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Goa’s Heartbeat: Kangana asked Pg 4 to regain weight

Mild tremors felt in Sanguem; Met rules out quake HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JAN 6

Mild tremors were felt in some parts of Sanguem taluka on Thursday morning, causing panic among residents.

The tremors were felt at about 6.40 am and again at about 11.05 am at Uguem, Valkini and Bhati in Sanguem taluka.

According to the residents, the noise and the effect of tremor was particularly high in Uguem and its surroundings, as some people rushed out from their houses.

Bhati Sarpanch Uday Naik also claimed the mild tremor and the loud noise to have been felt in Bhati.

Naik claimed there to have been complaints of some empty bottles to have fallen on the floor at the time of the tremor.

The school children, who were on their way to school too claimed to have felt tremors and the loud noise.

When contacted, officials at Sangeum Mamlatdar’s office stated that there was no confirmation till 5.30 pm of any tremors in the taluka from the Department of Meteorology.

Even Quepem Deputy Collector’s office was in the dark of the tremor, which otherwise had shocked most of the people in Sanguem town, Uguem, Valkini and Bhati.

Meanwhile, fears are expressed by people in Sanguem over safety of the Selaulim Dam. There were rumours in the town of some cracks being developed to the side walls of the Selaulim Dam, but the same could not be ascertained from the officials as the office looking after the maintenance of the dam was closed for the day.

When contacted, Quepem Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes feigned ignorance of any tremors being felt within the jurisdiction of his office and that (Continued on page 10)

Drunken driving fine measured in pegs!

HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, JAN 6

The Motor Vehicles Act is being made more stringent for drunken driving. Those driving after consuming liquor will be checked and fined as per the quantity of alcohol in the blood.

The present law provided for just a fine of Rs 2,000 or simple imprisonment up to six months if the alcohol in the blood is above the permissible limit of 30 mg in 100 ml.

An expert committee appointed by the Road Transport and Highways Ministry has recommended a graded punishment based on how much alcohol is found in the blood, including cancellation of the driving licence in case of the repeat drunken driving.

As a matter of fact, the c o m m i t t e e h a s re c o m mended heavy fine to the tune of Rs 2,000 for various traffic offences like overspeeding, jumping red lights and using mobile while driving that presently attracts find of Rs 100-500.

Goa: Gudlar shown threatening Dudu’s landlord in 3rd tape Pg 3

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Sports: Gambhir ruled out of ODIs Pg 13

Srikrishna panel for united Andhra option PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Justice Srikrishna Committee has recommended keeping Andhra Pradesh united with Constitutional and Statutory measures for empowerment of the Telangana region “is the best way forward” while creating a separate state can be the “second best” option to tackle the statehood demand.

These are the two options among the six given by the fivemember committee headed by former Supreme Court Judge B N Srikrishna which submitted its report to the Centre last week after holding wide-ranging cons u l t a t i o n s a c ro s s A n d h r a Pradesh since February last year.

The Committee itself found that the other four options – maintaining status quo, bifurcating the state into Seemandhra and Telangana with Hyderabad as Union Territory and the states having their own

Pak bans onion exports, prices go up by Rs 10 a kg PTI NEW DELHI/LAHORE, JAN 6

Onion prices in major Indian cities went up by Rs 5-10 per kg on Thursday as government’s efforts to boost supply suffered a setback with Pakistan banning exports of the commodity via Wagah border.

Even as secretaries in the key economic ministries reviewed the situation with Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, watchdog body Competition Commission of India ordered a probe into possible cartels among traders.

As 300 India-bound trucks carrying 3,000 tonnes of onion had reached the Wagah border near Amritsar, Pakistan’s Commerce Ministry imposed a ban on movement through land route, giving a shock to India.

Onion prices increased to Rs 60-65 a kg in major metros such as Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai.

“Retailers have jacked up prices on reports of ban by Pakistan,” General Secretary of Tomato and Onion Merchants’ Association in Delhi’s Azadpur Mandi said.

New Delhi dubbed the Pakistan’s decision as “shocking”, with Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma stating the issue has been taken up with the concerned authorities in Islamabad.

WAR OVER TELANGANA

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TRS wants nothing but a Telangana state that existed prior to November 1, 1956.

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TDP demands the Centre table a Bill in the Budget session of Parliament for creation of Telangana state.

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BJP says delay in formation of the Telangana state would harm the interests of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana region.

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Congress MLAs from Telangana too want Telangana state and nothing else.

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Muslims in Hyderabad, who constitute 41 per cent of the population in the metropolis, do not want a separate state of Telangana to be created.

capitals, bifurcation into RayalaTelangana and coastal Andhra regions with Hyderabad as part of Rayala-Telangana and bifurcation into Seemandhra and Telangana with enlarged Hyderabad metropolis as a separate Union Territory – made by it are

not practicable.

It was also conscious of the possible opposition that may come from different quarters even to its two best options.

The committee recognised that the Telangana statehood (Continued on page 10)

Temples join hands to tackle thefts HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

Around 300 hundred temple committees in Goa have joined hands forcing government to curb increasing instances of temple robberies and idol desecration.

‘Gomantak Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh’ (GMDSM) a joint organisation has been formed by trustees of various temples of the State, which will be formally inaugurated on January 8, at Porvorim.

The office bearers said the Mahasangh has been formed to have a coordination amongst temples and religious organisations and provide free of cost legal assistance to temple committee, resolve legal matters and to impart religious education among youth.

Jayesh Thali, coordinator of GMDSM told reporters that the continuing thefts and idol desecration throughout the State and the failure of the State government to take adequate action forced the temple managements to cobble together the alliance.

“Temples in Goa are being at-

tacked continually. In the past six years, more than 50 idols of temples have been desecrated and more than 250 temples are robbed. But the State government has shown apathy towards this grave issue,” Thali said.

On the contrary, he added that government is trying to label these temples and small shrines as unauthorised religious structures.

Mahasangh President Chandrakant Pandit said that the State government was purposely turning a blind eye towards these incidents hurting Hindu religious sentiments.

“The State government has failed to achieve any breakthrough in these incidents although property worth crores of rupees was robbed away or destroyed,” he said.

Mahasangh’s office bearer Ramesh Shinde criticised State government’s appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT), which has failed completely to give even a single breakthrough in the matter over last two years.

(Continued on page 10)

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GOA, FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY, 2011

Horticulture outlets go dry as supplies from Belgaum blocked HERALD REPROTER PANJIM, JAN 6

The stocks in 350-odd outlets run by Goa State Horticulture Development Corporation ran dry as supply of vegetables from Belgaum was stopped since Wednesday afternoon.

Corporation’s chairman Sankalp Amonkar said that the negotiations are on to ensure that the wholesalers resume the supply but ‘political jealousy’ by BJP has created impediments.

The corporation gets around 120 tones of vegetables from Belgaum market which is sold at subsidized rates through 350 outlets.

Amonkar said that with the onion prices up-scaling and corporation offering onions at cheaper price, the popularity of the outlets have gone up.

“This is what is bugging many BJP leaders in Karnataka and Goa’s opposition parties. There were three BJP legislators and a BJP MP in Belgaum who were insisting that the vegetable supply to the corporation should be stalled,” the chairman alleged. He said that the corporation has been providing 10 different kinds of vegetables at a cheaper rate to the consumers and has also added fruits to its itinerary. “We have begun selling these chemical free fruits,” Amonkar said.

The corporation feels that their popularity graph has increased tremendously giving mileage to Digambar Kamat led government in the state which has irked BJP. “Many of our staff is working at a lower pay scale relentlessly. What corporation is achieving now is just because of the staff who gets up as early as 4:30 am and transport vegetables to the outlets,” Amonkar said.

The corporation has said that they had managed to bring just 25 tones of vegetables from Belgaum on Thursday and the shelves were wearing empty look by afternoon. Amonkar said that they will have to get the supply from other cities like Kolhapur or Mumbai if Belgaum crisis continues.

“Even if we procure the vegetables from other destinations, we will ensure that the prices are not hiked,” he said adding that the chief minister has strongly backed the corporation, who is reaching to the commonest person on the street. The chairman said that the corporation’s efforts have given a major setback to the vegetable sellers who were inflating the prices earlier.

“There is a strong resentment amongst them but what we are concerned is that the common man on the street is happy,” Amonkar added. Amonkar also said that the corporation carts selling fruits at lower price as compared to open market rates are in huge demand.

The corporation in its fresh initiative has begun selling imported fruits on its existing carts across the State from January 5 onwards.

Atleast 10 types of fruits alongside vegetables were decided to be sold on the same cart but the corporation is selling five types of fruits to begin with.

While a kilo of each fruit including sweet lime is being sold at Rs 40, oranges at Rs 45, grapes at Rs 65, apples at Rs 75 chickoos are quoted at Rs 45.

The Corporation has roped in a Mumbai based firm to supply fresh and healthy fruits to these carts, which will be chemicalfree.

Belgaum farmers, traders irked over subsidy HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JAN 6

While people in Goa are relieved with Horticulture Corporation of Goa’s decision of supplying vegetables to Goans at subsidized rates, tension prevails amid farmers and vegetable suppliers in Belgaum over the decision.

According to reports, the wholesale suppliers in a sudden move late Wednesday evening decided not to supply vegetables to Goa for an indefinite period. The decision was taken in the wake of Horticulture Corporation of Goa’s decision to increase the number of vegetables from 10 to 20. However, due to the intervention by the Goan authorities and government authorities in Belgaum till late Wednesday night, the strike was called off.

The supplies to Goa resumed from Thursday evening after the vegetable suppliers in Belgaum were assured by the Horticulture Corporation that the number of vegetables to be procured from Belgaum would not be increased, the decision that could thwart chances of people of Goa in getting more vegetables at subsidized

rates.

On the other hand, the already struggling vegetable traders in Belgaum, who solely depend on Goa, still feel offended.

The Horticulture Corporation of Goa procures tomatoes, cauliflower, green chilies, beans, cabbage, carrot, gourd, potato, lady’s finger, etc. But as only four suppliers from Belgaum have been authorized to supply vegetables to Horticulture Corporation of Goa, the resent among the 150-odd suppliers to Goa has just started brewing.

The suppliers have alleged that with the prime vegetables supplied by the Horticulture Corporation of Goa, they are already facing the crunch. This is because the number of items supplied to Goa has further reduced and has adversely affected their transaction and the transactions of their counterparts drastically. According to sources, the Goa Wholesale Vegetable Suppliers Association, Belgaum, has called a general body meeting on January 10 to have detailed discussion and course of action to be taken in this regard.

Withdraw road tender: GCZMA to PWD HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

If PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao’s dream Navelim-Benaulim bridge over River Sal is awaiting a nod from the Union Environment Ministry, PWD’s ambitious plan to construct a 10.5 km mining bypass from Codli to Panchawadi costing over Rs 26.92 crore has been grounded by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority.

In fact, the GCZMA has told PWD Executive Engineer, Ponda division to forthwith withdraw the tender notice since the CRZ clearance dated January 9, 2003 is no longer valid. “You are required to stop all further action in this matter. You are also required to forthwith withdraw the tender notice in this case.

No further action should be initiated for construction of the road without obtaining prior approval from this office”, asserted GCZMA Member Secretar y Michael D’Souza.

D’Souza’s letter dated December 14 to the PWD Executive Engineer categorically

PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao will have to wait for some more time for the much-awaited nod from the Union Environment Ministry to resume work on the controversial Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge.

For, the Environment Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Environment and Forest Ministry is believed to have deferred a decision on the request made by the PWD to grant clearance for the Sinquetim-Benaulim bridge – mandatory under the CRZ regulation if the cost of the projects is beyond Rs five

Residents of Panchwadi-Ponda fear that these lush green environment would be destroyed once the mining bypass is constructed in the village.

stated that the CRZ approval and clearance dated January 9, 2003 is not longer valid and the same has ceased on January 9, 2008 in terms of Clause 3 (2) (ia) of the CRZ notification, 1991.

That’s not all. D’Souza further

stated “it is understood that the entire area is eco-sensitive in nature as it has large mangrove growth and recently the Forest department has initiated action for illegal felling of mangroves in the said area. This area with densely covered mangroves

crore.

When PWD Principal Chief Engineer, J Rego was contacted to throw more light on the EAC decision, he feigned ignorance on the decision taken by the Union Ministry.

He, however, hastened to add that the EAC might have deferred a decision on the matter since the PWD was required to submit a host of details regarding the project, which would be complied in due course of time.

“The PWD has appointed a consultant to assist the department to prepare a report on the queries raised by the EAC re-

garding the project. The consultant is arriving in the state in the second fortnight of this month”, he said, adding that the PWD would submit all relevant details to the EAC once it receives the report from the consultant.

The Sinquetim-Navelim bridge – one of the three dream bridges proposed by PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao over River Sal in Salcete – have been hanging fire since the local residents Sinquetim led by Avertano Furtado, George Barretto and others moved the high court against the construction of the bridge.

Govt appeals against order for High Court building complex HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

The State Government is in no mood to part with huge area of land near Secretariat in Porvorim for construction of High Court complex even though it was essentially acquired for building complex for High Court.

The state has gone now appealed before the Supreme Court after Bombay High Court at Goa rejected its review application filed seeking review of the 2009 order.

In 2009, the High Court had issued direction to construct a High Court complex at Porvorim and had also directed the gov-

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

A committee consisting of top officials is likely to be formed in the next few days to look into the matter pertaining to the alleged forgery of birth certificate

by Congress MLA Dayanand Narvekar to enable his son to play cricket at tournaments of under-15 level.

Reliable sources said it was learnt that the three members on the committee would be the directors from three departments pertaining to education namely Director of Education, Technical Education and Higher Education. Education Secretary Ashok Acharya said he received a note from the Education Minister Babush Monserrate on Wednesday pertaining to the matter. “I really don’t know who would be in the committee, but, yes, there is a mention of a committee in the note pertaining to the forgery matter.”

It is not known what will the nature of this committee be – whether it will be investigative or what. A message on the Education Minister’s cell to pick up this reporter’s call to confirm the exact facts on the committee yielded no results.

Life member of Goa Cricket Association, Dr Shekhar Salkar had filed a police complaint against Narvekar, who is the current president of the association, for forging his son’s birth certificate on more than two occasions to enable his son to play in state-level under-15 tournaments.

Dr Salkar had sought the information pertaining to the alleged forgery under the RTI Act. Narvekar has denied the allegation and maintained the FIR was a political move against him.

AG to appear before GSIC HERALD REPOROTER PANJIM, JAN 6

Sinquetim bridge: PWD will have to wait for EAC clearance HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

Panel likely to look into forgery charge against Narvekar

ernment to finalize plans for the construction of the High Court complex after government disclosed that it had changed its plans about constructing High Court complex in Porvorim.

The court also ordered that the construction of the High Court building should commence within a period of three months, in accordance with the law while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).

Moreover, the Court had prohibited the State's law department from handing over the property to any other department or corporate sector.

Earlier, last year High Court

also dismissed a review application holding that the review application is nothing but an appeal in disguise.

Existing High Court complex at Altinho is not adequate and space crunch is constant problem and hence, the government had acquired land at Porvorim but later back-tracked on the plans.

During hearing of the review application, Advocate General Subodh Kantak who represented the government had told the Court that High Court cannot direct the government to allot a particular land or building for the courts.

would be classified locally as CRZ-I area”.

The GCZMA action comes following a representation made by the Panchwadi Bachao Samiti which has opposed construction of the mining road at the behest of a mining company.

Human rights panel functioning delayed HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

Functioning of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) which was constituted only last month after much dilly-dallying, is likely to face further delays.

Justice Praful Kumar Mishra, former Chief Justice of Patna High Court, was appointed as the chairman of the GSHC whereas A D Salkar, former district judge as one of the members.

The notification to the effect was issued last month. However, an appointment of the third member has come into trouble.

The Governor has turned down the recommendation of the government to appoint Datta Keni as third member of the commission and has returned the file, said a government officer on the condition of anonymity.

However, the government intends to get a cabinet approval on Datta Keni’s name and send back the file to the Governor, said the officer.

Meanwhile the Government has been served with a notice

by Adv Ranjit Satardekar demanding that SHRC should start its activities. The officer, however, said the SHRC cannot start its operation for two reasons -- the government is yet to identify suitable office for SHRC and secondly, a third member of the commission has not been appointed yet.

Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) today issued notice to Advocate General (AG) Subodh Kantak directing him to personally appear before the commission on January 21 in connection with the complaint filed against him by advocate Aires Rodrigues for non-complying with the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In his petition before the Commission, Rodrigues has stated that the AG is a Public Authority as defined in section 2 (h) of the RTI Act 2005, being a constitutional authority constituted under the Constitution of India He further stated that the failure to comply with the provisions of the Act for over five years was a matter of concern given that the AG was the first law officer of the State.

One may recall that a similar notice was issued to Governor of Goa Dr S S Sidhu and his special secretary Dr N Radhakrishnan in another RTI matter wherein Rodrigues was refused information under RTI.

Narvekar warns agitation over move to privatise govt hospital HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 6

Strongly opposing the government’s decision to privatise the District Hospital at Mapusa, Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar has threatened to launch an agitation.

He further warned that if the government fails to change its decision by January 26 or does not allow him to start the agitation, then the Goa Democratic Front would take the lead in this regard.

N a r v e ka r w a s a d d re s s ing media at his residence at Mapusa on Thursday evening.

“The District Hospital was conceptualized to provide medical facilities free of cost to the people of North Goa,” stated Narvekar.

He further informed that the foundation stone was laid in 2002 when Manohar Parrikar was the chief minister and the machinery required for the project was purchased when he was the health minister in 2005.

“On November 30, 2008, the Goa Structural Industrial Development Corporation handed over the District Hospital to the government and on May 27, 2009, the Directorate of Health Services took possession of the hospital. But till date, the District Hospital has not gone on stream fully which is a matter of shame for the government,” stated Narvekar.

“The government has so far spent Rs 65 lakh on maintenance of the District Hospital, Rs 36 lakh on electricity and Rs 7 lakh on security arrangement, which is nothing but the waste of

District Hospital, Mapusa.

money,” he stated.

“The total amount so far spent on the District Hospital works out to Rs 46 crore. The warranty on some of the superspeciality machineries installed in the hospital has lapsed and the government is yet to renew t h e w a r r a n t y, ” c l a i m e d Narvekar.

“I was not taken into confidence by the government while taking the decision about privatization of the District Hospital. The issue of District Hospital concerns the people of North Goa and hence I am prepared to join hands with the members of any political party to see that the people of North Goa get justice,” stated Narvekar.

