OHERALDOThe Voice of Goa Since 1900

HEERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

Green cess of more than Rs 200crore has not been collected bythe government, a legislativepanel has said.

The estimates committee of2009-10 on mines department,chaired by Aldona legislatorDayanand Narvekar, has saidthat it is pained to hear aboutthe lack of revenue accrued tothe government from the mining

industry.The

c o m -mitteed i dn o tg e t

figures of transportation orgreen cess for movement of min-erals to Goa and could not as-sess revenue collected as perthe decision of the governmentin 2008-09 to levy green cess,the report says adding butofficially it was stated that thegovernment has not collectedgreen cess of more than Rs 200crores the in last two years.

However, it adds, the mineralore imported in Goa has at-tracted transportation cess ofaround 25 to 30 crore every year.

It is highly objectionable thatthe government has failed tocollect cess for transportationfrom miners to loading point toexport.

Further, the committee ob-

served that there are no detailsavailable as yet of the iron oreof non-Goan origin which ismoved into Goa sector andthereafter exported through.

The committee also statedthat the figure published by theGoa Mineral Ore Exporters As-sociation (GMOEA) for 2008-09cannot be totally relied upon.

The committee recommendsthe government to speed up onbringing up a streamlined min-ing policy by taking into accountall parameters like road safety,environmental concern, revenuecollection etc, the report said.

The committee has also de-manded stringent action to con-trol illegal mining in the State.

Business: Cashless facility row

to be resolved soon Pg 13

Visit us at:www.oheraldo.in panjim, saturday, july 31, 2010 priCE rs. 3.00 (air surcharge rs. 1.50) pages 18

Stupid Architect!! With all the de-tails I gave him, I was expectinga simple design of Dona Paula -Vasco Sea Link...

(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10)Barge fraternity shocked

There can be noreal individual free-

dom in the pres-ence of economic

insecurity. Chester Bowles

World: Jennifer Lopez to judge

American Idol Pg 11

IN BRIEF

Sports: Khel Ratna for

Saina Nehwal Pg 18

PTI

MUMBAI, JULY 30

Amid high drama, Kolkata-basedmodel Dimpy Ganguly walkedout of her four-month-old TVmarriage with Rahul Mahajan,accusing him of punching, kick-ing and dragging her by haironly to return home after an ap-parent patch-up.

Dimpy (22) married Rahul (36)son of late BJP leader PramodMahajan, with much fanfare onthe Imagine TV reality showRahul Dulhaniya Le Jayega inMarch this year.

Rahul beat me up early onThursday morning after wakingme up to know the contents ofa message that had beeped onmy phone. When I asked himto go back to sleep, he flew intoa rage and began hitting me. Hepunched, kicked and draggedme by the hair, Dimpy said.

Dimpy showed bruises on hershin and right and left hands.Her left cheek was also swollenand she had a lump on her head.

The model, who left home

vowing never to return, told re-porters that she had had a con-versation with Rahul, whoexpressed regret. Dimpy re-turned to the Mahajan residencein Worli in the afternoon today.

Rahul has apologised. He re-grets his action sincerely. I amsad at what happened, Dimpysaid, adding I havent recoveredfrom what happened.

I am extremely upset andhurt, Dimpy said, adding, Ineed some time alone to re-cover.

Asked about the future of hermarriage, the model said shedid not want to comment fur-ther and needed time to thinkthings over.

Mahajans wife alleges abuse

Goa to havegateway!

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

Scarlets mother, Fiona Macke-own, today told court that herdaughters Israeli friend, Shanti,was a nuisance but harmless, al-though she suspected him tobe behind her murder initially.

When I learnt about passing

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The Goa legislative assemblytoday resolved building a Gate-way of Goa at three majorcheck-posts of the state.

In an attempt to promoteawareness on Goas history, Con-gress legislator Victoria Fernan-des had tab led a p r i va temembers resolution on buildinga Gateway of Goa.

Citing that Gateway of Indiain Mumbai was constructed byBritishers for their own glory,the only lady legislator said thismove in Goa would promote pa-triotism and nationalism. Thiswill depict Goas freedomsstruggle, satyagrahas and a trib-ute to all the soldiers and satya-

grahis who sacrificed their livesfor freedomIt is not aboutmoney or expenditure but pa-triotism, she said.

She elaborated that the plan,its design in unique architecturalset up with necessary facilitiescan showcase episodes of free-dom struggle and post liberationprogress prominently at Polem,Molem and Patradevi checkposts. It can be educationaland tourist attraction as wellwith a garden and other appeal-ing assets in the premise, shesaid.

The resolution was passedafter unanimous consent in theAssembly and Chief MinisterDigambar Kamat supporting itas a good concept.

Fiona absolvesIsraeli suspect

FIONA SPEAKSl Scarlets Israeli friend, Shanti,was a nuisance but harmless. Hedidnt threaten, misbehave.l Scarlet occasionally drank beer,but to my knowledge never con-sumed drugs.l She had wide social life withfriends inside & outside school.l PSI Nerlon initially tried to coverup case.l The police officer told me firstthat she drowned. Scarlet wasvery good in swimming.

away of my daughter, my firstsuspect was Shanti. But he washarmless, Mackeown said.

Two-and-half years after herdaughter was found dead, theBritish mother today deposedbefore the Goa ChildrensCourt, where she refuted the

Six Goa unitshit hard byKtaka ban

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The Karnataka governments de-cision to ban iron ore exportshas already adversely affectedthe running of six pig andsponge iron manufacturing unitsin Goa.

According to a GCCI commu-niqu, six units Aparant Ironand Steel Pvt Limited, Sesa In-dustries Ltd , Shradha Ispat PvtLtd, Ambey Metallic Ltd, GoaSponge & Power Limited andShritik Ispat Limited, which areusing high grade iron ore avail-able in Karnataka as their rawmaterial, face prospects of shut-ting down if the ban is not lifted.

Banning of movement ofheavy vehicles through theKarwar district highway andthe subsequent complete banon export of ore outside the

ESTIMATE PANEL PROPOSALSl The government should work on a streamlined mining

policy by taking into account all parameters like roadsafety, environmental concern, revenue collection etc

l Stringent action to control illegal mining in the State.

l Proper data should be maintained by inspecting mines l Reports should be submitted on mining leases.

l All mining companies be compulsorily be made to put upboards at the mining site clearly providing details.

Govt failed to collectRs 200 cr green cess

ON PAGE 5

Obama to address joint

session PTI

NEW DELHI, JULY 30

United States President BarackObama, who will undertake hisfirst State visit to India in No-vember, is expected to addressa joint session of parliament, anhonour that his predecessorGeorge W Bush could not have.

Obama is expected to addressthe joint session on November9, government sources said heretoday.

In view of this plan, the wintersession of parliament, that usu-ally starts in the second weekof November, will be advanced,they said.

Obama, who took over as theUS President in January last year,will be undertaking his first Statevisit to India with an aim ofpushing the bilateral ties to newheights.

SC rejects Sobhrajs

appealPTI

KATHMANDU, JUL 30

Dashing his hopes of freedom,Nepals Supreme Court todayrejected bikini killer CharlesSobhrajs appeal against convic-tion in a sensational 1975 mur-der case of an American womanhere and upheld the life termawarded to the wily Indian-ori-gin criminal by the lower courts.

66-year-old Sobhraj was alsofound guilty by the apex courtof possessing a fake passport.

Rejecting the appeal of theinternational criminal againstconviction in the murder ofAmerican tourist Connie JoBronzich, a two-judge benchcomprising Ram Kumar PrasadShaha and Gauri Dhakal upheldthe 20-year life term awardedby the Kathmandu district courtand Patan appellate court.

Landslide atAmboli Ghat Hundreds of vehicles proceed-ing between Goa and Belgaumwere stranded for over threehours due to a major landslideat the Amboli Ghat late Fridayevening.According to sources, thelandslide occurred at about7.30 pm and about 3-kmstretch of road was blocked inthe difficult Ghat section,about 5 kms from Amboli inSindhudurg district. However,no casualty was reported.Sindhudurg police immedi-ately got into the rescue act,while cranes were alsopressed into service. Heavyrains and fog made the rescueoperations difficult. (HC)

Five CRPFmen killed At least five CRPF personnelwere killed and 44 others in-jured, 15 of them seriously,when militants triggered apowerful IED blast at Bhaluk-budi in the district today, thesecond major attack onsecurity forces in Assam thisweek.The IED was placed under astaff bus carrying personnel ofthe CRPFs 12th battalion `ECompany to Goalpara townfrom their Agiya Balijana campthrough dense forest ataround eight am, District Su-perintendent of Police LouitAind said. Four of the victimsdied on the spot. (PTI)

Two killed in Valley clashes Security forces opened fire toquell stone-pelting protestersas fresh violence todayerupted in the Kashmir Valleyafter days of relative calm,leaving two persons dead and50 others injured.Authorities imposed strict re-strictions on the movement ofpeople following a call by theseparatists to march toMaisuma in the heart of thecity in protest against thekilling of youths allegedly infiring by security forces. (PTI)

Fiona Mackeown accompanied by legal counsel Vikram Varma arrivesat the Goa Childrens Court on Friday. Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

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GOA, SATURDAY, 31 JULY, 2010

GOA Pg 2OHERALD

O

HERALD REPRTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The Opposition on Friday scored some morebrownie points against Home Minister, RaviNaik who also holds Co-operation portfolioby effectively demonstrating inaction ofRegistrar of Co-operatives office and policedepartment against fraudulent directors ofcertain Urban Co-operative Credit Societies(UCCS).

Pernem MLA, Dayanand Sopte highlightedthe issue of eleven UCCS that are facingthe risk of losing public deposits totallingRs 12.95 crore due to financial manipulationof the directors.

During Question Hour on Friday, PernemMLA demanded to know what has beendone to protect interest of the depositorsof eleven UCCS.

