log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 14 pages GOA Rane makes surprise visit to South Goa district hospital to assess issues Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME IX, NO. 101 2 GOA 545 houses to be regularised in New Vaddem colony 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Kindness and empathy: Know how it helps your heart 9 SPORTS Herrera nets hat-trick as FC Goa registers ISL season’s first win Govt unveils new GIS tech to tackle bad roads in Goa STIFF PENALTY FOR CUTTING ROADS THAT ARE HOTMIXED THE GOAN I NETWORK page 6 Goans fly high at Heathrow Airport in various services Goan dedicates life to work with marginalised in Vancouver IN SHORT >> Toddler dies after falling off 2nd floor MAPUSA: In a heart-wrenching incident, an 18-month-old toddler, identified as Lakash Kumar, tragically succumbed to his injuries after falling off the second floor of a building in Colvale, Bardez. The incident occurred on Wednesday. Police said the toddler accidentally fell from the balcony of the family's rented residence due to gap in the railing.  >> See pg 2 MAPUSA Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured on Friday that there will be no bad roads in the State from next year, as the Public Works Department (PWD) gears up to implement a Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to monitor and maintain roads. This new system aims to streamline road maintenance and ensure better coordination between departments. Sawant revealed that a local startup has been brought on board to install the GIS technology, which will enable the PWD to computerise road network maintenance across the State. "We already have data on the roads, but this system will also collate information from other departments like electricity, Water Resources Department (WRD), and sewerage to ensure proper coordination before any roadwork is undertaken," said Sawant. CM orders temporary suspension of contractors for unfinished road work GIS, a computerised system capable of storing and displaying geographically referenced data, will allow the PWD to create road maintenance plans based on real-time, computer-driven data. This will expedite the process of road repairs and upkeep, as essential information will be accessible with just a click, according to a senior PWD official. In addition to the GIS rollout, Sawant announced that a new agency has been contracted to monitor any engineering or technical defects in road construction. "In the future, notices will be issued to various departments one month before any road construction or hotmixing begins. This will give them time to complete any necessary work on the stretch before the roadwork starts," he explained. The Chief Minister also outlined a stricter policy to prevent unnecessary road damage. Once roadwork is completed, no department will be allowed to cut the road for the next three years. "If anyone needs to cut the road for any reason, they must do it within the designated one-month period. If they fail to inform the department and PANAJI: In partial relief, the government has extended the tenure of the Juvenile Justice Boards and the Child Welfare Committees for North and South Goa allowing them to resume functioning immediately. The order was issued on Friday. This extension comes after a report published was by The Goan regarding the non-functional status.  >> See pg 3 PANAJI: The State government will undertake a survey to identify manual scavengers in North Goa from September 27 to October 7. The initiative is part of an effort to ensure rehabilitation for those involved in manual scavenging, as per guidelines under the Act. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In line with the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Keshtra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), the Goa government is likely to amend the District Mineral Funds (DMF) Rules 2018 to specify the radius for identification of directly and indirectly impacted areas in and around the mining leases. The Governing Council of both North and South Goa District Mineral Foundation has asked the Project Management Units (PMU) to compile a list of directly and indirectly affected areas falling up to a maximum of 15 kms and 25 kms, respectively, as per PMKKKY, of the mineral blocks. Sources informed that the government will soon amend the DMF Rules, to specify the actual radius, considering the size of the mineral blocks or leases in Goa. "The mining leases in Goa are small in size and hence, the radius needs to be revised in the larger interest of the impacted people," sources said adding that the radius could be brought down to 10 kms and 15 kms, respectively. While a whopping amount C oldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2025 is truly an ‘Adventure of a Lifetime’, but for many fans in Goa and the rest of India, laying their hands on tickets turned into more of a ‘Paradise lost.’ Set for January 18-19, 2025, at the 50,000-capacity D Y Patil Sports Stadium, Mumbai this concert marks Coldplay’s return to India after an eightyear hiatus, with sky-high expectations riding on it. Fans from Goa were left disappointed as tickets for the Coldplay concerts in Mumbai sold out within minutes of going live. Anxious fans had prepared well in advance, glued to their screens, with of over Rs 117 crore is available for spending with South Goa DMF, the North has got Rs 89 crore available in its kitty. The Council has decided that 70 per cent of the funds would be utilized in the areas that are directly impacted due to mining. More than 200 crore funds under DMF are pending unutilized as on July 31. During its meeting held last month, the Council in-principle accepted the revised PMKKKY guidelines, notified in January, and decided to include sectors like Housing, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry to the priority sector. However, the council was of the strong view that the State government will have to amend years, no proper system has been in place, which is why we have so many issues. From now on, everything will be streamlined,” Sawant said, assuring that the new measures will lead to long-term improvements. “From next year, we won’t see any bad roads in the state,” the Chief Minister affirmed, promising significant improvements in Goa's road network and maintenance practices. Camurlim locals strike chord of dissent against Sunburn WILDLIFE WONDERS: Wild river otters spotted along the banks of St Inez nullah on Friday, bringing smiles to the faces of capital's green activists and nature enthusiasts.  (Report on pg 5) Paw-some news! Govt may rethink on hefty fees for registering ‘exotic’ dogs THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Certain corrections and seeking feedback from stakeholders have temporarily halted the implementation of the revised policy for street and pet dog caregiving. Government sources told The Goan that enforcement of the policy is however expected to begin in the next few days as the authorities have fast-tracked the process. As per the new guidelines, pet dog owners are required to register their pets with exotic breeds being charged Rs 5,000 and local breeds Rs 100. The registration for existing pets will remain open till December 31, 2024, failing which the government decided to increase the fee tenfold, as a penalty. Sources revealed that the government may reconsider the registration fee for exotic breeds, although no official confirmation has been provided. The government also directed that all pet owners register with the Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, whether for breeding or care purposes. “If the pets are being bred, owners must specify this to the >Continued on P5 KOCHI The Kerala health department on Friday said another Mpox case was reported in the State and urged those who have symptoms to seek treatment. The southern State had reported the country's first confirmed case of the new strain earlier this week. A high-level evaluation meeting was conducted on Friday to evaluate the situation, the state health department said. State Health Minister Veena George said the contact list of the patient has been prepared and the preventive measures have been taken. The minister urged everyone who reached the State from abroad to approach the health department in case of any symptoms and seek treatment. "Isolation facilities have been arranged in all the districts," the minister said in a statement. On September 23, the health department had announced plans to release revised guidelines for the prevention and treatment of Mpox. some waiting in virtual queues for hours. While many struggled to secure a spot, Enrique Fernandes from Aldona was among the lucky few who managed to snag a ticket to the highly anticipated concert. "I felt like I was in ‘Paradise’ when I got the notification confirming my booking," Enrique shared. "The whole process was like an ‘Adventure of a Lifetime,’ waiting in the queue until my turn finally came. This was my first time booking a concert ticket, and it was crazy. Competing with 1.4 crore people for a spot was an experience I’ll never forget, with all that adrenaline rush." Enrique added, "People say Coldplay is a once-in-alifetime experience, so I’m looking forward to a moment that feels like a ‘Sky Full of Stars,’ just like in the reels I’ve watched." However, for many, booking Coldplay tickets was an emotional rollercoaster, filled with anticipation and hope. As the countdown to the sale began, excitement was palpable, but the experience quickly turned into chaos. “Booking Coldplay tickets were a mix of excitement and frustration. We were all set, counting down the minutes, but the mo- >Continued on P5 SOUND ALARM OVER POTENTIAL CHAOS, CONGESTION THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Plans to host the popular Sunburn music festival in Camurlim have sparked strong opposition among locals, with villagers preparing to protest the proposed event. Several concerned residents have voiced their objections, citing environmental degradation, traffic congestion and the potential strain on the village’s infrastructure as reasons for their resistance. The Sunburn festival, one of Asia's largest electronic dance music (EDM) events, is seeking to hold its three-day event on approximately 2 lakh square meters of land belonging to the Camurlim comunidade. Scheduled for the last week of December, the festival organisers have already submitted a formal request for use of the land, which is now under consideration by the managing committee of the comunidade. A general body meeting has been scheduled for October 6 to discuss the proposal. No proposal yet in Anjuna: Comunidade MAPUSA: President of Anjuna Comunidade Dominic Pereira has confirmed that the organisers of the Sunburn music festival have not approached the comunidade this year regarding the use of their property to host the popular electronic dance music (EDM) event.  >> See pg 3 However, the festival's plan has met with immediate backlash from locals, who argue that their small village is ill-equipped to handle such a large-scale event. Former Camurlim sarpanch Sharad Gad has been at the forefront of the opposition, launching a signature campaign against the festival. "The music festival will be Heartbreak for Goan fans as Coldplay tickets vanish in a jiffy ANNOUSHKA FERNANDES THE GOAN I PANAJI The mining leases in Goa are small in size and hence, the radius needs to be revised in the larger interest of the impacted people… a list of directly and indirectly affected areas up to a maximum of 15 kms and 25 kms will be compiled cut the road without permission, they will face hefty fines running into lakhs," Sawant warned. To further streamline infrastructure development, the PWD will also ensure that proper ducts are maintained along roads for utility services, reducing the need for future road cuts. “This is a system that should have been implemented years ago. For the past 20 PTI Tanavade, Viriato on Parliament panels Survey to identify manual scavengers DMF regulations to be amended to spot mining impact areas Kerala on the edge as second Mpox case comes to light Govt extends tenure of CWC, JJB PANAJI: Goa Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Tanavade has been appointed as member of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce 2024-25 while South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes has been nominated to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.   >> See pg 3 MAPUSA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has directed the temporary suspension of licenses for road contractors responsible for unfinished road repairs, emphasising that all roads in Goa must be made motorable by the end of November. Contractors facing delays will also be barred from participating in any new projects until the repairs are completed. During a high-level meeting with officials from PWD, electricity department, and WRD, Sawant highlighted the State’s priority to repair 1,200 kms of damaged roads.  >> See pg 3 13 ment sales opened, it felt like chaos. In just seconds, the tickets were gone, leaving us disappointed,” said Ninoshka Fernandes from Anjuna. "Missing out on Coldplay concert tickets have been a real let down. There's definitely a mix of disappointment and frustration, especially with how fast they sold out," said Celeste Fernandes from Merces. "A lot of people are feeling that familiar FOMO, but with Infinity Tickets coming out in November, there's still a bit of hope. Until then, it's tough not to feel disheartened." Dylan Fernandes, from Chapora, reflects on the ticket sales for the highly anticipated concert, highlighting the challenges he faced in securing a spot amidst overwhelm- ing demand. “I knew it would be difficult to secure tickets due to the high demand, but my friend and I logged in well in advance, and we were behind 15 lakh people in the queue just seconds after the booking opened. We still didn’t give up and were hopeful, but in a few minutes we were disappointed,” Dylan said. However, he remains optimistic and plans to try his luck again in November. While some are still holding out for the Infinity Tickets, Dr Archa Natekar from Mapusa has decided to move on. "Coldplay is a huge international band, so I knew the demand would be high. I tried my best to get tickets but had no luck. I've accepted it and will attend a concert by an Indian artist instead," she said. a disaster for our village. Our roads are very narrow, and the influx of people and vehicles will cause severe traffic issues. Beyond that, the festival will destroy the greenery and peace of our village. We do not want this EDM event here," said Gad, expressing the sentiments shared by many villagers. Gad and other residents have raised concerns about the potential environmental impact of the event. Camurlim, a quiet and predominantly agricultural area, is known for its natural beauty and greenery. Locals fear that hosting a festival of Sunburn’s scale will lead to noise pollution, littering and long-term environmental damage to the village’s ecosystem. Moreover, the use of community land for such a commercial event has been a point of contention. Several locals have questioned whether the interests of the village are being adequately considered by the >Continued on P5