log on to thegoan.net WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2024 14 pages GOA Introduction of GST had large implication on revenue of local bodies in Goa: Panel IN SHORT >> HC allows removal of balance Kalay ore PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has allowed ore handlers to remove the remaining ore at the Kalay Railway Station, but ruled that no further ore shall be shipped via Kalay railway station unless they have permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary within which the railway station falls.  >> See pg 3 Govt to acquire IIT land for ` 60 cr: CM PANAJI: The State government will acquire 10 lakh sq mts land at Rivona, Sanguem by spending approximately Rs 60 crore, the Legislative Assembly was told by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a written reply to an unstarred question by Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao. Summons against Kejriwal quashed PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has quashed the summons issued by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the case registered against him back in 2017 for alleged violation of the model code of conduct.  >> See pg 3 Pregnant woman falls in Mapusa market MAPUSA: A day after a senior citizen fell into a hole on a footpath near Sirsat building in Mapusa, a pregnant woman got injured after slipping and falling at the entrance of the Mapusa fish market.  >> See pg 3 11 killed, 200 hurt in MP explosion BHOPAL: At least eleven persons were killed and nearly 200 others injured in a powerful explosion and subsequent blaze at a firecrackers factory near Harda town of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday, a senior official said. Some videos of the incident surfaced on social media showing the massive fire with intermittent explosions taking place at the site and people frantically running to save themselves. WEATHER >> Max: 33 C Min: 23 C Humidity: 86% TIDES Low: High: 02:49 07:21 14:41 22:09 Facebook.com/thegoan @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.230 3 GOA Apology sought from Cotigao, Shristhal sarpanchas over Tawadkar-Gaude spat 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Quick, single-ingredient masks for your hair and skin 9 SPORTS U-19 World Cup: India overcomes South Africa scare to reach final 14 PM pats minorities in Viksit outreach EXTOLS PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF CHRISTIAN, OTHER COMMUNITIES  MARGAO MEETING DRAWS MASSIVE CROWD  CENTRE TO PROMOTE GOA AS DESTINATION FOR CONFERENCE TOURISM  SAWANT’S GOOD GOVERNANCE DRAWS PRAISE  GOA’S ECO-TOURISM INITIATIVE IN HINTERLAND HAILED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his visit to Goa on Tuesday to launch the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While hailing State’s harmony, Modi said that when people of Goa -- with different societies and religions -- coexist peacefully and elect BJP time and again, it sends a strong message to India. Addressing the ‘Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa 2047’ programme in Margao, attended by thousands of people, Modi said that “peaceful co-existence of Christian and other communities in Goa is an example of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”. “Even though Goa is small in area and population, it is socially diverse and people of different societies and religions have been coexisting in peace for several generations,” Prime Minister said adding “so when these people elect BJP time and again, it sends a strong message to India”. He highlighted the mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and lauded the Goencho Saib a symbol of peace, says Modi Thousands of hands went up at Viksit Bharat, Viksit Goa rally at Margao KTC bus stand after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant urged the crowd to rise in support of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Inset) PM addressing the rally. Santosh Mirajkar. spirit of the people of Goa who have always given a befitting reply to those trying to harm the harmony of the State. “There are some sections in the country that have always played politics of spreading fear and lies. But Goa has given such sections a befitting reply over and over again,” Modi said. He was speaking in the presence of Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shripad Yesso Naik, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanawade and other State cabinet Ministers. Apart from developing Goa as an Educational and >Continued on P5 Govt inquiries under lens, no headway in 35 cases RECORDS REVEAL THAT EITHER INVESTIGATIONS ARE PENDING OR DECISIONS ARE STILL AWAITED PANAJI Whether its inquiries into the death of student Ravina Rodrigues due to medical negligence nearly a decade and a half ago, the collapse of Ruby