Referring to the case of Curti KhandeparUrban Co-operative Credit Society Ltd, Shi-roda MLA, Mahadev Naik pointed out thatpolice have not taken any action againstthree senior office bearers of the Society.

The directors of the society, Netaji Sam-bary and Audhoot Kamat whereas manager,Neelima Panandikar are still at large evenas FIR was filed against three.

The Chief Minister in its reply statedthat administrator has been appointedand police complaint has been filed. ButNaik demanded to know what action wastaken to get back documents attachedwhen the premises of Kurti KhandeparUrban Co-operative Society Ltd, weresealed on orders of the civil court in2007 after wife of the ex-chairman filedsuit.

Currently, committee of administratorshas not been able to conduct day-to-daybusiness due to non-availability of books.

Leader of the Opposition Manohar Par-rikar charged that there has been no actionfrom either Registrars office nor policesince last three years thanks to politicalprotection three accused are enjoying.

Shiroda MLA revealed more embarrassinginformation when he pointed out that one

of the accused, Audhoot Kamat managedto get loan of Rs 5 lakh from Shiroda UrbanCo-operative Society even as he faced crim-inal charges. See the links, Parrikar re-torted further adding that police have beenseating tight on the case due to politicalpressure.

Doing damage control exercise, ChiefMinister Digambar Kamat said nobody willbe allowed to get away with money of smallinvestors and he would initiate action. Healso the assured the House to hold imme-diate meeting with the registrar of co-op-erative societies and police to check intoallegations levelled by the Opposition mem-bers with respect to Kurti-Khandepar UrbanCo-operative Credit Society.

The Chief Minister also informed theHouse that he would look into why registrarof co-operatives who enjoys power to su-percede directors of the society in casethere is financial mismanagement not ex-ercised powers vested in him when suchcases were referred to him.

BJP flays Ravi for inactionagainst corrupt co-op directors

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

A legislative panel has con-demned the sluggish and irre-sponsible behaviour of the GoaUniversity over the implemen-tation of the Sports Policy.

The sports policy was notifiedin October 2009 and the samewas put before the standing com-mittee of the academic council.

but from the approach ofthe University it is obvious thatit has scant regards for sports,the adhoc committee on Edu-

cation, chaired by DayanandNarvekar, said in its reporttabled in the Goa legislative as-sembly today.

The report says that no prom-ising action has been made bythe university except delibera-tions on the issue.

The students in the universitywill be denied whole heartedparticipation in sports as theywill not be able to avail relax-ation on their attendance as wellas the sports merit marks in ac-cordance with the sports policy,

the committee observed addingthis attitude demoralises theenthusiasm of the sportspersonto further his potential.

The committee has con-demned the high handed atti-tude of the university, whichreceives grants from the gov-ernment but fails to uphold thedecision of the cabinet.

The report says the commit-tee at no point of time desiresto intervene in the academicprocedures of the university butobserves that after a period of

nine months of issuance of thenotification nothing has comeforth, speaks volumes of thescant respect of the universitytowards sports, it says.

The committee desires thatthe university adheres to thecabinet decision on sports policyso that students are allowed toparticipate in sports.

The committee requests thegovernment to take up the issuefor quick implementation duringthis academic year before Oc-tober 2010.

GU flayed for sluggish behaviouron sports policy implementation

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

A report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Fi-nance has observed the Goa University inspite of funds available had made no effortsto complete a project on plant and fungusbiodiversities inventory and conservationefforts for the western region of Goa.

The report notes the committee waspained to note in spite of funds availableunder the Western Ghats Development Pro-gramme (WGDP) till date only preliminaryreport has been submitted. The varsityhas made no serious efforts to submit the

final report, it mentioned and added, Tak-ing into consideration the importance ofthe project it should have been completedwithin the scheduled time.

The committee strongly recommendedto the university to come out with the finalreport and intimate it on the progressachieved in the matter.

Further, as specified in the ad hoc com-mittee report, GU has submitted terminalreport of phase I of the project.

It noted that Phase II of the project hadbeen approved by the Planning Commissionand the same was in progress. The work of

terminal consolidated project report (TCRP)of Phase II is in initial stage, the committeeinformed.

The coordination of implementing theWatershed Development Programmeschemes under WGDP has been entrustedto the State Level Watershed Committeeunder chairmanship of the Chief Secretary.

The ad hoc committee in its report men-tioned the actual expenditure incurredunder hill area (Western Ghats) has beennil for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10. Theactual total plan allocation during theseyears was Rs 20 lakh.

GU asked to complete project on Western region

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The post mortem on Raveena Rodrigues, a 16-year-old girl who died in Goa Medical College(GMC) on July 29, a fortnight after she was ad-mitted, was conducted on Friday.

The girl was admitted in GMC after she un-derwent appendisectomy at a private hospitalin Vasco earlier this month.

The girl was apparently brought to GMCwhen she developed complications while shewas undergoing treatment at Vasco hospitalbut her case was not registered as medico legalcase when she was admitted in GMC.

The girls family had filed a police complaintat Vasco police station yesterday alleging neg-ligence by doctors.

A senior doctor who did not wish to benamed, said when any patient is brought toGMC in unconscious state or in critical conditionfrom other hospital, the case has to be regis-tered as medico legal case.

But it was not done in this case because oneof the senior most surgeon attached to GMC

who also has "thriving" private practice hadoperated the girl at the private hospital and asa result, when she was brought to GMC it wasnot reported as medico legal case, said thesource.

After she was shifted to the GMC, her familywas informed that she would have to be oper-ated again. When contacted Dr Rajesh Patil,Unit IV head, Associate Professor, Departmentof Surgery, GMC said patient was brought toGMC as her condition deteriorated.

Patient was admitted in GMC and was ur-gently operated by surgeons on duty withinone and half hour of admission, said Dr Patil.

But three days after operation, patient starteddeveloping respiratory complications of Arti-ficial Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)and was shifted to ICU for the same.

Her renal and respiratory parameters startedworsening. There was no negligence on thepart of GMC doctors at any stage.

Inspite of best intensive supportive caregiven to the patient in the ICU, she expired onJuly 29, 2010, said Dr Patil.

Doctor rules out negligence at GMC

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, JULY 30

Refuting the allegations thathis nursing home had beennegligent in the operation ofthe 16-year-old girl from Verna,who subsequently died at GMCHospital, Pai Nursing Home Di-rector Dr Shridhar Pai claimedthat his nursing home merelyprovided facilities for doctorsto operate on the girl.

It may be recalled that onThursday, Raveena Rodriguesdied under mysterious circum-stances at the Goa Medical Col-lege Hospital in Bambolim,prompting family members tolodge a complaint with Vasco Po-lice.

Speaking to media on Fridaymorning at his office in Vad-dem-Vasco, Dr Pai said his nurs-ing home is just a serviceprovider to various doctors,

who seek to admit their pa-tients.

Similarly, Raveena Ro-drigues was admitted in mynursing home by a doctor forappendicitis. We provided ouroperation theatre, bed felici-ties, nurses, besides other fa-c i l i t i e s requ i red i n thehospital, stated Dr Pai.

He denied that they weredirectly involved in the oper-ation of the patient and reit-erated that his nursing homehad just provided facilities tooperate the patient.

The patient was diagnosedand assisted in the operationby the doctor, who had admit-ted her, while another doctorfrom outside had operated onher, said Dr Pai.

He further informed thatRaveena was admitted in PaiNursing Home on July 3 and

was there for six days.She was discharged after

satisfactory results. However,subsequently after one day,she reported abdominal pain,vomiting and abdominal dis-tension and after consideringher health status, she was re-ferred to GMC, he said.

Vasco Po l i ce P I B razMenezes informed that au-topsy was conducted, but thereport has been kept pending,as few reports are still awaited.Doctors, who performed au-topsy, have claimed that thereis evidence of septicemia.

As per the government no-tification, we have asked theGMC dean to form a panel ofdoctors to conduct the post-mortem since complainant hasalleged that this case is dueto medical negligence, addedPI Menezes.

Nursing home just service provider to doctors, says Dr Pai

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

MAYEM, JULY 30

With torrential rains lashing theState, the water level of An-junem dam has increased to89.32 metres, with officials plan-ning to release water if the levelstouch around 91 metres.

According to senior engineerof Anjunem dam M P Totagaddi,though the maximum waterlevel of Anjunem dam is 92.20mtrs, the water will be releasedany time, but during low tidewhen the level reaches up to91 mtrs, to avoid further dan-ger.

All the municipal councils,panchayats and villagers havebeen informed about it throughthe notices. At Nanora, thewater entered into some houseswhich were situated at low-lyingareas, he said.

As far as destruction ofhouses is concerned, 36 houseshave collapsed so far, addedTotagaddi.

While informing about thegravity of rainfall, Bicholim Mam-latdar Pramod Bhat said onThursday itself, the rainfallrecorded was 4 inches, howeverthere was no danger eventhough the water level from therivers had increased.

There has also been increasein the water level from Wal-wanti, Kashti and Bicholimrivers, which has led to destruc-tion of 36 houses so far, causinga loss of about Rs 6.19 lakh.

The low-lying areas like Ban-darwada, Gaonkarwada, Man-derkarwda and some areasfrom Nanora have come underwater. The Disaster Manage-ment Cell Bicholim is ready forany rescue operation.

Villagers, including womenwashing clothes in the rivers,cattle owners, people crossing

rivers, from Bicholim and Sat-tari talukas and those residingon the bank of the rivers havebeen alerted about the dan-ger.

Meanwhile, farmers from Bi-cholim and Sattari talukas arefacing acute hardships to workin the fields, as their farms havebeen inundated with water.

Meanwhile, a partially col-lapsed old house, which wasalong the road at Sunder Peth,Bicholim, collapsed completely.Bicholim Mamlatdar PramodBhat inspected the house.

The Anjunem Dam. Photo by Vishant Vaze

House witnesses

noisy scenes over

water shortage

in PorvorimHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The House witnessed noisyscenes over the acute watershortage faced by the residentsof Porvorim plateau.

