Friday, July 31, 2009
Maid and the ‘monsters’
Tale of a 10-year-old girl, how she fled from the house ofher tormentors
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: How did the 10-year-old girl ill-treated and physically tortured for six months by her employers, the Porvorim-based Pednekars, escape from her masters’ clutches?
Sheer luck!
She slipped out of the house on Saturday when her employer, Audhumber Pednekar, a civil engineer by profession was at work and his wife Meenaxi and sister-in-law Rekha alias Tina Waghela were too busy to notice her.
Meenaxi was feeding her twins in the bedroom and Tina was in the bathroom, when the girl managed to escape and run towards the main road. There, she got on to a bus headed for Mapusa.
She wasn’t carrying even a single penny and fortunately encountered a humane bus conductor who let her go, perhaps pitying her for her physical condition.
It was then that Mapusa police located her in their jurisdiction and on inquiry the whole episode got exposed.
Porvorim police were then immediately informed and Save Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - India was roped in after which an FIR was registered and action initiated.
Meanwhile, co-accused in the case, Tina Waghela is absconding from the day the offence was booked against her and the Pednekar couple on Saturday night.
Audhumber has already got bail from the Children’s Court in the case in which he along with his wife Meenaxi and sister-in-law Tina, are booked under sections 324 (injuring flesh) read with section 34 (common intention) of Indian Penal Code, section 7 C, 8 (2) 9 of Goa Children’s Act, 2003 (employing a minor child for domestic help, etc) and section 3 of Prevention of Atrocities (Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribes) Act.
The police, meanwhile, are on the job to trace Tina, whose anticipatory bail plea will be heard in the Children’s Court tomorrow along with Meenaxi’s, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Gundu Naik, told GT.
Gundu Naik is handling the case since Tuesday when police invoked section 3 of the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act, making it mandatory for an officer of DySP’s rank to investigate. Statements of some seven witnesses have been recorded, although most of them have not come out publicly, fearing retaliation by the Pednekars.
A top police official said, Audumber, who is since released on bail, has “to a certain extent” admitted beating the girl. He said they did not pick up Meenaxi on Saturday night itself because she was nursing their six-month-old twins.
“We had to take swift action on Saturday night soon after registering the FIR. We rushed to the house and arrested Audumber. Meenaxi was with her six-month-old twins and arresting her at that late hour would have separated her from her breast-feeding kids,” the police official said.
Meanwhile, a medical board comprising three senior GMC doctors re-examined the 10-year-old girl for about three-and-half-hours. The report will be released tomorrow and is expected to be very volumnous as against the first one, which was just quarter page.
The first report was produced before the Children’s Court to buttress the police’s plea to reject Audumber’s bail application on Monday. It was only a ‘provisional certificate’.
DySP Naik however declined to comment by only stating that the first medical report mentioned ‘thick burn injuries’ some five-to-seven days old.
BOOM-BOOM BABU
Sports Minister whacks Parrikar’s bouncer
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: It’s not often that Assembly proceedings are packed with fire-works, but yesterday was one of those rare days in the Goa Assembly when Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar verbally clashed with Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar.
As if to say ‘enough-is-enough’, Azgaonkar, who’s been at the receiving end for two days on the controversial ‘Sports City’ project, lashed out at Parrikar and accused him of being the pot that’s calling the kettle black.
Azgaonkar said Parrikar, who against popular sentiments had bulldozed his pet project of hosting the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panjim, was now accusing him of side stepping opposition to the ‘Sports City’.
Azgaonkar also lashed out at Parrikar for his earlier laced comments that suggested he (Azgaonkar) was blinded by the Rs 550-crore the Centre had promised for the project. “Was it the same case with IFFI?” Azgaonkar asked aloud.
Earlier, Parrikar while narrating a fable of the dhobi getting his reluctant donkey to work by dangling carrots before it, had said, “Carrots are dangling in front of him (Minister)”, while referring to the sports city.
To this, Azgaonkar shot back: “Were the same type of carrots dangling before him for IFFI?”
The clash occurred when Parrikar, in his inimitable style poured out his wry sarcasm-filled barbs and generally directed them towards Azgaonkar during the discussion on the Demands for Grants pertaining to sports.
Parrikar urged the minister not to take a confrontationist approach, but compromise with aggrieved villagers.
He also suggested that the government first tender the project to see the response and test the project’s commercial viability.
In typical sarcasm, he then went on to narrate the dhobi-donkey fable, and charged that the minister’s eyes were on the carrots (Rs 550 crore) to be allocated by the Centre.
Azgaonkar in his reply demanded to know whether such carrots dangled before Parrikar when the latter bull-dozed the IFFI event in 2004 riding rough-shod over all opposition to it, across the state.
Though Parrikar was not present in the House, Azgaonkar jabbed him with a ‘carrots were dangling before him when he organised IFFI’ comment, sending the House into peels of laughter.
Sweeping machines: Clean sweep for Oppn
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The utter futility of five sweeping machines on Goan roads resulting in wasteful expenditure, their appendages in the form of tractors and the planned outsourcing of all these machines for a sizeable sum rankled the opposition BJP benches yesterday.
Procured at a sizeable amount of Rs 97 lakh with additional Rs 26 lakh spent on tractors for ferrying these machines, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar explained their futility on Goan roads. Finally, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao had to shelve his initial plans of outsourcing all five machines and remain satisfied with outsourcing of just one machine on a trial basis.
Their drawbacks
In Parrikar’s opinion, the sweeping machines are useless for the following reasons: Their quality is not up to the mark, the pre-requisite of good roads for their use is a complete non-starter in Goa and the shape of these machines makes it a tedious task for them to negotiate sharp turns on narrow Goan roads.
What’s worse, tractors are unable to pull the load of these machines on slope thereby rendering them useless on such roads as well. Moreover, the noise emanating from these machines during their sweeping process, Parrikar feels, is enough to wake up all Altinho residents in the wee hours of the morning.
“The only roads in Panjim which these sweeping machines can clear are the DB Marg and MG Road,” remarked the opposition leader. “It is a classic case of window shopping. These machines were selected without examining their actual use on Goan roads. Total working of these machines is less than 1000 hours,” was the opposition leader’s charge.
