log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline P13 TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 2026 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 199 ROOT, HEAD CENTURIES SET UP EVENLY POISED ASHES FINALE RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 CBC 35101/13/0048/2526 Accountability on the move as top officers get transfers GOA WITNESSES SAME PATTERN FOR OVER A DECADE CASES IN POINT: FOOD FOR THOUGHT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI For more than a decade, a familiar administrative pattern has played out in Goa: IAS and IPS officers involved in public controversies or institutional failures are moved out without accountability being fixed. In contrast, in several such instances, the Central government has stepped in more decisively, curtailing deputations or ordering transfers. The transfer of IPS officer Akshat Kaushal has once again brought this approach into focus. Kaushal has been moved to Arunachal Pradesh months after a State-appointed fact-finding committee held him and several other senior officials responsible for lapses that led to the Shirgao Zatra stampede in May 2025 Page 6 GOA HAILS THE THREE KINGS TODAY Struggling to survive: A circus battles rising costs, fading family legacy IN SHORT >> SC denies bail to Umar, Sharjeel NEW DELHI: Observing that reasonable grounds exist for believing that allegations against Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam are prima facie true, the Supreme Court on Monday refused bail to them in the 2020 Delhi riots conspiracy case but granted it to five others, saying all the accused do not stand on the same footing.  >> See pg 8 DM commissions vessel in Goa VASCO: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned ‘Samudra Pratap’, the first of two Pollution Control Vessels built by Goa Shipyard Limited, in Vasco. With over 60% indigenous content, the vessel is India's first indigenously designed pollution control vessel.  >> See pg 3 „„IPS AKSHAT KAUSHAL: Transferred to Arunachal Pradesh months after a fact-finding report held him responsible for lapses leading to the entirely preventable Shirgao Zatra stampede. „„IAS SNEHA GITTE: Then North Goa Collector flagged by the Shirgao Zatra inquiry; shifted swiftly to the Arunachal Pradesh cadre. „„IAS PUNEET GOEL: Central deputation curtailed amid PILs over alleged illegal -- an incident the panel described as “entirely preventable.” The same inquiry also flagged the role of IAS officer Sneha Gitte, then North Goa Collector, who was shifted to the Arunachal Pradesh cadre. Her transfer was effected with unusual speed, unlike land conversions during his tenure as Goa Chief Secretary; shifted to Manipur while cases remain before HC. „„DGP JASPAL SINGH: Transferred to Delhi days before the Assembly session following controversy over Assagao demolition and allegations of pressuring an inspector to dilute a case. „„EX-DIG KOAN: Suspension revoked by MHA in a misconduct case; transferred to Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Kaushal, who was first posted to the State Police Control Room. While the government announced financial assistance for the families of those killed and injured, it has not disclosed any disciplinary action arising from the report. There have been no FIRs, no suspen- sions. In July 2025, another senior bureaucrat, Puneet Kumar Goel, saw his central deputation curtailed by the MHA amid pending public interest litigation over alleged illegal land conversions during his tenure as Goa’s Chief Secretary. He was shifted to the Ma- NEP net widens in schools, to cover more classes from June TO BE IMPLEMENTED FOR STDs III, IV, V, VII & VIII; CLASS XI ROLLOUT DEFERRED SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI The Goa government is set to widen the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) from the academic year 2026–27 by covering Classes III, IV, V, VII and VIII, thereby extending the policy across the Balvatika, preparatory and middle stages, and partially into the secondary level. However, the State has deferred the rollout of NEP at the Class XI level, citing the need to address academic and curricular concerns before implementation. The Goa State Council for Education, Research and Training (SCERT) will implement NEP from Class I to VIII with new NCERT textbooks, while Classes IX and X will continue with the existing textbooks. The upcoming textbooks, aligned with those introduced for Class VI, will integrate the Indian Knowledge „„SCERT to implement NEP with emphasis on activifrom Classes I to VIII ty-based learning with new NCERT „„Increased use textbooks NEP: of projects and „„Classes IX experiential A NEW and X to continPATH FOR tasks ue with existing EDUCATION „„Three-week textbooks bridge course „„New textbooks planned for teachaligned with Class VI ers and students NEP framework „„Bridge course to be „„Focus on