log on to thegoan.net TUESDAY JULY 1, 2025 GOA @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 14 All decks cleared for gasification waste plant at Sonsodo: GEDA 2 3 GOA GFP warns of demographic crisis in Bardez, calls for urgent action Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Common laser hair removal myths you should stop believing Student critically injured in acid attack at Dhargal  SUFFERS SEVERE BURNS ON RIGHT EYE, CHEEK, NOSE  COPS SWING INTO ACTION, ARREST 46-YR-OLD MAN THE GOAN I NETWORK PERNEM In a shocking incident, a 17-year-old boy was seriously injured after he was attacked with acid on the highway at Dhargal while he was proceeding to college on Monday morning. Later in the day, a 46-yearold man from Dodamarg in Sindhudurg-Maharashtra was arrested at the IDC Karaswada, Mapusa, in this connection. THE INCIDENT Police said the incident occurred at about 7.45 am shortly after Umesh Shetye, a policeman by profession, had dropped his son, Rishab, on his scooter to the bus stop at Dhargal to take a bus to proceed to his college. A scooter rider reportedly wearing a black raincoat, gloves and carrying a white bucket containing the acid stopped in front of Rishab and threw the acid on the victim, IN SHORT >> DTE unveils merit list for BE prog PANAJI: The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has published the merit list for Bachelor of Engineering degree programme for admissions to various engineering colleges in the State. A total of 1,809 candidates have been featured in the merit list with the admission process set to commence from July 1. >> See pg 3 Monsoon session: BAC meet on July 7 PANAJI: The Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Goa Legislative Assembly is set to meet on July 7 to discuss the business for the 15-day monsoon session, scheduled to commence from July 21.  >> See pg 3 Railway ministry hikes fares NEW DELHI: The railway ministry issued an official circular on Monday, increasing the fares of the non-air-conditioned class in mail and express trains by 1 paisa and all air-conditioned classes by 2 paise per kilometre from July 1. Accused linked attack to his daughter’s death: Cop North Goa SP Rahul Gupta at the scene of the acid attack at Dhargal. Nivrutti Shirodkar inflicting severe burn injuries. The accused then fled from the site. According to eyewitnesses, the teenager, in a state of panic and pain, ran along the road shouting for help. Incidentally, Rishab’s house is not far from the site of the incident and word soon reached Umesh that his son had been involved in some accident. Umesh rushed to the site and later took Rishab in his car to the District Hospital at Mapusa. The site of the attack bore the stains of the acid, while the partially burnt backpack and shirt, as well as the umbrella and water bottle of the victim were lying at the site by the roadside. The brazen acid attack on the youth shocked people across the State as news of the PERNEM: After hectic efforts and based on the electronic surveillance and credible inputs received from sources, the accused, Nilesh Dessai (46) of Dabiwadi-Kalane in Dodamarg, Sindhudurg-Maharashtra was traced and apprehended at IDC Karaswada, Mapusa. SP Gupta said the accused confessed to the crime and disclosed that he had committed the act as his daughter had died one month back and the Sindhudurg Police are investigating the case of unnatural death. The SP added that the accused had suspected the minor boy to have been linked to the death of her daughter as they were in a relationship. The chemical used in the incident was suspected to have been taken from the company accused is working in IDC Karaswada. Police also seized the two-wheeler used in the crime. According to sources, Rishab and the daughter of Nilesh Dessai had been friends for about two years and were studying in the same college. The girl had been living in her uncle's house in Pernem taluka. In May, the girl suffered from an ailment and passed away. Her death was being investigated by the Sindhudurg Police. >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 12 SPORTS Confident Indian eves aim to seal T20I series against England Political circles abuzz as CM, Michael meet Shah in Delhi Rane’s Delhi visit also raises eyebrows THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stirred fresh political speculation with a high-stakes visit to Delhi, accompanied by Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. Their visit hints not only at filling the vacant Cabinet seat but also at the potential for a broader reshuffle within the government. In a move that is being closely watched by the party ranks and ministerial aspirants, Sawant's meeting with the top central leadership to discuss further changes in the Cabinet and a potential rebalancing of power among the existing ministers -- some of whom are reportedly under the scanner of the BJP high command -- has attracted significant attention. Interestingly, Sawant met Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with Calangute MLA, further raising speculation of his possible induction in the Cabinet. The meeting comes days after Lobo's birthday celebration where CM announced "ache din for Lobo". Also, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane’s visit to Delhi, alongside Sawant, has also raised several eyebrows. WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar was also in Delhi to attend the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo greet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday. Sawant seeks approval to reclaim Campal military hospital land PANAJI: The Goa government has urged Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to consider a proposal to reclaim the land currently occupied by the Military Hospital at Campal, opposite Kala Academy, for public use. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday met Singh with series of proposals including sanctioning of one Sainik School in the State. According to the statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Sawant met Singh and discussed key issues including the early operationalization of the HEMRO unit in Goa. >Continued on P8 meeting of Cooperation Ministers of all States chaired by Minister Shah. Despite repeated attempts, CAG nails Post Dept over `46L GST lapse in Goa PANAJI The Goa region of the Department of Post (DoP) failed to recover over Rs 46 lakh of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on various services it provided to the Central and State governments from July 2022 to January  2023, revealed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The CAG in its report on ‘Union Government Finance and Communication’ said that delay in issue of instructions by Postal Directorate to field offices and further delay in implementation of the instructions by field offices resulted in non-charging of GST on speed post articles amounting to Rs 13.57 crore during the period besides attracting penal provisions by GST authorities causing loss to the Government exchequer. During the seven months, Goa region raised GST invoice of Rs 2,58,91,445 of which Rs 46.60 lakh remained non-recovered. 