log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2026 GOA CELEBRATING APRIL FOOLS’ DAY, THE WAY WE USED TO KNOW IT THE HOLY WEEK: A TIME FOR PAUSE, RECKONING AND RENEWAL IN SHORT >> 8 devotees killed in Bihar stampede NALANDA: At least eight devotees, mostly women, were killed and eight injured in a stampede at a temple in Bihar's Nalanda district on Tuesday, officials said. The incident took place due to heavy rush of devotees at the Sheetla Mata temple, under the jurisdiction of Deep Nagar police station, on Tuesday morning, an officer said. FDA cracks whip on Panaji eateries PANAJI: The Food and Drugs Administration has cracked whip on restaurants and eateries in the city, issuing improvement notices to at least 30 outlets. The inspections, supervised by senior food safety officer Richard Noronha, revealed some lapses in hygiene, water purification systems, and kitchen maintenance.  >> See pg 2 Bondvol lake gets protection buffer PANAJI: The department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) has resolved not to grant any development permission or technical clearance within 200 meters of Bondvol wetland until wetland authority re-demarcates the zone of influence around the lake.  >> See pg 3 Woman loses ` 2.23L in ‘Facebook’ scam PANAJI: A woman from Porvorim was cheated of Rs 2.23 lakh in a “Facebook task” scam, where fraudsters lured her with earning commissions for completing online tasks. The victim was contacted by an unknown person through Facebook, and was offered part-time work. I-T dept notifies all 7 ITR forms NEW DELHI: The Income Tax department has notified all income tax return forms for the assessment year (AY) 2026-27. While ITR forms 1-4, were notified on March 30, ITR forms 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, as well as ITR-U (for filing updated returns), were notified on Tuesday. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 33.7 C 24.1 C 82% TIDES Low: 03.56 15.58 High: 10.09 22.16 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 283 Questions over accountability as Hospicio mortuary stretched to its limit >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Storm brews in Tivim as locals cry foul over ‘illegal’ project near chapel 5 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Transform your hair care routine with these curd mask secrets 11 Goa takes digital route for census self-enumeration PROCESS ALSO OFFERED IN KONKANI FOR THE FIRST TIME THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa has stepped into India’s first-ever fully digital census exercise with the launch of self-enumeration from Wednesday, offering residents the option to complete the process in Konkani for the first time. The self-enumeration window for Census 2027 will remain open from April 1 to April 15, allowing households to fill, complete and submit their details online ahead of the door-to-door field exercise. The self-enumeration portal will also be accessible via mobile devices through a dedicated app. Addressing a press conference, Director of Census Operations, IAS Cheshta Yadav, said the initiative marks a major transformation in census data collection. “Self-enumeration is a secure web-based facility through which respondents can enter their information online in 16 languages, including Konkani, before the door-to-door survey,” she CENSUS DATA: WINDS OF CHANGE „„Self-enumeration window from April 1–15 „„Households can fill, submit details before field survey „„Accessible via web portal plus dedicated mobile app „„Marks a major shift in census data collection said, adding that this feature is being introduced for the first time and will be available even during field survey. Once the head of the family submits details on the portal, they will receive a reference ID and OTP, enabling them to map their location and complete the questionnaire comprising 33 questions. Yadav said the census in Goa will be conducted in „„To be available in 16 languages, including Konkani „„Can also be used during door-to-door survey period „„Process involves head of family who submits details online Fugitive Sahara official held in sadhu’s disguise WAS CHARGED OF MISAPPROPRIATING OVER `7 CR COMPANY FUNDS ALONG WITH TWO OTHERS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a breakthrough in the long-pending multi-crore financial fraud case, Goa police have arrested a Sahara India official who had been absconding for eight years and was allegedly living in disguise as a sadhu to evade arrest. The accused, identified as Y Raghuveer, a former branch manager of Sahara India in Vasco, had been on the run since the registration of a case in 2018. The Economic Offense Cell (EOC) said he altered his appearance, adopting the attire and lifestyle of a sadhu, in an apparent attempt to avoid detection. The case was registered on February 17, 2018, at EOC based on a complaint filed by A K Tripathi, then Zonal Chief (As per the complaint) „„273 fake accounts allegedly created without „„Raghuveer along actual deposits with 2 others conspired to siphon „„Fake maturity