log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY MAY 23, 2026 GOA UK Goan makes mark on global fashion stage Siblings capture Qatar’s cherished moments The faith we inherited in Goa is not yours to betray IN SHORT >> TCP proposes more 31.64L sq mt as NDZ in Tiswadi, Salcete PANAJI: The department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) has proposed an additional 31.64 lakh sq mtrs of land across Tiswadi and Salcete talukas to be notified as No Development Zone (NDZ) under the Regional Plan 2021 further tightening restrictions on developmental activities in ecologically sensitive areas.  >> See pg 3 Salcete panels seek coastal protection MARGAO: Chairpersons and members of Biodiversity Management Committees of coastal Salcete on Friday flagged the destruction of sand dunes and mangroves, besides pollution of the River Sal through sewage disposal, and called for a holistic approach to save the environment and the fragile coastline.  >> See pg 2 Carpenter electrocuted MAPUSA: A 29-year-old carpenter hailing from Rajasthan but residing at Harvalem died of electrocution while working at a construction site in Deulwada, Anjuna.  >> See pg 3 Shristhal residents fear molasses spill CANACONA: With the monsoon expected shortly in the State, residents of Shristhal-Canacona have raised concerns that the huge amounts of molasses left at the Shristhal Industrial Estate could flow down to contaminate water bodies and the environment.  >> See pg 5 RBI hands Centre `2.87 lakh cr dividend MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank on Friday announced a record dividend of Rs 2.87 lakh crore to the government for the year-ended March 2025, providing a financial boost for the exchequer amid rising import bills and supply chain disruptions due to the West Asia conflict. The dividend is 6.7 per cent higher than Rs 2.69 lakh crore for the 202425 fiscal year. Tulsi quits as US intelligence chief WASHINGTON: United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her post to support her husband through his cancer battle. The top US official shared her resignation letter to President Donald Trump in a post on X. ‘Slight progress’ in Iran talks: US WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that discussions aimed at halting the conflict with Iran have shown “some slight progress,” while simultaneously echoing Washington’s dissatisfaction with its NATO allies. WEATHER >> Max: 30C Min: 27C Humidity: 77% TIDES Low: High: 09:21 22:58 03:06 16:35 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 335 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 11 2 10 Sparks of change: Draft Goa moves step closer to water metro project rules target 24x7 power GOA Fisheries Dept revives open-sea cage farming project, invites applications Race against rains as River Sal clean-up commences Page 8 Facebook.com/thegoan Relief could be on the way for households and businesses in Goa on the power supply front. The Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC) has proposed draft regulations that could make it mandatory for the Electricity Department to provide uninterrupted power supply and compensate consumers for breakdowns. The draft ‘Specific Conditions of Transmission and Distribution License to Electricity Department, Government of Goa Regulations, 2026’ formalises it as the State’s deemed transmission and distribution licensee for EDG – Emergency Diesel Generation at sub-stations. A clause in the notification mandates continuous supply, while another introduces penalties for non-compliance. The rules also require an- POWER SUPPLY ACCOUNTABILITY „„Draft rules apply to Goa Electricity Department as deemed licensee „„Continuous power supply clause included in proposed regulations „„Penalties proposed for non-compliance and breakdowns „„Annual energy audits and public Customer Charter mandated „„GCCI welcomes move but flags loopholes in compensation norms „„Chamber seeks shorter restoration timelines of 6-8 hours „„Current rules allow broad exclusions for avoiding compensation „„Urban outage restoration window currently extends up to 24 hours „„GCCI demands accountability from errant officials nual energy audits, a public Customer Charter, and strict adherence to consumer rights under the Electricity (Rights of Consumers) Rules, 2020. The period provided by the JERC for suggestions and objections to these draft regulations ended on Wednesday and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), is one stakeholder which has formally filed its take on it. While it has welcomed the move, GCCI has warned that the regulations will remain ineffective unless loopholes are closed. “GCCI has asked for narrower exclusions and shorter power restoration limits