Goa Konkan News

A sustainable toy story
Navhind Times | 1 week ago
Navhind Times
1 week ago

Garima A Roy is calling a time-out on plastic toys. Through her brand, Other-Wise, the designer offers playthings handcrafted using natural materials for childrenANNA FERNANDES | NT KURIOCITYWith parenthood, comes great responsibility. For Garima A Roy, this meant making environmentally conscious choices as a family and about their consumption.When her son was six months old, she began toying with the idea of making sustainable playthings. Her background in design came in handy here. Add to it, she had in the past, designed pre-school furniture and thus had the experience of working with a young user group.She built her son a swing – and he loved it.And that’s where it all began. “My education in design and a belief in parenting that made me feel responsible towards the environment led to the genesis of Other-Wise,” she says.As a brand, Other-Wise aims to create products with natural materials that last so that they become a part of one’s heirloom or make them so temporary that they become one with soil. “When people spend money, they probably want things to last. So, the former has a tangible form and the latter still a dream,” says Roy, adding that in creating her brand, she realised that alternative materials are hard to come by, and that parents struggle to find such brands. “I still find it hard to get myself to sell because I am drawn to the idea of hand-me-downs, circular economy, but if you must buy, then it’s good to know about the few brands that are trying to keep things simple and honest,” she says.Currently, Other-Wise offers different kinds of swings for different age groups. These are made in materials ranging from bamboo and wood to cloth. They are all handmade and most production is carried out within the Konkan belt. “I don’t wish to make tall claims about USP, but one quality that is hard to find when looking for children’s products is to be able to find things that are gender neutral, and without gimmicky graphics. I assure you that we steer clear of these stereotypes. Also, our packing is 100 per cent plastic free,” she says.When it comes to her products, Roy believes that the creative process can have many and different starting points. “The first product was born from the need for entertainment for my child, movement, and breeze on hot summer days. The range that followed in the initial years was informed by material and human resources. This included my network of carpenters, tailors and a source for rope.”Recently, she launched a product in bamboo. This is a material that, she says, has been extremely close to her heart since her college days, and the abundance of it around the Konkan region was the starting point. Similarly, the next range of products that she is working on is informed by a child’s physical development. “I am working on a product that helps with balance,” she says.And the response has been great. In fact, Roy admits that it’s the feedback that keeps her going. “I see children sometimes fighting, sometimes negotiating for their turn on the swings. My house has many! I don’t bother asking them how they feel: it’s evident.” She adds that it’s equally heart-warming to hear back from parents. “They share pictures and videos of their children loving the swing. Once a parent called me in panic because after two years of using the swing every day she needed new rope as soon as possible because she feared that the child won’t sleep, if not for the swing!”And even through the pandemic, there were so many old clients writing in to tell her that the swing was a life saver: the only physical activity within access for their children. “That meant a lot to me,” she says.Being a parent indeed influenced her approach as a designer. Her first prototypes were always designed for her son and his friend circle offered great insight into user interaction. “A designer need not be a parent, but being a parent gives me easy access to this extremely crucial ingredient that informs my design. Thankfully, we are surrounded by people who believe in preserving childhood, for the child to stay wild and free,” she says.Roy swears by the mantra ‘less is more’. “My child may not agree with me at this age, but I believe he will one day,” she says and adds that there are different reasons for which people choose to go for sustainable alternatives, whether it is food, clothes or toys. “The two reasons that stand out for me are, to reduce the interaction with harmful chemicals that affect our health, and for children to internalise that small acts can have a big impact.”She adds that when one is in the throes of parenthood it’s easy to turn a blind eye to climate change in the name of children’s amusement. “But we will be held responsible for our actions by these very children. One thing that works is to acknowledge that while sustainable sounds fashionable, it doesn’t have to be a competition. If it becomes a way of living then it seeps into everything you do, and has better chances of acceptance when it comes to toys,” she says.And like all things, with Other-Wise as well, Roy believes that taking baby steps is the way towards betterment. “It took time to make our packaging plastic free. Recently I transitioned from wood to bamboo for one product, and for another it meant moving from teak to Jackfruit wood. I would like to move from factory made fabrics to hand-woven fabrics sometime in the near future.” While these are not big steps towards sustainability, they are sincere for sure, she says.

A sustainable toy story
Rail infra work to affect train schedule
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Margao: Movement of certain trains on the Konkan Railway route has been affected on account of infrastructure upgradation work that is under way between Majorda and Margao section. The work entails launching of Restricted Head-girder (RH girder) for construction of Road under bridge (RUB) to replace the level crossing along the section. Konkan Railway had earlier suspended traffic movement in this section between April 18 and May 3. The current work is a part of the earlier exercise, it is learnt. The work entails inserting the RH girders and precast RCC box by cut-and-cover method. Consequently, Train no. 10112 Madgaon Jn. - Mumbai CSMT Konkankanya Express was rescheduled to leave Madgaon Jn. at 6.25 pm, 25 minutes late. Also, train no. 16338 Ernakulam Jn. - Okha Express of Wednesday will be regulated at enroute stations for 85 minutes, a press note by Konkan Railway said.

Rail infra work to affect train schedule
Fun with fruits
Navhind Times | 1 week ago
Navhind Times
1 week ago

