log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY MAY 24, 2024 GOA @thegoanonline Loutolim locals stand by decision against new Borim bridge MARGAO: The proposed demarcation exercise for the new Borim bridge could not kick-start on Thursday as PWD officials played truant, but beleaguered farmers and villagers of Loutolim maintained strict vigil along the khazan fields to convey a message loud and clear to the government on their opposition to the bridge.  >> See pg 2 Rains cause power outages in Sattari VALPOI: Power outages and damage to electrical alignments were reported at many places in Sattari, following thunder showers and strong winds on Thursday evening which disrupted normal life in the taluka.  >> See pg 2 Cricket betting racket busted at Porvorim PORVORIM: Porvorim Police arrested three persons and seized cash, betting material worth Rs 10 lakh after busting an online cricket betting racket at Porvorim on Wednesday night. Police seized gambling articles, mobile phones and cash, all worth Rs 10 lakh.  >> See pg 3 Rider dies in Borim mishap PONDA: A 42-year-old rider from Panivada-Borim who was undergoing treatment at Goa Medical College hospital after being knocked down by a truck at Borim has succumbed to injuries. According to police, the truck was travelling from Margao to Honda, when it struck a scooter also going in the same direction on a narrow road at Borim. >> See pg 3 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.337 GOA CCP unsure of flooding in monsoon due to impact of smart city work Road works leave Assagao in disarray MAPUSA: Assagao has been plunged into turmoil as extensive roadworks disrupt daily life, causing significant inconvenience to residents and motorists. The development has left the roads in a state of disarray, raising concerns about the project’s execution and its impending impact with the monsoons approaching.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 31 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 79% TIDES Low: 05:22 High: 12:34 17:57 23:20 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO DIY Peppermint massage oil for tired skin SPORTS Ponting turns down India head coach proposal ENCUBE WITHDRAWS RECRUITMENT AFTER CM’S INTERVENTION; STAKEHOLDERS QUESTION ‘JOBS FOR LOCALS ONLY’ POLICY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A day after Indoco Remedies Limited cancelled theirs on Wednesday, yet another Goa-based pharma company, Encube, has cancelled its walk-in interviews to recruit personnel, which was scheduled in Pune. Encube's move to cancel the recruitment from Pune came after intervention by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The walk-in interviews were slated to take place at Pune on Sunday, May 26. Earlier on Thursday, Indoco Remedies had similarly cancelled such walk-in interviews it had planned to hold in Boisar near Mumbai, after a hue and cry was raised by Opposition politicians who alleged that employment opportunities were being denied to local Govt to formulate policy over recruitment in firms: Minister PANAJI: Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho said the government is planning to intervene to formulate a policy. “A proper policy in this regard will be formulated by the government. We are fully seized of the matter and will work things accordingly with the due concurrence of the CM,” the minister said, speaking to The Goan on the development. He also warned companies against recruiting outstation candidates stating “such behaviour has to stop.” Asked what steps would be taken in the interim till a policy is in place, Godinho stated, “All necessary steps will be taken in due course. We won’t hesitate to take the strictest action!” youth by such acts of holding interviews in locations outside the State. In the case of Indoco Remedies too, Sawant had intervened and impressed on the management to back off from going ahead with the recruitment outside Goa. Parallely, the Labour Commissioner Levinson Martins had also issued the company's plant manager at Verna a show-cause notice for failure to notify these vacancies through the State's employment exchange. Meanwhile, industry sourc- LIGHTING UP THE PANAJI SKYLINE ON PAGE 2 Clear air on job vacancies, Yuri tells Babush MARGAO: Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has said that Labour & Employment Minister Atanasio Monserrate must clarify if vacancies advertised in Maharashtra by Indoco and Encube Ethicals for their Goa plants were notified by the two companies on the portal of Goa Employment Exchange. Reserve 80% pvt sector jobs for Goans: Vijai MARGAO: Demanding a White Paper on the employment scenario in the State, Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai insisted on a government policy on labour and employment, wherein 80 per cent of the jobs in the private sector are reserved for the local youth. PANAJI The horrific Porsche accident in Pune involving a 17-yearold who, while driving under the influence of alcohol, killed two young engineers has revived memories of a similar accident at Banastarim last year. The speeding Mercedes Benz, reportedly driven by the inebriated businessman Shripad Sinai Sawardekar aka Currently, the delay is attributed to the ongoing