PORVORIM: Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has undertaken a drive since Tuesday to impound stray cattle wandering on the streets of Mapusa.
These impounded cattle are being kept in the shed in the Municipal garage.
Justifying the drive, MMC Chief Officer
Hanumant Torasker said: "We had received several complaints from the public regarding stray cattle, since these animals wander or squatt on roads and have become a nuisance to motorists especially at night.
"Several two wheeler riders have been seriously hurt after colliding with stray cattle. Besides, there is also directive from the High Court to impound stray cattle. The MMC has started this drive which will continue for at least a week," he added.
Torasker said the MMC would return the impounded cattle to its owner on payment of a fine.
"MMC will retain these stray cattle for about 10-15 days and if the stray cattle is not reclaimed by its owner, the MMC will auction the impounded animals. The MMC will also publish a notice in the press advising people not to allow their cattle to wander on the roads," said Torasker.
No clear identity for this police station!
BICHOLIM: It was, quite literally, for practical purposes a police station without a name and visitors and tourists had no way of identifying one particular government building as the Bicholim police station.
However, common sense finally prevailed and authorities belatedly affixed a board to identify the Bicholim police station.
It may be recalled that the Bicholim police did not have any name board since the last many years. The earlier large name board displayed at the entrance of the police station had fallen down and no attempt had been made to install a new one.
Incidentally, the new board is tied to an electricity pole with the help of a pipe and some strings, leading one to suspect the durability of the name board.
DKA to organise lecture
PANJIM: In order to commemorate the memory of its First President late Fr Freddy J da Costa, Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) will organize 'Fr. Freddy J. da Costa Memorial Lecture', on July 19 on the eve of his birth anniversary. Dean of Philosophy and Professor of Rachol Seminary Dr (Fr.) Victor Ferrao will deliver Fr Freddy J da Costa Memorial lecture on 'Romi Lipintlem Konknni Sahitya: Kal ani Az' (Konknni Literature in Romi Script; Yesterday and Today).
Dr Victor was the first Indian who was awarded PhD in Science and Religion for his thesis "Involving God in an Evolving Universe - Dialogue between Science and Religion.' He has presented his scholarly papers at regional and national forums as well as at international conferences in South Asia and South Korea. Author of Being A Goan Christian - the Politics of Identity, Rift and Synthesis, Dr Ferrao has contributed in depth articles to various journals of Government of India and Association of Christian Philosophers of India (ACPI).
President of DKA Premanand A Lotlikar will preside over the function. The function will be held at Tiatr Akademi Goa's Auditorium, Campal, Panjim at 4.30pm.
Chimbel gram sabha
PANJIM: The gram sabha of Chimbel panchayat will be held on July 29 at the village panchayat hall. The agenda for the meeting is to read and confirm the proceedings of the previous gram sabha, review of development work, discussion on proposals received from the villagers and any other subject with the permission of the chairperson.
If anybody desires to place proposal for discussion, he/she can submit the same in writing to the panchayat office during office hours, upto July 26 at 12 noon. The proposals received after the above date and time will not be considered.
Raikar: Students’ commitment, hardwork leads to success
PONDA: Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry President Manguirish N Pai Raiker has said a deep commitment and hard work by students always lead to success. He was speaking at the felicitation function of meritorious SSC students on the occasion of the 3rd Annual General Body meeting of the Ex-Students Association of St Mary’s High School, Ponda, on Sunday.
Raikar said alumni contribution would play an important role in the development of educational institutions.
“The Alumni Association is a platform provided to the alumni to pay their gratitude to the Alma Mater for all that they are today. It also enables in creating a sense of togetherness and belonging for the alumni who have, by now fanned out all over the world,” he said.
The Association felicitated extra-curricular excellence achievers ex-principal Sr Annie Paul in recognition of her contribution and Lalan P Parsekar who is retiring after 40 years of service by chief guest. Sr Annie and Lalan narrated their experiences in the school.
Students who have excelled at the National and State level activities in Sports, Art and Culture, etc, during the last academic year 2011-12 were also felicitated.
Association Vice President John Aguiar whose name has been announced for President’s Home Guard and Civil Defence Medal was also honoured.
Goods stolen from car at Ponda
PONDA: A laptop, two mobile phones and a digital camera were stolen from a car parked near a restaurant in Bethora-Ponda on Monday night. In his complaint, Vincy D’Souza of Dhavali-Ponda told Ponda police that he had gone to a restaurant near Sapna Plaza, Bethora for dinner at 9 pm and had parked his car (GA-05-B-5738) outside the restaurant. On his return after dinner, D’Souza was shocked to find side glass of car door removed and his electronic items missing from the car. Ponda police is investigating the case.
Mickky’s assault case adjourned
MARGAO: The South Goa Sessions court on Tuesday adjourned hearing of the revision appeal filed by Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco against his conviction in the electricity Junior Engineer assault case.
When the matter came up for hearing before Additional Sessions Judge Vijaya Pol, neither Mickky nor his lawyer Adv Surendra Desai were present in the court room, prompting the Judge to question their lawyer when they will advance their arguments in the case.
While adjourning the matter to August 31, Judge Pol posted the case for arguments.
Mickky had filed the revision application against the order passed by the Assistant Sessions Judge, upholding his conviction by Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao for the assault on the junior engineer.
Residential house collapses at Margao
MARGAO: A residential house collapsed at the Old Market, Margao last night, destroying property worth over Rs one lakh.
