log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 263 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RCB ends WPL season on a high with 11-run win  Pg 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INVESTMENT STARTS FROM >> pg 6 Soul Food Factory: Easy South Indian breakfasts for busy lives IN SHORT >> SSCE correction centres increased for quick results PANAJI: Goa Board has increased the paper correction centres for SSC papers from 3 to 8 to expedite the process of paper correction. Four of these centres are in North Goa -- Mapusa, Cujira (Bambolim), Pernem and Bicholim and four in South Goa -- Quepem, Cuncolim, Ponda and Margao. Goan among 283 cyber victims freed PANAJI: A young engineering graduate from Goa was among 283 victims freed from illegal scam centers in Myanmar. The broader effort has led to the release of nearly 7,000 workers from over two dozen countries including India, many of whom were lured with fraudulent job offers.  >> See pg 3 Govt launches 10-yr study to diagnose causes of diseases n FOCUS ON CANCER, DIABETES & HEART DISEASES n TIES UP WITH MUMBAI’S TATA MEMORIAL CENTRE, OXFORD UNIVERSITY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A ten-year epidemiological study to investigate genetic, environmental and lifestyle/ behavioural factors contributing to the incidence in Goa of some common non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart diseases, was launched by the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) on Tuesday. The study is targeting a massive sample size of approximately one lakh participants and the DHS has taken on board Tata Memorial’s Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Mumbai and Nuffield Centre for Population Health, University of Oxford for the execution. Will help devise long-term strategies to fight diseases, assures Sawant PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant was all gung-ho over the outcomes of GOA CARES (Goa Cohort Study for Assessment of Risk & Epidemiology of NCDs) saying it will be a big boon for future generations in Goa. “It will help the State understand health trends specific to its population and enable targeted healthcare interventions and strategies in preventive medicine,” Sawant said. After announcing the launch, Sawant chaired a meeting of top officials of the health ministry which was also attended by Dr Rajesh Dixit of Tata Memorial and Professor Sarah Lewington of the University of Oxford. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced the launch of the Study -- GOA CARES (Goa Cohort Study for 863 students secured loans for higher edu TRUDEAU TAKES A SEAT PANAJI: Some 863 Goan students have availed loans aggregating Rs 127 crore to pursue higher studies abroad in the 2019-24 five year period from public sector (nationalized) banks, Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhury has disclosed in the Rajya Sabha.  >> See pg 3 Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau captured exiting Parliament carrying a chair and with his tongue sticking out after resigning on Tuesday. As per convention, Canadian lawmakers are allowed to take their chairs with them when they leave Parliament. Noise pollution: Two restaurants booked MAPUSA: The Anjuna Police have registered two separate cases against Gypsea Restaurant in Anjuna and Thalassa by Cliff Restaurant in Vagator for violating noise pollution norms by playing music beyond the permissible limits late into the night.  >> See pg 3 Smart City: IPSCDL confident of meeting March 31 deadline  >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: 34.4 C Min: 24.8 C Humidity: 74% TIDES Low: High: 03:40 15:19 09:04 22:16 Assessment of Risk & Epidemiology of NCDs) -- on Tuesday at the State Secretariat.  The study will cover one Goa utilised just 23% of annual borrowing target so far: Data THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government has so far borrowed only 23 per cent of its full-year open market borrowing target set by the Union Government. As against the set ceiling of Rs 4,500 crore for the financial year 2024-25, Goa has borrowed only Rs 1,050 as on February 28. The information was provided in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary. Interestingly, State’s substantial borrowing repayment to the tune of around Rs 3300 crore will begin from the next financial year, 2025-2026. Following closure of mining activities, the State borrowed around 1,500 crore from the open market and the ten year term of repayment is set to commence from the coming fiscal. Based on recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission (XV-FC), the annual normal Net Borrowing Ceiling (NBC) of all States has >Continued on P5 lakh participants equally divided between male and female subjects. Field work will involve enumerators from the DHS collecting each individual’s blood samples for genetic and biomarker analysis. There will be regular follow-ups to track NCD incidence, lifestyle changes and disease progression for those affected by NCDs.  