Negligence of safety rules nothing short of playing with fire, says HC

Times of India | 4 days ago | 12-01-2023 | 06:12 am

PANAJI: Observing that negligence in compliance of fire safety requirements and failure to undertake fire audit “is nothing short of playing with fire”, the high court of Bombay at Goa recently directed strict compliance of fire safety norms provided under the Goa Land Developmentand Building Construction Regulations, 2010. The court called on authorities to ensure that industrial buildings of all categories temporary or permanent strictly adhere to fire safety norms including installation of fire safety equipment, stating that there shall be periodic inspection of such compliance, by categorising the industries on the basis of their vulnerability to such hazards in context of the nature of their activities.It issued directions of strict compliance to the government, North and South Goa planning and development authorities, the CCP commissioner, chief officers of municipal councils, directorate of panchayats, and all town and country planning authorities. The division bench comprising justices G S Kulkarni and Bharat P Deshpande, in the order pronounced on December 15, directed the appointment of a nodal officer/group of officers who can consider periodic inspection of installations, maintenance and compliances of fire safety norms in respect of special buildings like hospitals having indoor patients, schools and colleges, theatres, multiplexes and cinema houses, public auditoriums, public buildings, and hotels.Amicus curiae Neha Shirodkar told TOI that it is of utmost importance that strict statutory compliances are complied with, with regards to part-IV of the National Building Code of India, which has extensive fire safety rules. “If due compliance is met along with regular fire audits conducted, both life and property can be saved,” she stated. The HC also directed that a database be maintained indicating data of fire safety compliance and inspection regarding compliance of fire safety norms by high rise buildings, schools and colleges, theatres, public buildings, hotels, lodging and boarding houses, and added that this be “provided on the official website”.

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Goa govt to extend ECs of earlier leases to quicken mining restart

Times of India | 7 hours ago | 16-01-2023 | 07:52 am

Times of India

7 hours ago | 16-01-2023 | 07:52 am

PANAJI: The state government has decided to extend the environment clearance (EC) obtained by earlier lessees of 88 mining leases for two years, so that those who win the auction can start mining activities immediately. “We will put a clause in new tender documents of mining lease auctions that the earlier EC can be used for two years, and that they (those who win) have to obtain a new EC within two years,” chief minister Pramod Sawant told TOI.He also said that when mining came to a halt in March 2018, the ECs of 88 mining leases were valid, and the same EC will be allowed to be used by successful bidders for the next two years. However, he said that the “New decision will not be implemented for the four blocks already auctioned by the state government”. The state will auction seven more mining leases this month. The Supreme Court had quashed the second renewal of 88 mining leases in 2018, and since then, the state has been trying to restart mining. A senior official said that if the earlier ECs are not extended, it will take at least another two years to start mining activities as successful bidders would have to apply for fresh ECs.The state government is likely to auction mining leases required to initially meet the capping limit of 30 million tonnes of iron ore extraction, a limit recommended by the expert committee constituted by the Supreme Court. Earlier, the SC had allowed an annual cap of 20 million tonnes. “We will approach the apex court to seek permission to increase the capping limit to 30 million tonnes based on the report,” a senior official said, adding that the leases will be auctioned based on the capping limit. Recently, the state government successfully completed the auction of four mining leases, three in North Goa and one in South Goa. All the mining leases have been retained by Goa-based mining companies.

Goa govt takes measures to mitigate lumpy skin disease in cattle

Times of India | 4 days ago | 12-01-2023 | 06:28 am

Times of India

4 days ago | 12-01-2023 | 06:28 am

PANAJI: In order to minimise the economic impact of the outbreak of lumpy skin disease (LSD) and to control its spread, the directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services (AHVS) undertook two rounds of mass prophylactic vaccination against the disease on healthy animals.In addition, deworming tablets were distributed to dairy farmers free of cost and emergency medicines were procured and supplied to field establishments for judicious use in healthy and infected animals.The AHVS said that it has requisitioned the central government for additional vaccines.Previously, all LSD vaccines were purchased by the state government.Various measures to combat LSD such as the formation of a dedicated rapid response team for the North and South Goa districts, were also initiated. All affected animals were treated by the area veterinary officers, and a district level monitoring committee was formed for both districts under the chairmanship of the collectors.The health authorities also undertook fogging and disinfection of affected areas under the supervision of the collector and village panchayat authorities. Area veterinary officers sensitised locals and dairy farmers about LSD, both individually and at the village panchayat level. “Surveillance is also being undertaken, and the animal population is being monitored. The state is awaiting the centralised plan for LSD ,” the AHVS said.Besides LSD, a mass vaccination programme is under way for brucellosis, and vaccination will commence shortly for foot and mouth disease (FMD). Till date 18 rounds of mass vaccination have been undertaken for FMD.

