log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY MAY 31, 2024 GOA @thegoanonline 22 dead as bus with devotees falls into gorge JAMMU: Twenty-two people were killed and 47 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Jammu district on Thursday, officials said. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha has expressed anguish at the loss of lives in the accident. The accident took place at the Tungi-Morh in the Chowki Chora belt of the district, the officials said, adding that the bus rolled around 150 feet down into the gorge.   >> See pg 7 2 youth arrested in drug raids PANAJI: The ANC arrested two local youths in raids conducted across various locations in Goa and seized drugs valued at Rs 7 lakh. The first accused Dinesh Dandekar, recently released on bail in connection to another drug-related case, was also caught with a pistol magazine containing 7 live rounds.  >> See pg 5 Tourist’s gold chain robbed in Calangute MAPUSA: A gold chain worth Rs 1.5 lakh was robbed from a tourist in Maddowada-Baga on Wednesday midnight. The incident took place at about 12 am, when the victim, Rakesh Karade, and two friends had arrived in Goa and were going towards a hotel in Baga.  >> See pg 5 Recruitment breach: Min for strict rules PANAJI: Labour Minister Atanasio Monserrate has proposed amendments to existing labour laws to ensure companies that fail to adhere to the recruitment process are not let off with mere token penalties. Monserrate insisted on strict compliance with the Labour Act and amendments including within the unorganized sector.  >> See pg 3 Campaigning for final phase of LS polls ends NEW DELHI: The high-pitched campaigning for the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections in 57 seats in seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh on June 1 ended Thursday evening. Voting is already over in 486 seats in 28 states and Union territories.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 35.8 C Min: 27.9 C Humidity: 72% TIDES Low: High: 10:18 -----04:39 17:19 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 344 Fire alarm! Margao markets at risk due to safety gap IN SHORT >> Facebook.com/thegoan 2 3 GOA After missing deadlines, will Canacona Ravindra Bhavan open on July 27? Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO These veggies can save your skin Cong in quandary over poor feedback at poll THAKARE TAKES STOCK; SUPPORTERS ALLEGE MISMANAGEMENT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI All India Congress Committee incharge of Goa Manikrao Thakare was on Thursday informed by campaign supporters, particularly in South Goa, about alleged mismanagement of the election machinery prompting him to seek details from the local party leaders. Despite this, Thakare remained optimistic about winning both Lok Sabha seats. Sources revealed Thakare received a detailed review of the campaign’s strengths and weaknesses during marathon meetings with members of the Political Affairs Committee, activists and others. “Many NGOs and activists campaigned for the South Goa candidate Viriato Fernandes due to his background as an activist. Supporters noticed alleged lapses in election management across several constituencies, and this was conveyed to the central leader TAKING STOCK „„Supporters noticed alleged lapses in election management across several constituencies „„In South, party admitted to struggles except a few at Benaulim, Velim and Fatorda „„In North, there were allegations that family members managed campaign strategy „„Party leaders’ expertise sidelined in Bicholim, Sattari, Mapusa and other areas „„Some leaders barely took part in campaigns and only attended public meetings during the meeting,” said one of the attendees. With a focus on South Goa, Congress’ stronghold, the party admitted to struggles in majority areas except a few at Benaulim, Velim and Fatorda, where INDIA bloc alliance members have legislators. In North Goa, allegations surfaced that family members managed the campaign strategy, sidelining party leaders’ expertise. Bicholim, Sattari, Mapusa and other areas reportedly saw BJP overpower- ing them. “Some leaders barely took part in campaigns and only attended public meetings...  Overall analyses do not look convincing,” the source stated. However, top party leaders declined to comment on this stating they expect to win both Lok Sabha seats.   “Congress will win both LS seats in Goa. I have received detailed feedback from local leaders and will soon identify those who didn’t work for the party,” Thakare told reporters Displaced Sangolda locals cling to hope amid rubble Struggle to make ends meet as support dwindles AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA The rubble of the demolished 22 illegal houses in Sangolda serves as a stark reminder of the 150 displaced residents who once called this place home. The communal cooking fires that flickered in the initial days post-demolition have long since extinguished, and the open site now lies eerily silent. Yet, for those who lost their homes, hope lingers amidst the ruins. “We have not left this place. We have only relocated ourselves temporarily and hope the government will help us find a place to build a new home,” said one of the several affected individuals, as they rushed out from a neighbour’s house, eager to share their plight with this journalist. The demolition, executed to clear illegal structures on comunidade land, left families, including women and children, without shelter or basic amenities. Some of the displaced have found tempo- after concluding one-on-one meetings with the 12-member Political Affairs Committee. He also stated that INDIA alliance will continue and they will jointly contest future elections. Sources said meeting with alliance leaders were also held thereafter.  