log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline Pg 13 THURSDAY JUNE 26, 2025 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 8 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us Petrol pumps continue to crowd heart of Margao as relocation plan stalls IN SHORT >> Govt scraps 82 Group ‘C’ posts after employees opt for VRS PANAJI: The State government has abolished 82 Group ‘C’ posts after the employees holding these positions opted for voluntary retirement under its VRS scheme, introduced in November 2023. >> See pg 3 Segment collapse delays work on Porvorim corridor MAPUSA: The six-lane elevated corridor project along the busy NH-66 stretch at Porvorim has suffered a setback following the collapse of a precast concrete segment at Sangolda junction last month.  >> See pg 3 3 booked for `  .78L 8 gold loan fraud VASCO: Vasco police have registered a case against three individuals, including two employees of a private bank, on charges of cheating a Baina resident of gold ornaments valued at Rs 8.78 lakh under the pretext of offering a loan at a lower interest rate.  >> See pg 3 Scooter owner held for fatal mishap MAPUSA: Mapusa police have arrested the scooter owner, Rangeela Sharma (50), a native of Uttar Pradesh, but residing at Calvim, in connection with the accidental death of a 16-year-old boy riding a bike in Aldona. The deceased, Mohan Yadav, a relative of Sharma, was also residing in Calvim. >> See pg 3 CBSE rolls out 2 board exams for Class 10 NEW DELHI: In a significant shift aimed at easing academic pressure on students and improving assessment quality, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced Wednesday the introduction of a two-term examination system for Class 10 starting from the 2026 academic year.  >> See pg 7 Goa’s drug haul hits a high this year, foreign footprint exposed After 85-day closure, Bondla Zoo re-opens CLEARED AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE NEGATIVE TEST REPORTS FOR AVIAN FLU NEARLY 150 KG DRUGS WORTH OVER `  CR SEIZED TILL MID-JUNE; 73 SEVEN-FOLD INCREASE COMPARED TO ENTIRE HAUL OF 2024 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The surge in drug seizures in the State has not only set alarm bells ringing but also exposed a troubling foreign link behind the menace. In the current year till mid-June, Goa Police seized nearly 150 kg of narcotics valued at over Rs 73 crore – a massive jump compared to drugs worth Rs 9.91 crore seized through all of last year. Moreover, in just five and a half months, 15 foreign nationals were arrested for allegedly peddling different kinds of drugs along the coastal belt and the interiors. From January 1 to June 15 this year, a total of 98 persons were arrested in 78 cases. Of these, 15 were foreign nationals with Nigerians and THE DRUG TRAIL: CAUSE FOR CONCERN „„15 foreign nationals were arrested in just the first 5 and half months of 2025 „„Most were from Nigeria and Russia, followed by Ghana, Zimbabwe, Japan, Germany, Nepal, Sweden, and Israel „„98 persons were arrested in 78 cases between January 1 and June 15, 2025 „„Seizures included large quantities of hallucinogenic substances such as MDMA, LSD, and ketamine; charas and ganja remain common in street-level drug trade „„North Goa remains the most active zone: 34 of the 78 cases, 35 arrests, and over 39 kg of drugs seized „„The ANC, Crime Branch, and South Goa Police booked 16 cases each, with the Crime Branch adding 11 more Russians dominating the list, while the remaining were from Ghana, Zimbabwe, Japan, Germany, Nepal, Sweden and Israel. This included three women, as per the official data available with The Goan. The total quantity of drugs seized so far amounts to near- ly 150 kgs and is valued at over Rs 73 crore – a large quantity of which were hallucinogenic substances too. A closer look at the comparative data from 2024 revealed that the department booked 162 cases and arrested 190 persons, of whom 24 were foreign nationals hailing from Nigeria, Russia, Uzbekistan, Iran, Liberia, etc. Police officials from the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) and Crime Branch (CB) played a major role in enforcement in both years, with high-volume hauls and arrests particular- Anganwadis set for a learning makeover with new curriculum PROPOSAL IS IN DRAFTING STAGE; SCERT TO DEVELOP SYLLABUS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government is contemplating to have an academic curriculum for students studying in over 1,290 anganwadis in Goa to help them step up to the primary section smoothly. At