Outsourcing plans
Adding to the misery of the Urban Development Ministry was the proposed outsourcing of all five sweeping machines -- already purchased at a huge cost along with the tractors as appendages in addition -- again, at a price.
What’s more, Parrikar pointed out how Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao did not despatch a single machine to Cuncolim Municipality in the Minister’s own constituency and instead posted them at CCP, Margao, Mormugao and Mapusa Municipal Councils.
Joaquim replies
To start with, the Urban Development Minister put up a brave face while expressing confidence of putting all these sweeping machines to use. “I want to show that these machines can be run. The machines are in proper condition. It is the workers who are lazy. So I am outsourcing them,” remarked Alemao.
But soon, he had to beat a hasty retreat, in the face of reality being portrayed by the opposition leader. As a compromise formula spelt out by the opposition leader in the House during the course of discussions of this Starred Question, the Urban Development Minister accepted that he would outsource just one sweeping machine on a trial basis.
PANJIM: The utter futility of five sweeping machines on Goan roads resulting in wasteful expenditure, their appendages in the form of tractors and the planned outsourcing of all these machines for a sizeable sum rankled the opposition BJP benches yesterday.
Procured at a sizeable amount of Rs 97 lakh with additional Rs 26 lakh spent on tractors for ferrying these machines, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar explained their futility on Goan roads. Finally, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao had to shelve his initial plans of outsourcing all five machines and remain satisfied with outsourcing of just one machine on a trial basis.
Their drawbacks
In Parrikar’s opinion, the sweeping machines are useless for the following reasons: Their quality is not up to the mark, the pre-requisite of good roads for their use is a complete non-starter in Goa and the shape of these machines makes it a tedious task for them to negotiate sharp turns on narrow Goan roads.
What’s worse, tractors are unable to pull the load of these machines on slope thereby rendering them useless on such roads as well. Moreover, the noise emanating from these machines during their sweeping process, Parrikar feels, is enough to wake up all Altinho residents in the wee hours of the morning.
“The only roads in Panjim which these sweeping machines can clear are the DB Marg and MG Road,” remarked the opposition leader. “It is a classic case of window shopping. These machines were selected without examining their actual use on Goan roads. Total working of these machines is less than 1000 hours,” was the opposition leader’s charge.
Outsourcing plans
Adding to the misery of the Urban Development Ministry was the proposed outsourcing of all five sweeping machines -- already purchased at a huge cost along with the tractors as appendages in addition -- again, at a price.
What’s more, Parrikar pointed out how Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao did not despatch a single machine to Cuncolim Municipality in the Minister’s own constituency and instead posted them at CCP, Margao, Mormugao and Mapusa Municipal Councils.
Joaquim replies
To start with, the Urban Development Minister put up a brave face while expressing confidence of putting all these sweeping machines to use. “I want to show that these machines can be run. The machines are in proper condition. It is the workers who are lazy. So I am outsourcing them,” remarked Alemao.
But soon, he had to beat a hasty retreat, in the face of reality being portrayed by the opposition leader. As a compromise formula spelt out by the opposition leader in the House during the course of discussions of this Starred Question, the Urban Development Minister accepted that he would outsource just one sweeping machine on a trial basis.
Govt will not buy additional power from Reliance: Aleixo
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira yesterday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that though in-principle approval had been granted to the Sancoale-based independent power producer - M/s Reliance Infrastructure Limited - to double its capacity, it had no financial implications on the government.
There is no commitment to purchase the additional power and the department has even proposed that the 16 MW currently purchased, be discontinued.
Sequeira was replying to the discussion on the Demands for Grants for Power, Science, Technology and Environment and Printing and Stationery.
As per the original power purchase agreement, the government was purchasing 32 MW of power which gradually reduced to 16 MW after the agreement was modified and the company allowed to increase its capacity by another 10 MW a few years ago.
No subsidy to guzzlers
The ghost of the mid-1990s power subsidy scam returned in the House yesterday when Sequeira said that no case was pending against Deputy Speaker, Mauvin Godinho, and that not a single paisa was released as subsidy to any power guzzler, from 2001 till date.
He said, attempts were on to recover Rs 105-crore from the power guzzlers, who he added, had approached the Surepme Court. If required, the government will engage the best of lawyers and ensure the arrears are recovered, he said.
Godinho was the power minister when the scandal broke out after current Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar exposed that the Power Ministry had restored the subsidy scheme by a notification without cabinet sanction. Parrikar had also lodged an FIR in this connection.
Linking sub-stations
Sequeira said, plans were afoot to inter-connect all power sub-stations with underground cabling to reduce power interruptions by 20 per cent.
The Minister admitted that the department was not performing well on the billing front and one reason for this was that the 400-odd meter readers, mostly women, were reluctant to go on the field and in houses to record the meter readings.
To overcome these problems, spot billing, a pilot project is being launched in his Loutolim constituency, he said, adding that the earlier exercise in some parts of Panjim city failed after the contractor abandoned the work. Also, the drop box facility to pay bills by cheques in Panjim and Margao would be extended to other areas soon, he added.
He said, for the ensuing Ganesh Chaturthi festival, new street light fixtures with improved quality of spares would be alloted latest by August 7.
He said, the electricity department was able to achieve and surpass revenue targets due to various factors and achieved revenue of Rs 987 crore during 2008-09.
Earlier, the opposition members who had tabled their cut motions, censured the power department on several fronts, including failure to deal with power shortage at peak load, frequent power failures thereby causing huge loss to industry, disruption of water supply and inconvenience to consumers.
PANJIM: Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira yesterday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that though in-principle approval had been granted to the Sancoale-based independent power producer - M/s Reliance Infrastructure Limited - to double its capacity, it had no financial implications on the government.
There is no commitment to purchase the additional power and the department has even proposed that the 16 MW currently purchased, be discontinued.
Sequeira was replying to the discussion on the Demands for Grants for Power, Science, Technology and Environment and Printing and Stationery.
