log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday SATURDAY MAY 20, 2023 GOA GSPCB collects samples from Sal rivulet after plaints of foul odour pages 6&7 Research studentships set up at Oxford University in honour of Goan scientist Moving from UK to Kenya, taking first steps in agriculture Goan personalities honoured at community function in Qatar IN SHORT >> Human chain to be formed in Panaji for Mhadei today PANAJI: In a community engagement initiative a group of artists, heritage activists, professionals and literary figures have joined hands with organisations involved with the Save Mhadei Movement to organise ‘Mhadei Amchi Mai’ on Saturday afternoon which will involve multiple activities including a ‘human chain’ along a seven-kilometer route along the river’s banks in the capital city.   >> See pg 3 HPCC meet on Sonsodo to be held on May 22 MARGAO: With the Margao Municipal Council caught napping on addressing the Sonsodo imbroglio, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has called for a meeting of the High Powered Coordination Committee headed by him to discuss the entire gamut of issues plaguing the waste dumping site on May 22.   >> See pg 2 3 youth booked for bike stunts on roads PANAJI: Three more youth were booked by police for performing bike stunts on the roads at Curchorem and Verna after videos of their stunts went viral on social media. Their bikes have also been seized. On Thursday, Mapusa police had booked a 20-yearold youth for performing similar stunts on the road. Milk farmers to vote in Goa Dairy polls: CM PANAJI: The milk farmers will soon get rights to vote and elect members and chairman of Goa Dairy. Speaking at Goa Krishi Mahotsav, 2023 in Ponda, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the Administrator of Goa Dairy has been asked to hold re-elections of Goa Dairy by amending the rules. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: TIDES 36 C 25 C 81% Low: 04.53 17.30 High: 11.58 22.41 14 pages Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday The Goan (Playstore) PRICE ` 8 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO.332 2 GOA IMD non-committal about monsoon progress in Goa 3 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Can garlic and lemon help in strengthening the nails? PANAJI The State government has proposed almost doubling the salaries of chairpersons and councillors of municipal councils in the State. The proposal to amend the Goa Municipalities (Chairperson’s and other Councillor’s Emoluments) Rules, 1970, was pre-published in the form of a notification by Gurudas Pilarnekar, the Director of Municipal Administration  and Urban Development, who is also ex-officio Additional Secretary to the government. According to the changed rules, chairpersons of the three classes of municipalities IPL: Rajasthan Royals beats PBKS by 4 wkts, keep playoff hopes alive RBI to withdraw `2,000 notes from circulation NOTES CAN BE EXCHANGED, DEPOSITED UP TO SEPT 30 PTI NEW DELHI In a surprise move, the Reserve Bank on Friday announced withdrawal of Rs 2,000 currency notes from circulation but gave public time till September 30 to either deposit such notes in accounts or exchange them at banks. Unlike the November 2016 shock demonetisation when old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were invalidated overnight, the Rs 2,000 notes will continue to be a legal tender till September 30. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), however, did not say what would be the status of 2,000 notes in private hands after September 30. Earlier, the government had made it an offence to hold the demon- THE ROAD AHEAD FOR `2000 „„Public can deposit Rs 2,000 bank notes into their accounts and/or exchange them into banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch „„Deposit into bank accounts can be made without restrictions and subject to extant instructions and other applicable provisions „„Exchange of Rs 2,000 bank notes into bank notes of other denominations etised Rs 500 and 1,000 notes after expiry of the deposit deadlines. Banks will exchange the Rs 2,000 notes till September 30 and people holding notes beyond the specified date will not invite legal action, sources said. In an interview to a news channel, Finance Secretary T V Somanathan said the decision is different from demonetisation of high value currency notes of 2016 and will have no impact on the economy. Central minister throws no light on LED fishing  SAYS SCIENTIFIC STUDY NEEDED TO REVOKE BAN  MOOTS WOMEN GROUPS TO FACILITATE EXPORTS ON PAGE 2 >> THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Asserting that the Centre will take a call on the ban imposed on fishing by LED lights only after conducting a scientific study, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala on Friday rang in good news for women engaged in fishing activity saying the Centre will consider bringing