PANAJI: Under fire from greens and also the Bombay High Court for not doing enough through the statutory district mineral foundations to alleviate problems faced by residents in regions affected by mining, the State government has tweaked the rules governing their composition and functioning.
The two district mineral foundations will now be registered trusts headed by the respective District Magistrates (Collectors) and run by 'managing committees' under the supervision of 'Governing Councils' comprising mostly of official members drawn from various related government departments.
A notification issued by the Mining Department last week said, the foundations will comprise the Collectors as chairpersons and have as trustees up to three representatives of MLAs from the district, preferably from the affected areas and recommended by the Mines Minister.A Deputy Director of Mines will be the Member Secretary/Trustee and officials drawn from the PWD, Health, Education, Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Agriculture, Water Resources, Electricity, Finance, Panchayats will all be ex-officio Members/Trustees.
The government will also nominate up to two trustees from representatives of the Mineral Foundation of Goa or any other Non“Government Organizations/Civil Society members who worked at ground level in mines affected areas to provide relief or undertake activities under Corporate Social Responsibility.
The notification also mandates that the two district mineral foundations focus on a priority basis on drinking water supply, including centralized purification systems, water treatment plants, permanent/temporary water distribution network including standalone facilities for drinking water and laying of piped water supply system.
Another two members/trustees will be nominated by the Mines Minister or the State government from among the mining lease-holders or industry representatives, the notification states.
Another priority area identified is environment preservation and pollution control measures, including effluent treatment plants, prevention of pollution of streams, lakes, ponds, ground water, other water sources in the region, measures for controlling air and dust pollution caused by mining operations and dumps, mine drainage system, mine pollution prevention technologies, and measures for working on abandoned mines and other air, water & surface pollution control mechanisms required for environment friendly and sustainable mine development.
However, activities meant to be taken up under the “polluter pays principle” or under the mines and environment management plan should not be taken up by the District Mineral Foundation Trusts, the notification specifies.
Healthcare, education, welfare of women, children, aged and disabled people, livelihood & skill development, sanitation, developing alternative irrigation systems, energy and watershed development are some other areas identified for intervention.
