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Business: Airlines to refund money on cancellation of ticket Pg 13

Sports: India lose despite Pg 18 Pathan heroics He who desires naught will always be free.

— E.R. Lefebvre

IN BRIEF

SIT registers FIR against Gudlar HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 23

A hot air balloon takes off during the 33rd International Hot Air Balloon week in the skiing resort of Chateau d'Oex, in the Swiss Alps, on Sunday. Over 80 balloons from 15 countries are participating in the ballooning event.

SAARC to discuss visa exemption A proposal to exempt certain categories of people from visa requirement for travel within South Asia is expected to be one of the main issues along with initiatives to forge greater integration and end terror in the region at the upcoming SAARC meet in Thimphu.

At present MPs, judges, 100 identified business leaders, sportspersons and 150 journalists are availing SAARC Visa facility.

India wants that the prior approval should be accorded to the three categories — business persons, sportspersons and journalists. – (PTI)

11 ultras killed in US drone strikes US drones carried out three strikes in the restive North Waziristan tribal region of northwest Pakistan today, killing 11 suspected militants even as tribesmen joined a protest in the area against the attacks.

The eleven suspected militants were killed when an unmanned spy plane fired missiles in Doga Madakhel, Datta Khel and Razmak town.

Several persons were also injured in this attack. – (PTI)

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has registered an FIR against suspended PSI Sunil Gudlar who was allegedly caught on video footage selling drugs to two women.

The SIT on Saturday registered an FIR against the suspended cop under Sections 380 (theft), 409 (criminal breach of trust) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). He is also facing charges under Sections 7, 11, 12, 13 (1) c and 14 (1 (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and under Section 8-C of Narcotic Drug & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, read with sections 28, 29, 30, 31 and 59 (2) (b).

The SIT official confirmed that the FIR has been registered against Gudlar on January 22 following a complaint by Kashinath Shetye and twelve others.

The complaints had alleged that Crime Branch which was earlier conducting investigation into alleged links of some policemen with drug dealers, had turned blind eye towards their involvement.

According to them incriminating video showing Gudlar selling drugs was shot four months back when Venu Bansal was heading Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) as assistant Superinten-

26/11: police silent on Headley role PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

If Mumbai Police is to be believed, American-born terrorist David Headley, who has confessed to conducting a recce of all 26/11 targets in the city, may have played no role in the carnage.

The assessment by the Mumbai Police is reflected in its appeal before the Bombay High Court in which its elite Crime Branch is silent on the role of the Pakistan-origin LeT terrorist while contesting the acquittal of Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin in the November 26, 2008 attack that left 166 people dead.

While the Ministry of Home Affairs burnt midnight oil over getting access to Headley after his role in the brazen attack emerged, the focus of Mumbai Police through its Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal D Nikam was that the terrorists intruded into the country’s financial capital with the help of hand-written maps drawn by Ansari.

Headley is at present in a jail in Chicago in the US.

The SIT registered the FIR against Gudlar following a complaint by Kashinath Shetye and twelve others alleging that the Crime Branch which was earlier conducting investigation into alleged links of some policemen with drug dealers, had turned blind eye towards their involvement. dent of Police.

Bansal is currently posted in Arunachal Pradesh.

The complaint has also mentioned one Roy who they claim has strong ties with a powerful minister in the Kamat-led Government. The complaint says Roy has used his political connection to enhance his drug trade through his selected men in the ANC. The SIT confirmed that no FIR has been registered against other two names mentioned in the complaint. The SIT was constituted as Government could not resist pressure from the Opposition which went hammer and tongs after the video footage of Gudlar became public knowledge.

On the other hand the Crime Branch which was handling cases of police-drug nexus for the past year did not achieve a breakthrough in the investigation.

BJP leaders to meet Prez, want Bhardwaj out PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

BJP leaders will meet President Pratibha Patil tomorrow seeking the removal of Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj even as a defiant Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa brought his battle to the capital today accusing him of trying to fulfill his individual political ambitions.

On a day’s visit, Yeddyurappa met senior leaders L K Advani and Arun Jaitley to chalk out a strategy to deal with the political situation arising out of Governor’s sanction to prosecute him for his alleged involvement in land scams.

“Tomorrow at 11.45, all our MPs and Rajya Sabha members alongwith our all India leaders are going to meet Rashtraptiji”, he told reporters before flying back to Bangalore in the night.

Party sources said Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Arun Jaitley will lead the delegation of MPs to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Yeddyurappa’s meeting with the top BJP leaders came a day after party chief Nitin Gadkari, who is currently visiting China, said that Yeddyurappa’s decision of denotifying land in favour of his son was “immoral” and “not proper.”

Asked about his reaction to Gadkari’s remark, the chief minister said he would “discuss” the issue with Gadkari and added, “I don’t want to comment on anything stated by our all India party president.”

The strategy is to prolong the legal process against the chief minister to buy time while upping the ante against the Governor seeking his recall.

Speaker to meet NCP MLAs today

Mickky

Jose Philip

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 23

Goa legislative Assembly Speaker Pratapsingh Rane will give a hearing to all three Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislators on Monday to decide on the whip and the chief of legislative wing issue.

The Speaker issued summons to three NCP MLAs to appear before him on January 24, in the response to a letter from NCP High Command informing him about Benaulim legislator Mickky Pacheco being appointed as whip of the party along with the legislative wing president.

Nilkant

Sources stated that Rane is likely to seek consensus between all the three legislators Jose Philip D’Souza, Nilkant Halarnkar and Pacheco before finalising Pacheco as a party whip.

The Speaker is expected to give his verdict on January 25 after hearing all three legislators.

The Speaker’s verdict assumes importance as it will determine political recourse for both parties involved.

It will also be interesting to watch the next move of the NCP High Command in the event Speaker’s verdict is adverse to (Continued on page 14)

US lobbying cost India, corporates over $1.5 m PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

With the US holding key to a vast number of issues affecting India and its corporates, the Indian Government and companies together spent over USD 1.5 million last year on lobbying in the American power corridors.

However, the cost incurred

by Indian Government and companies on lobbying with US lawmakers in 2010 marks a significant drop of about onethird vis-a-vis spending in the previous year, when this figure stood at about USD 2.2 million.

The issue of lobbying has created a big controversy in recent months in India after leakage of taped conversations between a corporate lobbyist and a number of people from politics, business, the media and other areas.

The controversy led to talk of the Indian Government also considering framing regulations

MONEY POWER The Indian Government alone paid over USD 420,000 during 2010 to high-profile lobbyist Barbour Griffith & Rogers.

The most prominent among the private sector entities, billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, paid USD 7,60,000 also to BGR. for lobbying activities.

However, the Government and private companies have been officially lobbying in the US for many years to put forward their cases with the American Government and lawmakers.

Lobbying is legal in the US and all the lobbyists there are required to file a quarterly report with the Senate, detailing their clients, the departments with whom they were lobbying and the fees charged for the same.

According to the lobbying disclosure reports filed with the Senate for the quarter ended December 31, 2010, the Indian Government and companies together paid about USD 4,00,000 to lobbyists for putting forward their cases before US lawmakers.

This has taken the total lobbying cost incurred by Indian companies and the Government for the entire 2010 to USD 1.57 million, as against USD 2.2 million in 2009.

Experts said the drop in lobbying expenses partly reflects the state of economy and the resultant cost-cutting exercise undertaken by the government as well as companies.

(air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 18

India: Rahman to receive award at WEF meet Pg 7

CONG IN POLL GEAR Kamat, Ravi, Alemaos say we can win on our own HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

The Congress on Sunday kicked off its campaign for the coming Assembly polls, with Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat sending a clear-cut message to all and sundry, including the coalition partners, that the party has the capability and strength to win as many as 30 seats on its own.

“The party need not depend on crutches to win the polls. If the people and party workers are behind the party, we can win the polls on our own strength.

We have the capacity to win 30 seats”, Kamat thundered at the BPS club here at the Margao block melava on Sunday amidst loud cheers from the huge congregation of his supporters.

A section of the crowd at the Congress convention in Digambar Kamat’s Margao constituency on Sunday. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar.

Making an appeal to the workers not to fall prey to false propaganda on allegations of scams facing the Government, the Chief Minister called upon

the party Ministers and MLAs to close ranks and unitedly face the allegations, asserting that the Congress will not only complete the current term, but will

rule the State for the next five years.

Apparently satisfied with the turn out at the meeting, Kamat exuded confidence that the wind will travel right from Canacona to Pernem in favour of the party.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, Kamat said they cannot fool the people all the time, adding that people are no more interested in stories but are looking for development and jobs.

“Our development work speaks for the party. There are some people who cannot see this development. But, there’s no stopping the Government from working for the betterment (Continued on page 14)

BJP firm on Srinagar hoisting PTI NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, JAN 23

Determined to hoist the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day, BJP today accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Omar Abdullah Government of “surrendering” to separatists and displaying “disproportionate and panic reaction”.

Firing a salvo at Singh, senior leader L K Advani said BJP was “not trying to score a political point” but was instead challenging the separatists who had vowed to block the party’s plan

to hoist the tricolour. “And the State is surrendering to them”, he said.

“If the rationale for the prohibitory orders is apprehension of breach of peace, curbs should be targeted towards those who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be put up at the Lal Chowk”.

“And certainly not against those who have been repeatedly asserting that they will peacefully, and respectfully, unfurl the tricolour at Lal Chowk”, Advani wrote in his latest blog posting titled ‘Let not the State surren-

der to separatists’.

Advani’s comments come a day after the Prime Minister asked parties to desist from scoring political points or promoting divisive agendas and exercise maximum restraint to ensure that peace is not disturbed in a “sensitive” State like J&K. In Delhi, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said, “The Government has arrested members of Bharatiya Yuva Morcha. They have sealed all border points in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent their entry.

There is credit limit on these cards! Darling, can I have your Swiss Bank credit card for my shopping??

OHERALDO

Pg2 GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

CIVIC FORUM Conduct signboard survey ADELMO FERNANDES, VASCO

Khola villagers reject Bhandara giving nightmares RP 2021 over irregularities to Uguem farmers HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 23

In Goa one can see signboards almost at a distance of every ten metres, especially in the cities. These signboards can be very confusing. While at some places, there are even two (sometimes more) signboards at the same spot, and at other places they are in dire need of a fresh coat of paint. Along the highway, one even comes across signboards totally obscured by thick foliage, and serves no purpose. Some boards are tilted in the opposite direction and are misleading, while still others have been brought down to the ground, probably by some heavy vehicle. However, the authorities remain indifferent, to the reality of the situation.

The authorities’ concerned have to conduct a survey of all the existing signboards in the state. The ones which do not serve any purpose should be removed. In future, there should be some stipulations that need to be met with, as far as putting up of signboards is concerned.

Traffic chaos at Navelim FELINO D'SOUZA, NAVELIM

On 13 Jan, Navelim witnessed yet another motor accident just opposite the Apiano Supermarket, wherein a two wheeler came under the wheels of a bus.

The stretch of the national highway passing through Navelim, especially at this particular spot, is a known accident prone zone, and has experienced several accidents in the past.

In addition to being a business hub, Navelim also plays host to several educational institutions that cater to the needs of thousands of students, and also the Navelim Church. Thousands of motorists transit through Navelim each day enroute to the commercial capital, and areas beyond. This results in utter chaos at the Navelim junction especially during school/college opening and closing hours.

Sadly, the present traffic management system at Navelim is pathetic. The lone traffic cop posted at peak hours cannot be expected to do justice to his job, in the midst of heavy vehicular traffic.

The traffic authorities need to do some serious thinking and introduce a more effective traffic management system at Navelim, before innocent lives are lost due to reckless driving.

The following steps could help ease the traffic situation.

Efforts may be made to encourage the use of the underpass at the Navelim junction by pedestrians. (This was inaugurated with much fanfare not long ago, but unfortunately remains unused.)

Re-commissioning of the traffic lights at the Navelim junction.

Introduction of compulsory speed limit along the Navelim stretch of the NH. Speed breakers to be installed at the Goa Palace cross roads, Navelim junction and opposite Apiano Supermarket It is hoped that the present haphazard road widening works from Goa Palace to Sitara Motors will be completed at the earliest. This stretch of the NH has been in bad shape for a long time, has caused inconvenience and is accident-prone.

. . . .

Setting a wrong precedent AYRES SEQUEIRA, SALVADOR DO MUNDO

The landfill in this picture is in mute testimony of the shape of things that we may have to contend with, in future, in the picturesque village of Salvador do Mundo. The intention of the field owner is not known, but it will soon set a trend among other villagers too. It is obvious, having finished with the cities, now the developers are moving towards the villages to create a mess of our time.

Underground cabling JOSE MARIA MIRANDA, MARGAO

Underground electric cabling is indeed a good project that needs to be commended and supported. Inconvenience to people, while the work is being carried out, cannot be totally avoided.

However, Larsen & Toubro, the company entrusted with the work, needs to undertake it without endangering people’s lives. It is observed that trenches and pits are dug and left unattended for several days, and are sometimes partially visible at night. When these are covered, they are not watered and leave a depression, which is dangerous for vehicles.

Further, the roads which were recently hotmixed are being dug for the purpose and labourers are unaware that sewage, water and telephone lines run in close proximity to the cables or sometimes at the same spot. In short, work carried out by government departments is devoid of any planning, coordination, and supervision.

With such a haphazard way undertaking work, even good projects and schemes turn out to be ineffective and is a waste of public money, with benefits accruing only to those who want to make a quick buck.

Repair road in Utorda DIOGO FURTADO, UTORDA

The road in Utorda from Libio’s house to the Majorda railway crossing is in a very bad shape. Road accidents take place on a daily basis. The Verna police station has all the details of the accidents that have occurred.

The road was marked by potholes showing coconut saplings planted on this road, some time ago, by the supporters of the MLA to victimise the PWD Minister.

H u g e b u i l d i n g s h a v e c o m e u p o n t h i s ro a d , o n both sides. Contractors will sell the flats and go.

But the villagers of Utorda will have to face the bad roads.

The Benaulim MLA should put forward the estimates for repair of the road, so that the work can be completed before Easter.

(Do you have a complaint against some authority or service? Are there any violations of the law that you would like to bring to the notice of the public? Do you have any suggestions for improvement and/or redressal of services?

If you do, then write to us at editor@herald-goa.com. With the aim of improving the quality of our civic life, every Monday Herald will publish the best letters on these subjects received during the week. This is in addition to our regular ‘Letters to the Editor’ column.)

GOA

A portion of the land of M/s Deodita Farms, which is washed away due to the construction of ‘Bhandara’.

Photo by Alfred Fernandes HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JAN 23

Agriculturists from Uguem have bitterly complained of the side walls of the river bank at Uguem getting eroded continuously due to construction of ‘bhandara’.

Though ‘bhandaras’ are constructed to store water for the benefit of farmers to cultivate their agricultural lands, the ‘bhandara’ constructed on the lower side of the Uguem bridge has become a matter of concern for some farmers.

“Due to the storage of water, the soil on both sides of the river has become loose leading to destruction of river bank and adjoining land on both sides of the river considerably,” com-

plained a farmer.

One of the affected agriculturists, Minguelinho D’Costa, informed that due to destruction of river bank, a portion of his agricultural land has been washed away causing damages to his agricultural plantation and land.

D’Costa complained of a stretch of about 50 mtrs of his land by the side of the river to have washed away. More damages are likely to come forth and D’Costa fears of major portion of his prime agricultural land getting washed away due to the storage of water in the ‘bhandara’ if no preventive steps are taken at the earliest.

D’Costa opined for an urgent

need for the construction of the river bank with concrete.

“The portion of land on both sides of the river extending to a stretch of about 100 mtrs needs to be constructed to avoid further damage being caused to the farmers,” claimed D’Costa.

“Despite several oral requests for compensation and construction of the retaining wall, the department has not paid any heed to the agriculturists request,” complained D’Costa and urged the Irrigation Department to undertake the task of the construction of the retaining wall on either side of the ‘bhandara’ on priority basis.

Khola villagers at a specially convened Gram Sabha on Sunday unanimously decided to reject Regional Plan 2021, already notified by the government, as it contains severe irregularities and is not the villagers’ drafted plan.

The gram sabha members vociferously demanded to send a strong signal to the government totally rejecting the notified plan for the village.

Earlier in the gram sabha, explaining their position, the village committee-RP21 appointed under the chairmanship of Khola Sarpanch Archana Velip informed members that settlements requested by them are not considered, but existing orchard zones within CRZ purviews are notified as settlement zones.

Not even 5% consideration is given to village committee recommendations, members in the gram sabha were told.

“Government will be informed about the villagers’ decision to out rightly reject the RP-2021 for Khola village,” said Velip.

The gram sabha members were also surprised to know that existing springs, schools, church and even a cemetery are not shown in the notified plan.

According to sources, the bells were earlier reportedly first rang by the village committeeRP21 themselves, who worked to prepare RP-21 for the village, but were left to fume as it took strong cognizance that the government approved plan is totally different from the one submitted to TCP through Khola Panchayat.

The committee then decided to put the ball in gram sabha court and accordingly a special gram sabha was convened on Sunday.

Khola Bachao Abhiyan President Precopio Fernandes, who is also one of the member of Khola village committee for RP21, said: “We had personally taken SLC-appointed taskforce member Edgar Rebello and others accompanying him for the round of village terrains and shown him certain locations which the villagers feared would be influenced for turning into settlement zones.”

“This is a backdoor entry gov-

ernment is providing to unidentified outsiders to take the mileage, as according to our knowledge, this vast tract of land, and presently a orchard in CRZ area is purchased by some outsiders,” alleged Fernandes.

Khola ZP member Krishna Velip also attended the meeting and voiced his concerns.

Including Sarpanch Velip, all the panchas and most of village committee RP-2021 members were present for the meeting, which was attended by a large number of villagers.

After the meeting, KBA President Fernandes said: “Notified RP or otherwise, at no cost Khola villagers will allow any major hotel project to come up in the village against the wishes of the people. If houses of traditionally villagers on shoreline can be termed by government as violating CRZ, then how can backdoor entry be given to outsiders by notifying CRZ areas and orchards as ‘settlement zones.”

Khola, after Agonda village is the second village in Canacona taluka to come out strongly rejecting the government notified RP-2021.

Calangute panchayat gets nod for garbage treatment plant

Renovation on Mapusa-Sangolda 33 KV line underway HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 23

Residents of Sangolda and surrounding areas, who have been hit by a frequent power shutdown during the past few days, can hope for a brighter future.

The electricity department has undertaken a major work to renovate the 33 KV line from the Mapusa Power Sub-Station to Sangolda.

Speaking to Herald, officials at the Porvorim Power Sub-Station said the existing 33 KV line is over 33 years old.

"During monsoon, there was frequent disruption in power supply due to failure of insulators, snapping of conductors and other related problems," an official said.

"Frequent power outages not only caused severe hardships to consumers in the area, but also wasted the resources of the electricity department in rectifying

the faults. Hence the department has decided to renovate this line," the official added.

The work to replace the 33 KV line involves stringing of new cables along the same route.

Deteriorated poles are being replaced and the insulators are being changed.

"This renovation work will benefit the three power sub-stations at Mapusa, Saligao and Porvorim. Due to the ongoing renovation work of 33KV line, the department has been forced to undertake frequent power shutdowns," the official said.

The official informed that the renovation work along the 9km 33KV line, which is estimated at Rs 70 lakh, was started in the August 2010.

"Work was delayed since a major portion of the line passes through paddy fields and also on account of objections raised by some residents," the official

said.

"Nearly 90% of the work has now been completed and the balance work will be completed

by February end. The department will have to undertake two or three more power shutdowns till the completion of the work," said the official.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Department has issued a work order for the installation of additional a 10 MVA transformer at the Porvorim Power Sub-Station.

The Porvorim Power Sub-Station has been overloaded presently and hence the decision has been taken by the Electricity Department to increase the capacity of the sub-station by another 10 MVA to cater to future requirement. "This work will start soon and the dates of the power shutdown will be intimated to the public in advance through the print media," said the official.

Shipyards along River Zuari accused of illegalities

A shipyard along the Zuari River in Rassaim-Loutolim village.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 23

After tackling rampant hill cutting activities in various parts of the State, activists of Village Groups of Goa (VGG) have now turned their attention to shipyards in Rassaim-Loutolim.

They claim that many shipyards in the village have been operating along the banks of the Zuari River by flouting all norms.

VGG activists Carmen de Miranda, Charles Fernandes, Joao Philip Pereira, Zarina D'Cunha, Peter Da Costa, Delano, took a group of reporters by boat towards the site, as most shipyards have constructed high compound walls along the road.

"These shipyards were illegally set up in NDZ (No Develo p m e n t Z o n e ) a n d a re i n complete violation of CRZ regulations. It is amusing to note that all these CRZ violations are happening right in the constituency of the Minister for Environment," VGG member Carmen de Miranda said.

"VGG has obtained docu-

ments under Right to Information Act that suggest that mandatory approvals from competent authorities like Town and Country Planning, Panchayat and Conversion sanads and most importantly CRZ approvals have not been obtained by any of the shipyards operating along the banks of river Zuari for the past so many years."

"Some shipyards have been set up in tenanted paddy fields too. The shipyards have further been set up in areas depicted as agricultural zone in the 2001 regional plan in force," added Miranda.

"NOC's including electrical connections have been independently issued over the years without any panchayat body resolutions. Independent heavy duty transformers have been installed within the premises of these shipyards based on illegal NOC's," said Miranda.

She accused the Captain of Ports of illegally issuing NOC’s and repeatedly granting renewals to these illegal shipyards without the mandatory approval

Photo by M Prabhav

of CRZ and other competent authorities.

"Further, the Captain of Ports has illegally allowed setting up of shipyards to do concrete piling deep in the river by charging a paltry sum of Rs 3 per sq. mt for such irreversible damage," said Miranda.

"Most of the illegally set up shipyards have in this manner encroached deep into the river thereby permanently reducing the width of the river, which is a criminal offence."

Meanwhile, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court by one Franky Monteiro from Loutolim along with the Goa Foundation.

They have sought the closure of shipyards illegally set up along the Zuari River in Loutolim and to restore the riverbank to its original status.

They have also demanded accountability from the persons/ authorities involved in the activity.

The matter is listed for hearing before the Court on January 24.

Members at the Calangute gram sabha.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JAN 23

The Ordinary Gram Sabha on Sunday asked the Calangute Panchayat to go ahead with the garbage treatment plant by taking on lease 22,000 sq mtrs of communidade land.

When one of the gram sabha members raised the issue of garbage treatment plant, Panch Joseph Sequeira informed the member that the land acquisition process has been delayed for reasons unknown to them and therefore they approached the Calangute Communidade for 22,000 sq mtrs of land for the project.

Sequeira also informed the Gram Sabha that after mutual discussion, the panchayat and the Calangute Communidade agreed upon a yearly rent of Rs 22 lakh for 10 years and thereafter the land will be of Calangute Panchayat only for the purpose of garbage treatment plant. The gram sabha members welcomed the decision.

Another gram sabha member raised the issue of de-silting of nullahs and waterways.

Replying to the query, Panch Laxman Porob Palyekar said he has taken up de-silting of nullhas and drains besides cross drains.

He further informed that he has also put a proposal for a foot-

2 tourists found dead in Arambol HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, JAN 23

Two foreign tourists were found dead in separate incidents at Arambol-Pernem recently.

According to Pernem Police, Valko Antonian (35) who is a Russian was found dead in a rented room at Girkar Waddo, Arambol, on Friday evening.

Police further informed that on the same day, a tourist Eric Ralia (52) from Holland was found dead at Sokoilo Waddo, Arambol.

It is learnt that both the tourists had died due to drug overdose.

Meanwhile, Pernem Police have arrested one Shriram Krishna Arolkar on charges of stealing two mobile phones belonging to Russian tourists at a hotel in Mandrem.

Arolkar has been remanded to five days police custody.

Pernem Police station PSI Sachin Naevekar is further investigating the case.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes

path from Vidyaniketan School to St Alex Church, Calangute, taking into the interest of children and others.

The gram sabha members were however not satisfied with the reply of the member.

Sequeira then intervened and said the Calangute Panchayat has proposed cross drains at Inas Paul house, Fatima’s house, close to St Alex Church, but they are yet to get an approval.

A heated discussion took place and while intervening in the heated discussion, Sequeira said: “The villagers themselves and our own panchayat members are blocking the developments in the village.”

Sequeira also blamed a Calangute NGO and its office bearers for false complaints against himself and other villagers in the name of CRZ violations, etc.

Intervening in the discussion, Sarpanch Alex Fernandes said Faustina Fernandes of Madda Vaddo has 18 cases in her name against Calangute villagers and called her to testify in the gram sabha.

Faustina testified saying that she never complained against anyone. “God only knows who has done it in my name,” she said.

Sequeira said the Panchayat has decided to file a forgery case

against unknown persons for such false cases against the villagers.

Panch Palyekar proposed to put up inter-locking tiles in front of St Alex Church, where tourist buses and other vehicles are parked, causing inconvenience to the parishioners and others.

Palyekar said with inter-locking tiles in place, tourist and other vehicles would automatically be diverted to another stop. The proposal was welcomed by the members.

Sarpanch Alex Fernandes said the panchayat has decided to convene a special gram sabha to discuss and deliberate the CRZ notification.

He further said as per the notification, the panchayats are given 24 months to file their replies.

Explaining the CRZ issue, Sequeira said the panchayat has decided to convene a special gram sabha to discuss and deliberate the CRZ notification issue. The special gram sabha has been convened on February 13 to discuss the issue which was accepted by the gram sabha members.

Earlier, Alex Fernandes welcomed the members, while Secretary Subodh Prabhu read the minutes of the previous gram sabha which were confirmed by the members.

SGPDA market waste brunt even as composting unit lies idle HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

The Margao Municipal Council and the South Goa Planning and Development Authority once again have been caught on the wrong foot in dealing with the waste generated in the PDA market.

While the civic body’s composting unit is awaiting market waste for treatment, neither the civic body nor the PDA has initiated any steps towards operating the composting unit.

Instead, tons of waste generated in the market is being disposed off by burning, although the civic body has claimed lifting of market waste on a daily basis as per the agreement.

Market vendors in the know claimed that disposal of waste by burning is a routine phenomenon in the market complex.

They pointed out that it is not uncommon to find unscrupulous elements setting waste afire for want to time-to-time disposal by the civic body.

Incidentally, what has surprised many a vendor is the failure of the authorities in putting the composting unit to use.

Questions are raised in market

Market vendors in the know claimed that disposal of waste by burning is a routine phenomenon in the market complex. They pointed out that it is not uncommon to find unscrupulous elements setting waste afire for want to time-to-time disposal by the civic body. circles why the PDA has not put the unit to use if the Margao civic body has abandoned the project for want of manpower and infrastructure. PDA officials, however, said that the body is not equipped with the required infrastructure to deal with waste and garbage. An official said the primary responsibility of the PDA is to look after the planning and development needs of the city, adding that garbage collection and disposal is the domain of the local civic body.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg3 GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

cong backs beleaguered ravi, say he is doing good work HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

Congress leaders on Sunday stoutly defended Home Minister Ravi Minister, who is in the eye of the storm over police-drugs nexus, even as the Home Minister vowed to carry on with the campaign against drugs in the state.

At the Margao Block Congress workers convention, chief minister gave a clean chit to his second in command, saying the Home Minister is good work and called for extending all out support to him at this juncture.

“Ravi is one man who has made every effort to effectively tackle the law and order situation. To make allegations is simple. But, he is the man who has worked for the Bahujan Samaj and the down trodden. He is going good work. We have to support him all in his endeav-

Let the CBI Inquiry come out with the true facts.

People whose haftas has stopped are frustrated now, but there will not be any compromise on the seizure of drugs. our”, Kamat asserted.

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao said that some vested interests even within the Congress are targeting the Home Minister.

“At the Congress meeting, I asked MP Francisco Sardinha whether there are no rapes taking place in Delhi. And, whether the Chief Minister or the Home Minister are telling someone to commit rapes”, he said.

Alemao said that drugs was going on in the state, but there’s

a hue and cry now since the Home Minister has stopped their haftas, adding that he would not sit quite and watch if the Chief Minister and Home Minister are unnecessarily targeted by these vested interests.

GPCC General secretar y Vishnu Surya Wagh also defended the Home Minister saying that Ravi is a man who has tirelessly worked for the Bahujan Samaj and the downtrodden.

“Unlike many others, Ravi is not

a tainted man. He has the blessings of the people, especially the downtrodden”, Wagh added.

