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OheRaLDOThe Voice of Goa Since 1900
heRaLD RePORTeRVASCO, FEB 22
In a dramatic escape, an under-trial, Michael Fernandes
fromAgassaim, jumped off a EscortCell bus loaded with policemenand
fled in a motorcycle at thebusy Chicalim junction on Tues-day
evening.Fernandes (25) has been accusedof 22 cases of thefts,
robberiesand dacoities in Goa and Maha-rashtra.The escape not only
suggeststhat it was a well planned move,it also exposes the lax
securityprovided in escorting undertrialsto courts and hospitals.
According to Vasco police, Fer-nandes jumped off the SwarajMazda
bus (GA-01-G-2037) nearthe crowded Chicalim junctionat about 5.45
pm, while the buswas retuning to Sada jail.
Fernandes fled on a Yamaha mo-torcycle (GA-07-H-1429), whichwas
reportedly stationed at thejunction.The plot seemed well planned,as
Fernandes was aware that thebus would slow down at theChicalim
junction at about 5.45pm, due to peak hour traffic.Police further
informed thatwhile one motorcycle rider waswaiting at the Chicalim
junction,another motorcycle rider, wasconstantly trailing the
escortbus from Cortalim, alerting theircounterparts.As soon as the
escort bus sloweddown at the Chicalim junction,Fernandes jumped off
the busand fled on the motorcycle to-wards Panjim.According to jail
authorities, theaccused was transferred fromMapusa judicial custody
to SadaSub Jail on December 24, 2010.Sources in the Vasco Escort
Cellinformed that Fernandes alongwith five other undertrials wereto
be taken to court. Some werescheduled to attend the courtin Panjim,
while Fernandes wastaken to Mapusa.Sources informed that one
un-dertrial was provided with twopolice escorts, thereby
suggest-ing nearly a dozen policemenwere present in the bus
when
World: 65 killed in New Zealand
quake, hundreds trapped Pg 11
Sports: Afridi vows Cup
for Pakistan Pg 16
Visit us at:www.oheraldo.in panjim, wednesday, FeBRUaRy 23, 2011
postal Reg. no. Goa 101 pRiCe Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs 2.00)
pages 16+4
Goas Heartbeat: I shouldnt have
acted in 3 Idiots Aamir Pg 4
Better be despised fortoo anxious apprehen-
sions, than ruined by tooconfident security.
Edmund Burke
heRaLD RePORTeRVASCO, FEB 22
He may have been an undertrialat the Sada Sub-Jail, but thatdoes
not stop him from savour-ing ice cream at a parlour inthe port town
and that too,with police security.
In a shocking expose, a VascoEscort Cell team, entrusted
toescort prisoners or undertrialsto court or hospitals, wascaught
escorting an undertrial
at Sada Sub-Jail to an ice-creamparlour in the port town
onMonday night.
The undertrial allegedlycaught in the act is BaleshDesai,
accused in the murderof Samir Mapari. Incidentally,Balesh is the
cousin of formerCurchorem legislator RamaraoDessai.
Balesh along with the otheraccused, Rajesh Desai and
threeothers, were arrested on
charges of murdering Samir Ma-pari at a farm house in
Soliem-Cacora on October 31, 2007.
In a joint sting operation byHerald and a TV Channel atabout 11
pm on Monday, Baleshwas caught on camera enjoyingice cream at an
ice-cream par-lour along with Vasco EscortCell Police Constable
SurajGaonkar (PC 5673).
Two of Gaonkars colleagues Pradip P Patil (PC 5259) and
bus vehicle (GA-01-G-2029)driver Shivananad Budhanoor(PC 5447)
were seen waitingoutside the ice cream parlournear Goa Shipyard
Limited atVaddem-Vasco.
And it did not take a complexplan for an undertrial to getinto
an ice cream parlour. Allthat Balesh needed to do wasto report
uneasiness andheadache at around 10 pm inthe jail.
That was enough for thejailor to summon an escort staffalong
with vehicle, as there wasa medical emergency in thejail. (Related
report on pg 3)
The escort staff along witha vehicle reached the jail within15
minutes, even faster than a108 ambulance would havetaken to reach
an accident site.
At about 10.25 pm, the ac-cused, Dessai along with twopolice
constables and the escort
vehicle left for the Chicalim Cot-tage Hospital, which is about4
kms from the jail.
After a medical examination,the escort vehicle along withthe
accused left the hospitalwithin 15 minutes.
With the official work nowover, it was time for some un-official
outing.
Unaware that two reporterson a motorcycle were trailingthe
escort vehicle right from
Chicalim, the escort vehiclestopped at an ice-cream parlourat
about 10.55 pm.
Balesh and Gaonkar, alightedfrom the vehicle and
proceededstraight to the parlour. They or-dered for two cups of
pineappleice cream and a parcel of threeice cream cups.
To make sure he would notbe caught in the act, Baleshquickly
surveyed the premises
Cops escort jailbird to ice cream parlour
The undertrial Balesh Dessai (grey shirt) along with Vasco
Escort Cell Police Constable Suraj Gaonkar (white shirt) at an ice
cream parlour near Goa Shipyard Limited, Vasco, on Monday night.
Photos by M Prabhav
NCP mulls pulling rug under Kamats feet
PTI AHMEDABAD, FEB 22
Upholding the theory of criminalconspiracy, a Special Court
todayconvicted 31 persons and ac-quitted 63 others, including
keyaccused Maulvi Hussain Umarji,in the Godhra train carnage
thatkilled 59 kar sewaks and trig-gered a mayhem in Gujarat
thatclaimed over 1,200 lives, mainlyMuslims, nine years ago.
After a less than two-year trialconducted inside the
SabarmatiCentral Jail here, Special JudgeP R Patel accepted the
conspiracytheory that contrasts the findingof a commission of
enquiry ap-pointed by former Railway Min-ister Lalu Prasad which
had heldthat the burning of coach S-6 ofthe Sabarmati Express on
Feb-ruary 27, 2002 was accidental.
The quantum of punishmentwould be announced on Febru-ary 25
after hearing the 31 con-victed under various sections of
the Indian Penal Code (IPC) like302 (murder), 307 (attempt
tomurder) and 120-B (criminal con-spiracy).
Copies of the judgement werenot given to the media whichgot gist
of the order from coun-sels of both the prosecution andthe
defence.
Todays judgement immedi-ately sparked a war of wordsbetween
Congress and theBharatiya Janata Party(BJP) whichis ruling Gujarat
and whoseChief Minister Narendra Modi
earned a lot of flak over thelarge-scale violence.
The former Central Bureau ofInvestigation (CBI) chief, whoheads
the special investigatingteam (SIT) that took over inves-tigation
into Godhra incidentand other cases of post-Godhrariots, expressed
satisfaction overthe judgement.
Maintaining that the SITwould try to get justice in theother
cases too, he hinted atchallenging the acquittal in thetrain case
in a higher court.
31 convicted in Godhratrain burning case
heRaLD RePORTeRPANJIM, FEB 22
The Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) is toying with the idea
ofwithdrawing support to theDigambar Kamat ministry anda final
decision in this regardcould be taken tomorrow, Be-nau l im leg is
la tor Mickk yPacheco said today.
Pacheco , who met NCPsupremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi
today, told Herald in a tele-phonic conversation that theNCP
will take a final view to-morrow on whether to continuesupport to
the Congress led gov-ernment after the chief ministerdeclined to
accept their demandfor dropping two ministers ofthe Sharad
Pawar-led party.
Pawar is agreeable to with-drawing support to the
Kamatgovernment but a final decision
wi l l be taken tomorrow,Pacheco said in a
telephonicconversation.
Giving details of the meeting,Pacheco said, the meeting
wasfruitful and things are movingin the right direction.
Things are working in theright direction. We have beenasked to
stay back in Delhi foranother round of talks tomor-row, he said,
adding that NCP
General Secretary Praful Patelwill also take part in the
meetingtomorrow.
Pacheco said some importantdecisions on the future of thepartys
Goa unit and its role inthe State government wouldalso be taken in
the meeting.
NCPs national leaders includ-ing A P Sangma and NiveditaMane
were present for todaysmeeting.
Aamir Khan
ShweTa KamaTPANJIM, FEB 22
The indigenously made Dopplerradar planned to be installed inGoa
might miss its date withthis years monsoon too.
The Indian Metrological De-partment (IMD) in Delhi is
stillprocessing the proposal for theBharat Electronics Limited
(BEL)radar for Goa after the Chinese-made radar was shifted out
ofstate for security reasons.
IMD, Goa In-Charge K V Singhsaid that officials in Delhi
arestill working on the proposalfor the purchase of a radar forthe
State.
He, however, said that thebuilding at Altinho, where theradar
would be installed, willbe ready by Apr i l , 2011 .Singh said that
the work hasbeen executed by Central PublicWorks Department
(CPWD).
Its been more than two yearsnow since the department isworking
on modifying the build-ing. Since the announcement byChief Minister
Digambar Kamatover installation of radar in Goa,in 2009, the
department hasbeen grappling with licencingissues.
In the beginning, the depart-ment took almost a year to se-
lect a place for installation ofthe device and later decided
toinstall it in the DWR building atAltinho, which needed
modifi-cation.
As against 9 by 9 meters, thenew building was modified to15 by
15 meters as the antennaof the new radar is large.
By that time, the Chinesemade radar was ferried to Goavia Mumbai
in April 2010.
The department soon man-aged to get permission from theState
public works and fire de-partments as well as from NorthGoa
Planning and DevelopmentAuthority (NGPDA) to install thegadget.
However, the Corporation ofthe City of Panaji, which wassupposed
to give the construc-tion licence, sat on the file formore than two
months. The filewas released only after the issueof delay in
installing the radarwas raised in the legislative as-semblys winter
session in De-cember 2009. Later, Kamatassured that the radar would
beinstalled by June, 2010. How-ever, the department has failedto
complete the pending con-struction work.
The department received a
Doppler radar may miss monsoon date again
Indians in Libyato be evacuated
by air, seaPTI
NEW DELHI, FEB 22
India decided to evacuate itsnationals from strife-torn
Libyanumbering about 18,000 and isfinalising arrangements to
bringthem back home by air and sea.
Arrangements for air and seaevacuation of our nationals
fromLibya are being finalised, For-eign Secretary Nirupama Raosaid,
as the crackdown againstanti-government protests inLibya turned
bloodier.