As per the original power purchase agreement, the government was purchasing 32 MW of power which gradually reduced to 16 MW after the agreement was modified and the company allowed to increase its capacity by another 10 MW a few years ago.
No subsidy to guzzlers
The ghost of the mid-1990s power subsidy scam returned in the House yesterday when Sequeira said that no case was pending against Deputy Speaker, Mauvin Godinho, and that not a single paisa was released as subsidy to any power guzzler, from 2001 till date.
He said, attempts were on to recover Rs 105-crore from the power guzzlers, who he added, had approached the Surepme Court. If required, the government will engage the best of lawyers and ensure the arrears are recovered, he said.
Godinho was the power minister when the scandal broke out after current Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar exposed that the Power Ministry had restored the subsidy scheme by a notification without cabinet sanction. Parrikar had also lodged an FIR in this connection.
Linking sub-stations
Sequeira said, plans were afoot to inter-connect all power sub-stations with underground cabling to reduce power interruptions by 20 per cent.
The Minister admitted that the department was not performing well on the billing front and one reason for this was that the 400-odd meter readers, mostly women, were reluctant to go on the field and in houses to record the meter readings.
To overcome these problems, spot billing, a pilot project is being launched in his Loutolim constituency, he said, adding that the earlier exercise in some parts of Panjim city failed after the contractor abandoned the work. Also, the drop box facility to pay bills by cheques in Panjim and Margao would be extended to other areas soon, he added.
He said, for the ensuing Ganesh Chaturthi festival, new street light fixtures with improved quality of spares would be alloted latest by August 7.
He said, the electricity department was able to achieve and surpass revenue targets due to various factors and achieved revenue of Rs 987 crore during 2008-09.
Earlier, the opposition members who had tabled their cut motions, censured the power department on several fronts, including failure to deal with power shortage at peak load, frequent power failures thereby causing huge loss to industry, disruption of water supply and inconvenience to consumers.
ZP by-poll: All women fight at Taleigao
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The bye-elections to fill up the two vacant posts of Taleigao and Santa Cruz Zilla Panchayat and two wards of Piligao and Carambolim posts will be held on August 9. The polling will commence at 8 am and end at 5 pm on August 9.
It will be a straight fight between Anabela Maria Pereira and Wilma Rosario Cardozo for Taleigao ZP constituency, which fell vacant following the resignation of Jennifer Monserrate on being elected sarpanch of Taleigao panchayat. The Taleigao ZP had 15,188 voters and 22 polling stations.
Six candidates are contesting the bye-election in Santa Cruz Zilla Panchayat constituency. They are Brigida Cynthia CardoZo, Elias Dias, Lawrence Fernandese, Prakash Sawant, Sunil Santinezkar and Suresh Palkar. The bye-elecion has been necessitated following the death of sitting ZP member Lawrence Azadevo. There are 14,283 voters and 18 polling stations in Santa Cruz constituency extending to the villages of Santa-Cruz, Curca, Bambolim and Telaulim. The counting of votes will be done at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panjim on August 10 from 8 am onwards.
Similarly, bye-elections will also be held in ward number V of Carambolim panchayat and and ward III of Piligao panchayat on August 9. Three Candidates are contesting in each of these wards. Sanjay Karmalkar, Tulshidas Narvekar and Umesh Karmalkar are contesting in ward V of Carambolim panchayat.
PANJIM: The bye-elections to fill up the two vacant posts of Taleigao and Santa Cruz Zilla Panchayat and two wards of Piligao and Carambolim posts will be held on August 9. The polling will commence at 8 am and end at 5 pm on August 9.
It will be a straight fight between Anabela Maria Pereira and Wilma Rosario Cardozo for Taleigao ZP constituency, which fell vacant following the resignation of Jennifer Monserrate on being elected sarpanch of Taleigao panchayat. The Taleigao ZP had 15,188 voters and 22 polling stations.
Six candidates are contesting the bye-election in Santa Cruz Zilla Panchayat constituency. They are Brigida Cynthia CardoZo, Elias Dias, Lawrence Fernandese, Prakash Sawant, Sunil Santinezkar and Suresh Palkar. The bye-elecion has been necessitated following the death of sitting ZP member Lawrence Azadevo. There are 14,283 voters and 18 polling stations in Santa Cruz constituency extending to the villages of Santa-Cruz, Curca, Bambolim and Telaulim. The counting of votes will be done at Institute Menezes Braganza hall, Panjim on August 10 from 8 am onwards.
Similarly, bye-elections will also be held in ward number V of Carambolim panchayat and and ward III of Piligao panchayat on August 9. Three Candidates are contesting in each of these wards. Sanjay Karmalkar, Tulshidas Narvekar and Umesh Karmalkar are contesting in ward V of Carambolim panchayat.
Civic bodies to get octroi dues
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: Giving in to persistent demands by vociferous BJP benches, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao has promised to release a sum of Rs 17 crore due to all Municipalities in the state.
This sum has been pending under two heads -- Rs 14 crore is 0.75% VAT to Municipalities in lieu of octroi while Rs 3 crores is the disbursal of fund earmarked to Municipalities under budgetary provision.
However, Joaquim has remained non-committal on the additional, arrears of Rs 24.85 crore due to Municipalities pending over a period of five years as pointed out by opposition leader Manohar Parrikar.
He, however, promised to move the file to the finance department for clearing these arrears.
Earlier, Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot raised the matter through a starred qand gave the break up of the rightful demands for funds to the Municipalities.
In lieu of octroi, the Municipalities, Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats are entitled to 2% proceeds of VAT. The detailed break-up, as announced the Urban Development Minister, is: 0.75% to panchayats, 0.75% to Municipalities and 0.5% to Zilla Panchayats.
Khot said of the total VAT collected by the government, 0.75% amounting to Rs 14 crores due to Municipalities has not yet been disbursed.
In his reply, the Urban Development Minister shifted the election code of conduct for the inability to disburse the grants of Rs 3 crore on time. This led Parrikar to demand the propriety of writing to the Election Commissioner when the grants were already earmarked for disbursal.
Of other pending arrears amounting to Rs 24.85 crore, Parrikar felt they can take care of the additional burden of Rs 10 crore on Municipalities imposed on account of the recommendations of the VIth Pay Commission.
