Canacona News

Govt effects transfers of officers
Navhind Times | 1 day ago
Navhind Times
1 day ago

Panaji: The government has transferred 16 senior scale and 13 junior scale officers of Goa Civil Service.According to the order issued by the Personnel department on Wednesday, senior scale officer Shripad Arlekar has been posted as director (administration), Directorate of Health Services, Dr. Geeta Nagvekar as director (administration), Public Works Department, Tushar Halarnkar as joint secretary (home), Clen Madeira as secretary, Goa Rehabilitation Board, Rohit Kadam as chief officer of Margao Municipal Council, Neha Panvelkar as managing director of Goa Housing Board, Deepesh Priolkar as member secretary of Goa Football Development Council, Pundalik Khorjuekar as director of Museums, Vishant Naik Gaonkar as managing director of Goa Education Development Corporation, Chandresh Kunkalkar as additional commissioner of State Taxes-II, Sneha Goltekar as director of Science and Technology, Agnelo Fernandes as member secretary of Goa State Commission for Backward Classes, Bhushan Savoikar as secretary of Goa State Information Commission, Mahadev Araundekar as special land acquisition officer at Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation, Ajit Panchwadkar as managing director of Goa State Minorities Finance and Development Corporation and Sangeeta Naik as member secretary, Goa State Commission for Women.In another order, the government has transferred Ramesh Gaonkar as Deputy Collector and Sub Division Officer, Canacona, Rajesh Ajgaonkar as Deputy Collector (land acquisition), South with additional charge of Deputy Collector (DRO), South, Uday Prabhu Desai as Deputy Collector and Sub Division Magistrate-I Salcete, Vivek Naik as Deputy Collector and SDM, Tiswadi, Sapna Bandodkar as deputy director (administration), Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Shaila Bhosle as Under Secretary (general administration-I) with additional charge of Under Secretary-II, Roshell Fernandes as deputy director of Mines-II, Girish Sawant as Under Secretary (revenue-1) with additional charge of Under Secretary (home)-II, Shubham Naik as Under Secretary revenue-II, Rohan Kaskar as Deputy Collector and SDM, Pernem, Eshant Sawant as Under Secretary (personnel-I), Ganesh Barve as deputy director of Municipal Administration with additional charge of joint director, Information and Publicity and Madhu Narvekar as chief officer, Canacona Municipal Council with additional charge of Quepem Municipal Council.Shailesh Zingade, Deputy Director of Education has been asked to hold charge as Director of Education on officiating basis. Prakash Volvotkar has been posted as director of Information Technology Department.

Govt effects transfers of officers
Truck breaks down at Karmalghat; poses threat to commuters
Navhind Times | 1 day ago
Navhind Times
1 day ago

Canacona: Stuck in the middle of the road at Karmalghat in Canacona on the NH66 highway is an interstate truck which was moving towards Hubli from Kundaim on Tuesday evening.The cleaner of the truck said that the vehicle developed a leak in the radiator pipe when it reached Karmalghat and hence it broke down on the highway.“Neither traffic police, nor the highway patrol has helped. The owner of the vehicle will come with spare parts from Hubli, and until then I will be warning motorists with a tree branch during the day”, he said.As the truck is stranded on the highway between two blind curves, a dangerous situation is created for motorists along this route.Under conditions of low visibility, this spot is prone to accidents andwith police not taking any interest in guiding the traffic; the cleaner is seen assisting the motorists to warn drivers of the danger ahead.Only branches of trees are put on the vehicle to warn vehicles of the imminent danger ahead.Accidents resulting in death of a person have been reported last year in Goa, due to theparking of a truck in a dangerous manner after it broke down on the highway in Pernem.

