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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, tuesDaY, april 27, 2010

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Sports: Pak court summons Shoaib for selling invites Pg 18

There is no great genius without a mixture of madeness.

— Aristotle

IN BRIEF One dies of Delhi radiation A man hospitalised after radiation exposure in the national capital earlier this month died due to multi-organ failure on Monday, doctors said. Rajender, 35, a worker at a shop in Mayapuri scrap market, died at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. — (PTI)

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Business: India long way off from Pg 12 20-km/day road target

Goa’s Heartbeat: Shahrukh snubs Riteish Pg 14

Govt to permit sea-side hotels BCCI slaps …Asks to keep off eco sensitive areas, beach access HERALD BUREAU NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

The Centre has decided to permit beach resorts and hotels on the sea side under a new dispensation except in the ecologically sensitive areas like marine parks, mangroves, coral reefs, wildlife habitats and breeding and spawning grounds of fish.

The guidelines proposed under the draft Coastal Regulation Zone notification that comes into effect after 60 days of objections and suggestions from public, however, ensure nobody carries out constructions for permanent residences as these will be specifically for “temporar y occupation of tourists and visitors.”

The resorts and hotels will require prior approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and allowed in Coastal Zones II and III that are either developed areas up to or close to the shore-line or relatively undisturbed rural areas. They will also require the approval of the tourism department of the state or union territory concerned.

The guidelines make it clear that no construction will be made on the seaward side of the hazard line and between low tide and high tide lines, though the Centre has retained power to relax these restrictions, taking into account geographical features and overall coastal zone management plans.

Live fencing and barbed wire fencing with vegetative cover will be permitted, provided they do not hamper public access to the beaches. Also no permanent structures for sports facilities shall be permitted except for putting up goal posts, net posts and lamp posts. To ensure easy access of public to the beaches, the guidelines also stipulate at least a gap of 20 metres between any two hotels/beach resorts and each of these gaps (Continued on page 10)

THE FINE PRINT Marine parks, mangroves, coral reefs, wildlife habitats and breeding and spawning grounds of fish are exceptions to the new rules for setting up beach-side hotels.

Approval of the Ministry of Environment and Forests required besides the approval of the tourism department of the state.

No construction on the seaward side of the hazard line and between low tide and high tide lines.

No permanent structures for sports facilities except for putting up goal posts, net posts and lamp posts.

Live fencing and barbed wire fencing with vegetative cover will be permitted, provided they do not hamper public access to the beaches.

Mandatory gap of 20 metres between any two hotels.

The Centre plans to prohibit developmental activities in Morjim, Galgibag and Agonda beaches designated as turtle nesting sites as also on the khazan lands. It also seeks to ban commercial activity on sand dunes, beach stretches along the bays and creeks that will be surveyed and mapped.

Separate special regulations are sought to be provided for Goa in the draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification brought out by the Ministry of Environment and Forest that comes into force after 60 days of time for public objections and suggestions.

The notification says the eco sensitive low lying areas which are influenced by tidal action known as khazan lands shall be mapped. The mangroves along such khazan land shall be protected and a management plan for the Khazan land prepared.

PCA faults police for attack on Babush, family HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) has found a prima facie case of gross misconduct and abuse of power by 14 policemen in a case relating to attack on Education Minister Atanasio Monseratte.

The PCA has also directed an inquiry into the complaint filed

by Monseratte against 14 police officials for “atrocities” committed against him and his family after the stoning incident at the Panjim police station.

On February 19, 2008, a morcha led by Monseratte turned violent with activists attacking the Panjim police station leaving several policemen and policewomen injured. Reacting angrily to the attack on their colleagues, some policemen led by senior officials swung into action and ransacked his residences at Miramar and Taleigao.

According to the complaint filed with PCA, the police “arrested and physically tortured” him, his son, wife, then Panjim mayor Tony Rodrigues and his other supporters.

Monseratte later filed a complaint against 14 officials – Superintendent of Police Neeraj Thakur IPS, three DySPs Mohan Naik, Subash Goltekar and Shamba Sawant, three PIs Sudesh Naik, C L Patil and Gurudas Gawde, two PSIs Parab and Satish Gawde, head constable Ramesh Gawas, Constables (PC) Sushant Korgaonkar, Pramod Kalangutkar, Vasudev Kesarkar and Lady PC Savita Morje.

The order passed by the PCA chairman Justice Dr Eurico Santana da Silva (rtd) found there was prima facie case of gross misconduct committed by the officers.

“We have gone through the material on record and we are satisfied that from the very stand

BATTERED & BRUISED: File photo of Babush Monseratte showing the injury marks alleging police brutality.

We have gone through the material on record and we are satisfied that a prima facie case of gross misconduct and / or abuse of power appears to have been committed by the police personnel concerned which would merit further action.

— Police Complaints Authority

taken by the respondents with regard to the relevant facts allegedly involving the concerned police officers, a prima facie case of gross misconduct and / or abuse of power appears to have been committed by them which by itself would merit further action,” the order reads.

Further the order says, “Hence we direct the complaint should proceed against them for the purpose of ascertaining the truth of the matter.”

It also seeks survey and preparation of management plan for protection of the turtle nesting sites at three beaches.

It mandates upon the Goa Government to survey and map

the fishing villages all along the Goa coast and says facilities required for fishing and fishery allied activities such as traditional fish processing yards, boat building/repair yards, net mending yards, ice plants, ice storage,

Govt, Oppn brace up for cut motion PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Both the government and the opposition today braced up for a possible close trial of strength in the Lok Sabha tomorrow on the cut motions against the duty hike on petroleum products and on fertilisers prices.

The ruling UPA coalition appears to have an edge in the numbers game if a vote is forced on the cut motions with the BSP, which has 21 MPs, indicating support to the government.

The BSP’s strategy appears to be linked to the recent development in the Supreme Court where the CBI has said it was prepared to consider Mayawati’s plea for closing a disproportionate assets case against her.

The 207-member Congress is not leaving anything to chance and has issued whip to its members. The Trinamool Congress, the second largest party in the UPA after Congress with 19 members as also three similar directions to its members.

Other UPA allies are expected to follow suit. In the numbers game, the UPA has the support of 270 members and has been assured of support by the BSP.

PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

the recommendation of the M S Swaminathan panel slaps severe restrictions on setting up of industries and commercial activities and expansion of the existing ones.

The notification also classifies the coastal zones into four types.

CRZ-I zones where the most stringent restrictions are contemplated are the areas that are ecologically sensitive as also mangroves, sand dune, mudflats, marine parks, wildlife habitats, corals and coaral reef biodiversity, salt marshes, turtle nesting grounds, nesting grounds for birds, and areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites.

More liberal provisions have been made for the CRZ-II and CRZ-III. CRZ-II are those areas that are developed up to or close to the shoreline that fall within municipal limits are other legally urban areas that have substantial buildup and already has drainage, approach roads, water supply and sewerage mains.

IPL Czar Lalit Modi was today dethroned in a swift counterattack by the Cricket Board (BCCI) which accused him of rigging bids for teams and a number of other serious financial irregularities during his threeyear reign as IPL Chairman.

Suspended from his high-profile position in the middle of the night, ironically minutes after his third successful IPL concluded here, Modi was this morning replaced as interim Chairman by a virtually unknown, businessman Chirayu Amin one of the vice-presidents of BCCI. The suspension pre-empted 46-year-old Modi’s last ditch attempt to outmanouvre his detractors by announcing last night that he would chair today’s meeting of the 14-member IPL Governing Council that was to decide his fate. The suspension having been communicated to him through e-mail ensured his absence.

