Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT) is moving towards a more structured system for spending mineral funds, with its Managing Committee approving the preparation of a five-year Perspective Plan for mining-affected areas.
The exercise will begin with an assessment of the requirements of affected communities. Government departments, panchayats and other local bodies, along with residents of mining-affected areas, are expected to be consulted. The Trust also plans to use field surveys and existing information to identify areas requiring priority intervention.
Once the assessment is completed, the Perspective Plan will spell out the sectors that require funding, the broad share of funds for each sector and the types of projects that can be taken up during the five-year period. The plan will then be placed before the Governing Council for consideration.
The Trust will follow this with yearly action plans. At the beginning of each financial year, departments will have to submit proposals based on the priorities already identified. The Managing Committee will examine these proposals and decide on eligible projects before they are sanctioned.
The proposed approach comes amid concerns over the pace at which District Mineral Foundation resources are being utilised in Goa. The North Goa and Kushavati DMFs have a combined Rs 244.71 crore available, but expenditure so far stands at only Rs 60.53 crore.
District Mineral Foundations were created under the MMDR Act in 2015 to ensure that mining-affected communities benefit from funds generated through mining activities.
The Trust is also seeking to prevent mineral funds from being used for projects that fall outside this purpose. DMF guidelines do not permit funding for several government and administrative facilities, including panchayat buildings, government offices, officers’ residences, statues and memorials, helipads and recreational facilities for officials.
Expenses such as foreign travel, overseas education scholarships and the purchase of vehicles or mobile phones for officials or DMF offices are also excluded.
The restrictions extend to commercial developments such as shopping malls, multiplexes, entertainment parks, private industrial parks and SEZs.
Sources said proposals involving activities outside the DMF mandate continue to come before the Trust. The new planning mechanism is expected to provide clearer parameters for evaluating such proposals and ensure that available funds are directed towards projects with a direct connection to the needs of mining-affected communities.
