P’yat polls: 5k in fray, 64 elected unopposed

Times of India | 14 hours ago | 28-07-2022 | 01:12 am

Panaji: The state election commission said on Wednesday that after scrutiny and withdrawal of candidates, 5,038 are left in the fray, of which 64 have been elected unopposed. The panel said that 621 candidates withdrew their nomination.Bardez has the highest number of panch members who have been elected unopposed (13), followed by Salcete (11) and Sattari (11).Bardez also tops the list with the most number of candidates, with 995 individuals in the fray for the August 10 polls for 186 village panchayats. The villages in Salcete will see 863 candidates battling it out for a seat in the panchayat.The talukas of Salcete and Bardez comprise 33 village panchayats each.Panchayat elections are not held along party lines, but the two main parties have fielded their karyakartas and supporters for the polls. Legislators in several constituencies ensured that their staunch supporters were elected even before the votes were cast.In Bardez , former Salvador do Mundo sarpanch Sandeep Salgaonkar (ward 2) and former deputy sarpanch Reena Fernandes (ward 3) were declared elected unopposed. This will be their second term as panchayat members, and both are backed by tourism minister Rohan Khaunte.Saligao MLA Kedar Naik also claimed credit for five panch members emerging victorious in Reis Magos on the final day for withdrawal.Archives and archaeology minister Subhash Phal Desai, who represents Sanguem constituency, saw four of his candidates being elected unopposed. Cortalim panch member Manuel Silva is the only candidate to be elected unopposed in Mormugao taluka.

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8 constables suspended for restaurant tiff

Times of India | 14 hours ago | 28-07-2022 | 01:13 am

Times of India

14 hours ago | 28-07-2022 | 01:13 am

Panaji: Eight constables attached to different police stations across the state were suspended on Wednesday, after the owner of a Saligao-based restaurant filed a police complaint against them for abusing him.Police said that on Tuesday the eight constables went out to eat at the restaurant, after which they felt they had been overbilled. This led to an argument between the restaurant owner and the constables. The owner said that the constables then used abusive language and created a ruckus at the restaurant. The owner went on to file a complaint at the Saligao police station.Of those suspended, Prajyot Fadte and Pranesh Fadte were attached to Ponda traffic cell, Jayesh Agarwadekar to Vasco traffic cell, Sunil Mashelkar is a police constable in North Goa district, Vijay Patil and Vasudev Korgaonkar were posted at Vasco, and Sohan Tulaskar and Nitesh Borkar at Panaji.All eight have been suspended pending enquiry.

Validity of beach shack licences to be extended by year

Times of India | 1 day ago | 27-07-2022 | 04:28 am

Times of India

1 day ago | 27-07-2022 | 04:28 am

Panaji: The government has decided to extend the validity of beach shack licences by a year in view of loss of business since March 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic struck. The three-year validity of beach shack licences had ended with the conclusion of the Beach Shack Policy on May 31 this year.Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte told TOI that since most operators failed to earn any business from March 2020 onwards, the government considered their request sympathetically and has decided to allow them to operate for one more year. “There won’t be a fresh allotment of beach shacks for the coming season. They (shack operators) had sought a relaxation for two years, but we have agreed to one year,” Khaunte said. The Shack Owners Welfare Society (SOWS) had earlier petitioned the tourism minister to allow the existing allottees to continue for another two years as a majority of them were unable to even cover the costs of their operations. Although the government had reduced licence fees by 50% during the last two seasons, the operators said it was not sufficient to make up for their losses.Shack operators on certain beach stretches hardly earned any business as UK nationals and other foreigners, who had traditionally formed a major chunk of their clientele, did not travel to Goa owing to pandemic-induced restrictions.Even after the ban on international travel was lifted last year, Goa did not receive a single charter flight from the UK, and a few that were scheduled had subsequently cancelled after India categorised the UK as an “at-risk” nation. Just a few charters came in from Russia and Kazakhstan. SOWS secretary John Lobo said he received queries from several of his repeat UK guests, but they ultimately decided not to travel to India. With India not issuing e-visas to UK travellers, their problems were compounded. “For the coming season too, we will not have UK tourists if the government continues with its old policy,” said Lobo.Most of the beach shacks were compelled to wind up earlier than usual this year due to a drop in business, but those located at popular beaches such as Calangute, Colva, Baga and Arambol did roaring business catering to the huge rush of domestic tourists throughout the season.“Some may not admit it, but shacks at popular beach stretches have seen good days after the third wave subsided in January,” a shack operator said.

