BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The Bombay High Court at Goa on Wednesday (April 1) revoked the dismissal of Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) Nerlon Albuquerque, the officer who was expelled from the force, for allegedly sabotaging the Scarlett Keeling investigation.
The division bench however did not interfere with Albuquerque’s ‘suspension’ but granted him liberty to propose a review application to Goa Police on it.
The bench comprising of Justices P Majmudar and U Salvi in their order added, that the department could hold a fresh disciplinary enquiry against the suspended PSI Nerlon for the alleged lapses he committed while investigating the Scarlett Keeling Eden case.
The Court further ordered that the fresh inquiry, should however be concluded within a period of five months, that is, by August 31. Moreover, the court ruled that Albuquerque could avail of his benefits within the enquiry period.
Interestingly, the Advocate General Subodh Kantak had earlier told the Court that the government would withdraw the dismissal order issued by the former Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar against PSI Albuquerque, last year.
It may be recalled, that the Goa Police had ordered a departmental inquiry, before dismissing the officer, after he was accused of allegedly botching up the investigations into the British teenager’s death.
The deceased’s mother, Fiona Mackeown had subsequently raised questions about the initial inquiry conducted by the Anjuna police, after which PI Braz Menezes replaced Nerlon.
The case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in June.
Albuquerque had challenged his dismissal in the High Court, arguing that he was deprived of the opportunity to defend himself and that his dismissal was a result of media pressure and interference by certain politicians.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Mickky-Joaquim clash at Cong HQ
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Hardly had the dust settled over the Congress-NCP tug-of-war for the North Goa seat, a wordy duel broke out at the Congress headquarters here between Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao and Tourism Minister Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco, at a joint meeting of the two parties to chart out the alliance’s electioneering strategy.
The meeting was called by the GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar at the Congress office on Wednesday (April 1), Panjim, to decide strategy and finalise meetings in all the assembly segments of South Goa Parliamentary constituency. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, MP Francisco Sardinha and most of the legislators were present.
The trouble began when South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha made a plea for support from all to ensure his re-election. This evoked an instantaneous reaction from Mickky, who recalled that some Congress ministers and MLAs had ditched him in the by-election.
Mickky also claimed he had ample evidence to prove his charge. He also brought to Sardinha’s notice that some Congress ministers were still working against him and urged him to bring them in line, making it obvious that he was referring to PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who incidentally was not present.
This apparently annoyed Joaquim who demanded that Mickky should substantiate his charges, and that’s when Mickky shot back: “Please, I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to Sardinha and the Chief Minister,” Mickky said much to the chagrin of Joaquim who in a fit of anger abused him.
This resulted in both abusing each other in unquotable language and the scene almost came to blows even as others tried to pacify them, sources said.
Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza pacified Mickky even as both of them along with Praful Hede walked out of the hall anguished over the incident.
The Chief Minister, Shirodkar and Sardinha rushed out of the room and requested them to cool down. But the NCP leaders felt they were invited for the meeting and were insulted and demanded apology from Joaquim.
As Joaquim refused to apologise for the incident, all the NCP members including Tivim MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar, former Minister Surendra Sirsat and Adv Avinash Bhosale left the venue. NCP’s state unit president, Dr Wilfred de Souza, did not attend the meeting, as he was reportedly indisposed.
In the process, the meeting of legislators from North Goa could not be held. All of the NCP members later met in a city hotel and threatened to chalk out their future strategy if the Congress failed to adhere to ‘coalition dharma.’
GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar refused to comment on the incident.
“What way is it news for the media. Friends today clash and become friends again tomorrow,” he said, adding that the meeting mainly finalised the campaigning programme in South Goa starting from April 5.
Meanwhile, Sardinha will file his nomination papers before the returning officer at Margao at 12 noon today (April 2). Former Minister Domnic Fernandes will also file nomination papers as a dummy candidate, party sources informed.
Jitendra Deshprabhu who has been chosen as NCP nominee for North Goa constituency will resign from the Congress file his nomination papers on Thursday (April 3).