“The government is free to privatize the hospitals that are coming up in Margao and Valpoi, but under no circumstances I will allow privatization of the District Hospital at Mapusa. Peo-

An accused in the Margao bomb blast case on Tuesday submitted before the South Goa Sessions court that he is entitled for bail since the National Investigations Agency (NIA) had failed to file a charge sheet against him within 90 days of his arrest.

Defense counsel Adv Sanjeey Punaleykar representing accused Prashant Juvekar submitted that the NIA neither submitted the charge sheet in the court nor approached the court for extension of the 90 day remand period in custody.

Arguing in support of the bail plea filed by accused Juvekar, the defense lawyer said that the NIA did not file the charge sheet on November 2 – the day on which the 90 day remand period expired, adding that the NIA filed the application for extension of remand only on November 12 and later filed the charge sheet on December 1.

Adv Punaleykar further said that even assuming the NIA had failed to file any application for extension of the remand period, he maintained that the investigating agency did no investigations between November 12 and Dec 1 when the accused was available for them for interrogations.

“My client was not interrogated by the investigating agency. There was only clerical investigations done by the agency”, he submitted, while pleading for bail.

He said the court has to take into account whether the inves-

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

ple must get medical facilities f re e o f c o s t , ” t h u n d e re d Narvekar.

With regard to construction of Ravindra Bhavan project at Mapusa, Narvekar said the site selected by the government near Mapusa Police station is the best site and the government should go ahead with the project.

“If the government decides to change the site, then the project can be set up in Bastora village in Aldona constituency,” he said adding that he will be pleased to offer assistance to the Directorate of Art and Culture to set up Ravindra Bhavan in Bastora, which is on the outskirts of Mapusa city.

ZP members Gupesh Naik and Kunda Bagkar, Goa Democratic Front President Edward Lima, sarpanchas of Penha-de-Franca, Aldona and Salvador-do-Mundo were present for the press conference.

Haste for kabrastan slows down HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

After showing undue haste to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 sq meters of Communidade and private land at Sonsodo by invoking the urgency clause, the government seems to have suddenly slowed down its pace to acquire the land for the proposed kabrastan for the city’s Muslim population.

If officials are to be believed, it’s now more than two months since the land acquisition office had proposed to the government to notify section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act to acquire the land in question. Till date, however, section 6 has not been invoked by the government, creating doubts in the minds of the officials and the Muslim populace about the motive behind the mysterious delay.

Sources in the know say that while the Margao Municipal Council appears in a hurry to acquire the proposed land, the

Civic body has failed to realize that nearly half the portion of the total land belongs to a private party which has strongly opposed the acquisition of their ancestral land tooth and nail.

It is also not clear whether the Margao Civic body have complied with all the formalities relating to acquisition of land.

In fact, Herald had pointed out that the Margao Civic body had resolved at its monthly meeting to acquire only the land belonging to the Margao Communidade and had made no mention of any proposal to acquire the land belonging to a private party.

It is not out of place to mention here that the Land Acquisition office had put for acquisition the land belonging to a private on a letter from the then MMC Chief Officer Y B Tawde without any resolution or backing from the City Fathers.

Interestingly, while the Margao Municipality and the gov-

Margao bomb blast accused makes case for bail HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

GOA

NIA opposes release of Sanatan’s seized items HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has firmly opposed the application filed

by Sanatan Sanstha for the release of articles and documents seized by the agency during the raids on their premises at RamnarthiPonda.

The NIA has maintained that various documents and articles attached from the Sanathan Ashram during the first phase of investigations are required for the purpose of further investigations.

While praying that the application filed by Sanatan Sanstha be rejected by the court, the NIA pointed out that investigation of the case is at a crucial stage against accused persons Rudra Patil, Sarang Kulkarni alias Akolkar and Pravin Limkar, who are still at large.

The investigation agency further submitted that the agency is carrying out further investigations to unearth the larger conspiracy involved in the case.

nDefense counsel Adv Sanjeey Punaleykar representing accused Prashant Juvekar submitted that the NIA neither submitted the charge sheet in the court nor approached the court for extension of the 90 day remand period in custody. tigating agency has to file the charge sheet within 90 days or within 180 days and was categorical in his argument that the NIA had not filed any application for extension of the remand period before the expiry of the 90day period.

“What we can see is that the NIA did some investigations only prior to November 2 and did nothing between November 12 and December 1. “Clerical work carried ou by the agency does not amount to investigations”, he submitted.

Special Public Prosecutor representing the NIA in the Margao bomb blast case S B Faria will argue on the bail application when the case comes up for hearing on January 14.

ernment appears hell bent in acquiring the Communidade and private land for the proposed Kabrastan, the city’s Muslim population appears totally opposed to the Sonsodo site.

In fact, the Sonsodo site has not even gone well with the section of Muslim community owing allegiance to the Congress party, but their pleas to drop the land acquisition at Sonsodo and acquire land at Aquem as per the Goa Assembly Resolutions seems to have no takers either with the Chief Minister Digambar or the Congress government in general.

Incidentally, as already reported by Herald, the Congress Minority cell had taken up the issue with Union Minister for Minority Affairs Salman Kursheed during his visit to Curtorim on Sunday and are now hoping against hope that the government would address their two-decade old demand for a burial ground.

Presentation on waste plant HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

With Fomento finally approving the draft concession agreement, the Margao Municipal has set in motion the process to ratify the agreement, beginning from next week.

Margao Municipal Chairperson Sushila Naik said the Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya has decided to hold a presentation for the benefit of the City Fathers on the waste treatment plant proposed to be set up by Fomento at Sonsodo.

The Civic body will invite the Municipal legal counsel – who had approved the draft concession agreement – for the Presentation to answer queries from the City Fathers and allay their apprehensions, if any.

“The presentation may take place either on Monday or next week. The Chief Officer will finalise the date”, she said.

Naik further said that the special meeting will be convened after the presentation which will deliberate on the pros and cons of the draft concession agreement to be signed with Fomento.

Since the agreement will remain in force for the next 25 years, the present lot of City Fathers are treading a cautious path, fearing that they would be blamed if anything goes awry between Fomento and the Civic body over the next two decades and half.

In fact, many a City Father have raised eyebrows over the exact amount the Civic body would be required to pay to Fomento for tackling waste at Sonsodo.

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Pg3 GOA, FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY, 2011

Verna factory destroyed in fire

Minor boy, girl consume Ratol HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

The remains of ‘Omega Fiber’ factory in Verna Industrial Estate which was gutted on Thursday.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 6

Mormugao taluka continue to bear the brunt of fire mishaps for the third day, as a fibre factory was gutted at Verna Industrial Estate, destroying property worth Rs 3.5 crore.

According to reports, fibre materials, chemicals and entire factory shed, estimated to cost Rs 3.5 crore were completely gutted in Omega Fibers Factory at Verna Industrial Estate at about 3 am.

Factory watchman Abdul Zafar noticed the fire and immediately called the fire brigade.

However, as Verna fire station’s phone was busy, Zafar went running to the fire station, which is located in the neighbourhood of the factory.

Fire tenders from Verna, Vasco, Margao and Panjim Headquarters rushed to the site to control the fire.

The entire operation took over six hours, but by the time operation could get over, the factory was completely gutted in the fire.

“One each fire tender from Verna, Vasco, Panjim and two from Margao were summoned to extinguish the fire. Fire tenders made 22 trips to take water from the neighbouring factory,” said Verna Fire Station Officer Sadguru Palni.

“Due to the stored chemicals and stocks, which were highly flammable, the entire factory was immediately engulfed with fire and due to the collapsed shed, we were

forced to carr y out extinguish operations from outs i d e t h e f a c t o r y, d u e t o which the operation lasted over six hours,” informed Palni.

He further informed that the factory was completely destroyed and materials, machinery and the shed were destroyed in the incident. “The cause of fire is not yet known, Vasco fire department is investigating the incident, but it is suspected to be short circuit,” he said.

Factory owner Majeet Singh informed that the estimated loss would be about Rs 3.5 crore and nothing has been left in the factory, as it was completely damaged in the fire.

Speaking to media, watchman Zafar said when he noticed the

In a shocking incident, a minor boy and girl consumed Ratol paste at Loutolim last night.

The duo were immediately rushed to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim last night after it became know that they consumed the deadly poison.

Maina Curtorim police said that Special Judicial Magistrate S B Faria recorded the statements and declaration of the two minors at the GMC. Maina Curtorim Police station incharge, PI Sidhant Shirodkar said both the boy (16) and girl (14) are hailing from Loutolim village. They consumed the poison after they met each other in the village.

Police said the statem e n t re c o rd e d b y t h e Special Judicial Magistrate reveals that they were friendly and were apprehensive that their families would not agree to their relationship.

Police said the duo are undergoing treatment in the GMC and their condition is being monitored by the doctors.

The police are investigating.

This is not the first time that an incident of ratol consumption has come to light in recent times.

A number of ratol consumption cases have been reported in the Hospicio hospital over the last two months, with even doctors and psychiatrists calling for regulating the sale of ratol poison in the open market.

Photo by M Prabhav

fire, he called Verna fire station and as the phone number was busy, he went running to the fire station and informed the officers.

“Workers in the night shift who were sleeping in the rest room rushed out when the fire broke out,” said Zafar.

It may be recalled that on Tuesday, property worth Rs 3 lakh was destroyed, after a house was gutted in a fire at Headland Sada, Mormugao and on Wednesday, a garment stall was gutted in Vasco market, destroying garments worth Rs 10,000.

This is the also third such fire incident in the industrial estate, as earlier two factories in Sancoale Industrial Estate were gutted, damaging properties worth crore of rupees.

Gudlar shown threatening Dudu’s landlord in 3rd tape nThe conversation shows Gudlar confessing that Sagar wanted to give the house on rent after Dudu was jailed. “So I told him…

If you sell the house without my knowledge, you see what I will do to you,” the PSI, who was heading Anti Narcotic Cell at that particular time, said.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

The day when Crime Branch summoned and interrogated Police Sub Inspector Sunil Gudlar, the third tape in the series was released in which he is shown as threatening to plant drugs on the person linked to Israeli drug peddler David Driham alias Dudu.

“The money, I said you are trying to fool me huh? Now Dudu is inside so you are doing all this natak…said… you are doing all this drama? Don’t do all this drama with me I said. I will put charas on you and I will take you inside,” Gudlar is shown saying, transcript copy of which is available with Herald.

PSI Gudlar saga was unfolded on Tuesday evening when the first tape showing him selling drugs to two unidentified foreign girls was released by a local news channel.

Later on Wednesday another tape came which showed him claiming that even superiors are making money from the trade.

The third tape shows Gudlar confessing to two girls about how he dealt with one Sagar, reportedly a landlord of Dudu.

The conversation shows Gudlar confessing that Sagar wanted to give the house on rent after Dudu was jailed. “So I told him… If you sell the house without my knowledge, you see what I will do to you,” the PSI, who was heading Anti Narcotic Cell at that particular time, said.

The PSI who is shown puffing a cigarette also confessed that the landlord’s sister picked up the phone when he began threatening.

“I don’t want to talk to you.

Give the phone to him… He is the man of the house. Give the phone to him,” Gudlar confessed of talking on the phone.

... but says he will reveal truth soon

HERALD REPROTER PANJIM, JAN 6

Appearing on the first day of police inquiry on Thursday morning into allegations of selling drugs to two foreigners, police sub-inspector Sunil Gudlar claimed innocence on the matter.

The PSI appeared before Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police Shamba Sawant at Dona Paula into the sting video, which was telecast on a local TV news channel on Tuesday night, showing Gudlar negotiating with two foreigner girls in a hotel room at an undisclosed destination over a small packet of drugs.

Left red-faced, Goa police immediately handed over the case investigation to Crime Branch on Wednesday.

“I will reveal the truth, which is not in the sting CD showed on the channels. In few days, people would know the true facts behind creating controversy. I deny all charges leveled against me through the channels. The public will soon know what is right and wrong,” Gudlar told reporters after appearing before the inquiry officer, at

about 11:10am.

The spy-cam video created flutters in Goa police also because Gudlar is shown claiming that his seniors were also accepting bribes, though he had not naming anybody.

The tape also showed that the girls, whose nationalities are not known, asked Gudlar that his senior police officers were against bribe. To this, Gudlar was shown replying that he was paying money to his unnamed officer every month and every year.

“He is a very smart guy (referring to his senior)…you show him the money and his mouth will be shut…people are very greedy…very greedy,” Gudlar says to the girls.

Reacting to fresh allegations, Gudlar said that he has explained everything to his seniors and that he will come out clean.

“I need a chance defend myself…I have explained everything to my seniors… I have sincerely performed my duty and will remain the same even in future,” he said.

DSP Shamba Sawant refused to comment on the issue stating that the inquiry is in progress.

The video was reportedly shot four months back when SP Veenu Bansal was heading the Cell.

The PSI is also seen on the tape flinging Rs 500 notes in the air. “We believe in Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi) notes. I want this,” he is heard saying as he shows the rupee notes to the girls.

Police have meanwhile not ruled out interrogation of former ANC chief Bansal in this case as Gudlar was working under his commands.

IPS officer Bansal was recently shunted to Arunchal Pradesh while Gudlar during the same period was transferred to Security. Gudlar’s lucky days came to an abrupt end after the SP’s transfer.

Speaking to reporters, Police spokesperson Superintendent of Police (Special Branch) Atmaram Deshpande said that they are expecting a third tape which is seemingly a trail of earlier two tapes.

“Inquiry is in progress into both tape expose. We are expecting a third tape in the same matter,” he said refusing to divulge more.

BJP seeks Ravi’s ouster, mass transfer of cops HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

Reiterating their demand for Home Minister Ravi Naik’s resignation over the police-drug mafia nexus, the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today also demanded mass transfers in the police department to stem the rot.

Following the new release of video footage wherein the police sub inspector Sunil Gudlar, attached to ANC wing, selling drugs to two foreign women, the BJP has demanded the whole police department needs to be reshuffled.

The BJP also demanded immediate resignation of Home minister over the issue.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday here, BJP spokesperson Rajendra Arlekar, said whatever investigation conducted so far by the Goa Police have been insufficient.

“Nothing will come out just sending PSI Ashish Shirodkar or PSI Sunil Gudlar home,” he said.

“The entire department has to be reshuffled to stem the rot,” he said.

This is yet another case of ANC official being allegedly involved in drugs nexus.

Last year, PI Ashish Shirodkar along with other five police men were suspended

after their alleged nexus with drugs dealers was exposed by the media.

The BJP had then demanded that investigation be handed over to CBI and also demanded Home Minister Ravi Naik’s resignation.

Referring to income tax raids on the commercial establishments of the Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane on Wednesday Arlekar said the raids should have been conducted much earlier.

Arlekar demanded that the investigation should be conducted through enforcement wing.

He also demanded that the government should investigate about how and where Sattari Yuva Morcha (SYM) is sourcing its funds.

“The government must also investigate into Elbit India Hospital Ltd, an Israeli company, which has been granted land by the government at Bambolim on lease to build SuperSpecialty hospital on PPP mode.

summons to sP, PI over copper cables theft

nThe two social activists had complained in Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Mapusa today issued show cause December 2010 that copper wires worth Rs 6.215 notices to North Goa Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas and crore from River Princess had gone missing from Calangute Police Inspector Manjunath Desai to appear before it in the vessel. In their police complaint, the activists person in connection with theft of copper cables from the grounded River Princess. The show cause notices were issued during the hearing alleged that subsequent to the inspection carried of the petition filed by Kashinath Shetye and Ketan Govekar that the out by various Government departments and police have not given them a copy of the FIR in the theft case.

“You (both police officers) are required to appear in this Court in salvage companies, the copper wires from the person on January 14 at 2:30pm to show cause against the application, vessel had gone missing.

HERALD REPOROTER PANJIM, JAN 6

failing wherein the application will be heard and determined in your absence,” the JMFC order reads.

The two social activists had complained in December 2010 that copper wires worth Rs 6.215 crore from River Princess had gone missing from the vessel.

The Court earlier had issued a separate notice to Gawas and Desai following a petition by the complainants that the case was not being

registered.

The Court had then directed the Calangute Police to file an FIR within two days.

In their police complaint, the activists alleged that subsequent to the inspection carried out by various Government departments and salvage companies, the copper wires from the vessel had gone missing.

BJP secretary attacked

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JAN 6

Bharatiya Janata Party State Secretary Adv Manohar Adpaikar was attacked by an unknown person at his office at Tisk-Ponda on Thursday

at about 6.30 pm.

According to reports, Adpaikar was first admitted to ID Hospital in Ponda, from where he was shifted to GMC Hospital in Bambolim.

Meanwhile, Ponda Police has

detained one suspect in connection with the case.

The reason behind the attack is not yet known.

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KTCL official to seek JNNURM funds

S H O RT TA K E S

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

Ex-MLA Victor Gonsalves being felicitated for his yeomen services for the Goan community.

Christmas programme held

PANJIM (HND): Ward Primeiro Bairro, Santa Cruz, conducted a Christmas programme by organising various games in the evening which witnessed widespread participation from the villagers.

Gifts and prizes were distributed to the winners.The members also felicitated their fellow villager, ex-MLA Victor Gonsalves, for his yeomen services for the Goan community. The chief guest ex-judge and former Commissioner for Right to Information Dr Afonso Araujo, and the guest of honour, former Professor of Goa University, Dr Joe D'Souza, joined in paying tribute to Victor Gonsalves for his services to the Goan Community. The villagers presented Victor with a shawl as well as a memento.

Accepting the tribute, Victor offered to help villagers as and when they would approach him. Ward Panch, Indira Fernandes was the special invitee. Vincy Dias proposed the vote of thanks.

Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) will intensify its efforts to seek funds under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) so that the next lot of buses pending in a private depot could be purchased.

KTCL Managing Director Venancio Furtado would be making presentation to the Central Urban Development Ministry this month stating that Goa has complied with all the required conditions.

“I will be going to Delhi this month to make a detailed presentation for seeking funds to release the buses lying idle at the depot,” Furtado told Herald at the sidelines of joint function organised by Directorate of transport, KTCL and Sesa Goa limited to mark ‘road safety week’.

KTCL last year had purchased 20 buses under JNNURM, which were lying idle for almost a year as Centre refused to release

funds worth Rs 7 crore.

However, after much struggle KTCL managed to get funds worth Rs 3.75 crore from the State Government and on December 21 it inaugurated five high-tech buses under JNNURM, which are running along PanjimMargao sector.

Furtado said that funds under JNNURM were assured on a condition that the beneficiaries will execute certain reforms like having parking and advisory policy for the State.

“But Goa already has these reforms…it’s not just Transport Department or KTCL but there are several departments in it….I am going to make presentation based on these issues,” Furtado said who is expecting around Rs 3 crore from the Central Ministry.

Furtado said that once the funds are granted we would release the buses by March 2011.

