log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY JULY 29, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 42 Old issues haunt stakeholders as action returns at Cutbona jetty 2 GOA No revision of margins for ration shop operators, says govt 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 9 INFO Guilty pleasures that are good for your health Outrage over tax clearance certificate for foreign travel IN SHORT >> More gram sabhas seek equal status to Romi Konkani PANAJI: Demand for equal status to Romi Konkani has grown further with more gram sabhas unanimously passing resolutions to this effect. Over 30 gram sabhas have passed resolutions so far demanding equal status to Konkani in Romi script in the State’s Official Language Act along with Konkani in Devanagiri Script. >> See pg 2 Gram sabhas oppose Sunburn in S Goa MARGAO: Sunday saw a number of gram sabha meetings across Salcete opposing the proposed plans to shift the Sunburn music festival to South Goa, including gram sabhas of the village Panchayats of Varca, Betalbatim and Carmona.  >> See pg 5 Rajasthani trio held with three pistols PANAJI: Three Rajasthan natives were arrested with three pistols and 11 bullets while they were on their way to Hubli, Karnataka by bus. Two of the accused were nabbed from Anmod Ghat by Ramnagar police with 2 pistols and 8 bullets. Two other accomplices fled from the scene but one was arrested by Goa Police at Mollem from a Goa-bound bus. Jharkhand worker dies at Cutbona jetty MARGAO: A migrant labourer from Jharkhand died following a fall onboard a fishing vessel anchored at the Cutbona fishing jetty on Sunday. The labourer was identified as Chakra Bahishal. The police conducted panchanama and has registered the death as unnatural. NTA announces CUET-UG results NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday announced the results for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-UG, paving the way to begin the undergraduate admission process which has been delayed this year. NOT FOR ALL, GOVT CLARIFIES, SAYS IT IS ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITH TAX DUES & HIGH-VALUE DEFAULTERS Making exaggerated, bogus claims for refunds is punishable: I-T Dept PTI NEW DELHI After social media outrage over a Budget proposal making it mandatory to get tax clearance certificates for going abroad, the government on Sunday clarified that the proposed amendment is not for all, and only those accused of financial irregularities or having substantial tax arrears need such clearance. The finance ministry, in the Finance Bill, 2024, has proposed to add the reference of the Black Money Act, 2015, to the list of Acts, under which any person should clear his liabilities to obtain the tax clearance certificate. “The proposed amendment does not require all the residents to obtain the tax clearance certificate,” the ministry said in a statement. NEW DELHI: The I-T Department has asked income tax return filers not to make bogus claims for expenses, under-report their earnings or exaggerate deductions as this is a punishable offence and causes a delay in issuance of refunds. The ITR filing season for assessment year 2024-25 will end on July 31 for all categories As per section 230 of the Income-tax Act, 1961, every person is not required to obtain a tax clearance certificate. Only in the case of certain persons, of taxpayers whose accounts are not supposed to be audited. According to the Income Tax Department and its administrative body Central Board of Direct Taxes, over five crore ITRs have been filed, as of July 26. In a recent public communication, the Income Tax Department asked taxpayers in respect of whom circumstances exist, which make it necessary to obtain a tax clearance certificate will be required to obtain such a cer- Dead, retd coaches still call the shots on SAG website NO CHANGE DESPITE ALERTING TOP OFFICIALS ARMSTRONG VAZ THE GOAN I MARGAO Former Ranji Trophy vice-captain Hemant Angle transitioned into coaching after retiring from playing. He served with distinction for several decades as a coach with the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG), mentoring many young players, until his retirement in 2018. For all records Angle has retired as a SAG coach even as he continues to serve as coach at his own private cricket coaching facility in Margao. But, although the former off spinner retired six years back his name still figures on the outdated website of SAG. “I have retired in 2018 from SAG as a coach”, said the Margao-based Angle. When it was pointed out to him that his name still figures on the SAG website on the list of coaches working for the Goa government, he shot back in a lighter vein “then they should be giving me salary.” Angle is not the only one whose name is on the website with other details about the schools and grounds where they practice and the time of FOOD FOR THOUGHT „„Hemant Angle, Ulhas Dessai, Conceicao Fernandes who retired on superannuation are shown on SAG website as still working and coaching at different grounds and schools. „„Former Salcete Football club and Sesa Goa Football Club player Inacio Viegas, a SAG coach hailing from Sao Jose de Areal who died in July 2021, also features in the list of coaches. GAME-WISE LIST OF SPORTS AUTHORITY OF GOA COACHES >> See pg 11 training and days on which they train at a particular venue. Down South in Agonda Ulhas Dessai, the lanky left