The BCCI bosses then met at the Board’s headquarters here for 90 minutes after which they announced that Modi had been given 15 days time to respond to charges such as irregularities in the initial bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab and rigging the bids of the two new franchises Kochi and Pune.

Other charges include irregularities in the broadcast deal, irregularities in the internet deal and his behaviorial pattern.

Modi, never short of sound bytes or tweets, remained mum and avoided the media. He was said to be planning his response.

Addressing a press conference after the meeting, BCCI President Shashank Manohar gave a

(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10)

Development ban on 3 Goan beaches HERALD BUREAU NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

5 charges on Modi

auction hall, jetties shall be provided.

The proposed notification that has been brought out trashing the earlier controversial draft notification of July 22, 2008 on

CLASSIFICATION OF CRZ ZONES

ATKT to Std X students, but on condition HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

Even though students of Std X failing in two subjects at the March 2010 Goa Board exam have been assured of ATKT for admission to Std XI they will have to score an aggregate of 40% marks in the remaining four subjects to qualify for the benefit.

A circular issued by the Goa Board of Secondar y and Higher Secondary Education to this effect states it has decided to grant ATKT to such students of Std X who fail in two subjects and pass in remaining four with an aggregate of 40% marks.

It states these students who fail to get aggregate 40% in the four passing subjects will have to clear the two failed subjects by appearing at the SSC examinations held subsequently.

The students failing in two subjects at SSC who manage to take the ATKT benefit and take admission to Std XI will have to clear the subjects ei-

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 26

A 16-year-old student from Saliswado-Parra committed suicide by hanging himself to the ceiling fan, after he failed in his examination on Monday afternoon.

According to Mapusa police, after Walter Martins received his exam report by post on Monday morning, his elder brother Westen opened the envelope and informed Walter that he has failed in Std VIII examination.

“Thereafter at about 12.30 noon, Westen went to drop his other brother to answer the examination. However on his return, Westen found Walter hanging to the ceiling fan,” informed the police.

He immediately informed the police, who after conducting panchanama sent the body to GMC Hospital at Bambolim for post mortem. PSI Brandon D’Souza is investigating the case. ther in the supplementary examination or the March Board exam. In case if he/she fails to clear the subjects in both the exams his Std XI will be reserved till he/she clears the subjects.

The ATK T proposal was moved by Education Minister Babush Monserrate last year.

Even though the Goa Board had approved it last year itself the same could not be implemented due to time factor.

HIG H -F IV E

The BCCI’s chargesheet throws questions on the following five points: l

l l

l l

Initial bids of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab Broadcasting deal Bid-rigging of the two new franchisees Internet rights Behavioural pattern of Modi

I’m still IPL chief:PTIModi NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Undeterred by his suspension as IPL boss, a combative Lalit Modi today sought to put up a brave face by maintaining that he was still the chairman of the Twenty20 league and was merely suspended for the time being.

In what appeared to be a veiled threat, Modi broke his silence since his late night suspension with yet another tweet which has been his mode of communication of late.

Phone tapping rocks House PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Allegations of illegal telephone tapping on political leaders disrupted both Houses of Parliament today although the Government maintained it had not authorised any such activity nor it found any substance in them.

Seeking to put the Government on the mat by comparing alleged phone tapping to Emergency days, the Opposition parties demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) (Continued on page 10)

psst!!... Since phone tapping is under scanner, we have chosen this option.

I have evidence of Goa police-drug mafia nexus: model PTI PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse, who used a spycam to expose her boyfriend Yaniv Benaim’s links with Goa police, says she has enough material evidence to establish a clear nexus between the police and Goa’s notorious drug mafia.

“I have not put out all the (spycam) recordings because I need to save those in case they come after me. If they make any problem for me in the future, I will put it out,” Lucky told PTI in an email interview from Sweden today.

The 33-year-old model, who was living-in with Atala, had

Son of a big politician is also involved in the drug mafia. I have met him at Atala’s house many times and remember his face. It is scary to see his father in the news. He is the reason that I have not put out all the (spycam) recordings. If they trouble me in the future, I will put them out. — Lucky Farmhouse shocked the Goa police after she posted her boyfriend’s clippings on social networking website youtube.com.

The clipping triggered a major crackdown on the police-drug peddler nexus, which saw Atala and five other policemen, in-

cluding a police inspector arrested for their links with the drug peddlers.

Lucky alleged that the son of a ‘big politician’ is also involved in the drug mafia.

“I have met him at Atala’s house many times and remember his face. It is scary to see his father in the news. He is the reason that I have not put out all recordings,” she said.

“I’m not afraid of Atala but I’m little afraid of police and what would they do,” she said.

The drug peddler-police nexus controversy had forced the Goa police to change the way they stock the seized drugs.

Home Minister Ravi Naik had

said that the police would go to the bottom of the case.

Lucky claimed that it’s not just sleuths from anti-narcotic cell, but also from the local police station that were dropping in often at Atala’s place and cyber café demanding bribe.

“Anjuna police were coming every day to his business “Atala Coffee shop” to pick up smaller bribes, Rs 7,000 according to Atala. They did not leave the minibus (police van). Atala went out were they parked to pay them,” she stated.

Back in Sweden, Lucky is a known name and has modeled in Stockholm, London, Paris and (Continued on page 10)

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Assessment gives a minus to most big VPs on performance HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

Highest negative marks received by VPs in A category

The recent assessment of village VP -- + marks -- -ve marks ative marking in Part II and as- Agarwada Chopdem, Casnempanchayats done by the DepartCalangute -- 47 -- 14 sessment by BDO in part III. Amerem, Imbrampur, Dhargal ment of Panchayats shows that Candolim 54 -- 13 In part I, Colva panchayat and Seraulim has been twenty many big panchayats have misAnjuna-Caisua 40 -- 13 scored six marks and minus six and less. erably failed to perform even as Mandrem 35 -- 13 in part II. It would have got a The category D that has sixa few have done well in certain Cana Benaulim 6 --- -12 big zero if not for two marks teen panchayats and which are areas.

Overall, in category A only ten given by BDO. considered to be smaller panThe 189 panchayats are di- panchayats could score more Other panchayats in B chayats with five wards, on an vided into four categories A, B, than 40 marks. Total 32 pan- category that figured at average all have done well as C and D category as per the pop- chayats come under category bottom include Goa Velha also negative scoring has been ulation coming within their ju- `A’.

(St Andre), Corgao, Quela less as compared to panchayats risdiction.

Most of the panchayats in and Arambol. in other categories.

In “A” category village pan- category B on an average have Under this category, negative The score of only three panchayats of Shiroda, Chicalim done well. There are total score of Se Old Goa (-10) Goa chayats Neura, Rachol and Aland Veling-Priol topped the list forty-five panchayats in this Velha (-10) and Arambol (-12) lorna has been high whereas while panchayats of St Cruz, category. panchayats has been high. negative score of other panSancoale, Chinchinim, St Jose Surprisingly, Colva village In category “C” that has max- chayats has been less than de Areal and Cana-Benaulim panchayat figured at the bot- imum panchayats, 40 panchay- ten. have fared badly. tom having obtained two ats scored about forty points Mencurem-Dhumacem vilThis was the first time nega- marks. however the score of about ten lage panchayat that topped the tive marking was introduced and The assessment of panchay- panchayats in the bottom has list with highest score of 53 criteria fixed for objective as- ats was done in three parts -- been very poor. marks -- didn’t lose marks in sessment of village panchayats, posting marking in part I, negGrant score of panchayats at negative marking. said Menino D’Souza, Director of Panchayats while speaking to complaints received for non execution of positive marks.

Herald on Monday.

There were also given points for innova- orders of higher authorities and inquiries Panchayats with performance on issues tive projects worth replicating, annual de- in programmes for embezzlement or misutilisation of funds. such as good governance initiative, velopment plan prepared etc.