In his address, the Home Minister said that he has given the green signal for the CBI inquiry into the drugs cases since November last year. “Let the CBI Inquiry come out with the true facts. People whose haftas has stopped are frustrated now, but there will not be any compromise on the seizure of drugs”, he said.

He demanded to know whether the police are right in effecting drug seizure or arrest the peddlers, saying the government is very much concerned with the future generations.

The Home Minister gave an advise or two for the media calling upon member s o f t h e Fourth Estate to bring truth before the people and not just propaganda.

Goa youth Speak out

Want sustainable development while retaining State’s identity HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

The Youth Convention organized by the Golden Jubilee Development Council on Sunday conveyed a message loud and clear to the planners that the youth want Goa’s basic character and identity to be retained and protected, while favouring sustainable development of the state by 2035.

The convention was chaired by a panel comprising of Development Council Chairman, eminent scientist, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, member and scientist, Dr Anil Kakodkar and Goa University Vice-Chancellor Dr Deelip Deogabkar to elicit suggestions from the Goan youth as par the exercise to prepare Vision Document 2035. The marathon session held at the Ravindra Bhavan lasted for two hours and half, wherein the youth participants spoke their mind out on Goan identity, sustainable development, mining, education, tourism, infrastructure et al.

The young speakers called for sustainable development of the state with stress on agriculture, while calling for a stop to uncontrolled mining and to regulate tourism. Many a speaker called for a change in the education policy, calling for a shift from degree oriented education to knowledge based education that would tap the hidden talents of the youth.

The speakers made a strong case for putting in place infrastructure facilities, including waste disposal, toning up of traffic and transport departments et al.

A speaker wanted to know Goa would continue to remain Goa in the next 25 years and called for all out measures to ensure the state does not loose its character in the new era of development. Another speaker sought to know how many

Eminent scientist and Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Development Council, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar said that Goa cannot maintain its economic growth through mining and tourism alone, while laying stress on knowledge that would create wealth in the state.

Participating in the youth convention, Dr Mashelkar said that Goa should be a land of ideas and enlightened creativity, adding “many important

Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao has dared Fatorda MLA Damu Naik to prove the so-called scam in the Hyquip project at Sonsodo when the government had not paid a single paisa to the company from the government treasury.

A visibly agitated Alemao dared the MLA to prove the allegations that the government paid huge sum of money to the tune of Rs 2.42 crore and Rs 5 crore to Hyquip from the government treasury.

“The only money SUDA had paid to Hyquip was Rs 68 lakh as 10 per cent mobilization advance towards the project.

Presently, the security deposit of the contractor amounting to

Civic-minded citizens have come together to clean Goa with a campaign “Chakachak Goa”.

Lead by a former councillor of Panjm Patricia Pinto they have planned to take up cleanliness drives in various parts of the State this year by engaging students.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday here Patricia Pinto told that a garbage collection drive will be held throughout the year in different parts of the State with a big participation from youth.

They have sought cooperation from Bhaskar Naik, Director of Higher Secondary Education, Dr Santosh Patkar, NSS Project Co-ordinator and Anil Powar, deputy director of Education Department.

The campaign will be kicked off from January 26, she said wherein, besides initiating garbage collection drive, they intend to spread message among the masses to keep Goa clean.

The first cleanliness drive will take off from Malpe railway station and conclude at Government Arts, Commerce and Science College in Pernem.

Around 2500 NSS students are expected to participate in this drive, he said.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

Eminent scientist and Chairman of the Golden Jubilee Development Councilor Dr Raghunath Mashelkar addresses the youth convention at Ravindra Bhavan on Sunday.

Photo by Savio Dias

Goans would be there in Goa with land sharks from outside the state descending in Goa in large numbers, while emphasizing the need to protect the local from being purchased by outsiders.

“We have to give importance to land resources as outsiders are buying land in a big way.

The land should remain with Goans while formulating the road map for Goa’s development in the next 25 years”, suggested another young activist. The demand for special status for Goa on the lines of Uttarkand was put before the panel to safeguard the interests of Goa and Goans.

Another youngster underlined the need to make Goa a secular state, with a plea not to wait for 2035, but to act now, and lamented that youth are not given enough power to decide on crucial issues plaguing the state.

Demanding a re-look at the employment policy to arrest the continuous flow of migrants into

the state, speakers suggestive that any planning of the state should be for Goa and Goans.

A whole lot of suggestions came forth for the revival of agriculture, with speakers calling for formation of cooperative societies to review fallow agricultural land. Speakers said that with a right policy, the state will not only be in a position to meet the requirements of the locals, but as well market vegetables across the border in Belgaum and Karwar. The speakers were sore over the political class ruling the state and called for keeping politicians out of the planning process.

Summing up the session, Dr Anil Kakodkar said that the people should be clear on their perception on development and called for a holistic approach on issues of governance.

“We have to define what is perceived as development. Then only we can prepare a road map”, he said.

suggestions have been put forth on education. The Committee will make a conscious note of the suggestions”.

Replying to a question made by a participant on the fate of the vision document in the event of a change in government, Dr Mashelkar said ‘ I have accepted the chairmanship of the Council with a condition “Goa first and a politically neutral government vis-à-vis the vision document”.

Calling upon the youth of Goa to be part of a solution,

he underlined the need for the citizens to become responsible citizens first than talking of whole lot of things.

Saying that Goa is above India in respect of the socioeconomic indicators, Dr Mashelkar said questions such as how to push forward development without disturbing environment and ecology certainly needs to be addressed by the people. He showered praises on the young minds for putting their ideas on their perception of Goa of the future.

Joaquim dares Damu to prove scam HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 23

Cuncolim house burgled

Mining, tourism alone not enough: Dr Mashelkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

efforts to make Goa Chakachak

Rs 18 lakh stands forfeited and the governing body of SUDA has already decided to file a case for recovery of the balance mobilization advance with interest”, Alemao said.

“Where is the question of

vance to Hyquip amounting to Rs 68 lakh, the Urban Development Minister has demanded to know why the MLA has not raised objections to the decision of the MMC to give 100 per cent mobilization advance to Fomento to commence work at Sonsodo.

On the question of irregularities in tendering the project, Alemao said after the Vigilance had raised certain queries, the file was placed before the CM for his persusal. “The file was later vetted by the Law department and only after that the project was cleared by the Cabinet. Where is the question of either Sardessai or I involved in any scam.

More so, when no money has been paid to the contractor till date”, he asked.

Hyquip project SUDA paying Rs 2.42 crore of Rs five crore to the contractor.

The Fatorda MLA should tell the public from which treasury these funds have gone to the contractor”, Alemao demanded to know, adding that Damu is raising the bogey of Hyquip just because his political rival, Vijay Sardessai was the SUDA vice-Chairman at that time.

Reminding the Fatorda MLA that SUDA had taken given only 10 per cent mobilization ad-

Taking cognizance of the youth perception of the political class, Dr Kakodkar suggested to the youngsters tap the latest technology and network such as Face book to set an agenda for the government in power, saying that politics will certainly change as politicians will not be in a position to ignore pressure groups.

In his brief address, Goa University VC Dr Deelip Deobagkar said that youth of Goa are no less than anyone else in the country, saying the students have been doing extremely well on the academic front.

Unknown miscreants burgled a residential house at CulvadoCuncolim, decamping w i t h gold ornaments worth Rs 1.44 lakh.

Cuncolim police said the miscreants lifted way four gold bangles, two rings and a chain.

The miscreants effected entry into the house by opening the main door when the inmates were out of the house. The police are investigating.

Labourer electrocuted HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JAN 23

A labourer working in an industry at Rassaim at Loutolim village was electrocuted to death on Saturday.

Maina Curtorim police said the incident occurred today when the worker was working in the premises.

The police are investigating.

Select panel on police Bill disappoints CSJp HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JAN 23

The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has expressed "serious disappointment" in the Select Committee on the Police Bill 2008 of the Goa State Assembly.

"It has failed to hold public debates and consultations on the draft Goa Police Bill 2008 and invite public submissions on the type of police service communities want," stated a press note issued by CSJP Executive Secretary Fr Maverick Fernandes.

"It is widely accepted that it is untenable to continue to police the Citizens of India under the Police Act of 1861, which was drafted by the colonial authorities."

"Though we welcomed the initiative to introduce the Goa Police Bill which was intended to provide the people of Goa with better policing, however, the Bill in its present form has several defects," stated the CSJP. Claiming that the Bill does not reflect the principles of democratic policing, the CSJP stated that it undermines civil liberties, gives additional power to the police without ensuring the requisite accountability.

"All these factors together ensure that police functioning will not improve and will continue to remain a force that imposes

law instead of becoming a service that upholds the law."

The CSJP pointed out that the Supreme Court in its 2006 judgment, (Prakash Singh and Others vs. Union of India and Others) had directed the Central and all State Governments to implement six directives, which would kick start the reform process.

"These directives were aimed at giving functional responsibility to the police in matters of administration while remaining under the supervision of the political executive and also ensuring that public complaints are addressed and police accountability is enhanced. Goa implemented these directives conditionally," stated the CSJP.

"The Draft Police Bill was introduced in the legislature in August 2008. The bill was then referred to a select committee soon thereafter."

"The mandate of the select committee was to examine the Bill and come up with its report. Several citizen groups and individuals requested the Select Committee to hold public debate to gather the say of the people.

This has not been acted upon."

"Communities are the beneficiaries of good policing and the main victims of bad policing. We reiterate our demand to encourage the participation of the community in the process of enacting Laws," said the CSJP.

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GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

s h o rt ta k e s Ratish, Frenson excel

Xeldem-Quepem residents express Awareness on agriculture fear over proposed four-lane organised for Bandora youth HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, JAN 23

Frenson Fernandes receives ‘Best Achievers NCERT Award 2009’.

PANJIM(HNB): Two students of Guardian Angel Higher Secondary School, Curchorem, were recently awarded the ‘Best Achievers NCERT Award 2009’ in the Vocational stream Ratish Nicola Menezes and Frenson Fernandes were awarded by the Pandit Sunderlal Sharma Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE), Bhopal, at an award presentation function at Bhopal.

Menezes and Fernandes of Computer Technique and Bakery and Confectionery Course received the awards for excellence in Vocational Stream in Goa. Menezes is presently studying at Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao, and doing her TY BCA, while Fernandes is employed in a 5-star hotel.

Principal Fr Frank Mendes and Manager Fr Henry D’Souza have expressed happiness at this outstanding achievement.

They congratulated both the students and their parents for making the school and themselves proud.

Both the students attributed their success to their dedicated teachers and parents.

Comedian Ambe’s VCD released PANJIM(HND): Comedian Ambe has recently released his latest VCD titled ‘6 Idiots’ which contains 13 rib tickling comedies. The VCD was released at the hands of Joaquim Alemao, Urban Development Minister, in the presence of Bollywood Star Comedian Johnny Lever. The VCD is priced at Rs 150 and is produced by VP Sinari, Panjim.

House for homeless MAYEM(HC): The Bharat Swabhimaan recently laid a foundation stone to construct a house for the homeless Shetkar family from Mayem-Bicholim.

Bharat Swabhimaan Goa Chief Dr Suraj Kanekar laid the foundation stone in the presence of Mayem MLA Anant Shet, Sarpanch Nilkanth Nagvekar, Sandeep Pednekar, Nitin Shirodkar, Gayatri Dicholkar and Kamlakant Tari.

It may be recalled that the house belonging to one Manohar Bhiva Shetkar was completely damaged during the monsoon and as the family was not in a position to construct a new house, the Bharat Swabhimaan took the initiative and accordingly laid the foundation stone.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Kanekar called upon the people associated with social services to render help to such families. Shet and Nagvekar also spoke on the occasion.

Residents of Xeldem-Quepem have expressed fear that if the proposed four-lane from Tilamol-Curchorem-Sangeum road is executed, then it would damage residential houses, shops and fields in the village.

In his complaint to Quepem deputy Collector and SDO, Angelo Diniz has stated that the age-old household setup will be uprooted, besides affecting dayto-day living.

“There will be irreparable damage to the established families and the pubic. It will also destroy age-old Lord Ganesh immersion river, Lord Ganesh ‘Mahapravesh’ gate, Holy Crosses, Chapels, Church and Cross at Tilamol, etc,” added Diniz.

“Four lane is not the need of the hour, if iron ore truck transportation is removed from the Tilamol-Curchorem-Sanguem road, the existing road is sufficient enough for the usage for the ensuing 60-75 years,” stated Diniz.

According to another memorandum signed by Mafaldo Fernandes of Cocumoddi and others, the aim of the four lane road is to benefit the mining lobby and not the common men.

“The construction of the four lane road will facilitate transportation of mineral ore from mines in Sanguem and Quepem

Gold ornaments stolen at Guirim HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 23

Gold ornaments and other items, all worth about Rs 1.3 lakh, were stolen from a house at Guirim recently.

Sylvester Nunes from Guirim filed a complaint with Mapusa police stating that burglars entered his house by removing the roof tiles and stole the items, including a laptop, cameras and cash, from the house. The burglary had taken place when all family members had gone out in the morning for their respective work.

Mapusa Police Sub Inspector Chandrakant Gauns has registered a case and investigations are in progress.

n Before notifying the land for acquisition, no proper study has been done by the government to know the number of vehicles that ply along the road, excluding mining trucks. talukas on a large scale,” stated the memorandum.

It is further alleged that the work is being undertaken despite the High court order which stated that the bypass road for mining trucks shall be constructed first and then the process of road widening shall be pursued.

“Before notifying the land for acquisition, no proper study has been done by the government to know the number of vehicles that ply along the road, excluding mining trucks,” states the memorandum.

“If the memorandum is ignored, then we will stop all the traffic on January 27 and also resort to hunger strike,” they warned.

Meanwhile, in a brief note,

the Assistant Engineer-II and Executive Engineer-XXV have claimed that the widening work of four lane from Tilamol to Sanguem Court via Curchorem had been taken up as per the instructions of Curchorem MLA, which was duly endorsed by the PWD minister.

“Accordingly, administrative approval and expenditure sanction has been granted to the work at the cost of Rs 2,05,51,590,” they stated.

“The purpose of acquisition is to provide four lane arrangements for traffic so as to ease out traffic congestion along the route, especially the mining traffic.”

“A total of 30mtrs wide road shall be projected after acquisition, 15 mtrs from the centre line of the road on either side of the existing Tilamol-Curchorem-Sangeum road leading to Sangeum.”

“An area of 2,09,163 sq mtrs is likely to be acquired for the purpose and about 20 compound walls and 12 dwelling structures are likely to be effected if the area is acquired.”

“Approximately, 56 fruit-bearing trees including coconuts trees and about 28 forest trees are likely to be felled and three times the trees shall be planted,” added the note.

‘Aging gracefully’ held for Pilar fathers

Fr Oscar Rosario, renowned retreat preacher, leading the fathers in a three-day orientation sessions at Pilar.

HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JAN 23

Sound of Music

W

Mozart

olfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in January of 1756. As a young child, he often spent time listening to his sister play the harpsichord, which was a predecessor to today’s piano. Wolfgang then tried his hand at playing what Maria Anna, his sister played and soon got the hang of it.

He composed the tune for Twinkle Twinkle little star.

He loved liver dumplings and sauerkraut.

He was afraid of ghosts and extremely superstitious.

As a result by the time Mozart was four, he was already writing small pieces on the harpsichord and violin with the help of his father. He wrote his first sonata for the piano at the age of four and his first opera when he was twelve.

One of his most famous pieces was his variation on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

He did not like it when people ate or drank during any of his performances.

He had a bad drinking problem and had trouble sleeping at night.

He was a spendthrift and died a poor man.

He died at the age of 35 of kidney failure.

Facts about

Mozart

His memorial in Vienna is a white pole broken in half, symbolically reflecting how Mozart’s life had been cut short.

The 10-day programme for senior Pilar fathers to learn how to grow old gracefully is underway at Pilar.

Thirty-eight senior Pilar fathers are taking part in the programme to learn how to grow old gracefully.

Pilar Missionaries, who have completed more than 40 years of their priesthood, started their programme ‘On – Going Formation program for Senior Members’ at the Pilar Retreat Centre on January 17.

All the Pilar fathers, who were ordained from 1949 to 1971, are attending the program.

Fr Erric Rodrigues CSSR, former Provincial of the Redemptorist congregation and resource person for Mid-Life and Seniors program all over the world, will conduct the session on ‘Growing old gracefully’ from January 2123.

A one day session to learn relaxation techniques will be conducted by Clemente D’Souza, who is the former Professor of Economics at Carmal College, Mangalore and expert in Neuro Linguistic Program (NLP) and associated Healing therapies.

A session on introduction to inward journey will be led by Fr Ivon Almeida sfx, who is presently pursuing his doctoral studies in inter-religious dialogue at the University of Madras and a Professor of Dialogue and Religions.

Earlier, Fr Tony Lopes, the Superior General of the Society of Pilar welcomed the senior members and Fr Oscar Rosario sj, who was until recently the Rector of De Nobili College, Pune, and a renowned retreat preacher, led the three-day orientation and sharing for the missionaries.

Seminar on ‘Goa Police Reforms Bill’ HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 23

Asha Family Responsibilities & Rights Association in collaboration with Council for Social Justice & Peace will conduct a public seminar on ‘Goa Police Reforms Bill’ on January 29 at Institute Piedade Hall II, next to State Bank of India, DB Marg, Panjim, from 10 am to 12 noon.

Registration is free.

For details call 2422821 /9822166876.

Land under cultivation at Bokadbag-Bandora.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JAN 23

With an aim to spread awareness and attract more and more youth towards agriculture, a couple of farmers and villagers from Bokadbag-Bandora in Marcaim have undertaken paddy cultivation in one of the fields in the village.

Four farmers and a villager who is new to farming have jointly taken a plot of land on lease to cultivate paddy crop.

“Nowadays, there is shortage of workers and is also not cost effective. The idea behind such an initiative will save labour cost, as we ourselves will work in the field. It’s fun and work also gets faster,” said Sagar Mulvi.

Mulvi, who is new to farming, is among the five members who have initiated the idea of joint farming.

The other four, Jaykant Gaude, Subhash Gaude, Sagar Bandodkar and Dilip Gaude, have knowledge in farming.

“All five work in the field. This has made our work easier. The idea is also to encourage youth

Vasco da Gama yacht rally sets sail SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT PANJIM, JAN 23

The Vasco da Gama yacht rally set sail from the marina at the Bolgatty Palace in Kochi recently, for Goa. The three-and-a-half month rally is scheduled to finish at the Alanya Marina in Turkey in the second week of May. Twenty yachts from 11 countries, including France, the UK, Holland, Belgium, Austria, Finland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Brazil carrying 70 yachtsman of 17 nationalities are part of the event.

From Goa, where it will halt for a few days, the rally will go on to Mumbai and then leave Indian waters for Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt, before crossing the Suez Canal to reach Alanya on 15 May, if the weather permits.

Fifty more yachts will join the rally in Mumbai, said Jolly Thomas of the Kerala Watersport and Sailing Organisation.

The rally is organised and led by 71-year- old Dutchman Lodewijk Brust, skipper of the yacht ‘Mistral’.

Thomas Cook launches summer holiday sale HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 23

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s largest integrated travel and travel related financial services company will be organizing the annual ‘Summer Holiday Sale’. The event shall be an informative session for potential travellers looking for a good bargain on some of the best recommended outbound and domestic holiday destinations this summer.

This annual road show will be held at Hotel Fidalgo and has become a benchmark in the travel industry and amongst the Indian traveler, as a one stop shop for the ‘most sought after’ travel offers and discounts in India. This year the Thomas Cook Summer Holiday Sale will be organized in 34 cities. This carnival is coming at juncture when Thomas Cook has launched fabulous offers on group tours to US and Europe. TCIL recently launched a group tour to Europe especially for Maharashtrians, Thomas Cook chya Europe Parikrama.

Every year Thomas Cook comes with the best bargains on customized packages and group tours, says a press release.

For details contact tel: 2226291 to 99 and 9850702453.

Photo by Amresh Parab

to take up agriculture. We begin our work early morning at about 6.30 am and continue till noon.

We have almost finished the first stage and will soon complete sowing,” said Suryakant Gaude.

Said Dilip Gaude, “Many agricultural lands remain barren, as youth today have turned their back to farming.”

“Availability of workers is also another issue. However, if people start farming the way we have done, then I don’t think there

will be any issue related to workers availability. I hope today’s generation will take interest in farming instead of running after employment opportunities elsewhere,” said Gaude.

“The government should encourage such initiative and help whoever wants to cultivate lands, which are lying idle. Government should provide help to the farmers whenever needed, but often we are neglected,” said Suryakant Gaude.

upcoming events Function at Bal Bhavan PANJIM (HND): Concluding function of the Silver Jubilee year of Bal Bhavan, will be held on, January 25 at Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Kala Academy (KA), Panjim, at 3 pm, in presence of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat.

The function will have dance and songs and felicitation of the staff who have completed over 20 years of service in Bal Bhavan and also of one best Bal Bhavan Kendra. A book depicting the achievement of 25 years of Bal Bhavan will be released and the best two plays selected during the Children’s Theatre festival, will be staged. A photo exhibition depicting 25 years of Bal Bhavan movement will be held in foyer of KA.

Awareness camp at Ponda PANJIM (HND): The Ponda Taluka Legal Services Committee will organise an awareness camp on ‘Availability of Health Care Services’ on January 26 at 10.30 am at Matruchhaya, Dhavli, Ponda and on February 5 at Shree Saraswati HS, Kavlem, Ponda, at 10.30 am.

Identity of our nation is Hindi: Upadhyay

Governor Dr S S•Sidhu and Veena Upadhyay, Secretary (Official Languageat Zonal Official Language at the felicitation function and Colloquium organised by the Department of Official Language, GoI, for Central and Western Region held recently at National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JAN 23

Veena Upadhyay, Secretary (Official Language) has stressed the need to collaborate with educational institution to sensitise the youth for proper use of Hindi and its propagation.

She was speaking at the Zonal Official Language felicitation function and Colloquium organised by the Department of Official Language, GoI, for Central and Western Region on Friday at National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula.

She who presided over the function, further stated that of all the three regions of the our country in the zonal function, there are maximum members of TOLIC in this region and they can contribute more in propagation of Hindi. She observed that Hindi is the identity of our nation and medium of inclusive development while concluding her address. She also referred to the message of PM given on the occasion of World Hindi Day at Mauritius.

Governor, Dr S S Sidhu, the chief guest, welcomed all the dignitaries and gave away the prizes for the year 2009-2010

for the central government offices/organisations/banks/undertakings and TOLIC, who have registered good performance in the implementation of official language policy of Union of India.

Dignitaries who spoke on the occasion included Vice- Chancellor of Goa University Prof Devbhagkar, CMD of Goa Shipyard Ltd, Rear Admiral, Vineet Bakshi, Chairman TOLIC North and Chief Income Tax Commissioner Pankaj Gupta, Director NIO, Dr Satish Shetye, Chairman TOLIC (Bank), Jaipur, B B Garg, Head of Department (Hindi), Dr Ratan Kumar Pandey, University of Mumbai and Mohan Das Surlekar, a renowned Hindi scholar. All of them stressed the need for inclusive development of Hindi as an official language.

In the concluding session, various softwares in Hindi were demonstrated along with an exhibition of Hindi magazines and Home Journals of Department of Official Language and various central government organizations.

Cultural programme was also presented during this function.

POWER SHUTDOWN JANUARy 24

RIBANDAR: From 9 am to 6 pm. Areas affected are Water tank, Hotel Missel, Ribandar Police station, Institute of Management Ribandar, Diwar ferry, Ribandar Residency and surrounding areas.

TALEIGAO: From 8 am to 10 am. Areas affected are Syndicate Bank, Sylveira Shopping, Gulmohar apartment, Bharat Petroleum quarters, Eugene Morod, Auxillium School and surrounding areas.

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Pg 5 GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

Ray exhorts Catholics to Kalay residents SHB plot applicants urge CM’s intervention remain faithful to church threaten to boycott assembly elections HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JAN 23

Catholic Apologist Stephen K Ray along Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao at a faith formation seminar in Pilar.

HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, JAN 23

Over two thousand Catholics, along with Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao, assembled on the first day of a two-day faith formation seminar on Catholic faith at Pilar.

The main resource person, Stephen K Ray, a Catholic Apologist from USA, shared his lifetransforming conversion to the Catholic Faith.

He declared that he came to the Catholic Church because he discovered the truth of the Catholic Faith which turned him into an apologist or a defender of the same.

Ray said his conversion began with his realization of the problems with the worship, the interpretation of the Bible and moral teachings of the Protestant tradition.

His awareness of the absence of the Eucharistic sacrifice, multiple interpretations of the Bible, leading to conflicting claims as well as the moral relativism within the protestant fold prepared him to reconsider claims

of his own tradition.

The embracing of Catholicism by his best friend led him to undertake a deep scrutiny of the Catholic Faith with a motivation to disprove all its foundational claims, only to come to his own acceptance of the same.

"I was not born catholic. But I chose to be a catholic," declared Ray, emphasizing that he was catholic by conviction.

Ray's Protestant background assisted him to effectively present the chief problems the Protestants and other separated brethren have with the Catholic Church.

He said that the papal authority, the role of Mother Mary, priesthood, sacraments of confession and the Eucharist are the chief issues that are raised by the Protestant brethren against the Catholic Faith.

He sought to demonstrate how all these claims were based on misunderstandings and falsehoods.

"Fighting the Catholic Faith, I came to the Catholic Church," said Ray and ex-

horted the Catholics to remain faithful to the Church and take personal steps to grow in their Faith.

The event was organized by the Archdiocese of Goa to help the Catholics to understand and deepen their Catholic Faith and respond effectively to their contemporar y challenges and threats.

Fr Manuel Gomes translated the teachings of Ray in Konkani, while Jorim Mendonca compered the proceedings of the day. Fr Eusico Pereira animated the congregation with soul-stirring hymns with his choir.

Scores of other lay volunteers with the organizing committee saw to the smooth functioning of the program for the day.

Steven Ray later proceeded to St Jerome's Church, Mapusa, for an hour-long talk to the Catholics in and around Mapusa Parish.

The full-day programme continues on Sunday at Pilar, followed by an open one-hour session at Holy Spirit Church, Margao, at 6.30 pm.

Joseph Sequeira eyes Congress ticket HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JAN 23

Former Calangute sarpanch Joseph Sequeira celebrated his birthday on Wednesday by announcing his intention to contest the next Assembly elections from Calangute constituency and that too, on the Congress ticket.

Sequeira who celebrated his birthday with his family members, close friends and well wishers at Calangute, said: “I am going to contest the elections.

But on which party ticket will be decided as and when the situation demands. But right now, I am planning to contest on the Congress ticket.”

Among those present at the birthday party at the Hotel Goan H e r i t a g e w e re C a l a n g u t e Sarpanch Alex Fernandes, Deputy Sarpanch Sneha Salgaonkar, Sangolda Deputy Sarpanch Nilkant Naik, Saligao ZP member Michael Lobo and Fr Conceisao D’Silva.

Mapusa MLA Adv Francis D’Souza and former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco also called on Sequeira to wish on his birthday.

Sequeira took his time off to

Piqued over the exorbitant rates quoted by Goa Housing Board (GHB), the Shristhal Housing Board(SHB) plot applicants have urged Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to come to the rescue of ‘aam admi’ who had applied for residential plots 21 years ago.

In a memorandum, about 70 applicants under the banner ‘Association of the People of Canacona’ has asked Kamat to address their grievance against GHB’s high-handedness in fixing a rate of Rs 1,700 per sq mtr for the housing plots applied in 1989 in response to the advertisement.

The applicants have also brought to the notice of Kamat that GHB has asked them to make another deposit of Rs 5,000 and to comply other formalities like affidavits, income certificate and residential certificates within 25 days of the issue of notices dated December 20, 2010.

The applicants contention is that why should they be made to go through this process all over again, especially when they had deposited Rs 1,500 and submitted prescribed application form along with affidavit, resi-

‘Child’s well-being related to mother’s health’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JAN 23

Claiming that women of childbearing age of 15-44 years and children under 15 years constitute 59% of the population in India, Aldona Health Officer Dr Pradeep Dhavjekar has said these two groups are the major consumers of health services.

“Mothers and children not only constitute a large group but they are also the ‘vulnerable’ or special risk groups. The risk is connected with childbearing in the case of woman and growth, development and survival in case of infants and children,” said Dr Dhavjekar.

He was addressing a free medical camp organized by Porvorim Gymkhana in association with Aldona Primary Health centre at Community Hall at AltoBetim on Saturday. Dr Dhavjekar further mentioned that sickness and deaths among mother are largely preventable.

