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GOA, MONDAY, 5 JULY, 2010
CIVIC FORUM Toothless authorities Menino Fernandes, Sao Jose de Areal
Taxi owners oppose hike in special package fees
Restricted water to Tiswadi
getting revenue to government coffers. Today the financial static of KTC shows huge losses at the cost of tax payers,” he said. Fernandes said the GTDC managing director has said that foreign tourists have been kept out of this package as foreigners usually explore the State on their own. “The members concluded that the government bodies do not want to hurt the sentiment of the mighty tour operators who at present take the major share of foreign tourism revenue,” he added. Fr Maverick Fernandes spoke about the purpose of creation of the Centre for Responsible Tourism. He said the Centre was mainly concerned about creating tourism based on justice and ethics and asked all members to remain united to accomplish the mission.
Water supply to most parts of Tiswadi taluka will be restricted on Monday, due to a major mechanical breakdown at the Opa Water treatment plant late Sunday night. PWD officials told Herald that water supply will be restricted to Panjim city, Taleigao, Santa Cruz, Merces, Chimbel, Ribandar, Siridao, Bambolim, GMC Hospital, defence establishments and surrounding areas. Wo r k h a s b e e n i n progress since Sunday midnight as PWD authorities are hoping to restore water supply to the affected areas by Monday evening.
HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4
SET TO FALL: The bad state of the coconut trees near Menino’s house
My application for cutting five coconut trees that threaten my house and property to the Mamlatdar court of Paresh Fal Desai at Margao proved of no avail, as I only received a judgment saying that the complainant does not stay in his house, that the coconut tree in dispute is around 18 years of age and not inclined on the house. I further realised that my case was dropped by Mr Fal Desai, as it was not under his jurisdiction. When I made the same complaint to the Dy Collector at Margao, he ordered the Range Forest officer to conduct a site inspection. The inspection report revealed that two coconut trees among the five were indeed threatening my house, their trunks were diseased and dangerous, and they may fall at any time during gusty winds. On seeing the report, the Dy Collector immediately issued an order to the respondent, Santosh Gaonkar, to cut down the two dangerous coconut trees within 10 days. The respondent failed to file any written reply, but the order is still not executed, despite my arguments and written statements. It seems that the respondent is exerting some political or bureaucratic influence. What can I do if the government machinery refuses to work, and there seems to be blatant collusion with the respondent? Do I helplessly wait for the coconut trees to fall and destroy my house? The higher authorities need to be aware of what is going on in the departments coming under them.
Much ado about footpath Anand Shettigar, Sarpanch, Candolim panchayat
This is with reference to the letter by Romualdo Fernandes ‘Footpath from Sinquerim to Ximer’ (Herald, 28 June). Mr Fernandes, has wrongly spelt ‘Ximer’ as ‘Simmer’. It looks like he is new to the village of Candolim, and does not know much about it. I wish to clarify that: 1. There was a long pending demand for a footpath for the safety of the pedestrians. 2. The footpath does not encroach on the road, and the question of road becoming narrow does not arise. 3. There should be no parking on roads. When the writer says he has travelled abroad, he needs to remember that in India, roads tend to narrower than abroad. Widening the present road is difficult, as numerous old houses of villagers will have to be demolished. 4. But the Panchayat has proposed a new road parallel to the existing one, without damaging any houses. Approval of the new road is in progress, and it should be complete in a year or two. Romualdo Fernandes was a member of the Regional Plan Committee of Candolim. How has he forgotten about the new proposed road?
KTC disregards rules Maria Lata Pereira, Tivim
Kadamba announced that from May, senior citizens would be able to get half ticket, and disabled persons would be allowed free travel on the shuttle service with appropriate identity cards. But it seems the staff at the shuttle counters and the conductors have been given no instructions about these new rules. When shown an identity card, they sarcastically say that only if a person is completely disabled, is (s)he allowed free travel. Does this imply that only people on stretchers and wheelchairs can avail of this facility? I have found that in Goa, rules and schemes passed by the government are never implemented. Will the KTC authorities clarify this matter urgently and instruct their staff accordingly, so that hapless handicapped and aged commuters are not inconvenienced?