Experts meanwhile, were unanimous that the study is a path-breaking initiative and will propel Goa as a leader in medical research in the country. Dr Bandekar said, its findings could solve the mystery of increasing incidence of myocardial infractions  among a younger demographic being witnessed in Goa and also Train hijacked in Pakistan, BLA militants claim 30 killed PTI KARACHI In a major escalation of separatist conflict in Pakistan, militants in Balochistan province attacked a Peshawar-bound train on Tuesday, taking nearly 450 passengers hostage, including women and children. It later released civilian hostages and took 214 people in captivity, including military personnel. In a statement, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group responsible for several deadly attacks, claimed responsibility for the hostage crisis and said they had taken hostages from the train, including security forces. More than 30 military personnel were killed in the attack, the group said. “The Baloch Army has carried out a planned operation in Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, where our freedom fighters have blown up the railway track, forcing the Jaffar Express to come to a halt. The fighters swiftly took control of the train, holding all passengers hostage,” it said. give valuable insights for public health strategies in the future. Four sites in Goa -- Valpoi, Sanquelim, Canacona and Margao -- have been zeroed in to pick the participants, from the age group of 25-70 and of diverse socio-economic backgrounds using the longitudinal prospective cohort approach.  The laboratory testing will be carried out by Dr Dixit’s team at the Tata Memorial’s Cancer Epidemiology Centre while the University of Oxford will be mentoring the project and providing study advisory support, data analytics, research collaboration besides funding assistance. >Continued on P5 1.29 Cr. *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 * Portugal govt on brink of collapse STAGE SET FOR CONFIDENCE VOTE PTI LISBON Portugal’s minority government was in danger of falling on Tuesday as parliament prepared to vote on a confidence motion, with an overwhelming majority of Opposition lawmakers saying they will choose to oust the centre-right administration. Under the Portuguese Constitution, the government’s defeat in a confidence vote triggers its collapse. That would bring Portugal’s third election in three years.. The government asked for the confidence vote, saying it was needed to dispel uncertainty about its own future amid a simmering political crisis that has focused on Prime Minister Luis Montenegro and distracted attention from government policy. The controversy has revolved around conflicts of interest in business dealings of Montenegro’s family law firm. Montenegro, who says he’ll PM IN SOUP „„Controversy has revolved around potential conflicts of interest in the business dealings of Montenegro’s family law firm „„The firm is accused of receiving monthly payments from a company that has a major gambling concession granted by the government stand for reelection if the government falls, has denied any wrongdoing. He said he placed control of the firm in the hands of his wife and children when he became Social Democratic leader in 2022 and has not been involved in its running. It recently emerged that the firm is receiving monthly payments from a company that has a major gambling concession granted by the government, among other sources of revenue. Goans brace for water crisis as reservoir levels plunge MOST DAMS AT 50% MARK, SELAULIM @ 70% THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA As summer tightens its grip on the State, the sweltering heat is not the only cause of concern. The rapidly depleting water levels in key reservoirs across Goa have emerged as a worrying issue, with most reservoirs hitting the 50 per cent mark – except for the Selaulim dam in South Goa, which remains relatively stable at 70 per cent capacity. According to data from the Water Resources Department (WRD), the situation is particularly grim in North Goa, where the Amthane reservoir, which supplies raw water to Bardez, Pernem and parts of Bicholim, has seen its levels drop alarmingly to just 36 per cent. Officials warn that with over two and a half months left before the onset of monsoons, the dwindling reserves at Amthane could pose a serious challenge in meeting the Selaulim pipeline damaged, supply to Salcete disrupted MARGAO: Over a million litres of water went waste after the valve of the main Selaulim water pipeline was damaged by a JCB machine at Paroda on Tuesday noon, disrupting water supply to Salcete and adjoining areas. The damaged valve was replaced by the PWD around 7.30 pm and the Selaulim line recharged again at around 8 pm. Senior PWD, water supply officials, however, said that consumers in Salcete and Mormugao will receive water only on Wednesday morning given that it takes minimum eight hours