OHERALDO
Pg7
GOA
GOA, TUESDAY, 12 APRIL, 2011
‘Unseasonal rains have not affected crops’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 11
The Agriculture department today claimed that unseasonal rains that lashed Goa on Sunday evening have not affected the crops in the State. “There are no complaints of crop loss as of now. But if the rains persist, then crops are likely to suffer damages,” agriculture director Satish Tendulkar said. The State experienced unexpected heavy showers along the Western Ghats and its foothills in Sattari, Sanguem and Canacona, apart from other places. Interestingly, paddy cultivation which is largely carried out in these areas is not af-
fected a bit. Tendulkar confirmed that paddy cultivation in Quepem, Sanguem, Ponda and Valpoi are almost getting ready for harvesting. “Neither rains nor pest or disease outbreak has been reported during the pest surveillance inspection. The crop is healthy,” the director said. Similarly, vegetables, and fruit bearing trees including mango and cashew also escaped rain damage. Agriculture experts say that mango and cashew crop is in fruiting stage and crop production has just started. It may be recalled that the rains witnessed in October 2009
Met office predicts more rain HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 11
The thundershowers that took everyone by surprise on Sunday evening are likely to reoccur during next couple of days, officials said on Monday. Indian Meteorological Observatory Goa in-charge K V Singh said that the thundershowers that hit the State were due to upper air circulation in Marathwada to Karnataka region. He said that the phenomenon continues and now it is between Lakshadweep to Konkan region. As per the data on IMD’s website, Goa reported one cm rain
on Sunday evening. Singh said that for next two to three days it might rain in the State. “It may not be continuous and may rain alternate days”, he added. For next 24 hours, the Department has predicted light rain or thundershowers in some parts of the State. The minimum and maximum temperatures which were 34 and 25 degree Celsius have now dropped a little to 33 and 24 degrees Celsius in the State. Singh said that the humidity has also increased resulting in uneasiness.
34-yr-old seriously hurt in Chicalim mishap
The damaged taxi at Chicalim. HERALD REPORTER VASCO, APRIL 11
A 34-year-old man from Chicalim was seriously injured in a headon collision between two vehicles near Chicalim slope on Monday afternoon. According to Vasco Police, the victim has been identified as Damodar Redkar. The accident occurred when Redkar, who was proceeding towards Chicalim on his Pulsar motorcycle (GA-06-11-1758), collided against black and yellow taxi (GA-03-K-3058), which was proceeding from the opposite direction.
Photo by M Prabhav
The taxi driver claimed that he was slightly outside middle of the road but he was very slow when the accident occurred. “The oncoming motorcycle rammed against the taxi. The victim sustained grievous head injury,” said taxi driver Mohan Mavlankar (59) from Mapusa. Vasco Police informed that the victim, who sustained grievous head injuries, was rushed to a nearby private hospital, where he is undergoing treatment. Vasco Police have registered a case of accident and detained the taxi driver.
Barcem VP to oppose ashram project HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, APRIL 11
The special Gram Sabha of Barcem-Khedem Panchayat on Sunday resolved to oppose the proposed ashram project at Nadalle-Gokuldem in Quepem taluka. Claiming that all the activities at the project site are suspicious, the Gram Sabha unanimously passed a resolution stating that they “don’t want the ashram in the village”. The villagers stated that except for applications requesting for NOC to construct road and temporary bamboo huts, bathrooms, farm houses and digging of well and supply of electricity till Sunday, the ashram officials had not submitted any plans or documents to the panchayat. “Further, the caretaker of the ashram property has been threatening the locals and filing bogus police complaints against the villagers. The ashram officials had also made allegation against the sarpanch for demanding bribe of Rs 60 lakh. The villagers don’t want the ashram in our village,” voiced the villagers. The panchayat secretary informed the villagers that the Gram Sabha held on February 27, 2011, had taken a resolution that till detailed project report and plan are placed before the Gram Sabha, panchayat should not issue any NOC to construction of the ashram. “Till Sunday, no plans and other documents are submitted to the panchayat by the ashram officials,” informed the panchayat secretary. “The property caretakers are
threatening the villagers, who visit there for their day-to-day agricultural activity. Besides, his agents are filing bogus cases against the villagers,” claimed Soiru Velip, a resident. Velip also showed the diagrams and plan about the project, which was uploaded on the internet. Prabhakar Velip said: “Activities are going on at the site without taking permissions from the panchayat. We suspect that it may be some kind of terrorist activities. Therefore, police should keep a watch on these activities.”
had hit the cashew cultivation. Cashew trees began flowering in September 2009 when the month was dry, but, ceaseless rainfall in the later month damaged the flower before it could mature. While cashew plantation is more in hilly areas like Sanguem, Canacona, Quepem and Sattari, mango plantation is more seen in Tiswadi, Ponda and some parts of Salcette talukas.
Meanwhile, the area under vegetables cultivation, according to the Information Department, has shown a marginal increase especially in crops like watermelon, brinjal, chillies, radish, etc.