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leg-islator Dilip Parulerkar tabled aPrivate Members Resolution inthe House demanding the Gov-ernment to set up 50 MLD WaterTreatment Plant next to NationalHighway at Guirim.

The setting up of water treat-ment plant will solve water prob-lem in places of Porvorim, Siolim,Mapusa and Calangute, he said.

Acknowledging the gravity ofthe i s sue , P WD Min i s te rChurchill Alemao told the As-sembly that provision of total50 MLD in Assnora would beready by 2010 December-end.

This, he said, will raise the ca-pacity to 110 MLD that will caterto entire Bardez populace till 2025.

To improve the distribution,three overhead reservoirs havebeen undertaken and is nearingcompletion, he said.

Former minister DayanandNarvekar blamed the non coor-dination between the power de-partment and water supply forwater crisis.

Water cannot be pumpedout due to water failurethereis no coordinationthis affectsthe water supply, he lamented.

The PWD minister ChurchillAlemao should give a concreteassurance to the people of Por-vorim or face agitation, he saidadding the minister should seta deadline and say that if he failsto meet that he will not enterthe assembly again.

Leader o f Oppos i t ionManohar Parrikar too echoedthe said problem.

Following this, the resolutionwas withdrawn even as the min-ister said it will ask PWD De-partment for a detailed projectreport.

Water level at Anjunem dam rising, poses threat!

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JULY 30

Uproar marked the meeting of the SouthGoa Zilla Panchayat on Friday over whoshould head the three-member committeeconstituted to look out for land towardsthe construction of a Zilla Bhavan.

The meeting witnessed verbal duel andnoisy scenes between the ruling and oppo-sition members after Chairperson Maria Re-bello suggested that the panel should beheaded by Member Dayanand Pagi. Thisevoked sharp reaction from members NellyRodrigues and Domnic Gaonkar.

At one stage, the Chairperson said thatthe matter should be left for Nelly to decideas the members claimed she has been fight-ing for the Zilla member for 10 years.

On the other hand, Nelly suggested thatthe three member committee should com-prise of Dayanand Pagi, Domnic Gaonkar

and Edwin (Cipru) Cardozo.Nelly said that Domnic should be on the

committee as the land in question has beenidentified by him at Raia and will be in abetter position to monitor the works.

During the verbal duel, Domnic chargedthe ruling group for doing the setting onwho would form part of the committee.

Incidentally, confusion prevailed as towho was finally appointed as Chairman ofthe Committee. When the ZP Chief ExecutiveOfficer N S Navti was contacted by newsmencovering the meeting, he initially said thatthe meeting decided to appoint DomnicGaonkar as the Chairman since he will bein a better position to coordinate with thedonor of the land.

Navti, however, later said that since Chair-person Maria had suggested the name ofDaya Pagi, the ZP member from Poinguinimwill head the three-member panel.

The panel is expected to submit the reportto the Chairperson within a period of 45 days.

Earlier, the CEO told the members thatthe ZP has funds to the tune of Rs 1.15crore and can be utilised for building a ZPbhavan or outright purchase of office space.He, however, informed the members thatthe ZP is not empowered to acquire land,but can use the fund if the land is donatedto the district Panchayat body.

Meanwhile, the meeting discussed theissue of grass cutting machines not beingreturned by the former ZP members backto the office. In this connection, the CEOsaid he would be compelled to lodge anFIR against the former members if the ma-chines are not returned back immediately.

The meeting thanked Panchayat MinisterBabu Azgaonkar, leader of the OppositionManohar Parrikar and other MLAs for sup-porting the demand of the Zilla panchayats.

Zilla Bhavan construction

Scarlets agequestioned

in courtHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

A question over the age of Scarletwas raised in the court on Friday,when her mother Fiona Macke-owns deposition was going on.

The issue was raised by JosePeter DSouza, a lawyer defend-ing accused Placido Carvalho.

He said that whether passportissued by a foreign nation canbe a valid proof in the criminalmatter, which is going on inIndia or Goa.

Her age is in dispute. Theage given on her passport andcertified by forensic doctor isdifferent, the lawyer said.

While British passport andScarlets mother indicates herage as 15, forensic expert DrSilvano Sapeco, who conductedfirst postmortem on Scarletsbody had certified her as be-tween 16 to 18 years of age.

Doctors statement is an ap-proximation. Under Geneva con-vention, documents issued bysovereign governments are ad-missible not only in civil but crim-inal matters too, Vikram Varma,told reporters outside the court.

He said that the conventionadopted in Geneva is an inter-national law. How does anyonedoubt passport of another sov-ereign government, Varma, said.

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JULY 30

The South Goa Sessions courton Friday literally pulled up theCrime branch while granting an-

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JULY 30

Maintaining that the High Court obser-vations are binding on the court, theSouth Goa Sessions Court on Friday re-jected the bail application of Russianwoman rape accused John Fernandes say-ing his bail plea could be considered onlyafter the main prosecution witnesses areexamined in the trial, but not before it.

The High Court has observed that theaccused will be at liberty to apply for bailto the Sessions court after the main pros-ecution witnesses are examined in the trialof the accused. These wordings are veryimportant and binding on the court. Thebail plea could be considered only afterthe main prosecution witnesses are exam-ined in the trial but not before it, observedAdditional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande.

Judge Deshpande did not agree withthe contention of defense lawyer, AdvAnacleto Viegas that there is no questionof tampering since the victim is now inRussia. This contention is not correct astampering could be done even by anyother means and not required the physical

presence of victim in India, he added.The judge said such a bail application

could be entertained only when the mainprosecution witnesses are examined andnot prior to it once it has been observedby the High Court that no case is madeout for bail even after filing of chargesheetand liberty is granted only after examina-tion of the main prosecution witnesses.

Saying that efforts are made by theprosecution and the court to examinethe main witnesses as early as possible,Judge Deshpande said the muddemalproperty is still not received from CFSL,Hyderabad along with the report. Suchmuddemal is essential piece of evidencein connection with the offense of rapeand identification of it is necessary atthe time of trial, he added.

The victims presence could be securedas early as possible together with otherwitnesses. Therefore, only because someof the witnesses are examined during thetrial, the accused cannot invoke the libertygranted to him by the HC since the mainwitnesses, the victim and others are yetto be examined, observed the judge.

Court pulls up Crime branch, grants bail to Nadias brother

ticipatory bail to Nadia Torradosbrother Konrad in the Nadiadeath case.

It seems that the entire in-vestigation was revolvingaround the main accused andno effort was made to arrestKonrad even though he was reg-ularly attending the police sta-tion during about two monthsnor the recovery was made dur-ing interrogations at the in-s tance of the appl icant ,Additional Sessions Judge B MDeshpande observed.

Asserting that the need forcustodial interrogation of NadiaTorrados brother Konrad is notgenuine, Judge Deshpande di-rected the police to release Kon-rad on bail of Rs 10,000 withone surety in the like amountin the event of his arrest.

The Court also directed theapplicant to attend the policestation as and when called bythe investigating officer andshould not tamper with theprosecution witnesses.

Konrad was also told not toleave the State without the priorpermission of the court.

In his observation, JudgeDeshpande said there is no ap-prehension that Konrad will ab-scond and granted him bailsaying the need for custodial in-terrogation is not genuine.

The prosecution reply clearlyshows that Konrad had attendedthe police station and was in-terrogated on different occasionsand thus there is no justification

given by the Investigating agencyas to why suddenly they felt itproper to arrest him when otheraccused persons have been re-leased on bail, Judge Desh-pande observed.

The main accused as well asthe mother were also arrestedand remanded for the purposeof recovery of the same itemsand now they are enlarged onbail. Therefore, the focus is nowshifted on the applicant who wasvery much available with the IAand was interrogated on variousoccasions, the Judge said,adding there is no reason com-ing forward in the prosecutionreply as to why the applicant wasnot taken into custody on earlieroccasions when he was interro-gated on various occasions.

Bicholim man

held for

molesting

minor girlHERALD CORRESPONDENT

BICHOLIM, JULY 30

Bicholim police on Wednesdayarrested a 22-year-old man fromVathadev-Bicholim in connectionwith the molestation of a minorgirl.

According to Bicholim Police,one Jainur Shafikul Khan was ar-rested on Wednesday night andwas remanded to police cus-tody.

According to reports, theeight-year-old victim had goneto answer natures call at about10.30 am in the bushes near herhouse. Khan, who was herneighbour, seized the opportu-nity and went after her.

He allegedly kissed the girland also fondled with her pri-vate parts. Later, the accusedgave her a 10 rupee note to buysome chocolate and asked hernot to disclose about the inci-dent to anyone.

However, after the girl wenthome, she narrated the incidentto her mother, who was startledto hear about the incident.

The victims mother waited forher husband to return back inthe evening and later registereda case with Bicholim police.

We immediately arrested theaccused and remanded him topolice custody. We have regis-tered a molestation case aftergoing through the medical re-port, said PSI Ditendra Naik.

Bicholim Police have registereda case under Section 354 IPC andSection 8 of Childrens Act.

Uproar marks South ZP meet over panelconstitution to look out for land

1,64,405 students covered

under Mid-Day meals HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

A total of 1,64,405 students from primary (Std I toIV) and upper primary (Std V to VIII) have beencovered under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in 11talukas of the State as on June 30, 2010, revealeda reply tabled in the Monsoon Session of the GoaLegislative Assembly revealed.

The maximum number 13,915 (primary) and17,744 (upper primary) of these students, whohave availed of this scheme, hail from Salcetetaluka, followed by Bardez with figures of 12,723(primary) and 15,487 (upper primary) students.

The lowest number of students who haveavailed of this scheme are from Canacona taluka 2,503 (primary) and 2,860 (upper primary). Atotal of 83 self-help groups (SHGs) were ropedin by the Government to supply the meals.

To a question on whether there were any casesof food poisoning reported during the last aca-demic year, the written reply reported one caseof food poisoning in which 18 students of YuvakSangh High School, Sada, Vasco, developed symp-toms of illness after consuming the Mid-Daymeals.

