COURT OBSERVATIONS
* We urge them (DMF members) to undertake field visits to the mining-affected areas
* This will enable them to understand the situation and perform its functions better
------------------------------
STATE RESPONSE
* The members, if not all at one time, will visit the mining-affected areas
* More particularly, Sonshi and Pissurlem village, within a week from today
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday directed the members of the two district mineral foundations to pay a visit to the mining-affected villages “to apprise themselves as to where the assistance and intervention of the Foundations is required.”
The High Court which is hearing the petition on the utilization of District Mineral Foundation funds, had last week expressed its shock at the fact that the mineral foundation despite having a combined Rs 180 crore in funds was not operational and noted that many mining affected villages and people are not aware that there are substantial funds earmarked for their benefit.
“We are of the opinion that the members of the District Mineral Foundations should also visit the mining-affected areas and apprise themselves as to where the assistance and intervention of the Foundations is required,” the court said.
At this, the Advocate General, on instructions of the Director of Mines and Geology stated that the members, if not all at one time, on behalf of the Foundations will visit the mining-affected areas more particularly, Sonshi and Pissurlem village, within a period of one week from today.
“We urge them to undertake field visits to the mining-affected areas and also have periodical interactions with the mining-affected. This will enable the Foundations to understand the situation in loco and perform its functions better,” the court noted.
The High Court had last week asked the Goa government to file an affidavit giving details of all the monies spent from the Mineral Foundation funds, which the Advocate General did.
Earlier the High Court was of the opinion that the government’s apathy towards the operationalizing of the fund was shocking.
“This state of affairs is shocking, to say the least. In spite of collecting amounts of ₹180 crores, for last two and half years, the State did not make the Foundations operational,” the court said.
“Village after village affected by mining is approaching us for something as basic as drinking water. The mining affected cannot be made to toil for the benefits which are rightfully theirs and in whose name hundreds of crores of rupees are collected by the Foundations,” the High Court said in a order passed on March 28 while asking the government to adequately advertise the availability of funds and asked the people to avail of them.
On Thursday, the High Court issued further directions to the District Mineral Foundation members.
