log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JUNE 4, 2026 GOA CRUMBLING WALLS, VANISHING VENDORS: TRAGEDY OF NEGLECTED BAINA FISH MARKET >PG 6 MONSOON MALADIES HOW MORNING SCROLLING AFFECTS YOUR MOOD >PAGE 8 THE INTERNET’S HIDDEN SAFETY NET IS FRAYING IN SHORT >> Land valuation reform set for wider rollout PANAJI: After the successful rollout of a pilot category-based land valuation model in Taleigao, the State government is preparing to expand the system to Vasco, Bardez and Sancoale, with official notifications expected this week.  >> See pg 3 Belagavi electrician electrocuted MAPUSA: A 24-year-old electrician from Belagavi was electrocuted while working on electrical lighting for an award ceremony at a hotel in Arpora in the wee hours of Wednesday.  >> See pg 2 BJP ST leaders press for Assembly quota MARGAO: Ruling BJP scheduled tribe leaders upped the ante in support of the demand for political reservations for the ST community before the upcoming Assembly elections.  >> See pg 2 Tourist couple hurt in Siolim mishap MAPUSA: A tourist couple escaped with minor injuries after their rented car crashed into a telephone pole and a roadside tree on the Siolim-Marna road early Wednesday morning, adding to the growing list of accidents involving tourists driving rented vehicles in North Goa.  >> See pg 3 Shivakumar takes charge as K'taka CM BENGALURU: Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar took oath as Karnataka Chief Minister on Wednesday, marking a change of guard in the state.  >> See pg 7 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 347 Sufficient reserves, no need to panic over water levels: WRD Minister WASHINGTON he US trade representative (USTR) has proposed imposing additional duties of up to 12.5 per cent on imports from India and dozens of other economies after concluding that they have failed to adequately prohibit or enforce restrictions on goods produced using forced labour. The move comes even as India and US continue negotiations on the first tranche of a proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), with officials from both countries currently engaged T RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Skin changes after your 20s you should never ignore SEALED WINDOWS, LONE EXIT TRAPPED GUESTS; BUILDING LACKED FIRE CLEARANCE; `2 LAKH EX GRATIA ANNOUNCED PTI NEW DELHI A devastating blaze tore through a hotel operating without a fire NOC in a congested bylane in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday, killing at least 21 people, including 11 foreigners whose relatives were being treated in hospitals nearby. The fire at the Flourish Stay B&B in Hauz Rani in Malviya Nagar started around 8.30 am and quickly spread through the five-floor narrow building that had only one entry-exit point, permanently sealed windows and a sensor-operated main door, officials said. Factors which combined to turn the building into a virtual death trap. As the flames raged, catching everybody unawares and some in their sleep, rescue workers, including many locals, rushed to pull out those trapped inside. At least 58 people were rescued and rushed to hospitals where 21 were Thick smoke and flames engulf the hotel building in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area on Wednesday. declared brought dead, officials said. The dead include 10 Indians. The death toll in the fire – amongst the worst in the city in recent years – could rise with several of the injured in a critical condition, officials said. Many of the casualties are from Central Asian and African countries. They were staying in the hotel in to attend to their kin admitted in Max Hospital minutes away. In a tragedy that was perhaps waiting to happen, the hotel had permission for only six rooms, granted under the Delhi government's bed and breakfast policy, but was operating 25, police officials said. Rooms had also come up in the basement. The structure housed a restaurant on the ground floor 11 NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has arrested Lavkesh Bajaj, owner of the hotel building in Malviya Nagar where a devastating fire killed 21 people on Wednesday, officials said. Bajaj was arrested hours after the blaze ripped through the Flourish Stay B&B in the congested Hauz Rani area in south Delhi. Police had earlier issued a look out circular (LOC) against Bajaj and his wife, and launched an operation to trace them. while the basement and the upper floors were being used as the hotel. Officials said the building was only ground floor plus one till six-seven years ago. The additional floors came up later without informing the authorities. Besides, a complete building plan was not submitted. >Continued on P9 SPORTS Suryakumar set to be removed as India's T20 skipper 14 Manpower crisis across ranks and units strains Goa Police Retirements continue to outpace recruitment, leaving over 1,000 vacancies across the force THE GOAN I NETWORK Owner arrested PANAJI Days after South Goa Superintendent of Police Santosh Desai and at least seven other personnel retired from service on May 31, Goa Police finds itself battling a far larger crisis – a force depleted by more than 1,000 vacancies with frontline police stations also struggling to maintain operational strength. Official sources stated that with an average of 10 personnel retiring every month, the manpower drain continues to outpace fresh recruitment. While The Goan on Wednesday highlighted the acute shortage of Deputy Superintendents of Police, official deployment data accessed by The Goan further reveals an equally alarming picture lower down the ranks, with vacancies crippling police stations, traffic units, coastal security, intelligence wings and criminal investigation units – the very backbone of day-to-day policing and public safety. The figures show that Goa Police is operating with around 1,036 vacancies across ranks with the deficit particularly severe in the supervisory „„More than one-third of by 147 personnel PSI posts remain vacant „„Crime and intelligence „„Major police units also face sigstations are funcnificant shortages GOA tioning below „„Recruitment POLICE: sanctioned have VACANCY drivesto offset strength failed CRUNCH retirements and „„Traffic units have the highest attrition deficit, with 481 „„Goa Police has vacancies sought additional posts „„Coastal Security is short and fresh recruitment cadre. More than one-third of Police Sub-Inspector posts remain vacant, while nearly 28 per cent of sanctioned posts for women PSIs are unfilled. This however excludes 126 PSI recruits who were just recently given offer letters. The shortages are most visible at police stations where citizens first encounter law enforcement. Across North Goa, several police stations are functioning well below sanctioned strength. Panaji Police Station, among the busiest, is operating with a shortfall of nearly 37 personnel, including PSIs and constables. Pernem PS is short of around 29 personnel, Ma- pusa PS has a deficit of 34, while Calangute PS – responsible for one of Goa’s busiest tourism belts – is functioning with 19 fewer personnel than authorised. The crisis is even more pronounced in South Goa with Margao Town PS, overseeing the largest urban and commercial centre, operating with 106 staff – a shortage of around 46 personnel against a sanctioned strength of 152. Maina-Curtorim PS is short of 50 personnel, while Vasco PS records one of the largest deficits in the State, functioning with 60 fewer personnel than sanctioned. >Continued on P9 Chemotherapy at district hospitals from next week SERVICES TO START ON JUNE 11; MOVE AIMS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO CANCER CARE AND REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON GMC THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a major boost to cancer care services in Goa, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday announced that chemotherapy treatment for cancer patients will commence at both the North and South Goa district hospitals from June 11. The minister said the introduction of chemotherapy facilities at the district level would significantly improve access to treatment and reduce the burden on patients who currently have to travel to the Goa Medical College and Hospital for cancer care. “The chemotherapy treatment in district hospitals will go a long way in strengthening cancer care services in the State. The new facility is expected to reduce the burden on patients who have to travel to GMC,” Rane said. The announcement came during Rane's visit to the North Goa District Hospital on Wednesday evening, where he HEALTHCARE BOOST „„Govt plans to integrate all ambulance services with the 108 emergency network „„Four ambulances to be stationed at North Goa District Hospital after integration „„A CT scan machine will soon be installed at North Goa District Hospital chaired a review meeting with doctors and hospital officials following a four-hour power outage that disrupted services at the hospital on Tuesday evening. The prolonged outage had caused considerable inconvenience and anxiety among patients, healthcare staff, visitors and hospital administrators. Addressing concerns over the shortage of ambulances at the district hospital, Rane said the government would soon integrate all independent ambulance services operating in the State with the 108 emergency response network. He said at least four ambulances would be stationed at the North Goa District Hospital once the integration process is completed. “The move is aimed at creating a unified ambulance system, improving coordination, reducing response time and ensuring better emergency medical services in the State,” the minister said. On the power disruption, Rane attributed the incident to a technical fault and indicated that the district hospital administration was not responsible for the failure. The Health Minister also announced that the North Goa District Hospital would soon be equipped with a CT scan machine, adding that the order for the equipment has already been placed. US eyes 12.5% additional duty on India, others over forced labour violations AGENCIES Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 2 11 foreigners among 21 killed in Delhi hotel fire GOA Naqueri propellant project faces fresh scrutiny over land zoning >PAGE 3 Facebook.com/thegoan WHAT IS SECTION 301? „„Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 empowers the USTR to investigate foreign government policies or practices that it considers unjustifiable, unreasonable or discriminatory and that burden or in discussions aimed at finalising the pact. In a statement issued on June 2, 2026, the USTR said it had completed 60 investigations under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974 and restrict US commerce „„Following an investigation, the provision allows Washington to impose retaliatory measures, including additional tariffs and trade restrictions determined that the acts, policies and practices of the economies under scrutiny are 'unreasonable' and burdened or restricted US commerce. >Continued on P9 India disputes allegations NEW DELHI: India has rejected allegations under the forced labour clause and urged the United States to discontinue the investigations. Indian officials have reportedly argued that such issues should be addressed within the framework of ongoing bilateral trade negotiations rather than through unilateral trade actions. UNEP Theme: “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For our Future” NH66 GREEN CORRIDOR PROJECT Transforming NH66 into a green corridor for a sustainable future. On World Environment Day 2026, the Government of Goa launches the Green NH66 Mission to develop a green corridor along NH66, covering a 70 km stretch from Patradevi to Pollem with median and roadside plantations. STATEWIDE PLANTATION DRIVE 3 Months Campaign 16 Lakh sapling to be planted Community participation CHIEF GUEST Dr. Pramod Sawant Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa GUEST OF HONOUR Shri. Shripad Naik Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Govt. of India EVENT DETAILS Date: 5th June 2026 Time: 11:00 AM Main Inauguration Venue: Opp. KTCL Bus Stand, Panaji, Goa Programme at 10 different location across Goa Scan QR code for plantation locations across 10 sites in Goa Free sapling Distribution