log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY APRIL 18, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.301 5 HC contempt petition spurs Siolim hotel’s demolition GOA GCZMA orders closure of Candolim club for coastal norm violations 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Can ginger pulp beat smelly feet? 8 13 SPORTS IPL: Delhi Capitals blows away Gujarat Titans for third win of season Govt plans to implement NEP for Coastal PI evades punishment despite bribery allegations Std IX from next academic year POLICE INSPECTOR NOT QUIZZED NOR NAMED IN FIR FOREIGN LANGUAGE OPTION LIKELY TO BE DROPPED VIBHA VERMA THE GOAN I PANAJI The State is likely to roll out the National Education Policy 2020 for Class IX, from the upcoming 2024-25 academic year, bringing in a bunch of changes including doing away with foreign languages. Reliable government sources revealed to The Goan that senior education officials recently convened a closed-door meeting with headmasters, laying out the details along with the assurance that any questions from institutions, headmasters and teachers will be addressed. “Many changes are expected to ease the academic burden on students, as it will be combined with interdisciplinary subjects. However, the government will ensure that students don’t compromise on academics,” the source said. Another official also stated that the authorities are seriously considering implement- EDUCATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL „„Authorities are seriously considering implementing the NEP for Class IX with each class period stretched to one hour, unlike the usual 45 minutes „„Plans to also scrap foreign languages as a third language option „„Contemplate renaming the first, second, and third languages as R-1, R-2, and R-3 respectively „„R-1 will be English ing the NEP for Class IX. It has come to the fore that each class period will stretch to one hour, unlike the usual 45 minutes. Some attendees raised concerns about other classes still having 45-minute periods, during the marathon meeting on Monday, to which the senior education officials assured whereas R-2 and R-3 options will be strictly Indian languages „„Timetable details will be chalked out and if there are any questions, headmasters/ principals can email the department to resolve it. “Timetable details will be chalked out... If there are any questions, headmasters/ principals can email the department, and officials will sort it out at the earliest to ensure NEP's implementation,” the source added. The department also plans Move to drop ‘third language’ upsets teachers, DoE says no such move PANAJI: Director of Education, Shailesh Zingde has said there is no move to reduce the weightage of the foreign language as the third language subject in High Schools from the upcoming 2024-25 academic year beginning in June. “There is no confusion. Three languages will continue to be essential part of the curriculum for Class IX students,” Zingde told The Goan. The proposal to treat foreign languages, usually French and Portuguese here in Goa, as ‘skill subjects’ instead of the compulsory ‘third language’ said to be on the radar of the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary education has rung alarm bells in the teaching community. Over the past week and more, teachers from various >Continued on P6 to scrap foreign languages as a third language option while also contemplating renaming the first, second, and third languages as R-1, R-2, and R-3 respectively. “R-1 will be English whereas R-2 and R-3 options will be strictly Indian languages. Since some schools have al- 4 years on, work on Krishi Ghar yet to begin in Canacona THE GOAN I NETWORK Parts of Taleigao, Dona Paula hit by water scarcity PERNEM: A 47-year-old driver from Pune died, while six others were injured when a car rammed into three vehicles at the Patradevi check post late Wednesday evening. >> See pg 5 2 held for forging property docs PANAJI: The Panaji police have booked two persons for allegedly forging property documents to illegally sell a plot located in Morombi Grande. >> See pg 6 >Continued on P6 PAYING OBEISANCE: Devotees pay their respects to Lord Ram at Bhatulem Ram Mandir, on Wednesday, on the occasion of Ram Navami celebrated across the country with joyous processions and special prayers.