log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY FEBRUARY 29, 2024 14 pages GOA Fate of Sonsodo infrastructure uncertain as Margao council mulls tech options Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.252 2 GOA PWD fast-tracks to rectify 12 black spots on Panaji-Belagavi highway 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Back pain: Causes, symptoms and treatment Dabolim footfall down 20%, but director shows a ‘silver lining’ SAYS THERE’S NO PRESSURE FROM GOVT OR POLITICIANS ON ANY AIRLINE; ASSURES ADDITIONAL FLIGHTS DURING SUMMER THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO Goa Airport Director Dhanamjaya Rao on Wednesday admitted there has been a considerable 15-20% drop in footfall but maintained that Goa International Airport at Dabolim was here to stay. Rao accepted that number of passengers at Dabolim Airport had dropped after Mopa airport had begun operations. “After Mopa Airport commenced, we handled 8.4 million passengers in the last financial year but this financial year, we have handled around 7 million passengers and so, that means there is a difference of around 15-20% in the figures,” said Rao. “Dabolim Airport will however remain operational and we will get additional flights in the coming summer schedule. Most charter flights operate from here except for one operator.” The Dabolim airport director said he did not think there is any pressure from the government or politicians to any airline to move out of Dabolim. “Many airlines prefer to >> See PG 3 No sign of CCP-GSIDC constructing phase III of Panaji market IN SHORT >> New rules notified for co-op societies PANAJI: The State Government has notified Goa Co-operative Societies (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2024 as per which Co-operative Societies will have to pay Rs 10,000 to the State from the premium amount collected from members during transfer of shares and occupancy rights. IT officer suspended for demanding bribe PANAJI: An IT officer who allegedly demanded a bribe from a job candidate, has been suspended after a preliminary inquiry confirmed his involvement. WEATHER >> Max: 30 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 68% RAO ALLAYS FEARS OF SHUTDOWN „„Many airlines prefer to operate from Dabolim Airport and we may get back to our maximum in the days to come „„As of now, we have international airlines operating from here like Gulf Air, Air Arabia and Air India Express „„We may also have new sectors in March between Goa to Pune and Hyderabad „„We are ready for any operations with all the slots and if any airline wants to operate to any sector including Ayodhya, we are ready to give slots operate from Dabolim Airport and we may get back to our maximum in the days to come. As of now, we have international airlines operating from here like Gulf Air, Air Arabia and Air India Express.” “We may also have new sectors in March between Goa to Pune and Hyderabad. As of now, we are ready for any operations with all the slots and if any airline wants to operate to any sector including Ayodhya, we are ready to give slots. There is no threat to Da- bolim Airport as of now and Dabolim Airport will survive because it has a very good potential,” said Rao. Commenting on the decision of Qatar Airways to shift operations to Mopa International Airport, Rao said: “Qatar Airways is a flight operator and they take their own decisions. Qatar Airways had one daily flight to Goa Airport but we have to respect their decision. Yes, there has been a certain reduction in operations after this decision.” BJP likely to finalise Goa candidates for LS election today POLL CODE EXPECTED MID-MARCH THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After hours of brainstorming, the BJP Parliamentary Board has scheduled a second round of meeting on Thursday to finalise candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, who attended the meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday, submitted report cards (political background) of each probable candidate to facilitate the Board to make its decision. Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda held separate meetings with party leaders from several states including Goa. “We gave a detailed report on the poll preparations in Goa. Our senior leaders discussed the poll strategy to ensure BJP’s massive victory this time too. We have also submitted the probable candidates’ political background to the Parliamentary Board to LIST OF PROBABLE CANDIDATES „„South Goa: Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar, former CM Digambar Kamat, ex-minister Chandrakant Kavlekar, former South MP Narendra Sawaikar, and Damu Naik „„North Goa: Minister of State for Tourism, Ports and Waterways Shripad Naik; Dayanand Sopte, Dilip Parulekar and Dayanand Mandrekar make its decision,” Tanavade said speaking to The Goan from Delhi. He confirmed the Board will once again meet on Thursday to finalise the names for Goa’s two seats while the announcement is expected either on the same day or before the Model >Continued on P5 Goa-based Fly91 begins Ops from Mopa, receives water cannon salute PANAJI: The Goa-based regional carrier Fly91 operated its first-ever ATR 72-600 flight from Mopa airport on Wednesday. The aircraft received a water cannon salute at the Mopa airport. The regional airline, which has its corporate office at Kadamba Plateau and has the Mopa airport as its main base, strives to enhance air connectivity from tier 2 and tier 3 towns across India. On reasons to choose Goa as base, Fly91 MD & CEO Manoj Chacko had told CNBC-TV18 that Goa is one of the busiest airports in the country with non-stop tourist traffic. “Moreover, it’s a great place in terms of cost of living, quality of life, education for children, medical facilities and rentals which also brings down the cost of operations significantly,” he