log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JANUARY 3, 2026 GOA Zuemkars host St Stephen’s feast, social in London Goans in Ireland celebrate Christmas with grandeur, community spirit IN SHORT >> Police hunt former Arpora sarpanch, secy in Birch case MAPUSA: Anjuna Police have launched a search for former Arpora sarpanch Roshan Redkar and ex-panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar in connection with the deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which claimed 25 lives. Both accused have remained untraceable since a Mapusa court rejected their anticipatory bail applications, prompting police to intensify efforts to secure their presence for further investigation.  >> See pg 3 Court reiterates Jan 8 stay on Unity Mall PANAJI: The North Goa District and Sessions Court on Friday reiterated its directions stalling all construction activity of the proposed Pradhan Mantri Ekta Mall (Unity Mall) at Chimbel till January 8, following fresh allegations that work had resumed in defiance of earlier court orders.  >> See pg 3 Goa registers lowest dengue cases in 11 yrs PANAJI: Goa ended 2025 with its best dengue record in over a decade with only 105 cases being reported and not a single death was recorded. Aggressive surveillance and public cooperation are reasons health officials attribute for the success. In the year 2024, the State had logged 567 cases and three deaths.  >> See pg 3 Remuneration of GMC docs hiked PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday announced that remuneration of doctors and GARD doctors serving on contract at GMC has been enhanced, along with a decision to provide a 5 per cent annual increment going forward. He said the decision will come into effect from January 1 this year.  >> See pg 3 Saligao murder: Cops issue look-out notice MAPUSA: Goa Police have issued a look-out notice against Jagannath Bhagat, the prime accused in the sensational Saligao double murder case, as he continues to evade arrest nearly two months after the crime. Bhagat is suspected to have brutally murdered Richard D’Mello, the owner of a music shop in Saligao, and his employee.  >> See pg 3 Wild boars destroy areca nut plantations VALPOI: Wild boars have destroyed areca nut plantations belonging to Demu Gaonkar and his family in Satre village of Nagargao-Sattari. Gaonkar said over 100 areca nut trees had been destroyed in a single night, causing them huge losses.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 31.2 C 19.3 C 82% TIDES Low: 16.31 04.34 High: 09.40 23.47 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 196 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 5 12 2 10 Justice Rebello calls Study warns of heavy metals meet to address land in fish off Caranzalem beach issues on January 6 Police detain protester over hunger strike at Jamia Masjid in Margao Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA Tension at mamlatdar's office over Corlim temple dispute SPORTS INFO Chhetri, ISL players urge FIFA to step in amid league uncertainty Rise of Wellness Genomics: India’s new blueprint for a fitter 2026  SAYS REGULAR CONSUMPTION LIKELY TO POSE HEALTH RISK  SARDINES, MACKERELS AMONG THOSE IN CONTAMINATED LIST SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI Regular consumption of fish caught off Caranzalem beach may pose potential health risks to humans due to elevated levels of heavy metals, a new scientific study by researchers from Goa University has warned. The study has found that several commonly consumed fish species accumulate metals beyond permissible limits, raising concerns over longterm dietary exposure for coastal communities and seafood consumers in the State. The findings suggest that prolonged intake of contaminated fish could lead to non-carcinogenic health effects, underscoring the need for closer monitoring of seafood safety along Goa’s urban coastline. The study ‘Metal bioavailability in sediments and bioaccumulation in edible fishes from Caranzalem beach, Goa, India’, undertaken by A M Patil, M R Nasnodkar and C J G Fernandes, focused on as- TOXIC CATCH: KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY „„Several commonly consumed fish species found to accumulate metals beyond permissible limits „„Prolonged consumption of contaminated fish may lead to non-carcinogenic health effects „„Underscores need for stricter seafood safety monitoring „„Metal accumulation varied among fish organs, with the highest levels observed in kidneys, followed by liver, gills, and muscles „„High metal concentration in kidneys linked to role in filtration, excretion, and ion regulation „„Muscle tissues of 11 commonly consumed fish species showed iron, manganese, zinc, and copper concentrations exceeding permissible limits for human consumption „„Over 35% of metals were bound to fractions capable of entering the marine food web „„Risk assessments classified these metals as posing medium to very high ecological risk, with manganese showing potential toxicity to marine organisms sessing metal bioavailability in sediments and quantifying metal concentrations in different fish organs -- muscles, gills, liver and kidney -- to evaluate toxicity