PANJIM: Hardly had the dust settled over the Congress-NCP tug-of-war for the North Goa seat, a wordy duel broke out at the Congress headquarters here between Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao and Tourism Minister Francisco (Mickky) Pacheco, at a joint meeting of the two parties to chart out the alliance’s electioneering strategy.
The meeting was called by the GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar at the Congress office on Wednesday (April 1), Panjim, to decide strategy and finalise meetings in all the assembly segments of South Goa Parliamentary constituency. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, MP Francisco Sardinha and most of the legislators were present.
The trouble began when South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha made a plea for support from all to ensure his re-election. This evoked an instantaneous reaction from Mickky, who recalled that some Congress ministers and MLAs had ditched him in the by-election.
Mickky also claimed he had ample evidence to prove his charge. He also brought to Sardinha’s notice that some Congress ministers were still working against him and urged him to bring them in line, making it obvious that he was referring to PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who incidentally was not present.
This apparently annoyed Joaquim who demanded that Mickky should substantiate his charges, and that’s when Mickky shot back: “Please, I’m not talking to you. I’m talking to Sardinha and the Chief Minister,” Mickky said much to the chagrin of Joaquim who in a fit of anger abused him.
This resulted in both abusing each other in unquotable language and the scene almost came to blows even as others tried to pacify them, sources said.
Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza pacified Mickky even as both of them along with Praful Hede walked out of the hall anguished over the incident.
The Chief Minister, Shirodkar and Sardinha rushed out of the room and requested them to cool down. But the NCP leaders felt they were invited for the meeting and were insulted and demanded apology from Joaquim.
As Joaquim refused to apologise for the incident, all the NCP members including Tivim MLA, Nilkant Halarnkar, former Minister Surendra Sirsat and Adv Avinash Bhosale left the venue. NCP’s state unit president, Dr Wilfred de Souza, did not attend the meeting, as he was reportedly indisposed.
In the process, the meeting of legislators from North Goa could not be held. All of the NCP members later met in a city hotel and threatened to chalk out their future strategy if the Congress failed to adhere to ‘coalition dharma.’
GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar refused to comment on the incident.
“What way is it news for the media. Friends today clash and become friends again tomorrow,” he said, adding that the meeting mainly finalised the campaigning programme in South Goa starting from April 5.
Meanwhile, Sardinha will file his nomination papers before the returning officer at Margao at 12 noon today (April 2). Former Minister Domnic Fernandes will also file nomination papers as a dummy candidate, party sources informed.
Jitendra Deshprabhu who has been chosen as NCP nominee for North Goa constituency will resign from the Congress file his nomination papers on Thursday (April 3).
Hard days ahead for stone crushing industry
BY NILESH KHANDEPARKAR
PANJIM: The wheels of crusher industry are grinding in full swing. And, with it, the man behind the wheel is rejoicing. But, given the situation facing this industry, it may soon fall on bad days.
For 34 years now, Ragvendra Bhat owns two crushers in St Jose de Areal. Ipso facto, he knows the crusher industry like the back of his palm. A reason why he is the Secretary of the South Goa Crushers Association.
Facts of the case
Approximately a year ago, industrial chieftains in the crusher industry were forced to sit up and take notice. It all started with a petition filed in the High Court (HC) against the crushers located in St Jose de Areal, Gudi-Paroda and Sarzora by one Elcee Da Costa, a South Goa resident.
Highly placed sources in the legal fraternity told GT that HC converted this petition to include the entire state of Goa. In simple words, crushers in the whole of Goa came under judicial scanner.
“It directed the state government to file a report on the crusher industry. The government reverted, promising proceedings under Section 31 and Section 33 of the Land Revenue Code,” said a source in the legal fraternity. While the Court granted a time frame of six months with effect from September 2008 for the state government to file the aforesaid report, the government asked for another extension of the time limit as the deadline was breathing down its neck.
“The High Court granted an extended time limit of five months with effect from March 09,” said the source.
