log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY APRIL 2, 2026 GOA Now, landowners under lens in Salcete’s bullfight crackdown >> See PG 3 ‘Smart City’ awaits ownership, IPSCDL saddled with ops, upkeep CYBER TECH ‘Churches of Goa’ book by The Goan released The first volume of a special edition book ‘Churches of Goa’ by The Goan newspaper featuring fascinating and short historical accounts of 55 churches across Goa was released at the Bishop’s House in Panaji-Goa on Wednesday, April 1.   >> Report on pg 5 IN SHORT >> Bid to fill key posts in Mhadei Prawah PANAJI: The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has made yet another attempt to fill crucial vacant posts in the Mhadei PRAWAH (Progressive River Authority for Welfare and Harmony), the body constituted to address the long-standing dispute over the Mhadei river water diversion involving Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra.  >> See pg 3 Goa pitches agri tech reforms PANAJI: Goa on Wednesday highlighted the need for technology-driven reforms in agriculture, including the rollout of Farmer ID under the Agri-Stack initiative, during a virtual meeting of State agriculture ministers chaired by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.   >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 29 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 72% TIDES Low: High: 04:57 17:03 11:35 23:11 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 284 2 GOA Smart meter rollout sparks resistance from consumers 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 LIFE Maundy Thursday: Embracing humility and preparing for the Holy Triduum CYLINDER RATES RISE BY `  195.50; ATF CROSSES `  LAKH WITH DOMESTIC HIKE CAPPED AT 8.5 PC 2 NEW DELHI Prices of commercial LPG, used by hotels and restaurants, were raised by Rs 195.50 per 19-kg cylinder on Wednesday, reflecting the continued surge in global oil prices amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. With the latest revision, a commercial LPG cylinder now costs Rs 2,078.50 in Delhi. This follows an earlier increase of Rs 114.50 on March 1, marking the second consecutive monthly hike. Domestic cooking gas LPG prices, however, remain unchanged at Rs 913 per 14.2-kg cylinder. Alongside, aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, prices more than doubled to a record Rs 2.07 lakh per kilolitre, mirroring the sharp rise in global crude prices. However, in a ENERGY SPIKE AMID GLOBAL OIL SURGE „„Commercial LPG cylinder price now at Rs 2,078.50 „„Second consecutive monthly hike in LPG rates „„Domestic LPG unchanged at Rs 913 per cylinder „„ATF crosses Rs 2 lakh/kl for the first time „„Foreign carriers face full 114.5% increase „„Govt opts for a calibrated pricing approach „„Move aims to shield airlines and avoid fare spike calibrated move, the increase for domestic airlines has been limited to 8.5 per cent. Foreign carriers and other operators such as non-scheduled and charter services will pay the full market rate, with prices rising by Rs 1,10,703.08 per kl, or 114.5 per cent, to Rs 2,07,341.22 per kl. Domestic airlines, however, will pay roughly half that amount. Industry sources said the government and state-run oil companies opted for a staggered increase to shield domestic carriers from the steepest-ever spike in jet fuel prices, triggered by disruptions in global energy supply chains. This is the first time ATF prices have crossed the Rs 2 lakh per kl mark. The previous peak was recorded in 2022, Ensure 60% commercial LPG supply, State tells OMCs PANAJI: The State government has directed Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) operating in the state to arrange and supply up to 60 per cent of commercial LPG to establishments, following revised allocation guidelines issued by the Centre in view of ongoing geopolitical developments.  >> See pg 3 when rates rose to around Rs 1.1 lakh per kl following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The latest hike is also the second in a row, after a 5.7 per cent increase on March 1. Despite the partial relief, airlines are expected to face mounting cost pressures, with fuel accounting for nearly 40 per cent of operating expenses. The burden is compound- Luthra brothers get NBW against Ponda bail in Birch fire case, AAP candidate in but release on hold cheque bounce case FORGERY CASE KEEPS NIGHTCLUB OWNERS IN POLICE CUSTODY THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA More than two months after the devastating Arpora nightclub inferno that claimed 25 lives, the high-profile Luthra brothers secured conditional bail on Wednesday in the main case – though their release remains stalled as they continue to be in custody in a parallel forgery case. In a significant development, the Additional District and Sessions Court at Mapusa granted conditional bail to Gaurav and Saurav Luthra, owners of the ‘Birch by Romeo Lane’ nightclub, where the tragic fire broke out on December 6, 2025. The court allowed their release on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 each along with two sureties of the like amount. Confirming the development, defence counsel Parag Rao said, “Finally, the bail has been granted. It is a conditional bail with the usual terms. We are yet to receive a copy of the detailed order, but the court has pronounced its decision.” However, despite the relief in the primary case, the brothers are unlikely to walk free immediately. They remain in Mapusa police custody in connection with a separate alleged forgery case involving fabrication of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to operate the nightclub. Rao clarified that the defence has chosen not to pursue anticipatory bail in the forgery matter and has instead filed a regular bail application before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Mapusa. “We have moved a regular bail plea in the JMFC court. The matter is expected to come up for hearing shortly,” he said. The JMFC had, on March 30, remanded the duo to five days of police custody to facilitate further investigation into the alleged fake NOC. Police are probing the authenticity of documents submitted to various >Continued on P9 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Merces court has issued a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Geetesh Naik, the richest candidate in the forthcoming Ponda by-election, in connection with an alleged Rs 5 lakh cheque bounce case, observing that he had been evading appearance for two years. In its order dated March 30, the Civil Judge Junior Division and JMFC, D Court, Merces, noted the continued absence of the