20 July, Herald Publication

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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, tuesday, july 20, 2010

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Goa’s Heartbeat: Neil, Deepika get street-smart Pg 14

Business: SEBI for changes in takeover norms Pg 12

pRiCe Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18

Sports: Yuvi under I-T scanner for IPL earnings Pg 18

Trains collide; 63 dead PTI SAINTHIA (WB), JULY 19

What thou thyself hatest, do to no man.

— Tobit

IN BRIEF ICG clean chit for suspicious boat Customs officials spotted a suspicious boat lingering at Mangrol, 12-13 nautical miles off Junagadh coast, but it was later given a clean chit by the Indian Coast Guard on verification.

“In the morning today, we spotted a boat lingering at Mangrol, 12-13 nautical miles of Junagadh coast and alerted the ICG about its suspicious movement”, a customs official said. A team of coast guard officials checked the boat and later cleared it. – (PTI)

Ready for talks on all issues: Krishna to Pak PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

Responding to Pakistan’s urge to discuss Kashmir and other issues, India today said it is ready to talk about everything but the process has to be a graduated one as all matters cannot be “exhausted” in just one sitting.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna also replied to his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s contention that he would not visit India for “leisure” trip, making it clear that his invitation was for “serious” discussions.

“We have decided that we will talk everything but it has to be graduated talks between the two Foreign Ministers. We just cannot in one sitting exhaust all the subjects regardless of how complex these subjects are,” he told a news channel.

He was responding to a question on Pakistan’s insistence that Kashmir and other issues should be brought on the negotiating table.

A high speed Sealdah-bound express train tore into the rear of another killing 63 people and injuring 92 others at Sainithia station of Birbhum district, apparently overshooting a signal in the small hours of the day.

The accident occurred at around 2 am when the New Coochbehar-Sealdah Uttarbanga Express came on the same track and rammed into the BhagalpurRanchi Vananchal Express which was just pulling out of platform number four after having suffered a delay of four to five hours.

Three rear coaches, including one luggage van and two unreserved general second class coaches of the Vananchal Express, were heavily damaged in the accident in Bolpur-Rampurhat section of the Howrah division, Eastern Railway officials said.

An Eastern Railway press release put the death toll at 60 while Birbhum District Magistrate Soumitra Mohan said 63passengers had died. The condition of 36 injured was serious, he added.

Driver M C Dey, a seasoned

Joint operation on Princess?

Govt may ask Titan, Madgavkar to work together

Members of the emergency services remove a damaged carriage at the site of the train accident near Sainthia station in West Bengal's Birbhum district.

‘A’ category loco pilot with a good safety record, and assistant driver N K Mandal of the Uttarbanga Express were among the dead in the accident for which Railways were not ruling out sabotage as the cause.

The guard of the Vananchal Express A Mukherjee also died in the mishap which was so severe that one of the coaches mounted the road overbridge across the tracks in the station, 191 km from Kolkata.

A part of another compartment of the Vananchal Express split and fell on the road along the tracks after being thrown over the bridge.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee said “we have doubts about the cause of the accident, the second in West Bengal in two months.”

Railway Board Chairman Vivek Sahai, who visited the accident site, told reporters that it was unusual on the part of

the drivers who neither applied emergency brake nor made any attempt to stop the train to avoid the accident.

“This is very unusual. There was something wrong with loco pilots,” he said.

“The brakes were not applied at all nor the emergency brakes though the train was running at a high speed. They (driver and co-driver) were not even trying to jump out and found occupying their seats,” Sahai said.

Pak Navy trained Kasab, others: Headley PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

In yet another indication of the involvement of Pakistani establishment in the 26/11 Mumbai attack, LeT operative David Headley has corroborated the statement of lone captured terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab that the terrorists got training from Pakistan Navy.

During his interrogation, Kasab confessed that the ten terrorists, including himself, who attacked Mumbai received training of swimming and underwater diving from the Pakistan Navy’s frogmen.

A frogman is someone who

is trained to dive, swim and combat.

“The role of frogmen was confirmed by Headley when the Indian investigators inter-

rogated him in the US last month,” an official said.

This is being seen as another clear indicator of the Pakistani establishment’s involvement in the planning and execution of the Mumbai terror attack, which claimed 168 lives.

Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai had recently said that the ISI was “literally controlling and coordinating the (Mumbai) attack from beginning to end”.

Pakistani-American Headley, currently in American custody, was interrogated by a team of National Investigation Agency.

Officials said that the Indian investigators so far have no

plan to interrogate Headley’s accomplice Tahawwur Rana, a Pakistani origin Canadian citizen, as his involvement in the Mumbai attack conspiracy was limited to providing finance.

“If necessary we may interrogate Rana also, though we have no immediate plan to do so,” an official said.

Headley has also told his interrogators that the Pakistani intelligence agency had paid Rs 25 lakh to LeT to purchase a boat which terrorists used to travel from Karachi to the Pakistani maritime boundary, where they hijacked an Indian fishing boat to reach Mumbai.

SURAJ NANDREKAR PANJIM, JULY 19

Ambiguity over the award of contract for the removal of River Princess continues with the Government now toying with the idea of asking both the shortlisted bidders – Titan Salvage and Madgavkar Salvage — to work jointly on the project.

Out of the 12 bidders, the State Disaster Management Company had finalised the two companies for awarding the contract.

However, Madgavkars have stated that Titan’s bid is invalid as it does not fulfil the requirement of the tender.

The company has also threatened to drag the Government to court if Titan is awarded the contract.

Director of Tourism, Swapnil Naik told Herald, the Government has asked for their clarification on two issues – No Cure No Pay and the disposal of scrap.

“They have asked us time till July 27”, Naik said.

The officer stated that the Government is hopeful that the two companies will sort out the issue themselves.

“We hope they will reach some settlement by July 27 as our aim is to remove the ship,” he said indicating that the Government wants both the companies to work together on the project.

Dudu on Facebook from behind bars?

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Apparently depicting a weak functioning of the Government machinery, it has come to light that international drug dealer David Driham aka Dudu is active on Facebook social networking website from behind bars.

In judicial remand, Dudu is in constant touch with his sister, friends and fiancee via Facebook chat apparently with or without the knowledge of jail officials.

“My baby I love you so much, my fiancee”, Dudu messaged in the Facebook page written to Zarine Driham on April 15.

He was lately reassigned to Vasco sub-jail from the Central jail at Aguada for his notorious

AK-47s for PSOs of PC, Pillai

acts against other inmates and jail authorities.

The account was last updated on June 18 when the drug dealer was lodged in Aguada judicial lock-up. He was arrested in February 2010 when anti-narcotic sleuths intercepted him near his house in Siolim with several kilograms of narcotics worth around Rs 3.81 lakh. He is since then behind bars.

Meanwhile, his Facebook page also shows a couple of messages from his friends back in Israel. “Come on bro Aba”ah truth will come and you will be with us here” Nahari Eyal, Dudu’s friend from Farzliya, Israel wrote.

“Atonement for you. All miss

you, and keep your fingers crossed,” Jude Yhudit Azulay, a photographer based in Ramat Gen, Israeli writes in.

Dudu’s sister, who frequently trips Goa also kept in touch with her brother on Facebook.

Photographs of celebrating Valentines Day by Dudu with his fiancé are also prominently displayed on the website.

Inspector General of Prisons Mihir Vardhan, when asked said he would investigate the uploads on the social networking site. “How sure you are that he himself is doing it? Someone else may also do it on his behalf ”, Vardhan said giving an indication that either he is sure enough that Dudu isn’t doing it or he is not ready to accept the reality.

Sources in the Aguada jail have informed that Dudu has been getting royal treatment with mobile phones and things on demand.

Recently a few jail guards were transferred from Aguada.

Sources informed they provided him materials like cigarettes and mobile phone.

Ironically, Dudu has attempted suicide twice during his near-five month stay in the jail.

Partner of Madgavkar Salvage, Anil Madgavkar told Herald that the proposal for joint operation has come from the Government.

“The Government has told us to talk with Titan, who will use our equipment and manpower.

However, we have learnt that Titan is not interested in the proposal”, he stated adding “Titan has told the Government to award the contract first and then they will decide”.

Madgavkar said they (Titan) just want to hire our equipment and manpower and we are not interested in hiring the equipment and manpower “…although we can give a thought to the idea of sharing the job”.

Reiterating his stand that Titan bid is invalid, Madgavkar said, “I don’t understand why the Government hell bent on awarding the contract to the (Continued on page 10)

Tourists robbed at Old Goa, Rs 5.58 lakh booty found HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, JULY 19

WHAT’S UP? Chief Minister Digambar Kamat whispers to Speaker Pratapsing Rane during the monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro.

774 panels out of 1423 never met: Opposition HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Since July 2007, the State government has constituted 1423 committees of which, 774 have never met. This interesting piece of information was revealed during Question Hour on Monday as Opposition sought to know whether working of those committees is monitored.

Mapusa MLA, Francis D’Souza during “Question Hour” brought out this issue saying though 1423 committees have been constituted since July, 2007, 774

committees have never met.

He questioned the purpose of having so many committees if they are not monitored.

At this point Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar asked Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat whether he was aware how many committees were chaired by him.

“You are chairman of 25 committees and chief secretary heads about 16 committees”, Parrikar replied quickly as Kamat kept mum.

He also sought to know

whether functioning of those committees was monitored.

“But don’t appoint another committee to just to monitor those committees”, he remarked.

Of the 222 Government notified committees 32 committees have never met, he pointed.

There are 196 statutory committees.

Digambar Kamat said, most of these were village committees whereas Speaker Pratapsing Rane suggested that the Government should fix a time-frame for committees.

A visit to the famed churches at Old Goa took an unusual turn for two tourists from Hyderabad when gold ornaments, cash and a mobile phone, all worth about Rs 5.58 lakh, were stolen from a taxi hired by them on Monday.

However, Old Goa police acted swiftly and nabbed five persons from Gujarat near the Mollem checkpost, after their vehicle had been identified by the victims at Old Goa. According to reports, Kamakshi K S Rajshekara and Chandrakala, both from Banjara Hills in Hyderabad, had informed Old Goa police that they were staying at a starred hotel in Canacona and were in the State to attend a wedding on Monday night.

Since they were free on Monday afternoon, they had decided to visit the churches at Old Goa and had hired a taxi for the purpose.

Both women had left their gold ornaments, an ATM card, their air ticket, cash of Rs 20,000 and a mobile phone in the car.

The driver had also accompanied them during their visit to (Continued on page 10)

UK mom slams police probe into son’s death

PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM JULY 19

Faced with fresh threat from Maoists, the Government has enhanced the security of Home Minister P Chidambaram and Union Home Secretary Gopal K Pillai by upgrading the weapons of his personal security officers.

The decision to upgrade the weapons of PSOs has been taken following intelligence inputs that the Left Wing extremists may try to attack him, especially after the killing of top Maoists leader Azad.

The mysterious death of the British tourist Stephen Bennett has revealed the tardy police probe with his mother Maureen listing out several discrepancies.

The family has flatly refuted the police theory that Stephen travelled from Goa to Roha (Maharashtra) on Mandovi Express.

Through the documents furnished to Indian authorities, Maureen has rubbished the theory of her son travelling by train claiming that he left the cottage in Baga at 9.30 am on December

Police planted a train ticket of December 10, which was then changed to December 7. They neither allowed the alleged tickets to be photographed nor test for Stephen’s fingerprints or DNA…Mandovi (Express) train does not even stop at Roha.

— Stephen Bennett’s mother Maureen 7, 2006.

“It is not possible catch the 10 am Mandovi Express after leaving Baga at 9.30 am which is 70-90 minutes away by car, in light traffic…” she wrote to the Government.

Even as the case is tried before the Raigad Court, the grieved mother said that no passenger witnessed Stephen jump off the train. Also no abandoned bag was noticed at Panvel station in Maharashtra.

“No passenger claims to have seen Stephen jump from the train. It is not possible to see from the window to that part of the track below. They had no reason to assume he had left the train at this place especially as Panvel was only one stop away where they allegedly reported the mysterious ‘abandoned’ bag. Statements taken from the three police inspectors at Panvel station show that no passenger reported an abandoned bag”, she said.

The UK mother alleged the police reports were to mislead

the family. She alleged that the police apparently planted a train ticket of December 10, which was then changed to December 7. “The police neither allowed the alleged tickets to be photographed nor test for Stephen’s fingerprints or DNA…Mandovi (Express) train does not even stop at Roha”, she said.

Strongly suspecting a botched investigation, Maureen further claimed that the statement of the train passenger raises suspicion that police produced ‘identical’ and ‘inaccurate’ (Continued on page 10)

Can't be so diplomatic with these guys sir!! I thought they would welcome us with flowers instead of those stones...

HE R A L D

GOA

Pg 2

GOA, TUESDAY, 20 JULY, 2010

Preference for Goans in security jobs: CM HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Monday assured the House that the government would give preference to Goans in security jobs as Opposition took on him for allowing them to be grabbed by non-Goans.

Kamat was responding to a question raised by Mandrem MLA Laxmikant Parsekar who along with other Opposition members demanded that Goans should get these jobs, during Question Hour.

Parsekar said, majority of security guards employed at government departments are non-Goan and there is huge difference in salaries paid by these departments.

At which point Kamat tried to explain that non-Goans security men were hired due to non-availability of local men.

However, Mandrem MLA countered saying Goa employment recruitment society had security men from Goa and were employed in some of the government departments. “They were sent home and agencies with non-Goan security men were selected,” he alleged.

Kamat cut-in saying most of them were later absorbed in different government departments on contract basis.

Parsekar also asked why there was no parity in salaries paid to security guards. “If one department pays Rs 3909 per month others pay Rs 6321 per month”

he said.

Opposition grilled the government over large number of security men employed at health institutes such as Goa Medical College, Goa Dental College, Directorate of Health Services,.

There are more security men at these institutes than doctors, pointed out Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar.

The GMC has in employment about 229 security personnel.

Questioning the need for so many security men, he said, the government spends Rs 4.5 crore on the payment of salaries of security men.

The chief minister said they work in shifts -- there are three shifts in GMC and work force get divided.

Russian rape trial commences HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 19

Trial in the Russian women rape case got underway in the South Goa Sessions Court on Monday.

Day one of the trial conducted before Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande saw the prosecution examining two witnesses, including a panch witness in support of its case.

The trial will be conducted on a day-to-day basis as desired by accused, John Fernandes as he has been in custody without trial for more than six months.

House lauds eminent Goans

While Public Prosecutor, Bhanudas Gaonkar appeared for the state, the accused was represented by Adv Anacleto Viegas.

The Crime Branch had listed 42 witnesses in support of its case, of which the prosecution has called for examination of 18 witnesses.

Incidentally, the complainant Russian woman is not figuring in the list of 18 witnesses the prosecution wants to examine in the case.

Sources in the know said the prosecution will call her for examination after the report from the central forensic laboratory is received by the investigating agency.

Tillari project won’t be ready until 2012 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

This was a written reply given

by Water Resources Minister to a starred question tabled by Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar on the exact status of the project.

In his reply, the Water Resources Minister further stated the total cost of the project was Rs 1612.15 crore and the cost of the canal network running through Goa was Rs 524.54 crore.

“The share of the State Government towards the works is Rs 1025.00 crore as per the latest estimate approved by the Planning Commission of India,” the reply of the minister informs.

On the question of benefit of the project to both Goa and Maharashtra and its utilisation potential, the minister observed, “The share of benefit works out to irrigation potential of 14,521 ha area in Goa and 6,676 ha in Maharashtra.

“In addition Goa will utilise 111.46 million cubic metre of water for domestic and industrial purpose,” he replied.

The share works out to 459.63 Mcm for Goa and 167.55 Mcm for Maharashtra from a storage capacity of 627.18 Mcm, which runs into 73.30: 26.70 ratio.

Retired teachers hold rally demanding VI Pay benefits

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

The Goa Assembly on Monday congratulated renowned neuro spinal surgeon Dr P S Ramani, a Goan for winning prestigious “Dr Paul Bassi” award from America, for his excellence in neuro and spinal surgeries.

Dr Ramani is the first Asian to win the award.

Senior members of the House including Speaker Pratapsing Rane, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho spoke applauding Dr Ramani for his huge contribution in the field of medicine.

Minister for Panchayat Babu Azgaonkar and Fatorda MLA Damu Naik too congratulated Dr Ramani for bringing laurels to Goa. Bhakti Pradeep Kulkarni: The House today congratulated Bhakti Pradeep Kulkarni for showing excellence in chess and winning gold medals at Asian Youth Chess Championship under 18 girls category held at Beijing and bringing laurels to Goa. The motion was moved by Fartodar ML A Damu Naik moved. The House also congratulated Talasha Satish Prabhu for winning four gold and silver medals at the 37 the junior national aquatic meet at Bangalore and clinching title of “fastest female swimmer” with India’s best time of 59.50 seconds to win gold in 100 mts free style.

The motion was moved by Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar.

Prematurely retired teachers stage a protest rally in Porvorim.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JULY 19

Hundreds of former teachers who were compelled to retire at the age of 58 due to reduction in retirement age from 60 to 58 staged a protest rally in Porvorim on Monday.

The rally commenced from Teen building and proceeded towards the Secretariat, but it was stopped by police near the Sanjay School.

Since the teachers defied orders and began proceeding towards the Secretariat, Police arrested 226 agitators. They were, however, released following an order of the Bardez Deputy Collector Dashrath Redkar.

Speaking to reporters, President of Discriminated Teachers Forum Neves Anthony Rebello

Communidades staff not paid salaries since April HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 19

Once again, the 30-odd workers employed with the South Goa Administrator of Communidades are facing their common problem over the years – nonpayment of their salaries.

Believe it or not, these employees had to go without their salaries for the last three months since April and see no hope that the salaries will come by the end of the current month.

The issue was taken up with the Administrator of Communidades and the district Collector, South, but the funds have not come in from the government to clear the salaries. These employees are totally dependent on the government to receive their monthly salaries with the coffers of the Administrator of Communidades unable to meet the salary requirements.

“Just imagine our plight and that of our families when we had to go without salaries for the last three months. There are various commitments, including

loans, we have to meet, but in vain,” remarked an employee.

Unlike the employees, the Administrator of Communidades received his salary from the government and these hapless employees say the government should work out a mechanism wherein they receive their salaries from the government.

Last year too, the employees had to go without salaries for months, before the government sanctioned an amount of Rs 45 lakh towards the salaries. The cheque was sanctioned after the Administrator was made to give an undertaking that the amount would be refunded.

An amount of Rs 3 lakh is required to meet the salaries of the 30-odd employees every month.

A senior official told Herald that the Administrator of Communidade has drawn the attention of the government towards the plight of the employees and exuded confidence that a solution would be found to the problem of salary payments.

stated due to reduction of the age limit from 60 to 58 years, retired teachers lost two years increment as a consequence of which they are drawing less pension.

“The government should pay us pension based on the VI Pay Commission. Teachers who have not completed 33 years of service are not getting full pension.

If the VI Pay Commission is made applicable to us, we will get full pension,” said Rebello.

“If the pension benefits are extended to the prematurely retired teachers based on the VI Pay Commission, the additional burden on the government exchequer will be only Rs 8 crore,” said Rebello.

He informed that they had started their agitation since August 2009. “We organized rallies

Shop burgled PORVORIM: Burglars broke into a hardware shop at Angod-Mapusa and decamped with cash and hardware material worth Rs 3.8 lakh.

The owner of the hardware shop, M R Fernandes, lodged a police complaint stating that he was informed over phone by somebody around 6 am on Monday that the lock of the shop’s shutter had been broken.

He rushed to the shop and found cash and hardware material, all worth Rs 3.8 lakh, were stolen.

Mapusa Police pressed a police dog squad into service but failed to get further clues into the burglary.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

and resorted to hunger strikes to draw the government’s attention to our demand, but in vain,” he said.

“Chief Minister Digamber Kamat had assured us that our grievances would be redressed within one month. We had served a notice to both the chief minister and Education Minister Atanasio Monserratte to inform the Discriminated Teachers Forum whether the government has any plans to solve the genuine grievances of the prematurely retired teachers before the commencement of the Assembly Session, so that we could prevent the rally.”

“But there was no reply from the government, which is why we have organized this rally. We will continue to fight till our demands are met,” said Rebello.

High Court denies bail to Mickky HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Bombay High Court at Goa today rejected the bail petition of former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco.

Passing the order today evening, Justice A S Oka said that at this stage the court is not inclined to grant him (Pacheco) bail.

However, the court said that Pacheco can move appropriate authorities seeking permission to attend the ongoing assembly session.

Earlier during argument, Advocate Surendra Dessai, representing Pacheco pointed out that the Crime Branch has not

interrogated Pacheco for last two to three days and as such there is no need of further custodial interrogation.

He even brought to the notice of the court that police so far failed to get information from the five mobile handsets and three SIM cards recovered from Pacheco’s residence.

Dessai also said that there was nothing to prove that Pacheco would destroy the evidence. “Even when Pacheco was missing he never tried to temper with the evidence,” Dessai said.

Desai also said that the entire case was based on circumstances and there were no direct evidence to prove that Pacheco

has provoked Nadia’s suicide “Nadia being just a friend of Pacheco, there is no evidence which proves him guilty,’ he said “The statements recorded from the family members of the victim has also not indicted that Pacheco is involved in the crime. Nor the phone call records have proved that,” the lawyer added.

Dessai contented that Pacheco is innocent as he had accompanied Nadia to various hospitals and tried to save her life.

Dessai also clarified that of the 14 injuries found on the body of Nadia, three were surgical, two caused during hospitalization and rest are related

Order on Sonia’s bail plea reserved HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 19

The South Goa Sessions Court has reserved its orders on the bail application filed by Nadia Torrado’s mother Sonia to Tuesday morning.

After hearing arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel, Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande has posted the matter for orders on Tuesday.

Defense lawyer, Adv Radharao Gracias submitted that Sonia is entitled for bail as the prosecution has not made out any case against her. He further argued that the offense of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and abetment to suicide are not compatible and submitted that the offence of destruction of evidence is bailable.

Adv Gracias argued that Sonia has been in the custody of the Crime Branch for the

last five days, adding that she has been cooperating with the investigating agency for over a month now. While praying for bail, Adv Gracias submitted that even the Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to Pacheco’s OSD Lyndon Monteiro, who was wanted by the Crime Branch for the offence of destruction of evidence. “If Lyndon can get bail from the Supreme Court, why should my client not get the bail after being in custody for five days,” he argued.

Adv Gracias said the investigating agency should come to the court with clean hands and not by manipulating the records On the other hand, Public Prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha vehemently opposed the bail plea saying Sonia is required in custody to recover Nadia’s missing mobiles, passport and the empty ratol tube.

She said that only Sonia could explain

who was using the mobile phone set having IMEI number after Nadia’s death as the SIM card was registered in the name of the accused.

“The accused is required in police custody to recover Nadia’s mobile phones, passport, ratol tube. Sonia is required in police custody to explain the events on May 14 evening and also explain the injuries on Nadia’s body. The accused is required in custody to explain the contents of the bags disposed off by burning behind the house of the accused,” Sardinha added.

Replying to the defence arguments that Nadia might have sustained the injuries while being tied to the hospital bed at the Jupiter hospital, Sardinha said that hospital records do not mention anything that the patient was tied to a bed or that the patient was on a ventilator.

MMC suffers memory loss

Bicholim house collapses in Forgets to pursue graft cases against councillors heavy rains HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, JULY 19

A house partially collapsed on Monday due to heavy rains at Gaonkarwada-Bicholim causing a loss of about Rs 30,000.

The incident occurred at about 7 pm when a wall of the house belonging to one Bhivaji Dattu Gaonkar collapsed, damaging property worth Rs 30,000.

The fire brigade rushed to the site but was unable to clear the debris as the roof was in a dangerous position and was likely to collapse at any time. The family members were asked to move to a safer place by the side of the house.

Mayem correspondent adds: Heavy rains affected normal life in Bicholim taluka on Monday and the fire services had to attend to a number of calls during the day.

Roads and low lying areas were filled with rainwater, causing hardship to motorists and residents.

Though there were continuous rains, there is no fear of floods for now as the Anjunem dam has not reached the danger level.

One killed in Polem mishap

CANACONA: A man from Karwar died on the spot in a road mishap at Polem on Monday night.

According to Canacona police, Nambev Naik of KodibhagKarwar died on the spot in an accident involving a motorcycle (GA-02-D-6653) at Polem. Police suspects it may have been a selfaccident. Police sent the body to the Hospicio at Margao for an autopsy.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 19

The Margao Municipal Council seems to have forgotten the resolution adopted by the Council to file a writ petition in the High Court seeking directions to former Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya to disclose the names of Councilors involved in corruption.

It’s more two months since the City Fathers resolved to file a petition to direct Acharya to disclosed the names of Coun-

cilors, who were allegedly extorting money from builders after raising issues of illegalities in the Civic body.

When contacted, MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho said the file pertaining to the resolution was forwarded to the Municipal lawyer for an opinion.

Coutinho, however, could not state when the file was forwarded to the lawyer and the name of the lawyer, who has taken so long time to give the opinion.

The Opposition MLAs brought to the notice of the House some pressing issues requiring urgent attention of the Government on the first day of the Goa Legislative Assembly during the discussion on budget session.

Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar informed that a sand bar that has appeared again in river Chapora was causing great inconvenience to fishermen and as such the authority concerned should make efforts to remove the same. He highlighted the sand erosion near Starco in Anjuna and warned that hotels in

the vicinity were in danger.

The MLA mentioned that Mapusa Deputy Collector D Redkar has been given several additional charges as a result of which he wasn’t able to deliver the goods. There is a need for a full-fledged deputy collector to check into illegalities in Bardez taluka, he said.

Mandrekar said he has been taking up the issue of Chapora Fort since 1999 and pressed for its renovation in the Assembly.

Archaeology ministers have come and gone but nothing is happening as far as renovation of the fort was concerned, he stated.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 19

Tarpaulin used to cover the Sonsodo waste dumping site a year ago at a whopping cost of nearly Rs 17 lakh has come back to haunt the Margao Municipal Council.

MMC had awarded the tender for nearly Rs 17 lakh to cover the garbage dumping site on the eve of last monsoons as per the directions of the High Court.

But, what has now raised eyebrows in the corridors of the civic body is that the similar work of covering Sonsodo with tarpaulin this monsoon was carried out by Fomento group for an amount less than Rs 5 lakh.

The huge difference in the tender amount floated by the civic body and the similar work carried out by Fomento at the dumping site has raised more questions. More so, when Fomento is believed to have used quality tarpaulin with 120 grams per square meter, costing around Rs 32.15 in the open market.

Sources in the Margao Municipality disclosed that the civic body had recently dashed off a letter to Fomento seeking details on the tarpaulin and whether the company would charge the civic body for the capping work.

When contacted, Margao Mu-

The MLA was highly critical of Vishwajeet Rane for his “I don’t care attitude” to his party’s call for starting the new Asilo Hospital on August 15. “There was no mention of hunger strike in our press conference, but the next day Rane said we would go on hunger strike or do anything and he didn’t care,” he mentioned.

Mandrekar accused Rane of using goondagiri type of language with them. “He wants to give the hospital to a private party under the PPP model. We oppose this move,” he said.

Looking towards Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar, the Siolim

MLA said during his tenure as health minister the former had never spoken of PPP the way Rane was doing.

Mayem MLA Anant Shet also raised several issues before the House and laid special emphasis on mining, both legal and illegal.

Shet maintained, “Apart from illegal mining, the Government should check into legal leases whether everything inside was going on within the leased area.

A control has to be maintained on the legal mines and these should not be allowed to mine very deep so as to disturb the water table.”

Excise Dept suspects Loliem liquor plant has inter-State links HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA JULY 19

With the seizure of over Rs 20 lakh worth of liquor from an illegally operating manufacturing and packaging unit at ShelimLoliem on Saturday, there are strong speculations that the illegal operations could have links to several States in the country.

Sources in the Excise Department had admitted that if only

the seized quantity of processed liquor and raw alcohol is taken into consideration, a whopping Rs 10 lakh worth of excise taxes had been evaded by the illegal operators.

The sources further disclosed that the tax evasion could run into several crores of rupees, given the information that the operations at the unit were in existence for about 4-5 years.

Sources also informed Herald that the tentacles of these illegal operations is limited not only to one state of Karnataka as was originally believed, but the network reportedly has connections in several other states, where such consignments have a huge demand, given the cost of legal consignments in some states.

It is learnt that even a native from Kerala, operating a different

Incidentally, though the City Fathers went all out at the special meeting to take the matter to the court seeking directions to the former chief officer to disclose the names of councilors involved in corruption, nothing has been heard from the elected representatives in the corridors of the civic body in recent times.

Former chief officer Prasanna Acharya had stirred a hornet’s nest before he was shunted out of the civic body when he put up a note to the chairperson stating that some of the councilors raise issues of illegal construction activity and then strike deals with the builders for a consideration.

The issue had snowballed into a major controversy and the special meeting of the council had unanimously resolved to knock the doors of the High Court to take the former chief officer to task.

Sonsodo… a constant thorn

Opposition highlights pressing issues HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

to her disease, acute liver failure, which she was suffering from.

Dessai said that it would be humiliating to Pacheco to attend the ongoing assembly session escorted by police and hence bail should be granted to him.

Public prosecutor C Fereira said that the Crime Branch is yet to recover two mobiles and a laptop used by Nadia.

