log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline Pg 12 MONDAY JULY 14, 2025 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 27 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in Don’t have power to review permissions given: GCZMA DROPS SHOW CAUSE NOTICE, STOP WORK ORDER ISSUED TO FIVE-STAR RESORT AT BAMBOLIM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has stated that it ‘lacks’ the ‘power’ to review its own decisions, and that it is ‘impermissible’ to re-evaluate permissions once they have been granted. As such, the Authority has dropped the show cause notice and stop work order issued to a five-star resort at Bambolim based on a complaint filed by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar and Goa Green Brigade pertaining to the illegal construction carried out by the hotel. The show cause notice and stop work order was issued in April. The complainants had urged the Authority to review its permission granted to the hotel in September 2021 for MINUTES OF GCZMA MEETING: KEY POINTS „„Since the Authority had granted permission, this Authority becomes functus officio „„Permission granted has become final and cannot be revisited or reopened as Authority lacks power to review own decisions „„Complainants are seeking to review permission dated September, 23, 2021, which is impermissible „„Authority perused provisions of CRZ notification 2011 as per which the construction of compound wall is a regulated activity for erosion control measures „„Authority discharges stop work order and drops the show cause notice construction of the compound wall and subsequently had obtained permission from the TCP in December 2021 and March, 2025 and a NOC from the local village panchayat in February 2022. “Since, the Authority had granted the permission, this Authority becomes functus officio; Once this Authority had granted the permission the same has become final and cannot be revisited or reopened as the Authority lacks the power to review its own decisions,” the minutes of the meeting stated. “The Authority noted that the complainants are seeking to review the permission dated September, 23, 2021, which dated April 15, 2025 „„Work carried out on the site is as per approved plans/permission granted by the GCZMA THE CASE: The complainants had urged GCZMA to review permission granted to the hotel in September 2021 for construction of compound wall is impermissible and the Authority lacks jurisdiction,” it stated further.   During the meeting held last month, the Authority perused the provisions of the CRZ notification 2011 as per which the construction of compound wall is a regulated activity for erosion control measures. Lord’s set for gripping finish with India 58/4 chasing 193 The Authority also noted that as per CRZ Rules, the clearance accorded to the project is valid for a period of seven years from date of issuance of clearance, provided the construction activities commence within a period of five years and the construction is completed and operations commenced within 7 years. The resort was granted clearance in September 2021 and is valid till 2026, and hence the work undertaken by the respondent is validated. “In view of the Authority being functus officio and lacking jurisdiction to review the permission granted, the Authority discharges the stop work order and drops the show cause notice dated April 15, 2025, as the work on the site is as per the approved plans/permission granted by the GCZMA,” the minutes added.   Cracks in Oppn widen as Assembly session nears VIJAI SNUBS YURI’S CALL FOR MEET ON JULY 15, TERMS IT ‘MERE FORMALITY’ THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Just days ahead of the crucial Goa Legislative Assembly session, cracks in the Opposition camp have come to the fore. On Sunday, Goa Forward Party (GFP) chief Vijai Sardesai publicly dismissed a joint Opposition meeting convened by Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, scheduled for July 15, describing it as a “mere formality.” Sardesai criticised the timing and intent of the meeting, questioning its effectiveness and purpose. “There is an established convention that the Leader of the Opposition should convene such a meeting soon after the Assembly session is notified. This invite feels like a last-minute formality rather than a serious effort at coordination”, he said. While the GFP leader stopped short of confirming SARDESAI: STRAIGHT TALK „„There is an established convention that Leader of Oppn should convene meeting soon after the session is notified „„This invite feels like a last-minute formality rather than a serious effort at coordination „„I don’t think there is much sense in this meeting „„I do not know whether we will be effective in countering the murder of democracy whether he would attend the meeting, his remarks strongly indicated that he may skip the meeting. “I don’t think there is much sense in this meeting called by the Opposition. It is just a formality,” Sardesai reiterated. He added: “This belated move to have a joint strategy meeting of the Opposition is yet another formality just to show that you are doing something, I do not know whether we will be effective in countering the murder of democracy that is being CAG raps GIDC for costly contract with Pvt agency >> pg 6 SEEKS CLARITY ON NEW TENDER AS INET TERM ENDS THE GOAN I NETWORK 7 factors to guide D-street: Rupee moves, Q1 results, FII flows in focus IN SHORT >> Mapusa food street draws hygiene flak MAPUSA: What has long been considered a late-night culinary hotspot in Mapusa has now come under the scanner for poor hygiene and violation of food safety norms. The bustling food street in front of the iconic Alankar theatre is now drawing sharp criticism for the unsanitary conditions in which food is being prepared and served.  >> See pg 3 CM vows permanent IIT campus site soon  >> See pg 2 OCEAN’S BOUNTY: Colva fishermen haul in a bumper catch on Sunday, marking a promising start to the new fishing season for traditional communities along the Salcete coast. (Report on pg 2)  Santosh Mirajkar Pollution control norms eased THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major step toward improving the Ease of Doing Business, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has announced a simplified and expedited process for issuing Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) certificates for industrial units and various projects across the State. The Board in a circular issued on July 11 has introduced self-certification for consent to establish and consent to operate certificate and Third Party inspection instead of departmental inspections for industries having capital investment up to Rs 50 lakh. It also speaks about auto renewal of CTE and CTO for a period of three years for all categories of industries. “In order to reduce compliance burden and deregulation of Ease of Doing Business and also to ensure timely disposal of Consent Applications for issue of CTE and CTO certificates, the Board has decided >Continued on P5 PANAJI In a critical observation, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged irregularities in the