Goa Candolim News

As red flags go up, lifeguards jump into action
Times of India | 2 days ago
Times of India
2 days ago

Panaji: Nine persons, most of them tourists, were rescued from Goa’s beaches and Dudhsagar waterfall over the weekend by Drishti lifeguards. A 24-year-old man from Nagpur was rescued by lifeguard Narayan Govekar using a jet ski and another 27-year-old Mumbai resident was rescued by lifeguard Naresh Govekar at Baga beach. At Dudhsagar waterfall, a 33-year-old man from Hyderabad who was drowning when his life jacket got loose was saved by Drishti lifesaver Shahnawaj Nadaf and a 37-year-old man from Gujarat suffering from breathing difficulty while swimming was also rescued by lifesaver Hanuman Bhajrantri who rushed into the water with a surfboard. A 55-year-old local from Pernem was found in distress at Morjim river and was saved by lifesavers Suvesh Nagvekar, Jhilu Parab and Aman Salgaonkar who immediately jumped in and secured the victim with the help of rescue tube, a rescue board and a jet ski. In another incident at Vagator a 50-year-old man from Bardez was rescued by lifesaver Suhas Gawas and a 15-year-old girl from Ponda was rescued by lifesaver Ketan Nagvekar at Ozran beach. There was a double rescue at Calangute where two males from Calangute aged 18 and 19 years were rescued by lifesaver Ajay Gaonkar with the help of a rescue board. All the rescued persons are in a stable condition. Drishti lifesavers after making announcements also reunited missing children aged 4, 5 and 14 years with their families at Calangute and Baga. At Candolim a 14-year-old child was reported missing by his brother and was found a few minutes after making announcements by the lifesaver. The child was handed over to his brother after informing the police. Drishti lifesaver Sangharsh Asolkar found two children at Calangute who were reported missing by their families. One was aged four, from Belgaum and the second was from Kolhapur. In another incident, a 5-year-old boy from Karnataka who was reported missing at Baga was handed over to his family in the presence of police officials. Lifeguards also attended to a medical emergency at Baga when a 38-year-old female from Kolkata got knocked into the sea while searching for her glasses. She managed to get out but was short of breath and oxygen had to be administered. She was later shifted to Candolim primary health center. Her condition is reported to be stable. Last week Drishti issued an advisory against swimming in the sea as conditions were expected to be rough with fast currents and high waves due to fierce winds, thunderstorms and rain likely to hit the state. Red flags have been erected across all beaches that are under Drishti’s surveillance indicating that these are strictly no-swin zones.

As red flags go up, lifeguards jump into action
Two parks in Calangute remain locked over management issues
Times of India | 5 days ago
Times of India
5 days ago

CALANGUTE: Two children’s parks in Candolim, inaugurated a few years ago, are lying locked and unused, reportedly because of management issues. One of the two parks, at the Sinquerim plateau, opposite the St Lawrence church, had been inaugurated a few years ago. Built through ZP funds by Calangute ZP member Dattaprasad Dabholkar, the park also has a jogging track. Dabholkar said the park, built on land belonging to the St Lawrence church, is lying locked because of differences between the church committee and the Candolim panchayat. “The committee was supposed to hand over the park to the panchayat for operations and maintenance, but it has not been done,” Dabholkar told TOI. Another children’s park at the Candolim beach promenade is also not being used although a large number of tourists along with children visit the area. The park, inaugurated by former chief minister Manohar Parrikar four years ago and built by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) through central government’s ‘Swadesh Darshan’ scheme, was also supposed to be handed over to the panchayat, but that too has still not been done. There is a concrete stage inside the park which was supposed to host music shows and other performances. Tourism stakeholders said the parks should be kept open so that visiting tourist children can play there. “What is the use of building them and keeping them locked?” they said. Another park with a jogging track at Khobrawaddo, Calangute, the foundation stone for which was laid just before the last assembly elections, has now hit a roadblock with the Calangute MLA now in the opposition, panchayat members said.