“By improving the health of

Aldona Health Officer Dr Pradeep Dhavjekar checks a patient during a medical camp.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

the mother and children, we contribute to the health of the general population.”

“A child’s health is closely related to the mother’s health. A healthy mother gives birth to healthy baby. There is less chances of premature birth or abortions in healthy mothers.”

“Certain diseases such as

syphilis, drug intake, etc. during pregnancies are likely to have their effect upon the foetus.”

“After delivery, the infant is dependent on the mother for milk. If the mother dies, the growth and the development of the child can be affected. It is for these reasons that the mother and child is treated as one unit,” said Dr Dhavjekar.

Mini water treatment plant opened at Sanguem HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JAN 23

Fr Conceisao D’Silva greets Joseph Sequeira on his birthday at Calangute.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes

disclose his intentions of developmental plans for the Calangute village which includes a dashing bus stand, state-ofthe-art market complex to cater to the needs of villagers of Calangute and surrounding areas and a sewage treatment plant. “ The roads in interior Calangute also need urgent attention,” said Sequeira.

After putting in 31 years of service to the Taj Group of Hotels, Sequeira recently gave up

his job to devote more time and energy to his family-run business and politics.

“I was finding it difficult to manage the family business and devote my time to politics as people would come to you to solve or address their grievances so this was the precise reason of giving up the job,” said Sequeira.

Sequeira is supported in his endeavours by his spouse Felician and three children Joel, Jovicia and Joann.

Bala’s ability a divine blessing!

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JAN 23

He may be mentally challenged since his childhood and without any educational qualification, but Gurudash Bhagwat Naik (44), known as Bala, from Headland Sada, can tell the exact time without looking at any clock.

People from Headland Sada call it a divine blessing, while others are baffled by his ability to rattle out the correct time.

Bala is a walking time clock, be it monsoon, winter or sunny day, in any season, weather days are longer or vice versa, Bala would swiftly say exact timing.

Bala’s parents said that he has been mentally challenged since his childhood. “At the age of 12, he gradually started

Residents of Thorlemoll-Kalay, Sanguem, have threatened to boycott the Assembly elections in the coming years if their demand for provision for regular drinking water supply is not met.

Despite the Selaulim Dam fulfilling the needs of most of the people in South Goa, residents at Thorlemoll-Kalay, Sanguem, are left with no supply of drinking water.

Thorlemoll ward is inhabited by about 150 people spread in about 26 houses, but the ward despite being located close to the Selaulim Dam does not have any provision for supply of drinking water as of date.

In the absence of provision for drinking water supply, the villagers are made to walk to the neighbouring wards to get drinking water. The situation is made all the more worst as the wells existing nearby in the village are also on the verge of getting dried up.

Given the less amount of water in the wells, the well owners allegedly refuse co-villagers

from taking water from the wells, thus compounding their problems.

Villagers informed that despite frequent request to the authorities, their demand for provision of regular drinking water supply in the village has fallen on deaf ears.

Villagers have charged the authorities of being negligent in their attitude and called for immediate provision of regular water supply in the village.

Villagers alleged that the PWD authorities are not paying any heed to their requests as all the villagers residing at Thorlemoll ward hail from backward communities and there is also no backing from any political leader in getting their need fulfilled.

“PWD authorities are however reported to be supplying drinking water to the villagers through tankers but it is not sufficient,” claimed villagers.

The problem of drinking water supply to the village could be fulfilled by extending the existing pipeline to the ward which passes in the neighbourhood areas.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JAN 23

learning basic household and day-to-day things at the residence.”

“He has never been to school and he only knows to write his name, but that too he doesn’t remember all the alphabets and even the numbers. But despite such odds,

he never fails to answer the exact time at any given point in time,” said Bala’s father Bhagwant.

While your wrist watch might stop or run a bit faster or slower, but Bala’s exact timing prediction may help many people to correct their time.

“We thought he might be just guessing, but we were surprised when he told the exact time during monsoon,” said his earlier neighbour Shekhar Kalangutkar.

“The interesting thing is that sometime people set their timing correctly after asking the time from Bala,” added Kalangutkar.

If one doesn’t believe after reading this article, one could satisfy themselves by visiting Headland Sada to know the exact timing to correct their timing from Bala.

Sanguem MLA Vassudev Meng Gaonkar recently inaugurated the mini water treatment plant at Vargani Netravali, Sanguem.

The mini water treatment plant has been set up by the Water Supply Department under the Rural Water Supply scheme.

Gaonkar inaugurated the plant in the presence of Netravali Sarpanch Shashikant Gaonkar, Assistant Engineer (Water Supply Department) Shrikant Dhond, junior engineer Arvind Gaonkar, Ulhas Dessai, Subhash Velip and Anand Naik.

Speaking at the inaugural

Sanguem MLA Vassudev Meng Gaonkar addresses the inaugural function of Mini Water Treatment Plant at Vargani Netravali-

function, Gaonkar complimented the department for commissioning the plant in the remote village.

“With the commissioning of water treatment plant in the vil-

lage, it will solve most of the drinking water problems faced by the villagers in Netravali,” said Gaonkar and urged locals for judicial use of drinking water.

dential and income certificates in 1989 itself.

The applicants also raised the point of un-uniformity of the size of plots, as GHB in the advertisement announced each plot to be of 300 sq mtrs, but fresh GHB notices mentions plot sizes ranging between 211 sq

mtrs and 369 sq mtrs.

The members further stated that by quoting the rates of Rs 1,700 per sq mtr, which is exorbitantly more than any market rate, the GHB gives an impression that the housing scheme is meant only for the rich and not for ‘Aam Admi’.

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O HERALD O

Towards Ruin: The Coast is Clear

Vol No CXI No: 024 Goa, Monday, 24 January, 2011

Make garbage go away

G

I

oa’s garbage problem needs an urgent solution; otherwise this state will soon begin to stink. That is why it is important for all of us to back initiatives to sort out this imbroglio. One of them is ‘Chaka Chak Goa’, a public-private partnership campaign that is trying to put solutions in place. The first part of this initiative, to take off on Republic Day, is when 2,500 NSS students from schools and colleges across Goa launch a one-time clean-up drive at six selected spots. Hopefully, it will not end on the day concerned, and the local coordinators appointed for the campaign will get cooperation from the public to contact to carry out similar drives in other areas.

The big solution to Goa’s garbage problems – given the fact that we do not have large amounts of land far enough away from habitation for large-scale dumps – is segregation of garbage. If, as Panjim city has done, the rest of Goa too implements garbage segregation, disposal of the trash generated will become 10 times simpler. But for this, a Panjim kind of campaign will have to be implemented not only in Goa’s other cities, but also in the ‘urban’ villages surrounding them.

For the time being, it is enough if we can all come forward to lend a hand to the ‘Chaka Chak Goa’ campaign. It is a people’s campaign, organised by the same people who came together for the ‘Plastic Free Goa’ campaign 10 years ago.

The campaign is to run throughout 2011 and 2012, when garbage from across the state will be segregated in a phased manner. While wet garbage will be composted, all recyclable waste will be given to a government-appointed contractor.

Only non-recyclable, non-biodegradable waste will be dumped in proper landfills. NGOs will work along with panchayats and the concerned government departments to put these systems in place.

Quite apart from the garbage segegation issue is the need to once more strictly enforce the regulations against plastic, which are now observed more in the breach. It seems both our shopkeepers and their customers have forgotten that plastic carry-bags below 40 microns in thickness are banned.

A very large number of shopkeepers have once more taken to giving thin, non-recyclable carry-bags to their customers.

A quick education campaign followed by levying of stiff fines on those who break the law should bring results, just as it has in the past.

This campaign will not stop until Goa has a permanent system of household garbage segregation and door-to-door garbage collection, with composting units everywhere to manage organic waste generated by households. For hotels and restaurants to implement garbage segregation is actually much easier, as they have employees who can be trained.

The important thing is not just to provide training and create incentives for good garbage management, but also prescribe and implement stiff penalties for those who do not do their bit to manage garbage correctly. The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa has already come on board.

Efforts are on to rope in commercial and industrial establishments, healthcare institutions, beach shacks, airport and railway authorities, defence installations, education institutions and corporate houses. All that remains is for panchayats in tourist areas to take responsibility in a real sense for the garbage generated in their villages.

Now, if you see someone throwing garbage, or even dried flowers stuffed into a plastic bag, into a river or quietly dumping it behind a building, stop them. Don’t look away thinking that it’s none of your business; it is now everyone’s business. For, lethargy on our part will only worsen the already alarming garbage problem in Goa. We have to make those heaps of garbage dumped and burnt everywhere go away.

Villians within Pachu Menon, Margao The disclosure of the active involvement of a few rogue cops in the spurious narcotic trade has blown the lid off a politician-police-drug mafia nexus that threatens to engulf the whole state. The very officer lauded for the arrest of an international drug dealer has been exposed as a conduit for passing drugs to potential customers! A notorious drug peddler jumps bail and flees the country!

Would it be possible without ‘inside’ help?

Sting operations are done to seek vengeance, thus turning heroes into villains.

The very fact that they are singling out certain cops in the ANC is ample proof of relations between them having gone sour somewhere down the line. It could also be a case of renewed monetary demands.

With the nabbing of Goan police head constable and others on charges of carrying hashish in Belgaum, it reveals the link between the enforcers and narco-traders. The government should be more concerned

Smile with Smitha

OPINION

Regularisation rather than regulation has become the norm in our coastal policy, says CLaUDe aLVaReS

n November 1981, Indira Gandhi issued a stern letter to all chief ministers of India’s coastal states stipulating that no construction should be allowed within 500 metres of the high tide line (HTL) in order to maintain the ecological integrity of the nation’s beaches.

As long as she was alive, no one dared to challenge the directive. It was finally replaced in February 1991 by a special notification under the Environment Protection Act, which defined the stretch of 500 metres from the HTL as the ‘Coastal Regulation Zone’ and introduced restrictions on new developments.

Within a year, then Union Environment Minister Kamal Nath was ready to bring it down. A committee was appointed headed by B B Vohra. Kamal Nath abused even this committee’s report to notify drastic changes, allowing construction of resorts within 200 metres of the HTL. Several of us moved the Supreme Court and got the amendments struck down.

But the Environment Ministry was relentless.

By the time Jairam Ramesh arrived, the notification had been amended 25 times in less than 20 years, each amendment diluting it further. (If you want something to compare this with, the Constitution of India was amended 90 times in 60 years.)

Almost everything that Mrs Gandhi frowned upon was allowed, including SEZs and IT parks, like in the fable about the Arab and his camel.

After seeking the Arab’s approval for bringing its feet into the tent, then its head, then its hump, the camel finally edges out the Arab from the tent altogether!

It was the BJP-led NDA regime that decided to do away with the CRZ law altogether (it was Mrs Gandhi’s initiative, after all). So, one more committee was formed under M S Swaminathan. The Swaminathan report actually castigated the Environment Ministry for the 25 amendments, saying they were unwarranted dilutions. But mysteriously, it recommended scrapping the notification altogether and substituting it with something called the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) notification.

We found out later through RTI applications that the final chapter proposing the CZM notification had been inserted by a separate sub-committee, after the last meeting of the Swaminathan committee!

The new UPA regime in 2004 made no differ-

Straight from the heart

Sea Change ence to the move to dismantle the CRZ, even though the two leading lights of the UPA were, as we all know, the daughter-in-law and grandchild of Mrs Gandhi.

The CZM notification was notified in 2008, and the revolt against it was huge. More than 8,000 letters of objection were received, including from chief ministers of almost all coastal states.

Several consultations were held in various cities by the Environment Ministry through the Centre for Environment Education (CEE). The CEE filed a detailed report saying that the public opinion expressed in all the consultations – especially from the fishing community – was unanimously against the new draft.

The Environment Ministry brought in Swaminathan again to undo the damage. He headed a new committee, which recommended scrapping of the CZM notification. When I met him in July 2009, just after he had taken charge, Jairam Ramesh expressed astonishment that the eminent scientist could put forward two diametrically opposite recommendations within a year. But the government allowed the CZM to lapse.

A ‘pre-draft CRZ notification’, a sort of trial balloon that I call a ‘daft’ CRZ notification, was

What makes a woman beautiful?

T

he media might tell you a hundred success stories of how a certain skin whitening cream changed a woman’s life forever, or how her new slim look procured her many an admirer, or how a shampoo made her get a job, or how a certain workout got her a husband.

But what would anyone do with a husband or a lover who falls for you only because you look good and presents yourself in accordance to the current fashion?

The constant race to look young, beautiful and slim is a tiring, reward-less marathon, which can only make you look stressed out and haggard like all races do! Who are you racing with after all? Your pretty neighbour, or that sexy colleague of yours or the beautiful woman who drops her kid to school daily, or that thin heroine of the last hit movie??

The concept of beauty, and women’s constant need to look attractive, stems from a society that views women in an innately flawed way. No matter how much women evolve study or get good jobs, when a woman has to marry, it is her looks which are of prime importance, whereas men are judged on the basis of their achievements. More often than not, in social interaction

about repairing the image of the police force that has been battered, thanks to the villains on its payroll.

Give them a break Jerry Fernandes, Saligao This is with regards to the letter by John Eric Gomes ‘I salute Herald’ (Herald, 13 Jan). Well, the letter was quite interesting but his views on our Goan traditions and customs were really in bad taste. NonGoan settlers of late are seen organising their traditional “Durga-Poojas”, “Lord Jaganath Yatras”, “Garba dances”, “DiscoDhandiya” parties right here in Goa with great pride. People of Goan origin try to compare our traditional dances, wedding-receptions and bull-tights with those controversial ‘Khap Panchayats’, ‘Sati’ etc of neighbouring states.

Today, Goals facing so many serious problems of corruption, unemployment, drugs, and what have you. But respected people like John Eric Gomes, seem to be bent on propagating silly nonsense of noise pollution. Let us learn to fight some real issues

Smitha Bhandare Kamat

circulated in April 2010, which allowed construction even within 200 metres of the HTL! In response to the charges of the fisherfolk that their views were not considered, Ramesh announced fresh consultations. It got a fresh banging from not just the fisherfolk, but from environmentalists and state governments as well.

A ‘final’ CRZ draft was notified on 15 September 2010.

This time the fisherfolk were furious, because the entire consultation process had been ignored.

In November, the fisherfolk showed they meant business when they ordered a total halt to any fish sale in the entire country. Earlier, they had shown they could protest effectively with their boats blocking all the country’s ports.

So where have we finally reached?

Whereas Mrs Gandhi’s letter expressly forbade any development, the new draft allows almost everybody to be in the CRZ – SEZs, nuclear reactors, mass housing projects, airports, ports, roads and bridges. It even permits development between the low and high tide lines (a zone submerged by sea water twice a day) – including roads on stilts, community centres, dispensaries, community toilets, desalination plants and bridges!

As a sop to environmentalists, the new notification ‘extends’ the CRZ across the 12 nautical mile territorial waters where, except for fishing, nothing else happens. The government grandly declared that is doing all this to protect the fishing community and safeguard the coastal ecology, in view of sea level rise from climate change. But in fact, fisherfolk get a massive kick in the teeth, while all the people Mrs Gandhi wanted to keep out are welcomed with garlands. They now have a right to be there!

I wonder at lawmaking in this country. The CRZ notification was designed to restrict and limit activities in the CRZ. Today, it legitimises atomic reactors and stilt bridges in even ecologically sensitive areas (CRZ-I). Since the careless environmental impact assessment (EIA) process – which the minister is unable to mend – allows everyone with 4,000 sq metres of land in CRZ-III areas the right to put up a hotel, the notification ends up allowing more and more hotels, a situation it was actually intended to prevent. In Goa, some stretches have three to four five-star resorts per kilometre! All these new entrants will claim their pound of the coast’s ecological assets, from sand dunes to mangroves.

In the two decades that the 1991 CRZ notification ruled, the Environment Ministry displayed minimal commitment to its implementation. Almost all enforcement was done by NGOs through the High Courts and Supreme Court. In Goa, the High Court has banned all residential construction in the CRZ now for 12 years, and all hotels for the last four years.

Even today, implementation of environment statutes is almost non-existent. So allowing a lot of new actors with rights into the coast is a sure recipe for ruin.

Botanists have shown that in many areas, trees are migrating to higher zones as a species to adapt to new temperatures associated with climate change. Trees are supposed to be rooted, unable to move or migrate. Despite this, they are taking steps for their own survival.

Just when the entire world’s scientific opinion says get out of the coast, in India we have a notification that says, ‘Welcome all ye here!’ What a great way to start the New Year. Amen!

(The writer is the director of Goa Foundation.

This article first appeared in ‘Outlook’)

too, pretty women and successful men are given special attention.

Women then often get objectified and are seen as items that can add value to any man, or his business or his self esteem, or to advertisements or movies or brands. This objectification then naturally commodifies them as well. They become trophy wives or arm candy or assets or “property”. No wonder the market is flooded with products that ensure and enhance beauty, with the promise of making you beautiful in thirty days?!

But are we so daft to think that we can just buy beauty out of a bottle? The beauty I talk of is somewhere deep inside all of us, like light from a flame. It is a measure of the peace that we have made with ourselves, it is the way we have accepted ourselves with all our moles and small eyes and double chin. It reflects more of our inner journey, the experience, the passion, the love that we have given or got, the compassion within, the empathy that we feel for all, the tenderness we have for that child of ours, and the ardor we feel for the man we love so tremendously.

It is the beauty of wanting to take on the whole world for a single strong belief, and is the beauty which arises from great events, great suffering, great sacrifice and great achievement.

Why different yardsticks?

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco According to the Environment Ministry report, Lavasa Corporation violated environmental laws while building the hill-station close to Pune. However, the ministry decided not to order demolition of the illegal construction, but instead, levy a ‘hefty’ fine. But in the Adarsh case, the Ministry has ordered its demolition.

Does this not amount to applying two different yardsticks for the same irregularity committed?

The reason given for letting off the Lavasa project is because of the substantial investment made, employment generated and interests of those who had invested in the project. But then, it must be said that in the Adarsh case, there are several legal occupants who invested in the flats with their life savings and are Kargil war veterans.

If the Environment Ministry is going to have its way in the Adarsh case, who is going to compensate these genuine flat owners?

Defer kick-off timings Efigenio Dias, Colva The All India Football Federation is conducting the National Football League, organised by the Goa Football Association (GFA) in Goa at the Nehru Stadium, Fatorda. ) The timings for kick-off is very inconvenient for the working class, students, and especially football lovers. The weather is hot during the day and there is no protection or shade on the western stand side.

Urgent repairs need to be carried out to the floodlights and generators that they possess.

The GFA should take the initiative and convince the SAG to defer the kick off timings to 5pm for the convenience of the footballing fraternity.

Why this double speak?

Orlando S A Da Silva, Carmona The report ‘Kamat urges youth to preserve identity of Goa’ (Herald, 16 Jan) that the Chief minister while inaugurating the Mahotsav at Khandhepar on 15 Jan

Everyone need not be a Mother Teresa or Marilyn Monroe, or Indira Gandhi. Your own journey is unique and what is important is what you are through your own eyes, rather than through the eyes of the world. This beauty comes from true grit that you have shown in times of trouble, it comes from forgiving those unknown, it comes from never giving up on the ones you love, it comes from standing by when you are needed, it comes from rising to the occasion, no matter how distressed or disillusioned you might be.

This beauty comes from the ability to hold your own at a conference where you address two hundred men. It comes from dancing in gay abandon. It comes from upholding your ideals and self respect at the cost of losing your job. It comes from all that you dared to do and all the terrible mistakes you made and yet had the desire to resurrect yourself like the Phoenix.

Your beauty is right there in you. You have earned it after years of grit, courage and living your life your own way. Time, circumstance and suffering cannot take it away. All you need is a bit of confidence in yourself and some compassion for others, for your beauty to radiate out from you. An anti ageing cream or protein shake won’t help. Throw them away and just love yourself!!

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

concerning Goans. Allow our music loving Goans some rights, and then talk of giving rights to others. Let the Goan music culture rock on forever.

By Sajla Chawla

urged Goan youth to preserve identity of Goa. Most of us in Goa who are instrumental in raising issues concerning Goa such as the SEZ and the regional plan issues having direct consequential bearings on the so called identity of Goa. We have practically seen and experienced how the present government has sacrificed at the altar of corruption all the above issues.

Senior ministers of the ruling dispensation are actively involved in illegal mining.

CM Kamat’s statements are pure rhetoric.

Nothing has been done with respect to banning of mega housing projects. He has dilly-dallied with the passing of the regional plans, which speaks volumes of his intention and seriousness.

Maximum punishment Robert Castellino, Mumbai The Supreme Court has ruled that the murder of Graham Staines and his two sons was not the ‘rarest of rare’ crime and therefore, did not warrant the death sentence. The Apex court found extenuating circumstances in the ‘intention’ of the murderer.

By the same token, however, if such a gruesome, horrendous and premeditated murder can be exonerated, on the basis of extenuating circumstances, then capital

punishment should be abolished for every person who commits a murder. Imprisonment for life should always be the maximum punishment.

Untap political talent Tulsidas Malkarnekar, Margao One political leader of this State had enjoyed a long tenure as MP of the Lok Sabha and then in the Rajya Sabha. He was also a minister in the Union Cabinet.

During the long tenure spreading over more than two decades, self interests were taken care of, with no sufficient time to serve for the welfare of Goans.

Surprisingly as press reports suggest, his tenure due to expire in April which has now been extended by another five years.

It appears the party is facing a dearth of talent by not inducting new competent faces and keeps on dragging with the old guard and outdated leaders. It is high time that the party injects fresh blood and talent.

If not, they are likely to fare badly in the forthcoming elections.

Welcome decision Tony Borges, Ucassaim The Goa government’s approval of a repatriation fund for distressed Non Resident Goans is a move that will be surely welcomed by NRGs and their families.

The NRG authorities should look into creating schemes for NRG returnees similar to those created in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

A registry of non residents of these states has been created to prevent misuse of the schemes.

NRGs would, however, appreciate if the government addresses the woes of their families with respect to dwindling law and order, burglaries, transportation, environment and hurdles faced when approaching any government authority.

IAF’s lax administration S Kamat, Alto Betim Air Marshal Naik heading our Air Force has made an intriguing statement that one of the files relating to the purchase of the next generation fighters that was found on the streets of Delhi, was not

an important one and therefore, there was no issue.

Is this not surprising since it comes from the head of our Air Force? In contrast, on any other matter of the Air Force, where he would claim the privilege of secrecy and defend it vigorously, here is an instance of the non importance of a file. Air Marshal Naik should institute a court of inquiry into the matter, and take action against those responsible for getting the file down to Delhi’s streets.

If Air Marshal Naik’s approach is so careless and perfunctory, we have surely given the responsibility of our Air Force into wrong hands.

Softly killing Goans James Moraes, Cuncolim Today Goans are sidelined and have assumed a status, akin to that of migrants.

Politicians and bureaucrats make their presence felt in illegal migrant inhabited Moti Dongor.

They provide door step service instead of acting tough on the law breakers. This is all because of the vote bank advantage.

They get free water, electricity and other amenities.

In comparison, the Goan has to make frequent visits to the South Goa collectorate to get a ration card or to get his name on the election roll card. Due to such politicians, we have lost our land to migrants and are now on verge of losing our river fronts to anti Goan organisations.

Rising cost of gasoline P L Fernandes, Old Goa The rise of petrol and other petroleum products, is beginning to bite. India was talking about using “gasohol” on the model of Brazil, most suited to us, because we can grow sugarcane instead of other organic material from beetroot and sweet potato, since 2002.

Somehow nothing has happened. The fact is that ‘ethanol’ can be sustainable and is renewable energy, because of the sun.

It is believed that the US, in addition to Brazil, has been blending ethanol for decades. So why not we? Or are we doing it already?

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001. Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat (Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 2222475 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.

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GOA, MONDAY 24 JANUARY, 2011

opinionated 25 years after Bofors, army Saving the guilty, targeting innocent

By Jose Maria Miranda

I

t is really amazing how some issues of law and order are sought to be tackled in this country. While money and muscle power, prejudices, vote bank politics, and many other factors play an important role in treating people differently under law, enabling the worst criminals to be free to even enter the portals of assembly and parliament, many innocent people are framed and languish in jails for years without a fair trial. So much for this much trumpeted “world’s largest democracy”, recently rightly labeled in USA as a “functioning anarchy”.

The police and the concerned departments drag their feet to file FIRs against heavyweights, obviously out of fear of reprisals and their zeal in dealing with any case often depends on how much bribes have been received, or how much pressure has been exercised on them to pin down or save the accused.

Recently, we had a case of alleged corruption by the Housing Board Minister, wherein the Vigilance department. refused to file an FIR until it was compelled to do so by the judicial magistrate. Had the courts come down heavily and imposed hefty penalties on the people responsible for not doing their job and compelling the affected to waste precious time of the judiciary, perhaps things would change in this country.

What is making headlines these days, particularly in some TV channels, is the confession of Swami Asseemanand, who has spilled the beans not only of his own involvement but also of some RSS members in blasts in Malegaon, Hyderabad and the Samjhauta Express. The Swami had a change of heart when he was helped by a Muslim boy, who was in jail for an offence that was actually committed by the Swami, and a few others and was wrongly attributed to some Muslims, including this boy.

Obviously, the boy’s helping hand stirred the conscience of the Swami, whose great gesture in confessing to his crime, needs to be immensely appreciated, highly commended and emulated, particularly by those who do not, like the police in this case, hesitate to jail and torture the innocent and helpless in the full knowledge that they are targeting the wrong people. He may have erred but he had the nobility to confess to a crime, when someone innocent was being punished. Despite the fact that victims of the blasts were Muslims, the police and the ATS, with their traditionally callous and shoddy investigations, attributed them to Muslims. They were arrested and kept in jail, for years now. This was obviously done based on the often repeated premise that “all Muslims are not terrorists, but all terrorists are Muslims.”

Advani and Bal Tackeray, with their traditional hatred towards the Muslim community, were highly critical of poor Hemant Karkare for arresting Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, a Hindu extremist, suspected in the Malegaon blasts of 2008. What do they have to say now? This upright police officer, who is unfortunately no more, stands vindicated. Time will surely tell of any startling revelations regarding Karkare’s death. In fact, it is the fanatical ideology and incitements of people like Advani and Thackeray that have led to extremism in Hindu ranks. They are largely and mainly responsible for the communal violence that prevails in the country, which has drained the exchequer of crores of rupees.

There was no terrorist act, no bomb blast in India that was not attributed either to Pakistan or to Muslims in this country.

Swami Asseemanand’s confession will make people think differently. Fortunately, for the country, the BJP is not in power at the Centre and in many states. Or else, the investigations might have taken a different turn. Fortunately, for the country, the majority of the people in our various religious communities look at others as their fellowmen, and their religion does not come in the way of their relationships. It is not that the people involved are just Hindu fundamentalists, but, some of them at least, are members of the RSS. Their fanatical approach to religion has now found violent means of dealing even with innocent people, who do not happen to belong to their religion.

Shortly, just as it happens with some fanatics in few other communities, they will deal similarly with people who dare to think differently. They now stand exposed, despite all assertions by their chiefs that there is no place for radicals in the RSS. The rabidity of leaders of RSS and VHP is well known and is often displayed in their speeches, particularly at various conventions, where they never fail to spew venom against people from other religions, particularly the Muslims and the Christians.

Recently, at one such convention, the Chief of RSS in Goa, Subhash Velingkar is reported to have called Francisco Sardinha “a Portuguese dog” for having visited the Portuguese ship “Sagres” at Mormugao. Such a remark in public and more particularly, addressed to a Member of Parliament is certainly not acceptable in civilised society. Moreover, it becomes all the more profound, that it comes from someone who, if I am not mistaken, is in the noble profession of teaching. So, one can well imagine the values that he professes and conveys to his students. It is, indeed, regrettable that in certain communities, intellectuals and highly qualified people have taken to religious extremism, when their thinking powers and knowledge ought to have taken them beyond the realm of religion and helped them in treating others, irrespective of religion or status, as their equals.

The Sangh Parivar members must stop arrogating patriotism only to themselves. It is much more important to be human, rather than be patriotic.

Mercury rises in Rajasthan PTI JAIPUR, JAN 23

Mercury took an upward swing in parts of Rajasthan where most places recorded minimum temperatures which were 4 to 5 degrees above normal.

The minimum temperature in Sriganganagar rose by 5 degrees to settle at 5.3 deg C last night, according to Met department here.

Churu, Dabok, Bikaner and Jaislamer recorded minimum temperatures of 8.9 deg C, 9.5 deg C, 11 deg C and 11.2 deg C respectively.

goes shopping for Howitzers PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

After four failed attempts in the last 25 years, the army has issued a fresh global tender for 400 towed artillery Howitzers, the first to be acquired after the controversial Bofors deal.