Miguel BraganzaThe ‘Ambeamchem Fest’ held at Corlim- Ilhas on Sunday seems to have been well-timed: the prices of mangoes dropped to half the rate of the previous week. There were luscious mangoes, locally grown and naturally ripened in paddy straw, on sale. And it was a pleasure to eat them. It gives the organisers hope for a successful Konkan Fruit Fest from May 13 to 15 to be held in Panaji.The Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) have brought back the event this year with the support of the Directorate of Agriculture, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, nursery owners, fruit processors and fruit enthusiasts. On-the-spot fruit eating competition (banana and watermelon) is popular among the young and old.A large section of the residents in Goa now live in apartments with little or no access to grow plants. Over the years, especially during the recent pandemic, many home-makers have grown vegetables, chillies, tomatoes and coriander in pots and trays. Some young adults recalled the collection of ‘fruit plants in bonsai pots’ created by Dona Almira Rodrigues that were exhibited at the ‘Festival of Plants & Flowers’ at SFX School, Siolim, in the 1990s when they were students and even the BSG was young. Others have literally taken the art to a higher level; on the terrace.Yogita Mehra has made potted fruit plants available to persons who want home-grown fruits in their apartments but thought that it was impossible, and Daniel D’Souza has even created fruiting bonsai. The competition this year includes potted plants with fruit. Entries will be accepted on Saturday, 14 May at 10 a.m. and can be taken back the same evening or by Sunday 5 p.m.The range of fruit plants grown in Goa is expanding. Whether it is a red-skinned ladyfinger, or banana that catches one’s attention or the purple passion fruit or the ‘Grape Tree’ Jaboticaba or the Kilo Guava in the ground or on the terrace, it is all available in Goa. Oscar Silveira in Borda de Margao and Laban D’Souza in Kirbhatt, Nuvem have large collections of them and Nestor Rangel is marketing the plants as Anup Poinguinkar and Meghnath Kerekar who will be in attendance at the Konkan Fruit Fest 2022 to help you join their ranks as a fruit grower.The BSG’s all Goa Home Garden competition has revealed how the enthusiasm of Jai Naik has enabled him to grow a veritable ‘food forest’ on the sloping RCC roof of his apartment in Margao. He even has a jackfruit bearing tree and an apple tree in blossom!The Konkan Fruit Fest has competitions in fresh fruits and fruit products like jams, pickles, candies, preserves, juices, squashes, syrups, wines, vinegar and other products. It has been the launchpad for many a product as well as a source for germplasm for selections of superior types. Rambutan, mulberry, velvet apple, star apple, and others have become popular through this festival while kokum and jackfruit has added value to the festival. It is the informal and festive atmosphere that promotes learning and exchange of ideas. Come to Panaji and be a part of it this weekend.

Fun with fruits
Soon, dip, dip, dip for refreshing drink of Kokum juice
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Panaji: Pride of the Konkan belt, the kokum, a popular refreshing drink as well as a post-meal digestive has so far been extracted and and marketed in packaged bottles. While the juice is extracted from the pulp of the fruit, the rind often goes unused and is thrown away. This rind is now being dried, powdered and packaged into dip bags, similar to tea bags and can be used to prepare the kokum juice, a popular beverage. Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidhyapeeth, has developed the kokum powder dip bag and has been awarded a patent which is soon going to be available in the market, the institute’s vice chancellor, Dr Sanjay Sawant said while speaking at the national conference on agricultural economics at Old Goa on Thursday. “We received the patent last week and are now entitled to launch it as the institute’s product,” Sawant told TOI. “The rind is usually discarded but it contains antioxidants and hydroxycitric acid. To exploit it we have powdered it and are selling them in dip bags. This is water soluble and can be mixed with either hot or cold water and sugar to make a soft drink,” he said. With the summer season at its peak, the season of harvesting kokum fruits is underway and the institute will collect a sizeable amount of the fruits to start preparing the kokum powder dip bags. The institute is also in the process of marketing rice gruel or ‘pez’ just like soup, as well as different variants of processed cashew nuts and raagi biscuits. “The idea is to introduce these products to the elite market chain, packaged with requisite food safety standards. We are yet to file a patent for these products,” he said.

Soon, dip, dip, dip for refreshing drink of Kokum juice
Petroglyphs may hold key to unravel earliest settlers of Konkan coast
Times of India | 1 week ago
Times of India
1 week ago

Margao: Days after the prehistoric petroglyphs at Pansaimol at Rivona, South Goa, made it to the tentative Unesco world heritage sites list, heritage lovers feel that the development has brought to the fore the need for the state government to shed its apathy towards preservation, conservation and promotion of the pre-historic sites. Over two decades after the petroglyphs were first reported, the state government has done precious little towards preservation, conservation and promotion of the pre-historic sites. While the rock engravings at Ponsaimol, near Colomb, Rivona, figure prominently in the list of most famous petroglyphs of the world, what have remained relatively lesser known are similar sites not too far from Ponsaimol. The petroglyphs at Pirla and Kajur, both in Quepem taluka, also date back to the prehistoric period, and have been declared as “protected sites” by the state department of archeology and archives of the state department. While Ponsaimol, located amidst serene and scenic environs, is home to some 200 petroglyphs, only a few are visible at Pirla and fewer still at Kajur. At Kajur, figures of humans and animals are seen engraved on hard lateritic rocks in an area called as Bavleamoll, while in Kajur, geometric figures adorn a single rock, which locals call as ‘Dudafator’, though nobody knows for certain how the rock came to acquire the name. The etymology of the term could perhaps hold the key to the mystery of the civilisation that thrived in pre-historic Goa, heritage conservationists feel. History scholar and researcher Rohit Phalgaonkar said that while it is imperative that petroglyphs found on the banks of the Kushavati are conserved, steps should be taken to establish any connection of these rock carvings with those found in Mauxi in Sattari and the recent discoveries of such pre-historic sites in Ratnagiri and Rajapur along Maharashtra’s Konkan coast. “So far there is very little material evidence to establish that a living civilisation once thrived in the Kushavati valley. There’s also a need to look at the entire pan-Konkan region to explore and establish links to the existence of a much bigger prehistoric culture and civilization. Establishment of these links may well hold an answer to who were the earliest settlers of the Konkan coast, particularly with special reference to today's Goa,” Phalgaonkar said. Withstanding the vagaries of time and nature for hundreds of centuries, the petroglyphs have been mute witnesses to the settlement of various civilisations through the ages on the banks of the river Kushawati. Eons of human neglect have, obviously, taken a toll on the open rock art gallery — weathering of the rocks have even led to the disappearance of some parts of the engravings. Researchers, however, believe that scientific excavation, if carried out along the belt, could lead to the discovery of more such sites. What’s surprising, however, is that apart from displaying a sign proclaiming that the sites are ‘protected’, the state authorities seem to have done precious little in preserving the sites at Kajur and Pirla, leave alone attracting tourists to the places of heritage interest. While a lone guide employed by the state government serves as a sole source of information about the historical significance of the site at Ponsaimol, no such facility, however, is available at Kajur or Pirla, leaving a visitor to scout for the treasure couched in vast lateritic plateau amid wild bushes. And considering one has to trek a few kilometers from the main road to get to these rock art sites located in isolated areas, the services of a guide are an imperative. Symbols of religious cosmology, figures of wild animals and birds, human beings in various postures, fishing and hunting implements, besides numerous geometric forms can be spotted on the hard laterite rock. Heritage conservationists have underscored the need for further exploration of these pre-historic sites to unravel mysteries of the ancient civilisation.

