log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY MAY 30, 2025 GOA @thegoanonline GOA @39: VISIONING A RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE GOA SEE PAGE 7 IN SHORT >> Power shutdown in South cancelled PANAJI: The government on Thursday announced that the planned power shutdown in South Goa scheduled for June 1, 2025 from 7 am to 3 pm has been cancelled due to the onset of the monsoon and heavy rainfall. ON PAGE 2 >> Most jetties, trawlers still lack toilets, hygiene infra Major twist to Assagao house demolition case Cops crack whip, add 11 names to historysheeter list in North Goa’s winged wonders near 500-species milestone Scuffle at casino in Panaji turns deadly The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 342 Smart City: 50-meter stretch of Tonca 'smart' road yet to be completed GOA STATEHOOD DAY TODAY Facebook.com/thegoan 3 GOA Structural stability test report on Dawood building suggest repairs, rectifications 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Muesli or oats: Which is better for weight loss? Gaude’s calculated move wins him brief reprieve BJP APPEARS TO HAVE SOFTENED STAND ON ACTION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Minister and tribal leader Govind Gaude’s well-calculated move to put out the fire that has been blazing for last few days following his “corruption” remark against the Tribal Welfare Department under the Chief Minister, seems to have worked in his favour for the time being with ruling BJP appearing to have softened its stand, after initial threat of stern action. While some media remained abuzz over possible reshuffle in the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet, with the party likely to replace Gaude with Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, BJP ruled out any such possibility stating “nothing is decided on it so far”. Gaude, after fielding his star rescuer during the crisis -- UTTA leader Prakash Velip -- for the job, which he executed meticulously by pointing out the possible consequences, met the Chief Minister personally, foreseeing possible action. “I am likely to meet Gaude on Friday. I was supposed DAMU NAIK’S TAKE ON GAUDE „„I am likely to meet Gaude on Friday „„I was supposed to meet him today but could not as I continue to be out of station. Let me see what he has to say „„I would not like to comment on Cabinet reshuffle for now „„Nothing has been decided on it so far… party would like to “settle it once for all” „„FLASHBACK: During the Prerna Din function last Sunday, the Minister alleged that the files of contractors are cleared in exchange for bribes, demanding a clarification from the Tribal Welfare Department to meet him today but could not as I continue to be out of station. Let me see what he has to say,” BJP state president Damodar Naik told The Goan. “I would not like to comment on Cabinet reshuffle for now. Nothing has been decided on it so far,” Naik said, ruling out all media speculation. Naik had on Wednesday said that the party would like to “settle once for all” the issue with Gaude. The Chief Minister too had slammed Gaude for making “irresponsible” statement while announcing to take action. Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar had also hit out at Gaude stating the matter could have been discussed with the CM rather than using a public platform first. “The matter should have been discussed before the CM or with the cabinet. Making such a statement without following the protocol is inappropriate,” the Speaker said. Highly placed sources con- firmed that the State BJP unit has been asked to take “appropriate” call on cabinet reshuffle by the High Command. “The high command has indirectly asked the State unit to be cautious,” sources said. During the Prerna Din function last Sunday, the Minister alleged that the files of contractors are cleared in exchange for bribes, demanding a clarification from the Tribal Welfare Department. Gaude, who landed in dock following his allegation, made a major U-turn and said that he never blamed the Chief Minister of corruption and his statement was pertaining to the administrative functioning of the tribal department. Minister later had blamed media for “distorting” and “misinterpreting” his statement. “Media completely distorted and misinterpreted my statement. Nowhere did I say that CM is involved in any corruption. CM is my very close friend and we have been working together for the last five years,” the Minister had said. 12 SPORTS Chelsea completes UEFA set with Conference League triumph 14 Mapusa battles floods while councillors jet off to Dubai Residents fume as council left leaderless AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA While Mapusa reeled under the impact of the first monsoon rains – with flooded homes, waterlogged streets and an overwhelmed market – the town’s elected representatives had other priorities. In what has sparked outrage and disbelief among citizens, at least nine councillors of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), most of them from the ruling BJP group, have chosen to fly to Dubai for a leisure trip. The group includes none other than MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal and MMC Vice Chairperson Prakash Bhivshet, leaving the municipal council without its two top officials at a time when their presence was arguably most needed. Eight councillors reportedly boarded an early morning flight to Dubai on May 25, with Mishal joining them mid-week on Wednesday. Mapusa residents, who bore the brunt of the first rains, were left to deal with the chaos brought on by incomplete or poorly executed pre-monsoon desilting and drainage work. Several wards are still un- Trip was planned well in advance: Joshua MAPUSA: Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza, under whose leadership the council operates, attempted a lukewarm defense. “There is no right or wrong time. They had planned it before. It’s their money. You cannot force anybody,” he remarked, noting that the plan had been made as early as February or March. dergoing emergency clean-up and repair, yet the councillors entrusted with overseeing these efforts have opted for a Gulf holiday. This “civic junket,” as locals are now dubbing it, has left Mapusa not just waterlogged, but leaderless too – no Chairperson, no Vice-Chairperson, and apparently, no shame. For a town struggling with blocked drains and despair, the sight of its leaders possibly posing on Burj Khalifa’s glass floors is not exactly comforting. The absence of leadership during this crisis has not gone unnoticed. “They should have avoid- ed it. Given the current monsoon-related circumstances, it's not the ideal time to go on a holiday. At least I would not have gone and instead focussed on helping those in need,” said former chairperson and BJP leader Sandip Falari. To be fair, not all councillors packed their bags. From the ruling group, former chairpersons Nutan Bicholkar and Shubangi Vaigankar, along with councillor Swapnil Shirodkar, did not participate in the Dubai tour. Senior councillor Chandrashekar Benkar also stayed >Continued on P10