The ghost of Bofors controversy had been haunting the artillery modernisation process with all previous efforts to procure the guns being cancelled and the army has not been able to induct even a single new piece of howitzer since the mid 1980s.

The latest request for proposal was issued in the third week of January, army sources said, adding the deal would include procurement of over 400 guns from foreign vendors and production of over 1,000 guns

indigenously in partnership with the chosen manufacturer.

The tender has been re-issued as the last one was cancelled after one of the two contenders Singapore Technologies was blacklisted by the Defence Ministry after it was named in a CBI charge sheet in the Ordnance Factory scam.

After the blacklisting, BAE Systems was the only company left in the fray and the tender was scrapped as the Indian defence procurement rules don't allow acquisition in single vendor cases.

However, it is not yet clear as which firms other than BAE Systems have received the RFP this time.

To augment its artiller y prowess, the army is likely to procure the ultra-light Howitzers this year from the United States

through the foreign military sales route.

India is already in an advanced stage of negotiations with the US for procuring over 145 ultralight Howitzers for their deployment in mountainous regions.

As part of its over Rs 20,000crore artillery modernisation plan, the army is looking at inducting several types of Howitzers through inter-governmental pacts and global tenders.

The army chief had also recently said that the trials for the different types of guns were expected to begin this year in summer so that their induction could take place by the end of next year.

The army presently uses a mix of 105 mm field guns and 130 mm and 155 mm Howitzers.

Complaint filed against District judge

PTI PTI RAJKOT, JAN 23

A complaint has been filed against District and Sessions judge of Porbandar for allegedlyharassing his daughter-in-law for dowry, police said here today.

Darshana Dave, a native of Amreli, has filed a complaint against her husband Kinnar, father-in-law and district judge Arvind Dave, mother-in-law Pratibha and brother-in-law Prashant, police said.

Darshana married Kinnar two years back. Her complaint says that she was harassed from the beginning, and was even beaten up by the husband and in-laws, who were demanding Rs 10 lakh as dowry, police said.

She also alleges that she was thrown out of the house a few months back, and her husband is now seeking divorce.

HIV affected man gets life term for murder PTI

A health worker administering polio drops to a child on the first phase of the Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization (IPPI) day of the 2011 in Imphal, on Sunday,.

EU too wants to keep watch on Binayak Sen’s hearing PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

After the United Nations, the European Union has told India that it would like to keep a watch on the hearing on the appeal of rights activist Binayak Sen in Chhattisgrah High Court tomorrow while expressing concern over the condition of his detention.

“The EU has informed the Ministry of External Affairs of its intention to send representatives from its Delhi-based missions of Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, Hungary, Sweden, the UK, and the EU, to attend the court hearing in the case of human rights defender and national vice-president of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, Binayak Sen, as observers,” according to the EU delegation here.

“The EU has also expressed to the Indian authorities its concern about the conditions pertaining to the detention of Sen,” it said in a statement.

The hearing is scheduled to take place at the Chhattisgarh High Court in Bilaspur tomorrow. The MEA has already forwarded the letter

to the concerned ministry as well as to the State government.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh has reportedly sent the request of the Centre to the High Court to take a view on it.

61-year-old Sen, a paediatrician by profession, was convicted for sedition and sentenced to life in prison along with Naxal ideologue Narayan Sanyal and Kolkata businessman Piyush Guha for colluding with Maoists to establish a network to fight the State.

Sen has already challenged in Chhattisgarh High Court the life sentence given to him by a

local court.

Earlier, UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Sekaggya had said the “due process” should take place while dealing with the case and the world body was waiting to see the outcome of the appeal filed in a higher court against his sentence.

“We are waiting for the outcome of the case. We want to see how the case is going to be handled by the courts," Sekaggya, who was on a 10day fact-finding mission in India to look into the human rights situation in the country, had said here.

Senior oil co. official abducted PTI IMPHAL, JAN 23

A divisional manager of oil major IOC was abducted by unidentified militants on the outskirts of the city, triggering an indefinite shutdown today by all petrol pumps in Manipur demanding his safe release.

Official sources said K I Singh, divisional manager of Indian Oil Corporation, was returning home from office on Friday evening when his car was intercepted by some men at Chingmeireng.

While his car was found abandoned about seven-eight km away from the spot soon afterwards, Singh remains untraced.

The sources said Singh's family has complained about an anonymous caller, who identified himself as a militant, demanding Rs 1 crore as ransom from IOC for securing the official's release yesterday. The identity of the militant group was not revealed.

Petrol pumps in the State remained closed today causing great hardship to the public.

A petrol pump owners' association spokesman said the strike will continue till the official is released.

India’s first fast breeder reactor to be up next year PTI KALPAKKAM (TN), JAN 23

India is confident of commissioning the first-of-its-kind prototype fast breeder reactor (FBR) next year with the technology challenges confronting it having been overcome.

The 500 mwe reactor, being developed by the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR) here, uses a unique mix of uranium and plutonium which significantly enhances the capability to generate electricity per tonne of fuel utilised.

“Our anxiety about technological challenges for the con-

struction of the country's first 500 mw prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) is over and we are at the closure for technology delivery," IGCAR Director Baldev Raj told PTI. The indigenously-developed PFBR is at an advanced stage of construction under the aegis of state-owned Bhartiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam (BHAVINI) and is expected to be commissioned early next year.

Raj said the technology developed by scientists at IGCAR was unique and the Indian PFBR would be the first such nuclear plant to be commissioned.

Some other countries, including Korea, are also developing fast breeder reactors but they could be commissioned only in 2025.

“We are confident of successfully commissioning the PFBR and are very cautious to deliver high capacity and high safety reactor of the second stage of the country's three-stage programme closed fuel cycle,” Raj said.

“The confidence has been reviewed by the DAE as well as commented upon by the international peer review – all favourably,” he said.

The sodium-cooled PFBR uses Uranium-Plutonium mixed oxide as fuel.

The scientists have also successfully loaded 1,500 tonnes of the molten sodium which will be the coolant of the reactor.

The total requirement is about 1,700 tonnes.

“We do not see any concern in commissioning the PFBR,” he said.

This is a result of decades of focused research at IGCAR towards mastering the technology with which we now have 400

reactor years of experience, he said.

“We were able to overcome the technological challenges due to synergistic efforts of scientists of IGCAR, Bhavini, the Indian manufacturing sector and about 200 academic institutions who have network with us," Raj said.

He said the technology development was done seven to eight years before launching PFBR in 2003.

India plans to have at least five more 500 mw fast breeder reactors by 2020, two of which could be set up at Kalpakkam.

Former militant who crossed over to Pakistan turns peacenik PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

For 38-year-old Altaf Bhat, life has come a full circle.

Two decades ago, Bhat had crossed over to Pakistan occupied Kashmir from the Kashmir Valley to take up the gun against India, but now he is on a campaign to spread the message of peace.

Bhat was a member of the Al

Umer terrorist outfit headed by Mustaq Zargar alias Latram, one of the three militants released in the Indian Airlines Flight 814 hostage deal, and had got arms training for three months at a militant camp in PoK. The former militant-turnedpeacenik is here on a padayatra which he had begun from Mumbai on September 24, 2010.

“The only aim of my padayatra is to spread the message of

peace and harmony. I feel this is the right way to send across the message of peace. I love my India,” Bhat said.

The self-reformed former militant, who was only 18 years old when he had crossed the LoC, is a different man now.

“We were given training to operate various kinds of firearms like AK-47. But the main focus of the training was to brainwash us, to make us wage a war

NEW DELHI, JAN 23

Celebrated music director A R Rahman will be attending the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where he will receive the Crystal Award for his achievements in the world of art and music.

Rahman will be in the company of over 2,500 participants from over 11 countries representing business leaders, heads of governments and states, academicians, artists and faith leaders.

He will be giving a presentation on his work as well, according to WEF. Six senior ministers including Home Minister P Chidambaram, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath and Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel along with Planning

Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia will participate in the meeting.

CII, a partner of the Genevabased WEF, is taking a 130member delegation which includes Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries and Sunil Bharti Mittal of Bharti Enterprises, Chanda Kochhar Managing Director and CEO ICICI Bank, Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO and MD Infosys Technologies Ltd and Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group.

The five-day meeting will start from January 26.

APPOINTMENTS

NEW DELHI, JAN 23

An HIV-positive man, who killed his friend in a drunken brawl two years ago, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a Delhi court.

Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau awarded the prison term to the convict, who used to work with MCD on contract, and also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on him.

The court refused to allow a plea of Public Prosecutor Taufiq Ahmed seeking capital punishment for the man It took into account several mitigating factors like convict is HIV-positive and committed the crime on the spur of the moment under the influence of alcohol to award him life imprisonment.

Rahman to receive award at WEF meet

against India,” Bhat, who will resume his padayatra from here

to Srinagar on January 27, said.

Recounting the days in his early youth, he said like many others he was also “influenced by the romanticism about the militancy”.

He said he and a group of militants were returning from PoK when they met with an avalanche and all other members were killed in the calamity.

“The incident opened my eyes and made me realise that I have

chosen a wrong path and that Allah was against it. So I decided not to involve myself with any militant activities,” he said.

Bhat said he later became a freelance Urdu journalist but his past brought attention of the security agencies and he had to spend two years in prison.

“Now, my only aim in life is to do everything possible to bring back peace to my State,” said Bhat.

HERALD

OHERALDO

Pg 10

CAREERS & EDUCATION

GOA, Monday, 24 January 2011

Make an Impact In Industrial Engineering

By Caetano de Abreu In this the 21st century, there are ample opportunities where one can endorse one’s mettle and succeed. So GenerationNext must take note of the fact that we must try as much as we can to cope with, rise above and overcome certain obstacles that we encounter in our lives, and show that we as humans are superior beings.

And, one of the subjects that endorses our aspirations is a career in Industrial Engineering with no roundabout or further change in the educational policy.

The Industrial Revolution began in the United Kingdom in the 18th and 19th centuries and slowly but surely, its inventions and the impact of it spread first throughout North America and eventually to the world.

Major changes were ushered in Agriculture, Manufacturing, Mining, Transportation, and Techn o l o g y, t o e n s c o n c e t h e profound effect of the Industrial Revolution on the socio-economic and cultural conditions for the world to progress on a even keel. Therefore, the Indus-

trial Revolution marks a major turning point in the history of mankind in almost every aspect of daily life, to help ensemble what is paramount to our sustenance. A new chapter i.e. Industrial Engineering was added to our lives with the advent of the Industrial Revolution, as it

PRESS RELEASES PLUS+ PSYGNUS 2011

The Abbe Faria Post Grad- tained from the PYGNUS uate Department of Psychol- brochure or the college website ogy of St. Xavier’s College Press Releases Plus+ Mapusa- Goa will be organCall For Applications for Orizing ‘PSYGNUS 2011’ an in- ange/MAEE Scholarships t e r c o l l e g i a t e a n n u a l 2011-2012 psychology festival foe colThe Co-Financed Scholarleges across Goa on the 1st ship Programme Orange and of February 2011. Only col- MEEA (Ministry of External leges offering a paper in psy- and European Affairs) 2011c h o l o g y a re e l i g i b l e t o 2012 offers Orange scholarparticipate in the event. The ships to Indian students for various competitions are Psy- one year studies in France at chodrama, Psychotherapy, Master 2 or Master of se Science level .

Psychoblots, Psychosphere, a e el Psychojive and : Inforss R + mationDomains Psygnus Times. Every Pre Plus Technology, Netinstitution participatw o r k Te c h n o l o g y a n d ing are permitted to Technology for Value Added have a team comprising of Services . seven participants accompaOnly for Specific French Innied by one teacher. Confir- stitutes : ESIGELEC, ISEP and mation of participation Telecom ParisTech. should reach the Abbe Faria Award of scholarship : 1000 Post Graduate Department euros per month for a period of Psychology of St. Xavier’s of 10 months with an internCollege Mapusa. No on the ship offer with Orange at the spot entries will be allowed. end of the course is offered.

For further details kindly conDeadline for applications: t a c t M s . T i n a D’ C u n h a - 4th March,2011.

9423889408 or Ms. Suellan For more information, conD’Cruz- 9764553970 or email tact Education advisor, Camon tina.dcunha@gmail.com, pus France Mumbai dcruz.suellan@gmail.com, Email: Mumbai@india-camabbefariapgdept@gmail.com p u s f r a n c e . o r g o r 0 2 2 Further details can also be ob- 22091556

helped us empower ourselves to improve the quality of our lives and make it more fruitful.

To further emphasize its ethos, I must state the fact that Indian Institute of Industrial Engineering was established around 1957 as a non-profit Organization, and a Registered Society for illustrating the profession of Industrial Engineering and as such was registered as a Public Trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950, although currently this branch of discipline is valued at various discretions’ acc o rd i n g t o t h e f o r m a t o f Industrial Engineering Institutes.

Industrial Engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with optimization of the com-

plete process or system. It is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation, and evaluation of integrated performance of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis and synthesis, as well as the mathematical, physical, and social sciences, together with the principles and methods of engineering design to specify, predict, and evaluate the results obtained from such systems or processes. It is the underlying concepts which overlap considerably with certain business oriented disciplines such as Operation Management on engineering side which tends to emphasize extensive

Behave with courtesy and act appropriately at all times.

In our high-tech, rush-rush world, it is very important to take stock of what really counts — like acknowledging someone with a proper introduction, making a good first impression or treating co-workers with common respect and consideration. Being able to do business at the speed of light has done enormous damage to conducting business in a human and humane fashion.

Here are just a few guidelines and insights into how to bring some consideration, grace and style back into your work life.

Speaking: Use well-modulated tones when you speak in the office and over the phone. Raising your voice in haste, frustration or anger is always inappropriate. It does not foster clear communication and leaves all parties concerned with an `emotional residue’ that will interfere with getting work done.

Work attire: Remember that being casual does not extend to poor grooming. Always be clean and neat and use good taste. If your job requires you to interact with the public, you will probably be required to dress more formally.

If you wish to climb the corporate ladder, look at the people in positions you want and dress as they do.

Personal life at work: Everyone makes friends at work. However, there is a fine line that is easy to cross when co-workers become friends. Use moderation in your exchanges so you don’t spend too much time socialising. If it is necessary to discuss personal issues

mathematical proficiency and the usage of quantitative methods.

Efforts to apply science to the design of the process and production system were made by many people in the 18th and 19th century. The method took some time to evolve and be synthesized into disciplines that we should label as Industrial Engineering, Production Engineering or System Engineering. The usual under-graduate degrees earned in the Bachelor in Science in Industrial Engineering (BSIE) includes typical curriculum spanning chemistry, mathematics, engineering designs, calculus, differential equation, statistics, computer science, circuits, and electronics not forgetting areas such as management, system theory, ergonomics/safety stochastic, advance mathematics, computation, and economics.

Once the essence of the courses, which encompasses total ambit of Industrial Engineering are completed the minimum salary to commence with is around Rs. 25,000/- per month and always on the rise for which hard work is necessary.

There are many Institutes of learning where one can excel thus the first Institute to approach should always be Engineering Colleges in Goa for proper guidance and should one wish to undertake post-graduation degrees the next option should be Bangalore or Mumbai although there are many other Institutes scattered around India to fulfill one’s dreams.

T he Secret of Happiness

By Devika Martins, St Xavier’s College, St Xavier’s College Mapusa If you would be loved, love and be lovable. -Benjamin Franklin There is a wonderful fable about a young orphan girl who had no family and no one to love her. One day, feeling exceptionally sad and lonely, she was walking through a meadow when she noticed a small butterfly caught unmercifully in a thorn bush.

The more the butterfly struggled to f re e i t s e l f, t h e deeper the thorns cut into its fragile body. The young orphan girl carefully released the butterfly from its captivity. Instead of flying away, the butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

“For your wonderful kindness,” the good fairy said to the girl, “I will grant you any wish you would like.”

The girl thought for a mo-

ment and then replied, “I want to be happy!”

The fairy said, “Very well,” and leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. Then the good fairy vanished.

Workplace etiquette or conduct urgent personal business in your workplace, be brief and discreet.

The best rule is to discuss personal issues in private so you give your employer what he pays you for — your time, focus and work done well.

Interaction with co-workers: Try to treat your co-workers with consideration and respect in all exchanges. Do not constantly interrupt your work mates; schedule times to meet whenever possible. The occasional quick question is unavoidable, just don’t let spontaneity rule you and ruin everyone else’s schedule and concentration.

Open cubicles already remove most of your co-workers privacy, so respect their quiet. Observe the `shut door’ of your co-workers who work in offices and avoid roaming and disturbing others when you are less busy. If you are interrupted or if a co-worker is making too much noise in an adjacent area, calmly and respectfully inform him that you need quiet.

Your workspace: Maintain a high standard of neatness and professional decorum in your personal work area.

Bringing personal items into that area is your decision, but be aware that what you display is a direct reflection of who you are. While it shouldn’t have to be said, we must never take things from other people’s workspace and return anything you borrow, with haste!

Do not use a speakerphone without

As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she was. Everyone asked her the secret of her happiness. She would only smile and answer, “The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl.”

When she was very old and on her death bed, the neighbours all rallied around her, afraid that her fabulous secret of happiness would die with her. “Tell us, please,” they begged. “Tell us what the good fairy said.”

The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, “She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich of poor, had need of me”.

The only person who can truly make you happy is YOURSELF! You simply have to decide to be happy.

shutting your office door and never use one in an open area.

Sharing the environment: Take care in shared areas. Do not leave your clutter in a conference room after a meeting. If you have nervous habits, break them. Don’t twitch, jiggle your leg, tap pencils or other items on the table that can be irritating to those around you. Never engage in personal grooming in your cubicle or in meetings. Do it all in the restroom or at home. If you need to eat anything in your cubicle, try to select foods that do not have strong or unpleasant aromas.

Group politics: Do not become known as a constant complainer or one that brings a bad mood into your workplace. Do bring a positive attitude to meetings and discussions. You don’t have to be rude or sarcastic to say `no’.

While saying `no’ politely is a learned skill — it is the professional way to go. Further, do not gossip about or discuss other employees or their performance in any way in their absence. If you have something you absolutely must say, say it to that person in private.

Learn how to be a `team player’ and how to take action to make the changes you think are important. Whether you are answering a phone, opening a business gift or deciding how to address someone, you should behave with courtesy and know how to act appropriately and properly in all circumstances.

Knowing how and being sincere, will give you the confidence to tackle all situations. If you bring style and grace into your work behaviour — it won’t go unnoticed.

Sail Over The Seas- II

A career in Merchant Navy can be pursued either as an Officer or Rating.

Nature of Work There are mainly two specialized fields, i.e. Marine Engineering and Nautical (deck).

There are three main areas of activity within the Merchant Navy, where the duties of a merchant navy officer are centred - the deck, the engine room and the service department. The Captain, Second Officer, Chief Officer, Third Officer and several other officers constitute the Deck Officers.

Deck Department is an organisational and navigational unit aboard naval and merchant ships. The officers from this branch primarily look after the ships navigation, loading/unloading of cargo and the general maintenance and administration of the ship.

An officer serving in the Deck Department is called a Deck Officer. The main function of the Deck Department is proper watch standing and the maintenance of the ship’s hull and accommodations as well as the ship’s safety appliances. The officer joins in the rank of Third Officer and is subsequently promoted to the rank of Second Officer, Chief Officer and finally the Master of the ship.

NAVIGATION This department is handled by navigating officers. Navigators should have perfect

eyesight, They need to pass a medical fitness test for sea service under standard norms and with eyesight 6/6. Marine engineers are allowed to wear spectacles for eyesight up to plus/minus 2.5.

Colour blindness is a disqualification for the merchant navy.

Deck or Navigation Officer is in charge of the navigation of the ship. It is essential for the navigation officers to obtain a certificate of competency. The department has the following: The chief navigator of the ship is the Captain: He is in command of the ship and decides the course of the voyage and manoeuvres the vessel under adverse weather conditions and emergencies.

He also exercises complete control over the officers, crew and any passengers and cargo on board the ship. Other navigating officers assist him in navigation. He is in charge for assigning organisational duties for ship’s operation, navigation and maintenance. He must ensure the discipline on the ship and safety of passengers, crew, and cargo. He must strictly adhere to the national and international codes of conduct guiding sea transportation.

It is essential for the navigation officers to obtain a certificate of competency. He is responsible to the owners of the ship for the safety of the vessels, the crew, and the passengers or cargo. He must maintain crew discipline and keep order. While in port, the captain may act as the ship owner’s agent in dealing with customs officials. The captain may pay and keep records of wages for the ship’s other employees.

Chief (Officer)Mate: The Captain is as- equipment / instruments, mails, voyage sisted by the also known as first mate who planning, navigational watch, and medical is in charge of the cargo planning and deck matters, in accordance with Captain’s inwork. The Chief Officer is considered the structions. He also assists the Chief Officer ship’s executive ofin supervising the ficer and the rightwork of the deck hand man of the crew and assists in Captain. He ascargo operations.

By Maria de Lima Pereira sumes command of Qualifications: the vessel in the Minimum qualifica-

event the Captain is incapacitated. He is in charge of repairs and maintenance in the Deck department. Pollution control and taking care of cargo in transit and cargo on board. Maintenance of good sanitation of the ship, stores of the deck crew and briefing and orientation of the new members. Also, record keeping of the deck members.

Qualifications: Std XII(Science) with Physics + Chemistry +Maths or B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry & Maths. The must also have passed the Second Mate examination.

Second (Officer )Mate: is sometimes referred to as the Navigational Officer. He is mainly responsible for the navigational charts, maintenance of all the navigational

tion required is Std XII (Science) with Physics, Chemistry & Maths or B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry & Maths. He must also pass the Third Mate examination.

Third(Officer ) Mate: is responsible for maintenance of lifeboats and fire fighting equipment. He acts like a signal officer in charge of all signalling equipment and assists with cargo work. The Third Officer is the ship’s documentation and safety officer. He is responsible for all the crew members before leaving the post, the stores and supplies. The other orders given by the Captain and duties of the Second Officer in case he is on leave.

Qualifications: Minimum qualification

required is Std XII (Science) with Physics, Chemistry and Maths or B.Sc. with Physics, Chemistry and Maths.

Depending on the size and employment of the ship, a boatswain may be employed.

If carried, the boatswain, generally a senior, able seaman will act as a foreman of the ship’s deck crew and as the chief mate’s representative on Deck.

other services such as the services of Divers for underwater examination of the heel of the ship, propellers, pipes etc. Light Keepers, who operate light house signalling equipment to guide incoming and passing ships, and nautical surveyors, who prepare charts of particular regions of the seas, with regard to topography and conditions of the sea.

Service Department

In addition, a candidate can join as utility hand or Petty Officers (Fitters) after completing four Basic Courses, i.e. FPFF, EFA, PSSR and PST. RATINGS The Deck Department also has staff with specific duties called ‘ratings’. They act as look outs and helmsmen, assist with the securing of the ship as it docks at ports, and help clean tanks and holds before the cargo is placed in them. There are three kinds of ratings: The Deck Rating: is responsible for the general maintenance of the ship- cleaning, sweeping, chipping of rust, polishing, etc.

They help in loading and unloading of cargo and in port they assist in the mooring/ unmooring of the ship.

Engine Room Rating: assists the engineering officers in maintenance and operation of engines and associated equipment.

They are responsible for daily cleanliness of the engine room and for routine oiling, greasing, and servicing of machinery. Experienced ratings help officers monitor and ensure the safe running of the main plant and ancillary equipment.

Catering Rating: usually clean accommodation areas and public rooms, helps in preparation of foods, clean galleys and cooking utensils, and to maintain fridges, freezers. They also serve meals to officers and crew and help in loading and storing of consumable stores. (to be continued)

The work undertaken here revolves around the living and catering services for all the crew on board. They maintain living quarters of the crew and the mess halls.

The duties of the officers in the Service Department may overlap. The catering crew consists of Steward / Cooks etc.

Chief Steward: heads a large team of stewards, bakers, mess men; maintains inventories of food stuffs, linen, bedding, furniture, etc. He directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing and serving meals; cleaning and maintaining officers’ quarters and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores. He plans menus and additional duties may involve baking.

Chief Cook: directs and participates in the preparation and serving of meals; determines timing and sequence of operations required to meet serving times; inspects galley and equipment for cleanliness and proper storage and preparation of food.

The cook may plan or assist in planning meals and taking inventory of stores and equipment. The other staff members are the baker and attendants.

Steward’s Assistant: is an entry-level crew member in the Steward’s department of a ship. They are also known as Utility men and Mess men. Their job consists mainly of cleaning and assisting with the preparation and serving of meals.

Apart from this, the department also has

Miscellaneous

OHERALDO

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INDIA

GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

Govt may offer help to youths ‘wrongly’ arrested for terror PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

In an attempt to soothe frayed nerves, the government may extend help for rehabilitation of the Muslim youths who were “arrested wrongly” in various terror acts in which involvement of right-wing activists is now strongly suspected.

Official sources said the proposal to provide financial, legal and other help to the Muslim youths, who were put in long detention on the suspicion of being a terrorist but later found to be innocent, was being considered as a relief to the victims as well as their families.

“The government of India will do whatever possible for rehabilitation of the youth and for the relief of their families,” a source said.

I f t h e p ro p o s a l c o m e s

-View of the sunset from Raisina hill in New Delhi on Sunday evening.

87-year-old war veteran to be oldest participant in R-Day parade PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

An 87-year-old war veteran will be the oldest participant in the Republic Day parade this year which will also display sophisticated military equipment like shipborne radar and naval underwater weapon system.

The full-dress rehearsal held in the national capital today provided a preview of what is in store for the Republic Day celebrations which would showcase the country's cultural diversity and military might.

Armed forces and paramilitary forces marching to the tunes of bands and tableaux depicting the country's cultureand development will be part of the parade passing through an eight-kilometre route from Rajpath to Red Fort during which the country's modern weaponry will also be displayed.

Marching down from the Raisina Hills will be N N Shukla, (87) who will be leading a contingent of ex-ser vicemen.

Smugglers held

Two narcotic smugglers were arrested and heroine worth over Rs 20 lakhs in the international market recovered from them, police said today. Angad Gupta and Javed Khan were arrested on a tip off in Bhaksi Ka Pulia area in Ghazipur yesterday.

Shukla, the flying officer based in Rawalpindi during the World War II, will be the oldest participant in this year's parade.

In the parade led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi) Maj Gen Manvendra Singh, DRDO's active phased array radar, shipborne multi-function radar and naval underwater weapon system will be displayed for the first time.

Other weapons like light combat aircraft Tejas, Brahmos launcher system, T-90 Bhishma tanks, multi-barrel rocket system 'Pinaka', Tactical Control Radar Reporter, NBC (nuclear-biological-chemical) Recce vehicle and Integrated Network Platform will also be displayed at the parade.

The tableaux will provide a kaleidoscopic view of the count r y ' s v i b r a n t c u l t u re . Ra bindranath Tagore, Lord Buddha, Jammu and Kashmir's Bandh Pandher, Tripura's Kharchi festival, Punjab's Mehandi ceremony and Bihar's Maner Sherif will be

on focus in the tableaux from various states.

The parade will start with four MIG-17s showering flower petals on the crowd and the first to walk in would be the Param Vir Chakra and Ashok Chakra award winners followed by mounted columns of 61 Cavalry and Army's impressive weaponry.

The army contingent will have personnel from Punjab Regiment, Rajputana Rifles, Rajput Regiment, Sikh Light Infantry, Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and Gorkha Rifles.

The next to follow will be smartly-dressed 148 navy personnel along with a tableau of INS Virat and then the Air Force.

Other marching contingents will be camel-mounted BSF, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, RPF, Delhi Police, NCC and NSS. The marching contingents will give way to tableaux. The first to be rolled out will be one on 'Gurudev' Rabindranath Tagore

on his 150th birth anniversary.

A big bust of Tagore forms the foreground of the tableau with Santiniketan in the backdrop and depiction of a meeting Mahatma Gandhi had with the poet. His works like Gitanjali and some of his paintings also form the artwork.

Orissa's float depicts Jayadev and his Geeta Govindam with paintings on Lord Krishna while Assam's Ankiya Nat or Bhaona shows a scene from Bhagavata Purana on Bhakt Prahlad.

Maharashtra will come with the enthralling Lawani dancers on a float modelled on a bullock cart while Tripura gives a glimpse of Kharchi or the worship of earth, an age-old Tripuri festival on community harmony and integration during which 14 tribal gods are worshipped to acquire universality.

