log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 77 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Harvinder Singh becomes first Indian archer to win Paralympic gold RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Student assault: Camurlim school suspends teachers POLICE PROBE ON; DEPT SUMMONS TEACHERS, MANAGEMENT ON SEPT 12 THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See PG 3 13 years on, Vasco’s CCTV cameras still non-functional IN SHORT >> Crop loss: 1,300 farmers get compensation PANAJI: In a financial relief to around 1300 farmers, who were impacted due to monsoon-related crop losses, the State agriculture department on Wednesday released Rs 70 lakh in compensation to these farmers, without Krishi card.  >> See pg 2 Man found dead at Vasco rail station VASCO: A 64-year-old man from Tamil Nadu was found dead in the toilet at the Vasco railway station early Wednesday morning. The deceased, identified as Nagamalai Muniyan, of Tiruvarangam-Viluppuram, was found dead by railway authorities around 7.20 am.  >> See pg 2 Youth dies in road mishap at Canacona CANACONA: Tragedy struck a youth from Palolem when he died in a road mishap at Gulem-Canacona late Wednesday evening, barely a week before his 21st birthday.  >> See pg 5 4 Indians charred to death in US accident WASHINGTON: Four Indian nationals, including a woman, lost their lives and several others were injured in a tragic multi-vehicle road accident in the US state of Texas during the Labour Day weekend. The accident involving five vehicles occurred on the northbound US 75 just past White Street at Anna near Dallas. MAPUSA Following the direction of the Education Department, the management of a private school in Camurlim-Bardez suspended two teachers on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a nine-year-old student in Class IV. The incident occurred at Shree Saraswati Vidyamandir Primary School, where the student sustained severe injuries, including cut marks, bruises, and blood clots, after being beaten with a steel ruler by one of the teachers. The Colvale Police have registered a case against the two teachers in connection with the brutal assault. Director of Education Shailesh Zingde confirmed that he instructed the school CM proposes counselling for teachers PANAJI: Expressing concern about the rising number of students facing assault or harassment by school teachers, the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the government will hold counselling session for teachers, who vent out their frustrations on students. In a recent incident a nine-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted by two teachers for tearing the pages. An FIR has been registered against – Sujal Gawade and Kanisha Gadekar in the matter following a complaint filed by the boy’s father. Speaking to media persons, Sawant management to take immediate action against the teachers for their unacceptable behaviour. "On my direction, the management convened a meeting said that an inquiry through the education department has already been initiated and the accused teachers, from private primary school, would be suspended. “We will take strict action against the teacher. Necessary directions have been issued to the school management through the education department,” he said. Sawant said that it looks like the teachers vent out their frustration on the students. “It appears that some teachers are taking out their frustrations on students. I believe that teachers themselves now need counselling to manage their emotions,” he said. and suspended the teachers," Zingde stated. Both the teachers and the school management have been summoned to the Department of Education on Environment authority inspects 14 proposed sand mining zones TEAM TO MEET TODAY TO DECIDE ON GRANTING CLEARANCE FOR SAND EXTRACTION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) inspected 14 zones in River Mandovi and Zuari, proposed by the State government for sand mining. The Authority is expected to meet on Thursday to decide on grant of Environment Clearance for sand extraction in these zones. The Director of Mines Narayan Gad informed that the SEIAA expert members inspected the zones before deciding on the EC. He said that these 14 zones were identified based on the baseline study undertaken by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO). He said that once EC’s are obtained the department will invite online application for allotment of sand extraction licences in these 14 zones. Last month, the State government had informed „„The identified zones were based on a baseline study conducted by the NIO „„The NIO has submitted reports related to the sand mining proposals in both the Mandovi and Zuari rivers „„Once ECs are obtained, the Directorate of Mines will invite online applications for sand extraction licences in the the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that it has withdrawn all the ECs granted by the SEIAA for