FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Acknowledging the challenging situation before the State in fighting COVID-19, the Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) has extended supported to the State government’s move of spending Rs 172 crore from District Mineral fund and the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund.
In a press note issued here, GMOEA President Ambar Timblo said that the GMOEA acknowledges the extremely challenging times unfurled upon the world and more specifically to the Nation and the State to the urgent need to contain the alarming reaches of this pandemic COVID-19.
“The Mining Industry in Goa is entirely supportive of the bold precautionary steps (taken) by the Central Government as well as the (initiatives) of the State of Goa, at this hour of need, to contain the spread which has affected public movement drastically,” he said.
Timblo further said that GMOEA realises the extremely tight revenue constraints of the State; the present crisis has led to a greater challenge for the State and it is of utmost priority that the efforts on the above subject must not be compromised for lack of funds.
“While we appreciate that the State Governments have been permitted to use a portion of the District Mineral Fund (DMF) for Health related immediate screening of patients and building/refurnishing laboratories to combat the COVID-19, an additional collection had also been realised towards the intergenerational equity in the State of Goa, that is, the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund (GIOPF),” he said.
He said that the GMOEA understands that, till date, Rs 399 crore has already been collected by the State Government towards the GIOPF alone, apart from Rs 190 crore by way of DMF.
“The Industry believes that such funds collected from the Industry would have a purposeful logic when utilised for the benefit of its citizens, and hence request you to additionally utilize, a portion of such funds, as the State Government seems fit, from the GIOPF to combat the COVID-19, at this time of need,” he added.
