log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY APRIL 17, 2024 GOA High Court may dispose passport issue next week PANAJI: A series of petitions challenging the revocation of Indian passports from those holding Portuguese nationality, is expected to come up for final disposal before the Bombay High Court at Goa on April 24. The matter came up for hearing on Tuesday during which the Bench directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to submit its reply by April 24, the date when the matter will be considered for final disposal.   >> See pg 5 Employers get heatwave missive PANAJI: In a missive to all departments, industries and establishments the Labour Commissioner’s office has asked that it be ensured that workmen, especially those working outdoors, are not affected by the heat wave conditions. It is necessary that timing of work may be tweaked to avoid peak heat wave hours, specially from 12 noon to 3 pm, it said.   >> See pg 3 CEO targeted in cyber fraud PANAJI: A day after Legislature Secretary Namrata Ulman became a target of cyber fraud, Chief Electoral Officer Ramesh Verma also fell victim to impersonator/s. Verma’s PA, Umita Bhandari lodged a complaint stating that an unknown person, using WhatsApp number +9779826581139, impersonated Verma by using his name and photo (on the WhatsApp DP).   >> See pg 3 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.300 GOA Khalap says he offered pro bono legal assistance in Mhadei matter THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a massive show of strength, hundreds of BJP karyakartas along with the top leadership of the party accompanied both the candidates -- Shripad Naik and Pallavi Dempo -- as they filed their nominations for the North and South Goa seats before Returning Officers on Tuesday. Shripad was joined by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Rajya Sabha MP and BJP Goa President Sadanand Shet Tanavade, Ministers Vishwajit Rane, Rohan Khaunte and Govind Gaude, and MLAs Deviya Rane, Delilah Lobo and Jennifer Monserrate, and other BJP leaders, amidst the enthusiastic supporters most of who carried BJP flags and placards of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Naik filed his nomination amidst chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and slogans “Modi tum aage badho, hum tumhare saath hai”, “Pramod Sawant tum aage badho , him tumhare saath hai.” Earlier in the day, Pallavi `10.86 cr: Shripad’s total assets PANAJI: The BJP North Goa candidate, Union minister Shripad Naik, has listed his total assets, both moveable and immovable, at Rs 10.86 crore. The affidavit by Naik attached to his nomination papers filed on Tuesday before North Goa returning officer Sneha Gite mentions his moveable assets at 2.05 crore The affidavit also states that the current market value of his immovable assets (property) is Rs 7.17 crore (self acquired) and another Rs 1.63 crore which he inherited. VEHICLES & JEWELLERY: Naik’s affidavit states that he owns a vehicle worth Rs 15-odd lakh and about 100 grams of gold worth around Rs 6.9 lakh. INVESTMENTS & DEPOSITS: Naik said he has Rs 17.23 lakh in bank and other NBFC deposits, another Rs 22.69 lakh in bonds and share investments, Rs 3.11 lakh in National Savings Schemes and a pending personal loan of Rs 1.19 crore EDU QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Bombay University, 1978. CRIMINAL CASES: Naik has declared nil pending criminal cases against him and also that he has not been convicted in any case as well. LIABILITIES: Naik owes no dues to the government. hash Faldesai, Ramkrishna Dhavlikar, Alexio Sequeira, Subhash Shirokdar, besides Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar kept their date for the D-day. Party’s coalition partner Curtorim Independent MLA Max: 35 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 87% TIDES Low: High: 00.52 05.10 11.48 19:30 Buttler century helps RR complete highest successful run chase in IPL Natural Muted Lips: Step-by-step guide! `1361.68 cr: Pallavi’s total assets MARGAO: BJP South Goa candidate Pallavi Dempo’s total assets, including moveable and immovable properties, belonging to her and industrialist husband Srinivas, is pegged at a whopping Rs 1361.68 crore. A glance at the affidavit shows that the moveable assets of the husband-wife duo is pegged around Rs 1250,28,38,731 while total immovable assets is pegged around Rs 111,40,00,000. JEWELLERY: Pallavi’s affidavit reveals that she owns 3,753.34 grams of jewellery of which the total value is Rs 5,69,78,873. VEHICLES: The Dempos own a fleet of swanky cars worth around Rs 2,54 crore. The vehicles include Mercedes Benz (3 variants), Mahindra Thar and a Cadillac. INVESTMENTS: The affidavit reveals that Pallavi has investments in NSS, postal saving and insurance pegged at around Rs 12.92 crore while another Rs 217.11 crore in Bonds, debentures, shares and units. EDU QUALIFICATION: Post graduate in Business Management from MIT, Pune University completed in 1997. CRIMINAL CASES: Pallavi has declared there is no pending criminal case against her. LIABILITIES: No government dues or liabilities from banks and financial institution. district Collectorate. Sawant, who accompanied both the candidates said the BJP will win both the seats by huge margins. GCZMA orders land to be restored THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has mandated the demolition