log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan GOA THURSDAY JANUARY 16, 2025 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 209 Instagram.com/thegoanonline ODI: MANDHANA AND RAWAL’S TONS FIRE INDIA TO RECORD WIN >> 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 BROPHY’S LAW SAT. 18TH JAN 8 PM ONWARDS Poriem temple festival turns violent; rival groups clash over ritual rights 25 DEVOTEES, 15 POLICEMEN INJURED; 38 PERSONS BOOKED; DY COLLECTOR ASKED TO INITIATE ACTION AGAINST 12 FOR VIOLATING BOND CONDITIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI Around 40 persons, including 15 police personnel, were injured when clashes broke out among different groups during the traditional Kalotsav celebration of Bhumika Temple in Poriem-Sattari on Wednesday morning. Police have registered offences against 38 persons so far and more persons are likely to be booked in the incident. Valpoi police have also written to Sattari Deputy Collector to initiate action against 12 persons who have violated bond conditions by indulging in violence on Wednesday. Since the last three months, there have been disputes between two rival Maha- >> See PG 3 Decade-old plan for new police stations in Salcete stuck in limbo IN SHORT >> Bhatlem road shut for Smart City work PANAJI: In more trouble for commuters in the capital city, the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has issued an advisory that yet another stretch of road at Bhatlem from the Ram Mandir and Masjid to the SFX Chapel at Portais will be shut for vehicle movement.  >> See pg 3 Odisha man held with ganja worth `1L MAPUSA: In a successful narcotics operation, the Mapusa Police arrested 22-year-old Rudra Narayan Jena, a resident of Odisha for possession of 1.2 kg of ganja worth Rs 1 lakh. >> See pg 5 Situation under control: MLA A police team attempts to restore order at the Bhumika temple at Poriem-Sattari. jan groups – Majik and the Rane-Gaonkar – over rights to conduct rituals at the temple. The traditional Kalotsav was being celebrated on January 15 and 16, but the Rane-Gaonkar Mahajan group had objected to this celebration and had requested the Sattari Sub Divisional Magistrate not to permit the celebra- tion of the festival. The SDM had held a hearing and had listened to the views of the Rane-Gaonkar Mahajan groups, but had not taken a decision in the matter. CLASHES AT FESTIVAL On Wednesday, the Kalotsav festival began at the Bhumika Temple and when dev- otees of the Rane-Gaonkar Mahajan groups entered the temple for darshan, they were stopped by the police from entering in large groups fearing a law and order problem. This led to an argument between the devotees and a large police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Jivba Dalvi. Goa’s vehicle scrapping facility at Madkai yet to pick up pace ONLY 35 PVT VEHICLES SCRAPPED SO FAR; CALLS FOR INCENTIVES, STREAMLINED PROCESS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Close to two months since the much-touted Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility's (RVSF) commissioning, it is yet to rev its engines. While the Goa Waste Management Corporation has auctioned 34 overaged stateowned vehicles, not a single one has made its way to the RVSF at Madkai IDC. Out of over 600 State-owned vehicles exceeding the 15-year mark, 34 were put up for tender with the winning bidders from Nagpur and Goa. Mangal Iron Pvt LtdMIRAAI RECYCLING, Goa’s only RVSF unit, has urged the government to increase incentives for private owners, who currently get 25 per cent of the road tax deduction or 50 per cent of the vehicle’s scrap value, whichever is lower. “These incentives are inad- I N T H E SLOW L A N E „„The GWMC auctioned 34 overaged State-owned vehicles, but none have been scrapped at the RVSF „„Out of 600 plus government vehicles over 15 years old, only 34 were tendered „„Only 35 private vehicles have been scrapped since the facility’s commissioning, despite its capacity to handle 2,500 vehicles monthly „„Current incentives for private owners include a 25% road tax deduction or 50% of the vehicle’s scrap value, whichever is lower „„The RVSF operator recommends increasing incentives to attract more private owners „„Increased public awareness about RVSF benefits and incentives is crucial for its success equate to attract private owners,” the company representative said, speaking to The Goan. “We have recommended raising them to encourage participation. A key advantage of scrapping vehicles at our facility is the Certificate of Deposit (COD), which helps owners benefit from new vehi- cle purchases.” Since the