log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY APRIL 30, 2025 GOA Resouz Consultants: Matching skills with opportunities IN SHORT >> ED seizes properties valued at `  93 cr 1 PANAJI: As many as 24 immovable properties valued at Rs 193.49 crore have been provisionally attached by the Directorate of Enforcement, Panaji in connection with the land grab cases in Goa.  >> See pg 3 PM: Forces have full freedom to retaliate NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the top defence brass that armed forces have “complete operational freedom” to decide on the mode, targets and timing of India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack.   >> See pg 8 6-year-old girl dies after father hits her MARGAO: In a shocking incident, a six-year-old girl died at Macazana after she was assaulted by her father with a wooden stick.  >> See pg 2 Positive response in Bardez schools to April start of new academic year THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday announced that teachers suffering from terminal illnesses will be granted medical leave. Speaking at the edu-cultural festival ‘Kalagurujan’ organised by the Higher Secondary Teachers Association of Goa (HISTAG), Sawant stated that the government would consider the teachers’ demands for medical leave in cases of terminal illness. He added that a circular would be issued following discussions with the State Secretary and the Director of Education. Allying fears that AI will replace teaching faculty, Sawant, who also holds education portfolio, said teachers need not worry but will have to upgrade skills and teaching techniques to offer quality education and also be a facilitator. “It is a man-to-man connect that will help youth to make the right choice regarding their careers,” he said. He urged teachers to adopt and adapt a futuristic approach to education and par- ‘No Detention Policy’ will not be completely phased out: Edu secy PANAJI: Secretary Education Prasad Lolayekar has said that the government is contemplating not to completely phase out the No Detention Policy but competency level will be checked at Grade 5 & 8. This will be implemented once the Centre releases the guidelines, he said. He also said that as against the existing trend of each institution framing the question papers, the SCERT board will set common papers for all in line with NEP. The evaluations will be carried out by the schools, and the purpose of common paper is to maintain uniformity and have checks and balances, Lolayekar added. ticipate actively in guiding the young students towards rightful career options and opportunities. “Be aware of the various options, subjects and courses available at all levels of education in the State, and guide your students appropriately at the right time, so that their years are not wasted, and they take admission in the right stream or institute. Having a degree is less important than shaping the career of a child, be it at any stage,” he said.   At the heart of the petition are claims that the General Body resolution passed on February 25, 2024, which purportedly authorised the lease of land to MIT Group of Institutions, was falsified. The petitioners contend HISTAG president Babaji Sawant welcomed the gov- Trapped leopard dies at Bondla zoo; Vishwajit orders inquiry THE GOAN I NETWORK that the typed resolution submitted to authorities and the university differs significantly from the handwritten minutes, which, they argue, never contained the key authorisations being claimed. “The typed version included insertions that were neither presented before nor >Continued on P5 >Continued on P5 MAPUSA: The petitioners are seeking multiple remedies from the High Court, including: Quashing the government’s approval of the land grant without auction, annulment of the General Body resolution authorising the lease, cancellation of the lease deed executed between the Director of Higher Education and MIT Group of Institutions, restoration of the land to the Tivim Comunidade and revocation of mutation and partition of the property linked to the lease. Additionally, the petitioners have requested an interim order restraining MIT from undertaking any development or altering the nature of the land until the case is resolved. FRAUD ALLEGATIONS ACADEMIC YEAR PANAJI A leopard, trapped while roaming in Villian village in Sanguem died in the early hours of Tuesday at Bondla zoo where it was brought for treatment.  Upset over the death of the wild animal, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has ordered an inquiry into the incident and has also issued show cause notice to  Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Wildlife  Navin Kumar for alleged dereliction of duty, which he said led to the unfortunate incident. Rane confirmed that the leopard died while receiving treatment at Bondla Zoo at around 2 am.  The wild cat was trapped by the Forest Department on Monday after it was found roaming in the village of Villian bordering the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary. Hitting out at Kumar over the leopard’s death Rane said, “it is shameful that an officer Demand for cancellation, legal action value estimated at Rs 10,000 per square metre. Stating that Goa has white collared tourism jobs which are mostly acquired by the people from the ‘Seven Sisters’ states, Dr Sawant pointed out that instead of searching for a government job, after graduation or post-graduation, Goan boys and girls can begin with apprenticeships, which gives them exposure to work culture. AS COPS TURN ON THE HEAT… Housie organisers shift from cash to points THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he popular game of Housie is undergoing a significant tweak in South Goa as organizers scramble to evade increasing scrutiny and legal repercussions. Following a crackdown by the South Goa police in response to concerns over large cash payouts, several villages in the Salcete have decided to adopt a novel approach — announcing prizes in points rather than cash. An event labelled as Konkani Musical Evening in Mungul, Margao, have advertised winnings of 9,99,000 points, shifting from cash announcements while still maintaining the familiar game format of RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 T Jaldie-5, Jaldie-6, and Horizontal Line.  