log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY MARCH 21, 2024 14 pages GOA Readers can VOTE on a wide range of issues @ TWITTER POLLS presented by your pollster, The Goan. TODAY’S POLL : Will BJP overcome the Salcete hurdle in the Lok Sabha election? n Yes n No n Can’t say To vote, follow The Goan on X (twitter) @thegoanonline Scan QR to vote YESTERDAY’S RESULTS: Who will be the Congress candidate for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat? Francisco Sardinha 16.9% Capt. Viriato Fernandes 40.7% Amit Patkar 15.3% None of the above 27.1% >> See PG 3 Losing sight of plans to restore two heritage sites in Vasco IN SHORT >> History-sheeter held for attempt to murder PANAJI: History-sheeter Alex Rony D’Souza, who once faced charges under the National Security Act, has been arrested in connection with an attempted murder case reported last December.   >> See pg 5 Rider dies in Surla mishap BICHOLIM: A young rider from Ajoba Nagar in Honda-Sattari, who was seriously injured in a self-accident at Dignem-Surla on March 19, died at the GMC hospital early Wednesday morning.   >> See pg 5 Sadhguru undergoes brain surgery NEW DELHI: Spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev underwent an emergency brain surgery at a private hospital here after suffering “life-threatening” bleeding in the skull and is now recovering well, a senior doctor said on Wednesday.   >> See pg 7 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 273 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 14 2 8 Online water monitoring Karnataka defies pledge in SC, system must for hotels, edu institutes by June 30 resumes Mhadei diversion work From coal to passport tangle, a tightrope for BJP THE G AN POLL-STIR Facebook.com/thegoan GOA SPORTS INFO Pastor couple’s stay in North can lead to inter-community disputes: DM I was lost in the debuts during England’s tour: Rohit Sharma How eating nuts can prevent colon cancer THE GOAN I NETWORK DEEP CHANNELS DUG AT KANKUMBI TO DIVERT FLOW OF MONSOON WATER TOWARDS KALASA PROJECT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the Pramod Sawant-led Goa government is busy swaying voters ahead of Lok Sabha polls, the Karnataka government – in violation of its submission before the Supreme Court not to undertake any work for Mhadei river water diversion – has once again commenced work at Kankumbi to divert the flow of monsoon water towards the Kalasa project through deep channels. Environmentalist and member of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan Rajendra Kerkar informed The Goan that deep channels have been dug at Kankumbi to allow water to flow into the conduit built in the area. He pointed out that Karnataka has even felled large number of trees at the site, which is inside the government notified reserved forest, without ob- Environmentalist, politician cry foul Deep channels have been dug at Kankumbi to allow water to flow into the conduit built in the area. Karnataka has even felled large number of trees at the site without obtaining any permission. When issue was brought to the notice of the WRD Mhadei cell in-charge, said that the matter will be raised before the government for necessary action. However, no steps have been taken in that direction — Rajendra Kerkar, environmentalist & member of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan taining any permission. “The work is going on in full swing. When I brought this to the notice of the WRD Mhadei cell in-charge, he said that the matter will be raised before the government for necessary action. However, no steps have been taken in that In a move that should shock every self-respecting Goan, Karnataka has started the construction of a nullah to divert water from Kalasa to Malaprabha basin. Goa’s abject surrender to Karnataka exposes once again its willingness to overlook the impending water disaster facing poor Goans so that 28 Karnataka BJP MPs get elected — Vijai Sardesai, Goa Forward chief direction,” Kerkar said that informing that the work is in complete violation of the Karnataka’s submission before the Supreme Court not to go ahead with water diversion work till the petition is disposed of. The work is presently un- Govt raised `  ,500 cr through 1 auction of bonds this fiscal Notifies `  50 cr stock for sale on March 26 2 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Government, reeling under financial crunch, has raised a total of Rs 1,500 crore through auction of State government securities, till date, for the current financial year 2023-24. The cash-strapped State has notified Rs 250 crore stock for auction on March 26, which will be the final sale before the fiscal end. Goa had auctioned its last bond of Rs 100 crore on Tuesday – that recorded the largest weekly auction, wherein 17 States mopped up revenue of Rs 50,200 crore. With this, the outstanding security bonds available with the State are around Rs 990 crore, whose maturity estimated as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is Rs 18,014 crore by 2038. “In the absence of GST compensation, the State has to go for sale of its security bonds to meet up its developmental expenditure,” a senior official