log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2021 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 10 pages PRICE ` 6 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VI, NO. 240 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Osaka in Australian Open final  PG10 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Sand mining quagmire will be No more goondagiri; govt plans major crackdown resolved in 2 months: Sawant Externment proceedings to be initiated: CM SAYS OPERATIONS TO RESUME AT LEAST IN ONE NORTH GOA RIVER THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI/MARGAO The minor minerals section of the Department of Geology and Mines will begin issuing licences in two months after sorting out the legal quagmire over sand mining and the ban imposed by the Court, according to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “The Goa government will start giving sand mining licenses to applicants within the next two months’ time,” Sawant said on Thursday while speaking to journalists. He said legal sand extraction in the State should hopefully resume at least in one river in North Goa in the next one or two months. Sawant also said the expert agency, which was roped in by the government to conduct IN SHORT >> Amendment to Lokayukta Act gets Gov’s nod PANAJI: The controversial amendment to the Goa Lokayukta Act that was passed by the Goa legislative assembly in its winter session got the assent of Goa Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari on Thursday. The amendment will soon become law once it is notified in the official gazette. RBI team in Goa to check MUCB claims PANAJI: A team from the Reserve Bank of India arrived in Goa to scrutinise claims of major depositors of liquidated Mapusa Urban Co-op bank. The team will be camping in Goa to complete the scrutiny work. WEATHER >> Max: 31.9 C Min: 22 C Humidity: 93% TIDES Low: 09:44 21:23 High: 02:43 16:30 DEPT BAN HOPE AT LAST „„The department of mines and geology had stopped permitting sand mining anywhere in Goa following intervention of the High Court which directed formulation of a proper State-level policy to scientifically regulate the activity „„Govt to start giving sand mining licenses to applicants within two months „„Expert agency roped in to conduct survey of river in North Goa has completed the task „„Govt to clear applications received by district authorities survey of the river in North Goa has completed the task. “The district authorities have received a number of applications for sand extraction from the river”, he said, adding that the government will be in a position to clear the applications so that legal sand extraction can resume in the next 2 months. There has been a complete ban on the local sand mining industry due to court directions which has for several months triggered a shortage of the crucial material in the construction sector. The local extraction and trading of sand sector has also faced severe uncertainty over several years with intermit- tent interventions from the courts. The activity is regulated by the ‘minor minerals’ section of the mining department and the absence of a firm policy or scientific regime to grant extraction licences is at the epicentre of the intervention of the courts which has banned it several times over concerns Covid spike in Mumbai, hand stamps are back SOPs tightened, buildings to be sealed PTI MUMBAI Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued fresh guidelines in Mumbai amid rising cases of Covid-19 even as authorities said hand stamps would be put on patients staying in home quarantine. If five or more Covid patients are found in a building, it will be sealed, BMC Commissioner I S Chahal said. Now people returning from Brazil will also have to undergo mandatory institutional quarantine.Tests will be increased in areas where more patients are found, Chahal said. Mumbai has seen a spike in cases since local train services have resumed for the general public. On Wednesday, the city recorded 721 fresh cases, the highest single-day since January 7. After imposing strict clampdown in two Vidarbha dis- THE NEW SOPs „„Stamps to be put on back of the hands of the patients staying in home quarantine „„300 marshals to be hired to keep an eye on people traveling in local trains without face mask „„Marshals to keep an eye on violators in Mumbai „„Wedding halls, clubs, and restaurants etc will be raided to check if they are flouting rules tricts, the district administration announced a weekend lockdown in Amravati. However, essential services will remain unaffected. The lockdown will be implemented from 8 pm on Saturday to 7 am on Monday, a period during which markets and other establishments will remain shut. Collector Shailesh Naval said on weekdays, all establishments, including hotels and restaurants, would stay open only till 8 pm (from earlier 10 pm). “In view of a spurt in Covid-19 cases, I have decided