Saligao News

As waste turns to compost, CCP earns revenue to shore up funds
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

Panaji: While the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) awaits the commissioning of a 15-tonne biodigester unit, the civic body has succeeded in treating up to 15% of the wet waste generated in the state capital through composting. CCP earns around Rs 13 lakh by selling this compost to farmers, said officials.The waste segregation system adopted by Panaji several years ago has helped CCP encourage composting of wet waste, but the long time taken to convert food waste into compost remains a disadvantage.“Panaji generates about 28 tonnes of wet waste per day, of which around 20 tonnes are treated at the decentralised biodigestor plants,” said a CCP official. “The gas generated by these plants is used by canteens and restaurants for cooking.”Around eight tonnes of biodegradable waste are converted into compost with one composting plant installed near the municipal market.“CCP is exploring the option of hiring an agency to handle the composting. The compost is being sold right now, and in 2021-22, we made Rs 13 lakh selling it,” said the CCP official.Meanwhile, CCP’s biomethanation plant behind the Heera petrol pump has missed its commissioning date due to the unavailability of some parts. It was supposed to be operationalised in January. Once operationalised, the 15 tonnes of wet waste that are being sent to the solid waste treatment plant at Saligao can be processed within the city itself.Another challenge for composting efforts has been the presence of biodegradable bags. CCP workers have found fragments of bags that are supposed to be biodegradable. CCP officials said that there is no clarity about the time required for biodegradable bags to decompose.

As waste turns to compost, CCP earns revenue to shore up funds
Disqualification plea: HC of Bombay at Goa notice to 8 ex-Congress MLAs
Times of India | 1 month ago | |
Times of India
1 month ago | |

PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Friday issued notices to the Goa assembly speaker and to the eight MLAs who had defected from the Congress last year. Congress leader Girish Chodankar is seeking directions from the high court to the Goa assembly decide on the disqualification petition against the eight MLAs within 90 days.The high court directed the respondents to file replies in two weeks. Advocate Abhijit Gosavi argued on behalf of Chodankar while advocate general Devidas Pangam represented the government.After Justice Mahesh Sonak recused himself from hearing the matter, it is being heard by Justice B P Colabawalla and Justice Bharat P Deshpande.The disqualification petition was filed by Chodankar, a former Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, on November 11, 2022, after the eight Congress MLAs joined the BJP.Chodankar filed an application on December 1, 2022, requesting the speaker to expedite the matter and dispose of it within 90 days in line with the Supreme Court’s guidelines and then filed a petition in the high court on February 6.The eight legislators are Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, his wife and Siolim MLA Delilah Lobo, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar, Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai, and St Cruz MLA Rodolfo Fernandes.Chodankar is seeking the disqualification of the eight MLAs, stating that they voluntarily gave up the membership of their original party on whose behalf they had contested and had been elected from their respective constituencies.In his petition, Chodankar stated that eight MLAs’ claim of the legislative party’s merger into the BJP doesn’t amount to a valid merger under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution because a merger can only be of one political party with another political party. The high court will hear the case next on February 24.

Disqualification plea: HC of Bombay at Goa notice to 8 ex-Congress MLAs
Cong asks CM why no action against those involved in garbage scam
Times of India | 2 months ago | |
Times of India
2 months ago | |

Panaji: Since forming the government in 2012, the BJP-led government has looted the state treasury under the guise of garbage management, Congress said on Saturday. Referring to chief minister Pramod Sawant’s statement, state Congress president Amit Patkar said that Sawant gave credence to the allegations of scams in the beach cleaning and waste management contracts.Congress challenged Sawant to reveal the names of the corrupt officials involved in scams.“I dare the chief minister to disclose the names of all such members, and also explain why his government did not act against them in the last ten years,” Patkar said. “If the chief minister feels that Rs 160 crore spent on garbage management is a waste, he must sack his waste management minister Atanassio Monserrate immediately.”Panchayat and municipal council members are involved in corruption related to waste management, the CM said on Friday at a public function. He had said that not a single tourist will visit Goa in the next 10 years if garbage continues to pile up. Contradicting Sawant’s stance, Congress said that the BJP-led government has to be held accountable for Goa’s garbage problem. Patkar said that the Goa Lokayukta had found evidence of corruption in the beach cleaning contract and had called a probe, but the Sawant government failed to act on it.Patkar said that the waste treatment plant at Saligao was unable to treat garbage from the northern coastal belt, while a similar plant at Cacora Curchorem is not fully operational. Pointing to the Sonsodo garbage dump site, he questioned the government’s intent to resolve the garbage crisis.“Let the chief minister release a white paper on waste management in the state. Let him clarify why the tourism department is still continuing with the beach cleaning work when there is a separate corporation for waste,” the state Congress chief said.

