log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5, 2025 IN SHORT >> DELHI GOES TO POLLS TODAY NEW DELHI: The stage is set for the high-stakes Assembly elections in Delhi, with over 1.56 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots from 7 am onwards on Wednesday. Voting will take place across 13,766 polling stations in all the 70 Assembly constituencies to decide the fates of 699 candidates in a contest that could reshape the political landscape of the capital.  >> See pg 8 Colvale jail staff, IRB cop suspended MAPUSA: The Deputy Superintendent of Colvale Central Jail and a personnel from the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) have been suspended for allegedly smuggling contraband, including tobacco products, into the prison.   >> See pg 2 Sand stacking sites to be geo-tagged PANAJI: Following Environmental Clearances for sand extraction, the Directorate of Mines and Geology has initiated a process to identify and geo-tag dedicated areas for stacking of the material. DMG has received almost 185 applications for sand mining in 12 zones across River Mandovi and Zuari.   >> See pg 3 Scheme for palliative care goes on-stream PANAJI: The State government's scheme to provide aid of up to Rs 2.5 lakh per month for various heads of expenditure to palliative care hospices went on-stream on Tuesday with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant handing over an order to the management of the first beneficiary DILASA of Ponda.  >> See pg 3 PAC, PUC panels still valid: Speaker PANAJI: The Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Tuesday clarified that the terms of Public Accounts Committee under Congress MLA Altone D’Costa and Public Undertaking Committee under Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao are yet to lapse and that the meetings held by both the committees, are valid as on date.   >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 32.5 C Min: 21.6 C Humidity: 96% TIDES Low: High: 09.55 02.54 21.46 17.00 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 228 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Major part of missing traffic fines back in police coffers INQUIRY CONFIRMS LADY CONSTABLE MISAPPROPRIATED `17.30 LAKH, BUT NO ACTION YET AGAINST ACCUSED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The lady constable -- formerly attached to Bicholim police station -- has landed in serious trouble as a detailed inquiry against her revealed that she allegedly misappropriated Rs 17.30 lakh collected from traffic violation fines over the last 11 months. But while the report has indicted her of the alleged offense, the lady police constable appears to have escaped stringent action, quietly returning a major portion of the defrauded amount to the department on Tuesday. With Chief Minister personally monitoring the case, sources revealed she was summoned to police headquarters, A DAY AFTER: TWIST IN THE TALE „„Lady police constable summoned to police headquarters „„She quietly returns a major portion of defrauded amount to her senior officers „„Questioned by higher-ups but was let off thereafter „„Appears to have escaped stringent disciplinary action where she handed over the sum to her senior officers. However, she faces no further action and remains at the Colvale Escort Cell. „„Inquiry reveals she misappropriated the amount from traffic fines over 11 months „„Chief Minister Pramod Sawant personally monitoring the case “She has returned a major part of the defrauded amount. She was questioned by higher-ups but was let off thereafter. Disciplinary action Coastal p’yats push for CRZ rejig to boost local tourism WANT COASTAL AREAS CATEGORIZED AS TOURISM ZONES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Coastal village panchayats have approached the State government requesting amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2019 in a bid to allow the local communities to run tourism-related activities from their existing structures. The village bodies have demanded categorization of coastal areas as tourism zones. Village panchayat of Sernabatim, Vanelim, Colva and Gandaulim in South and Morjim in North have made a detailed representation to the Environment department appealing to them to take up the matter with the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The coastal panchayats have demanded that in the light of the existing tourism-related infrastructure and development, Colva, Vanelim and Sernabtim and Morjim be categorized as CRZ II in a bid to ensure balanced devel- EYE ON TOURISM PIE „„Colva, Vanelim, Sernabatim and Morjim seek CRZ II status for balanced development „„Claim existing population density criterion under 2019 notification is unrealistic „„Suggest using Urban classification from 2011 Census as a more reasonable and inclusive standard „„Propose residential FAR of 60% to prevent unchecked growth of highrise buildings „„Want guesthouses, restaurants, showrooms, shops be permitted in existing structures opment. Also, they asked for villages to be categorized as tourism zones to promote regulated tourism development. The existing population density criterion of 2,161 per sq km for CRZ IIIA under the 2019 notification is unrealistic. The village panchayats suggest using the Urban classification from the 2011 Census as a more reasonable and inclusive standard. Additionally, they proposed a residential FAR of 60 per cent to pre- vent the unchecked growth of high-rise buildings. The panchayats said that in order to protect the livelihood of the local communities, commercial   activities such as guesthouses, restaurants, showrooms and shops be permitted in the existing structures rather than restricting usage solely to homestays. “This change will support tourism and provide economic opportunities for local stakeholders,” they said. T AUTO DELETE: COVER-UP OPERATION? „„22 night clubs/establishments claimed their systems automatically delete footage older than a month „„Petitioner had alleged that 22 establishments played loud music beyond permitted 10 pm deadline in December last „„HC orders authorities to ensure that no outdoor music is played beyond 10 pm „„Anjuna police told to obtain CCTV footage from December 2024 to verify allegations played loud music beyond the permitted 10 pm deadline in December 2024 – the month that witnessed numerous latenight parties, Christmas and New Year celebrations. The Court thereafter directed the SP to determine the reason behind the deletion of the footage and whether it could be retrieved. The Bench also directed