Rao, along with other top of-ficials from other ministries
con-cerned, held a meeting to workout the logistics of the
evacua-tion process which has alreadygot a nod from the political
lead-ership, sources told PTI.
Undertrial jumps off police vehicle,escapes on bike
Accused Michael Fernandes.
PM decides toform JPC on
2G scamPTI
NEW DELHI, FEB 22
Prime Minister Manmohan Singhtoday announcing the decisionto set
up a joint parliamentarycommittee (JPC) into the 2Gspectrum scam
but the opposi-tion said it lacked grace as itwas being blamed for
paralyzingthe winter session of parliament.
Bowing to the opposition de-mand, Singh announced in boththe
houses of parliament thatthe government had taken thedecision to
form JPC as the coun-try could ill afford disruptionof the budget
session.
Singh said a formal motionfor constitution of the joint
par-liamentary committee would bemoved soon.
Our government believedthat as all effective steps werebeing
taken, we might havebeen able to persuade the op-position not to
insist on a JPC.We could not succeed in spiteof our sincere
efforts, he saidin an identical statement in bothLok Sabha and
Rajya Sabha.
IN BRIEFTalks with rebels:12 Maoists freed 12 Maoists including
hardcorerebel leader Sriramalu Srini-vasalu were today released
onbail as talks for safe return ofabducted Malkangiri
districtcollector and an engineer ap-peared to reach a
decisivestage after another top NaxalGanti Prasadam joined the
ne-gotiation process. (PTI).
Pirates kill 4US hostagesFour Americans taken hostageby Somali
pirates off EastAfrica were shot and killed bytheir captors today,
the US mil-itary said, marking the firsttime US citizens have
beenkilled in a wave of pirate at-tacks plaguing the Gulf ofAden
and the Indian Ocean. USnaval forces, who were trailingthe
Americans captured yachtwith four warships, quicklyboarded the
vessel after hear-ing the gunfire and tried toprovide lifesaving
care to theAmericans, but they died oftheir wounds. (PTI)
3 killed inpolice firing A cop was suspended and 25arrested
after an irate mob seta police station on fire inBihars Kaimur
district even aspolice opened fire on the pro-testers injuring
three of them,official sources said. Duringtheir stir against the
yester-days murder of trader SunilJaiswal, said to be the
fourthsuch incident in Mohania inthe past fortnight, the mobvented
their ire on Mohaniapolice station by setting it onfire and burning
10 vehicles,including a police jeep. (PTI)
(Continued on page 10)
(Continued on page 10)
(Continued on page 10)
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GOAOHERALD
O
Pg 2GOA, WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2011
Krishna Gopal Shrivastava created a Guinness World Record by
pulling a vessel with his teeth at Patto Jetty, Panjim on Tuesday.
Photo by Sachin Ambdoskar
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Education Ministrys panel formed to investigatethe fake birth
certificate issue of Goa Cricket As-sociation President Dayanand
Narvekars son,Ganeshraj, has submitted its interim report tothe
government.
Sources stated that the panel headed by thenEducation Secretary
P Acharya has said that thedepartment cannot take action against
Ganeshrajas police are already investigating into the matter.
Education Director, Celsa Pinto was not availablefor comments.
Her office said that madam willnot speak to the media as there is
Election Codeof Conduct.
The State Government in the first week of Jan-uary had formed
the panel headed by Acharyawith three others including education
director,members from the Goa Board of Secondary andHigher
Secondary Education on it.
The committees mandate was to checkwhether Ganeshraj got the
admission by forgedcertificate and also to check whether he
enjoyedundue benefit in academic with forged certificates.Former
GCA executive member Dr Shekhar Salkarhad filed the complaint
against Ganeshraj withMapusa police and also with the Education
De-partment citing that he had forged his birth cer-tificates to
get admission in school and also to
play under 15 cricket tourneys.Reacting to the Education
Departments interim
report, Dr Salkar said that Education Departmentofficials have
no guts to act against Narvekars po-litical might. If Goa
University can take actionagainst the professors responsible for
MBBSmarks scam then why action cant be taken inthis matter? In case
of MBBS scam, there is aparallel case with Old Goa police but still
uni-versity had its own inquiry and came out withthe report, he
added.
Mapusa police had registered a case againstGaneshraj, his father
Dayanand Narvekar, motherSushma and others under Sections 465
(forgery),468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and 471(using as
genuine a forged document) of IPC.
Dr Salkar had alleged that Narvekar registeredhis sons birth at
two places - Pilerne and Mapusa.
The birth certificate issued by the Pilerne Pan-chayat states
that Ganesh Raj Dayanand Narvekarwas born on February 28, 1993, the
birth regis-tration was done in November 1994, and a livebirth
report was attached by Chodankar nursinghome stating that Ganesh
Raj was born at thehospital.
Another birth certificate was registered in Jan-uary 1995, with
the Mapusa Municipality, underGanesh Raj Dayanand Narvekar, and
showing thedate of birth as February 28, 1993.
Panel submits report to govt on Ganeshrajs fake certificate
Dr Ramani
honoured with
Hungarian
postal stamp
HERALD NEWS DESK
PANJIM, FEB 22
Recognising Dr Premanand S Ra-manis work for the past 22years,
Hungarys postal serviceshas honoured the Mumbai-based Goan
neuro-spinal sur-geon with a postage stamp.
BASS membership: Dr P S Ra-mani delivered a special lectureon
the developments of NeuroSpinal Surgery in India at
annualconference of British Associationof Spinal Surgeons (BASS) in
Ed-inburgh recently. Dr P S Ramaniwas felicitated by the
PresidentDr Douglas Wardlaw and con-ferred honorary membership.Dr
Ramani was also presentedwith neck tie of the Association.A special
Scottish dress was pre-sented to Dr Ramani.
Cinematography workshop HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
The Entertainment Society ofGoa (ESG) has organised a day-long
workshop on cinematog-raphy at Maquinez Palace onFebruary 26.
The workshop based on thetheme What is Your ShootingFormat will
feature differentshooting formats on digital vis--vis to film. The
workshop willalso feature the output of digitalmedia as well as
film media onfilm prints. The entry is free andis on first come
first serve basis.
Battle For Panjim -- WarD 11
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
The convention centre proposed next to INOX mul-tiplex has
become a CCP election issue for the wardnumber 11, which is having
BJP backed candidate,Babush panel aspirant and journalist Ashley
doRosario, contesting as an independent locking horns.
The recent move of the State government tohave a mini-convention
centre in the space meantfor INOX parking has snowballed into
electionissue during the campaigning here.
If I get through, I will put my foot down andoppose convention
centre. We have lot of otherpriorities other than building
convention centrewhich will add to the congestion, BJP-backedManoj
Patil told Herald.
Besides Patil and Rosario, Babush PanelsSadanand Thakur, who is
sitting legislator, is alsovying for the ward again.
The ward covers areas of Campal parade groundtill old
secretariat, covering Kala Academy, ChildrenPark, market, ferry
point and other areas.
The locals here feel that the third phase ofPanjim municipal
market is incomplete, whichneeds to be taken up on priority. CCP
has utterlyfailed to maintain the market. There is
unhygieniccondition everywhere. The market portrays sorryface of
Panjim, said Patil.
Sitting corporator Thakur when contacted re-fused to talk saying
I cant talk now will seesome other day.
A local and social activist Patricia Pinto saidthat convention
centre next to Inox will spelldoom for the locality. INOX parking
is the onlydecent and spacious lot in the city. It providesrelief
for the traffic congestion during events likeIFFI. If that space is
also occupied then it willadd to the traffic chaos of the city.
Pinto said that there has been no regulationin the ward, which
is a conservation zone. Lookat the tourist buses messily parked in
the area.Its a situation of discomfort and chaos, she said.The
houses being old structures are low flooredand hence any
disturbance affects them straight-way.
She added that allowing shootings here addto the garbage woes
and disturb the locals, whohave inhabited here for ages.
Pinto, a former CCP corporator, said that theirfrequent pleas to
sort out issues faced by wardhave fell on the deaf ears of the
officials. Notbeing able to help from their city fathers, theCampal
locals association itself has put up theproposal and got it passed
from the Public WorksDepartment to lay underground cables and
hotmixing of roads.
Proposed convention centre now a CCP poll issue
Two CCPnominations
cancelled HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Out of total 154 nomination pa-pers submitted by the
aspirantsfor the mayor and corporatorsposts in the forthcoming
Cor-poration of City of Panjim elec-tions, two nominations
werecancelled after scrutiny on Mon-day.
Returning Officer and Sub Di-visional Magistrate (SDM)
SabajiShetye, who scrutinised the pa-pers, said that nominations
ofDurga Chari contesting fromWard No 22 and Ashwin iChopdekar
contesting Ward No28 have been rejected.
While nomination of Durga -who seems to be a dummy can-didate -
was rejected as shefailed to produce the caste cer-tificate,
Ashwinis nominationwas rejected because she hasnot attained 21
years of age,which is mandatory to contestelection.
The scrutiny will continueeven on Wednesday. The Mu-nicipal
Corporation election willbe held on March 13.
While dates for filing nomi-nation was from February 14 to21
(excluding February 20 Sun-day), scrutiny of nominationson February
22 and 23, the lastdate for withdrawing nomina-tions is fixed on
February 25.
Election Commission will re-lease the list of contesting
can-didates with their respectivesymbols on February 26.
More than 13,000 Panjim vot-ers will be going for polls onMarch
13 from 8 am to 5 pm.
Counting of votes will bedone at Government PharmacyCollege at
Panjim and the resultsare expected on the same day.
BJP and Taleigao MLA Atana-sio Monserrates panel will
becontesting all 30 wards whereasNCP a week ago announced tocontest
15 of 30 wards. Severalindependent candidates havealso filed their
nominations.
The INOX parking space. Photo by Sachin Ambdoskar
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 22
The Tourism Department wason Tuesday preoccupied withthe ensuing
Carnival festivities,while an inspection conductedby the Goa State
Pollution Con-trol Board of Colvas storm waterdrains revealed
discharge ofwaste waters by erring estab-lishments.
Crying foul over the sorrystate of affairs, with the con-cerned
departments involved ina blame game, Colva Civic andConsumer Forum
secretary Ju-dith Almeida said the NGO hasno option than to knock
thedoors of the judiciary to put astop to the rampant dischargeof
sewage and waste water inthe storm water drains, creekand water
bodies.
