LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
RAJAN NARAYAN, Editor of the Goan Observer/goanobserver.in gets this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award for journalism. It is conferred by the State government on the recommendation of the Goa Union of Journalists. Rajan Narayan was informed of the unique distinction by GUJ president, Raj Tilak, on Sunday, October 30, 2022.
Rajan Narayan has suggested that of a cash award he may be on compassionate grounds be granted government quarters for media persons at St Inez or Altinho for lifetime, for he been living in rental accommodation all his life and this has become very expensive and difficult now in today’s difficult times.
SET BACK FOR CHURCHILL
IN the elections to the Goa Football Association, Churchill candidate Savio Alemao was trounced by Caetaninho Fernandes. The giant killer Caetaninho Fernandes is a business man not linked to anyone. Caetaninho also got all his men selected and controls the post of two vice-presidents, besides 17 of the top elected executive members. This marks it is sunset time for Churchill and Churchill brothers in Goa.
BEWARE ONLINE NEW BOOK RULES
A MAJOR scam is third parties pretending to be the employees for others and taking reservations for rooms, including the advance. A resort run by an international chain received a frantic call from Gujarat, the caller complained that despite paying a huge amount, no booking confirmation was received from the Candolim-based resort. Cybercriminals have stolen money from tourists trying to book a holiday to Goa online. The contact number at the bottom of the total site is used by scamsters.
IFFI IN PHYSICAL FORMAT
IFFI which was held in hybrid format during covid times will this year be back in full physical format too. IFFI is being organized by the Entertainment Society of Goa in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (instead of the hitherto Delhi-based DDF) from November 20 to 28. France is going to be the country of focus, following the Cannes film festival in Paris making India its country of focus. There will be no cap on delegate numbers. IFFI will revert to 2019 mode of ticketing. Film screening will also be organized on three beach venues as has been the IFFI tradition to let more Goans see films!
NIGHT CURBS ON ATAL SETHU
IN a desperate attempt to restore the Atal Sethu as the iconic bridge of the late chief minister of Goa, Manohar Parrikar, repairs and maintenance is being carried out desperately now. Towards this end the Atal Sethu bridge will stay closed for all vehicular traffic from 10pm to 6am till November 22, 2022. The Atal Sethu bridge with approach roads towards Ponda and Margao is the only one of the three Mandovi bridges which give one direct excess to south and north Goa without entering into capital city Panaji.
COMMUNAL INTOLERANCE!
A HINDU girl ended her life after her relative killed her Muslim boyfriend. The interfaith love affair ended in a tragedy on Wednesday, November 2, when the 19-year-old college-going girl hanged herself to death. Hours after her family called her boyfriend to their house and allegedly thrashed him till he died.
JOB FAIR AT STADIUM
TALEIGAO MLA Babush Monserrate has taken an initiative to organize a mega job fair on November 8 from 9am to 5pm at the Dr Shyama Mukherjee Stadium Shyam Prasad Mukherjee Stadium. Representatives of both local and multinational companies are expected to participate in the job fair. Those looking for a job and wishing to take their chances may register with www.goajobfair.in. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will be present at the fair for Goa’s unemployment rate is much higher than the average of 7% and there is cause for genuine electoral backlash in the days to come.
MHADEI WOES
IN defiance of the Water Dispute Tribunal and the Supreme Court the Karnataka government has started soil testing just 30km from Goa for further diversion of Mhadai headwaters of the Mandovi river which flows mostly through Goa and is the small state’s lifeline for water. The project identified as the Kalsa dam will seek to transfer water from the Mhadai head tributaries to the Malaprabha basin so that sugar cane farmers may be the beneficiaries.
Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had permitted Karnataka diversion of only 3.4 TMC of Mhadei river water for drinking water purposes of Hubli and Dharwad. Unfortunately, nobody seems to have a mind to stop Karnataka from messing up Goa’s Mhadei wildlife sanctuary water resources by its illegal and wanton abuse of river waters on both legal and moral grounds.