log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2024 page 6 Thousands of settlers from Upper Ghats plan pilgrimage to Old Goa ‘NRIs worried over govt’s proposed takeover of private properties’ IN SHORT >> Cine Lata now turns into banquet space MARGAO: Margao’s oldest and perhaps one of Goa’s oldest cinema theatres, Cine Lata will no longer screen films. Instead, Cine Lata, which once catered to the entertainment needs of Madgavkars in particular and Saxttikars in general, will now play host to banquets in the commercial capital.  >> See pg 2 Phase-III market plan to be modified PANAJI: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) may have gone through, despite the hurdles posed by litigation, with its plan to bulldoze to rubble the old market edifice adjacent to the fish market to build the new market's phase III but ownership issues may now force it to modify the architectural design and construction plans.  >> See pg 3 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 142 PANAJI Under a unique self-sustainable model, realty firm NBCC (India) Limited-National Buildings Construction Corporation, has taken up redevelopment projects worth Rs 10,000 crore from the Goa government, without any budgetary support from the State. The State government and NBCC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for carrying out various development, redevelopment works in the coastal State that would be taken up in phased manner, starting with six projects at an estimated value of Rs 1,700 crore. Sources said that while the government will not be spending any amount on the projects, it will grant necessary authorization, to NBCC to THE SIX PROJECTS FOR REDVELOPEMNT „„Junta House currently housing several government offices to be redeveloped into a commercial establishment „„Government Garage at MG Road will be developed into a commercial space that includes offices and a hotel „„New administrative building to come up at Porvorim „„Circuit house and hotel at Altinho „„Govt quarters at St Inez to be demolished and redeveloped „„MoU is to ensure optimum utilization of government assets while generating maximum revenue to the State „„Vacant & underutilized lands, as well as dilapidated buildings to be revitalised raise loan from financial institutions/banks to meet the initial expenditure, if required, by mortgaging land parcels which shall be repaid from the monetization revenue. “The basic aim of the MoU is to ensure optimum utilization of the government assets while generating maximum revenue to the State,” sources said. The government has granted in-principle approval for NBCC to execute six projects namely, redevelopment of Junta House, located at 18th June Road and currently housing several government offices, into a commercial establishment. The Government Junta House Panaji WEATHER >> Max: 34.8 C Min: 23.7 C Humidity: 72% TIDES Low: High: 10:42 04:34 22:01 15:13 „„Mini Convention Centre at Patto proposed as commercial project GOVT’S BASIC AIM Trump's sons to launch 6 luxury towers in India PTI PANAJI: A day after ANC sleuths arrested a Russian DJ for alleged possessing for drugs including liquid ecstasy, officials claimed GHP is the first seizure in Goa. The woman DJ, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested from a rented premises at Keri-Pernem where 337g of liquid ecstasy and 33.16g of ganja, besides Rs 16.88 lakh cash were recovered.  >> See pg 3 PANAJI: Nearly 400 kg expired and substandard cashew nuts have been seized from 3 shops in the Calangute beach belt by Food and Drugs Administration. FDA officials said an FIR will be filed against the shop owners. Misleading and false information carrying labels have also been seized from the shops. Samson’s century powers India to 61-run win against Proteas TO KICK OFF WITH 6 PROJECTS IN PANAJI; MoU SIGNED THE GOAN I NETWORK TRAFFIC TURMOIL: A massive traffic jam witnessed at Porvorim on Friday. Commuters faced significant delays due to the ongoing work on the new flyover causing frustration among drivers and passengers alike.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Abandoned vehicles to be auctioned, owners get 6 mths to submit claims THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The North Goa District Magistrate's Office has announced plans to auction unclaimed vehicles to free up parking spaces and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds. In a proclamation issued recently, the office has called upon persons with an interest in any abandoned or unattended vehicles located in Bardez and Tiswadi to submit their claims within six months to the respective Deputy Collector and Sub-Divisional Magistrate offices. It stated that if no objections/claims are received within the stipulated time, the vehicles shall be forfeited in favour of the State Government and shall be disposed by public auction as provided under the law. No further claims will be entertained from anyone