log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY APRIL 12, 2025 GOA Goans deserve recognition in UK: Goan Mayor of Swindon Goa Tourism meets stakeholders at roadshow in Doha IN SHORT >> ANC to approach HC for Atala documents PANAJI: The Anti-Narcotics Cell of Goa Police is preparing to approach the High Court of Bombay at Goa after the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) declined to share details of Israeli national Yaniv Benaim aka Atala citing legal restrictions. ANC is probing Atala for possession of drugs while Anjuna police is probing illegal stay in India.  >> See pg 3 LDC, steno exam results uploaded PANAJI: Final results of the examination conducted by the Goa Staff Selection Commission for recruiting Lower Division Clerks and Junior Stenographers for various government departments have been declared and uploaded on the official Government website. The results include the final merit lists for selected candidates, indicating their ranking based on their performance in the recruitment test.  >> See pg 3 MSMEs get boost at buyer-seller meet PANAJI: In a bid to establish a long-term market for products of local MSMEs from larger players, the Confederation of Indian Industry Goa Council organised a well attended 'buyer-seller' meet at a city hotel on Friday where Department of Industries Trade and Commerce collaborated.  >> See pg 3 Delhi hit with strong dust storm, rain NEW DELHI: Strong dust storms and gusty winds followed by rain hit the national capital, causing trees to be uprooted in several parts of Delhi-NCR. The national capital saw a sudden change in weather in the evening, with sharp temperature drops at weather stations. IPL betting racket busted in Porvorim  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 34.8 C 25.8 C 70% TIDES Low: High: 04.09 16.13 10.31 22.15 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 294 Gaddas along roadsides, road widening areas in Margao come under HC scanner page 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Stray dogs sterilisation: Proposal to train more dog catchers 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Ways to use turmeric for arthritis treatment Rana plotted many attacks like 26/11, NIA tells court MUMBAI TERROR ACCUSED SENT TO 18-DAY CUSTODY PTI NEW DELHI The National Investigation Agency on Friday began an extensive interrogation of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana to uncover the deeper layers of the conspiracy as the probe agency told a Delhi court it suspects he had plans to target other Indian cities as well with similar large-scale strikes. Rana, the 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman, was brought to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) headquarters here early this morning shortly after a Delhi court granted the agency his 18-day custody. Escorted by NIA officials, Rana reached Delhi on Thursday evening on a chartered aircraft after his extradition from the US ending a 16-yearlong wait to prosecute one of the key accused in the deadly ON GUARD: Security personnel stand guard near the National Investigation Agency headquarters, in New Delhi on Friday. Mumbai attack in November 2008 in which 166 persons were killed and over 238 injured. “His (Rana) prolonged custody has been deemed necessary to facilitate an extensive interrogation aimed at uncovering deeper layers of the conspiracy. We suspect that the tactics used in the Mumbai attacks were intended for execution in other cities as well, prompting investigators to examine whether similar plots were developed elsewhere,” the NIA is believed to have informed special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh late Thursday while presenting its Claims of baby swap rocks South Goa district hospital PROBE ORDERED, GYNAECOLOGY DEPARTMENT HEAD TO INVESTIGATE, SAYS DR BORKAR THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Hospicio South Goa District Hospital is back in the news. This time due to allegations that a newborn baby boy was mistakenly swapped following a caesarean delivery. Medical Superintendent Dr Rajendra Borkar immediately ordered a probe to be conducted by a consultant, heading the gynaecology department, to ascertain the veracity of the claim made by the woman and her husband. Dr Borkar, however, said preliminary inquiry has revealed that the information relating to the delivery in question has shown that the woman had delivered a baby girl. The family, on the other hand, has claimed that a sister on duty had informed that the woman had delivered a baby boy. “I have ordered a detailed probe to go into the claim made by the woman and her relatives that while she delivered a baby boy, there was an exchange. Let the consultant complete the probe, and we BA BY B LU N D E R AT H OSP I CI O ? „„The woman from Quepem was admitted on April 7 while a caesarean operation was conducted the next day „„Husband claims that when he and his motherin-law were waiting outside the OT a sister informed that his wife had delivered a “baby boy” „„At around 12:45 pm, his wife was moved to the maternity ward and the newborn was handed over „„When the mother learnt that the baby had pooped, she opened the cloth, only to be shocked that it wasn’t a boy, but a girl will come to know the facts”, he said. “On April 8, the district hospital had conducted around eight caesarean