log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 12 pages GOA Unauthorised bus halts contribute to traffic woes in Margao Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 102 2 GOA A timeless touch: The art of hand-crafted earthenware 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO The way you sit can impact your health CM reviews security, turns heat on police   RAISES CONCERN ON ONLINE FRAUD, DRUGS   DIRECTS 100% VERIFICATION OF TENANTS SECURIT Y REVIEW: KEY TAKEAWAYS THE GOAN I NETWORK >> pg 6 NSE, BSE transaction fee among factors to drive D-Street this week IN SHORT >> All casinos to be shut on October 2 PANAJI: All casinos in the State will remain closed on October 2, which is commemorated as ‘Gandhi Jayanti’ the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation. The Home Department has issued a notification to this effect which reads: “The Government of Goa, in order to pay homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, has decided that all gaming operations at casinos in the State should remain closed on October 2.”  >> See pg 3 Goa Dairy mulls hike in milk price PANAJI: Goa Dairy is contemplating increasing the price of milk after the issue was discussed at the meeting held on Sunday. It was revealed that the farmers have sought an increase of Rs 3 per liter and that dairy has earned profit to the tune of Rs 2.40 crore. E-auction of iron ore on October 3 PANAJI: The e-auction of 0.75 million tonnes of iron ore, which was scheduled for September 30, will now be conducted on October 3. The Directorate of Mines and Geology has informed that the e-auction process stands postponed and that the auction of ore will take place on October 3. >> See pg 3 Divar locals oppose eco-tourism project OLD GOA: The Goltim-Navelim panchayat in Divar island has opposed the eco-tourism project planned by the Tourism Department near the Our Lady of Piety Church. The decision was taken at a largely attended extraordinary meeting of the panchayat held in a school hall, on Sunday. >> See pg 3 PANAJI Asserting that maximum crimes in the State are committed by people from outside Goa, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant directed police to ensure 100 per cent tenant verification and to impose strict vigil and check on migrants arriving in the State via trains. Sawant on Sunday held a security review meeting with top officials of Goa police that included Director General of Police and Superintendent of Police. During the meeting, the Chief Minister raised concern about Goa being used for organized crimes like that of betting, online fraud and drug trade. „„All police officers in the rank of inspectors and below, who have been in one location for three or more years to be transferred „„Police inspector should station himself along with the family, if required, within the posted jurisdiction and will not be allowed to leave the area „„100 per cent mandatory tenant verification from October 1-10 „„Failure to submit tenant verification forms to attract Rs 10,000 fine „„Labour Contractor to register himself along with list of workers with labour dept „„Police directed to keep check on entry, exit points of migrants and also maintain vigil at railway stations „„20% of police force to be deployed on night duty „„All road-side vendors carrying out business illegally to be vacated Sawant, who also holds Home Portfolio, made it clear that all police officers in the rank of inspectors and below, who have been in one location for three or more years, would be transferred immediately and that the police inspector, should station himself along with the family, if required, within the posted jurisdiction and will not be allowed to leave the area, henceforth. Speaking to media persons post meeting, he said that police are directed to ensure 100 per cent mandatory tenant verification from October 1-10, and those failing to submit the forms, should be fined Rs 10,000. He said that Labour Contractor will have to Public outcry grows against private university in Tivim BANNERS, SOCIAL MEDIA CREATE BUZZ VILLAGERS HOLD CORNER MEETINGS TO RAISE AWARENESS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The once quiet village of Tivim has recently become the epicenter of a growing movement against the establishment of a private university. What began as whispers of discontent has turned into a wave of organized resistance, as locals unite to protect their land, heritage and environment. Banners, social media campaigns and public interactions now flood the village, amplifying opposition to the proposed university. The movement is gaining traction, with residents collecting signatures for a petition to be presented to the panchayat. This initiative comes in the wake of a separate petition, signed by over 400 villagers, which called for a special gram sabha to discuss the matter. Robert Colaco, a Tivim resident and one of the voices behind the movement, explains, “The villagers are ready to fight to protect their precious land for future generations. It’s a silent campaign now, but what starts as a ripple will soon become a wave.” One of the primary objections from residents concerns >Continued on P5 OVER 500 SIGN PETITION AGAINST SUNBURN EDM IN CAMURLIM 1 Opposition to the proposed Sunburn music festival in Camurlim is gaining significant momentum, with over 500 villagers already signing a petition against the event. The number of signatories is expected to double in the coming days as resistance to the popular electronic dance music festival intensifies. 