Scrap Margao ODP 2031 for breach in procedure: Greens

Times of India | 4 days ago | 12-01-2023 | 02:40 am

Times of India

4 days ago | 12-01-2023 | 02:40 am

Margao: Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir, an organisation of environment activists, has demanded that the draft Outline Development Plan (ODP) 2031 for Margao be scrapped on the grounds that the document was in breach of procedural requirements and contained cartographical errors. Pointing to the Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and lmplementation (URDPFI) Guidelines published by Union ministry of urban development, the organisation in its objections submitted to the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) said, “These 2015 guidelines require preparation and finalisation of Perspective Plan, Regional Plan, Development Plan and Land Use Policy for the state before getting Into micro-city level planning like this draft ODP. This procedural breach is a serious procedural blunder committed by your office. ”Pointing to some cartographic errors in the plan, the organisation said, “It is clear that the private company has no cartographic competence and allowing such a company to prepare Margao draft ODP is another major blunder.”Stating that there was no public consultation while preparing the plan, it pointed out that the draft ODP has “done away with projection of heritage sites in Margao instead of promoting and protecting them”.“The draft ODP signals reduced green lungs of the town, filling up of low-lying areas and comunidade paddy fields for the vested interests of real estate lobby,” the letter further adds.“Paddy fields behind MLA Vijai Sardesai’s residence in Fatorda is shown as settlement zone, defying yet another recognition for green and cultivable land,” states the letter further, adding that part of Rajendra Prasad stadium is shown as commercial (C2) with 150 Floor Area Ratio (FAR) while paddy fields at many places are marked as commercial zones.

‘Don’t fly kites near Dabolim airport’

Times of India | 5 days ago | 11-01-2023 | 04:26 am

Times of India

5 days ago | 11-01-2023 | 04:26 am

Margao: The South Goa district magistrate has directed the public to refrain from flying kites or any such objects in the vicinity of Goa International Airport at Dabolim. The collector said, “Instances of kites/objects being flown near or within the airport boundary have serious implications on flight safety. When the aircraft is in the critical phase of landing or take-off, presence of objects is considered detrimental.”

Margao councillor urges Kannadigas in Goa to join battle to save Mhadei

Times of India | 1 week ago | 06-01-2023 | 11:50 pm

Times of India

1 week ago | 06-01-2023 | 11:50 pm

Margao: The special meeting of the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) held on Friday over the Mhadei river issue took an amusing turn midway through the proceedings as councillors from both sides of the political divide engaged in mudslinging, each trying to outdo the other in proving one’s political allegiance. Peace was restored only after chairperson Damodar Shirodkar warned of concluding the meeting if the councillors failed to maintain decorum.Trouble began when BJP councillor Camilo Barreto stood up to speak on the issue and began congratulating chief minister Pramod Sawant for the “various steps he has taken to protect Goa’s interests” over the Mhadei issue. When GFP councillor Pooja Naik interrupted him and claimed that it was GFP alone that had consistently raised the Mhadei issue, Barreto accused the regional outfit of doing nothing about the Mhadei when it was a part of the government. As a war of words ensued, other GFP councillors joined in as barbs and innuendos were freely exchanged. After normalcy was restored, rest of the councillors, even those who are usually reticent, spoke passionately about the need to prevent the Mhadei’s diversion by Karnataka.Ghanashyam Shirodkar sounded caution that South Goa could also face prospects of rationed water if the Mhadei was diverted.Sadananad Naik urged the Kannadigas staying in Goa to join Goans in their battle to save the Mhadei.Sagun Naik advocated the need for all to rise as one by sinking all political differences for this cause. Shirodkar later told reporters that the resolution pledging the council’s support to the state govern-ment in its fight over the Mhadei issue was passed unanimously and would be sent to the chief minister, Prime Minister, home minister, and union minister for water resources.

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