log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2024 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO.125 Not frazzled by locomotor disability, challenges are life for this sportsman IN SHORT >> Tourist found dead in Calangute hotel, companion critical MAPUSA: A tourist from Karnataka was found dead in a hotel room in Calangute, while his female companion remains in critical condition, in what police preliminarily suspect to be a case of suicide. According to North Goa SP Akshat Kaushal, the deceased, identified as 45-year-old Mahesh Suntnure from Bidar-Karnataka, was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan. His companion, 25-year-old Sonali, also from Bidar, was found with a severe wrist injury and has been hospitalised in a critical condition.  >> See pg 5 Two panchayats declared TB free PANAJI: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Monday announced that under the ‘TB Mukt Panchayat’ initiative, Usgao and Shiroda village panchayats became the first in the State to be free from tuberculosis. He said that the collective approach is a part of the State’s larger goal to eliminate TB, as the Centre sets a 2025 deadline for the same.  >> See pg 3 Tourism season yet to start at Dudhsagar PONDA: Efforts to start the tourism season at the famed Dudhsagar Waterfalls at Collem on Monday failed to get underway, as jeep operators affiliated to the Dudhsagar Tour Operators Association refused to start operations unless the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) closes its counter.   >> See pg 5 Goa 5th in freezing fiscal fraud funds PANAJI: The Cyber Crime Cell on Monday claimed that Goa ranks 5th in the country in terms of the percentage of the lien amount involved in total financial fraud reported last month.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 32.5C Min: 24.1 C Humidity: 97% TIDES Low: High: 07.56 02.27 20.02 13.03 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 2 3 14 11 Centre puts `4 crore subsidy for Sawant: Govt jobs cannot be got fair price shop dealers on hold by paying bribes GOA Ex-cricketer show-caused by GCZMA for constructing road in violation of CRZ >> See pg 3 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Private University: Halarnkar puts ball in govt’s court, criticizes opponents SPORTS INFO Carlsen to headline next month’s Tata Steel Chess India Simple tips to reduce portions and lose weight ...AS GOA YET TO INITIATE DOORSTEP DELIVERY OF FOOD GRAINS TO FPS Tells youth not to fall prey to fraudsters THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa government’s delay to take up doorstep delivery of food grains to the Fair Price Shops (FPS) across the State has forced the Central government to keep on hold nearly Rs 4 crore commission cum subsidy of 450 FPS dealers under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKY) for over a year now. The Directorate of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, confirms that the proposal, under the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) is in the final stage of implementation. Reeling under financial burden, several hundred FPS dealers have proposed to close down their distribution system and have already approached the government with the same. In a bid to alleviate Compensation scheme for fair price shop dealers on cards PANAJI: In a bid to strengthen the financial position of the 450 fair price shop (FPS) operators, the department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs has proposed a special ‘Compensation to FPS Dealers” scheme, under which an operating expense of Rs 9,500 per shop per month would be provided, apart from enhancing the margins per items. The scheme, that speaks about waiving of the ePoS rent at Rs 0.10 paisa per kg and adding an ePoS incentive at Rs 105 per ton will impose additional burden of over Rs 10 crore on the government. Dealers from North Goa held a meeting to discuss various aspects of the FPS system. >> See pg 3 Covid distress, the PMGK Anna Yojana was initially announced for a three-month period (April-June 2020) and was extended several times, with Central implementing a seventh phase that will continue for next five years from January 1, 2024. A senior official confirmed that under the scheme, free food grains are provided to the beneficiaries under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) households and Priority Households (PHH). FPS entitled to get commission of Rs 3 per kg of rice. “Under the National Food Security Act, it is mandatory Forensic testing of smuggled beef hits financial roadblock MEAT THAT IS BEING SMUGGLED UNDER GUISE OF ‘BUFFALO’ IS SUSPECTED TO BE OF BULLS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The seizure of 400 kg of beef at the Mollem check post early Monday morning has uncovered a clandestine smuggling operation with an even more disturbing revelation -- the meat being smuggled under the guise of ‘buffalo’ is allegedly from bulls, whose slaughter is banned in Karnataka and Maharashtra. Despite growing calls for forensic tests to verify the claims, the process remains stalled due to the State’s reluctance to bear Rs 15,000 cost per sample along with additional fees for sending them to the forensic lab in Hyderabad. Sources