log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2026 GOA MORE THAN A HARVEST: THE SPIRIT AND LEGACY OF PONGAL THE TONCA VILLAGE CROSS, A BROTHERHOOD, AND THE FAITH THAT NEVER FADED CYBER TECH IN SHORT >> Helmets to be mandatory for pillions: CM MAPUSA: Highlighting the rising number of road accidents in the State, particularly those involving two-wheelers, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday informed the Goa Legislative Assembly that wearing helmets will soon be made compulsory for pillion riders. Sawant said the Transport Department has already issued a circular on the matter and that strict implementation would begin shortly.   >> See pg 2 Std 12 student ends life in Vasco VASCO: A pall of gloom descended over Baina on Wednesday evening after a 19-year-old student from a higher secondary school in Vasco allegedly ended her life following an issue with the educational institution over appearing for HSSC examinations. >> See pg 3 Mhaje Ghar protects homes: Govt to HC PANAJI: The Goa government on Wednesday told the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the Mhaje Ghar scheme protects only residential houses providing shelter to people and does not extend any protection to illegal commercial structures.  >> See pg 3 India asks citizens to leave Iran NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday asked all its nationals residing in Iran to leave by available means and avoid any travel to the country as tensions mounted over possible military intervention by the US over Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests that killed over 2,500 people. GOA 2,395 trees proposed to be axed for widening of National Highway 66 SPORTS INFO NZ spinners outperform India, Mitchell’s ton seals comeback win Vital blood test every woman aged 35–55 needs today GTDC CLEARANCE, PANCHAYAT ORDERS SET ASIDE; WORK HALTED AT CHIMBEL; STATE LIKELY TO CHALLENGE ORDER IN HIGH COURT PANAJI The Principal District and Sessions Court, North Goa, on Wednesday quashed and set aside the construction licence granted to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for the proposed Unity Mall at Chimbel, handing the government a major setback, which has been keen to push ahead with the project despite Opposition criticism and ongoing litigation. The Court also set aside the orders issued by the Deputy Director of Panchayats and the Tiswadi Block Development Officer (BDO) that had cleared the project. The judgment follows an interim stay granted last month on the Deputy Director’s order concerning the Unity Mall, temporarily relieving the Chimbel Village Panchayat (VP) from issuing a construction licence to GTDC. Chimbel residents had earlier challenged the Deputy KEY POINTS IN RULING „„Orders of BDO and Deputy DoPs set aside „„Licence issued by Chimbel Panchayat secretary cancelled „„No construction or related activity permitted at the site „„Ruling follows earlier interim stay on project approvals „„Upholds Chimbel VP’s rejection of the project based on gram sabha resolution FLASHBACK: THE DISPUTE „„The legal dispute has travelled through several forums „„On December 4, 2025, the HC disposed of a writ petition challenging the construction licence in view of fresh proceedings before the DoP „„Prior to that, the HC had stayed the BDO’s directive after an intervener argued that the officer had no jurisdiction to direct a village panchayat to grant a construction licence „„The intervener had maintained that GTDC should have approached the Deputy Director or the Addl DoP after the VP rejected the proposal „„During earlier hearings, the government had informed the HC that the project would move ahead only after securing all statutory approvals Director’s decision that dismissed an appeal against the BDO’s directive instructing the panchayat to issue the licence. Confirming Wednesday’s development, advocate Melicia Simoes, who represented Last day to delete names for Portuguese passport holders CEO ASKS TO CONTACT BLOs, SUBMIT FORM-7; WARNS OF PENAL PROVISIONS FOR FALSE DECLARATIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The deadline set by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Goa, for Goans who have acquired Portuguese or any other foreign nationality to apply for deletion of their names from the draft electoral rolls ends today, January 15. As many as 8,000 Goans have surrendered their Indian citizenship or acquired other foreign nationality, including Portuguese, over the last five years. Regional Passport Officer Nijo Varghese said this data has been shared with the CEO, Goa, following a letter seeking details for the ongoing electoral revision process. The notice has been issued under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls 2026 and asks such individuals to submit Form-7 without delay, as January 15 is also the last date for filing claims and objections. The notice also carries a warning of VOTER ROLLS CLEAN-UP „„Form-7 mandatory for those who acquired Portuguese or other foreign nationality „„8,000 Goans acquired foreign nationality in the last five years „„Passport Office data shared with CEO for electoral verification „„False declaration punishable with imprisonment up to one year or fine or both „„Affected persons advised to contact BLOs or call helpline 1950 penal action in cases of false declaration. “As per Section 16(1)(a) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, a person shall be disqualified for registration in the electoral roll if he is not a citizen of India. As per Section 31 of the Representation of the People Act 1950 making false declaration in connection with preparation, revision or correction of electoral roll is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine KEY AMENDMENTS IN BILL „„Demolition protection proposed for buildings reflected in RoR and survey plans „„MLAs and ZP members allowed to attend gram sabhas within their constituencies „„Voting rights only if they are members of the concerned gram sabha „„Four ordinary gram sabha meetings a month proposed „„Section 54 amended to reduce the notice period for meetings of four ordinary gram sabha meetings every month. As per the Bill, the panchayat secretary is the only authority to deal with all the matters