In category A, panchayat of Cana-Begarbage disposal, tax collection, convenNegative marks were assigned against iling of gram sabhas, maintenance of legal construction (-1 for 1-20 complaints, naulim has done so badly that its score records and registers, preparation of -2 for 21-40 complaints, -3 for 41-60 com- has been minus five. And though some budget, convening of fortnightly meeting, plaints and -4 for more than 60 complaints), panchayats in this category scored more audit paras, powers assumed by deputy diplastic collection scheme, sanitation, ac- rector of panchayats u/s 66(2)and 66(5), than thirty marks in the part I assessment, tion on audit paras, action on stray cattle, show cause notices u/s 50 to sarpancha or their negative score spoiled their rankutilization of funds under RDA, were given deputy, convening of gram sabhas by BDO, ing.

Babush says will seek suspension of cops for atrocities on family HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

Education Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate today said he would consult legal counsels and seek suspension of the policemen who have been prima facie found of committing gross misconduct and abuse of power by Police Complaints Authority (PCA) against his family, hours after the attack on the police station two years ago.

“I will meet the Chief Minister after consulting legal brains and seek justice for the police atrocities on my son and my family besides the attack on my residences”, Monserrate said.

He alleged that the attack on the police station was masterminded by some persons to implicate him. Asserting that there was no plan to attack the police station, Monserrate said it would have to be inquired as to who pelted stones at the po-

lice station.

After this incident, the policemen took law into their hands and went on a rampage, he said pointing out that they would not have done so without getting approval “from higher ups”.

“Now, let the police officials disclose to the investigating team who scripted the episode in the post-police station incident”, the Education minister demanded.

“I did lead the morcha but the backlash from the police men was unprecedented. We were booked for the attack on the police station but shouldn’t we get justice when the menin-uniform take law into their hands?” Making it clear that he would strongly peruse the matter, he said “I will not rest till my son, wife and others who faced atrocities in the case, get justice”.

Govt in spot over selection of commission member HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

Faced with a number of petitions and phone calls from consumer rights activists and civic groups over the appointment of a 65-year-old member to the State Consumer Redressal Commission, the Government is rethinking of calling back the approval given to the recommendation of the Selection Committee of the Commission selecting the senior citizen for the post.

Insiders at the Secretariat said Civil Supplies Minister Jose Philip D’Souza and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat were seized of the matter and had taken serious note of the same. Calling back of the approval file was under serious consideration of the Chief Min-

ister, they revealed.

When contacted, Director of Tourism Swapnil Naik who is given charge as Director of Civil Supplies said he has taken charge of the Department of Civil Supplies just six days back and neither was he aware of selection of any candidate for the post of member of the Commission nor had he received any file.

Legal fraternity members, consumer rights activists and civic groups have objected to the selection of the 65-year-old candidate, who is a retired Government servant from the Goa Civil Ser vice, on various grounds. The Chief Minister’ office and the Director of Civil Supplies too had received several petitions from several people and groups.

WAT(ER) SPLASH!!! Tourists enjoy the splash of water at the Miramar Beach on Monday evening.

Forest Department begins extensive wildlife census

CBI to take police staff on deputation

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

Forest Department began an extensive wildlife census in all the six wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forest areas from today onwards.

“The census has begun across the state, which will cover wildlife sanctuaries and government owned forest areas,” Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) Dr Shashi Kumar said.

The census which will be concluded on May 4 has around 30 volunteers spread throughout the State. Nearly 110 teams, including forest staff and locals are search every inch of forest for the clues or signs to know the movement or existence of animals.

“The census will involve collection of samples; analysis and finally camera trapping method. The survey of carnivorous animals would be conducted initially followed by herbivorous ones,” Dr Kumar explained.

The ongoing animal census will also map the habitat disturbance due to unnatural and natural changes.

Interestingly, the week long census will also predict the presence of tiger in the State.

Last week team of Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun had provided training to the officials and the volunteers involved in the census.

The State Forest Department had earlier conducted such census in 2002 and 2006.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has decided to take officers from the state police services on deputation in a bid to overcome the shortage of officers.

The CBI has said that it will provide them better pay package and perks.

Joint Director, CBI (ACB) Rishiraj Singh, told reporters that the practice of taking over the state police staff on deputation has already begun in States like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

“I will talk to the Director General of Police (DGP) Goa this evening on this issue. We will advertise the vacancies through newspapers so that those aspiring to join our force can do it,” Singh said.

Decision to cut Princess would be a big blunder: Capt Mehta HERALD REPORTER VASCO, APRIL 26

When the State government has finally made up its mind to cut the grounded M V River Princess, a Vasco-based Sea Reliance Marine Service Pvt Ltd, one of the bidders in recently floated tender to cut the ship, which will be opened on Tuesday, claimed that an eventual decision of the technical committee to cut the stranded vessel would result into a big blunder.

Chairman and managing director of Sea Reliance Marine Service Pvt Ltd Capt Virendra Mehta with his innovation has proficient professional profile of master mariner for over two decades, R&D with US patent ballast water technology.

Mehta has claimed that cutting of the ship would be a big blunder, as it is not a permanent solution.

“With the cutting of the ship, one has to ensure that the bottom portion of the ship is removed, in fact, that is the major cause of concern. If the bottom portion is not removed, then it is as good as to allow the ship to be grounded, as the bottom portion is causing more harm to the beach belt,” said Capt Mehta.

“The 19,361 metric tonne vessel has most of its body on an average 13 metre below the sea

level. These ships are bottom heavy, which means over 12000-15000 tonnes are below sea and on the contrary some 60,000 tonnes of sand is on its bottom, which means a tough task for underwater cutting,” said Mehta.

“Right from generators, engines and most of the equipments are very well submerged in the ship and if one could remove the machinery, then one has to float the ship easily,” added Mehta.

When asked since the issue is at a saturation point, as earlier twice the floating and towing of ship efforts have failed, he blamed the technical committee saying that since the last one decade, the ship is lying and someone has to take the blame.

When asked for the reason why he bid for the re-floating of the ship, despite knowing that the tender is for cutting of the ship, he said he has personal experience on the issue and technology use to re-float it and he has strong belief that the ship can be towed away.

He said he has given a detailed presentation to the technical committee, North Goa Collector, on April 19, who are quite convinced with it.

“I have agreed to share my technology provided the government signs the ‘Non Discloser Agreement’, which they are not ready to do,” he said.

Resolution on construction of Dongorim-Firgulem Bridge adopted HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

The ambulance that caught fire at Curchorem.

Ambulance catches fire, lucky escape for CHC workers HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, APRIL 26

Three employees of Community Health Centre (CHC) Curchorem had a lucky escape, after the ambulance in which they were travelling caught fire near Ambedkar Chowk, Curchorem, on Monday at about 1.30 pm.

According to sources, the incident occurred when the ambulance (GA-01-G7685) was returning to CHC Curchorem after dropping a patient at Hospicio in Margao.

On reaching near Ambedkar Chowk, ambulance driver Justin Fernandes noticed some smoke from the engine. He immediately stopped the vehicle and asked the two women employees to alight from the ambulance.

Fernandes tried to disconnect the wire of the battery, but the ambulance suddenly caught fire. Curchorem fire brigade team rushed to the site and extinguished the fire, but the vehicle was damaged.

Photo by Suresh Naik

Monte-de-Guirim rider dies at Karaswada HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 26

A 25-year-old motorcycle rider from Monte-de-Guirim died in a collision between two vehicles at Karaswada late Sunday evening.

According to Mapusa police, the accident occurred when Dhiraj Yellappa Hiranwala was proceeding from Guirim towards Karaswada on his Yamaha motorcycle (GA-03-Q-5712).

