log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2025 13pages Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 241 Instagram.com/thegoanonline MANDHANA, BOWLERS HELP RCB CRUISE PAST DELHI CAPITALS >> 13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INVESTMENT STARTS FROM >> See pg 3 Despite ‘low vision’, this yoga instructor nurtures undying love for travel, adventure IN SHORT >> GSPCB maps noise pollution hotspots MAPUSA: In a major move to combat noise pollution in the State, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has successfully completed an extensive noise mapping study and is now seeking inputs from various government departments on proposed mitigation strategies. The study, titled ‘Noise Mapping Hotspots Identification and Mitigation Measures,’ aims to assess noise pollution levels across the State and implement targeted solutions to reduce its adverse effects.   >> See pg 3 New comunidade law notified 8 Goans trapped after falling prey to job scam in Thailand   FAMILIES TURN TO NRI COMMISSION FOR HELP  2 RESCUED   SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI Eight Goan families have turned to the State’s NRI Commission for the urgent repatriation of their loved ones, who were lured by the promise of lucrative jobs in Thailand but now find themselves stranded with no work in some other country. The Commission has managed to successfully rescue two citizens so far. Amid growing concerns over fraudulent recruitment agents exploiting job seekers and also the deportation of two illegal Goan immigrants from the United States, the NRI Commissioner Adv Narendra Sawaikar has appealed citizens to report any such fake job recruitments or illegal immigrants, so that the government can act. FAKE JOBS: SAWAIKAR SPEAKS HIS MIND „„There were around eight people who were lured by an agent with a promise of job in Thailand „„Instead of taking them to Thailand, they landed somewhere else…in some other nearby country „„So far, we have managed to get two of them back home Speaking to The Goan, Sawaikar said that Goa NRI Commission through the Indian Embassy is currently trying to rescue six Goans who had fallen victim to fraudulent job offers. “We have come across people who wanted help. There were around eight people, who were lured by an agent with a promise of job in Thai- „„Goa NRI Commission through Indian Embassy currently trying to rescue six Goans „„Goan youth who want to travel abroad in search of jobs must follow correct procedures „„Job seekers should verify credentials of agents and should instead reach out to NRI commission for assistance land. However, instead of taking them to Thailand, they landed somewhere else…in some other nearby country,” he said. “So far, we have managed to get two of them back home. Process is on to get the other six people,” he added, raising serious concern over youths falling prey to such fake job scams. PANAJI: The government has notified new law that paves the way for comunidades to regain the possession of land if it is not used for the stated purpose. The Goa Legislative Diploma No. 2070, introduced and passed in the recently concluded winter session of the State Assembly, was notified on Monday. >> See pg 3 McLaughlin case: Accused gets rigorous life sentence Cleeven chosen as King Momo THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI: Cleeven Mathew Fernandes from Benaulim has been selected as the King Momo for the five-day Carnival fiesta, slated from February 28 to March 4. The Tourism department announced Fernandes as this year’s King Momo, as he was selected among four applicants.  >> See pg 3 Over 1,200 traffic violations in 4 days PANAJI: The traffic police’s four-day special drive from February 13-16 to clamp down on major traffic violations, particularly over the weekend, indicated an alarming disregard for road safety with over 1,200 violations recorded in just four days. Helmetless riding was the most repeated offense accounting for 612 cases.   >> See pg 3 Gyanesh Kumar is new chief of EC  >> See pg 7 CURTAINS COME DOWN ON 7-YEAR-LONG TRIAL MARGAO The South Goa Sessions Court on Monday sentenced Vikat Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment in the 2017 rape and murder of Irish/British woman Danielle McLaughlin. Danielle’s mother and relatives, besides officials of the British High Commission were present in court, when the life imprisonment sentence was pronounced by Additional Sessions Judge, Kshama Joshi bringing the curtains down on the seven-year-long trial in the sensational 2017 case. The Court had last week held Bhagat guilty for the offenses of murder, rape and destruction of evidence. Pronouncing her order, Judge Joshi sentenced Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for the offense of murder. Similar punishment and fine was pronounced by the Judge for the offence of rape. He was also sentenced to two year imprisonment and fine for the offense of destruction of evidence. All the sentences He urged Goan youths who want to travel abroad in search of jobs to follow correct procedures when travelling abroad. He also said that job seekers should verify the credentials of agents and should instead reach out to the NRI commission for assistance. “We are there to help… but they don’t approach us… instead they believe in those Mamledar’s autopsy report likely today Viscera being sent to Bengaluru THE GOAN I NETWORK BELAGAVI Belagavi Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang on Monday said medical records of the former Goa MLA Lavoo Mamledar are being verified, while the autopsy report is expected on Tuesday. Speaking to The Goan, Marbaniang said every angle into the death of former Goa legislator is being inspected and that the autopsy report would help in revealing the actual cause of death. Expressing pain about the incident and extending his condolences to the bereaved family, he said, “I am personally monitoring the case. It was certainly a shocking incident... we cannot say anything further until the autopsy report arrives,” Marbaniang said. Meanwhile, the Market Police Station CPI M V Dhamannavar said the viscera of the deceased ex-MLA has been secured and is being sent to Every angle into the death of former Goa legislator is being inspected and that the autopsy report would help in revealing the actual cause of death — Iada Marbaniang Bengaluru for further investigation. Meanwhile, scores of traders and personalities from across Belagavi are yet to come to terms about the sudden demise of Lavoo Mamledar, who had excellent rapport with large number of Belgaumites. >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK „„Judge Joshi sentenced Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for the offense of murder „„Similar punishment and fine was pronounced for the offence of rape „„Bhagat was also sentenced to two year imprisonment and fine for the offense of destruction of evidence will run concurrently. When the Judge made no mention on the question of detention period undergone by the convict, the lawyer representing the accused drew attention of the Judge that period of detection should be set off by the court. Judge Joshi, however, said >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 JUSTICE FINALLY SERVED 1.29 Cr. Tender out for Town Square cultural hub in Porvorim PANAJI The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has floated Rs 110 crore tender for the development of a Town Square in Porvorim, under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) Scheme. The project is expected on 10,923 square meters of land belonging to the Goa Housing Board (GHB), as discussed earlier during stakeholders meeting a month ago. Designed as a multi-functional cultural hub, the Town Square will feature five distinct zones, including an amphitheater, basement parking for about 200 vehicles including two-wheelers, a market court, and a multifunctional space comprising a food court with seating for 100 people, a flea market, pop-up bazaars, toilet blocks, food carts and souvenir shops. As per the tender, the central court will include a musical fountain, a watchtower, a splash pad and a movie court equipped with projection mapping. Other planned amenities include an artisan’s A visibly relieved Danielle’s mother after the court verdict on Monday. Santosh Mirajkar agents who either cheat them or force them to take up donkey or dunki route… the same was in case of those two Goans, who were deported from US as illegal immigrants,” Sawaikar explained. He added “we are ready to provide all help…work with concerned embassies and consulates to assist citizens who have been lured abroad on the pretext of job offers … people will have to come forward”. Speaking on the duo, Sawaikar said “I am yet to meet them and their families but as per the information, they went to the US to find jobs, and when they reached there, they were arrested while crossing the border because they did not have the right documentation”. ` *T&C Apply Sancoale, Goa RERA NO: PRGO03242174 | WWW.RERA.GOA.GOV.IN | WWW.BHUTANIGROUP.COM | Collection A/C Acqua Eden: Beneficiary Name: Parmesh Construction Company Limited | Account No: 99921102030405 | IFSC: HDFC0000088 | Bank Name: HDFC Bank * MONDAY MAYHEM: A long, winding line of vehicles stretches across the new Mandovi bridge on Monday. Motorists were left fuming and frustrated after they were caught in a massive traffic jam. (Report on pg 3)  Narayan Pissurlenkar Govt bets big on realty, to unlock its unused land for development THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a bid to promote Goa as a real estate destination, the State government has decided to unlock the land parcels thus optimizing their underutilized land for real estate development through public private partnership (PPP) model. The Goa Housing Board (GHB) and the Goa Rehabilitation Board (GRB) have joined hands for the implementation of the real estate project that includes residential, commercial, redevelopment, etc.  