accused. “None present for the accused and advocate absent,” the court recorded, directing that a non-bailable warrant be issued against Naik, AAP candidate. The court rejected an application of the advocate for the accused, seeking an exemption from appearance. The Court stated that NBW had already been issued and that the accused had failed to remain present since April 8, 2024. “Since the matter is three years old and no reason is mentioned for his absence today, the application for exemption is rejected,” the court observed. The next hearing has been scheduled for May 8. The case arises from a com- COURT FINDINGS „„Court cites prolonged absence since April 2024 „„Exemption plea rejected for lack of valid reason „„Case pending over three years plaint filed by Shamsunder Mirajkar, who alleged that a cheque issued by Naik for Rs 5 lakh during execution proceedings in 2021 was dishonoured. Mirajkar told the court that Naik had not been appearing regularly, prompting an earlier order on March 18, 2024, when a non-bailable warrant was cancelled with directions for him to remain present on all dates. Despite this, the complainant said, Naik continued to remain absent on multiple occasions, including July 2, August 19, September 20, October 7, October 21, and December 20, 2024. The complainant further stated that attempts to execute the warrant had failed despite police assistance to the bailiff, alleging that the accused was deliberately avoiding arrest. >Continued on P9 Griha Aadhar misuse exposed, govt recovers `  .6 cr 1 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI he Goa government has recovered Rs 1.60 crore from hundreds of Griha Aadhar beneficiaries who had improperly availed themselves of a welfare scheme meant for low-income women, officials said, in what is emerging as a significant crackdown on misuse of public funds. Government sources said that the recoveries, made by the Department of Women and Child Development, were effected from 304 beneficiaries who had continued to draw benefits under the scheme despite being ineligible. The scheme provides a monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 T 6 Sharp rise in commercial LPG prices; jet fuel hits new high AGENCIES The real AI race is about data, not algorithms Facebook.com/thegoan WELFARE MISUSE: GOVT CRACKDOWN „„304 beneficiaries identified and made to return funds „„Scheme offers Rs 1,500/ month to women earning below Rs 3 lakh annually „„2019 rule change barred govt employees and their spouses „„Survey finds 3,000+ violations of eligibility norms „„Notices issued seeking employment and income proof to women with an annual income of less than Rs 3 lakh. In 2019, the State government tightened eligibility „„Recovery includes interest on wrongly availed benefits rules, excluding women employed in government service as well as those whose husbands are regular government „„More action likely as verification of remaining cases continues employees. Yet a subsequent departmental survey found that the exclusions had been widely flouted. More than 3,000 women, either government employees themselves or married to one, were found to have continued receiving payments under the scheme. Officials said the findings prompted a recovery drive, with notices issued to beneficiaries asking them to furnish proof of their or their spouse’s employment status. The documentation sought included appointment letters, details of designation and occupation, and income records such as Form 16 or salary slips dating back to when the benefits were first sanctioned. “Action against others would follow. We are recovering the funds with interest,” the source said. ed by longer flight routes due to airspace restrictions linked to the conflict. Officials said ATF prices, deregulated in 2001, are revised monthly based on international benchmarks and exchange rates. With global oil prices rising sharply, a full pass-through would have resulted in a much steeper increase for domestic carriers. SPORTS Delhi Capitals beats Lucknow Super Giants by 6 wickets 15 Govt steps in to clear Hospicio mortuary backlog FUNDS CLEARED AS MMC MOVES TO REDUCE PILE-UP THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The government has stepped in to address the crisis surrounding the disposal of unclaimed bodies at the Hospicio South Goa District Hospital mortuary, even as the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) cleared a backlog by disposing of 10 bodies on Wednesday, bringing relief to hospital authorities. According to an order issued by Margao Municipal Chief Officer Madhu Narvekar, the civic body will dispose of another 10 unclaimed bodies on Thursday, ahead of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. During this period, burial services are typically suspended by Church authorities, and families often prefer to preserve mortal remains at the government-run Hospicio mortuary. The government interven- DEADLOCK RESOLVED „„Govt orders immediate fund release „„Resolves payment deadlock with MMC „„Restarts body disposal process „„Aims to clear backlog, prevent pile-up tion comes amid a dispute over pending payments to the MMC. Acting on the issue, Joint Secretary (Budget) Dr Pranab G Bhat has authorised the South Goa Collector to immediately release the required funds, as per norms, to enable the expeditious disposal of unclaimed bodies. “It has been brought to my notice that several unclaimed bodies are lying in the >Continued on P9 Mopa-Doha flights to restart from May 16 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Qatar Airways has announced a phased expansion of its global flight schedule until June 15, scaling operations to over 120 destinations worldwide. As part of this restoration plan, flights between Doha and Manohar International Airport, Mopa (GOX), in Goa are set to resume from May 16. The revised schedule comes amid continued tensions in West Asia, which have significantly disrupted air travel across the region. Acting on advisories issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), airlines have been avoiding airspace over several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, following recent military escalations. This led to the cancellation of most Gulf-bound flights from Goa in recent weeks. Earlier, the airline had extended its schedule only until April 15, operating limited services to around 90 destinations, with Goa notably excluded. With the latest update, Qatar Airways has begun gradually restoring connectivity across its network. The airline confirmed that all flights to and from Doha are operating through specially designated flight corridors.