He mentioned that even after Nadia’s death on May 30, one of her mobile was being used, till June 5. Fereira said that the police are also yet to recover the blunt object allegedly used to hit Nadia, which is evident from the postmortem report which shows injuries on her body.

unit in the taluka, used to enjoy close rapport with the operator of the illegally running manufacturing and packaging liquor unit at Shelli- Loliem, and was said to be actively trafficking large consignments to his home state.

A local wholesale liquor dealer, speaking to Herald on condition of anonymity, said: “We used to meet the requirement of several stakeholders beyond the state’s

borders in neighbouring Karnataka. But since the last 3-4 years, there was no significant movement of our stocks, compelling us to restrict our demands with original brand suppliers.”

Meanwhile, the prime accused and the alleged kingpin of massive illegal liquor manufacturing and packaging unit is still at large, as excise officials have been unable to track him down.

nicipal Chairperson Savio Coutinho said he has no idea how much Fomento has spent to cover the Sonsodo dump yard with tarpaulin. He, however, hastened to add that the cost might have come down this year since Fomento has covered only the slope and garbage mound at the yard.

“When the Civic body had covered the site a year ago, it had to cover a wide space since the waste was scattered all over the dumping site,” Coutinho added.

He, however, said that the estimates to cover the dumping site with tarpaulin were prepared by the municipal technical section, before the tenders were floated by the civic body.

Hotel federation elects panel HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JUL 19

The Federation of Small and Medium Hotels and Guest Houses (FSMHGH) in the State has elected its new committee to look into the interests of its members.

Effifiano Barretto was elected president of FSMHGH, while other members in the Executive Committee are Padmanath Nair, Edwin Barretto, John Rodrigues, Sumitra Egipsy, Anthony Cardozo, Edwin Fonseca and Antonio Jose de Souza.

The Federation later deliberated on different issues ranging from license fees, waiver from Goa State Pollution Control Board, classification of hotels into different categories and a white paper on tourism.

Giving in to the general view of the members, the newly elected committee of the Federation has decided to pursue with its demand for renewal of licenses for a minimum period of three years.

The Committee has also decided to put its demand to the State government.

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Oppn faces Speaker’s ire for ‘defiling’ House HERALD REPOTER PANJIM, JULY 19

The first day of the Goa Legislative Assembly saw Speaker Pratapsing Rane hardening and mellowing down on three of the Opposition members who created a ruckus in the House over price rise.

Adopting a tough stance, Rane warned the trio that he would throw them out of the Assembly for talking together thus vitiating the decorum of the House.

But while winding up the business of the day, the Speaker softened his stand against the three and maintained that the Opposition members should be decent enough not to talk at one time, letting them off the hook.

The Speaker had earlier ex-

punged the statements made by the trio, which he withdrew later saying the statements can go on record.

The House witnessed pandemonium for a brief period during Question Hour when Fatorda MLA Damordar Naik sought to know whether the government was aware of rising prices of food grains and how it has impacted middle class and poor people.

The Minister for Civil Supplies Jose Philip D’Souza told the House of the steps being taken to provide relief to the people.

The government has been implementing a scheme, “government intervention for control of price” which was introduced in June, 2008.

The scheme is implemented through Goa Co-operative and

Marketing Federation and Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd. Over 1,00,548 people have benefited by the scheme, he told the House.

Not satisfied with the minister’s reply, the Opposition members raised more questions and suddenly the House was in chaos with Opposition members denouncing the government for its failure to control prices.

Speaker Rane categorically made it clear that he would not accept bedlam in the House and statements of the Opposition members who spoke out of turn would be expunged.

He also ordered Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar to instruct his fellow members not to interrupt him (Parrikar) when he is making a point.

Bus owners call of strike HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

The private transport operators today withdrew their hunger strike after State government assured them to hike the ticket fares for the first nine kilometers.

The strike was called off within one hour this morning.

All Goa Private Bus Owners Association General Secretary Sudip Tamankar said that Chief Minister Digamber Kamat intervened in the matter.

“Just as when we started the strike, the chief minister telephoned me asking to meet Transport Director Arun Desai,” Tamankar said.

“Desai assured to hike the ticket fares to 15 paisa for the first nine kilometers in addition to Rs 5 for the first three kilometers,” he added.

Tamankar said that the notification in this regard will be issued within a week. “We are thankful to CM for redressing our grievances,” he said.

Ironic accolades for men in khaki HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Continuously in the line of fire for their alleged connection with the drug mafia, the police were in for some patting from Opposition MLA Dayanand Mandrekar who branded the force as “very clean and honest”.

Don’t mistake this for real patting. Mandrekar’s statements of praise for the men in khaki were filled with sarcasm rubbing

salt to their wounds. There is vast difference from the police of the past and now, he said in a manner that was ridiculing.

In a speech filled with sarcasm during discussion on budget on the first day of the Goa Legislative Assembly, the MLA stated, “The police of now are very clean, so clean that the Chief Minister should give contract to make gold medals for personnel from the rank of DIG to police constables

and the honour could be bestowed on them during the Liberation Day function.”

Mandrekar said he was scared to talk about the police because if he did so there was no guarantee that he would reach home safe. They have the capacity to catch me somewhere on the way and pack me off, he mentioned. He said the height of corruption in the force is such that only God can investigate the same.

Govt opposed to expansion of port: CM HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat reiterated that Goa government is opposed to expansion of Mormugao Port and that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has been of the government’s position when the all party delegation on Madei had called on the PMO. He was responding to a question posed by Mormugao MLA Milind Naik during Question Hour on Monday.

Naik’s wanted to know what has been done to rein in MPT which “is hell-bent on going

ahead with expansion of the port.”

Earlier, Minister for Ports Nilkanth Halarnkar in his written reply informed the House that the chief minister had written to the prime minister, Minister for Environment and Forest Jairam Ramesh and Minister for Shipping G K Vassan intimating them about the existing problem.

Not content with the minister’s reply, Mormugao MLA as well as Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar pointed out that MPT has already embarked on its expansion plan while the

seven member committee appointed by the government in 2008 met just trice during last three years to discuss the issue.

“If this is the case I don’t know when the issue will be resolved,” said Naik.

Parrikar said, MPT doesn’t care a dame about objections raised by any of the State government departments.

Kamat said a power point presentation was made to the PMO, and the Environment Impact Assessment study clearly shows what would be the impact on ecology if MPT is allowed to go head with its

expansion plan.

Speaker Pratapsing Rane suggested that the State Government should have urgent meeting with Union Minister Vasan.

The State government is opposing the expansion of Mormugao port on the grounds that the expansion would affect the demography and the ecology.

Locals are also opposed to the expansion of Mormugao port as they will have to relocate to make space for expansion plan.

The expansion plan of MPT is not feasible due to limitation on land, says the government.

Education scenario in Canacona grim: MLA HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Painting a grim picture of the education scenario in Canacona taluka, Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar castigated the State government for not taking advantage of Central educational schemes meant for tribals.

Tawadkar was referring to the Tribal Welfare Scheme under which States get funds from Centre to boost education in tribal-dominated areas. The MLA ridiculed the government saying whether it was aware of such a scheme in order to take full advantage of it.

Speaking during discussion on budget on the first day of the Goa Legislative Assembly, Tawadkar informed the House that Gujarat had taken full benefit of central schemes and was running some 200 projects under it. “The Tribal Welfare Department is with the chief min-

ister and I am certain he would take note of the same,” he mentioned.

The MLA said, “The general feeling among the people of the State is that the education scenario here is good, but one has to come to Canacona and see.

In interior parts of the taluka many schools are closing down.”

He mentioned that those who could afford had admitted their wards in Margao to provide them quality education which is not available in Canacona.

There are some parents who have to be in Margao everyday for the sake of their children’s education but have to commute to Canacona on a daily basis for their livelihood, he mentioned.

He said the drop out rate in Canacona schools was something the Government should ponder over and find a solution to.

Tawadkar also raised the issue of implementation of the Tribal Forest Act. “There is no sign of any deliberation on the law,” he said asserting, “If implanted, the law would bring relief to 3,000 to 4,000 tribal families.”

Raising the issue of health for which Canacona was in the news some days ago, he reminded they were assured of improvement in the health facilities within a fortnight. “The Government shouldn’t wait till people are forced to come on the streets,” he stated.

He highlighted roads in remote areas of Canacona were pathetic and quite a few of the parts were not getting clean drinking water even after 50 years of liberation.

Raising a point on the muchtalked about Galgibaga bridge, the MLA said atleast during the golden jubilee year of the State work on the bridge should take off. The land acquisition for the purpose was done years back but till date there was no sign of the bridge, he maintained.

On the agriculture front, he observed there was a great potential for agriculture tourism in interior places of the taluka like Gaondongrim and Cotigao.

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S H O RT TA K E S Borkar installed president

PANJIM (HND): Jeevandas Borkar was installed as the President of Lions Club of Loutolim by the installing officer Anastasio Colaco at a glittering ceremony at Ruby Toos, Loutolim.

Other members of the team are Milena Mota - secretary, Antonio Araujo - treasurer, Manoj Chari - 1st vice president, Synora Quadros – second vice president, Paul Sa immediate past president, Uttam Kumar - lion tamer, Agostinho Barracho - tail twister, Celso Dias - quest director, Allan Araujo - PRO, Mario Sequeira - IT, Edward Monteiro Membership com–chairman, Noel Quadros – vice-chairman and Philip Dias, J T Vaz, Francisco Miranda, Antonio Quadros, all directors.

Chief guest and MP Francisco Sardinha appreciated the efforts of NGOs like Lions for the wonderful work that they have been doing for the community for so many years. He said that in the beginning, there were few clubs in Goa and now, there is bigger number and they are also responsible for the development and progress that Goa has made all these years.

He appreciated the career guidance courses organized by the club for the school students and he said it is needed to guide our youth. As a member of Parliament, he assured the club of his support to carry on service to the people.

Feast celebrated at Calangute

CALANGUTE (HC): Parishioners of Calangute celebrated the feast of its patron saint St Alex with religious fervour on Sunday.

On the occasion, St Alex Church website www.stalexchurch.com was launched by Parish Priest Fr Carmo Martins, while a special issue of ‘Sant Aleixacho SAAD’ (The Voice of St Alex) was released

by St Xaviers College, Mapusa, Principal Fr Walter D’Sa. Speaking on the occasion, Fr Martins congratulated Assistant Parish Priest Fr Clifford Cardozo for the launch of the website of the Calangute Church which had St Alex Church, Calangute, remained as a dream for a quite Parish Priest Fr Carmo Marlong. tins and Assistant Parish While releasing the special Priest Fr Clifford Cardozo of i s s u e o f ‘ S a n t A l e i x a c h o launch the website.

SAAD’/Voice of St Alex on comPhoto by Thomas Fernandes pletion of 20 years of existence, Fr D’Sa congratulated the editorial board for the splendid job and hoped the good work will go forward in the right direction.

Following the Feast Mass was concelebrated by Fr D’Sa with Fr Martins and priests of the village Fr James Pereira, Fr Ubaldo Mascarenhas, Fr Alex D’Souza, Assistant Parish Priest Fr Clifford Cardozo highlighted the twin celebrations to the parishioners of Calangute on the occasion of the feast of St Alex and hoped the media will be of great importance to the parishioners.

Earlier, Parishioners of Calangute and surrounding areas took part in the religious ceremonies to mark the feast of Patron St Alex.

Anti-tobacco week

BICHOLIM (HC): Saraswat Vidyalaya, Khorlim-Mapusa, recently observed anti-tobacco week in the school premises.

On the occasion, a special talk was organised for the students of Std 8, 9 and 10. During the talk, doctors informed the students about several health hazards and the consequences of consuming tobacco.

The doctors urged the students not to consume tobacco and ruin their life. They were also given pamphlets and told that tobacco could cause cancer and could affect almost every parts of the body.

During the week, a poster and drawing competition was also organised for the students. The topics for the drawing competition included ‘Say no to Cigarettes’ and ‘Think health, stop tobacco’. For the poster competition, the three topics were ‘Think health, stop tobacco’, ‘Say no to cigarettes’ and ‘Stop Gutkha, avoid cancer’.

Teachers Vibhavari Priolkar, Suvarna Singnapurkar and Nadkarni took special efforts for the success of the programmes.

State youth awards

PANJIM(HND): The last date for submission of the duly filled in application forms to the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs for the Institution of the State Youth Awards 2009-10 has been extended to July 30.

The forms should contain relevant bio-data, credentials, certificate of achievements, etc.

All eligible candidates/youth/youth organisations are hereby requested to submit the relevant application forms, complete in every respect, to U D Navelkar, Asst Phy Edu. Officer, Youth section of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Campal, Panjim during office hours on any working day.

The Meritorious Youth/Youth organizations will be duly recommended for the National Youth Award 2009-2010.

Curchorem school SC installed

CURHCOREM (HC): The Students Council (SC) of Guardian Angel Higher Secondary School, Curchorem, for 2010-11 was recently installed by Fr Joaquim Rebello, Vice Principal of Guardian Angel Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Curchorem.

Fr Rebello administered the oath of office to the office bearers and congratulated the students and exhorted them to be leaders.

Earlier, Guardian Angel Higher Secondary School Principal Fr Frank Mendes introduced and welcomed the chief guest and urged the office bearers to take their task seriously in the spirit of growing into the future leaders of the country.

General Secretary Peregrino Lima of Std XII Com B pledged to focus on maintaining the school discipline and uphold the reputation of the school at all times.

The office bearers and members of the Student Council for 2010-11 are Pregrino Lima (general secretary), Anjali Pires (assistant secretary), Alister Rebello (sports secretary), Stella Faria (cultural secretary), Aiton Fernandes (academic secretary) and Mercia Fernandes (discipline secretary).

Assistant General Secretary Anjali Pires proposed the vote of thanks.

Jadhav elected GBOA chief

VASCO(HR): Atul Jadhav was unanimously elected president of Goa Barge Owners Association (GBOA) for the sixth successive occasion.

Jadhav was unanimously proposed as president, while William D’Costa was elected secretary for year 2010-11 in the 35th annual general body meeting of GBOA held in the association office.

Other members elected are Uday K Naik (vice president), Chandrakant Gawas (treasurer) and Osric Cabral, Prabhakar S Naik and Milin Arolkar (members).

Merces locals want highway reverted back to village road HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, JULY 19

Complaining that Merces villagers traveling to and fro Panjim have been harassed by traffic policemen and issued challans for not wearing helmets, the locals have demanded that the road, which was earlier used by them to commute before it was included in the highway, should be reverted back to the village so that villagers could commute on this road without fear of being fined by traffic police.

Initiating the discussion on the subject, Suresh Pilarnekar informed that village road was included in the highway without acquiring the same and without issuing any notification to this effect.

“Since then, Merces villagers have been forced to use the highway road and those who do not wear helmets become easy prey for the traffic police,” he said and added that the privileges enjoyed by Merces locals should not be compromised for no fault of theirs.

Commenting further on the issue, a villager who did not wished to be named claimed that traffic police who are stationing themselves at any point on the highway are doing so illegally as according to national highway rules, the traffic police can stop motorists to issue challans only where there are humps or speed breakers.

He further added that if they wish to station themselves at a particular point, they have to

Adv Velho’s death condoled

take permission from the National Highway Authority of India.

The villagers then urged the panchayat to address a letter to the Traffic Police SP informing him of the grievances of Merces villagers and get them resolved at the earliest.

The issue of stray dogs also took centre stage at the gram sabha with villager Edwin Nazareth narrating the trauma he went through when he was bit by a rabid dog recently.

He questioned what action the panchayat has taken to control the population of stray dogs in the village.

Joining the discussion, another villager John Nazareth informed that the Merces Vigilant Citizens Association has already put forth a proposal to the panchayat of their willingness to sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs provided the panchayat is willing to fund. He then questioned what the panchayat has done so far over their proposal.

Replying on the issue, Secretary Rupesh Halarnkar informed that the proposal would be forwarded to a NGO appointed by the government to deal with stray dogs and also a copy of it would be forwarded to the Veterinary Services Department for their perusal and accordingly a decision would be taken.

The issue of plans to set up a waste treatment plant at Morombi-O-Grande also came up for discussion with villager Suresh Pilarnekar informing that

the plant cannot be set up at Morombi-O-Grande since it has already been declared as environment protection area.

He demanded that the process started for identifying site for waste plant should be immediately stalled.

However, Secretary Halarnkar informed that the process is already in the final stage and if the area is declared as environment protection area, then the Goa State Pollution Control Board would not give its okay for the site and the question of stalling the process midway does not arise.

Halarnkar then informed that if this site is also rejected, then the Merces VP would be out of option as far as identifying of suitable site for waste plant is concerned.

In this regard, he suggested that the panchayat can then appeal to the government to allow Merces garbage to be treated at the proposed CCP waste plant and in return the panchayat will bear the expenses.

Earlier, a heated discussion ensued over the payments made to the cattle pound contractor with villagers condemning the action of the panchayat of overriding an earlier gram sabha resolution stating that the payments should be withheld until the contractor fulfills all the conditions of running a cattle pound.

BDO representative Swapnil Nageshkar who is appointed the administrator of Merces VP conducted the gram sabha.

Rider dies HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 18

A 30-year old motorcycle rider died in road accident at the Power House road junction on Sunday evening.

Margao PSI Manguesh Volvoikar said the deceased Edwin Colaco from Raia sustained serious head injuries after his Bullet motorcycle hit the road divider installed at the junction. He said the rider died on the way to the Hospicio hospital. The police are invevestigating.

Ganesh fest preparations begin in Canacona HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 19

The Ganesh festival preparations are already underway in Canacona with the formation of various committees, including formation of Chaudi Sarvajanik Ganeshotshav Samiti, one of the prime committees in the taluka.

In the recently held meeting of Chaudi Sarvajanik Ganeshosthav Samiti, Pramod Dessai was president for celebration of Ganesh festivals during 2010. Other members of the executive committee are Neelu Pagui (secretary) and Prashant Dessai (treasurer).

Besides, different committees are also appointed like Pandal and Decoration committee, Cultural programme committee, Pujan committee and Idol Immersion committee, incorporating several persons as members in these committees.

TAG’s workshop held at Saligao

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 19

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has condoled the death of Advocate Leo Velho who passed away after suffering massive heart attack.

Ve l h o r e p r e s e n t e d G o a , Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly from Navelim constituency.

Kamat said that Velho who was the first Central Government Notary in Goa followed parliamentary procedures and etiquettes meticulously.

“He was an active member of the House who always came out with valuable suggestions and constructive criticism,” the release adds.

In his condolence message, the Chairman of Law Commission Goa, Ramakant Khalap said that Velho was a man of golden heart and has left behind indelible mark on the legislative records through his erudition and his commitment to social and political issues.

President of TAG, Tomazinho Cardozo, with the participating students.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 19

In its efforts to involve children in acting and singing in tiatrs, Tiatr Academy of Goa organized a workshop on tiatr for the students of Lourdes Convent High School, Saligao recently.

In all 74 students participated in the workshop.

The workshop was inaugurated by Sr Leandra D’Sa, Manager of the school in the

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JULY 19

plained possible causes and symptoms of malaria.

Kamat also advised precautions and preventive m e a s u re s t o c o n t ro l t h e spread of malaria.

She requested the gathering to avoid the mosquito bites with the use of mosquito nets or repellents. Kamat stressed upon clean surroundings, free of stagnant water, where mosquitoes make it their breeding grounds.

Guirim school PTA elected HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 19

The general body meeting of St Anthony High School, Monte de Guirim’s Parent Teacher Association was held at the school hall, Monte de Guirim on Saturday.

Tomazinho Cardoso who was the chief guest delivered a talk on “Parental Role in Child Education.” He asked the parents to be more vigilant with their wards and be better involved with their study schedule so as to enable better output.

Tomazinho lauded the efforts of the management, teachers and parents for achieving success in the field of education, art, sports, music and culture.

Marriage course for couples

PANJIM (HND): The Institute of Personality Development, Panjim will organise a 5-day course on `Marriage’ for couples and those preparing for marriage. The course is conducted

by Prof Agnel Crasto- Director of the Institute of Personality Development. The course will start on July 26 from 6 pm to 7 pm. Those interested should contact Prof Agnel Crasto at Pinto Chambers, Panjim, ph 2435838/9420818302.

Essay contest for schools

PANJIM(HND): The organizers of ‘CMM Centenary celebration’ have informed that the date for submission of essays for the Essay competition for school students of Std IX and X has been extended to July 3. The earlier date given for submission of essays was July 10, 2010.

Any further queries from the schools/students in this matter may be directed to the coordinator at the following address: Ms Leticia Belchior, D-4, Skylark Apts., Altinho, Mapusa, Goa. Tel Contact : 2250680, email : Leticiadebelchior@yahoo.com

Workshop in journalism

PANJIM(HND): The International Centre Goa, JM Foundation for excellence in Journalism, Goa Union of Journalists, Media information and Communication centre of India in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung is organizing a three-day journalism workshop on ‘Enhancing Human development coverage : Skills for Reporting/Writing’ from July 24 to 26 at The International Centre, Dona Paula, Goa. The workshop is part of the series of workshops being organized by ICG for the last couple of years with the aim of empowering journalists with the latest skills and knowledge.

Choir singing course

PANJIM(HND): Bal Bhavan has proposed to start the Choir under the guidance of Dr Gerald Rodricks, well-known personality in theatre and music from the month of September 2010.

This training course will be imparted from 4 pm to 5:30 pm thrice a week.

Likewise, Bal Bhavan has also invited applications for the children between the age group of 10 to 16 years for the Choir group to sing the National Integration songs during the various State level functions.

Interested children between the age group of 10 to 16 years may contact the reception counter of Bal Bhavan, Campal, Panjim, for the form from 2:30 pm to 5 pm.

Courses for women

PANJIM (HNB): Caritas-Goa will conduct various courses at Dr Graciano de Santana Ribeiro Empowerment Centre, Bhatkar Vaddo, Opp Dr Pinto Rosario Hospital in Porvorim.

The courses are specially designed for the benefit and empowerment of women.

The courses which will be conducted are tailoring (basic and advanced), machine embroidery, hand embroidery, crochet, flower making, fabric painting, candle making (only for a group of seven applicants), bakery (one week during Ganesh Holidays) and cookery (one week during Diwali Holidays).

For details, contact Sr Mafaldine Pires on 2416716 or 9765256547.

Award for Kelekar

presence of Joe Rose, Anil Kumar (both veteran tiatr artistes), Dnanjay Phalkar, Theatre Art teacher and Chandrika Padgaokar, Konkani subject teacher of the school.

The first session was cond u c t e d b y J o e Ro s e , w h o stressed upon composing of lyrics of songs and gave an insight into script writing of tiatr to the students. Anil Kumar guided the students in acting by involving children in the

Malaria eradication programme organised for SHGs at Parra The Voluntary Health Association of Goa (VHAG) in collaboration with Parra Panchayat recently organised a malaria eradication pro gramme for the self-help groups (SHGs) at Parra.

The sessions were held at four different places at Pereira Social Welfare Centre-Verla, Sacred Heart High School, Canca, Our Lady of Piedade Chapel, Gama Vaddo (Parra) and Parra Panchayat Hall.

The groups were guided on malaria eradication and prevention by the VHAG members.

Addressing the women of the self-help groups, Mithila Kamat briefed them on the rise of malaria in the areas and ex-

UPCOMING EVENTS

He also stressed that participation in sports helped the children to develop their minds.

Earlier, Headmaster, Fr Paul Alvares welcomed and stressed the need for hard work in all fields.

Tomazinho Cardozo, Fr Paul and the executive committee of PTA felicitated the meritorious SSCE students who secured distinction. Prizes were also distributed to students who excelled from KG to Std X. A patriotic dance was presented by the students. John Lobato de Faria welcomed. The annual report was read by Fatima D’Souza. Alba compeered the function. Chairman, Fr Steve Rodrigues addressed the gathering.

She advised the gathering to change the water stored in water tanks, drums, barrels or other utensils.

She also requested the women to help in emptying the broken bottles or co conut shells which collects rainwater to stop the breeding of mosquitoes.

Sr Edith and Parra Sarpanch Benedict D’Souza helped in organising the sessions at different places.

Parra Panchayat is also organising a cleanliness drive on July 24 in tune with the awareness programme on vector borne diseases.

The drive will be carried out at 10 am onwards at Jackni Vaddo and Lobo Vaddo of Parra.

Laparoscopy operation camp held HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 19

The Canacona Community Health Centre (CHC) in association with Hospicio at Margao and Curchorem CHC conducted a laparoscopy operation camp.

The laparoscopy operation was successfully conducted on 15 women from different parts of Canacona taluka during the camp held on last Friday.

The operations were conducted by Curchorem gynecologist Dr Lawrence Gomes and he was assisted by Hospicio anesthetist Dr Gayatri Sheti, besides two each staff nurses from Hospicio and CHC Canacona.

teaching learning process.

The concluding function was attended by Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG, who requested the students to take interest in tiatr, its song and music because such an attitude will help in inculcating love towards Goan and Indian culture.

The participating students were given certificates of participation.

The function was compered

by Chandrika Padgaokar.

PANJIM (HND): Jnanpith Award for the year 2006 will be presented to eminent Konkani litterateur Ravindra Kelekar on July 31 at Dinanath Mangeshkar Auditorium, Kala Academy, Panjim, at 11 am.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will be the chief guest and present the award. Chief Minister M Digambar Kamat will grace the occasion.

Feast of St Ana on Aug 1

PANJIM(HND): The feast of St Ana will be celebrated on August 1 at St Ana Church, Santana Talaulim in Tiswadi. The fama will be held on July 22 with the blessing of maddi followed by Mass at 6 pm.

The novenas will start from July 23 with Rosary at 5.15 pm followed by Mass, sermon and salve. The vespers will be held on July 31 at 6.30 pm.On August 1, the feast day, there will be masses at 6.45 am and 8.30 am.

The concelebrated Mass will be at 10 am, There will also be Mass in the evening at 4 pm.

Corlim residents hold rally against widening of NH4A HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, JULY 19

Over 300 people from Corlim and surrounding areas on Sunday morning organized a chain rally to protest against the proposed widening of the NH4A highway lane passing through the Corlim village.

The chain rally, which was organized by Corlim Citizens Civic and Consumer Forum (CCCCF), commenced from Mollar Petrol Pump and ended near Dhulapi Circle in Corlim. The agitators, which included young as well as old, walked a distance of about 2 kms shouting slogans against the proposed widening of NH4A lane. A strong police force was deployed along the route.

Speaking to Herald, CCCCF Secretary Baptist Pereira stated that

nBaptist Pereira stated that the chain rally a sign of protest to inform the State government that locals from Corlim do not want the NH4A lane to pass through Corlim village, which would destroy local houses and disturb peace in the village. the chain rally a sign of protest to inform the State government

that locals from Corlim do not want the NH4A lane to pass through Corlim village, which would destroy local houses and disturb peace in the village.

He further said they would continue the agitation till the NH4A lane is diverted away from thickly populated areas.

“We will not stop till our demands are met. We will force the government to take the lane out from the city and village area,” added Pereira.

Former Cumbarjua MLA Nirmala Sawant said the NH4A never passed through a village and it has to be outside the village area. “Therefore, the government should divert the lane outside Corlim village to such an area so that it does not cause any harm to the locals,” she added.

‘Shilpakar’ awards presented HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 19

The prestigious `Shilpakar’ Awards, 2010 instituted by Shilpakar Prathisthan, Volvoi were presented at a function held in the precinct of Shree Gajant Laxmi Saunsthan, Volvoi Ponda recently.

MP Shripad Naik presented the `Shilpakar Award’ in Social work to Tourism Minister Shri Nilkant Halarnkar.

Tourism Minister Nilkant H a l a r n ka r p re s e n t e d t h e Shilpakar best Mass Communicator award to Director of Information and Publicity Menino Peres. Ponda PI Chetan Patil was given the Shilpakar dedicated police officer award, Sunil Tari got Shilpakar Humanity Conservation award while Komal Sane was given Nagendra Nagvekar

educational and musical award at the hands of Tourism Minister.

Deepak Dhavlikar, ML A, Vinayak Vengurlekar, Sarpanch, Volvoi, Shyamsundar Tari, President of Shree Gajant Laxmi Saunsthan, Prabhakar Dhage, Editor of Pudhari, Shri S V Naik and Prabhakar Tari were present on the occasion.

Students drawn from different schools of Marcel, Keri, Volvoi and Savoi- Verem areas who have excelled in the last SSC examination were honoured at the hands of Halarnkar, Shripad Naik, Deepak Dhavlikar and Menino Peres on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion the tourism minister expressed his gratitude to Shilpakar Prathistahn for honouring him for his services in social field. He said,

the endeavour of the organizers will undoubtedly inspire others to work in different fields vigorously and serve the humanity in a better way.

Shripad Naik, eulogized the services rendered by Shilpkar Pratisthan to encourage local youth excel in various fields.

Director of Information and Publicity Menino Peres while replying to the felicitation opined that today there are officials in the Government Departments who work with a sense of social obligation. He lauded the organizers for having taken the cognizance of the services rendered by the felicitated personalities in different areas of human endeavour.The Tourism Minister and Deepak Dhavalikar released the publications brought out by the organizers.

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Monitoring panel recommendations on mining remains only on paper

BY BINDIYA CHARI PANJIM, JULY 19

Though a Monitoring Committee (MC) was constituted by the State Government in October 2008 to look into alleged “illegal mining” after it came under heavy fire from the Opposition for failing to curb illegal mining activities, it appears it was just an eye-wash.

Recommendations made by the MC after visiting about fifty mines are gathering dust while illegal mining activity goes on unhindered.

Speaking to Herald Dr Claude Alvares, Director, Goa Foundation (GF), an NGO which has been instrumental in dragging many mining companies to High Court for indulging in illegal mining, emphatically pointed out that none of the recommendations made by MC have implemented till date.