The State has taken on board realty developers’ body NAREDCO -- National Real Estate Development Council, Maharashtra to explore investment oppor- tunities in Goa. The authorities have identified places like Vasco, Sada Vasco, Baina, Zuari Nagar, Colvale that have got major unused land parcels making the scope for huge investments. Speaking to media, Secretary GRB Aleixo Da Costa said >Continued on P5 Supreme Court slams multiple Coastal body red flags Mapusa river desilting plan SPOTLIGHT ON MISSING EIA DATA pleas on places of worship Act THE GOAN I NETWORK SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A LIMIT TO APPLICATIONS PTI NEW DELHI Expressing displeasure over filing of several pleas on the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, the Supreme Court on Monday said a threejudge bench will hear in April the pending post-notice petitions related to the 1991 law which mandates the religious character of a place to be maintained as it existed on August 15, 1947. The top court, however, granted liberty to the petitioners like Samajwadi Party leader and Kairana MP Iqra Choudhary, who have filed the pleas recently and notices have not been issued on them, to file applications for intervention in pending ones by citing new legal grounds. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said there should be a limit to such intervention applications. Dismissing fresh petitions, on which notices were not is- sued yet, the bench said, “the writ petitioners can file an (intervention) application raising new grounds.” “We are constrained to pass this order after taking note of the number of fresh petitions filed. The pending writ petitions, which have no notices, stand dismissed with liberty to file an application raising additional grounds, if any. The new IA will only be allowed if there is any new point or new legal issue that has not been raised in the petitions,” the bench said. PANAJI he Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has sought clarification from the Captain of Ports over its proposed Mapusa river desilting project after it was observed that the environment impact assessment (EIA) study undertaken does not contain any baseline analysis data of air or water quality. The Authority, during its meeting held last month, also noted that the CoP has altered the total proposed desiliting length from 3.5 kms as mentioned in the EIA to 5 kms in the application submitted seeking CRZ clearance. T „„GCZMA observed that EIA study does not contain baseline analysis data of air or water quality „„It was noted that CoP altered total proposed desiliting length from 3.5 kms as mentioned in EIA to 5 kms „„GCZMA noted that EIA report highlighted impact on environment like air and noise pollution, land pollution etc „„Proposal aims at desilting, deepening depth of the water body, surrounded by dense mangrove vegetation and it could destabilise the river beds SUGGESTIONS „„Mangrove vegetation should remain untouched as it is a home to numerous aquatic organisms „„Extreme precaution and care needs to be maintained while carrying out excavation keeping in mind aquatic organisms The Hydrographic Surveyor of CoP has proposed for the desilting of Mapusa river for the stretch from Mapusa to Moira. The project involves excavating the river bed material and increase the depth. “The EIA report is incom- plete as it does not contain any baseline analysis data of air or water quality. The project proponent is directed to pro- vide this data at the earliest,” the Authority said. “For the project, it is mentioned in the application letter dated 16/11/2024 within an area of "5.0km in length, 15.0mtr wide and 2.0mtr depth from the existing depth". But in the EIA report submitted, it is mentioned within an area of "3.5km in length, 15mtr wide and 2 mtr depth". The date on the EIA report is 08/11/2023 and it is clear that the length of the river to be desilted has been modified to 5km from 3.5km, after preparation of the EIA report,” the Authority noted while seeking clarification. >Continued on P5