Casualty a casualty! Adv Sahish Mahambrey, Panjim
On the night of 21 June, my uncle was taken seriously ill owing to low sugar level. I rushed him to the Goa Medical College (GMC) casualty ward. There was a group of doctors who were busy laughing, chatting and having a ball of a time, least bothered about the suffering patients. The doctors available were highly uncooperative. Ironically, the junior doctor did not even know how to read the ECG report! There was indecision about the treatment to be given. By this time my uncle began to choke, and an oxygen mask had to be applied. The Casualty Ward is for life saving, and not a place for experimentation. Inexperienced doctors posted there will definitely face the heat if pushed into alien situations. The Casualty Ward definitely needs senior resident doctors in charge, to deal with life-threatening situations. I have specially written this letter so that my words reach the ears of the Hon'ble Health Minister, who otherwise has done a commendable job in raising the standard of the hospital. I hope the attitude towards the patients is rectified, and the Casualty Ward itself does not become a casualty.
Members of the FATTOD (Federation of Association of Tourist Taxi Owners and Drivers) on Sunday chalked out the future course of action on the proposed hike in permit fees by the State and on GTDC decision to use theirs A/C taxi for the “Honeymoon Special Package”. FATTOD President Jeorge Fernandes said that it is not just foreign tour operators and illegal touts who are giving hard time to taxi operators along the coast but even government decision on honeymoon package may cost the coastal belt citizen. “Government run corporation like KTC few years back took away the livelihood of private bus operators by taking away the main bus route linking to Panjim city with high hopes of
Jeorge claimed that though diesel/petrol and all commodity prices have shot up, few private tour operators still complain on rates which were never hiked since the start of tourist taxi. “Our tourist taxi rates are directly associated to tourists visiting Goa, but the Lamanis and Kasmiris are left free to loot tourist, while our own Government is out to compete us with hike in taxes and permit fees,” he added. South Goa FATTOD Vice-President Alerio Fernandes said if the GTDC plans to support the Tourist Taxi operators with the proposed Honeymoon package then the operators should be taken into consideration and decide on such packages. Other spoke were Jose Fernandes and Nativide from the Mobor Taxi union.
Miraculous escape for 2 at Canacona HERALD CORRESPONENT CANACONA, JULY 4
Two persons from Khola had a miraculous escape, after the car in which they were traveling went off the road at Matvem Moll, Canacona, on Sunday. According to reports, the car (GA-09 A-2034) driven by one of the youth from Saleri-Khola was proceeding down the steep slope and reportedly due to slight drizzling, it skidded off the road at Matvem Moll steep turn. The car went down over 4 mtrs retaining wall and onto the sloppy hillock. The car miraculously missed crashing into three trees, before still standing on its tyres. The car finally came to a halt 40-50 mtrs from the road. The accident left the car’s front tyre bust open, while its one-side of the body ripped through. However, both the occupants including the driver were lucky to escape unhurt, who later reached the road to seek help.
Foreign models pose for photograph on Anjuna beach on Sunday.
HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4
The Goa Pradesh Youth Congress secretary Kalimulla Khan Pathan has said the Youth Congress will fight for the land admeasuring 99,000 square meters at Aquem for burial grounds for all the three communities as per the resolutions adopted by the Goa Legislative Assembly.
He said though the Youth Congress is opposed to the setting up of kabrastan near Sonsoddo, Pathan, however, said the proposal cannot be opposed if the government is giving the land. He said the Youth Congress would take up the issue with AICC General Secretary B K Hari Prasad and MP Rahul Gandhi to pressurise the government to
Lord Krishna temple at Cuncolim burgled again HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4
The Lord Krishna temple located at Cancanamodi hillock at Cuncolim was burgled yet again. In fact, the temple has been burgled for the third time in a row this year. Besides the temple, the miscreant also lifted away the brass bells at the site of the Rakhandar ghumti near Uskiniarik. The incident occurred last night when the miscreants broke open the main door and later ransacked the premises, including the cupboard for the booty. The donation box was broken into and lifted the Palki item from the premise. The value of the stolen items is put at Rs 21,700, while the overall loss is estimated around Rs 40,000. President of the Krishna Devasthan said the burglars caused immense damage to the Temple premises in their bid to commit the theft. “Damage has been caused to the main door and
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Photo by Rozario Estibeiro
The donation box and the window grills of the Lord Krishna Temple at Cuncolim which was cut open by the miscreants last night. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
the cupboards and the donation box. This is the third time the temple has been burgled”, he added. The Cuncolim police, who was intimated of the incident, later requisitioned the services of a police dog, which did not provide any clue to the investi-
gating agency. Meanwhile, the miscreants also lifted away the brass bells from the Rakhandar Ghumti last night. The Rakhandar was in the news last year after miscreants had desecrated the Ghumti. The Cuncolim police are investigating.
