log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 123 Instagram.com/thegoanonline INDIA LOSES RAIN-CURTAILED ODI SERIES OPENER AGAINST AUS >>12 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 CBC 15502/13/0037/2526 MONDAY OCTOBER 20, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan wishes its readers, advertisers, distributors and well-wishers a Happy Diwali. May the light of Diwali illuminate your life with health, wealth and happiness. WE ARE CLOSED TODAY The offices of The Goan will be closed today on account of Diwali. Hence there will be no edition of this newspaper dated October 21, 2025. DIWALI MAGAZINE Now on stands Available at major newspaper vendors Microplastics in Goa’s salt pans raise health concerns RESEARCHERS FIND HIGH LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION ALONG MANDOVI ESTUARY; CALL FOR MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO REDUCE HUMAN EXPOSURE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI At a time when the State government has laid its focus on reviving Goa’s traditional salt pans, recent research revealing that the State’s natural solar salt is highly contaminated with microplastics (MPs) has raised serious concerns. A study “Microplastic in solar salt: baselines contamination assessment from Goa, India” by the researchers from the Goa University, have concluded that on an average a person’s MP intake from salt consumption is around 2,457.8 particles. The study said that there is critical evidence of MP contamination in natural solar salt and underscore the need for targeted mitigation strategies to minimise human exposure. The research has been un- GOA UNIVERSITY STUDY SHOWS „„SOLAR SALT FOUND CONTAMINATED WITH MICROPLASTICS IN ALL SAMPLES TESTED „„Microplastics mainly fibers (90.4%), colourless, 0.1–0.3 mm in size; dominant polymers: polyethylene, polyester, polypropylene dertaken by Shritesh Mhapsekar, Niyati Kalangutkar of school of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences and Nitesh Joshi of School of Chemical Sciences. The study „„Study estimates an annual intake of 2,457.8 MP particles per person „„Pollution and polymer risk indexes indicate a high ecological hazard „„Restoration of Mithache Agor planned through scientific and communitydriven methods has assessed MP contamination in salt harvested from solar salt pans downstream of Mandovi estuary. According to the researchers, despite MPs in food pose Coastal study identifies nine beaches as erosion hotspots Q2 results, FII activity, rupee movement among 5 triggers for Dalal-Street IN SHORT >> Shipyard tragedy: Families of deceased seek compensation MARGAO: The kith and kin of the deceased workers who expired in the fire tragedy at the Vijay Marine Services, Loutolim have demanded compensation from the company as well as making arrangements for the transportation of the mortal remains to their native states.  >> See pg 2 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Netherland-based company Deltares, which is engaged by the State government to evaluate the sand erosion along the coastal belt, has identified a total nine beach stretches as major “hotspots”. Based on the satellite imagery report submitted to the State Environment department, the Deltares have identified beach belts of Candolim, Anjuna, Morjim, Mandrem and Querim in the North and Palolem, Majorda, Cavelosim and Velsao in the South. The agency has tagged these beaches as major hotspots of erosion requiring immediate intervention. The agency, which has undertaken a pilot study of Mobor beach, has recommended soft and hard measures to mitigate sand erosion. This includes – beach nourishment, shoreface nourishment and sand motor – mega nourishment (soft measures) IMD issues yellow alert THE GOAN I NETWORK Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) and ISRO in their presentation before the State authorities has said that erosion was not >Continued on P6 >Continued on P6 and sand motor (mega nourishment); Hard measures – seawalls, revetments, and groynes „„Erosion trends: North Goa: Gradual increase since 1990; high erosion „„Nine beaches identified noted post-2010; South as erosion hotspots — Goa: More severe, Candolim, Anjuna, of Morjim, Mandrem, DUTCH affecting 11% 6% in coastline (vs Querim (North) and Palolem, Ma- AGENCY North) jorda, Cavelossim, STUDY „„Stable rocky Velsao (South) headlands remain largely unaffected; „„Measures recomsandy stretches show mended: Soft measures dynamic erosion–accretion – beach nourishment, patterns shoreface nourishment, and installation or construction of seawalls/ revetment and groynes (hard measures) along the coastline. Meanwhile, the panel of experts from National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), National >Continued on P6 PANAJI Rain accompanied by lightning and thunder soon followed an yellow alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for Goa on Sunday casting a damp shadow on the Diwali eve Narkasur Dahan celebrations. The IMD alert had warned of thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds across the State. From early evening, a steady drizzle blanketed both North and South Goa, intensifying into sporadic downpours accompanied by thunder and vivid lightning streaks. The rainfall remained moderate but it did disrupt by varying degrees several outdoor events. Wind speeds touched 40– 50 km/h in coastal pockets, prompting caution among residents