log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday THURSDAY JANUARY 5, 2023 GOA Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 14 pages PRICE ` 8 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 198 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 Mopa airport to take off today; 12 flights expected on day one Signalling a risk to motorists in Margao GOA INFO 2 Archives dept staff among 3 arrested in land grab case Ways to get rid of yellow nails n FOUR AIRLINES SETTING UP COUNTERS n TAXI ISSUE STILL UNRESOLVED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The new Manohar International Airport at Mopa goes onstream on Thursday with a flight from Hyderabad operated by Indigo Airlines expected to land at 9 am. A representative of GMR said, the ETA of Indigo Flight number 6E 6145 is 9 am on Thursday and a total of eleven more flights are lined up for landing at the new airport through the day. The official said, at least four airlines, including IndiGo, Go First, Vistara and Akasa Air are currently setting up their counters at the airport terminal. Meanwhile, the State government is struggling to ensure smooth commencement of operations of taxi services from the new airport with the Sec 144 imposed at Mopa The parking bay for airplanes at the Manohar International Airport at Mopa. imbroglio linked to the new State-owned taxi aggregator app and taxi counters there yet to be resolved. The State-owned Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) has announced hourly e-bus journeys to-and-fro the Mopa airport from various cities and locations in the State at fixed predetermined tariffs to ensure arriving passengers are not left stranded with taxi services uncertain. The greenfield international airport had been formally named ‘Manohar International Airport’ (MIA) when it was recently inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said the name was to honour Goa’s former chief minister >Continued on P5 PANAJI: Section 144 will be imposed from National Highway to Mopa Airport from Wednesday night to ensure that law and order situation is maintained in the vicinity of the airport which starts its commercial operations from Thursday. “No one should try to pose any hurdles unnecessarily. There will be full tight security. We have to welcome passengers and tourists coming at Mopa,” said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. He warned of strict action against anyone trying to cause law and order issues. “Section 144 will be lifted only after ensuring that the situation becomes normal,” said the Chief Minister. Pernem taximen to hold chain protest today PERNEM: Taximen in Pernem have decided to hold a chain protest by the roadside leading to Manohar International Airport in Mopa on Thursday to press for their demand for a special Yellow-Black Taxi counter at the airport.  >> See pg 3 IN SHORT >> Centre clears `  9,744 cr 1 to promote green hydrogen Tagore appointed AICC Goa in-charge PANAJI: Senior Congress leader and Tamil Nadu MP, Manickam Tagore has been appointed as the AICC InCharge of Goa with immediate effect. Dinesh Gundu Rao who held the post thus far has been made AICC In-Charge of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. PTI GSSC begins process to fill up 6 positions PANAJI: Recruitment to State government departments through the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC) has kicked off with the process to fill up six positions, albeit by deputation, including that of Controller of Examinations. Delivery boy held for theft PANAJI: The Panaji police arrested a delivery agent for stealing shipments worth Rs 3 lakh which occurred last September when the shipments consisting of 12 mobiles of different brands, two smart watches, one trimmer and other valuables were stored in the company’s stock room located in Panaji. WEATHER >> Max: 33 C Min: 23 C Humidity: 50% TIDES Low: High: 04:14 15:50 09:03 21:04 Cricketer Rishabh Pant being shifted from the Dehradun Max Hospital in Dehradun on Wednesday, to a Mumbai hospital where he will undergo extensive treatment for his ligament injuries in the knee and ankle.  PTI 45 electronic gadgets, including 12 mobiles found in Colvale jail THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Days after a jailguard reported intoxicated for duty, mobile phones were recovered from inmates during a surprise checking at the Central Covale Jail. The jail authorities have recovered 45 electronic gadgets, including 12 mobile phones, power banks, etc during a search operation inside the prison premises, officials said. “We conducted a surprise check in the jail premises which henceforward will be a regular feature. Twelve mobile sets and other gadgets were found during the checking. No drugs was found,” said Bosco George, Inspector General of Prison. No cases have been registered but the authorities are expected to follow the prison rules while dealing with U-17 WOMEN’S FIFA WC 2022... SAG comes under scanner for executing works sans tender THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) has come under the scanner for allegedly executing works for Under-17 Women’s FIFA World Cup 2022 to an event management company without a tender. Processing the file for expost facto financial approval for the event to the tune of Rs 3.04 crore has also raised questions if the government was in the know about the development. “ONCE AGAIN SHAHJAHAN MODEL EXPOSED! Notorious SE Rangaraju in SAG puts the cat out of the bag. Processing the file for ex-post facto financial approval for the event to the tune of Rs 3.04 crore has also raised questions if the government was in the know about the development Event Management Executed Works for U-17 Women’s FIFA World Cup 2022 without Work Order. We @Goaforwardparty demand an immediate probe into the matter! STOP Payments Immediately!” reads a Tweet post by GFP leader Vikas Bhagat. As per a noting dated Janu- ary 2, 2023, no work order has been issued for the e-tender and the file processed for obtaining ex-post facto financial approval is also complete. With the noting leaked on social media, sources said that the SAG officials are verbally warned of facing disciplinary action if the confidential details are disclosed. The GFP leader, in his next tweet on Wednesday, posted a video of the event management contractor accompanying an official delegation led by Sports Minister Govind Gaude for national games in Gujarat, even before winning >Continued on P5 the inmates with whom the gadgets were found. The IGP did not rule out a nexus between the criminals and the jail staff but also said that there were several other ways for the mobiles and other things to make its way into the jail. “There are some porous parts through which people can even smuggle it in. There >Continued on P5 NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet on Wednesday approved a Rs 19,744 crore incentive plan to promote the manufacturing of green hydrogen in the country in a bid to cut emissions. Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur said the Cabinet approved the National Green Hydrogen Mission which is expected to attract Rs 8 lakh crore of investment in the green hydrogen chain. India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen per annum in the next five years and the incentives would help bring down the cost. “The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved National Green Hydrogen Mission,” Thakur said while briefing reporters about the Cabinet decisions. Carbon-free hydrogen, which can be used as fuel in automobiles and as an energy source in industries such as oil refineries and steel plants, is produced by splitting water. When electricity generated from renewable sources such as the sun is used to split water through electrolysis, green hydrogen is produced. Oxygen is a by-product of such a process. 9 14 SPORTS FC Goa looks to challenge in-form Hyderabad ‘Smart cameras’ to keep eye on traffic violators Traffic Police warns of fines, suspension of licences THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The 11 Artificial Intelligence (AI) cameras installed at major traffic junctions, traffic signals and busy streets of Panaji and Porvorim have begun functioning and detecting violations – over speeding and jumping traffic signals – besides other offences. The traffic movement at Divja Circle, Customs House, Ferry Wharf and Kala Academy in Panaji; the infamous accident-prone-spot at Chimbel-Ribandar junction, Goa University Road, O’Coqueiro junction and other prime locations of Porvorim are being monitored by the Traffic Police and Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) as the trial run was launched on Wednesday. “The violators’ photograph along with his/her vehicle and number plate will be recorded by these special cam- SMART INITIATIVE „„The traffic movement at Divja Circle, Customs House, Ferry Wharf and Kala Academy in Panaji; Chimbel-Ribandar junction, Goa University Road, O’Coqueiro junction and other prime locations of Porvorim are being monitored by the Traffic Police and IPSCDL PENALTY „„A fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on violators for jumping traffic lights and Rs 1,000 for over speeding. Their licence will also be suspended even if it is a first-time offence „„The violators’ photograph along with his/her vehicle and number plate will be recorded by these special cameras eras,” Deputy Superintendent of Police (North Goa Traffic) Siddhant Shirodkar told The Goan. With automatic-generated challans, calls on the violators’ phones from influential people or VIPs will be a thing of the past. The department has already warned of recommending temporary suspension of licence even on the first offence. “A fine of Rs 500 will be imposed on violators for jumping traffic lights and Rs 1,000 for over speeding. Their licence will also be suspended even if it is a first-time offence,” the officer said. The high-resolution AI cameras will be operational all through the day and night, and