@thegoanonline SATURDAY MARCH 1, 2025 Govt to crack down on private rented vehicles PANAJI: After imposing restrictions on rental vehicles to operate only from their registered office premises, the Transport Department is now cracking down on private vehicles being rented out to tourists. Beach shacks swap seafood for idli-sambar as demand shifts PANAJI: While idli-sambar being served in beach shacks is not going down well with some sections of Goans, the fact remains that South Indian delicacies and noodles have already begun dominating the menu. Shack owners argue that they have no choice but to serve what sells. Govt likely to transfer fake hotel booking scam to CBI PANAJI: The Goa government is considering transferring the recently busted multi-crore fake hotel listings scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) with the Home Department reportedly processing the file. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 252 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Govt amends DMF rules, bars transfer of funds n 15KM RADIUS IDENTIFIED AS DIRECTLY AFFECTED n 70 PC FUNDS RESERVED FOR THESE AREAS THE AMENDMENT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In line with the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Keshtra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY), the Goa government has amended the District Mineral Funds (DMF) Rules 2018, wherein it has identified areas upto 15kms radius as directly affected areas due to iron ore mining activities. Almost 70 per cent of the DMF funds would be utilised in these areas. Also, the government has barred transfer of DMF funds to the State exchequer or State level fund or Chief Minister’s Relief Fund or any other funds or schemes. The State had in 2021-22, diverted around Rs 38 crore funds towards COVID relief. The Goan, was first to report about the possible 24 ON PAGE 3 Facebook.com/thegoan ON 20 log on to thegoan.net 2 8 SEP amendment to the DMF rules to specify the radius for identification of directly and indirectly impacted areas in and around the mining leases. As per the amendment, the area directly affected is up to 15km from the boundary of a mine lease, and the area considered indirectly affected is up to 25km from the boundary of a mining lease. INVERTER ACS 5 STAR ACS „„Areas within a 15km radius from mining leases are classified as directly affected, while those up to 25km are indirectly affected „„70% of DMF funds will be utilised for directly affected areas „„Transfer of DMF funds to the State exchequer, CM’s Relief Fund, or other schemes is now prohibited „„DMF funds cannot be transferred between districts and must be spent only in mining-affected areas According to the notification issued by the Director of Mines Narayan Gad, the directly affected areas are villages and gram panchayats or Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) within which mines (other than minor minerals) are situated and are operational and such mining areas may extend to neighbouring village/ town, block or district or even 18,871 students to answer SSC exams from today THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Total 18,871 Class X students are set to answer the secondary school certificate (SSC) examination 2024-25, conducted by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) from Saturday, March 1 onwards. The examination will conclude on March 21. GOVT TO BEAR EXAM FEES OF ST STUDENTS >> See pg 2 State provided that directly affected area is an area within such radius from a mine or cluster of mines as may be specified by the government, but shall not extend beyond 15km from the boundary of the mines of mineral other than minor minerals. “Indirectly affected More girls 9,574 are appearing for the examination as against the total number of boys – 9,297. The examination that begins at 9.30 am will be held across 32 centres. As per the final time table released by the Board, SSC exam will commence with English paper on March 1 and Hindi on March 3. Third language is scheduled on March 5, social science I and II on March 7 and 8, respectively, Mathematics level II on March 10 and level I paper on March 11. Examination will conclude >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 DESERT COOLER TOWER COOLER Digital-only traffic fine payments from today; cops to wear body cams THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Traffic Department will switch to a fully digital system for compounding challans issued under the Motor Vehicles Act and Rules from March 1, completely phasing out cash payments. Police sources told The Goan that traffic personnel have been strictly instructed not to demand or accept cash payments from violators. The personnel/ officials on the ground have also been directed to mandatorily wear bodyworn cameras properly to ensure transparency. However, some officials apprehend technical glitches as the devices have not undergone testing for a comprehensive use while also detailed briefing to the personnel is pending. The department had last month mandated that bodyworn cameras must capture video recordings, which should be reflected in the DSR without fail. Each Traffic Cell has been allotted about 5-6 ALL FOR TRANSPARENCY „„Police sources said that traffic personnel have been strictly instructed not to demand or accept cash payments from violators „„The personnel/ officials on the ground have also been directed to mandatorily wear body-worn cameras properly to ensure transparency body-worn cameras. “The traffic personnel have been briefed to use only digital transactions for compounding challans. Options such as UPI, debit or credit cards are available. If a violator is unable to pay on the spot, an e-challan link will be sent via SMS, which must be settled within the stipulated time,” the official said. In a recent communiqué, the department stated that the shift to digital payments >Continued on P9 DIRECT COOL SIDE BY SIDE