log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY MAY 25, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 337 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us Instagram.com/thegoanonline Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in Scare in Margao as slab of another building collapses TOP CIVIC OFFICIALS RUSH TO THE SPOT, INITIATE CLEAN-UP OPs THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Less than 24 hours after Friday’s collapse of a building slab in the congested new market area, another concrete slab of an old building came crashing down in the wee hours of Saturday near the busy Cine Lata locality. The incident came to light when passers-by came across concrete debris scattered on the road leading to Cine Lata. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident and there was no destruction to property like Friday’s incident. A close look at the groundplus-one building showed the wall of the gallery crashed, bringing down cables entangled to the building. Margao Municipal Councillor Raju Naik, who had gone to Cine Lata side for some per- >> SEE PG 3 RAIN CHECK: GOA CAUGHT OFF GUARD ON PAGE 2 MLA presses for holistic govt policy to deal with old, dangerous buildings Citizens outraged over slab collapse of two buildings The ill-fated building located near Cine Lata and the debris scattered on the road.  Santosh Mirajkar sonal work, alerted Margao Civic Chief Damu Shirodkar and others over the collapse. As news of the incident spread, Margao traffic police closed the road going to Cine Lata. On Friday, the traffic po- lice had shut the road leading to Gandhi market and New Market after the slab of Old Bank of Baroda building collapsed. Deputy Collector Ganesh Barve along with other officials rushed to the site to take stock of the situation. He told officials to shortlist a contractor to undertake the work of removing the loose concrete from the slab as a precautionary measure. “Our officials are taking measures to ensure the building does not pose danger to passers-by and motorists. We will take further action as and when required”, he said. Margao municipal workers were deployed to clear the de- Gill takes charge as India enters post Rohit-Kohli era Pg 8 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 bris fallen on the road. Margao Civic chief Damu Shirodkar along with councillors also rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. MMC Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz too rushed to the city to review the situation. The chief officer told The Goan that he would issue notice to the owner of the Old Bank of Baroda building as well as the owner of the building whose slab came crashing down on Saturday. Meanwhile, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who inspected the spot, later issued instructions to the authorities to take on board a contractor, who has the technical knowhow and wherewithal, including breakers, gas cutters etc to clear debris. “The authorities will have to engage an expert agency to handle such matters”, he added. Old govt buildings in Panaji too pose risks JUNTA HOUSE, WELFARE DEPT BUILDINGS UNSAFE BUT DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS STILL CONTINUE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As pre-monsoon rains drenched Goa and South West Monsoon ahead of schedule, two crumbling government buildings -- Junta House and the Social Welfare Department -- continue to face the risk of collapse. Despite repeated safety concerns for occupants and pedestrians, day-to-day operations continue unabated. The danger extends not only to human life but also to crucial official records and equipment housed within. At Junta House, the sprawling complex of four blocks rising seven storeys high and home to numerous government offices, the interiors of this structure have seen rainwater cascading down walls and stairwells.   Government sources confirmed to The Goan that while demolition is already ap- SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT „„The dept located in this 121-year-old Portuguese-era building that has steadily deteriorated over time „„Plans afoot to relocate dept to Housing Board complex in Porvorim, but shifting has taken a pause JUNTA HOUSE „„Interiors of this structure has seen rainwater cascading down walls and stairwells „„Demolition approved, but alternate premises for offices housed in this building have delayed shifting process proved, alternate premises for these offices have delayed the process. “The government has already given a go-ahead for the demolition. The process is delayed because there are no alternative premises to shift these offices. Search is ongoing but until suitable space is found, we have no choice but to continue working here,” the source revealed. A similar dilemma haunts the head office of the Social Welfare Department, locat- Ensure monthly updates on edu portal, Centre tells Goa EDUCATION MINISTRY CITES GAPS IN DATA REPORTING, UNFINISHED INFRA PROJECTS 9 Opening Seven Doors to Heaven in Goa A culinary homestead: Mangalorean classics in a Portugueseera setting 11 Western music in Goa: A cultural and educational evolution through the ages IN SHORT >> Noted tiatrist Jose takes final bow MARGAO: The Konkani tiatr stage has lost a beloved and respected artist, Jose Joaquim Fernandes.   >> See pg 2 PANAJI The Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy) has directed Goa to ensure monthly updates on the PRABANDH portal and the timely implementation of annual interventions under Samagra Shiksha. In a meeting of the Project Approval Board held in Delhi this March with details made public just recently, the ministry cited gaps in data reporting and unfinished infrastructure projects. “The PRABANDH portal should be updated every month to enable real-time monitoring of each activity/ component approved under Samagra Shiksha. The State also needs to ensure the timely implementation of various interventions as per the annual calendar of activities, under the supervision of the SPD,” the ministry said. The ministry also observed PTI Goa praised for overall school access PANAJI: The Ministry of Education has hailed the State for ensuring that all habitations have access to primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary schools as per the State norms. “It reflects the State’s strong educational infrastructure and effective planning,” the ministry official said. A presentation showcasing this achievement is expected to be made during the upcoming Chief Secretaries’ Conference. The State was also commended for achieving 100 per cent coverage of ICT labs in secondary and senior secondary schools. However, it