log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JULY 25, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 38 Questions remain over restoration of khazan fields after new Borim bridge 3 GOA Uproar in wholesale fish market over retail fish sale 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Hair loss in men and its link with sugary beverages 9 Bill on tenant verification skips jail, prescribes fine up to 10k OWNERS TO MAINTAIN AND SUBMIT INFO; POLICE TO INSPECT RECORDS; GOVT MAY DIRECT AGENCIES TO COLLECT AND VERIFY TENANT ID PROOF THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See PG 3 2 years on, no clarity on chargesheet in case of tourist’s death by electrocution PANAJI Exactly a week ago, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced enforcing stricter penalties on landlords who fail to submit tenant details to the police. The proposed law, The Goa (Verification of Tenants) Bill 2024, was approved by the cabinet on Wednesday and will soon be tabled in the Assembly however finds no mention of any jail provision except for a hefty fine of Rs 10,000. CITIZEN SAFETY & PUBLIC ORDER ASSEMBLY COVERAGE Taxi imbroglio dominates discussion on grants to Transport Department App-based taxi service way forward: Mauvin MLAs discuss aging GHB buildings amid safety concerns Oppn corners govt on delayed rural works due to staff crunch Up to Rs 1 lakh fine for firms advertising jobs outside Goa Sports Minister assures prize money for medal winners before Chaturthi (See pg 2) IN SHORT >> Roads under Smart City opened for public: Govt to HC PANAJI: The State government on Wednesday submitted to the Bombay High Court at Goa that all roads, which were taken up for Smart City project, have been reopened. While adjourning the PIL to July 30, the HC has asked the petitioner residents to place on record any deficiencies related to the works. Curchorem restaurant sealed for violations PANAJI: A family restaurant at Curchorem was sealed by Deputy Collector, Quepem as per directions of the GSPCB for violating pollution norms. WEATHER >> Max: 28 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 83% This legislative push was also insisted upon after an OCI citizen Arnold Soares was killed at his ancestral home in Candolim. While CM stated that several non-Goans reside in Goa, the bill only stipulates a fine of Rs 10,000 for non-compliance. It also emphasises the importance of citizen safety and public order. “Failure on the part of the SALIENT FEATURES OF THE BILL „„CLAUSE 1(3) – of the Bill empowers the government to appoint a date, by notification, for bringing the Act into force „„CLAUSE 3(1) – to issue notification for specifying additional categories of documents for establishing the identity proof of the tenants „„CLAUSE 3(2) – to make rules for specifying the form, manner and the officer to whom the information is to be submitted „„CLAUSE 4 – to issue a notification to specify other officers who may be authorized to inspect the records about tenants which are required to be maintained by the owner of the house „„CLAUSE 5(2) – to frame rules for specifying the form and manner of application for compounding an offence „„CLAUSE 9 – to frame rules to implement the provisions of the Act „„CLAUSE 10 – to issue an order for removing difficulty encountered during implementation of the Act owner to maintain and submit the information in the manner as required under the provisions of section 3, shall constitute an offense punishable with fine which may extend to Rs 10,000. Provided that an offense punishable under this section may be compounded by the sub divisional magistrate within whose jurisdiction the premises is situated, on payment to the credit of the government a sum not exceeding Rs 10,000,” reads an extract of the Bill explaining Govt disputes NITI Aayog’s unemployment figures CITES EMPLOYED YOUTH HAVE NOT CANCELLED REGISTRATION WITH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has disputed NITI Aayog’s unemployment figures for Goa, arguing that several employed youth have not cancelled their registration with the Regional Employment Exchange, which implies there are more job seekers than actual numbers. “Once students complete their Class 12th Board exams, they often register with the Employment Exchange, as the minimum job requirement is Class XII and 18 years of age. These students then pursue further studies and subsequently secure private jobs. However, they don’t cancel their registration because there is a rule to attach copy of employment exchange card when applying for government jobs,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said while responding to a calling attention notice tabled by MLA Venzy Viegas. Sawant further explained that the Employment Ex- CM’S REPLY IN ASSEMBLY „„Students register postClass 12 for Employment Exchange, pursue further studies or secure private jobs „„Registration has not been cancelled due to requirement for government job applications „„Many