MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday clarified in the Goa Legislative Assembly that funds from the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) are exclusively used in constituencies and areas directly affected by mining activities.
The clarification came amid concerns and questions raised by Opposition MLAs over the reported use of DMF funds across all constituencies, contrary to the government’s stated policy.
Responding to a debate in the House, Sawant emphasised that the DMF is a dedicated fund meant solely for the welfare and development of mining-affected areas.
“The District Mineral Foundation fund is used only in constituencies where mining takes place and in mining areas. It’s not used in other constituencies,” Sawant said.
He further informed the House that the government plans to procure new school buses using DMF funds, which will be supplied to schools in the mining belt based on need.
“We will find a way of buying new buses and supply them to required schools in the mining belt,” Sawant assured, responding to repeated appeals from MLAs representing mining-hit regions.
The Chief Minister also revealed that two school buses had already been purchased earlier through the DMF “ one each for North Goa and South Goa “ and handed over to local schools.
However, the issue took a contentious turn when Opposition MLAs pointed to a written reply provided by the government to a starred question raised by BJP MLA Premendra Shet.
In that response, it was reportedly stated that DMF funds are being used in all constituencies, not just mining-affected ones.
This apparent contradiction triggered sharp criticism from the Opposition benches, who accused the government of misusing a fund intended for a specific purpose.
BJP’s own MLA from Mayem, Premendra Shet, strongly advocated for the prioritised use of DMF funds in mining areas.
“The District Mineral Foundation fund is very crucial for mining areas and should be used to develop the mining areas. The CM should direct the officials to use the fund and take up work on priority in mining-affected areas,” Shet urged.
Sanvordem MLA and BJP legislator Ganesh Gaonkar echoed similar sentiments, stating that schoolchildren from mining areas should be the primary beneficiaries of any transport support provided under the fund.
Defending the process, CM Sawant explained that all project proposals under the DMF are evaluated according to the Goa DMF (Trust) Rules, 2018 and the updated Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) Guidelines, 2024. “The project proposals received are scrutinised as per the Rules and Guidelines and are then placed before the Managing Committee and the Governing Council of the District Mineral Foundation Fund for decision/approval,” he said.
