Jaipur, June 21 -- To ensure effective utilisation of funds for development, the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) funds will now be used only in a 25 km radius of the mining affected area, an official said on Friday. "The government on June 18 notified new rules for spending of DMFT funds with the provision that funds of a particular district will be used in that district only. Earlier, the funds from one district would sometimes be spent in another district," said T Ravikant, principal secretary, mines department. "Under the new rules, the DMFT funds are to be used for welfare and development works within a 25 km radius of the area affected by mining activity," he said. He further said that the new rules also stipulate that 70% of DMFT funds will be used for development works in priority sectors and 30% will be used for infrastructure development. Earlier the ratio was 60:40. DMFT funds are collected from mining lease holders in that respective district and are used for the benefit of people and areas affected by mining operations. Ravikant said that the funds will be specifically used for works such as water purification, water distribution, setting up water treatment plants, implementing water related schemes, environment protection and measures to tackle air, and water pollution. At the state level, he said, a monitoring committee has been formed that will be headed by the chief secretary while the principal secretary of the mines department will be the vice chairperson. The committee will also include officials from related departments such as PWD, finance , environment, PHED, social justice and empowerment, technical education, mining and planning. "It will also have a representative from the local area and a representative from a non government organisation. For the first time, a representative from the mines department of the central government too has been included in the committee" Ravikant said. "The committee will ensure proper utilisation of funds. It will meet twice a year to examine how the funds are spent and works undertaken," he said....