Truck breaks down at Karmalghat; poses threat to commuters
Roadside vending goes on brazenly in Canacona
Navhind Times | 3 days ago
Navhind Times
3 days ago

Locals say National Highway 66 has become an accident-prone zoneCanacona: After the rain lashed a few showers in Goa, roadside vendors have put up their makeshift stalls selling different items like varieties of tarpaulin, plastic ropes, shade nets, umbrellas, motorbike seat covers and other things by the roadside at Char-rasta along the Palolem-Agonda road, at the underbridge of Manohar Parrikar bypass and at most cross roads of the villages in Canacona.This four road junction at Char-rasta have witnessed many major and minor accidents, if not cleared by the municipality these encroachments might lead to a major accident which might be even tragic, said Anil Bhagat a local from Canacona.The NH66 an accident prone zone has now become more dangerous complained the locals living close to the highway. Commuters on seeing the vendors suddenly change their travelling direction and decide to stop to buy plastic sheets, shade nets, nylon ropes on the roadside. As this junction also has an underpass below, the NH66 an accident prone zone has now become more dangerous complained the locals.Irked over the loss of business due to the roadside vendors, local businessmen selling similar items are complaining of nil business and are upset over the injustice happening to their businesses.“Will the municipality allow us to put such stalls on the roadside sell such items?” questioned a shopkeeper from Chaudi.Other local traders who sell similar goods lamented saying that they pay all types of taxes and salaries to staff throughout the year and these vendors descend just before the monsoon season and rob them off their legitimate business.The police, municipalityand other authorities are quick enough to question the locals who do roadside business but these people are given a free hand complained Manoj Prabhugaonkar and opined that turning a blind eye and giving illegal business a free hand by the concerned authorities to roadside vendors is like neglecting and giving stepmotherly treatment to the locals by not protecting their business and destroying the local economy.

Roadside vending goes on brazenly in Canacona
Climate change raises need for quicker relief mechanisms
Times of India | 4 days ago
Times of India
4 days ago

Panaji: The trail of destruction left behind by Cyclone Tauktae this time last year can be grasped from the fact that in South Goa alone state aid has been disbursed to 594 claimants. Of these cases, two were deaths and an amount of Rs 86.4 lakh was provided in all to the 594 affected persons, South Goa collector Jyoti Kumari told TOI. The damage was much bigger and had to be altogether estimated at Rs 146 crore by chief minister Pramod Sawant. The North Goa collectorate is yet to compile relief amounts disbursed in the district. “No houses were rebuilt in South Goa. Five were repaired. But the government disbursed Rs 2 lakh assistance ex-gratia each for a pucca structure and Rs 1 lakh each for a kutcha house,” Kumari said. The affected largely carried out rebuilding work on their homes with government aid. As Cyclone Tauktae passed along Goa’s coast in mid-May of 2021, it left behind uprooted trees and electricity poles, cracked houses and opened roofs. But, more importantly, the natural calamity wreaked lives. Meteorologist M R Ramesh Kumar has estimated that with climate change we can expect more cyclones originating in the Arabian Sea rather than just the Bay of Bengal. Earlier, cyclone-related damage was mostly borne by the coastal communities on the east coast, but last year, stakeholders on the west coast also suffered. The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) provided over Rs 11 lakh in relief to 61 traditional fishermen living along the coast of Canacona, Mormugao, Bardez and Pernem, where Cyclone Tauktae wreaked havoc. The fishermen found their gill nets, beach huts and equipment in shambles. “Earlier, we could predict the direction of the winds, but over the years, as climate change takes place, it is difficult to tell what will hit us,” said a 45-year-old traditional fisherman from Morjim, Bhima Pednekar. The aid from the state in a record time of three weeks from the cyclone meant the world to those affected, like Pednekar. “The fisheries department has all our nets, canoes registered, but they asked for a long list of documents, including photos of the damage. This is our fate usually. I joined the occupation at the age of 15. For the first time, I saw aid come so quickly,” said Pednekar. A traditional fisherman from Cola, Canacona, said that rise in water levels is now seen frequently along the coast. “There is a lot of manmade damage along the coast and we often witness water levels rising much above the high tide line in the monsoon. I have applied for government aid several times before, too. But, last year, for the first time, I actually received the aid. As there is change in climate, a faster relief mechanism really helps people like us,” said the fisherman. Environment minister Nilesh Cabral said that he will ensure that his ministry is quick to extend similar support to all traditional communities living along the coast to cover any similar damages.