9 SPORTS Bruno sent off as Manchester Utd crashes to 0-3 loss to Spurs 12 Tense moments at Cuncolim police station after assault RIVAL GROUPS FILE PLAINTS, SEEK POLICE ACTION THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Tension rent the air at Cuncolim police station on Sunday evening after members of the Muslim community assembled in large numbers to demand action against three persons for allegedly assaulting a community member Shaikh Abdul Kayad earlier in the day. The situation threatened to go out of control after members of Hindu community also descended at the police station demanding action against the rival group for hurting their religious sentiments. The Goa police mobilized a strong force with reinforcements from other police stations as a precautionary measure. Sub-Divisional Police officer, Margao DySP Santosh Desai rushed to Cuncolim to take stock of the situation. Members of the Muslim community left the police Members of the Muslim community who assembled at the Cuncolim police station.  Santosh Mirajkar station after the police registered a FIR against Viraj Desai, Sandesh Kenkre and Sapnesh Desai in connection with the assault on Shaikh Abul Kayad, who is undergoing treatment at the South district hospital with head injuries. Briefing media, members of the Muslim community pointed out that they returned from the Cuncolim police station after a FIR was registered against the three accused. They, however, said they expect the police to initiate action at the earliest. Attributing the assault on Kayad to the Julus procession taken out by the Muslims at Cuncolim on the occasion of the Birthday of Prophet Mohammed, Rafa Sheikh pointed out that some outside people are fomenting trouble in Cuncolim by raking up unnecessary issues after the community took out the Julus procession despite objections by the Bajrang Dal. “Bajrang Dal president Viraj Desai had >Continued on P5 DIVINE CRAFT: A sculptor gives final touches to the idol of Goddess Saraswati at Succoro. Goddess Saraswati is worshiped during Shardiya Navratri, which is celebrated in the first week of October.  Narayan Pissurlenkar 2 A banner opposing the private university put up at a prominent location in Tivim. ON PAGE 3 RGP mum on private university project AAP raises alarm over plans the legality of the land transfer. A group of villagers has written to the Investment Promotion Board (IPB), alleging that the allocation of land to the proposed M/s World Peace University by the Tivim comunidade is illegal. They argue that the com- ponents of comunidade were neither informed nor involved in any formal application or General Body meeting regarding the land grant. According to these villagers, the process violated the Code of Comunidades, 1961 and lacked proper legal oversight. Additionally, opponents point to the Regional Plan of Goa 2021, which designates the land in question as a "No Development Slope." The slope, with a gradient exceeding 25 degrees, is protected >Continued on P5 A large gathering of men and women assembled at the Ganesh Temple premises in Housing Board, where former sarpanch Sharad Gad, who is leading the movement against Sunburn, made a firm stand arguing that the event should not be allowed in Camurlim, which he described as an eco-sensitive area, and expressed concerns about the potential negative impact on local youth. 3 Several villagers, including women, spoke at the meeting, pledging to oppose the festival. Gad revealed that the organizers initially considered hosting the event in Revora, but their request was rejected by the local panchayat and comunidade, leading them to shift their focus to Camurlim. >> See pg 3 Noise pollution dilemma: GSPCB says no power to curb violations THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amidst the on-going debate surrounding the government failure to curb late night music or noise pollution, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) seems to be shying away from its responsibility. The pollution authority during its Board meeting, last month, resolved that their role is limited to preparing noise maps and gathering data and has got no powers to act upon any violations. “Board is presently in news due to music in coastal belts. As per Noise Rules and Noise Action Plan notified by the government, the authority to take action is police and Collector and the role of the Board is limited to preparing noise mapping and gathering noise data,” the Board resolved during its meeting. “Only in case of particular requirement, like that of the Sunburn, GSPCB is doing the monitoring along with the police and district authorities,” it said further. The meeting also resolved