log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday MONDAY JANUARY 25, 2021 GOA With civic polls near, Mapusa sees spurt in illegal activities Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 8 pages PRICE ` 6 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VI, NO. 216 3 INDIA 1 million vaccine doses given in India in just 6 days: Govt 6 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 ABROAD Biden to unveil more climate policies, urges China to act Fiery winter session on the cards starting today GOVT, OPPOSITION EXPECTED TO LOCK HORNS OVER LOKAYUKTA AMENDMENTS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa Governor, Bhagat Singh Koshiyari will deliver his maiden address to the Goa legislative assembly on Monday kicking off a five-day winter session in which the confrontation between the Pramod Sawant-led government and the Opposition is expected to heat up over the controversial amendments to the Lokayukta institution. The Opposition has slammed the government and accused it of “diluting” the anti-corruption law after the cabinet had earlier last week approved several changes in it. One such amendment cleared by the cabinet includes one making it mandatory for the Lokayukta to seek ‘prior sanction’ to launch corruption investigations against Mhadei sanctuary ban on trespass: Order withdrawn THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI The State government has withdrawn a proclamation prohibiting trespass in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. An order issued by Sattari Deputy Collector and SDM Rajesh Ajgaonkar stated that authorities had issued the Proclamation dated January >Continued on P5 IN SHORT >> Footballer dies on pitch during match in Fatorda MARGAO: In a tragic incident, 28-year-old Agalle footballer Allister Vaz lost his life after going down injured in a melee during a a match of We for Fatorda inter-ward football tournament, at Fatorda on Sunday. The match was 15 minutes old, when Allister was fouled by the opposition players and the referee pulled up the erring players. >> pg 8 WEATHER >> Max: 32.8 C Min: 22.4 C Humidity: 93% TIDES Low: High: 02:33 07:37 14:41 22:14 ACTION ON THE FLOOR OF HOUSE 1 Ten bills, including five more sponsored by the government are expected to be tabled in the course of the four working days of the winter session five private resolutions will also be brought before the House as will 751 2 a public authority where the law ordinarily mandates such sanction. Meanwhile Ten bills, including five more sponsored by the government are expected to be tabled in the course of the four working days of the winter session. Interestingly the govern- questions to be dealt with during Question hour. Of these, 195 are starred and 556 unstarred Among the private member’s resolutions is one which proposes to move to bring in a moratorium of sorts on the quantum of ore handled at MPT and its 3 ment has already backtracked on another controversial legislation the it had proposed to enact in this session -- The Goa Municipalities Amendment Act -- which it notified via the Ordinance route. Earlier on Friday last, a fresh Ordinance was issued withdrawing the December DON’T ‘DOUBLE-TRACK’, YOU’LL BE WATCHED IN THE ASSEMBLY! >> See edit on pg 4 21 Ordinance promulgated to amend the Goa Municipalities Act after pressure from merchants doing business in civic properties across Goa’s cities and towns. Meanwhile, legislature department sources said five private resolutions will also be brought before the House as will 751 questions to be dealt with during Question hour. Of these, 195 are starred and 556 unstarred. Among the private member’s resolutions is one Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao proposes to move to bring in a moratorium of sorts on the quantum of ore handled at MPT and transported through the State to north Karnataka. Alemao’s move hopes to blunt the impact of a swelling sentiment against politicos fuelled by a prolonged agitation against Coal transportation and suspicion that Central projects in protected forests are aimed at facilitating a coal corridor. As Goa enters an election year, proceedings of this 5-day session will be closely watched for fresh political alignments even as a depleted and splintered Opposition struggles to forge unity. Alemao, who belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) but has hitherto publicly supported the Sawant-led BJP government, has said all 40 MLAs should break ranks and unanimously pass the >Continued on P5 7 8 SPORTS I used to be petrified of bouncers: Shubman Gill CM: Will go ahead with development projects THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday unveiled plans for Goa Vision Document to take care of the future requirements of the state, even as he conceded that around 10,000 youth from the neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka have taken employment in the state in the private sector. Addressing a programme after establishing the Swami Vivekananda Kendra at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Sunday, the Chief Minister said some people may indulge in politics by opposing the development projects, but asserted that the government will go ahead with the projects taking into account the future requirements of the state. “As the Chief Minister of the state, I