election code with police officials claiming there is no urgency as the accused are already out on bail. The chargesheet, though ready, awaits review by the Public Prosecutor before it can be officially filed in court Paresh, resulted in the spot deaths of three persons including a couple on bike and three others seriously injured on August 6, 2023. Despite an accelerated investigation in the initial weeks amid media attention, the case has not proceeded further to begin trial. Sources indicate that a chargesheet against Paresh, AAP President Amit Palekar, and a supposed substitute driver, Ganesh MAPUSA In a decisive early morning operation, the Colvale Police conducted a significant tenant verification drive in the notorious Lala Ki Basti in Tivim. This initiative led to the arrest of 96 individuals who were living in the area without valid documentation and failing to submit the mandatory tenant verification applications. The surprise operation, carried out on Thursday, was prompted by a series of theft cases reported in the region. The police aimed to curb the rising incidents of burglaries by ensuring that all tenants in the area were properly verified. This preventive measure was deemed necessary following a recent burglary where gold ornaments worth Rs 1.9 lakh were stolen from a locked house in Auchinwada-Tivim. During the operation, the police searched all tenants living in Lala Ki Basti. They detained 96 individuals after discovering that the landlords VERIFICATION DRIVE „„The police searched all tenants living in Lala Ki Basti „„Detained 96 individuals after discovering that the landlords had failed to fill out and submit the required Tenant Verification Forms to the police station had failed to fill out and submit the required Tenant Verification Forms to the police station. These forms are crucial for maintaining records of tenants and aiding in crime prevention. The detainees were arrested under preventive action pursuant to Section 41 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Act. Subsequently, they were presented before the Deputy Collector and later released. The recent spike in thefts in Tivim has been a cause for Salcete stakeholders up ante against KRC’s bike rental plan Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has called for accountability among social media users, urging them to either refrain from misusing these platforms or face consequences for irresponsible behaviour.  >> See pg 3 Justice delayed? Crime branch yet to file chargesheet in Banastarim case REASON FOR DELAY THE GOAN I NETWORK Sawant warns action against dubious NGOs Calls for accountability THE GOAN I NETWORK Police crack down on unverified tenants in Tivim, 96 arrested May 2023. This striking down of the jobs for locals only principle in the Haryana case will be applicable across the country once matter is adjudicated by the Supreme Court before which the Haryana judgement has been challenged. PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday issued a stern warning to dubious non-governmental organisations (NGOs), cautioning them against engaging in what he termed as ‘extortion rackets’ under the guise of social welfare. Panaji witnessed lightning and thunder accompanied by rain on Thursday evening, as other parts of Goa too experienced pre-monsoon showers.  Narayan Pissurlenkar 14 es have raised questions over the practicality of the 'jobs for locals only' policy. They have pointed out that a similar policy in Haryana which mandated 75 per cent jobs to be reserved for locals had been struck down by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in THE GOAN I NETWORK Illegal stone quarry raided at Sattari PANAJI: Mines Department raided an illegal laterite stone at Sattari and seized machinery worth Rs 10 lakh. Police have booked the owner and one more person in the raid. Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 2 9 Another Goa pharma company cancels outstation interviews In poll spotlight, Moti Dongor locals await rehabilitation IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan Lamani, has reportedly been prepared but not submitted for review yet. The reasons for this delay remain unclear. Initially, the Crime Branch cited pending reports from both the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Pune and the State FSL in Verna as reasons for the delay in completing the investigation. Currently, the delay is attributed to the ongoing >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 OPERATORS DEMAND SCRAPPING OF TENDER; PROTEST MEETING AT BENAULIM GROUNDS ON SATURDAY THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The storm kicked up over Konkan Railway Corporation’s plan to start bike rental business at its seven railway stations, including Margao has hit Salcete coastal belt and other villages, with stakeholders demanding scrapping of the KRC tender, saying the tender is intended to bring corporates into the tourism rental business. To protest against the KRC’s plan, associations of renta-bike operators from both North and South Goa have called for a massive meeting at the Dando grounds Benaulim on Saturday evening. Local Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas has taken up cudgels for the beleaguered rent-abike operators and has made a plea to the tourism stakeholders, including yellow and black taxis operators, motorcycle pilots to attend the meeting at Dando grounds, Benaulim on Saturday evening at 5 pm. Briefing the media, a renta-bike operator Seby D’Mello wondered how come the Konkan Railway is allowed to venture into rent-a-bike operation when the Goa government has capped rent-a-bike to 20 per Rent-a-bike operators discussing KRC’s plan to venture into tourism rental business with Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Thursday.  