log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) MONDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2025 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 143 GOA Earnings, IPOs and global trends to drive action on D-Street this week IN SHORT >> Car plunges into canal, one dead PANAJI: A tragic accident in Assonora claimed the life of a local resident, when a Maruti Zen car lost control and plunged into a canal. The impact sent shockwaves through the community as bystanders rushed to the scene, managing to rescue another youth from Shirgao who had been travelling in the same vehicle. Eyewitnesses reported that the car suddenly veered off the road before crashing into the canal. Police act tough on touts, apprehend 13 MAPUSA: As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and comfort of tourists, the Calangute Police Station has intensified its drive against touts and illegal agents operating in the popular beach belt. Thirteen touts/illegal agents involved in harassing or misleading tourists were apprehended. >> See pg 3 Assagao locals oppose power hike MAPUSA: Assagao villagers on Sunday came out strongly against the proposed electricity tariff hike and the installation of smart meters, terming the move as an attempt by the government to harass and financially burden the common man.  >> See pg 3 Sex racket busted at Dabolim spa VASCO: Vasco police busted a prostitution racket being run under the guise of a spa at Dabolim and rescued six women who were being forced into commercial sexual activities. According to police, the raid was conducted following reliable inputs that the premises was being used for flesh trade.  >> See pg 3 ATS foils nationwide terror plot, 3 held >> See pg 7  WEATHER >> Max: 32.1 C Min: 23.2 C Humidity: 90% TIDES Low: High: 08:09 20:04 02:33 13:11 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 12 2 9 Goa rises in revolt, thousands Accused in jobs scam grilled for pledge to end menace of coal hours by sleuths Tension flares at Varca beach between Venzy, Warren supporters over JCB >> pg 6 Instagram.com/thegoanonline GOA Tivim locals demand stronger police presence amid rising crime fears INFO Hormonal imbalance triggers skin problems in 50% of women: Expert GOVT ASKED TO SCRAP SWR’s DOUBLE TRACKING PROJECT, STOP TRANSPORTATION OF COAL, RETURN ACQUIRED LAND THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Thousands of people from across Goa gathered at the historic Lohia Maidan on Sunday evening and took a solemn vow not to rest until the government stops coal handling at the Mormugao Port and halts coal transportation through the State. Hands were raised in unity as participants endorsed a series of resolutions adopted at the massive public awareness meeting. Citizens pledged to continue their protests in every possible form and forum, spread awareness, and persist in their struggle until the people’s demands are met. The people demanded that the government immediately scrap the double tracking project on the South Western Railway and return the acquired land to the people of Goa. While further demanding the scraping of all port expansion projects at the MPT, the people in one voice demanded that the Mormugao port be used only for green cargo. Another resolution adopt- Thousands attend the public awareness meeting against coal at Lohia Maidan, Margao on Sunday. (More Reports and Photos on pg 2)  Santosh Mirajkar. SIOLIM-MARNA VILLAGERS OPPOSE COAL EXPANSION >> See pg 3 ed at the meeting was the scrapping of the controversial Sagarmala Master plan for the Mormugao port. The people demanded that the local communities retain the autonomy over the state’s rivers, coasts and lands. Demanding the removal of the state’s rivers and coasts from the National Waterways Act, 2016 and from Port Limits, the meeting unanimously adopted a resolution demanding the scrapping of all proposals for capital dredging and new jetties. While reiterating its demand for the scrapping of the Over 5L houses in Goa to be geo-tagged in census drive n TO BE CLASSIFIED IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES n PROCESS TO BEGIN IN APRIL NEXT YEAR THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a first-of-its-kind initiative, over five lakh houses and buildings in Goa would be geo-tagged as part of Census 2027. The Digital Layout Mapping (DLM) of the buildings, residential and non-residential, will begin as part of House Listing Operations (HLO), scheduled from April 1, 2026 onwards. This will be the first time such a large-scale digital mapping exercise is undertaken as part of the census. Officials say the census will, for the first time, classify buildings into categories such as residential, non-residential, partly residential, and landmark. “The task of the supervisor or an enumerator, before starting the canvassing of schedule, is to visit every area within their blocks and en- GEO-TAGGING CENSUS PUSH „„Supervisors, enumerators to visit area within their blocks to understand boundaries clearly „„To ensure complete coverage