log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JANUARY 17, 2026 GOA Portuguese Goans in UK to vote in Portugal’s presidential elections Goan settlers in Upper Ghats cherish deep-rooted faith in Goencho Saib IN SHORT >> Birch fire: Ex-Arpora p’yat secy arrested MAPUSA: Anjuna Police on Friday arrested former Arpora-Nagoa panchayat secretary Raghuvir Bagkar in connection with the devastating fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, which claimed 25 lives last month. Bagkar had been absconding after the Mapusa court earlier rejected his anticipatory bail plea.  >> See PG 3 10 Kerala students fall ill on Goa tour MAPUSA: Ten students from Kerala took ill after consuming food at a restaurant in Arpora on Friday, while they were on a study tour in the State. According to details, a group of 50 students from a college in Kerala had arrived in Goa on a study tour about four days ago. SIR claims deadline in Goa till Jan 19 PANAJI: The Election Commission of India has extended the timeline for filing claims and objections under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Goa, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Rajasthan and West Bengal to January 19. Supplementary demands passed PANAJI: The Goa Legislative assembly passed supplementary demands for grants (second batch) sought by the Sawant government to the tune of Rs 1,490 crore. Subsequently, the House also passed the related Goa Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2026 permitting the government to appropriate the Rs 1,490 crore in supplementary demands. Drugs case: ED raids in Goa, six States PANAJI: The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in 7 States as part of a drugs trafficking-linked money laundering case of Goa. About 26 premises in Goa, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Delhi and Kerala were raided by ED’s Panaji zonal office. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 32.5 C 22.6 C 80% TIDES Low: 04.26 16.00 High: 08.58 23.19 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 211 Loud music along coastal belt finds echo in the Assembly Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Midnight robbery in Margao; woman brutally attacked, accused arrested 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 LIFE A world of stories for young minds at Bulbul Film Festival GST, ITC errors cost power dept over `21 crore: CAG SAYS DEPT TREATED METER RENT COLLECTED FROM CONSUMERS AS A NON-TAXABLE GOVT SERVICE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Electricity Department (GED) has reportedly incurred a financial loss of over Rs 21 crore owing to the non-collection of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and ineligible input tax credit (ITC) claims on electricity meter rent despite being a taxable service. As per the Electricity Act, 2003, the GED is a deemed distribution licensee under Section 14, authorised to distribute electricity in the State. In this capacity, GED functions not merely as a government department but as a distribution licensee, similar to other power utilities operating under regulatory oversight and has been paying an annual licence fee. CAG noted that for the financial year 2022–23 alone, GED paid a licence fee of Rs 3.16 crore. Despite this, the department reportedly treated meter rent collected from consumers Govt rapped on idle Shiroda estate land PANAJI: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has flagged a major lapse in land acquisition and industrial planning by the Goa government, pointing out that land acquired at a cost of Rs 70.45 crore for the expansion of Shiroda Industrial Estate has remained idle for nearly six years (till 2023), resulting in no industrial development or employment generation. As per the CAG report ended March 2023, tabled in the House, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) had initially proposed in May 2013 the acquisition of 1,87,825 square metres of land at Shiroda village, for Phase-II expansion of the industrial estate, citing inadequate space to meet the demand from entrepreneurs.  >> See pg 2 as a non-taxable government service, leading to non-levy and non-collection of GST. “Audit observed that the department had charged meter rent of Rs 58.60 crore from its consumers during July 2017 to March 2023. However, GST at the rate of 18 per cent amounting to Rs 10.55 crore was not charged on meter rent despite meter rent being a taxable service,” CAG said. It further said that the GST collected on such meter rent would have enabled the department to avail ITC on the GST paid at the time of procurement of meters. “The department had paid GST amounting to Rs 10.63 crore on purchase of meters during the above period. Thus, non-collection of GST of Rs 10.55 crore on meter rent from consumers resulted in non-payment of GST of Rs 10.55 crore and non-availing of ITC on meter purchase resulted in loss of Rs 10.63 crore to the department,” it said. CAG said that the observations were raised before the State power Secretary and Commissioner of State