log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JANUARY 20, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.213 Instagram.com/thegoanonline PG16 Australian Open: Djokovic beats Etcheverry in Melbourne RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Modi Sarkar ki Guarantee Government of India Better education for students from tribal communities Scan for more information Hamara Sankalp CBC 22201/13/0180/2324 401 Eklavya Model Residential Schools across the country; Scholarships distributed to over 3 crore ST students till now Viksit Bharat Lights, camera, action! Loliem gets Khel tiatrists cry foul over in-principle approval for Film City hefty fees during Carnival ESG SEEKS COMUNIDADE’S 99-YEAR LEASE CONSENT COMUNIDADE CONVENES EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL BODY MEET ON FEBRUARY 4 THE GOAN I NETWORK CANACONA Giving its in-principle approval to Loliem as the site for the Film City, the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) has accepted the proposal from Loliem Comunidade and has sought its consent for a 99-year lease of 250 acres of land in Loliem village. Loliem Comunidade has now convened an extra-ordinary general body meeting of the Components on February 4 at 10 am at Shri Keshav Devalaya, Loliem, to give its approval on development of infrastructure for a Film and Entertainment Industry, by the ESG on lease basis for 99 years in the property belonging to the Comunidade of Loliem-Polem measuring an area of 10 lakh sq mtrs, states a notice in the Official Gazette. According to Loliem Co- page 7 Award-winning Goan Elvis tribute artiste moves, grooves Down Under Goans in California mark Feast of St Joseph Vaz IN SHORT >> Govt mulls education through satellite PANAJI: The government is mulling promoting education through Satellite (Edusat) in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who held a meeting with ISRO Director H Rayappa said “discussions were held on education through Satellite on activity-based learning in line with the NEP 2020. Carnival fiesta from February 10 PANAJI: Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte announced that Carnival will commence from its traditional venue in Panaji on February 10, followed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti’s main event on February 19 and Shigmo on March 26.  >> See pg 3 ALL EYES ON FEB 4 MEET „„Meeting of Components scheduled for February 4 at 10 am at Shri Keshav Devalaya, Loliem „„Comunidade president says Components expected to give approval for development of infrastructure in property belonging to the Comunidade measuring 10 lakh sq mtrs „„ESG has called for a ‘consent’ to give them the required 250 acres of land on a 99-year lease agreement munidade President Vishwajeet Warik, Loliem Comunidade in response to ESG seeking applications for a Film City, had sent its proposal/application in October 2023. “Loliem has got an in-principle nod to house the Film City in the village. This proposal/application stands approved and accord- AAP in talks with INDIA block for LS seat in Goa THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Indicating that the party is keen on contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Goa, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that the party is in talks with INDIA alliance for a Goa seat. Goa has two Lok Sabha constituencies -- North Goa and South Goa. However, Kejriwal did not specify which of the two seats the AAP was eyeing to contest. Stating that AAP will fill the vacuum of being an alternative to BJP, Kejriwal expressed confidence of forming a government in Goa in the 2027 elections, considering the support of the people. Speaking to media persons after addressing a meeting of the volunteers at Dona Paula, Kejriwal said that AAP is part of INDIA alliance and talks are on for seat sharing for Lok Sabha including in Goa. KEJRIWAL TALK „„ AAP is part of INDIA alliance and talks are on for seat sharing for Lok Sabha including in Goa „„BJP is getting votes in Goa as there is no alternative „„There is a big vacuum and we are ready to fill it VENZY ASKS SUPREMO TO PRESS FOR SOUTH GOA LS SEAT >> See pg 2 “INDIA alliance meetings are taking place on seat sharing. Goa is also one of the State for which discussion is going on as who will contest which seat. Right now we are fighting as INDIA alliance. Whatever discussion that takes place, do vote for INDIA alliance candidate in the Lok >Continued on P5 ingly, the ESG has called for a ‘consent’ to give them the required 250 acres of land on a 99-year lease agreement,” said Warik. “We have, therefore, called for an extraordinary general body meeting of the components of Loliem Comunidade on February 4, to take a call on the ESG’s request. We are most likely to take a favourable decision in this meeting for the betterment and