While Dhiraj was overtaking a vehicle, he dashed against an oncoming Yamaha motorcycle (GA-03-X-0281) and sustained grievous injuries. He was rushed to Asilo Hospital in Mapusa, where he was declared dead on admission.

Rider Ratan and pillion rider Kalpesh Salgaonkar of Pernem, who were proceeding on their motorcycle (GA-03-X-0281) were injured and are undergoing treatment in GMC Hospital at Bambolim.

PSI Vijay Rane is investigating the case.

Amidst objection from the opposition group, the ruling Aquem-Baixo Panchayat on Monday adopted a resolution 4-3 votes supporting the construction of the Dongorim-Firgulem bridge by the Public Works Department.

While the elected representatives deliberated on the resolution tabled by the newly-elected Sarpanch, Milagres Piexote, a large number of bridge supporters assembled outside the Panchayat ghar this afternoon demanding completion of the ongoing work on the Dongorim-Firgulem bridge.

Armed with placards, the local people strongly rooted for the

bridge, saying the bridge once completed will help the residents of Firgulem and Aquem-Baixo from getting to Navelim Church and educational institutions.

At the urgent meeting of the Panchayat body, the voting on the resolution tabled by the sarpanch took place on expected lines.

While former Sarpanch Agnelo Dias, Damu Naik and Sunita opp o s e d t h e re s o l u t i o n , t h e Sarpanch and three other panch members voted in favour of the resolution.

Sarpanch Milagres pointed out that the resolution supersedes the resolution adopted by the Panchayat earlier opposing the bridge, saying the bridge would provide easy access to the people and school children,

Bullfights keep Colva cops busy HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

The banned bull fights kept the Men-in-Uniform attached to the Colva police station on their toes on Monday.

However, before the police could rein in on the bull fight held at Mondo-Benaulim, the fight took place in full public view, with the men-in-uniform reaching the venue late as in the past.

The Colva police has however, booked a case against two persons from Seraulim and Benaulim under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. The police said they are on the look out of the two persons and that the investigations are on.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

especially during the monsoons.

Opposition Panch Damu Naik opposed the resolution on grounds that the matter is sub judice and demanded to know how the Panchayat can change a resolution passed last year.

In fact, Damu and Sunita later told newsmen that they are in favour of a foot bridge or a small bridge for pedestrians and twowheelers instead of bridge meant for four-wheelers.

However, the people who assembled outside the Panchayat Ghar made a strong case for the bridge. Orlando Dias said the people have been fighting for a bridge since the last 25 year as they had been struggling to cross over to Navelim through the short route.

House burgled

MARGAO, APRIL 26 (HR) -- In a daring burglary, unknown miscreants targeted a house at AmbajiFatorda, decamping with gold ornaments worth Rs 1.50 lakh.

Taking advantage of the absence of the inmates, the culprits effected entry and lifted away the gold ornaments (around nine libram) from the cupboard. A complaint to this effect was lodged by one Luis Silva.

CBI will be providing local posting to the police officers who switch over to them and also the pay will be hiked by 25 per cent. “They also will be given residential quarters,” Singh said.

He said that the officers would be on deputation for seven years and they will enjoy one step promotion as soon as they join. “For example, a police sub inspector level officer joins here then he will be given posting as inspector,” Singh said.

Singh stated that the CBI in Goa requires officers right from Inspector to Constable level.

CBI which has its Anti-Corruption Branch in Goa today shifted from Panjim to a new office at the outskirt at Bambolim in a spacious place.

Chicalim murder case verdict today HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

The South Goa Sessions court will pronounce the sentence in the Lalita Nepali case on Tuesday.

Arguments were heard in the court of Additional Sessions Judge, P V Kamat on Monday over the quantum of sentence to be awarded to accused Lalita Nepal, who was held guilty by the court for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the death of Madhvi Devaraver at the Salgaocar Medical Research Centre, Chicalim.

Public Prosecutor Pramod Hede, who appeared for the state, submitted to the court to give maximum punishment prescribed by law.

Bag snatchers target Brit at Majorda beach HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

Bag snatching has come back to haunt the Colva police once again.

Even as the police have failed to detect the spate of chain and bag snatching cases reported in recent times, a British woman became the latest victim of bag snatching at Majorda beach on Sunday evening.

A complaint to this effect was lodged with the Colva police on Monday, wherein the complaint stated that while she was walking on the beach, two motorcycle borne-miscreants came on the scene and snatched her bag.

Pounds all worth around Rs 65,000 was lifted from the bag.

The Colva police are investigating the case.

Arguments heard

MARGAO, APRIL 26 (HR) -- The South Goa Sessions court on Monday heard arguments in the revision application filed by Russian woman rape accused John Fernandes.

After hearing the arguments, the court has reserved the orders to April 29. John’s legal counsel, Adv Mike Mehta said the JMFC, Margao allegedly did not comply with the provision of section 207 of the Cr P C before he committed John’s matter to the sessions court for trial.

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Relatives fume as lady suffocates to death at Hospicio Staff ignores patient to settle scores HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

Agitated over alleged negligence by the Hospicio staff resulting in the death of a 52-year old woman, relatives of the patient went on a rampage at the hospital, breaking window panes and demanding a thorough probe into the sordid episode.

Taken on the back foot, Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Ruando De Sa said he has ordered an inquir y into the episode, adding that the hospital administration will not spare anyone found guilty.

What angered the relatives and friends of deceased Dilshad Bi (52) was the fact that her death occurred for the delay in providing oxygen as two servants quarrelled with each other

n What angered the relatives and friends of deceased Dilshad Bi (52) was the fact that her death occurred for the delay in providing oxygen as two servants quarrelled with each other over the question who should administer oxygen to the patient. “Two servants fought with each as to whose duty was it to put the patient on oxygen. The delay only worsened the condition of my mother and she finally breathed her last”, her sobbing son Zabir Ahmed told newsmen at Hospicio. over the question who should administer oxygen to the patient.

“Two servants fought with each as to whose duty was it to put the patient on oxygen. The delay only worsened the condition of my mother and she finally breathed her last”, her sobbing son Zabir Ahmed told newsmen

Builders found wanting in malaria prevention prog HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

Builders across Goa have been found wanting in the vector-borne disease control programme of the Directorate of Health Services taking into account the fact that 85 per cent cases of malaria are reported from project areas (construction sites) where migrant (or construction) labourers work and reside.

In an observation made by Dr Ashwani Kumar on the occasion of World Malaria Day on Monday, the DHS bought 10,000 insecticide-treated bed nets to be distributed at construction sites out of which about 3,500 have been purchased by builders and contractors.

Kumar said taking into consideration 85 per cent malaria cases being reported from project areas the distribution of bed nets has been just about 35 per cent which appears dismal. While some of these builders have come forward and purchased these nets for their workers, majority of them have shown a lukewarm response, he asserted.

Secondly, he maintained, the builders lobby was wealthy and powerful because at their instance honest health officers who tried to enforce the Public Health Act have been transferred. There is a need to build a strong linkage with builders and their associations to impress upon them about their corporate social responsibility, he emphasised.

Dr Ashwani said wherever tourism was active (like Candolim) malaria cases were witnessed. Keeping this in mind the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa should also take it upon itself to distribute bed nets wherever required, he stated.

Dr Sachin Govekar from the Candolim Health Centre too observed out of the 1,000 nets that he has at the CHC about 335 of them have been sold. The situation is such in the CandolimCalangute belt that malaria has gradually shown an upward trend in slum areas and the cases have gone down at construction sites.

