PONDA: Forest Minister Alina Saldanha stated that Goans should visit the Bondla zoo to experience and understand nature. Speaking to reporters during her visit to the Bondla zoo, Saldanha said about one lakh tourists visiting the Bondla zoo are enough and there is no need to increase the number of tourists visiting the zoo. “Not tourists, but Goans should visit the zoo to feel, experience and understand nature,” she said. Later, Saldanha inaugurated a special kitchen for animals to provide them nutritious food. Deputy Conservator of Forest DNF Carvalho and other officials were present on the occasion.
Plans for Mapusa bus terminus
MAPUSA: Stating that the consultant for the proposed bus stand at Mapusa will submit drawings for the new bus stand within eight days, Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza has stated that the foundation stone to the new bus stand will be laid in August. D’Souza said he had convened a meeting with the consultant, Rahul Deshpande, along with Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Sandeep Falari, member secretary of North Goa PDA and the officials of transport department. “The consultant has agreed to submit conceptual drawing of the new bus stand within eight days. Once the plan is received, discussion will be held with all the stakeholders and if required modifications will be done in the plan and the foundation stone will be laid for the new bus stand in August, preferably on August 15,” informed D’Souza. He said the process of acquisition of 20,000 sq mtrs of land has been completed and the transport department has taken possession of the land.
Cong to embark on membership drive
MAPUSA: The Goa Pradesh Congress and PCC members decided to embark on a Congress membership drive from October 1 to December 31 and to conduct elections of Block Congress committees in August 2015. Addressing media persons after a party convention in Mapusa, AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh also stated that since the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on mining, the State government should start mining operations immediately after taking due care of the environment and ecology in Goa. Besides the membership drive it was alsodecided to conduct elections of block Congress committees in August 2015. The disciplinary action committee has been permitted to take action against Congress members found involved in anti-party activities,” said Singh. RS member Shantaram Naik stated that he would pursue the issue of special status for Goa and All India Service Cadre at the Centre.
No vector cases in Ponda this year
PONDA: Claiming that increasing construction activities and unhygienic conditions are the main carriers of vector-borne diseases, Ponda Health Officer Dr Nutan Dev has asked panchayats to create awareness in their respective areas to prevent the spread of these diseases. Dr Dev was addressing sarpanchas and panchas of Ponda taluka at the Ponda Sub District Hospital. “Till date, there has been no malaria and dengue case reported she said and appealed to all sarpanchas and panchas to create awareness in their respective areas. Sanitary Inspector Manoj Naik said last year 15 dengue cases and eight malaria cases were detected; however, this year so far no cases have come to light.
CCMC revokes occupancy certificate
CURCHOREM: Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council revoked the occupancy certificate issued to a person to occupy his commercial building project at Pontemol-Curchorem due to default in payment. “On completion of building project, the owner had applied for an occupancy certificate and following the inspection, CCMC issued him one after he paid Rs 3.27 lakh by cheque,” informed Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes. “However, the cheque was returned due to insufficient balance in his bank account. We had given the owner two days to pay the amount, but he failed to pay and the council has revoked occupancy and NOC issued for electricity and water connections,” informed Fernandes.
New water tank at Kudne shortly
MAYEM: The State government has begun work to construct a new water tank at Temuk-Kudne to fulfil the long-pending demand of the villagers. Stating this, Sanquelim BJP Block President Santosh Malik informed that the government had faced a loss of Rs 30 lakh after demolishing a water tank constructed on the Temuk-Kudne hillock in 1985-86 to provide water to the people. “The water tank had remained neglected due to the indifferent attitude of previous authorities, forcing the present BJP government to demolish the water tank which was in a dilapidated condition,” informed Malik. “The old water tank has been demolished and it will be replaced by a new one,” added Malik.
