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GOA, TUESDAY, 13 JULY, 2010
Govt apathy affecting taluka’s Govt to upgrade Mapusa RTO progress: Canacona Cong HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 12
The president of the recently constituted Canacona Congress Block has blamed that lack of government support takes its toll on developmental works in the taluka. In a press statement, Canacona Block Congress Committee President Elvis Fernandes has stated that Canacona taluka as a whole is undeveloped and government officers posted in the taluka are very much interested to work for its development, are not getting enough support at government level. “Whenever we visit government offices in Canacona, we find many things are kept pending or unattended, as there is no support from upper level of the concerned departments,” said Fernandes. “The government must change the work-
n In a press statement, Canacona Block Congress Committee President Elvis Fernandes has stated that Canacona taluka as a whole is undeveloped and government officers posted in the taluka are very much interested to work for its development, are not getting enough support at government level. ing system of Canacona Administration and find ways and means to get its own expected
support to complete developmental tasks undertaken by local officers,” he stated. “To streamline this, we demand that at least few ministers visit government complex, Chaudi once in a month or once in two months as a regular practice to attend locals’ grievances,” states the press note. Fernandes also called for support of the constituents to achieve some of these goals for all-round development of Canacona, which lag behind as the taluka’s both elected representatives being from opposition benches, hardly takes up developmental issues required for the benefit of Canacona people. Canacona Congress Block also congratulated recently elected Congress District President Subhash Faldessai and his team and also thanked him for assuring support for development of the taluka.
Canacona residents protest mobile tower work in Chaudi HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 12
Residents of residential complex in Canacona gathered on Monday to protest and stop work of an upcoming mobile tower over a residential-cumcommercial building in Chaudi town. Residents were particularly peeved that the builder without their knowledge or concern to their health has permitted a private company to erect and operate a mobile tower over their residential building. “Everything seems to have been done in silence, as none of us were aware about the move until the installation team reached with materials today to erect the tower,” informed one Flory Aguiar. Sources informed that the residents were taken aback on Monday morning when it was noticed that large amount of tower assembling materials dumped inside the building courtyard and was lifted onto the building’s terrace for erection of a tower. Residents, including ward Councillor and Canacona Mu-
nicipal Council deputy chairperson, immediately questioned the installation team and stopped the work. The contractor, who came to install the tower, told the protesting residents that he has all the necessary permits and licenses to carry on the work. But, the residents, who had among them Chaudi ward councillor and Deputy Chairman Dilip Kenkre were in no mood to oblige and literarily forced the installation team to leave the area, who left but reportedly promising to come better equipped with all the permission to resume the work on Tuesday. Umesh Naik, a teacher by profession and resident of the locality, told the installation team that radiations from mobile towers installed in the residential localities can cause serious health problems to the humans, including brain tumour, cancer, etc. Says another resident, Ida Monteiro: “We are lodging a complaint to health officials, Deputy Collector and CMC to intervene and put a full stop to the erection of the mobile tower
and other towers in residential localities.” When contacted, Kenkre, who is also a resident of the complex, agreed that the concerned private company has availed all the required licenses including NOC from CMC. “But I was not aware of residents’ opposition to the move; otherwise I would not be a party to accord CMC’s permission. Now I am strongly with the people and I will propose to the council to cancel the granted permission,” said Kenkre. There is already a mobile tower in operation over another building situated at a stone throw-away distance from this complex reportedly operated by a private company since two years ago, but has seen no such opposition from any of the residents. It is learnt that above 30 families are staying in the two b l o c k s re s i d e n t i a l - c u m commercial complex situated along the NH-17 at Chaudi, where along with some shopkeepers over 50 people assembled to drive the mobile tower
Villagers oppose proposed 4-lane Tilamol-Curchorem bypass project HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, JULY 12
Taking a dig at the government over the proposed four-lane Tilamol-Curchorem bypass, villagers of Tilamol, Cacumordi and Curchorem on Sunday claimed that the project is taken up not for the benefit of locals but for certain vested interests. Addressing the residents at the meeting at Cacumordi-Curchorem convened to oppose the four-lane Tilamol-Curchorem bypass, Christan and Pednekar alleged that the four-lane proposed by a MLA and notification of which already published is for the benefit of the MLA who is in the mining business. “The villagers will not accept the disastrous plans of the government in the name of development when the truth is that these development plans are drawn by the government with surreptitious motives,” stated Pednekar. “The government is fooling the people by hiding the actual details of this road expansion,” he said urging the villagers that unity is essential to tackle the issue. Babajino Fernandes stated that the office of Ganv Rakhonn Jagrut Manch will be in operational at Bansai to assist the people to fill their forms,
which they have to submit to the Quepem Deputy Collector. Rajendra Kakodkar tabled detailed statistics of the traffic along the Tilamol-Curchorem road. “The road from Curchorem to Margao via Chandor is more convenient to the people, as it cuts a distance to Margao by nearly 10 kms and there is no need for the government to widen the existing road by spending public money for the benefit of the mining lobby,” he claimed. “The villagers had opposed the four-lane road proposed in the Regional Plan in four meetings convened by Cacora Curchorem Municipal Council (CCMC),” added Kakodkar. Xeldem ZP member Rosario Fernandes (Marathe) said he has monitored the mining trucks, which are making about 3,300 trips on a given day from 8 am to 5 pm. “If we consider that each truck is carrying 10 tonnes of ore, then the total ore carried per day will be 33,000 tonnes,” added Fernandes. Soccorina Goes warned the people that if the proposed four-lane bypass becomes a reality, then their life will be at a great risk, as accidents will increase and so will be the pollution caused by mining ore spillage.
