log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY JULY 7, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.20 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 16 GOOD LIFE »PAGE 12 LIVE SMART »PAGE 14 Chocolate Connection Kiss & Tell Starting a new job? Here are seven essential tips to navigate first day at the workplace SPORTS »PAGE 8 Second-string India loses to unfancied Zimbabwe in first T20I Zeenat dressed as a 70+ schoolgirl reminiscing about her youth Trending now, veganism FEELING STUCK? Rajawat stuns World No 4 Antonsen in Canada Open badminton On World Chocolate Day, some references in cinema to the most popular sweet This seemingly often taken-for-granted gesture has numerous health benefits Erratic weather pattern Scrapyards flourish as govt sparks concern in Goa still dilly-dallies on policy DESPITE ASSURANCE IN ASSEMBLY… IT’S ALL HAPPENING: SUDDEN DOWNPOURS, PROLONGED DRY SPELLS, MARINE HEAT WAVES THE GOAN I NETWORK >> SEE PG 3 GROWLING FEAR OF STRAYS ALONG COAST MAGAZINE MAGAZ Exploring Goa’s wildlife during monsoon Key takeaways from BNS and BNSS in repealing IPC & CrPC Travel tips during the monsoons Overcoming migraines and finding relief from painful attacks Bappa’s Café Siddhi: A story of legacy, love and local flavour The historic Church of Santa Isabel de Portugal at Ucassaim IN SHORT >> PIs get fiat to be available 24x7 PANAJI: The Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal has issued an order directing all Police Inspectors to be available at their jurisdictions 24/7. The order -- that comes into force with immediate effect -- further asks PIs to obtain prior permission if they want to leave their jurisdiction. Union Budget to be presented on July 23 NEW DELHI: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget on July 23. MAPUSA Despite an overall 11 per cent deficit in all-India rainfall for June, Goa has managed to receive near-normal rainfall distribution. However, the State’s changing precipitation patterns have become increasingly evident, causing concern among both residents and scientists. The most striking observation has been the erratic nature of rainfall. Sudden and intense downpours are now common in many areas, while other regions experience prolonged dry spells. Additionally, unseasonably warm weather continues to plague the State, even though it is well past the pre-monsoon phase. This anomaly has left citizens uneasy, as they grapple with the effects of these climatic changes. “There is no doubt that Unseasonal thunderstorms in Goa point to climate change: Experts MAPUSA: Recent thunderstorms in Goa, occurring well past the pre-monsoon phase, have been deemed “unusual” by scientists, who warn that such events may become more frequent in the future. Experts suggest that these changes could be linked to the broader effects of climate change. “The incidents of thunderstorms we are witnessing are unusual,” stated Dr A K Saran, Senior Principal Scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). >Continued on P6 there is a noticeable change in rainfall pattern. And it is the effect of marine heat waves,” explained Dr A K Saran, Senior Principal Scientist at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). Dr Saran attributes these Explore paths beyond traditional degrees, CM advises students CITES SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES IN DEFENCE, CIVIL SERVICES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday interacted with secondary school students via a webinar and urged them to look beyond the mundane bachelor degrees in arts, science and commerce streams. “Only 10 per cent of parents will be knowledgeable about career options for their kids, while 90 per cent do not have the knowledge about careers their children can take up. This is a fact,” Sawant said while addressing the students in the ‘career guidance’ webinar. The BA, BCom and BSc degrees are not the only options. There are a lot of opportunities in defence and civil services,” Sawant said further while urging the students to explore beyond the beaten path. He also touched on several initiatives of his government Aldona MLA slams ‘coercion’ to log on to CM’s webinar PANAJI: Aldona MLA, Carlos Alvares-Ferreira has slammed the government for coercing institutions to log on to the Chief Minister’s webinar and threatening them of action if they didn’t. He said, compelling educational institutions to take part in the CM’s address else threatening action seems like a very draconian approach. for the all round development of students, including implementation of NEP 2020. He added that a collaborative effort of the teachers, students, parents and the government will help students choose the apt career path. changes to the increasing temperature contrast between land and ocean, driven by global warming and climate change. “Compared to a decade or 20 years ago, the sea surface temperature of the Arabian ASSAGAO SAGA Pooja’s Adv now names CM, two legislators for meddling in case THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Sessions Court will continue hearing Pooja Sharma’s anticipatory bail application in the Assagao house demolition case on Monday. Advocate Surendra Desai, representing Sharma, reiterated his allegations of political interference this time