log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday FRIDAY MAY 12, 2023 GOA Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday 14 pages PRICE ` 8 Stilts issue: Consultancy firm disputes WRD findings on flooding at Benaulim 2 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 324 GOA Dy Collector prohibits operations of prepaid taxi counter at Dabolim airport 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Natural oils you can use to get shiny legs SC rules it cannot reinstate Uddhav as M’rashtra CM n SAYS HE QUIT WITHOUT FACING CONFIDENCE VOTE n GOVERNOR, SPEAKER FACE WRATH OF TOP COURT PTI KEY APEX COURT OBSERVATIONS MUMBAI Eknath Shinde will continue to be the chief minister of Maharashtra after the Supreme Court held on Thursday it cannot reinstate the MVA coalition government headed by Uddhav Thackeray since the Shiv Sena leader chose to resign without facing the floor test in the wake of a rebellion in his party. The unanimous verdict by a five-judge Constitution bench came as a relief for Shinde even as it censured former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari over his decision calling upon Thackeray to prove his majority in the Assembly based on a request by the Shinde faction of the Sena. Shinde, who led the rebellion in the Shiv Sena against Thac- IN SHORT >> 46 shacks sealed along Calangute, Candolim coast MAPUSA: As part of the ongoing process to seal unlicenced shacks, the Deputy Collector’s office sealed 46 shacks along the Calangute-Candolim coastal area on Thursday. According to directives from the collector, the Bardez Deputy Collector’s office formed four teams and sealed 46 shacks. The teams consisted of Talathis along with other officials, representatives of the Goa State Pollution Control Board, representatives of the tourism department and the police. Govt services through Gramin Mitras soon PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that government services will be home delivered to citizens through the Gramin Mitras by the end of the month under the ‘Digital Goa’ campaign. Poll for PMC, SMC chief, dy on May 16 PANAJI: Chairperson and vice-chairperson of Sanquelim and Ponda Municipal Council will be elected on May 16. Swearing in of newly elected councillors will also be held on the same day. Russian drowns off Keri beach PERNEM: A 40-year-old Russian man drowned off Keri beach in Pernem on Thursday, barely hours before he was due to return to his country. According to reports, David Dzhioev had gone for a swim at Keri beach in the afternoon, and was due to return to his country later. 9 illegal structures razed at Anjuna MAPUSA: Nine illegal constructions have been demolished by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and Anjuna-Caisua Panchayat. >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 34 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 80% TIDES Low: High: 09:22 23:08 02:33 16:57 „„Could have considered the grant of remedy of reinstating MVA govt headed by Thackeray if he had refrained from resigning „„Ex-Maharashtra governor Koshyari did not have reasons based on objective material to arrive at conclusion that Thackeray had lost confidence of the House „„Governor is not empowered to enter political arena and play a role in inter-party or intra-party disputes „„Discretion exercised by Koshyari, asking Thackeray to face a floor test, was ‘not in accordance with law’ „„Then Speaker’s decision to appoint Bharat Gogawale of Shinde faction as the party’s whip was ‘contrary to law’ „„Once a govt is democratically elected in accordance with law, there is a presumption that it enjoys the confidence of the House keray sparking a nine-day political crisis in June last year, later tied up with the BJP to form a new government. Refusing to disqualify the 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs including Chief Minister Shinde, the bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said the court cannot ordinarily adjudicate disqualification petitions under the anti-defection law and directed the Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to take a decision on the pending matter within a “reasonable period.” The court also said the de- cision of the Speaker to appoint Bharat Gogawale of the Shinde faction as the whip of the Shiv Sena in the Assembly was “contrary to law”. After the keenly awaited verdict was pronounced, rival political camps in Maharashtra claimed vindication of Study identifies 20 blind spots across Goa’s major highways Advises better signages to tackle mishaps THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A study done by half-a-dozen students of a top business school has identified 20 blind spots across major highways and trunk routes between cities in Goa, many of which are responsible for the soaring road accidents of late.  