log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY MARCH 9, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.261 Kamat’s birthday bash sets stage for BJP push for Modi’s third term 2 GOA Smart City’s piped natural gas project partly commissioned 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Natural masks to remove cellulites dimpling permanently! 9 14 SPORTS Rohit, Gill centuries put India in control on Day 2 foul over Govt to regularise all illegal Quota: STs cryOrdinance Bill, demand houses on comunidade land  CODE TO BE AMENDED  GOOD NEWS FOR HOUSES UP TO 300 SQ MTS BUILT BEFORE FEBRUARY 28, 2014 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major policy decision, the State government on Friday announced to amend the Comunidade Code to regularise all unauthorized residential constructions on comunidade land up to 300 sq mtrs before February 28, 2014. The amendment will empower the comunidade bodies to regularise encroachments of the land parcels while deputy collectors would look into legalisation of the structures on those plots. Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate along with Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and MLA Nilesh Cabral had a meeting to review the proposal of regularising unauthorised structures IN SHORT >> Assailants shoot rider at Bethora PONDA: A 33-year-old rider was seriously injured after he was shot at by unidentified assailants in Bethora early Friday morning. A dispute over a relationship with a woman is believed to have led to the incident.  >> See pg 3 High-end liquor racket busted PANAJI: Panaji police busted a gang involved in swapping liquor bottles at M/s Casa Barreto Wine Stores in Panaji. An employee orchestrated the swap by replacing Black Label, Red Label, and Jagermeister bottles with boxes of Royal Challenge, Royal Stag and McDowells.  >> See pg 3 LPG cylinder price reduced by `100 NEW DELHI: The International Women’s Day was marked by some key announcements, including a Rs 100 cut in cooking gas cylinder prices and nomination of philanthropist Sudha Murty to Rajya Sabha, as PM Modi highlighted how his government has empowered women. WEATHER >> Max: 33 C Min: 21 C Humidity: 77% TIDES Low: High: 04.06 16.07 09.50 22.45 HOME SWEET HOME: THE ROAD AHEAD „„Only residential constructions up to 300 sq mts be regularised, land beyond 300 sq mts will have to be reverted to comunidade „„Land housing commercial structures to be reverted to comunidade „„Comunidades to be given powers to regularise only land parcels, where the structures have come up or encroachment is being done „„Deputy collectors to handle structure legalisation part „„Occupants will have to make application to comunidade who will have powers to either accept or reject applications „„Applications will be processed on payment of land price as fixed by the sub-registrar office FLASHBACK: During the Comunidade Convention 2024 held in January, components had raised red flag to the government proposals with gaonkars objecting to legalising illegal structures saying it would be against Court verdicts on comunidade land. The government has decided that only residential constructions would be regularised while in case of commercial structures, the land would be reverted to the comunidade. Addressing media persons post meeting, Monserrate said that the government has reached a policy decision to amend the Comunidade code with a provision so that unauthorised residential constructions done on plots up to 300 sq mtrs on the comunidade land before February 28, 2014 can be regularised.   Anjuna illegalities: Properties of prominent politicos sealed WELL-KNOWN HOTELS, POPULAR CLUBS CEASE OPs THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The direction of the High Court of Bombay at Goa to seal nearly 175 illegal structures operating along the Anjuna coast caused a significant impact on various establishments, including those owned by prominent politicians and local businessmen. Among those affected are several well-known hotels and popular clubs along the coast, which have been forced to cease operations following the sealing of their premises. One such establishment is ‘Pisco By The Sea,’ a popular bar and restaurant owned by coastal MLAs Michael Lobo and Delilah Lobo. Former Anjuna sarpanch Savio Patrick Almeida also faced repercussions as his commercial establishments, ‘Titlie’ and ‘Fusion Bar & Resto,’ were sealed by authorities. Similarly, ‘Alcoves,’ a property in small Vagator owned by Nicole Marques, a panch member of Verla-Canca, was shut down during the ongoing sealing process. Commercial units owned by former Anjuna sarpanchas Sandeep Chimulkar (‘U V Bar’) and Ramesh Govekar (‘Just to be’) were also among those sealed. Additionally, All structures sealed: Anjuna sarpanch