log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2026 GOA @thegoanonline Affordable electricscooters drive India’s EV growth Tata Punch EV facelift: More range, better tech IN SHORT >> Lairai zatra: Crucial meet on March 15 PANAJI: The Lairai Devasthan Committee has summoned all dhond devotees to an important gathering on March 15 at 3:30 pm at the temple hall in Shirgao. The meeting will deliberate on the preparations and arrangements for the much-anticipated Shri Lairai Devi Jatra, which will be celebrated on April 21, as devotees begin gearing up for the sacred and spectacular annual festival. Candolim health centre on fast track MAPUSA: The long-pending construction of the new Primary Health Centre at Candolim may finally get the push it has long awaited, with MLA Michael Lobo taking charge as chairman of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation and personally reviewing the progress of the Rs 20-crore project.  >> See pg 3 8 food units shut in FDA crackdown MAPUSA: Eight food business establishments were asked to suspend operations over licence irregularities and unhygienic conditions, around 300 kg of bananas worth Rs 21,000 were destroyed at the Mapusa Sub Yard over suspected artificial ripening and a hawker was fined Rs 2,000 for operating without registration during a surveillance drive carried out by the FDA in Bardez.   >> See pg 3 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 257 2 10-tonne Sonsodo gasification plant stuck in limbo Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan 3 GOA Vertical 're-development' may jar city's look but not CCP poll narrative Indian-origin woman killed in Canada ONTARIO: A 45-year-old Indian-origin woman was stabbed to death by unidentified persons in Canada's Ontario province, police said. The incident took place "just before 9:30 pm on March 3" at LaSalle town in Essex County, the LaSalle Police Service said in a statement. PANAJI he Goa government has identified 15 ancient monuments, archaeological sites and remains across the State for protection under the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978. A notification issued by the Department of Archaeology has invited objections and suggestions from the public before the sites are declared protected monuments or protected areas. The notification grants citizens and stakeholders two months to submit their views on the proposal. Among the sites proposed T LIFE Middle East war: Goa braces for price surge OPPOSITION LIKELY TO TRAIN GUNS ON SECTION 39A THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The budget session of the Goa Legislative Assembly opens Friday with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant slated to present the State budget for 2026-27, the last of this term before the elections expected in March next year. But although the treasury benches dominate the House in numbers, the Opposition’s aggressive campaign against Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act is expected to set the narrative. Recent street protests have already built momentum which could carry the fight into the House with section 39A having become the lightning rod. The clause gives sweeping powers to the TCP to alter land use and building permissions. Opposition which had been building up across the State climaxed with the agitation launched by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar swelling into a State-level crisis forcing the government to concede ground. As damage-control, the government has now appointed a three-member committee Oppn moves private Bills on land protection, rivers, jobs for locals of bureaucrats led by Revenue Secretary, Sandip Jacques, IAS, to probe and submit a report on lapses which led to the escalation of the stir into a "unlawful protest" at the residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane. The Opposition had seized the issue holding rallies and giving legs to the in recent weeks, and the Assembly session is now its next battleground. Inside the House, fireworks are expected with the Opposition benches expected to punch way above the weight of their seven-member strength to press for the withdrawal of Section 39A. Leaders said, they plan to corner the government on transparency, accountability, and the alleged nexus with developers. PANAJI: In a concerted legislative push ahead of the Assembly session commencing Friday, Opposition MLAs have moved a series of private member Bills in the Goa Legislative Assembly seeking stronger safeguards for agricultural lands, protection of rivers and reservation of jobs for locals, among other measures. Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, GFP chief Vijai Sardesai and AAP MLA Venzy Viegas have independently moved the Goa Protection of Agricultural Lands Bill, 2026, which was handed over to them by retired Justice Ferdino Rebello, who has launched a movement titled “Enough is Enough”. The Bill seeks to prevent indiscriminate conversion of agricultural land and protect Goa’s farming sector, ecology and rural livelihoods.  >> See pg 3 The ruling side is likely to defend the clause as reform, but the clash could overshadow the budget in an election year where routine allocations for infrastructure, health, education, and tourism may struggle to find space in the headlines. For Sawant, the challenge is twofold: He must present a populist budget that also signals stability and growth while at the same time, he INDIA STORMS INTO FINALS must defend a law that has triggered an agitation which is gaining traction on Goa’s streets. For the Opposition, the strategy is clear: keep Section 39A at the centre, and make it the symbol of government excess. The budget may be tabled on Friday but the battle over Section 39A is expected to decide the tone -- in the House and beyond. 3-member panel to probe protest outside TCP minister’s house THE GOAN I NETWORK THRILLING TRIUMPH: Indian players celebrate their 7-run nail-biting victory against England in the T20 semi-finals on Thursday. India will now face New Zealand in the title clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday. (Report on pg 12) Govt to study social media impact on children under 16, forms panel THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has constituted a committee to examine the growing influence of social media on children under 16 and explore possible restrictions. The first meeting was held today at the Directorate of Information Technology, with participation from government officials, industry rep- resentatives, and academic experts. Speaking after the meeting, IT Minister Rohan Khaunte said that although social >Continued on P9 Govt moves to shield 15 heritage sites THE GOAN I NETWORK RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 All eyes on Assembly, CM to present budget today Bengal