to impose a weekend lockdown in the district. To avoid any stricter lockdown in the future, I appeal to people to follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour,” Naval said. He said during the weekend lockdown all markets and other establishments will remain shut. “Swimming pools and indoor games, too, will remain closed, while only five people will be allowed at religious ceremonies,” he said. Of late, Maharashtra has been witnessing a steady rise in cases. Meanwhile, restrictions have also been put in Yavatmal district, said District Collector MD Singh. THE GOAN I NETWORK of environmental destruction of riverine ecosystems. The erosion of the banks of several rivers including Tiracol in some parts of Pernem, Chapora in Siolim and other contiguous areas of Bardez and also in Colvale and Amona has been blamed on unregulated and indiscriminate sand extraction from these river beds. Currently the extraction activity is at a virtual standstill and whatever little sand is transacted in the State all happens clandestinely. The shortage faced by the State’s construction industry is being reportedly overcome by imports from across the border raising some tensions among local truckers. The department of mines >Continued on P5 MARGAO Asserting that the Goa police have not been found wanting in putting an end to goondagiri and gang wars in the State, Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant on Thursday sent a stern warning to the anti-social elements that the government would go after them in a hard way in the next six months, by initiating externment proceedings. The Chief Minister, who on Thursday was in Fatorda, which had witnessed a gang war earlier this week, had to face a volley of questions from the media over the open gang wars, issued a stern warning to the goons that his government would go after them in a major crackdown in the next six months. “The Goa police had been working and had taken several steps to stop goondagiri in the State in the last two years, CHRIS MORRIS SMASHES IPL AUCTION RECORD SOUTH AFRICAN MILLIONAIRE „„Morris came in to the auction @ Rs 75 lakh „„Is a right-arm fast bowler & lower-order hitter „„Has played 70 IPL games & scored 551 runs „„Has 80 wickets to his credit TOP 5 BUYS Chris Morris Rajasthan Royals @ Rs 16.25 cr Kyle Jamieson Royal Challengers @ Rs 15 cr Glenn Maxwell Royal Challengers @ Rs 14.25 cr Jhye Richardson Punjab Kings @ Rs 14 cr K Gowtham Chennai Super Kings @ Rs 9.25 cr UNCAPPED GOWTHAM CREATES HISTORY Krishnappa Gowtham was bought by Chennai Super Kings for a whopping Rs. 9.25 cr becoming the most expensive uncapped Indian player in IPL history. His base price was Rs 20 lakh Report on PG 10 AUCTION FACTFILE „„Of 298 players for sale, 164 are Indian „„124 are overseas & 3 from associate nations „„Highest base price of players @ Rs 2 cr „„Lowest base price was Rs 20 lakh „„Total of 10 players in Rs 2 cr base price category „„12 players had base price of Rs 1.5 cr POLICE GET CLEAN CHIT Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the police have been working hard and have taken several steps to stop goondagiri in the State. Police have not spared anyone indulging in goondagiri... the government will go for a major crackdown, he said. whether in connection with murders, half murders, gang wars, be it in Merces, Fatorda or the coastal belt”, he said. Saying that the police have not spared anyone indulging in goondagiri, the Chief Minister, who also holds the Home Portfolio, said the government has taken a decision to go for externment of the goons as part of the planned crackdown. South Africa all-rounder Chris Morris became the costliest ever buy in IPL auction history as he was bought for ` 16.25 cr by Rajasthan Royals GOAN FLAVOUR Goa’s Suyash Prabhudessai was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for Rs 20 lakh EIGHT FRANCHISES Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals “The government will go for a major crackdown against the goons and anti-socials in the talukas of Mormugao, Salcete, Bardez and Tiswadi, which had seen goondagiri raising its ugly head”, he said. When the media sought to know whether the police has been found wanting in reigning in on the goons, the Chief Minister said the police have been doing their duties, but hastened to add that sometimes strict action need to be taken against the anti-social elements. In this respect, he said the government would fast track the action to keep the goons at bay. When asked whether the gang war at Fatorda was a result of sand mining, the Chief Minister said he has no information on the exact motive behind the incident, but hastened to add that it is quite possible that the gang war may be over sharing of booty. Thundershower, light rain to continue in Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Light to moderate rain with lightning is very likely at isolated places as thundershower activity is