have to take care of the requirements of the state for the next 25 years. We have to meet the requirements of the youth in the fields of IT and industry that will come in the state in the future”, he said. He added: “There may be people who are opposing the projects on political grounds. Sawant pitches for Goa-Tamnar project MARGAO: The Chief Minister has again strongly batted for the Tamnar Power transmission line project, saying the government has given the nod the project as it aims at taking care of the power requirements of the state for the next two years. The Chief Minister, however, said that the government is waiting for the report from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) which was in the state to inspect the forest area where the line is sought to be laid. “You don’t want the light. We all want the light and hence the government has taken steps to support the Tamnar power project”, he said, when a scribe questioned him on the fate of the power transmission project. >Continued on P5 It is easy to oppose projects, but the government has to take care of the present and future requirements of the state”. Saying that the Goa Vision document is an initiated as part of the 60th Liberation day celebrations to take care of the future in the next 25 years, the Chief Minister sought cooperation and support from all quarters, including the youth to complex the Goa Vision Document initiative. Touching on the employment situation in the state, while explaining the various government schemes that make the youth self-employed, the Chief Minister said he is committed to provide employment to the local youth, be in government or the private sector and to make them self-employed. He conceded that around 10,000 jobs in the government sector has not been filled up in various departments in the last 5-6 years. “The government will soon embark on a >Continued on P5 Mollem projects: Surge Golden Peacock for Danish film ‘Into the Darkness’ of scientific papers & complaints for the CEC THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) led by former Environment Secretary PV Jayakrishnan was bombarded with a dozen scientific submissions and complaint letters against the three linear projects it had come to inspect. The scientific submission most critical of the three projects the CEC was handed is the peer review which exposes the inadequacies of the Environment Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the projects in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park authored by Punjabi and published by the ‘Journal of Threatened Taxa’. Another report submitted to the CEC by Dr Sinead D’Silva and Shivangini Tandon on January 19 highlights that nearly 29 Goa villages will be affected. The Dr D’Silva-Tandon duo also authored another submission presented to the CEC on January 20, which lists the socio-cultural impact of the proposed double-tracking project outside the protected areas. A biodiversity impact assessment and biodiversity management plan critique The scientific submission most critical of the three projects the CEC was handed is the peer review which exposes the inadequacies of the Environment Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the projects in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park for the project through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, including a survey of the ‘compensatory afforestation’ site, is yet another scientific document the CEC received during their three-day visit to Goa. The Jayakrishnan-led panel was also presented the letter from 39 scientists regarding diversion of forest land in Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, and the contiguous tiger habitats of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. This letter was penned by the scientists in November last year. Other submissions made to the CEC include the analysis of road accidents from in and around Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. MAN OF THE SHOW Veteran Bollywood actor Biswajit waves his Indian Personality of the Year Award presented to him on the concluding day of the 51st IFFI in Panaji on Saturday. (On right) artistes presenting a colourful dance event. More pics on pg 2 Narayan Pissurlenka THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The epic World War II film ‘Into the Darkness’ (De forbandede år) which portrays the story of a Danish electronics factory owner who is forced to produce for the occupying Nazi forces, has won the coveted Golden Peacock Award at the just-concluded 51st edition of the International Film Festival of India. Directed by Anders Refn, the 152-minute Danish film gives a gripping dive into the complex emotional turmoil which the people of Denmark had to undergo, during the Nazi occupation of the country. The Golden Peacock Award consists of a cash prize of Rs 40 lakh to be shared equally between director Anders Refn and producer Lene Børglum, both of whom have also been presented with a certificate each as well. MORE REPORTS ON PAGE 2 The Silver Peacock for the Best Director went to Taiwanese director, writer and producer Chen-Nien Ko, for her 2020 Mandarin drama film IFFI HALL OF FAME BEST ACTOR (MALE) Tzu-Chuan Liu BEST ACTOR (FEMALE) Zofia Stafiej BEST DIRECTOR Chen-Nien Ko SPECIAL JURY AWARD Kamin Kalev SPECIAL MENTION AWARD