The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network Coordinator Roland Martin called for efficient utilisation of the Public Health Act, especially by health officers to issue notices to gram sabhas if there was a danger to peoples’ health due to some unhygienic condition.

The basic purpose, Martin observed, behind the notice to the gram sabha was to make the panchayat aware of the health scenario in the village and seek its participation to control the same.

There is a need to change the approach while tackling a health problem. For example, he mentioned, the sanitary or health cards for workers lack place for more information. There is no strategy in place to track a construction worker who is moving from one place to the other, he observed and added, “The entire documentation process and systemic approach to the problem has to be revisited from time to time.”

Today’s programme was also attended by Deputy Director of National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) Dr Dipak Kabadi, Director of Health Services Rajananda Desai, Deputy Collector Tiswadi Sabaji Shetye, Dr Amit Dias from Goa Medical College, chairperson of core committee Goa State AIDS Control Society Dr Pramod Salgaonkar and Health Officer NVBDCP Dr Jose D’Sa. The Malaria Day was observed with an aim to have an orientation programme as preparedness for the oncoming monsoon season for some of the members of the block-level committees who attended the programme today.

Dr Dipak Kabadi said out of the 11 block-level committees that were formed seven are active. “Malaria cases have gone down significantly. But that doesn’t mean we will relax. It is time to put double efforts to eradicate the disease completely,” he observed.

Loliem duo seriously hurt in Gulem mishap HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 26

Two persons were seriously injured when the motorcycle in which they were traveling collided against a car at GulemCanacona early Monday morning.

According to Canacona police, Francis Fernandes (23) and Anjelina Fernandes (22), both from Loliem, were seriously injured and were rushed to GMC Hospital at Bambolim in an unconscious state.

Police informed that the mishap occurred when the in-

jured were traveling towards Margao on their Pulsar motorcycle (GA-09 F-1837). On reaching Gulem, the two-wheeler reportedly overtook a vehicle, but soon hit an oncoming Innova car (AP-03 AC1234) resulting in the accident.

Both the injured were first shifted to CHC and then taken to GMC Hospital and are still not in a position to record their statements, informed Canacona police.

The car driver was booked and further investigation is in progress.

at Hospicio.

According to Ahmed, her mother was admitted to Hospicio on Sunday after she complained of respiratory problem.

“She faced acute breathing problem today and doctors advised this afternoon that she be shifted to GMC Bambolim”, he said. “Despite suffering from respiratory problem, my mother was not given oxygen when she was brought from the female ward on a wheel chair. Worse still, even as she was gasping for breath, two servants who had accompanied her outside the hospital premises said it is not their job to put her on oxygen. For half an hour, my mother was kept outside without oxygen and ventilator. Someone was dying here and the servants were fighting over their duties.

Even the nurse on duty asked the servants to put my mother on oxygen, but there were no takers”, he said.

As the news of Dilshad’s death spread, relatives rushed to the Hospital to question the authorities over the negligence by the hospital staff. The situation took a turn for the worse when one of the servants was called by the Medical Superintendent and the agitated relatives pointed their fingers at her as being the culprit.

In the melee, someone from the crowd damaged the doors and broke the window panes, before the Margao police rushed to the hospital to avert any major law and order problem.

Margao Police incharge, PI Sidhant Shirodkar said the Margao police have not received any formal complaint either from the deceased relatives or the Hospicio hospital.

When contacted, Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr De Sa said he is conducting an inquiry into the episode to ascertain the truth in the claim made by the deceased relatives. He disclosed plans to lodge a complaint with the Margao police, adding that his inquiry report would be forwarded to the health authorities for necessary action.

IFFI scam

CBI to file charge sheet in 2 months HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will soon complete the probe in the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) infrastructure creation scam and file the charge sheet in next two months, a top official from the central agency said here today.

The CBI, acting on a complaint filed by Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho, has been investigating allegations of financial misappropriation during IFFI 2004 against former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.

Rishiraj Singh, Joint Director, CBI (ACB), addressing press conference said that the agency is in the final phase of investiga-

tion.

“We are in the final phase of the investigation and will file charge sheet in the case very soon,” Singh said adding “… ..within a month or two.”

Singh’s comments came days after the Central agency quizzed Parrikar for nearly two hours.

Parrikar, who is now the leader of Opposition has demanded that Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, who was also part of core committee, should also be investigated.

However, Singh said he would not be able to say whether Kamat will be quizzed or not.

“Whatever will be unfolded, I can’t tell you,” he said.

He said that till now CBI has not found chief minister’s in-

volvement in the allegations.

“Investigation is incomplete.

You will come to know as and when something happens,” Singh added.

CBI is investigating 22 allegations in this particular case and each allegation is being examined independently. Singh said that the case took time for investigation as initially it was handed over to CBI’s Mumbai branch and later transferred to local unit.

Parrikar, then chief minister, had created infrastructure for holding IFFI when it was shifted from Delhi to Goa when BJP-led NDA government was at the Centre. Congress party had also formed an internal committee headed by MP Shantaram Naik,

which had cited several irregularities in infrastructure creation.

Congress legislator Mauvin Godinho pointing out to the remarks made by Comptroller Auditor General (CAG) of India against the financial spending had filed the case with Panjim town police station in 2005.

Interestingly, though the Congress-led government was in power with Pratapsing Rane as the chief minister, the case, after the registration of FIR, was not pursued for a long time and put on the backburner. It was only in early 2007 that the case was registered by CBI after the matter was referred to it by the Goa government.

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S H O RT TA K E S TAG’s song, music awards

PANJIM(HND): Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) has instituted awards for Konkani song and music audio albums. These awards are called ‘Konkani Song and Music Awards 2009’ Twenty (20) audio albums produced by Goan producers, singers and music composers during the period of January 1 to December 31 participated in the competition.

Konkani Song and Music Awards 2009 consist of following awards:- Best Male Singer, Best Female Singer, Best Music Composer, Best Lyricist, Best Album of the year 2009.

The first four awards carry a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 10,000 each while the Best Album Award carries a trophy besides Rs. 20,000.

The award giving function is scheduled on April 30 at 5 pm at the conference hall of Tiatr Academy of Goa, S-1/S-4, Block-A, 2nd Floor, Campal Trade Centre, Opp Kala Academy, Campal, Panjim.

An entertainment programme of songs and comedy skits by Ben Evangelisto, Succur de Santa Cruz, Sonia, Comedian Sally and Comedian Brayan will be presented on the occasion.

GKA congratulates Naik

Goa Konkani Akademi’s President N Shivdas along with Satish Dalvi, executive member of Goa Konkani Akademi presenting a bouquet of appreciation to Konkani writer Pundalik Naik.

PANJIM(HND): Goa Konkani Akademi’s President N Shivdas has congratulated eminent Konkani writer, Pundalik Naik for receiving the prestigious ‘Gomant Sharada Award’ constituted

by Kala Academy by presenting him with a bouquet at his Verem residence. N Shivdas was accompanied by Satish Dalvi, executive member of Goa Konkani Akademi.

Pundalik Naik was the president of Goa Konkani Akademi for two terms, from 25 Nov, 2002 upto 31 Dec, 2008. At present, he is a member of the General council of the Goa Konkani Akademi. N Shivdas recollected the valuable contributions made by him to Goa Konkani Akademi especially the formulation of various important schemes and projects carried out during his tenure. He further said that Akademi will always be proud of his achievements.

Blood donation at Nuvem

‘Will stay away from Inox until CBI probe ends’ HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 26

Not many may choose to boycott theatres, but Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar has vowed to stay away from Inox in Panjim.

He has decided to avoid visiting Inox till the CBI inquiry pursued against him by the government is not completed exonerating him from the alleged irregularities supposed to have been committed by his government while preparing for the first IFFI in Goa. Parrikar was speaking at the concluding function of Silver Jubilee celebrations of Saraswat Samaj at Poinguinim on Sunday.