to wait for the outcome of the petitions pending before the High Court to implement the necessary directions, which will continue to follow the Noise Action Plan. During the meeting, the Member Secretary informed that the Directorate of Environment has provided noise meters to every coastal police stations and to the district authorities for necessary gathering of real time noise data. >Continued on P5 Govt eyes 3 bills to implement Focus on Indian visas in race to unseat Rishi Sunak IMMIGRATION DEBATES RAGE IN UK ‘one nation, one election’ plan PTI PTI NEW DELHI The government is likely to bring three bills, including two to amend the Constitution, to put in place its plan to hold simultaneous elections. One of the proposed Constitution amendment bills, that deals with aligning the local bodies elections to that of the Lok Sabha and assemblies, will require an endorsement from at least 50% of States. Moving ahead with its 'one nation, one election' plan, the government earlier this month accepted the recommendations of high-level committee for holding simultaneous One of the proposed Constitution amendment bills, that deals with aligning the local bodies elections to that of the Lok Sabha and the assemblies, will require an endorsement from at least 50 per cent of the States polls for LS, State assemblies and local bodies in a phased manner after a countrywide consensus-building exercise. The proposed first constitutional amendment bill would deal with making provisions for holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections together. Citing recommendations of the high-level committee, sources said the proposed bill would seek to amend Article 82A by adding sub-clause (1) relating to the 'appointed date'. It will also seek to insert sub-clause (2) to Article 82A relating to the end of terms of the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies together. It also proposes to amend Article 83(2) and insert new sub-clauses (3) and (4) relating to the duration and dissolution of the Lok Sabha. It also has provisions related to the dissolution of the legislative assemblies and amending Article 327 to insert the term "simultaneous elections". LONDON he two frontrunners in the race to replace Rishi Sunak as Conservative Party leader and take his place in the House of Commons as Leader of the Opposition have thrown the spotlight on cutting immigration into the UK, with visas for Indians being singled out in heated debates. Against the backdrop of the launch of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham on Sunday, former immigration minister Robert Jenrick singled out India as one of the countries that should be subjected to tough visa restrictions across all categories unless it takes back its nationals who enter Britain illegally. T „„Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick singled out India as one of the countries that should be subjected to tough visa restrictions across all categories „„Kemi Badenoch also zeroed in on the same issue and condemned new migrants bringing their disputes from India to cause unrest on the streets of the country „„Badenoch said it is quite clear that there are many people who have recently come to this country who have brought views from their countries of origin that have no place here „„FLASHBACK: The leaders were apparently referencing clashes that broke out in Leicester in September 2022 in the wake of an India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match His closest contender, shadow housing secretary Kemi Badenoch, has also zeroed in on the same issue and condemned new migrants bringing their disputes from India to cause unrest on the streets of the country. “It is quite clear that there are many people who have recently come to this country who have brought views from their countries of origin that have no place here, Badenoch told the BBC. “I saw as equalities minister people bringing cultural disputes from India to the streets of Leicester we need to make sure that when people come to this country, they leave their previous differences behind. This is not a controversial thing to say, she said. Nigerian-heritage Badenoch, considered among the favourites to win the ongoing Tory leadership election, was apparently referencing the clashes that broke out in Leicester in September 2022 in the wake of an India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match. Meanwhile, her former ministerial colleague Robert Jenrick who has notched up an early lead in the contest told The Daily Telegraph earlier this week that while India benefited from 250,000 visas in the past year, there were as many as 100,000 Indian nationals estimated to be illegally residing in the UK. He lamented that deportations or removals to India remain stuck in hundreds despite an India-UK Migration and Mobility Partnership which is designed to cover such illegal migrants. “The government must stop other countries exploiting our generosity by imposing severe visa restrictions and restricting foreign aid to countries that do not take back their nationals here illegally, said Jenrick.