log on to thegoan.net Facebook.com/thegoan @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline Pg 15 WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2025 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 235 Bumrah set to miss India’s Champions Trophy campaign RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Conversion of fields to be banned n GOVT ROLLS OUT AGRICULTURE POLICY n CM SAYS EVEN IF TCP OKAYS CONVERSION, NOC FROM AGRICULTURE DIRECTOR WILL BE MANDATORY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After banning sale of agricultural land, the Goa government has now proposed to ban the conversion of all fields designated as ‘rice’, ‘morad’, ‘kher’, and ‘Khazan’. The State on Tuesday launched its ambitious ‘State Amritkal Agriculture Policy 2025’, which speaks about revolutionising the sector through modern techniques and climate-resilient farming practices. A week after being approved by the cabinet, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik launched the policy with a ten-year vision that has been drafted keeping in mind the national goal and global commitments. Addressing media, Sawant said the policy proposes to ban or prevent conversion of all fields designated as rice, morad, kher, and khazans in >> pg 7 Exploring agronomic ventures to earn green income IN SHORT >> `100 cr infra boost for industrial estates   PANAJI: The Goa Industrial Development Corporation has decided to take up Rs 100 crore infrastructure works covering all industrial estates. As directed by the Centre, the Corporation will adopt white-topping technology for the rehabilitation of highways connecting or passing through the industrial estate, thereby extending the life of the road by 25 years. >> See pg 3 Zero tolerance for lawlessness: DGP PANAJI: With incidents of tourists taking the law into their own hands on the rise, the recent case in Sangolda where two tourists assaulted a local driver has drawn strong condemnation from DGP Alok Kumar who said there is zero tolerance for lawlessness.  >> See pg 3 e-auction of Curpem ore block on Feb 14 PANAJI: A day after the Supreme Court rejected Vedanta’s appeal, the Directorate of Mines and Geology on Tuesday announced to resume the e-auction process of Curpem-Sulcorna mineral block XI, located in South Goa. The auction will take place on February 14.   >> See pg 3 Queue system at GMC super specialty block PANAJI: Goa Medical College has made token number system for OPD patients visiting the Super Specialty Block operational through the Queue Management System. Token numbers will be issued at 8 am on all OPD days. Following this the patients will be registered at the respective OPD registration counters. KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF AGRICULTURE POLICY „„Cultivation of khazan lands by building bunds, creating soil patterns „„Regulations to check use of irrigation wells on farmland for drawing water for commercial use „„Enhancing access to markets, credit, insur- ance, diversifying income through value addition, and agro-tourism „„Establishment of Farmer Welfare Fund Board & Farmers Welfare Act „„Financial grants for infrastructure, land lease subsidies, tax exemptions, fast track approvals „„Focus on areas like renewable energy in agriculture, agricultural startups, and innovations „„Promotes vertical farming (indoor and soilless farming) and urban agriculture by using modern methods like hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics „„To form Goa State Coconut, Cashew, and Mango Development Board „„Museum of Goa’s Agricultural Heritage to be established the Form I & XIV. “Even if the Town and Country Planning Department approves conversion of agricultural fields, the NOC from the agriculture director would be mandatory,” he said adding no NOC will be granted for any such conversions. Sawant said that looking at the declining manpower in agriculture, the policy vision is dedicated to creating an ecosystem that supports farmer welfare, ensures fair labour conditions, and empowers the youth to engage in agriculture. He said that in order to minimize the cost of production and to increase the quantity and quality of the agriculture produce, organic farming and natural farming will be encouraged. The policy has laid focus on protecting Goa’s valuable agricultural heritage while com- bining it with modern farming techniques to boost productivity and sustainability. Sawant said that climate-resilient farming practices would be introduced with the help of ICAR to protect agriculture in Goa from the effects of climate change, ensuring its long- Anjuna case: Cops launch manhunt as accused flee n Rights over property disputed n Sinary claims he had a verbal rental agreement and has email as proof THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A day after Anjuna police charged seven persons including bouncers and a security agency owner, with trespass and robbery, all the accused have gone into hiding. They have been charged with forcibly evicting a family from their ‘rental premises’ without Court orders. The prime accused Janardhan Khorate and his accomplices, who allegedly forced their way into the residence in St Michael’s Waddo, evicted the tenants and made off with valuables including electronic devices and Rs 3 lakh cash. “The FIR has been filed, but the accused are on the run. They have not been cooperating with the investigation including the owner of the security firm that provided bouncers,” a senior police official told The Goan. “We have launched a massive search for POLICE INVESTIGATION „„Probe indicates Khorate and his men used rear entrance to enter the property forcefully „„This is a civil dispute, but resorting to criminal force has turned it into a criminal case „„Those with power of attorney cannot take law into their hands „„FIR filed, but accused are on the run... they are not cooperating with investigation them.” Sources further revealed that Rajesh Sinary, in his complaint to the Anjuna police claimed that he and his family had been living in the house since May 2022 under a verbal rental agreement, supported by an email communication from the accused, at a monthly rent of Rs 50,000. He alleged that while he was away, the accused broke in, took away the belongings and even made threatening calls prior to the incident. Complicating the matter, sources stated that ownership of the property remains legally disputed, with no documents