Petroglyphs may hold key to unravel earliest settlers of Konkan coast
Goa may have agri college by June: CM
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Panaji: Goa might soon see the establishment of an agriculture and horticulture university. Efforts are on to start an agriculture college by June this year and the state will sign an MoU with Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidhyapeeth, Dapoli, for it, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday. “Many students from Goa are pursuing education in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other agriculture-related subjects in different universities all over the country. Taking this into account, we are planning to start an agriculture college in Goa under the Goa University,” Sawant said. “We can also think of an agriculture university in Goa,” the chief minister said while responding to a proposal for setting up an agricultural institution in Goa during the 24th national conference on agricultural economics at Old Goa. It was organised by the Maharashtra Society for Agricultural Economics and the Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidhyapeeth, Dapoli. The organisers also called for a central agricultural university in Goa to facilitate Goan, national and international students. Sawant held a meeting with the representatives of Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, along with the heads of ICAR-CCARI, directorate of agriculture, Goa, to discuss the plan of action for the new institute. “The chief minister has assured us that government land (either Ponda or Old Goa) will be utilised to establish the institute and we have agreed to provide the technical support. Nodal persons for the same are going to be appointed in the coming days to take this plan forward,” vice chancellor of the Dapoli-based university Sanjay Sawant said. Union tourism minister Shripad Naik said that agriculture is the backbone of our country. “Almost 65% of the people are dependent on agriculture. Development of the agriculture sector is very important,” he said. The chief minister said that agro-tourism has been started in Goa on the PPP model on a small scale and is working successfully. He said that the state needs to become atmanirbhar (self-reliant). “Goa is still dependent on other states for 80% of its agriculture, horticulture, dairy and fisheries products. To make Goa self-reliant, agriculture officers need to impart training to farmers in the rural areas of Goa once a week to boost the agriculture and dairy activities in the state,” Sawant said. He spoke of spiritual leader Sadhguru's Save Soil movement to address land degradation and advocate for healthy soil. Sawant also spoke of the various initiatives taken by the central government for the welfare of farmers.

Goa may have agri college by June: CM
Govt considering setting up agricultural college: CM
Navhind Times | 2 weeks ago
Navhind Times
2 weeks ago

Special CorrespondentPanajiThe Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant said that the government is considering setting up an agricultural college in Goa.“Many students from Goa are pursuing education in agricultural field besides horticulture, forestry and other agriculture-related subjects, in different universities all over the country,” he added, pointing out, “taking into account this scenario, the government is planning to start an agricultural college under theGoa University.”Sawant was speaking at an agricultural eventon Thursday.The Chief Minister also said that the government will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Dapoli-based Konkan KrishiVidyapeeth so as to allow Goan students to study agriculture, inthe same.He further said that help would be sought from the Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth and Maharashtra Society of Agriculture Economics to set up the agricultural college in Goa.

Govt considering setting up agricultural college: CM
‘Har Har Mahadev, Lairai Mata Ki Jai’ to echo in Shirgao
Navhind Times | 2 weeks ago
Navhind Times
2 weeks ago

Staff ReporterSankhaliGoddess Lairai, the most popular among the Goan deities, unites communities from Goa and Konkan region. Come May 5, devotees will flock to the Shirgao village of Bicholim taluka for the annual celebration of Dhondachi jatra.Rajendra Kerkar, a folk researcher and historian told, “Goa has a rich and varied tradition of folk deities worshipped from parts of Pernem to Canacona. However, the worship of Goddess Lairai unites different communities who take part in the annual Dhondachi jatra. In Goa, since the pre-Portuguese period, there existed a tradition of the anthill worship among the people toiling hard in the soil. In Shirgao too, the anthill is worshipped as Santer as well as Lairai in two different temples.”Today, though the temple situated at Deulwada is the main centre of attraction for the devotees, the original temple of this folk deity is at Mudder immediately to the left side after crossing the Par river from Assonora. In the past, Mudder at the foothill of the lush green mountain too was covered with trees, creepers of the forestry nature. Before the onset of iron ore mining, this predominantly agriculture village was home to innumerable perennial streams and springs. During the Portuguese era, Shirgao was known for one of the largest iron ore mines in Asia. After Goa’s Liberation, haphazard mining activities resulted in destroying most of the water bodies of Shirgao and thereby causing irreparable harm to agriculture and horticulture.During the Dhondachi jatra, the devotees from various corners of Goa and Konkan in traditional attire holding entwined and decorated cane stick walk through the pyre in large strides, one followed by another.The devotees locally known as Dhond has strong belief that walking through the pyre would not be possible without divine help and protection.“In Goa and Konkan region, this is only annual fair in which devotees forgetting their differences based on caste, tribe, sex and economic status take part with utmost devotion,” says Vishnu Kerkar from Nanoda village who participates as Dhond since the last two decades.Though, the devotees participating as Dhond eat vegetarian diet for almost one month, five days before the fair they leave their houses, go into the areas mostly situated near the spring or river that are forested, and eat food cooked by them collectively.Various religious and cultural activities are organised through the contribution collected by devotees. Though, each village in Goa and Konkan has its presiding deity, Lairai as the folk deity has been venerated by most of all.In the temple of Lairai at Deulwada, the sanctum sanctuary contains a marble pedestal over which is erected a silver canopy containing a dazzling Kalash (pitcher) filled with the sacred water, dedicated to goddess Lairai. A considerable congregation of lakhs of people assembles for the jatra on Vaishakha shudhda Panchami to express their gratitude to the revered deity by offering a garland of jasmine buds.

‘Har Har Mahadev, Lairai Mata Ki Jai’ to echo in Shirgao
Celebrating the fruits of summer
Navhind Times | 2 weeks ago
Navhind Times
2 weeks ago

