log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SATURDAY MARCH 4, 2023 GOA Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 14 pages PRICE ` 8 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 255 3 2 Goa sets sight on green hydrogen, solar energy Panaji PS attack: Babush was trying to destabilise Cong govt, deposes DySP Naik GOA Law to have chairman for Mopa development authority notified n CM CLAIMS 100% GREEN ENERGY IN ALL SECTORS BY 2050 n 150 MW IN 2 YEARS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday said the State government will come up with a ‘Hydrogen Mission Policy’ in tune with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a grey, blue and green hydrogen policy across the nation. Dhavalikar was speaking at ‘Clean, renewable energy’ conclave organised by the Goa council of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in the capital city where earlier Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also made the ambitious claim that the State has set a target of raising green energy production to 250 mega watts level in the next two years. Meanwhile, Dhavalikar also made a claim at the conference that generating hydro and solar power is also page 7 First Goan fish store set up in Hounslow Pilar Society’s Mission in Punjab, ‘Land of Five Rivers’ IN SHORT >> Pharma job fair at Verna today PANAJI: Verna Industries Association and Goa Pharmaceutical Manufacturer’s Association will hold a Pharma job fair at GIDC Hall, Verna Industrial Estate from 9 am to 5 pm on March 4. Job opportunities will be available in production, packaging, warehouse, quality assurance, quality control, tech transfer etc. Accused in Souza Lobo attack case get bail PANAJI: Two accused in the Souza Lobo restaurant attack and damage case of November 2020, Chotu Pal and Rahul Rathod have been granted conditional bail by the High Court. A Mapusa court had discharged four of the accused in the attack on the iconic night club last month. >> See pg 3 Scheme to hone skills of youth notified PANAJI: The State government has notified the Chief Minister’s Kaushalya Path Scheme to skill, up-skill and re-skill a maximum number of local youth on a large scale and at a high speed with quality standards. KR invites bids for pre-paid taxi counter PANAJI: Konkan Railway has invited tenders from contractors for pre-paid taxi counter at Karmali and Thivim Railway Station for a period of 9 years. A tender has also been floated for contract for setting up recreation and wellness facility at Madgaon, Thivim and Karmali. WEATHER >> Max: 38 C Min: 22 C Humidity: 71% TIDES Low: High: 03:52 15:21 08:43 22:29 POWERING AHEAD Energy action plan to be adopted after collecting data and holding consultations with stakeholders Plans for sectors like electricity, transport, agriculture, fisheries and industries already finalised Govt committed to generating 150 MW of green energy in next two years 100 MW solar power plants to be set up throughout Goa Abandoned mining pits that are 120 meters deep and filled with water to be used to generate hydro and solar power with new technology on the government’s agenda and abandoned mining pits in the State will be put to use. “Abandoned mining pits will be used to generate hydropower and solar power,” Dhavalikar told the audience at the conference which was a mix of power sector technocrats, corporate honchos and CII functionaries. “Pits which are 120 meters deep and filled with water will be used to produce hydro- power with new technology,” Dhavalikar said, an idea he had earlier spoken of in the Goa legislative assembly in January. Dhavalikar also said that the State government had given a thrust and initiated schemes to encourage industry to opt for renewable energy. Earlier, Sawant told the conference that his government was planning for a 100% renewable energy status across all sectors by 2050. “After collecting the data and holding numerous consultations with stakeholders the energy action plan will soon be adopted,” Sawant said, adding that plans for sectors like electricity, transport, agriculture, fisheries and industries are already >Continued on P5 Extortion case: Internal probe hangs in balance 4 cops from ATS relieved, posted at Valpoi THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Nearly a fortnight since the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) found itself in a storm of controversy over extortion charges, Goa Police’s ‘internal vigilance inquiry’ remains inconclusive so far. Five personnel are facing allegations of extorting Rs 7.5 lakh cash from a businessman, who developed cold feet days after pursuing the matter with the Union Home Minister’s Office and the State government. Director General of Police Jaspal Singh has maintained his stand that action cannot ensue in absence of a complaint. “Internal vigilance mechanisms are being followed,” he said while speaking to The Goan on the progress of the inquiry, and added, “However, in absence of a complaint or complainant, we cannot move forward except for de- Dept tightens screws on intelligence gathering, seniors to be kept in loop PANAJI: Henceforth, intelligence gathering, particularly by the ATS will not be allowed unless superiors are in the loop. Against the backdrop of the ongoing issue, the department has asked its force to keep their superiors in the headquarters aware of any such move. “Senior officers at the PHQ were caught unaware about ATS’ information collecting drive at this office in Margao where allegations of extortion emerged. Therefore, it has been decided >Continued on P5 partment procedures.” Another senior officer told The Goan that the four personnel including a head constable, who were transferred via a wireless message soon after the expose, were recently relieved from ATS and posted at Police Training School, Valpoi. “They will be attached to the PTS until the departmental inquiry concludes,” the officer said. Govt cuts Budget session by a day No guts to face Oppn, says Yuri THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Armed with a brute majority, the Pramod Sawant government continued to ride roughshod over the Opposition’s complaints of holding short legislative sessions and cut short by a day the upcoming Budget session of the Goa legislative Assembly set to begin on March 27. A revised notice issued by Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman said the Assembly session will commence on March 27 and go on till March 31, with a holiday on March 30. The holiday is on account of ‘Ram Navami’ which is however not a ‘public holiday’ in the normal course. Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao was quick to react and took to micro-blogging site Twitter to slam the government for further reducing by a day an already short Budget session. “Ram Naam Satya Hai’ done of one day of the 4th Session of 8th Goa Legislative Assembly by a rattled BJP government in Goa which has no guts to face Opposition,” Alemao said in a tweet. The functioning of the current Goa legislative assembly and the previous House has been adversely affected since 2018. First, it was the health condition of then Chief Minister the late Manohar Parrikar followed by the Covid-19 pandemic which the governments >Continued on P5 The businessman, who received uninvited guests in his office to ‘collect intelligence’ about his activities, had allegedly apprised the governments in Delhi and Goa about the alleged extortion. Demand for Rs 10 lakh was settled at Rs 7.5 lakh. The cash was subsequently returned to the original owner when the issue became a talking point in the department. Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Tips to ensure your kid has a fun-filled and safe holi 10 SPORTS Controversial Chhetri goal sends Bengaluru into ISL semis 14 State to get 250 new electric buses THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday said Goa will get 250 new electric buses, while bus stands will be developed as bus ports in the State. Godinho told reporters that he had a very fruitful meeting with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on a number of matters. “We wanted more electric buses. We already got 50 electric buses and we will get another 100 buses by the month end. However, even this number will not be enough as we know that after 15 years, especially in Government sector, buses have to be scrapped,” said Godinho. “We have to be well connected and I suggested that we need around 500 electric buses. Gadkari said they are launching a new scheme under which we will immediately get 250 new electric buses. But I have been told to meet him again in 15 days for a follow up, by which time the new scheme will be in place,” said Godinho. “The State government does not have money to develop bus stands and so, we will develop bus stands in Goa like modern bus ports with lounge facilities through central funds.” The minister said works worth Rs 650 crore have already been tendered for a new >Continued on P5
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