Two parks in Calangute remain locked over management issues
DGP Singh expresses concern over incidents of assault on tourists
Navhind Times | 6 days ago
Navhind Times
6 days ago

Staff ReporterCalanguteTaking cognisance of complaints of tourists being beaten up, harassed and cheated in the beach belt of Calangute, DGP Jaspal Singh held a meeting and interacted with the tourism stakeholders.Speaking at the meeting, the DGP said that it has been brought to our notice that tourists are being beaten up by bouncers and some were even seriously injured, adding that there are two such cases that have come to light.“Tourists are our guests and one should not take law into their own hands; the law agencies are there to take care of any untoward incident or if a tourist creates problem after being drunk,” the DGP said.He said that the tourism stakeholders have the right to employ bouncers to protect their properties but one should restrain from taking law into their own hands.“There were incidents that have pained me wherein tourists were assaulted and they even had their bones fractured; complaints have been received by my office,” he noted.He said that “Goa is known to be safe for women; this certificate has been given by a professional agency employed by the Government of India. Tourists come to the state to enjoy and unwind themselves. They need to be treated well so that they come back to the state.”“If one has any issue dial 112; within 10 to 15 minutes a PCR will be at the site as this number is connected to the headquarters. 1000 cases have been solved following complaints on this number,” he said. Other top police officials were also present for the meeting.Some locals pointed out that the police were not acting on complaints given by the residents regarding dance bars, touts.“Tourists drink and roam with liquor bottles on the roads, touts are tarnishing the image of the beach belt, prostitutes are roaming freely, there are dance bars that are operating illegally and so also massage parlours but the police have turned a Nelson’s eye to these illegalities,” they alleged.Calangute sarpanch Shawn Martins said that “dance bars are being operated by outsiders who are well connected and as such police are under pressure not to stop such illegal businesses,” he alleged.Sarpanch of Candolim Blaize Fernandes said that “beggars in the beach belt have an organised network; this needs to be stopped as they are harassing the tourists. More traffic police personnel are needed during the weekends as there are traffic jams in Candolim.”

DGP Singh expresses concern over incidents of assault on tourists
Stop playing victim card, probe will be done: Rane to Lobo
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Panaji: The public spat between opposition leader Michael Lobo and town and country planning (TCP) minister Vishwajit Rane continued, with Rane telling the Calangute MLA to stop playing the victim card over the probe into the outline development plans (ODPs). Rane said that a “detailed investigation” will be launched into conversion of land when the Parra-Arpora-Nagoa and Calangute-Candolim ODPs were formulated, after which legal action will be initiated. A day earlier, Lobo had accused Rane and the BJP of hounding and targeting the opposition. “I would like to mention to the leader of the opposition that using public office for personal gains is not acceptable. He should refrain from playing the victim,” said Rane. Rane also said that all eco-sensitive land that was illegally converted will be reverted back to its original state. On Wednesday, Rane took to Twitter to announce that TCP’s scrutiny committee has identified irregularities in the ODPs of Parra-Arpora-Nagoa and Candolim-Calangute. Rane also said that a former NGPDA chairman violated norms by getting their own land converted. Lobo refuted Rane’s allegations and said that Rane is engaging in “vindictive politics” by suspending the ODPs and by pointing fingers at Lobo. “Let’s wait for the report to come out, survey by survey, the report will be shared with the citizens of the state of Goa,” said Rane. He said that Lobo’s attempts to shift the blame “authenticates the fact that there are a lot of wrongdoings” in Calangute-Candolim and the Parra-Nagoa-Parra.