Miguel BraganzaSummer is here in Goa and it seems like a prelude to the experience in hell: high temperatures, tempests, and very expensive Mankurad mangoes!The high-velocity winds have knocked out the mature mangoes before they could be plucked from the trees, ripened, and relished. Fortunately for us, the jackfruit tree can survive drought and high temperatures and still bear fruit. Vegan chicken is what jackfruit is known as in many parts of the world including its native land, India. One can also make caffeine-free ‘jaffee’ from the seeds. There are plenty of other fruits that will come into focus at the Konkan Fruit Fest from May 13 to 15 in Panaji simply because of the overpowering presence of the mangoes that will be missing this year.What began as an idea of an annual ‘Goa Mango Show’ with the Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) in 2002 to give continuity to the sporadic mango exhibitions organised by the Directorate of Agriculture or the Agriculture Officers’ Association and Lion’s Club of Avedem-Paroda in 1982, 1987, 1992, and 1994, grew into the Konkan Fruit Fest with the then newly created Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) as the festival partner in May 2003. We are back at it again this year with the CCP as the festival partner and the support of the Directorate of Agriculture. A mango festival is just not possible when exhibition quality mangoes sell at `2400 a dozen. We will have available varieties on display for the love of mangoes.The ICAR – Central Coastal Agriculture Research Institute, Old Goa; DBSKKV’s Regional Fruit Research Station (RFRS), Vengurla-Maharashtra; the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation (WGKF), the Goa Forest Department, and other institutions and non-government organisations have participated in the event and are expected to do so this year also. Plant nurseries from Goa and beyond have confirmed their participation and so have individuals and self-help groups. The competition in fruits has been expanded this year to include potted plants with fruit in both bonsai and large-sized pots. The Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) committee members will be exhibiting potted fruit plants fromtheir collectionThe students of Horticulture at the YCMOU – Nashik extension centre at Mapusa were the backbone of the event in the initial two years. It provided the necessary hands-on experience in event management, coding of entries and judging of fruit quality to the students, two of whom have thereafter completed their PhD in Botany.The pandemic has changed the way we live our lives. BSG along with the Agricos Alumni Association has promoted the value addition in tender, mature and ripe fruits through its fifty Sunday webinars. Making of jacada of jackfruit, perada or guava cheese and jam-like mangada of ripe mangoes are being revived, along with a range of candies, juices, wines, pickles, cakes, souffle etc. Plenty of products to make, compete, win prizes, and enjoy.

Celebrating the fruits of summer
Konkan Fruit Fest to enthrall visitors from May 12 to 15
Times of India | 2 weeks ago
Times of India
2 weeks ago

Panaji: After a hiatus of three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the highly popular Konkan Fruit Festival is all set to enthrall fruit lovers from May 12 to 15. The festival will also feature its annual mango competition. Started in 2003, the festival was initially held in the heritage precinct of Campal, around the Dr FL Gomes municipal garden. Later, the venue was shifted to the Mandovi riverside promenade, near the Children’s Park in Panaji. This year, the exhibition is likely to be open for public viewing from 10am to 8pm. In view of this, the Botanical Society of Goa has sought permission from the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) to erect an exhibition pandal and stalls on the promenade from May 9 onwards. “We wish to restart the festival in the post pandemic period in collaboration with CCP,” said festival organiser and member of the Botanical Society of Goa, Miguel Braganca. The organising committee of the Konkan Fruit Festival 2022 will be chaired by Raj Pai Panandiker with Liza Pinheiro as the organising secretary and will have members from other agencies in addition to the Botanical Society of Goa. The directorate of agriculture and the state government will be the main associates along with ICAR-CCARI, Old Goa, the forest department, the WRD and other agencies participating as in the past, Braganca said.

Konkan Fruit Fest to enthrall visitors from May 12 to 15
Carnations and cashew nuts
Navhind Times | 3 weeks ago
Navhind Times
3 weeks ago

Miguel BraganzaThe effect of unseasonal rain on cashew production in Goa this summer is the current topic of discussion, especially because of the reduced supply ofurracand consequently the higher price to be coughed up for the traditional summer cheer. Cashewfeniwas the first product in Goa to get a GI (Geographical Indication), even before the Khola chilli. That should give one the idea of its importance in the culture and economy of Goa. Cashew nut kernels are a storehouse of nutrients. They contain 21 per cent vegetable proteins, 47 per cent fat, 22 per cent carbohydrates, and 5 per cent iron and other minerals in smaller quantities. The most prominent vitamins in cashew are Vitamin A, D, and E. Nutritionally they stand at par with milk, eggs, and meat. Cashew nuts are cholesterol-free. They are nature’s finest snack.The cashew tree was introduced into the Konkan from Brazil during the Portuguese colonial rule, somewhere in the 18th century. Yesterday, Portugal celebrated the 48th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution that threw out the dictatorship there that had become synonymous with Salazar even after he was dead. We now have a person of Goan origin (or POGO) as the Prime Minister of Portugal. No one in Goa will complain if history is re-written and cashew is reclassified asAnacardium indicainstead ofA. occidentale.We produce the best cashew nuts in the world or so we are told. Those nuts are sold in Europe and America. With few exceptions, we are fed nuts from Africa, imported and processed in Goa.Grandmothers used feni to control all kinds of germs and worms, from roundworms in the stomach to leeches that attach to one’s legs in the fields and hillsides during monsoons. A swab of surgical cotton dabbed with feni was placed near a hurting tooth at night. Even if it did not kill the germs, it got them too groggy to disturb your sleep!The increasing economic importance of cashew nuts and cashew feni led to the search for high yielding cashew varieties. These are not hybrids, rather, grafts of high yielding elite trees found in nature. These are known as ‘selections’. The high yielding, elite cashew tree identified in the village of Bali in Quepem, adjoining Cuncolim of Salcete, was found superior in yield and kernel characteristics. It has now been named as Goa-1. We also have Goa-2, Goa-3, and Goa-4 selections from Ganjem-Usgao and TiswadiThe Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth’s regional fruit research station at Vengurla in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra developed the Vengurla series of grafted cashew plants and the Vengurla-4 variety is by far the most popular variety in India. Its red skin apple is juicy and its nuts are bold with a count of about 120 nuts per kilogram. To cap it all, its fruits ripen early in the season and urrac from Vengurla-4 cashew apples is available well before carnival, holi, and shigmo festivals. The cashew feni keeps us warm and our discussions fiery during the wet and gloomy monsoon season. The original feni, distilled from coconut toddy, is almost forgotten. We hope to revive it. The cashew tree may be Brazilian in origin but spiritually it is a Goan.

Carnations and cashew nuts
Rail work to affect train movement
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Vasco: Traffic movement on Konkan Railway will be suspended between Majorda and Margao section to facilitate launching of Restricted Head-girder (RH girder) for construction of Road under bridge (RUB) to replace the level crossing along the section on certain days between April 18 and May 3. A press note by Konkan Railway states that the infrastructure upgradation work will be taken up on April 18, 19, 25, 26, May 2 and 3. The work entails inserting the RH girders and precast RCC box by cut-and-cover method, it was informed. Consequently, several trains along the Konkan Railway will be regulated at various stations on these days. The timings for train No. 07379/07380 Kulem-Vasco-Kulem Special, train no. 12051 Mumbai CSMT – Madgaon Jn. Janshatabdi Express, and train no. 12052 Madgaon Jn. - Mumbai CSMT Janshatabdi Express (from Madgaon Jn) will be regulated accordingly on these days.

