log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY OCTOBER 6, 2025 GOA Q2 results, US data, macro cues to guide this week’s trade on D-Street IN SHORT >> Trade deal: Respect India’s ‘red lines’, Jaishankar tells US NEW DELHI: Any trade deal between India and the US has to respect New Delhi’s ‘red lines’ and efforts are underway to reach an understanding, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Sunday against the backdrop of a downturn in bilateral ties over Washington’s policy on tariffs. Car shade catches fire near Ribandar ferry PANAJI: A major fire broke out near the Ribandar-Chorao ferry point after a car shade caught fire, gutting several vehicles parked in the area. Fire tenders from Old Goa, Ponda, Panaji, and Kundaim were rushed to the site to bring the blaze under control. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. UK Goans raise `  L 6 to honour Goa’s ‘Pele’ LONDON: A newly formed Goan group from West London raised £5,000 (Rs 5.98 lakh) as a cash reward for Benaulim fisherman Francisco Fernandes, popularly known as ‘Pele’, to honour his bravery for helping save 27 fishermen from a vessel which ran aground near the mouth of the River Sal.   >> See pg 2 400 kg of beef seized at Keri checkpoint KERI: 400 kilogrammes of beef were seized at the Keri checkpost from a Karnataka-registered vehicle en route to Goa from Belagavi. The driver, Sohail Bepari, has been detained, and the vehicle impounded. Further investigation is underway. India, UK kick-start 8-day mega wargame NEW DELHI: The navies of India and the UK kick-started an eight-day mega wargame in the Western Indian Ocean in line with their focus to boost overall military ties. WEATHER >> Max: 31.5 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 92% TIDES Low: High: 03:40 16:08 09:49 22:31 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 109 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 9 JERC trains guns on non-tariff revenue from electricity infra Cuncolkars demand audit of industries, permanent pollution measures >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA INFO Calangute fights to protect coastal identity on eve of World Habitat Day Home remedies for removing white facial hair SEEKS DETAILED DATA-RELATED REPORT FROM ELECTRICITY DEPT ON INCOME GAINED FROM ASSET MONETISATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amid ongoing conflict between Goa electricity department and  internet service providers (ISPs) and cable TV operators over illegal use of poles to string their cables, the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has sought a detailed report over non-tariff  revenue from monetized power infrastructure assets in the State. In its tariff order issued on September 30, the JERC has directed Goa electricity department to submit the data related to the non-tariff income gained from asset monetization as on date. The JERC appreciated the concern raised by the stakeholders during public meeting. In the meeting, as noted by JERC, the stakeholders submitted that monetising the electricity department’s assets remains unaddressed, with the hanging cables on electric poles case still pending. “No KEY CONCERNS OF STAKEHOLDERS „„Electricity department has not taken steps to monetise its assets „„Issue of cables hanging on electric poles remains pending „„Since 2015, department has not recovered fees from cable operators or internet service providers using its assets „„Department does not maintain data on which cable operators are using its infrastructure „„Stakeholders want all advertisement boards on poles to clearly display the department’s recovery has been made from the cable operators or internet providers since 2015, and the department lacks data on cable operators using their assets,” the stakeholders said. The stakeholders were of the firm view that the advertisement boards on poles approval „„Concerns raised about whether political party advertisements are exempt from payment „„Non-tariff income refers to revenue generated from sources other than a specific service’s like meter rent or tariff or penalties, etc JERC NOTING: The department submitted that it already charges the cable operators for utilizing the electrical poles and also take charges for the temporary hoardings placed on the poles should bear the department’s tag of approval and question whether political party figures are excluded from payment. The department acknowledged the stakeholder’s comments and suggestions. “The department submitted that it already charges the Plan for Panaji-Anmod NH expansion hits roadblock REC DEFERS PROPOSAL FOR FOREST LAND DIVERSION AS ROUTE PASSES THROUGH ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has deferred Goa’s proposal for forest land diversion for its proposed National Highway 4A expansion -- Panaji to Anmod section -- stating the proposed diversion passes through the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary wherein widening and strengthening of existing