Team Goemkarponn
Panaji: Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant assured the House on Tuesday that the issue of an unused school bus sanctioned under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) will be resolved soon. Responding to concerns raised by MLA Nilesh Cabral, Sawant said he would personally look into the matter and ensure the idle vehicle is allocated to a school in need.
The DMF had sanctioned five buses for use in schools located in mining-affected areas. However, one of the buses remains unused, prompting Cabral to call for its immediate reallocation.
Sawant reiterated that DMF funds are strictly used for projects in mining-affected areas and acknowledged delays in holding DMF meetings. He noted that while the Foundation is expected to meet every two months, such meetings are often delayed due to the busy schedule of the Collector, who chairs the DMF.
He also revealed that an additional ₹500 crore under the Permanent Mineral Fund is currently with the Supreme Court, and efforts are ongoing to secure the release of these funds for Goa.
In a related response to a Starred LAQ (002C), the Chief Minister provided constituency-wise details of DMF projects, pending works, and project approval criteria, governed by the Goa DMF Trust Rules, 2018, and PMKKKY Guidelines, 2024. However, the government admitted that no data is available regarding mining-related employment generated in the last two years.
The issue has once again highlighted the need for more efficient and transparent utilisation of DMF funds, especially in the crucial sectors of health, education, and infrastructure in mining-affected regions.
