log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY MAY 26, 2025 GOA 10 arrested under preventive measures PANAJI: As part of a crackdown, Old Goa police have arrested ten persons under preventive measures on Saturday.North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Rahul Gupta conducted an intense tenant verification drive, patrolling and combat operation at Merces, Chimbel and St Cruz.Total ten arrests were made under preventive measure while 28 strangers were rolled up. Police also initiated action against five for drinking in public places. Goa-Belagavi train service disrupted BELAGAVI: Train services from Goa faced disruption on Sunday after one coach of Vasco Da Gama–Yesvantpur Express (Train No. 17310) derailed near Castle Rock at around 2:30 AM. The incident occurred between Caranzol and Castle Rock stations.  >> See pg 5 PCR calls drop by 12 per cent: Data PANAJI: The number of Police Control Room (PCR) calls in Goa dropped from 12,302 between January and April 2024 to 10,816 during the same period in 2025, marking a 12.08% reduction year-overyear, according to statistics released by the government. 49 flights diverted at Delhi airport NEW DELHI: As many as 49 flights, including 17 international ones, were diverted at the country's largest IGI airport due to heavy rain and thunderstorms. IMD recorded winds gusting up to 82 kmph and 81.2 mm of rain in six hours on Sunday. Lalu expels son from party, family PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav expelled his elder son Tej Pratap Yadav from the party for six years for 'irresponsible behaviour', and also snapped all family ties with him. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 28 C 25 C 90% TIDES Low: High: 03.34 10.41 16.12 21.28 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Assagao residents raise alarm over unapproved road expansion Physiotherapy management for children with asthma  SAYS PROMISES YET TO BE FULFILLED  SLAMS TRIBAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT  THREATENS AGITATION AGAIN THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Sports and Culture Minister Govind Gaude on Sunday created a flutter when he publicly voiced dissent and sharply criticised the performance of the government in tribal welfare and affairs. Gaude said, some of the promises made to tribal people are yet to be fulfilled inspite of constantly reminding the government and cited the non-execution of the long-delayed 'Tribal Bhavan' project. He was speaking during the official 'Prerna Diwas' programme organized by the Department of Tribal Welfare and Tribal Affairs at Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir in Ponda. Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, ST/SC Commission Chairman Deepak Karmalkar, Scheduled Tribes Financial Corporation Chairman GOVIND GAUDE’S SCATHING REBUKE „„Govt started a dept for welfare of tribals but is it really providing welfare „„Tribal brothers still pursuing pending demands which they are being denied by flagging loopholes in the law „„We have done everything within the framework... we will continue to do so within the framework „„Govt should change laws to provide justice to tribal brothers who have been oppressed „„Construction of 'Tribal Bhavan' Gaude pending for years… if it is built, tribal children in rural areas will have a Vasudev Meng Gaonkar, UTTA Chairman Prakash Velip, General Secretary Durgadas Gawde and Director of Tribal Welfare Deepak Desai were also on the dais. Gaude was particularly critical of the functioning of the Tribal Welfare Department warning that their (tribals) patience is running out and would not hesitate to launch an agitation again. The government started a department for the welfare of tribals but whether it is really providing welfare to tribals is a matter to investigate, Gaude GTDC’s 5-star hotel project at Miramar gets green nod 587-ROOM PROJECT TO REPLACE MIRAMAR RESIDENCY Liberian ship with hazardous cargo capsizes off Kerala coast PTI >Continued on P7 >> See pg 7 ON that is 74,087.72 sq meters is in accordance with the existing FAR norms of the local body and planning authority. The GTDC had initiated a similar project way back in 2014; however, it failed to take it up after some documents of the Miramar property which are essential for effecting mutation were untraceable. GTDC had entered into a concession agreement with Shree Naman Resorts Goa Pvt Ltd to develop the project. GTDC is directed to comply with all the statutory permissions from the concerned authorities including the Town and Country Planning Department, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Forest said. "Even today, the tribal brothers are pursuing their pending demands which they are being denied by flagging loopholes in the law. Till now, we have done everything within the framework. We will continue to do so within the department, State Pollution Control Board, Forest Department among others before commencement of the work. “The construction shall be done in accordance with the local building byelaws. The approval of the Competent Authority shall be obtained for structural safety of buildings due to earthquakes, adequacy of fire fighting equipment etc, as per National Building Code including protection measures from lightning etc,” SEIAA said. The project proponent has to ensure monitoring