log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY JUNE 11, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO.356 Cansaulim double track opens as case against activists changes track 2 GOA NEP: No additional teachers for certain curricular areas 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Effects of vitamin A toxicity on the body Modi cabinet okays housing scheme outlay in first meet 3 CR RURAL, URBAN HOUSES TO BE BUILT UNDER PMAY PTI NEW DELHI The Union Cabinet in its first meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday approved government assistance for the construction of three crore houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). This was the first meeting of the Union Cabinet of Modi 3.0 government held at the Prime Minister’s 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence. The meeting was attended by ministers of all allies of the NDA. “It has been decided in the Cabinet meeting to provide assistance to three crore additional rural and urban households for the construction of houses to meet the housing requirements arising out of the increase in the number of eligible families,” officials said. The government is implementing PMAY since 2015-16 to provide assistance to eligible rural and urban households for the construction of houses with basic amenities. Modi lauded the decision as a boost for “ease of living” and IN SHORT >> Goa gets `539 crore tax share from Centre PANAJI: The Centre on Monday released Rs 1,39,750 crore installment of tax devolution to States. Apart from the regular release of the devolution amount for the month of June, one additional installment has also been released. As such Goa received Rs 539.42 crore as its share of tax. With today’s release, a total of Rs 2,79,500 crore has been devolved to States for FY2024-25 till June 10. KEY PORTFOLIOS AT A GLANCE Amit Shah > Home Affairs, Cooperation Rajnath Singh > Defence S Jaishankar > External Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman > Finance, Corporate Affairs Nitin Gadkari > Road Transport and Highways JP Nadda > Health & Family Welfare, Chemicals & Fertilisers Mansukh Mandaviya > Youth Affairs & Sports, Labour & Employment Chirag Paswan > Food Processing Industries Shivraj Singh Chouhan > Agri & Farmers Welfare, Rural Development Manohar Lal Khattar > Power, Housing & Urban Affairs >> Detailed list on pg 7 dignity for crores of Indians. He said on X, “This decision underscores the government’s commitment to addressing the housing needs of our nation and ensuring that every citizen leads a better quality of life. The expansion of PMAY also highlights our commitment to inclusive growth and social welfare.” Under PMAY, a total of 4.21 crore houses have been com- pleted for the eligible poor families under the housing schemes in the last 10 years. All the houses constructed under PMAY are provided basic amenities like household toilets, LPG connection, electricity connection and functional household tap connection through convergence with other schemes of the central and state governments. Meanwhile, the Union gov- All eyes on Speaker’s post NEW DELHI: The first and second Narendra Modi governments were sworn in 10 and seven days, respectively, after the poll results. This time, the BJP fell short of a majority and its top leadership had to hold several discussions with allies, especially N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JDU, to reach a consensus on ministerial berths. Yet, the BJP managed to hold the swearing-in ceremony of a full cabinet of 72 ministers just four days after the verdict. A key question, however, remains -- who gets the Lok Sabha Speaker’s post. Multiple reports have claimed that both the TDP and JDU, which have emerged as kingmakers in this election, are looking at the key position. But BJP sources have said they are not keen to hand it over. ernment, released the seventeenth installment of the PM Kisan Nidhi as the first decision of the newly sworn-in Narendra Modi government. The Union Agriculture Ministry said in a release that after being sworn in as Prime Minister for the third time, Modi signed his first file authorising the release of the seventeenth installment of PM Kisan Nidhi. “This will benefit 9.3 crore Newly constructed drain near St Inez gives way TAAD-MAAD SHRINE, BANYAN TREE IN DANGER Vasco mourns loss of Christian singer VASCO: Residents in Vasco have mourned the tragic demise of Francis Anthony, a Christian singer who would enthrall devotees with Marathi devotional songs at the Ram Mandir in Mestawada-Vasco during the Ram Navami celebrations.   >> See pg 3 CBSE issues warning against fake syllabus NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education issued an advisory cautioning students and parents against misleading information about syllabus, resources and sample question papers for 2024-25 session. The drain that collapsed near Caculo Mall on Monday.  THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As Panaji grapples with the delayed Smart City works amid heavy rains, the newly constructed drain opposite the Directorate of Fire & Emergency Services collapsed on Monday morning, endangering the well-known TaadMaad shrine and the historic Banyan tree. Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) is already behind schedule in completing the major sewerage project, which involves laying the main sewerage trunk pipeline from Caculo Mall to the Sewage Treatment Plant at Tonca. The excavation next to the drain led to the collapse, with Narayan Pissurlenkar authorities reportedly silent on the contractor’s alleged reckless actions. “It’s not even 25 days since the drain was built, and it has already collapsed. Now, the shrine and Banyan tree are at risk. Our question is, are engineers and contractors not using their expertise to >Continued on P5 farmers and distribute around Rs 20,000 cr,” the release said. Modi said after signing the file that his Government is fully committed to the welfare of farmers. “It is therefore fitting that the first file signed on taking charge is related to farmer welfare. We want to keep working even more for the farmers and the agriculture sector in the times to come,” he said. Rain intensity to reduce after June 12: IMD THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast reduction in rainfall activity after June 12, soon after the State experienced incessant rainfall last weekend under a Red Alert. Despite an Orange Alert on Monday, Goa remained nearly dry as the intensity reduced with only