Panaji: October 13, 2026:
The Governing Council of the North Goa District Mineral Foundation Trust
(NGDMFT), chaired by the Collector, North Goa, approved a range of development initiatives for mining-affected areas of North Goa at its meeting held recently. The initiatives aim to strengthen education, healthcare, sanitation, agriculture, renewable energy, livelihoods and welfare.
The key initiatives approved are as follows: Renewable Energy: ₹1.50 crore has been approved for a convergence scheme with PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana to provide supplementary assistance for rooftop solar installations in mining-affected households. The scheme is expected to benefit approximately 500 households, with assistance of ₹10,000 per kW, subject to a maximum of ₹30,000 per household and the prescribed eligibility and implementation conditions. NGDMFT will notify the scheme shortly in consultation with GEDA.
An additional subsidy scheme of ₹1 crore has been approved for eligible Krishi Card holders in mining-affected areas. The scheme will provide supplementary assistance over and above the existing subsidy, subject to a ceiling of ₹20,000 per farmer. Assistance will be disbursed through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) on a first-come, first-served basis up to March 31, 2027 or until exhaustion of the sanctioned amount, whichever is earlier. NGDMFT will notify the scheme shortly in consultation with the Directorate of Agriculture.
The Council sanctioned ₹2.03 crore for a 750 sq. m. Dry Waste Management Shed and ₹19 lakh for a 1 TPD Nisargruna Rapid Composter for Sanquelim Municipal Council. The facility will also cater to dry waste generated by adjoining mining-affected Village Panchayats.
Education: ₹40 lakh has been approved to support eligible Mining Engineering students from mining-affected areas of North Goa pursuing studies at Goa College of Engineering, at ₹10 lakh per year, covering up to 10 students. The Council also approved ₹27 lakh for a bus for Government College, Sanquelim, equipped with GPS tracking and prescribed emergency response features. Further, ₹35.10 lakh has been approved for the renovation of the existing drawing hall at Government Polytechnic, Bicholim, into an ICT-enabled Smart Classroom and Digital Learning Centre. The facility will support seminars, induction programmes, placement activities, expert lectures, workshops and digital learning, particularly for students from mining-affected areas.
The Council approved ₹40 lakh for Keshav Seva Sadhana’s Narayan Zantye School for Special Children towards the procurement of a 13-seater vehicle and upgradation of its library. An additional ₹1.35 lakh was approved for physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy equipment for Lokvishwas
Pratishthan’s Special School, Honda.
The Council sanctioned ₹29.11 lakh for strengthening the Operation Theatre and diagnostic facilities at CHC Bicholim. A prefabricated room costing ₹6.21 lakh was also approved to house the TrueNat machine for TB testing, providing a dedicated facility for TB diagnosis. The Council further approved the continuation/modification of the Nikshay Mitra food basket assistance for TB patients, as proposed by the Directorate of Health Services.
The Council approved enhancement of the project for the improvement and upgradation of the Veterinary Hospital at Honda, Sattari to ₹20.62 lakh, enabling the procurement of essential diagnostic, treatment, surgical and clinical equipment.
The Council also approved the revised NGDMFT Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to streamline the procurement and execution of sanctioned projects. Under the revised procedure, project-proposing Departments/Agencies will certify compliance with applicable procurement and codal procedures, thereby reducing duplication of scrutiny and facilitating faster processing of Expenditure Sanctions.
To promote long-term planning and equitable utilization of DMF resources, the Council further approved the preparation of a Five-Year Perspective Plan and
Annual Action Plan for NGDMFT through consultations with Government Departments, Panchayats and other relevant stakeholders. The plans will identify priority sectors, fund allocations and the nature of interventions required in mining-affected areas, promoting need-based planning and continuity of development works.
