log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY MARCH 19, 2024 GOA Parties target crucial ST vote in South Goa THE G AN POLL-STIR From today, readers can VOTE on a wide range of issues @ TWITTER POLLS presented by your pollster, The Goan. TODAY’S POLL: WHO WILL BE BJP’S CANDIDATE FOR SOUTH GOA LOK SABHA SEAT? n NARENDRA SAWAIKAR n CHANDRAKANT BABU KAVLEKAR n PALLAVI DEMPO n NONE OF THE ABOVE To vote (between 10 pm and 10 am IST), follow The Goan on X (twitter) @thegoanonline Results will be published on the print and digital edition. Scan QR to vote IN SHORT >> Suspense continues over BJP’s South Goa candidate PANAJI: The suspense over BJP’s South Goa candidate for Lok Sabha elections continues as the party, yet again, delayed its announcement. Sources said an announcement is likely on Tuesday or Wednesday. Tanavade maintained that possibility of a female candidate remains open.The party also reportedly held a late night meeting on Monday, which continued past midnight.  Dabolim to get daily Ahmedabad flights PANAJI: After losing a few flights to Mopa, there’s a silver lining for Dabolim Airport as it is now linked to another tourism destination – Ahmedabad, with daily flights. Vistara unveiled the schedule from Ahmedabad to Goa, starting March 30 at ‘affordable’ rates that could increase inflow. Property dispute ends in murder at Bhatpal CANACONA: A dispute over a house in a plot at the government’s 20-point programme at Poinguinim ended in murder when one person was killed while another person was injured late Sunday evening.  >> See pg 3 SC asks SBI for all details by March 21 NEW DELHI: In a third tongue-lashing to State Bank of India, the Supreme Court told it to stop being “selective” and make “complete disclosure” of all details related to the electoral bonds by March 21.  >> See pg 7 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 271 2 GOA Thousands participate in ‘Procession of Saints’ at Goa Velha 3 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Protecting Your Skin: Essential pre and post Holi skincare tips 8 SPORTS Floyd Mayweather keen for exhibition fight in India this year 13 GOA GETS INTO POLL MODE Expenditure observers deployed, Documents mandatory if you are ‘No liquor permits till central officials to arrive shortly carrying cash of over `50,000 end of poll’ MEASURES CHECKS & THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With the implementation of the model code of conduct, expenditure observers have been deployed across North Goa to ensure there is no exchange of cash for votes with Central expenditure observers set to join the effort soon. Addressing a press conference to outline the process for the upcoming polls, North Collector Sneha Gitte stated that the expenditure of every candidate and political party will be closely monitored. “Expenditure monitoring is standard protocol. We will closely monitor the expenditure of every candidate and political party, starting from the day of filing nominations. The Election Commission of India will deploy its expenditure observers, while our teams are already in the field after obtaining necessary training,” Gitte, also appointed as the Returning Officer for the district, explained. Simultaneously, video surveillance teams are also active in the field to prevent illegal transactions or unau- ON GROUND „„Expenditure of every candidate, political party to be closely monitored „„Video surveillance teams activated to prevent illegal transactions or unauthorized distribution of funds „„Meeting with officials of K’taka, Maharashtra held to enhance interstate border security „„Central Armed Police Forces personnel deployed thorized distribution of funds. She further informed that the officials also held an interstate meeting with the neighbouring district officials of Belagavi (Karnataka) and Sindhudurg (Maharashtra) to take collaborative measures to enhance interstate border security by involving agencies like police, excise, commercial tax and income tax to share insights, strategies and intelligence. “This is necessary to take stern action against any possibility of violation of the model code of conduct by using inducements such as liquor, freebies, money and muscle power,” she added. To ensure law and order as well as peaceful, free and fair elections, ECI has deployed Central Armed Police Forces personnel along with the State police forces during the parliamentary polls. Superintendent of Police (North Goa) Akshat Kaushal, also present at the briefing, revealed that all the border check posts are under strict 24/7 vigil. The RO has also set up a control room to monitor election-related activities and ensure coordination among various agencies. The district has 57,977 voters with 2,80,260 male voters and 29,7714 female voters, 3 transgender and 4,955 PwDs. The district has 863 polling stations spread across 20 Assembly Constituencies. Gitte informed that each polling booth will be equipped with assured minimum facilities such as sheds, drinking water, toilets, ramps, wheelchairs, and a help desk.  