Residency in 2014 or the issuance of fake sick certificates to police personnel; Goa government’s determination to bring these issues to a logical conclusion appears to be lacking. Its own records reveal that either inquiries are pending or respective disciplinary authority’s decisions are awaited. As many as 35 vigilance cases against officers from various departments in the Collectorate, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Public Health, Police, Urban Leopards terrorise Sanguem; 3 cows killed, 4 injured THE GOAN I NETWORK nal pain/appendix which led to her death. The then government formed a committee of doctors to probe the alleged medical negligence and sought disciplinary action as well as criminal investigation against the doctors for gross negligence. While the fate of other inquiries is not known, the Vigilance inquiry is pending. As per government’s >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 „„Death of student Ravina Rodrigues due to medical negligence nearly a decade and a half ago „„Inquiry against senior surgeon of Hospicio Hospital, Margao Dr Anil Rane for allegedly issuing sick certificates to Police Personnel on ‘flimsy grounds „„Inquiry against Deputy Town Planner Prakash Bandodkar and draughtsman Ramesh Naik into collapse of the Ruby Residency building „„Probe against suspended Mamlatdar Rahul Desai and former Civil Registrar cum Sub Registrar in Mapusa Tushan Kunkolikar Development, Personnel, etc are pending or awaiting action. One of these inquiries is against the Professor and Head of Department of Surgery (Goa Medical College, Bambolim) Dilip Amonkar, over alleged negligence in the death of 17-year-old Ravina in 2010. It triggered an outrage across Goa with her parents blaming the GMC and a private hospital for gross negligence in treating her abdomi- CM presents report card of infra development for last 10 years Modi inaugurates 3 projects virtually at Margao rally GF chief, LoP, South Goa MP keep away 70,000 people attended rally: CM Thousands queue up for lunch ahead of rally SANGUEM Leopards are believed to have struck terror in the hilly hamlet of Tudov ward of Neturlim in Sanguem, as three cows were killed and 4 other cows were injured on Monday. The attack came in as a shock for the cowherds after they had returned home for lunch during noon. Villagers informed that they had, as usual, taken their cows for grazing in the nearby pasture and at noon they had returned home for lunch. A short while later, some cows came running home and four of them had injuries on their neck. The surprised villagers ran to see their cattle only to find three cows lying dead on the ground with deep injuries on their necks. Two of the dead cows belonged to Prabhakar Velip while one belonged to Kushta Gaonkar and those injured belonged to Vithal Gaonkar. While earlier there were instances of dogs being taken away by leopards in the KEY CASES AWAITING ACTION THE GOAN I NETWORK ON PAGE 2 PANAJI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this year is a very special year for Goa due to the Exposition of Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier. “St Xavier, popularly known as ‘Goencho Saib’, is a symbol of peace and cohesiveness. Held once in ten years, the Exposition, scheduled to take place in December, sends a message of peace and cohesiveness”,he said. He also remembered Saint Queen Ketevan of Georgia whose Holy Relics were taken to Georgia by the Minister of External Affairs. APPOINTMENT LETTERS: Prime Minister distributed appointment orders to 1930 new Government recruits across departments under Rozgar Mela and also handed over sanction letters to beneficiaries of Laadli Laxmi, Griha Aadhar and Dayanand Social Security Scheme and Kisan credit cards. PROJECTS WORTH `1330 CR INAUGURATED „„The Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 1330 crores „„He inaugurated the permanent campus of NIT, Goa at Cuncolim. „„New campus of first National Institute of Water sports. „„100 TPD Waste Facility at Cacora was also inaugurated. „„Foundation stone for Passenger Ropeway connecting Panaji and Reis Magos, and construction of a 100 MLD Water Treatment Plant in South Goa. Gaude in soup; abusive audio clip goes viral MINISTER CAN BE HEARD LASHING OUT AT TRIBAL WELFARE DIRECTOR, TAWADKAR AND SAWANT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In less than 24 hours after the BJP State leadership tried to end the feud between Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, the latter has found him in more trouble over a viral audio clip. An unedited 4.14 minute audio clip of the telephonic conversation between the Minister and Director of Tribal Welfare has gone viral on social media on Tuesday. In the audio clip, the Minister is heard lashing out at the Head of the Department Dashrath Redkar, of