PANAJI
More than 32 per cent of the utilised District Mineral Foundation Funds (DMF) were diverted and used to combat COVID-19 in the State. The Governing Council of DMF, last month cleared all the bills amounting to over Rs 30.57 crore.
While the State spent altogether over Rs 93.17 crore of the DMF from both the districts, over the last five years, towards various works in the mining affected areas. Of this, more than Rs 30.57 crore, that included Rs 16.47 crore from the North and Rs 14.10 crore from South DMF.
The amount was spent on uupgrading health infrastructure, setting up testing laboratories, purchase of ventilators, medical equipment, PPE kit, etc.
During its meeting held in August, the Governing Council of both North and South Goa district settled the final bill payment. “It was brought to the notice of the Governing Council that there are no pending bills towards the COVID-19,” the minutes of the meeting stated.
The Minutes also states that nearly Rs two crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund was also utilized for the purpose in North Goa, alone.
District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is a non-profit statutory trust, which has been set up for the welfare of the districts affected by mining-related activities. It is an initiative of the government to ensure that funds collected under DMF are utilised for the welfare of those affected by mining-related operations.
The State government’s decision to divert the DMF funds was challenged in the Bombay High Court at Goa by two residents of Velguem and Collem “mining affected villages and by the Goa Foundation.
The petitioners had alleged that the Goa government has neglected the demands by those affected by mining for a long and has instead diverted the funds for the management of Covid-19 outbreak in the state. The move is outside the scope of the DMFs, the plea added.