Cong asks CM why no action against those involved in garbage scam
Goa Gearing up for Christmas with pop-up markets
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

Cribs, cakes, mistletoe, holly, snowmen and of course Santa; all things Christmas now adorn every corner of Goa. With several Christmas themed pop-up markets across the state, Goa seems to be gearing up for a great season with a renewed zest. Aquilla Fernandes, co-organiser of a weekly popup market in Saligao, says though there were similar events during the pandemic, now there is a higher turnout, and this boosts local talents, “From traditional Goan sweets, to handcrafted pottery, shell craft, crochet, macrame, resin art, all items are locally made. And with our Christmas theme “A December to Remember” we also have carolling, special workshops, games, live music, barbecue, etc to ring in the Christmas spirit,” says Aquilla. These markets, with the music, lights and décor, surely spreads the Christmas feels among visitors. “These markets herald the Christmas season here, and it gives a glimpse into what Christmas is like, especially to new settlers in Goa, who come from other states where Christmas is not such a big affair,” says Siddesh Volvoikar who has let out his space for one such popup in Porvorim, that encourages swapping pre-loved clothes and other items. Vanessa and Vanora, who organised a pop up in Miramar say that the timing matters the most. “we had ours on the Sunday the PM visited. But despite the blockages and issues, our participants saw a 70% sale of their poducts” says Vanessa. --

Goa Gearing up for Christmas with pop-up markets
NGT rejects claim of automatic restoration of ruined sand dune
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

Panaji: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has accepted a report of a joint committee rejecting the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority’s (GCZMA) claim that a destroyed sand dune in Sernabatim is getting restored through the natural process and that no intervention is required. A road was constructed over the sand dune that was later demolished as per a GCZMA order dated August 28, 2011 that was upheld by the high court of Bombay at Goa. The GCZMA, however, rejected another application that sought to ensure restoration of the destroyed sand dunes. The applicant then approached the NGT praying that restoration of the damaged property by reconstructing the damaged sand dune be carried out to reverse the damage done to the environment. In its response, the GCZMA told the NGT that it had solicited reports framed by the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), Saligao, along with its own expert member. It said that as per the report, “restoration of the sand dune for the demolished road at Sernabatim beach was seen happening by a natural process and evidence is seen on the ground that herbaceous growth is taking place”. “Hence, it is recommended that the area may be allowed to reclaim naturally as far as possible and by planting native dune vegetation,” the GCZMA stated.The NGT, however, formed a committee comprising one member from the NCSCM, Chennai, and one from the GCZMA to check the status of the restoration.The committee told the tribunal that “restitution through natural process is not possible due to the presence of an existing mud road adjacent to the area under restitution”.Admitting the appeal, the NGT has asked the GCZMA to respond within four weeks. It has also asked the authority to waive off inspection charges for the appellant, “because the joint committee report does indicate that there is ring of truth in the averments made by the appellant”.

NGT rejects claim of automatic restoration of ruined sand dune
Cong files disqualification plea against 8 of its ex-MLAs
Times of India | 3 months ago | |
Times of India
3 months ago | |

Panaji: Congress on Friday filed a disqualification petition before the speaker against its eight former MLAs who joined BJP in September, including former leader of opposition Michael Lobo and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat.“Pending hearing and final disposal of the matter, the speaker should restrain respondents from functioning as the members of legislative assembly and/or holding any Constitutional post or office of profit,” stated the petition, which was filed by Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira on behalf of state Congress president Amit Patkar.The other MLAs who switched over to BJP are Aleixo Sequeira (Nuvem), Rudolf Fernandes (Santa Cruz), Michael’s wife Delilah Lobo (Siolim), Sankalp Amonkar (Mormugao), Kedar Naik (Saligao) and Rajesh Faldessai (Cumbharjua).Patkar said it was pertinent to mention that the eight MLAs have not claimed that there was a merger of the original political party but only a deemed merger on the premise that they, as members of the Congress Legislature Party had already agreed, resolved and decided to merge with BJP and that the latter had accepted the said merger.“Such a type of claim is not contemplated in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution and runs contrary to the mandate of Para 4 in as much as the legislature party of a political party by itself had no authority or power to merge with any other political party without the merger of its original political party. In such circumstances, the provisions of Para 2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution are squarely attracted to the facts of present case for to be a valid merger, the merger could only be of a political party with any other political party,” Patkar stated in the petition.He said that the procedure contemplated under the constitution of their respective parties has to be followed, which has not been done in the present case, and therefore the question of a valid merger of any political party does not even arise. He further said that any merger or otherwise of the political party has to be approved by the authority that recognises the political parties in the country: The Election Commission of India.“The INC has not met to take any such decision or resolution to merge with BJP. There was no meeting of the INC convened to take any such decision. It will therefore be correct to contend that the merger of the legislature party in the absence of the merger of the original political party, not being contemplated under the Tenth Schedule, clearly attracts disqualification on grounds of defections, since by this act, the respondents have voluntarily given up membership of their original political party and thus incurred disqualification on grounds of defection, and are not liable to continue as members of the House,” Patkar said.