The MC visited over 50 mines located in different parts of the State to check whether provisions of Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 were violated, and in certain cases found that mining operations were indeed conducted in violation of the FCA including that by a wealthy MLA from South Goa. When questioned, Arvind Lolyekar, Director, Mines and Geology, said the government has not given any directions pertaining to recommendations of the MC however they were forwarded to respective departments to take action.

When asked if any action has been take

by those departments , he said, he need to check and would able to reply on Monday or Tuesday.

The MC has reported that many mines in operation have violated Section 37 of Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) MMRD Act, by allowing mine to be operated through Raising Contractor (RC).

Dr Alavers said authorities do not take any congnisance of such violations claiming it is difficult to pinpoint responsibility since mining lease is held by one party while actual mining activity is carried out by RC. So even when there is violation of lease conditions, a lease holder easily shirks off his responsibility saying mining is done by RC whereas RC claims he can’t be accounted for any violation as he is not a lease holder.

Moreover, RC is not aware of conditions on which lease is granted and consequently, there is great scope for violation of lease conditions, he says.

Most common violation is that mining rejects are dumped outside mining lease area even as environmental clearance does not permit dumping outside lease area. The MC in its report has pointed out many such cases warranting action.

Seby Rodrigues, an activist involved in highlighting cases of illegal mining, said regional office of Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) based in Bangalore, has lot to answer. Mining companies are easily

manipulate MOEF because it allows them to choose a private agency to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study.

With EIA being sponsored by mining company, it is foolish to expect that irregularities, indulged in by the company will reflect in the EIA report submitted to MoE, he said.

In 2009, the State Minister for Enviornment, Aleixo Sequeira had written to Union Minister for Environment and Forest, Jairam Ramesh urging the need for amendment to Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, to the extent that Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) will have say in EIA study.

He pointed out that Enviornmental Clearances (ECs) have been granted by MoEF despite of objections by locals.

The objections are submitted during public hearings but Central Ministry has been somewhat indifferent towards ground realities in Goa. Since 2003, 141 ECs have been granted in Bicholim, Sattari, Quepem and Sanguem, he pointed in his letter. “ The conditions in EC specify a role of the MoEF to monitor the conditions stipulated in the EC. It would be ideal that the State Pollution Control Board should undertake this task. It would be solve local monitoring problem and stop unhealthy mining practices,” submitted Sequeira making a case that monitoring should be done through a local agency.

Primitive ways to bridge divide in Netravali

HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JULY 19

The State government may brag about technology and progress, but primitive ways are still in use in remote parts of the State.

Despite assurances from successive governments, residents in remote Karke Ward of Netravali in Sanguem taluka still use a rickety wooden bridge to cross the river during the monsoon.

The Karke ward is inhabited by over 100 villagers, including schoolchildren, residing in about 16 houses. Most villagers residing in the village are farmers and hail from the Gaonkar com-

munity.

Residents have been making frequent representations to authorities to construct a permanent bridge in the village but all pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

Sources at the panchayat office informed that during Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s visit to the village last year, he had assured to look into the problems faced by the villagers and had assured to construct a bridge in the village.

Following Kamat’s visit to the village, a fresh representation was made to the PWD but till date there has been no positive reply from PWD authorities.

The wooden bridge has been constructed by villagers by laying wooden poles. The worst affected are the schoolchildren and the elderly who have to be assisted while crossing over the bridge.

Such is the situation that parents have to wait on one side of the bridge during morning and evening hours to ensure that their children reach safely to school and back home.

Villagers informed Herald that a few residents had accidentally fallen into the river while crossing the bridge and two villagers had even lost their lives in the process.

A local Dental Clinic has launched ‘Ceramic Dental Prostheses’, a one-off piece that adjusts to fit in with natural set of teeth in shape and colour.

Dental technician of Heramb Dental Lab Narendra Asgaonkar told reporters that the dental prostheses made of zirconium oxide is replaced using latest technologies thus giving a safe and natural look.

“It is moulded into the metal into shape of a required tooth for replacement. The oxide is much lighter than metal alloys and tissue friendly hence ideal for allergic patients,” he said.

The technician bragged that ‘crowns’ and ‘bridges’ made of zirconium oxide are aesthetic for the tooth coloured material has the same translucency as the natural set of teeth.

Moreover, the treatment is suitable for even larger bridges such as implants, he further said.

Dentist Aquaviva Fernandes stated that the treatment costs anywhere between Rs 4000 to 5000 along with an offer of five year warranty to its patients.

While, its manufacturing is in Austria, according to the doctor, the facility in India is available only with Goa.

SDM orders deletion of names of Nepali couple from electoral roll HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 19

Mormugao Sub Divisional Magistrate and Deputy Collector Levinson Martins has asked the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) to confiscate the Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) and delete the names of a Nepali couple from Dabolim, who have been accused of falsely declaring their nationality.

The Nepali couple from Adarsh Nagar, Dabolim, had recently submitted Form 7 to seek deletion of their name from Part 8 and subsequently to be added in Part 11 of newly formed Dabolim constituency.

While scrutiny of forms and additional documents submitted by the applicant, the Mormugao Mamladar office noticed that the applicants had submitted a

nWhile scrutiny of forms and additional documents submitted by the applicant, the Mormugao Mamladar office noticed that the applicants had submitted a ration card issued

by Mormugao Civil Supply Office and birth certificate issued

by Gao Panchayat Office, Nepal. ration card issued by Mormugao

Civil Supply Office and birth certificate issued by Gao Panchayat Office, Nepal.

“Perusal of the document clearly indicates that the nationality of the applicant is Nepal by birth and they are not entitled to either have a ration card or figure in the electoral roll, being citizens of Nepal,” stated Martins.

The applicants have filed false deceleration that they are citizen of India which amounts to false declaration for preparation of the false documents, said Martins.

He has directed the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) to take immediate action for deletion of their names and further confiscate their EPIC card.

“Action should be initiated to cancel the ration card,” added Martins.

Martins further revealed that since the applicant works with a reputed Goan c o m p a n y i n Va s c o , t h e re could be similar cases pertaining to other Nepali citizens in the State.

Interestingly, the same applicant had received an EPIC card in 2002 from the Mormugao Mamlatdar office and h e w a s t r a p p e d re c e n t l y when applied for deletion of name.

This has exposed lapses in the Mormugao Mamlatdar office since a Nepali national was given an EPIC card in 2002 without verif ying the documents submitted by the Nepali.

“The applicant could have misguided officials in 2002 when he first got the EPIC card,” suggested Martins.

‘Jordan lacks infrastructure to encourage pilgrimage tourism’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Despite bragging of a place where Jesus was baptized, the Jordan Tourism Board today conceded that they don’t have the required infrastructure to encourage pilgrimage tourism.

“Unfortunately we don’t have enough two, three and four star category properties. We have five star resorts which can cater

to sophisticated travelers,” JTB consultant Shirish Sharma told reporters today.

Sharma said that Jordan tourism’s product is upscale and they were looking for quality tourists.

Besides having various best preserved roman civilization sites, the country also has a place where Jesus was baptized

by St John the Baptist.

Jerusalem is also hardly 90

minutes away from this country although a traveller requires a visa to go to Israel.

“Pilgrimage tourism is something that we would naturally welcome but we are not positioning ourselves as a pilgrimage tourism centre,” Sharma said.

JTB has launched a campaign to advertise their destination amongst Indian tour operators by having road shows across the

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 19

The disbanded administrative committee and some Velip Mahajans of Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan, Gaondaongrim, have alleged that despite directions from the revenue secretary, no election process has commenced to appoint the new administrative committee for 2010-12.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Ashok Velip, whose controversial appointment as president of Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan on February 21, this year, was set aside by a tribunal court, informed that the Secretary (Revenue) issued an order to the collector (South) on June 21 to complete a fresh election to appoint the new committee for 2010-12 within a month’s time.

“But unfortunately, no such process has commenced even

country.

He said that in the year 2010 there is 93 per cent rise in the Indian travelers visiting Jordan.

“In the year 2009, 29,000 Indians visited the country and for the first five months of 2010, 22,000 tourists have already visited,” Sharma added.

Jordan’s tourism industry contributes for 17 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

though one month period will be over in a couple of days,” said Velip.

It may be recalled that trouble broke out at the original election process, after some Velip Mahajans protested suspension of some of the rivals earlier on February 14, which led to attack on the existing committee members.

Based on an order issued by Canacona mamlatdar, Ashok B Velip with his team was elected to govern the administration of Shri Devasthan Devalaya, Gaondogrim.

However, this process was challenged by the existing committee, which was upheld and the committee elected on February 21 was declared void by a tribunal court.

Citing some rules and regulations governing Devalaya’s elections, the previous committee under Amarnath Dessai as president claimed that no more

Siddhanti youngest girl to get diploma

Ceramic Dental Prostheses launched HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 19

Residents of Karke ward in Netravali-Sanguem cross the wooden bridge in the village.

Photo by Alfred Fernandes

Elections to Gaondaongrim devasthan committee pending despite directives

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, JULY 19

Siddhanti Arjun Parab (13) of

Gaonkarwada-Bicholim has become the youngest girl to secure the Advance Diploma in software Engineering conducted by CAT. According to information, the course is conducted by the Centre for Advanced Technology (CAT) - Pune and Siddhanti got an ‘A’ grade in the Advance Diploma in Software Engineering.

“We were informed by the institute that she is the youngest girl in the country to getthe diploma,” said her father Arjun Parab.

elections can be held now and as per the rules, the previous committee has the right to continue governing the devalaya’s affairs under the given circumstances.

Addressing the press conference attended among others by Vithoba Gaonkar, Ashok Biva Velip, Janu Gaonkar, Adv Praveen Faldessai, Prabhakar Gaonkar, Barkello Gaonkar, Nagesh Velip and Arjun Velip, besides some velips and gaonkar mahajans of Shri Mallikarjun refuted such provisions in the Devalaya laws

and guidance.

They demanded that elections be held immediately as per the order issued by (Revenue) secretary to Collector (South).

It is informed that Secretar y (Revenue) kept aside both elected committees, the one appointed on February 21 and the one existing for the previous term and issued directions to appoint new committee by due process of elections for the current term 2010-12.

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MP boycotts mela for not being invited to speak PTI NARMADA, JULY 19

A BJP member of parliament walked off Garib Kalyan Mela here allegedly agitated over not being invited to podium to speak.

Bharuch MP Mansukh Vasva also accused Gujarat Forests and Environment minister Mangu Patel of insulting him by not inviting him to give speech at the Garib Kalyan Mela, organised yesterday at Sagbara in Narmada district, which falls under his Parliamentary

constituency.

“You have not called me to speak during the function. You are insulting me in my own constituency," an agitated Vasava told Patel from the stage in front of packed audience.

Patel tried to placate Vasava, but the MP refused to budge and went on to say, "I have been working for the tribal since many years and this is my home.

Why have I not be called to speak when my name was on the invitation card."

Sensing the temper of MP going soar, the organizers

switched off the microphone following which Vasava walked off the stage and boycotted the mela.

“While the chief minister wants to eliminate middle men by organising such melas, the tribal secretary was giving back door entry to middlemen," Vasava alleged while speaking to media persons later.

Vasava further alleged that the tribal secretary was using NGOs of his choice for implementing the tribal welfare schemes such as Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojna.

"The secretary is involved in

corruption in the implementation of tribal schemes. I have also complained inwriting to the Tribal Welfare minister, but till date I have not got any reply," the BJP MP claimed.

When asked does he expect disciplinary action against him by party for his behaviour at the mela, Vasava said," I will fight for the truth and the welfare of the tribals. I don't care what the consequences be." However, the Garib Kalyan Mela continued as per schedule despite temporary disturbance caused due to Vasava's outburst.

Bhardwaj interfering in Karnataka affairs:BJP

Orissa deports 48 infiltrators to Bangladesh

issue.

'Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had assured of action (into illegal mining) and the Lok Ayukta is looking into it,' she said.

She refrained from commenting on the role of Reddy brothers' role in the entire issue, but said the Lok Ayukta was probing. She denied the issue had resulted in any 'crisis' in the party in Karnataka.

'There may be problems (in party and government) which is common to all. But there is no crisis,' she said.

On the attack on a TV channel allegedly by RSS workers in New Delhi last week for airing reports of terror charges against some of its leaders, Seetharaman said 'the reports lacked corraboration' and alleged there was no verification of facts.

She said that the Delhi police was looking into the issue of attack on the office of TV channel.

Seetharaman slammed Congress for criticising her party

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 19

PTI CHENNAI, JULY 19

Charging Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj with 'excessive interference' in the administrative affairs in that State, BJP today pinned him as the 'problem' for putting the state and the ruling BJP in news for 'all wrong reasons'.

'The governor is the problem.

Constitutionally, he has exceeded his limits,' BJP spokesperson Nirmala Seetharam told reporters here.

The saffron party has been dogged by illegal mining of iron ore in Bellary and the alleged involvement of cabinet ministers, the Reddy brothers, in that, allowing opposition Congress and JD(S) to take up the issue and even stall the assembly proceedings, she said.

Seetharaman alleged that 'excessive interference' by Bharadwaj, who had even appraised President Pratibha Patil of the political climate in the state recently, had 'aggravated' the

‘India should call off talks with Pakistan’ PTI

PTI KoLKATA, JULY 19

Concerned with non-availability of adequate number of doctors and specialists particularly in the rural areas, West Bengal Government is keen to step up the intake capacity in different tiers of health education, Health Minister Surjya Kanta Mishra said in the assembly today.

Replying to the debate on his department's budget in the House, Mishra said with the increase by 600 seats, annual student intake capacity for MBBS course in the state has now enhanced to 1355 from 755 in the year 2000.

But the State government's target is to make it at least 2000, Mishra said.

Stating that Centre has recently urged the state governments to enhance MBBS student

intake capacity in existing medical colleges, Mishra said the state government has examined the infrastructural feasibility in the existing state medical colleges and would move to Centre shortly.

It is expected that an additional 695 MBBS seats could be available in future, he said.

Stating that Medical Council of India has recently relaxed the norms relating to teacher-student ratio for the post graduate degree and post doctoral courses, Mishra said that this would further help increase in the number of seats for both post graduate and post doctoral courses.

The total intake capacity for the BDS course has also increased from 70 in 200001 to 450 in 2009-10, he added.

Reform in exam process top priority: Mumbai VC PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

Reform in the university examination system will be the top most priority for the new Vice Chancellor of the 154-year-old University of Mumbai, Dr Rajan Welukar.

“Our first job is to reform the examination system by having in place a professional testing and assessment process," Welukar told PTI on the occasion of the University's Foundation marked by tree plantation at the Kalina (Vidyanagari) campus here yesterday.

Since the university is suffering from enormous delays in assessing examination papers and also announcing results which affects the students lives in many ways, "the reform in examination system is very crucial," he said.

"Once the professionally testing assessment is in place through training the teachers and nonteaching staff in all respects of taking care of the examination reform, the students will no longer suffer," Welukar said.

The current form of testing and assessment system for the three

Two students drown PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

A hangout plan by three college students turned into a tragedy when two of them drowned in thesea off the coast of Bandra Bandstand here, police said today.

Three friends Irfan Moin Shaikh (18), Masulin Hasmi (18) and S Jaiswal (17) of Rajarshi Shahu College in Dharavi went to Bandra Bandstand this morning, police said.

All three sat on a rock and after sometime, Irfan and Masulin decided to take a swim in the sea while Jaiswal stayed back, police said.

Suddenly, the duo while swimming were dragged inside the sea further by huge waves, police said adding Jaiswal raised alarm after which local fishermen gathered there and started searching for them.

Later, fire brigade officials and police too reached the spot and conducted search operation for over two hours following which they found the bodies of Shaikh and Hasmi.

Orissa had so far been able to deport only 48 infiltrators to Bangladesh while efforts were on to ensure return of 4,035 others to their native country, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said today.

"Though the State government had identified 4,083 infiltrators from Bangladesh, it was not aware of the presence of infiltrators from any other countr y,” he said replying to a question in the assembly.

While highest number of 1,649 Bangladeshi infiltrators were identified in coastal Kendrapara district, it was followed by 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur district, 703 in Malkangiri, 313 in district, 150 in Balasore district, 106 in Nabarangpur district and two in Baragarh district respectively, he said.

"The State government is not aware about involvement of any infiltrators in anti-national activities," Patnaik said pointing out that stringent action would be taken if any infiltrator was found .

West Bengal keen to step up medical courses intake capacity

MUZAFFARNAGAR/MEERUT, JULY 19

Demanding that India should call off talks with Pakistan, a senior BJP leader has said the dialogue was harmful for the country as it might increase disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir.

"There is no need to start dialogue with Pakistan as it will be harmful for the country and will also create disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir," BJP national vice president Vinay Katiyar said yesterday at Muzaffarnagar.

Accusing Congress of patronising Naxalites and terrorists, he said, "Whenever Congress comes to power at the Centre, terrorism increases."

Katiyar also charged the UPA with adopting anti-farmers policy and blamed it for the fuel price hike.

president Nitin Gadkari for his "Is (Parliament attack convict) Afzal Guru Congress' son-in-law" remarks and said that party's failure to explain the four year delay in the execution of his death showed Congress' "arrogance."

“We had raised a key national security-related issue. Instead of replying, they are criticising us," she said and demanded an explanation from Congress.

Speaking on issues relating to Tamil Nadu, she expressed concern on fake and spurious drugs and fake marksheets cases and urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to act quickly.

BJP state unit, which has been holding protests across the state demanding for scholarship benefits to Hindu students in schools on par with minority students, will continue such protests throughout this month and national leaders including Navjiot Singh Sidhu and Smriti Irani would participate, she added.

PTI

lakh students spread over 600 colleges with 20 to 25 lakh papers to correct, has not given the desired results and therefore, it was necessary to reform the examination system of the university, Welukar said.

Welukar said another priority for him during his five year term would be decentralisation of administrative processes through technological intervention and forming subcampuses of the University which is currently spread in three campuses -- at Fort in South Mumbai, Kalina in North west Mumbai and Ratnagiri in Konkan region of Maharashtra.

"I am also in the process of identifying the gap in the system and ways to bridge the gaps to bring back the glory of University of Mumbai, which once produced great leaders of the freedom movement," he said.

Creating research culture is another step which the new ViceChancellor is looking for and "this required technological access and interconnecting libraries and resource and guides across the

country," he said.

“So collaboration with other Indian Universities and foreign universities will be taken up gradually so that the students and the faculty members benefit through exchange programmes," he said.

Another crucial area to uplift the university is the drastic improvement in the infrastructure, he said adding this would be taken up in a phased manner.

Provisions will be made in such a way all the colleges will be connected so that the students can get the best of lectures in his classroom even if the lecturer or professor is absent on that particular day, Welukar said.

Attempts are also being to establish contact with the alumni of the University so that lot of ideas and knowledge can be exchanged to improve the university in all respects and thus bring back the glory of the university, he said.

Campus beautification will be another major project so that the students will enjoy nature while studying, he added.

Two tiger cubs born in Guwahati PTI GUWAHATI, JULY 19

The recent birth of two Royal Bengal tiger cubs has taken the total big cat population in Assam's Orang National Park to sixteen (16).

Divisional Forest Officer of Orang National Park S Daila said today that the villagers had informed them last week that they had spotted two tiger cubs and this was later confirmed when the park authorities spotted the cubs playing with their mother near the Kachumari anti-poach-

ing camp.

The cubs -a male and a female- were probably born in May and the pregnant tigress was spotted last in March.

Daila said that the park authorities were constantly monitoring the movement of the two cubs and they both looked healthy.

Fourteen tigers were detected in this national park during a census conducted last year.

Orang National Park, spread over 78.80 square km on the northern bank of Brahmaputra, is a rich wildlife habitat with several species of animals.

Besides these two cubs, the Park has also witnessed the birth of at least 10 rhino calves during the past few m o n t h s which is ''indeed a posit i v e development'', Daila added.

Regarding setting up AIIMS like institute in the State, Mishra said initially it was proposed at Raiganj which was later shifted to Kharagpur. But nothing has come up as yet, he regretted saying very recently the Union health minister has given them assurance to look into it.

Giving emphasis on preventive measures, Mishra outlined steps initiated in the state including enhancing the number of beds upto block-level, while elaborated on how the State government has offered costly medical facilities like MRI and dialysis in cheaper rates.

Besides improving in infant mortality rate, the state has also achieved in various other health programmes, the minister claimed.

Police foil man’s bid to immolate self PTI

CoIMBAToRE, JULY 19

A man today attempted selfimmolation on the premises of the district collectorate, here today in protest against the 'failure' of police to take action to restore his daughter from his mother-in-law, who is looking after her for the last few years.

However, police foiled his attempt.

According to Sivachandran, who had married a Muslim woman and was converted as Hindu, his mother in law had taken his daughter som years ago to look after the girl. However, after taking the daughter, mother in law converted her into Islam and refused to return her to the parents.

Despite lodging complaints, police failed to take any action against mother in law or restore his daugher, he alleged.

Today being the grievances day, both Sivachandran and his wife came to the collectorate in the morning to submit a memorandum. Even as his wife was preparing to give the memorandum, Sivachandran poured kerosene on him. However, a police inspector overpowered him before lighting matchstick and took to neraby police station, police said.

Politician gets extortion call PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

Politician and businessman Farhan Azmi, son of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi, has received an extortion call allegedly from a suspected member of Ravi Pujari gang, police said today.

Farhan, who is also husband of actor Ayesha Takia, lodged a complaint with Crime Branch which is probing the matter, they said.

“According to Farhan, the caller introduced himself as member of Ravi Pujari gang, demanded some crores of rupees as 'protection money' from him over the phone recently,” a crime branch official said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier this year also Farhan had complained to crime branch stating that he had received threatening call from a man claiming to be associated with underworld.

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O HERALD O

Malaria: A Preventable Scourge

Vol No CX No: 186 Goa, Tuesday 20 July, 2010

I

Rajiv’s assassin not India’s enemy?

ndia’s Home Minister believes that the man who ordered former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination was not India’s enemy. Amazed? But it is true. In a public meeting in Tamil Nadu on Saturday, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said about slain Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran: “He was not our enemy. We were opposed to the path chosen by him.” This is a statement from the man responsible for India’s security! The LTTE leader had a non-bailable warrant on him for ordering Rajiv’s assassination.

Rajiv Gandhi was the seventh Prime Minister of India from 1984 to 1989. It was when he was PM that Konkani became our official language and, as a consequence, Goa got statehood.

In 1989, the Congress lost the election when V P Singh, leader of the united Janata Dal (JD), became Prime Minister with the ‘outside support’ of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress, though it was the largest single party, was kept out of power.

The JD government did not last long, and a mid-term election was called in 1991. It was when he was campaigning for this election – just a few days after he had addressed an election meeting in Panjim – that Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on 21 May 1991, by an LTTE woman suicide bomber named Thenmozhi Rajaratnam alias Dhanu, trained by the ‘One-eyed Jack’ Sivarasan.

Rajiv had angered Prabhakaran by pushing the LTTE supremo to sign the India-Sri Lanka Peace Agreement in 1987, after which the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) was sent in to end the Sri Lankan Civil War. Old timers will remember that the steamer service between Mumbai and Goa was stopped from that year because both ships, ‘Konkan Sevak’ and ‘Konkan Shakti’, were commandeered by the Army to supply the IPKF. Very soon, the LTTE broke the ceasefire and declared war on the IPKF. The conflict raged till the IPKF was unilaterally withdrawn in early 1990 by the V P Singh government with significant casualties and a huge loss of face. Prabhakaran was desperate to ensure that Rajiv did not once more become India’s Prime Minister, so he ordered his killing.

The LTTE’s initially denials of responsibility for the murder were comprehensively overturned decades later in a clear confession by its international spokesman Anton Balasingham, who repeatedly told an Indian TV channel in a 2006 interview that the killing was a “great tragedy, a monumental historical tragedy which we [LTTE] deeply regret.”

Can a person who ordered the assassination of a former prime minister of the country not be an enemy of the country? Let us remember that Prabhakaran’s LTTE also went to war against the Indian Army. Mr Chidambaram is an accomplished corporate lawyer, apart from being a seasoned politician. How can he not be aware of the consequences when India’s Home Minister gives Prabhakaran a clean chit?

The LTTE leader may be dead, but does that acquit him of his crimes?

One could conceivably argue that Mr Chidambaram was merely being populist in the Tamil heartland. He was speaking in Virudhunagar, the home constituency of MDMK chief Vaiko, the LTTE’s strongest supporter. But can Mr Chidambaram simply forget that he has limits and responsibilities as Union Home Minister? Besides, Vaiko was defeated in his bastion in the 2009 Lok Sabha election by a low profile Congress nominee named Manick Tagore, with a margin of 15,000 votes. This means the issue is not emotive enough to make India’s Home Minister lose his bearings.

Are we to assume that this is the official stand of the Congress and the government on the issue? If not, Mr Chidambaram owes the country an explanation.

For Malaria, an ounce of prevention is worth hundreds of pounds of cure, says Dr naDia Rangel PintO

T

he disease that is foremost in our minds during the monsoon is the parasitic disease Malaria. It is one of the oldest diseases, and transmitted by a familiar vector – the female anopheles mosquito.

Besides Plasmodium Vivax or common malaria, the more dangerous Plasmodium Falciparum malaria is present in Goa. In spite of the dedicated efforts of the Health Department, cases still come up throughout the year, though they peak in the monsoon. Recently, we have seen a reduction in cases.

Goa can conquer Malaria, if we all do our bit.

Every individual’s responsibility is personal protection. At the household level, the use of mosquito nets on beds, in particular for children and old people is advisable; more so in homes where the windows are not screened with meshes.

But this is easier said than done. The people must be educated about its importance, before they suffer from Malaria. Nets distributed free have occasionally been used as pillows by migrant workers, who probably don’t know about them and cannot afford a comfortable headrest.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets that work for 3 to 5 years are available at government health centres at a nominal cost. They are an effective and marvellous anti-malaria measure for excessively exposed to mosquito bites. Builders have a social responsibility to provide these nets to the labourers they employ, instruct them in their proper use and get them regularly tested for Malaria. A word of caution: Do not allow infants to chew on the net, as it may cause them to ingest the insecticide. Plain bed nets can also be used, but they do not have as great a repellent effect, as they do not kill the mosquitoes that land on them.

For those who don’t like using bed nets, mosquito repellents containing synthetic pyrethroids like allethrins have been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Mosquito mats, for example, are allethrin-based. The mat’s rate of knockdown on mosquitoes is the maximum in the first two hours, and gradually wanes over the next 6 to 8 hours. Therefore, exposure to infants and children and those with respiratory allergies

Flying Fatalities or asthma should be avoided in the first two hours. Discarding mats safely after use is important to prevent toddlers from accidentally eating them and being poisoned. All electrical anti-mosquito vapourisers should be disconnected when not in use, and kept out of reach of children.

Another convenient and easy-to-use personal protection is insecticidal creams and lotions containing DEET (diethyltoluamide) or NN Diethylbenzamide. They have no untoward side effects, unless the user is allergic to an ingredient. It can be applied to the bed linen of very young children if skin application poses a problem. Just for information, keep watches away; it can damages plastic watch crystals.

In July, Goa is conducting a cleanliness drive.

With increasing urbanisation, just three out of the 52-odd species of female anopheles mosquito rule the roost in malaria transmission; container breeders, rice field breeders and foothill breeders.

The most common breeding sites in Goa are clean, uncovered stagnant water stored in buckets, roof water tanks, curing water at construction sites, unused bathrooms in unused apartments, etc.

The simple solution is to changing any stored water at least once a week, and to properly cover stored water that needs to stay longer. For curing water at construction sites, builders can report to the nearest government health facility. Government health personnel will treat it with insecticides Temephos or Fenthion.

Breeding sites like wells or ponds, can be stocked with biolarvicidal fish, which can be obtained from the closest health centre. The Poecelia Reticulata (better known as ‘guppy’ after Swedish researcher Robert Guppy, who identified its unique ability to eat about 40 mosquito larvae per day) are easily available. The number of fish will be according to the surface area of the water body.

Just carry your own container for the fish. Other fish like Aplochielus blockii (locally called ‘kankatre’) can ingest about 150 larvae, and help keep the disease at bay.

For those who don’t like to use chemicals, natural repellents with neem and citronella oil have shown promising results. They are available as creams, sprays, roll ons and lotions. Solutions containing ethylbutylaminopropionate are also used. But, whatever you apply, never put it on the fingers of infants that are teething.

Electronic buzzers repel mosquitoes by inaudible high frequency sound, while repellent patches, not so easily available, can be stuck on furniture and infants’ strollers, and seem to have a protective effect without direct contact. Innovative methods keep coming, but their goal is the same.

Close windows before dusk. Put long, lightcoloured clothing on children at playtime. Mosquitoes are attracted to the dark, to excessive perspiration and to floral fragrances of perfumes.

If anybody in your family has a fever that lasts more than three days, go to the doctor. Early diagnosis, as well as prompt and complete treatment

is absolutely essential to save lives. Long-lasting fevers should not be treated without medical advice.

Watch out for the following symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain. Some of the danger symptoms are: altered consciousness, breathing difficulty, convulsions, inability to drink, persistent vomiting and severe pallor.

Delay in diagnosing malaria, especially in children, is detrimental to health. In Falciparum Malaria, haemoglobin can drop to dangerously low levels, requiring blood transfusions, apart from other complications. Those most at risk are young children, travellers and pregnant woman.

