log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY MAY 12, 2026 GOA INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY: THEIR WORDS, THEIR WORK THE UNSEEN CAREGIVERS: RECOGNISING THE SILENT SACRIFICES OF HOME NURSES IN SHORT >> Govt extends fee concession to EWS PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday announced that the State government has approved extension of fee concession benefits to students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) pursuing courses at Goa Medical College and Goa Dental College, bringing them on par with benefits currently available to SC/ST students.   >> See pg 3 Goa pilgrims set for Haj pilgrimage MARGAO: A group of 90 Haj pilgrims from Goa will head to Mumbai in sleeper coach before they take the flight to Saudi Arabia on May 14 as part of the arrangements made by the government. The second batch of pilgrims is expected to leave for Mumbai later this week.   >> See pg 2 Karwar trawler capsizes off Betul MARGAO: A fishing boat from Karwar capsized off the Betul coast when it was returning from fishing. All the 22 crew members on board the fishing vessel were rescued by fishing vessels operating in the vicinity.  >> See pg 5 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 324 GOA Smart meter row: Rights commission takes suo motu cognizance WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 35.8 C 28.6 C 68% TIDES Low: 01.03 12.35 High: 07.08 18.59 SPORTS INFO Delhi Capitals outgun Punjab Kings in run-fest How to lower inflammation by refining your diet QUESTIONS WHETHER SO-CALLED GREEN ACTIVISTS HAVE EVER SUPPORTED ANY PROJECT IN THE COUNTRY PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Monday deprecated the practice of filing petitions to stall developmental projects, asking how the country will progress if such pleas are filed. “Show us even a single project in this country where these so-called environmental activists have said that we welcome this project,” a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said. The observations came from the bench, which was hearing a plea against an order of the National Green Tribunal's western zone bench. The tribunal had dismissed an appeal seeking the quashing of the environmental and coastal regulation zone clearance granted for the expansion and modernisation of the Pipava Port in Gujarat. “In this country, the kind of petitions being filed are only to stall development. That is the problem. How the country is going to progress,” the top court observed. „„Petitions filed mainly to „„Development necessary, delay or stall development should continue alongside projects environmental safeguards „„Expresses concern „„Encourages over how excesactivists to provide sive litigation constructive sugcould impact WHAT APEX gestions instead country’s of seeking comCOURT progress plete stoppage OBSERVED of projects „„Clarifies that it remains com„„Stresses that mitted to protecting goal should be environment and opposes balanced growth, not obactivities harming ecology struction of development The bench, however, clarified that courts have always been concerned with environmental issues and are critical of anything that affects the en- vironment. Observing that development was necessary, the bench said it would appreciate it if the environmentalists or activists approached the court with effective suggestions aimed at ensuring sustainable development and protection of the environment. It said the attempt should never be to stall the developmental projects. Dealing with the petition, the bench said the NGT has passed a very detailed order in the matter. The bench granted liberty to the petitioner to move a review application before the NGT specifically to point out whether or not the issue raised on his behalf was duly considered in the environmental impact assessment report. The bench asked the NGT to consider this aspect. The top court observed that when a project is proposed, initially, one may have apprehensions, including genuine ones, regarding the impact on the environment. It, however, said people coming to the courts should not say that everything should be stalled, as it affects the country's progress. SAY NO REASON TO PANIC; INFLOW OF FRESH FUEL CARGO CONTINUES AT MORMUGAO PORT VIKRAM NAYAK THE GOAN I VASCO Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation amid rising global tensions has triggered public concerns, amid fears of an impending fuel shortage. In the State too, concerns over petrol and diesel availability gathered pace, both in the streets and on social media, after the PM urged people to reduce dependence on fuel and adopt alternative modes of transport. However, officials linked to the petroleum supply chain in Goa have firmly ruled out any immediate shortage, assuring that the State currently has adequate reserves and a steady inflow of fresh cargo through Mormugao Port. Senior officials connected with fuel depots and petroleum distribution in Goa, however, have dismissed the rumours and insisted that there is “absolutely no reason to panic.” “The fuel situation in Goa is completely stable. We have adequate stock in the depots and supplies are arriving on No plans for fuel rationing: Oil ministry NEW DELHI: India has no plans to ration fuel supplies despite