log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2024 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 145 GOA Lack of records in Margao council raises red flags over ‘illegal’ utility connections 2 GOA Govt mandates replies in Konkani, Marathi for local correspondence 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Effective home remedies for bleeding gums Demolition of 35 Cunchelim houses likely to begin today n SPECIAL DEMOLITION SQUAD FORMED n COPS CALLED IN THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The State administration has initiated preparations to demolish around 35 homes belonging to owners who were duped to build houses on government-acquired comunidade land in Cunchelim. The demolition drive, set to begin as early as Tuesday, follows the issuance of notices by the Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Bardez, Kabir Shirgaonkar. Under the Goa (Land Prohibition on Construction) Act, 1995, these notices instructed residents to vacate the properties, which fall under PT Sheet No 1 Chalta No 10/3 and PT Sheet No 2 Chalta No 11/1, to allow demolition teams clear access. To ensure order during the operation, the Deputy Collector’s office has directed the mamlatdar and joint mamlatdar to remain on standby, Comunidade to accommodate affected? MAPUSA: In a new development, the Cunchelim comunidade has reportedly made an arrangement with homeowners whose houses on government-acquired comunidade land in Cunchelim are slated for demolition. These residents, who claim they were deceived into building on the land, had previously voiced outrage over the looming demolition of their houses. According to a member of one affected family, certain comunidade officials have privately approached them, urging them not to act hastily and assuring them they would be “appropriately accommodated” in another area. while the Mapusa Police have also been called in to assist with law enforcement. A special demolition squad has been prepared with equipment and personnel to dismantle the structures. Despite initial protests and allegations aimed at specific individuals and comunidade officials, the affected families have now gone notably silent. None of the owners have filed police complaints or pursued legal action to prevent the demolition, fueling speculation of a behind-thescenes agreement. When pressed for details, Deputy Collector Shirgaonkar declined to comment further on the demolition drive. The land at the center of the dispute was originally designated in the Mapusa Outward >Continued on P5 Development Plan (ODP) as a common burial ground. In 2010, the Cunchelim comunidade passed a resolution to reserve 15,000 square meters (Survey No 10/11 and PT Sheet No 2) for this purpose, Surviving a road accident, this entrepreneur bound to wheelchair has not given up hope 1 Eleven suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces on Monday after insurgents in camouflage uniforms, armed with sophisticated weapons, fired indiscriminately at a police station and an adjacent CRPF camp in Manipur’s Jiribam district, officials said. IN SHORT >> Govt hikes DA for pensioners to 53% PANAJI: The State government has extended the benefit of increased Dearness Allowance (DA) to the pensioners with retrospective effect. Last week, the government hiked the DA to 53% of basic pay from the existing rate of 50% with retrospective effect from July 1, 2024, to compensate against price rise. A circular says the 53% is to be paid to the pensioners along with arrears from July 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2024 along with the pension for the month of November 2024. WEATHER >> Max: 34.8 C Min: 24 C Humidity: 81% TIDES Low: High: 00:49 13:55 07:16 20:27 allocating 5,000 square meters each for Hindu, Christian, and Muslim burial grounds. The State government subsequently acquired the land in 2018. For affected homeowners, the situation has been a devastating blow. Many invested their life’s savings into what they believed were secure properties, only to discover recently that the land had been classified as illegal. Notices posted on the homes on November 5 informed residents they would have to leave, sparking shock and frustration among families who claim they were unaware of the land’s government status. According to residents, many purchased their plots from sellers who allegedly misrepresented the ownership status of the land, which had been acquired by the government from the Cunchelim comunidade. Manipur on edge, 11 ultras killed in fierce gunfight >> See pg 3 STACKS OF SWEETNESS: Sugarcane sticks neatly stacked for sale at the Panaji market as vendors prepare for the upcoming Tulsi Vivah celebration. The religious event marks the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant to Lord Vishnu.