Cong files disqualification plea against 8 of its ex-MLAs
FDA shuts Calangute eatery after food poisoning case
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: The food and drugs administration (FDA) of Goa has shut down a restaurant in Calangute in wake of a food poisoning case.FDA officials inspected the premises of Punjabi Kitchen Bar and Restaurant, Calangute where the alleged food poisoning took place. A sample of the water and curry was drawn and a spot inspection report was issued. The restaurant has been shut down till further orders due to unhygienic conditions, the FDA stated. The inspection was conducted by food safety officers Rajaram Patil, Madhav Kavlekar and Bhakti Walke after the food poisoning complaint was received by FDA. The FDA also conducted an inspection at M/s Rohit Hotel at Porvorim and directed it to stop food business activities. This is the premises wherein a video of a cockroach in a samosa has been doing the rounds on social media.In another case, a bhel puri stall at Saligao was directed to shut down after it was found operating without Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence.

FDA shuts Calangute eatery after food poisoning case
  • FDA shuts down bakery, restaurants

    • Times of India

    Panaji: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) inspected several eateries in Margao on Tuesday and ordered closure of those found operating in unhygienic conditions. A bakery at Arlem which was functioning without a licence and in filthy premises, was directed to shut. Its goods worth Rs 2,300 were also confiscated. Two restaurants that were found functioning in unsanitary conditions were also ordered to shut. The FDA team also inspected a food manufacturing unit at Davorlim and ordered it to close and sweets worth Rs 8,900 were seized. The same unit was inspected a while ago and was issued directions. However, when it was re-inspected on Tuesday, the FDA team did not find any improvement in its functioning, a FDA official said.

Cong appoints presidents for 21 block committees
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Margao: As a part of its restructuring process, state Congress president Amit Patkar on Tuesday appointed block presidents to its 21 block committees.The new block presidents are Narayan Redkar for Mandrem, Manoj Naik for Bicholim, Shashank Narvekar for Mapusa, Parvati Nagvekar for Siolim, Atul Naik for Saligao, Ashwin De Souza for Aldona, Dnyaneshwar Govekar for Taleigao, Manoj Palkar for St Andre, Mangaldas Naik for Sankhali, Harshad Bhonsle for Priol, William Aguiar for Ponda, Dnyaneshwar Borkar for Marcaim, Vasant Naik for Dabolim, Peter D’Souza for Cortalim, Milagres Fernandes for Curtorim, Anwar Sayyed for Fatorda, Assiz Noronha for Cuncolim, Fransisco Rodrigues for Velim, Avadoot Amonkar for Quepem, Parag Sabnis for Curchorem and Jayesh Patil for Sanvordem, a per a press release. While they will take charge of their posts with immediate effect, the block committees will be constituted after consulting Congress workers of the respective constituencies, the release issued by senior party functionary, M K Shaikh, said.

Cong appoints presidents for 21 block committees
Rs 70cr underground power cables to ease Siolim, Saligao woes
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: In a bid to address the power problems in Saligao and Siolim, the electricity department commenced a Rs 70 crore project to shift power cables underground in the two constituencies. Power minister Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar also announced that a new 180MW sub-station will be built at a cost of Rs 350 crore to provide electricity for Siolim, Calangute and some parts of Mapusa and Tivim.Dhavalikar laid the foundation stone for conversion of the existing overhead 11kV line of Nerul and Betim feeder emerging from the 33/11kV Saligao sub-sation. He also commissioned the 11kV three core underground cabling project in Siolim in the presence of local MLA Delilah Lobo. The work at Siolim has been executed by Capital Electech Pvt Ltd.The minister said that the frequent power failures in Saligao and coastal areas could soon be a thing of the past but was quick to add that demand for power keeps increasing due to large residential projects and hotels.“The power department has cleared works worth Rs 70 crore and in the last nine months, works worth Rs 100 crore have been started,” Dhavalikar said.Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, who was present for the function at Nerul, said that the underground cabling is needed as people suffer due to power fluctuation and frequent breakdowns during the monsoons.

Rs 70cr underground power cables to ease Siolim, Saligao woes
Within month, app to file police complaints: Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

PANAJI: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that within a month Goa police will introduce an app to facilitate the public to lodge a complaint without having to visit a police station. A complainant will have to upload an identity proof along with the complaint. “Police have been doing their job, but people’s cooperation is needed and even the smallest crime needs to be reported. Shortly, complaints will be accepted online with an identity proof. The identity proof will have to be submitted with the complaint to discourage people from filing bogus complaints,” Sawant said at the inauguration of a police outpost at Betim. The CM, who also holds the home portfolio, said that Goa police crime detection rate is at 94%, the highest in the country. But the government’s endeavour is to see that crime doesn’t take place. “People also have to be proactive and help police in reducing crime by being alert,” he said. The Betim outpost has been opened in an old building that served as a police station during Portuguese rule. The building has been renovated at the cost of Rs 80 lakh. “The building has a historic value. Members of Gomantak Azad Dal led by Mohan Ranade had attacked it and taken away arms and ammunition and used it for Liberation of Goa,” said Sawant. The outpost, he said, will operate as a regular police station catering to complaints, community policing, traffic management and security of Betim village. It also has facilities for police personnel and it is one of the best structures, he said. The Betim police outpost will also be helpful with Betim road witnessing heavy traffic due to tourists visiting the coastal area, the CM said. Saligao MLA Kedar Naik and DGP Jaspal Singh were among present for the inauguration.