of air, water and noise pollution and install mandatory monitoring THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) plan to re-develop its Miramar Residency into a five-star hotel project has received a green nod. The Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (Goa-SEIAA) has granted environment clearance (EC) to the project, which is slated to come up at an area of 74,087.72 sq meters. Last month, the Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (Goa-SEAC) had recommended the project to SEIAA for prior EC. The Miramar Residency, which has been shut for the past few years, is spread over 20,000 square metres and at present has got around 60 rooms besides dining and other facilities. According to the proposal, the GTDC has proposed to develop the Residency into a hotel with 587 Guest Rooms along with restaurant, banquet, conference and meeting rooms, a fitness centre, spa and a swimming pool. SEIAA has directed GTDC to ensure that the built-up area of the proposed construction platform of their own „„Administration not following up on the project adequately „„CM should publicly announce when Bhavan will be built „„If govt does not take Prerna Divas seriously, we (tribals) are ready to organise it ourselves KOCHI A Liberian cargo ship, carrying 640 containers including 13 with hazardous cargo, capsized and sank in the sea off the State's coast in the early hours of Sunday, and the incident has led to a major oil leak, a top official said. The Kerala government has sounded a statewide alert, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, and the Coast Guard is working to contain the spill. With the rescue of 3 more crew members by a Navy ship, all the 24-member crew have been rescued. In the early hours of 25 May 2025, the ship ''MSC ELSA 3'' listed rapidly, capsized and sank, a Coast Guard statement said here. The incident has led to a significant oil spill, with leaked fuel drifting at around three kilometres per hour, prompting authorities to brace for potential impact along the Kerala coastline. The Indian Coast Guard, coordinating the pollution response, said the ship had 84.44 metric tonnes of diesel and 367.1 metric tonnes of furnace oil in its tanks, in addition to containers. 025 IN SHORT >> Instagram.com/thegoanonline 2 3 9 Gaude launches fierce attack on govt over tribal welfare GOA ,2 Trump tariffs, IPOs, FII action among 9 stock market triggers this week The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 338 Survey of 'dangerous' bldgs haunts MMC, DMA >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan M AY 1 3 framework. But the government should change the laws to provide justice to the tribal brothers who have been oppressed," Gaude said further. Citing the long delay in constructing the 'Tribal Bhavan' Gaude said the project has been pending for many years. "If the Bhavan is built, tribal children and brothers in rural areas will have a platform of their own. They will get a place of their own," Gaude said, adding that the administration is not following up on the project adequately. "Chief Minister should publicly announce when the Adivasi Bhavan will be built," Gaude said. Prerna Divas is a day of inspiration for tribals and the Department should make proper arrangements so that a large number of community >Continued on P7 SPORTS Srikanth signals return to form with Malaysia Masters runner-up finish 12 It’s official! IMD declares arrival of monsoon in Goa Onset 12 days ahead of schedule THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The India Meteorological Department (IMD) declared the onset of the southwest monsoon over Goa on Sunday, almost 12 days ahead of its normal schedule of June 5. This is the earliest since 2006, when monsoon arrived in Goa on May 20. The monsoon has set over Goa, within 24 hours after its onset over Kerala coast on Saturday, the fastest in recent years. In a weather update issued, IMD Goa said that the southwest monsoon has further advanced and covered the entire Goa, some parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra and some more parts of Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland on Sunday. Normally, the southwest monsoon makes its onset over Kerala by June 5. IMD Goa scientist Naush Kulkarni confirmed southwest monsoon arrival in Goa while informing that this is the fast- ON PAGE 3 „„Goa's top govt doctors deliberate vector-borne diseases threat „„Rains catch Goa's paddy growers off-guard, may hasten sowing „„3 houses damaged due to falling trees in Guirim, Sangolda est arrival in the last 19 years. “It was last in 2006, when the monsoon hit Goa on May 20,” he said. Over the last few years, the date of monsoon onset over Goa has varied widely. Last year, monsoon reached the State as early as June 4, while in 2023 it was delayed till June 10. In 2022 too, the monsoon onset was delayed till June 9. Over the last week, Goa has been experiencing a steady increase in rainfall intensity. State witnessed intense >Continued on P7 Goa prepares for another rough ride this monsoon POTHOLED, DUG-UP STRETCHES OF ROADS POISED TO BECOME DEATH TRAPS FOR COMMUTERS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA With the southwest monsoon knocking on Goa’s door, the grim reality on the State’s roads has already begun to unfold – battered, potholed and dug-up stretches are poised to become death traps across the State. Despite official directives from district Collectors banning road digging during the monsoon, several roads across Goa lie in an appalling state.  