log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY JUNE 24, 2025 13 pages Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 6 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us >> See pg 3 Afflicted by polio, this store keeper has no plans to give up on the fight for his rights as a PwD IN SHORT >> BJP slams Gaude for remarks on Damu PANAJI: A day after former minister Govind Gaude launched a scathing attack on BJP’s State President, the ruling party hit back, strongly condemning the remarks made by its own MLA. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters, Vasco MLA and BJP’s chief spokesperson Daji Salkar said legislators must exercise restraint while making public statements. >> See pg 2 Traffic jams hit Dhauji rail crossing OLD GOA: Closure of Dhauji railway crossing due to work on the overbridge led to traffic jams along the Banastarim to Old Goa highway after traffic was diverted. Traffic jams were also witnessed along the Cumbarjua-Corlim road as motorists took that road too due to the closure of the Dhauji railway crossing.   >> See pg 3 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major setback to the State government, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday ruled that Outline Development Plans (ODPs) cannot be applied to five villages of Calangute, Candolim, Arpora, Nagoa and Parra. The Division Bench quashed the December 2022 circular that had directed the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department to continue granting approvals based on the withdrawn ODPs. It also struck down the 2024 executive order, declaring it violative of the TCP Act. The Court has also imposed a four-week stay on all constructions and permissions in these villages during this period. In January this year, the High Court had asked the State to adhere to the Supreme Court’s interim order prohibiting any changes in the plan- THE ODP TUG OF WAR „„The dispute dates back to July 2023, when SC remitted the PIL filed by Goa Foundation which challenged the validity of ODPs to the HC for an expedited hearing „„On July 15, 2024, SC reinforced its direction that no changes were to be made in the five villages „„Govt had notified two ODPs on December 15, 2022. However, it subsequently withdrew all five villages from being designated planning areas under the TCP Act „„As a result, the notified ODPs stood invalid, and land use in these areas reverted to the RP 2021 ning status of the five villages. While allowing the State to process applications, the Bench had made it clear that no construction activity could commence until the disposal of the Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The dispute dates back to July 2023, when the Supreme Court remitted the PIL filed by the Goa Foundation, which challenged the validity of the ODPs, to the High Court for an expedited hearing. “While the matter(s) are being decided, the present position with regard to the concerned areas be maintained,” it had stated. On July 15, 2024, the Supreme Court reinforced its direction that no changes were to be made in the five villages. Earlier, the State government had notified two ODPs on December 15, 2022. However, it subsequently withdrew all five villages from being designated planning areas under the TCP Act. As a result, the notified ODPs stood invalid, and land use in these areas reverted to the Regional Plan 2021. Despite this, a circular issued on December 22, 2022, instructed the TCP to continue granting approvals as per the withdrawn ODPs, subsequently challenged by the Goa Foundation. The High Court stayed the circular through a detailed order on February 14, 2024. In response, the government introduced an ordinance on February 28, 2024, amending the TCP Act through a new Section 19(3) to override the High Court’s stay and validate the ODPs despite the absence of designated planning areas. This too was challenged, and the High Court issued another stay in May 2024, suspending both ODPs until the petition is heard in July. Qatar Airways flight from Melbourne to Doha diverted to Mopa airport THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With Iran launching missiles at the US base in Qatar on Monday night, a number of Gulf countries have closed their airspace and this has severely affected hundreds of passengers travelling between Goa and the Gulf. According to media reports, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, have closed their airspace, amid rising tensions following an attack by Iran on the Al Udeid US military base in Doha. At present, the flights that operate between Goa and these countries are Qatar Airways (Mopa-Doha), Air Arabia (Mopa-Sharjah), Gulf Air (Dabolim-Bahrain) and Air India Express (Dabolim-Dubai). With Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE all shutting down their air spaces, hundreds of Goans planning to travel to and from these coun- Iran launches missile attacks on US bases in Qatar, Iraq DUBAI: Iran launched missile attacks Monday on US military bases in Qatar and Iraq, retaliating for the American bombing of its nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the volatile region. Qatar condemned the attack on Al Udeid Air Base attack, but said it successfully intercepted the missiles and no casualties were reported. It said its airspace was now safe. Iran said the attack in Qatar matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on its nuclear sites this weekend, signalling its likely desire to de-escalate. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.  >> See pg 8 tries will be severely affected. A Qatar Airways flight (QR989) from Melbourne to Doha was diverted to Mopa airport. The Boeing 777-3DZ(ER) plane landed at Mopa airport at 1 am. According to a report in the Travel and Tour World, commercial flights across Tivim land transfer to MIT Group under HC scanner  NOTICES TO ALL PARTIES  PIL ALLEGES FRAUD THE GOAN I NETWORK KTC battery glitch hits passengers UTTARKASHI: Two pilgrims were killed after being hit by a landslide that occurred on Monday near the 9 Kainchi Bhairav Mandir on the trek route to Yamunotri temple in Uttarakhand. The bodies were pulled out of the debris, while one pilgrim from Maharashtra was rescued earlier. Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in PUTS 4-WEEK STAY ON CONSTRUCTIONS, PERMISSIONS PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday urged Goans to read, write, and speak Konkani instead of engaging in controversies. He stated that the efforts made to promote Konkani during the last six years of his tenure surpass those made in the previous fifty years. 