Climate change raises need for quicker relief mechanisms
Poinguinim locals bat for IIT project at Kulti
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Canacona: Chief minister Pramod Sawant’s recent hint of allotting a top educational institute to Canacona has reignited hopes that the IIT-Goa campus will be set up in the taluka. “We believe the government will certainly grant its nod to set up the IIT-Goa campus in Poinguinim as there is no opposition from any angle. Besides, it will be a win-win situation for the people at large,” Poinguinim comunidade ex-attorney Yogesh Prabhugaonkar said. According to sources, comunidade land measuring over 9.5 lakh sqm on an isolated plateau at Kulti in Poinguinim, near Muthal-Sadolxem village has been surveyed and examined by officials. After citizens strongly objected to the IIT project atop Bhagwati plateau in Loliem-Polem village, some people suggested a barren land on Kulti plateau in Poinguinim. However, no serious thought was given to this, nor was any attempt made to examine the available land. While nearly 14 lakhsqm was taken into consideration for setting up the IIT campus, Kulti plateau reportedly has over 9.5 lakh sqm in two different survey numbers, which can be provided for setting up of the IIT-Goa campus. According to sources, the then Poinguinim comunidade body had also offered to hand over the land to the government, anticipating employment generation to the villagers. The large tract of this particular comunidade land was once also proposed for an industrial estate during the tenure of ex-Poinguinim MLA Jagdish Acharya. However, the proposal died down due to non-support of the then and subsequent governments. When the agitations in Melauli were turning for the worse, ex-dy speaker and then Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes made fervent pleas to bring back IIT-Goa to Canacona, and had even proposed Kulti plateau, land in Shristhal (being offered by Shrishthal panchayat), another location in the municipal area, probably erstwhile Nagorcem-Palolem, and an isolated location in Agonda panchayat.

Poinguinim locals bat for IIT project at Kulti
Freedom fighter Nanda Gaitonde passes away at 95 in Pune
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Canacona: Veteran freedom fighter Shivanand ‘Nanda’ Gaitonde, 95, passed away on Thursday after a brief illness in Pune. He is survived by wife Prafulla. He was the brother of noted freedom fighter Dr Pundalik Gaitonde. Gaitonde, a metallurgist by profession, was a native of Palolem, Canacona, and played an active role in Goa’s Liberation movement. He was associated with the National Congress Goa and took part in the satyagraha in 1953-54. He was arrested in June 1954 and sentenced to eight years imprisonment. During this time, Gaitonde studied economics and philosophy. He was released in May 1959. Thereafter, he went to England and completed his higher education. CM Pramod Sawant said that Gaitonde’s contribution in Goa’s Liberation movement will be remembered and will continue to inspire generations. Sawant took to twitter to express his condolences to the freedom fighter’s family. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, in his condolence message, said that “Gaitonde’s contribution to Goa’s liberation movement will always be remembered.”

Freedom fighter Nanda Gaitonde passes away at 95 in Pune
Canacona chillies hit by unseasonal rainfall
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Canacona: Changed weather patterns and unseasonal rain has affected the harvest of Canacona chillies in the past three years. With less production and heavy demand for these chillies, their price has shot up by 30% to 40% and now cost Rs 900 to Rs 1,200 per kg. Five years ago, the price of chillies grown in Canacona ranged between Rs 400 and Rs 600 per kg. With the price going up, consumers have now been forced to opt for other varieties such as Kashmiri, Bedgi and Xempddam. Chilli farmers from Gaondongrim, Cotigao and Gulem said their crops have been destroyed by unseasonal rain, leading to a drop in harvest by 40% to 60%. Canacona zonal agriculture officer Kirtiraj Naik Gaunkar said besides the unseasonal rain, pest attacks also affected the crops. The officer said he has advised farmers to approach the department to seek compensation. The popular Khola chillies cultivated by Canacona farmers has been given Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This variety is unique owing to its brilliant red colour and medium-pungent taste. Chillies were first introduced by the Portuguese.

