log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday THURSDAY MARCH 23, 2023 GOA Western bypass: One flood plain, two sides of contrast IN SHORT >> Goa Police to get app on tenant verification PANAJI: Goa Police has tasked BITS Pilani students with developing a mobile application on Tenant Verification, which will enable the police to track tenants' background, criminal history and other relevant information.  >> See pg 3 Met dept predicts dry weather for next 4 days MAPUSA: Dry weather is likely to prevail over Goa for the next four days. Haze may be experienced in the morning at isolated places on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said.  >> See pg 3 Man rescued from 70 feet Aldona well MAPUSA: Mapusa fire personnel rescued a 65-year-old man from a 70 feet deep well in Carona, Aldona. >> See pg 3 Wooden logs reduced to ashes in Nessai fire MARGAO: Wooden logs stacked at the saw mill at Nessai in Sao Jose de Areal village were destroyed in a major fire, causing loss worth lakhs of rupees. Fire men as well as the owners have suspected foul play behind the fire incident. >> See pg 2 Heritage Margao court bldg gets facelift MARGAO: Finally, the heritage Margao Civil and Criminal Court building at the Old market has got a fresh lease of life. The court building was in the news for the wrong reasons last monsoon after rampant water seepage inside the premises and the collapse of a false ceiling triggered uproar amongst the legal fraternity, bringing the heritage structure under the scanner of the High Court.  >> See pg 2 2 trains get nod for halts at Canacona CANACONA: After persistent demands and agitations by locals, the Railway Board has decided that two long distance trains will halt at the Canacona Konkan Railway Station from April 2, but these halts will be on experimental basis.  >> See pg 5 Salgaocar is dy chief of CII western region PANAJI: After serving a term as head of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Goa Council, Ms Swati Salgaocar has been elected as Deputy Chairperson of the reputed industry body’s western region.  >> See pg 3 12cm WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 33 C 24 C 48% Low: 05:51 18:02 High: 12:11 -------- Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) 13 pages PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 274 2 GOA Malkarnem lift irrigation project to benefit 3 Quepem villages 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 9 INFO Dental myths that can be busted NEW DELHI he Supreme Court collegium has recommended to the Centre the names of four district judges for appointment as judges of the Madras High Court. The four judges, whose names were recommended for elevation to the high court by the Supreme Court collegium for the first time, are R Sakthivel, P Dhanabal, Chinnasamy Kumparappan and K Rajasekar. The Supreme Court said the names that it has already recommended and reiterated should not be "withheld T Thapa’s strike hands India 1-0 win against Myanmar in football friendly India braces to face Covid spike, Modi chairs high-level meeting OFFICIALS TOLD TO ENHANCE GENOME SEQUENCING PTI COVID PREPAREDNESS NEW DELHI Amid a spike in influenza and COVID-19 cases in the country in the past two weeks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting and directed officials to enhance genome sequencing while also emphasising on Covid-appropriate behaviour. India has recorded 1,134 new coronavirus cases, while the active cases increased to 7,026, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Wednesday. The death toll climbed to 5,30,813 with five deaths. One death each has been reported in Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra while one fatality was reconciled by Kerala, the data updated at 8 am stated. Modi chaired the meeting to assess the COVID-19 and influenza situation in the country in terms of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign, emergence of new COVID-19 variants and „„Assess the COVID-19 and influenza situation in the country in terms of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, status of the vaccination campaign, emergence of new COVID-19 variants and influenza types and their public health implications for the country „„Emphasises on Covid-appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks in hospital premises by both patients, health professionals and health workers 13 Now, active Covid cases reported at all health centres 23 MORE CASES REPORTED IN GOA, CASELOAD AT 137 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa recorded 23 new Covid-19 cases in the 24-hours reporting period of Tuesday-Wednesday in which 377 samples were tested and at least one active case is now present in the jurisdiction of every health centre of the State. The Directorate of Health Services (DHS) bulletin also revealed that the State’s active caseload has now reached 137 with 11 full recoveries reported. According to the data available, there is now an active Covid-19 case in every