log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday MONDAY MAY 1, 2023 GOA 12 pages Total recall: Salcete helped Lotus bloom in Goa IN SHORT >> Large tracts of dry grass burnt in huge blaze at Chinchinim MARGAO: A raging fire engulfed large tracts of dry grass close to a CRC grounds at Chinchinim on Sunday morning, bringing to the fore the absence of mini fire tenders to fight fires in internal areas not connected by roads. What hit the fire fighting operations was the fire tender, which had turned up at the site, could not reach the spot for want of a motorable access.   >> See pg 5 Bumper fish catch at Raloitollem MARGAO: Tons of fresh water lake fish was harvested at the Raloitollem in Curtorim village on Sunday, with the farmers expressing satisfaction over the fish catch. Hundreds of people from Curtorim and outside headed to the Ralloitollem lake early Sunday to lay their hands on the fresh water lake fish.   >> See pg 5 Goods worth ` 10L stolen from train PANAJI: Margao railway police registered a complaint that an unknown person robbed belongings worth Rs 10.15 lakh while travelling by Mangalore to Mumbai Express. A complaint to this effect was filed by a woman from Thane, Maharashtra. Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.313 2 GOA No trust move against chairman of Sattari taluka farmers 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 36 C 25 C 82% Low: 02.20 01.32 High: 07.56 20.06 INFO Ways to use milk for beautiful skin 10 SPORTS IPL: Raza stars as Punjab pips Chennai in last-ball thriller 12 Tragic Sunday: 3 lives snuffed out in 2 accidents  SAYS IT’S A FESTIVAL THAT CELEBRATES POSITIVITY OF INDIA AND INDIANS  MILESTONE BROADCAST GOES GLOBAL PTI NEW DELHI In the 100th episode of “Mann ki Baat”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the broadcast filled the “emptiness” he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is never cut-off from people. The milestone broadcast was an occasion for Modi to walk down the memory lane as he asserted that it was not merely a programme but a matter of faith and spiritual journey for him. The programme was broadcast live at several places in India as well as the UN headquarters. “Mann ki Baat has become Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat programme on Sunday. a festival that celebrates the positivity of India and its people,” he said and added he was filled with emotions at the thousands of letters he received from listeners on the occasion of its 100th episode. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modi’s address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. The BJP had earlier said nearly four lakh venues would be set up for people to listen to the prime minister’s broadcast. The prime minister said the programme is a reflection of the “mann ki baat” of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings. Be it ‘’Swachh Bharat’’, Khadi or ‘’Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’’, issues raised in >Continued on P5 WORK IS WORSHIP Mann ki Baat showing new direction to India: Sawant PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘’Mann ki Baat’’ radio address has been showing a new direction to the country. Addressing a gathering in Sanquelim, Sawant said the country has seen a sea change due to the programme. People cutting across the political and religious spectrum have been following this series which is showing a new direction to our country, he added. BJP president Sadanand Tanavade who attended the broadcast in Panaji said, Right from “Swachh Bharat’’ to “Beti Bachao’’, the initiatives promoted through this prog were well taken by citizens. Governor attends screening of 100th episode of Mann ki Baat at Raj Bhavan  >> See pg 3 3 kids among 11 dead after inhaling toxic gas in Ludhiana 1 PANAJI: Covid cases registered a big decline in Goa with just 19 cases being reported from the 426 samples that were tested in last 24-hours. The health bulletin issued by Directorate of health services revealed that there were 18 recoveries and the active caseload now stands at 357. One patient was hospitalised. PANAJI: In a swift detection the Mapusa Police nabbed a Hubli native for a theft at the Shree Vithal RukmaniTemple in Ansabhat reported on Thursday last and recovered the stolen cell phone besides a 30-gram silver Shivlinga. The theft was reported to the Mapusa police by the temple priest Sunil Nayak who claimed that the incident took place around 6 pm at the temple on Thursday last. RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Mann ki Baat @ 100: Modi calls it a spiritual journey Covid cases decline, 19 reported in Goa Mapusa police nab temple thief Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday Labourers work at a brick factory ahead of Labour Day, in Patna on Sunday. May Day: Food Bank to feed nearly 5,000 poor workers THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Nearly 5,000 workers