Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Governing Council of the North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT), chaired by the North Goa Collector, has approved a series of development initiatives aimed at improving infrastructure, education, healthcare, sanitation, agriculture, renewable energy and livelihood opportunities in mining-affected areas of North Goa.
Among the major approvals are financial assistance for rooftop solar installations, additional agricultural subsidies, waste management infrastructure, educational facilities, healthcare upgrades and support for special schools.
The Council approved ₹1.50 crore for supplementary assistance under a convergence scheme with the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana. The initiative is expected to benefit around 500 households in mining-affected areas, offering assistance of ₹10,000 per kW, subject to a maximum of ₹30,000 per household and applicable eligibility conditions. The scheme will be notified in consultation with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA).
An additional ₹1 crore was sanctioned for eligible Krishi Card holders in mining-affected areas. Farmers will receive supplementary assistance of up to ₹20,000 each over and above existing subsidies. Payments will be made through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on a first-come, first-served basis until March 31, 2027, or until the allocated funds are exhausted, whichever occurs earlier.
To strengthen waste processing facilities, the Council sanctioned ₹2.03 crore for a 750-square-metre dry waste management shed and ₹19 lakh for a one-tonne-per-day Nisargruna Rapid Composter for Sanquelim Municipal Council. The facility is also expected to accommodate dry waste generated by adjoining mining-affected village panchayats.
Several initiatives were approved to improve educational infrastructure and support students from mining-affected areas. The Council sanctioned ₹40 lakh to assist eligible mining engineering students from North Goa pursuing studies at Goa College of Engineering, with an allocation of ₹10 lakh annually and support covering up to 10 students.
Government College, Sanquelim, will receive ₹27 lakh for a bus equipped with GPS tracking and prescribed emergency response features.
A further ₹35.10 lakh was approved to renovate the existing drawing hall at Government Polytechnic, Bicholim, into an information and communication technology-enabled smart classroom and digital learning centre. The facility will support seminars, workshops, placement activities, expert lectures and other academic programmes.
The Council also approved ₹40 lakh for Keshav Seva Sadhana’s Narayan Zantye School for Special Children to procure a 13-seater vehicle and upgrade its library. An additional ₹1.35 lakh was sanctioned for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy equipment at Lokvishwas Pratishthan’s Special School in Honda.
The Council approved ₹29.11 lakh to strengthen the operation theatre and diagnostic facilities at Community Health Centre (CHC), Bicholim. Another ₹6.21 lakh was sanctioned for a prefabricated room to house the TrueNat machine used for tuberculosis testing, providing a dedicated space for diagnosis.
The continuation or modification of the Nikshay Mitra food basket assistance programme for tuberculosis patients was also approved, as proposed by the Directorate of Health Services.
For veterinary healthcare, the Council enhanced the allocation for the improvement and upgradation of the Veterinary Hospital at Honda, Sattari, to ₹20.62 lakh. The funds will facilitate the procurement of essential diagnostic, treatment, surgical and clinical equipment.
The Governing Council approved a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for NGDMFT to streamline procurement and the implementation of sanctioned projects. Under the revised procedure, departments and agencies proposing projects will certify compliance with applicable procurement rules and codal procedures. The change is intended to reduce duplication of scrutiny and speed up the processing of expenditure sanctions.
The Council also approved the preparation of a Five-Year Perspective Plan and an Annual Action Plan for NGDMFT through consultations with government departments, panchayats and other stakeholders.
The plans will identify priority sectors, funding requirements and interventions for mining-affected areas, with the aim of promoting needs-based development, equitable utilisation of District Mineral Foundation resources and continuity in public works.
