log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY AUGUST 1, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 45 3 Amid orange alert, fishermen hope weather will permit them to go out to sea 5 GOA Calls for immediate maintenance of Vasco municipal market Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Monsoon mayhem: Rise in gastrointestinal issues 10 Roar of `182 cr broadband network scam rocks House VIJAI DEMANDS JUDICIAL PROBE, WARNS OF MOVING COURT THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See PG 5 Goa Dairy: Heads rolled but scam still kept under the lid ASSEMBLY COVERAGE Protection of water bodies takes centre stage; MLAs suggest measures 175 industrial accidents, 20 deaths in 5 years CM assures NEET result delays won’t impact State quota admissions Goans must think of conserving water, stop opposing dams: Shirodkar Alarm over crumbling govt school building in Saligao No illegal bars operating from Goa’s fishing jetties: Minister Chapora jetty in poor condition: Govt plans repairs (See pgs 2&3) IN SHORT >> Missing Bicholim cop returns home PANAJI: The head constable attached to Margao police station, Shankar Sawant who had gone missing from his residence at Sarvan-Bicholim from Monday evening returned home on Wednesday morning. Retaining wall near Mala temple collapses PANAJI: Retaining wall near Maruti temple at Mala, Panaji has collapsed due to landslide at the hillock. Government urged to take measures to prevent any further damage. Man found dead at Fatorda PANAJI: An unidentified dead body of a male person in the 30 to 40 age group was found in semi-decomposed state inside rain drainage in Fatorda. MAPUSA Goa Forward Party (GFP) leader and Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai has raised serious allegations of a scam in the extension of the Goa Broadband Network (GBBN) project until 2027. Sardesai has demanded a judicial probe into the matter and has warned of taking the issue to court if necessary. The Fatorda MLA questioned the rationale behind the Rs 182 crore extension granted for four years, despite opposition from the Finance department. “There is major technical non-compliance according to the Department of Information Technology (DoIT). The Finance department had noted these issues and suggested that the extension should not be considered,” Sardesai stated, citing documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The GBBN project has been under scrutiny before. WHAT THE MLA SAID… „„There is major technical non-compliance according to the Department of Information Technology „„The Finance department had noted these issues and suggested that the extension should not be considered „„The Finance department had overruled the deal but in spite of that the government went ahead with it In 2015, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India flagged concerns about the project’s last-mile connectivity, labelling it as poor and unstable. Sardesai pointed to this report, arguing that the extension is unjustified given the project’s past performance issues. “The Finance department had overruled the deal but in spite of that the government went ahead with it. This government is involved in loot. This is a scam of Rs 182 crore. We want a judicial probe in this matter,” Sardesai demanded. Defending the extension, IT and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte explained that the GBBN provides critical intranet and internet services for all e-governance projects in Goa. “The next three years, during which the extension has been granted, will be used by the government to set up a comprehensive network to connect Goa using central funds,” Khaunte stated. Only 2 clubs from North to vote in hockey poll 4 CLUBS DISQUALIFIED FOR NON-PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES, ONE FOR NOT PRODUCING REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ARMSTRONG VAZ THE GOAN I MARGAO It’s official. Of the seven clubs from North Goa registered with Goans Hockey, the governing body regulating the game in the State, only two clubs will be eligible to vote for the upcoming presidential elections which are slated for August 15. PREZ ELECTION According to sources, out of the five North Goa clubs not eligible to vote four of them had not paid the annual fees while the fifth one Sattari Hockey Club and Sports could not furnish the Registration Certificate from the Registrar of Society, as it had been misplaced. Club officials informed that they have applied for a duplicate certificate and filed a police complaint of the loss of the certificate but all their pleas fell on deaf ears of the returning officer, who ruled they were not eligible to vote. “The Secretary of Goans Hockey should have been CONCERNS ABOUT FAIRNESS IN ELECTION PROCESS „„Sattari Hockey Club and Sports has applied for a duplicate certificate and filed a police complaint, but their pleas were rejected by the returning officer „„The election was triggered by the resignation of President Xavier Marquis, who resigned almost a year ago „„The Goans Hockey website and Hockey India still list Marquis as president, indicating outdated information „„Abhay Bhamkikar, a businessman from South Goa with no known connections to state or national political parties, is a likely candidate for president active to make sure