candidates studying or employed in private sector are still registered change ensures that a candidate is a 15-year resident of Goa, which is one of the mandatory requirements for government jobs. “As a result, these candidates don’t cancel their registration even when employed in private jobs. They are studying and continuing their registration, or working in the private sector „„Inquiry is initiated to categorise employed and unemployed candidates „„1,59,676 registered for jobs, 54,142 currently employed in private sector seeking government jobs „„87,270 under inquiry, 18,264 pursuing further studies or self-employed „„Expected unemployment number to drop to 30-35,000 after scrutiny and still applying for vacancies in government departments,” he added. Replying to rising unemployment on paper, the Chief Minister stated that the government has begun inquiring with employment exchange registered to >Continued on P5 ON PAGE 3 NEW BILL TARGETS UNCLAIMED, ABANDONED PROPERTIES PANAJI: The State government will introduce “The Goa Escheats, Forfeitures, and Bona Vacantia Bill, 2024” to manage unclaimed properties and address land grab issues. Approved by the cabinet, the bill provides for the administration, control, and disposal of assets transferred through escheat, lapse, bona vacantia, or forfeiture. CABINET NOD FOR 4 AGENCIES TO CONDUCT DUMP PROFILE STUDY ON PILOT BASIS the punishment for non-maintenance and non-submission of tenant details. The bill said that the government may give direction to any government department or agency, local authorities or persons to collect and verify the proof of identity of tenants; and to maintain the records. “The police officer not below the rank of head constable or such other officer as may be specified by the government shall be entitled to US cautions citizens against travel to Manipur, J&K AGENCIES WASHINGTON The United States has asked its nationals not to travel to Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, the India-Pakistan border, and parts of central and eastern parts of the country where Naxalites are active. In a revised travel advisory for India, the State Department said it has updated to reflect information on the northeastern states. “Exercise increased caution in India due to crime and terrorism. Some areas have increased risk, it said. Overall India has been placed at Level 2. But several parts of the country have been placed on Level 4: Jammu and Kashmir, India-Pak border, Manipur and parts of Central and East India. “Do not travel to: The union territory of Jammu and Kashmir due to terrorism and civil unrest; within 10 km of the India-Pakistan border due to the potential for armed conflict; portions of Central and East India due to terrorism and Manipur due to violence and crime, said the State Department. In addition, it recommended Americans to reconsider travel to the northeastern states. inspect at any time, records required to be maintained under section 3,” it said. The CM had informed the Assembly that the Bill introduced in 2021 was sent to the Select Committee after the Opposition’s demand. The 2021 Bill had proposed at least six months imprisonment stating, “no court other than the court of a judicial magistrate first class shall take cognizance of, and try an offense under this Act.” SPORTS Nita Ambani secures second term as IOC member 14 SC sets aside NGT okay for bridge across Tiracol river THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Supreme Court of India has set aside the order of the National Green Tribunal, which had allowed the construction of a bridge across the Tiracol river connecting the Querim village to the Tiracol hamlet located on the Maharashtra side of the river that falls in Goa. The Supreme Court had earlier, in July last year, stayed the construction of the bridge pending the hearing of the petition filed by the Goa Foundation. The Goa Foundation approached the Supreme Court challenging the NGT’s order rejecting the appeal against the construction of the Rs 77-crore signature bridge connecting Querim and Tiracol that activists had alleged was being built solely for the benefit of Leading Hotels Pvt Ltd, which at the time was seeking to build a golf course in Tiracol village. The Goa Foundation had approached the National Green Tribunal earlier challenging the permissions for the bridge on grounds of being approved in violation of PETITIONER’S CLAIM „„Bridge benefitted Leading Hotels Pvt Ltd for golf course development „„It violated CRZ notification and Querim beach no-development zone status „„Bridge alignment deviated from RP 2021 proposed bridge alignment the CRZ notification. The NGT had initially ordered a stay on the construction. However, in January 2020, the NGT (Delhi) dismissed the application of the Foundation without hearing from the Foundation. After a Bombay High Court order, the matter was once again placed before the NGT which again in January 2022 dismissed the application without hearing the petitioner