11-05-2013 … President of the All Goa Fishermen’s Federation John Mendes has criticized the state government for not coming out with a clear policy of weather the state government was serious of putting a fishing ban of 75 days in to the state of goa or not which had created ruckus among the fishing community …

It may be noted that The state government had shown interest of reconsidering its decision of imposing 75-day-long fishing ban in the state from this year onwards, after fishing associations objected to such a long shutout period.

The fishing community in the state was divided over the issue with traditional fishermen welcoming the prolonged ban period, while mechanized trawlers has opposed the ban claiming it to be too long after which the government had contemplated the possibility of shortening the ban duration from 75 days to 60 days or even of 45 days as it was practiced till last season.

Currently, the fishing ban in the state is from June 15 to July 31, every year

Speaking to goanreporter President of the All Goa Fishermen’s Federation John Mendes said if the state government was not ready to impose a 75 days fishing ban in goa then the state government should have not announced it as it had created confusion in to the minds of the boat owners community

Mendes said it was wrong from the state government side of just giving assurances on the 75 days fishing ban and not implementing it

Mendes also stated that the state government was not firm in their decision and such confusions would create riffles among the fishing community

10-05-2013 … No sooner the congress party in Karnataka elections gained overwhelming response the state congress party were seen in upbeat mood at the party head office in panjim where in state congress party president subash shirodkar said that polls in karnataka had sent a message to the whole country that voters in Karnataka were with the congress party along with the upa central government and annoyed with the way the previous bjp government in Karnataka had performed..

The final tally of the Karnataka Assembly polls showed the Karnataka Congress party gaining around 121 seats along with BJP-40, JDS-40, KJP-6 and Others-16

Speaking to media reporters at the party head office in panjim gpcc chief subash shirodkar said he was confident that the next Karnataka government would be a performing government and would take up the mhadei issue with them

Congress spokesperson alexio reginaldo lourenco said that the entire credit of Karnataka victor was going to the high command Sonia Gandhi and rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile chairman of law commission and bjp spokesperson advocate narendra sawaikar also spoke over the huge loss of his party at the Karnataka assembly polls

09-05-2013 … The inquiry report of the panjim market committee which had to be submitted to the corporation by 30^th of April last months has been delayed till 30^th of may by the south goa collector n d agarwal informed ccp mayor surendra furtado who is deciding to hand over the case to state lokayukta if the case if found to be a complicated one

It may be noted that the south goa collector n d agarwal was appointed to inquire into the alleged irregularities pertaining to the allotment of shops and vacant spaces in the new city municipal market complex.

The allotment of shops in Panaji in 2005 has been marred in controversy with the alleged irregularities in the allotment. The CCP’s original list contained names of the traders who occupied kiosks in the old market who were promised shops in the new market.

When the actual allotment happened many of the original occupants were not allotted any space in the new market. It was alleged that some previous councilors of the Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate panel had a hand in the illegal allotment of the shops. Some of them bought shops under benami names.

Although the transfer of the shops were not permitted, some of the original lessees transferred their shops to third parties. The transferring of shops is permitted only in the case of hereditary blood relatives.

At least, 146 shops have been transferred in violation of the CCP rules. Enquires conducted in the past have confirmed gross irregularities in the allotment of shops. The CCP has suffered massive revenue losses amounting to over 1crore on water and electricity bill as a result of this scam. A market survey conducted by the CCP some time ago revealed that over 300 market tenants are involved in irregular occupation. The issue of market has been raked-up on the floor of the state legislative assembly on numerous counts.

The newly appointed mayor surendra Furtado in its last ccp meeting has said that he was expecting the inquiry report from the government-appointed officer N D Agrawal by April 30 and that he would ensure that justice was done and that the CCP gets the actual revenue from the market.

 Meanwhile ccp commissioner surendra furtado said that the investigation officers were on their job as there was a lot of work that had to be done to prepare the final report

08-05-2013 … As Hindus considered cow as god minister for cooperation Deepak dhavlikar on Tuesday said that he was also of the opinion of putting a ban on cow slaughtering even though it was the decision that had to be taken by the high court as per the law.

 It may be noted that high court had put a ban on beef slaughter in Goa, after a petition filed at the Panaji bench of the Bombay high court by the Govansh Raksha Abhiyaan which had alleged various illegalities within the Goa Meat complex, at Usgao,

 the ban on cow slaughtering has not only affected Goans, but has also affected people in Karwar as all beef shops in Karwar have closed down their shutters due to no supply from Goa ..