The inspection began thismorning, but the activists soonrealised
that the tourism officialswere conspicuous by their ab-sence. When
Almeida called upsenior tourism official PamelaMascarenhas over her
absenceat Colva, she told the formerthat the officials were busy
withthe arrangements for the ensu-ing carnival festivities.
Colva acting sarpanch An-thony Fernandes and secretaryAllaudin
represented the villagepanchayat.
The brief before the GSPCB
officials was simple: To open upthe slabs of the storm
waterdrains and ascertain the extentof discharge of sewage
andkitchen water into the waterchannel.
Judith pointed out that thesituation has virtually gone frombad
to worse, with no actionforthcoming from the concernedauthorities.
While the hoteliershad maintained that they havecomplied with the
guidelinesset by the GSPCB, the activistsdemanded to know the
sourceof the waste water flowing intothe underground drains.
At one point during the in-spection, the team spotted
twounderground pipes from a hoteldischarging waste into the
drain.In another instance, sewage wa-ters from a restaurant found
itsway into a creek. The GSPCBteam noticed some cooking ac-tivity
right near the Sulabh toiletblock, indicating the
hygienicconditions prevailing in andaround the place.
We are totally unsatisfiedwith the action taken by the
au-thorities on the water pollutionsince the last one year. The
onlyoption now left for the NGO isto file a writ petition in the
HighCourt, Almeida said, addingwe doubt whether anythingworthwhile
will come out of thisexercise.
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 22
Simmering discontentment is brewing amongstsenior Congress
leaders from Fatorda over theirneglect by the party leaders on
party matters inthe constituency.
These leaders are particularly sore that evenChief Minister,
Digambar Kamat and newly-ap-pointed Goa Pradesh Congress Committee
Pres-ident Subhash Shirodkar have virtually ignoredtheir presence
in Fatorda Constituency, while ac-cording importance to Vijay
Sardessai.
A case in point was the recent party functionheld in Fatorda to
welcome BJP mahila workersled by Shubada Naik into the party fold.
The ChiefMinister and the GPCC president along with PWDMinister,
Churchill Alemao along with Sardessaiwere present in strength for
the function, whileprominent senior leaders were conspicuous
bytheir absence.
Sources in the party said that party vice-pres-idents Luis Alex
Cardozo and M K Sheikh werenot invited, so was the case with former
YouthCongress President Girish Chodankar.
Goa Pradesh Congress Mahila Chief, MonicaDias, who hails from
Fatorda, was also conspicuousby her absence. While Sardessai had
telephonicallyinformed Monica about the function, sourcessaid the
Mahila Chief was never taken into con-
fidence by Sardessai or the Congress leadershipthough the
function was intended to welcomewomen into the party fold.
Incidentally, the Sardessai camp has sought todefend the
omission of the senior Congress lead-ers from Fatorda by saying
that the function waspertaining to women and was not block
levelCongress convention.
Sources in the know said the senior leadersincluding former
Minister, Luis Alex Cardozo havenot taken lightly the way party
leaders are beingsidelined vis--vis party affairs in Fatorda. It
islearnt that some of these leaders have decidedto officially lodge
their strong protest with partyleaders, including the Chief
Minister, GPCC pres-ident and party high command.
Interestingly, the Fatorda Block Congress washit by dissensions
in the run up to the 2007 As-sembly polls as most of the senior
Congress lead-ers had opposed nomination of Vijay Sardessaifor the
party ticket.
With Sardessai literally running the show inFatorda with the
blessing of the Chief Minister,the GPCC president and the Alemao
brothers, itremains to be seen how the party leadershipdeals with
the discontentment amongst seniorcongress leaders in the
constituency before thesimmering discontentment bursts into the
openas was in 2007.
Now, Goa to host
Gold AwardsHERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
After the International Film Fes-tival of India (IFFI), even
smallscreen stars will make their pres-ence in Goa with State
beingconsidered as a venue for IndianTelefilms coveted Gold
Awards.
The organizers of the awardshave approached EntertainmentSociety
of Goa (ESG) to co-part-ner in hosting these annualawards which has
been heldsince last three years.
The awards instituted byWhite Leaf Entertainment andMaverick
Productions PrivateLimited are an annual eventwhich has been held
in cities ofMauritius, Dubai and Mumbairespectively for last three
years.
ESGs Chief Executive OfficerManoj Srivastava confirming
theproposal from the organiserssaid that it is still in the
discus-sion state.
Goa has been hosting IFFI2004 and since then the desti-nation
has been looked uponas a place to host similar events.
ESG sources stated that Filmand Television Producers Guildhad
approached the State tohost Apsara awards. But the dealdid not get
through reportedlyas ESG was ready to give infra-structure while
organiserswanted some funding from theState too. Guild had
proposedthat Goa should be permanentvenue for the event.
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Transport Department has started the process offorming bids for
the fresh high security registrationplates (HSRP) tenders deleting
controversialclauses.
Sources from the Transport Department statedthat the fresh
tender document has omitted con-tentious clause of compulsory
operation in fivecountries.
Apart from this, there are few other clauseswhich are been
canceled by the department. Thefresh bid document would be
submitted to theState Government in next two days, sourcessaid.
Sources said that the department has identifiedaround 18
indigenous vendors, who can be eligiblefor the bidding.
The State Government on January 27 had ter-minated controversial
HSRP contract with M/SShimnit Utsch Private Limited after
governmentappointed committee sighted various irregularitiesin the
contract.
The termination notice issued to the com-
pany mentioned that a company has donesome changes in its Board
of Directors (BoDs)without intimating the State Government.The
Government also stated that the com-pany in its financial bidding
had figured thata premium of 48 percent would be chargedon
plates.
The government while terminating the contractalso stressed on
the Apex Court order, whichstated that the rates quoted by the
companycould be scaled down using Indian technologyto Rs 469.
The contract, which received strong oppositionfrom sections of
society, was also terminated tak-ing into account public
interest.
Shimnit Utsch has now moved High Court,challenging the
Governments decision of termi-nating the agreement for installation
of HSRP inGoa. In their petition before the Court, the com-pany has
said that the government decision toterminate the contract was due
to public pres-sure.
The court has directed government to file replyby February
25.
Bid formation for fresh HSRP tenders begins
Colva copsturn up late for bullfight
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 22
Colva police as usual reachedlate at the venue of a
bullfightvenue at the road junction lead-ing to Sernabatim on
Tuesday,while two buffaloes lockedhorns, leaving one badly
injuredat the end of the big fight.
The bullfight began at around9 am, but the men-in-uniformwere
nowhere to be seen. Evenwhen a police vehicle came closeto the
venue, the bullfight con-tinued, with the buffaloes liter-ally come
close to the road.
The police are believed to haveintervened only after the
fightcame to an end, and seized theinjured buffalo, which was
latertaken to the Colva Police Station.
The police late arrested andreleased on bail one Aslam Bep-pari,
believed to be owner ofthe injured buffalo. The policehave
registered a case under thePrevention of Cruelty to AnimalsAct
against Beppari and oneMario.
Till late this evening, the in-jured buffalo was still found
tiednear the police station and thepolice said the animal will
bereleased upon orders from thecourt.
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Goa State Horticulture Corpo-ration (GSHC) is facing problemof
poor quality of vegetablesforcing its wholesaler to takeback the
products.
The Corporation received sev-eral complaints in the last twodays
that the vegetables sup-plied at its Porvorim carts werenot of good
quality.
The complaints were only re-garding lady fingers and
potatoes.The Sangli wholesaler who hasbeen awarded a fresh contract
tosupply vegetables at Corporations18 outlets in Porvorim had to
takeback the products.
They are new and not awareabout the vegetable quality wesell at
our outlets. The qualitythey supplied to us was not upto the
standards of Belgaum veg-etables, Corporations Manag-ing Director
Orlando Rodriguestold Herald.
Apart from wholesalers inother parts of Maharashtra,
theCorporation has tie ups withfew farmers in Sangli who
aresupplying their wholesale pro-duce here.
As per the contract, thewholesaler has ensured to rec-tify the
fault and supply qualityvegetables from Wednesday on-wards.
Earlier, the Corporations sub-sidised vegetable scheme hadfeared
to hit a rock bottom aftertraders raised red flags in Bel-gaum. A
brief violence, commo-t ion and fa i led ta lks le f tCorporation
in bad taste.
But suddenly, a group of farm-ers in Belgaum came forwardto help
out the sagging scheme.The Corporation at the sametime re-routed
its supply fromplaced like Chikmangalore,Nashik, Kolhapur and
otherparts of Maharashtra.
The immense support by thefarmers helped the GHSC to saveits
ambitious subsidised veg-etable scheme from derailing.
Belgaum farmers have sup-ported unconditionally and inreturn
GHDC has reciprocatedby paying them handsomemoney for their
products. Thesupply is now without any mid-dlemen and commission
agentswho escalated the prices of veg-gies.
Poor quality forcesGSHC to return
veggies to wholesaler
Minor nabbed with 30 stolen
cell phones HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 22
In a major breakthrough in thespate of thefts in the Commer-cial
Capital, the Margao policenabbed a minor boy and recov-ered around
30 cell phonesstolen from a electronic shoplast month.
The 17 - yea r boy f romSanguem, who is a native ofJharkhand,
was nabbed after po-lice investigations revealed thathe had lif ted
away 40 cellphones from City Electronicsshop located on the
StationRoad, Margao.
The police has so far recov-ered 30 mobiles and are hopefulof
effecting 100 per cent recov-ery, informed Margao PI San-tosh
Dessai.
He said the boy, studying ina school at Rivona, was nabbedafter
the cell phone users in-formed that they had purchasedthe sets from
him. While liftingaway the phones, the boy hadleft behind the
boxes. But, wemaintained a track on a basison the phone number,
whichyielded results, PI Desai added.
The minor boy has been sentto Apna Ghar.
The incident had occurred onJanuary 27.
Discontentment brewing up amongst Fatorda Cong leaders
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, FEB 22
After a series of ST conventionsin Curtorim constituency
organ-ized in association with localMLA Reginaldo Lourenco,
Raiavillage is now bracing up to hosta convention of non-ST
peoplefrom the village on February 27at 3.30 pm.
Organised by the Raia Vil-lagers Association with the back-ing
of ML A Lourenco, theconvention will be attendedamongst others by
Chief Minis-ter, Digambar Kamat, PWD Min-ister Churchill Alemao,
besidesa host of government officials.
