log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2024 page 6 Why do sales for Maruti Suzuki Ertiga keep getting stronger every year? REVIEW: The new Audi Q8: German excellence at its best IN SHORT >> Despite transfer, Sanjit retained as Smart City CEO PANAJI: The government has re-constituted the term of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), retaining IAS officer Sanjit Rodrigues as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director. Surprisingly, Rodrigues appointment comes despite his transfer to Ladakh. In September, the Union Home Ministry had issued transfer orders of IAS Sanjit Rodrigues along with two others. >> See pg 2 Zuari blast: Relief for ZACL officials PANAJI: In a major relief for five officials of Zuari Agro Chemicals in the 2022 blast case that claimed lives of 3 workers, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has quashed the chargesheet against them. The officials were charged for causing death by negligence.  >> See pg 5 Govt optimistic on ESA list outcome PANAJI: As the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) appointed Expert Committee completes its ground verification of villages under Eco Sensitive Areas, the government is hopeful that the Centre will agree to its demand for removal of 21 villages from ESA. >> See pg 3 Tenant verification: Fines from Dec 1 PANAJI: The State government on Thursday notified to impose a Rs 10,000 penalty on landlords who fail to comply with tenant verification regulations from December 1, 2024. The notification issued by the Home Department confirmed that December 1, 2024, is the date on which it will come into force.>> See pg 3 Regulations for PUC centres, fees changed PANAJI: The government has revised rates and updated regulations for PUC Centres based on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee.   >> See pg 5 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 162 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 ‘Achhe Din’ on cards for Kamat, Tawadkar Cardinal releases The Goan’s Exposition Special Edition n SPECULATIONS ON DECEMBER RESHUFFLE GAIN GROUND n ALEIXO SEQUEIRA & NILKANT HALARNKAR FACE THE AXE THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Speculations about possible reshuffle of the Pramod Sawantled Cabinet next month, has gained momentum, with ministers being briefed about the likely changes. Highly placed sources confirmed that moves are afoot to induct Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and Congress defector Margao MLA Digambar Kamat in place of Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira and Fisheries Minister Nilkant Halarnkar. Sources said Cabinet colleagues were given a “message” about the changes by the chief minister himself, after returning from Delhi earlier this week. The induction Not informed so far, says Speaker PANAJI: Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Ramesh Tawadkar, has feigned ignorance regarding speculations surrounding his potential induction into the Cabinet. When contacted, Tawadkar firmly stated that he had not received any official communication about such a move. “I have not been informed about any such development so far,” he remarked. Despite Tawadkar’s denial, sources close to the Speaker have suggested that there could be a significant shift on the horizon. According to these sources, Tawadkar is likely to be inducted into the Cabinet next month. of new ministers is expected next month. Speaking to media persons after his arrival from the national capital, Sawant had, however, ruled out Cabinet re- shuffle in the State stating that the Central leadership is currently busy with the government formation in Maharashtra. Sawant’s sudden visit to New Delhi had triggered rumours of possible Cabinet reshuffle, which has been long-pending. “My visit is not about any political development. Everyone in Delhi is busy with Maharashtra (government formation),” he had said. When asked about the possibility of ministers relinquishing their posts in the event of a reshuffle, the source said, “What the high command decides is final.” Speculations were rife about  Cabinet  reshuffle to accommodate Congress defectors, along with Goa Legislative Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and evaluation of the performance of the ministers, ever since the Lok Sabha poll >Continued on P9 Govt eyes `  00 crore `50,000 penalty for 5 through e-auction of filming monuments unclaimed ore dumps without permission Cabinet tweaks mining dumps policy Government notifies new rules THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Cabinet on Thursday approved changes in the State’s ‘Mining Dumps Policy’ by which the State government will e-auction those that are unclaimed and lying on private land where conversion fees have not been paid. The government has already identified some 30-odd such iron ore mining dumps and expects to earn some Rs 400-500 crore by auctioning them, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said. “All the revenue will go to the State exchequer,” Sawant told journalists at the post-Cabinet briefing, adding that some portion as royalty may have to be shared with the land owner which will be decided by the government. “Dumps lying on private land and unclaimed, where no land conversion charges are paid, will be auctioned by the government. Around 30-40 such dumps have been Govt has already identified some 30-odd unclaimed iron ore mining dumps and expects to earn some Rs 400-500 crore by auctioning them…all revenue will go to the State exchequer identified,” Sawant said. The State government had been eyeing the mining dumps as a source of revenue after its finances suffered a major setback since 2012 when a ban on all mining operations first came into effect and disrupted the Industry here. Meanwhile in other decisions, the Sawant-led Cabinet gave its nod to hire on a contract basis and fill vacancies to 29 posts in the ESI hospital at Margao. In yet another decision, a post-facto approval was granted to payments made to service providers by the Directorate of Health Services. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Filming at any State protected monuments or sites without prior permission will now attract a fine of Rs 50,000 in Goa, with the government notifying new rules. There are 51 monuments of archaeological importance protected under the ‘State list’ while another 21 are under the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI). The department of Archaeology has notified the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Rules, 2024, which speaks about obtaining prior permission from the government for filming at the protected sites by paying fees. The draft rules were kept open for public suggestions in February, earlier this year. “Whoever copies or films any protected monument or does other acts in contravention of any provision or of any ROLL OF HONOUR THE GOAN I NETWORK STARRY CLOSE: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant presents the Golden Peacock award to a member of the film ‘Toxic’ in the presence of industry stalwart Ashutosh Gowarikar during the closing ceremony of 55th IFFI at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Bambolim. Narayan Pissurlenkar „„Best Director: Bogdan Muresanu for ‘The New Year That Never Came’ „„Best Actor (Female): Shared by Vesta Matulyte & Ieva Rupeikaite for ‘Toxic’ „„Best Actor (Male): Clément Faveau for ‘Holy Cow’ „„Best Web Series (OTT): ‘Lampan’ „„Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce conferred Satyajit Ray lifetime achievement award Sawant said, even as he exhorted foreign filmmakers to shoot in the State assuring a single-window hassle free pro- stage and the State has also benefited from infrastructure developed around the festival. Australia which was he L cess for permissions as well as other facilities. He also said that IFFI had helped Goa reach the global CELEBRATION IN PRINT: Archbishop of Goa and Daman Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao releases The Goan’s Exposition 2024 Special Edition in the presence of Auxiliary Bishop Simiao Fernandes and Fr Joaquim Loiola Pereira, secretary to the Cardinal, at the Archbishop’s House in Altinho-Panaji on Thursday. (Report on page 3)  Narayan Pissulenkar Protests in Pak delay departure of visiting pilgrims for Exposition Group of 85 stuck due to absence of visas THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The ongoing protest by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters, en route to Islamabad has delayed the departure of 85 Pakistani Goan pilgrims, who were supposed to leave their country on Thursday, to attend the decennial Exposition of the Relics of St Francis Xavier in Goa. A group of 170  Pakistani  Goans were expected to visit the ongoing decennial Exposition after the High Commissioner of India in Islamabad cleared their visas. However, due to the PTI protest, the High Commissioner’s Office was not in position to deliver the visas to the travellers, thus delaying their de- parture for now. As reported earlier, while a first group of 85 pilgrims was supposed to leave Karachi for India on November 28, another 85 pilgrims are expected to leave for India on December 20 to celebrate Christmas and New Year in the coastal State. Sources informed that the >Continued on P9 THE NEW NORMS „„Rs 25,000 per day with Rs 10,000 as refundable security deposit to be charged for filming at protected monuments/ sites owned by govt „„For filming at other protected monuments the fee will be Rs 10,000 per day with Rs 2000 refundable security deposit permission or license granted thereunder shall be liable to pay fine of Rs 50,000 for such act at Protected Monuments/ sites owned by the Government and Rs 20,000 at other Protected Monuments,” reads the notification issued by the Director Archaeology Nilesh Fal Dessai. As per new rules, for filming at the protected monuments/ >Continued on P9 ‘Toxic’ steals the show with Golden Peacock at IFFI PANAJI ithuanian film ‘Toxic’ directed by Saule Bilouviet won favour with the jury and the Golden Peacock Award as curtains came down on this year’s edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) with a glitter-filled closing ceremony at the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee stadium in Bambolim. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who was among the dignitaries at the closing ceremony said IFFI was one of the reasons why many tourists time their visit to Goa in November. “Over the last few years, IFFI has become synonymous with Goa and Goa with IFFI,” Boris nets lone goal as FC Goa pips Kerala Blasters Pg 14 ‘country of focus’ at this year’s edition of IFFI had its better known filmmakers, Phillip Noyce, honored with the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award.  Meanwhile, this year’s ‘ICFT-UNESCO Gandhi’ medal went to the film ‘Crossing’ directed by Lewan Akin. Festival Director Shekhar Kapur, Union I&B Secretary Sanjay Jazu and several industry stalwarts like Rashmika Mandana, Shriya Saran, Vikrant Mesai, Ashutosh Gowariker, Ramesh Sippy and Jaya Prada attended the ceremony which was off-air due to a broadcast rights tussle. Vikrant Mesai who was honored as the best Indian film >Continued on P9 PRESENTS PRESENTS PRESENTS FRANCIS XAVIER: DNA OF XAVIER: FRANCISiAh aSAINT i n s p i r i n g fa t n d u n i t y DNA OF A SAINT A SPECIAL EDITION BOOK FEATURING…  Messages, reflections from the Pope, 2 Cardinals,  i n s p i r i n g fa i t h a n d u n i t y 1 Archbishop and 1 Auxiliary Bishop  25 Articles on the influence of St Francis Xavier  21 Fascinating details pertaining to St Francis Xavier  86 Photos, 57 Images,  including 28 photos/images  from 8 Expositions SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE: 200 LIMITED TIME OFFER! 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