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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, WEDnESDaY, maY 19, 2010
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Goa’s Heartbeat: Katrina ditches security, hitches cab Pg 16 It is easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it. —Franklin
in BRieF 20 killed in Kabul Taliban today carried out a suicide car bomb attack targeting NATO troops in the Afghan capital, killing at least 20 people, including five foreigners, near Parliament in the deadliest strike on Kabul in more than a year. The bomber unleashed scenes of horror during the busy rush hour in a heavily guarded area of Kabul near Parliament, a hospital run by foreigners, an army recruitment centre and the ministry of water and energy. -- (PTI)
Alert in Chhattisgarh A day after the killing of 35 bus passengers by Naxalites, Chhattisgarh was on high alert as security forces today intensified combing operations in the affected Dantewada region where many panicstricken bus operators were refusing to ply their vehicles. Amidst heart-rending scenes, near and dear ones of the victims, who included 14 special police officers, carried out the last rites of the bodies, some of whom were badly mutilated. -- (PTI)
Airport expansion The Maharashtra government has directed MIDC to pay Rs 80 crore for acquiring land for expansion and development of Kolhapur airport. “The government has asked MIDC to pay in lump sum Rs 80 crore towards acquisition of 223 hectares land in five villages for extension of the Kolhapur airstrip, which would accommodate Boeing aircraft by 2011 end,” Guardian Minister of Kolhapur, Harshwardhan Patil said. (PTI).
Jharkhand impasse Ending a three-week long po litical impasse in Jharkhand, the BJP and JMM today reached an agreement on sharing power on rotational basis with a BJP-led government headed by Arjun Munda to take over within a week. -(PTI)
Business: Govt nod for UID Pg 15 data collection
Girls steal the show at XIIth Board exam
Maintain superior pass percentage compared to boys HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 18
Once again girls did well at the March 2010 Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examination giving an overall pass percentage of 80.11 compared to 74.31 that of boys. Girls maintained a superior pass percentage compared to the boys in all four streams namely arts, commerce, science and vocational. However, the top honours (distinctions) were shared by two girls and two boys. Yamuna Pramod Naik of Dnyanprasarak Mandal Higher Secondar y School, Assagao, from the science stream topped the overall HSSC result chart with 92.8 % (557/600). Krisha Fatima Pereira 88.3% (530/600) of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Panjim, Luis Pereira 91.3% (548/600) of Mushtifund HSS and Ashley Ambrose Fernandes of Fr Agnel Multipurpose HSS, Verna, stood first in the arts, commerce and vocational streams respectively. At the 2010 HSSC board exam 12,399 candidates appeared without exemptions along with 1,241 candidates with exemptions, compared to 12,112 candidates and 1,151 candidates, respectively, of last year. The overall pass percentage compared to that of last year (82.55) remained almost the same at 82.52. Under whole category 10,326 candidates passed with overall pass percentage in
OVERALL TOPPER
Science stream 92.8 % (557/600) Dnyanprasarak Mandal Higher Secondary School, Assagao
stReam tOppeRs
aRts: Krisha Fatima Pereira 88.3% (530/600) of Don Bosco HSS, Panjim. COmmeRCe: Luis Pereira 91.3% (548/600) of Mushtifund HSS, Panjim. VOCatiOnal: Ashley Ambrose Fernandes of Fr Agnel Multipurpose HSS, Verna
Sports merit marks save 109 students HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 18
Hundred and nine students, who, otherwise, would have been declared as failed, passed the Higher Secondary School Certificate examination, thanks to timely marks under the sports policy that was implemented from this academic year. the four streams as follows: arts 72.72 %, commerce 83.11 %, science 84.38 % and vocational 89.11 %. In the commerce stream only D o n B o s c o H S S , Pa n j i m , achieved 100 % result. The institution repeated its performance in the commerce stream for the third consecutive year. In the vocational stream five higher secondar y schools achieved 100 % results. These are: Government HSS, Canacona,
Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Chairman Mervyn D’Souza, while announcing the result at a press conference on Tuesday, said these 109 HSSC students had passed solely because of the sports policy merit marks. GRADING SYSTEM: On a question on the implementa-
tion of the grading system in the board exam, D’Souza said the decision was pending with the government. The board is expecting the decision to come before the academic year. We will be able to implement the system only if the decision comes through before the new academic years starts in June, he mentioned.