Stop playing victim card, probe will be done: Rane to Lobo
TCP committee begins scrutiny of 3 suspended outline devpt plans
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Panaji: The 10-member scrutiny committee appointed by the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department began the process to review the three outline development plans (ODPs) of Calangute-Candolim, Parra-Nagoa-Arpora and Mormugao, which were suspended by the department recently. The committee has sought additional data from the North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA) and the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA). Chief town planner Rajesh Naik, who heads the committee, convened the first meeting and briefed other members about the process of drafting the ODPs. “We broadly discussed what should be the way forward to review and examine the ODPs that have been suspended. With that, PDAs are now required to give us more data and place all documents before the committee on which basis the scrutiny will be done,” said Naik. The ODPs for Calangute-Candolim, Parra-Arpora-Nagoa and Mormugao were finalised and notified but TCP minister Vishwajit Rane recently decided to suspend the ODPs citing major discrepancies. Naik said that the committee will endeavour to complete the scrutiny within the stipulated 60 days. “As of now we just had broad discussions on ODPs, the preparation of ODPs, what were the government directions issued to the PDAs and how they have complied with the directions and how the PDA planned the ODPs. A detailed analysis of all the ODPs will be placed before the next meeting to deliberate and scrutiny further,” said Naik. The committee will meet again on May 13. Naik did say that the committee will not go into individual cases but will look into the criteria that decided the land use planning. “The timeline is given and we want to finish it before that. The PDAs will submit details of the complaints, objections and suggestions, court petitions that were filed and based on that further scrutiny will be done,” said Naik. Members from industry bodies including architects, engineers, town planners, builders and other representatives were present for the meeting.

TCP committee begins scrutiny of 3 suspended outline devpt plans
GCZMA issues orders to demolish 7 illegal structures at Candolim
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Panaji: The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has ordered demolition of seven illegal structures constructed at Candolim in CRZ area. The structures were constructed for commercial use as a resort, restaurant, etc, based on a permission given in 2013 by GCZMA for reconstruction of residential structure. The violator was also found to continue adding new illegal structures despite GCZMA hearings being on against the constructions since 2018. The violator was also seen continuing commercial activities after demolition orders were issued by GCZMA. The illegal constructions included a pathway with tiles on the beach. “It is noted that the inspection report of the expert member mentions that the initial plan indicated rooms, halls, kitchen etc, but now the same has been changed to an open type restaurant,” GCZMA said in its directives. The GCZMA has ordered demolition of the seven structures and has also asked the violator to restore the damaged land to the original state. GCZMA first received a complaint in September 2018 of illegal constructions in the no-development zone of CRZ at Candolim by the resort. Subsequent inspection reports of the authority confirmed that the constructions were in complete variance with the approved plan of 2013, which was for a residential structure. In May 2019, GCZMA therefore ordered demolition of the illegal constructions. However, the violator approached the high court stating that site inspection report of the authority had not been furnished to the violator. The high court thereafter asked GCZMA to rehear the matter in the interest of natural justice. After rehearing the matter, GCZMA asked the violator to demolish all the structures constructed in excess of the approved plan. The violator, however, carried out only part of the demolition and then filed an appeal before the National Green Tribunal. The tribunal dismissed the appeal, following which GCZMA in October 2020 asked the violator to fully comply with the demolition orders or face a penalty of Rs 10 lakh. In December 2020, Goa Foundation complained to GCZMA that despite demolition orders, the violator had restarted commercial activities in the illegal portions ordered to be demolished by the authority. The complainant then told the authority that more structures have been added by the violator. Goa Foundation also told GCZMA that the structures have not be sealed, as they should have been to prevent any misuse. At the GCZMA hearing held in July 2021, the complainant told the Authority, “The complainant stated that there is a fraud played on the Authority whereby structures which are otherwise not shown in cadastral survey plan are malafidely inserted through the process of resurvey of structures by instituting a proceeding before the revenue authority.” Thereafter, GCZMA got the illegal structure sealed and the directorate of survey and land records was able to survey and identify the illegal constructions. Demolition orders of all the structures were then ordered on April 7.

