log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY JULY 20, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 33 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us >> SEE PG 2 MONSOON SESSION: HIGH-STAKES FACE-OFF MAGAZINE MAGAZ Panaji’s cleanest city tag: Pride or pretence? Is the party over for sugar and oil? The Kitchen: A son’s quiet tribute to his mother’s everyday magic 11 A legislative blueprint to conserve Goan land for Goans IN SHORT >> New UTAA formed to divide STs: Gakuved SANGUEM: About 40 residents from Bonkolwada ward at Kazur-Cavrem in Sanguem face significant danger to their lives while crossing a makeshift wooden bridge over a rivulet which is in spate on account of heavy rains in the area.  >> See pg 3 Woman loses `  .31L 2 in online scam VASCO: A woman from Zuarinagar has lodged a police complaint after being cheated of Rs 2.31 lakh in an elaborate online scam involving a fake work-from-home job offer between May 4 and May 24.  >> See pg 3 34 dead in Vietnam tourist boat mishap HANOI: A boat carrying tourists capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon during a sightseeing excursion, killing 34 people, state media reported. WEATHER >> Max: 29.7 C Min: 24.4 C Humidity: 97% TIDES Low: High: 12.08 07.30 ---17.33 Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in PANAJI While pointing out that the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) has failed to manage its basic cost of continuing its operations through its own resources, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has slammed the Corporation for revenue waiver of Rs 16.98 crore in form of “transfer fees” to the industrial units.   The CAG in its communication to GIDC Managing Director said the waiver of transfer fees will adversely affect the financial results of GIDC. “To be an impactful catalyst in industrial development, GIDC must be financially strong and should be able to recover its costs from the allottees,” CAG said. Regulations, notified in AUDITOR’S KEY OBSERVATIONS „„To be an impactful catalyst in industrial development, GIDC must be financially strong „„Should be able to recover its costs from allottees „„GIDC has not been able to recover cost of operations from own resources as its finances runs into deficit „„In 2022-23, total revenue was Rs 42.18 cr and its expenses were almost Rs 42 cr „„Govt does not bear the regular expenses of GIDC beyond initial contribution or grants „„GIDC Act prescribes maintaining own fund comprising of fees, charg- es, rents, profits, etc „„GIDC does not have financial plan to match operational revenues with its expenses resulting in operational losses every year „„Absence of an economically viable financial plan is not in the interest of GIDC and should be reviewed 2023  for allotment, sublease and transfer of industrial plots, has led to loss of Rs 16.98 crore during three years from 2020-21 to 2022-23. The transfer fees of Rs 5.42 crore were waived off in 202021 while another R 7.60cr was waived in 2021-22 and Rs 3.96 cr in the subsequent financial year. GIDC maintained that the rationale for removal of transfer fee in the new regulations were done for acquisition of sick units by new industries and that transfers will lead to revision of lease rent and will also attract more investment in the State. The Auditor noted that GIDC has not been able to recover its basic cost of continuing its operations from own resources as its finances runs into deficit. In 202021, the revenue deficit was above Rs 12.50 crore, which came down to Rs 11.70 crore in 2021-22. It observed that in 2022-23, its total revenue was Rs 42.18 crore that included only Rs Woman falls off bike on bumpy Canca road, dies THE GOAN I NETWORK Landslide sparks panic in Vasco Locals risk lives on makeshift bridge RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 WARNS IT WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT FINANCIAL RESULTS PANAJI: The Gakuved Federation alleged that tribal leader Prakash Velip and MLA Govind Gaude registered a new UTAA to divide the ST community, after Velip was restrained from leading the original UTAA. They accused Gaude of betraying the community to retain power. The new UTAA was registered on July 3.  >> See pg 3 VASCO: A minor landslide behind the residence of the Gosavi family near the Goa Shipyard at Vaddem triggered panic early Saturday morning, as heavy rain caused a section of the slope to give way. Though no injuries were reported, a significant amount of mud and debris slid dangerously close to the rear of the house.   >> See pg 3 England beats India by 8 wickets Pg 8 Auditor exposes GIDC over `  7 cr waiver to industries 1 THE GOAN I NETWORK 9 Instagram.com/thegoanonline PADDY POWER: An elderly woman transplants paddy seedlings in her field at St Cruz on Saturday. Despite several requests for tractor support, she claims no help was provided by the Agriculture Department.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Goa on half-year tourism high THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The first six months of 2025 saw Goa attracting a total of 54.55 lakh tourists between January and June, including 2.71 lakh international visitors. According to the data from the tourism department, January recorded the highest footfall, with 10.56 lakh tourists, including 9.86 lakh domestic and nearly 70,000 foreign visitors. February followed with 9.05 lakh arrivals, comprising 8.44 lakh Indian and over 61,000 international tourists. In March, the State hosted OPERATION SINDOOR 5 jets shot down, Trump makes another claim PTI NEW DELHI In a fresh claim, US President Donald Trump said “five jets were shot down” during the conflict between India and Pakistan and repeated his assertion that the fighting ended following his intervention. In his remarks at a White House dinner, the US president, however, did not provide specific details such as whether the jets were downed by either of the two countries or if he was referring to combined losses by both sides. “You had India, Pakistan (military conflict) that was going (on). In fact, planes were being shot out of the air, five, four or five. But I think five jets were shot down actually, that was getting worse and worse, wasn’t it?” “That was looking like it was going to go, these are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other,” Trump said at the dinner he hosted for Republican senators. There was no immediate response from New Delhi on the US president’s remarks. While India acknowledged losses of aircraft, it refrained from providing details. Pakistan has been peddling a narrative without providing any evidence that it downed six Indian jets. 8.89 lakh visitors, with around 56,000 coming from overseas. Tourism remained resilient all through summer. In April, Goa received 8.42 lakh visitors, including 8.14 lakh domestic and 28,000 international tourists. May brought in >Continued on P6 MAPUSA A bumpy road near the Milton Marques Junction in Canca claimed a life when a 45-yearold woman from Parra died from injuries after falling off a motorcycle taxi. According to police reports, the incident took place on Friday at about 8.30 am when Lakshmi Sawanthi had left her home to go to the Mapusa District Hospital for treatment. While she was by the roadside, a motorcycle pilot was passing by and offered to take her to Mapusa. As the motorcycle reached near the Milton Marques Junction in Canca, the motorcycle pilot lost control on the bumpy road and Sawanthi lost her balance and fell onto the road. She sustained severe head injuries in the accident. She was moved to the Mapusa District Hospital, and was later referred to the GMC hospital at Bambolim, where she died while undergoing treatment. Mapusa police conducted an inquest into the incident and is investigating the case. 19.31 cr revenue from operation and its expenses were almost Rs 42 crore.   The auditor also noted that the government does not bear the regular expenses of GIDC beyond the initial contribution or grants and the GIDC Act prescribes maintaining own fund comprising of fees, charges, rents, profits, etc with the powers to borrow from the market to augment the financial resources and with full authority to spend from the fund as deemed fit. “GIDC does not have a financial plan to match operational revenues with its expenses resulting in operational losses every year. Absence of an economically viable financial plan is not in the interest of GIDC and should be reviewed,” the Auditor recommended. Conversion racket busted, Goa man among 10 arrested UP COPS SAY GANG INVOLVED IN ‘LOVE JIHAD’, RADICALISATION PTI LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday busted a large-scale illegal religious conversion racket and arrested 10 people from six States including one from Goa. The probe began in Agra in March after two sisters -- aged 33 and 18 -- were reported missing. Investigations revealed that they were allegedly coerced into religious conversion and were undergoing radicalization, the police said. One of the sisters had also put a picture of a girl holding an AK 47 rifle as her profile picture on a social media platform, they said. “Preliminary investigations found that the sisters were targeted by a gang involved in ‘’love jihad’’ and radicalisation,” Agra Commissioner of Police Deepak Kumar said. MODUS OPERANDI „„Arrested