log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JUNE 5, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 348 Comba flyover in administrative limbo, completion not expected before 2028 2 GOA Competency-based exams for Std III, VI at end of semester 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO When and how to introduce cow’s milk to your infant? 10 SPORTS India falls to Thailand 0-2 in reality check before Asian Cup Qualifiers 15 >> See PG 3 TRAGEDY AT RCB’S IPL CELEBRATION Casino rules yet to be notified, no full-time Gaming Commissioner PTI IN SHORT >> Covid surge: States told to ensure oxygen availability NEW DELHI: All states have been instructed to ensure availability of oxygen, isolation beds, ventilators and essential medicines in view of rising cases of Covid, official sources said on Wednesday. As of Wednesday, India reported 4,302 active cases, with an increase of 864 cases in the past 24 hours.   >> See pg 8 Census with caste data from March ’27 NEW DELHI: Census exercise with caste enumeration will be carried out with the reference date of October 1, 2026, in snow-bound areas like Ladakh and on March 1, 2027, in the rest of the country, the Union home ministry announced on Wednesday.   >> See pg 8 Parliament Monsoon session from July 21 NEW DELHI: The Monsoon session of Parliament will be held from July 21 to August 12, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Wednesday. “Every session is a special session for us,” he said, adding that under the rules, “all important matters” can be discussed during the Monsoon session. >> See pg 8 Verna man fires gun over family dispute VASCO: Verna police arrested Cedric Menezes Gama (53) of Verna on charges of firing three rounds from his licensed firearm on Tuesday following a dispute with his younger brother. >> See pg 2 UP man accused of voyeurism SANGUEM: A woman from Vasco filed a complaint at the Curchorem Police Station, accusing a man from Uttar Pradesh of peeping at her minor daughter while she was inside a changing room at a farm in Kiralpal-Dabal.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 30 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 75% TIDES Low: High: 00:52 11:54 07:30 18:27 11 DEAD, 33 INJURED IN STAMPEDE OUTSIDE CHINNASWAMY STADIUM; INCIDENT LINKED TO COLLAPSE OF DRAIN SLAB; K’TAKA CM ORDERS MAGISTERIAL PROBE; `  0 LAKH COMPENSATION ANNOUNCED TO KIN OF DECEASED 1 BENGALURU The celebrations for the RCB’s first-ever IPL win turned tragic on Wednesday as at least 11 persons died and more than 30 were injured in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium after thousands of RCB fans gathered to catch a glimpse of the team. “11 are dead and 33 injured due to stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru...More than 2-3 lakh people came, and no one expected this much crowd,” Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah said at a press conference. He also said that the stadium could only accommodate 35 thousand spectators. The chief minister announced a magisterial inquiry into the incident and a Rs 10 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased. The stampede took place when thousands of fans attempted to enter the stadium from various gates. Police had a tough time controlling the Karnataka postpones all events except cabinet meet today BENGALURU: Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar announced that Thursday’s cabinet meeting will proceed, but all other programmes, including World Environment Day celebrations, have been postponed. BCCI blames planning lapses NEW DELHI: The BCCI on Wednesday rued the preparatory lapses that marred the Royal Challenger Bengaluru’s IPL-winning celebrations and led to death of several fans outside the Chinnaswamy stadium, while the team management empathised with the “vulnerability and emotions” of cricket lovers.  >> See pg 12 President, PM condole deaths TRAGIC MOMENT: Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans try to escape a stampede outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. A police personnel assists a victim as he gasps for breath. Footwear lie on the ground outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium after the stampede. crowd, triggering chaos and turning a joyful event into a tragedy. Police used mild force to control the crowd and bring the situation under control ahead of a special felicitation at the stadium for the Royal Govt sets Dec 19 deadline to clear forest rights claims SPECIAL CAMPS, GRAM SABHAS PLANNED TO FAST-TRACK DISPOSAL OF APPLICATIONS PANAJI With over 9,600 claims for land ownership under the Forest Rights Act 2006 pending, the Goa government has set December 19, 2025 as a deadline to clear off all these claims. While special camps are planned across tribal talukas on June 14 to fasttrack the disposal of claims, panchayats are asked to hold special gram sabhas on June 21 to deal with sanads. The State government had previously set March 31, 2024 as the deadline, following the directions from the Supreme Court, who is monitoring the FRA nationwide. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday chaired a crucial meeting to review the progress of claims under FRA. As per the record, in April, the government has issued sanads to 870 claimants; it is in process of issuing land titles to another 150 claimants with land demarcation in the final stage. “By December 19, 2025, I Meanwhile, the felicitation of the players went ahead ED arrests ‘mastermind’ in `  ,600 cr 1 land scam PWD suspends new roofing work at several govt schools THE GOAN I NETWORK sued under the Act. Over 10,500 claims have been filed under the FRA in Goa, of which 870 have been >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 FAST FORWARD: CAMPS & SABHAS „„Special camps are scheduled across six talukas — Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem, Ponda, Dharbandora, and Sattari — on June 14, to assist applicants from 10 am to 1 pm at designated government offices „„A special gram sabha will be held on June 21 to address sanad-related cases and pending claims „„Deputy Collectors will hold meetings on June 18 to clear hundreds of pending cases am confident that 100 per cent of forest rights claims will be settled,” Sawant said, highlighting that from 2006, since FRA came into force till 2019, not a single land title was is- Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team organised by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA). PANAJI Over a month after unearthing Rs 1,600 crore land scam in Goa, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Rohan Harmalkar, who is accused of illegally acquiring large tracts of unattended land particularly in Bardez taluka. Harmalkar, who had contested and lost the 2022 Goa Assembly elections, allegedly had several buyers from the NCR and other northern states lined up for properties valued at