OHERALDO
GOA
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GOA, TUESDAY, 19 APRIL, 2011
No-trust moved against Mapusa Council chief HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 18
A no-confidence motion has been moved against Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar by eight councillors in the 15-member council. Councillors Roohi Patre, Subhash Narvekar, Michael Carrasco, Subhash Kalangutkar, Rupa Bhakta, Deepak Mahadeshri, Ashish Shirodkar and Vice Chairperson Vijeta Naik on Monday afternoon submitted a notice to the Director of Municipal Administration Panjim to convene a special meeting of the council under Section 56 of Municipalities Act 1968 for the removal of MMC Chairperson Kandolkar. The eight councillors have alleged that the chairperson failed to implement the resolutions of the council, non-cooperation and failure to gain confidence of the councillors, protecting and promoting illegalities in administration of the council and the municipal market.
Tar ball menace hits Varca to Benaulim beach stretch
n The eight councillors have alleged that the chairperson failed to implement the resolutions of the council, non-cooperation and failure to gain confidence of the councillors, protecting and promoting illegalities in administration of the council and the municipal market. Speaking to Herald at Panjim after submitting the notice to the office of Director of Municipal Administrator, Councillor Ashish Shirodkar stated that the present council backed by BJP failed to undertake developmental activities in Mapusa despite adopting resolutions. “It is for this reason that the eight councillors have decided to come together to form a new panel. Our panel has got the support of the Congress party and hence we are quiet optimistic that we will be able to take up and complete pending development works soon,” added Shirodkar.
It may be recalled that in the municipal council election held on October 31, 2010, the BJPbacked and Congress-backed panels had bagged seven seats each while one seat was won by independent candidate Vijeta Naik. The BJP-backed panel with the support of Vijeta Naik had formed the ruling group and taken the charge of the council. However, during the last 5 months, discussions were going on between the members of opposition groups to dislodge Kandolkar from the post of chairperson.
Ferry boat replacement fails to placate hassled commuters
Oily substance that was washed ashore at the Benaulim beach on Monday evening. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar. HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 18
Tar ball menace has come to hit the Salcete coastline – this time the stretch of the beach belt between Varca and Benaulim. That the oily substance has come back to haunt the authorities became evident when the Margao Sub-Divisional Magistrate Johnson Fernandes conveyed a message to the Director of Tourism to take note of the situation and take appropriate action. “My office was intimated that
‘Ambedkar was a great leader’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, APRIL 18
Ferrb boat Britona lay anchor at the Assolna ferry wharf on Monday, awaiting technical personnel to open Photo by Santosh Mirajakr. the vessel’s entrance. HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, APRIL 18 Ferry boat “Chodan” was finally replaced by “Britona” at the ferry point between Cavelossim and Assolna, but not before putting daily commuters and tourists vehicles to great hardships. In the absence of a bridge across the River Sal between the two points – with PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao’s dream bridge presently under construction – daily commuters and visitors had no option than to take a detour via the Orlim bridge. The ferry boat Britona which replaced Chodan arrived at the Assolna ferry point at around 9.30 am after setting out on the voyage in the wee hours of Monday at 3 am. However, the arrival of the ferry boat did not ring good news for the commuters, with the technical staff required to open the door yet to show up
An official of River Navigation, Kushali Vagunkar called up the head office at around 9.30 am to the higher ups to send the team of technical personnel to open the ferry boat’s entrance. at the point till 10.30 am. In fact, an official of River Navigation, Kushali Vagunkar called up the head office at around 9.30 am to the higher ups to send the team of technical personnel to open the ferry boat’s entrance, which closed to prevent water from entering the vessel while navigating through the Arabian sea. Kushali said the ferry boat Chodan was withdrawn since it
required repairs after plying on the Assolna-Cavelossim route f o r o v e r a y e a r n o w. He, however, could not answer why Chodan was not withdrawn only after the arrival of the ferry boat Britona as the arrangement in the interest of the traveling public. The Assolna- Cavelossim bridge is under construction over River Sal to connect the villages of Assolna and Cavelossim. If PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao is to be believed, work on the bridge is expected to be complete by December end 2011. Alemao has already commissioned the Varca-Telaulim bridge over River Sal, while the PWD is still awaiting a nod from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to commence work on the Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge.
Ideal teacher award winner Ramesh Gawas has called upon the people to adopt the ethics of Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar to lead the nation towards further prosperity. He was addressing the gathering on the occasion of 120th birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, which was organised by Bharatratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Anniversary Celebration Committee at Harijanwada-Bordem, Bicholim, on Thursday. Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar was the chief guest for the function, while Samiti President and BMC Councillor Narayan Betkikar, working president Govind Parwar, former councillor Bhagwan Harmalkar, Councillors Balu Birje, Premanand Mayekar and Kamlakar Teli and other committee members Khushali Parwar, Krishna Parwar, Krishna Parwar, Ankush Parwar, Pandurang Parwar, Santosh Parwar and special invitee Krishna Gaonkar were present on the occasion. Speaking further, Gawas said Dr Ambedkar is not only the leader of Dalits, but the leader of the entire nation as far as political development of India is concerned and also because he being the founder of great Indian Constitution which brought democratic revolution in the world. Councillors Kamlakar Teli and Balu Birje, former councillor Bhagwan Harmalkar, Pandurang Parwar, Santosh Parwar and Krishnaji Gaonkar also spoke on the occasion.
