log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY DECEMBER 2, 2025 GOA ‘Omkar’ destroys Torsem plantations PERNEM: Having strayed back into Goa on Sunday after a gap of about 60 days, the elephant ‘Omkar’ continued to destroy plantations in Torsem village of Pernem. The presence of the elephant moving around on the main road in Harijan Wada compelled about 16 students in the ward to be kept at home on Monday as a precautionary measure.   >> See pg 3 Mystery shrouds transfer of Colva PI MARGAO: Mystery shrouds the sudden transfer of Colva police station in-charge, PI Vikram Naik to the Valpoi police station as he just completed 4-5 months after assuming office earlier this year. The in-charge of Valpoi police station PI Diptesh Shirodkar has been transferred to Colva police station.   >> See pg 2 Guard dies after falling off building MAPUSA: A 38-year-old security guard died after falling off the second floor of a building under construction in Parra. According to reports, the incident is reported to have taken place in the wee hours of Monday. Shivanand Janav was a security guard working in the night shift at the construction site. SC gives all digital arrest cases to CBI The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 165 GOA Local politics takes a nasty turn in Arpora–Baga sewage controversy Unfrizz & flourish: Mastering curly hair care in diverse climates EXPERTS FLAG RISKS, SAY AMBIGUITIES THREATEN PROCEDURAL CLARITY AND LANDOWNERS’ RIGHTS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Draft Goa Geospatial Knowledge-Based Land Survey of Urban Habitations Rules, 2025 – touted as a modern framework for mapping and recording land in urban and peri-urban areas – has triggered criticism from lawyers, planners and civic groups, who say the proposed regime is riddled with ambiguities that could undermine both procedural clarity and landholders’ rights. While the draft sets out a broad sequence of notices, surveys, inquiries and publication of records, stakeholders argue that critical definitions are missing. Terms such as “urban habitations,” “interested persons,” “vacant parcels” and “structures” remain undefined, raising fears that officials may apply inconsistent interpretations when preparing authoritative land records. A major concern centers on the system of general notice under Form I. The rules require the Director to issue a „„Form I relies solely procedures, evidence on public notice, rules, or timelines, with no personal risking arbitrary KEY service or confirdecisions CONCERNS „„No clarity mation, risking exclusion of OF THE on inspection landowners from period, objection DRAFT the process format, or decision „„Draft lacks standcommunication ards for measurement, „„Risks misclassification verification, and dispute of private land, and no resolution, raising risk of clear mechanisms for errors and conflicts appeals, corrections, or „„Officers have broad stakeholder participation powers but no defined in re-measurements public notice inviting all persons with an interest in the land to participate, but make no provision for personal service, confirmation of delivery or any mechanism to ensure that landholders are effectively informed. Since survey work can proceed even if people do not appear, critics warn that affected owners could be excluded from key stages of the process. Questions have also been raised about the wide discre- tion granted to survey officers. The draft empowers them to measure parcels and prepare draft records without prescribing measurement standards, verification procedures or methods for resolving boundary disputes. Reviewers say such gaps could result in inaccuracies and disputes at later stages. The inquiry process, handled by the Inquiry Officer, has drawn sharp comment as well. LONDON: ‘Rage bait’, or online content deliberately designed to elicit anger or outrage, was on Monday named the word of the year by Oxford University Press, the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 32.1 C 20.2 C 88% TIDES Low: 01.46 14.22 High: 07.24 21.26 “Although the officer is vested with substantial quasi-judicial powers, the draft does not provide any procedural framework for hearings, evaluation of evidence or timelines for decisions. The requirement to ‘hear claimants’ is too vague and risks arbitrary or opaque decision-making,” said Adv Vinayak Porob. The stages of publication and objections are similarly unclear. The draft does not specify how long draft records must remain open for inspection, the time allowed for objections, the format of objections or how decisions on them will be communicated. Another contentious point is the directive requiring Inquiry Officers to list vacant or unclaimed parcels. In the absence of verification criteria, stakeholders fear the misclassification of private land as unclaimed, potentially paving the way for administrative use without adequate safeguards. The draft is also silent on appeal or correction mechanisms once the final >Continued on P5 9 SPORTS Mandaviya calls for day-long meet to resolve Indian football crisis Parties, events lined up in December; fishermen move National Green Tribunal THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a damning indictment of Goa’s coastal governance, two Morjim fishermen have dragged the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), accusing