GCZMA issues orders to demolish 7 illegal structures at Candolim
Police register murder case in Telangana doctors death after court nudge
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Calangute: More than six months after the mysterious death of Telangana resident Dr Neha Mulagalapalli, 23, in Goa, Calangute police recently registered a case of murder against six persons who accompanied her in the hours prior to her death. The FIRwas registered after the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC), Mapusa had passed an order on April 8 directing the police to register an offence on the basis of a complaint by Dr Phani Kumar Mulagalapalli, father of the deceased woman. The offence has been registered under Section 302 (murder) against six persons, including a doctor, all from Hyderabad. Mulagalapalli had on October 28 last year lodged a complaint at the Calangute police station stating that his daughter Neha had arrived in Goa to celebrate her 23rd birthday along with her cousins on September 25 last, and had stayed at an apartment in Candolim. In his complaint, Mulagalapalli stated that his daughter and the others had dinner at a restaurant in Candolim that night and later Neha’s friend Sravanthi and her boyfriend Prudhvi took Neha to a resort in Morjim at around 1.15am. Prior to this, her father and other family members spoke to her and wished her on her birthday. The complaint states that at about 5am, Sravanthi and Prudhvi brought Neha to their rented apartment in an unconscious state, from where she was shifted to the nearby Candolim primary health centre (PHC), where she was declared brought dead.

Police register murder case in Telangana doctors death after court nudge
All ODPs suspended by TCP dept: Vishwajit Rane
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Panaji: Citing a grave emergency, the town and country planning (TCP) department has suspended all outline development plans (ODPs) in the state, both notified and draft plans, in order to weed out discrepancies, TCP minister Vishwajit Rane said. He added that several faults have been found, particularly in the Parra-Arpora-Nagoa ODP, which is why the plans have to be reviewed, examined and probably reformulated. The minister announced that the final ODPs of Parra-Arpora-Nagoa, Calangute-Candolim and Vasco have been suspended pending scrutiny. Similarly, the draft ODPs of Panaji, Kadamba Plateau, Mapusa, Margao and Ponda have been kept on hold, with the formal orders expected shortly. The TCP department has formed an 10-member committee headed by chief town planner Rajesh Naik to review the ODPs and submit a report within 60 days. Rane said that he will go by the committee’s recommendations with no political interference or pressure coming into play. “There are a lot of discrepancies, court cases, representations pending, and I wanted to start afresh. There are issues raised about khazan lands being filled, construction on slopes, mangroves being destroyed and as a result of it, instead of me going into it, it is better that the government goes into this case by case,” said Rane. The TCP minister said that he aims to make the TCP department transparent and people-friendly by December. Rane said that in order to bring in transparency, he needs to start from scratch. “The administrative order which will come will show that in a grave emergency, the government can act. The government cannot just sit in silence and allow people to build high-rise buildings in Parra-Nagoa,” said Rane. “At many places, there are no roads but there are buildings. Arpora-Nagoa-Parra, which has the largest number of discrepancies, is suspended. ODP of Vasco is suspended,” said Rane. The Arpora-Nagoa-Parra and Candolim-Calangute ODPs were initiated when Calangute MLA Michael Lobo was chairman of the North Goa planning and development authority. The ODP for Vasco was prepared when Carlos Almeida headed the Mormugao planning and development authority. Since then, Lobo and Almeida have switched their loyalty, ditching BJP for Congress. Rane said that the Regional Plan 2021 will be applicable for planning areas where the ODPs have been cancelled while for Vasco, the ODP 2026 will be applicable. Rane also announced that representatives from CREDAI, Institution of Engineers India, Indian Institute of Architects, Confederation of Indian Industry and Institute of Town Planners will be appointed as special invitees to the TCP board and the PDAs. “Let planners decide. A politician should not get into the planning of a city or a state because we are not experts. We need people to come on board,” said Rane. Rane said that the department would not stall any construction or development activity that has already commenced and where the approvals are in order.

All ODPs suspended by TCP dept: Vishwajit Rane
Saving lives, finding lost husbands, all in a days work for Goa lifeguards
Times of India | 3 weeks ago
Times of India
3 weeks ago

