log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY JANUARY 28, 2025 REQUIRED DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER at Panaji Office  Minimum 1 year work experience  Knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop, Corel Draw Mail CV to: editor@thegoan.net Down with haemophilia & osteoarthritis, this Goa University employee fights on IN SHORT >> State achieves afforestation target PANAJI: As against the set target of 200 hectares by the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Authority (CAMPA), the State forest department has managed to carry out compensatory afforestation (CA) covering total 217 ha for the current financial year 2024-25. >> See pg 5 Strategy to combat drunken driving PANAJI: With cases of drunken driving refusing to decline significantly and contributing to accidents, the Goa police convened a high-level meeting on Monday to devise a multi-pronged strategy to curb accidents and fatalities caused by intoxicated drivers.  >> See pg 2 Dr Dhuri appointed Registrar of GU PANAJI: Vice Dean of the school of chemical sciences at Goa University, Dr Sundar Dhuri has been appointed as University’s new registrar. The post fell vacant after earlier registrar VS Nadkarni, in a letter to Chancellor Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai, requested to relieve him of the post on personal ground. Uttarakhand 1st State to implement UCC NEW DELHI: Uttarakhand on Monday became the first State in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code with the ruling BJP fulfilling a major commitment made ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls. TIDES Low: High: 04:23 16:02 09:07 23:15 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 220 Instagram.com/thegoanonline ON PAGE 3 Board sets February 20 deadline for APAAR ID Over 18,000 students to answer HSSC examination Teachers will have inadequate time for preparation, claims Association PANAJI: Starting the academic year in April will leave teachers with inadequate time to complete essential post-academic tasks, such as grading examination papers, finalizing and declaring results, preparing timetables, annual plans etc, All Goa Secondary School Teachers Association has said. "This rushed transition will compromise the quality of academic and co-curricular sessions," it said. AGSSTA also said both students and teachers are accustomed to the traditional June start, aligned with Goa's climatic and cultural conditions and “a sudden change will disrupt their mental and physical readiness, leading to unnecessary stress and confusion”. sidering the summer weather. Highly placed sources confirmed that from the next academic year, the term will commence from April, with month-long summer holiday in May. "The final Academic calendar will be out shortly," sourc- es said. The new adjustment will align the State board schools with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) calendar, where the academic year commences on April 1 Lawlessness exposes dark side of beaches in State SAFETY CONCERNS RISE AS LOCALS, TOURISTS BEAR BRUNT MAPUSA Goa's beaches, renowned for their natural beauty and tourist appeal, have become increasingly mired in controversies stemming from rampant illegal activities. From unauthorized shack operations to fatal altercations, the lack of effective enforcement has turned these scenic shores into hotspots for disputes and tragedies. The recent murder of 28-year-old Amar Bandekar, an Arambol resident, underscores the grim reality of lawlessness along the beach belt. Bandekar lost his life during an altercation with shack workers after moving chairs that were obstructing his evening walk. The incident spiraled into violence, leaving Bandekar unconscious, and he later succumbed to his injuries. This tragedy is not an isolated event. Just weeks earlier, a tourist in Calangute was killed fol- Tourism Dept plans increased police patrols on beaches, checks on shacks PANAJI: Amid reiterating concerns on the assaults involving shack workers, the Tourism Department has now sought to increase police presence on the beaches including regular checks of shacks. “We are taking immediate steps to enhance security measures across all beaches in Goa. This includes increasing the presence of law enforcement personnel and conducting regular inspections of beach shacks to ensure compliance with regulations,” an official said, speaking to The Goan.   >> See pg 3 ON PAGE 3 Oppn slams govt over violence on beaches, overall crimes Arambol murder: Himachal native held lowing a disagreement with shack workers, while another tourist was assaulted in a similar altercation. Adding to the grim tally, a tourist drowned in a capsized boat off Calangute, and a paragliding mis- PANAJI: Announcing that the Class IX second semester examination will commence from March 21, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has made it mandatory for schools to have CCTV cameras installed in the examination centres or classrooms. The Board had also directed schools without CCTV provision to install the systems before the examination is conducted. “It is mandatory for the head of institution to conduct the examination in the hall where CCTV is installed and operational. If CCTV is not installed and operational, measures may be taken to install and make it operational before the conduct of the examination,” the Board said in the circular issued to all the schools. After the implementation of the NEP 2020 in Class IX for the first time this academic year, the year is divided into two semesters, and Goa Board frames the questions for both semester exams for Class IX. The first semester exams were held in October. >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 FROM ILLEGALITIES TO TRAGEDIES… THE GOAN I NETWORK Goa Board mandates CCTVs in classrooms for Std 9 exams hap – reportedly conducted without proper permissions –claimed two more lives. Weak enforcement The underlying cause of these incidents lies in the unchecked illegalities flourishing along Goa’s beaches. Key issues include: 1. Unauthorized Placement of Beach Furniture: Shack operators are permitted to place beach beds, tables, and chairs only within 15 meters of their shacks, as per >Continued on P8 Govt announces special train to Kumbh mela THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government on Monday announced that it will operate a special train for devotees from the State traveling to