MARGAO: Chief minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday handed over land title documents (sanads) for forest land under occupation to several beneficiaries under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Addressing the gathering at a function held at the south Goa collectorate, Sawant said that the government has set a target of handing over 10,000 sanads to claimants of both individual and community rights category, within the next 12 to 18 months. Sawant said that his government was working on the Antyodaya principle, and said that being able to hand over titles to rightful claimants of forest land under the Act was his biggest achievement since becoming the chief minister. “There were nearly 10,000 applications pending under the Act whenI became the chief minister in 2019. No sanad was given to any claimant before that. So far 2,000 to 2,500 sanads have been handed over to beneficiaries. The rest will be cleared in due course,” he said. He urged beneficiaries not to sell the agricultural land they have now come to own, but cultivate it with the assistance of the agriculture department. Sawant also inaugurated the FRC Sanad Information System portal that will facilitate beneficiaries under the Act to obtain their land title documents online. “This is yet another step in our mission towards making Goa swayampurna (self-reliant),” Sawant said. Despite a large number of claims, sources said lack of documentation by claimants, the requirement of 50% quorum at gram sabhas have turned out to be major impediments in speedy processing of claims.
PANAJI: The state government on Thursday notified 46.1 sqkm area in the state as private forest, in compliance with an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). This is the first parcel of land in Goa to be notified as a private forest. However, in the meantime, work is in progress to confirm almost double of the area notified, which has been identified provisionally as private forest for now. Enumeration of 9,183 ha or 91.8 sqkm area is being carried out at present by 16 sub-committees comprising range forest officers, inspectors of survey and land records, and village talathis, under the supervision of the deputy conservator of forests. This area was identified as a provisional forest by the Thomas and the Araujo committees. “The review of survey numbers provisionally identified as private forests by the Thomas and Araujo committees is on as per the order of NGT dated January 7, 2021. Five interim reports have been already uploaded on the forest department website, and three compliance reports have been filed before the tribunal and the balance review work is under process,” an official said. The first parcel of 46.1 sqkm of private forest notified now in Goa was based on the findings of the Sawant and the Karapurkar committees, which were later reviewed and confirmed by the Sharma committee. The government panels, while identifying private forests, applied the criteria that the area should be either contiguous to government forest lands or, if in isolation, the minimum area identified should be 5 ha. And, canopy density should not be less than 0.4. The review committee has now formed several sub-committees, which are carrying out ground enumeration mainly based on the third criteria — that at least 75% of the tree species in the private forest are of ‘forestry type’. This will be the determining factor for an identified area to qualify as private forest. So that there are no objections to the forest found to be qualifying as private forest from the land owners, the review committee has now put multiple checks in place. These checks include the range forest officer or member secretary of the sub-committee mandatorily visiting all the sites and verifying 100% sample points on ground. Further, an inspector of survey and land records and talathi also attend the field enumeration and verify the report prepared by the sub-committee before sending it to the review committee. In addition, assistant conservators of forests have been assigned an area for checking and have to verify at least 20% of the sample points. Besides this, geo-reference photographs of the trees at sampling points have to be taken mandatorily, along with the representatives, objectors or owners of the land.
MARGAO: Saroj Bariha, 28, a native of Odisha, who had come to Goa in search of work, stabbed himself with a knife at a fast food stall near the Margao railway station on Thursday. Police said that Bariha and his two other companions came by train from Odisha and got down at the Margao railway station. “While they were having snacks at a nearby food stall, Bariha, all of a sudden snatched a knife from the vendor and inflicted injuries on his neck,” police said. He was rushed to the South Goa district hospital, Margao, where he is undergoing treatment. Police said that he is learnt to be of unsound mind.
Margao: Saroj Bariha, 28, a native of Odisha, who had come to Goa in search of work, stabbed himself with a knife at a fast food stall near the Margao railway station on Thursday.Police said that Bariha and his two other companions came by train from Odisha and got down at the Margao railway station. “While they were having snacks at a nearby food stall, Bariha, all of a sudden snatched a knife from the vendor and inflicted injuries on his neck,” police said. He was rushed to the South Goa district hospital, Margao, where he is undergoing treatment.Police said that he is learnt to be of unsound mind.
