log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 236 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Are we not creating class of parasites? SC on freebies CITES PEOPLE ARE NOT WILLING TO WORK DUE TO FREE RATIONS AND MONEY; CENTRE ASKED TO GATHER DATA FROM ALL STATES FOR PAN-INDIA REVIEW PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Wednesday deprecated the practice of political parties promising “freebies” just ahead of elections and asked “are we not creating a class of parasites” instead of bringing people into the mainstream and contribute towards national development. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih also observed that people were not willing to work as they were getting free ration and money. “Rather than promoting them to be a part of the mainstream of the society by contributing to the development of the nation, are we not creat- >> See PG 3 KEY COURT OBSERVATIONS „„Unfortunately, because of these freebies, which just on the anvil of elections are declared, like ‘Ladki Bahin’ and other schemes, people are not willing to work „„We quite appreciate your concern for them but would it not be better to make them a part of the mainstream of society and permit them to contribute to the development of the nation? „„Because of the freebies in Maharashtra which they just announced prior to elections, agriculturists are not getting labourers „„We won’t permit our courtrooms to be converted into a (place of) political battle. How do you say the compassion is shown only for the rich? Even for the government, how can you say this? ing a class of parasites?” Justice Gavai asked. Justice Gavai then went on to add, “Unfortunately, be- cause of these freebies, which just on the anvil of elections are declared, like ‘Ladki Bahin’ and other schemes, peo- ple are not willing to work.” Hearing a matter concerning the right to shelter of homeless persons in urban areas, the bench said people got free rations and money without working. “We quite appreciate your concern for them but would it not be better to make them a part of the mainstream of society and permit them to contribute to the development of the nation?” the bench said. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for one of the petitioners, said there was hardly anybody in the country who did not want to work, if they had work. To this, Justice Gavai said, “You must be having only one sided knowledge. I come from an agricultural fami- 4 years on, Taleigao residents await piped gas they paid for No temple memorial as govt struggles to identify land Irked with lack of response from authorities, Cardoz Waddo locals plan legal action IN SHORT >> PANAJI It’s been over four years now that the citizens from Cardoz Waddo-Taleigao have registered and paid for piped natural gas (PNG) supply; however, the Goa Natural Gas Pvt Ltd (GNGPL) is yet to provide connections. Interestingly, the housing colonies located surrounding the area have already received the pipe gas connections and supply too has resumed. Irked with lack of response from the authorities, the residents are planning to move the consumer court or any other appellate authority for necessary intervention and directions. A resident said, “It has been more than four years now that the gas agency approached the households here, collected money, installed even the meters but there is no pipeline laid. We are without any connection.” Escape was police ploy to divert attention from jobs scam: Suleman PANAJI: In a startling turn of events, notorious criminal and land grab accused Suleman Siddique Khan claimed that his dramatic escape from the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SITLand Grab) at Ribandar was orchestrated by the police to divert public attention from the job scam.  >> See pg 3 IPB nod to 9 projects PANAJI: The Goa Investment Promotion Board (IPB) on Wednesday accorded its approval to nine projects, including two by multinational corporations (MNCs), with a total investment of Rs 733 crore.  >> See pg 3 THE GOAN I NETWORK RESIDENTS’ GRIEVANCES „„Despite registration, payment, and meter installations, 100-150 meters of road remains without a gas pipeline, leaving only Cardoz Waddo residents without PNG supply „„Residents paid Rs 500 as a registration fee but were later informed they need to pay an additional Rs 5,500 as a security deposit „„GNGPL officials visited the site in November 2024 and admitted the pipeline was not laid but refused to disclose the reason „„Residents are now considering moving the consumer court or other appellate bodies for intervention “While GNGPL has covered almost all surrounding areas, only this 100-150 meter road stretch is left out from the laying pipeline,” the resident said. Another resident said, “We have no idea as to whom to approach…we had gone to public works department, who said that it is not under their domain…now we will have to knock on the doors of consumer court or