Governor, Ladakh LG quit NEW DELHI: In a surprise development, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and Ladakh Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta resigned from their posts on Thursday. The sudden development, which came while Bose was in New Delhi, added a new layer of political intrigue to the already charged pre-election atmosphere in Bengal. Instagram.com/thegoanonline THE 15 SITES MARKED FOR PROTECTION „„Malar Cave (Malar, Tiswadi) „„Haat Katro Khambo (Old Goa) „„Sirdona Cave „„Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel ruins (Chimbel) „„Gopakkapattnam Port remains (Goa Velha) „„Jacquem Cave (Neturlim, Sanguem) „„Bawlyache Mol (Pirla, Quepem) „„Pandurang Math & Mukhyapran (Maruti) Math (Balli) „„Temple remains (Sasore Khaddem, Cordem) „„Tamsuli Cave (Candola) „„Mardangad Fort (Queula, Ponda) „„Surya Temple ruins (Kudne) „„Thadgi memorials (Kudnem) „„Rock-cut tank (Dabolim) „„Shree Damodar Temple tank (Fatorda, Margao) for protection are the Malar Cave in Malar village of Tiswadi taluka, Haat Katro Khambo in Old Goa, and a cave located at Sirdona. The list also includes the ruins of the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Chim- bel, which is believed to hold historical importance. Other sites identified for protection include the remains of the Gopakkapattnam Port at Goa Velha, Jacquem Cave at Neturlim in Sanguem taluka, Bawlyache Mol at Pirla in Quepem, and Pandurang Math and Mukhyapran (Maruti) Math at Balli. The notification further >Continued on P9 PANAJI The State government has constituted a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the unlawful gathering outside the residence of TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane on February 24. The committee will be headed by Revenue Secretary IAS Sandip Jacques and will include South Goa Collector IAS Egna Cleetus as a member and IPS officer Tikam Singh Verma as Member Secretary. “The government is pleased to constitute a three-member fact-finding committee under the chairmanship of Sandip Jacques into the causes that led to the unlawful gathering outside the residence of TCP >Continued on P9 6 SPORTS Lakshya enters quarterfinals of All England Championships 14 Panel to study concerns of taximen on app policy To submit report within eight days THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As the Goa government began consultations with taxi operators on the proposed digital taxi policy, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday directed constituting a committee to examine suggestions and concerns raised by stakeholders. The panel will meet taxi representatives within eight days before the State takes a final view on the proposed framework. The decision followed a meeting chaired by Sawant at the Mantralaya and attended by representatives of 35 taxi associations along with ruling and Opposition MLAs. The proposed policy seeks to bring taxi operators onto a common digital platform with uniform fares while ensuring safety, transparency and convenience for tourists. “We have requested a stepby-step approach over the next eight days regarding existing digital platforms and establishing proper uniform minimum rates along with safety, security, and transparency for tourists. A committee has been constituted to study the issues raised by taxi operators,” the CM told reporters after the meeting. Scrap existing app-based services before digital shift, say taximen PANAJI: Taxi operators adopted a cautious stance, stating that the government should first scrap existing app-based services like Goa Miles and Goa Taxi App before expecting traditional taxi operators to participate in the new digital platform. All Goa Taxi Association President Chetan Kamat said operators were not opposed to digitisation but wanted fares to be standardised and clearly displayed. “The government suggested bringing all taxis onto a single platform, but we demand that apps like Goa Miles be scrapped first. We want one uniform taxi rate across Goa and destination-to-destination fares that are digitally available to passengers,” he said. Kamat added that taxi operators would submit their suggestions in writing to the committee once consultations begin. >Continued on P9 The four-member panel, constituted under the Transport Department, will gather feedback from taxi associations, examine the concerns and submit a report before a follow-up meeting. Tourism and IT Minister Rohan Khaunte, who was also present at the meeting, said the government had explained the need for technological integration in the taxi sector while assuring operators that their earlier concerns had been considered. “The taxi meeting has taken place and we presented the details. We explained that adopting technology is a must. We understood the issues raised during the previous meeting and introduced a plan to bring in a digital platform,” he said. “Our effort is to bring tourism stakeholders and all taxis onto one platform with a >Continued on P9 Iran defies US-Israel blitz, hits back with new wave of attacks PTI DUBAI Iran launched a new wave of attacks against Israel, American bases and countries around the region Thursday, while warning the US would “bitterly regret” torpedoing an Iranian warship. Tehran's expanding retaliatory strikes and increasing shows of defiance came even as Israel and the US hammered Iran for a sixth day. The war has escalated each day, affecting an additional 14 countries across the Middle East and beyond. On Thursday, Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones -though Tehran denied that. A day earlier, the US said it sank an Iranian frigate in the waters off Sri Lanka. Israeli and American leaders have also suggested that toppling the government was Iran yet to elect Khamenei’s successor TEHRAN: Iran has not yet elected the successor of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a joint US-Israeli airstrike last week, a senior Iranian official said Thursday. Ayatollah Dr Abdul Majeed Hakeemelahi, the representative of Iran's supreme leader in India, also said that the process to elect a new leader is still underway. a goal - and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed when they launched the war Saturday. But the exact aims and timelines have repeatedly shifted, and the conflict increasingly appeared to be open-ended. Iran's attacks have targeted their Arab neighbours, disrupted oil supplies and snarled global air travel. The war has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 70 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six US troops have been killed. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the US Navy of committing an “an atrocity at sea” for sinking the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean earlier in the week, killing at least 87 people.