Pramod Sawant News

State likely to get culinary institute: CM
Times of India | 11 minutes ago
Times of India
11 minutes ago

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday held a meeting with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and discussed the body’s proposal of establishing a Regional Indian Culinary Institute in Goa. Sawant expressed his support for the project in Goa and said that any tourism department building or a closed school building will be identified to run the institute from. The CM said CII could renovate such a structure and start the Institute after completing the required formalities. Sougata Roy Choudhury, senior director at CII, briefed the CM about the proposal. He said that the Regional Culinary Institute is planned in Goa by CII in partnership with Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne of Switzerland. This will be in addition to the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Swiss Professional Diploma program being launched with IHCL (Taj Luxury Hotel properties). He said the various regional cuisines in India have a rich heritage and potential and there is a need to create this “lighthouse for regional Indian cuisines”. The CII said this will enable locals to acquire the much required knowledge and equip them for job placements in India and abroad. Roy Choudhury said this institute will train local youth to match world-class standards in the hospitality industry, including hotels, airlines, cruise-lines, catering and travel industry.

State likely to get culinary institute: CM
Helicopter service takes off in Aguada
Times of India | 1 hour ago
Times of India
1 hour ago

Panaji: The state’s plans for heli tourism that were grounded since 2016 following protests by Sinquerim locals, took off on Friday after a private agency, Blade India, an urban air mobility company, launched the state’s first helicopter service from the helipad at Aguada. The Blade India announced three rides — connecting airport to South and North Goa, charter service from Maharashtra and within Goa and a 10-minute experiential flights giving a bird’s eye view of the state’s coastline. Five years ago, the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) had to discontinue the project after local fishing community and villagers, supported by some local politicians, raised objections to the use of the same helipad. The GTDC tried to operate the service by moving it to South Goa, but it had to be discontinued for logistic reasons. Chief minister Pramod Sawant who launched the service exuded confidence that there won’t be “opposition” now and appreciated Blade India for taking the risk. “There was an opposition, then but I don’t think people will oppose these kind of services, now,” Sawant said replying to a query. Last year, the GTDC had commissioned a helipad at Old Goa and declared that it will re-launch the helicopter service. Sawant said that it could not start since permission from CRZ authority is awaited. In the past, the project was delayed as GTDC had to finalise a location for a helipad and later since it had to retender to select a service provider. Having a helicopter service in Goa, Sawant said, will boost tourism and help the tourists explore the hinterlands of the state. “The government will help the agency in getting permissions required to commence operations,” Sawant said. Blade India has identified landing points in Surla and Sanquelim in North Goa. The company’s founder Karanpal Singh said they will use the present infrastructure and also create new helipads with the help of the government. Blade India’s strategic partner Airbus Helicopters’ India and South Asia head Sunny Guglani said despite having rich flora and fauna, the country has not been able to attract more tourists as it is hard to reach the interiors. “We need solutions to connect potential tourists both foreign and Indian and create economic opportunities. Goa has beautiful beaches, forts and waterfalls. I think helicopters can play a pivotal role in unlocking the true potential of Goa,” he said. Goa can lead the way for the rest of the country, Gunglani said. Copter service can be used for medical emergencies: CM TNN Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said Blade India’s helicopter services in the state can be used in case of medical emergencies, an option that was not available in the past. “In a medical emergency, where a patient needs to be immediately shifted to a hospital, wherever needed, the helicopter service can be availed. Sometimes, it takes two hours to transport a patient to a medical facility via road,” Sawant said. Goans and other travellers, he said, will also have the option of choosing helicopter service to visit nearby cities in Maharashtra or Karnataka, and help increase connectivity and also promote medical tourism. The chief minister said people from other neighbouring cities of Maharashtra and Karnataka will certainly use the helicopter services.