Goa Industrial Development Corporation’s (GIDC) continued engagement of a private agency -M/s INET Computer Services -- for the supply of contractual workers, despite the agency quoting the highest salary per employee and not being the lowest (L1) bidder. Over Rs 7.80 crore has been paid to INET in the past four years for the payment of 63 employees, a number that was gradually increased to 91. In its communication to the GIDC, CAG has sought to know whether GIDC will now issue a fresh tender, as INET -- initially appointed for two years from June 2021 -- has reached the end of its term, with both extensions having expired last month in June. “Considering that the num- >Continued on P5 Tattoo feud leads to knife attack in Calangute THE GOAN I NETWORK one year was allowed from June 2014 to June 15, 2025. CAG observed that following a tender notice issued by GIDC to hire 63 employees on contract in April 2021, two bidders -- M/s Shudha Facility Management Services (SFMS) and INET -- participated in the tender and both qualified based on their technical bids. Upon opening of financial bids, it was found that INET had correctly quoted service MAPUSA A dispute over a tattoo business turned violent in the early hours of Sunday, leaving one person seriously injured in a knife attack at Khobra Vaddo, Calangute. The victim, identified as Arun Lamani, sustained stab injuries to his face and stomach and has been admitted to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) for treatment. The alleged attacker, Akash Lamani, is currently absconding. According to Calangute Police, the altercation stemmed from a business fallout between the two. Arun and Akash were earlier partners in a tattoo venture, but Arun later moved out and began operating independently from a different location. Police said Akash called Arun to meet him near JJ Bakery at Khobra Vaddo around 1.30 am on Sunday, reportedly to settle accounts related to their previous business >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 KEY OBSERVATIONS OF AUDITOR „„Considering that number of employees had gradually increased from 63 to 91 in four years, it was in financial interest of GIDC to retender the contract upon completion of original tenure to enable competitive bidding „„After completion of two years an extension of one year was granted on June 15, 2023 „„A subsequent further extension one year was allowed from June 2014 to June 15, 2025 „„Two consecutive extensions were avoidable „„Over Rs 7.80 cr was paid to INET in past four years ber of employees had gradually increased from 63 to 91 in four years, it was in the financial interest of GIDC to retender the contract upon completion of original tenure of the contract to enable competitive bidding and efficient price discovery. The two consecutive extensions were avoidable,” the CAG noted. The Auditor said that after completion of two years an extension of one year was granted on June 15, 2023 and a subsequent further extension done by Goa government”. Drawing a parallel with the recent Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting -- which he boycotted -- Sardesai noted that much of the procedural groundwork, including submission of questions and raising of demands, was already completed by the time the BAC was convened. “Similarly, this joint Opposition meeting comes too late to make a real impact. Board asks schools to upload Pilot Union doubts AI report, flags system glitch data of Class 10, 12 students FAA, Boeing say fuel locks safe: Report AGENCIES WARNS OF 2025-26 EXAM INELIGIBILITY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has warned that Class 10 and Class XII students whose data for the last academic year has not been uploaded online by their schools will not be allowed to register for the 2025-26 Board examination. In a final ultimatum to all schools, the Board has directed Heads of the institution to ensure that the online data of Grade 9 and Class XI students for the academic year 2024-25 is updated latest by July 18. The Board had issued similar directions in May with a deadline to complete the process by June 15. The data has to be uploaded on the portal available on the Board’s official website. “All Heads of recognized secondary and higher secondary schools are informed to complete uploading of Grade 9 and Class XI students data for the academic year 2024-25 by July 18,” Board Secretary Vidhyadatta Naik said adding “failing to which said candidates will not be able to register for Grade 10 (SSC) and Class XII (HSSC) exam for the academic year 2025-26”. From this year, NEP 2020 has been implemented for Grade 10. The Board has already announced the  tentative  schedule for SSC and HSSC final exams, which are scheduled in Feb-March, 2026. NEW DELHI resident of the Federation of Indian Pilots, Charanvir Randhawa raised doubts over the report on the Air India AI171 crash, saying it fails to clarify who was in control of the cockpit and points to a possible electrical or software malfunction. “The aircraft was actually being flown by the co-pilot, who was controlling the plane, while the captain, the pilot-in-command, was monitoring the flight. So, it’s still unclear who made the key decisions. The preliminary report doesn’t clarify this, even though it would have been P NEW DELHI: The US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing have privately issued notifications that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe, a report said. The FAA’s notification to Civil Aviation Authorities said: “although the fuel control switch design, including the locking feature, is similar on various Boeing airplane models, the FAA does not consider this issue to be an unsafe condition that would warrant an Airworthiness Directive on any Boeing airplane models, including the Model 787.” When asked for comment, the FAA said it did not have anything to add beyond the notification. easy to identify from the Cockpit Voice Recorder who was speaking”, Randhawa said. He added that the report mentions the fuel control switches changing position on their own, which could indicate a serious glitch. “The report states that the fuel control switches changed position -- from cutoff to run -- on their own. This suggests there might have been an electrical or software fault. It seems the system detected that the switch had been moved, even though no one physically touched it.” Randhawa also referred to a Boeing advisory from 2018 warning about similar fuel switch issues in 737 aircraft. “In December 2018, Boeing issued an advisory about similar fuel control switch malfunctions in some 737 aircraft. If that information was available, then all aircraft should have been checked. This circular should have been a directive rather than just an advisory,” he said. Randhawa said he does not believe the pilots would have moved the switches unless both engines had failed, which the report does not confirm. “I don’t believe the pilots would have touched the fuel switches unless they were aware of a dual engine failure. But according to the CVR, they didn’t move the switches. This points to a possible issue in the electronic system.”