and tourists. The IMD has attributed the weather to a cyclonic circulation over the southeast Arabian Sea and Lakshadweep region, which it said is expected to evolve into a low-pressure system. DUTCH AGENCY RECOMMENDS MITIGATION MEASURES; INDIAN EXPERTS ROOT FOR NATURAL SOLUTIONS >> PG 8 potential health risks, their occurrence in solar salt remains underexplored. During the course of their study, the experts analysed total eight salt samples, collected from the saltpan, using density separation, filtration, and FTIR spectroscopy. “MPs were detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 64.00  1.89 to ±  106.67 ± 10.37 particles/ 100 g (mean: 84.17  14.47 parti±  cles/100 g),” the study said. The majority of MPs were within the 0.1–0.3 mm size range (49.21%), predominantly fibres (90.40%), and colourless (64.30%). The researchers observed that the Polyethylene (29.2%), polyester (20.8%), and polypropylene (16.7%) were the dominant polymer types found in the salt. ‘Disappointing’: SC on 8.82 lakh pending orders Seeks accountability; directs HCs to ensure six-month disposal PTI NEW DELHI he Supreme Court has termed as "highly disappointing" and "alarming" the pendency of over 8.82 lakh execution petitions before different courts across the country. Execution petitions are the pleas filed by a decree holder seeking enforcement of court orders passed in a civil dispute. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Pankaj Mithal made the remarks while reviewing the compliance of its March 6 order that had directed all high T KEY COURT OBSERVATIONS „„Delay in enforcing decrees a 'travesty of justice' „„Execution must be completed within six months; officers liable for delay „„High Courts told to evolve procedures for speedy disposal „„Karnataka HC pulled up for not submitting data; given two weeks to explain „„Next review on April 10, 2026 with complete disposal figures courts to instruct civil courts within their jurisdiction to decide execution petitions within six months. The court had also made it clear that presiding officers would be held liable for any delay in presiding with its directive. "The statistics which we have received are highly disappointing. The figures of the pendency of the execution petitions across the country are alarming. As on date, 8,82,578 execution petitions are pending across the country," the bench said. The bench said in the last six months from March 6, a total of 3,38,685 execution petitions have been decided and disposed of. The bench, in its October 16 order, said, "As observed in our main judgment, after the decree is passed, if it is going to take years and years to execute the decree, then it makes no sense and would be nothing short of travesty of justice". The top court said it is once again requesting all the high courts to evolve some procedure and guide their respective district judiciary for effective and expeditious disposal of the execution petitions which are pending as on date. The apex court, however, observed that "unfortunately, the Karnataka High Court has failed to furnish us with the necessary data in this regard." "Asking the apex court registry to once again give a reminder to the Karnataka High Court to provide the data >Continued on P6 Rain fails to dampen Narkasur Dahan as Goa ushers in Diwali Record effigies and festive fervour mark the start of Festival of Lights across State THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Cities and towns in Goa initially launched into a fiery spectacle for the traditional Narkasur Dahan celebrations but as Sunday wore out the weather played truant as predicted by the weatherman and a steady drizzle put a spoke in otherwise visually arresting Diwali eve festivities. The expected climax of burning of Narkasur effigies — towering, grotesque representations of the mythical demon king — which drew crowds of spectators were truncated due to the damp weather. The event, rooted in Hindu mythology, commemorates Lord Krishna’s victory over the tyrannical Narkasur, symbolising the defeat of evil. The rain notwithstanding, Goans persisted with the celebration bringing this legend to life with fervour even as organisers at various street corners T H E FEST I VA L O F LI GH T S „„Towering, elaborate Narkasur effigies (20+ ft), crafted by local artisans, were set ablaze at midnight „„Steady rain truncated some events; organisers protected sound equipment with tarpaulins „„Families, tourists, and performers joined in with umbrellas and rainwear „„Homes adorned with rangoli, lamps, marigold garlands, and akash divo; temples prepared for Lakshmi Puja took the precaution of covering their sound systems and expensive DK console equipment with tarpaulin sheets. Local artisans spend weeks crafting elaborate effigies, >Continued on P6 Jewels stolen in daring Paris’ Louvre heist PARIS In a minutes-long strike on Sunday inside the world's most-visited museum, thieves rode a basket lift to the Louvre, forced a window into the Galerie d'Apollon while tourists pressed shoulder-to-shoulder in the corridors smashed display cases and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels, officials said. It was among the highest-profile museum thefts in recent memory and comes as Louvre employees have complained of worker and security understaffing. Culture Minister Rachida Dati called the strike the work of professionals, describing it as a four-minute operation.  >> See pg 7