Briefing newsmen, the Cur-torim MLA said the conventionis aimed
at bringing aboutawareness amongst the non-STpopulation, including
the OBCson the various governmentschemes meant for the
generalcategory. There will be one ses-sion totally dedicated to
theschemes meant for the peoplein general, he added.
Rep l y ing to a ques t ion ,Lourenco said that he was
ap-proached by the Raia Villagers As-sociation for his support
inorganizing the convention for thenon-ST population. I was
instru-mental in organizing three ST con-vention during the last
threeyears. When the Association ap-proached me for the non-ST
con-vention to help in popularizing
Raia to host convention of non-STs on Feb 27
the schemes for the general cat-egory, I immediately agreed
tothe proposal, he said.
Admitting there are a largenumber of poor amongst the gen-eral
category, the MLA said it ishis responsibility to take
variousgovernment schemes to the doorsteps of the deserving
people.
Raia Sarpanch and Convenorof Raia Villagers Association
SavioGomes said the people had ques-tioned them as to why there
areno government schemes for thegeneral category.
GSPCB inspection reveals...
Waste water discharge into Colvas storm drains
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GOAOHERALD
OPg3
GOA, WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2011
SURAJ NANDREKAR
PANJIM, FEB 22
The delay in notifying the Regional Plan 2021 iscosting the
State dearly as industries are forcedto move out of Goa due to
non-availability ofland for industrial purpose.
Goas noted industrialist Atul Pai Kane, formerpresident of the
Goa Small Industries Association,who has a small unit in Tuem
industrial estate,had applied for additional plot for extension
ofhis unit but the inability of the Goa IndustriesDevelopment
Corporation (GIDC) has forced himto set up a unit in Banda,
Maharashtra, about 25kms from Pernem.
The GIDC board meeting, held on Tuesday, wasdominated by the
issue. The members felt thatsetting up a unit at Banda also meant
that around200 persons from that area got employment.
This is a major issue when the unemploymentis such high in Goa
the industrial units are movingout of the State only due to the
inability of theGIDC to provide land for industrial units, said
aboard member, who did not want to be named.
This is just one example of Atul Pai Kane thereare several other
industrialists who are planningto move out. If this happens then
what would bethe future of Goan youth vis--vis employment?he
asked.
He further added that the corporation just does
not have any land for allotment to any industries.When this
reporter met the GIDC chairman
Babu Kavlekar for his comments on the issue, hesaid the GIDC is
trying its best to acquire landfor industries.
We have moved several proposals to the Townand Country Planning
(TCP) Department long agobut they havent given us clearance,
Kavlekarsaid adding when we asked TCP for the reasonthe reply was
the Regional Plan hasnt been no-tified and hence they cannot clear
the propos-als.
The chairman said there are several proposalsfor acquiring
additional land for industrial estatesrecommended by the local MLAs
at Pilerne, Tuem,Dhargal, Cumbharjua, Carambolim and
Latam-barcem.
Kavlekar added the board meeting decidedthat the issue should be
taken up with the chiefminister at the earliest.
I will meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamatand take up the issue
on priority, he said.
The board members have demanded that theRP for industrial
talukas should be notified onpriority, Kavlekar said.
The members opined that the TCP shouldclear the proposals of the
areas where the indus-tries are really needed and can provide
employ-ment to the youth, he explained.
RP 2021 delay forcing industries out of Goa
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Contrary to its earlier claims,Goa Government on Mondaysaid that
notification to handover the cases of police-drugmafia nexus to the
Central Bu-reau of Investigation (CBI) wasactually issued on
February 16,2011.
Under Secretary (Home) Vish-wanath Dangi, in the affidavitfiled
before the High Court ofBombay at Goa said that Stategovernment had
issued notifi-cation according consent to CBIon February 16,
2011.
The State Government hasissued notification dated Feb-ruary 16,
2011 according con-sent to the extension of powersand jurisdiction
of the membersof the Delhi Special Police Es-tablishment to the
whole of theState of Goa for the investiga-tion into the crime
registeredwith Crime Branch, the affidavitreads.
Whereas, the government
POLICE-DRUG MAFIA NEXUS
Notification to hand over cases to CBI issued on Feb 16:
Govt
had claimed of having requestedthe Centre to conduct
separateinvestigation through the CBIinto the alleged drug
trade-po-lice nexus cases in a formal com-munication to the Union
HomeMinistry in January.
NSUI legal representativeSurendra Desai pleaded thecourt to
monitor the investiga-tion into the nexus cases.
While in one case seven police-men were suspended, arrested
andreleased for having close links withIsraeli drug lord Yaniv
Benaim aliasAtala, the second case involved spycam expose wherein
police sub in-spector Sunil Gudlar was shown ne-gotiating with two
foreign womenover the sale of drugs.
Chief Secretary Sanjay Shri-vastava had addressed the twoletters
to the Union Home Min-istry on January 21 and 31, re-spectively
entrusting CBI to takeover the investigations.
However, the notification ac-cording consent to transfer the
cases came only on February 16,2011.
Advocate General SubodhKantak requested the divisionbench to
keep the case hearingpending till the Centre is madea respondent to
this case.
The area of investigation iswide enough that even a
sup-plementary chargesheet can befiled in the case (referring to
Is-raeli drug lord David Drihamalias Dudus case, chargesheetof
which is filed in the NDPSCourt), he added.
NSUI in its petition had alsorequested to hand over Duducase to
the CBI, which has notbeen considered by the Statetill date.
The matter is fixed for nexthearing on March 10.
PAC to tighten noose around overloaded mining trucks
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Goa Legislative Assemblys Pub-lic Accounts Committee (PAC)has
decided to tighten noosearound the overloaded miningtrucks by
asking the Transportand Police Departments to getback on the i r
toes f romWednesday onwards.
PACs meeting held on Tues-day at Porvorim asked theTransport
Department to startfining the trucks which are over-loading while
Police Depart-ment have been asked toprovide police protection.
The commi t tee l ed byManohar Parrikar has said, po-lice
inspector will be supervis-ing the security cover given tothe
transport officials on theirdrive against overloading.
The high level committee hassuggested various short andlong term
measures that couldbe implemented to curb thehuge quantity of
minerals beingexported without paying royaltyand also menace on the
roaddue to transportation mess.
Parrikar said that ComptrollerAuditor General (CAG) in its
re-port of 2005-06 had pointedout that there is huge royalty
pilferage on the exports of theore.
The PAC meeting, which wasattended by officials frommines,
transport and districtadministration, has asked theconcern
departments to getback to it by Friday listing shortterm measures
they have takento curb overloading of miningtrucks.
The residents of Sanguemand Cavrem, affected by miningtruck
movement, were alsopresent for the meeting.
Parrikar said that the Statewill list out permanent meas-ures by
May, this year. In themeantime, the departmentshave enough powers
to curbthe overloading, he added.
Parrikar also suggested thatthe NOC from Mines Depart-ment
should be made manda-tory for the mining trucks. Itwas also felt
that a proper leg-islation should be broughtwherein, the lease
holdershould be held responsible forany violation by the
contractor.
Current mess is because ofthe constant competition be-tween the
mining contractors,he said.
The district administration
has also been asked to ensurethat there is sufficient gap
be-tween two trucks. Three trucksper two minutes should be
al-lowed.
This was special recom-mendation in case of thosetrucks plying
from Redi in Ma-harashtra to Amona, he saidadding that district
administra-tion officials are also asked todiscuss the problem
faced bythe locals here.
The meeting also recom-mended that the trucks shouldrun at a
speed of 20 kilometresper hour in the thickly popu-lated
localities. The PAC hasalso said that all the miningtruck drivers
should be regis-tered with the Mines Depart-ment so that their
antecedentsare known.
Also, those driving thetrucks without valid licencewould be
identified, Parrikarsaid.
Last week, talking to re-porters Transport Director ArunDesai
had agreed that the over-loading has been a majorheadache for the
department.
Each truck is supposed notto carry more than 10.5 tonnesore.
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Snubbed by Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the Transport
De-partment on Tuesday issued notices to the mining firms asking
toabide by the High Court directives on overloading of the
trucks.
Talking to reporters, Transport Director Arun Desai said
thatshort term measures as directed by the High Court through
WritPetition in 2009 have been served to the mining companies
andtruck operators.
If we dont find any reasonable change within 48 hours, the
depart-ment will go very strong to implement all the provisions of
CentralMotor Vehicles Act, Desai said adding that violations of the
regulationswill be reported to the High Court as contempt of
court.
The court had said that if any truck engaged in the
trans-portation of ore is found violating any of the measures
threetimes in a year, the permit of the truck will be
suspended.
As per the regulations for the mineral ore transportation in
theState of Goa, the court has ordered, that the trucks loaded at
dis-patched point shall carry ore only to the extent of permitted
capacitythat is 10.5 tonnes for six wheelers. The mining companies
havebeen directed to have their own weighbridges at the point of
loadingitself and no truck bearing ore would be permitted to the
leave thepremises unless its weight is measured, it adds.
The trucks are also been directed to move in a staggered
mannerwith minimum of one minute gap per dispatch. The directions
arealso been issued restricting overtaking of one ore carrying
truck byother truck carrying minerals. The speed limit has been
also regulatedto 30 kms in inhibited areas while 50 kms at other
places.
There shall be a gap of minimum 100 mts maintained betweentwo
trucks plying on road carrying mineral ore, the measuresreads
adding that the time limit of the transportation shall bestrictly
maintained between 8.00am to 6.pm with one hour gap.
The departments flying squad has booked 500 trucks sinceJanuary
2011 for overloading. The truck operators are beenfined Rs 2,000
for the first extra one tone while Rs 1000 for therest per
tonnes.
Transport Dept issues notices to mining firms
Govt tocompensate
farmers HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
Agriculture Department hasdecided to pay compensa-tion of Rs
15,000 per acrefor the farmers affected dueto natural calamities in
theState.
For this, Goa Government hasalready sanctioned a corpus ofRs
2.13 crore under the FarmersAssistance Fund.
Agriculture Director, SatishTendulkar told Herald that
thedistressed farmers are asked tocontact their respective
ZonalAgriculture Officers (ZAO) tocomplete formalities for
com-pensation.
The process has alreadystartedfarmers are ad-vised to contact
the ZAO intheir respective areas, hesaid.