“Complete CBI inquiry as soon as possible, as pressing of unnecessary irregularity charges against me has compelled me to live in exile from my ultimate passion of watching movies at Inox, Panjim,” stated Parrikar.

“I want the CBI enquiry dragging on for the last six years should be completed immediately to get myself freed from my self exile so that I once go to Inox and watch movies peacefully,” said Parrikar.

Parrikar gave a piece of advice to Saraswat Samaj asking to make suitable use of temple fund for the betterment of society and public benefits at large.

“I know there are difficulties to withdraw huge amounts available in temple treasuries/accounts, but

Saligao resident killed by speeding vehicle A 74-year-old man from Saligao died, after he was knocked down by a speeding vehicle at Saligao on Sunday at about 8 pm.

According to Calangute police, Diogo Barsen Cordeiro was walking along the road when he was knocked down by a speeding vehicle, which was proceeding towards Calangute.

The vehicle driver fled from the scene without attending to the injured.

Calangute Police have registered an offence against an unknown person. PSI Chimulkar is investigating the case.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

PANJIM(HND): Life is precious-you can save it by donating blood was the theme of the blood donation camp organised at Nuvem. The Nuvem- Sal Krishi Sanstha, a farmers association headed by Wilfred D’Sa organised a blood camp in Nuvem village recently.

The camp was guided under the guidance of the Blood Bank of Goa Medical College, Bambolim. The team leader Dr Vijairaj Desai-Medical Officer along with technicians and support staff conducted the programme.

The organizers made elaborate arrangements for the camp and provided transport facilities for villages to attend the same besides a token of appreciation was presented.

Cards were issued to the donors at the hands of Amancio Fernandes.

The camp organizer, Joanita D’Costa proposed the vote of thanks and assured the GMC team to make blood donation camp an annual feature in Nuvem village.

Meet of retired teachers

PANJIM(HND): Under the chairmanship of Prof S L Sardesai, former Principal of Dempo College of Commerce and Economics, Panjim, teachers of colleges affiliated to the Goa University who retired at the age of 58, held a meeting in Panjim recently to consider issues pertaining to the gross injustice meted out to them by this enforced premature retirement. In this regard, a representation will be made to the concerned authorities to redress their grievances, says a press release.

Children’s camp organised

MAYEM(HC): Working President of Sane Guruji Kathamala Ashok Tilve said training camp is the best medium to expose hidden potential of any student.

He was addressing the gathering during the valedictory function of 10-day children’s play training camp organized by Sane Guruji Kathamala at Central GPS, Bicholim, on Friday.

In his speech, trainer Uday Dhupkar lauded the efforts of students and their co-operation.

Krishna Marathe, Uday Dhupkar, Headmaster Madhukar Sasolkar, Rajendra Sawaikar and Kalidas Umarye were present on the occasion. Earlier, Rajendra Sawaikae welcomed the gathering.

Home Sc results declared

PANJIM(HND): The result of F Y B.Sc/S Y B.Sc (Home Science) Examination of March/April, 2010 is declared. The students may contact the college office for details. Students should collect the examination forms (Supplementary Examination) from the College office and submit the duly competed forms along with the fees latest by April 28.

find ways to use it for public benefits,” added Parrikar.

In his speech, Canacona MLA Vijay Paikhot said: “Unfortunately due to unmindful reservations in every field, a time has come, where children born in higher caste communities began to think whether taking birth in that community parents is a sin.”

“I don’t have objections to reservations, but government should also consider doing something for the children born in higher castes as well,” said Paikhot.

Earlier, Parrikar in the presence of Goa State Saraswat S a m a j P re s i d e n t S h a n u P Panandikar and Canacona MLA Vijay Paikhot inaugurated the

Silver Jubilee year concluding function at Shri Parshuram Devalaya Sabhagraha, Poinguinim.

Organizing committee Chairman Dilip Gaitonde welcomed the gathering, Canacona Saraswat Samaj President Damodar Shenvi proposed the vote of thanks, while Akshata Puranik Naik compered the function.

Later a discussion on ‘public’s expectation from temple and temple expectation from public’ was held under the presidentship of MES College, Vasco, Prof Madhav Kamat. Chartered Accountant Dr Devendra Bale and Goa University Reader Dr Purva Hegde Dessai took part in the discussion.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 26

Penha-de-France Sarpanch Gopal Sawant has stated that though there are about 11 halls in the panchayat jurisdiction, the panchayat does not get any income from the halls.

Sawant was replying to a question raised by villager Agnel Pereira at Penha-de-France gram sabha on Sunday.

Pereira sought to know the income being received by the panchayat from the halls in the panchayat area.

“These halls are charging fees ranging form Rs 6,000 to Rs 32,000 per day,” said Perreira.

He also questioned the sarpanch whether all these halls have been constructed legally after obtaining all the permissions from the concerned government departments.

Sarpanch Sawant replied that the institutions, which own these halls, are not paying single paisa to the panchayat.

“The panchayat is collecting the garbage generated by these halls, but despite earning high income from the halls, these institutions are reluctant to pay charges to the panchayat,” said Sawant.

“With regard to the legality of the halls, I will to go through the records and verify whether they have been constructed after obtaining permissions from the concerned government departments,” added the sarpanch.

Farewell function organised at Fr Agnel College

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, APRIL 26

CM condoles death of Rajasthan Gov

The Nuvem- Sal Krishi Sanstha, a farmers association along with volunteers of the blood donation camp.

Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar speaks at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Saraswat Samaj at Poinguinim.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

‘Halls in Penhade-France area generating no income to p’yat’

Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat today expressed his condolences over the sudden demise of Rajasthan Governor, Prabha Rau. In his condolence message Kamat said that Rau’s death was an irreparable loss to the nation.

Kamat said that Rau was a learned and dutiful governor and she will be remembered for a long time. She was an outstanding public figure who worked for the welfare of the people of our country and Maharashtra. Kamat further said that she also served the society in various capacities and prayed for the peace for her soul and extended his heartfelt sympathies to her family members.

The Western Region of Indian Engineers Federation (INDEF) at its meeting deliberated on the improvement of career prospects and promotional policies with regard to engineers in Goa. The meeting of the INDEF, which includes Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mahrashtra, Gujarat and Goa, was held in Porvorim on Saturday, which was organized by Goa Engineers Association. About 30 delegates from five states participated in the meeting.

The speakers at the meeting stated that graduate engineers in Goa are not getting their first promotion even after serving for 21 years.

“Further, graduate engineers are being given the designation as ‘Technical Assistant’. This designation is being given to the students who have completed six years of technical training after passing higher secondary examination in other states,” they said.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

The South Goa Planning and Development Authority has expressed its helplessness in cracking a whip against constructions violating its orders.

A case in point in the recent direction by the SGPDA Member Secretary to the Shri Pandurang Mandir Association to stop work on the Temple construction.

The direction was issued by the PDA on April 16 to the Association to stop the ongoing work and submit any clarification within seven days of the receipt of the notice.

The notice was issued after local residents of Tolleabandh complained that the construction is allegedly being carried out on the alignment of the pro-

posed 10 meter ODP road on the eastern side, alleging that it is in violation of the rules and regulations in force.

Incidentally, though the PDA threatened to initiate action if the work does not stop, the complainants maintained that work still continues at the site unhindered.

When contacted, the PDA Member Secretary S P Surlakar expressed his total helplessness in implementing his own order.