As far as octroi is concerned, Alemao blamed the Sales Tax Department quoting their inability to provide him with figures of taxes collected from petrol pumps.
To this, Parrikar said, "The grant of octroi can't be arbitrary. You have to give it proportionately. In case data was unavailable, you could have asked your department to collect it from the petrol pumps."
At this stage, Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik pointed out to the sum of Rs 1 crore, 25 lakhs given to Margao Municipality despite the existence of about 11 petrol pumps within Margao city limits. However, Alemao was quick to clarify that the aforesaid sum of Rs 1 crore was by way of grants.
PANJIM: Giving in to persistent demands by vociferous BJP benches, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao has promised to release a sum of Rs 17 crore due to all Municipalities in the state.
This sum has been pending under two heads -- Rs 14 crore is 0.75% VAT to Municipalities in lieu of octroi while Rs 3 crores is the disbursal of fund earmarked to Municipalities under budgetary provision.
However, Joaquim has remained non-committal on the additional, arrears of Rs 24.85 crore due to Municipalities pending over a period of five years as pointed out by opposition leader Manohar Parrikar.
He, however, promised to move the file to the finance department for clearing these arrears.
Earlier, Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot raised the matter through a starred qand gave the break up of the rightful demands for funds to the Municipalities.
In lieu of octroi, the Municipalities, Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats are entitled to 2% proceeds of VAT. The detailed break-up, as announced the Urban Development Minister, is: 0.75% to panchayats, 0.75% to Municipalities and 0.5% to Zilla Panchayats.
Khot said of the total VAT collected by the government, 0.75% amounting to Rs 14 crores due to Municipalities has not yet been disbursed.
In his reply, the Urban Development Minister shifted the election code of conduct for the inability to disburse the grants of Rs 3 crore on time. This led Parrikar to demand the propriety of writing to the Election Commissioner when the grants were already earmarked for disbursal.
Of other pending arrears amounting to Rs 24.85 crore, Parrikar felt they can take care of the additional burden of Rs 10 crore on Municipalities imposed on account of the recommendations of the VIth Pay Commission.
As far as octroi is concerned, Alemao blamed the Sales Tax Department quoting their inability to provide him with figures of taxes collected from petrol pumps.
To this, Parrikar said, "The grant of octroi can't be arbitrary. You have to give it proportionately. In case data was unavailable, you could have asked your department to collect it from the petrol pumps."
At this stage, Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik pointed out to the sum of Rs 1 crore, 25 lakhs given to Margao Municipality despite the existence of about 11 petrol pumps within Margao city limits. However, Alemao was quick to clarify that the aforesaid sum of Rs 1 crore was by way of grants.
Sirsaim panchayat misses out on grants
BY NESHWIN ALMEIDA
neshwin_almeida@gomantaktimes.com
PANJIM: The village panchayat of Sirsaim in Bardez taluka though financially sound with a panchayat fund of Rs 2.7 lakh but just does not have the drive to go the extra mile.
The panchayat has not submitted their Annual Action Plan to the Zilla Panchyat or to any District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA), therefore missing out on grants-in aid for schemes that benefit the village, revealed the audit report of the year 2007-08.
One of the major schemes that the village panchayat missed out on is the central sponsored Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). The objective of this scheme is to provide additional wage employment, provide food security and improve nutritional levels.
SGRY provides assistance to those interested in farming and 5% of the funds and produce under the SGRY is retained in the Ministry of Wage Employment Generation for utilisation in the areas of acute distress arising out of natural calamities or for taking up preventive measures in the chronically drought or flood affected rural areas. Also in case of scarcity in another area or 50 % of the funds and produce will be earmarked for the village.
The local governing body received Rs 7.3 lakh as grants under the XIIth Finance Commission and grants for various salaries and for Octroi. On its part it collected 56% of the total taxes with arrears of Rs 1.4 lakh and a current demand of Rs 1.8 lakh. The panchayat was poised to collect Rs 3.9 lakh in taxes but managed to collect Rs 1.9 lakh.
The panchayat had no new cases of illegal constructions. The panchayat however failed to take action against the 17 pending illegal construction.
In terms of development the works executed by the panchayat is firstly a roads at the cost Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 76,580 on repairs of wells, zor, cleaning of gutters, bands and clearing bushes.
The estimates however for road construction and maintenance of wells and gutters Rs 5.2 lakh and Rs 1.3 lakh respectively. Closing balance for the year in terms of total funds of the village stands at Rs 8.7 lakh.
neshwin_almeida@gomantaktimes.com
PANJIM: The village panchayat of Sirsaim in Bardez taluka though financially sound with a panchayat fund of Rs 2.7 lakh but just does not have the drive to go the extra mile.
The panchayat has not submitted their Annual Action Plan to the Zilla Panchyat or to any District Rural Development Agencies (DRDA), therefore missing out on grants-in aid for schemes that benefit the village, revealed the audit report of the year 2007-08.
One of the major schemes that the village panchayat missed out on is the central sponsored Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). The objective of this scheme is to provide additional wage employment, provide food security and improve nutritional levels.
SGRY provides assistance to those interested in farming and 5% of the funds and produce under the SGRY is retained in the Ministry of Wage Employment Generation for utilisation in the areas of acute distress arising out of natural calamities or for taking up preventive measures in the chronically drought or flood affected rural areas. Also in case of scarcity in another area or 50 % of the funds and produce will be earmarked for the village.
The local governing body received Rs 7.3 lakh as grants under the XIIth Finance Commission and grants for various salaries and for Octroi. On its part it collected 56% of the total taxes with arrears of Rs 1.4 lakh and a current demand of Rs 1.8 lakh. The panchayat was poised to collect Rs 3.9 lakh in taxes but managed to collect Rs 1.9 lakh.
The panchayat had no new cases of illegal constructions. The panchayat however failed to take action against the 17 pending illegal construction.
In terms of development the works executed by the panchayat is firstly a roads at the cost Rs 1.8 lakh and Rs 76,580 on repairs of wells, zor, cleaning of gutters, bands and clearing bushes.