Helicopter service takes off in Aguada
Will protect mining workers interest: CM
Times of India | 1 day ago
Times of India
1 day ago

Bicholim: Following a demand by mining union workers to know their fate after June 6 when the government will take over lease areas, chief minister Pramod Sawant assured to protect their interest. Sawant was responding to a delegation that met him at the Sanquelim Ravindra Bhavan and submitted a memorandum calling upon the government to take care of workers’ interests. The workers demanded that existing workers get the opportunity to work even after the leases are handed over to a third party. They also said that they should continue to get salaries and those without salaries should be aided through the workers' security fund. “The government should extend full cooperation towards the education of workers’ children, and workers should get employment at the same place after the corporation is formed,” they said.

Will protect mining workers interest: CM
BJP and Revolutionary Goans fight for credit over Goa Shipyard Ltd ‘jobs to locals’
Times of India | 1 day ago
Times of India
1 day ago

Vasco: Revolutionary Goans (RG) and BJP are engaged claiming credit for getting locals employment at the Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL). Even as RG said that GSL has assured them of giving jobs to Goans, Vasco BJP MLA Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar and BJP functionaries stated that it was their efforts that played a major role in highlighting the employment issue. On Wednesday, RG’s Tukaram ‘Manoj’ Parab and St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar met the management of GSL to discuss the matter of employment opportunities for Goans. Parab and Borkar said that the shipyard’s management has assured them to give priority to recruiting Goans. They said that, according to available information, over 600 jobs had opened up at GSL, but only 30% Goans were employed. In other central government shipyards in other states, local people with knowledge of the local language are given preference during recruitment, but at GSL this is not happening, RG said. Parab and Borkar also stressed on the need for imparting training in technical skill to Goan youth. Meanwhile, the Vasco MLA posted on his official social media page: “Grateful to chief minister Goa Pramod P Sawant for calling this meeting on our request with T N Sudhakar CMD (addl charge) and HR head Goa Shipyard Ltd to address long-pending issues pertaining to local employment.”

BJP and Revolutionary Goans fight for credit over Goa Shipyard Ltd ‘jobs to locals’
CM: Will remove laws that create hurdles for biz, in ease of living
Times of India | 1 day ago
Times of India
1 day ago

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that laws that create hurdles in ease of doing business and ease of living will be eliminated during the monsoon session of the state legislative assembly. The law department is already in the process of identifying the laws which need to be eliminated, he said. Sawant launched the Goa Mission Karmayogi to prepare government employees for the future and to bring reforms in bureaucracy. He said that big reforms will be introduced for ease of doing business and ease of living. The capacity building commission of the government of India had organised a half-day workshop for IAS officers and heads of departments. The chief minister said that training for government employees will continue. Sawant said that reforms will be done for the industries sector, forest sector and revenue sector among others so that people can benefit from ease of living. “In the next assembly session, the government will bring in a lot of reforms. Many laws that are creating hurdles and those which are not required will be eliminated,” he said. Chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel said that all employees will be given training to implement ease of doing business and ease of living so that public delivery will be improved. Goel said that the government will see where there is delay and how it can be improved. “Public work which has to be completed in seven days should not take two months,” the chief secretary said. He said that government employees will be trained to provide online services to the public. “We have to reduce paperwork and through IT we have to improve public delivery. It is a duty of each and every government employee for public delivery and unless training is given in proper tools public delivery cannot be improved,” Goel said.

CM: Will remove laws that create hurdles for biz, in ease of living
Goa govt to seek time from state election commission to ready OBC quota for panchayat polls
Times of India | 1 day ago
Times of India
1 day ago

Panaji: Panchayat elections in the state are likely to be delayed as the state government on Thursday decided to seek some time from the state election commission (SEC) to obtain a detailed report from the OBC commission on OBC reservation. The tenure of the present panchayats ends on June 19. After receiving the advocate general’s opinion on OBC reservation for panchayat elections, chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the state government will write to the SEC seeking time so that the OBC commission can prepare a report on reservations for OBCs. He said that if the SEC agrees, then the panchayat elections will have to be postponed. “As per the Supreme Court verdict and advocate general’s opinion, if we have to hold panchayat elections at this point then we will have to do it without OBC reservation. We do not want to hold it in that manner. We want to give reservation to OBC as there is 27% OBC population in the state.” “We will refer the file to the OBC commission to give us a detailed report and that report will be sent to the SEC and thereafter the SEC will take a decision on the date,” Sawant said.

