log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JANUARY 4, 2025 page 6 Special Mass celebrated for diaspora at Old Goa Goan tradition of carol singing kept alive in Wembley IN SHORT >> Goa eyes `  8k crore 2 from finance panel PANAJI: With the 16th Finance commission, led by Chairman Arvind Panagariya, set to visit Goa on January 9-10, the cash-strapped State government has drafted proposals worth Rs 28,000 cr to give further boost to the development of the State, apart from seeking increase in States’ share of Central taxes from the existing 0.386 per cent to one per cent.   >> See pg 3 Heritage policy awaits Cabinet nod PANAJI: The Minister for Archives and Archaeology Subhash Phal Dessai on Friday said that the Goa State Heritage Policy 2025 is awaiting cabinet approval, following which it would be implemented.  >> See pg 3 Water pipeline damaged at St Inez PANAJI: A water pipeline near Caculo Island in St Inez was damaged during ongoing Smart City works on Friday, leading to hundreds of liters of water being wasted. Dense fog delays 100 flights in Delhi NEW DELHI: More than 100 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport on Friday morning due to bad weather conditions, an official said. Instagram.com/thegoanonline n INCIDENT SNOWBALLS AFTER A PETTY ISSUE n SECOND ASSAULT ON TOURISTS IN A WEEK THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In yet another incident highlighting safety concerns for tourists, a group of visitors from Mumbai was allegedly assaulted by staff at a shack on Calangute beach early Friday morning. The confrontation reportedly began over a minor dispute with security guards outside the closed establishment. Police have arrested six individuals, including security guards and waiters from Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, in connection with the assault. According to police reports, the Mumbai tourists were enjoying their evening when a disagreement with the shack’s security staff escalated into a physical altercation. SP North Goa Akshat Kau- SP advises shack owners to notify police MAPUSA: In light of growing concerns over attacks on domestic tourists at beach shacks, North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal has appealed to shack owners to refrain from taking matters into their own hands and to immediately call the police if any incidents occur. The directive came during a meeting held on Friday evening at the Porvorim Police Station, which was attended by around 50 shack owners from the Calangute-Candolim belt.  shal confirmed the arrests and stated, “The injured tourist has been discharged from the hospital. The assault occurred over a petty issue when the shack was already closed.” Police are investigating the circumstances and motives behind the incident. This is the second reported assault involving tourists at Calangute within a week. >> See pg 3 Earlier, on New Year’s Day, a 28-year-old tourist from Andhra Pradesh died after he and his friends were allegedly attacked by staff at another beach shack over a minor dispute. Four individuals, including the shack owner and his son, were arrested in connection with that case. Adding to the concern, Fri- India’s batting woes continue as Australia dominate in Sydney Pg14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Mumbai tourists assaulted at Calangute shack, 6 held day’s incident marks the second time in recent months that violence has occurred at the same shack. A similar case of assault on tourists was reported at this location in September 2023. The repeated incidents of violence against tourists at shacks in Calangute have raised serious questions about safety and hospitality standards in the popular tourist destination. Local authorities are under increasing pressure to implement stricter measures to prevent such occurrences and ensure the safety of visitors. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing, as stakeholders in Goa’s tourism industry grapple with maintaining the state’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination. SFX veneration ends today, footfalls may cross 80 lakh Cardinal Ferrao, Auxiliary Bishop Simiao to preside over solemn finale on Sunday THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After a lull midway, the number of people queuing up to venerate the sacred relics of 16th Century saint Francis Xavier at Old Goa have soared by the thousands over the last couple of days as the decennial event is nearing its end. Footfalls at the Se Cathedral where the casket containing the sacred relics of the saint are kept for veneration had crossed the 75 lakh (7.5 million) mark earlier this week, the government said.  