log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4, 2023 GOA SMC Mayor, CO clash with each other, file counter complaints page 6 First weekly Goan bazaar to get underway in London G.O.A. hosts events for Goans in Greater Toronto Area IN SHORT >> Finally, French actress leaves her house PANAJI: Seventy-five-year-old French actress Marianne Borgo, who alleged she was held hostage in her own home in Calangute, finally left the premises on Friday, after a 11day stay. She had alleged that she was being held hostage in her own house and that the people staking claim to her property had cut its electricity and water connections, forcing her to live in the dark. Amul milk price hike comes into effect PANAJI: Amul has hiked milk prices with effect from February 3 in Goa and nearby markets. As such Amul Gold 500 ml will now cost Rs 33, Amul Gold one litre Rs 66, Amul Taaza 500 ml Rs 26 and Amul Taaza one litre Rs 52. DHS sets deadline to register clinics PANAJI: The Directorate of Health Services has asked all clinical establishments including single doctor clinics to apply for registration before March 31 warning that fine varying from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh will be imposed on those violating the mandatory registration requirement and may also have to face closure of the facility. Contract killer gang nabbed at Arpora PANAJI: A gang of contract killers from Maharashtra has been arrested from Arpora in a joint operation by Crime Branch and Anjuna police. The gang which was accused of murdering one Amit Bhosle from Satara by shooting him, were hiding in Goa after committing the crime. Sharp drop in Goa’s crime rate: DGP PANAJI: Police has claimed that the State witnessed a drop in crimes and an increase in detection rate in the first month of the year. >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 35 C 22 C 85% Low: 04:41 16:17 High: 09:31 23:30 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 13 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 227 2 GOA ZACL gets 15-day deadline for mock drills, info on ammonia storage tank 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Face serum: The best for your skin, and why you should use it Green Tribunal admits plea challenging CRZ SAYS MATTER REQUIRES IN-DEPTH CONSIDERATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The National Green Tribunal has admitted a petition filed by the Goa Foundation and others challenging the Coastal Regulation Zone 2019 and its diluted provisions. “We find that the matter requires in depth consideration as we have to compare the amendments which have been brought about in CRZ Notification, 2019 compared to the earlier Notifications and determine how far they are likely to damage the ecology. Therefore, we admit this application,” the NGT western zone bench of Dinesh Kumar Singh and Vijay Kulkarni, said. The Goa Foundation had others initially approached the Bombay High Court at Goa, who then directed them towards the National Green POINTS OF CONTENTION „„Restrictions imposed in past have been relaxed without any adequate reasoning „„NDZ along the sea coast reduced to 50 mts from earlier 200 mts „„Developmental activity restricted to only 20 mts from HTL „„CRZ along rivers is reduced to 50 mts, which was earlier 100 mts „„Intertidal zone is now no longer in NDZ „„Roads permitted to be built in NDZ and activities permitted on both sides of such roads „„Temporary tourism facilities permitted on beaches in both CRZ-II and CRZ-III at a distance of merely 10 mts from HTL Tribunal. “Respondents are directed to submit their reply within four weeks providing copies of the same to the other parties in advance,” he added. The Goa Foundation in its petition has alleged that the notification has taken some regressive steps in respect of protection of ecology and rights of the fishing communities and is favouring the commercial and intensive organisational activities. “The restrictions which were imposed in the past, have been relaxed without any adequate reasoning for the same and would impair sustainable development and ecosystem. The NDZ along the This is how Valpoi lawyer went about theft in court HID IN THE TOILET FOR OVER AN HOUR, MASKED HIS FACE AND EXITED THE COURT IN THE DARK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI It was a fool-proof plan to buy a car and an apartment, and criminal lawyer Mujahid Shaikh almost succeeded in it. He hid in the toilet for over an hour, masked his face to avoid getting exposed to CCTV cameras and exited the Court premises in the dark. But the two-wheeler used for escape by the Valpoi resident and a surveillance camera clearly focusing on the bike's number plate landed him in the police net within 24 hours of the crime. Shaikh has been practicing law in four States -- Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh -- but the theft of muddemal property comprising of cash and gold brought him to limelight, though on the negative side. "He walked into the Court building around 5 pm on Tuesday, sat for a case hearing and when it was the time for the proceedings to end half an hour later, he went to the toilet where he remained in hiding till the main door was locked by the guards," an of- Burnt currency notes, threw gold in river, accused tells police PANAJI: “He is a hard nut to crack” one of the officers described the lawyer. The Panaji police informed the JMFC Court that he is not cooperating with the investigation though he confessed to the crime. The Court remanded him to five days of police custody. In his statement to the police, sources said, the alleged accused claimed that he burnt the currency notes and threw the gold ornaments in the river. “We don’t believe him. He has hidden it somewhere,” an officer said. Shaikh charged the Panaji police of assaulting him en route to Panaji after his arrest and while in custody, claim which was refused in his medical certificate that was submitted to the Court during his remand hearing. ficial, closely monitoring the investigation told The Goan. The alleged accused does not practice in this Court but chose for the theft. Sources said that around 7:30 pm, Shaikh -- covered with a face mask -- walked up the stairs to the first floor where the Nazir Room (Evidence Room) is located. CCTV cameras, which were fortunately functional but with little clarity, caught him picking the door keys hanging onto a wall-mounted key holder. "He goes into the room to loot the valuables kept in the almirah. With the help of the burglary tools he was carrying in his shoulder bag, he broke open the almirahs. He collected the cash, seperated the demonetised and the new currency notes and laid his hands on the seized gold ornaments as well," the source stated. The torch flashing in his face is captured by the surveillance cameras, another >Continued on P5 9 SPORTS India’s 2007 T20 WC hero Joginder Sharma announces retirement Over 4,000 to try their luck for 10 BDO vacancies 1000 plus in race for 14 mamlatdar posts too Exams to be held on February 19 THE GOAN I NETWORK sea coast is reduced to 50 metres from earlier 200 metres, which is unacceptable in view of sea level rise and ingress of sea water into coastal areas,” the petition alleges. Among the other issues flagged by the Goa Foundation includes the developmental activity towards the landward side being restricted to only 20 metres from the HTL (High Tide Line), the CRZ along the rivers is also reduced to 50 metres, which was earlier 100 metres from the HTL without any appropriate justification. “The NDZ in the impugned Notification is now a nomenclature without any meaning. The intertidal zone is now no longer in NDZ. Roads are permitted to be built in NDZ and activities are permitted on both sides of such roads, which include resorts, hotels >Continued on P5 PANAJI The Goa Public Service Commission (GPSC) has received over 4,000 applications for the 10 posts of Block Development Officers, the pre-screening test of which is slated to be held across five centres on February 19. The Commission received over 4000 applications for the BDO position and over 1000 applications for the post of 14 Mamlatdars. “There will be a pre-screening test for BDO candidates mainly covering areas of logical reasoning and aptitude, whereas a direct screening exam to shortlist candidates for the interviews will be held for the applicants of Mamlatdar post,” GPSC Chairman Jose Man- ual Noronha said. The pre-screening Computer Based Recruitment Test will consist of 60 marks paper while the examination for Mamlatdar posts will carry 75 marks, to be completed in 75 minutes. Noronha stated that candidates who clear the pre-screening test for the BDO post will have to answer the screening exam thereafter. The Goa Public Service Commission, in November last year had advertised 14 vacancies for Mamlatdars (8 unreserved, 4 OBC, 1 ST and 1 EWS) whereas there are 10 positions (5 unreserved, 2 OBC, 1 ST and 1 EWS) for the BDO post. One vacancy for persons with disabilities (PwD) is reserved in each of the two vacancies. The syllabus for the Mamlatdar exam comprises topics like Goa Daman and Diu Agricultural Tenancy Act, PANIC ABATES ON D-STREET Adani Group shares rebound After a tumultuous past few days that almost halved value of Adani Group, shares of the Adani Enterprises and 3 other entities ended in positive territory Fitch Ratings said there is no immediate impact on the ratings of Adani entities and their securities following a short-seller report alleging malpractices at Adani group DOW JONES STRIKES ASSESSING FISCAL FLEXIBILITY: MOODY’S Moody’s Investors Service said it is assessing overall financial flexibility, including liquidity position, of Adani Group firms given a significant and rapid decline in stock value post release of Hindenburg report Cinema Photography Act, Cigarette and Tobacco Act, Land Revenue Code, Mamlatdar Court Act, Comunidade System, The Goa Daman and Diu Mundkars (protection from eviction) Act, Constitution of India and related topics besides logical reasoning and aptitude, English and general knowledge. The exam will be conducted at five centers across the State and the results of the exam will be displayed on the computer screen of the candidate at the end of each exam. “The Commission has a robust grievance redressal mechanism in place in case candidates wish to raise a grievance regarding a particular question or questions,” the Chairman said. Entire Christmas, New Year week exempted from sound ban THE GOAN I NETWORK 4 OF ADANI SHARES BOUNCE BACK „„Stock of Adani Enterprises rebounded 1.25% on BSE. During the day, it tumbled 35% „„Shares of Adani Ports also bounced back and climbed 7.98% after falling 14.51% „„Ambuja Cements rallied 6.03% and ACC climbed 4.39% „„Six other group stocks however finished lower NO IMPACT ON RATINGS: FITCH 13 Adani out of world top 20 rich list Industrialist Gautam Adani slipped out of the World’ real-time Billionaires list of Forbes on Friday and was placed in 22nd position. Adani’s wealth had declined 21.77% or USD 16.2 bn S&P Dow Jones has said it will remove Adani Group’s flagship firm Adani Enterprises from sustainability indices with effect from February 7 following a media and stakeholder analysis triggered by allegations of accounting