log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday TUESDAY JANUARY 19, 2021 GOA PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured the taxi operators in The State of an amicable solution to the issues raised by them. The assurance came at a meeting of the taxi operators’ delegation with the Chief Minister at his official residence in Altinho on Monday. “We have just started the discussion with them. We will come to a conclusion after the discussion,” said Sawant. Also present at meeting were Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, Calangute MLA and Minister Michael Lobo and BJP state President >Continued on P5 IN SHORT >> Water shortage: Vasco locals warn of protest VASCO: Several residents from Orulem, Mestawada, Driver Hill and Mangor areas in Vasco have complained about acute water shortage and have threatened to agitate before the PWD if the issues is not resolved soon.  >> See pg 3 Yesvantpur-Vasco train services back on track BELAGAVI: The South Western Railway (SWR) has restored the services of the Yesvantpur-Vasco Express. Accordingly, Train 07339/07340 (Bengaluru) Yesvantpur-Vasco-Yesvantpur Express Special will commence the journey from January 23 to January 29 from Yesvantpur and from January 22 to January 28 from Vasco.  Mamata vs Adhikari in Nandigram battle NANDIGRAM, WB: Mamata Banerjee on Monday declared she will contest the upcoming assembly election from Nandigram, as she took her battle for West Bengal to the home turf of political heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari, who recently quit the TMC and joined the BJP.   >> See pg 7 Delhi schools reopen after 10 months NEW DELHI: Balloons, flowers, sanitisers and smiling faces welcomed class 10 and 12 students in schools in the national capital on Monday as they returned to campuses after over 10 months.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 34.4 C Min: 23.5 C Humidity: 80% TIDES Low: High: 09:21 02:57 20:42 15:07 The Goan (Playstore) 8 pages PRICE ` 6 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VI, NO. 210 Day after vandalising incident, police make presence in church premises Taxi operators meet CM, get positive reply Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 2 GOA People’s power prevails, Calangute pumping station project cancelled 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 NEWS Proposed tractor rally on January 26: It’s a law and order matter, says SC BENGALURU he anti-cow slaughter law came into effect in Karnataka from Monday. The ordinance proposes a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh and seeks complete ban on the slaughter of cows in the state. It also includes provisions for stringent punishment to those who indulge in smuggling and illegal transportation of cows. “It is a historic decision. Slaughter of cattle will not be permitted for whatsoever reason in the state after this. The ban is imposed as per the desire of people in the state. We have set in motion the law after offering pooja to the cow T Siraj, Shardul shine as India eye 328 to seal fairytale series win Municipal, CCP polls put off; decision after April 2021 SEC CITES COVID FEARS & VACCINATION DRIVE; ZILLA BY-POLLS ALSO POSTPONED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa State Election Commission on Monday deferred the elections to 11 Municipal Councils and the City Corporation of Panaji (CCP) till April 2021. Also postponed are by-elections to different wards of different village panchayats and ZP constituency 16 - Navelim in South Goa. The Election Commission was also of the view that many govt officials would be engaged in Covid vaccination drives being conducted across the state in January-February. To hold the polls on a single day, the poll body said that the date would be decided only after April 2021. The general elections to the 11 municipal councils - Bicholim, Cuncolim, Cur- SAYS THE NOTIFICATION ... „„There are going to be genuine difficulties in holding free and fair general elections to the 11 municipal councils and City Corporation of Panaji at this juncture „„General elections to 11 Municipal Councils, CCP, by-elections to wards of different village panchayats and the election to the ZP constituency 16 - Navelim shall be conducted together „„As govt officers will be engaged in the management of Covid vaccination throughout the state, it would not be appropriate to burden them with additional responsibility chorem-Cacora, Canacona, Mapusa, Margao, Mormugao, Pernem, Quepem, Sanguem and Valpoi which were initially fixed for October 18, 2020 were postponed by three months, which was due to expire on January 18, 2021. As CCP’s five-year term was also going to expire on March 14, 2021 the Commission had earlier proposed to hold the polls CM: Govt serious about IIT, committee to study options THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said a four-member panel will study and explore all available options for identifying land for the proposed IIT project in the state, even as he trained his guns at the opponents, saying those who had drawn up plans to destroy Goa need not teach him how to save Goa and protect its identity. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of his visit to Lord Damodar Sal on Monday morning, the Chief Minister said that the government is very much serious in setting up the IIT in the state and hence will soon set up a four-member committee to verify and study the feasible land to house the IIT. “The government has decided to shift the IIT project from Melaulim, Sattari, but the land for the project is not yet finalized. The government is very much serious in the IIT project but we don’t want any more trouble regarding the land for the project”, the Chief Minister said, adding that the four-member team will explore all available land options before the government takes a final call on the new IIT location. Directing his tirade at the opponents for accusing the government of destroying Goa’s identity, the Chief Min- on February 28, 2021. The Commission further clarified that although the Zilla Panchayat elections were held on December 12, the campaigning for the same was conducted prior to the spread of Covid-19. The notification issued by State Election Commissioner Chokha Ram Garg states that “The Commission has given a thoughtful consideration to the concerns shown by the Government regarding the congregation of crowds during the campaign period and holding all the Elections together.” The notification further states that, “The election process involves holding of public meetings/rallies/processions during the campaign period and enforcing the health protocols and regulating the THE ORDINANCE „„Proposes a maximum of 7 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5 lakh and seeks complete ban on the slaughter of cows „„It also includes provisions for stringent punishment to those who indulge in smuggling and illegal transportation of cows in Udupi. We request people to cooperate with regard to the law,” Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said. Setting up of special courts for the speedy trial of the accused, setting up gaushala or cattle sheds for the livestock, imparting more power to local number of participants in the gatherings, restricted as per the Government instructions will be a serious issue.” “The Commission recently conducted General Elections to Zilla Panchayats in the state on 12th December, 2O2O as the entire pre-poll election process till the election campaigning was completed prior to the spread of Covid-19 and only the polling was to beheld, says the notification. The Election Commission said it is also conscious of the fact that the officers responsible for the conduct of the elections like ROs and ARO are going to be from amongst the officers who are presently working as Deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars respectively. And also the fact that these officers will be engaged in the management of Covid Vaccination throughout the state which will be held in the month of January-February,2021. It would not be appropriate to burden them with additional responsibility of conducting elections in this phase, it said. The Commission under the prevailing circumstances is of the firm opinion that there are going to be genuine difficulties in holding free and fair general elections, said the Election Commission. The Commission is also of the opinion that the general elections to the 11 Municipal Councils, City Corporation of Panaji 2021, by-elections to wards of different village panchayats and the election to the ZP Constituency 16 Navelim shall be conducted together for better management . 8 CEC coming today to inspect 3 sites of linear projects THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The high powered Supreme court central empowered committee (CEC) is arriving in Goa on Tuesday evening on a four-day visit to conduct site inspections of the three linear projects cutting through the protected forests of Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. The three projects have faced huge protests over the last several months The visit of the CEC, headed by former Union Environment Secretary P V Jayakrishnan who incidetally had a stint as Chief Secretary of Goa in the early 1990’s, has raised the hopes of environmentalists and opponents of the projects. The three projects -- doubling of the South Western Railway track, expansion of National Highway and the private power transmission lines -- have faced huge protests over the last several months over fears that they will convert Goa into a coal transportation hub. LIFT AND SHIFT LAMBASTING THE DETRACTORS „„The Chief Minister said some people are spreading false propaganda and are making accusations when the government has launched a programme to make Goa Swayampurna „„Those who are plotting to send my government ON PAGE 2 Will certainly organize the Opinion Poll Day prog next yr: Sawant CM on why he was not eligible for Covid vaccination ister said some people are spreading false propaganda and are making accusations when the government has launched a programme to make Goa Swayampurna. ‘These people who want to sell Goa need not teach me how to maintain and protect Goa and its identity. They say that the government is out to destroy Goa, but people know this government has embarked on Swayampurna to give justice to the people. In this 60th year of Liberation, I am confident that Swayampurna will take the government to greater heights and those who want- home are only dreaming to somehow come to power, the Chief Minister said „„Exuding confidence that the BJP will emerge victorious in the ensuing Municipal election, he said his party would get a full mandate in the urban areas ed to