log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY JULY 26, 2024 GOA @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 39 Fishermen pray for calm seas, bountiful catch in new season 3 NEWS Jharkhand MLAs disqualified under anti-defection law 7 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Can calcium deficiency increase the risk of heart attack? 8 Pvt medical college at South district hospital under consideration: Rane SAYS NOTHING IS FINALISED, GOVT WILL DECIDE IN INTEREST OF PEOPLE OPPOSITION SLAMS MINISTER FOR ‘INCONSISTENCIES’ IN PROPOSAL THE GOAN I NETWORK page 6 What can make or break world’s first CNG motorcycle? REVIEW: 2024 X-Trail: A stylish reboot of the first Nissan in India ASSEMBLY COVERAGE Govt to undertake Rs 90 lakh bund repair project in Oxel, Siolim Face recognition system for attendance in p’yats Govt announces new recruitment, upgrading plans for p’yat secs Nat Games: Minister commits to paying volunteers, medallists No tracking system yet for GI tagged items EV buses unused for a year among 48 plying Panaji (See pgs 2 & 3 ) IN SHORT >> 4 die in Pune, flights cancelled in Mumbai as rains lash Maha PUNE: Heavy rains wreaked havoc in Maharashtra's Pune, where at least four persons died in rain-related incidents on Thursday, while low-lying areas were inundated. As many as 11 flights were cancelled and ten diverted to nearby airports as heavy rains continued to lash Mumbai with several places waterlogged. >> See pg 7 Two workers die of suffocation at Verna VASCO: Two workers died of suffocation when they entered the elevator pit to repair the crusher at an industrial plant at Verna Industrial Estate on Thursday.   >> See pg 3 MAPUSA Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, who faced the heat of the Opposition members during Question Hour on Thursday over utilising part of the South Goa District Hospital for a private medical college, acknowledged that the proposal for a private medical college was under consideration but emphasised that nothing had been finalised. He mentioned that the NITI Aayog had developed certain models, but no decisions had been made. Rane also noted that while the Chief Minister may have previously made a statement, the plans were still in the discussion phase. “The opposition can ask questions but finally the government will take a decision in the interest of the people,” Rane asserted. Rane also emphasised that he has not violated the CVC HEALTH MINISTER SPEAKS „„The NITI Aayog has developed certain models, but no decisions had been made and that the plans were still in the discussion phase „„The Opposition can ask questions but finally the government will take a decision in the interest of the people „„I am ready to present the entire file on the proposal to the House guidelines. Facing continued pressure, the health minister agreed to present the entire file on the private medical college proposal to the House. A fiery Opposition confronted Rane on the floor of the House, criticising the lack of transparency regarding the proposed establishment of a private medical college at the South Goa District Hospital in Govt to build new campuses for Architecture, Pharmacy colleges CM SAYS LAND IDENTIFIED AT TALEIGAO PLATEAU THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said, the government has decided to build new campuses for the Goa Architecture College and the Goa Pharmacy College at the Taleigao plateau. "Around 2 lakh square metres of land of the Goa University has already been identified at the Taleigao plateau to build the campus for the Architecture and Pharmacy colleges," Sawant told the Goa Legislative Assembly while replying to the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to the Higher Education Department. He said these campuses will be independent of the Goa University and built by the State government. Sawant said the Goa Pharmacy College is performing well and has even signed a MoU with St Louis College of Pharmacy, USA for collaboration, adding that new post-graduate courses have also been introduced. He, however, admitted that the current Pharmacy College in Panaji city is inadequate which is why his government CM defends implementation of NEP, says ‘not hasty’ PANAJI: While admitting that there are infrastructure shortcomings in government schools, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday staunchly defended the roll out of the National Education Policy (NEP) saying elaborate training to faculty has been imparted. The Chief Minister was replying to the discussion on the demands for grants pertaining to School Education during which several MLAs from the Opposition side accused the government of inadequate preparation and for taking a hasty decision to introduce NEP in Class IX this year. >> See pg 2 ‘State Museum at Ella, work to begin this year’ PANAJI: A new State Museum building will be built on a 10,000 square metre parcel of land at Ella, Old Goa and actual physical work on it will begin in the current financial year, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday.  >> See pg 2 has taken the decision to build a new, modern campus. On technical education, Sawant denied the claims made by Opposition MLAs that several faculty positions were vacant, saying 90 per cent of the faculty posts in the six Government polytechnics are filled up. He also said that two new post-graduate courses in the AMID RISING HOMEGROWN COMPETITION… Google Maps announces new features to woo Indian users PTI NEW DELHI Amid rising competition from homegrown challenger Ola Maps, Google on Thursday announced a slew of new features on Google Maps to woo Indian users, including EV charging station information, flyover callouts and AI-driven routing capability to reduce narrow road usage for four-wheeler drivers. It is “an exciting time in mapping”, Google Maps said announcing the new lineup, which comes in the backdrop of a pitched battle with Ola Margao. The Opposition's dissatisfaction led to a dramatic scene as members rushed to the well of the House, demanding clear answers from the government. Leader of the Opposition, Yuri Alemao, initiated the debate during a postponed joint question session, declaring that a private medical college would not be permitted in the KEY NEW FEATURES „„Narrow roads: AI-driven routing capability to reduce narrow road usage „„Flyover call-out: Helps users anticipate upcoming flyovers along their route „„EV charging stations info: Over 8,000 charging stations listed as of now Maps. Google recently decided to cut the pricing of Google Maps platform for developers by up to 70 per cent from August 1, just weeks after Ola Founder and CEO Bhavish Aggarwal openly nudged Indian devel- opers to shun Google Maps and offered them sweeteners like one-year free access to Ola Maps. Emphasising its focus on the market, Google Maps on >Continued on P5 Government Engineering College at Farmagudi have commenced in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (ME-AI/ML) and Geo-Technical Engineering. Sawant also told the House that all the ITIs, Polytechnics and the Engineering College are tied up with industry for placements as well as practical learning. district hospital. Alemao highlighted the inadequate facilities and alleged sugar blood testing services at the South Goa District Hospital, claiming a lack of coordination within the government adversely affected the local population. “Why do we require a private medical college in South Goa? It is meant for crony capitalists. We will never allow it. Has the government set up the infrastructure in the district hospital to hand it over to private players?” Alemao lambasted the government. He demanded a commitment from the health minister that a private hospital would not be established in the district hospital. A vociferous Goa Forward Party leader and Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai, accused the health minister of dishonesty, citing inconsistent answers about the proposal for a private medical college in South Goa. “The health minister is ei- ther telling lies or trying to hide something. He tells me ‘no such proposal is under consideration’ while he tells Yuri that ‘the plan is under process,’” Sardesai stated. He further alleged that the two contrasting answers was violation of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines and the minister could be jailed for the violations. Sardesai recalled that a year ago, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had announced plans for a private medical college in South Goa with reserved seats for Goan students during a cabinet briefing. Sardesai criticised the health minister’s plan to establish the college through a private-public partnership (PPP) model, accusing him of attempting to privatise the Rs 500 crore district hospital. “He is irresponsible. Why is he giving two different answers? The speaker should warn him,” Sardesai demanded. SPORTS FC Goa signs Albanian striker Armando Sadiku 12 Govt plans to set up nursing college at old Hospicio hospital MINISTER FACES SCRUTINY OVER LACK OF FACILITIES, HOSPITAL REFERRALS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Health Minister Viswajit Rane informed the Goa Legislative Assembly of plans to establish a nursing college at the old premises of Hospicio Hospital in Margao. HEALTH CHECK ON DISTRICT HOSPITAL However, he did not provide a specific timeline for the project's completion. Rane also clarified that patients from the South Goa District Hospital are referred to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) for tertiary care. In response to queries from Velim MLA Cruz Silva regarding the seriousness of the government's commitment to opening the new nursing college, Rane explained, “We have received administrative approval to set up a nursing college in the old premises of Hospicio Hospital, Margao. We want to establish the college but cannot rush the process.” Rane assured the assembly of a joint inspection of the South Goa District Hospital with Opposition MLAs during the ongoing session. Discussing the challenges in reconstructing the old Hospicio structure, Rane mentioned the government's intention to retain the front portion of the heritage building while addressing its dilapidated