Meanwhile, even as the HC extended the deadline, the government released a circular exempting crusher industry from land conversion sanad with retrospective effect. The extended deadline of five months expires in August 2009. Interestingly, the petition is still pending before the HC.
About the industry
Stepping into the crusher industry involves obtaining a host of licences. According to highly placed sources in this industry, what starts with a Panchayat NOC also involves obtaining a licence from the Small Scale Industries Department, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and relevant property documents.
“The HC wanted to know whether all crushers had the requisite licence from the GSPCB. Around 30 crushers did no possess this licence. Thereafter, all crusher owners took care to obtain all the relevant licences,” adds Bhat.
Sources say the petitioner’s main grouse was related to the pollution aspect as well. “All crushers/quarries are situated in non-industrial zones like agricultural zone, social forestry, cultivable areas and next to settlement zones,” said the top legal source.
At the other end of the spectrum, crusher owners stood their ground. “My crusher started its operations in 1973 at a time when the conversion sanad was not essential. What was earlier a non-settlement area turned into a settlement zone much later,” claimed Bhat.
Business model
Briefly put, the crusher industry works this way. Black stone is extracted from hills -- a job entrusted to the quarry industry. The stone so extracted -- a large structure -- is then broken down into manageable smaller units. These are then transferred to crushers for further reducing their size into manageable ballast.
The ballast has various uses -- in the construction industry, roads, etc. It also varies in size depending on its use. So, we have different sizes of ballast: half inch, three-fourth inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches and so on. Bigger boulders are also used in large constructions.
“For generating ballast of four trucks per day, raw material to the tune of six trucks in the form of stone from quarries is required as an input on a daily basis. The crusher industry works on a seasonal basis, closed in the monsoons as extraction of stone from quarries becomes impossible due to inclement weather,” informs Bhat.
Yet another top source from the crusher industry adds: “The building industry has to continue. If the crusher industry in Goa falls on bad days and has to close down, ballast from neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Karnataka will fill the vacuum.”
Hard Facts
(Source: R P Bhat, secretary, South Goa Crushers Association)
PANJIM: The wheels of crusher industry are grinding in full swing. And, with it, the man behind the wheel is rejoicing. But, given the situation facing this industry, it may soon fall on bad days.
For 34 years now, Ragvendra Bhat owns two crushers in St Jose de Areal. Ipso facto, he knows the crusher industry like the back of his palm. A reason why he is the Secretary of the South Goa Crushers Association.
Facts of the case
Approximately a year ago, industrial chieftains in the crusher industry were forced to sit up and take notice. It all started with a petition filed in the High Court (HC) against the crushers located in St Jose de Areal, Gudi-Paroda and Sarzora by one Elcee Da Costa, a South Goa resident.
Highly placed sources in the legal fraternity told GT that HC converted this petition to include the entire state of Goa. In simple words, crushers in the whole of Goa came under judicial scanner.
“It directed the state government to file a report on the crusher industry. The government reverted, promising proceedings under Section 31 and Section 33 of the Land Revenue Code,” said a source in the legal fraternity. While the Court granted a time frame of six months with effect from September 2008 for the state government to file the aforesaid report, the government asked for another extension of the time limit as the deadline was breathing down its neck.
“The High Court granted an extended time limit of five months with effect from March 09,” said the source.
Meanwhile, even as the HC extended the deadline, the government released a circular exempting crusher industry from land conversion sanad with retrospective effect. The extended deadline of five months expires in August 2009. Interestingly, the petition is still pending before the HC.
About the industry
Stepping into the crusher industry involves obtaining a host of licences. According to highly placed sources in this industry, what starts with a Panchayat NOC also involves obtaining a licence from the Small Scale Industries Department, Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and relevant property documents.
“The HC wanted to know whether all crushers had the requisite licence from the GSPCB. Around 30 crushers did no possess this licence. Thereafter, all crusher owners took care to obtain all the relevant licences,” adds Bhat.
Sources say the petitioner’s main grouse was related to the pollution aspect as well. “All crushers/quarries are situated in non-industrial zones like agricultural zone, social forestry, cultivable areas and next to settlement zones,” said the top legal source.