Gujarat's offering will be the Buddhist heritage in the State and the float will have a replica of 4th century Buddha statue found in Devni Mori, a stone

One in every four women lands up in prison for dowry harrassment PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

One in every four women arrested in India go behind the bar for harassing their ilk for dowry and even leading the victim to death.

Out of the 1,79,294 women arrested in 2009, the National Crime Records Bureau said, 25.95 per cent were apprehended under heads of dowry deaths and cruelty by husband and relatives.

According to the 'Crime in India' report, 41,351 women were arrested in 2009 under Section 498A of IPC (cruelty byhusband and relatives) while 5,182 went behind bars for dowry deaths (Sec 304B).

A total of 1,74,395 persons were arrested under Section

498A while the figure for arrest under Section 340B was 23,374.

Interestingly, the largest group of arrested women comes from the age group of 30-45 years.

While 15,137 women in the age bracket of 30-45 years were arrested on charges of cruelty, 12,996 belonged to 18-30 years, 10,743 from 45-60 years and 2,290 were in the bracket of above 60 years.

Similarly, the figures for dowry deaths in these agegroups were 1896, 1751, 1295 and 184 respectively.

“185 girls below the age of 18 years were arrested on under Section 498A while 56 were arrested for dowry deaths,” the report said.

The largest number of

women arrested for various crimes were from Maharashtra (28,818 women) followed by Tamil Nadu (17,065), Madhya Pradesh (16,344), Andhra Pradesh (16,203) and Gujarat (13,938).

In the national capital, 1,110 women (3.1 per cent) were arrested for their involvement in crimes while the number of men were 35,153.

A total of 28.49 lakh people were arrested and only 6.3 per cent of them were women, the report said.

According to the report, 4,007 women, including 84 girls under 18 years, were arrested on charges of murder while 2,748 were apprehended for attempt to murder.

edict of King Ashoka and Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang.

A creative representation of two dance forms is what Kerala brings to Delhi by blending the majestic paraphernalia of Kathakali and the simple beauty of Mohiniattom in a “Pakarnattam”.

The exotic handicrafts from Bidar -- Bidriware -- is the highlight of Karnataka tableau showcasing the finest of the human workship while Punjab comes up with the exuberant Mehndi ceremony. Bihar depicts the 17th century Maner Sharif in Patna, the mausoleum of Sufi Saint Makhdoom Daulat.

Sikkim's tableau depicts Guto Cham, an annual ceremony held in monasteries to destroy evil while Delhi showcases the cultural and religious harmony of the capital city.

The Bagh prints, one of the most ancient traditions of wooden block printing on clothes, is the theme of Madhya Pradesh's tableau while Jammu

and Kashmir has Bandh Pandher, a folk theatre, to showcase.

Several ministries will also come up with floats like "Save Tiger, Save Earth", emergency response to handle chemical disaster, new drug development and affordable healthcare and modern farm technologies.

Railways will have a tableau on Tagore. It will showcase a replica of the railway coach used by him during his journey from Bolpur to Kolkata.

686 school students will perform Rajasthani folk dance, a performance of Dahal Thungri from Assam and Bhangra from Punjab.

BSF motorcycle team 'Janbaz' will perform a dare-devil display of their talents. They will perform back riding, border man salute and ladder balancing.

The spectacular parade will come to a close with a flypast involving an IL-78, two AN-32, two Dorniers, five Jaguars, five MiG-29 and three SU-30 MKIs.

lice and central security forces will be using canines in operations in the Naxal hotbeds of the country, a practice in line with the Israeli defence forces.

The dogs will now be deployed for anti-Naxal duties in states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand where forces like CRPF, BSF and ITBP have had more than 300 casualties in the last year in Maoist attacks, a senior officer at the headquarters of the joint forces here said.

The dogs will undertake 'infantry patrols' along with troops and will be deployed for special

operations and along those difficult tracks where the possibility of hidden IEDs is huge.

“A police dog is an essential component of any security force squad. This part was missing in the Naxal theatre. As these dogs are best suited for this terrain, they are now being deployed to assist the forces. They can avert major casualties and ambushes by giving early signals to their masters,” the officer said.

These high-breed dogs have been used with success by NATO troops in Afghanistan and Israeli troops in Gaza. These 'Malinois'

PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

After the MCD installed waterless urinals on a mass scale across the national capital, such eco-friendly units may also come up at some Metro stations soon and at the city airport in future.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is installing Kupple (cartridge-less) waterless urinals at 11 of its stations while the Airport Authority of India (AAI) will pilot test 'eco loos' at the IGI airport, say officials.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has already installed nearly 500 waterless urinals across the city, most of them before the Commonwealth Games in October last year.

These urinals help save water, have lesser bacteria, no odour, are more hygienic and require less maintenance. :Due to absence of water and contact with

air, urine does not form any gas and the toilet remains odourfree,” said an MCD official.

A spokesman of AG Aqua Solutions, which has supplied such units to both MCD and DMRC, said the urinals function on gravitational pull concept and have flap technology that stops the backward migration of odour.

“There's also cost savings. As the unit requires no recurring costs, one ends up saving Rs 7,000 per month on operational costs, and the maintenance routine is simple, quick and touchfree,: said Sabyasachi Dasgupta, Sales Manager, AG Aqua.

It is estimated that up to 20 per cent of the available drinking water in the world is flushed down the drain. In addition, leakage of water lines may add eight per cent more to the above. Water-saving products

have earlier been trained near Bangalore as the terrain of the area resembled the geography as that in Naxal strongholds.

The breed is a litter of an Israeli male Malinois crossed with an American bitch.

These guard dogs will accompany police and CRPF patrols in the Naxal areas where previous patrols have been caught off guard and suffered casualties, the officer said.

The dogs have also been trained in explosives detection and this will help in sniffing out IEDs which have in the past been

found buried beneath 'puckka' (tarred) roads.

Compared to the better known German shepherd, the Belgian shepherd is a coarser looking breed with a bigger head and heavier snout, and is therefore not popular as a domestic pet.

The ITBP academy, visibly happy with the training of the first batch of these dogs, has also begun receiving similar requests from other paramilitary and police forces. The academy has now received the second batch of these dogs to be put

Illusionist wants to travel back to Qutub Minar era PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

His magical feats have left the world awestruck, be it levitating the monument of love Taj Mahal, making a NASA space shuttle vanish or moving the Hawaiian Diamond Head volcano two miles out to sea, world famous illusionist Franz Harary has done it all.

But his ultimate magical wish is to travel back to the time of the period when the Qutub Minar was being built.

“I am really keen to do time travel sort of thing with the Qutub Minar. You will see the stories appearing and after a while you will find the tower

back to its present self,” Harary told PTI. For the past 14 years, Harary has been virtually the only magician who has redefined the art of magic with his hybrid combinations of breathtaking illusions and live concerts.

“All my life I wanted to become the great magician Harry Houdini, who was famous for his escapade tricks. But every person has his own signature style. I like to play with people's mind. I control what they think, what they say and that's why illusion attracts me,” said the American magician at the preview of his mega magic tour in the Kingdom of Dreams, Gur-

gaon.

Harary, whose commercial breakthrough came at the age of 21 when he initiated a stage illusion for the 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson during his 'Victory' tour started practicing magic tricks at the age of 13 without any mentor.

“I never cared for card tricks.

My idea was always to get it as big as I could. I used to try to build things out of cardboard boxes: cutting a girl in half and trying things with my house cat.

But I had pretty bad luck with those. Today if I would say who inspires me than it would be director Steven Spielberg as whatever he does is not less than

Blueline buses to serve as feeders PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

In what could be a reprieve to Blueline bus operators, the Delhi government is considering allowing their fleet to operate as feeder bus service for the Metro network.

The government has already set January 31 as the “final deadline” to completely phase out the ‘killer' Bluelines which gained notoriety for involvement in frequent road accidents in the city.

“We are considering a proposal to allow the Blueline buses to ply as metro feeder service.

We have to take opinion of the Delhi Metro before finalising it,” a top official of Transport Department told PTI. Last month the government had shunted 823 Blueline buses, out of a total of 2,052, as part of efforts to streamline the public transport system in the city.

Currently, DMRC runs 120 feeder buses on 12 routes ferrying more than 35,000 people everyday

Waterless urinals latest talk in Delhi

Belgian dogs to help ITBP sniff out Naxals, mines PTI RAIPUR, JAN 23 Security forces deployed for anti-Naxal operations will soon be assisted by a specialized breed of imported Belgian shepherd dogs in 'infantry patrols' and also to provide pre-ambush warning to the troops.

Almost seven such “Malinois” breed dogs have been trained by the premier police dog training centre of the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) at their academy near Chandigarh for about 22 weeks.

This is the first time that po-

through, the relief will be given only to those youth who are found to be innocent and “wrongly” incarcerated for long periods.

These youths were arrested by the security agencies in connection with the Malegaon, Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Dargah and Samjhauta Express blasts cases.

However, many of them were already out on bail. The total number of such youths could be around 50.

The security agencies initially blamed Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). However, investigations by various security agencies, including National Investigation Agency, have pointed the needle of suspicion towards right wing organisations like Abhinav Bharat.

any magic.”

Determined to bring magic back to its roots, the renowned illusionist, whose fascination with India continues to grow, is awestruck with the Indian street magic but was disappointed with the contestants on reality show India's Magic Star.

“Magic started in India around 5000 years back and came over to US about 250 – 300 years ago. This country has immense talent and the groups of magicians who live in Shadipur, Delhi are just unbelievable. But now there is a trend of emulating their western counterparts which is saddening.”

The 45-year-old designer

and innovator lamented that science is also a bane that has marred the charm of magic.

“I am redesigning my gadgetry to look less mechanical and simpler. As science grows, magic has to remain just slightly ahead of it. This way it can still look impossible. What magic will be in 100 years, I don't know. It certainly won't be levitating. We'll all be doing that,” he explained.

With his Shah Rukh Khan disappearing act still strongly etched in the mind of the Indian audience, ask him which Bollywood star is next in his wish list and pat comes the reply, “actor Salman Khan”.

are thus attracting attention of governments and corporates across the world.

MCD has installed these urinals at places like ITO, Indira Gandhi Stadium, ESI Hospital, Raja Garden, Ashok Vihar, Rohini, Prashant Vihar, Mukherjee Nagar, Old Delhi Railway station, New Delhi Railway Station, Kailash Colony and ISBT. The civic body which had unveiled the first waterless urinal at Kashmiri Gate on the World Environment Day in 2009, went on to conduct a pilot project along with the private firm and then launched the scheme to install such units on a large scale.

Security agencies have claimed that the jailed right wing leader Swami Aseemanand, prime accused in Mecca Masjid blast case, has confessed that he and several of his accomplices had a direct role in Malegaon, Samjhauta Express, Ajmer and Mecca blasts.

Aseemanand gave a detailed description of the involvement of the activists and self-styled spiritual leaders in several terror attacks across the country during the last three years in his confessional statement given to a Special CBI court, the security agencies said.

After each such blast several Muslim youths were arrested on suspicion of being a terrorist.

They were kept in detention for long for questioning, even though no charges could be framed against them.

OHERALDO

Pg12

GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

Coca Cola India to hike hiring by 9%

Air India's past glory to be revived: Minister PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN 23

Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, who has been given the additional portfolio of Civil Aviation, today said his intention was to make the public sector Air India to regain its past glory, while retaining the private players in the competition sector.

"It is true that the private sector has emerged as a major player in the aviation sector. But Air India should be the face of the country in the international transport route. I am for regaining its past glory. That does not mean that I am underestimating private players," Ravi said talking to reporters at a meet-the-press programme here.

The Air India had to compete with private companies and should have more number of aircraft for its operations, he

Mutual Fund

said.

He said there were complaints about excess fare being levied from travellers bound for Gulf in the Air India Express during holidays and the matter

would be examined.

"I have been talking with officials of Airlines in the last few days and discussions will also be held with employees including pilots' associations and cabine crews in the next week," he said.

The complaints about Air India operations would be

B

26.15 29.90 53.08 9.64 9.64 8.73 8.73 17.68 12.44 17.68 11.75 17.57 12.38 17.57 11.67 9.63 9.63 9.63 12.34 22.66 12.30 22.57 86.52 159.68 27.62 100.13 24.07 42.25 70.43 266.61 22.65 88.75 13.41 13.41 13.51 23.95 19.26 56.54 9.94 9.94 12.16 16.56 11.88 12.38 13.17 14.26 22.16 109.28 13.79 13.79 82.77 204.84 13.90 21.29 15.58 16.63 12.06 12.06 10.11 10.11 46.11 13.68 84.62 11.42 14.85 22.76

C

Canara Robeco Emerging Equities (Bonus) Emerging Equities (D) Emerging Equities (G) Equity Diversified (Bonus) Equity Diversified (D) Equity Diversified (G) Equity Tax Saver (D) Equity Tax Saver (G) F.O.R.C.E Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) F.O.R.C.E Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure (D) Infrastructure (G) Large Cap+ Fund (D) Large Cap+ Fund (G)

18.87 15.56 22.54 24.85 24.82 54.56 21.22 25.76 12.47 13.39 17.53 22.01 10.20 10.19

Multicap (D) Multicap (G)

14.80 15.95

D

DWS Alpha Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 17.34 Alpha Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 79.67 Alpha Equity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (D) 13.87 Alpha Equity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (G) 16.59 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 26.45 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 38.17 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (D) 13.22 Investment Opportunity Fund ­ Wealth Plan (G) 17.28 Tax Saving Fund (D) 13.08 Tax Saving Fund (G) 13.99 DSP BlackRock Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 52.13 Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 16.49 Focus 25 Fund (D) 10.41 Focus 25 Fund (G) 10.41 India T.I.G.E.R. Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 17.56 India T.I.G.E.R. Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 45.74 Small and Mid Cap Fund (D) 16.16 Small and Mid Cap Fund (G) 17.62 Tax Saver Fund (D) 12.84 Tax Saver Fund (G) 17.24 Technology.Com ­ Regular Plan (D) 25.06 Technology.Com ­ Regular Plan (G) 34.34 Top 100 Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 21.32 Top 100 Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 100.49

E

Edelweiss Absolute Return Fund (D) Absolute Return Fund (G) Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Diversified Growth Equity Top 100 Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan A (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan A (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ plan B (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan B (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund ­ Plan C (D) Escorts Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) High Yield Equity Plan (Bonus) High Yield Equity Plan (D) High Yield Equity Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Power and Energy Fund (D) Power and Energy Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

11.30 11.30 14.28 14.28 14.53 14.34 14.38 14.38 11.92 13.08 13.15 12.99 11.57 12.39 74.84 14.35 11.82 14.32 7.86 7.86 11.25 15.72 10.10 47.00

F

Fidelity Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Growth Fund (D) India Growth Fund (G) India Special Situations Fund (D) India Special Situations Fund (G) India Value Fund (D) India Value Fund (G) International Opportunities Fund (D) International Opportunities Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund (D) Tax Advantage Fund (G) BNP Paribas China­India Fund (D) China­India Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Sustainable Development Fund (D) Sustainable Development Fund (G) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (D) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (G)

Franklin Asian Equity Fund (D) Asian Equity Fund (G) Build India Fund (D) Build India Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) India Bluechip Fund (D) India Bluechip Fund (G) India Flexi Cap Fund (D)

PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

solved in no time, the minister said, adding that he wanted the co-operation of all sections of people to execute his new job.

He said the user fee proposed to be introduced in the coming new international terminal at Thiruvananthapuram would be decided after discussions with authorities concerned.

Ravi said the Air India-Indian Airlines merger had not gone on smoothly and corrective steps would be taken.

The open sky policy of the centre had attracted more travellers to the air route with budget airlines making an entry in the sector, he said.

The new Air India Express office would be set up in Kochi for the Operations wing while the AIE engineering department would be in Thiruvananthapuram, he said.

Key to abbreviations: R Price: Repurchase Price; S Price: Sale Price; (D): Dividend; (G): Growth

Scheme Name NAVs (Rs) A AIG India Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 12.09 India Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 12.09 Infrastructure and Economic Reform ­ Regular (D) 8.92 Infrastructure and Economic Reform ­ Regular (G) 8.92 Axis Equity Fund (D) 11.00 Equity Fund (G) 11.00 Tax Saver Fund (D) 11.18 Tax Saver Fund (G) 12.20

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Bharti AXA Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (Bonus) Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (D) Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (G) Equity Fund ­ Eco Plan (QD) Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (Bonus) Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Equity Fund ­ Regular Plan (QD) Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Eco Plan (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Eco Plan (G) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) Advantage Fund (G) Basic Industries Fund (D) Basic Industries Fund (G) Buy India Fund (D) Buy India Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Frontline Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Frontline Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Frontline Equity Fund ­ Plan B (D) Frontline Equity Fund ­ Plan B (G) India GenNext Fund (D) India GenNext Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund ­ Plan A (D) India Opportunities Fund ­ Plan B (G) India Reforms Fund (D) India Reforms Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan A (D) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan A (G) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan B (D) Infrastructure Fund ­ Plan B (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Midcap Fund ­ Plan A (D) Midcap Fund ­ Plan A (G) Midcap Fund ­ Plan B (D) Midcap Fund ­ Plan B (G) MNC Fund (D) MNC Fund (G) New Millennium (D) New Millennium (G) Pure Value Fund (D) Pure Value Fund (G) Small and Midcap Fund (D) Small and Midcap Fund (G) Special Situations Fund (D) Special Situations Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Tax Relief 96 (D) Tax Relief 96 (G) Top 100 Fund (D) Top 100 Fund (G)

BIZ

21.02 35.58 12.42 12.42 16.90 18.64 11.23 11.23 13.75 13.75 18.40 22.09 9.01 9.02 10.86 17.62 11.52 34.06 9.75 18.73 11.34 12.45 10.91 13.69

F 11.39 11.39 11.22 11.74 41.42 65.99 43.04 214.99 16.52

India Flexi Cap Fund (G) India High Growth Companies Fund (D) India High Growth Companies Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) India Prima Fund (D) India Prima Fund (G) India Prima Plus Fund (D) India Prima Plus Fund (G) India Tax Shield (D) India Tax Shield (G) Infotech Fund (D) Infotech Fund (G) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (D) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (G) Templeton India Growth Fund (D) Templeton India Growth Fund (G)

The India arm of global beverage maker Coca Cola plans to hire around 600 workforce this year, which accounts for around nine per cent of the existing employees, a top company executive has said.

"We are looking at recruiting around 600 employees in our India operations this calender year," Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Vice President (HR) P V Ramana Murthy told PTI here.

The recruitment would be made across all levels, including management trainees, he said.

The company's current head-count stands at 6,500, which will be increased to around 7,100 this year, Murthy said.

Hindustan Coca Cola has plans to gradually reduce the hiring of lateral talent in its bid to groom trainees into mid management cadre, he said.

"We are planning to slowly, in about five years, reduce hiring of experienced people and increase the recruitment of management trainees.

32.62 12.18 12.72 14.32 31.70 42.17 270.65 29.50 219.76 30.11 207.54 21.67 69.97 34.14 64.51 15.94 21.43 52.89 121.62

H

HDFC Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Core & Satellite Fund (D) Core & Satellite Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Premier Multi­Cap Fund (D) Premier Multi­Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G) Top 200 Fund (D) Top 200 Fund (G) HSBC Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Equity Fund (D) Midcap Equity Fund (G) Progressive Themes Fund (D) Progressive Themes Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver Equity Fund (D) Tax Saver Equity Fund (G) Unique Opportunities Fund (D) Unique Opportunities Fund (G)

26.93 111.16 23.53 41.38 51.26 278.90 33.78 86.26 11.58 11.58 16.45 29.01 65.59 233.48 49.70 210.27 10.52 10.52 26.33 104.68 16.41 34.83 11.83 22.14 10.69 12.56 11.73 12.61 13.49 14.63 11.47 11.47

I

ICICI Pru Banking & Financial Services Fund ­ Retail (D) Banking & Financial Services Fund ­ Retail (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Dynamic Plan (D) Dynamic Plan (G) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (D) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund (D) Equity Opportunities Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (D) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G) Fusion Fund (D) Fusion Fund (G) Fusion Fund Series ­ III Retail Plan (D) Fusion Fund Series ­ III Retail Plan (G) Power (D) Power (G) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (D) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Target Returns Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Target Returns Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Technology Fund (D) Technology Fund (G) IDFC Classic Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Classic Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Equity Fund ­ Plan B (D) Equity Fund ­ Plan B (G) Imperial Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Imperial Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) India GDP Growth Fund (D) India GDP Growth Fund (G) Premier Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) Premier Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (D) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (G) Strategic Sector (50­50) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D)

17.46 17.89 21.06 48.59 19.18 107.29 16.20 32.53 11.36 12.66 36.13 63.19 16.37 16.37 14.06 14.91 12.87 12.87 16.78 113.03 11.97 11.97 12.90 17.15 13.99 13.99 21.04 141.10 19.30 19.30 15.37 21.24 13.31 16.23 11.20 13.34 16.19 19.59 14.50 16.80 25.74 31.76 14.88 18.03 14.49

Strategic Sector (50­50) Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) ING C.U.B. Fund (Bonus) C.U.B. Fund (D) C.U.B. Fund (G) Contra Fund (B) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Core Equity Fund (D) Core Equity Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Domestic Opportunities Fund (D) Domestic Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund ­ Plan A (D) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund ­ Plan A (G) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund ­ Series I (D) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund ­ Series I (G) Tax Saving Fund (Bonus) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

14.65 15.92 19.88 14.65 14.65 17.49 12.77 17.49 16.01 13.65 16.00 20.59 38.92 21.31 23.43 13.71 36.31 16.78 21.12 10.61 10.61 12.47 12.47 30.25 14.90 30.20

J

JM Agri & Infra Fund (D) Agri & Infra Fund (G) Basic Fund (D) Basic Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Emerging Leaders Fund (D) Emerging Leaders Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Financial Services Sector Fund (D) Financial Services Sector Fund (G) HI FI Fund (D) HI FI Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Multi Strategy Fund (D) Multi Strategy Fund (G) Small & Mid­Cap Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Small & Mid­Cap Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Tax Gain Fund (D) Tax Gain Fund (G) Telecom Sector Fund (D) Telecom Sector Fund (G) JP Morgan India Tax Advantage Fund (D) India Tax Advantage Fund (G) India Equity Fund (D) India Equity Fund (G) India Smaller Companies India Smaller Companies Fund (G)

2.55 2.55 10.31 14.77 5.40 5.40 7.90 7.88 15.13 37.17 9.85 9.85 5.19 5.19 14.42 19.61 16.52 24.11 13.44 14.45 5.34 5.34 7.11 7.11 7.87 7.87 15.04 18.57 12.46 13.41 Fund (D) 7.65

K

Kotak 30 (D) 30 (G) Contra (D) Contra (G) Emerging Equity Scheme (D) Emerging Equity Scheme (G) Lifestyle Fund (D) Lifestyle Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Select Focus Fund (D) Select Focus Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G)

32.31 102.45 17.11 21.23 11.69 11.69 11.78 13.60 17.49 25.14 15.03 46.46 10.70 11.85 11.33 18.51

L

L&T Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Global Advantage Fund (D) Global Advantage Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Hedged Equity Fund (D) Hedged Equity Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Multi­Cap Fund (D) Multi­Cap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G)

10.57 10.59 7.52 10.84 18.66 39.51 9.90 13.95 7.28 7.28 23.22 40.24 14.92 18.71 17.37 44.09 5.18 5.18

Tax Advantage Fund ­ Series I (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ Series I (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) LIC Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (D) Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (G) MF Equity Fund (D) MF Equity Fund (G) MF Growth Fund (D) MF Growth Fund (G) MF India Vision Fund (D) MF India Vision Fund (G) MF Opportunities Fund (D) MF Opportunities Fund (G) MF Tax Plan (D) MF Tax Plan (G) MF Top 100 Fund (D) MF Top 100 Fund (G)

15.66 21.32 14.98 16.12 9.32 9.32 10.67 27.07 11.75 13.25 9.35 9.36 10.92 19.18 10.74 29.99 8.35 8.35

M

Mirae Asset Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) Global Commodity Stock Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Global Commodity Stock Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) India Opportunities Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) India Opportunities Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Morgan Stanley A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (D) A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G)

10.48 10.48 12.93 12.93 13.55 16.18 14.22 15.10 19.51 63.92

P

Pramerica Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Personal Tax Saver Fund PNB Long Term Equity Fund ­ 3 yrs­ Series 1 (D) PNB Long Term Equity Fund ­ 3 Yrs ­ Series 1 (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) SMART Equity Fund (D) SMART Equity Fund (G) Tax Savings Fund

9.66 9.66 9.48 9.48 17.47 23.67 23.63 31.00 24.02 53.01 19.86 28.99 96.85 11.19 11.19 13.33 15.03 9.84 9.84 77.35

Q

Quantum Long­Term Equity Fund (D) Long­Term Equity Fund (G) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

R

22.64 22.46 22.37 22.38

Reliance Banking Fund (Bonus) 102.46 Banking Fund (D) 40.89 Banking Fund (G) 102.46 Diversified Power Sector Fund ­ Retail (Bonus) 74.35 Diversified Power Sector Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 43.89 Diversified Power Sector Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 74.35 Equity Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (B) 12.95 Equity Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 12.95 Equity Advantage Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 12.95 Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 14.18 Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 14.18 Equity Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 14.18 Equity Linked Saving Fund ­ Series I (D) 14.37 Equity Linked Saving Fund ­ Series I (G) 14.37 Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 35.54 Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 25.10 Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 35.54 Growth Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 77.65 Growth Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 57.38 Growth Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 468.08 Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) 9.93 Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) 9.93 Infrastructure Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) 9.93 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 15.64 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 15.64 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 27.29 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 19.62 Media & Entertainment Fund (G) 27.29 Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) 10.54 Natural Resources Fund (D) 10.54 Natural Resources Fund (G) 10.54 NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) 40.01 NRI Equity Fund (D) 23.80 NRI Equity Fund (G) 40.01 Pharma Fund (Bonus) 55.76 Pharma Fund (D) 41.59

These trainees will be groomed to take over these mid to high level posts in future," Murthy said.

He said for retaining these groomed executives, the company is planning to incentivise them or offer them compensation, which will be more in the form of emotional and cultural aspect.

"We will concentrate on creating a work environment, which will be more comfortable and have facilities to suit these young executives. If the need arises we will also look into offering them customised incentives," Murthy added.

Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages is wholly-owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, responsible for manufacturing, sale and distribution of beverages across the country.

The vast Indian operations comprise 25 company-owned bottling facilities and 24 franchisees.

Coca Cola brands include CocaCola, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Thums Up, Limca, Maaza and Kinley (packaged drinking water).