Global warming result of forest destruction: Speaker HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JULY 12
Speaker Pratapsingh Rane on Monday stated that the earth is getting warmer day-by-day and one of the factors of the ongoing disaster is destruction of forests by human beings. Speaker Rane was speaking as the chief guest at the Convocation ceremony of 4th batch of Round Foresters at Forest Training School, Valpoi. “It’s not only in India that forest is being destroyed, but it also occurs in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia. I was surprised to see oil palms plantations at about a stretch of 600 kms in Indonesia, when I visited this country recently,” said Rane. He further said forest is being cut down and is replaced by oil palm plantation due to heavy demands there. “The effect of hot summer we experienced this year in Goa is itself a testimony that earth is getting warmer day-by-day,” added Rane. Rane congratulated the Round Foresters for successfully completing the one-year training and appealed to them to set a mission that at any cost, they would protect and conserve forests. He also advised top forest officials in the State to organise programme to educate young people about the importance of forests and also advised to distribute plants/saplings in schools, Colleges, etc, especially during Vanamohatsav. He expressed satisfaction that forests in Goa
are protected, as one-third of our forests are sanctuaries. In his speech, Forest Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues appealed the Round Foresters to keep up the expectation of the forest ministry and the forest department by working sincerely and fearlessly. “Protect your uprightness by giving your bold services to the forest department and Goa state and do not bow down to any kind of pressures while punishing the offenders of the forest law,” he stated. He further said he favours the system or rule ‘the place of posting of any forest officials should be the place of residence so that officials can give commitment to protect forest and wildlife’. Chief Conservator of Forest Yogesh, IFS, also spoke on the occasion. On the occasion, Rane gave away the certificates to the trainees. Velip Devidas (trainee) was declared to have stood first among 15 trainees (14 male and 1 female) who underwent one year rigorous training. The programme was attended by prominent citizens of Valpoi, including former MLA Ashok Parob, besides forest officials from all over the State. Earlier, Director of Forest Training School SF Araujo welcomed the guests, Forest Training School, Valpoi; Principal Vikas Dessai read the report and declared the results of the trainees, while Assistant Conservator of Forest Pradeep Kurdekar proposed the vote of thanks.
MMC to elect first male deputy HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 12
Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC), known for its instability, is all set to elect its first male vice chairperson in the present tenure on Tuesday. However, Tuesday’s election to elect new vice chairperson will be the seventh election, as earlier most women councilors have occupied the chair, except Suchita Shirodkar. It may be recalled that fortnight ago, former vice chairperson and BJP Women Wing Chief from Mormugao Rohini Parab had tendered her resignation from the post. MMC chief officer has informed that he has received two nominations from councillors Kashinath Yadav and Seby D’Souza. Most of the councillors have claimed that vice chairperson’s election would be an acid test for Chairperson Shekhar Khadapkar since he has failed to honour the hidden mutual agreement of the council to step down from the chair, after his six-month tenure ended. Khadapakar, who was unanimously elected by all the councilors as the sixth chairperson during present five-year tenure of the council, has failed to honour the mutual agreement among the councilors that he would step down and make way for the new councillor to take over the chair for the remaining three months once his sixmonth tenures gets over. It is learnt that former chairperson Sharad Chopdekar is the front runner to take over as the next chairperson once Khadapkar steps down. “Since most of the councillors have asked me to continue for the remaining three months and with Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and Mormugao MLA Milind Naik supporting me, there is no need for me to step down,” claimed Khadapkar. “Since Kashinath Yadav has the support of over nine councillors, I will support him tomorrow,” added Khadapkar. When asked whether such political turmoil during fag end of the tenure of the present council would serve any purpose, Khadapkar shot back saying: “The councillors who try their level best to dislodge me should think about it.”