Holy Trinity HSS, Benaulim, Fr Agnel Multipurpose HSS, Verna, New English HSS, Mandrem and Ameya Vidya Prasarak Mandal’s HSS, Curti, Ponda. Holy Trinity HSS, Benaulim, has repeated its performance for the third consecutive year in the vocational stream. New English HSS, Mandrem and Ameya Vidya Prasarak Mandal’s HSS, Curti, Ponda, have repeated their performance in the vocational stream for the second
consecutive year. The highest pass percentage of 86.84 per cent was recorded in Mapusa for the arts stream.
60% of State’s cleared mines below water table HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 18
As the environmentalists cried foul over state government’s lethargy in curbing mining illegalities, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) today said that 60 per cent of the State’s mines cleared by them were mining below water table level. “Our ministry has till date cleared 128 mining leases in Goa, of which nearly 60 percent are below ground water table level,” Dr S K Susarla, director, MoEF said However, she clarified that the ministry has suspended their environmental clearance for two years asking them to get back with the Hydro Geological Survey. “Many companies have responded to us and they have submitted the report,” Susarla added. The director said that Goa is one of the four States where mining takes place on large scale in South Zone (India). States like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are other three states in this zone. “South Zone has nearly 600 mines, which are monitored by the regional office in Bangalore,” she said.
Susarla was participating in the Goa level interaction between environmentalists and mining firms on the impact of mining on environment, an initiative by MoEF. The interaction saw environmentalists blaming the State
agencies for turning blind eye towards the illegalities in mining sector, which is the largest economic activity of the State. Environmentalists participating in the discussion highlighted the appalling situation on the illegal mining front. “The mining department and mine owners should tell us what exactly according to them is illegal mining because the department is pushing all faults under carpet stating that the
leases were operational under deemed provisions,” Fr Mavrerick Fernandes, executive secretary of Diocesan Service Centre for Social Action, said. Replying to the query, the representative from mines department explained that as per the MMRT Act all those mines which operate without lease are classified as illegal. “Most of the mining leases are declared under this act. But when we say illegal there is need to specif y what exactly we mean,” he stated. The official also clarified saying that mining activities in the State are not regulated by several legislations. The environmentalists during the discussion brought out various illegalities by the State government departments fostering illegal mining in the state. During the three hour long discussion environmentalists including Claude Alvares, Rajendra Kerkar, Ramesh Gawas, Seby Fernandes and others exposed the callous attitude of the State government in curbing irregularities and illegalities in mining. Alvares said that the mining firms forget to rehabilitate the mines after they are left redundant or unexplored.
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On page 2
Yamuna Naik to take up Medicine
Results On pages 4, 5, 6 KTC shuttle buses to have seats for Sr Citizens HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 18
Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) will now reserve two seats for senior citizens in its shuttle services buses, which would be provided to them on 50 per cent concession basis. KTCL Managing Director Venancio Furtado said that the circular has been already forwarded to the Social Welfare department last week in this regard. “The 50 percent concession was avail to the senior citizens in the local KTC buses but now we have decided to reserve exclusive two seats for them along with the concession,” Furtado explained. He said that the proposal was put forward before them by the Social Welfare Department and accordingly the corporation decided to go ahead with it. “It is also that only two senior citizens will be allowed in one shuttle bus. No more tickets will be allowed,” the MD added.
(Continued on page 12)
Call 1077 to report illegal land filling HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 18
In a bid to put a check on illegal filling of low lying land and illegal constructions on slopes the State government has decided to set up two flying squads for North and South Goa which will take immediate action on the above incidents. Disclosing this at a press conference, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said the citizens will have to just dial a toll free number of 1077 to register their complaint of illegal filling of low lying land and illegal constructions on slopes. “Any person can call the toll free number 1077 from Monday and complain about any illegal
construction on hill slopes and filling up of low lying land,” Kamat said. Kamat also said that a flying squads headed by a designated deputy collector in each district had been appointed to look into
such complaints. “A designated deputy collector would be in charge of the flying squad, which will be accompanied by surveyor draftsmen and police constables,” Kamat said adding “The flying squad had been empowered to ask for no objections certificates (NOCs) issued by respective departments and had the authority to stop illegal work on prima facie evidence available.” Kamat has been repeatedly accused by the Goa Bachao Abhiyaan (GBA) and other leading non-governmental organizations of mischievously dragging his feet, especially when it came to taking action against illegal constructions mushrooming in the State.