monitored from the command center at Altinho. >Continued on P5 Front gives govt Jan 16 deadline to get K’taka’s DPR withdrawn Threatens to intensify stir after Opinion Poll Day THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA The Save Mhadei Save Goa Front has given an ultimatum to the State government to ensure that the DPR granted to Karnataka by the Centre is withdrawn by January 16, failing which the Front has said that they will begin agitation on the issue. Speaking to reporters at Azad Maidan on Wednesday, Adv Hrudaynath Shirodkar informed that time has come for all Goans to hit the streets and agitate to save Mhadei waters from being diverted as it is a matter of our existence. “Goans, irrespective of political affiliations, should join hands and agitate as the political dispensation of today acts only when they see the numbers. Therefore, there is a need for a large number of people to agitate so that Centre is forced to revert back the DPR granted to Karnataka,” Adv Shirodkar informed. He further gave time of January 16 i.e. Opinion Poll Day, to the State government to impress upon the Centre to withdraw the DPR failing which the Front would go ahead with the agitation. “Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister has challenged that he would change his name if he does not get Members of Save Mhadei Save Goa Front Prajal Sakhardande, Adv Hrudaynath Shirodkar, Mahesh Mahambrey and Xencor Polgi addressing reporters at Azad Maidan, Panaji on Wednesday.  Manuel Vaz Mhadei matter listed today deleted from SC board PANAJI: The petitions related to the challenge of the contentious Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal (MWDT) award filed by the three riparian States of the Mhadei river was deleted late Wednesday from the board of matter listed for Thursday in the Supreme Court of India. The Mhadei matter figured on the board accessible online for the last few days but was deleted on Wednesday evening because apparently the Apex Court will only take up new matters on Thursday, according to Goa’s Advocate General Devidas Pangam. Mhadei project completed in a year’s time. Our CM Pramod Sawant should have retorted back and given a fitting reply, but he failed to do so. Therefore, we are giving the CM time till Opinion Poll to get the DPR withdrawn,” Adv Shirod- kar informed and warned that if CM Sawant fails on the front then Save Mhadei Front will intensify the agitation. Activist Xencor Polgi said that Goans are peace loving >Continued on P5 BJP leaders face-off over illegal houses at Davorlim Ajgaonkar dares Rane to initiate action against thousands of other houses issued house numbers THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The controversy surrounding the demand to issue house numbers to the 166 illegal houses at Davorlim village on the outskirts of Margao has brought top BJP leaders face to face. If former Deputy Chief Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar took up cudgels for the occupants of the houses in support of their demand for house numbers, reports spoke of the TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane issuing directions to the Chief Town Planner to initiate action against the illegal houses. In retaliation, the former DyCM Ajgaonkar has dared Vishwajit Rane to initiate action against the thousands AJGAONKAR SPEAKS „„I was told by the people that though the houses have been in existence for 20 years and have light and water, the panchayat has still not issued the House numbers. I assured them to do the needful since the BJP government has brought an amendment to issue house numbers to all structures of houses, which have been issued house numbers under the Amended Goa Panchayat Raj Act. Expressing shock and surprise over the TCP Minister’s reported statement directing the Chief Town Planner to initiate action against the 166 illegal houses at Davorlim, Ajgaonkar said the TCP Minister seemed to have issued the directions due to misunderstanding over the matter. A day after he went to the Davorlim panchayat to call on the Sarpanch Herculano Niasso in support of the 166 applicants demanding house number for the houses, Ajgaonkar on Wednesday said he was approached by the applicants during the Davorlim ZP by-polls when he was sent to the village by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, BJP >Continued on P5 BJP ST morcha leader flays Ajgaonkar’s move MARGAO: Ruling BJP ST Morcha leader Anthony Barbosa on Wednesday has condemned what he termed as pressure tactics by former DyCM Manohar Ajgaonkar to force the Davorlim Sarpanch Herculano Niasso to issue house numbers for the 166 illegal houses in Davorlim.  >> See pg 2 All 166 houses are located in green paddy zone: Sarpanch MARGAO: Firmly ruling out the question of issuing numbers to the 166 illegal houses in the village, Davorlim Sarpanch Herculano Niasso on Wednesday asserted that the 166 houses which have come up in the village are all located in the green paddy zone.  >> See pg 2