log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 193 Cong-AAP slugfest over '16th vote' at poll for Zilla top posts 2 GOA Token demolition at Morjim resort raises questions over enforcement 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Why foods rich in chlorophyll are healthy Goa’s third district finalised QUEPEM TO SERVE AS HEADQUARTERS; GOVT TO ANNOUNCE NAME AND DETAILS TODAY; ‘ATAL’ EMERGES AS PREFERRED NAME; OPPN NOT OPPOSED, BUT WANTS PUBLIC CONSULTATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The decision to set up a third district in Goa has been finalised and a detailed announcement from the government including its name which sources said would be 'Atal' is expected to be made on Wednesday. The decision was on Tuesday unveiled by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at a meeting of legislators of all political parties held at the Ministers Block of the State Secretariat and the notification will be issued soon. The new district will comprise of the four talukas of Darbandora, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona with its headquarters located in Quepem town, Sawant said after the meeting of MLAs concluded. Meanwhile, top government sources said the name 'Atal' after former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, is the government's top choice and is almost confirmed. Sawant however declined to reveal the decision on naming the third district and only said that it "will be announced „„Proposed name: constituencies of Sanvor‘Atal’ after former dem, Curchorem, PM Atal Bihari Quepem, Vajpayee is top Sanguem, and government Canacona THE THIRD „„Government choice DISTRICT rationale: „„District composition: Four Creation aimed at talukas – Dharincreasing benefits bandora, Sanguem, from Central schemes Quepem, and Canacona; and additional funds headquarters at Quepem „„National context: Goa’s „„Political geography: third district is among 120 Encompasses assembly new districts being estabtomorrow (Wednesday)." He also said that creating a third district will help raise the quantum of benefits from Central government schemes and additional funds. Decision in haste: LoP Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition, who attended the meeting told journalists that the Congress does not oppose the third district but cautioned that the substance and the finer details of the proposal must be properly de- liberated. He said, the government had set up a committee to study and present a report on the third district proposal and that this report should have been made public. "It is inappropriate to take this decision of having a third district in haste without deliberating the report," Alemao said after the meeting. AAP MLA Cruz Silva and RGP MLA Viresh Borkar also echoed similar sentiments. Borkar and Silva said the peo- lished across India „„Historical context: Idea first proposed by former CM Ravi Naik (2017–22) for a different combination of talukas; revived after NITI Aayog recommendation for new districts nationwide „„Political response: Opposition does not oppose creation but calls for detailed deliberation and public consultation ple of the State and the four talukas concerned talukas in particular, must be consulted on such a momentous decision. Ravi first mooted idea The idea of creating a third district for Goa had been first mooted by former chief minister the late Ravi Naik, in the previous term (2017-22) of the Goa legislative assembly. Naik, who was then a part of the Congress and sitting in the Opposition, had moved a private member's resolution 11 INFO in the House which had suggested a third district comprising the three talukas of Sattari, Ponda and Dharbandora. Naik had withdrawn the resolution after Sawant had assured to consider the proposal for a third district. The move gained wings after the Centre proposed creating additional small districts across the country as per the recommendations of the NITI AYOG. Goa's third district is among 120 new districts being established in the country and was cleared by the Sawant Cabinet as well as discussed in the Goa legislature. Inclusion of 4 talukas Art and Culture Minister, Ramesh Tawadkar claimed all MLAs who attended the meeting on Tuesday supported the third district of four talukas of Dharbandoda, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona. Tawadkar said the third district would be beneficial to the people of all these four talukas. Politically, the district will encompass the assembly constituencies of Sanvordem, Curchorem, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona. Air India Express pilot arrested for hitting passenger; granted bail PTI NEW DELHI The Delhi police arrested the off-duty Air India Express pilot accused of assaulting a passenger at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, an officer said on Tuesday, adding that the accused later secured bail from the IGI police station. Captain Virendra Sejwal had earlier joined the probe and was questioned by the investigating officer, the officer said. "In the process of investigation, after the registration of the case, the relevant CCTV footage had been collected and statements recorded. The accused was also called for questioning, and his arrest was effected," the officer said in a statement. He also said that the accused later secured bail from the police station. "In bailable offences, the accused has a right to get bail from the police station itself," said the officer. Sejwal has been booked under sections 115 (voluntarily causing hurt), 126 (wrongful restraint) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in connection with violence near the security checkpoint of Terminal 1 on December 19. SPORTS Harmanpreet’s heroics powers India to series clean sweep 14 Govt extends CARES scheme for 3 years New Centres of Excellence to promote tech-driven education THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government on Tuesday approved a series of key decisions to strengthen and expand the Coding & Robotics Education in Schools (CARES) Scheme, including a three-year extension of the programme and the creation of a Special Purpose Vehicle for PMU-CARES. At the 6th Empowered Committee meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Mantralaya, the Empowered Committee decided to extend the CARES Scheme for a further three years under the Directorate of Technical Education. In a statement issued by the CMO, the committee also approved the incorporation of PMU–CARES as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under government corporations to facilitate the commercialisation of innovative STEAM-based edtech solutions. The committee granted a one-year extension to Teach for Goa Fellows, the Training Officer and the Research and Development Officer associated with the scheme. It also approved a one-year annual maintenance contract for ICT laboratories, including Single Board Computers and Wi-Fi routers under CARES. EoI for setting up CoE In line with the Goa Budget 2025 announcement, the meeting cleared the proposal to float an Expression of Interest (EoI) for setting up Centres of Excellence (CoE) and Whiz Kid Learning Spaces, initially one in each district. It was also decided to organise ‘CARES Goa – Open Tech Day’, a Tech Expo and Hackathon to showcase student-led innovation and talent. After the meeting, Sawant said the Empowered Committee reviewed the impact of CARES on school education and acknowledged measurable improvements in Mathematics and Science learning outcomes, as reflected in the PARAKH 2024 report. He added that 54 CARES-mentored students featured in the Top 100 of the BEBRAS International Computational Thinking Challenge 2025, competing among over five lakh students nationwide. Sawant further noted that PMU–CARES has received national recognition with the SKOCH Gold Award and the Best Entry Award.