fraud. PANAJI Tweaking the schedule of days on which the amplified sound ban is relaxed until midnight, the Goa government has included all the seven days between Christmas and New Year apparently in a bid to let the hospitality industry to cash-in. Director of Environment, Dr Geeta S Nagvenkar issued the notification on Thursday in which she said the relaxation of the sound ban laws will be applicable to the entire week between Christmas and New Year eve. To accommodate these final seven days in the list of days of the year where the sound laws are relaxed, the government has removed from the list Holi, Anant Chaturdasi, kajagiri Poornima and Tripurari Poornima. Also, for Easter, Diwali and Navratri there will be relaxation of sound laws up to midnight only for a single day each. It may be recalled that in December last year, the hospitality industry was hit by a sudden directive of the Bombay High Court for strict implementation of the sound ban from 10 pm. Two-thirds taxpayers may shift 6 Goa rivers among 311 polluted in India: Report to new regime, claims CBDT THE GOAN I NETWORK AGENCIES NEW DELHI Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) chairman Nitin Gupta has said he expects at least 50-66 per cent (two-thirds) of the taxpayers to switch over to the new tax regime in the next financial year itself. “We have left it to the tax payers as to how many people will shift to the new tax regime. We have left it to the tax payers which tax regime they want to live in, but we think that at least 50% to 6566% (two-thirds) taxpayers are likely to switch over to the new tax regime in the first year itself,” Gupta said. The CBDT Chairman, citing the Budget announcement, said the income tax rebate We have left it up to the tax payers which tax regime they want to live in, but we think that at least 50% to 65-66% taxpayers are likely to switch over,” —Nitin Gupta limit available for salaried and individual taxpayers under the new tax regime, has been hiked to Rs 7 lakh from the present Rs 5 lakh. On personal income tax, the government announced that tax for income of Rs 0-Rs 3 lakh is nil, for income above Rs 3 lakh and up to Rs 5 lakh will be taxed at 5%, for income of above Rs 6 lakh and up to Rs 9 lakh will be taxed at 10% and for income above Rs 12 lakh and up to Rs 15 lakh to be taxed at 20% and above 15 lakh at Rs 30%. “Not only salaried, even non-salaried people, we have widened the slabs, reduced the tax slabs from 6 to 5. We believe that many people will shift,” CBDT chief said. “I assure that this scheme will be beneficial for anyone whose income is up to Rs 7 lakh. The person who is salaried class and earns more than 7 lakh then he has benefit of standard deduction of Rs 50,000, this means that if someone’s income is 7.5 lakhs, then even after getting the deduction, his income will remain 7 lakh and will not have to pay tax,” he explained. PANAJI n what could serve as an eye-opener for Goans, a central government report on the pollution level of rivers has revealed that six rivers in Goa are among the 311 rivers across India that are polluted. The report also says the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in these six rivers is more than 3 which means that if the BOD is more the river is more polluted. Speaking on the report that had been published recently, Union Jalshakti Minister Gajendrasingh Shekhawat stated that the BOD of Mandovi, Zuari, Sal, Kalne, Khandepar and Mapusa rivers is more than 3 and hence they fall into the polluted river category. Shekhawat also outlined River Mandovi Zuari Sal Area (to & fro) polluted Near Amona Panchavadi to Madkai Khareband to Assolna Kalne Near Chandel Khandepar Near Khandepar Mapusa Near Karaswada I in the report at which point exactly these six rivers are polluted and as well as in which category they fall. The detailed report mentions that some companies in industrial estates, factories and establishments discharge their sewage in these rivers. This is the main cause of pollution of rivers in Goa, the report stated. The State government has been directed to take action against these companies and factories under the Pollution Control Law. The Central government has already initiated a campaign to clean the rivers, so that the health of the citizens is not impacted. The Union Budget also has notable financial arrangement allotted and reserved for this purpose. The report says the prime responsibility of taking care BOD 4.0 6.4 6.0 Category 5 4 5 4.0 4.2 5.0 5 5 5 of the rivers flowing in their respective States lies with State governments. The Jalshakti Ministry has directed the State governments to ensure prompt action to save and protect the environment too along with the health of its citizens, by saving rivers from getting polluted. Shekhawat has further mentioned that the State governments have already been put on notice and issued di- rectives by Jalshakti Ministry to take necessary action. Meanwhile, six rivers in Goa including Mandovi and Zuari are said to be polluted for the past few years as several industries, factories and other establishments are discharging their sewage/ waste water in these rivers. Citizens living on the banks of these rivers, and its vicinity, are also found to be throwing their garbage and discharging their sewage water in these rivers. This has in turn affected the health of these lifelines that flow through various cities in Goa. Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant is on record and has already instructed Goa State Pollution Control Board to take immediate action against those sections/ sectors that are responsible for polluting these rivers.