifeindia2016 @vikassamvad @dmfsingrauli