log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 97 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Mohun Bagan beats NorthEast United FC 3-2 in thrillerPg 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Goa’s solar glow fades as 400 await central subsidy APPLICANTS WAIT AS STATE FUNDS ALSO DEPEND ON CENTRE’S RELEASE THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See pg 3 Notwithstanding his polio limp, this teacher motivates others to play Para table tennis IN SHORT >> Monsoon enters retreating phase, Goa on red alert PANAJI: The monsoon has officially withdrawn from parts of western Rajasthan and Kutch while Goa is currently experiencing the onset of the retreating monsoon. After experiencing days of clear weather, Goa was put on Orange alert on Monday. IMD further upgraded the alert to Red for Tuesday, forecasting heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.  >> See pg 5 274 killed in Israeli attack on Lebanon BEIRUT: Israeli air strikes killed 274 people, including 21 children, in Lebanon on Monday, the Lebanese health minister said, in the deadliest cross-border escalation since war erupted in Gaza on October 7. Israel said it hit about 1,100 Hezbollah sites. Gold, silver stolen from Mapusa jeweller MAPUSA: Burglars broke into a jewellery shop in the heart of Mapusa municipal market early Monday morning, stealing a significant amount of gold and silver items. The incident comes despite the recent inauguration of a police booth in the market, which had raised hopes for improved security.  > See pg 3 > Sanquelim murder accused nabbed BICHOLIM: The prime accused in the murder of a 12-year-old boy behind a cow shed at Vithalapur in Sankhalim was nabbed by Bicholim Police from the Kalyan railway station near Bombay on Monday.  > See pg 3 > PANAJI Nearly 400-odd consumers in Goa, who have installed rooftop solar plants on their houses at their own cost and are eligible for a subsidy, are waiting for Central assistance under PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, for more than six months now, despite sanction. Pending central subsidy, the State government is in no position to release its share, thus leaving consumers frustrated. In February, this year, the National Rooftop Solar portal, was migrated to the PM Surya Ghar portal- making it a single platform to apply for Central and State subsidy. However, the non-release of payment by the Centre has resulted in the State holding back its subsidy. “The issue is not just in Goa but across many other States. Since the migration of the por- SUN YET TO SHINE ON SOLAR DREAMS „„Consumers have to apply only on one portal to avail subsidy from both Centre & State „„Once Centre releases its subsidy, the same automatically gets updated to State, who then releases its share „„Not a single subsidy payment for projects installed after mid-Feb has been disbursed „„Despite fall in panel prices, customers not willing to opt for solar power tal, the consumers have to apply only on one portal to avail subsidy from both Centre and State. As per the guidelines, once Centre releases its subsidy, the same automatically get updated to State, who then releases its share,” sources said. Sources said that the department of New and Renewable Energy is in touch continu- ously with the Central officials to see that subsidies are released in a time-bound manner. “The things are working out in phased manner and we admit there is a delay. But sometimes, even after sanction at Central level, the release of funds takes time due to various issues including co-operation from the empan- RAVINDRA BHAVAN REVAMP Tiatrists, fans in Margao face month-long hiatus SOUND SYSTEM, PROJECTOR, SCREEN TO BE OVERHAULED AT THE PAI TIATRIST AUDITORIUM THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Lights, Camera, Action! Ahead of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Ravindra Bhavan, Marago is bracing up for an overhaul of the sound system, projector and the screen at the Pai Tiatrist auditorium. But, for tiatrists and tiatr lovers, the renovation of the Ravindra Bhavan means there won’t be shows for a month at the premiere cultural centre, popularly known as the Mecca of Tiatr. Initially, staging of all tiatrs at the Pai Tiatrist auditorium was supposed to come to a halt from October 1. However, the delay in the floating and the completion of the tender process to execute the work of installing the new sound system, projector and the screen has come as a breather for the tiatrists, who have been given slots to stage their shows up to October 14. One thing, however, is certain that Ravindra Bhavan will not be available for tiatrists and tiatr lovers for a minimum period of one month, first to facilitate execution of the work on the sound system, projector and the screen and until the curtains