log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SATURDAY APRIL 29, 2023 GOA 14 pages Special court to expedite Babush rape case, trial to be held thrice a week page 7 G.O.A. Vancouver grows in strength to over 500 members, board re-elected Goan Conservative Party candidates at Swindon Council polls IN SHORT >> IPL betting racket busted, 14 arrested PANAJI: The Crime Branch busted an IPL betting racket and arrested 14 persons from a rented villa in Porvorim, in a raid conducted late Thursday evening. The accused were caught red-handed while accepting bets on the IPL cricket match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings.   >> See pg 3 Taximen clash in Panaji, 2 injured PANAJI: A daylight attack sent shockwaves in the capital city when a group of taxi drivers attacked each other in full public view at Azad Maidan. Two cabbies were injured in the attack while they met to resolve a dispute over use of taxi stands for casino customers.   >> See pg 3 JSW bags Surla mining block PANAJI: In the last of the five mining blocks that went for auction in the second phase, JSW bagged the Surla iron ore mining block. The block was bagged at the auction premium of 109.80% of the average sale price of Indian Bureau of Mines. Power case: Mauvin appears in court MARGAO: Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho on Friday made his appearance before the High Court appointed designated Court that is trying criminal cases against politicians, in the alleged infamous Power rebate scam.  >> See pg 2 57 new Covid cases reported in State PANAJI: Goa recorded 57 new covid cases from 598 samples tested in last 24 hours. The health bulletin released by the Directorate of Health Services said 93 patients recovered and that the active caseload had reduced to 376. Only one person was hospitalised. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 34 C 25 C 83% Low: 00.59 High: 05.04 11.33 19.05 Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.311 2 3 GOA 4 booked for transferring sewerage into water tanker at Sancoale PANAJI oa will soon get trained dogs to spot and rescue people in distress and locate missing children as part of its safety measures along its beaches. Cordoning off risk-prone areas along beaches, deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) systems to monitor risk-prone zones, increasing awareness about safe swimming practices are some other measures being rolled out to enhance beach safety along the coast. A team of 11 dogs, called the ‘’paw squad’’, is being trained for these works, and the initiative is the first of its kind in Asia, a Drishti Marine official said in the presence of Tour- G RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Ways to enhance your beauty with avocado 10 SPORTS IPL: Lucknow Super Giants thrash Punjab Kings after posting 257 14 Register hate speech cases TCP Dept notifies draft on changes to building laws even without complaint: SC  SAYS STATES CAN PROMPTLY PROCEED AS PER LAW  HESITATION TO ACT TO BE VIEWED AS CONTEMPT KEY APEX COURT OBSERVATIONS PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Friday directed all States and Union Territories (UTs) to register cases against those making hate speeches even without any complaint, terming these speeches as a “serious offence” capable of affecting the secular fabric of the country. Extending the scope of its 2022 order beyond three States -- Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Uttarakhand, a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna also made it clear to authorities that any hesitation to act will be viewed as contempt of the top court and appropriate action will be taken against the erring officers. “Respondent Nos...(all states and UTs) shall ensure that immediately as and when any speech or any action takes place which attracts offences such as Sections 153A, 153B and 295A and 505 of the IPC etc., suo motu action will be taken to register cases even if no complaint is forthcoming and proceed against the offenders in accordance with law,” it directed. „„DGPs of all States and UTs issue direction(s) to subordinates so that appropriate action in law will be taken at earliest „„We make it clear that any hesitation to act in accordance with this direction will be viewed as contempt of Court and appropriate action will be taken against erring officers „„We further make it clear that such action will be taken irrespective of religion that the maker of the speech or the person who commit such act belongs to, so that the secular character of Bharat as is envisaged by the Preamble, is preserved and protected „„We have laid down a broad framework and now it is up to the authorities to act upon it. We cannot monitor each and every incident The bench ordered that Director General of Police of all States & UTs issue direction(s) to their subordinates so that appropriate action in law will be taken at the earliest. “We make it clear that any hesitation to act in accordance with this direction will be viewed as contempt of this Court and appropriate action will be taken against the erring officers. We further make it clear that such action will be taken irrespective of the religion that the maker of the speech or the person who commit such act belongs to, so that the secular character of Bharat as is envisaged by the Preamble, is preserved and protected.” SC orders casinos to pay 75% fees to Goa govt within 6 weeks THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Supreme Court has, in an interim order, directed the casino operators to deposit 75 per cent of the principal amount demanded by the Goa government as annual recurring fees for the Covid period within six weeks. “For the present, we are inclined to direct that the petitioners will deposit 75 per cent of the demanded principal amount with the authorities concerned. The petitioners are also given liberty to deposit 100% of the demanded amount, in which case even if the special leave petitions are dismissed, in view of the statement made on behalf of the State of Goa, the petitioners would not be burdened with any interest. In case the petitioners deposit 75 per cent of the demanded principal amount and the special leave petitions are dismissed, the petitioners would be liable to pay interest as per law. SC DIRECTIVE „„For the present, we are inclined to direct petitioners to deposit 75% of demanded amount with authorities „„Petitioners can deposit 100% fees, as even if SLPs are dismissed, petitioners