Citizens question shelving of Old Goa masterplans

Times of India | 1 year ago | 14-12-2021 | 04:12 am

Panaji: While the satyagraha at Old Goa entered its 20th day, many citizens from the Quepem and Calangute constituencies joined the fast as issues of a masterplan for the old city and demolition of an illegal structure resurfaced on Monday. A significant part of the issues raised during the satyagraha on Monday was the plan prepared for Old Goa in 2016 by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), an organisation pursuing heritage awareness and conservation. Another plan was prepared for the former capital by the Charles Correa Foundation with former chief town planner Edgar Ribeiro, in 2020. “Why have all these masterplans been shelved?” Alton D’Costa from Quepem asked. He was among citizens from Quitol, Fatorpa, Barcem and Quepem who showed solidarity to the ongoing hunger strike. Others were from Arpora, Parra, Calangue and Candolim. The Save Old Goa Action Committee, a group of activists and heritage lovers, has been demanding a masterplan for Old Goa since 2011. Haphazard development continued as the world heritage site was stripped of green cover, impacting the character of the place. D’Costa urged deputy chief minister Chandrakant Kavlekar, who holds the town and country planning portfolio, to update the regional plan within a week in order to protect Old Goa. While residents of Calangute wondered about the seriousness of their MLA Michael Lobo’s demand for demolition of the illegal structure in the protected area, they reiterated their stand on getting the site cleared up. Although the Old Goa panchayat has initiated the process for it, it has been progressing at a slow pace, the citizens said.

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Restaurant in CRZ at Calangute razed

Times of India | 7 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 08:49 am

Times of India

7 hours ago | 31-01-2023 | 08:49 am

CALANGUTE: A restaurant constructed in the CRZ no-development zone at the Calangute beach entrance was demolished on Monday.The restaurant next to Souza Lobo restaurant was demolished by the North Goa district demolition squad following a complaint lodged by the Calangute panchayat with the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) and other authorities a few years ago.The restaurant was illegally constructed in the no-development zone by flouting CRZ rules, said Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira. The demolition started around 10am on Monday in the presence of the block development officer, Mapusa, and other officials, including a large number of policemen. Most of the construction in the 134sqm property was demolished by afternoon.

Sudin: India is most vibrant democracy

Times of India | 3 days ago | 28-01-2023 | 04:38 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 28-01-2023 | 04:38 am

Ponda: Power minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar said that India’s biggest achievement is that it continues to be the largest and most vibrant democratic country in the world. He was speaking after unfurling the tricolour to mark the 74th Republic Day at a programme held at Government Sports Complex, Borimol, Quepem.Stating that Republic Day is an occasion to remember all those who laid down their lives for the nation, Dhavalikar said that democracy is strengthened due to the Constitution provided by B R Ambekar. “India is recognised as a vibrant democracy in the world. The progress made by the country in the last 74 years was only due to the Constitution. The Constitution gave due justice to all the constituents,” he said.“The country has done exceptional work in every field, be it infrastructure, water supply, water resources, education, justice system or the arts. It is the responsibility of every citizen to stop the unconstitutional things that happen while considering the security of the country,” he added.He said that though Goa was liberated in 1961, 14 years after India gained independence, the state has done “exceedingly well in all the fields”.

Rs 20 crore project will improve water supply to Calangute-Candolim: Lobo

Times of India | 3 days ago | 28-01-2023 | 02:40 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 28-01-2023 | 02:40 am

Calangute: The water shortage in the Calangute-Candolim beach belt will be resolved with the commissioning of the Rs 20 crore water treatment plant and pumping station projects, said Calangute MLA Michael Lobo recently.The water treatment plant, which is coming up at the Pilerne Industrial Estate, is nearing completion and the government has identified land at Calangute to set up the water pumping station. The pumping station will pump water from the Tillari project to the treatment plant. Land for the pump house has been identified at Boa Viagem at Calangute alongside Chogm road and is to be acquired from the Calangute comunidade. “We had a meeting with the comunidade. They had some issues which we will settle,” said WRD chief engineer Pramod Badami.Lobo said the comunidade demanded that the WRD first revive the redevelopment work of the Baga nullah starting at the ‘Fondyar’ water body at Khobrawaddo before they give an NOC for building the pumping station. “The Calangute comunidade wants the nullah work to start again because it’s in the interest of the village as water gets stagnated there. It is now being revived,” Lobo said.“The height of the reservoir at Pilerne is 80m. From here, the water will flow down to Calangute, Candolim and surrounding areas. The pressure will be more than enough. The water will go to all houses, hotels and we will have ample water,” Lobo said during an inspection of the proposed pumping station site.