development of the village,” Warik said. It may be recalled that following the Loliem Comunidade’s proposal submitted to the ESG’s advertisement seeking land to house the Film City in Loliem, a controversy of sorts erupted in the village as people questioned the Comunidade’s decision to earmark 10 lakh square metres of land at Bhagawati Plateau, the same site which had been shortlisted for the IIT-Goa campus and later rejected by people. At the last Gam Sabha, the villagers passed another unanimous resolution not to allow development of any kind or nature on the Bhagwati plateau except for traditional development and use. Many people have seen the ‘Film City’ as a sinister plan for a backdoor entry to destroy the only piece of highly eco-sensitive land left in the village, which needs to be kept for future generations. While the Film City controversy had even led to the resignation of a village sarpanch, many of the panch members who had vehemently opposed and even passed a unanimous resolution in the past term against concretisation of eco-sensitive Bhagwati plateau were now seen leaning towards the Film City project. Seek exemption on sound from Pollution Board THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Khell tiatrists and Konkani folk play artists are up in arms red over the hefty fees they are required to pay to Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for use of sound to stage plays during the three-day Carnival festivities. The artists have now knocked the doors of Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira with a plea to either exempt them from payment of fees or impose a nominal fee taking into account that khell tiatrs form part of Goa’s rich culture, heritage and tradition. The Khell tiatrists contended that they may end up paying huge fees to GSPCB, and in the bargain suffer losses after clearing the bills of artists and musicians performing at the Carnival khell shows. Led by the Tiatrist Arnaldo Costa, a delegation of khell tiatrists called on Environment Minister Alexio THIS IS NO MUSIC TO THEIR EARS „„Khel tiatrists claim GSPCB is charging them Rs 3000 per show „„Assuming that they stage around five khells a day on each of the three-day Carnival festival they will land up paying Rs 45,000 to GSPCB „„Additionally, directors have to pay around Rs 50,000 to musicians for all three days „„They also have to take care of artists and provide transport to move from village to another „„Are ready to pay Rs 3,000 as token fee to GSPCB Sequeira at his Friday darbar in the South district Collectorate with a plea to exempt them from the payment of fees for use of sound. After giving the delegation a patient hearing, the Minister telephonically spoke to GSPCB Member Secretary Dr Shamila Monteiro to find out whether any solution can be worked out. In fact, the Minister later told the GSPCB Member Secretary to meet him at the Secretariat in the evening for detailed discussions on the issue. The tiatirsts led by Arnold later told The Goan that they have sought the intervention of the Environment Minister considering the fact that they may end up in paying a hefty fee of Rs 45,000 to the GSPCB for staging shows during the three-day Carnival festivities. Assuming that the khell tiatrists stage around five khells a day on each of the three-day Carnival festival, Arnold said the directors will have no option than to pay a hefty fee of Rs 45,000 to the GSPCB charging a > Continued on P5 Budget: Govt calls for ideas, suggestions from Goans Mormugao braces for power cut, major shutdown planned for Sun THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Ahead of the Budget session, scheduled next month, the State government has invited ideas and suggestions from the citizens to draft a “public centric” Budget 2024-25, which is likely to be tabled in the House on February 8. In a statement, Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said that “on behalf of the government of Goa, the Chief Minister is inviting ideas and suggestions of citizens to be included in the Budget to shape a public-centric budget that caters to every individual”. “CM has appealed to everyone to contribute to building a budget that reflects the requirements of every Goan,” CMO added. The citizens are requested to submit their inputs at https://goabudget.gov.in or https://goaonline.gov.in/ budget. “Kindly contribute to the budget making process,” CMO said. The Budget session of the State Legislative Assembly is scheduled from February 2-9. VASCO A major power shutdown on Sunday will leave Mormugao taluka without electricity supply. According to notice issued by the office of Assistant Engineer, Electricity Department, Verna, the planned major power shutdown will last for seven hours. As the Sub Divisional Engineer, Sub Division -II 110/33/11 KV Verna substation has arranged