Rail work to affect train movement
Usgalimol petroglyphs get UNESCO World Heritage tag
Navhind Times | 1 month ago
Navhind Times
1 month ago

Special CorrespondentPanajiThe petroglyph gallery located in the tiny settlement of Usgalimol – also referred to as Pansaimol – near the Rivona village in Sanguem taluka in South Goa has finally made it to the list of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Petroglyphs are rock carvings – just as the rock paintings are called pictographs – and made by pecking directly on the rock surface using a stone chisel and a hammer stone. When the desert varnish or patina on the surface of the rock is chipped off, the lighter rock underneath gets exposed, thus creating the petroglyph.Coming out with this information, noted Goan historian Prajal Sakhardande said the efforts of the Goa Chapter of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have succeeded in the inclusion of the petroglyph gallery in South Goa in the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites.“In 2010, the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) sat with the then ASI officer Abhijit Ambekar and prepared a related report to be presented to the ASI, New Delhi and the UNESCO,” he recalled, adding that the GHAG also made a presentation to the UNESCO committee in Mumbai in April 2012.The engravings in the petroglyph gallery situated on the banks of river Kushavati, exhibit earliest traces of human settlement in Goa. These petroglyphs are 4,000 to 6,000 years old and belong to theNeolithic Period.More than 100 distinct figures, spread an area of 500 sq. mt., including images of bulls, labyrinths and human figures are carved on laterite stones.The site was discovered in 1993 when local villagers took archaeologists to the bend in west-flowing river Kushavati outside the village, with mysterious engravings on the laterite shelf. The layer of mud covering up the engravings had been washed away by monsoon floods facilitating their discovery. Subsequently, when the soil was cleared more engravings were found.In the coming years, the ASI put up signage and started promoting the site as a tourist destination, while the department of forest declared it a protected area.Maintaining that it is a great moment for Goa, which has now got a second UNESCO World Heritage site, after churches and convents of Old Goa, Sakhardande, who is an active GHAG member said that it would now be the duty of the government to maintain and preserve the petroglyph gallery.“Although the government was responsible for looking after this gallery soon after its discovery, it was not done so in the past and one could see garbage being thrown in the area,” he lamented, mentioning that the people also carelessly walked over the petroglyphs.It was further informed that if the particular petroglyph gallery is not properly maintained, then the UNESCO has the right to de-notify the site from its list of World Heritage Sites.Recently the geoglyphs of the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra had made it to the tentative list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The geoglyphs/ petroglyphs of the Konkan, Goa, and southern Karnataka region are unique and form the most remarkable open-air ensemble of prehistoric human expression of rock art.

Usgalimol petroglyphs get UNESCO World Heritage tag
  • S Goa petroglyphs on Unesco shortlist

    • Times of India

    Keri: In heartening news for heritage conservationists, the prehistoric petroglyphs at Pansaimol in Rivona in South Goa have made it to the tentative Unesco World Heritage Sites list. The Unesco world heritage centre has written to the permanent delegate of India informing the official about the inclusion. The petroglyphs came to be included in the list after the directorate of archaeology and museum of Maharashtra sent a combined proposal for the inclusion of the petroglyphs of the coastal Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa, director of the Maharashtra department, Tejas Garge, said. The proposal was submitted to the central government last year listing the petroglyphs of Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg districts and Goa’s Pansimol. Petroglyphs are varied in shape and size and include human figures, birds, animals, geometrical forms and composite creatures. More than 600 figures have been found in clusters in Kasheli, Rundhye Tali, Devache Gothane, Barsu, Devi Hosol, Jambharun and Ukshi in Ratnagiri and Kudopi in Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, and in Pansaimol in Goa. “It is a moment of pride that one of the protected archaeological sites of Goa has been included in the tentative list. We had given our inputs for the proposal of Pansaimol petroglyphs,” assistant superintending archaeologist, directorate of archives and archaeology, Goa, Varad Sabnis, said. A horticulturist, Vithal Khandeparkar, who resides very close to the protected site in Goa, said that villagers knew the petroglyphs as ‘rakhanyachi chitra’. “I brought the petroglyphs to the notice of former director of archaeology, Prakashchadra Shirodkar, and researcher Nandkumar Kamat in 1993. They highlighted the archaeological and prehistoric heritage associated with it,” Khandeparkar said. Retired officer of the government of Maharashtra, Satish Lalit, who was instrumental in discovering the petroglyphs of Hevale near Malvan in Maharashtra in May 2001, said, “The news about to the inclusion of the petroglyphs of Goa and Konkan region of Maharashtra in the tentative list of Unesco World Heritage Sites will certainly give new dimension to the rich history of the region and draw more researchers.”

Konkan Railway completes electrification of Mumbai-Mangaluru route
Times of India | 1 month ago
Times of India
1 month ago

Margao: Konkan Railway has completed electrification of its 741km-route from Roha (near Mumbai) to Thokur (Mangaluru). This marks an important step towards green transportation of one of India’s biggest railway stretches. “Indian Railways is on a mission to electrify its entire broad-gauge network to provide an environment-friendly, green and clean mode of transport under the ‘Mission 100% Electrification - moving towards net zero carbon emission’ plan,” deputy general manager, public relations, Margao, Baban Ghatge said. The commissioner of railway safety (CRS) has successfully inspected the entire Konkan Railway route in six phases starting from March 2020. Inspection of the last section, between Ratnagiri and Tivim, was carried out on March 24 and authorisation was obtained on March 28, it was informed. However, Konkan Railway being one of the biggest railway routes on the Indian Railways network, train operations with electric traction will be implemented on the newly electrified Konkan Railway route in a phased manner. “In view of the fact that Konkan Railway depends on other Railway zones for engines and other infrastructural requirements, and also as traction power substations along the route are in various phases of completion, train operations with electric traction will be done phase-wise,” Ghatge said. The electrification project has been challenging, Ghatge said, on account of the difficult terrain and unfavourable atmosphere due to Covid-19 pandemic. “Moreover due to the extreme monsoon in the Konkan region, special arrangements had to be made at many locations to keep the electrification mission going non-stop,” he said. Electrification of the route will lead to a savings of Rs 150 crore in fuel expenditure. Besides, seamless operation on electric traction on the west coast, pollution-free mode of transportation and reduced dependence on HSD oil, are the inherent benefits of track electrification.

