log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline  WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2025 13 pages >> pg 6 Promoting community concept of ‘grow, let grow’ in Goa IN SHORT >> Amthane dam probe stuck in limbo PANAJI: The probe into the jammed Amthane dam gate and years of neglected maintenance remains in limbo, with the government yet to launch an inquiry into the glaring lapse -- despite Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s order nearly 20 days ago.   >> See pg 3 Lavoo case: Cause of death pending BELAGAVI: Belagavi police on Tuesday received the autopsy report of the deceased former Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar, but the cause of death has been kept pending for chemical analysis report and histopathology reports. Police said the further course of action against the arrested suspect would depend on the outcome of these reports.  >> See pg 3 Third chargesheet against Suleman PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 242 BANS OTHER EPISODES, BUT PROTECTS HIM FROM ARREST PTI KEY SUPREME COURT OBSERVATIONS NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Tuesday protected influencer Ranveer Allahbadia from arrest over his distasteful comments during a YouTube show while severely castigating him for the remarks it described as “showing a perverted mind”. Several FIRs have been filed against Allahbadia, popularly known as Beer Biceps, for the comment on parents and sex on comedian Samay Raina's YouTube show “India's Got Latent”. A furious court at the outset berated Allahbadia for his “unacceptable comments” on the show and said, “... there is something dirty in his mind which has been vomited on the YouTube show.” “The words you have used will make daughters, sisters, parents and even the socie- „„The words you have used will make daughters, sisters, parents and even the society feel ashamed „„It shows a perverted mind... If this is not obscenity, what is it? „„Why should we quash or club the FIRs against you? „„If you can try to attain cheap publicity by saying these kinds of things, there might be others also who might want to get cheap publicity by making threats ty feel ashamed. It shows a perverted mind. If this is not obscenity, what is it? Why should we quash or club the FIRs against you?” asked Justice Surya Kant, who was on the bench along with Justice N Kotiswar Singh. However, the bench agreed to the submissions of senior advocate Abhinav Chandrachud, representing the influencer, that Allahbadia be protected from arrest keeping in mind the filing of multiple FIRs on the same issue as well as the death threats against him. “Are you defending the kind of language he has used?” Justice Surya Kant asked Chandrachud, who conceded that he himself was “disgusted”. The senior lawyer, however, said the question was whether the remarks constituted a criminal offence as profanity per se would not amount to PANAJI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT-Land Grab) is expected to file a third chargesheet against 'hardened criminal' and land grab accused Suleman Siddique Khan on February 21. The chargesheet, second in the Mapusa land grab case, will be filed before the JMFC, Mapusa. The accused was recently chargesheeted over his alleged involvement in fraudulent land acquisitions in Mapusa and Curca. THE GOAN I NETWORK Chaos prevails at Sancoale p’yat meet VASCO: Chaos prevailed yet again at the Sancoale Panchayat meeting on Tuesday, amid accusations from the ruling and opposition groups. While the opposition claimed the meeting was not conducted properly and accused the ruling panel of blatant corruption, the ruling panch members refuted the allegations of the opposition.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 34.4 C Min: 23.2 C Humidity: 93% TIDES Low: High: 08.48 20.30 01.57 15.21 obscenity. “If you can try to attain cheap publicity by saying these kinds of things, there might be others also who might want to get cheap publicity by making threats,” the bench said. The bench directed that no further FIRs shall be lodged against him for his comments during the YouTube show, “India''s Got Latent”. The top court also restrained Allahbadia and his associate influencers on the controversial YouTube show from airing any other episode till further orders. It directed Allahbadia to deposit his passport at the Thane police station and said he shall not leave the country without the prior permission of the court. The bench directed Allahbadia to cooperate in the probe of the FIRs lodged at Maharashtra and Assam. HC quashes stay on Bodgeshwar temple panel TOUCHDOWN TURNOVER A Delta jet flipped on its roof while landing at Toronto's Pearson Airport. All 80 people on board survived and those hurt had relatively minor injuries. (Report on pg 8) No compensatory afforestation for underground projects in forests THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major relaxation for crucial linear projects, Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has informed States that all underground works in forest land linked to linear, irrigation, hydel, and other development projects are environmentally-friendly activities and are exempt from compensatory afforestation. The matter was discussed during the Forest Advisory Committee meeting held on January 27 in response to a request from the Rajasthan government, which enquired about the applicability of compensatory afforestation for tunnels constructed as part of water resource development projects. “Construction of tunnels for irrigation or other similar purposes such hydel projects is an environment friendly activity as it does not interfere with surface flora, fauna and causes no surface disturbances,” the minutes of >Continued on P5 MATTHEWS, SCIVER-BRUNT HELP MUMBAI SEAL WIN AGAINST GIANTS RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Something dirty in his mind: SC on Allahbadia PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed and set aside the Administrative Tribunal's order that had stayed the appointment/swearing-in of the newly elected committee of Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Devasthan, Mapusa. The petition challenging the Tribunal's order was filed by the newly elected committee, represented by Advocate Abhijit Gosavi. The petitioners argued that the election process was conducted democratically and that an ex-parte order could not be passed to stay the appointment. The High Court upheld these arguments and quashed the Tribunal’s order. The election for the Shree Dev Bodgeshwar Temple committee had taken place on February 9. Before this, on the evening of February 7, the temple administrators accepted a list submitted by the temple secretary, which included 1,416 voters, among whom were 254 newly inducted Mahajans. An order was subsequently issued allowing these new Mahajans to participate in the election, and the process was conducted accordingly. >> 13 Vasco agent booked for cheating deported duo Victims claim they paid `18.5 lakh THE GOAN I NETWORK VASCO A Vasco-based agent has been booked on charges of cheating the two Goans who were deported from the USA after attempting to illegally cross into the country. Acting on a complaint from the youth, Vasco police have registered an FIR against Stanley George of Captain George Consultancy Services, an agency based in New Vaddem, Vasco, for allegedly cheating two victims of Rs 18.5 lakh under the pretext of securing them employment in the US. In a police complaint filed on Monday, a youth from Sarzora alleged that between May 17, 2024 and January 20, 2025 at Vasco, Stanley George, without having a license from the Protector of Emigrants, Government BETRAYED AT HOME „„Sarzora youth in his complaint alleged that Stanley George did not have a license to recruit people for employment abroad „„He dishonestly induced him of Rs 8 lakh and Rs 10.5 lakh from another youth from of India, to recruit people for employment abroad, dishonestly induced him and received from him Rs 8 lakh and Rs 10.5 lakh from another youth from Panchwadi-Shiroda to provide them employment in USA in a hotel or restaurant. The complainant stated that the recruitment agent had the knowledge that he Panchwadi-Shiroda to provide them jobs in US hotel or restaurant „„Complainant states agent knew he would cause them wrongful loss „„He sent them to Mexico to illegally cross over into USA, where they caught would cause them wrongful loss, and further sent them to Mexico to illegally cross over into USA, where they were intercepted by the US Border officials and deported back to India, thereby cheating the complainant and the other youth to the tune of Rs 18.5 lakh. >Continued on P5 Iconic Zuari twin towers to take shape after rains NIO ROPED IN TO UNDERTAKE RAPID EIA STUDY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The construction work of the iconic twin towers atop the new Zuari bridge is expected to begin after the monsoons, with National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) entrusted with the task of undertaking Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the project. The PWD in 2023 had executed a Concession Agreement with Dilip Buildcon owned subsidiary -- Zuari Observatory Towers -- for construction of Rs 270 crore twin Observatory Towers and Viewing Galleries atop the bridge which was expected to be completed within three years from the time of execution of the work. Speaking to The Goan, the vice president (constructions) Dilip Buildcon Atul Joshi said that the company has applied for various permissions with the concerned authorities like Indian Navy, Coastal Zone Management Authority for CRZ clearance, Goa State Pol- ZUARI’S NEXT LANDMARK „„Company has applied for permissions from