on merits. The Goa Foundation filed an appeal before the Supreme Court. >Continued on P5 18 killed in Nepal plane crash, pilot lone survivor CHILD AMONG THOSE DEAD; PROBE UNDERWAY Rescuers and officials stand at the crash site after a Saurya Airlines’ plane crashed during takeoff at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on Wednesday. PTI KATHMANDU A Nepalese airliner crashed and caught fire shortly after taking off from the Tribhuvan International Airport here on Wednesday, killing 18 people aboard, including a child, and seriously injuring the pilot – the lone survivor, in the latest aviation disaster to hit the Himalayan nation. The Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft of Saurya Airlines, carrying 19 people, including two crew members and technical staff of the airline, was bound for Pokhara International Airport for regular maintenance service when the accident occurred at 11.11 am (local time). “Shortly after takeoff from runway 02, the aircraft veered off to the right and crashed on the east side of the runway,” said a statement issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal. It said rescue operations were initiated immediately and fire was brought under control. “One injured person (Captain Manish Ratna Shakya) was rescued and taken to the hospital, and 18 people were found dead,” it added. The deceased were identified as co-pilot S Katuwal, the employees of Saurya Airlines and a Yemeni national (Aref Reda). Manu Raj Sharma, a technician of the airline, his wife Priza Khatiwada and their >Continued on P5 Govt enlists ICAR to tackle 269 liquor outlets near schools, places of worship Proximity sparks controversy; CM says permissions granted over several years khazan land inundation STUDY TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 6 MONTHS A THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a significant move to address the longstanding issue of khazan land inundation, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) will be tasked with conducting a comprehensive study to find a solution within the next six months. This decision was communicated during a session of The ingress of saline water into khazan lands is a problem affecting the entire State. This has led to the proliferation of mangroves in these areas. Despite our efforts in building bunds, many people are neither cultivating these fields nor engaging in pisciculture,” — Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister the Goa Legislative Assembly, amid rising concerns over the condition of these ecologically and culturally vital lands. Chief Minister Sawant also assured that his government would explore the possibility of securing funds from the Ministry of National Waterways for the reconstruction >Continued on P5 PANAJI s many as 269 liquor outlets located within 100 metres of educational institutions or places of worship have been granted permissions by successive governments over the last several years, sparking controversy over the proximity of these establishments to sacred institutions. The highest number of these outlets 63 is operating in coastal Pernem, followed by the temple town of Ponda with 61 outlets. The total number also includes 15 licences granted in the last five years, T H E STATS : C AU SE F O R CO N C E R N „„The highest number of these outlets 63 is operating in coastal Pernem, followed by the temple town of Ponda with 61 outlets „„The total number also includes 15 licences granted in the last five years, since 2020 till date „„Excise Dept issued 15 new licences to liquor shops and bars within 100 metres of schools across the State in the past five years „„This includes one licence each in Bicholim and Mormugao in 2020, six in Salcete in 2021, and one each in Bardez, Tiswadi, and Ponda in 2023 „„One licence was issued in Quepem in both 2020 and 2021, one in Canacona in 2022, and one in Sanguem in 2024 since 2020 till date. As per the reply tabled by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to a starred question by MLA Chandrakant Shetye, these licences were approved by the Commissioner with prior government consent. Meanwhile, sources revealed to The Goan that applications for setting up liquor shops in the prohibited areas are usually rejected by the Excise Department but some of these – after proper scrutiny – are subsequently forwarded to the government for consideration as per existing rules. Recently, the Goa government amended its Goa Excise Duty Rules to impose an additional 100 per cent licence and renewal fee on liquor licences issued to outlets located within 100 metres of educational institutions or places of worship. The development sparked debate with Opposition leaders accusing the State of promoting alcohol sales near sacred sites. In response, Sawant clarified that the regulation has been in place since 1980 and that permissions have been granted on a caseby-case basis by successive governments including the Congress. >Continued on P5