Panaji: Even as he scans the wide blue expanse for any signs of a swimmer in distress, head lifeguard Milind Korde is ever alert and receptive to trouble closer on land as he is approached by a distraught woman looking for her ‘lost’ spouse. From saving sea bathers to finding missing children and now even husbands, Korde says that theirs is an ever expanding set of responsibilities. Besides them, police personnel posted on beaches also help find missing kids and spouses. “There are several cases of missing husbands being reported to us. We find them a few meters away on the same beach. It is likely that the man may have moved away to explore the beach on his own,” says Korde, who oversees South Goa as head lifeguard instructor for Drishti Marine that provides lifeguarding services to the tourism department. It is quite understandable for visitors unused to beaches to lose their bearings as the sandy expanse takes on an uniform appearance to them, says Korde. “For them, a beach is a beach and everything looks the same being new to Goa.” In the case of male tourists getting separated from the family group, it is mostly the wife who comes frantically to us asking that we find her missing husband, he says, adding that in many such cases, the husband has left his cellphone with the wife for safekeeping before stepping into the sea and there is no way for her to contact him. A sector head for North Goa, Drishti Marine, Amit Mahale says locating a person, whether a child or adult, on a crowded beach is a bit difficult, but they manage nevertheless. At times the husband is found at the hotel they are staying at. “The husband, after not finding his wife on the beach or at the spot he left her, returns to the hotel,” says Mahale, adding that they have handled several such cases. “Initially we would find it amusing when a wife would come to report a husband gone missing literally from infront of her, but now we understand how the events may have unfolded,” he says. On Monday, a 22-year-old tourist was reported missing by his friends at Morjim beach. Lifeguard Aman Salgaonkar located him within twenty minutes around 400m away. “He was united with his friends,” says Salgaonkar. During holidays and extended holidays the beaches of Colva-Benaulim in South Goa, and Calangute, Candolim, Baga and Sinquerim in North Goa get very crowded. Domestic tourists are now venturing up to the northern beaches of Arambol, Morjim and Mandrem. Of these, Arambol beach sees the maximum footfalls, though the numbers are still less compared to Calangute and Candolim, says Mahale.

Saving lives, finding lost husbands, all in a days work for Goa lifeguards
Goa: Adventure tourism rides wave of desi thrill-seekers
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Calangute: Adventure is the new buzzword for the well-heeled domestic tourists down in Candolim which, with its half-a-dozen, high-end five-star resorts besides other luxury resorts, is considered to be a hub for the rich Indian and foreign charter tourists. While earlier it would mostly be the foreign charter tourists who would go on ‘day trips’ or ‘excursions’ as they are known, now it’s the rich domestic tourists who are going scuba diving, snorkeling and on other boat trips for the adrenalin rush, stakeholders said, happy with the unexpected business. “The taste of the rich Indian tourists is changing. Before they would only come to eat good food, drink and party at the nightspots because they come only for around three days. Now they’re becoming adventurous and they’ve taken to watersports in a big way and they keep one day aside for adventure,” a watersports operator in Candolim, John Rodrigues, said. “A lot of rich Indians are coming to Candolim because they can’t go abroad and they want to have fun,” he said. Day trips to Dudhsagar waterfall with a lunch halt at a spice plantation in the hinterland are also very popular, stakeholders said. Day trips also mean good business for taxi and other vehicle owners. “In the last two years, there were no foreign charter tourists and hardly any domestic tourists. It was a big loss for us. Now that is changing and many domestic tourists are coming even though there are still no charter tourists. A lot of them are going for waterfall and spice trips,” vice-president of the North Goa Tourist Taxi Owners’ Association, Ravindra Vengurlekar, said. “It’s been a good season so far for watersports,” Rodrigues said, with domestic tourists flocking for all kinds of boat trips, besides excursions to Grande Island for scuba diving and snorkeling. However, backwaters trips like crocodile spotting and fishing are yet to pick up with domestic tourists. “They are not much into nature,” tourism stakeholders said.

