log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY JUNE 21, 2024 GOA @thegoanonline DOHA: After having transported lakhs of passengers between Doha and Dabolim since 2009, Qatar Airways long-standing partnership with Dabolim ended on Thursday when it shifted all operations to Manohar International Airport at Mopa. The last departure of Qatar Airways from Doha to Dabolim was on June 19 and its last departure from Dabolim to Doha was on June 20. At Mopa, the first Qatar Airways flight arrived at 2.30 am and departed to Doha at 3.40 am on Friday. >> See pg 3 IN SHORT >> Placement drive on June 25 PANAJI: The government is organising a placement drive on June 25 from 10 am to 4 pm at MCC training hall, Regional Employment Exchange Office, Shram Shakti Bhavan, Patto-Panaji. The drive is being held in collaboration with Chowgule Industries Pvt Ltd. Man jumps to death off Kharewado jetty VASCO: A man ended his life by jumping into the sea from the tail end of the Kharewado Jetty on Thursday, after ignoring pleas by onlookers to stop him from taking the drastic step.  >> See pg 3 Protests erupt over NEET controversy NEW DELHI: The outcry against alleged irregularities in NEET grew louder with several student groups staging protests and Opposition attacking the Centre even as the government maintained that “isolated” incidents should not affect students who cleared the exam rightfully.  >> See pg 7 Delhi court grants bail to Kejriwal NEW DELHI: In a huge relief to embattled Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, a court granted him bail in a money laundering case stemming from the alleged excise scam. Special Judge also declined ED’s prayer to keep in abeyance the bail order for 48 hours. >> See pg 7 More dengue cases reported in Canacona CANACONA: After several cases were detected in Gaondongrim and other villages across Canacona, dengue has now spread to Canacona municipal area. >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 32.5 C Min: 25.4 C Humidity: 85% TIDES Low: High: 03:51 11:11 16:43 21:27 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 4 GOA Dangling cables pose significant risk in Goa, authorities remain indifferent RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has raised a red flag to the Tourism Department’s proposed Entertainment Hub at prime waterfront area -- Panaji Park-Mandovi Riviera -- in the capital city, stating that such “commercial project, involving entertainment activities, cannot be allowed in the CRZ II area”.  The Tourism Department had proposed developing an Entertainment Hub spanning 5500 square metres through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The area, which was initially leased out to a private firm, was sealed and taken over in 2022, after its 27-year long lease period ended. The department has now proposed a commercial project in the heart of the city.  In a fresh agreement signed on January 19, 2024, the Department has already leased out the property to Riverfront Hospitality Pvt Ltd. The GCZ- GCZMA’S SITE INSPECTION „„Project being a commercial one, involving entertainment activities, does not require waterfront or foreshore facilities and hence is not allowed in a CRZ II area „„Numerous permanent structures exist at the proposed site and legalities of these structures need to be verified  „„Necessary documents like demolition plan for existing structures, NOC/Permissions… “not traceable in the office”  „„Applicant has to submit relevant ownership documents, prior to 1991 of the existing structures „„GPPDA asked to categorise area as Special Commercial Zone MA will also be verifying the legality of this Leave and Licence agreement.  GCZMA’s Expert Members, following a site inspection, recommended that “the project being a commercial one, involving entertainment activities, does not require waterfront or foreshore facilities and hence this project is not allowed in a CRZ II area”.  The members also observed that at the proposed site there Experts divided over entry tax proposal in Calangute Concerns raised about logistical challenges THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Calangute, a beach village in Goa renowned for its tourism, has sparked debate by deciding to monitor and tax tourist vehicles entering the area. The proposal has divided legal experts in the State. Former Advocate General Carlos Ferreira has dismissed the proposal as “unconstitutional,” “illegal,” and “untenable,” while senior advocate and intellectual Radharao Gracias has supported the panchayat’s stance, citing similar practices in other parts of the country. Concerns have been raised about the logistical challenges of implementing the tax, given the high volume of tourist vehicles during peak season. THE OBJECTIONS Ensuring each vehicle is stopped and examined would be a daunting task for the authorities. Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira, who supports efforts to PANCHAYAT’S PLAN OF ACTION T he Calangute panchayat recently passed a resolution to establish five checkpoints at village entry points to monitor tourists arriving in jeeps, Trax, buses, and other vehicles, imposing taxes to fund cleanliness initiatives. “These tourists cook and eat in open areas and discard garbage everywhere, causing a public nuisance. We want to stop this mess in Calangute, which is a world-famous beach,” read the resolution signed by the panchayat members. The resolution has been forwarded to the Collector, Director of Tourism, Director General of Police, and the Home Department for approval. Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira clarified that the aim is not revenue generation but maintaining the village’s cleanliness. “We will implement the decision only if the state authorities approve it,” Sequeira stated. manage unruly tourists, emphasised that the panchayat’s actions must align with legal and constitutional provisions. “No tax can be levied by the government, whether Central or State, unless authorised by law, which means legislation, not an executive order. The same rule applies to local bodies like panchayats,” said Ferreira, a former Advocate General of Goa. Ferreira pointed out that Section 153 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, empowers panchayats to levy taxes and set rates as prescribed. However, he argued that >Continued on P6 THE GOAN I NETWORK T granted for any musical events at Curlies. “No permission was granted for playing music at any event in the controversial Curlies,” Prabhudessai stated. Anjuna Police Inspector Prashal Desai confirmed that no parties were taking place at the shack. “We were asked to verify by the deputy collector whether any parties were happening at Curlies. The restaurant is open, but there is no music taking place in the shack,” Desai assured. The NGT recently upheld a demolition order against Curlies, a well-known nightclub, bar, and restaurant in Anjuna. The tribunal dismissed an appeal by Linet Nunes, the owner of Curlies, who had contested the demolition directive issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA). The order mandates the demolition of the illegal ground-plus-one structure located on Survey No 42/10, within the jurisdiction of the Anjuna panchayat. Despite the demolition order, the nightclub’s recent attempt to host a trance party has added to its ongoing controversies, drawing attention to the enforcement of regulations along the Anjuna coast. SPORTS INFO ICC T20 World Cup: India beats Afghanistan by 47 runs Should you wash your face with cold water? COASTAL BODY SAYS COMMERCIAL PROJECT ALONG WATERFRONT CANNOT BE ALLOWED IN CRZ II AREA Party time? Curlies stirs controversy again MAPUSA he infamous Curlies nightclub on the Anjuna coast has once again found itself at the centre of controversy. The establishment recently circulated fliers announcing a trance party scheduled for June 20 from 6 pm onwards, featuring performances by various DJs. This promotional campaign has raised eyebrows, especially in light of a recent directive by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordering the demolition of the beach shack. Deputy Collector of Bardez, Uday Prabhudessai, clarified that no permission had been Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 13 2 8 Entertainment hub plan Ghastly mishap snuffs out life of 57-yr-old at Usgao at Panaji red-flagged Comba resolution crucial to Margao traffic plan Qatar Airways shifts Ops from Dabolim to Mopa airport Facebook.com/thegoan exist numerous permanent structures and that the legalities of these structures need to be verified.  The Authority, via a communication dated April 1, sought necessary documents like demolition plan for existing structures, NOC/Permissions with regards to the existing structures and other related documents. However, the department informed that the required documents were “not traceable in the office”.  “The applicant has to submit relevant ownership documents, prior to 1991 of the existing structures in the said property to the authority,” the members said.  The project includes permanent structures with retail outlets, kitchen, toilets, restrooms, within CRZ II area.  During the inspection, it was also noted that the department has requested Greater Panaji Planning and Development Authority to categorise the area as Special Commercial Zone, the decision, with regards to this, is pending.  Victim’s head found one kilometre away THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA In a shocking incident, a pedestrian from Par-Usgao was killed after being knocked down by a truck near the Nestle company at Usgao on Thursday afternoon. The impact was such that his severed head was found about 1 km away near the MRF company. The truck driver has been arrested. According to reports, Anand Naik (57) was walking home around 1.30 pm on Thursday, when he was crushed to death from behind by a Rajasthan-registered truck. The body was found lying on the road but the head was severed and got dragged by the truck, and was found nearly one kilometre away. The truck proceeded to the parking lot of a company and the driver parked the truck. After getting information about the accident, a Ponda police team rushed to the site. Initially, the mutilated body and decapitated head had made it difficult to identify the deceased and there was an initial suspicion that the deceased may have been a migrant because a large number Police conduct investigations at the accident site in Usgao. Truck driver killed in Porvorim mishap MAPUSA: A 32-year-old truck driver was killed in a freak mishap after he was crushed to death under a jeep at Porvorim Tisk on Wednesday. The incident took place at about 3.15 pm, when Sweta Desai was proceeding towards Panaji in a jeep. A tyre of the jeep burst, and the driver lost control of the vehicle. The jeep first rammed into a stationary scooter and then struck the truck driver, Shyamdev Singh, a native of Jharkhand, who was standing by the roadside. Singh sustained serious injuries and was shifted to GMC but died on Thursday. Porvorim PSI Arun Shirodkar and ASI Devanand Redkar conducted the panchanama. of migrants live in the area. Locals later helped police identify the deceased. Police identified the truck based on CCTV footage from other companies in the area. After finding out that the truck was in the parking lot of a company, the police detained the truck driver, Dhannanath Hiranath Jogi (66) from Rajasthan, and later arrested him in the connection. In the evening, the >Continued on P6