log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY APRIL 16, 2024 GOA Water crisis plagues parts of Siolim, locals demand quick action MAPUSA: Parts of Siolim have been grappling with a severe water shortage, leaving them frustrated and disillusioned with the promises of development made by the authorities. Two weeks back, residents of Bamonvaddo, Siolim complained about irregular water supply. Now, at least 30 households in the Waddi, Siolim area are bearing the brunt of the distressing situation, struggling to secure their daily water supply.  >> See pg 3 Legislature Secy’s phone hacked PANAJI: An unknown person is reported to have hacked Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman’s phone and impersonated her to seek money from her contacts. On Sunday afternoon, Ulman lodged a police complaint stating that an unknown person hacked her phone number and impersonated her using a photograph and phone number and further sent messages and requesting her contacts to transfer money into various banks. 3 houses burgled, `30L gold stolen CANACONA: Gold ornaments worth over Rs 30 lakh were burgled from one house and items worth Rs 2.5 lakh were damaged in another house, as burglars broke into three different houses on Friday night and Saturday night along the NH66 highway at Dapot-Maxem in Loliem.   >> See pg 3 SC seeks status on pleas against MLAs PANAJI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought the status of pending disqualification petitions from Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar following Congress’ submission that the delay in deciding its application -- against eight Congress MLAs who defected to BJP -- was unjustified.   >> See pg 3 Mhadei: KA minister decries Centre’s stand BELAGAVI: Karnataka’s Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil has strongly condemned the union ministry of environment, forests and climate change’s stand in deferring the clearance to the Mhadei Water Diversion project.  >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 31 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 78% TIDES Low: High: 11:06 03:46 ---19:07 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.299 Turf wars begin as battle for South Goa brings Digambar and Vijai face-to-face IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Bastion of BJP, North Goa likely to witness tougher LS contest 3 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO What causes heart attack in women 125 of 216 structures will be razed: Arambol p’yat to HC DISCLOSES 88 HAVE BEEN SERVED DEMOLITION NOTICES; COMPLIANCE REPORT ON REMAINING STRUCTURES IN 10 DAYS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Village Panchayat of Arambol on Monday submitted to the Bombay High Court at Goa its decision to demolish 125 illegal structures from among the 216 identified in Girkarwado in the coastal village. The panchayat also disclosed that 88 structures have already been served with demolition notices. The submission was made during a hearing related to a suo moto Public Interest Litigation (PIL), where the Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Valmiki Menezes were further apprised that demolition activities are nearing completion, with only minor debris to be cleared. The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), one of the respondents in the PIL, submitted that out of the 216 inspected structures, 66 structures required consent P’YAT SUBMISSION IN HC „„Arambol panchayat emphasises that they have decided to demolish 125 structures out of the 216 identified „„88 demolition orders have been issued and served, with the remaining orders scheduled to be served to the respective owners in the next 15 days „„Among the remaining 91 structures, 21 have been issued show-cause notices, which will be resolved within 30 days GSPCB IN COURT „„Out of the 216 inspected structures, 66 structures required consent to operate and among these, 13 have obtained the required permission „„Closure notices issued for the remaining 53 structures to operate and among these, 13 have obtained the required permission. Pavithran A V, the legal representative for the Board, added that closure notices have been issued for the remaining 53 structures, which have subsequently been sealed. Deepak Gaonkar, repre- senting the Arambol VP emphasised that they have decided to demolish 125 structures out of the 216 identified. He further clarified that 88 demolition orders have been issued and served, with the remaining orders scheduled to be served to the respective owners of these illegal structures No let-up: 5 accidents, 2 deaths on single day JHARKHAND NATIVES DIE IN SELF-ACCIDENT AT FATORDA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With the surge in road accidents over the past two weeks once again raising questions on road safety and discipline among motorists, Monday witnessed an alarming rise with five accidents occurring within a span of less than 12 hours, one of which proved fatal, claiming lives of two persons on a motorbike. SALIGAO: The day started with a Kadamba bus veering off the Saligao-Parra road, as the driver lost control, skidding into an adjacent field. Fortunately, the bus