log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY APRIL 3, 2025 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 285 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 2 3 14 11 BJP central leadership Once a ‘Smart City’ symbol, Panaji’s will decide on alliance mangrove boardwalk now in ruins in State interest: MGP Margao council sees `14 lakh boost as fee hikes take effect GOA Siolim-Marna p’yat to inspect illegal structures following HC order SPORTS INFO Jaiswal makes shock switch from Mumbai cricket to Goa Must-have nutritional needs for girls during puberty BROKEN WOODEN PLANKS, COLLAPSED BARRICADES, AND ACCUMULATED FILTH LITTER THE WALKWAY; COMMUTERS ALLEGE BOARDWALK HAS BECOME HUB FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI It was once hailed as a landmark project, a testament to Panaji’s urban transformation conceptualised by Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) under the AMRUT mission. But today, the much-hyped mangrove boardwalk, thrown open with grand ambition in 2018, is a picture of decay, neglect and failed promises. Spread over 1,100 sq mtrs, the IPSCDL then claimed the wooden walkway was envisioned as a rare ecological attraction and is one of only two such boardwalks in the country – the other in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It was meant to educate visitors on the mangroves’ role in the Rua de Ourem Creek ecosys- >> See PG 3 10 months on, govt yet to appoint new GSCPCR IN SHORT >> SC orders DGPs to ensure custodial safeguards NEW DELHI: Observing that even a criminal enjoyed certain protections, the Supreme Court has directed the director generals of police of all the states and UTs to strictly adhere to all safeguards available to persons in custody. A bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Prashant Kumar Mishra called the police a very vital part of the state machinery, having a direct bearing on the safety and security of the society at large and individuals in particular. >> See pg 9 Valpoi Court dismisses Suleman’s bail plea PANAJI: The Judicial Magistrate First Class, Valpoi, has dismissed the bail application of land grab accused Suleman Siddique Khan in connection with an alleged land fraud that occurred in 2021. The case was chargesheeted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT-Land Grab) February this year. >> See pg 3 Rua de Ourem work will be deferred till sewerage line is installed: IPSCDL to HC The wooden planks at the mangrove boardwalk are partially broken, and the barricades have collapsed. PANAJI: The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has held the Public Works Department’s (PWD) sewerage section responsible for the delay in commencing and completing the road construction work in Rua de Ourem. In an update submitted to the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday, IPSCDL stated that the project will be deferred till the sewerage line is installed.  >> See pg 3 When The Goan visited the boardwalk and asked a couple how they had managed to enter it, they willingly pointed to holes cut in the makeshift barricade and encouraged this journalist to also sneak in. The daily commuters including a few staff from the Goa State Central Library alleged the walkway has be- come a haven for illicit activities. A senior citizen, who regularly visits the Central Library, also echoed their concern. “Who would be responsible if any person is injured on the boardwalk? The authorities should ensure security in the area to prevent people from venturing onto the dilapidated boardwalk,” Co seeks 1 lakh sqm for fruit processing units in Loliem All is good between coalition partners, says Dhavalikar THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A day after BJP announced to strengthen its base in all 40 assembly constituencies; its ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) on Wednesday said that the BJP high command will take the decision in the interest of the State and currently “all is well” between the coalition partners. Tension continues to flare between BJP and MGP over the alliance for the next assembly election as the BJP State president Damodar Naik now said that the party will strengthen its base in all 40 constituencies and the decision will be taken at the right time. Unrest within the coalition was evident following Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s statement to retain Priol constituency and no one should interfere. Following this, MGP su- We have briefed everything to the BJP central leadership…clear message has already gone to CM from them…Central leaders will decide in the interest of the State,” — Sudin Dhavalikar, Minister and MGP supremo premo and Minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar and party president Pandurang ‘Deepak’ Dhavalikar met BJP general secretary organisation B L Santhosh in Delhi. Speaking to media persons on Wednesday, Sudin said, “We have briefed everything to the BJP central leadership… clear message has already Central employees entitled to special casual leave for organ donation tem, offer