said that this financial burden appears to be the government’s main reason for inaction. “There have been several cases where activists have assisted the police and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services staff to intercept vehicles illegally transporting beef from neighbouring States. There are suspicions that what is being brought in is not beef, but bulls; slaugh- 400 kgs of meat seized at Mollem check post, two land in police net PANAJI: Collem police arrested two persons on charges of illegally transporting 400 kgs of meat at the Mollem check post on Monday. According to sources, police had stopped a car at the Mollem check post at about 7.30 am and found meat in the vehicle. The police got a team from the Collem Animal Conservation Centre to inspect the meat and it is believed that the animal was slaughtered on Saturday. Police then arrested Wahib Bepari and Gaus Nadaf, on charges of illegally transporting the meat from Belagavi to Goa and seized about 400 kgs of meat. Collem Police Inspector Raghoba Kamat is conducting further investigation in this matter. ter of which is prohibited in both Karnataka and Maharashtra where these cattle are worshipped,” a senior official at Secretariat told The Goan. “Rs 15,000 per sample test is expensive, which is why not a single test of the seized meat has been undertaken in the recent past,” he added. Sources further said that buffalos are legally slaughtered under hygienic conditions at the Goa Meat Complex (GMC) despite which there is dependence on the neighbouring States. “When these smuggled slaughtered animals are seized, it’s evident the slaughtering process was not hygienically carried out. In any case, if the beef is legally brought into Goa, why it is not processed at GMC where the slaughter of she-buffaloes is >Continued on P5 to have door-step-delivery of food grains to all FPS across all talukas. We are in the final stage of implementing it. Pending implementation, the Centre has not released Rs four crore financial support to FPS,” official said. Official admitted that delay in releasing the commission has forced many FPS dealers to face financial losses, as per them and hence they have written to the department requesting to allow closure of shops. The Department had in October, last year, invited bids to deliver the food grains at the door steps of the fair price shops; however, lack of response forced them to initiate a fresh process. As of now FPS owners used to lift the food grains from taluka godowns. The FPS operators in the past had even protested not to lift the quota claiming they are facing losses in the transportation and labour cost besides food grains handling cost. “We have already recommended to the government proposing to provide operational expenses to the tune of Rs 9,500 per FPS per month and this includes transportation cost too,” official said. PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that no bribes are the way for government jobs citing many youths fall prey to fraudsters. His comment comes a day after the arrest of Old Goa resident Pooja Naik alias Rupa Palkar by Mardol police. The 39-year-old, reportedly her fourth arrest, is charged with duping a local of Rs 14 lakh. Sawant also urged people not to fall prey to such fraudulent schemes, adding that Naik’s arrest was initiated on his directive. “Fraudsters are misleading job aspirants by claiming they can secure government jobs in exchange for money. When I learnt about her activities, I alerted the police. She has already been arrested four times before… No government job is obtained by paying a bribe,” he said. N early a month after the Goa Police transferred 704 personnel, the majority-an estimated 50-60 per cent -still sit at their outgoing posts. This has raised serious questions about whether Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s efforts to enforce transfers and ensure immediate relief are being taken seriously by the elite force. The Goan has credible information that the transfers, hailed as a routine shake-up of the constabulary to sub-inspectors ranks last month, appear to be little more than a paper exercise despite orders to move “with immediate effect.” What’s also shockingly true, many have been reshuffled to stations within the same sub-divisions or simply a stone’s throw „„Fraudsters are misleading job aspirants by claiming they can secure government jobs in exchange for money „„No government job is obtained by paying a bribe „„I don’t understand why people pay bribes to get jobs „„Don’t let these cheats deceive you “I don’t understand why people pay bribes to get jobs. Don’t let these cheats deceive you,” he advised job aspirants. Regarding the ongoing investigation into land fraud, the CM stated that the government will soon frame rules to reclaim no man’s land under the law. “It will happen soon,” he said. Cyclonic storm to hit Bengal, Odisha on Oct 23: IMD PTI NEW DELHI The low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal on Monday intensified and is likely to turn into a severe cyclonic storm by October 23 and reach the coasts adjoining Odisha and West Bengal the next day, bringing heavy rain in the two states for three days till Friday, the Met office said. Advising fishermen not to