log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 216 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Politicos spar over ‘Bandodkar’ CM SLAMS VIJAI’S COMMENTS; VENZY DEFENDS HIS REMARKS; SUDIN SAYS NO CM CAN BE COMPARED TO BHAUSAHEB; CONG CALLS FOR OPPN UNITY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A row erupted afresh on Wednesday over the Opinion Poll Day remarks of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, Venzy Viegas during an event likening Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s trait to support development of schools in Opposition represented constituencies to what Goa’s first chief minister Dayanand Bandodkar did by building schools in Salcete despite it rejecting his ‘merger’ proposition. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant lashed out at Fatorda MLA, Vijai Sardesai who on Tuesday had described Bhausaheb Bandodkar as being opposed to the distinct identity of Goa while criticising Viegas’ comparison of the two. Sawant took to social media to condemn Sardesai’s claim as a gross insult to Bandodkar, the first Chief Minister of Goa. “I unequivocally condemn this anti-Bhausaheb and an- >> See PG 3 No sign yet of 1.4-km Rua de Ourem smart road, plan likely to be aborted IN SHORT >> Sawant presses for increased share of central taxes PANAJI: Ahead of the Union Budget, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman pressing for State’s demand for increased share of devolution of central taxes for fostering State’s development and progress. >> See pg 3 DDSSY cards kept open for renewal PANAJI: The State government’s flagship health insurance scheme -- Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) has now been kept open for renewal of the cards throughout the policy year.  >> See pg 3 SHARP REACTIONS The only similarity between Bandodkar and Sawant is their allergy to Goa’s identity (asmitai), which is evident from the government’s failure to celebrate Opinion Poll Day despite assurance in the Assembly. The comparison of Sawant’s work in Opposition represented constituencies to the schools established by Bandodkar in Salcete is superficial,” — Vijai Sardesai, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai just speaks and his criticism of the government is only lip-service. In reality, he is in league with the government, getting his personal land converted. Sardesai forgot Goa’s ‘asmitai’ for power when he took a U-turn to install a BJP government in 2017,” — Venzy Viegas, AAP MLA ti-Goa rhetoric in its entirety. Such remark is disrespect to the very spirit of Goa,” Sawant wrote on his ‘X’ account. “Bhausaheb was a towering figure who tirelessly champi- oned Goa’s identity and development. The real problem lies with Vijai Sardesai and his inflated ego which fuels his delusion that individuals like him are somehow more Goan CM’s comments against me ploy to divert attention: Vijai Venzy blames Fatorda MLA for shutdown of govt schools MARGAO: Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on Wednesday hit back at Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai over the closure of government primary schools in the State, saying the government schools would not have been shut down had he not supported the BJP government in 2017.  >> See pg 2 Unchecked violations: Anjuna’s coastal regulations under siege Unauthorised constructions emerge along coast, including properties seized by ED Welcome to the Republic of Anjuna, where power and pelf seem to trump regulations, unauthorised constructions and blatant law violations are becoming alarmingly common. The coastal village, famed for its beaches and vibrant nightlife, is now at the centre of a controversy that highlights the brazen disregard for the High Tide Line (HTL) and environmental laws. Take, for example, a massive steel structure rapidly taking shape near the seashore. This commercial construction, reportedly located at survey number 225/3 in Anjuna, flouts regulations prohibiting development in such ecologically sensitive zones. Ironically, the property in question is one of 19 in Anjuna and Assagao that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) >Continued on P8 Goa’s tableau to showcase Indian heritage at R-Day parade in Delhi THE GOAN I NETWORK appears to have been sold recently to a third party, a powerful club owner,” a local resident disclosed. This tactic, the resident explained, is a common modus operandi for evading accountability. By transferring ownership, those involved in illegal construction aim to escape the authorities’ scrutiny. An ED official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed their awareness of the ongoing activity. >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 The massive commercial structure taking shape near the seashore is situated on property provisionally attached by the Enforcement Directorate.  