authorities which will take 3-4 months „„Time limit for completion is 60 months, but company intends to throw it open for public in three years „„Each tower will comprise four decks of which three will be accessible to public „„One tower will be towards north side while the other towards south „„Each tower is expected to be at least 110 meters high from water level „„Each tower will have capacity to accommodate more than 500 persons at a time lution Control Board for the consent to establish, etc. “We have roped in NIO for conducting Rapid EIA, which is required before applying for the environmental clearance for the project,” Joshi said adding ‘it will take at least three to four months to get required permissions’. “Once the permissions are obtained, the actual execution of work will commence only after monsoons,” he said while stating that though, as per agreement, we are granted 60 months to complete, we intend to finish and throw it open for the public in three years. In November, last year, the contractor completed the wind tunnel test on the model. Each of the twin towers will comprise four decks of which three will be accessible to the public. “One tower will be constructed towards the north side and the other towards the south. The design is already ready and it is sent >Continued on P5 All Smart City roads to be ready Cancer vaccine for women within 6 months: Centre GOOD NEWS AT LAST by March 31, IPSCDL tells HC PTI ASSURES TO COMPLETE BEAUTIFICATION WORKS BY JUNE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has assured the High Court of Bombay at Goa that roads across Panaji will be made operational by March 31. In an undertaking submitted during the ongoing hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on Tuesday, the IPSCDL also assured that all beautification works including the footpaths, will be completed by June-end. The submissions were accepted by the Bench. The assurance came as the High Court, in June 2024 on the request of the State government, granted an extension to the agency to complete the works by June 2025. The government, on its part, submitted a detailed status report on the works to the High Court, which was also officially recorded. In its affidavit filed earlier this month, IPSCDL mentioned the stretches of roads where work is currently un- derway and those scheduled to be taken up, along with the respective deadlines for beautification works. The 560-meter stretch from Handicrafts Building (at Neuginagar) to Four Pillars Junction and the 250-meter segment from Old Patto Bridge to the Income Tax Office –originally scheduled to begin on February 1 and conclude by February 28 -- involves laying utility ducts with road crossings and the construction of >Continued on P5 NEW DELHI vaccine to fight cancers affecting women will be available in five to six months, and those in the age group of nine to 16 years will be eligible for inoculation, Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav said on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference here, the Union Minister of State for Health, Family Welfare and Ayush (Independent Charge) said that research on a vaccine is nearly complete and trials are underway. “The number of cancer patients has increased in the country, and the Central government has initiated „„Research on the vaccine is nearly complete and trials are underway „„Those in age group of nine to 16 years to be eligible for inoculation „„Women above 30 will undergo screening at hospitals, and daycare cancer A steps to address this issue. Women above 30 will undergo screening at hospitals, and daycare cancer centres will be established for early detection of the disease,” Jadhav said. He said the government has centres will be established for early detection „„Govt has also waived off customs duty for medicines used in cancer treatment „„The vaccine will tackle breast, oral and cervical cancers also waived off customs duty for medicines used in cancer treatment. The minister said, “The research on a vaccine for cancers that affect women is nearly complete, and trials are underway. It will be available in five to six months, and girls in the age group of nine to 16 years will be eligible for inoculation.” Asked about the cancers the vaccine will tackle, Jadhav said breast, oral and cervical cancers. Asked about transforming the existing healthcare centres into Ayush facilities, Jadhav said hospitals have Ayush departments, and people can avail of these facilities. He said the country has 12,500 such health facilities, and the government is increasing them. Meanwhile, Russia announced a groundbreaking development in cancer treatment with the creation of an mRNA-based vaccine designed to treat cancer patients. The revolutionary vaccine, set to be launched in early 2025, will be distributed free of cost to citizens, according to state-run media reports.