Similarly, a Konkani Musical Show in Seraulim offers an enticing prize of 9,99,999 points, with tickets costing Rs 1,000 for three, but notably omitting any reference to cash. This strategic change comes after directives from South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus, who has intensified efforts to monitor and regulate illegal gambling activities, particularly regarding ‘dubious’ Housie games.  Authorities have been instructed to collaborate with the police to conduct inspections, raids, and seizures to combat unauthorized events that offer huge cash prizes. While police have been on the job with a recent raid at a Housie event organised openly at Varca, the going has not been too easy for the menin-khaki. Superintendent of Police (South Goa) Tikam Singh Verma, IPS, said as soon as they get information that any >Continued on P5 SPORTS INFO Ethan Vaz shines with five medals at Western Asia Youth Chess C’ships Effective home remedies for dry cough SAYS GOVT WILL CONSIDER DEMAND, ISSUE CIRCULAR PLEA ALLEGES FRAUD, MANIPULATION OF RECORDS A group of gauncars from Tivim has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the High Court of Bombay at Goa, challenging the government’s decision to grant over 2 lakh square metres of Comunidade land to Pune-based MIT Group of Institutions. The petition alleges serious irregularities, including fraud, manipulation of records and illegal bypassing of established procedures under the Code of Comunidades. The petitioners – Douglas Sequeira, Godfrey D’Lima and six other gauncars – have accused the managing committee of the Tivim Comunidade, along with the government and the escrivão (clerk), of colluding to lease prime Comunidade land at an exceptionally low rate of Rs 12.50 per square metre, which they say is far below the market Instagram.com/thegoanonline 3 13 2 9 Terminally ill teachers to EVs left in the cold, sales nosedive by 80 per cent get medical leave: CM GOA Tivim Comunidade land deal challenged in HC AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 312 Bull gored to death during bullfight in Betalbatim >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan ernment decision to start the academic year in April. “The government has taken the right decision of starting the schools in April, as the CBSC and ICSE boards start from April. The early start of the academic year will allow students more time for revision. All higher secondary and 12th  classes start in April itself. Most schools will get accustomed to the April 10 start,” he said. SCHOOL CLUSTER Secretary Education Prasad Lolayekar said that the State will soon go for clustering of schools and higher secondary schools for effective implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. He further explained that no higher secondary school need to start Grade 9 and 10 classes or any secondary school to start 11th and 12th. “Instead, clustering of schools and higher secondaries will be done, and students can take admission in their cluster. There will not be any change in the physical >Continued on P5 SUBSIDY CUTS, INFRA WOES KEY FACTORS SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI The sudden reduction of Central subsidy, stoppage of State government’s financial assistance, delay over release of subsidies and lack of charging stations, saw the sale of electric vehicles dropping by 80 per cent in the first quarter of the 2025 Calendar year, as against the similar period in 2024 -- the year that too had witnessed a significant downturn in EV adoption. According to government data, the drop in purchase of EV two-wheelers between January to March was almost 85 per cent compared to 2024 while 65 per cent drop was recorded in adoption of EV four-wheelers. A total of 773 electric vehicles were purchased during the first three months as against 3,928 in 2024. This year, 614 two-wheeler EVs were purchased as against 3,567 during the first quarter of 2024, a drop of over 83 per cent. The sale of four-wheeler also reported 54 per cent drop as only 144 vehicles were sold out as against 309, last year. The year 2024 that witnessed initial growth in EV vehicle sale from 11 per cent in MONTH VEHICLE SALE Jan 928 Feb 1,093 March 1,907 April 980 May 819 June 648 July 625 Aug 382 Sept 583 Oct 584 Nov 196 Dec 225 MONTH 2025 2024 Jan 260 928 Feb 195 1093 March 318 1907 January to above 26 per cent in March, thereafter recorded consistent drop up to 3.53 per cent by December. The year saw total 8,970 EVs getting sold, a trend similar to that of 2022, wherein close to 8,000 vehicles were sold. “Calendar year 2024 witnessed a significant downturn in EV adoption following changes to central government demand subsidies (FAME-II),” a note by the government stated. “Moreover, in Q1 of 2025, the State government’s demand subsidies also stopped resulting in further decline in EV sales. Currently, the EV sales and its penetration are similar to 2022 levels, disrupting the demand of OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and discouraging further investments in the sector,” the note added further. Under FAME-II, the Central government has reduced subsidies for electric two-wheelers,  lowering the subsidy per kWh to Rs 10,000 and the maximum subsidy cap to 15 per cent of the ex-factory price.  This move comes after the initial outlay of the scheme was nearing exhaustion. The government also reduced the subsidy for electric cargo three-wheelers from Rs 50,000 to Rs 25,000 per vehicle. After abruptly discontinuing the financial assistance scheme in July 2022, the State government in March, last year, reintroduced the scheme only till December 2024. However, the financial assistance >Continued on P5