Tourism may not face much brunt during election phase Stakeholders optimistic as poll schedule coincides with closure of charter season THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With the Lok Sabha polling in Goa slated in the midst of the school summer break on May 7, stakeholders foresee a ‘minimal’ impact on the tourism industry. The period from April to June often witnesses a spike in leisure activities as it aligns with the annual summer vacation. With this, it brings in a huge tourist influx to Goa notwithstanding the humidity. Now as the world’s largest democratic festival starts on April 19, the domestic tourist movement will see a drop -- a trend experienced in the past Parliamentary and General Assembly elections too. Nonetheless, stakeholders are optimistic about the business citing minimal impact. “People usually travel less during the election days, and this will be across the States. INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE „„President of TTAG Nilesh Shah says people usually travel less during election days... but since it is a spread out election spanning over a month-and-a-half, the impact on Goa should be less „„A starred hotel official feels Goa won’t be largely affected as it coincides with the closure of the charter season and domestic tourist arrivals in Goa continue steadily throughout the year „„President of Goa Hotels & Restaurant Association, Gaurish Dhond says business restrictions will solely be enforced during voting and counting days, so there is nothing to worry  But since it is a spread out election spanning over a month-and-a-half, the impact on Goa should be less,” President of the Travel and Tourism Industry Nilesh Shah said speaking to the Goan. While Goa may have been fortunate in terms of its election schedule, another popular tourist destination, Himachal Pradesh, is in the seventh phase of the polls on June 1. The hilly state’s >Continued on P5 Saligao waste treatment plant generates 25K units power daily, exports to grid THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Designed to cater to 27 local bodies along the coastal belt of North Goa, the Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) located in Saligao has emerged as a beacon of effective waste management since its establishment in May 2016. The facility has been instrumental in treating an average of 240 to 260 tonnes of waste per day, totalling a remarkable 4.1 lakh tonnes of solid waste processed up to February 2024. Originally intended to handle 100 tonnes per day (TPD) of waste, the facility’s capacity was later enhanced to 250 TPD. Instagram.com/thegoanonline MECHANISM OF SWMF Wet waste tipping floor at the facility of the Solid Waste Management Facility in Saligao. Moreover, it doesn’t stop at waste treatment; the SWMF generates approximately 25,000 units of electricity daily, with a cumulative production of around 280 lakh units since its inception. Impressively, 14,000 units per day of this electricity are exported to the State electricity grid. Additionally, the facility „„Material segregation and recovery facility „„Dry and wet fraction processing line „„Bio-methanation and sludge dewatering system „„Composting line „„Biogas genset based power plant „„Sanitary landfill produces 8 TPD of compost from the organic fraction of waste, while approximately 25 percent of recyclables are >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Around 5274 voters above 85 years of age and around 4421 Persons with Disabilities in South Goa Lok Sabha constituency will be given the option to either vote at the nearest polling stations or from their place of residence. South Goa district Election officer, Asvin Chandru, IAS informed that people will not be allowed to carry cash more than Rs 50,000 without proper documents, warning that carrying such cash will be seized by flying squads. He further pointed out that banks have been instructed to maintain surveillance and report suspected transactions to the election authorities. Around 25 flying squads have been constituted in South Goa by the district administration to attend to complaints. Complaints can be filed by uploading the App or manually, but the district Electoral Officer informed that people should BALANCES „„Around 25 flying squads constituted in South Goa, complaints to be addressed within half an hour „„Banks instructed to maintain surveillance, report suspected transactions to election authorities „„Action to be taken against those defacing public property „„Voters who have not registered their names on the election roll can still do so download the App to lodge the complaint, promising that the flying squads will attend to the complaints within half an hour. Addressing media on the preparedness for the May 7 Lok Sabha election for the South Goa Parliamentary constituency, Chandru, in the presence of district police Chief, South SP Sunita Sawant said that the district administration is putting the election teams in place, including the flying squads, the surveillance teams, nodal officers after imparting training. To a question, he said the election authorities are on the job to provide basic amenities such as drinking water and toilets at all the 862 polling station in the South Goa Lok Sabha seat. As far as the defacement is concerned, Chandru said the administration will take also suo moto cognizance of the defacement of public property, besides complaints lodged by the citizens. “Our officials have had interactions with officials of banks in the district to impress them to report to the election authorities any suspicious transactions”, he added. Saying that South Goa will have around 595070 >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Excise Department has tightened its grip on liquor businesses during the election period, with special focus on its transportation across borders by temporarily ceasing issuance of permits. As per the existing rule, carrying two bottles is permissible with an appropriate permit, but with the model code of conduct in force, carrying even a single bottle is prohibited until the conclusion of the parliamentary election process. “Each permit allows a tourist to carry two bottles, only in a few States. Issuance of permits has been suspended until the election process concludes. This means not a single alcohol bottle will be transported across the border,” a senior official disclosed to The Goan. The department has simultaneously intensified scrutiny by deploying >Continued on P5