PANAJI
The State government has initiated steps to enhance the functioning of the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) with a dedicated website expected to be operational by next month and recruitment for DMF positions to be completed by the end of May.
The development comes in response to a Public Interest Litigation Writ Petition concerning the proper implementation of Section 9B of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, which governs the DMF.
The High Court of Bombay at Goa was informed that the DMFs for North Goa and South Goa have been set up, and that, in line with directions issued in the ongoing proceedings, a website for these bodies is in the pipeline.
It was also placed on record that administrative approval and expenditure sanction were granted to Goa Electronics Limited on November 26, 2024 and December 4, 2024 for the design, development and maintenance of the website for three years.
During the hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the Division Bench of Justice A Chandurkar and Justice Nivedita Mehta that the website for both DMFs would go live by April 2025. The Bench took note of the submission.
Regarding the formation of an Executive Secretariat for the DMFs, Pangam stated that an advertisement was issued on November 28, 2024 for filling the posts of Accountant and Assistant for the South Goa DMF. He further assured that the recruitment process would be completed by May-end, paving the way for the constitution of the Executive Secretariat.
The court was also informed that the Ministry of Mines has formed a ten-member committee to consider public suggestions on the implementation of the revised Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) Guidelines, 2024. The Court thus noted that with this, the primary concerns raised in the petition had been addressed.
The court, in its order, noted that the purpose of the PIL had been fulfilled given directions issued over time. “We find that in view of various directions issued by this Court from time to time the purpose of filing the present proceedings in public interest has been achieved. The petitioners are at liberty to approach the ten-member committee in case any suggestions are required to be made in the matter of implementation of the PMKKKY Guidelines, 2024. Needless to state that in case of any fresh grievance, the petitioners are free to seek legal redress in accordance with the law.,” reads the order while disposing of the plea.