Taxes (CST) in April 2023. Despite reminders to the Secretary in June and October 2023, the reply was awaited till January 2025. “However, CST in August 2023 replied that as per notification dated 30 June 2017, the services provided by the State Government are exempted from GST barring few specified services and services provided by the Department to unregistered entities who are not liable to pay GST is also exempted from GST. Keeping in view, GED is not liable to pay GST @ 18 per cent on services provided,” CAG said. It also stated that the reply is “not tenable” as the department is not a service provided by the government, but the services provided in the capacity of a distribution licensee. CM pushes for Goan taxis at India Energy event in Betul Assembly marks Opinion Poll day amid calls to protect identity ASKS ONGC OFFICIALS TO MEET LOCAL OPERATORS THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO In a move that has raised hopes among Goan tourist taxi operators of securing taxi business at the India Energy Week, to be hosted by ONGC in Betul from January 26 to 31, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has instructed ONGC officials to meet representatives of local taxi operators to ensure that the taxi business for the upcoming event does not go to operators from outside the State. In fact, taxi union leader Savio told media that the chief minister has assured a delegation of local taxi operators that he would order seizure of the outside vehicles and arrest of the drivers if they are hired by the organisers. A delegation of taxi operators led by Savio and others formally lodged their objection before the South Goa District Collector and handed over a memorandum, formally objecting to the use of commercial vehicles from other States for the India Energy Week. Savio further made a fervent plea to the chief minister to resolve all outstanding issues plaguing the Goan tourist taxi operators at the earliest. In the petition submitted to the South Goa district Collector, the taxi operators formally expressed strong objection regarding commercial vehicles arrangements for the upcoming India Energy Week. Saying that a significant number of commercial PANAJI The Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday marked the historic occasion of the 1967 Opinion Poll Day with a spirited discussion on preserving the State’s unique identity, or asmitai. The debate was triggered by a private member’s resolution moved by Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, who urged the government to adopt a time-bound plan to safeguard Goa’s cultural and social fabric. Alemao’s resolution, which was however defeated by a 21-7 vote, had called on the government to show zero tolerance towards activities of non-State actors and private policing that threaten Goa’s traditions of peaceful living, tolerance, harmony, liberal attitudes, mutual respect and trust. He stressed that 'asmitai' is deeply rooted not only in Goan society but also in its environment, rivers, hills, forests and wildlife, which must be preserved for future generations. >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 „„Petition to South Goa South Goa’s strong local Collector opposes taxi network, espeoutside commercially in the Betul– cial vehicles for Canacona belt TAXIMENS’ „„Warn that India Energy Week POINT OF bypassing „„Object to CONTENTION locals would contracting hurt livelihoods large numbers dependent on of out-of-state vemajor events hicles for guest, staff, „„Argue that local and equipment transport drivers’ road knowledge „„Say the move ignores ensures safer rides After handing over the memorandum, Savio thanked Sawant for his bold stand that only taxis of Goan operators should be hired for the India Energy Week. “We thank the chief minister for his stand that will give Goan taxi operators some business during the event. We also thank Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and MLA Viresh Borkar for supporting our cause”, he said. World needs humble servants, not superstars: Bishop Over 1 lakh devotees celebrate novenas, feast of St Joseph Vaz at Sancoale THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI uxiliary Bishop of Goa Simiao Fernandes on Friday stated that the world today doesn't need shining superstars but needs servants with a humble and zealous heart. He was delivering the homily while presiding at the Solemn Feast Mass of St Joseph Vaz, Patron Saint of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, at Sancoale on the theme, ‘Filled with Hope, St Joseph Vaz Proclaimed Christ through the Ministry of Service’. Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Over 120 Goan pilgrims celebrate Feast of St Joseph Vaz in Sri Lanka >> See pg 7 A SPIRITUAL TRIBUTE: Devotees venerate the statue of St Joseph Vaz at Sancoale on Friday. Filipe Neri Ferrao, Bishop of Agartala Lumen Monteiro, Bishop Emeritus of Bombay Allwyn D’Silva, Bishop Emeritus of Port Blair Alex Dias and several priests concelebrated the solemn feast Mass at 10 am. Being one of the major religious event honouring Goa's home-grown saint, Masses were celebrated at the old church facade of the Our Lady of Health Church, Rua Escravo de Maria, Sancoale, attracting devotees from across Goa and beyond. This year, around 1 lakh people participated in the novena and feast, with around 20,000 participating in the feast day Masses. In his homily at the feast Mass, Bishop Fernandes reflected on the life and missionary witness of St Joseph Vaz, presenting the saint as a model of selfless and inclusive service rooted in the example of Jesus Christ. Focusing on the theme of service, Bishop Fernandes stressed on the three characteristics of Jesus' ministry of Service: being available to the people, being humble in His service and being all embracing, reaching out to the needy >Continued on P9 6 SPORTS RCB overcomes Gujarat Giants with Radha-Ghosh stand 14 CAG flags irregularities in desilting works along Sal Nails CoP for `3.14 cr favour to contractors THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A scathing performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has concluded that the Captain of Ports (CoP) handed undue benefits worth Rs 3.14 crore to contractors while executing desilting works along River Sal, after bypassing competitive tendering norms, flouting procurement rules and issuing contracts on a nomination basis. In its report for the period ending March 2023, the CAG said the CoP failed to uphold the basic principles of economy and transparency in public spending. Under the Phase 1 project, the CAG stated that the contract awarded was at 45 per cent below the estimate, but additional work was handed on nomination. The CoP had estimated Rs 15.38 crore for desilting the Telaulim–Varca New Bridge to Shatmalley stretch in March 2020. Competitive bidding brought the project cost down sharply, with M/s Vaibhavi Dredging winning the tender at Rs 8.46 crore -- 45 per cent below the estimate. The work `60.28 lakh short-levy in Excise Dept PANAJI: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has found that the Excise Department short-levied excise duty and health surcharge totalling Rs 60.28 lakh after an Assessing Authority applied a lower Maximum Retail Price (MRP) slab to a liquor manufacturer in violation of government rules. >> pg 2 was completed in May 2021. However, after fresh requests from government departments and the Dramapur–Sirlim Panchayat, additional work worth Rs 3.97 crore was sanctioned in March 2021. Instead of calling fresh tenders -- a requirement under procurement rules -- the CoP awarded the additional work on October 22, 2021 on a nomination basis to the same contractor. For Phase 2, the CAG observed that a similar pattern of additional works was followed without tendering. CAG’s findings revealed excess payment of Rs 3.14 crore. During scrutiny on February 9, 2023, the CAG found irregularities. “Additional works were taken up during the execution of original works both in Phase 1 and Phase 2. As per the Manual for Procurement of Works, 2019, the cost of any additional work exceeding 25 per cent of the original contract value of the work should undergo a tendering process. The amount of the additional works taken up by the CoP amounted to 47 per cent and 36 per cent of the original works in Phase 1 and 2, respectively. Hence, the works should have been tendered instead of being awarded on nomination basis,” it said. The audit observed that, given that the initial tenders were awarded at prices 45 per cent and 19 per cent below the estimated costs, the >Continued on P9 Russian man arrested for twin murders in Pernem CONFESSES TO KILLING 3 OTHER FOREIGN WOMEN THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA A 37-year-old Russian national has been arrested on charges of murdering two female compatriots in Morjim and Arambol. The accused, in a startling disclosure to police, has reportedly confessed to killing three other foreign women. The first murder came to light on Thursday night when the accused, Aleksei Leonov, allegedly restrained 37-year-old Elena Kasthanova in her rented room at Bamanbhati, Arambol, and inflicted multiple injuries with a sharp weapon, resulting in her death. A Russian woman, a friend of the victim, was staying in MURDERS THAT ROCKED PERNEM „„The first murder came to light on Thursday night when the accused, Aleksei Leonov, allegedly restrained 37-year-old Elena Kasthanova in her rented room at Bamanbhati, Arambol, and inflicted multiple injuries with a sharp weapon, resulting in her death „„The second murder involving Leonov surfaced on Friday around 3 pm, when the body of another 37-year-old Russian woman, Elena Vaneeva, was discovered in a partially decomposed state in her rented room at Madhlowado, Morjim. „„In a startling disclosure to the police, the accused also reportedly confessed to killing three other foreign women the adjacent room. When she noticed the murder, she fled the scene, and the suspect also escaped. The incident was then reported to the Mandrem police. The police gathered information from the victim's >Continued on P9