Within month, app to file police complaints: Goa CM Pramod Sawant
Bardez coastal belt needs dedicated power house: Lobo
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Calangute: The coastal belt in Bardez needs a dedicated power house with a tower line to meet the growing need for electricity, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo said. Talking to media during a site inspection of the new electricity sub-station at Calangute, which is tentatively scheduled to be commissioned by chief minister Pramod Sawant on November 14, Lobo said improved infrastructure for the Bardez coastal belt with more electricity and water is very much required. “If we don’t give the infrastructure to the tourism-related businesses, then we’re heading towards a dead end,” he said. Lobo added that with the commissioning of the sub-station at Calangute, the electricity situation there will improve to a great extent. “This is one step towards solving the power problem in Calangute. After this, the Saligao sub-station needs to be upgraded, like the Colvale power house,” Lobo said.

Bardez coastal belt needs dedicated power house: Lobo
Setting green burial trend, some Goans shun coffins for shrouds
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

Panaji: A few Christians and nature lovers are choosing to shun the coffin and be buried in a shroud for environmental reasons. “I have no intention of being buried in a fancy casket. I am happy with the bamboo stretcher, which hopefully I will fabricate myself,” Saligao resident Joseph Remedios stated in his handwritten will last year. “I will try to buy 6m of muslin cloth to wrap my body in. This will go a long way in curtailing pollution and saving the environment,” he added. His family, neighbours and friends ensured his wishes were respected when he passed on later that month. Remedios would save all wet waste generated at home and compost it to grow various vegetables, plants, bananas and papaya trees. “He was one of the founding members of the Saligao Civic and Consumer Cell and he even spent a night up on our hill guarding it when garbage from the coastal belt was being illegally dumped there. His love for the environment was genuine,” his neighbour Gerard Delaney says. Delaney, too, has made his wishes known to his family well in advance. “I’ve told them that I want a simple burial without any money wasted on flowers or wood wasted on a coffin. This money instead has to be given to a charitable cause,” he told TOI.“I feel very strongly about this. When I see fancy coffins of mahogany and teak wood, it breaks my heart. The Amazon rainforest and so many other forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. Instead of crying about global warming, I feel we can very much be part of the solution,” said Delaney, a former principal of a higher secondary school at Bicholim. Around a decade ago Sebastian D’Cruz, who had a great regard for nature, chose an eco- shroud burial. His relative, architect Dean D’Cruz says Sebastian was a simple man who cycled all over and took part in several ecological activities, like tree planting and digging scales on the hill to harvest rainwater. “He also participated in social activities of helping the communidade as an elderly mentor. His burial in an eco-shroud was his last demonstrative contribution to the village of Saligao,” Dean told TOI.In the case of Remedios and a relative of Delaney who were buried without coffins, the bamboo stretchers used to move their bodies were made by Hindu neighbours. “They made bamboo stretchers in both cases and didn’t take a pie from us. The bodies were lowered with the bamboo stretchers,” Delaney said. However, in both cases he found that the bodies being transported on bamboo stretchers shocked a few people. “Some found the appearance to be distasteful as they’re so used to seeing someone being carried in a coffin. That’s why I’m researching and trying to arrange for a common, reusable and light coffin that can be kept in the church and used to move a body from the home to the Church and to the cemetery. But there’s no need for the coffin to go down in the grave,” he said, explaining how the body can be lifted out of the coffin and lowered into the grave with the help of a long cloth. “The person will be buried with dignity and honour,” he said. Shroud burials were also being propagated in parishes in Mumbai due to space constraints.

Setting green burial trend, some Goans shun coffins for shrouds
Goa: Police on the trail of four prisoners who jumped furlough years ago
Times of India | 4 months ago | |
Times of India
4 months ago | |

PANAJI: In the past few years, four convicts released on furlough by Colvale Central Jail have not returned, including a rape convict—Nepali citizen Janak Bishu Karma. Yeshwant Bagat alias Sameer, Kushal Puri and Prakash Nair, who were undergoing sentences at the central jail are the others who did not return to serve their jail terms. Complying with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recommendations at the IGP-DGP’s conference held last year, a prison official said renewed efforts are being made to trace the convicts. “At the conference, the issue of convicts jumping parole or furlough or having escaped from police custody was discussed and the PM had directed that a task force be constituted, and fresh attempts be made, to trace such convicts,” he said. Acting on those recommendations, the home department has constituted two bodies. One to look into the cases where the accused or undertrial has escaped from police custody, and the second to investigate cases of prisoners on parole or furlough not returning. “The committees comprise jail and police officials and we have been given directions to make all attempts to find the escaped convicts and undertrials,” the prison official said. Accordingly, he said, a roadmap has been made to find escaped convicts. Also, in all four cases, police complaints have been filed. The amendment of the Goa prison rules in 2021, the official said, has facilitated filing of police complaints against those who run away while on a parole or furlough. “While there was no provision in the old prison rules to file a police complaint against escaped convicts, efforts were made to find them. We were able to arrest and bring back three convicts to the jail but four are yet to be found,” he said. Last week, a police complaint was filed against Karma at the Saligao police station. Karma ran away in 2018, three days before his parole ended. A police official said they had opposed Karma’s parole since he was a foreign national, but their objections were overruled. “It’s been five years since he fled. It’s doubtful he will be found, he must have already gone back to his country,” the police officer said. Karma, while seeking parole, gave a Saligao residence address, but he did not stay there for long, the prison official added.

Goa: Police on the trail of four prisoners who jumped furlough years ago
Biomass briquetting capacity to double at Saligao garbage plant
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: The state government has given its permission to increase the capacity of the yet-to-be-commissioned biomass briquetting plant at Saligao from 20 tonne to 40 tonne per day. A senior officer said that the plant will be ready by December. The officer said the plant will ensure that at least 12% of the industries biomass briquette requirement will be met in the state itself and therefore there is a “proposal to install one such plant in South Goa”. The project proponent will buy the biomass at 60 paise per kg from the local bodies as well as farmers, among others, the officer said. “Due to the ban on furnace oil, industries have shifted to biomass briquettes,” the officer said.The industry requirement for biomass briquettes in the state is about 300 tonne, of which 250 tonne is sourced from Karnataka and Maharashtra, this despite the state having biomass in abundance. The state capital generates about seven tonne of biomass daily, which could be used to make biomass briquettes.The Verna Industrial Estate itself needs around 100 tonne per day. “The government has permitted the expansion of the plant from 20 tonne per day to 40 tonne per day and the project proponent will share revenue with at 60 paise per kg, which will result in an income of approximately 72 lakh per annum for Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) and a similar income for the local bodies/suppliers,” the officer said.The government expects local pharmaceutical companies and manufacturing plants to use biomass briquettes as a fuel for briquette-fired boilers. The plant is being built under a design, build, operate, finance, and transfer basis for 10 years. The government had started work on the briquette plant in mid-2021 after the Corporation of City of Panaji approached GEDA with a proposal to set up a biomass briquette manufacturing facility in the state capital.

Biomass briquetting capacity to double at Saligao garbage plant
Goa: ‘Results show voters OK with 8 MLAs joining BJP’
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

PANAJI: The results of the zilla panchayat bypolls in Goa have proven that voters have accepted the decision of the eight Congress MLAs to join BJP, BJP state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade said on Tuesday, after the bypoll results were declared. “Around a month ago, eight MLAs from Congress had joined BJP. Many tried to create a wrong atmosphere in this regard. MLA Kedar Naik was with BJP, but he was not given ticket for Saligao at the 2022 assembly polls and so contested on a Congress ticket from Saligao and won. He recently returned to BJP. The voting in the ZP bypoll has proven that the people have accepted his decision to return to BJP,” said Tanavade. He said that the people-centric style of governance in Goa has appealed to the voters. “BJP tries to remain amidst the people all through the year. Our chief minister Pramod Sawant has laid stress on people-centric governance. He recently took a decision to send our 12 ministers to visit all 12 talukas of Goa. In the coming months, the ministers will visit the other talukas as it helps them resolve people’s issues. This manner of governance has benefitted us. The governance style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also benefitted us,” said the BJP state president. BJP views no opposition lightly and takes all polls equally seriously, he said. “We take all elections seriously whether it is panchayat polls, ZP polls or municipal polls. We continue our contact with people through different programmes. I thank the karyakartas also for helping retain this contact with the people. Now, at the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, BJP will win both North and South Goa seats. We have begun work in this direction,” said Tanavade.

Goa: ‘Results show voters OK with 8 MLAs joining BJP’
Goa: Congress sings same tune, talks of rebuilding party
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

PANAJI: Stating that the zilla panchayat election results were along expected lines, state Congress president Amit Patkar repeated the same solution that the party offers after every poll defeat — an organisational revamp. Patkar said the party will rebuild itself starting from the booth level. He also said BJP had a clear advantage as the BJP flag already flies over two of the ZP constituencies. “The clear lesson for Congress is to build the party organisation at the grassroots, starting from the booth level. We will do that in every assembly segment,” said Patkar. Though Congress expected to do well in Cortalim and Davorlim, it failed to make a dent in the BJP juggernaut in the two constituencies. In Reis Magos, the party managed to barely eke out a six per cent vote share. “Needless to say that the defection of the Congress Saligao MLA to BJP just a month before the ZP elections made matters extremely difficult for Congress in the Reis Magos ZP constituency. We expected to do reasonably well in Cortalim and Davorlim. We will have to analyse the issues and gaps with the candidates and key workers in these two segments,” said Patkar. He also said that the party needs to identify honest and trustworthy leaders who can guide it in the future. “Knowing our weakness due to the recent shocking defections, we are not demotivated, though the ZP byelection results are a little discouraging. We understand that we need to induct leaders of good political material at the panchayat and constituency levels,” said Patkar.

Goa: Congress sings same tune, talks of rebuilding party
Vindicated, says Saligao MLA on Reis Magos win
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: BJP candidate Sandeep Bandodkar’s victory from the Reis Magos constituency in the Zilla Panchayat byelections has come as a vindication for Saligao MLA Kedar Naik, who recently left Congress and joined the saffron party.Naik said that Bandodkar’s victory proves that people have accepted BJP and his decision to leave Congress has been vindicated. Bandodkar, who defeated independent candidate Sainath Korgaonkar with a margin of 4,200 votes, won the seat with a massive 65.87% vote share. Naik had won the 2022 assembly elections from Saligao on a Congress ticket. Reis Magos is part of Saligao.“There were people who criticised me, pointed fingers at me and called me all kind of names. This victory has silenced them. People have seen how chief minister Pramod Sawant is working. I went door to door with the candidate and people have accepted me,” said Naik.Naik said that BJP’s massive vote share proves that voters are not upset with him for joining BJP. “If you look at the results, all the opposition votes are not even half of the votes polled. This shows that the decision I took a few days ago to join BJP is right,” said Naik.

Vindicated, says Saligao MLA on Reis Magos win
Soon, remote CCTVs for traffic violators
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: The directorate of transport will soon start a tender process for remote enforcement through CCTV camera monitoring of roads. A total of 13 locations have been identified across Goa where the traffic violation rate is visibly high.“This will be the year of remote enforcement wherein we will have a crackdown on violating motorists without much human intervention,” said director of transport, Rajan Satardekar. “We are therefore seeking equipment that can integrate with VAHAN and give us the best results,” he said.This move comes days after transport minister, Mauvin Godinho announced that cameras will be installed in Goa on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model in the next 2-3 months to capture violators that engage in rash or drunken driving.In a trial run, a camera was installed at Chogm road, near Porvorim, wherein a number of violators were captured breaking traffic rules. The camera was able to capture details of vehicles violating traffic rules during day and night. Even the number plate was clearly recorded. The directorate is confident that the same technology can be replicated across Goa wherein a camera trip method can record ten second clips of the violation and capture four still images precisely. The Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) has already installed cameras at prominent places in Panaji with a command and control centre at Altinho. The cameras will be installed at the Verna junction, O Coqueiro circle at Porvorim, Dolphin circle at Saligao, the entry road towards Margao, Patradevi border among other places.

Soon, remote CCTVs for traffic violators
15 candidates in fray for 3 seats at ZP bypolls
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: Fifteen candidates are in the fray for the byelections to three zilla panchayat (ZP) seats scheduled on October 16. Counting will be held on October 18.Byelections will be held for the Reis Magos, Davorlim and Cortalim ZP seats. After withdrawals, four candidates are in the fray at Reis Magos, seven at Davorlim and four at Cortalim.The Reis Magos seat fell vacant after Rupesh Naik quit to contest as an independent candidate from Saligao constituency, while the Davorlim ZP seat fell vacant after Ulhas Tuemkar got elected as MLA on a BJP ticket from Navelim constituency. In Cortalim, ZP member Anthony Vas was elected as an independent MLA.Over 55,000 voters will exercise their franchise for the three seats. There are 74 polling booths.

15 candidates in fray for 3 seats at ZP bypolls
  • Goa: 15 candidates in fray for byelection to 3 zilla panchayat seats

    • Times of India

    PANAJI: Fifteen candidates are in fray for the byelections to three zilla panchayat (ZP) seats scheduled on October 16. The counting will be held on October 18. Bypolls will be held for Reis Magos, Davorlim and Cortalim ZP seats. After withdrawals, four candidates are in fray in Reis Magos, seven in Davorlim and four in Cortalim. The Reis Magos seat fell vacant after Rupesh Naik quit to contest as an independent candidate from Saligao constituency, while the Davorlim ZP seat fell vacant after Ulhas Tuemkar got elected as MLA on BJP ticket from Navelim constituency. In Cortalim, ZP member Anthony Vas was elected as an independent MLA. Over 55,000 voters will exercise their franchise for the three seats. There are 74 polling booths. Over 18,000 voters will vote to elect the new ZP member in Reis Magos, over 20,000 in Davorlim and over 17,000 in Cortalim.

  • Goa: BJP announces candidates for zilla panchayat byelections

    • Times of India

    PANAJI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday declared candidates for the zilla panchayat byelections scheduled on October 16. The party state president Sadanand Shet Tanavade has declared Sandeep Kashinath Bandodkar from Pilerne as the party candidate for the Reis Magos bypoll in North Goa, and Paresh Pandurang Naik for the Davorlim ZP constituency in South Goa. Bandodkar is a four-term panch member and also served as sarpanch while Naik is a two-term panch member and served as deputy sarpanch for six years. He is the BJP’s Navelim mandal president. Congress and other political parties have announced their candidates for the ZP bypolls. Goa state election commission received four nominations on Tuesday, all of whom are independents.

Construction waste recycling facility at Cunchelim: Cabral
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: Environment minister Nilesh Cabral on Friday said that the state government has decided to set up construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling facility at Cunchelim, Mapusa.“The site has been identified. It is government property and we plan to set up a construction and demolition waste recycling facility plant there,” he said.Landfill should not be the solution for disposing construction debris, but it should be scientifically treated, the minister told reporters on the sidelines of a workshop on construction and debris waste at Saligao.Cabral said that the focus would be on technology and output of the plant. “Cement and laterite blocks have been manufactured through laterite stone powder by SINTEF, Norway. They are in the process of patenting it. Once it's patented, we will negotiate with them and take it under CSR,” the minister said.Cabral, who also holds the PWD portfolio, said that he has given commitment to recycle 20% construction waste. He said that there will be two collection centres for construction and demolition waste — one in each district and people should drop their waste at the collection site so that authorities can take it to the facility.Cabral said that it is the responsibility of the Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) to take care of garbage, including medical waste. “We have to constitute a team consisting of police to monitor and keep Goa clean.” Currently, Goa generates around 500 tonnes of C&D waste each day, which is unproductively disposed of along the national highways, in low-lying lands and abandoned quarries.As per the environment ministry’s notified Construction and Demotion (Waste Management) Rules, 2010, the state is expected to establish a C&D waste recycling plant. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed chief secretaries of every state to monitor and ensure compliance with all waste management rules, including C&D rules.

Construction waste recycling facility at Cunchelim: Cabral
7 cos show interest in setting up waste plant at Bainguinim
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: Seven companies have shown interest in setting up the proposed solid waste management plant at Bainguinim. Six of the companies have raised a few queries related to relaxation in criteria including experience and finance.A senior officer said that four companies attended the pre-bid meet during which they raised their queries. “It does not mean that only these companies may bid for the project. There are possibilities that other companies that have not attended the pre-bid meet may also put in their bids,” the officer said. The Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC) has set October 14 as the deadline to submit bids.However, a senior government officer said that they are busy clarifying the queries raised by the companies and that in case there is need to amend the tender document then the deadline may be extended. On two occasions, not a single bidder was able to fulfil the criteria set by the government, prompting the latter to amend the tender document and float it again. The successful bidder will have to invest 25% of the project cost, while the remaining 75% will be provided by the state government. The government will repay the bidder’s investment over a period of 10 years with interest.The plant, which will have a waste-processing capacity of 100 tonne per day (TPD) with an additional buffer capacity of 20TPD, will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 120 crore. Once ready, the facility will be similar to the one in Saligao with bio-methanation as the main treatment for wet waste. Biogas and compost will be generated from the process.

7 cos show interest in setting up waste plant at Bainguinim
Declare Mhadei sanctury as a tiger reserve: National tiger authority to Goa
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

KERI: The deputy inspector general of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) requested the principal chief conservator of forests of Goa to initiate steps to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. On September 29, the deputy inspector general of the NTCA, New Delhi, Rajendra Garawad, wrote to the chief wildlife warden of Goa requesting that steps be initiated to bring the areas of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary under the ambit of the NTCA by declaring it a tiger reserve. “In 2020, in the aftermath of the death of a tigress and three cubs inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, this authority had requested the state to speed up the process of notifying the sanctuary as a tiger reserve. Considering the strategic location of Goa’s protected areas in ensuring long-term conservation of tigers, it is requested that necessary steps may be initiated for bringing the area under the ambit of NTCA,” Garawad stated in the letter. With reference to the letter submitted by a resident of Nigvaddo in Saligao, Brunita De Souza, the NTCA has requested the Goa government to initiate steps for compliance. “The tiger has existed in Goa for more than a thousand years. A tiger reserve is needed in Goa to.protect the big cat as a preserver of the forest and to maintain the balance of herbivores, preserve the ecosystem and, in general, for the harmonious co-existence of man and wildlife in future,” De Souza told TOI. Camera traps installed by the wildlife division of the Goa forest department have from time to time revealed the presence of six tigers and wildlifers have repeatedly urged the authorities to take needful action for tiger protection and conservation.