individuals played diverse roles „„Activities included receiving illicit funds, providing safe houses for covert operations „„Also offered legal advice, assistance to facilitate conversions and radicalization “We also found clues about their funding originating from America and Canada,” he said. The Agra police have made 10 arrests in connection with the case. While three were arrested from Rajasthan, two each were nabbed from Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal and one each from Goa, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Study paints grim picture of power feeders along coast SAYS LARGE NUMBER ARE OVERLOADED AND OPERATE AT HIGH UTILIZATION LEVELS RESULTING IN BREAKDOWNS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A significant number of electricity feeders, especially those located along the coastal belts, are operating at a high utilization level or are overloaded, leading to frequent power outages and breakdowns in distribution networks. A recent study reveals that the average load level of feeders, located in the beach areas, are exceeding 100 per cent, while in some cases it is between 80-90 per cent. According to a study “Capacity Enhancement Planning of Renewable Energy in the State of Goa” done by the Gurgaon-Haryana based Environmental Consultant -The Celestial Earth -- the existing distribution network, particularly 33 kv and 11 kv lines, are operating at over 60 per cent capacity, highlighting the need for urgent grid reinforcement and expansion STUDY DECODES VOLTAGE STATS „„Average load level of feeders in beach areas exceed 100%, while in some cases it is between 80-90% „„33 kv & 11 kv lines operating at over 60% capacity „„Feeders in Agonda, Palolem, Calangute, Baga, Arpora, Candolim, Betalbatim operating beyond 100% capacity „„Can lead to thermal stress, voltage drops & reduced equipment life RECOMMENDATIONS „„Expanding capacity at stressed feeders through grid upgrades and smart transformers „„Need to deploy Advanced Metering Infrastructure and remote monitoring tools to support green energy integration to accommodate increased renewable energy penetration. The feeders located in the coastal villages of Agonda, Palolem, Calangute, Baga, Arpora, Candolim, Betalbatim are operating beyond 100 per cent capacity, while in Colva, Varca, MES KRC, Navelim, Assembly Complex-Porvorim, Pundalik Nagar, are in the range of average 60-90 per cent.   “Such loading conditions can lead to thermal stress, voltage drops, and reduced equipment life, making them critical areas of concern from both reliability and safety perspectives,” reveals the study, >Continued on P6 Wild frenzy at Ran-Bhaji fest, dishes vanish in minutes Over 550 preparations from wild & seasonal vegetables showcased in Canacona THE GOAN I NETWORK CANACONA undreds of food enthusiasts thronged the 3rd Ran-Bhaji festival in Canacona, where over 550 dishes made from wild and seasonal vegetables were showcased in an impressive culinary spread on Saturday. Adding a unique twist, several of these traditional ingredients were creatively blended into non-vegetarian preparations. The enthusiastic response was evident, as most dishes were snapped up within just 30 minutes of the festival’s opening, highlighting its rising popularity. H Snacks and food from wild and seasonal vegetables on display at the 3rd Ran-Bhaji Festival in Canacona on Saturday. As many as 182 different groups comprising 139 SelfHelp-Groups, 20 Anganwadis and 23 high schools participated in the festival from 9 am to 1 pm. While each participating group presented a minimum of three dishes, many presented between 6-8 unique preparations from 43 different types seasonal wild vegetables grown only during the monsoon. The IIHM with its Young Chef Olympiad 2025 team also participated in the festival. Hundreds of visitors followed the chief guests and such was the demand that most dishes were wiped out within half an hour of the opening of the festival. Many dishes were, however, available with the participating groups till the end of the festival. Some interesting and innovative preparations included Ran-Bhaji Cake, Ran-Bhaji Momos, Ran Bhaji Pulao, while other preparations included Ran-Bhaji cutlets. Recipes to most dishes were presented at the counters, while details of the health and medical benefits were also explained. Many counters also kept different types of Ran-Bhaji in raw form for sale at reasonable rates. Several students from schools, higher secondary schools, and the college of Shri Mallikarjun & Chetan Manju Desai presented live preparations of Ran-Bhaji. Earlier, Power Minister Sudhin Dhavalikar inaugurated the Ran-Bhaji festival in the >Continued on P6