PANAJI
After being pulled up by the High Court over alleged misuse of Rs three core from the mining fund, the Governing Council of North Goa District Mineral Fund (DMF) has withdrawn the administrative approval granted for utilization of the money towards Sai Nursing Home, linked to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
The High Court had in January sought clarification from the State government in response to a petition by an NGO Goa Foundation alleging diversion of money, meant towards welfare of the people from mining affected areas, to the Nursing Institute in Sanquelim.
“The Governing council has withdrawn the Administrative Approval given earlier to Sai Nursing institute project and decided to revert the allocated fund to the Skill Development Sector,” reads the minutes of the meeting held last month.
The council decided that the funds would be earmarked for other public projects in the mining affected areas.
The Governing Council of North DMF had in March 2023 granted its approval to avail Rs three crore funds from District Mineral Foundation to the Sai Nursing Institute to set up a Private Nursing Institute.
Following High Court intervention, the Institute through a communication to the Directorate of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, dated January 16, 2024 withdrew its application seeking financial assistance through DMF stating that the institute has completed substantial portion of the proposed work.
