log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3, 2022 GOA SIT focused on organised crime syndicate in land grabbing: SP Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 14 pages PRICE ` 8 2 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 47 GOA ATS commandos stage mock drill for safety of ballot boxes 6 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Home-made meals best choice for people with diabetes 9 SPORTS Vijender to return to action v/s Ghana’s Sulley on August 17 14 snuffs out lives Boost for tourism; Govt bets Mishapafter driver dozesof couple on beach cricket, volleyball  TO SEEK HELP FROM CENTRE  EYES ON BIKING TOO THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday said beach volleyball and beach cricket was on top of the government’s mind in bid to promote sports tourism in the State. Khaunte also expressed concern over rampant sand erosion along the beachfront and stressed on the need to initiate steps to arrest the trend. “In sports tourism…We have been contemplating in terms of beach volleyball and beach cricket. We can hold these games in different formats. We need to infuse new thoughts to promote tourism. Beach volleyball or beach cricket internationally will be on a different platform,” IN SHORT >> India’s monkeypox tally rises to eight NEW DELHI: The monkeypox case tally in the country reached eight on Tuesday as two more patients were reported in Kerala and Delhi, prompting states to ramp up preparations to check the spread of the infection. 163 new Covid cases, positivity rate 10.42% PANAJI: Covid positive cases saw a marginal increase with 163 of the 1564 samples testing positive in Goa in the last 24 hours recording positivity rate of 10.42%. With 150 recoveries, the active Covid count of the State stands at 742. Govt to allow Sunburn one extra day to showcase Goan culture PANAJI: The year-end Sunburn EDM organisers have been asked to increase the festival duration by one more day to showcase Goan culture, Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte said. The organisers are asked to increase the duration of festival from 3 days to 4 days and in return the organisers have been asked to dedicate one stage to showcase Goan culture and talent, he said. Meanwhile, the Tourism Department has asked all tourism-related service providers to register or renew their activities within next 15 days and warned of stringent action including sealing of premises. Touristic services such hotels, travel agents, water sports activities, shacks, deck beds, adventure activities, spice plantations, homestays etc come under the purview of the order. Khaunte said. The Tourism Minister was speaking to journalists at the side-lines of a function to un- ED raids National Herald office NEW DELHI: The ED raided the head office of the Congress party-owned National Herald newspaper and 11 other locations as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation, officials said on Tuesday. veil the Durand Cup trophies at Dona Paula. Khaunte said international players either retired or current can come to Goa and organise the games in a suitable format. Stating that he was in touch with Sports Minister Govind Gaude, Khaunte said he was also trying to involve the Central government to take the plan forward. “We are trying to get in touch with the Union sports ministry and see how we can do it and tune it to tourism. We are working on it,” he said. He further said that biking It was a golden day for India at the CWG 2022 with medals in Lawn Bowls and Table Tennis. India also bagged a silver medal in weightlifting TT GOLD >> The men’s table tennis team defeated Singapore 3-1 in the gold medal match to give the country its fifth gold medal Harmeet raised his game in the decisive singles to bring home the gold India will aim to increase their gold medal tally as the Indian badminton team faces Malaysia in Mixed Team final LIFTER THAKUR BAGS SILVER >> „„Heavyweight lifter Vikas Thakur added another Commonwealth Games medal to his kitty winning a silver in men’s 96kg „„Thakur lifted a total of 346kg to finish second HISTORIC LAWN BOWLS GOLD >> „„In a major first for India, the women’s fours lawn bowls team won a historic gold in the sport by defeating South Africa 17-10 in the final „„The quartet of Lovely Choubey, Rupa Rani Tirkey, Pinki and Nayanmoni Saikia made history as they recovered after trailing in the title to triumph THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a bid to ensure transparency and provide better policing services to the citizens, Goa Police have signed a MoU with a blockchain firm to digitise its records with an ultimate aim to make the entire police department paperless. The MoU was signed by SP Crime Nidhin Valsan IPS, on behalf of Goa Police and Pratik Gauri, Founder and CEO of 5irechain Techno Pvt Ltd at a function held at Crime Branch office, Ribandar on Tuesday. A timeline of one year has been setup to achieve the complete digitisation of the police department. Speaking at the function, Valsan said there will be visual cooperation and resource sharing for the blockchain technology so that Goa Police provides better services to the citizens. “In the initial phase, Goa Police and 5ire will aim to make all police documents digitised. And the ultimate aim is to make the entire Goa Police paperless. 