present, the focus of anganwadis, operating under the Department of Women and Child Development is only on midday meals and vaccination of the children while academically, they take a backseat. The academic part will be under the ambit of Directorate of Education (DoE). According to highly placed secretariat sources, the State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERT) will develop the curriculum for these students. However, the decision is still in the drafting stage. Sources said that this is the first time the State will be introducing a uniform academic framework for anganwadis, aligning it with the National PTI couragement to young seminarians, Leo offered a more comprehensive outline of what bishops must do to lead their flocks. It’s an issue the former Cardinal Robert Prevost would >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 Govt disburses uniform, raincoat allowance for primary students PANAJI: The Directorate of Education (DoE) has commenced disbursement of an amount of Rs 1,100 per students, to approximately 9,200 students of Class I and III, towards purchase of school uniforms and raincoats. >> See pg 3 DEMANDS ‘FIRM’ ACTION ON SEX ABUSE have long pondered given his role as the prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Bishops. In that job from 2023 until his election in May, the Chicago-born Prevost vetted bishop nominations for Pope Francis, identifying the type of leader who would further Francis’ view of a church where all are welcome and dialogue is the decisive form of governance. History’s first American pope reaffirmed on Wednesday that the primary role of bishops is to forge unity in his diocese among clergy and to be close to his flock in word and deed. PTI sources said. “The only aim is to see the children of anganwadis get exposure to education at an FOCUS ON RURAL COVERAGE Education Policy (NEP) 2020. “We will have to impart training to the Anganwadi workers before coming out with any curriculum framework and its implementation,” Shukla enroute ISS; India returns to human spaceflight after 41 years NEW DELHI Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla was on We d n e s day headed to the International Space Station (ISS) on a historic odyssey marking India’s return to human spaceflight after a gap of 41 years following a successful launch of the Axiom Space mission in the US with a four-member multi-country crew. After multiple delays, Elon Musk’s SpaceX launch vehicle with Crew Dragon spacecraft atop a Falcon-9 rocket blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 12:01 pm(IST) carrying mission pilot Shukla, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force(IAF), former NASA astronaut Commander Peggy Whitson and mission specialists Tibor Kapu of Hungary and Slawosz Uznanski-Wisniewski of Poland. „„This is the first time Goa will introduce a uniform academic framework for anganwadis „„The initiative aims to provide early exposure to education and strengthen learning foundations „„The plan is aligned with the NEP 2020, which emphasises ECCE for ages 5–6 „„The academic model is expected to extend to pre-primary schools as well „„DoE has ruled out co-locating anganwadis with primary schools at this stage Priests must be celibate, affirms Pope Leo XIV ROME Pope Leo XIV affirmed on Wednesday that priests must be celibate and insisted that bishops take firm and decisive action to deal with sex abusers, as he gave marching orders on Wednesday to the world’s Catholic hierarchs. Leo met in St Peter’s Basilica with about 400 bishops and cardinals from 38 countries attending this week’s special Holy Year celebrations for clergy. A day after he gave an uplifting message of en- Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in ON PAGE 3 Goa Police flag rising trend of drug peddling targeting students Isolated discovery of cannabis plants not a concern: ANC SP 4 held for flinging ganja balls into Colvale jail using rope and tree ly concentrated in the tourist-heavy north belt. In 2025, North Goa police alone accounted for 34 of the 78 cases, 35 arrests and a >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After 85-day long closure, the Bondla Zoo, the State’s lone zoo, was re-opened for visitors on Wednesday, following ‘negative’ test report for avian influenza. The zoo was shut since April 1 after the death of five animals. Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane announced the re-opening of the zoo. “After a brief closure as a precautionary measure, Bondla Zoo, has now reopened to visitors starting Wednesday, following confirmation that the samples tested negative for avian influen- E1 2 >> See PG 3 Gambhir backs inexperienced bowling attack after Leeds loss RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 ON JUN za by the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal,” Rane said in a post on ‘X’. “We are pleased to welcome visitors back to Bondla Zoo – a vibrant habitat and an important centre for conservation and awareness in Goa,” the Minister added. The zoo has been closed to the public since April 1 following the death of five animals – three civet cats and two jungle cats. Since then, the other animals were placed under >Continued on P5 Hoax bomb threat sparks panic at Sancoale school MASSIVE POLICE RESPONSE ENSURES SAFETY; PROBE UNDERWAY TO TRACE SOURCE OF EMAIL THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Chaos and fear gripped Sancoale on Wednesday morning after Mount Litera Zee School received a chilling email claiming a bomb had been planted on its premises, sending parents into a frenzy and triggering a full-scale emergency response. The alarming message by email, received by the school administration around 9:15 am, prompted principal Sandhya Venkatesh to immediately alert the police. Within minutes, the Mormugao police, led by DySP Gurudas Kadam, swung into action, summoning the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), along with emergency services, to the school grounds. “As soon as we received the alert, our teams were mobilised. BDDS personnel conducted a thorough search of A Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and police teams check bags of students from Mount Litera Zee School in Sancoale. the entire campus. While initial indications pointed to a hoax, we took no chances and treated the threat with utmost seriousness,” said DySP Kadam. Panic-stricken parents rushed to the school gates, while students were swiftly evacuated from classrooms and assembled in the open ground as a precautionary measure. Their school bags were in- dividually checked, and each section of the campus was combed for any suspicious device. The intensive operation yielded no explosive materials, confirming the threat to be a false alarm. Principal Sandhya Venkatesh appealed for calm and praised the quick response of the authorities. “We acted without >Continued on P5 Monsoon delight: Selaulim Dam hits capacity early SPECTACLE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA he Selaulim reservoir, South Goa’s largest and most crucial water source, began overflowing on Wednesday evening – nearly 12 days ahead of last year – following the early onset of the southwest monsoon this year. The monsoon, which typically arrives in Goa around June 5, made its entry on May 25 this year, bringing sustained rainfall to the catchment areas. As a result, the Selaulim dam reached its full capacity well ahead of its average overflow date of July 7. “This is one of the earliest overflows we’ve recorded in recent years,” said a senior engineer from the Water Resources Department (WRD), „„Selaulim reservoir began overflowing on Wednesday evening, nearly 12 days earlier than in 2023 „„The dam typically overflows around July 7, but sustained rainfall filled it ahead of schedule „„The smaller Gaunem reservoir in Canacona was the first to overflow this season, on June 19 „„Officials say early filling is good news for irrigation, drinking water supply, and groundwater recharge T Water cascades over Selaulim’s spillway as reservoir reaches capacity on Wednesday evening. adding that early rains had significantly recharged both major and minor reservoirs in South Goa. The smaller Gaunem reservoir in Canacona was the first to overflow this season, on June 19. WRD officials say this year’s early filling of reservoirs bodes well for irrigation, drinking water supply, and groundwater recharge in the region. Selaulim, located in UgemSanguem, plays a vital role in supplying raw water for treatment to most parts of South Goa. Its hallmark feature – a duckbill spillway – adds to its engineering distinction. The uniquely designed spillway automatically begins to release excess water once the reservoir reaches full capacity, allowing for a controlled overflow. “The duckbill spillway is engineered to handle a maximum flood discharge of 1,450 cubic metres per second. The surplus water flows downstream into the Selaulim river, aiding irrigation and replenishing rural water sources,” a WRD official explained. As in previous years, the spectacle of water cascading >Continued on P5