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Mhadei is lifeline for Goa, poll issue for K’taka: CM HOPES FOR VERDICT THAT WILL SAFEGUARD, FAVOUR BOTH STATES LOUIS RODRIGUES THE GOAN I BELAGAVI Claiming that the Mhadei river may be a poll issue for Karantaka but a lifeline for Goa, Goa’s Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has expressed hope that the Supreme Court would pass a verdict which would safeguard and favour both states. Speaking to The Goan while on a visit to Belagavi, Sawant said effort would be made to establish Goa right over the Mhadei river. “Mhadei is the lifeline for Goa. It is required for the conservation of the environment and ecology, drinking water, conservation of flora and fauna and for agriculture. Hence, the continuous flow of Mhadei in Goa is a necessity,” >Continued on P6 PANAJI In a show of INDIA bloc unity, top leaders of the alliance and large crowd of supporters accompanied both the Congress candidates -- Ramakant Khalap and Capt Viriato Fernandes -- as they filed their nominations for the North and South Goa seats before the Returning Officers in their respective districts on Wednesday. Khalap entered the North Goa Collectorate in a procession with drums beating in the background with Opposition Leader, Yuri Alemao, Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares-Ferreira, GPCC chief Amit Patkar and AAP State president, Amit Patkar where he filed the papers before Returning Officer Sneha Gite. In brief comments after completing the formalities of filing papers, Khalap and all the top leaders claimed that the campaign in North Goa had taken wings and everywhere they go people are spontaneously coming out in support. While Captain Viriato filed his nomination papers before Heavy rain, storm cause travel chaos in Dubai, 28 India flights cancelled AGENCIES DUBAI ubai, the Middle East's financial centre, has been paralysed by heavy rain and storm that has caused widespread flooding around the desert country. The record rainfall has resulted in delayed or diverted flights, while cars have been left stranded on flooded roads. Passengers have been warned not to come to Dubai airport, the world's busiest by international traffic, "unless absolutely necessary". "Flights continue to be delayed and diverted. We are D relevant documents and evidence, all of which have already been submitted by the complainant paraglider to the ACB for investigation. The FIR, which only identifies HC Talkar as the accused, has “others” as unnamed co-accused. On the contrary, in the complaint, Pruthvi alleged both Talkar and one PI Videsh Pilgaonkar demanded and accepted the bribe. The 39-yearold also stated that he met HC Talkar and PI Pilgaonkar at a specified location in Keri, where the complainant claimed he paid a bribe. “During this visit, PI Pilgaonkar demanded that I pay him a bribe of Rs 10,000 on a monthly basis to operate my adventure sports business smoothly. Initially, I refused to pay this illegal bribe amount as I possessed all the necessary permissions from the Tourism department. However, HC Talkar pressured me to do so, threatening harassment and closure of my legal business if I didn't comply. Eventually, I agreed to pay the >Continued on P6 ALLIANCE LEADERS, SUPPORTERS ACCOMPANY CONG CANDIDATES IN SHORT >> Driver killed, 6 hurt in Patradevi mishap ready offered this option for the 2024-25 academic year, the department has allowed it to continue with the decision to drop it in the subsequent academic year,” the source said. As for foreign language teachers, the department will KERI The bribery allegation against the Terekhol Coastal Security police exposed a deep-seated corruption by some ‘black sheep’ in the department, but what’s particularly alarming is the alleged leniency shown towards former TCS Police Inspector – prominently named in a complaint filed by sports operator Pruthvi H N. The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) was quick to arrest suspended Head Constable Sanjay Talkar after the Sessions Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea; followed by the arrest of HC Raju Kalangutkar on similar bribery charges. But then TCS PI, who was quietly transferred to the GRP after the expose, has remained untouched at least as of now. All this is despite the complaint and the Court raising concerns about the alleged manipulation of records at the PS during the PI’s tenure. The Goan possesses the FIR along with copies of all THE BRIBERY TANGLE „„Complaint details demand for monthly bribes, coercion tactics, and subsequent harassment „„Evidence submitted to ACB includes GPay transactions and WhatsApp messages „„TCS PI not interrogated or summoned despite allegations „„PI quietly transferred to GRP without facing consequences „„Allegations of record manipulation during PI's tenure raise concerns „„FIR identifies only HC Talkar as accused, complaint alleges involvement of both Talkar and PI Videsh Pilgaonkar Khalap, Viriato file nominations amid show of INDIA bloc unity >> See PG 5 PANAJI: Irregular to no water at all has made this year’s unusually hotter summer even tougher for residents of some pockets of Taleigao and Dona Paula and for many of them it’s repeatedly the same story of woes, every year.  >> See pg 5 THE GOAN I NETWORK DUBAI DELUGE „„Over 500 flights – both inbound and outbound – have been diverted, delayed or cancelled as the weather department predicts more rain and storms „„Authorities have cancelled about 15 flights bound for Dubai, while 13 flights to India have been cancelled „„Passengers have been warned not to come to Dubai airport ‘unless absolutely necessary’ working hard to recover operations as quickly as possible in very challenging conditions," a Dubai Airports spokesperson said. Over 500 flights – both „„Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates, both suffered flooding and water was ankle-deep at Metro stations inbound and outbound – have been diverted, delayed or cancelled as the weather `17.75 cr: Khalap’s total assets PANAJI: Former Union Law Minister Ramakant Khalap has declared his and his spouse’s assets worth Rs 17.75 crore. Khalap, who has had a long political innings in Goa since making his debut in the legislative assembly more than half a century ago in 1972, has said in the affidavit attached to his nomination form he filed on Wednesday before Returning Officer Sneha Gite, that he has assets of around 6.22 crore. The affidavit also states that Khalap’s wife, Nirmala, has additional assets worth Rs 11.53 crore. Khalap’s savings accounts have a balance of Rs 1.07 crore and investments of Rs 45 lakh in bonds, mutual funds and other financial instruments. VEHICLES: Both Khalap and his wife own a vehicle worth Rs 3.60 lakh. IMMOVABLE ASSETS (land): The affidavit also states that he owns immovable property (land) currently worth Rs 3.47 crore. Nirmala Khalap also owns immovable property currently worth Rs 6.61 crore. INVESTMENTS & JEWELLERY: From the Rs 11.53 crore assets he has declared as belonging to his wife Nirmala, around Rs 4.92 crore of it is in bank accounts and the value of investments and the jewellery she has. Returning Officer Asvin Chandru in the presence of Congress leaders GPCC chief Amit `5.27 cr: Viriato’s total assets MARGAO: Congress candidate, ex-Navy Capt Viriato Fernandes have declared that the total assets owned by him and his wife, both moveable and immoveable, pegged at around Rs 5.27 crore. A glance at the assets submitted in the affidavit filed before the Returning Officer revealed that moveable and immoveable property owned by the Captain is around Rs 1,95,99,047. The total moveable and immoveable property owned by his wife is around Rs 3,31,29,952. PENDING CRIMINAL CASE: A criminal case under Section 143, 145, 341 and 149 of the IPC for alleged wrongful restraint, blocking of road, unlawful assembly with common object pending before JMFC, Margao. EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION: Bachelor of Engineering Goa University. Marin Engineering Specialisation from INS Shivaji, Lonavla and Air Engineering Specialisation, Naval Institute of Aeronautical Technology, in 1995. VEHICLES: The husband-wife duo owns a Grande i10 Nios, Honda Amaze and Hyundai I20 car. JEWELLERY: Captain owns around 64 grams of gold worth Rs 4.35 lakh. Wife around 224 grams of gold worth Rs 15.23 lakh. GOVT LIABILITIES: Nil. Patkar, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, INDIA bloc leaders Goa Forward chief MLA Vijai Sardesai and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas. >> Detailed coverage on page 3 BJP endorses Cardinal’s appeal to vote for secular candidates department predicts more rain and storms. Authorities have cancelled about 15 flights bound for Dubai, while 13 flights to India have been cancelled. Dubai's flagship Emirates Airline said it is halting all check-ins for passengers for the day as bad weather in Dubai has caused a travel chaos. "Emirates is working hard to restore our scheduled operations, and our teams will provide all possible support to affected customers," the airline said in the statement. Flagship shopping centres >Continued on P6 TANAVADE SAYS PARTY STANDS FOR INCLUSIVE, SECULAR INDIA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has acknowledged Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao's appeal to Catholic population to cast votes in favour of candidates with secular credentials, affirming the party stands for inclusive and secular India. BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade and spokesperson Giriraj Pai Vernekar reiterated the party's commitment to the principle of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’. We endorse this sentiment... Furthermore, we have also been urging citizens not to go on a holiday on the voting day but to actively participate in the democratic process,” —Sadanand Shet Tanavade, BJP Goa chief "We endorse this sentiment... Furthermore, we have also been urging citizens not to go on a holiday on the voting day but to actively participate in the democratic process," Tanavade said speaking to The Goan. Vernekar echoed Tanavade's sentiments, expressing the party's appreciation for Cardinal Ferrao's statement. "People must ensure they cast their votes as it is our primary duty towards the nation. At the same time, the comments have asked people to reject forces that divide >Continued on P6