Once a simple prick and blood smear is obtained and examined at the closest health facility, reports are available within 12 to 24 hours. If the test is negative but symptoms continue, repeated testing is advisable.

In an endemic Malaria area like Goa, preventive medication (chemoprophylaxis) is of little value, as exposure is continuous and the local population is semi-immune. But it is recommended for travellers from non-immune countries as well as Indians who have lived abroad for long and lost immunity. Irrational use of preventive medication can lead to drug resistance.

Prevention is the best cure for Malaria. If this is not achieved, early diagnosis and prompt and complete treatment can cure. The patient follow the doctor on how to take the medication, any adverse effects and when he should return for further testing to confirm the complete cure and for prevention of relapses. After the cure, it is important to continue preventive measures, to prevent a fresh attack. Recurrent attacks of malaria have long-term consequences, and an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Let us, each one of us, make an individual and community effort to control these terrible maladies. Preventive measures spell success: I believe + I can + I will = I did. A Goa sans vector borne diseases may not be a distant dream.

(Dr Nadia Rangel Pinto, MD, DNB, is faculty in Preventive & Social Medicine at Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim)

land ahoy!

The accidental activist

I

have been helping a friend with selling her property, and it has been quite a revelation. It makes me wonder how I ever managed to buy my little piece of paradise. I wandered into the sale all wet behind the ears and dewy eyed. I had no idea what papers I should ask for or what I should check. Somehow everything came together. But this time around I am getting a long hard look at what should actually go into the purchase/ selling of property .

And so, for all of you who might benefit, here is a list of all the papers that you need in place and sorted if you want a clean, safe transaction.

Since land sale in Goa is complicated by the Portuguese connection, first you need all the available Portuguese papers. These are – Matriz Predial (Old Portuguese Land Document), The Cadastral Survey Plan (Old Survey Plan) and the Registo de Agrimesura ( Old Surveyors Register). Then you need the papers that come with the Survey done in 1971. You will need the Survey Plan and the Form I & XIV. You must verify that there are no tenancy or other claims.

For this you need to get the Title documents which clarify who actually owns the land. These can be any of the following: Gift deed/ Sale deed/ Will/ Succession deed/ Relinquishment deed/ Inventory.

You will also need to trace how the title came to the current owner.

It is crucial that the person selling also be the one who has his

By Venita Coelho

name on the House Tax and Land Tax Receipts, otherwise you could end up with yet another claimant. While you’re at it, also get the water bill and the electricity bill and check whose name is on it.

You better get all the details of any litigation that is currently on for the property. This should include details of any cases filed by the Panchayat. You don’t want to buy a house and then discover that it is illegal and awaiting demolition. And to be sure that the house is fully above board, you need a whole list of documents.

You will need the approved plan from the PDA/ the Panchayat records and the Town Planning Department. Check that what has been built matches the approved plan. If there are further later additions, you need to be sure that these too have their permissions and are legal. You should have a copy of the construction license and permissions as well as a copy of the Conversion Sanad. If the land has been converted, you will need the details of the conversion, otherwise the details of the zoning that it falls into under the Town Planning Act. Is it indeed settlement, or are you being fobbed off with orchard or agricultural land? Lastly you will need the Completion Certificate of the Architect, and the Occupancy certificate issued by the Panchayat.

If your land is close to the river or the sea, get the details of the

distance from the High Tide line. In these days of CRZ laws, this is crucial. You must check if any part of the land has a slope of more than 25%. You will be unable to build on this part under the current rules. Also check if the property requires any part of it filled up, or is defined as low lying. All this is crucial for future constructions.

Also, for any house it is important to have the access details. You don’t want to discover the hard way that it belongs to a neighbour who plans to construct a five storey building right in front of your house and leave you no way to get into your front door.

In these days of uncertainty over the status of land bought by foreigners, it would be best to consult a lawyer for special advice if the seller is a foreign national. If there is a bank loan or mortgage on the property, you will need all the papers of that as well.

I have heard just too many horror stories of land sold without the proper papers and all the resultant chaos and confusion. If you are buying your piece of paradise – make sure it comes with all the appropriate documents. It’s a long hard haul getting all the papers together, but worth it. If you are an activist, make sure you have every single piece of paper! When the big guns try to get you, or the Panchayat decides to make your life hell – it’s nice to know that you have all the documentation needed to tell them where they get off.

Letters to the Editor Problem Princess Valmiki Faleiro, Margao Kudos on your editorial ‘Princess diaries’ (Herald, 19 July). You have hit the nail on the head. You have spoken for Goa’s silent majority.

I have said this before in these columns and will say it again: if the River Princess is to be removed with the least possible damage to the environment, the job must be entrusted to a tried and tested local party.

Madgavkar Salvage are not peddling produce that can be sold in Candolim today and quietly shifted to Singapore tomorrow. They have an unassailable track record in underwater salvage, in India and overseas.

Even if their timeframe is a tad longer and costs arguably higher (which is apparently not the case), the job would be safer in their hands, because they are a Goan company; they will not hurt Goa. In any

100 Years Ago

event, are rules not bent or modified, virtually on a daily basis?

Kickback crisis Irineu Gonsalves, Verna The editorial ‘Princess Diaries’ (Herald, 19 July) is timely and appropriate. The bureaucracy is the bedrock on which the venality of politicians rests. These babus collude with politicians to milk the exchequer, and it is hardly surprising that the Madgavkars are cold shouldered.

Here is a reputed Goan firm that has executed complicated works and has a high reputation. Anil Madgavkar’s elder brother Anand is in the forefront of Goa’s fight against any injustice. It gives the impression that their only fault is that they are blueblooded Goans and don’t offer kickbacks.

The Madgavkars should have bagged the contract purely on their commitment as they do all their work on a no-cure-no-pay basis. What more assurance do the authorities need?

We want Titan Inacio Fernandes, Candolim PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

20 July 1910 Communidades Contribution

The “Comunidades” of Aldona, Sircaim, Candolim, and Revora are going to contribute for the celebration of the re-conquest of Goa with Rs. 25, 5, 10, and 5 respectively.

Celebration Time

The agricultural community from Serula has sanctioned a spending amount of Rs. 50, the same being divided into Rs. 25 towards the celebration of the re-conquest and Rs. 25 to purchase a portrait of Afonso de Albuquerque to be placed next to the portrait of the benevolent King D. Manuel II at the Sessions Hall.

Maharashtra Tour

It is reported that the Viscount of Pernem along with his vast retinue is going to undertake a tour to Kolhapur and other important cities of Maharashtra.

This refers to the news report ‘Princess bid invalid’ (Herald, 18 July). As local residents of Dando, Candolim, we are most affected by beach erosion owing to the MV River Princess.

We were in favour of the Madgavkars salvaging the River Princess, but they will take three years. By that time, Dando and probably the rest of Candolim may disappear.

So we want the tender to be given to Titan Salvage, which is less expensive and will take only six months. They have the required machinery, which the Madgavkars do not. We want to be saved from the disaster bestowed on us by Anil Salgaocar.

Useless Mapusa Council Floriano Lobo, Goa Su-Raj Party Jyoti Shetgaonkar is absolutely right. Chairperson of the “Useless Mapusa Municipal Council” Mrs Bhakta, should have done the following when the Shiv Sena goons marched to the municipality: 1. Not given in to their stupid demand for a Marathi board: this is not Maharashtra

Letter of the Day

A lady of substance Cicero Lourenco, Curtorim Much has been written about Nadia Torrado’s death. Nadia’s mother, Sonia, is a teacher in Loyola High School, Margao, for the past 30 years. She lost her husband a few years ago. I was a student of Loyola in the ’80s. She happened to be my teacher.

To be frank and honest, one of the few things I will always cherish is to have Teacher Sonia as one of the guiding lights in my life. No matter whether the court of law convicts her or not, my firm conviction will continue to be that she did her duty as a teacher with all the love, affection, sincerity, loyalty, dedication and character that the vocation demands.

Among her students are politicians of all hues as also the children of politicians.

They have a voice, but have chosen to keep mum. Not many have come forward in her time of distress.

Through this column, let Teacher Sonia know that her suffering and harassment will not go in vain. The very politicians and law enforcers who have made her undergo this humiliating agony after being a teacher of character for the past three decades will meet a fate much worse, judged by providence itself.

Today, I only say thanks to my teacher for teaching me the English with which I wrote the few sentences above. but Goa, and Goa’s official language is Konkani.

2. Not given in without a resolution passed by the Council, and after consulting higher authorities.

The Shiv Sena has no business to enforce Marathi boards in Goa. If at all, local language boards should be in Konkani. There has been no demand for this as Goa is a cosmopolitan state, not a Maharashtra small town.

For Sonia, jail and for tainted cops, bail?

Diana Pinto, Nagoa Their latest ‘bold’ move by the Goa Police in the Nadia Torrado case investigation is truly amazing. The unfortunate Sonia Torrado now not only has to contend with the loss and of her child, but also bear continuous and sustained police pressure on her family.

While it is true that the rule of law must prevail, there is also a ‘spirit’ with which the authorities should apply the law. Sonia Torrado is no hardened criminal. She is not an alleged drug dealer who is putting an

entire generation of young Goans into jeopardy. She is just a sorrowing mother who will forever have to live with the unfortunate circumstances of her child’s death. She may have made some mistakes and wrong choices, but which of us has not?

It is a tragedy that the cops who allegedly sold drugs seized by the police from peddlers were swiftly and conveniently released on bail.

Destruction and tampering of evidence was apparently of no concern to the Crime Branch in that case. Helpless women, it seems, are easy targets for our ‘brave’ policemen, compared to the drug mafia and real criminals, who walk the soil of Goa scot-free.

Joker’s justice Fatima Sardinha, Margao The Crime Branch seems determined to do justice to Nadia’s soul. But why did the same justice not prevail in the case of the poor women allegedly strangulated to death by Mahanand?

Why was Sonia not allowed to meet her advocate, as Adv Radharao Gracias has

stated? The prosecution says that Sonia is needed in custody for interrogation. If so, why wasn’t arrested a month ago; she never applied for anticipatory bail or went underground!

Mahanand’s wife was given police protection; Nadia’s mother got police custody.

Drug peddlers are allowed to use cell phones in jail; Sonia is not allowed to meet her counsel! Is this justice?

Ministry stakes Marcos Alemao, Varca It is not surprising that former Transport Minister Pandurang Madkaikar has refused Chairmanship of the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (‘Madkaikar rejects GSIDC chairmanship’, Herald, 16 July).

It is natural to want to make easy money as a minister.

There are elected MLAs who never demand a ministry. It is not necessary to be a minister to carry out developmental work.

I do not understood why Mr Madkaikar is insisting on a ministry.

RTO inspectors appointed during the tenure of Mr Madkaikar apparently had to shell out a huge amount to get their appointments. Is this is the reason Mr Madkaikar wants his ministry back?

Obscene billboard Reo Cunha, Moira People standing at Mapusa bus stand or entering Mapusa market through the bus stand must have noticed two huge hoardings that put ordinary people to shame. They advertise underwear using a semi-naked male model, similar to the ‘kaxtti’ of olden days.

Do we need such obscene pictures? The authorities should remove the board and take action on the advertising agency.

Not an inch more Anthony M Dias, Nuvem The front page news report ‘Three highway stretches to be re-inspected’ (Herald, 13 July) says the re-inspection will be done by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

It is a shame that NHAI is dictating to the Government of Goa. Goans cannot and will not accept the NHAI’s dictates. Goans want

the highway to be only 35 metres, and not an inch more.

A daylight robbery is being committed against the people of Goa by grabbing their precious land, and the people’s representatives – both MPs and MLAs – are nowhere to be seen or heard. It is clear that the Congress government is not for the people but for the moneybags. Why can’t the state government have its way when the Congress is ruling at the centre too?

Poisonous fruits A concerned citizen, Vasco A serpent persuaded Eve to eat fruits from the forbidden tree. Eve gave some to Adam, who also ate the fruit. As a result, God exiled them from Eden… But nowadays, one has no choice except to eat the forbidden fruit. A few days back, Health Authorities conducted raids and seized chemical substances for artificially ripening fruit. Nothing has been heard about any follow-up action.

Fruits like robesta bananas are ripened with chemicals and sold openly throughout Goa with impunity.

The claim of fruit vendors that they ripen the bananas using incense sticks is misleading. Robesta bananas normally require at least 3 to 4 days to ripen. In the market, green bananas are brought from outside Goa and, in a day or two, ripened and sold.

The authorities should be vigilant and proactive to protect public health. The public should avoid consuming artificially ripened fruits. NGOs and social workers should educate people to identify artificially ripened fruit.

Female clergy Paul Rodricks, Caranzalem The Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith, the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog, has unjustly labelled women’s priesthood as the ‘most serious crime’ of faith, on par with the far greater crime of paedophilia committed by some male clergy. (‘Vatican opposed women priests’, Herald, 16 July).

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OHERALDO

Pg9

GOA, TUESDAY 20 JULY, 2010

opinionatEd UPA to deliberate Struggle against an on strategy for arbitrary fee hike monsoon session

O

By Karen Fernandes

ur struggle against an arbitrary fee hike seems never ending, with us parents, sticking to our guns and insisting that the Act be implemented by the Government, and the Management of these institutions intent on making a fast buck at the expense of both the parents and the teachers, with the students as the ultimate sufferers. While the past year hasn’t been great by any standards, with individuals in the school and management trying to victimize parents pointing out to the wrong done, and also misleading parents ignorant of the Act, the current academic year doesn’t seem any different.

This academic year has begun in a similar manner to the way it ended last year, with a demand for fees, supposedly, according to the directives given by the Education Department . I suppose, the spadework for the purpose of issuing this circular was done towards the fag end of the vacations, with a few teachers, parents who benefit from the support extended to the management of private schools and the management themselves involved. Well, these educationists, now intent on commercializing education, in their greed for money, quite forgot or chose to ignore the matter, that certainly exists in Court till date, stating that the recommendations given by the Committee formed, as their base to formulate this new fee structure. According to the circular issued by the Government highlighting the recommendations given by the committee, Rs.1,350/- and Rs.1,750/- , were the maximum recommended fees per month, for a maximum of 25 students per class. While, the managements of these Government recognized unaided schools followed the figures to the tee, they intentionally chose to ignore the maximum number of students that govern these figures. They also appear to have chosen to confuse parents with regard to a fee hike, employing the services of a few of their trusted lieutenants from within us parents.

They were surely running out of patience as they chose to ignore the call given by the Education Minister to scrap these recommendations after protests from a large section of parents. Some of these schools went to the extent of demeaning the role played by the P.T.A., besides never entertaining their suggestions.

These actions, of demanding higher fees than the previous year, without approval, as some of the circulars openly suggest, is daylight robbery and an open challenge to the Government authorities and more importantly contradictory to the Goa School Education Act 1984. This should force one and all to believe that either they couldn’t care less for those in power, or our ministers are hand-in-glove with them. When our ministers are hand-in-glove with drug peddlers(ruining families in the state), sex rackets (how desperate can they get ), illegal mining and selling of land(they call themselves aam aadmi), they being handin-glove with corrupt individuals in the management of these institutions, who dare to call themselves educationists at the drop of a hat, isn’t really surprising. Now that these schools have challenged section 19(3), can the Education Minister explain his act of dragging his feet on getting the court to apply section 19(4) to the defaulters, which spells out a stiff penalty and imprisonment? It is equally strange, that we have entrusted the job of educating our children to these characters, who have no moral value themselves. Is this the way you define honesty as a teacher, principal educationist? The answer is ‘no’ and will remain ‘no’. The fight goes on and we parents will not let go, even if it comes to the point of staging protests on the streets to expose the irregularities in these Government Recognised Unaided Schools. Get that message loud and clear. Hats off to the parents who are willing to fight the cause, as there is a God above and it is only Hewho can reward you. How can the management of government recognised school challenge authority?

CORRECTION The author of the article ‘Kidney: Silent work horse’ on 18 July was given wrongly as Dr Ronald K May. The author of the article is Dr Amol Mahaldar, Consultant Nephrologist at Manipal Hospital, Goa. We regret the error.

PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

With the opposition gearing up to put the government on the mat on several issues, including price rise, a meeting of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) leaders will be held here this evening to deliberate on the strategy for the monsoon session of parliament beginning next week.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi would interact with the leaders of the allies in the meeting.

The opposition is likely to raise the issues of fuel price hike, the Bhopal gas tragedy case, unrest in Kashmir and talks with Pakistan. It is also likely to attack the government over a

series of train accidents in recent months, including the one today in West Bengal.

The opposition had given hints of working together on the issue of price rise by organising a 'Bharat Bandh' on July 5.

Congress, on its part, is planning to target the BJP over the illegal mining scam in Karnataka.

The government will also have to take a view on when to bring the controversial Civil Nuclear Liability Bill.

Condolences: Congress President Sonia Gandhi today condoled the loss of lives in the train accident in West Bengal's Birbhum district. She conveyed her deep condolences to the bereaved families and wished speedy recovery to the injured.

Haryana seeks liberal fiscal aid for flood-affected people PTI CHANDIGARH, JULY 19

The Haryana government today urged the Centre to grant liberal financial assistance and raise the norms and rates of compensation for the flood- affected people in the state.

The request was made by the State's senior administrative secretaries during their meeting with a four-member high powered Inter-Ministerial Central Team which visited the flood affected areas in Ambala today.

The team was led by Joint Secretary Home Affairs R P Nath, who was accompanied by Department of Agriculture and Cooperation Director and Directorate of Wheat Development Ghaziabad Dr G K Chaudhary, Director in Ministry of Power R K Verma and Senior Regional Director in Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Dr Amarjeet Kaur, an official spokesman said here.

The Central team was briefed

by the senior officers of the State government and district administration about the damages and losses suffered in the recent floods.

Haryana Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary, Irrigation, S S Dhillon said that the rate of compensation was very low for the damage caused to houses and fields in the floods.

While speaking to media persons, leader of the team R P Nath said that there had been substantial loss due to the floods in the region and the administration has done significant work.

"The team would submit its detailed report of the losses caused due to unprecedented floods to the Central government. The report would be the basis for financial assistance to the people," he added.

The team also visited floodaffected areas of Dhulkot, Baldev Nagar, Rai Market road and Mochi Mandi Chowk, Goverdhan Nagar and Naggal, SYL and Nar-

IN BRIEF 3 sisters die, another in hospital

Undertrial found dead in jail

Morigaon (Assam): An undertrial was today found dead under mysterious circumstances in Assam's Morigaon district jail here, official sources said.

The accused, Nihar Bordoloi, had not complained of any illness or uneasiness but was found dead in his cell by jail authorities this morning.

The cause of his death was yet to be ascertained and his body has been sent for post-mortem to Morigaon Civil Hospital.

Bordoloi was lodged in the jail for the last three months after he was arrested for being allegedly involved in the killing of a neighbour.

Lightning kills two labourers

BADAUN (UP): Two labourers were today killed and five others injured when lightning struck them in Bharkuiyan village of Civil Lines area here, police said.

Rajpal and Toti Singh were killed on the spot when lightning struck them, SSP D K Chowdhury said.The injured, including owner and son of a brick klin, were rushed to the hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable.

Two brothers hacked to death

GONDA (UP): Two brothers were hacked to death and as many family members injured by another brother and his sons allegedly over a family tiff in Itiyathok area, a senior officer said here today.

Bhadahi Sahu (45) and his brother Barsati Sahu (55) were hacked to death yesterday by their brother Feran, his sons Dhani, Bani and others in Bhagwanpur village, about 30 kms from the district headquarters, Superintendent of Police Ankaj Sharma said.

Abducted farmer found dead

MUZAFFARNAGAR, A farmer, who was allegedly abducted by a gang for ransom, was found dead at Sindhawali village in the district, police said today.

Vinod Kumar (27) was abducted by six persons yesterday.

The gang also demanded ransom of Rs 2 lakh from Kumar's family, they said.

In a separate incident, an ex-army jawan Vikas (30) was shot dead by unidentified persons at Barwala village in the district yesterday.

--

wana Branch near Ishmallpur.

Later the team headed for Ismailabad, Thol, Shanti Nagar, Shahbad, Parakeet, Jyotisar, Bibipur Lake of district Kurukshetra and Dhand, Keorak and Kaithal Town, Guhla-Cheeka, Sheo-Majra and Bhatian of district Kaithal.

Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary Power Madhusudan Prasad, Financial Commissioner and Principal Secretary of Agriculture Roshan Lal, Financial Commissioner and Irrigation Principal Secretary S S Dhillon, Commissioner Ambala Division, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent Police and a number of other senior officers also accompanied the team.

Venod Sharma and Anil Vij (both MLAs) also accompanied the team.

Meanwhile, the water had considerably receded from flood affected areas of Ambala, Kurukshetra, Fatehabad, Sirsa and Kaithal.

Train mishap serious lapse, opines Lalu PTI PATNA, JULY 19

Former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today described the train disaster in Birbhum district of WestBengal as a case of serious lapse.

"I don't understand why such accidents are taking place," Prasad said.

"This is a sad incident and a serious lapse," the RJD supremo told reporters here.

At least 60 people were killed and over 90 passengers injured when a train in high speed tore through the rear of another at the Sainthia station in Bhirbhum district of West Bengal, after it apparently overshot the signal in the small hours of the day.

Prasad, however, parried a question about allegations that Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was concentrating on West Bengal politics ignoring her department.

Delhi HC dismisses Sajjan’s bail plea PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

The Delhi High Court today dismissed senior Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's petition challenging a trial court's order to frame charges against him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Former Outer Delhi MP Sajjan Kumar is facing prosecution in two cases in which he has been accused of inciting a mob against Sikh community in the aftermath of former prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassination on October 31, 1984, leading to killings of several persons.

In the order, Justice Vipin Sanghi questioned the motive of Delhi Police for cancelling the FIR against the politician when the matter was still being probed by the CBI. A trial court had termed the case as "untraced" in July 2008 after the Delhi Police filed a cancellation report stating that the complainant was not traceable.

Rejecting the plea of Kumar, Justice Sanghi directed the trial

court to hold the proceedings against him expeditiously in the anti-Sikh riots cases.

The trial court had in May this year framed charges under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to property), 153A (promoting enmity between different communities) and other provisions of the IPC paving the way for trial of Kumar and five others.

CBI had accused Kumar of provoking people against members of a particular community during the carnage that led to the killing of five persons in Delhi Cantonment area.

Besides Kumar, other accused in the case are Balwan Khokhar, Krishan Khokhar, Mahender Yadav, Captain Bhagmal and Girdhari Lal. CBI had filed two chargesheets against Kumar and others on January 13 in the riots cases registered in 2005 on the recommendation of Justice G T Nanavati Commission which inquired into the sequence of events leading to the riots.

Left govt, church in Kerala Bihar legislature gets off to a headed for collision course noisy start, seek CM’s ouster

– Editor

Kaushambi (UP: Three sisters died, while another was admitted to a hospital in serious condition after they allegedly consumed poison in Kokhraj area here, police said today.

The sisters allegedly committed suicide last night at Karaiti village, SP Kripa Shankar Singh said, adding the police was trying to ascertain the reason behind taking such an extreme step.

School girls shielding themselves with an umbrella during monsoon in Lucknow on Monday.

PTI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 19 The ruling CPI(M) and powerful Catholic Church in Kerala are headed for a collision course once again with the apex body of bishops issuing a pastoral letter urging the Christian community to choose only "God-fearing" and "selfless" candidates in polls.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) circular, read out in most churches across the state before the Sunday congregations yesterday, was apparently aimed at the civic polls that are round the corner and the assembly elections less than a year away.

The bishops also called upon

the faithful not to get duped by independent candidates often put up by parties to garner votes outside their political sphere of influence.

The CPI(M) leaders were quick to react to the KCBC letter dubbing it as a “politically prejudiced” move to help anti-Left forces and secure the narrow interests of the church establishment.

The reference to "independents" in the KCBC communiqué was seen by Left circles as an allusion to the Left parties fielding non-party nominees, especially from the minority communities, as it had done in parliament and assembly polls in the past.

The church sources, however, denied the charge maintaining

that the letter only reflected genuine Christian concerns and that elections should be an opportunity for the “good and earnest” persons to emerge as the people's representatives.

Kerala Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac described it as an attempt by the bishops to meddle in politics by seeking to turn elections into a “test of faith”.

Isaac, a CPI(M) Central Committee member, said that the move to reduce elections into a referendum on faith at the cost of real issues like price rise and well-being of all communities was not only unfortunate but also fraught with “dangerous consequences”.

Ever since the LDF government came to power four years ago, the Catholic church had repeatedly come out against its polices, especially those pertaining to the education sector.

The church has accused the government of implementing its "hidden agenda" of infusing the curriculum with atheistic and material contents to serve its ideological purposes.

Opposition party MLCs demonstrating inside Bihar Legislative Council on the first day of the monsoon session, in Patna on Monday.

PTI PATNA, JULY 19

The two houses of Bihar legislature today got off to a noisy start with opposition parties, including RJD-LJP combine, Congress and Left parties, demanding immediate resignation of Nitish Kumar government in the light of Patna High Court's order of a CBI probe.

The Patna High Court had last week ordered a CBI inquiry into alleged irregularities of Rs 11,412 crore in execution of de-

velopment and welfare schemes between April 1, 2002 and March 31, 2008.

Soon before the brief five-day session of the state legislature started this morning, the opposition members waving placards demanded immediate resignation of Nitish Kumar government were seen demonstrating in the main portico of the State assembly.

“Nitish Kumar should immediate resign as CM. His government be sacked if he fails to quit

Maoist attacks affecting education in Jharkhand PTI RANCHI, JULY 19

Eight-year-old Ritu Kumar and 15-year-old Mahendra Prasad Gupta are fortunate to enroll in schools after the ones they previously attended to were blown up by Maoist blasts six months ago.

There are others, however, who are not so fortunate. They either could not recover from the shock of seeing their schools attacked or their parents just developed cold feet in pursuing education for their children any longer after the experience.

“I am fortunate to have parents who are keen for my education after our school was flattened in December, last year.

But many students have quit,”

Gupta, a student of class IX, said.

Class III student Ritu Kumar misses the proximity of her former school at Pipra village in Palamau’s Harihargang area to her residence. “Now I read in a school in Medininagar. But the

previous one was near my house,” she rued.

In December, last year, the Maoists had damaged five schools in Palamau district alone by exploding dynamites.

A human rights group esti-

mated that 14 schools had been razed in November/December in Jharkhand by the Left-wing guerrillas who are targeting schools because they had been turned into camps for security forces engaged in anti-Naxalite operation.

“The situation is ironical. The Maoists say they are fighting for the poor and the downtrodden, but by blowing up school buildings they are snatching away a singularly important means of bringing improvement in their lives,'” Prof Ramesh Sharan of Ranchi University said.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (Palamau Range) Prashant Kumar Singh, said he had instructed secuitymen not to turn school buildings into makeshift

camps.

Educationists in Jharkhand have painted a bleak future for primary education, specially in rural areas where school buildings have been damaged, Expressing concern over the 'alarming' drop out rate among primary students and various primary education projects 'going waste', Prof. Sharan said construction of buildings in remote villages was very difficult.

“If primary education is not imparted properly, it will be difficult for future generations to land even a peon’s job,'” a faculty member of the BIT, Meshra, Dr Srikanta Pal, observed.

It was a well-known fact, Pal said, that Maoists preyed on unemployed youth taking advantage of their condition, Pal said.

on moral grounds," RJD Deputy Leader in the state assembly Shakeel Ahmed Khan said.

The opposition members created noisy scenes and trooped into the well in the state legislative council to press for the demand As the house sat for the day, opposition MLCs, including Gulam Gaus entered the well of the house waving placards and newspaper clippings on the CBI probe ordered by the High Court.

Farmer hurt PTI BANGALORE, JULY 19

A herd of wild elephants injured a farmer after straying into a farmshed in Kaniveshivapura village situated inside Mahadeshwara Reserve Forest in Anekal wildlife range under Bannerghatta National Park limits in the wee hours today.

Before injuring the farmer, the elephants pulled down the shed where he was sleeping, police sources told PTI here.

The 21 year-old farmer has been admitted to government hospital and was "recovering", they said.

Range Forest Officer Venugopal said it was the same herd which trampled to death two farmers near Tattekere-Chudahalli area in the same forest range yesterday.

HE R A L D GOA, TUESDAY, 20 JULY, 2010

Pg10 FROM PAGE 1 Joint operation...

Singapore-based company when we can remove the ship in same time and lesser amount”. “…may be there are some ulterior motives”, he stated adding that he still stands by his threat to move the High Court if the contract is awarded to Titan.

The ship was grounded in July 2000 on a stormy night and since the last ten years successive governments have made attempts to remove the ill-fated ship but to no avail.

UK mom slams police...

information.

She slammed the police of not taking cognizance of Stephen’s last conversation with his family back in UK that two men abducted him to Wadkhal Naka. The tourist had told his family that he was kidnapped from a Goan beach shack to Roha in a Maruti van and feared the two kidnapers would kill him.

“There is conclusive proof that Stephen was in Wadkhal at the time the police allege he jumped off the train at Roha and walked though the jungle to Malsai village. The shopkeeper and owner of the telephone booth indicated that Stephen arrived from the area of the car park and Taxi rank…The police had previously traced this call but denied later”, she said.

Interestingly, UK police traced the exact location and time of the call made despite the alleged attempt by Maharashtra police to get the telephone booth number changed.

The lady identified the two murderers as Dharmendra Naik and Santosh D’Souza who gave conflicting statements. So also, Maureen suspects a beach shack owner’s involvement in her son’s murder.

Interestingly, Naik was featured in the sensational death of British teenager Scarlett Keeling Eden.

