log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY APRIL 9, 2025 GOA Professional diver plunges into the beverage industry IN SHORT >> Waqf law comes into force, SC to hear petitions NEW DELHI: The Waqf (Amendment) Act, which was passed by Parliament last week, has come into force from Tuesday, the government said in a notification. The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging it in the next week. The Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed the bill post-midnight on April 3 and April 4 respectively. GSPCB cracks down on waste dumping MAPUSA: In a significant development aimed at curbing environmental violations, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has ordered the Mapusa Municipality to immediately halt all dumping of waste at the Assagao plateau, a move that signals growing regulatory pressure on civic authorities.  >> See pg 3 Farmer trampled to death by elephant BICHOLIM: A farmer proceeding to his cashew orchard was trampled to death by an elephant at Morlem-Maharashtra, about 10 kms from Goa’s border near Dodamarg on Tuesday morning. According to locals, Laxman Yashwant Gawas (65) was attacked by the elephant who was in the cashew orchard and died on the spot.  >> See pg 3 Dengue graph takes deep dive PANAJI: Goa's dengue incidence graph is seemingly taking a deep dive. In the first three months this year the number of people who have tested positive for the mosquito-transmitted disease has dropped to nearly onethird of the number reported in the same three months last year.  >> See pg 3 Prisoner assaults jail staff at Colvale MAPUSA: A case has been registered at Colvale Police Station against an undertrial prisoner, Suchana Shet, lodged at Central Jail Colvale, after she allegedly assaulted a jail staff member during official duty.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 34.3 C 24.8 C 79% TIDES Low: High: 03.11 09.08 14.55 21.26 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 291 Loutolim farmers pin hopes on HC to stop MoRTH plan for new Borim bridge >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Petition filed against ` 80 lakh penalty on ISPs infra provider 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Say goodbye to dark spots: Makeup tricks for pigmentation 10 Govt may go ordinance way to save irregular structures   TAKES STOCK, SAYS NO RELIEF TO ILLEGAL ONES CM   ACTION AGAINST ENCROACHMENTS HITS ROADBLOCK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said the government will take strict action against illegal constructions across the State including roads in line with directions issued by the High Court of Bombay at Goa. The State is also considering an ordinance or legislation to deal with or save irregular structures, subject to court compliance. Sawant, who chaired a high-level meeting at Porvorim in lieu of the March order on rampant illegalities, told reporters that both district Collectorates have been directed to act against unauthorized structures. The High Court, in a scathing observation, had pulled P’yats struggle to meet HC deadline on illegal structures MAPUSA: As per directives from the High Court, panchayats across the State are racing against time to identify and report illegal structures within their jurisdictions. However, the scale and complexity of the task, particularly in the densely built-up coastal belt, are proving to be overwhelming. Several panchayats have already indicated that meeting the mandated four-week deadline up the State for failing to control encroachments, which it said were altering Goa’s fragile ecosystem. “Henceforth, any illegalities will not be tolerated. Collectors have been instructed to act immediately, and their contact numbers have been may be unfeasible and some are preparing to request an extension. The Calangute panchayat has so far identified and demarcated 50 illegal structures, primarily commercial in nature, located along roadside areas. According to panchayat secretary Arjun Velip, the process includes detailed measurements to assess the extent of encroachment.  >> See pg 3 activated in accordance with the court's directive. At the same time, the government is contemplating bringing a new ordinance or bill to regularize certain irregular structures -whether on comunidade land, private property or elsewhere – but it will be done only af- No more bingo! Collector rolls dice against housie TO PERSONALLY MONITOR COMPLIANCE, SEEKS WEEKLY REPORT FROM TOP OFFICIALS IN SOUTH THE GOAN I NETWORK FROM FUN TO FIAT: THE MEMORANDUM MARGAO Beware, housie organizers and enthusiasts, especially those from South Goa district! You may be hauled up under the provisions of Public Gambling Act, 1976 if caught organizing housie and other gambling activities. For, the South Goa district Collector, IAS Egna Cleetus has issued a fiat to all deputy Collectors and Sub-divisional Magistrate in the South district to crack a whip against Housie and other gambling activities in the district by conducting inspections and raids. In fact, the district Collector has decided to personally monitor the action initiated by the deputy Collectors and Sub-divisional magistrates as evident by the fact the Collector has directed the officials to submit a weekly report on actions taken to her office. In the memorandum, the Collector has told the deputy Collectors and SDMs to monitor their respective jurisdictions closely for any information, reports, or