log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JUNE 27, 2024 GOA A year later, suspended Excise officials back on duty amid slow-paced probe IN SHORT >> SDMA gears up for monsoon fury with decentralised plan PANAJI: With the weatherman forecasting the monsoon to pound with all its fury in July, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) is gearing up and banking on a decentralised action strategy in both the districts.  >> See pg 3 Vigilance over power thefts to intensify PANAJI: Following the case at Mopa, where in a bungalow power was being tapped illegally and far beyond the load applied for, the Electricity Department is planning to intensify vigilance over such illegalities by consumers across the State.  >> See pg 3 Govt to enact No Man’s Land Act PANAJI: Amid an extended investigation into 110 cases of land grab, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the government will introduce a No Man’s Land Act to take possession of unclaimed properties.   >> See pg 3 CBI arrests Kejriwal in excise scam NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Wednesday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the CBI’’s custody for three days after the central agency arrested him in a corruption case related to the alleged excise scam.  >> See pg 9 One booked for molesting student MAPUSA: Anjuna Police have registered a case against Cleophas Fernandes alias Kelfa, a former two-term member of the Arpora-Nagoa panchayat, for allegedly molesting a 23-year-old student and assaulting her friends.   >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 27 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 90% TIDES Low: High: 08:38 21:58 02:32 15:39 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 10 Who’s to blame? Thermocol waste in River Sal flies in face of HC order >> See PG 3 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 3 GOA Govt’s age extension adds to Anganwadi workers’ woes Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 10 INFO Ways to clean up your diet for a healthier heart SPORTS Euro 2024: Belgium holds Ukraine to draw, set to face France in last-16 When it rains, it pours inside new High Court complex ASG QUESTIONS COMPETENCE OF GSIDC ENGINEERS, EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS; CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY SORRY STATE OF COMPLEX THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI While leakage at the iconic Kala Academy courted enough controversy embarrassing the government, a parallel issue of concern has surfaced with the Bombay High Court in Goa in Porvorim. This state-of-theart facility, built by the GSIDC at an extravagant cost of Rs 115 crore, has been plagued by severe leaks. In fact, problems began barely two months after its grand inauguration in March 2021 with the situation now going out of hand. Assistant Solicitor General of India Advocate Pravin Faldessai has written a strongly worded letter to the GSIDC Managing Director pointing at the contempt with failures in the construction of the High Court Building Complex and „„Problems began two months after the inauguration in March 2021 „„Leakages, water seepage, and slippery floors during the first monsoon „„Heavy water leakage in the basement parking lot „„Rainwater seepage from the roof of the underground parking „„Chaotic arrangement ASG SEEKS ACCOUNTABILITY „„Requests investigation into recovering maintenance and repair costs from contractors and consultants inordinate delay in providing basic infrastructure. “There has been heavy water leakage in the basement „„Suggests blacklisting and initiating civil or criminal proceedings against responsible parties „„Urges immediate action to prevent further wastage of public money „„Emphasises the need for integrity in government projects parking lot. This actually is one of the classic failures of the construction agency, that there is rainwater seepage from the roof of the underground parking. Staircase lifts and exit points in this basement are jumbled and chaot- ‘Smart City’ roads opened, but traffic woes continue Unfinished footpaths, double parking cause severe traffic snarls during peak hours THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With the last of the city roads which were blocked to facilitate ‘smart city’ work – Caculo Mall to STP-Tonca – finally thrown open last week, one would have thought that Panaji residents’ woes vis-a-vis the chaos and traffic congestion will have ended. Quite to the contrary, traffic snarls and frequent jams are commonplace in the city owing to heavy machinery of the IPSCDL contractors continuing to prowl around on the roads going about the residual works, including the finishing of halfdone footpaths. The worst affected is the road from St Inez junction to Caculo mall and beyond. The footpaths lining both flanks of this road are incomplete forcing pedestrians to walk along the roads impeding the flow of traffic. Worse, vehicle users senselessly park cars on both sides