POLICE TAKE: Goa police shrugged off its role in the case, stating it fell under the ambit of Maharashtra police. State police spokesperson Superintendent of (Special Branch) Police Atmaram Deshpande in an email reply asked to contact the Maharashtra Police.

Suresh Jadhav, station head of Roha police station when approached said the investigation concluded on right track, which is up on trial before the Mangaon Court where a chargesheet was filed.

“We have examined 12 witnesses against the seven accused who are released on bail at present. Stephen’s mother contacted us some seven months back to know the case status and we promptly replied to her communication…” Jadhav, who is reassigned to Roha a year ago, replied to Herald in a telephonic interview.

Tourists robbed

the churches.

On their return, the two women and the driver were shocked to find one car window broken and the valuables missing from the taxi.

The women then suspected the involvement of some persons who were in a Gujarat-registered Tavera SUV, which was parked behind their taxi in Old Goa. They reported this to the Old Goa police and police immediately flashed a wireless message to all police stations in the State to be on the lookout for a red Tavera SUV with a Gujarat registration.

Incidentally, a Tavera vehicle matching the description was sighted at the Mollem checkpost at about 4.30 pm.

Old Goa PI Francis Corte and a police team comprising Head Constable Dhure and Constables Sameer Phadte, Nitin Goankar and Vinay Shrivastava, rushed to the site and confronted the occupants, identified as Pankaj Rupsingh Rathod (28), Bunty Rajesh Shinkrekar (27), Navinchandra Subash Rathod (25), Yatin Babubai Bongire (25) and Praful Pramat (26), all from Ahmedabad Gujarat.

The five persons were taken to the Old Goa police station, where they initially denied their involvement in the crime. They claimed that they had arrived in the State on Sunday and had gone to visit churches in Old Goa on Monday.

They later confessed to the crime and police managed to recover the stolen valuables from the accused.

The accused were later arrested under Sections 379. 34 of IPC and will be produced before the JMFC at Panjim for remand on Tuesday.

HE RA LD

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GOA, TUESDAY, 20 JULY, 2010

Clinton acknowledges Gilani’s …says Pak needs to clear concerns efforts to normalise India ties on China N-deal PTI ISLAMABAD, JULY 19

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has acknowledged Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s “personal role in efforts to normalise relations with India” and hoped these moves would bear fruit in the near future.

Clinton made the remarks during a meeting with Gilani late last evening, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s office.

Gilani said Pakistan wants “good neighbourly relations with India” and would like both sides to “address all issues and disputes between them peacefully”.

The comments of the two leaders came days after the Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan failed to make headway in talks held in Islamabad on July 15.

The two Foreign Ministers have engaged in a war of words since the talks ended in deadlock.

During his interaction with Clinton, Gilani said the discussions in different sectors as part of the Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue had prepared the grounds for taking the bilateral relationship beyond the war on terror and American aid provided under the Kerry-Lugar Act.

Gilani said that he was hopeful the fifth round of the Strategic Dialogue, set to cochaired by Clinton and Foreign Minister S M Qureshi will lead to greater US assistance and cooperation for building water reservoirs, enhancing power generation capacity

and addressing the root causes of terrorism like illiteracy, poverty and under-development.

The premier reiterated his invitation to US President Barack Obama to visit Pakistan in the near future, saying such a visit will boost democratic forces in the country, strengthen bilateral relations and create a positive image of the US among the Pakistani people.

Public diplomacy is vital for removing misperceptions on both sides and building higher trust between the two sides, he said.

Gilani also urged the US to enhance assistance for building the capacity of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies and step up intelligence-sharing for the campaign to root out terrorism.

Referring to the situation in Afghanistan, Gilani said his government attaches great importance to its relations with the neighbouring country and “considers peace and stability in Afghanistan contingent upon a peaceful and secured Pakistan”.

Clinton said she saluted the Pakistan government’s resolve to fight terrorism and that the US administration is “fully appreciative of the extraordinary sacrifices made

by Pakistan in its war”.

PTI ISLAMABAD, JULY 19

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today said the world community has reservations about a Pakistan-China deal for the supply of nuclear reactors and wants Islamabad to respond to these concerns.

Clinton made the remarks while responding to a question about concerns on the PakistanChina nuclear deal during a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi at the Foreign Office here.

She said the US is constantly talking to Pakistan about its burgeoning energy needs.

She indicated that there were a series of questions about the nuclear arrangement with China that need to be addressed by Pakistan.

Qureshi said nuclear energy is a component of Pakistan’s programme to overcome a crippling energy crisis and that the

country would satisfy the international community’s concerns on the deal with China.

Pakistan’s “policy on nonproliferation is very clear” and the world community endorsed the country’s atomic programme as “safe and responsible” during the recent nuclear summit hosted by the US, he contended.

“There should be no fear on that account and these projects that we intend to undertake will be open to IAEA inspection,” Qureshi said.

Pakistan has 35 years’ experience of generating nuclear energy and no untoward incident has occurred because of precautions and systems that are in place, he said.

Pakistan has inked a deal with China for the supply of two new reactors for its Chashma nuclear power complex.

Experts have said the deal violates the guidelines of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

Bombs kill 6 Afghan cops, 2 US troops AP KABUL, JULY 19

Geisha, Japanese traditional female professional entertainer serving at tatami banquet rooms, ride in a jinrikisha or rickshaw at Ginza in central Tokyo, Japan, on Monday.

Hamas cell ‘members’ nabbed for shooting policeman AP JERUSALEM, JULY 19

Israel has arrested five Palestinians accused of being members of a Hamas cell responsible for killing an Israeli policeman in the West Bank, the Shin Bet security service said Monday.

It said the men, all in their 20s, confessed to killing the policeman near the West Bank town of Hebron on June 14 and handed over three Kalashnikov rifles they used. The arrests were carried out a week after the attack, which wounded two other policemen, but were only made public Monday in a statement released to the media.

The names of the arrested men were not released, and it was not possible to confirm the details with their families or lawyers. Hamas Web sites mentioned the arrests but did not explicitly link the group to the attack Monday.

The men were from the southern West Bank village of Deir Samit, which is under full Israeli security control, according to Palestinian security officials. The officials said the Israelis arrested around 20 men and they did not know which of them had confessed to shooting the police officer.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because the Palestinian Authority had not officially commented.

Violence has diminished in the West Bank in recent years, thanks in part to increased security cooperation between Israelis and forces loyal to the Western-backed Palestinian Authority, which has limited power in the territory under Israel’s

overall security control. The Palestinian Authority, controlled by the secular Fatah movement, has launched its own crackdown against Hamas, driving the Islamic group underground in the West Bank.

Hamas controls the Gaza Strip, and has cracked down on Fatah members there. On Monday, Gaza’s Hamas rulers banned top Fatah officials from leaving the territory for a meeting in the West Bank, according to Amal Hamad, a Fatah member from Gaza.

Also Monday, Israeli forces demolished a cluster of tents and shacks belonging to Palestinians in the northern West Bank, according to the Israeli military and footage from AP Television News. Israeli house demolitions have angered Palestinians, who say they are forced to build without permits because of discriminatory planning rules, and have drawn criticism from the international community.

One of the Palestinians, Ziad Adnan Saeh, said Israeli soldiers arrived early Monday and ordered him and others away before knocking the structures down. “They didn’t leave anything of our belongings. They were threatening to shoot us if we come close, so all of us left and now look what happened,” he said.

The Israeli military’s Civil Administration said the military knocked down nine temporary agricultural structures because they were put up without permits in an army firing zone, endangering the Palestinians working there. The Palestinians were given three weeks to contest the demolition orders in court but did not do so, the Civil Administration said in a statement.

Many Israelites view Gandhi as Prophet, says Peres PTI JERUSALEM, JULY 19

Heaping praises on Mahatma Gandhi, whom he described as a “transformational” leader, Israel’s Nobel Laureate President Shimon Peres has said that many in Israel view him as a Prophet, even as he described India as a “role model of tolerance”.

“It is laudable the way India has managed its unity in diversity.

There is a lot for everybody to learn in co-existence from one of the most ancient cultures of the

world. Well, Wisdom never ages”, Peres told a group of visiting parliamentarians from India, led by Congress MP Naveen Jindal.

Peres also touched upon his reverence for the Father of India and said his teachings of non-violent coexistence were for everybody to admire and practice.

“Mahatma Gandhi who led India’s national movement, is not only an inspirational leader for me but a transformational one who brought in revolutionary ideas of non-violent

coexistence.

“Many in Israel see him as a Prophet. The teachings in tolerance are a model for everybody to admire and practice,” the elder Statesman said while expressing his fondness for Indian society and culture.

He also expressed satisfaction at with the way bilateral relations with India have shaped since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, stressing at the common menace of terror faced by both the countries.

US may send envoy to North Korea AFP SEOUL, JULY 19

A South Korean newspaper said Monday that US President Barack Obama may send an envoy to North Korea to break the impasse in relations.

Obama is considering allowing New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson — a veteran troubleshooter with the North — to accept an invitation to visit Pyongyang, according to the JoongAng Ilbo and its Englishlanguage sister paper JoongAng Daily.

The JoongAng Daily, quoting “multiple diplomatic sources” in Seoul, said Han Song-Ryol, deputy North Korean ambassador to the United Nations, invited Richardson in May to discuss issues including the sinking of a South Korean warship.

South Korea’s foreign ministry declined comment. But spokesman Kim Young-Sun called for caution over any such visit while countermeasures are being discussed for the sinking. “We understand the US government shares the same position,” he said.

Tensions have risen since South Korea and the United States, citing the findings of a multinational investigation, accused the North of torpedoing a South Korean warship, the Cheonan, near the tense sea border in March.

The North denies involvement and says a UNSC statement on July 9 — which condemned the attack without specifying the culprit — vindicated it.

After the UN statement it reiterated conditional willingness to return to stalled six-party nuclear disarmament talks.

“I’m aware that the North Korean side told Richardson it is willing to consider expressing regrets or making an ameliorating statement about the Cheonan incident if he visits Pyongyang,” the JoongAng Daily quoted one source as saying.

Six Afghan policemen and two US troops were killed Monday by roadside bombs in southern Afghanistan where the Taliban are pushing back against Afghan and international forces efforts to move into the insurgents’ stronghold.

Abdul Qayum Khan, the chief of Khakrez district in northern Kandahar province, said the police were killed and four others were wounded while traveling south by vehicle to Kandahar.

NATO said two U.S. service members died in separate blasts in the south, but provided no other details.

The US death toll has mounted in recent weeks as American troops try to extend their reach in the southern provinces of Kandahar and Helmand, while insurgents have mounted a summer counteroffensive aimed at both international troops and the Afghan government.

June was the deadliest month for U.S. and international forces with the deaths of 103 service members, including 60 Americans.

Including Monday’s deaths, 57 NATO troops have been killed so far this month in Afghanistan, 42 of them American.

The capital city of Kabul has also seen attacks ahead of an international conference on Tuesday, at which the Afghan government hopes to show world leaders it is making progress toward running its own affairs.

Thousands of Afghan soldiers and police have been deployed to secure the capital during the

one-day meeting. Officials worry Tuesday’s conference will draw a repeat of the violence seen at a national peace gathering in May, when two militants were killed in a gunbattle with security forces and a rocket landed with a thud about 100 yards (meters) from the meeting site.

Mubarak terminally ill, says report CAIRO, JULY 19

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is terminally ill, according to US and other Western intelligence agencies, The Washington Times reported on Monday.

Most Western intelligence agencies were said to have estimated that the Egyptian president is dying from terminal cancer in his stomach and pancreas. Earlier this month, Mubarak was reportedly treated in a hospital in France, and in March his gallbladder was operated on in Germany.

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GOA, TUESDAY, 20 JULY, 2010

SEBI panel for sweeping changes in takeover norms PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

An entity buying 25 per cent stake in a company will need to make an open offer to the rest of the shareholders, as per the sweeping changes proposed by a SEBI panel in the takeover guidelines.

Under the existing norms,

the trigger point for making an open offer to shareholders was acquisition of 15 per cent equity in the target company through market operations or through a negotiated deal.

If the report of the SEBI takeover panel is accepted by SEBI, the open offer would be available to all shareholders.

TALK BUSINESS

LIC’s distribution network in Goa PANJIM (HBD) -- Life Insurance Corporation of India serves Goa with a network of 11 branches located two each in Panjim and Margao and one each in Vasco, Mapusa, Bicholim, Curchorem, Ponda, Pernem and Canacona.

LIC is also having 3 satellite offices operating at Cuncolim in South Goa and Calagute in North Goa. Another satellite office in Sanquelim will be operational from Sept’ 2010. Recently LIC has opened a customer zone in Panjim opposite the Don Bosco High School and it is open from 8 am to 8 pm on working days and 8 am to 6 pm on Saturday.

As at March 31, 2010, a total of 9,26,427 policies are being serviced by Goa division. During the financial year 2009-2010, 1,08,564 new policies were sold with first premium income of Rs 238 crore. During this year Goa division had produced 42 MDRT agents. During the year 2009-10, Goa division has settled over 72,703 claims amounting to Rs 171.01 crore by way of Maturity and Survival benefits payments and 2520 claims amounting to Rs 23.10 crore as Death claims.

The new norm of making an open offer for 100 per cent stake would give all shareholders an opportunity to exit the company and get fair price for their equity stake.

At present, the open for is for 20 per cent of the share capital.

"An open offer ought to be for all shares of the target company to ensure equality of opportunity and fair treatment of all shareholders, big and small," C Achuthan, Chairman of SEBI's Takeover Panel, said.

The panel also recommended that the offer price would be based on the volume weighted average of 12 weeks market price of the target company, against 26 weeks now.

The panel recommended that for frequently traded shares, 60 day trading volume

weighted average market price would be taken into account for calculating the minimum offer price.

"As the markets are moving very fast, taking into account the 26 week average price might not give the right picture. Although it increases the risk of price manipulation in a deal, but taking into account the movement for such a long time would be theoretical," SMC Capitals Equity Head Jagannadham Thunuguntla said.

Commenting on the move to raise the open offer trigger to 25 per cent, Diljeet Titus, senior partner of law firm Titus and Co, said, "It is desirable as the new prompter will be required to make open offer when he is close to acquiring substantial stake in the company. One needs at least 26 per

BSNL offer on broadband customers PTI CHENNAI, JULY 19

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has unveiled a scheme for customers registering for new Broadband connection.

"New customers registering for Broadband connection under any plan upto 2MBPS speed would be provided of unlimited free download at 2MBPS for first 15 days,” BSNL said in a statement here.

BSNL said the installation charges had been waived and special relief scheme 'Samadhan' for settlement of disputed bills for existing Broadband customers had also been extended till March 31, 2011.

Idea hits 1 cr subscribers in Maharashtra, Goa PANJIM (HBD) -- Idea Cellular has crossed the 1 crore subscriber mark in Maharashtra and Goa circle, recently.

Idea Cellular, an Aditya Birla Group company, was the first to launch mobile services in Maharashtra and Goa in 1996, and is today, the highest penetrated mobile network in the circle, reaching out to over 82 per cent of the population.

With its recent feat of winning the 3G spectrum for Maharashtra & Goa, the company is now gearing up to offer the next level of mobile experience to its over 1 crore subscribers in the circle.

With over 380 exclusive showrooms, and more than 80,000 multi-branded outlets selling Idea’s products and services, the company’s reach remains unmatched in the circle. A robust network comprising of 6,894 cell sites enables non stop connectivity across Maharashtra & Goa. In the next phase of growth, the company plans to offer high end data services through an enriched VAS portfolio for urban consumers, and basic mobility services and Marathi VAS content for the rural audience.

LAUNCH PAD

Foodles from Horlicks

PANJIM (HBD) – GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare has launched– ‘Foodles’ from Horlicks, a snacking option, which is also nourishing.

The instant noodles feature a Healthmaker, which is fortified with 9 vital nutrients and is packed with iron and calcium. Foodles from Horlicks is available in two options- Regular and Four-Grain.

The Four-Grain variant is made with the nutritious grains -rice, corn, ragi and wheat. The two packs are priced at Rs 10 and Rs 15 for 80gm respectively.

Each variant is available in three flavors. The regular pack comes in flavors like Must Masala, Crazy Curry and Spicy Treat whereas the four grain pack is available in Ala Masala, Curry in a Hurry and Slice of Spice.

Sensex loses 27 points PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today closed 27 points lower following a choppy session amid weak global cues, but a major fall was averted by strong buying in R-Com and banking stocks.

Tracking weak Asian sentiment and a weekend decline on Wall Street, the barometer opened on a negative note and fell about 100 points to hit a low of 17,856.

The market, however, was able to recover most of the lost ground on the back of reports that a SEBI panel has suggested sweeping changes in the Takeover Code, following which the barometer touched a high of 18,005 level at midsession.

cent equity to have a say in passing of special resolution."

Experts said the recommendation if put in place would make acquisitions expensive in widely held companies as it has to make offer for all the shareholders.

"The minority shareholders will get an opportunity to exit, but acquisition costs can go up by three-fold and acquirers would have to reconsider their financing arrangements," BMR Advisors Partner Rohit Berry said.

SEBI Chairman C B Bhave said the panel was set up in September 2009 with the aim to provide guidelines that will shape acquisitions in India for the next 5-10 years.

"The merger and acquisition deals would be affected as cost of acquisition would go up.

Motorola mulls networking unit sale PTI NEW YORK, JULY 19

Cellphone maker Motorola Inc is in talks with Nokia Siemens Networks to sell its wirelessnetworking business for $1.2 billion, a media report said.

"Motorola plans to exit the wireless-networking business with a USD 1.2 billion sale of much of its equipment division to Nokia Siemens Networks, as Motorola''s board moves closer to splitting the company in two," The Wall Street Journal said.

The announcement of a Motorola deal with Nokia Siemens, could come as early as Monday, the report said citing people familiar with the matter. The report said that proceeds would increase Motorola''s cash pile as it plans to spin off its cellphone and cable set-top box divisions into a separate company early next year.

Aban Offshor, 850, 863, 833, 845.8 Abb Ltd., 804.55, 868.5, 804.55, 852.35 Abg Shipyard, 257, 264.35, 256.2, 259.2 Acc Limited, 815, 815, 807.5, 811.8 Adani Enterp, 538.15, 549.4, 538.15, 544.95 Aditya Birla, 782, 824, 775.25, 818.65 Allahabad Ba, 172, 177.45, 172, 176.15 Alstom Proje, 635, 644, 632, 639.4 Ambuja Cemen, 108.85, 110.3, 107.5, 107.85 Andhra Bank, 138.5, 147.85, 137.5, 147.05 Ashok Leylan, 68.5, 73.45, 67, 72.7 Asian Paints, 2485.15, 2485.15, 2430, 2474.05 Axis Bank Li, 1355, 1367, 1343.35, 1360.8 Bajaj Hindus, 118.8, 121.3, 118.05, 118.5 Bank Of Baro, 725.05, 738.9, 722.55, 733.15 Bank Of Indi, 395.5, 401.9, 390, 393.05 Beml Limited, 1000, 1050, 1000, 1020.35 Bharat Elect, 1798, 1814.7, 1775, 1796.6 Bharat Forge, 324.4, 339.8, 324.4, 336.5 Bharat Petro, 660, 669.4, 652.05, 655.5 Bharti Airte, 296, 302.6, 294.7, 297.5 Bhel, 2437.85, 2456.7, 2410.1, 2415.5 Bhushan Stee, 1517.9, 1519.8, 1496.15, 1517

However, hostile takeovers could increase as the acquirer can now bid up to 100 per cent, which was 75 per cent earlier, thereby taking full control of the target firm," Thunuguntla said.

The panel also recommended that the formalities for competition of an open offer be reduced to 57 days from the current 95 days.

The panel said in case the acquirer's holding exceeds 90 per cent in the target company, delisting should be triggered automatically.

With this, acquirers can use open offer as a tool to delist the target company. Further, the panel has mandated that the acquirer at the time of coming out with the acquisition announcement will have to state his intention about the

RIL eyes stake in Quicksilver REUTERS MUMBAI, JULY 19

Energy major Reliance Industries is in talks with Texasbased Quicksilver Resources , including for a possible buyout of the US firm that develops shale gas and coal-bed methane, the Daily News & Analysis reported on Monday.

The talks also include buying a part stake or partnering Quicksilver for one of its major projects called the Horn River Basin assets in British Columbia, the newspaper said, citing unidentified sources familiar with the development.

Quicksilver, which is estimated to have sales of $900

StanChart launches online remittance facility PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

Standard Chartered Bank today announced the launch of its online remittance service Transfer2Home, as a part of its NRI services offering.

The service will enable customers to transfer money to India from the USA, UK, UAE, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bahrain, a press release issued here stated.

Standard Chartered has tiedup with TimesofMoney in order to service customers in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bahrain.

TimesofMoney is a leading payments service-provider, which serves various financial institutions offering them money transfer service.

Its private label remittance service caters to the global cross-border money transfer

Biocon Limit, 315.4, 319.9, 312.5, 318.15 Bombay Dyein, 501, 522, 499, 514.2 Bosch Limite, 5770, 5799.7, 5706.15, 5763.35 Brigade Ente, 131.2, 137.95, 131.2, 135.45 Cairn India, 314.65, 317.75, 311.6, 314.85 Canara Bank, 488.75, 514.85, 488, 496.5 Central Bank, 144, 149.6, 140.5, 147.95 Century Text, 457.6, 460.5, 450.55, 452.4 Cesc Ltd, 410.5, 420.9, 406, 417 Chambal Fert, 66.05, 67.5, 65.7, 66.8 Chennai Petr, 259.1, 259.5, 256.85, 257.9 Cipla Ltd, 330.6, 332, 328, 330.05 Colgate Palm, 844, 850, 838.35, 846 Container Co, 1420, 1420, 1385.05, 1414.5 Crompton Gre, 271.85, 274.75, 265.15, 270.15 Cummins Indi, 584, 592.05, 583, 589.8 Dabur India, 213, 214.9, 207.3, 208.9 Deccan Chron, 140.25, 142.5, 137, 137.85 Dish Tv Indi, 43.65, 46.85, 43.65, 46.25 Divi’s Labor, 783, 797.1, 783, 786.55 Dlf Limited, 316.05, 316.95, 313.25, 315.55 Dr. reddy’s, 1480, 1485.6, 1466, 1472.75 Edelweiss Ca, 513.9, 519, 506, 509.1

industry. Its industry standard platform provides transaction processing which is fully compliant with payment norms suiting regulatory framework in several countries worldwide.

The bank has also entered

into a strategic arrangement with BNY Mellon for providing Automated Clearing House (ACH) based remittance service from the United States, the release said.

BNY Mellon is the global leader in asset management and securities servicing. BNY Mellon’s Treasury Services group delivers high-quality performance in global pay-

Educomp Solu, 624, 628.95, 614, 617.3 Eih Limited, 122, 131.95, 122, 128.55 Engineers In, 335.1, 356.4, 333.05, 351.6 Essar Oil Lt, 139, 140, 137.6, 138.15 Essar Shippi, 84.2, 87.1, 84.05, 85.5 Exide Indust, 135.25, 136.85, 134, 135.7 Federal Bank, 356, 362.9, 352.3, 356.4 Financial Te, 1330.25, 1350, 1330.25, 1339.5 Gail (india), 437, 451.8, 436.2, 446.7 Gammon India, 220.95, 223.5, 219.05, 223.1 Glaxosmithkl, 2060, 2085.3, 2035.55, 2047.9 Glenmark Pha, 276.8, 284.85, 276, 281.85 Gmr Infrastr, 61, 61.65, 60.75, 61.15 Godrej Indus, 188.4, 188.4, 184.5, 184.95 Grasim Indus, 1834, 1836.9, 1820, 1828.35 Great Offsho, 433.1, 442.3, 433.1, 438.8 Gtl Infra.Lt, 45.5, 47.1, 45.5, 46.15 Gujarat Mine, 121.05, 122.85, 121, 121.7 Gujarat N R, 63.65, 65.4, 63.25, 64.4 Gujarat Stat, 101.6, 104.85, 100.2, 104.35 Gvk Pow. & I, 45, 45.45, 44.85, 45.2 Hcl Technolo, 370, 380, 366.6, 378.3

Hdfc Bank Lt, 2042, 2064, 2022, 2047.85 Hdfc Ltd, 2994.2, 3080.1, 2994.2, 3059.55 Hero Honda M, 1970, 1978.05, 1951.15, 1956.65 Hindalco in, 148, 153.35, 148, 152.6 Hindustan Co, 125.3, 129.5, 124.6, 128.45 Hindustan Ma, 74, 76.35, 72.7, 75.45 Hindustan Pe, 447.9, 455.8, 443.35, 448.4 Hindustan Un, 265.2, 269.1, 263.7, 264.6 Hindustan Zi, 1034.55, 1034.55, 968, 978.85 Housing Dev, 262, 264.9, 261.5, 263.8 Icici Bank L, 895.1, 904.35, 887, 900.05 Idea Cellula, 64.8, 66.25, 64.2, 65.9 Ifci Ltd, 60.9, 61.9, 59.5, 59.85 India Cement, 109, 109.35, 107.5, 108.05 India Infoli, 99.1, 101, 98.85, 99.2 Indiabulls F, 162, 162.45, 158, 158.8 Indiabulls R, 167.5, 167.9, 164.5, 166 Indian Bank, 245, 246.3, 240.2, 243.9 Indian Hotel, 104.95, 106.4, 104.7, 105.15 Indian Oil C, 373.6, 382, 373.6, 377.1 Indian Overs, 109.25, 116, 108.25, 115.5 Indus Dev Ba, 121.45, 123.75, 120.55, 122.65

delisting.

The 12-member panel included Tata Steel Group Chief Financial Officer Koushik Chatterjee and Larsen & Toubro CFO Y M Deosthalee.

Further, the panel has made it mandatory for independent directors of the target company to give their views on the offer price so that the interest of the minority shareholders is protected.

"Increase of trigger level to 25 per cent from 15 per cent is a significant step, as it signals an alignment with International standards," FICCI Corporate Laws Committee Chairman Sidharth Birla said.

It has also recommended that the market regulator could grant exemptions to a firm from coming out with an open offer in case of corporate

ments, trade services, cash management, capital markets, foreign exchange and derivatives, helping clients make payments, optimise cash flow, and manage liquidity more efficiently around the world in more than 100 currencies.

Commenting on the launch, Standard Chartered's Country Head Consumer Banking, India, Shyam Srinivasan, said, "India is the top remittance receiver in the world and remittance through the online channel is growing at an incredible pace. Hence, it is imperative that we establish our presence in this sphere."

"Transfer2Home will be a key enabler for our NRI banking business and is a big step forward in further strengthening our NRI banking proposition," he said.

Indusind Ban, 210, 212.75, 207.6, 208.45 Infosys Tech, 2749, 2792.8, 2735.75, 2770.45 Infra. dev., 194.5, 194.5, 191.1, 193 Ispat Indust, 17.75, 18.6, 17.7, 18.3 Itc Ltd, 297.4, 299.95, 290, 291.35 Ivrcl Infras, 189.85, 192, 186.2, 191.2 Jai Corp Lim, 250, 253.55, 247.5, 248.75 Jaiprakash A, 129.8, 130.9, 128.8, 129.45 Jet Airways, 621, 625, 609, 617.05 Jindal Saw L, 202.65, 205.25, 199.85, 202.2 Jindal Steel, 621.9, 629.4, 614.7, 624.65 Jsw Steel Li, 1089.7, 1112, 1089.7, 1102.4 Kotak Mahind, 785, 797, 780, 792.25 Lakshmi Mach, 2014.85, 2032, 1991.15, 2018.9 Lanco Infrat, 66.15, 67.2, 65.8, 66 Larsen & Tou, 1865.7, 1898.9, 1856.35, 1894.3 Lic Housing, 1050.4, 1070, 1050.4, 1057.95 Lupin Limite, 1868, 1877.65, 1858, 1869.25 Mahanagar Te, 64.5, 64.8, 61.85, 64.35 Mahindra & M, 605, 613.9, 595, 606.45 Maruti Suzuk, 1335, 1387.9, 1335, 1363.3

million this year, currently has two large shale basins with proven reserves of around 2.4 trillion cubic feet.

A Reliance spokesman told the paper he would not comment on market speculation.

debt restructuring (CDR), rights issue among others.

Further, the acquirer could raise the offer price three days prior to the beginning of the open offer.

SEBI has sought public comments on the panel report by August 31.

BOARD MEETINGS ACIL Cot Inds Mangalam Timb Seamec Arih Super Mangalore Chem SKF India Asahi Songwon Mcdowell Hold Sonata Soft Automotive Axle Millennium Beer Sree Rayal Alkal Bombay Dyeing Moldtkpack State Bank Bik Jpr Diamines & Chem Monsanto India Swiss Glasscoat DIC India Noida Toll Tata Coffee Indo Green Proj Omnitech Info Telecanor Glob Industrial Invest Panacea Bio Tulsi Extr Jindal Hotels Parab Drugs United Spirits JK Paper Rane Engine Zee Entert Liberty Phos Rishabh Digha Maharashtra Scoot Schrader Duncan Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA TAURUS MUTUAL FUND has approved July 21, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend plan of Taurus Short Term Income Fund.

The quantum of dividend will be Rs 12 per unit as on the record date.

TATA MUTUAL FUND has approved July 23, 2010 as record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of Tata Dividend Yield Fund. The face value of per unit is Rs 10.

The quantum of dividend will be Rs 2 per unit, subject to availability and adequacy of distributable surplus on the record date.