a haven for migratory bird watchers and provide a serene escape within the city. Eight years on, the project stands in shambles. The once-inviting wooden planks are partially broken. Barricades have collapsed. The walkway is blanketed in filth and discarded liquor bottles. The entry point – closed Soft soil, high water table, bogs down Taad MaadSTP sewer line work >> See pg 3 around two years ago – has been breached with trespassers sneaking through holes in rusted tin sheets. COMUNIDADE CONVENES MEET ON SUNDAY TO DISCUSS LAND ALLOTMENT; TAWADKAR IS ONE OF THE DIRECTORS THE GOAN I NETWORK CANACONA A company, which has Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar as one of its directors, has requested for 1 lakh sqm of land from the Loliem-Polem Comunidade to set up multi-fruits processing units. The Loliem-Polem Comunidade has convened an extraordinary general body meeting on Sunday to consider allotting the land. However, many locals are wary and suspect it could be a move to claim Comunidade land in the backdrop of Loliem-Polem Comunidade’s NOC to the Entertainment Society of Goa to set up a Film City project which has been backed by Tawadkar. In a recent Gazette notification, an extraordinary general body meeting of the Loliem-Polem Comunidade has been convened on April 6, at 10.30 am at the Keshav Devalaya, Loliem. According to the notification, eight application files have been received by Loliem-Polem Comunidade from M/s Mallikarjun Multi-Fruits Processing Producers Co Ltd (MMFPPCL) for allotment of a total of 1 lakh sqm of land without formalities like auction, etc in survey number LAND ALLOCATION PROPOSAL „„Total requested land: 1 lakh sqm in survey number 358/1 for various fruit processing units „„Jackfruit processing unit – 10,000 sqm „„Coconut processing unit – 10,000 sqm „„Turmeric processing unit – 10,000 sqm „„Mango processing unit – 10,000 sqm „„Agro cashew processing unit – 13,765 sqm „„Agro dairy farming unit – 30,000 sqm „„Banana plantation & processing unit – 10,000 sqm „„Kokum processing unit – 6,235 sqm 358/1 to set up different types of fruits processing units. Each of the files have specified the required area of land and the type of processing units to be set up: 10,000 sqm of land for construction of jackfruit processing unit, 10,000 sqm of land for construction of coconut processing unit, 10,000 sqm of land for construction of turmeric processing unit, 10,000 sqm for construction of mango processing unit, 13,765 sqm of land for construction of agro cashew processing unit, 30,000 sqm of land for construction of agro dairy farming unit, 10,000 sqm of land for banana plantation and processing unit, and 6,235 sqm of land for construction of Kokam processing unit. It is learnt that the directors of Mallikarjun Multi-Fruits Processing Producers Co Ltd are Ramesh Bombo Tawadkar, Ashok Arjun Velip, Rajendra Hari Borkar, Ramakant Tilu Gaonkar and Upaso Gaonkar. Eyebrows have been raised over the request to allot 1 lakh square metres of land without formalities like an auction, especially since one of the directors happens to be Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar. People have already opposed the allotment of Comunidade or any land in the Loliem-Polem village other than for agriculture or plantations and have already opposed the Loliem-Polem Comunidade’s decision to allot land to ESG to set up a Film City in the village. he suggested. Ironically, the NITI Aayog had spotlighted the project in its India Voluntary National Review 2020 on sustainable development. Three years ago, the IPSCDL also announced a Rs 4.2 crore expansion, promising an extended >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 PTI NEW DELHI Central government employees are entitled to get a maximum of 42 days of special casual leave for organ donation, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday. “The government of India has provided a maximum of 42 days special casual leave to central government servants for donating their organ(s),” Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said in a written reply to a question. Irrespective of the type of surgery for removal of a donor's organ, the duration of special casual leave will be a maximum of 42 days as per the recommendation of government registered medical practitioner/doctor, according to an order issued by the Personnel Ministry in 2023, when the provision was announced. Special casual leave shall normally be taken in one stretch starting from the day of admission in the hospital, it had said. However, in case of requirement, it can be availed starting maximum one week prior to surgery on the recommendation of government registered medical practitioner or doctor, the order stated. BJP Goa President Damodar Naik and BJP leader Siddarth Kuncolienkar meet Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão to discuss and seek support for the Waqf Amendment Bill. BJP seeks Church’s backing for Waqf Amendment Bill THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the Waqf Amendment Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday followed by a marathon debate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Goa reached out to the Church, seeking its support ahead of the Bill's passage. BJP Goa President Damodar Naik met Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão to discuss the Waqf Bill. "Held a fruitful and amiable conversation with Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão and discussed a wide range of topics of mutual interest. He was in- formed about the Waqf Board Amendment Bill with a request to extend his support," Naik posted on his social media account. The State BJP has been working to garner support from minority communities. The party's core committee on Tuesday decided to connect with Muslims through block committees creating awareness about the Bill and seeking their support. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant cited the importance of transparency in Waqf property records. "With the Waqf Amendment, records of Waqf prop- erties will be uploaded on an online portal, and a property will be considered Waqf only after proper verification," Sawant said. During the meeting between Naik and Cardinal Ferrão, the latter appreciated the government's role in ensuring a smooth and successful Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier. He also emphasised the need to prioritise education and address community concerns. "I look up to His Eminence for guidance and working closely for the prosperity of our beloved Goa," Naik added. Age-old Comunidade system WRD halts floating solar project, cites ecological risks ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS set for digital transformation SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI GOVT TO ALSO APPOINT DEDICATED ADMINISTRATOR THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major move, the State government has decided to computerise records of Goa’s age-old institution – Comunidade and also to streamline its functioning by appointing a dedicated independent Administrator. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday chaired a crucial meeting with the comunidade bodies across the State, wherein discussions were held on various issues MANAGEMENT & TRANSPARENCY „„Government to computerise all Comunidade records for better management and transparency „„Digitisation to begin with larger Comunidades before expanding to all „„Each Comunidade will get a computer operator and a clerk to handle digital records „„Government to appoint a dedicated Administrator for each Comunidade including granting financial powers to the comunidade. Speaking to media persons post meeting, Sawant said that the government has decided to appoint a computer operator and a clerk across all comunidades and initiate >Continued on P9 G oa government’s ambitious plan to generate around 197 megawatt (MW) of renewable energy through solar project on dam has hit a major roadblock with the Water Resources Department (WRD) holding back Rs 1,300 crore project claiming it’s not feasible for the State citing concern with regards to dam water contamination. The Central government owned SJVN Green Energy Ltd (SGEL) in January, last year, had submitted a proposal to the State government to invest over Rs 1,300 crore to generate solar power by setting up four floating solar projects across „„Goa’s ambitious Rs 1,300 crore project was aimed at generating 197 MW of renewable energy through floating solar panels on Selaulim, Amthanem, Anjunem, and Chapoli dams „„WRD has stalled the project, citing concerns over drinking water contamination and ecological impact „„Floating solar panels may block sunlight pene- tration, disrupting aquatic ecosystems „„Could lead to thermal gradient changes affecting reservoir turnover efficiency „„Potential water contamination, despite claims that high-density polyethylene floaters are non-toxic dams –Selaulim, Amthanem, Anjunem and Chapoli. SGEL along with Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) worked out the proposal and for the same, it also conducted preliminary hydrological inves- tigation of the four reservoirs to determine detailed parameters for ascertaining suitable floating solar power potential. Speaking to The Goan, WRD chief Pramod Badami confirmed that the government is yet to take the decision. “The file is sent back. There is nothing so far,” he said while refusing to comment as to why the proposal is been held up. However, sources confirmed that the department has cited various reasons like impact on water surface, the solar panel array can block sunlight penetration into water bodies, disrupting the thermal gradient, possible contamination of water, etc. “According to the department, the project is not feasible for Goa as the dam water is the main source of drinking water to the people of Goa,” sources said. As a result of the reduced sunlight, floating solar plants can also cause large areas of uneven surface heating, lowering reservoir turnover efficiencies, etc, sources said. In order to ensure that there is no water contamination, the project proponent proposed >Continued on P9