arm fast bowler did not play for the State team but was tough customer for opposition batsman to negotiate, post-retirement from the game turned to coaching and was recruited by SAG and posted at Agonda Sports Complex as a cricket oach. Dessai too retired a few years back as a SAG coach but his name also features in the list. “SAG has not appointed any coach in place of Dessai in Agonda after his retirement and the absence of a coach is felt by many local children especially those from Agonda and surrounding areas who used to come to Agonda ground for training,” a physical education teacher attached to a school in Canacona said. The data of retired coaches featured on the SAG website is not confined to just cricket. In Handball, Conceicao Fernandes, who retired a year back and was given an extension keeping in mind the National Games hosted by Goa last year, also features on the website. The SAG has not left the dead in peace too. Former >Continued on P5 to file their returns correctly to get timely refunds. “Refund claims are subject to verification checks, which may cause delays. Accurate filing of ITR leads to quicker processing of refunds. Any discrepancies in the claims made will prompt a request for a revised return (to be filed by the taxpayer),” it said. tificate. The ministry said that the Income Tax department through a 2004 notification has specified that the tax clearance certificate may be required to be obtained by persons domiciled in India only in certain circumstances. These include -- where the person is involved in serious financial irregularities and his presence is necessary in the investigation of cases under the Income-tax Act or the Wealth-tax Act and it is likely that a tax demand will be raised against him, or where the person has direct tax arrears exceeding Rs 10 lakh outstanding against him, which have not been stayed by any authority. The I-T department said that a person can be asked to obtain a tax clearance certificate only after recording the reasons for the same and after taking approval from the Principal Chief Commissioner of Income-tax or Chief Commissioner of Income-tax. SPORTS India beats Sri Lanka in rain-shortened second T20I to seal series 11 Rising number of suicides puts govt in a spot of bother THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI At least three government agencies -- the Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Directorate of Health Services and the Goa Police -- are seemingly running in circles to tackle Goa's high suicide rate which is inching upwards to one a day. The DHS has not yet come to any definite conclusion but has identified 'depression' as the main psychiatric problem responsible for many suicidal cases, according to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. A written reply by Rane to the Goa Legislative Assembly said, the health authorities were therefore "working in the direction to identify cases of depression in the community". According to Rane, the DHS has taken an NGO on board -Sangath -- which is working on an 'impress programme' at peripheral centres and screened several hundred people. Last year (2023), Goa reported 329 suicides, up from FACTS AND FIGURES „„In 2023, Goa reported 329 suicides, up from 304 the previous year „„In the first year after Covid in 2021 too, the number of people who ended their lives had shot up to 319 „„This year up to mid-June, already 125 people have committed suicides „„DHS has not yet come to any definite conclusion but has identified 'depression' as the main problem 304 the previous year. In the first year after Covid in 2021 too, the number of people who ended their lives had shot up to 319. This year up to mid-June, >Continued on P5 HOUSE REVIEW Govt goes through the motions; Oppn hit by numbers 1 The Pramod Sawant government has had the sailing arguably smooth in the legislative Assembly, which is entering into the third week of the monsoon session on Monday. Bogging down the Opposition on the strength, Sawant and his Cabinet ministers have gone through the motions unscathed. 2 There were, nonetheless, some rough patches during the proceedings in the 10 days of business transacted by the House so far, when belligerent Opposition legislators, notably Opposition Leader, Yuri Alemao, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai, Aam Aadmi Party's Venzy Viegas and Congress' Carlos Alvares-Ferreira, cornered individual ministers on some noteworthy issues. 3 Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, for instance, faced the heat from the Opposition legislators over the allegedly below par functioning of the South Goa District Hospital and the government's plans to link the crucial healthcare institution in South Goa to a private medical college.  >> See pg 3 SHOOTING STAR „„Bhaker brought home the nation’s first medal, clinching a bronze in the 10m Air Pistol final „„She finished her run after 22 shots, scoring 221.7, falling just 0.1 short of overthrowing second placed Yeji Kim „„She is the first female shooter to win a medal in the same event for MANU BHAKER shoots India bronze in the 10m Air Pistol „„India’s 12-year Olympic medal final at Paris Olympics drought in Shooting now ends BOXER NIKHAT WINS 1st BOUT SINDHU OFF TO GOOD START „„P V Sindhu began her Paris „„Two-time World champion Olympics campaign with a reNikhat Zareen powered into sounding straight games win over the women’s 50kg Olympics’ pre-quarterfinals with a hard- Maldives’ Fathimath Abdul Razzaq in the women’s singles fought victory over Germany’s group stage match. Maxi Karina Kloetzer. ARJUN IN 10M AIR RIFLE FINAL „„India’s shooter Arjun Babuta secured a spot in the final of 10m air rifle event after finishing seventh in the qualification round. PM ECSTATIC A historic medal! Well done, @ realmanubhaker, for winning India’s FIRST medal at #ParisOlympics2024! Congrats on the Bronze. This success is even more special as she became the 1st woman to win a medal in shooting for India. An incredible achievement! --Narendra Modi HEARTBREAK MOMENTS „„Tennis: Nagal loses in singles first round „„Indian women’s archery team suffers 0-6 thrashing versus the Netherlands „„Swimmers Srihari, Dhinidhi exit Demarcate flood zones, notify Shattered dreams: Families left in shock & disbelief FLASHBACK: WHAT HAPPENED legislation, Centre tells States Multiple teams to probe incident PTI LINKS FUNDS TO LAW AS ONLY 4 STATES HAVE COMPLIED PTI NEW DELHI With only four States complying despite repeated reminders, the Centre is contemplating making it mandatory for States to enact flood plain zoning law if they want to access central flood funds, officials have said. The four States that have enacted such legislations are Manipur, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and the erstwhile Jammu & Kashmir. A senior official said the Ministry of Jal Shakti has been in continuous communication with State governments, urg- A senior official said the Ministry of Jal Shakti has been in continuous communication with State governments, urging them to notify the Flood Plain Zoning Act and demarcate flood zones. ing them to notify the Flood Plain Zoning Act and demarcate flood zones. Recently, the Central Water Commission updated the Model Act, and the ministry plans to initiate another round of consultations with States, the official said. The official said the ministry has proposed making the enactment of the Flood Plain Zoning Act a prerequisite for States to access funds under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme. "We are going for a Cabinet approval for the next phase of the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme. For that, now the condition for any State to access resources under the FMBAP will be that the State must have enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act. So, you will not get money if you have not enacted the Flood Plain Zoning Act," the official said. NEW DELHI he was the brightest among all our children... we wanted her to become an IAS officer... everything is finished now,' a wailing Rajendra Yadav, father of Shreya, who was among the three students, who lost their lives after they were trapped inside the basement of a coaching centre in Delhi, said when he received the news of his daughter's death. S DELHI COACHING CENTRE DEATHS Shreya, the second eldest among the three children of the family, was a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Ambedkar Nagar district, and had shifted to Delhi in April. Rajendra „„Shreya Yadav of Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana and Navin Dalwin from Ernakulam in Kerala died after the basement of the building housing the coaching centre Rau's IAS Study Circle was flooded following heavy rain in central Delhi's Old Rajinder Nagar area on Saturday evening. „„Students on the scene described the situation as "horrific" and unimaginable. Some students reported experiencing similar conditions a week prior, when the street had waist-deep rainwater. Yadav, who ran a dairy shop at Baskhari in the district, had taken a loan to pay for the fee of the coaching centre. Pradeep, a relative of Tanya Soni, said, “someone has to take responsibility of this mishap -- either the coaching institute, MCD or the government. Action should be taken against all the institutes which are running classes in the basement.” He said they learnt the basement was supposed to be used as a storage facility but was being used run a library, which had put the lives of students in jeopardy. Tanya's body was taken to her native place Aurangabad in Bihar, he said. Navin Dalwin was pursuing NEW DELHI: Investigations have indicated multiple lapses on the part of its owner and civic authorities, officials said. The Delhi Police has registered an FIR and formed multiple teams to probe the incident. The owner and the coordinator of the Rau's IAS Study Circle have been arrested and booked for culpable homicide and other charges. “Multiple teams have been formed to investigate the entire incident. We have asked the Delhi Fire Services to provide us with a report about the building and the basement, which was being used as a library but mentioned as store room,” a senior police officer said. his PhD from JNU. Former JNUSU students' union president Aishe Ghosh came to the hospital. “His (Dalwin's) PhD guide is here. Whatever has happened is very tragic. Young lives were lost. One person who has lost his life was from JNU. Students come here from different places with dreams. It's unfortu- nate that three students have lost their lives,” she said. Families and friends of the three students have demanded action against those guilty. In a statement issued later in the day, Rau's IAS Study Circle condoled the loss of young lives and said they were fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation.