PANAJI: In view of the assembly scheduled early next year, Goa police has started reviewing activities of recent and habitual criminals in a bid to initiate action against them by either opening a new history sheet or by starting the externment procedure against them. A senior officer said that police have placed criminals under surveillance and history-sheeters have been arrested. The officer said that they are working with the collector to start externment of habitual criminals from either the state or district. âWe will send a fresh proposal of externment,â the officer said, adding that police stations have identified the names of the criminals for this. Stating that most of these persons have been involved in cases of hurt, the officer said that police will approach the collectors, who will hear the accused on the issue, and, if satisfied with the police proposal, will issue the externment order, the officer said. Once the order is issued, the criminal has to leave the state for a certain period of time. In Goa, externment orders are issued under the Goa Maintenance of Public Order and Safety Act, 1988. District police have also identified 60 âbudding criminalsâ. âWe have identified budding criminals in the age group 18-21, and a case has been registered against them,â the officer said. To keep a check on habitual offenders and to ensure citizensâ safety, police have also started conducting round-the-clock patrolling in coastal as well as urban areas. Additional staff have been deployed for beat policing. The officer said that with tourism season commencing in the state, patrolling along the coastal belt has also been increased.
Panaji: In view of the assembly scheduled early next year, Goa police has started reviewing activities of recent and habitual criminals in a bid to initiate action against them by either opening a new history sheet or by starting the externment procedure against them. A senior officer said that police have placed criminals under surveillance and history-sheeters have been arrested. The officer said that they are working with the collector to start externment of habitual criminals from either the state or district. “We will send a fresh proposal of externment,” the officer said, adding that police stations have identified the names of the criminals for this. Stating that most of these persons have been involved in cases of hurt, the officer said that police will approach the collectors, who will hear the accused on the issue, and, if satisfied with the police proposal, will issue the externment order, the officer said. Once the order is issued, the criminal has to leave the state for a certain period of time. In Goa, externment orders are issued under the Goa Maintenance of Public Order and Safety Act, 1988. District police have also identified 60 “budding criminals”. “We have identified budding criminals in the age group 18-21, and a case has been registered against them,” the officer said. To keep a check on habitual offenders and to ensure citizens’ safety, police have also started conducting round-the-clock patrolling in coastal as well as urban areas. Additional staff have been deployed for beat policing. The officer said that with tourism season commencing in the state, patrolling along the coastal belt has also been increased.
PANAJI: After a long tussle, the Goa government has terminated the 1997 lease deed with Indian Resort Hotels Ltd â now known as the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) â to set-up recreational facilities for tourists on over 3 lakh sqm land at Aguada plateau. âThe lease has been terminated due to failure of the hotel company to pay rent which has been due since July 1, 1998,â an official said. Indian Resort Hotels Ltd has been directed to handover possession of the land to the tourism department on or before the end of six months from the date of issue of the order. It has also been directed to pay arrears of rent along with interest amounting to Rs 65 crore within 30 days from the date of receipt of the order. The North Goa collector has been directed to take possession of the property if the company fails to comply with the governmentâs order. The termination order will become effective in six months from the date of issuance of the order. The tourism department had planned to have recreational and amusement facilities for tourists at the site and procured the property at Rs 53 lakh and leased it to Indian Resort Hotels Ltd for 50 years for a lease of Rs 1 crore. The official said the company failed to carry out any development as was agreed upon and it did not even pay the rent. The company faced difficulties in getting various permissions, that were mandatory to execute the plan of having facilities for tourists, he said. âIt is a prime land having a beautiful view, and a lot can be done to elevate the touristic value of the place. The prime property has been left unutilised for so many years,â the official said.
Panaji: After a long tussle, the Goa government has terminated the 1997 lease deed with Indian Resort Hotels Ltd — now known as the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) — to set-up recreational facilities for tourists on over 3 lakh sqm land at Aguada plateau. ‘The lease has been terminated due to failure of the hotel company to pay rent which has been due since July 1, 1998,” an official said. Indian Resort Hotels Ltd has been directed to handover possession of the land to the tourism department on or before the end of six months from the date of issue of the order. It has also been directed to pay arrears of rent along with interest amounting to Rs 65 crore within 30 days from the date of receipt of the order. The North Goa collector has been directed to take possession of the property if the company fails to comply with the government’s order. The termination order will become effective in six months from the date of issuance of the order. The tourism department had planned to have recreational and amusement facilities for tourists at the site and procured the property at Rs 53 lakh and leased it to Indian Resort Hotels Ltd for 50 years for a lease of Rs 1 crore. The official said the company failed to carry out any development as was agreed upon and it did not even pay the rent. The company faced difficulties in getting various permissions, that were mandatory to execute the plan of having facilities for tourists, he said. “It is a prime land having a beautiful view, and a lot can be done to elevate the touristic value of the place. The prime property has been left unutilised for so many years,” the official said.
PANAJI: Pointing out that bad roads are a deterrent for tourists and the logistics sector, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has red-flagged the poor construction of national highways in Goa. GCCI has also requested Union minister for road transport and highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari to complete the NH4A highway stretch at Anmod Ghat and also start construction of a flyover between Gauri fuel station at Porvorim and the circle at Socorro. In a letter to Gadkari, who was in Goa on an official visit, GCCI also urged MoRTH to initiate a probe into the sub-standard widening of the Patradevi â Porvorim and Panaji â Canacona sections of NH66. âWith the overall poor quality of road that is unfolding, on the Patradevi to Pollem important stretch of the NH 66, there is a fear that Goa will become far more famous as a death trap for bikers and other motorist, including long trailer trucks,â said GCCI president Ralph De Souza. âOurs is a tourist state and we certainly cannot afford it. Even truckers would not prefer using this road, which will defeat its very purpose.â GCCI said that the recently completed four-lane concrete roads are sub-par with poor drainage, irregular banking angles, exposed aggregate and poor levelling making them accident prone. The lack of illumination at diversions also poses a risk for motorists. âTruckers are reluctant to come to Goa thus increasing freight cost, which is passed on to the consumer. The uneven and wavy nature of the road has also increased the number of road mishaps. There are instances where empty containers have fallen off the trailers,â Souza said. GCCI said that the delay in upgrading the 4km stretch between Gauri Petrol pump at Porvorim and the circle at Socorro has created a major bottleneck. The industry body has also expressed concern over the closure of the Anmod Ghat for over 16 months. Gadkari has assured GCCI that he will explore ways to complete and reopen the Anmod Ghat route. âDue to this the traffic is diverted through Karwar or Yellapur increasing the distance, time and freight affecting supply and cost of goods. Goa is largely dependent on tourism and this highway is an important link in the Sagarmala project,â said GCCI in the letter to Gadkari. Sousa said that expediting the completion of the Zuari bridge will be a big boon to the Goan economy.
Panaji: Pointing out that bad roads are a deterrent for tourists and the logistics sector, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has red-flagged the poor construction of national highways in Goa. GCCI has also requested Union minister for road transport and highways (MoRTH) Nitin Gadkari to complete the NH4A highway stretch at Anmod Ghat and also start construction of a flyover between Gauri fuel station at Porvorim and the circle at Socorro. In a letter to Gadkari, who was in Goa on an official visit, GCCI also urged MoRTH to initiate a probe into the sub-standard widening of the Patradevi — Porvorim and Panaji — Canacona sections of NH66. “With the overall poor quality of road that is unfolding, on the Patradevi to Pollem important stretch of the NH 66, there is a fear that Goa will become far more famous as a death trap for bikers and other motorist, including long trailer trucks,” said GCCI president Ralph De Souza. “Ours is a tourist state and we certainly cannot afford it. Even truckers would not prefer using this road, which will defeat its very purpose.” GCCI said that the recently completed four-lane concrete roads are sub-par with poor drainage, irregular banking angles, exposed aggregate and poor levelling making them accident prone. The lack of illumination at diversions also poses a risk for motorists. “Truckers are reluctant to come to Goa thus increasing freight cost, which is passed on to the consumer. The uneven and wavy nature of the road has also increased the number of road mishaps. There are instances where empty containers have fallen off the trailers,” Souza said. GCCI said that the delay in upgrading the 4km stretch between Gauri Petrol pump at Porvorim and the circle at Socorro has created a major bottleneck. The industry body has also expressed concern over the closure of the Anmod Ghat for over 16 months. Gadkari has assured GCCI that he will explore ways to complete and reopen the Anmod Ghat route. “Due to this the traffic is diverted through Karwar or Yellapur increasing the distance, time and freight affecting supply and cost of goods. Goa is largely dependent on tourism and this highway is an important link in the Sagarmala project,” said GCCI in the letter to Gadkari. Sousa said that expediting the completion of the Zuari bridge will be a big boon to the Goan economy.
