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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, Saturday, September 11, 2010
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GOA GROOvES
Police arrest 2 military men for forgery
INTO fESTIvITY
Ponda police arrested two military men from the 6TTR Regiment, Curti-Ponda, on charges of providing fake documents during recruitment in 2008. In his complaint, Lt P S Chandrashekar stated that the duo S Kumar Amardeep and Rajnish Prakashchandra Sharma, both from Himachal Pradesh, were recruited in 2008. “As part of their training programme, they were posted in Goa. The certificates which the duo used during recruitment were proved bogus when it was verified by Army officials,” stated the complainant. — (HC MARCEL)
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 10
FESTIVE FUSION: An air of festivity prevailed as students celebrated Ganesh Chaturthi and Id-ul-Fitr festivals together in Patna.
Kankavli man makes soluble Ganesh idols HERALD CORRESPONDENT SAWANTWADI, SEPT 10
Can one get more eco-friendly than this? Pramod Vitthal Palav from Kankavli in Sindhudurg district has designed a Ganesh idol made from clay, fig tree juice, paper and glue, which dissolves in water in less than 15 minutes. For the past three years, Palav has been experimenting with different formulae to come up with eco-friendly idols. In August, in a special session organised by the Ma-
harashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for the benefit of Mumbai’s famous Ganesh mandals, Palav demonstrated his latest innovation. It has been certified by the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Palav’s idols have attracted thousands of orders for the upcoming festival. “I have sent five idols to the US and recently received a phone call from Australia asking me for two. They wanted a small version of Lalbaug’s prestigious Ganesh idol, but
I am so pre-occupied with earlier orders that I don’t have the time,” said Palav. In fact, Palav could not accept all the orders for his eco-friendly idol, and says that next year he will start work six months before the festival. “I was understaffed and never expected such a huge response. I made around 3,000 idols, which were sent to Mumbai, Pune and Goa. It felt really good when my experiment was appreciated by people,” he said.
Mickky grilled for 3 hours HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 10
Trouble does not seem to end for the former tourism minister Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco. Delhi Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) – Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) sleuths questioned him for nearly three-continues hours at CBI office in Bambolim, on Friday, in connection with the illegal immigration racket. Pacheco has been booked for allegedly using forged documents to send Goans abroad, especially United States, through his manpower recruitment agency. Clad in his white button-down
s h i r t a n d s a m e c o l o u re d trousers, the confident looking Pacheco reached CBI office at 2 pm in his white GA-08-F-1212
Toyota car. The 46-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator was quizzed in a closed room of the office of the Goa CBI Superintendent of Police S S Gavli, who was on leave owing to Ganesh Chaturthi being celebrated on Saturday. Emerging out of the office at about 5.20 pm, the former minister replying to media questions said he would not interfere with the investigation. Few Goa CBI officials below the ranks of SP and DySP were also present for Pacheco’s interrogation. Asked on whether he is the (Continued on page 10)
CBI blames it on US HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 10
The CBI investigations in the alleged illegal immigration racket by former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco seems to be a fall out of strict cognisance taken by White House in US. Officials who quizzed the former minister at CBI office in Bambolim were heard telling him that America has taken serious cognisance of this case. The former minister is in the dock after few Goans were allegedly found illegally trying to enter America. He is booked for sending the people abroad by
ON THE JOB
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CBI says America has taken strong cognisance of the racket run from India after few Indians were found entering US without valid documents. Mickky Pacheco tells quizzing team that he had sent 200-odd people overseas for jobs. Says people were mostly sent on board with few recruited on land. Claims credentials were checked before recruitment.
forging documents. “We are doing this because the White House is after illegal immigration,” a CBI official was heard telling Pacheco even as media men were eavesdropping
discussion between CBI officials and Pacheco. CBI sources informed that America has taken strong cognisance of the racket run from (Continued on page 10)
Stop tax breaks to outsourcing firms: Obama PTI WASHINGTON, SEPT 10
President Barack Obama on Friday made it clear that he will not relent on stopping tax breaks to American companies that ship jobs abroad and said incentives will be given to those firms which create jobs in the country. “Let’s stop giving tax breaks to companies that are shipping jobs overseas. Let’s stop incentivizing that and let’s give tax breaks to companies that are investing right here in the United States of America,” Obama said in response to a question at his White House news conference. His remarks came close on the heels of the Ohio state Governor passing an executive order to ban outsourcing, a development that has raised concerns in India which is often described as the world’s back office. Obama said instead of tax breaks that encourage corporations to create jobs overseas, he was for tax breaks for companies that create jobs in the country. “Instead of tax breaks that encourage corporations to create jobs overseas, we believe in tax breaks for companies that create jobs right here in the United States of America.
Now, Goans are gunning for arms! HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 10
If Goa is one of the most peaceful States with crime rate relatively low as compared to other States in the country, why is that so many of its citizens especially, those residing in rural parts feel the need to possess arms? According to the government, in North Goa 108 persons have arms licences whereas in South Goa the number of persons holding arms licences is 138. Indications are that in most cases license for arms is applied either
for crop protection or self-protection but used for other purposes and mostly to satiate the thirst for hunting wild animals. A few months back the Forest Department had intimated the Collectorate to observe restrain while sanctioning arms licenses for crop protection as they may be misused for killing wild animals. The officer in North Goa Collectorate, said since then they have been careful in issuing licenses even as they cannot out right reject applications seeking arm licenses.