5ire will provide the infrastructure and support system in achieving the same,” he added. When questioned about the safety of the data entrusted Taiwan flashpoint: US stares down China’s dare Top US official Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan ignoring China’s warnings PTI BEIJING hina on Tuesday warned that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan disregarding its stern warnings will have a “severe impact” on bilateral ties and it “gravely undermines” regional peace and stability, as the official media here said that the military will launch a series of “targeted” operations to counter her trip. Pelosi landed in Taipei on Tuesday night, according to the television footage shown by US networks. She is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. After Pelosi arrived in Taiwan, China’s Ministry of THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO In a tragic accident that took place in the wee hours of Tuesday at Navelim, an elderly couple in their 70’s, lost their lives, while their daughter, son-in-law and grandchild sustained injuries after the vehicle in which they were travelling hit a road divider. Tragedy hit the family around an hour and half at 5.45 am on Tuesday after the couple Joaquim Rodrigues (72) and Lina Albertina Joaquim Rocha Rodrigues (74), both residents of Carmona, along with their daughter Jessie Ciba Rodrigues (52) and 16-year old grand-daughter Venetia Noronha arrived from Dubai at the Dabolim airport at 5 am. Police said the son-in law of the elderly couple, Santano Robino Noronha (54), resident of Tolleaband-Chin- The ill-fated vehicle that was involved in an accident at Navelim.  Santosh Mirajkar chinim had hired a taxi Maruti Eco bearing No. GA-08-V-4207 driven by driver Benny Pereira (54), a resident of Chinchinim to collect his family from Dabolim Airport and to drop them at their native place at Carmona. The police said that on reaching Navelim, the vehicle met with a self-accident. “As per the version of the driver, DAY-5: 2 GOLD, SILVER IN Police to go digital, crime records at click of button INDIA’S KITTY AGREEMENT WITH BLOCKCHAIN FIRM SIGNED Zawahiri killed in US drone strike WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda’s reclusive chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, who played central role in 9/11 attacks and later created the group’s regional affiliate in the Indian subcontinent was killed in a US drone strike in Afghanistan’s Kabul. Plans to establish co-working space on Goa’s beach front: Khaunte >> See pg 5 could also be another event which could be tapped. “MLA Joshua D’Souza who is into biking has come up with nice ideas…We need to sit together and try and venture out and see how best we can promote sports tourism,” he said. The Tourism Minister said that sand erosion was a very serious issue and steps needed to be taken to find a solution to the problem. “We have to understand how we can prevent sand erosion and at the same time ensure whether technology is available where a beach stretch can be revived,” he said. “We have been talking to the environment department and experts. We need to know how we can resolve the problem,” he said.  Family had arrived from Dubai early morning and were heading home  Three others sustain injuries TENSIONS MOUNT AS OVER 20 CHINESE FIGHTER JETS ENTER TAIWAN AIRSPACE C Tanks roll down on the highway in Taiwan ahead of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit. Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement, saying that her visit is a “serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques”. China claims Taiwan as part of the mainland and vows to integrate what it calls the rebel province even by force. “It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, and seriously infringes upon China’s „„More than 20 Chinese military planes fly into Taiwan’s air defence zone „„Taiwan media also reported large-scale military movement in Taiwan Straits „„Air, ground movement sovereignty and territorial integrity. It gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and sends a seriously wrong signal to the separatist forces for ‘’Taiwan independence’’. China firmly of troops in Taiwan Straits reported „„PLA to stage joint training exercises off Taiwan coasts „„Long-range live-fire drills planned opposes and sternly condemns this, and has made serious demarche and strong protest to the United States,” the statement said. >Continued on P6 THE DIGITAL WAY SAFE & SECURE „„All police documents to be digitised in a phased manner „„Initially, internal communication documents to be digitised „„User interface to be created for public where status of files can be tracked „„User interface for police personnel to be created to track criminal records of any person „„Firm has ensured all security protocols „„Cybercrime team as well as other cyber experts consulted „„Blockchain is a technology where stealing of data is not as easy as other database management systems „„Technology built in such a way that one cannot change data… immutable, transparent, secure and cost effective with the firm, Valsan said they have ensured all security protocols. “We have consulted our cybercrime team as well as other cyber experts. Moreover, blockchain is a technology where the stealing of the data is not as easy as other database management systems are concerned,” Valsan said. “Initially, we are planning on the human resources management part where the internal communication documents will be digitalised. Once that is achieved, in a phased manner we will create a user interface for the public, where one would be easily able to track the status of their files,” he informed. “Further, we will work on creating a user interface for all the police personnel where they will be able to track the criminal records of any person,” Valsan stated. Pratik Gauri said his firm will provide infrastructure to the police department to realise the dream of the Goa Police to boost its efficiency and ensure more transparency in the >Continued on P6 he had started at 3 am to collect his passengers at Dabolim airport. On reaching Navelim, he is reported to have dozed off before losing control of the vehicle”, informed Margao Traffic Cell in-charge, PI Gautam Salunke. He said the place where accident occurred is a four-lane >Continued on P6 ‘Retired hurt’ Kamat padding up for a fresh political inning? 1 One birthday celebration and three separate receptions hosted by senior Margao MLA Digambar Kamat over the weekend have raised many an eyebrow. Kamat’s grandchild’s first birthday celebration kicked off at the spacious Daivaidnya hall, Margao for supporters and workers, including MMC Councilors. Many a Margao Municipal City Father, both from Margao and Fatorda, made it for the celebration, along with a band of dedicated Kamat’s supporters. The second birthday bash at Samrat gardens near Ravindra Bhavan, Fatorda, was attended by his ardent workers and supporters from his migrant-inhabited stronghold of Moti Dongor. Sunday saw the Margao MLA hosting the third birthday bash at Grand Hyatt, Bambolim, which sources said was attended by family members, besides VIPs, including MLAs and well-wishers. 2 3 4  >> See pg 2 Now, schools, HSSs get dept notice to adopt Anganwadis THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Education has called upon Secondary and Higher Secondary Schools in the State to adopt one Anganwadi or Balwadi in their vicinity. In a circular issued on Tuesday, Director of Education Shailesh Zingade has asked schools and higher secondaries to identify the Anganwadi in the vicinity which they plan to adopt, in consultation with respective managements and inform the department latest by August 5. “Many Anganwadis in the State are functioning in rented premises without any ba- The heads of the institutions should identify the Balwadis in the vicinity in consultation with respective managements and provide the information in the Google form latest by August 5 sic facilities that are needed. As the base in education, the foundation stage is the most important stage in the development of individual, which in turn, will be beneficial to society. Keeping this in mind it is envisaged that the Anganwadis and Balwadis are duly supported by the institutions in the locality”, states the circular issued by the education department. “Therefore, it is enjoined upon the heads of all secondary and higher secondary schools in the Staete to adopt at least one Anganwadi and ensure that it is well supported so that students going to these Balwadis get the best possible facilities,” adds circular. The heads of the institutions should identify the Balwadis in the vicinity in consultation with respective managements and provide the information in the Google form latest by Friday August 5, the director has stated in the circular.