log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 224 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Eco Survey warns against work weeks of 60+ hours SAYS LONG HOURS AT DESK DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH ECONOMIC SURVEY: KEY HIGHLIGHTS PTI NEW DELHI Amid a debate over 70-90hour work week, the preBudget Economic Survey on Friday cited studies to state that spending over 60 hours a week on work could have adverse health effects. The survey noted that spending long hours at one’s desk is detrimental to mental well-being and individuals who spend 12 or more hours (per day) at a desk have distressed or struggling levels of mental well-being. “While the hours spent at work are informally considered a measure of productivity, a previous study has documented adverse health effects when hours exceed 55-60 per week,” the survey said, citing findings by Pega F, Nafradi B (2021) and ‘’A systematic analysis from the WHO/ILO Joint Estimates of the Work-related page 6 Goan youth stage first ever Tiatr in the UK 102-year-old Goan reflects on journey from Pakistan to Canada IN SHORT >> Tech glitch defers e-auction of ore PANAJI: Following technical glitch, the Directorate of Mines and Geology (DMG) has postponed the ongoing e-auction of iron ore dumps which was slated to commence from January 30 onwards. As many as 125 bids have been received for 18 iron ore dumps accounting to 5.2 million metric tonnes.   >> See pg 3 10 drug-related cases in a month PANAJI: North Goa recorded at least one drug-related case registered every three days with the district police registering 10 NDPS cases in January, involving different types of narcotics worth Rs 13.69 lakh approx.  > See pg 3 > „„Economy to grow at 6.36.8 pc in FY26, against 6.4 pc in FY25 „„Navigating global headwinds will require strategic, prudent policy „„Investment activity expected to pick up „„India needs to improve global competitiveness through reforms „„Ease of Doing Business 2.0 should be State initiative „„India should redouble efforts to boost exports, attract investment „„India needs a continued step-up of infrastructure investment „„Research to increase pulses, oilseeds, tomato, onion production needed „„Investments need to grow at 35 pc, up from 31 pc, to achieve required growth „„Focus of reforms, economic policy must now be on systematic deregulation „„Need invest in emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, and biotechnology Burden of Disease and Injury’’. Citing data from a study done by the Sapien Labs Centre for Human Brain and Mind, the economic survey, said, “Spending long hours at one’s desk is equally detrimental to mental well-being. Individuals who spend 12 or more hours at a desk have distressed/struggling levels of mental well-being, with a mental well-being score approximately 100 points lower than those who spend less than or equal to two hours at a desk.” Citing the study, the survey said better lifestyle choices, workplace cultures and family relationships are associated with 2-3 fewer days lost per month at work. Having poor relationships with managers and low (worst) pride and purpose at work are associated with the largest increases in the number of days one is unable to work, it said. The survey, however, pointed out that multiple factors affect productivity stating that even in jobs with the best managerial relationships, Alarm bells at Dabolim after major fuel pipeline damaged TRAGEDY AVERTED AS NO FUEL WAS BEING PUMPED THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO In a potentially life-threatening incident, a major fuel pipeline connecting the port to the Zuari IAV Private Limited tanking facility was damaged during excavation work carried out by an National Highway Authority of India contractor at Dabolim Junction on Friday afternoon. Emergency services were immediately deployed, with fire brigade units and ambulances stationed at the site. The Vasco police and traffic police immidiately rushed to the scene, swiftly diverting traffic on the busy four-lane highway, leading to heavy congestion. Shriprasad Nayak, Terminal Manager of Zuari IAV Private Limited, confirmed that immediate action was taken and that, a major disaster was averted. "The pipeline is crucial as it supplies fuel from ships at the port to our depot and from there to petrol pumps across ON PAGE 3 No fuel crisis in State, assures Zuari IAV Private Limited Situation under control, traffic diverted: Officials the State. Fortunately, a major disaster was averted as no fuel was being pumped at the time. The idle pipeline was filled with air, and when the contractor's breaker damaged it, the air was released, alerting us to the exact location of the damage," Nayak said. He emphasised the risks involved when excavation occurs near the fuel pipeline, particularly during active fuel pumping. "Had this happened during fuel transfer, it could have led to a catastrophe. That’s why we strictly halt excavation work during pumping opera- tions. We have repeatedly informed the contractor about the presence of our fuel pipeline, yet such incidents continue to occur," Nayak added. According to Nayak, past attempts to stop excavation work near the pipeline had required police intervention. "Just two days ago, when pumping was ongoing, excavation