log on to thegoan.net SUNDAY JULY 21, 2024 @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 34 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 ASSAGAO LAND MOST PRIZED POSSESSION NEARLY 2,500 SALE DEEDS IN FOUR YEARS, 50% ARE NON-GOANS BIZMEN, FILM CELEBRITIES, POLITICIANS, FOREIGNERS, EX-DEFENSE OFFICERS RULE THE ROOST RUSH FOR THE ASSAGAO PIE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In this village -- currently making headlines due to the alleged illegal demolition of a house -- nearly 50 per cent of 2500-odd sale deeds executed in just four years have nonGoan owners. Among these are not only businessmen but also film celebrities, politicians and ex-defense officers who own properties in Assagao. Foreign nationals and NRIs have also set their eyes on this once-serene village, becoming owners of a substantial area of land and ancient houses. This influx of high-profile buyers has shot up land prices with plots smaller than 200 square meters now costing over Rs 1 crore. Details obtained by The Goan reveal that several properties were purchased as recently as June. For instance, B-town actor Neha Dhupia purchased 833.62 sq mts of property on June 20 at a cost of Rs 1.18 crore. Meanwhile, actor Pooja Bedi is a vendor for 174.59 sq mt – registered „„Plots smaller than 200 sq mts cost over Rs 1 cr „„Several properties purchased as recently as June... B-town actor Neha Dhupia purchased 833.62 sq mts on June 20 for Rs 1.18 cr „„Calangute MLA Michael Lobo purchased two plots and is a confirming party in one sale deed executed on May 9, 2024 „„Two properties Lobo purchased at Rs 12.50 cr and Rs 7.50 cr were registered in May 2024 and December 2023 in 2021 - which costs Rs 2.35 cr. These are just two of the many celebrities owning properties and some even selling them to other non-Goans willing to pay inflated rates. As many as 2,475 sale deeds have been executed since 2020, with 194 executed in the „„2,308 Indians also purchased plots structures in Assagao „„39 Canadians, 42 British, 45 Americans, 16 Singaporeans, 6 New Zealanders, and 4 French nationals also bought plots first six months of this year. In addition to reputed doctors, businessmen and influencers purchasing properties here; local politician, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo is a purchaser of two plots and is a confirming party in one sale deed executed on May 9, 2024. The two properties Lobo purchased at Rs 12.50 crore and Rs 7.50 crore, were registered in May 2024 and December 2023, respectively. Vikrant Shetty, one of the accused in land grab cases, is a vendor of land worth Rs 1.12 cr, registered in July 2021. The data also reveals that 2,308 Indians are purchasers of plots and structures in Assagao. Among the foreign nationals, there are 39 Canadians, 42 British, 45 Americans, 16 Singaporeans, 6 New Zealanders, and 4 French nationals. Additionally, there are 1,305 vendors and 921 purchasers, with 281 from Delhi, 94 from Haryana, and 42 from Uttar Pradesh. With several land fraud cases reported in Goa, Minister for Law & Judiciary Aleixo Sequeira has confirmed that the current legal framework outlined in the Registration Act does not empower the registration officers, sub registrars to verify ownership title documents. “Hence it is impossible to ascertain the authenticity of the alleged fake sale deeds,” he said. Addiction rates paint gloomy picture of substance abuse 7 PATIENTS BEING TREATED FOR DRUG, OTHER ADDICTIONS DAILY, REVEALS DATA IN ASSEMBLY THE GOAN I NETWORK MAGAZINE MAGAZ Tradition of Guru-Shishya: A timeless bond Festival of Sangeli Devi at Sanvordem Choosing the right skincare for your little ones this monsoon The impact of corneal blindness: Causes and solutions Café Ashwini: A Panaji favourite with a rich history Freedom of Citizenship as recompense for renunciation of Heritage >> SEE PG 4 IN THE AFTERMATH OF UNRELENTING RAIN WEATHER >> Max: 27.7 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 96% TIDES Low: High: 04:14 17:10 11:30 22:12 PANAJI Data and statistics furnished by Health Minister Vishwajit Rane paints a gloomy picture of Goa vis-a-vis substance abuse and addiction. According to Rane, government facilities in the State itself are treating seven patients for drug and other addictions daily, on an average. Between January 2022 and June 2024, a total of 6,529 people have received treatment in government hospitals, most of them being treated under admission in the facility. A fraction of them took outpatient care. Rane furnished this information in a written reply to a query raised by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar. Rane said, 1,222 people were registered at the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behavior (IPHB) at Bambolim for alcohol addiction and 455 FACTS & FIGURES „„1,222 people registered at IPHB for alcohol addiction „„455 of them had to be admitted for treatment between January 2022 and June 2024 „„ 210 drug addicts registered for treatment at IPHB in the same period, 106 were admitted for treatment „„North District Hospital treated 2145 patients for various addictions with as many as 793 of them facing alcohol addiction of them had to be admitted for treatment in the period between January 2022 and June 2024. Apart from this, 210 drug addicts were registered for treatment at IPHB in the same period, of which 106 were admitted for treatment. Rane also said that in the same 30-month period, the North Goa District Hospital at Mapusa treated a total of 2145 patients for various addictions with as many as 793 of them facing alcohol addiction. The district hospital also treated 633 patients for tobacco addiction, 132 addicted to opioids and 85 patients to cannabis. In South Goa, 2,868 received treatment for drug or alcohol and other addictions in government facilities in the same 30-month period, Rane said. The South Goa District hospital accounted for 2574 of the addiction patients while 294 were taken under the wings of the TB hospital in Margao. No ‘Vande Mataram’, ‘Jai Hind’ in Parl, MPs told ahead of session PTI NEW DELHI Rulings given by the chair should not be criticised directly or indirectly in or outside the House and members should not raise slogans, including 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind', MPs have been reminded ahead of the Parliament session beginning Monday. The members have also been reminded that displaying 'exhibits' on the floor of the House is 'not in order'. The Rajya Sabha Secretariat has come out with excerpts from the 'Handbook for Members of Rajya Sabha', drawing the attention of the members to parliamentary customs and conventions and parliamentary etiquette. Rajya Sabha Secretariat has come out with excerpts from the 'Handbook for Members of Rajya Sabha', drawing the attention of the members to parliamentary customs and conventions and parliamentary etiquette The excerpts were published in a Rajya Sabha bulletin issued on July 15. The session begins on July 22 and is slated to conclude on August 12. 'The decorum and the seriousness of the proceedings of the House require that there should be no 'thanks', 'thank you', 'Jai Hind', 'Vande Mataram' or any other slogans raised in the House,' the bul- Instagram.com/thegoanonline letin said. It noted that rulings are given by the chair according to the precedents of the House, and where there is no precedent, the usual parliamentary practice is followed. 'Rulings given by the Chair should not be criticised directly or indirectly inside or outside the House,' the bulletin said, citing the handbook. Referring to parliamentary etiquette, it said words containing insinuations, offensive and unparliamentary expressions should be scrupulously avoided. 'When the Chair holds that a particular word or expression is unparliamentary, it should be immediately withdrawn without any attempt to raise any debate over it,' the handbook underlined.