log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday THURSDAY MARCH 9, 2023 GOA Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 13 pages PRICE ` 8 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 260 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 3 Govt restricts entry into wildlife areas; trespassers to face action Mapusa police collects `  6 lakh in traffic fines 1 GOA Sarpanch stops illegal music parties in Mandrem INFO Hyperthyroidism and pregnancy: Link between thyroid & reproductive health n FOREST DEPT DIRECTED TO ARREST MISCREANTS n MINISTER CONDUCTS AERIAL SURVEY OF FIRES n PROBE LAUNCHED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In the wake of increasing wildfires, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has warned to prosecute unauthorised entrants to wildlife areas. While admitting that hotter and drier weather with low humidity could be attributed to raging forest fires, the minister did not rule out mischievous activities which have threatened the bio-diversity. The Forest Department has been directed to arrest miscreants indulging in activities that could result in fire or are intentionally destroying the dry patches. “The forest officers are instructed to arrest persons entering into wildlife areas. Mischievous people or those intending to party within the forest and protected areas will be prosecuted. Even those deliberately setting >> SEE PG 3 #SillySouls affair resurrects, Chief Secy hears appeal IN SHORT >> Two die in separate road mishaps MAPUSA: Two persons -- a 45-year-old helmetless rider in Assonora and a 62-yearold rider whose helmet flew in the air in a head-on collision in Mapusa -- died in two separate road mishaps in Bardez on Wednesday. Man held with drugs worth ` 1.20L at Vasco PANAJI: One Pramod Mhapsekar was found in possession of 1.20 kg ganja worth Rs 1.20 lakh near Railway foot bridge at Vasco. WEATHER >> Max: 36 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 36% TIDES Low: High: 05:31 12:04 17:20 ------- An aerial view of the wildfires in Sattari taluka.  the dry patches on fire in forest areas will be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act, and arrested,” the minister said while addressing a press conference in Panaji after conducting an aerial survey of fires in Mha- dei sanctuary. Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCFs) in various ranges are directed to ensure that entry into the wildlife sanctuaries is prohibited and people are prohibited to put out wildfires. The Range Illustration: Amol Kamat Forest Officers and the forest guards posted in respective areas will hereafter be deployed 24X7 to monitor wildfires. Their deployment will continue till the onset of monsoon. The government, Rane said, has launched an investigation into massive fires across nine locations in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. “Various aspects have to be scientifically examined…I just cannot make a vague media statement till the inquiry concludes… If I get 10 days, all nitty-gritty will be thoroughly examined. Action will be taken accordingly,” he assured. On Wednesday morning, Rane along with the Flag Officer Commanding (Goa Area) conducted an aerial survey of Mhadei, Dherodem, Satre and Cotarli in Sanguem, Anmod Ghat, Kalem, Dharbandora and a private forest in Parra. The fires are active but under control, he added, while assuring that Indian Air Force and Indian Navy are assisting the State fire department and the forest >Continued on P5 9 SPORTS All eyes on batting unit as India seeks spot in WTC final 13 Forest fire erupts at Cortalim hillock, doused in 36-hr Op NAVY HELICOPTERS, FIREFIGHTERS INVOLVED IN TASK THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Amid the several fire incidents across Goa, a major fire also broke out in forested area at a hillock in Nauta-Cortalim. The fire was so huge that flames and smoke from the hillock could be seen from as far as Sancoale on Tuesday night. The fire reportedly went on for around 36 hours before being finally doused by Wednesday evening. Locals suspect that the fire began on Tuesday afternoon and it was only by evening that the locals alerted Cortalim MLA Anton Vas, who immediately alerted the Fire Station and the district administration. Vas was on site till about 3 am on Wednesday and assisting the fire officers from Verna to get proper access to reach to the area which was in flames. The South Goa Collector and Mamlatdar arrived at the site late Tuesday night and monitored the situation, while a police force was also at the site doing their best possible to find ways to get to the hill- REPORTS ON PAGE 2 Fire breaks out on Parra hill MAPUSA: Fire broke out in a forested hillside of Parra in the early hours of Wednesday which threatened to spread to areas in Anjuna and Arpora-Nagao, affecting almost 2 lakh sq