The students of the Goa Institute of Management have also advised that as simple a measure as erecting signages could make these blind spots safer and contribute to arresting the soaring accident statistics and fatalities on Goan roads. Guided by faculty member  Prof Nandakumar Mekoth, the six students including  Aryamaan Goel,  Ayush Gupta,  Chahat,  Bhavik Mirashi,  Dhaval Agarwal and  Gobind Mutreja  chose road safety as their subject, moved by a spate of recent accidents, most of which were said to be for  reasons such as human irresponsibility, poor infrastructure, poor visibility of traffic signs and stray animals on the roadways. As part of their work, the team of six students interact- their positions. Uddhav Thackeray, who is Shiv Sena (UBT) president, sought the resignation of Shinde and his deputy and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on moral grounds, a demand swiftly rejected by top ruling coalition leaders. The judgment reinstates trust in democracy, said Thackeray, who was the chief minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, comprising the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress. He resigned on June 29, 2022 after the rebellion in the undivided Shiv Sena. Thackeray said his resignation as the chief minister may have been legally wrong, but he did it on moral grounds. On the other hand, a >Continued on P5 Flying Squad swoops down on hill cutting at Maxem KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF STUDY „„Along NH66s on Panaji-Mapusa trunk route, the study identified lack of proper dividers, intersection of service roads with the highway without any signages and traffic signals erected at some spots are themselves blind spots and not visible to drivers „„At Old Goa-Merces junction circle, the study identifies lack of signage and road markings „„In Ponda, at the Opa junction, researchers have zeroed in on “too many pot-holes and sharp blind turns as major threats to safety „„Study calls Kundaim-Cuncoliem slope a "hazardous location" and notes that 24 accidents occurred along this stretch last year alone ed with officials of the Goa Police’s Traffic Cell and a number of locals from the areas where they identified the blind spots. Along the  NH66s on the Panaji-Mapusa trunk route, the study identified lack of  proper dividers, intersection of service roads with the highway without any signages and  traffic signals erected at some spots are themselves blind spots and not visible to drivers. At the Old Goa-Merces junction circle, where 10  lanes of national highways intersect, the study again identifies lack of signage and road markings as the root cause of confusion and chaos. In Ponda, at the Opa junction, the researchers have zeroed in on “too many potholes and sharp blind turns as major threats to safety of vehicle users, especially two-wheeler riders. Along the Kundaim-Cuncoliem  slope, the study calls it a “hazardous location” and notes that 24 accidents occurred along this stretch last >Continued on P5 9 INFO SPORTS IPL: Rajasthan Royals demolishes Knight Riders in massive win 14 Delhi govt has control over administrative powers: SC n Excludes public service, police & land n Ends 8-yr AAP’s dispute with Centre PTI NEW DELHI The Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services except for public order, police and land, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in a huge victory for the ruling AAP dispensation in its festering feud with the Centre. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, in a unanimous verdict, put an end to the eight-year-old dispute between the Centre and the Delhi government triggered by a 2015 home ministry notification asserting its control over services, holding the National Capital Territory administration is unlike other Union Territories and has been accorded a sui generis’’ (unique) status by the Constitution. Against the backdrop of frequent run-ins between the AAP government and the Centre’s point man, the lieutenant governor, SC asserted an elected government needs to have Officers who ‘obstructed’ work will face action, warns Kejriwal NEW DELHI: The AAP government swung into action on Thursday after a Supreme Court verdict on the Centre-Delhi services matter with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announcing a major bureaucratic reshuffle in the coming days and warning action against officers who “create hurdles” in public work. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said the speed of work in the national capital will increase manifold following the judgement on administration of services as his hands were earlier tied. He also thanked the judges for doing justice with Delhi. control over bureaucrats, failing which the principle of collective responsibility will be adversely affected. The Legislative Assembly of NCTD has competence over entries in List II and List III (state and concurrent list) except for the expressly excluded entries of List II (Public order, police and land)..., the SC ruled in its judgement. SC also said in the spirit of cooperative federalism, the Centre must exercise its powers within the boundaries created by the Constitution. The NCTD, having a sui generis federal model, must be allowed to function in the domain charted for it by the Constitution. The Union and NCTD share a unique federal relationship, it said. Govt ‘nets’ fishermen again, asks them to register ‘stakes’ Issues public notice, cites Fishing Act THE GOAN I NETWORK The hill cutting site at CaraiMaxem. THE GOAN I NETWORK CANACONA Authorities on Thursday stopped hill cutting activity at Carai-Maxem in Loliem-Polem village. According to sources, the hill cutting was reportedly going on for the last two years, with heavy machinery and tipper trucks. It is learnt that an NGO and some residents have been repeatedly complaining about the activity. Sources said, while the hill-cutting and transportation activity was in progress, a team from the Flying Squad with officers of Canacona TCP, a Talathi along with Canacona Police team raided the site and ordered the machinery operators to stop the activity. PANAJI Less than three months after it aborted the