Panaji, August  10, 2018 … The Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) had recently held a program on ‘Eco conservation of Goa’s Precious wild edible Termitomyces Mushroom (Roen Alami) diversity and threat due to its uncontrolled Exploitation’ at Auditorium Hall, Goa Science Centre & Planetarium, Miramar, Panaji on July 6, 2018.

The lecture was delivered by Dr. Nandkumar Kamat, Professor Department of Botany, Goa University along with Ms. Rosy Agnes De Souza, Department of Science & Technology (DST) inspire, SRF, Ph.D research scholar, Department  of Botany enlightened the participants about the ‘Roen Alami’, Goa’s edible wild mushroom, cultivated by mound builder termites that would be sold on the roadside and appear in major markets at premium price for the phallic shaped young stages. He explained the Termite mound ecosystem and also the ecological or economic importance of termite mushroom.

Further, GSBB has appealed  to  the general public that considering limited availability to the wild varieties of mushrooms people should follow traditional methods of harvesting where people always use to keep considerable quantity of mushrooms in termite mound for the sustainability and availability of germ plasm so that in future people of Goa can continue to enjoy this rare and rich resource.

And also advised to consume certified and scientifically produced mushrooms available in the market. This will save wild Termitomyces mushrooms & other varieties thereby preserving integrity of our ecosystem.

Panaji, August  9, 2018 …. The statement of market price has intimated by the Registrar of Co-operatative societies of important essential commodities in Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco for the week ending August 3, 2018.

The wholesale, prices of parboiled rice local, parboiled rice outside, raw rice super fine, raw rice fine, raw rice common and gur fine remained steady in all the markets during the week. Sugar S-30 at Panaji and Margao increased by Rs.2/- and Re.1/- to Rs.2/- per kilo respectively, but was steady in other markets.

The prices of turdal barshi, moongdal, uraddal, moong and gram kabuli big   remained steady in all the markets during the week. Gramdal at Margao decreased by Rs.5/- per kilo, but was steady in other markets. Masoordal and peasdry at Mapusa increased by Rs.5/- to Rs.10/- and Rs.5/- per kilo respectively, , but was steady in other markets.

The prices of sunflower oil, coconut oil and Vanaspati ghee Dalda packet of 1 liter remained steady in all the market during the week.

 Prices of onion, beans, cabbage and chillies green remained steady in all the markets during the week under review. Potatoes  at Panaji and Margao increased by Rs.5/- to Rs.10/- per and Rs.2/- per kilo respectively, the same at Mapusa decreased by Rs.5/- to Rs.10/-, but was steady in Vasco markets. Tomatoes at Panaji, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco  decreased by Rs.5/-, Rs.5/- to Rs.10/-, Rs.5/- and Rs.5/- per kilo respectively.   

The prices of coconuts of 100 bharti, 120 bharti, 150 bharti and 180 bharti remained steady in all markets during the week under review.

Panaji, August  08, 2018 …. The District Magistrate (DM), South Goa  District Margao has ordered and imposed a complete ban on all such activities involving use of lantern kites/wish kites and use of laser beam  with intensity lights especially during festivals within 2 kms of Dabolim Airport boundary to avoid danger to the safety of the aircrafts during its landing and take off for a period of 60 days with effect from August 1, 2018.

Panaji, August  08, 2018 …. Goa will observe the death anniversary of its first Chief Minister  late Shri Dayanand B.  Bandodkar on Sunday, August 12. Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Dr. Pramod Sawant along with the Council of Ministers and other dignitaries will  pay floral tributes on the  Samadhi of the departed leader  at Maramar at 8.45 a.m. and pay their  homage.

Thereafter the dignitaries will proceed to Old Secretariat, Panaji and pay tributes to the life size statue of  the leader at 9.00 am followed by garlanding of the statue of Late Shri Bandodkar at the Secretariat Complex at Porvorim at 9.15 a.m.

Panaji: August 6, 2018 … The Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar launched Wi-Fi services at Secretariat Complex and Ministers’ Block commissioned and installed by the Department of Information and Technology in collaboration with General Administration Department, Government of Goa, in the presence of Minister for IT and Revenue, Shri Rohan Khaunte on Monday.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Parrikar said the launch of the project is in pursuance of the Digital Initiative of the Prime Minister, ShriNarendra Modi. Shri Parrikar further said the secured and fast Wi-Fi will help in speeding up the administration work.

Shri Khaunte said that the Government has also plans to extend the Wi-Fi facility to Government Departments, schools, colleges in a phased manner wherever GBBN connectivity is provided. Shri Khaunte further informed that the proposed Wi-Fi solution is scalable upto 10,000 APs, across the state and can be integrated with the GBBN network.

The salient features of Wi-Fi include present internet bandwidth which is 100 Mbps which is scalable upto 10 Gbps and supports voice video and data. Guest users can login using mobile number and can use internet for one hour duration.