Farmers set up solar Gas, cheques distributed to Mollem, Collem locals fence at Chorao HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, APRIL 18
The solar powered electrical fence at Chorao. HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, APRIL 18
A solar powered electrical fence was recently set up by a group of farmers in Chorao to prevent wild animals from entering their fields and damaging crops. Set up by the Varana and Patraman Khazan Association, the 1-km long solar powered fence will protect an area of 54 hectares cultivated by about 200 farmers. The fence will discharge low current to ward off wild animals from entering the fields. The agriculture department had provided a 90% subsidy to the Rs 3 lakh project, while the
remaining 10% was mobilised by the association. The fence was laid by Kamat and Associates within a period of 15 days and the fence has a warranty of 1 year. At a funtion, senior agriculturist from Chorao Vishnu Gaonkar inaugurated the solar powered electrical fencing in Chorao, in the presence of Ella Farm Zonal Officer Dattaprasad Dessai, Chorao Sarpanch Salvador D'Cruz, Panchas Shrijaya Haldankar and Madhuri Kubal, Association President Ramrai Khandeparkar and ex-sarpanch Shrikrishna Haldankar.
About 33 locals from Mollem, Collem, Sancorda and Dharbandoda Panchayat areas were recently given LP gas stoves and two cylinders. Besides, cheques were also distributed to the beneficiaries under Indira Awas Yojana and Grameen Urja Yojana during the programme organised by South Goa Rural Development Agency at Collem Panchayat hall. Social worker and industrialist Arjun Anil Salgaonkar was the chief guest for the programme, while Dharbandoda ZP member Rashmi Lambor was the guest of honour. Collem Sarpanch Sandeep Dessai, Mollem Sarpanch Janu Suzare, Sancorda Sarpanch Yogita Naik, Sanguem BDO Anuja Faldessai, RDA official Shiganapurkar and Assistant Project Officer Reema Marathe were present on the occasion. Speaking on the occasion, Arjun Salgaonkar said it was his dream and he would make sure that all the people under BPL from Sanvordem constituency get all the benefits under various schemes introduced by the government.
He requested the concerned officials to be lenient while scrutinizing the BPL applications so that maximum families can avail benefit of the schemes. Earlier, Sudhakar Gaonkar welcomed the gathering and also proposed the vote of thanks.
Agonda youth ends life HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 18
A youth from Agonda committed suicide by hanging himself to a cashew tree and the partially decomposed body was found on Saturday morning. According to Canacona police, Nitin Rayu Bandekar (20) was last seen on Thursday afternoon and his whereabouts were not known till the body was discovered hanging to a cashew tree, some 150 metres behind his residence. Police at the site informed that his parents and close relatives began the search for Nitin since Thursday afternoon and found the body hanging to a cashew tree amidst the thick bushes on Saturday morning. Police later sent the body for an autopsy at Hospicio in Margao.
traces of the oily substance were washed ashore on the beach between Benaulim and Varca. Immediately, the message was conveyed to the Tourism Director to take note of the same and ensure appropriate action”, Johnson told Herald this evening. He said his office has asked the Tourism Director to instruct the concerned contractor to deploy labour force to clear the beach belt of the oily substance. A visit to Benaulim beach revealed that traces of the oily
substance – though not in large quantities – has made its presence felt on the beach. Local fishermen maintained that the traces of the oily substance were spotted since noon, but the situation appears not that serious as was during the monsoons. Salcete’s coastal belt was literally inundated by the tar balls during the last monsoons, even raising questions on the preparedness of the authorities in tackling the menace, including its disposal from the shore.
Cooperate with govt for development projects: Rane HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, APRIL 18
Speaker Pratapsing Rane recently inaugurated the Babal Pir Hall at Sanquelim. Speaker Rane inaugurated the hall in the presence of Health
Minister Vishwajeet Rane, Pale MLA Pratap Gawas, Sanquelim Municipal Council (SMC) Chairperson Anand Naik, Councillor Riyas Khan, President of Mazania De Mesquita e Bapal Pir (MDMBP) Anwar Khan and MDMBP Secretary Shaikh Mohamad Parvez Al-Usmani. Speaking on the occasion, Pratapsingh Rane said the shrine of Bapal Pir located in the vicinity is centuries old and added that he is glad to note that the hall is named after the most reverend saint of the locality. Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane in his address expressed satisfaction towards completion of hall and requested the committee to see to it that the hall
Lions convention concludes PANJIM, APRIL 18 (HND)
The 35th annual convention of Lions Club International of District 324 D2, covering State of Goa and parts of North Karnataka concluded on Sunday at NIO, Dona Paula, with the election of Lion Ganapati Nayak of Gokarn as the 2nd Vice District Governor.
is used in best possible way. He urged the people to cooperate with the government to complete various projects undertaken for the all-round development of town. Pale MLA Gawas in his speech applauded the initiatives taken by the health minister towards various development projects in the constituency. SMC Chairperson Anand Naik also extended his full support and cooperation for the development projects initiated by the health minister. Shaikh Mohamad Parvez compered the programme, while Farhat Katib proposed the vote of thanks.