log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY JULY 22, 2025 GOA Towards inclusive skies: Training airport staff to support PwDs Vice President Dhankar quits NEW DELHI: In a sudden move, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday evening resigned from his post citing medical reasons. He has sent his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu and said he was stepping down with immediate effect. "To prioritise healthcare and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution," Dhankhar said in his letter to >> See pg 8 the President. IN SHORT >> Court flags illegal Cuncolim structures MARGAO: In a significant order, the High Court has issued directions to the Director of Municipal Administration to probe into allegations that several single and double storied buildings have been constructed in the jurisdiction of Cuncolim Municipal Council without permissions.  >> See pg 3 Borim bridge: Farmers advised to move HC MARGAO: Loutolim farmers' petition to halt land acquisition for the Borim bridge was heard by the National Green Tribunal, Pune. While they urged a stay, the Tribunal reportedly advised them to approach the High Court for matters related to land acquisition.  >> See pg 5 Chodankars demand rollback of Ro-Ro fees OLD GOA: Locals from Chorao have demanded rollback in the ticket fee for Chodankars and have also demanded that additional three old ferries be operated along the Ribandar-Chorao route during peak hours of morning and evening.   >> See pg 3 Mumbai train blasts: All accused acquitted MUMBAI: Nineteen years after seven train blasts here killed more than 180 persons, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was “hard to believe the accused committed the crime”. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 35 CM to take up Goa–London flight cancellation with Centre >> See pg 5 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA 200 agri graduates ineligible for jobs due to college’s lack of accreditation 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Struggling to focus or remember? You may lack this vitamin 10 Govt freezes direct hiring of daily wage employees GRANTS TEMPORARY STATUS TO OVER 3,000 DAILY WAGE WORKERS WITH SEVEN YEARS IN SERVICE ALL ABOUT THE NEW SCHEME THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major reform move, the government announced a complete stop to direct hiring of daily wage and NMR (Nominal Muster Roll) workers across all departments, corporations, autonomous bodies etc while granting “temporary status” to over 3,000 existing daily wage workers, who have completed 7 years in service. Going forward, all such appointments will be routed exclusively through the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC). Any direct engagement outside this system “shall be null and void,” the government said. The announcements are part of the newly approved scheme ‘Grant of Temporary Status to Daily Wage Workers’ by the Cabinet. The scheme aims at regularising over 3,000 daily wagers who have completed more than seven years of service, as assured in „„All appointments to be routed exclusively through GHRDC „„Any direct engagement outside this system “shall be null and void” „„Announcements are part of newly approved scheme ‘Grant of Temporary Status to Daily Wage Workers’ „„Scheme promises monthly pay of Rs 20,000 for labour roles and Rs 25,000 for clerical and skilled posts „„To attract 3 per cent annual increments & EPF contributions „„Benefits to take effect from August 1 „„Increments to be counted notionally from the year the worker completed 7 years of service „„Daily wage worker is currently paid Rs 12,818 per month „„Workers will also be eligible for leave entitlements and will be mandatorily enrolled under Atal Pension Yojana, PMJJBY, and PMSBY the State Budget 2025-26. Addressing media post meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the move was driven by the twin goals of regularisation and reform. “While we are honouring the commitment to our long-serving workers, we are also putting an end to unregulated, ad-hoc hiring. Going forward, all recruitments will be transparent, accountable and routed through GHRDC,” he said. The scheme promises monthly pay of Rs 20,000 for labour roles and Rs 25,000 for clerical and skilled posts, with 3 per cent annual increments and EPF contributions. The benefits will take effect from August 1, though increments will be counted notionally from the year the worker completed seven years of service. Currently, the daily wage worker is paid Rs 12,818. Workers will also be eligible for leave entitlements and will be mandatorily enrolled under Atal Pension Yojana, PMJJBY, and PMSBY. Further, the scheme ex- ‘AYESHA’ CASE FALLOUT Govt eyes legislation to curb forced religious conversions CM says cases of ‘Love Jihad’ reported THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amid ongoing investigation into the ‘Ayesha’ case involving