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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, THURsDaY, apRil 15, 2010
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Goa’s Heartbeat: Preity, Brett Lee strictly professional Pg 14
—Fenelon
Drizzle fails to beat the heat HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 14
The sporadic rains during wee hours on Wednesday failed to give respite from the heat even as met department predicted showers for next 24 hours. Talking to Herald Indian Meteorological Observatory incharge K V Singh said that the state is likely to witness light thundershowers in next 24 hours. “As the humidity has gone high, we are expecting some thunder developments with light rain towards the evening. This could cool down night temperatures. While the day temperature will remain as it is,” Singh said. On Tuesday, the humidity was almost 90 percent, which is 20 per cent more then the normal. “With increase in humidity, thunder strokes will continue,” he added. The rain did not bring respite to people as it could bring down only night temperature, while the day temperature remained normal, he said. As such there was no signifi(Continued on page 10)
Business: Low supply may hit steel Pg 12
pRiCE Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs 1.50) pages 18
Sports: Sehwag is Wisden Cricketer of the year Pg 18
400 killed, thousands buried in China quake PTI BEIJING, APRIL 14
A massive earthquake today wreaked havoc in China’s remote northwestern province of Qinghai killing 400 people as it toppled houses, created cracks in dams and left 10,000 injured, officials said. The trembler measuring 7.1magnitude on Richter scale hit the province in the Qinghai Tibetan plateau early today almost flattening Jiegu township, where more than 85 per cent of the houses collapsed. Indian embassy in Beijing said that they have not received reports of any casualty of Indian nationals. Paramilitary and rescue workers were working with their hands to remove the rubble to save the people buried under it. Racing against time, rescue workers managed to pull out 900 people alive from the debris of collapsed buildings. TV channels said all access roads to the region had been damaged and even the airport cut off. Downed phone lines, strong gales and continuing aftershocks were hindering the rescue efforts with Xinhua reporting that people with blood were lying on the roads. President Hu Jintao, currently in the US, called for all-out efforts to save as many people as
A structure in ruins after a major quake rattled Qinghai province of China.
possible as Chinese government allocated 200 million yuan (USD 29.3 million) for rescue work in one of its remotest regions. Chinese officials said the toll could go up as the houses in the remote area are mostly made of mud and almost all of them collapsed in the quake. A large number of school children are feared dead in the quake, officials said. China’s disaster relief departments have initiated a ‘first-class emergency response’ for disaster relief work, which makes it imperative to deliver the allocated relief funds in no later than 24 hours after the quake. This quake comes less than two years after a magnitude 7.9 quake hit the neighbouring
Sichuan province which left 90,000 people dead. The workers were working hard to release water from a reservoir on the town’s outskirts where cracks had been formed. Among the casualties were school children, who were buried under the debris of the building. Many people are still buried under the debris of collapsed houses in the Gyegu Town near the epicentre in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai, said Huang Limin, deputy secretary-general of the prefecture government. The strong quake had a string of aftershocks, with the biggest one measuring 6.3 magnitude, have toppled houses, temples,
IFFI scam: CBI summons Parrikar PTI PANJIM, APRIL 14
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will summon Goa’s leader of Opposition and former chief minister Manohar Parrikar in the alleged scam related to creation of infrastructure for International Film Festival of India (IFFI), officials said here today. CBI’s Superintendent of Police S Gavli told PTI tonight that Parrikar has been summoned and is likely to appear either on Thursday or Friday to depose before the investigating officer. Sources stated that Parrikar has been asked to remain present before the authorities on Thursday but he has sought additional time till Friday. Few other people including Bharatiya Janata Party’s state treasurer Sanjiv Desai was also summoned by the CBI, which is investigating the case of finan-
cial misappropriation to construct infrastructure for IFFI in 2004. Parrikar, then chief minister, has been accused of financial misappropriation while creating the festival infrastructure including construction of a multiplex building, which is currently leased out to INOX. Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho had initially filed the complaint with local police but later on it was withdrawn when CBI took over the investigation. When contacted, Parrikar said that he is not baffled by the summons. “I myself had requested that the CBI should complete the investigations fast. It should be time bound, fair and transparent,” the leader of Opposition said. BJP leader said that CBI’s act (Continued on page 10)
Chicalim bay polluted with heavy metals: NIO HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 14
The National Institute of Oceanography in a study has concluded that the Chicalim bay that is home to windowpane oysters (scientifically known as placuna placenta and locally known as ‘mendios’) was contaminated with heavy metals like iron, cadmium, zinc, lead and copper. The NIO has further concluded that the bay was a rich habitat of the windowpane oysters that have been long declared as endangered and designated as scheduled species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, technical advisor to the Chicalim Villagers Action Committee Cyril Fernandes said the findings of the NIO have underlined and upheld all the facts that the CVAC had been trying to bring to the notice of the government for the last two decades. Fernandes said the study reiterated the stand of the CVAC that the bay was rich in marine biodiversity harbouring more than 200 faunal and 34 phytoplankton species in addition to mangroves and macrophytes. Based on the findings of the NIO, he said, Coastal Zone Man-