Pharma Fund (G) Quant Plus Fund ­ Retail Plan (B) Quant Plus Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Quant Plus Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Regular Savings Fund ­ Equity Option (D) Regular Savings Fund ­ Equity Option (G) Small Cap Fund (Bonus) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) Vision Fund ­ Retail Plan (Bonus) Vision Fund ­ Retail Plan (D) Vision Fund ­ Retail Plan (G) Religare AGILE Fund (D) AGILE Fund (G) AGILE Tax Fund (D) AGILE Tax Fund (G) Banking Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) Banking Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) Business Leaders Fund (D) Business Leaders Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Mid N Small Cap Fund (D) Mid N Small Cap Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

S

55.76 13.74 13.74 13.74 24.24 31.10 9.70 9.70 9.70 15.92 20.43 44.84 43.55 266.97 6.91 6.89 7.79 7.78 15.48 19.83 11.33 12.36 12.53 16.21 12.78 12.78 11.72 12.91 8.17 8.17 11.63 14.04 14.19 14.20 9.62 10.67 12.38 17.36

Sahara Banking and Financial Services Fund (D) 14.95 Banking and Financial Services Fund (G) 29.62 Growth Fund (D) 23.29 Growth Fund (G) 80.22 Infrastructure ­ Fixed Pricing Option (D) 11.19 Infrastructure ­ Fixed Pricing Option (G) 15.31 Infrastructure ­Variable Pricing Option (D) 11.65 Infrastructure ­Variable Pricing Option (G) 15.85 Midcap Fund (Bonus) 30.96 Midcap Fund (D) 13.69 Midcap Fund (G) 30.96 Midcap Fund (Growth Auto Payout) 30.96 Power & Natural Resources Fund (D) 10.94 Power & Natural Resources Fund (G) 12.83 Tax Gain (D) 16.68 Tax Gain (G) 37.42 Wealth Plus ­ Variable Pricing Option (D) 18.65 Wealth Plus ­ Variable Pricing Option (G) 22.34 Wealth Plus Fund ­ Fixed Pricing Option (D) 17.81 Wealth Plus Fund ­ Fixed Pricing Option (G) 21.50 SBI Blue Chip Fund (D) 11.39 Blue Chip Fund (G) 14.57 Infrastructure Fund ­ Series I (D) 9.60 Infrastructure Fund ­ Series I (G) 9.59 Magnum IT Fund 24.35 Magnum Midcap Fund (D) 17.82 Magnum Midcap Fund (G) 23.24 Magnum Multicap Fund (D) 13.63 Magnum Multicap Fund (G) 17.94 Magnum Multiplier Plus (D) 51.95 Magnum Multiplier Plus (G) 82.12 Magnum NRI ­ Flexiasset Plan (D) 28.87 Magnum NRI ­ Flexiasset Plan (G) 28.76 Magnum Pharma Fund (D) 37.48 Magnum Pharma Fund (G) 45.35 Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (D) 41.21 Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (G) 60.45 One India Fund (D) 10.91 One India Fund (G) 10.91 PSU Fund (D) 9.67 PSU Fund (G) 9.67 Daiwa Industry Leaders Fund (D) 11.83 Industry Leaders Fund (G) 11.83 Sundaram Capex Opportunities Fund (D) 12.18 Capex Opportunities Fund (G) 23.32 Equity Multiplier Fund (D) 11.64 Equity Multiplier Fund (G) 14.27 Financial Services Opportunities ­ Retail Plan (D) 15.64 Financial Services Opportunities ­ Retail Plan (G) 19.68 PSU Opportunities Fund (D) 10.18 PSU Opportunities Fund (G) 11.18 Rural India Fund (D) 10.95 Rural India Fund (G) 15.11 S.M.I.L.E Fund ­ Regular Plan (D) 12.73 S.M.I.L.E Fund ­ Regular Plan (G) 32.75 Select Focus ­ Retail Plan (D) 9.83 Select Focus ­ Retail Plan (G) 90.86 Select Midcap ­ Regular Plan (D) 17.14 Select Midcap ­ Regular Plan (G) 151.30

BOARD MEETINGS 3I Infotech Godrej Inds GTL Amara Raja ICICI Bank Idea Cellular Sesa Goa Asian Paints Indian Bank Shoppers Stop Austin Engr Jindal Steel SKS Microfinance JK Tyre Sobha Dev JP Infratec Jyoti Bijlee Textiles Karnataka Bank Torrent Power Birla Corp Union Bank Century Tex Chennai Petro Vijaya Bank Deccan Chron EIH Welspun Projects Wheel & Axle Source: Indiainfoline.com

Select Small Cap Fund (D) Select Small Cap Fund (G) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (D) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (G) Tax Saver (OE) (D) Tax Saver (OE) (G)

11.96 12.84 7.98 7.98 10.55 44.73

T

Tata Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Management Fund (D) Equity Management Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Plan A (D) Equity Opportunities Fund ­ Plan B (G) Equity P/E Fund (G) Equity P/E Fund ­ Trigger Option A 5% (D) Equity P/E Fund ­ Trigger Option B 10% (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure Fund ­ A (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure Fund ­ A (G) Growing Economies Infrastructure Fund ­ B (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure Fund ­ B (G) Growth Fund (Bonus) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Indo­Global Infrastructure Fund (D) Indo­Global Infrastructure Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (D) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (G) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (D) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Pure Equity Fund (D) Pure Equity Fund (G) Select Equity Fund (D) Select Equity Fund (G) Service Industries Fund (D) Service Industries Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund ­ 1 (D) Tax Advantage Fund ­ 1 (G) Tax Saving Fund

14.07 15.07 15.57 17.69 20.33 33.57 12.62 14.60 20.34 79.31 48.36 36.47 38.06 12.30 12.31 12.27 12.27 38.97 17.15 42.88 7.82 7.82 21.70 32.94 15.25 16.11 36.36 72.34 14.95 17.42 37.39 99.37 42.10 65.10 17.75 23.79 16.37 16.37 46.61

Taurus Bonanza Fund (D) Bonanza Fund (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Ethical Fund (Bonus) Ethical Fund (D) Ethical Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Star Share (D) Star Share (G) Tax Shield (D) Tax Shield (G)

43.51 43.23 15.35 15.34 23.27 15.71 23.28 12.93 13.78 39.81 56.54 19.19 35.53

U

UTI Banking Sector Fund (D) Banking Sector Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Energy Fund (D) Energy Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Equity Tax Savings Plan (D) Equity Tax Savings Plan (G) India Lifestyle Fund(D) India Lifestyle Fund(G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leadership Equity Fund (D) Leadership Equity Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund ­ Series II (D) Long Term Advantage Fund ­ Series II (G) Master Equity Plan Unit Scheme Master Plus Unit Scheme (D) Master Plus Unit Scheme (G) Master Value Fund (D) Master Value Fund (G) Mastershare (D) Mastershare (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) MNC Fund (D) MNC Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (D) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (G)

24.60 42.33 12.84 13.91 14.83 32.32 12.08 10.66 48.58 54.97 17.09 40.20 11.39 11.39 18.94 33.25 14.37 15.50 12.72 12.72 14.24 14.24 49.53 60.32 83.68 24.12 52.57 28.89 53.75 21.07 30.92 37.00 57.30 14.51 27.16 32.02 41.44

OHERALDO

Pg13

BIZ

GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

Tax into a Tech drive

The tax departments are gradually come to realise that unless they move into the electronic digital age, they will not be able to keep pace with the changing times. The Customs and Excise Department has embarked on a massive computerization program since it would be one of the nodal agencies to implement GST that would require synchronization of its data with that all the various sales tax agencies all over the country. Unless this happens, there is little hope of GST being introduced since this tax will be collected and assessed by both the Central Excise and state sales tax departments.

The direct tax department has called for tenders for the implementation of e-returns.

There were two new hubs that were sanctioned in the last year’s budget; besides the one at Bangalore. Unfortunately, these projects have still not taken off ground. Good news for those waiting for those who have filed their e-returns for 2010-11. The Central Processing Centre at Bangalore has processed over 15 lakh returns and has issued 1.6 lakh refunds. Those who have e-filed their returns can also rectify their returns – a useful facility especially where credit for tax payments were not considered in the first place. While the problem of giving credit for taxes paid is still a problem, it is hoped that with the streamlining of the TDS returns this issue will sort itself out. Much of the delay in the commencement of work at the CPC was due to the fact that the necessary programs were not in place and the reluctance of both officers and staff to work at this centre. For with no public interface, both officers and staff of the IT department are not willing workers. A change of mindset is required where tax officers and staff attempt to provide service rather than seek to work at positions were they can meet and interact with clients. Despite the reluctance of the departmental personnel to man these stations , the electronic facilities of the department are being improved. It is now possible to verify the status of your return as also to find out when you would receive the required refund.

Further all those who have provided their bank accounts would now receive their refunds directly instead of having to chase after their refunds by repeated visits to the income tax office. If the tax department were to ensure that refunds are speedily dispatched, a significant amount of tax payers’ grievances would have been redressed. Thus with each passing year, the provision of tax payer services becomes better and hopefully the tax department will become a service oriented centre as against an office that one would prefer to stay away from!

SHORTAGES AND TAX With the price of onions hitting the ceiling, the tax departments have been working on two fronts. On the Customs and Excise angle, the export of onions have been stopped, the import duty has been slashed from 5% to nil.

This has brought into the market onions from our neighbour Pakistan. In order to drive against hoarders, the Income tax department undertook a series of surveys on onion traders. These measures have brought relief to the market bringing down the price of onions. The Excise department looking into

Dhanlaxmi Bank to raise Rs 1,000-cr PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

Private sector Dhanlaxmi Bank plans to raise up to Rs 1,000crore of capital to meet its business growth over the next 12-15-months and has already obtained its Board approval for the same, a senior bank official said.

"We have obtained our Board nod to raise up to Rs 1,000-crore of equity capital.

The first tranche will most likely be raised in May. However, the final decision will be taken after considering prevailing market conditions," Dhanlaxmi Bank's CFO, Bipin Kabra said.

The bank is in the process of identifying investment bankers and is expected to finalise their names by this month-end, Kabra said.

"We are already talking to a few bankers and we will decide on them in the next ten days," he said.

The bank will decide on the mode of raising resources soon, he said.

the future shortage and in order to ensure the availability of sugar in the country has removed duties on the import of raw and refined sugar with effect from the 1st April 2011.

If only the government were to act proactively by forecasting the supply and demand position, immediately take tax measures much of these crises would be resolved before they flare into major economic or political issues.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW SERVICES With the need of government to expand its service tax coverage, eight new taxable services were brought within the service tax net from July 2010. Let us look at the important taxable services recently introduced. An important service now taxable is, services for organizing, and marketing games of chance.

Government is aware that the turnover on lottery and other such games of chance runs into several hundred crore. The inclusion of this as a taxable service was to ensure that the state earns its pound of flesh. Under this category would also be covered all game shows in casinos and other place of entertainment. Also under this category would be covered all games such as ‘housie, bingo lucky draws and other such attractions. Many organisations planning on having such draws will have to take into account, the service tax payable on these events. Another category of service now taxable is the provision of medical facility by insurers and the health check up undertaken by hospitals for employees. Most hospitals have different types of health check up – master check up, VIP check, annual check etc. Companies usually tie up with hospitals to ensure that the employees have regular medical checks. This is now a taxable service; which the hospitals would as service providers have to pay, but will charge it to the companies that pay for this service. On a similar line, there are companies and firms that undertake the maintenance of medical records – this is now included under the list of taxable services. Another important service now taxable is permitting of the commercial use or exploitation of any event organised by a person or an organisation.

This is a rather omnibus clause that would bring to tax all advertisements and other usages during any event organised. The introduction of these new services would necessarily impact several service providers in a tourist destination such as Goa. Take the commercial use or exploitation of an event.

There are several shows, ‘fests’ the upcoming carnival, the dances organised by various organisations. Many of these events have sponsors who either donate in cash or kind. Many of these services would are now taxable. The provisions of service tax are seldom looked into until a notice is received from the service tax department!

As we slowly move toward Budget day, with tax revenues still buoyant, there may not be an increase in tax rates, but government will look to expand its taxable services to bring still more services under the tax net. Let us wait and watch!

(The author of the article is a retired Chief Commissioner of Income Tax. The views expressed by him are personal.)

Cox & Kings eyes 26% Rev growth PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

Buoyed by robust growth in the tourism sector, travel and tours operator Cox & Kings is eyeing over 26 per cent growth during this financial year, a top company executive said.

"In the first two quarters of this fiscal we see a growth of over 26% in consolidated income from our operations at Rs 230.37 crore against Rs 183.35 crore during the same period last fiscal. Looking at this improved trend, we believe that it will continue and be as good in FY 11," Cox & Kings CFO Anil Khandelwal said.

Cox & Kings consolidated net profit for six months stood at Rs 59.41 crore compared to Rs 47.67 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal, registering a growth of 25%.

To continue with this growth in 2011 (calender year), the main focus of Cox & Kings will be to add new products and destinations preferred by outbound tourists, he said.

"We will continue to evolve

and add new products. We are also looking at adding new destinations, which will be attractive for our outbound tourists," he said.

About 56 per cent of India revenue of the company comes from the outbound tourists, which is our main growth driver, and 14 per cent from the inbound travellers, he said.

Destinations like the Middle East, Europe and the US continue to remain popular with the Indian tourists, Khandelwal added.

Almost 50 per cent of the company's overall revenue comes from India, 21 per cent from the UK, 13 per cent from Australia and 9 per cent from Japan.

To expand its business, Cox & Kings is also looking at acquisitions, both domestic and international, Khandelwal had said earlier.

"We are looking at acquisitions and currently in talks with a couple of international players for investment," he said without giving any details.

Godrej Consumer likely to raise its soaps prices PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) is likely to raise the prices of its soaps as raw material costs have risen, a top company official said.

"Prices of raw materials for soaps have increased and so we are likely to up our soap prices," GCPL's Chairman, Adi Godrej, told PTI here.

He, however, did not specify the time-frame by when this would be done nor the percentage of the hike, saying "we are yet to decide on this."

The company had, in early-

January, raised prices of its soaps by 3-5 per cent. It had also raised the prices of its hair-colour by 10 per cent around three months ago.

The Adi Godrej-led company has reported an 89 per cent jump in its Q3 FY 11 consolidated net sales at Rs 980-crore and a 40 per cent rise in its PAT at Rs 119-crore.

"Our international acquisitions have started kicking-in and nearly 35 per cent of our sales has come in from overseas," Godrej said.

Godrej Household Products and our Indonesian operations

have done especially well, he said.

The former would be legally merged with GCPL by end-this fiscal, he said, adding this would provide benefits of integration, economics, managerial bandwidth and cost-savings.

On the outlook for Q4, Godrej said that it should be "even better" than Q3.

"The momentum is very strong and I don't see any major areas of worry. The economy is doing well and hence I am confident of a good showing from GCPL," Godrej said.

2G: FM hopes for solution in Bud session PTI CHENNAI, JAN 23

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee hoped a solution would be found in the coming Budget session of the Parliament to break the impasse over the opposition demand for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam to ensure smooth proceedings in the House.

"I do hope it will be possible for us to find a solution so that transaction during the Budget session can be held smoothly," he told reporters here.

Mukherjee said he would have discussions with various political parties and recalled that LS Speaker Miera Kumar had already held discussions with the Opposition in this regard.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar had yesterday said there would be no let up in its demand for JPC probe.

Airlines to refund money on cancellation of ticket PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

In a big relief to air travelers, domestic airlines have agreed to refund passengers all costs barring the base fare if a nonrefundable ticket is cancelled.

However, passengers can avail this facility only if they cancel their tickets two hours prior to the flight departure.

"At a working group meeting held recently, the airlines have agreed to refund passengers for non-refundable ticket as well.

"The Civil Aviation Secretary has already sent instructions to all the airlines in this regard," Air Passenger Association of India (APAI) President D Sudhakar Reddy said.

The decision, that would provide succour to the passengers, was taken at a meeting of a working group of the Civil Aviation Economic Advisory

Council that is going into issues relating to bringing transparency in fixing of airfares and protect consumer interests.

Reddy, a member of the group representing passengers' interests, said the airlines have also been told to appoint a nodal officer to specifically deal with such issues.

Apart from the base fares, fuel surcharge, passenger service fee, user or airport development fee and taxes are the other components that an airline charges from the passengers.

As per the decision, all these components would be refunded in case of cancellation of a ticket.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the six-member Working Group, which comprises all stake holders— airlines, DGCA, consumer

groups, industry experts, with the Aviation Economic Advisory Council held on January 18 in New Delhi.

Besides passengers, the group comprises representatives of travel agents, Air India ane no-frill carrier IndiGo. "After discussions, the DGCA gave a presentation to the Council and the Working Group on the issue following which airlines agreed to the proposal," Reddy said.

Reddy said that APAI has also demanded from the Government that it should do away with the service tax on tickets which it introduced in the last budget.

"We have asked the Government to abolish the service tax on air tickets as it is against the International Civil Aviation Organisation norms and not in line with international practice," Reddy said.

SIB Q3 net up 20.65% PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

South Indian Bank (SIB) has clocked a net profit of Rs 75.36-crore in Q3 FY 11 as against Rs 62.46-crore in the year-ago period.

The total business of the bank increased from Rs 35,511crore to Rs 46,186-crore on a year-to-year basis, up 30.06 per cent, a press release issued here stated.

Deposits increased by 30.79 per cent to Rs 26,998-crore from Rs 20,643-crore while advances grew 29.06 per cent from Rs 14,868-crore to Rs 19,188-crore, the release said.

The current account, savings account (CASA) of the bank increased by Rs 1,046-crore from Rs 4,999-crore to Rs 6,045crore, up 20.92 per cent.

The bank's capital adequacy ratio stands at a healthy 14.89 per cent under BASEL II standards against the regulatory requirement of nine per cent, the release said.

Mahindra Aerospace 1st aircraft by March PTI MUMBAI, JAN 23

Mahindra Aerospace, the first Indian private firm to manufacture small civil aircraft for the domestic aviation market, is likely to roll-out its first aircraft

by March this year.

"We are hopeful of rollingout our first indigenous small aircraft by March this year. But we should make sure that the aircraft is properly certified for airworthiness standards," Mahindra and Mahindra's President (Systech Sector), Hemant Luthra, said on the sidelines of an event here.

"We will provide the aircraft at a price at least 20 per cent lesser than a Cessna aircraft," Luthra said.

Mahindra Aerospace is the first Indian private firm to manufacture smaller civil aircraft for the Indian general aviation market. Mahindra Aerospace is developing a five-seater and eight-seater version of small

aircraft for the Indian market at its Bangalore facility, Luthra said.

However, Luthra, didn't reveal the cost of the flight and development.

Mahindra Aerospace acquired a majority stake (75.1 per cent) in GippsAero and Aerostaff Australia for Rs 175crore (USD 38-million) in December 2009 jointly with Kotak Private Equity.

Aerostaff is a 20-year-old manufacturer of aerospace components and assemblies for global aerospace OEMs at Port Melbourne in Victoria state.

The 26-year-old GippsAero is a leading turboprop aircraft manufacturer for the general aviation sector and has certification in 32 countries worldwide, including the US Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR 23), which testifies the highest degree of safety to fly fare-paying passengers between small and remote airfields.

Black money in Swiss Accounts: Liechtenstein rejects help to India PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

Liechtenstein has declined help in India's quest for suspected black money trail to the small but rich European country bordering Switzerland, citing absence of a bilateral treaty for such information exchange.

The Indian government is facing intense pressure from the opposition parties as well as the Supreme Court to take action against those having stashed illicit wealth in foreign banks, mainly in Switzerland and other locations such as Liechtenstein and Cayman Islands.

A Liechtenstein government spokesperson confirmed to PTI that India has sought administrative assistance and details of some Indian clients of LGT Bank located there.

"At the moment, we cannot reply to the content of the request (from India) since there is no legal basis i.e. no bilateral agreement for this," the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson, however, said that the Liechtenstein government has offered to negotiate a tax treaty with India, which would facilitate information exchange in future about suspected tax evaders and offenders of other financial crimes.

Last year, Indian government received information from the German government regarding some Indians having secret accounts in LGT Bank. Reportedly, the tax department has served notices those entities for alleged evasion of tax.

Liechtenstein is a small country, located entirely within the Alps range of mountains, with a total estimated population of about 35,000. However, it is one of the richest countries in the world and has the highest GDP per person in the world.

"We are working towards the common goal of establishing a treaty that enables us to exchange information in the future, according to international standards," the official said.

India may have to wait for Info

PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

India may have to wait till at least next year for information from Switzerland on possible black money trail to Swiss banks, as a treaty for the same might come into force only by the end of 2011.

The treaty needs to be ratified by various authorities in India as also in Switzerland, including the Parliament of the European nation, and it might come into force by the end of 2011 depending on these approvals, a spokesperson for the Switzerland's Federal Department of Finance said.

If all these ratifications are achieved by 2011-end, the provisions of the treaty, which includes information exchange about suspected tax evaders and other financial offenders, would come into effect in India from the fiscal year beginning on or after first day of April 2012, the official said.

This means that India would be able to seek information on tax evasion and other financial offenses on incomes for the fiscal year 2012-13 beginning April 1, 2012, onwards and not for the past periods, experts said here.

Still, it is unlikely that the names of Indians having money in Swiss banks would be made public, as being demanded by the opposition parties, because such a step would not only be

in breach of the bilateral treaty, but could also hinder the process of investigations, they added.

In Switzerland, the provisions would come into effect for fiscal year beginning on or after January 1 of the year following the one when treaty comes into force, the Swiss Finance Department official said.

Indian government is facing intense pressure from the opposition parties, as also the Supreme Court, on issue of black money allegedly stashed away by some Indians in Swiss banks and other tax havens.

The issue of Indians having secret Swiss bank accounts has become a political hot potato, amid reports of Indians having billions of dollars in banks in Switzerland. But, there are no official figures as such and experts believe that it was not necessary that all the funds deposited by Indians in Swiss banks were black money.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Swiss Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey signed a "protocol" on August 30, 2010 to amend the double taxation agreement (DTA) in the area of taxes on income.

The revised tax treaty was expected to facilitate the Indian government seeking details about illicit wealth allegedly stashed away by Indians in Swiss banks.

However, this Protocol has not entered into force yet and

needs to be ratified by the authorities in two countries.

Asked about the status, the Swiss Federal Department of Finance official said that one of the parliament commissions in charge of the DTAs last week decided to approve the DTA with India and the parliamentarial approval process was expected to come to an end by September 2011.

"So, the plenum of the lower chamber of the Parliament will soon decide on it. Three months later, the higher chamber will take a decision. Probably, by the end of summer 2011, the DTA with India will be approved by the Swiss institutions," the Swiss official added.

"Depending on the process of approval in India, the DTA may come into force by the end of 2011," the spokesperson said in reply to emailed queries

by PTI. If the DTA comes into force by 2011-end, the official said, "its provisions shall have effect in India, in respect of income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of April next following the calendar year in which the Amending Protocol entered into force."

On the other hand, the provisions will become effective in Switzerland, in respect of income arising in any fiscal year beginning on or after the first day of January next following the calendar year in which the

protocol enters into force.

As per the initial agreement signed between the two countries in August 2010, the information exchange was expected to take effect on January 1.

"This Protocol has not entered into force yet, since the governments of the Contracting States have not notified each other through diplomatic channels that all legal requirements and procedures for giving effect to the Amending Protocol have been satisfied," the Swiss official had earlier said.

The revised tax treaty agreement was reached after months of negotiations, even as the Swiss banks have said that they would not permit "fishing expeditions" -- meaning unwarranted and indiscriminate trawling through bank accounts in the hope of finding something interesting.

The Swiss Bankers Association have previously said that any information exchange would be according to the conditions set out by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the grouping of mostly developed nations, and the information being sought should be specific in nature.

As per the revised treaty, Switzerland would now provide administrative assistance in tax evasion cases also, in addition to the tax fraud cases applicable earlier.

SEBI, RBI on alert for money returning PTI NEW DELHI, JAN 23

Financial regulators SEBI and RBI have enhanced vigil on Indian entities routing their funds from secretly-held Swiss bank accounts to India through Dubai and other locations, on fears of getting exposed for stashing the money in the European nation.

The stepped-up vigil for money laundering activities by the country's two financial regulators comes in the midst of suspicion that there could be some Indian entities in the list of over 2,000 Swiss bank ac-

counts that are expected to be disclosed soon by whistleblower website Wikileaks.

While banks in the Middle East have seen a sudden spurt in their deposits in past few months, queries mailed to Swiss Bankers Association remained unanswered on whether the banks there have seen a rise in withdrawals.

It is feared that the Indian entities having accounts in Swiss banks might move their funds to Middle East and other locations and then route them back to India, either into the stock market through FIIs or

the FDI route.

While SEBI is responsible for oversight on funds flowing into or out of capital markets, RBI approval is needed for FDI inflows for many sectors. Besides, RBI also monitors flow of overseas funds into stock market through foreign or overseas banks.

Sources said that SEBI and RBI are taking a pre-emptive stance to guard against any possible flow of illicit money to the country and would broaden the scope of their oversight by indulging other institutions such as banks and brokers, only after firm indica-

tions of such capital flows.

The sectors suspected to be vulnerable for such funds could be real estate, agriculture and infrastructure, which are among the 'sunrise' segments of the Indian economy and have large-scale fund requirements, they added.

Sources said that all the funds held by Indian entities in Swiss banks might not necessarily be illicit wealth, but include genuine funds that are not willing to take a chance given the negative publicity generally associated with Swiss banks.

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Pak tribesmen rally against drone attacks PTI PESHAWAR, JAN 23

A large number of tribesmen Sunday marched in a main city in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region and demanded a halt to U.S. drone strikes in the area.

The demonstration in the town of Mir Ali was the second in the region in three days after over 2,000 demonstrated in Miranshah, the agency's headquarters, on Friday.

The Sunday's rally coincided with two strikes by the U.S. drone aircraft in Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, which killed seven people.

Two missiles were fired on a vehicle, carrying suspected militants, as they arrived at a house at Doga Madakhel village, said official sources in the region.

The house and vehicle were destroyed, tribesmen said.

Three persons were killed in the second strike in the area when the missiles hit a motorcycle, witnesses said.

There was no report about the identity of those killed. A tribesman in Miranshah said over phone that he had seen six pilotless drones before and after the strikes.

A tribesman said over phone that the tribesmen in Mir Ali closed all markets and transports were off the road as a protest against the strikes.

They marched for a kilometer in the town and chanted antiU.S. slogans and were demanding an immediate halt to the

drone strikes.

Speakers including religious clerics, tribal elders, traders and student leaders condemned the drone strikes and said that innocent people are targeted in the attacks.

President of the Traders Action Committee of Mir Ali Bazar, Abdul Hakim, told the rally that the U.S. drone strikes have made the people physiologically sick as everyone is in a state of fear when the drones started flying over the area.

American pilotless aircraft regularly fire rockets in Waziristan as the U.S. officials say the area is the launching pad for cross-border attacks into Afghanistan. Tribesmen say that innocent people are targeted by the US aircraft.

Chief of the Students Council Abul Rauf said that the people could go to mosques and funerals fearing strikes as "the Americans do not spare public places."

The speakers also lashed out at the government for what they called its weaknesses to adopt a firm stand on the issue.

The CIA considers Waziristan as the home of Taliban leaders Hakimullah Mehsud, Hafiz Gul Bahadur and Mulla Nazir, who are fighting against US and NATO forces across the borer in Afghanistan.

The Taliban-linked Haqqani network, fighting against U.S. forces in neighboring Afghanistan, is also thought to be active in the region, US officials say.

From Page 1 Cong in poll gear of the people”, Kamat said, and added Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has sanctioned Rs five crore to set up a state-of-aart centralized police control room and 50 PCR vans for the State.

In his hard hitting speech, Home Minister Ravi Naik sought to know whether people accused of assaulting drivers, policemen and who have no manners should have a place in the Ministry. “A minister is expected to protect the citizens. But, here is a person who has so many cases of assault against him. Is it proper to have such a man in the Cabinet? And, when these people are out, they make only baseless allegations”, Naik said, apparently referring to former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco.

Sounding a word of caution, Naik said the party should be wary of some party men trying to destabilize other and warned that the people would show these leaders their true place. “The situation can be really dangerous when a pet dog adjusts with a stray, rabid, mad dog. We have to beware of this”, he said and exuded confidence that the party would win minimum 28 seats in the coming polls.

In his address, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao said that those who don’t respect women will have no place in the Kamat Ministry, adding that that the Congress would return back to power with minimum 35 seats in the coming polls.

Without taking names, Alemao came down heavily on party MLAs for their stand that the Congress would not win the polls with all these scams. “These people are waiting for vacancies to get into the Ministry. If these MLAs are uncertain about wining on the Congress tickets, its better they are denied the tickets”, he asserted.

Alemao appealed to the people to rally behind the party to provide a better Government.

Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar said the wind in favour of the Congress would travel from South to North and asserted that the Kamat Government will not only complete the current term, but would continue in office in the next five years.

Lashing out at Leader of the Opposition, Manohar Parrikar for the unsuccessful bid to dislodge the Kamat Government within three months in office, Azgaonkar said that Parrikar tried his best to bring down the Government as he was wary of Kamat’s skills in running a successful Government.

In his address, Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao heaped praises on the Chief Minister for changing the face of the Commercial capital with a host of developmental project, adding that the Congress would win the Assembly polls with 35 seats.

GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar urged the party workers to gear up for the coming polls and outlined the various achievements of the party at the Centre and the state.

Water Resources Minister Filipe Neri Rodrigues, GPCC general secretaries Vishnu Wagh and Vijay Sardessai, MMC Chairperson Sushila Naik and Councilors were amongst others who attended the workers convention.

Speaker to meet NCP MLAs

their intend.

On the other hand the Congress-led Government has not made secrets about its disapproval to induct Pacheco in the Cabinet despite Pawar asking to do so. The NCP has been on a war path ever since Congress-led Government stalled the move of the Benaulim MLA to get himself re-inducted in the Cabinet.

Pacheco’s induction in the Cabinet was stalled after a group of 10 Congress legislators voiced their protest. Also, both the NCP ministers refused to resign even as NCP High Command asked its two ministers to step down.

If Rane refuses to accept Pacheco as a whip, it would further widen the divide between both the coalition partners.

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Big powers leave Iran nuclear talks empty-handed REUTERS ISTANBUL, JAN 23

World powers failed to prise any change from Iran in two days of talks on its nuclear programme, with the EU and United States calling the discussions disappointing and saying no further meetings were planned.

"This is not the conclusion I'd hoped for," European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said at the end of the talks in Istanbul on Saturday. "I am disappointed."

