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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.