other authorities for some action.” In November, last year, the resident approached GNGPL manager of operation Rahul >Continued on P5 India demolishes England by 142 runs to secure clean sweep  Pg 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 ly. Because of the freebies in Maharashtra which they just announced prior to elections, agriculturists are not getting labourers.” The court, however, said it did not want to enter into a debate on this matter. It said everybody, including Attorney General R Venkataramani, was on the same page that providing shelter to the homeless merited due attention. “But at the same time, should it not be balanced?” the bench asked. Venkataramani said the Centre was in the process of finalising the urban poverty alleviation mission, which would address various issues, including the provision of >Continued on P5 24 lives lost in road accidents in Dec 2024 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Transport’s latest report on road accidents for December 2024 indicates concerning cases of fatalities with 24 lives lost from a total of 243 mishaps. Out of the total accidents reported, 23 were classified as fatal in which 24 were killed – 14 from North Goa and 10 from South Goa. The majority of those killed were riders, accounting for 16 deaths – nine in North Goa and seven in South Goa. Other fatalities included five pillion riders, 1 driver and 2 pedestrians. Thirty-nine people sustained grievous injuries with North Goa seeing 15 such cases and South Goa 23 in the month that usually witnesses huge influx of tourists. Besides, 58 suffered minor injuries – 16 in the North and 42 in the South. The monthly report further recorded 159 non-injury accidents with North Goa contributing 90 and South Goa 69. The number of challans issued for violations remained significant, though specific figures were not disclosed in the report. Govt to form dedicated dept for drinking water Existing PWD will be split into two entities: CM THE GOAN I NETWORK PORVORIM/PANAJI Giving a major thrust on water supply, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday announced the formation of a dedicated Department for Drinking Water (DDW). Sawant said that the existing Public Works Department (PWD) will be split into two, with the new department on drinking water ensuring that consumers get at least 4 hours of drinking water daily. He was speaking at Quitla in Salvador do Mundo after inaugurating the Over Head Reservoir (OHR) in the presence of Tourism Minister and Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte and panch members of Salvador do Mundo. “The PWD is a large department handling roads, buildings, and other infrastructure, which often means that water doesn’t get enough attention. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES „„The DDW will be responsible for ensuring that drinking water reaches households for the specified duration daily „„The new department aims to ensure that consumers receive at least four hours of drinking water daily „„The WRD will oversee the supply of water to reservoirs „„The CM has emphasised that it is the WRD’s responsibility to ensure water reaches the reservoirs, warning of strict action if this is not achieved The new department will focus solely on drinking water and will be launched soon,” said Sawant. Clarifying the roles of different departments, Sawant stated that the new DDW will be responsible to ensure that water reaches homes for four hours daily, while the Water Resources Department (WRD) will oversee water supply to reservoirs. “It’s the responsibility of the WRD to ensure water reaches the reservoirs, and if it doesn’t, strict action will be taken,” he warned. Sawant emphasised that the initiative is part of a longterm vision for the next 25 years. “We need efficient engineers with a dedicated focus on this new department to make Goa self-sufficient in terms of water,” he said. The chief minister also highlighted the need for numerous water sources. “There are various water sources, and people shouldn’t >Continued on P5 Legal agreement mooted with owners to protect agri land Penal action against unauthorised land conversions and illegal encroachments SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI In a bid to safeguard the existing 145,000 hectares of agricultural land from the increasing urbanisation pressure, the Goa government has proposed to develop ‘Conservation Easement’ – a legal agreement with the land owners or farmers – to permanently protect agricultural lands from conversion to non-agricultural uses. State also intends to introduce penal action against unauthorised land conversions or illegal encroachments on agriculture lands. The State government on Tuesday launched its ambitious ‘State Amritkal Agriculture Policy 2025’, which speaks about reviewing the existing relevant and applicable State Acts to eliminate outdated provisions hindering agricultural productivity, land