holistic child largely activity-based development for smooth curriculum transition „„Reduced syllabus load System (IKS) into mainstream education with a focus on holistic child development. Confirming the development, SCERT Director Meghana Shetgaonkar told The Goan that NEP for Classes I to VIII will be implemented with new textbooks from the coming academic year. “From the 2026–27 academic year, NEP will cover the Balvatika level, preparatory stage, middle stage and parts of the secondary stage. We have decided to defer implementation of NEP for Class XI as we need to be fully prepared academically before proceeding,” she said. >Continued on P8 nipur cadre, even as the matter continues before the High Court. The pattern was evident a year earlier. In July 2024, then Director General of Police Jaspal Singh was transferred to Delhi days before the monsoon session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. The move followed controversy over the partial demolition of a house in Assagao and allegations by Police Inspector Prashal Desai, who accused Singh of pressurising him to dilute the case against absconding accused Pooja Sharma. Desai, who was later suspended, alleged he was directed not to halt the demolition and threatened with a false NDPS case. Singh was later transferred and Desai reinstated. In a >Continued on P8 STOP WORK ORDER TO BE ISSUED AGAINST PROJECT IN CARAMBOLIM 1 Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday declared that a stop work order will be issued against the controversial mega construction project at Carambolim, following mounting opposition from local residents and activists and that he had spoken to TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane and conveyed the decision to MLA Viresh Borkar. The protesters led by RGP MLA Viresh Borkar had marched to the TCP office seeking answers from officials but were stopped by police. Although TCP officials offered to hold discussions with five representatives, the villagers rejected the proposal. The villagers are opposing a development plan that proposes 84 residential flats, 46 commercial shops and a swimming pool, on land with a 3 to 4-meter existing road, while permissions were issued for a 15-meter proposed road.  >> Report on pg 3 2 3 AAP leadership shake-up triggers exodus, 5 resign Amit Palekar, acting president, 3 others resign over consultation, internal democracy THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A leadership reset in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa fell apart within hours on Monday, with two senior leaders and three others resigning in quick succession, indicating deep tensions over control, consultation and internal democracy. Days after being dropped as the AAP Goa President, Amit Palekar resigned from the party’s primary membership, invoking “self-respect” and a widening gap between the party’s founding ideals and its present functioning. In an ironic twist, Shrikrishna Parab, who was appointed state president as additional charge after Palekar’s exit, also tendered his resignation, citing similar concerns. Close on his heels, State Vice President Sarfaraz, Goa Youth Wing President Rohan Naik and Office bearer T H E T R I GGE R „„Palekar said decision-making within the party no longer reflected the democratic and grassroots values… when dialogue and consultation are limited, and decisions flow only from the top „„Parab felt the process followed to remove Palekar and the way it is executed was not acceptable... such an important decision could and should have been handled in a more transparent, dignified, and consultative manner Chetan Kamat also resigned from the primary membership of the party. In a letter addressed to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Goa desk in-charge Atishi, Palekar said decision-making within the party no longer reflected the democratic and grassroots values that had drawn him into public life, even as he reaffirmed his commitment to Goa. “I did not enter public life in pursuit of posts or posi- tions. I joined the party believing in its promise of an alternative political culture— one anchored in transparency, internal democracy, and respect for grassroots voices. Over time, however, it became increasingly difficult to reconcile these ideals with the way decisions are presently taken and communicated,” Palekar wrote, announcing his resignation. >Continued on P8 Crackdown or farce? Sealed nightclubs beat the system QUESTIONS COME TO FORE AS PARTIES CONTINUE AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA Four nightclubs in the Anjuna–Vagator belt, which were sealed in mid-December for failing to comply with mandatory safety norms following the deadly Birch fire incident, continue to operate despite senior fire officials maintaining that no fire safety No Objection Certificates (NOCs) have been issued to them. The clubs – Salud, Mayan Beach Club, Diaz