The relief scheme will firstgive financial assistance to
farm-ers affected by natural calamitiesin March 2008 and gradually
itwill cover farmers who suffereddue to unseasoned rainfall
inOctober 2009 and November2010.
Sirsaim locals
block Mrashtra
mining trucks HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, FEB 22
Tension prevailed at Sirsaim onTuesday, after residents
blockedmining trucks from Maharash-tra.
The agitated residents re-sorted to a road-blockade ag-itation
near the near petrolpump in the morning, caus-ing a traffic jam
along theroad.
Bardez Deputy CollectorDashrath Redkar, MamlatdarGaurish
Shankhwalker and Ma-pusa Police Inspector RajeshKumar rushed to the
site tobring the situation under con-trol.
Deputy Collector Redkar re-quested the agitated villagersto
withdraw their road block-ade agitation, as it createdproblem for
the general pub-lic.
HERALD REPORTER
VASCO, FEB 22
A Police Escort Cell team may have been caught oncamera
escorting an undertrial to an ice-cream parlour,but the head of the
Escort Cell insists that Cell teamsare prohibited from taking
undertrials to unauthorisedplaces.
There are strict instructions that Police Escort Cellteams
should not take prisoners or undertrials to anyother place, while
they are being taken to court or fora medical checkup, said DySP N
C Raikar of the EscortCell.
When told that an undertrial, Balesh Dessai, wascaught along
with a Police Escort Cell team at an ice-cream parlour, DySP Raikar
said: Such things are cer-tainly not permitted as there are
possibilities that the
accused can take advantage of the situation and escapefrom
custody.
Whenever prisoners were taken to court for a hear-ing or for a
medical checkup, prisoners are not allowedto visit or even halt at
any other place, said DySPRaikar.
It is, however, difficult to monitor minutely eachand every act
of the Vasco Escort Cell since the policeinspector and DySP are
based in the Panjim Headquar-ters, he added.
DySP Raikar, however, assured to look into the alle-gations that
a Vasco Escort Cell team was caught es-corting an undertrial at
Sada Sub-Jail to an ice-creamparlour in the port town on Monday
night.
Earlier, Vasco Escort Cell In-charge PSI Gurudas Dessaiconfirmed
that police constables, Suraj Gaonkar and
Pradip Patil, and escort vehicle driver Shivananad Bud-hanoor
were on night duty as they had taken the ac-cused, Balesh Dessai,
to the Chicalim Cottage Hospitalfor a checkup.
Police personnel are present on duty at the VascoEscort Cell
round-the-clock to meet with an emergencyin the jail as often
prisoners need to be escorted for amedical emergency, said PSI
Gurudas Dessai.
Without court orders, prisoners or undertrials arenot even
allowed to talk to people when they are takento court or for a
medical examination, he said.
However, police sources disclosed to Herald that in-fluential
undertrials have often visited family membersand have even dined in
restaurants, whenever theywere taken to the court or for a medical
check up withhelp of the Escort Cell.
Prisoners are not allowed to visit or halt at any place:
DySP
KTCL yet topay GIDC loan
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, FEB 22
The Kadamba Transport Corpo-ration Ltd (KTCL), which is
cur-rently incurring losses, is givingthe Goa Industrial
DevelopmentCorporation (GIDC) a run fortheir money.
According to the officials inthe GIDC, the corporation onthe
directions of the State Gov-ernment had granted a loan ofRs 10 cr
to the KTCL in 2006.
However, even five years laterthe KTCL has failed to returneven
a single rupee back, offi-cials said.
The total amount payable ason date is Rs 12.5 cr with inter-est,
the officials said.
When contacted the GIDCchairman Babu Kavlekar admit-ted the loan
was indeed grantedto KTCL which has failed to re-turn it back.
We will take up this issuewith the government as we hadgranted
loan only on its direc-tions he stated.
KTCL Managing Director Ve-nancio Furtado on the otherhand
expressed his helplessnessin clearing the dues.
Currently I cannot make anystatement on the issue. I willtake up
the issue with the gov-ernment and try to get somefunds to clear
the amount, hesaid.
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Pg4 GOAGOA, WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2011
SHORT TAKES
OHERALD
O
POWER SHUTDOWNFEBRUARY 24
PANAJI: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Gomantak
Bhavan,Salgaokar building, Radha Krishna building, Saawni building,
San-jeevani building, Janaki building, Swati building, Vihar
building,Madhuban building, St Inez Church, St Inez bandh and
surroundingareas.
Restricted water supplyPANJIM (HND): There will be restricted
water supply to
entire Bardez and part of Bicholim taluka on February 24as
shutdown is planned at Assonora Water Works for re-placing 2.5 MVA
transformer and VCB panel. The departmentregrets the inconvenience
that may be caused to the con-sumers.
Pavan Sirohi, chairman Panjim branch of MBAI receives awardfor
meritorious services to the MES Builders Association ofIndia at the
hands of Bharat Bhasin, all India President MBA-I,at the 37th
annual day function held at New Delhi recently.
Wedyn excels in Spelling BeeWedyn Noronha displays his trophy
and certificate that he won
at the 3rd international championship of MaRRS
InternationalSpelling Bee Competition 2009-10.
PANJIM (HND): Wedyn Noronha, a muti-talented 12 yearold,
resident of Gharse Tower, Panjim, did his parents Savitaand Erlick
Noronha, both PWD Engineers, proud by baggingthe 7th place in the
3rd international championship ofMaRRS International Spelling Bee
Competition 2009-10,held recently at Nexus International School,
Malaysia. Stu-dents from Asian countries of India, Malaysia, UAE,
Singa-pore, Korea, China, Pakistan and Phillipines had
participatedin this event.
Earlier, Wedyn had won the first, third and eighth ranks inthe
North Goa District Interschool Championship, State Cham-pionship
and National Championship of MaRRS InternationalSpelling Bee
Competition 2009-10, respectively.
Wedyn was also the first runner-up in the HDFC Life SpellingBee-
India Spells 2011, held earlier this month at Kala
Academy,Panjim.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Phorum jewellery expoPANJIM (HND): As winter gives
way to summer, Phorum Jewelswelcomes this bright season withyet
another exhibition of the finestgold and diamond studded
jew-ellery.
The glittering collection ofnecklaces, rings, bracelets,
ear-rings in intricate designs embel-lished with mesmerizing
preciousstones and diamonds, will light up Panjim on February 23and
24, at Hotel Mandovis Rampon hall. The exhibitions willbe open from
11 am to 8 pm.
CM to handover busesPANJIM (HND): Chief Minister Digambar Kamat
will handover
19 mini buses to the institutions at a function to be held
inRavindra Bhavan, Margao on February 23. Buses will be deliv-ered
under scheme titled Indira Bal Rath launched by thegovernment with
the objective of providing transport facilitiesto the children of
the scheduled tribe communities residingin remote areas of the
State. Buses will be handed over inpresence of Minister for Tribal
Welfare, Filipe Neri Rodrigues.
DOST program at XaviersPANJIM (HND): Developing Opportunities
for Special Teens
(DOST) is an inclusion programme for specially-abled teensto
develop social skills conducted by TIES (Towards
InclusionEverywhere in Society) - a society of parents of
childrenwith special needs, with support from Sangath.
InclusionSaturdays - the socialisation sessions were held at St
XaviersCollege, Mapusa in the academic year 2010-2011 as part ofthe
programme. An open day event to showcase this programwill be held
on February 26 at St Xaviers College Hall (en-trance from gate 3),
from 10 am to 11.30 am. This event isopen to all.
CRG stages Aami FuluyamPANJIM (HND): Childrens Rights in Goa
(CRG) is staging a
play titled Aami Fuluyam to be performed by children fromits
child activity centers at Dinanath Mangeshakar Kala Mandir,Kala
Academy on March 7 at 5 pm.
Aami Fuluyam is a Konkani adaptation of Oscar WildesThe Selfish
Giant. Tickets are available at Magsons Supercenter,Campal and at
the office of CRG, Mapusa. Contact numbers:9822983336 /
2263838.
IIE presentationPANJIM (HND): The Institution of Engineers
(IIE), Goa State
Centre, in association with Electrical Department,
GovernmentPolytechnic, Altinho-Panjim, will arrange a presentation
Latesttrends in electrical safety in industries on February 25 at
au-ditorium of Govt Polytechnic, Altinho-Panjim, from 2 pm to
5pm.
Dilip Sahakari, BE, MIE, Electrical Consultant; M Durairaj,M
Tech, MIE, Advisor to MD, Salgaocar Group of Companies;Prof Sunita
Sail, ME Prof and HoD, Government Polytechnic,will give
presentations on the subject.
For further information call Dilip Sahakari on 9822164782or
Institution office on 2434686.
Corporate quizPANJIM (HND): Goa Institute of Management (GIM) in
asso-
ciation with TATA Motors will hold the 11th edition of itsannual
corporate quiz WIZBIZ, on February 26 at its new,state-of-the art
campus in Sanquelim. The quiz will be con-ducted by one of Indias
leading quizmasters, Avinash Mudaliar.A total of Rs 1,20,000 will
be given out as prizes at the event.
With the aim of increasing the industry-institute
interaction,the quiz is organized every year by MECCA, the
marketingclub at GIM. The event brings together members of the
cor-porate world from diverse industries for an evening of
fierceintellectual competition. It also provides the audience
withan evening high on learning and enjoyment. To know moreabout
WIZBIZ 20XI, visit www.wizbiz.co.in.
IGNOU program postponed PANJIM (HND): On account of unavoidable
circumstances,
IGNOU Study centre 0802 at Dhempe College of Arts and Sci-ence
will remain closed on February 27. The induction pro-gramme for
under-graduate students scheduled for February27 has been postponed
to March 6 at 11 am.
NCBCs public hearing PANJIM (HND): The National Commission for
Backward
Classes (NCBC) will hold a public hearing on February 24
atSeminary hall, Secretariat, Porvorim, at 10 am to examine
re-quests for inclusion of any class of citizens as backward
classin the central list of backward classes and hear
complaints.
Castes/communities in respect of which public hearing isto be
held are Teli (including Christian Teli), Shimpi
(includingChristian Shimpi), Christian Renders, Komarpant, Thakar,
Sa-tarkar, Chari/Mesta, Nadaf, Pinjar, Mansoori and Quraishi,Kasab,
Kasai.