mtrs area making it a first major forest fire incident reported in Bardez. Fire, forest teams toil to douse fire at Cotarli Locals join hands with forest, fire teams to control Morlem fire Four cases of fire reported in Salcete ock which was on fire. Speaking to reporters in the wee hours of Wednesday, Cortalim MLA Anton Vas said he had requested fire officials to be stationed around the houses at the base of the hillock and prevent the fire from causing damage to property and human life. “I got a call at around 6 pm from a panch member from the Church Street area and we immediately rushed to the site to see the massive fire. “Locals informed us that the fire spread to around 2 kms by Tuesday evening. While I am not sure of how the fire began, the state administration team, including the Collector, Mamlatdar and police have reviewed the situation,” said Vas. “The major issue is that there is no access to the hilly area since there are a lot of trees and this is a sloppy terrain and the fire was spreading to other areas. We also requested the Navy for assistance.” The fire continued throughout Tuesday night and began >Continued on P5 Swayampurna mode to overshadow budget, CM meets with babus Met dept predicts heat wave in Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA With maximum temperature shooting up, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heat wave conditions at isolated places in the State on March 9 (Thursday). The IMD has also said that maximum temperature is likely to be 4 to 6 degree Celsius above normal over Goa on March 9 and 10. February had been the warmest since 1969 with the average maximum temperature at nearly 35 degree Celsius and this trend is likely to spill over into the summer. According to the State IMD, due to the strengthening of easterly winds, clear sky conditions and delay in setting time of sea breeze, the maximum temperature over Goa is likely to remain 4 to 6 degree Celsius higher than normal. “On account of the high temperature, heat wave conditions are likely at isolated places over North and South Goa on March 9,” said Rahul Mohan, senior scientist with the IMD Goa. The maximum temperatures are likely to fall gradually by 2 to 3 degrees from March PANAJI The State government’s flagship ‘swayampurna’ mode of governance is set to get tattooed all over the budget which Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is expected to present to the Goa legislative assembly on March 27. On Wednesday, Sawant chaired meetings with secretaries, heads of departments and their respective accounts officers in an extensive budget preparation exercise and later said the financial document will be realistic and futuristic. Sawant said, targets for both revenue and expenditure have been set. The chief minister who also holds the finance portfolio claimed it was only a preliminary meeting where HoDs and accountants were called to review the budget. “98 per cent revenue receipts from last year have been achieved, and we were able to implement 90 per cent of the budget,” Sawant claimed adding that in the upcoming fiscal, the budget will fully focus on ‘Swayam- THE GOAN I NETWORK BUDGET REVIEW „„Sawant who chaired meetings with secretaries, heads of departments and their respective accounts officers in an extensive budget preparation exercise said the financial document will be realistic and futuristic „„Sawant said targets for both revenue and expenditure have also been set purna Goa’, skill development and to take governance to the last person in society. “Education, health, sanitation and tribal sectors will be given priority,” Sawant said, adding that the G20 meets in the State and the National Games will have budget provisions. The budget session of the House has already been summoned from March 27 and Sawant is slated to present the budget on day one itself. Floats depicting different mythological stories of good and evil portrayed on the first day of Shigmo float parade at Ponda on Wednesday. Protective home renovation works nearly complete, govt tells HC THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa has brought to conclusion suo motu proceedings it had initiated in the wake of the worrying condition of the Protective Home for Women after the PWD engineers reported that the work on improving the condition of the protective home is nearly complete. According to an affidavit submitted before the High Court, Phase I, which comprised shifting of the Juvenile Justice Board from the Protective Home building to the Apna Ghar building, had been completed. Phase II which comprised of civil works to be done within the Protective Home building and other construction work. Part (i) involved construction of a compound wall with six metres height, Part >Continued on P5 IT’S HOT! „„According to the State IMD, due to the strengthening of easterly winds, clear