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Kala Academy renovation row: Panel’s report likely this week THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The much awaited report of the three-member technical committee on the alleged “corruption”, “irregularities”, and “illegalities” in the iconic Kala Academy renovation work is expected to be submitted to the Government this week. The Committee is in the fi- nal stage of drafting the findings, which are  based on the internal inquiry, documentations and statements of the various officials, who were part of the work. Government sources confirmed that the Committee will be submitting its report, mostly this week as the investigation has completed and is working on drafting findings and recommendations.   Sources said that the committee, headed by WRD Chief Engineer Pramod Badami, has gathered all documents from the Public Works Department (PWD) - the nodal agency for executing the renovation work, pertaining to the estimates and payments related to various renovation works of Kala Academy. >Continued on P5 8 INFO 2 Two CRPF personnel also sustained injuries during the heavy exchange of fire at Borobekra, and the condition of one of them was stated to be critical, they said. Following this incident, fresh violence was reported from multiple places in Imphal Valley where armed groups from the two warring sides engaged in exchanges of fire, police said. 3 The Kuki-Zo Council called for a total shutdown in the hill areas of the state from 5 am to 6 pm on Tuesday “to express our collective grief and solidarity who were brutally shot dead”, after militants torched several shops and houses in and around the Jakurador Karong market. >> See pg 7 SPORTS Bumrah to lead in Perth if Rohit is unavailable: Gambhir 13 Jobs-for-cash scam: More skeletons fall from closet Teacher among two arrested; claims of swindling over `  crore surface 1 THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA Two more persons have been arrested by police in Ponda taluka in connection with jobs-for-cash scams reported in the taluka. While Ponda Police arrested a 49-year-old high school teacher Yogesh Shenvi Cuncolienkar amid allegations of having taken Rs 1.2 crore on the pretext of offering government jobs to aspirants, Mardol police arrested Sandip Parab from Tariwada-Marcel on charges of having cheated a person by taking Rs 5 lakh on the pretext of providing a job. The accused, Cuncolienkar, who was earlier booked in the matter, was later remanded to three days in police custody. Cuncolienkar was arrested on Sunday after Sangam Bandodkar filed a complaint against him for cheating him TWO MORE CASES „„Ponda Police arrested a 49-year-old high school teacher Yogesh Shenvi Cuncolienkar amid allegations of having taken Rs 1.2 crore on the pretext of offering government jobs to aspirants „„In the second case, Mardol police arrested Sandip Parab from Tariwada-Marcel on charges of cheating a person by taking Rs 5 lakh assuring to provide a job by taking Rs 12.5 lakh for a government job. According to sources, the suspect has been accused of taking money for various posts in the government. Bandodkar filed a police complaint on Sunday VASCO POLICE ARREST SECOND ACCUSED IN JOBS-FOR-CASH SCAM >> See pg 3 morning after similar cases were reported elsewhere in the State. Taking note of the complaint, Ponda police later arrested Cuncolienkar in the case. More suspects are likely to be arrested in this case. Police Inspector Vijayanath Kavlekar is conducting investigations under the guidance of DySP Shivram Waygankar. In the second case, Vishal Gaonkar of Khandola-Marcel had complained that in February, Sandip Parab had induced him to pay money to secure a government job, and he paid an amount of Rs 5 lakh in February to the accused. >Continued on P5 Banyan tree’s ‘dead’ look sparks survival concerns Greens hopeful, say barren appearance merely part of natural shedding cycle THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The leafless branches and dry trunk of the 200-year-old banyan tree, which was translocated twice from its native soil at St Inez has sparked concerns about its survival. But, experts have assured that this barren appearance is merely part of a natural shedding cycle and that the tree will soon renew itself with fresh leaves. Environmentalists explained that the banyan tree is undergoing a rejuvenation process but close monitoring and diligent care is essential to support its growth. “The tree is about 30 per cent dead but this is not unusual for a Banyan tree to shed leaves at this time of the year. While it looks dry, 70 per cent of the tree remains alive,” green activist Daniel D’Souza said speaking to The Goan. He, however, highlighted that the tree should have been translocated to Altinho instead of Campal, where the rise in the water table, owing to incessant rainfall this time, The translocated banyan tree at Campal. deterred its faster growth. “I was not a part of the project during the translocation. Nevertheless, we are keeping our fingers crossed,” he added. Founder-trustee of the Vata Foundation Uday Krishna, who closely monitored the tree’s translocation, echoed this view. “Banyan trees often lose leaves around this season. The tree seems to be going through the process of shedding leaves and fresh leaves are seen sprouting. In a couple of weeks, the tree should have leaves. The complete health of the tree can be analyzed once the fresh leaves grow,” he expressed.  