log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday TUESDAY JANUARY 31, 2023 GOA Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 13 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 223 3 2 2 ministers rebut Shah statement on Mhadei GOA After hostage claims, French actress moves proposal for settlement Fatorda blast: Focus on shifting scrapyards SHIRODKAR CLAIMS NO TALKS WERE HELD WITH CENTRE ON DIVERSIONCABRAL SAYS DON’T KNOW WHAT HM IS TALKING ABOUT, CM HAS NOT GIVEN ANY CONSENT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Three days after it kicked up a storm, Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar termed as “unacceptable” the remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the Mhadei dispute at a party rally in Belagavi area and rejected his (Shah’s) claims that Goa government was taken along in the matter of Karnataka’s plans to divert the river’s waters. Separately, Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral also condemned Shah’s comments on Mhadei and gave his boss in the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant a clean chit by saying that no consent was given by him for diversion of water by Karnataka. Shirodkar, who was on a tour of Pernem where he inspected a few ongoing WRD works alongwith the local MLA, Jit Arolkar, told the me- Sawant takes cover of 'legal battle' PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stuck to Goa’s legal defence to fend off the backlash of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement last weekend that his (Sawant’s) government was taken into confidence over Karnataka’s Mhadei water diversion projects. “Our State has a strong case legally and soon people will see the results in the Mhadei matter. The State will work towards protecting Mhadei” Sawant said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of an event. The Chief Minister pointed out that an early hearing has been sought in the Supreme Court in the Mhadei matter and the fight for every drop of water rightfully Goa’s will continue. He said, Karnataka’s DPRs have also not received the requisite environment clearances. dia there that there was no consultation whatsoever as claimed by Shah. “No talks were held with the Centre by Goa over permitting diversion of Mhadei by Karnataka. We do not accept the comment made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah,” Shirodkar said while speaking on the sidelines of his visit to Pernem to inspect ongoing works there. Shah had said at the rally that Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai had House panel to meet on Feb 8 PANAJI: A preliminary meeting of the House Committee on the Mhadei imbroglio has been convened on February 8 at 3.30 pm. A notice addressed to the panel's chairman, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar, the Goa Legislature Joint Secretary Hercules Noronha stated that the preliminary meeting will be held in the PAC room of the Goa Legislative Assembly complex. Apart from Shirodkar, the Committee comprises of 11 other MLAs from both the Treasury and Opposition benches. resolved the Mhadei dispute by taking ‘our government in Goa’ along to divert the water. “We do not accept the >Continued on P5 Tense moments at Mormugao as anti-coal activists march to Port MPA SHUTS GATE; HUGE POLICE FORCE, CISF DEPLOYED THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO A peaceful protest by citizens against the diversion of Mhadei River and enhanced coal handling at Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) turned tense on Monday morning, after the MPA closed its gate and did not allow the protestors to enter the premises. A huge force of police and CISF were seen deployed at the gates, while citizens and activists chanted slogans against the MPA, coal companies and some even demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP MLAs. While activists demanded that the MPA chairman come to the gates and accept the memorandum by the citizens, the MPA management agreed Barge sinks off Mormugao, 8 crew rescued THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Eight crew members were rescued after a partially loaded barge ‘Rio Martina 3’ sank in the sea at the outer anchorage of the Mormugao Port Authority on Monday evening. The barge was being loaded with cargo from a ship but faced issues due to strong winds. Sources said all eight crew on board the ill-fated barge were saved by other barges in the vicinity. “The barge was alongside the ship but had to be detached due to rough weather and strong currents. The barge which was half-loaded was moving away from the ship in rough seas when a huge wave hit the barge from behind and water entered the cabin,” said a source. >Continued on P5 Protestors demonstrate against the Mhadei water diversion and enhanced coal handling at MPA. Vikram Nayak REGINALDO ASKS GOVT TO CHALLENGE EC FOR ENHANCING COAL HANDLING >> See pg 3 to allow 10 persons from the rally to enter the MPA office and meet the Dy Chairman of the MPA. The protest rally began from the Vasco Railway Station at around 11.30 am and the protestors marched with placards and black flags chanting slogans towards the TB Cunha Chowk and back to the Vasco railway station. The protestors then moved towards the MPA Administrative building but found a huge police force, CISF security forces and the main gates closed. The activists and leaders along with citizens then con- fronted the MPA security and the police staff deployed at the gates claiming that it was their right to protest against the diversion of Mhadei River and their opposition to enhancement of the coal. The MPA finally permitted a delegation of ten people to meet the Dy Chairman for a meeting late in the afternoon, to discuss both issues of Mhadei River diversion and enhanced coal handling at MPA. Speaking to media after a meeting with the MPA, social activist and Dabolim Congress leader Captain Viriato Fernandes said the MPA had tried to play mind games with the protestors. "They first sent the PRO, then sent some welfare officers and even sent the >Continued on P5 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Acupressure for bloating, gas, constipation and stomach pain 9 LAND DEMARCATED FOR KABRASTAN AT SONSODO, AG TELLS COURT SPORTS India hockey team coach Reid resigns after WC debacle MARGAO: In a development on the vexed Kabrastan issue, the Advocate General has submitted before the High Court that the consultant appointed by the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has identified and demarcated an area admeasuring 2500 square meters at Sonsodo to build the kabrastan. In so far as the grievances of the interveners are concerned, who have prayed for land to set up burial grounds for other communities at Sonsodo, the same will be taken up for consideration at the stage of final hearing of the petition, together with other pending issues. >> See pg 2 13 NGT ADMITS PANJIMITES’ PLEA AGAINST FOOTBRIDGE, SETS UP 3-MEMBER PANEL PANAJI: The Pune Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday set up a 3-member panel to probe the construction of the footbridge connecting the Campal walkway to the main road at the mouth of the St Inez creek and admitted a plea against it filed by a group of Panaji citizens. The NGT also articulated the composition of the 3-member committee with a member each from the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the National Institute of Ocean Technology. The Committee has been directed to visit the site and submit an action taken report apropos the averments made in the application, within a month. >> See pg 3
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