religious conversions across the country, Goa government is contemplating to introduce a law against such forceful conversions. Replying to the calling attention motion, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the ON PAGES 2&3 House the ‘Ayesha’ case involves alleged coercive conversion and is currently under investigation and hence full details cannot be disclosed in public. He also revealed the existence of Love Jihad cases with specific targets in the coastal State. BJP MLA Premandra Shet and AAP MLA Cruz Silva had moved a calling attention mo- CONVERSIONS: CM’S WARNING BELL „„Many States have already passed anti-conversion laws „„Goa will also need to consider similar legislation to ban forceful conversions „„Cases of Love Jihad are being reported, and specific groups are being tion in the House on the grave matter of national security and public concern of an international network operating in Goa funded by international operators that came to light on the arrest of Ayesha alias S B Krishna alias Nikki who reportedly resided in Old Goa and was part of a transnational network operating in India. targeted „„Vigilance needed against potential sleeper cells, networks should be identified „„Panchayats also need to be proactive... Goa will not tolerate extremist infiltration, covert funding, or the misuse of religious spaces Ruling as well as the Opposition benches strongly criticised the police for their failure on intelligence inputs as the alleged accuse Ayesha was residing in the State for last one and half year. They said that police failure led to major security threat to the >Continued on P8 State revises dump handling policy with minor tweaks PANAJI: After cancelling the first e-auction of low grade iron ore dumps, the State government has now revised the dump handling policy to introduce minor changes in a bid to go ahead with the auctioning process. The Cabinet on Monday approved revision to the policy. >> See pg 3 plained if the daily wage labour has completed 7 years in 2020, his or her remuneration of Rs 20,000 notionally with effect from 2020 with three per cent will be granted with retrospective effect till July 2025, that is total five increments. As such, from August 1, that labourer will be eligible for monthly salary of Rs 23,185. SPORTS India women eye redemption in ODI series decider against Eng 13 SC declines to stay High Court order on TCP Act, ODPs Orders status quo be maintained THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Supreme Court of India, on Monday, refused to grant an interim stay on the judgement of the Bombay High Court at Goa, which in a judgement passed in March this year, read down section 17(2) of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act and suspended the rules made thereunder as well as the judgement staying the ODPs of Calangute-Candolim and Arpora, Nagoa, Parra. Both appeals are being heard together. The Goa Foundation, which has been made a respondent in the case along with other petitioners including the Calangute Constituency Forum, the Calangute panchayat, Roshan Matias and others informed that, the Supreme Court bench issued notices to the respondents but ordered that a ‘status quo’ be maintained. “This in effect means that all construction activities connected with the subject matters of the two judgments -- and now subject matter of the appeals filed by the State -- would have to remain at a standstill till the apex court The Goa government had separately challenged both judgements of the High Court. The challenge to the Sec 17(2) judgement was filed after the govt initially announced that it would not be challenging the verdict and would instead take the recommendations of HC constructively disposes of the appeals,” Claude Alvares, said. The bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, rejected the plea to stay the two judgements. The Goa government had separately challenged both judgements of the High Court. The challenge to the section 17(2) judgement was filed after the Goa government initially announced that it would not be challenging the verdict and would instead take the recommendations of the High Court constructively and work within the framework laid down by the judgement. The Bombay High Court at Goa on Thursday struck down >Continued on P8 Calangute MLA pushes for new RP to address land concerns THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Monday urged the State government to formulate a new regional plan (RP) asserting that the plan will help counter issues surrounding the planning process and also land conversions. Participating in the discussion on the motion of passing of State Budget 2025-26, Lobo said that RP 2021, drafted way back in 2011, is outdated. “It’s been over 15 years since the last plan was drafted. The plan also lapsed in 2021. Hence, its right time that we start the process to draft a new Regional Plan for the State,” he said. The MLA said that the