THE government of India and Goa are in celebration mode. Here to raise a toast to all the celebrations and development lined up for Goa’s 60th year of Liberation was Union Minister for Tourism, Culture & Development of North Eastern Region of India G Krishan Reddy. Speaking to media people on Saturday, December 4, the minister was all upbeat and congratulated Goa for all the development projects in the pipeline to boost tourism – some of which were part of the various schemes of the government of India and which he was here to inaugurate. “The country is celebrating both the 75th anniversary of independence as well as Goa’s 60th anniversary of Liberation. Vikas (development) has already started so that Goa with its world heritage sites can be the No1 state where more will come. Funds are being allocated to Goa for tourism infrastructure to be developed and the government will work towards it,” said the minister Reddy.
Present for the press conference were Union Minister of State for Tourism, Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shripad Naik and GTDC chairperson Dayanand Sopte. Announcing the various initiatives by the Indian Oil Foundation under the National Culture Fund, Sripad Naik read out the list of various tourism and cultural heritage projects which will benefit with allotted funds. Beneficiaries include the Mahadev Temple (Kurdi), Se Cathedal in Old Goa, Fort Aguada in Candolim and other initiatives including the inauguration of public amenities and tourism infrastructure at Colva and Benaulim, besides the Rua De Ourem Creek, Dona Paula, there is going to be a Colva-Benaulim Coastal Circuit under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme and on the cards is also the National Institute of Water Sports and an Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts in Goa.
From the sound of it the grounds are being set for a lot of projects to swing from this year onwards in Goa. Responding to question about casinos in Goa G Kishan Reddy quipped that if casinos are here and there is a demand for them, then where is the harm if Goa becomes the “casino capital of India” – it benefits the state! “If Goa benefits by declaring it as a casino capital then we can certainly do it,” he said, “the casinos are here because of public demand.”
CONSUMER SEES RED
RESIDENTS of various cities in south India are seeing red because of the huge increase in the price of tomatoes. The price of tomatoes has skyrocketed to Rs140 per kilo. The prices of most vegetables in Goa have also gone up due to the heavy rains which have disrupted the production of vegetables in neighbouring Belgavi from where most vegetables are sourced. The output of cashews and other horticulture crops have also been affected by the heavy rains which have flooded the kulghars.
VISA DELAYS ZUARI BRIDGE
A SECTION of the media has reported that the new Zuari bridge will not open on December 19, Goa Liberation Day as promised by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant. This is not because of any fault of the contractor or any technical delays. The State government is planning to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to inaugurate one lane of the signature bridge on December 19 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Liberation. Apparently, the delay throwing open the bridge is because the visa of the Chinese consultant-cum-designer has not been approved by the government of India.
TEJPAL MOLESTATION CASE
THE Tarun Tejpal molestation case which is being heard on a continuing basis by the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court since Monday, December 6 has been adjourned. This is not because of any objections by the advocates representing Tejpal or the prosecution. The case has been postponed because advocate Raunaq Rao representing Tejpal has been infected with Covid-19. Earlier, the High Court has rejected an application from Tejpal seeking in-camera hearing of the case.
MONSERRATE POLICE STATION ATTACK CASE
THE special court which has been appointed to hear the fast-track cases against politicians has decided to postpone its hearing till the High Court gives its verdict. The High Court which heard the case on Saturday, November 27 and Monday, November 29 has reserved the judgement on the case. At the hearing scheduled on December 7, only Revenue Minister Jennifer Monserrate and former Panjim mayor Tony Rodrigues appeared before the Mapusa Additional Sessions Judge Sherin Paul, who heads the designated court to try criminal cases against politicians. Panjim MLA Atanasio Babush Monserrate skipped the hearing.
BJP TERROR IN NORTH-EAST
AS PART of its efforts to counter the expansionary ambitions of the Trinamool Congress, the BJP is misusing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) to supress the Naga revolt against the ruling BJP government. One of the casualties is the popular Hornbill Festival. It may be recalled that the BJP unleashed violence against Trinamool Congress cadres during the civic elections in Tripura. There is also tension in Meghalaya where allegedly due to Luizinho Faleiro’s influence, the majority of the Congress MLAs joined the TMC. Indeed, the primary reason for the TMC choosing Luizinho Faleiro is because he was the Congress’ general- secretary of the north-east.