his own Ministry, for granting funds to an NGO for organizing events through Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission in his Gaude is heard yelling at the Head of the Department Dashrath Redkar for granting funds to an NGO for organizing events through Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission in his constituency -- Priol. He is also heard abusing and threatening the officer if he and the chairman of SC and ST Commission decide to go ahead with the scheduled event constituency -- Priol. In the clip, Gaude was heard yelling, abusing and threatening the officer with dire consequences, if he and the chairman of the SC and ST Commission decide to go ahead with the scheduled event. Though, some says that it is an old audio clip, one can- not ignore the fact that the Minister has even abused the Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the entire clip. The Minister is even heard saying that he will > Continued on P5 No corruption, DA With just 48 hrs to go, Carnival fervour yet to hit Goans cases in last 3 yrs ISSUE AT STAKE THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa government could boast of an “impeccable” record as not a single government official has been caught in disproportionate assets or corruption cases for over three years. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant shared this information on the floor of the House, stating that since 2021, no cases of corruption or disproportionate assets have been registered by the Anti-Corruption Branch against government officials. The records till January 15, 2024 show ‘nil’ in response to an unstarred question seeking to know cases registered at ACB/Vigilance of disproportionate assets and corruption against government officials since 2020. Three First Information Reports (FIRs) in 2020 -- two against Head Constable Tukaram Shirodkar, and Anjuna panch members Sheetal Dabholkar, Hanumant Govekar and Surendra Govekar for corruption; and a third one against Noise Pollution member of Anjuna Devanand Shirodkar and Clerk of Anjuna panchayat Reema Shirodkar for disproportionate >Continued on P5 PANAJI ith barely 48 hours remaining for Carnival, the usual fervour surrounding the annual event seems to be missing with a low-key response from visitors. Stakeholders attribute a number of factors -- the absence of a large chunk of foreign tourists and the unending Smart City works in Panaji for the lackluster atmosphere, at least as of now. These issues, which have already garnered negative attention on various social media platforms, were also coupled by back-to-back events in the already congested capital city. “So many factors have „„Absence of a large chunk of foreign tourists „„Concerns over expensive stay, poor infrastructure compared to other places „„Unending Smart City works in Panaji „„Back-to-back events in the already congested capital city W Youngsters give final touches to a Carnival float at Mala on Tuesday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar contributed to the current situation. Overcrowding during Christmas and New Year is a yearly pattern and we see a similar surge during the Carnival festival, but this year’s turnout does not look impressive,” co-proprietor of a tour and travel agency in Panaji, Nagesh said. Nevertheless, he added, tour operators are optimistic that domestic tourists will pick up on the event’s opening day. “The visitors have raised concerns about the expensive stay and poor infrastructure compared to other places. Yes, we are getting inquiries but bookings are limited,” another travel agent said. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has admitted that Goa has turned into an expensive destination. Surprisingly, the airfare, which usually soars during this time of the festivity, has remained at normal levels. Similarly, the hotel bookings are only ‘average’ despite otherwise satisfactory response -- thanks to destination weddings and other events. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has conceded the possibility that Goa might have already received tourists due to weddings and numerous other events such as the just concluded music festival, Lokutsav, Mega Fish Festival, etc and the ongoing India Energy Week. “There’s certainly a buzz surrounding Carnival but we have seen a plethora of events (in the last few days). There are also destination weddings taking place on different days,” TTAG President Nilesh Shah said. The foreign tourists, who add to the crowd, are also fewer with reasons already discussed. “Usually we see a large volume of foreign visitors during the tourist season including January-February. However, this time, the numbers have dropped for various reasons,” Shah added indicating a weak inflow of foreign travellers. President of the Goa Hotel >Continued on P5