use efficiency, and fair tenan- GREEN, GREEN GRASS OF HOME cy practices. The government has decided to rope in the State Law Commission to draft a consultation paper for legislative reforms governing agricultural aspects and land related matters about agriculture so as to realise new dimensions of policy making vis a vis changing times and evolving situations. According to the policy, as urbanisation had led tremendous pressure on the agriculture land there is need to prevent the diversion of fertile lands for urbanisation, especially outside the cities with more focus on village areas and for which implementation of stringent land use regulations and zoning laws to protect agricultural lands from non-agricultural development is required. For this, the government has proposed to develop land trust programmes or >Continued on P5 Goa received only 44 pc of Child rights body remains defunct as abuse cases mount CAUSE FOR CONCERN allocated funds since 2020 Crisis in protection THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With no release of funds for the two consecutive financial years, Goa has managed to get only 44 per cent of the total allocated grants under the 15th Finance Commission since 2020. As per the information provided in Lok Sabha by the Union Minister for State for Panchayati Raj SP Singh Baghel, the Centre has so far released only Rs 163 crore to Goa as against the actual allocation of Rs 368 crore, which also includes Rs 61 crore earmarked for the upcoming financial year 2025-26. REPLY IN LOK SABHA „„The Centre has so far released only Rs 163 crore to Goa as against the actual allocation of Rs 368 crore, which also includes Rs 61 crore earmarked for the upcoming financial year 2025-26 „„The State is yet to receive any grants for the financial year 2023-24 and 2024-25, despite an allocation of Rs 58 crore and Rs 62 crore respectively during that fiscal What is interesting to note is that the State is yet to receive any grants for the financial year 2023-24 and 2024-25, despite an allocation of Rs 58 crore and Rs 62 crore respectively during that fiscal. As per the data, Centre released Rs 75 crore to the State as tied and untied funds to the panchayat bodies in 202021 and another Rs 55 crore in 2021-22. In 2022-23, of the total allocated Rs 57 crore, only Rs 33 crore were released to the State as on December 2024. The Minister said that the 15th FC Grants have two >Continued on P5 PANAJI he child protection system is facing a crisis with the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) defunct for nearly nine months. The absence of this crucial body has left vulnerable children without institutional support even as the police are investigating the crime. The implications of this inaction have been deeply felt, especially with three shocking incidents of child abuse reported in recent weeks. In the latest case, 76-year-old Venkatesh Parab from Pernem was arrested for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and outraging her modesty. This same month saw the arrest T system „„Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) defunct for 9 months. „„Vulnerable children left without institutional support despite police investigations. „„Several pending of Paul Fonseca, a resident of Tivim, for allegedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl. In another incident, a man from Canacona was taken into custody for reportedly assaulting a minor in her home. complaints and ongoing hearings stalled due to inaction Recent abuse cases „„Pernem: 76-year-old arrested for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl „„Tivim: Man arrested for allegedly abusing an 11-year-old girl „„Canacona: Minor girl asThe term of the Commission’s Chairperson Peter Borges ended on May 19, 2024, followed by the expiry of its members’ tenure in the same month. However, despite the urgency of its role, the govern- saulted at home, accused taken into custody Delay in Commission reconstitution „„Chairperson’s term ended on May 19, 2024, followed by the expiry of members’ tenure „„Government yet to reconstitute the panel despite the urgency of its role ment is yet to reconstitute the panel. Director of the Women & Child Department Manuel Barreto, when contacted by The Goan, stated that the file for reconstituting the Commission has been moved for government approval. Sources however revealed that while some progress was made on December 17, 2024 the matter has since been left in limbo. While law enforcement agencies have acted swiftly in these cases, the absence of the GSCPCR has resulted in a complete lack of intervention, recommendations, or systemic redressal. “It is alarming that the body remains non-functional. Without it, no interventions or protective measures can be effectively undertaken in these cases,” sources added. The defunct status of the Commission has also stalled several pending complaints and ongoing hearings. >Continued on P5