log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2025 >> See pg 3 After losing his leg, this govt employee learns to ride against challenging tides IN SHORT >> Pope shows slight improvement, does some work VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis showed slight improvement in laboratory tests Monday and resumed some work activities, including calling a parish in Gaza City that he has kept in touch with since the war there began, the Vatican said. The Vatican’s evening bulletin said Pope hadn’t had any more respiratory crises and the slight kidney insufficiency detected on Sunday was of no concern. Porvorim Carnival, Shigmo cancelled PANAJI: The Carnival parade and the Shigmo parade planned in Porvorim have been cancelled this year on account of ongoing work on the elevated corridor. The Porvorim Shigmotsav & Carnival Committee stated that the two events have been cancelled to avoid traffic and crowd congestion at the two events. Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 248 Over 200 booked for boozing in public PANAJI: More than 200 persons have been penalized for consuming alcohol in public areas since January 1, 2025, as part of a special drive by the North Goa District police.   >> See pg 6 WEATHER >> Max: 37.4 C Min: 23 C Humidity: 65% TIDES Low: High: 03:21 14:56 08:01 22:07 WASHINGTON The Trump administration said Sunday that it was placing all but a fraction of staffers at the US Agency for International Development on leave worldwide and eliminating at least 1,600 US-based jobs. The move was the latest and one of the biggest steps yet toward what President Donald Trump and cost-cutting ally Elon Musk say is their goal of gutting the six-decade-old aid and development agency in a broader campaign to slash the size of the federal government. The move comes after a federal judge allowed the admin- RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 HC ASKS NAVY TO DECIDE ON NOC WITHIN 2 WEEKS   THE GOAN I NETWORK 3 district hospital staff suspended n RANE ASSURES ICU, CT SCAN UPGRADE n HEARSE VAN OPS UNDER 108 NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a swift and decisive move, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday took action against three employees of the North Goa District Hospital in Mapusa, suspending two drivers and the overall in-charge for dereliction of duty. Alongside the disciplinary measures, Rane assured that the hospital’s defunct CT scan machine would be replaced and emphasised his commitment to commissioning the intensive care unit (ICU) at the earliest. The three employees who were suspended are Yashwant Kauthankar, Subodh Naik and Gurudas. The action was taken following a surprise inspection at the hospital, commonly known as Asilo. Rane indicated that further suspensions could follow as investigations continue. He also directed officials to review previous memos issued to hospital staff. The action was taken following a surprise inspection at the hospital by the health minister. The three employees who were suspended are Yashwant Kauthankar, Subodh Naik and Gurudas „„The construction was challenged through a PIL filed last month arguing that work was being undertaken without permission „„Petitioners alleged that installation of massive pillars could hinder flight operations and compromise security „„On Feb 18, Navy informed HC that MPDA had never been granted NOC for the project „„It also stated that it had earlier written to the authority, urging it to halt NHAI’s work „„On February 19, NHAI issued a letter instructing the contractor to cease work within the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces and Funnel Zone lenged through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed last month by Commander Atul Pant and the Forum Against Corruption, Illegality and Destruction; arguing that the work was being undertaken without requisite permissions and posed a significant security threat. They further alleged the construction, particularly the installation of massive pillars, could hinder flight operations and compromise security, given the frequent military and civilian flights at the Dabolim International Airport.   During a hearing on February 18, the Indian Navy informed the high court that the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority had never been granted an NOC for the project. It also stated that it had earlier written to the authority, urging it to halt the NHAI’s work. Subsequently, on February 19, NHAI issued a letter instructing the contractor to cease work within Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) and Funnel Zone.    “…Instructions have been issued to the contractor M/s M Venkata Rao In- fra Projects to stop work from Chg. Km. 7890 to Chg. Km. 8+550 (Funnel Zone Area)…” reads the communiqué. The letter, submitted in Court on Monday, was recorded in the proceedings. NHAI also stated that it had applied for NOC in December 2024, but the request is pending.   The Division Bench reiterated its directive asking the Indian Navy to decide on the application within two weeks.   “This also poses a national security threat as if the OLS is infringed the airport could result in being non-operative as the OLS are laid down by ICAO and adopted by India being signatory to it,” Advocate Richard Almeida, appearing for the petitioner, stated during previous hearing.  EV buses stuck at Margao depot as charging panel develops snag PANAJI In a major development, the construction of a stretch of the four-lane flyover from MES College junction to Bogmalo has been stalled till the Indian Navy grants permission. The National Highways Authority of India informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that it has directed its contractor M/s M Venkata Rao Infra Projects to stop the work until the Indian Navy decides on its application seeking a No Objection Certificate (NOC).   A Division Bench comprising Justice M S Karnik and Justice Nivedita Mehta directed the Indian Navy to decide on the NOC within two weeks.   The construction was chal- SETBACK FOR INFRASTRUCTURE Setback for Goa on move to update notified coastal plan THE GOAN I NETWORK BRIDGING THE GAP: New spans being installed on the Porvorim flyover on Monday. Work on the flyover has been progressing at a brisk space and is expected to be completed ahead of time.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Cables on poles: No HC relief for internet service providers THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa has declined to grant interim relief to the All Goa Internet Service Providers Association, which sought to stay the action of the Electricity Department regarding the removal of internet cables from electricity poles. With this order, the department can proceed with its ongoing action to snap the illegal wires hanging on the poles and other electricity infrastructure. The petitioner association alleged that the Electricity Department has been acting arbitrarily despite their ad- Trump cuts USAID workforce, 1,600 staffers in line of fire PTI Pg 15 Ravindra’s ton guides New Zealand into CT2025 semis Navy clearance holds up Bogmalo flyover project Nightclubs booked for noise pollution PANAJI: The North district police registered 11 cases of noise pollution against various establishments in the last around five months. The action comes in compliance with the directions of the High Court of Bombay at Goa regarding noise pollution norms.  >> See pg 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline The move marked one of the most significant steps yet in President Donald Trump’s and cost-cutting ally Elon Musk’s broader effort to downsize the agency istration to move forward with its plan to pull thousands of USAID staffers off the job in the United States and around the world. US District Judge Carl Nichols rejected pleas in a lawsuit from employees to keep temporarily blocking the government’s plan. As of 11:59 pm EST on Sunday, February 23, 2025, all USAID direct hire personnel, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and/or specially designated programs, will be placed on administrative leave globally, according to the notices sent. At the same time, the agency said that it was beginning a reduction in force that would eliminate 2,000 US-based jobs. A version of the notice posted later on USAID’s website put the number of positions to be eliminated at 1,600. The administration gave no explanation for the discrepancy. USAID and the State Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. herence to due process. They pointed out that their Right of Way (RoW) application, submitted to the Department of Information Technology on November 22, 2023, is still pending. In its petition, the Association stated that it had applied >Continued on P6 MARGAO A number of EV buses were stranded at KTC depot, Margao on Monday after the charging panel developed a snag. In fact, the EV buses could not run on some of routes in South Goa. Social activist and GOACAN coordinator Roland Martins informed that a shuttle bus traveled slowly from Cortalim to Margao due to a low battery charge. “I was traveling on that bus. As we reached Cortalim, it began to slow down. When I asked about it, I was informed that the battery charge was low,” he said. Upon further inquiries at the Margao depot, I was told that the EV buses had a problem of charging for want of power supply, he said. Roland further said that EV bus services to Canacona, Karwar and EV shuttle service to Panjim was affected. When  contacted, KTC Chairman MLA Ulhas Tuemkar admitted there was some problem. He, however, said the issue was resolved. “The ambulance drivers deliberately damage vehicles, take leave, and remain at home, which hampers emergency services,” Rane alleged. Acknowledging the shortage of ambulances in the State, he assured that measures are being considered to address the issue. To improve emergency medical services, he announced plans to bring all ambulance and hearse van operations under the 108 emergency service network. The minister also assured that the defunct CT scan machine at the hospital, which >Continued on P6 CZMP 2019 CANNOT BE DRAFTED BASED ON ‘MODIFIED OR UPDATED