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O HERALD O
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The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, wednesday, august 18, 2010
Goa’s Heartbeat: Akshay Kumar too old for Sajid’s next Pg 14
Business: RNRL-RPower merger dragged to HC Pg 13
Its official: Illegal mining rampant in many States PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 17
Better be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident security. —Edmund Burke
IN BRIEF Compensation cap increased In a breakthrough, the government today cut a deal with the BJP and other opposition parties barring the Left to arrive at a consensus on the Nuclear Liability Bill that will undergo changes including a threefold hike in the compensation cap to Rs 1,500 crore. The Standing Committee on Science and Technology looking into the controversial legislation recommended the hike and addressed most of the other concerns of opposition parties except Left which gave a dissent note. -- (PTI)
Madani arrested Ending high drama and suspense of several days, Karnataka police today arrested PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani in connection with the 2008 Bangalore blasts case. Bangalore Deputy Commissioner of Police Omkarayya executed the warrant against Madani with the support of Kerala Police shortly after the PDP leader said he would be surrendering in a local magistrate court. -- (PTI)
72 students fall ill As many as 72 children of a primary school suffered from food poisoning after drinking milk served under the Mid-day Meal scheme in Ucchal taluka of Tapi district in Surat today, police said. The incident took place after milk was distributed to students of government primary school, they said. -- (PTI)
Get CET to enter medical colleges PTI NEW DELHI, AUG 17
The common entrance test for undergraduate and post-graduate courses in medical colleges across the country from the next academic year is set to become a reality with the Union Health Ministry clearing the proposal by the board of governors of MCI. A notification to this effect is expected within the next week, Chairperson of the Medical Council of India board of governors Dr S K Sarin told reporters here on Tuesday. He said a single entrance test would substantially reduce the stress level of the students, who, under the current system, have to sit for up to seven separate entrance tests. Under the new entrance which would be called the National Eligibility Test, the colleges can choose from separate merit lists for students in the general, minority, disabled and any other categories, he said. Admission tests are conducted annually for nearly 32,000 undergraduate seats and 13,000 post graduate seats in medical colleges across the country.
Acknowledging “large scale” illegal mining in various States, the government today said this could lead to a nexus between criminal and anti-national elements, especially in Naxal-affected areas. Making a statement on illegal mining in the Lok Sabha, Mines Minister B K Handique said a
Several reports “clearly point to the fact that mining, raising, transportation and export of iron ore and manganese ore illegally or without lawful authority in various States are taking place on a largescale,” Handique said. Due to rise in demand for iron ore, he said mining activity has increased manifold, particularly in the States of Orissa, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Kar-
Several reports “clearly point to the fact that mining, raising, transportation and export of iron ore and manganese ore illegally or without lawful authority in various States are taking place on a largescale.” Commission of Inquiry has been set up to look into the extent of illegal mining. The commission, which would present its report within 18 months, would identify persons or firms responsible and ascertain if there had been any tampering of official records relating to land and boundaries. “Due to a combination of reasons in the recent years, the incidence of illegal mining has grown considerably. This problem is acquiring organised dimensions and may lead to a nexus with criminal and antinational elements in some of the States including those affected by Left Wing Extremism,” he said.
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nataka and Goa. With a view to curbing this menace, the enquiry panel would inquire into and determine the nature and extent of illegal mining and trade and transportation of iron and manganese ores. It would also identify the persons or companies concerned, determine the extent to which the management, regulatory and monitoring systems have failed and identify persons responsible for tampering of official records. The commission may take assistance of any Central or State investigative agency or any other authority as it may deem necessary.
Cops bust sex racket at Pernem HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, AUG 17
A Goa Police team busted a sex racket at Mhalpem-Pernem and arrested three persons, while also rescuing two girls on Tuesday. On a tip off by a reliable source, the Goa Police team led by Anjuna Police Inspector Manjunath Dessai and Pernem Police Inspector Uttam Raut Dessai carried out a raid on a sex racket gang and intercepted an Alto car (GA-01-R-4644) at Mhalpem, Pernem, carrying the two girls on Tuesday evening. According to police, the accused, Gopal Kumar (wanted in Mapusa-Calangute area for an alleged sex racket), Durgesh Bhelpuri of Uttar Pradesh and Raja, residing at Calangute, were allegedly involved in the sex racket and were wanted in sex racket crimes. The police team besides Uttam and Manjunath comprised Santosh Vengurlekar, Govind Gauns, Vinay Srivastava, Srikrishna Redkar, Suhas Joshi, Samir Gauns, Kamladdhin Shaikh, Yeshwant Dharve, Nitesh Mulgaonkar, Mamta Dessai and Reshma Kandolkar (all staff of Anjuna police station). Pernem Police has registered a case against Gopal Kumar, Durgesh Bhelpuri and Raja, while the vehicle involved in the crime has been attached. I t m a y b e re c a l l e d t h a t Calangute police had raided discotheques at Gaura Vaddo, Calangute, and Baga and had rescued 16 bar girls on June 28. The raids were conducted by police in a bid to stop flourishing illegal activities in the coastal belt of Calangute.
