Don’t waste food, donate surplus to shelters, banks: FDA to stakeholders

Times of India | 12 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 04:36 am

Panaji: To tackle surplus food generation and enable proper donation of excess food to shelters and banks, the directorate of food and drugs administration (FDA) held a meeting with stakeholders on Thursday. The FDA discussed the ‘Save Food, Share Food, Share Joy Initiative’ with representatives from the restaurant association, Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, catering association and pharma companies. They want all surplus to be donated through approved food recovery agencies.“The secretary of the catering association said it is willing to mobilise restaurants in Panaji. However, it requires a community food collection point (cold storage facility) to deposit food with the help of the Corporation of the City of Panaji and Smart City,” FDA director Jyoti Sardesai said. An NGO said it is willing to pick up the food that goes to waste as long as the FDA issues instructions to caterers and food providers.

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KTC revises fares for pass system

Times of India | 12 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 04:34 am

Times of India

12 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 04:34 am

Panaji: Starting next month, commuters travelling by the state-run Kadamba Transport Corporation buses will have to pay revised fares for the bus pass system. The monthly Concessional Pass Scheme has been revised, following which concession for students, senior citizens and the general public will be changed with effect from November 1, onwards.The public can avail a new pass or renew the existing pass at the KTC pass counters at Sanquelim, Mapusa, Panaji, Ponda, Vasco, Margao, Curchorem and Canacona respectively.For weekly pass, the revised percentage of concession for students and senior citizens is 60%, while for general commuters it is 20%.For fortnightly pass, the revised percentage of concession for students and senior citizens is 65% and 30% for general commuters. For monthly pass, the revised percentage of concession for students and senior citizen is 70% and 40% for general commuters.

Goa’s first solar ferry to be operational before Iffi

Times of India | 12 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 04:30 am

Times of India

12 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 04:30 am

Panaji: Goa’s first electric-cum-solar ferry boat which was launched earlier this month will be operational before the start of the International Film Festival of India (Iffi) in Panaji. The Captain of Ports (CoP) has set a 15-day deadline to start operations of the unique ferry service which will ply from Panaji jetty to Chorao Island.“The Chorao side of the floating jetty is almost in place with just its anchoring pending. Only technical checks are left to be done. It should take us another 15 days,” captain of ports James Braganza told TOI.Meetings with the Chorao panchayat are under way by CoP and the river navigation department (RND) to determine the fee for the service. “We will work out the costing for the ferry by taking the villagers into confidence,” Braganza said.The upgraded jetty on the Panaji side of the Mandovi will be used by passengers to disembark from the ferry boat. The hybrid vessel will have an operational speed of 12 knots and can accommodate around 100 people with a seating capacity of 60 and standing capacity for 40 people.“The ferry is exclusively for passengers and vehicles will not be allowed onboard,” he said. “Based on the trial run of the hybrid ferry, RND will decide if more solar ferries have to be ordered.”Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant had inaugurated the solar ferry two weeks ago.“For 15 days the service will be free and after that we will charge passengers. We will decide the ticket price,” Sawant had said at the inauguration.The cost is expected to be at least four times that of the regular ferry service, sources said. Iffi is scheduled to be held in Goa, with the main event in Panaji, from November 20 onwards.

Goa seeks central aid for coastal policing

Times of India | 14 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 02:40 am

Times of India

14 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 02:40 am

Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant has requested the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to provide central assistance for acquiring modern equipment and high-speed boats to patrol the coast. Sawant placed Goa’s request before the MHA at a two-day brainstorming session on internal security at Surajkund, Faridabad on Thursday. In his address, Sawant listed various initiatives undertaken by his government to modernise the state police force.In December last year, Goa police introduced a pink police force to prevent crime against women. Sawant also informed the gathering that of the 700 Nigerian nationals that were found to be illegally staying in the state, 650 were deported and efforts were being made to send balance to their home country. Chief ministers, home ministers and senior police officials of several states attended the event chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah.

Dona Paula jetty to reopen for tourists on Dec 1

Times of India | 14 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 02:40 am

Times of India

14 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 02:40 am

Panaji: Revenue minister Atanasio Monserrate on Thursday announced that Dona Paula jetty, which had been closed for public and tourists for the past few years as it was being rebuilt, will be opened on December 1.“We have fixed a deadline, and by December 1 all things will be put in place,” said Monserrate after a meeting with tourism minister Rohan Khaunte.The jetty has been reconstructed by the tourism department and will have facilities for tourists which were missing at the old jetty.While replying to media queries, the revenue minister said the tourism department will be able to elaborate about the type of facilities that will be made available at the new jetty.The Dona Paula jetty had been one of the biggest tourist attractions in the state till it was shut for reconstruction.Several kiosks also operated from the jetty, and attempts to evict them in the past were opposed.When queried over the future of the kiosk operators, Monserrate evaded a clear reply, stating that everything will be in place by December 1.

Khaunte firm on jetty policy, says it’s only for tourism-related activities

Times of India | 14 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 02:40 am

Times of India

14 hours ago | 28-10-2022 | 02:40 am

Panaji: Following protests by activists and citizens claiming that the proposed jetty policy is against the interests of locals and that it would be detrimental to the ecology, tourism minister Rohan Khaunte on Thursday said that the policy will be introduced, however, it will be renamed as 'tourism jetty policy'.“We will come out with the jetty policy. But let it be clear to all that it will be a tourism jetty policy,” said Khaunte.“Some say that the jetty policy is being formulated for the benefit of coal transportation. But we are clear that it (policy) is only for jetties which are in operation for tourism activities. We want to regulate those activities and remove touts,” he said.The tourism minister also stated that his ministry has already commenced action against touts at the jetties.“Whatever amendments in the laws that need to be done to streamline the activities, will be undertaken,” he said.Meanwhile, Rainbow Warriors, an association of environmental activists, joined by other not-for-profit organisations, have planned a bike rally in Panaji on Sunday to continue their opposition to the proposed jetty policy.The draft policy has been kept open for suggestions and objections till the end of this month. The deadline to receive objections was extended for the second time 10 days ago after voluntary organisations along with political parties protested outside the tourism department.Though Khaunte has consistently stated that the jetty policy has been proposed to weed out illegal operators, those opposing it are not convinced.

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