sand mining and it will go for fresh process. Legal sand mining activities have been banned in the State since 2018 after GRSPN approached the High Court seeking restrictions on the number of sand mining permits. The Directorate of September 12 for further questioning. The Director of Education will make a decision regarding the approval of the suspension after the hearing. Pitbull died due to ‘multiple organ haemorrhage’, reveals autopsy THE GOAN I NETWORK Mines and Geology had issued over 300 sand mining permits for the 2017-18 seasons with a cap of 6,000 cum on extraction. The Goa-SEIAA had in October 2021, granted EC to North Goa District Collector to carry out sand mining in River Chapora, manually by MAPUSA The death of a Pitbull in the custody of a private animal shelter has been attributed to ‘multiple organ haemorrhage’, according to an autopsy report. The dog, involved in a recent fatal attack on a sevenyear-old child in Anjuna, was transferred to the Welfare for Animals in Goa (WAG) shelter in Siolim, where it was found dead on Tuesday morning. The veterinarian who conducted the post-mortem confirmed that the dog likely died from multiple organ haemorrhages, which led to shock. To aid further investigation, the dog's visceral organs have been sent to a forensic laboratory. However, the toxicological report is still pending. Following the tragic death of the child on August 29, the Pitbull was initially taken into custody by the State government's veterinary department. Due to the absence of a >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 SAND MINING: FRESH PROCESS inspected zones „„Legal sand mining activities have been banned in Goa since 2018 due to a court case initiated by GRSPN Pg 14 If approved, the suspension will be enforced for six months, with the possibility of an extension. Meanwhile, the Colvale Police summoned the two teachers, identified as Sujal Gawade of Verem and Kanisha Gadekar of Pirna, to the police station for questioning. The session lasted nearly an hour. Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandesh Chodankar explained that the teachers were called in for investigation after being issued a notice under >Continued on P5 EDIT ON PG4 Suspension can't be the solution, assess and counsel teachers Goa gets Wildlife Board approval for forest land use for Tamnar project THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The National Board of Wildlife (NBW) has granted its green signal to Goa government's proposal for use of 27.092 ha of forest land from Bhagwan Mahaveer Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary for the Tamnar Power Transmission project. The NBW standing committee chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav recommended the diversion of forest land subject to certain condition. Following clearance from State Wildlife Board in November, last year, Goa government put forth a proposal for use of 27.092 ha of forest land from Bhagwan Mahaveer Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary for LILO of one ckt of Narendra (existing) – Narendra(New)400 kV D/C quad transmission line. The NBWL while granting green nod has asked the project proponent to study the impact of the transmission lines on biodiversity/ wildlife and several precautionary measures for protection of wildlife and environment. However the project work cannot commence unless the project proposal on the Karnataka side is recommended by the Standing Committee of the NBWL, the committee clarified. The power transmission project envisaged laying a 400 KV transmission line from Sangod in Goa to the Karnataka border to help meet Goa’s peak electricity demand of 1192 MW. However, the project was met with intense opposition and same was settled after the Supreme Court granted relief to the project proponent. The Supreme Court last year had accepted the recommendation of the Centrally Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by it to utilise the existing 220 KV powerline alignment in Goa, instead of cutting down fresh forest cover, to lay a new 400 KV line as part of the project. Sale of PoP Ganesha idols thrives despite ban, vigil POLLUTION BOARD CITES IDOLS ARE NOT ONLY SOLD IN MARKETS, BUT ALSO ACROSS STATE VIBHA VERMA THE GOAN I PANAJI Despite a 17-year-long ban on the sale of Plaster of Paris (PoP) Ganesha idols in Goa and successive governments boasting about flying squads monitoring the borders to prevent the entry of PoP idols, the ground reality paints a different picture. The sale of these anti-environment idols continues unabated and recent inspections by the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) are evidence. The GSPCB’s recent crackdown on PoP idols exposed that these idols are not only present in the market but are also being openly sold in several areas across the State. It is unfortunate that despite a so-called strict vigil at the borders, these idols enter with police and local authorities in complete