log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY APRIL 27, 2026 GOA Q4 earnings, Iran conflict, crude oil, FII flows to steer DalalStreet this week IN SHORT >> Private forest report by May 30: Vishwajit PANAJI: Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on Sunday said the State will finalise a factual report on private forest areas by May 30, which will then be submitted to the National Green Tribunal. Rane said the exercise is aimed at ensuring a “proper assessment” of private lands.  >> See pg 3 Another gambling racket busted MARGAO: In a second successful raid on online gambling racket along the Salcete coastal belt, the Colva police arrested four persons, three from Gujarat and one from Haryana for conducting online gambling activities from a row villa at Colva late Saturday night. >> See pg 2 100 crude bombs found in Bengal KOLKATA: Police on Sunday recovered around 100 crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker in West Bengal even as the Election Commission directed the police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs. India’s best known photographer dies NEW DELHI: Raghu Rai, one of India’s best known photographers who distilled the essence of an evolving India and its people through his lens, died at a private hospital in the early hours of Sunday. He was 83. He is survived by wife Gurmeet, son Nitin and daughters Lagan, Avani and Purvai. Shots fired at dinner, Trump whisked away WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and other top officials were evacuated unharmed from the annual dinner of the White House Correspondents’ Association after a man armed with multiple weapons fired shots outside.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 35.7 C Min: 25.2 C Humidity: 80% TIDES Low: High: 02:07 13:53 08:20 20:18 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 309 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 12 2 9 No breather for govt, NGT 94.51% clear SSC exams; percentage sees slight dip extends sand mining ban GOA THE GOAN I NETWORK File photo SAND MAFIA MENACE IN SATTARI; REMOVAL OF DAM PLATES LOWERS WATER LEVELS >> See pg 3 Authority told the tribunal that while sand mining is prohibited in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, the removal of sand bars through traditional methods is permitted under existing guidelines. Director of Environment Sachin Desai placed on record a November 2021 notification issued by the Ministry of En- Kenya’s Sawe becomes first man to run marathon under two hours Finding your ideal thermal baseline for skin and scalp health FINAL ARGUMENTS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18 PANAJI The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has extended its interim ban on sand mining activities in Goa until August 18, offering no immediate relief to the State government. The green bench has now scheduled the matter for final arguments on that date. In its order dated April 24, the bench observed, “Since it is appraised by the learned counsel for the parties that pleadings are complete in these matters, we direct the Registry to list these matters for final arguments on 18.08.2026. Interim relief shall be continued.” The tribunal had earlier extended the ban in February till April 23. It is currently hearing 12 appeals filed by the Goa River Sand Protection Network, which has challenged the Environmental Clearances granted in February last year by the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority for sand mining in designated zones. In its submission, the Goa Coastal Zone Management SPORTS INFO Smart meters: Electricity department ties itself in knots Lessons from failed plant loom over MMC’s new gasification project >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan vironment, Forest and Climate Change, which allows traditional coastal communities to remove sand bars in intertidal areas using manual methods. The notification also empowers State governments to permit such activity for a specified period and quantity, subject to conditions such as registration of local community members and annual renewal of permissions. Citing these provisions, the GCZMA argued before the tribunal that the present appeals are liable to be dismissed. Earlier, the Goa-SEIAA informed the NGT that the Di- rectorate of Mines and Geology had failed to disclose that the identified sand extraction sites fell within CRZ/ICRZ areas. The authority stated that had this been clearly indicated, it would have insisted on prior clearance from the GCZMA before granting Environmental Clearance. Referring to the April 26, 2022 Office Memorandum issued by the Environment Ministry, the bench had earlier observed that projects in CRZ areas must first obtain recommendations from the GCZMA before being considered for clearance by SEIAA. “This procedure does not appear to have been followed in the case in hand,” the tribunal had noted during a January hearing. The SEIAA has maintained that its decision was based on a report by the National Institute of Oceanography, which identified zones where sand extraction could be carried out with minimal environmental impact. However, it reiterated that non-disclosure of the CRZ status by the Mines Department compromised the statutory clearance process. 