over Rs 1,000 crore. The ED confirmed his arrest, though it remains unclear whether more arrests are expected in the case. “He was arrested around 11:30 pm on Tuesday. We produced him before the Court today (Wednesday) and he has been remanded to 14 days of ED custody. We will interrogate him and more details will be shared subsequently,” the ED said. The agency had conducted searches in April under the Prevention of Money THE GOAN I NETWORK BENGALURU: President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condoled the Bengaluru stampede deaths. President Droupadi Murmu said: “The loss of lives in the tragic happening at a stadium in Bengaluru is shocking and heartbreaking. My condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the stampede in Bengaluru during the victory celebrations of Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL triumph as “absolutely heartrending”. >Continued on P8 GIVES CONTRACTORS 2 DAYS TO COMPLETE ONGOING REPAIR WORKS AS SCHOOLS REOPEN THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Caught off guard by an early onset of the monsoon, the Public Works Department (PWD) has put a temporary halt on roofing work across a majority of government schools in the State. The department has now directed contractors to complete ongoing roofing at open sites within two days, as several schools struggle to accommodate students with monsoon rains already lashing the State. With schools reopening on Wednesday, many government schools have been scrambling to make last-minute arrangements as classrooms remain roofless or under repair. The situation has caused distress among teachers, students and parents, raising concerns about safety and readiness for the new academic year. The PWD had undertaken roofing repairs at approximately 250 government schools across the State, a STUDENTS’ SAFETY FIRST „„Unexpected early rains have forced the PWD to temporarily halt roofing work at many government schools across Goa „„Roofing work remains incomplete at approximately 40 schools; around 250 schools were undergoing repairs overall „„The situation has sparked concern among teachers, parents, and students, especially where classrooms remain roofless or under repair Rain-hit schools relocate to alternative premises PANAJI: The incessant rains that caused significant disruption to the ongoing school repair works has forced several educational institutions across the State to temporarily relocate to an alternative premise including temples and panchayat halls, on the very first day of the new academic year that commenced from Wednesday.  >> See pg 3 massive infrastructure push aimed at improving classroom conditions ahead of the monsoon. However, the unseasonal rains disrupted ongoing work, especially at sites where roofs had already been dismantled for repairs. PWD Chief Engineer Vallabh Pai confirmed that around 40 schools are currently mid-way through roofing work and emphasised that immediate action is being taken to cover those sites. >Continued on P8 Scamsters pose as CBI, Fishing season ends, but Kharewaddo’s cries remain unheard DEMANDS OF FISHERMEN extort over `  lakh 4 „„Immediate clearance of pending fuel VAT subsidies „„Restoration of discontinued government schemes from Verna woman „„Construction or expansion of a proper jetty at Kharewaddo VIKRAM NAYAK THE GOAN I VASCO THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO An unidentified group of individuals impersonating as CBI and MIDC officers allegedly cheated a woman from Gujarat but residing at Verna of Rs 4.04 lakh. The incident took place on December 30, 2024, in Verna, where the complainant was contacted via WhatsApp video call by the accused. The fraudsters claimed that the complainant’s phone number, linked to her Aadhaar card, was involved in illegal activities such as money laundering, human trafficking, and kidnapping. They falsely informed her that an FIR had been registered against her. To further intimidate her, a second individual, posing as a CBI officer, contacted the complainant and sent a fabricated arrest warrant and seizure order. The accused demanded money to prove her innocence, threatening to arrest her and her minor daughter if she did not comply. Fearing for her safety, the woman made three >Continued on P8 W ith the close of yet another fishing season, the mood at Kharewaddo’s bustling jetty is far from celebratory. What should have been a time of recuperation and reward has once again turned into a period of uncertainty and despair for hundreds of fishermen and boat owners. The community, which has long relied on the seas for sustenance, finds itself stranded amidst broken promises, government apathy, and mounting losses. Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) President and former minister Jose Philip D’Souza minced no words as he criticised both State and Central governments for turn- „„Inclusion of Kharewaddo in future fisheries infrastructure planning „„Comprehensive policy to safeguard Goa’s traditional fishing industry The Kharewaddo jetty in Vasco. ing a blind eye to the plight of Kharewaddo’s fishermen. “The season has ended, but our problems remain the same. The government has completely failed us,” said D’Souza. Mixed season with heavy losses D’Souza explained that while a few big boat owners involved in deep-sea fishing managed moderate profits, the vast majority of small boat operators struggled to stay afloat—literally and financially. “Only a fraction of boat owners benefited this season. Others had to suffer due to natural calamities and government neglect. In May, the pre-monsoon showers and cyclone alerts kept most boats ashore. That’s our most crucial month for earnings, especially to pay workers’ salaries. Many had to pay from their own pockets,” he said. Crumbling jetty: symbol of neglect At the heart of the crisis is the dilapidated and congested Kharewaddo fishing jetty, which remains unchanged despite years of petitions, ministerial visits, and political promises. “We have over 250 boats operating from a jetty that cannot handle the load. Wooden boats crash against each other due to lack of space, causing damage that wipes out our earnings. It’s a temporary jetty, and we’ve been begging for an upgrade for decades. Nobody listens anymore,” D’Souza lamented. He pointed out that while new jetties have been developed at Betul, Malim, and even smaller villages like Cortalim, Kharewaddo remains neglected. “Why this step-motherly treatment? Are our lives worth less than others’? Every government that comes promises change, but nothing has moved on the ground,” he added. Repeated visits by Union and State ministers — including Union Fisheries Minister Purushottam Rupala — have amounted to little more than photo ops, said the GFBOA President. Local MLAs from ruling and opposition parties have raised the issue in the Assembly, but nothing concrete has come of it. >Continued on P8