log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY JANUARY 10, 2025 page 8 Revolution on two wheels: How affordable electric scooters are driving India’s EV boom REVIEW: All new Mercedes E-Class: Joy of premium luxury Protected status for 6 new sites PANAJI: The State has notified protected monument status to six new sites of archaeological importance. With this, the number of state-protected monuments in Goa has gone up from 51 to 57. The six newly added sites include rock engravings at Mauxi in Sattari dating back to Neolithic period; the 17th-century Betul fort in Quepem; the Stone Circle at Baddem in Cotigao, a sacred site where villagers gather to discuss important events and sometimes conduct rituals. Other sites include Solye temple at Khola in Canacona, the tank of the Varzeshwar temple at Balli in Quepem, and Dipaji Rane House in Sattari. IN SHORT >> GMC ready to test HMPV samples PANAJI: The Goa Medical College and Hospital has the wherewithal and is ready to test samples for the HMPV virus which has raised a scare of sorts, said a senior doctor even as Health Minister Vishwajit Rane chaired a meeting on Thursday to upgrade and expanding the premier health facility's neonatal ICU.  >> See pg 3 Goa eyes Renewal Energy Parks PANAJI: In a bid to give a major push to renewable energy, the Goa government has decided to set up Renewable Energy Parks that will house a solar park, wind park and hybrid park apart from storage projects.  >> See pg 3 Pollution Board gets 3 months’ extension PANAJI: Delay over appointment of new Chairman and Member Secretary of the Goa State Pollution Control Board has forced the government to extend the term of the existing Board by another three months or till the time the new Board is re-constituted.  >> See pg 5 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 203 PANAJI t a time when the government is dealing with widespread misuse of financial welfare schemes prompting action, a rare gesture has emerged from a senior citizen. The 80-year-old Sattari local has taken an unusual and commendable step by voluntarily opting out of the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS), citing her family's improved financial stability. Speaking to The Goan her kin explained the two reasons behind her decision. "Our family is now financially well-set- A League Cup: Tottenham beats Liverpool in semifinal first leg DECIBEL LEVELS SURPASS 75, SOME PLACES OVER 100 AT NIGHT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As many as 30 noise pollution hotspots are identified across the coastal belt of Goa. The State government-appointed central agencies, in their draft report, has said that these locations have got noise values above 75 decibel (db) level and in some cases like Calangute-Baga, it crosses 100 decibel, especially during the night. The report ‘Noise Mapping, Identification of Hot Spots and Mitigation Plan for Control of Noise Pollution for Goa State’ prepared by Envirotech Instruments Pvt Ltd and CSIR-Central Road Research Institute has been submitted to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) for public consultation and implementation. Based on the ambient noise RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TACKLING NOISE POLLUTION „„Installation of transparent noise barriers along a five-km coastal stretch „„Focus on four beaches -- Calangute, Baga, Ashvem & Arambol -- to mitigate sound as it exceed permissible limit at night „„Workers in noisy beach areas can use earplugs to reduce prolonged exposure to high noise levels „„Music systems at popular tourist beaches could have automatic shutdown mechanism that deactivates the system when noise levels exceed 90 dB „„Will help manage noise levels which can significantly vary and impact both health & wildlife „„For beaches near residential areas, noise barriers can be installed along boundary between the sea and residential zones data 2023, the agencies have identified the hotspot locations in the coastal areas that include Calangute and Baga beaches, Chicalim Junction, Crocodile rock, Sinquerim beach, Panjim Promenade, Morjim beach, Vadem bus stop, Varunapuri, Verem market, Saxony Beach cottages and restaurant, Ashvem beach, Candolim beach, Fort Aguada road, Anjuna beach, Arambol beach, Siolim bus stop, Siolim beach road, Miramar, Agarwada-Morjim, Goa surf school, IOC Junction, Sada-Vasco, Mandrem beach, Goa Velha bypass, Dabolim airport, Cortalim bridge and Dona Paula. The decibel levels along these areas vary from 79 db to 115 db during the night. The agencies have recommended installation of transparent noise barriers along a five kilometer coastal stretch covering four beaches --Calangute, Baga, Ashvem and Arambol -- to mitigate sound disturbances as at night the sound level along these beaches exceed permissible limit. According to the report, there is no need for noise barriers at Miramar, Candolim, Anjuna and Sinquerim beaches, as the residential areas are located at a considerable distance from these locations. Goa pitches for `32,746 cr with Finance Commission COMMISSION CHIEF SAYS GOA ALSO WANTS TO RAISE SHARE OF DIVISIBLE POOL OF REVENUES DEVOLVED TO STATES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission Dr Arvind Panagariya on Thursday said Goa has pitched for a Rs 32,746 crore share from the Centre's divisible pool of tax and cess revenues. Panagariya who addressed the media after the Commission's marathon three-hour meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, some of his cabinet colleagues, Chief Secretary Dr Candivelou and other senior bureaucrats, also said that Goa officially placed the demand that 50% instead of the earlier 41% of the divisible pool of revenues be devolved to the States. "Goa