The contract of the supplier, Saraswati SHG, fromVasco was terminated with effect from August 8,2009, and the Food and Drugs Administration alsosuspended its license.

Russian woman rape caseaccused bail plea rejected

Aluminium wires stolenHERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, JULY 30

Underground aluminium con-ductor wire worth Rs 40,000has been stolen from Guirim.

According to Mapusa Police,the Mapusa Electricity depart-ment in its complaint stated thatsome persons have stolen un-derground aluminum conductorwire of length 1.95 km, whichwas laid at Guirim.

Police further informed thatthe incident occurred betweenJuly 21 and 28. Mapusa Policehave registered the case underSection 379 of Indian Penal Code.ASI S Yeram is investigating.

GOA, SATURDAY, 31 JULY, 2010

GOA Pg 3OHERALD

O

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The Opposition on Fridaycharged that the governmenthas not done enough to takeback land allotted to seven SEZseven as SEZ policy was scrappedtwo years ago while Chief Min-ister Digambar Kamat main-tained that the three SEZs willbe de-notified.

Indicating that the governmentis serious about de-notifying threeSEZs, he said, matter will bethrashed out with Union Ministerfor Commerce and Industries,Anand Sharma post monsoon ses-sion of the Parliament.

The seven SEZ were approvedby the Central Government in2006-2007, of which, M/s K Ra-he ja Corporat ion Pvt L td(KRCPL), M/s Meditab Speciali-ties Pvt Ltd (MSPL), and M/sPeninsula Pharma Research Cen-tre Pvt Ltd (PPRC), were notifiedand have started work such asconstruction of buildings, roads,utility building, fencing.

However, it was stopped afterthe government issued them no-tices following change in its policy.

Raising the issue during Ques-tion Hour on Friday, FatordaMLA, Damu Naik queried whythe government has been hesi-

Govt has not done enough to take back land allotted to SEZs: Oppn

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

Chief Minister Digambar Kamaton Friday told Goa Assemblythat the government has takensteps to curb illegal export ofmineral ore.

The Captain of Ports (CoP)has been issued direction toallow a vessel carrying ore tosail only on submission of NOCfrom the Department of Minesvis-a-vis ore it wants to export.Similarly, chairman of Mormu-gao Port Trust (MPT) has alsobeen asked to insist on NOCfrom ore exporters using Mor-mugao Port, Kamat told whilereplying to a question tabledduring Question Hour by Ma-pusa MLA, Francis DSouza.Also, Ministry of Shipping hasbeen requested to grant per-mission to intervene, Kamatadded.

DSouza had pointed out dis-parities in royalty earned on oreexported as against ore ex-

CM claims govt has taken steps to curb illegal mineral ore export

tracted for a period between2007 and 2009.

Leader of the Opposition,Manohar Parrikar suggested thatthe government needs to taketough stand against MPT chair-man who has been hostile to-wards the state government onport expansion issue.

Summon him to the policestation and make him wait foreight hours, and you will getyour work done and wholeHouse will support chief minis-

ter in this endeavour againstMPT chairman, he said as helooked around the House seek-ing support from other mem-bers.

Perplexed Kamat though didnot commit to Parrikar on thispoint said he will consider hissuggestion.

The Chief Minister also toldthat they have already startedchecking movement of ore. In-structions have been given toidentify all mining dumps within

fifteen days and to take actionagainst unauthenticated dumps.Directions have been issued totake over such dumps and auc-tion them, he said.

He further said exercise ofverification of lease holders hasalso been started 60 per centof the work completed and Rs1 crore has been recovered. Alsodocuments received from Cus-toms department are verifiedto check if ore was been illegallyexported.

tant in taking back land fromfour SEZs that were not notified.

The Industrial DevelopmentCorporation (IDC) had allotted M/s RCPL 10,59,118 sq mts ofland in Verna Industrial Estate(VIE) PhaseIV on lease, M/sMSPL was granted 12,32,000 sqmts of land at Kerim in Pondain November, 2006 whereasPPRCPL was allotted an area of2,03,650 sq mts at Sancoale inMormugao taluka on lease.

Remaining four SEZs were al-lotted land in VIE Phase-IV. Thisinclude M/s Paradigm LogisticDistribution Pvt Ltd, (PLDPL)which has in its possession3,86,665 sq mts, M/s Inox Mer-cantile Co Pvt Ltd (IMCOL) wasallotted 5,19,832 sq mts, M/sPlanetview Mercantile Co PvtLtd, (PMCPL) was allotted2,36,176 sq mts and M/s Max-grow Finlease Pvt Ltd, was given2,03445 sq mts.

Naik said area allotted to sevenSEZs in the industrial estates hasbeen blocked which could havebeen allotted to other industries

interested in investing in Goaand land to four SEZs could havebeen easily taken back.

Kamat said, he has been con-sistently following up the matterwith the Centre even as theLeader of the Opposit ionManohar Parrikar chided himsaying the chief minister has notbeen able to get Centre to de-notify three SEZs even thoughSEZ policy was done away with,in January 2008.

Currently, matter has been sub-judice as all seven SEZs are beforeHigh Court wherein they havechallenged show cause noticesissued to them by IDC for revert-ing land allotted to them. Hearingon SEZ petitions is likely to becompleted next week, he said.

Parrikar pointed out that allpetitions could not have beenclubbed together as four SEZswere not notified and the gov-ernment counsel should haveinformed the Court about this,he said further adding the mat-ter was not properly monitoredin the High Court.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

A legislative panel has asked thegovernment to demand a shareof revenue from the Central gov-ernment from the exports ofiron ore.

The committee is of theopinion that a dialogue beinitiated by the governmentwith the Centre to enable itto receive a share of exportduty collection from exportof iron ore out of Goa in viewof the degradation of envi-ronment and its impact onthe local populace, due tomining activities, the esti-mates committee of 2009-10on Mines department, chaired

Ore exports: govt urged to demand share of

revenue from Centreby Aldona legislator DayanandNarvekar, has said in its reporttabled in the House on Fri-day.

Further, it says, in this regardgrater efforts be made to get aspecial status for Goa.

Further the committee rec-ommends the government topursue the matter with the Fi-nance commission and otherbodies to obtain more per-centage o export duty for thestate.

As regards the environmentalhazards due to mining activity,the committee is of the opinionthat the government has neithertaken serious steps to curtailenvironment hazards nor hastaken positive measures to re-verse the damage done to theenvironment due to these min-ing activities.

The committee recommendstaking measures to increaseforest cover to offset defor-estation in mining areas andavoid the impact on local pop-ulation.

The committee further rec-ommends that the govern-ment entrust job of assessingdamages once again to knowthe impact of environmentdegradation till March 2010t o N E E R I o r s o m e o t h e ragency.

Highways:

minister urges

to put on hold

land acquisition HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The Environment MinisterAleixo Sequeira has writtento the Chief Minister Digam-bar Kamat and Revenue Min-is ter Jose Phi l ip DSouzaasking them to put on holdland acquisition proceedingsinitiated for expansion of NH-17 and NH-4 for want of clar-ity on alignments.

Sequeira informed the GoaAssembly on Friday that hehas asked the government tokeep in abeyance land acqui-sition proceedings for expan-sion of both highways asthere was no clarity on thealignments when the issuewas ra i sed dur ing ZeroHour by the Leader of theOpposition, Manohar Parrikara long with Mapusa ML A,Francis DSouza and CurtorimM L A , A l e i x o R e g i n a l dLourenco.

The Minister further toldthe House that Goa StatePo l l u t i o n C o n t ro l B o a rd(GSPCB) has also been di-rected to keep in abeyancefurther proceedings of Envi-ronmental Public Hearing(EPH) until al l details areclarified.

He said he has received nu-m e ro u s re p re s e n t a t i o n swhich indicated that therewas no clarity on the pro-posed project, besides vitalinformation on the width ofthe proposed highway includ-ing service roads was notavailable.

GOAOHErAld

O

Pg4SHorT TakeS

GOA, SAturdAy, 31 july, 2010=

=

Rajesh elevatedPANJIM (HND): The Tiswadi Taluka Goa

Government Employees Association in itsmeeting held recently has unanimously ele-vated Rajesh V Kamat from Commercial Taxdepartment to the post of vice-Chairman ofTiswadi taluka committee from his earlierpost of Secretary. The meeting was presidedover by chairman Dhananjay Kerkar and othermembers of the committee from various de-partments. Rajesh is also the vice-chairman

of Sales Tax department staff co-op credit society.

Cleanliness drive cancelled PANJIM (HND): The plastic cleanliness drive to be held in the

constituencies of Cortalim and Dabolim by the Cortalim MLAon July 31 has been cancelled due to heavy rains that havebeen lashing the State for the last couples of days. The newdate will be announced later.

NSS unit installedBICHOLIM (HC): The NSS unit of Walawalkar Higher Secondary

School, Khorlim-Mapusa, was recently installed by Sarva ShikshaAbhiyaan Assistant Director Narendra Kamat.

Speaking on the occasion, Kamat asked the cadets to workfor the upliftment of the society and solve the problems of thepeople.

In todays world, education plays a key role in everyoneslife. Every cadet should see that no one remains illiterate andshould educate every person. They should also help othersand keep the surrounding clean, stressed Kamat.

Citing the example of Mahatma Gandhi, Kamat urged thecadets not to shy from cleaning the surrounding, which is animportant duty of NSS.

Walawalkar HSS Principal Prof Subhash Nayak urged the stu-dents to keep the flag of the school flying high.

Science students presented the welcome song, ProgrammeOfficer Bina Churi gave details about the programme, whileLaxman Gaonkar read the annual report.

Daniel installed president

Deputy Commissioner of Customs and Central Excise Tony Diasaddresses the gathering during the 12th Charternite celebrationsby the Lions Club of Mormugao.

VASCO (HR): Noted poet Daniel F de Souza was installedpresident of the Lions Club of Mormugao BOD for the year2010-11 at the 12th Charternite celebrations at Hotel La PazGardens, Vasco.