Goa govt to seek time from state election commission to ready OBC quota for panchayat polls
Govt will requisition pumps from mining firms to dewater pits: Goa CM
Times of India | 1 day ago
Times of India
1 day ago

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said the state government will requisition water pumps from mining companies to drain water from mining pits during the monsoon in order to prevent any mishaps. He was speaking after meeting with the chief secretary, the directorate of mines and the disaster management authority to discuss safety measures that need to be taken up at mining pits. “If mining companies are not ready to take safety measures at mining leases during the monsoon, the water resources department and public works department will take over and manage the matter,” Sawant said. The chief minister said that after the state ordered mining companies to vacate their leases before June 6, they had begun removing water pumps from the mining pits. “We have, however, told them not to remove the pumps that are utilised for dewatering the pits,” he said. Sawant had on Tuesday said new pumps would be installed, pipes would be laid and electricity would be provided to dewater mining pits during the fast-approaching monsoon. On May 4, the state government had initiated the process to take over 88 mining leases from lessees whose second renewal was quashed by the Supreme Court in February 2018. The directorate of mines and geology had issued notices to all 88 mining companies to vacate the leases within a month. On April 20, chief minister Pramod Sawant had held a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah over the mining issue and a decision was taken to auction the 88 mining leases.

Govt will requisition pumps from mining firms to dewater pits: Goa CM
IIT-Madras to study potholes on Atal Setu
Navhind Times | 2 days ago
Navhind Times
2 days ago

New machine may be used to fill up potholes in GoaPanaji: Minister for Public Works Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday said the government has asked IIT-Madras to find out the reasons for recurrence of potholes on the Atal Setu bridge that passes over the Mandovi.Speaking to media persons after a cabinet meeting, Cabral said that IIT-Madras will carry out a study on potholes on Atal Setu and submit a report to the government.He also said that his department will try to introduce a new machine which can fill up potholes even during the monsoon.Cabral assured making roads 100% pothole-free by the next monsoon.“We are trying to get a machine which can fill up potholes even during the monsoon. I assure you that there won’t be potholes by the next monsoon,” he said, disclosing that the PWD has started filling up the potholes on the roads across the state.“It is not possible to make roads pothole-free before this monsoon. But we will try to reduce their number substantially,” Cabral promised.The Minister said the department will ensure that roads are maintained to be commuter-friendly, adding that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has issued directions to the department to ensure that the roads are in good condition especially during the monsoon.

IIT-Madras to study potholes on Atal Setu
Mining co moves HC over govt order to vacate leases
Times of India | 2 days ago
Times of India
2 days ago

Panaji: A mining company has approached the high court challenging the order issued by the state government asking mining companies to vacate 88 mining leases before June 6. Advocate general Devidas Pangam told TOI that the matter is likely to come up for hearing on Wednesday. The state government on May 4 initiated the process to take over 88 mining leases from lessees whose second renewal was quashed by the Supreme Court in February 2018. The directorate of mines and geology had issued notices to mining companies to vacate the leases within a month. TOI was the first to report that 88 mining leases would be included in the list of leases to be auctioned. On April 20, chief minister Pramod Sawant had a meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah over resumption of mining and a decision was taken to auction the leases. “The state government directs leaseholders whose leases were quashed by the Supreme Court to comply with the provisions of Rule 12(1) (hh) of the Minerals (other than Atomic and Hydrocarbons Energy Minerals) Concessions Rules, 2016 within a month from May 6 to June 6, 2022, failing which further action will be initiated as deemed appropriate in terms of the MMDR Act and the Rules made there under,” director of mines Vivek H P had said in the notices to leaseholders. The department had said that the apex court in 2018, while quashing the second renewals, granted a period of six months to all lessees to carry out transportation of minerals. The department had made it clear that the Supreme Court in 2020 had granted time up to the end of January 2021 for the removal of minerals excavated/mined on or before March 15, 2018, subject to the payment of royalties and other charges.