so consumers actually receive Turtle nesting boom on Goa beaches despite tourism rush MORJIM-MANDREM NESTING DOUBLES OVER DECADE, SOUTH GOA EMERGES AS MAJOR BREEDING HUB THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Despite persistent tourism pressures ranging from loud music and artificial lighting to heavy beach activity, Goa’s Olive Ridley conservation efforts have delivered a major success story, with turtle nesting at the tourism hotspot of Morjim-Mandrem more than doubling over the last decade, while South Goa beaches have emerged as key nesting hubs during the ongoing 2025-26 season. Forest Department data shows nesting at the protected Morjim-Mandrem coast increased from just eight nests in 2014-15 to 276 nests in 2024-25, indicating a sharp recovery in nesting activity at one of Goa’s busiest beach tourism belts. The growth accelerated after 2020, with nesting numbers rising from 24 nests in 2020-21 to 52 in 2021-22, 69 in 2022-23, 216 in 2023-24 and reaching 276 in 2024-25. Hatchling releas- 2025-26 season (Jan-Apr) „„Morjim: 36 nests | 3,905 eggs „„Mandrem: 17 nests | TURTLE Morjim-Mandrem NESTINGS: 1,633 nesting trend (last 10 years) THE GOOD eggs „„Agon„„2014-15: 8 NEWS da: 159 nests; 2015-16: 6; nests | 17,305 2016-17: 11; 2017-18: eggs | 6,876 14; 2018-19: 22; 2019hatchlings 20: 15; 2020-21: 24; 2021-22: 52; 2022-23: „„Galgibag: 63 nests 69; 2023-24: 216; 2024| 7,254 eggs | 2,778 25: 276 hatchlings >PG 6 WORLD TURTLE DAY: WHEN TURTLE SEASON MEETS TOURIST SEASON IN GOA es also saw a substantial increase, rising from 331 in 201415 to 12,857 in 2024-25. The upward trend has con- tinued into the ongoing 2025-26 season. Between January and March this year, Morjim recorded 36 nests with 3,905 eggs, while neighbouring Mandrem registered 17 nests and 1,633 eggs. The recovery is being >Continued on P9 Sunrisers Hyderabad defeats Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 55 runs Sipping through the heat: Benefits of drinking tea and coffee JERC NOTIFICATION MANDATES UNINTERRUPTED SUPPLY AND COMPENSATION FOR PROLONGED OUTAGES ASHLEY DO ROSARIO THE GOAN I PANAJI SPORTS INFO compensation for outages,” said Sanjay Amonkar, Director General of GCCI. Currently, JERC’s Standards of Performance allow EDGs (Emergency Diesel Generators at sub-stations) to avoid paying compensation for outages by citing broad exclusions such as transformer failure, grid issues, or maintenance. “Restoration timelines are also long – 24 hours in urban areas. GCCI wants exclusions narrowed to truly unavoidable events and restoration limits cut to 6-8 hours, so compensation kicks in faster,” Amonkar said. The Chamber has also urged JERC to ensure accountability and recommended that compensation paid to consumers must not be recovered through subsequent tariff hikes but instead from errant officials responsible for lapses. >Continued on P9 REPORT SUBMITTED TO CENTRE AND STATE; DPR IN 3-4 MONTHS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa has moved a step closer to launching a Kochi-style Water Metro system, with the feasibility study for the ambitious inland and coastal transport project now completed and submitted to both the Centre and the State government. RND Director Vikramsingh Raje Bhosle said Goa had strong potential to emerge as the country’s next successful Water Metro project after Kochi, adding that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) proposal was expected to be ready within the next 3-4 months. “The feasibility study for the project in Goa has been completed and submitted to both the Central and Goa governments. Goa has strong potential for a successful Water Metro project after Kochi. The DPR proposal has been submitted and is expected to be ready within the next three to four months,” Bhosle said. The development comes weeks after Goa government officials travelled to New Del- PANAJI ven as households across India continued to feel the pinch of rising food and jewellery prices amid the ripple effects of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, Goa emerged as one of the country’s least inflation-hit States in April 2026. Fresh data released by the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed Goa recorded a combined retail inflation rate of 2.20 per cent in April – significantly below the national average of 3.48 per cent. The figures placed Goa among the States that witnessed the mildest increase in consumer prices during the month. E This offered temporary relief after a prolonged spell of high inflation over the past financial year when the State emerged as the third-highest inflationary State during 202526, recording an inflation rate of 4.77 per cent for the hi to seek Central support for a transport network