is the 14th State to make this demand to raise the States' share of the divisible pool of revenues from 41% to 50%," he said, adding that a fifteenth State has sought that it be raised to 45%. Flanked by other members of the Commission, Panagari- Proposed `  ,600 cr for infra sectors: CM 3 PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the media after the meeting with the Finance Commission that a detailed overview of the State which showcased achievements and also articulated the State’s expectations in terms of financial support, was made to the Commission. “We proposed nearly Rs 3,600 crore for various infrastructure sectors like tourism, WRD, health etc; and requested that Goa be granted the same 90:10 formula for CSS schemes, similar to the North Eastern states,” Sawant further said. ya said Goa has also demanded that weightage to the income-distance parameter in the devolution of funds be diluted from 45% to 30%. At the meeting, Dr Candivelou made a presentation comprising some 100-plus slides at the end of which Goa sought Rs 32,746 crore from the Centre’s divisible tax revenue pool. Panagariya meanwhile told reporters at the press conference that the State also sought funds and grants citing the challenges it faces in tackling Climate Change related ero- sion along its 105 kilometer coastline. Large-scale immigration and a significantly large floating population due to its tourism sector was another factor cited by the State to seek additional special grants, Panagariya said. Transport Minister, Mauvin Godinho, WRD Minister Subash Shirodkar, Revenue Minister Babush Monserrate, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldesai and Fisheries Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar were part of the meeting. OCTOGENERIAN’S UNIQUE GESTURE „„The woman had been receiving financial support under the DSSS for about 6-7 years on transfer following the death of her husband „„She received the dole when it was needed but now it’s time for others to benefit, her kin said „„Her also said their family is now financially well-settled „„They have made a formal request to Department of Social Welfare to discontinue her financial support tled and she believes that others who genuinely need this assistance should have the opportunity to receive it,” he said, requesting the family’s anonymity. The woman had been receiving financial support under the DSSS for about 6-7 years on transfer following the death of her husband, who was specially-abled and a beneficiary of the scheme. “She received the dole when it was needed but now it’s time for others to benefit,” the kin added. The family made a formal request to the Department of Social Welfare to discontinue her financial support. Director of the Department of Social Welfare Ajit Panchwadkar confirmed receiving the letter and lauded the gesture. “We had appealed to DSSS beneficiaries to come forward voluntarily if they are now financially stable or want to give up the scheme even otherwise. This is the first such case since we began our survey in November 2024. It’s heartening to see this kind of civic responsibility,” Panchwadkar said when contacted by The Goan. The survey that began with >Continued on P5 PG15 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 30 noise hotspots identified, most along north Goa coast 80-yr-old woman sets example by exiting welfare scheme, cites financial stability THE GOAN I NETWORK Instagram.com/thegoanonline The separation minimizes the impact of any beach-related noise on nearby communities, making additional noise control measures unnecessary. The Agencies have recommended that the workers in noisy beach areas may use earplugs to reduce prolonged exposure to high noise levels. The agencies have also proposed that the music systems at popular tourist beaches could have an automatic shutdown mechanism that deactivates the system when noise levels exceed 90 dB(A). This could help manage noise levels, which can significantly vary and impact both health and wildlife. It said that for beaches near residential areas, noise barriers could be installed along the boundary between the sea and residential zones to help >Continued on P5 Schools face rating downgrade if teacher info not provided BOARD SETS FINAL DEADLINE OF JAN 13 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Taking serious note of several schools failing to provide teachers’ information, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has warned schools of downgrading their ratings if the details are not furnished by January 13. In a circular issued to Heads of all Secondary and Higher Secondary schools, Board Secretary Vidhyadatta Naik said that failure to disclose teachers’ information may also attract punishment under relevant provisions of the Goa Prevention of Malpractices at University, Board and Other Specified Examination Act 1991. “It has been observed that some of the institutions have not updated teachers’ information on the School Login Portal as required. Also, many institutions have not updated details regarding the subjects BOARD FIAT „„Some institutions have not updated teachers’ info on School Login Portal „„Many institutions have also not updated details regarding subjects taught for Std X & Std XII „„Information needs to be updated on priority basis „„Failure to do so may attract punishment under relevant provisions taught for Std X and Std XII, as applicable. This information needs to be updated on priority basis,” Naik said. Schools are directed to update the information by January 13, without fail. “Failure to adhere to this circular will result in downgrading of the ratings allotted to schools, which in turn may affect the recognition period,” the Board warned.