PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State to conduct a survey of all mining areas facing drinking water shortage and submit the report before the end of this month. The Court passed the direction while hearing the Sonshi-Pissurlem water scarcity issue. The government on Thursday submitted an affidavit to the court as to the measures taken to resolve the drinking water issue of Sonshi and Pissurlem villages in Sattari. The Court observed that water scarcity will be felt in most mining affected villages and directed the government to survey the entire mining belt. The Court has asked that the survey committee have compulsorily one member from the District Mineral Foundation. The Advocate General of Goa informed the court that local committees will be set up to survey the drinking water shortage in mining affected areas. The High Court, last month, had directed DMF members to visit mining affected areas within a week and ascertain requirements for projects benefiting people in those belts. A division bench comprising Justice N M Jamdar and Justice Prithviraj K Chavan had set a time frame of two weeks to file a compliance report on its direction. A total of Rs 180 crore has remained unutilised with DMF. Villagers from Sonshi-Pissurlem, along with NGO Goa Foundation, had approached the High Court pleading to issue directions for implementation of the DMF scheme laid down under the Mines and Minerals Act to resolve the issue of water and health in the mining affected areas.