Team Herald
PANJIM: More than two and half years after it was constituted, the State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) for District Mineral Foundation (DMF) on Thursday held its first meeting under chairmanship of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
In 2019, the State government has amended the District Mineral Trust (Trust Rules, 2018) to incorporate State Level Monitoring Committee and Project Management Unit as part of the trust.
Speaking to mediapersons post meeting, Sawant said that State level committee held its first meeting today. “Several approvals for project implementation were pending, which were granted,” he said.
Chief Secretary, Secretary Mines, Secretary Finance, Director of Mines and Geology are the members of the State Level Committee. District Collectors — North and South, who are the nodal officers for DMF implementation, were also present for the meeting.
Sources said that as per rule, only District Mineral Foundation, headed by Collectors, have powers to utilise the fund for various developmental works in the mining belt.
Sources said that an amount of Rs 50 crore is currently available at North and South Goa District Foundation, which could be utilised towards welfare of mining people.
“In today’s meeting, the committee took review and scrutinise various projects that are completed, ongoing and proposed,” sources said.
Following the Supreme Court directives in April 2014, in January 2016, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) had notified the Goa District Mineral Foundation Rules 2016 for adherence to the principles of sustainable mining, inter-generational equity, and to afford protection to the environment and ecology and to meet the needs of the mining affected persons and areas.
As per the District Mineral Fund Rules, 50 per cent of the contribution towards the fund shall be deposited in fixed deposits or government bond/bank bonds. The interest earned to the extent of 90 per cent is to be utilised to achieve the objectives.
