PANAJI
In a push to expand rooftop solar adoption among households in mining-affected areas of North Goa, the North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT) has approved Rs 1.50 cr for a convergence scheme with the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, offering supplementary financial assistance to eligible households to install rooftop solar systems.
The scheme is expected to benefit approximately 500 households in mining-affected areas, with the NGDMFT proposing assistance of Rs 10,000 per kilowatt (kW), subject to a maximum of Rs 30,000 per household. The assistance will be extended in accordance with the prescribed eligibility criteria and implementation guidelines.
The decision was taken at the 17th meeting of the NGDMFT Governing Council held on September 29. The trust has stated that the scheme will be notified shortly in consultation with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA), which will be involved in its implementation.
The PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana is the Centre’s flagship residential rooftop solar initiative aimed at encouraging households to generate electricity through solar installations. Under the scheme, benefit extends from Rs 30,000 to Rs 75,000 and upto 300 units of free power per month.
Among the other approvals, the council sanctioned Rs 1 crore for an additional subsidy scheme for eligible Krishi Card holders in mining-affected areas, with assistance capped at Rs 20,000 per farmer. The assistance will be disbursed through DBT on first-come-first-served basis upto March 2027 or until the sanctioned amount is exhausted.
It also approved Rs 2.03 cr for a 750-square-metre dry waste management shed and Rs 19 lakh for a rapid composter for Sanquelim Municipal Council.
NGDMFT has approved Rs 10 lakh annually to support engineering students from mining-affected areas of North pursuing studies at Goa College of Engineering. The assistance will cover up to 10 students.
The council further approved Rs 35.10 lakh for the renovation of the drawing hall at Government Polytechnic, Bicholim, into an ICT-enabled Smart Classroom and Digital Learning Centre, besides allocations for transport, healthcare and assistive therapy equipment.
Under welfare initiatives, Rs 40 lakh has been approved for Keyeshav Seva Sanstha, Narve, to procure a 13-seater vehicle and upgrade its library. Another Rs 1.35 lakh has been sanctioned for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy equipment for Lokvishwas Pratishthan’s Special School at Honda.
The healthcare allocation includes Rs 29.11 lakh to strengthen the Operation Theatre and diagnostic facilities at the Community Health Centre, Cacora, Bicholim and Rs 20.62 lakh for essential diagnostic, treatment, surgical and clinical equipment at the Veterinary Hospital in Mapusa.
