log on to thegoan.net SATURDAY JANUARY 11, 2025 page 8 Keith Vaz says all Goans should become ambassadors for Goa Generations unite in London at Goa Vibes New Year’s party IN SHORT >> 3 IAS officers promoted PANAJI: The State government has designated three IAS officers -- Ramesh Verma, Sandip Jacques, and Sarpreet Singh Gill -- as ‘Commissioner-cum-Secretary’ to the government. The order, issued by the Department of Personnel on Friday, follows the promotion of the three officers to the L-14 Super Time Scale by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).  >> See pg 5 Girl dies of cardiac arrest in Guj school AHMEDABAD: An eightyear-old girl studying in Class 3 died of a suspected cardiac arrest in her school in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat on Friday, officials said.The incident occurred in Zebar School for Children located in Thaltej area in the morning, following which the police launched a probe to know the exact reason behind her death, they said. WEATHER >> Max: 29 C Min: 23 C Humidity: 71% @thegoanonline 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI The potential for fishing, especially deep Ocean fishing, is under-exploited vis-a-vis the exploitable marine resources available, according to Shailesh Nayak, a senior scientist who was delivering a public lecture on 'Blue Economy' at NIO's 60th Foundation Day celebrations on Friday. "Of the species-specific forecast of the potential for tuna, only 12% of it is harvested," said Nayak, who heads the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru and has also been interim chairman of ISRO in the past. To make fishing more efficient, Nayak said technology is now developed to identify areas that have high levels of the algal blooming phenomenon where the catch is doomed to be poor. "Satellite-based advisories depending upon availability of food (Chlorophyll) and environmental conditions and currents are dished out daily," Dr Nayak said, adding that these are disseminated to the fishing community in local languages and also through the internet and apps. India's potential yield estimates are 5.31 million tonnes and fishery accounts for only 3.8 million tonnes even as 91% of the fish stock is healthy and 87% is sustainable in India waters, he said. Meanwhile, Dr Nayak said harvesting freshwater from the sea could be the next big thing in India's blue economy with two low temperature desalination based plants in PANAJI MARGAO GOA The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) VOLUME X, NO. 204 SC stays `1 lakh cr GST notices to gaming firms COURT CITES MATTER WARRANTS IN-DEPTH HEARING, POSTS CASE FOR MARCH 18 KEY COURT OBSERVATION PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Friday stayed showcause notices issued by GST authorities worth over Rs 1 lakh crore to online gaming companies and casinos over alleged tax evasion. TAX EVASION A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the matters required hearing and all proceedings against the gaming companies should remain stayed in the meantime. Additional solicitor general N Venkataraman, representing the GST department, said some showcause notices would come to an end in February. The matter was posted on March 18. GST authorities in October 2023 issued showcause notices to online gaming companies for tax evasion. The government amended the GST law, making it mandatory for overseas online gaming companies to register in India from October 1, 2023 onward. In August, 2023, the GST council clarified 28 per cent GST would be levied on the full value of bets placed on online gaming platforms. Ocean fishing potential under-exploited, says scientist at NIO event THE GOAN I NETWORK Facebook.com/thegoan CAUSE FOR CONCERN „„Only 12% of India’s tuna harvest potential is currently being utilized, with significant room for growth „„India’s fishery potential yield is 5.31 million tonnes, but only 3.8 million tonnes are currently harvested, with 91% of fish stock being healthy and 87% sustainable „„Oceans play a key role in both global and Indian economies, with climate change threatening ecosystems and biodiversity, making scientific research essential Lakshwadeep in operation. Six more plants are under construction and these could be replicated along the coast, he said as costs are as low as 10 paise per litre. Dr Nayak also said that off-shore plants will now be experimented with a project report of a 10 MLD capacity plant already prepared. Harnessing ocean energy would be critical as the industrial world is increasingly on the lookout for 'clean energy' to replace the traditional fossil fuels, he said adding that off-shore wind energy farms is another area of potential. >Continued on P9 „„The Supreme Court observed that the showcause notices involve significant legal and financial implications, warranting an in-depth hearing PENDING LEGAL CHALLENGES „„Several online gaming companies have contested the GST demands, raising questions about the applicability and fairness of the 28% GST on the full value of bets „„Recent amendments mandating overseas online gaming companies to register in India and the revised GST structure require clarity on implementation and interpretation „„The Court likely deemed it prudent to pause proceedings to prevent undue hardship or disruption to the industry Gaming companies moved various high courts against such GST demands, contesting the claims of the revenue authorities. The top court last year allowed a petition of the Centre and transferred to itself pleas, challenging the imposition of 28 per cent GST on e-gaming firms, from nine high courts for an authoritative pronouncement. Many online gaming firms like Games 24x7, Head Digital Works, Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports had moved the top court challenging the GST imposition. The top court had stayed the Karnataka High Court verdict quashing the GST intimation notice to the tune of Rs 21,000 crore issued to an online gaming firm. Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Indian-origin MP Chandan Arya joins race for Canadian Prime Ministership PTI TORONTO Canada's Indian-origin MP Chandra Arya has announced that he is running to be the next prime minister, hours before his Liberal Party announced that their next leader will be chosen on March 9. The development comes days after Justin Trudeau announced to step down but said he will continue to be the prime minister till the next leader is chosen. Arya, the MP from Nepean, Ottawa, who was born in Karnataka, made the announcement on X on Thursday morning ahead of the Liberal Party's meeting later in the evening. “I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations,” he said in the post on X and added a long statement with it. Stating that Canada is 'facing significant structural problems' that haven't been seen for generations, Arya said, adding that solving them will require tough choices. “For the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make bold decisions that are absolutely necessary.” The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) highlighted that Arya wants to lead a small, more efficient government. Nearly 3 lakh yet to comply with e-KYC procedure for ration cards PANAJI: The ongoing e-KYC updating of ration card holding families in the government's pursuit in digitising the Public Distribution System (PDS) implemented through pre-desig- nate fair-price shops is still lagging in Goa and there are close to 3-lakh (30 per-cent) who are yet to comply. According to Civil Supplies director Jayant Tari the department has been proactive in ensuring e-KYC compliance by ration card holders and has managed to update the roster with over 70 per cent of the State's nearly 10-lakh ration cards. >> See pg 5