log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY AUGUST 22, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 65 Instagram.com/thegoanonline CHOPRA EYES DIAMOND LEAGUE TITLE IN LAUSANNE P 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Withdrawn TCP amendment bill to be re-introduced in next session RANE DEFENDS HIS DECISION, SAYS IT’S DONE AS PER LAW THE GOAN I NETWORK HONOURING SPIRITUAL LEGACY OF SRI SIDDHAROODHA MAHASWAMIJI >> See PG 5 >> See PG 3 Red tape stalls demolition of alleged illegal building in Saligao IN SHORT >> Navelim stadium leased for wedding, sparks row MARGAO: Sports Minister Govind Gaude is again in the eye of a storm after the Sports Department’s decision to lease out the Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium at Navelim for weddings, resulting in the facility being shut down, has triggered a huge controversy. >> See pg 2 Man ends life in Dabolim hotel VASCO: A 32-year-old man from Amberpet-Hyderabad ended his life in a hotel at Dabolim on Wednesday. Police sources said they received a call from the Margao PCR informing them that Sirigam Nagaraju had committed suicide in a room of a hotel in Dabolim. Vasco police has registered a case of unnatural death under Section 194 of BNSS. Vasco police is carrying out further investigation. Worker killed as wall collapses in Aldona MAPUSA: A 27-year-old worker from Madhya Pradesh was killed when a wall came crashing down during renovation work at a house in Cuxem at Corjuem-Aldona on Tuesday evening.  >> See pg 3 CISF to man Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital KOLKATA: Around 150 personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force are being deployed at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital following an order of the Supreme Court, official sources said on Wednesday.  >> See pg 7 WEATHER >> Max: 28 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 85% TIDES Low: High: 06:40 12:44 19:18 13:13 PANAJI Making no mention of the controversial Goa Town and Country Planning (Amendment and Validation) Bill, the Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday said that the withdrawal of all the bills were as per “law” and that the bills would be re-introduced with additional inputs, in the next session of the State Legislative Assembly. Taking an indirect jib at the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and his cabinet colleagues’ recent statements that the bills were introduced in a hurry, Rane said, “Bills were introduced after proper study…I have done MBA…I simply don’t introduce amendments without proper study”. Apart from the TCP Bill, there were three other bills that Rane, as a Minister, with- MINISTER SPEAKS „„Bills were introduced after proper study…I have done MBA…I simply don’t introduce amendments without proper study „„Is there any rule that says I cannot withdraw Bills? Withdrawal power is with me and it is as per Rule „„Some feel I don’t have that much knowledge to get proper amendments and hence I have to take others’ advice „„Whatever CM says, I have to accept it as he is my CM and the Minister cannot speak beyond that drew – Goa Clinical Establishment (Registration and Regulation Amendment) Bill, Goa Municipalities (amendment) bill and City of Panaji Corporation (amendment) Bill. On Wednesday, Rane made his first statement, post withdrawal of the Bills – the move that raised several doubts with regards to rift within the ruling dispensation. “Is there any rule that says I cannot withdraw Bills? Withdrawal power is with me and it is as per Rule,” he commented. “Some feel I don’t have that much knowledge to get proper amendments and hence I have to take others’ advice …I think I have done study on Drug trafficking from metro cities hits new high in Goa INTER-STATE BUSES, TRAINS UNDER SCRUTINY; DRUGS DISGUISED AS LEGITIMATE MEDICATION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Police have turned their attention to an alarming trend where inter-state buses – other than trains – are becoming the latest vehicles for clandestine narcotics trade. Some of these passengers, both Indians and foreigners, are suspected drug mules who disguise their illegal cargo during these public transport trips. The true danger lies in the deceitful use of medical cover-ups. A recent crackdown by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) and North Goa Police reveals that under the guise of legitimate medication, contraband substances packed as capsules/ tablets are being trafficked. During the recent long weekend, two Ugandan nationals were arrested at Mapusa bus stand and cocaine worth Rs 20 lakh, concealed in tablet form, was seized from their possession. The peddlers had come from Pune via an in- Despite drop in cases, value of drug seizures remains high PANAJI: Goa Police and Anti-Narcotics Cell have registered 79 drug-related cases this year till July 31, 2024 – a slight decrease compared to the 89 cases reported during the same period last year. Despite the drop in cases, the quantity and value of drugs seized have significantly increased. SP Kaushal stated that around 158 kg of narcotics was seized from January to July 31, 2024 with an estimated market value of Rs 6.36 crore whereas last year’s seizures amounted to 110 kg, valued at Rs 2.5 crore approx during the corresponding period. ter-state bus to distribute the drugs along the coastal belt. This has also surfaced another worrying shift: these drugs are increasingly being transported from metropolitan cities instead of traditional hotspots like Himachal Pradesh or international drug-infested destinations. ANC SP Akshat Kaushal confirmed the incident, adding they have coordinated with their counterparts in the neighbouring states to trace the origins of these seized narcotics. “We are aware that narcotics are being routed from other locations and then moved through hubs in Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore before reaching Goa. We are in close contact with our counterparts >Continued on P6 ‘Pvt medical college proposal at SGDH dropped for now’ PANAJI: Almost five months after the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced establishing a private medical college following NITI Aayog modal, the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday announced that the State government, for now has dropped the proposal to set up the college at South Goa District Hospital (SGDH), but the same would be re-considered as per CVC guidelines.  >> See pg 3 VASCO asco farmers led by former Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) chairperson and sitting councillor Leo Rodrigues on Wednesday opposed the declaration of Maimollem Lake in Vasco as a wetland. A delegation of farmers and Comunidade members also invited South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes for his support on the issue and convened a joint meeting opposing the move on Wednes- V VASCO: Extending his support to the farmers amid fears over the declaration of Maimollem Lake in Vasco as a wetland, South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes assured to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha. >> See pg 3 day morning. This meeting was convened a day ahead of Goa State Wetlands Authority (GSWA) convening a meeting of the Grievance Committee in Vasco on August 22 and 23 from 2 pm onwards to hear THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday announced to regularise the services of municipal workers, who have completed seven and more years into service. During a meeting held with the Chief Officers, Chairpersons and officials of Urban Development, Rane directed the municipalities to ensure that all the unutilised funds, provided under the 14th Finance Commission and special Liberation grants are utilised at the earliest by taking up various new proposals or projects. Addressing media persons post meeting, Rane said that a proposal would be moved to the government to regularise the services of employees who have been into service for seven and more years across all municipalities. He said that this was an assurance given on the Floor of the House. Rane said that municipalities are directed to tap in revenue and ensure all the services are provided online within the next 15 days. “We are also working on amending the Municipalities Act wherein we will see that all the permissions are issued within 15 days from the date of receipt of applications, provided all the documents are proper,” he said. Further, the Minister said that GIS mapping of North Goa is completed while work order for South Goa GIS mapping is issued. “We have also taken up work of drafting the Master Plan for Mapusa and Mormugao municipal areas,” he said adding directions have been issued to Margao CO to clear the Master Plan taking councillors into confidence. re-introduced in the next session by making some additional changes. “Some additional points need to be included in the act…like municipality and clinical establishment act—we will introduce it in the next session…we are not in a hurry Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal gets 6 more months to submit report Sudden visit of National BJP leaders sparks speculation of cabinet rejig PTI NEW DELHI The Centre has extended by six months the deadline for the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal, constituted to address water-sharing disputes between Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra, to submit its report. The tribunal has got several extensions since it was initially formed on November 16, 2010. According to an official notification issued on Wednesday, the tribunal will now have an additional 180 days, starting from August 20, 2024, to finalise and submit its report. According to the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956, the tribunal was required to submit its report within three years of its constitution. However, due to the intricacies of the case and requests from the tribunal, the deadline has been extended multiple times. The tribunal’s report was first submitted on August 14, 2018, but the involved states made further references, necessitating additional time for deliberations. GSWA’s committee to listen to grievances from today South Goa MP extends support, vows to raise issue in Lok Sabha Municipal Act tweak for 15-day permit approval also on cards amendment…there were various interpretations made,” Rane added. “Whatever CM says, I have to accept it as he is my CM and the Minister cannot speak beyond that,” he went on to add. Referring to the Municipality Bill and Goa Clinical Establishment Bill, the Minister said that the same would be Vasco farmers oppose govt decision to declare Maimollem Lake as wetland THE GOAN I NETWORK Govt plans to regularise services of civic staffers completing 7 years objections and suggestions to the proposed declaration of Maimollem Lake in Vasco as a wetland. As many as 244 persons have filed their objections and suggestions to the proposed declaration. The move to declare Maimollem Lake in Vasco as a wetland has sparked widespread opposition among local farmers. They claimed that this move is a betrayal of the traditional farming community who have cultivated the land for >Continued on P6 >Continued on P6 PANAJI: The arrival of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Vinod Tawde and Arun Sood ahead of the visit of the national president and Union Health Minister J P Nadda later this week, has sent ruling party politicians in a huddle even as major changes are imminent both in the government as well as the party organisation in Goa. Meanwhile, with nearly half the current term complete, Sawant is expected to effect a cabinet reshuffle replacing at least three of his current set of ministers.  >> See pg 3