The associations, organisations and/or individuals of theabove
mentioned castes/sub-castes/communities may appearbefore the bench
of the commission and furnish all relevantinformation and express
their views.
Bro Anils retreatPANJIM (HND): Bro Anil of Salvation Ministry
will conduct
a retreat on March 3 at Emerald Lawns, Parra, from 10 am to5.30
pm. The service will stress on the word of God,
healing,deliverance, word of knowledge and prophecies. For
furtherinformation, call 9226387098/9763553575. Free transportcan
be availed by calling 9823055659.
Salvation Ministry services can be watched on Rophe TVdaily from
7 am to 7.30 am and 6 pm to 6.30 pm and on Sat-urdays from 9.30 pm
to 10 pm.
The Gram Sabha is a meeting ofall adults who live in the
areacovered by a Panchayat. Anyonewho is at least 18 years of age
andhas registered as a voter is a defacto member of the Gram
Sabha.The members of a Gram Sabha electa Sarpanch, who becomes the
Pan-chayat President.
In a village, the Panchayat is di-vided into Wards, which are
smallerareas to facilitate easier administra-tion. Each Ward elects
a representa-tive known as the Ward Member.These Ward Members, led
by theSarpanch, form the Gram Pan-chayat. Each Gram Panchayat
re-mains in office for a period of fiveyears, and presides over the
GramSabha meetings.
Each Gram Panchayat has a Secre-tary, who is not an elected
officialbut is appointed by the government.
The Secretary is responsible for call-ing the meeting of the
Gram Sabha, and maintaining records of theproceedings.The Gram
Sabha is the key factor inensuring the Gram Panchayat car-ries out
its function responsibly,since the decisions are laid bare infront
of the people they directly af-fect. The Gram Sabha prevents
thePanchayat from misusing funds orfavoring certain people. It
plays animportant role in keeping an eye onthe elected
representatives, and inmaking them responsible to the per-sons who
elected them.
The Gram Panchayat wouldbe responsible for the follow-ing
heads:
The construction andmaintenance of water re-
sources, roads, drainage,school buildings and othercommon
property resources.
Levying and collectinglocal taxes.
Executing governmentschemes related to generat-
ing employment in the village.
The Gram Sabha would re-ceive its funds for operationfrom the
following sources:
Collection of taxes onhouses, market places etc.
Government schemesfunds received through var-
ious departments
Donations for communityworks.
A Little About Civics
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What is the Gram Sabha?
HERALD NEWS DESK
PANJIM, FEB 22
The Indian Academy of Cytolo-gists in collaboration with
theEuropean Federation of CytologySocieties and the
InternationalAcademy of Cytology organisedan international
conference inpathology at the Goa MedicalCollege auditorium
recently.
The faculty were Dr Jerzy Kli-janienko, professor and head
ofpathology, Curie Institute, Paris,France; Dr Fernando
Schmitt,professor and head and medicaldirector at the Institute of
Pathol-ogy and Immunology of PortoUniversity, Porto-Portugal;
DrAileen Wee, professor and headof pathology, Yong Loo Lin Schoolof
Medicine, National Universityof Singapore, Singapore; Dr
ArunChitale, professor and head ofsurgical pathology, Bombay
Hos-pital Institute of Medical Sciencesand Dr K M Mohandas,
Director,Centre for Cancer Epidemiology,Tata Memorial Hospital
Mumbaiand Head of the Department ofDigestive Diseases and
ClinicalNutrition, Tata Memorial HospitalMumbai.
The conference was chairedand coordinated by Dr R G Wise-man
Pinto. There were also 34Oral Proferred paper presenta-tions and 28
poster presentations.
The prize winners in the oralpaper consultant category wereDr K
Suseela, head of pathology,Indo-American Cancer
Institute,Hyderabad; Dr Akhil Bansal, lec-turer in pathology, J N
MedicalCollege, Sawangi-Nagpur and DrK K Prasad, professor and
headof gastrointestinal pathology, PostGraduate Institute of
Medical Ed-ucation and Research Chandigarh.
In the oral paper post gradu-ate category, the prize winnerswere
Dr S Rehman, post gradu-ate student J N Medical College,
Aligarh Muslim University; DrNisha Sehrawat, post
graduatestudent, R D Gardi Medical Col-lege-Ujjain and Dr Umang
Patel,post graduate student, C U ShahMedical College,
Surendrana-gar-Gujarat.
In the poster category for con-sultants the prizes were won byDr
M Suresh, Assistant Professor,Sri Ramachandra
UniversityPorur-Chennai, Dr R Chaudhary,Associate Professor,
SanjayGandhi Postgraduate Institute ofMedical Sciences Lucknow
andDr M P Misra, Professor of Pathol-ogy, J K Cancer Institute,
MedicalCollege-Kanpur.
In the post graduate postercategory the prizes were wonby Dr A
Waghmare, post gradu-ate student, B J Medical College-Pune; Dr
Ankita Jaiswal, postgraduate student, B R D
MedicalCollege-Gorakhpur and Dr PurtiAgarwal, post graduate
student,B J Medical College, Pune.
Dr Mohammad Zillur Rehman,Associate Professor and headpathology
department, Chit-tagong Medical College, Chit-tagong-Bangladesh; Dr
HananAlshamlan, Consultant Patholo-gist, Qatar; Dr Anju Pradhan,
As-sistant Professor in pathology,B P Koirala Institute of
HealthSciences, Dharan-Nepal; DrKhalil M Baba, professor andhead of
pathology, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sci-ences -S r inaga
r ; D r Ra jeNijhawan, professor of cytologyand gynaecological
pathology,Postgraduate Institute of Med-ical Education and
Research-Chandigarh and Dr N J Trivedi,former professor and head
ofpathology, M P Shah MedicalCollege-Jamnagar and Dr S CChawla,
head of laboratory serv-ices, Apollo Hospital-Bilaspurwere given
special awards.
GMC hosts international conference in pathology
Dr Jerzy Klijanienko, from Curie Institute Paris inaugurating
theconference. Also seen are Dr R GWiseman Pinto, Dr Aileen
Wee,Singapore and Dr Fernando Schmitt, Portugal.
HERALD NEWS DESK
PANJIM, FEB 22
Dr Ashwin Porwal, a renownedprocto-surgeon from Pune, nowa
visiting surgeon at Apollo Vic-tor Hospital is among the fewIndian
surgeons to be selectedfor a new surgical procedurecalled Stapled
Trans Anal RectalResection (STARR).
This procedure was invented
by the Austrian surgeon Dr Longo,for treatment of patients
withpiles and worse forms of consti-pation such as obstructed
defe-cation which is more prevalentin women, but usually
remainsundiagnosed and untreated.
Minimally Invasive Procedurefor Hemorrhoids (MIPH) pilesassures
minimum pain and dis-comfort for the patient. The hos-
pitalization period is just oneday. It also assures quick
recov-ery, enabling the patient to re-turn back to normal work
onthe third day after getting dis-charged from the hospital.
Dr Ashwin Porwal is the firstsurgeon in Maharashtra to per-form
STARR surgery for consti-pa t ion and i s p re sen t l yperforming
the maximum num-
bers of MIPH surgery for pilesin the country.
He operated upon three pa-tients for piles with the MIPHsurgical
technique at Apollo Vic-tor Hospital in the last week ofJanuary.
These patients are verysatisfied with the surgical out-come. Dr
Ashwin Porwals visitsApollo Victor Hospital on fourthFriday of
every month.
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CORTALIM, FEB 22
Verna Police Inspector Jivba Dalvirecently inaugurated the
officeof Kerala Samajan at Thana inCortalim. On the occasion,
theSamajan in association with the
Cortalim Primary Health Centrecarried out a mosquito
repellantspray in the worst affected areasof the village. Cortalim
PHC Med-ical Officer Dr Mariano Godinhoand the community
memberswere also present.
Kerala Samajan opens office in Cortalim
HERALD NEWS BUREAU
PANJIM, FEB 22
In view of the ever-changing face of mediaand innumerable
opportunities available tostudents today, the School of Media
Studiesof St Xaviers College, Mapusa, organiseda one-day regional
seminar on The Chang-ing Face of Media: Growth and Opportuni-ties
on Saturday.
Geno Foundation Executive Director SagarSalgaonkar was the chief
guest for the sem-inar.
In his address, College Principal Fr Walterde Sa laid emphasis
on the need to maintaina balance between positive and
negativeaspects of the media since, like anythingelse, it has two
sides to it.
Media communication is indeed a greatgift of god to humanity,
but one must utilizethese powerful audio-visual means effec-tively
for the welfare of humanity andgrowth of the country, he said.
Misusing the powers of the media forpersonal gains or malicious
intent can dis-
rupt the stability of society and can alsodestroy communal
harmony, causing greatharm to individuals and groups alike,
headded.
Sagar Salgaonkar said today, media isplaying an important role
in how it shapesthe future of India.
India is the youngest market in the worldand hence it is up to
the youth to interpretdata and channel it appropriately, said
Sal-gaonkar.
The chief guest released the souvenir ofthe seminar on the
occasion.
The seminar comprised three sessions,the first session witnessed
a number of em-inent resource persons expressing theirviews on a
diverse range of topics.
Raju Naik, Editor of Lokmat, spoke ofthe changes in media. Dr Fr
Richard Regoof St Aloysius College, Mangalore, talkedabout
Community Radio as an alternativemedia, that is far more accessible
and af-fordable.
Oystein Krogsrud, a Norwegian journalist,
analyzed how new media is empoweringthe public sphere.
Israeli journalist, Aimee Ginsberg, spokeabout the ethical
responsibility of a jour-nalist.
The theme for the second session wasMedia Scenario in Goa Post
Liberationto Date, where a number of speakers, in-cluding Frederico
Noronha, shared theiropinions with the students.
In the third session, journalists and re-source persons like
Alex Braganza (CEO,Broadway Advertising), Prasad Pankar (Fash-ion
photographer) and Rishad DCruz (film-maker from Cavendish College
of MediaEducation, London) enlightened the studentson the variety
and versatility of career optionsavailable today in the fields of
photography,journalism, PR, radio and advertising.
The seminar was a result of the joint ef-forts of the Department
of Journalism andthe Department of Mass Communicationand
Videography. Lecturer Nitin Volvoikarproposed the vote of
thanks.
Emphasis laid on balancing positive, negative aspects of
media
Minimal invasive surgery for piles
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MAYEM, FEB 22
Home Minister Ravi Naik hasstated that the State has evolvedas a
unique destination fortourists all over the world interms of Goas
vibrant cultureand people.