pertaining to the panchayat. “The Bill seeks to amend Section 66 of the Act so as to give protection to the buildings which are reflected in the >Continued on P9 the protesters, said the order is indicative that no work can progress. “The court has quashed the construction licence issued by the Secretary of the Village Panchayat of Chimbel, as well as the orders of the BDO and Deputy Director of Panchayats. No activity can continue at the Unity Mall site as of today,” she told reporters. Chairman of the Chimbel Biodiversity Management Committee, Govind Shirodkar, welcomed the decision but urged continued vigilance. “We will inform the protesters that the court has cancelled the licence. However, the struggle will continue,” he said, adding that an appeal from the State to the High Court of Bombay at Goa is expected as part of the legal process. Earlier on Wednesday morning, Chimbel protesters had agreed to meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant but warned they would launch a morcha if the government refused to scrap the project. The legal dispute has travelled through several forums in recent weeks. On December 4, 2025, the High Court disposed of a writ petition challenging the construction licence in view of fresh proceedings before the Directorate of Panchayats. Prior to that, the High Court had stayed the BDO’s directive after an intervener argued that the officer had no jurisdiction to direct a village panchayat to grant a construction licence. The intervener had maintained that GTDC should have approached the Deputy Director or the Additional Director of Panchayats after the VP rejected the proposal. The Chimbel VP had refused permission based on a gram sabha resolution opposing the project. During earlier hearings, the State government had informed the High Court that the Unity Mall would move ahead only after securing all statutory approvals. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Villagers of Chimbel on Wednesday declared that they will continue their agitation against the proposed Unity Mall and Prashashan Stambh projects until the government officially announces that the plans at the current location are scrapped. The announcement came after a meeting they had with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar at the Goa Legislative Assembly complex. Speaking to media persons after the meeting, the villagers said they were not satisfied with the government’s assurances and would intensify their protests and announced a mega march to the Assembly on Thursday, reiterating their demand that the controversial projects be withdrawn. The protesting villagers’ meeting with the chief minister took place just hours after the Principal District and Sessions Judge passed orders quashing the Block Development Officer’s directive, as well as those of the Director of Panchayats to the secretary of the Chimbel panchayat to issue the construction licences. The court in its Wednesday’s order also quashed the licence issued by the Chimbel panchayat secretary to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for the Unity Mall project. The court ruling has provided fresh impetus to the villagers’ campaign, which has been ongoing for months, fearing that the Unity Mall and the proposed 17-storey Prashashan Stambh administrative tower will irreversibly damage Toyyar Lake and surrounding wetlands, threatening biodiversity and local livelihoods. They have staged demonstrations at the Chimbel Panchayat office and the residence of the Santa Cruz MLA, accusing their representatives of siding with the government. While the government has maintained that the Unity Mall lies outside the wetland zone and has received all statutory clearances, villagers remain unconvinced. Protest leaders insist that development cannot come at the cost of ecological balance and community interests. With the court’s ruling now in their favour, the villagers’ agitation is expected to escalate in the coming days. Celebrating A LEGACY On his 104th Birth Anniversary or both,” it said. The CEO has advised affected citizens to contact their respective Booth Level Officers or call the toll-free helpline 1950 for assistance. At the end of the public notice, the CEO said the objective of the exercise is to ensure a transparent and error-free electoral roll ahead of the revision exercise. As per the data by the ministry, 26,000 to 30,000 people in the State have surrendered >Continued on P9 FOUR MEETINGS A MONTH PROPOSED; PANCHAYAT SECRETARY TO BE SOLE AUTHORITY PANAJI The State government on Tuesday introduced an amendment to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, proposing to grant protection to buildings reflected in the Records of Rights and survey plans from demolition to allow MLAs and Zilla Panchayat members to attend and deliberate in the gram sabha with voting rights where they are members. Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho introduced the Goa Panchayat Raj (amendment) Bill 2026 that also speaks about mandating the conduct RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 AGITATION TO CONTINUE DESPITE CM MEET; MARCH TO ASSEMBLY TODAY Govt moves Bill to shield buildings, give MLAs a vote in gram sabhas THE GOAN I NETWORK Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 15 2 10 Chimbel villagers Legal setback as court quashes refuse to relent Unity Mall construction licence THE GOAN I NETWORK WHEN AI AGENTS READ OUR EMAILS, WHO CONTROLS THE RISK? >PG 8 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 208 Multi-layered system to regulate road digging, stricter liability for lapses >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan Bill seeks to bar transfer of mundkar houses sans consent PANAJI: In a bid to grant protection from eviction, the State government on Tuesday introduced a Bill in the House seeking to bar the Bhatkars from transferring the houses occupied by Mundkars without their consent.  >> See pg 2 MODU TIMBLO January 15, 1922 - January 8, 1993 On this special day, we honour a visionary whose life reminds us that true leadership is rooted in integrity, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. May his legacy inspire us to build a brighter, more thoughtful future WHERE PEOPLE ARE OUR ENVIRONMENT