Development Stalled in Joda Region

Joda: The prolonged delay in the Joda-Bamebari road project has significantly hindered progress in the mineral-rich area of Keonjhar district.

For nearly eight years, the expansion and construction of the Joda-Bamebari segment of State Highway 2 have yet to commence. The deteriorating state of this vital route has left over 50,000 residents in Joda and Jhumpura blocks grappling with daily challenges.

Local residents attribute the stagnation to a lack of administrative urgency and political commitment. Despite numerous appeals, there has been no progress, leading to growing frustration among those living in this mining region.

The Joda-Bamebari and Bamebari-Palaspanaga routes link two significant national highways and are crucial for the daily transit of more than 30,000 trucks carrying minerals. Years of heavy traffic have rendered the road and several bridges perilously unsafe. Traffic congestion, frequent accidents, and fatalities have become commonplace due to potholes and poor road conditions. In 2018, approximately Rs50 crore was allocated from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund for the construction and expansion of a 15-km stretch of the Joda-Bamebari road. However, inefficiencies and a lack of responsiveness from the Works and Revenue departments have left the project unfinished. The road remains narrow at the Banshpani overbridge and is reportedly in a dangerous state at Jurudi Square, Hatapada Chhak, and Antaramantara bridge.

While some patch repairs were made four years after the funds were allocated, the substandard quality of these repairs has left the road in a state of disrepair. Additionally, necessary land acquisition processes are stalled due to shortcomings from the Works and Revenue departments.

As conditions deteriorated, the Joda Truck Owners’ Association took the initiative to repair sections near the Banshpani overbridge using murram and soil on June 22.

Senior Executive Engineer Sambit Mohanty confirmed that road repairs have recently started. He mentioned that the state government has earmarked Rs 1,400 crore to widen the entire 45-km Joda-Palasapanga stretch into a six-lane road. The tender process is complete, and work will commence following land acquisition.

In light of illegal mining and unchecked mineral transport activities uncovered in 2009, the Justice MB Shah Commission was established to investigate the situation. The commission highlighted the severe lack of basic infrastructure in mining areas, pointing out inadequate road connectivity, insufficient education and healthcare services, and limited access to drinking water.

Following the commission's recommendations, the state government established the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) in 2015 to foster development in mining-affected regions. Since then, Keonjhar district has reportedly amassed around Rs11,000 crore in mining revenues, according to sources from the state’s Mines department.

To enhance fund utilization, the state government has introduced new guidelines that prioritize spending within a 5-km radius of mining zones. These directly impacted areas will now receive the majority of DMF funds, while regions within a 10-km radius will receive comparatively less.

The revised guidelines reflect the new government's commitment to reforming DMF governance. However, the practical effectiveness of this policy remains uncertain, especially in Joda, which is one of the most affected areas by mining activities. Despite being situated in the heart of the mineral belt, Joda still lacks essential infrastructure.

A striking example of this is the poor state of roads in the area. Although substantial funds have been allocated from the DMF for development projects, it remains unclear how much has actually been spent on road construction. Currently, there is no transparent public record detailing the expenditure and implementation status of these initiatives.