What’s worse, critical repairs and patchwork, which should have been completed in the dry months, remain untouched. In Mapusa, the main thoroughfare opposite the Goa Football Association stadium at Duler presents a stark example of administrative apathy. A large pothole in the middle of the road threatens to cause serious accidents. With the authorities remaining indifferent, some civic-minded citizens have taken matters into their own hands. They’ve stuffed the pothole MONSOON MAYHEM: A large pothole gapes in the middle of the busy major district road at Duler, Mapusa.  Agnelo Pereira with plastic waste and set up a makeshift warning sign using sticks and a board to alert oncoming traffic. Across town, the situation is no better. Saligao’s main road leading to the Pilerne Industrial Estate – dug up by the electricity department to lay a 33KV power line – has been reduced to a muddy mess. With no signs of resurfacing or tarring in sight, residents are bracing for another monsoon of slush, skidding and suffering. Ironically, this is the second consecutive year the same stretch has been ex- cavated – last year it was the water resources department laying pipelines, this year it’s the power line. The result? Perpetual inconvenience for the locals. Even minimal attempts at road compaction during recent rains are proving futile. The work, executed under wet conditions, offers no real improvement and, with no immediate plans for hotmixing, locals are looking at another four to five months of treacherous travel. >Continued on P7 SWR may reconsider ore handling India overtakes Japan, becomes 4th largest economy near Bhagwan Mahavir sanctuary NITI CEO Subrahmanyam cites IMF data, says India now a $4 trillion economy SBWL DELAYS WILDLIFE CLEARANCE DECISION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The South Western Railways (SWR) will examine the possibility of shifting the proposed iron ore handling operations at the Kalem railway yard to a location away from the boundary of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. The SWR had proposed to handle loading, unloading and transportation of ore at Kalem railway station yard located in the protected areas. The Goa State Board of Wildlife (SBWL) has deferred the decision on granting wildlife clearance to the proposal, which came up for discussion during its recent meeting. During the meeting, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as experts raised concern about potential impact of allowing handling of ore on the wildlife sanctuary and national park area. The Board sought to know from the SWR whether it is feasible for the railways to shift the handling of iron ore to the railway yard located around 2 kms from the Kalem village away from the boundary of the sanctuary. In reply, the Additional General Manager of SWR said that “this being a policy decision, if any such proposal is received from the State government, then the matter will be examined by the railways and the decision will be communicated”. As per the proposal, total area of land involved in the wildlife area is 0.7616 ha including yard and approach road in the village in Sanguem taluka, forming part of the >Continued on P7 PTI NEW DELHI ndia has become the fourth largest economy in the world, overtaking Japan, NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahmanyam has said. Subrahmanyam said the overall geopolitical and economic environment is favourable to India. “We are the fourth largest economy as I speak. We are a USD 4 trillion economy as I speak,” he said. Citing IMF data, Subrahmanyam said India today is larger than Japan. Till 2024, India was the fifth-largest economy in the world. I TOP 10 ECONOMIES >> As per GDP in US$ United States: $30.51 trillion China: $19.23 trillion Germany: $4.74 trillion India: $4.19 trillion Japan: $4.19 trillion United Kingdom: $3.84 trillion France: $3.21 trillion Italy: $2.42 trillion Canada: $2.23 trillion Brazil: $2.13 trillion “It is only the US, China and Germany which are larger than India, and if we stick to what is being planned and what is being thought through, in 2.5-3 years, we will be the third largest economy,” Subrahmanyam said. The International Monetary Fund, in its World Economic Outlook (WEO) report released in April had said that India is expected to be the fourth largest economy in the world with a GDP of USD 4.19 trillion in 2025, ahead of Japan. India's nominal GDP for 2025 (FY26) is expected to be USD 4.187 billion marginally more than the likely GDP of Japan which is estimated at USD 4.187 billion, the IMF had said. According to IMF data, India's per capita income has doubled from USD 1,438 in 2013-14 to USD 2,880 in 2025. The IMF in its WEO report also said the Indian economy is projected to grow at 6.2 per cent in 2025-26, slower than earlier estimated rate of 6.5 per cent, due to escalated trade tensions. “For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in 2025, supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas,” the IMF had said. According to the report, the global growth is projected at 2.8 per cent in 2025, lower by 0.5 percentage points estimated earlier.