log on to thegoan.net @thegoaneveryday WEDNESDAY MAY 24, 2023 GOA 14 pages PRICE ` 8 MARGAO: Tragedy struck a family from Davorlim late Monday night when a twoyear-old child died after being hit by an over speeding car at Davorlim. Sources said the child was playing along the roadside on Monday night at around 10.30 pm when he was hit by the car. After the child sustained grievous injuries, he was rushed to the South Goa District Hospital where he was declared brought dead. Maina-Curtorim police is investigating. IN SHORT >> Smart city work to go on in rains: CM PANAJI: After stating that all Smart City works will stop by June 15, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has now said all the work will continue during the monsoon. He said the decision to continue with the works was taken after review meeting held on Tuesday. 4 buffalos mowed down by truck PANAJI: In a tragic incident four buffaloes were mowed down by a speeding truck at Bansai, Curchorem late Tuesday evening. All four bovines are in critical condition. Incidentally there were no street lights on this stretch of road. Student booked for rape gets bail PANAJI: The Sessions Court, Panaji on Tuesday granted conditional bail to an undergraduate student from Rajasthan, arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an underage girl earlier this year. While arguing for his bail, Mahesh Kumar Sutar, a 22-year-old final year B.Com student submitted that he was falsely arrested by Porvorim police as the victim claimed that she was major in age.  GEDA invites EoI for hiring 50 EVs PANAJI: Goa Energy Development Agency has invited expression of interest from interested electric vehicle operators for hiring 50 electric vehicles -- 15 with drivers and 35 without drivers. GEDA plans to empanel a pool of authorized EV operators holding valid permits and licenses. WEATHER >> Max: 35 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 88% TIDES Low: High: 07:12 20:22 00:15 14:33 The Goan (Playstore) PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME VIII, NO. 336 Instagram.com/thegoaneveryday RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 9 Confusion over rules as `  000 2 note exchange window opens MUCB depositors in limbo, wait for money prolongs 2-year-old dies in Davorlim after being hit by car Facebook.com/thegoaneveryday GOA People’s power prevails: DoP cancels Siolim p’yat secretary’s transfer order INFO DIY olive oil remedy for brittle nails SOME BANKS INSIST ON PAN, AADHAR CARDS AS ID PROOF PTI NEW DELHI The 131-day window to exchange junked 2000 rupee currency notes opened on Tuesday with confusion at some banks over the requirement of officially valid identity cards like PAN or Aadhaar, and official forms. Unlike November 2016, when old 500 and 1000 rupee notes -- constituting some 86 per cent of the currency in circulation -- were banned overnight, Rs 2000 currency notes continue to be legal tender for now, and the exchange window is more than double of that provided in 2016. While the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has not made the presentation of a valid ID or filling of deposit forms mandatory, there were complaints from some places that banks were demanding customers to submit identity cards as proof. Some banks exchanged notes by making an electron- From buying mangoes to luxury watches, people rush out with their `2000 notes MUMBAI: People are stepping up purchases of daily essentials, and even premium branded goods, using the soon-to-be-withdrawn 2,000-rupee notes as they aim to sidestep the need to exchange or deposit them at banks. Shops, for their part, eagerly accepted the note, using it as an opportunity to increase sales, several of them said on Tuesday, the first day the exchange was allowed. “A lot of people are using 2,000-rupee notes to pay for mangoes since Saturday,” said Mohammad Azhar, 30, a mango seller near the Crawford Market area in Mumbai. “On a daily basis, I get 8-10 notes now. I accept it. I have no option, it’s my business. I will deposit everything at once before September 30. There is no fear since the note is valid.” Michael Martis, store manager at a Rado store in a mall in central Mumbai, said his store had seen a 60%-70% increase in 2000-rupee notes since the withdrawal was announced. “That has increased our watch sales to 3-4 pieces per day from 1-2 previously,” said Martis. ber of customers claimed the bank they visited did not exchange the notes and instead asked them to deposit those in their accounts. While the queues and long waits witnessed in 2016 were not there, customer feedback indicated a lack of consistent policy across banks. The RBI in a sudden decision on Friday announced the withdrawal of Rs 2000 denomination banknotes as part of its currency management. It has maintained that this wasn’’t demonetization as the 2000 rupee notes continue to Acute water shortage hits Port town, no supply for 3 days Met Dept predicts thundershowers in State today ic entry, few others asked customers to pen down their name and mobile number in a registrar without giving any identity proof. At some places, however, customers said they were asked to present their PAN or Aadhaar cards. A small num- n Sada, Mangor, Baina, Vaddem, New