together women Self Help Groups under the market linkage to facilitate fish export, promising to provide technical support to take the concept forward. The Union Minister also underscored the need to maintain Goa’s ecosystem, saying Goa is a beautiful place visited by domestic and international visitors. Addressing fishing stakeholders, including exporters, fishermen and mechanized boat owners as part of the Sagar Parikrama programme, wherein a strong case was made out for lifting the ban on fishing with LED lights, the Union Minister said “since a case was made out for lifting on the ban citing a scientific study, the Centre will take a call on the issue also after a thorough scientific study”. Stakeholders demand upgrading fishing jetties on par with European standards Minister calls for increasing fish exports, but ‘mum’ on making it affordable to Goans Union Fisheries Minister Parthottam Rupala in Margao on Friday.  Santosh Mirajkar He said the Centre will take into cognizance the fishing practices at the national and international level, and carry out a scientific study before taking a call on fishing with LED lights. The Union Minister’s stand assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the issue of fishing with LED lights is being closely monitored by the High Court. In fact, strict directions have gone to authorities, including the Fisheries Department and the Goa Police to crack a whip against vessels involved in LED fishing. “Someone from the boat owners have called for a rethink on fishing by LED lights by citing a scientific study. I will also go for a scientific study on the issue before taking a decision and after checking the national and internal practices”, he said, adding “We have to maintain the ecosystem and take development forward. If LED fishing is a good technology, we will have to work out a scientific solution and move forward. We will think only after a scientific study”. The Union Minister was impressed over the suggestion made by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas that women self Help groups can be organized for the export of fish. “I understand that while the men >Continued on P5 can be made up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time from May 23 „„Banks to provide deposit and/or exchange facility for Rs 2,000 until September 30 „„Facility also provided at 19 Regional Offices (ROs) of RBI having Issue Departments When asked on what will happen to the currency notes not deposited before September 30, he said banks will have a proper system to handle it. >Continued on P5 No proof of price manipulation, SC panel on Adani controversy PTI NEW DELHI In a relief to embattled billionaire Gautam Adani, a Supreme Court-appointed committee said it has found no evidence of stock price manipulation in Adani group companies, while a separate Sebi probe into alleged violation in money flows from offshore entities has “drawn a blank”. The panel, however, said there was evidence of a buildup in short positions on Adani Group stocks ahead of the report of Hindenburg Research that alleged fraud, stock manipulation, and money laundering at the apples-to-port group. Profits were earned from squaring off positions after prices crashed post-publication of the allegations. Financial crime-fighting agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) “found intelligence about potentially violative and concerted selling by specific parties just ahead of the publication of the Hindenburg report, and this may lead to credible charges of concerted destabilisation of the Indian markets, and Sebi ought to be probing such actions under securities laws,” it said citing a response from ED. Suspicious trading has been observed on the part of six entities. Of these, four are FPIs, one body corporate and one individual. Salaries of civic chiefs, HC slams babus for misusing councillors to double powers under Section 144 THE GOAN I NETWORK 10 SPORTS (A, B and C) will get monthly emoluments of Rs 25,000, Rs 22,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively. They currently draw Rs  12,825, Rs 11,475 and Rs 10,800. Also, councillors of these three classes of municipalities will draw an uniform Rs 18,000 monthly once the amended rules come into force. Currently these councillors are drawing Rs 10,800, Rs 10,125 and Rs 9,450 respectively every month. Pilarnekar said the new rules will come into force when Goa Municipalities (Chairperson’s and other Councillor’s Emoluments) Amendment Rules, 2023, is published in official gazette. QUASHES DM’S ORDER AGAINST SIOLIM PREACHERS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa has expressed disappointment over the recent trend of authorities misusing and exploiting their powers. The observations by Vacation Bench of Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes come while setting aside and quashing the North District Collector’s order