was observed that 32.6 per cent of schools still do not have Smart Classrooms. >Continued on P6 a large variation in the reporting of data on the central monitoring platform with instructions to avoid reporting mismatches and also to monitor the uploaded data. The meeting discussed the Annual Work Plan and Budget for the 2025–26 academic year with the total outlay sanctioned at Rs 4,558.44 lakh, including a spillover of Rs 1,057.05 lakh from previous years. All this incidentally comes at a time when the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan Goa has been entangled in the Rs 5 crore approx misappropriation case. Regarding progress in school access and basic amenities, several physical >Continued on P6 >Continued on P6 Monsoon makes splash in Kerala; marks earliest onset since 2009 THE GOAN I NETWORK MAGAZINE MAGAZ Breaking the monsoon myths ed in a 121-year-old Portuguese-era building that has steadily deteriorated over time. While the government had announced plans to relocate the department to a new facility at the Goa Housing Board complex in Porvorim, the shifting has taken a pause. The source, however, claimed that the work is underway. “The work on the new premises is in progress. Our officers are closely monitoring NUTS ABOUT ART: Colorful coconut shells on display at the traditional Purumentachem Fest held at Goa College of Home Science, Panaji, on Saturday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Tourism plan sought to shape CZMP THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State Environment Department has directed Tourism Department to submit Tourism Management Plan on priority for incorporation in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019, the drafting process of which is under pro- gress. The Department has also asked the Captain of Ports and Mormugao Port Authority to provide port limits under its jurisdiction for inclusion in the draft CZMP 2019.  The government has also asked Chennai based agency National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) that drafted the CZMP 2011 plan for the State, to provide the 1:25000 scale land use shape files as per CRZ Notification 2011.  Technical Scrutiny Committee of the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) on >Continued on P6 NEW DELHI The southwest monsoon hit Kerala on Saturday, marking its earliest arrival over the Indian mainland since 2009 when it reached the southern State on May 23, the IMD said. Normally, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 1 and covers the entire country by July 8. It starts retreating from northwest India around September 17 and withdraws completely by October 15. The monsoon had set in over the southern State on May 30 last year; June 8 in 2023; May 29 in 2022; June 3 in 2021; June 1 in 2020; June 8 in 2019; and May 29 in 2018, IMD data showed. Data available since 1975 showed that the monsoon reached Kerala the earliest in 1990 (on May 19), 13 days before the usual date. According to meteorologists, there is no direct relationship between the onset date and the total rainfall over the country during the season. New Covid variants emerge, Videos, photos now banned at Dabolim airport cases increase across India Window shades to remain closed while aircraft takes off and lands PTI NEW DELHI Amid a rise in Covid-19 cases, a case of the newly emerging Covid-19 variant NB.1.8.1 and four instances of the LF.7 type have been detected in India, the INSACOG data stated on Saturday. Fresh cases of the coronavirus have also recently been reported from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Delhi. While Delhi recorded 23 new cases, Andhra Pradesh reported four in the last 24 hours, Telangana confirmed one, and a nine-month-old in Bengaluru tested positive Covid patient dies in Maharashtra MUMBAI: A Covid-19 patient died while eight new cases of the viral infection were reported in the city on Saturday, the Thane Municipal Corporation said. amid a gradual rise over the past 20 days. Kerala reported 273 cases in May alone. With more tests being conducted, Uttarakhand’s state health department sounded a high alert in many districts, intensifying preventive measures in line with the guidelines issued by the central government. This comes as the Union Health Ministry remains vigilant and proactive in monitoring the situation closely, ensuring that appropriate measures are in place to safeguard public health. As of May 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies LF.7 and NB.1.8 sub-variants as variants under monitoring, not as variants of concern or variants of interest. But these are the variants that are reportedly driving the rise in Covid cases in China and parts of Asia. VIKRAM NAYAK THE GOAN I VASCO P lanning to preserve cherished memories by clicking videos or photos of loved ones in the terminals at Dabolim airport, and while the aircraft has just taken off or is about to land? Or even sitting by the window seat and watching your plane take off or land at Dabolim airport? All that is now prohibited by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) at Dabolim airport. According to media reports, these are part of fresh directives issued by DGCA for commercial operations, to all The Goa International Airport at Dabolim. scheduled, scheduled commuter, and non-scheduled aircraft operating from defence airfields across the country, particularly those near the western border. Dabolim airport is among the many defence airfields in the country which has a civil enclave for a commercial air- port managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The DGCA issued the directives on May 20, reportedly on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence, “to enhance operational safety and prevent the unintentional sharing of security-related information by the general public/crew.” According to the DGCA directives, all passenger window shades (except at emergency exit windows) must remain closed during take-off and landing, until the aircraft has crossed an altitude of 10,000 feet after departure, or descends below this height and reaches the parking bay at the civil terminal of a defence airfield. The DGCA has also stated that aerial or ground photography and videography are strictly prohibited at all times when passengers are inside the terminal, in vehicles en-route to or from the aircraft, outside the aircraft, during landing, at the airport, during pushback, taxiing, take-off, and while the aircraft is flying below 10,000 feet. The aviation watchdog has stipulated that all operators must take necessary steps to ensure passengers are clearly informed and regularly >Continued on P6