log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SUNDAY MAY 8, 2022 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 16 pages PRICE ` 6 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VI, NO. 320 GOA Benaulim fishermen lay claim on land of defunct prawn hatchery 2 GOA No load-shedding in Goa unlike other states: Dhavalikar 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INDIA Bagga faces arrest again, Mohali court issues warrant 6 8 SPORTS IPL: Rajasthan Royals cruise to six-wicket win over Punjab Kings Cooking gas on ‘fire’, Did dept rush to constitute sexual harassment panel? price hiked by ` 50 I-T OFFICERS’ SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE (Feature section Pgs 9 to 16) O n-Topic Mother’s Day: First teacher, first school – By Priyanka Saurabh B eauty Tips for summer party makeup – By Shahnaz Husain M ental Fitness Positive affirmations to improve your well being – Lisa Wartenberg T he Healthy Goan Congenital anomalies: An overview for parents – By Dr Emanuel Gracias C ar Review Jeep Meridian: Go anywhere with your family – By Ritesh Madhok IN SHORT >> Keen contest on cards in Mapusa comunidade polls MAPUSA:A keen contest is on the cards for the post of attorney as the process to elect a new managing committee for the Mapusacomunidade will take place on Sunday.While there is near unanimity on election of the President, a stiff contest is expected for the other posts.  >> See pg 3 PM pushes for hybrid learning NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocated developing a hybrid system of online and offline learning to avoid overexposure of school kids to technology, as he chaired a meeting to review implementation of NEP. Supreme Court gets two more judges NEW DELHI: SC is set to regain its full strength of 34 judges with two fresh appointmentsafter the Collegium recommended the names of Gauhati HC Chief Justice and Justice Pardiwala of Gujarat HC for elevation. >> See pg 6 WEATHER >> Max: 34.2 C Min: 27.1 C Humidity: 91% TIDES Low: High: 08:56 23:01 01:45 16:42 Police begin probe, find credible leads CROSSES `  1,000 MARK IN SEVERAL STATES PTI NEW DELHI Cooking gas LPG prices were on Saturday hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder, the second increase in rates in just over six weeks following the firming of international energy rates. Non-subsidised LPG now costs Rs 999.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in the national capital, up from Rs 949.50 previously, according to a price notification of state-owned fuel retailers. In Goa, the cylinder will cost around Rs 950. This is the second increase in LPG rates in just over six weeks. Prices were hiked by Rs 50 a cylinder on March 22. Since April 2021, prices have risen by Rs 190 per cylinder. Petrol and diesel pric- JOLT TO COMMON MAN „„Second increase in rates in just over six weeks „„Prices were hiked by Rs 50 per cylinder on March 22 „„Consumers get frustrated, flood Twitter with memes „„Earlier this month price of commercial LPG cylinders was also hiked „„CONG SLAMS GOVT: Congress slammed the government over the hike with former party chief Rahul Gandhi saying millions of Indian households are waging a difficult battle against “extreme inflation”, unemployment and “poor governance”. es however continue to be on freeze for over a month now. The pause followed rates being hiked by a record Rs 10 per litre in a matter of 16 days be- ginning March 22. Non-subsidised cooking gas is the one that consumers buy after exhausting their quota of 12 cylinders at subsi- In a first, Church opts for an ‘eco-friendly’ feast No firecrackers, fozne during novena, feast in Agonda THE GOAN I NETWORK CANACONA After a gap of two years, the Catholic community on Saturday celebrated the Feast of St Anne Church at Agonda. For the first time, neither firecrackers nor the traditional Fozne were fired during the entire nine-day Novena nor on the feast day, in a bid to celebrate a pollution-free and eco-friendly festival. The Feast Mass was concelebrated by seven priests with Sancoale Parish Priest Fr Kenneth Teles as the main celebrant. In his homily, Fr Teles called upon the faithful to be a beacon of good deliverance for families, neighbourhood The statue of St Anne being taken in a procession on Saturday.  Kathy Fernandes and the world. “Be concerned about the needs of others just as much you would want others to show their concern towards dised or below-market rates. However, the government pays no subsidy on LPG in most cities and the price of the refill that consumers, including the poor women who got free connection under the much-talked Ujjwala scheme, is the same as non-subsidised or market price LPG. Non-subsidised LPG costs Rs 999.50 per 14.2-kg cylinder in Mumbai while it is priced at Rs 1,015.50 a bottle in Chennai and Rs 1,026 in Kolkata. Rates differ from state to state depending on the incidence of local taxes such as VAT. Earlier this month, the price of commercial LPG cylinders -- the one used by establishments like hotels and restaurants -- was increased. Pre-monsoon showers likely to hit State next week THE GOAN I NETWORK you,” said Fr Teles. Agonda Parish Priest Fr Patrick Luis, Assistant Parish Priests Fr Kyriel D’Souza and Fr Darrel Fernandes were among the priests concelebrating the Feast Mass. Parishioners later took part in a procession on the church ground and later queued up to venerate the patroness of their church. Stating that no firecrackers or the traditional Fozne were used during the Maddi, Novena and Feast, Fr Patrick Luis said: “Our Agonda Parish has set an example in celebrating this feast in a pollution-free and eco-friendly manner.” “Likewise, I request all our MAPUSA The  India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday said that there was no indication so far of an early onset of monsoon in Goa but the State is  expected to receive pre-monsoon showers next week. The IMD has also said that a low pressure system has developed over the Bay of Bengal which is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm but will not have any significant impact on Goa. “Currently we are going through a dry spell but there is a possibility of light rains again on May 11 and 12 over Goa. The State will experience >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 THE CASE IN QUESTION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The