it of succumbing to powerful interests while a beach club – Bastian Riviera – continues to operate in the No Development Zone (NDZ) despite a clear demolition order. The petition filed before the NGT’s Western Zone Bench says GCZMA’s enforcement of the CRZ Notification, 2011 has collapsed entirely, allowing a fullfledged bar-restaurant and concrete swimming pool to function right on the Chapora riverbank in Morjim, blocking traditional fishing access. A demolition order dated September 7 directed the Bardez Deputy Collector to raze the illegal structures within 30 days. Nearly three months later, nothing has been demolished. Instead, the „„The venue sits inside demolition order but the No Development failed to act for nearly Zone, where no 3 months construction is ABOVE „„Operators permitted have now schedTHE LAW uled multiple De„„Violations block traditional cember concerts fishing access at „„Raises questions Morjim on CRZ enforcement and „„GCZMA issued a official accountability KE Y D EM A N DS AT N GT „„Seal the entire premises of Bastian Riviera immediately „„Enforce the demolition order of September 7 within two weeks „„Name GCZMA officials who handled the case and failed to act „„Initiate disciplinary action for non-implementation of CRZ Notification, 2011 „„Stop all commercial activity in Survey Nos 118 & adjoining sub-divisions violators have rolled out a December calendar packed with music events and VIP parties, the petition states. The fishermen allege that GCZMA’s selective enforcement “smacks of influence,” with violations repeatedly flagged since 2023 but no decisive action taken – even after fresh illegal construction was reported as recently as July 2025. UNION MIN SAYS SURVEY PLANS SHARED WITH CTP THE GOAN I NETWORK LIVELY MOMENTS: Members of the ‘Veerabhadra’ dance group perform at the 22nd Goa State Youth Festival at Kala Academy on Monday. The festival aims to provide a platform for youth to showcase their cultural talents.  Narayan Pissurlenkar ED sleuths attach properties worth `1,200 crore in land fraud probe THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in Panaji has provisionally attached 19 immovable properties worth an estimated Rs 1,268.63 crore as part of its ongoing probe into suspected money laundering linked to large-scale land fraud. The properties, located in prime areas of Anjuna, Assagao and Ucassaim, were allegedly acquired by a group led by Shivshankar Mayekar through fabricated land records. As per the ED, the group used forged Aforamento/ Allotment Certificates, Cer- tificates of Final Possession, Auto de Demarcação, historical sale deeds, gift deeds and other falsified documents to gain control over the lands. Earlier, during search operations on September 9 and October 10, the ED had seized and frozen bank accounts and >Continued on P5 PANAJI Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has conveyed to South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has completed and submitted detailed survey plans demarcating prohibited and regulated zones around Goa’s protected monuments. Responding to the MP’s letter dated July 29, 2025, the Minister stated that 21 protected monuments fall under the jurisdiction of the ASI’s Goa Circle, and survey plans for 17 of them — outlining protected, prohibited (100 metres) and regulated (200 metres) areas — have been finalised. South Goa MP had urged the Union Ministry to expedite the demarcation of buffer zones around all 21 nationally protected monuments in Goa and ensure their inclusion in the Goa Regional Plan. “It is informed that a total of 21 protected monuments fall 12 Watchdog silent as Morjim club defies demolition order Centre clears buffer zones for 17 Goan heritage sites DoT mandates Sanchar Saathi app in mobiles 'Rage bait' is Oxford's word of the year RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the CBI to carry out a unified pan-India probe into digital arrest scam cases and asked the RBI as to why it was not using Artificial Intelligence to find out and freeze bank accounts used by cyber criminals.  >> See pg 7 NEW DELHI: The Department of Telecom has directed manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets to ensure that its fraud reporting app Sanchar Saathi is pre-installed in all new devices within 90 days. Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 2 Draft urban land survey rules in the line of fire Local bodies face stricter oversight under new SOPs on stray dog management IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan CENTRE’S PROTECTION ACTION „„Goa has 21 protected monuments under ASI Goa Circle „„Survey plans for 17 monuments prepared, marking protected, prohibited, and regulated areas „„Prohibited zone: 100 mts from the monument „„Regulated zone: 200 metres beyond prohibited zone „„Formulation of the Goa Regional Plan is a State responsibility „„State departments to incorporate ASI data into Regional Plan for better regulation around heritage structures under the jurisdiction of Goa circle of ASI. Survey plans for 17 of these monuments, covering protected, prohibited and regulated areas have been prepared and the corresponding prohibited (100m) and regulated (200m) zones have been properly established in the survey plans,” Shekhawat said. Shekhawat further said that these survey plans have been shared with the Chief Town