log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2026 GOA Why fast charging may beat battery swapping for most EVs Mercedes-Benz GLC: The luxury SUV just leveled up IN SHORT >> Tension at Bicholim, cops summon activist BICHOLIM: Tension prevailed for several hours at the Bicholim police station on Thursday night after social activist Swapnesh Sherlekar was summoned for questioning by the police in connection with the Lodha project issue at Carapur-Sarvan. As news spread, social activists and leaders from various parts of the State rushed to the police station. >> See pg 2 MMC workers warn of self-immolation MARGAO: In a major development on the row over regularization of services of the Margao Municipal workers, 14 sanitation workers on Thursday threatened self-immolation by dousing themselves with petrol if their issue of fixation and clearance of arrears are not settled within two days.  >> See pg 2 ED attaches `7 cr properties in Goa 2 GOA CCP polls: Key contest likely as big names clash head-on in several wards THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar of the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) on Thursday night called off his six-day hunger strike at Azad Maidan after receiving official confirmation that all provisional and final land conversion proposals under Section 39A in his constituency have been suspended with immediate effect. Fellow protester Tushar Gawas also ended his fast. The communication, issued on the Chief Town Planner’s letterhead and handed over by North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav, addressed clarifications sought by Borkar. Before formally withdrawing, he consulted villagers from Siridao-Palem, who had spearheaded and supported the agitation. He hailed their steadfastness, particularly the women, some of whom are vendors and even a 90-year-old participant. “This was our second fight for freedom,” Borkar de- Scrap Sec 39A in Assembly or ‘andolan’ will continue: Viresh PANAJI: St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar has warned that the agitation against Section 39A of the TCP Act will intensify if the provision is not scrapped in the upcoming Assembly session. Stating that the ‘andolan’ would continue outside the Goa Assembly Complex if the government fails to act, he expressed hope that Section 39A would be taken up for discussion and subsequently scrapped for the rest of Goa. He added that the Chief Minister has assured that the matter will be discussed during the session. Urging legislators across party lines to support the move, Borkar appealed to all MLAs to back the proposal when it comes before the House. Issuing a strong warning, he said that if the provision is not repealed in the Assembly, the agitation will be escalated in a more aggressive manner. clared, breaking his fast with prasad from the Sateri temple offered by activist Norma Alvares. State challenges Zenito's bail order PTI PANAJI: The Central Bureau of Investigation has busted a Rs 1.86 crore ‘digital arrest’ fraud, arresting three persons, including one accused from Goa. The agency conducted synchronised searches at multiple locations in Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Delhi.  >> See pg 5 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 32.5 C 22.2 C 85% GOVT VOWS TO FIX ACCOUNTABILITY NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Thursday imposed a “complete blanket ban” on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of the NCERT's Class 8 social science book as it contains “offending” contents on corruption in the judiciary, saying a gunshot has been fired and the institution is bleeding. The government, on its part, expressed anguish over the inclusion of the controversial section in the book, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promising to fix accountability and take action against those involved in drafting it. Observing that there appeared to be a “deep-rooted conspiracy” and a “calculated move” to undermine the institution and demean the dignity of judiciary, the Supreme Court directed that all copies of the book -- physical and digital -- currently in circula- APEX COURT ORDER „„All physical, digital copies of the book to be seized „„Book to be removed from public access without delay „„Blanket ban on further publication, reprinting „„‘Deep-rooted conspiracy’ and ‘calculated move’ to undermine judicial dignity tion be seized immediately and removed from public access without any delay. A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant issued show-cause notices to NCERT director and the secretary of the department of school education, asking them to explain why action should not be initiated against those found responsible for introducing the “offending” chapter. Environmentalists Claude and Norma Alvares were present throughout, providing legal guidance. AIR TRAVEL RELIEF: NO EXTRA CHARGES ON TICKET CHANGES WITHIN 48 HOURS 1 The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has introduced revised, passenger-friendly norms allowing travellers to cancel or modify air tickets within 48 hours of booking without extra charges, under specified conditions. INFO The connection between IndoMediterranean eating 11 SPORTS India wins big against Zimbabwe to set up virtual QF with Windies 14 THE GOAN I NETWORK F forest boundary dataset using DGPS/CORS-based surveys and a GIS-enabled Forest Boundary Decision Support System (FB-DSS). The initiative aims to replace legacy forest maps-many of which lack precise geodetic coordinates-with accurate, satellite-based and field-validated digital records. The decision was taken during a meeting held in December, PANAJI: St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar revealed that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant assured him over the phone that the FIR against villagers would not be pursued. Earlier in the evening, the police booked an FIR against Borkar and 38 other Siridao villagers based on the complaint by TCP department that some files went missing after the day the agitators stayed overnight. They have been booked for stealing 10 files. Borkar and his RGP dismissed the charges