log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY APRIL 28, 2026 GOA ZAGOR BY THE COAST - A TRADITION SURVIVING GOA’S TOURISM BOOM VOICES RAISED IN HARMONY, FAITH AT RACHOL SEMINARY IN SHORT >> Jewellery bag stolen at Arambol wedding PERNEM: A jewellery bag containing valuables and goods worth Rs 20 lakh was stolen at a wedding reception in Arambol. The thieves seized the opportunity when the bridal couple and guests went to click group photos and quietly picked up the bag and fled from the site. The family realised the bag was missing some time later and went to check the CCTV cameras, but the footage was blurred and not of much use. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 310 Monsoon clock ticks on Cuncolim zinc waste clearance >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Goa may have modern jail, not modern mindset: HC 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO The essentials of pH: Keeping your skin healthy and resilient 20,000 seafarers trapped as Hormuz standoff continues DATA SHOWS DOZENS OF SHIPS HAVE COME UNDER ATTACK PTI NEW DELHI Nearly 20,000 seafarers aboard hundreds of vessels -- including oil tankers, gas carriers and cargo ships -- remain stranded, unable to pass through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz. Under normal conditions, this narrow corridor handles about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas flows, and any disruption sends ripples across global energy markets well beyond the region. The scale of the slowdown is stark. Data from maritime analytics firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence shows that only around 80 vessels transited the strait during the week of April 13 to 19. Before the outbreak of conflict, daily crossings regularly exceeded 130. Now, traffic has thinned to a fraction, as fear and uncertainty grip the waters. Since hostilities began, dozens of ships have come under attack. Despite US President Donald Trump’s decision last week to extend the ceasefire indefinitely, tensions remain high. The United States has continued its blockade of Ira- Ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz. 38 vessels forced to retreat as US strengthens Iran blockade strain is beginning to show. A shaky ceasefire between the US and Iran has brought “a careful sense of hope” for the crew, but there is still no clear end to the war. “Day to day, we try to keep things normal with open conversations and small team activities that help lift everyone’s spirits.” The crew sighted drones and missile interceptions several times, both near the ship and along the horizon during their watches. “Those moments were difficult and created real tension for the crew,” Dhar told said. “None of us expected the warlike situation,” he said, noting that reliable internet has helped them stay in touch with families. “Those calls and messages really keep us grounded and give us strength.” Manoj Kumar Yadav of the Forward Seamen’s Union of India said thousands of Indian sailors were aboard the stranded vessels, enduring days of fear and isolation as ships lay anchored near Iranian ports such as Bandar Abbas and Khorramshahr. Explosions sometimes occurred just a few hundred meters (yards) away. 11 SPORTS 14 RCB pace storm destroys Delhi Capitals in record powerplay collapse SSC 2027 exam may see 10% competency based questions Board plans to gradually increase weightage, difficulty levels of such questions SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) is considering introducing 10 per cent competency-based marks for students appearing in the Class X Board examination in 2027, while reducing the weightage assigned to long-answer questions. Smart schooling across 47 schools in Kushavati district proposed >> See pg 3 DoE caps rate of school prospectus PANAJI: Taking a serious note of schools charging excessive amounts for prospectuses, the Directorate of Education has directed all government and government-aided schools to cap the cost of prospectuses, including admission forms, at Rs 100 or the actual printing cost, whichever is lower. Warning of strict action, Director Shailesh Zingade said any violation would be viewed seriously and could invite disciplinary measures.  >> See pg 3 of students across subjects remained average,” GBSHSE chairman Bhagirath Shetye told The Goan. Shetye acknowledged that the new format posed challenges for students. “It was the first year, and such questions require time to think and work out answers. The performance was neither very good nor very poor. There is definite scope for improvement,” he said. He added that the Board plans to gradually increase both the weightage and difficulty level of competency-based questions. “From the coming year, we intend to introduce at least 10 per cent CBQ marks in each subject, which would translate to around seven to eight marks per paper. Going forward, depending on the response, the competency component could be scaled up to 50 per cent in the near future,” Shetye said. Competency-based questions are designed to test understanding and application rather than rote memorisation. These include casebased, assertion-reason, and source-based formats aimed at promoting higher-order thinking skills among students. The 2026 Class X examination, the first batch after PANAJI: Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and AAP MLA Cruz Silva were questioned by the Panaji police in connection with the agitation against Sec 39A of TCP Act. Emerging from the police station after half-an-hour, Alemao struck a defiant note, accusing the government of using the police to intimidate opposition voices. >> See pg 3 Deposit refund scheme lands Road contractors in catch-22 in HC, stay sought on rollout situation over bitumen price SC seeks EC say on plea against cancellation of Ponda by-poll Tourism Dept warns hotels, homestays THE GOAN I NETWORK Cola fishing hub gets CRZ clearance PANAJI: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has granted CRZ clearance to the proposed development of Cola-Saleri village in Canacona taluka as an Integrated Modern Coastal Fishing Village, under the Central government initiative.  >> See pg 3 Oppn leaders appear before Panaji police PANAJI: The Department of Tourism has warned C and D category hotels to submit tourist check-in data via the TIME application, citing continued non-compliance. It said violations of the Act hinder tourism management and cautioned that penalties and fines will be imposed for failure to comply strictly. India, New Zealand ink free trade pact NEW DELHI: India and New Zealand on Monday inked a ''once-in-a-generation'' trade pact, giving duty-free access to 100 per cent of domestic exports. >> See pg 9 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 35.6 C 28.1 C 67% TIDES Low: 02.49 14.49 High: 09.18 20.54 DUBAI: The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has announced that American forces are maintaining a strict maritime restrictive operation in the region, continuing to enforce a blockade against Iranian ports. According to official statements, these forces have actively prevented 38 ships from entering or exiting Iranian waters as part of a sustained effort to monitor and control movement into strategic coastal hubs. nian ports, prompting retaliation from Tehran. Iranian forces have opened fire on vessels in the strait and seized two ships, further escalating the crisis. For about eight weeks, Indian Capt. Rahul Dhar and his crew have been stranded on their tanker in the Persian Gulf, sometimes watching drones and missiles explode as the Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut while the Iran war dragged on. The crew’s morale, he said, is holding as they carry on with their routines, but the Matter posted for further hearing in June PANAJI Patanjali Foods Limited has moved the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the proposed implementation of the State’s Deposit Refund Scheme (DRS), and seeking a stay on its enforcement. In a writ petition, the company has named the Goa government, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Goa Coastal and Environment Management Society, and Law Department (Legal Affairs) as respondents. The matter came up briefly for admission before the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar during which counsel for the petitioner pressed for a stay on the proposed implementation. The Bench, however, did not grant any interim relief or make any observations on the merits of the plea at this stage. The Registry was however directed to issue notices to the respondents and posted the mat-  ANXIOUS OVER CONTRACTUAL PROVISIONS  SAWANT STEPS IN TO REVIVE ROAD WORKS THE GOAN I NETWORK A DRS machine that was installed at the just concluded Cashew festival to create awareness. (File photo) ter for further hearing in June. The petition comes amid continuing debate over the proposed DRS, which has faced resistance from Opposition parties as well as concerns from traders, distributors and other stakeholders. Last month, the govt had announced that the scheme’s implementation would be deferred by six months to one year following mounting objections and calls for wider consultations. The government had then said the rollout would proceed only after stakeholder discussions and public awareness campaigns. In a parallel development, the State is also understood to be considering a sharp reduction in the refundable deposit amount on DRS-covered products after traders and distributors flagged concerns over the financial burden on consumers and the supply chain. The move follows the Board’s initial rollout of competency-based questions (CBQs) in the recently concluded Class X examination, where such questions, covering all ten subjects, carried a weightage of three to four marks per paper. “This was the very first time that we introduced such questions comprising assertion and reasoning formats. The competency level was kept on the lower side. Despite that, the performance MAPUSA A sharp surge in bitumen prices has triggered confusion and conflicting claims between contractors and the Public Works Department (PWD), even as the State scrambles to restart stalled road works ahead of the monsoon and the upcoming assembly elections. While the government maintains that contractual provisions exist to compensate contractors for price escalation, sections of the contractor community have disputed this claim, saying the lack of a formal written order has left them exposed to significant financial risk. Contractors across the State had largely suspended hotmixing operations over the past few weeks after bitumen prices spiked dramatically, with some estimating the increase to be as high as 100 per cent. The halt brought several road projects to a standstill, CONCERNS OF CONTRACTORS „„Sharp rise in bitumen prices (up to 100%) has made projects financially risky „„Verbal assurances from PWD seen as insufficient; demand written order „„Fear of major financial losses without clear compensation mechanism „„Dispute over whether contracts actually cover such steep price escalation „„Some claim no such clause exists in standard agreements „„Lack of clarity causing confusion and delaying project resumption