Guv, CM extend Gudi Padwa greetings
PANJIM: Governor of Goa Bharat Vir Wanchoo and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar extended their greetings and best wishes to the people of Goa on the occasion of Gudi Padwa on April 11.
The Governor in his message said the peaceful and tranquil social and cultural atmosphere of Goa is a manifestation of the varied traditions and festivals which are celebrated here with enthusiasm and fervour.
The Chief Minister extended his warmest greetings, saying, “Let us on this auspicious occasion do away with our differences if any and bring about a ‘Gudi’ of communal harmony, co-existence and peace.”
TV programme on RTI
PANJIM: Doordarshan Kendra, Panjim will telecast special programme on Right to Information Act on April 12 from 6 pm to 6.30 pm.
Well known RTI activist Adv Aires Rodrigues has participated as the expert in the programme and Stanley Vaz has moderated. The programme is produced by Cypriano Lopes, (Programme Executive) for Doordarshan Kendra Panjim.
Diabetes detection camp held
PORVORIM: Jagruti Women’s Welfare Association recently organised a diabetes detection camp at St Sebastian Chapel, Vaddem-Socorro. Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar inaugurated the camp in the presence of Sanjay Center Chairman Guruprasad Pawaskar. Speaking on the occasion, Parulekar congratulated the association for organising the camp. “There is an alarming rise in prevalence of diabetes in India due to our eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. It has become essential for every citizen to check for diabetes frequently,” he said and urged the association to organise more such camps for citizens of Porvorim and Socorro.
Jagruti President Namrata Chodankar stressed on the importance of living a healthy life. Pawasker also spoke on the occasion.
Over 150 people availed the benefits of the camp. Jagruti Secretary Kirti Asnodkar compered the programme and also proposed the vote of thanks.
Committee of Serula Comunidade
PORVORIM: The State government has appointed a temporary managing committee for Serula Comundidade.
The effective members appointed are Adv Shankar Fadtey (president), Peter Martins (attorney) and Alex D’Souza (treasurer), while substitute members are Rajesh Kauthankar (president), Rajesh R Mhambrey (attorney) and Arvind Gangaram Shirodker Fadtey (treasurer).
It may be recalled that the election to the managing committee of Serula Comunidade, which was fixed on January 20 was postponed under Art 49 of the Code of Comunidade till further orders by the Collector of DCA of North Goa District.
Man complains of being duped
PONDA: An astrologer has been accused of cheating a person to the tune of Rs 72,000 by promising to solve problems.
Ponda Police are investigating an anonymous complaint, where it has been alleged that the astrologer cheated the complainant to the tune of Rs 72,000.
According to the complaint, the astrologer regularly publishes advertisements in local dailies promising to solve any kind of problem. Preliminary inquiry by the police has revealed that the astrologer is operating from Delhi. However the newspaper advertisements mention the address as Panjim.
They informed that the conman operating as astrologer does not meet his customers but operates over the phone and directs his gullible customers to deposit money in a bank account.
The police have urged people not to fall prey to such tactics.
The said the complaint will not be registered since it is an anonymous one. However they have decided to probe into the matter to safeguard the public from falling prey to such tactics.
Body found in Mandovi River
PORVORIM: A resident of Shirgao was found floating in the Mandovi River near Betim wharf on Tuesday.
According to Porvorim Police, the deceased has been identified as Mahadev Chari and PSI V Shirodkar is investigating.
Duo snatch mangalsutras
PORVORIM: Two unidentified persons on a motorcycle snatched two mangalsutras worth about Rs 85,000 from a woman at Almeida Waddo, Parra, on Tuesday.
According to Mapusa Police, Milan Gaonkar of Hivrem-Valpoi complained that the two accused persons on the motorcycle snatched two gold mangalsutras worth about Rs 85,000 from her neck and fled from the site. PSI P Fadte is investigating.
Prayer meeting at Navelim
PANJIM: A three-day prayer program from April 12 to 14 from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm for healing and deliverance will be conducted by Bro Amalesh Kumar and Shalomlife team at Holy Family Prayer Hall Jakhnibhand, Navelim. Praise and worship by will be conducted by Shalomlife band and choir Praysing, says a press release.
World Health Day observed
PANJIM: Minister for Health Laxmikant Parsekar was the chief guest at the state level World Health Day function organized by Directorate of Health Services at Institute of Nursing Education, Bambolim recently.
Dr Rajesh G Naik, an eminent physician was the key-note speaker on the occasion. The theme this year was on ‘high blood pressure’.
Speaking on the occasion the minister said that the Government is making all efforts to provide better healthcare facilities in the state. He said national healthcare programmes are being implemented through health centres and sub-health centres located across the state to enable patients to get appropriate treatment.
Snowkon claims he has taken charge
MARGAO: A little over two months after he was voted out of office in a no-trust motion, Colva Sarpanch Snowkon Gonsalves on Wednesday claimed that he has taken charge of office on Wednesday on grounds that the district court has disposed off his petition challenging the appointment of the administrator.
Snowkon said he would now write to panchayat authorities, including the Salcete BDO and the Panchayat Director, about his decision to take charge of office in the light of the order passed by Additional panchayat Director Jayant Tari suspending the February 4 resolution voting him out of office.
