log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY MARCH 8, 2024 GOA @thegoanonline 24 hectares notified reserved forest PANAJI: Around 24 hectares of area in Uguem village of Sanguem taluka has been notified as reserved forest for undertaking compensatory afforestation towards diversion of land for mining purpose. >> See pg 3 Agriculture Policy submitted to govt PANAJI: The long pending ‘Goa State Amritkal Agriculture Policy 2024’ was submitted to the government for approval. The policy document comprising 150 pages is a strategic initiative aligning with the vision of Amritkal. >> See pg 3 GMC opens internship for foreign students PANAJI: Goa Medical College has invited applications for internship from foreign medical graduates for 2024-2025. Medical graduates from abroad who have passed primary qualification and have passed the screening test conducted by National Board of Examinations are eligible to apply. Govt extends `300 LPG subsidy for poor NEW DELHI: Ahead of general elections, the government announced the extension of Rs 300 per LPG cylinder subsidy to poor women under the Ujjwala Yojana for the next fiscal starting April 1. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 3 13 2 9 Shot in the arm for STs, Cabinet Facilities at Basilica get `17 crore boost approves bill to reserve seats ahead of Exposition GOA Officials admit task uphill to monitor ‘online’ influencers engaged by govt PM LAUNCHES WORK UNDER PRASAD SCHEME THROUGH VIRTUAL MODE BILL CAN BE TABLED ONLY IN THE NEXT LOK SABHA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a bill to provide reservations to Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal made the announcement that the Cabinet has approved ''Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes Bill, 2024”. Goyal said, as per the proposal approved by the Cabinet, the Census Commission will be required to notify the Scheduled Tribe population of Goa and subsequently the Election Commission will have to do the reservation of seats for the STs based on the notified data. According to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, as per the Census 2011, the population of Scheduled Tribes communities is 1,49,275, which is 10.23 per cent and they get reservations in elections at village panchayats, municipal councils, and Zilla Panchayats but not in Legislative Assembly elections. The bill could now be Sawant upbeat, thanks Modi, Shah; says it’s a major victory for STs PANAJI: Stating that it was a major victory for the Schedule Tribe community in the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah after the Union Cabinet approved a bill to provide reservations to Scheduled Tribes in the State Legislative Assembly. “I wholeheartedly thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the central Cabinet approval for readjustment of 40 seats in the Goa Legislative Assembly for providing reservations to Scheduled Tribes of the State”, he said. Sawant also thanked Home Minister Amit Shah for his continued support in giving justice to the ST community, adding “this is a major victory for the Schedule Tribes in Goa”. brought in the next Lok Sabha to be formed after the upcoming general elections. On Wednesday, the scheduled tribe leaders under the banner ‘Mission Political Reservation for Scheduled Tribes had started their chain hunger strike demanding immediate notification to reserve four Assembly constituencies -- Sanguem, Priol, Quepem and Nuvem for the community candidate. The leaders, led by Rupesh Velip, held a sit-in chain hunger strike at Azad Maidan pressing for their demand. They had expressed complete displeasure at the manner in which the State and Central leadership were handling the reservation issue. Govt orders audit of all taxis PANAJI: In a bid to regulate taxi business, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has ordered an audit of all tourist taxis in the State. According to government data as of December 2023, the State had around 32,687 taxis which included All India Permit Taxis, All Goa Permit Taxis, Yellow and Black Taxis, App based taxis and rent-a-cars. “Have directed the transport department to conduct a taxi audit to ascertain how many taxis are there in Goa… how many are operational… how many are having permits but not in operation… how many are following SOPs… everything will be known through this audit” he said. “The audit will help us take a broad policy decision to regulate this business,” he said, pointing out that the government has already stopped issuing new rent-a -car and bike permits as they are a “nuisance”. be strict enforcement. Vehicles found operating without working speed governors will be impounded and permits cancelled. There is already provision to cancel the permits if a vehicle is found in serious violation twice,” he added. Quoting the concern raised by the vehicle operators, the Minister said there may not be enough speed governors in the market and hence sellers are exploiting the situation. “So vehicle operators are free to buy it from whoever they want even from outside the State,” he said. “I don’t want innocent lives to be lost just because of someone’s rash and negligent driving,” Godinho said, appealing to people not to >Continued on P5 RISING ACCIDENTS, FATALITIES 'EXTREMELY DISTRESSING’: HC >> See pg 3 It is duty of State to protect life: Court PANAJI: Acknowledging the Goa government’s decision to enforce the installation of speed governors in rental cars, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has emphasized the importance of strict adherence to this measure, citing Article 21 of the Constitution. During a hearing on a writ petition concerning an accident, the government advocate referred to The Goan's report published on March 2, 2024, which highlighted that out of around 2800 accidents in 2023, 52 involved rental cars, 24 rental bikes, and 517 involved vehicles registered outside the State.  >> See pg 3 Citizens hold candlelit vigil for Siolim trees, green crusader vows legal battle THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA merging as a vocal opponent against the chopping down of century-old mango trees in Siolim, the green crusader Avertino Miranda described the slaughtering of the age-old trees as mass murder and vowed to take legal action against the felling of these trees, which he deems unwarranted. Miranda also called upon the people of Goa to remain united to fight the onslaught of unplanned development which is destroying the small State of Goa known for its greenery and scenic beauty. “The beauty of Goa is India in driver’s seat after Kuldeep spins web around England Skincare benefits of chocolate: Ways to use it! GOVT SETS APRIL 7 DEADLINE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES TO INSTALL DEVICES VEHICLES TO BE IMPOUNDED, PERMITS CANCELLED PANAJI Making speed governors mandatory for all the public transport vehicles including rent-acar, the State government on Thursday granted one month time, till April 7, to the vehicle operators to install “working” speed governors failing which the vehicles would be impounded and permits would be cancelled. Speaking to media, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also granted liberty to vehicle operators to purchase and install speed governors from outside the State, if they feel that the sellers here charge exorbitant prices. “There is no question of relaxation or doing away with the rule of installing speed governors, as it is as per Central Motor Vehicle Act. All public transport vehicles will need to have speed governors in place by April 7. We are granting them one month time to install working speed governors,” Godinho said. “After April 7, there will SPORTS INFO SPEED GOVERNORS MANDATORY THE GOAN I NETWORK Instagram.com/thegoanonline 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 260 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Decks cleared for survey of Kabrastan land after clarification on access road IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan E The gathering of concerned citizens and locals at the candlelit vigil to save the Siolim trees. because of its greenery. Which tourist will come to a desert? This incident (cutting of mango trees) is just the tip of the iceberg. I have seen private forests being cut in Siolim. They are converting huge parcels of land and private forest in Assagao and Siolim. We need to stop this. I will soon challenge this issue in the court,” Miranda said, while addressing a gathering of concerned citizens and local residents during a candlelit vigil under the banner of 'Save Siolim Trees.' The recent incident in Siolim-Marna, where substantial mango trees and compound walls were razed to widen a 4-kilometer road stretch, has sparked outrage among locals. Complaints have arisen regarding the lack of procedural adherence by the Public Works Department (PWD) authorities during the demolition process. “This is not a lawless State. Authorities must adhere to >Continued on P5 ORDINANCE OR JUST A BILL? STs SEEK CLARITY FROM GOVT THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The Mission Political Reservations for the Scheduled Tribes has requested the Government and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to shed more light to ascertain whether the decision taken by the Centre on their demand for political reservations is an Ordinance or just an ordinary bill. “We are yet to obtain the copy of the said ‘Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024.’ It is still not clear if the said bill has been introduced in the form of an Ordinance or the Cabinet has approved just a bill to be tabled in the next parliament session which is anyway not happening during the tenure of the present Government”, reacted Mission president, Adv Joao Fernandes. Saying the legal team of Mission is presently working on it to find out more information, Joao, however, said the Mission requests the Government and Sawant to shed more light on the present development to ascertain whether it is an ordinance or just an ordinary bill.” The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the proposal of the Ministry of Law & Justice for introduction of the Readjustment >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the development of amenities in and around Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa, under the ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ (PRASAD) scheme through virtual mode on Thursday. The launch was held in Srinagar and was telecast live at Old Goa, which forms part of the Rs 2,400 crore development projects which have been either inaugurated on launched in 43 different parts of the country. The Old Goa project will cost over Rs 17 crore and includes parking lot and a heritage interpretation centre for the benefit of pilgrims and tourists. The parking lot will be able to accommodate 132 vehicles, 16 buses and 205 two-wheelers. The heritage interpretation centre will provide assistance to tourists and pilgrims visiting Old Goa and will include facilities like hop-on hop-off, e-vehicle services, digital interpretation centre, cafeteria, WHAT’S NEW „„Heritage interpretation centre for assistance to tourists & pilgrims „„Hop-on hop-off, e-vehicle services „„Digital interpretation centre, cafeteria „„Support office room, security office room „„Parking lot will to accommodate vehicles support office room, security office room, etc. The facilities will be completed by mid-November this year just ahead of the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier, which being from November 21 and will continue till January 5, 2025. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Shripad Naik informed that during the last Exposition in 2014 when he held independent charge of tourism ministry, he got Rs 102 crore for Old Goa, of which around Rs 7 crore works are still underway. Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand >Continued on P5