Ranchi, April 24: Chief Minister Raghubar Das today approved forming the Jharkhand State Corporate Social Responsibility Council, an outfit with state and industry representatives to monitor CSR schemes aligned with the state government's vision.

The council, which will hold its first meeting on May 8, will have representatives from leading corporate houses operating in the state from both public and private sectors.

Central Coalfields Limited, Bharat Coking Coal Limited, National Thermal Power Corporation Limited, Damodar Valley Corporation and Steel Authority of India Limited will represent PSUs.

Tata Steel, Jindal Steel and Power Limited, Usha Martin Limited, Hindalco Industries Limited and Rungta Mines Limited will comprise corporate representation from the private sector.

Uranium Corporation of India Limited and Electrosteel will be special invitees at the meetings of the CSR council.

A communiqué from the chief minister's secretariat said the CSR council's main aim would to ensure maximum benefits for the masses and synchronise welfare projects of industrial houses in tune with state priorities.

"The chief minister will chair the council. It will have secretaries of key departments such as industry, health, social welfare and representatives of corporate entities," industry secretary Himani Pande told The Telegraph. "The number of members may be flexible, depending on needs and exigencies."

Pande has been asked to collate details of existing CSR work done by industrial houses before the first meeting.

Chief of communications of Electrosteel Steels Limited, sister company of Electrosteel Castings Limited, which has a significant stake in Bokaro, Rohit Singh welcomed the move.

"We are with the chief minister on all public welfare initiatives," he said.

In another development, Das ordered vigilance probe into reported irregularities at state level environment impact assessment and expert appraisal committees while granting environment clearance certificates and approving mining plan for minor minerals. "The chief minister is concerned that on one hand he was inviting new investors to the state and on the other hand there were reports of corruption in statutory bodies that hurt the state's image, the communiqué read.<>To bring about more transparency, IT department will develop a new software to upload the latest status of all work done by these twin bodies on public domain.