solve the long-pending demand of the Muslim community for a burial ground. Condemning the statement made by the general secretary of the Sirvodem Masjid on the kabrastan at Sonsodo, Pathan wanted to know whether this general secretary of the Masjid is working for the benefit of the Muslim community or is acting
Two found dead at Canacona HERALD CORRESPONENT CANACONA, JULY 4
Canacona police on Sunday recovered two male bodies from two different places in the taluka. In the first incident, police recovered highly decomposed body of one Dilip Prabhakar Naik (48) from Cuncolim from a farmhouse in Devabhag-Canacona. According to Canacona police, Naik was working in the farm and had reportedly gone missing since the last few days. Naik, who was residing at Palolem, was not seen for the last eight days till his highly decomposed body was found in the same farm, where he was reportedly working, police informed. In the second case, Canacona police recovered body of a 27year-old man, who was found hanging from the ceiling at his residence at Kindlebhag-Tarir. According to police, Gautam Paswan, who was working in a starred hotel in the taluka, was found hanging. His body has been sent for postmortem and further investigation is on.
Rare lizard species found in Cotigao A rare species of lizard ‘Cnemaspis goaensis’ was found in Cotigao-Canacona, the only place of its existence in the entire country. Scientist Varad B Giri, who is a curator with Mumbai-based BNHS India (Conserving Nature since 1888), informed that it was in 1985 that ‘Cnemaspis goaensis’ was first identified and is traced only in the Cotigao forests. “This rare species’ existence only in Cotigao is now confirmed. Interestingly, this lizard which can have growth to a maximum length of 2.5 inches, is abundantly found on trees, retaining walls in Cotigao forests and other residential areas in the village,” informed Giri. Giri during the last several years regularly visits Goa every year to study the rare species.
HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4
The Nagrik Sabha held at the Margao Municipal Council by the election authorities for the verification of names on the electoral roll turned out a nonstarter for want of awareness amongst the voters of Margao and Fatorda constituencies. Around 120 designated officers and Booth Level Officers turned up for the special campaign as per the directions the Salcete Mamlatdar. However, in the absence of any awareness amongst the people, the special campaign was rendered meaningless as not a single person turned up for verification or correction of names on the electoral roll in the morning session. The officials blamed the election authorities for not carrying out awareness amongst the public, turning the campaign into a futile exercise. The matter was brought to the notice of the Mamlatdar of Salcette who visited the Municipal Hall at 10.30 a.m. and told the Officers to wait till 5.45 p.m. despite no public attending the Special Campaign. The officials complained that no refreshment or food was served to the Officers on the Special Campaign Duty. Meanwhile, the Citizens Welfare Committee, Fatorda and Margao have requested the chief minister to take actions against the election officials for their negligence in not keeping the citizens informed about the special campaign as that would have given them the opportunity to
get their names checked or enrolled on the electoral roll. Meanwhile, inquiries have revealed that the response from the general public to the special campaign day in the villages have been lackluster for want of publicity.
Areal focuses on migrants HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4
Gram sabha members of Sao Jose de Areal on Sunday demanded that the election authorities verif y whether migrants figuring on the electoral roll have been registered on the rolls after verifying the transfer certificates. While opposing today’s meeting on grounds that it was convened without giving seven days notice, gram sabha members told the Sarpanch that no gram sabha meeting can take place on a day’s notice. Gram sabha member Peter Viegas said that they, however, lodged their strong objection to the inclusion of migrants on the electoral roll. “We have demanded that the members be given three months time to study the electoral roll and find out whether the migrants have brought the transfer certificates from their native states. The members will take up house to house survey and study the roll. The villagers will not allow registering of migrants on the electoral roll without the transfer certificates”, he demanded.