...A home to pearls HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 14
A study carried out by the National Institute of Oceanography has found the presence of natural pearls in the Chicalim bay which is a rich habitat of windowpane oysters, harvesting of which could provide an alternative source of livelihood. The study states compared to some places in South East Asia where pearls are found, the percentage of pearl formation in Chicalim bay stood at 2-4% which is considered good. This means in 100 oysters pearls were found in four. However, the study reveals (Continued on page 10)
agement Authority has kept in abeyance the no objection certificate given to Bharti Pinky Shipyard Pvt Ltd for its controversial project that was opposed tooth and nail by CVAC. “In view of this CVAC has withdrawn the petition filed earlier in the High Court of Bombay at Goa challenging the permission of the GCZMA to the project,” he (Continued on page 10)
gas stations and electric poles, triggered landslides, damaged roads, cut power supplies and disrupted telecommunications, official Xinhua reported. Gyegu, also known as Jiegu, is the seat of the Yushu prefecture government. The town has a population of about 100,000, including permanent residents and migrant people. About 700 soldiers were struggling to clear away the rubble and rescue the buried people, a spokesman with the Qinghai Provincial Emergency Office said. More than 5,000 additional rescuers, including soldiers and medical workers, have been dispatched to the quake-hit region, according to a news conference held by the Qinghai provincial government. “Our top priority is to save students. Schools are always places that have many people,” said Kang Zifu, an army officer in the rescue operation in Gyegu. The quake also killed five people and injured another in the Shiqu County, which neighbours Yushu, in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze in Sichuan Province, local authorities said. “The streets in Gyegu are thronged with panic, injured people, with many bleeding from the head,” he said. “Many students are buried
Margao inferno exposes chinks in fire-fighting HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 14
Wednesday’s noon infernos at Margao’s congested New Market area has once again brought to the fore the non-functioning fire hydrants, low water pressure, congested roads, absence of coordination among agencies et al, but will the authorities put their act together and avert a major tragedy in the commercial capital. The fire-hydrants were repaired just a fortnight ago, but they proved no use when their services were badly required today. Hoping that the fire hydrant would serve the purpose, a fireman dug out the concrete covering on the hydrant after the key failed to open the valve. The fire hydrant let down the fire fighting operation for want of water pressure in the PWD line. A PWD official, when contacted, only said he is on a tour given that Wednesday was a public holiday. PWD officials were also not seen at the spot when their services were badly required. Says president of the New Market Traders Association, Vinod Shirodkar: “What is the use of the fire hydrants when there is no water pressure. The market area requires minimum five hydrants”. Shirodkar said the traders have been knocking the doors of the various authorities since
120 killed in violent storm
Bihar, West Bengal announce aid PTI RAIGUNJ/GUWAHATI, APRIL 14
At least 120 people were killed and over 200 injured when a storm packed with a wind-speed of 125 kmph raged for 40 minutes leaving a trail of destruction in North Dinajpur district in West Bengal and neighbouring districts of Bihar and Assam. Bihar accounted for the highest number of 77 deaths in five districts, followed by West Bengal with 39 in one district and Assam where four persons perished in one district in the storm that struck at midnight last night. The fatalities in Bihar occurred in Purnia (33), Araria (33), Katihar (7), Supaul (2) and Kishenganj (2) districts.
In West Bengal, all 39 deaths were reported from in North Dinajpur district while in Assam four died in Dhubri district. Four persons were killed in Mankachar under Dhubri district while the nor’wester also affected Jorhat, Tinsukia, Sibsagar and Kamrup districts in Assam. The toll could be much higher, the authorities said. Hundreds of dwellings collapsed like a house of cards and people cried out for help as the storm created havoc in many areas. “It was like a cyclone with people shouting Cyclone Aila, which hit West Bengal last year. We prayed for early end of nature’s fury,” Sudan Sahay, a resident of Araria, said.
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Stationary shop gutted in Margao fire
The fire hydrant that proved ineffective. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
the last many years, but the response is lukewarm. “Are they waiting for the market to be reduced to ashes by a major fire tragedy? The fire tenders with the Margao fire station should be increased to at least five”, he said. The traders appeared sore over the fact that nothing has changed in the market even after their meeting with Chief Minister Digambar Kamat two month ago. The absence of PWD officials to ensure that the water pressure is increased to meet the requirements also brought to (Continued on page 10)
Tharoor threat call traced Central security agencies have traced a local phone number from which the alleged death threat from Dawood Ibrahim gang was made to an aide of Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor. -- (PTI)
Guys!! GCA is providing us with 24hours water on the condition that we exchange our tractors with thier heavy rollers...