said adding that the State borrowing for this fiscal is Rs 3,500 crore and that the State is within BREAKING THE NUMBERS „„Goa auctioned its last bond of Rs 100 crore on Tuesday – that recorded the largest weekly auction „„For the current fiscal, the State projected around Rs 17,000 crore towards development expenditure. Also, the State had budgeted Rs 2,610 crore as gross market borrowings and Rs 470 crore loans from the Centre „„The State borrowing for this fiscal is Rs 3,500 crore and that the State is within its limit „„The outstanding security bonds available with the State are around Rs 990 crore, whose maturity estimated as per RBI is Rs 18,014 crore by 2038 its limit. The State has already listed Rs 100 crore security bond for sale for the new financial year 2024-25. The auction will be held on April 25. To bridge the income-expenditure gap (fiscal deficit), the State borrows from the market through the issue of bonds known as State Development Loans (SDLs), which form a major part of its total outstanding liabilities. For the current fiscal, the State projected around Rs 17,000 crore towards development expenditure. Also, the State had budgeted Rs 2,610 crore as gross market borrowings and Rs 470 crore loans from the Centre. Last year 2022-23, the State borrowed over Rs 1,300 crore through the open market, and the borrowing limit was Rs 3,000 crore. In the financial year 20212022, the State government borrowed around Rs 2,700 crore through the open market. The borrowing limit was around Rs 3,200 crore. In 2020-2021, the State borrowed around Rs 3,300 crore through the open market when the borrowing limit was around Rs 4,500 crore. dertaken on channels to take monsoonal water into its conduit built at Kankumbi, he said. Despite repeated attempts, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar remained unavailable for the comments. Meanwhile, the GFP Pres- ident and MLA Vijai Sardesai slammed the government for acting deaf, blind and dumb on Mhadei issue. “In a move that should shock every self-respecting Goan, Karnataka has started the construction of a nullah to divert water from Kalasa to Malaprabha basin,” he said. He also criticised WRD Minister’s failure to call for a House Committee meeting, despite assurance. “Goa’s abject surrender to Karnataka exposes once again its willingness to overlook the impending water disaster facing poor Goans so that 28 Karnataka BJP MPs get elected,” the MLA charged. Sardesai has demanded that the government release an immediate statement on the development and come clean. The Supreme Court, who >Continued on P5 PANAJI As the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) emphasises on continuous monitoring of air, water and other pollutant emission, the State pollution authority has directed all the industrial, commercial and residential establishments, as well as educational institutions, having effluent treatment plant of 50 KLD and above and sewage treatment facilities of 100 KLD capacity, to install online water quality monitoring system on or before June 30, 2024. A fresh communication in this regard was issued by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) earlier this month. The GSPCB has also asked steel plants and red and orange category industries to put in place an online system for continuous monitoring of stack emission, effluent discharge by them, on or before June 30, 2024. In order to meet the parameters as mentioned in the Consent to Operate, the units will have to install Online Continuous Stack Emission Monitoring System (OCSEMS) and Continuous Air GSPCB DIRECTIVE FOR INDUSTRIES „„Steel plants and red and orange category industries have been asked to install Online Continuous Stack Emission Monitoring System and Continuous Air Ambient Monitoring Station on or before June 30, 2024 Ambient Monitoring Station (CAMS). The units have to also connect and upload the online emission and effluent monitoring at the State pollution board and central pollution board server in a time bound manner. The Board said that the system that will monitor the consented parameters will help in minimising the routine inspections and facilitate Board to take action in case of violation of parameters. “All the units will have to ensure regular maintenance and operation of online system with temper proof mechanism having facilities for online calibration,” the Board said. Konkan-origin Leo Varadkar to step down as Ireland’s PM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Leo Varadkar (45), who traces his roots to the Konkan region, on We d n e s d ay announced that he will resign as prime minister of Ireland and will also step down as leader of the ruling Fine Gael party. At a press conference, Varadkar said he had decided to step down due to personal and political reasons. Varadkar, who has served as Taoiseach (prime minister) from 2017 to 2020 and from December 2022 till date, is the son of a doctor from Varad, a village in Malvan-Sindhudurg, about 57 kms from Goa’s border. Speaking to The Goan in 2017 shortly before he became Ireland’s youngest PM, locals in Malvan had said Leo’s father, Ashok, was born in Varad village and completed his school in the village and later pursued higher education in medicine in Mumbai. >Continued on P5 FOR A CAUSE: Atal Setu lit in blue and yellow colours on the eve of World Down Syndrome Day. This year's theme ‘End the Stereotypes’ calls for people around the world to end the stigma around this disorder.