‘Youth Cong to fight for burial ground at Aquem’
HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 4
STATE OF THE CITY? Our reader Adelmo Fernandes clicked this photograph of the road divider on Swatantra Path, Vasco city’s main avenue. Right from the market to the IOC Terminal, this road is an eyesore.
HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JULY 4
Voter verification campaign fails to take off
Rare species of Lizard ‘Cnemaspis goaensis’ found in CotigaoCanacona. Photo by Kathy Pereira
It was previously discovered that this particular lizard species is traced about 4 kms away from Poinguinim Forest Rest House, which in turn marks to Hathipal Rescue Centre, existing at the
entrance of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. Giri informed that the species will be taken for further research as to its existence only within a small geographical area like a
village in remote Cotigao and not elsewhere in Canacona taluka, other parts of Goa or for that matter in rest of the country. Giri also plans to publish posters of the rare species. “Normally, all kinds of lizards are non-poisonous, but their certain droppings, especially the white colour one may contain ‘Omonia’ and in case this substance get mixed with eatables, the person who is allergic to ‘Omonia’ may get diahoria, vomiting, etc, while most other causes related by people to consummation of lizard contaminated food poisoning is psychological,” he said. He also spoke on various other subjects, especially scheduling of animals. According to Giri, experts decide scheduling of animals just by sitting at Delhi and hardly goes into fields to get first hand information.
as a doll to criticise the Congress government. “We cannot trust such a person who worked against the Congress party candidate in the MP and Assembly polls. We know that kabrastan is a major problem faced by the Muslim community for the last 20 years. It is totally wrong to say no to the 30,000 sq mts of land which
the Margao Municipality is thinking of acquiring for the kabrastan,” he said. The Youth Congress secretary sought to know whether the BJP government which ruled Goa for five years has done any good for the minority community, and asked why the BJP did not resolve the kabrastan issue during its rule.
Work with Oppn to solve highway issues: SGF HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 4
The Save Goa Front (SGF) has urged the government to keep aside all political differences and take the Opposition leader into confidence to solve the highway problem in the best interest of Goa. SGF President Antonio Gauncar said the chief minister and the leader of the opposition used to jointly solve important issues affecting the State and called for taking the opposition into confidence to solve the highway row. Gauncar suggested that only one road from Patradevi to Dodhamarg via Honda, Usgao, Sanguem, Canacona, Pollem can solve the people’s woes as well
as solve the problem of mining traffic instead of two existing national highways. “This one road will serve as the link road to neighbouring states too. Cost wise also, it will be less as it will avoid displacement of homes, minimise the environmental damage, save productive land and reduce unnecessary burden on Goan people,” he said. He said the SGF has already sent in writing in 2009 the suggestion for a new road to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Meanwhile, the SGF has fully supported the 12-hour band on July 5 saying the common man is badly hit by the steep rise in prices of all essential commodities.
Shripad appeals for support of bandh HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, JULY 4
In a bid to make the Bharat Bandh on Monday a success in the State, especially in Sattari Taluka, North Goa MP Shripad Naik appealed to BJP workers (Satatri unit) and people from Sattari taluka to make the Bandh a success. Naik and other senior BJP leaders guided BJP workers and interacted with many people from Sattari and appealed to make the Bandh a success in the interest of common man. Later addressing a press conference, Naik said the party would enforce Goa Bandh on Monday in protest against sharp increase in prices of essential commodities and failure of the Congress government in the State and Centre to provide relief to the people. The press conference was conducted at the residence of ex-deputy speaker Narhari Haldankar at Valpoi. Speaking further, Naik said party leaders have established contacts with market associa-
tions all over the State to ensure success of the Bandh. “People of Sattari will whole heartedly support the Bandh and BJP has full faith in Sattari people,” he claimed. In his appeal, he stated that all people, irrespective of caste, religion and profession, must support the Bandh and show the power and strength of democracy. “If the government tries to create any hurdles in the Bandh called by the BJP, which is agitating for the price rise in peaceful method, then the present government will be responsible for the consequences,” he warned. Govind Parwatkar, who is leading the Bandh in the State criticized the government policy and said the government has failed to work on the promises and assurances given to the common men. North Goa Block BJP President Ulhas Assodkar, Sadanand Shet Tanavde and Narhari Haldankar were also present for the press conference.