“The PDA hardly has any staff to implement the order. I have no manpower to go to the site again and again to see whether the order is implemented or not”, Surlakar said, adding that it is for the other agencies such as the Margao Municipal Council to implement the order.

upcOming EvEnTS ‘Summer T 10’ at Margao

PANJIM(HND): 9 Entertainment in association with Tuborg presents " Summer T 10" with Remo Fernandes and his band "The Microwave papadums', Live in concert on April 30, at Rajendra Prasad Stadium, Margao From 6 pm onwards. Other band's like Sky high, Bad Blood and Fashion Show by Andy David {Designer collections Margao}.

According to a press release, 9 Entertainment comprises of four young, energetic and versatile lads who came together to form an event management company Called ' 9 Entertainment". All the members are successful businessmen in Margao and are keen in making a difference in society. This " Summer T 10' is inaugural show of 9 Entertainment's in aid of 'Valentines Little Heaven' Orphanage in Colva, in association with Tuborg.

9 Entertainment consists of Francis Fernandes involved in transport and automobile industry, Nevin Gomes, a successful travel agent in Margao, Nexson Lopes, a civil contractor by profession and Wendy Gomes a Real Estate Developer and civil contractor. For details contact at: 9922209990, 9922562192, 9822585812 and 9822134649. Email: g9entertainment@yahoo.com Passes Available at: Champs Panjim and Margao, Paulo Travel Service, Paulo tourist centre Margao, Pirates, Mickey's and Fish land Colva, Travelex Tour, below St Alex hall, Curtorim.

Yog shibir at Farmagudi

PANJIM(HND): Baba Ramdev Swami will be organizing a Yog shibir from May 1 to May 4 at Goa Engineering college grounds at Farmagudi. Donation coupons are priced at rs 11 and available at Vidya Patanjali Chikitsalay, Teen Bldg Porvorim, Hotel Manoshanti, Panjim and Shop Inn at Panjim.

Computer teachers along with the management and staff of Fr Agnel College, Pilar.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

As the PGDCET course designed for the computer teachers comes to an end, the trainee teachers of the Pilar center organised a farewell function at Fr Agnel College, Pilar recently.

T h e c h i e f g u e s t Re v Fr Fredrick Rodrigues, Principal of Fr Agnel College, Pilar and the Co-coordinator of the course along with the Educational Technology lecturers Euthemia Fernandes, Muriel Fernandes, Amita Bhaimbar; Information Technology lecturer Melissa Rodrigues and the non teaching staff Prajot Naik, Max Fernandes, Sanjay Kalangutkar and Mohan Gawas were accorded a warm welcome motion with a march to the beats of music.

The programme commenced with a welcome song and the Theme "Good Work, Well Done, God Bless You" was displayed.

The computer teachers presented the guests with floral bouquets as a token of appreciation for the services rendered by them.

Center-in-Charge, Virendra Mangueshkar welcomed the gathering by saying how Pilar Center emerged as one of the

11 centers in Goa to conduct the PGDCET course. He also praised the Principal Rev Fr Fredrick Rodrigues for creating a homily atmosphere. Pilar center has been considered as one of the best centers among all the 11 centers, he added.

The short entertainment programme continued with an Instrumental music played by Jose Pereira. A flash back of the struggle which highlighted the pains endured by the computer teachers was shown on the LCD. A solo song sung by Josephine Araujo brought emotions to the forefront as she sang how the officials would keep repeating ‘be assured your work will be done.’

Speaking on the occasion, Rev Fr Fredrick Rodrigues was all praises for the computer teachers for their unity, co-operation, sincerity, hardworking, and the smooth functioning of the PGDCET course. He was also happy with the fact that the university had no complaints whatsoever with the Pilar center. He also suggested a get together every year to keep in touch and also share our IT skills. He also appreciated the different talents projected by the computer teachers for the

INDEF meet deliberates on promotional policies of engineers HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 26

SGPDA ‘helpless’ in cracking whip on temple construction

n The speakers at the meeting stated that graduate engineers in Goa are not getting their first promotion even after serving for 21 years.

After detailed discussions, the INDEF demanded that graduate engineers should be designated as assistant engineers grade II as is being done in other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, etc.

“The cadre of Superintendent Engineer should be graduated to the pay scale of PB IV with the grade pay of Rs 8,700. In Goa, Superintendent engineers are given pay scale of PB III with grade pay of Rs 7,600,” demanded INDEF.

They further demanded that the engineering department should be headed by engineering secretary as being done in as many as 14 states of Indian Union and the career prospects of the engineers should be brought on par with Indian Administrative Service, namely new pay scales after four, nine and 13 years of service.

During the meeting, new office bearers of INDEF (Western Region) were elected. Engineer K V Srikrisnan was elected secretary general of Western Region.

INDEF (Western Region) Chairman A B Thakre, Secretary General Rajesh Misra and U P Lawande addressed the meeting.

On the occasion, PWD Principal Chief Engineer A M Wachasunder was felicitated with shawl and a memento for his services to the engineering committee.

P V Lawande welcomed the gathering, A K Deshmukha compered the function, while K V Srikrishnan proposed the vote of thanks.

efforts that they put in to make this day a memorable one.

The programme continued with the teachers singing the most popular and traditional Goencho Mando.

BCA staff of Fr Agnel College and the youngest faculty of Information Technology, Melissa Rodrigues, also spoke on the occasion. She said, though the 1st Semester was a little tough with the adjustments but then later on there was a very good rapport and co-operation among the teachers. Josephine Araujo also spoke on the occasion appreciating the meritorious services and the dedication rendered by each of the lecturers. She also praised Melissa Rodrigues for her efforts, hard work, patience, simplicity, sincerity and for being appointed as the youngest IT lecturer in the P6DCET team conducted by the university.

Leena D’Mello proposed the vote of thanks and ended the evenings programme with a farewell song followed by a small get together with the video clippings of the beautiful memories of the PGDCET course being played in the background.

Josephine Araujo compered the function.

Corneal transplant at Vrundavan HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

On 15 April 2010, a major milestone in Ophthalmic and Medical field was achieved at Vrundavan Hospital and Research Centre, Mapusa wherein a 60 year male having corneal blindness due to infection underwent a Corneal transplant for restoration of his sight. This is the first corneal transplant in the State. This is also the first organ transplant of any kind to be performed in the State.

This surgery provides a ray of hope for all persons suffering from corneal blindness in the state who earlier had to travel outside the state for treatment. However, the Rotary Eye bank of Goa and Dr Digambar Naik Managing Director, Vrundavan Hospital emphatically stated that awareness for eye donation amongst Goan population would be able to provide the doctors of the eye bank of sufficient corneal tissue to meet the needs of corneally blind people in the state, says a press release.

Symposium at Bicholim

MAYEM(HC): Deendayal Janseva Pratishthan, Bicholim, will organize a symposium on ‘Bye Bye to Bye-pass’ at Deendayal Bhavan hall on May 2 at 10 am.

Dr Gurudatt Amin from Sane Care Madhavbag Cardiac Treatment Hospital, Khopoli-Maharashtra, will be the keynote speaker. Deendayal Pratishthan Chairman Kanta Patnekar and Vice President Vallabh Salkar have requested the people to attend the symposium in large numbers.

Meditation camp at Mardol

MAYEM(HC): Shivdatta Blessings Trust, Goa, will organize 11-day residential meditation camp at Shri Shantadurga Shankhavaleshwari hall, Gauthan-Veling, Mardol, from May 1.

The camp will be held in three sessions. The first session ‘Gurukhand’ will be held on May 1 and 2, followed by Shikhand from May 3 to 6 and third session ‘Shaktikhand’ from May 7 to 11.

Participants will be given residential facility on first come first serve basis and the entry in the further sessions will be given only after attending the previous session.