Declare Mhadei sanctury as a tiger reserve: National tiger authority to Goa
World Tourism Day celebrations held in the state
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

The World Tourism Day celebrations commenced with a mini rally. The rally was flagged off from Dona Paula circle to Miramar and back. The rally had non-fuel based vehicles including bicycles, e-bikes, and electric vehicles. Shekhar Divadkar, SKAL President of Goa said, "The events are focused on Sustainable Tourism. The EV rally magnifies the relevance of the steps being taken and drives home the message of adopting a sustainable approach." Simultaneously, to soak in the history of the culturally rich state, walking tours were organised in Margao, Panaji, Old Goa, and Saligao during the day. The tours highlighted the rich history and heritage of the state. Goa is a culinary destination which has diverse offerings. Cidade de Goa along with Institute of Hotel Management Goa and in collaboration with TTAG organised a culinary contest for students of hospitality and home-based foodpreneurs. Tourism stakeholders along with the Chief Minister of Goa and other dignitaries will converge at the Taj Hotel and Convention Centre to discuss and deliberate on the future of tourism in the state and its potential growth in the near future. Traditional folk dances which are unheard of in tourism circles such as lamp dance , goff, zagor,ghode modni, madragoa and veer bhadra were performed. Speaking about public transport and the challenges faced by tourists who arrive into the state, Shekhar added, "To shift towards lesser use of fuel and carpooling, TTAG encourages tourists and locals to use e-bus services for airport transfers which are presently available at the airport. There are shuttle bus services being offered from the airport to Panjim, Calangue, Margao and Cavelossim at a nominal rate of INR 200. This initiative also helps to reduce the burden of road and other connectivity issues."

World Tourism Day celebrations held in the state
  • TTAG to celebrate World Tourism Day with a focus on sustainability

    • Times of India

    While World Tourism Day will be celebrated globally across nations on 27th September, the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) in collaboration with SKAL Goa and Goa Tourism are gearing up for a day long celebration with a spate of events and activities lined up which will be open to all without a fee. Registrations can be done on : World Tourism Day 2022 Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, govt officials, bureaucrats, tourism stakeholders and other dignitaries will be attending the celebration. Keeping in mind this year, global theme Rethink Tourism’, TTAG has planned the celebration differently by organising several events including an e-bike rally, heritage walks across the state, culinary contests and more. We want to showcase the varied offerings that the state has to offer beyond the obvious choices, said Nilesh Shah, President of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) “This is a great opportunity to bring all the tourism stakeholders as well as the Government on one platform wherein the support can contribute to making the coming tourist season a success and be more resilient to face challenges ahead. The celebration marks the start of the tourism season with international charters set to arrive. With the upgraded infrastructure, Goa is set to have a sizable share of the domestic pie," he added.

Locals benefit from the medical camp held at Guirim
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

JCI Mapusa, hosted a Medical camp on September 10, at Guirim Panchayat as a part of JCI Week, which is organized across the country. The camp was organised in association with Guirim Panchayat and supported by GVK EMRI, Dr Sharon Dental clinic, Dr Sonali Shetgaonkar, 181 Women helpline, 108 Emergency, Dr Neha Tar, primary health centre saligao, youwecan and Crazy Pirates Club. The President of JCI Mapusa Jc Pravin Dhapodkar thanked the Sarpanch Sani Pandurang Nanodkar , deputy Sarpanch Shreya Naik and all the Panch Members along with Zone President of JCI Jc Adv Eeshan Usapkar, Zone Vice President Jc Peter D'Souza and the Doctors & Medical Team Dr Sonali Shetgaonkar, Dr Sharon Sieiro, Dr Neha Tar, Satish Kama (HOD Training, GVK EMRI), Vinod Jadhav, Pooja Mohite, Bharat Patil from the GVK EMRI Team for making this possible. A total of 79 people participated and benefited from the camp which was started at 10.00am and concluded by 2pm. Many tests took place like diabetic Checkup, Breast Cancer screening, Dental Checkup, general checkup, vitals check up, physiotherapy consultation and ECG.

Locals benefit from the medical camp held at Guirim
Eatery staff held for cash, bike theft
Times of India | 5 months ago | |
Times of India
5 months ago | |

Panaji: Saligao police on Monday arrested one person for theft at a restaurant at Sangolda. Police said that Aakash Basavaiah, a native of Bengaluru and an employee of the restaurant, stole Rs 45,000 from its cash counter, and further used the restaurant scooter worth Rs 95,000 and fled, thereby causing loss to the complainant to the tune of Rs 1.4 lakh. tnn

Eatery staff held for cash, bike theft
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