O HERALD O
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The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, thursday, march 10, 2011 postal reg. no. Goa 101 pricE rs. 3.00
Heartbeat: Winslet hails DiCaprio as her emotional rock Pg 4
Business: MPs demand more funds for education Pg 13
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Sports: Tendulkar records Pg 16 2,000 WC runs
Counselling for school kids gets Govt nod public work”, Kamat said. The bill has been drafted on the lines of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. LAND RATES: The Cabinet also decided to increase the compensation for tenanted land, acquired by the Government. Kamat said that the price has been increased to Rs 25 per sq meter from the existing Rs 5 per sq meter. “It will, however, be upto the officer to decide whether to increase the rate on a case to case basis. We have said that the minimum rate should not be less than Rs 25”, he said.
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 9
The State Cabinet today approved a scheme to provide counselling to students in Government and Governmentaided schools. Addressing a post Cabinet press conference Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said of late there were many cases of students committing suicides due to academic pressures. He said the Cabinet approved the counselling scheme for students which will be implemented with the help of NGOs. “For this the Government is
expecting an expenditure of Rs 1.14 cr per annum”, he said adding “all selected NGOs will be paid Rs 15,000 per month for the work”. ACCOUNTIBILITY: The Gov-
ernment today also gave its consent to the Goa Public Service Guarantee Bill 2011. “A Government officer or employee would be accountable for delay caused in any
Bypasses in mining areas
phase work from Cavrem to Kurdi is still being finalised”, he said. He said construction of the bypasses would be carried out by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC). “A tripartite agreement would be signed between the Government, GSIDC and the mining companies for execution of work”, he said adding the other modalities like toll for maintenance etc are being worked out.
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 9
The Cabinet today gave its nod to construct bypasses in mining areas. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat told reporters the work will be carried out in three phases and the expenditure for the construction of these bypasses would be borne by mining companies. “The State will only provide them land”, he said. He said the Cabinet approved awarding the contract of first
IN BRIEF President to visit Manipur President Pratibha Patil would pay a two-day visit to Manipur from tomorrow, official sources said. Sources said the programmes of the President were not yet announced. Manipur People’s Liberation Front, Revolutionary People’s Front and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak called for boycott of Patil’s visit and a 40-hour general strike in the state from midnight. — (PTI)
13 killed in Egypt clashes At least 13 people were killed and more than 140 injured in religious clashes between Egyptian Muslims and Christians. The clashes erupted five days ago when groups of both the religion clashed in the village of Sula in south of Cairo in relation to a love affair between a Christian man and a Muslim girl. – (PTI)
phase work of nine-kilometre mining bypass from Uguem to Guddemol while also approving
Now, Kasab kills time with karate PTI MUMBAI, MARCH 9
Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, who has been awarded death penalty for his role in the 26/11 terror attacks, is bidding his time by practising karate in the highsecurity Arthur Road jail here, police sources said on Wednesday. “Kasab does exercise and practices karate sometimes to kill his time. He also often strikes a conversation with the security guards deployed there to guard him round the clock”, said a jail official. The terrorist appears to be knowing karate kicks very well, the official said. The lone surviving gunman is currently lodged in a strong bomb-proof “anda cell” inside the jail and process to shift him to the Yerawada central prison in Pune is underway. After reviewing the security of Kasab at the Arthur Road jail, the police had moved a proposal to the Government requesting the death-row convict be shifted to Yerwada, the biggest prison in the State. The official further said Kasab talks a lot sometimes. “However, security guards at the cell avoid speaking to him”, he said.
tendering work for 13 km bypass from Guddemol to Kapshem. “The alignment for the third
Pirates free ship with 11 Indians
PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 9
Eleven months after being seized, a ship with 11 Indians and 12 others has been freed by Somali pirates, Government sources said today. M V Rak Africana, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadine, is still said to be in the Somalian waters but all the Indians on board are safe. “We can confirm that the ship (M V Rak Africana) and its crew members have been freed but the ship is still in the Somalian waters”, said a source in the Shipping Ministry which is the nodal department in such matters. The source said the ship had developed a technical snag and will take some time to sail again, but refused to share other de-
tails. Babu, father of Roji V John, second officer trainee in the ship and a native of nearby Pathanamthitta district told PTI that authorities of Rak International company, which owns the ship handed over the ransom amount yesterday. Babu, who travelled to Dubai about a month back and returned on March 7 said “today we received the phone call from John and e-mail from the authorities about his release. They will reach Kenya and from there to Mumbai within a couple of days”, he said. John was part of the 23 member crew of M V Rak Africana which was hijacked while on its way to Morali in Africa. He had joined the ship as part of his Bsc Nautical Science Course two years ago. The pirates, numbering about 25, were demanding a ransom of seven million US dollars. “Negotiations were going on all these days and they might have reduced the amount little bit”, he said. Babu said “yesterday the authorities who had flown in a chartered flight dropped the bundle of notes covered with a plastic bag in the sea as per the instructions of pirates who arrived the spot in a speed boat”
ASHES TO ASHES: Panjim Parish Priest Fr. Antimo Gomes marks the symbol of the cross with ash on the foreheads of faithfuls during Ash Wednesday service at Mary Immaculate Conception’s Church, Panjim. Photo by Rozario Estibeiro
9 Ukranians assaulted at Candolim HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, MARCH 9
About nine Ukranian tourists were attacked by a taxi driver and unknown persons at Candolim late Tuesday evening. According to Calangute Police, Ms Oheru Fedoruk claimed that a taxi driver and others assaulted her friends at Candolim while they were on their way to a discotheque at 11 pm. The incident is believed to have been sparked off when a taxi driver drove his vehicle close to the Ukranian tourists, who were walking by the roadside. This apparently angered the Ukranian tourists who confronted the driver. In the heated arguments that followed, some locals rushed to the aid of the taxi driver and began assaulting the Ukranian tourists. (Continued on page 10)
Zilla members plan ‘power’ march HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MARCH 9
Exasperated over the huge delay in devolving powers and functions to the district Panchayat bodies, members of the North and South Goa Zilla Panchayats on Wednesday resolved to take out a morcha on the first day of the Budget Session of the Goa Legislative Assembly. At a joint meeting of members of the two Zilla Panchayats held in the office of the South Goa ZP office here this evening, agitated members further resolved to file a contempt petition in the High Court against the Government for the delay in granting powers to the two bodies as prescribed under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act.