2022 recommended that all taxable services of DoP would be liable to GST with effect from July 18, 2022 „„MoF intimated DoP (12 July, 2022) regarding amendment „„DoP, however, intimated instructions to its field offices after a 7 month delay „„RECOMMENDATION: Develop mechanism wherein instructions on GST rules, amendments are issued to field units on real time basis and implemented without delay CAG pointed out the Union Finance Ministry through a notification in June 28, 2017, exempted all the services by the DoP by way of speed post, express parcel post, life insurance and agency services provided to the Central Government, State Government, Union territory from GST. However, GST  council in its 47th meeting in June 2022 recommended that all taxable services of DoP would be liable to GST with effect from July 18, 2022. >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 THE GOAN I NETWORK KEY AUDIT FINDINGS „„Delay in implementation of instructions by field offices resulted in noncharging of GST on speed post articles amounting to Rs 13.57 cr „„During 7 months, Goa region raised GST invoice of Rs 2,58,91,445 of which Rs 46.60 lakh remained un-recovered „„Union Finance Ministry on June 28, 2017, had exempted all services by DoP provided to Central govt, State, UTs from GST „„GST council in June CM and Lobo remained unavailable for comments. Delimitation: HC upholds State’s move to delegate power to DMA CITES DELAY IN ISSUING INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFICES THE GOAN I NETWORK 15 ROOTED IN PLACE: A boy walks past a house at Ribandar where a tree has firmly taken roots in one of its walls.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Deadly blast shatters pharma plant in Telangana, 13 killed PTI SANGAREDDY At least 13 people died and 34 persons were injured on Monday in an explosion at the Sigachi Industries' pharma plant in Telangana's Sangareddy district. About 90 people were working in the plant when the blast took place, reportedly due to a suspected chemical reaction, which also triggered a fire, Health Minister Damodara Raja Narasimha told reporters. Later in the evening, a po- lice official told PTI that another body was extricated from the debris, bringing the total number of deaths to 13. “Eleven bodies were recovered from the blast site and two people died while undergoing treatment at a hospital,” the official said. PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa dismissed a petition that challenged the State government's decision to delegate powers of ward delimitation in the Corporation of the City of Panaji to the Director of Municipal Administration. The petition, filed by former CCP corporator Menino da Cruz, had sought to quash an amendment to the CCP Act, 2002, arguing that it diluted the authority of the State Election Commission. “The amendment, notified in the Official Gazette in February 2005 and made effective retrospectively from September 24, 2004, has removed the role of an independent body like the SEC. This has resulted in unchecked manipulation of ward boundaries to benefit specific political parties or groups,” the petition stated. During the hearing, the petitioner argued that the responsibility of delimiting wards should lie solely with the SEC to ensure transparency and neutrality in the electoral process. India-US trade talks intensify Kerala governor charts course for Goa University ARLEKAR’S TAKE ON ROAD AHEAD FOR GU as July 9 deadline draws near THE GOAN I NETWORK NEW DELHI TOUGHENS STANCE ON AGRI ISSUES PTI NEW DELHI India has hardened its position on issues related to agriculture as negotiations with the US team in Washington have entered a crucial stage, an official said on Monday. The official also said that the stay of the Indian team, headed by special secretary in the department of commerce Rajesh Agrawal, is expected to be extended further. The team is in Washington for negotiations on an inter- im trade agreement with the US. Both sides are rushing to close a deal ahead of the July 9 deadline for the full implementation of a 26 per cent reciprocal tariff which has been suspended since April. “If the proposed trade talks fail, the 26 per cent tariffs will come into force again,” the official added. The stay of the Indian officials has already been extended for three days until June 30. Initially, the delegation was scheduled to stay for two days with the talks having com- menced on June 26. Another official said the commerce ministry informed domestic exporters and industry that the talks are on for the first phase of the proposed bilateral trade agreement. These talks are significant as both countries are engaged in negotiations for an interim trade deal and are trying to finalise the pact before July 9, the deadline for the expiry of the suspensions of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on April 2. PANAJI erala Governor Rajendra Arlekar on Monday called on Goa University to prepare a detailed road map focusing on its qualitative improvement and the all-round development of the society. Addressing the 41st foundation day event of the Varsity, Arlekar urged the vice-chancellor to promote academics and research with the aim of developing their universities into “centres of excellence.” He suggested that the university actively consult local experts and intellectuals to shape this road map. “The university has good infrastructure, but can it build K „„GU has good infrastructure, but can it build an emotional attachment with people and society? „„Are our faculty members or executive council reaching out to understand what people want or what we have to offer? „„Universities should an emotional attachment with the people and society?” he asked. “We need to expand to reach a larger section of society. Are our faculty members or executive council reaching out to understand what people not limit themselves to producing only “academicians, engineers or shipbuilders” tailored to industry needs „„Curriculum has to be redefined based on needs of society, state and nation want or what we have to offer?” he questioned further. The Governor cautioned universities against limiting themselves to producing only “academicians, engineers or shipbuilders” tailored to „„Viksit Bharat is a big dream -- a big canvas that needs to be drawn beautifully „„GU should reflect on its mission and contribution to building an inclusive, culturally rooted, and developed India industry needs, arguing that they must also respond to broader social and national goals. “Our whole curriculum has to be redefined in that direction—based on the needs of our society, state and nation. The university is here to guide society,” he said. Arlekar also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for building a “Viksit Bharat” (developed India) by 2047, when the country completes 100 years of independence. “Viksit Bharat is a big dream—a big canvas that needs to be drawn beautifully. One cannot remain aloof from it. University syllabus and programmes should be aligned with this initiative,” he urged. He further observed that before the introduction of the British education system, India reportedly had a literacy rate of 89 per cent, which fell sharply to 20 per cent by >Continued on P8