log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SUNDAY JANUARY 22, 2023 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 16 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 215 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 16 PLAY & PAUSE »PAGE 13 LIVE SMART »PAGE 14 SPORTS »PAGE 8 Safety is Sexy! Travel Therapy Amendments that revamped the Constitution Pacers hand India big win to seal ODI series MR PIONEER: Veteran actor-filmmaker Kothare speaks of his autobiography Ways to practice becoming your future self How to set financial goals ISL: FC Goa faces tough Kerala Blasters test at Fatorda Rakul Preet talks about Chhatriwali and why it is crucial to openly talk about sex edu MAGAZINE MAGAZ 9 Who is raising issue of Mhadei in Delhi? Criminalising marital rape: SC reference that holds key Want fabulous skin this winter? Masks work during your sleep 10 A healthy mind is intrinsically linked to healthy body: Expert 11 Board Exams: Handling the nerves positively Car Review Citroen eC3: Electric Frenchie >> SEE PG 3 POWER PLAY: GOVT V/S OPPOSITION IN SHORT >> Govt to start temple tours within State MARGAO: Ahead of the Budget, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday announced that the government will introduce the Temple pilgrimage within the State, even as he announced that the Dev Darshan tour will also cover the Temple towns of Varanasi, Kashi and Ayodhya in the future. >> See pg 2 Robbers decamp with gold worth ` 11.44L PANAJI: Robbers targeted a bungalow in Quelossim, Cortalim and decamped with gold ornaments worth Rs 11.44 lakh. The unidentified miscreants allegedly broke open the door and decamped with the booty. New law to control pre-primary edu PANAJI: With the government asserting that the new ‘National Education Policy 2020’ will be implemented from the next academic year. WEATHER >> Max: 32 C Min: 20 C Humidity: 75% TIDES Low: 05.10 High: 10.26 17.06 ---- Ahead of National Tourism Day, a look at the rise of health tourism As R-Day nears a look at some amendments that have made impact on our lives Activists warn govt of huge agitation over coal cargo  ASK GOVERNMENT FOR TOTAL BAN ON TRANSPORTATION OF COAL, LASH OUT AT MLAs FOR CHANGING THEIR STAND THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO ‘Goa against Coal’ (GAC), an umbrella of several anti-coal activists, on Saturday threatened to intensify their agitation on a large scale if the State government approved the enhancement of coal handling offered to the South West Port Ltd (SWPL) by the central government. Addressing a news conference in Vasco, GAC Convenor Custodio D’Souza, Capt Viriato Fernandes, Nazir Khan, Olencio Simoes, Jayesh Shetgaonkar, Sanjay Redkar and other activists said the MLAs must try to stop coal instead of their present stand of stopping pollution from coal and insisted the government must totally say no coal in Goa. ‘MLAS MUST CHANGE STAND’ “Leaders who were oppos- ‘Environment impact report manipulated’ VASCO: Olencio Simoes said the GAC was formed in 2016 to oppose MPA’s expansion plans and activists had also raised their voices during the public hearing in 2017. “We strongly condemn the EC offered to handle more coal at MPA and want to inform the government that hundreds of speakers had raised thousands of objections to the plans of expansion and enhancement to coal handling. We want to know on what basis the EC has been granted because we had even written to the MoEF of how the entire EIA report was manipulated.” “Former CM late Manohar Parrikar had also assured that coal handling would not be ing coal have become MLAs and have changed their stand from opposing coal to opposing pollution. This is wrong and I request these MLAs to increased but the present government is only telling us lies and is exposed. I appeal to MLAs and the government to revoke the EC granted by MoEF to enhance coal handling at MPT because it will spell the doom of Mormugao taluka failing,” said Simoes. change their stand immediately because coal has destroyed our air and seas as well,” said GAC Convenor Custodio D’Souza. Govt mulls train service to ease Mopa travel woes SAWANT GIVES PROPOSAL TO KONKAN RAILWAY TO RUN TRAINS BETWEEN PERNEM & CANACONA THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO In a development that may ease travel from the Mopa international airport to South Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday announced that the Goa government has requested the Konkan railway to explore the possibility of running trains from Pernem to Cancaona for the benefit of the air passengers. After the Mopa airport-Benaulim taxi fare stirred a hornet’s nest on the social media, The Goan had suggested why the Goa government and the Konkan railway Corporation are not exploring the possibility of utilizing the Konkan railway line, running northSouth direction, to connect the Mopa airport to down South. Incidentally, the Konkan railway Corporation had pointed out that Corporation 72 seek slot at Mopa taxi stand ahead of Monday deadline PANAJI: The taxi counter proposed by the State government at the new Manohar International Airport at Mopa to appease the agitating Pernem locals has thus far attracted registration of 72 taximen at the Regional Transport Office at