Goa police has prepared an extensive arrangement to provide watertight security before, during and post municipal polls scheduled for March 13. Over 300 armed police personnel will be on duty to ensure free and fair elections keeping a vigil at polling stations to avert any anti-social activities even as separate police teams will be on continuous duty on two and four wheelers. A report released on Tuesday listed several measures that have been laid down one of which includes thorough police cover for maintenance of law and during door-to-door contacts, party meetings, corner meetings, evening meetings and processions. “Adequate police staff will be deployed at all places with spe-
POLICE AT WORK
Two police constables will be on duty at places having one booth l One head constable and 4 constables will man areas having two booths l Places having three booths one ASI, head constable and 6 constables will be on duty. l One PSI, head constable and 8 constables will keep a watch in areas with four booths. l
cial attention to sensitive areas. Police team will be on patrolling duty and they will submit an hourly report of the area to their superiors through the control room”, said a police source.
Wireless sets and other communication devices are also made mandatory to be carried by duty personnel. The Police Department has instructed political groups and
— Michael Lobo
The protest morcha will begin at the Azad Maidan and culminate at the KTC bus stand on the first day of the budget session of the Assembly. “Let the people of Goa know how the Government had been dilly-dal-
lying on the devolution of powers to the Zilla Panchayats”, remarked Michael Lobo, member North Goa ZP. He said that information collected from the Director of Panchayats has revealed that the Committee constituted by the Government to look into the devolution of powers has done absolutely nothing since the Government gave the assurance to the High Court. “The two Zilla Panchayats have no option than to again knock the doors of the Judiciary for justice”, he said. South Goa ZP Chairperson Maria Rebello said today’s joint meeting of the two Zilla Panchayats has decided to take out (Continued on page 10)
DMK, Cong sign poll pact PTI CHENNAI, MARCH 9
A day after breaking the deadlock, DMK and Congress today formalised their seat-sharing pact for the April 13 Assembly polls, under which the national party will contest 63 seats. DMK chief M Karunanidhi and TNCC President K V Thangkabalu signed the agreement, hammered out after hard bargaining by both sides for about a fortnight. “Following discussions, it has been decided to share 63 seats with Congress”, the copy of the agreement released to the media said. Later, Thangkabalu described the DMK-Congress combine as a “winning alliance.” If DMK gets a second term, we would automatically form part of their Government”, Thangkabalu said.
DMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and TNCC President KV Thangabalu showing documents after signing an agreement for seat-sharing for assembly elections, in Chennai on Wednesday.
The seat-sharing talks had run into rough weather with DMK refusing to allot 63 seats and Congress was dead set on its demand, which had brought the seven-year-old alliance under serious strain. The stalemate continued till Tuesday when DMK finally re-
CCP elections: cops leave nothing to chance HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 8
The protest morcha will begin at the Azad Maidan and culminate at the KTC bus stand on the first day of the budget session of the Assembly to highlight how the Government has been dilly-dallying on the devolution of powers to the Zilla Panchayats.
Plaint against SEC over CCP poll notification HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MARCH 9
A complaint has been filed with the Panjim police against the State Election Commissioner (SEC) of cheating and HERALD corruption and acting in violation of law. It may be recalled in its edition dated March 8 Herald had exposed the illegality of the notification for CCP elections. supporters of contesting candidates to avoid canvassing and soliciting people for votes within 200 meters from the polling station. “If they are found indulging
The complaint filed by Ulhas Naik Desai of Miramar and Mahesh Kamat of Margao has drawn attention to the news article published in Herald. “ The CCP IMPACT election notification was shown as duly signed by Dr M Modassir on February 14 from Panjim, when actually he was on sanctioned leave from (Continued on page 10)
in unlawful activities, we will register a cognizable offense against them. Static pickets, checking, nakabandis and patrolling will be carried out”, said (Continued on page 10)
lented to Congress’s demand for 63 seats. DMK and Congress had contested the 2004 and 2009 Lok Sabha polls from the same platform besides the 2006 Assembly elections. Thangkabalu also said that the election panels of the two
parties, comprising Union Ministers P Chidambaram and G K Vasan and Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin on either sides, would meet tomorrow to finalise the constituencies they will contest from. “We will take good decisions”, he said. Meanwhile, after conquering mount DMK, the Congress faces another uphill task - that of finding a seat-sharing formula acceptable to the Trinamool Congress for the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress has given the Congress a list of 58 seats that it is willing to give the Congress for the polls based on the civic polls results of 2010. Party sources said Mamata is in no mood to relent beyond 60 seats.