log on to thegoan.net TUESDAY MAY 6, 2025 GOA @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 318 2 Dump to dilemma: Sonsodo’s future caught between green push & garbage plans GOA Thousands participate in Milagres Feast in Mapusa 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO 10 Dealing with depression? Here’s how cold water swimming can help SPORTS IPL: Rain washes out SRH vs DC clash, ends Sunrisers' play-off hopes 13 Centre orders nationwide mock Tragedy strikes as two girls drown in Quepem, Agonda drills amid new security threats MANDATES TRAINING FOR CIVILIANS ON CIVIL-DEFENCE ASPECTS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IN EVENT OF ‘HOSTILE ATTACK’ PTI NEW DELHI The Union home ministry has asked all States to conduct mock drills on Wednesday in view of “new and complex threats” that have emerged amid rising tensions with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. According to a home ministry communication, the measures to be taken during mock drills include the operationalisation of air-raid warning sirens, training civilians on civil-defence aspects to protect themselves in the event of a “hostile attack” and cleaning bunkers and trenches. The other measures are provisions for crash-blackout measures, early camouflaging of vital plants and installations and updating and rehearsing evacuation plans, a letter to the chief secretaries of all states and administra- >> See pg 3 Having hearing impairment, this couple has tackled life’s challenges one day at a time IN SHORT >> FDA suspends food safety officer PANAJI: The Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration has suspended its safety officer Vishwasrao Rane and ordered disciplinary proceedings. While the reason for the suspension is concealed, FDA Director Shweta Dessai has directed the officer to report to the head office till further orders.  >> See pg 2 HC pulls up State over GSCBL term PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the govt to explain how the Board of Directors of Goa State Co-operative Bank Ltd continued to function despite the expiry of their term in August 2024. The court has sought a reply by May 8.   >> See pg 3 IMD forecasts rain on May 6 and 7  >> See pg 3 KEY MEASURES ADVOCATED BY CENTRE „„Operationalise air-raid warning sirens „„Clean bunkers, trenches „„Make provisions for crash-blackout measures „„Early camouflaging of vital plants, installations and updating and rehearsing evacuation plans „„Operationalise hotline, radio-communication links with IAF „„Civil defence exercise, rehearsal across 244 categorised civil defence districts planned on May 7 tors of Union territories said. The mock drills also include the operationalisation of hotline and radio-communication links with the Indian Air Force (IAF), testing the functionality of control rooms and shadow control rooms. “In the current geo-political scenario, new and complex threats/challenges have emerged, hence, it would be prudent that optimum civil defence preparedness in the states/UTs is maintained at all times,” the letter from the Directorate General Fire Service, Civil Defence and Home Guards said. It said the government has decided to organise a civil defence exercise and rehearsal India closes gates of another dam; Chenab river water drops sharply NEW DELHI: After stopping the flow of water from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River, now all gates of the Salal Dam on the Chenab were closed, resulting in a significant drop in water levels in the Reasi district. India's decision to suspend the decades-old treaty follows the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. "We are happy that the government has stopped the flow of water to Pakistan. The way they killed our tourists, Pakistan deserves a befitting reply. We are with the government," Dinesh, a local told said. across the 244 categorised civil defence districts in the country on May 7. “The conduct of the exercise is planned up to village level. This exercise aims to assess and enhance readiness of civil defence mechanisms across all states and Union territories,” the letter said. It said the active participa- tion of the district controllers, various district authorities, civil-defence wardens, volunteers, home guards (active and reservists volunteers), National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS), college and school students is envisaged in the exercise.  3rd drowning case in 24 hrs and 4th incident in nine days  5th case in Selaulim canal THE GOAN I NETWORK SANGUEM/CANACONA In yet more tragic incidents, two young girls drowned in a canal at Padamol-Sirvoi in Quepem and in a swimming pool in Agonda. This is the third such incident in 24 hours and the fourth in nine days, prompting safety concerns near water bodies in the State. In the first incident, a trip to attend a family wedding celebration ended in tragedy when an 8-year drowned in the Selaulim Canal at Padamol, Sirvoi in Quepem on Sunday evening. According to reports, the girl had accompanied her mother, brother, and sister to Sirvoi, Quepem, to attend a family wedding celebration. The wedding venue was situated close to the Selaulim canal. At about 6.30 pm, Shahad informed her mother of her intention to go to the canal to wash her legs. Approximately an hour lat- 1ST INCIDENT „„An 8-year drowned in the Selaulim canal at Padamol, Sirvoi in Quepem. „„The girl had accompanied her mother, brother, and sister to attend a family wedding. 