urban, community and primary health centre in the State. Margao’s jurisdiction has the highest 30 cases followed by Panaji with 18. In Mapusa’s jurisdiction there are 10 while Vasco has 3, the DHS data reveals. In the Curchorem and Bicholim community health centre jurisdiction there are five cases each while Pernem has 4. The Canacona and Sanquelim CHCs have DHS DATA: ACTIVE CASES „„Urban health centres: Margao – 30; Panaji – 18; Mapusa – 10; Vasco – 3 „„Community health centres: Curchorem – 5; Bicholim – 5; Pernem – 4; Canacona and Sanquelim – one each „„Primary health centres: Siolim – 10; Chimbel – 8; Colvale – 6; Ponda & Cansaulim – 5 cases each; Porvorim – 4; Dharbandora & Aldona – 3; Corlim-Old Goa – 2; Cortalim, Shiroda, Betki-Mayem & Candolim – one case each rections given by Modi during the last Covid review held on December 22, 2022 was also briefed, the statement said. He was informed that availability and prices of 20 main Covid drugs, 12 other drugs, eight buffer drugs and one influenza drug is being monitored. A mock drill was also conducted on December 27, 2022 in 22,000 hospitals, and many remedial measures taken by hospitals thereafter. The prime minister was apprised on the influenza situation in the country particularly with respect to higher number of cases of H1N1 and H3N2 being noted in last few months. Modi directed officials to enhance whole genome sequencing of positive samples with the designated INSACOG genome sequencing laboratories. This will support tracking of newer variants, if any, and timely response, the PMO said. The prime minister emphasised Covid-appropriate behaviour including wearing of masks in hospital premises by both patients, health professionals and health workers. He also stressed that wearing of masks is advisable when senior citizens and those with co-morbidities visit crowded areas, the statement said. Pipeline burst at Tivim, parts of Bardez to go without water G20 Summit: Govt appoints liaison officers THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK Selaulim dam height: Will locals be ‘dam-ned’ again? MAPUSA A major PWD pipeline supplying drinking water from Assonora treatment plant to parts of Bardez burst at Tivim on Wednesday morning, resulting in the road over the pipeline caving in. Due to the damage, water supply will be majorly affected to Siolim and Saligao constituencies. Parts of Calangute will also not get supply while other areas in Bardez will get restricted supply. A PWD official informed that a 700 mm diameter water pipeline cracked on the left side of the State highway while travelling from Tivim to Mapusa near the “Ambeani” at the Tivim-Mapusa border. The official informed that it was an old pipeline and the heavy vehicles passing over the road could have caused the pipeline to crack at a weak point resulting in bursting of the pipeline. The pipeline went under the road when work to widen the State highway was taken up at least four to five years ago in the area. Work has been taken up to repair the pipeline and PWD officials are hoping that it could be completed by Wednesday midnight. The Executive Engineer of PWD’s water division, Shambu Malvankar, informed that work to repair the pipeline has PANAJI The Goa government has appointed around 100 liaison officers to undergo specialised training ahead of the G20 Summit. These officers are expected to play a crucial role in managing the logistical needs of delegates representing different countries during the eight meetings slated from April to July. Various government agencies led by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant are holding marathon meetings along with the G20 delegation from New Delhi to oversee preparations for the upcoming summit. Roping in electric vehicles, promoting zero plastic and sustainability as well as Goa’s culture and tourism are on the agenda. “Operational and logistical challenges need to be addressed along with preparedness for the summit keeping in mind the monsoon season. Around 100 liaison officers are being provided with the necessary training in line with the requirements of the summit,” said a senior bureaucrat from the G20 Working Committee. A special team has also been put in place to ensure a hassle-free experience for the VIP delegates all through their duration of stay in Goa. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a high-level meeting to review the COVID situation amid rise in cases in the country and to take stock of the public health preparedness, in New Delhi, on Wednesday. influenza types and their public health implications for the country, a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said. This high-level review meeting comes in the backdrop of a spike in influenza cases in the country and rise of Covid cases in the past two weeks. During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was made covering the global Covid situation including the ris- ing cases in India by Secretary, Health, Rajesh Bhushan. The prime minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a slight rise in new cases with average daily cases reported as 888 and weekly positivity reported as 0.98 per cent in the week ending March 22. However, 1.08 lakh daily average cases have been reported globally during the same week. The action taken on the di- 8x12cm A 700 mm diameter water pipeline supplying water to Bardez burst on Wednesday morning resulting in the road over the pipeline caving in.  