PANAJI: The forest department has filed an FIR against a person for illegally felling around 30 trees and destroying sand dunes at Morjim, very close to the Olive Ridley turtle nesting site. "The department of forest has taken strict action where sand dunes are being destroyed and illegal tree-cutting is taking place, opposite survey no. 123/1 at Madlawada, Morjim. More than 30 trees have been felled illegally. An FIR has been filed against the individual involved and deputy conservator of forest (wildlife) has been notified because it is close to the turtle nesting and conservation site," said forest minister Vishwajit Rane. Rane, who is also the town and country planning (TCP) minister, said that the TCP department has also been advised to issue a stop work order and submit the file to the government for licence revocation. "This violation amounts to a disturbance and a violation of law and officials have been directed to take the necessary action. Protection and conservation of the environment is a significant and pressing area of concern to us, and anyone who violates the law will face severe consequences," Rane said. Earlier this year, Rane had announced that more areas in Goa will be notified for turtle conservation and that efforts will be made to place Goa on the country's sea turtle map. Last season, the highest number of turtles in recent years- 89- nested in Goa. Around 6,500 young hatchlings were successfully released into the sea. Turtle conservation is being carried out at four turtle nesting beaches in Goa- Morjim and Mandrem in North Goa, and Agonda and Galgibaga in South Goa. Olive Ridley turtles are one of five marine turtles that visit these beaches and lay eggs from November to April.
Panaji: The forest department has filed an FIR against a person for illegally felling around 30 trees and destroying sand dunes at Morjim, very close to the Olive Ridley turtle nesting site.“The department of forest has taken strict action where sand dunes are being destroyed and illegal tree-cutting is taking place, opposite survey no. 123/1 at Madlawada, Morjim. More than 30 trees have been felled illegally. An FIR has been filed against the individual involved and deputy conservator of forest (wildlife) has been notified because it is close to the turtle nesting and conservation site,” said forest minister Vishwajit Rane. Rane, who is also the town and country planning (TCP) minister, said that the TCP department has also been advised to issue a stop work order and submit the file to the government for licence revocation.“This violation amounts to a disturbance and a violation of law and officials have been directed to take the necessary action. Protection and conservation of the environment is a significant and pressing area of concern to us, and anyone who violates the law will face severe consequences,” Rane said.Earlier this year, Rane had announced that more areas in Goa will be notified for turtle conservation and that efforts will be made to place Goa on the country’s sea turtle map. Last season, the highest number of turtles in recent years— 89— nested in Goa. Around 6,500 young hatchlings were successfully released into the sea.Turtle conservation is being carried out at four turtle nesting beaches in Goa— Morjim and Mandrem in North Goa, and Agonda and Galgibaga in South Goa. Olive Ridley turtles are one of five marine turtles that visit these beaches and lay eggs from November to April.
MARGAO: At a meeting of Congress workers from South Goa at the party's district office in Margao on Monday, it was decided to "rejuvenate" the party from the grassroots and to be the voice of the people. Addressing reporters after the meeting, Viriato Fernandes, a party functionary, said that party workers voiced their anger over the "betrayal of trust of the voters" and "murder of democracy" by the eight Congress MLAs who jumped to BJP recently. "We will go to the grassroots and explain to the people. BJP is the main culprit in this defection. They purchased our MLAs. We will go to all villages across Goa and rejuvenate the party," Fernandes said. He added, "Our foundation is strong, the party ideology is also strong, only those who had come for personal benefits have left." Margao MLA Digambar Kamat particularly came in for sharp criticism at the meeting. "We have to rebuild the party. We have to be the voice of the people and uphold the values of democracy. Our three MLAs will raise the issues of the people in the assembly, the party workers will work at the grassroots. We will take the battle forward," Fernandes said.
Margao: At a meeting of Congress workers from South Goa at the party’s district office in Margao on Monday, it was decided to “rejuvenate” the party from the grassroots and to be the voice of the people.Addressing reporters after the meeting, Viriato Fernandes, a party functionary, said that party workers voiced their anger over the “betrayal of trust of the voters” and “murder of democracy” by the eight Congress MLAs who jumped to BJP recently. “We will go to the grassroots and explain to the people. BJP is the main culprit in this defection. They purchased our MLAs. We will go to all villages across Goa and rejuvenate the party,” Fernandes said.He added, “Our foundation is strong, the party ideology is also strong, only those who had come for personal benefits have left.”Margao MLA Digambar Kamat particularly came in for sharp criticism at the meeting.“We have to rebuild the party. We have to be the voice of the people and uphold the values of democracy. Our three MLAs will raise the issues of the people in the assembly, the party workers will work at the grassroots. We will take the battle forward,” Fernandes said.