2ND INCIDENT „„A 3-year-old girl from South Delhi drowned in a swimming pool at a resort at Agonda after she accidentally fell into it during lunch time er, the mother, who was reportedly occupied with the wedding festivities, began frantically searching for her daughter around the house as the family was preparing to leave the venue. Having remembered the girl having said that she would be going to the canal, people rushed towards the canal, only to find her lifeless body a short distance from the wedding venue. Quepem police was notified and a police team conducted the panchanama at the scene. The body was subsequently sent to the district hospital for a post-mortem examination at the District Hospital in Margao. This is the fifth drowning incident in the Selaulim canal in the last two years. On March 30, Prakash Gaonkar (57) drowned after falling into the canal in Cotarli-Sanguem. In February, two toddlers, Rehan Shrittey (13 months) and Wahid Hashmi (16 months), drowned in the same canal while playing near their rented home in Carremoddi-Curchorem. Earlier in February 2023, Suresh Jadhav (13) drowned in the canal while bathing with a sibling. In the second incident, a 3-year-old girl from South >Continued on P5 Taleigao taps run dry after E.coli contamination Shirgao zatra ends today, entry for outsiders banned THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PWD shuts down water supply PANAJI In the peak summer time, taps in the Taleigao area are running dry following E.coli contamination in the water pipeline network. PWD has completely shut down the water supply to Taleigao. While residents of Vodlem Bhat and Borbhat wards are without water supply for nearly 35 days, other citizens from Taleigao, too are facing a similar situation for more than a week now. Those with borewells are managing the situation, while others are depending on tankers for now. The lab tests of water samples from Vodlem Bhat and Borbhat have confirmed the presence of E.coli bacteria in the potable water. The PWD has now sent more samples for testing, pending which the entire water supply to other surrounding areas of these two wards have been shut. Residents in Cardoz vaddo complained of having no water for past eight days and that the PWD has informed them that the water samples are being tested. “Taps are running Vendors begin dismantling stalls Restricted water in Mapusa on May 7, 8 MAPUSA: There will be restricted water supply in entire Bardez on Wednesday and Thursday, on account of repair work in the water treatment plant at Assonora. Authorities will carry out annual pre-monsoon repair work in the Assonora water treatment project and this work includes repairs to the power substation. Also, the internal connection work of the new 30 MLD capacity plant under construction will be done. dry…we have had no water for last eight days…we are depending on tankers,” Mahale, a resident, said. According to PWD, they are in process of replacing the entire pipeline and it will take another 20-25 days. Official said that some of the pipelines are very old and over time, there was corrosion, leading to some leakage in the pipeline. Thick smoke billows the area following a massive blaze in a field at Caranzalem-Taleigao on Monday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Field fire sparks emergency in Taleigao, 30 evacuated REPTILES CHARRED; FIREMEN BATTLE BLAZE FOR 5 HRS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A field fire that raged uncontrollably for over five hours on Monday afternoon triggered panic across the densely populated Taleigao and Caranzalem, as around 30 residents including infants and a 95-year-old woman had to be urgently rescued by fire personnel. The blaze, which reportedly started from crop residue burning near Tonca, spread rapidly towards Taleigao because of strong winds and the scorching summer heat. Four fire tenders, a turn-table ladder, over a dozen firefighters, ambulances and local volunteers were pressed into service to bring the situation under control. As per witnesses, fire gutted vast stretches of dry grassland and also charred reptiles -- snakes and tortoises -- that couldn’t escape the flames. The plumes of thick smoke soon engulfed residential buildings, prompting fire and police personnel to ask people to vacate as a precautionary measure against respiratory risks. Fire personnel also helped evacuate people to safety. Director of Fire and Emergency Services Nitin Raiker, quoting the locals and his personnel, confirmed >Continued on P5 BICHOLIM Acting on instructions