Panaji :August 07,2018 … Chief Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar Launches GTDC’s Goa’s first and exclusive mobile app based taxi service ‘GOAMILES’ ‘at the secretariat Porvorim on Monday.

Minister for Tourism, Shri Manohar alias Babu Azgaonkar, Chairman Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Shri Nilesh Cabral, Secretary for Tourism, Shri Sheo Pratap Singh, IAS, Director of Department of Tourism, Shri Menino D’Souza and  Managing Director ,GTDC, Shri Nikhil Desai  were  present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Parrikar said that with this new App launched, potential of business will multiply two to three times and also the income for the taxi owners will also proliferate .Shri Parrikar further said that this will guarantee  no potential of cheating for customers as it  is app based service. He further informed that Taxi drivers will not have to pay from their pocket as charges will be recovered from consumers and the drivers will get their full fare.

Shri  Azgaonkar expressing his happiness over the launch of Goa’s First mobile app based service GOA MILES said that it  will offer a better experience to customers by making the taxi fare payment easy and secure. Shri Azgaonkar said that around 2000 to 3000 taxi operators have already joined under this service  and further requested all taxi owners from all across the state to come under this service.

The launch of ‘GOAMILES’ will bring about a revolutionary change in travel in and around Goa for both tourists and locals and provide benefit to taxi drivers serving under the new initiative. ‘GOAMILES’ will provide the convenience of booking a taxi immediately upon arrival in the state at reasonable, Government approved rates. The ‘GOAMILES’ app can be downloaded from Google play store or apple store.

‘GOAMILES’ has made sure that these service also benefits the taxi drivers equally by not charging anything from their revenues, as against the popular trend elsewhere in India and world over. Taxi drivers will receive payment on a daily basis.

  Panaji: August 07, 2018 … The prospectus of R-ANM program for the year 2018-19 will be available at the Office of the  Principal, Institute of Nursing Education, Bambolim from August 13, 2018 during office hours between 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 m. For further details visit website www.dhsgoa.gov.in

The last date for submission of complete application forms along with testimonials is August 27, 2018 by 4.00 p.m. The program is open only for females. The cost of the prospectus is Rs.200/-. The academic session begins on October 1, 2018.  

Panaji:- August  6, 2018 ….  Minister for Health, Shri Vishwajit Rane launched  the Newborn Screening Programme organized by the Directorate of Health Services, Panaji and Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim at Goa Medical College, Bambolim today.

 Shri Rane while addressing the gathering expressed his happiness over the restarting of Newborn Screening Programme. He said that saving life of a new born is a big responsibility as the state is concerned, and therefore quality health care is very important and Goa is the first State to initiate this programme forward, he added.

The Minister further said that there are a number of inborn errors of metabolism that babies can be born with, these can be completely cured if diagnosed immediately after the birth. This program he said will be extremely beneficial to the people of Goa and therefore urged the people to avail benefit of this programme for the well being of the new born child.

 Dean of Goa Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Pradeep Naik, Director of Directorate of Health Services Dr. Sanjeev Dalvi, CEO of Neaogen Labs, Bangalore Shri Thomas Mookken were present on the ocassion.

The programme was followed by the demonstration of newborn screening Test.

HoD Pediatrics Department, Dr.Mimi Silveira welcomed the gathering while Dr.Arpita K.R compered and Chief Medical Officer State Family Welfare Bureau, Dr. Vandana Dhume proposed  vote of thanks

Margao:  August 06, 2018 … The District Magistrate and Chairperson of South Goa District Crisis Group, Dr. TariqThomas have decided to conduct a mock drill between 10.30 a.m. to 12.00 Noon on August 29, 2018 at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroluem Corporation Ltd, Vasco.  The drill is a part of the planned activity to have such drills at all the 8 Major Accidental Hazardous Units (MAH) in South Goa.

The South District Magistrate, Dr. Thomas assesing the risk areas in the likely scenario, i.e, the fruit and the vegetable market along with others during the drill expressed the need to co-ordinate with the people  undertaking the activity by having a meeting with the stakeholders by the concerned agencies.

Dr. Thomas stressed the need to have minimal disruptions of normal life of putting the general public to inconvenience and difficulties and felt that the people in the vicinity should participate for their own good – to prepare themselves for actual reality.

Dr. Thomas called upon all the line agenies to appoint a Nodal Officer for the purpose and sought co-operation to ensure and improvise upon the SOP to meet any eventualities in real life.

The general public are informed that the traffic F.L. Gomes Road will be diverted through the Swanthatha Road during the aforesaid time on the given day and appealed to the people to co-operate with the authorities.

It may be informed that the South Goa District Crisis Group have recently successfully conducted drills at two installations, namely, Zuari Agro Chemcials Ltd. and Zuari Indian Oil Ltd. out of the 8 Major Accidental Hazardous Units (MAH) in South Goa.  The objective of the drills is to create awareness among the residents of the locality on how to take safety measures and prepare themselves during such incidences.