In recent times, no new licenses have been issued for crop protection, said the officer. Interestingly, majority of the current lot of arms license holders have arms transferred in their names either from a father, an uncle or a spouse. This is true for South Goa that has more number of arms license holders than North Goa. While majority of the arms license holders registered in South Goa are from Salcete taluka, a number of persons holding arms licenses in talukas of Quepem and Sanguem is also
equally large. A small taluka of Canacona has 24 licensed arms holders residing in areas of Loliem, Partgal, Poinguinim and Khotigao. Whereas in Quepem taluka some 18 persons coming from remote areas such as Cusmane, Rivona and Ambaulim have arms licenses. This throws a question whether so many persons in Goa and particularly, those residing in remote places of Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona are facing some kind of threat to their life that they are compelled to possess arms.
Even as the sky remained cloudy for major part of the day with many parts of the State receiving light to heavy showers, the festive spirit remained upbeat with people geared up to celebrate 10-day Ganesh festival beginning from Saturday. This year Id-ul-Fitr is also celebrated on Saturday, as the moon was not cited yesterday. The celebration mood was not affected despite the fact that food inflation touched a high of 11.57 per cent by August-end. For ten days from Bhadrapad Shudha Chaturthi to Ananta Chaturthi (immersion day), Lord Ganesh is worshipped by installing clay idol on a raised platform in homes. A priest invokes life in the idol amidst chanting mantras and elaborate puja is performed wherein the whole household participates. For families dispersed due to varied vocations, the festival is an opportunity for grand celebrations when brothers, cousins, young and old, come under one roof at their ancestral house. An interesting feature of Ganesh festival in Goa is the elaborate decorations one gets to see in households. Besides, there is a dazzling fireworks that are on display at night, more especially
at the time of immersion. Some parts of the State such as Kumbharjua village in Tiwadi taluka, villages of Siolim and Nadora in Bardez go beyond decorations. They also have idols depicting certain mythological scenes and use of electrical gimmick shows, making it more lively and entertaining. Sometimes burning issues are picked up to create awareness as part of the celebration. Mostly, attention is drawn towards ecological degradation. The State has already banned sale of plaster of Paris idols. Celebrations by Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals (SGM) at village and taluka levels have been on a bigger scale in the last few years – various competitions such as rangoli, singing, dancing, bhajans and dramatic performances are held. The 10-day festival is also a treat to music lovers as many musical programmes are organised wherein celebrity artists are invited to perform. In view of the various terror alerts in neighbouring states, Goa has seen a ‘change of guard’ in recent times. There has been additional security deployed at various places. On the flip side, important public places have been facing frequent traffic jams during rush hours.
Govt scheme to woo traditional hawkers HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 10
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said the government is in the process of drafting a scheme to provide financial assistance to the Goan podears, chonnekars and khajekars to keep alive the traditional occupations. Addressing vegetable, flower and fruit vendors after distributing cheques at Margao on Friday, the Chief Minister said a committee under the chairmanship of noted scientist Dr Nandakumar Kamat is working out a scheme for these traditional Goan hawkers. “The process of finalising the scheme for these traditional hawkers has got underway. Scientist Nandakumar Kamat is heading the committee to formulate the scheme”, he said. The Chief Minister underlined
the need to extend support to the traditional Goan occupations to keep outsiders at bay from taking over these occupations. While distributing cheques for the fruit, vegetable and coconut sellers on the eve of Ganesh Chathurti, Kamat said that his government has brought the aam admi on the centrestage since the last three years. “No one had thought that these categories of the people will ever receive government’s support. But, my government is committed for the welfare of the common man”, Kamat said, adding that his government has not discriminated against any constituency while implementing the scheme. Saying that the government has modified the scheme for the benefit of the common man, the (Continued on page 10)
GREETINGS The Herald wishes all readers, contributors, advertisers and distributors very happy Ganesh Chaturthi and Id-ul-Fitr festivals.
WE ARE OPEN TODAY The offices of the Herald will remain OPEN TODAY, hence there will be an edition of this paper dated 12th September.
Mumbai on terror alert PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 10
Two suspected terrorists believed to be from Pakistan and Bangladesh have sneaked into the metropolis to cause disruption at crowded places and religious congregations, Mumbai police said on Friday, setting off alarm bells on the eve of Id and Ganeshotsav festivities. A high alert has been sounded across the city and suburbs with the police issuing an advisory to citizens to remain vigilant and watch out for the militants. Photographs of the duo – a clean-shaven Kalimuddin Khan alias Rameshwar Pandit (28) and bearded Hafij Khijir Ulla Sarif (25) sporting a skull cap – were released by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy at a hurriedly called press conference.
I can understand about my bank account but if you take away my laptop, how will I operate my facebook account?