When asked about the tree’s long-term outlook, Krishna explained the importance of post-translocation care. “The tree needs extremely close monitoring. Post-care for at least two summers is very critical. Periodic inspection by qualified botanists is >Continued on P5 Top court lights up debate Lights, camera, Robbie: ‘Better Man’ to roll IFFI reels on banning fire crackers Aussie filmmaker Noyce to receive Satyajit Ray Lifetime Award Stresses on pollution-free festivities “B PTI PTI NEW DELHI No religion encourages any activity that creates pollution, the Supreme Court on Monday remarked and directed the Delhi government to decide within a fortnight on extending the firecracker ban throughout the year. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said the right to live in a pollution-free atmosphere was a fundamental right of every citizen, protected by Article 21 of the Constitution. “Prima facie, we are of the view that no religion encour- A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Augustine George Masih said no religion encourages any activity, which creates pollution... If fire crackers are burnt then it also affects fundamental right to health of citizens ages any activity, which creates pollution. If fire crackers are burnt in this fashion then it also affects fundamental right to health of citizens,” it underlined. Noting the submission of the counsel of the Delhi government, which he said would decide on whether to extend the ban throughout the year in consultation with all stakeholders, the top court asked it take a call by November 25. The apex court further asked the neighbouring State governments to respond on banning manufacture, sale, storage and bursting of firecrackers in their areas. During the hearing, the bench came down heavily on the Delhi police for failing to comprehensively implement the firecracker ban. “We find implementation of the ban order has not been taken seriously by the Delhi police,” the bench noted. NEW DELHI etter Man”, a semi-autobiographical film about British pop singer Robbie Williams, will open the 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI). The annual film gala will present over 180 international films from 81 countries, including 15 world premieres, three international premieres, 40 Asian premieres and 106 Indian premieres. The curtain raiser press conference for IFFI 2024 was held on Monday at the National Media Centre here. The event was attended by L Murugan, Union Minister of State for I&B; Sanjay Jaju, Secretary I&B; Shekhar Kapur, Festival Director; and Prasoon Joshi, A worker paints a prop ahead of the IFFI gala. Chairman, CBFC. The IFFI is “not less than the Cannes Film Festival”, said Murugan. “You can compare our IFFI with Cannes and some of the other festivals... There are roadshows about the festival in Mumbai and Chennai. Another roadshow will happen in Hyderabad. We are seeing how the industry is owning the festival, taking responsibility,” the minister told reporters. The festival will open with the Asia premiere of Michael Gracey’s “Better Man”, an PANAJI: Veteran Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce, known for his work on Clear and Present Danger, Salt, and Rabbit-Proof Fence, will receive the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award at the 55th International Film Festival of India. The festival will take place from November 20-28 in Goa, with Australia as this year’s Country of Focus. The upcoming gala will have 47 films directed by women and 66 works by young and debut filmmakers, reflecting “the festival’s commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices”. Australian film that offers a captivating glimpse into the life of popstar Robbie Williams, portrayed as a chimpanzee by Jonno Davies in a groundbreaking motion-capture performance. Jaju said the team is excited to be charting a new path. “This is the first time in the history of IFFI that we have started this tradition of handing over the festival to the industry. Now, Shekhar Kapur has taken over as the festival director, he said.