While party leaders remained tight-lipped about closed-door meetings with Thakare, GPCC President Amit Patkar stated that performance evaluation by central leadership is a routine process. “As per the election code rule, he left Goa 48 hours before the voting. He came now to review the preparations, the counting agents, etc,” Patkar said, speaking to The Goan. When asked about Thakare seeking details on the performance of leaders during the campaign following allegations of poor contribution, Patkar denied stating, “Performance evaluation is routine. He has asked us for a report, and we will submit it to him.”  rary refuge with neighbours or relatives, while others have moved to nearby areas like Mapusa and Porvorim. “Most of the people who lost their homes are staying at neighbours’ places. We have to pay rent plus electricity and water bills,” explained Rafiq Talwar, one of the affected residents. For Mohammad Gosh, the situation is particularly dire. “I live with my wife and a son who is the sole breadwinner, earning a salary of Rs 15,000. We have to pay Rs 10,000 in rent. How will we be able to manage?” he lamented. Caught off guard by the sudden demolition on April 12, the displaced residents initially slept under the open skies amidst the debris of their former homes. In the early days following the demolition, they received food and aid from sympathetic NGOs and local MLAs, including Kedar Naik and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo. However, this support has since dwindled. “We received breakfast and lunch from our MLA Kedar >Continued on P5 Toddler meets watery grave at Kharewaddo THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO In a tragic incident, a oneand-half year old girl drowned off the Kharewaddo beach on Thursday about 6.15 pm. According to police, the toddler and her family reside in a house barely 50 metres form the beach. The mother was attending to some chores when the toddler accidentally wandered towards the sea and was swept by the waves. Locals who noticed the toddler in the water pulled her ashore and rushed her to a private hospital, but was declared dead. A Vasco police team led PI Kapil Nayak sent the body for an autopsy at the South Goa District Hospital at Margao. Bangalore musician drowns off Rajbhag A trip to Goa ended in tragedy for a Bangalore family when a 29-year-old musician drowned while swimming at Rajbhag beach in Canacona early Thursday morning. According to Canacona police, the family of four had driven from Bangalore to Goa on May 27 and had stayed at Palolem beach.  >> See pg 3 Praggnanandhaa defeats World No. 1 Carlsen for first time 13 Cabinet reshuffle? Ready to take on new role: Speaker Says will adhere to party decision THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With speculation once again rife about a Cabinet reshuffle after the June 4 counting for the Lok Sabha elections, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said that he is prepared to assume any new responsibilities the party assigns him.  “I am committed to adhere to the party’s (BJP) decisions. Whatever responsibilities the party has given me, I have accepted and if the party feels I am suitable for any new role, is satisfied with my work and Goan society can benefit from my efforts, I am willing to take on the responsibility,” he said. SCHOOL REOPENING: Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar has urged the government to postpone the reopening of schools, as it coincides with the Lok Sabha election vote counting on June 4. “I am receiving numerous calls requesting to convey to the government the difficul- If the party feels I am suitable for any new role, is satisfied with my work and Goan society can benefit from my efforts, I am willing to take on the responsibility — Ramesh Tawadkar ties that government employees, especially teachers assigned to counting duty, will face. Government can postpone it by a day or two but it is for the chief minister to decide,” he said.  Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as well as Education Director have asserted that there will be no change in the reopening date and that schools will reopen on June 4. Monsoon makes early arrival in Kerala; Goa’s date in few days 1 Spurred by cyclone Remal, the southwest monsoon set in over the Kerala coast and parts of the northeast on Thursday, a day earlier than forecast by the weather office. 2 The rubble bears testament to the sudden and swift action to knock down illegal houses in Sangolda nearly two months ago. Agnelo Pereira 8 SPORTS Weather scientists said the cyclone, which ripped through West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday, had pulled the monsoonal flow to the Bay of Bengal, which could be one of the reasons for early onset over the northeast. 