MAPUSA: Anjuna Sarpanch Sandeep Chimulkar has confirmed that all the illegal structures directed by the High Court have been sealed as of Friday. “We have complied with the High Court’s directive and sealed all 175 illegal structures. Some belonging to the W Resort and a residential property were later de-sealed in accordance with court orders,” stated Chimulkar. He explained that the delay in sealing the premises was attributed to challenges in accurately identifying the targeted locations. “On numerous occasions, locals whose units were to be sealed provided misleading information, making it difficult for us to pinpoint the exact places,” the sarpanch elaborated. several units belonging to the prominent five-star resort, ‘W Resort’ in Vagator, were affected by the directive. However, some units of the five-star resort were later desealed after it furnished the necessary permissions ob- tained to operate to the court. Furthermore, popular restaurants along the Anjuna-Vagator coast, such as Lilliput, Shiva Valley, and Ivory Restaurant, faced similar consequences after their premises were sealed. “No commercial structures would be taken up for regularisation. Also, beyond 300 sq mtrs, the encroached land will have to be reverted back to the comunidade,” he said. Monserrate explained that the comunidade bodies will be given powers to regularise only the land parcels, where the structures have come up or encroachment is being done; the deputy collectors will handle the structure legalisation part. “The occupants will have to make application to the concerned comunidade bodies, who will have powers to either accept or reject the applications. The applications would be processed on payment of land price as fixed by >Continued on P5 Want Centre to do a rethink; caution Sawant govt, ST ministers & MLAs THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Expressing total dissatisfaction over the Cabinet decision to bring a bill to fulfill the demand for political reservations for the Scheduled Tribes, the Mission Political Reservations on Friday said there’s still time left for the BJP government to bring an Ordinance before the election code of Conduct comes into force. Mission leaders have cautioned the BJP government and the ST Ministers, MLAs and other leaders that the time for celebration has not yet come. In fact, the Mission made a fervent plea to the BJP government to do a rethink on the decision taken by the Union Cabinet by promulgating an Ordinance to realise the long-pending demand for the ST communities for political reservations. Four seats to be reserved for STs in Assembly: Sawant PANAJI: Hailing the Union Cabinet decision to grant its assent to a bill for readjustment of Goa Assembly seats for scheduled tribe (ST), Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that as per Census 2011, four seats would be reserved for the community in the State Assembly. Addressing a press conference, Sawant said that the Union Cabinet has approved a “Bill” and not an “Ordinance” and the same would be tabled and passed in the Parliament session to be held immediately after the Lok Sabha polls, due in April/ May.  >> See pg 2 In fact, the Mission leaders wondered whether the proposed Bill to delimitate and adjust the constituencies is an attempt to protect the interests of certain BJP leaders. Addressing media, Mission President Adv Joao Fernandes said the government is trying to fool the ST communities with the promise to bring a Bill in Parliament. “We will take appropriate action and unveil our plan of action in the event the government does not bring an Ordinance and resolve our demand before the coming Lok Sabha >Continued on P5 Cong announces DIVINE OFFERING first list, Rahul to contest from Wayanad PTI NEW DELHI Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Kerala’s Wayanad once again as the party announced its first list of 39 candidates on Friday. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has been fielded by the party from Rajnandgaon in Chhattisgarh, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal from Alappuzha (Kerala) and Shashi Tharoor renominated from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. However, the party has denied ticket to sitting MP T N Prathapan from the Thrissur constituency, while Venugopal will contest from the lone seat that the Congress lost last time. Tharoor will be contesting from the seat for the fourth time in a row from Thiruvanathapuram. Venugopal said the first list has 15 general category candidates while 24 are from the SC, ST, OBC and minority communities. He also said there are 12 candidates below the age of 50 years, eight between 50 and 60 years, 12 between 61-70 and seven from 71-76 years. There are, however, only 3 women candidates among the first