venture into the sea between October 23 and 25, the weathermen warned that wind speed is likely to reach 60 kilometres per hour (kmph) along and off the Odisha-West Bengal coasts from Wednesday and gradually increase to 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph, from October 24 night till October 25 morning. India Meteorological Department said, “the system is very likely to cross north Odisha and West Bengal coasts between Puri and Sagar Island during the night of October 24 and early morning October 25 as a severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of 100-110 kmph with gusting 120 kmph.” IMD has issued a red warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall and thunderstorm with lightning in Puri, Khurda, Ganjam districts of Odisha on October 24. PILLARS OF STRENGTH: Labourers engaged in the ongoing construction work of the new flyover bridge in Porvorim on Monday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Task Force inspects renovated KA, identifies sound, AC issues THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government constituted Task Force Committee conducted preliminary inspection of the renovated Kala Academy complex on Monday, wherein they came across issues related to sound system and air conditioners (ACs). The Committee will hold its first meeting on Tuesday to suggest necessary recom- mendations for improvement and upgradation of the iconic structure. The committee, headed by Theatre Artist Vijay Kenkre held the inspection to review the status of infrastructure work of the Kala Academy, whose renovation work has been mired with alleged corruption charges. Speaking to media persons post meeting, Kenkre said that during the preliminary A month after transfer orders, most cops yet to pack their bags VIBHA VERMA THE GOAN I PANAJI CM SPEAK FOOD FOR THOUGHT: CASES IN POINT „„Constable Chandan Tarale officially transferred from Special Branch (Panaji) to Panaji PS, managed to secure his posting at Secretariat instead „„Abhishek Parab transferred from Office of SP (North) Reader to Office of SP (North) Porvorim -- a mere formality with no actual relocation involved „„Mukesh Korgaonkar’s transfer from SP (North) Porvorim to Porvorim police station raises eyebrows, as both offices are in the same district headquarters „„In Canacona, four personnel swapped between Traffic Cell Canacona and the main police station, while another five transferred in the opposite direction from their previous postings.   For example, at least 50 per cent of the total personnel moved to and from Panaji police station are either stranded at their outgoing posts or yet to report to their new postings, as of Monday. A perplexing bureaucratic limbo hangs over the force as some officers have languished at the same station for years. One striking example: Constable Chandan Tarale, officially transferred from the Special Branch (Panaji) to Panaji PS, managed to secure his posting at the Secretariat instead. This administrative chaos is not confined to Panaji but across the State, as officials are shuffled within absurdly short distances. Take Abhishek Parab, for instance, who has been transferred from the Office of SP (North) Reader to the Office of SP (North) Porvorim -- a mere formality with no actual relocation involved. Similarly, Mukesh Korgaonkar’s transfer from SP (North) Porvorim to the Porvorim police station raises eyebrows, as both offices sit in the same district headquarters. Such reshuffling extends to transfers between Traffic units and Police Stations within the same area. In Canacona, four personnel were swapped between Traffic Cell Canacona and Director General of Police Alok Kumar confirmed that the transferred personnel will soon be relieved, saying “we are monitoring it” the main police station, while another five were transferred in the opposite direction. Margao and Colva too saw at least 8-10 officials traded between stations and traffic cells. In Ponda, around 25 personnel have been juggled internally with 13 transfers from traffic to the main police station and 12 moved the other way around. At the Panaji-Old Goa-Agassaim subdivision, about a dozen personnel are caught in a game of musical chairs. The situation is the same at PHQ – housing some important offices and GRP, Altinho wherein over 30 personnel bounced between nearby units including ATS Panaji, Special Branch, Security Unit, and State Police Control Room, Motor Transport Section, etc. The irony is glaring-- transfers that don’t change a thing except to expose the cracks in the system. The Goan recently spoke to Director General of Police Alok Kumar who confirmed that the transferred personnel will soon be relieved. “We are monitoring it,” he said. Another senior officer indicated that certain officials have not been relieved as they are either CCTV (or technical) experts, have good knowledge of crime records, probing important cases or are on leave. inspection, the committee observed issues related to sound system and functioning of ACs. “These are minor issues and can be rectified,” he said, adding that the committee will conduct more inspections in coming days to reach a concrete decision. “So far, we have not come across any major issues,” he added.   >Continued on P5