maintenance work on the 110/33/11 KV (EHV), Verna Sub Station, there will be no power supply from the following 110 KV feeders on Sunday between 7 am to 2 pm in the afternoon, the notice said. The notice further states that the works will be taken on 110 KV Ponda/Verna and 110KV Xeldem/Verna circuit which will affect 33KV Sancoale, Kadamba, Harbour, Bogda and Majorda substations, thereby affecting the areas of Entire Mormugao Taluka, Majorda, Verna, Verna IDC and 110 KV Cipla industry. A sewage chamber being constructed as part of the Smart City sewerage network at Mala on Friday. Narayan Pissurlenkar Officials take stock of smart city work, encroachments cleared THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate on Friday inspected sites of the ongoing 'smart city' works in the capital city, including some areas where encroachments on footpaths and road widening setbacks have impeded work. Monserrate, who was accompanied by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) managing director and CEO, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, CCP deputy mayor Sanjiv Naik, municipal engineer Parsekar and other officials, instructed the team to remove the encumbrances and en- croachments so work can progress quickly. One of the sites Monserrate, Rodrigues and the CCP team inspected was the stretch of road taken up as a 'smart road project' between the Caculo Mall junction and the Madhuban circle and onward into the >Continued on P5 Soon, students will be able to Ayodhya turns into fortress, over 10k CCTVs set up study in their own languages ON PAGE 3 AHEAD OF RAM TEMPLE OPENING… PTI AYODHYA he security levels in Ayodhya have been raised ahead of the grand opening ceremony of the Ram Temple on January 22. The alert was sounded after inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) about a suspected security breach. Uttar Pradesh police has deputed about 12,000 personnel in and around Ayodhya after the fresh threats. They have also roped in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor threats. Over 10,000 CCTV cameras have also been set up at T First image of Ram Lalla surfaces AYODHYA: The first image of the new Ram Lalla idol became public on Friday as anticipation built up for the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya temple on January 22. The statue, carved in black stone sourced from Karnataka, has its eyes covered with a piece of yellow cloth and is adorned with a garland of roses, going by the picture released by the Vishva Hindu Parishad. Ram Lalla, the child Ram, is in the standing posture. crucial entry and exit points in and around the city. Multiple NDRF teams trained to tackle chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear attacks as well as Tension in Porvorim as Ram Temple banners torn, 1 arrested Passport office asks applicants to reschedule appointments Cumbarjua p’yat bans sale of mutton, chicken, fish on Jan 22 disasters like earthquakes and drowning incidents, have also been deployed in Ayodhya. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) director general Atul Karwal told PTI that the teams are undertaking continuous familiarisation exercises in the area and conducting simulation drills in the temple town to respond to any contingency. “Multiple NDRF teams, few HAZMAT (hazardous material) vehicles that were procured by the force during the recently concluded G20 summit in Delhi have been stationed in Ayodhya to effectively deal with any kind of disaster or trouble,” he said on the sidelines of the 19th raising day event of the force. GOVT WANTS STUDY MATERIAL DIGITIZED IN 3 YRS PTI NEW DELHI The Centre has directed schools and higher education institutions to provide study material for all courses in Indian languages digitally within the next three years, officials said on Friday. The decision is aimed at providing students opportunity to study in their own language. “The government has directed all school and high- er education regulators like UGC, AICTE, NCERT, NIOS, IGNOU and heads of INIs like IITs, CUs and NITs to make study material in Indian languages available for all courses in the next three years. “UGC, AICTE and the Department of School Education have also been asked to take up the issue with regard to state schools and universities,” Ministry of Education said in a statement. “The above directions have emerged from the recom- mendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) for promoting multilingualism in education at every level, so that students get the opportunity to study in their own language, and can have better learning outcomes,” it said. According to the MoE, NEP 2020 strongly conveys the idea that multilingual nature of Bharat is its huge asset and strength which needs to be utilised efficiently for its socio-cultural, economic and educational development.