Canacona chillies hit by unseasonal rainfall
Govt plans to set up IIT campus in Poinguinim
Navhind Times | 2 weeks ago
Navhind Times
2 weeks ago

Special CorrespondentPanajiThe permanent campus of the Indian Institute of Technology-Goa may finally be located in Canacona taluka, with the government officials having completed the exercise to identify the location for the same atop the Kulti Plateau, in Poinguinim village, in the southernmost taluka of Goa.The secretary for education, along with the director for higher education Prasad Lolienkar and other top government officials have completed the inspection of the location.Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had last week hinted about allotting a land in Canacona to IIT-Goa.Earlier, the government had contemplated setting up the IIT-Goa campus on the Bhagwati plateau, in Loliem village, in Canacona taluka. However, the Citizens Committee of Loliem had taken objection to the decision, forcing the government to rethink on the location.In Survey No 131 on the Kulti Plateau, there exists more than 2 crore sq mts of land, while under Survey No 157 on this plateau there is more than 8 lakh sq mts of land. The Poinguinim Communidade has already taken a decision to allocate a piece of land on the Kulti Plateau, for the permanent campus of the IIT-Goa.Incidentally, the Konkan Railway route is close to the Kulti Plateau, as also there is a power sub-station nearby. The IIT-Goa requires around 8 lakh sq mts area for its permanent campus.Incidentally, few years ago representatives of the Poinguinim villages, bordering the Kulti Plateau had submitted a petition signed by over 400 villagers to the Canacona deputy collector seeking his intervention, for permanently closing down the pollution-causing ready mixed concrete and hot-mix batching plants on the eco-sensitive Kulti plateau.Meanwhile, an official of IIT-Goa informed this daily that the institute has knowledge about the government considering a land in Canacona taluka for the permanent campus.“We genuinely feel that this time, the government should finalise the land and hand it over for our permanent campus,” the official said, lamenting that for long, IIT-Goa has been functioning from a makeshift campus.

Govt plans to set up IIT campus in Poinguinim
Agonda-Palolem beach service road repairs start
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Canacona: After much delay, renovation of the Palolem service road from the Agonda-Palolem junction to Palolem beach point began on Thursday. “It is expected to be completed by the end of this week,” said public works department (PWD) assistant engineer Swapnil Desai. He said this stretch which is estimated to cost Rs 82.2 lakh will include repairs of potholes, rectification of the edges and a 30mm hot-mix. Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) chairperson, Mario Simon Rebello said that the tourism business in Palolem has been adversely affected as visitors would turn back seeing the state of the road. “Tourists would prefer other beaches because of the condition of the road,” Rebello added.

Agonda-Palolem beach service road repairs start
Cops suspect hubby in Gulem murder case
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Canacona: Investigation into the death of a woman whose body was found in a decomposed state in the bushes at Gulem, Canacona earlier this month has revealed that she was strangulated to death. Police suspect her husband to have committed the crime. The woman was found dead in the bushes behind government primary school at Gulem. Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Quepem, Santosh Desai said the woman is believed to have been strangulated by a dupatta. Desai said a team of police have been sent to Bihar to locate the woman’s husband.

Cops suspect hubby in Gulem murder case
Overhead tank collapses on Agonda house
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Canacona: Two families at Agonda had a lucky escape after an overhead tank of a nearby shack crashed onto their house following gusty winds on Tuesday night. The tank collapsed onto the house belonging to Yessu Narayan Pagi at Divanbhag, Agonda. A room and the roof tiles along with other items, including a television set, were destroyed. Both the families staying in the house were living in adjoining rooms. As the families are poor, talathi Rama Velip has issued them necessary forms to claim compensation for damages, which is roughly pegged at Rs 60,000. The lone fire tender at Canacona responded to numerous emergency calls since Monday night as incidents of several tree falls and damages to structures were reported. Trees had collapsed along the road at Karmalghat and Barcem, while the National Highway-66 which was blocked was later cleared by fire services personnel.

