log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY MAY 14, 2026 GOA THE ALLURE OF THE KONKAN COAST 7 BLUE FLAG BEACHES IN INDIA WORTH EXPLORING >PAGE 8 2 IN SHORT >> 33 killed as deadly storm lashes UP BHADOHI: At least 33 people were killed on Wednesday after a powerful storm accompanied by heavy rains caused widespread damage in five districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Bhadohi, Fatehpur and Budaun, officials said. The officials said at least 16 persons have lost their lives in Bhadohi, nine in Fatehpur, five in Budaun, two in Chandauli and one in Sonbhadra district. FDA intensifies checks on eateries PANAJI: Goa’s Food and Drugs Administration has stepped up inspections of restaurants and cloud kitchens across the State amidst the prolonged heatwave which could be a major food safety risk. Several outlets have already been served "improvement notices" and some even asked to shut operations.  >> See pg 3 GOA Mala lake dead fish: Illegal sewage outlets of 7 houses sealed 3 PANAJI Goa’s once locally dominated iron ore mining sector is steadily shifting into the hands of major national steel producers, mining operators and infrastructure companies, with the latest round of mineral block auctions further reducing the share of traditional Goan mine owners. The recently concluded auction of one mineral block -- Pissurlem Mineral Block XV -- was won by JSW Steel. This mineral block was part of the six blocks up for auction during the fourth phase in April, but the process was delayed owing to a legal matter. With this, of the total 17 mineral blocks auctioned by the State government so far, only six have gone to Goabased mining firms, while the remaining 11 have been bagged by outside steel giants, mining companies and infrastructure players from across India. „„JSW Steel emerged national Pvt Ltd secured biggest winner Thivim-Pirna block across phases, „„In Phase III, secured multiOUTSIDERS Agarvanshi Pvt ple high-value RULE THE Ltd won both iron ore blocks the Onda and MINING „„JSW won Curpem-SulcorROOST Cudnem-Cormona blocks lem and Surla-Son„„JSW also won shi blocks Codli Mineral Block „„Odisha-based Kai Inter„„In Phase IV, Anandam The block auctions have been conducted in phases since 2022, with four blocks auctioned in 2022-23, five in 2023-24, three in 2024-25 and six in the latest phase. In the first phase, Goabased firms retained a significant presence. The Bicholim Mineral Block with estimated geological reserves of 85.465 million tonnes was won by Vedanta Ltd, while the Sirigao-Mayem block with 23.584 MT went to Salgaocar Shipping Company Pvt Ltd. The Monte de Sirigao block was secured by Rajaram Bandekar (Sirigao) Mines Pvt Ltd and the Kalay block by Fomento Resources Private Limited. However, subsequent phases saw aggressive participation from national corporations. In Phase II, JSW Steel won both the Cudnem-Cormolem block and the massive Surla-Sonshi block containing estimated resources of over 65.7 million tonnes. Odisha-based Kai In- WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 35.7 C 27.7 C 65% TIDES Low: 02.27 14.45 High: 09.13 20.22 INFO Sun, sweat & strands: Your guide to frizz-free summer hair Minerals Pvt Ltd secured the Cudnem and Pissurlem iron ore blocks „„Venkateswar Rao Gorantla won Cudnem and Adwalpale-Moitem blocks „„Largest block in Phase IV -- Pissurlem -- was awarded to JSW Steel „„Dharti Dredging & Infra won Cavorem-Maina block ternational Pvt Ltd secured the Thivim-Pirna block, while Fomento Resources Private Limited retained the Advalpale-Thivim block. Phase III further strengthened the position of nonGoan firms. Agarvanshi Pvt Ltd won both the Onda and Curpem-Sulcorna mineral blocks, while JSW Steel bagged the Codli Mineral Block containing nearly 48.5 million tonnes of iron ore resources. In the latest Phase IV auc- Three church leaders killed in Manipur PTI PANAJI: The Transport Department has suspended the trade certificate of a Verna-based high-end car dealer for 90 days after a Mini Cooper involved in the fatal Dona Paula crash was allegedly delivered to a customer in violation of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. NEW DELHI: Amul and Mother Dairy -- India's largest dairy product retailers -- on Wednesday hiked milk prices by Rs 2 per litre, intensifying inflationary pressures already fuelled by the war and squeezing household budgets. The increase, the second by the two dairy cooperatives in 13 months, is expected to prompt similar hikes. RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 10 GOAN MINERS LOSE GRIP, JUST 6 OF 17 BLOCKS AUCTIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT BAGGED BY GOA-BASED FIRMS Car dealer’s trade certificate suspended Amul, Mother Dairy hike milk prices Instagram.com/thegoanonline NATIONAL GIANTS SWEEP GOA’S IRON ORE SECTOR THE GOAN I NETWORK PREDICTING THE BRAIN IS NOT UNDERSTANDING IT The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 326 Five months on, ZP members question govt promises on powers and funds >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan WEATHER WATCH: Workers clean roof tiles of a house in Chincholem-Bhatulem on Wednesday. The exercise is usually taken up before the monsoon in order to prevent water seepage during heavy rains.  