narrowing the width for actual traffic flow. of staircase lifts and exit points „„Incomplete roofing and rain shelter at ground-level exit/entry of the basement „„Flooded corridors and roof leaks on lower floors, and collapsing false ceilings ‘CHAOTIC’ CITY? „„Unfinished footpaths are causing traffic snarls and frequent jams „„Vehicles parked on both sides further narrow the road „„Severe traffic problems witnessed during peak hours „„Missing road signs indicating ‘No Entry’ zones, no-parking areas, and turn restrictions In the main city centre, footpaths along multiple streets are still incomplete and the residual work is still ongoing. Contractors use trucks and heavy machinery to transport material like cement blocks and drain lids thus rendering entire stretches of these roads inaccessible for vehicular movement. Consequently traffic snarls and jams are a common site along the MG Road and the 18th June Road, two of the main thoroughfares of the city. The traffic problem is particularly severe during peak hours, when people are rushing to work in the morning and when they leave offices to get home in the evening and the bulldozers and trucks obstruct movement. At several locations in the city, road signages indicating ‘No Entry’ zones, no-parking areas, no left or right turns and with such other crucial information, have not yet been installed. Vehicles, especially rent-a-cabs driven by tourists often move in the wrong direction along one-way streets adding to the commotion and chaos. Birla elected LS speaker for second term PTI NEW DELHI NDA nominee Om Birla was elected as speaker of the Lok Sabha for a second consecutive term by voice vote on Wednesday, capping days of intense battle on the issue with the Opposition in a rare move proposing its own candidate. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who moved the motion for Birla’s election as speaker, lauded the balance he showed in maintaining decorum of the House during his previous term. Several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, congratulated Birla too, stressing on “impartiality” and hoping he would allow them to raise the voice of the people and not apply his restraint orders only to Opposition benches. Pro-tem Speaker Bhartruhari Mahtab made the announcement of Birla’s election after the Opposition, which had forwarded the name of eight-term Congress MP Kodikunnil Suresh as its candidate, did not press for votes to the motion. ic. The contractors/ agency/ designer/ consultants literally forgot to put any roof or rain shelter overhead at the ground level exit/entry of the basement, which work is now taken up and has also been ongoing for more than 8-9 months,” he stated. Faldessai further lamented that barely two months from the inauguration, during the first monsoon, the building showed problems including leakages, water seepage and slippery floors. “The corridors were flooded with stormwater and there was a lot of leakage from the roof, not only on the top floors of the building but, surprisingly enough, even on the first floor. On the second floor, at several places, false-ceiling collapsed, >Continued on P6 Twist to Assagao saga, family ready for compromise THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Agarwadekar family appears to be cozying up to the alleged main accused Pooja Sharma in the demolition of a house in Assagao after her representative met them late Wednesday evening and promised to rebuild their house. The Agarwadekars also said that Pooja promised to withdraw the sale deed agreement over the property with the original owner. The family indicated that they are taking a sympathetic view since there are families involved on both sides. Earlier in the day, against the backdrop of allegations of lapses by Anjuna police regarding the demolition, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that investigation will be handed over to the Crime Branch (CB). Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Chief Minister reiterated that the government will reconstruct the demolished house, though the legality of the ownership will be decided MAPUSA The Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony (PRAWAH) is set to commence its much-anticipated inspection of the Mhadei river basin on July 4. The inspection will start in Maharashtra, followed by a thorough examination in Goa on July 5 and 6. The committee will then proceed to the Karnataka region. Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar emphasised the significance of this initial visit, stating, “This is the first visit. Thereafter, they will have regular visits, perhaps every fortnight or on a monthly basis. This visit is crucial as it will bring to their notice the flow of water during the rains.” PRAWAH’s decision to inspect the Mhadei basin follows the Goa government’s request for a joint inspection after reports surfaced that Karnataka had begun digging canals to divert water to the Malaprabha basin. The inspection itinerary includes visits to lift irrigation projects in various parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. The committee will also examine the Surla and Dhudsagar waterfalls and inspect the Anjunem and Amthane dams. Additionally, they will evaluate the Valvanthi river, which supports drinking water facilities and lift irrigation >Continued on P6 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI s many as 120 persons lost their lives in accidents since January 1 with an alarming spike of three fatalities occurring on a single day on Tuesday. But while the overall scenario has been a serious concern, the traffic situation in Ponda and Dharbandora talukas is especially dire. The two talukas have reported around 14 deaths and 38 injuries in less than three months. Between April 1 and June 25, over 20 accidents have resulted in the deaths of around 14 persons including newly recruited police constable Rachat Satarkar, aged 27, who died in a self-accident in the early hours of April 28. In the latest instance, biker Tanvesh Rivonkar lost his life in a A Lucky escape for 8 workers; 15 huts, restaurants and kitchen at tourism properties gutted in fire THE GOAN I NETWORK CANACONA A carpenter from Bihar was charred to death while eight others had a lucky escape when about 15 huts, restaurants and kitchens at two seasonal tourism properties were gutted in a major fire at Agonda beach in the wee hours of Wednesday. While a number gas cylinders and AC units at the two properties exploded in the flames, timely arrival of fire tenders saved dozens of houses in the densely populated residential locality of Dhavalkhazan from getting destroyed in the fire. The two sea-facing properties – Soulmate Beach Huts and Omkar Beach Huts – which had already shut down for the off-season, had been leased from property owners and were located in the midst of residential houses on three sides. INCIDENT According to local Panch THE STATS: CAUSE FOR CONCERN „„A total of 120 deaths due to accidents since January 1 this year „„Over 20 accidents resulting in 14 deaths from April 1 to June 25 „„Overspeeding, drunken driving, and helmet-less riding are prevalent issues „„A significant surge in self-accidents In Ponda & Dharbandora „„14 deaths and 38 injuries reported in less than three months self-accident at Sukhtali-Mollem, crashing into a parked vehicle after losing control. On Tuesday morning, an eight-year-old boy was struck by a car while walking to school in Dabal, Dharbandora. by the court. “The case will be transferred from Anjuna police to the CB to ensure that the investigation is impartial. I will not tolerate such incidents in the future,” he stated, adding, ‘the house will be rebuilt as it was before the demolition and the government has taken on that responsibility. However, the ownership issue will be decided by the court’. Sawant, also the Home Minister, further mentioned that the Chief Secretary is conducting an inquiry into the matter and anyone found responsible will face consequences. The Goa Police came under scrutiny for initially failing to act against the alleged illegal demolition as well as laxity in the investigation, thereafter. It is also learnt that the Chief Minister met with DGP Jaspal Singh on Tuesday after which an inquiry was ordered at the government level. Singh subsequently took to X to assure the public of a thorough investigation and to seek their trust in the police. One charred to death in Agonda beach inferno The two beachside properties destroyed in Agonda beach fire. Accidental fire suspected, 3 taken into custody CANACONA: Suspecting that welding work may have been linked to the fire, Canacona police said three persons have been taken into custody as part of investigations. Canacona SDPO Tikam Singh Verma said an FIR will be >Continued on P6 Nilesh Pagui, a fire broke out in one property where a group of nine carpenters and welders had been at work till late Tuesday night to construct a shed. PRAWAH to inspect 120 lives lost in accidents since Jan till Mhadei river basin date; Ponda, Dharbandora worst hit THE GOAN I NETWORK 14 Fortunately, he sustained only injuries and is currently being treated at GMC. The previous day, 52-yearold Sanjay Babalo Pednekar died after his scooter collided with a stray cow on the road in Par-Usgao. An employee of MRF Company, he was returning home after his night shift. While overspeeding, drunken driving and helmet-less riding have been a worrying trend in Goa, self-accidents have also seen a surge. An official statement from the Traffic Department is awaited even as DGP Jaspal Singh took to social media urging parents “to exercise influence over their kids”, as underage boys are frequently caught riding motorcycles at dangerous speeds. In a separate post on X, SP Traffic Rahul Gupta highlighted that two recent fatalities in Usgao and Mollem were due to helmetless riding. In one instance, the rider >Continued on P6 As the fire began to spread rapidly, seven workers fled from the site and raised an alarm. >Continued on P6