log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JUNE 7, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 350 Instagram.com/thegoanonline YAMAL LEADS CHARGE AS SPAIN SURVIVES FRANCE FIGHTBACK >>12 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Respecting Every Grain, Rewarding Every Effort 01101/13/0009/2526 With a historic rise, MSP now 150% of the cost ₹18 lakh crore given to farmers for wheat and paddy procurement at MSP in the last decade; 3 times compared to 2004-2014 Pollution board reports high contamination of sea water  DETECTS EXCESSIVE FAECAL COLIFORM  RED FLAGS BATHING, WATER SPORTS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI While on one hand, Goa's tourism sector is battling to regain its lost glory, sea water contamination is now a cause of concern. Known for its beach tourism, the State's sea water continues to remain unsafe for bathing and tourism-related activities like water sports. This was revealed by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) in its annual report 2024-25. Not just beaches, but major rivers like Mandovi, Zuari, Tiracol, Sinquerim are highly polluted and unfit for commercial fishing. The list also includes Mapusa river, Sal river and Cumbharjua canal. The tourist-centric beaches -- Tiracol, Miramar, Calangute, Morjim, Vagator, Arambol, page 6 Hundreds of Goans at Heathrow Airport protest for better pay From remote Goan village, youth shines in Mumbai, Montreal IN SHORT >> Cabinet reshuffle: Suspense continues PANAJI: Suspense still looms over the possible expansion of the Pramod Sawantled Cabinet as there is no clarity yet from the BJP high command. With top leaders adopting their own strategies in approving Cabinet expansion, BJP chief Damodar Naik hinted at possible changes at “all levels”.  >> See pg 3 Illegal rent-a-bike, car under govt lens PANAJI: In a major move, the State government has decided to promulgate an Ordinance for license cancelation of rent-a-bike and car operators using private vehicles for commercial use. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.  >> See pg 3 GOA’S TROUBLED WATERS: GSPCB REPORT „„Water samples indicate high concentration of faecal coliform, biochemical oxygen demand „„Major rivers Mandovi, Zuari, Tiracol, Sinquerim highly polluted, unfit for commercial fishing „„List includes Mapusa river, Sal river & Cumbharjua canal apart from 21 other water bodies „„Water bodies categorized as ‘SW II’ which means they fail to meet the guidelines set by CPCB „„Water samples collected from 115 locations also includ bore wells, lakes „„St Inez creek and Bethora nallah do not comply to CPCB standards on DO, BOD, fecal coliform & fecal streptococci Baga, Bambolim in North Goa and Mobor, Baina, Galijbag, Colva, Velsao, Colva, Bogmolo, Betalbatim, Benaulim, Varca, Agonda, Palolem and Rajbhag in South, are highly polluted and infested with disease causing pathogens. Water samples collected from March 2024 to March 2025 have indicated a high concentration of faecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), both of which point to the presence of pathogens and bacteria in water. The Board has categorized these water bodies as ‘SW II’ which means they fail to meet the guidelines set by the Central Pollution Control Board Whale vomit worth `10 crore seized in Uguem, 3 arrested THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM In a major seizure, about 5.70 kilos of ambergris (whale vomit), a rare and highly prized waxy substance valued at about Rs 10 crore, was confiscated by Sanguem police at Dabamol, a remote area in Uguem village of Sanguem taluka. Three individuals have been arrested in this connection. A Sanguem police led by PI Jeetendra Naik, initiated the action based on a tip-off and intercepted a private vehicle at Dabamol on Thursday night. Upon investigation, the whale vomit was discovered and seized by the police team. Three individuals Sainath Shet (50) from Ponda, Ratnakar Karapurkar (55) from Mormugao and Yogesh Redkar (45) from Sindhudurg were arrested in connection with the incident and were presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) at Sanguem, and were remanded to four days in police custody. The whale vomit seized by Sanguem police at Dabamol in Uguem. Ambergris, which is produced by the sperm whale, is highly valuable due to its rarity and use in perfumery. It is known as "floating gold" because it floats on the surface of the ocean and can be found washed ashore. The sperm whale is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, and the trade in ambergris is banned in India due to concerns about whale conservation. Sanguem Police are currently conducting an investigation to ascertain the source of the ambergris and the means by >Continued on P8 Govt transfers `5 crore SSA fraud probe to Crime Branch THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major development, the State government on Friday handed the over Rs five crore fraud case of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) to Crime Branch for further investigation. The case was currently handled by the Porvorim police, who had so far arrested five people. Sources confirmed that the government