log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JUNE 13, 2024 GOA GCZMA at sea over CRZ violations >> See PG 3 6 months on, probe into painter’s electrocution remains unresolved IN SHORT >> 63 cheating cases, but no paper leak: NTA on NEET-UG NEW DELHI: Sixty-three cases of students using unfair means were reported in NEET-UG out of whom 23 have been debarred for varying periods, NTA officials said on Wednesday, but reiterated there has been no paper leak and the sanctity of the medical entrance exam hasn’t been compromised. The result of the remaining 40 candidates who were found using unfair means have been withheld, NTA DG Subodh Kumar Singh said. One duped of `4.7L by fake CBI officials PANAJI: Two fraudsters posing as CBI officials duped a resident of Chimbel to the tune of Rs 4.7 lakh. The two fake CBI officials got in touch with the resident and got him to deposit Rs 4.7 lakh in their account, after claiming to have evidence that the person was involved in drugs and human trafficking.  Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 357 2 3 GOA Fish die-off: Action unfolds, finally Gold worth `7L burgled from house MARGAO: A major burglary has been reported at Colva village wherein miscreants are reported to have decamped with gold ornaments worth around Rs 7-10 lakh.   >> See pg 2 Rider dies of injuries in Usgao mishap PONDA: A 49-year-old scooter rider from Anmod but residing at Tisk-Usgao succumbed to injuries after he was involved in a mishap at Usgao on Tuesday night.   >> See pg 3 Naidu sworn in as Andhra Pradesh CM AMARAVATI: TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh for a fourth term on Wednesday at a ceremony that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 27 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 81% TIDES Low: High: 09:25 23:23 03:24 16:41 PANAJI s students and teachers of Class IX are learning to adapt to the National Education Policy (NEP) that entails extended instructional hours, several schools at the preparatory and middle school levels are already preparing to adapt to the new system. The students of Class IX now have full schooling, focusing on interdisciplinary areas, vocational subjects, and practicals twice per week from 2:15 pm to 4:10 pm. The remedial classes will also be held during extended hours beyond A INFO Is hyperpigmentation a serious skin condition?  50 OTHERS INJURED  PM MODI REVIEWS SITUATION   INDIAN MINISTER TO OVERSEE ASSISTANCE TO INJURED, ENSURE EARLY RETURN OF WORKERS MORTAL REMAINS THE TRAGEDY PTI NEW DELHI Over 40 Indians were killed and more than 50 others injured after a devastating fire broke out at dawn in a building housing around 195 migrant workers in southern Kuwait’s Mangaf area, officials said on Wednesday. The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building was 49 and 42 of them are learnt to be Indians; the remaining ones are Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and Nepali nationals, they said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who described the fire incident as “saddening”, reviewed the situation arising out of it at a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra and Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra among others. An official statement said Modi expressed deep sorrow at the “unfortunate incident” and extended condolences to „„The total number of people killed in the Al-Mangaf building was 49 and 42 of them are learnt to be Indians; the remaining ones are Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and Nepali nationals „„The fire in Al-Mangaf building was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi governorate at 4.30 am and most of the deaths were due to smoke inhalation „„Most of the Indian victims are from Kerala EMERGENCY RESPONSE An emergency helpline (+965-65505246) was set up by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait to assist and provide updates the families of the deceased. He also announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs 2 lakh to each of the families of the deceased Indian nationals from the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund. Minister of State for Exter- nal Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh is urgently travelling to Kuwait following a direction from the prime minister primarily to oversee assistance to Indians injured in the fire and to ensure early repatriation of Plea in High Court opposing Deltin project in Dhargal PANAJI Challenging the conversion of more than 3.83 lakh square metres of land falling in the command area of the Tillari irrigation project for the benefit of the Deltin Town Integrated Resort Complex at Dhargalim village and declaring it as an investment promotion area, activists Swapnesh Sherlekar and Rohidas Harmalkar have approached the Bombay High Court at Goa to quash the permissions for the project as unconstitutional. In a writ petition filed before the High Court at Goa, the duo pointed out that back in 2015, the Secretary (Water Resources) and Chief Executive of Command Area Development Board for TIP (Tillari Irrigation Project) notified a Development Scheme Command Area Development and Water Management Program covering several villages under dif- THE GOAN I NETWORK ferent talukas in Goa. The petitioners further pointed out that all the Survey Numbers listed as per the environmental clearance for the project also appear in the list PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa has recommended a survey by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) of a portion of Candolim beach following allegations of environmental damage due to the construction of the Beach Club and Resort. The Bench of Justice M S Karnik and Justice Valmiki Menezes has asked for a report to be submitted within three weeks, providing suggestions for the restoration of the sandy stretches after the site inspection takes place. This order was pronounced during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation. “Considering the