log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday TUESDAY JANUARY 3, 2023 GOA Query on Navelim bridge stumps Cabral IN SHORT >> IndiGo flight to be 1st to land at Mopa airport on January 5 PANAJI: An IndiGo Airlines flight from Hyderabad will be the first aircraft to land at the recently inaugurated Manohar International Airport (MIA) at Mopa on January 5, an official said on Monday. Goa reduces VAT on aviation fuel PANAJI: The State government has reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) from the current 18 to 8 percent. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiradity Scindia hailed the move as progressive” and thanked Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for the decision. Three-year-old girl falls in well, dies MAPUSA: A three-andhalf year-old girl, who fell into a 32-feet deep well at Karaswadda-Mapusa, died late Monday evening. The deceased has been identified as Zoya Ahmed. Mapusa Police informed that the incident happened at around 7.45 pm. >> See pg 3 Caravans from EU, Gulf camp at Agonda CANACONA: The world-acclaimed Agonda beach has been attracting tourists from all over the globe and caravans have begun to reappear at the beach. The beach has over 10 caravans with families, kids and pets from Dubai, France, Germany Belgium and Italy since the last fortnight.  >> See pg 5 Pujari, workers assaulted in Baina VASCO: In an incident which has sparked outrage, a priest and workers of the Maruti Temple in Baina were assaulted by a group of people on the beach late Friday night while they were cleaning the temple. >> See pg 3 Requiem Mass for ex-Pope on Jan 9 PANAJI: The Requiem Mass for the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI will be celebrated in the Cathedral Church, Old Goa, on January 9 at 4.30 pm and not on January 5 as was announced earlier. The offices of the Archbishop’s House and of other Diocesan Centres and Bodies will remain closed on January 5, the day of the Funeral which will be held in the Vatican. WEATHER >> Max: 32 C Min: 20 C Humidity: 85% TIDES Low: High: 02:13 14:35 07:20 22:04 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 14 pages PRICE ` 8 2 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 196 GOA Panaji to be made disabled friendly permanently: Purple fest organisers 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 9 INFO How to trim your eyebrows at home SPORTS Pakistan halts New Zealand on 309-6 after Conway’s ton in second Test 14 Govt braces up for Mhadei battle n CABINET TO SEEK CENTRE’S WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT TO K’TAKA DPRS n GOA TO PUSH FOR CONSTITUTION OF WATER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY n NOTICES TO BE SERVED TO K’TAKA UNDER WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT n SC LIKELY TO HEAR GOA’S SLP ON JANUARY 5 OPPN BOYCOTTS MLAs’ MEETING THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said, Goa’s basic opposition of diversion of the river’s water outside the Mhadei basin will continue unhindered even as he said his Cabinet has resolved to approach the Centre with a demand to withdraw that consent given to the Karnataka government for two Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) at Kalasa and Bhandura. Sawant said Goa’s fight in the Mhadei dispute will continue through the Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court of India, which is  tentatively slated to come up for the next hearing on January 5 according to the Apex Court’s website. The chief minister was addressing the media flanked by nine other ministers after a Cabinet meeting which  exclusively deliberated on the Mhadei strategy in the wake of the recent development where Karnataka secured clearance from the Central Water Commission for its projects to divert water at Kalasa and Bhandura. “Goa will continue to fight the battle against diversion of Mhadei river waters by Karnataka,” Sawant said, adding that he and WRD Minis- THE GOAN I NETWORK Chief minister Pramod Sawant addressing the ruling party legislators on Mhadei issue on Monday.   Narayan Pissurlenkar ter Subhash Shirodkar will shortly visit Delhi to formally demand the revocation of the consent to Karnataka’s DPRs. The Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal (MWDT), has awarded 13-odd TMC of Mhadei river water to Karnataka, including 3.9 TMC for diversion at Kalasa and Bhandura. The State government has challenged  the award as did Karnataka and the third riparian State Maharashtra before the  Supreme  Court which is pending. In another resolution, the Sawant-led cabinet on Monday also decided to officially serve notices to Karnataka >Continued on P5 ON PAGE 3 Sawant, Vijai in war of words over Mhadei Activists give clarion call to Goans to come on common platform to save Mhadei BJP govt and successive govts have betrayed Goa on Mhadei: GFP Sardinha warns Zuari, Mandovi will run dry PANAJI Goa’s united Opposition on Monday boycotted the meeting of all party legislators called by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to discuss the Mhadei controversy accusing the State government of being in connivance with the Centre on the dispute in favour of Karnataka.  