 Even the Bharatiya Janata Party government had assured the state assembly in its last session that it would request the court to allow slaughter of bulls and male buffaloes at the state-run meat complex.

Slaughter of bulls, oxen and male buffaloes in Goa is legally allowed only at the government’s meat complex, while cow slaughter is banned here.

Speaking to media reporter’s mgp president Deepak dhavlikar said that since Hindus believe of cow as a god he was of the opinion that cow slaughtering should be banned but everything had to be done as per the acts of the law

 Dhavliakar said there was a need for everyone to follow decision as per the acts of the law and on the decision of the high court over the cow slaughtering issue

 Meanwhile president of goa Pradesh congress committee subash shirodkar said that beef had to be made available in the state as soon as possible by which ever agencies were there in the state

07-05-2013 … In a way to protest against the withdrawal of six per cent transaction fee in air tickets by all the airlines in the country Travel agents all over India on Tuesday close down their establishments which were also supported by some of the travel agents in goa …

The fee withdrawal is the result of the Supreme Court order where in travel agents expect the civil aviation ministry to work out a solution, following the token strike and however, if the deadlock still persists then the agents have decided not to sell tickets for 18 June …

According to the Travel Agents’ Association Travel agents sell almost 80 to 85 of tickets of over 1000 flights operating on domestic routes.

Speaking to goanreporter past chairman of travel agents association of india goa chapter nilesh shah said they were fighting for the commission that had been stopped given by airlines while some domestic airlines have reduced their commission given to agents

Shah said he failed to understand if they were any product in the world sold without any commission given to its agents

With no action coming forth from the asi authorities in goa The parishioners of st see cathedral parish situated at old goa has raised concerns over the ancient old paintings that having gone missing in the various chapels and altars in the Se-cathedral church of old goa in the last few months

It may be noted that the parishioners led by its parish priest fr leonard corriea in a letter on 1st of February 2013 written to dr shivanand rao superintending archeologist of asi goa circle had brought to the notice of the asi officials that many paintings were missing in the various chapels and altars in the  Se-cathedral church which were been removed by the asi authorities without informing the church authorities

The letter which has also been addressed to his grace rev Felipe neri ferrao, along with fr joseph salema of pastoral institute and fr santumino dias of see cathedral informs about several difficulties faced by the parishioners of old goa who have mentioned that no proper inventory of religious articles, holy pictures, furniture’s, fictures, paintings etc were being maintained by asi and church authorities and that there was no proper coordination maintained between the asi and church authorities whenever such paintings, anti crafts, religious items are removed for restoration

The altar of our lady of good hope and other in the se cathedral are in a dilapidated condition for the past several months and no restoration work whatsoever has been initiated in spite of several oral requests and reminders on the ground that no budgetary provision have yet been made

  While we appreciate the demolition of the rooms near the see cathedral the shed behind the museum still remains and the parishioners would like to draw the attention against the conversion of the arches of st Francis of Assisi church in to rooms provided for accommodation to the asi staff

The parishioner’s have brought to the notice of the asi in the past that there have been serious instances where huge pieces of plaster and stone have collapsed from the ceiling of blessed sacrament chapel in the see-cathedral during the religious services thereby rendering the chapel unsafe to conduct religious services and the same has not been attended yet

Meanwhile speaking over the phone on the issue of the letter written dr shivanand rao superintending archeologist of asi goa circle said that he was not aware of any letter that had been written to his office till date and since he was out of the station once come back would find out the details and take would take necessary action on it

05-05-2013 … With no action coming forth from the asi authorities in goa The parishioners of st see cathedral parish situated at old goa has raised apprehensions and concerns over the ancient old paintings that having gone missing in the various chapels and altars in the Se-cathedral church of old goa in the last few months …

 It may be noted that the parishioners led by its parish priest fr leonard corriea in a letter on 1^st of February 2013 written to dr shivanand rao superintending archeologist of asi goa circle had brought to the notice of the asi officials that many paintings were missing in the various chapels and altars in the

Se-cathedral church which were been removed by the asi authorities without informing the church authorities