178 SCHOOLS ACHIEVE 100 PER CENT RESULT THE GOAN I NETWORK PORVORIM/PANAJI The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) on Sunday announced the results of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examination for 2026, with an overall pass percentage of 94.51 per cent. The performance marks a slight dip compared to last year’s results, when the State recorded a pass percentage of 95.35 per cent. Out of 20,618 students who appeared for the examination held from March 13 to April 9 across 32 centres, a total of 19,486 students successfully cleared the exams. A total of 178 schools achieved 100 per cent result. Among them, 34 government schools (out of 78), 137 aided schools, and 7 unaided schools recorded perfect pass percentages. Girls once again outperformed boys, with 9,414 girls passing at a pass percentage of 96.51 per cent. In comparison, 10,072 boys cleared the examination, registering a pass percentage of 94.37 per cent. Board Chairman Bhagirath Shetye said that 67 students passed with the help Schools asked to form 3-member panels to address result queries PANAJI: The Goa Board has directed all schools to set up a three-member committee to address queries from students and parents related to SSC results and mark verification. According to the directive, each panel must include at least one female member. Schools have also been advised to include a counsellor, wherever available, to support students through the process. Meanwhile, the Board has announced that SSC supplementary examinations for Needs Improvement, ATKT, as well as absent or withdrawn candidates, are tentatively scheduled to commence on June 6. Students awarded ‘H’ or ‘I’ grades will be required to reappear for the examinations. of sports marks, while 6,637 students had availed of the sports category. Additionally, 342 students cleared the exams under the compensation scheme. In terms of subject performance, students achieved top scores of 100 in Mathematics, Science, and Social Science. The highest marks in English and Hindi stood at 98, while Marathi and Konkani saw a high of 99. One student secured a perfect score in standard Mathematics, while two achieved cent per cent in basic Mathematics. Indian Sign Language, introduced as a new subject this year, recorded a highest score of 78, with an overall pass percentage of 86 per cent. Divyang schools recorded an impressive overall pass percentage of 98.73%, with 543 out of 550 students clearing the examination. Among the talukas, Mormugao registered the lowest pass percentage at 90.99%, while Pernem recorded one of the highest at 98.16%, Shetye said. Rising heat sparks Khattar brought to Goa on High-speed crash on water crisis, taps transit remand, arrested Calangute-Baga road run dry in Sattari COURT GRANTS 6-DAY POLICE CUSTODY snuffs out two lives FATAL CRASH 11 VILLAGES DEPEND ON TANKERS THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI While the region continues to reel under intense heat and rising temperatures, Sattari taluka is simultaneously facing a severe water shortage across 11 villages, leaving residents distressed. Although water is currently being supplied through tankers, the supply remains inadequate and irregular, leading to growing dissatisfaction among villagers. Considering the worsening situation, residents are demanding proper water management and immediate remedial measures to tackle the crisis. Villages depend on tankers As per available information, around 11 villages in Sattari are currently reliant on tanker water supply. These include Zarme, Dabe, Charavne, Hivre, and Mavse, among Pressure problem at Dabos project VALPOI: The Dabos water project in the taluka at present is functioning at full capacity without any technical faults. However, due to extreme heat, water demand has surged significantly. According to officials, water pressure is not sufficient to reach remote villages, resulting in shortages in those areas. Despite multiple water treatment plants operating in Sattari -- including Dabos, Padosi, Keri, Savarde, and Gudele -- the scarcity continues. others. Water supply to Zarme depends on the water tank at Dabe. However, frequent breakdowns of the pump >Continued on P7 THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI YouTuber and self-styled spiritual speaker Gautam Khattar was on Sunday remanded to six days of police custody by a Vasco court after being brought to Goa on transit remand from Himachal Pradesh, where he was arrested. Khattar was taken into custody in Kullu district after local police tracked him down based on inputs from the Goa Crime Branch in connection with alleged offensive remarks about St Francis Xavier. A special team of the Goa Crime Branch escorted him to the state via Manohar International Airport on Sunday afternoon. Heavy police deployment was witnessed in and around the Crime Branch office amid apprehensions of public unrest, as locals who had been demanding his arrest gathered in the vicinity. Khattar was later taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital for a routine medical examination. Gautam Khattar being escorted to the Crime Branch office after he was brought to Goa on Sunday. Speaking briefly to the media, Khattar said “Jai Shri Ram”, maintaining a calm and composed demeanour throughout. He was subsequently produced before the Vasco Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), which remanded him to six days’ police custody. Khattar was detained by Himachal Pradesh Police in Kullu on Friday, April 24, and was later handed over to Goa Crime Branch officials. The team secured his transit remand on Saturday, April 25 before flying him to Goa. The controversy stems from remarks allegedly made by Khattar during the Sanatan Dharm Raksha Samiti’s Parshuram Jayanti event held in Vasco on April 18. He is accused of describing St Francis Xavier as a “terrorist” and making derogatory comments about the saint’s sacred relics. The