The dark blue painted buses have an at-

tractive exterior appeal and interiors too have a pleasant feel. Two openings instead of one will make passengers’ entry and exit much faster and hassle-free. The low floor 42 seat buses have General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Global Positioning System (GPS), installed in it.

Earlier during the function, Director Transport Arun Desai released stickers, banners and booklets on road safety sponsored by Sesa Goa Company.

Addressing the gathering, Desai said that the department would be approaching all the industrial units seeking efforts towards road safety.

“We alone cannot fight road safety. There has to be participation from all sides,” he said.

Director said that department would be displaying boards of road signs and rules in all major bus stands as well as road safety booklets would be distributed in the schools.

GOACAN to promote Traffic Warden Scheme HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 6

Panch Mingelina Valas inaugurating the new Sub Health centre attached to PHC Curtorim at Dikarpali.

Sub Health Centre opened

PANJIM (HND): A new Sub Health centre attached to PHC Curtorim was inaugurated by Panch Mingelina Valas on Wednesday at Dikarpali in the presence of Health Officer Dr Shashi Parkar, Health staff and Fatima Rocha.

The health centre which is located in premises of Custodio Niasso, will beneficial residents of Pali I, Pali II, Pali III, Lakaki, Rukot, Kanpe wado, Bopte Salibhat, Menkya Dhav, Tokamorad, Kuslabhat and Chandrawado .

A doctor will visit the sub health centre every Thursday between 2.30 to 4.30 pm and immunisation programme will be held on 22nd of every month. Centre will be looked after by Varsha Kamat MPHW(F) & Suresh Pagi, MPHW (M).

GOACAN is observing the 22nd National Road Safety Week to create awareness among the people about the importance of observing traffic rules to reduce road accidents in the State.

In a press note, GOACAN Coordinator Roland Martins stated that during the Road Safety Week, GOACAN along with the Consumer Forums will promote the importance of setting up road safety and traffic management committees by the panchayats and municipal councils to ensure citizens’ participation at the grass root level.

“GOACAN will also promote the usefulness of the Traffic Warden Scheme, which ensures the participation of citizens in managing traffic and reducing accidents at the city and village level,” said Martins.

Martins further stated that in the wake of large number of deaths of pedestrians in road accidents in 2010, Consumer Forum volunteers will promote the benefits of notified bus stops, bus bays, footpaths, zebra crossings, subways, proper parking, maintenance of speed breakers and proper signages.

“GOACAN will also highlight safe transportation of hazardous substances by road during the week to reduce the number of accidents and avoid subsequent consequences,” he added.

Martins said GOACAN will pursue with the Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Directorate of Panchayats, Directorate of Municipal Administration and District Magistrates to initiate a campaign to free the roads of stray cattle.

“This would involve the panchayats and municipal councils taking steps to make their cattle pounds effective on one hand while identifying the stray cattle danger zones with proper signages on the other,” added Martins.

“GOACAN will continue to highlight the need for comfortable, affordable, safe and effective public transport which would include bus services provided by Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd and private operators so as to limit the use of personal vehicles for commuting daily, reduce traffic congestion and road accidents,” he said.

“During the week, GOACAN will also highlight the special needs of the disabled in the context of road safety, which includes special signages, parking spaces and training and awareness programmes,” states the press note.

GOACAN with the co-operation of Consumer Welfare Clubs will promote setting up of Road Safety Patrols in high schools, higher secondary schools and colleges to ensure participation of the student community in managing traffic and reducing accidents, added the press note.

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PANJIM (HND): The novenas to mark the 3rd centenary of the Patron of the Archdioceses of Goa and Daman, Blessed Joseph Vaz, will begin at the Sancoale Sanctuary on January 7 with masses at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am and at 4 pm, 6 pm.

A Retreat will be conducted on January 10 (Monday) from 10 am to 3 pm. Since Blessed Joseph Vaz was a staunch devotee of Blessed Virgin, this day is specifically dedicated to Mother Mary. Childless couples will be prayed over for the gift of a child.

Sunday masses on January 9 will be at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am and evening masses at 4 and 6 pm. The 9 am mass however will be dedicated for the sick. The sick are expected to be present by 8.30 am. A day of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be held on January 13 from 10 am to 3.30 pm. (A day of prayer and fasting). A Night Vigil will also be conducted on January 13 from 10 pm to 5.30 am to pray for the much needed Miracle through the intercession of Blessed Joseph Vaz. For more details devotees are requested to contact (0832) 2550263 during office hours.

Inauguration of courts websites

PANJIM (HND): Websites for the district and taluka courts of North Goa and South Goa – http:// northgoacourts.nic.in and http://southgoacourts.nic.in, will be inaugurated on January 7, in the conference hall of High Court of Bombay at Goa at 4.45 pm by of Justice S B Deshmukh, Justice A P Lavande and Justice N A Britto in presence of other dignitaries.

The websites contain the judgement, daily orders, cause list and case status of two district courts, three fast track courts and eleven taluka courts and also include details of judges, history of respective courts and other details.

Websites were developed by the National Informatics Centre Goa.

Betalbatim Forum meet

PANJIM (HND): Betalbatim Civic and Consumer Forum (BCCF) will hold its monthly meeting of consumers on January 8 at Jude's High School at 5 pm. In addition to the state of the utilities - electricity, phones, LPG, road safety & traffic management, important issues like hazardous underground cabling, functioning of horticulture corp vegetable outlets, garbage management and gram sabha will also be discussed. Consumers of Betalbatim are invited.

GTDC’s health tourism events

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 6

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Bl Joseph Vaz novenas

Workshop on planning

Fr Agnel HSS teacher awarded

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UPCOMING EVENTS

CANACONA (HC): A workshop on 'Sustainable Development Participatory Planning' will be organised on January 8 and 9 at St Anne's School Hall, Agonda from 9 am to 4.30 pm.

The workshop has been organised by the Agonda Panchayat along with the Council for Social Justice and Peace, and Pratt Institute - Programs for Sustainable Planning and Development.

Participatory planning ensures the involvement of the people in their development.

M D Hedge, Grade I teacher from Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar, receiving the ‘Best Vocational Teacher’ award for the year 2009.

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GOA

M D Hedge, Grade I teacher from Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar, was awarded as a ‘Best Vocational Teacher’ for the year 2009.

Fr Agnel HSS was awarded ‘Best School Industry Linkage Award’ for establishing link with different industries and Sharagu Automobiles, Kesarval, Cortalim, was given ‘Best School Industry Linkage’ for providing services to vocational students, by NCERT. The awards were presented by PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education Bhopal, MP.

Duo arrested for mangalsutra theft HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, JAN 6

Bicholim Police on Wednesday arrested two persons from Belgaum in connection with the theft of a mangalsutra worth Rs 80,000.

In his complaint, Vilas Kudaskar from Haturlim-Mayem told Bicholim Police that two persons, including Appaji N Chapgaonkar (25) and Mithun P Patil (19) were earlier working with him. Vilas had to pay Rs 5,000 to the duo for the work they had done some years ago.

“On Monday, the duo came to my house and started demanding money from my wife,

who gave them Rs 2,000 and told them to wait till I return home. But instead of waiting, the duo snatched mangalsutra and ran away,” states the complaint.

Following the complaint filed

by Vilas, Bicholim police swung into action and on a tip-off went to Belgaum at night and nabbed the duo, who had planned to sell the mangalsutra.

According to Bicholim police, the duo was arrested under Sections 356, 379 r/w 34 IPC and was remanded to two days police custody. Bicholim ASI Rajaram Gaonkar is investigating the case.

CMC CO relieved HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 6

Shiv Kumar, an IAS officer looking after the charge of chief officer of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) in addition to his post of deputy collector (Canacona), has been relieved and a regular officer has been posted to take care of administration in the civic body.

According to sources, L S Dias is the new CMC chief officer. Shiv Kumar will continue to hold his original posting as deputy collector, Canacona.

Sources told Herald that Kumar, who was holding CMC chief officer’s charge in addition to his posting as deputy collector immediately came in bad books with the newly

elected councillors for many reasons.

Sources further informed that the high point came as demolitions of several tourismre l a t e d s t r u c t u re s w e re planned during Christmas week and a few days before the New Year dawns.

Restricted water supply to Bardez HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 6

Due to breakdown of underground 400 mm HDPE pipeline at Quitla River crossing, there will be restricted water supply on January 7 to Aldona, Quitla, Pomburpa, Ecoxim, Salvadordo-Mundo, Nachinola and Penha de France.

PANJIM (HND): The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) will organise 3 health tourism events in association with Dept of Tourism and Dr Vivek Shanbhag, on January 8 at the Colva Residency and on January 22 at the Calangute Residency.

Both events which will be held from 10 am to 12 noon, will include practical experience and demonstrations along with entertaining and informative slideshow.

The third event is a yoga and ayurveda river cruise called ‘Wellness on Water’ on board Santa Monica on Cumbharjua canal with Dr Shanbhag ND(USA), MD(AYU), BAMS, CYEd, on January 23 from 10 am to 4 pm. Participants will experience a mini ayurvedic anti-aging rejuvenation treatment and will get a gift booklet ‘Ayurveda & Yoga for Wellness’. This cruise will also include ayurvedic meals, yoga and pranayam session, slide show of ayurvedic wellness routines and healing herbs.

Those interested may contact GTDC on 94228471667 9405921882, Colva Residency on 2788047, Calangute Residency on 2276109, Santa Monica Jetty on 2438754, reservations(gjgoatourism.com) or Dr Shanbhag on 9860449728 or e-mail drshanbhag@gaol.com.

Dine and dance in city

PANJIM (HND): The Monte-De-Guirim, Past Pupils' Association will host its annual dine and dance on January 9 at the Mandovi Riviera, Panjim from 7 pm onwards. Prominent past pupils of St Anthony's High School, along with a teacher and a Friar, will be felicitated on the occasion. Band Cascades be in attendance.

Mando fest postponed

CURCHOREM (HC): The Mando Festival, organised by Guardian Angel Parish Youth Curchorem, scheduled to be held on January 9 has been postponed to January 10.

The Mando Festival will be held at Ravindra Bhavan Hall, Curchorem, at 6 pm. Parish Priest Fr James Torres has requested the Mando groups and lovers to take note of it.

Conference on HIV/AIDS

CURCHOREM (HC): Community Research Foundation along with University of South Florida and NARI will organise firstever NIH-sponsored International Conference on Translational Research in HIV/AIDS at Hotel Vivanta, Panjim, from January 12 to 14.

Community Research Foundation, a Goa-based NGO, along with University of South Florida (USA) programme in Adolescent AIDS Research Training (USF-India AITRP), and National Institute of Health and a group of 10 top US universities working in India, and National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) of India are jointly organising this unique conference focusing on Basic and Translational Research in HIV/AIDS. The conference will be attended by top NIH-funded scientists both from US and India.

Dr Shyam Mohapatra, Professor and Vice Chair of Internal Medicine, is co-organising chairman of this conference along with Dr Ramesh Paranjape of NARI and is assisted by Dr Eknath Naik, Director, CHART-India Center, Dr Patricia Emmanuel, Director of USF-AIRTP and Associate Dean of Research, from the USF College of Medicine and Dr Anita Kamath Dudhane of CRF. Many top doctors from Goa will be the part of the conference.

POWER SHUTDOWN JANUARY 7

PANJIM: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are PWD Office, Corina Bar, General Post Master office, Head Post office, 31st January Road, Herald office, Bharat Electricals, Lawande shop, old bus stand, JMP Dias, Vihar hotel, Space Deal, Petrol Pump, opposite Space Deal and surrounding areas.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg5 GOA, FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY, 2011

Goa witnesses fatal mishap every 26 hours, says PI HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 6

Mapusa Traffic Cell Police Inspector Uday Parab has stated that about 80% of the road accidents take place due to human error.

He was addressing the students of St Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa, on the importance of observing Safety Week.

According to Parab, one fatal accident occurs every 26 hours and one accident in every 2 hours in Goa. “This is an alarming situation and hence it becomes the duty of every citizen to observe traffic rules to reduce the rate of accidents in the State,” added Parab.

He further said the main causes of accidents are rash and negligent driving, overtaking of vehicles, using mobile phones while driving and drunken driving.

“In all, 321 persons died in road accidents in 2010 in Goa, out of which 152 are two -

Mapusa Traffic Cell PI Uday Parab explains the importance of observing traffic rules to the students of St Xavier’s Higher Secondary School, Mapusa.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

wheeler riders, 42 pillion riders and 74 pedestrians. In 2011, till January 6, 13 people have died, out of which 12 are two-wheeler riders,” informed Parab.

“It has observed that about 90% of two-wheelers riders, who have died in the accidents, did not wear helmets,” added Parab.

He said about one lakh vehicles are registered every year in Goa, out of which 65% are twowheelers and 35% four-wheelers.

“Students are found driving vehicles without driving license.

The youth who have attained the age of 16 are eligible to

Villagers to be roped in for traffic management SHWETA KAMAT PANJIM, JAN 6

Goan villagers donning a hat of ‘traffic consultant’ or ‘traffic monitor’ would be a reality soon with State Transport Department roping in village panchayats to smooth traffic issues in the grass root level.

Transport Department would be soon moving a proposal to all 188 village panchayats asking setting up of ‘Panchayat Traffic Monitoring Committee’ for their villages.

Talking to Herald, Transport Director Arun Desai said that Department would provide all necessary support in forming the committee as well as in traffic management.

“The time had come when we need to concentrate more on grass root level for road safety.

The village areas are always busy with festivals, zatras, feast which indirectly leads to traffic mess,” Desai said adding that it’s not always possible for traffic police (280 in number) to be on duty everywhere.

The committee, which would be formed under the guidelines of Transport Department, will have participation of senior members and school children.

“It’s up to the panchayats to decide on whom

to have on committee. But we would advice them to have senior people along with those who have some knowledge of traffic rules,” Desai said.

Organisations like GOACAN would be providing required training to all the village members about road safety while the Transport Department would be distributing various materials on road safety like posters, signboards and booklets etc.

Not just this, department would be also educating school children on various aspects of road safety and traffic management.

“Children are the best medium through whom we can create awareness in villages and educate people,” Desai said.

The initiative has been part of the ‘Road Safety Week’ which flagged off on Monday. The department looks at road safety as an issue to be stressed not only for a week but as a mission to be followed throughout the year.

GOACAN convenor Roland Martins during the road safety week had urged State Government for the formation of Traffic Monitoring Committee at the village level.

Martins had told government that his organisation has already formed ‘Road Safety and Traffic Management Committee’ at six different villages in North and South Goa.

Solve New Market problems before Jan 30, CM tells MMC HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Thursday set January 30 as the deadline for the Margao Municipal Council to redress all ills and problems facing the congested New Market in the Commercial Capital.

Kamat’s directive came at a joint meeting between representatives of the New Market traders, Margao Municipal Chairperson Sushila Naik and civic officials, besides officials of various government departments at the district collectorate this evening.

After giving a patient hearing to the delegation of the New Market Traders Association led by President Vinod Shirodkar, the Chief Minister told the MMC Chairperson and Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya to solve all pending problems before January 30.

The long pending issue of repair to the ageing New Market buildings costing Rs 37 lakh was approved by the Chief Minister, with directions to the municipal engineer to immediately submit the proposal to the Director of Municipal Administration for clearance.

Another long-pending demand of the New Market traders for trade licence and repairs to the buildings was deliberated at the meeting. After much discussion, the Chief Minister directed the Municipal officials to clear the proposal pending with the civic body before January 30.

The issue over the lack of fire fighting infrastructure in the New Market premises, including fire hydrants was deliberated upon and it was decided to build the much-awaited overhead water tank at the old fish market to get the fire hydrants operations in the market.

President of the New Market Traders Association, Vinod Shirodkar said the Chief Minister has also agreed to construct a new toilet block at the pick-up stand for the benefit of the public.

“We are happy that the Chief Minister has sympathetically looked into our grievances and issued necessary directions to the civic body, Shirodkar said, while requesting the civic authorities to redress all their pending problems within the deadline set by the chief minister.

2 pythons rescued at Ponsulem HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 6

Residents of Ponsulem-Canacona helped forest officials in rescuing two pythons at Ponsulem on Tuesday afternoon.

According to Shekar Dessai of Ponsulem, two huge pythons arriving at some specific timing used to take away fowls and other domestic/pet animals from the locality.

Some people also claimed sighting of one such python while galloping a fowl some days ago and accordingly informed others.

Garbage menace haunts Colva HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

It’s a month since Colva Panchayat was adopted by the Salcete Block Development Office to tackle the growing garbage problem in the coastal village.

But, it is not uncommon to find waste disposal by burning along roadsides and other open spaces in the village.

Though the village panchayat has set up a recycling station near the Panchayat premises, waste continues to be disposed off in the open.

Wednesday saw smoke billowing from a waste dump near a water body alongside the road leading to the beach.

Local activist Judith Almeida said that burning of waste is the order of the day in Colva as she pointed out to fire being burnt by unknown persons along a road side dump near a water body.

She sought to know whether Colva has been turned into another Sonsodo as evident by the burning of waste in the open.

Saying that the concerned authorities, including the Panchayat, Tourism and Health department are sleeping over the burning problem, Almeida demanded to know whether the health minister would initiate action as the situation poses a health hazard to the residents.

Aviation academy promoter gets anticipatory bail HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

The South Goa Sessions Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to the Chief promoter of Achievers Aviation Academy Parul Kakkar who was wanted by the police in connection with a cheating case filed by a group of students.

The court directed the release of the accused, if arrested, on a bail of Rs 50,000 with one surety in the like amount.

The court further directed the applicant to report to the Margao Police Station for a period of days and to surrender his passport before the police.

He was further directed to provide his permanent address to the police and not to tamper with evidence.

Students of the Academy had last month accused the Academy on various counts, prompting the Margao police to register a case of cheating against the management.

apply for license with the permission of parents to drive the vehicle without gear,” said Parab.

“The youth are also found seated in the bus cabin, which is not allowed, as passengers distract the attention of the bus driver,” claimed Parab.

Earlier, Panjim Traffic Cell Head Constable Bashir Mulla with the assistance of Mapusa Traffic Cell Head Constable Krishna Parab explained the students the importance of mandatory and cautionary signals.

Mulla said violations of mandatory signals attract fines and even imprisonment.

“A pedestrian should always walk at the right hand side of the road facing the oncoming traffic. Rash driving under influence of alcohol can attract fines to the extent of Rs 2,000 and even imprisonment of 6 months,” added Mulla.

Higher Secondary teacher Vijay Parab proposed the vote of thanks.

Road Safety Council to be revived HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 6

The Transport Department has now decided to revive a concept of District and State Road Safety Council, which was in hibernation since the year 2005.