facility’s commissioning at Madkai IDC on November 25, 2024, only 35 private vehicles have been scrapped. The facility is authorised to handle 2,500 vehicles monthly/ 30,000 vehicles >Continued on P5 Stray dog attacks on beaches trigger concerns of tourist safety yet again THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA he stray dog menace on Goa's beaches, highlighted by recent attacks on tourists along the Cavelossim beach belt, underscores a systemic failure in managing a problem that threatens the State's reputation and economy. The State’s identity as a tourist haven is at risk if such incidents persist, eroding the confidence of domestic and international visitors. The issue is multifaceted, involving gaps in coordination, insufficient infrastructure and a lack of coherent strategy among local authorities – the Tourism Department, animal welfare and panchayats. T W H AT T H E P ’ YATS SAY… We cannot do much beyond vaccinations. If the government provides land, we are willing to construct a shelter for the strays,” — Laxmidas Chimulkar, Anjuna sarpanch The panchayat runs a shelter and provides food for the strays, but we need more public support to sustain these efforts. While Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira emphasized that the management of stray dogs on beaches falls under the jurisdiction of the Tourism Department, he claimed the Donations from the public would go a long way,” — Dixon Vaz, Cavelossim sarpanch We take adequate steps to tackle the stray dog menace in the village. However, the Tourism Department says the beach area is their responsibility,” — Joseph Sequeira, Calangute sarpanch panchayat is proactive in managing the stray population within the village limits. “We take adequate steps to tackle the stray dog menace in the village. However, the Need cooperation from p’yats, public, says Minister MAPUSA: Minister for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Nilkant Halarnkar has called for cooperation from panchayats and the public to address the growing problem of stray dog attacks on Goa’s beaches.   >> See pg 3 Tourism Department says the beach area is their responsibility. It is their duty to manage these strays,” said Sequeira. >Continued on P5 VALPOI: Poriem MLA Deviya Rane has said the situation at the Bhumika Temple in Poriem-Sattari had been brought under control. “Traditional festivals are being celebrated and no one has the right to take law into their own hands. Differences and disputes arising from the rights of the Mahajan groups are being considered in a legal manner. Rights will be restored according to the law,” Rane told reporters. “However, no one has the right to take law into their own hands. The police have said that they will definitely investigate this matter.” A large number of devotees from the Rane-Gaonkar Mahajan groups then staged a protest in the temple premises, demanding that they be given rights in the temple. Clashes suddenly broke out when stones were pelted on members of the Rane-Gaonkar Mahajan group who were protesting in the temple. Stones were also hurled at the police >Continued on P5 VAGATOR BOOK YOUR TABLE 90350 61127 High Court stays Porvorim banyan tree translocation Seeks methodology by Jan 20 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday ordered a stay on the translocation of the banyan tree at Vodakkodem, Porvorim until the next hearing scheduled for January 21. The Hyderabad-based firm Doctor Trees India Pvt Ltd, had submitted a proposal detailing the method to be used for translocating the tree. However, the petitioner had rejected the proposal, citing concerns over its previous haphazard execution along the same stretch where the elevated corridor works are underway. The High Court has thus directed the agency to submit a detailed affidavit on the methodology for translocating trees by January 20 and fixed the next hearing for January 21. As part of the project, the PWD had recently informed the Court that five out of six trees identified for translocation had already been relocated. The department also confirmed the identification of a suitable site, located 300 metres away in Socorro, for translocating the banyan tree. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, activist Avertino Miranda slammed the manner in which the five age-old trees including two banyan trees were translocated. He alleged that one of these trees had been infested by mites and also claimed that authorities overlooked crucial guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), particularly the mandatory threemonth pre-treatment period for the trees.