Narayan Pissurlenkar RGP plunges into deeper turmoil, social media slugfest continues THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The ongoing internal turmoil in the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) is showing no signs of ebbing and the public slugfest on social media by members aligned to either factions continued on Wednesday. Now openly divided, with party president Manoj Parab and Sant Andre MLA Viresh Borkar leading rival camps, the feud continues to simmer through cryptic and sometimes crass social media posts from members. Dagley Fernandes, one of the party leaders from Salcete aligned to Borkar, penned an article titled “Viresh Borkar’s Silence”, arguing that it is not weakness but preparation for a larger struggle. The article, widely shared online, claimed Borkar’s silence reflects discipline and strategy, not fear. It warned that corruption allegations against him were baseless, and that his restraint was a deliberate choice. >Continued on P9 IMPHAL Three church leaders were killed and four others injured in an attack by suspected militants in Manipur's Kangpokpi on Wednesday, police said. The incident happened at a place between Kotzim and Kotlen villages when members of the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) were returning from Churachandpur after attending a religious congregation. Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh condemned the incident, stating that such “senseless acts of violence” against innocent civilians threaten peace in Manipur which has been rocked by ethnic violence since 2023. Following the killings, a total shutdown was imposed in Kangpokpi district where Kukis are in the majority. A forum of Naga legislators and a Kuki organisation also deplored the killings, while a Meitei group rejected allegations from some quarters that it was behind the ambush. Police said suspected militants ambushed the two vehicles in which the church leaders were travelling. tions, Anandam Minerals Pvt Ltd secured Cudnem Mineral Block XIII and Pissurlem Mineral Block XVI, while Venkateswar Rao Gorantla won Cudnem Mineral Block XIV and Adwalpale-Moitem Block XVII. The biggest block in the latest phase -- Pissurlem Mineral Block XV with estimated in-situ mineral reserves of 96.026 million tonnes and average iron content of 54.8 per cent Fe -- went to JSW Steel. The Cavorem-Maina block, containing 13.884 million tonnes of iron ore along with manganese deposits, was awarded to Dharti Dredging and Infrastructure Ltd. Mining industry observers said the auction trend reflects the growing entry of vertically integrated steel and infrastructure companies seeking captive iron ore resources, gradually altering the traditional structure of Goa’s mining industry, which was historically controlled by local mining families and firms. SPORTS Pakistan preparing to bring Babar Azam back as Test captain 14 Austerity measures kick in, Modi cuts down convoy size BJP CMs, other leaders follow suit PTI NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi has significantly reduced his convoy size, days after he appealed for cutting down fuel consumption and spending more wisely, prompting several BJP chief ministers and other leaders to adopt similar measures. The prime minister's appeal is not about spending less but spending more wisely by reducing fuel consumption, avoidable dependence on imported goods and foreign-currency-intensive services, official sources said, stressing that the Modi government is not cutting capital expenditure, welfare spending or subsidies. A downsizing in the prime minister's convoy was implemented in his recent domestic visits. The reduction was done while maintaining essential security components as per the SPG protocol, the sources said, adding Modi's convoy size was cut in Gujarat and Assam, immediately after his speech in Hyderabad during which he suggested an array of measures for reducing expenditure on imports. Import duty on gold, silver more than doubled NEW DELHI: The government sharply raised import tariffs on gold and silver to 15 per cent from 6 per cent on Wednesday, as it looked to curb non-essential imports and conserve foreign exchange reserves strained by higher oil and fertiliser purchases amid the West Asia conflict. Sources said the prime minister also asked for electric vehicles to be included in his convoy, wherever possible, without making new purchases. They emphasised that Modi's appeal to conserve fuel, adopt work-from-home where possible, and reduce avoidable foreign-exchange outflows were not “austerity measures”, which have a negative economic connotation. “Austerity” usually suggests budget cuts, reduced government spending, lower subsidies, and fiscal tightening, they noted. BITS Pilani PhD scholar found dead at rented flat SEVENTH DEATH LINKED TO GOA INSTITUTE THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO A 26-year-old PhD scholar from the BITS Pilani Goa campus was found dead after allegedly ending his life at a rented flat behind the institute premises at Sancoale. This is the seventh suicide linked to the prestigious institute in the last 17 months. The