PANAJI: With eight Congress MLAs defecting to BJP, the saffron party is eyeing both Lok Sabha seats for the 2024 polls, especially South Goa, which it has historically found tough to secure. BJP currently has 12 MLAs in South Goa, including the three who joined on Wednesday. Former defence minister and chief minister Manohar Parrikar had managed to secure the South Goa seat for BJP in 2014, when he had 21 BJP MLAs and with the support of three MGP MLAs and two independents. Additionally, there was a 'Modi wave'. Five years later, in 2019, BJP lost the seat to Congress by over 9,000 votes. A political observer said that the merger of eight MLAs into BJP has given it an opportunity to once again grab the South Goa seat. "Now, BJP can expect more votes in Mormugao, Nuvem and Margao," the observer said. "An advantage is that MGP too is with BJP. During the last election, MGP had managed to damage BJP after its leader Ramakrishna 'Sudin' Dhavalikar was dropped from the cabinet. BJP should be able to fight the election comfortably, as it also has support from independent MLAs." BJP has so far won the South Goa seat on two occasions, and with an eye on crossing 400 seats in the Parliamentary polls, winning South Goa has become crucial for the state BJP. The party's central leadership too strongly backed the local leadership to allow the entry of Congress MLAs, so that there are no hiccups in winning both the seats. Union minister Narayan Rane has been given the responsibility of winning the South Goa seat for BJP. Of BJP's 28 MLAs, 12 are from the minority community. Now, the party does not require support of any other MLAs. In the 2022 assembly election, BJP won 20 seats and formed the government with the help of independents and MGP. In the 40-member Goa legislative assembly, 21 is the magic number, and with the eight Congress MLAs joining BJP, it has now got an 'absolute' majority in the House. The merger will also help chief minister Pramod Sawant silence opponents in the party vying for the top post.
Panaji: With eight Congress MLAs defecting to BJP, the saffron party is eyeing both Lok Sabha seats for the 2024 polls, especially South Goa, which it has historically found tough to secure.BJP currently has 12 MLAs in South Goa, including the three who joined on Wednesday.Former defence minister and chief minister Manohar Parrikar had managed to secure the South Goa seat for BJP in 2014, when he had 21 BJP MLAs and with the support of three MGP MLAs and two independents. Additionally, there was a ‘Modi wave’. Five years later, in 2019, BJP lost the seat to Congress by over 9,000 votes.A political observer said that the merger of eight MLAs into BJP has given it an opportunity to once again grab the South Goa seat.“Now, BJP can expect more votes in Mormugao, Nuvem and Margao,” the observer said. “An advantage is that MGP too is with BJP. During the last election, MGP had managed to damage BJP after its leader Ramakrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar was dropped from the cabinet. BJP should be able to fight the election comfortably, as it also has support from independent MLAs.”BJP has so far won the South Goa seat on two occasions, and with an eye on crossing 400 seats in the Parliamentary polls, winning South Goa has become crucial for the state BJP. The party’s central leadership too strongly backed the local leadership to allow the entry of Congress MLAs, so that there are no hiccups in winning both the seats.Union minister Narayan Rane has been given the responsibility of winning the South Goa seat for BJP.Of BJP’s 28 MLAs, 12 are from the minority community. Now, the party does not require support of any other MLAs. In the 2022 assembly election, BJP won 20 seats and formed the government with the help of independents and MGP. In the 40-member Goa legislative assembly, 21 is the magic number, and with the eight Congress MLAs joining BJP, it has now got an ‘absolute’ majority in the House.The merger will also help chief minister Pramod Sawant silence opponents in the party vying for the top post.
PANAJI: Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane on Saturday said that with 12 MLAs in South Goa and the BJP government in the state, the party is confident of winning the South Goa seat for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He also expressed confidence that that BJP will win both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa. “BJP will 100% win the South Goa seat,” Rane said. Till date, BJP has won the South Goa seat only on two occasions. Currently, the seat is represented by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha. Rane said that MGP will support the BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha election.When asked if BJP wants to increase its MLAs in South Goa, Rane said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in every state, somethings happen automatically and we don’t have to make an effort. But it happens in the name of Modi. It takes time to happen in Goa, but when it happens, it happens effectively.” BJP has appointed Rane to oversee two Lok Sabha constituencies, including South Goa and South Mumbai.
PANAJI: Union minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) Narayan Rane on Saturday said that with 12 MLAs in South Goa and the BJP government in the state, the party is confident of winning the South Goa seat for the Lok Sabha election. Rane also expressed confidence that that BJP will win both the Lok Sabha seats in Goa. “BJP will 100% win the South Goa seat,” Rane said. Till date, BJP has won the South Goa seat only on two occasions. Currently, the seat is represented by Congress MP Francisco Sardinha. Rane said that MGP will support the BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha election. When asked if BJP wants to increase its MLAs in South Goa, Rane said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in every state, somethings happen automatically and we don’t have to make an effort. But it happens in the name of Modi. It takes time to happen in Goa, but when it happens, it happens effectively.”