The Kadamba Bus Stand at Mapusa, which houses the Regional Transport Office . HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JULY 12
The State government has decided to upgrade the Regional Transport Office at the Kadamba bus stand in Mapusa at a cost of Rs 64 lakh. Speaking to Herald, KTC Chairman Deepak Dhavlikar said the traffic in Bardez taluka has increased manifold in recent years, which had also added to the workload of the Mapusa RTO. “Several hundred people visit this office everyday and the existing space cannot accommodate all people. Since the existing space becomes insufficient, the government has decided to upgrade the office and make it more spacious for the tax payers,” said Dhavlikar.
He also admitted that the present bus stand is plagued by a number of problems. “The existing bus stand gets flooded during monsoon. Also, we have received complaints about bus congestion during peak hours. Since the number of buses leaving from KTC bus stand has increased, the need of the expansion of bus stand has arisen.” “Since there is no space for the expansion of KTC bus stand at the existing location, the government has decided to shift the bus stand to new location.” “The Government plans to shift the existing KTC bus stand to a new location and the process of acquiring about 20,000 sq mts of land for the project has already
Bailancho Ekvott takes strong exception to rescue of 29 girls HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 12
Bailancho Ekvott has taken strong exception to the rescue of 29 girls, saying these girls were later released for want of proper rescue procedures. In this respect, Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas has written letters to the Chief Secretary, IGP, Collectors, SDMS and all SPs to create awareness amongst those involved in rescue to follow the proper procedures as laid down in The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act so that those involved in the exploitation of women are brought to book. Viegas said the NGO has noted that on more than one occasion that the police has not been following the laid down procedures while conducting raids on premises or persons indulging in commercial sexual activity. “We have observed that any NGOs is very rarely a part of the raiding party which is mandated by the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. It appears that the police are determined to embarrass the victim girls and do not take to task the procurers, traffickers, clients, premise owners nor those surviving on this prostitution trade. It appears that there is no will to prevent its recurrence”, she said. The NGO said the system of conducting raids on those involved in this trade to curb the same are yet to be put in place. “The convictions in these activities are rare because the investigations are improperly and haphazardly done. This has special reference to the recently conducted trade related raid by the Calangute police. With the mushrooming of dance bars which are actually places for soliciting customers, the police will have to
n In this respect, Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas has written letters to the Chief Secretary, IGP, Collectors, SDMS and all SPs to create awareness amongst those involved in rescue to follow the proper procedures as laid down in The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act so that those involved in the exploitation of women are brought to book.
have an Amazonian will to check the illegalities in their operations”, Viegas added. She pointed out that the recent raid wherein 29 girls were rounded up is illegal as proper procedures were not followed nor have others involved in the trade arrested. “The girls, we are informed were picked up for their residence. No NGO was present”, she said, adding that the police have not only violated the human rights of these girls but also portrayed them as sex workers. “No brothel keeper or others have been arrested. Where is the arrest of the client who was with them. Many questions arise out of this so called rescue. Yet, the panel has not met and deliberated on the rescue. It is necessary to go through the report of the panel”, she added.
Photo by Anil Shankhwalker
begun. Once the land is acquired, the KTC will go ahead with the new bus stand,” said Dhavlikar. He informed that he would visit the KTC bus stand next week along with senior officials to look into these issues. Dhavlikar informed that the government will also upgrade the Ponda bus stand at a cost of Rs 2 crore. “Besides, we will also take possession of 20 new buses which have bought under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission and presently lying in the depot of Ashok Leyland at Banastarim. The government has agreed to release Rs 4 crore for the purchase of these buses. These buses will ply along the Mapusa-Panjim, Margao-Panjim and Vasco-Panjim routes,” said Dhavlikar.
Governor pats RCS HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 12
Lauding the activities of Goa Red Cross Society in rendering humanitarian service to the people, Governor Dr S S Sidhu has called upon its
functionaries and members to make a rational assessment of the needs and aspirations of the Goan society and evolve suitable pro grammes for implementation.