log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY AUGUST 08, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 52 Liquidator clears claims of 10k MUCB depositors having up to `5 Lakh 3 3 GOA Goans shocked as Mary’s statue desecrated at Wembley Church Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Worried of hair fall? Try sweet potato hair mask 9 13 SPORTS Sri Lanka beats India by 110 runs to win series 2-0 THE CAG9.73% OUT OF THE BAG IS State’s GSDP grew in 2022-23, reveals report REVENUE SURPLUS SURGES TO `  ,400 CR; FISCAL DEFICIT DIPS 2 THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See PG 3 Govt's Vision 2030 initiative stalled as GIFT remains non-operational for 3 years ASSEMBLY COVERAGE LoP, Minister spar over agency’s role in drafting new Tourism legislation Govt to bring new law holding cattle owners accountable for road mishaps Stadiums to be kept open for public with restrictions CM assures to address Goa University marksheet delays Demand for liver specialist at GMC Dedicated vessels, 24x7 control room to tackle illegal fishing 5 cops axed in 2 months this year (See pg 2 & 5) IN SHORT >> Mormugao woman cheated of `1 cr PANAJI: A woman from Mormugao was allegedly cheated to the tune of Rs 1 crore by one John Peter Husman on pretext of giving high return on investment on stock trading. A complaint to this effect has been filed at the Cybercrime Cell of Goa police by the woman. 2 shops shut for sale of PoP Ganesh idols PANAJI: Two shops selling Ganesh idols were shut down at Chorao by police following complains that Plaster of Paris idols were being sold there. PANAJI Goa’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), one of the key indicators of the State’s revenue, grew by 9.73 per cent in 2022-23, a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India said on Wednesday. The report, tabled on the last day of the Assembly session, also mentioned that revenue surplus increased from Rs 59 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 2,400 crore in 2022-23, while fiscal deficit decreased from Rs 2,624 crore in 2021-22 to Rs 1,027 crore in 2022-23. As per the report, the GSDP grew from Rs 71,853 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 90,642 crore in 2022-23. The Budget Outlay of the State also saw a rise from Rs 19,024 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 26,366 crore in 2022-23. FINANCIAL DATA „„Budget and Revenue: The Budget Outlay increased from Rs 19,024 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 26,366 crore „„Tax revenue surpassed estimates by 22.05% and constituted 12.68% of the GSDP „„Non-tax revenue fell short of projections by 75.48% „„Expenditure and Financial: Total expenditure grew by 8.28%, from Rs 16,912 crore to Rs 18,313 crore „„Pending regularisation of excess expenditure amounted to Rs 12,505 crore from 2008 to 2021-22, with an additional Rs 119.61 crore for 2022-23 “There was 9.73 per cent growth in GSDP over the previous year 2021-22,” it said while detailing the finances, budgetary management, quality of accounts, financial reporting practices and other matters relevant to State finances. While further elaborating on the GSDP’s increased growth rate from 3.61 per cent NEW DELHI The Supreme Court has directed the National Green Tribunal to oversee the impact of silicosis-prone industries and factories across India and ensure that the Central Pollution Control Board and the respective state pollution control boards comply with its earlier directions on the issue. Silicosis is an incurable occupational lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of silica dust. A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Prasanna Bhalachandra Varale said statutory bodies have been constituted and they would be in a better position to monitor >Continued on P8 ‘Controversial’ IPB bill referred to select panel Oppn says amendments will eliminate powers of local bodies, demands review THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a rare achievement for the outnumbered Opposition, the government was compelled to refer to a select committee a bill it had moved to amend the law governing the Investment Promotion Board to give it wide powers over panchayats and municipalities besides the powers to act as the authority for all other laws including land laws. The Goa Investment Promotion and Facilitation of Single Window Clearance (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was introduced in the Assembly on Monday by Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho and was slated for consideration and passage on Wednesday. However, since Godinho was indisposed, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stepped in his shoes but faced stiff resistance from a spirited Opposition to several clauses of the bill, particularly the one which sought to create a Plan- THE PROPOSED BILL „„The bill proposes to create a Planning, Development and Construction Committee