@thegoanonline THURSDAY MAY 29, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 341 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us IN SHORT >> Second arrest in SSA fund misappropriation PANAJI: Porvorim police have arrested a second accused in the misappropriation of Rs 5 crore funds allotted by the Centre to Goa Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA). The accused was nabbed in Kolkata, where a police team had been tracking his movement since May 24.  >> See pg 2 PWD revises tender process rules MAPUSA: In a major step toward enhancing transparency and promoting fair competition, the Public Works Department (PWD) has revoked previous tender requirements and introduced a new set of streamlined conditions for the tendering process.  >> See pg 3 Salcete hit by water supply disruption MARGAO: Madgavkars and Saxttikars in many areas received water in trickles in the last 24 hours due to some issues with the 100 MLD Selaulim water pipeline supplying water to South Goa.   >> See pg 2 Man held with drugs worth `5L in Arambol PERNEM: A man hailing from Kerala but residing at Morjim was arrested on charges of possessing drugs worth Rs 5 lakh at Arambol on Tuesday night.  >> See pg 5 Minor involved in fatal hit-and-run held MAPUSA: Mapusa Police have arrested two individuals, including the father of a minor, in connection with a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the life of a 12-yearold girl near Camarkhajan, Mapusa.  >> See pg 5 3 Indians go missing in Iran NEW DELHI: The Indian Embassy in Iran said on Wednesday that it has strongly taken up with Iranian authorities the case of three missing Indians, all from the same family, who went missing after reaching the country on May 2. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 28 C 26 C 85% TIDES Low: High: 05:44 12:58 18:43 23:58 Instagram.com/thegoanonline Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in Relief for nuclear families, p’yats told to ease house number rules DoP CIRCULAR TO TAKE EFFECT FROM MONDAY; FREE PROCEDURE TO BE COMPLETED IN 15 DAYS EASE OF LIVING THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a significant move, the State government has initiated a procedure for panchayat areas where households fragmenting into nuclear families but live in the same house will no longer have to partition the property to seek distinct house numbers to get separate water and power connections. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that all panchayats in Goa will soon be issued directions in a circular to simplify the procedure to grant permissions for bifurcation of house numbers for the same house without partition of the plot or other complicated formalities. Sawant said the entire process of applying for the house bifurcation and issuing of a separate house number will be done free of cost without „„No need to partition property for separate house numbers in joint households „„Suffixes (A, B, C, etc) will be added to the existing house number to distinguish units „„Consent from all family members is required „„Sarpanch and Panchayat Secretary may mediate in case of objections „„Designed to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and family disputes over housing records charging any fees within 15 days of filing the application. He added that a circular will be issued through the Directorate of Panchayats and implementation will commence from Monday and will be applicable to houses on comunidade land as well. The separate house numbers will be issued with a suffix such as A, B or C to the original one, he said, adding that it will come in handy especially where households face filial disputes among the nuclear families of siblings. Applicants are required to submit a simple application in Form 'A', a dimensioned sketch of the portion they occupy, a copy of the house tax receipt of the existing house, a death certificate of the original assessee (if applicable), and documents proving familial linkage with the original householder, such as a birth certificate, ration card or bank passbook. Form I & XIV is also Goa to get ‘100 pc literate State’ tag on Statehood Day PANAJI: Goa has qualified on all parameters and will be formally accorded the "100% Literate State" by the Union Ministry of Education on May 30 which is also i.e. Goa Statehood Day. ICAR scientists to advice farmers on Kharif cultivation from today to be submitted. Panchayats are required to inspect the premises to verify the claim and ensure that the portion has a separate kitchen and is contiguous with the main structure. Upon verification, the bifurcation house number will be issued with a suffix (e.g., /A, /B) to the original house number, and NOCs for water and electricity connections may also be provided upon request. He, however said, consent Gaude’s fate over graft remark: Is there a new twist to the tale? Disciplinary action only after personal hearing: Party chief THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI All eyes on the Thursday meeting scheduled between BJP party chief Damodar Naik and Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, who is currently under radar for his alleged corruption remark against his own government. The party is expected to settle the issue “once for all”. As a matter of principle justice, the party has decided to take “necessary” action against the Minister only after granting him a personal hearing. During a tribal event on Sunday, Gaude alleged that there was rampant corruption in the Tribal Welfare Department which is under Chief Minister. Speaking to The Goan, Naik As a party president I have got powers to act against the MLA. The CM will act against the Minister. I have three options open before me, which I will announce on Thursday,” — Damodar