 Speaking to goanreporter one of the parishioner said “it’s just only another eighteen months left for the exposition of the relics of st francis Xavier to begin here and the asi officials are least bothered to take a note of the issues which we have brought to their notice and now we the parishoner’s of old goa are concerned as how things would work out for the 2014 exposition if such type of issues are there to be solved”

 The letter which has also been addressed to his grace rev Felipe neri ferrao, along with fr joseph salema of pastoral institute and fr santumino dias of see cathedral informs about several difficulties faced by the parishioners of old goa who have mentioned that no proper inventory of religious articles, holy pictures, furniture’s, fictures, paintings etc were being maintained by asi and church authorities and that there was no proper coordination maintained between the asi and church authorities whenever such paintings, anti crafts, religious items are removed for restoration 

 The altar of our lady of good hope and other in the se cathedral are in a dilapidated condition for the past several moths and no restoration work whatsoever has been initiated in spite of several oral requests and reminders on the ground that no budgetary provision have yet been made

 While we appreciate the demolition of the rooms near the see cathedral the shed behind the museum still remains and the parishioners would like to draw the attention against the conversion of the arches of st Francis of Assisi church in to rooms provided for accommodation to the asi staff

 The parishioner’s have brought to the notice of the asi in the past that there have been serious instances where huge pieces of plaster and stone have collapsed from the ceiling of blessed sacrament chapel in the see-cathedral during the religious services thereby rendering the chapel unsafe to conduct religious services and the same has not been attended yet

 The asi has also built structures near the cemetery which was initially used to store construction material but is now being used to park their staff vehicles while the compound wall around the cathedral is incomplete starting from the public toilets behind the cathedral to the chapel of st Catherine

 The security employed by the asi is a waste of taxpayer’s money as they fail to maintain the decorum and sanctity of the complex as it is noticed that gardens are used for unlawful activities such as smoking and consumption of alcohol etc and the security staff creates hurdles for the parishioners when they seek to enter the premises for prayers or meetings with the parish priest

04-05-2013 … The state congress party has written to the comptroller and auditor general of india asking for an immediate inquiry and audit in to the misuse and diversion of central funds done by the government of goa  ..

 In a letter written to the cag office in new delhi on 22^nd of april last month congress spokesperson sudip tamankar had mentioned that eve after being in financial crisis the present bjp led government has misused and diverse the finances received from the planning commission which had adversely affected the development of the state

Stating that huge funds from the state government treasury were spent lavishly during the iffi festival Tamankar has also charged the departments of transport, pwd and idc as some of the major corruption departments during the present tenure of bjp led government

04-05-2013 … In a bit to oppose the state government idea of setting up an ultra modern mix garbage plant coming up at old goa the old goa village panchayat on Sunday decided to hold up a Special meet on 26th of may for the villagers of old goa to discuss the issue of the garbage treatment plant coming up at baigunim in old goa

 The decision was taken at the old goa village panchayat special gram sabha meet on last Sunday where

in sarpanch vishal volvoikar informed the gram sabha members about the village panchayat not receiving any intimation from the state government on the issue of setting up an ultra modern mix garbage treatment plant till date …

The issue was brought up at the gram sabha meet by a local village siddesh naik and son of north goa mp shripad naik who in his proposal asked the village panchayat at the gram sabha meet as what stand the village panchayat had taken over the baigunim issue when the locals had opposed the baigunim garbage treatment plant tooth and nail and still then the state government had gone and announced about their decision of setting up a mix garbage treatment plant …

Sarpanch volvoikar also informed about the village panchayat taking a resolution for asking the state government to invite pope francis for the 2014 exposition at old goa …

03-05-2013 … As a part of its corporate social responsibilities Syngenta Santa Monica Works on Tuesday distributed supplementary food packets to 45 tuberculosis patients from Corlim, Mangado and Carambolim at the primary health centre in corlim village.

 Cumbarjua mla pandurang madkaikar was the chief guest for the function along with manager of corporate social responsibility manager sakharam borkar, Andrew dsouza, medical officer corlim primary heatlh centre dr kedar raikar and others ..

 Speaking on the occasion cumbarjua mla pandurang madkaikar applauded the various programmes conducted by the state health department for tb patients due to which a number of tb cases had decreased in to the village of corlim and surrounding areas

Manager of corporate social responsibilities sygenta sakharam borkar said that sygenta in association with the primary health centre corlim were conducting many health programmes for the villagers of corlim and surrounding areas which were important for a common person in their day to day life