EDELWEISS MUTUAL FUND has announced changes in the exit load structure of Edelweiss Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 (EDGE Top 100) Fund, Edelweiss Nifty Enhancer Fund and Edelweiss Absolute Return Equity Fund.

Accordingly, under normal circumstances as well as under expiry day trigger facility, the exit load charge will be 1% if the units are redeemed / switched-out on or before 180 days from the date of allotment. If the units are redeemed / switched-out after 180 days but on or before 365 days from the date of allotment the exit load charge will be 0.50%. If the units are redeemed / switched-out after 365 days from the date of allotment the exit load charge will be nil.

Change in Minimum Application Amount: The minimum application amount under Plan B & C of Edelweiss Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 (E.D.G.E Top 100) Fund and Edelweiss Nifty Enhancer Fund has been altered.

Accordingly, for Plan B the minimum application amount will be Rs 1 lakh and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter.

Minimum application amount for Plan C will be Rs 1 million and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter. The above changes will be effective from July 21, 2010.

Max India Lt, 164.5, 166.5, 161.25, 161.65 Maytas Infr., 210, 213.4, 208.5, 211.25 Moser-baer (, 67.9, 68.15, 67.05, 67.35 Mrpl, 80.7, 82.3, 80.4, 81.05 Nagarjuna Co, 181.8, 185.65, 179.15, 184.8 Nagarjuna Fe, 32.8, 32.8, 32.2, 32.35 National Alu, 429.2, 433.9, 427.25, 429.8 Neyveli Lign, 158.6, 163.5, 158, 161.4 Ntpc Ltd, 199, 204.5, 197.9, 202.65 Oil And Natu, 1254.9, 1264.9, 1246.1, 1259.1 Omaxe Limite, 105.35, 107.95, 105.35, 106.8 Oriental Ban, 372, 384.8, 367.6, 370.95 Pantaloon Re, 455.3, 466.4, 455.3, 459.9 Parsvnath De, 136.4, 136.4, 130.5, 131.25 Petronet Lng, 81.4, 85, 81.4, 84.3 Power Fin Co, 323.1, 337.45, 323.1, 330.35 Power Grid C, 99.1, 101.4, 99.1, 100.05 Praj Industr, 81.9, 84.2, 81.45, 82.8 Punj Lloyd L, 136.5, 140.2, 136.5, 138.55 Punjab Natio, 1064.9, 1082, 1060, 1065.15 Rajesh Expor, 88.5, 93, 87.2, 88.3 Ranbaxy Labs, 444.2, 451.8, 444.2, 449.35 Rashtriya Ch, 87.1, 89, 87.1, 88.35

Rel. nat. re, 45.1, 45.5, 44.65, 44.8 Reliance Cap, 801, 817, 797.75, 810.2 Reliance Com, 188, 194.45, 185, 191.25 Reliance Ene, 950, 955, 946, 950 Reliance Ind, 935, 951.4, 933.2, 936.15 Reliance Ind, 1058.1, 1065.9, 1053.8, 1056.05 Reliance Pow, 175.1, 175.1, 171.85, 173.4 Rolta India, 179.1, 182.55, 179.1, 181.25 Satyam Compu, 89.3, 90.9, 88.8, 89.85 Sesa Goa Ltd, 341.7, 352, 341, 348.35 Shipping Cor, 154.95, 158.45, 153.25, 157.5 Siemens Ltd, 733, 739.8, 722.1, 726.3 Sintex Indus, 346.6, 347, 343, 343.95 Sobha Develo, 332.6, 337.5, 330.15, 330.75 State Bank O, 2438.95, 2463, 2426, 2455.25 Steel Author, 197, 200.15, 195.55, 198.95 Sterlite Ind, 165.1, 165.4, 163, 163.8 Sun Pharmace, 1733, 1733, 1697.3, 1719.8 Sun Tv Netwo, 451, 463, 443.1, 456.2 Suzlon Energ, 59.85, 60.3, 59.5, 59.7 Tata Communi, 288, 291, 286.95, 287.4 Tata Consult, 831.45, 834.7, 823.25, 826.7 Tata Motors, 827, 833.9, 821.15, 825.3

Tata Power C, 1339, 1339, 1326, 1332.15 Tata Steel L, 502, 514.2, 502, 511.3 Tata Tea Ltd, 120.05, 122.25, 119.65, 121.35 Tata Teleser, 21.7, 22.05, 21.55, 21.7 Tech Mahindr, 769.9, 770.9, 760, 761.85 The Ge Shpg., 291.9, 293.05, 289.7, 290.25 The Phoenix, 227, 227, 219.5, 222.65 Thermax Ltd, 759.8, 784, 753, 772.95 Titan Indust, 2670, 2689, 2640, 2648.6 Torrent Powe, 345.25, 351.6, 345.25, 349 Triveni Engg, 104, 104.95, 102.4, 103 Tv18 India L, 82, 82, 80.45, 81 Uco Bank, 84.5, 88.5, 83.8, 87.9 Ultratech Ce, 843, 847, 832, 840.8 Union Bank O, 326, 330.5, 325.6, 326.45 Unitech Ltd, 80, 82.4, 79.5, 81.6 United Phosp, 174.45, 177.4, 173.25, 175.05 Videocon Ind, 210.95, 215.5, 210.4, 213.65 Vijaya Bank, 65, 69.45, 65, 68.95 Voltas Ltd, 199.5, 202.6, 196.7, 201.2 Wipro Ltd, 402.5, 405.9, 396.65, 404.25 Yes Bank Lim, 297.15, 302.75, 296.75, 297.85 Zee Entertai, 312.5, 319, 310.7, 317.2<None>

OHERALDO

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BIZ

GOA, TUESDAY, 20 JULY, 2010

FM sticks to 8.5% growth PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said he will not be swayed by the IMF's higher growth projection of 9.5 per cent but will stick to his conservative outlook of about 8.5 per cent plus economic expansion for the current fiscal.

"Always, we have dispute with the IMF. I was inclined to accept the IMF assessment for India's growth for the year when they projected it 9.4-9.5 per cent. But I am being conservative in my assessment...I will be happy with 8.5 per cent plus growth," Mukherjee told a conference on financial inclusion hosted by industry body CII here.

Earlier this month, the Inter-

national Monetary Fund (IMF) had hiked the country's growth forecast for 2010 to 9.5per cent from its April projection of 8.8 per cent.

He further said the Eurozone crisis is not going to affect us if it gets confined to Greece and a couple of other countries, adding that our economy has shown considerable resilience.

"Eurozone crisis, if confined to Greece and a couple of other countries, is not going to affect us. But if it assumes larger proportion and dimension, if it engulfs Europe as a whole, I don't know what may happen. Therefore, in that context I do feel that our economy has shown its resilience," Mukherjee said.

The lingering debt turmoil in

many European nations, including Greece and Portugal, is even threatening to derail the fragile global economic recovery, which is led by Asian countries such as India and China.

Mukherjee said globally he has heard appreciation for the country's banking structure and that is why he did not agree that there should be some sort of taxes on the banks to discipline them.

"Everywhere I heard the most appropriate and practical appreciation for our banking structure..it was possible for me to tell the last G-20 meeting, which was repeated by the Prime Minister in the summit at Toronto, that I do not agree with you that there should be

some sort of taxes on the banks to bring them to discipline," he said.

New Delhi's stand against any bank tax for funding future bailouts was vindicated when G-20 leaders last month agreed that any such levy should be left to individual nations.

Highlighting the importance of financial inclusion, he said, "it is my firm belief that inclusive economic growth is crucial for achieving sustainable economic development. Therefore, financial inclusion is an important goal for the government."

He further said it should be recognised that if growth is to be sustained in the medium- to long-term, it has to necessarily involve the common man as important stakeholders.

Retail banks making less on customers REUTERS MUMBAI, JULY 19

Retail banks are making less profit on average from customers since the financial crisis as price-sensitive consumers shop around and become more demanding, according to a report released on Monday.

The study by consultancy Accenture found that nearly half of top global retail banks had seen the average profit from customers fall between 5 and 15 percent. A further 11 percent said they had seen bigger declines.

Of the 46 executives interviewed for the study, more than half said customer loyalty had decreased. Most expected the lack of customer loyalty to continue in the long term.

June exports shoot up 30% to $17.8 billion PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

Exports remained robust with a 30.4 per cent annual growth in June at USD 17.75 billion, but were short of the impressive May performance, amidst apprehensions of the European debt trouble casting shadow on global trade.

In June 2009, exports had shrunk by about 28 per cent under the impact of the global financial meltdown.

"There is a problem in Europe...mood is not good out there in Europe," commerce secretary Rahul Khullar told newsmen here while releasing the June trade figures.

Though on a low base for comparison, in May exports had posted an impressive 35.1 per cent growth at USD 16.1 billion.

Imports for the month in-

creased 23 per cent to USD 28.3 billion, Khullar said, widening the country's trade deficit to USD 10.55 billion.

In the first quarter ended June, exports stood at USD 50.8 billion showing a growth of 32.2 per cent over the yearago period. Against this imports grew by 34 per cent to USD83 billion, leaving the country with a trade deficit of USD 32.2 billion.

The sectors which registered healthy growth in June include engineering (90 per cent), petroleum and oil products (66 per cent), gems and jewellery (24 per cent) and chemicals (41 per cent). However, exports of readymade garments contracted by 14 per cent in the month.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President A Sakthivel said the focus given

by the commerce ministry both for diversification of products as well as market has started yielding results.

To further boost exports, Sakthivel called for a special export credit rate under the new base rate regime, which came into effect from July 1.

The global economy slipped into major crisis from September-October 2008, impacting the country's exports particularly to the developed markets.

While the exports have recovered following turnaround in the global economy, they are still below the 2007-08 levels and the first half of 2008-09 fiscal.

The world's second fastest growing economy is aiming about 15 per cent export growth this fiscal, following a drop of 4.7 per cent in 200910.

264 special counters for I-T returns PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

The I-T department today said it will open 264 special counters from July 21-31 in the Capital and national capital territory region, to accept returns from individual taxpayers.

"The income tax department would set up 264 special counters to receive income tax returns at Mayur Bhawan and Pragati Maidan for the benefit of taxpayers," Income Tax Delhi Circle-I chief commissioner Meenakshi Singh said.

The Mayur Bhawan counters will be operational from July 2123 and from July 26-27, while the Pragati Maidan counters will be open from July 28-31.

She further the department expects to receive over 5 lakh returns in these two camps compared to 4.5 lakh last year. The last day for filing returns is July 31.

Nalco eyes Afghan mining sector PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

State-owned aluminium maker Nalco may show interest in developing mines in Afghanistan, which is expected to invite global bids soon for exploration of mineral deposits estimated to be worth USD one trillion. "Everybody should be keen on Afghanistan.

We are right now waiting and watching the situation there. Once the tender is floated.

Things would become transparent and clear," a senior Nalco official said. Nalco has joined industry peers like Vedanta Resources, Essar, Hindustan Copper which are eye-

ing mining assets in Afghanistan which is likely to seek global interest in the near future. ‘Afghanistan's mining resources are yet to be explored.

We are diversifying into other metals like copper, uranium, zinc," he said. Another PSU Hindustan Copper has also expressed interest in bidding for mines in the war-ravaged country.

Last month, Afghanistan Mines Minister Wahidullah Shahrani visited here and invited Indian companies, along with global majors like Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, to develop the country''s resources.

In its efforts to secure mining resources overseas, the alu-

minium PSU Nalco has already identified mineral assets in Chile, Namibia and Indonesia.

The Navratna company, listed and traded on the stock exchanges, is in the process of floating separate ventures in the foreign countries to buy out the reserves. In Chile, the company has identified a bauxite mine; in Namibia, a copper mine and in Indonesia, a coal block.

For copper resources, Nalco would bid jointly with Hindustan Copper. For uranium assets overseas, the company may join hands with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd, with whom it already has a joint venture to set up nuclear

power plants.

Nalco is in process of selecting advisers for such acquisitions. The adviser, likely to be selected by August, would be expected to help in scouting mineral reserves overseas for Nalco as well as completing such deals.

Nalco has cash reserves of Rs 4,400 crore to part fund its foreign ambitions. Besides, Nalco is scouting for resources in Mongolia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Senegal, Surinam, Zambia and Congo.

At present, the aluminium maker produces 1.6 million tonnes alumina from its refineries in Orissa. It produced 3.6 lakh tonne aluminium last year.

Gujarat for shipbuilding yards PTI AHMEDABAD, JULY 19

State government today said it has approved three projects to the tune of Rs 1,070 crore for development of shipbuilding yards off Gujarat coast line.

"Three projects of Rs 1,070 crore for development of shipbuilding yards have been approved by the Board, which include yards along the north bank of Narmada near Dahej, and old-port of Bhavnagar," Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) spokesperson said.

"Small to medium size vessels are proposed to be constructed by these private players at the approved sites," he said.

The three companies granted approval for developing shipbuilding yards are Modest Infrastructure at Nava Ratanpara in Bhavnagar, Dolphin Offshore at Jafrabad in Saurasthra and Bombay Marine at Koliyad near Dahej.

"The project in Bhavnagar by Modest is worth Rs 500 crore for which environment and coastal regulatory zone clearances have been received from GoI). Land is in possession of the shipbuilder and project implementation shall begin soon," GMB spokesperson said.

"Land acquisition is in progress for the yards proposed at Jafrabad and Koliyad to be developed by Dolphin Offshore and Bombay Marine with an estimated cost Rs 450 crore and Rs 120 crore respectively," he said.

The state govt has proposed to set up five marine shipbuilding parks (SMPs), of which projects for three SMPs along the coastlines of Bhavanagar and Dahej are being accorded priority by the board.

After taking the nation by storm last year, the cute ‘Zoozoos’ in Vodafone’s ad are slowly losing out on their novelty factor leading to the introduction of an animated parrot in the telecom giant’s latest commercials.

"When the Zoozoos were introduced, they were something out of the world. But it is not going to be the same now. It has become familiar to everyone, so it’s not going to surprise us each time," Rajiv Rao, national creative director of Ogilvy and Mather (O & M), the ad agency handling the campaign, said.

The simple, innocent and funny acts of the alien-like white, egg-headed creatures

with balloon bodies created a phenomenon in the Indian advertising industry.

Besides securing a number of awards, the adorable ‘Zoozoos’ quickly went on to become a darling of both the consumers and the advertising fraternity.

With more than six lakh fans on social networking site Facebook and lakhs of views on YouTube, their popularity, however, has failed to take a dip ever since they invaded television screens during the 2009 IPL matches.

But in the latest series of advertisements promoting its offering of a bonus card of Rs 4, Vodafone chose to create an animated parrot with actor Boman Irani’s voice-over. "We don’t want to overdo the

Zoozoos. We love them but at the same time, we didn’t want to get repetitive with them," the adman known as the father of the ‘Zoozoos’ said.

The ‘Zoozoos’, whose main motto was to showcase the various value added services (VAS) that the company provides, were not deemed fit to deliver the new advertising message of the brand.

"For each message, we look at it very differently. And in this one, the Zoozoos didn’t fit in.

The product is clearly on tariff, and that’s why we chose a different route," Rao said.

Vodafone Essar India’s vice president (marketing), Anuradha Aggarwal, indicated that the ‘Zoozoos’ were rested lest a fatigue factor might work against them.

"Using Zoozoos was not appropriate at this point. They are special and if we use them unnecessarily all the time then we are not going to do justice to them and on the message that we need to deliver. Therefore, we will keep doing different things," she said.

For Zoozoo fans, the good news is that the company seems to be in no mood to phase out the superstar characters now.

"The Zoozoos will not be phased out. The consumers have a lot of love for them.

They will not go anywhere, we will keep them alive," Aggarwal said when asked whether the company would bid farewell to them.

Adman Rao said they want to make sure that the next time viewers see ‘Zoozoos’, it

AGENCY CHENNAI, JULY 19

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) seems to be trying to micromanage the sector with its proposed measures on hiking the policy persistency (policy continuity/renewal) ratio, say life insurance industry experts.

In an exposure draft on persistency of life insurance policies, the IRDA has suggested a target of 20 policies per year for individual agents and a minimum first year premium income of Rs.150,000.

IRDA has also proposed nonrenewal of an agent's licence where the persistency ratio is less than 50 percent. Further, there shall be a disincentive for a lapse, in the form of commission clawback by the insurer on a proportionate basis.

Alternatively, a part of the first year commission shall be withheld and be paid based on persistency in later years, the draft suggests.

The regulator has called for comments from the Life Insurance Council, General Insurance Council, consumer organisations and the general public by July 31, 2010, while excluding the nearly three million agents.

'ULIPs accounting for nearly 85 percent of the industry's sales are sold by companies/ agents as a short-term investment product that can be encashed after the lock-in period.

The blame for this and other ills of plaguing the sector entirely rests with the IRDA,' R Ramakrishnan, a member of the Malhotra Committee on insurance reforms said.

'Even in the US and UK, only 10 percent of the life insurance

policies are held to maturity.

IRDA should not make the agents a scapegoat for its and life insurers' failures,' he added.

Ramakrishnan and other industry experts said if the IRDA wants to focus on policy persistency than it should fix the minimum persistency ratio for the life insurers and not for the agents.

Saying that data collected by IRDA should be interpreted properly, Ramakrishnan said the LIC's high persistency in Ulip is mainly due the fact that it sells single premium policies with two percent commission, whereas the private sector products are annual premium and the agency commission is 20%.

Officials of private life insurers said that procuring 20 policies by an agent is a tall task as the average productivity of an agent is 0.3 policies per month and an active agent may get one policy per month.

By prescribing productivity targets, IRDA is trying to 'micro-manage' the sector, is the unanimous views of a cross-section of industry officials that IANS spoke to. Agent targets are the prerogative of insurers, they said.

They said a large chunk of individual agency force will go out of the system and companies have to incur additional expenditure in recruiting new agents-around Rs 5,000 per agent.

IRDA data show that as on March 31, 2010, the total number of life insurance agents stood at around 2.9 million (private sector 1.58 million, LIC 1.4 million). Between Jan 2010 and March 2010, around 200,000 agents were added and around 240,000 agents deleted.

The number shows the indiscriminate manner the companies have been hiring agents and IRDA licensing them.

'As per IRDA's figure, there is one life insurance agent for every 333 Indians. However, if one takes out the below the poverty line population then the ratio of agents to population is very high. But weeding out the non-performers is the duty of the insurers,' Ramakrishnan said.

'It is time IRDA Chairman grill company CEOs and CFOs on the issues like expense overrun, low persistency, high agency and sales force churn and other core issues. If that happens things will fall in line,' a senior official of a Mumbaibased private life insurer told IANS, preferring anonymity.

Welcoming the IRDA's move on clawing back of the commissions paid on lapsed policies, an industry official said: 'The clawing back should be applicable to all intermediaries and not restricted to individual agents.'

Interestingly, the 61-month persistency ratio of individual agency channel for private life insurers for the three-year period 2004-05 to 2006-07 is around 50 percent, much higher than that of corporate agents (just below 45 percent), brokers (less than 40 percent).

The persistency of bancassurance channel (policies sold by banks) is above 50 percent.

'Any measure to improve the persistency is welcome. However, it should not be a kneejerk reaction. Perhaps a calibrated approach is what is wanted,' Secretary General of Life Insurance Council S B Mathur said.

SSWL plant in Jamshedpur PTI JAMSHEDPUR, JULY 19

Wheel rim major 'Steel Strips Wheels Limited' (SSWL) has set up a manufacturing plant in the steel city for supplying the parts to leading auto majors.

The plant, the third one by the group after Chennai and Chandigarh, was today inaugurated by Tata Steel managing director, Hemant M Nerurkar at Govindpur locality in Jamshedpur, near the Tata Motors plant.

Set up at a cost of Rs 140 crore over nine acres of land near Tata Motors, the plant will have an initial production capacity of one million wheel rims which will be upgraded to two million in mid-2011, SSWL group MD Group Dheeraj Garg said.

Garg said though the main customer of the plant will be Tata Motors, the wheel rims produced here would also be supplied to another leading automobile company Ashok Leyland and the export markets in Japan and Europe.

Expressing confidence that the company will become the number one automobile wheel manufacturer in the country with this expansion, he said SSWL was expecting to double the capacity by next year.

Also the cost of wheels produced by the company will comparatively cheaper, he told reporters.

While the total capacity of the company in India was presently 11 million, that will be enhanced to 15 million by March next year, he said adding that the expansion of Chennai unit, which presently has 2.5 million capacity, was going on.

The production at Chennai

Zoozoos rest, parrot does trick for Vodafone!

PTI MUMBAI, JULY 19

IRDA is micro managing life insurers: Experts

should, once again, be surprising, refreshing and clutterbreaking in the crowded media space.

"The challenge is to keep refreshing the brand, keep surprising the viewers, and not being repetitive," he added.

The company, however, is tightlipped on when will the old Zoozoos be back on television screens to entertain people.

To bring a fresh look to the brand and to communicate with changed target audiences, many brands have earlier killed their popular mascots.

Inextricably linked with Hutch, the endearing pug gradually disappeared from its advertisements as part of a re-branding exercise after Hutchison Essar was acquired

by Vodafone in 2007.

will be doubled following the completion of the ongoing expansion, which was expected to be over by the end of this fiscal, Garg said adding that the company has invested Rs. 45 crore for the expansion of the unit.

The production of the Chandigarh unit of the company was recently raised to 9 million from the existing 8 million, he said.

Referring to the company’s turnover during 2010-11, Garg said we are targetting to achieve a turnover of Rs 850 crore this fiscal against Rs 450 crore last year.

The company also set up the export target to Rs 120 to 125 crore this financial year, as compared to Rs 60-70 crore registered last year, he said.

The company have been procuring steel from Tata Steel as well as imported from MNCs like Arcellor Mittal and Posco.

Stating that SSWL produced wheel rims for all types of automobiles including heavy vehicles, he claimed that the rims produced by the company were low weight and

Actress Sonal Chauhan displaying ornaments during the inauguration of a jewllery showroom in New Delhi on Sunday.

GM mini-vehicle China JV unveils first car brand REUTERS SHANGHAI, JULY 19

General Motor's mini-vehicle venture in southern China unveiled its first car brand on Sunday as it aims at the fast-growing moderately priced segment of the car market.

SAIC-GM-Wuling plans to roll out a series of passenger cars under nameplate of Bao Jun or treasured horse in the near future, said its general manager, Shen Yang.

"Bao Jun is just the beginning. We will launch one new model per year carrying the same nameplate in the next few years. We will also develop SUVs and MPVs," Shen told reporters in Shanghai.

GM-SAIC-Wuling is a threeway venture between GM, SAIC Motor Corp and Liuzhou Wuling Automobile, whose workhorses are Wuling brand minivans and pick-up trucks.

Before Bao Jun, the Chevrolet Spark was the only car made at the venture.

Shen did not disclose the

price of Bao Jun, which is scheduled to hit the market before the end of this year.

Kevin Wale, president and managing director for GM's China operations, told Reuters that Bao Jun will compete with local brands.

SAIC president Chen Hong also considers Bao Jun complementary to its own, muchpricier portfolio, which includes the MG 6, Roewe 550 among others.

The top Chinese automaker has virtually the only domestic brands that have made some inroad into the country's lucrative medium-to-higher end segment, which is dominated by foreign brands.

Wuling could now be a platform for SAIC to compete with cheap, local brands made by Geely Automobile Holdings and Chery Automobile, Chen said previously.

Affordable and reliable Wuling cars, jointly developed by GM, SAIC and the venture, would also give the Chinese automaker a chance to compete

effectively in emerging markets.

"We will start selling MG 6 next year in the UK, but at the same time we will not give up any growth opportunity in developing markets such as southeast Asia," Chen told reporters.

Shen, however, did not provide a sales target for its passenger business. Bao Jun will be made at its plant in the southern city of Liuzhou, he added.

GM, which now holds 34 percent of SAIC-GM-Wuling, has been seeking to raise its stake in venture. It intends to buy the stake from Liuzhou Wuling, a subsidiary of SAIC, which holds 15.9 percent of the tie-up. SAIC's 50.1 percent will remain unchanged, Chinese executives had said.

Wale said negotiations with its partners are on-going but declined to elaborate.

GM also runs a car venture with SAIC and a light commercial vehicle venture with FAW Group.

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Pg14 GOA’S HEARTBEAT Flourishing in Leaps and Bounds boro zalear ganv “ Hanv boro - Anonymous

“

help a child with a task at which he “Never feels he can succeed - Maria Montessori

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

“

Tuesday, 20 July, 2010

Where there is a will, there is a way… is an age-old maxim that holds true in the case of farming.

Exemplifying this is Father Inacio Almeida SFX of Zagruti Nature Farm, a pioneer of farming methods in Goa and staunch promoter of hybrid farming awareness

The Montessori Way of life

S

The Montessori Method of schooling is said to be the best and one of the most effective ways of teaching. The worldwide teaching technique has come into India and of late, is making its presence felt in Goa as well the sounds of words. “We don’t start with teaching them the alphabets but start with the phonetics, which are pure sounds,” says Elda. Maths is the fourth area that they are taught, from the basic concepts of numbers and basic mathematical operations.

“The four areas are connected, like for instance when learning sensorial elements like putting two triangles to form a rectangle, the child also learns geometry which is a mathematical element,” explains Elda. “Apart from the four spheres we also have other classes like art and craft, music and drama, anything that will help the child develop over all,” say Singh.

The job of a Montessori teacher is not very easy, as dealing with children can be difficult.

“The teachers need training and need to be taught how to work with the different material and to keep up with the contemporary techniques, as a material is scientifically designed to help children to learn,” says Christine Alphonso, from the Happy Hearts Enrichment Centre in Porvorim. “The Montessori teacher should first and foremost love children, should be patient, be able to discipline the children gently and for this they should be disciplined themselves,” says Christine. “While choosing a teacher for my school, I first let the children interact with her and I observe how she interacts with them and only after I am satisfied that she can handle children only then comes the part of their qualifications,” says Singh who adds that the teacher should be able to go to the level of the children’s understanding.

The best part of the job is working with the children. “It’s real fun to work with the materials, and seeing these children grow from tiny toddlers to the children set to go to school is overwhelming,” says Elda. The Montessori Method brings out the best in the children and helps them achieve wholesome development.

­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E It's time for a renewal of your philosophy. Evaluate how you've changed this year. You are facing (21 Mar – 19 Apr) a big renewal of some kind -- maybe a literal contract renewal, maybe a new commitment to your mate or maybe some overdue spiritual growth. Embrace it; it shouldn't hurt much.

Try to think less about money and more about value. Quality is worth the extra cost. Your pos(23 Sep – 22 Oct) sessions are causing some weird issues today -- maybe someone else feels envy, maybe you feel trapped. It's time to clear out anything you don't need and prepare your space for new growth.

The best way to help someone is to listen and be sensitive about their concerns. You are prone (20 Apr – 20 May) to dark moods, and even if today is perfectly clear and sunny outside, you still carry your own storm cloud around with you. There's a silver lining, of course -- you're working through something big!

You need to have the strength to tell the truth when it is the hardest thing to do. Share your (23 Oct – 21 Nov) vision with those who know you best -- they can help you get where you need to go. Your energy is just right for assembling a team and moving forward to make a real difference in the world.

A sudden interest in the unknown will occupy your mind and satisfy your curiosity. You've got (21 May – 21 Jun) more going on today than anyone realizes -- and you may want to keep a few of your key insights to yourself. The advantage should be dramatic when you reveal all you know later on!

Things are getting very complicated. You may want to be alone to think this through. You're not (22 Nov – 21 Dec) usually that retiring, but today, you've got too much on your mind to mix and mingle. If you're forced to hang out at a party or nightclub, you're at your best going oneon-one.

Expect an increase in emotional intensity for a few days. Think calming thoughts. You may feel (22 Jun – 22 Jul) somewhat indecisive right now, but that just means you haven't finished collecting information. See if you can get your friends or colleagues to fill you in before you die of boredom!

If you want to make headway, focus on your objective. Ignore the distracting drama. Details (22 Dec – 19 Jan) are normally somewhat beneath you, but you're never afraid to roll up your sleeves and really get to work when you must. Today is all about making columns of numbers add up right.

Probing beneath the surface will only bring up dirt you don't need. Rise above things. Your family (23 Jul – 22 Aug) is important to you, especially on a day like today. You should reach out to someone close and make sure they know that you're there for them. They appreciate the gesture.

Don't ignore your need to feel socially useful. Investigate volunteer opportunities. You finally (20 Jan – 18 Feb) get the interview or date you've been craving -- but you may have a bit of stage fright! It's a good time to take a deep breath and remember who you really are.

Go for it!

It's time to roll up your sleeves and delve deeply into what you've been avoiding. Your emotional (23 Aug – 22 Sep) side is taking charge today -- and not a moment too soon!

You really need to make sure that your energy is spent on activities that are more deeply satisfying to your heart and soul.

An emotional upheaval will bring a much-needed change of direction to your life. Your profes(19 Feb – 20 Mar) sional life takes a turn for the weird today, as you find that someone you trusted turns on you -- though maybe in a minor way. It's a good time to re-evaluate all your relationships.

F

BY FEROZ FERNANDES arming is one of Goa’s oldest practised professions and efforts should be made to keep it alive. These efforts should come from different quarters, especially the public and government. Doing just that are the Pilar Fathers in Valpoi who have successfully implemented hybrid farming with the subsidy available from the Agriculture Department of the Government of Goa. Zagruti Nature Farm run by the Pilar Fathers since 2006 in Bhirondem, Valpoi has become a green paradise. Fallow land has seen the green shade even in summer. It’s a man made wonder.

