log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline >P12 MONDAY OCTOBER 7, 2024 Election results, FIIs, crude oil set to guide market trajectory this week IN SHORT >> ISRO technology to monitor illegal stone quarries PANAJI: Goa is all set to rope in a special satellite surveillance system from the Indian Space Research Organization to map stone quarries in a bid to curb illegal mining activities. In the absence of required manpower and technology, Directorate of Mines and Geology is currently in talks with ISRO officials for scientific-cum-technological support.  >> See pg 5 Camurlim rejects Sunburn proposal MAPUSA: In a decisive move influenced by growing public pressure, the comunidade of Camurlim has vehemently rejected the proposal to host the Sunburn music festival. During an extraordinary general body meeting held on Sunday, the gaonkars unanimously resolved to deny permission for the electronic dance music event.   >> See pg 3 Tivim locals rally against pvt varsity MAPUSA: Tivim villagers gathered in large numbers on Sunday to voice strong opposition to the establishment of a private university in their village, citing threat to environment and livelihood.  >> See pg 3 Health secy to head surveillance panel PANAJI: In a bid to keep a tab on outbreak of diseases, including zoonoses (animal-human transmitted disease) and iron out the networking issues between departments like health, veterinary sciences and others a State level Surveillance Committee has been constituted which will be headed by the Health Secretary. >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 34 C Min: 27 C Humidity: 78% TIDES Low: High: 04.04 10.31 16.14 21.59 Protests end in Margao after Church body’s call for peace INTERVENTION APPLICATION TO BE FILED IN COURT OPPOSING VELINGKAR’S ANTICIPATORY BAIL PLEA THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO After two days of protests and road blockades in Margao, the epicenter of the agitation demanding FIR and arrest of Subhash Velingkar over his comments against St Francis Xavier, protestors finally called off their agitation on Sunday noon after making a token presence at the Old market circle. They, however, unveiled the legal plan of action to file an intervention application before the Court to oppose the anticipatory bail plea filed by Subhash Velingkar. Velingkar’s anticipatory bail plea comes up for hearing before the North Goa Sessions Court on Monday. Resuming the protests at the Old market circle on Sunday morning, social activist Pratima Coutinho called off the stir around noon in view of the appeal made by the Church body, the Council for Social Justice and peace to maintain peace and calm. As compared to the last two days and against the backdrop of the police lathi-charge on the protesters late Saturday night, only a few assembled Hundreds of Goans attend a meeting in Swindon-UK on Sunday evening.  PANAJI: Former Goa RSS chief, Subhash Velingkar continued to stay underground dodging the multiple teams the Police claim to have sent out to nab him, for a second day since the controversy over his controversial remarks on St Francis Xavier erupted. Bicholim police had booked an FIR against Velingkar under sections of the BNS for hurting people’s religious sentiments after protests erupted across the State. Multiple near the Old market circle on Sunday morning. The Goa police, however, were mobilized in strength as a precautionary measure and to send a strong message to the protestors that they mean business and complaints were also filed at different police stations. The police also slapped him a notice at his Panaji residence where they couldn’t find him and pasted it on his door on Saturday. On Sunday, they pasted a second notice asking him to join their probe. Police said multiple police teams have been sent out to “nab” Velingkar including some to neighbouring Maharashtra. would not tolerate any road blockade on the busy Old market-KTC bus stand road. In fact, the police led by Sub-divisional police officer, DySP Santosh Desai made it clear to the protestors led by SIGNS MoU WITH FSI FOR SATELLITE-BASED CENSUS PANAJI With a herculean task to cover 3.17 crore trees spread over around 2,482 square km area under the geo-enabled tree census, the Forest Department has now roped in Forest Survey of India (FSI) for satellite-based census. As per an exercise undertaken by the Forest Department since April, 2022, using a manual method, tree census in the whole of Goa will include approximately 3.17 crore trees spread in about 2,482 square km area, and is likely to entail expenditure of Rs 89 crore. Total 130 teams across North and South Goa were formed to undertake the census. John Soares Velingkar on the run, another notice sent Goa eyeing advanced tech to count over 3 crore trees THE GOAN I NETWORK BELAGAVI embers of Paryavarani organisation a NGO striving for the conservation of environment in Western Ghats, particularly the Bhimgarh and Mhadei Wildlife sanctuaries have started a campaign to create awareness of diversion of Mhadei in Karnataka. This will have an adverse impact on the environment damaging the thick bio diverse forests in the region leading to drastic reduction in rainfall in Belagavi district and cause rapid desertification of North M UK Goans condemn remarks against St Francis Xavier LONDON: Amid widespread protests across Goa over derogatory statements by Subhash Velingkar against St Francis Xavier, hundreds of Goans also made their anger felt in the UK by participating in three separate protest meetings in Swindon, Cranford-Hounslow, and Wembley on Sunday.   >> See pg 2 GUJ slams police for assaulting journo TREE-MENDOUS TASK „„Using manual method, tree census in Goa will include 3.17 crore trees „„It is likely to entail expenditure of Rs 89 crore… 130 teams across North & South formed „„Manual exercise commenced two years back… govt has decided to adopt satellite tech to fast-track the census Forest dept to study Delhi model to de-concretise around trees >> See pg 3 Speaking to The Goan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) IFS Umakant said that though the manu- al exercise had commenced two years back, the government decided to adopt Remote Sensing and GIS based technology to fast-track the census. For this purpose, he said, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed >Continued on P7 Pratima Coutinho and husband Savio Coutinho that no protester will be allowed to stand on the road. DySP Desai told Pratima that they may >Continued on P7 RIVER DIVERSION: CAUSE & EFFECT „„Kalsa Bhandura dams will reverse Mhadei river water away from Bhimgad and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuaries „„Will adversely affect about 500 sq km of biodiverse forests „„Will directly damage thick forest of Khanapur leading them to submerge under water „„Cutting of over 2 lakh trees will lead to forest fragmentation „„Damage of forests in Khanapur taluka will lead to reduction of rain „„There will be drastic reduction in rains in North Karnataka leading to desertification Karnataka according to the greens. Members of various green organisations like Paryavarani, Parivarthan, Parisarkkagi Naavu (We for Environment) and other organisations had gathered at the Kannada Sahitya Bhavan to discuss about the devastating effects of Kalsa-Bhandura and Mhadei water diversion project. The activists have appealed to authorities in the riparian States not to politicise the Rahul: BJP stoking communal tension NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused BJP of deliberately stoking communal tension in Goa and asserted that their attempts will not go unchallenged as the people of the State and whole of India “see through this divisive agenda”. In a post on X, Gandhi said Goa’s appeal lies in its natural beauty and the warmth and hospitality of its diverse and harmonious people. “Unfortunately, under BJP rule, this harmony is under attack. The BJP is deliberately stoking communal tension, with a former RSS leader provoking Christians and Sangh organisations calling for an economic boycott of Muslims,” he said. “BJP’s strategy is clear: divide the people while exploiting ecologically sensitive areas by illegally converting green land and bypassing environmental regulations,” Gandhi said. PANAJI: Journalist organisations slammed the police who on Saturday had assaulted The Goan photo-journalist Santosh Mirajkar during the late night cane charge on a group of protesters who had blocked the road. The Goa Union of Journalists said it strongly condemns the assault and manhandling of Mirajkar of The Goan.  >> See pg 2 Fatorda police book Pratima, husband, others for blocking highway Chinchinim villagers call off proposed agitation Hundreds join protest march in Old Goa Police on look out for Mickky over threats to Velingkar Protests intensify in Siolim; arrest demands grow Canacona locals throng police station; SDPO assures action Pope names 21 new cardinals PTI ROME Pope Francis named 21 new cardinals Sunday, significantly increasing the size of the College of Cardinals and further cementing his mark on the group of prelates who will one day elect his successor. They include a man who will be the oldest cardinal Monsignor Acerbi, a 99-yearold retired Vatican diplomat who was once held hostage for six weeks in Colombia by leftist guerrillas and the youngest the 44-year-old head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Melbourne, Australia, Bishop Mykola Bychok, named in a nod to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The new cardinals will get their red hats at a ceremony, known as a consistory, on December 8, an important feast day that officially kicks off the Christmas season in Rome. Mhadei: K’taka greens see red over Kalsa project THE GOAN I NETWORK YOUNG INDIA THRASHES BANGLADESH IN FIRST T20I  RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 O N PAG E 2 >> pg 6 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.110 Kalsa-Bhandura water diversion issue and initiate immediate measures to conserve the ecology in the region for the next generations. Speaking to media Capt Nitin Dhond said that Kalsa Bhandura dams will reverse the Mhadei river water away from Bhimgad and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuaries adversely affecting about 500 sq km of biodiverse forests in the region. This will directly damage the thick forest of Khanapur leading them to submerge under water. Moreover cutting of over 2 lakh trees will lead to >Continued on P7 Flavours Of Delhi, In The Heart Of Goa 4th - 13th October Café Mira, Miramar, Goa