22 June 201

PANJIM: The Alor Grand, Candolim, is celebrating its 6th traditional Family San Joao at the resort at Candolim on June 22, from 11 am to 6 pm. In attendance is the band Brothers in Arms, DJ Ryan Nogar and Country Jude. There will also be a contest for best copel. 

San Joao feast at Vasco

VASCO: Bhutea Bhat Club will organise the traditional Sao Joao festival in Vasco on June 24. The festival will start with prayers at St Sebastian Chapel in Bhute Bhat, Vasco, at 11 am. The revellers will then jump in the local wells, before getting together for a traditional lunch, followed by the rain dance. 

Special gram sabha at Bastora

PANJIM: A special gram sabha of the village Panchayat of of Bastora has been called on June 22, at 10.30 am in the panchayat hall at Xell. The meet has been called to discuss an ongoing construction project.

Deputy Speaker launches road works

MAYEM: Deputy Speaker Anant Shet launched the work to prevent landslides along the Narvem-Pilgao road landslides during monsoons. In view of the work, the main road will remain closed to traffic for the next three months till the hill cutting work is over and the traffic will be diverted via Narvem. Shet inaugurated the works near Pilgao junction main road on Monday in the presence of Pilgao Sarpanch Jayant Kavlekar, Narvem Sarpanch Pratishtha Mishal, PWD engineer Ganpat Siddhaye, electricity engineer Sakharam Gawade, Mahadev Vengurlekar, Gurudas Gawade, Subhash Salgaonkar and others. “The work, estimated to cost Rs 80 lakh, has been undertaken to avoid danger of constant landslides during monsoon to the villagers and the students from the area every year,” said Shet.

Champa is Canacona civic dy chief

CANACONA: Champa Pagui was elected unopposed as deputy chairperson of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC).

Pagui was declared elected unopposed by presiding officer, assistant DMA Satish Desai, as Pagui was the lone candidate who had filed her nomination to the post of deputy chairperson on Tuesday. It may be recalled that former deputy chairperson Rajeshri Pagi had resigned soon after Simon Rebello was elected as CMC chairperson to make way for new councillor to take over. Pagui is the third deputy chairperson during the current term. The new ruling group consists of councillors Ajay bhagat, Ratnakar Dhuri, Sandesh Gaonkar, Rajeshri Pagi besides Rebelo and Champa Pagui.

Kala Mandir completion by Dec

PONDA: Chairman of Ponda’s Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir and Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar had stated that the renovation work of the Kala Mandir complex, which is pending since the last five years, is expected to be completed by December 19. Speaking to reporters after inspecting renovation work of the complex, Mamledar said this would be a state-of-the-art and culture complex for Ponda taluka. It may be recalled that residents of Ponda and surrounding areas have been eagerly awaiting the completion of the project since the last five years. In the absence of the facilities, people have had to visit the Ravindra Bhavan in Margao and Kala Academy in Panjim to watch the entertainment, dramas and other programmes. The Kala Mandir at Ponda was to be thrown open in December 2013, but was later postponed to May 2013, May 2014 and now, the government hopes to complete the project by December 19.

‘Check quality of rice in open market’

PONDA: Freedom fighter and former Ponda MLA Rohidas Naik stated that the government should check the quality of rice being sold in the open market. Naik was speaking on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day, which was celebrated at Martyrs Memorial at Kranti Maidan, Ponda, on Wednesday. Citing an example to highlight selfishness and greed among people, he said poor quality rice is being supplied in the open market in attractive bags. “When we bring the rice bag home, rotten rice is often found at the bottom of the bag. The government should check the quality of rice being sold in the open market,” he said.

In his speech, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavlikar assured to complete the ongoing renovation beautification work of Ponda Kranti Maidan. 

He said it will be completed in the next six months. Ponda MLA Lavu Mamledar, Ponda Municipal Council Chairperson Radhika Naik, Deputy Chairperson Shantaram Kolvekar and Deputy Collector Johnson Fernandes were present on the occasion.

CURCHOREM: Linesmen from Division VII of Curchorem Electricity Department (CED) have demanded salaries as per their seniority as well as cycle allowances and other facilities. In a memorandum submitted to assistant engineer J S Hiremath, about 250 linesmen listed their demands of pay as per their seniority, cycle allowances. The linemen also sought to know why uniforms, hand gloves, shoes and raincoats were not being provided to them for their safety.

The delegation which met Hiremath included Electricity Department Workers Union President A F G Mascarenhas, Secretary Carlos Faleiro, local union representative Jose Gomes and Ramchandra Bargi. Hiremath assured to look into their demands. The linesmen complained that they could not render proper service to the public due to lack of cooperation from the department.

High mast lamp at Ribandar stands idly 

RIBANDAR: The high mast lamp installed near the Patto-Ribandar junction some three months back is yet to function. The high mast sodium lamp was erected at the centre of the junction at Patto-Ribandar to provide sufficient light at the three roads. But even after completing the work three months back, the high mast is yet to be illuminated. Besides, debris has been lying around the high mast lamp and it could pose a threat to traffic along the route. When contacted, local councillor Pratima Hoble said the high mast lamp was installed at her request, but added that the department has failed to make it functional as some work is yet to be completed. “I will pursue the matter with the department concerned and I hope it will be operational at least within the next 15 days,” she said.

Farmagudi college to offer M Pharm 

PONDA: Ponda Education Society’s Rajaram and Tarabai Bandekar College of Pharmacy, Farmagudi-Ponda, will start a new course in M Pharm in pharmaceutics with a capacity of 18 students. College Principal Dr S N Mamle Desai was briefing the media in the presence of PES Executive Member Kishor Naik and College Faculty Dr Sunil Shingade. “Earlier, students used to go to other states like Karnataka and Maharashtra to pursue an M Pharm in Pharmaceutics, as it was not available at the Pharmacy College in Goa,” Dr Desai said. The course will commence from August, he added. Students with B Pharm with 55% marks are eligible to apply for the course. The course is likely to start on August 1, while the admissions will start in July. 

Dr Khope elected to IAPS

MAYEM: Goa’s noted paediatric surgeon, Dr Sanjay Khope, has been elected unopposed to the executive board of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (IAPS) for two years. He was also elected as editorial advisory board member of Indian Journal of Pediatric Surgery, the official research Journal of Pediatric Surgeons of India. This is the first time that Goa has got a representation in the Paediatric Surgeon’s apex body in the country. Dr Khope had organized the National Congress of Indian Pediatric Surgeons and had brought Goa on the national map.

 of pediatric surgeons after starting this branch in Goa as the first pediatric surgeon of the State.