Can you imagine seeing papayas on a two and half meter plant? Fr Inacio Almeida sfx said that this year, with the help of the Department of Agriculture, they have planted 1,500 new hybrid papaya saplings in the farm.

This year the farm has also planted a new variety of coconut saplings which starts yielding in years and one fruit can produce 3 glasses of tender coconut water, informed Fr Almeida. A hybrid coconut mixing Benaulim coconut variety with Andaman and Nicobar coconut has been worked out.

Goa Milk Dairy has subsidised one hector hybrid fodder to be planted for the purpose of the Govolli tribes living in Satteri in the farm. The Govollis who live in the forest do not have access to fodder and water for their cattle in the summer. This gesture by the government will be a big boost for milk production by the Govoliis.

Hybrid Palmolive plants which produce fruit in four years have already started to deliver in just two and half years. The farm is producing around 600kg of Palmolive seeds per month.

Not to forget the pineapple plants, over 5,000 pineapple plants were planted two years back which are already producing fruits. While with the concept of inter cropping, 2,000 Banana saplings were panted. Today the five feet plants are a delight to see with each banana bunch weighs around 40 kilos.

“

A 2,000 paradise tree nursThe farm is a pulpit and conery is being raised in the farm to promote multi use plants in fessionary, It is a pulpit as peoGoa. The farm already has planted ple come over here and witness over 1,000 trees in the last of couple the green miracle. The love for of years. nature and farming is felt by Fresh honey is available through the 14 honey bee boxes in the farm. The all who visit the farm honey bees enter the boxes and The farm is also a confessional. deposit the honey in the People who come here acknowlhoneycomb inside the box edge that they have inherited which is extracted through vast land from their forefathers a cylindrical container.

The farm has not lagged behind and they have kept it fallow. in promoting and planting rare medicinal They request plants to grow in plants and herbs which occupy 2 hectors their own farm - Fr Almeida of farm land.

After 25 years, a fallow land was cultivate with the help of the local farmers in the farm. “It’s a catchment area just above the bank of the River Madei,” informed Fr Almeida.

Although the Farm is on the banks of the River Madei, Fr Inacio has started water harvesting methods through the subsidy from the Forest department, thereby making good use of rain water and providing adequate irrigation for the farm.

“

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES chooling is an important part of any person’s life, and the beginning year of schooling life defines how the person will cope up with the rest of his journey with education. In order to make the best of the education given to a person he has to learn how to take in the maximum from what is taught. But what is taught from the books is not enough, what one needs is the allround development of the individual.

The Montessori Method of teaching concentrates on the all round development of the young minds. “Children at that age have a very open mind and we try to help the child develop in many spheres,” says Vanita Singh from the Kidzee School in Dabolim. “The child’s mind is like a sponge; it will absorb all that is presented to it, even later in life he is aware of all that is taught to him when he was young,” says Elda Dias form the Andre School.

The schools following the Montessori Method delve into the various aspects of a child’s growing up. “Our method of teaching is ‘learn by doing’, where the children are given material and are allowed to do the required tasks on their own, of course with the help from the teachers,” says Singh. This method of schooling teaches children to be independent. “The basic aim of this method of teaching, according to me, is to instil independence in the child,” says Rowena, another ‘directress’, as the teachers are called.

The schooling is divided into four major areas, which are practical exercises, sensorial, language and maths. Sometimes life can be really hard on the child especially when the parents are working and the child has to learn and develop his motor skills on his own. “The practical exercises cover this area, where the children are shown and are taught to carry out exercises as simple as pouring liquids into glasses or even putting on buttons and buckles,” explains Elda.

The sensorial part of teaching includes the development of the child’s senses. “We concentrate on all the senses, it includes a variety of activities that will help the child adjust to the daily life,” says Elda. The activities are based upon the perception of size, colour and shape.

The language aspects include the teaching of

(Lead picture) Fallow land that is cultivated after 25 years, New hybrid variety of papaya (top left), Father’s rainwater harvesting (below) Photos by Feroz Fernandes

Neil, Deepika get Street-smart for Upcoming Film W

hile shooting for Pradeep Sarkar’s ‘Lafangey Parindey’, Neil and Deepika really had a tough time during the training sequences. They were asked to work with rotten fish and the pungent smell was choking the entire team at the sets.

It was quite difficult for the stars to even stand on the sets with the rotten fish smell and the crew was searching for cloth to cover their mouth and nose.

In an interview, director Pradeep Sarkar revealed that initially he was not sure whether Neil is the right choice for the character named ‘One Shot Nandu’ as it demands to be suave and rogue. But now that he is now working with him, all his doubts seem to have cleared up.

Talking about

Deepika, Pradeep said that she is a perfect Pinky because she is a born winner. She is playing a blind girl in the film and every-time she internalised the blindness and before a take, she would often ask, “Dada, is the look right?”

The director also added that the film took time because the crew had to move for shooting to different places, in places as beautiful yet diverse like Varanasi and Switzerland. “‘Lafagey Parindey’ was filmed on sets and we kept to our schedule.

As far as interference goes, I’m from the ad world and I like to have sounding boards around me. So whether it was Vinod Chopra or Adi, I welcome suggestions,” said Pradeep Sarkar.

Yash Raj banner’s ‘Lafangey Parindey’ is about a group of youngsters living in the backstreets of Mumbai. It is an unusual love story of Nandu (Neil Nitin Mukesh) and Pinky (Deepika Padukone), whose path to love is paved by friendship, grit and hope.

The film is set to release on August 20 this year.

Jolie and Zeta Jones battle to play Elizabeth Taylor C

atherine Zeta Jones and Angelina Jolie are competing to play Dame Elizabeth Taylor in a Hollywood blockbuster about her love life. Industry sources have named Russell Crowe, Clive Owen and Colin Farrell, as possible Burtons.

Mike Nichols, the Oscar winning American director, reportedly wants to make the film, which would be based on the book ‘Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, and the Marriage of the Century’. Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger, the husband and wife who wrote the book, were given unprecedented access to a series of love letters written by Burton to Taylor during the course of their two marriages. They were also given an unpublished first draft of Taylor’s 1965 autobiography, as well as a portfolio of the screen siren’s favourite personal photographs, which are reproduced in the book.

Jolie, 35, and Zeta Jones, 40, had expressed an interest in playing Taylor.

Jolie has already been lined up to take on Taylor’s most famous role as Cleopatra.

It was while making the 1963 epic that Taylor met and fell in love with Burton.

She was already married and their public affair was condemned by the Vatican.

After divorcing Eddie Fisher, her third husband, in 1964, she married Welsh-born Burton.

Their stormy marriage lasted ten years, with Burton lavishing jewels and other extravagant gifts on his wife. A year after their 1974 divorce, the couple wed again, but this time the union

lasted just ten months.

Taylor went on to marry twice more. Now 78, she lives alone in Beverly Hills, California, and suffers from ill health. Burton died aged 58 from a brain haemorrhage at his home in Switzerland.

Catherine Zeta-Jones is also interested in playing the role. Both actresses would likely do a fantastic job, and it would be interesting to see how they would handle the character. ZetaJones has been making it very known that she is interested in the role and is prepared to do anything to receive it.

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT

CURR

Tuesday, 20 July, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

The birth anniversary of educationalist Professor Vinayak Jeevaj Mahatme will becelebratedonJuly22attheKalaAcademy, Panjim.

A Konkani Musical Programme on National Integrationheld under theTiatrAcademy of Goa’s (TAG) scheme, ‘Production of Musical Programmes on Patriotism/ National Integration/ Communal Harmony’ will be held onJuly27at7pmattheKalaAcademy,Panjim.

Call 2420452.

‘Enhancing Human Development Coverage: Skills for Reporting/Writing’, a 3-day journalism workshop, organised by the International Centre Goa, JM Foundation for ExcellenceinJournalism,GoaUnionofJournalists, MediaInformationandCommunicationCentre of India in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Stiftung will be held from July 24 to 26 at the International Centre, Dona Paula. Call 9765404391.

GoaMontessoriTeachersTraining,Porvorim is open for registration. Visit www.happyhearts.goa.com.Call9881077069, 2412616 or 9881077601.

Arugam Bay, a range of colourful flip flops

by Prasad Bidapa will be presented at a fashion show to be held on July 20 at 9pm at Cape Town Café, Baga.

A blood donation, eye check-up and diabeties detection camp, organised by the Panjim Ambulance and Welfare Trust and the blood bank of the Goa Medical College will takeplaceonJuly 24atHotel Manoshanti.

A physical fitness test for referees, conducted by the Goa Football Association will take place on July 25 at 6:30am at the PJN Stadium, Margao. Call 2225532‎.

Bonderam celebrations, organised by PiedadeYouthAssociation will be celebrated on August 28 at Divar Island.

AworkshoponcreativewritinginKonkani, organisedbytheFreddyJDaCostaMemorial Trust will take place on July 20 from 3:30pm to 5:15pm at Grace Church Hall, Margao.

Call 9764706080 or 9821228684.

A Konkani literary contest in the Roman

LAFFS

WORD OF THE DAY

congeries

Funny Quote

“I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her.”

– Rodney Dangerfield

Pronunciation KAHN-juh-reez Function Noun Meaning : aggregation, collection Example Sentence As the Harris sisters walked past the breakfast buffet, their nostrils were assailed by a congeries of appetising smells.

SUDOKU 609

script, organised by the Goan Review Art Foundation (GRAF) is open for registration till July 31. Call 2630139.

‘BasicinPhotography’,a6-dayphotography course by the Click Photography School will begin on July 26, every Monday to Saturday from 3.30pm to 6pm at Aquem, Margao.

There will also be a Sunday batch from August 1 from 10am to 1pm. Call 9822151419.

‘Giving Voice to India’, a music workshop conducted by soprano Patricia Rozario and pianist, writer, composer and broadcaster, Mark Troop will take place from July 27 to 31 at the KalaAcademy, Panjim. Visit www.associationsargam.com/march2010/patricia2010.html. E-mail diasfluis@yahoo.com.

Call 9011051950.

‘Behaviour Change Communication’, an interactive session will take place on July 21 from 6pm to 7:30pm at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. Call 9765404391.

How self-help groups are making differences in peoples lives in Goa will be the topic of discussion at the Friday Balcao session to be held on July 23 from 4pm tp 6pm at the Goa Desc Resource Centtre, Mapusa. E-mail goadesc@gmail.com.

Tailoring, machine and hand embroidery, crochet, flower making, fabric painting, candle making and bakery and cookery courses, organised by Caritas, Goa will be held from August for a period of 6 months at Dr Graciano de Santana Ribeiro Empowerment Centre, Porvorim. The courses are specially designed for the benefit and empowerment of women. Call 2416716 or 9765256547.

‘Yuva Goa 2020’, an incident writing competition,organisedbyHaunsTheatreTraining Centre, Ponda is open for registration till July 31. E-mail haunstheatre@rediffmail.com.

Call 9823229961 or 9823645380.

The third painting workshop of 15 artists fromMumbai,Baroda,Delhi,Kolkata,Ahmedabad, Kochi and Goa is being held till July 25 at the Kerkar Art Complex, Calangute. It is organised by Gallery Beyond, Mumbai and the Kerkar Art Complex. Call 2276017.

DAILY GROOK FLOWER SHOWER

by Francis Rodrigues our baker's a hippy their kid runs wild, covered with pastry a real flour child!

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Pg15

Dalgado Konknni Akademi celebrates Founder’s Day

D

HERALD FEATURES algado Konknni Akademi (DKA) in collaboration with Tiatr Akademi of Goa (TAG) celebrated the birth centenary of DKA’s founder, late Fr Freddy J da Costa on July 19, 2010. The function was held at Tiatr Akademi Goa’s Auditorium, Campal, in the presence of Jose Salvador Fernandes, Secretary of DKA, Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG, Fr Conceicao D’Silva, Parish Priest of Carambolim Church and Premanand Lotlikar, Director of DKA. The function began with a cultural programme featuring tiatr artists Succor de St Cruz and his daughter, Sonia Fernandes singing songs like ‘Goemchi Girastkai’, ‘Mobile’, ‘Teen Part Jivitache’ and ‘Niz Goenkar’ and comedians Pitush, Agnel and Fatima took the audience on a laugh riot.

“Fr Freddy was the dynamic founder president of Dalgado Konknni Akademi. He was very motivated and loved working for promoting Romi Konkani. The true way of celebrating his day will be encouraging the younger generations to read and write in Romi Konkani. As a priest, he involved himself in sociocultural movements. Next year onwards, we plan to celebrate his day with a new concept, said Premanand Lotlikar.

Birth Centenary Celebration for Professor V J Mahatme HERALD FEATURES ast students and trustee members of the Institute of Instruction, Panjim addressed a press conference in the city yesterday. It was held to pay tribute to one of Goa’s leading educationists, Professor Vinayak Jeevaj Mahatme, founder of the then Institute de Instruciao, currently, Institute of Instruction, Panjim’s second school after the Lyceum to provide an English medium education, post Liberation.

The ex-students of the Institute of Instuction, Panjim Dr Ramesh Dhume, Vavan Bhate, Rajan Bhatikar, Manguirish Pai Raikar and Shakuntala Mahatme and Vallabh Prabhu, the last two being main trustee and member trustee, respectively and ex-students too gave details of the birth centenary celebration. The tribute function is to be held on July 22 at 5:30pm at the Black Box of the Kala Academy, Panjim.

The chief guest for the function will be Shashikala Kakodkar, former Chief Minister and the keynote address will be given by advocate M S Usgaonkar, who also taught at the school. There will also be a ‘sugam sangeet’ by professional musicians.

Before this, his ex-students present sang the Professors praises and fondly remembered their days with him.

P

The Fusion of Melody and Emotion

Among his many achievements he is highly credited for starting the Institute de Instruciao in 1933, rehabilitating the youth, holding the school together during its post-Liberation, transitional period from Portuguese medium to English, for commencing a night school in 1962 and his immense help to underprivileged children.

Listening to the narrations from the ex-students, it can be deduced that the Professor was a dedicated and exceptional teacher who gave his students character along with an education that would hold value for life. He believed that everyone must have an opportunity to learn, such was his motive behind the opening of the school. He was teacher to students who would later become leading members of society. It was also learnt that he was a master in science, physics, mathematics, chemistry and space geometry.

Plans to shift the school from its current premise which is in three separate buildings, to a single, newly constructed building, by availing of the governmental super school complex education programme for schools in Panjim are in the pipeline, informed the ex-students present. This was the Professors lifelong dream.

Photos by Chiquitita D’Sousa

A Break from Legalities – A Peek into History

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 608 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

GARFIELD

HERALD FEATURES inus the Gavel and Wig: Justice N A Britto, Justice A Oka and Justice F Reis, judges of the High Court – Bombay, at Goa, visited Ancestral Goa at the Big Foot in Lotoulim on Sunday, July 18, 2010. They were taken around the project by Karishma Alvares, daughter of the owner and the owner Maendra Alvares himself.

The guests were shown how man lived in harmonious co existence with the ecology and had a co habitant relationship with nature, the rural customs, traditions and the ethnic life style which is depicted in a frozen form at the project.

They also visited the Cross Museum, which houses over 1082 crosses from the world over. Justice Britto exclaimed that this was a very impressive and exclusive collection.

They also stopped by The Big Foot Art Gallery and witnessed Maendra’s exhibition ‘GREEN’ that hosts a variety of works done with mixed media that includes umbrellas, wood, metal and paint.

“It was a truly unforgettable experience,” penned Justice Oka.

M SOUTH POLE HERALD FEATURES n ‘A’ level music holder at the Chetam’s School of Music, Manchester, Britain and current student at the Royal Northern College of Music also in Manchester, Master W P Julian Clef, student of Professor Murray Mc Lanchlan gave a piano recital over the weekend at the Kala Academy, Panjim. He played a number of pieces to an appreciative audience. His performance was laced with melody and emotion.

A

10:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 11:00 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 11:30 Behenein 12:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat 15:30 Behenein 15:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 Tere Liye 18:30 Sabki Laadli Bebo 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Tere Liye 22:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

10:30 Aahat 11:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 11:30 Boogie Woogie Kids 12:30 Indian Idol : Extra 13:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 13:30 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 14:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 14:30 Aahat 15:00 C.I.D 18:00 Comedy Circus Ke Superstars 19:30 Godh Bharaai 20:00 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 20:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00 Indian Idol: Result 22:00 Indian Idol : Extra 22:30 Aahat

11:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Choti Bahu 14:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 15:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 15:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 16:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 16:30 Choti Bahu 17:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 17:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 18:00 Pavitra Rishta 18:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 19:00 Ghar Ghar Mein 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 22:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 22:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan

11:15 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 12:00 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Papad Pol 14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

14:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma zAllahabadwale 15:00 Lapataganj 15:30 FIR 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

16:30 Papad Pol 17:00 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 17:30 Gutar Gu

08:55 The Cry of the Owl 10:55 Say It Isn't So 12:55 Diamonds are Forever 15:20 The X-Men 17:25 Horton Hears a Who! 19:15 All The Boys Love Mandy Lane 21:00 Babylon A.D. 22:55 A View to a Kill

08:15 Jai Santoshi Maa 11:40 Diljale 15:55 Baap Numberi Beta Dus Numberi 20:00 X Men 22:40 Deewana Mastana

09:30 Parichay 12:30 Resham Ki Dori 16:00 Patth 20:00 Yahaan 10:00 Animals 12:00 Crocodile Dundee Il 14:15 Beethoven's 2nd 16:15 Turbulent Skies 18:00 TMZ 18:30 Timeline 21:00 The Core 23:45 Mamma Mia!

11:15 Clay Pigeons 13 :25 S.W.A.T.

15:45 A Chinese Tall Story 18:20 White Squall 21:00 Laws of Attraction 23:05 How To Go Out on a Date in Queens

08:30 Bichhoo 12:00 Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rehta Hai 16:00 Teesra Kaun?

20:00 Dil

12:00 Nagina Ek Vardaan 16:00 Saudagar 20:00 Mujhse Shaadi Karogi

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

18:30 Papad Pol 19:00 Lapataganj 19:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Papad Pol 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 21:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale

12:30 Dill Mill Gayye 13:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 13:30 Geet 14:00 Rang Badalti Odhni

14:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 15:00 Jaan 18:30 Star One Horror Nights 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni

11:00 CSI: NY : Pot of Gold 12:00 World Records Smashed 13:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 14:00 Top Chef 15:00 Whacked Out Sports

15:30 Slamball 17:00 The Amazing Race 18:00 David Blaine : Magic Man 19:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 19:30 Total Wipeout 21:00 So You Think You Can Dance 22:00 Caught on Camera

10:00 How I Met Your Mother 10:30 The Simpsons 11:00 V.I.P 12:00 Friends 12:30 White Collar 13:30 America's Got Talent 15:00 Desperate Housewives

16:00 The Simpsons 16:30 Friends 17:00 White Collar 18:00 V.I.P 19:00 Glee 20:00 The Simpsons 20:30 How I Met Your Mother 21:00 Friends 21:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

22:00 White Collar

10:00 2010 FIFA World Cup Semifinal 1: Uruguay vs.

Netherlands 12:00 GT 4 : Rounds 1 & 2 13:00 2010 FIFA World Cup: Semifinal 2: Germany vs. Spain 15:00 International Motorsport News 2010 16:00 TNA Xplosion 17:00 Hitz 17:30 Engine Block 2010 18:00 TNA Impact 20:00 FIA Wtcc 2010 H/ls 20:30 Golf Focus 2010 21:00 Score Tonight 21:30 TNA Impact

10:30 Uca/uda College Cheer leading & Dance Championship 11:00 Open Championship 2010 14:00 Uca/uda College Cheer leading & Dance Championship 15:55 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Germany 2010 : Group Stage: Germany vs.

France 17:00 Uca/uda College Cheer leading & Dance Championship 17:55 FIFA U-20 Women's World

Cup Germany 2010 20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 Classic Boxing : Roberto Duran: The Early Years 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia 23:00 Uca/uda College Cheer leading & Dance Championship

09:00 2010 India tour to Sri Lanka : Preview 10:00 2010 India tour to Sri Lanka : 1st Test Day 3 17:00 2010 India tour to Sri Lanka: 1st Test Day 3 17:30 WWE: After Burn 18:30 Motorsport Mundial 19:00 Real NBA 19:30 Moto GP H/ls : Eni Motorrad Grand Prix Deutschland 20:30 2010 India tour to Sri Lanka H/ls : 1st Test Day 3 22:30 WWE: After Burn

07:30 Flavors 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Disha 12:00 HCN Smash Hitz 12:30 Flavors 13:00 English News 14:00 Khel Tiatr 16:00 HCN Smash Hitz 16:30 Flavors 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Fusion Concert 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Straight Talk 22:00 English News 23:00 In conversation with 23:30 Konkani Songs Note: Subject to change

HERALD CROSSWORD - 609 Across 1- Remove a covering; 6- Thick slices; 11- Deli order; 14- New Zealand evergreen tree; 15Fungal infection; 16- Hi-___ monitor; 17- Everglades bird; 18- Staggering; 19- Eggs; 20Relative by marriage; 22- "Lou Grant" star; 24- Milky; 28- Vestiges; 29- Not us; 30- Ice cream substitute; 32- One of a matching pair; 33- For all to hear; 35Fleshy fruit; 39- Domesticated; 40- Aurora's counterpart; 41Jason's ship; 42- City near Provo; 43- Passover feast; 45Orsk's river; 46- Prepares for publication; 48- Slanted; 50Abduct; 53- Curtain calls; 54Become less intense, die off; 55- Golfer Calvin; 57- Apiece; 58- Waggish; 60- Unadorned; 65- Amigo; 66- Slender part of the leg; 67- Nicholas Gage book; 68- Doc bloc; 69- Stratum; 70- Wise ones; Down 1- Luau instrument; 2- Henpeck; 3Cad or heel; 4- 100 square meters; 5- One who feels bad; 6- Stable compartment; 7- Currency of Turkey, and formerly of Italy; 8Again; 9- Apian; 10- Payment for regular work; 11- Rodeo horse; 12Embankment; 13- Autocratic Russian rulers; 21- American space agency; 23- Brazil's largest city; 24- Numbers game; 25- Fighting; 26- Gong; 27- Pre-war apartment; 28- Director Browning; 30- Nourishment; 31- Subterfuge; 34- Inter-

net writing system that popu- SOLUTION - 608 larized "pwn3d" and "n00b"; 36- Diamond flaw?; 37- Godly love; 38- Actor's parts; 43- Little drink; 44- Tirade; 47Labyrinthine; 49- Views; 50Tenth letter of the Greek alphabet; 51- Steel girder; 52"Our Gang" girl; 53- Conger catcher; 55- Small and cramped; 56- Fashion mag; 59- Genetic messenger; 61According to; 62- Small cask; 63- Chemical ending; 64Bad-mouth;

SPORTS GOA, Tuesday, 20 July, 2010

Pg16 Barath, Vidula champs

Prize winners of U-9 selection chess tournament and players with Mauvin Godinho, Prakash Shinde, Aparna Naik, Ashish Keni, M. R. Naik, Anita Thorat, Arvind Mhamal, P P Insulkar, Kishore Bandekar, Balakrishna, Premnath Naik.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 19

Barath M won the boys title scoring 6 points while in the girls section, Vidula Dempo won against Aditi Prabhugaonkar to take the top spot in the State under-19 chess tournament at Janata Vachnalaya, Vasco.

Barath lost the last game to K. Tushar in the last round but the gallant victories in the earlier rounds were enough for him to be champion. After beating Barath M., K. Tushar clinched the second spot.

In the girls category Aditi had to settle for the second spot.

Vidula won all the games and scored 5 points out of 5.

The top two players in boys and girls categories will represent Goa at the Nationals to be held in Gujarat in September.

Following are the prize winners.

Boys - 1st Barath M.(6), 2nd K. Tushar(6), 3rd Rajaryan Kuvelkar(5.5), 4th Eeshan Gad (5), 5th Stanford Pereira(5) and

6th Aniket Naresh Naik (5).

Girls: 1st Vidula Dempo (5), 2nd Aditi Prabhugaonkar(4), 3rd Pranali Desai (4), 4th Sakshi Naik Gaonkar (4), 5th Swera Braganza (4) and 6th Sachi Bandodkar (3).

In the boys category there was a tie between Barath M. and K.Tushar as both the players scored 6 each. Also there was tie for 4th, 5th and 6th positions as Eeshan Gad, Stanford Pereira and Aniket N. Naik scored 5each.

In girls category there was a tie for 2nd to 5th positions as Aditi Prabhugaonkar, Pranali Desai, Sakshi Naik Gaonkar and Swera Braganza scored 4 each.

However, applying Bucholz tiebreaking system they were placed from 2nd to 5th positions. There was also a tie for 6th position as 6 players scored 3 each. Due to application of the tie-breaking system Sachi Bandodkar was placed 6th.

Local special prizes were awarded to Anirudh Parsekar in boys and Saloni Parab in girls

section.

Nitish Belurkar, Rajaryan Kuvelkar, Riddhi Zantye, Pranali Desai were felicitated by chief guest Mauvin Godinho, Deputy Speaker for their outstanding performance at National and International levels. Also cash prizes of Rs.11,000 from Manda and Nana Bandekar Charitable Trust and trophies from Bank of Maharashtra were presented to the winners.

Prakash Shinde, assistant general manager, Bank of Maharashtra (Goa region), Aparna Naik, Zilla Parishad member (Sancaole), M. R. Naik, president ,Vasco Chess Club, Ashish Keni president GCA, Arvind Mhamal, secretary GCA, Kishore Bandekar, treasurer GCA were present. M. R Naik welcomed. Anita Thorat compered and proposed the vote of thanks.

Part sponsorship was provided by Prabhakar Naik of Vishal Ore Carriers Ltd, Kishore and Vandana Bandekar, BhojrajNaik, Ajay Thorat and M.R. Naik.

Goa girls unlucky HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JULY 19

Goa U-19 girls narrowly missed on qualifying for the quarter-finals of 9th Junior Nationals at Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh after losing on goal difference.

Goa defeated Kerala 3-1 but in the other tie, Sikkim defeated Himachal Pradesh 30-0 to put paid to Goa's hopes.

Sikkim as well as Goa finished with seven points each, but Sikkim had a plus 34 goal difference to Goa’s plus 26.

Goa opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Valerie Cardoza. Cassandra Fernandes doubled the lead eight minutes later.

Captain Stessi Cardoza scored for the third game in succession in the 60th minute.

The match was delayed by one hour due to the heavy rain.

Goa coach Maymol Rocky stated, “The girls played so well and won the match but in the end it was our bad luck losing on an inferior goal difference."

Samir Noronha, who won two bronze medals in m springboard and 3, sprinboard diving at 37th Junior National and 27th Sub-Junior National Aquatic Championships in Bangalore.

PY Nuvem sail into semis HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JULY 19

Parish Youth, Nuvem prevailed over Football Club of Siolim 54 via the tie-breaker after both teams were involved in a 1-all draw to move into the semi-finals of Vagator Parish Youth Trophy Inter-V illage football tournament organised by Vagator Parish Youth at Ozrant ground, Vagator on Monday.

Siolim began on a promising note and took the lead in the 8th minute through Domnic D'Souza off a Melroy D'Souza pass.

Down by a goal, Nuvem fought

back and could have equalised in the 12th minute but Xavier Colaco shot wide off Neves Noronha. Neves Noronha made amends for the earlier miss by his colleague scoring in the 20th minute off a Jose Colaco move to bring his team on level terms.

C h a n g i n g o v e r, S i o l i m mounted pressure on Nuvem defense and could have forged ahead in the 45th minute through Vinay Pednekar header but Nuvem keeper Flyod Colaco came up with a brilliant save.

Nuvem did not lag behind and

attacked the Siolim citadel time and again but failed to score.

Daniel Colaco almost scored the winner for Nuvem in the dying minutes but the ball hit the post and went out of play.

With scores even, the winners were decided on penalties.

Parish Youth Nuvem got the better of Football Club of Siolim 43. Neves Noronha, Daniel Colaco, Xavier Colaco and Cristo Colaco converted for Parish Youth, Nuvem while Francis Fernandes, Melroy D'Souza and Sarvesh Shirodker were on target for Siolim.

Bulpin to take charge of India U-19 in I-League PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

Vagator Parish Youth soccer quarters: Milagres Sports Club, Mapusa v. Candolim Sports Club, Ozrant ground, Vagator, 4.30 p.m

Former Philippines national team manager Desmond Bulpin is set to take charge of the Indian Under-19 football side which will be fielded in the ILeague from the coming season, according to AIFF sources.

Englishman Bulpin was recommended to the All India Football Federation by the national coach and Bulpin's compatriot Bob Houghton for the job.

Bulpin was former manager of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers and youth team coach at English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur where he discovered England international strikers like Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.

Bulpin met with All India Football Federation top brass at the AIFF headquarters on Monday

and will be in Goa on Tuesday to have a first interaction with the players now based there.

“Bulpin is in the country and he will take formal charge shortly. He will meet the players in Goa," a top AIFF source said.

Fifty-nine-year-old Bulpin has more than 25 years of coaching experience at the top level and he had a stint with top Singapore side Tampine Rovers.

Before leaving for a twomonth training tour of 29 national players to Portugal for the preparations of 2011 Asian Cup, Houghton had said that Bulpin will take over the Under19 side soon.

The Under-19 side plays an important part in AIFF's scheme of things with the federation planning to groom the players for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Games for athletes, not officials: Gill AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JULY 19

The pull-out of prominent international athletes less than three months before the Commonwealth Games has not gone down well with Sports Minister, M S Gill.