for the water to reach Margao from Selaulim. >> See pg 2 water demands of the region. Further compounding the issue, the water level in the Tillari reservoir – another major source of raw water for Bardez, Bicholim and Pernem talukas – has suddenly dropped to 52 per cent, prompting authorities to closely monitor the situation. An official from the Water Resources Department, speaking on the condition of anonymity, admitted that the situation is concerning but assured that measures are being taken to manage the supply effectively. “We are closely monitoring the water levels in all major reservoirs. While the current reserves are expected to last until the monsoon, we urge citizens to use water >Continued on P5 Illegal plant nurseries flourish AFTER YEAR-LONG WAIT… Goa’s sandy shores get a new caretaker in State due to lack of rules THE IDENTIFIED BEACHES FINALLY, A WAVE OF CHANGE AGRI DEPT LACKS DATA ON NUMBER OF NURSERIES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI More than 25 years since the Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plant Nurseries (Regulation) Act, 1995 was enacted, the State government is yet to formulate the necessary rules under the Act. As a result, the absence of enforcement measures has hindered efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal plant nurseries across the State. Interestingly, the Agriculture Department lacks data on the number of nurseries in the State, including those with ex- pired licenses -- issued nearly two years ago -- or those operating without proper permissions. The registration fee, set at Rs 1,000 back in 1997, remains unchanged to this day. While a Zonal Agriculture Officer is a nursery inspector under the provisions of the Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plant Nurseries (Regulation) Act 1995, a senior official conceded that in the absence of punitive provision in the Act, there is no clarity as to who will act upon such illegal nurseries. Despite repeated attempts Director Agriculture Sandeep Fol Dessai remained unavailable for the comments. However, a senior official admitted that more than 25 years since the Act was notified in 1997, no Rules have been framed under it. In 2018, then in-charge Satej Kamat had drafted Rules and moved it to the Law department for vetting; however, following his transfer, the rules remained as mere documents. “Detailed Rules were drafted to crack down on such illegal nurseries and to ensure that the business remains >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI fter two tenders during a year-long search, the Tourism Department has appointed M/s EcostanInfra Pvt Ltd as the new contractor for beach cleaning under the “Providing Comprehensive Cleanliness on the Beach Stretches of the State of Goa.” The five-year contract, effective from March 1, 2025, covers the collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal of waste on 51 nominated beaches across Goa. As per the contract, beach cleaning activities will be conducted daily in two shifts: 6 am to 12noon and 4 pm to 8pm. Tourism Director Kedar Naik A „„Five-year contract will be effective from March 1 „„Will cover collection, segregation, transportation, and disposal of waste „„Cleaning to be conducted daily in two shifts: 6 am to 12-noon and 4 pm to 8 pm „„Contractor responsible for clearing all types of waste, including plastic bottles, glass bottles, paper, cardboard etc said the contractor is responsible for lifting all types of waste, including plastic bottles, glass bottles, paper, cardboard, empty wrappers, metal objects, food waste, tree leaves, discarded goods, carcasses of fish and marine animals, tar balls, oil spills, flood debris, and waste generated by beach shacks and restaurants. Segregated waste from North Goa beaches will be transported to the Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP) at Saligao while waste from South Goa beaches will be transported to the SWMP at „„Keri, Kalacha, Arambol, Mandrem, Ashvem, Morjim, Vagator, Ozran, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Sinquerim, Nerul, Miramar, Caranzalem, Dona Paula, Odxel, Vainguinim Beach, Nauxim & Cacra, Siridao, Bambolim, Agassaim, Baina, Bogmalo, Hollant, Velsao, Arrosim, Utorda, Majorda, Betalbatim, Colva, Sernabatim, Benaulim, Varca, Zalor & Fatrade, Cavelossim, Mobor, Canaguinim, Cabo de Rama, Cola, Agonda, Butterfly, Palolem, Patnem, Rajbag, Talpona, Galgibag, Xandrem, Polem and Kharewada. Cacora for proper disposal. “A total of 122 approach roads leading to the 51 beaches have been identified for regular cleaning. The contractor will ensure cleanliness up to 100 meters from the beach entrance and deploy adequate labourers and two road sweeping machines for this purpose,” he said. A total of 52 supervisors are appointed to oversee cleaning operations across various beaches wherein 240-liter dustbins will be placed at 50-meter intervals and 660-liter bins at beach entrances and other high-footfall locations to maintain cleanliness.