remarks sparked widespread outrage across Goa, with protests reported from several parts of the state. >Continued on P7 MAPUSA Two persons died and two others sustained serious injuries in a head-on collision between two scooters on the busy Calangute-Baga road early Sunday morning. The deceased have been identified as Anil Ughrejiya, a resident of Candolim and Arun Godecha of Gujarat. While Anil succumbed to his injuries at the scene, Arun died while undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim later at noon. According to police, the accident occurred at around 6 am when the two scooters, travelling in opposite directions, collided head-on along the stretch, which is frequented by early morning commuters and tourism-related traffic. “The impact of the collision was severe, resulting in fatal injuries to one rider and critical injury to one and serious injuries to two others,” a police official from Calangute police station said. The injured were rushed to „„2 scooters collide headon at around 6 am „„One rider dies on the spot due to severe impact „„3 others injured (one critical, two serious) „„Injured taken to Candolim health centre, shifted to GMC „„Critically injured person dies later „„Preliminary inquiries suggest speed as possible cause of crash the Candolim primary health centre for treatment, and later shifted to GMC where the person who was critical died. Initial inquiries suggest that speed and possible loss of control may have contributed to the crash, though the exact cause is yet to be ascertained. Calangute police have registered a case of accidental death and are conducting further investigations to determine the circumstances leading to the collision. Soaring temp pushes power demand to all-time high UGC flags Goa-based law university PTI NEW DELHI ndia’s peak power demand hit an all-time high of 256.11 GW on Saturday due to an intensifying heat wave, which increased the use of cooling devices such as air conditioners and desert coolers, according to the latest power ministry data. The peak power demand on Saturday eclipsed the previous record of 252.07 GW, hit just a day earlier on April 24. According to the power ministry data, peak power demand set a new high of 256.11 GW at 1538 hrs on Saturday, and it was fully met. Experts stated that peak power demand is inching I CENTRAL DATA: KEY FACTS & FIGURES „„Peak power demand hits record 256.11 GW „„Demand approaching summer estimate of 270 GW „„Temperatures rising sharply, many regions 5°C above normal „„Heatwave conditions for 3 consecutive days „„Power demand spiked steadily in April „„Early April demand low- er than April 2025 peak „„Experts expect further rise in demand due to intensifying heatwaves „„Increased use of ACs, coolers, appliances driving higher consumption „„Peak power demand last summer was 242.77 GW recorded in June towards the power ministry’s estimate of 270 GW for this summer season, as mercury levels have begun to rise. Temperatures in several regions have been significantly above normal -- by 5 degrees Celsius or more -- indicating a developing heat stress scenario across parts of the country, according to the India Meteorological Department. On Saturday, Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature of the year so far at 42.8 degrees Celsius, marking the highest maximum since 2022, when it reached 43.5 degrees Celsius on April 28. Saturday had been the third consecutive day of a heatwave, according to the IMD. The country’s peak power demand has risen with tem- peratures in April. The highest electricity supply on April 22 was 239.70 GW which rose to 240.12 GW on April 23, 2026. In the first fortnight of this month, the peak power demand met, or the highest supply of electricity in a day, remained lower than the 235.32 GW recorded in April 2025. Experts are of the view that demand and consumption of electricity may further rise due to more intense heat waves, with more frequent use of air conditioners, air coolers, and other appliances by domestic and commercial consumers to beat rising mercury levels in the country. The IMD has projected harsh summers this year. for failing to meet disclosure norms FIGURES AMONG 6 PVT VARSITIES ACROSS INDIA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The University Grants Commission (UGC) has flagged Goa-based India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER) among private universities that have failed to comply with mandatory public self-disclosure norms. Established in Upasnagar-Sancoale in 2022, IIULER-touted as India’s first dedicated international law university, figures among six private universities across the country that remain non-compliant. The UGC had issued a notice to the institution in September 2025 for failing to adhere to the prescribed guidelines. According to the Commission, the universities did not upload key information such as faculty details, courses offered, accreditation status, and financial disclosures -on their official websites in a manner accessible to the public without login barriers, thereby violating provisions under Section 13 of the UGC Act, 1956. In September last year, the UGC had listed 54 universities, including IIULER, for similar lapses. As per updates on the UGC’s official website, the number of defaulters has since been reduced to six. However, IIULER continues to remain on the list. The other five institutions include two from Gujarat and one each from Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Chhattisgarh. The disclosure norms, framed under UGC transparency guidelines, mandate universities to maintain >Continued on P7