log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday SUNDAY NOVEMBER 22, 2020 Is it possible to develop a safe vaccine in 11 months? IN SHORT >> AIADMK-BJP alliance to continue for polls CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said that the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP would continue for the 2021 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK co-coordinator and deputy coordinator made the announcement at an event where Home Minister Amit Shah virtually inaugurated Chennai’s fifth water reservoir and a slew of other infrastructure projects, including the big-ticket phase II of Chennai metro rail. Comedienne Bharti arrested by NCB NEW DELHI: In a shocking turn of events, comedienne Bharti Singh has been arrested while her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa is being probed by the NCB in drugs related case. Earlier, in the day NCB officials conducted raids at their Mumbai residence. In a fresh tip-off, NCB raided their house in relation to the drugs case. According to NCB sources, after getting a tip-off from drug peddlers, the NCB officials landed at Bharti Singh’s house. The Goan (Playstore) 12 pages PRICE ` 6 VOLUME VI, NO. 156 9 GOA 90 per cent of rail-doubling at Davorlim is complete: RVNL 2 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 NEWS Youth group demands scrapping of 3 projects, threatens agitation Schools reopen in Goa but most students keep away EDUCATION DEPT EXPECTS ATTENDANCE TO IMPROVE FROM MONDAY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Schools in Goa were on Saturday permitted to recommence physical classes for standard X and XII but majority of students expectedly cold-shouldered the reopening and stayed away. Most schools that did open on Saturday, recorded less than 50 percent attendance, an education department official said. The official however added that attendance is expected to improve from Monday. Many schools however did not exercise the option of calling students on Saturday and are hoping to start from Monday. Some schools are being cautious and are calling stu- A class in progress at a school in Porvorim on Saturday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar dents once every third day by splitting the roster into three or designating 2 week days for each division. The 2020-21 academic year failed to kick-off normally in June but began in mid-july in the online mode due to the pandemic. Faculty and students are expected to continue to fall back on the online mode for some more time with a new wave of infections sweeping across the country and the globe. The government’s decision to reopen schools and higher secondary schools evoked poor response in Mapusa. Although some schools registered reasonably good attendance but these were outnumbered by schools where the attendance was in single digits. Only three students of Class X came for the classes in St Mary’s High School, a reputed girl’s school in Mapusa, while just 14 attended classes in St Britto’s High School, a reputed boy’s school. Several schools in the port town reopened and the students were seen going to schools amid strict safety measures like use of hand >Continued on P5 CCP penalises people for not using masks Max: 34.3 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 87% TIDES Low: 04.52 High: 11.03 17.10 23.55 MORE ON PAGE 3 1 The government’s decision to reopen schools and higher secondary schools evoked poor response in Mapusa Several schools in the port town reopened and the students were seen going to schools amid strict safety measures Masks and social distancing was literally the order of the day in Margao schools 2 3 8 DGP supports Goa projects, trashes series of protests THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Director General of Goa Police (DGP) Mukesh Kumar Meena on Saturday said that he does not understand why Goans are protesting against the three controversial projects that are being bulldozed by the state government. Going a step further, DGP Meena offered his personal opinion that these three projects will contribute to national development and hence, stressed that Goa Police will provide security to these works if the government so requires. The senior IPS officer also hinted that stern action will soon be initiated against all those who protested at Chandor on the night of November 1. Speaking to the media at Police Headquarters in Panaji, DGP Meena stated, “There are some agitations going on in South Goa against these projects. I don’t know why the We will take stern action against those people who are obstructing government functions — DGP Meena people are protesting. In my opinion, because I am also a part of the government, I could say these projects are for national development. In our place, people fight for four laning or six laning. I don’t know people are protesting double-tracking and widening of roads here. I cannot comment on the people.” Informing that he holds a post-graduate degree in agriculture and that he has worked as an officer of the Indian Forest Service before joining the ranks of Indian Police Service, DGP Meena further opined that the state and >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK AMRAVATI: Popular Telugu poet, writer and journalist Devi Priya succumbed to ill health in a Hyderabad hospital on Saturday. Born as Khaja Hussain on August 15, 1951 at Tadikonda in Guntur district, he used Devi Priya as his pen name as a writer and went on to win the Sahitya Akademi Award. Hussain was considered as one of the state’s first political commentators, said an official statement from Andhra Pradesh government. WEATHER >> Faculty and students are expected to continue to fall back on the online mode for some more time Shami: My IPL performance has taken pressure off this Oz tour Cops seek in writing from Cong it won’t disturb ISL FOUNTAIN OF WOES! Sahitya Akademi Award winner Devi Priya dies PANAJI: The corporation of the city of Panaji on Saturday launched a drive to fine the people not using masks. A drive was conducted on weekends when tourists footfall picks up in the city. Drive continued till late night and around 200-odd people were fined for not wearing masks.  >> See pg 3 3 SPORTS Water overflowing after the main pipeline supplying water to Mapusa was damaged on Saturday evening. Supply to Mapusa is likely to be affected even as residents are already facing water scarcity for the last few days. >> See report on page 3 Strict SOPs for Delhi flights & trains to Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State Health Minister on Saturday announced that the Health Department is in the process of convening an emergency meeting to tighten the screening procedure for all incoming trains and flights from Delhi in view of the rising number of Covid-19 cases in the national capital. Taking to Twitter, the Health Minister wrote, “In view of the rising cases in Delhi, Government of Goa to adopt SOPs of Maharashtra Govt & other state governments for flights and trains coming from Delhi. Secretary Health to have an emergency meeting on protocols for people coming in from the state of Delhi.” The Health Minister also disclosed that his department will begin stricter screening of all migrant workers who are expected to start arriving in the state. Explaining the decision, the Health Minister tweeted, “With the end of Chhath Puja, a large number of migratory workers will start coming to the state. In view of the same, a note has been sent to Secretary Health for immediate deliberations on protocols for labourers, SOPs for Industries & for the state with regards to testing.” PANAJI Officers of Goa Police late on Friday night allegedly visited the residences of Congress leaders Jana Bhandari, Amarnath Panjikar, Sankalp Amonkar and Varad Mardolkar seeking written undertaking from these four political leaders assuring that they will not disrupt any activities of the Indian Super League in Goa. It may be recalled that these Congress leaders had been protesting the lack of employment opportunities extended to local Goans by the management of the ongoing ISL. Earlier this month, they had stopped the buses of Mumbai FC outside Nagoa Panchayat ground where the team was practising. Following this incident, top officials of ISL reportedly met former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat at Congress House in Panaji and the matter had been resolved. While the ISL management had promised to issue work orders to locals wherever possible by the evening of November 23, Congress leaders had assured that they will refrain from causing any trouble for the ISL fixtures in Goa. “We had already assured not to disrupt the schedule based on the assurance from ISL officials that they will look into the matter of providing WON’T GIVE UNDERTAKING: CONG LEADERS „„We had already assured not to disrupt the schedule based on the assurance from ISL officials that they will look into the matter of providing employment to locals „„Despite this, ISL officials are now using pressure tactics and are using Goa Police. We are ready to get arrested but we will not give any undertaking POLICE STORY „„Highly placed sources from the Police Department claimed that such a written undertaking has already been secured from the four Congress leaders following which the matter has been laid to rest employment to locals. Despite this, ISL officials are now using pressure tactics and are using Goa Police. We are ready to get arrested but we will not give any undertaking,” stated Congress vice president Amonkar. The four leaders met Superintendent of Police (South) Pankaj Kumar Singh at the Police Headquarters in Panaji on Saturday to explain the matter. “SP told us that if we have already settled the matter verbally, we should back it up with a written undertaking that we will not disrupt ISL activities. He said that the Collector has ordered police inspectors in South Goa to take an undertaking or to arrest us. We are ready to court arrest,” Amonkar said. Meanwhile, highly placed sources from the Police Department claimed that such a written undertaking has already been secured from the four Congress leaders following which the matter has been laid to rest. Obese people at higher risk CII’s suggestion to Goa: Shift to high-end tourism WHITE PAPER of contracting Covid: Study POINT OF VIEW THE GOAN I NETWORK AGENCIES LONDON The effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection have been investigated through a novel approach by researchers at the Queen Mary University of London. Several observational studies have reported the link between cardiovascular risk factors and COVID-19 severity. However, these studies could not ascertain the cause and effect relationship due to the observational design. The new study, published in the science journal Frontiers in Genetics, used a novel approach called ‘Mendelian The findings may have an impact on public health policy, whereby those who fall in the at-risk obese category or those with extreme hyperlipidemia in the general population may require more rigorous social distancing or shielding Randomisation’, which leveraged the individual genetic information, to investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on the risk of COVID-19 infection. Lead author Dr Nay Aung from the Queen Mary University of London said: “Our results show that individuals with high body mass index (BMI), a marker of obesity, and high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also known as ‘bad’ cholesterol) are at an increased risk of getting COVID-19. Other cardiovascular risk factors (high blood pressure and diabetes) do not appear to elevate the COVID-19 risk. “Our findings support the use of BMI and LDL cholesterol as important metrics alongside other known characteristics (such as age and ethnicity) in the risk assessment of vulnerability to COVID-19 infection,” added Aung. PANAJI he Goa Chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has called for a clean up of the beach, alcohol and gambling tinge that the tourism industry is stained with in a ‘white paper’ it released on Saturday. Goa should diversify its tourism template just as competing destinations in South Asia are doing like in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and other destinations, it said in its white paper. It also suggests that the focus to push Goa as a destination for beaches, alcohol and casinos has to be relooked. In the current pandemic situation, the white paper suggests dedication a portion of T In the current pandemic situation, the white paper suggests dedication a portion of the tourism ministry’s budget for prompt Covid-19 testing and dealing with tourists affected the tourism ministry’s budget for prompt Covid-19 testing and dealing with tourists affected. It also advises studying and picking up aspects of the models adopted by Portugal, Germany and the Scandanavian countries to promote tourism. The white paper also cautions that tourists are travelling to other destinations in South Asia and pin points diversification of the tourism offerings by these countries as the com- „„Goa should diversify its tourism template just as competing destinations in South Asia are doing „„focus to push Goa as a destination for beaches, alcohol and casinos has to be relooked „„Set up a think-tank to identify tourism products to attract high-end visitors mon factor of their success. The CII white paper - - ‘Accelerating the Goan Economy - A White Paper’ also says that Goa should shift to high-end OPTION TO SCALE UP QUALITY TOURISM Weddings at exclusive and picturesque locations such as „„Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary „„Christian Art Museum „„Refurbished Reis Magos Fort tourism from the current ‘mass tourism’. Weddings at exclusive and picturesque locations such as the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Christian Art Museum and the refurbished Reis Magos Fort is one option the white paper suggests to scale up Goa’s quality of tourism.