log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY JUNE 3, 2025 GOA Margao awaits answers on building safety inspections >> See pg 5 3 Born deaf, this rights champion fights for equality & dignity of hearing-impaired IN SHORT >> Soon, heart, lung transplants at GMC PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday announced that the Goa Medical College and Hospital will soon be undertaking heart and lung transplants in collaboration with specialized hospitals. Rane said GMC is equipped to carry out kidney and liver transplants at the moment, with preparations underway for heat and lung transplants in collaboration with specialized hospitals. >> See pg 3 JEE Advanced: Navinya tops in Goa PANAJI: Navinya Desai from Mushtifund Aryaan Higher Secondary School emerged as Goa’s topper in the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced 2025, securing All India Rank of 470 -- the highest in the State so far. He scored 236 out of 360. >> See pg 3 STEM lab planned at Porvorim PANAJI: Goa State Council of Educational Research and Training (GSCERT) has floated a tender for setting up a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) lab at its office. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 65.03 lakh. K’taka man drowns in swimming pool MAPUSA: A 39-year-old man hailing from Koppal-Karnataka drowned in the swimming pool of a private villa in Tiwaiwada-Calangute in the wee hours of Monday. The incident took place at around 4 am, when Abdul Samad had been attending the birthday party of his hotel owner’s relatives. >> See pg 5 2 Officials warned over disaster management CANACONA: Canacona Dy Collector Prataprao Gaunkar chaired a taluka disaster management meeting with departmental heads to review monsoon preparatory works. He threatened action against officers who failed to complete the works on time. >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 32.4 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 77% TIDES Low: High: 09:54 04:22 23:56 17:04 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 346 2 GOA Opposition to Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion grows in Belagavi 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Remedies to prevent premature greying of hair 10 SPORTS Gukesh capitalizes on Carlsen blunder to clinch landmark victory BJP passes buck on Gaude, awaits High Command call DAMU STRESS ON PARTY DISCIPLINE DURING DAMUSTRESSES ON PARTY DISCIPLINEDURING MEETING THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The suspense over Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude’s exit from the Cabinet continued on Monday, as the State BJP unit decided to put the ball in the high command’s court for the final move. The much anticipated meeting between BJP party Chief Damodar Naik and Minister  Gaude  finally took place on Monday, after prolonged delay. During the meeting, Gaude was apparently hinted at his possible exit from the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet for his anti-government statement while warning him to follow party discipline. “I met Gaude and heard his side of the story. He explained in what context he was speaking…and many things…party had made PARTY FIRST, DAMU ON DISCIPLINE n„I met Gaude and heard his side of the story... he explained in what context he was speaking n„Party had made certain things clear to him n„This is a disciplined certain things clear to him. This is a disciplined party and every member of this party, be it MLA or Minister or a worker, has to follow the discipline. There are appropriate forums to take up wrongdoings, if any,” Naik told The Goan. Gaude, who had joined BJP in January 2022 -- just a month before the State Assembly elections -- has been on party’s radar for his charge against the government of corruption and malfeasance. Gaude had lashed party and every member – MLA, minister, worker -has to follow discipline n„There are appropriate forums to take up wrongdoings, if any n„We will be submitting out at the Tribal Welfare Department, which is under the Chief Minister himself. The allegation came as a major embarrassment to Sawant and his government. “We will be submitting the final report to the party high command for a decision. State unit cannot decide on such a crucial issue. The final call has to be taken by the high command,” Naik said. According to the sources, pending high command decision, the State unit is likely to initiate disciplinary ac- the final report to the party high command for a decision n„State unit cannot decide on such a crucial issue... the final call has to be taken by high command tion against Gaude, in a bid to set an example to others within the saffron fold. Speaking to media persons, Gaude refused to comment stating “have replied to whatever I was asked”.  