implications for both marine life and humans. One of the key findings of the study was the uneven distribution of metals within fish organs. The majority of the analysed fish species showed the highest accumulation of metals in the kidney, followed by the liver, gills and muscles. “This higher renal accumulation of metals compared to liver, gills and muscles was attributed to its physiological functions such as filtration, excretion and ion regulation,” the study said. The study found that concentrations of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in the muscles of Boost for mining, more iron ore blocks set for e-auction AUCTION OF 10 DUMPS THIS MONTH, 6 IN FEBRUARY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced that six iron ore mineral blocks would be put up for e-auction in February, while ten low-grade ore dumps will go for auction this month. Speaking to media persons after chairing a review meeting of the mining sector, Sawant said that of the total 12 mineral blocks, covering 24 mines, auctioned so far, five have commenced operations while four blocks are in process of starting activities. In October, last year, operations commenced at the Shirgao mineral block operated by M/s Rajaram Bandekar Mines Pvt Ltd, and the Cudnem Mineral Block (VI) managed by JSW Steel Limited. Vedanta Limited was the first to begin fresh extraction from its Bicholim mineral block in April 2024, followed by Fomento Resources at the Advalpal-Thivim block in December the same year. In May 2025, M/s Salgaocar Shipping „„Mining operations December 2024 resumed in October „„M/s Salgaocar last year at Shipping Pvt. Ltd Shirgao mineral began mining MINING block and CudOPERATIONS at Shirgao– in nem Mineral Mayem block SO FAR Block May 2025 „„Vedanta „„A total of five initiated fresh exmineral blocks are traction at the Bicholim currently operational mineral block in April 2024 „„Combined annual „„Fomento Resources extraction capacity of these commenced operations at blocks is 5.3 million metric Advalpal–Thivim block in tonnes Pvt Ltd began operations at the Shirgao-Mayem block. “Another six mineral blocks are identified for auction next month,” Sawant said. He added that the government has already granted consent to five mining firms to lift dumps lying on private land outside the leasebound areas. The Chief Minister said that a total ten dumps, as identified by the government, will go for auction this month. The State has received Rs 400 crore incentive from the Union Mines Ministry for operationalizing mineral blocks. The combined annual extraction capacity of these five blocks stands at 5.3 MT. The blocks that are yet to commence operations include Cudnem-Cormolem, Surla-Sonshi, Tivim-Pirna, Kalay (Sanguem), Monte-de-Sirigao, Curpem-Sulcorna, Onda, and Codli mineral blocks. 11 commonly consumed fish species, including Sardinella longiceps (Tarle) and Rastrelliger kanagurta (mackerel), exceeded standard permissible limits prescribed for human consumption. Surface sediment samples collected from the intertidal zone showed that over 35 per cent of bioavailable manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni) were bound to sediment fractions capable of entering the marine food web. While Zn, Cu, Co and Ni were mainly associated with iron-manganese oxides and organic matter or sulphide fractions, manganese was predominantly bound to carbonate phases, making it relatively more mobile. Risk analysis using the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) categorised Mn, Zn, Cu and Ni as posing medium to very high ecological risk, while Screening Quick Reference Table (SQUIRT) values indicated potential toxicity of manganese >Continued on P5 People’s Charter on cards; Cong, GFP, AAP, RGP extend support THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Former Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello, whose call for a people’s movement to stop the “destruction of Goa” through rampant land conversions and hill cutting, gained traction across the State, has now called for a meeting on January 6 at the Institute Menezes Braganza in the capital city. To take the idea forward, Rebello said the meeting at 3.30 pm will discuss a draft People’s Charter prepared by him. The charter seeks to unite Goans against wholesale land sales, illegal hill cutting, and unchecked development. “Your voices reflected the collective anguish we all carry for our homeland,” he wrote in his appeal on Friday which urged Goans to stand together to safeguard the State for future generations. The call has now received strong backing from the Opposition. Congress, Goa In his appeal to Goans to stand together to safeguard the State for future generations, Justice Rebello said Your voices reflected the collective anguish we all carry for our homeland. Forward, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Revolutionary Goans (RG) have all voiced support. AAP MLA Venzy Viegas and RG MLA Viresh Borkar said Goa’s culture and environment were being degraded in the name of development. “Justice Rebello’s call is right. If everyone supports it, a mass movement will emerge quickly,” they said. State Congress president Amit Patkar