log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY AUGUST 11, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 55 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Man City clinches Community Shield Pg7 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Govt to exhibit ‘Paulist’ artefacts found during Smart City works DEPT TO CONDUCT STUDY, INVESTIGATE EXACT ERA, SAYS MIN THE GOAN I NETWORK >> SEE PG 3 ASSEMBLY SESSION: WIN SOME, LOSE SOME MAGAZINE MAGAZ 9 125th Damodar Bhajani Saptah begins with fervour in Vasco Empowering youth through digital technology Monsoon foot care with home remedies 10 New dawn in reproductive medicine with IVF Royal Ruchik:Serving Goa’s iconic fish thali 11 Shravan special: ‘Eco Trek’ to Adpai, the village of artisans IN SHORT >> CAG cautions govt on burgeoning debt PANAJI: The CAG in its ‘State Finances Audit Report’ for the 2022-23, has cautioned the government on burgeoning debt and pointed out that crucial ratio of debt to the State’s GDP had breached the prescribed 25% in all the 2018-23 years. The report notes that Goa Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act had stipulated that this debt to GSDP ratio had to be brought down under 25% from 2015 which the State has failed to do. >> See pg 2 PANAJI Over three months since workers unearthed centuries-old carved stone slabs near Panaji municipal garden, the government has decided to showcase the artefacts at the Goa Museum amid uncertainty about finding missing parts of remaining partial-stone sculptures found at the site. The discovery, made during Smart City’s pavement work on April 30, sparked interest but the Archaeology Department is in a tight spot over the missing fragments. Minister for Archaeology Subhash Phal Dessai confirmed that the artefacts will be displayed at the museum after a thorough examination by the department. “We are investigating the exact era to which these artefacts belong An artefact that was unearthed near the municipal garden in Panaji. (File photo) ANCIENT TREASURE „„The artefact depicts a bearded man playing a musical instrument with an animal at his feet „„The stone is thought to be either granite or sandstone „„Researchers suggest that the carving may represent a ‘Paulist missionary and other related aspects. The department will conduct a detailed study before handing them over to the museum for Sunburn keeps Goa date, ticket sales in full swing AAP’s Palekar buys ticket, files plaint against organizers, promoters THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Aam Aadmi Party’s Amit Palekar bought a ticket for the Sunburn electronic dance music festival to prove to the government that the organizers were selling tickets despite uncertainty over the event’s venue and schedule this year. In a complaint lodged at Panaji police station, Palekar demanded a First Information Report (FIR) against the organizers and promoters of Sunburn for alleged fraud, deception and cheating. “I have paid an amount of Rs 2230.10 for a day ticket on December 28. I have been fraudulently and dishonestly deceived and induced by promoters of Sunburn and Book My Show…. The amount may seem minuscule with just one person but thousands of people have paid. The act of fraud and cheating has wide public ramifications as it plays fraud on the Goa government,” the complainant stated. Palekar said the organizers are selling tickets to the public despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on record that organizers have not applied for permission to hold any such event in Goa.   Khaunte even said it is for the persons who purchased tickets to lodge police complaints in this regard. Urging police to investigate the genuineness of the companies collecting the payment, Palekar reiterated the demand to register an FIR against the Sunburn organizers and Book My Show. The Panaji police confirmed receiving the complaint pending registration of FIR.  public view,” Dessai told The Goan. The first slab, which was discovered in two broken piec- K’taka scouts for land in Vasco, Verna to build cultural hall THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Karnataka government has proposed to set up a cultural hall for its people residing in Goa and is on the look out for land in and around Vasco or Verna. In a notice dated July 31, the Karnataka Border Area Development Authority (KBADA) Secretary Prakash Mattihalli stated that the KBADA requires land of a minimum of 10,000 sq ft in Goa, in and around Vasco or Verna to construct a cultural hall. “The land/site must be without any litigation either from Government of Goa or from any public or from any court of law and must be suitable for the construction of cultural hall without any hurdles. The site/land must have good connecting approach road,” stated the notice. “Interested owners/builders