expected to continue over Goa in next 48 to 72 hours, an Indian Meteorological Department bulletin said, even as some parts of the State experienced light rainfall on Thursday morning. “The “trough” from north Kerala to madhaya Maharashtra and the circulation over madhya Maharashtra continue to persist. Cloud formation and rainfall accompanied with lightning and thunder is likely over Goa for next two to three days,” said Rahul Mohan, senior scientist at the IMD. According to the IMD bulletin, the weather systems have strengthened over madhya Maharashtra and Vidharbha region which has resulted in cloud formation on the borders of Goa. “These systems as >Continued on P5 Out of business, Angriya now docked in Sri Lanka India to go Aatmanirbhar from THE GOAN I NETWORK BELAGAVI aving being in operation along the Mumbai-Goa route before the Covid pandemic, India’s first domestic cruise liner Angriya is now docked at Galle in Sri Lanka and is serving as sea travel bubble services. However, Angriya is expected to be brought back to the Goa port once the situation across the globe eases out. Out of business after shipping operations came to a halt across the globe last year, the Angriya has sailed to Sri Lanka and is on a mission to facilitate crew change and relieve stranded seamen. Named after Kanhoji Angre, the first admiral of the Maratha Navy, Angriya has been providing service to sailors arriving from ships passing H IN GALLE „„Offers sea travel bubble services „„Facilitates crew change & relieves stranded seamen „„Expected to be brought back to Goa port once the situation across the globe eases via Sri Lanka to depart for their home or to join ships to resume duties that are crucial for maritime operations across the globe, as most vessels pass via the island nation. “Over 4 lakh seamen are stranded on ships across the globe since last year. This is a proud moment for us at Angriya Sea Eagle Ltd to be of service to sailors and seamen stranded across the globe due to limited frequency of flights to return home or join ships amid the Covid-19 situation,” Capt. Nitin Dhond, Chairman & MD, Angriya Sea Eagle Ltd, told The Goan. Avant Garde Maritime Ser- vices (Pvt) Ltd in collaboration with Sri Lankan authorities have entrusted Angriya for this operation that is the first of its kind and the company plans to resume operations in mid2021 after normalcy returns. Capt. Dhond said the ship is manned completely by Indian marine and hospitality crew which is now stationed in Sri Lankan waters for the next three months in its first phase of operations. “It will be brought back to Goa port once the situation across the globe eases out,” he ascertained. Leena Kamat Prabhu, Executive Vice Chairman of Angriya Sea Eagle Ltd, expressed gratitude towards DG Shipping and Mumbai and Goa Port authorities for their support. According to reports, cruise liners across the world have been hit hard by the Covid pandemic. The challenging situation confronting the shipping industry is such that some ships in India have already headed to ship-breaking yards as owners can’t maintain them and one Indian ship is currently being dismantled at the Alang Ship breaking yard. Whatsapp, launches ‘Sandes’ AGENCIES NEW DELHI In another addition to the “Aatmanirbhar” call, the Centre has come out with a new instant messaging app called ‘Sandes’ which has been developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The latest WhatsApp alternative will be available for both android and iOS users. It is said to be based on the popular messaging app but with one difference that is Sandes allows users to log in through email addresses apart from their phone numbers as opposed to WhatsApp. Login by email ID is currently restricted to government officials but can be extended to all users in the The latest WhatsApp alternative will be available for both android and iOS users and is said to be based on the popular messaging app future as the app gets more traction, as seen in the muchtalked-about ‘Koo’. Recently, while the monopoly of existing apps and social media platforms is debated, the call for supporting Indian apps has also seen a boost. Even though the government is yet to reveal details of ‘Sandes’, an official announcement is expected to happen soon. Those who want to access Sandes can choose an alter- native based on the OS they are on, such as iOS users can download the Sandes app on Apple App Store, while Android users can get the APK file from the GIMS.Gov. “Your chats are secured with end-to-end encryption. The platform supports audio/video calls and multimedia and file sharing,” the official app description on Apple App store reads. Users can share contacts, messages, tag other users, back-up and restore their chat history, just like WhatsApp. There is group chat, broadcast messages, and more. As previously stated, currently, only email addresses ending with ‘@gov.in’ can be used to sign-in on the app.