and Café CO2 – were among six establishments sealed by the government-appointed Joint Enforcement and Monitoring Committee (JEMC) after inspections revealed serious violations of safety regulations. The action was projected as part of the State’s crackdown on illegalities in nightclubs operating under restaurant trade licences. However, within a little POLITICAL PRESSURE ALLEGED „„Even as fire officials deny issuing clearances, certain political leaders have publicly defended the reopening of the clubs, claiming that they had complied with all necessary protocols. „„The contradiction between official records and political statements has fuelled speculation of over a week of being sealed – and just days before the peak end-of-year tourism rush culminating on December 31 – four of the six clubs resumed operations. Only Clara and Goya remain shut. The sudden reopening of the clubs, despite unresolved safety issues, has raised serious questions about the government’s resolve to enforce compliance and whether the political interference, with allegations that authorities were asked to “look the other way” to ensure clubs could cash in on the lucrative New Year tourism boom. post-Birch enforcement drive was merely cosmetic. Fire NOCs still not issued Officials from the Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) have categorically stated that mandatory fire NOCs were not issued to the clubs that >Continued on P8 Flip-flop on sealing of amusement REC’s Kalsa project caution sparks hope for Goa rides puts govt action under lens COM M I T T EE ’ S FI N D I N G : CH EE RS I N GOA THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The State government’s handling of the sealing and subsequent desealing of amusement rides at the Bodgeshwar Zatra in Mapusa has once again come under scrutiny, raising questions over consistency, transparency and fairness in enforcement of safety norms. In the aftermath of the fatal Birch fire tragedy, the State administration had launched a strict crackdown on public safety compliance, ordering the sealing of amusement rides at the popular Bodgeshwar Zatra after organisers PANAJI he Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) raising a red flag to the Karnataka government over the proposed Kalsa-Bhandura drinking water project has come as a ray of hope for Goa, which has been locked in a prolonged battle against the inter-basin diversion of Mhadei river waters. Welcoming the REC’s observations citing potential adverse impacts on riverine ecology, the State government and the Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan (MBA) said the development indicates growing recog- T ZATRA BUZZ: Amusement rides near Bodgeshwar Temple in Mapusa.  failed to obtain mandatory safety no-objection certificates (NOCs). The action was projected as part of a zero-tolerance approach towards lapses in safety at public events. Agnelo Pereira This year, amusement rides at the Zatra were set up by two different groups – the original organiser, Kedar Shaikh, who enjoys a long- >Continued on P8 „„WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar says we have full faith in the Central government and the judiciary… diversion of Mhadei waters will alter river flows, affect downstream ecosystems and threaten the livelihood and water security of Goa’s people „„MBA convenor Rajendra Kerkar described the REC’s stand as a ‘positive sign’… Centre is beginning to realise the nition at the central level of the environmental consequences of the project. WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said that Goa has brought to the notice of the Centre how this project will damage the project could inflict on the Mhadei river system and the fragile ecosystems dependent on it „„Goa Foundation has issued a legal notice to Chief Wildlife Warden of Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in connection with Karnataka government’s plan to divert 7 TMC of water from Mhadei river to its proposed Bhandura Nullah have ecological and environmental impact on the State and Mhadei river. “We have full faith in the Central government and the judiciary,” he said. He reiterated that diversion of Mhadei waters would alter river flows, affect downstream ecosystems and threaten the livelihood and water security of Goa’s people. On the other hand, MBA convenor Rajendra Kerkar described the REC’s stand as a “positive sign” and said it strengthens Goa’s long-standing opposition to the diversion. Kerkar said the panel’s acknowledgement of ecological concerns shows that the Centre is beginning to realise the damage the project could inflict on the Mhadei river system and the fragile ecosystems dependent on it. “Goa will now have to further pitch its case and convince the Centre that this project will have serious consequences for the environment, ecology and wildlife— not just in Goa but also in Karnataka,” he said. >Continued on P8