of the State administration, vendors on Monday began dismantling their stalls along the narrow road, on the penultimate day of the Devi Lairai zatra at Shirgao. Late Sunday evening, the temple committee and the administration held a joint meeting and decided that no outsider should enter the temple on Tuesday, the fifth and final day of the festival. The administration has also decided to remove all stalls along the road by Monday night. The State had been plunged into shock and grief after six persons were killed while around 80 others were injured in a stampede along the narrow road during the famous Devi Lairai Zatra at Shirgao in the wee hours of Saturday. When contacted, Devasthan Committee Chairman Dinanath Gaonkar said they had taken these decisions with the cooperation of the administration. “All vendors of stalls as well as devotees should also coop- Vendors dismantle their stalls along the narrow road, on the penultimate day of the Devi Lairai zatra at Shirgao. erate with these decisions,” said Gaonkar. Stating that the number of people visiting the Devi Lairai temple in Shirgao dropped sharply in the last two days, Gaonkar said: “We are grateful to the people for their cooperation after we appealed to them.” Meanwhile, as part of added security and safety measures, the Devasthan Committee and >Continued on P5 Call for re-plantation report as Goa’s mid-day meal budget gets `2.5 crore cut M I D - DAY M E A L S : L U N C H L E SS O N State faces massive tree loss THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK KEY FIGURES PANAJI Over the past one year, Goa has witnessed removal or felling of close to 5000 trees for various State and Central government owned projects, with official permission granted by the Goa Tree Authority (GTA) headed by the Chief Secretary. The Committee has now sought compliance reports from various agencies like public works department (PWD), Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), Rail Vikas Nigam, etc, on tree plantation undertaken as compensation „„PWD cut 222 trees in Cacora for road widening „„GSIDC axed 192 trees in Ella to construct a road overbridge „„GTA approved a proposal to cut 154 trees „„Last year permissions were granted to cut 3,118 trees towards the tree felling permissions granted in the last five years. The defaulting agencies are directed to remain present in person with the compliance data or action plan, during the next meeting, the date of which is not yet finalized. The Tree Authority during its four meetings held in February, May, September, 2024 and in March, 2025, accorded approval for felling of 4968 trees. During its recent meeting held in March, permission was granted to PWD to fell 222 >Continued on P5 PANAJI he Central and State government will together shell out Rs 35.51 crore towards supply of mid-day meal to over 1.56 lakh students in Goa for the academic year 2025-26. Last term, the total cost of mid-day meals was little above Rs 38 crores. The Programme Approval Board (PAB) -- Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) -- has reduced the number of eligible students from State’s request of 1.61 lakh to 1.58 lakh covering 1,224 schools. This includes 2,562 students under Bal Vatika, 89,584 primary students and 64,801 upper primary T „„Programme Board reduces number of eligible students from State’s request of 1.61 lakh to 1.58 lakh covering 1,224 schools „„2,562 students are included under Bal Vatika, 89,584 primary students and 64,801 upper primary students „„Total number of working days is 238 „„PAB has asked State to approach Union govt to seek additional Central Assistance and food grains if it is in need of more funds „„PAB has approved Central assistance of Rs 22.26 cr and 4506.48 metric tonnes of food grains „„Minimum mandatory State share is fixed at Rs 13.25 cr students. The total number of working days is 238. PAB during its meeting held in March, directed the State Education Department to ensure uninterrupted supply of hot cooked meals to all eligible students on all school days even in case of delay of release of funds, food-grains supply constraints or for any other reasons. The State had submitted its Annual Operational Plan to PAB, who deliberated on it during its latest meeting. The PAB has approved Central assistance of Rs 22.26 crore and 4506.48 metric tonnes of food grains. The minimum mandatory State share is fixed at Rs 13.25 crore as per the existing norms. The PAB has granted liberty to the State to add additional funds from its own resources. “It is pertinent to note that the Government of India bears the entire cost of food grains i.e. Rs. 16.11crore for the State of Goa at Rs 41.73 per kg for rice and at Rs 29.80 per kg for wheat for FY 2025-26, of which Rs 14.99 crore is as subsidy borne through Department of Food & Public distribution under the National Food Security Act, 2013,” the PAB said. The PAB has asked the State to approach Union government to seek additional Central Assistance and food grains >Continued on P5