However Kamat said he could not act earlier on such complaint as they happened in night or holidays. “I have noticed that such violations generally take place at night or during holidays,” Kamat said adding “but this squad will be able to act any time and any day”. Heritage buildings: Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat said that the government will constitute a committee to prepare a list of heritage structures. The committee will be set up under the chief town planner and will have representatives of Tourism Department and Art and Culture Department as its members.
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Sports: Collingwood to give way for Strauss Pg 18
Girl shot dead at Cuncolim HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 18
In an incident that sent shock waves, a 22-year old girl Wilma Colaco was shot dead by an unknown assailant at her house at Bellatemb, Cuncolim bordering the Cuncolim industrial estate. The girl died on the spot after the assailant shot her point blank on her chest before making good his escape under the cover of darkness. Superintendent of police, South Allan De Sa told Herald that the assailant is believed to have used a country made pistol to kill the young girl. The police are investigating whether the assailant was a contract killer hired to kill the young girl as the assailant accomplished the mission with accuracy as the lone bullet hit the victim’s chest, killing her instantly. The incident occurred this evening when the victim along with her brother, sister and her friend were inside the house, while the mother had reportedly gone out to a neighbour ’s house. Police Inspector Nelson Albuquerque said the victim had opened the door after hearing noise of stones hurled on the house. She returned inside after she did not find anyone outside and she girl came out after stones were again hurled on the door, only to be shot by the assailant from close range while she was standing in the balcony. She was bleeding profusely as
Delhi guv sends back Afzal file PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 18
Four years after its opinion was sought by the Centre, the Delhi government today backed the death sentence for Afzal guru but with a remark that the implications of law and order should be closely examined while carrying out the execution of the parliament attack convict. In a late evening development, the Delhi Lt Governor’s office sent back the file seeking more clarification over the remark of the Delhi government. “We received the file from the Delhi government pertaining to Afzal guru’s mercy petition yesterday. We have sent back the file to the Delhi government this evening seeking further clarification,” highly placed sources in the LG’s office told PTI. They indicated that the comment of Delhi government on the issue was not very clear and that is why the file was sentback.
Cuncolim police conducted a panchanama in the house of the deceased girl. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar
evident by the blood stains in the gallery and the victim collapsed when she reached the door. That the assailant shot the deceased from close range was evident by the fact that the bullet, which hit the victim’s chest, came out from the back, killing her on the spot. The Cuncolim police rushed to the spot after receiving the news this evening. Albuquerque along with his team reached the spot and conducted a site panchanama. Superintendent of Police, South Allan De Sa also reached the spot later in the evening to (Continued on page 12)
I will check-in this gentleman, he's carrying a genuine photo ID card issued by a well recognized authority -- Lashkar-e-Toiba
Trailer laden with liquor worth Rs 20 lakhs seized HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, MAY 18
Excise authorities seized 128 plastic barrels containing over 200 litres of liquor worth about Rs 20 lakhs from a trailer at the Patradevi check post early Tuesday morning. The trailer driver, Aslam Khan of Mumbai has been booked on charges of illegally transporting liquor without the necessary permit. According to reports, the 128
barrels were labeled as oil and solvent and were placed in the trailer (GJ-6-TT-9103). Excise officials found the barrels suspicious and the trailer driver informed him them the barrel contained food products for cattle. On further investigations, officials found liquor inside the barrels. It is learnt that the trailer was proceeding from Thane-Mahar a s h t r a t o w a rd s G o a a n d
reached the Patradevi check post at about 4.30 am. Khan parked the vehicle along the Maharashtra side of the check post and appeared to be waiting for someone or a phone call, when his movements aroused suspicion. The driver was detained at the checkpost till 3 pm, before senior excise officials reached the spot and arrested the driver, besides seizing the vehicle. (Continued on page 12)