Sports: Anelka banned for 18 games Pg 18
Mickky promises to blow lid off PWD functioning
To demand CBI probe in last three years road construction
Photo Santosh Mirajkar. Mickky’s supporter planting saplings at a potholed road in Majorda village on Tuesday. HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, AUG 17
Alleging corruption in the Public Works Department (PWD), former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco has said he will file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the High Court to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the construction of roads in the State during the last three years. Briefing newsmen, Pacheco said that a vigilance inquiry into the road construction will not yield any results since the Vigilance Department is headed by the chief minister. “Along with the drug nexus and excise scam, road construction by the PWD should also be handed over to
the CBI”, he demanded. Pacheco said he would pray to the High Court to order a CBI inquiry to probe into all roads constructed since the last three years. Rejecting outright Churchill’s claim that roads in Benaulim are bad because the legislator has not come to him with proposals, Pacheco showed documents to prove that he had submitted around 19 road proposals since 2007, but not a single road was tendered by the PWD till date. “The files were stuck in the PWD. Nothing was done on the files. On the contrary, the PWD minister is blaming me for neglect of the roads”, Pacheco said and reminded Alemao that a
Government gives in, Bids to remove Princess within a week: govt to hike MPs’ salary HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, AUG 17
Rashtriya Janata Dal supremo Lalu Prasad was in full form on Tuesday leading almost the entire Lok Sabha, barring the Left members, to force the government to raise the parliamentarians’ salary in this very session, a day after the Union cabinet deferred decision owing to sharp division. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, chastened by the fiery speech of Lalu Prasad, promised to bring the necessary legislation for raising the salary as early as possible and went on to give an additional bonus of making the raise effective retrospectively from the beginning of the current Lok Sabha. He, however, kept the MPs guessing about the exact raise they can expect as he told them not to be worried but he cannot divulge details before the cabinet decides but insisted that the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) recommendation in this regard will be “fully reflected” as the government is “fully aware of sensitivity of the issue.” The JPC had recommended the
“We are guardians of democracy...We have been insulted... Even a legislator in Goa gets Rs 1 lakh,” he said, apparently referring to senior Congress member of parliament Francisco Sardinha from Goa too rising during Zero Hour to register injustice. monthly salary of Rs 80,001, a rupee more than the wages earned by a secretary in the government of India. Members rose in unison for the salary raise as soon as he jumped to his feet in Zero Hour to register the demand, making Speaker Meira Kumar flee quickly adjourning the House. Sensing the bursting anger of the MPs, she, however, later
asked the deputy speaker to let him raise the demand in the post-lunch session. The Rajya Sabha too witnessed members creating an uproar for the government dragging its feet in giving them the raise. Media flayed: There was a pandemonium again until Lalu Prasad was allowed to have his say and the first to come under his sharp attack was the media, particularly electronic media, making fun of MPs trying to raise their own salary but not doing any work or worrying about the aam aadmi. He asked what salary these journos and their editors get and then went on to point out that the MP gets just Rs 16,000 a month which is less than even the salary of the junior clerk who enjoys employment up to age of 62 while the MP’s service is for just five years. “We are guardians of democracy...We have been insulted... Even a legislator in Goa gets Rs 1 lakh,” he said, apparently referring to senior Congress member of parliament Francisco Sardinha from Goa too rising (Continued on page 10)
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 17
It appears in the midst of allegations and counter allegations, the award of tender for removal of M V River Princess has been delayed even as the State government in-principle had decided to award the contract to M/s Titan Salvage, a Singapore based company. The State government on Wednesday however told the Bombay High Court at Goa that it will take a decision on tendering process for awarding the work for removing stranded River Princess within a week’s time. Advocate General (AG) Subodh Kantak made the statement before a division bench of Justices A S Oka and F M Reis that was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM) complaining about environmental degradation caused by the stranded vessel during the last 10 years. Through an application, the RPHM had also complained that measures undertaken to stop erosion of the beach has not been effective and suggested