investigations into the case of sexual assault and harassment of a junior female employee by three Income Tax officers is zeroing in on whether the Central Government agency had the Supreme Court mandated sexual harassment committee in place. Top police officials said, there are credible leads that the panel had not been put in place and was hurriedly constituted when the current incident cropped up and on the day the First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the Panaji police. Three officers of the I-T department posted at its office located at the EDC Patto Plaza have been booked allegedly for sexually assaulting and harassing a junior employee in the same office. The three officers -- Man- „„Three officers of I-T dept at EDC Patto booked allegedly for sexually assaulting and harassing a junior employee „„The three officers are from Delhi, Rajasthan and Bengaluru  „„One of the three is accused of making physical contact and advances including explicitly sexual overtures and even making sexual gestures and hugging her „„The other two accused officers are also accused of stalking the victim intended to foster personal interaction despite repeatedly being told of her disinterest inder Singh Attari, Aditya Verma and Deepak Kumar -- are from Delhi, Rajasthan and Bengaluru.  All the three have been slapped charges under section 354 (A), 354 (D), 509 and 506 (II) read with section 34 of IPC and have been accused of harassing and stalking the victim. One of the three, Maninder is accused of making physical contact and advances includ- ing explicitly sexual overtures and even making sexual gestures and hugging her. The other two accused officers -- Aditya and Deepak -- are also accused of stalking the victim intended to foster personal interaction despite repeatedly being clearly told of her disinterest by the victim. All the allegations are being investigated in detail, Panaji police said. Rent-a-bike big nuisance, says govt, mulls audit Parking, rough riding plaints come to fore THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Terming rent-a-bikes as a bigger nuisance on Goan roads, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has said he cannot allow tourists on a holiday in the State to die on Goan roads or go home maimed in accidents. Calling for an audit on the rent-a-bikes as well as renta-taxi, black and yellow taxis and tourist taxis operating in the State, the Transport Minster unveiled his plan to impose restrictions on rent-abikes in the State. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the opening of the new store of Walk Over at Gogol, Margao on Saturday, POINTS TO PONDER „„Tourists use rent-a-bike to travel long distances resulting in accidents „„Haphazard parking a nuisance to others „„Questions over number of bikes a person can rent „„Impact on economy as owners may be unable to pay back loans Mauvin said “rent-a-bikes may be needed on short distance routes, but they are involved in road accidents, including fatal ones, as tourist use the two-wheelers to trav- el long distances in the State. Many a time, we have found the pillion rider on a rent-abike going by the Global Positioning System (GPS) and give wrong direction to the rider, resulting in many a fatal accident”, he said. Conceding the rent-a-bike riders park their vehicles anywhere, including road and entrance to buildings and even the airport, Mauvin said these bikes are creating nuisance for the people, even restricting them entering their houses. “As per rules, the rent-abikes ought to have their own parking facilities. But they are parking anywhere and everywhere. Complaints are galore >Continued on P5 Finding feni in Goa may be a herculean task in future! THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI eather has been erratic in the last few seasons, hitting the local production of various agriculture crops including the popular cashew apples that go into making the popular alcoholic beverage feni. The changing climatic conditions have impacted the cashew crop in a big way, which has cut the amount of feni distillation to almost half this year. However, the prices of feni are certainly up by 15-25% in this season according to sources from the industry. Trying to get to the root cause of the reasons for reduced production of the cashew crop and whether it affected the feni production, The Goan spoke to some of the distillers in Goa. Founder president of Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association Mac Vaz, who was at the forefront when feni got the GI tag in 2009 says the reason for cashew crop going dry is the unseasonal rains and erratic winters, He also blames deforestation, abuse of resources and disregard for nature and earth. Calling Feni as the ‘shaan’ of Goa and ‘pehchan’ of India, W FENITASTIC FACTS & FIGURES „„Feni got its Geographical Indication tag in 2009 „„Was the first GI alcoholic beverage from India as a result of joint endeavour of State & stakeholders „„Most unique characteristic of feni is its distinct smell that can be detected from a distance „„Quality of genuine feni is determined by its aroma „„Traditional way of distilling feni in a clay pot is called ‘launi’ „„Prices of feni are up by 15-25 per cent in this season  „„There are around four to five prominent bottlers in the State „„Around 50 plus bhattikars and 2,000 small bhattis are scattered across the State Mac points out that the State is appreciating this potential that adds value to Goa tourism USP with the ‘Made in India’ Swadeshi emotion. Gurudatta Bhakta, the second generation distiller from Nanora in North Goa feels that this heritage drink needs a shot in the arm as far as organised production is concerned. Asking, how can one cope when the produce is regulated by nature, Bhakta says “we can sell only what nature has provided. Cashew apples are being brought from neighbouring States but the effect is all around so shortage is there. Planting more cashew saplings in the State would be the answer as a long term solution.” “We are looking forward to exports this year as Covid kept our operations shut during the past season,” he said. He also opines that we need to boost the standard of feni which can be done by standardised >Continued on P5 Ayur Herbal Shampoo ka HAIR SPA treatment. 40 Young Three-N-Products Pvt. Ltd. Customer care. 1800 11 2986 E-mail : ayurcare79@gmail.com,