and the proceeds shall be forfeited to the government. >Continued on P5 Pg14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 `10,000 cr plan outlined to redefine infrastructure Russian DJ arrested for GHP possession 400 kg cashew nuts seized at Calangute Instagram.com/thegoanonline NEW DELHI Founder of Tribeca Developers, Kalpesh Mehta, on Friday said that the Trump juniors -- Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump -- will visit India in early next year to launch iconic 'Trump Tower' projects. The project launches are expected between March and June, said Kalpesh Mehta, who is Trump Organisation's real estate partner in India. Mehta said they will develop six more Trump Towers in India, one each in Mumbai, Pune, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Noida. There are at present four such high-rise luxury Trump properties, one each in Mumbai, Pune, Gurgaon and Kolkata. With six more launches in the coming months, India will have the highest number of such high-rise Trump towers, surpassing the United States. Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump are sons of US President-elect Donald Trump. Mehta said they signed the deal at a cocktail party in the US, which is when Trump's real estate business entered India. Garage, located at MG RoadPanaji will be also developed into a commercial space that includes offices and a hotel. A new administrative building at Porvorim, redevelopment of circuit house and hotel at Altinho and demolition and redevelopment of government quarters at St. Inez. A mini Convention Centre at Patto is also proposed as a commercial project. NBCC will also be responsible for feasibility study and funding for redevelopment of Vasco bus stand. “The total plot area of these six projects is around 53,000 sq mts, with a built-up area of approximately 1,85,000 sq mts. The State government would also retain a portion of built-up area in these projects after meeting the project >Continued on P5 School mandatory for children of migrant workers EDU DEPT ORDERS LABOUR CONTRACTORS TO SUBMIT PROOF TO COLLECTORS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Directorate of Education has made it mandatory for labour contractors, working in Goa, to ensure that children of migrant workers, below the age of 14, are admitted to schools and as a proof a declaration has to be submitted to the District Collectors. The department has sent a letter to the Commissioner of Labour and Employment, urging them to ensure that the labour contractor takes responsibility for enrolling the children, under the age of 14, of migrant workers employed under them, into a nearby school. “Labour contractor shall give a declaration to Office of the Collector that, school going children i.e. below 14 years are admitted in a nearby school with proof of ad- EDU FOR ALL „„This initiative will help the State decrease the number of Out-ofSchool Children, which refers to those who are either not enrolled in school or have dropped out before finishing elementary education. mission or give a declaration that there is no family having school going children working under them,” the department said. The department stated that this initiative will assist the State in reducing the number of Out of School Children, defined as those who are either not enrolled in any school or have dropped out before >Continued on P5 Property feud turns violent; father, son brutally beaten TWO ARRESTED, POLICE IDENTIFYING OTHERS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA In a disturbing incident, a senior citizen and his son, Mevilton Theodore, were brutally attacked in Chivar, Anjuna, over a property dispute. Police have arrested two men – Digambar Salkar (54) and Akhil Tekkekar (33), both residents of Mapusa – on charges of attempted murder, with further arrests likely as investigations proceed. A Mapusa court has remanded the duo to seven days police custody. According to Mevilton’s mother, Maria Theodore, her husband and son were attacked by around 20 individuals wielding wooden rafters and stones. She claims the attackers included bouncers hired by a man who appeared last year, claiming ownership of the property that she inherited and where her family has lived for over 57 years. “This person came with bouncers and brutally beat my son and husband. This is a very serious issue, and I demand justice,” Maria said, ANJUNA PROPERTY DISPUTE „„Wife of senior citizen claims husband and son attacked by around 20 individuals with wooden rafters & stones „„She says attackers included bouncers who brutally beat her son and husband „„They have been claiming ownership of property that she inherited and urging authorities to address the involvement of “goons” in illegal property activities. Maria added that this was not the first time her family faced threats. She had previously lodged complaints with the police, seeking protection against what she described as attempts to seize