Mining co moves HC over govt order to vacate leases
Defer panchayat polls by 4 months: Lobo
Navhind Times | 3 days ago
Navhind Times
3 days ago

Complete the ward reservation process for Other Backward Classes, he demandsPanaji: Leader of Opposition Michael Lobo on Tuesday demanded the government to defer the panchayat polls by four months and to complete the reservation of wards for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) as per the Supreme Court’s ‘triple test’ order.He said that the government cannot deprive the OBCs of their rights to contest the elections.“The OBC commission is defunct in Goa and there is a need to revive it; injustice should not be done to any category of the OBCs. Reservation is their right, and for this, the election ought to be postponed. We, as the Congress Legislature Party, demand that this election be postponed for a period of four months,” Lobo said.Addressing a press conference at the State Legislative Complex in Porvorim, the Leader of the Opposition said that the government should consider appointing an administrator for every village panchayat, which is facing election, as there is no provision to give extension to the outgoing panchayat body.“The administrator can take forward the day-to-day affairs of the panchayat,” he noted.Quoting a paragraph from the top court’s pan-India judgment that mandates triple test exercise for reservation of wards for OBCs, Lobo pointed out that the election programme has not been issued by the State Election Commission and claimed that if it is not notified then the elections can be postponed. If need arises, the government by law can issue an ordinance to postpone the panchayat polls, he maintained.“We are demanding elections in October by following all directions of the apex court,” Lobo stated.He said that the Congress party will write to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the State Election Commission with a request to defer the polls. Meanwhile, Lobo alleged that in one of the wards of the village panchayat of Reis Magos delimitation has been carried out based on “religion” and not based on natural boundary or geographical continuity criteria.“Action should be initiated against the BLO and other concerned officials. People from one particular community have been placed in that ward. You cannot divide wards based on religion; the SEC ought to rectify it and re-do the process in a free and fair manner,” he said.

Defer panchayat polls by 4 months: Lobo
Reserve 30% jobs at GSL, for locals, says Salkar
Times of India | 3 days ago
Times of India
3 days ago

Vasco: BJP’s Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar said 30% of jobs at Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL) and other central agencies located in the state should be reserved for locals. A joint meeting between chief minister Pramod Sawant and GSL is likely to be held in this regard next week, Salkar said at a recent function in the port town. The Vasco MLA said that though GSL is based in Vasco, locals are unable to get recruited for jobs advertised in the organisation. “If locals are not considered for the jobs, they will protest,” he warned. Meanwhile, transport minister Mauvin Godinho assured people that he would take up the issue with the defence ministry, so that Goans get preference for jobs at GSL.

Reserve 30% jobs at GSL, for locals, says Salkar
Will consult AG & fix panchayat poll date: Mauvin Godinho
Times of India | 4 days ago
Times of India
4 days ago

Panaji: Panchayats minister Mauvin Godinho on Monday said that the final date of the panchayat polls will be decided after seeking the advocate general’s legal opinion over the Supreme Court’s judgment on reservation. Godinho said that elections may be held after the terms of the panchayats expire on June 19 and within six months from the expiry of term.“Elections may be held after the monsoon, but a decision will be taken based on legal opinion,” he said. The state government wants to hold panchayat elections as soon as possible, the minister said. “We don’t want to postpone panchayat elections, but there is a Supreme Court judgment. If we take a decision to hold panchayat elections in the present form, then someone will go to court and point out that the state has not followed the SC judgment and they will stop the elections. It is better that we do our homework properly, take a proper legal opinion and arrive at a decision,” Godinho said. He held meeting with chief minister Pramod Sawant over the issue of announcement of a date for the panchayat elections. Godinho also said that he has received the reservation file from the Election Commission. The panchayats minister said that on May 10, the Supreme Court said that either the OBC reservations be carried out as per the data obtained from the OBC commission or else there should be no reservation in the category for the polls. He said that the OBC commission should do their job quickly to identify the OBC wards in villages. “There after Goa State Election Commission in consultation with the state government can declare the election. Now it is a situation where we have to take a legal opinion from the advocate general over the issue. We don’t want to postpone the election,” he said. Godinho said that as per the SC judgment on the expiry of the terms of the panchayats or if the administrator has to be appointed in such circumstance the period between holding of next election thereafter should not be beyond six months from the expiry of term.