Overhead tank collapses on Agonda house
Falling trees bring down power lines, damage houses
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Canacona/Panaji: Canacona was among the many areas in the state to be badly hit by the thundershowers which were accompanied by strong wind, thunder and lightning. Trees and electricity lines came down, disrupting power supply to several areas. Pernem, Valpoi, Sanquelim, Bicholim, Varca, Benaulim, Curchorem, Canacona, Sanguem, Sanvordem, Dabal, parts of Navelim, and Vasco were among other areas affected. Over a dozen coconut trees were uprooted at Palolem beach, Ourem, Patnem, and the Agonda coast. Several electricity poles were brought down and a few houses damaged. Department staff worked overnight to resolve power-related issues and work continued till Tuesday afternoon. “Lines snapped after trees fell on them and it took time for restoration. Work started at night but, in areas where there is heavy vegetation, some work could be carried out only in the daylight due to safety reasons,” a department engineer said. There was no major damage to the department’s equipment but jumpers, electricity poles and lines were damaged and conductors snapped. “The overall network — all major lines — has been restored, but there may be stray cases of individual trees fallen disrupting power supply to a few consumers in some pockets. Power supply took time to be restored in areas where there is thick vegetation,” a department engineer said. At Nagorcem, a godown went up in flames. Timely action by the fire and emergency services averted a major catastrophe.

Falling trees bring down power lines, damage houses
Canacona highway work to cost Rs 27cr
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Canacona: The state government has taken up the much delayed hot-mixing of the highway from Gulem in Canacona to Cuncolim via Balli, a 23km stretch. The project is expected to cost Rs 27.7 crore. The work was inaugurated by assembly speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar along with Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa. The stretch was to get hot-mixed towards the end of the year but since the contractor failed to start the work, the road deteriorated. Congress had protested on several occasions at the PWD office, pointing to the condition of the road. PWD minister Nilesh Cabral then decided to blacklist the contractor and had announced a re-tendering process, followed by fresh work order, which was passed last week.

Canacona highway work to cost Rs 27cr
Congs Chetna Yatra rakes up differences
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Canacona: Congress’ Chetna Yatra, which was organised to strengthen and rejuvenate the party, saw differences come to the fore causing much embarrassment to the new state party president, Amit Patkar. Congress general secretary Janardhan Bhandari walked out of the meeting after seeing Mahadev Dessai, a former GPCC secretary who had revolted against the party and contested on a TMC ticket for the 2022 assembly elections. This left many of those present fuming. What was meant to be an effort to build the party at grassroots level, ended up raking major differences. Dessai said that he worked for Congress for the past 17 years, but was denied the party ticket at the last moment, which prompted him to contest on the TMC ticket. He said that he remains a strong Congress worker, adding that Patkar had invited him to the meet. Like me Bhandari too didn't fare well in the 2022 elections, Desai remarked. The anger was visible even on Sunday. In a sharp reaction to Dessai’s blaming Bhandari for his failure to win the Canacona seat, block president Pralay Bhagat termed the statement as unwarranted and uncalled for.

Congs Chetna Yatra rakes up differences
Healthcare, education is govts priority
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Poinguinim: The state government is focused on providing quality healthcare and educational facilities, speaker of the legislative assembly Ramesh Tawadkar said on Friday. He was speaking at the inauguration of the health mela at Community Health Centre, Canacona. Tawadkar said that the government has already succeeded in providing food, clothing and shelter to all the needy people, and now health and education facilities are the basic needs that need to be met. He called upon sarpanchs, panch members, councillors and anganwadi workers to devote more energy in bringing about awareness on human health and education in the community.

Healthcare, education is govts priority
Chapoli dam at over 50% capacity
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Canacona: The adequate monsoon last year has ensured that the Chapoli dam — the lifeline of Canconkars — has more than sufficient water to last the people of the taluka for another two months and beyond, assistant engineer from the Canacona irrigation department, Dananjay Nagvekar, said on Friday. At 666.9ham, the dam is at more than 50% of its capacity, which is 1,122.35ham, Nagvekar said. Last year, on this date, the reservoir level was at 33.3m and the dam storage read 635.27ham, he said. Allaying any fears of water shortage during the summer months, a department source said that the people of Canacona have nothing to worry about as there is enough water to last till the monsoons. Nagvekar said that the department supplies 8MLD per day for domestic consumption adding that by this standard the reservoir has ample water to meet the taluka’s needs. The department has also asked the public not to venture into the dam waters either for swimming or fishing. It has also been notified that anyone found violating these instructions will be liable for action.