suggestions of the petitioners that there is now a better scientific method of accelerating the sand accretion process as suggested by NIO in the aforementioned paper, we deem it appropriate to request the Director, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula to depute any Scientific Officer from the Institute, familiar >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 SEEKS QUASHING OF PERMISSIONS FOR LAND CONVERSION THE GOAN I NETWORK Environmental concerns: NIO named to survey Candolim beach THE PETITION Changing the land use of the said land parcels to Commercial (C4 according to the Conversion Sanad) and removing their agricultural uses will lead to extinguishing their potential for irrigation and/ or cultivation, which is in contradiction to the purpose and interest of the Command Areas, besides being illegal, as there was no Command Area Development Board constituted at the time of granting NOC/Permission Class IX students, teachers to brave longer hours with NEP’s interdisciplinary focus THE GOAN I NETWORK RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 42 Indians among 49 dead in Kuwait building blaze >> See pg 3  Instagram.com/thegoanonline THE ENHANCED CURRICULUM „„The students of Class IX now have full schooling, focusing on interdisciplinary areas, vocational subjects, and practicals twice per week from 2:15 pm to 4:10 pm „„The remedial classes will also be held during extended hours beyond the already slotted extra days „„Authorities have offered two options to the schools – five days a week consisting of the already slotted extra days. Details with The Goan reveal that authorities have offered two options to the schools – five days a week consisting of seven and half hours per day or six days a week containing six and half hours daily „„All this will be based on working hours or 39 hours per week „„The schools have some flexibility to start morning classes later, although the total number of instructional hours, excluding morning assembly and prayer, will remain unchanged seven and half hours per day or six days a week containing six and half hours daily. All this will be based on working hours or 39 hours per week. The schools have some flexibility to start morning classes later, although the >Continued on P5 9 Child in trouble: Chinchinim parents get fraudulent calls THE GOAN I NETWORK mortal remains of those killed. The official statement said Modi wished speedy recovery of those injured and directed that the government of India should extend all possible assistance. “The fire mishap in Kuwait City is saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait is closely monitoring the situation and working with the authorities there to assist the affected,” Modi said on X earlier. Jaishankar also expressed deep shock over the incident and said the Indian embassy in the Gulf nation will render the “fullest assistance” to all concerned. Officials said most of the Indian victims are from Kerala. The fire in Al-Mangaf building was reported to authorities in Al-Ahmadi MARGAO Fear and anxiety has gripped the parents of school going children from Chinchinim village since they have started receiving calls inviting them for settlement on the plea their wards have landed in trouble. While the callers claim they belong to the police force, a couple of calls made by the parents on the numbers revealed that the call might have originated from Pakistan. The modus operandi adopted by the callers is the same in all cases – that their children are caught in a big problem and with a plea to come for a settlement. At least 4-5 parents are believed to have received similar calls, but sources said no parent had gone in for any settlement with the callers. The callers are believed to be calling in Hindi with the parents, raising enough suspicions how come the local police have suddenly started speaking in Hindi. In one instance, a parent is believed to have told the caller that he was presently near a police station, forcing the caller to disconnect the call. Chinchinim village Sarpanch Valentino Barretto has >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 12 SPORTS ICC T20 World Cup: India beats USA, books Super Eight spot KRC pulls chain on bike rental plan, scraps e-tender THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The Konkan Railway Corporation has backtracked on its controversial decision to start rent-a-bike facility at its seven railway stations across Goa and outside with the Corporation announcing its decision to scrap the e-tender. KRC senior official Baban Ghatge told the media on Wednesday that the Corporation has scrapped the e-tender which was scheduled to be opened on June 18. He said a decision to this effect has been taken by the Konkan Railway management in view of the opposition from many quarters, and in view of the stand of the Goa government should not go in for the renta-bike facility at the railway station. The Konkan Railway’s decision, which was announced by KR Chairman Santosh Kumar Jha during his visit to Margao last month, had kicked up a huge storm with local tourism stakeholders engaged in rent-a-car and renta-bike business, expressed apprehensions over the move, fearing the decision will only displace the locals from the business. In fact, rent-a-bike and tax- The decision to scrap the e-tender for rent-abike facility has been taken by the Konkan Railway management in view of the opposition from many quarters, and in view of the stand of the Goa government should not go in for the facility at the railway station,” — Baban Ghatge, KRC senior official is had arranged meetings at the Margao railway station, besides meetings at Benaulim and other places to demand scrapping of the KR e-tender. Political parties including Goa Forward, the Aam Aadmi Party and others had taken up cudgels on behalf of the tourism stakeholders eking a livelihood on rent-a-bike and rent-a-taxi business, by demanding that the Goa government get the Konkan Railway scrap the controversial tender. >Continued on P5