Panaji: December 20, 2019 … “It is indeed a pleasure to see young girls taking up sports like football. Any game of sports keeps our mind sharp and body healthy. As students, you should pay equal attention towards studies as well as extra activities. The sports department will provide best facilities to young aspirants to motivate their sporting spirit,” said Minister for Sports Shri. Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar at the ‘Khelo India Girls Football League U-17’ opening ceremony held at Athletic Stadium in Bambolim today.

The league was kicked off by the Minister in the presence of MP South Shri. Francisco Sardinha. The function was held by Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and Goa Football Association (GFA) in association with Goa Football Development Council (GFDC).

While addressing the gathering Shri. Sardinha appreciated the SAG for their initiative in organising a girl’s football match and assured all the support from his end.

Present among others were Director-Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs Shri. S.M. Tripathi IAS, Executive Director of SAG Shri. V.M. Prabhudessai, Nodal Officer Smt. Monica Durado, Member Secretary GFDC and Shri. Alexio F.Da Costa.

Panaji, December 19, 2019 …Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today said that the State Government will not compromise on Mhadei River Water. He said, Mhadei River is mother to him and that efforts are on to resolve Mhadei River issue.

Addressing the people of Goa, on the occasion of 58^th anniversary of the liberation of the State of Goa at the State Level function held at S.A.G. Ground, Near Swimming Pool, Campal, Panaji the Chief Minister said the matter pertaining to the letter given by the Union Government to the neighbouring Karnataka state is kept in abeyance and as such all efforts will be made to redress the issue in the interest of the state and its people.

The Chief Minister said that the Government is committed to give jobs to the children of freedom fighters and therefore appealed to them not to resort to agitation. He said, Government is aware of the contribution and sacrifices made by the freedom fighters to liberate Goa from Portuguese regime and keeping this in view the Government is endeavouring to give jobs to their children taking into account the legal aspect.

The Chief Minister urged the people not to fall prey to the false propaganda and hue and cry made by some people over the Citizens Amendment Act passed by the Central Government since it is in the interest of the people belonging to all walks of life.

Stating that Goa is emerging as an educational hub the Chief Minister informed that adequate space has already been allotted to set up proposed IIT and NIT in the State. Moreover efforts are on to setup AIIMS and IIM and for resumption of mining activity in the state.

  Extending the greetings of Goa Liberation Day to the people the Chief Minister said Goa has remarkably progressed since Liberation in the field of Education, Art, Agriculture etc and is among the top states in terms of Health and Infrastructure facilities. He also listed the various works particularly in the infrastructure sector and said that efforts are being initiated to extend the benefit of the State and Centrally sponsored schemes to the people.

The Chief Minister presented awards to those who have contributed in various fields. These include Chief Minister Police (Gold ) Medals to Shri Ninad Ganesh Deulkar, Shri Tushar Gurudas Lotlikar, Shri Ratnakar A. Kalangutkar, Shri Roque Felipe Estibeiro, Shri Damodar R Mestri, Shri Sushant Shantaram Sawant, Shri Keshav Zilba Naik, citation for award of Chief Minister’s Home Guards and Civil Defence Gold Medal for Meritoriuos Services to Smt Kalpana S. Parab and Shri Surendranath C. Shetye,  citation for the award of Goa Chief Minister fire service medal for meritorious service to Leading fire Fighters namely Shri Ratanakar Gawas, Shri Rajan R. Parab, Shri Chandrakant M. Parab , Citation for award for Chief Minister to Shri Mangaldas P. Devesekar, RFO for outstanding work as Instructor, Shri Ashok S. Velip, Forest Guard for his outstanding contributions in conservation and Propagation of Forestry and Medicinal Plants, . State Agriculture Awards such as Krishi Ratna to Shri Nagesh Vishnu Samant, Krlapal Dabal, , Krishi Vibhushan to Shri Pandurang |Shntaram Patil, Revona, Sanguem, Krishi Bhushan to Shri Shyam Vishnu Gaonkar Satre, Sattari, Fr. Inanciao Almeida Memorial Speacial Award for Organic Farming to Shri Mohan Mortu Tendulkar, Molcornem, Quepem, besides State Award for Meritorious and dedicated Services, State Awards were also presented for best Social Workers and Persons with Disabilities.

Earlier, the Chief Minister inspected the parade and March Past and took salute from the contingents of Police, Home Guards, NCC, Students among others. Students presented the cultural programme on the occasion. Chief Minister also distributed prizes to the winners of March Past in which 1^st prize went to Shree Shantadurga High School Bicholim, 2^nd prize bagged by Shri Bhumika High School, Parye, Sattari and 3^rd prize went to Shri Balaram Residential High School, Cancona.