the police to WASHINGTON A military transport aircraft of the US is bringing a group of Indian migrants, in the first such deportation to India as part of the big crackdown on illegal immigrants by President Donald Trump in his second term at the White House. Without directly commenting on the deportation flight carrying the Indians, a spokesperson at the US embassy in New Delhi said Washington is tightening immigration laws and removing illegal migrants. The US action comes in the midst of India and the US finalising various elements of a likely visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington from February 12 to 13. It is learnt a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the US Air Force is bringing the Indian nationals departed from San Antonio, Texas, around 3 am IST on Tuesday (February 4). However, there is no clarity It is learnt a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of US Air Force departed from San Antonio, Texas, around 3 am IST on Tuesday (February 4). However, there is no clarity on the number of people on board the plane and its specific destination Goa announces 3 1000-capacity special trains for Kumbh pilgrims Moves afoot for Vande Bharat-like train linking Pernem to Canacona THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on  Tuesday said his government will  push to have a 'Vande Bharat' type fast train services from Pernem to Canacona within the next two years to reduce the pressure on road transport. In the first phase the train service will be started between Pernem and Canacona as it will be simple with the Konkan Railway line already functional," Sawant said, adding that more destinations to en-route cities and towns will be added in subsequent PANAJI The State government on Tuesday announced that it has organised three special 1000-capacity train journeys to facilitate travels of those heading for the Maha Kumbh at Prayagraj in February. Social Welfare Minister Subash Faldesai made the announcement in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar at the Secretariat. Phaldesai said, the three train journeys will be flagged off from Margao at 8 am on February 6, 13 and 21. The journey will be a 34hour one and the train will halt at a station before Paryagraj from where the pilgrims will have to make their own arrangements to head to the venue. Phaldesai also said that only those who don't have any major health issue will be eligible to travel under the tweaked CM Dev Darshan Yatra Yojna and will have to >Continued on P8 NOISE COMPLAINTS „„Anjuna police had submitted they received 252 complaints on noise pollution between December 16, 2024 and January 5, 2025 „„They claimed all complaints were investigated with inspections „„Special loud music checking teams patrolled Anjuna’s nightclubs to ensure there were no violations ensure that past months’ CCTV footage is preserved for future hearings while directing the SP to submit an affidavit within two weeks. In a separate matter con- PTI police station between February and December 2024. It is also learnt that SP North directed all police stations in the district to furnish details of fine collections from various motor vehicle violations by Tuesday evening. In December 2024, ASI Mohan Chopdekar and Constables Govind Mandrekar and Prashant Shetye from Anjuna Traffic Cell were suspended for allegedly extorting bribes from tourists. Thereafter, ASI Rajan Mhamal and Head Constables Sanjay Gawde, Rupesh Raut and Vishram Malik of Anjuna Traffic Cell were directed to report to GRP Wireless Division, for ‘performing their duty’ as they caught a group of tourists violating traffic rules. HC wants probe into nightclubs’ auto-delete claims PANAJI he High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Superintendent of Police (North Goa) to investigate the deletion of CCTV footage from establishments allegedly charged with violating noise regulations. During the hearing of a contempt petition regarding violations of noise regulations in North Goa, it was revealed that 22 night clubs/ establishments claimed their systems automatically delete footage older than a month. The petitioner had alleged that 22 establishments US STARTS MASS DEPORTATION OF INDIAN MIGRANTS against her is awaited,” sources told The Goan. The Goan's report on Tuesday revealed the audit exposing the brazen discrepancy, as the whopping amount collected through various violations under the Motor Vehicles Act disappeared from the Bicholim police station. The mismatch between official bank deposit receipts and internal traffic police records prompted SP (Traffic) Prabodh Shirvaikar to alert SP North Akshat Kaushal. A preliminary probe by the Bicholim PI allegedly confirmed the misappropriation, prompting a inquiry by the SDPO. The fresh report has now revealed that she allegedly siphoned Rs 17.30 lakh from traffic fines at the Bicholim NOISE POLLUTION: CCTV FOOTAGE GOES MISSING THE GOAN I NETWORK VARUN CHAKRAVARTHY EARNS CALL UP TO ODI SQUAD >> 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 cerning the inclusion of two names in the noise monitoring committee, the government submitted two names to the >Continued on P8 THE GOAN I NETWORK In the first phase the train service will be started between Pernem and Canacona… other destinations like Karwar south of Canacona and Sindhudurg north of Pernem will also be added phases including to Ponda and Panaji. "The motive is to reduce the burden on road transport and increase rail transport. Other destinations like Karwar south of Canacona and Sindhudurg north of Pernem will on the number of people on board the plane and its specific destination. A C-17 aircraft can carry up to 140 people. There is no official word from India yet on the US action. The US embassy spokesperson declined to provide details of the deportation flight but said: “The United States is vigorously enforcing its border, tightening immigration laws, and removing illegal migrants.” “These actions send a clear message: Illegal migration is not worth the risk,” the official added. also be added," the chief minister said.  Meanwhile, Sawant also said a Rs 482 crore allocation has been made to Goa in the railway  sector to strengthen infrastructure for Konkan Railway and South-Western Railway.  "The allocation has been made in the Union budget and the funding is meant for developing three new stations, one at Sarzora in Salcete taluka, the second at Mayem in Bicholim and at Neura in Tiswadi," Sawant said, adding that the Margao Railway Station is also being redeveloped.