Transport Director Arun Desai told Herald that the department will be forwarding a proposal to the State government asking formation of District Road Safety Council (DRSC) and State Road Safety Council (SRSC) for Goa. Desai said that though DRSC was notified way back in 2005, the government failed to bring it into effect.

“SRSC, chaired by transport secretary, was never notified and hence we are now going to ask government to notify it and also to make it function,” he stated.

The department will be moving a fresh proposal over notification of DRSC, which would be headed by Transport Minister Ramkrishna Dhavlikar.

The decision has been taken to tackle the increasing incidences of road accidents with a large number of casualties in the State.

It was as per the instructions from the Union Ministry of Surface Transport; SRSC and DRSC would be set up in the State.

The main agenda before the Council would be removal of the reasons behind the road mishaps which are claiming a large number of lives every year in the State.

Panchwadi Samiti demands Kamat, Churchill’s ouster HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 6

Demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, the Panchwadi Bachao Samiti has strongly denounced the government for missing the powers by attempting to construct a mining road through the middle of the village under the guise of public purpose.

Addressing a press conference, the president of the Panchwadi Bachao Samiti Christev D’Costa said the proposed 10.5 km long road does not connect to any panchayat road or district road or state highway in Panchwadi. “It directly connects the Codli mines to the dense mangrove forests along Zuari River, passing through the middle of our village”, he said.

Saying that the elected representatives seems to have

sold themselves as well as Goa to the British companies and other neo-colonial powers, D’Costa warned these traitors that this is not the 16th century, adding that Indians will no longer tolerate the acts of gifting the land for the destruction of water, food and climate.

He said the CRZ Authority has confirmed that the land earmarked for the stacking and loading of iron ore and coal lies within CRZ-I with dense mangrove forests, and that the PWD does not posses valid CRZ clearance for the works.

D’Costa said the Director of Mines and Geology has also written to the Principal Chief Engineer, stating that the Steering Committee for mining bye-pass roads chaired by the Chief Secretary of Goa has observed that this road does not come under its purview. “By attempting to

build a so-called mining byepass road without involving the department of Mines and Geology or obtaining the sanction or obtaining the sanction of the steering committee, the PWD has openly displayed its ill-intentions”, he added.

The Samiti has vowed to never allow this destructive and purely extractive road to materialise in whatsoever guise and has appealed to all Goans to participate in the struggle to save the motherland. “In spite of personally approaching the Chief Minister and the PWD Minister, and various ministers and authorities, we have only been given false promises, with not even one of them visiting our village”, D’Costa said, while demanding the resignations of the Chief Minister and PWD Minister for trying to fool the people in order to assist foreign vested interests.

MPs inspect N Goa projects

MAYEM, JAN 6 (HC) -- Fifteen Member of Parliaments on Wednesday visited Goa to see different projects undertaken

by MP Shripad Naik in North Goa. The projects at Ideal High School Pilgao, Narvem Community Hall, computer machinery at Don Bosco High School and youth hostel buildings were inspected. The delegation also visited the Saptkoteshwar Temple in Narvem.

OHERALDO

Pg6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Ethics of brand endorsements

Vol No CXI No: 007 Goa, Friday, 7 January, 2011

Police should be ashamed

W

hen a high profile ‘Special Investigation Team’ (SIT) fails miserably to crack down on the rising incidence of temple thefts in Goa, is it at all surprising that more than 300 temples in the state have come together to form a sort-of alliance to tackle the menace?

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had appointed an SIT to track down the culprits involved in stealing from temples.

This was way back in mid-2009. A year-and-a-half later, the ‘prestigious’ SIT has failed comprehensively. It has been unable to net even a single accused in these theft cases.

And, not unexpectedly, the number of break-ins into temples and daring thefts has increased manifold.

The police need to hang their heads in shame. If the authorities are too lackadaisical and laid-back to bother about going after those who steal from the Gods, then who is to blame the ‘aam admi’ if they feel that they must take steps to defend what they hold dearest?

Temple authorities in Goa are perfectly within their rights to form a ‘Gomantak Mandir and Dharmik Sanstha Mahasangh’ (GMDSM). Since the police will not act, they must do something on their own. Youth in villages will now come forward to form vigilante squads to protect temples. Last year, the Goa Police, unable to make any headway in the case, had itself mooted setting up of a special vigilante force, with police training local youth to keep vigil in and around temple premises. But even that exercise came to naught!

In the past six years, show official records, more than 250 temples have been looted, says the GMDSM. A number of Churches and Chapels too have been robbed. Earlier, there was a spate of desecration of temples, and more than 50 idols in 35 temples had been desecrated. However, in the last few years, this has significantly reduced. At the same time, outright robberies have spiralled, and we have been seeing an unending series of thefts in temples and churches.

Over the last month itself, three major temples including the renowned Chandreshwar temple have been broken into and looted.

The main objective of GMDSM, says its Convenor Jayesh Thali, is to maintain coordination among temples and religious organisations to provide free-of-cost legal assistance to temple committees to resolve legal matters and to compel the government to work out measures to curb the increasing thefts. It is a fine initiative, and is a telling comment on the utter failure of the police in this matter.

There are only two problems. The first is that vigilantism has its own problems. Often, even given the best of intentions, good sense takes a back seat and mob mentality rules when such groups chance upon those it feels are suspects. The second problem with the GMDSM is its Convenor. Mr Thali is also the Convenor of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and it is the one-point agenda of the organisation to shout out that Hinduism is ‘in danger’ and whip up people’s sentiments against the minorities. Coordinating committees of temples should have temple trustees in charge, not politicians that vitiate the atmosphere by making inflammatory speeches and creating communal tension without any real cause.

A

Munna’s gesture

ctor Sanjay Dutt has done well to stop endorsing gutkha brands and other tobacco products. After the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) wrote a letter to Munnabhai asking him to stop endorsing Goa Gutkha – which defames this state – he agreed. Dutt’s contract with the gutkha brand ends in two months and he has said he won’t renew it. Munna is also trying to quit smoking. Way to go(a), bhai…!

From bad to worse Arwin Mesquita, UAE Today, the main area of the Colva beach appears to be telling us that something is seriously wrong about Colva. The beach is now divided into two areas, which is mainly facilitated by the sewage let out by the specific restaurants/hotels in the area, various illegalities, and lack of action by relevant authorities, etc.

The division is symbolic of the people of Colva, whose loyalties are divided or enslaved between two prominent south Goa politicians, who enjoyed powerful positions in the government and with whom the village has turned from bad to worse.

Battered, but yet mute Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim

The Aam admi, is reeling under the burden of sky rocketing prices of essential com-

100 Years Ago PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

7 January 1911 Council to present reports

The Council syndicated towards the inspection of the treasury of the colonies will present to the Overseas Minister two reports, one being over the illegal situation of some of the employees and the other being on the topic of serious character.

Serious lapses published

An English Collector published serious and notable lapses of the members in the Parliament.

Postal station in barrel

There exists a Postal Station in the Magellan Straits which is unique of its kind. It is just a barrel with buoys which is unmanned and the mariners can deposit its mail in them and a Postal Ship will do the needful.

OPINION

imA’s fee on endorsements were used to fund office bearers’ foreign travel rather than scientific activities, says DR GLADSTonE D’CoSTA Ghulam Nabi Azad, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha in November 2010, said “The ministry received a complaint relating to endorsement of some food products by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in 2009. The complaint was forwarded to MCI for appropriate action. The ethics committee of MCI, at its meeting held on November 9, 2010, considered the matter and decided to remove the name of the president and secretary of IMA, from the Indian medical register for a period of six months and issue a censure letter to all executive committee members of IMA, not to repeat such practices in future.” What prompted such extreme action by the MCI against the premier Medical Association in the country?

Section 6 of the “Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) regulations 2002” deals with unethical acts. Section 6.1.1 states “A physician shall not give to any person, whether for compensation or otherwise, any approval, recommendation, endorsement, certificate, report or statement with respect of any drug, medicine, nostrum remedy, surgical, or therapeutic article, apparatus or appliance or any commercial product or article with respect of any property, quality or use thereof or any test, demonstration or trial thereof, for use in connection with his name, signature, or photograph in any form or manner of advertising through any mode nor shall he boast of cases, operations, cures or remedies or permit the publication of report thereof, through any mode.”

The IMA had negotiated an endorsement for Quaker Oates and Tropicana brand of fruit juices for a reported fee of Rs1.56 crores. Rs3 crores reportedly changed hands in the IMA endorsement for Eureka Forbes products and Rs69 lakhs for Dabur India (Odomos cream). Lifebuoy soap was another example. The justification was the “IMA had a right to convey health information to the people” and that the money would be used to conduct scientific activities and seminars. It was actually used to fund the foreign travel of four office bearers, including Ketan Desai.

An allopathic medical practitioner is bound by a code of ethics and professionalism as well as the drugs and cosmetics act, to prescribe (as op-

RAnk oppoRTuniSm posed to endorse) medicines which are tested and approved for use, for a specific purpose. The purpose, for which a drug is prescribed, is determined by strict scientific parameters based on a regime of staged clinical trials and final approval, for clinical use. The decision to use the product for that specific purpose is a clinical one. The association has no scientific means of testing: Therefore, the process of endorsement certainly does not fall within the purview of prescription or clinical decision.

Endorsement, as opposed to prescription, must be viewed as rank commercial opportunism, based purely on financial considerations, and certainly not with the patient’s best interests in mind. It amounts to clever advertising at its worst, making full use of the consumers’ vulnerability in being swayed by what amounts to a false certificate of efficacy. What specific medical condition will be treated much less cured by consuming a particular brand of fruit juice, or using a particular brand of soap, as opposed to other brands? Is this recommendation based on scientific studies configured around any concern for the health of the community at large? If so, that scientific evidence for the recommendation/endorsement must be presented to both the community and the profession at large, so that the benefits may percolate to each and every consumer. If not, then the act of endorsement of any consumer item by an organisation, which claims to represent medical professionals, must be declared not only unethical, but downright

The year that was

Breakfast of Champions One evening last week, my wife noticed I was in a deep thoughtful mood. So she asked what contemplative exercise was going on in my top storey. When I told her about the need for a subject for my next middle, she reminded me that it would be my first middle for 2011. She went-on to suggest that I could write about all our achievements during 2010; at the state and national level.

My son had just turned on the TV and there was Suresh Kalmadi.

He was explaining to the TV anchor how he would be well and truly in the clear once he came out with his ‘new revelations’.

That took me back 2,000 years to the original Revelations by the Apostle John, when he was in exile on the island of Patmos. That was all about the Second Coming. Unfortunately, that is on hold, because the authorities are wondering how and where they will find three wise men and a virgin. It doesn’t end there. They have to locate a stable outside the Holiday Inn, which is house-full.

Not to mention the manger, angels and a hovering star. ISRO can help with the latter, since their satellites keep falling out of the sky at regular intervals, thanks to leaky cryogenic boosters supplied by the Russian Mafia.

Suresh Kalmadi told the anchor how the cost of the Commonwealth Games shot up from the estimated Rs7,000 crore to the actual Rs70,000 crore. Very patiently, he explained how he was

modities like onions, garlic, vegetables, fruits, oils, pulses, etc. The food has been allowed to rot in godowns and no rational explanation has been offered. Which party in power or the Opposition, has shown any concern to the problems of survival?

The Congress party at the centre is in a fire-fighting mode deflecting criticism on 2G, CWG scams, Adarsh society blunders, CBI inefficiency in the Aarushi murder case, and the ghost of Bofors gun kickbacks.

Those at the centre have become immune to common man woes like price rise, hoarding , profiteering, black marketing, as they are well taken care of.

In the meanwhile, he will have to wait for prices to stabilise and will have to suffer in silence.

Shoddy shuttle service Stephen Dias, Dona Paula Every time one visits the Kadamba transport bus stands, whether in Panjim or Margao, people are seen waiting in queue, for several hours, to purchase tickets.

There is no special counter for senior citizens or for ladies, which makes the situation even worse. In addition, there are no special seats for the above named people nor are any seats designated to them.

The conductor is least bothered to attend to their woes.

Th KTC is busy making arrangements to paint all buses with the same colour in face of stiff opposition from the All Goa Bus Owners Association (AGBOA).

The Transport minister should first solve the common problem faced by commuters on a priority basis, rather than embarking on an arrangement of uniform colour for buses.

Protecting the guilty?

Jose Maria Miranda, Margao Whereas it is very important to respect and protect the reputation of a person, it is also equally desirable that those, whose actions adversely affect the general public, should be exposed, no doubt only when caught in the act and not where accusations are just levelled. This could sometimes

illegal.

Advertisements and promotional strategies are based on consumer psychology, and exercises inescapable influence. Their impact is heightened when medical associations endorse brands as they provide “credible” sources and opinions that cut through the advertising hype.

Pfizer contemptuously lists the endorsement of Listerine by the Indian Dental Association, as a marketing achievement; which is true. The Pfizer pharmaceuticals division report has the audacity to state “The overall business is driven by a core philosophy of ‘Rx to OTC’ switch through endorsement by the medical fraternity, coupled with mass media activities’ and has a consumer health division, dedicated to such tactics.

The dividend is that endorsed products can safely have a price markup of anything between 1.5 to 6 times; example being the British diabetic association’s endorsement of Marks and Spencer’s fruit juices. We appear to be learning well from our overseas compatriots. The difference is that in the UK, the consumers have already organised themselves in self help groups.

A “parent’s jury” has been formed to monitor the veracity of such endorsements and has even made suggestions to curb such unethical practices by so-called professional bodies. A food commission is at work to assess and remedy the situation.

However, to every one’s surprise, the laws were discovered to be very weak, and the regulatory mechanisms inadequate.

The American Medical Association faced severe criticism for endorsing Sunbeam Corporation products, and finally withdrew the endorsement.

Sunbeam sued, resulting in a settlement to the tune of $9.9 million. The US government has initiated an enquiry into such practices by a group of companies. These companies got together and offered an out of court settlement of $311 million!

Charges being investigated include bribes and kickbacks for marketing assistance.

Agusto Sarmiento, one of the most ethical surgeons I have ever had the privilege of meeting, and an internationally acclaimed authority on the non-surgical management of fractures, narrates, “I was visited by the vice-president of a major surgical implant industry. He placed on my desk, a velvet-lined box containing a brand new prosthesis, which he described as the ‘Sarmiento total hip prosthesis,’ allegedly developed by his engineers, to represent my ‘philosophy.’ As I tried to inform him that I was not aware I had a philosophy, he reached into his pocket and produced a signed cheque of US$250,000. The next step was to discuss royalties. Two months after my refusal to accept the offer, pictures of the prosthesis appeared in various orthopaedic journals with the name of a well-known professor in a mid-Atlantic university, adding that the implant represented his ‘unique philosophy.”

We in India can give the world a lead. The code of ethics is specific in relation to endorsements by individual physicians. Unfortunately, morality cannot be legislated. As Pratap Bhanu Mehta put it rather eloquently, “Societies cannot be held together by coercion or money. It requires internalisation of norms and values that set limits on what can be bought and sold.”

It is up to the members of these professional bodies to ensure that their organisations are not hijacked by commercialism at its disgusting best and, as a result, thrown onto the garbage heap of unprofessional behavior. Society will never forgive us for the betrayal.

(The author is a member, National Executive Committee, Voluntary Health Association of India.)

leveraging India’s greatest scientific achievement; the zero. He spoke about India’s ancient scientists and mathematicians like Bhaskaracharya and Aryabhatta, who completely revolutionised scientific thought and progress. Said Kalmadi, he had simply honoured each of these great achievers by incorporating a zero into the CWG spend. “That’s how Rs7,000 crore became Rs70,000 crore,” he thundered, and even produced a facsimile of a letter from Dr Stephen Hawking praising him for his flash of genius.

“All sports and no maths makes a hero out of a zero,” Kalmadi concluded.

Then there was the issue of toilet tissue. “You guys did a big song-and-dance because I paid Rs4,132 for each roll of toilet paper. That was to maintain the highest traditions of our bureaucracy. For Indian bureaucrats, no big job is complete until the paper work is done. It isn’t called the Indian Asshole Service (IAS) for nothing. As the name suggests, these guys suck up to their political patrons. I’m sure you guys do the same for your media moguls.

By now, the TV anchor was frothing at the mouth. Kalmadi must have been fervently hoping that he had been given his antirabies shots on time, knowing how rabid these anchors can get once they latch on to an issue. Fortunately, the rules of engagement

Credibility crunch

SND Poojary, Miramar

Ever since Dr Binayak Sen was awarded life imprisonment for sedition, by a trial court at Raipur, on 24 December 2010, there has been a barrage of criticism against the judgment. Some of the famous lawyers, ex-chief justices of the Supreme court, activists, and politicians have denigrated the trial judge, and judgment for what they feel, was a miscarriage of justice.

As usual, some of the TV channels and newspapers have gone overboard. Legally speaking, some of these worthies could be prosecuted for contempt of court.

Judgment by a trial court, is not the end of the road.

Why is there such a hue and cry, when the higher courts can file an appeal? By constantly criticising a judgment, are we not lowering the credibility of our judicial system?

Road safety Augustus Alphonso, Vasco/Kuwait The transport minister is sincerely taking a keen interest in reducing road accidents and necessary steps have been initiated, in this direction. He has also stressed the need to educate all school students on road safety and traffic rules, so that they, in turn, can educate other persons on safety aspects.

It is a good idea to educate school children as it is usually the formative years of an individual that nurtures and carries forward most of the morals and virtues, throughout life.

Also, we must concede that as our roads are not carefully taken care of, from time to time, it results in accidents at various places.

In conclusion, the traffic police must earnestly focus on traffic management

are very clear; TV anchors are allowed to bark; but they are not allowed to bite. In fact, their effectiveness and success depends on their bytes, not their bites. Otherwise, they can be accused of dental cruelty. It is mental cruelty that is their stock-in-trade, and their victims cannot start divorce proceedings; unless there is a marriage of convenience with some corporate lobbyist.

At this point in time, the TV anchor decided to spring the trap.

“Mr Kalmadi, let me ask you one simple question. Let’s forget all this hogwash about India’s contribution to mathematics and science and get down to earth. You are simply trying to divert people’s attention, is it not? But you don’t seem to realise, even at this late stage, that people are fed up with your excuses. They would have laughed at your juvenile attempt to fool them, if your comrade-in-crime Sharad Pawar had not brought them to tears.

The Bandit Baron of Baramati really knows his onions. Unfortunately, he also knows his sugar, his wheat, and his rice… He specialises in exporting essential commodities when they are in short supply, and knows the PM will not react to his skulduggery, as the Sardar is too busy with his nuclear reactors.”

Actually, our Sardar PM is a great votary of Sir Issac Newton’s Third Law of e-Motion: ‘For every Sharad Pawar agricultural inaction, there is a Manmohanji Nuclear Reaction’.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

be frivolous.