Chapoli dam at over 50% capacity
Gulem body yet to be identified, say police
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Canacona: The Canacona police is trying all means to identify the decomposed body of an unidentified woman which was found on April 19, behind the government primary school at Gulem, Canacona, sub-divisional police officer, Quepem, Santosh Desai said. “Once the identification is done, we can go ahead with the investigation process,” he said. While reiterating that prima facie it is suspected to be a murder, he said “Since the body is unidentified, we are trying our best to identify it first so that the investigation process can start.” According to police reports, the body of a woman, aged between 35 to 40 years, was found lying in the bushes behind the government primary school at Gulem. Some villagers who saw the body said that it was fully decomposed. On being informed by locals, police recovered the body and sent it for an autopsy to Margao. Later, Desai, along with superintendent of police, railways, Sammy Tavares and Canacona police officer in-charge Deepak Pednekar visited the site.

Gulem body yet to be identified, say police
DHS’ health melas from today
Navhind Times | 1 month ago
Navhind Times
1 month ago

Staff ReporterPanajiWith an aim to promote ‘health for all’ movement, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) will organise Health Melas under `Azadi Ka Amrit Mahostav` from April 19 to April 22, 2022 at four block cities of the State.Health Melas will also coincide with the 4thanniversary of Ayushman Bharat – Health & Wellness Centre. The first block Health Mela will be held on April 19 at Primary Health Centre, Dharbandora from 9 am to 4 pm.On April 20, 2022, it will be held for Bicholim Block at Community Health Centre, Sankhali, which will commence at 9 am and continue till 4 pm.At Pernem block, the Health Mela will be conducted on April 21 at Deendayal Hall, Tuem from 9 am to 4 pm.Similarly, on April 22, 2022, Health Mela will be organised for Canacona Block at Community Health Centre, Canacona.The Health Melas are aimed to achieve various objectives of facilitating people to avail the benefits of different health schemes and creating awareness about prevention of non-communicable and communicablediseases.The DHS will provide screening for early diagnosis, basic health care services with drugs and diagnostics, teleconsultation with relevant health specialists and referralsas needed.Directorate of Health Services will provide various OPDs for the general public at all the venues of Health Melas such as general, obstetrics and gynaecology, medicine, surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, orthopedics, skin, pediatric, dental, AYUSH/Homeopathy, and blooddonation camps.Wellness activities like yoga and meditation will also be conducted at Health Melas. Besides, the Directorate of Food and Drugs Administration will create awareness regarding the `EatRight Campaign`.Meanwhile, Dr. Sneha Amonkar of Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC) said that citizens with and without medical issues have to take benefit of the medical check-up as along with the general OPD, ENT doctor, dermatologist, orthopedic, paediatrician, dentist, ayurvedic doctor will be present and the diabetes, hypertension and anaemia detection will also be held.

DHS’ health melas from today
Peddem culvert on verge of collapse, repair immediately: Locals
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Canacona: Locals in Peddem in Canacona, have urged authorities to take up urgent repairs of a culvert opposite the railway station. The culvert is on a verge of collapse as the base of iron rods has worn out, locals said. The culvert provides connectivity to Loliem-Polem and if it gives away, the villagers will have to take a longer route. Former sarpanch Ajay Lolyekar said that after the panchayat wrote to the authority concerned highlighting the issue, assistant engineer Swapnil Phadte along with junior engineers had inspected the culvert. However, there was no follow up, he said. Sarpanch Sachin Naik said the assistant engineer has assured to renovate the culvert on priority along with two other culverts.