Planner as the department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) is the competent authority for scrutinising construction-related proposals within these zones. The TCP has also notified the information in the Gazette of Goa. Shekhawat noted that formulation of the Goa Regional Plan is a State subject, and the concerned departments may incorporate ASI’s data into the plan to ensure effective regulation and planning around heritage structures. >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 CEO clarifies inadvertent use of ‘OCI’ at poll briefing THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjay Goel on Monday clarified that  his inadvertent use of the term “OCI” in place of “overseas electors” during the briefing on Sunday, had led to avoidable concern among voters. In a press statement, the CEO stressed that Goa has 88 overseas electors, all of whom are Indian citizens living abroad, and that online Enumeration Forms submission facilities are available to them. “CEO has clarified that the word OCI was used instead of overseas and thus the same may be duly published to clear doubt and anxiety created due to the use of the term OCI in place of Overseas electors,” the statement reads. On Sunday, during a media briefing, Goel said that BLOs  have identified 88 OCI card holders in Goa who remain eligible to vote.  “We have 88 OCI card holders registered with us. They are citizens of India but currently >Continued on P5 Eggs @ `100! Belagavi traders BJP’s Curti-Khandepar gamble sparks rift within MGP TURF WAR: WHAT LEADERS SAY raise eyebrows over Goa rates THE GOAN I NETWORK SAY NECC SHOULD KEEP CLOSE WATCH LOUIS RODRIGUES THE GOAN I BELAGAVI Leading poultry farmers and breeders in Karnataka have expressed surprise that retail prices of eggs have touched the Rs 100 mark per dozen in Goa. Many of the poultry farm owners in Belagavi region have also opined that the National Egg Coordination Council (NECC) should keep a close watch on the sharp rise in retail prices of eggs and that the retailers should not take undue advantage of the rising demand in the market. They were speaking to The Goan following concerns after egg prices soared to Rs 100 in Goa amid shortages. According to a report in The Goan, Panaji has witnessed egg prices jump from Rs 96 to Rs 100. While retailers buy at Rs 70 per dozen and sell at Rs 100 due to high demand and rising costs, wholesalers sell at Rs 84 per dozen, struggling with limited supply from Maharashtra and Karnataka. They claim that Goa is fully dependent on imported eggs and that, increased exports to the Gulf and Sri Lanka are driving local prices higher. “Though there is some effect of exports of eggs to Gulf and Sri Lanka on prices, there is no reason why the retail prices of eggs should touch the Rs 100 mark per dozen in Goa,” said NECC Chairman (Hospet  Zone)  and noted entrepreneur in poultry industry of Karnataka M S R Prasad. >Continued on P5 PANAJI n a development that has stirred unease within the ruling coalition, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) appears divided over the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) unexpected decision to field its own candidate „„MGP leader Ketan Bhatikar expressed shock, dissatisfaction over BJP not fielding a joint nominee „„Bhatikar says MGP plans to field an Independent in Curti-Khandepar „„MGP president Deepak Dhavalikar downplays issue, says MGP will eventually back BJP candidate „„BJP State President Damodar Naik maintains that candidature in Curti-Khan- depar was finalised after consultations with MGP „„Curti-Khandepar seat is currently represented by Priya Babu Chari, an OBC candidate elected on an MGP ticket ZILLA ELECTIONS tion, questioning why the alliance partner refrained from putting up a joint nominee, party president Deepak Dhavalikar played down the episode and confirmed that the MGP would eventually back the BJP candidate. Bhatikar, asserting that Curti has historically remained under MGP’s influence, disclosed that the party plans to field an Independent candidate. “Will announce our independent candidate in the coming two days,” Bhatikar told The Goan adding ‘MGP being a small party, it has a lot of potential to grow and with candidates in place, we cannot ignore them’. The MGP leader said the party would not yield to politi- cal arm-twisting and is willing to stand firmly behind an Independent who, according to him, has a strong chance of winning. “BJP used their power to get the seat reserved for ST candidate. MGP too has got strong ST leaders in the constituency,” Bhatikar said. The Curti-Khandepar seat is currently represented by I in the Curti-Khandepar Zilla Panchayat constituency -- an area long regarded as an MGP stronghold. The move has prompted contrasting reactions from within the MGP. While senior leader Ketan Bhatikar voiced deep shock and dissatisfac- Priya Babu Chari, an OBC candidate elected on an MGP ticket. The political dynamics in the region were notably different during the previous term, when Ravi Naik held the Ponda Assembly seat as a Congress MLA before shifting to the BJP ahead of the 2022 elections. Revolt brewing in BJP for Poinguinim ZP seat >> See pg 5 Dhavalikar, however, adopted a noticeably different tone, stating that the MGP is not placing significant emphasis on the ZP elections and is >Continued on P5