The estimates however for road construction and maintenance of wells and gutters Rs 5.2 lakh and Rs 1.3 lakh respectively. Closing balance for the year in terms of total funds of the village stands at Rs 8.7 lakh.
Casino operators meet CM, discuss entry fee hike
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: A delegation of off-shore and on-shore casino operators met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Tuesday and presented a memorandum opposing the steep hike in entry fee from Rs 200 to Rs 2000.
Last week, the Chief Minister had announced the tax measure which he said, was being implemented to discourage youth from entering casinos. The government hopes to garner an additional Rs 36 crore from the hike.
Representatives of ‘Chances’, ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Las Vegas’ and the casino at Marriot Resort were present at the meeting along with representatives of off-shore casinos.
The off-shore casino operators told the Chief Minister that 95 per cent of their clientele were from outside the state and emphasized that the hike would deter people from visiting casinos.
“All the people who come on board do not go to the casino,” said a spokesperson for the Association of Offshore Casinos (AOC). “Many come to enjoy a meal at the restaurant or dance,” the spokesperson added.
The Chief Minister expressed his concerns of youth involved in gambling and suggested that a formula be worked out where only Goans who are in the higher income bracket are allowed in casinos.
In reply, casino operators said they were willing to hike the entry fee from Rs 200 to Rs 500 provided the fee for non-Goans remains unchanged. “We are also willing to raise the age bar for entry from 18 to 21,” the spokesperson said.
Another source said the problem lies with land casinos which provide easy access to local clientele on account of the low entry fee.
Presently, Casino Royale charges an entry fee of Rs 1,500, but the upside is that the customer gets an equivalent amount of free playing chips.
“Now if casino operators have to charge Rs 2,000 as an entry fee we will have to provide the customer with something and this will affect our bottom line,” explained the spokesperson.
With the steep hike, there is a fear in the industry that some players will have to close shop. The Chief Minister promised to discuss the matter.
Mickky’s threat a farce?
The threat by Minister of Ports Mickky Pacheco to seal all off-shore casinos did not materialise. Sources said applications for renewal of licences are pending before the Captain of Ports who has refused to take any action as the matter is pending before the High Court.
PANJIM: A delegation of off-shore and on-shore casino operators met Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Tuesday and presented a memorandum opposing the steep hike in entry fee from Rs 200 to Rs 2000.
Last week, the Chief Minister had announced the tax measure which he said, was being implemented to discourage youth from entering casinos. The government hopes to garner an additional Rs 36 crore from the hike.
Representatives of ‘Chances’, ‘Goldfinger’, ‘Las Vegas’ and the casino at Marriot Resort were present at the meeting along with representatives of off-shore casinos.
The off-shore casino operators told the Chief Minister that 95 per cent of their clientele were from outside the state and emphasized that the hike would deter people from visiting casinos.
“All the people who come on board do not go to the casino,” said a spokesperson for the Association of Offshore Casinos (AOC). “Many come to enjoy a meal at the restaurant or dance,” the spokesperson added.
The Chief Minister expressed his concerns of youth involved in gambling and suggested that a formula be worked out where only Goans who are in the higher income bracket are allowed in casinos.
In reply, casino operators said they were willing to hike the entry fee from Rs 200 to Rs 500 provided the fee for non-Goans remains unchanged. “We are also willing to raise the age bar for entry from 18 to 21,” the spokesperson said.
Another source said the problem lies with land casinos which provide easy access to local clientele on account of the low entry fee.
Presently, Casino Royale charges an entry fee of Rs 1,500, but the upside is that the customer gets an equivalent amount of free playing chips.
“Now if casino operators have to charge Rs 2,000 as an entry fee we will have to provide the customer with something and this will affect our bottom line,” explained the spokesperson.
With the steep hike, there is a fear in the industry that some players will have to close shop. The Chief Minister promised to discuss the matter.
Mickky’s threat a farce?
The threat by Minister of Ports Mickky Pacheco to seal all off-shore casinos did not materialise. Sources said applications for renewal of licences are pending before the Captain of Ports who has refused to take any action as the matter is pending before the High Court.
Cops recover knife used to kill taxi driver
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: Vasco police yesterday recovered the weapon that allegedly was used to murder the Maruti van driver Sudan Dabhole from Uccasaim-Bardez from the site of the murder at Consua-Nagoa.
A police team headed by Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar took the accused Mohammad Immadar Ali to Consua where the driver was murdered and managed to recover the knife from the bushes situated in the isolated area.
PI Ekoskar also took another accused Jha yesterday to Canaguinim, Betul so as to recover the firearm used by the accused to fire at the police. However, police were unable to recover the firearm the search continues.
MARGAO: Vasco police yesterday recovered the weapon that allegedly was used to murder the Maruti van driver Sudan Dabhole from Uccasaim-Bardez from the site of the murder at Consua-Nagoa.
A police team headed by Vasco PI Sagar Ekoskar took the accused Mohammad Immadar Ali to Consua where the driver was murdered and managed to recover the knife from the bushes situated in the isolated area.
PI Ekoskar also took another accused Jha yesterday to Canaguinim, Betul so as to recover the firearm used by the accused to fire at the police. However, police were unable to recover the firearm the search continues.
Nutritional officers to be appointed: Monserrate
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: What started with concern over the low quality of mid-day meals soon blew up into an opportunity for different MLAs to air their grievances. In view of the criticism of the Mid Day Meal Scheme Education Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate promised to appoint a Nutritional Officer to check the nutritive value and quality of food served daily.
The points of concern raised pertained to the overall improvement in the Scheme with a view to give a fillip to students hailing from the economically weaker sections. Initiating the debate through a Calling Attention Motion, Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik expressed the need for maintaining a check on the Scheme.
Naik said some students hailing from well-to-do families refrained from consuming the meals. In such cases, Naik sought that the Directorate of Education work out a remedy so that poor students benefit."
Among his concerns was the pathetic rates fixed by the government for such meals -- Rs 3.83 per student per day for primary and Rs 5.32 per student per day for middle school. "When bread alone costs Rs 2.50, the rest of the meal will have to be provided at Rs 1.83," opined Naik.