of the IPB headed by the Chief Secretary with sweeping powers over and above all other statutory authorities and any State law, including the TCP Act, Land Revenue Code and other land laws WHAT THE OPPN SAID… „„The Opposition legislators termed the committee as a ‘super government’ which would gobble the powers of panchayats and municipalities „„It will also open the floodgates for indiscriminate change of land-use zoning of eco-sensitive zones in the name of investment promotion and job creation ning, Development and Construction Committee of the IPB headed by the Chief Secretary with sweeping powers over and above all other statutory authorities and any State law, including the TCP Act, Land Revenue Code and other land laws. The Opposition including its leader Yuri Alemao, Venzy Viegas, Vijai Sardesai and Carlos Alvares Ferreira, all termed this committee as a ‘super government’ which SC directs Green Tribunal to address silicosis in industries PTI in 2018-19 to 9.73 per cent in 2022-23, the CAG pointed out that it rose at a slower pace than the GDP (16.06 per cent) as well as projections made by 15th Finance Commission (FC XV) (12 per cent) for the State. The financial performance for 2022-23 revealed that tax revenue surpassed the budget MONITORING & ENFORCEMENT and oversee that the mandate of law. It also directed the NGT to undertake any additional necessary steps to prevent the spread of silicosis by such industries and factories. “The second aspect concerns ensuring that adequate compensation is received by the affected workers or their next of kins as swiftly as possible. In this regard, we direct the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to oversee the compensation process across the respective states. “We also direct the Employees’ State Insurance Corpora- tion and the chief secretaries of the respective states to adhere to the directions of the NHRC and collaborate with them to ensure that the compensation distribution process is carried out efficiently and without delay,” the bench said. The top court directed its registry to ensure that all relevant reports and affidavits pertaining to this matter are forwarded to the NGT and the NHRC to facilitate the execution of their responsibilities effectively and swiftly. The directions of the apex court came while disposing a 2006 plea filed by NGO People’s Rights and Social Research Centre seeking intervention of the SC. would gobble the powers of panchayats and municipalities while also opening the floodgates for indiscriminate change of land-use zoning of eco-sensitive zones in the name of investment promotion and job creation. All the Opposition members demanded that this bill should not be passed in haste and be sent for consideration and review of a select >Continued on P8 Discrepancy in borrowings: It’s ` 31K cr as of 2023 and not ` 30K cr PANAJI: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has revealed that the Goa government’s outstanding debt by March 2023 was Rs 31,104 crore, significantly higher than Rs 30,304 crore previously reported in the Finance Accounts. This discrepancy is attributed to off-budget borrowings (OBB) amounting to Rs 800 crore for the fiscal year 2022-23. Consequently, the ratio of total outstanding debt to Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) ratio, initially reported as 31.57 per cent, was understated by 0.88 per cent, adjusting to 32.45 per cent when OBB is factored in. The report further observed that from 2018-19 to 2022-23, Goa recorded a >Continued on P8 Audit finds flaws in govt’s medicines procurement Central panel recommended to oversee process THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Comptroller and Auditor General found flaws in the current system of procuring drugs and medicines and distributing it among the primary health centres noting in its report that these are not available to the public there and also at government hospitals. The CAG in its report advised the State Government to frame a ‘policy’ to centrally procure drugs, consumables and equipment in public health institutions. The CAG also asked the State government to consider setting up a “Centralised Procurement Body” so that quality, delivery timelines and cost economy is ensured in the procurement of THE REPORT: CAUSE FOR CONCERN „„Staff shortage: Severe shortages of doctors, nurses, and paramedics in public hospitals „„Shortfall at GMC: The GMC is operating at only half its required medical staff, with a shortfall of nearly 51% of doctors and medical officers Recommendations „„State Government advised to develop a policy for centralised procurement of drugs, consumables, and equipment for public health institutions „„Establishing a “Centralised Procurement Body” to ensure quality, timely delivery, and cost efficiency in procuring supplies for primary health centres and government hospitals requirements of the public health institutions including the primary health centres and