log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline Pg 13 TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2024 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 77 Paris Paralympic: Nitesh nets gold in Badminton RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Health crisis worsens among GCZMA to begin aerial survey to migrants at Cutbona jetty map structures 50 CASES OF CHOLERA, DIARRHEA COME TO LIGHT GUILHERME ALMEIDA THE GOAN I MARGAO >> See pg 3 Braving partial locomotive disability this sports lover fights for rights of PwDs IN SHORT >> CM: Welfare schemes payments by today PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday assured to release all pending payments under various welfare schemes by Tuesday, before Ganesh Chaturthi. “If the payments are not received by tomorrow (Tuesday), concerned persons can contact my office,” he added.  >> See pg 2 High Court asks CCP for relocation plan PANAJI: The Bombay HC at Goa has directed CCP to submit a plan to relocate meat and fish vendors evacuated from the dilapidated building next to Panaji fish market. The Bench has also sought a timeline by which Goa Engineering College would submit a stability report of the building. Vasco businessman duped of `26.15L VASCO: Two persons have been accused of defrauding a local businessman and his partners to the tune of Rs 26.15 lakh. The two accused had induced him and his business partners to invest in a real estate venture.  >> See pg 5 Bihar native held for rape at Calangute MAPUSA: A man identified as Abhishek Ranjan Singh, a native of Bihar, has been arrested by Calangute Police on charges of raping a woman in the staff room of a hotel in Calangute.  >> See pg 5 The fishing jetty of Cutbona and the fish landing centre at Mobor on the other side of River Sal has been hit by an outbreak of cholera and diarrhea amongst migrant workers employed on the fishing vessels. Even as Health officials are battling dengue at the Cutbona fishing jetty, around 50 cases of cholera and diarrhea have been reported at the Cutbona fishing jetty and the fish landing centre at Mobor. State Epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar confirmed to The Goan that a total of 50 cases of cholera and diarrhea might have been reported at both Mobor and Cutbona in the last fortnight. “Yes, there is an outbreak of cholera and diarrhea amongst the migrant workers employed at the at Odisha worker falls prey to diarrhea The extended portion of the Cutbona fishing jetty. FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FACES HEAT OVER POOR HYGIENE PRACTICES AT CUTBONA JETTY >> See pg 2 the fishing jetties of Mobor and Cutbona”, Dr Utkarsh told The Goan. He pointed out that health Subsidy for clay Ganesh idols may be hiked to `500 PANAJI With cost of clay Ganesh idols escalating annually, the Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) is considering increasing the subsidy from Rs 200 to Rs 500 per idol. The government had recently doubled the subsidy to the artisans under ‘Clay Idol Makers Subsidy Scheme’, with a cap of 250 idols. This year, as on date, 410 artisans have registered for the subsidy, while last year 388 opted for financial benefit. GHRSSIDC chairman Pravin Arlekar said that following requests from the artisans, the Corporation intends to move a proposal to the government to increase the subsidy to Rs 500 per idol while maintaining the cap. >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 „„Govt had recently doubled subsidy to artisans under ‘Clay Idol Makers Subsidy Scheme’, with a cap of 250 idols „„This year, 410 artisans have registered, while last year 388 opted for financial benefit spreading is to ensure total hygiene amongst the workers. This assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the migrant crew workers employed on the fishing vessels have limited sanitation facilities on both sides >Continued on P5 PANAJI The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) will be undertaking an aerial survey of the State coastal belt to identify the structures and CRZ violations, post monsoon season. The Authority is currently in the final stage of mapping houses of fishermen across 257 fishing wards, spread in seven coastal talukas. The GCZMA is likely to rope in Directorate of Settlement and Land Records (DSLR) to undertake the drone survey to identify all the structures, spread across 108 kms coastal stretch and to zero upon those operating or built in no development zone (NDA). “Due to the ongoing monsoon, the project is kept on hold. The same would be taken up post rains and once the DSLR roped in „„GCZMA is likely to rope in Directorate of Settlement and Land Records to undertake the drone survey to identify all the structures, spread across 108 kms coastal stretch and to zero upon those operating or built in no development zone ongoing survey held to identify fishermen houses is completed,” sources said. The objective of the aerial survey is to demarcate hotels, residential buildings, houses, beach shacks, recreation parks, open plots and other tourism recreation-related activities that have come >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK “The cost of making idols is increasing every year and so also the price of the idols. Increased subsidy will not only help artisans but also common man from escalating idol cost,” he said. He said that increased TACKLING PRICE RISE cases are presently restricted to the migrant workers working on the fishing vessels. Since they are all working on the fishing vessels, the disease might have spread amongst the workers”, he said. The State Epidemiologist cautioned that one way to contain the disease from THE GOAN I NETWORK Demarcation of shacks begins, South Goa first PANAJI The Tourism Department commenced the demarcation process for beach shacks on Monday, over a fortnight after issuing provisional licenses. The process began at Cavelossim and Benaulim beaches. In a bid to ensure that shack operators can start their businesses in time for the tourist season that begins next month, the department expects to complete the demarcation before Ganesh Chaturthi subject to weather conditions. “The demarcation of shacks has begun in South Goa, and we expect to conclude before Ganesh Chaturthi, depending on the rains,” Tourism