Intervening the discussion, Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar said some contractors have outsourced the Scheme to sub-contractors thus compromising the quality of the meal.
Following up the matter, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar complained that sub-contractors do not have an FDA licence.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat strongly defended the Scheme, particularly in terms of the hiked rates. According to Kamat, the rates were hiked from Re 1 to Rs 2 with effect from last year. He promised to 'look into' the demand for extending the benefits of the Mid-day Meal Scheme to poor students in unaided schools.
PANJIM: What started with concern over the low quality of mid-day meals soon blew up into an opportunity for different MLAs to air their grievances. In view of the criticism of the Mid Day Meal Scheme Education Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate promised to appoint a Nutritional Officer to check the nutritive value and quality of food served daily.
The points of concern raised pertained to the overall improvement in the Scheme with a view to give a fillip to students hailing from the economically weaker sections. Initiating the debate through a Calling Attention Motion, Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik expressed the need for maintaining a check on the Scheme.
Naik said some students hailing from well-to-do families refrained from consuming the meals. In such cases, Naik sought that the Directorate of Education work out a remedy so that poor students benefit."
Among his concerns was the pathetic rates fixed by the government for such meals -- Rs 3.83 per student per day for primary and Rs 5.32 per student per day for middle school. "When bread alone costs Rs 2.50, the rest of the meal will have to be provided at Rs 1.83," opined Naik.
Intervening the discussion, Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar said some contractors have outsourced the Scheme to sub-contractors thus compromising the quality of the meal.
Following up the matter, Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar complained that sub-contractors do not have an FDA licence.
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat strongly defended the Scheme, particularly in terms of the hiked rates. According to Kamat, the rates were hiked from Re 1 to Rs 2 with effect from last year. He promised to 'look into' the demand for extending the benefits of the Mid-day Meal Scheme to poor students in unaided schools.
Two accused still absconding
Assaulted councillor is vice-chairperson
BY A GT CORRESPONDENT
PONDA: The two brothers Daniel and Benny Fernandes who have been booked for threatening to kill Vincent Paul Fernandes, a Ponda Municipality councillor are still absconding.
Not allowing himself to be deterred by the events of Tuesday, Vincent, has continued and has been elected unopposed as the vice-Chairperson of Ponda Municipal Council, yesterday.
Vincent Fernandes is the third vice-Chairperson in this term. He succeeds Vandana Jog.
On Tuesday, the two brothers, were involved in an accident with Vincent. He has accused them of trying to kill him.
Speaking to GT reporter Vincent said, “They are still absconding even though 24 hours have passed. This sends a wrong message.
Instead of the police interrogating the person with the car keys let him go," he said referring to an incident wherein an acquaintance of one of the accused is alleged to have approached the police to seek a compromise of the case. "This shows that police have not taken this case seriously," he added.
Speaking as vice-chairperson after his election, Vincent said, “My first priority is to build the garden at Kurtarkar Arcade.
This garden has been built but there is no equipment for children to play. I will personally request Home Minister to take this garden on priority.
BY A GT CORRESPONDENT
PONDA: The two brothers Daniel and Benny Fernandes who have been booked for threatening to kill Vincent Paul Fernandes, a Ponda Municipality councillor are still absconding.
Not allowing himself to be deterred by the events of Tuesday, Vincent, has continued and has been elected unopposed as the vice-Chairperson of Ponda Municipal Council, yesterday.
Vincent Fernandes is the third vice-Chairperson in this term. He succeeds Vandana Jog.
On Tuesday, the two brothers, were involved in an accident with Vincent. He has accused them of trying to kill him.
Speaking to GT reporter Vincent said, “They are still absconding even though 24 hours have passed. This sends a wrong message.
Instead of the police interrogating the person with the car keys let him go," he said referring to an incident wherein an acquaintance of one of the accused is alleged to have approached the police to seek a compromise of the case. "This shows that police have not taken this case seriously," he added.
Speaking as vice-chairperson after his election, Vincent said, “My first priority is to build the garden at Kurtarkar Arcade.
This garden has been built but there is no equipment for children to play. I will personally request Home Minister to take this garden on priority.
Sonsodo technical bids opened
BY A GT REPORTER
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council (MMC) authorities yesterday opened the technical bid submitted by the two companies, IL&FS-Fomento Combine and Ramky Enviro Engineering Ltd, Hyderabad to set up a garbage disposal plant at Sonsodo.
MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho, Chief Officer Y Tawde, the MMC administrative officer Chari, MMC sanitary inspector Viraj Arobakar and officials of the two companies were present when the bids were opened. The two companies had submitted two types of bids, technical and financial to the MMC with yesterday being the last day for submission of the same.
The financial bid submitted by the firms will now be opened on Monday evening (August 3) for evaluation. Thereafter, the two types of bids given by the two companies shall be put before the council at its meeting for discussion and the process completed by August 15.
The two bids have an overall 100 points -- 70 for technical and 30 for financial. The technical bids submitted include the details of facilities, experience, project design, layout of plant and proposed machinery to be used.
Coutinho also informed that the two companies have deposited Rs 30 lakh, the deposit is towards performance and the same shall be forfeited in the event, the company fails to give desired results.
MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council (MMC) authorities yesterday opened the technical bid submitted by the two companies, IL&FS-Fomento Combine and Ramky Enviro Engineering Ltd, Hyderabad to set up a garbage disposal plant at Sonsodo.
MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho, Chief Officer Y Tawde, the MMC administrative officer Chari, MMC sanitary inspector Viraj Arobakar and officials of the two companies were present when the bids were opened. The two companies had submitted two types of bids, technical and financial to the MMC with yesterday being the last day for submission of the same.
The financial bid submitted by the firms will now be opened on Monday evening (August 3) for evaluation. Thereafter, the two types of bids given by the two companies shall be put before the council at its meeting for discussion and the process completed by August 15.
The two bids have an overall 100 points -- 70 for technical and 30 for financial. The technical bids submitted include the details of facilities, experience, project design, layout of plant and proposed machinery to be used.
