REIS MAGOS, RS2,000 CRORE LUXURY PROJECT!
TOWN & Country Planning minister Vishwajit Rane has agreed to re-examine the sanction given to the super luxury housing project by DLF on the Reis Magos hill slope. DLF is accused of massive hill cutting for the project located on a 38-acre hill at Reis Magos overlooking river Mandovi. The project will pump in Rs2,000 crore into the small village of Reis Magos.
The project will put tremendous pressure on the power, water and waste management infrastructure of Reis Magos village. It could also affect the historical Reis Magos fort. A residential project of this size will give rise to related infrastructure like restaurants and hotels as it has happened in Assagao. It will also bring in more migrants to do jobs of watchmen, drivers, cooks and gardeners for the 40 luxury villas and apartments on the cards.
Vishwajit has cleverly passed on the buck to the panchayats and asked them to withdraw construction licenses if illegal hill cutting activity has taken place. He has also promised to review permission given to Bhutani Infra building high-rise luxury apartments at Sancoale starting at Rs1 crore and going up to Rs12 crore.
TAMNAR PROJECT STALLED.
THE National Wildlife Board headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cleared the use of 27 hectares of forest land of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and the Mollem National Park for the Tamnar transmission line. But the National Wildlife Board has deferred the Karnataka League of the project. The Tamnar transmission line which will bring power cum Chhattisgarh to Goa stretches from Dharwad in Karnataka to Goa through the Tiger corridor in Karnataka and the Mollem sanctuary in Goa.
The Tamnar project cannot be started without clearance from the Karnataka Wildlife Board. It is been confirmed that the Tamnar transmission line will have to pass through the thickly forested tiger corridor in Karnataka. The Tamnar project proposes to use 27 hectares in Goa’s Mollem sanctuary for putting up the transmission line.
VINESH PHOGAT GETS CONG TICKET
VINESH Phogat who missed the gold at the Paris Olympics because she was overweight by 100 grams is likely to be given the Congress ticket to fight assembly elections in Haryana. The assembly elections in Haryana are on October 5, 2024.
It may be remembered that Vinesh Phogat had forced the president of the Indian Wrestling Federation, Brij Bhushan Charan Singh, to resign on charges of sexual molestation of female wrestlers. The SC has suspended the Wrestling Federation led by Brij Bhushan Charan Singh and refused to scratch an FIR lodged against him for molestation.
BEEF VICTIM, MISTAKEN IDENTITY
THE Class 12 student Aryan Mishra who was chased 29 km in Faridabad and shot by a Gau Rakshak on August 24, 2024 is a case of mistaken identity. The student Aryan was mistakenly suspected to have been identified as a person who had consumed beef. The police now admit that it was a false tip-of. The false tip-off may have been motivated by previous rivalry. The Gau Rakshaks network has been hyperactive in the wake of the forthcoming elections in Haryana.
UPSKILLING TRAINING IN OCTOBER
THE state government along with a private company is organizing an introduction with 1,000 college students at the Millennium merger event to be held on October 4 & 5, 2024 at the Ravindra Bhavan in Margao. The meeting will offer 1,000 jobs along with training in skills for college students. Interested students from respective colleges may ask for more details.
NO CHANGE IN OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has ruled out any changes in the Official Language Act. The implication is that Marathi will continue to enjoy official language status in Goa. The CM has made it clear that there is no question of considering equal official language status to Romi Konkani.
WORLD BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS WEEK
A WEEK full of celebrations was organized by the Women Empowerment Cell of the VM Salgaocar College of Law, Miramar, from August 1 to 7, 2024. Breaking stereotypes and raising awareness on breast-feeding some of the highlights included poster making competition with students showcasing their creativity as also raising awareness on the subject. Online slogan writing competition compelled students to think out of the box.
There was a monologue competition which left even the judge in awe. There was a poetry writing competition but this was no ordinary poetry competition: a picture was shown on the spot and the poets wrote down their thoughts inspired by the picture.
Day 6 saw a talk by Dr Sophia Rodrigues, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, as resource person she conducted an engaging session to burst many myths and stigmas related to breastfeeding. It was a most informative session. Final day had a quiz for the Women Empowerment Cell members and the winners felicitated with certificates and prizes.
The week concluded with happy smiles and thanks for all the fun, learning and memories. The credit for the week goes to faculty in-charge headed by Dr Kim Couto and Asst Prof Ruchira Naik.
NOW E-BUS MOLESTATION!
THIS is good news. If you are molested in the electric buses of the Kadamba Transport Corporation you may press the emergency button on buss. There are over a dozen E-buses plying Panaji city now. Reportedly, a college student commuting the KTC electric vehicle underwent an experience of inappropriate touching and unwanted advances from a fellow passenger and according to her, “I froze in fear. I shouted at him and alerted the bus conductor who ignored my appeals for help.” The other passengers also did not come to the rescue of the young woman. Despite the recent national outrage over the rape and killing of a student doctor at Kolkatta’s RG College and Hospital, and the students raped in Badlapur in Maharashtra — sexual molestation and rape continues. The general public remains indifferent and do not come to the help of victims.