company funds THE GREAT payments processed through „„Fraud took ESCAPE bank accounts place at Sahara ENDS India office in „„Forged loan Vasco applications used to siphon funds „„Financial records were manipulated by falsify„„Forged signatures, ing day books and accounts fabricated records used for additional withdrawals „„Estimated misappropriation exceeds Rs 7.30 „„Recovery amounts cr across multiple Sahara allegedly re-routed and entities misappropriated of Sahara India, Hyderabad. As per the complaint, Raghuveer, along with co-accused K Y Sharif, cashier, and Md Zakir Khan, a field worker, allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy and misappro- priated company funds over a prolonged period. Police said the accused persons allegedly manipulated financial records at the >Continued on P8 6 municipal bodies get interim heads as elections loom SEC begins ward delimitation THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has appointed administrators to run six municipal councils as their current terms come to an end, setting the stage for elections to eleven civic bodies likely in May. According to an official order, administrators will take charge of Bicholim, Curchorem-Cacora, Canacona, and Pernem from April 1, Cuncolim from April 6, and Valpoi from April 9. In Bicholim, Akshay Potekar, director (admin) at the DGP’s office, will serve as administrator. Sagar Gaude, managing director of the Goa Education Development Corporation (GEDC), has been appointed to Curchorem-Cacora. Canacona will be overseen by Shankar Gaonkar, member-secretary of Kala Academy, while Assistant Commissioner (Excise) Shrikant Pednekar will manage Pernem. South Goa Zilla Panchayat CEO Vikas Kamble will head Cuncolim, while Raju Dessai, Forest Settlement Officer, will oversee Valpoi. Officials said the appointments are routine, CARETAKER PHASE „„Move ensures continuity of civic functioning until new councils are elected „„Administrators to take charge from today in phased manner „„Will handle day-to-day responsibilities including sanitation, infrastructure, revenue collection volve detailed data collection on housing conditions and household characteristics. Enumerators will gather information on building and census house numbers, construction materials used for floors, walls and roofs, condition and usage of houses, ownership status, number of rooms, and household size. Details of the head of the household including name, Curchorem sex scandal: Fifth FIR registered against accused State rules out reintroducing kerosene as option for fuel „„Verification includes reference ID plus OTP generated after submission „„Enables location mapping and form completion „„Questionnaire includes 33 questions „„To be conducted in two phases „„Phase-1 includes house-listing & housing census with field survey from April 16–May 15 „„Phase 2 to focus on population enumeration „„Final data release to be on March 1, 2027 AFTER EIGHT YEARS… Connolly’s dream debut powers PBKS to thrilling win over GT gender and social category along with the number of married couples will also be recorded. Additionally, data on access to basic amenities such as drinking water, electricity, sanitation, cooking fuel, and kitchen and bathing facilities will be captured. A total of 3,086 enumerators, including teachers and government staff, will be deployed across Goa. Each enumerator will cover an average population of around 800 individuals. Officials said the exercise will be carried out using digital tools such as Census Management and Monitoring System), the House Listing Block Creator (web application, and the HLO mobile app. Yadav emphasised that participation in the census is mandatory under the Census Act, 1948. “As per Section 9 of the Act, residents must allow enumerators to enter their homes and provide information. Failure to cooperate or providing incorrect details is an offence and may attract a fine of up to Rs 1,000,” she said. TAKING COUNT two phases. The first phase – house-listing and housing census -- begins with self-enumeration from April 1, followed by field exercise from April 16 to May 15. The second phase, population enumeration, will be conducted nationwide from February 9 to February 28, 2027, with final data slated for release on March 1, 2027. The first phase will in- 13 SPORTS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Soham Naik, son of BJPbacked Curchorem-Cacora councillor Sushant Naik, is facing a fifth FIR in connection with the alleged Curchorem sex scandal case. The FIR was registered on Tuesday, after days of inquiry following the survivor's statement and complaint. Sources in the Crime Branch, probing all these cases against him, said that in the fifth FIR, both the complainant and the accused were adults at the time of the alleged offence. Meanwhile, the Children’s Court remanded Naik to 14 days of judicial custody. Police said that the accused will be produced before the JMFC, Quepem, on Wednesday, seeking custody in connection with the second FIR, which involves a minor. As per cases against him, the