deceased has been identified as Arjun Sabu, a native of Kerala and a second-year PhD student in Tribal Studies at the BITS Pilani Goa campus. Sources informed that Sabu was found dead inside his room at the rented accommodation on Wednesday morning. A suicide note was reportedly recovered from the site, though police have not officially disclosed its contents. Verna police rushed to the spot after being alerted and launched an investigation into the incident. The body was later shifted for postmortem examination while police continue to verify the circumstances that may have led to Student found hanging in Nessai, note mentions competitive exams MARGAO: A 17-year-old student, originally from Bengaluru, was found hanging at his residence in Nessai, Sao Jose de Areal, last night. Maina Curtorim Police Station in-charge, PI Kapil Nayak, said a suicide note left behind by the student indicated that he did not want to appear for competitive examinations. The deceased, he said, had appeared for the NEET exam, which has since been cancelled due to a paper leak. >Continued on P9 ON PAGE 2 Panel links BITS deaths to possible ‘suicide contagion’ No single factor behind suicides; DLMC flags mental health gaps the extreme step. Sources stated that the deceased was staying in a three-bedroom flat located be- hind the BITS Pilani campus at Sancoale along with two other occupants who were employed in different sectors. “It was a three-bedroom flat occupied by three persons staying in separate bedrooms. The deceased was staying in one room while another staff member of the BITS Pilani campus was staying in the second room and the third room was occupied by a person working in the Verna >Continued on P9 Coastal body seeks compliance Goa pilots ‘net positive p’yat’ model in 3 villages WHAT IS A NET POSITIVE PANCHAYAT PILOT P’YATS AND KEY INTERVENTIONS report on sealing 6 illegal jetties AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA COMPLAINANTS FLAG LACK OF EFFECTIVE ACTION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has sought a detailed compliance report from the Deputy Collector of Bardez over immediate sealing of six unauthorised private jetties operating along Goa’s rivers and coastline, as directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) The move comes after complainants informed the authority earlier this week that no effective action had been taken to seal the jetties despite the tribunal’s January order. During its meeting held last week, the GCZMA permitted temporary de-sealing of three jetties solely for the purpose of demolishing illegal structures. The authority had also issued fresh show-cause notices to the jetty operators in March after site inspections reportedly revealed serious violations at all six locations. The six jetties identified as operating without mandatory permissions are Oceannaire Jetty, Funcruise Jetty, Salid Fernandes Jetty, Jubert Jetty, Dharma Jetty and Champion Jetty. During the hearing before the authority, the complainant, through its representative, alleged that the jetties continue to remain operational and were not properly sealed despite explicit directions from the NGT. Taking serious note of the allegations, the GCZMA directed the Deputy Collector of Bardez to submit a detailed >Continued on P9 T he Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) has initiated an ambitious push toward village-level sustainability through a new “Net Positive Panchayat” (NPP) concept, with Calangute, Harvalem and Cavrem-Pirla selected for the pilot phase under the Goa Energy Roadmap 2050. The initiative aims to transform local bodies into energy-resilient communities that produce more clean energy than they consume, while simultaneously reducing waste, improving energy efficiency and generating sustainable livelihoods. „„A village that produces more clean energy than it consumes „„Focuses on renewable energy, energy efficiency and waste reduction „„Part of the Goa Energy Roadmap 2050 “A Net Positive Panchayat is envisioned as a village or local body that produces more clean energy than it consumes over a defined period,” said Saina Shirodkar, Technical Assistant at Goa Energy Development Agency. “The concept goes beyond „„Promotes clean cooking, green mobility and sustainable tourism „„Encourages community participation and local energy generation „„Aims to reduce fossil fuel dependence and carbon emissions electricity generation and includes clean cooking, waste-to-energy systems, electrification of mobility and community participation in sustainable governance,” she added. 3 development CALANGUTE „„Green tourism zone „„Energy-efficient tourism infrastructure „„Improved waste and sewage management „„Green mobility and digital governance systems HARVALEM „„Rooftop solar systems „„Solar-powered community infrastructure models According to officials, the selected panchayats represent three distinct development „„Clean cooking systems for SHGs „„Electrified community kitchens CAVREM-PIRLA „„Solar-powered ecohomestays „„units using organic waste „„Solar irrigation pumps under PM-KUSUM „„Renewable energy-linked eco-tourism typologies in the State, allowing the government to test >Continued on P9