PANAJI: Abiding by the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, director of mines and geology Prasanna Acharya has announced that the District Mineral Foundation fund would be dedicated to the mining-affected areas in Goa, for the interest and benefit of persons residing in these areas.
The court, in response to a petition filed by an NGO, had recently directed the government to furnish details of the accounts in which this fund has been invested.
The directorate of mines and geology has asked all the village panchayats located in the mining areas to submit their proposals for developmental projects in their respective areas.
An amount of Rs 180.338 crore has been collected through the District Mineral Foundation fund. In North Goa, this fund amounts to Rs 93.848 crore, while in South Goa it is Rs 86.490 crore.
This amount can be spent for purposes specified in Goa District Mineral Foundation Rules 2016.
The directorate has also asked these village panchayats to give wide publicity to District Mineral Foundation fund, in their villages and to discuss developmental projects at gram sabhas.
The government, under this fund can take up projects to protect environment and ecology and to meet demands like clean drinking water in mining affected areas.
The government has been further directed that till further orders, not to disburse any amount above Rs 2 lakh from this fund, without informing the Chief Secretary in writing.