log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2024 page 7 Monstrance taken in procession in Karachi after over 50 years UK Goan photographer bags prestigious BPA honour IN SHORT >> Attempts still being made to convert tribal people: CM BICHOLIM: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday raised concern over what he called were “continuing attempts” at religious conversions especially among tribals through faith healing practices in Goa. Sawant who was speaking at the event to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, said such illegal practices will not be tolerated in the State.   >> See pg 3 CBI raid: Accused demanded bribe PANAJI: A day after a government official was arrested for bribery in a dramatic chase; preliminary investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation’s Anti-Corruption Branch has revealed that Pankaj Kumar of the Income Tax Department’s Accounts Office allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 2 lakh to process long pending bills.   >> See pg 3 Marginal rise in dengue cases PANAJI: Just 69 positive cases of dengue were reported in the month of October. Data from DHS cell monitoring the National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme reveals that numbers for January-October period this year was marginally higher than what it was in the same period last year.  >> See pg 5 Rain hampers paddy harvesting PANAJI: The unseasonal rains currently being witnessed in Goa have caused some level of discomfort to the State’s farming community which is in the process of wrapping up the harvesting operations.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 33.2 C Min: 24.4 C Humidity: 74% TIDES Low: High: 04:38 16:45 10:01 23:50 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 149 Instagram.com/thegoanonline India beats South Africa by 135 runs to seal T20 seriesPg14 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Porvorim turns danger zone n TRAFFIC SNARLS, CLOUDS OF DUST GREET MOTORISTS ON ROAD n PEDESTRIANS STRUGGLE n RESIDENTS WANT QUICK ACTION MAPUSA: The PWD National Highway authorities have clarified that the iconic banyan tree at Porvorim, revered for its religious significance, will not be felled but translocated with utmost care, following all required protocols. Speaking on the matter, a PWD official stated, “We have consulted the local priest and requested him to suggest a suitable location for the tree’s translocation. However, no suggestions have been received yet. Due to space constraints in the area, we will have to move the tree to another location.” THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The ongoing construction of the six-lane elevated corridor between Sangolda junction and the Porvorim mall has turned the stretch into a hazardous zone, causing severe inconvenience to motorists and pedestrians. Constant traffic snarls and thick clouds of dust have become a daily ordeal, with the problem worsening during peak hours from 8 am to 11 am. Key trouble spots include the areas near Dr Pinto Rosario Hospital, the mall, Shivaji Statue junction and Acdil school. Motorists and pedestrians navigating the 6-kilometer highway report dangerous conditions, with numerous accidental falls being reported daily.  TESTING TIME: Vehicles gridlocked near Damian de Goa, Porvorim. (Right) Slippery road conditions along a stretch in Porvorim. “There is absolutely no space for pedestrians to walk in some areas. Schoolchildren and senior citizens, in particular, are facing immense hardship. This stretch is a vital link for commuters heading to Panaji and needs urgent attention,” said Oswald Pinto, a resident of Penha de França. Adding to the woes, the contractors’ measures to control dust pollution – spraying water on the road – have created slippery and uneven surfaces. “The mud and gravel on untarred roads make the After-party high-speed car chase proves fatal for six SUV roof torn, heads of two severed AGENCIES DEHRADUN A party, a high-speed car chase and a grisly collision summarise the events that led to the death of six friends in Dehradun. The Toyota Innova that was reduced to a mangled mess after the accident was allegedly racing with a BMW at a speed of more than 100 km/hour moments before it rammed a truck. During the chase, the SUV with seven on board -- all under 25 -- approached the ONGC intersection but didn’t slow down, according to sources. When the truck appeared on the road and was almost through the intersection, the car rear-ended it. The police have yet to comment on the chase angle but they confirmed that the car was seen speeding in the last 500-700 meters before the accident. The impact was such that it tore off the roof of the SUV and the heads of two of the victims. The others were found PWD assures to translocate banyan tree amid concerns The mangled remains of the Toyota Innova after it rammed a truck in Dehradun. crushed inside the damaged cars with some body parts scattered around the road. The victims were identified as Kunal Kukreja (23), Atul Agrawal (24), Rishabh Jain (24), Navya Goel (23), Kamakshi (20), and Guneet (19). The five of them were Dehradun residents. Kukreja was from Himachal Pradesh. A few unverified videos showed the victims drinking. The only survivor of the accident, Siddhesh Agrawal (25), allegedly hosted the party to celebrate his new car. He has been admitted to the Synergy Hospital in the city and is in critical condition. The bodies of the students and the injured were taken out by cutting the cars The victims are said to be students of a private college. The police are yet to ascertain where they were travelling to and if they were drunk. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who was on a visit to Uttarkashi and Rudraprayag, expressed grief at the loss of lives in the accident. stretch uneven and unsafe, especially for two-wheeler riders. The slippery conditions are an accident waiting to happen,” Pinto added. Local residents have also criticized the lack of adequate warning markers or signboards to alert commuters about ongoing construction hazards. “There’s no consistency in how the road works are managed. It’s like a maze with no signs to guide you,” said Nikhil Naik, a motorist who regularly uses the stretch. The High Court of Bombay at Goa recently directed the concerned agencies to prioritize road repair work, emphasizing public safety. However, residents say there has been no visible improvement. “We understand the need for development, but the authorities must ensure basic safety measures are in place. The current situation is unacceptable,” said Pinto, urging authorities to expedite repairs and streamline traffic