At the other end of the spectrum, crusher owners stood their ground. “My crusher started its operations in 1973 at a time when the conversion sanad was not essential. What was earlier a non-settlement area turned into a settlement zone much later,” claimed Bhat.
Business model
Briefly put, the crusher industry works this way. Black stone is extracted from hills -- a job entrusted to the quarry industry. The stone so extracted -- a large structure -- is then broken down into manageable smaller units. These are then transferred to crushers for further reducing their size into manageable ballast.
The ballast has various uses -- in the construction industry, roads, etc. It also varies in size depending on its use. So, we have different sizes of ballast: half inch, three-fourth inch, 1.5 inches, 2 inches and so on. Bigger boulders are also used in large constructions.
“For generating ballast of four trucks per day, raw material to the tune of six trucks in the form of stone from quarries is required as an input on a daily basis. The crusher industry works on a seasonal basis, closed in the monsoons as extraction of stone from quarries becomes impossible due to inclement weather,” informs Bhat.
Yet another top source from the crusher industry adds: “The building industry has to continue. If the crusher industry in Goa falls on bad days and has to close down, ballast from neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Karnataka will fill the vacuum.”
Hard Facts
- Total crushers in Goa: 200 (approx)
- Total crushers in South Goa: 50
- Turnover of one crusher per day: Rs 3,000
- Net profit per day: 10% of the above
- Employment potential (direct): 12 labourers
- Indirect employment: Drivers, cleaners, mechanics, stone cutters, stone extractors
- Total employment (direct & indirect) in crusher industry: 2,500 (approx)
- Location of crushers in S Goa: St Jose de Areal, Sanguem, Sanvordem, Balli
- Location of crushers in N Goa: Valpoi, Pale, Guleli
(Source: R P Bhat, secretary, South Goa Crushers Association)
Churchill's Margao meet a damp squib
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: The much-touted public meeting at Lohia Maidan here called by PWD Minister, ostensibly to ‘expose’ two Congress leaders who sabotaged the chances of his lawyer-daughter, Valanka, of getting the party ticket for the South Goa seat, lacked the expected fire-works.
The meeting, held on Tuesday (March 31) however drew the crowds as all Churchill Alemao shows do.
What however created a flutter at the meeting was the presence of two persons, one N K Sharma and another Vinay Bopana, who were portrayed as ‘Congress observers’ and an impression was sought to be created that the South Goa ticket to sitting MP Francisco Sardinha was still not finalised.
Sharma, who addressed the meeting, claimed that he would convey the sentiments of pro-Valanka supporters to the Congress leaders in Delhi.
But when approached by the media later, Sharma admitted that he was on a ‘personal visit’ to Goa but refused to comment on whether he had any authority to make statements that the ticket for South Goa could be changed and is under review.
The meeting, organised under the ‘Congress-I Workers Meeting’ banner, meanwhile, attracted a sizeable crowd mostly ladies belonging to the OBC community, some ferried to the venue in pick-ups and curious spectators eager to know Churchill’s stance after failing to get the ticket for Valanka.
On this score, however, it turned out to be a total ‘anti-climax’. Churchill merely said, he is with the Congress and exhorted his supporters to vote for the Congress.
Churchill devoted much of his speech at the meet to explain the circumstances of his own exit and re-entrie from and to the Congress party. He quipped that “the people safeguarded me” though detractors in the party had sought to end his political career.
He also issued a veiled warning that he could “topple the state government” but would not do so since he had the support of central party leaders such as AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Ambika Soni.
He also justified his bid to gain a nomination for Valanka by quoting AICC general secretary, Rahul Gandhi’s view in favour of allotting tickets to youth. Valanka was a ‘good fighter’ and a capable candidate for the seat, he added.
Churchill also displayed a sheet of paper to the crowd, which he claimed was the ‘agreement’ in which the Lok Sabha ticket was assured for Valanka. The pact was reached at the time of Save Goa Front’s merger into the Congress.
Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, although refraining from taking names, took a dig at South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, who has been re-nominated, by mentioning his success in getting the bill on dhirios passed in the Goa legislative assembly. He nevertheless ended his speech, assuring to work for the Congress.
MARGAO: The much-touted public meeting at Lohia Maidan here called by PWD Minister, ostensibly to ‘expose’ two Congress leaders who sabotaged the chances of his lawyer-daughter, Valanka, of getting the party ticket for the South Goa seat, lacked the expected fire-works.
The meeting, held on Tuesday (March 31) however drew the crowds as all Churchill Alemao shows do.
What however created a flutter at the meeting was the presence of two persons, one N K Sharma and another Vinay Bopana, who were portrayed as ‘Congress observers’ and an impression was sought to be created that the South Goa ticket to sitting MP Francisco Sardinha was still not finalised.
Sharma, who addressed the meeting, claimed that he would convey the sentiments of pro-Valanka supporters to the Congress leaders in Delhi.
But when approached by the media later, Sharma admitted that he was on a ‘personal visit’ to Goa but refused to comment on whether he had any authority to make statements that the ticket for South Goa could be changed and is under review.
The meeting, organised under the ‘Congress-I Workers Meeting’ banner, meanwhile, attracted a sizeable crowd mostly ladies belonging to the OBC community, some ferried to the venue in pick-ups and curious spectators eager to know Churchill’s stance after failing to get the ticket for Valanka.
On this score, however, it turned out to be a total ‘anti-climax’. Churchill merely said, he is with the Congress and exhorted his supporters to vote for the Congress.
Churchill devoted much of his speech at the meet to explain the circumstances of his own exit and re-entrie from and to the Congress party. He quipped that “the people safeguarded me” though detractors in the party had sought to end his political career.
He also issued a veiled warning that he could “topple the state government” but would not do so since he had the support of central party leaders such as AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Ambika Soni.
He also justified his bid to gain a nomination for Valanka by quoting AICC general secretary, Rahul Gandhi’s view in favour of allotting tickets to youth. Valanka was a ‘good fighter’ and a capable candidate for the seat, he added.
Churchill also displayed a sheet of paper to the crowd, which he claimed was the ‘agreement’ in which the Lok Sabha ticket was assured for Valanka. The pact was reached at the time of Save Goa Front’s merger into the Congress.
Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco, although refraining from taking names, took a dig at South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha, who has been re-nominated, by mentioning his success in getting the bill on dhirios passed in the Goa legislative assembly. He nevertheless ended his speech, assuring to work for the Congress.
Khalap calls NK Sharma imposter
BY A GT STAFF REPORTER
PANJIM: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesman Ramakant Khalap on Tuesday (March 31) described K Sharma, who claimed to be a political advisor to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, as an imposter.
“The party has not deputed anyone to Goa. Sharma is best described as an imposter,” Khalap told media persons at Congress House.
According to Khalap, the said Sharma spoke to the media relating to South Goa Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha polls.
He said GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar telephoned AICC in-charge of Goa desk, B K Hariprasad, who denied deputing any such person to Goa.
“Sharma is not a representative of the AICC. In case of a visit by any Congress functionary, the GPCC is pre-informed about his identity, designation, itinerary, purpose of visit, etc,” he said.
He said the seriousness of the issue will be probed and steps over lodging a police complaint will be considered.
PANJIM: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) spokesman Ramakant Khalap on Tuesday (March 31) described K Sharma, who claimed to be a political advisor to AICC president Sonia Gandhi, as an imposter.
“The party has not deputed anyone to Goa. Sharma is best described as an imposter,” Khalap told media persons at Congress House.
According to Khalap, the said Sharma spoke to the media relating to South Goa Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha polls.
He said GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar telephoned AICC in-charge of Goa desk, B K Hariprasad, who denied deputing any such person to Goa.
“Sharma is not a representative of the AICC. In case of a visit by any Congress functionary, the GPCC is pre-informed about his identity, designation, itinerary, purpose of visit, etc,” he said.
He said the seriousness of the issue will be probed and steps over lodging a police complaint will be considered.
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