naming Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and MLA couple Michael and Delilah Lobo. The allegation was about their site visits, announcement by CM and media statements. “The police want to arrest her (Sharma) due to political pressure. The probe is not independent,” Desai further alleged. Earlier on Friday, Desai accused the police of misleading and misusing their machinery by fabricating grounds to seek her custody. The public prosecutor, on the other hand, accused Sharma of not cooperating with the investigation while seeking her custody. New Britain PM to scrap Rwanda policy PTI LONDON ritish Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Saturday that he is scrapping a controversial Conservative policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda. The Rwanda scheme was dead and buried before it started, Starmer said in his first news conference. It’s never acted as a deterrent. Almost the opposite. The move was one of Starmer’s first acts in office, though it was widely expected. He had said during his campaign that he would ditch the plan that has cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Starmer made the announcement after holding Modi, Starmer discuss India-UK FTA B his first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing St., the day after his Labour Party’s landslide victory overturned 14 years of Conservative rule. The Rwanda plan was one of the showcase policies of former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to try to curb migrants from making dangerous English Channel crossings. But it was beset with challenges over human rights NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to newly elected British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as the two leaders agreed to work towards an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK free trade agreement, a statement said. Modi also extended an invitation to Starmer for an early visit to India as the two leaders agreed to remain in touch, the statement said. The statement said both the leaders recalled the historic relations between the India and the UK and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the countries. issues and never managed to deport a single person despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars in a pact with the east African nation. Suella Braverman, a Conservative hard liner on immigration who is a possible contender to replace Sunak as party leader, was critical of Starmer’s anticipated plan to end the Rwanda deal. Sea and the Bay of Bengal has increased significantly. The warming of the Arabian Sea has been more rapid than that of the Bay of Bengal over the last decade or more,” he noted. “Normally, oceanic sea temperatures range from 28 to 29 degrees Celsius. However, over the past two decades, these temperatures have risen substantially, now ranging from 28 to 30 degrees.” According to Dr Saran, these marine and atmospheric changes have fundamentally altered the monsoon pattern. “The precipitation is now characterised by sudden, intense bursts rather than a steady rainfall over a larger area and longer duration. These abrupt downpours are followed by periods of significantly reduced rainfall, which does not cover a vast area,” he >Continued on P6 State home to nearly 200 illegal scrapyards THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The government’s delay in framing a policy for scrapyard registration -- a long-standing promise -- has seen fearless operations of nearly 200 scrapyards illegally right under its nose. The recent chlorine leakage at an illegal scrapyard in Merces is just one incident exposing blatant disregard for the law and public safety, despite the issue raised in the Legislative Assembly. The government has remained silent while these scrapyards operate without registration, licenses or adherence to scientific methodologies for handling various types of scrap. Data with The Goan reveals that in Bardez alone, around 103 scrapyards, dealing with flammable items without any NOC or license, are operating for several years even dating back to the ‘70s and ‘80s. Tiswadi has around 31 illegal scrapyards, Salcette KEY FACTS & FIGURES „„Bardez hosts around 103 scrapyards dealing with flammable items without any NOC or licenses „„Tiswadi has around 31, Salcette 19, Mormugao 10, Bicholim 16, Cuncolim 12 and Ponda 4 „„Nearly all handle flammable materials without adopting scientific methods to store, handle or transport waste „„In some cases, govt lacks records of when 19, Mormugao 10, Bicholim 16, Cuncolim 12 and Ponda 4 among others. Nearly all handle flammable materials without adopting scientific methods to store, handle or transport the waste. Ironically, in some cases, the government lacks records of when these scrapyards were established, the types of these scrapyards were established, the types of waste they handle, the quantities involved, or the methodologies used „„Several of these illegal scrapyards deal with plastic, auto spare parts, iron & metal waste they handle, the quantities involved, or the methodologies used. Cuncolim serves as one such example. Several of these illegal scrap yards deal with plastic, auto spare parts, iron, and metal. “There are instances where lands have been illegally >Continued on P6