was quoted in a CNBC-TV18 report. The Goa-based airline plans to offer last mile connectivity to passengers with short haul flights that are within the radius of 45-90 minutes such as Kolhapur, Sholapur, Hubli, Latur, Mysore, the report added. Highest-ever drug bust in India: 3,300 kg seized off Gujarat coast PTI PORBANDAR/ DELHI Indian agencies on Wednesday made their highest-ever narcotics bust from the sea as they seized 3,300 kg drugs, which sailed from Iran, off the Gujarat coast and arrested five foreigners from a dhow. The cache could be worth anything between Rs 1,300-Rs 2,000 crore in the international market, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Director General S N Pradhan said. The unregistered fishing boat was intercepted on Tuesday at the Arabian Sea from a point about 60 nautical miles from the Indian coast and along the International Maritime Boundary Line. The Navy deployed its P8I long-range maritime aircraft and marine commandos onboard a warship apart from helicopters. About 3,300 kg of contraband that includes 3,110 kg charas or Hashish, 158.3 kg of crystal Methamphetamine and 24.6 kg of suspected heroin has been recovered from packets that bore the stamp of ‘Ras Awad Goods Co, produce of Pakistan’, the NCB said. National parties declare ` 3,077 crore income in 2022-23; BJP’s share highest PTI NEW DELHI he six national parties have declared a total income of nearly Rs 3,077 crore in the 2022-23 fiscal, with the BJP getting the maximum share of around Rs 2,361 crore, the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said on Wednesday. The ruling BJP’s income constitutes 76.73 per cent of the total income of the six national parties during FY 2022-23, it said. The Congress declared the second highest income at Rs 452.375 crore, which forms T A D R DATA S H O W S … „„The ruling BJP’s income constitutes 76.73%, around Rs 2,361 crore of the total income of the six national parties during FY 2022-23 „„Congress declared the second highest income at Rs 452.375 crore, which forms 14.70% of the total „„The AAP’s income is at Rs 85.17 crore while NPP income is Rs 7.562 crore during FY 2022-23 „„The BJP, Congress and AAP collected 49.09% or Rs 1,510.61 crore of national parties’ total income from donations through electoral bonds for FY 2022-23 14.70 per cent of the total income of the six national parties. Besides the BJP and the Congress, BSP, AAP, NPP and CPI-M have declared their income. The BJP, Congress and AAP collected 49.09 per cent or Rs 1,510.61 crore of national parties’ total income from donations through electoral bonds for FY 2022-23. The BJP received Rs 1294.15 crore through electoral bonds, while the Congress received Rs 171.02 crore and AAP Rs 45.45 crore. Citing data shared by the SBI in response to its RTI, the ADR said electoral bonds worth Rs 2,797.356 crore were redeemed by parties in FY 2022-23. Fifty-four per cent or Rs 1510.62 crore of this has been redeemed by national parties. >Continued on P5 11 SPORTS Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer dropped from list of BCCI annual contracts 14 14 p.c. of Goa’s land is ‘highly’ suitable for agroforestry: Data SUITABILITY AREA IS SPREAD ACROSS 463 SQ KMS LAND THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Around 14 per cent of Goa’s land is ‘highly’ and ‘moderately’ suitable for agroforestry – a traditional combination of practising agriculture and forestry together on the same unit of land. According to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and NITI Aayog study, Goa’s agroforestry suitability is spread across a total area of 463 sq kms. The data released last week reveals that 8.87 per cent of Goa’s total geographical area, that is 309.60 sq kms is “highly” suitable for agroforestry while another 4.4 per cent falls under “moderate” category. This comprises 153.64 sq kms land. Most area - 86 per cent of the total land (3028.10 sq kms) falls under ‘not applicable’ category and this includes cropped areas, forests and other land use system, other than classified ‘wastelands’. States have variable wastelands areas suited for taking up agroforestry for wasteland greening. North Goa, with 178.04 sq kms of land, has the highest area suitable for agroforestry while South has an area of 131.55 sq kms. However, South Goa has a large chunk of 82.10 sq kms of land under ‘moderate’ cate- ISRO & NITI AAYOG STUDY REVEALS… „„8.87% of Goa’s total geographical area that is 309.60 sq kms is “highly” suitable for agroforestry while 4.4 per cent falls under “moderate” category – comprising of 153.64 sq kms land „„North Goa, with 178.04 sq kms of land, has the highest area suitable for agroforestry while South has an area of 131.55 sq kms „„South Goa has a large chunk of 82.10 sq kms of land under ‘moderate’ category, while North has 71.54 sq kms of land „„86% of the total land (3028.10 sq kms) falls under ‘not applicable’ category and this includes cropped areas, forests and other land use system, other than classified ‘wastelands’ gory, while North has 71.54 sq kms of land. Agroforestry is the integration of trees, crops and/or livestock on the same piece of land to enhance productivity and resilience of farms and deliver numerous vital ecological services. “Hence, it can act as a promising land-based transformation solution with several co-benefits. Adoption of agroforestry can enhance farmers’ income, increase in green cover, natural resource conservation, production of forest based raw-materials and rural development,” the report stated. A multi-institutional team was formed by NITI Aayog to develop a Geographic Information System based analysis to assess the agroforestry suitability regimes in wastelands across the country. The team utilised remote sensing and GIS to assess agroforestry suitability across all districts in India through ISRO. >Continued on P5