complaints pertaining to housie and advertisement promotions or any other illegal gambling activities. „„Dy Collectors, SDMs told closely monitor jurisdictions for info, reports, or complaints pertaining to housie and promo advts „„Told to coordinate with local police to conduct prompt and effective action, including inspections, raids „„Take appropriate legal action against individuals or groups found involved in organizing or participating in illegal gambling activities They have been told to coordinate with the local police authorities to conduct prompt and effective action, including inspections, raids, and seizures as necessary, wherever such unlawful gambling operations are suspected or reported. That’s not all. The officials have received further directions from the Collector to take appropriate legal action under the provisions of the Public Gambling Act, 1976 against individuals or groups found involved in organizing or participating in illegal gambling activities. “Submit a weekly report on actions taken under this directive to the undersigned”, the Collector said. Asserting that the directive may be treated as most urgent, Collector Cleetus urged the officials to take necessary steps forthwith to curb illegal gambling activities in the interest of public order and lawful conduct in the district. “It has come to the notice of the undersigned that certain illegal gambling activities, including but not limited to housie and other unauthorized gambling activities are being organized in various parts of South Goa District”, the Collector said. She added: “As per the provisions of the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976, such activities are cognizable and punishable offences. The Act prohibits the operation and >Continued on P5 ter complying with the High Court directives,” the CM said. He further made it clear that commercial encroachments on roads would not be spared. “If there are properties on such acquired roads, the concerned people must remove them on their own. This is government property and such violations won’t be allowed,” he stated as the meeting was also attended by Ministers, Chief Secretary and officials concerned. The High Court, in a suo motu public interest litigation (PIL), had directed the State curtail and remove illegal constructions as it observed that no-development zones, paddy fields, etc were being converted without any permission with authorities reluctant to act. “This has resulted in a wholesale change of the landscape in the state of Goa by such wide and rampant illegal constructions without any authority of law,” the bench observed in its order dated >Continued on P5 SPORTS Punjab Kings hand CSK fourth consecutive defeat 13 More officials under lens for inaction on demolition orders Summons likely to be issued soon THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the inquiry into alleged inaction over High Court orders concerning the demolition of illegal constructions in Bardez continues, the investigation has now widened to cover more government officials. Fourteen former Deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars from Bardez have been questioned so far, with sources confirming to The Goan that officers from the Public Works Department (PWD) and other allied departments are also likely to be summoned. “Notices are being sent as new links emerge. The 14 officers initially summoned are only part of a broader investigation. More names are likely to surface as the inquiry progresses,” a reliable source said. These 14 under scrutiny appeared before IAS officer Sandip Jacques over the past two days giving explanations for The 14 officials who are under scrutiny appeared before IAS officer Sandip Jacques over the past two days giving explanations for the delay in acting against unauthorized constructions in the coastal taluka the delay in acting against unauthorized constructions in the coastal taluka. Sources further revealed that the inquiry unearthed allegations of bureaucratic delays, with some pointing to the PWD’s failure to provide demolition squads and machinery, as well as lapses in coordination with other departments. “Officials who held charge during the High Court’s directive and the compliance window will be questioned. >Continued on P5 Atala in Aadhaar PURPLE PEARLS! card scam? Bank under scanner THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI An investigation into Israeli national Yaniv Benaim aka Atala has led Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) sleuths to a nationalized bank, where he is believed to have submitted documents to obtain an Aadhaar card. Sources told The Goan that the ANC is examining how Atala managed to obtain the government-issued identification, given that this requires valid supporting documents and proof of residential address. The bank’s role has now become part of the probe, as a team led by DySP Nerlon Albuquerque and PI Terrence Vaz visited the bank's Calangute branch seeking documents submitted by Atala. It has emerged that an independent agency tasked with processing the Aadhaar application had been operating from the bank’s premises. "To whom the documents were submitted and who handled his application for the issuance of the Aadhaar card will also be probed and questioned," the source said. The inquiry comes even as Anjuna police have separately registered a criminal case against Atala for residing in India without a valid passport or visa. The FIR was lodged following a complaint by the ANC. A vendor displays jamun fruit in the Panaji market on Tuesday. A summer time delight, jamun is known for its numerous medicinal benefits.