of a resort in Calangute, constructed within the 200-metre no-development zone of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) of the coastal village. The owner, Lloyd St Jude Joachim Fernandes, has been instructed to remove all illegal constructions on the property, including cottages, a swimming pool, a reception block with a security cabin, cement flooring, a compound wall, landscaping, and a restaurant/shack. Additionally, the coastal body has directed the calculation of environmental costs for the CRZ violations committed by the promoters and the restoration of the land to its original state within 30 days, as per the order issued on April 12. Complaints regarding the development were lodged by the Goa Foundation and the Calangute Constituency Forum. The GCZMA’s decision Inspections by GCZMA revealed that eight concrete structures with concrete foundations and other facilities, were erected at the site. NOC was only for temporary wooden cottages came after the High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Goa Foundation. It is worth noting that the Calangute Panchayat had previously issued orders against illegal constructions by Amara by the Sea (Calangute) and Lloyd St Jude Joachim Fernandes within the 200-meter no-development zone of the CRZ of Calangute village. Earlier inspections by the GCZMA revealed that eight concrete structures with concrete foundations, each containing around 3 to 4 rooms, along with a swimming pool, Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), and other facilities, were erected at the site. However, GCZMA’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) was only for temporary wooden cottages. Reginaldo Lourenco, besides the BJP MLAs from South Goa, Digambar Kamat, Nilesh Cabral, Ganesh Gaonkar, Sankalp Amonkar, Krishna Daji Salkar and Ulhas Tuemkar all were also seen at the Detailed coverage on page 2 Demolition: Humanitarian crisis unfolds in Sangolda THE GOAN I NETWORK NOT SO SMART WORK THIS: A metal barrier used to cover a gaping hole dug for Smart City work on a busy street in Panaji on Tuesday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar WEATHER >> SPORTS INFO Paid holiday for workers from border States on April 26, May 7 filed her nomination papers before the returning officer at the Mathany Saldanha complex in South Goa. All six Ministers in Sawant’s Cabinet comprising of Ravi Naik, Mauvin Godinho, Sub- PANAJI: Inflation and prices of essentials gains significant interest at election time as they are considered major issues that impact voter behaviour even as prices of some vegetables, spices and poultry products have shown some volatility and a tendency to rise suddenly.   >> See pg 3 KANKER: Ahead of the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, security personnel gunned down 29 Naxalites, including some senior cadres, in Kanker district on Tuesday in the biggest encounter ever in the State, police said.  >> See pg 7 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 PARTY TOP BRASS, HUNDREDS OF WORKERS FOLLOW CANDIDATES Vegetable, poultry prices volatile 29 Naxals killed in Chhattisgarh Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 13 2 10 BJP packs a punch as Shripad, Calangute resort in CRZ area to Pallavi file nomination papers be demolished With half of Cabinet from South, BJP’s confidence is now sky high IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan HC tightens oversight on sand transit, orders online records THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the Directorate of Mines & Geology Department to maintain a record of transit passes issued to operators for sand transportation while also mandating uploading the records on the department’s website to thwart any attempts at falsifying documents for illicit operations. In what could be a victory for the State, the Division Bench of Justice M S Sonak and Justice Valmiki Menezes also closed the contempt plea against the authorities, appreciating them for mak- ing efforts to curb illegal sand mining. The appreciation also came with a remark that although belated and after repeated reminders, the State took measures to curtail such activities. “We must record our appreciation for the prompt >Continued on P5 PANAJI The Goa Government has notified April 26, Friday as a paid holiday for workers from border States of Karnataka and Maharashtra employed in Goa, to enable them to vote on the polling day for the Lok Sabha election. Quite a number of people from the two bordering States are employed in different sectors including industries across Goa, and will be casting their votes in their respective constituencies.   “The said paid holiday will be for industrial, daily wage workers of the Govt Depts and State Govt Industrial Depts, commercial and industrial workers of private establishments, workers of all private establishments, daily wage/ casual workers employed in any business, trade industrial undertakings or any other establishments who are entitled to vote in the border states of Karnataka and Maharashtra,” reads a notification. A similar paid leave will be granted on May 7 as other constituencies in the two adjoining states will be voting on this day. HUNDREDS DISPLACED, LEFT WITHOUT HOMES AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA In the wake of a demolition operation conducted by the authorities in Sangolda, a humanitarian crisis has unfolded as hundreds find themselves displaced and homeless. The demolition, aimed at clearing illegal houses and structures on community land, has left around 150 people, including women and children, without shelter and basic amenities. Three days after the demolition, the displaced residents continue to endure severe hardship as they struggle to find a place to rest and access necessities. With nowhere else to go, they have resorted to sleeping under the open skies amidst the rubble of their former homes. The lack of proper sanitation facilities further compounds their difficulties, with the threat of disease looming large. One distraught resident, who has called Sangolda home for over four decades, A makeshift cooking facility has been set up to prepare meals for the entire community affected by the demolition drive.  Agnelo Pereira expressed his anguish, highlighting the abruptness of the demolition and the lack of time given to salvage belongings. “We will not move from this place until we get proper rehabilitation. How can they do this to us? I was born and studied in Goa. For the last 45 years I have been staying in this place,” he lamented, pointing to the rubble that was once his home. The plight of the displaced individuals is exacerbated by societal prejudices, as revealed by one member of the minority community who shared their struggle to find refuge due to discrimination based on their religious identity. “When we say we are Muslims, no one is ready to offer even a room for us to stay. Is this humanity?” he questioned. >Continued on P5 Iran threatens to use weapons Vote for secular candidates, Cardinal tells Catholics never deployed if Israel strikes Plea not to miss election day THE GOAN I NETWORK TEL AVIV READIES US-MADE JETS FOR COUNTER STRIKE AGENCIES TEL AVIV The Israeli war Cabinet said that Iran’s aggression cannot be overlooked and merits a ‘clear, forceful’ reaction even as Iran threatened to launch weapons that were never used before in case of an Israeli strike. They said that Tehran will not be allowed to “establish the equation” which they claim the Islamic nation has tried to set through the attack. They also said that the Is- Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian who spoke to UK foreign secretary David Cameron said our next response will be immediate, stronger and more extensive raeli air force which has a squadron of US-made F-16, F-15 and F-35 fighter jets is gearing up for a counter-strike against Iran but did not provide a timeline. Israel has however clarified that it does not want to spark a wider regional war through its retaliatory action. Iran warned Israel against “any adventure” and said it does not want to escalate tensions in a press release released shortly after Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian spoke to UK foreign secretary David Cameron in a phone call Monday. “(If Israel) seeks adventure, our next response will be >Continued on P5 PANAJI ppealing to all eligible Catholic voters in Goa to exercise their franchise at the Lok Sabha polls on May 7 and vote for candidates with secular credentials who will uphold values enshrined in the Constitution, Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão has also requested Catholics to prioritise voting on May 7 over holiday plans or pilgrimages. In a Circular Letter ‘Vote… You Must’ sent out to the clergy, the religious and the faithful in Goa and to people of good will on Monday, Cardinal Ferrão also asked parish priests, chaplains and superiors of religious houses in A PANAJI: In the light of teachings of the Church, Cardinal Ferrão said “it is clear that Catholics moving out with family and friends on a holiday or even going on a pilgrimage on election day, thereby abstaining from the responsibility of participating in the voting process on May 7, would be not only doing a disservice to the nation, but failing seriously in their important civic responsibility.” Referring to a regular train from Goa to Vailankanni every Monday, leaving Margao Station at 9.35 Goa to organise special prayer services on May 3 and/or May 5 for the genuine success of the elections. am, Cardinal Ferrão earnestly appealed to Catholics to refrain from taking that train journey on Monday, May 6, and, instead, to book their trip for any other Monday. “In case a booking has already been made, it is certainly worth losing some money by way of cancellation charges for the sake of the greater good and the sacred duty of exercising one’s franchise on Election Day and thus being positively responsible towards the greater good of the nation,” he said. “It is universally recognised, especially in a democracy, that the responsibility to make choices in political life rests with each individual, guided by a properly formed conscience,” he said. Cardinal Ferrão saw it as his bounden duty as the Head of the Church in Goa to call the attention of Church members to the fact that, in the Catholic Tradition, “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation”, a quotation he attributed to Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation ‘The Joy of the Gospel’ (November 2023). DUTY TO VOTE Cardinal Ferrão appealed to every eligible voter to participate in the democratic process by casting the vote, not only as a right, but chiefly as a duty towards the nation. “We have to collectively recognise that our vote is our >Continued on P5