operations, of which six women gave birth to baby girls, including the woman, who has claimed exchange of babies. We have ordered the inquiry and things will be clear after the completion of the probe”, he said. Sources said the woman from Quepem was admitted to the district hospital, Margao on April 7 at around 11 am. After her examination, she was admitted in the maternity ward, with the doctors informing her husband that a caesarean operation will be performed the nextday. The husband pointed out she was taken in the Operation Theatre on April 8 at 10 am. “At that time we (myself and my mother in law) were waiting outside the operation theatre. At around 11:45 am, we were informed by the sister on duty that my wife had delivered a “baby boy” >Continued on P9 arguments, sources said. Rana has to be confronted with a lot of evidence and his statements would lead to “additional discoveries”, the NIA submitted. As Rana's questioning began to unravel the complete conspiracy behind the deadly 2008 attacks”, it is learnt that the NIA''s interrogation is focused on getting more details on his possible connection with Pak-based LeT, which had orchestrated the strike. Sources said Rana would also be questioned on his suspected links with officials of Pakistan spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and his exact role behind the attack. They further said that as part of the probe to piece together crucial evidence and retrace events from 17 years ago Rana may be taken to key locations, allowing them to reconstruct the crime scene and gain deeper insight into the larger terror network at play. Goa’s weather woes continue, ‘feel-like’ temp crosses 40°C 10 CM warns p’yat secys over delay in NOCs for house repairs THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said panchayat secretaries who fail to issue house repair NOCs within three days of the application being made as directed by his government's recent circular may face the axe. Sawant warned that complaints against such officials will have to be made to the Director of Panchayats and strict action will follow. He said, suspension and even removal from office could be the consequence of secretaries not following the government circular. “Some tightening is necessary. The government has already started tightening laws. Those posing hurdles in government functioning will not be tolerated,” the chief minister said. Earlier this week, the Sawant government had issued an elaborate circular through the Director of Panchayats Ms Siddhi Halarnkar mandating issuing house >Continued on P9 SPORTS IPL: KKR hands CSK their fifth consecutive loss 12 Hunting trip turns tragic, Sattari man fatally shot THE GOAN I NETWORK VALPOI A man from Desaiwada in Advoi-Sattari died from a gunshot wound during a trip to hunt wild animals at cashew orchard on Thursday evening. One person has been arrested in this connection. According to SDPO DySP Jivba G Dalvi, the accused, Abhijit Desai (34) of Thadebhatla in Dodamarg-Maharashtra, and Hemant Desai had reportedly gone to hunt wild animals at Fulasaryo-Advoi at about 6.30 pm on Thursday. At about 9 pm, Abhijit loaded a firearm and fired a shot which, however, struck Hemant, causing him serious injuries and death.  Valpoi Police later received a complaint from Hemant’s uncle and registered an offence under Sections 105 R/w 3(5) of the BNS and Section 3 R/w 25 & 27 of Arms Act and Section 9 of Wild Life Protection Act.  During investigation, Abhijit was taken into custody and At about 9 pm, Abhijit loaded a firearm and fired a shot which struck Hemant causing him serious injuries and death. Abhijit was taken into custody and was later arrested. Police informed that the firearm used in the incident did not have a valid licence was later arrested in the connection.  Valpoi police conducted a panchanama with the help of a forensic team. Police also attached a firearm with an empty cartridge and a scooter from the scene of the crime. Police informed that the firearm used in the incident did not have a valid licence. Valpoi Police Inspector Viddesh Shirodkar is conducting further investigation under the supervision of Bicholim SDPO DySP Jivba Dalvi and SP (North) Akshat Kaushal IPS. TRAFFIC CHAOS! THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa continues to experience extreme hot weather, with maximum temperatures expected to stay between 35°C and 36°C for the next week while the ‘feel-like’ temperature has crossed 40°C. On Friday, some areas saw clouds and light rain, but humidity stayed high across both North and South Goa. As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) Goa, light thundershowers are expected to continue on Saturday and mainly sunny weather thereafter with no weather warnings in place for the next three days. The IMD further attributed the prevailing conditions to weakening weather systems in the region. "The low-pressure area over the west-central Bay of Bengal has become less marked. However, the associated cyclonic circulation persists and extends up to 1.5 km above mean sea level," it stated. Moreover, a trough running from west Rajasthan to coastal Andhra Pradesh, across east Rajasthan and a cyclonic circulation over northwest Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha at 0.9 km above mean sea level, continue to influence weather patterns. Traffic diversion onto the old bridge leads to a serpentine queue of vehicles near multi-level parking, Panaji on Friday. The new Patto bridge has been closed for repairs up to April 14.