was not heavily occupied with only eight passengers onboard, all of whom escaped unharmed. In another accident at Saligao, a Maharashtra registered taxi crashed into a pole after the driver lost control of the vehicle. No injuries were reported. M U N G U L - FAT O R DA : However, the Mungul-Fatorda turned fatal wherein two persons from Jharkhand on a bike, lost their lives in a self-accident. The police have provided the names of the two deceased The ill-fated Maharashtra registered taxi which crashed into the pole at Saligao. >> SEE PG 2 BUS GOES OFF ROAD AT PARRA, 4 HURT RIDER HURT IN CURTI MISHAP as Daly Kujur and Jivan. The incident is believed to have occurred when the two-wheeler they were travelling dashed against a road side compound wall. The bodies of the duo are preserved at the South Goa district hospital. This is the second fatal self-accident within two days. Similarly, Sunday’s collision also resulted in the death of >Continued on P5 EC seizes record `4,650 cr ahead of Lok Sabha elections; surpasses 2019 figures PTI LEVEL PLAYING FIELD: THE SEIZURE NEW DELHI he Election Commission on Monday said authorities under its supervision have made seizure worth Rs 4,650 crore, including drugs worth Rs 2,069 crore, in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections. The poll panel said the seizures made since March 1 exceed the over Rs 3,475 crore recovered during the 2019 parliamentary polls. The seven phased Lok Sabha polls were announced on March 16. The first phase is on April 19 and the last one „„Out of the total recoveries worth Rs 4,658 crore, the cash component stands at over Rs 395 crore, while liquor stands at more than Rs 489 crore „„45 per cent of the seizures are of drugs worth Rs 2,069 crore „„Authorities have been making seizures worth Rs 100 crore every day since March 1 „„The seizures made since March 1 exceed the over Rs 3,475 crore recovered during the 2019 polls on June 1. The Commission said authorities have been making seizures worth Rs 100 crore every day since March 1. Out of the total recoveries worth Rs 4,658 crore, the cash component stands at over Rs T Instagram.com/thegoanonline 395 crore, while liquor stands at more than Rs 489 crore. Significantly, 45 per cent of the seizures are of drugs (Rs 2,069 crore). Use of black money, over and above political financing, could disturb the level playing field in favour of more resourceful party or candidate, it noted, adding that the seizures are a critical part of its resolve to hold the Lok Sabha elections free of inducements and electoral malpractices and to ensure a level playing field. Drug seizures accounted for approximately 75 per cent of >Continued on P5 in the next 15 days. “The commercial establishments remain sealed. Among the remaining 91 structures, 21 have been issued showcause notices, which will be resolved within 30 days. A compliance report regarding the remaining structures will be submitted within 10 days, indicating the course of action adopted by the Panchayat,” he stated. About two months ago, both the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority and the panchayat in separate affidavits submitted to the High Court that over 250 illegal structures, temporary and permanent were identified in Girkarwado. They also reported that the process of issuing show-cause notices was underway. The panchayat had informed the High Court about issuing a show cause notice to Girkarwado Panch Bernard Fernandes, questioning his failure to address the illegality. Bishop, 3 others stabbed during church service in Sydney; man held PTI SYDNEY Police in Australia say a man has been arrested after a bishop and three churchgoers were stabbed in Sydney. There are no life-threatening injuries. It occurred during a televised service at the church on Monday evening, police said. The Orthodox Assyrian church streams services online. A video on social media shows a man dressed in black approaching a cleric at the altar identified as the bishop at Christ the Good Shepherd in suburban Wakely and appearing to stab him repeatedly in the head and upper body. Members of the congregation are seen screaming and rushing to the bishop’s aid. The church website identified the bishop as Mar Mari Emmanuel. NSW Ambulance service said it had treated a man in his 50s for multiple cuts and taken him to a hospital, and three others were treated for one or more cuts at the scene. A large police response is underway and the public is urged to avoid the area, police said. Crowds gathered outside the church and the hospital. The bishop was featured in national news last year. 10 13 SPORTS Head, Klaasen shine as SRH beats RCB by 25 runs in high-scoring thriller Assagao locals join hands to oppose night club culture 25-member committee to mobilise community, liaison with authorities to address issues THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The influx of outsiders, particularly non-Goans, establishing nightclubs and villas for late-night parties has stirred unrest among the locals in Assagao. In a bid to preserve the peace and tranquillity of their village, the local residents have banded together to oppose the burgeoning night club culture that has