Peddem culvert on verge of collapse, repair immediately: Locals
Two Canacona families get Rs 1 lakh aid to build houses
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Canacona: After laying foundation stones to construct two houses in Cotigao and Gaondongrim, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the people of Canacona will get all possible government assistance with the support of Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar. Sawant said the two needy families of late Somnath Mirashi Of Ziltawadi, Gaondongrim and Kamlakar Gaonkar of Baddem in Cotigao will be given Rs 1 lakh each from the chief minister’s fund to construct their houses. The right to live is a basic right of every individual, wherein they should have electricity, water and two meals in a day. More importantly it is imperative that their children should study and this is our aim and concern, Sawant said. The chief minister said that even if there are 20 or more houses, each of these houses will get Rs 1 lakh from the CM Relief Fund. Sawant also laid the foundation stone for the construction of Shri Mallikarjun Vidyalaya, at Char-Rasta in Canacona.

Two Canacona families get Rs 1 lakh aid to build houses
Cong presses for resolving NH woes
Navhind Times | 1 month ago
Navhind Times
1 month ago

Staff ReporterCanaconaGeneral secretary of Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Janardhan S. Bhandari and others, who are working together under ‘Mission Progressive Canacona’, have submitted a memorandum consisting 15 demands to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and other authorities including the chief engineer for quality control zone of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, chairman for National Highways Authority of Goa (NHAI), South Goa Collector, principal chief engineer of PWD and others bringing to their attention the pathetic condition of the Margao-Polem highway.Bhandari, through the memorandum, has demanded checking of road feasibility, immediate hot-mix carpeting of old and new NH 66 (Margao to Canacona, Canacona to Pollem and Manohar Parrikar Bypass Road), installation of speed breakers, implementation of speed limit, displaying traffic signages, repairing of roadside shoulders, clearing trees from along the highway that are posing a threat to traffic, immediate installation of weighing machines to control evasion of taxes and to save government revenue, availability of heavy crane to clear accident spots, checking fitness of old bridges, provision of concrete drainage system, functioning of street lights from Margao to Polem, demand for a parking hub for heavy vehicles, blacklisting of erring PWD contractors and action on PWD engineers for misuse of power.Bhandari has also appealed to the Union and state ministers and all government authorities to take into consideration the plight of the common people especially from Canacona and try to resolve all problems related to the Margao-Polem Highway at the earliest by fulfilling all the 15 demands on a prioritybasis.

Cong presses for resolving NH woes
Take up repairs of Margao to Polem road
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Margao: Janardhan Bhandari, general secretary, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday submitted a memorandum to Union minister for road transport and highway Nitin Gadkari, chief minister Pramod Sawant, PWD minister Nilesh Cabral, opposition leader Michael Lobo, and other authorities bringing to their attention the “pathetic” condition of the Margao-Polem highway. Bhandari, through the memorandum, has placed 15 demands to make the Margao-Canacona highway smooth for traffic. The memorandum demands for checking of road feasibility, immediate hot-mixing of old and new NH 66 (Margao to Canacona, Canacona to Polem and Manohar Parrikar bypass road), installation of speed breakers, implementation of speed limit, displaying of traffic signages, repair of roadside shoulders, clearing trees on the highways, ensuring functioning of street lights from Margao to Polem, parking hub for heavy vehicles, among others.

Take up repairs of Margao to Polem road
Villages should be developed, not just cities, says governor
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Canacona: People are supreme in democracy, and the real life of people is witnessed in the villages, said governor P S Sreedharan PillaiHe was speaking during his visit to Canacona taluka along with first lady Reetha Pillai on Thursday as part of the ‘Sampurna Goa Yatra’. During his visit at Shristhal, the governor disbursed financial assistance of Rs 25,000 each to 15 dialysis patients of Canacona taluka. Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar accompanied the governor during his day-long visit. The governor said that one can see the hard work, commitment to the society and enthusiasm in villages. “Mahatma Gandhiji said self-reliant villages will make India a fully developed country. Villages should also be developed, and not just cities,” he said. “We are trying to make Raj Bhavan people-oriented. Goa is a beautiful gift on earth and the temples, churches and mosques in this state are also a gift of fine architecture and cultural tradition. Whenever I visit temples and churches - unity and diversity among the people is felt by everyone. People from different religions maintain good relations in Goa, which is their unique identity,” the governor said. Pillai assured local elected representatives full assistance in their future endeavours after the sarpanchs of various panchayats presented a brief report of the development activities in their areas. Earlier in the day, the governor and first lady also visited Shree Mallikarjun Temple at Shristhal and invoked the blessings of the deity. Pillai was received by Tawadkar and president of Shree Mallikarjun Temple, Rajendra Desai and Vithoba Desai. Later in the evening, Pillai also visited Shree Parshuram Temple at Poinguinim and offered prayers to the deity.