We have observed that your newspaper has, of late, omitted the names of establishments and people involved in illegalities affecting the general public. Perhaps these outlets and the people involved are reputed and hence their names were not published.

These people should realise that their responsibility towards society is greater and trust of the people cannot be betrayed. However, names of accused in murders, thefts, rapes, etc are published even though they may or may not be involved.

By Anthony Simoes

and educating the public of proper traffic sense.

PE differs from PT Gustavo S Godinho, Nagoa-Verna Many a time, people in schools and elsewhere, have mistaken PE, as PT, which is incorrect. PE stands for physical education and PT stands for physical training.

Physical education is taught in schools and not PT. Sometimes, even the physical education teachers are called as ‘PT Masters.’ Many years ago, when the education system was not that developed, special army personnel were deputed in schools to teach physical exercises to the students, to remain healthy. They were not qualified teachers but had knowledge of fitness exercises and they were known as PT masters.

VIPs visit Marcos Alemao, by email Why should we Goans be harassed whenever VIPs like our President or Prime Minister visit Goa? The visit of President Pratibha Patil to Goa, along with her family, is purely a personal visit while motorists, and scooterists destined for Colva or Vasco, via Benaulim were diverted via Margao at Voltar Benaulim.

VIPs are most welcome in Goa, anytime and can stay here as long as they like. The

diversion in traffic puts the onus of travelling longer distances, on Goans. It also entails higher fuel costs, what with the very high cost of petrol and diesel. Is this not harassment?

The visit of VIPs is ok, but it should not affect Goans.

Am I wrong in asking?

Francis Fernandes, Margao I was operated in a city private hospital in February 2007 for a fracture of neck of femur (L) and prosthesis was inserted.

The operation was a total failure. I was immobilised for the first eight months.

For the next sixteen months, I used a walking stick or a person for support. The report of CT scan-hip which was done in Feb 2007 stated fracture of left neck of femur but had no significant displacement of fracture fragments. Xrays did not reveal any fracture.

As the pains continued to be unbearable, I was ultimately forced to undergo total hip replacement (THR) in February 2009 at GMC, Bambolim which gave me some relief.

I wrote to Chief Minister and Governor of Goa in July 2007 and requested to have government control on the functioning of private hospitals. I have not received any communication. Have I done anything wrong?

More tears will flow Pachu Menon, Margao Onions continue to throw the ‘kitchenomics’ of a common household haywire!

The bulbs are set to bring more tears to one’s eyes.

According to Pakistani reports, its export of onions to India, by land, has been banned, as otherwise its prices there would hit the roof. Following an alarming rise in prices in the domestic market, the Indian government had banned exports of onions till January 15. India earlier had exported thousands of tonnes to Pakistan earlier when the country was recovering from the after effects of disastrous floods. We now face a crunch situation as the crop is destroyed in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Paths of Wisdom Enjoining good, forbidding evil

By Samir Khan “Abu Hurairah reported the Holy Messenger (blessing and peace upon him) as saying: for those who call people to righteousness, there will be reward assured for them like the rewards of those who adhered to it, without their rewards being diminished in any respect. And those who call people to error, they shall have to carry (the burden) of its sin, like those who committed it, without their sins being diminished in any respect.”

(Sahih Muslim) Islam enjoins the believers to call people to all that is good, virtuous and righteous, and prohibit them from all that is evil. This duty of amr bil ma’roof and nahi anil munkar (enjoining good and forbidding evil) forms the nucleus of the socio-religious life of the believers. Here in this hadith the Holy Messenger (may Allah bless and greet him) brings into light the rewards of those who take care to do this duty as well as the burden of those who choose to go contrary to it.

There are at least some people belonging to all faiths who feel pleasure in doing good and virtuous deeds. But it is Islam that enjoins the believers not to content with doing good themselves only but to invite others as well to do good and virtuous. The emphasis it lays on this duty is so great that it becomes obligatory upon the believers to invite others to ma’roof (good). And that is why the reward of doing this is also great. If a believer invites his fellow beings to do good and righteous, the Holy Messenger (may Allah bless and greet him) assures to him (By Allah’s will) of a reward equal to the reward of those who adhere to the call. And, similarly, if a person invites his fellow beings to evil, the Holy Messenger warns him that he would have to bear the burden of its sin equal to those who commit the evil.

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001. Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat (Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 2222475 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.

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Pg7

OHERALDO

INDIA

GOA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2011

OPiniOnatED

Straws in the wind By radharao F gracIas

P

ower will go into the hands of rascals, rogues, freebooters.

These are the men of straw, of whom no trace will be found after a few years. They will be fighting among themselves, and India will be lost in political squabbles”. So observed Churchill (the original version), arguing against independence to India.

For once, the greatest British leader of all times has been proved wrong. The men of straw have not disappeared. On the contrary, they have followed the Old Testament. They have gone forth and multiplied! Now, it is straw, straw and even more straw all the way. From the Yeddys to the Reddys. From Varca to Barkha. Men of straw. Women of straw. It is straw, more straw and still more straw. The entire country has become one huge haystack. And yet, all the cows still starve!

There is a proverb, now rendered redundant by technology: “People living in glass houses,” it says, “must not throw stones at others.” Nowadays, whichever way you go you see nothing but glass houses. And the people living in them do hurl stones at each other. But nothing happens. Science has made glass unbreakable.

However, the occupants do not seem to realise that glass, albeit unbreakable, is not opaque. The occupants are seen undressing with the curtains up and the lights on. And we have all become voyeurs enjoying the exposé. Day in and day out. On television. In the newspapers. On the Internet. And we fire missiles at them. But, once again, nothing happens.

Our missiles are merely dummies. The only effective missile we have is the vote. But we have never learnt how to to fire it.

Don’t by a cynic I am told, the tide will turn: “There will be light at the end of the tunnel.” I have waited long. I have travelled here and there. Elsewhere in the world, I have seen light not merely at the end but inside every tunnel. But in our country seems to be in a different world. The tunnels are dark and deep (darker than Robert Frost’s ‘Woods’) and I have travelled in the hope of finding light at the end. Only to encounter power failure! The fear is that when the tide does turn, it may be a Tsunami.

We have a Prime Minister who is branded as downright honest. Perhaps so. But whoever said that the country needs an honest Prime Minister? We need a Prime Minister who is efficient and effective. We need a Prime Minister who commands a majority in Parliament on his own. We need a Prime Minister whose honesty percolates down through and through, to the ‘aam admi’. We need a Prime Minister who is decisive. We need a Prime Minister that is not remote controlled by someone else; least of all by Mambo Italiano!

How did this come to pass? If you want an answer, travel to the countryside or whatever is left of it. These days, the empty spaces in the village appear to be covered by a mantle of snow. This mirage is caused by Congress Grass in full bloom.

Actually, Congress Grass is no grass but a shrub, which overwhelms and smothers every other plant in its neighbourhood.

It spreads far and wide and destroys the fertility of the soil.

When the wind blows, the pollen takes to the air. If inhaled, it sends you to bed with cough and cold. The plant has practically colonised the whole country with no benefit to the host. The minuscule seeds of the plant first gained entry to India as stowaways in bags of wheat sent to the country to avert famine in the ’50s, during the last century, under a law called Public Law 480 (PL 480) by the US. The person who named the plant Congress Grass deserves the Nostradamus Award for prophecy (if there is such an award). Congress Grass has had the same effect on the countryside as the Congress has had on the country. Both are parasites, thriving on the country’s soil and soul. The country has been impoverished, while Congress Grass and Congressmen have both prospered.

Cong MLA favours bifurcation PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Congress MLA Uttam Kumar Reddy, who was part of the meeting called by the Centre on Telangana, today said the bifurcation of the state into Andhra and Telangana was the only acceptable option.

"Of all the options given, only option five is acceptable to us which speaks of bifurcation of the state in Andhra and Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital of Telangana," Reddy, who represented the Congress in the meeting along with MP K S Rao, said.

However, Andhra Pradesh CPI(M) leader B V Raghavulu said status quo should be maintained on Telangana issue and the Centre should come out with a solution.

"We want status quo to be maintained and we urge the Centre to come with a solution. Such discussions would be of no use. We hope in the next meeting, the Centre comes with some solutions to the issue," he said.

Srikrishna panel itself rejected 3 options: PC PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Home Minister P Chidambaram today said the Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana has itself rejected the first three options suggested by it as "non-practicable".

"The report has listed six options and for each option the committee has given pros and cons.

If you read the report carefully, you will find that the Committee itself has rejected the first three options and termed them as nonpracticable. It has listed options 4,5 and 6 and also suggested the way forward," Chidambaram said.

The first option is maintaining status quo. The committee said it is of the unanimous view that it would not be a practical approach to simply maintain the status quo in respect of the situation.

On the second option of bifurcation of the State into Seemandhra and Telangana with Hyderabad as a Union Territory and the two States developing

Students are escorted by policemen from their hostels at Osmania University during a student protest in Hyderabad on Thursday.

their own capitals in due course, the committee said, "There is a definite likelihood of serious backlashes in Telangana region and on overall consideration, it found this option was also not practicable."

The third option of bifurcation of the state into Rayala-Telangana and Coastal Andhra Regions with Hyderabad being an integral part

Nothing short of Telangana acceptable: TRS chief PTI HYDERABAD, JAN 6

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao today asserted that the people of Telangana would not accept anything short of a separate State with Hyderabad as its capital.

"People of Telangana are not ready to accept anything short

of Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital," Rao said reacting to the report of the Srikrishna committee which was made public today.

Rao said the Srikrishna committee recommended the constitution of a regional authority for the development of Telangana which reflected that the experiment of Andhra Pradesh

has failed.

"I earnestly appeal to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to dilly-dally on Telangana and come forward and fulfil the promise given on December 9, 2009 for formation of a separate Telangana," he said.

The TRS chief also made it clear that Hyderabad was part of Telangana and people of

5 JeM ultras get life in jail PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Terming five Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants "merchants of death and destruction", a Delhi court today sentenced them to life imprisonment for indulging in terrorist activities and waging war against the country.

While sentencing convicts Noor Mohammad Tantre, Pervaiz Ahmed Mir, Faroz Ahmed Bhat and brothers Atiq-uz-Zama and Raees-uz-Zama, arrested by Delhi police in August 2003, Additional Session Judge R K Gauba also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each of them.

The court had convicted them on January 3.

PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Says no change in Govt’s stand

The CBI today contended before a Delhi court that there is no change in government's stand on withdrawing the case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi even as the court observed that there were "certain malafide intentions".

The court made the observations after a Supreme Court advocate opposed CBI's plea for withdrawal of the case alleging that attempts were made to protect Quattrocchi.

"I agree that there are certain malafide intentions in the case and there is no doubt in that," Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav said when Supreme Court lawyer Ajay Agrawal submitted that the probe agency and the Central Government had tried to protect the 70-year-old Italian businessman.

Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra said, "The judgement of the tribunal is wholly irrelevant and reliance on it is totally misconceived."

He made it clear that there has been no change in the stand of the government on withdrawing the case against Quattrocchi after

Orissa suburbs temperature dips to zero PTI ROURKELA, JAN 6

The first death due to severe cold wave in Orissa's Sundargarh district was reported from Tensa area where the night temperature dipped to zero degree celsius and experienced minor snow fall, official sources said today.

A middle-aged unidentified man was found lying on the National highway 215 near Kusumdihi under forest dominated Koida police station last night.

He was taken to nearby hospital where doctor declared him dead, police said.

the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav queried about government's position on the issue.

"There are clear findings that dispute before the tribunal was in relation to Income Tax liability rather than fixing any criminal liability or accountability of the assessee (Quattrocchi and Win Chadha) for any other law or obligation," Malhotra said while pleading for withdrawal of criminal case against 70-year-old Quattrocchi.

"It has given a finding relying on the Supreme Court decision that the proceedings are purely administrative. The assessing

officer is not a court. The proceedings before it are not strictly judicial proceedings," Malhotra said, adding, "Rules of rigour evidence are not applicable and there is difference between criminal proceedings and judicial proceedings.

"The tribunal again relied upon the evidence collected by the investigating agency which in law is not a legal piece of evidence. The tribunal did not even consider the judgement passed by the Delhi High Court which dealt with criminal liability of the accused person in the Bofors pay-offs case," Malhotra, appearing for the CBI, contended.

Malhotra asked the court not to rely on the ITAT order while deciding the plea of the CBI for withdrawing case against Quattrocchi as that proceeding was different from the criminal proceeding against Quattrocchi.

"It is a settled position that criminal liability and the liability under the Income Tax Act are separate and distinct. Whereas findings in a tax liability may be based on inadmissible evidence whereas a conviction in the trial court can be based only on reliable evidence," Malhotra said.

Telangana was not ready to lose it.

Rao said the Telangana Joint Action Committee will spearhead the future agitation and all Telangana protagonists should follow its directions.

The Telangana Joint Action Committee will meet this evening and decide its future course of action, he said.

Parties allege Trinamool link with Maoists

Order on ‘Q’ irrelevant: CBI PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

of Rayala-Telangana, the committee said, "This scenario is not likely to be accepted either by the pro-Telangana or by the proUnited Andhra protagonists.

While this option may have economic justification, the committee believes that this option may not offer a resolution which would be acceptable to people of all three regions," it says.

FLYING HIGH: Kite maker Prem Lal, prepares kites at his workshop in Amritsar on Thursday ahead of the Lohri Festival. The Lohri harvest festival, which is celebrated on January 13 is marked in northern India with celebrations involving the flying and battling of kites.

Six parties, including four from the Left, today asked the Manmohan Singh government to decide whether it wanted to continue its alliance with Trinamool Congress, whose "collaboration" with Maoists was a "clear threat" to internal security.

Alleging there was "incontrovertible evidence of collaborat i o n " b e t w e e n Tr i n a m o o l Congress and Maoists, leaders of CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Forward Bloc, TDP and JD(S) submitted a memorandum to Home Minister P Chidambaram asking the government to "spell out" how it proposed to deal with the "TCMaoist nexus".

After the meeting, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury asked "will you (UPA) continue to allow TC to hobnob with Maoists to save your government at the Centre? ... It is a clear threat to national security. You (UPA) have to take a call.

"How can the UPA continue with the contradiction that when the Prime Minister describes Maoist violence as the gravest threat to the nation, his own Cabinet colleagues actively collaborate with Maoists.

They can't compromise national security to gain political mileage."

Binayak Sen moves HC PTI RAIPUR, JAN 6

Rights activist Binayak Sen has challenged in Chhattisgarh High Court the life sentence given to him by a local court after being convicted for sedition and links with Maoists, saying his involvement in the alleged crime was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

Fifty-eight-year-old Sen's counsel Mahendra Dubey filed

an appeal against his conviction yesterday, contending that after a thorough examination of the lower court's judgement it has become clear his involvement in the alleged crime was not proved beyond reasonable doubt.

"Circumstantial evidence, which form the basis of the judgement, lack cohesion and arguments of the defence were ignored," Dubey said in the pe-

tition challenging the December 24 order of Additional District and Sessions Judge B P Verma.

Dubey further said, "The lower court neither properly followed the procedure laid down for trial of criminal offences nor explained the evidence adduced in accordance with law."

The conviction has triggered angry reactions from fellow activists within and outside the country.

Army Chief questions need to appear before PAC PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

With the PAC calling the heads of the Armed Forces in connection with the alleged irregularities in Canteen supplies, Army Chief General V K Singh today virtually questioned it even as he said he had "no problem" in appearing before the panel if the Defence Ministry wanted.

Singh said he had not seen the communication sent by the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee but noted that usually the Ministry sends the people concerned with the senior officials whenever the Committee writes to it.

The PAC has, in an unprecedented move, called the Chiefs

of the Services to appear before us. If it wants us to go and clar- "The existing procedure for proify, we have got no problem in visioning of dry rations failed it.

"I don't know if there is an doing that," he said when asked to assess the requirement realistically. The failure was extra requirement for mainly due to systemic the Chiefs to go (before There are two-three issues raised deficiencies due to the PAC)," the Army Chief by the CAG on which the PAC which different quantitold reporters here when ties were worked out at referred to the PAC callwants to ask or clarify various different echelons applying the heads of the points. It depends on what the ing different paramethree Armed Forces on ters..."

January 12 to question Ministry wants from us. If it wants Singh, who was speakthem about alleged irus to go and clarify, we have got ing to reporters after regularities in Canteen launching a book 'Kurukand Stores Department no problem in doing that. shetra to Kargil' by as highlighted by the -- V K Singh Brigadier Kuldip Singh, CAG. said, "Lot of things are "There are two-three issues raised by the CAG on if he would appear before the pointed out on procedural aspects, it is not that there is scam which the PAC wants to ask or PAC. Highlighting the irregularities or something." clarify various points. It depends The Army Chief pointed out on what the Ministry wants from in the CSD, the CAG had said,

that "normally, the procedure is that the PAC writes a letter to the (Defence) Ministry, which sends out the concerned people with the representatives of the Ministry which either is the Defence Secretary or the Additional Secretary."

The communication from the PAC was received by the Defence Ministry yesterday and it was forwarded to the three Services, asking them to provide assistance to the Committee as desired by it.

Army sources have said the Chiefs of the Services are unlikely to appear before the Committee and instead Vice Chiefs and Quarter Master General equivalents would represent their forces.

ULFA chief makes case for Chetia release PTI GUWAHATI, JAN 6

ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa today urged the Centre to ensure that senior leader of the outfit Anup Chetia, now jailed in Bangladesh, participates in the talk process.

Rajkhowa told reporters after his first interaction, since his release from jail, with Centre's interlocutor P C Haldar at the Circuit House here that this "was just a request and not a precondition".

APPOINTMENTS

APPOINTMENTS

OHERALDO

10 GOA, FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY•2011

Jackson’s children saw him motionless Reuters LOS ANGELES, JAN 6

Two of Michael Jackson's children watched horrified as the pop star lay motionless on his bed the day he died, a bodyguard for the pop star said in emotional testimony.

“Paris (Jackson) screamed 'Daddy' and she started crying, and Dr. Murray said, ‘Get them out, don't let them see their father like this,' ” Alberto Alvarez told a Los Angeles court yesterday.

Alvarez was testifying on the second day of a preliminary hearing that will decide if Conrad Murray, Jackson's personal doctor, should stand trial for in-

voluntary manslaughter.

The court also heard that Jackson appeared dead when paramedics arrived, and that Murray made no mention to first responders that the singer had used the powerful anesthetic propofol.

Alvarez said he was alerted by phone on June 25, 2009, that something was wrong with Jackson. He entered the pop star's room and saw Murray at the bedside. The doctor told him they needed to get an ambulance, Alvarez said yesterday.

