log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY MARCH 30, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 18 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 281 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Gudi Padwa: Welcoming the New Year in different ways  Pg3 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INVESTMENT STARTS FROM >> SEE PG 2 BUDGET: TAKEAWAYS AND REALITY CHECK MAGAZINE MAGAZ 11 Towards zero waste in fashion textiles: A sustainable future Saving turtles, protecting jobs: Agonda’s success in conservation & tourism Beyond the oven: The world of chief Rodwin’s Boulangerie & patisserie 13 When a judge dies: The enduring legacy beyond the robes IN SHORT >> Old Goa project: ASI assures probe OLD GOA : The Archaeological Survey of India has taken cognisance of complaints received from various quarters regarding the demand for stoppage of work on the heritage interpretation centre project under Prasad scheme at Old Goa.  >> See pg 5 Shetye plaint: JMFC tells cops to file FIR VASCO: The Vasco Judicial Magistrate First Class court has directed the police to register an FIR within 24 hours on a complaint filed by electricity department executive engineer Kashinath Shetye. >> See pg 4 WEATHER >> Max: 33.3 C Min: 24.4 C Humidity: 72% TIDES Low: High: 05:11 11:42 17:31 23:25 1.29 Cr. Only steering committee will Political factors to drive cabinet reshuffle: CM decide on mega projects: CM SAYS AGENCIES UNDER TCP MUST ADHERE TO RULES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A new steering committee, headed by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, will now oversee approvals for mega projects in Goa. The decision, announced in the Budget session, comes particularly in view of growing opposition to large-scale developments in villages, where residents claim they were unaware of approvals and raised concerns over the area’s capacity. Speaking on Prudent Media’s Head On, Sawant said the Planning and Development Authorities and other agencies under the Town & Country Planning (TCP) must strictly adhere to regulations. He also called for tighter controls, stating that the committee will have the authority to approve or reject mega projects based on infrastructure CM: Officials to be liable for any future illegal structures PANAJI: Reiterating commitment to tackle illegal and irregular constructions, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that officials across departments including district collectors have been directed that any new illegal construction would reflect on their confidential reports. “Clear instructions have been given to them. Henceforth, any illegal construction that comes up, the concerned bureaucrats will be held responsible. It would reflect on their confidential report,” he warned. Following a High Court order on demolishing feasibility. “If a mega project requires approval, the committee will decide. If the infrastructure is inadequate, approval will not be granted. Micro-planning is essential because, in villages, large plots are often sold to builders who propose major illegal structures, a detailed analysis identified eight types of violations across comunidade, private, government land, etc. Sawant stated that efforts were being made to streamline the regularisation process for unauthorized constructions. Under the Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Constructions Act (RUCA) introduced about a decade ago, 10,000 applications were received with 2,000 scrutinized and granted sanads. The remaining 8,000 are pending due to issues related >Continued on P8 projects without the necessary infrastructure in place. All this leads to protests,” he said. For the first time, government departments including Public Works, Water Resources, Electricity  and  Sewerage among others will be part of Bomb threat at police HQ sets off major security Op E-MAIL WARNED OF IED ATTACK ON DGP’S OFFICE, 6-HOUR SEARCH YIELDS NOTHING THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A bomb threat targeting the headquarters of the Goa Police sent security forces into high alert on Saturday morning, prompting an extensive search operation that lasted nearly six hours. The threat, received on the official email account of the Director General of Police (DGP), warned about an improvised explosive device (IED) attack. The Bomb Disposal Squad and Dog Squad were quickly deployed while security units combed the premises for any suspicious activity or devices. The cyber crime unit simulta- Myanmar quake toll soars past 1,600, many missing PTI BANGKOK Myanmar’s ruling military said Saturday on state television that the confirmed death toll from a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake rose to 1,644, as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of the scores of buildings that collapsed when it struck near the country’s second-largest city. The new total is a sharp rise compared to the 1,002 total announced just hours earlier, underlining the difficulty of confirming casualties over a widespread region and the likelihood that the numbers will continue to grow from Friday’s quake. The number of injured increased to 3,408, while the missing figure rose to 139. Rescue efforts are underway especially in the major stricken cities of Mandalay, the country’s No. 2 city, and Naypyitaw, the capital. But ` *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 * India sends aid NEW DELHI: As Myanmar reels from a massive earthquake, India mounted a multi-agency relief mission delivering 15 tonnes of essential materials and dispatching more aid by air and sea. even though teams and equipment have been flown in from other nations, they are hindered by the airports in those cities being damaged and apparently unfit to land planes.  >> See pg 8 THE E-MAIL THREAT „„This is an urgent security alert regarding IED attack targeting the DGP office, Goa, orchestrated by international drug cartels in collusion with hostile state actors. The threat is linked to recent developments involving Jaffer Sadiq (DMK-related meth case) and suggests the use of sulphur peroxide based IEDs neously launched an investigation into the source of the email. “At 9:09 am today, an email was received on DGP Goa email id containing threat of IED attack targeting DGP office. Immediately Goa police security unit and district police were put on high alert. They are conducting checks based on standard operating procedures laid down. Cyber crime unit is investigating the origin of the email,” Superintendent of Police and spokesperson Rahul Gupta said in a statement to the media. The email -- circulated to all the agencies for quick action -- “confirmed” the attack had been orchestrated by international drug cartels and Pak ISI Cells, warning the threat >Continued on P8 the decision-making process. Sawant conceded that the absence of these agencies in past approvals had led to inconsistencies, particularly at the village panchayat level. Details of the committee’s framework will be notified soon. SAYS MINISTERIAL PERFORMANCE WILL NOT BE CRITERION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has clarified that any upcoming cabinet reshuffle will be driven by political considerations rather than ministerial performance. His remarks come a day after media reports that he submitted a performance report on each minister to the central leadership in New Delhi. Speaking on Prudent Media’s Head On programme on Saturday, Sawant confirmed ongoing discussions with senior leaders and indicated that changes could take place soon. “It will happen at some point after discussions. My ministers are working, the cabinet is functioning well and there is no doubt about their performance. However, if there is a need to accommodate someone for other reasons, that decision lies with the party’s high command. It is a political strategy, not a POWER PLAY: SAWANT SPEAK „„It will happen at some point after discussions „„My ministers are working, the cabinet is functioning well and there is no doubt about their performance „„If there is a need to accommodate someone for other reasons, that decision lies with the party’s high command „„Each minister has a distinct working style and questions should not be raised about their effectiveness „„Reshuffle will be a political decision… political compulsion but not linked to performance reflection on anyone’s performance,” he said. He added that each minister has a distinct working style and questions should not be raised about their effectiveness. “The reshuffle will be a political decision… political compulsion but not linked to performance,” he reiterated. Ahead of the Assembly session, Sawant, along with State BJP president Damodar Naik, submitted a performance report on cabinet ministers to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders. BJP National General Secre- tary (organization) B L Santhosh and other senior leaders are also expected to visit Goa next month. Speculation over a cabinet reshuffle has been ongoing, particularly regarding the potential inclusion of Congress defectors. The speculation intensified after Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar indicated that changes in the government could occur within a fortnight or a month. Tawadkar mentioned the >Continued on P8