Extension of CRZ to boost development of coastal region: Karnataka CM Bommai

The Indian Express | 1 day ago | 26-07-2022 | 05:40 pm

The Indian Express

1 day ago | 26-07-2022 | 05:40 pm

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told media persons in New Delhi Monday that his government has obtained permission for the extension of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). He added that the extension of the CRZ in Karnataka would boost development in the coastal region of the state.“The CRZ exemption limit has been extended in Goa and Kerala states which has helped growth of the hotel and tourism industry in a big way in those states in their coastal region. Serious efforts were made for a similar extension in Karnataka too. Now permission has been obtained from the regional office in Chennai. With this the 330 km long coast in Karnataka would see spurt in economic activity, fishing, tourism and hotel business,” the chief minister’s office said in a press release.The chief minister said discussions have been held with the Union transport minister on the construction of five ring roads in the state. “The Centre has agreed for concessions and GST exemption. The ring road works would be taken up in Raichur, Koppal, Gulbarga, Belagavi and Gadag towns. The Centre has also agreed to clear construction of 24 railway bridges across the state,” Bommai said.Talking about his government’s efforts in increasing employment opportunities in Karnataka, Bommai said: “The Union ministry for textiles and commerce has agreed to give in principle approval for setting up textile parks in Bijapur and Gulbarga. This would open up huge employment opportunities in the region.”During his New Delhi visit, the Karnataka chief minister has also sought clearance for pending proposals for development of ports and marinas (dock for small boats). This included 27 proposals under the Sagarmala project with a total expenditure of Rs 1,800 crore.“The Kali Waterway project would be cleared immediately upon submitting the DPR. The Union minister has assured clearance for Angaraghatta to Manipal waterway for which the DPR is being prepared. Feasibility funds would be provided for development of marinas in Baindur, Malpe and Mangaluru, which would give a big push for tourism and economic activities. Tenders would be invited for the project within the next 8-10 days. The project would be discussed at the Global Investors Meet to be held in November,” Bommai said.The chief minister further said he is scheduled to meet Union minister Bhupender Singh Yadav Tuesday evening to highlight Karnataka’s objections against the implementation of the Kasturirangan report on eco-sensitive areas.Bommai said BJP national president JP Nadda would inaugurate a convention titled ‘Janotsava’ in Doddaballapur to mark the first anniversary of his government on July 28.

After Centre’s snub, MPT looks to get pvt player on board for mobile harbour crane

Times of India | 2 days ago | 26-07-2022 | 04:13 am

Times of India

2 days ago | 26-07-2022 | 04:13 am

Panaji: The Centre has rejected Mormugao Port Authority’s (MPA) proposal for funding under the Sagarmala scheme to purchase a mobile harbour crane and has instead recommended that the port must go through the public-private partnership (PPP) route. MPA will now attempt to get a private player on board through a revenue sharing model for a period of 10 years, but this process could take at least six months, said MPA chairman Venkata Ramana Akkaraju. Akkaraju provided this information to a Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry delegation that went to discuss the infrastructure gaps at the port. “The chairman said that a tender will be floated at the end of July where a new crane will be mobilised for a period of 10 years on a revenue sharing model, but that the whole process might take up to six months to complete,” said a GCCI office bearer privy to the meeting. “He also informed that a proposal for funding a crane was put forth under the Sagarmala scheme, but it was not approved stating that the port should try sourcing the crane via the PPP model.” The GCCI delegation comprised Chandrakant Gawas, Dhirendra Thakker and Sanket Kaskar. The purpose of the meeting was to urge MPA to develop port infrastructure. Gawas informed the MPA chairman about the lack of regulatory authorities at the port to issue important clearances in the movement of cargo. “According to the export-import procedures, there should be six government partnered agencies which include drug controller, animal quarantine, plant quarantine and truck controller that should be present at the port to issue clearances, but currently, there are none who are authorised to sign the clearances,” said Gawas. Akkaraju said that due to the insignificant cargo movement, it is not feasible for regulatory authorities to be present at the port. Akkaraju said that increasing the cargo volume should be the first priority. GCCI pointed out that even though Goa has a significant number of pharmaceutical industries that source raw material and manufacture medicines and medical test kits, the companies are forced to ship the cargo through JNPT or Chennai port. Gawas informed Akkaraju that the GMR Group is willing to support MPA in any way required so that both the water and air modes of transport can be used for the logistics sector. A GCCI delegation, along with Akkaraju and deputy chairman MPA Guruprasad Rai, met with minister for state for tourism and ports Shripad Naik and also requested him to resolve the long-pending issues.

Poor monitoring turns Sattari waterfalls into death traps

Times of India | 3 days ago | 25-07-2022 | 04:50 am

Times of India

3 days ago | 25-07-2022 | 04:50 am

Keri: Every monsoon, the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary in Sattari attracts several people to its waterfalls. However, lack of discipline and cautiousness, besides apathy of the government authorities to keep a check, are turning these hidden gems into death traps. Earlier this month, two college youths from Vasco died at Tonir waterfalls in Caranzol, Sattari. Range forest officer of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary Deepak Tandel said, “Our staff make efforts to restrain people from venturing into the inaccessible and remote areas. We expect coordinated initiatives from other agencies to establish law and order.” Vitthal Shelke, a wildlifer from Sattari, said, “The forest department should collect entrance fees that can be used in ensuring cleanliness as well as deploying locals as the lifeguards and trackers. There is also a need to install sign boards warning against venturing into deep pools of water and risky areas.” In 2016, a youth from Taleigao, in 2017 one from Kundaim and two more from Karapur in 2019 drowned at waterfalls in Sattari. Last year, a youth from Vasco, died by drowning in the Jalavticho ozar and it took almost four days to bring his body from the inaccessible spot to Surla in Sattari. “During the assembly session, Poriem MLA Deviya Rane spoke about the hinterland tourism. However, absence of sound and systematic model of eco-tourism will result in chaos and misbehaviour besides spoiling the peace and tranquillity of the Mhadei sanctuary,” Shelke said.

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