Goa: Adventure tourism rides wave of desi thrill-seekers
Register FIR, probe Telangana docs death, court tells cops
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Panaji: A North Goa court has directed the police to register the complaint of a father whose young daughter, a doctor from Telangana, died under suspicious circumstances in September last year on Goa’s northern coastal belt. The court directed the police to investigate the case and file a report. The court held that merely because the police registered an unnatural death case, “it does not prevent them from registering the complaint of the complainant, in which he has named the suspects involved in the said crime,” the court said. “The offence alleged is under Section 302 of IPC and is a cognisable offence. No ground is made out for the refusal of registration of FIR by the police,” judicial magistrate first class A court at Mapusa, Shilpa Pandit said. The father said that despite filing a complaint, the police didn’t register an FIR and in December he wrote to the SP North to direct the police to register the FIR, but the SP didn’t give any direction and hence he approached the court. He said that he lodged a complaint on October 28 following the suspicious death of his daughter on September 26. The man said that his daughter along with her cousins came to Goa and stayed in Candolim on September 25 and on the same day her friend and her friend’s boyfriend checked into the same accommodation. At 12am on September 26, the parents made a video call to wish her and during the call she spoke to friends and family till 1am. At 6.30am the father received a call from a doctor at the Calangute primary health centre (PHC) informing him that his daughter was brought dead to the facility. After the postmortem, the body was sent to Mancherial in Telangana. The father said that three people visited the accommodation in Candolim and took her to a beach resort in Morjim at 1.15am, leaving her cousins behind and at 5am they returned with her in an unconscious state following which the cousins rushed her to the PHC, where she was declared brought dead. He named suspects stating that his daughter was not suffering from any ailment.

Register FIR, probe Telangana docs death, court tells cops
No April Fool’s joke, this: 4th sister of Goa family turned 100 on April 1
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

PANAJI: When she was asked to say a few words at her 100th birthday celebration at St Elizabeth’s Convent in Pomburpa last week, Sr Maria Zita Carvalho began rather stoically, “Today is April 1. There is no need to go to school.” Then, her eyes twinkled as she continued, “He who believes this news is the greatest fool!” It is possibly this joie de vivre that has held the kindly nun in good stead through the course of her 100 years and through each wave of the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic. That and good genes. Each of Maria Zita’s three older sisters have also achieved this milestone themselves in different parts of the world — one in February last year, the other in October 2019 and the eldest way back in April 2013. Maria Sara, Maria Lidia and Maria Lavinia have since passed away, leaving only Maria Zita as a testament to the longevity of the Carvalho clan of Saligao. Josefa, as Maria Zita is also known, has served with the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King (FMCK) for more than six decades. She was headmistress of Modern School, Nagpur, from 1979-83 and taught at St Theresa’s School, Candolim, and at Lourdes Convent School, Saligao, too. “She was mother superior at Lourdes Convent, St Anthony’s Home in Candolim, Krist Raj Bhavan in Saligao and Mae de Deus Home, Saligao,” provincial Sr Vandana Solanki said. Until the age of 99, when she had a fall, Maria Zita walked with assistance. Now, she uses a wheelchair to get around. That’s by far the only thing she is dependent on. Her impeccable health has ensured that she does not need to depend on any medication, and permits her to eat everything — rice, curry, fish, meat — as long as it is easily chewable. Apart from her good genes, her colleagues attribute her long life to her remarkable disposition. “She’s always praising and thanking God,” Solanki said. “We always find her in a jovial mood, and she loves singing to this day. She would compose mandos and other songs and would take charge of doing the make-up at programmes. She’s extremely fond of cats and dogs too.” Everyone got a taste of the nun’s hospitable nature, even passers-by visiting the convent. “She would invite anyone in for a cup of tea and whenever nuns from another convent would visit, she would specifically invite them to stay for three days,” Solanki recalled. Maria Zita’s UK-based nephew Higino Miranda, the son of Maria Sara, believes the four sisters lived to see 100 because of their “easy living” attitude, where they “minimised stress and ate healthy”. “They led simple lives, slept early, ate less junk food and were active and contented. They had peace of mind,” he said. His other aunt, Maria Lidia, the family’s tomboy, climbed trees as a child and reportedly even ventured down into their well at Saligao, while Maria Lavinia who passed away in the US, would travel unaccompanied in her wheelchair to a daycare centre for recreation, where she used a Zumba frame to stay fit, he said.

