log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY OCTOBER 21, 2024 >> pg 6 Hyundai listing and 7 other factors set to influence D-Street this week IN SHORT >> Accused in 100 house theft cases nabbed PANAJI: In a joint operation with Maharashtra police, Old Goa police arrested an inter-State notorious house-breaking thief from Kavte Mahakal area of Maharashtra. The accused Lokesh Suthar (30) from Miraj was wanted in close to 100 cases, reported across Maharashtra and Goa. >> See pg 3 91.17% turnout at Harvalem VP polls BICHOLIM: As many as 91.17% of voters in Harvalem exercised their franchise at panchayat polls. While one candidate, Demgo Sukdo Malik was already elected unopposed from Ward 1, 12 candidates were in the fray to four wards in elections to the five-member Harvalem panchayat. >> See pg 5 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.124 BAN ON NOD FOR NEW PROJECTS IN CRZ AREAS TO CONTINUE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Expressing complete dissatisfaction over progress on drafting the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019 by the coastal States, including Goa, the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) has decided to continue with non-issuance of CRZ clearance to new projects -government as well as private -- based on CRZ notification 2011. NCZMA during its meeting held on September 23, also reiterated that unless the CZMP is revised and updated, the provision of CRZ notification 2019 will not be applicable for the States and the CZMP as per the provisions of CRZ Notification 2011 will continue to be followed for appraisals. NCZMA had pointed out NCZMA asks Goa to explain absence from last meeting PANAJI: The NCZMA has directed the Goa government to ascertain the reasons for not attending the meeting, despite the directions making it mandatory for all State representatives to be present. As per the minutes of the meeting, no representative from Goa State attended the meeting. The Authority during its last meeting had directed all coastal States/UT representatives to be present in the next meeting to appraise on the status of action taken against CRZ violations as flagged in the public accounts committee report. that the progress in updation/ revision of CZMP as per CRZ Notification 2019 by Coastal States is not satisfactory, despite the repeated directions from the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is- sued in September and November 2023 and again in March 2024, to expedite the finalization of CZMP 2019. The National coastal body also noted that despite NGT directions, the States are progressing at snail pace. WEATHER >> Max: 31.6 C Min: 25.6 C Humidity: 94% TIDES Low: High: 07.06 01.33 19.15 12.25 “Accordingly, NCZMA directed all coastal States, whose CZMP is yet to be finalised as per CRZ Notification 2019, must complete the same at the earliest,” it said as Goa made its submission that it will complete by Jan- uary 2025 -- the only State to set deadline for the next year -- while all others have set October 2024 and December 2024 deadline. During the meeting NCZMA pointed out that during its 46th meeting held on 01/08/2023 it had directed that if CZMPs as per CRZ Notification, 2019 are not submitted within given time-line of two months, no projects i.e. private or government should be considered for CRZ clearance as per CRZ Notification 2011 in such areas. Further, NCZMA has suggested conveying an immediate meeting of all Principal Secretaries of the coastal States, under the chairmanship of Special Secretary, for necessary directions to expedite the updation/revision of CZMP as per CRZ Notification 2019. India modifies CSR guidelines for PM internship scheme PTI NEW DELHI India has revised its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) guidelines for Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs), incorporating the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme as a key focus for the current fiscal year. This new initiative is set to guide how CPSEs allocate their CSR funds in 2024-25. For the current fiscal year, as per the report, CPSEs will focus on two main areas: Health and Nutrition and the recently introduced PM’s Internship Scheme. CPSEs traditionally adopt a theme-based approach for their CSR expenditures, with 60% of their funds directed toward a designated theme each year. The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget for 2024-25, aims to provide internship opportunities to 10 million young Indians aged 21-24 over the next five years. The initiative seeks to enhance youth employability by connecting them with top companies across various sectors. Candidates can register themselves on the portal through https://pminternship.mca.gov.in. The internship, set to begin in December 2024, will be a year-long programme under a pilot project estimated at Rs 800 crore. During the pilot phase, 125,000 candidates are expected to be covered by the end of March 2025. Tivim unites to block Pvt varsity VILLAGERS VOW TO HIT STREETS, READY FOR LEGAL BATTLE THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a strong display of unity, around 300 residents of Tivim village gathered at a gram sabha to oppose the proposed establishment of a private university by the Pune-based MIT group. The project, set to occupy two lakh square meters of comunidade land, has sparked outrage among locals who fear significant environmental and social consequences. MAPUSA: Assagao villagers raised concerns over illegal constructions on comunidade land, allegedly backed by local politicians at gram sabha meeting on Sunday. Residents urged the panchayat to take immediate action to curb this growing issue claiming that multiple illegal houses had sprung up on Assagao’s comunidade land. >> See pg 3 NEW DLEHI: Twenty-five more 25 flights of Indian airlines received bomb threats on Sunday, according to sources. IndiGo, Vistara, Akasa Air and Air India are among the airlines that received bomb threats, including international flights, they added. Six flights each of IndiGo, Vistara and AI received threats. INDIA CONQUERED AT HOME AS KIWIS COMPLETE FAMOUS WIN RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Goa, other States draw NCZMA ire over delay in coastal plan Assagao locals rise against illegalities 25 more flights get bomb threats Instagram.com/thegoanonline CULTURAL CANVAS: An artist creates a vibrant mural combining traditional fishing and Portuguese azulejo technique at Fontainas, Panjim. The artwork aims to capture the essence of Goa’s rich cultural heritage. Narayan Pissurlenkar Huge blast blows off school wall in Delhi; cars, shops damaged PTI NEW DELHI A massive explosion near a CRPF school in the Prashant Vihar area in Rohini on Sunday morning sparked a security alert in the national capital. No one was injured in the blast which initial investigation suggests could have been caused by a crude bomb, offi- cials said. Teams from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guard (NSG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Delhi Police