log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY MARCH 1, 2024 GOA Flight operations at Dabolim airport will continue: BJP PANAJI: As debate over the closure of Dabolim International Airport resurfaced ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, BJP has reiterated government’s assurance to ensure its operations are intact. At a press conference, party’s State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade assured that both Dabolim and Mopa will continue their operations unhindered.  >> See pg 3 P’yat delimitation draft kept open PANAJI: The draft delimitation proposal prepared by the Electoral Registration Officer dividing the Taleigao panchayat area into wards for ensuing election will be kept open for public scrutiny from February 29 to March 9.  >> See pg 3 Appeal against child abuse dismissed PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa dismissed an appeal filed by Vasudev Deshprabhu, former chairperson of the Pernem Municipal Council, who challenged his conviction of child abuse after he hit a 17-year old with a wooden weapon causing injuries to the child in an incident that took place back in 2013.   >> See pg 3 Belagavi youth held for rape MARGAO: The Colva police has arrested a 22-year old native of Belgavi on the charges of kidnapping and rape of a minor girl. The accused has been arrested under different sections of the IPC and under the provisions of the Goa Children Act.  >> See pg 3 Language Research Cell constituted PANAJI: The government has constituted the Language Research Cell in the Directorate of Official Language. The existing post of Assistant Director (Marathi) has been re-designated as Assistant Director (Research & Training) for the Cell. India’s GDP grows at 8.4 pc in Q3 NEW DELHI: India’s economic growth accelerated to 8.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2023-24, mainly due to good performance by the manufacturing, mining & quarrying and construction sectors. WEATHER >> Max: 34 C Min: 24 C Humidity: 78% TIDES Low: High: 08:08 20:56 01:52 14:23 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 253 Clean-up on track but challenges remain as Min takes stock of Sonsodo situation IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Register FIR against Tivim Comunidade ex-Attorney: JMFC 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Simple yet magical ingredient for glowing skin Centre approves four-lane flyover near Zuarinagar n TO COVER DISTANCE OF 3.35 KM n 4-LANE UNDERPASS AT QUEENY NAGAR JUNCTION ALSO SANCTIONED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Union Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has cleared Rs 455.5 crore for a four-lane flyover between the junction at MES College, Zuarinagar and Bogmalo. The flyover will cover a distance of nearly 3.35 kilometers on NH-566.  The project also envisages a 1.22 kilometer 4-lane vehicular underpass at Queeny Nagar junction. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, these projects will be built under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode within the National Highways framework. Gadkari said, the sanc- Representational pic `  10 cr for highway bypass at Cuncolim 3 PANAJI: In a significant development for South Goa, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) has sanctioned Rs 310 crores for a highway bypass at Cuncolim from Uskini-bandh to Bendordem. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari took to micro-blogging site ‘X’ (formerly twitter) to say that the bypass addresses congestion and accidents in Cuncolim town besides providing better connectivity to tourist destinations in the State and decreases travel time. tion of Rs 455.5 crore central assistance for the 4-lane flyover has already been made and took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to announce the same. Meanwhile Chief Minsiter  Pramod Sawant also took to ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) to say: “Goa continues to receive unparalleled support from the Narendra Modi government for National Highway Development.” Sawant also said on ‘X’ that the Union government has released a Rs 549 crore instalment for Goa under Central tax devolution. “It will strengthen the government of Goa’s commitment to infrastructure, human resources and social development of the State,” Sawant said. 9 Big bonanza for farmers: Govt announces fertiliser subsidy PTI NEW DELHI The government on Thursday announced a Rs 24,420 crore subsidy on Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers for the kharif season and said the farmers will continue to get key soil nutrient DAP at Rs 1,350 per quintal. Along with DAP (Di-ammonium Phosphate), the government asserted that retail prices of other major P&K fertilisers would remain stable. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the proposal of the Department of Fertilisers for fixing the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) rates for the kharif season 2024-25 (April 1 to September 30) on P&K fertilisers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a tweet said that the government is committed to the welfare of farmers. With the increase in fertilizer subsidy for the Kharif season of 2024, they will be able to get fertilizers at concessional rates. Court orders can’t be automatically vacated, rules SC PTI NEW DELHI In a significant judgement, the Supreme Court on Thursday held that there cannot be an automatic vacation of stay orders granted by a lower court or high court in civil and criminal cases after six months. A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud also ruled that the constitutional courts -- the Supreme Court and high courts -- should