log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY JUNE 4, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 347 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us >> pg 6 Clinics to canvases: Building a legacy across pet care, art, wellness IN SHORT >> Goa aims for 21,200 solar rooftops by 2027 PANAJI: The Goa government has set a target of installing 21,200 solar rooftop systems across the State by 2027, aiming to generate 65 Megawatt (MW) of green energy under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana.  >> See pg 3 Gang booked for assault over road rage MAPUSA: Mapusa police have booked an offence against a gang of about 20 persons on charges of assaulting a man and his pregnant wife in connection with a road rage incident at Bastora on Monday night. The family of the victims have claimed that the gang includes a policeman, an electricity worker and a lawyer.  >> See pg 3 Woman dies in freak mishap at Mapusa MAPUSA: A 53-year-old woman from Karnataka but residing at Morjim died of injuries in a freak mishap after she was accidentally struck by a football while riding a scooter at Mapusa. >> See pg 3 Maha firm booked in `  .9 cr scam 2 PANAJI: The Economic Offences Cell (EOC) has registered a case against the directors and additional director of Maharashtra -based Bio Estate Solutions Pvt Ltd on charges of alleged large-scale investment fraud amounting to Rs 2.90 crore approx. >> See pg 5 6 more die as Assam flood scene worsens GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Tuesday with six more people dying, taking the toll in this year’s deluge and landslides to 17, while the number of the affected population increased to over 6.33 lakh in 21 districts, an official bulletin said.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 30 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 71% Instagram.com/thegoanonline Swiatek, Sabalenka set up French Open blockbuster semifinal Pg 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in Taximen object to fare structure, safety, security in new ecosystem WRITTEN OBJECTIONS ARGUE THAT APP-BASED SYSTEM IGNORES KEY CONCERNS OF TRADITIONAL TAXIS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Compromising passenger safety, widening inequality in the business and destabilising livelihood are some of the grounds cited by the tourist taxi operators to oppose the draft Goa Transport Aggregator Guidelines 2025. TAXIMEN MEET LOBO COUPLE FOR SUPPORT TO OPPOSE TAXI AGGREGATORS >> See pg 3 The Transport Department received over 1,600 objections from the aggrieved operators on Monday, figures which it described as less than 10 per cent of those registered in the OBJECTIONS TO NEW POLICY „„Draft refers to a fare structure under Schedule I but lacks clarity on how fares will be determined or revised, raising fears of arbitrary and exploitative pricing „„Small local operators fear being pushed out by large, well-funded aggregators using dynamic pricing and aggressive discounts „„No provision in the draft to help smaller, local operators transition or comply gradually with the new regulations „„Draft is silent on key aspects like job security, working conditions, and fair wages for drivers under aggregator platforms „„Absence of any promotion or support for electric vehicles or eco-friendly transport options, despite Goa’s green tourism goals State. One of the main concerns of taxi owners is the ambiguity surrounding fare regulation stating that the draft refers to a fare structure under Schedule I but provides no clarity on how these fares will be set or revised. “This lack of transparency This school in Pernem gets roof, but has no windows PARENTS RAISE SAFETY CONCERNS OF THEIR CHILDREN AS CLASSES BEGIN TODAY may lead to arbitrary pricing by aggregators, adversely affecting passengers and drivers alike. I urge the government to provide a detailed framework for fare determination that considers factors such as demand, distance, and operational costs,” the written objections stated. Taxi operators also criticised the lack of transitional support. Although ex- Waterfalls to stay open under strict supervision: GFDC THE GOAN I NETWORK the work before the rains. The contractor had also removed the roof on a portion of the building and with the >Continued on P5 isting aggregators can operate until their licences expire, the guidelines have no provision for smaller, local operators to adapt to new regulations. They argued that the absence of a phased compliance plan would leave them vulnerable and unable to compete on equal footing with larger, >Continued on P5 Schools to reopen today after summer break PANAJI: Schools across the State are set to reopen on Wednesday for the new academic year after the summer break. While the academic year for students of Class VI to X and XII commenced in April, for Class I to V, their new term starts from June 4.  >> See pg 3 KERALA, MAHARASHTRA, DELHI WORST HIT PTI NEW DELHI India’s active COVID-19 cases have crossed the 4,000 mark, with Kerala remaining the most affected state followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi, according to the Union Health Ministry data released on Tuesday. There are 4,026 active cases in India and five fresh deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours. Since January this year, 37 deaths have been reported in the country. There were 257 active patients in the country on May 22. The figure rose to 3,395 by May 31 and subsequently to 4,026 cases. Presently, Kerala has 1,446 active cases, the highest in the country followed by Maharashtra with 494, Gujarat with 397 and Delhi with 393 cases. Five deaths – one each in DHS stays calm as Goa reports 10 new cases PANAJI: Just three years ago, 10 people in Goa testing positive for the Covid-19 virus, which spread chaos, wrecked businesses, and left millions of families with loss of kin across the globe, would have been news that sent the administration into panic mode to come to grips with the situation. But now the officialdom in the Directorate of Health Services is not worried.   >> See pg 3 Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and two deaths in Maharashtra – have been reported in the last 24 hours, according to the data. RCB ARE IPL CHAMPS WINS MAIDEN TITLE, BREAKS 18-YEAR JINX >Continued on P5 Windows are yet to be affixed at the government high school building in Agarwada-Pernem. complete work on half of the building, before taking up the remaining portion, however the contractor took up the entire building at one stretch and was unable to complete PANAJI: The Tourism Department has called upon all local taxi operators to integrate with State-backed digital taxi platforms such as the Goa Taxi App and GoaMiles, announcement that comes at the backdrop of opposition to the aggregators.   >> See pg 3 PANAJI Despite District Administration imposing ban on entry into waterfalls in view of series of fatal mishaps, the Goa Forest Development Corporation (GFDC) has announced that the waterfalls in forest areas will remain open for tourists as part of monsoon tourism. However, GFDC Chairman Deviya Rane said that the tourism activities will be strictly under the supervision of Forest staff and lifeguards. GFDC has asked general public not to get confused with the orders issued by DMs, as guided monsoon tourism activities/ trekking in forest area/ waterfalls are not restricted in any manner. “In view of the recent orders issued by District Magistrates prohibiting entry into waterfalls and other water bodies during this monsoon season; it is to clarify that the waterfalls under the jurisdiction of Forest Department will be open for tourists as part of monsoon tourism activities THE GOAN I NETWORK PERNEM The renovated government high school building in Agarwada-Pernem finally got a roof but the windows have still not been installed as yet, leaving many parents worried about the safety of students when classes reopen on Wednesday. With the monsoon having arrived in the State, parents are concerned that rainwater will enter the classrooms in the absence of windows while classes are in progress. According to locals, work to repair the government high school in Agarwada had begun on April 17 and the contractor was expected to complete the repair work within a month. However, the work remained incomplete and the pre-monsoon showers further delayed the repair work. Locals said the teachers had wanted the contractor to Tourism Dept calls upon taxi drivers to join apps Covid cases in India cross 4,000-mark; five dead, toll at 37 Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their maiden title with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in the final at Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Tuesday, ending an 18-year wait for the coveted trophy ORANGE CAP (Most Runs) KOHLI’S SEDATE KNOCK Sai Sudharsan (Gujarat Titans) Virat Kohli was the top-scorer for RCB with a Matches: 15 sedate knock of 43 from 35 balls at a strike rate of Runs: 759 122.85 as he failed to push on in the middle overs Highest Score: 108* PURPLE CAP Sudharsan also won the Emerging (Most Wickets) Player of the Year award Prasidh Krishna (Gujarat Titans) Matches: 15 Wickets: (Report on Page 12) 25 Unity Mall in Chimbel fails to Pre-monsoon deluge destroys rabi crop in 5 talukas THE STATS: CAUSE FOR CONCERN get environmental clearance THE GOAN I NETWORK GTDC ASKED TO PROVIDE APPROVED PROJECT PLANS FROM CONCERNED AUTHORITIES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major setback to the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), the Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee (Goa SEAC) has declined to grant prior environmental clearance to its proposed PM Ekta Mall, also known as Unity Mall. During its recent meeting, Goa SEAC observed that the project drawings lack approval from the Department of Town and Country Planning THE PROPOSED PROJECT „„The GTDC has proposed to build Rs 132 crore Unity Mall on 12,000sqm at Chimbel under Central government’s scheme to promote ODOP items „„The Union Ministry for Commerce and Industries has in-principle agreed to allocate Rs 100 crore for the project (TCP) through the Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority (GPPDA), as the project is proposed in Chimbel planning area. The SEAC, while declining to grant prior EC, has directed GTDC to submit the approved project drawing plans from the concerned authorities. The GTDC has proposed to build Rs 132 crore Unity Mall on 12,000sqm at Chimbel under Central government’s >Continued on P5 PANAJI ome 323 farmers across five southern talukas of Salcete, Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora and Canacona have been enlisted in a recent survey conducted by agriculture officers as having lost 100 per cent of their rabi paddy crop due to the recent spell of unexpected torrential rains due to cyclonic formations in the Arabian Sea. Agriculture Director Sandeep Fol Desai said Quepem and Sanguem were the two most hit talukas. In Quepem alone, the crop of 104 farmers who had cultivated paddy in an aggregate of 30 hectares was completely damaged by the pre-monsoon deluge, days before they could S „„323 farmers in five South Goa talukas — Salcete, Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora, and Canacona — have lost 100% of their rabi paddy crop „„In Quepem, 104 farmers lost their paddy crop on 30 hectares due to pre-monsoon rains „„In Sanguem, 96 farmers lost crops over 43 hectares „„Salcete saw complete damage to 17 hectares of paddy cultivated by 92 farmers „„In Canacona, one farmer lost 1.2 hectares, while in Dharbandora, 30 farmers lost crop on 6.72 hectares commence harvesting operations. In Sanguem, 96 farmers similarly lost their crop on 43 hectares of farm land. Salcete was another taluka where farmers were hit hard with 92 farmers who had cultivated paddy in nearly 17 hectares of farmland losing their entire crop. In Canacona, only one farmer lost his crop over 1.2 hectares while Dharbandora had standing rabi paddy crop destroyed in 6.72 hectares sowed by some 30 farmers. Fol Desai said, these farmers will be compensated to the best possible extent under the State sector ‘Shetkari Nidhi Yojna’. Even farmers who do not have a ‘krishi card’ will be compensated but the actual disbursement of the money through direct bank transfer will take a few weeks, he said. Agriculture officials directly connected with the process of assessing the losses on the ground and processing the claims said the compensation will be computed by factoring in both their cultivation and input costs as well as the value of their expected yield based on the average per hectare yield. Paddy farmers in Goa have often faced weather related adversities in recent years. Last year (2024-25), over 2,500 farmers from across the State faced crop damage in the Kharif season when extreme rainfall in July flooded the khaz- an and other low-lying fields across the State. All these farmers who had filed claims before their respective Zonal Agriculture Officers (ZAOs) were paid out compensation by the government to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore. Zonal agriculture officers and their staff in all these five affected talukas of South Goa were on their toes for nearly two weeks since the rains hit on May 21 to conduct the ground surveys and assess the crop damage and compute the losses faced by these 323 farmers. Fol Desai said, the compensation to be paid to these farmers could go up to Rs 40,000 per hectare and that the department will also propose higher amounts but the government will have to take the final call on the quantum.