Margao: South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, reacting to the recent Curchorem murder case linked to illegal sand extraction, said that the government should take immediate steps to regularise sand mining by earmarking sand extraction sites.“Sand is an essential commodity for any construction activity. Besides if sand is not extracted siltation will occur in river channels. Sand extraction by traditional methods should be allowed to resume. Use of machines for illegal extraction of sand has led to destruction of bunds,” Sardinha said while addressing reporters at Congress’ South Goa office in Margao, on Thursday. He demanded that the sand extraction by traditional methods be permitted with restrictions such as not being carried out in the vicinity of bunds or bridges. On the land grabbing investigation by SIT, Sardinha said,“I urge the chief minister to set a time frame for SIT to conclude the investigations. Officials involved in land grab cases should be brought to task.” Sardinha said that law and order was fast-deteriorating with proliferation of drugs and rise in murders, “The day will not be far when a Goan staying abroad will feel ashamed to call himself a Goan.” He demanded the chief minister tighten his grip on the administration. He also demanded that potholes be repaired and roads asphalted.
Panaji: With sand and laterite stones in shortage for construction activities, chief minister Pramod Sawant on Monday directed the mines department to process all pending applications pertaining to minor minerals on priority and act against illegal sand mining and illegal laterite stone quarrying.Sawant also directed the mines department to put in place a proper online transit pass system for transportation of sand or other minor minerals from neighbouring states.The CM held a review meeting with the advocate general, chief secretary, DGP, secretaries, collectors, directorate of mines and geology and other senior officers.While ordering strict vigil on illegal mining activities, he also directed that necessary steps be taken to start sand mining through traditional extractors on an urgent basis.
Such family reunions are a striking feature of Ganesh Chaturthi in Goa. (File)Panaji: Bollywood film "Singham Returns" was shot at the 288-year-old Sanvordekar Wada, but it is 'Family Returns' that plays out here every Ganesh Chaturthi, as in many other households in Goa.The mansion at Sanvordem in South Goa district, built in 1734, is abuzz with activity as more than 250 members of the Sanvordekar family have returned to celebrate the Ganesh festival.Such family reunions are a striking feature of the festival in the coastal state."More than 250 members of the family have come together to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi," said Mandar Sanvordekar, a member.The Wada or mansion, spread over 4,000 square meters with 80-odd rooms, four courtyards and four wells, had featured in the 2014 Ajay Devgn-starrer "Singham Returns".Members of the extended Sanvordekar clan are now scattered all over India. One of them, Wing Commander Vishwanath Sanvordekar, served in the Indian Air Force and was a decorated war hero. He died in a plane crash some three decades ago.Sagar Sanvordekar, a retired professional who lives in Mumbai, said he and his family visit the mansion every Ganesh Chaturthi. Each family has its own room in the building.Pranav Sanvordekar said the youngest generation is the 11th one since the mansion was built. "Those who attend the festival are from the seventh to the eleventh generation," he said, claiming that this is one of the oldest joint families in the country.Family members ensure that they contribute to the upkeep of the huge structure. "For the last around 300 years, the family has been contributing for a maintenance fund," he said, adding that its heritage features have been preserved even though it is costly.Kuwelkar family at Raia in South Goa district too has all its members reuniting on Ganesh Chaturthi.Returning to the century-old house for the festival has been a tradition for them, said Dr Saidutt Kuwelkar."The tradition will continue forever. That's the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi," he said.Some families have also defied tradition to break new ground.At the Samant family at Borim in South Goa, 19-year-old Kshitija Samant became the first daughter from the family to perform Ganesh puja.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com"Family members decided that I should be performing puja this year. It is not written anywhere that a girl should not perform puja," she said.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
The ten-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival began in Goa on Wednesday with households installing Ganesh idols at home.The festival is also a time for family reunion for many who have migrated outside.Sanvordekar Wada, a 288-year-old mansion in South Goa’s Sanvordem village, has more than 250 members coming together this time.“The mansion was constructed in 1734 and since then in each generation all family members celebrate the festival under one roof,” said Mandar Sanvordekar, a member of the clan.The palatial house has 80-odd rooms and four courtyards. The members of the extended family are spread across India.The eleventh generation of the family will be celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi in the mansion this time.Buy Now | Our best subscription plan now has a special priceKuwelkar family at Raia in South Goa too has all its members reuniting on the occasion.Returning to the century-old house for Ganesh Chaturthi has been a tradition for them, said Dr Saidutt Kuwelkar.“The tradition will continue forever. That’s the spirit of Ganesh Chaturthi,” he said.Some families have also defied tradition to break new ground.At the Samant family at Borim in South Goa, 19-year-old Kshitija Samant became the first daughter from the family to perform Ganesh puja.“Family members decided that I should be performing puja this year. It is not written anywhere that a girl should not perform puja,” she said.📣 For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and don’t miss out on the latest updates!
