Panaji: The North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust (NGDMFT) has approved a series of development initiatives for mining-affected areas, including Rs 1.5 crore for rooftop solar installations, Rs 1 crore in additional farm subsidies and over Rs 2.2 crore for waste management infrastructure.
The decisions were taken at a recent meeting of the trust’s governing council, chaired by the North Goa Collector, according to an official statement.
The trust approved Rs 1.5 crore under a convergence scheme with the Centre’s PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to provide supplementary assistance to around 500 households in mining-affected areas for rooftop solar installations.
Eligible households will receive assistance of Rs 10,000 per kW, subject to a maximum of Rs 30,000 per household and other prescribed conditions, the statement said.
An additional subsidy scheme worth Rs 1 crore was approved for eligible Krishi Card holders in mining-affected areas, with assistance capped at Rs 20,000 per farmer over and above the existing subsidy. The assistance will be disbursed through direct benefit transfer on a first-come, first-served basis until March 31, 2027, or until the sanctioned amount is exhausted, whichever is earlier.
For waste management, the council sanctioned Rs 2.03 crore for a 750-square-metre dry waste management shed and Rs 19 lakh for a one-tonne-per-day Nisargruna rapid composter for the Sanquelim Municipal Council. The facility will also handle dry waste generated by adjoining mining-affected village panchayats.
The council also approved initiatives in education, healthcare, veterinary services and welfare.
An amount of Rs 40 lakh was sanctioned to support eligible mining engineering students from mining-affected areas pursuing studies at Goa College of Engineering. The assistance will amount to Rs 10 lakh annually and cover up to 10 students.
The trust approved Rs 27 lakh for a bus equipped with GPS tracking and emergency response features for Government College, Sanquelim, and Rs 35.10 lakh to convert the existing drawing hall at Government Polytechnic, Bicholim, into an information and communication technology-enabled smart classroom and digital learning centre.
The council sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for Keshav Seva Sadhana’s Narayan Zantye School for Special Children to procure a 13-seater vehicle and upgrade its library. Another Rs 1.35 lakh was approved for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy equipment for Lokvishwas Pratishthan’s Special School at Honda.
In the healthcare sector, Rs 29.11 lakh was approved to strengthen the operation theatre and diagnostic facilities at the Community Health Centre, Bicholim. A prefabricated room costing Rs 6.21 lakh was also sanctioned to house a TrueNat machine for tuberculosis testing.
The council further approved the continuation or modification of the Nikshay Mitra food basket assistance scheme for tuberculosis patients, as proposed by the Directorate of Health Services.
The veterinary hospital at Honda in Sattari will also be upgraded, with the project outlay enhanced to Rs 20.62 lakh to facilitate the procurement of diagnostic, treatment, surgical and clinical equipment.
The governing council approved a revised standard operating procedure to streamline the procurement and execution of sanctioned projects. Under the revised procedure, departments and agencies proposing projects will certify compliance with applicable procurement and codal procedures to reduce duplication of scrutiny and expedite expenditure sanctions.
It also approved the preparation of a five-year perspective plan and an annual action plan for the trust in consultation with government departments, panchayats and other stakeholders. The plans will identify priority sectors, fund allocations and interventions required in mining-affected areas to ensure need-based planning and continuity of development works.