Coutinho also informed that the two companies have deposited Rs 30 lakh, the deposit is towards performance and the same shall be forfeited in the event, the company fails to give desired results.
MLAs slug it out in the Assembly
Encroachments in open spaces will not be regularised: Joaquim
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao felt that diversion of open spaces by legitimising illegal construction on them defeats the very purpose of having such open spaces in the first place.
This assurance came against the backdrop of a case -- Gogol lake in Margao -- mentioned by Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik during the Question Hour.
Naik said Gogol lake was a gifted property and complained of an encroachment in it. In reply, Alemao put the figure of open spaces in Margao at 17 of which one faced encroachment.
"The show-cause notice in this case was served on 6 May, 2005," informed Alemao.
Assagao sports ground grounded?
Pending for the last ten years, work on the sports ground at Assagao is to be undertaken by the Sports Authority of Goa(SAG).
Sports Minister Manohar(Babu) Azgaonkar informed that land admeasuring 15000 m2 has been acquired and its possession was obtained on July 13.
The estimates prepared in that year pegged the total expenditure for construction of this ground at Rs 89,70,000, said Azgaonkar.
" The proposal has been pending for want of funds," claimed the Sports Minister.
Earlier, Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar castigated the Sports Department for an inordinate delay in accomplishing work on this ground ever since the last ten years.
This, he said, is inspite of the assurance given to him in the meet of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sports. On Mandrekar's request, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat intervened in the discussion to state that every department should fix its priority even as the budget has been increased in this regard.
He also expressed concern over the lack of maintenance of existing grounds.
New land to be acquired for school
Education Minister Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate promised to take steps to prevail upon the High Court to vacate its stay on construction of Navodaya Vidhyalaya at Valpoi and assure the HC that the government will acquire the same land admeasuring 1,17,950 m2 in case the government lost the case in HC.
Giving a brief background of the case, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar said a citizen approached the Courts in this regard for this plot belonging to the Goa government claiming it to be her property.
The land, he said, was given to Navodaya Vidhyalaya in the year 1994. " There was no construction of the school for the last 15 years," said Parrikar.
Subsequently, the lady approached the Sessions Court which decided the case in her favour. Now, the case is in the final stages in the High Court, informed Monserrate.
It was here that Parrikar wanted the government to assure the High Court to allow construction of the Navodaya Vidhyalaya on the premise that the government will proceed to acquire this piece of land if the government lost the case.
Govt to chip in for church restoration
The government yesterday promised to chip in the balance sum of Rs 1.59 crores for repairs of the old St Ana church in Talaulim.
The assurance came after the Minister for Archives Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate informed that World Mounment Fund had backed out of its committment to fund this project to the tune of Rs 1.59 crores even as the balance sum of Rs 3.29 crores for the Rs 4.88 crores project was being funded by the government. St Andre MLA Agnel Silveira thanked the government for this 'magnanimous' gesture.
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao felt that diversion of open spaces by legitimising illegal construction on them defeats the very purpose of having such open spaces in the first place.
This assurance came against the backdrop of a case -- Gogol lake in Margao -- mentioned by Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik during the Question Hour.
Naik said Gogol lake was a gifted property and complained of an encroachment in it. In reply, Alemao put the figure of open spaces in Margao at 17 of which one faced encroachment.
"The show-cause notice in this case was served on 6 May, 2005," informed Alemao.
Assagao sports ground grounded?
Pending for the last ten years, work on the sports ground at Assagao is to be undertaken by the Sports Authority of Goa(SAG).
Sports Minister Manohar(Babu) Azgaonkar informed that land admeasuring 15000 m2 has been acquired and its possession was obtained on July 13.
The estimates prepared in that year pegged the total expenditure for construction of this ground at Rs 89,70,000, said Azgaonkar.
" The proposal has been pending for want of funds," claimed the Sports Minister.
Earlier, Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar castigated the Sports Department for an inordinate delay in accomplishing work on this ground ever since the last ten years.
This, he said, is inspite of the assurance given to him in the meet of the Ad Hoc Committee on Sports. On Mandrekar's request, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat intervened in the discussion to state that every department should fix its priority even as the budget has been increased in this regard.
He also expressed concern over the lack of maintenance of existing grounds.
New land to be acquired for school
Education Minister Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate promised to take steps to prevail upon the High Court to vacate its stay on construction of Navodaya Vidhyalaya at Valpoi and assure the HC that the government will acquire the same land admeasuring 1,17,950 m2 in case the government lost the case in HC.
Giving a brief background of the case, opposition leader Manohar Parrikar said a citizen approached the Courts in this regard for this plot belonging to the Goa government claiming it to be her property.
The land, he said, was given to Navodaya Vidhyalaya in the year 1994. " There was no construction of the school for the last 15 years," said Parrikar.
Subsequently, the lady approached the Sessions Court which decided the case in her favour. Now, the case is in the final stages in the High Court, informed Monserrate.
It was here that Parrikar wanted the government to assure the High Court to allow construction of the Navodaya Vidhyalaya on the premise that the government will proceed to acquire this piece of land if the government lost the case.
Govt to chip in for church restoration
The government yesterday promised to chip in the balance sum of Rs 1.59 crores for repairs of the old St Ana church in Talaulim.
The assurance came after the Minister for Archives Atanasio(Babush) Monserrate informed that World Mounment Fund had backed out of its committment to fund this project to the tune of Rs 1.59 crores even as the balance sum of Rs 3.29 crores for the Rs 4.88 crores project was being funded by the government. St Andre MLA Agnel Silveira thanked the government for this 'magnanimous' gesture.
House debates fly-by-night mineral ore traders
Sopte alleges Rs 128 cr taxes not collected from these traders
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The non-payment of VAT by some fly-by-night mineral ore traders resulting in a yawning gap in collection of such a tax echoed in the portal of the House yesterday.
Towards the fag end of the debate, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was forced to assure the House about the government's stringent steps to mop up VAT from such errant traders.
Pernem MLA Dayanand Sopte, was quick to point out to the sizeable difference in VAT mopped up by the state government.
