log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 82 Instagram.com/thegoanonline TO BE DEBARRED, BLACKLISTED FROM SCHEMES IF ANIMALS FOUND ON ROADS, PUBLIC PLACES THE GOAN I NETWORK >> pg 6 Global cues, IPOs, inflation data & 4 other factors to set D-Street course this week IN SHORT >> Next Cabinet meet to decide agri policy PANAJI: The long pending ‘Goa State Amritkal Agriculture Policy 2024’ is likely to come up before Cabinet approval, during its next meeting. The policy document, comprising 150 pages, was submitted to the government on March 7. Sources informed that the policy is awaiting Cabinet approval and the same is expected during the next meeting scheduled in the third week of September.  >> See pg 3 PANAJI Taking serious cognisance of rising stray cattle menace, the State government has warned that all dairy farmers benefiting from schemes such as Kamdhenu and Pashupalan will be debarred and blacklisted if any animals they purchase are found wandering in public areas or on roads. In a notification issued on September 6, the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has also warned that the entire amount availed under various schemes will be recovered, and the animals will be impounded. Director Nitin Naik said the number of stray cattle is increasing despite impounding those found on roads, thus causing traffic congestion and also a number of accidents, including fatal ones. The Directorate has urged the public in general and dairy farmers in particular to keep their animals under stall feeding practices or any other management practice which prevents the animals loitering on public places or roads. “Any animal found on the public places or roads unattended to, shall be impounded immediately by the concerned authorities under the prevailing rules and regu- PANAJI: The nearly 3,000 housing societies are struggling to meet the mandatory requirements of Goa's Cooperative law, data maintained by the Registrar of Cooperative Societies indicates. As of August, there are 2,916 Cooperative Housing Societies on the books of RCS across all the five zones. >> See pg 3 Mangalsutra worth `  lakh stolen 2 MAPUSA: The Mapusa police have registered a case against two unidentified individuals for allegedly stealing a Mangalsutra worth Rs 2 lakhs from a vegetable vendor in Nachinola on Sunday. The victim lodged a complaint stating that the theft occurred around 2 pm near the Arch of Rawalghadi Temple, where she was selling vegetables. >> See pg 3 lations of the State,” the notification stated. “Any animal purchased under the schemes of the department, namely Kamdhenu and Pashupalan, found to be straying at public places or roads than the entire subsidy will be recovered from the farmer in toto and the beneficiary will be debarred from availing schemes of the department in future,” it said further. The department further said that any animal belonging to the farmer or beneficiary availing various other welfare schemes of the department including milk incentives, dairy equipment scheme, etc the owner of such farmer will be permanently debarred from availing the benefits of government scheme and blacklisted. First suspected Mpox case in India; no cause for alarm: Govt PTI Compliance hurdles for housing societies UNTIL NEXT YEAR: A devotee gently immerses the idol of Lord Ganesh during the one-and- half day celebration at Four Pillars off Panaji on Sunday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Rain dampens ‘visarjan’ revelry THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Family processions heading for their one-and-a-half day 'Ganapati' idol 'visarjan' were rendered a tad silent dampening the usual revelry and the accompanying fireworks due to short spells of heavy show- ers in the latter part of Sunday. In Panaji, sudden bursts of heavy showers since late afternoon curtailed revelry of several visarjan processions heading to the seashore along Miramar-Caranzalem, the Mandovi riverfront or at the Four Pillars water body in the city's outskirts. The weather may have curtailed the revelry but it failed to dampen the spirit of devotion to Lord Ganesha much revered by Goa's majority Hindu community. Several families braved the rains as they took the >Continued on P5 Intercontinental Cup: India faces Syria in final showdown RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Govt moves to rein in owners of stray cattle NEW DELHI A man who travelled from a country experiencing Mpox transmission has been identified as a suspected case of the disease, the Union health ministry said on Sunday. The patient has been isolated at a designated hospital and is currently stable, it said, adding that there is no cause for concern. Samples have been collected from the man and are being tested. “The case is being managed in line with established protocols, and contact tracing is ongoing to identify sources and assess the impact within the country,” the ministry said. The development of this case is consistent with the earlier risk assessment conducted by National Centre for Disease Control and there is no cause of any concern, it said. The country is fully prepared to deal with such isolated travel-related cases and has robust measures in place, the ministry added. PG11 Legal hurdles may delay dismissal of 2 teachers EDU DIRECTOR SAYS DEPT’S ROLE IS LIMITED AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA Despite growing calls for the immediate dismissal of the two teachers involved in the brutal assault of a 9-year-old student at Shree Saraswati Vidyamandir Primary School in Camurlim, their termination may be delayed due to legal procedures. CAMURLIM SCHOOL CASE The case has sparked outrage, with many calling for their immediate termination, but sources in the Education Department confirm that the dismissal process is lengthy and must withstand legal scrutiny. Both teachers were arrested last week after severely beating a Class IV student, leaving the child with multiple injuries, including bruises, cut marks, and blood clots. One of the teachers used a steel ruler to assault the child. ‘JAIL TIME NO GUARANTEE FOR DISMISSAL’ „„An Edu dept official says serving jail time does not automatically result in dismissal „„In past cases, some individuals have been reinstated after serving their sentence „„Decision to terminate rests with school’s management, which is also responsible for disciplinary action „„Gravity of the situation, medical report, and how management handles inquiry are key factors „„Management is appointing authority, and