Naik was speaking after in-augurating the Sarvan Lokotsav2011 at
Sarvan-Bicholim. Themega cultural event was organ-ized jointly by
ShyampurushDevasthan, Sarvan Friends Cir-cle, Shyampurush Cultural
Or-ganization and Sarvan Library.
Speaking further, Naik saidpeople in Goa belonging to dif-
ferent caste, creed and religionhave attracted others due
totheir hospitable nature.
Goa has a unique cultural
heritage, rich and lively and itis known for several folk
festivalsand performances. People frommany castes mingle to
providethe unique social representationof Goa, added Naik.
MLA Anant Shet also spokeon the occasion. District
YouthCoordinator of Nehru YuvaKendra Kalidas Ghatwal, KudneZP
member Fondu Sawant,Karapur Sarvan Sarpanch San-tosh Talkar,
Shyampurush Dev-asthan President ShekharSawant, Sarvan Friends
CirclePresident Dattaram Sawant,Sar van L ibrar y Pres ident
Umakant Sawant, Shyampu-rush Cultural OrganizationPresident
Pundalik Sawant, ex-sarpanch Rayu Sawant, ex-deputy sarpanch
DevanandSawant, Deshmukh Sawant andGovind Gunaji Sawant HighSchool
Headmistress Mal Al-vares were present on the oc-casion.
Earlier, Home Minister RaviNaik inaugurated the newly
con-structed Club House of SarvanFriends Circle at Sarvan.
Shyam Gaonkar compered thefunction, while Sunil Sawantproposed
the vote of thanks.
States culture, people attract tourists: Ravin Goa has a
unique
cultural heritage, richand lively and it isknown for several
folkfestivals andperformances. Peoplefrom many castesmingle to
provide theunique socialrepresentation of Goa.
--- Ravi Naik
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Pg 5GOA GOA, WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY, 2011
OHE
RALD
O
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, FEB 22
With families in Canacona townfacing extreme difficulty
inprocuring firewood for crema-tions, the Canacona MunicipalCouncil
(CMC) could soon playthe role of an undertaker.
At the CMC meeting on Tues-day, some councillors
expressedconcern as several families inthe town were finding it
difficultto cremate their dear ones dueto acute shortage of
firewoodin the area.
Bhagatwada Councillor AjayBhagat reminded the officialsthat
eight years ago, CMC usedto stock sufficient firewood tomeet the
eventuality. He re-quested for resuming such apractice.
Councilors requested the civicbody to make provision for
cre-mation grounds in each of the10 wards to ease difficultiesfaced
by the people in distressdue to death in their families.
The councillors also asked thecouncil to finance the funeralsof
their individual ward mem-bers in case of financial difficul-ties
of needy people.
Taking up the agenda further,the council decided to
regularizehouse tax, go for re-tenderingof municipal shops and
erectionof Shivajis statue at Chaudi.
Chaudi Councilor HemantGracias asked the council to stopissuing
licenses for new kiosks
in Chaudi. He also asked thechief officer to take
necessaryaction to remove all the illegalkiosks in the
locality.
Councilors also called forf loating a new tender
forfeast/exhibitions and separateit from the purview of
municipalsopo collector.
CMC also discussed the issueof raising construction licensefee
from Rs 5,950 to Rs 9,000as per objections raised by theCentral
Audit party.
Council was also asked toissue notice for recovery of Rs6 lakh
towards tax arrears froma starred hotel in the taluka
andhighlighted the need to collectslab-wise house taxes.
The administration agreed toachieve the target within amonths
time with the help ofexisting staff only.
CMC has unanimously de-cided to oppose governmentsmove to take
over Konko islandoff Palolem beach, which thetourism department has
report-edly eyed to develop an eco-tourism project.
The councilors also gave acall to do away with scrap yardswithin
the municipal limits assuch activities tend to cause dis-turbances
for the residents.
Interestingly, a calling atten-tion remark by Palolem Coun-cilor
Simon Rebello to initiatesuitable action to stop lamanisillegal
activities was abandoned
midway and that too withoutany decision.
The councilors were informedthat CMC is fighting 34
litigationcases, of which 12 are filed bythe civic body itself in
variouscourts including AdministrativeTribunal over illegal
construc-tions and other matters, while22 cases are filed by other
liti-gants against CMC.
Council was informed that animmediate ex-chairperson has
filed a case against a sittingcouncilor against whom he lostthe
last polls from his ward andthe ex-chairperson has madeCMC also a
party to the case.
The meeting was chaired byCMC Chairperson RatnakarDhuri. Deputy
ChairpersonSandesh Gaonkar and most ofthe councilors were present.
COPereria, municipal engineerSuhas Dessai and staff Santu
rep-resented the administrative side.
CMC urged to aid people facing hardship in cremating dead
Parking fee collector may soon be out of job
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, FEB 22
When the Parking Fee collec-tor allegedly began levying
ex-orbitant fees at a parking lotin Palolem-Canacona, little didhe
realize that one of the ag-grieved motorists would bethe chief
officer of CanaconaMunicipal Council (CMC).
Unhappy with the ParkingFee collector for overchargingmotorists
for using the park-ing lot, the CMC is now plan-ning to scrap the
tenderprocess for collection of feesat the parking lot.
Instead, the CMC plans toengage its own personnel tocollect the
fees.
The issue came to the fore
at a CMC meeting on Tuesday,when Ward 10 CouncillorJayashri Pagi
displayed parkingreceipts to prove that the Park-ing Fee collector
had collectedRs 50-100 instead of Rs 20-30from vehicle owners at
aPalolem parking lot.
Incidentally, CMC Chief Of-f icer L S Periera backedPalolem
councillor by sayingthat he himself had been avictim of the Parking
Fee col-lectors exorbitant fees, whenhe had visited Palolem in
hisprivate vehicle.
I was billed Rs 50 for mycar, while another
Maharash-tra-registered car was issueda receipt for Rs 100,
statedPereira.
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
BICHOLIM, FEB 22
People from Sanquelim haveexpressed their support to
themunicipal council in its agita-tion against the chief
officer.
The people at the publicmeeting have also opposed themove of the
MLA and the chiefofficer to have Aprant Maandin on the Bodke
ground.
It may be recalled that San-quelim Municipal Council(SMC)
Chairman Anand Naikhad accused Chief OfficerBhanudas Naik of
pending billsof about Rs 1.40 lakh. The chiefofficer was also in
the newsfor granting permission forAprant Maand on the Bodkeground
even though there wasanother application for theMarch 4 event by a
local sportsclub.
A public meeting was calledby the Eagle Sports Club onthe KTC
bus stand Sanquelimwhich was attended by severalprominent persons
from San-quelim. Some of the prominentamong those who attendedthe
meeting included formerMLA Vishnu Rama Naik, formerSanquelim
sarpanch Pravin Ble-gan, ex-chairman of SMC Vi-
jaykumar Verekar, ex-councillorSunita Verekar and some
othercouncil members.
During the meeting, SMCChairman Anand Naik high-lighted in
detail the currentstatus of the council and saiddue to the high
headed deci-sions of the chief officer, theyare facing
problems.
He also accused the MLA ofsupporting the chief officerand so the
transfer file is stillpending.
We have already demandedwith Chief Minister DigambarKamat the
transfer of the chiefofficer and the file is pending,as Pale MLA
Pratap Gawas hasasked to hold the transferorder, alleged Naik.
Im holding this chair andam accountable to the people,but
because of the chief officerall the works are left pendingsince the
last six months,claimed Naik.
We are answerable to thepeople, but we cannot do any-thing
without the approval ofthe chief officer as total ad-ministration
of the SMC is han-dled by him, stated Naik.
Naik further alleged that thethe chief officer does not fall
in the cadre and is given theposition based on
politicalpressure.
We will go on hunger strikeif our demands are not met,warned the
chairman. The peo-ple strongly supported thechairman in case if
they areplanning to go on an agitationagainst the chief
officer.
Speaking on the occasion,ex-MLA Vishun Rama Naik andothers
demanded that Bodkeground be reserved for theplayers.
They strongly opposed themove of the MLA of givingthe ground to
set up AprantMaand exh ib i t ion . Theyclaimed that the
exhibitionshould be organized on an al-ternate ground and shouldnot
be held on the Bodkeground.
Some speakers also statedthat during a meeting withSMC, Speaker
PratapsinghRane had suggested an alter-nate ground for setting
upAprant Maand and that sug-gestion should be followed.
They suggested that the ex-hibition could be organized
atVithalapur or the SanquelimGovernment College ground.
GIDC urged to repair
Sanquelim market road
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
BICHOLIM, FEB 22
Sanquelim Municipal Council(SMC) and the people from San-quelim
have strongly requestedthe Goa Industrial DevelopmentCorporation
(GIDC) to repair themarket road within a month.
According to reports, the en-tire road in the Sanquelim mar-ket
has been dug for layingpipelines of the sewage treat-ment plant.
The work is beingundertaken by GIDC and sincethe last over two
months, thework is left pending.
The entire stretch of the mar-ket is dug, causing hindrance
tothe people, especially the busi-nessmen and the shop owners.
The work is going on sincelast several months and the mar-ket
road is dug and gutters areleft open posing great hardshipto the
public, said Vikas Pangam,a businessman from Sanquelim.
Due to this, there is an ad-verse effect on our business andthe
promises made by the SMChave fallen flat, added Pangam.
When contacted, SMC Chair-man Anand Naik said they havestrongly
demanded the GIDC tocomplete the work by March 5.
We are aware that the busi-nessmen from the market areaare
having problem because ofthis. We have asked the GIDCto complete
the work by thefirst week of March, said Naik.
SMCs agitation against CO gets backing from people
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
MAYEM, FEB 22
Stressing on the need to makeIndia a superpower, North GoaMP
Shripad Naik has called uponthe youth to shoulder the
re-sponsibility of the nation by set-ting aside evil feelings,
therebyhelping the society wholeheart-edly.
He was addressing the gath-ering during the annual
prizedistribution and inaugurationof computerization with
LCDprojector at Shri ShantadurgaHigh School Bicholim on
Tues-day.
Naik while highlighting thework of Shri Shantadurga HighSchool
declared financial assis-tance of Rs 25 lakh to the schoolfrom the
MP Fund for various
Youth urged to shoulder nations responsibilitycauses.