as fabricated. Borkar expressed gratitude to Goans worldwide, opposition parties, and RGP leaders for their solidarity. Earlier, North Goa Collector Ankit Yadav met the RGP legislator at the Azad Maidan site of the fast, armed with a letter issued by the Chief Town Planner that the government has "suspended" all the zoning change proposals under 39A in his St Andre constituency. Borkar however, refused to withdraw his protest, insisting on outright "cancellation" of all zoning changes under 39A in St Andre and not mere 'suspension' of the proposals. Collector Yadav personally made a second visit later and met Borkar with a request to call off his fast but to no avail. Borkar and the other leadership of the agitation have rejected the communication of the Chief Town Planner, arguing that “suspension” carried no legal weight and demanded categorical cancellation. They also sought clarity on whether the proposals could be revived later, insisting that only outright cancellation would be acceptable. PANAJI A joint delegation of Opposition leaders from the Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), including MLAs met Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju at Lok Bhavan on Thursday, demanding an urgent special session of the Goa Legislative Assembly to repeal Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said the delegation urged the Governor to intervene, stressing that the issue is highly sensitive and could trigger law and order problems if not addressed immediately. He pointed out that while the Assembly session is scheduled for March 6, the deteriorating health of RGP MLA Viresh Borkar, who is on a hunger strike at Azad Maidan, makes it imperative to debate Section 39A without delay. Alemao said the Governor has the powers to summon a special session and must act in view of the growing public unrest. He also highlighted Borkar’s worsening condition, calling for urgent government OPPN TO GOVERNOR „„Issue highly sensitive, could trigger law & order problems „„Governor has powers to summon special session „„Must act in view of growing public unrest „„People will take to streets if govt takes action against agitators response. AAP MLA Venzy Viegas warned that Goans would not remain silent if attempts were made to stall development works in their constituencies or if cases were filed against individuals protesting against Section 39A. He cautioned that people would take to the streets in large numbers if action was taken against the agitators. The delegation also submitted a draft Bill prepared by Retired Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, Ferdino Rebello, aimed at protecting Goa’s land by removing provisions related to land conversion. >Continued on P9 ORGANIZED BY PRUDENT NETWORK 2 3 The new rules, effective March 26, also place the responsibility for refunds on airlines even when tickets are booked through agents, requiring refunds to be processed within 14 days. Provisions have also been updated for cancellations due to medical emergencies.  >> See pg 9 REDRAWING THE LINES „„CAMPA proposes nationwide digitisation and geo-referencing of forest boundaries „„Aims to re-notify forest limits in line with SC directions „„Expected to formally notify 1,041 sq km of forest land „„To create a state-wide, FIR against locals will be dropped, says Borkar after getting CM’s call THE GOAN I NETWORK This “look-in option” applies only if domestic flights are booked at least seven days before departure and international flights at least 15 days in advance. Additionally, airlines cannot levy charges for correcting passenger names within 24 hours of booking when tickets are purchased directly from airline websites. Goa’s forest limits set for major overhaul PANAJI orest boundaries in Goa are set to undergo a comprehensive overhaul, with the Union Government’s Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) proposing a nationwide exercise to digitise geo-reference and formally re-notify forest limits in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions. The exercise is expected to help notify around 1,041 sq kms of forest, recorded outside forest area as per Forest Survey of India (FSI) report. The move is part of a centrally driven plan to create a state-wide, authoritative RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 CHIEF TOWN PLANNER ISSUES LETTER 'FREEZING' ALL PROVISIONAL, FINAL PROPOSALS UNDER SECTION 39A IN CONSTITUENCY SC bans Std 8 book over chapter on judicial corruption CBI busts digital arrest fraud 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline MLA ends hunger strike after TCP Oppn leaders meet Gov, seek session suspends St Andre zone changes to repeal Sec 39A PANAJI: The Enforcement Directorate has provisionally attached immovable properties worth about Rs 7.17 crore in Goa in connection with a money laundering probe arising out of international narcotics trafficking. ED said the attachment was carried out under provisions of PMLA.   >> See pg 5 PANAJI: Nearly three months after the North Sessions Court granted bail to accused Zenito Cardozo in the activist Rama Kankonkar attempt-to-murder case, the State has approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the order.   >> See pg 2 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 250 Four years on, 800 depositors of MUCB still await their dues Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan authoritative forest boundary database „„Replaces outdated legacy maps lacking accurate geodetic coordinates „„Draft maps to be displayed at panchayats for review, objections „„Certified geo-coordinates to form legal basis for re-notification last year. Officer said that Goa has long grappled with disputes involving forest, revenue and >Continued on P9 Explore the best of Belgaum shopping thout leang Goa. Feel the culture, taste the flavours, and enjoy a lively expo packed th lifestyle finds and great deals. Perfect for families, fends, and shoppers of all kinds. From:- 26th February to 01st March 2026 (Thursday To Sunday) Time:- 11 am To 9 pm Venue:- SGPDA ground Margao Special attraction at 7pm onwards magic show Magician P. A. Suryanvanshi Pernem-Goa Radio Partner