Sources informed that while CM is clear to drop Gaude, the latter has apparently said that he will accept only High Command order. “Cabinet reshuffle is the CM’s prerogative,” Naik said. Incidentally, a reshuffle of the Sawant Cabinet has been long overdue and it Covid resurfaces in Goa, 10 fresh cases reported ACTIVE CASES NEAR 4,000 ACROSS INDIA THE GOAN I NETWORK is expected anytime soon. Though the Cabinet changes, initially, were to accommodate Congress turncoats, some loyal BJP MLAs may also get a chance. As per speculations,  Gaude  will be asked to resign and an MLA from tribal community would be sworn in shortly. However, there is no clarity whether it would be Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar or Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar.  It is also learnt that apart from Gaude, two more Ministers may be replaced with Congress rebels. Gaude has been in hot waters for quite some time. The alleged corruption in the renovation work of the iconic Kala Academy structure has also been taken note of by the party, apart from his public fall out against Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and allies -- MGP. PANAJI Goa woke up to the lurking threat of Covid-19 with 10 fresh cases sending a wave of concern across the State as of June 2 as per the Union Health Ministry. According to official data, Goa currently has ten active Covid-19 cases, with no reported fatalities. Authorities, however, continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring preventive measures and public health protocols are followed. India’s active Covid-19 cases meanwhile neared the 4,000 mark, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The cumulative Covid-19 deaths in the country since January this year have increased to 32, with four deaths reported since Sunday. According to official data, 203 new cases were added to the active case count since Sunday. Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maha- Govt firm on app-based THE FINAL CALLING cabs, taximen oppose n GOVT READY TO FINANCE THOSE WHO JOIN APP n 1,000 OPERATORS SUBMIT WRITTEN OBJECTIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Against the backdrop of strong opposition from taxi owners and operators, the Goa government is firm on its decision to introduce app-based cab aggregators claiming the move is intended to streamline the State’s taxi service. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho told reporters that the government is willing to finance tourist taxi operators but only on the condition that they join app-based platforms. “We are not forcing anyone to join the app or opposing the traditional business. But this is about streamlining the long-overdue taxi service system. I am ready to finance them, but they must come on the app,” he said. His remarks came even as around 1,000 taxi operators submitted written objections to the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025 at the Transport Department headquarters in Panaji on Monday. The draft, notified on May 20, is a bid to regulate app-based taxi services given rising complaints from both tourists and locals regarding Indian Premier League will crown a new champion when Royal Challengers Bengaluru takes on Punjab Kings in the final on June 3, with both teams eyeing their maiden IPL title. HEAD TO HEAD n„RCB & PBKS have played 36 IPL matches against each other so far n„Both have won 18 each Monserrate couple divided over support PANAJI: The notified draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025 has drawn battle lines between Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and his MLA wife Jennifer. While Babush has firmly distanced himself from the protests by tourist taxi operators, Jennifer has thrown her full weight behind them. KEY STATISTICS n„RCB stormed into finals after outclassing Punjab Kings by 8 wickets n„Kings bounced back to overpower MI in Eliminator match n„Both PBKS & RCB finished on 19 points, with 9 wins from 14 games and a washout >> See pg 3 ON PAGE 3 Received feedback from less than 10% of total taxis: Dept Cortalim MLA assures support to taximen amid aggregator row poor service, inflated fares and refusal to use digital meters. Earlier in the day, taxi owners approached their respective MLAs seeking support and subsequently marched to the transport office at Junta House. However, police personnel, deployed under prohibitory orders issued by the North Goa District Collector, prevented the taxi operators from entering the building.  Transport officials were stationed outside to accept the objections submitted by the operators. President of the North and South Goa Taxi Unions Sunil Naik told The Goan that over 1,000 individual objections were submitted, with a consolidated representation to follow. “We are consulting our lawyer to file the detailed objections on behalf of unions within the time frame,” he said.  