Will consult AG & fix panchayat poll date: Mauvin Godinho
Training for handicraft artisans soon
Times of India | 4 days ago
Times of India
4 days ago

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday directed the Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small-Scale Industries Development Corporation to conduct training programmes for local artisans and discussed solutions to make the corporation profitable. Sawant reviewed the schemes and activities conducted by the corporation. Sawant chaired a meeting with the chairman of the corporation, Pravin Arlekar, and officials. tnn

Training for handicraft artisans soon
Khariwada jetty will be upgraded in 2 years: Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar
Times of India | 4 days ago
Times of India
4 days ago

VASCO: Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar said he will get the Khariwada jetty upgraded in the next two years. He added that he will take up the issue with chief minister Pramod Sawant and fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar as the repairs of the jetty, which has been in shambles, needs to be done without any delay. All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association had asked the Vasco MLA to check the condition of the jetty for himself. “With the jetty being in a bad shape, fishermen face difficulties in loading and unloading stock. It has also become difficult to anchor boats smoothly,” a trawler owner said. President of the All Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association, Jose Philip D’Souza, who accompanied Salkar, said the jetty has been in use for around 50 years though it was a temporary arrangement. “Earlier boats were small and fewer. The jetty has been inadequate to handle the increased number of boats,” D’Souza said.

Khariwada jetty will be upgraded in 2 years: Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar
Goa will be known for spiritual tourism: CM Pramod Sawant
Times of India | 4 days ago
Times of India
4 days ago

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said that Goa, “which till now is known for sun, sand, and sea tourism, will soon also be known for spiritual and cultural tourism.” The chief minister said that for the past several years, religious institutions have create awareness about dev (god), dharma (religion) and desh (nation). Padma Shri Sadguru Brahmeshanand Acharya swami said that he will support the government to rebuild temples. “We call ourselves Hindus. We never attack or trouble anyone, whereas Hindus are attacked and converted. Temples are demolished. If we try to rebuild or restore our temples then we are blamed,” the swami said. Sawant in an exclusive interview to TOI had said Goa being a touristic state, the state government wants to develop it as the tourism capital of India. In his budget speech, Sawant has made a provision of Rs 20 crore for reconstruction and restoration of temples and heritage sites destroyed during the Portuguese era. Sawant had said that the state government will develop a spiritual tourism circuit that will enable tourists to visit temples and churches in villages.

Goa will be known for spiritual tourism: CM Pramod Sawant
Community Health Centre Sankhali gets NQAS certification
Navhind Times | 4 days ago
Navhind Times
4 days ago

Staff ReporterSankhaliThe Community Health Center (CHC) Sankhali has secured the prestigious National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification as the best hospital in Goa both in the private and government sector. The hospital achieved a score of 87% in assessment based on quality of services provided to the public.Chief Minister Pramod Sawant congratulated the Health Officer Dr. Uttam Desai and his team for this achievement. Sawant said that it is a proud moment for Sankhali that the hospital has given good service to patients and also maintained all parameters in achieving the best hospitalaward.Health officer Dr. Uttam Desai said that it is the efforts of all staff of the hospital who have contributed in achieving this certification.Dr. Uttam saidthatCHC Sankhali was assessed for NQAS certification on March 28 and 29. He said that all 9 departments of the hospital applied got certified with an overall score of 87.7%. He said that it is the first government health facility to be certified in Goa. The certification is valid for three years.The Community Health Centre will get financial incentives for upliftmentof the hospital as well as for use of the NQAS logo(quality).