The liberation day was attended by the speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Shri Rajesh Patnekar, Leader of Opposition, Shri Digambar Kamat, Shri. Francis Silveira, MLA and Secretary to the Government, Government Officers, Councillors, teachers, Panchayat Members, Social Workers and large number of students. Earlier, Minister for revenue, Mrs. Jennifer Monserate and its Secretary Shri Parimal Rai received the Chief Minister at the venue of the function.

Panaji:  December 19, 2019 ….Tiatr Academy of Goa presented lifetime contribution awards to the tiatr personalities on the occasion of Late Joao Agostinho Fernandes (Pai Tiatrist) birth anniversary programme organized by Academy at Pai Tiatrist Hall, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao recently.

Awards were presented to tiatrists Shri Agnel D,costa, Mrs Betty Alvares, Shri Minguel P C Martins, Shri Ratnakar Govekar and Zeferino Dias. Veteran Tiatr artist, Shri C D’silva ; Smt Sharmila Fernandes; President, Tiatr Academy of Goa and Director, Directorate of Art and Culture, Shri Gurudas Pilarnkar were present on the occasion.

While speaking on the occasion Shri C D’silva said thar Tiatr is the form of art which is the medium to show right path for the society. Tiatr also teaches how to live the life. Father of the tiatr late Joao Fernandes worked hard to take this form of art to great level, which has now reached across the world he said.

Award function was followed by tiatr of Mario Menezes and troupe. Shri Gurudas Pilarnkar welcomed the gathering.

Panaji: December,18, 2019 … Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has said that the work for the development of Goa should be keeping in mind dream and vision of former Defence Minister and Chief Minister of Goa late  Shri Manohar Parrikar.

Dr. Sawant was speaking at a function organized at Saraswat  Vidyalay School, Khorli Mapusa recently to inaugurate Manohar Parrikar Pratishthan-Goa  and to launch  Manohar Parrikar Lecture Series to commemorate 64^th birth day of Shri Parrikar.

Dr. Sawant said his vision was to produce Goan Scientists and therefore keeping this in mind the Government is holding  Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotstav. Wherein noble laurettes, scientists would  be invited to extend an opportunity to Goan Students to listen   and to interact with them. He said the memorial which will be constructed would  be kept open for public for 365 days. To keep alive memories of Parrikar,  the Government has taken some initiatives like University road at Bambolim to be named as Manohar Parrikar road. A law school which is to be started in University would be named as Manohar Parrikar School of Law etc. .

The Guest speaker of the function Dr. Anirban Ganguly while  delivering  his talk on the topic Redefining Governance: Essays on one year of Narendra Modi Government said that the redefining governance means  purity of mind and clarity of thought gives surety of success. It means  a change from a politics of promise to politics of performance.  To provide good governance needs art of Accountability, Responsibility and Transparency, thorough planning coupled with the participation of people.

Dr. Ganguly further said Shri Parrikar while serving as Defence Minister did not compromise with the interest of the nation.  What is Parrikar? Clearm logic, Decisive action and comprehencive delivery defines Parrikar and his vision.   Appreciating the endeavour of the Pratishthan he said that  forming Pratishthan and launching lecture series is no doubt a best  Intellectual tribute to Parrikar.

MLA Mapusa Shri Joshua D’Souza,Ex-MP South Goa Shri Narendra Savoikar  Son of Manohar Parrikar, Shri Utpal Parrikar, President of Manohar Parrikar Pratishthan, Shri Rupesh Kamat, Founder Member of Pratishthan Shri Sukhaji Naik among others attended the function.

Earlier Dr. Sawant garlanded the portrait of late Shri Manohar Parrikar to pay floral tributes to the departed leader and lighted the ceremonial lamp to mark the formal  inauguration of the Pratishthan.

Shri Datta Kholkar Founder Member of the Pratishthan welcomed the gathering.

Panaji, 17th December 2019, … Chief Minister, Dr. Pramod Sawant in presence of Minister for Science, Technology and Waste Management, Shri Michael Lobo; Minister for Power, Shri Nilesh Cabral; Minister for PWD, Shri. Deepak Prabhu Pauskar; MLA, Shri Prasad Gaonkar laid the foundation stone for the proposed 100 tons per day (+25%) Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility’ at Cacora recently.

While speaking on the occasion Chief Minister, Shri Sawant declared that this project will be named as Manohar Dream Project for Garbage Management. He reiterated Government’s efforts to take forward the vision of Late Ex CM Shri Manohar Parrikar. Development of Infrastructure requires vision and this Government is Working tirelessly with a vision to serve the last citizen of the State he said. The aim of the Government is to ensure that Goan should not suffer for basic needs like drinking water, roads, electricity, health, sewerage he said.

