log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY AUGUST 14, 2025 13 pages GOA Salpem lake pollution: HC closes PIL with stern clean-up directives Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 58 2 3 GOA Wrong-way driving on NH-66 service roads puts lives at risk Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO What causes kidney failure and how it can be treated GANG ATTACK: DID THEY FAIL TO GET THEIR MAN?  POLICE YET TO ASCERTAIN MOTIVE FOR ASSAULT  VICTIM SAYS ASSAILANTS RUSHED TOWARDS CAR SHOUTING ‘TARGET WALTER’ POLICE FILES: THE COMPLAINT THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO Even as the Goa Police are yet to shed light on the exact motive behind the gang war incident on the Colva–Margao road in the wee hours of Tuesday, questions have been raised over whether the gang came well-prepared and wellarmed to attack one Walter. Complainant Yuvkesh Singh Badaila, who was injured in the dastardly attack and is undergoing treatment at the hospital, stated in his complaint to the Fatorda police that when the gang members, some wearing masks, marched towards them after stopping their car at Mungul, they were heard shouting, ‘Walter ko pehle maaro’ and ‘Walter ko khatam karo'. Little did the armed gang realise, however, that the per- >> See PG 3 Goa Police Bill repeatedly failed to reach Legislative Assembly for 17 yrs IN SHORT >> S Goa admin tightens rules on public notices MARGAO: In a move aimed at providing unhindered access to public services and streamlining administration, South Goa District Collector, Egna Cletus, IAS, has done away with notices imposing restrictions on public services at all subordinate offices.  >> See pg 2 HC warns on sand mining laxity PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed the government authorities to act responsibly to curb illegal sand mining while stressing that officials must safeguard the State’s resources beyond mere compliance.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 26 C 24 C 88% Accused arrested by the Fatorda police in the Mungul-Margao gang war produced before the Margao Civil and Criminal Court on Wednesday.  Santosh Mirajkar son named Walter was not travelling in the Baleno car driven by Yuvkesh Singh on the way to Margao. In the complaint, Yuvkesh stated that he, along with Rafiq and a third person, was travelling to Margao to have food at a fast food centre at Malbhat. Two of their friends, who were coming on a bike, were to join them at the fast food centre. Yuvkesh further stated that when he was near Margarita Club, Colva, he saw one of the accused persons with his friends outside the club. At around 2.30 am, he stated that he, along with Rafiq, one Prakash, and two other persons, decided to go to Margao to have food at a restaurant. When their car reached „„Complainant and friends travelling in a Baleno car to Margao for food „„Saw one accused outside Margarita Club with friends „„At Mungul, first car blocked their path; second car blocked from behind „„Masked assailants approached, shouting threats to 'kill Walter' „„Complainant attacked with koita; Rafiq attacked with axe „„Assailants fled in their vehicles after passers-by gathered ‘Big fish’ on the run, eight in police net MARGAO: The ‘big fish’ involved in the murderous attack on the Colva–Margao road is still out of the police dragnet, even as the men in uniform have arrested eight persons in connection with the gang war that erupted at Mungul in the wee hours of Tuesday. >> See pg 2 Mungul, the complainant stated that another car suddenly stopped in front of them, Clear 43k sapling backlog or face action: Tree Authority blocking their way. When he >Continued on P8 10 SPORTS FC Goa secures AFC Champions League Two group stage berth 400 Engg seats remain vacant despite relaxed JEE criteria 58 non-JEE candidates secure admission; 100 switch to NEET courses; DTE unlikely to conduct third round THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Despite State government relaxing the mandatory JEE criteria for admissions to the engineering degree programme, close to 400 seats continued to remain vacant. While 58 non-JEE candidates managed to grab the seats, around 100, who had taken admission for the Bachelors programme, shifted for NEET based courses like medical and dental – thus leading to vacant seats. This is the second year in a row that the government has relaxed the JEE criteria. The Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) is unlikely to go for a third round of admissions for engineering. Last year too, 500 seats had found no takers while 50 nonJEE candidates got admission. After the first round of admissions that ended on July 5, around 400 seats were left vacant, across four engineering colleges – the situation remained the same even after the second round that ended Govt presses for nod to increase MBBS seats PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday met Union Health Minister J P Nadda to push for early approval of the Goa government’s proposal to add 50 MBBS seats at Goa Medical College (GMC).   >> See pg 3 on Wednesday. It was only the State-run Goa Engineering College at Farmagudi who managed to fill all its seats. The college has stopped offering mining engineering programme since last year, following lack or no demand in view of closure of the iron ore mining industry. DTE confirmed that the vacant seats are spread across private colleges – Padre Conceicao College of Engineering, Verna; Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda; Rayeshwar Institute of Engineering PANAJI With 43k saplings/ plantation pending in lieu of trees cut for various State and Central government projects in last five years, the State Tree Authority, taking serious cognizance, has warned that the failure to comply with the mandatory condition of compensatory plantation, will lead to “adverse ramification” against the user agencies. STA, chaired by the Chief Secretary, during its meeting last month, noted that almost 43,117 trees are yet to be planted as part of compensatory plantation towards tree felling, in the last five years. The Public Works Department (PWD) shares a major chunk that is almost 80 per cent of the total pendency – which comes to around 34,518 trees across North and South Goa. Central agencies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Railway Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Indian Navy and Goa Tamnar Transmission Power Limited (GTTPL) have also got huge backlog ranging between 1000-1800, each. USER AGENCY PWD RVNL Indian Navy Dy Collector Bicholim COP ONGC IT GMC Greater Panaji PDA Municipal Council Bicholim NFS Bambolim Military Training During the meeting it was reiterated that “non-compliance to the terms and conditions stipulated by Tree Authority could lead to adverse ramification against the agency/organisations, while considering their future proposals”. The STA has directed all the departments/ user agencies to draw a plan of execution and submit the same during the next meeting. As per the data, PWD has got a backlog of 33,351 trees NORTH GOA 33351 666 1137 450 — — 360 240 — 183 177 — SOUTH GOA 1162 1152 — 219 1497 — — 207 — — 150 in North Goa alone while another 1,162 is in South district towards highway expansion. Similarly, RVNL has failed to undertake replantation of 1,152 trees in South and 666 in North Goa towards their double tracking project. The ONGC has to plant 1,497 trees for their proposed expansion project in Betul, South Goa while the Indian Navy has 1137 trees to be planted in the North. The >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 THE GOAN I NETWORK TOTAL 34513 1818 1137 450 219 1497 360 240 207 183 177 150 and Information Technology (RIEIT), Shiroda; and Agnel Institute of Technology and Design, Assagao. “Total 102 non-JEE candidates had applied during the second round. Of which, only 58 turned up and got the admission,” DTE senior official said. The official said that despite this, nearly 400 engineering seats got no takers. “Many, who had applied for engineering, opted out after they managed to clear the merit list for NEET based courses and got admissions to medical and dental,” the officer said. DTE had extended the benefit to students who have cleared Class XII and also Diploma holders but had not answered JEE. In case of Class XII applicants, the applicant had to secure minimum 45 per cent (40 per cent in case of SC, ST and OBC) marks in Physics, Maths and one other specified subject, whereas, the Diploma BJP State chief hints at possible Cabinet reshuffle before Chaturthi HAR GHAR TIRANGA PWD SHARES MAJOR CHUNK OF ALMOST 80% OF THE TOTAL PENDENCY ACROSS NORTH AND SOUTH GOA THE GOAN I NETWORK 12 A woman shops for tricolour flags and shawls at the Panaji market on Wednesday, ahead of Independence Day celebrations.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Akshay Patra begins mid-day meal on trial in schools across 3 talukas THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI After initial delay, the Bengaluru-based Akshay Patra Foundation has commenced the supply of mid-day meals to around 2,000 students from government and gov- ernment-aided on a trial basis from this month. The service currently covers around 1,500 students from Classes I to VIII and 500 from Classes IX and X. The schools in Tiswadi, Bardez and Bicholim are presently covered by the Founda- tion, with plans to extend to another 2,500 students in the coming days as per the contract signed by the Education department. Speaking to The Goan, Director Education, Shailesh >Continued on P8 VASCO BJP Goa State President Damodar Naik on Wednesday evening hinted at a possible Cabinet reshuffle before Ganesh