Community Health Centre Sankhali gets NQAS certification
Goa CM Pramod Sawant meets Tata chief, discusses investment
Times of India | 5 days ago
Times of India
5 days ago

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that collaboration and investment by industry conglomerates like Tata Sons will offer great opportunities for Goa. Sawant on Saturday met Tata Sons group chairman N Chandrasekaran, Noel Tata and other CEOs, to boost investment in Goa. Industries minister Mauvin Godinho and chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel were also present at the meeting. Goa Small Industries Association (GSIA) played a key role in arranging this meeting, with a clear agenda of inviting the mother industry to boost MSME growth, Sawant said. The chief minister said that opportunities in all sectors like IT, aviation manufacturing, retail, hospitality, training centres for hospitality, and soft skills were discussed at the meeting. “Goa possesses immense potential in industry development and employment generation,” Sawant said. The CMO said that Chandrasekaran promised to immediately plan an internal meeting with their top CEOs to promote new businesses in Goa. Jobs in retail, IT, hospitality discussedSawant said opportunities in sectors like IT, aviation manufacturing, retail, hospitality, training centres for hospitality, and soft skills were discussed. “Goa possesses immense potential in industry development and employment generation,” Sawant said. The CMO said Chandrasekaran promised to immediately plan an internal meeting with their top CEOs to promote new businesses in Goa.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant meets Tata chief, discusses investment
  • Goa CM meets Tata chief, discusses investment in state

    • Times of India

    PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said that collaboration and investment by industry conglomerates like Tata Sons will offer great opportunities for Goa. Sawant on Saturday met Tata Sons group chairman N Chandrasekaran, Noel Tata and other CEOs, to boost investment in Goa. Industries minister Mauvin Godinho and chief secretary Puneet Kumar Goel were also present at the meeting. Goa Small Industries Association (GSIA) played a key role in arranging this meeting, with a clear agenda of inviting the mother industry to boost MSME growth, Sawant said. The chief minister said that opportunities in all sectors like IT, aviation manufacturing, retail, hospitality, training centres for hospitality, and soft skills were discussed at the meeting. “Goa possesses immense potential in industry development and employment generation,” Sawant said. The CMO said that Chandrasekaran promised to immediately plan an internal meeting with their top CEOs to promote new businesses in Goa.

Sawant, Godinho interact with top brass of Tata Sons Group
Navhind Times | 6 days ago
Navhind Times
6 days ago

Staff ReporterPanajiIn order to align the state with the entire nation in terms of development, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho along with Chief Secretary Puneet Kumar Goel interacted with the chairman of Tata Sons Group, N. Chandrasekharan, Noel Tata and other top CEOs to boost investment in Goa.Goa State Industries Association played a key role in arranging the crucial meeting with a clear agenda of inviting the mother industry to boost MSME growth, a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday stated.It further said that opportunities in all the sectors likeIT, aviation, manufacturing,retail, hospitality, training centres for hospitality and soft skills were discussed.Chairman of Tata Sons Group was impressed by earnestness of Chief Minister and Industries Minister’s holistic approach towards employment generation and promised to immediately plan an internal meeting with their top CEOs to promote new generation businesses for Goa, adds the releases.Stating that Goa possesses immense potential in industry development and employment generation, the Chief Minister Sawant expressed that the collaboration and investment by industry conglomerates like Tata Sons shall offer great opportunities for Goa, mentions the release.