Santosh Mirajkar person. “The KRC has floated a tender to run the rental business at seven railway stations. It is surprising that while the Goa government has stopped issuing licences for new bikes, the KRC has floated a tender to run the operations at seven railway stations. This shows that they want to bring in corporate houses into the business,” Seby said, adding that the local rent-a-bike operators are ready to run the business at the railway stations. A rent-a-bike operator from Colva, Roque Fernandes said the government is now eyeing on the rental business after stopping the permits and licences of the locals eking a living on the business. “The government wants to destroy the locals into the business and get the corporate houses,” he said, while expressing fears that the KRC plan will only add to the unemployment rate in the State. Expressing his support for the beleaguered rent-a-bike operators, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas urged the people to join in large numbers at the Dando ground meeting on Saturday to show solidarity with the beleaguered stakeholders. He also invited the MLAs to lend their support to the rental business operators. “How are the local youth expected to eke a living when the KRC is venturing into the rent-a-bike business? The >Continued on P5 Dozen Delhi colleges receive Planning Dubai visit: Now comply with new visa rules bomb threats via emails CLINTON D’SOUZA THE GOAN I PANAJI AUTHORITIES SAY NOTHING SUSPICIOUS FOUND IN SEARCH PTI NEW DELHI Over a dozen colleges including Delhi University's prestigious Lady Sri Ram College, Hansraj College and Ramjas College received bomb threats on Thursday but nothing suspicious was found after thorough searches, officials said, a day after a similar e-mail sent alarm bells ringing in the North Block. A Delhi Fire Service (DFS) official said they first received 3 Bengaluru 5-star hotels too receive threats BENGALURU: As many as three five-star hotels in the city received bomb threat, police sources said on Thursday. The hotels reportedly received the threat via email, leading to exhaustive search operations. It later turned out to be a hoax, they said. The threat comes against the backdrop of a bomb blast in Rameshwaram Cafe in the city on March 1. a call at 4.38 pm about the bomb threat at the LSR College and two fire tenders were pressed into service. Later, other colleges also made the call to authorities. The local police, a bomb disposal squad, a bomb detection >Continued on P5 to enter the country due to non-compliance with the new regulations. A re you planning to visit Dubai? Then be prepared and one must show AED 3,000 cash or credit, return ticket and your proof of stay. Dubai authorities have introduced strict entry requirements for visitors on visit visas. Travellers must carry AED 3,000 in cash or credit, a valid return ticket, and proof of accommodation. This new rule aims to ensure visitors have sufficient funds and a clear plan for their stay in Dubai. Reports indicate that some passengers who failed to meet these requirements have faced significant is- Cash or credit proof Airport checks for compliance T hese checks are now a part of the pre-boarding process at various airports. Authorities are vigilant in verifying that all required documents and proof are presented before travellers board their flights to Dubai. These measures are not just limited to the UAE; airports in India and other countries are also enforcing these requirements to prevent non-compliant passengers from travelling. sues. Several travellers were stopped at Indian airports and prevented from boarding their flights to Dubai. Others found themselves stranded at UAE airports upon arrival, unable To comply with the new rules, visitors must show they have the equivalent of AED 3,000 in any currency. This can be in cash or a valid credit card. The purpose is to confirm that travellers have enough money to support themselves during their visit. This measure is expected to reduce the number of overstays and ensure visitors can cover their expenses while in Dubai. Proof of stay In addition to financial proof, travellers need to provide an address where they will be staying. This could be the home of a relative or friend, or a hotel booking. Ensuring that visitors have pre-arranged accommodation helps authorities manage the influx of tourists and reduces the risk of individuals staying illegally in the UAE. Why this new rule? It will have an impact on Tourism: Officials believe that these stringent checks will have a positive impact on Dubai's tourism sector. By ensuring that visitors have enough funds and a confirmed place to stay, authorities aim >Continued on P5