accused allegedly targeted several victims over a span of nearly three years. Naik, a resident of Madhegal in Cacora, was arrested on March 21. ensuring continuity of civic functioning until new councils are elected. The administrators will handle day-today responsibilities including sanitation, infrastructure, and revenue collection. Meanwhile, in a separate notice, the Goa State Election Commission, which will conduct the civic elections has initiated the process of delimitation of wards for the upcoming municipal polls. Under Sections 9 and 10 of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, the Commission has begun division of municipal areas into wards for >Continued on P8 OFFICIALS SAY LPG SUPPLY SUFFICIENT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Despite a temporary policy window opened by the Centre to reintroduce kerosene supply across the country, the Goa government is not actively considering procuring or distributing the fuel, citing a stable and sufficient LPG supply situation in the State. Goa, which was declared a kerosene-free State in February 2024, has seen no de- NO TAKERS „„No demand for kerosene even during recent concerns over global energy supplies „„Goa declared kerosene free in February 2024… till date, not a single demand for kerosene supply mand for the fuel even during recent concerns over global energy supplies. A senior government official confirmed that the State had initially explored reintroducing kerosene as a stopgap measure but has since decided against it. “We had initially decided to reintroduce kerosene and had even identified two public distribution systems (PDS) in each taluka for supply to ration card holders. However, with LPG supply now restored >Continued on P8 RELEASING TODAY PRESENTS VOLUME 1 Goa ties PNG adoption to extra LPG for biz units THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI n a significant policy shift aimed at accelerating cleaner fuel adoption, the Goa government has decided to link additional 20 per cent commercial LPG allocation to mandatory registration for piped natural gas (PNG) connections, following the Centre’s decision to raise LPG supply to 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels. Importantly, officials clarified that establishments need not wait for physical pipeline connectivity. Submission of an application and undertaking would be sufficient to qualify for the enhanced LPG quota in the interim. I India ramps up piped gas rollout, connections rise NEW DELHI: India added more than 3.1 lakh new piped natural gas (PNG) connections in March and another 2.7 lakh connections were issued as the government accelerated expansion of cleaner fuel networks amid supply disruptions following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. With the war in West Asia disrupting cooking gas LPG supplies, the government has been pushing for greater adoption of piped natural The move comes after the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, on March 27 increased commercial LPG allocation by 20 per cent, primarily to support high-demand sectors such as gas. "During the month of March, more than 3.1 lakh connections including domestic, commercial, hostel, mess, canteen etc. have been gasified. In addition to above, more than 2.7 lakh new connections have been given and are being gasified," an oil ministry statement said giving an update on fallout of developments in West Asia. steel, automobile, textile and chemical industries. Before that on March 21, it had raised the allocation by another 20 per cent for hotels, restaurants and other eaters. Petroleum Secretary Neeraj Mittal, in a communication to States, clarified that only those units registered with oil marketing companies and opting for PNG infrastructure would qualify for the enhanced quota. Building on the Centre’s directive, the Goa government is now proposing to extend the additional LPG quota only to commercial establishments that apply for PNG connections and submit an undertaking declaring readiness to transition once infrastructure becomes available. Currently, commercial establishments in Goa receive about 50 per cent of their LPG requirement through cylinders. The proposed policy could allow them to access an additional 20 per cent allocation, taking total supply up to 70% provided they formally opt into the PNG network. Government sources said >Continued on P8 UNCOVER THE WONDERS OF 55 CHURCHES ACROSS GOA A special edition book featuring...  Fascinating origins and history  Rich spiritual, cultural heritage  Distinct architectural beauty  Conservation efforts  Altars at churches  Chapels linked to churches  Photos of churches EACH CHURCH HAS A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL STORY TO TELL! Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, President of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, will release the book at the Bishop’s House in Panjim, while Auxiliary Bishop Simião Purificação Fernandes will grace the occasion. Books will be available at leading bookstores in Goa.