Asked why he delayed in assuming charge of office when it’s nearly 20 days since the Additional Director had pronounced his order vis-à-vis his removal from office, Snowkon said he was waiting for the district court to dispose off his petition after staying the order of the Panchayat Director appointing an Administrator.
Colva Panchayat has been in the news for the 20 days since the Panchayat had neither a sarpanch nor an administrator following the Additional panchayat Director’s order suspending the resolution which had voted Snowkon out of office.
The stalemate continued since neither the Panchayat Director Narayan Sawant nor Salcete BDO Uday Prabhudessai could interpret the order of the district Court and the Additional Panchayat Director’s order.
Cumbarjua seafood plant to go: Alina
PANJIM: Environment Minister Alina Saldanha Wednesday allayed fears about continuing noxious discharges in the Cumbarjua Canal and stated that the seafood processing plant located there was moving out of Goa. Alina was replying to queries from Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar who challenged her and stated that the plant Ulka Sea Foods Pvt Ltd was still functioning and polluting the Cumbarjua canal by discharging its waste waters into the canal. “This has deprived the local fishing community from fishing in the canal waters,” alleged Madkaikar. While the environment minister agreed to inspect the plant in the first week of May, she reiterated that the plant was moving out from the present location and has already started shifting its equipment.
She told Madkaikar that the equipment was being shifted to Maharashtra and that there could be no better action than the company shutting down operations and moving out. The minister informed the House that the GSPCB had been inspecting the site and collecting water samples from the canal from time-to-time. “The water samples tested are free from any pollution,” she said.
‘5,542 petitions of tribals pending’
PANJIM: More than 5,542 petitions are pending before the State department under the Central Government Tribal Rights Act which will be processed by December, Tribal Affairs Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said. Replying to the discussion on demands for grants to the Tribal Affairs Department, Tawadkar said that the process of putting the department in order had begun only after he took charge, since prior to that they did not even have an office premise. Around 5,542 petitions are pending. We are in the process of going through them. They will all be processed by December, Tawadkar said. In his reply, the minister listed out all the schemes that the government has adopted for the benefit of those coming under the Scheduled Tribes categories. The minister also promised to utilize all the funds that were allocated to the department and that the government was in the process of setting up a Tribal Research Institute to study the peculiarities of the State’s tribes and that the government was also contemplating a tribal museum to preserve the traditional tribal instruments, clothing and other aspects of living of the States tribesmen. He also assured to construct an old age home for aging members of the tribal communities and a Tribal Bhavan in Panjim. In his reply, he enlisted all the schemes of the Tribal Welfare Department.
House lauds tourism ministry
PANJIM: After weeks of brickbats on various tourism-related issues, the House Wednesday went gaga over laurels achieved by Goa Tourism, nationally and internationally, at tourism promotion marts over the last three months. From the most recent awards such as ‘Best Tourism Promotion award’ won at Shimla at the International Tourism Conclave, to the ‘Best Decorated Stall’ at the Tourism Trade Fair in Bangalore, ‘Best Beach Destination Award’ in Berlin, ‘Best Value Destination (India) Award’ and ‘Best Relaxation Destination (India)’ by ‘Lonely Planet Travellers’ Award’ for the Best Beach Destination, to the ‘CNBC Awaaz Award’ for the Best Tourism State, the Goa Tourism Ministry was commended for its outstanding performance over the last one year. The Goa Assembly recognised tourism as ‘the industry’ to give the economy the much required boost after the mining debacle and impressed upon the government to provide more facilities and avenues to bring in quality tourists to the State of Goa. The congratulatory motion was moved jointly by BJP MLAs Pramod Sawant, and Kiran Kandolkar who sang praises of tourism ministry headed by Dilip Parulekar.
No fun in casinos, CM tells MLAs
PANJIM: MLAs should visit casinos, not to have fun there, but to be aware of how the situation is, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar suggested to the legislators on Tuesday. Replying to the discussion on demands for the Finance Department, Parrikar said that it was important that MLAs also know how the situation is and that they implement the best procedures here back in the State. “MLAs should go and see, only don’t have fun. You should go for a study tour,” Parrikar said. “Decision makers of a State have to experience all these aspects at least once or twice,” Parrikar said, arguing that government’s spending on jaunts was lower than previous years’.
IT Park: Govt looking for alternate land
PANJIM: The government is looking for alternate land to set up an IT Park, since the IT Park in Dona Paula is currently caught up in litigation. Replying to the cut motion moved by the Opposition since it claimed that the government has failed to attract IT industries, forcing nearly 90% young graduates to go out of the State or country, Parrikar said despite the bad name the State has got, still there were many companies that were eager to come to Goa. He said the process would start by June-July. Making a direct allegation against the previous government’s efforts regarding starting of IT parks, Parrikar said that the kickback rate for getting a plot in an IT park was Rs 3,000 per sq mtr. Things came to light because there was a squabble over the sharing of the kickback, when the local MLA said this is my constituency and that I should get a share, Parrikar said.
While reacting to Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte’s demand, the chief minister also assured a thorough probe into the Socorro IT Park scam where nearly Rs 12 crore was spent on other works.