The final figure is expected to overshadow the ‘eight million’ pre-Exposition guesstimate by officials when veneration of the relics will close at 7 pm on Saturday. But despite the teeming crowds, hundreds of volunteers ensured order and decorum throughout,  since the Exposition began on November 21 last year. Meanwhile, on Sunday no 45 DAYS OF FAITH AND DEVOTION AT EXPOSITION >> See pg 2 veneration will be allowed and the Exposition Committee of the Goa Archdiocese has planned a solemn ceremony beginning with a prayer service at 9 am in the Se Cathedral which will be presided over by Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrao. Pre-selected representatives from different parishes will then carry the casket and place it on the carriage for the journey in solemn procession back to the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Ferrao will also then preside over the Eucharistic celebration in the  pandal after the casket with the relics of St Xavier are brought in solemn foregrounds of the Basilica. >Continued on P5 Shack owners grapple with tourist conflicts China in grip of new Covid-like virus AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA Goa’s pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife draw tourists from across the globe, but beneath its idyllic image lies an escalating issue that threatens the State’s tourism industry. Recent incidents involving altercations between shack owners and domestic tourists have cast a shadow on the coastal paradise. The problem, though not n Sawaikar, Damu frontrunners n Tanavade hoping for an encore PANAJI Currently engaged in its internal elections, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Goa held a meeting of its Core Committee on Friday even as the race for the State’s top organisational post of party president paced up with current general secretary Narendra Sawaikar and current vice-president Damodar (Damu) Naik said to be the front-runners. The ‘Core Committee’ discussed probable names for the top post and finally shortlisted six, which were sent to the Central leadership for consideration.  Apart from Sawaikar and Naik who are also part of the ‘Core Committee’, others in the shortlist for president include another core committee member and former Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar, former ministers Dayanand Mandrekar and Dilip Parulekar and former MLA, Dayanand Sopte. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant chaired the core committee meeting alongwith, Rajya Sabha MP and outgoing State president, Sadanand Shet Tanavade. Ongoing party organisational elections ‘San- The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 197 Race for post of BJP president heats up, 6 names shortlisted THE GOAN I NETWORK Facebook.com/thegoan WHO WILL IT BE? „„Apart from Narendra Sawaikar and Damu Naik, others in the shortlist are Chandrakant Kavlekar, Dayanand Mandrekar, Dilip Parulekar and Dayanand Sopte „„The six names have been sent to the Central leadership for consideration „„Party president to be declared by January-end gathan Parva’ were discussed and strategies for the Zilla Panchayat elections due later this year were also deliberated. Tanavade later told the media that the new State party president will be declared by January end and mandal chiefs in 36 constituencies are expected to be announced next week on January 7.  Besides Sawant and Tanavade others who attended Friday’s core committee meeting included Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho, former chief minister Digambar >Continued on P5 new, has taken centre stage after a tourist lost his life in a brawl on New Year’s Day at a shack in Calangute. Rising tensions on coastal belt: According to shack operators, confrontations with unruly domestic tourists have become an almost daily occurrence. While most disputes are resolved privately, the recent fatality has highlighted the growing frequency and intensity of these clashes. John Lobo, General Secretary of the Shack Owners’ Welfare Society, explained, “These incidents often begin over petty issues, like the volume of music and escalate when tourists become intoxicated.” Manuel Cardozo, President of the Goan Traditional Shack Owners Association, echoed these sentiments. “Domestic tourists often act pompous and provoke fights with staff over trivial matters. They even flaunt connections to influential figures to intimidate us,” he said. Alcohol, arrogance: Shack operators point out that many disputes arise when tourists overstay their welcome at shacks, sometimes occupying tables for an entire day. This differs from restaurants, where patrons typically stay for shorter periods. “Tourists often get drunk >Continued on P5 BEIJING: China is undergoing an upsurge in respiratory diseases, with human metapneumovirus (HMPV) emerging as a key concern. Last month, the country began piloting a monitoring system for winter illnesses, including pneumonia of unknown origin. Following this, several social media posts suggest that the HMPV disease is spreading quickly and mostly affecting children and the elderly, overwhelming hospitals and crematoriums. While China’s health authorities have not mentioned HMPV as an epidemic, the country, in December 2024, revealed that they were setting up a protocol to handle pathogens.  >> See pg 8