condition. Criticism arose from Congress MLA Altone D’Costa, who highlighted the inefficiency of the South Goa District Hospital, noting that most cases were referred to GMC. “If crucial facilities are not available and every second patient is referred to the GMC, then what is the point of having such a big hospital in South Goa?” D’Costa questioned. >Continued on P5 State govt to seek Centre's intervention on Dabolim airport THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that operations at Dabolim airport will not be permitted to be shut even as Opposition members sprung to their feet to interrupt his speech and demand an explanation to support his claim in the face of a number of airlines shifting to the Manohar International Airport in Mopa. No sooner Sawant made the statement that the Dabolim airport will not shut down during his reply to the discussion on demands for the Civil Aviation Department, Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao, Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Benaulim MLA, Venzy Viegas and Goa Forward Party’s Vijai Sardesai sprung to their feet saying the claim by the Chief Minister was hollow. Sawant however later responded to their demands saying he will meet with the Civil Aviation Minister and discuss the issues including reduction of parking as well as usage fees to stem the flight of operations by airlines from Dabolim to Mopa airport. THE FLAME OF HOPE: India’s individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, carried the Olympic torch through the streets of Paris as part of the Paris 2024 Olympics torch relay. The relay will culminate with lighting of the Olympic Cauldron at the Jardins du Trocadéro Stadium. Once it is lit, the 2024 Olympic Games will officially begin on Friday.   (Related reports on Pg13) Plan to ban 23 ferocious dog breeds kept on hold THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has withheld its proposed ban on certain breeds of ferocious dogs despite rise in dog attacks and bite cases in the State. The Rottweiler attack on two minors in Taleigao and a pregnant woman mauled by a pack of 10 dogs – adopted by a luxurious villa owner in Vasco – both reported last year, prompted the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department to identify ferocious dogs. The State's ban decision was strengthened when the Central government issued an order banning 23 breeds of dogs this year. However, with the order challenged in the Karnataka High Court, the move has been temporarily halted. "The Central Government had issued a DO letter dated March 12, 2024, recommending prohibitions on the >Continued on P5 SC rules States can tax minerals, royalty not tax PTI NEW DELHI he legislative power to tax mineral rights vests with the states and the royalty paid on minerals is not a tax, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in a landmark judgement which will give a huge revenue boost to mineral-rich states. A nine-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, in a majority 8:1 verdict, said Parliament does not have the legislative competence to tax mineral rights under Entry 54 of List I of the Constitution which pertains to regulation of mines and mineral development by the Centre. The pronouncement, which T KEY COURT JUDGEMENT & OBSERVATION „„Parliament does not have the legislative competence to tax mineral rights under Entry 54 of List I of the Constitution which pertains to regulation of mines and mineral development by the Centre „„Parliament can still legislate to impose “any limitations” on states’ power to levy tax on mineral rights „„Royalty is not a tax. Royalty is a contractual consideration paid by the mining lessee to the lessor for enjoyment of mineral rights „„The liability to pay royalty arises out of the contractual conditions of mining lease „„The payments made to the Government cannot be deemed to be a tax merely because the statute provides for their recovery as arrears came as a setback to the Centre, however, said that Parliament can still legislate to impose “any limitations” on states' power to levy tax on mineral rights. It referred to the term “any limitations” under Entry 50 of List II and said its scope is wide enough to include imposition of “restrictions, conditions, principles, as well as a prohibition”. Entry 50 of List II pertains to taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development. Justice B V Nagarathna, in her dissenting verdict, said royalty is in the nature of a tax or an exaction and the Centre does have the power to levy it. After the bench pronounced its verdict, the counsel appearing for various states urged it to decide on recovery of taxes worth thousands of crores of rupees levied by the Centre on mines and minerals till now. They urged the court to make its verdict operational with retrospective effect to ensure refund of taxes from the Centre. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, vehemently opposed the submissions saying it will have wide-ranging impact and sought the verdict to be made effective prospectively. The bench, which asked the >Continued on P5