Vaddem affected n PWD assures normalcy in two days THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Several parts of Vasco City which fall in three different constituencies have been hit by acute water shortage since the last three days, ever since the major power shutdown for South Goa on Sunday morning which led to a disruption in water supply. The worst affected areas are Sada, Mangor, Baina, Vaddem and New Vaddem, and the situation was such that residents jostled for water in areas like Mangor after the PWD tried to send water tankers. When contacted, PWD Assistant Engineer Naresh Painguinkar said water supply issues would be resolved in a day or two. “We had a shutdown at both our plants on Sunday due to the power cut and when the power was restored, we started our pumps but it took some time to charge the pipelines. The supply began to return to normalcy when we faced another power cut for over three hours in both the plants at Selaulim on Monday and wa- Residents jostle for their share of water as a water tanker arrives in Mangor area of Vasco on Tuesday.  Vikram Nayak ter supply was affected,” said Painguinkar. “As of now, we have started both the plants and our pumps have started at Selaulim. Water supply to all the areas will restore soon. Vasco being at the tail-end faces more issues when we have such shutdowns due to power outages.” “We usually have a three-metre height in our reservoirs and we start our water supply. Once we have three pumps operational, this three-metre height is maintained and we have uniform distribution of water supply.” Painguinkar explained that in case the water level is less in the reservoir, people receive less pressure. “In case the level goes very low, we have to stop the supply which was the situation >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Expect light rain/thunder showers in some areas of the State on Wednesday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said. According to the Met department, thunder showers are very likely at isolated places over the State on May 24. The change in weather is due to formation of trough which runs across Marathawada and interior Karnataka. “The north-south trough runs from Vidarbha to north Kerala across Marathawada and Interior Karnataka at 0.9 km above mean sea level. Under the influence of the trough, light to moderate rain or thundershowers are very likely at isolated places over the North and South Goa districts on May 24,” said Rajashree, senior scientist with IMD Goa. Meanwhile, light to moderate rain/thundershowers accompanied with lightning occurred at most places in the State on May 22 and 23, the IMD bulletin said. The highest maximum temperature recorded was 35.5 degree Centrigade in Panaji while the lowest minimum temperature was 24 degree Centrigade. be legal tender, meaning they can be used for making payments. The Rs 2000 notes constitute around 10.8 per cent of total currency in circulation or Rs 3.6 lakh crore. The notes can be exchanged or deposited till September 30, 2023. Compared to demonetization, this time the quantum of currency being withdrawn is significantly smaller and the period to complete the process is more spread out. State Bank of India, the country’s biggest bank, in an official memo to its branches stated that no form or slip would be required while exchanging or depositing Rs 2,000 notes. Private banks like Kotak and HSBC said they are asking for form/ID Proof for non-account holders. But Axis Bank, Standard Chartered, Yes Bank, Canara Bank and Bank of India officials said they are not mandating any form or ID proof. SPORTS CSK enters 10th IPL final with 15-run win over Gujarat Titans 14 AAP calls MLAs, leaders to discuss Ordinance row Both Goa MLAs, Palyekar in Delhi THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The two legislators and senior leaders of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) Goa are in Delhi as the party’s founder and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal summoned a meeting to address various issues of concern including the recent controversial ordinance in Parliament. The central government’s decision to seize back control over bureaucracy through the ordinance came less than 10 days after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Delhi government. MLAs Capt Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, AAP State President Amit Palyekar were among the first leaders to reach the capital on Tuesday whereas other senior leaders are expected to arrive on Wednesday.   “Such ordinance coming from the Centre indicates democracy is being killed. We We are discussing this crucial issue at length in the meetings that began today (Tuesday) and we will also educate the people about how this ordinance will have a negative effect — Venzy Viegas are discussing this crucial issue at length in the meetings that began today (Tuesday) and we will also educate the people about how this ordinance will have a negative effect,” Viegas said while speaking to The Goan from Delhi.  