log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline > P13 WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 23, 2024 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.126 VERREYNNE TON PUTS PROTEAS IN DRIVER’S SEAT AGAINST BANGLA RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Kala Academy Task Force red flags renovation work  SAYS WILL NOT EVEN GET PASSING MARKS  EXPERTS TO BE ROPED IN  ANOTHER INSPECTION FROM NOVEMBER 10-12 KENKRE EXPRESSES DISAPPOINTMENT THE GOAN I NETWORK >> pg 6 Blending passion and strategy: A journey of baking and social media marketing IN SHORT >> NGT sets deadline on Borim bridge replies MARGAO: The National Green Tribunal directed the Goa government and other respondents to submit their respective replies within two weeks to the petition filed by the farmers and land losers challenging the construction of the new High level Borim Bridge over River Zuari on grounds that the construction is being planned without obtaining the Environmental Clearance.  >> See pg 2 5 held for cricket betting activities PORVORIM: Porvorim police arrested five persons on charges of carrying out cricket betting activities in a bungalow at Salvador do Mundo. Porvorim PI Rahul Parab said police had received reliable information about illegal cricket betting activities at a bungalow in Salvador do Mundo.  >> See pg 3 50 more flights get bomb threats NEW DELHI: Nearly 50 domestic and international flights of Indian carriers received bomb threats on Tuesday, taking the total number of flights that have received the threats since Monday night to around 80. See pg 7 PANAJI A day after the preliminary inspection, the State government’s Task Force Committee on Kala Academy decided to rope in experts to resolve issues at the iconic venue, while expressing utter disappointment on the quality of repair works. During its first meeting, chaired by theatre artist Vijay Kenkre, the Committee expressed disappointment with the current State of the Kala Academy. “The quality of the work done doesn’t even deserve passing marks. There’s still a lot to be fixed... I am not satisfied… It’s not up to the mark. We need to get experts to re- November 10-12, which is when contractors from the agencies involved in the work are summoned. “We must ensure that we don’t repeat the same mistakes,” Kenkre said, assuring they will complete their report at the earliest including rec- ommendations for necessary improvements and upgradation of the structure. The meeting was also attended by PWD officials. On Monday, the Committee observed issues with the sound system and ACs, which the Chairman described as mi- REPORT SHOWS CONSTABLES TO HIGH RANKING OFFICERS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In light of several police personnel remaining in their current positions despite transfer orders issued about a month ago (read The Goan dated October 22), it has now come to light that the State government is purportedly in possession of a report identifying nearly 1,000 or more staff due for transfer. The report comprises personnel from constables to higher ranks across police stations, units, district headquarters and even the Police Headquarters. While over half of Goa’s police force falls within the expected three-year tenure at a given post, many others have managed to remain in the same positions for far longer. The situation extends beyond police stations. The Security Unit, which provides Personal Security Officers to ministers and vital locations, has reportedly kept several personnel for years. HC alarmed over water, electricity connections PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa conducted its first hearing in a suo motu petition regarding illegal constructions panGoa with arguments focusing on the scope of Panchayat Raj Act, the powers of Panchayats and failure to act against rampant violations. The Bench also discussed the responsibilities of the Sarpanch, Deputy Sarpanch and the Secretary at each Village Panchayat examining their inaction, consequences over their failure to act and statu- solve these issues. There are several problems such as with the ACs, leakages and sound system among others all of which need to be resolved,” Kenkre told media after the meeting. The Committee has scheduled another inspection from ACs, leakages and sound system among others all of which need to be resolved „„We must ensure that we don’t repeat the same mistakes „„Any future repairs would be carried out with complete honesty „„Upcoming work will not be a one-day job and will require proper expertise Over 1,000 staff due for transfers in Police Dept ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK „„Quality of work done doesn’t even deserve passing marks... there’s still a lot to be fixed... I am not satisfied „„We need to get experts to resolve these issues „„There are several problems such as with tory duties. The hearing will continue tomorrow. Briefing journalists about the hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam stated the High Court also raised concerns about how water and electricity connections were granted to illegal structures. Arguments included whether the health officer can allow such connections without mandatory permissions from relevant government departments. “The Court wishes to know what measures can be taken to stop the menace,” Pangam said. DGP’s office calls for list of staff who assumed duty PANAJI: The Office of the Director General of Police on Tuesday directed all station in-charges and units to submit a list of staff who assumed duties following two transfer orders in July and the most recent one on September 27. The directive was issued just hours after a report by The Goan revealed that several personnel, despite being transferred, remained at their outgoing posts. “…All IC’s of PS and units in Goa are hereby directed to furnish list of staff joined duty along with date as per transfer order…dated July 11, 2024 and …. Transfer order dated September 27, 2024,” reads the message with instructions to submit the list on the same day. The Goan has confirmed information that most of them have been shifted from one minister’s protection detail to another, yet remaining within the same unit, over the past several years. The Crime Branch has quite a number of personnel posted for years. On the contrary, this Branch -- also comprising Special Investigation Teams handling cases like land grabbing, gambling, etc -- has >Continued on P5 nor and easily fixable. After the meeting on Tuesday, Kenkre reiterated that any future repairs would be carried out with complete honesty. “The upcoming work at the Kala Academy will be done honestly,” he stated, adding that the repairs will not be a one-day job and will