The security guard said he was reaching for his cell phone, when he saw that Jackson's eldest two children, Prince and Paris, who were then 12 and 11, had walked into the room.

“I turned to the children and I told them, 'Don't worry children, we'll take care of it, please go outside.' And I escorted them out of the bedroom,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez said Murray told him Jackson had “a bad reaction,” and ordered him to bag up medical vials and an intravenous pouch before calling paramedics.

“He (Murray) then grabbed a handful of bottles or vials and instructed me to put them in a bag,” Alvarez said.

Prosecutors are seeking to establish that Murray was negligent in his treatment of the Thriller singer and tried to cover up his errors. Murray had been hired to care for Jackson before his planned comeback concerts in London.

FROM PAGE 1 Mild tremors felt in Sanguem no official intimation from any of the lower offices to have come to his office informing about the tremors.

OUR PANJIM REPORTER ADDS: Although the residents of Sanguem felt tremors, the State Meteorological department has ruled out the occurrence of earthquake in Sanguem taluka on Thursday.

“We have no such information. Also there is no record of any earthquake in Sanguem area,” Met department in-charge K V Singh said.

He said that the people have heard some sound after the tremors.

“There is no sound when earthquake happens,” Singh added.

Temples join hands to tackle thefts “Where is SIT? It’s defunct. The State government has not adopted any precautionary measures. The incidents of attacking temples are on rise,” he said.

Srikrishna for united Andhra demand is an emotional issue in the region and felt that the option of maintaining status quo could give a “fillip to the Maoist movement”.

The report, eagerly awaited by the people of the state and elsewhere, was today made public by the Home Ministry even as Minister P Chidambaram met leaders of political parties from the state and promised them that the Government wants to find a “just, honourable and practicable” solution that has the widest measure of support among all stakeholders.

Recommending keeping Andhra Pradesh united with Constitutional and Statutory measures for socio-economic development and political empowerment of Telangana region, the committee suggested creation of a statutorily-empowered Telangana Regional Council to be headed by an MLA with cabinet rank.

“The Committee considers that unity is in the best interest of all the three regions of the state as internal partitions would not be conducive to providing sustainable solutions to the issues at hand,” the two-volume 461-page report said.

In this option, it is proposed to keep the state united and provide constitutional/statutory measures to address the core socio-economic concerns about development of Telangana region.

“This can be done through the establishment of a statutory and empowered Telangana Regional Council with adequate transfer of funds, functions and functionaries in keeping with the spirit of Gentlemen’s Agreement of 1956.”

The committee said the united Andhra option is being suggested for continuing the development momentum of the three regions and keeping in mind the national perspective.

“With firm political and administrative management it should be possible to convey conviction to the people that this option would be in the best interest of all and would provide satisfaction to the maximum number of people in the state,” the report said.

It would also take care of the uncertainty over the future of Hyderabad as a bustling educational, industrial and IT hub/destination.

The Telangana Regional Council would provide a legislative consultative mechanism for the subjects to be dealt with by the Council.

Apart from the Telangana Regional Council which will deal with planning and economic development, water and irrigation sector, education, local administration and public health, the committee favoured other confidence building measures like providing adequate political space to Telangana such as positions of Chief Minister or deputy Chief Minister and other key ministerial portfolios.

The committee said that although this model is considered to be in the best interest of all the people of the state, some segments of the Telangana population such as students and unemployed youth, non-gazetted officers, lawyers and farmers may not feel satisfied and may resort to violent agitations.

“It is possible that the MLAs/MLCs and MPs belonging to different parties in Telangana may be pressurised to resign in order to create a political crisis. It would indeed pose a serious challenge to the leadership to deal with this immediate backlash and the agitations which are likely to continue for a period of time,” the report says.

“It is, however, also our anticipation that once the empowerment model as also the advantages of the state staying united have been understood by the people it would be possible for the Government to contain and control the agitational activities and take the state towards economic growth and progress,” it says.

However, it goes without saying that this option will receive a near unanimous acceptance by the people of coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and large segments of Hyderabad Metropolis.

“The Committee discussed all aspects of this option and while it acknowledges that there will be certain difficulties in its implementation, on balance, it found it the most workable option in the given circumstances and in the best interest of the social and economic welfare of the people of all the three regions of the state,” it says.

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WORLD

GOA, FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY, 2011

Washington to rush more marines to Afghanistan

Gibbs to quit White House as Press Secy

marines authorised on Wednesday,” WSJ said quoting Pentagon officials.

The officials said if the plans are approved, the front line fighting force could be boosted by as many as 300 troops.

The fresh forces, US officials said, were being dispatched on the request of field commanders who fear that Taliban may be planning an anticipated spring offensive by pumping in militants from their bases in neighbouring Pakistan.

US commanders in Afghanistan are facing intense pressure to show sustainable security gains in the first half of 2011.

“Military officials fear that an upswing in attacks by the Taliban could convince the White House that the Pentagon’s war strategy is flawed, which could mean that

Robert Gibbs, one of the most visible and forceful advocates of Barack Obama, is stepping down as the White House Press Secretary and will now serve as an outside political adviser to the US President to boost his 2012 re-election bid.

39-year-old Gibbs, who is considered very close to Obama since his pre-election days, would leave the White House sometime in February, after the President delivers his annual State of the Union Address.

No dates for the State of the Union Address have been announced yet, but it is likely to be held in the last week of January or the first week of February. Gibbs last evening said that he would be working as a consultant to the President outside the White House.

PTI WASHINGTON, JAN 6

Anticipating a Taliban surge ahead of mandated troop reduction, US, in a surprise move, has decided to dispatch additional 1400 strong marine combat force to Afghanistan.

A decision to boost up US forces has been decided by the Defence Secretary Robert Gates and the marine battalion could start arriving on the ground as early as mid-January, Wall Street Journal reported.

The new troops are to be deployed in the south around the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar where the US has concentrated troops over the past several months.

“Commanders are also examining other proposals to temporarily boost further the number of combat troops in Afghanistan in addition to the

Doubts arise if Qadri acted alone

Malik Qadri PTI ISLAMABAD, JAN 6

Suspicion has grown over whether the Pakistani policeman who assassinated Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer acted on his own or was assisted in the act following emergence of a raft of evidence that he had been declared unfit for guarding VIPs because of his extremist leanings.

Several police officials have confirmed that Malik Mumtaz Hussain Qadri, the Elite Force personnel who gunned down Taseer on Tuesday, was removed from Rawalpindi Police's Special Branch about 18 months ago after then regional police chief Nasir Khan Durrani described him as a “security threat”.

Despite a recommendation that Qadri (26) should not be assigned to guard VIPS because of his extremist views, he was deputed to Taseer's security detail on five previous occasions.

Investigators probing the assassination have sought a report from Rawalpindi Police to fix re-

sponsibility in this regard.

An investigation team is interrogating eight other personnel of the Elite Force who did not take any action when Qadri shot the Governor at very close range.

Taseer was hit by at least 26 bullets and some reports said Qadri changed the magazine of his assault rifle and continued firing.

Investigators were of the opinion that the failure of the other guards to stop Qadri as he fired three bursts had strengthened “the suspicions of a conspiracy,” the Dawn newspaper quoted its sources as saying.

“It makes no sense that personnel who were on duty did not retaliate despite carrying active firearms... This is why the perception that the rest of the guards had some inkling about Qadri's intention is gaining strength,” an unnamed official told the daily.

“Every aspect is being considered,” another official said.

Investigators are trying to determine whether Qadri's colleagues were only in the know of his plan to kill Taseer or if they assisted him.

Qadri had reportedly told his colleagues of his intention to kill the governor and even said he would surrender after the act.

18 couples wed in cold conditions here Reuters HARBIN, China, JAN 6

Ice, snow and chilly temperatures couldn't stand in the way of eighteen couples getting married today at Harbin's Ice and Snow Festival in northeastern China.

The sub-zero wedding takes place every year after the opening of the annual Ice and Snow Festival in the city of Harbin, attracting couples from around the globe.

Despite temperatures that dipped below -16 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit), couples from Russia, the United States, Japan, Canada, Vietnam and four different Chinese provinces gathered in front of a massive snow sculpture to say “I do.”

Family members, friends and well-wishers also braved the freezing conditions to attend.

“My wife really likes snow.

And I think the purity of the snow reflects the purity of our love,” said Huang Pengzhi, a native of Heilongjiang in northeastern China, who wed Wang Yipin.

The couples wore traditional Chinese attire and exchanged vows and rings on stage before colourful balloons were released and fireworks set off to celebrate their union.

In addition to the wedding and snow sculptures, Harbin offers visitors a slew of snow and ice-related activities, ranging from ice swimming to hot air ballooning, ice sculpture competitions, and various winter

200 plus Chinese kids die of lead poisoning Reuters BEIJING, JAN 6

More than 200 Chinese children have been poisoned by lead from battery plants located too close to houses in the east of the country, State media said today, the latest in a string of heavy metal pollution cases.

After tests last month showed three children in Gaohe in Anhui province had elevated levels of lead in their blood, 280 others were subsequently checked, more than 200 of whom were found to have been poisoned, Xinhua news agency said.

Authorities have now closed both battery plants blamed for the poisoning, the report said.

One of the plants was separated from residences in Gaohe by only a narrow road, it added, in contravention of environmental protection guidelines.

Some of the children affected were just a few months old, the official news agency said.

“When she was a baby, she

stayed with my in-laws in Changsha, of the central Hunan Province, and was perfectly healthy. She's been in Gaohe town for just a few months,” resident Jiang Feng told Xinhua of her poisoned child.

Lead poisoning, which often builds up slowly as a result of repeated exposure to small amounts of lead, can damage various parts of the body including the nervous and reproductive systems and the kidneys, and it can cause high blood pressure and anemia.

Lead is especially harmful to the developing brains of young children and can cause consequences that may be irreversible including learning difficulties and behavioural problems.

China's Environment Ministry has called for urgent measures to tackle heavy metal poisoning as cases of mass poisoning created widespread public anger.

the troop pullout should be accelerated,” officials told the newspaper.

No Congressional approval would be required for the new troop surge. The additional marine deployment could push the total surge of troops in Afghanistan beyond 30,000 announced by President Barack Obama.

There are now as many as 97,000 American personnel in Afghanistan and WSJ said it was unclear how many of them were directly involved in the combat operations.

“The rationale is to take advantage of the gains we have made over the last several months and apply more pressure on the enemy at a time when he is already under the gun,” Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell was quoted as saying.

PTI WASHINGTON, JAN 6

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Inflation: Govt says can't do much PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Food inflation shot up to nearly a year's high of 18.32 per cent on December 25 due to a spurt in vegetables, onion and milk prices even as the Finance Min-

Inflation drags down Sensex PTI MUMBAI, JAN 6

The BSE benchmark Sensex fell for the third straight session today, shedding 116 points on sell-off in interest sensitive stocks like realty and auto, amid fears that a sharp rise in food inflation would prompt RBI to hike policy rates, making loans costlier.

Opening firm, the BSE bellwether Sensex failed to maintain the momentum and closed lower by 116.36 points or 0.57 per cent at 20,184.74 -- the level last seen on December 29, 2010.The key index has plummeted by 376.35 points or 1.83 per cent in the last three trading sessions. On similar lines, the NSE's wide based Nifty also lost ground after a firm opening, and finished at 6,048.25, down 31.55 points or 0.52% from previous close.

Aban Offshor, 795, 803.5, 787.25, 794.1 Abb Ltd., 799.8, 806.95, 788.4, 799.25 Abg Shipyard, 417.8, 421.9, 400.1, 405 Acc Limited, 1067, 1069.5, 1015, 1022.55 Adani Enterp, 656.05, 674.8, 620.1, 644.4 Aditya Birla, 826.85, 841.7, 797.15, 799.85 Allahabad Ba, 211.5, 215.15, 208.5, 212 Alstom Proje, 731.15, 736, 710.15, 714.4 Ambuja Cemen, 141, 141.2, 132.5, 133.55 Andhra Bank, 143.25, 147.3, 140.9, 144.75 Ashok Leylan, 65.5, 66.65, 64.45, 65.15 Asian Paints, 2882, 2894, 2842.5, 2849.5 Axis Bank Li, 1316.35, 1322.1, 1300, 1305.85 Bajaj Hindus, 119, 121.7, 117.2, 117.8 Bank Of Baro, 878.05, 885.85, 829.15, 838.55 Bank Of Indi, 440, 449.1, 439.1, 443.15 Beml Limited, 1019.75, 1029.8, 990.2, 993.95 Bharat Elect, 1758.3, 1772.3, 1741.25, 1755.9 Bharat Forge, 371.15, 383.1, 371.15, 373.6 Bharat Petro, 636, 637, 613.55, 618.75 Bharti Airte, 349.15, 355.3, 349.15, 353.2 Bhel, 2319.8, 2344.8, 2282.25, 2308.4 Bhushan Stee, 480.2, 484.55, 456.1, 459.35 Biocon Limit, 419, 421, 410.4, 412.3 Bombay Dyein, 519, 523.5, 495.3, 497.6

Bosch Limite, 6420.05, 6573, 6375.05, 6528.7 Brigade Ente, 115.45, 115.5, 111.5, 112.15 Cairn India, 341.2, 345.15, 339, 341.7 Canara Bank, 622.75, 628, 610.65, 623.2 Central Bank, 173, 173.8, 169.6, 172.2 Century Text, 437.1, 437.1, 420.1, 423.1 Cesc Ltd, 378, 380.65, 372, 376.7 Chambal Fert, 80, 86.25, 78.85, 79.5 Chennai Petr, 247, 248.5, 239.2, 239.95 Cipla Ltd, 377.25, 378.15, 361.25, 363.6 Colgate Palm, 868.85, 869, 852.75, 855.3 Container Co, 1257.05, 1265, 1247.05, 1261.15 Crompton Gre, 307.7, 308.4, 298.25, 304.15 Cummins Indi, 768, 768, 755.15, 756.85 Dabur India, 103, 104.3, 100, 101.4 Deccan Chron, 110.3, 111.9, 108.5, 109.3 Dish Tv Indi, 71.85, 72, 67.8, 68.3 Divi’s Labor, 662.2, 673.8, 653.05, 660.05 Dlf Limited, 283.95, 284.85, 275.8, 277.75 Dr. reddy’s, 1722, 1728, 1710, 1716.35 Edelweiss Ca, 47.15, 47.9, 45.3, 45.55 Educomp Solu, 548.3, 548.3, 530, 534.1 Eih Limited, 114.7, 115.4, 113.1, 113.65 Engineers In, 338.5, 339.5, 330.05, 330.7 Essar Oil Lt, 139.9, 139.95, 135.8, 137.3

istry's pointman expressed helplessness, saying prices are not "fully" within the control of the government.

While economists felt that the soaring food prices would exert pressure on the government and RBI to intervene, Chief Economic Adviser in Finance Ministry Kaushik Basu said he agreed with Home Minister P Chidambaram's remarks yesterday that the govt did not have full control over prices.

The wholesale food inflation jumped by 3.88 percentage points from 14.44% in the previous week ending December 18, 2010 taking govt by surprise.

A huge increase of over 82% in onion prices and 58.85% in vegetables led to the overall increase in food inflation.

After declining for a brief period, onion prices have started rising again and may go up further following Pakistan banning onion exports through land route of Wagha border.

The other items that contributed to price rise were egg, meat and fish (up 20.83%), fruits (19.99%) and milk (19.59%). Food inflation in the corresponding week last year was 19.9%. Expressing helplessness, Basu said, "I mean this is a huge country in terms of population and land area. It is an utter mistake to think that it is fully within the control of the government to move prices of food up and down.

"Govt is just an enabling body, there are little local bodies taking decisions, there are

Essar Shippi, 108, 109, 105.25, 107.8 Exide Indust, 168.8, 169.65, 165, 165.15 Federal Bank, 383.15, 384.75, 373.7, 375 Financial Te, 877.7, 885.75, 861.25, 865.35 Gail (india), 530, 537.75, 525.2, 527.15 Gammon India, 175, 178, 170.3, 171.15 Glaxosmithkl, 2389.9, 2408.6, 2384, 2400.2 Glenmark Pha, 368.5, 372.2, 361.3, 368.35 Gmr Infrastr, 47, 47.3, 45.25, 45.65 Godrej Indus, 200.5, 201.7, 192.1, 194.2 Grasim Indus, 2410, 2428, 2355.1, 2380.85 Great Offsho, 409.65, 412, 392, 395.05 Gtl Infra.Lt, 43.5, 43.5, 42.5, 42.7 Gujarat Mine, 137.05, 137.5, 134.3, 135.45 Gujarat N R, 69.15, 71, 69.05, 70 Gujarat Stat, 119, 119.85, 116.2, 117.3 Gvk Pow. & I, 42.5, 43.4, 41.6, 41.9 Hcl Technolo, 474.35, 481.45, 474.05, 477.7 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2316, 2342.65, 2309, 2327.75 Hdfc Ltd, 713.7, 714.7, 700.8, 706.9 Hero Honda M, 1918.55, 1918.7, 1860, 1886.25 Hindalco in, 249, 252.85, 246.5, 251.35 Hindustan Co, 48.2, 48.65, 46, 46.25 Hindustan Ma, 68.35, 71, 67.35, 68.75 Hindustan Pe, 391.5, 392.9, 386.15, 387.4

private players taking decisions, farmers taking decisions... Govt can give signals, can intervene strategically to keep the situation as much under control as possible," Basu said.

Indicating that the government was taken by surprise, he said while hike in food inflation was likely, it was not expected to the extent of over 18 per cent.

Basu echoed Chidambaram who yesterday had said, "... Nor am I sure whether we have at our hand all the tools to control inflation. Some say we do, some say we don't (have tools to check price rise). At least in case of food inflation, I have

Hindustan Un, 327.55, 328.8, 312.4, 320.75 Hindustan Zi, 1359, 1377.9, 1349.35, 1361.25 Housing Dev, 188.7, 190.9, 182.7, 184 Icici Bank L, 1074.25, 1078.45, 1047.25, 1053.45 Idea Cellula, 69.8, 70.15, 69, 69.65 Ifci Ltd, 64.9, 64.9, 62.3, 62.65 India Cement, 110.45, 110.85, 105.6, 106.45 India Infoli, 82.05, 82.35, 78.5, 79.5 Indiabulls F, 168.6, 169, 160.75, 162.05 Indiabulls R, 132.9, 134.95, 128, 128.4 Indian Bank, 231.65, 237.3, 228.6, 232.85 Indian Hotel, 98.8, 101.85, 98, 101.05 Indian Oil C, 353.8, 353.8, 340.55, 341.55 Indian Overs, 140.5, 142.25, 137.25, 139.45 Indus Dev Ba, 158.9, 159.55, 155.2, 156.75 Indusind Ban, 248, 252.8, 243.1, 243.9 Infosys Tech, 3480, 3493, 3444.1, 3478.15 Infra. dev., 174.9, 174.9, 167.55, 167.9 Ispat Indust, 23.6, 24.4, 23.45, 24.1 Itc Ltd, 180.35, 181, 175.85, 178.9 Ivrcl Infras, 131.95, 131.95, 125.85, 127.55 Jai Corp Lim, 220.5, 221.4, 215.3, 216.65 Jaiprakash A, 108.6, 109, 104.5, 104.95 Jet Airways, 702.15, 767.4, 702.15, 760 Jindal Saw L, 210.2, 216.5, 208.75, 212.1

not heard anyone arguing convincingly that we have all the tools to control food inflation."