list of 39 candidates. Congress treasurer Ajay Maken said the list has a good mix of youth and experienced leaders. A devotee offers milk to Lord Shiva at a temple in Shankarwadi, Taleigao to mark Mahashivratri on Friday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Single window clearance portal for environment dept on cards THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has initiated a process to have a unified Single Window clearance Portals for the department of environment and climate change and its associated Authorities and Boards. The Goa Coastal & Environment Management Society (GC&EMS) is looking to hire Consultant and Developer to provide the SaaS (Software as a Service) based software for the work and has invited online expression of interest (EOI) from eligible Consultants and Developers for development of Portal and Mobile Apps. As per EOI, the Single Window Approval and Monitoring Portal and Mobile Apps will be to process online applications and complaints under Noise Action Plan & Delineation of CRZ Lines on Survey Maps, Online applications, complaints, court matters and Agenda and Minutes of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority >Continued on P5 Govt re-launches free Controversy brews over plans for Shivaji statue in Bastora VOICES OF CONCERN IN BASTORA pilgrimage scheme THE PLAN THE GOAN I NETWORK DOES NOT INCLUDE AYODHYA TOUR THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has relaunched the “Mukhyamantri Dev Darshan Yatra Yojana” scheme, however it does not include the promised free pilgrimage to Ayodhya for Ram Lalla Darshan. “Pilgrimages to other destinations such as Tirupati, and Shirdi will follow but the Ayodhya tour is not planned as for now as it is a long tour. The government will think of the inclusion of Ayodhya as the destination in future,” So- cial Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai said. The government has allocated Rs 10 crore for the scheme in this year’s budget. Around 1,000 people from Goa are set to go on a pilgrimage tour by train to Valankani on March 12 under the scheme. The minister has advised people with health ailments to refrain from going to the tours while adding that a doctor or nurse, a police constable and one volunteer caretaker will >Continued on P5 MAPUSA Plans to erect a statue of the Maratha warrior king, Shivaji Maharaj in Bastora near Mapusa has created quite a stir, with the local Comunidade expressing strong opposition to the proposal. The Sarpanch of Bastora, Subhash Morjakar, along with panch member Rajan Naroji and ex-sarpanch Savio Martins, had written to the Comunidade seeking permission to install the statue on survey no 23/6, which is tenanted land belonging to the Comunidade. Following the receipt of the letter, the managing committee members of the Bastora Comunidade called an infor- File photo President of the Bastora Comunidade, Sydney D’Souza says the general consensus among Gaunkars was to deny permission for the statue’s installation... everybody opposed the idea „„We are not going to give permission to install the statue in the Comunidade land... even if the tenant approves, the Comunidade will not allow it mal emergency meeting of the gaunkars. At the meeting held on Thursday, attendees unanimously opposed the plan to install the statue. President of the Bastora Comunidade, Sydney D’Souza „„Former deputy sarpanch and gaunkar Andrew D’Souza stated that the proposed site for the statue is agricultural land where construction is prohibited... told The Goan that the general consensus among Gaunkars was to deny permission for the statue’s installation. “Everybody opposed the idea. We are not going to give permission to install the statue in the Comunidade land. Even if the tenant approves, the Comunidade will not allow it,” D’Souza affirmed. He further informed that a general body of the Comunidade will soon be called to discuss the issue in detail. According to former depu- we are not against Shivaji Maharaj, but why create unnecessary controversy „„Oscar D’Souza another gaunkar said the decision must be ratified in the Comunidade’s general body.. . the issue is not about Shivaji Maharaj, it has become more political ty sarpanch and gaunkar Andrew D’Souza, the proposed site for the statue is agricultural land where construction is prohibited. “We are not against Shivaji Maharaj, but why create unnecessary controversy?” he questioned. „„It entails installing a full-size statue of Shivaji Maharaj near the recently developed Bastora junction on land owned by the Comunidade Oscar D’Souza, another gaunkar, echoed the sentiment, emphasising that the decision must be ratified in the Comunidade’s general body. “The issue is not about Shivaji Maharaj, it has become more political,” he added. >Continued on P5