Chief guest Deputy Commissioner of Customs and CentralExcise Tony Dias lauded Lions Club of Mormugao for the servicesthey render to the society.

He was all praise for its adoption of Asha Sadan, a school forthe poor and destitute children. He congratulated the newBOD and wished them well in all their future projects.

Celso Dias of Lions Club of Loutolim was the installationand induction officer. Three new members were inducted bythe Club. Region Chairman Abhijeet Salkar and Zone ChairpersonNelly Rodrigues were also present at the function.

The new BOD for 2010-11 are Adolph Dalgado (secretary),Valente DCosta (treasurer), Subash Kamat and Cdr P J Augustine(vice president), Francis Gurjao (tail twister), Cristine DCosta(lion lady), Carmin Augustine and Dr Nimish Pillai (directors),John Fernandes (membership chairman) and Titus Moraes (liontamer).

Newly installed president de Souza while emphasizing onthe projects undertaken by his predecessor, assured to continuethe projects. He also disclosed the new projects he wishes toundertake.

GU convocationPANJIM (HND): The twenty third annual convocation of the

Goa University will be held in the month of October or November.Candidates who have qualified for conferment of degrees/awardof diplomas, are requested to submit their applications withthe prescribed fee for admission to the convocation. Applicationforms can be obtained from State Bank of India, UniversityBranch or can be downloaded from the Goa University websitewww.unigoa.ac.in from August 2. Candidates are required tosubmit the application form before August 31 along with acopy of the statement of marks of the qualifying exam, twopassport size photographs and a copy of the banks challan/de-mand draft/Indian postal order.

Chorao forums meet heldPANJIM (HND): The meeting of the Chorao Civic and Consumer

Forum discussed on various topics including Choro motorcycletaxi stand, crowding of buses, price and delivery procedure ofgas cylinders, electricity supply and billing grievances, etc

Girl cadets attend campMAYEM (HC): The NCC girls cadets of Shri Shantadurga High

School, Bicholim, (1 Goa girls bn NCC unit, Panjim) recently at-tended national integration camp at Mysore and Thal SenaCamp at Belgaum.

The cadets were accompanied by School Headmaster SureshGhatwal and ANO (third officer) Yasmin D Shetye. Cdt SamliGirkar and Cdt Neha Abbasi attended the Mysore camp, whileCdt Anagha Kumbharjuvekar, Cdt Mamata Parab and Cdt TanviSawant attended the Belgaum camp.

Supervisory committee electedOLD GOA (HC): The Corlim gram sabha members on Sunday

elected an overall supervising committee to look into all aspectsof panchayat works.

The committee will be headed by Corlim Panchayat SecretaryBasilio Pires, under whom the committee would have the rightto assess the overall development works undertaken in Corlimjurisdiction.

The seven members elected are Rohidas Naik (Ward No 1),Anand Shirvoikar (Ward No 2), Kanzil Rodrigues (Ward No 3),Kashinath Dhulapkar (Ward No 4), Purshottam Dhulapkar (WardNo 5), Baptist Pereira (Ward No 6) and Goraknath Kerkar (WardNo 7).

The supervising committee was formed after the gram sabhamembers were annoyed with the sarpanch and panchas fornot providing proper answers to their queries pertaining todevelopmental works carried out by the concerned panch mem-ber.

Gurupoornima celebrationPANJIM (HND): Rose Garden Primary School, Porvorim will

celebrate Gurupoornima on July 31 at 4 pm with music anddance (Kathak) at Rose Garden premises.

Dr Vinay Prabhu Desai will be the chief guest for the function.Other dignitaries present will be Gurudas Redkar, NishikantAsnodkar and Krishna Hadfadkar.

CM to lay corner stonesPANJIM (HND): Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will lay the

foundation stone for developmental projects at Queeny Nagarnear pale junction Sancoale on August 2.

The projects include construction of second phase of Cortalimmarket complex at Thana for Cortalim Quelossim Panchayat,construction of Panchayat Ghar cum market complex for SancolePanchayat and construction of Panchayat complex at Chicalim.The work of all these projects will be taken up under GSIDC.

Fado evening at Cidade PANJIM (HND): Ever wondered what Goa was culturally in

the bygone era? Ever wondered what Goans did for entertain-ment? Ever wondered about their music? Ever wondered whattheir cuisine is like? Cidade de Goa has encompassed all thesefacets at a special traditional live Fado evening at Alfama onAugust 3 from 8 pm onwards.

Fado evening pays tribute to the music of Portugal, withsongs filled with passion, sorrow, jealousy, grief and satire.Well-known Fado singers specially invited for the evening areSonia Shirsat, Miguel Cotta, Chantalle Cotta Viegas and Danicada Silva Pereira. Musicians accompanying them will be FranzSchubert Cotta - Portuguese Guitar (Guitarra Portuguesa) andCarlos Meneses - Guitar (Viola).

To add to the soul stirring live music performed in the cosyambience at Alfama, enjoy the varied menu, consisting of veg-etarian and non vegetarian dishes ranging from Carabineirosde Pprica, Lulas de Alho, Bolo de Caranguejo (platter of paprikaprawns, garlic squid and crab cake) or Ameixa Seca EncheuGalinha com Molho de Tomate Queijoso (prune stuffed chickenwith cheesy tomato sauce) or Rosbife com Molho em Forma deCogumelo Preto (roast beef with black mushroom sauce) andmany more.

And the menu will be complete with assorted desserts likeBolo de Cajueiro, Barra de Chocolate Escura, Sorvete de Coco(cashew cake, dark chocolate bar and coconut ice cream).

Rs 650 plus taxes will per charged per person. For moredetails please contact 2454545.

GGEA panels to meetPANJIM (HND): The joint meeting of the various taluka com-

mittees and the working committee of Goa Government Em-ployees Association will be held on July 31at its Patto office at3.30 pm. At the meeting strategies will be adopted to organizethe proposed indefinite pen-down-tool-down strike from August2.

NCP meetPANJIM (HND): The first meeting of the newly appointed Goa

State NCP has been conveyed by State President Jose Philip D-Souza on July 31 at NCP office, MG Road, Panjim at 3.30 pm.All the office bearers and executive members are requested toattend the same.

Homage to Lokmanya TilakPANJIM (HND): Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will lead the

people of Goa in paying homage to Bal Gangadhar Tilak on theoccasion of his death anniversary on August 1. Chief Ministerwill garland the portrait of late Lokmanya Tilak at 11 am in theopen space at new secretariat, Porvorim to mark the occasion.

Kamat will also attend a function organized by Goa Union ofJournalist at 10 am at Goa Union of Journalist premises atShrama Shakti Bhavan, Patto, Panjim. Navprabha Editor PareshPrabhu, Director of Information and Publicity Menino Peresand GUJ president Prakash Kamat will attend the function.

Similarly, a seminar on rural journalism is organized atInstitute Menezes Braganza at 11 am.

uPCoMInG eVenTS

JULY 31MAPUSA: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Mapusa Industrial

Estate, Alto Duler and nearby surrounding areas.

PoWer SHuTDoWn

HERALD CORRESPONDENTPORVORIM, JULY 30

The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti(HJS) has demanded the with-drawal of five more paintingsdisplayed at the exhibitionEpiphanies of the Hindu Godsby Sanskrit scholar Dr JosePereira at Xavier Centre of His-torical Research (XCHR).

The HJS delegation called onXCHR late Wednesday eveningand met Dr Jose Pereira to de-mand that five more paintingsdisplayed in the exhibitionshould be withdrawn immedi-ately, as they were objection-able.

In reply, Dr Pereira recitedthe Sanskrit Slokas and ex-plained to the members thateach painting is based directlyon the descriptive passages inthe original Sanskrit texts.

My paintings are not the fig-ments of my imagination, buttheir imagery is derived entirelyfrom the most characteristiciconography of ancient India,explained Dr Pereira.

However, HJS members didnot accept his interpretationsof the Sanskrit slokas nor hisexplanations and insisted that

the five paintings should be re-moved, as it had hurt the reli-gious feeling of the Hindus.

XCHR Superior Fr Delio Men-donca told the delegation tosubmit their objections to en-able them to take necessary ac-tion.

Speaking to Herald, Dr Pereirasaid he had absolutely no inten-tion to hurt the religious senti-ments of the Hindus.

My paintings are based onthe Hindu Shastra and hencethere should not be any reason

to object it. The exhibition ofthe paintings was also held inNew Delhi recently and the artlovers have appreciated it, saidDr Pereira.

Goa University English ProfRafael Fernandes said that anyliterary texts are liable for mul-tiple interpretations, particularlywhen there is ambiguity.

There is nothing obscenityor vulgarity as such in the paint-ings of Dr Jose Pereira. It all de-pends on the mindset of theviewers, said Fernandes.

HJS demands withdrawal of five more paintings at expo

Dr Jose Pereira (right) explains to Hindu Janajagruti members abouthis paintings. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

HERALD CORRESPONDENTPORVORIM, JULY 30

Some residents from Porvorimhave decided to file a writ peti-tion in the High Court prayingfor stay order on sale of plotsin a land at Porvorim, where thePenha-de-Franca Panchayat haddecided to construct an indoorstadium.

The land at Porvorim onwhich Penha-de-France Pan-chayat had decided to constructan indoor stadium has been con-verted into plots by Serula Com-munidade.

It may be recalled that sincethere were no recreational fa-cilities on Porvorim plateau forthe youth, residents from Por-vorim had requested Penha-de-France Panchayat in 1995 tobuild an indoor stadium for play-ing games like badminton, tabletennis, etc.

As there was an open spaceof about 3,000 sq mtrs at Por-vorim, the Penha-de-Franca Pan-chayat adopted a resolution inits meeting on October 1, 1995to request the Administrator ofCommunidade Bardez to grantthe necessary No-objection Cer-tificate for the construction ofindoor stadium in Communidadeland at Porvorim. The resolutionwas passed unanimously.