would not be burdened with interest „„In case petitioners deposit 75% and SLPs are dismissed, petitioners would be liable to pay interest The said deposit will be made within a period of six weeks from today,” the Supreme Court bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Aravind Kumar, said. A bunch of casino operators had approached the >Continued on P5 Theft accused flees after health check at GMC, 2 cops suspended „„In a security lapse, a person arrested by Vasco police on charges of theft on Thursday managed to flee from GMC after a medical examination. Two constables have been suspended. „„Vasco police has already issued a lookout notice for the accused even as they started a manhunt and are also keeping watch on bus stands and railway stations, besides setting up naka bandi at many locations. „„The accused had allegedly broken the glass of a parked car near the Mormugao Municipal Council in broad day light and fled with cash of Rs 2.5 lakh, after following the businessman who had just withdrawn money from the bank in February >> See pg 3 Soon, dog squad for beach rescue ops THE GOAN I NETWORK Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday T H E N E W I N I T I AT I V ES „„Dogs being specially trained to aid lifesavers in rescue missions „„Dogs being trained to spot and rescue victims in distress, search and rescue in rocky areas and locate missing children at beaches „„More risk-prone areas on beaches to be cordoned off „„AI tech usage to be intensified in beach safety management „„Increasing awareness about safe swimming practices ism Minister Rohan Khaunte. “They are being trained to spot and rescue victims in distress, search and rescue in rocky areas and locate missing children at the beaches. The paw squad is being trained by canine expert Arjun Shawn Moitra and will be deployed first at high-density beaches,” the spokesperson said. Hailing the initiative, Khaunte said new technologies and innovations have to be deployed routinely for such works. “As time goes by, we must adopt new technologies, innovations... There was a tragic incident some days back when some youth tried to take selfies in a ‘no-selfie zone’. Their unfortunate deaths reflect on the tourism and safety in the State,” Khaunte said.  The Drishti Marine spokesperson said it was also giving final touches to two Artificial Intelligence platforms, Aurus and Triton, to assist lifesavers at beaches. “Aurus is a self-driving robot and the AI-powered monitoring system, Triton, will augment life-saving >Continued on P5 The SC order came on a plea filed by journalist Shaheen Abdullah, who had initially sought direction against Delhi, UP and Uttarakhand governments to register cases against those delivering hate speeches. Abdullah, represented through advocate Nizam Pasha, on Friday filed a fresh application seeking implementation of the apex court’s October 21, 2022 order across states and union territories and appointment of nodal officers in every state, who will recommend action against those making hate speeches. Senior advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for the Maharashtra chapter of NGO PUCL, said that despite the apex court’s order incidents after incidents are happening across the state and the police is not taking action against those giving hate speeches in public functions, which are being attended by Members of Parliament and MLAs. The bench said that it is precisely what the court has said on the very first day of the hearing of the matter that the Supreme Court cannot go into every incident. OBJECTIONS FROM PUBLIC INVITED WITHIN 30 DAYS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department has proposed changes in regulations under the  Goa  (Regulation of Land Development and  Building Construction) Act, 2008, and notified the new draft regulations which propose to permit constructions for specific purposes like agriculture research, sports and religious arenas and yoga centres, in hitherto green zones. The Draft regulations notified by Chief Town Planner James Mathew has called for objections from the general public within 30 days. The new proposed regulations also permit construction of “farm houses” in lands zoned as ‘agriculture’  (A1 and A2 zones). Farm houses within A1 and A2 zones shall be permitted  provided these lands are not classified  as “rice” and “forest”  in survey records,” one proposed draft rule says. It however mandates that the land where the farm house is being proposed should be of a minimum area of not less than 10,000 sq mts and the maximum ground coverage permitted will be  limited to 2.5% of the plot and the max- NEW PROPOSED REGULATIONS „„Draft permits constructions for specific purposes like agriculture research, sports and religious arenas and yoga centres, in hitherto green zones „„‘Farm houses’ in lands zoned as ‘agriculture’ (A1 and A2 zones) shall be permitted provided these lands are not classified as “rice” (Paddy field) and “forest” in survey records „„For open air sports or religious structures minimum size of land holding is mandated to be 2 lakh sq mts „„For yoga or meditation centres, draft proposes that these shall be permitted provided the plot is of a minimum of 50,000 sq mts „„Draft also proposes “common use” of open spaces by joint owners of sub-divided plots imum built-up area permissible will be 500 sq mts.  A  maximum height restriction for farm houses of 7.60 m from ground level to eaves of roof has also been proposed. For open air sports or religious  structures minimum size of land holding is mandated to be 2 lakh sq mts and the maximum  FAR coverage and height restriction permissible shall be 5% and 7.60 mts. For yoga or meditation centres, yet another draft rule proposes  that these shall be permitted provided the plot is of a minimum of 50,000 sq mts. The maximum Coverage again will be 5% of the entire land holding and height restrictions of the edifices should be again 7.60 meters. The draft rules also proposes “common use” of open spaces by the joint owners of the sub-divided plots and permit in these open spaces utility structures including water towers provided the coverage is not more than 5 % of the total area of the open space. These draft regulations were part of a larger modification proposed by TCP back in September last year in which it had made provisions also for golf courses and film cities. Notified then, the draft regulations were however dropped in October when the TCP department rescinded.