Director Suneel Anchipaka said, speaking to The Goan. Following the demarcation, shack operators must obtain NOCs from other relevant departments. President of the Shack Owners Welfare Society Cruz Cardozo stated that operators aware of their exact locations can proceed with the `  .54 CRORE DISBURSED TO OVER 2 2000 ARTISANS IN LAST FIVE YEARS THE GOAN I NETWORK teams, along with the officials of the Chinchinim Primary Health Centre having jurisdiction over Mobor area and the Balli Primary Health officials are presently holding health education programs at both the jetties to stop the spread of the disease. “Both cholera and diarrhea MARGAO: Diarrhea has claimed the life of a young 19-year old fishing crew member from Odisha at the Cutbona fishing jetty. The 19-year-old native of Odisha, Surajit Rohidas was brought dead from the Cutbona fishing jetty to the South Goa district hospital on Sunday noon. Preliminary inquiry by the Cuncolim police with the brother of the deceased has revealed that deceased Surajit was suffering from fever, diarrhea and vomiting since August 31. When The Goan contacted the Balli Primary Health Centre Dr Benedita Dias to shed light on the cause of death and whether the young lad had died of dengue, she said the post mortem examination will reveal the exact cause of death. HOUSES OF FISHERMEN BEING IDENTIFIED A couple in knee-deep water outside their house after heavy rains lashed Valpoi on Monday.  (Reports on page 3) RAIN UNLEASHES ITS FURY AGAIN 3 women rescued at Sancorda PONDA: Three women were rescued when they were stranded on the flooded bridge at Madhlawada-Sancorda after heavy rains lashed Ponda and Dharbandora taluka on Monday. The three were proceeding on a two-wheeler at around 4 pm on Monday when there was a sudden rise in level of the Ragada river. Life thrown out of gear in Bicholim BICHOLIM: Several roads were flooded and the market was affected as heavy rains lashed Bicholim taluka. Heavy showers for about an hour led to water levels rising sharply in the Valvanti and Bicholim rivers, with many locals fearing it to be a cloud-burst. Sattari bears brunt of heavy showers VALPOI: Several areas were flooded in Sattari following heavy rains on Monday. Due to the continuous downpour, water entered houses in areas like Vaddeo Nagar, Honda Tisk, Gaonkarwada and Navnath Mandir area of Honda area. Water also entered the Tisk branch of State Bank of India and the nearby Navnath Temple. Centre unveils big-ticket plans to boost farming Bengal’s draft bill proposes PTI NEW DELHI he Centre on Monday announced seven big programmes for the holistic growth of agriculture and allied sectors with a total outlay of nearly Rs 14,000 crore, as it aims to improve farmers' income. The Union Cabinet approved seven big-ticket programmes related to the farm sector, including a Rs 2,817-crore digital agriculture mission and a Rs 3,979-crore scheme for crop science. “The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved seven schemes to improve farmers' lives and increase their incomes at a total outlay of Rs 13,966 crore,” an official T SOWING SEEDS OF CHANGE „„Crop science for food & nutritional security programmes with a total outlay Rs 3,979 cr „„Rs 2,291 crore for strengthening agricultural education, management and social sciences „„Digital Agriculture Mission... two foundation pillars in the project -- Agri Stack and Krishi Decision Support System „„Sustainable development for horticulture aimed at increasing farmers' income statement said. Briefing reporters, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted that these comprehensive programmes are aimed at enhancing farmers' income. The focus of these programmes would be on research & education, climate resilience, natural resource management and digitisation in agriculture sector along with emphasis on growth of horti- from horticulture plants „„Nod for Krishi Vigyan Kendras scheme for Natural Resource Management culture and livestock sectors. The Cabinet has approved crop science for food and nutritional security programmes with a total outlay Rs 3,979 crore. In this programme, six pillars have been included in the programme with a focus on preparing the farmers for climate resilient crop sciences and food security by 2047. These six pillars are -- Research and Education; Plant Genetic Resource Management; Genetic improvement for food and fodder crop; Pulse and oilseed crop improvement; Improvement of commercial crops; and Research on insects, microbes, pollinators. The Cabinet also approved an outlay of Rs 2,291 crore for strengthening agricultural education, management and social sciences. This programme will be under Indian Council of Agricultural Research. The Cabinet also approved the Digital Agriculture Mission with a total investment of Rs 2,817 crore. death penalty for rapists PTI KOLKATA The draft of the anti-rape Bill, scheduled to be tabled by the Mamata Banerjee government in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, proposes capital punishment for persons convicted of rape if their actions result in the victim's death or cause her to become vegetative. Additionally, the draft stated that persons convicted of rape and gang-rape would receive a life sentence lasting for the rest of their natural lives. Titled ''Aparajita Woman and Child Bill, (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amend- It is a testament to the State's unwavering commitment to uphold fundamental rights of citizens, particularly women and children, and to ensure that heinous acts are met with the full force of the law,” —Draft Bill ment) Bill 2024,'' the legislation aims to enhance protection for women and children by amending and introducing new provisions related to rape and sexual offences. The draft Bill proposes to amend the newly passed Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 laws and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 “in their application to the state of West Bengal to enhance punishment and to constitute the framework for...expeditious investigation and trial of the heinous act of violence against women and children.” In its statement of purpose the draft Bill proposes “to create a safer environment for women and children” in the state. A two-day special session of the Assembly has been summoned.