banning a couple from carrying out religious activities following allegations of forceful conversions. KEY HC OBSERVATION „„We take note of the fact that there has been a tendency of late for the authorities to abuse and misuse powers vested in them under provisions of Sec 144, by passing preventive orders either on concocted material or on basis of reports which actually do not spell out any factual basis for exercising jurisdiction under Sec 144 “We take note of the fact that there has been a tendency of late for the authorities to abuse and misuse the powers vested in them under the provisions of Section 144 of the (Criminal Procedure) Code, by passing preventive orders either concocted material or on the basis of reports which actually do not spell out any factual basis for exercising jurisdiction under Section 144 of the Code,” reads the order in response to a petition by Joan Mascarenhas E D’Souza. >Continued on P5 Oppn hits out at Centre NEW DELHI: Opposition parties targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over RBI’s announcement on withdrawal of Rs 2,000 notes, with the Congress saying the move was “typical of self-styled vishwaguru” and his method of “first act, second think”. The Congress also said demonetisation has come a full circle and that the Rs 2,000 note was a “bandaid to cover up the foolish decision of demonetising” Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Left parties, including CPI and CPI(M), and AAP also attacked the government. 14 Swindon Council gets first Goan, Indian Dy Mayor LUI GODINHO LONDON The Swindon Council in the UK got its first-ever Indian and Goan deputy mayor, when Councillor Imtiyaz Shaikh was appointed to the second highest post in the council on Friday. The annual general meeting to appoint the mayor and deputy mayor to the Swindon Council took place on Friday and Shaikh received overall majority across the chamber for his appointment. Imtiyaz, who hails from Vasco, has been serving in the Swindon Council for two terms. Incidentally, his wife, Adorabelle Amaral-Shaikh, got re-elected in the local Borough elections in Central Ward Swindon on May 4 and she has also been included in the Council cabinet with the portfolio for education. By virtue of Imtiyaz  being elected deputy mayor, his wife, Adorabelle, will now be referred to as Deputy Mayoress. Barbara Parry was appointed as Mayor of Swindon Council and Imtiyaz will be her deputy with no specific portfolio assigned to him. When contacted, Imtiyaz Shaikh said he was delighted to be given this senior responsibility in the Swindon Council. >Continued on P5 Is your vehicle 15-yr-old? Then it’s time to scrap it  GOVT NOTIFIES VEHICLE SCRAPPING POLICY  GOA HAS 1.92L VEHICLES ‘FIT’ TO SCRAP THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In line with the Centre’s government’s vehicle scrapping policy, the Government of Goa on Friday notified the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Policy of Goa, 2023, providing comprehensive guidelines for the scrapping of old and unfit vehicles in both -- transport and non-transport categories. Initially, 1.92 lakh vehicles over 15 years old -- eligible for scrapping -- will come under its ambit with the policy to be enforced for five years, in the first phase.   As per the data of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, 1.2 crore End-ofLife Vehicles (ELVs) pan-India are estimated to be without valid Registration Certificates and Fitness Certificates. Out of these, 1.92 lakh approx vehicles in Goa are fit for scrapping. Over the course of the next five years, additional 3.5 lakh vehicles registered in Goa will cross the age of 15 and a substantial number of these ELVs will be from the commercial category. “…Goa has formulated the Policy-2023 with objectives to reduce pollution by scrap- FACTS & FIGURES „„1.2 crore end-of-life vehicles pan-India are estimated to be without valid Registration Certificates and Fitness Certificates „„Out of these, 1.92 lakh approx vehicles in Goa are fit for scrapping „„Over next five years, additional 3.5 lakh vehicles registered in Goa will be in the scrap list „„Substantial number of these end-of-life vehicles will be from the commercial category ping old and unfit vehicles; improve road, passenger and vehicular safety, boost auto sector and generate employment, improve fuel efficiency and reduce maintenance cost for vehicle owners, formalize the current informal vehicle scrappage industry in Goa, boost availability of low-cost raw materials for automotive, steel and electronic industry, promote recycling of vehicle scrap in a scientific manner as well as circular economy in an eco-friendly manner,” reads the notification by Transport Department. The policy also includes incentives for individuals who voluntarily submit their old vehicles to the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) as the government >Continued on P5