The ordinance has raised serious questions about the autonomy of the Delhi government and its ability to govern without interference. Quite a >Continued on P5 Motorists pay the price for taking ‘no-entry’ Zuari lane Police jeep also caught moving on wrong lane POLICE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF LAW: Traffic SP Bossuet Silva stops and fines the driver of a police jeep caught moving on the lane reserved for heavy vehicles on the new Zuari Bridge.  Vikram Nayak THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Those driving light vehicles and two-wheelers on the lane reserved for heavy vehicles on the new Zuari Bridge were in for a surprise after being caught and penalised in a surprise drive by the Traffic Police led by SP (Traffic) Bossuet Silva and Vasco Traffic PI Shailesh Narvekar. Incidentally, a police jeep was also found violating the traffic rule and the police driver was penalised by the traffic police. SP Silva was personally seen stopping all vehicles and explaining to them that the lane was meant only for heavy vehicles while the light vehicles moving towards Verna or Margao had to move on the old Zuari Bridge which was a one-way lane. Some motorists claimed that they had been first timers on the wrong lane of the new Zuari bridge. The traffic police imposed a fine of Rs 500 on 144 motorists for violating the traffic rule and issued notices to 130 motorists who were in a rush to reach their destinations. A Vasco Traffic Cell team was stationed to issue the challans. The traffic police collected >Continued on P5 From Goa to Rio de Janerio, INSV 12 YEARS AFTER DEATH OF 2 YOUTH AT BALLI… Tarini back after 188-day voyage Leaders ask tribal groups to unite for their rights Sawant hails valour, courage of crew THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In yet another historic event in the maritime calendar of India, INSV Tarini touched the Indian shores as she entered Goa harbour and secured alongside the INS Mandovi jetty on successful completion of 17,000 nautical miles trans ocean inter-continental voyage after 188 days. The six-member crew was received at the jetty by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, Chief of the Naval Staff Adm R Hari Kumar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with INSV Tarini crew and Naval officials at INS Mandovi jetty on Tuesday. Southern Naval Command VAdm M A Hampiholi, ex-captain of Indian Women Hockey team Rani Rampal, senior officers including ex-naval chiefs. The ‘Flag In’ ceremony commenced with a display of >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Divisions surfaced amongst the groups espousing the cause of tribal communities on the eve of the death anniversary of the two tribal youth who had died during the United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA)  led agitation at Balli on May 25, 2011. The Mission political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes of Goa  on Tuesday said  they were pained to see that the celebrations are made by the Goa government on this day when the entire tribal communities of Goa are in a state of mourning, remembering the tragic memories of May 25, 2011 where the community lost their two youth. The Mission appealed to DIVISIONS AMONG TRIBAL COMMUNITIES? „„Adv John says an alliance was formed in 2004 to fulfill constitutional obligations towards STs „„Various agitations, protests were held including the infamous Balli agitation that led to the killing of two young tribal leaders „„After the death of 2 youth, alliance leaders restrained themselves from taking forward the agenda „„No protests or agitations or lobbying with the government were seen after Assembly elections of 2012 „„Adv John claimed leaders who were leading the agitation then are now enjoying power under the present government „„Most of the demands have remained unfulfilled „„Claims made by leaders of the alliance that only two demands have remained fulfilled are incorrect the members of the ST community to remain present on this day at Lohia Maidan and show their gratitude towards the supreme sacrifice of the youth leaders. Addressing the media, Mission president Adv John Fernandes recalled that after recognising Gawda, Kunbi and Velip as Scheduled Tribe communities of Goa in 2003, an alliance was formed in 2004 to fulfill the constitutional obligations towards Scheduled Tribes communities of Goa. Since the formation of the alliance, various agitations and protests were held including the infamous Balli agita- tion that led to the killing of two young tribal leaders in 2011 in an outrage.  “The agitation under the alliance should have been intensified post May 25, 2011 after we lost our two youths”, he said. He, however, said suddenly the alliance leaders restrained themselves from taking forward the agenda of the alliance and as a result they have not seen any protests or agitations or lobbying with the government after the Assembly elections of 2012.  He said the leaders who were leading the agitation then are now enjoying power under the present government. “At this moment, we would like to bring to the notice that most of the demands have remained unfulfilled. The claims made by leaders of the alliance that only two demands have remained fulfilled are incorrect and we strongly condemn such statements”, he added. Ravindra Velip and Rupesh Velip said the ‘Mission >Continued on P5