work began dangerously close to the pipeline. Despite our requests, the contractor’s team refused to stop without higher authorisation. We had to involve the police, who then instructed the contractor to halt operations," he revealed. He further stated that the company had taken precautions by marking the pipeline’s location with cement poles and pits. "Our security personnel were present at the site today and tried to intervene, but the contractor’s staff claimed they had instructions to proceed with excavation. This negligence could have cost lives," he warned. INDIA BEATS ENGLAND BY 15 RUNS, CLINCH SERIES 3-1 >> 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 about 5 days per month are lost “because workplace culture is but one factor (among several) in the determination of productivity (and mental well-being)”. Citing a study by WHO, the Survey said globally, about 12 billion days are lost annually due to depression and anxiety, amounting to a financial loss of USD 1 trillion. The take by the Economic Survey 2024-25 on work hour week comes weeks after Larsen & Toubro Chairman S N Subrahmanyan sparked off a debate when he said employees should work 90-hour a week, including on Sundays rather than sit at home. He followed Narayana Murthy’s suggestion of a 70-hour workweek and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani’s “biwi bhaag jayegi (wife will run away)” remark if one spent more than eight hours at home. Overhead cables: Operators get 2 more months to fall in line THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The  Electricity Department which had served an ultimatum to cable and internet service providers to either remove cables hanging overhead on its poles or pay up the fees prescribed by the end of the current month has now permitted them a further twomonth window to comply. Executive Engineer, Kashinath Shetye told  The Goan that a meeting was held with representatives of service providers on Friday where they gave the assurance that all unused cables hanging on electricity poles will be removed. "If they are clearing everything within two months, then we have no objection," Shetye, who in early January had cracked the whip and taken down the cables in one area of the EDC Patto Plazza business district, said. After the action, the cable operators were given until January 31 to either remove their wires from the poles or pay the department the prescribed fees. Goa’s fertility rate is lowest among States: Eco Survey Reveals decline sharpest in last decade THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa's fertility rate of 1.3 per cent is worrying and has consistently been on the decline over the past several decades, data mentioned in the Economic Survey 2024-25 by the Union Finance Ministry on Friday shows. Among all States, the fertility rate is the lowest in Goa at 1.3 per cent. Worse, the decline in fertility rate has been the sharpest in the last decade since 2016: from 1.73 per-cent to 1.3% now (2024-25). Quoting data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), the Economic Survey Report states that fertility rate in Goa stood at 1.9 per cent in 1992-93, 1.8 per cent in 199899, 1.8 per cent in 2005-06 and 1.73 per cent in 2015-16, with a 0.1 percentage point decline in each subsequent decade. But in the last decade (9 years since 2015-16), the fertility rate has declined by an alarming 0.4 percentage points from 1.73 percent to 1.3 per cent. In other family health pa- SURVEY STATS „„Fertility rate in Goa stood at 1.9% in 1992-93, 1.8% in 1998-99, 1.8% in 2005-06 and 1.73% in 2015-16 „„Showed a 0.1 percentage point decline in each subsequent decade „„In last decade (9 years since 2015-16), fertility rate has declined by an alarming 0.4% from 1.73% to 1.3% rameters, however, the State stands in good stead ranking second behind Kerala in controlling child mortality. NFHS data for 2019-21, shows Goa's infant mortality rate at 5.6 per cent, second only to Kerala which tops in the country with a rate of just 4.4 per cent. Other parameters on which Goa has fared well include the under-five mortality rate and stunting rate. Again for the period 2019-21 Goa's child mortality rate is 5.6 per cent recording a significant decline each decade since 199293 when it was as high as 31.9 per cent. It rose sharply to 36.7 per cent in a decade in 199899 but sharply dropped to 15.3 per cent in the next 10 years in 2005-06. In another ten years in 2015-16 it further dropped to 12.9 per cent and now to 5.6 percent in 2024-25. For the under-five mortality rate, Goa again ranks second behind Kerala to control it at 10.6 per cent. Kerala's is the best at 5.2 per cent. Again Goa's performance in consistently bringing down the under-five mortality rate every decade since 1992-93 has been remarkable. The rate was 31.9 per cent in 1992-93 and rose sharply to 46.8 per cent in NFHS 1998-99 but dropped by more than half to 20.3 per cent in 2005-06. It further slid to 12.9 per cent in 2015-16 and now to 10.6 percent in 2024-25. For under-five stunting, although the rate is at a significant 25.8 per cent in Goa, the State is still in the green line compared to other States in controlling it. Mamlatdars told to record govt title on Alvara land SOUTH COLLECTOR ISSUES ORDER, SETS DEADLINE THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO In a major development that has raised many an eyebrow in administration circles, South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus has given 24hour deadline to the taluka Mamlatdars to record the title of the government on Alvara land in the Record of Rights Column meant for name of occupants. While the Collector has issued the memorandum to Mamlatdars on Friday with a deadline to file a compliance report on February 1, questions are being raised in official circles whether the name of the government can be recorded in the occupants column without complying with the principle of natural justice by giving notices whose names figure in the occupant column in the Alvara land. The Collector has issued the memorandum apparently based on a CAG Audit report for year ending March 31, 2015 WINDS OF CHANGE: THE ORDER „„In 104 out of 300 Record of Rights of lease lands, name of private persons was incorrectly shown instead of Government of Goa „„Audit noticed that Government did not update RORs of 15 reverted lands involving 125.20 ha „„Audit has recommended that Government may instruct Dept to ensure title of the Government, on Alvara land is recorded uniformly on the RORs in the column meant for name of occupant „„All Mamlatdars directed to submit report by 01/02/2025 by 10 am in a bid to comply to the Audit para of CAG pertaining to Alvara land. In fact, the Collector has drawn attention of all Mamlatdars of South Goa towards the paragraphs in the CAG report. One Paragraph No. 2.2.6.3, which states that “in 104 out of 300 Record of Rights (RORs) of lease lands, the name of private persons was incorrectly shown instead of Government of Goa”. Two, Paragraph No.2.2.6.5(i), which states that “Audit noticed that Government did not update RORs of 15 reverted lands involving 125.20 hectares”. “Whereas, the audit has recommended that “the Government may instruct the Department to ensure that the title of the Government, on the Alvara land is recorded uniformly on the >Continued on P8 Boost for proposed varsity @ just 17 days yearly, Assembly graph paints grim picture at Tivim, no EC needed I CENTRE’S AMENDEND CRITERIA COMES IN HANDY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In what could be a smooth sailing for MIT World Peace University, proposed at Tivim, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has exempted educational institutions with a built-up area of less than 1.50 lakh sq mts from obtaining Environmental Clearance (EC). The Union ministry has amended the criteria for obtaining environmental clearance through a notification issued on January 29, wherein the building and construction projects with built up area of more than 20,000 sq mts but less than 1.50 lakh sq mts require EC prior to start of the project. “The projects or activities shall not include industrial shed, school, college, hostel for educational institutions, but such buildings shall ensure sustainable environmental management, solid and liquid waste management, rain water harvesting and may be recycled materials such as fly ash bricks,” the notification stated. Highly placed sources informed that though, the MIT private university has >Continued on P8 SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI ronically, as it may seem, Goa's 40 elected lawmakers have met for an average of just 17.33 days per year over the last six years -- since March 2019 -- to hold meaningful debates and raise issues of public interest. A worrying trend is emerging in the Goa Legislative Assembly, and the upcoming two-day Winter Session is a testament to it. A detailed analysis shows the shrinking graph of the Goa Legislative Assembly since March 2019 when Pramod Sawant took over the reins of the State from his predecessor late Manohar Parrikar. From FACTS & FIGURES: FOOD FOR THOUGHT „„From March 2019 till December 2024, House met for just 104 days „„Longest was 2019 monsoon session when MLAs discussed business for 20 days „„Monsoon sessions of 2023 & 2024 also saw 18day sessions  „„104 days include some single day or a five-day sit- then till December 2024, the House met only for 104 days with the longest session being ting to meet Constitutional obligations „„Record shows BJP-led Goa Assembly convened for 272 days since 2012 „„Last year House had a maximum of 23 days the 2019 Monsoon session when MLAs discussed business for 20 days. sitting followed by 22 days in 2023 and 2019 „„In 2020, the number of days was just 7 while in 2021 it was 13 „„SPEAKER’S TAKE: It is important that we increase the number of days that the House meets so that the public issues are raised. I have taken up the issue with CM Monsoon sessions of 2023 and 2024 Monsoon also saw 18 days sitting.  These 104 days include some single day or a five-day sitting to meet the Constitutional obligations. According to the experts, the short-duration of the Assembly session has killed the very purpose of healthy debate in democracy.  Record shows that the BJPled Goa Assembly has convened for 272 days since 2012 that included a maximum 137 days between 2012-17, 31 days in 2017-19 and 104 days from 2019 till date. Like Parliament, an assembly usually meets thrice --Budget, Monsoon and a Winter Session -- a year. The >Continued on P8