require proper expertise. Kala Academy is likely to be used for the upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in November during which film screenings, talk shows, exhibitions and other related events will be held. The State government had over a month back constituted a 13-member task force committee to review the current status of infrastructure work at the Kala Academy. Nod for deck beds at turtle beaches, but until sunset THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After initially saying no to deck beds at the Morjim and Mandrem beach stretch which were designated as turtle nesting sites and silent zones, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has now permitted five deck beds per shack along these coastal belt, with a rider that the same needs to be removed before sunset. During its meeting held earlier this month, the GCZMA has also said that the beach beds at designated locations should be laid only in consultation with the Forest Department. In October, last year, the Authority had granted permissions for erection of beach shacks at Morjim and Mandrem with a condition that no deck beds would be allowed since NEW RULES „„Only five deck beds permitted per shack „„Should be set up in consultation with Forest Dept „„No serving of eatables on deck beds as it can attract stray dogs „„Waste generated should be properly disposed; plastic items banned the area being designated as Silent Zone. However, the Tourism department moved a fresh proposal, seeking clarity on the same. Accordingly, the Authority approached the Forest Department for their comments over the proposal. >Continued on P5 4 Goan officers to be promoted to IAS cadre THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa government is set to recommend names of four officers of the Goa Civil Service for promotion to the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). A committee under Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel has cleared names of Amar Sen Rane, Levinson Martins, Sunil Masurkar and Meghanath Parab to be promoted in the IAS cadre of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories). The selection committee of Union Public Service Commission is slated to meet in November to decide the list. The State will be moving its proposal accordingly, so that it is taken up during the November meeting, sources said. In 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had announced that Goa’s quota in the posts to be filled through promotion in the AGMUT cadre had been hiked from 10 to 13. In 2020, eight officers -Elvis Gomes, Menino D’Souza, Narayan Sawant, Sanjit Rodrigues, Sanjiv Gadkar, Yatindra Maralkar, Prasad Lolayekar and Michael D’Souza -- were cleared by the Union Ministry. GLOWING TRADITION: A vendor showcases an array of beautifully crafted diyas at Patto, Panaji on Tuesday. These traditional lamps used during Diwali reflect the rich cultural heritage.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Fair price shops to go saffron, CCTV surveillance on cards THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Following directions from the Centre, the Goa government is considering bringing all 450 fair price shops (FPSs) in the State under CCTV surveillance, apart from re-designing these outlets with uniform saffron colour exteriors. The Union Ministry for Food and Civil Supplies through a communication to all the States including Goa in July, had issued series of directions including exploring the feasibility of installation of CCTV cameras at all FPSs, common colour code, integration of weighing scale with electronic Point of Sales (ePoS) devices, etc. Taking this into considera- tion, the State Directorate of Civil Supplies has taken the Public Works Department onboard to re-design all these shops with the same design, colour and pattern of display so that they are easily identifiable from ordinary shops and the public are informed about the available commodities, >Continued on P5 Heritage Policy: Focus on unlocking Goa’s hidden treasures THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI dentifying, notifying and preserving tangible and intangible heritage and historic monuments situated on private properties apart from revenue generation by way of imposing entry fees would be the focus areas of the State’s first Heritage Policy, which is currently in drafting phase. The formulation of the policy, is however, moving at a snail’s pace. More than ten months since its constitution, the 15-member monitoring committee for drafting Heritage Policy has so far held only two meetings. The initial deadline of six months to submit the draft I report has already lapsed and recently, four additional members were co-opted on the committee. The State government in December 2023 constituted the committee under Secretary Archaeology to draft the policy in consultation with experts and the general public by seeking their inputs. The committee has to also scrutinize the draft policy before submitting it to the government for approval. Highly placed sources informed that the policy will focus on maintaining State’s most cherished tangible and intangible heritage, which requires different approaches for preservation and safeguarding. Tangible heritage includes HERITAGE GEMS: UNLOCKING THE PAST „„Policy to focus on maintaining State’s cherished tangible and intangible heritage „„Tangible heritage includes buildings and historic places, monuments, artifacts considered worthy of preservation „„Intangible heritage includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge, traditional crafts, food etc „„Policy aims at identifying and notifying historic monuments situated on private properties and generate revenue by way of imposing entry fees „„Will provide financial support to property owners for monument upkeep „„FACT FILE: There are 51 monuments of archaeological importance protected under the ‘State list’ while another 21 are under ASI. Some 400 private heritage buildings are also listed under TCP Act. buildings and historic places, monuments, artifacts, etc., which are considered worthy of preservation for the future. Tangible cultural heritage has a physical presence, where- as the intangible heritage includes traditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge, traditional crafts, food etc. Sources also said that policy will focus on identifying and notifying historic monuments situated on private properties and generate revenue by way of imposing entry fees. The proposed heritage policy aims to provide financial support to property owners for monument upkeep while ensuring the preservation of historic monuments, sources added. Despite several attempts, Minister for Archives and >Continued on P5