government hospitals. These remarks of the CAG were contained in the performance audit report on Public Health infrastructure and management of health >Continued on P8 HEARTBREAK FOR INDIA! Vinesh loses Olympic medal over weight India's ace grappler Vinesh Phogat, on the cusp of ultimate glory at the Paris Olympic Games 2024, was disqualified just hours before the final for being 100 grams over the 50 kg weight limit in freestyle wrestling. She was later hospitalised for dehydration but is now stable WEIGHT ISSUES Despite her efforts, including reduced water intake and overnight workouts, Vinesh exceeded the weight limit by 100 grams on the second weigh-in day APPEALS Vinesh has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) against her disqualification requesting a joint silver medal. The appeal was confirmed by an IOA source, and the CAS Ad Hoc Division will address the matter on Thursday morning The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have appealed to UWW to reconsider her disqualification >> See pg 12 Sunburn on Loutolim meet agenda for Sun Requisition creates confusion over festival proposal THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The controversial Sunburn music festival will take centre stage at the extra ordinary gram sabha of the Loutolim village panchayat scheduled on August 11. The extra ordinary gram sabha has been convened by Sarpanch Sanfrancisco Fernandes following a requisition made by gram sabha members led by Xavier Fernandes and others. The meeting notice issued by the Loutolim village panchayat created confusion in the minds of the people as they made inquiries whether the Loutolim panchayat received any proposal from Sunburn and whether the meeting has been convened to transact the proposal to hold Sunburn festival at the Loutolim-Verna plateau. Sarpanch Sanfrancisco Fernandes, however, asserted that the Loutolim panchayat has till date not received any proposal from Sunburn to hold the festival on the >Continued on P8 Tweaked Code of Comunidades may impact stakeholders THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI bill proposing key amendments to the Code of Comunidades which was passed in the State Assembly on Wednesday is likely to impact people, events, housing development companies and organisations in the State. Under a new Article 41-A which has been inserted, any member of the Comunidade involved in litigation with the Comunidade with respect to a land claim is deemed to have vacated office from the date of filing of the suit and is barred from contesting elections to the Comunidade body. “The insertion of the new Article 41-A appears to target a family ruling the roost in a particular Comunidade in South A NEW AMENDMENTS: THE OVERVIEW „„Article 41-A: Bars members involved in land litigation with a Comunidade from holding office or contesting elections „„The amendment appears aimed at addressing issues related to specific families accused of misusing land control within Comunidades in South Goa „„Articles 316-A to 316-I: New provisions facilitate both commercial and non-commercial events on Comunidade land, including high-profile events like Sunburn „„Article 326: Amendments allow for commercial Goa. The family is accused of taking over large tracts of land by controversial means and taking undue advantage of controlling the Managing Committee,” said a source who is familiar with Comunidades in the State. “A member encroaching on Comunidade land is barred from holding office in the Comunidade or ceases to hold office from the date of the order passed by the authority. A stay on the competent authority’s order will not bring relief to such member.” New Articles 316-A to 316-I have been introduced to enable commercial event and non-commercial events on Comunidade land and sets out and mixed-use projects, expanding beyond previous residential-only restrictions „„Article 334-D: Transfers land held by religious institutions for over 50 years into their absolute ownership, removing Comunidade claims the procedure that is required to be followed in a time-bound manner on receipt of an application. “The insertion of Article 316-A is clearly to enable the holding of commercial event like Sunburn on Comunidade land. Several Comunidades along the coastal belt own large tracts of land on plateaus in South Goa. These Comunidade bodies will now be targeted by event organisers, after GIDC is reported to have closed its doors to such events,” said the source. The Article 326 is being amended to include construction of commercial and commercial-cum-residential projects as well, as the extant provisions only permit grant of land for construction of houses. “The amendment of Article 324 read with Article 326 appears to be meant for large housing development companies to facilitate acquisition of large tracts of Comunidade land. Extant provisions of the Code do not permit grant of land for commercial or commercial-cum-residential >Continued on P8