log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline PG8 SUNDAY AUGUST 18, 2024 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 61 Neeraj confirms participation at Lausanne Diamond League RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Docs hit streets, strike cripples OPD services across the State Anjuna constable suspended for ‘quiet deal’ on loud music MASSIVE PROTEST HELD IN SOLIDARITY WITH KOLKATA RAPE VICTIM THE GOAN I NETWORK >> SEE PG 3 WHEN BILLPOWER BACKFIRED MAGAZINE MAGAZ Malar Bonderam comes to life in Sao Mathias Why politicians need to focus on sustainable solutions Celebrating Raksha Bandhan in style Clearing organ donation myths: What every donor should know Hotel Vijay Hanuman’s recipe for lasting memories Deterrence of rape through chemical castration of perpetrators IN SHORT >> Harassment charges at PTS: Probe launched PANAJI: The Goa Police have launched a preliminary inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment involving two head constables Anil Betkikar and Sudan Shelapkar, who were posted at Police Training School, Valpoi. Director General of Police Alok Kumar took decisive action after receiving complaints/initial reports about >> See pg 2 their conduct. Land scam: K’taka CM to be prosecuted  >> See pg 6 CHARGED OF COLLUSION WITH NIGHTCLUBS TO ALLOW MUSIC BEYOND PERMISSIBLE HOUR THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In solidarity and to seek justice for their colleague who was killed in the brutal rape and murder incident at Kolkata's RG Kar hospital last week, doctors and medical students besides support staff of hospitals across Goa struck work and held a huge demonstration in the capital city on Saturday. The medical professionals struck work since 6 am and will continue to stay away from work, except for attending to, medical emergencies until 6 am on Sunday. Doctors and other medical professionals deployed in emergency rooms and trauma units did not join the strike as these services are essential and life-saving, according to IMA Goa president, Dr Sandesh Chodankar. Earlier on Friday, resident CENTRE TO FORM PANEL NEW DELHI: The government on Saturday said a committee will be formed to propose safety measures for healthcare professionals even as OPD services were hit across the country as doctors joined the 24-hour nationwide strike called by the IMA to protest the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata.   >> See pg 6 Doctors and medical students stage a protest at the Panjim Church square against the sexual assault and murder incident at Kolkata RG Kar Hospital, on Saturday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar doctors struck work at the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bambolim. They have said they too will keep emergency services on stream while refraining from attending to elective OPDs, elective OTs and ward duties. The action of the resident Provisional shack licences given, but delay still looms KEY HURDLE IS APPROVALS FROM OTHER DEPTS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Shack operators, armed with provisional licences from the Tourism Department well over a month before the tourist season’s start, now face another hurdle -- obtaining swift approvals from other key departments to ensure timely operations of the temporary structures. Bureaucratic delays hampered their business in the previous years, a scenario they are desperate to avoid this time around. “We are elated to have received the provisional licences, and I am confident we can start the business on time,” President of the Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardozo said, speaking to The Goan. “We are now awaiting demarcation only after that can we set up our structures and apply for licences from other departments such as the Food and Drugs Administration, THE ROAD AHEAD „„Demarcation needs to be done, only then structures can be set up „„Operators will then need to apply for licences from other departments such as FDA, GSPCB, Health, Excise, and Fire & Emergency Services „„It is learnt that demarcation process will commence only in September Goa State Pollution Control Board, Health, Excise, and Fire & Emergency Services,” he added. It is learnt that the demarcation process will commence only in September, though many shack operators have already started receiving inquiries from tourists. President of the Traditional Shack Owners Association Manuel Cardozo has called for a single-window clearance system, fearing delays in the current multi-step process. “While it's beneficial to receive a provisional licence, the issue is that we need to set up the shacks before obtaining other licences. Ideally, the government should allow us to make payments, issue provisional licences, and then facilitate obtaining all other necessary permits. A single-window system is essential because, in the present circumstances, each department besides the village panchayats will take not less than a week to process applications,” he said. Acknowledging the lack of >Continued on PG5 High-value cash transactions under I-T lens Focus on hotels, banquet halls, luxury brand retailers, IVF clinics PTI NEW DELHI ampant cash transactions in business sectors like hotels, luxury brand sales, hospitals and IVF clinics need to be checked in a “non-intrusive” manner, the CBDT has asked the I-T department. The apex body for direct taxes administration in the country -- the Central Board of Direct Taxes -- has also asked the tax department to undertake “concerted efforts” to recover arrear demands which have been witnessing a “steep rise” since the last financial year. The CBDT recently issued an annual action plan dossier called the central action plan R TAXING TIMES AHEAD „„CBDT asks I-T dept to check transactions in a ‘non-intrusive’ manner „„It has also sought ‘concerted efforts’ to recover arrear demands „„Transactions over Rs 2 lakh in cash need to be reported through SFT by financial institutes but it was not happening „„There is no reporting/verification mechanism for determining the compliance of PAN with transactions „„‘High value’ consumption expenditure needs to be verified with information about the taxpayer (CAP) 2024-25. Senior officials told PTI that transactions over Rs 2 lakh in cash were required to be reported through a statement of financial transaction (SFT) by financial institutions but that was not happening. “While examining such reports, it is noticed that the circumvention of these provisions is widely prevalent,” the Board told the I-T department. “Further, although sec- tion 139A requires PAN to be provided or obtained in specified transactions, there is no reporting/verification mechanism for determining the compliance,” it said. In any case, it said, “high value” consumption expenditure needs to be verified with information about the taxpayer and therefore, it is imperative to identify the sources which could be involved in possible circumvention. The dept identified some of businesses, such as hotels, banquet halls, luxury brand retailers, IVF clinics, hospitals, designer clothing stores, and NRI quota medical college seats, where non-adherence to rules and large cash transactions was being found. doctors have disrupted routine OPD services at the premier public health institution. Their Association -- The Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) -- had also staged a protest at the GMCH campus on Friday. GARD said a decision on whether to prolong their protest action beyond Saturday will be taken based on what the parent body in Delhi decides. >Continued on PG5 PANAJI A day after registering the First Information Report (FIR) against an Ozrant-based restaurant for playing loud music, Goa police on Saturday suspended Duty Master, Constable Rama Parab for not acting to numerous complaints about noise pollution and allegedly colluding with nightclubs to allow music beyond permissible hours. The suspension, ordered by North Goa Superintendent of Police Akshat Kaushal, follows complaints and an internal inquiry into multiple ignored grievances. Sources stated that Constable Parab, attached to the Anjuna police station, is also accused of abusing his official position for personal gain, which will be probed in the departmental inquiry. SP Kaushal stated that the The suspended cop is suspected of conspiring with nightclubs and restaurants… the suspension follows complaints and an internal inquiry into multiple ignored grievances,” —SP Akshat Kaushal suspended cop is also suspected of conspiring with nightclubs and restaurants to permit loud music beyond permissible hours. On Friday, Anjuna police charged Sylroy Maskell under Section 5 of Noise Pollution Regulation and Control Rules 2000 and Section 15 of Environment Protection Act for playing loud amplified music past permissible hours at his restaurant, Thalassa by Cliff.