Jindal Steel, 723.4, 730, 717, 720.7 Jsw Steel Li, 1152.7, 1164, 1093.8, 1099.55 Kotak Mahind, 450, 454.9, 442.8, 445.1 Lakshmi Mach, 2434, 2445, 2382, 2389.9 Lanco Infrat, 63.4, 63.4, 61.35, 61.7 Larsen & Tou, 1945, 1945, 1874, 1877.9 Lic Housing, 188.5, 189.3, 180.6, 181.95 Lupin Limite, 491.5, 493, 486.25, 489.55 Mahanagar Te, 57.1, 57.85, 56.5, 56.75 Mahindra & M, 777, 778, 758, 771.25 Maruti Suzuk, 1415.05, 1425, 1366.3, 1373.9 Max India Lt, 149.8, 150.15, 146, 146.6 Maytas Infr., 190, 192.1, 185, 185.6 Moser-baer (, 62.5, 62.85, 60.4, 60.85 Mrpl, 76.4, 76.7, 74, 74.15 Nagarjuna Co, 148.2, 148.7, 139.2, 141.25 Nagarjuna Fe, 33.5, 33.5, 31, 31.1 National Alu, 399.9, 403.8, 393.1, 393.95 Neyveli Lign, 140, 140, 135.25, 136.35 Ntpc Ltd, 199.55, 202.25, 197.55, 202 Oil And Natu, 1269.4, 1270.6, 1216.5, 1227.3 Omaxe Limite, 146.5, 150.45, 146.5, 148.9 Oriental Ban, 382.7, 386.8, 374.1, 378.65 Pantaloon Re, 375, 379.05, 363.25, 371.9 Parsvnath De, 58.85, 58.85, 56.65, 57.7 Petronet Lng, 123.1, 125.8, 121.5, 124.45

Power Fin Co, 303.3, 303.5, 294.2, 298.15 Power Grid C, 98.2, 99.75, 97.8, 99 Praj Industr, 87.05, 87.5, 80.7, 82 Punj Lloyd L, 114.55, 114.55, 108.05, 109.15 Punjab Natio, 1205.1, 1210, 1182.1, 1191.15 Rajesh Expor, 134.7, 137.2, 133.5, 134.25 Ranbaxy Labs, 602.1, 610.45, 596.1, 604.65 Rashtriya Ch, 96.7, 96.8, 92.4, 93.05 Reliance Cap, 660.25, 665, 654.05, 659.9 Reliance Com, 140.3, 142.8, 138.55, 139.75 Reliance Ene, 1180, 1180, 1100, 1114 Reliance Ind, 722.8, 726.6, 705.1, 709.95 Reliance Ind, 1078, 1091.4, 1074.55, 1085.6 Reliance Pow, 160, 162.2, 158.8, 161.1 Rolta India, 162, 162, 156.15, 157 Satyam Compu, 72.1, 73, 71.15, 72 Sesa Goa Ltd, 345, 346.5, 341.75, 344.2 Shipping Cor, 134.1, 134.9, 132.15, 133.85 Siemens Ltd, 825, 828.7, 799, 809.1 Sintex Indus, 187, 187.45, 178.65, 179.7 Sobha Develo, 323.75, 326.45, 320.35, 323.35 State Bank O, 2714, 2714, 2613.1, 2622.4 Steel Author, 186, 187.9, 184.1, 185.15 Sterlite Ind, 191.1, 191.5, 182, 183.6 Sun Pharmace, 490, 503, 489, 500 Sun Tv Netwo, 549, 551, 535.55, 544.95

Suzlon Energ, 54.6, 55.65, 53.1, 53.5 Tata Communi, 262, 263, 254.85, 258.1 Tata Consult, 1168, 1182, 1153.1, 1171.7 Tata Motors, 1289.2, 1300.9, 1248.35, 1261 Tata Power C, 1395, 1411, 1381.55, 1399.3 Tata Steel L, 687.75, 690.85, 681.5, 683.3 Tata Teleser, 19.8, 19.95, 19.5, 19.55 Tech Mahindr, 731.8, 743.5, 725, 729.85 The Ge Shpg., 342, 343.95, 331.35, 334.7 The Phoenix, 217.5, 224, 217.5, 223 Thermax Ltd, 867.1, 869.4, 835.25, 840.4 Titan Indust, 3660, 3675.75, 3555.15, 3579.4 Torrent Powe, 272.5, 274.9, 267.2, 269.55 Triveni Engg, 113.05, 114.7, 111.25, 111.95 Tv18 India L, 72.2, 72.25, 70.4, 70.8 Uco Bank, 111.75, 113, 110.25, 112 Ultratech Ce, 1068.3, 1077.95, 1005.35, 1010.85 Union Bank O, 324.25, 328, 311.2, 320.1 Unitech Ltd, 65.5, 65.65, 61.25, 61.6 United Phosp, 164.1, 164.75, 160.5, 161.75 Videocon Ind, 220.95, 222.25, 219.05, 219.7 Vijaya Bank, 97, 97.6, 95.2, 96.25 Voltas Ltd, 221.9, 222.35, 217.05, 218.4 Wipro Ltd, 484.35, 489.95, 477.2, 486.35 Yes Bank Lim, 293, 295.45, 282, 283.05 Zee Entertai, 140, 142, 137.1, 137.8

Pg 13

SPORTS AP SYDNEY, JAN 6

England has all but secured its first Test series victory in Australia in 23 years after posting a record total and moving within three wickets of another innings victory in the final test to cap its Ashes domination.

Matt Prior scored the third hundred of the England innings before the visitors were dismissed for 644 -- their highest total ever in Australia -- shortly after lunch today.

Then pacemen Jimmy Anderson, Tim Bresnan and Chris Tremlett took two wickets apiece to have Australia reeling on 213-7 at stumps on the penultimate day, needing another 151 runs just to make England bat again.

Allrounder Steven Smith (24) England, which had already and tailender Peter Siddle (17) retained the Ashes by taking a navigated the last 41 minutes 2-1 lead with an innings victory of an extended evening session at Melbourne last week, looks for Australia to ensure the match certain to claim a test series will go into the fifth and final Down Under for the first time day. since 1987.

Australia 1st innings: 280 England 1st innings: (overnight 488/7): M Prior c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 118, T Bresnan c Clarke b Johnson 35, G Swann not out 36, C Tremlett c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 12. Extras: 23. Total: 644 all out. Fall of wickets: 487-7, 589-8, 609-9, 645-10. Bowling: B Hilfenhaus 38.5-7-121-3, M Johnson 36-5-168-4, P Siddle 31-5111-1, S Watson 20-7-49-1, M Beer 38-3-112-1, S Smith 13-0-67-0, M Hussey 1-0-2-0.

Australia: S Watson run out (Pietersen) 38, P Hughes c Prior b Bresnan 13, U Khawaja c Prior b Anderson 21, M Clarke c Prior b Anderson 41, M Hussey c Pietersen b Bresnan 12, B Haddin c Prior b Tremlett 30, S Smith not out 24, M Johnson b Tremlett 0, P Siddle not out 17. Extras: 17. Total: 213 for 7. Fall of wickets: 46-1, 52-2, 117-3, 124-4, 161-5, 171-6, 171-7. Bowling: J Anderson 13-4-50-2, C Tremlett 15-4-53-2, G Swann 25-7-63-0, T Bresnan 14-6-32-2.

India fined for slow over-rate AGENCIES CAPE TOWN, JAN 6

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on Thursday docked 60 per cent of his match fee while his teammates received a 30 per cent fine each for maintaining a slow over-rate during South Africa's second innings in the third and final Test in Cape Town.

Andy Pycroft of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees imposed the fines after India were ruled to be three overs short of its target when time allowances were taken into consideration.

In accordance with the ICC Code of Conduct regulations governing minor over-rate offences, players are fined 10 per cent of their match fees for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time, with the captain fined double that amount.

Chelsea slump deepens, Arsenal held by Man City REUTERS LONDON, JAN 6

Arsenal's Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner (left) vies with Manchester City's English defender Micah Richards (2nd left) and Ivorian defender Kolo Toure (right) at The Emirates Stadium, England on Thursday.

Wolves ..................1 Newcastle ............5 Aston Villa ............0 Arsenal ................0 Blackburn ............3 Everton ................2 Bolton ..................1

Collingwood to quit Test AGENCIES SYDNEY, JAN 6

P a u l Collingwood is to quit T e s t cricket after the f i f t h Ashes e n counter, the England batsman said on Thursday, going out on a high after helping to retain the famous urn in Australia for the first time in 24 years.

The 34-year-old will continue as captain of England's world champion Twenty20 team and in the One-day team, which will contest the World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh starting next month.

Collingwood has scored 4,259 runs with 10 centuries at an average of 40.56 and taken 17 wickets in 68 matches since his Test debut against Sri Lanka in December 2003 but has struggled with the bat on the current tour.

Averaging just 15.54 over his last 10 Tests and 13.83 in the ongoing Ashes series, the popular right-hander said it was time to give younger players a chance.

"Representing England at Test level has always been a dream of mine and I've been fortunate enough to have enjoyed some amazing highs throughout my Test career," Collingwood said in an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) news release.

Chelsea ..................0 West Ham ..............0 Sunderland ............1 Man City ................0 Liverpool ................1 Tottenham ..............1 Wigan ....................1

Chelsea’s hopes of retaining the Premier League title looked forlorn and Carlo Ancelotti’s future equally bleak on Wednesday as the champions’ fall from grace continued with a 1-0 defeat at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On a night when Manchester City emerged unscathed from a grilling at Arsenal to draw 0-0 and stay second in the title race behind Manchester United, Jose Bosingwa’s early own goal condemned Chelsea to a fifth defeat in 11 league matches.

In that period last season’s double winners have collected just 10 points and have slumped from top to fifth, nine points off the pace.

Ancelotti finds himself in good company with several other managers appearing to be skating on thin ice at the end of frenetic spate of Christmas and New Year fixtures.

Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson accused his side of a “shooting ourselves in the foot moment” as they went down 3-1 at Blackburn Rovers to quickly wipe out the tonic of a last-gasp win over Bolton Wanderers a few days earlier.

Avram Grant’s West Ham United returned to the foot of the table after a 5-0 hammering at Newcastle United while Gerard Houllier’s prospects also look bleak as his Aston Villa side fell into the bottom three after a 1-0 home defeat by sixthplaced Sunderland.

Tottenham Hotspur wasted the chance to strengthen their place in the top four when they went down 2-1 at Everton, meaning it was a tremendous night for leaders Manchester United who have enjoyed full value from their 2-1 home vic-

Nadal advances into quarters

qatar open AGENCIES DOHA, JAN 6

Top-ranked Rafael Nadal overcame a second-set collapse to beat Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 7-6 (3), 0-6, 6-3 Wednesday and join Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.

Nadal, who is also playing doubles with Marc Lopez, had a fever earlier this week and looked uncharacteristically slow and sluggish on court. In the second set, he won just five of 18 points on his serve—and 11 of 37 overall.

On later Thursday, Federer will play Viktor Troicki of Serbia in the quarter-finals of the season-opening tournament.

Roddick, Soderling ahead

Second-seeded Andy Roddick beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the Brisbane International.

The eighth-ranked American hit seven aces and converted 65 percent of his first serve points to beat the 20th-ranked Baghdatis.

Also, Kevin Anderson of South Africa rallied to beat Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the last four.

Earlier, top-seeded Robin

Soderling of Sweden held on to beat Michael Berrer of Germany 6-3, 7-6 (7) and reach the quarterfinals, and former Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli of France beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-1 to reach the women’s semifinals.

Sharapova knocked out

Top seed Maria Sharapova's flirtation with the New Zealand public came to a premature end on Thursday with a surprising 6-2, 7-5 loss to unseeded Hungarian Greta Arn in the quarterfinals of the Auckland Classic.

The three-times Grand Slam winner, who had struggled with her rhythm in the second round on Wednesday, made numerous unforced errors against the 31year-old Arn and crashed out in a match lasting 91 minutes.

Venus crushed

Wo r l d n u m b e r t w o Ve r a Zvonareva crushed five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams in Hong Kong, on Thursday as some of the world's top women prepared for the year's first Grand Slam.

Zvonareva's 6-4, 6-2 victory— and wins by her teammates Maria Kirilenko and Yevgeny Kafelnikov—helped Russia into an unassailable 3-0 lead over the Americas.

tory over Stoke City on Tuesday and now look primed for a title charge.

United lead the table with 44 points from 20 games with City on 42 having played two games more. Arsenal are third with 40 from 21 and Tottenham have 36.

Wigan Athletic earned a point against Bolton Wanderers but remained in the relegation zone.

On Tuesday Ancelotti bemoaned his side’s blunders late in matches but against Wolves, who began the night bottom but ended it out of the relegation zone, they needed just six minutes to hand their opponents a welcome gift.

Stephen Hunt’s corner should have been cleared but instead the ball sliced off the shin of Boswinga and ended up in the net with keeper Petr Cech helpless.

Salomon Kalou went close to an equaliser before halftime and Didier Drogba was denied by the woodwork as Chelsea pressed but the visitors lacked belief as they suffered a first defeat by Wolves for 18 years.

Arsenal, attempting to reassert themselves as United’s main title rivals, dominated Roberto Mancini’s Man City but after some dazzling early play they ended the night frustrated.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas both struck shots against the post as City were given a first-half grilling and Theo Walcott had a strong penalty claim turned down when his cross struck the arm of Vincent Kompany.

The chances dried up, however, and the game ended in scrappy fashion and both sides down to 10 men after Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were dismissed after a flare-up.

Gambhir ruled out of ODIs AGENCIES CAPE TOWN, JAN 6

Gautam Gambhir has been ruled out of the upcoming one-day series against South Africa after injuring his left arm.

The left-hand batsman joins his opening partner Virender Sehwag on the sidelines ahead of India's last limited-overs fixtures before next month's World Cup. Last week Sehwag, 32, was ruled out of the series after the selectors decided to allow him more time to recover from a lingering shoulder injury.

India's five-match series in South Africa begins in Durban on January 12.

Gambhir was hit on his left elbow during his knock of 93 in the first innings of the ongoing third Test. He did not take the field when India bowled, but is likely to come out to bat today as the tourists attempt to score 339 runs to win the Test as well as the series, which is now level at 1-1 "He (Gambhir) has rested, he has been icing it," said Harbhajan Singh.

"But he's going to miss the one-day series -our manager has told me to convey it to you," the off-spinner, who took seven wickets in the second innings, added.

Since India will be without both Sehwag

KXIP players claim dues PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 6

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara and Australian batsman Shaun Marsh have written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about non-payment of dues from Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) -- the franchise they represented during the first three editions of IPL. "Yes, Sangakkara had written to the BCCI about non-clearance of his dues. The matter came up for discussion during yesterday's governing council meeting," a senior official told PTI today.

However, the Kings XI Punjab spokesperson in an e-mail to PTI claimed otherwise.

"We would like to confirm that all dues to players have already been paid," the release stated.

It has been learnt that the players have expressed their apprehensions about playing for Kings XI Punjab in case they happen to pick them from the upcoming auctions.

Fined Sree apologises REUTERS CAPE TOWN, JAN 6

and Gambhir, right-handed batsman Murali Vijay, who was earlier named as the 17th member of the ODI squad, is likely to partner Sachin Tendulkar in the ODI series.

Tendulkar returns to ODI arena for the first time since scoring the first double century at Gwalior against the same opponents 10 months ago.

Indian bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for kicking the boundary rope in frustration during the third and final Test against South Africa, the International Cricket Council said.

The temperamental paceman pleaded guilty to a charge that related to ''abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings'', the ICC said in a statement. ''As Sreesanth accepted the decision without contest, there was no need for a hearing.''

A frustrated Sreesanth kicked the rope yesterday after he had two leg before wicket appeals turned down in the previous over, an incident he went on to regret on Thursday. ''I think it was anger at the spur of the moment and I'm sorry for that,'' the bowler told Ten Cricket channel.

Bopanna-Qureshi bite dust

here tonight.

Playing against a vociferous supportive crowd, Bopanna and Qureshi tried their best to make a match of their rivals’ superior play in a evenly fought out match but Haase-Martin held the edge throughout the 70minute tie.

The Croatian pair of Marin Cilic and Ivan Dodig and the Serbian-Italian combination of Janko Tipsarevic and Simone advanced to the doubles semi-finals.

Cilic and Dodig overcame dodgy backhands to post a 6Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori 2 6-4 win over the Thai brothplays a return to his opponent ers Sanchai Ratiwatana and Alejandro Falla.

Sonchat Ratiwatana, who lifted the doubles title here in chennai open 2008.

PTI CHENNAI, JAN 6 Cilic and Dogig will face top Second seeded Indo-Pak com- seed Indian pair of Leander Paes bine of Rohan Bopanna and and Mahesh Bhupathi in their Aisam-ul-Huq Qureshi bite the last-four match if the local dust losing their doubles quar- favourites win their quarter-final ter-final match 4-6 5-7 against tie tomorrow.

Tipsarevic and Bolelli, meanunseeded American-Dutch duo of David Martin and Robinn while, brushed aside the AmerHaase in the Aircel Chennai ican pair of Rajeev Ram and Open ATP Tennis tournament Scott Lipsky 6-4 6-2.

They will face Robin Haase and David Martin in the semifinal.

In the singles event, sixth seed Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia and eighth seeded Dutch Robin Haase entered the quarter-finals.

Tipsarevic, world ranked 49, halted the run of giant killing qualifier Alexandre Kudryavtsev of Russia, beating him 6-2 7-6 (3) in 82 minutes, while 23-year old Haase got the better of another qualifier Yuichi Sugita of Japan 4-6 6-3 6-4.

Later in the day in a longdrawn second round match, unseeded Kei Nishikori of Japan made a remarkable comeback to beat hard-hitting Alejandro Falla, ranked 105, of Colombia in a baseline exhibition tie that went in to the decider.

Nishikori, who was sensing victory leading 5-2 in the third set, eventually won the encounter 4-6 6-3 6-2 in 128 minutes and will play Tipserevic of Serbia in the quarter-final.

