PANJIM, MARCH 25
After failing to implement a green cess on mining rejects proposed in the last budget, the Goa government Thursday proposed a Mineral Development Fund (MDF), underwritten and developed by the state mining industry, for building infrastructure in the mining belt.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Thursday in his budget speech said that “the government’s role as a facilitator shall be focused on statutory structuring and expediency of the same (MDF).”
He said the PPP initiative along with MDF for “infrastructure developmental solutions to the mining sector” is to be established and empowered wherein the capital and maintenance investment is ensured and developed by the mining industry.
As a first step, the government will prepare a blueprint on road infrastructure with the assistance of experts in the field.
“The government envisages an investment of over Rs 500 crore which will be made by the mining industry over a 5 year period,” Kamat said, adding that the money sourced from the mining industry would be used for maintaining infrastructure, roads and attending to environmental, social and health issues in Goa’s mining regions.
“If such initiatives are taken then the government can put the revenue from the mining royalty to other social projects; rather than infrastructure which the industry can easily expand, finance and sustain,” Kamat said, adding that the frame work for the MDF would be in place with the next few months.
