PANAJI
The South Goa District Mineral Foundation (South-DMF) has completely ignored the “high priority areas” like environmental preservation and implementation of pollution measures and development of physical infrastructure in the mining areas of South, despite a whopping 26 per cent of the total Rs 118 crore funds earmarked for implementing these measures.
It is shocking to note that not a single proposal in the areas of environmental preservation and pollution control, physical infrastructure, irrigation, Energy and Watershed development has been drafted or got sanctioned ever since the DMF South was constituted in 2016. Over Rs 31.17 crore funds are earmarked for taking up projects under these sectors.
During the recently held meeting, South-DMF chairperson, the District Collector, instructed the members to mobilise the proposals in the unrepresented sectors such as environmental preservation and pollution control, physical infrastructure, irrigation, Energy and Watershed development in a time bound manner.
Sources informed that the chairperson noted that despite environmental preservation and pollution control being one of the high priority areas as per rule, not single money is spent towards this sector. “Almost Rs 5 crore funds are earmarked for this sector,” sources said.
There is another Rs 10 crore made available for projects related to energy and watershed development and further over Rs 8 crore for irrigation.
As per South-DMF data, over Rs 91.07 crore funds, of the total Rs 118 crore, are currently available for utilisation in various sectors under the scheme. The data shows that major focus is laid on education, skill development, health and sanitation and supply of potable water.
The Goa government, in June, last year, had unlocked 100 per cent of the funds of DMF for undertaking developmental works in the mining areas.
According to the amended rules, no less than 60 per cent of DMF funds should be spent on “high priority areas” in lines with PMKKKY “ Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojna.
