log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 2025 GOA Major cues likely to guide stock market this week IN SHORT >> Woman loses life in truck accident PANAJI: A woman was killed and two others seriously injured after a dumper truck collided with a family’s vehicle at the Varkhand– Ponda junction. The family of three was travelling when the truck struck their vehicle, killing the woman on the spot. Her husband and their minor son sustained serious injuries and were rushed to a hospital. Police have initiated an investigation into the incident. Police book duo in job fraud case PANAJI: A resident of South Goa was allegedly cheated of Rs 5 lakh after being promised a job abroad. Porvorim police have registered a case of cheating against two persons. According to the complaint, the accused collected Rs 5 lakh on different occasions from the accused through cash and GPay. However, they allegedly failed to secure the promised overseas job and did not refund the money. Mishap at Cortalim flyover claims one VASCO: A pre-dawn scooter accident at the Cortalim flyover on Sunday claimed the life of a pillion rider after the two-wheeler rammed into a road divider. Police said the incident occurred at around 4 am when two persons on a bike hit the road divider, throwing both of them onto the road.  >> See pg 2 Bangladeshi woman held at Arambol PANAJI: Mandrem Police have arrested a 32-year-old Bangladeshi woman for allegedly staying in Goa without valid travel documents. The accused, identified as Sarmin Bibi, was detained at the Arambol parking area during a routine verification drive.  >> See pg 2 Another BLO found dead in West Bengal KOLKATA: A Booth Level Officer was found dead in West Bengal's Bankura district on Sunday, triggering allegations that work-related pressure linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls may have played a role, the police said. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 191 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 12 2 9 Coastal watchdog Key violations escape action firm on Clara club, as depts falter on procedures refuses to de-seal 7 years after being declared unsafe, Cabeça building demolished >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA SPORTS INFO Mines to maritime: Trade, tourism powered Goa's economics in 2025 Mandhana, Shafali power India's win over Sri Lanka The ultimate guide to face masks for oily skin CRITICS ALLEGE LAPSES NOT ACCIDENTAL, BUT PART OF SYSTEM WHERE RULES ARE BENT FOR THE POWERFUL Action follows JEMC sealing over stability certificate; hearing on Jan 8 AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA MAPUSA In a double setback for Clara Club in Anjuna, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has directed that the premises will remain sealed until further orders, while scheduling a hearing on January 8 to examine alleged violations in the construction of the structure. The GCZMA’s order comes close on the heels of action taken by the Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee (JEMC), which sealed the club on December 16 for operating without a structural stability certificate. During a site inspection, the GCZMA found that although permission had been granted for construction of a club with an approved area of 264 square metres, the actual built-up area exceeded the sanctioned limits. The Authority acted on complaints filed by local residents Ravi Harmalkar, Rajesh Dabokar and Sagardeep Sirsaikar. According to the inspection report, the structure In Goa, the story is beginning to sound familiar. Orders are issued with urgency, violations are flagged with authority – and then, just as quietly, the same orders are withdrawn. What remains is not enforcement, but explanation. Not accountability, but excuses. Over the past year, a pattern has become impossible to ignore. Across departments, from coastal regulation to fire safety and public works, serious administrative decisions have been reversed after glaring “procedural lapses.” Critics now argue these lapses are neither accidental nor rare, but part of a system where rules bend conveniently for the powerful, while ordinary citizens are left to navigate an increasingly hollow governance structure. The latest flashpoint is the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), which recently withdrew PROCEDURAL ERRORS: CASES IN POINT „„GCZMA recently withdrew its own demspeed to Café CO2 after media scrutiny olition notice against Bastian Riviera Beach „„Nearly a year ago, during a PIL concernClub at Morjim. Reason: The authoriing unauthorized tree felling for ty had failed to issue a mandatoroad widening in Siolim, the CONCERNED ry show-cause notice before government informed High VOICE ordering demolition Court that PWD had no role Premanand Diukar says „„Directorate of Fire and in the project when PWD rules exist, but nobody checks Emergency Services engineers were visibly whether departments follow withdrew the NOC that it present at the site while had issued at a lightning them… if a massive structure like trees were felled Birch by Romeo Lane can come up in a water body, it shows the level of