Agnelo Pereira provisionally attached last year. The ED’s attachment notice, published in a local daily, listed the properties under scrutiny, yet the construction frenzy continues. Currently, a flurry of activity is observed at the site, with workers bustling around to erect the contentious structure. Previously, an unauthorised resort operated there, which was later demolished under legal orders. “The current construction allergy to Goa’s identity (asmitai) which he said was evident from the government’s failure to celebrate Opinion Poll Day despite assurance in PANAJI Goa is set to make a splash and a statement at the Republic Day parade on Karthavya Path in the national capital with its tableau “Swarnim Bharat, Virasat aur Vikas,” (Golden India, Heritage, and Development) depicting the State’s culture, traditions, and progress. The tableau is designed and executed by a team led by renowned artists Sushant Khedekar and Purnanand Paidarkar. Nearly 30 artisans, fabricators, carpenters and fibre work specialists are part of the team which had been camping in chilly Delhi to ready the tableau since December 26. Kaavi artist Sagar Naik Mule has added a unique touch to the tableau with his wizardry in Goa’s traditional red-soil artwork. Sonam Ghate managed the logistics. Additionally, while the tableau rolls during the parade, a troupe of artistes led AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA Industrial fires: Lessons unlearnt from the past? Verna fire again exposes gaps in disaster response system; questions on preparedness resurface THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO: Goa Forward chief Vijai Sardesai on Wednesday said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s criticism of him is nothing but yet another tactic to deflect public attention from the issue of the government ignoring the commemoration of “Asmitai Dis” or the Opinion Poll Day.  >> See pg 2 than others,” Sawant added in his post. On Tuesday, Sardesai had criticised Viegas’ remarks and had gone on to say that the only similarity between Bandodkar and Sawant was their Abhishek Sharma leads India’s demolition of England  Pg 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 PANAJI The fire which gutted 33 cars at the Verna Industrial Estate on Tuesday has once again brought the focus back on Goa’s laggard disaster response and management apparatus and prompts the question: has the administration unlearnt the lessons of the Berger Becker Coatings Pvt Ltd factory fire at the Pilerne industrial estate two years ago? From the experience at Verna on Tuesday, clearly, the State administration has done little or nothing between the time disaster hit Pilerne and now to advance industrial safety and secure the several industrial estates managed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation. A top official in the Fire and Emergency Services department admitted that responding to disasters and emergen- NO PROGRESS IN SAFETY PROTOCOLS „„Verna disaster echoes the 2021 fire at the Berger Becker Coatings Pvt Ltd factory in Pilerne, highlighting that lessons from the past have not been implemented effectively „„A senior fire official stresses the importance of multidisciplinary teams at major industrial estates „„Fire services in both Verna and Pilerne relied on equipment and personnel from multiple locations, highlighting poor local preparedness IDC INITIATES PROBE INTO VERNA FIRE INCIDENT >> See pg 2 cies at industrial estates need to be taken more seriously and tackled with a different strategy as other domestic fires and emergencies are approached. “Each industrial estate, at least the major ones where hundreds of units have operations mostly on two and threeshifts, will require an in-house response team which is multi- disciplinary and includes firemen, skilled industrial safety hands among others,” the fire officer said. The incident at Pilerne two years ago had fire service personnel using fire tenders and equipment brought in from fire stations across the State – Porvorim, Panaji, Mapusa, Ponda, Bicholim, Margao, Curchorem and two more from the nearby Naval station at Verem. The scene wasn’t much different on Tuesday at Verna >Continued on P8 Govt submits revised plan to exclude 21 villages from ESA Highlights community dependence on local resources in these villages THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday met Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Bhupender Yadav with a revised proposal seeking removal of 21 villages from the Western Ghat Eco-Sensitive Area (ESA). The MoEF&CC through a communication last month had directed the State to submit a revised proposal with full rationale, supporting data and maps; details of any relaxation sought in the prohibited categories for specific areas and very specific purposes including the traditional use of materials by local communities for exclusion of villages. Following the meeting, Sawant took on X to inform that he had discussion with the Union Minister on the villages proposed to be dropped from ESA notification. Goa seeks Centre’s assistance to finalise CZMP 2019 as another deadline looms PANAJI: As the January 31 deadline fast approaches, the State government has approached MoEF&CC to issue necessary directions to the Thiruvananthapuram-based National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS) to finalise the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019. The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met Union Minister Bhupender Yadav requesting for early finalisation of CZMP 2019. After