3 The India Meteorological Department said Kerala has been receiving heavy rains for the past few days resulting in a surplus May rainfall adding that Southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast. The normal monsoon onset date for Kerala is June 1. In Goa, the monsoons arrive within a few days of its onset over Kerala. >> See pg 7 FIELD DAY: A farmer sows paddy seeds in Taleigao on Thursday. With monsoons round the corner farming activity has gained momentum around the State.  Narayan Pissurlenkar No increase in instructional hours, clarifies Edu Secy THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Education Secretary Prasad Lolayekar on Thursday clarified that the ‘model timetable’ provided by the Education Department to schools for implementing the NEP in Class IX is not mandatory even as he stressed that instruction- COMMUNICATION GAP OVER TEACHING HOURS SPARKS DEBATE >> See pg 3 al hours have not been increased. “All concerns have been addressed to avoid misun- derstandings, and we will communicate this in writing. Everyone (headmasters and teachers’ associations) is on board… It is often the case that there will be apprehensions when a new policy is implemented,” he said after a meeting with the Goa >Continued on P5 Centre likely to re-constitute 400 volunteers trained to tackle monsoon emergencies authority on Mhadei river MONSOON CRISIS RESPONSE SHOT IN THE ARM FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Central government is in process of re-constituting the Mhadei Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) within a year since it was set up in July 2023.  Notified in May, last year, following a request from Goa Government, the Jal Shakti Ministry appointed its members and a part time director only in July while the three riparian States waited till September 2023 to nominate their representatives.  According to sources, the Union Ministry is likely to appoint a new head for While the Union Ministry is likely to appoint a new head for PRAWAH, the Centre has also communicated fresh Recruitment Rules to Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra to appoint new full-fledged members  PRAWAH, as the incumbent chairman P M Scot, member of Central Water Commission (CWC) was appointed for only three months or until a regular chief is appointed or until further orders.  Sources also said that the Centre has communicated fresh Recruitment Rules to Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra to appoint new fullfledged members.  At present Goa is represented by Subhash Chandra, IAS cadre, secretary of water resources, on the Authority. Karnataka’s IAS cadre officer Rakesh Singh, who is the additional chief secretary of the water resources department (WRD) and Maharashtra’s  Milind Naik, chief engineer of WRD for Konkan division are the other members.  Further, Virendra Sharma, chief engineer of CWC, Bengaluru, is holding additional charge as the member for monitoring and regulations, >Continued on P5 PANAJI he State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) this year will get 400 additional pairs of hands of civilian volunteers to join in their task to manage any emergency anywhere in the State during the upcoming monsoon. These 400 civilian volunteers from both North and South districts, have undergone intensive training and are issued certificates, IDs and also disaster management kits. “We have people in all the talukas. They have all been trained, issued certificates and IDs. They have also been geo-tagged. As and when they are needed we will take them T „„400 volunteers trained, issued certificates and IDs „„These volunteers have also been geo-tagged for ground zero operations „„Authorities ensure there is enough equipment across all three zones -- North (Panaji), on board for ground zero operations depending on where the disaster/emergency has happened,” said Nitin Raikar, Director of Fire and Emergency Services. Raikar’s department is the nodal department for the SDMA and will be the first-response agency in case of any emergency although much of Central (Ponda) and South (Margao) „„Equipment including electric saws, rescue boats and even remote sensing equipment kept ready „„All 400 civilian volunteers given disaster management kits the logistics, finances and coordination with other departments will be managed from a dedicated cell in each of the two district collectorates. Raikar said, they have been careful enough to ensure that there is enough equipment across all the three zones -North (Panaji), Central (Ponda) and South (Margao) -- includ- ing electric saws, rescue boats and even remote sensing equipment. Even the 400 civilian volunteers trained and certified, have been given disaster management kits, Raikar added.  SHELTERS Most incidents during the monsoons in Goa where the SDMA teams step in involve minor landslides, trees collapsing and flooding of low-lying areas, the latter requiring relocation of families whose dwelling houses could be under threat. This is when the multipurpose cyclone shelters, the SDMA has readied, will come handy.  There are six such shelters in locations across South Goa and some more in North Goa as well, where people affected by disasters will be temporarily housed. In South Goa, these shelters have come up at Sancoale, Dabolim, Cansaulim Mahalwada, Chapoli and Nagarcem, the last three in Canacona. Also >Continued on P5