the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj. The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the schedule and booking details would be announced within this week. “There are many who want to visit but due to high air and rail prices are unable to travel,” he said. Sawant said devotees planning to visit Mahakumbh would be able to travel on a subsidized ticket. It has also been learnt that Sawant and his Cabinet colleagues are expected to take a holy dip at Triveni Sangam. According to the UP govt release, the Mahakumbh event, showcasing a spiritual fervour, has already seen more than 102 mn devotees take the snan at the holy Sangam. This grand congregation continues to surpass expectations with a projected footfall of over 45 crore visitors. Among the attendees were devotees from Russia and Ukraine, and other parts of the world. US freezes all foreign aid, reviews global priorities PTI WASHINGTON he United States has announced the suspension of all foreign aid and ordered the review of American financial assistance to other countries, to ensure they are efficient and consistent with its foreign policy under the America First agenda. The move comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in this regard. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce Sunday said, “President Trump stated clearly that the United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no re- T Jasprit Bumrah wins ICC men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award ■ SCHOLASTIC YEAR FROM APRIL TO MARCH ■ CLASSES IN APRIL TILL 11.30 AM, REGULAR HOURS FROM JUNE ■ SUMMER HOLIDAYS IN MAY PANAJI In all likelihood, the upcoming Academic Year 2025-26, is likely to commence from April as against the traditional month of June. The Academic term will be from April to March instead of June to March. Also, in the first phase, the government intends to implement the calendar change for secondary and higher secondary schools, with classes for the new academic year to be conducted from April 1 onwards, only till 11.30am, con- Modi, Trump discuss Indo-US ties NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Monday held a phone conversation focusing on continuing the upward trajectory of India-US ties. Following the phone talks, Modi said both sides are committed to mutually beneficial and trusted partnership. “Delighted to speak with my dear friend President @realDonaldTrump @ POTUS. Congratulated him on his historic second term,” the prime minister said on ‘’X’’ turn for the American people. Reviewing and realigning foreign assistance on behalf of hardworking taxpayers is not just the right thing to do, it is a moral imperative.” She said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has paused all US for- eign assistance funded by or through the State Department and US Agency for International Development (USAID) for review. “He is initiating a review of all foreign assistance programmes to ensure they are efficient and consistent with US foreign policy under the America First agenda,” Bruce said. She added that the secretary is proud to protect America''s investment with a deliberate and judicious review of how to spend foreign assistance dollars overseas. “The mandate from the American people was clear -- we must refocus on American national interests. The Department and USAID take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously,” State Department spokesperson said. The implementation of Trump's Executive Order in this regard and the secretary's direction furthers PG14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 New academic year all set to begin in April, not June THE GOAN I NETWORK >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoan that mission, she added. Bruce reminded reporters that Rubio has said, “Every dollar we spend, every programme we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions: Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?” In 2023, USAID distributed nearly USD45 billion in foreign aid to 158 countries. This included USD400 million to Bangladesh, USD231 million to Pakistan, USD1 billion to Afghanistan, USD175 million to India, USD118 million to Nepal, and USD123 million to Sri Lanka. TILLARI CANAL BREACH Bardez left without water for 3 days, Mapusa badly hit THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Nearly 72 hours after the Tillari canal breached on its Maharashtra stretch, water supply remains disrupted in several parts of Bardez, with Mapusa bearing the brunt of the crisis. Many areas have gone without water for three consecutive days, leaving residents struggling to meet their daily needs. The water supply from the PWD pipeline has come to a complete halt, forcing people in Mapusa and nearby areas to depend on water tankers, which have seen a surge in demand. Building colonies and households have been heavily reliant on tankers, with some residents resorting to purchasing large bottles of packaged drinking water to tide over the shortage. “Things have gone horribly wrong after the breach in the Tillari canal. Many areas in Water supply from the PWD pipeline has come to a complete halt, forcing people in Mapusa and nearby areas to depend on water tankers, which have seen a surge in demand Mapusa have not received water for almost three days. We are trying our best to attend to our people,” said Mapusa Chairperson Nutan Bicholkar. The crisis has also affected parts of Siolim and Porvorim, where residents have voiced frustration over the PWD’s failure to make alternative arrangements. “Every time there is a breach, the people of Mapusa suffer. Why hasn’t the government found a permanent solution, such as sourcing water from other areas during such emergencies? Either the engineers are incompetent, or the government lacks vision,” >Continued on P8 Oly Assoc returns funds, says inadequate THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Olympic Association has returned the sanctioned amount to the State government, expressing complete displeasure with the finan- cial assistance offered for Goan athletes' participation in the upcoming 38th National Games in Uttarakhand. The Association has demanded an enhanced budget. A press statement issued by the Association said they took the step after a detailed review of the financial support approved by the Sports Authority of Goa, which falls short of the requirements and benchmarks set in previous editions of the National Games held in Goa and Gujarat. >> See pg 5