picked from disadvantaged sections across the State will be provided a free meal on May 1, observed as Labour Day, by Sangolda-based Food Bank for Poor in association with Goan vegetarian restaurant chain Navtara. “Being Labour Day we are attempting to send out close to 5000 food packets at four different locations at the same time (11.30 am). As of now we have confirmed 3,400 beneficiaries identified,” Donald Fernandes of Food Bank, said. Volunteers of the Food Bank have picked these beneficiaries from among sanitary workers dealing with garbage, cleaning highways and those engaged in garbage plants. The distribution will take place simultaneously at 11.30 am from 4 outlets of the restaurant chain -- Panaji, Porvorim, Mapusa, KTC bus-stand Margao and Malbhat Margao. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat has been picked as chief guest for the outlet at KTC Margao, while ex-Margao municipal council chairperson, Savio Coutinho, will do the honours at the Malbhat outlet. In Panaji, retired IPS officer, Bosco George has been picked to carry out the distribution of the food packets while in Mapusa, it will be done by another retired police officer, Lawrence Fernandes. At Porvorim, DySP Vishwesh Karpe will be the chief guest. Eleven people, including three children, died allegedly after inhaling toxic gas in the city’s thickly populated Giaspura locality of Ludhiana on Sunday, with high levels Hydrogen Sulphide detected in the air and authorities suspecting it was emanating from a sewer. Four more persons, who were taken ill, are undergoing treatment at a hospital, officials said, adding the area was sealed, the residents were evacuated and a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team was at the spot following the incident. A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident while the Ludhiana Police has registered an FIR. In the air quality sensors used by the NDRF team, high levels of Hydrogen Sulphide gas had been detected and this gas might have led to the tragic incident, according to an official release. >> See pg 6  2 3 The car and tempo that collided at Utorda on Sunday. THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Three people lost their lives in two separate accidents reported at Utorda and Kharewada in Vasco on Sunday. In the first accident, a 23-year-old Arthur Pereira from Utorda died after a tempo rammed his car at around 6.15 am near the Verna-Utorda highway. The impact was such that the front portion of the car was badly damaged and Arthur who sustained serious injuries died on the spot. The Verna police team lead by PI Diego Gracias conducted the panchanama and registered an offense against the tempo driver. In the second mishap, two youth were killed while one was grievously injured at Kharewada in Vasco. According to information, Prakash Bind (30 ), Arun Kumar Saroj (21) and Ritesh Kumar Saroj (29 ), all residents of Zuarinagar who were riding a bike came under the wheels of a Kadamba bus. Sources said Saroj died on the spot while the bike rider >Continued on P5 Decriminalising addiction may change drug policing GOA AMONG 8 STATES WITH CENT PER CENT VULNERABLE DISTRICTS FOR DRUG USE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A move to de-criminalise drug addiction and exempt possession of banned substances by “users” from prosecution provided they register with recognised de-addiction centres for rehab is under active consideration of the Centre and could dramatically alter the way narco-policing is done in the future. As of now, consumption under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1986, is prosecutable and convictions could attract jail terms of up to one year and fines. The move to decriminalise consumption and possession by addicts has been initiated by the Ministry of Social Justice and media reports indicate that a consensus is emerging among related Central government ministries to clear it. The thought process is that users or addicts should be treated more as victims rather than criminals. Another indication that the move may go through in the near future is the Centre’s admission in Parliament recently that substance abuse is defined as ‘mental illness’  in ANC arrests Kerala artist, seizes drugs worth `21 lakhs PANAJI: A team of Goa Police’s Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) arrested a Malayali artist, Serin Sageer, living in Goa for the last four years, allegedly in connection with peddling narcotic drugs. Sageer was arrested at Guirim on Sunday evening and the value of the contraband seized from him is around Rs 21 lakh, according to DySP Nerlon Albuquerque. Albuquerque said the ANC had kept him under close surveillance after having received a tip-off, adding that further interrogation and legal process is being followed. Meanwhile late on Saturday night, a team of Panaji police station following informant inputs, arrested Mahendra Singh from Andhra Pradesh