@thegoanonline FRIDAY MAY 16, 2025 GOA Tech fault disrupts flights at Dabolim VASCO: A technical fault in the runway lighting system at Goa International Airport, Dabolim on Thursday disrupted flight operations and led to the diversion of two incoming flights to Mopa. According to airport officials, the issue occurred when the runway lights malfunctioned temporarily, making it unsafe for aircraft to land.  > See pg 2 > WCD website hit by cyber attack: Min PANAJI: Minister for Women & Child Development Vishwajit Rane has blamed a cyber attack that hit the department’s website replacing the original informative content to casino advertisements. Reacting to The Goan’s report, the minister stated that 62 websites were affected by this breach.  >> See pg 3 NGOs to get `  L 4 for helping PwDs PANAJI: The State government on Thursday announced financial assistance of Rs four lakh per month to the organizations or NGOs involved in running residential facilities or half way homes for Persons with Disabilities.  >> See pg 5 SC steps in to stop forest land misuse NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed all States and Union Territories to constitute special investigation teams to examine if any reserved forest land in possession of the revenue department was allotted to any private parties for non-forestry purpose.   >> See pg 8 Row over Miss World contestants at temple TELANGANA: A video showing some women helping wash the feet of Miss World contestants at Ramappa temple on Thursday sparked controversy with Bharat Rashtra Samiti flaying the act, terming it an insult to Telangana women.   >> See pg 8 WEATHER >> Max: 35.9 C Min: 27.4 C Humidity: 84% TIDES Low: High: 06:24 19:19 13:39 ---- 3 SSC eases eligibility for posts of police sub-inspectors PANAJI The government-appointed task force has recommended an urgent structural audit of the renovated Kala Academy while raising serious concerns over the Rs 60 crore spent on the project from 2021-2023. In a damning assessment, report of which was submitted to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant last week, the committee concluded that the entire expenditure has been rendered futile due to glaring technical and structural shortcomings. Although the government is yet to issue an official statement, the Chief Engineer-II of the Public Works Department has already instructed execu- RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 9 INFO Home remedies to get rid of dry nose n FUEL SUBSIDY OF `  PER KM n OPERATORS ALLOWED 3 TO RETAIN FULL REVENUE COLLECTED FROM PASSENGERS THE GOAN I NETWORK Fatorpa bus owners push for inclusion in new scheme PANAJI The State government on Thursday announced revamped ‘Mhaji Bus Scheme 2025’ providing financial and infrastructural support to private bus operators in the State. Installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Device (VLTD) would be mandatory and private bus operators would be eligible for fuel subsidy of Rs 3 per kilometre under the new scheme. ON MA MHAJI BUS SCHEME 2025 With the launch of the modified scheme, the government has discontinued  Mhaji Bus’  scheme, launched on a pilot basis in August 2023’ on mode of revenue sharing with the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL). Under the new scheme, the operator will retain full fare revenue collected from the passengers and shall not be required to deposit any fare amount with KTCL. As reported by The Goan in it May 14  edition, the bus operators would be eligible for subsidy of Rs 3 per kilometre, 50 per cent reimbursement of the annual insurance premium paid up to maximum of Rs 30,000 and assistance of Rs10 lakh for replacing buses older than 15 years, with new buses having minimum seating capacity of 27. “The scheme aims to increase the availability of buses across the State, reduce traffic congestion, and promote the use of public transport, especially in rural and underserved areas,” Director Transport Pravimal Abhishek said in the notification issued. The government has said Turkish firm handling India’s airport services grounded AVIATION WATCHDOG CITES NATIONAL SECURITY PTI NEW DELHI Aviation watchdog BCAS on Thursday revoked the security clearance of ground handling company Celebi Airport Services India, a unit of Turkiye’s Celebi, with immediate effect in the “interest of national security”. The move by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security came against the backdrop of Turkiye’s backing for Pakistan and its condemnation of India’s recent strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) under ‘’Operation Sindoor’’. Pakistan had also used Turkish drones on a large scale in the military conflict with India. Official sources, meanwhile, said the government may discourage people from going to Turkiye as well as Azerbaijan, which had also actively supported Pakistan in the conflict. As a result, there is likely Celebi’s ground handling operations at Mopa airport also come to a halt PANAJI: Close on the heels of security clearance of ground handling company Celebi Airport Services India being revoked, its services at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa too were stopped. A statement from Manohar International Airport said “consequent to the revocation of security clearance granted to M/s Celebi Airport Services Pvt Ltd who were providing ground handling services at our Manohar Int’l Airport, Govt of India, we have made alternative arrangements ensuring smooth transition and continuity of ground handling services”. Our team remains committed to maintaining seamless services to airlines/passengers, the statement added. to be a