that the elections were held in a fair manner,” said Father Dominic Alvares, a member of Sattari Hockey Club and Sports. Alvares has been a sports promoter and started the game in Sattari in 2008 and took it up again in 2021 along with Hockey Heritage Group Goa conducting Hockey camps in Sattari in the villages of Morlem, Keri, and Honda. His hard work has seen fruits with the players trained and groomed by him and now playing for schools and high- er secondaries of the area and one of them is Bhumika Higher Secondary School Parye, which will feature in the Junior Nehru in Delhi. “Unfortunately, the most active clubs of North Goa are unable to participate in this (President) election,” lamented Alvares, who was recently honoured for his contribution to the game by the Association for Wellbeing of Elder Sportspersons Goa and who is transferred to Britona from >Continued on P8 MINISTER SPEAKS „„The GBBN provides critical intranet and internet services for all e-governance projects „„The next three years will be used by the government to set up a comprehensive network to connect Goa using central funds He also mentioned that the issues raised by the CAG have been duly addressed. In a written reply to the House, it was revealed that Rs 131.21 crore had been paid to United Telecoms Limited (UTL) and other contractors from April 1, 2020, to date. Additionally, Khaunte informed the House that UTL contributed Rs 12 crore to the State as its share of revenue from GWave services. The IT Minister assured the House that the government PM faces privilege motion for sharing expunged remarks wanted to provide quality service to the people of Goa. “Within two years we will provide good service to the State,” Khaunte said. The GBBN project, launched with the aim of providing robust broadband connectivity across Goa, has been a critical component of the State’s digital infrastructure. It supports various e-governance initiatives, aiming to improve public service delivery and bridge the digital divide. Despite its ambitious goals, the project has faced multiple challenges, including technical non-compliance and inadequate last-mile connectivity. As the controversy unfolds, stakeholders and citizens alike are watching closely to see how the government addresses these serious allegations from the Opposition. The outcome of this issue could have significant implications for the future of digital infrastructure projects in Goa, highlighting the need for stringent oversight and transparent governance. SPORTS GCA appoints Dinesh Mongia as head coach 12 Panaji may lose 10% land by 2040 due to rising sea levels: Study PTI NEW DELHI Panaji and Chennai may lose up to 10 per cent of their land, while Mumbai may lose more than 10 per cent, as they are at risk of inundation by 2040 due to climate change-induced sea-level rise, according to a new study. The study by Bengaluru-based think tank Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) said rising sea levels could submerge up to 5 per cent of land in Kochi, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Udupi and Puri. The report titled “Sea level rise scenarios and inundation maps for selected Indian coastal cities” examined sea-level change under historical and future climate scenarios in 15 Indian coastal cities and towns – Chennai, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Kozhikode, and Haldia, Kanyakumari, Panaji, Puri, Udupi, Paradip, Thoothukudi and Yanam. Mumbai has experienced the maximum rise in sea levels (4.440 cm), followed by Haldia (2.726 cm), Visakhapatnam (2.381 cm), Kochi (2.213 cm), Paradip (0.717 cm), and LAND SUBMERGENCE More than 10% of the land in Mumbai, Yanam, and Thoothukudi; 5-10% in Panaji and Chennai; and 1-5% in Kochi, Mangaluru, Visakhapatnam, Haldia, Udupi, Paradip and Puri would be submerged due to rise in sea levels by 2040 Chennai (0.679 cm) from 1987 to 2021, the study revealed. “Further, the rise in sea levels will continue until the end of the century under all IPCC shared socioeconomic pathway scenarios in all 15 cities and towns, with the highest rise predicted for Mumbai,” it said. Shared socioeconomic pathways are climate change scenarios of projected socioeconomic global changes up to 2100. By 2100, sea levels would rise by 76.2 cm in Mumbai, 75.5 cm in Panaji, 75.3 cm in Udupi, 75.2 cm in Mangalore, 75.1 cm in Kozhikode, 74.9 cm in Kochi, 74.7 cm in >Continued on P8 PERFECT PUNCH PTI NEW DELHI Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday submitted a notice to move a privilege motion against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for having posted on ‘X’ a video that allegedly contained portions of remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anurag Thakur that were expunged from the proceedings of the House by the Chair. Thakur, during his speech on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha, made certain remarks that were expunged from proceedings. His apparent reference about Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s caste during the discussion had also caused a huge uproar in the House. Channi, a Dalit MP of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, submitted a notice to Speaker Om Birla seeking to move a privilege motion under Rule 222 of the Rules of Procedure against the prime minister. “The prime minister’s tweeting of the remarks which had been expunged from the proceedings of Lok Sabha clearly amounts to a breach of privilege and contempt of the House,” the Congress leader said in his letter. India’s Lovlina Borgohain (in blue) delivers a punch to Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad in the women’s 75kg preliminary round of 16 boxing match during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Villepinte, on Wednesday. Lovlina is now just one win away from adding to her Tokyo bronze.  (See Pg 12) Govt to tap central, state schemes to promote hinterland tourism THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte informed the Goa Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that the government is leveraging various central and state-level schemes to enhance and pro- mote hinterland tourism in Goa. He stated that a comprehensive hinterland tourism policy is in the works and that all stakeholders, including MLAs, will be consulted in its formulation. “We are utilising central and State government schemes to promote hinterland tourism,” Khaunte announced. “As part of our promotional campaign, the Tourism department, along with the travel trade, will participate in key international and domestic >Continued on P8 Kerala landslides: Death toll Govt spent over `14 cr on foreign junkets since 2023 FOREIGN & DOMESTIC: THE DATA `12 CR SPENT ON CARNIVAL, rises to 167; 191 still missing SHIGMO IN TWO YEARS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAKESHIFT BRIDGES ERECTED OVER RIVERS FOR RESCUE OPS PTI WAYANAD The death toll in the devastating landslides in Kerala’s Wayanad district rose to 167 on Wednesday, while 191 were missing even as the rescue teams intensified efforts to find survivors trapped under the debris on the second day of the search operations. Tiny makeshift bridges were erected over swollen rivers and excavators were engaged non-stop in removing piles of debris and boulders in the landslide-hit hamlets of Wayanad. Rescue operators, including Army personnel, NDRF, state emergency service personnel, and local people, were fighting against all odds to carry out the tough mission even as rain continued to lash several areas. There were tense moments when people, including women and children, were being brought to safer places through the narrow, makeshift bridges across gushing rivers. In some places, rescuers formed human bridges using ropes to ensure the safe evacuation of people. In riskier terrain, people were lifted by making them sit on wooden platforms across a river that was in spate. “Rescue operations in Wayanad are continuing in full swing. Our land has never experienced such painful sights before,” Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. The Wayanad district administration confirmed 167 >Continued on P8 PANAJI espite allegations of lavish spending on foreign junkets and little return in terms of increased inbound tourism from the countries visited, Goa’s tourism officials have been making frequent international trips to “promote” various facets of this tourist destination. Last year in 2023, a total of 24 trips were clocked – 12 international and another 12 within the country for which around Rs 12-14 crore were spent. As per details tabled by Minister Rohan Khaunte to an unstarred question by Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, the D „„In 2023, 24 trips were made, 12 international and 12 domestic destinations „„The total cost for these trips was around Rs 12-14 crore „„Over Rs 10 crore was spent on international trips to destinations including Uzbekistan, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Portugal, and Spain „„Around Rs 2.09 crore on domestic events, with another Rs 2 crore in pending bills „„So far this year, Rs 4.5 crore has been spent on foreign trips, including roadshows in Spain, Austria, Portugal, Germany and Dubai Tourism Department incurred over Rs 10 crore on trips to international destinations – Uzbekistan, Japan, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Portugal, and Spain. These visits have already come under the scrutiny of the Opposition as despite fre- quent trips to these countries, there’s barely any increase in the numbers of its citizens to Goa. Besides these controversial foreign trips, the department has also incurred around Rs 2.09 crore for domestic events, which are paid to PANAJI: A whopping Rs 12 crore approx has been spent by the Tourism Department to host the State’s annual Carnival and Shigmo festivals over the last two years. Reply tabled by Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte, to MLA Digambar Kamat’s unstarred question, states that around Rs 5.33 crore was spent on Carnival including towards prize money and Rs 7.40 crore approx was spent on Shigmo during the same period.  >> See pg 2 event management agencies, with another Rs 2 crore in pending bills. So far this year, the department has spent around Rs 4.5 crore on foreign trips including roadshows in Spain, Austria and Portugal, costing the State exchequer Rs 1,94,46,500. A trip to Germany for the ITB Berlin event cost Rs 90,36,130 while attendance at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai cost Rs 1,54,08,000. Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, his Officer on Special >Continued on P8