ordinarily refrain from fixing a time schedule for disposal of cases by courts below. “The superior courts may issue directions for the timeout disposal of cases only in exceptional circumstances. The issue of prioritising the disposal of cases should be best left to the discretion of the concerned courts where the cases are pending,” held the bench, which also comprised justices A S Oka, J B Pardiwala, Pankaj Mithal and Manoj Misra. The top court set aside its 2018 judgement in the Asian Resurfacing of Road Agency P Ltd Director Vs CBI case in which a three-judge bench had held that the interim order of stay granted by courts, including high courts, will stand vacated automatically unless specifically extended. Consequently, no trial or proceedings can remain stayed after six months. However, the Supreme court had later clarified that the judgement would not be applicable if the stay order was passed by it. Pronouncing the judgement on Thursday, Justice Oka said, “We have held that we don’t agree with the view held in the Asian Resurfacing of Road Agency P Ltd Director...” The bench framed two questions for adjudication in the case and said, “The first is whether this court in exercise of jurisdiction under Article 142 of the Constitution can order automatic vacation of all interim orders of the high courts of staying the proceedings of civil and criminal cases on the expiry of a certain period.” The second issue was whether the Supreme Court, under Article 142, can direct the high courts to decide the pending cases, in which interim orders of stay of proceedings have been granted and a direction is given to either hear a case on a day-to-day basis or decide it within a fixed time period. SPORTS KL Rahul ruled out of fifth Test, Bumrah returns 14 PM, BJP top leaders go into huddle to finalise candidates THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The suspense over BJP’s candidates for Goa’s two Lok Sabha seats continued as Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a late-night meeting of the party’s Central Election Committee. Sources indicated that the party may name a chunk of candidates before the election dates are announced. No names were announced during the crucial meeting at the time of going to the Press. Minister of State for Tourism, Ports, and Waterways, Shripad Naik, remained a hot contender for the North Goa Lok Sabha seat, while former Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar was seen as the South Goa choice. The meeting commenced around 10 pm at BJP headquarters in New Delhi on Thursday and saw key BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah No names were announced but Shripad Naik and Chandrakant Kavlekar remained hot contenders for North & South seats and BJP National President J P Nadda. PM Modi joined around 11pm after which he addressed the Chief Ministers followed by one-to-one meetings that was expected to go well past 3 am. At the time of going to the Press, Sawant was yet to be called in. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath was the first to emerge from the CEC meeting. Earlier on Thursday afternoon, CM Pramod Sawant and BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade had flown to Delhi to attend the crucial meeting. On Wednesday, both the leaders submitted report cards of each probable candidate to the BJP Parliamentary Board in New Delhi to facilitate finalizing names. Govt waives `48 cr pre-GST arrears of over 16,000 traders THE GOAN I NETWORK FRUITS FOR THE LORD: A devotee offers bananas to Lord Babreshwar during the jatra at Khobra Vaddo, Calangute on Thursday. The jatra also known as ‘kelyanchi jatra’ draws hundreds of people including foreigners to the temple.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Goa feels the heat, mercury to rise for next two days THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a sudden change in weather pattern, the mercury rose to 35.4 degrees, three degrees above normal on Thursday. The minimum temperature was 24.5 degrees Celsius, also three degrees above normal. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa, the condition will remain the same for the next two days, subsequent to which there would be a gradual fall by 1-2 degrees Celsius. In fact, the mercury will rise to around 36 degrees Celsius. “No large change in minimum and maximum temperature is reported for the next two days. A gradual fall by 1-2 degrees Celsius will be experienced thereafter. Weather is very likely to be dry from March 1-6 with haze/ shallow fog likely at isolated places in the morning on March 1,” the IMD stated. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 36 degrees and 24 degrees in Panaji in 24 hours and 35 degrees and 24 degrees in the next 48 hours. The maximum and minimum temperatures would remain the same at around 35 degrees and 24 degrees in Mormugao and adjoining places in the next two days.  