Konkan Railway completes electrification of Mumbai-Mangaluru route
Kokum fruit: The pharmacy of nature
Navhind Times | 1 month ago
Navhind Times
1 month ago

Nandkumar M KamatGoans love ‘sol kadhi’ made with the rinds of kokum fruit. It has beneficial effects due to the properties of certain biomolecules like garcinol in these fruits. This article is based on decades of our work at Goa University aimed at value addition to this wonder fruit grown in Konkan and Goa.Western Ghats Kokum Foundation has been very active in promoting awareness about this fruit in the 21st century which has the potential to produce thousands of sustainable jobs. Important biomolecules from the kokum fruit make it a pharmacy of nature with huge potential in developing different types of drug derivatives. Another wonderful property of this fruit is in an area called organogelation. Rajasekharan and Daniels from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, used kokum fat to solidify organic liquids in 12 hours at room temperature and in just one hour at four degrees celsius. Further experiments showed that any saturated fatty acid that has between 10 and 31 carbon atoms can perform the same trick, although the gelling efficiency was more efficient with smaller molecules. Moreover, saturated wax esters – a certain type of derivative of fatty acids used to make cosmetics – were just as efficient. The research on bioprospecting and biotechnology of kokum is now expanding.Kokum or Garcinia Indica Choisy is one of the 200 species in the genus Garcinia found in Afro-Asian countries and one of the 30 species found in India. Among the products from Garcinia Indica, we may include the primary products like the fruit with the rind, pulp and the seeds, the flowers, the floral nectar, the pollens, the leaves, the wood and the roots, and the associated microflora. We were successful in isolating some useful fermenting yeasts from these fruits.The ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology of kokum are at least 4000 years old and the useful properties of edible parts were discovered by the local communities by ‘trial and error’ and ‘cause and effect’ strategies perhaps during the food gathering stages. Local communities on the west coast of India produced food colourants, juice, brined solution, butter, and oil without understanding their chemical and biochemical composition. These traditional products and the local knowledge about their properties could have provided the important biological leads in modern kokum bioprospecting or systematic chemical, biochemical and pharmacological screening of the biomolecules from kokum.The beverages made from the ripe kokum fruit are popular in the Konkan region and Goa. The colour originates from powerful natural anti-cancer pigments. These natural food colourants can be extracted from the red and yellow pigments, which constitute 2.4 per cent of the fruit biomass. The pharmaceutical value of kokum fruits is mainly in the form of a molecule called hydroxycitric acid (HCA) also known as garcinic acid which may inhibit the body’s ability to store fat, possibly causing more fat from foods to pass through the body without being stored. According to some biochemists, HCA may cause the body to use existing body fat for energy during prolonged exercise. HCA is being commercially promoted as an ingredient of anti-obesity formulations. The physiological and biochemical effects of HCA have been studied extensively for its unique regulatory effect on fatty acid synthesis, lipogenesis, appetite, and weight loss. The derivatives of HCA have been incorporated into a wide range of pharmaceutical preparations in combination with other ingredients for the claimed purpose of enhancing weight loss, cardioprotection, correcting conditions of lipid abnormalities, and endurance in exercise.Benzophenone derivatives constitute another important group of biomolecules found in kokum. The fruit rind contains by weight two-three per cent of garcinol, a polyisoprenylated benzophenone derivative, a yellow pigment that has some antibiotic properties and has been found to be a potent inhibitor of histone acetyltransferase and is considered as a potential anti-cancer agent. In 2000, Yamaguchi and coworkers had reported antioxidative activity, chelating activity, free radical scavenging activity, and anti-glycation activity. They have suggested that garcinol might be beneficial as a potent antioxidant and a glycation inhibitor under specified conditions. Garcinol has also shown in vivo cancer chemopreventive activity against colonic aberrant crypt foci in an animal model. Therefore, the Japanese research group regards benzophenone derivatives as useful candidates for drug development including anti-cancer agents. They confirmed that garcinol has potent free radical scavenging activity in three kinds of free radical generating systems. Hydroxyl radical is regarded as the most dangerous Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and therefore, garcinol is expected to be useful for preventing diseases caused by that radical, such as stress-induced gastric ulcer and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced gastric carcinoma. These results suggest that garcinol, a free radical scavenger, may have the potential as an anti-ulcer drug. Although the mechanism of its anti-ulcer activity is not yet understood, garcinol may scavenge reactive oxygen species on the surface of gastric mucosa, thus benefiting recovery.Now, this modern research explains why for centuries, people understood kokum as a wonder fruit and intelligently incorporated it in various recipes. There are local vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes where the medicinally useful kokum rinds are liberally used. Perhaps by consuming kokum, people had discovered a simple way in the past to keep their appetite in check, avoid overeating, indigestion, and prevent gastric ulcers and cancers. Therefore, there needs to be more attention to the beneficial probiotic, antibiotic, antiviral, anti-ulcer, anti-cancer, and anti-obesity effects of kokum fruits. The traditional knowledge associated with this plant needs to be employed for its wide propagation.In a world that is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, people, especially those likely to develop the ‘long COVID’ syndromes need to consume various kokum products to heal themselves. Such a powerful pharmacy of nature has led to hundreds of patents by foreign countries, but India has neglected advanced research on biochemistry and biotechnology of kokum. Since this is the season of ripening of the kokum fruit, people need to understand their importance and plan to cultivate more kokum plants in their land with the help of experts.

Kokum fruit: The pharmacy of nature
Centre to push to include MSMEs in def contracts
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Panaji: Defence secretary Ajay Kumar held a meeting with industry heads in Goa to discuss the Centre’s thrust on indigenisation, particularly in shipbuilding and efforts to bring in MSMEs into the niche defence shipbuilding sector. Local shipyards along with other key stakeholders briefed Kumar about the capabilities of Goa’s maritime sector, the obstacles that prevent local players from participating in shipbuilding contracts and the opportunities in defence and indigenization. According to sources, the meeting was convened by Goa Shipyard Ltd and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Kumar heard out the concerns of the local shipyards and also offered to explore ways for Goan shipyards and ship design firms such as Buoyancy Consultancy to collaborate with CII through the Defence Innovation Organisation’s Innovations for Digital Excellence platform. “I suggested that DRDO is here in Goa and Konkan Maritime cluster is here and together a common testing facility can be set up for defence vessels. Let us try and work it out. The defence secretary was open to the idea,” said managing director of New Era Shipping Ltd Atul Jadhav. The companies that were present for the meeting were Mandovi Dry Docks, Buoyancy Consultancy, Dempo Shipbuilding and Engineering, Chowgule Shipyard and a few others. “Wonderful interaction with captains of Goa industry in defence and aerospace under aegis of CII Goa,” Kumar said in a tweet. Kumar said that the ministry of defence will keep on pushing for inclusion of MSMEs in defence contracts, which has traditionally been closed to private shipyards and companies. GSL issued a brief statement saying that Kumar had fruitful discussions on opportunities in defence and prospects for indigenisation. CII Goa informed Kumar that the Konkan Maritime Cluster coming up at Verna can offer immense cost and quality benefits for defence shipbuilding by taking up sub-contracts. Goa has 18 dry docks and these could be utilized by the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard for its smaller warships during refit and repairs, said Jadhav. Industry players pointed out that unless the ministry of defence gives local private shipyards a chance, new firms and the private sector will never be able to gain experience. “The ministry of defence wants prior experience but they don’t allow new companies to participate. So how can any firm gain any experience,” said Jadhav.

