PANAJI
The North Goa District Mineral Foundation (North-DMFT) has spent less than 50 per cent of its district mineral fund allocation since its formation in 2016. Of the total over Rs 103 crore available funds, the committee has managed to utilize only Rs 48.57 crore towards various developmental and other welfare related activities in the mining areas of North Goa.
Under DMFT (North), there are 41 sanctioned projects, of which 21 have been completed and 20 are ongoing. As against fund sanction of over Rs 48.57 crore, an amount of around Rs 32 crore is disbursed so far.
During its recent meeting held earlier this month under the chairmanship of North Collector Mamu Hage, a detailed expenditure chart was released. The Committee has over 86.07 crore funds available for spending.
The data shows that the committee has laid major focus on supply of potable drinking water in the mining affected areas by sanctioning over Rs 17 crore. Similarly, over Rs 14 crore worth health care infrastructure has been put in place so far.
Skill development and women welfare is yet another sector where the committee has spent nearly Rs 5 crore.
In June, the State government unlocked 100 per cent of the funds of Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (GDMFT), amounting to over Rs 240 crore for undertaking developmental works in the mining areas.
As per the latest amendment undertaken by Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG), it allows the entire amount including the interest generated thereon, for utilising exclusively for carrying out activities in accordance with the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY). It has said that an amount not exceeding 5 per cent should be utilized for administrative purposes.
Earlier, as per DMF rules, 50 per cent of the funds are kept in fixed deposits (FDs), while the balance 50 per cent is available for spending for high priority projects such as drinking water supply, environmental preservation and pollution control measures, etc.
healthcare, education, welfare of women and children, welfare of aged and disabled people, skill development and sanitation, and other priority areas like physical infrastructure, irrigation, energy and watershed development.