light to moderate rainfall expected in certain areas till the next alert. The IMD has issued another orange alert for Goa on Tuesday, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places. A yellow alert is in effect for June 12, with no weather warnings for June 13-14 and light to moderate rainfall is predicted on June 15-16. Margao received 153 mm of rainfall, the highest in South Goa, in the last 24 hours according to the Met Department. It also issued a warning for fishermen not to venture into the sea and forecast squally weather with wind speed 45 kmph to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph along and off Goa coast from June 9 to June 13. OCI cardholders can buy, sell properties in State Transactions subject to three conditions, says Law Department order THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI oan Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cardholders can now purchase or sell properties in Goa, subject to major conditions -they must register the property directly with the sub-registrar, should be non-agricultural land and a monthly report be mandatorily submitted to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to prevent illegal transaction, fraud or other illegality. “…In the event that the party to the transaction is bearing the citizenship status G THE 3 MAJOR CONDITIONS „„Must register the property directly with the sub-registrar „„Property should be non-agricultural land as NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign National or any other category of Person(s)…under FEMA regulations, a specific and determined averment shall be made in such document/ declaring that the land/properties under transaction is non-agricultural and that they „„Monthly report be mandatorily submitted to Enforcement Directorate to prevent illegal transaction, fraud or other illegality own responsibilities for the averment and the transfer under consideration is in due compliance of FEMA/ RBI guidelines in force at the time of Registration of the concerned document or deed and the office of the Civil Registrar-cum-Sub Registrars/ Registering Authority shall not be held accountable for the same,” reads the order by the Department of Law & Judiciary. The government has also clarified that it will not hold any responsibility for the transaction as the order signed by Under Secretary Amir Parab states that the Civil Registrar-cum-Sub Registrar will not be responsible for examining and verifying the veracity/ regularity of such amount or averment/ declaration. “…and it shall not be an undertaking of the Civil Registrar-cum-Sub Registrar/ Reg- istering Authority to examine or seek compliance of FEMA regulations by the party to the transaction concerned. Nevertheless, the Civil Registrar-cum-Sub Registrar shall warrant and ascertain compliance of only provisions of Indian Registration Act, 1908 and the Rules made thereunder, from time to time,” it added. With all these documents registered under the Act 1908, the law department also emphasized that a monthly report along with a copy of the documents/deeds be sent to the ED for verification on FEMA compliance.  10 SPORTS ICC T20 World Cup: South Africa edges out Bangladesh by four runs 13 Govt failed to convince Goans on need for Tamnar project: Shripad Says opposing power line will not help in taking development agenda forward AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA Newly appointed Union Minister of State for Power and Renewable Energy, Shripad Naik acknowledged that the government has struggled to effectively communicate the importance of the Tamnar power line and other developmental projects to the people of Goa. Naik also emphasised the necessity of development and criticised the use of environmental concerns as a justification for opposing power infrastructure projects. “I think the government has fallen short to convince the people. Proper steps should have been taken to create awareness amongst the people on the need for development and the importance of bringing the Tamnar power line to Goa,” Naik stated while speaking to The Goan shortly after receiving his new portfolio. He criticised those who oppose development based solely on environmental grounds, arguing that the government must balance both development and environmental protection. “Nobody should use the environment as an alibi to Shripad named Minister of State for power and renewable energy PANAJI: North Goa MP Shripad Naik was named as Union minister of State for power and renewable energy on Monday Speaking to media after his portfolio was allotted, Naik expressed happiness at the responsibility given to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The thrust would be to reduce dependency on traditionally generated power and use of all available natural resources to generate alternate power”, he said. Naik won the North Goa Lok Sabha seat for the sixth consecutive time. stop development. If one tree is cut, we can plant ten more trees, but opposing the power line will not help in taking the development agenda forward,” Naik said. Naik assured that he was committed to his role and was not concerned about not securing a cabinet ministry. “Whatever responsibility has been given to me I have taken it forward. Whether cabinet or state…what is important is getting work done and that will be my aim,” he said. Responding to criticisms from the opposition regarding his performance, particularly his failure to raise Goa-related issues in Parliament, Naik clarified that his role as a minister is to respond to questions in Parliament, not to raise them. He highlighted his priorities as ensuring electricity reaches every village and house in the country and providing uninterrupted and quality power supply to industries. “We will give priority to places which still do not have power supply. Priority will also be given to industry so that uninterrupted and quality supply is ensured,” Naik concluded. 3 Mapusa eateries told to shut shop MAPUSA The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has ordered the closure of three restaurants in Khorlim-Mapusa for operating without necessary consent to operate permission. This directive follows complaints of water contamination in the housing complex, leading to an investigation and subsequent actions by the board. On Monday, the State administration sealed M/s Friends Corner Café and Restaurant. The other two establishments, M/s Walke Food Station and M/s Kinjal Kitchen, are expected to be sealed by the end of the week.  >> See pg 3