The unions claim the policy is a deliberate move to phase out traditional operators. “It is a question of livelihood. Many families are dependent solely on this business,” Naik added. this business,” Naik add- SHREYAS: THE KNOCKOUT STAR Slammed a matchwinning century against MI in Qualifier 2 Created history as the only captain to lead three teams -- Delhi Capitals, KKR & PBKS -- to IPL final Consistently excelled with the bat in knockout matches TITLE TIME FOR KOHLI & RCB? Virat Kohli’s trophy cabinet is full of awards from his international career but can the batsman end the nearly –two-decade long wait to win the IPL trophy? >> Report on page 12 >Continued on P9 12 The cumulative Covid-19 deaths in the country since January this year have increased to 32, with four deaths reported since Sunday. According to official data, 203 new cases were added to the active case count since Sunday. rashtra, and Kerala each reported one CovidVID-19 death since Sunday. Delhi reported 47 more Covdi-19 cases, increasing the total active cases in the national capital to 483. In Kerala, active Covid-19 cases rose to 1,435, with 35 new cases reported since Sunday. In Maharashtra, 21 new Covid-19 cases were reported, taking the active case count to 506. In West Bengal, 44 new Covid-19 cases were reported, increasing the state’s active cases to 331. CoP initiates inquiry into boat blaze in Mandovi river THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Ports Administration has launched an inquiry into the fire that engulfed the passenger vessel MV K-Cat during the early hours of May 31 while it was docked at the Britona Jetty in River Mandovi. Captain of Ports Octavio Rodrigues said that he has directed the surveyor to conduct an official probe into the incident. “The surveyor will submit his report. The police are simultaneously conducting their investigation,” he told The Goan, adding that preliminary findings suggest a short circuit as the likely cause. The fire broke out at around 5:30 am, but swift intervention by CoP officials and the fire personnel prevented a possible major disaster. The Captain hailed the prompt response of Master Gilbert and his crew, whose actions were instrumental in containing the incident. “Our master reached the site with the tug boat within 13 minutes. Despite the challenges of navigating the river’s currents and tidal conditions, he and the crew managed to manoeuvre the burning vessel to the opposite bank. This allowed fire personnel to douse the flames more effectively,” he said. Scorching heat, Indus shortage Police sniff out gas racket during night patrol sparks water crisis in Pakistan Colva police team found two mini pickups loaded with gas cylinders parked near a room at Seraulim bandh and five male persons were seen busy siphoning gas from domestic gas cylinders to commercial gas cylinders and loading them in vehicles THE GOAN I NETWORK LIKELY TO PROVE CATASTROPHIC FOR FARMERS AGENCIES ISLAMABAD Pakistan’s Punjab province may be looking ahead to a tough kharif (summer crops) sowing season amid a major water shortage in its Indus River system, comprising the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. Islamabad has said that two of its key damns -- Tarbela on the Indus river and Mangla on the Jhelum river are running low on water, while there has been a “sudden decrease” in Chenab River inflows after a short supply by India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The latest data released by the Pakistan government shows that the availability of water in the Indus River System (inside Pakistan’s Punjab province) has declined by 10.3 per cent as of June 2, 2025, visa-vis June 2, 2024. This situation may get worse in the coming weeks with the onset of the Southwest monsoon still at least four weeks away. According to Islamabad’s data the availability of water in Punjab was just 1,28,800 Cusecs on June 2, 2025, which is 14,800 Cusecs less than last year on the same day. MARGAO n what is suspected to be a big racket in siphoning LPG gas, Colva police has attached around 174 domestic gas cylinders of different sizes from Seraulim bandh late last night. Police have further arrested five natives of Rajasthan on suspicion, namely Rakesh Kumar (26), Pradeep (20), Banvarlal (25) Manphool Bishnoi and Kamal Maanzu under Section 35 of BNSS. The police have requested the Inspector of Legal Metrology, Margao and the Inspector of Civil Supply, Margao conduct an inspection of the I The gas cylinders attached by Colva police from Seraulim. Santosh Mirajkar cylinders and initiate appropriate action. The incident came to light during midnight patrolling by a team of Colva police led by PSI Prashant Bhagat. When the team reached the Seraulim bandh, they found two mini pickups loaded with gas cylinders parked near a room, while five male persons were seen busy siphoning gas from domestic gas cylinders to commercial gas cylinders and loading them in vehicles. Upon being questioned about their presence at an odd hour in an unlit area, the five became uneasy and began giving vague responses about siphoning gas. On further questioning about the details of the cylinders, they informed that they do not have any document or bills for the cylinders in their custody. They further agreed that they do not have any godown or storage, registered office of authorized dealer, which was enough for the police team to suspect that they were engaged in some suspicious activity in siphoning gas from domestic cylinders to commercial gas cylinders. Colva PI Arun Desai informed that on checking >Continued on P9