corruption in ing reversal, this time involvits own demolition notice the system ing the Directorate of Fire and against the Bastian Riviera Beach Club at Morjim, owned by Carrick Bend Realty LLP. The reason was startlingly basic: the authority had failed to issue a mandatory showcause notice before ordering demolition. The club’s management challenged the order through a review petition, citing violation of natural justice – an argument the GCZMA ultimately accepted. For many observers, the episode raised troubling questions. Issuing a show-cause no- tice is among the most elementary requirements of administrative law, especially in cases involving demolition of large commercial structures. “This is not a technical loophole – it is Governance 101. Either the authority is grossly incompetent, or the lapse was allowed to happen,” said a senior advocate, requesting anonymity. The incident came on the heels of another embarrass- BJP unveils names for top North & South Zilla posts  ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 30  MGP SUBMITS LETTER OF SUPPORT TO BJP THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday announced its nominees for the top posts in the North and South Goa Zilla Panchayats, with elections scheduled for December 30. After chairing a crucial meeting with all the elected ZP members, BJP state President Damodar Naik announced that for the North Goa Zilla Panchayat, the party has shortlisted Reis Magos ZP member Reshma Bandodkar for the post of Adhyaksha (Chairperson), while Honda ZP member Namdev Chari has been named as the party’s choice for Upadhyaksha (Vice chairperson). For the South Goa Zilla Panchayat, the BJP has proposed Xeldem ZP member Sidharth Dessai for the post of Adhyaksha and Barcem ZP member Anjali Velip for Upadhyaksha. Dessai was a NORTH GOA SOUTH GOA Chairperson: Reshma Bandodkar (Reis Magos) Deputy: Namdev Chari (Honda) Chairperson: Sidharth Dessai (Xeldem) Deputy: Anjali Velip (Barcem) sitting ZP member and was holding the post of Upadhyaksha at the time of going for polls. The elections to elect Adhyaksha and Upadhyaksha are scheduled for December 30, while filing of nominations will take place on Monday, December 29. This will be followed by the swearing-in ceremony on December 31. Meanwhile, the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) has submitted a formal letter extending support to the BJP in the Zilla Panchayat leadership elections. In addition, Betki-Khandola ZP member Sunil Jalmi, who had defeated the BJP candidate from the constituency, has also extended support to the ruling party. Commenting on the developments, Naik said the BJP welcomes support from “anyone who believes in party’s ideology.” “Jalmi extended support for the development,” he added. >Continued on P3 Emergency Services. Just days after public outrage over the deadly Birch by Romeo Lane fire that killed 25 people, a fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) was issued at lightning speed to Café CO2, a prominent coastal nightclub. Media scrutiny forced the department to withdraw the NOC. A senior fire officer later claimed the certificate was granted under the belief that Café CO2 was operating as a PM meets chief secys, pushes for ease of doing business PTI NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called upon states to encourage manufacturing, boost ''ease of doing business'' and strengthen the services sector to make India a global services giant. Addressing the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries here, Modi emphasised the need for quality in governance, service delivery and manufacturing, and said the label ''Made in India'' must become a symbol of excellence and global competitiveness. He said India has the potential to become the world's food basket and the country must move towards high-value agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, dairying and fisheries to become a major food exporter. “Called upon states to encourage manufacturing, boost ''Ease of Doing Business'' and strengthen the services sector. Let us aim to make India a Global Services Giant,” Modi said in a series of posts on X. restaurant, not a nightclub. The explanation only intensified criticism. Two days earlier, the same establishment had been sealed by a special inspection team for fire safety violations. “How do senior officers inspecting coastal establishments not know what kind of business they are certifying?” asked a former fire official. “On Goa’s coast, everyone knows restaurants turn into nightclubs by sunset,” he added. These incidents are not anomalies. Nearly a year ago, during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning unauthorized tree felling for road widening in Siolim, the State government informed the Bombay High Court at Goa that the Public Works Department (PWD) had no role in the project. The court was taken aback. PWD engineers had been visibly present at the site while trees were felled. The contradiction led to sharp >Continued on P3 THE GOAN I NETWORK GCZMA notings „„The structure – claimed to be temporary – has been constructed within CRZ-III in NDZ „„There was prima facie evidence of “gross illegal construction” amounting to violations of CRZ „„Structure begins from the High Tide Line and no mandatory setbacks have been maintained at the site – claimed to be temporary – has been constructed within CRZ-III in the No Development Zone (NDZ). The authority observed that there was prima facie evidence of “gross illegal construction,” amounting to violations of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011. The GCZMA report noted that the structure comprises >Continued on P3 Unity Mall: Chimbel residents up ante, go on hunger strike SAY WON’T ALLOW ECOSYSTEM TO BE DESTROYED MALL PROTEST: Chimbel locals sit on an indefinite hunger strike at the ‘Unity Mall’ site on Sunday. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Residents of Chimbel launched an indefinite hunger strike on Sunday at the site of the Tourism Department’s proposed Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh projects, alleging violations of court orders and threats to the fragile ecosystem surrounding the historic Toyyar Lake. The protest comes in the wake of claims that construction activity has commenced despite a stay order issued by the Panaji Sessions Court, directing status quo until January 8 next year, the next date of hearing. Villagers have alleged that permissions were granted by authorities and the local panchayat even while the court’s directive was in force, undermining judicial authority. The Chimbel gram sabha had earlier passed resolutions rejecting the development, >Continued on P3 Zero-fatality push: Gadkari urges Prez undertakes historic submarine sortie at Karwar Sawant to address deadly roads PTI URGES QUICK ACTION, ROAD SAFETY SOLUTIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has written to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant calling for his “personal leadership” in tackling what he described as a road safety crisis in Goa and nationwide.  The letter comes ahead of National Road Safety Month in January, and seeks urgent implementation of zero-fatality solutions in high-risk corridors through scientific crash investigations, data analysis, and improvements in road engineering, signage, road markings, and setting up crash barriers. The urgency is underscored by Goa’s grim accident statistics.  In October 2025 alone, the State recorded 200 road accidents, resulting in 18 fatalities and over 100 injuries.  North Goa reported 96 accidents, including eight fatal cases that led to nine deaths, while South Goa registered 104 accidents with nine fatalities. Earlier, in April 2025, 198 accidents had claimed 26 lives across both districts.  The Directorate of Transport’s monthly reports consistently highlight a disturbing pattern of fatalities and grievous injuries, pointing to systemic failures in enforcement and infrastructure. Despite repeated warnings, local administration and related agencies have been lax in addressing road safety issues. Poorly maintained roads, inadequate signage, >Continued on P3 NEW DELHI resident Droupadi Murmu on Sunday undertook a sortie onboard Indian Navy's indigenously-built frontline submarine INS Vaghsheer on the Western seaboard. Murmu is the second President to undertake a submarine sortie. In February 2006, APJ Abdul Kalam experienced a submarine sortie onboard INS Sindhu Rakshak. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi accompanied President Murmu, who is also the Supreme Commander of the armed forces, during the sortie in the Kalvari class submarine from the Karwar P President Droupadi Murmu waves to the navy personnel before embarking on the submarine sortie at Karwar naval base on Sunday. naval base in Karnataka, officials said. The President, donning a naval uniform, waved at naval personnel before entering the submarine. She also interacted with the crew of INS Vaghsheer and lauded their dedication, while describing the indigenous submarine as a shining example of the Indian Navy's professional excellence and combat preparedness. “President Droupadi Murmu undertook a dived sortie on the Western Seaboard onboard INS Vaghsheer,” the President's Secretariat said. It said the President was briefed on the role of the submarine arm in India's maritime strategy, and the operational capabilities as well as contributions in safeguarding national maritime interests. Murmu, while interacting with the crew of INS Vaghsheer, commended their dedication, commitment and spirit of selfless service, it added. “She said that this indigenous submarine is a shining example of the Indian Navy's professional excellence, combat preparedness and unwavering commitment to national security,” the secretariat said on social media. INS Vaghsheer, the sixth and final submarine of the P75 Scorpene project, was commissioned in January. It is designed to undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, area surveillance, and special operations. Armed with wire-guided torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and advanced sonar systems, the submarine also features modular construction, allowing for future upgrades such as integration of Air Independent Propulsion technology.