currently supporting Sinary’s claim. However, eviction without a court order constitutes a criminal offense. While Sinary reportedly sought a legal order to vacate the premises, he and his family resisted what they described as a violent takeover. Police stated that their preliminary probe indicated >Continued on P5 JEE Main: Rohan is Goa’s topper with 99.95 pc THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI R o h a n Siddhesh Keni has been declared the Goa State topper with a score of 99.95 percentile at Rohan the Joint En- Siddhesh Keni trance Exam (JEE) Main, season 1, results for which were declared on Tuesday by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Keni a student of Dempo PACE, is now eligible to answer JEE Advance. According to the NTA JEE Main toppers list, 14 candidates have achieved a perfect 100 percentile score. Ayush Singhal from Rajasthan emerged as the overall topper, followed by Kushagra Gupta from Karnataka and Daksh from Delhi-NCT. PACE Aadi Pai Kuchelkar stood second in Goa with 99.89 percentile while Mushtifund Aryan Higher Secondary School’s Steffan Silva with 99.80 percentile stood third in the State. ‘Latent’ gaffe lands Beer Biceps in hot water term sustainability. Sawant also said the promotion of agro-tourism by allowing farmers with at least 4,000 square meters of land to be part of it, along with putting in place strict zoning rules to designate specific areas for agro-tourism. The  policy  proposes steps for legislative reforms aimed at creating a farmer-centric, sustainable and simplified legal framework. “This comprehensive policy framework thus reflects government’s commitment to transforming its agricultural sector into a modern productive, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive pillar of its economy by including innovation, technology, and research in transforming agriculture, poised to meet challenges of 21st century while preserving traditional knowledge and practices that have sustained Goa’s agriculture for >Continued on P5 Govt to end aid for sugarcane farmers Pledges to buy all produce at price notified by the Centre SWEET DEAL? THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government is likely to discontinue the ‘Special Assistance-cum-Compensation scheme’ offered to sugarcane farmers from 2020. Under the five-year scheme, which is set to officially end this financial year, the government has so far paid Rs 40 crore to around 700-odd farmers. However, the government on Tuesday announced the procurement of sugarcane produced by farmers at the Central government notified Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP). Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured sugarcane farmers that all the sugarcane produced by them will be purchased by the government at the premises of Sanjivani Sugar factory at notified rates decided by Government of India. “The notification in this regard would be issued „„Govt had announced ‘Special Assistance-cumCompensation scheme’ for sugarcane farmers from 2020 „„It is now decided that the scheme will not be extended „„Instead, govt plans to buy sugarcane at centrally notified rates „„Farmers will have to drop their produce at Sanjivani Sugar factory „„Govt has so far paid Rs 40 cr to around 700-odd farmers shortly,” he said. Sources informed that the government will purchase the sugarcane from the farmers, >Continued on P5 Dead cop in police transfer list PANAJI: In a major oversight by police, the mass transfer order for 616 personnel issued mistakenly included the name of a constable who passed away two years ago. Police Constable Sarvesh Gawas, who was listed as be- ing posted at Old Goa, was shown as transferred to SPCR Panaji in the order. However, once the error was flagged, the department issued a revised order excluding his name. The transfer order lists 616 personnel -- 80 Assistant Po- lice Sub-Inspectors, 72 Police Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 8 Lady Assistant Sub-Inspectors, 202 Head Constables, 5 Lady Head Constables, 39 Lady Police Constables and 263 Police Constables among others as transferred. Find the perfect venue for a day filled with romance, sweet surprises and unforgettable moments. HORIZON HERITAGE C2C 7:30 PM - 10:30 PM THE BARBEQUE 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM DPB - TERRACE GARDEN BAR 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM BEACHSIDE DINING FOR TWO 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM ALFAMA 7:30 PM - 11:30 PM n YouTube blocks episode, NCW issues notice n Complaints filed PTI NEW DELHI day after he hit the spotlight with a comment on parents and sex, trouble mounted for influencer Ranveer Allahbadia also known as ‘Beer Biceps’ on Tuesday with Mumbai police at his doorstep, YouTube pulling down the episode of “India’s Got Latent” and the issue being raised in Parliament. The internet personality, with over 16 million followers across social media platforms, landed in soup after the clip with his comments started making the rounds on social media on Monday and led to massive debate on freedom of A ALLAHBADIA’S ‘LATENT’ MOMENT „„Internet personality landed in soup after the clip “would you rather watch your parents have sex every day for the rest of your life or join in once and stop it forever” went viral OUTRAGE FOLLOWS „„NCW asked Allahabadia, 6 others to appear before it on Feb 17 „„YouTube India blocked the episode „„Team of Mumbai police spotted outside Allahbadia’s residence „„Several complaints filed across the country „„Summons sent to about 30 guests who participated in the show speech and what constitutes decency. Allahbadia tried to defuse the situation by issuing a video apology where he called his comment a “lapse in judgement” but the issue has refused to die down. Raising the matter in Parliament during Zero Hour, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske called for a law to regulate social media. He said there was a need to enact a law to regulate social media platforms where influencers are posting “all kinds of nonsense” in the name of freedom of speech. The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Tuesday expressed strong concern and asked Allahabadia, Samay Raina, Apoorva Makhija, Jaspreet Singh, and Ashish Chanchlani, as well as the show’s producers Tushar Poojari and >Continued on P5 Vainguinim Beach, Dona Paula, Panaji, Goa 403004 Horizon: 0832 665 9227 | Heritage: 0832 665 9226