Kripal Kalita BEST DEBUT DIRECTOR Cássio Pereira dos Santos ‘The Silent Forest’, a candid and heart-wrenching exposition of the systemic sexual abuse that happens in a school for children with special needs. The Silver Peacock for Best Director carries a certificate and cash award of Rs 15 lakh. Told through the eyes of the hearing-impaired lead character Chang Cheng who has just shifted to a special school, the 108-minute film brings into sharp relief the tumultuous cacophony of noises in the world of the deaf. The story is based on real events which transpired in a school in Taiwan and tells the painful tale of how victims end up transforming into predators. Notably, the Silver Peacock for Best Actor – Male too has been awarded to 17-year-old Tzu-Chuan Liu, who through his role as the protagonist Chang Cheng in ‘The Silent Forest’, has been able to beautifully and powerfully bring out the world of the differently abled boy. Liu is known also for his roles in 76 Horror Bookstore (2020) and On Children (2018). The Award carries a certificate and cash award of Rs 10 lakh. >Continued on P5 Gold worth `95 lakh Sand mining: Chennai-based agency roped in for survey seized at Goa Airport SAID THE CHIEF MINISTER ... THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Goa Customs seized gold weighing 2170 grams approximately valued Rs 95.03 lakh from a domestic passenger at the Dabolim airport on Saturday. Based on specific Information, the Air Customs officers of Goa headed by YB Sahare, Assistant Commissioner of Customs apprehended a domestic passenger at Dabolim Airport. According to a press release issued by Customs Commissioner Mihir Ranjan, the passenger had arrived from New Delhi by Vistara Flight No UK847. “Goa Customs officers have successfully busted a modus operandi whereby an International passenger brought the smuggled gold from Dubai to Delhi and purposely left the gold below his seat with knowledge that same flight will be on domestic run from Delhi to Goa. At Delhi another passenger of his gang occupied the same seat and picked up the hidden Gold. He, however, was apprehended along with smuggled gold by Customs officers on his arrival at Dabolim Airport. The said gold has been seized under the provisions of Customs Act, 1962 and the domestic passenger, a native of West Bengal, has been arrested,” said the press note. MARGAO eiterating that the government is opposed to illegal sand mining carried out with mechanical pumps, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said there should not be a problem to restart sand extraction in the traditional way. The Chief Minister said the government is implementing the basic survey required to be completed before permission is granted for sand extraction. He said the government has roped in a Chennai-based agency to undertake the basic survey. Sawant said since the basic survey has been completed at the Chapora river, the day is not too far when the permis- R „„Sand from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka should not enter the state when sand can be extracted in the state „„“We will be able to issue permissions for sand extraction in the state after the completion of the basic survey sions are issued for sand extraction in the state. The Chief Minister said he is of the firm opinion that sand from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka should not enter the state when sand can be extracted in the state, giving business „„The survey stands completed at Chapora river and a mechanism will be set in place to clear decks for sand extraction „„Those who have gone to the court against sand mining are to be blamed and not the govt for stopping sand extraction opportunities for the local people. “We will be able to issue permissions for sand extraction in the state after the completion of the basic survey. The survey stands completed at the Chapora river and a mechanism will be set in place to clear the decks for the sand extraction in the river”, he said, adding that similar basic survey will be conducted in other rivers in the state. “The Dona Paula-based NCMR agency has been roped in to conduct the survey. One stretch of the Chapora river has been completed, while the agency will carry out similar surveys in other rivers as well”, he added. When the media drew his attention to the crack down launched on the sand mining in the state, the Chief Minister said it is necessary to understand that the matter is pending in the High Court and the police officers will be hauled up for any laxity against illegal sand mining. Saying he is in favour of sand extraction undertaken in a traditional manner, the Chief Minister said the government will not support mechanical sand extraction as the activity may pose a threat to the river embankments in times of uncontrolled sand mining. “Sand extraction offers business and employment opportunities for the local people. Hence, I am in favour of the early resumption in sand extraction so that sand from the neighbouring states does not come to the state”, he added. He said that those who have gone to the court against sand mining are to be blamed and not the government for stopping sand extraction in Goa. He blamed the people for going to court to halt the sand business. “Some people are highlighting illegalities in the court about the sand business”, he said.