Chaturthi, but stressed that the final decision lies with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. “I have had a series of meetings with senior BJP leaders in Delhi, where we held detailed discussions on strengthening the party and ensuring the BJP’s thoughts and ideology reach the lowest levels of the organisation,” said Naik, while speaking to reporters at Dabolim Airport on his arrival from Delhi. “I met BJP General Secretary Arun Singh and also discussed appointments of various morchas and upcoming karyashalas with national organisation general secretary B L Santosh.” On the possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle, Naik said, “As far as the reshuffle is concerned, it is the prerogative of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. The party and the government will discuss this issue and arrive at a conclusive decision. The reshuffle may happen before Ganesh Chaturthi, but finally the Chief Minister will take the call.” Over 1,000 vacant posts cloud Festive relief: Govt to import 1L coconuts from K’taka Goa Police manpower strength STA B I L I SE S OA R I N G P R I C ES Sharp decline in THE GOAN I NETWORK RECRUITMENT DELAYS DUE TO INELIGIBLE CANDIDATES, PENDING CLEARANCES, AND APPROVAL BOTTLENECKS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI While the arrival of 700 newly-trained India Reserve Battalion personnel will boost Goa policing, the elite force continues to face shortage of personnel with more than 1,000 posts lying vacant including vital roles in forensic investigation. Official data reveals that the Goa Police, with a sanctioned strength of 7,871, has about 1,012 vacancies. The India Reserve Battalion (IRB) has a sanctioned strength of 3,021, THE SHORTFALL „„Acute shortage in forensics including fingerprint, DNA, and scientific investigation roles of which about 230 posts are vacant. The shortages are acute in specialised areas such as fingerprint analysis, DNA forensics and scientific investigation at the lone State Forensic „„ADGP and 10 SP posts; many await eligible officers for promotion „„Forensic science lab lacks assistant director, scientific officers, experts, and technical staff Science Laboratory, besides higher-ranking posts such as Additional Director General of Police and Superintendents of Police on the law and order >Continued on P8 PANAJI n a bid to meet the rising demand ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival and to stabilise the market prices, the Goa government is set to procure around one lakh coconuts from neighbouring State of Karnataka to supplement domestic supply and address price volatility. The coconut will be sold through Goa Horticulture outlets and mobile vans across the State at subsidised rates. Following directions from Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, the Agriculture Department and the Goa State Horticulture Corporation to procure coconut from other States and supply it to the consumers during festival season on no I „„25,000 jumbo coconuts arriving in next two days, available across four Corporation outlets and mobile vans „„Subsidised rate expected to be Rs 5–10 lower than market prices; final price yet to be fixed „„Reason for shortage: Early May monsoons delayed fruit plucking; low domestic supply profit no loss basis. In the first round, 25,000 coconuts are set to come from Karnataka in the coming two days. Speaking to The Goan, production over last three years: govt contributing to high prices „„Market rates: Current coconut prices range from Rs 25–75 per piece; farmers receive minimum Rs 15 per nut Corporation Managing Director Chandrahas Dessai said that first consignment of 25,000 jumbo sized coconuts are arriving from Karnataka in PANAJI: The State government has admitted on the record that coconut yields and production have fallen drastically over the last three years.  >> See pg 3 the coming two days. “They will be made available across four Corporation-run outlets and other horticulture outlets apart from making it available through the Corporation’s vegetable mobile van in the villages,” he said. Dessai said that the price is not yet decided but it would be sold at a subsidised rate that is Rs 5 to Rs 10 less than the market price. “This is a festive season and we have to see that coconuts are available to the consumers at an affordable rate,” he said. Highly placed sources confirmed that the plan is to procure almost one lakh coconuts from Karnataka vendors and make it available to the public at subsidised rate ensuring no profit no loss to the Corporation. “The aim is to supplement the domestic supply and also stabilise market prices of the coconut, which are currently skyrocketing,” sources said. Currently, the coconuts are sold at prices ranging from Rs 25 per coconut to Rs 75 per coconut based on the size. The >Continued on P8