Villages should be developed, not just cities, says governor
Goa’s cultural identity kept alive in villages: Governor
Navhind Times | 1 month ago
Navhind Times
1 month ago

Canacona: Governor P. S. Sreedharan Pillai and First Lady Rita Sreedharan along with their grandson visited the Shree Mallikarjun Temple at Shristal in Canacona and sought blessings of the temple deity.Accompanied by the Speaker of Goa legislative assembly and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar, the temple committee briefed the Governor and other dignitaries about the history of the temple.The Governor said that Goa’s true identity and culture is alive in the rural areas. The handicrafts at the Shri Mallikarjun Temple at Shristhal are captivating, he said.Later at a programme held at Shristhal panchayat hall, cheques were handed over to 15 patients undergoing dialysis by the Governor. Secretary to the Governor Mihir Vardhan, Additional Collector Surendra Naik, deputy collector Uday Prabhudesai, Zilla Parishad member Shanu Velip, sarpanch Dhillon Naik, sarpanch of Khola Purna Nayak, sarpanch of Agonda Barsat Naik Gaonkar, panch Devendra Naik, Vidya Naik, Ganesh Gaonkar, Rajesh Velip and others were also present.Later during the visit, the Canacona Congress block committee submitted a memorandum on Canacona highways and requested the Governor to look into the issue of bad condition of the highway in Canacona.

Goa’s cultural identity kept alive in villages: Governor
Cong holds protest over delayed Canacona road
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Panaji: Congress workers on Tuesday gheraoed PWD chief engineer Dinesh Gupta demanding that the Margao-Canacona highway contractor be blacklisted for not starting work despite the order being issued in October 2021. Canacona locals and party workers led by Congress general secretary Janardhan Bhandari demanded that the road be hotmixed without further delay. Bhandari said that the department’s response to their demands so far has been poor and that is what compelled them to come to Panaji to place their demands before the chief engineer. “We have met all the PWD officers concerned. None told us when the work will be completed,” he said. He demanded that all pending road works on NH 66 be taken up without further delay. Accidents on the Margao-Canacona road, Bhandari said, have become a daily feature. “We want PWD to declare the Margao-Canacona road unsafe for motorists.”

Cong holds protest over delayed Canacona road
  • Congress stages protest over Canacona-Margao NH works

    • Navhind Times

    Staff ReporterPanajiCongress party workers along with people of Canacona on Tuesday ‘slept’ on the floor in the cabin of the office of Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department, in protest against the dilapidated condition of Canacona-Margao highway stretch.Congress workers mostly from Canacona led by GPCC general secretary Janardhan Bhandari gheraoed the chief engineer D. C. Gupta (National Highway Goa) and questioned as to why his department has failed to complete the work of Margao-Canacona highway.The department had reportedly issued the work order to a contractor in October 2021, but the work has not commenced till date.Bhandari demanded that all pending works of National Highway-66, including of the newly-built Manohar Parrikar Canacona bypass be started at the earliest and also asked the chief engineer to blacklist the contractor who was awarded the said work.According to Bhandari, commuters particularly those travelling from Canacona to Margao and Canacona to Verna for work are facing hardships due to the bad condition of the highway.The Congress workers rolled out mats on the floor in the chief engineer’s office cabin, and slept. They even peeled vegetables including potatoes and onions which they carried, with intent to cook food and stay overnight to get their demands fulfilled.The chief engineer then reportedly assured the Congress workers that he will look into the matter.and consider all their demands, and moved out from hiscabin.

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