Regional Plan will help resolve several problems related to planning and land conversions as well as relief from judicial actions. “Rather than focusing on piecemeal planning, it is important that we have a common planning process and provisions for the entire State,” he said LORNA HITS THE RIGHT NOTE: Goa’s nightingale Lorna captivated thousands of people at the Goa Day London at Cranford in Hounslow, West London, on Sunday evening. (Report on pg 3)  Lui Godinho HC issues notice on MPA plan to expand coal handling Ops THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday, issued notice to government respondents and others on a plea filed by residents of Vasco led by one Sanjay Redkar, who have challenged the Mormugao Port’s plans to increase coal handling. The High Court ordered that the government respondents file replies before September 11. In their petition, the petitioners, all residents of Vasco stated that they are aggrieved by the expansion of the han- dling of the coal at Mormugao Port Trust from 10.64 million tonnes to 42.1 MTPA by 2035 which, the petitioners say, “poses hazard to the environment resulting in toxic emissions, coal dust pollution, and degradation of air, water and >Continued on P8 SC slams ED for targeting KR to operate Ro-Ro car service during Chaturthi lawyers over legal advice Asserts such action is ‘crossing all limits’ K THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate is “crossing all limits”, the Supreme Court said on Monday as it expressed serious concern over the agency summoning advocates for offering legal advice or representing clients during investigations. It also called for guidelines on the matter. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case to address the impli- cations of actions on the independence of legal profession. This comes in the wake of the ED summoning senior lawyers Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal. Even if it is wrong, the communication between a lawyer and the clients is privileged communication. How can notices be issued against them? There should be some guidelines, the CJI said. Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the issue was taken up at the highest level and the probe agency had been asked to not issue notices to lawyers for rendering legal advice. Venkataramani early on in the hearing said he had a word with the ED officials and the summons to lawyers were wrong. MARGAO onkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), the pioneer of Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) services in India since 1999, now extends this innovative freight solution to private car owners with the launch of a new Ro-Ro service between Kolad (Maharashtra) and Verna (Goa). Originally a game changer for transporting loaded trucks through the challenging Western Ghats, Ro-Ro services helped reduce road congestion, fuel consumption, and emissions. The new service offers a safe, economical, and convenient option for long-distance car travel. The new Ro-Ro car service KOLAD TO VERNA WHEELS ON RAILS Service to commence on August 23 from Kolad and on August 24 from Verna Can accommodate 40 cars per trip, with two cars loaded on each of the 20 wagons will be launched on 23 August from Kolad and from Verna on August 24, and will operate on alternate days in each direction until September 11. The service will run end-toend between Kolad and Verna, Owners will have to shell out Rs 7875 inclusive of GST -- Rs 4000 initially at the time of booking, and the balance on the day of the journey with departures at 17:00 hrs and arrivals at 05:00 hrs the following day. Customers must report at the starting station by 14:00 hrs i.e. three hours prior to departure. The specially designed rake Per car, three persons will be allowed to travel in attached 3AC or second seating coach Each person will have to pay Rs 935 for 3AC and Rs 190 for second seating coach Bookings to open between July 21 and August 13 at Belapur or Verna-based offices Service will run end-to-end with departures at 5 pm and arrivals at 5 am the next day can accommodate 40 cars per trip, with two cars loaded on each of the 20 wagons. The freight charge is Rs 7,875 per car. A registration fee of Rs 4,000 is payable at the time of booking, with balance to be settled on the day of the journey. Additionally, maximum of three persons per car may travel in the attached 3AC coach or Second Seating coach by paying the prescribed fare (Rs 935 per passenger for 3AC or Rs 190 per passenger for Second seating), ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey for both the vehicle and its occupants. Bookings open on July 21 and close on August 13. Reservations can be made at the office of the Chief Commercial Manager Konkan Railway Corporation Limited 4th Floor, Belapur Bhavan, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai or at Verna Railway station, Verna, Goa with flexible payment options including UPI and cash.