has handed over the case to Crime Branch and Porvorim police is directed to hand over all case details. The Goan had exposed Rs five crore fund misappropriation in SSA. The Central funds were meant to support primary education were siphoned from the official account. While two were arrested in May, three more accused were arrested earlier this month. All are from West Bengal. “Investigation revealed that the two accused had procured bank details, SIM cards, ATM cards of account holders, and supplied them further to their co-accused, who are also being presently tracked. In return, the arrested accused received money,” Porvorim police had said. Goa’s tree cover drops by nearly a quarter Central govt report cites 22.75 per cent decline over 12 years THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI report on environment statistics released by the Central government on Thursday has cited an alarming 22 per cent drop in Goa's tree cover over the last 12 years. The report -- EnviStats India 2025: Environment Statistics -- was released by the Union Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Thursday. The data in the report shows that Goa’s tree cover which was 334 square kilometers in A OTHER HIGHLIGHTS OF THE REPORT „„Fish production dropped to 135.73 tonnes „„Forest cover saw a marginal decline „„Quantity of hazardous waste generated increased „„3.7 % of households do not have sanitation facility „„Fisher folk population in 41 fishing villages pegged at 12,651 „„Slum population at 2.89 per cent „„Registered motor vehicles in Goa stand at 10.20 lakh 2010-11 dropped by 76 square kilometers to 258 square kilometers in 2021-22, a decline of approximately 22.75 per cent. Year-wise Goa's tree cover steadily dropped in these 12 years -- 325 sq km of tree cover in 2013-14 dropping by two square kilometers in two years by 2015-16. It further sharply declined by 51 sq kms in 2017-18. The statistics report also shows Goa's fish production dropping from 140.31 tonnes in 2022-23 to 135.73 tonnes in 2023-24. In a double-whammy for the State's environment, 'hazardous waste' generated as per annual return (MTA) increased from 28,484 MTA to 44,873 MTA. However, the report states that there are no "grossly polluting industries" discharging effluents into Goa's rivers. >Continued on P8 (CPCB) with regards to faecal coliform. The Board had collected water samples of 115 locations that also included bore wells, lakes and other water bodies. The result revealed that St Inez creek in North and Bethora Nallah in south are categorized under “B” class indicating non-compliance to CPCB prescribed standards to parameters like DO, BOD, Fecal coliform and fecal streptococci. In 2023 as well as in 2024, the CPCB in its report had highlighted the high presence of faecal coliform in the sea waters of Goa indicating that the water has been contaminated with faecal material of humans or animals. GSPCB officials explain that various factors can be >Continued on P8 Identify prisoners unable to pay fines, MHA tells State Directs Goa to provide assistance from central fund scheme to avoid overcrowding in jails THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With almost 46 per cent of the undertrials spending 1-3 years in the prison thereby overcrowding it, the Ministry of Home Affairs has directed Goa government to identify poor prisoners, who are unable to secure bail or release from prison due to non-payment of fine owing to financial constraints. In a communication to all States including Goa, the Ministry has asked the State to provide financial assistance from a Central fund under the scheme “'Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme 2023”. The Ministry has also pulled up the States for failure to implement the scheme despite repeated directions. According to the India Justice Report 2025, the jail crowding in Goa is around 102 per cent and the proportion of PRISON STATS „„Jail crowding in Goa is around 102 per cent „„Proportion of undertrial population spending 1-3 years has increased in Goa from 34% in 2022 to 46% in 2025 „„Nearly half the undertrial population in Goa has spent between 1-3 years in detention (India Justice Report 2025) undertrial population spending 1-3 years has increased in Goa from 34 per cent in 2022 to 46 per cent in 2025. Also, in Goa nearly half the undertrial population had spent between 1-3 years in detention. "As you are aware, the Ministry of Home Affairs had introduced the 'Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme' in May, 2023, with the objective of providing financial assistance to States and UTs for extending relief to poor prisoners who are unable to secure bail or release from prison due to non-payment of fine on account of financial constraints," the communication said. However, the MHA said, despite repeated follow-up, funds have remained unutilised as many States and UTs have not identified the eligible prisoners and have not provided the benefit of the scheme to them. While a few States and UTs have utilised the funds, the overall implementation of the scheme by them has not been very encouraging, it said. The MHA said that during the several conferences held >Continued on P8