Sawant, Godinho interact with top brass of Tata Sons Group
Dilapidated Khariwada jetty awaits better days
Navhind Times | 6 days ago
Navhind Times
6 days ago

Staff ReporterVascoVasco MLA Krishna Salkar had a joint inspection of the dilapidated Khariwada fishing jetty along with former minister and Goa Boat Owners Association president Jose Philip D’Souza. D’Souza said that the boat owners are facing a very difficult situation at the jetty while Salkar assured to take up the issues with Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and the Fisheries MinisterSalkar said, “The situation of the jetty is in a poor state. The local fishermen requested us to come and see the jetty and experience what they are facing. Their boats are getting damaged and their fish sometimes gets spoilt as they have to wait for a long time in sea. We have noted all the points and will be discussing the matter with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and try to work outa solution.”The Vasco ex-MLA Jose Philip D’Souza said, “It is not possible to stand outside and understand the problem. Everywhere in Goa we have a proper jetty and only in Vasco we don’t have a jetty with all facilities. Our jetty is more than 50 years old. It can have 12 long boats at one time. Earlier we had small wooden boats but things have changed now since ships have become bigger and the space isnot enough.”

Dilapidated Khariwada jetty awaits better days
Cuncolim freedom fighter Gopal Chitari no more
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Margao: Freedom fighter Gopal Narayan Chitari, a resident of Cuncolim, passed away Friday morning. He was 87. The final rites were performed Friday evening. Chitari had participated in Goa’s freedom movement. A teacher by profession, Chitari was the recipient of the President's Award. In a conversation with TOI ahead of Goa’s liberation Day in December 2021, Chitari had expressed his disappointment over the state of affairs of Goa’s politics. “This isn’t the freedom we gave our blood and tears for,” he had said. “I sometimes wonder if we have really achieved freedom in the real sense of the term.” Commenting on political defections with scant regard to political ideologies, Chitari had said: “Democracy has been reduced to a mockery, as it’s difficult to identify who belongs to the ruling dispensation and who is from the opposition side.” Chief minister Pramod Sawant in his condolence message said that Chitari’s “immense contribution in Goa's Liberation struggle will always be remembered.” Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao said Chitari’s passing was “a huge loss to the historical village of Cuncolim.” “People of Cuncolim will miss his valuable advice and guidance,” Alemao said. Margao MLA Digambar Kamat also expressed his sorrow over Chitari’s death.

Cuncolim freedom fighter Gopal Chitari no more
CM Pramod Sawant eyes garbage-free Goa
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said Goa will be the only state in India to have facilities to treat various types of waste, including construction waste, even as he pointed out that the government is working to make it garbage-free by setting up a number of waste treatment plants. He also exuded confidence that Goa would top the list if the Union government began ranking states for waste management. Sawant, who was speaking at the inauguration of the common biomedical waste treatment facility at Kundaim, went on to urge citizens not to dump garbage along roads and in water bodies but to deposit it in the designated spaces to facilitate collection and treatment. He announced that the state now has various types of waste management facilities, including those for biomedical waste, solid waste, construction waste and industrial waste. The common biomedical waste treatment facility at Kundaim, he said, is one of the best facilities in India. The plant has been developed under public-private partnership, with the Goa Waste Management Corporation providing 10,000 sqm of land to the concessionaire, Biotic Waste Solutions Pvt Ltd, for operating the facility. It has been constructed on the build, own, operate, transfer (BOOT) model. “The state has not invested a single paisa in this biomedical waste treatment facility and will not do so even in the future as the company will collect fees from customers. We have only invested in the land,” the chief minister said.

CM Pramod Sawant eyes garbage-free Goa
Govt will implement EODB to attract green industry: Goa CM
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that to attract environmentally-friendly industries to the state, the government has to implement ease of doing business. “We have to grant permissions within a month or a month-and-a-half to establish environmentally-friendly industry in Goa,” Sawant said, adding that the government would take steps in this regard. Sawant said that it should not take one or two years to grant permission to set up an industry in the state. He stressed that his government would be an industry-friendly one. Industries minister Mauvin Godinho has started the consultation process for the framing of the new industrial policy, that is aimed at streamlining processes to encourage new investors and industries to come to the state. Godhino said that he has also sought the opinion of industry stakeholders. “Right now, I am in the process of consulting and getting the opinion of various stakeholders. I held a detailed discussion with the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) on several matters, including how to streamline the process to allot land to industries,” the minister had said. The state government is in discussions to find a way to allot land to industries in a transparent manner. “My thrust would be on encouraging Goan industry. We will give first preference to Goans who want to expand their industry in the industrial estate. However, while giving them preference, we have to also bring in new industry to the state. Both these things have to happen simultaneously,” Godinho had said.