9-YEAR-OLD BEATEN UP
THE teachers of a private school in Camurlim, Sujal Gawade and Kanishka Gadekar, have been arrested for beating a nine-year-old student for tearing up pages. The teachers reportedly hit the student with a steel ruler on hands, thighs, legs, back and chest. They also slapped his face and kicked him on his stomach, according to Colvale Police Inspector Vijay Rane Sardesai. The incident took place at the Shri Saraswati Vidhya Mandir private school. The teachers succeeded in paralyzing the boy just for a few torn pages of a text book. The teacher of English used the steel ruler to beat up the boy. Violent Goa, anyone?
PHAL DESSAI INAUGURATES MATOLI BAZAAR
SOCIAL Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai in the presence of MLA Quepem, Alton Dcosta, inaugurated the annual Matoli Bazaar organised by Atal Gram Development Agency and Navi Disha Cluster Foundation at Quepem on September 4, 2024.
This bazaar is organised before Ganesh Chaturthi and offers a platform to Self-Help Groups and individuals from Quepem taluka comprising of 11 village panchayats and one Municipal Council to market their variety of goods. Speaking on the occasion Phaldessai said women have potential, ability, skill, intelligence, talent, creativity and these qualities not visible until women themselves come forward. Promotion, training, skilling, up-skilling and re-skilling of women is required and the Matoli Bazaar showcases women’s work. The government is working in various ways to bring up leadership amongst women. The arts and skills in rural and remote areas will be provided opportunities to grow through Kunbi Village Project in the near future in Sanguem. The government is working on the principles of Gramodaya, Sarvodaya and Antyodaya and it is determined to make India self-sufficient and self-sufficient, concluded Phaldessai.
MLA Dcosta added that concepts like Matoli Bazaar offer good platform for women to become economically independent and the government is ready to provide the support infrastructure through programs and initiatives.
South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson Sanjana Velip said women will benefit from the three days of the Matoli Bazaar where they will sell their farm produce and homemade products. Chairperson of Atal Gram Shashikant Gaonkar said the Matoli Bazaar is the unique concept started by the agency years ago and after that many Matoli Bazaars started. The aim of the Atal Gram is to make all self-sufficient. Also present on the occasion were Atal Gram director Suhas Deikar; Block Development Officer Anil Naik; Zonal Agriculture Officer Sandesh Raut Dessai and others.
SAWANT PRESENTS CM-VASHISTHA GURU PURASKAR
CHIEF Minister Dr Pramod Sawant presented the CM-Vashistha Guru Puraskar 2023-24 to seven distinguished educators at the 63rd Teacher’s Day celebration held at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Kala Academy, Campal, Panaji, on September 5, 2024. In his address the CM highlighted the pivotal role of teachers as architects of society, emphasizing their continuous need for personal and professional development.
He commended Goa’s students for their international representation in Coding & Robotics, underscoring the importance of career guidance and individual student counselling. He affirmed that teachers are lifelong change-makers. Teachers’ contribution to the vision of Swayampurna Goa is important, he concluded.
Present at the function were Prasad Lolienkar, IAS, Secretary of the Directorate of Education, and he echoed the sentiments, praising teachers for shaping students’ futures and noted that the true measure of a teacher’s success is reflected in their students’ achievements. He emphasized that only smart teachers can foster smart classrooms.
The recipients of the CM-Vashistha Guru Puraskar 2023-24 in Primary Teacher Category are Mahesh Chandrakant Kashalkar, Govt. Middle School, Mopa, Pernem, North Goa; Pratima Prakash Prabhu Gaonkar, Govt. Primary School, Mahalwada, Poinguinim, Canacona, South Goa. In the Secondary Teacher Category are Sudhir Tukaram Naik, Drawing Teacher, Sateri Vidya Mandir, Ibrampur, Pernem, North Goa; Jyoti Venkatesh Sinari, Assistant Teacher, Ramakant Naik Memorial Government High School, Tarmata, Bhile, Surla, Bicholim, North Goa. In the High School Headmaster Category are Shirishkumar Vinayak Amshekar, Headmaster, SSM’s Swastik Vidyalaya, Priol, Mardol, South Goa. In Higher Secondary Teacher Category are Shirish Shriranga Bhide, Teacher Grade-I, Dempo Charitable Trust’s Vasantrao Dempo Higher Secondary School of Arts, Science and Commerce, Cujira, Santa-Cruz. Higher Secondary Principal Category — Vithal Ankush Parsekar, Principal, Dr Ambedkar Higher Secondary School, Colvale, Bardez. Additionally, ADEIs were honored for their exceptional efforts in achieving the highest collection of the Teachers Welfare Fund.
The event commenced with a welcome speech by Shailesh Zingade (director, Directorate of Education). Meghana Shetgaonkar (director, SCERT), Shambhu Ghadi (state project director, Goa Samagra Shiksha), along with various officials, officers, teachers and students attended the function. The function was compered by Subhash Jan and Sindhu Prabhudesai (dy director, Directorate of Education) concluded it with a vote of thanks.