Pernem, an official said. Monday is the deadline for accepting registration forms and all those received until the deadline will be scrutinised by the department to ensure conformation to rules. In is however not clear whether it will be the same as the Blue Taxi Counter which the government had announced instead of the regular yellow-black taxi counter where operators from Pernem were to be given preference. can give a thought to running shuttle trains between Mopa and Margao and Canacona if such a proposal comes from the Goa government. On Saturday after flagging of the government-sponsored Dev Darshan train to the Pilgrim centre of Shirdi, Chief Minister announced that the government has given a proposal to the railways to run trains between Pernem and Canacona for the benefit of the air passengers. “The government will take >Continued on P5 “Our MLAs must immediately oppose any enhanced coal handling activity. These MLAs who speak of reducing pollution must show how they 26 years on, cop dismissed for using fake docs to get the job THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After having served 26 years, Goa Police dismissed a head constable and initiated an investigation for cheating the recruitment committee for securing the job. The Goa Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Shamba Pednekar for submitting a fake SSCE passing certificate to Goa Police’s recruitment committee and dismissed him from the service. As per the FIR registered with the Panaji police, Pednekar allegedly cheated the recruitment committee for securing the job. “He submitted a fake SSCE passing certificate having Seat No. 21493 duly signed by the Head of the Institution of Shanta Vidyalaya Sodiem, Siolim Bardez and SSCE marksheet for March 1996 and produced the same as genuine before the recruitment committee at Police Head Quarters, Panaji. He got a job through this document in the same year,” an official said. can control the speed of the wind that causes pollution or show us where there is space to accommodate more coal at these berths.” “I appeal to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and all MLAs to work on steps to stop coal totally instead of taking steps to reducing pollution, failing which GAC will intensify our agitation.” “Everyone knows that a small traditional fishing body has stopped the MPA from carrying out dredging by taking them to NGT and courts and we at GAC can go to any extent to stop coal handling in Goa,” said D’Souza. ‘GOA WILL TURN BLACK’ Capt. Viriato Fernandes said Goans have lost the privilege of land, water and air due to coal handling activity. >Continued on P5 Dabolim gets bomb threat email, charter from Russia diverted THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO In a yet another incident involving a hoax bomb call, a Russian charter Goa-bound Azur Air flight was diverted to an airport in Uzbekistan in the wee hours of Saturday morning before it entered the Indian Air space. Speaking to media, Mormugao DySP Salim Shaikh said the flight had around 247 passengers and 7 crew members. “This is the second incident involving the same flight in less than two weeks and while the last call was made to the Azur Airways, this time there was a threat mail sent to the Goa Airport director. The flight was scheduled to arrive at Goa Airport in Dabolim at around 4.15 am but was diverted to Uzbekistan after the threat mail received at around 12.30 am.” “The mail said that the Azur Air flight had a bomb planted and the Airport immediately alerted us and we immediately activated our teams. We mobilised the Anti Terrorist Squad, Bomb Disposal Squad, Fire brigade and we also had a meeting Closely following situation, says Russian embassy NEW DELHI: The Russian embassy on Saturday said it is closely following the situation relating to a Goa-bound flight from Russia that was diverted to Uzbekistan. “The embassy is closely following the situation,” the Russian mission said adding, “according to information, the plane made an emergency landing in Uzbekistan”. after which the flight was diverted to Uzbekistan.” “We are not aware of the present situation and the checking carried out in the flight at Uzbekistan but we will be informed once the flight leaves for Goa. The flight will drop the passengers here and take back Russian tourists who were in Goa on its return journey. We don’t want to take any chances and we have taken all precautionary measures and we will verify this incident as well,” said DySP Shaikh. ABVP students hold St Xavier’s college to ransom, create ruckus  PROTEST NON-FORMATION OF STUDENTS’ COUNCIL  PUSH, BANG DOORS; ABUSE PRINCIPAL & TEACHERS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Students affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), on Saturday allegedly forced their way into the college premises of St Xavier’s College, Mapusa and created a ruckus in the campus by disrupting ongoing classes and intimidating the college students to join their protest. The ABVP students were protesting against the alleged failure of the college to establish the students’ council for the academic year and also demanded an audience with the Principal. The ABVP students, mostly from other institutes, hurled abuses against the Principal and chanted “Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” slogans. Around 10 to 15 ABVP students mostly from other institutes along with three stu- A group of ABVP students raising slogans and protesting in the campus of St Xavier’s College, Mapusa on Saturday.  