French Actor Claims She's Being Held Hostage In Goa Home Over Property Row

Ndtv | 3 days ago | 27-01-2023 | 06:10 pm

Ndtv

3 days ago | 27-01-2023 | 06:10 pm

Marianne Borgo alleged she is being held "hostage" in the house for the last three days. (File)Panaji: A 75-year-old French actor has alleged she is being held "hostage" in her house at Calangute in North Goa since earlier this week over a property dispute and finds herself in a "dangerous situation". The Goa police have expressed reluctance to intervene in the matter, saying the dispute related to the house is civil in nature and is being heard by a court.In a video released to the media on Thursday, actor Marianne Borgo has claimed she is in a "scary and dangerous situation" at her residence in Calangute, a beach town near Panaji which is popular with tourists.People staking claim to her property have disconnected electricity and water connections to her home and she has been forced to live in dark, she said.The actor alleged she is being held "hostage" in the house for the last three days.Ms Borgo said she had bought the house for "happiness, peace and for retirement", but the last few days had been horrendous.One of Ms Borgo's friends said the septuagenarian actor had filed a case for injunction in the trial court to support her legal claim to the house that she bought in 2008 from a lawyer, Francisco Sousa, who has since died.The main gate of the house has been blocked and no one except the maid is being allowed to enter the premises, she said.The actor's lawyer, Benny Nazarenth, said the matter is sub judice and pending before the civil court in Mapusa town.Meanwhile, the Calangute police have said they have a limited role to play in the matter as it is being heard by the court."Whenever she (Borgo) has called for help, police teams have rushed to the spot. But the police do not have any role to play in a matter which is essentially civil in nature," Inspector Dattaguru Sawant of the Calangute police station said.Trained at the Paris-based Centre d'Arte Dramatique and Conservatoire National d'Arte Dramatique (National Academy of Dramatic Arts), Ms Borgo has worked extensively in films, television and theatre across Europe and India.Her credits include the original "The Bourne Identity", "A Little Princess", and Franco-American rom-com/drama "Le Divorce" alongside Kate Hudson, Glenn Close and Stephen Fry.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comShe was a recurring character in the French thriller series "Profilage", and most recently led in the Indian production "Danny Goes Aum".(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayLollapalooza Artist Madeon Talks Eating Dosas, Listening To Prateek Kuhad

The weekend saw five rescues including one kayaker

Times of India | 4 days ago | 26-01-2023 | 08:21 pm

Times of India

4 days ago | 26-01-2023 | 08:21 pm

Five rescues were reported on Goa's coastal belt, including one involving a kayaker from Kolkata, who was rescued off Palolem beach, while a double rescue was reported off Calangute beach. Drishti lifesavers are stationed along the shoreline to ensure safety and security of beachgoers. Drishti lifesavers stationed at Calangute beach urged two male residents from Hyderabad, aged 23 and 30, to avoid going into the sea. Despite the lifesavers' efforts to warn them, the two were caught in a powerful rip current, endangering their lives. Siddhesh and Sujan, Drishti lifesavers, were alerted to the incident and rushed to their rescue. The duo was successfully carried back to shore with the help of a rescue tube and a surfboard. Palolem beach witnessed the rescue of a 30-year-old male from Kolkata. The person was kayaking when he lost control, leaving him in distress. Pandurang, a Drishti lifesaver on duty, seeing a sudden commotion in the sea and left the shore on a jetski to rescue the man.A 38-year-old male from Delhi found himself at the mercy of rough rip currents at Anjuna beach. The male was part of a group that ventured in the deeper sections of the water. The group began to separate as the current pulled them further away from each other. Krishna, the Drishti lifesaver on duty, rushed to ensure the situation was under control. The man was engulfed by a huge wave leaving him struggling to swim back to shore. A surfboard was used in this rescue.A 25-year-old female from Pune was found stranded on the rocky sections at Sinquerim beach. The incident was brought to the notice of the Drishti lifesavers at the time of beach closure. They noticed a woman signalling to them her unwillingness to swim back to shore from the rocky outcropping due to her fear of injury. Rameshwar, a Drishti rescuer, utilised a rescue tube to ensure the woman was safely returned to shore.a

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