raising concerns within the government at a politically sensitive time. A senior contractor, speaking on condition of anonymity, said work could not resume merely on verbal assurances. “The rates have gone up steeply. Until there is a clear written directive on how the difference will be compensated, it is risky to restart work,” he said. Superintending Engineer Jude Carvalho said clauses exist to address price escalation in key materials, including bitumen. “There is a provision in the contract to compensate contractors for price differences in four materials – structural steel, reinforcement steel, bitumen and cement. Nobody can be denied this, as it is contractually binding,” he said. However, another experienced contractor claimed that, contrary to the PWD’s position, standard tender >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Supreme Court in Monday directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to respond to a petition filed by Congress candidate Ketan Bhatikar challenging the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa cancelling the Ponda Assembly by-election. The Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta observed that the interpretation of Section 151A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, would be crucial in deciding the case; and posted the matter for final hearing on May 8. Bhatikar, the Congress candidate for the Ponda Assembly seat, filed a Special Leave Petition challenging the High Court’s April 8 order which quashed the Election Commission of India’s notification for the by-election. The HC had set aside the poll notification, holding that it violated provisions of the Representation of the People Act as less than one year remained for the term of the current Goa Legislative Assembly. Four members of Mumbai family LPG supply crisis continues to hit hospitality sector die after consuming watermelon THE GOAN I NETWORK FOOD POISONING SUSPECTED TO BE CAUSE PTI MUMBAI A couple and their two minor daughters died from suspected food poisoning after eating watermelon following a family gathering at their Mumbai home, police said on Monday. The victims—Abdullah (40), his wife Nasrin (35), and their daughters Zainab (13) and Ayesha (16)—reportedly fell ill soon after hosting relatives at their JJ Marg residence on April 25, an official said. The family had shared a meal of ‘chicken pulav’ with five other guests. After the visitors left, they ate watermelon and soon began experiencing symptoms such as vomiting, dizziness, and severe discomfort, raising concerns about possible contamination and unsafe food storage conditions. According to the official, the four were initially taken to a private hospital. However, as their condition deteriorated rapidly, they were shifted to JJ Hospital, where they succumbed on Sunday. Abdullah, the head of the family, was the last to pass away, around 10:30 pm. Preliminary findings suggest food poisoning linked to the watermelon, as none of the guests who only consumed the pulav reported any illness. A post-mortem examination has been conducted, and authorities are awaiting the histopathology report to confirm the exact cause of death, officials added. An accidental death case has been registered, and further investigation is currently underway by local police authorities to determine responsibility, if any. MARGAO espite claims that domestic LPG supply has largely stabilised following disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict, the situation for commercial LPG cylinders in Goa remains far from normal. In the State’s commercial hubs, hoteliers continue to grapple with acute shortages, forcing many to revert to traditional cooking methods or scale down operations. Several hotel owners report that commercial LPG cylinders are still not easily accessible, severely affecting daily business. While some establishments have turned to firewood D Wood being used for cooking at one restaurant in South Goa. to keep their kitchens running, others have been compelled to reduce operating hours, leading to a noticeable loss of customers and revenue. Adding to their woes are widespread allegations of black marketing. Hoteliers have raised serious concerns over the apparent contradiction in supply: while authorised distributors cite shortages, cylinders are reportedly available on the black market at exorbitant prices. President of the South Goa Hoteliers Association, Deepak Pai, said the supply of commercial LPG cylinders has yet to stabilise, leaving the hospitality sector under strain. “Many establishments are still dependent on firewood. The situation has not improved despite assurances from petroleum companies,” Pai said. He further alleged largescale black marketing, noting that cylinders are being sold at nearly double their official price. “A commercial cylinder that should cost around Rs 2,150 is being sold for Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 on the black market. This raises serious questions about the supply chain and enforcement,” he added. Gas agency operators, however, attribute the shortage to limited allocations from petroleum companies. One dealer explained that while the daily requirement is around 150 cylinders, agencies are receiving only about 100 on average. “This gap is the primary reason for the shortage. That said, the situation has shown slight improvement in recent days,” the dealer noted. For many hoteliers, the impact is immediate and unavoidable. One hotel owner shared that his establishment requires at least two to three cylinders per day but often struggles to secure even one. >Continued on P9