destroy Goa will be sent home”, Sawant added. He said the Swayampurna initiative has already started giving results at the grass-root level, with people now going to the village panchayats to get their works. People with no houses, no toilets, water and power supply are now going to the panchayat toilets and other amenities”, the Chief Minister said. The Chief Minister said those who are plotting to send my government home are only dreaming to somehow come to power. He pointed out that the BJP government has the full backing of the people of Goa, adding “this has been clearly evident by the results of the ZIlla Panchayat polls”. Saying that the BJP will get a full mandate from Goans in the urban areas, the Chief Minister exuded confidence that the BJP will emerge victorious in the ensuing Municipal election. Police detains Indian Youth Congress activists who were staging a protest against BJP over the WhatsApp chats between Republic TV editor-in-chief and former BARC CEO, which allegedly indicate leak of classified information, in New Delhi, on Monday.  NO BLANKET BAN! „„The Act allows the slaughter of he-buffalo above 13 years of age. „„Besides, beef slaughter houses will also continue to function police for conducting random checks are some of the other important provisions of the Act. There is no blanket ban on beef consumption as the Act allows the slaughter of he-buffalo above 13 years of age. Besides this, beef slaughter houses will also continue to function. Karnataka Law Minister JC Madhuswamy said: “When the slaughter of buffalo above 13 years is allowed, how can we close down Cattle slaughterhouse in the state or be a complete ban on the beef ban?” “Illegal selling, transportation or culling of cows has been made punishable. If a cow has contracted a disease, which can spread to other cattle, then it can be culled or slaughtered,” the Act said. Police have been given powers to conduct checking and most importantly the law also gives protection to those who protect this livestock. The Act also allows a competent authority to monitor PTI Biden installation will be a muted affair AGENCIES WASHINGTON With war-zone-like security, no crowds and coronavirus distancing for guests, Joe Biden’s swearing-in as the 46th US president will be a muted affair unlike any previous inauguration. Where Washington is normally packed with hundreds K’taka anti-cow slaughter law comes into effect AGENCIES 7 SPORTS atrocities on cattle, receive complaints as well as to issue permits to the transportation of cattle. The Congress and the Janata Dal (S) had boycotted the remaining assembly session in December over the BJP’s decision to move the Bill without mentioning it in the agenda of the Assembly. Due to lack of majority in the Upper House, the ruling BJP was unable to move this Bill there and decided to bring an Ordinance. After promulgating the Ordinance on December 28, the Bill was sent for the approval of the Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala. The Governor gave his approval to the ordinance on January 5. >Continued on P5 Tha Capitol, the White House, and other main buildings are all barricaded and will be defended by more than 20,000 armed National Guard members of thousands of supporters, celebrities, socialites and lobbyists, the US capital is eerily quiet ahead of Biden’s big day, which promises to be a mostly televised celebration of democracy. Coronavirus concerns were always going to dampen Wednesday’s inauguration, but since departing President Donald Trump’s supporters launched an insurrection in his name, Washington has ordered a security lockdown un- seen since the September 11, 2001 attacks. That has forced Biden’s inauguration team to urge supporters to stay home, auguring a ceremony at the Capitol like recent sports matches, with no fans in the seats. Since Trump supporters stormed the Capitol on >Continued on P5 Indian companies prepare to buy vaccines for employees AGENCIES BENGALURU Several Indian companies are making plans to buy COVID-19 vaccines for their employees, just days after the country’s government began one of the world’s largest vaccination drives with healthcare and other frontline workers. Steel producer Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, autos-to technology conglomerate Mahindra Group and consumer goods giant ITC Ltd have begun initial checks on hopes that vaccines will be available for purchase after the government covers priority segments. “ITC would certainly like to extend the vaccination to employees... We have approached vaccine manufactures and are in exploratory talks,” Amitav Mukherji, head of corporate human resources, said. India is currently using Britain’s Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccine, which is being produced in India by the Serum Institute, and a government-backed alternative developed by India’s Bharat Biotech. Tata Steel said it would get employees inoculated as soon as shots are available commercially. Indian factories are recovering from one of the world’s strictest lockdown last year, which led to large-scale job losses and migration of workers back to their villages. “We are reaching out to vaccine manufacturers for bulk supply of doses and will try to get these doses after completion of all frontline Covid warriors’ vaccination,” Pankaj Lochan, chief human resource officer, JSPL, said. >Continued on P5