of all buildings, census houses, and households „„Enumerators will geo-tag each building with its assigned House Listing Block „„Data collected will include number of census houses & households in each building „„Earlier, census officials used hand-drawn sketches for house listings, which often lacked detailed and reusable information sure that they full understand the boundaries. This is to ensure that all buildings, census houses and households are covered without missing or repeating,” Joint Director of Census Operations, Goa, KVR Rao told The Goan. Enumerators will geo-tag every building with its assigned House Listing Block (HLB), which is defined as “a >Continued on P7 new High Level Borim bridge, the meeting adopted another resolution to scrap all expansion proposals for the NH-17N and NH-4A and other roads for coal transportation. A resolution was adopted to demand scrapping all steel plants in Goa and related proposals for Bandharas and dams. >Continued on P7 Modi to unveil 77-foot statue of Lord Ram in Canacona THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a historic and spiritual milestone for Goa, a majestic 77-foot bronze statue of Lord Shree Ram will be unveiled at Shree Samsthan Gokarn Partagali Jeevottam Math, Canacona at the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 28. A grand Pratishtha Mahotsav has been scheduled  to mark the consecration and unveiling of Lord Ram idol. The Prana Pratishtha (consecration ritual) of Lord Shree Ram will be conducted at 11.05 am that day by Parama Pujya Shreemad Vidyadhheesh Teerth Shreepad Vader Swamijee, signifying the spiritual sanctification of the idol. Later in the day, between 3.45 pm and 5 pm, the PM will attend the ceremony to unveil the bronze statue. The PM will also inaugurate a 3D projection mapping installation, designed to enhance the devotional and visual experience for devotees. KEY RESOLUTIONS AT THE MEETING „„Stop coal handling at Mormugao Port, coal transportation through Goa „„Scrap all port expansion projects, use Mormugao port only for green cargo „„Scrap Sagarmala Master plan „„Retain autonomy of local communities over rivers, coasts and lands „„Remove all rivers, coasts from National Waterways Act, 2016 and from port limits „„Scrap all proposals for capital dredging and new jetties „„Scrap new Borim bridge and all expansion proposals „„Scrap all steel plants in Goa and related proposals for bandharas/ dams SPORTS Meghalaya batter hits record 8 consecutive sixes in Ranji CM SAYS CASE TO BE INVESTIGATED THROUGH PROPER LEGAL CHANNELS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Pooja Naik, a prime accused in the jobs-for-cash scam, was on Sunday summoned and questioned for several hours by sleuths of the Goa Police’s crime branch two days after she sensationally implicated a minister, a IAS officer and a PWD engineer alleging she routed Rs 17-odd crore through them, in a televised interview. Superintendent of Police (Crime), Rahul Gupta, IPS, confirmed Naik was called for inquiry and that her statement was recorded. “The contents of the statement is being examined,” Gupta said, adding that the subsequent course of action is yet to be decided. Earlier on Sunday morning, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said he had directed the police to summon Pooja for a fresh investigation following her explosive allegations implicating high-ranking officials in a Rs 17 crore recruitment racket. Naik had stirred a political storm when in her interview televised on Friday last had claimed that a cabinet Superintendent of Police (Crime), Rahul Gupta, IPS, confirmed Pooja was called for inquiry and that her statement was recorded. The contents of the statement is being examined,” he said minister, a senior IAS officer, and a PWD engineer were involved in collecting money from job aspirants in exchange for government posts. She alleged that the funds -amounting to over Rs 17 crore -- were routed through her and demanded that the trio return the money within three days, failing which she threatened to publicly name them and approach the Chief Minister. Responding to these allegations, Sawant said the matter would be investigated through proper legal channels. “She may name whoever she wants before the investigating officer. There is no need to approach me personally. The matter will be handled through proper legal procedures,” he stated. The Chief Minister emphasized >Continued on P7 Ageing force, staff crunch take a toll on traffic police RESTRICTIONS ON CHALLAN POWERS TOO CRIPPLE OPERATIONS ON THE GROUND VIBHA VERMA THE GOAN I PANAJI The irony could not be starker. Even as Goa debates reckless driving, fatal accidents  and  policing blitzes on highways and tourist belts, the very unit meant to enforce road discipline is almost running on empty. The Traffic Police unit — already known to have one of the most ageing workforces — is now staring at a wave of retirements over the next six months. Moreover, the government’s decision restricting the power to issue challans only to