facing wrath from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for missing out several deadlines, the State had assured the green bench to complete the plan by January 2025. State has already missed out the October 31, 2023 deadline set by NCZMA. State had later sought time till May 31, 2024 to complete the plan however, it failed to meet that too. There has been a delay of almost five years since the CRZ notification 2019 was notified – the Rules and Regulations of which are currently not applicable to Goa in the absence of the plan. Sources informed that the State has placed on record a revised proposal demanding that 87 villages be categorised as ESA since they meet the criteria set out by the Ministry. The 21 villages proposed for dropping include 12 from Sattari, five from Dharbandora, three from Sanguem and one >Continued on P8 Families in US weighing risk 19 years on, only 8% of forest rights claims settled THE DATA: CAUSE FOR CONCERN of sending kids to school THE GOAN I NETWORK Educators reassure parents on school safety PTI SAN FRANCISCO As President Donald Trump cracks down on immigrants in the US illegally, some families are wondering if it is safe to send their children to school. CRACKDOWN ON IMMIGRANTS In many districts, educators have sought to reassure immigrant parents that schools are safe places for their kids, despite the president’s campaign pledge to carry out mass deportations. THE STATS „„An estimated 733,000 school-aged children are in the US illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute „„Many more have US citizenship but have parents who are in the country illegally But fears intensified for some when the Trump administration announced on Tuesday it would allow federal immigration agencies to make arrests at schools, churches and hospitals, ending a decades-old policy. An estimated 733,000 school-aged children are in the US illegally, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Many more have US citizenship but have parents who are in the country illegally. Oh, dear God! I can’t imagine why they would do that, said Carmen, an immigrant from Mexico, after hearing that the Trump administration had rescinded the policy against arrests in sensitive locations. >Continued on P8 PANAJI lose to two-decades since the implementation of the Forest Rights Act 2006, the Goa government has managed to issue sanads or land titles to only 8 per cent of the claimants from the total 10,136 claims made so far by the Scheduled Tribes (ST) and other traditional forest dwellers. The State has also missed the March 31, 2024 deadline set before the Supreme Court, who is monitoring the matter nationwide. The ‘Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act’ in Goa came into force in 2006 and thereafter the State commenced accepting claims for grant of land C „„As of December 2024, only 875 claimants have received ownership documents „„Of the total 10,136 claims, 9,757 are individual claims and 379 community claims „„The government-appointed FRC has conducted spot verification of 6,997 claims „„Gram sabhas have approved 4,760 claims, while the sub-divisional level committee has cleared 2,629 claims titles to the backward community. According to sources, as of December 2024, only 875 such claimants have received ownership documents. Sources informed that under the Forest Rights Act 10,136 claims filed by the tribals and other traditional forest dwellers have been pending for a long time and that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has taken initiative to speed up the disposal process. Of these, 9,757 pertain to individuals, while 379 are community claims. So far, the government appointed forest rights committee (FRC) has conducted spot verification of 6,997 claims. While gram sabhas have approved 4,760 claims, the sub-division level committee has cleared 2,629 claims, which were forwarded to the district-level committee, sources said, explaining the process. The district-level committee cleared 1,741 claims. “After following the process under the Forest Rights Act, 875 tribals and other traditional forest dwellers have been issued “sanads” as on December 2024,” sources said. Sources said that the lack of co-operation from the claimants and non-submission of required documents has delayed the entire process. Also, the forest dwellers skip the spot verification process or gram sabhas, which is mandatory for them to attend. As per the provisions of the act, when a forest-dweller files a claim for the land title, it passes through three levels of checks – the gram sabha, the sub-divisional level committee (SDLC) and the district-level committee (DLC). Once the claim is received, FRC does an on-ground verification along with the forest department officials and claimants. The gram sabhas have to initiate the process for determining the nature and extent of individual or community forest rights or both that may be given to the forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers within the local limits of its jurisdiction under the Act by receiving claims, consolidating and verifying them then pass a resolution to that effect and thereafter forward a copy of the same to the Sub-Divisional Level Committee.