log on to thegoan.net FRIDAY APRIL 11, 2025 GOA @thegoanonline Safe, snug & smart: The new rules of Indian car buying REVIEW: MG Windsor EV, where excellence meets innovation IN SHORT >> UG admissions kick off today PANAJI: The centralized admissions for undergraduate courses across 40 aided and unaided colleges will commence from April 11 with the Directorate of Higher Education accepting online applications. Over 17,600 students cleared their Class 12 exam 2025. Total 10,000 seats are available across these 40 colleges, with the deadline for the first round of admission to submit applications ending on April 30 midnight.  >> See pg 3 Food poisoning hits Vasco students VASCO: Panic gripped the Institute of Maritime Studies in Sada-Vasco after several students suffered from food poisoning, allegedly after eating chicken biryani on the campus. The students complained of severe stomach pain, vomiting, nausea, and loose motions. >> See pg 3 State modifies two farmer edu schemes PANAJI: The State government has modified two agriculture schemes, enhancing the quantum of funds officials will be pre-authorised to spend on conducting educational meetings for farmers.   >> See pg 3 US court lifts curbs on Sun Pharma NEW DELHI: Sun Pharmaceutical Ind said that it has received a major relief from a US court, which allowed it to launch its new drug Leqselvi in American market. The drug is used to treat an autoimmune disorder that leads to patchy hair loss. Trump’s China tariffs rise to 145% WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump's steep tariff hike targeting Chinese goods, which took effect Thursday, brings Washington's additional rate on many products to 145% , the White House has confirmed. WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 34.8 C 25.8 C 70% TIDES Low: High: 04.09 16.13 10.31 22.15 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME X, NO. 293 A day after inferno, structural stability test to decide fate of Margao building page 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 GOA Sawant announces `2 crore ‘Skill-on-Wheels’ to train rural youth 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 INFO Is it safe to sleep with a mouth-guard on? Goa sets sail with first private jetty at Malim CENTRE ISSUES FIRST-EVER DIGITAL NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE TO MUMBAI-BASED COMPANY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a first affirmative action after the controversial nationalisation of Goa's rivers, the Centre on Thursday issued a no-objection certificate to a Mumbai-based company to set up a 'private jetty' at Malim on the northern bank of the Mandovi river. The company, Mumbai-based Marina India Infrastructure Private Limited has been permitted to set up the jetty with a capacity to berth up to 16 yachts and other crafts of up to 30 meters length. According to the NOC which was issued by the 'Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI)' the investment by the company is pegged at Rs 8 PRIVATE PORT OF CALL „„Marina India Infrastructure Pvt Ltd permitted to set up jetty with capacity to berth up to 16 yachts and other crafts of up to 30 mts „„Investment by company pegged at Rs 8 crore „„Will have facilities for docking, undocking for each trip „„Expected to boost crore. It was issued through the authority's digital portal. When it does come up, it will be Goa's first private jetty. The NoC was handed over to the company's representatives by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Water- river cruise tourism along Mandovi river „„Clearance given under National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/Terminals) Regulations, 2025 ways Sarbananda Sonowal at an event where the IWAI digital portal aimed at attracting private investment and simplifying approvals in inland water transport. was also launched. According to an official Nanda lake among Goa’s 39 most polluted water bodies POLLUTION BOARD SAYS POSE HEALTH HAZARDS SHWETA KAMAT MAHATME THE GOAN I PANAJI Goa’s first Ramsar site -- Nanda lake -- and several other notified wetlands are amongst the 39 stagnant water bodies that are highly polluted posing significant risk to public health and the environment, making them unsuitable for outdoor bathing. The State pollution authority has decided to identify the source of pollution in these water bodies, which are slowly turning into breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors. In a communication to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on April 8, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has submitted a report with regards to 41 water bodies that includes lakes, tanks and ponds under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). Of these, only two -- Harvalem waterfall and Anjunem Lake -- are classified as ‘Class C’ water bodies with water quality meeting the prescribed critical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, ph, biological oxygen demand, faecal coliform, etc. “Whereas 39 others are statement issued by IWAI, the private jetty at Malim will have facilities for docking and undocking for each trip and is expected to boost river cruise tourism along the Mandovi river waterway. Interestingly, the NOC granted for setting up a private jetty at Malim to Marina India Infrastructure Private Limited is the first issued digitally to any private entity for construction of a terminal on any national waterway in the country. The clearance has been given under the National Waterways (Construction of Jetties/ Terminals) Regulations, 2025. These regulations permit private players to build and operate such terminals in >Continued on P8 Colvale jail bans outside food for inmates amid smuggling fears THE GOAN I NETWORK „„Most of these water bodies slowly turning into breeding grounds for disease-carrying vectors „„Prone to pollution due to lack of flow, aeration which allows pollutants to accumulate and harmful substances to thrive  „„Pollution Board to identify source of pollution „„NANDA LAKE: Recognized as Ramsar site in August 2022 is on global map for its importance in providing ecological services and is one of the largest wetlands in Goa „„ON THE FLIP SIDE… Only two water bodies -- Harvalem waterfall and Anjunem Lake -- are classified as ‘Class C’ with water quality meeting the prescribed critical parameters classified under Class E as having worst water quality, which mean they are not fit for outdoor bathing but only for irrigation, industrial cooling and controlled discharge purposes,” the Board said. Curchorem’s Nanda lake was recognized as Ramsar site in August 2022. The lake is on the global map for its importance in providing ecological services. With an area of 42 ha, it is one of the largest wetlands in Goa. The water bodies include Ambulor Lake, Bandolem lake, Batim