Police Inspectors (PIs) and Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs) has effectively left the department without nearly 60 Assistant Sub-Inspectors (ASIs) who once formed its operational backbone. No replacements have reportedly been THE INSIDE STORY „„Panaji Traffic Cell manages 14 major intersections in addition to other roads; several are staffed only by Home Guards „„Porvorim and Calangute, the tourism belt’s pressure points, deploy just 1–4 constables per junction per shift „„In Mapusa, Vasco, Margao, Ponda, Quepem and Canacona, many traffic points function with a single constable „„Panaji Cell sanctioned for 111 personnel, staffed with 81 „„Calangute belt works with 49 men against sanctioned 73 „„Vasco has just 48; Margao functions with 50 against 79 „„Only Bicholim has 101 staff against a sanctioned 74 sanctioned. A senior officer told The Goan that as Goa heads into peak tourist season, when the State’s population effectively doubles and the coastal belt clogs, enforcement will be a daily high-wire act. “The department was told that since ASIs are not authorised to book violations, there is no need to replace them. Yet, we are left to control junctions, highways  and  internal roads, while also managing paperwork and operations >Continued on P7 Govt invokes ESMA after milk WITH LESS THAN ONE DONOR PER MILLION… union workers call for strike Centre charts roadmap to revive organ donation CENTRE’S LIFE-SAVING INITIATIVE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), 1988, in a bid to pre-empt any strike in the dairy sector for the next six months, citing public interest and the need to ensure uninterrupted milk supply across the State. The move comes days after a strike notice issued by the Goa Milk Union Employees Association and the Gomantak Mazdoor Sangh to the Goa State Co-operative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd, popu- larly known as Goa Dairy. The unions had planned to begin their strike at midnight on November 10, raising concerns over potential disruption in milk procurement and distribution. An official order dated November 8, and signed by the Under Secretary (Home) directed that no strike or work stoppage shall be permitted in the dairy sector for the next six months. The order was issued under the provisions of ESMA and takes immediate effect. The directive specifically bars any strike or disruption in activities related to procurement, production, transportation, distribution, and retail supply of milk and milk products in Goa. Officials emphasized that milk is an essential commodity and any interruption in its supply could adversely affect public health and welfare. The government’s decision aims to preempt a crisis and maintain stability in the state’s dairy supply chain. Authorities have urged all stakeholders to resolve disputes through dialogue and legal channels while ensuring that essential services remain unaffected. PTI NEW DELHI raining first responders, designating special teams in hospitals, upgrading trauma centres and registering them as organ retrieval centres are some of the steps suggested by the Centre to states to encourage organ donation, which is less than one deceased donor per million population in the country. The central government has asked all States to organise State and district-level training programmes for first responders in emergencies, such as police personnel, ambulance T „„Organise prog for police, ambulance drivers, paramedical staff to identify, facilitate organ donation opportunities „„Set up dedicated teams within hospitals to coordinate organ donation, transplantation drivers and para-medical staff, to facilitate organ and tissue donation from road accident victims. In a letter, Dr Anil Kumar, Director of the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organi- „„Improve infra, capacity of trauma centres to handle potential organ donor cases zation (NOTTO), which is under the Union Health Ministry, said that India faces a critical shortage of organs for transplantation, with thousands of patients on the waiting list in hospitals for availing different „„Designate upgraded trauma centres as organ retrieval centres „„Enhance communication, collaboration between hospitals, emergency responders „„Aim to raise country’s organ donation rate organs. A large number of deaths occur due to road traffic accidents (RTAs), especially involving young and otherwise healthy individuals. According to the report titled “Road Accidents in India 2023” of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, around 1.7 lakh people were killed in road accidents in the year 2023 who could have been potential organ donors, the letter said. “Many of these potential organ donors are lost due to lack of timely identification and referral,” it said. While all efforts will be made to save the lives of accident victims, organ donation may be considered in identified brain stem death cases as per the procedures laid down in the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994 and its rules.