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Govt panel visits Old Goa, lists out infra work for ‘Exposition’ THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Revenue Secretary, Sandip Jacques, IAS, who is the coordinator for the Exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier slated to be held this year from November 21 to January 5 next year has listed out a few traffic, parking and sanitation related facilities to be set up there. Jacques conducted a site visit on Wednesday along with top officials from multiple departments including PWD Chief Engineer Uttam Parsekar, Chief Electrical Engineer, Stephen Fernandes, Chief Architect, Marvin Gomes, Convenor of the Exposition Fr Henry Falcao and Rector of the Basilica of Bom Jesus, Fr Patricio Fernandes among others. The team inspected various sites in the Church complex and around it to understand the nature of work that is needed including some infrastructure, beautification, illumination and to identify some areas to be designated for parking and pilgrim resting centres. Other works related to a >Continued on P5 Chaos prevails, but April deadline to fit speed governors may get extension Suspense over Cong’s South Goa candidate continues, but the split is now wide open THE GOAN I NETWORK Girish bounces back, opposition group props up alternative PANAJI midst the chaotic situation surrounding the installation and functioning of speed governors in commercial vehicles with the deadline looming closer, there might be some relief for these operators considering the shortage of devices in the market. Reliable government sources revealed to The Goan that there may be “adequate time” granted to comply with the order issued by the Transport Department last month. “Adequate does not mean infinite time. Our enforcement will be strict after a particular period… The adequate time will be A Taxi operators protest over faulty units at Colvale showroom MAPUSA: Tempers flared on Wednesday afternoon as taxi operators staged a protest at a car showroom in Colvale, citing issues with a malfunctioning speed governor installed in a newly purchased high-end vehicle. >> See pg 3 North Goa taxi owners’ association demands pre-fitted speed governors MAPUSA: In a bid to streamline operations and alleviate financial burdens, the North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association has called for vehicle dealers and companies to provide pre-fitted or company-fitted speed governors. >> See pg 3 valid only for a brief period,” the source quickly added. Taxi operators and rental car operators, in particular, are ve- hemently opposing the order citing instances where speed governors are malfunctioning. Sources said that quite a few devices are intentionally deactivated or are genuinely malfunctioning, requiring replacement or repair. “We might grant them a breather to procure new ones or get the existing ones repaired, accordingly. We have observed a scarcity of these devices in the market… However, the order’s implementation remains mandatory,” the official said. Depending on availability and market conditions, the Transport Department might consider granting some >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO As suspense continues over the Congress ticket for the South Goa Lok Sabha seat, exGoa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) chief Girish Chodankar is reported to have bounced back in reckoning for the prized ticket to contest the May 7 polls for South Goa. With the Central Election Committee of the Congress (CEC) scheduled to meet during the weekend in New Delhi to finalise candidates for the two Lok Sabha seats in Goa, a flurry of activity has been witnessed in the Congress party SPLIT IN PARTY FOR SOUTH GOA SEAT? „„With Girish Chodankar back for the prized ticket, a group opposed to his candidature maintains that the party should not depart from the time-tested norm of fielding a candidate from the minority and has propped up the name of GPCC chief Amit Patkar in case of majority comunity candidate „„The name of Girish has propped up given his background as hailing from the Bhandari Samaj and could be a better option if BJP nominates industrialist Pallavi Dempo in the last two days, with the group opposed to the candidature of Girish Chodankar going in a huddle to discuss the emerging development and to ensure that the ex-PCC president does not get the ticket. While the group opposed to Girish has maintained that the party should not depart from the time-tested norm of fielding a candidate from the minority for South Goa in order to give representation to the minorities in the political scheme of things, they are believed to have propped up the name of GPCC chief Amit Patkar in the event the High Command resolves to nominate a candidate from the majority community if demography is the criteria in ruling out the >Continued on P5