The panchayat also made anapplication to the Town andCountry Planning Department,Mapusa, with a request to grantpermission for acquisition ofland for the construction of theindoor stadium.

The Town and Country Plan-ning Department granted per-mission to Penha-de-FrancaPanchayat for the acquisition ofland in its letter dated Novem-ber 1, 1995.

Later, the panchayat sent aletter to Block Development Of-ficer Bardez on July 18, 1996,enclosing the documents suchas Panchayat Resolution, copiesof site plan, letter from TownPlanner, letter from Bardez Mam-latdar regarding valuation of

Locals to knock HC door for stay on plots sale in Porvorim

land, etc, as required by BDOfor the acquisition of the land.

Since there was no furthermove on the part of the pan-chayat to construct the indoorstadium and as it was a primeland in the heart of Porvorim,the Serula Communidade ap-plied to the Town and CountryPlanning Department in 2005requesting permission for con-version of land into plots.

On receipt of approval fromTown Planner, the Serula Com-munidade approached Penha-de-Franca Panchayat for grantof NOC for the Provisional Sub-division of the land.

The panchayat without plac-ing the matter before gramsabha for approval, adopted aresolution in the meeting onAugust 31, 2007, to grant pro-visional NOC to the Serula Com-mundidade and accordinglyissued a letter on September 7,2007 to this effect.

However, in the gram sabha

on July 25, 2010, R N Naik ofAlto Betim brought to the noticeof the panchayat the file for ac-quisition of 3,000 sq mtrs ofland for the construction of in-door stadium which was stillpending before the Collector ofNorth Goa.

He requested the panchayatto pursue the matter and getthe filed approved as early aspossible. However, to the sur-prise of the villagers at the gramsabha, Panchayat Secretary RMardolkar informed that Com-munidade of Serula has alreadyconverted the land into plotsbased on the NOC for Provi-sional Sub-division of land givenby Penha-de-France Panchayatin 2007.

Most of the residents of Por-vorim feel that they have beencheated by the panchayat.

Some individuals have de-cided to file a writ petition inthe High Court praying stayorder on sale of plots.

Deepika isMerces

SarpanchHERALD CORRESPONDENT

MERCES, JULY 30

Deepika Shirgaonkar was electedsarpanch of Merces Panchayatand Yatin Palekar deputy sarpanchat a special meeting held in thepanchayat office on Friday.

It may be recalled that theposts of sarpanch and deputysarpanch had fallen vacant afterPrakash Naik and Yogita Kavlekarwere ousted in a no-confidencemotion recently.

All the six panchas who came to-gether to form the panchayat werepresent including Deepika Shir-gaonkar, Yatin Palekar, Venita Gracias,Girish Uskaikar, Sandhya Hoble andSunil Kalangutkar while the otherfive panchas remained absent.

When asked what would beher first priority on taking overas sarpanch, Deepika Shirgaonkarsaid she would concentrate ontackling the growing number ofillegal activities in the village.

At the same time, though, Iwould give top priority to takeup all the pending developmen-tal activities, irrespective of whorepresents the wards, sheadded quickly and opined thather aim is to fulfil the wishes ofthe people.

UNITED WE STAND: Newly elected Merces Sarpanch Deepika Shirgaonkar (3rd from right) along withother panchas (from left to right) Venita Gracias, Deputy Sarpanch Yatin Palekar, Sunil Kalangutkar,Sandhya Hoble and Girish Uskaikar. Photo by Manuel Vaz

BY HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JULY 30

With heavy rains submergingthe Comba subway during thelast few days, the PWD has fi-nally started pumping opera-tions to flush out water fromthe waterlogged road under thebridge.

The operation has given relieffor the motorists heading to-wards the educational institu-tions. A water pump has beenpressed into operation to pumpout water from the subwayevery day.

In fact, inquires have revealedthat a group of labourers aremanning the water pump, withinstructions to begin the pump-ing operations from 7 am in themorning and continue till theevening depending upon thewater level situation in the sub-way.

This temporary measure isbelieved to have implementedafter the government receivedall round flak following the

death of a XII std science stu-dent a week ago.

During the inspection of thesubway carried out last week,senior PWD officials had mooteda foot bridge at the Comba levelcrossing for students to cross

over when the level crossing isclosed for traffic.

The PWD officials were sched-uled to discuss the proposalwith the KRC officials beforepreparing estimates for the footbridge.

PWD begins relief operation at Comba subway

PWD begins pumping operations at the Comba subway to flushout water from the road under the bridge. Photo by Santosh Mi-

LS Speaker to visit State

PANJIM, JULY 30(HND)

Speaker of Lok Sabha MeiraKumar will visit the State on July31 with her arrival at Goa Airportat 7.30 am. Later, she will be at-tending a function as chief guestto present the Jnanpith Awardfor the year 2006 at DinanathMangeshkar Auditorium KalaAcademy, Campal, Panjim.

BY HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JULY 30

The indefinite hunger strike re-sorted by the Margao Municipalworker has entered the thirdday on Friday, even as Civic bodytoday offered to engage theworker on daily basis, which hadno takers.

The worker W Silva receivedsupport from the Scheduled Tribecommunity as well as from mem-bers on the public over his demandfor reguarlisation of his servicesby the Civic body. ST leaders in-cluding Anton Gauncar, Mama Car-dozo, Conceissao Pixtore,Councilor Piedade Norohna on Fri-day inquired with Silva and offeredtheir support to his just struggle.

Citizens Worker Centre Pres-ident Sriram Raiturkar, who hastaken up the cause of the MMCworker, lambasted the Chief Of-ficer T B Tawde for misguidingthe people on Silvas decisionto go on a hunger strike.

Referring to Tawde commentsthat Silva has not completed240 days in service, Raiturcarsaid the worker has worked inthe civic body for 14 long yearsand pointed out that four work-ers who were regularized by theCivic body did not complete 240days continuous service.

In fact, the Civic body is put on

MMC worker gains support of STleaders, hunger strike continues

MMC worker Silva undergoing hunger strike at the entrance ofthe Municipal building. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar.

the defensive as documents ob-tained by the CWC under RTI clearlystated that four workers who wereregularized by the Council in 2006did not fulfill the criteria of com-pleting 240 days of service.

MMC Chairperson SavioCoutinho told Herald that hewas the one of the Councillorswho had protested in 2006when the Civic body had regu-larized 39 workers without fol-lowing proper rules.

He said the Civic body willtake a positive decision in Silvascase, but added that hungerstrike was not the right mode

to lodge protest against theCivic body.

Coutinho said the Civic bodywrote a letter to the worker thathis demands will be positivelyaddressed by the Council, butadded that the worker refusedto accept the letter.

Incidentally, while the Chairper-son has offered to engaged Silvaon daily basis an offer rejectedby the worker questions are raisedwhy Coutinho has not suggestedto the Chief Officer to initiate actionagainst those workers who wereregularized without completing240 days continuous service.

House collapses in Fatorda

HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JULY 30

A residential house cum cattleshed caved in at Gouliwadda inFatorda in the wee hours ofThursday.

The loss of property is put atRs five lakhs by the owner RajeshSathe. No sooner, the inmatesrealized that the structure iscrumbling down, they immedi-ately evacuated the cattlehoused in the shed.

GPCC general secretary VijaySardessai visited the spot andtook up the issue of compensa-tion with the disaster manage-ment committee.

Meanwhile, the fire servicesrushed to Betalbatim and Colvaon Thursday to remove trees thatcame crashing down on the road.

GOAGOA, SATURDAY, 31 JULY, 2010

Pg 5OHERALD

O

HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JULY 30

Theres good news for citizensof Margao vis--vis vector bornediseases.

If Margao Urban Health Offi-cer, Dr Geeta Kakodkar is to bebelieved, Malaria, Dengue,Chikungunya, Japanese En-cephalitis are well under control,but the hea l th of f ice hassounded a word of caution onthe H1N1 flu this season.

Delivering a talk on the sit-uation of vector borne diseasesin the commercial Capital or-ganised by the South Goa Jour-n a l i s t s A s s o c i a t i o n , D rKakodkar said that Malaria iswell under control, with thenumber of cases reported inthe month of July to a mere41. Four cases of dengue andsix cases of chikungunya weredetected this year. There wason Japanese Encephalitis was

reported from Curtorim thisyear, she said.

Dr Kakodkar, however, saidthere is no room for compla-cency with the Commercial Cap-ital playing host to nearly a lakhpopulation and a large army offloating population employedin the construction industry.The health office has evolveda mechanism wherein workerstry to screen migrant workersworking in the city. Even thecontract workers assembling be-hind the Margao Municipalbuilding every day are notspared by our workers, sheadded.

Saying that areas such asKhareband are no more malariaprone area, Dr Kakodkar saidthe Chandrawado area of Fa-torda and some of the construc-tion sites are still a cause forconcern.

On H1N1, the Health Officer

said that not a single case fromthe city has been reported sofar. But, she warned that thesecond phase of H1N1 alwayscomes worst and called forspreading awareness amongstthe citizens on the flu. Everycold persisting for more thantwo days should be reported tothe doctor as a precautionarymeasure. The DHS has alreadyissued circular to the educa-tional institutions to take pre-cautions on H1N1 as theres aspurt in cases in Kerala, Pune,Belgaum and other cities,

On Japanese Encephalitis, DrKakodkar said the health centrehad vaccinated around 75 percent of the population beforethe vaccination drive was hit bythe controversy. The health of-fice has received new stock ofthe vaccines. Parents can bringtheir children for vaccination,she added.

Malaria under control inMargao, Dr cautions on H1N1

HERALD REPORTERVASCO, JULY 30

Stall owners and traders fromvarious parts of the State andelsewhere will have to bearsome burden on their profits,as Mormugao Municipal Coun-cil (MMC) has resolved to raisethe present rate fixed on spaceallotment for traders duringthe Saptah festival fair inVasco.