"As per the 2008-09 figures, the total VAT collected amounts to Rs 19 crore, 14 lakhs. Total sale amounts to Rs 11,122 crores while the export value is pegged at Rs 7918 crores. he stated
The difference is to the tune of Rs 3,204 crores. 4% VAT on this figure works out to Rs 128 crores and the difference in collection is to the tune of Rs 109 crores. When will the government collect this amount?" questioned Sopte.
Intervening in Soptes' support, Parrikar said many traders have not paid tax inspite of conducting business. He wanted the government to recover taxes from all such traders liable to pay tax on the ore sold.
The issue pertaining to Deshprabhu's mining operations in Pernem taluka also figured in the House when Sopte pointed out how 62 grade ore was being mined from this area by the former MLA despite the royalty challan examined on one occasion had expired.
In his reply, Chief Minister informed the House that ore traders file quarterly returns. " No quantitaive details of VAT can be obtained at the time of assessment. However, we are trying to ascertain the same," stated Kamat.
He said a reconciliation is on and the state government has alerted the Department of Mines on getting to the bottom of the whereabouts of such ore traded by them.
" If not, we will recover an amount worth 10 times of the royalty and will prosecute them." he added.
We will collect taxes from each and every trader involved in trading of mineral ore,"Kamat remarked while assuring the Pernem MLA of 'looking into' the matter pertaining to mining by former Pernem MLA Jeetendra Deshprabhu.
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: The non-payment of VAT by some fly-by-night mineral ore traders resulting in a yawning gap in collection of such a tax echoed in the portal of the House yesterday.
Towards the fag end of the debate, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat was forced to assure the House about the government's stringent steps to mop up VAT from such errant traders.
Pernem MLA Dayanand Sopte, was quick to point out to the sizeable difference in VAT mopped up by the state government.
"As per the 2008-09 figures, the total VAT collected amounts to Rs 19 crore, 14 lakhs. Total sale amounts to Rs 11,122 crores while the export value is pegged at Rs 7918 crores. he stated
The difference is to the tune of Rs 3,204 crores. 4% VAT on this figure works out to Rs 128 crores and the difference in collection is to the tune of Rs 109 crores. When will the government collect this amount?" questioned Sopte.
Intervening in Soptes' support, Parrikar said many traders have not paid tax inspite of conducting business. He wanted the government to recover taxes from all such traders liable to pay tax on the ore sold.
The issue pertaining to Deshprabhu's mining operations in Pernem taluka also figured in the House when Sopte pointed out how 62 grade ore was being mined from this area by the former MLA despite the royalty challan examined on one occasion had expired.
In his reply, Chief Minister informed the House that ore traders file quarterly returns. " No quantitaive details of VAT can be obtained at the time of assessment. However, we are trying to ascertain the same," stated Kamat.
He said a reconciliation is on and the state government has alerted the Department of Mines on getting to the bottom of the whereabouts of such ore traded by them.
" If not, we will recover an amount worth 10 times of the royalty and will prosecute them." he added.
We will collect taxes from each and every trader involved in trading of mineral ore,"Kamat remarked while assuring the Pernem MLA of 'looking into' the matter pertaining to mining by former Pernem MLA Jeetendra Deshprabhu.
Chikungunya cases worry MLAs
BY A GT REPORTER
PANJIM: With figures of patients afflicted with Chikungunya mounting by the day in areas like Rivona, Kavrem-Pirla, Sanguem MLA Vasudev Gaonkar demanded immediate action from the Health Ministry to arrest this trend.
He said many such patients have been found in the aforesaid areas of Sanguem taluka and their numbers have been on the rise. Rising in support of his colleague, Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik referred to reports appearing in the electronic media in this regard even as he expressed concern over this trend.
On his part, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed the House that the Directorate of Health Services(DHS) diagnosed such cases in January/February particularly afflicting mining workers in the Sanguem/Quepem belt. " The DHS doctors have collected some 100 blood samples of such patients," informed the Health Minister.
He said the DHS has despatched staff to these areas and is constantly monitoring the emerging situation. " The survey of such places is being carried out an awareness drive has also been launched by the DHS. We will take all steps to arrest such cases," promised Rane.
Preventive measures on war-footing in Sanguem taluka
Six out 12 patients admitted for Chikungunya disease at the Primary Health Centre at Curchorem have been discharged and while one patienthas been referred to Goa Medical College and hospital. The remaining 5 patients are still in under observation ward, stated the health officer Dr Ganpati Kakodkar of PHC–Curchorem.
Talking to GT, he said that the cleanliness drive in Curchorem is in full swing, which includes cleaning of open tanks and mosquito breeding sites. “Also awareness is being provided to the villagers to avoid the spread of the disease.” he added.
PANJIM: With figures of patients afflicted with Chikungunya mounting by the day in areas like Rivona, Kavrem-Pirla, Sanguem MLA Vasudev Gaonkar demanded immediate action from the Health Ministry to arrest this trend.
He said many such patients have been found in the aforesaid areas of Sanguem taluka and their numbers have been on the rise. Rising in support of his colleague, Fatorda MLA Damodar Naik referred to reports appearing in the electronic media in this regard even as he expressed concern over this trend.
On his part, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed the House that the Directorate of Health Services(DHS) diagnosed such cases in January/February particularly afflicting mining workers in the Sanguem/Quepem belt. " The DHS doctors have collected some 100 blood samples of such patients," informed the Health Minister.
He said the DHS has despatched staff to these areas and is constantly monitoring the emerging situation. " The survey of such places is being carried out an awareness drive has also been launched by the DHS. We will take all steps to arrest such cases," promised Rane.
Preventive measures on war-footing in Sanguem taluka
Six out 12 patients admitted for Chikungunya disease at the Primary Health Centre at Curchorem have been discharged and while one patienthas been referred to Goa Medical College and hospital. The remaining 5 patients are still in under observation ward, stated the health officer Dr Ganpati Kakodkar of PHC–Curchorem.
Talking to GT, he said that the cleanliness drive in Curchorem is in full swing, which includes cleaning of open tanks and mosquito breeding sites. “Also awareness is being provided to the villagers to avoid the spread of the disease.” he added.
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