onus is on them They are currently in jail, but department officials explained that serving jail time does not automatically result in dismissal. In past cases, some individuals have been reinstated after serving their sentence. A senior official from the Education Department emphasized that the decision to terminate rests with the school’s management, which is also responsible for disciplinary action. "The gravity of the situa- tion, the medical report, and how the management handles the inquiry are key factors. The management is the appointing authority, and the onus is on them," the official said. Another department insider highlighted the seriousness of the offense but stressed that due process must be followed. "Given the severity, the teachers should be terminated, but procedures must be >Continued on P5 Alarm raised over structural safety of key Tivim bridge RESIDENTS, P’YAT MEMBERS CALL FOR QUICK ACTION THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The minor bridge along State Highway 1 (SH-1) in Tivim, a vital link connecting Bardez and Bicholim in North Goa, is showing signs of deterioration. Despite standing the test of time, the bridge has begun to display wear and tear, prompting fears that it may not withstand the anticipated increase in heavy traffic due to the construction of the elevated corridor at Porvorim. While officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) have acknowledged the bridge's weakening condition, they stress that there is no immediate threat. However, locals remain worried that the diversion of heavy vehicles along the highway could cause the aging structure to fail under the added weight. At a recent Tivim gram sabha meeting, residents voiced their concerns about the potential damage heavy traffic The minor bridge in Tivim, a crucial link to North Goa's villages, is showing signs of stress. Agnelo Pereira could cause to the bridge. In response, the PWD initiated minor repair work, including filling visible cracks with cement. However, many in the community feel these measures are insufficient. A former panchayat member and long-time resident, Robert Colaco expressed his concerns, warning that the bridge's deterioration could severely impact traffic between Bardez and Bicholim. "This bridge is crucial for connectivity. If it suffers significant damage, it will disrupt traffic along the route. The PWD has carried out minor repairs in the past, but more needs to be done," Colaco stated. He called for an immediate inspection of the bridge to ensure its stability. Echoing Colaco’s concerns, current panchayat member Shivdas Kambli admitted >Continued on P5 This monsoon may be Badminton association pays TA, DA to players from own funds wettest in a century Handball, hockey players await dues; GAA diet camp waits for clearance from SAG THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Monsoon 2024, with more 22 days to go, is the second wettest season that Goa has experienced in the last more than six-decades. The season, with 160.46 inches of rainfall as on date, is just two inches short in breaking the record of being the wettest-ever monsoon in a century for the State. The year 2020 has so far recorded the historic 162 inches of rainfall -- highest in a century -- while before that it was in 1961 that witnessed 160 inches of rainfall for the entire season. With 45.6 per cent surplus rains, monsoon 2024 -- still going -- broke the 1961 record. As on date, Goa has received 160.46 inches of rainfall as against the normal average of 110.24 inches. “The monsoon currents have been very active over the State throughout the season so far,” an IMD official said. Various factors have been attributed to the increasing rainfall activities, including a low-pressure belt formation in the Arabian Sea, low-pressure area in Bay of Bengal, cyclonic circulations, offshore trough etc. The monsoon rains are expected to enjoy an extended period this year as the fourmonth long phenomenon is set for late withdrawal. ARMSTRONG VAZ THE GOAN I MARGAO S ports Minister Govind Gaude’s promise to clear all pending dues of athletes and sports associations relating to the National Games before Ganesh Chaturthi has come as good news for a few athletes and associations as others are still awaiting their money. NAT GAMES: ‘DUE’ DATE According to information, some of the sports associations have received part of the funds due to them while some amount remains to be PENDING ALLOCATION „„Some of the sports associations have received part of the funds due to them while some amount remains to be credited into the account for want of documentation and clarification which the Sports Authority of Goa has sought from the respective sports associations credited into the account for want of documentation and clarification which the Sports Authority of Goa has sought from the respective sports associations. Of the few sports associations which have received a section of the funds the Goa Badminton Association (GBA) has gone ahead and paid the Diet Allowance and Travelling Allowance of players who attended the Diet Camp GBA officials said. “The amount has been credited to all players and officials who took part in the Diet Camp,” Praveen Shenoy, who recently took over as Secretary of GBA and was one of the recipients of the amount as manager of the Diet Camp said. According to figures, GBA has claimed an amount of Rs 4,70,050 for the diet camp and as travel allowance for 24 players and three officials. One of the players was Olympian Tanisha Crasto, who could not be part of the Goa team on account of the National Games clashing with her international assignments, got her Diet allowance from GBA. “She was allowed to undertake training at her academy. She was part of the team, but the Badminton event of the Games was preponed by 4 days from the opening day of the National Games and they clashed with her international tournament and therefore she had to drop out,” Dhenoy said about Tanisha. The GBA has also got Rs 12,76,720 for equipment and Rs 23,48,400 for the residential camp, while another 20% funds of equipment and residential camp are awaited. “As per the norms, 80% grants were first disbursed and later after submission of final bills 20% grants are released. GBA received 80% grants and submitted bills for disbursement of balance 20%. GBA, however, has disbursed all payments to players and coaches out of its own resources and now await the balance 20% from SAG,” said Sehnoy, while giving an update on the funds received >Continued on P5