to come down on the 10-day IFFI festival. Given the situation, some of the tiatr directors have started rescheduling their shows at the Pai Tiatrist auditorium. A couple of directors have even Over 4,200 trees chopped in five months for big projects THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI While there has been much hue and cry from the public over tree cutting, the State government has permitted felling of over 4,200 trees for various State and Central owned projects like road widening, between January to May, this year. The Goa Tree Authority (GTA) headed by the Chief Secretary, during its two meetings held in February and May, accorded approval for felling of 4,263 trees and the same has been approved by Permission was granted to cut 4,263 trees for different central and State projects, but each project proponent was asked to re-plant three times the trees that were cut the government. In the February meeting, permissions were granted to cut 3,118 trees while directing each project proponent to replant three times the trees cut. During the latest meeting in May, 1145 trees were allowed to be axed on condition that 3,440 trees would be planted. The permissions were granted to authorities like the Public Works Department, Railways Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and another project proponent. When the authority met in May, they permitted PWD’s National Highway work division to fell 616 trees, as against the earlier permission of 275 trees, for construction of 6-lane elevated corridor, maintenance, management and operation of NH 17. PWD’s NH section also got permission to cut 376 trees, as >Continued on P5 uploaded videos on the social media stating that shows will not be staged at the Ravindra Bhavan for a month. If Ravindra Bhavan Chairman Rajendra Talak is to be believed, tiatrs will resume at the Pai Tiatrist auditorium after the IFFI. Talak said he has taken the tiatr directors in confidence before taking the decision. “The sound system, projector and the screen at the Pai Tiatrit hall will get a big face lift ahead of the IFFI festival. The project will be taken up and completed before IFFI. >Continued on P5 „„ Under the scheme, 1 kW: the subsidy is Rs 30,000, 2 kW: the subsidy is Rs 60,000 and 3 kW or higher: the subsidy is Rs 78,000 or higher. „„FLASHBACK: In February, National Rooftop Solar portal was migrated to PM Surya Ghar portal making it a single platform to apply for Central and State subsidy elled banks,” sources said. In July, the State government had released subsidies to close to 30 rooftop beneficiaries and after that the State is awaiting a nod from the Centre. The delays in disbursement of subsidies–at the Central and State level–left consumers fuming with anger and frustrated. Hence, it is learnt from some vendors, that despite the fall in panel prices, customers are not willing to opt for solar power. One of the vendors said “not a single subsidy payment for projects installed after mid-February has been disbursed. The delay is now close to six to seven months. Consumers are questioning us and we are in no position to answer”. The revised scheme was launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 20 and is expected to benefit one crore households. Under the scheme, 1 kW: the subsidy is Rs 30,000, 2 kW: the subsidy is Rs 60,000 and 3 kW or higher: the subsidy is Rs 78,000 or higher. In Goa, over 820 consumers have installed solar rooftops with a total capacity of >Continued on P5 DoE cracks down on corporal punishment, orders zero tolerance SCHOOLS WARNED OF CONSEQUENCES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Education (DoE) has raised serious concern about several instances of corporal punishment in schools, despite absolute ban as per Right to Education (RTE) Act. The educational institutions are now directed to adopt Zero Tolerance Policy towards corporal punishment failing which DoE has warned that the act would be dealt with seriously. In view of the recent incident wherein a primary school boy was assaulted by two teachers, the DoE has issued series of guidelines to the schools to ensure that their teaching and non-teaching staff refrained from inflicting corporal punishment on students. Both the teachers, who are currently out on bail, are placed under suspension. In a circular issued to heads of all government, government aided and unaided primary, secondary and higher secondary schools, Director Shailesh Zingade has point- DEPT GUIDELINES TO SCHOOLS „„Establish transparent mechanism for students to report any grievances related to corporal punishment „„Complaints should be monitored diligently and immediate action must be taken „„Organize training sessions, workshops for teaching & non-teaching staff to emphasize positiveM constructive disciplinary practices ed out that