Barca, Sevilla move into quarters king's cup AGENCIES SPAIN, JAN 6

Eric Abidal crowned a superb defensive display with a rare goal to help Barcelona to a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday and put the La Liga leaders through to the quarter-finals of the King's Cup on away goals.

Barca joined holders Sevilla in the last eight after the Andalusians won their second leg at Malaga 3-0 in the earlier kickoff to cruise through 8-3 on aggregate.

Deportivo Coruna also advanced but came perilously close to elimination by second-division Cordoba before rallying to win 3-1 on the night and 4-2 over the two legs.

Bilbao held Barca to a 0-0 stalemate in last month's first leg at the Nou Camp and a hard-fought return match at the Basque club's San Mames stadium looked to be heading for extra time before the France international struck in the 75th minute.

Spain playmaker Xavi picked out Lionel Messi in the penalty area and Abidal streaked in from the left wing to sidefoot the Argentina forward's pass powerfully past Gorka Iraizoz, his first goal for the club since joining in 2007.

Freed from Abidal's attentions, Llorente latched on to Andoni Iraola's through ball and slotted past Jose Manuel Pinto in the 85th minute.

davp 37101/13/0086/1011

England on verge of victory

GOA, Friday, 7 January, 2011

Pg 14

SPORTS

GOA, Friday, 7 January, 2011

Akeraj tricks for Oratory HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JAN 6

Akeraj Martins was in goal-scoring mood as he struck a delightful hat-trick for Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim as they overcame Portais Sporting Club 3-1 in GFA’s U-14 league at Don Bosco ground, Panjim on Thursday. Don Bosco led 2-0 at the interval.

Don Bosco took the lead early in the match when Paxton Riberio crossed from the wing and Akeraj headed home.

Shortly after, Akeraj double Don Bosco’s lead with a sublime solo effort.

After the breather, Portais pulled a goal back, but Don Bosco had the last laugh as Akeraj curled in a spectacular free kick.

At Pilar ground, Jawahar Club,

Ponda triumphed 3-0 over Fr Agnelo Youth Centre, Pilar. Jolitan opened the scoring in the 5th minute as he managed to tap in a rebound, after the rival goalkeeper could not hold onto the ball.

After the change of ends, Aaren did well to win the ball in Pilar’s box before slotting home.

Ten minutes later, Valencio punted home from close range to seal the three points for Jawahar.

In a round-up of the other GFA U-14 matches, Ave Maria Athletic & WA stormed to a 100 win over Sarzora, Orlim Sports Club blanked Young Strikers 50, Wilred Leisure Sports Club downed Guardian Angel Sports Club 6-3 and Betalbatim defeated Verna Sports Club 2-0.

Raia rally to hold Margao 1-1 gfa 3rd div

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 6

Raia Sporting Club came from behind to hold Margao Sports Club to a 1-1 draw in GFA’s Third Division League at Raia panchayat ground, on Thursday.

They were trailing 0-1 at half time.

The match started on a high for Margao who found the rhythm early. Their short passing and distribution was impressive

GFA 1st Division: St Rock's SC v. Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim, Varca ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-16: Brasil Futebol Accademia v. Dempo Sports Club (Juniors), Agasaim ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-14: Vasco Sports Club (Juniors) v. Salgaocar Sports Club (Juniors), Cansaulim ground; BAFF v. Dunes SC, Bicholim ground, 4 p.m.

Romeo inter-village footb a l l : M a i n a S p o r t i n g v.

Sanguem SC, Santa Cruz ground, 4.30 p.m.

and as such they enjoyed a lion share of the exchanges.

Margao went into the lead in the 23rd minute through a free kick. Following an infringement committed by a Raia player, Cliff Baretto’s free kick eluded the rival defence wall and goalkeeper Rizven Fernandes.

Stung by the setback, Raia tried their best to neutralise the lead but could not break the resilient Margao defence.

Margao had scoring opportunities but Cliff Barretto and

Gama Costa squandered easy scoring chances.

At the other end, Raia had few scoring chances but Alvito Miranda and Eusebio shot wide.

Raia put up a better display in the second half and called the shots right through and came close in levelling the score but Alvito’s header was blocked by the Margao goalkeeper.

Margao nearly doubled the lead but captain Perryson Rebello faltered.

Raia equalised in the 57th minute through Ozie Fernandes.

Following an Alvito’s well measured through pass, Ozie Fernandes outpaced a rival defender and unleashed a snap shot which beat the rival goalkeeper.

Margao nearly found success late but Cliff Baretto’s feeble push went into the safe hands of the Raia goalkeeper.

Margao coach Joaquim Crasto was not happy with the playing surface, which he said was very hard and devoid of grass.

Margao Sports Club officials alongwith Anthony Pango displaying the jerseys.

Mata Secondary triumph trikkanad inter-school cricket

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 6

Mata Secondary School,Vasco scored a fluent 7-wicket win over Mother of Mercy High School, Vasco to emerge champions at Mukund Trikkanad memorial inter-school cricket tournament organised by Margao Cricket Club at Dr Rajendra Prasad Stadium, here on Thursday.

Batting first, Mother of Mercy were bundled out for 86 all out in 25.1 overs. Yamanappa Kadri scored 20, Yogesh Naik 16, Shailesh Shinde 11. For Mata,

Sushil Saroj and Manish Sharma were the most successful bowlers scalping two wickets each.

In reply, Mata achieved the target without any difficulty and scored 87 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in just 16.1 overs. Dilip Tirodkar topscored with 24. He was well supported by Anil Saroj who scored 20. For Mother of Mercy, Siddarth Naik was the wrecker-in- chief claiming 2 for 28.

Brief scores: Mother of Mercy 86 all out in 25.1 overs (Yamanappa Kadri 20, Yogesh Naik 16, Shailesh Shinde 11.

Sushil Saroj 2-13, Manish Sharma 2-23, Raja Chavan, Anil Saroj and Shubham Naik 1 each) lost to Mata Secondary 87 for

3 in 16.1 overs (Dilip Tirodkar 24, Anil Saroj 20. Siddharth Naik 2-28.

Following individual prizes were awarded: Best batsman Yamanappa Kadri (Mother of Mercy). Best bowler Sushil Saroj (Mata Secondary). Player of the tournament Deepak Tirodkar (Mata Secondary). Best fielders Manu Sharma (Mata) and Yogesh Naik (Mother of Mercy). Promising player Aditya Suryavanshi (Damodar HS).

Ex-Ranji player Suresh Mahadevan was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Apoorva Bhembre, secretar y and Sud esh B hise, t r e a s u r e r, M C C . V i n o d Dhamaskar welcomed and later proposed the vote of thanks.

U-10 football coaching

PANJIM (HSD) -- The coaching for the Australian Sports Outreach Programme organised by Australian Government in association with GFA for children U10 boys and girls for Ilhas Zone will start from January 8 at 4 p.m. at SAG football ground, Campal, Panjim. It will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Those interested may contact Rafael Pereira, in-charge, Ilhas Zone.

Tennis ball cricket in Margao

MARGAO (HC) -- The office of Executive and Assistant Engineer, Sub Division VI, Fatorda will organise their 7th All-Goa Electricity Employees Tennis Ball Cricket tournament for Power Minister Trophy on January 8 at SAG sports complex, Fatorda from 8.30 a.m.

Marushka Alisha De Oliveira, a student of Little Penguins Primary School, Panjim, who claimed two gold medals in 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly and two silver in 50m breaststroke and 50m freestyle in U-10 swimming event at 1st all-Goa swimming championship at Ponda.

Marishka was also declared the best swimmer in her category. She is being trained by SAG coach Thomas Jose.

Mastimoll Boys champs

Isidore Fernandes handing over the Victor D’Souza Memorial Trophy to winners Mastimoll Boys at Maxe, Canacona.

Photo: Kathy Pereira HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 6

Mastimoll Boys lifted the Victor D’Souza Memorial Trophy in the 7-a-side football tournament organized by Maxem Boys. They beat SFC Bhatpal 2-0 in the finals and also netted Rs 8000.

SFX Bhatpal had to be content with a cash prize of Rs. 5000 and a trophy.

Man-of-the-match Gilbern Dias of Mastimoll. Selvwyn D’Souza of Maxem Boys won the man-of-the tournament prize.

In all, 18 teams from Cana-

cona participated in the minilightning tournament.

The tournament was sponsored by Cajjie D’Souza and Cruz D’Silva.

Isidore Fernandes was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Anthony Pango, senior GFA Executive Committee member from Raia’s Snows Football Academy being felicitated by MLA, Alex Reginaldo Lourenco, Sarpanch Joseph Vaz, GFA vice-president and CCP Commisssioner Elvis Gomes, Sporting Clube de Goa president, Peter Vaz, Tonito Botelho at a function at Verna.

Pg 15

SPORTS

GOA, Friday, 7 January, 2011

If target was 260, India had chances: Dhoni Series showed teams are on even keel: Smith

PTI CAPE TOWN, JAN 6

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni feels that they could have thought of chasing had the target been around 260.

"We were in a position where we could have been chasing 260270, if we had got that extra wicket but were not able to.

Kallis batted really well with Boucher and then Steyn also scored runs which meant we had to chase more than 300 which is very difficult," Dhoni told the reporters at the postmatch press conference.

The skipper admitted that another wicket when Proteas were six down would have tilted scales in their favour.

"If we had got that wicket, we could have done something special. We tried our best but we couldn't."

The Indian captain also feels that losing the toss at Centurion had a big impact on the series.

"If we had won the first toss, I think the series would have looked very different. Centurion strip is one of the flattest after the first day. It was a crucial toss to lose.”

"In this game, won the toss, had the advantage. It was overcast and helping the fast bowlers. But after the drizzle, we were asked to play on a wet outfield and that robbed us of advantage.”

"The seam was wet and no lateral movement was available.

I feel we played the first daynight Test. Must have been tough to bat but they batted really well," the skipper said with a smile.

He reasoned that kookaburra ball was also responsible for not getting wickets once it got old.

"Most of our fast bowlers are skill-oriented and rely on swing.

It's not always with pace that we get batsmen out. They did a good job with the new ball but we need to slightly improve after 40 overs especially with kookaburra because there is no reverse. So we can only deceive the batsmen with sheer pace.

Interesting learning experience for our young bowlers. Overall, their performance was good."

The biggest positive he feels that has emerged from the series was the character they showed after going down 0-1 in the first Test.

"We came back after being 01 down in the series. The catching was brilliant throughout because nothing came to the slip cordon! The fielding standard was quite good. But plenty of room for improvement is there.”

"Trying to improve in every game as a team. We were always confident about doing well.

What was important was to get outplayed rather than play bad cricket as a team," he reasoned.

"It is a very special series, we saw plenty of good performances from individuals in both the batting and bowling departments."

Asked about Virender Sehwag being off-colour in the Test series, Dhoni answered," Everybody looks to perform and give his 100 percent. But there is no guarantee for performance. We are not worried about the performance till attitude is right.

We feel as a member of the

Praful elected AFC member AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JAN 6

AIFF president, Praful M Patel was elected member of AFC Executive Committee from South Central Zone at the elections at AFC Congress in Doha on Thursday. Patel got 26 votes in his favour.

Indian team in Doha AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JAN 6

team, he also contributed."

Enjoying the game is key to success feels Dhoni.

"I enjoyed playing cricket, that's what is most important.

More often, you do the same thing. Every time you get ready for a game that is filled with pressure because of the kinds of teams we play – Australia, now in SA. You get mentally drained.

"But it's always good to play against South Africa. They have done really well against us. It was a good contest, feels good that we have done well as a team."

Asked about the stiff competition between India, South Africa, England and Australia, he said, "Top 4 teams fighting for the spot....Just have to see it's good for international Test cricket if top three or four are very close. Next year, when we go to England, it will be among the top three sides.

It’s good for Test cricket and makes it further interesting."

Dhoni also praised Gautam Gambhir for coming out to bat despite injury.

"We saw the Napier innings which is very special. Knew he is one guy who can do that. It was good to see him take the good heavy blows and continue.

Needs plenty of courage to do that. Happy because the team really needed that and one do the individuals stepped up."

The Indian senior National football team arrived in Doha for the AFC Asian Cup 2011. The coveted championship kicks off tomorrow with hosts, Qatar taking on Uzbekistan in a Group A league match at Khalifa Stadium.

Indian will have their first practice session at Al Wakrah Stadium on Friday at 1230 hours.

India begin their campaign against Australia on January 10 which will be played at Al Saad Stadium at IST 1845 hoursd, while the men-in-blue’s next encounter will be against Bahrain at the same venue which will be played at IST 2145 hours.

South Korea will be India’s last opponents in the group stage and the match will be played at Al Gharafa Stadium at IST 1845 hours.

Dicarpale up HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 6

Dicarpale SC beat Navelim SC 4-1 via the tie-breaker in all-Goa inter-village football for Romeo memorial cup at Santa Cruz ground on Thursday. There was no score at full time.

Bonny Niasso, William Niasso, Sidney Furtado, Perry Rocha scored for Dicarpale. Sanford Cardoso netted for Navelim.

BAFF ahead HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JAN 6

Somesh Gawas netted five times as BAFF thumped Saligao Sporting Club 18-0 in GFA’s U-16 league at Bicholim ground on Thursday. BAFF led 7-0 at the lemon break.

Devesh Raut scored four, Gopi Gad and Gaurav Gawas scored three each and Shubam Mandrekar scored a brace. Sitesh Chopdekar also netted for BAFF.

Orlim win

HERALD CORRESOPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 6

Popular English HS, Goa Velha, which won a gold, three silver and a bronze at State level athletic meet at PJN Stadium, Fatorda. Nutan Kankonkar claimed a gold in high jump and a silver medal in triple jump. Dadapir Mestri won a silver in 5km walk while Ruksana Talikate and Namita Kankonkar grabbed a silver and a bronze in 3km walk. The athletes alongwith C R Hukkeri (headmaster) and Dilesh Gadekar (PE teacher).

Orlim Sports Club trounced Young Strikers, Benaulim 5-0 in GFA Under-14 league at Orlim ground, on Thursday. There was no score at half time.

After the barren first half, Orlim outplayed their opponents with striker Nash Pereira striking twice. Lionel Caldeira, Megan Cardozo and Jollan Colaco scored one goal each.

Velanie Fernandes, a student of St. Mary's High School, Ponda (daughter of Xavier Fernandes and Maria Fernandes) being felicitated by Home Minister, Ravi Naik for having played for India in U-13 football festival in Colombo. She has been selected for the U-16 football team to tour Jordan. She represented Goa in U-15 football tournament in Uttarakhand.

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Pg16 India, Proteas share honours GOA, FRIDAY, 7 JANUARY, 2011

Chelsea slump deepens, Arsenal held by Man City Pg 13

Raia rally to hold Margao 1-1 Pg 14

SPORTS

If target was 260, India had chances: Dhoni Pg 15

Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

www.oheraldo.in

Graeme Smith and Mahendra Singh Dhoni pose for photo with the trophy after the fifth day of the third and final Test at Newlands Stadium in Cape Town on Thursday.

PTI CAPE TOWN, JAN 6

Set a daunting target of 340 for a win, India opted to play safe and bat their way to a draw in the third and final cricket Test against South Africa to end the high-profile series 1-1 here today.

The Indians never made an effort to chase down the stiff

target and the batsmen played out time to crawl to 166 for three in their second innings before play was called off to mark the end of a fascinating three-match series.

Although the Indians could not achieve their dream of a maiden away series win over South Africa, it was a creditable achievement for the visitors as

they drew a Test series for the first time on the African soil.

The result also meant that India maintained their number one ranking.

The visitors lost the first Test in Centurion by an innings and 25 runs but showed great character to bounce back and win the second Test in Durban by 87 runs.

The Indians could have entertained hopes of going for the target had Virender Sehwag (11) fired but the dashing opener fell cheaply to end the series without too may runs to his credit.

Gautam Gambhir defied an elbow injury and played a resolute knock of 64 to be the highest scorer in the second innings.

Sachin Tendulkar (14) and VVS Laxman (32) were at the crease when play was called off after 82 overs.

The engrossing series between the two top ranked teams in the world will be remembered for Tendulkar's historic 50th Test century and the batting heroics of Jacques Kallis who scored three centuries.

Faced with the stiff target, the two Indian openers Gambhir and Sehwag adopted a cautious approach and were more content in playing out the new ball without taking too many risks.

Both the South African pacemen Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel got some movement and bounce from the fifth day track at the Newlands. Some of the balls rose alarmingly but the two batsmen managed to get themselves out of the way.

In the ver y second over, Gambhir needed some on-field treatment after being hit by Morkel's first delivery. The ball bounced sharply outside off stump and hit him on the elbow.

Both Sehwag and Gambhir were prompt to despatch the loose deliveries to the boundary, both Morkel and Lonwabo Tsotsobe being given that treatment.

Sehwag, who has not been among the runs right through the series, got a reprieve when he went for a cut and the ball just eluded the outstretched hands of substitute fielder J P Duminy at the point region.

But Sehwag could not capitalise on that chance and returned to the pavilion soon after, falling prey to Morkel who tested on his patience.

Sehwag leaned forward to defend a delivery which straightened after pitching and only succeeded in edging the ball to captain Graeme Smith in first slip.

The umpire checked whether it was a no ball from the third umpire and ultimately ruled the batsman out much to the jubilation of the home crowd.

Dravid, who joined the action after Sehwag's dismissal, was quite content in defending following which India's runrate fell sharply.

Resuming at the lunch score of 53 for one, both Gambhir and Dravid played cautiously and were just content in playing out time.

Barring the occasional aggressive shot, the two batsmen defended most of the balls and restrained from playing any strokes to the deliveries going outside the stumps.

Gambhir, who had scored 93 in the first innings, notched up

his 16th half century when he cut Dale Steyn to the point boundary shortly after the lunch break.

With the experienced Jacques Kallis not on the field because of a rib injury, South African captain Smith bowled a few overs himself to make up for the loss of the fifth bowler.

Spinner Paul Harris got a few balls to jump from the rough and both the batsmen had to face a few anxious moments.

South Africa: 362 and 341 India 1st innings: 364 all out India 2nd innings: Gautam Gambhir c Boucher b Steyn 64, Virender Sehwag c Smith b Morkel 11, Rahul Dravid c Prince b Tsotsobe 31, Sachin Tendulkar not out 14, VVS Laxman not out 32. Extras: 14. Total: 166 for 3.

Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-106, 3-120. Bowling: Dale Steyn 18-6-43-1, M Morkel 15-6-26-1, L Tsotsobe 134-29-1, P Harris 30-19-29-0, G Smith 4-0-27-0, A Petersen 2-0-5-0. Man-of-the-Match/Series: Jacques Kallis.

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