dark. GSPCB Chairman Mahesh POLLUTION BOARD INSPECTIONS „„GSPCB disclosed that its field teams inspected 77 manufacturing units and retail outlets and found four retailers violating the government ban „„The analysis showed that certain chemicals were above the permissible limit, confirming that these are PoP idols „„Of the four units found in violation, three are located in North Goa and one in Vasco, South Goa „„IMPORT: A senior police officer concedes that PoP Ganesha idols are brought into Goa way ahead of the festival’s commencement Patil disclosed that its field teams inspected 77 manufacturing units and retail outlets and found four retailers violating the government ban. “We inspected 77 locations in Goa and took samples of the Ganesh idols. The analysis showed that certain chemicals were above the permissible limit, confirming that these are PoP idols,” he said speaking to The Goan. Of the four units found in violation, three are located in North Goa and one in Vasco, South Goa. Patil revealed that he has requested the respective District Magistrates to take action including sealing the premises under the Environment (Protection) Act, >Continued on P5 HC seeks plan of action for noise Dabolim Airport’s multi-crore parking facility scrapped control in indoor establishments Complex will now be repurposed to accommodate airport offices POLICE DIRECTED TO MAINTAIN STRICT VIGIL DURING WEEKEND THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Bombay High Court at Goa has directed the three Anjuna police teams to maintain a strict vigil against sound pollution along the coast this weekend. The Court has also sought a detailed plan to ascertain whether indoor establishments have adequate acoustic systems in place to prevent noise from disturbing the surrounding areas. During the ongoing hearing of a Public Interest Litigation seeking action against noise pollution in Anjuna, the Division Bench of Justice M S Karnik and Justice Valmiki Menezes reiterated that authorities need to clamp down on noise pollution without any hesitation. Briefing reporters after the hearing on Wednesday, AG Devidas Pangam stated the Court is keen on ensuring that in enclosed premises where music is played, proper acoustic measures are in place so that no noise escapes outside. The Court’s inquiry comes after claims by five establishments – Diaz Pool Club & Bar, Noah Goa in Ozrant, Vagator, Thalassa in Vaddy-Siolim, Bar Hifi in Chapora, and Raeeth in Ozrant – that they only hold indoor music events. These establishments were issued show-cause notices given maximum complaints of noise pollution. They have been given one week to file their affidavits. Regarding outdoor activities, the Bench has directed the government that the recently formed police teams must closely monitor the situation this weekend and take prompt action against any violations of the law or breach of conditions. The three patrolling teams, now equipped with decibel meters, will check for violations of permissible noise limits and unauthorised music events after 10 pm. VIKRAM NAYAK THE GOAN I VASCO I n a surprising turn of events, the long-anticipated Multi-Level Car Parking (MLCP) facility at Goa International Airport at Dabolim has been scrapped for its intended purpose. Sources have confirmed to The Goan that the three-storeyed complex, which was constructed at a staggering cost of Rs 50 crore in 2017 and had been vacant ever since, will now be repurposed to accommodate the various offices at the Dabolim Airport. The scrapping of the MLCP facility marks the end of a project fraught with challenges The multi-level parking facility at Goa Airport which was constructed at a cost of Rs 50 crore in 2017. and delays. THE PROJECT The MLCP project was intended to alleviate the growing parking challenges at the airport. The initial plan for the MLCP included the creation of a pay-parking zone for as many as 400 vehicles, with specific areas outside the airport marked as no-parking zones. The basement of the facility was designated for motorcycle parking. During the project's early days, officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had assured the public that the MLCP was nearing completion, with only a few final touches remaining. The AAI had even maintained that the commercial bidding process had started and that, a contractor would be appointed for managing the facility. AAI officials had even projected July 2019 to begin operations. Even in May 2022, the AAI had stated that the MLCP project had finally received the clearances and the faculty would be operational once there was additional manpower provided to airport and a CISF security force manning the airport. THE HURDLES Despite the ambitious plans, the MLCP project encountered significant obstacles and remained non-operational ever since it was completed. Issues surrounding security clearances from airport security agencies and other logistical hurdles prevented the facility >Continued on P5