PANAJI: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in Goa saw a marginal drop in October, falling to Rs 317 crore as against Rs 319 crore in September, but remained just above the pre-pandemic levels. The tax mop-up was just 3% higher than the collections in October last year when it stood at Rs 310 crore. Goaâs GST collections in October 2019 stood at Rs 311 crore. Of the Rs 317 crore collected as GST, just about Rs 100 crore will go to the state exchequer while the rest will go to the Centreâs kitty. Nationally, GST revenues for October were 24% higher than in the same month last year and 36% over 2019-20. GST officials expect the collections to increase in November and December largely due to a strong rebound in domestic tourism and higher tax compliances. Tax officials said that the strong GST collections substantiate the indicators showing economic recovery. This is also evident from the trend in the e-way bills generated every month since the second wave. âThe revenues would have still been higher if the sales of cars, white goods and home appliances had not been affected on account of global disruption in supply of semiconductors,â said officials. They also said that the growth in GST earnings continue to remain sluggish in Goa bucking the double-digit growth at the national level.
Panaji: Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections in Goa saw a marginal drop in October, falling to Rs 317 crore as against Rs 319 crore in September, but remained just above the pre-pandemic levels. The tax mop-up was just 3% higher than the collections in October last year when it stood at Rs 310 crore. Goa’s GST collections in October 2019 stood at Rs 311 crore. Of the Rs 317 crore collected as GST, just about Rs 100 crore will go to the state exchequer while the rest will go to the Centre’s kitty. Nationally, GST revenues for October were 24% higher than in the same month last year and 36% over 2019-20. GST officials expect the collections to increase in November and December largely due to a strong rebound in domestic tourism and higher tax compliances. Tax officials said that the strong GST collections substantiate the indicators showing economic recovery. This is also evident from the trend in the e-way bills generated every month since the second wave. “The revenues would have still been higher if the sales of cars, white goods and home appliances had not been affected on account of global disruption in supply of semiconductors,” said officials. They also said that the growth in GST earnings continue to remain sluggish in Goa bucking the double-digit growth at the national level.
PANAJI: AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Monday promised Goans free pilgrimages to Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni and Ajmer Sharif if the party forms the government in the state. âA resident of Goa can choose any one of these four places and we will get the travel done for free. We have shown this by implementing it in Delhi,â Kejriwa told reporters in Dona Paula a few hours after landing in the state on his third visit this year. This is the third promise that the AAP convener has made to Goans in as many visits. During his last visit in September, Kejriwal had promised employment to every youth, Rs 3,000 per month to one youth of the family till they get employed, Rs 5,000 per month to families left unemployed because of tourism and mining shutting down, to set up a skill university and 80% job reservation for Goaâs youths. Kejriwal had kickstarted the partyâs campaign in July by announcing 300 units of free electricity per month to every Goan family along with a waiver of pending electricity bills and free power for agricultural purposes. He also accused BJP of protecting chief minister Pramod Sawant from corruption allegations made by the former governor of Goa Satya Pal Malik. âThe allegations made by Satyapal Malik ji are very serious, but what is sad is that BJP is trying to save its chief minister. This means that it is openly encouraging corruption,â Kejriwal said. âThis is the first time in 75 years since Indiaâs independence that a governor has accused a chief minister of his own party of corruption. Satya Pal Malik ji is a very mature person. He has vast experience. The good thing is that he has shown the courage to talk about the rampant corruption in his partyâs government,â he said. Hitting out at both BJP and Congress for indulging in corruption, he said the two parties havenât sent anyone to jail on corruption charges and assured of doing so if AAP forms the government.
