log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY JUNE 28, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 11 As court deadline looms, concerns over Margao’s waste treatment plans 2 GOA ‘Smart City’ bus service raises hopes of decongesting city traffic 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Home remedies to remove skin tan 23 fall ill after chlorine gas leaks at Merces scrapyard n SEVERAL OTHERS GASP FOR BREATH n TREE LEAVES TURN DRY THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA Eighteen people were treated while five others were admitted in the GMC hospital, as a gas leak at a scrapyard in Bamon Bhat-Merces left residents in the area gasping for breath. According to information available, the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning when a chlorine gas cylinder at the scrapyard started leaking. As the leak grew, there was an explosion of the gas with the locals stating that it appeared to be a dark cloud. The explosion was such that the leaves on the trees and shrubs were dried up around the explosion site. The leakage, though, saw many residents gasping for breath with several of them going to other areas to escape the suffocation. However, several of the residents got affected with the leakage and had to be taken to the GMC hospital for treatment. IN SHORT >> Soon, govt will send notices to citizens in electronic form PANAJI: The government will now be able to serve notices to citizens in electronic form via cell phone, computer or any other communication device from July 1 subject to their consent in writing. Goa govt has notified July 1, 2024 as the date from which the Goa Electronic Delivery of Notices Act, 2022 (Goa Act 16 of 2022) will come into force. As per the Act any notice which is required to be given under such State law or rules and regulations, to any person, may be sent via electronic devices. Draft Goa Police bill submitted to govt PANAJI: In yet another attempt for a Police Act, the department has once again submitted the draft ‘Goa Police Bill’ to the government, incorporating new changes in the three criminal Laws.   >> See pg 5 Landslide at Bicholim bypass, traffic disrupted  >> See pg 5 Panchayat orders scrapyard owner to stop business Locals being treated inside a 108 ambulance. (Related reports and photos on page 5)  Manuel Vaz Where did cylinders come from? OLD GOA: Even as the owner of the scrapyard is undergoing treatment after the gas leakage, the question that is doing the round is: where did the chlorine gas cylinders come from? Reliable sources informed The Goan revealed that there were three chlorine gas cylinders at the scrapyard, one of which leaked causing the explosion. “These chlorine cylinders are used in water treatment >Continued on P5 Among them was the owner of the scrapyard and his family members. An Old Goa police source informed that in total, 18 people were treated at the GMC casualty while five others, including the owner, were ad- OLD GOA: Having failed to take action in the past, the Merces panchayat finally showed some teeth as a notice directing the owner of the scrapyard to stop the business was served on Thursday, after the incident of gas leakage. The notice, which has been pasted on the door of the scrapyard, the panchayat has given 12 hours to the owner to stop running the scrapyard activity. Later, speaking to >Continued on P5 mitted in hospital. As the Panaji fire station was informed about the incident, a fire brigade rushed at Major setback for govt’s plan to resume mining Centre refuses to relax ban on ore through villages THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major setback to State government’s plan to resume iron ore mining activities, the Centre has refused to grant any relaxation or withdraw its 2014 order that bars the transportation of ore through villages and habitations.  The State government had approached Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) requesting to withdraw its Office Memorandum issued on October 2014 or to grant relaxation to Goa after the Bombay High Court at Goa banned ore transportation activities through Mayem village citing the said Office Memorandum.  In a letter to the Union minister, chief minister Pramod Sawant had raised the concern of miners who are unable to transport the ore through the village as all the e-auctioned mines are located at WHAT THE 2014 OFFICE MEMORANDUM SAID... „„Transportation of minerals by roads passing through villages shall not be allowed „„A ‘bypass’ road should be constructed leaving a gap of at least 200m for transporting minerals „„Impact of sound, dust and accidents needs to be mitigated „„Project proponent shall bear the cost of widening and strengthening the public road network if required „„No road movement should be allowed on the existing village road network without appropriately increasing the carrying capacity of such roads the periphery of the village. During his meeting with Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav in New Delhi, Sawant had raised the concern. However, sources informed that the Minister refused to withdraw the Office Memorandum or grant relaxation at this point. “The Office Mem- orandum is not restricted to Goa but for all the mining States. Ministry was clear that withdrawal of Office Memorandum was not possible as there are Court cases related to it pending in many States,” sources said.  >Continued on P5 Over 15 new businesses now need Pollution Board consent for Ops THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA he Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has broadened its regulatory framework by introducing an additional 15 categories of industries that now require both consent to establish and consent to operate from the Board. This move aims to enhance environmental oversight and ensure adherence to pollution control norms. In a recent public notice, the GSPCB outlined the new categories requiring consent. These include a diverse array of industries and establishments, reflecting the Board’s T THE NEW CATEGORIES „„Washing centres, gaushalas (cow shelters), laterite quarries, hotels, guest houses, resorts, and motels, residential complexes with 24 flats and above, servicing stations, banquet halls, open-air halls, party venues, and marriage venues, poultry farms with 5,000 and above birds, dairy farms with 15 animals and above, piggeries with 15 adult pigs, bakery units, laundries, flour mills, rice mills, saw mills and carpentry units. commitment to comprehensive environmental regulation. The new categories are washing centres, gaushalas (cow shelters), laterite quarries, hotels, guest houses, resorts, and motels, residential complexes with 24 flats and above, servicing stations, banquet halls, open-air halls, party venues, and marriage venues, poultry farms with 5,000 and above birds, dairy farms with 15 animals and above, piggeries with 15 adult pigs, bakery units, laundries, flour mills, rice mills, saw mills and carpentry units. Member Secretary of the GSPCB, Shamila Monteiro em- phasised the legal obligations of operating these units. “Operation of the units/establishments without the valid consent and authorisation of the GSPCB amounts to a violation of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1986, and the Rules under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Such violations shall be liable for the issuance of closure directions,” Monteiro stated. This directive underscores the Board’s stringent stance on pollution control and the necessity for all establishments >Continued on P5 the site to take stock of the situation. However, workers at the scrapyard initially tried to hide the cylinders as they informed the firemen that they had only sprinkled chlorine powder around the area. “But, an alert girl showed us the photos of the cylinders and upon looking at the same, we came to know that gas leakage had indeed taken place. Upon further investigation, we were then told that there were three chlorine gas cylinders, one of which started leaking which later resulted into the explosion,” a fire personnel informed The Goan. “We then took the cylinders at a chemical unit in Corlim which had the expertise of disposing the chlorine cylinders,” the personnel further informed. At the chemical unit, the leaking gas cylinder was safely disposed while the other two cylinders have been kept >Continued on P5 8 SPORTS India thrashes England to storm into T20 World Cup final 13 Anjuna PI, 2 PSIs suspended in Assagao house demolition case n Three more arrested n Police team in Mumbai on lookout for Sharma THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In light of recent developments, the government suspended Anjuna Police Inspector Prashal Desai and Police Sub Inspectors Sanket Pokhre and Nitin Naik due to alleged lapses in the initial investigation into the Assagao house demolition. Their suspension order, issued on Thursday evening, followed a report by Chief Secretary Puneet Goel, who was tasked with investigating the entire saga and identifying lapses by the police. “Lapses were evident from the beginning when the Agarwadekar family accused the Anjuna police of inaction during the demolition and the abduction of two other occupants. There were lapses,” sources said. It is learnt that the PI’s failure to manage the situation, which escalated into a major controversy, prompted the government to take action against him. “The three have been suspended, and further outcome will be known soon,” a senior government official told The Goan indicating the report might contain serious ‘Court order needed to quash FIR’ PANAJI: As the State is resolute to distance itself from the distraction -- victim family’s decision to compromise with the accused – Crime Branch has asserted the Agarwadekar family’s changed stance doesn’t matter until a court order is issued. It is also learnt that the 4-member SIT is examining the affidavit between the Agarwadekar family and Sharma concerning a compromise. Sources said the affidavit copy was submitted to North SP Akshat Kaushal on Thursday, which was subsequently forwarded to Crime Branch. “It doesn’t matter to the Crime Branch if anyone wants to withdraw the case. An FIR is already registered, and one has to approach the Court to quash the FIR. ,” a senior officer said, speaking to The Goan. ON PAGE 3 Govt stands firm amid Agarwadekar family’s U-turn; CM says no compromise Twist of fate: Agarwadekar family’s reversal in demolition case stuns Goa Influence or coincidence? Agarwadekar family’s meeting with MLA Sardesai raises questions findings and recommendations against the police.  Meanwhile, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch has  been constituted, the First In- formation Report (FIR) strengthened with additional charges, further arrests  are made  and  teams have been >Continued on P5