Naik, BJP party chief said that a detailed report over Gaude’s “corruption remark” is submitted to the party high command, based on whose >Continued on P8 Media misinterpreted my statement: Gaude THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude, under flak for his “corruption” remark, blamed the media for “completely distorting” and “misinterpreting” his statement. Gaude, who met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, in a bid to avert the possible action, said that he never blamed the Chief Minister of corruption and his statement was pertaining to the administrative functioning of the Tribal Welfare Department. However, the Chief Minister refused to speak on their meeting. "I met Gaude...better you ask him (Gaude)," Sawant said. During the Prerna Din function in Ponda on Sunday, Gaude alleged that the files of contractors are cleared in exchange for bribes, demanding a clarification from the Tribal Welfare Department, which is Media completely distorted and misinterpreted my statement. Nowhere did I say that CM is involved in any corruption. CM is my very close friend and we have been working together for the last five years,” — Govind Gaude, Art and Culture Minister under the Chief Minister. Gaude, who landed in dock following his allegation, on Wednesday said that “many reporters and media are allergic to Govind Gaude and in that case, I can’t do anything”. >Continued on P8 Contentious Bainguinim waste project gets a reboot THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA espite persistent opposition from local residents and elected representatives, the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) is preparing to reissue the Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the long-delayed solid waste treatment facility at Bainguinim. This marks the fourth attempt by the corporation to move ahead with the contentious project aimed at addressing the State’s growing waste management challenges. The proposed plant, initially conceptualised as a 250-tonne-per-day (TPD) facili- D INDIA BAGS MIXED RELAY GOLD AT ASIAN ATHLETICS C’SHIP>>13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 O N PAGE 3 log on to thegoan.net FRESH ATTEMPT: FOURTH TIME LUCKY? „„New RFQ has been prepared with updated eligibility criteria and relaxed terms „„The new RFQ incorporates advanced waste tech and meets latest environmental norms „„This will be the fourth attempt to initiate the project via the RFQ process PROJECT BACKGROUND „„The Bainguinim solid waste treatment plant was first proposed in 2019 as a 250 ty in 2019, has faced repeated setbacks due to technical, administrative and public resistance issues. The project was subsequently scaled down to a 100-TPD capacity, with an esti- TPD facility „„The plan faced technical, administrative, and public resistance, causing repeated delays PUBLIC OPPOSITION „„Local residents, panchayats, and elected representatives remain firmly opposed „„Concerns focus on environmental damage, health risks, and proximity to settlements mated cost of Rs 120 crore, in a bid to attract more qualified bidders. However, even that effort did not result in progress as the previous tender process failed to transition beyond the qualification stage. A senior GWMC official confirmed that a revised RFQ document has been prepared with updated eligibility criteria and relaxed conditions to broaden participation. "We have incorporated ad- vancements in waste management technology and ensured compliance with the latest environmental standards. This time, we hope to receive a better response," the official told The Goan on condition of anonymity. When the RFQ was last floated in 2022, three companies were shortlisted for the project. However, due to the lapse of the proposal’s validity period, the process must now begin afresh. The corporation is currently awaiting formal approval from the State government before issuing the new RFQ and initiating the bidding process. "We are trying to float it at >Continued on P8 from all parties within the family will be necessary adding that the Sarpanch and the Secretary may have to mediate and resolve issues where objections are raised. Soon the procedure will also be made applicable in cities and towns through the civic bodies, he added. Sawant said the decision has been taken close on the heels of the recent one where >Continued on P8 Govt SLP in SC accuses HC of undermining planning mechanisms Seeks interim stay on court order THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Challenging the High Court’s decision to read down Section 17(2) of the TCP Act, 1974, the Goa government in its Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed before the Supreme Court, has accused the lower court of curtailing crucial government mechanisms for regional planning. Criticising the High Court for “misinterpreting” the spirit and scope of Section 17(2), the State has pleaded for an interim stay on the implementation of the March 13, 2025 order. The Division Bench comprising of Justice MS Karnik and Justice Nivedita Mehta through an order dated March 13 struck down the Goa Town and Country Planning (Alteration/ Modification in the Regional Plan for Rectification of Inconsistent/ Inadvertent Zoning Proposals) Rules, GOVT’S ARGUMENT IN SLP „„Criticised the HC for 'misinterpreting' Section 17(2) and undermining key tools of regional planning „„Accused the Court of blurring executive and legislative functions, stating that zoning corrections fall under legislative and administrative discretion „„Claimed the ruling violates principles of natural justice, citing the use of generalised land data without hearing affected parties 2023 for being “ultra vires”. The Court had observed that the Rules does not specify >Continued on P8