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Trump raises tariffs against China to 104% from today AGENCIES WASHINGTON Donald Trump has followed through on his threat of "additional 50 per cent tariffs" on China starting Wednesday. The White House announced that this will make America's new tariff on China an unprecedented 104 per cent. President Trump had given China 24 hours to roll back or "withdraw" the retaliatory 34 per cent tariff it imposed on US goods, failing which Chinese goods would be punished with 104 per cent tariffs. Beijing dared Washington to do so earlier today. Within hours Donald Trump announced it. The US used to tariff China at 10 per cent till last month, which President Trump said, "robbed and ripped off" the US economy of billions and billions of dollars. Then the US President announced his "reciprocal tariff" move wherein the US would charge other countries roughly half the tariff that nation charged the US. For China this was an >Continued on P5 CCP Mayor flags delay SC cracks whip, sets timeline for governors to clear bills in Smart City work Tamil Nadu Governor held accountable PTI SAYS DRAIN-CLEARING WORK HINDERED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Mayor Rohit Monserrate has expressed concern over the continuing presence of contractors working on 'smart city' residual works in the city which is impeding the civic body's pre-monsoon work of clearing surface drains of silt. Monserrate, who incidentally is also a member of the board at Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), also said the exclusion of the 18th June Road and Pissurlekar Road from the purview of their work has meant that the main drains where storm water accumulates have not been done. "We will have to see through which department we can now get it done," Monserrate said while also expressing disgust at the state of the city and the quality of work done by IPSCDL. Meanwhile, Monserrate said some of the city's roads will be hot-mixed and the tenders are being taken up by the PWD. NEW DELHI n a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held that governors cannot sit over bills passed by the State legislature and fixed a timeline of one to three months for their actions under the Constitution. I LANDMARK VERDICT A bench of justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said the expression “as soon as possible” permeates Article 200 with a sense of expediency, and does not allow the governor to “sit on the bills and exercise pocket veto over NEW DELHI: In a major victory to DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, the Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared 10 bills which were stalled and reserved by Governor R N Ravi for President’s consideration A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan held, “In the facts of the present case, the reservation of the 10 bills for the consideration of the President in the second round would be termed as them”. “Similarly, by virtue of the first proviso intrinsically and inextricably attached to the option of withholding of as- illegal, erroneous in law and just liable to be set aside. As a result, any subsequent action taken upon the said bills by the President also does not survive and is thus set aside.” “The bills having been pending with the Governor for unduly long period of time and the Governor having not acted bonafide in reserving the bills for the consideration of the President... are deemed to have been assented by the governor on the date when they were presented to him after reconsideration,” the court said. sent, there is no scope for the governor to declare simpliciter withholding of assent meaning thereby absolute veto is also impermissible under Article 200,” it said. The bench also said there is no expressly specified time limit for the discharge of the functions by the governor un- der Art 200 of the Constitution. “There is no expressly specified time limit for the discharge of the functions by the governor under Article 200 of the Constitution. Despite there being no prescribed time limit, Article 200 cannot be read in a manner which allows the governor to not take action upon bills which are presented to him for assent and thereby delay, and essentially roadblock law-making machinery in the state,” it said. The bench also said it is fixing a timeline of one to three months for the governors to decide the fate of bills cleared by the State assemblies, keeping in mind the constitutional significance of Article 200 and the role it plays in the federal polity of the country. “Failure to comply with this timeline would make the inaction of the governors subject to judicial review by the courts,” the bench cautioned. “In case of either withholding of assent or reservation of the bills for the consideration of the president upon the aid and advice of the state council of ministers, the governor is expected to take such action forthwith subject to a maximum period of one month,” the bench said. SC said that in case of withholding of assent, contrary to the advice of the state council of ministers, the governor must return the bills together with a message within a maximum period of three months.