from an internal city road in the Old Secretariat (Adilshah Palace) area and found in his possession a little over a kilo of ganja worth approximately Rs 1.1 lakh. Police said, the investigation has revealed that Mahender had also been arrested previously by Hyderabad police again for illegal possession of ganja. Mental Health Care Act. The ministry is also simultaneously attempting to increase the 508 drug rehabilitation centres across the country by a massive number under its ‘Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan’. It anticipates that users, especially cannabis users, could dramatically rise once the move to decriminalise drug use okayed and im- plemented. Goa, is among a dozen Indian States declared vulnerable to rampant drug use and trade. In fact it is among eight Indian States, which in the past two pandemic years, have emerged as States with 100 per cent districts branded vulnerable districts for drug >Continued on P5 Mobile phone hurled towards RELIEF FROM HEAT FOR A FEW DAYS IMD forecasts showers in Kerala, parts of Goa PM during Mysuru roadshow IMD OUTLINES 5 REASONS BEHIND SHOWERS PTI PTI MYSURU A mobile phone was thrown towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a mega roadshow Sunday in Mysuru, police said. The incident occurred when Modi was holding a roadshow standing on a specially designed vehicle while campaigning for the Karnataka assembly elections. The phone was hurled out of “excitement” by a woman BJP worker who had no “ill-intention”, according to police. In a video doing rounds of social media, a phone can be seen landing on the bonnet of Police said, the phone was hurled out of “excitement” by a woman BJP worker who had no “ill-intention”. They later returned the phone to her the vehicle PM Modi was present. The incident did not go unnoticed by the prime minister who indicated about the object to the Special Protection Group (SPG) sleuths who were accompanying him. “The Prime Minister was under the protection of the SPG. The lady (whose phone fell on PM’s vehicle) was a BJP worker. The SPG people returned it to her later,” Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Alok Kumar told PTI. “In the excitement (of the event), it was thrown and she had no (ill) intention but we are trying to trace the lady because the phone was handed over to her by the SPG sleuths,” he added. The prime minister wound up his whirlwind two-day campaign tour of Karnataka with a mega roadshow in Mysuru passing through various parts of the city in what appeared to be a rerun of sorts of the popular ‘Jambu Savari’ witnessed on the last day of the annual Mysuru Dasara. NEW DELHI everal parts of the country will witness rainfall activity and thunderstorms over the next five days, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its daily bulletin on Sunday. Scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds is expected over central India for the next five days. It said rainfall activity was observed in Kerala, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Sikkim, West Rajasthan, Saurashtra & Kutch, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Gujarat region and Konkan & Goa. S „„Western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation lies over central Pakistan in lower & upper tropospheric levels „„An induce cyclonic circulation over Pakistan and adjoining West Rajasthan in lower tropospheric levels „„A cyclonic circulation over southwest UP and another over south Chhattis- garh in lower tropospheric levels „„A trough/wind discontinuity runs from east Vidarbha to TN in lower tropospheric levels „„An active western disturbance likely to affect northwest India from the night of May 1 Heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Rayalaseema and Tamil Nadu on May 1, and over Kerala on April 30. Very heavy rainfall is expected at isolated places over Rayalaseema and North Interior Karnataka on April 30, and over South Interior Karnataka and Coastal Andhra Pradesh from April 30-May 2. Kerala and Tamil Nadu are likely to experience heavy rainfall for the next four days. The weather forecasting agency predicted light/moderate scattered/widespread rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorm/lightning/gusty winds very likely over Western Himalayan Region and scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning/ gusty winds over the plains of Northwest India during the next 5 days. It said hailstorm activity is very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during April 30-May 2; Uttarakhand during the next 5 days; over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, during May 1-2; over Rajasthan on April 30 and May 3. Himachal Pradesh and Jammu are likely to witness heavy rainfall May 1-2 while dust storm is very likely at isolated places over West Rajasthan during May 3-4. For Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the IMD predicted heavy rainfall today.