That was echoed by a senior U.S. official, but he said talks had not broken down and been "very businesslike, but difficult."

The best that the six world powers -- the United States, France, Germany, China, Russia and Britain -- can hope for is that Iran rethinks its position, once chief negotiator Saeed Jalili reports back to Tehran.

"We now wait to hear... whether Iran will respond on reflection," said Ashton, the lead negotiator for the six world

Ahmadinejad hopes for more talks REUTERS TEHRAN JAN 23

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Sunday he hoped for further talks with world powers concerned about Tehran's nuclear programme, a day after two days of negotiations ended in stalemate and with no clear agreement to meet again.

"If the other party is determined and committed to law, justice and respect, there is hope that in the next sessions good results would be achieved," Ahmadinejad said in a televised speech to a crowd in the city of Rasht. powers.

An aide to Jalili told Reuters that there would be another round of talks, even if the timing and venue were undecided. But Ashton said further talks depended on a more constructive approach from Tehran.

"The process can go forward if Iran chooses to respond positively," she said. "The door remains open. The choice remains in Iran's hands."

The powers have offered a nuclear fuel swap that would effectively reduce Iran's reserves of low enriched uranium

to levels too small to be used to make a bomb. But Iran would have to drop pre-conditions for a deal to happen.

"We proposed the possibility of an experts-level discussion of the details...

The Iranians at this stage are not prepared to do that, we came back to the issue of preconditions," the U.S. official said.

The West suspects Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons while Tehran says its atomic energy programme is peaceful.

The standoff has dragged on for

S Korea releases video of raid on hijacked ship AP SEOUL, JAN 23

South Korea released a video Sunday of a dramatic raid by commandos on a hijacked ship in the Arabian Sea that rescued all 21 crew members and killed eight Somali pirates.

The 4 1/2-minute video provided by the military shows parts of the pre-dawn raid Friday, which came a week after pirates seized the cargo ship and its crew of eight South Koreans, two Indonesians and 11 Myanmar citizens.

The video shows South Korean commandos in a small boat readying to climb onto the freighter amid gunshots. The commandos are then seen trying to enter a door and then bringing out some hostages, with a navy helicopter shining searchlights on the vessel.

Later, several captured Somali pirates are shown kneeling on the ship as South Korean soldiers carrying rifles stand nearby.

The video, taken by a nearby South Korean destroyer, shows the 1,500-ton chemical carrier Samho Jewelry pockmarked with bullet holes.

None of the crew members was injured except for the captain, who was shot in the stomach by a pirate but his condition is not life-threatening, according to South Korea's military.

In November, a South Koreanoperated supertanker and its 24 crew — five South Koreans and 19 Filipinos — were freed after seven months of captivity amid

Members of the South Korean Navy conduct a seaborne anti-terrorism drill off the coast near a navy base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul.

reports that a record ransom of up to $9.5 million had been paid to Somali pirates.

Friday's raid was a triumph for South Korea's president and military. Both came under harsh criticism at home for being too slow and weak in their response to a North Korean attack in November on a South Korean island near disputed waters that killed two marines and two civilians.

It came on the same day that Malaysia's navy successfully rescued a chemical tanker and its 23 crew members from Somali pirates. Seven pirates were apprehended.

Despite the two recent successful raids, the European Union Naval Force has said it will not follow suit because such raids could further endanger hostages.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991, during which time piracy has flourished off its coast.

There are now 29 vessels and 703 hostages being held by pirates off the coast of Somalia. The country lies next to one of the world's most important shipping routes, which connects the Indian Ocean to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea beyond.

eight years and expectations were low heading into the Istanbul talks.

Tensions escalated in 2010, with the United Nations imposing new sanctions, and a meeting between the two sides in Geneva last month was the first in more than a year.

On the upside, the US official said the six powers had shown more unity and coordination in Istanbul than in any earlier round.

But the failure to make headway showed increasingly tough sanctions on Iran, a major oil producer, have had little effect in persuading the Islamic state to cooperate more, though analysts say the Iranian economy is hurting.

Asked by reporters about the possibility of more sanctions, the US official told reporters; "I don't want to speculate on what decisions will get made.

There are certainly options there for the pressure track."

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton this week told US network ABC that

Eight killed in Iraq bombings AP BAGHDAD, JAN 23

A series of bomb blasts killed eight people and wounded 33 across Baghdad this morning.

The three-hour drumbeat of explosions began in rush hour at the start of the working week.

An Iraqi intelligence official said the attacks were an attempt to undermine security before a meeting of Arab heads of state in the city in late March.

Police said at least two car bombs exploded, apparently targeting police patrols, killing a policeman and a bystander. Two people were killed in a blast at the offices of the government sewage department.

In the northern suburb of Kazimiyah, another bomb exploded near a bus carrying Iranian pilgrims, killing one and injuring nine. Shia pilgrims make daily visits to the gold-domed shrine of Kazimiyah, where two revered imams are buried.

In Taji, north of Baghdad, a car bomb killed a farmer and his son heading to a nearby market to sell their crops. In nearby Tarmiyah, once an insurgent stronghold, a bomb outside a school killed a seven-year-old boy.

Violence in Iraq has dropped dramatically since a few years ago when daily death tolls sometimes were in the hundreds. But small-scale bombings and driveby shootings still persist on a near-daily basis. No group immediately took responsibility for today's attacks.

Israel acted legally in ship raid: report REUTERS JERUSALEM, JAN 23

An Israeli inquiry cleared the government and military on Sunday of wrongdoing in the bloody seizure of a Turkish aid ship that tried to breach the Gaza blockade, saying passengers were to blame for the violence.

The Turkel Commission, whose report will form the core of Israel's submission to a UN inquiry into the May 31 incident, endorsed the sea closure but urged Israeli reviews of how to focus sanctions on Gaza's Hamas rulers and spare its civilians.

The findings were unlikely to be welcomed by Turkey, nine of whose citizens were killed by Israeli commandos' gunfire in brawls aboard the converted

Turkish cruise ship Mavi Marmara

cruise ship Mavi Marmara as it led a six-vessel flotilla towards Gaza on the Mediterranean high seas.

Once-strong ties between Turkey and the Jewish state have

foundered, with Ankara demanding a formal apology and compensation for the dead and wounded. Israel has refused.

The Turkel Commission said the Gaza blockade was justified

Hathaway cast as Cat woman in Batman movie AGENCIES NEW YORK, JAN 23

Anne Hathaway has nabbed the coveted female lead opposite Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight Rises."

Warner Brothers made the announcement Wednesday morning.

The studio also revealed which character Tom Hardy, who joined the cast last fall, will play: Bane.

"I am delighted to be working with Tom again and excited to watch him bring to life our new interpretation of one of Batman's most formidable enemies," Nolan said in a statement.

Hathaway was on the list of actresses which tested for the role in recent weeks, along with Jessica Biel and Keira Knightley.

The test involved Christian Bale, who had to leave his National Board of Review in New York dinner early so he could catch a flight back to LA to conduct.

The announcement didn't actually name Hathaway's character as Catwoman, which keeps in line with Nolan's more grounded approach to the movie series.

Michelle Pfeiffer starred as Kyle/Catwoman in Tim Burton's "Batman Returns."

The character, as interpreted by Burton, was a

given the threat to gun-running to Hamas and Israel's efforts to maintain humanitarian supplies to ordinary Palestinians there.

"Even if the naval blockade ... had been considered not to meet the requirements of international law, individuals or groups do not have the right to take the law into their own hands and breach the blockade," the 245-page report said, referring to pro-Palestinian activists behind the flotilla.

Marines who boarded the Mavi Marmara from helicopters and dinghies used sound tactics, resorting to live fire when passengers threatened their lives, the report said, echoing the conclusions of an Israeli military inquiry from July.

32 killed in Pak accident AGENCIES ISLAMABAD, JAN 23

According to local media reports, at least 32 people have died after a bus collided with an oil tanker near the Pakistani town of Nooriabad in Jamshoro District. The bus, travelling from from Karachi to Sukkur, lost control and crashed into a stationary oil tanker late on Saturday.

Jamshoro District Police Officer Muhammad Farooq said that 32 bodies had been recovered from the wreckage, and nine people had been injured.

the Obama administration may propose new unilateral measures against Iran.

Russia and other countries with strong trade ties with Iran say this unilateralism is counterproductive.

Iran has ignored UN Security Council resolutions demanding it suspend enrichment, with trade and other benefits offered in return, and refused to grant unfettered access for UN nuclear inspectors.

But from the outset in Istanbul, Iran put preconditions deemed unacceptable by the powers, including lifting of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium and a nuclear fuel cycle.

"Any kind of talks and cooperation, as I underlined during the talks with Mrs Ashton, should be based on respecting the nations' rights... including Iran's right to nuclear technology," Jalili said at the end of the talks.

Uranium enriched to a low degree yields fuel for electricity or, if refined to a high level, the fissile core of a nuclear bomb.

Laden threatens to kill French hostages REUTERS LONDON, JAN 23

France is believed to have eight of its nationals held by Islamist radicals in various parts of the world, including five in Niger, two in Afghanistan and one in Somalia.

Two more Frenchmen, Antoine de Leocour and Vincent Delory, were killed in Niger earlier this month, probably by their captors, during an attempt to rescue them.

Mr de Leocour worked for a non-governmental organisation in the country and Mr Delory, a childhood friend, had flown in to be best man at his wedding.

In the new tape, a voice believed to be that of Bin Laden says: "President Nicolas Sarkozy's refusal to remove his forces from Afghanistan is nothing but a green light for killing the French

hostages.

"But we will not do this at a timing that suits him."

The rise in militancy in north and west Africa has been one of the greatest concerns of western analysts in the last five years.

Al-Qaeda in the Magreb has staged a number of kidnappings in and around the western Sahara, even as the threat of militancy has died away in Algeria, once the scene of a vicious civil war between government and Islamist forces.

Although Tunisia has until now been praised for its 'westernisation', which involved banning Islamist parties, the new government that took power after last week's revolution faces the dilemma of whether to allow moderate Islamic parties to take part in the new political process.

South Sudan votes to secede REUTERS KHARTOUM, JAN 23

Provisional results from South Sudan's referendum show that almost 99 percent of voters have chosen independence, the referendum commission's website said on Sunday after 98.7 percent of the votes had been counted.

The referendum was promised under a 2005 north-south peace deal which ended Africa's longest civil war. A vote for secession was widely expected because of persistent tension

between the mainly Muslim north and southerners who mainly Christian or follow traditional religions.

"As of now, 100 percent of the North and (overseas) votes and 98.7 percent of the South votes have been processed," the commission's website (southernsudan2011.com/) said.

T h e p ro v i s i o n a l re s u l t s showed that 98.81 percent of voters wanted secession, it said, confirming earlier returns.

The votes need to be sent to the commission's headquarters

in Khartoum for checking before the preliminary results are announced in a week. The south is likely to declare independence on July 9.

Exactly how the two will disentangle their economies, share oil wealth and demarcate the border remain to be decided.

The disputed central Abyei region remains the major sticking point as both sides claim the area, which saw deadly clashes between tribes during the weeklong referendum this month.

Most analysts believe neither

north nor south wants or can afford a return to all-out war.

The south's budget is 98 percent derived from oil, most of which is produced in the south, but which is refined, transported and administered by the north.

Both sides have used proxy militias which could provoke wider clashes.

The civil war between north and south, fueled by differences over oil, ideology, ethnicity and religion, claimed an estimated 2 million lives and destabilized much of east Africa.

A man distributes free food as part of the "Comedor Popular" programme by Mexico City's authorities at the Monument of the Revolution in Mexico City.

Seven killed in Mexico violence AGENCIES MEXICO CITY, JAN 23

At least seven people died in a gun battle between government security forces and suspected drug cartel enforcers in the northern Mexican state of San Luis Potosi, officials said.

The clash occurred on a stretch of the Mexico City-Nuevo Laredo highway and left five suspected mobsters and one police officer dead.

A person held captive by the gunmen apparently had been shot dead before the gun battle.

In a separate incident, two police investigators were killed Friday and another was seriously wounded when they came under attack by several men riding in a vehicle in the northern city of Chihuahua, capital of the like-named northern state.

State police officers were inspecting a vehicle with bloodstains when the gunmen arrived and fired numerous rounds, the spokesman for the Chihuahua state Attorney General's Office, Carlos Gonzalez, said.

Mexico is home to seven large drug cartels that are embroiled in fierce turf battles for control of local markets and smuggling routes to the US, including the powerful Sinaloa mob headed

by Joaquin 'El Chapo' (Shorty) Guzman, Mexico's most-wanted fugitive.

Berlusconi kept paying call girl even after scandal broke AGENCIES ROME, JAN 23

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi continued to make payments of thousands of euros to an alleged call girl even after the announcement that he was at the centre of a prostitution investigation, new evidence from the scandal shows.

Alessandra Sorcinelli received 10,000 euros from the prime minister's account on January 17 – four days after it emerged publicly that prosecutors in Milan were investigating the prime minister on charges of paying for sex with an underage prostitute and abuse of office in trying to cover it up.

The scandal has widened further with reports that police found "some very interesting photographs" of parties held by Berlusconi when they raided apartments in Milan in which he allegedly installed a "harem" of starlets and call girls.

One of his favourites appears to have been Miss Sorcinelli, 26, a striking men's magazine model from Sardinia. Bank records show that she received 13 payments worth a total of 115,000 euros from an account linked to Berlusconi between Jan 11, 2010, and Jan 17, 2011.

The sum represents four times what an Italian primary schoolteacher could hope to

THE MODERN CALIGULA: Berlusconi has a reputation for surrounding himself with beautiful women.

earn in a year, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano (The Daily Fact), the newspaper which documented the payments.

He is believed to have been informed that he was under investigation in December. Despite that he allegedly went on to pay Miss Sorcinelli 25,000 euros in three payments.

Wiretapped conversations recorded by investigators revealed Miss Sorcinelli and other women asking for large payments of money from Mr Berlusconi's accountant, Giuseppe Spinelli, whose offices prosecutors now want to search.

The showgirl reportedly moved to Los Angeles for three months last year in the hope of furthering her career, saying she hoped to follow the example of

other Italian women like Monica Bellucci, the actress, and Elisabetta Canalis, George Clooney's girlfriend. But she struggled to break into American television and returned to Milan.

On Saturday, Berlusconi accused magistrates of illegally spying on him and refused a request by prosecutors that he present himself for questioning.

Opposition MPs insisted that he should resign over the scandal but he said he had no intention of stepping down, keeping up his offensive against magistrates, who he claims are biased and bent on trying to oust him from power.

"I am not running away and I am not resigning," Berlusconi said in a phone call to a meeting of his People of Freedom party.

Palestinian group bombed Alexandria church: Egypt REUTERS

meek secretary who becomes empowered after she is almost killed and left for dead.

Pfeiffer played her with a mix of repression and sensuality, with the character breaking out as a symbol of female empowerment and becoming a pop culture sensation.

In his interpretation, Nolan has been giving his characters a deeper and darker psychological edge.

CAIRO, JAN 23

Egypt's interior minister said on Sunday the government had proof that the Army of Islam, a Palestinian group linked to al Qaeda, was behind the New Year's Day bombing of a church that killed 23 people.

Officials had suspected an al

Qaeda-inspired bomber was behind the blast that ripped through a crowd outside the church in the city of Alexandria, prompting protests by Christians that the state had not done enough to protect them.

The Army of Islam considers leaders of al Qaeda as spiritual mentors and endorses its ide-

ology, though it has never admitted direct links to the group.

An Iraq-based al Qaeda group had called for attacks on Egypt's Christians before the church bombing.

"If elements of the Palestinian Army of Islam, linked to al Qaeda, thought they had hidden behind elements that were re-

cruited, we have decisive proof of their heinous involvement in planning and carrying out such a villainous terrorist act," Interior Minister Habib el-Adli said.

President Hosni Mubarak, in an address broadcast on state TV, praised the police for finding out who was responsible for the bombing and said the attackers

had "tried to sow discord between Copts and Muslims".

The Army of Islam played a part in a cross-border attack in 2006 in the Gaza Strip in which Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted. The group later cut relations with Hamas, the group which controls Gaza, and has clashed with Hamas.

Pg 16 GOA, Monday, 24 January, 2011

SPORTS

Salgaocar’s good show continues HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 23

Salgaocar Sports Club carried on with their excellent performance as they outplayed JCT Mills, Phagwara 2-0 in an 11th round I-League match at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Sunday. Salgaocar led 1-0 at the breather.

Salgaocar, egged on by their supporters, enjoyed domination in attack as well as defence. The midfielders were the ones who tilted the scales in favour of Salgaocar. Central medios Tomba Singh and Rocus Lamare worked in tandem with Francis Fernandes and Gilbert Olveira to put the JCT defence under pressure.

The Salgaocar defence marshaled by central defenders Brazilian man-of-the match Luciano Sabrosa and Ibungbam Meiteem alongwith Jaspal Parmar and R Anto were compact, showing fine anticipation and alertness as they came up with some timely tackles to frustrate the JCT attackers.

Salgaocar nearly broke the deadlock in the 6th minute when defender Jaspal Parmar sent a fine cross but striker Ikene Ikenwa’s volley missed the target narrowly. Later Gilbert Olveira’s chip was parried away by JCT goalkeeper Naveen Kumar.

The home side took the lead

in the 32nd minute when Japanese striker Ryuji Sueoka headed in a cross from Jaspal Parmar.

JCT nearly found the equaliser in the 36th minute but Jaspreet Singh’s well executed free kick deflected from a defender but goalkeeper Karanjit Singh came to his side’s rescue fisting it away.

Salgaocar missed Ghanaian striker Yakubu Yusif and midfielder Anthony Barbosa, both nursing injuries, but their absence was hardly felt.

Salgaocar nearly inflated their tally soon after resumption but midfielder Francis Fernandes spurned a good chance sending the ball wide following a through pass from Tomba Singh.

At the other end, JCT nearly found success following a well executed free kick by Jaspreet Singh which deflected off the legs of a Salgaocar defender but luckily goalkeeper Karanjit Singh averted the danger.

Salgaocar had an opportunity to increase the lead but striker Ekene Ikena lost concentration as he drew out the rival goalkeeper and shot wide. Ultimately, Francis Fernandes

R E S U LT S Salgaocar 2 JCT 0 Man-of-the match: Luciano Sabrosa (Salgaocar)

Mohun Bagan 2 AIFF XI 0 Man-of-the match: Edeh Chidi (Bagan)

Air India 4 Dempo 0 Man-of-the match: Kunal Sawant (Air India) doubled the lead in the 83rd minute. He controlled a measured cross from Ryuji Sueoka, sidestepped a defender and scored.

Earlier, JCT were unlucky as substitute striker Sakatar Singh’s diving header missed the mark narrowly off a cross from Lalchhuanmanai.

“I am happy the way the boys played today,” said Salgaocar coach Karim Bencherifa.

“We played a good game and I satisfied with the performance of the players. We got three points,” Bencherifa concluded.

Many fans were surprised over the decision to name Sabrosa as the man-of-the match

as midfielder Francis Fernandes had played a stellar role.

A JCT player attempts to check a Salgaocar player at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Sunday.

Photo: Third Eye

wards the goal. Air India striker Manjit Singh rose above the Dempo defenders to deflect the ball into the net past goalkeeper Subhasish Roy Chowdhary, who was stranded at the other side of the goal.

Roy Chowdhary was partly to blame for the second goal his side conceded, being caught off his line only to see John Dias’s miscued clearance float past him into the goal. Air India defender Eric Bolwe sent a teasing ball

into the box in the 25th minute, which Dias, under pressure from Uttam Kumar, deflected into his own net.

Dempo had a couple of excellent chances to get back into the game before half time, both of which fell to Cliftton Gonsalves. The winger first smashed his shot over the crossbar after finding space inside the box, and was denied again moments later by a brilliant diving save from Sawant as Air India went

into the match with a 2-goal lead.

The Goans had their fair share of chances, with Sawant blocking a strike from winger Roberto ‘Beto’ Silva just before Uttam Kumar cleared the ball off the line with his head.

Air India struck yet again in the 55th minute thanks to a well-executed goal from their captain Samson Singh. The striker ran onto a long ball from Manjit Singh on the right flank,

E Bengal 11 9-2-0 29 points Salgaocar 11 8-0-3 24 points Churchill 11 6-4-1 22 points Mumbai 11 6-2-3 20 points M Bagan 11 5-2-4 17 points Dempo 11 4-4-3 16 points Chirag 11 3-6-2 15 points JCT 11 3-3-5 12 points HAL 11 3-2-6 11 points AIFF 11 2-4-5 10 points Pune 11 1-5-5 8 points V Kerala 11 1-5-5 8 points Air India 11 1-5-5 8 points ONGC 11 1-4-6 7 points

Air India humiliate Dempo AGENCIES PUNE, JAN 23

A relegation-threatened Air India pulled off a shockingly one-sided victory over defending champions Dempo Sports Club at Balewadi Sports Complex on Sunday, beating them 4-0 with a fine display of attacking football.

The Mumbai side made it clear right from the outset that they were not going to let Dempo dictate terms, holding their own in the midfield while remaining solid at the back.

It was Dempo who should have gained the upper hand, however, when their Nigerian captain Ranti Martins earned a penalty after being brought down in the area by Uttam Kumar Singh.

Martins himself took the spot kick, but squandered the golden opportunity as Air India custodian Kunal Sawant produced a brilliant save, diving to his right and holding on to the ball.

The Goan club paid dearly for this mistake, as Air India found the net just moments later in the 13th minute. They earned a free kick just ahead of the half line, which midfielder Sukhwinder Singh smashed to-

Chidi’s brace sinks AIFF AGENCIES KOLKATA, JAN 23

A double strike by Nigerian striker, Edeh Chidi gave Mohun Bagan their third win on the trot after they scored a facile 2-0 win over AIFF XI in a Round XI match of I-League at Salt Lake Stadium, here on Sunday.

Chidi has been in sublime form and took his goal scoring tally to six. The former Mahindra United striker opened the scoring in the 11th minute, while he bagged his second and sealed the match for Mohun Bagan scoring the second goal in the 81st minute. His fine brace further earned him the man-of-the match award.

AIFF created more scoring opportunities in the first half as they used their set-piece movements nicely. From Raju Gaikwad's long throw

and few good flag kicks, Mohun Bagan defence seemed to panic and were lucky not to concede any goal. Mohun Bagan, however, dominated proceedings in the 2nd half and could have scored few more goals, but Muritala Ali was guilty of squandering at least three easy chances.

AIFF XI coach Desmond Bullpin said, "I am happy with the performance of my boys. We missed many chances in the first half. I believe in my boys and we will always play for a win and not defensive football.

In future, we will continue to produce good footballers.

We want to be the factory of Indian football."

Mohun Bagan technical director, Subhash Bhowmick said, "AIFF XI is a fit side with good strength and speed and got few chances before lemon break; however, I am pleased with my team's performance in the second half."

The winners and runners-up including men’s single winner, Buky Quadri and U-19 boys singles winner Siddharth Nunes alongwith Dr Susana de Souza, DSYA director at all-Goa open lawn tennis tournament at Panjim Gymkhana.

Maina lift Romeo Cup

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, JAN 23

Maina SC, Curtorim came back from a goal down to register a convincing 4-1 win over Saligao United to lift the all-Goa Romeo memorial football tournament organised by Crown Club, at Santa Cruz ground, on Sunday.

A large festive crowd was kept totally engrossed in the first half as Saligao took an unexpected lead.

Af ter having dominated Maina for a long duration in the early exchanges, unmarked Pravin Jadhav found the nets off a goalmouth cross to give Saligao a 1-0 lead.

The early jolt only spurred the Maina side as they got their act together and went on an all-out attack in search of the equaliser.

However, Saligao’s goalie Dietmar Fernandes stood like a rock and saved a couple of attempts each from Maina’s Nickson Castanha and Agnelo Martins.

Dietmar, however, could not

hold the fort for long as Royston Carneiro finally beat him at the stroke of half time, as he ran solo from the right, entered the penalty area with apparent ease and sent his shot past Dietmar to draw level for Maina.

If the first half was fought on an even footing by both teams, the second half turned out to be a one-sided affair as Maina totally dominated Saligao and pumped in three more goals, to score an emphatic win.

Immediately on resumption, Maina went into the lead through Agnelo Martins, who scored off a cross from Nickson Castanha.

Then, Maina’s Peter Pereira dribbled his way into the Saligao penalty area and attempted a cross. However, unluckily for Saligao, the ball took a diversion off Saligao defender Mahesh Rane’s foot and entered the goal to swell the lead to 3-1 for Maina.

It was one-way traffic from there on as Maina continued to

torment their rivals and Saligao’s custodian Dietmar was in the act yet again as he saved Nickson’s attempt.

Later, Nickson provided a dangerous cross to Agnelo D’Costa whose header ballooned over the bar from close.

Immediately, Maina’s defender Jameson Noronha joined the party and saw his long range effort hit the horizontal and go out of play.

Then, hard working Nickson Castanha was finally rewarded as he scored past the diving Saligao goalie to make in 4-1 in favour of Maina and end any hopes of a Saligao comeback.

In the dying minutes, Saligao had a chance to reduce the margin but Martin Fernandes’ attempt was smartly saved by diving Bronson Sequeira.

Fo l l o w i n g p r i z e s w e r e awarded: Pravin Jadhav of Saligao United (first goal of the tournament). Roque Carneiro of

Maina SC (best defender). Peter Araujo of Crown Club (upcoming player). Salemao Correia of Crown Club (oldest player in the tournament). Abhijit Govenkar of Saligao United (best forward).

Weston Carneiro of Maina SC (best midfielder). Dhakto of Merces Club (best promising player) and Domnic of Crown Club (best coach).

The dignitaries who were present for the final included Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, MLA Victoria Fernandes, GPCC president Subhash Shirodkar, Santa Cruz parish priest Fr Cristovam Caldeira, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Susana De Sousa, GFA vice-president Lavino Rebello, PCC member Rudolf Fernandes, Santa Cruz Sarpanch Rosy Fernandes, Dy Commissioner of Customs Tony Dias, Chimbel Sarpanch C h a n d r a k a n t K u n k o l k a r, Crown Club president Fortunato Braganza.

JKA India, Goa Branch, will be hosting the event. The camp which begun on January 21 has over 90 participants.

The renowned instructors will ensure that correct basics and fundamentals are followed while also minimising injuries. That apart, they will make sure that the execution of all techniques continue to evolve in line with the constant study and research in kinesiology that is approved

by the headquarters in Tokyo.

The 28th National event with over 490 particvipants will commence on January 26 with the finals on January 28. The National team will be selected to represent India at the forthcoming JKA World Cup championship in Bangklok in August.

There will be a special demo, open to all, by leading Goa instructors.

“The principles and philoso-

phy of JKA Karate is not about violence but it is an art and discipline that teaches the individual to improve character by inculcating perseverance, nonviolence and mutual respect to end conflicts,” stated Uday Zambaulikar, Goa Instructor.

The Japanese experts are some of the best world exponents responsible to standardise technique and training principles.

National karate in Panjim

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, JAN 23

As part of its 35th anniversary celebration, Japan Karate Association will hold the annual National training camp and tournament at indoor stadium, Campal here under the supervision of Shuseki Shihan Masaaki Ueki, JKA chief instructor (8 dan) and sensei Keisuke Nemoto, current all-Japan National champ (3 dan).

This is the fourth time that

skipped past his marker and drilled a low shot past Roy Chowdhary to make it 3-0.

Demoralized as they were, Dempo faced further agony as a goal from Beto was controversially disallowed by the linesman, sparking angry protests from his teammates.

Nigerian striker Praise then added insult to injury moments before the full-time whistle, surging towards an aerial ball and slotting it calmly past the charging Dempo keeper to complete the whitewash.

Air India coach Santosh Kashyap, who took charge of the team from January 1 onwards, was visibly elated by his side’s performance. “I have always advocated an all-out attacking approach, and today the boys implemented our strategy perfectly,” he said.

“We are going into every match looking for a win rather than being satisfied with a draw, and the results are clearly showing. We are now probably out of the relegation zone, and performances like today’s will help us climb further up the table as the season progresses,” he added.

First Division soccer: Salcete FC v. St. Rock's SC, Raia ground, 4 p.m.

Second Division soccer: Merces SC v. Vaddy SC, Santa Cruz ground, 4 p.m.

5th Reira Cup soccer (quarters): Calangute Association v.

Dicarpale Sports Club, Saligao Sporting ground, 4.45 p.m.

Signals pip Raia Sporting HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 23

Corps of Signals scored a solitary goal victory against Raia Sporting Club 1-0 in a GFA First Division league at 3MTR ground, Navelim on Sunday. There was no score at half time.