taken root in their community. A gathering of 70 villagers, comprising members from various temple and chapel committees, as well as former panchayat members, convened on Sunday to address the pressing concerns surrounding the disruptive activities of these establishments. Among the grievances cited by the villagers were not only the disturbances caused by late-night revelries but also allegations of Concerned Assagao residents convene a meeting to address nightclub disturbances in village. prostitution occurring within some of these villas. Jallindar Gaonkar, a former sarpanch of Assagao and a participant in the meeting, revealed plans to form a 25-member committee tasked with mobilising the community and liaising with authorities to address instances of noise pollution and other disturbances arising from the nightclubs and businesses operated by non-locals. The committee intends to present a formal representation to various authorities, including ministers and the local MLA, to highlight the plight faced by residents due to the encroachment of nightclubs and other commercial ventures. Of particular concern was the proposed establishment of a new night club along the main road in Munangwada, Assagao. Residents fear that such a venture would >Continued on P5 Govt extends deadline for speed governors VEHICLE OWNERS NOW GET TIME TILL JUNE 7 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Commercial vehicle owners can now breathe a sigh of relief as the State government has extended the deadline for the installation and operation of speed governors by two months. This grants them the time till June 7 to ensure compliance with the order issued by the Transport Department in February. Reliable government sources disclosed to The Goan that the decision comes after the assurance from the “highest authority, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.” “CM Sawant had made a commitment to a two-month extension when the commercial vehicle operators met him seeking time for compliance. As such, the government has granted a breather of two months,” a senior government official confirmed. Taxi and rental car operators, in particular, had vehemently opposed the Transport Department’s order citing instances of malfunctioning speed governors and shortages of the device in the market. The authorities, on the other hand, argued that several BREATHER FOR OWNERS „„Government considering grace period for procurement or repair of devices, but emphasises compliance is mandatory „„Transport officials confirm stock shortages but mention availability of devices online and through service centres devices were deliberately deactivated or were genuinely malfunctioning, and needed either repairs or replacements. “We may offer a grace period for procurement of new devices or repair of existing ones, as needed. Despite market shortages, compliance with the order remains mandatory,” the official added. Transport officials had just recently conducted ground-level verifications, confirming reports of stock shortages in local shops. “For those experiencing stock shortages, the extended deadline provides an opportunity. Moreover, these devices are available online and can be locally installed or obtained from service centres too,” he added. The department will gear up to conduct random checks after the extended deadline. “Just like the drive against Motor Vehicles violations, random checks for speed governors will also be held by our officials after the deadline,” the official said. The February 27 order mandated the installation of speed governors for both tourist taxis and rent-a-cars by April 7 with routine checks. Assistant Directors of Transport were directed to conduct thorough inspections, particularly focusing on rent-a-cars, to ensure proper installation and functionality of these devices. “In the meantime, we are carrying out awareness drives on the same,” the official said. RGP makes seat-sharing offer to Cong, but spells out 3 conditions WANTS INDIA MANIFESTO TO INCLUDE SCRAPPING OF KHALSA-BHANDURA PROJECT, DEMOLITION OF ILLEGAL SLUMS, POGO ISSUE BY APRIL 20 THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA After having all along maintained that the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) would have no truck with the INDIA bloc for Lok Sabha polls, the party chief Manoj Parab finally blinked and said that they will have seat-sharing talks with Congress if they accept their three conditions. The three conditions in- INDIA bloc partners tread cautious path, say don’t want to fall into a trap MARGAO: The INDIA bloc partners on Monday treaded a cautious path over the offer made by Revolutionary Goans Party, with leaders of the partners saying they do not want to fall in the trap of the RGP laid by the BJP.  >> See pg 2 cluded scrapping of the Khalsa-Bhandura project by the Karnataka government, demolition of slums and illegal structures of migrants that have come up on Comunidade and government land, and to spell out who is Person of OFFER TO CONG NOT OUT OF FEAR OF LOSING: RGP >> See pg 2 Goan Origin (POGO). Addressing reporters in Panaji on Monday, Parab further gave Congress up to April 20 to decide on the offer. >Continued on P5