significant drop in visits of Indian tourists, hosting of destination weddings and shooting of Indian films in the two countries in the coming days, the sources said. “... the security clearance in r/o Celebi Airport Services India Pvt Ltd is hereby revoked with immediate effect in the interest of national security,” the BCAS said in an order is- sued. The security clearance under the category ‘’Ground Handling Agency’’ was approved by the BCAS in November 2022. There are also calls in certain quarters for boycotting Turkish goods and tourism. Some online travel portals and associations have issued advisories asking people not to visit Turkiye. Renovated KA faces structural audit push THE GOAN I NETWORK Instagram.com/thegoanonline Boost for private operators as govt unveils new bus scheme 14 IN SHORT >> 2 GOA Y EVs can help clean India’s air but myths are holding people back REVIEW: New BMW X5: More power and unmatched thrills The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 328 ‘Our jobs, identity at risk’: Taximen seek action against ‘unchecked’ app services page 6 Facebook.com/thegoan OTHER KEY RECOMMENDATIONS „„MAIN STAGE & WINGS: Repair main curtain mechanism; Reinstall wings and flies with proper design; Remove carpet from wing areas to allow easy movement of sets „„MAIN HALL: Replace outdated fixtures and digital colour-changing LED lights; Increase number of lights „„MAKEUP ROOM: Improve lighting with profile LED lights; Add good-quality chairs and sofas „„BLACK BOX: Install proper light grid with lights and wiring as per technical specifications; Review operator cabin location after lighting setup „„OPEN THEATRE: Appoint qualified structural consultant; Reconstruct the slab as per recommendations „„GENERAL REPAIRS: Once debris is cleared, inspect & repair stage and makeup room; Install light bars with proper wiring; Install sound system as per expert guidance tive engineers to begin immediate remedial work. Headed by noted theatre personality Vijay Kenkre, the committee found multiple flaws in the renovation, which was carried out under the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). The findings suggested systemic mismanagement, pointing at defects from acoustic failings and poor air-conditioning to substandard lighting and a compromised theatre structure. In its report, the committee warned that an additional Rs 25 crore would be needed to rectify the existing damage and make the facility safe and functional. A further Rs 40 crore is estimated for the reconstruction of the collapsed slab of the open-air theatre -- failure not disclosed during or immediately after the renovation. >Continued on P5 MARGAO: With the government promising a new ‘Mhaji bus scheme 2025’, bus operators on the Fatorpa-Margao and other routes have made a fervent plea to also include them in the scheme. Addressing media, president of the Fatorpa Bus Owners Association Shailendra Faldesai has demanded that the benefits of the new scheme be provided to all bus operators. “Benefits of the ‘2023 Mhaji bus scheme’ had gone only to a few bus operators, majority of the bus operators were not included in the scheme, as a result of which they were left with no option than to keep their buses idle”, he said. >> See pg 2 that the bus to be operated under this scheme shall not be older than 15 years from the date of its initial registration. However, for an initial period of 3 years buses up to 20 years will be eligible to participate in this scheme. The bus operator will have to install a VLTD approved by the Directorate of Transport prior to induction into the scheme and repaint the bus in the branding scheme of KTCL to ensure uniformity and visibility of public transport “The registered owner, conductor, or driver of the bus shall be responsible for maintaining a Vehicle Log Book. They must record each trip’s details, including departure >Continued on P5 SPORTS Bologna stuns AC Milan to end 51-year trophy drought 13 No more State aid, sugarcane farmers to get Central rate THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has announced discontinuation of the ‘Special Assistance cum Compensation scheme’ offered to  sugarcane  farmers since June 2021. The government has now notified to procure the sugarcane produced by the farmers at the Central government notified Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP). In a notification issued, Director Agriculture Sandeep Fol Dessai said the scheme ‘Special Assistance for Sugarcane Grower’ introduced to the farmers from June 17, 2021 is withdrawn’. The decision is with the government’s approval. Under the five-year scheme, the government has so far paid Rs 40 crore to around 700-odd farmers. The Goan in its February 12 edition informed about the government plans to discontinue the scheme and bring in a new scheme based on FRP. Fol Dessai, however said that in order to assist the sugarcane growers to take up sugarcane cultivation in the State, the government has introduced a new scheme ‘Assistance towards Sugarcane supplied by the sugarcane 12 log on to thegoan.net ON FEB growers’. The Scheme will be in force for a period of two years -- 2026-27. Under the scheme, sugarcane cultivated by farmers/ cultivators will be supplied at Sanjivani Sugar Factory, and will be weighed there and provided/paid financial assistance as per FRP fixed by the National Federation of Co-operative Sugar Factories Ltd., New Delhi, from time to time. While the farmers will have to register with the sugar factory, they will be paid based on actual tonnage of canes weighed at the factory weighbridge. The government has said that it will not be >Continued on P5