interlocking boulders system be implemented along the Sinquerim beach stretch to prevent further sand erosion. The AG told the court that the system suggested by the RPHM is not feasible for Sinquerim but the Ministry of Env i r o n m e n t & Fo r e s t h a s forwarded several suggestions to the State government to stop further sand erosion. The application moved by Salgaocar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd, saying it is ready to undertake the work for removal of the grounded vessel by bearing entire cost of the operation was also taken up for hearing today. Advocate Mahesh Sonak who
Labour dearth has fishing vessels drop anchor HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, AUG 17
The writing on the wall is clear. Goa’s total dependence on migrant labour for mechanized fishing has begun to hit hard the industry, so it seems. It’s more than a fortnight since the new fishing season began on August 1, but dozens of fishing vessels lay anchored at the fishing jetties for want of manpower. While many vessels netted the prized solar shrimp this season, absence of manpower forced many boat owners to drop anchors at the jetties. Migrant labourers working as kalashis aboard the vessels are yet to report at the jetties till date. In fact, boat owners are still making trips to distant Orissa and Jharkhand, hoping against hope to lay their hands on a couple of workers, badly
required to operate the vessels. Says Executive Member of the Cutbona Boat Owners Union, Elvis Gomes: “My fishing boat could not venture out in the sea till date for want of manpower. This year, many boat owners really faced trouble on the labour front”. Like many other boat owner, Gomes traveled all the way to Orissa in search of workers, who
had promised to return back to the jetties, but played truant this season. Sources in the know attribute the hesitation by the migrant workers to work on fishing vessels to last year’s cyclone, which claimed many lives in the Arabian Sea.. Gomes suggested government intervention in the matter by signing a Memorandum of
Understanding with the respective governments for recruitment on board the fishing vessels. Director of Fisheries, S C Verencar says the department is aware of the problem that has hit the fishing industry. “According to my information, nearly 40 per cent of the fishing vessels remain idle at the jetties for want of manpower. This is indeed a serious matter”, he said.
“I am given to understand that suggestions are made in certain quarters about the intervention of the government. Till date, no one has approached the department to consider the suggestions”, Verencar said. Inquiries have revealed that nearly 60 per cent of the fishing vessels in Vasco and 40 per cent at the Cutbona are awaiting the arrival of manpower to venture out in the sea. When contacted, Fisheries Minister, Joaquim Alemao admitted that manpower shortage has hit the mechanized fishing industry at the beginning of the new season. He, however, wondered what role the government can play in the matter when the issue concerns the boat owners and the workers. “I do not see any role for the government in this matter. But still, let us wait for the suggestions from the boat owners”, Alemao added.
represented the applicant, told the court that the vessel cannot be refloated at this stage and the best option would be to cut it into five pieces which could be then towed away easily seawards. Sonak also submitted that the company would take up the work free of cost and, is also ready to deposit whatever performance guarantee that the government orders . ‘We’ll also take due care to abide with environmental safeguards while removing the vessel,” he said. The AG said the government would take a decision on awarding the tender within a week’s time and till then the petition filed by Salgaocars could be decided by the court. However, he said in its affidavit the company has made several baseless allegations against the government and the court should take notice of this. The division bench observed that the company should either apologise or withdraw the affidavit in question. Sonak responded saying he would withdraw the affidavit and file a fresh one on the next date of (Continued on page 10)
minister should not expect a legislator to come to his house with proposals. Saying that the PWD is bound to process the files submitted by the legislators, Pacheco said the PWD even kept on hold the file relating to the approach roads to the Majorda road under bridge. “Though the bridge was completed in May, the approach roads are yet to laid by the PWD”, he asserted. Asserting that road built under then PWD Minister, Sudin Dhavlikar are still in good condition in his constituency, Pacheco, however expressed shock that many roads built just four months back, including the (Continued on page 10)
Decision to quit council final: Karnad HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 17
Celebrated playwright Girish Karnad today stated that his decision not to be part of the Golden Jubilee council is final and irrevocable. In a terse letter to Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat, Karnad had written that he was withdrawing from the Golden Jubilee Development Council (GJDC) because of the inability of the State administration to stop Hindu vigilante groups from pressuring (Continued on page 10)
Ma'am, a Goan minister wants to know if we have 'Buy 2 get 1 free' scheme this time. 3 members of his family are planning to contest elections.