Govt will implement EODB to attract green industry: Goa CM
Ravindra Bhavan air-conditioning to be fixed soon
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Vasco: The state government has taken cognisance of the non-functioning air conditioning system at Ravindra Bhavan, Baina, and it will be soon repaired, said chairman of Ravindra Bhavan Jayant Jadhav. “Chief minister Pramod Sawant has assured us he will resolve the issue soon,” Jadhav said. After the file for repairs was submitted to the executive engineer PWD, Margao, it was also brought to the notice of the minister for art and culture minister, Govind Gaude, at a recent review meeting. Presently, music classes are held at Ravindra Bhavan. During the peak of the Covid pandemic, it was used as a vaccination centre. Apart from this, offices of the deputy collector and mamlatdar operate from the Ravindra Bhavan premises.

Ravindra Bhavan air-conditioning to be fixed soon
Kundaim biomedical plant set up in record 11 months: Monserrate
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Panaji: Waste management minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate on Wednesday said the biomedical waste treatment plant at the Kundaim industrial estate will be inaugurated on Friday. The plant, which will treat medical waste generated by hospitals and clinics across the state, will be inaugurated by chief minister Pramod Sawant. The plant was set up in a record time of 11 months, Monserrate said and added that it has already treated 428 tonnes of medical waste since its inception last October. It can also treat domestic sanitary waste and diapers — which are otherwise difficult to dispose of — and handle 788 healthcare facilities having over 6,000 beds. “Municipalities and village panchayats should collect segregated waste and send it to the common facility for disposal,” the minister said. He said an issue has surfaced over waste disposal charges for dental clinics, which was raised by doctors at a meeting with BJP national president J P Nadda. “We have still not taken any decision on the charges for dental clinics. Presently, such clinics have to pay a reasonable rate of Rs 1,800 per month,” Monserrate said.

Kundaim biomedical plant set up in record 11 months: Monserrate
Govt bore over Rs 2.4 crore for AG’s services since June 2019
Navhind Times | 1 week ago
Navhind Times
1 week ago

Staff ReporterPanajiThe state government has paid the Advocate General Devidas Pangam a whopping sum of `2,41,13,732, for the period from June 2019 to January, this year.This has been revealed in the information obtained by the noted social activist Aires Rodrigues from the law department under the Right to Information Act.The Pramod Sawant-led government had appointed Pangam as the state Advocate General on June 14, 2019 with the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister.Expressing concern over the continued “huge” expenditure being incurred on the state Advocate General, Rodrigues has urged Pangam that as he is being paid `10,000 per appearance it would be appropriate for him to desist from appearing in matters which are only being adjourned. Rodrigues has also expressed anguish that Goa, despite being the smallest state is not only hosting India’s highest paid Advocate General but also the country’s highest paid public servant.Stating that the state Advocate General is being paid monthly an average of over Rs 8 lakh, Rodrigues has pointed out that the President of India is paid `5 lakh a month while the Chief Justice of India gets `2.80 lakh, and that a Supreme Court judge earns `2.50 lakh while a High Court Judge takes home `2.25 lakh.Rodrigues has further stated that in view of the very grim state of Goa’s exchequer, the government needs to examine whether the state Advocate General really requires the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister.Further stating that the file notings reveal that Pangam did not follow the established convention of resigning on this March 12 along with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Rodrigues has stated that propriety required that the state Advocate General should have put in his papers and waited to be re-appointed.

Govt bore over Rs 2.4 crore for AG’s services since June 2019

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