the goan I network
PANAJI
The Bombay High Court at Goa has come down heavily on the government of Goa for its “apathy” in failing to pay any attention to or spend money from the District Mineral Foundation funds, which are specifically meant to alleviate the sufferings of the mining affected people.
After receiving affidavits from the state government which have informed that around Rs 180-crore was available in the District Mineral Funds of both districts the High Court sent out a slew of directions to ensure that the government and the two foundations begin to function like they should and as their mandate is.
“This state of affairs is shocking, to say the least. In spite of collecting Rs 180 crore, for last two and half years, the State did not make the Foundations operational. We are told that the amounts are invested, but we have not been informed where they are invested. 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 an order passed on March 28, which was made available only now has revealed.
The Director of Mines and Geology had submitted an affidavit before the Court which showed that an amount of Rs 180 crore is available in the District Mineral Foundation Fund in the State of Goa, but according to the court, “hardly anything is stated to be spent from the Mineral Funds towards welfare of the Mining affected villages and the people.”
“We repeatedly asked the learned Additional Government Advocate for an explanation for such colossal neglect, but none is forthcoming. We are at loss for words to describe the apathy,” the court noted.
Section 9(B) of the Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 mandates the establishment of District Mineral Foundations. The object of the Foundation is to carry out work for the interest and benefit of the persons and the areas affected by mining operations. This provision is made to alleviate the difficulties faced by the mining-affected areas and people.
The Court then directed the Chief Secretary to file an affidavit to know how exactly the Rs 180 crore is being spent, an until then, has put a ceiling on spending any amounts from that fund in excess of Rs 2 lakh without informing the Chief Secretary in writing.
The High Court also questioned the composition of the District Mineral Foundations and wondered why there were very few government officials in ‘ex-officio’ capacity as is often the case.
“The qualifications do not even mandate expertise. Almost all vocations or careers are covered. Likewise, any private person can claim knowledge in these general fields, giving large discretion to the Government to entrust the public funds meant for benefit of mining-affected persons… to anyone the Government chooses,” the Court observed while stressing that the “temporary safeguards do not mean that we have cast aspersions on the members of the Foundations as on today.”
Earlier on instructions of the court the, state government began supplying water to the villagers of the Sonshi mining cluster with money from the North Goa District Mineral Fund. It was only after a group of villagers approached the court, things began to move on the district mineral fund usage.
The court also noted that many mining affected villages and people are not aware that there are substantial funds earmarked for their benefit.