The famous Lord DamodarSaptah, which will be cele-brated in Vasco on August 15,is also known for its 10-day fairthat attracts large number oftraders from Goa and neigh-bouring states, generatinghuge business during the pe-riod.

In an ordinar y meetingconvened by MMC Chairper-son Shekhar Khadapkar onFriday afternoon, it was re-solved to increase the pres-ent rate of space allotted for

traders during the 10-day fairon the two parallel roadsSwatantrapath and DattatrayDespande and other interiorroads.

The four-by-four square metrearea rates have been doubledto Rs 600 for 10 days, whiletrade form rate has been in-creased to Rs 100, besides nom-inal trade license fees.

MMC has also directed thecontractor to obtain separatepermission for banners that areerected in the pandal near thetemple.

Prior to the meeting, MMCchief officer said festival gener-ates nearly Rs 6.5 lakh revenuefor the council and this year, thecouncil hopes to increase it byRs 10 lakh.

The council earlier decidedto go for auction to collectamount from traders to curbillegalities, as there are allega-tions that some councilors and

council staff are involved to oc-cupy prime business space inthe fair and later sublets it tot r ader s a t an exorb i t an tamount.

There was a move to giveall earmarked trade spaceson auction, but due to lackof time we could not materi-alise the idea, said Khadap-kar.

He further said rates andspace allotment traders dif-fers from nature of trades, asthey have kept very marginalrate on traditional sweet martKhaje traders, while ratesfor restaurants, furniturestalls, amusement park, etc,differs.

Meanwhile, MMC has decidedto donate Rs 50,000 to DamodarBhajani Saptah Utsav Samiti onbehalf of the council, as earlierthe council has also contributedfor Carnival and Sigmotsav fes-tivals.

Mormugao Council to raise stall allotment rate for Saptah

Govt pulled upfor not protecting IT industries at

Dona PaulaHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, JULY 30

The government is not protectingthe interest of the IT industries,who were allotted plots in theRajiv Gandhi IT Habitat at DonaPaula, a legislative panel has said.

The project has been put onstandstill as the people of Taleigaoprotested against the project.

The IT industries have ex-pressed fear that once they re-start work on the project theviolence may re-occur, the adhoccommittee on Information tech-nology headed by Aldona legis-lator Dayanand Narvekar said.

The committee further saidthat if this is the state of affairsthen Goa will lose on establish-ing itself as an IT hub.

The IT companies will be dis-couraged to set up industries inGoa which will hamper employ-ment avenues and also result inloss of revenue to governmenttreasury, the report says.

The committee desires thatthe government take stringentaction to prevent violence anddeterrent steps against these vi-olent groups and if necessaryprovide police protection.

The committee desires thatthe government provide themprotection but take an under-taking from them that they willbegin construction within aspecified time limit.

If this is not adhered to theyshould be asked to return the landto the government, he stated.

HERALD REPORTERPANJIM, JULY 30

Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) legis-lator Damodar Naik on Fridaysaid that the importance of GoasLiberation Day annually ob-served on December 19 was nottaught in certain schools of Goa.

Speaking during the Private Mem-bers Resolution, Naik preferred toconceal names of the schools thatskip teaching its students on thesignificance of December 19.

Some schools do not cele-brate this day and grant holidayswithout hoisting the flag. Theimportance is not taught to thestudents, he said.

The Fatorda MLA suggestedthat Government issue directionsto all schools in Goa to celebrateGolden Jubilee celebration ofGoas Liberation including aware-ness among the students on Goanart, heritage, culture, etc. Naikstated that even non-Goan stu-dents studying here should alsobe educated on the Goan history.

The resolution was however

withdrawn after the Education Min-ister assured to form a committeeto chalk out a plan to celebrate thegolden jubilee of Goas liberation.

He informed the Assembly offorming a committee that willinclude experts from variousfields for this activity.

Meanwhile, Ruling party legislatorPandurang Dhawalikar on Fridayrecommended the Government toconstruct Goa Konkani and MarathiNatya Academy to promote welfareand creative skills of Goan artists.

Presenting his Private Mem-bers Resolution in the Assemblyon Friday, he said, the academybesides generating employ-ment, will be a boon to localartists to display their talents.

At the same time, it will dis-seminate Goas history, culture,tradition, etc to huge masses,Dhavalikar said.

The resolution was withdrawnfollowing an assurance from thechief minister that it was con-templating Ravindra Bhavan inevery taluka and working to-wards that goal.

Importance of Liberation Daynot taught in some schools

HERALD REPORTERVASCO, JULY 30

The barge fraternity in Goa hasexpressed shock over KarnatakaChief Minister B S Yeddyurappasdecision to ban export of ironore from Karnataka, claimingthat the decision has been takenwithout considering the busi-ness interest of various stake-holders.

Speaking to reporters in hisoffice at Vasco on Friday, GoaBarge Owners Association Pres-ident Atul Jadhav along withother officer bearers WilliamDCosta and Prabhakar Naiksaid the Karnataka governmenthas mixed politics into busi-ness, as it is evident fromabrupt decision to ban iron oreexport.

If the ban is continued tillthe season commences onSeptember 15, then it will cer-tainly have the worst impact

on the barge business, saidJadhav.

It is a wait-and-watch situ-ation for the barge industry, asit all depends on reaction ofprime body Goa Mineral OreAssociation which directly dealwith export of ore. Barge is anancillary unit that is involved intransportation of cargo, addedJadhav.

From September 15, portsin Goa will resume its opera-tion for the new season, whilesubsequently the barge busi-ness commence and if the banis continued till October, itwill certainly have impact onbarge business, both Goa andMormugao Port Trust and railtoo.

Since the ban has come dur-ing the off season, it will nothave much impact, he said.

Nearly 7 million tonnes ofiron ore come to Goa from Kar-

nataka and even the barge fromGoa operates at Karwar portand Belikary port, informedJadhav.

The worst affected will be thetransporters, as number oftrucks and tippers which playin mineral regions are servingthe livelihood of indirect busi-ness activities like tea stalls,garage, service station, vulcan-ized centres, etc.

The ban will also have worstimpact on the livelihood of thecommon people that are indi-rectly dependent on mine in-dustry, added Jadhav.

He said ore export businessin Goa is two-generation-oldwhich is carried out under var-ious guidelines and norms,while mine business in Goa hassubstantially increased, that ismuch more regulated as com-pared to any other states inIndia.

Ktakas ore export ban:Barge fraternity shocked

HERALD REPORTERPANJIM, JULY 30

Bombay High Court at Goa onFriday dismissed the petitionfiled by National Organisationfor Tobacco Eradication (NOTE)against f i lm star AmitabhBachchan and others under anti-tobacco law.

Justice N A Britto dismissedthe petition filed by the NGO.

Along with Bachchan, the casewas also filed with local policeagainst Keshu Ramsay, producerof the film Family and M/s DMSfilm private limited.

NOTE had objected to theroadside hoardings on Margao-Mapusa route which showed theBig B smoking cigar.

The hoardings, displaying astill picture from the film Family,were put up in from December25, 2005 to January 01, 2006.

Anti Tobacco NGO hadprotested against these hoardings.

The NGO had claimed thathoardings were violating ciga-rettes and other tobacco products(prohibition of advertisement andregulations of trade and com-merce, production supply anddistribution) act, 2003 and undersection 7 of Goa Prohibitory

smoking and spitting act, 1997.Reacting to the judgment,

NOTE general secretary DrShekhar Salkar said the organi-zation will challenge the orderin the Supreme Court.

After sessions judge U V Bakrequashed the legal proceedingagainst Bachchan and others inMarch 2008, the NGO hadmoved to the High Court.

HC dismisses NOTEplea against Big B

Day lightburglary at

Chandor, cash,gold stolenBY HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, JULY 30

In a major day light burglary,unknown miscreants bargedinto the house of one LuelaAntao at Chandor and struckgold, besides cash and US dol-lars besides gold ornaments.

The incident occurred thismorning between 7 am to 11 amwhen the inmates of the househad gone out. Taking advantageof the absence of the inmates,the Maina Curtorim police saidthe miscreants effected entryinto the house by breaking themain door and lifted the booty.

The stolen gold ornamentsincluded six pairs of gold ear-rings, two gold necklace, fourfinger rings, three pendants, onebangle, two watches, besidesother gold ornaments.

The police said cash of Rs10,000, besides 500 US Dollarswere lifted away from the house.

The Chandor-Guirdolim areahad been in the news in recenttimes, with burglars making haywith the police failing to laytheir hands on the miscreants.

In fact, the rising house bur-glaries had figured at the gramsabha meetings of the Chandorvillage Pancahayt.

CM, health minister, Mapusa

MLA inspect Asilo condition

HERALD CORRESPONDENTPORVORIM, JULY 30

Chief Minister Digambar Kamatalong with Health Minister Vish-wajeet Rane and Mapusa MLA Fran-cis DSouza on Friday visited theAsilo Hospital at Mapusa to inspectthe condition of the hospital.

The chief minister interactedwith the hospital staff at AsiloHospital. Later, Kamat visited thenew district hospital and exam-ined the facilities available there.

It may be recalled that Heraldhad carried an extensive reporton the poor facilities and infra-structure at the Asilo hospital,which was once considered apremier medical centre for peo-ple of North Goa.

Speaking informally, Kamatsaid the issue of starting theDistrict Hospital had come upfor discussion in the ongoingAssembly session.

Since Asilo Hospital is unableto handle rush of patients, thegovernment is contemplating tostart the OPD Section in the newDistrict Hospital and also makeavailable morgue facilities to thepublic. Initially the OPD andMorgue will be shifted to newpremises. This arrangement willease the burden on the presentAsilo Hospital, informed Kamat.

Prior to taking a final deci-sion in this regard, I will convenea meeting next week and discussthe matter with the health min-ister and Mapusa MLA thread-bare, said Kamat.

Joint Secretary (Health) MrSardessai, Health Services Di-rector Dr Rajnanda Desai andDr Sanjeev Dalvi, Medical Su-perintendent accompanied thechief minister, health ministerand Mapusa MLA during theirvisits to the two hospitals.