He urged the people to keep the identity of Goa. Issue of Garbage menace cannot be solved just with the garbage projects but it requires public participation, Shri Sawant opined. We should change the tendency looking at the way we are dealing it with the garbage issue he said. Government is working to give training for the teachers, councillors, panchayat members including the one who comes in public contact to solve the garbage issue at the basic level.

Stating that Goa is a tourist destination on the world map Shri Sawant appealed every citizen to w work responsibly to preserve the scenic beauty and environment of the State. When we say that our culture is “Athithi Devo Bhava” we should give priority for the cleanliness and be self motivated he said.

Shri Micheal Lobo said, solid waste management facility at Kakoda will be put up at a cost of Rs. 173 crores by using improvised technology. Work of this will be completed in 16 months he said. People should supplement the efforts of the Government to make State garbage free. Attitude and thought of the people “not in my backyard” should be changed  he said.

Speaking further, he said every house is generating garbage and they should take responsibility that this garbage will not be a problem for the entire society. He said State is in need of it’s own RDF factory and for that Government is working which will generate energy from garbage.

Similar garbage plants like Kakoda but with less capacity will also be made available at Sonsodo in South Goa and Bainguinim in North Goa. State is doing its best in infrastructure development and now it should also come up in waste management. Everyone is responsible for degradation of environment he said.

Shri Nilesh Cabral said garbage of 43 local bodies of Sanguem, Quepem, Cancona and Dharbandora talukas will be treated at Kakoda solid waste management facility. Roof Top solar panels will be installed on 16,000 sq.mts. roof of this garbage project to generate solar power he said. He thanked people to support this project.

Shri Dipak Pauskar said Overall development of the state is underway with the inspiration of late CM Shri Parrikar. Curchorem Constituency will get  it’s own sewerage treatment plant, process of acquiring land is underway. All major infrastructure projects in the State will be completed by December 2022, he added.

Shri Prasad Gaonkar said, solid waste management facility is the main project of overall development process.

 The project is under the aegis of the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management and Goa Waste Management Corporation (GWMC).

The project will be set up on an area of approx 81,000 sqm, which was an existing waste dump site and GWMC has remediated the waste scientifically and disposed the RDF/SCF to cement factories for co-incineration.

The proposed plant is on the lines of the Integrated Solid Waste Management Facility (SWMF) at Saligao and the design has been upgraded to take into account the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 and the learning from the SWMF at Saligao. The plant will have separate lines for wet and dry waste with the organic extruder being the heart of the system. The entire system will be PLC/SCADA based and will be monitored 24×7.

The facility is being setup by an SPV, Vasudha Waste Treatment Pvt. Ltd. Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation has been entrusted the work of project management consultants. The design and technical parameters of the plant have been vetted by an expert committee under the chairmanship of Padmashri Dr Sharad Kale with members from IIT – Mumbai, NEERI, BITS Pilani.

Panaji: December 16, 2019 …Sanjay Centre for Special Education Goa, Porvorim has postponed its ‘All Goa Quiz Competition’ title ‘Brain Vita’ which was scheduled from December 13, 2019

The quiz will be now held on December 17, 2019 from 8.30 to 2.00 p.m in the premise of Sanjay School, Porvorim. Dr. Padmanabh Rataboli will be the Quiz Master, Shri Guruprasad Pawaskar Chairman, Sanjay Centre for Special Education Goa, Porvorim and Smt. Sheru Shirodkar, Member Secretary, Sanjay Centre for Special Education Goa, Porvorim will present for the quiz competition 2019.   

Panaji, December 15, 2019… An Oil Spill Response Preparedness Mock Exercise under the provisions of Goa State Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (GOA-SOS-DCP) was conducted today at the Miramar Beach by Office of the Collectorate, North Goa in association with Goa state Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and Indian Coast Guard as a part of regional Level Pollution Response Exercise (RPREX).

In a half day mock drill exercises like manpower mobilization with personal safely gears, mobilizing earth movers, JCBs and other beach clean-up equipment, pit digging with tarpaulin sheets for stowage of recovered oil/sand mixed sludge and shoreline sealing with boom were practiced under the guidance of officers of Coast Guard.

“This Mock drill is a part of the disaster preparedness of District Disaster Management Authority. With such drills, we are enacting scenarios and making people aware of the state machinery. For this mock drill, the GSPCB had made a contingency plan. We have achieved satisfactory results today. However, we now know a few areas on which we need to work upon which we will surely do,” informed Smt. R. Menaka, Collector, North Goa.

