Team Herald
PANJIM: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the Goa Mineral Ore Permanent Fund (GMOPF) will be utilised by the government for providing relief to COVID-19 affected people subject to the consent of the Supreme Court and decision of its Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
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Refuting allegations that the government had used the funds, Sawant said, “Our intention is very clear. We want to use these funds in the interest of the State. But till date we have not used these funds.”
Sawant said, “Of the approximately Rs 600 crore GMOPF, 10 per cent can be used annually. As of now the State has not used the fund.”
Giving a chronology of happenings, Sawant said on July 27, 2020, Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) wrote to the Supreme Court appointed CEC member secretary regarding submission of the draft Goa Mineral Ore Permanent Fund (GMOPF) scheme. Again on December 2, 2020, the DMG wrote to the member secretary of CEC requesting to inform about the further development regarding draft scheme. However, no response was received from the CEC.
Sawant said in April this year the DMG filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court regarding the draft GMOPF scheme in compliance with the directives of the Apex Court in a writ petition. In June 10 this year the cabinet approved the notified GMOPF scheme and placed it before the Supreme Court on condition that its implementation shall be subject to final decision of the Supreme Court.
“Till now the Supreme Court has not given its decision. That’s why we have notified the scheme but have not used the funds,” he said.
On July 27 this year, the member secretary of CEC wrote to the DMG seeking clarification regarding the notified GMOPF scheme without approval of the Supreme Court. On August 9, 2021, the DMG again clarified to the member secretary of CEC stating that the notification of the scheme has been approved by the government on condition that its implementation shall be subject to the final decision of the Supreme Court in this matter.
“Our intention is clear. We want to use these funds in the interest of the State but subject to the clarifications of the Central Empowered Committee and approval of the Supreme Court,” he said.
Last week, the Supreme Court-appointed CEC had expressed its displeasure over the State government for publishing the ‘Goa Mineral Ore Permanent Fund Trust Scheme’ notification without obtaining the Apex Court’s approval.
Referring to the government’s decision to utilise District Mineral Fund (DMF) for COVID-19 management last year, Sawant said the State can use 30 per cent of the Rs 300 crore-odd fund annually. A proposal for using the same this year is being processed, he added.