CM hailed for reservations in Municipal polls

HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, JULY 30

Former Minister Luis Alex Car-doso has thanked Chief MinisterDigambar Kamat and Urban De-velopment Minister Joaquim Ale-mao for declaring reservationsfor OBC/SC/ST in the coming Mu-nicipal polls due in October 2010.

Your government has won thehearts of these communities andthey will always have faith onyour government, Cardozo said.

He recalled that he had placedbefore the Cabinet in 1995 as aMinister of State for Panchayatto reserve seats for the OBC inthe Panchayat elections.

3 injured in Tivim mishap

PORVORIM, JULY 30(HC)

Three persons were injured aftera car dashed against a motorcyclenear Tivim on Friday afternoon.

According to Mapusa Police,the accident occurred when thecar (GA-06-A-0234), which wasproceeding from Mapusa to-wards Bicholim, skidded off theroad and dashed against oncom-ing Hero Honda Splendor mo-torcycle (MH-07-M-8161).Motorcycle rider Ragoba AmrutShetkar (38), his wife Saraswati(30) and their daughter Dipti (10)sustained injuries.

Why not close Khajuraho?Damodar Mauzo, Majorda

The objection to the paintings of Dr JosePereira raised by the Hindu JanJagruti Samitiis highly deplorable. The organisation doesnot represent the Hindu community as such,and has no right to talk on behalf of Hindus.A professor of theology, Dr Jose Pereira isa scholar, musicologist, researcher andpolyghot, besides being a great painter.

He is a Sanskrit pundit who can speakchaste Sanskrit, putting many a Sanskritscholar to shame. He is a philosopher whohas digested the essence of the worlds re-ligions. Though he lives in the US, he hasGoa and India at heart. This is evident fromhis writings, which centre around Goa,Konkani and Goan traditions.

Dr Pereira is an icon whose artistic geniusis beyond question. An intellectual of hiscalibre can never portray anything conde-scending or derogatory. His recent seriesof paintings Epiphanies of the Hindu Gods is the result of a deep study of Hindu

Gods and the faith. It is a pity that the self-styled leaders of

the so-called Hindu JanJagruti Samiti do nothave the intellectual depth to assess or eval-uate the beautiful depiction of our deitiesby this great son of the soil. If at all the HJSobjects to nudity in religious art, let themfirst go to Khajuraho and shut down thosetimeless temples, where nudity andshringaaris the focus of the art. Let themdelete Raas-krida or Raas-leela from theHindu religious scriptures before they targetothers.

Save agricultural landP L Fernandes, Old Goa

The proposed amendment to the TCP Act(Amendment to TCP Act: GBA says no, Her-ald, 26 July), will presumably allow the gov-ernment to frame rules opening up hillslopes, khazan lands and cultivable fieldsfor development.

If the government has unfettered accessto even prime agricultural land for buildings,then we farmers might as well say goodbyeto agriculture. I have seen khazan landsslowly but systematically turning fallow andbeing used for lucrative-for-some fish farm-ing, with the connivance of governmentagencies, but no benefit to farmers.

I hope the government acts responsiblyand puts in place scrupulously devised safeguardsto prevent destruction of cultivable land.

Impose RTIFrancis A Soares, Santa Cruz

It is wise to impose the RTI Act on Churchauthorities, since we have heard of manyscandals in the Church by a few corruptclergy. As followers of Jesus Christ, what isthere for the Church to hide, if they areclean? Most institutes run by Church au-thorities are funded by the government insome way. Old Churches are renovated withfunds from the government. One shouldhave the information to question Churchauthorities when something is not right.

Ban ore entryS Kamat, Alto Betim

With Karnataka putting a ban of exports ofiron ore through its ports, Goa should follow

suit and ban the entry of iron ore trucks ortrains from adjoining Karnataka. With theassembly in session, it would be opportuneto have an MLA raise this issue during ZeroHour.

No extensionAugusto Monteiro, Loutolim

Honble Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinhosproposal to extend the already fixed cut-off date for encroachments on comunidadeland defeats the very purpose. Is our gov-ernment not firm on legislation? If we allowa fresh cut-off date, it will be a never endingstory, as some other member will again sug-gest extending the cut-off date, to securehis vote bank.

The government cannot continuously os-cillate. Legislators should stop creating votebanks at the cost of comunidades, whichdeprives locals of their land. By regularisingillegal encroachments and pampering mi-grants, I can foresee a future where Goans

will be a minority and strangers will be ourlaw makers.

Discriminating MLAShamli Naik, Marcaim

Though Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikarwishes to solve peoples problems, only thebetter-off and rich get the benefit of variousschemes. Needy people remain in theshadow and suffer. Only one governmentjob should be given per family, but he hasbeen giving jobs to two or even four personsfrom the same family. Needy aspirants frompoor families get excuses instead of jobs.

Mr Dhavalikars chamchas from Kavlemand Marcaim get the maximum benefits.These chamchas tell him bad things aboutthose they dont like. The MLA believesthese stories, and therefore the really needydont even get one government job in afamily. He should discard such chamchasand help all his voters without discrim-ination.

LIC godbodYatin Pednekar, Mapusa

Some LIC employees from the Mapusabranch have been going round making LICpolicies through bogus agents. Others sellpolicies to top agents for a premium. This is notfair, as LIC has appointed full-time agents.

Though the authorities are aware of this,they look the other way as they are inter-ested only in the figures. In Mapusa, em-ployees even leave the office to contactclients as the Branch Manager is not in theoffice in the mornings. Will the Insuranceregulatory authority please investigate this?

Bus bluesSoter DSouza, Socorro

The bus fare hike permitted by the govern-ment only makes public transport more ex-pensive than using ones own vehicle. Ourroads are getting jammed and our citiesovercrowded with vehicles. The governmentshould be discouraging the use of privatevehicles by putting in place an economical,decent and efficient public transport system.

But instead, the public is made to travelin buses that would have been scrapped inany other state. In spite of such expensivepublic bus transport, commuters are treatedlike cattle and subject to danger becauseof overcrowding and speeding. The plightof women commuters is terrible. If one en-tirely depends on public transport in a vil-lage, it is wise not to complain to theauthorities, or one could be denied entryinto the bus!

Ministers or postmen?B V S Priolkar, Margao

The CM and other ministers answer ques-tions from the Opposition in the Assembly,by just reading out data prepared by theirdepartments. The minister is only doing apostmans job!

What happens after that? How many min-isters apply their minds and take steps tocut expenditure? The issue is instantly for-gotten and each one is free to spend withoutlimit. On to the next session There is nofeeling of guilt, either from the departmentor the minister. After all, whose fatherswhat goes?

A/c toilet for aam admi

Peregrinao, in 226 chapters, is a fascinatingEuropean account of Asia of the age of Iberiandiscoveries. It is a sort of Portuguese version

of Marco Polos Travels, and concentrates curiouslyin the same region. While in Portugal the bookwas printed twice in the 17th century (1614,1678), there were six Spanish, four English, fourGerman, two French and two Dutch editionsissued during the same period. Its popularity maybe gauged by the fact that even the Lusiads sawonly six foreign editions in that century. Till date,the number of editions in different world lan-guages certainly exceeds 170.

A new English-Portuguese edition in four vol-umes, a collaborative work of a dozen-odd schol-ars, has been released a couple of months ago inLisbon to mark the 400th birth anniversary ofthe author: Ferno Mendes Pinto and the Peregri-nao, 4 vols. ed. Jorge Santos Alves, Lisboa, Fun-dao Oriente / Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda,2010. Vol. 1: Studies - 375 pp. - Vol. 2: RestoredText - 797 pp. - Vol. 3: Notes - 335 pp. - Vol. 4: In-dexes - 107 pp. - ISBN 978-972-785-096-9 Price: 150 (Rs9,150).

Ferno Mendes Pinto left for India in his lateteens to find some remedy for his miserable lifeconditions. He returned to Portugal in September1558, after nearly 21 long years in Asia and de-cided to leave a record of his memories beforehe died on 8 July 1583. He claims that if he hadto record all he experienced, he would need theoceans for ink and the skies for paper. His Pere-grinao is part of the contemporary literature ofvoyages, and since much of it circulated amongerudite persons, he draws from others and adaptsit to his plan of work. Cames, the author of thePortuguese national epic, was one of his contem-poraries. He seems to have drawn informationfrom the writings of the Portuguese chroniclerJoo de Barros and Bras de Albuquerque, the sonof Afonso de Albuquerque, author of Comentrios.He also draws from the Dominican friar Gasparda Cruz, author of Tratado das Coisas da China,published recently, just like the voluminous workof the Jesuit Luis Fris; that too had to wait tillthe very recent past to be published. These workswere not likely to be best-sellers and could notfind interested publishers. That was also one ofthe reasons why the Peregrinao was publishedonly posthumously, but still in 1614.

The Peregrinao contains the earliest reference

to the introduction of guns into Japan throughthe mediation of the Portuguese, a fact thatchanged the political organisation of that country.Firearms gave the advantage to Nobunaga againsthis feudal rivals. Ferno Mendes Pinto was oneof the first Portuguese to have been in Japan atleast four times. He even assisted Francis Xavier(later Goencho Saib) with funds to build a churchin Japan.

The main personage in Peregrinao is AntnioFaria, a Portuguese pirate in South East Asia, pre-sented as a fascinating hero. He was his co-villagerfrom Montemor-o-Velho, and benefited from hispatronage during his adventures. The other hero,of a diametrically different type, is St FrancisXavier, whom Ferno Mendes Pinto met in Japanin 1551. Possibly attracted by his zeal and influ-

ence, he gained his vocation for the Society ofJesus. But the habits of free life and adventureacquired during two decades of wanderings acrossthe seas and lands of Asia, perhaps, did not permithim to settle into a novitiate routine.

Peregrinao was looked upon till very recentlyas fiction, but