cordoned off the area and forensic experts collected samples from to ascertain the cause of the explosion which was reported at around 7.50 am. Police said a school wall, nearby shops and a car were damaged. Security has been stepped up in Delhi due to the festival season. Plumes of smoke could be seen billowing from the spot in purported videos of the incident. Also, two cars were parked near the explosion site and some two-wheelers passed by seconds before the explosion. UNIVERSITY? NO THANKS. WE WANT OUR LAND, OUR FUTURE >> See pg 3 Describing the project as “ecologically disastrous,” the villagers unanimously rejected the government-backed plan and vowed to take to the streets if necessary to halt its progress. Concerns were raised over potential environmental damage, as well as the strain on essential resources like water and electricity that could arise once the university is operational. Several gram sabha members voiced their objections, citing the loss of land for future generations of Goans to UP IN ARMS: Tivim villagers raise their hands in strong opposition to the proposed private university on comunidade land during the gram sabha on Sunday. Agnelo Pereira Panchayat pledges support to locals MAPUSA: Tivim Sarpanch Venkatesh Shirodkar on Sunday affirmed the village panchayat’s full support for villagers in opposing the proposed private university project. He assured residents that the panchayat would stand by their decision and, if necessary, take legal action to back their stance. “We are with the people and will always support our villagers. If they don’t want the project, we won’t allow it. If needed, we will also appoint a legal advisor if the matter goes to court,” Shirodkar stated. The other panchayat members present at the gram sabha also expressed their agreement to support the will of the people. Out of the total 11 members, eight attended the meeting. build homes. “This project will rob us of space for our children’s housing needs,” said one villager. Former panchayat member and social worker Robert Colaco highlighted the environ- mental threat posed by the project. “The government has planted rain trees in the Cansa hill area as part of a social forestry program. This region is also home to wildlife, including leopards. We are not against educational institutions, but not at the expense of our environment,” Colaco stated. He further warned of potential contamination of village wells due to sewage from the university, drawing parallels with the coastal villages of Calangute and Anjuna, where unchecked development has led to pollution. Local resident Mollie D’Silva emphasized the constitutional authority of village panchayats in matters of local development. “Under Article 243G of the Indian Constitution, panchayats have the right to prepare plans for the economic development of their villages. It is unacceptable for the state to override this jurisdiction,” D’Silva said, stressing that even the Goa Investment Promotion & Facilitation Board could not bypass this authority. Several gaunkars also expressed their discontent, accusing the managing committee of the comunidade of deceiving them about the project. Gaunkar Godfrey D’Lima claimed that many members who backed the project were not even permanent residents, >Continued on P5 Depression rate among women Political use of PMLA echoes at legal caucus in State TALKING HEADS AT LEGAL CONFERENCE double than men in Goa: Data THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa health department’s initiative to tackle depression through community programmes and its network of primary healthcare centres across the State has thrown up revealing facts including that women outnumber men by almost 100 per cent among those diagnosed as living with depression. Of the 540 being counselled to get out of depression, 371 are women. Of the 540 individuals receiving counseling for depression, 371 are women with the most vulnerable age group being 45-54. Over 75,000 have already been screened of which almost 10% have been listed as suffering from depression The initiative ‘Impress’ is being run through the primary health centres, community health centres and other government healthcare facilities in association with Sangath, an NGO. Over 68 per cent of those diagnosed as dealing with depression were women and are being counselled. Also, those in the 45-54 age bracket were most vulnerable according to data available. Through the initiative, Goa according to Health Minister Vishwajit Rane is the first State in India to include >Continued on P5 PANAJI he question of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) being used for politics which has dominated political discourse over the last couple of years with several Opposition leaders jailed, reverberated in a panel discussion at a legal conference in which top judges, including the Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud partook. The matter was raised by Goa’s former Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, who criticised the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for keeping T Former AG Nadkarni said ED investigation cannot take ages… after probing you need to release the person ED’s powers are very subjective and therefore, it functions according to ‘his master’s voice’ I am openly saying it as you need somebody to say it openly and it is most unfortunate that people are not saying it Justice Subramonium Prasad of Delhi High Court said PMLA is critiqued for having an adverse effect on Article 21 When the purpose of money laundering accused in prison for long without trial. Delay in trial has been a prime ground cited in multiple recent judgements of the Supreme Court of India, to release on bail several top politicians under the otherwise the law was to prevent or deter people from committing such crimes this Act is operating in the present avatar FACT FILE: PMLA was enacted during the tenure of the NDA government in 2002 and came into force during the UPA rule in 2005 stringent PMLA. Former chief ministers of Delhi and Jharkand -- Arvind Kejriwal and Hemant Soren -- were among several politicians who got bail with the Apex court applying this ground of delayed or prolonged trial which violates Article 21 of the Constitution -- right to life and personal liberty. Nadkarni in his remarks at the ‘International Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Legal Conference’ held in Goa at the weekend, said, the ED should not take ages to investigate cases as the accused wait for trial inside the jail. “ED investigation cannot take ages. After probing you need to release the person,” >Continued on P5
The new Goa, with a broader profile of people from different parts of India and the world, needs not just a strong local paper but a complete paper. The Goan on Saturday will connect to and be a viable and comprehensive read for locals, other Indians in Goa, NRI and foreigners. It will also be a bridge for Goans in other parts of India all over the world to their home land. The Goan is published by Goa's most reputed industrial houses.