The joint Opposition led by Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao said they do not want to be “partners in crime” of murdering Mhadei. “The Centre and State, who are in connivance on the issue should get it sorted out,” they said. Earlier, Alemao addressed a press conference along with all the other six legislators of the Opposition barringViresh Borkar of RGP, where he took strong objection to Sawant discussing the issue and announcing decisions even before the all-party meeting of MLAs scheduled in the evening. “I strongly object to this. CM has already announced decisions related to the Mhadei issue. So what are they calling us for? Are we cattle?,”   a furious Alemao said,  adding that the Sawant-led government is only interested in bulldozing agenda and has no respect for dialogue or discussion. Alemao also said that it is political “set up” and that the State government and the Central government which are both BJP are in connivance. “If the CM and WRD Minister are meeting the PM, they should get the approval of DPRs withdrawn or else he should resign on moral grounds,” Alemao said. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, Venzy Viegas questioned the effectiveness of the State government’s decision to fight the matter in court. “So BJP Goa will fight against BJP India? The two engines will fight against each other in court over Mhadei?,” Viegas asked, adding that it appears to be a strategy to delay and distract Goans. K’taka cannot start work based only on CWC nod: AG THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa’s Advocate General Devidas Pangam, who was on Monday called to the Cabinet meeting to explain all the legal matters related to the Mhadei dispute, has said the Karnataka government cannot proceed with work at Kalasa and Bhandura  merely based on the consent by the Central Water Commission (CWC) to the two DPRs. “Based on DPR alone, Karnataka cannot start any work. We are taking all the steps to ensure that no diversion of water takes place in terms of Kalasa-Bhandura rivulets,” Pangam said, speaking to the media after the Cabinet meeting. The Advocate General who heads Goa’s legal team on the Mhadei matter also said that the State will base its strategy on the issue of the two DPRs as well as any work for diversion of waters, on the Wildlife Protection Act. “Our view is that no water from Mhadei Wildlife  Sanctuary can be diverted at all in law. No authority can permit it, including the Central gov- PANGAM SPEAK „„We are taking all the steps to ensure that no diversion of water takes place in terms of Kalasa-Bhandura rivulets „„Our view is that no water from Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary can be diverted at all in law. No authority can permit it „„Violation of Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act by Karnataka in will be pursued seriously „„Approval for Karnataka’s DPRs is a ‘technical clearance’ from the water management point of view ernment,” Pangam said, adding that violation of Section 29 of the Wildlife Protection Act by Karnataka in relation to diversion of water from Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary will be pursued seriously. “We will raise the point >Continued on P5 Govt woos taximen with 2-yr Sattari likely to be worst hit if K’taka diverts Mhadei tax waiver for joining App Locals fear agri, drinking water will be affected THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Pramod Sawant-led cabinet on Monday granted its approval for the launch of ‘Goa Taxi App’ a taxi aggregator service which will be ‘owned’ by State-owned Goa Electronics Limited (GEL). Announcing this, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said, all taxi operators joining the app will be waived off all annual tax and other charges by amending the Motor Vehicle Act for a period of two years. The much debated ‘Goa taxi app’ is being vehemently opposed by taxi operators and their association even as the State government said that taxi operations at the new Manohar International Airport at Mopa will be routed only through the app. GOA TAXI APP: SMOOTH RIDE AHEAD? „„Mauvin Godinho says Motor Vehicle Act will be amended and taximen joining the app will get tax waiver for two years „„‘Advisory body’ to be constituted to monitor operation and progress of taxi app „„Registered taxi unions, TTAG, Tourism Dept, Transport Dept will have representation „„Welfare measures for member taxi operators on cards Giving details of the Cabinet decision, Godinho said an ‘advisory body’ will be constituted to monitor the operation and progress of the taxi app which will include stakeholders. Registered taxi unions, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), tourism  department and transport department will have representation on the advisory body, which will also sug- gest welfare measures for the member taxi operators,  Godinho said. Elaborating on the decision to waive off the taxes and other dues including annual renewals for the taximen joining the app, Godinho said, once the MV Act is amended there will be two taxation systems -- one for taxi operators who join the app and another for the others not on the app. Govt agrees to yellow-black stand for Pernem taximen at Mopa PANAJI: The crisis between the Pernem taxi owners and operators, and the Goa government seems to have ended with the latter agreeing to set up a pre-paid yellow-black taxi counter at Manohar International Airport, Mopa.  After a marathon meeting with the stakeholders, the government gave in to their demand late Monday night.  “Their demand was for a >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI Sattari is likely to be the worst affected taluka in the State if Karnataka goes ahead and diverts water from the Mhadei river, with locals alarmed that agriculture, drinking water, irrigation and the Dabose Water Project in Sattari Taluka would be severely affected. According to local activists, the water from the Mhadei river is sent to the Dabose Water Project, which purifies and provides drinking water to 70% of areas in Sattari taluka. At present, this project has a capacity of 15 MLD and the State government has plans to increase the capacity of this project. “However, plans by Karnataka to divert the Mhadei water would cause a severe Agriculture activity in Sattari in full bloom, thanks to the Mhadei river.  