the Section 17 of the RTE Act 2009 imposes an absolute ban on corporal punishment and also prohibits physical punishment and mental harassment to child and prescribes disciplinary action to be taken against the guilty person. >Continued on P5 Bhaangarbhuin 47 students, 5 teachers stuck editor wins ‘Ligorio Furtado at Sattari waterfall rescued Journo Award’ GROUP WAS ON A TREK WHEN WATER LEVEL THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Mahesh D iv e k a r, Editor of the Konkani daily Bhaangarbhuin, has won the prestigious Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s ‘Ligorio Furtado Trust Journalism Award 2024’. The award will be presented on the 62nd anniversary of the Konkani Bhasha Mandal. Diwekar started his journalism career as a sub-editor with Tarun Bharat in 1992. He joined Gomantak in 1993 and left the daily in 2003 to join Goa’s first Konkani daily, Sunaparant, as chief sub-editor. Diwekar was the acting Editor of Sunaparant till 2015, before joining Goan Varta as Features Editor. He has been Editor of Bhaangarbhuin since 2021. ROSE SHARPLY DUE TO HEAVY RAINS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Forty-seven students and five teachers of the SFX Higher Secondary School at Siolim were rescued by Fire & Emergency Services (FES) personnel on Monday after they were stranded at the Charavane waterfall in Sattari as water level rose sharply due to heavy rains in the area. According to sources, the teachers and students had gone on a trek to the Charavane waterfall on Monday morning, even though weather alerts had predicted heavy rains in the State on Monday. At about 11.30 am, it started to rain heavily and water levels in the river rose sharply. The trekkers were stranded near the waterfall. One of the schoolboys informed that it was impossible to cross the river due to a sudden increase in the water level, prompting them to alert the fire services and the Forest Fire & Emergency Services personnel and a forest team rescuing students who were stranded at Charavane waterfall on Monday. Department. The Valpoi fire station was notified and a team of FES personnel led by Fire Officer Santosh Gawas along with a police team, a forest team and a group of locals from Charavane village rushed to the site. With the help of ropes, the 47 students and five teachers were rescued from the waterfall. Sources said some children were lifted and carried across the river. Speaking to the media, Valpoi Fire Station Officer Santosh Gawas confirmed that no one was injured in the incident. “The rescue operation took about two hours and all >Continued on P5 Storing, watching child porn material a crime: SC PTI NEW DELHI n a path-breaking judgment, the Supreme Court on Monday held mere possession of any child pornographic material will constitute offences under the POCSO and the IT laws even if they are not disseminated further. Observing that “sexual exploitation of children is a pervasive and deeply rooted issue that has plagued societies worldwide and has been a matter of serious concern in India”, the top court termed as “egregious” the verdict of the Madras High Court on the issue and set it aside. On January 11, the high I KEY SUPREME COURT OBSERVATIONS „„Parliament should seriously consider bringing an amendment to POCSO Act „„The term ''child pornography'' shall not be used in any judicial order or judgment „„Instead ''child sexual exploitative and abuse material'' (CSEAM) should be endorsed „„Implementing comprehensive sex education programmes can help deter potential offenders court had quashed the criminal proceedings against a 28-year-old man charged with downloading pornographic content involving children on his mobile phone, saying mere possession and downloading of such pornographic materials did not constitute offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Informa- „„Raising awareness through public campaigns can help reduce its prevalence „„*Schools can play a crucial role in early identification and intervention „„Child sexual exploitative material deeply degrading to dignity of children tion Technology (IT) Act. “We have reached the conclusion that the High Court committed an egregious error in passing the impugned judgment. We are left with no other option but to set aside the impugned judgment... and restore the criminal proceedings... to the court of Sessions Judge, Mahila Neethi Mandram (Fast Track Court), Tiruvallur District,” the top court said. While passing a slew of directions and suggestions on the sensitive issue, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala asked Parliament to seriously consider bringing an amendment to the POCSO Act for substituting the term “child pornography” with “child sexual exploitative and abuse material” with a view to reflect more accurately the reality of such offences.