log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2026 12 pages GOA Cuncolkars set 10-day deadline to scrap fish meal plant IN SHORT >> 7 women rescued in Arambol parlour raid; 2 cops transferred PERNEM: Seven young women were rescued in a raid on a massage parlour by Mandrem police following intense public pressure to crackdown on prostitution activities at Arambol beach. Following the operation, one head constable and one constable from the Mandrem police station were transferred to the Reserve Force. >> See pg 3 Goa rolls out AI service portal PANAJI: The State government on Tuesday unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered digital assistant designed to allow residents to apply for government services, track applications, and download official documents through a single chat window around the clock. >> See pg 3 Gogol masjid reopens with conditions MARGAO: The Sunni Gulistan Masjid at Gogol was reopened ahead of Ramadan, 15 days after closure following a murder. SDM Ganesh Barve permitted prayers under strict conditions, mandating police bandobast, CCTV monitoring and periodic review. Authorities warned violations could lead to immediate re-sealing of the premises. >> See pg 2 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 241 2 GOA Govt proposes 300 MW solar project with battery storage 3 HC seeks action report on illegal structures DIRECTS PANCHAYATS, MUNICIPALITIES TO FILE COMPLIANCE AFFIDAVITS WITHIN A WEEK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed all village panchayats and municipal councils to file affidavits within one week setting out the action taken against illegal structures, especially those encroaching upon or obstructing public roads, in compliance with its earlier orders in a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The Division Bench of Justice Suman Shyam and Justice Amit Jamsandekar observed that while several panchayats and municipal bodies had submitted compliance affidavits, many had failed to do so within the stipulated time. “...The VPs and municipal councils have filed the affidavits on the compliance. Many VPs and municipal councils are yet to do so. The time permitted by the court for filing the reply/affidavit has expired. We direct the remaining shall file within a week from today by furnishing a copy of the same to Amicus Curiae and respective nodal officers,” it said. Affidavits must scrutinise all affidavits specifically address received encroachments Nodal officers and obstructions to submit a KEY on public roads consolidated COURT Pending local report within bodies directed DIRECTIONS four weeks to furnish copies Directions of affidavits to the issued in continAmicus Curiae and uation of the Court’s respective nodal officers ongoing suo motu PIL on Two designated Nodal unauthorised construcOfficers instructed to tions and road safety The court further directed the two designated Nodal Officers to scrutinise the affidavits received from the local bodies and file reports within four weeks. “On receipt of this, the two nodal officers shall examine this and file a report within four weeks as per the direction,” the Bench ordered. The directions were issued on Tuesday while monitoring compliance in the ongoing suo motu PIL concerning unauthorised constructions and encroachments affecting public roads and safety. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 6, when the court will review the status of compliance and consider further directions, if required. Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 LIFE From ashes to absolution: Lent and the courage to begin again Police staffer dies after leopard attack at Charavane THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI A 59-year-old employee of the Police department, who was reportedly attacked by a leopard near Charavane, succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at GMC Hospital on Monday night. According to information, the incident had taken place on Friday night when Yeshwant Gopal Gawas of Charavane was travelling on a two-wheeler from Thane to his native place Charavane on Friday. A leopard suddenly leapt from the nearby forest and attacked Gawas on the Thane-Charavane road. The impact caused him to fall on the road, sustaining a serious head injury. After receiving primary treatment, he was shifted to the GMC hospital at Bambolim for further treatment, but died on Monday night. Gawas had been serving as a senior technical officer in the Police Department for many years. On Tuesday afternoon, his mortal remains were brought to his residence at Charavane. A large number of villagers, relatives, police and staff paid their last respects. The last >Continued on P7 6 SPORTS Nepal ends 12-year T20 WC drought with win over Scotland 12 NGT flags prima facie breach in Chapora river dredging CoP DIRECTED TO JUSTIFY NOC; GIVEN 8 WEEKS TO FILE COMPREHENSIVE REPLY DESPITE WORK COMPLETION THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday declined to dispose of a petition challenging maintenance dredging at the mouth of the Chapora river, despite being informed that the work had already been completed. Instead, the green court directed the Captain of Ports (CoP) and other respondents to file a comprehensive report on the No Objection Certificate (NOC) and clearance granted for the project. During the hearing, the tribunal observed that the completion of the dredging work, as stated by the CoP, indicated a possible violation of conditions suggesting that environmental damage compensation could be claimed from the authority. The NGT granted the CoP eight weeks to file a detailed response instead of four weeks sought by the counsel for the department. In an affidavit, Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues stated that he had received the NGT memo only on February 16, a day before the scheduled hearing on February 17, and therefore sought time to file a comprehensive reply. KEY TRIBUNAL OBSERVATIONS Completion of the work may indicate a possible violation of conditions, leaving scope for environmental damage compensation if established Sought clarification on compliance with CRZ clearance and GCZMA approval Kept the matter under continued judicial scrutiny, indicating the case is not rendered infructuous by completion of the work CoP AFFIDAVIT STATES... Chapora was declared a non-minor port in 1967; periodic dredging has been carried out to maintain navigability The dredging was routine maintenance, not a Rodrigues submitted that Chapora was declared a non-minor port in 1967 and that the navigational channel at the river mouth has been periodically dredged to ensure safe navigation and maintain adequate draft for fishing vessels. He maintained that the dredging in question was not a new activity but part of rou- new or expansion activity It was undertaken to address sedimentation and sandbar formation, citing urgent navigational safety concerns The CoP received the NGT memo only on February 16 and sought time to file a comprehensive reply tine maintenance essential for maritime safety and continuity of fishing operations. “In view of safety concerns arising from sedimentation and the formation of sandbars at the mouth of the Chapora river, there was an urgent and compelling need to undertake maintenance dredging to >Continued on P7
The new Goa, with a broader profile of people from different parts of India and the world, needs not just a strong local paper but a complete paper. The Goan on Saturday will connect to and be a viable and comprehensive read for locals, other Indians in Goa, NRI and foreigners. It will also be a bridge for Goans in other parts of India all over the world to their home land. The Goan is published by Goa's most reputed industrial houses.