Centre to push to include MSMEs in def contracts
Teachers work tirelessly with optimism, says Archbishop
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Panaji: Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao, recently felicitated faculty members of the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE) as part of the All Goa Catholic Educational Institutions Day celebration. Faculty members of diocesan schools across the state with over 30 years of dedicated service were presented with a memento and certificate by Ferrao. Congratulating those felicitated, Ferrao said “A teacher is the one who works tirelessly with optimism, without expecting any fruit in return.” The theme for the function was ‘Jesus true educator, stay with us’. Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Konkan province, Fr Felix Fernandes, said the syllabus outlined to be taught in diocesan schools gives lasting values and teaches children an ethical way of life. He also thanked the teachers for dedicatedly inculcating moral values and ethics in students. tnn

Teachers work tirelessly with optimism, says Archbishop
Goa's Covid positivity rate at 1.3%, recovery rate 98.6%
Times of India | 2 months ago
Times of India
2 months ago

Panaji: With three covid deaths reported during the last 24 hours, Goa’s mortality count rose to 3,825 while the case positivity rate stood at 1.27 with 16 new cases registered. One more death reported from the Goa Medical College was that of a Maharashtrian, which is no counted in Goa’s figures. The three Goans who died included a woman from Salcete and a man from Quepem and another from Bambolim. Patients from bordering districts as well as those from the Konkan region of Maharashtra, come to GMC for treatment as it is the closest super speciality hospital for them. On Wednesday, the state reported 41 recoveries and with it, the count of active cases dropped to 209. The recovery rate, which has been over 98% for the past several days, improved to 98.35 %. No patient required hospitalisation, and all those detected positive were home isolated.

Goa's Covid positivity rate at 1.3%, recovery rate 98.6%
Woman’s bag snatched in train
Navhind Times | 2 months ago
Navhind Times
2 months ago

Staff ReporterMargaoA vanity bag belonging to a train passenger was snatched away containing gold ornaments and other valuables worth `800,000.Police said that the bag belonged to a woman travelling in a train along with her husband.Konkan railway police said that the incident took place in Jamnagar Express after it crossed Margao railway station. Further investigation is in progress.

Woman’s bag snatched in train
Mango mania
Navhind Times | 3 months ago
Navhind Times
3 months ago

Miguel BraganzaThe elections to the Goa Legislative Assembly just concluded and so we can now discuss the ‘Aam Party’ without being hijacked by a coughing man with a muffler.The malcurada or Goa’s famed mankurad mango is in town at the price of gold. Thanks to Isaac Newton, we have the hope that ‘Everything that goes up, comes down’. So will the prices, though not necessarily as down to earth as one may expect.What began as an idea of an annual Goa Mango Show with the Botanical Society of Goa (BSG) in 2002 to provide continuity to the sporadic mango exhibitions organised by the Directorate of Agriculture or the Agriculture Officers’ Association and Lion’s Club of Avedem-Paroda in 1982, 1987, 1992, and 1994, grew into the Konkan Fruit Fest with the then newly created Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) as the festival partner in May 2003. The Dr Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth’s (DBSKKV) Regional Fruit Research Station (RFRS),Vengurla-Maharashtra; the Indian Institute of Horticulture Research (IIHR), Hessarghatta-Bangalore; Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Goa Research Centre (now, the Central Coastal Agriculture Research Institute), Old Goa; the Western Ghats Kokum Foundation (WGKF), the Goa Forest Department, and other institutions and non-government organisations participated in the event.The students of horticulture at the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) Nashik extension centre at Mapusa were the backbone of the event in the initial two years. It provided the necessary hands-on experience in event management, coding of entries and judging of fruit quality to the students, two of whom have thereafter completed their PhD in Botany; one has done a double graduation with a gold medal from DBSKKV Dapoli for the second degree, two of them are officers at the Directorate of Agriculture, and two dozens of them are agriculture assistants with diplomas. The students of Goa’s only degree college of agriculture at Sulcorna also participated in 2016 and 2017, honing their entrepreneurship skills. So did the students of RCPR School of Agriculture, Savoi-Verem in 2017.From 2004, the Goa Directorate of Agriculture has supported the event at different levels of participation till 2013. In 2014, the Directorate organised the Goa Mango Fest on its own and in 2015 it held the Goa Mango Fest in tandem with the Konkan Fruit Fest. Experienced hands were available in-house for the event that has not been held since then. The Konkan Fruit Fest continued till 2018 and there are hopes to hold it again this year with a young committee elected to take charge of the Botanical Society of Goa from April 2022.There are plenty of books available on mangoes. ‘Mangoes of Goan Origin’ compiled by PA Mathew is available at the ICAR Library. It has photos and description of every mango variety that was available in the 1990s. It is ideal for those who want to know more. The bilingual book ‘As Mangas de Goa: The Mangoes of Goa’ by Fernando do Rego is a little difficult to access. Vivek Menezes has also written a well-researched article on mangoes that one can read online. Eat mangoes and learn more about the mango this season.

Mango mania
KR announces special trains to clear extra rush
Navhind Times | 3 months ago
Navhind Times
3 months ago

Margao: In a bid to clear the extra rush of passengers, the Konkan Railway (KR) in coordination with the Western Railway has announced the running of special trains between Surat and Madgaon junction.In a press note issued on Sunday, the Konkan Railway listed details of the special trains as follows: train no. 09193 / 09194 Surat – Madgaon In. – Surat (weekly) special on special fare. Train no. 09193 Surat – Madgaon Jn. (weekly) special on special fare will leave from Surat at 07.50 p.m. on February 15 (Tuesday).The train will reach Madgaon Jn. at 12.30 p.m. on the next day and train no. 09194 Madgaon Jn. – Surat (weekly) special on special fare will leave from Madgaon Jn. at 01.40 p.m. on February 16 (Wednesday). The train will reach Surat at 08.35 a.m. on the next day.The trains will halt at Valsad, Vapi, Palghar, Vasai Road, Panvel, Roha, Mangaon, Khed, Chiplun, Sangameshwar Road, Ratnagiri, Rajapur Road, Vaibhavwadi Road, Kankavli, Sindhudurg, Kudal, Sawantwadi Road, Thivim and Karmali stations.The train will have a total of 1 coach including 1 AC chair car coach, 14 second seating coaches and 2 SLR coaches. It was also informed that bookings for the trains were open from February 13 at all passenger reservation system (PRS) counters and IRCTC website. Passengers are requested to avail of the service and that all norms of state and central government regarding COVID-19 including social distancing, sanitisation, etc, should be followed in trains and at the railway stations.