PANAJI Settling a long pending issue, the State government on Thursday waived off pre-GST arrears amounting to Rs 48 crores of around 16,412 traders under the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, introduced in October, last year, to settle the  dues under the old Value Added Tax (VAT) and other State and Central taxes. Last date to clear pending dues to seek benefits under the scheme is March 7, 2024, with the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announcing that no further extension will be granted. The State government had in August last year notified Goa (Recovery of Arrears of Tax, Interest, Penalty, Other Dues through Settlement) Act 2023, which aims at resolving the legacy tax issues in the State up to June 30, 2017, under the Central Sales Tax Act, Goa Sales Tax Act, Goa Tax on Luxuries Act, Goa Entertainment Tax Act, and Goa Tax On Entry of Goods Act. Accordingly, OTS was introduced in October, 2023. Sawant said that a  20 per cent rebate will be offered in non-disputed cases while a 50 per cent rebate will be offered RELIEF AT LAST „„20% to be offered in non-disputed cases „„50% rebate in disputed tax claims „„100% rebate on interest, penalty and other dues „„50 per cent rebate in penalty in case of seizure re-assessed cases „„Scheme applies to individuals who cleared their daily IT returns, GST, and VAT obligations in disputed tax claims and there will be a 100 per cent rebate on interest, penalty and other dues. In case of seizure re-assessed cases, there will be 50 per cent rebate in penalty and 100 per cent rebate in interest, he said. Sawant said that  scheme applies to individuals who, despite facing financial challenges, diligently cleared their daily IT returns, GST, and VAT obligations. He said that another 1,300 applications for waiver are already processed. “This initiative will not only benefit the 16,412 individuals >Continued on P5 Unions threaten to stop trains from Goa energises rooftop solar plan, revises scheme SCHEME FOR SOLAR POWER May 1 over old pension scheme THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI Several unions of railway employees and workers, who have come together under the Joint Forum For Restoration of Old Pension Scheme (JFROPS), have threatened to stop all train services across the country from May 1 if their demand to implement the Old Pension Scheme is not met. The government is completely non-committal to our demand for the restoration of ‘Defined Guarantied Old Pension Scheme’ in place of ‘New Pension Scheme’. Now, there is no alternative left but to resort to direct action, Shiv Gopal Mishra, Convener of JFROPS, said. Mishra, who is also Gener- Several unions of other government employees, who are also part of JFROPS, will also go on strike along with railway workers and disrupt of all train services from May 1 -- International Labour Day al Secretary of All India Railwaymen’s Federation, added, Representatives of various federations under JFROPS have jointly consented that we will officially serve a notice to the Railway Ministry on March 19, informing them about the pro- posed countrywide strike and disruption of all train services from May 1, 2024 i.e. on International Labour Day. According to Mishra, several unions of other government employees, who are also part of JFROPS, will also go on strike along with railway workers. A press note issued by JFROPS said, all constituent organisations are therefore requested to take appropriate action and to make all sorts of preparations for serving upon the strike notice to their respective Administrations in a befitting manner. Mishra said that while the OPS was in the interest of workers, the New Pension Scheme doesn’’t take care of their employees’’ welfare. PANAJI W ith an aim to install 20 megawatt of solar power in the current year as allocated by the Centre, the State government has notified a revised scheme to provide financial assistance for promotion of grid-connected solar rooftop systems with net, group net, and virtual net metering for the period from 2023 to 2026. PUSH FOR EVs, STATE NOTIFIES RE-LAUNCHED SUBSIDY SCHEME >> See pg 3 Under the previous scheme, introduced in October 2021, over 100 households had taken the benefits of the subsidy under which an aggregate „„State to provide subsidy restricting to 50% for the first 10 kWp „„Subsidy restricting to 10% beyond 10 kWp upto 30 kWp of sanction load to residential consumers based on benchmark cost provided by MNRE „„50% subsidy for housing societies restricted to 500 kWp of sanction load capacity of approximately one megawatt of solar rooftops in residential and commercial sector were commissioned. The scheme is now amended considering the Phase II of the Grid Connect Rooftop Solar Programme of the Union Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). „„For educational institution a subsidy of 50% restricted to 90 kWp „„For commercial and industries 20% subsidy restricted to 90 kWp of The scheme will provide incentives in the form of subsidies for the installation of grid-connected solar rooftop systems with net metering from 1 kWp (kilowatt peak) up to 30 kWp for residential consumers, 500 kWp for group housing societies and residential welfare associations, and sanction load based on the benchmark cost as per MNRE „„Subsidy applicable only for installation of solar rooftop systems through Goa Solar Portal & National Portal for Rooftop Solar „„Proposed capacity to be installed in Goa under the scheme is 20MW by 2024 from 1 kWp to 90 kWp for all other applicable types of consumers including industries, commercial and educational institutions. Explaining in detail, the notification stated that the State Government will provide subsidy restricting to 50 per cent for the first 10 kWp and subsidy restricting to 10 per cent beyond 10 kWp upto 30 kWp of sanction load to the Residential consumers based on the benchmark cost provided by MNRE. For housing societies, a subsidy of 50 per cent, restricted to 500 kWp of sanction load will be provided, while for educational institution a subsidy of 50 per cent, restricted to 90 kWp and for commercial and industries it is 20 per cent restricted to 90 kWp of sanction load based on the benchmark cost as per MNRE. “The subsidy under the scheme is applicable only for installation of solar rooftop systems through Goa Solar Portal & National Portal for Rooftop Solar. The proposed capacity to be installed in the State of Goa under the scheme is 20MW by 2024,” the notification stated.