On the occasion, meritoriousstudents were distributed
schol-arships and awards.
Bicholim MLA Rajesh Pat-nekar, Sadashiv Walaulikar, Arun
Salkar, Gurudas Zantye, PTAPresident Arun Naik, former
PTApresident Vishant Vaze, HMSuresh Ghatwal and GaneshJoshi were
present on the occa-sion.
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CALANGUTE, FEB 22
Condemning the governmentsplans to set up eco-friendlyhotel as
part of a PPP project atBaga, speakers at a meeting onSunday
evening warned the Stategovernment not to play with thesentiments
of the people.
The speakers termed the PPPas a Public Private Partnershipof
Politicians to sell Goa for aprice.
The leaders called upon vil-lagers to remain united and notto
allow ministers or MLAs tosell their land to land sharks.
Addressing the gathering, Al-dona MLA Dayanand Narvekarwas
critical of Health MinisterVishwajeet Rane, Tourism Min-ister
Nilkant Halarnkar and GoaTourism Department Corpora-tion Chairman
and MLA ShyamSatardekar of their alleged in-tention to amass huge
wealthunder the PPPs, which he hasfailed to understand what it
ac-tually means.
Chief Minister DigambarKamat has been saying for thelast three
and half years I haveto study the matter whenever
objections are raised by the peo-ple on various projects
affectingGoa and Goans, said Narvekar.
Narvekar also divulged gov-ernments plans in selling theMayem
Lake, Kesarval Springs,among others, under the PPPmodel.
On the proposed Baga PPPproject, Narvekar requested vil-lagers
of Calangute-Baga to re-
main united and never give uptheir prime land under the guiseof
PPP.
Narvekar regretted that hehad to share the platformagainst his
own Congress gov-ernment due to the arrogant at-titude of the
first-time ministersand MLAs.
In his address, Saldanha crit-icized the Congress governmentfor
its desires to finish Goa asfast as possible by selling landto
outsiders.
We should now be alert cit-izens of Goa and never rely onthe
utterances of our MLAs whoare out to destroy Goa at aprice, said
Saldanha.
PPP is nothing but a fastmoney making racket throughhefty
commissions for the min-isters and MLAs and other offi-cials,
charged Saldanha.
Siolim MLA Dayanand Man-drekar and Mapusa MLA AdvFrancisco
DSouza urged the vil-lagers to remain vigilant andnever allow their
land to be soldto non-Goans for petty gainsand extended their full
supportin their stir to preserve theirland.
Eco-hotel on PPP model termed a ploy to sell land
HERALD NEWS DESK
PANJIM, FEB 22
The lone Goan sailor ThomasPereira on board the ship M VSinin
which was hijacked off thecoast of Oman along with 22crew members,
including nineIndians, is safe, according to acommunication
received by MPShantaram Naik.
Naik who has been in touchwith Director General Of Ship-ping's
Office, Mumbai regardingthe fate of sailor Pereira andother
Indians, received a com-munication through fax fromCaptain Harish
Khatri, DeputyDirector General of Shippingthat, as per the
information re-ceived on February 21, the crewof the vessel have
been allowedto speak to their families andare reported to be
safe.
Naik who is presently in NewDelhi, contacted the wife of
thesailor in Margao to confirmwhether she had received a callfrom
her husband and found,that in fact, she received a callto inform
her that he was fine.
Naik said that he also met GK Vasan, Union Minister of
Ship-ping, who assured him that theDirectorate General of
Shippingis monitoring the situationthrough Indian Navy and
theowners of the Company.
Naik further said that D G
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
CANACONA, FEB 22
Even as Chief Minister DigambarKamat has allotted and
inaugu-rated a new ambulance in therecent past, fear looms
largethat the two existing ambu-lances of Canacona CommunityHealth
Centre (CHC) will bepushed to a parking lot, makingit even harder
for patients.
According to Canacona HealthWelfare Committee (CHWC)President
Diogo Da Silva andother members who take regularrounds of CHC
Canacona, thechief minister inaugurated thenew ambulance in
January.
He claimed that this ambu-lance was left unused until hemet
Health Officer Dr Vinod onMonday.
The new ambulance, whichwas kept lying unutilized sinceits
inauguration, was finallybrought on the road for shiftingpatients
to Margao on Tuesday,after I met the health officer onMonday,
informed Da Silva.
But unfortunately, this seemsto be at the cost of existing
one,pushing it to the parking lot dueto non-availability of
drivers,regretted Da Silva.
Da Silva further said when heapproached CHC health officer,he
was informed that of theavailable three drivers, one isutilised to
drive official jeep, an-other for field visits and thethird for
ambulance.
Interestingly, when this cor-respondent visited CHC in
theabsence of health officer andcontrary to what Da Silva said,
asource informed that CHC in facthas five drivers and not
three.
Source further informed that
including the newly allotted am-bulance, there are three
workingambulances, but all includingthe new one are poorly
main-tained and managed by thehealth authorities at Chaudi.
Besides, three more non-working ambulances lying in thebarracks
have already gathereddust and rust, providing thesorry state of
ineffective man-agement, added the source.
The services of a cleaner-cum-washer are hardly utilizedto
maintain cleanliness of thesevehicles, while the concernedmakes
merry loitering aroundand hardly attends any work,charged the
source further.
To prove the point, the sourcefurther pointed out to thepitiable
status of two stationedambulances where vomit marksare still
visible on window glasspane of the new ambulance.
The new ambulance was al-legedly brought out only for onetrip on
Tuesday and thereafterstationed back at the spot.
The petrol quota gets ex-
hausted within days of com-mencement of a month and
theambulances are pulled back tothe parking lot, making the
pa-tients most sufferers, while attimes, EMRIs 108 ambulance
isoften requisitioned for shiftingpatients to Margao, informedthe
source.
Sources further informed thatinstead of the new
ambulancebecoming an additional advan-tage to the needy patients,
it islikely to push one more workingambulance to parking
barracks,as one working ambulance is al-ready in dormant stage
alongwith three more non-workingambulances dotting the CHCsparking
lots.
Locals alleged that notwith-standing fund crunch for dieseland
maintenances, few driversare mostly lethargic in takingbehind the
wheels of ambu-lances claiming these vehiclesare old and needs
repairs,thereby compelling working ve-hicles to turn into parking
lotsto rust and gather dust.
Ambulances at Canacona CHC gather dust in parking lot!
Ambulances parked behind Canacona Community Health Centre. Photo
by Kathy Pereira
Goan sailor aboardhijacked ship issafe: Shantaram
Shipping, Mumbai got the in-formation that the vessel ownedby
M/s Irano Hind Shipping Com-pany Ltd, of Teheran, Iran, lostcontrol
with their vessel sincethe day of hijacking. The vesselwas en route
from Fujaira toSingapore loaded with approx-imately 52000 metric
tones ofiron ore.
Hbad-Kolhapur trains to run for four days
weeklyHERALD CORRESPONDENT
BELGAUM, FEB 22
The South Central Railway(SCR) has decided to run WeekSpecial
Express Trains for fourdays in a week between Hy-derabad 07143 and
Kolhapur07144.
The special train servicecommenced on February 17from Hyderabad
and the lasttrain will leave Kolhapur onMarch 31. This train is
conven-ient for Goans intending totravel Hyderabad as they
canconveniently board the trainat Londa.
According to a press release,enroute the train will
departHyderabad at 11.30 pm everyTuesday, Wednesday, Saturdayand
Sunday. Enroute the trainwill run via Guntakal, Bellary,Hospet,
Hubli, Dharwad, Londa(Wednesday - 4.28 pm), Bel-gaum - 5.30 pm and
reach viaMiraj to Kolhapur at 10.45 pm.
In its return journey, thetrain leaves Kolhapur everyThursday,
Friday, Monday andTuesday at 7.30 am. En routethe train will run
via Belgaum(11.23 am), Londa, Dharwad,Hubli, Hospet, Bellary,
Gun-takal reaching Hyderabad at 4am next day.
The last train in this servicewill leave Hyderabad on March30,
while the last train fromKolhapur will leave on March31.
Narvekar requestedvillagers of Calangute-Baga to remain
unitedand never give up theirprime land under theguise of PPP.
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Vasco float paradeAdelmo Fernandes, Vasco
The population of Vasco has grown by leapsand bounds. During
Carnival, Swatantrapath is teeming with floats and surgingcrowds,
leading to a minor stampede. Itwould be in the fitness of things if
the floatparade is diverted to F L Gomes road, andSwatantra Path is
kept open to traffic. Thiswill make movement of carnival floats
mucheasier.
There is also ample space on this roadfor crowds to stand and
watch the floats.It will also solve the parking problem
forvehicles, as most of them can be parkedalong Swatantra Path.
Harmful plastic bags Mahesh Kapasi, New Delhi
Plastic carry bags are very harmful. Yet, all
kinds of commodities are sold in them.Hot tea is and food is
packed in plasticbags. Magazines are sealed in plastic en-velops.
Oil, shampoo, conditioner, washingsoap, gutkha and paan masala are
all soldin plastic sachets. Ready-to-eat items aresold in plastic
bags
It is necessary to put a blanket ban onthe manufacture of
plastic bags. Peopleshould be dissuaded from using them.
Then and NowWillie Severes, Majorda
It was shocking to read that a newly formedcommittee headed by
freedom fighter Fla-viano Dias has demanded that roads
withPortuguese names should be renamed afternational heroes and
freedom fighters. Rightnow, Goa is facing issues such as
mining,mega housing projects, garbage, trafficchaos on the streets,
bribes, drug lords;the list goes on Our greedy and
corruptpoliticians are responsible for this mess.
Flaviano should look at what is ahead,not at the past. Tackling
these vital issues,rather then changing street names. Thatis the
mark of a true freedom fighter. Thatis what Goans need from
you.
Overcautious news media?Govind Kharangate, Sydney
It is about time the Goan news media takessome of the blame for
the evils plaguingour Goan society. We just have not seenenough
investigative journalism that canexpose the truth, be it bribery or
a scam,mega or small. On the other hand, I ambemused to find
ministers being quotedfor vital issues like: How school is a
step-ping stone of our career, (Arent parentsqualified enough to
tell us that?) and howX number of councillors from Y party filedfor
candidature in Z election. Do we reallyneed that kind of news? Some
of theMarathi newspapers have really been amajor disappointment in
this regard.
Shouldnt the