road or construction of new road is a regulated activity. The REC during its meeting held on September 19, flagged multiple concerns: discrepancies in the number of trees to be felled, irregular width of rights of way (RoW), and inconsistencies in proposed compensatory afforestation areas. REC has sought State’s reply on whether Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) KEY CONCERNS OF THE COMMITTEE „„Discrepancies noted in the number of trees proposed to be felled „„Irregular width of Right of Way highlighted „„Inconsistencies observed in proposed afforestation areas „„Confirmation requested from State on whether EIA study has been conducted „„Submission sought for soil and moisture conservation, muck disposal strategies, and wildlife mitigation measures „„Approval will not be granted until all concerns are satisfactorily addressed „„Emphasis laid on safeguarding Western Ghats, a critical ecological zone shared by Goa and Karnataka study of the project has been undertaken. It has also sought additional details on tree felling, compensatory afforestation, environmental impact, and Right of Way (RoW) demarcation. The committee also asked the project proponent to submit soil and moisture conservation plans, muck disposal strategies, and wildlife mitigation measures The application, seeking diversion of 31.53 ha of forest land in Mollem for widening of four-laning of Goa-Karnataka border- Panaji sectionsubmitted by the PWD’s Ponda work division, is pending before the Ministry since 2020. The committee stressed that no approval will be >Continued on P7 cable operators for utilizing the electrical poles and also take charges for the temporary hoardings placed on the poles,” the JERC noted. “The Commission appreciates the Stakeholder’s concern and directs the Petitioner to submit the details related to Congress slams Kejriwal, to go solo in 2027 assembly polls the non-tariff income gained from asset monetization with details,” the JERC said. The non-tariff income refers to revenue generated from sources other than a specific service’s like meter rent or tariff or penalties, etc. The state electricity department has demanded crores in rent as well as penalties from internet service providers (ISPs) and cable TV operators for using electricity poles to string their cables but has failed to recover any funds despite issuing multiple notices. Through series of notices, the department had asked the operators to pay over Rs 21 crore, Rs 12 crore, Rs 5 crore, etc. The operators had moved the High Court of Bombay at Goa, who while directing the department to proceed with removing unauthorized cables, asked the operators to obtain proper permissions and pay dues under the Telecommunication (Right of Way) Rules 2024. SPORTS ICC Women’s World Cup: India maintains perfect record V/s Pak 12 Massive landslides in Darjeeling after heavy rain, 20 dead HOMES SWEPT AWAY, ROADS CUT OFF, TOURISTS STRANDED A stretch of the national highway damaged in the landslide. PTI DARJEELING At least 20 people, including children, were killed as relentless rain triggered one of the worst landslides in a decade across Mirik and Darjeeling hills on Sunday, sweeping away homes, cutting off roads, isolating villages, and leaving hundreds of stranded tourists amid widespread devastation, officials said. According to reports compiled by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the district administration, fatalities were reported from several locations -- Sarsaly, Jasbirgaon, Mirik Basti, Dhar Gaon (Mechi), Nagrakata and the Mirik Lake area. North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha described the situation as “alarming”. “As of now, the death toll is 20. It is likely to go up,” Guha told PTI. According to the NDRF, 11 people died in Mirik, the worst-affected zone, while seven injured have been rescued from debris. In Darjeeling, seven people were killed, even as rescue teams were working roundthe-clock. According to the NDRF, road connectivity remains severely disrupted across Darjeeling. A DAY AFTER SHAH’S VIRTUAL FOUNDATION STONE… Chimbel locals stage ‘Garane’ in protest against Unity Mall THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Congress leader Surendra Rajput on Sunday launched a scathing attack at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal over ruling out any alliance with the Congress in the Goa Assembly elections. Accusing AAP of working as a BJP’s ‘B-Team’, Rajput too announced that Congress will go solo in the upcoming 2027 Goa elections. On Saturday, Kejriwal, who is currently in the coastal State, ruled out any alliance with Congress stating that the “party cannot be trusted” and has been helping BJP in forming the government in the State. Responding to the statement, the Congress spokesperson mocked Kejriwal’s rejection of any alliance with the grand old party and said, “Who will contest the elections with you? We reject you. The Congress will contest the elections in Goa on its own.” Rajput accused Kejriwal and his party of betraying public’s trust by creating formulas’. TRADITIONAL PRAYER: Chimbel residents perform the ‘Garane’ ritual near Dev Baigainkaar on Sunday. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Continuing their opposition, villagers of Chimbel performed the traditional ‘Garane’ prayer near Dev Baigainkaar, at Kadamba Plateau, beside the bypass, against the State government’s ambitious Unity Mall and Prashasan Stambh (Administrative Building) projects. Interestingly, the ceremony is held just a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah virtually laid the foundation stone for the two projects.  The ritual was performed to seek divine protection over the village’s sacred sites and ancestral lands. The villagers have been protesting against the two projects citing ecological concern and destruction of fields. The Unity Mall, proposed by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), aims to occupy roughly 12,000 square meters of land in Chimbel with an investment of Rs 132 crore under the Central government’s One District One Product (ODOP) initiative. The mall will feature outdoor exhibition spaces, a children’s play area, an amphitheater, etc. UK cracks down; cops to get new 10 forest fires this year, but officials in the dark on cause FOREST FIRES: THE BURNING QUESTION powers against repeat protests THE GOAN I NETWORK OFFICERS CAN INSTRUCT ORGANISERS TO SHIFT EVENT PTI LONDON Britain’s police forces will be granted new powers to impose restrictions on repeat protests, the UK government said on Sunday a day after nearly 500 arrests were made at a London march in support of the banned group Palestine Action. The new powers, details of which will be laid out in the coming weeks, will allow senior officers to consider the cumulative impact of previous protest activity. If a protest has taken place at the same site for weeks on end, and caused repeated disorder, the police will have the authority to instruct organisers to hold the event somewhere else, the UK Home Office said. A breach of such conditions will result in arrest and prosecution. The right to protest is a fundamental freedom in our country. However, this freedom must be balanced with the freedom of their neighbours to live their lives with- out fear, said UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. These changes mark an important step in ensuring we protect the right to protest while ensuring all feel safe in this country, she said. Her move comes after both she and Prime Minister Keir Starmer had called on the organisers of Saturday’s pro-Palestinian protest to reconsider out of respect for the British Jewish community in the wake of the terrorist attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday. PANAJI oa has reported ten forest fire cases in the current year, with exact cause not known so far. The State forest department has spent almost Rs 35 lakhs on various mitigation measures to curb forest fires, until August, 2025. The information was released by the Department on its website as per the directions issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The department said that a total ten forest fire cases have been reported in the State till August end, however, the exact cause of these fires is not known. The Department said that G „„A total of 10 forest fire cases reported in the State till August „„Department officials however remain clueless over the causes „„Approximately Rs 35 lakh has been on mitigation measures to curb forest fires up to August „„Following multiple fire incidents in 2023, a State on website as directed by National Green Tribunal Action Plan was implemented to guide forest fire management „„Information released FLASHBACK 2023: A total of 74 forest fires across 418 ha were reported between March 5 and March 15. A government inquiry later found that 348 ha of the damaged area were within protected zones, reserved forest land and Corporation-leased area following a series of fire incidents reported in 2023, a State Action Plan was put in place, which is acting as a guiding principle to deal with such fires. The year 2023 saw, total 74 forest fires across 418 ha reported between March 5 and March 15. A government in- quiry later found that 348 ha of the damaged area were within protected zones, reserved forest land and Goa Forest Development Corporation-leased area. Another 23 fires were reported between March 16 and April 28, 2023. “A State level monitoring committee headed by Principle Chief Conservator of Forest periodically reviews the inter-departmental preparedness to manage forest fires,” the department said adding that all the field divisions of the department are equipped with required tools, machineries and well-trained manpower for containing forest fires. According to a study undertaken by ICAR-Central Coastal Agriculture Research Institute as much as 38.90 per cent of Goa’s forest cover is “very highly” vulnerable to fires due >Continued on P7