A day after Beijing Olympic gold-medallist, Chris Hoy of Scotland became the latest athlete to withdraw from the October 3-14 event, Gill expressed strong displeasure and said he would tell Commonwealth Games Federation President, Mike Fennell to look into the matter.

“Drifting away from the

games by stars like Hoy, (Usain) Bolt and (Shelly Ann) Fraser is not a good sign. Sportsmen are stars that fans come out to see and they determine the success of a sporting event,” he said, and added that the country did not want CWG to just become “the meeting ground of sporting officials from around the world”.

“There is no need for Fennell to bring an army of officials if the athletes don't participate,” he said at the inauguration of the Dr SP Mukherjee Sports Complex. The matter will also be discussed at the Commonwealth Nations' Sports Ministers meet on October 4.

Pg17

SPORTS GOA, Tuesday, 20 July, 2010

Goalline tech off FIFA’s Cardiff menu REUTERS LONDON, JULY 19

Goalline technology will not be discussed by soccer’s law-makers in Wales this week, despite an assurance from FIFA President Sepp Blatter during the World Cup that it would be.

The technical sub-committee of the International Football Association Board (IFAB)—soccer’s law-making body—will meet in Cardiff on Wednesday.

However, there will only be one item on the agenda which was set in May—the continuing experiment with additional assistant referees behind the goals as trialled in the Europa League last season.

Following England’s disallowed goal against Germany in the second round of the World Cup on June 27, Blatter said “it would be a nonsense not to re-

open the file on goalline technology”. “ We w i l l l o o k a g a i n a t goalline technology at the business meeting of the IFAB in Cardiff in July,” Blatter promised.

But a FIFA statement on Monday confirmed: “the only point on the agenda will be the review and eventual approval of the requests made by various confederations and member associations of FIFA to implement the experiments with two additional assistant referees for (the next two seasons).”

The debate was re-ignited after a shot from England midfielder Frank Lampard landed a metre over the goalline after hitting the bar but was not spotted by the referee or his assistant despite millions around the world seeing clearly a legitimate

AGENCIES BERLIN, JULY 19

goal had been scored.

The earliest date for any debate about goalline technology would be at the next IFAB business meeting in October.

Any law-changing decision on goal-line technology would not be taken until IFAB’s next annual meeting in March next year.

IFAB, which conisists of one representative from each of the four British associations and four from FIFA, rejected the implementation of goalline technology in March.

IFAB sanctioned the first experiment with goalline technology in 2006, but a chip-in-the-ball system used at the World Under-17 championships and Club World Cup matches in 2007 proved inconclusive and has not been used since.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa denied compatriot Jorge Lorenzo a fourth win in a row at the German MotoGP on Sunday while world champion Valentino Rossi narrowly missed a podium finish on his return from a broken leg.

Honda rider Pedrosa, second in the standings, finished 3.355 seconds ahead of Yamaha's championship leader Lorenzo, who had started on pole but had to settle for second place in a re-started race following a crash on lap nine at the Sachsenring.

Rossi, returning just six weeks after he broke his leg, finished fourth after being edged out by Australian Casey Stoner at the

Mother of Ronaldo’s baby is American waitress AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

The mother of Cristiano Ronaldo's baby boy is a penniless American waitress, who had a one-night stand with the footballer, it has emerged.

According to a friend, last summer, on a trip to Los Angeles, Ronaldo strutted into a re s t a u r a n t a n d s p o t t e d a woman.

"Ronni looked the girl in the eye and said extremely directly: 'Me, you, f*** f***,'" the Mirror quoted the friend as saying.

"She was taken aback and just said: 'What!' She didn't actually understand what he meant. She was totally nonplussed

Liverpool sign Joe Cole AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

Liverpool have signed Joe Cole on a four-year deal - subject to a medical - following his release

by Chelsea.

The 28-year-old England midfielder left Stamford Bridge in June after failing to agree a new contract with the Premier League champions.

He was linked to Arsenal and Tottenham but has opted for Liverpool, who failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Cole's arrival follows winger Yossi Benayoun's move from Anfield to Chelsea for an undisclosed fee in July.

The West Ham academy graduate becomes Liverpool 's second summer signing after Serbia forward Milan Jovanovic arrived on a three-year contract from Standard Liege.

Cole joined Chelsea from West Ham for £6.6m in 2003 and scored 40 goals in 282 appearances, winning three Premier League titles and two FA Cups.

In June he claimed unspecified "political rather than footballing reasons" had led to his departure, but he insisted manager Carlo Ancelotti had nothing to do with it.

"It is not financial and it is nothing to do with Carlo," Cole said at the time. "I love Carlo. I think he is a top guy and a top manager.”

"I loved my time at Chelsea, I love the fans but it is a story for another day and I will tell it but now is not the time."

After recovering from 10 months out with a ruptured cruciate ligament, Cole grew frustrated at having to settle for a bit-part role in his final season at London club.

He was mainly used as a substitute and, when he did play, Ancelotti mainly deployed him in a wide position.

Pedrosa wins German MotoGP, Rossi 4th

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa celebrates victory on the podium.

"The window by his table was steamed up, so he drew a love heart on it with his finger. Then he said, 'Me, you, kiss,' and the penny dropped.

"That's typical Ronni -- he pretends his English is terrible when it suits him, and he comes straight to the point. It was just yet another one-night stand and Ronnie assumed he would never see her again," the friend added.

However, after finding out she was pregnant, and convinced that Ronaldo was the father, the woman tracked him down through his agent, Jorge Mendes.

Mendes told Ronaldo, who immediately told his mother Dolores, 55, and sisters Elma, 34, and 33-year-old Liliana Catia.

It was agreed that Ronaldo would give DNA for a paternity test once the baby was born and provide support for the mother and child if it proved to be his.

The friend said: "Ronni is a multi-millionaire playboy, but when it comes to family, he's very much his mother's son.

"They are a close-knit, traditional ¬Roman Catholic family and the minute paternity was established there was absolutely no doubt that Ronni would be doing the right thing.”

"There was simply no question of him walking away. Even if he had wanted to, Dolores just would not have entertained it for one moment.”

"This is her grandchild and there was only one option for the child's upbringing -- with her and her daughters in Portugal. The child's mother would be properly provided for to enable her to live a life in keeping with the upbringing the child will have.”

"Ronni has not decided whether to involve the mother in his son's life. He thinks he might tell him who she is.”

"Dolores's view is that if the child eventually decides to make contact with the mother, it is important she is living an affluent lifestyle," the friend added.

I’ve lost a lot more than won: Tiger Woods AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

Tiger Woods was delighted with his performance from tee to green and in despair over his putting after the British Open final round on Sunday.

"I drove it great all week, hit my irons pretty good and did not putt well except for the first day," the world number one told reporters after a closing 72 gave him a three-under tally of 285.

"I feel satisfaction in the sense I drove it on a string all week and hit my irons pretty good (but) you just can't play and expect to win golf tournaments if you have nine or 10 three-putts for a week.”

"No one can win doing that," added Woods. "Driving-wise it's better than it's been in years. Iron play, not quite as sharp as I need to have it, and my putting is way off.

"I've got to clean that up before I tee it up again."

At the start of the week Woods took the radical step of ditching the putter he had used for 11 years in favour of a new Nike model.

The 34-year-old American put the old wand back in his bag on Sunday but was unable to exorcise the putting demons that had haunted him for the previous two rounds at St Andrews.

"The greens were a little bit faster today than they were the first day," said Woods. "I just didn't feel comfortable with my speed so I went back to my old

putter.

"That's just the way it goes. I'm not going to win all of them, I've lost a lot more than I've won."

The 14-times major champion, who was attempting to capture a record third St Andrews Open after lifting the Claret Jug here in 2000 and 2005, said he needs to be less erratic than he has been of late.

"I've got to keep building, keep putting things back to where they're more consistent day in and day out," said Woods who also won the third major of the year at Hoylake in 2006.

"But just like today, got to not have those holes where it breaks momentum," he said, referring to two double bogeys he suffered on the front nine.

"Once I build some positive momentum I've got to keep that going."

The second of his double bogeys came at the par-four seventh where he was up against the wall of a fairway bunker. Woods then had to play back down the fairway before he pitched short and three-putted.

Woods may have started the week wondering about the reception he would receive from the Scottish fans as a result of the revelations over his extra-marital affairs last year.

He need not have worried.

"The people were great, fantastic. Unfortunately I wasn't in the lead but still it was very warm," the American said.

I won’t blame Cesc for leaving: Henry AGENCIES NEW YORK, JULY 19

Thierry Henry has said he would understand if Arsenal skipper C e s c Fa b re g a s re t u r n s t o Barcelona this summer.

Spain international Fabregas has consistently been linked with a move back to the club Arsenal signed him from as a teenager, with Barca's interest firming since the end of last season.

"It is hard because the guy is from Barcelona. I wouldn't like to be in his shoes that's all I can say," Henry told Radio Five's Sportsweek programme.

"I wouldn't like to be in his position because he is from there and he loves Arsenal.”

last corner for the final podium place.

With eight races completed and 10 rounds of the championship to go, Lorenzo leads with 185 points. He has won five races and finished no worse than second all season.

Pedrosa has 138 and Italian Andrea Dovizioso is third with 102 points.

Lorenzo led until the race was red-flagged when Frenchman Randy de Puniet crashed at turn four, his bike bursting into flames in the middle of the track, and brought down Spaniards Aleix Espargaro and Alvaro Bautista.

De Puniet, who had also crashed heavily in qualifying, suffered a broken left leg according to the championship

Former hockey star assaults umpire AFP CHENNAI, JULY 19

Ex India hockey player Sunil Ekka whipped out his hockey stick and struck umpire RS Suriya Prakash during a game between Army XI and ONGC at the AllIndia MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup. The outburst was an outcome of Prakash’s decision to issue Army XI’s Preetinder Singh a second green card after his altercation with ONGC’s Mukesh Kumar.

As a result of Singh’s dismissal, Ekka got into a tussle with the match official and hit him on the back of his head which left him seriously injured and Prakash was later rushed to the hospital.

"I've been officiating at the national level for the last 21 years and have never come across such behaviour. Sunil has played for India and represents

the Army but he obviously lacks discipline,” said Prakash.

According to the International Hockey Federation’s code of conduct, ambushing an official is a Level 2 offence. “Sunil Ekka has been banned from the rest of the tournament. Once we get the report from the match officials, we will take a final decision,” claimed tournament director Mohammad Muneer.

"I am also going to send my report to Hockey India. As this is an all-India tournament, we can't ban him for six months, but HI has the right to impose the maximum (six-month) ban on him. This is unacceptable behaviour. Our national game is already in a quagmire and such incidents can only hurt the sport," Muneer added.

ONGC later went on to clinch the prestigious hockey cup 3-1.

website.

Espargaro, who was not among just 13 riders taking the re-start, was later diagnosed with a cracked vertebra.

After a 25-minute delay for the track to be cleaned up, Pedrosa re-grouped after the restart to claim a lead he never relinquished while Rossi fought side by side with Stoner for third place.

Spanish riders won all three categories with Toni Elias taking his third Moto2 win of the season to extend his overall lead to 42 points over Switzerland's Thomas Luthi.

In the 125cc class, 17-yearold Marc Marquez's dominance continued with his fifth win in a row for a 26-point lead in the championship.

Somdev back to career-best ranking AGENCIES NEW DELHI, JULY 19

A semi-final appearance at the Aptos Challenger tournament helped India's Somdev Devvarman rise back to his career-best singles ranking of 103 in the ATP charts.

Somdev lost to Donald Young in the last four stages but the effort was enough to jump two places up.

Yuki Bhambri, who has resumed practice after nursing a broken ankle, has lost 14 positions to slip to 489th spot.

In the doubles chart, veterans Leander Paes (6) and Mahesh Bhupati (7) kept their places in t h e t o p - 1 0 w h i l e Ro h a n Bopanna rose a rung to careerbest 38.

Meanwhile, a struggling Sania Mirza gained a position to be at 131 in the WTA singles chart.

Hard work starts now: Wenger AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

Arsene Wenger will take his Arsenal squad out to a 10-day training camp in Austria insisting the hard work starts now.

Wenger will look to mould them into a team capable of winning a first Barclays Premier League title since 2004.

The Gunners boss ran the rule over summer signings Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh during pening pre-season friendly at power League Two outfit Barnet, where youngster Jay Simpson netted a double in a 4-0 win.

Wenger changed his entire line-up at half-time, and used three goalkeepers, although Manuel Almunia - whose position as Arsenal number one is by no means secure - was not available because of illness.

It was a welcome change for the Arsenal manager to get back to football following a summer of continued speculation over the future of captain Cesc Fabregas, which Wenger maintains must now stop.

While Fabregas, who has five

Capello will axe Terry: Cannavaro AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

Fabio Capello is likely to drop John Terry from the England team next season, according to Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro.

Cannavaro got an insight into Capello's ruthless style of management when he worked with the Italian at Real Madrid and the Juventus star is convinced Terry is in severe danger of losing his England place after his controversial comments at the World Cup.Earlier this year Capello had stripped Terry of the captaincy following revelations about the Chelsea player's affair with the ex-partner of former team-mate Wayne Bridge.

And Capello was further angered when Terry used a press conference during the World Cup to claim that he was ready to confront the Italian over his tactics and team selection.

Terry was forced to back down after Capello called his comments a "big mistake" but he gave a poor performance as England slumped to a 4-1 second round defeat against Germany.

Cannavaro is convinced Capello will make changes for the 2012 European Championship qualifying campaign, with Terry the most likely to lose his place.

years of his contract left to run, and fellow World Cup finalist Robin van Persie will not be asked to return until the Emirates Cup begins on July 31, the rest of the Arsenal players who were out in South Africa will join up in Austria, where warm-up matches have been arranged against Sturm Graz and SC Neusiedl.

Arsenal will then tackle AC Milan and Celtic in the Emirates Cup, before their final friendly away to Legia Warsaw on August 7 ahead of the trip to Liverpool for their Barclays Premier League opener.

Last season, the Gunners once again failed to sustain a title challenge as Wenger's young side could not produce mature performances when it really mattered to keep pace with Chelsea and Manchester United.

Wenger, whose contract runs out in the summer of 2011, is determined this time, things will be different.

"We finished third last season, so we of course try to improve," said the Gunners boss, whose 'Invincibles' team went through the entire 2003/2004 season un-

beaten the last time they finished top.

"Manchester City have now joined in on the big targets, so it will be hard."

Wenger continued: "We have six players coming back to join us on Monday when we go to Austria, and then the hard work starts.

"We have some tougher challenges coming up, especially in the Emirates Cup, so those games will give the new signings an opportunity to adapt, but we have to give them some time."

Theo Walcott was back in action yesterday, having been a controversial omission from Fabio Capello's England squad which under performed at the World Cup. Wenger believes the 21-yearold "looks sharp", and feels Walcott will emerge a better player from the experience.

"Theo is committed in training and he has always shown that when he is in trouble or not rated as much as he should be, he responds well on the pitch," said the Frenchman.

"I called him when he was not

picked, and tried to help him focus on the future.

"He is a young boy and has it all in front of him."

Wenger will look to further strengthen his squad before the new campaign, but appears to have cooled his interest in Fulham's Australia international keeper Mark Schwarzer.

While both William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre are expected to move elsewhere after their contracts came to an end, veteran Sol Campbell could yet take up the offer of a one-season deal.

Messi to start own clothing range AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

Footballer Lionel Messi is all set to take over the fashion world, as he is planning to launch his own clothing range.

And the Barcelona and Argentina hero is counting on some famous pals to help him make it a success.

His idea is to sign a sport, movie, or music star as an ambassador in each major city around the globe.

"I have been working on it for a few months. It would be me in Barcelona. We've approached Wayne for Manchester, Frank for London, and Colin for Dublin," the Sun quoted him as saying.

"We have spoken with Jay-Z for New York and the dream is to have David for LA. I already have (footballer) Alessandro Nesta and (rapper) Lupe Fiasco in Milan and Chicago."

"It will be high-end clothes and accessories for men. I''d like to open the initial shops by next summer."

"If we get all the names we are trying for, we can be the most famous and best men''s fashion brand in the world," he added.

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SPORTS

Barath, Vidula State U-19 chess champs Pg 16

Mother of Ronaldo’s baby is American waitress Pg 17

GOA, TUESDAY, 20 JULY, 2010 www.oheraldo.in

Rain plays spoilsport on Day 2

Indian doctor invited by Murali for farewell Test AGENCIES GALLE, JULY 19

Workers cover the pitch as heavy rains lashed out at Galle, Sri Lanka on Tuesday.

PTI GALLE (SRI LANKA), JULY 19

Unrelenting rain played spoilsport as the second day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka was called off without a single ball being bowled here today.

Sri Lanka remained on their overnight score of 256 for two and the washout has now greatly diminished the prospects of a result in Muttiah Muralitharan's swansong Test.

The outfield was already wet due to overnight showers and things only got worse due to more rain this morning.

The brief appearance made

by the sun in the afternoon, which prompted the ground staff to take off the covers, turned out to be a false dawn as it started pouring soon after, leaving the match officials with no choice but to call off the day's proceedings at about 1500 hrs (local Time).

It is monsoon season in Sri Lanka right now and the weatherman has predicted overcast conditions for all five days of the match.

The Test has risen in profile as veteran Sri Lankan off-spinner Muralitharan is set to bid adieu to his 18-year-old career at the end of it but rains gods are

KP not to captain again AGENCIES NOTTINGHAM, JULY 19

Dashing batsman Kevin Pietersen said that he will never again captain England again as he is a father now.

Pietersen has a two-monthold son called Dylan with his wife, Liberty X singer Jessica Taylor, 30.

The Daily Star quoted Pietersen as saying: "Dylan's totally changed my life. He made me realise I won't ever be captain again -- I have different priorities now."

"I still love to play. Ideally, I'd like to keep playing for another five years or so," he added.

threatening to play spoilsport.

The Lankans have dominated whatever little play has been possible so far. Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Tharanga Paranavitana struck centuries on the opening day as Sri Lanka laid the foundation for a mammoth first innings against a lacklustre India.

Sangakkara (103) notched up his 22nd century while Paranavitana (110 batting) scored his maiden ton, exposing India's bowling failities to pile up 256 for two on a rain-truncated first day.

Electing to bat, the Sri Lankan batsmen capitalised on easy bat-

Swann charged with drunk driving AGENCIES NOTTINGHAM, JULY 19

Police have confirmed they have charged Graeme Swann, the England offspinner, with drink driving.

Swann, who is England's current Player of the Year, was stopped in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham on April 2 and a spokeswomen said the charge had been brought last month. ''Graeme Swann, 31, of West Bridgford, was charged on 8 June 2010 with driving a motor vehicle when alcohol level was above the limit," a statement said.

Karnataka, Maharashtra in Santosh trophy pre-quarters HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 19

Karnataka hammered Jharkhand 6-1 to storm into the pre-quarter finals of Santosh trophy National Football Championship in Kolkata on Monday.

The Garden City boys were impressive right from the outset and had no problem to defeat the hapless Jharkhand who failed to garner even a point from their two encounters.

Xavier Vijay Kumar opened the scoring in the 31st minute, while Jharkhand stunned their opponents three minutes later through Ravindra Singh's equalizer.

Former Churchill Brothers striker R.C. Prakash extended

his side’s lead at the stroke of half time and Karnataka went for the break with the scoreline reading 2-1.

Karnataka pumped in four more goals after the break to sign off the group stage on a thumping note. J. Murali scored the third goal in the first minute of second half, while Satish Kumar sent his opponent at the back foot scoring the fourth in the 72nd minute. Ngurneilal then, scored a brace (73', 88') to complete the rout.

Andhra Pradesh finished their campaign on a winning note edging past Chandigarh 2-1 in their last Cluster II encounter.

The win was not enough for the

Andhra Pradesh to qualify for the next round as Maharashtra topped the group with 9 points, while Andhra Pradesh finished second with 6.

Maharashtra continued their undefeated streak registering their third successive win to move into the pre-quarter finals.

In the last Cluster II encounter at Barasat Stadium, Maharashtra scored a 4-1 facile victory over Tripura to lock horns with Karnataka in the pre-quarters on July 21.

Anees Koralyadan scored an impressive brace, while Darren Caldeira and Surojit Bose were the other scorers. Kiran Chetri scored the consolation goal for Tripura.

Contador takes lead Stage won by Voeckler AGENCIES FRANCE, JULY 19

Andy Schleck lost his yellow jersey as overall leader of the Tour de France to defending champion Alberto Contador on Monday after suffering mechanical failure at a disastrous moment.

Afterward, a furious Schleck accused Contador of taking the jersey unfairly because he didn’t wait while Schleck stopped to fix the chain on his bike. Contador insisted he didn’t know Schleck had a problem.

French champion Thomas Voeckler won the

day’s race, the second of the four big stages in the Pyrenees, with a solo ride.

Schleck had accelerated less than 4 kilometers from the top of the major climb of the day, the Port de Bales, but almost immediately lost his chain, forcing him to stop on the side of the road and wait for assistance.

He then had to force his way back through the field as he attempted to catch up with Contador and the other leaders in the overall competition, but was unable to make up enough time. He finished 39 seconds behind Contador, who now holds the yellow jersey by eight seconds.

India beat France 4-3 hockey test AGENCIES PARIS, JULY 19

Ace drag-flicker Sandeep Singh continued his red-hot form and struck twice as India defeated France 4-3 in the keenly-contested first hockey Test at the National Institute of Sport and Expert Performance (INSEP) in Paris.

India struck goals through Sandeep, who converted two penalty corners in the 12th and 65th minute, Tushar Khandker (5th) and captain Rajpal Singh (69th), while Fredric Soyez scored a hat trick (6th, 51st and 68th) for France in the first game of the three-match series on Sunday.

High on confidence after their 2-0 series win over Belgium last

week, the Indians began aggressively and nearly took the lead in the third minute but for Dharamvir Singh, who fumbled inside the circle.

But two minutes later, India surged ahead when Khandker sailed the ball into the net past French goalkeeper Mathias Dierckems after he was set up by Rajpal.

France retaliated back a minute later and drew parity when Soyez encashed on a defensive lapse by Sarvanjit Singh and Danish Mujtaba to put the ball into the net past Indian goalkeeper Bharat Chetri.

India got its lead back in the 12th minute through Sandeep, who sounded the board with a fierce drag-flick from the team's first penalty corner, earned after Amir

was blocked inside the circle by French defender Thibaunt Blondel.

In the second half, a brilliant Soyes made it 2-2 for the hosts in the 51st minute after wrong footing Sandeep. It was rollercoaster of a match which saw pendulum swinging from one side to the another till the very last minute.

With five minutes from the end, India took the lead again after Sandeep converted his and the team's second set piece of the day, only to see France claw its way back into the match through Soyez, who scored his hat-trick in the 68th minute from a shot corner But Rajpal broke the hearts of the home team when he found the match winner seconds from the hooter.

ting conditions at the Galle International Stadium to take control of the match.

It has been a miserable outing so far for the Indians with a depleted bowling attack struggling to make any impact on the Sri Lankan batsmen who scored at a brisk pace under overcast conditions.

India removed Sangakkara early in the final session, when he holed out to Sachin Tendulkar off part-timer Virender Sehwag.

Tillakaratne Dilshan (25) was the only other Sri Lankan batsman to lose his wicket when he was dismissed by Abhimanyu Mithun.

Sangaakkara's 103 came from

145 balls with the help of 12 fours and it was his fourth century against India. He also went p a s t We s t I n d i a n G o rd o n Greenidge and Englishman Colin Cowdrey to become the 23rd most prolific batsman.

The Indian attack without strike bowler Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth due to injuries, was at the receiving end of a solid Sri Lankan batting display and went wicketless in the whole of the extended second session.

Sri Lanka 1st Innings: 256 for two in 68 overs (Tharanga Paranavitana 110 batting, Kumar Sangakkar 103, Abhimanyu Mithun 1/41).

Veteran off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan has invited India orthopaedic surgeon and former medical consultant to the Sri Lankan team Mandeep Singh Dhillon to witness his swansong Test against India in Galle.

Dhillon, who assisted Muralitharan in clearing his controversial bowling action, is among the several close friends who have been invited by the spin wizard to attend the special ceremony marking the end of his Test career on the final day of the ongoing Test.

Dhillon had designed the special brace for Muralitharan when his case was presented to the ICC in 2003-04 after chucking allegations.

Doubts about Muralitharan's bowling action were cleared when the off-spinner testified with the brace on his arm.

"After moving to Apollo Hospital in Colombo in January 2003, I was associated with the Sri Lankan Cricket team for twoand-a half years as a Sports Injury consultant and my services were sought to verify Muralitharan's bowling action," Dhillion said.

HI, Sports Ministry on collision course PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 19

The government and Hockey India headed for a showdown over interim president Vidya Stokes' eligibility to contest the upcoming elections with the Sports Ministry saying that she was overage while the veteran administrator insisting that such restrictions were not binding on the sport body.

Stokes' candidature came under scanner after the Sports Ministry today made it clear that the ‘No Objection’ given to the July 28 polls was conditional on abiding the recent age limitation guidelines of the government.

"The age restriction with regard to the President, Secretary General and Treasurer shall be applicable in relation to the present elections," government observer S K Mendiratta said in a letter to Returning Officer Justice R C Chopra.

An angry Stokes promptly hit

Jones stripped of Father of the Year award AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 19

Dean Jones' admission of fathering a child outside his marriage has cost him the Victorian Father of the Year title, which the former Australian cricketer won in 2007.

Jones was stripped of the title following his recent shocking revelation that he had an affair for nine years with Sydney flight attendant Kerri-Anne Hamilton and has had a child with her, which he is believed to have never seen.

Father of the Year Council president Don Parsons said they decided to revoke the award after the 49-year-old cricketer openly admitted of having a child outside his marriage.

back, saying that the Hockey India has it own Constitution and election guidelines and even threatened to take legal recourse in case of any interference from the Sports Ministry.

"We are not in agreement with the views as expressed in the letter by Mendiratta as we are a Society formed under the Society's Registration Act, 1860 and hence having our own Constitution and Election Guidelines on the basis of which the elections are being held.

"In view of the same, we kindly request you to conduct the election in accordance with the Constitution and Election Bye-laws of Hockey India. And in case GOI MYAS initiates any action against our Election then we shall invoke legal remedies as will be adviced," she said in a counter letter to Chopra.

Stokes, who earlier held the post of Indian Women's Hockey

Federation, is above 70 now and as per the government guidelines no official who is 70 or above is eligible to contest the elections.

Former India captain Pargat Singh has also filed nominations for the HI president's post.

The government, however, clarified that the guideline pertaining to tenure limitation would not apply as it is the first poll of office bearers of Hockey India.

"Obviously, the restriction relating to number of terms of office would not apply in the case of the present election, this being the first election of office bearers of Hockey India," Mendiratta wrote in his letter.

The government observer also said that age declarations of the candidates running for posts of Hockey India president, secretary and treasurer will be thoroughly checked during the scrutiny of nominations tomorrow.

Shoaib Malik to replace Afridi AGENCIES KARACHI, JULY 19

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik is set to replace outgoing skipper Shahid Afridi in the playing line-up for his team's second and final Test against Australia at Headingley.

Sources in the team management said Malik has managed to convince officials that he can contribute to the team's cause as Pakistan looks to square the two-match Test series after suffering a crushing 150-run defeat at the hands of the Aussies at Lord's last week.

Malik, one of the seniormost players in the Pakistan team following the exit of experienced batsmen like Mohammad Yousuf and Younis Khan, was dropped from the playing eleven for the opening Test after the team management found he was not showing seriousness in practice sessions.

The presence of his wife Sania Mirza, the Indian tennis starlet, was believed to be the major reason why the Pakistan team management decided that Malik was too distracted to give his best in the opening Test.

Pg 18

Yuvi under I-T scanner for IPL earnings

AGENCIES CHANDIGARH, JULY 19

The central excise department, Chandigarh region, will soon issue notices to four cricket players, including Yuvraj Singh, for payment of Rs 1.17 crore as service tax on the income from the first and the second IPL seasons.

"Demand notices to four players including Yuvraj Singh, VRV Singh, Sunny Sohal and Uday Kaul playing for Kings XI Punjab franchise will be issued by either July end or first week of August for the payment of service tax," an official of the Central Excise Department, who is involved in investigating the IPL case, said here.

A decision to raise tax demand from cricket players follows the non-disclosure of breakup of earnings by players from IPL matches.

"These players have not declared about how much they earned from endorsements and how much they earned from playing matches even after notices were serviced to them. But now we have decided to levy tax on income, whether it is match fees, earned by players from IPL-I and II season after assessing their income on individual basis," he said.

The department has assessed service tax amounting to Rs 96.43 lakh on income of Yuvraj Singh, Rs 11.33 lakh on VRV Singh and Rs 4.53 lakh each on Sunny Sohal and Uday Kaul for first and the second IPL season.

According to the official, Yuvraj Singh claimed earning of Rs 4.25 crore while VRV Singh, Uday Kaul and Sunny Sohal got Rs 50 lakh, Rs 20 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively from the first season of IPL. "For calculating the service

tax, the income in the second season is considered the same as that in the first season," he informed.

In February this year, the department served notices to these players seeking details regarding total payment and the breakup indicating money received from sponsorships and earnings as match fees.

It had also demanded a copy of the agreement signed by the players with their franchise owner, total payment received from the owners, service tax registration number if obtained, details of service tax paid, copies of service tax returns if filed and complete books of accounts and balance sheet.

The department again sent reminders to these players in April and June.

However, only three players, including Yuvraj Singh, VRV Singh and Uday Kaul, replied to the central excise department notices, saying that they received only match fees, hence no service tax was applicable on their income.