can contact the above office in writing by giving their property details along with GPS photos of the vacant land”, the notice said. 3 days no water! Usgao faces thirsty spell Locals threaten to stop work on water treatment plant THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA esidents of Ganjem-Usgao who reside on the banks of Mhadei River have been depending on the rainwater these days as their taps have dried up for the past three days. The angry villagers on Saturday threatened to stop ongoing work on the 25 MLD water treatment plant on Monday if water is not supplied to them by Sunday. Speaking to reporters, the aggrieved locals said they have been facing acute water shortage every year during the rainy season. Water is supplied to residents of Ganjem by installing a R USGAO’S WATER SAGA „„Aggrieved locals say they have been facing acute water shortage every year during the rainy season „„Water is supplied to residents of Ganjem by installing a pump on the river Mhadei „„As the river water becomes turbid during monsoons, the pump malfunctions „„Three bore wells in the village, but PWD has not taken initiative to install pumps and supply water „„For the last three days, residents have been depending on rain water pump on the river Mhadei. As the river water becomes turbid during monsoons, the pump malfunctions on a regular basis. They claimed that there are three bore wells in the village, but alleged that the PWD has not taken the initiative to install pumps and supply water to the villagers. They are upset that taps have dried up since the last three days and they have to depend on rain water. Water of the newly constructed water treatment plant is expected to be supplied to Ganjem and Priol areas. “The PWD engineers have assured that villagers of Ganjem will get water for 24 hours after the completion of the 25 MLD water treatment plant. But the PWD cannot supply water to villagers for even 2 hours at present,” said local panch member Narendra Gaonkar. >Continued on P6 es and later reassembled, depicted a bearded man playing a musical instrument with an animal at his feet. The stone is thought to be either granite or sandstone and some researchers suggested that the carving may represent a “Paulist” -missionary from the Society of Jesus, known for spreading Catholicism in the Portuguese Empire’s Asian territories. However, around 6-7 other fragments found during subsequent excavation work could not be reassembled as the matching pieces are supposedly still buried somewhere around. Sources revealed to The Goan that further excavation to locate the missing pieces may not be pursued as there’s no confirmation of their location. “Digging exclusively to find these missing pieces doesn’t make sense. Several places in Goa possibly have ancient artefacts buried beneath. These broken sculptures could be one of them,” the source said quickly adding, “We will ensure these remain intact as government property because a few ancient findings in the past were either stolen or lost.” The Paulist stone sculptures, dated to the late 16th or early 17th century, are currently in the safe custody of the department. The source indicated that further studies may be conducted if necessary, but the artefacts will remain with the department until a final decision is made regarding their display.  It however remains unclear whether the artefacts will be transferred to the new museum currently under construction or kept at the present temporary facility. Wait gets longer for Vinesh, verdict on joint silver on Tues PTI NEW DELHI The ad-hoc division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) will take some more time to deliberate on Indian wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s appeal against her disqualification from the women’s 50kg free-style final of the Olympic Games and to award her a joint silver medal. The decision will now be announced only on August 13. The 29-year-old was disqualified for being 100gm overweight at the time on weigh-in on Wednesday. The much-anticipated verdict on her appeal was earlier due to be announced Saturday evening. However, in a chaotic turn of events, the Indian Olympic Association first stated that the verdict will be out on Sunday before issuing a clarification to say that the outcome will be known only on August 13. “The ad-hoc division of CAS has extended time for the Sole Arbitrator Hon. Dr Annabelle Bennett in the Vinesh Phogat vs. United World Wrestling & the International Olympic Committee matter to give a decision till 6 pm on August 13, 2024,” the IOA statement read. “The reference to August 11 in the earlier communication sent by me was to the time given to all parties to present any additional documents before the Sole Arbitator,” it added. The Games will close on Sunday with a ceremony at Stade de France.