Uday Sawant shortage of water to the Dabose project and this will, in turn, badly hit water supply to most parts of Sattari taluka,” remarked Ankush Dhuri, a youth activist from Dabose village. “Goa and Sattari taluka in particular, will suffer a lot due to this move by the Karnataka government. It is crucial for Goa to take a stronger stand in this matter or else, agriculture, irrigation and drinking water facilities would be wiped out. Then there will be no question of increasing the capacity of the Dabose water >Continued on P5 Now, hotels will have to provide Big win for govt, SC upholds DeMo with 4:1 majority data of tourists on monthly basis PTI THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Tourism Department has directed all hotels and other accommodation units in the State to provide details of tourists checking in their premises on a monthly basis, while warning that failure to do so will attract a fine of Rs 10,000, besides holding back the renewal of certificate of registration. While notifying the Goa Registration of Tourist Trade (amendment) Rules, 2022, Tourism Director Nikhil Desai has said every person running the business of hotels shall submit statistics containing details of the tourists residing in the hotel on a monthly basis before the fifth of the suc- The hotels/other accommodation units which do not submit the details shall be liable to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 for first default and Rs 25,000 fine for every subsequent default ceeding month. The department has also specified that such statistics should be submitted in the electronic mode only and as per software developed by Goa Electronics Limited (GEL). The hotels/other accommodation units which do not submit the details shall be liable to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 for first default and Rs 25,000 fine for every subsequent default. The department will also not renew the certificate of registration if the mandated details of the tourists are not submitted and fine for the defaulting period is not paid. As per the notification, the hotels/other accommodation units will have to also pay the following processing fees while submitting the statistics of the tourists: A category hotel (Rs 6,000), B category hotel (Rs 4,800), C category hotel (Rs 960) and D category hotel (Rs 720). NEW DELHI n a big win for the Narendra Modi government, the Supreme Court in a 4:1 majority verdict on Monday gave its stamp of approval to the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise the Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination currency notes, saying the decision-making process was neither flawed nor hasty. After scrutinising the entire record on demonetisation, a singularly seismic economic policy decision that triggered a slowdown, the apex court said the decision to scrap the high-value currency notes did not suffer from flaw or illegality as there was consultation between the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Union government for a period of six months before the impugned I Demonetisation was unlawful, says dissenting judge NEW DELHI: The government notification on demonetisation was “unlawful” and the process of banning all currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 could not have been initiated by the Centre, justice B V Nagarathna said in her strong dissent She called the November 8, 2016 notification of the Centre “unlawful” and agreed with the notification was issued. The top court said it was of considered view after the perusal of the material on record that the RBI’s Central Board had taken into consideration the relevant factors while recommending withdrawal of the legal tender. Observing that the scope of judicial review in matters of petitioners challenging the notification, that as per section 26 of the Reserve Bank of India Act, the central board of the RBI should have independently recommended demonetisation, and it should not have been done through the advice of the government. There was no independent application of mind by the RBI, she held. economic policy is “narrower”, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer said there has to be great restraint in matters of economic policy and the court will not interfere with any opinion formed by the government if it is based on the relevant facts and circumstances or on expert advice. The top court’s judgment came on a batch of 58 petitions including the one filed by lead petitioner Vivek Narayan Sharma challenging the demonetisation exercise. The bench, also comprising justices B R Gavai, A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said the notification dated November 8, 2016, by which the high-value currency notes were scrapped, cannot be termed unreasonable and struck down on the ground of a flawed decision-making process. The apex court said the 52day window provided for the exchange of the demonetised notes with legal tenders was not unreasonable and it cannot be extended now. Some of the petitioners had sought a fresh window to be opened for the exchange of the scrapped currency notes. “The power available to the Central Government under sub-section (2) of Section 26 of the RBI Act cannot be restricted to mean that it can be exercised only for one’’ or “some’’ series of bank notes and not for ‘’all’’ series of bank notes. The power can be exercised for all series of bank notes”, the verdict said.