North Goa Collector seeks proposals to implement welfare projects for mining affected persons

Team Herald

PANJIM: The North Goa District Collector has asked MLAs from mining areas in their jurisdiction to submit proposals for implementing projects around Rs 22 crore funds through District Mineral Foundation (DMF). 

Collector Mamu Hage, who heads the North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) on Friday, held meeting with Mayem MLA Premendra Shet and Poriem MLA Deivya Rane along with the officials of Directorate of Mines and Geology, PWD, Water Resources, Transport and others. 

Emerging from the meeting, Shet told media persons that new proposals need to be worked out in the mining villages for the welfare of mining affected persons. 

“The Trust has already executed projects amounting to over Rs 80 crore in the mining areas. Some projects are complete, while some are in pipeline,” he said. 

DMFT has total Rs 247.82 crore funds, of which Rs 136.26 crore is with North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT) and Rs 111.56 crore is with South Goa DMFT. 

Under DMFT (North), there are 41 sanctioned projects, of which 21 have been completed and 20 are ongoing. As against fund allocation of Rs 66.4 crore, an amount of Rs 45.43 crore is sanctioned.  Besides, there are 18 projects in the pipeline for consideration in North. 

Shet said that projects such as drinking water supply, pollution control measures, healthcare, education, welfare of women and children, physical infrastructure, etc are been executed. He said that post closer of mining industry in 2018, the fund growth at the trust has slow down as there is no royalty collection from major mineral. 

Poriem MLA Deivya Rane said that village panchayats will be taken into confidence for drafting the proposals. 

Following directions from the Supreme Court, the Union Mines Ministry in 2015, amended the Mines, Minerals Development and Regulation Act (MMDR), wherein all the iron ore rich States were directed to set up DMFs in all districts for the welfare of mining affected persons to which contribution is made directly by the holders of mineral concession, apart from royalty. 

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5% royalty on minor minerals for welfare of mining affected

PANJIM: The Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has imposed an amount equivalent to five percent of royalty on the minor minerals towards the District Mineral Foundation (Trust) Fund, in lines with iron ore, wherein the fund will be utilised towards welfare of the affected people. 

The DMG has amended the Goa Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1985, to this effect.

“Every holder of quarrying lease or quarrying permit or sand permit shall pay to the District Mineral Foundation of the district in which the mining operations are carried on by him, an amount equivalent to five percent of royalty as payable under clause (i) of sub-rule (1) of rule 22,” states the amendment. 

DMG permits quarrying of basalt stone, laterite stone, lime shells, river pebbles and sand mining. Since 2019, no permission is been granted for sand mining activities in the State. However, in the current season, the permissions are expected for same along Chapora River and its tributaries.