log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 11, 2024 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 174 IN SHORT >> Sugarcane farmers seek special financial scheme extension PANAJI: Claiming that over 900-odd families, involved in sugarcane cultivation are fully dependent on government support for survival, Sugarcane farmers from across State, have written to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant demanding to extend the scheme providing Special Financial Assistance, by five more years or till an alternate arrangement is made.   >> See pg 3 Man held for stabbing sister’s boyfriend VASCO: Vasco police arrested a man on charges of assaulting and threatening a local resident in a violent confrontation near the Dabolim bridge in the early hours of December 8.  >> See pg 3 Pakistan-born Shane gets Indian citizenship PANAJI: Karachi-born, 43-year-old Shane Sabastian Pereira, on Tuesday obtained Indian Citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, making him the second such person from the coastal State to get the citizenship right.  >> See pg 3 Bhatlem murder accused held PANAJI: The Panaji police arrested the accused Arvind Tiwari from Yog Sethu within hours in the murder of 38-year-old construction worker John on Monday night at Bhatlem, Panaji.   >> See pg 3 Three held for chain snatching at Old Goa PANAJI: Three persons from Maharashtra have been arrested by Old Goa police for allegedly snatching Rs 1.28 lakh worth gold chains from children at Old Goa feast fair. The arrested accused are identified as Ramdas Jadhav, Arun Jadhav and Yuvraj Pawar all residents of Sangli, Miraj. They were also accompanied by an unidentified lady. The trio allegedly stole Rs 33,500 worth gold chain of a child from Borim and 2 gold chains worth Rs 95,000 belonging to 2 children from Velguem, Bicholim. WEATHER >> Max: 31 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 69% TIDES Low: High: 12:50 13:56 07:01 20:59 NEW DELHI CUET-UG will return to the computer-based format from 2025 and students will be allowed to appear for any subject irrespective of the subjects studied in class 12, according to UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. In an interview with PTI, Kumar said an expert panel set up by the University Grants Commission (UGC) conducted a review of the exam and proposed several changes. The panel examined various aspects of the test, such as its structure, number of papers, duration of test papers, India plans to become sporting power by 2036: Sports Min  Pg 14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Dust, chaos surround Porvorim as elevated corridor work picks pace RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF RESPIRATORY ISSUES, EYE IRRITATIONS; COMMUTERS EXPRESS FRUSTRATION OVER MUD-STREWN ROADS; CALL ON AUTHORITIES TO STEP UP MEASURES AGNELO PEREIRA THE GOAN I MAPUSA The stretch of National Highway 66 in Porvorim, where construction of an elevated corridor is underway, has become a battle zone – not just for workers racing to meet deadlines but for residents and commuters contending with relentless dust pollution and constant traffic jams. Despite measures by authorities and construction teams, the pervasive issue has turned daily life into a struggle. Hazardous commute As vehicles ply the busy highway, especially during peak hours, thick clouds of dust rise, reducing visibility and creating a hazardous environment for motorists. The problem is particularly Proposal for mechanised broomer on back burner? UTTER MADNESS: Chaotic traffic snarls have become a daily occurrence due to ongoing construction of the elevated corridor along the highway in Porvorim. Agnelo Pereira acute for two-wheeler riders, who are left exposed to the dust. The mud-strewn road, a byproduct of the construction, worsens the issue, with every passing vehicle contributing to the thick clouds of dust. Santosh Naik, who commutes daily between Mapusa and Panaji, expressed his frustration: “The dust pollution is unbearable. Authorities need to explore advanced technologies to control the dust instead of just sprinkling water.” The construction company overseeing the project claims to spray water on the road four to five times daily to suppress the dust. “We are doing our best to minimise the inconvenience caused to the public,” a senior official said, requesting anonymity. Govt puts on hold proposal to amend Devasthan laws Rethinks appointing receivers to conduct religious festivities for disputed temples THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Close to two years after it proposed to amend the Devasthan Regulation 1933, following litigations between mazanias and other community members in respect of the temple rights, the Goa government has