decision, the State government’s Fisheries Department has revived it by issuing a diktat to traditional Goan fishermen to register their ‘stakes’ with the necessary documents. ‘Stakes’ are traditionally used devices generally made of bamboo poles fitted with nets which are planted in strategic fishing grounds across rivers and backwaters in Goa to catch fish. In its ‘public notice’ issued on Thursday, the Fisheries Department has asked individual fishermen as well as collectives like cooperative societies of fishermen, to apply “at the earliest” for registering their fishing ‘stakes’ with the requisite documents through the block level fisheries officer. The notice points out that registering to erect the fishing stakes anywhere in Goan waters is mandated in the Goa Marine Fishing Regulation Act. The notice also defines ‘fishing stakes’ as any device used to capture fish and WHAT THE NOTICE SAYS „„Registering to erect the fishing stakes anywhere in Goan waters is mandated in Goa Marine Fishing Regulation Act „„Individual fishermen as well as collectives like cooperative societies of fishermen should apply “at the earliest” for registering their fishing ‘stakes’ with requisite documents through block level fisheries officer „„Notice defines ‘fishing stakes’ as any device used to capture fish and is made up of poles or other supports, enclosed with a net or other screening material and anchored permanently or semi-permanently in the waters is made up of poles or other supports, enclosed with a net or other screening material and anchored permanently or semi-permanently in the waters. Interestingly, the fisheries department had in January-February this year introduced a new regime for all forms of fishing which mandated registration of equip- ment. This new regime had also prescribed licence fees for all equipment, including tools used for sport fishing and traditional fishing methods, widely practiced in Goa’s rivers and backwaters, including hundreds of catchments of sluice-gates (manos). >Continued on P5 Relief for Imran, Pakistan SC Kiosk owners outside GMC felt the pinch declares his arrest ‘illegal’ VOICES OF AS GOA PLAYED HOST TO G20 MEETINGS… Expresses anger, orders his immediate release PTI ISLAMABAD In a major relief for Imran Khan, Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday declared the former prime minister’s arrest ‘illegal’ and ordered his immediate release after he was produced before a bench on its orders. A three-member bench, comprising Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah, issued the verdict while hearing a petition against his arrest from the Islamabad High Court premises on Tuesday. The bench, while hearing SC’S VIEW „„How can anyone be denied the right to justice? „„No one can be arrested from court without permission of court’s registrar „„What dignity remains of the court if 90 people enters its premises and arrests an individual? his plea against his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case, expressed anger at the way he was taken into custody by paramilitary Rangers and ordered authorities to produce him before it. The bench had directed the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to produce the 70-year-old leader Khan by 4:30 pm (local time) when the court would reconvene. Khan was brought to court in heavy security. As he entered the courtroom, it was closed, and subsequently, the bench resumed the hearing. “It is good to see you,” Chief Justice Bandial told Khan. After a brief hearing, the court declared that Khan’s arrest was ‘illegal’ and of no consequence and ordered that he should be set free. The court also directed him to go to the Islamabad High Court on Friday and seek further legal recourse. THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA very time a G20 meeting is held in Goa, the kiosk owners operating outside GMC-Bambolim have to suffer as they are told to shut shop. And it happened for the second time in two months as the kiosks were shut for two days i.e. May 9 and 10 in view of the G20 meet that was scheduled from May 9 to 11. Earlier in April, the kiosk owners were told to shut shop for four days when the first summit of G20 was held. And this is not the end as there are several other G20 meetings scheduled in the coming months and the kiosk owners will be told to shut their business on account of the same. DISSENT E Kiosks outside GMC-Bambolim that were closed on account of the G20 meet.  Manuel Vaz Interestingly though, no official communication is made to the kiosk owners and everything is done orally. Also, no compensation is offered by authorities concerned to the kiosk owners who lose their business on account of such closures. When contacted, Santa Cruz Deputy Sarpanch Domnic Pereira says that they received directives from the Tiswadi BDO in the matter. “The same directive was forwarded to the Agassaim police station as we just cannot direct the kiosk owners to shut shop,” Pereira added. A kiosk owner, on condition of anonymity, said that this is nothing but sheer harassment „„This is nothing but sheer harassment from the authorities „„Our livelihood is totally dependent on our smallscale business and closure of the same incurs heavy losses for us „„The government should at least compensate us for our losses from the authorities. “Our livelihood is totally dependent on our small-scale business and closure of the same incurs heavy losses for us. The government should at least compensate us for our losses,” the vendor demanded.