modelled on the Kochi Water Metro. The study, conducted over the past year by the Kochi Metro team, mapped eight proposed routes spanning around 111 kilometres across the State. These include Panaji-Narve, Betim-Old Goa, Old Goa-Sarmanas, Vasco-Cortalim, Cortalim-Durbhat, Old Goa-Cumbarjua, Panaji-Dona Paula-Vasco and Panaji-Chapora. Bhosle said the feasibili- ty study has found Goa to be the second most suitable State after Kerala’s Kochi for the introduction of a water metro system. He added that an agency will be finalised for the preparation of the DPR, with the Centre set to provide 100 per cent funding for the project. The State is also examining a longer sea-link corridor connecting Chapora with Keri and Tiracol as part of the broader >Continued on P9 PTI NEW DELHI The Union Health Ministry has asked all states and Union territories to step up surveillance, hospital preparedness and screening of international travellers following the WHO’s declaration of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). In a letter to chief secretaries and administrators of UTs on May 21, Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava said countries bordering DRC and Uganda, including South Sudan, have been assessed to be at high risk of disease transmission. “While the current assessment indicates that the risk to countries outside the affected African region remains low, the substantial quantum of international trade and travel underscores the importance of maintaining adequate preparedness and response capacities at all levels of the health system,” the letter said. THE NATIONAL STATISTICS „„Goa records retail inflation of 2.20% in April 2026 „„National inflation stands at 3.48% „„Rural Goa inflation at 1.68%; urban at 2.49% „„Goa remains below national and regional inflation averages „„National : Food „„Key links include Panaji, Vasco, Old Goa, Chapora „„State exploring Chapora-Keri-Tiracol sea-link corridor „„Nearly 87 vessels proposed for operations States advised LIFE IN THE LITTER to step up vigil amid Ebola outbreak Amid the roadside litter of Old Goa, tiny Indian red bugs gather around garbage — a small yet striking reminder of biodiversity thriving and adapting in human-altered environments.  Narayan Pissurlenkar NCB busts 702 kg ganja haul in Maharashtra with Goa link THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major crackdown on an interstate narcotics network with links to Goa, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai seized 702 kg of ganja concealed inside a truck carrying grocery items and ar- Goa defies nat’l food, jewellery-led inflation surge THE GOAN I NETWORK WATER TRANSPORT NETWORK „„Project modelled on Kochi Water Metro „„Study conducted by Kochi Metro team over one year „„Eight proposed routes covering 111 km inflation rises to 4.20% nationally „„Silver jewellery inflation spikes to 144.34% „„Gold, diamond and platinum jewellery inflation at 40.72% „„Coconut copra prices rise 44.55% year-on-year „„Tomato prices up 35.28%; cauliflower up 25.58% „„Personal care and miscellaneous goods most inflationary category at 17.66% „„Telangana records highest inflation at 5.81% April-December period – nearly 2.9 percentage points above the national average. The Economic Survey had earlier flagged a steady rise in inflation over the past three years. Inflation in Goa climbed from 2.94 per cent in 2023-24 to 3.54 per cent in 2024-25 before surging to 4.77 per cent by December 2025, reflecting mounting cost pressures across sectors. For April this year, however, inflation dropped while rural Goa remained particularly low at 1.68 per cent and urban areas 2.49 per cent. Nationally, retail inflation edged up from 3.40 per cent in March to 3.48 per cent in April, driven largely by rising food prices and a sharp spike in precious metal-linked products. Food inflation across the country rose to 4.20 per cent in April from 3.87 per cent in the previous month. Silver jewellery recorded the steepest annual price rise in the country, with inflation touching a massive 144.34 per cent in April. Gold, diamond and platinum jewellery followed with inflation of 40.72 per cent, while coconut copra prices rose 44.55 per cent year-onyear. Tomato prices increased >Continued on P9 rested two persons from Gondia in Maharashtra. Details shared by NCB on Friday stated that the agency intercepted a truck bearing a Maharashtra registration number and apprehended two accused, identified as Prakash MD and Padamlal NM. During the search, officials recovered 702 kg of ganja packed in 100 packets and allegedly hidden among legitimate cargo such as detergent, toothpaste and hair dye to avoid suspicion. “Sustained interrogation revealed that the contraband >Continued on P9