Pankaj Gurka’s lone strike in the second half helped Signals to collect three full points.

The teams set a fast pace as they went on the offensive from the first whistle, there being plenty of action.

Signals came close to forging ahead in the opening session but were denied by Raia Sporting Club framework.

After the wake up call, Raia exerted pressure but the Signals defenders were alert.

Signals put up a better display on resumption and their efforts bore fruits when Pankaj Gurkha dribbled past the rival defenders and placed the ball to the far corner of the net off a pass from Pawan Kumar Thyaji.

Raia regrouped quickly and attacked the rival citadel but their efforts were nullified by the rival defenders.

Signals had another scoring chance but Vikas Kale’s try hit the crossbar.

In the dying minutes, Raia tried their best to level the scores but found it difficult to break the Signals defence. Signals goalkeeper effected a brilliant save to deny Raia a chance to split points.

Pg 17

SPORTS Agasaim rally to hold YBT gfa 2nd div

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JAN 23

Agasaim Youth Club’s Rudy Godinho struck a dramatic 92nd minute equaliser to spark outrage from Young Boys of Tonca fans who claimed it was off-side, as they were held to a 2-2 draw in GFA’s 2nd Division encounter at Dr. Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao on Sunday. Young Boys led 2-0 at the interval.

Ruddy netted a controversial brace in the last four minutes for Agasaim. His first goal was cleared by a Tonca defender’s hand on the goalline. The referee checked with the linesman to see if the ball had completely crossed the line before awarding the goal.

“Both goals should have been disallowed,” claimed Tonca coach Nazareth D’Silva speaking to Herald. “The first ball did not cross the line. The referee should have sent our defender off for handling the ball and given the opposition a penalty and as for the second goal it was clearly off-side,” Nazareth added.

The Tonca management have lodged a complaint with the officials, but this wasn’t before the vulnerable match officials made a quick getaway to the referee’s room, where they were chased, as a few Tonca fans had

leaped over the perimeter fence, knocked over the fourth official’s table and aggressively demanded answers to the decisions.

Tonca dominated the first half proceedings. Young Malcolm Fernandes played well in defence, clearing the ball on the ground and in the air at every opportunity.

Agasaim were sloppy in midfield, and allowed the two central midfielders who were not the quickest, to move forward and score. In the second half the changes in midfield gave them more attacking options.

In the 29th minute, Vilroy D’Souza superbly volleyed into the goal from just outside box to give Tonca the lead.

Eight minutes later, Elvis Fernandes kept his shot low as he beat the rival goalkeeper inside a crowded box.

After the change of ends, Tonca continued to boss the game in midfield.

As the teams started to tire in midfield, both made changes and by the last ten minutes the teams had used up all their substitutes to replace tired legs.

In the 88th minute Rudy lifted the ball over the outrushing goalkeeper for the first goal.

Two minutes into injury time the ball found its way over to Rudy who slotted past the goalkeeper for the equaliser.

GOA, Monday, 24 January, 2011

Bhakti gets WGM norm HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 23

International Woman Master and Goa Carbon Limited's brand ambassador Bhakti Kulkarni added one more feather in her cap when she won the Woman Grand Master norm (WGM) finishing second at Merianbad Open Chess Championship in Czech Republic today.

Bhakti scored six points out of nine. She defeated International Master Volodin (Russia), International Master Jossef Jurek (Czech Republic) to set up final round clash with International Woman Master Irina Bulmaga (Roumania).

"I needed just one point out of last two rounds and I was facing the lowest rated player Oliver Zier (Germany) in the penultimate round. Everybody expected me to win easily as I had defeated top players but Zier played very well and defeated me. I was on the verge of losing the golden opportunity of a well earned norm, but I managed thanks to coach Gokhale,” stated Bhakti.

Bhakti will now go to Hungary where she will play in two master tournaments. The Goa Chess Association president Ashesh Keni and secretar y Ar vind Mhamal congratulated Bhakti.

She needs two more norms to become International Woman Grandmaster.

Chicalim take on Wilred Leisure

chandor seamen cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JAN 23

A late strike by Carlos Landez helped Chicalim Youth Club to beat Spirited Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club 1-0 and march into the finals of Chandor Seamen Cup football tournament organised by Chandor Club at Chandor ground, on Sunday.

Areal dominated the exchanges but could not score.

Crossing over, Areal held sway again but a goal eluded them.

With the match heading for the tie-breaker, Chicalim struck the match-winner through Carlos Landez.

Chicalim Youth Club will meet Wilred Leisure Sports Club in the finals.

Yesterday, a fine hat-trick by striker Sertorio Monteiro helped Wilred Leisure Sports Club, Curtorim crush Cuncolim Union 40 to storm into the finals. They led 3-0 at the breather.

Wilred Leisure dominated the proceedings right from the start and did not allow their rivals to settle down to their rhythm.

Striker Sertorio who was a thorn in the rival defence, single handedly demolished the rival defence as he struck twice in the opening session to hold the complete sway over their rivals and out played them in all the departments of the game.

At the other end, Cuncolim failed to combine as a cohesive unit.

Crossing over, Wilred Leisure performed at a leisurely pace and their forwards did not lose their appetite for goals with Agnelo Martins putting the last nail into the rival’s coffin.

Fr Agnel, PES enter semis

varsity volleyball HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JAN 23

Fr. Agnel College, Pilar and PES College, Ponda entered into the semi-finals of Inter-College Volleyball (men) Championship organised by Goa University at Massano de Amorim court, here.

Results: St. Xavier's beat V

Udinese stun Inter AGENCIES ROME, JAN 23

Udinese ended Leonardo's perfect record since taking over as Inter Milan coach from Rafael Benitez with a 3-1 win over the Italian champions in a lively encounter in Serie A on Sunday.

Inter, aiming for a sixth straight win since the Brazilian's arrival in the San Siro dugout, took the lead after quarter of an hour through Dejan Stankovic.

Udinese then stunned Inter with goals from Cristian Zapata and Antonio Di Natale - his 15th of the season - to go into the break 2-1 up, with Maurizio Domizzi adding a third midway through the second half.

The result left Udinese treading water in eighth, although they made up ground to within one point of seventh-placed Palermo, while Inter remained fifth on 35 points, six adrift of leaders AC Milan who tackle Cesena in Sunday's late game.

M Salgaocar 25-14, 25-17.

Rosary College beat Goa Engineering College 17-25, 25-17, 15-11. Govt. College, Sanquelim got a walkover against Caculo College. PCCE beat Govt.

College, Quepem 25-11, 2523. Ayurveda College got a walkover against G R Kare Colege of Law. DM’s College got a walkover against Govt.

College, Khandola. PES College

Sao Minguel take it easy

gfa 2nd div

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JAN 23

Clube Sao Minguel de Taleigao came from behind to keep up their 100 per cent record in this season’s GFA’s Second Division as they overcame St Sebastian, Santa Cruz 3-1 at Dr Remigio Pinto ground, Taleigao on Saturday. Sao Minguel led 2-1 at the breather.

St Sebastian took an early lead through Venoy Barretto who punted home in the 12th minute.

This spurred Sao Minguel into action and six minutes before the interval they got their equaliser, as Anthony Levino Pereira stroked home from the penalty spot.

In the 44th minute, Cedrick Peixoto struck to put Sao

Crown Club score easy win over Haushi HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, JAN 23

Hosts Crown Club, Santa Cruz scored an easy 25-17, 25-18, 2520 win over Haushi Bandh, Santa Cruz to march into the finals of All-Goa floodlit volleyball tournament, at Crown Club court, St Cruz on Friday.

In the first set, Haushi took an early lead to unsettle Crown Club. However, as it later turned out, this was the only period of domination that Haushi could manage in the entire match, much to the dismay of the crowd which expected Haushi to put up a better show.

Having overcome the early jitters, Crown Club then went on to demolish Haushi with a

clinical performance which saw them win all the three sets with ease.

Apart from the early period in the first set, which saw Haushi dominate, Crown Club were always in control of the match as they did not allow Haushi to put up a fight.

A disoriented Haushi side made matters worse as there was lack of co-ordination among the players. And the absence of a quality spiker in the Haushi rank made the task easy for Crown Club as they were rarely threatened.

C r o w n C l u b ’ s Pa p p u Dhavaskar, Anil Shirvoikar and Kailash Palekar proved to be the chief tormentors against Haushi.

GOA DIARY Badminton at Pernem

Trajano D’Mello giving away the prize to the captain of 108 Ambulance Services team at Guirim.

108 Ambulance Services top HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JAN 23

108 Ambulance Services won the 8th All-Goa Tennis Ball Cricket tournament organised

by Young Boys of Sorvem Guirim at Sorvem Guirim defeating

Dashing Cricketers of Porvorim in a keenly contested finals.

108 Ambulance received the winning cash prize from chief guest Trajano D'Mello while the runners-up spot was claimed by Dashing Cricketers of Porvorim.

Following individual prizes were also given away. Best batsman Sunny Kavlekar (108 Ambulance). Best bowler Kamlesh (Dashing Cricketers) and manof-the series Sada Kavlekar (108 Ambulance).

beat GVM's 25-10, 25-14.

Round II: Fr. Agnel beat St. Xavier's 25-17, 25-15. Govt. College, Sanquelim beat Rosary’s 25-18, 25-17. PCCE beat Ayurveda 25-05, 25-12. PES beat DM's 25-14, 25-13 Quarter-finals: Fr. Agnel beat Govt. College, Sanquelim 25-23, 21-25, 25-15 and PES beat PCCE 25-14, 25-17.

PANJIM (HSD) – The JCI, Agarwada, Parse will organise their Pernem and Bardez Taluka limited floodlit open badminton tournament doubles at Agarwada, Pernem, opposite the Camp Urban Co-Operative Society from January 24 to 25 at 9 a.m. The winners and runners-up will take home Rs 2,500 and Rs 1,500 respectively.

Two consolation prizes of Rs 500 each will also be awarded.

Details may be obtained from Zito Fernandes on 9923424094 or Navin Bagli on 9823745112.

Swimming, marathon on Jan 26

PANJIM (HSD) -- Penha de Franca SC will organise an All-Goa swimming competition on January 26 at Britona, opposite Penha de Franca Panchayat office at 3 p.m. It will be held in three groups - under-10 boys and girls, under-14 boys and girls and senior men. The will also be canoe, marathon, slow motorcycle and other races. Detaila may be obtained from president Vishwanath Halarnkar on 9881067509, secretary Elvis Rodrigues on 9922483832 or treasurer Vijaykumar Mandrekar on 9422458852.

Minguel ahead at half time.

After the change of ends, both teams pushed forward for more goals, but it was only ten minutes from the end that Sao Minguel managed to add to their lead as Gautam got on the end of Pramod’s cross to score.

Sao Minguel has now collected nine points from three outings, while St Sebastian is yet to pick up points as this was their first match.

Marina Albuquerque of Govt College, Khandola who won the women's singles as well as the mixed doubles title and runner-up in ladies doubles at Civil Services Badminton Tournament organised by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs.

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Pg18

Salgaocar’s good show continues Pg 16

GOA, MONDAY, 24 JANUARY, 2011

Agasaim rally to hold YBT Pg 17

SPORTS Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

www.oheraldo.in

Yusuf heroics goes in vain, India lose series PTI CENTURION, JAN 23

Yusuf Pathan raises his bat after scoring a century at the Super Sports Park in Centurion on Sunday.

Anand draws with Carlsen, slips to second spot AGENGIES THE NETHERLANDS, JAN 23

World Champion Viswanathan Anand played out an easy draw as black against World number one Magnus Carlsen of Norway in the seventh round of the 'A' group of 73rd Tata Steel Chess tournament at Wijk Aan Zee on Sunday.

With an easy outing that many pundits did not expect, Anand took his tally to five points out of a possible seven while Hikaru Nakamura of United States edged past him past the half way stage with a finely crafted victory over Jan Smeets of Holland.

With six rounds still to come, Nakamura is well in front on 5.5 points, a half point clear of Anand and a full point ahead of Levon Aronian of Armenia and Vladmirik Kramnik of Russia who both ended on the winning side in this round.

Aronian had a tough game against Alexander Grischuk of Russian in which the former

Somdev gets top billing at Singapore AGENCIES SINGAPORE, JAN 23

Indian tennis ace Somdev Devvarman has been given the top billing in the Singapore ATP Challenger series event starting in Singapore on Monday.

The Asian Games gold medallist, ranked 108th in the ATP chart, will play his opening round singles match against Thai wild card Peerakiat Siriluethaiwattana.

Another Indian in the fray, wild card Karan Rastogi will take on Aussie Brydan Klein in the $50,000 prize money hard court tournament, to be played at Kallang tennis Centre.

Indian American Rajeev Ram, a top 100 player in the ATP chart, will take on a qualifier in the opening round.

Japanese Davis Cupper and 119th ranked Go Soeda has been ranked second according to the main draw released on Sunday.

Italian Paolo Lorenzi will be the third seed while Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev has been seeded fourth.

came out with flying colours while Kramnik capitalised on superior opening preparation once again to beat young Dutch Anish Giri.

Playing the Sicilian Najdorf that gave him a fine victor y against Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine earlier in the tournament, Anand faced a rather harmless setup by Carlsen.

The game of the day was awarded to Nakamura for his e xe m p l a r y e f f o r t a g a i n s t Smeets. The American who recently broke in to the top ten world rankings went for the sharp Botvinnik variation and had to work hard in all departments of the game. In the end his three pawns proved stronger than Smeet's lone rook after 61 moves. Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly came up with an inspired effort to break out of the last spot in the 'B' group with a fine victory against Wouter Spoelman of Holland.

Yusuf Pathan threatened to single-handedly pull off a sensational victory with a brutal 70-ball 105 before India suffered a heart-breaking 33-run defeat against South Africa in a thrilling fifth and final cricket ODI to lose the series 2-3 here today.

Yusuf, who came out in the 14th over when India were tottering at 74 for six, hit eight stunning sixes and as many fours to raise visions of a historic series-clinching win for India only to fail short at the end.

Chasing a target of 268 for a win under Duckworth-Lewis Rule after the match was curtailed to a 46-over-a-side affair due to a rain interruption, India were shot out for 234 in 40.2 overs at SuperSport Park here.

With today's loss, India failed to realise their dreams of recording first ever ODI series win on South African soil besides ending the nearly one-and-a-half month tour on a losing note.

The three-match Test series before the one-dayers had ended in a 1-1 draw.

Put into bat, South Africa scored 250 for nine in 46 overs with in-form Hashim Amla contributing a brilliant unbeaten 116 but India had to chase 268 after adjustments were made under the D/L method.

Indian top order batsmen were on the self-destruct mode as they fell like a pack of cards with most of them being dismissed while playing rash shots when put under pressure by a disciplined South African bowlers.

By the 12th over, half of the Indian batsmen have gone back to the hut with just 60 runs on board and at that stage it looked like India would be shot out below 100.

Yusuf made a sensational rearguard action with his second ODI century, which he hit from

David Hussey halted a middleorder collapse and guided Australia to a four-wicket victory over England in the third oneday international at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Hussey's 68 not out helped Australia to reach 215-6 and a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, after it had appeared they would fail to achieve the target when Paul Collingwood captured two quick wickets to leave Australia floundering at 100-5.

The 33-year-old Hussey steadied the innings with Steve Smith (26) and then John Hastings (18

68 balls, but the dice had already been loaded too much in favour of South Africa.

He was the ninth batsman out after taking India closer to the target from a hopeless situation.

At one stage, it looked like he will take India to victory just like he did against New Zealand in Bangalore last month when he hit an unbeaten 123 to win the ODI for India.

Zaheer batted sensibly to give company to Yusuf. He shared 100 runs with Yusuf from just 12.4 overs for the ninth wicket and he was the last man out for a 58-ball 24.

Opener Parthiv Patel was the other main contributor for India with a quickfire 34-ball 38 with the help of six fours.

Suresh Raina made 11 and he was the only other recognized Indian batsman who scored in double digits.

Rohit Sharma (5) was the first to go for an eight-ball five as he played an expansive cover drive without moving his feet to drag Lonwabo Tsotsobe delivery to the stumps in the fourth over

and end the series on a disappointing note.

Virat Kohli, the highest run getter among Indians in the series with two half centuries in his name, struggled in his short stay and was out cheaply for two after facing six balls.

Kohli fell to a Morne Morkel fast stuff which rose sharply from outside off as he played the shot early and the edge went straight to wicketkeeper AB de Villiers.

Captain Dhoni (5) promoted himself up the order and came out after Kohli's dismissal but the move did not pay any dividends as he was out cheaply while trying to play a cut shot off Morkel only to find Graeme Smith at slips.

Patel was a bit unlucky to have been given out as the television replays seemed to be inconclusive whether Faf du Plessis had taken the catch cleanly at the covers off Morkel.

India were reeling at 60 for four in the 11th over then.

Six balls later, Yuvraj Singh (8

off 14 balls) was out at the same score while playing an iresponsible shot. The left-hander, who has been struggling for form, played a half-hearted shot towards straight the point region for JP Duminy to take an easy catch.

Raina could not survive long and it was only due to Yusuf and

Harbhajan that India went past the 100-run mark. Harbhajan also hit Peterson for a six before he fell to Johan Botha for a 16ball 13.

For South Africa, Morne Morkel was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/31 while his fast bowling partner took two Indian wickets.

South Africa: Graeme Smith c Pathan b Zaheer 7, Hashim Amla not out 116, Morne van Wyk c and b Yuvraj 56, AB de Villiers st Dhoni b Yuvraj 11, JP Duminy c and b Munaf 35, Faf du Plessis b Munaf 8, Johan Botha c Dhoni b Munaf 2, Robin Peterson b Zaheer 4, Dale Steyn run out 0, Morne Morkel run out 0, Lonwabo Tsotsobe not out 0. Extras: 11. Total: 250 for 9. Fall of wickets: 1/16 2/113 3/129 4/231 5/242 6/244 7/250 8/250 9/250. Bowling: Zaheer Khan 9-1-47-2, Munaf Patel 8-0-50-3, Piyush Chawla 7-0-32-0, Harbhajan Singh 8-0-33-0, Yusuf Pathan 2-0-10-0, Yuvraj Singh 80-45-2, Rohit Sharma 2-0-14-0, Suresh Raina 2-0-13-0.

India: Parthiv Patel c Du Plessis b Morkel 38, Rohit Sharma b Tsotsobe 5, Virat Kohli c De Villiers b Morkel 2, MS Dhoni c Smith b Morkel 5, Yuvraj Singh c Duminy b Steyn 8, Suresh Raina c Morkel b Steyn 11, Yusuf Pathan c Du Plessis b Morkel 105, Harbhajan Singh c Duminy b Botha 13, Piyush Chawla b Peterson 8, Zaheer Khan c Morkel b Tsotsobe 24, Munaf Patel not out 4. Extras: 11. Total: 234 all out. Fall of wickets: 1/21 2/31 3/45 4/60 5/60 6/74 7/98 8/119 9/219. Bowling: Dale Steyn 91-32-2, Lonwabo Tsotsobe 7.2-0-57-2, Morne Morkel 8-0-52-4, Johan Botha 8-0-33-1, Robin Peterson 7-0-45-1, Faf du Plessis 1-0-13-0.

Man of the match: H Amla Man of the series: M Morkel

PTI CENTURION, JAN 23

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was disappointed that the batsmen failed to fire as a unit in the five-match ODI series against South Africa, which concluded here today.

"Its a disappointing series for the batsmen. Bowlers were getting the wickets, and the runs too. Overall, we haven't performed as a batting unit," Dhoni said.

"It was a good wicket but unfortunately, we kept losing wickets. We got out playing shots," Dhoni said of today's match.

"The learning before the World Cup is to keep wickets in hand for the last ten overs, the powerplay."

"Two warm-up games before the World Cup will be ideal," he said.

"It was a good learning before the experience, a good preparation, though, conditions will be different (in the sub-continent)," the India skipper said.

"Any target is small if he gets going," Dhoni said of the marauder.

He also thanked the crowd in South Africa for turning up in large numbers.

"It's been spectacular. They come out to support good cricket everything, during our last visit here, during the IPL," Dhoni said.

Dhoni's counterpart, Graeme Smith felt his bowlers bowled aggressively but admitted that Yusuf's innings gave him a scare.

"We played good games.

(Today) We bowled really aggressively in the first part, but Yusuf then middled a few and almost took it away, but we held on. We learnt some important lessons," Smith said.

"We weren't as aggressive as we wanted to be when Yusuf and Zaheer were going, but otherwise we were pretty good."

Roddick out; Fedex, Schiavone set records Robredo 6-3, 3-6, 63, 6-2 on Sunday. The 16-time Grand Slam winner has now reached the quarterfinals at 27 majors in a row since 2004.

He’ll next play Stanislas Wawrinka in the first all-Swiss quarterfinal at a major in the Open era. Wawrinka had a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Andy Roddick in the Federer had a tough time in the second set last match Sunday, meaning there’ll be no against Tommy Robredo.

Americans in the men’s AGENCIES or women’s quarterfinals.

MELBOURNE, JAN 23 On the women’s side, French Defending champion Roger Fed- Open champion Schiavone eserer matched a Grand Slam tablished a Grand Slam record, record which magnifies his ex- needing 4 hours, 44 minutes for traordinary consistency over her 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 fourth-round eight years, while Francesca win over Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Schiavone established a record Schiavone saved six match for endurance in a women’s sin- points, then converted on her gles match. third match point in the longest Day 7 at Melbourne Park was women’s match at a major in a day of record marks for the terms of time in the Open era. majors.

The previous record was set Federer equaled Jimmy Con- here last year when Barbora nors’ mark for consecutive Zahlavova-Strycova beat Regina Grand Slam quarterfinals ap- Kulikova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (10), 6-3 in pearances when he beat Tommy a match lasting 4:19.

Australia win AGENCIES SYDNEY, JAN 23

Indian team members look disappointed as the South African team celebrates at Super Sports Park in Centurion on Sunday.

Two warm-up games will be ideal before WC: Dhoni

not out), who cut Chris Tremlett to Ajmal Shahzad at deep backward point for the two runs required for the win.

Brad Haddin had held the top of the innings together with an aggressive 54, though the other top-five batsmen failed to make it into double figures.

Jonathan Trott (84 not out) had anchored England's score of 214, though he failed to take advantage of the powerplay in the final overs when he was batting with the tail and seemed content to push for singles rather than chance his arm despite only three players being allowed outside the fielding circle.

England: A Strauss run out (Clarke) 23, M Prior lbw b Lee 0, J Trott run out (Hussey) 84, I Bell c and b Watson 10, E Morgan c Clarke b Hussey 30, P Collingwood b Doherty 1, M Yardy c and b Doherty 7, L Wright c Haddin b Hastings 32, C Woakes c Haddin b Lee 12, A Shahzad c White b Lee 4, C Tremlett not out 1. Extras: 11. Total: 214 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-1, 38-2, 61-3, 118-4, 1195, 130-6, 179-7, 199-8, 208-9, 214-10. Bowling: B Lee 8-0-27-3, D Bollinger 8-0-36-0, J Hastings 10-0-51-1, S Watson 6-0-17-1, S Smith 3-0-19-0, X Doherty 10-037-2, D Hussey 3-0-24-1.

Australia: S Watson b Tremlett 9, B Haddin c Woakes b Collingwood 54, S Marsh lbw b Shahzad 6, M Clarke c Yardy b Woakes 9, C White lbw b Collingwood 7, D Hussey not out 68, S Smith c Yardy b Tremlett 26, J Hastings not out 18. Extras: 18. Total: 215 for 6. Fall of wickets: 10-1, 27-2, 59-3, 92-4, 100-5, 163-6. Bowling: A Shahzad 10-0-45-1, C Tremlett 9-0-50-2, C Woakes 7-0-31-1, L Wright 2-0-12-0, M Yardy 10-0-45-0, P Collingwood 8-0-25-2.

Man of the match: Brett Lee

Villa down Man City; Blackburn win ­ GENCIES A LONDON, JAN 23

Darren Bent scored on his debut four days after bec o m i n g Aston Villa's most expensive player to give his new side a 1-0 win over Manchester City in the Premier League at Villa Park on Saturday.

The England striker, who joined for a club record fee of £18 million pounds ($28.62 million) from Sunderland on Tuesday, swept the ball home from six metres in the 18th minute after goalkeeper Joe Hart could only push Ashley Young's shot into his path.

Blackburn Rovers climbed from 12th to seventh on the back of a comfortable 2-0 home win over West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.

A bizarre headed own goal

by Gabriel Tamas just before halftime and a scorching drive

by David Hoilett soon after were fair reward for their dominance, though West Brom were furious w h e n a t r i p o n Pe t e r Odemwingie was given as a free kick instead of a penalty midway through the second half.

Schiavone will meet topranked Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals.

Shortly after, 2008 champion Maria Sharapova lost 6-2, 6-3 to Andrea Petkovic, who had a relatively easy run into the fourth round when Venus Williams— the last American in the women’s draw—retired after just four minutes in their thirdround match. Sharapova attributed her loss to just a “bad day in the office.” She took one positive—it was better than her first-round exit last year.

Petkovic will now take on China’s Li Na, a semifinalist here last year, in the quarterfinals.

Federer didn’t concede a point on his serve in the first set, but had a lapse in the second when Robredo’s serve was dominant and he took a set off Federer for only the third time in 10 matches.

Federer, seeking a fifth Australian title, regained control in the third set and dominated after getting an early break to lead 2-0.

Connors reached the quarter-

Andy Roddick looks upset after losing to Wawrinka 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

finals in 27 consecutive majors he entered between 1973 to 1983—although he missed 13 Grand Slam tournaments during that period of time either through injury or because he didn’t travel to Australia.

N o . 3 - r a n ke d N o v a k Djokovic is aiming for his second Australian crown.

The 2008 champion advanced to the quarterfinals for the 13th time in the last 15 majors with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 win over No. 14 Nicolas Almagro and will next play last year’s Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, who beat Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 62, 6-3.

Wozniacki moved into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the first time Maria Sharapova is dissapointed after with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Anas- losing 6-2, 6-3 to Andrea Petkovic. tasija Sevastova and is just one to take control.

She now has reached the victory from ensuring she’ll requarterfinals at all four majors, tain the top ranking.

The 20-year-old Dane, playing and she’s navigated some trouher first major as world No. 1, blesome ground. According to can keep her top ranking with the WTA, only one of the last five women to be ranked No. 1 an appearance in the semis.

Wozniacki lost three of the went beyond the first round in first four games of the match the first major they played with before reeling off six in a row the top ranking.

Sunkara loses in Jr girls’ singles PTI MELBOURNE, JAN 23

India's Rishika Sunkara became a first round casualty in the Junior Girls' Singles category of the Australian Open Grand Slam tournament, going down in straight-sets to Japanese Emi Mutaguchi here today.

The 17-year-old Indian lost 7-5 6-4 to Mutaguchi in an one hour and 38 minutes hard-fought battle here.

Mutaguchi had a better first and second serve winning percentage than Sunkara. The Japanese also converted 90 per cent of the breakpoints

that came her way in comparision to the 58 per cent conversion rate of the Indian.

In the mixed doubles category, India's Rohan Bopanna and Zi Yan of China also failed to cross the first hurdle and was defeated 7-6(6) 6-1 by third seeds Maria Kirilenko of Russia and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia in a gruelling battle.

Ten seeds Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi will take on eighth seeds Michael Llodra of France and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia in the third round match of the men's doubles category tomorrow.

Barca, Sevilla, Valencia win la liga

AGENCIES MADRID, JAN 23

Champions Barcelona went seven points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the Spanish first division on Saturday as goals from Pedro Rodriguez, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta sealed a 3-0 home win over Racing Santander.

Barcelona got off to the perfect start with Spanish winger Pedro netting his 11th league goal after just 90 seconds on Saturday.

Messi converted the spot-kick for his 19th league goal of the season as Barca went in 2-0 at the interval.

The hosts scored again on 56 minutes with Spain star Iniesta

watching his deflected shot swerve in.

Valencia moved a point above Villarreal into third with a 90th minute winner from Aritz Aduriz clinching a thrilling 4-3 win over nine-man Malaga.

Villarreal fall to fourth but can reclaim third with victory over Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Brazilian international forward Luis Fabiano scored a hattrick as Sevilla cruised to a 4-1 home win over Levante to boost their hopes of a top-four finish and bolster confidence ahead of Wednesday's Kings Cup semifinal against Real Madrid.

On Sunday, Real Zaragoza beat Deportivo 1-0, Almeria beat Osasuna 3-2, Sporting Gijon beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 and Espanyol beat Getafe 3-1.