log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday WEDNESDAY MARCH 8, 2023 GOA 12 pages PRICE ` 8 Sonsodo legacy dump set to be cleared, but MMC struggling with daily waste IN SHORT >> Non-Goan member on GPSC board likely PANAJI: In an apparent move by the State government, the Goa Public Service Commission could soon find a member from Maharashtra on its selection panel. The proposal is likely to come up in the Pramod Sawant-led cabinet meeting slated on Wednesday. The Commission, currently headed by Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha has Professor Sukhaji Naik as its lone member.  >> See pg 2 Goa liquor worth `  7 lakh seized 4 BELAGAVI: In a major raid against illicit trade of Goa liquor, Belagavi excise officials have seized Goa liquor worth Rs 47 lakh along the Jamboti-Khanapur road on Tuesday. According to excise officials, acting on the specific information, a Gujarat-registered truck was intercepted at Modekop, near Khanapur, at around 2 pm. >> See pg 5 Mapusa grappling with waste collection MAPUSA: Garbage crisis has returned to haunt the Mapusa town with a vengeance as heaps of trash are found piled up at every nook and corner on the streets and open places. Despite having a door-to-door garbage collection system, black spots have reappeared in many places.  >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 2 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 259 GOA Goa, Portugal to explore technology sharing to boost tourism 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO How you can ensure a clean beauty regime Fresh forest fires erupt at Keri, Morlem, Sanguem n 2 COPTERS PRESSED INTO SERVICE n CASHEW PLANTATIONS RUINED THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI Even as the forest fires were finally extinguished at Satre and Chorla in Sattari, fresh fires broke out in the hills at Keri and Morlem in the taluka on Tuesday. Fires were also reported on a hill at Sanguem where the government’s ambitious plan to set up IIT had failed and at three places in Cavelossim. Responding to requests from the Forest Department, two helicopters were pressed into service in firefighting operations in Charvane hill, Chorla and Satre on Tuesday morning. The two helicopters filled up water from Pissurlem and released it to douse the flames in these areas. Sattari Mamlatdar Dashrath Gawas and senior officials of the forest department were in constant touch with the two Navy helicopters, as aerial All forest guards to be deployed to control fires: Rane A naval helicopter releases water in a bid to extinguish the fire at Chorla on Tuesday morning. REPORTS ON PAGE 3 operations were underway on Tuesday morning. As the fires were extinguished at Charvane hill, Chorla and Satre, fresh fires were reported at Miracho hill and Vadir hill in Keri, while there was another fire at a hill in Morlem. Firefighters from Bicholim and Valpoi fire stations were involved in operations to extinguish the fires at Keri. There has been extensive damage to cashew plantations in Keri, causing huge losses to Arjun Yeso Majik, Ganesh Babalo Majik, Gopal Bamno Majik and Vasudev Vitthal Gawas. Firefighting operations will continue in Morlem on Wednesday to extinguish these fires and to prevent the flames from spread to nearby areas. On Tuesday afternoon, a fire broke out from the Parwad area of Karnataka and was seen approaching Goa. >Continued on P5 WEATHER >> Max: 36 C Min: 21 C Humidity: 67% TIDES Low: High: 05:39 17:33 11:28 23:53 Mischief will be strictly dealt with, warns CM Chairs high-level meet with officials THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI Stating that strict action would be taken against those responsible for the forest fires in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has also warned that forest department staff could face suspension if they have been found irresponsible in handling the situation. Sawant chaired a high-level meeting of State Disaster Management Authority along with Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, Poriem MLA Deviya Rane, government officials and officials of the forest, police and fire to review the fire situation in Sattari area. Later speaking to media persons, Sawant stated that government authorities along with the support of locals are working to get the situation in complete control. “I have also spoken to navy officials for continuing support. Inquiry has been Those who want to set fire in their cashew plantations are warned that no such action will be tolerated. They have to stop doing this henceforth — Pramod Sawant ordered, any mischief/misconduct found will be strictly dealt with,” he said. He stated that the State has been witnessing fires in cashew plantations and forests for the past few days, and Navy’s support has been sought in controlling the fire in twothree places. “But the Morlem fire is on a very big scale and we have to ascertain the reason for this fire. We have given strict instructions to find out the reason and strict action would be taken against those found guilty.” >Continued on P5 Commute from Campal to Patto takes 45 minutes as traffic jams throw normal life out of gear 2 night soil tanker drivers arrested MARGAO: Villagers of Chinchinim have lodged their objection for additional Land Acquisition for widening NH66 from Navelim bypass to Cuncolim.  >> See pg 2 12 Travel within ‘Smart City’ turns into endless drive PERNEM: A forest team seized Khairi wood worth Rs 1.2 lakh which was brought illegally on Sunday and arrested Ravji Nagvekar and truck driver Ismail Shaikh. The Khairi wood was brought illegally from Canacona and was being taken out of State. Chinchinim locals against NH expansion PANAJI: Stating that a deliberate attempt is being made to create forest fires, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has directed the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to divert all forest guards deployed in the respective areas to control the situation. “Assessment of the extent of fire is underway and through site specific forestry management practices, appropriate measures will be taken in fire affected areas. Department is closely monitoring the situation and strict action will be taken,” he said in a series of tweets. Chhetri strikes as Bengaluru FC beats Mumbai City in first leg of ISL semis WITH ALL ROADS DUG… Forest team seizes Khairi logs, 2 held PANAJI: Two persons have been arrested by Maina Curtorim police for allegedly dumping raw sewage in the open at Lotoulim. Drivers of the two night soil tankers were caught red handed trying to dump untreated sewage on the hill at Lotoulim. 10 SPORTS THE GOAN I NETWORK HOLI GATHERING! People play with colours during Holi celebrations at Azad Maidan, Panaji on Tuesday. Hundreds of revellers thronged the streets splashing colour on each other to commemorate the festival on Tuesday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Holi turns tragic, 2 drown off Vasco THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Holi celebrations in Vasco on Tuesday turned tragic after two people drowned in separate incidents at Sada and Baina beach. According to Mormugao police, an unidentified man drowned at Baina beach. “We received a message from the doctor at the Chicalim Sub District Hospital that an unidentified man of around 45-50 years with sand all over his body was brought dead to the hospital from Baina beach by a 108 Ambulance as a case of drowning,” said the source. “In another incident, Su- shrut Satardekar (18) of Sada drowned in the sea near Japanese Garden when he went for a swim in the sea with his friends after Holi celebration. Satardekar was pulled out by a lifeguard and shifted to Chicalim Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival,” said the source. The source said both bod- ies have been sent for a post mortem. Mormugao police station has registered two cases of unnatural death under Section 174 CrPC and PSI Aditya Naik Gaonkar is carrying out further investigation under the supervision of PI Raghoba Kamat and guidance of Mormugao DySP Salim Shaikh. PANAJI It takes 30-35 minutes to reach Verna, around the same time as Ponda, and about an hour to reach the interiors of Salcete taluka in Guirdolim village. No matter what the distance covered from Panaji, the travel time is not as harrowing as it is for the commuters to move around in the city. The government agencies, undertaking simultaneous repairs and developmental works have spared no road to be dug. A short drive from Taleigao to St Inez that usually takes around 10-12 minutes now stretches to not less than 25 minutes. Similarly, driving from Campal to Panaji bus stand takes around 30-40 minutes; thanks to the ongoing work to make the city ‘Smart.’  The contractors have razed the entire road, both up and down lanes, at the same time bringing the traffic to a stand- Traffic that came to a standstill along the D B Marg, Campal due to hot-mixing road work on Monday. still. Despite an objection from the Traffic Police, the authorities took up the work of hot-mixing the D B Marg this week, which ultimately aggravated the woes of the commuters.  Several netizens are complaining that their routine life has been affected as a lot of time is wasted in traffic jams on a daily basis. “Panjim is having mad traffic today. Took nearly 55 minutes to drive from Miramar to Patto,” one of the commuters Vaishnavi said on her social media post, on Monday. In reply to her post, another Twitterati claimed the time was “actually less” indicating the travel time has increased.   >Continued on P5 Patients at risk of chest pain after Covid: Study Traditional games likely to AGENCIES WASHINGTON atients who had Covid-19 disease could be at increased risk of suffering chest pain in the six months to a year after the infection, finds a study, signalling a future risk of heart disease. However, the study did not report major events like a heart attack or stroke in such patients. While currently, “the symptoms aren’t necessarily translating into hard outcomes,” it needs to be “reassessed over time”, said Heidi T May, a cardiovascular epidemiologist at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City in the US and principal investigator of the study. “It could be that lasting effects of infection on cardiovascular system are hard to quantify in terms of diagnoses P Breath could hold key to precise Covid diagnosis: Research WASHINGTON: A patient’s breath might hold the key to a more precise diagnosis of Covid-19, including that of its variants, and of non-Covid illnesses, suggested a new study. Investigators from the University of Michigan’s Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation, US, used portable gas chromatography (GC) to examine breath samples collected during the pandemic’s Delta or other events in the shortterm and won’t be realised until follow-up,” she added. For the study, the team studied nearly 150,000 Covid patients for cardiovascular symptoms. “Many Covid-19 patients experience symptoms well beyond the acute phase of infection,” May said. “While we didn`t see any significant rates of major surge and its transition to Omicron, from April 2021 to May 2022, the study said. The results showed that the GC technology could diagnose Covid-19 with a high level of accuracy. They also revealed that the volatile organic compounds contained in the breath of patients with Omicron differed from those in patients with Delta and earlier variants. events like a heart attack or stroke in patients who had an initial mild initial infection, we did find chest pains to be a persistent problem, which could be a sign of future cardiovascular complications,” she added. The results were presented at American College of Cardiology`s 2023 Scientific Conference in New Orleans. The team compared three groups of patients -- people ages 18 and up who tested positive for Covid; Covid negative patients; and patients who were seen between January 1, 2018, and August 31, 2019, as a historical control. They found that at six months and one-year intervals, patients who tested positive for Covid-19 had significantly higher rates of experiencing chest pain, but saw no other increases in cardiovascular events. Meanwhile, an updated Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for certifying deaths due to coronavirus disease has revealed that according to emerging evidence, Covid virus can have lasting effects on nearly every organ and organ system of the body weeks, months, and potentially years after infection. The guidance suggests documented serious post-Covid conditions include cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurological, renal, endocrine, haematological as well as death. “For decedents, who had a previous infection, the certifier may consider the possibility that the death was due to long-term complications of Covid-19. feature at National Games IOA team says Goa is fully prepared THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Traditional games may be considered for inclusion in the 37th National Games along with 37 other sports disciplines to be held in Goa. This was disclosed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) team which was in Goa on 3-day visit to review the preparedness of the State to conduct the Games. “Traditional games like lagori, squay, rollball etc are likely to be included in the 37th National Games”, IOA Executive Council member Amitabh Sharma who was The IOA team has said that traditional games like lagori, squay, rollball etc may be included in the 37th National Games along with 37 other sports disciplines part of the team, told media. Sharma also expressed satisfaction over the preparations for the Games in Goa. “The State of Goa is fully prepared to host the National Games”, he said. Sharma disclosed that events like shooting and some cycling events requiring special facilities like Velodrome will be held in some sister cities. Goa was to host the 36th edition of the national games but it was snatched away and hosted by Gujarat last year after multiple defaults by the State in readying  infrastructure to host the marquee Indian sports event. The final dates for the edition however have not been finalized, although tentatively November this year, it is likely to be a few weeks after the conclusion of the Asian Games in China.