also endorsed the initiative. He declared that if a people’s movement is formed to fight CRZ violations, mountain felling, and the casinos in Mandovi, the Congress party >Continued on P5 Road accident in Assonora claims man’s life, wife critically injured THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA A 45-year-old man was killed and his wife sustained critical injuries after a bus collided with their two-wheeler at Assonora on Friday morning. The deceased has been identified as Laxmikant Shetkar (45) of Corjuem-Aldona. His wife, Smruti, who was riding pillion, suffered grievous injuries in the mishap. According to police, the couple was travelling from Mapusa towards Bicholim on their two-wheeler when a bus from the opposite direction allegedly rammed into them. The accident occurred at around 7.45 am, in front of the chapel near the Assonora Sports Complex. Laxmikant Shetkar sustained fatal injuries and died at the spot. Smruti Shetkar was rushed to the Mapusa District Hospital for emergency treatment and was later shifted to the GMC, Bambolim, due to the seriousness of her injuries. The Colvale Police have taken the bus driver, Tukaram Sawant of Mashel, into custody for questioning. TEMPLE TRADITION: Devotees throng the Shri Dev Bodgeshwar Devasthan to participate in zatra at Mapusa on Friday. The zatra will continue till January 8. (Report on pg 3)   Narayan Pissurlenkar No side jobs, govt warns staffers against engaging in private work THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has warned its employees against engaging in professional anchoring and other private work, stating that such activities violate service conduct rules and adversely affect official performance. In the circular issued, the government has warned to take disciplinary action against employees violating the directions. The government said it has come to its notice that employees of government departments, corporations and autonomous bodies are involved in professional anchoring and similar activities, thereby impacting their dedication to official duties. >Continued on P5 CM eyes February to Sparklers on wine bottles likely cause of Swiss fire present State budget PTI SAYS 77% ASSURANCES TO BE FULFILLED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is likely to present the Goa State Budget for 2026–27 in February, ahead of the Panaji City Corporation and municipal elections scheduled for March-April. Sawant on Friday chaired a crucial review meeting to assess the implementation of the Budget 2025–26 and the status of assurances made by the government. During review it was brought out that action has already started on 99.3 per cent of the budget assurances. “Almost 77 per cent of the assurances will be implemented in this financial year itself and rest in the next year,” Sawant said while directing all Secretaries and HoDs to fast track implementation of the budget assurance as well as assurances given on the floor of the House by the government. Sawant informed that as on November, 2025 end, the State government has spent 57 per >Continued on P5 CRANS wiss investigators said Friday that they believe sparkling flares atop Champagne bottles ignited the fatal fire at a ski resort when they came too close to a crowded bar's ceiling. Forty people were killed and another 119 injured in the blaze as it ripped through the busy Le Constellation bar at the ski resort of Crans-Montana while revellers were celebrating New Year's Eve, authorities said. Among the crowd was Axel Clavier, a 16-year-old from Paris, who said he felt as if he was suffocating inside the Swiss Alpine bar where moments S SILENT TRIBUTE: People lay candles near the Le Constellation bar after the devastating fire during New Year's celebrations in Crans-Montana. before he had been ringing in the New Year with friends and dozens of other people. The teenager escaped the inferno, which broke out early Thursday, by forcing a window open with a table. But about 40 other partygoers died, including one of Clavier's friends, falling victim to one of the worst tragedies in Switzerland's history. Late Thursday, mourners left candles and flowers in an impromptu memorial. Pope Leo sent a telegram Friday to the bishop of Sion to express condolences and pray that “the Lord will welcome the deceased into His abode of peace and light, and will sustain the courage of those who suffer in their hearts or in their bodies. Probe continues We have numerous accounts of heroic actions, one could say, of very strong solidarity in the moment, Valais government head Mathias Reynard told RTS radio Friday. He lauded the work of emergency officials on the day after the fire but added “in the first minutes it was citizens and in large part young people who saved lives with their courage. Tragic evening Clavier, the Parisian teenager, said he didn't see the fire start, but did see waitresses arrive with Champagne bottles with burning sparklers. Two women told French broadcaster BFMTV they were inside when they saw a male bartender lifting a female bartender on his shoulders as she held a lit candle in a bottle. The flames spread, collapsing the wooden ceiling, they told the broadcaster.