man- >> See pg 3 agement. “This elevated corridor is meant to improve our lives, but at what cost? The authorities must remember that people’s safety should always come first,” emphasized John Rodrigues, a senior citizen. Until then, the Porvorim highway remains a treacherous journey for thousands, highlighting the urgent need for effective planning and execution during infrastructure development. Board seeks info on Std IX students absent for first semester exams THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has officially requested information regarding all Class IX students who did not attend the first semester examinations, which were conducted from October 24. The Goa Board has issued a circular to the Heads of Secondary Schools, requesting them to submit details of students who were unable to attend the examinations due to medical reasons, participation in sports events, or other valid circumstances. All schools are required to complete and submit the necessary details online by November 20. Following implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) for Grade 9 from this academic term, the Goa Board conducts the semester examinations, which are split into two -- one held in October and second scheduled in April, 2025.  The board is seeking these details to understand the reasons behind the absenteeism and to ensure that appropriate measures are taken. SACRED MOMENT: A young devotee receives ‘prasad’ during the Guru Nanak Jayanti celebration at Betim on Friday. On this day, devotees honour the founder of Sikhism with an ‘Akhand Path’ and pay tribute to his teachings.  Narayan Pissurlenkar Godfather, godmother will all be arrested, assures minister THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Speaking for the first time on the jobs-for-cash scandal, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik, who represents Ponda which is the epicentre of police investigation, on Friday said “strong action” has already been taken and that the “godfather” and “godmother” will JOBS-FOR-CASH SCAM also land in the police dragnet very soon. “Strong action is already being taken. So many arrests have been made. The ‘godfather’ and ‘godmother’ will also be nabbed,” Naik said when media persons asked him to comment on the scan- dal playing out in the State. More jobs-for-cash cases on Friday came to light with the Bicholim police registering a case against a man from Sattari for duping some persons to the tune of Rs 21.5 lakh on the pretext of providing government jobs. Cases were also registered in Vasco and in Bardez for similar offences. 15-day deadline to link Monsoon mystery: Climate change fuels year-round rainfall in Goa Aadhaar & ration card RAIN, RAIN, HERE TO STAY THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a final ultimatum, Goa government has directed all beneficiaries of public distribution system (PDS) to link their ration cards with Aadhaar, within 15 days, failing which their entries from the PDA system would be deleted. The department of civil supply and consumer affairs, in a statement issued on Friday has asked beneficiaries to comply with the instructions and get their Aadhaar cards linked with Ration Cards. “The PDS beneficiaries are informed to visit their respective fair price shop and complete their e-KYC process within the next 15 days. In the events of non-compliance, their entries from the ration card data shall be liable for suspension without further notice,” the department said. The exercise for conducting e-KYC of PDS beneficiaries was initiated in August, last year. “Despite reaching out to PDS beneficiaries, it is observed that many did not turn up at fair price shops to complete e-KYC,” the dept said. According to the department, of the total 10.72 lakh beneficiaries, only 50 per cent that is 5.26 lakh beneficiaries have completed their e-KYC as on date. PANAJI onsoon patterns in India have become increasingly unpredictable and erratic in recent years, and Goa is no exception. The coastal State, of late, has experienced rainfall every month from this calendar year with existing cyclonic circulation and low pressure area, expected to bring in more rains for the State. The alteration has been mainly driven by the accelerating rate of climate change. It was in 2021, when Goa set the record of receiving rainfall in the entire calendar year -- January to December -- and the trend continued thereafter M „„This year, southwest monsoon -- June to September -- behaved in a peculiar fashion „„Without any remote force such as El Nino or La Nina, rainfall was excess over Indian subcontinent and Goa too „„Present trend of monsoon across all months can be attributed to climate change „„There have been instances where rainfall was recorded in Goa for 22 consecutive months „„This season recorded the highest rainfall of 4400.7 mm (173.25 inches) „„Post monsoon currents are active till with State receiving 101 per cent excess rains from October till date „„Total rainfall recorded as on date is 374.6 mm as against the normal 185.9 mm. (According to former NIO scientist Dr Ramesh Kumar) with some or the other rain gauge recording showers in all 12 months. This year too, the pre-mon- soon season starting from March, followed by the monsoon season till September and the post-monsoon season in October-November is experiencing rainfall activities along with thunderstorms and lightening. According to a study ‘Decoding India’s Changing Monsoon Patterns: A Tehsil-level Assessment’, by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) there has been a statistically significant increasing trend in the Northeast Monsoon rainfall along the tehsils of Goa and Maharashtra on the west coast since 2021. “This increase could partially be attributed to the cyclonic activities in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal,” the study said. This year too, as per IMD Goa, there exists a cyclonic circulation along Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea and low pressure area in southwest region, bringing in rainfall for the State. Recently, National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) Director Prof Sunil Kumar had attributed the increased incessant rainfall activities to the climate change. “Climate change has started showing its impact by way of extended monsoon periods in Goa, excessive rainfall, above normal rainfall….,” he had said. Former NIO scientist Dr Ramesh Kumar said that North east monsoon phenomenon had set over peninsular India, the day monsoon withdrew from the Indian subcontinent. “Cyclonic circulation in the South-eastern Arabian Sea is a reason why we see rainfall post monsoon season,” he >Continued on P5