The incident occurred at around 1 am on Tuesday when the roof came crashing down. The two inmates escaped with minor injuries as the tiles landed on them while they were fast asleep. The brother-sister duo later moved out of the house for their safety.
The incident left a refrigerator, furniture and other household items, causing loss of Rs one lakh.
A social worker Inez Viegas said the authorities should take cognizance of the incident and help the affected family saying they have no other place to live.
Govt plans funds allocation for Dona Paula IT habitat
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has disclosed that the government has plans to allocate funds for infrastructure development of the IT Habitat situated at Dona Paula, while also disclosing that the government has no plans to create new IT parks.
Partrikar who is also minister for Information Technology said state government proposes to have a separate Investment Policy in the IT sector to encourage IT industry in the State of Goa , in a written reply to the Goa Assembly, Tuesday.
It was further disclosed that at present the government has no plans to create new IT parks which could generate employment for the educated youth who are seeking employment in the IT sector outside Goa, nor has any location been identified for new IT parks.
Goa milk consumption far outnumbers production
PANJIM: Indicating tremendous scope for dairy farming, it has been revealed in the Goa assembly that Goa consumes 16.42 crore litres of milk, while it only produces 2.19 crore litres of milk, making it a milk deficit state.
Also the state offers a higher support price for milk purchased from local milk producers compared to the rate of cow’s milk per litre procured from outside but buffalo milk purchased from outside the state is costlier than that procured locally.
The state has been procuring processed pasteurised milk from suppliers from outside Goa at the rate of Rs 24.25 per litre for cow’s milk and Rs 31.80 for buffalo milk.
While the processed milk that is bought from outside the state is cheaper than what the state purchases from farmers locally, buffalo milk which is brought from outside the state is costlier by nearly Rupees 4 per litre.
the government has planned a support price scheme for milk from September which will offer the cattle breeder a minimum of Rs 30 per litre of milk that has a minimum of 4% fat and 8.5% Solid Not Fat (SNF).
Rs 4,663 crore investments proposed: Naik
PANJIM: To dispel the impression that Goa did not attract much industrial investment during last two years, Industries Minister Mahadev Naik told the state legislative assembly that an investment of Rs 4,663 crore has been locked in the various proposals submitted to the government.
Naik in a written reply tabled in the House stated that from July 01, 2010 till June 31, 2012, Rs 659 crore worth investment was proposed through micro, small and medium enterprises (MSEs), while Rs 4000 crore was proposed to be invested in the large scale industries.
State government has received 1404 proposals for MSEs and 1458 proposals for large scale industries approved by High Powered Coordination Committee. These proposals, the minister said, also includes new industries, upgradation and expansions.
The financial year 2010-11 has 655 MSEs and 26 large industries, 2011-12, 602 MSEs and 26 large industries and from April 01, 2012 till June 30, 2012, 147 MSEs and two large industries submitting their investment proposals.
Govt intends to start rice mill in cooperative sector
PANJIM: The government intends to start a rice mill in the co-operative sector at the cost of approximately Rs 3.5 crore for the benefit of farmers in the state.
In a reply given to the state assembly, Chief Minister and Minister for Agriculture said that while the details of the scheme are under process for finalization, the government has already two proposals to its expression of Interest -- Goa Bhagyatdar Sahakari Kharedi Vikri Saunstha Maryadit, Ponda and M/s Curtorim Service Co-operative Society, Curtorim.
To a question from Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginaldo, Parrikar said that the proposals are not finalised and would be considered after finalisation of the scheme.
According to information furnished in the same reply the provisional gross value of agricultural output was valued at 900.3 crore.
48 ha to come under irrigation in three talukas
PANJIM: In a positive development for agriculture in the state, Water Resources Department proposes to bring, almost 48 hectares of additional land under irrigation, as part of integrated hill area development programme along eastern and southern Goa.
If implemented satisfactorily, this programme could have substantial economic benefits for the people of the hilly areas of the state. The proposal to be implemented this financial year would cover the three talukas -- Sanguem, Sattari and Canacona, which comprise 46 percent of the total area of state. Water is provided to farmers by lift irrigation system wherein water is lifted from the rivulets and nullahs and distributed through canal networks to the farmers.
“Irrigation potential of 48 hacters is expected to be created during the current financial year,” it adds.
Integrated Hill Area Development Programme is extended to Sanguem, Sattari and Canacona talukas, which has cultivable area of 398.11 sq kms.
CoP to commission high speed patrol vessel, tug
PANJIM: The Captian of Ports intends to commission a high speed patrol vessel and a multi-role tug of increase patrolling and rescue in the coastal and estuarine waters.
The department in its Performance Budget tabled on the floor of the House has said that a 15-seater high speed patrol vessel will soon be inducted into the department’s fleet. The vessel, powered with 25 knot engine, which will cost Rs 2.78 crore, is likely to increase the department’s vigilance and monitor activities around the port.
“The finalisation of technical specifications is in progress,” the budget report reads.
Captain of ports has jurisdiction over all the five minor ports of Tiracol, Chapora, Panjim in the North and Betul and Talpona in the South. The new tug will be assisting the high speed patrol vessel in patrolling.
“The tug will be used for patrolling and towing of distressed vessels, and also assist as and when ferry boat breakdown,” the report reads.
Additionally, the tug will be fitted with firefighting equipment that can tackle fire in the port area.
The tug would be costing Rs 5.73 crore. The expenditure has been approved by expenditure finance committee.