Agnelo Pereira been taken up on war footing. “We expect the repair job on the pipeline to be completed by tonight. But supply of water will be affected at least for two days till normalcy is restored,” Malvankar said. Altogether, there are four pipelines of varying diameter – 1,200 mm, 700, 400 and 350 mm – that supplies water from Assonora water treatment plant to different parts of Bardez. >Continued on P5 COLLEGIUM’S COMMUNICATION TO CENTRE „„The names which have been recommended earlier in point of time including the reiterated names ought not to be withheld or overlooked as this disturbs their seniority „„Loss of seniority of candidates recommended earlier in point of time has been noted by the collegium and is a matter of grave concern or overlooked" as any delay disturbs the seniority of candidates. The collegium also told the Centre to notify the names of R John Sathyan and Ramaswamy Neelakandan, whose names were given in the collegium's previous recommendations in January this year, for appointment to the high court. "The names which have been recommended earlier in point of time including the reiterated names ought not to be withheld or overlooked as this disturbs their seniority whereas those recommended later still march on them. Loss of seniority of candidates recommended earlier in point of time has been noted by the collegium and is a matter of grave concern," the collegium said in its communication to the Centre. The centre is yet to clear the names of R John Sathyan and Ramaswamy Neelakandan. In the latest communication to the Centre, the Supreme Court did not reiterate these two names as reiteration is possible only if their names are returned by the Centre, which has neither returned nor notified these two names. In recommending the four new names, the Supreme Court collegium also mentioned about the Intelligence Bureau's assessment of the four district court judges, after which the collegium decided they are "fit and suitable for appointment as judges of the high court", according to the collegium's communication to the Centre. In January, the disclosure of Supreme Court judges' backand-forth with the Centre over one case each. Among the primary health centres, the one at Siolim has the highest (ten) cases in its jurisdiction while Chimbel has eight. Colvale PHC has six, Ponda and >Continued on P5 4 DECADES ON, CURDI LOCALS WHO LOST LAND ARE YET TO GET COMPENSATION, PROMISED BENEFITS THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM The State government’s plan to increase the height of the Selaulim Dam will revive painful memories for many locals in Curdi who lost their land for the Selaulim dam four decades ago, but are yet to receive compensation and other promised benefits. Speaking to The Goan, the Selaulim evacuees who sacrificed their ancestral lands to pave way for the construction of Selaulim Dam said they have always remained sidelined by successive governments since their rehabilitation way back in 1983. Even after 40 years of their displacement, they claimed that most promises by the government, such as a health centre and 24-hour potable water supply, have remained unresolved till date. Worst still is the fact that around 89 so-called “missing families” from Curdi still await allocation of housing and agricultural plots even after 54 meetings with the government to resolve the pending issues of the Selaulim evacuees. Now with the government intent to increase the Withholding names of judges disturbs seniority: SC to Centre AGENCIES SPORTS the appointment of judges, including objections raised by intelligence agencies, had led to disquiet in the security establishment. Until then it had been a practice not to make the objections public, and keep the confidentiality of intelligence agencies that scrutinise prospective candidates for the posts of the higher judiciary - both in the high courts and the Supreme Court. The debate on executive versus judiciary has spiked over the issue of judicial appointments, where the government is pushing for a bigger role. A file photo of Selaulim evacuees being assisted by officials from the Sanguem deputy collector’s office at Wadem Colony No I in September 2020. water level at the Selaulim Dam, more fears are being expressed over the future of agricultural plots which were allotted to the evacuees at the time of displacement. CHALLENGES One of the outgoing mem- bers of Selaulim Rehabilitation Committee Manoj Paryekar, who is also one among the families affected by the construction of the Selaulim Dam, said there is literally no chance to increase the >Continued on P5