sky conditions and delay in setting time of sea breeze, the maximum temperature over Goa is likely to remain 4 to 6 degree Celsius higher than normal 11 onwards. On Wednesday, Panaji recorded a maximum temperature of 38.4 degree Celsius which is 6 degree above normal while minimum temperature was 23.8 degree Celsius which is 1.4 degree above normal. Incidentally, the humidity recorded in the capital city was 66 percent which is 22 percent lower than normal. For coastal states, a heat wave is declared when the maximum temperature recorded is 37 degree Celsius >Continued on P5 Now, crypto trade is under Govt working to further women’s empowerment: PM anti-money laundering law Govts criticised for keeping  women from peace talks O PTI PTI NEW DELHI The government has imposed anti-money laundering provisions on cryptocurrencies or virtual assets as it looks to tighten oversight of digital assets. In a gazette notification, the Finance Ministry said the anti-money laundering legislation has been applied to crypto trading, safekeeping and related financial services. After this, Indian crypto exchanges will have to report suspicious activity to the Financial Intelligence Unit India (FIU-IND). The move is in line with the global trend of requiring digital-asset platforms to follow anti-money laundering standards similar to those followed by other regulated entities like banks or stock brokers. Digital currency and assets like NFTs (non-fungible tokens) have gained traction globally over the last couple of years. Trading in these assets has increased manifold with cryptocurrency exchanges being launched. However, India till last year, did not have a clear policy on either regulating or taxing such asset classes. The notification said, “Exchange between virtual digital assets and fiat currencies, exchange between one or more forms of virtual digital assets, transfer of virtual digital assets, safekeeping or administration of virtual digital assets or instruments enabling control over virtual digital assets, and participation in and provision of financial services related to an issuer’s offer and sale of a virtual digital asset” will be now be covered by Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002. Virtual digital assets were defined as any code or number or token generated through cryptographic means with the promise or representation of having inherent value. NEW DELHI n International Women’s Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lauded the role of women in India’s progress and said his government will keep working to further women’s empowerment. “On International Women’s Day, a tribute to the achievements of our Nari Shakti. We greatly cherish the role of women in India’s progress,” Modi said in a tweet. “Our government will keep working to further women empowerment,” he said using the hashtag ‘’Nari Shakti for New India’’. The prime minister also shared on Twitter a compilation of women achievers whose life journeys were chronicled in ‘’Mann Ki Baat’’. “On International Women’s Day, a tribute to the achievements of our Nari Shakti. We greatly cherish the role of women in India’s progress,” PM Narendra Modi in a tweet Sharing President Droupadi Murmu’s article on the indomitable spirit of Indian women on International Women’s Day, Modi tweeted, “On the way back from Tripura I read this article and found it very motivating. I would urge others to read it as well.” “On Women’s Day, it chronicles the life journey of a very UNITED NATIONS: On International Women’s Day, leading women’s rights campaigners at the United Nations and the African Union and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate criticised male-dominated governments for excluding women from peace negotiations. They complained that governments are ignoring a UN resolution adopted in 2000 demanding equal participation for women in talks to end conflicts. inspiring person who devoted her life to service and rose to become India’s President,” he said about the president’s article ‘’Her Story, My Story Why I am hopeful about gender justice’’. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh recalled the glorious contributions of ‘’Nari Shakti’’ in all walks of life. “The government under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi is relentlessly working towards women empowerment through its various effective schemes and programmes,” he said. “From being operationally deployed in Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, to being posted on warships, Indian women are breaking barriers in almost every field in the Armed Forces,” Singh tweeted. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said, “On International Women’s Day, applaud the efforts and the accomplishments of our Nari Shakti.” “Their contributions are indispensable to Atmanirbhar Bharat’s growth story,” he said.