her property. In response, North Goa Superintendent of Police (SP) Akshat Kaushal clarified that the incident stemmed from a clash between two groups over the property dispute. where her family has lived for over 57 years THE FLIP SIDE: POLICE SAY „„North Goa SP clarifies the incident stemmed from a clash between two groups over a property dispute „„He says both sides are claiming ownership and that the court will ultimately decide the legal status of the property “On the complaint of Mevilton Theodore, we have registered an offence against Bruno D’Souza (92) and others under Sections 189 (1), 191 (2), 109, and 190 of the BNS Act. Last evening, two individuals were arrested,” Kaushal stated. He added that Salkar, one of the accused, admitted to being a friend of Bruno D’Souza, who allegedly asked him to mediate in the dispute. Both Mevilton and his >Continued on P5 Probably the most trolled Road mishaps decline, but specter of fatalities still lingers judge, says outgoing CJI `11.35 cr earned through penalties THE GOAN I NETWORK PTI NEW DELHI Outgoing Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday said his shoulders are broad enough to accept all criticism as he believed in transparency in public life and the dogma that “sunlight is the best disinfectant”. Justice Chandrachud, who is the 50th CJI, also said he is probably one of the most trolled individuals and judges across the system. The CJI made these remarks on his last working day in office. Justice Chandrachud stepped into the shoes of his illustrious father Y V Chandrachud, who served as the longest CJI between 1978 and 1985, on November 9, 2022 and Friday was his last working day as he would superannuate on November 10, a Sunday. “I just wanted to tell you that some of the changes we have made were in pursuance of my strong belief that sunlight is the best disinfectant. I know in so many which ways I've exposed my own personal life to public knowledge. When you expose your own life to public knowledge, you expose yourself to criticism, particularly in today's age of social media”, he said. PANAJI he State saw a drop in accidents yet road fatalities have shown no improvement. Official figures indicate that the total number of accidents fell by 9.75 per cent -- from 2,144 in 2023 to 1,935 in 2024 – and a marginal decrease in grievous and minor injuries. As per the data for January to September 2024, available with The Goan, the number of challans issued surged for serious traffic offenses consisting of 49,518 issued for dangerous parking; 26,517 for helmetless riding; 14,161 for over-speeding; and 3,790 for T Cops gear up for major events, to beef up security PANAJI: With the upcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI), exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier, Christmas, and New Year celebrations, Goa’s Traffic Department is taking proactive measures to manage the expected surge in traffic during the peak tourist season. As lakhs of tourists are expected in the State -- adding to the local population -- the department is expected to include 400 personnel from across police stations for these events. drunken driving -- nearly three times the count of last year’s corresponding period. The Jan-Sept 2023 period saw 29,676 penalties for “We are drawing up a strategic deployment plan to ensure smoother traffic flow across the State. Around 500 staff will be posted during the Exposition, 300 will be deployed at key locations for IFFI and further personnel will be deployed across other points to handle the traffic situations. We will add the total staff strength,” DySP (North) Traffic Sudesh Narvekar told The Goan. Home Guards are also expected to supplement the department’s manpower. helmetless riding, 8,767 for over-speeding and 1,293 for drunken driving. DySP Traffic (North) Sudesh Narvekar stated these three offenses are major contributors to accidents. “Regular enforcement drives, especially over weekends, have recorded a noticea- PANAJI: The Transport Department has issued over 1.25 lakh challans in the last 17 months, generating Rs 11.35 crores through penalties. As per the official data from June 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024, the department through AI cameras installed at 10 strategic locations, issued challans to violators for over-speeding, helmetless riding, jumping traffic signals, talking while riding/driving, etc. Maximum challans were issued for offenses along with Goa University Road followed by Porvorim, Bambolim, Caranzalem, etc. ble improvement in adherence to traffic rules. People are abiding by the road discipline also to avoid hefty penalties,” he said, speaking to The Goan. The overall challans saw an almost 20 percent drop – from 4,08,310 from Jan-Sept 2023 to 3,27,251 during the corresponding period this year. However, fatal accident figures remain virtually unchanged. From Jan-September 2024, 207 fatal accidents led >Continued on P5