KR announces special trains to clear extra rush
Train passenger robbed of valuables worth Rs 75,000
Navhind Times | 3 months ago
Navhind Times
3 months ago

Staff ReporterMargaoGold ornaments, a mobile handset, cash and other important documentswere stolen from a train passenger at Margao railway station.The Konkan railway police said that Shyam Kasabe, 36, from Ankola has lodged a complaint stating that at the Margao railway station, onboard a train, someone committed theft of his wife’spursethatcontained gold ornamentsweighing 10 grams, a mobile phone worth Rs 15,000, cash of Rs 2,000, all worth Rs 75,000, besides an ATM card and documents like Aadhaar, Voter IDcard, driving licence. The police said that Shyam was travelling with his family from Karwarto Panvel-Maharashtra.The Konkan railway police said that based on a complaint lodged, an offence under section 379 of the IPChas been registered.Meanwhile, therailway police said thatsome days ago they had arrested Sumit Singh,38, a native ofJamshedpur, Jharkhand in connectionwith the theft of a mobile phone.The police said thatRavishankar Sahu of Jharkhandhad lodged a complaint stating that near the waiting room at Margao railway station his mobile phone, worth Rs 20,000, was stolen.The railway policesaid that Sumit was arrested and the stolen mobile was recovered. In this connection, the police have registered an offence under section 379 of the IPC.

Train passenger robbed of valuables worth Rs 75,000
Light rain likely today in Goa, mercury to dip from tomorrow
Times of India | 3 months ago
Times of India
3 months ago

Panaji: A trough forming over south Konkan region resulted in an overcast sky towards noon on Saturday and light rain has been forecast for the weekend. The winter month had already witnessed light to moderate rain in various parts of the state on January 17, as 2021’s trend of rainfall every month continued. “A weak trough forming at a height of around 1.5 km over the south Konkan region is bringing westerly winds and moisture,” India meteorological department (IMD), Panaji, scientist, Rahul M said. While the switch in wind from the easterly to westerly direction is importing moisture, the intensity of the chill is also likely to decrease for a couple of days. The clouding was expected to increase from late Saturday night. After the effect of the weak trough passes, the minimum temperature is likely to drop once again by two to three degrees from Monday. With breezy conditions prevailing, wind and high wave warnings have been issued for fishermen for Sunday over the west central Arabian Sea and north Arabian Sea and Gujarat coast. On Saturday, the morning hours were pleasant and IMD, Panaji, recorded a minimum temperature of 20.6 degrees Celsius, just 0.7 degrees above normal. In Mormugao, the temperature recorded was 21.4 degrees Celsius. The day temperatures have been pleasant, as IMD recorded a maximum temperature of 30.9 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees below normal on Friday.

Light rain likely today in Goa, mercury to dip from tomorrow
38 goats, one cow run over by KRC goods train at Gulem
Times of India | 4 months ago
Times of India
4 months ago

Canacona: Thirty-eight goats were killed after being hit by a running goods train on the Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) tracks, at the Gulem tunnel. Four goats were also injured beyond medication. A cow, which was hit by the same train a little earlier, also succumbed to its injuries. The incident took place on Thursday, at around 5pm. It is learnt that the owner of these goats, was taking over 100 goats for grazing across the railway tracks. However, one group of goats got left behind. The owner went on with the other goats to his destination. After securing them there, he returned in search of the missing goats. However, he couldn’t trace them. Later, as the train was arriving, people in the vicinity of the railway tracks heard the distress cries of goats. They rushed to the site and pulled some of the goats that were lying on the track and informed the owner. The goats were the lone source of livelihood of the family. KRC public relations officer Baban Ghatge said that the goats had left without anyone guarding them, which was in violation of KRC rules, and also attracts a penalty.

38 goats, one cow run over by KRC goods train at Gulem
Kadamba era sculptures lying damaged, neglected at Goa-Maharashtra border village
Times of India | 5 months ago
Times of India
5 months ago

Keri: Archaeological remains having historical importance to Goa, dating back to the Kadamba era, have been found lying in a neglected state at Patye village on the Goa-Maharashtra border. The village of Patye was submerged when the Tillari reservoir was constructed at Dodamarg in Maharashtra. Residents of Patye had been rehabilitated at Sasoli in Dodamarg on the Goa-Maharashtra border. However, there were many archaeological remains from the era of Goa Kadamba rulers at Patye, which officials from both Goa and Maharashtra failed to shift safely. Before the submergence of Patye, in 2003, the sculptures were transported haphazardly, which led to many of the remains being damaged in the process. Since then, they have been lying outside the shrine of Bhutoba, facing vagaries of nature and in a totally neglected condition. The stone slab with the royal emblem of Goa Kadamba rulers, bears an artistically carved lion, depicted in advancing posture, with its right fore-paw raised, its neck erect, mouth wide open and the tail twirled. This slab lies broken now. Other sculptures depicting varied scenes from the epic Ramayana, including the Ram-Ravan battle, burning of Lanka by lord Hanuman, are unique. One of the temples in the village also has a panel showing Gajalaxmi. Some carvings also throw light on the social and cultural history of the Goa-Konkan region during the Kadamba era. One such carving shows a procession with musicians, dancers and two royal elephants, which have mahouts and a couple riding on their backs. “There is an urgent need to initiate conservation efforts by taking Patye villagers into confidence, as archaeological assets of the Goa Kadamba era run the risk of being lost. The royal lion emblem is lying in negligence,” Sanjay Natekar, a heritage lover from Dodamarg, told TOI. During the rule of Goa Kadamba ruler Shivachitta Permadideva, many Shiva temples were built in the Goa-Konkan region. Sanket Naik, a local teacher from Sal, Bicholim, said, “The sculptural wealth of Patye throws light on the rich history of Dodamarg taluka’s association with the Goa Kadamba era. The folk drama of Ranmale, performed during the festival of Shigmo, too, consolidates the historic linkages.” Sasoli shares borders with Hankhane in Ibrampur, Pernem.

Kadamba era sculptures lying damaged, neglected at Goa-Maharashtra border village

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