log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline INDIA KEEPS TEST ALIVE AFTER AGGRESSIVE BATTING APPROACH 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 104 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 WITH JUST 51 DAYS LEFT FOR MEGA EVENT… >> See pg 3 15 pc vision cannot stop this telephone operator from living life on his own terms IN SHORT >> Porvorim flyover: New routes planned MAPUSA: The persistent traffic jams at Guirim and surrounding areas, largely due to ongoing construction of the elevated corridor on NH66 at Porvorim, are expected to ease soon, as authorities plan to open alternative road networks to divert traffic. According to officials, the diversion will alleviate congestion during peak hours by redirecting vehicles to less crowded routes.  >> See pg 3 Nod for Sunburn linked to land, NOC PANAJI: Questioning the controversy surrounding the Sunburn- Electronic Dance Music Festival -- an annual event, the Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Monday said that the government will consider granting permission to the event, provided the organizers have suitable land and required NOC, to host the event.  >> See pg 3 Goa’s `300 crore Exposition fund plea still unanswered STATE LIKELY TO MAKE ANOTHER APPEAL TO CENTRAL GOVT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With just 51 days left, the State still awaits Rs 300 crore requested from the Centre for the decennial exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier. Amidst the looming deadline, there has been no official communication from either the State or the Centre regarding the funds. However, official sources told The Goan that Goa might make another appeal to the Centre as the days are inching closer and need for precise arrangement is on priority. “This request, even if it falls short of the initial proposal made during the pre-budget, Church expects govt to sanction funds, says Fr Henry PANAJI: Stating that the government plays a crucial role in providing infrastructural facilities for the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier in Old Goa, Fr Henry Falcao, Convenor of the Exposition Committee of the Archdiocese, said the Church would expect the State Government or the Central Government to sanction funds for this important event. When contacted, Fr Falcao explained that the Church would depend on the government to provide funds for necessary infrastructural will provide at least some financial relief for infrastructure and logistics. We are ex- facilities to pilgrims at the Exposition. “Millions of pilgrims from all over the world and of different faiths come to pay their respects to St Franics Xavier, loving known and honoured as “Goycho Saib”. The role of the government is crucial because infrastructural facilities are required to cater to the millions of people and which the Church can’t do,” said Fr Falcao adding the Church does not get funds from the government for the Exposition.  pecting a huge gathering of devotees and VIPs for which Goa needs to be a good host,” WEATHER >> Max: 32.4 C Min: 25 C Humidity: 94% TIDES Low: High: 03.53 16.19 10.21 22.38 sources said. The State’s hopes were dashed when Finance Minis- THE GOAN I NETWORK OLD GOA: After a month, the search for the missing youth Bashudev Bhandari was resumed in the Cumbarjua canal at St Estevam on Monday, as a joint operation was conducted by the Old Goa fire personnel, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, Old Goa police and others.   >> See pg 5 NEW DELHI: The US Mission to India opened an additional 2,50,000 visa appointments for Indian travelers, including tourists, skilled workers, and students. The recently released new slots will help hundreds of thousands of Indian applicants take timely interviews. >> See pg 3 NGOs plan to ‘clean’ TCP office today, to gun for CTP Op begins to trace missing youth 2.5L US visa slots for Indians open >P12 MACKEREL MANIA: A bumper catch of mackerels netted off Caranzalem on Monday. Locals flocked to the beach to lay their hands on the fresh catch.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Smart City works: Centre seeks action report on graft charges THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Union Ministry of Housing  and Urban Affairs has sought details on the action initiated, as deemed appropriate, into the complaint alleging corruption and substandard works involved in the Smart City project. In June, Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai, in a letter to Prime Minister’s Office, had alleged massive corruption and financial misappropriation associated with the smart city project. He had urged PMO to conduct a comprehensive audit of the project, encompassing financial, quality and safety aspects. As such, the Union Ministry in a letter to State Secre- tary for Urban Development has requested that action, as deemed appropriate, taken into the matter be informed to the petitioner directly, under intimation to this office. “Despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant acknowledging the faults of the consultant, no significant action has been >Continued on P5 PANAJI Non Governmental Organisations and activists will hold a unique initiative of cleaning the office of Town and Country Planning Department on Tuesday, October 1. The protestors will also demand resignation of Chief Town Planner Rajesh Naik, who has been given extension in-service, till December 2024.  Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar said that the people will protest in front of the TCP head office at Patto-Panaji on October 1 and will also wash and clean their office.  Sherlekar said that the activists will meet Naik in a delegation and tell him to resign from the post in public interest.  According to Sherlekar, Naik had been CTP in 2017 and since then the TCP Department is involved in various illegal works and Naik’s further continuation in office had threatened the State’s very existence. ter Nirmala Sitharaman’s Union Budget made no mention of the requested allocation. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant defended, explaining that such provisions are usually not mentioned in the Budget. Ironically, the request was made during the pre-budget meeting in Delhi in June, headed by Sitharaman wherein Sawant sought Rs 8,000 crore for various developmental projects in Goa including Rs 300 crore for St Francis Xavier’s Exposition and Rs 700 crore for water augmentation schemes. With the Union Budget omitting Goa’s request, the >Continued on P5 Rumour mills work overtime as Sawant, Rane called to Delhi Both meet Shah, Nadda separately THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane were on Monday summoned to Delhi by BJP high command, amid speculations of rising rift between them. Sawant and Rane separately met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president J P Nadda. Sources revealed that both left for the capital in separate slots. Sawant, who left soon after chairing the Cabinet meeting, declined to give details on the purpose of the visit while he also did not refute being summoned by senior leadership. The meet comes days after Rane, at a public meeting, said that government should be responsible to provide at least 22,000 jobs to unem- The meeting comes days after Rane, at a public meeting, said that government should be responsible to provide at least 22,000 jobs to unemployed youth in Goa ployed youth in Goa over the next two years within the State else people will have to think differently. Sawant refrained from commenting on Rane’s statement but assured that the government is committed to creating adequate employment opportunities for the youth in Goa. BJP State President Sadanand Shet Tanavade had then reiterated he instructed party legislators and members to refrain from making critical comments in public. Cabinet okays amendment to Code of Comunidades GOVT TO PROMULGATE ORDINANCE SHORTLY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major decision, the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet on Monday accorded its approval to amend the Code of Comunidade in a bid to restrain the change of use of such land for any alternative purpose other than it is allotted. An Ordinance in this regard would be promulgated soon. The decision comes at a backdrop of ongoing protest against use of comunidade land for setting up of Private University at Tivim. Around 2 lakh sq mtrs of comunidade land has been marked as Investment Promotion Area. Addressing media post Cabinet meeting, Sawant said the decision has been taken to introduce Article 31 A to Code of Comunidades by way of amendment to Goa Legislative Diploma No 2070 dated April 15, 1961. He said that as per the amendment, the Administrator of Comunidade during the pendency of proceedings before it shall pass an order restraining the change of use of such land for any purpose All clear for Unified Pension Scheme PANAJI: The State Cabinet, chaired by the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday accorded in-principle approval for the implementation of Centre’s Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for its employees, from April 1, 2025 onwards. Addressing a press conference, Sawant said that the pension scheme guarantees 50 per cent of the average basic pay of the past 12 months preceding the date of retirement as the guaranteed pension for the employee, provided the employee has served for at least 25 years. >> See pg 3 other than purpose for which the land was so granted. “The amendment speaks about no change of land or zone, once it is allotted. The land provided by comunidade for a particular use like for residential, institutional, and industrial or government projects will not be allowed to be changed at any cost,” he said. The Chief Minister explained that on passing of such order by the Administrator of Comunidade, no authority including the department of town and country planning, planning and development authority, local panchayat or municipal council or CCP, shall be allowed to issue any permission or clearance or no objection for land use. Responding to a question, Sawant said that off-late, the government has come across several cases where it is found that the comunidade land use, even after allotment, has been changed for other purposes. The MIT World Peace University has proposed to establish its private university at Tivim at an area of around 2 lakh sq meters, which belongs to comunidade. However, the project is facing widespread opposition from the locals as well as from some gaunkars. @173 inches of rain, monsoon Seven years on, verdict in McLaughlin case nears MCLAUGHLIN CASE: KEY POINTS season officially ends in State THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Southwest Monsoon season 2024 officially ended on Monday, with Goa recording its wettest monsoon in over a century.  The four-month season, though officially ended, the withdrawal of the monsoon is yet to commence fully.  The year’s monsoon recorded 4400.7mm (173.25 inches) of rainfall, which is considered to be highest. This is against normal average of 3007.8mm (118.41 inches) rain, being 46.3 % surplus.  The rainfall activity sur- PANAJI he family of Irish-British backpacker Danielle McLaughlin is expected to arrive in Goa within the next few days as verdict into the rape-murder charges against accused Vikat Bhagat is likely by October 17. The trial, which commenced in Margao Court on April 6, 2018 progressed at a slowpace with the family alleging that hearings were reportedly held only twice a month. Danielle’s mother Andrea Brannigan, in her statement to foreign media, stated that she plans to be in Goa for the verdict expected on October 17. It was on September 19 that T THE GOAN I NETWORK passed that of 2020, when Goa received 162 inches of rains The southwest monsoon officially runs from June to September in India and despite the official end of the season, Goa has been experiencing isolated rainfall, after incessant rains until August.  The season saw July 8 re- cording the highest single-day rainfall with 236 mm. As on September 30, Valpoi registered highest rainfall at 5536.2 mm, followed by Sanguem with 5438.8 mm. Quepem recorded 4736.8 mm, Pernem 4550.2 mm, Panaji 4067.5 mm, while Dabolim saw least @3512.1 mm. „„Danielle McLaughlin’s family prepares to be present for the final judgment in her rape-murder trial „„Danielle’s mother says I don’t know what the verdict will be... but I always said I would be there at the very end, and I will „„Bombay High Court at Goa had directed the trial conclude by October 17, with a verdict expected on the same day „„Court noted that Bhagat’s conduct in the jail during these years had been appalling as there were instances that he assaulted the inmates and jail staff „„FLASHBACK: Danielle from Buncrana was on her third trip to India when she was found dead in Canacona in March 2017. The police subsequently arrested 24-year-old Bhagat, who allegedly confessed to the rape and murder she received an email from the UK Embassy informing her that Bhagat’s legal team had requested a further extension, which was rejected by Court.  The Bombay High Court at Goa had directed that the trial conclude by October 17, with a verdict expected on the same day. Earlier in July 2023, the High Court directed the lower court to expedite the trial and conclude it within one year. However it was extended. The Court also noted that Bhagat’s conduct in the jail during these years had been appalling as there were instances that he assaulted the inmates and jail staff. Danielle’s mother stated that while she doesn’t know what the verdict would be, she would fly down to Goa.  “I don’t know what the verdict will be. Their justice system is very different from ours, of course. But I always said I would be there at the very end, and I will. When it’s over, maybe, finally, I can grieve properly for Danielle,” Andrea said. Andrea is in the process of securing a travel visa to India, accompanied by her eldest daughter Joleen and family’s solicitor human rights lawyer Desmond Doherty.