No April Fool’s joke, this: 4th sister of Goa family turned 100 on April 1
Absence of charter tourists compels beleaguered shack operators to pin hopes on domestic visitors
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Calangute: It’s turning out to be a roller-coaster season for beach shacks in the Calangute-Candolim tourism hub, with sudden highs for a few days, like the recent extended Holi weekend, followed by dismal low footfalls during most weekdays. There are around 200 shacks on this beach belt, comprising more than half of all the shacks in the state. “There was a lot of crowd for two days over the past weekend, but not one table is occupied today (Tuesday),” Traditional Shacks Owners’ Association president Manuel Cardozo said. Due to the absence of foreign charter tourists coupled with low domestic tourist arrivals in the early part of the season, many shack owners had thought of closing down by this month. Now, however, most have decided to stay on till the end of the season. “The situation has turned around. In January and February, the scenario was bleak owing to the Covid third wave and the election code of conduct, but now domestic tourists have started coming again, so things have improved,” Shacks Owners’ Welfare Society general secretary John Lobo said. “Shacks at Baga, Calangute beach main entrance and Candolim at Vaddy are doing well, but others are just keeping the shacks running. It’s like no profit, no loss, just time-pass. Where will we go if we close down our shacks?" Cardozo said. “The tourists who are coming are not the spending type. They come with their own alcohol and food and sit on the beach, so the shacks don’t get much business, except on Saturdays and Sundays. Cheaper eating joints have also mushroomed in every nook and corner of Calangute, so where will there be business for us?” Cardoz said that though international flights are scheduled to restart soon, he’s not very optimistic about foreign tourists arriving. “Even the few charters that were coming have reduced, so now we have to see what happens,” Lobo said.

Absence of charter tourists compels beleaguered shack operators to pin hopes on domestic visitors
1st dose: Only 2% of targeted 50,000 students in 12-14 age group get Covid vaccine jab
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Calangute/Panaji: Just 1,015 children in the age group of 12-14 years, constituting two per cent of the targeted 50,000 children, received the first dose of the Covid vaccine on Wednesday and Thursday, mostly at health centres. This age group is being administered the Corbevax vaccine. The second dose is due after 28 days. In Candolim, the primary health centre saw 29 students receive their first Covid dose on Wednesday, day one of the vaccination programme. Most of the students on the first day were from St Theresa School, Candolim. The next group is scheduled to receive the dose on March 21. Candolim PHC health officer Dr Roshan Nazareth said the vaccination programme of the students is likely to be slow down because of examinations. “It all depends on the schools. We have given the children and schools the flexibility to choose when they want to be vaccinated as they are also going to answer their exams shortly. It’s not nice to disturb the students during the exams because they're appearing for physical exams after a long time,” he said. The Candolim PHC covers eight village panchayats including Calangute, Nerul, Pilerne and Reis Magos. “We have informed the schools to let us know when they want to do it and it all depends on the number of students who can come. Accordingly we’ll schedule the programmes,” Nazareth said.

1st dose: Only 2% of targeted 50,000 students in 12-14 age group get Covid vaccine jab
  • Goa: Two jabs in 28 days for 12-14 age group
  • Times of India

    Panaji: Starting Wednesday, the health department will begin vaccinations for around 50,000 children in the age group of 12 and 14 against Covid-19. The eligible children will be given two doses with a gap of 28 days, Dr Rajendra Borkar, state immunisation officer, said. As per the guidelines issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, children in the age bracket of 12-14 will be administered with Corbevax vaccine. Last month, it attained the target of fully vaccinating 11.6 lakh population above 18 years. Presently, vaccination of children in the age group of 15 and 18 is under way, with 89% doubly vaccinated. “In view of the schools having reopened, the vaccination will extend protection against Covid-19 to all the children in the eligible age. Parents are requested to get their children inoculated,” said Borkar. The state will also begin administering booster doses to 60-plus people, irrespective of whether they have comorbidities or not.