decided to keep on hold its move to appoint receivers to conduct religious festivities in the Devasthans which are under disputes. Taking note of a series of instances of rising conflicts between Mazanias (Mahajans) and other community members or villagers over temple rights, resulting in disturbing peace and causing law and order situations, the Government in January, 2023, proposed before the Goa Legislative Assembly its plan to amend the Regulations. The ongoing tension between Mahajans and villagers in Madkai village over idol FLASHBACK: THE DISPUTES „„Temple affairs are managed by elected Mahajan committees, often leading to disputes over finances and rights „„Frequent conflicts over temple administration and rights have caused disturbances, threatening peace and law and order „„Ongoing tensions in Madkai village over idol rights at Navdurga Devasthan since 2016 highlight the severity of the issue right at Navdurga Devasthan Madkai, is one such example. The conflict has been going on since 2016. The Regulamento das Mazanias, translated as Devasthan Regulation 1933 regulates the functioning of more than 200 prominent Hindu temples in Goa. The Regulations governs the Devasthans in Goa, Daman, and Diu. The regulation includes provisions for the administration of temples, elections, and fees. As per the Regulations, the affairs of the temple are administered by the elected CUET-UG revamp: Only CBT format from 2025 PTI Instagram.com/thegoanonline THE WAY FORWARD „„The panel examined various aspects of the test, such as its structure, number of papers, duration of test papers, syllabus alignment and operational logistics. The changes recommended by it were approved by the commission syllabus alignment and operational logistics. The changes recommended by it were approved by the commission in a recent meeting. “The exam will be conducted only in CBT (com- puter-based test) mode from 2025. We conducted the exam in hybrid mode last year but we will move to CBT mode because it is much more reliable and secure as compared to other modes of examination. “Candidates will also be allowed to opt for subjects in CUET-UG which they haven’t studied in class 12 to allow the students to cross over the rigid disciplinary boundaries in higher education,” the UGC chief said. “We have also reduced the number of papers from 63 to 37 and admissions for the dropped subjects will be conducted on the basis of scores of the General Aptitude Test (GAT),” he added. members of the managing committee of Mahajans. Speaking to The Goan, the Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate said “the proposal is kept on hold. We need to study the pros and cons before making any changes”. “It’s a religious issue and we need to understand and respect people’s sentiments,” the Minister added. As part of the proposal, Monserrate had told the House that he will examine and explore the possibility >Continued on P5 MAPUSA: The Public Works Department’s (PWD) plan to procure a mechanised broomer to address severe dust pollution along NH-66 in Porvorim may not materialise, as parts of the highway have been temporarily hot-mixed following directives from the High Court.  >> See pg 3 However, the efforts have drawn criticism from residents and commuters who find the measure inadequate or counterproductive. “The water makes the road slushy, causing two-wheelers to skid frequently. Minor accidents have become a regular occurrence, adding to the chaos,” said a local resident. Acute traffic congestion is another issue which often results in long queues of vehicles, particularly on poorly maintained road sections, making commuting along the highway a challenging ordeal. These traffic snarls are especially pronounced during peak hours in the morning and evening. The stretch from Dr Pinto Rosario Hospital to Damian >Continued on P5 Confrontations rise over Panaji parking fees in new zones THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Wardens working for the pay-parking contractor of the Corporation of the City of Panaji are facing a hard time with vehicle users frequently getting into confrontations with them in newer areas of the capital city where charging for parking was introduced over the last one week. In the city’s main square around the municipal market there have been hourly confrontations between vehicle users and the wardens. At least five new stretches of streets in this area were introduced to charged parking last week. According to one eye-witness account, a lawyer occupying space in one the highrise buildings in the market area also got into an intense argument with a warden who punched a POS parking ticket. “The confrontation led to the lawyer calling the police Part and parcel of it: Contractor PANAJI: The Corporation of