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Blanket order to relieve transferred cops after majority ignore deadline THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa Police on Friday issued a blanket order relieving all personnel transferred between 2020 and 2025, after a majority from nearly 850 officers and personnel failed to report to their new postings despite a 48-hour deadline that ended on April 6. The action, triggered by widespread non-compliance, comes a week after a high-level meeting at Police Headquarters in Panaji on April 4 revealed that these personnel ignored repeated instructions to join their new postings. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Inspector General of Police also saw serious concerns raised over what was described as open defiance of transfer orders. “Despite being relieved, many personnel did not move to their new postings. Many were not even relieved for reasons their superiors knew best. This blatant disregard for transfer orders prompted the latest directive,” a senior >Continued on P9 State tastes solar success as Goans go nuts as coconut prices hit a new high THE COCONUT SHOCKTAIL SAGA green power capacity soars THE GOAN I NETWORK INSTALLED CAPACITY RISES 14 TIMES SINCE 2019 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the State aims to generate 150 megawatts (MW) of renewable power by 2030, Goa is witnessing a significant growth in this direction, with its installed capacity increasing almost 14 times since 2019, when the State launched its solar mission. Since 2018-19 till 2024-25, the State has generated 58.43 MW of green energy, with annual growth. The year 2023-24 and the just concluded financial year, saw a major jump in green energy generation. From generating just 4.09 MW of power in 2019, to achieving 58.43 MW of power by the end of March 2025, the State has made rapid growth. In the last financial year, the State generated a total 13MW of renewable energy. Solar power is a major contributor to green energy with a total capacity of 56.44MW power generation that included 53 MW from solar rooftops alone. The biogas power is reported at 1.94 MW while the hydro generation is just 0.05MW. The wind energy is yet to kick off in the State. The number of solar con- nections in the State up to December 2024 stood at 1,600. As per data, State generated 4.09 MW of solar power in 2018-19, which went up to 5.29 MW in 2019-20 that further jumped to 7.95 MW in 2020-21. In 2021-22, the green energy generation picked up and touched 20.34 MW and further reached 26.88 MW in 2022-23. The renewable energy witnessed massive jump in 202324, when it reached 45.47 MW. As per data, the State’s power demand at present is 540 megawatt per day and it >Continued on P9 PANAJI n this soaring mercury, as many believe that tender coconut water is the best drink to beat the heat, this drink is costing you much more than it used to be. What is interesting is that with tender coconut water turning into luxury, especially for those health-conscious, the prices vary from village to urban and the coastal belt. Renowned author Nandita Iyer's post on a social platform informing about paying Rs 90 for a small tender coconut has sparked a debate only to later defend the price as justified.  On the other hand, prices of regular coconuts in Goa have risen sharply since December, showing no signs of cooling „„Tender coconut prices surge, reach up to Rs 90 in some urban areas „„High price due to climate change, declining farming, labor shortage „„High demand, early harvesting cause shortage of mature coconuts „„Vendors also confirm I -- forcing many housewives to skip the item from their daily diet while restaurants too have hiked dish prices marginally. What began as a question "Are we being scammed at Rs 90 for a small tender coconut?" sparked a larger discussion on farming, climate increased consumption „„Prices vary by location Rs 40 in Bengaluru, Rs 65 in Konkan, Rs 70 in Mumbai, Rs 80 in Pune, Rs 60–90 in Goa „„Impact includes higher restaurant prices and households skipping regular coconuts due to cost change and the economics behind this refreshing sip. In the now-viral social media post, Iyer claimed that coconut farming is on the decline, climate change is wrecking yields and mature coconuts are being diverted to the oil industry because it pays better. “Transport and fuel costs are rising, and fewer people want to climb the trees because its skilled labour with poor pay and not enough takers. So yes, Rs 70 to Rs 90 for a tender coconut is valid reasons and not some coconut mafia increasing the prices,” she added as she also replied to one of her followers in her comment section. On the ground, in Panaji and Taleigao, coconut vendors told The Goan that demands for tender coconuts doubled since March. Regular coconuts, on the other hand, are in short supply as farmers across the borders are pushing their produce early into the market to meet tender coconut demand. “We are getting daily truckloads of tender coconuts from Karnataka and other places,” a vendor in Taleigao Mohd Junaid said. He revealed that each customer is even buying two or three at a time. “The suppliers have realized this and are >Continued on P9