ongoing disruptions in global energy markets, a top oil ministry official said Monday, adding that the country has maintained adequate inventories of crude products and LPG while diversifying imports to manage supply risks. "There is no need to panic. There are sufficient supplies. There is no rationing in place. It's not going to happen," Oil Secretary Neeraj Mittal said at CII's Annual Business Summit New Delhi, noting that India had maintained around 60 days of fuel stocks and about 45 days of LPG inventories during the past 67 days of market disruption. schedule. There is no disruption at present and citizens should not believe unverified social media messages,” a senior official associated with the sector said. According to officials, Goa maintains a routine operational buffer stock of approximately 15 days, which is considered sufficient because fresh tanker consignments arrive at regular intervals every month. “The State generally maintains around 15 days of petrol and diesel stock. This is a standard practice followed in Phone challans under lens after Srinagar court order CAN FACE LEGAL CHALLENGE IN GOA NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and others can file fresh applications regarding their claim that the victory margins in 31 constituencies in the recent assembly polls were less than the deletion of votes there during the SIR of electoral rolls. NEW DELHI: The Centre announced that the new Viksit Bharat -- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Act will come into force across the country from July 1, replacing the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.  >> See pg 7 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 AMID PM’S CALL FOR CONSERVATION… SC allows fresh pleas on WB vote deletion G RAM G Act to come into force from July 1 Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 14 2 10 SC slams pleas blocking Officials dismiss concerns developmental projects of fuel shortage in State Left behind in infra upgrade, Velim battles power woes >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan THE GOAN I NETWORK SEASIDE GRANDEUR: The majestic Captain of Ports building all set to be inaugurated on May 30. The Rs 49 crore project will house all CoP offices under one roof. (Report on pg 3)  Narayan Pissurlenkar 22 illegal borewells sealed in Chimbel, more action likely THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Under the watch of the High Court of Bombay at Goa, the Water Resources Department (WRD) has sealed around 22 illegal borewells in Chimbel, with officials indicating that more action is underway following inspections at the site. The crackdown follows directions issued by the High Court during the last hearing, where it asked the Executive Engineer (North), Division-I, to act on the WRD’s findings and seal all 70 borewells iden- tified at the site, or any other borewells in the vicinity found to be sunk without mandatory permission. WRD sources told The Goan the exercise was being carried out in phases after verification >Continued on P5 PANAJI Three days before, the Goa Police admitted that its personnel were illegally using personal mobile phones to issue challans, a trial court in Srinagar had already declared such enforcement procedurally defective and legally infirm. In a precedent-setting order on May 5, Special Mobile Magistrate (Traffic) Shabir Ahmad Malik quashed five e-challans issued against a Srinagar resident, ruling that Rule 167A of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules permits challans only through officially authenticated electronic enforcement devices integrated with the national e-challan system. The court categorically observed that a personal smartphone does not, by its mere ownership or possession by a police officer, acquire the character of a prescribed device. “A personal mobile phone/ smartphone, however technologically advanced, does SRINAGAR COURT’S KEY OBSERVATIONS „„Rule 167A of Central Motor Vehicles Rules allows e-challans only through officially approved electronic enforcement devices „„Devices must be integrated with national e-challan system „„Police officer’s personal smartphone is not a legally prescribed enforcement device „„A personal phone lacks official authentication, registration in the officer’s official capacity „„Such devices are not linked to required traffic enforcement accountability system „„Challans issued using personal smartphones invalid not, by its mere ownership or possession by a police officer, acquire the character of a prescribed device under Rule l67A CMVR. Such a device lacks official authentication, is not registered or linked to the traffic enforcement system in the name and designation of the issuing officer, and is not subject to the oversight and accountability mechanisms envisaged by the Rule,” an extract of the 16-page order, copy of which is in pos- session of The Goan, stated. The ruling gains particular relevance in Goa because on May 8, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Prabodh Shirwaiker issued an internal communication admitting that personnel in the ranks of Assistant Sub-Inspector, Head Constable, and Police Constable were using private mobile phones to photograph violations and generate challans. >Continued on P5 the fuel distribution system and there is nothing unusual about the present situation,” the official explained. Lifeline through Mormugao Port Much of Goa’s fuel economy revolves around tanker vessel operations linked to Mormugao Port, where petrol, diesel and aviation fuel cargoes arrive regularly for distribution across the State. Officials said the supply chain remains uninterrupted >Continued on P5 MODI CONTINUES AUSTERITY PUSH, CALLS FOR HOLDING ONLINE CLASSES 1 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday doubled down on his austerity push and appealed to people to avoid destination weddings abroad and reduce consumption of edible oils amid the West Asia crisis, while suggesting holding temporary online classes for school students. 