BJP wins 7 out of 9 seats in mining belt
Navhind Times | 2 months ago
Navhind Times
2 months ago

Observers say this points to the voters expecting the government to restart mining activities in the statePanaji/ Mapusa/Margao: Voters in Goa’s mining and tourism belts behaved differently in the 2022 assembly elections with the BJP winning in mining dominated constituencies and losing badly in the tourism constituencies.Mining and tourism are the two major industries in the state where voter’s behaviour can swing the election results. However despite mining industry closed, the incumbent BJP government won seven out of nine mining constituencies on Thursday, while in the tourism constituencies the electorate preferred to go in for a change.The mining industry remained shut during the five-year term of 2017-2022 of the BJP, and people in the mining belt were expected to vote against the ruling party. The election results showed that in seven mining constituencies of Sanvordem, Valpoi, Poriem, Sanguem, Curchorem, Mayem and Sanquelim, the electorate stuck with the BJP. Two mining seats of Quepem and Bicholim were won by INC and Independent candidates.Observers said that, the results show that, voters in the mining belt expect the government to restart mining and they have also responded positively to financial assistance given to truckers and mining workers.On the other hand in Bardez and Pernem Taluka, predominant tourism constituencies, voters went in for change as BJP has failed to win the Calangute and Siolim seats which includes Anjuna- Vagator stretch. In the Mandrem constituency also considered as the main tourism belt in north Goa, MGP candidate Jeet Arolkar emerged as the winner.In the Calangute constituency which includes Candolim-Calangute-Baga, Congress heavyweight leader Michael Lobo succeeded in creating a hat-trick by winning for the third time. Similarly even in Siolim constituency which includes Anjuna-Vagator belt, voters extended support to Congress candidate Delilah Lobo. The election results in north Goa coastal belt reflect the adverse impact of the pandemic on tourism.The tourism belt of the constituency of Benaulim comprising of the villages of Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Carmona and Cavelossim have a change in scene with the election of AAP’s Venzy Viegas to the assembly. Though the villages have seen a considerable improvement in its tourism infrastructure, Viegas had been vocal during his campaign for the need to have a single window system for renewal of all coastal belt businesses and to encourage off season tourism opportunities by setting up a Benaulim tourism profile. Meanwhile for the coastal belt villages of Betalbatim and Majorda which fall under the Nuvem constituency, Congress’ Aleixo Sequeira will be representing the constituency.The tourism belt in Bardez and Pernem Talukas has gone for a change as BJP has failed to win Calangute seats, Siolim which includes Anjuna-Vagator stretch and also in Mandrem constituency is considered as the main tourism belt in North Goa.While in Calangute constituency which includes Candolim–Calangute-Baga stretch, Congress leader Michael Lobo has succeeded in creating a hat-trick but BJP has failed. Similarly even in Siolim constituency which includes Anjuna-Vagator belt has extended its support to Congress candidate Delilah Lobo. Mandrem constituency has witnessed a wind of change as MGP candidate Jit Arolkar has won.The outcome of results can be considered as an impact of the pandemic on tourism belt besides even issues of taxi operators can also be a reason.

BJP wins 7 out of 9 seats in mining belt
Sewage discharge from housing complexes irks Calangute locals
Navhind Times | 2 months ago
Navhind Times
2 months ago

Staff ReporterCalanguteThe residents in the vicinity of housing complexes in Calangute, which are not registered as societies, are facing the issue of sewage being discharged in the open with sewerage chambersbecoming full.Complaints over the issue lodged with the panchayat office are now referred to the health and electricity departments for disconnection of water and electricity connections as the panchayat has no one to serve notices to particular housing complexes.While, speaking to this daily, sarpanch of Calangute Shawn Martins said, “Calangute is facing a major issue of sewage being discharged in the open, not only by major hotels but also by housing complexes which are not registered as societies. Flats at these housing complexes, which have been bought by outsiders are being rented out to tourists, with more than 10 tourists occupying a flat thereby putting pressure on the infrastructure. The locals staying in the vicinity of such housing complexes have lodged complaints of health hazard due to the discharge of sewage in theopen.”Meanwhile, Dr. Roshan Nazareth in-charge of Candolim PHC said, “The PHC Candolim receives many complaints regarding discharge of sewage in the open. After I joined in November 2018, I had a meeting with then Calangute MLA Michael Lobo to solve this issue.”“The major issue with the housing complexes is that all the water from kitchen, bathing rooms and toilets flow down to one tank. There should be separate tanks for this, which is not the case there and as such tanks overflow very soon”he added.

Sewage discharge from housing complexes irks Calangute locals