the City of Panaji’s (CCP) pay-parking contractor, Sohan Zuwarkar, admitted to the rise in confrontations between vehicle users and his staff in the last few days. “It (confrontations) is part and parcel of it,” Zuwarkar said when contacted for comments. >Continued on P5 to resolve the issue,” the eyewitness told The Goan. Earlier last week at least a dozen new areas in the capital city were introduced to charged parking including the ‘smart road’ from Bal Bhavan to the Caculo Mall junction. Here too, the pay-parking >Continued on P5 Opposition submits notice for no-trust against Vice Prez PTI NEW DELHI In a first, parties of the INDIA opposition bloc on Tuesday submitted a notice to bring a motion in Rajya Sabha for the removal of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of “partisan” conduct as the chairman of the Upper House. If the motion is moved, these parties need a simple majority to get it passed, but they do not have the requisite numbers in the 243-member House. Opposition members, however, insisted that it was a “strong message to fight for parliamentary democracy”. On behalf of the Opposition, Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Naseer Hussain submitted the notice signed by 60 opposition MPs – including from the Congress, RJD, TMC, CPI, CPI-M, JMM, AAP, DMK, Samajwadi Party – to Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody. This is the first time that a notice for bringing a motion to remove the Vice President has been moved in the Rajya Sabha. WAT(ER) WASTE: Water gushed out after a JCB machine working on the service road near Kapel in Khandepar suddenly struck a water pipeline on Tuesday. JCB ruptures water pipeline at Khandepar, supply disrupted THE GOAN I NETWORK PONDA Vast quantities of water got wasted after a JCB machine ruptured a water pipe at a service road construction site in Khandepar on Tuesday evening. Water supply from the Opa project was later stopped to repair the damaged pipeline, thereby disrupting water supply in the area. Work to construct a service road between Khandepar and Kurti is going on in full swing since the last few days. On Tuesday, a JCB machine working on the service road near Kapel in Khandepar suddenly struck a water pipeline, rupturing it in the process and vast quantities of water began gushing out for quite some time. Water supply from the Opa project was stopped and a PWD rushed to the site to inspect the damage and to conduct repair work. Festive demand drives price surge of eggs, Goan sweets THE HIKE IN PRICES CLINTON D’SOUZA THE GOAN I PANAJI A s the festive Christmas season approaches, the prices of essential commodities, especially eggs and traditional Goan sweets, have surged significantly. The cost of a dozen eggs has risen sharply, with wholesale prices now reaching Rs 81 and retail prices touching Rs 90. Just a week ago, eggs were being sold at Rs 62 to 64 per dozen in wholesale markets and Rs 68 to 70 in retail shops. This sudden price increase has become a noticeable trend in the State. Ramesh Naik, a shopkeeper at the Panaji market, confirmed the hike in prices. “This week, the price of eggs Egg prices „„Wholesale price of a dozen eggs increased from Rs 62–64 to Rs 81 „„Retail prices rose from has gone up to Rs 90 per dozen, compared to around Rs 75 to 76 just a few days ago. The demand for eggs is higher during the festive season, especially around Christmas, and this has caused the price to rise,” he explained. Rs 68–70 to Rs 90 within a week Popular Goan sweets „„Bebinca: Rs 680/kg (up Idalina D’Costa, a customer at the same market, mentioned that the price hike isn’t unusual. “This happens every year. Prices always go up during this time due to the high demand for eggs, especially for making various festive from Rs 600) „„Bolinas: Rs 580/kg (up from Rs 520) „„Batk (Batica): Rs 660/ kg (up from Rs 600) foods. The prices will likely continue to rise in the coming days,” she said. Bakery owners have also been affected by the price increase. Antonio Braganza, the owner of Joseph Bakery in Mapusa and Panaji, said that not only are egg prices increasing, but coconut prices are also rising. “Both coconuts and eggs see price hikes around this time every year. This will definitely impact our business, and we expect the prices of traditional Goan sweets to increase as well,” he shared. The rising cost of eggs has already led to an increase in the prices of popular Goan sweets. Bebinca, a traditional Christmas treat, now costs Rs 680 per kg, up from Rs 600 just a few days ago. Similarly, Bolinas are now priced at Rs 580 per kg, compared to Rs 520 earlier, and Batk (Batica) has gone up to Rs 660 per kg from Rs 600. If the price hike continues, other traditional sweets are also expected to become more expensive.