Panaji: AAP national convener and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Monday promised Goans free pilgrimages to Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni and Ajmer Sharif if the party forms the government in the state. âA resident of Goa can choose any one of these four places and we will get the travel done for free. We have shown this by implementing it in Delhi,â Kejriwa told reporters in Dona Paula a few hours after landing in the state on his third visit this year. This is the third promise that the AAP convener has made to Goans in as many visits. During his last visit in September, Kejriwal had promised employment to every youth, Rs 3,000 per month to one youth of the family till they get employed, Rs 5,000 per month to families left unemployed because of tourism and mining shutting down, to set up a skill university and 80% job reservation for Goaâs youths. Kejriwal had kickstarted the partyâs campaign in July by announcing 300 units of free electricity per month to every Goan family along with a waiver of pending electricity bills and free power for agricultural purposes. He also accused BJP of protecting chief minister Pramod Sawant from corruption allegations made by the former governor of Goa Satya Pal Malik. âThe allegations made by Satyapal Malik ji are very serious, but what is sad is that BJP is trying to save its chief minister. This means that it is openly encouraging corruption,â Kejriwal said. âThis is the first time in 75 years since Indiaâs independence that a governor has accused a chief minister of his own party of corruption. Satya Pal Malik ji is a very mature person. He has vast experience. The good thing is that he has shown the courage to talk about the rampant corruption in his partyâs government,â he said. Hitting out at both BJP and Congress for indulging in corruption, he said the two parties havenât sent anyone to jail on corruption charges and assured of doing so if AAP forms the government.
NT NETWORKPanajiMaking his third pre-poll promise to Goans, national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday assured free pilgrimage to Ayodhya, Shirdi, Valankanni and Ajmer Sharif, if his party is voted to power upon the 2022 assembly elections in the state.Addressing media persons in Panaji after his arrival in the state on Monday, Kejriwal said that during his recent visit to Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh it dawned upon him that people of Goa should also benefit from such a pilgrimage.His government has introduced ‘CM Tirth Yatra Yojana’ for the people of Delhi.“In the first two years, over 35,000 people benefitted from this Yojana. We take them in A/C trains and also look after their all needs including meals,’’he said.“Hence I want to assure free pilgrimage to Goans to certain destinations…,” he said, greeting Goanson Diwali.“When our government is formed, we will facilitate free pilgrimage to Ayodhya and help them get a darshan of Shri Ram. Christians will get free pilgrimage to Velankanni. Muslims will get to go on pilgrimage to Ajmer Sharif. I was told that many people in Goa believe in Shirdi, we will offer them pilgrimage to Shirdi too,” Kejriwal said.He alleged that the Congress and the Bhartiya Janata Party are together in corruption, and that is why not a single former Congress minister has been booked for corruption by the BJP regime,’’ he added.If the AAP comes to power upon the assembly polls then it will provide an honest government for Goans. AAP government will recover money from people involved in corruption and send them to jail, he promised.“There is no dearth of funds in the state, and we would fulfil all the guarantees made by me,’’ he maintained.He said, “People are asking me from where funds will come. But formergovernor of Goa Satya Pal Malik has given the answer to it. The Governor has said that during his one-year tenure, he (Malik) discovered that there is lot of corruption in Goa,’’ he added, referring to the explosive interview Malik gave to a national TV channel.Had the allegations been levelled by Opposition parties, it would have been a different case. But BJP’s Governor made these allegations against his government. In the last 75 years of free India, this is for the first time that any Governor has made such allegations against his own government, he reckoned.He praised Malik and said the allegations are very serious, adding that “unfortunately the BJP is trying to save its Chief Minister”.The Delhi Chief Minister said that 1.12 lakh families in Goa have registered themselves for the ‘employment guarantee’ drive of the party, while 2.75 lakh people registered for the AAP’s power guarantee drive.
PANAJI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday promised free pilgrimages to Ayodhya, Shirdi, Velankanni and Ajmer if the party forms the government in Goa. He was addressing media in Dona Paula a few hours after landing in the state. Kejriwal during his last visit in September promised employment to every youth, Rs 3000 per month to one youth of the family till they get employed, Rs 5000 per month to families left unemployed because of shutting down of tourism and mining, the setting up of a skill university and 80 per cent reservation of jobs for the youth of Goa. Kickstarting the party's campaign in July, Kejriwal announced 300 units of free electricity per month to every Goan family, waiver of pending electricity bills and free power for agricultural purposes. Parties are gearing up for assembly elections in early 2022 in Goa.