DATABASE’, NCSCM TELLS GCZMA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Chennai based National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) which has drafted Goa Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011, has raised strong objection to Goa’s plea to modify and update the notified plan stating that the State cannot draft a CZMP 2019 plan based on a modified database as it is against the CRZ notification and if done, the same will be “questionable”. Citing several discrepancies in the notified plan based on 1:25,000 scale, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) in September, last year, forwarded the updated CZMP 2011 based on 1:4,000 scale to the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for approval and notification and the same has been vetted by the National Coastal body. The CZMP 2011, NCSCM NOTE TO COASTAL BODY „„CZMP database prepared as per CRZ notification 2011 shall be used as base for revision or updation of CZMP, as per provisions contained in CRZ notification 2019 „„Only approved CZMP 2011 database will be used for preparation of the CZMP 2019 „„If any updated or modified CZMP 2011 database is used for preparation of CZMP 2019, the entire exercise will become liable to be questioned based on the 1:25,000 scale, was notified on September 6, 2022. In a communication to GCZMA on January 23, the NCSCM acting director Dr Purvaja Ramachandran, noted that since NCSCM has already provided the approved CZMP 2011 database and the signed maps, the preparation of CZMP 2019 of Goa can continue with the approved data. Ramachandran noted that the “CZMP database prepared as per the CRZ notification 2011 which has been scrutinized by the technical scruti- ny committee, finalized by the NCSCM and approved by the MoEF&CC shall be used as the base for revision or updation of the CZMP, as per the provisions contained in the CRZ notification 2019. “Thus only the approved CZMP 2011 database will be used for preparation of the CZMP 2019,” Ramachandran said. “If any updated or modified CZMP 2011 database is used for preparation of CZMP 2019, then the entire exercise >Continued on P6 Relocated Porvorim trees in peril, warns expert THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI early a month after a private consultant flagged concerns over the translocation of four trees in Porvorim, a fresh report has revealed that while some trees remain in a shock state, they are not dead. However, one of the two translocated banyan trees is unlikely to survive. Director of Landscape Designer and Ecological Consultant Parag Mody had earlier warned that the translocation was poorly executed with little regard for the trees’ survival. His latest report has pointed to the precarious condition of the relocated trees and called for immediate corrective measures. “The (first) banyan tree N HOPE & DECAY: WHAT THE REPORT SAYS „„The first banyan tree is not dead and is expected to survive, though growth will be slow in summer and improve during the monsoon „„The second banyan tree has rot at the trunk and most likely at the roots, making its survival unlikely „„One of the two Alstonia scholaris trees remains in a dormant or shock state but is not dead „„The second appears dormant but alive… water should not accumulate around it „„An unidentified tree is also in a dormant state and requires light watering is not dead and is expected to survive, though growth will be slow in summer and improve during the monsoon. The (second) banyan tree, however, has rot at the base of the trunk and most likely at the roots, making its survival unlikely,” the report findings mention, copy of which is with The Goan. Regarding the two Alstonia scholaris trees, the report observed that the first remains in a dormant or shock state but is not dead. The second tree appears dormant but alive, with a caution that water should not accumulate around it. An unidentified tree is also in a dormant state and requires light watering. The earlier report had highlighted several issues with the translocation, including severe pruning, root-ball damage, poor site selection, flawed techniques and inadequate post-translocation care. Two trees were moved to a rice paddy area near a water body and the Consultant raised concerns over their survival. The Banyan tree, located near a temple and yet to be moved, presented structural challenges. The report noted that the temple may have to be demolished for the translo- cation, and based on previous methods, concerns remain over the process. For this Banyan tree, the Consultant stated that no nearby location is available for relocation. It will have to be severely pruned and transported in a horizontal position on a large flatbed truck. “The tree will remain severely maimed for decades and its chances of returning to its original state are uncertain,” the report stated, adding that efforts will be made to replant its ancillary trunks as separate trees. The consultant also stated that Site Location 2, the RRSM Site Office, is an acceptable relocation site for the banyan tree, as it ensures the required >Continued on P6