Agnelo Pereira Outsiders entering campuses unacceptable: Mapusa MLA >> See pg 5 dents of the St Xavier’s made their way into the college campus at around 10.30 am and barged into the classes of the Science block and urged the students attending the classes to join their protest. “They pushed and banged the classroom doors all the while shouting slogans. They went to all the labs and the classrooms of the Science block and abused and asked >Continued on P5 Centre blocks access to BBC Sal to get fresh lease of life with ` 24 cr project film on Modi, Gujarat riots Govt to rope in national agencies to desilt lakes THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI The Centre has issued directions for blocking multiple YouTube videos and Twitter posts sharing links to the controversial BBC documentary “India: The Modi Question”, according to sources. The two-part documentary, which claims it investigated certain aspects relating to the 2002 Gujarat riots when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of the state, has been trashed by the Ministry of External Affairs as a “propaganda piece” that lacked objectivity and reflected a “colonial mindset”. Senior officials examined the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court The directions on blocking access were understood to have been issued by Apurva Chandra, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting using the emergency. Sources said senior officials of several ministries, including external affairs, home affairs, and information and broadcasting, examined the documentary and found it to be an attempt to cast aspersions on the authority and credibility of the Supreme Court, sow divisions among various Indian communities, and make unsubstantiated allegations regarding actions of foreign governments in India. While opposition parties like the Congress and the TMC criticised the Modi government for “censorship”, a group of 302 former judges, ex-bureaucrats and veterans slammed the BBC documentary as a “motivated charge sheet against our leader, a fellow Indian and a patriot” and a reflection of “dyed-in-thewool negativity and unrelenting prejudice”. MARGAO n what is seen as a serious bid to restore the pristine glory of River Sal, Salcete’s lifeline, the Water Resources Department on Saturday launched a Rs 24 crore pilot project to rejuvenate the river in phases, beginning with the Verna-Nuvem-Fatorda stretch. The pilot project includes improvement of water ways from Verna to the wholesale fish market, Fatorda, at a stretch of around 9.40 kms by constructing a barrage with mechanically operated gates and automated aeration system to improve the water quality of River Sal. The project includes desilting and beautification of the Verna lake, the original point I MARGAO: Water Resources department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Saturday said that the department has decided to rope in two national agencies to take up the work of desilting and development water lakes in the State. Saying the WRD has already taken up two major water lakes in Shiroda constituency, Shirodkar said the government will soon take up on priority the desilting and development of the of the river Sal. The beautification of the picturesque Salpem lake in Navelim will also be take up soon. Launching the project near the wholesale fish market on Saturday in the presence of Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira Kamla Tollem in Benaulim and the Salpem lake in Navelim. “Within one month, the WRD will take up a number of works to develop the lakes and water bodies across the state”, he said. When asked why the government has zeroed in on the national agencies when there’s expertise available locally, Shirodkar said the two agencies have come up with organic technology, which is not harmful to nature. and his Fatorda counterpart Vijai Sardesai, the WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said the project will not only clean up River Sal, but help the farmers along the Verna-Nuvem stretch in a big way. “Today is a historic day for the people of Nuvem and Fatorda. For the first time after Goa’s liberation, the River Sal, which has been craving for attention for a long time now has been taken up for rejuvenation and restoration”, Shirodkar said, while saying the Rs 24 crore project will go a long way in restoring the pristine glory of the river. He said the downstream stretch will be taken up for restoration in the second phase, saying it will take around two years for the pilot project to see light of the day. “Once this project is completed, the river will not only be cleared of the pollution, but the farmers along the Verna-Nuvem belt will get water for irrigation. We have plans to go for micro irrigation and drip irrigation in phase II with solar energy. Farmer groups will be formed in Nuvem with the help and assistance of local MLA Alexio Sequeira”, he said. While saying the pilot project consists of setting up >Continued on P5