2 pilgrims dead in landslide TEST: PANT, RAHUL SHINE AS INDIA TIGHTENS GRIP  >>PG13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 High Court quashes ODPs Goa flights hit as Gulf for 5 North Goa villages nations close airspace CM: Work to boost Konkani language MARGAO: KTC's electric buses let down commuters on the Margao-Panjim route, including office goers and students after they were left stranded at Margao KTC bus stand for over an hour for want of buses due to battery discharge. >> See pg 2 Instagram.com/thegoanonline CLOSE CALL: The ill-fated ferryboat that partially submerged at the Chorao ramp on Monday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Early morning scare at Chorao ramp, docked ferryboat sinks  THREE STAFF BIKES SUBMERGED  HIGH-LEVEL PROBE, AUDIT OF ALL FERRY BOATS ORDERED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A major tragedy was averted early Monday morning after a ferryboat named ‘Betim’, docked at the Chorao Island ramp, partially submerged in water. No passengers or crew were on board at the time of the incident, however, three motorcycles belonging to staff were submerged. A high-level inquiry has been ordered by the River Navigation Department (RND) and the audit of all the ferry boats after the incident, which occurred during non-operational hours. Preliminary findings indicated that water may have >Continued on P6 MAPUSA The High Court of Bombay at Goa has issued notices to all parties concerned in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the government’s decision to grant over 2 lakh square metres of comunidade land in Tivim to the Punebased MIT Group of Institutions. The matter is now scheduled for further hearing on August 11. When the case came up for hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam appeared on behalf of the State, while representatives of the MIT Group and the managing committee of the Tivim comunidade were also present. Senior Advocate Carlos Ferreira appeared for the petitioners in the PIL. The PIL, filed last month by a group of gauncars from Tivim and reported by The Goan, KEY POINTS FROM THE PETITION „„Irregularities in lease process -- fraud, record manipulation and violation of Comunidade code „„Land leased at highly concessional rate of Rs 12.50 per sqmt far below estimated market value of Rs 10,000 „„Lease process violates Article 334-A of Comunidade code „„MIT Group never formally sought land at a concessional rate alleges grave irregularities in the lease process, including fraud, record manipulation and violation of the Code of Comunidades. The petitioners contend that the land was leased at a highly concessional rate of Rs „„Lease proposal neither disclosed in General Body meeting agenda nor discussed or approved transparently „„Managing committee colluded with govt officials, clerk to manipulate records 12.50 per square metre – far below the estimated market value of Rs 10,000 – without adherence to mandatory procedures. According to the petition, >Continued on P6 the world which have transit stops in the Gulf or use the airspace are being cancelled, delayed, or rerouted. This has prompted airlines, passengers, and tourism operators to scramble to realign itineraries, mitigate losses, >Continued on P6 US visa aspirants must now make social media profiles public PTI NEW DELHI In a move aimed at strengthening visa screening procedures, the United States has announced that effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are required to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States under US law. In a post on X, the official handle of the US Embassy in India (@USAndIndia) shared the announcement stating, 'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision. Effective immediately, all individuals applying for an F, M, or J non-immigrant visa are requested to adjust the privacy settings on all of their personal social media accounts to 'public' to facilitate vetting necessary to establish their identity and admissibility to the United States.' Goa’s forest fund request Blackout blitz: 2024 saw 778 power outages daily slashed, just 40% okayed C AT EGO RY-W I SE COM P L A I N T S D POWER PUSH FAILS TO DELIVER THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major setback to the Goa Forest Department, the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) has approved only 40 per cent of the requested funds for a State’s Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for the financial year 2025-26.  The Executive Council of CAMPA has approved Rs 13.74 crore to the State as against a proposed outlay of Rs 33.98 crore, while citing that the State has around Rs 406 crore While citing that the State has around Rs 406 crore in its CAMPA kitty, the national body has approved Rs 13.74 crore to the State as against a proposed outlay of Rs 33.98 crore in its CAMPA kitty. Interestingly, last year too, the national body had approved Rs 18.90 crore, as against the State’s request for Rs 29.59 crore. Before that, in 2023-24, the State got Rs 31.28 cr from CAMPA while its pro- posal was worth Rs 39.40 crore. In its 2025-26 proposal, the Executive Council has approved Rs 2.26 crore towards compensatory afforestation (CA) in an area of 130 ha and another Rs 5.29 crore towards maintenance of old compensatory plantation, spread across an area of 1,432 ha. The body also approved Rs 1.39 crore for raising around 6.95 lakh seedlings for CA plantation. The State has got Rs 1.04 crore for undertaking Assisted >Continued on P6 SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI espite the BJP-led government's claim to have spent over Rs 5000 crore in the last two years, to ensure that better power reaches its consumers, the data draws a grim picture. In 2024-25, on an average, 778 complaints in a day over power outages were received by the State Electricity department.   The report submitted to the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) on the ‘Performance Levels for Guaranteed Standards’, reveals that in the last financial year, the Electricity Department BLACKOUT BLUES 1,90,452 Fuse Blown Out 29,365 Service Line Snapped 42,996 Fault in distribution lines 5,678 Scheduled outages 13,488 Main Fault in HT lines 660 Distribution failure 570 Breakdown of underground cables 504 Problem in grid received a whopping 2,84,244 complaints pertaining to power failures including scheduled outages. Apart from this, there were more 50,000 complaints related to faulty meters, errors in billing, etc. Of these 2,84,244 complaints of power failure, 77.33 per cent outages were due to „„In the first quarter of the last fiscal -- AprilJune, 2024 – the dept received 79,053 complaints „„Number was on a higher side during monsoons -91,949 -- from July to September owing to fuse blown out or snapping of service lines while another 12 per cent were as a result of fault in distribution lines and 4 per cent was due to failure damage to electrical poles & cables „„Third quarter -- October to December -- saw a marginal decline in number of complaints @ 61,725 „„In the fourth quarter -- January to March, 2025 -- 51,517 complaints were filed of high tension lines. The electricity crisis was also due to breakdown of underground >Continued on P6