2 As a fragile ceasefire holds in West Asia, a region on which India relies heavily for crude oil and gas imports, Modi appealed to people to limit foreign travel and opt for work from home, a pandemic-era practice, wherever possible while refraining from giving a direct reply to the Opposition criticism of his earlier remarks on embracing austerity. 3 He acknowledged the adverse impact on India of the West Asian conflict, which started on February 28 with joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran, severely disrupting global supply chains and driving up global oil prices.  >> See pg 9 15-yr-old boy dies after eating DMF flush with funds, but just 24 per cent spent HOW DMF FUNDS WERE UTILISED watermelon in Chhattisgarh THE GOAN I NETWORK THREE OTHER CHILDREN RUSHED TO HOSPITAL PTI JANJGIR A 15-year-old boy died while three other children fell ill after consuming watermelon in a village in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir-Champa district, officials said on Monday. The incident took place in Ghurkot village, where the children had come to their maternal uncle's house along with kin, they added. The deceased was identified as Akhilesh Dhivar (15), a resident of Podi Dalha village, while the other affected chil- dren are Shri Dhivar (4) from Avarid village, Pintu Dhivar (12) from Khatola and Hitesh Dhivar (13) from Kotgarh. “As per preliminary info, the children consumed cut watermelon kept at the house on Sunday evening. A few hours later, Akhilesh started vomiting, had diarrhoea and breathing difficulties. Similar symptoms were later noticed in the other three children as well,” said district hospital civil surgeon Dr S Kujur. “As their condition deteriorated, family members rushed them to the district hospital in ambulances at different times. However, Akhilesh was declared brought dead on arrival. The three other children were admitted to the emergency ward here,” he added. Dr Kujur said the watermelon had reportedly been cut in the morning and consumed several hours later, raising the possibility of contamination. “Prima facie, the children may have suffered food poisoning due to consumption of contaminated watermelon. The body of the teenager has been sent for post-mortem,” Kujur said. PANAJI espite accumulating nearly Rs 245 crore under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) over the last decade, the Goa government has spent barely 24 per cent of the funds meant for welfare and development of mining-affected communities, with nearly half of the expenditure diverted towards Covid-19-related expenses. Introduced under Section 20A of the MMDR Act through the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) guidelines in 2015, the DMF was envisioned as a dedicated welfare mechanism for people and regions D „„Potable drinking water supply „„Healthcare infra, Edu facilities „„IT-related initiatives, Skill development prog „„Women welfare schemes IN NORTH GOA „„Rs 39.61 cr spent so far „„56 projects sanctioned worth Rs 62.74 cr impacted by mining activities. Goa adopted the framework in 2016, but official data reveals sluggish utilisation of the funds over the years. Of the total Rs 244.71 crore available in the DMF kitty across North and South Goa, „„Only 11 projects completed „„About 16% of spending went towards Covid-related expenses IN SOUTH GOA „„Rs 111.80 cr available under DMF „„Rs 20.92 cr spent „„45 projects sanctioned worth Rs 31.80 cr „„10 projects completed, 11 in progress only Rs 60.53 crore has been spent so far on developmental and welfare activities in mining-affected areas. Significantly, around Rs 30 crore, nearly 50 per cent of the total expenditure was utilised during the Covid-19 pandemic towards health infrastructure and facilities. The expenditure has largely focused on potable drinking water supply, healthcare infrastructure, education facilities, IT-related initiatives, skill development and women welfare schemes in mining belts. In 2024, the State government unlocked 100 per cent utilisation of DMF funds for developmental projects in mining regions. Until then, as per the DMF rules, 50 per cent of the funds were mandatorily parked in fixed deposits while only the remaining amount could be spent on high-priority sectors such as drinking water, healthcare, education, environmental preservation and pollution control. Data shows that North Goa accumulated Rs 132.91 crore under DMF, of which only Rs 39.61 crore has been utilised so far. A total of 56 projects worth Rs 62.74 crore >Continued on P5