Officials from GSPCB, Department of Tourism, Fisheries, Police, Coastal Security, Fire and Emergency, CCP were also present on the occasion.

Panaji, December 13, 2019… The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant calling the former Chief Minister, late Manohar Parrikar a scientific visionary said that the Government will honour Manohar Parrikar’s commitment towards scientific progress by organising the Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav annually. The Chief Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav at the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), at Dona Paula, yesterday.

Speaking further, Dr Sawant said that the festival will give ideas to explore new opportunities in science. Stressing on the field of education, Dr Sawant said that the Government will make Goa a premier educational hub.

The Minister for Science, Technology and Waste Management , Shri Michael Lobo said that if we develop a positive approach and a scientific temper and follow it daily, we can help keep the ideals of Manohar Parrikar alive by our deeds and bring laurels to the State of Goa.

Principal Scientific Advisor, Government of India, Dr K. Vijay Raghavan said that Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav is a path-breaking occasion to honour Manohar Parrikar. He said that Manohar Parrikar was an extraordinary person who valued expertise and knowledge and had a deep connectedness with society.

On the occasion, two Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) were signed between the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India and Government of Goa and between Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and Government of Goa.

A photo book on Manohar Parrikar, ‘The Legend’ was released on the occasion. The Book is brought out by the Department of Information and Publicity containing the compilation of Photographs on different facets of the former Chief Minister.

Earlier, Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav and Goa State Innovation Council, Shri Jose Manuel Noronha launched a short film on Manohar Parrikar.

Present on the occasion were Chief Secretary, Shri Parimal Rai, IAS, Shri Daulat Hawaldar, IAS, Minister for Social Welfare and Urban Development, Shri Milind Naik, Manohar Parrikar’s son, Shri Utpal Parrikar, Director of National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Prof. Sunil Kumar Singh, among others.

The inauguration was followed by a guest lecture, ‘Nature Inspired Science: Why do we flock together?’ delivered by Padmashri Dr Ajay Kumar Sood.

The two-day Manohar Parrikar Vidnyan Mahotsav is being organised by the Department of Science, Technology and Waste Management and supported by Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Education, Directorate of Technical Education, Department of Information and Publicity, Department of Protocol, Goa State Innovation Council, Goa State Pollution Control Board and Goa Waste Management Corporation among others.

Panaji:  December 13, 2019 … Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant inaugurated Lokotsav 20 organised by Adarsh Yuva Sangh, Gaondongri, Khotigao and Shree Balram Shikshan Saunstha, Amone, Paingin, Canacona in association with Directorate of Art and Culture at Amone, Canacona recently.

The two days event is supported by Directorate of Tribal Welfare and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sawant said continuity is very important in any organization and applauded the efforts of organisers for organising such a beautiful event from the last 20 years successfully. Lokotsav festival, he said is not limited to the State as it attracts the people from the neighbouring States. Lokotsav is a festival for the people by the people, he pointed.

Recalling the efforts and initiatives taken by Ex CM late Shri Manohar Parrikar for bringing the tribals and rural people in the main stream, Shri Sawant applauded the work of Adarsh Yuva Sangh and Shri Balram Shikshan Saunshtha in the field of education in the remote areas. This institutions builds the students not only in education but also in sport, art and culture he said. He said collective efforts are required to take the State to the next level.  One should not keep culture aside while doing progress he said.

Appealing to the people to take up agriculture as profession Shri Sawant said Agriculture field is also a culture and base of the State. Shri Sawant also spoke about the IT Policy of the State and urged the youth to derive benefit of the policy and EDC incubation center.

Chairperson, Canacona Municipal Council, Smt Nitu Dessai said Lokotsav is a stage for local artist to showcase their varied talent in art and other qualities.

Zilla Panchayat Member, Dr Pushpa Ayya and Shanu Velip; Sarpanch, Village Panchayat Khotigao, Smt Suman Gaonkar and others were present on the occasion.

Dr Shivanand Bandekar, Smt Kamlini Painginkar, Dr Shekhar Salkar, Dr Rupa Chari, Smt Sulakshana Sawant, Smt Kamakshi Pai, Shri Arvind Tengse, Smt Kunda Chodankar, Smt Krushni Walke, Smt Sunita Sawant, Smt Chanda Dessai, Smt Vinda Satarkar, Dr Sucheta Naik, Smt Manuja Naik Gaonkar, Smt Pallavi Shirodkar were felicitated on the occasion.

Ex Minister and President, Adarsh Yuva Sangh, Shri Ramesh Tawadkar welcomed while Shri Ashok Gaonkar proposed the vote of thanks.