log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 221 Instagram.com/thegoanonline INDIA’S BATTING COLLAPSE HANDS ENGLAND CRUCIAL 26-RUN WIN >> 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 SAT VAGATOR BOOK YOUR TABLE 1ST FEB 90350 61127 8 PM ONWARDS Govt’s move to abruptly shift academic year sparks outrage STAKEHOLDERS CITE NEP DOES NOT MANDATE APRIL START; CONCERNS RAISED ABOUT LOGISTICS, SUMMER CLASSES, AND QUALITY FAMILY TIME DURING APRIL AND MAY THE GOAN I NETWORK >> pg 6 Sylvan: Promoting eco-tourism to explore Goa beyond beaches IN SHORT >> Foreigner dies at Agonda CANACONA: A 56-year-old national from U Trezorky in the Czech Republic died at a Guest House in Agonda. According to Canacona police, Richard Moucha, was residing alone in a guest house at Dessaiwada-Agonda, since mid-January.  >> See pg 3 Teacher booked for assaulting student MAPUSA: A teacher at a school has been booked by Mapusa police on charges of assaulting a student of Std 10, after the student insisted on drinking water. >> See pg 5 ar y Teachers’ association opposes move, to consult stakeholders Adv Carlos slams govt for haphazard changes to academic year >> See pg 3 on without planning or consultation with schools/ educators/ parents. Nothing is in place and the government expects that it will announce it at the last minute and everyone will dance to their tunes,” Ana nu PANAJI Parents, teachers and those connected with the education sector have expressed outrage at Goa government’s proposal to begin the academic year in April, breaking away from the usual tradition of having the schools begin in the first week of June, questioning the rationale behind the move and the manner in which it is being implemented. While the decision is yet to be formally announced or communicated, officials in the Education Department have confirmed that it is under active consideration. “The manner in which it is being rolled out, much like everything the government does, is very arbitrary and 2 8 t h Ja Clara Remedios, the chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association of St Britto’s High School, a prominent school in Mapusa. “Parents are opposed to the decision as April and May are the only months in which we PANAJI: Questioning the hurried implementation of changes in the academic calendar, the All Goa Secondary School Teachers Association will soon be consulting the stakeholders to decide future course of action, if government goes ahead with its decision notwithstanding to the objection. The Association, in a letter to Education Department has raised strong opposition to the proposed changes of commencing the academic year in April instead of June and extending school timings to 39 hours per week. Speaking to The Goan, President of the Association Savio Suraj Victoria said that the government decision is not part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, as the policy did not speak about changes in the academic calendar. Victoria questioned the hurried implementation of the changes without putting the required infrastructure in place. >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 Stray dogs maul foreigner at Mobor, safety concerns grow VICTIM SUSTAINS 15 BITES ACROSS HER BODY, FRACTURED ARM; MENACE TERMED AS ‘MAN-MADE SITUATION’ THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The picturesque Mobor-Cavelossim beach stretch is back in the news for the wrong reason. In yet another canine attack, a foreigner was attacked by five dogs on the Mobor beach stretch on Tuesday, once again bringing to the fore the safety and security of tourists and other visitors on the beach. The incident occurred when the lady foreigner was walking alone on the beach when she was attacked by five dogs. After the incident, the victim sent an SOS to her friend for help on her cell phone before the water sports operators and the hotel guard rushed to her rescue. Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz, who rushed to the site Photo of the injuries inflicted on the foreigner by the five dogs at Mobor-Cavelossim beach. along with local panch member Jesus spoke to the guest who complained that it’s not safe to walk on the beach anymore with too many dogs on the prowl and it’s scary to go out alone. The guest was rushed to the hospital as she received around 15 dog bites all over her body. Her arm was also fractured in the incident. “The guest was attacked by five dogs and she had no option but run into the water. Still the dogs kept biting her, before the guest fell in the water,” Dixon said. Saying this incident of dog bites is a serious issue with no one paying much attention to the burning issue, the Sarpanch termed it as a manmade situation. “We have never seen such a situation before. There are packs of dogs all over Goa on the prowl on the streets and beaches. No one is there to take care of the >Continued on P9 Sal and Terekhol estuaries polluted with microplastic, poses risks: Study SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI I ncreasing human activities like fishing, discharge of raw sewage and disposal of plastic waste has turned Sal and Terekhol river estuaries highly contaminated with microplastic (MP) thus posing possible human and ecological risk. A study by Goa University, underscores a need for immediate attention to this environmental issue. A comprehensive study of MP under “Comparative assessment of microplastic pollution in Terekhol and Sal estuaries, Goa, India” by Niyati Kalangutkar, Shritesh Mhapsekar and Parvathy Rajagopal, reveals concerning levels of MP abundance in both the estuaries. “Overall, while both estuaries face challenges related G O A U N I V E R SI T Y ST U DY… „„Sal and Terekhol river estuaries are highly contaminated with microplastics due to human activities „„Microplastic abundance is higher in Sal estuary (0.30 particles/L) than Terekhol estuary (0.25 particles/L) to MP pollution, the situation in Sal estuary is exacerbated by more significant anthropogenic pressures, such as the presence of the fishing jetty, untreated sewage discharge, and contaminated tributaries, leading to its slightly higher prevalence of MPs. The Terekhol estuary, although not im- „„Major sources of MP pollution include fishing, sewage discharge, plastic waste, and everyday plastic products „„Polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyamide are the dominant polymers found in both estuaries RECOMMENDATIONS „„Researchers recommend continuous monitoring, reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management, and enhancing public awareness to mitigate MP pollution „„Eco-toxicological assessments are needed to evaluate the impact of MP-bound metals and polymers on local aquatic fauna mune to these issues, appears to be less severely impacted, with its MP sources being somewhat less intense or widespread,” the study stated. According to the Varsity, both estuaries are characterised by a predominance of MPs within the 5–1 mm size range, with white MPs being the most prevalent in colour. The MPs study revealed that both estuaries are polluted with MPs at all studied locations. The abundance of MPs in Terekhol estuary ranged from 0.01 to 0.85 particles/L, with >Continued on P9 Two days after award, SP Sunita shunted out via wireless message   Suspense over urgency of transfer   Sunita had asked officers to compile a list of prominent Bajrang Dal leaders   was she victim of IPS vs GPS tussle? Or, THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO During the weekend, South district police chief, SP Sunita Sawant received a pat on her back when Governor P S Sreedharan PIllai bestowed on her a special Recognition Award for accurate planning, static surveillance teams and flying squads and playing the key role in ensuring peaceful elections for the Lok Sabha Election 2024. Hardly two days later, SP Sawant received a late night wireless message from the police control room on Monday to relinquish her charge of South Goa Superintendent of Police with immediate effect and report to the Police headquarters. Sunita Sawant has relinquished the charge of SP, South, but the transfer of the Goa Police Service officer has left a host of questions unan- File photo: South Goa SP Sunita Sawant receiving special Recognition Award from Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai for accurate planning resulting in the peaceful elections during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. swered, over the reasons behind the government decision to shunt her from South Goa as the district police chief to the police headquarters – is it because of the IPS versus GPS tussle for posting or is it because SP Sawant had sent a message to the police officers in South district to compile of list of prominent leaders of the Hindu right wing organi- sation Bajrang Dal and submit the same to her office within a day or two? Indeed, the sudden shunting out of Sunita Sawant is a talking point in the corridors of the South Goa district police headquarters and outside given that her transfer is not a regular transfer order, but >Continued on P9