Lake, Betal temple lake, Bondvol lake, Canturlim lake, Carambolim lake, Cottombi lake, Curca lake, Curtorim Lake, Dashi MAPUSA In response to a series of incidents involving the smuggling of prohibited items into Colvale Central Jail, the prison administration has issued a strict directive banning the delivery of outside food items to inmates. The directive, issued by Superintendent Shankar Gaonkar, comes into effect from April 1 and aims to curb the inflow of contraband that has become a growing concern for jail authorities. Over the past several months, multiple surprise raids conducted within the prison premises have led to the seizure of unauthorised items such as mobile phones, chargers, tobacco products and even narcotic substances. These raids revealed that, despite existing security protocols, banned items continued to find their way into the hands of inmates, posing a serious threat to discipline and safety within the facility. It has been routinely observed that relatives and visitors of inmates often bring food items during their visitation hours, some of which allegedly serve as covers for >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 W AT E R S O F W O R R Y Terror trail comes full circle, Rana brought to India PTI NEW DELHI Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a key accused in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was brought to India after being “successfully extradited” from the US and was formally arrested, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Thursday. 26/11 MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS The 64-year-old Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin landed in Delhi in a special plane from Los Angeles Thursday evening, ending days of speculation of when and how he will be extradited, officials said. In the evening, the NIA said NIA sleuths seek 20-day remand Rana was “formally arrested immediately after his arrival at Delhi airport”. He was escorted to Delhi by teams of NIA and National Security Guard (NSG), the agency said. An NIA team at the airport arrested Rana soon after he emerged from the airplane, upon completion of all necessary legal formalities, it said. The agency in an earlier statement said it had secured the successful extradition af- NEW DELHI: Mumbai terror attack case accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana was produced before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court amid tight security on Thursday night, hours after he was extradited from the US even as NIA sought his custody for 20 days. He was produced before Special NIA judge Chander Jit Singh, who is currently hearing arguments on his custody proceedings. Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and special public prosecutor Narender Mann are representing the NIA while advocate Piyush Sachdeva from Delhi Legal Services Authority will represent Rana. Rana was brought to the court in a cavalcade of multiple vehicles, including jail van, armoured Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) vehicle and an ambulance. ter years of sustained and concerted efforts to bring to justice the key conspirator and “mastermind of the deadly attack” that claimed 166 lives. “With the active assistance of USDoJ, the US Sky Marshal, NIA worked closely with other Indian intelligence agencies, NSG through the entire extradition process, which also saw India''s Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs coordinating with the other relevant authorities in the United States to take the matter to its successful conclusion,” the statement read. Advocates Krishnan and Mann reached the Patiala House court premises shortly after news that Rana had landed in Delhi. Police officials asked mediapersons to leave and said they were ensuring the court premises were fully vacant. Meanwhile, tight security has been ensured outside the NIA headquarters at the CGO complex here and the entire premises has been cordoned off by security personnel of Delhi Police and CRPF. 11 SPORTS IPL: Rahul's masterful knock anchors Delhi Capitals' comeback win 14 No more grace marks, Board rolls out NEP-based scheme New scheme applicable to students who are marked ‘needs improvement’ THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) for Class X, the Goa Board has scrapped its age-old grace marks scheme while introducing what is called Compensation scheme from the current 2025-26 academic year onwards. The scheme will be made applicable to only those students who are remarked as “needs improvement”. The Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) has already announced March 2, 2026 as a tentative date for commencement of Class X Board exam and for which a new student assessment pattern has been released. As against the earlier six subjects, the students will have ten subjects that include four skill-based subjects. Also, from this year, History and Geography is merged as a single subject ‘Social Science’. W I N DS O F CH A N GE „„Board introduces ‘compensation scheme’ for candidates that need improvement and provided that candidate passes after applying the scheme „„March 2, 2026 declared as tentative date for Class X Board exams „„As against earlier six subjects, students will have ten subjects „„History & Geography merged as single subject ‘Social Science’ „„Students with grades H or I in one or two Scholastic Subjects will have their grade upgraded if they score a minimum of 65% in two skill subjects and minimum of 50% cent in remaining two skill subjects The ten subjects are divided into Scholastic subjects -- Language 1, 2, 3, Social Science, Science and Mathematics and Skill-based subjects are Interdisciplinary area, NSQF/Others, Art Education and Physical Education. Speaking to The Goan, GBSHSE Chairman Bhagirath Shetye said the Board has decided to do away with the condonation and grace marks system and has introduced what is called a ‘compensation scheme’ for those candidates that need improvement and provided that the candidate passes after applying the scheme. He said that this is the first batch that will be answering the public exam >Continued on P8 Bizmen rattled as thieves target 5 shops in Panaji COPS TRACK CULPRITS IN KOLHAPUR, 3 ARRESTED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Local residents and the business community were rattled on Thursday when they discovered that thieves broke into five shops in the lane be- tween Jesuit House and Cafe Tato and also along the Jose Falcao Road that leads to the Panjim Church from behind the Old Secretariat. The robbery was discovered in the early hours of Thursday and is suspected to have taken place post midnight on Wednesday.  The thieves targeted five shops, including two wholesale liquor outlets. In all five cases, they bent the  shutters >Continued on P8