The motive behind organizing the camp is to learn, practice meditation and achieve power of divine energy, prevent and heal diseases, besides having benefits of higher soul attachments. For details, contact on 09860232084, 09422443152, 09226501499 or visit www.healing and meditation.com.

Seminar at Raia

PANJIM(HND): SVD Seminary, Raia, will host a three-day National Pro-life Seminar from May 1 to 3. The theme of the seminar is “Strengthen the Family - Safeguard the Society.” Fr Joseph Silva, Episcopal Vicar, South Goa, is the main celebrant at the Inaugural Eucharist. The seminar features inspiring talks by experienced pro-lifers. The keynote address is to be delivered

by Milagres Pereira, President, Artists for Life, Goa. The sessions during the seminar include sharing by Krupa Pro-lifers on topics such as Woman – the Masterpieces of God, Five Languages of Love and personal experiences of people working with unwed mothers and victimized women. Fr Alex Fernandes from Karwar will share about his Call to Priesthood and other speakers will highlight the challenges, hardships and persecutions as pro-lifers. The seminar will conclude with a pro-life musical show, says a press release.

POWER SHUTDOWN ApRiL 27 SANCOALE: Areas affected Pinky Shipyard, Robert Vales Shipyard, Marman Shipyard, Zorint, Sancoale and surrounding areas PORVORIM: Between 9 am to 2 pm. Housing Board, Kranti Nagar, Maruthi Temple, Journalist Colony, Pundalik Nagar, Sunjay School and surrounding areas.

PORVORIM: Between 2 pm to 5.30 pm. Torda, Vijay Nagar, Alto-Torda, Ganesh Temple, Torda, 20-Point Colony and surrounding areas.

PONDA: Between 7am to 11am. Areas affected are Haveli, Surekar Parkar, Nagzari, Antruj Nagar, Panditwada, Upper Bazar, Canara bank, Kaziwada, Super market, Bus stand, Police station, SBI, Goa state co-op. bank.

CARAMBOLIM: Between 9am to 2pm. Areas affected are Jyoti estate, Church wado, Calwado, Volwado of Corlim village, Saklem, Gausbhat, Khandir and Khalpore of Carambolim village.

BICHOLIM: Between 9am to 2pm. Areas affected are Pirna VP, Menkurem VP, Dhumasa VP, Amtane VP and surrounding areas.

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GOA, TUESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2010

CMC turning blind eye on illegal constructions Chaudi councillor assaults local

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 26

The alleged Canacona Municipal Council’s (CMC) lethargy in turning a nelson’s eye towards rampant illegal constructions on civic lands took a violent turn on Monday morning with Chaudi councillor allegedly assaulting a resident for questioning him over an ongoing illegal construction activity.

Canacona police have registered a non-cognizable complaint against CMC Deputy Chairman Dilip Kenkre on charges of assaulting one Viraj Pai of Chaudi. Police registered the offence under Section 323 IPC against Kenkre.

In a second application to the police, the complainant accused the deputy chairperson of threatening to kill him.

Narrating the sequence of events, Pai informed that taking advantage of the holidays, residents noticed that since Saturday some people were carrying out construction with bricks and cement in place of an existing wooden kiosks already illegally existing over a septic tank of CMC building next to Chaudi church.

“Being a weekend holiday, I informed ward councilor Dilip Kenkre about the developments, who informed that he will come and examine the alleged illegal construction the next day in-

Wooden kiosk converted into a cemented bricks shop on Canacona Municipal Council land.

stead of coming and stopping it then and there,” said Pai. “On Monday morning, he came and called me at the place and arrogantly questioned me why I am complaining and let them do the work.”

“When pressed further why illegal activity is allowed over our building’s septic tank, he shouted that we are not his voters and moreover we are also paying very less taxes to the council. He then suddenly came and attacked me. He gave three slaps on my face and threatened to kill me by cutting me into pieces,” stated Pai. When asked why a complaint was not lodged in CMC over illegal

constructions on Monday morning, he said: “We thought ward councilor will take suitable action, but we are filing a complaint through advocate now to municipal authorities over illegal construction patronaged by this councilor. We are also seeking action against the deputy chairperson for assaulting people when approached with complaints.”

Some residents from Chaudi including Shelter Gracias, excouncilor Stanley Gracias, Sandip Komarpant and Shelly Gracias, have demanded strict police action against Kenkre.

However, efforts to contact Kenkre proved futile as he was not available for his comments.

17 wounded in bus-truck collision at Bhoma

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

A new scheme has been proposed fund works outsourced by panchayats.

The scheme will be placed for Cabinet approval, shortly, Menino D’Souza, Director of Panchayat told Herald on Monday.

The scheme intends to provide funds towards expenses such as payment for cattle pound keepers, common services (for transporting garbage by two-three panchayats together), payments to Non-Government Organisation (NGOs) hired for taking care of stray dogs.

As per a High Court directive, every panchayat has to have a cattle pound set up in the village. It is required to impound cattle found on the road. The panchayats are free to auction impounded cattle.

It also means that a panchayat has to hire services of cattle pound keeper and incur an expenditure of Rs 4500 a month on him as payment of wages.

The scheme would facilitate in meeting this expenditure.

Currently there is no provision for this kind of expense as also to meet expenses incurred on stray dogs through NGOs. “While municipalities have provision towards this kind of expenses, panchayats don’t,” said D’Souza, panchayat director explaining the purpose of the scheme.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, APRIL 26

About 17 passengers were injured in a collision between a bus and a truck near Bhoma-Adcolna panchayat, Bhoma-Ponda, on Monday evening.

According to Ponda police, the accident occurred at about 4 pm when the bus (GA-01 T7254), which was on its way towards Ponda, collided against a truck (MP-07-HB 1776), which was proceeding towards Panjim.

The truck while negotiating a turn collided head-on with the bus. Few eye witnesses have blamed the truck driver for the

mishap, as they claimed that the truck was overtaking on the turn.

The bus driver, who was trapped in his seat, was rescued by Ponda fire force. “We used the cutter and a spreader tool to free the driver, who was trapped in the mangled bus cabin. The operation lasted for nearly 25 minutes,” informed leading Ponda fire station fire fighter hawaldar S D Gaonkar.

Soon after the accident, the truck driver fled from the scene, while the injured truck cleaner was given first aid at a medical clinic at Mardol.

Quami Bedari held at Valpoi

Photo by Amresh Parab

Ponda traffic cell’s Head Constable Anandrai Rane, who was returning from Panjim after attending a training programme said: “We shifted injured passengers in 108 Ambulance and the bus driver to GMC Hospital at Bambolim.”

The accident left a serpentine vehicle queue stretching over a kilometer in both the directions.

However, the traffic was normalised only after both the vehicles were shifted using a crane at about 6 pm.

However, no details of the injured people were available with Ponda police.

Amonkar elected dy sarpanch of Penha-deFrance p’yat

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has strongly condemned the inaction of the police against the perpetrators of violence against John Fernandes within their own halls.

This clearly marks the increase in harassment of activists in the mining belt by the vested interests with obvious collusion of the Goa State Administration, GBA said in a press note issued here.

The people of Ambaulim, Colomb, Tilamol, Quepem, Sanvordem are made to run from pillar to post by the Administration that turns a blind eye to the overloaded and overspeeding trucks along the narrow village roads, it said.

Delay tactics have been adopted by the Goa Government and the Goa Administration alike to frustrate the genuine demands of the citizens. “We still await action on the 54 cases of mining illegalities that have been submitted to the secretary of the Chief Minister [TCP, Forests, WRD, Mines and Public Grievances], Mr Raajiv Yaduvan-

shi on 21st April”, GBA secretary reboni Saha said.

Meanwhile, GBA members said that Secretary to CM, TCP Mr RaajivYaduvanshi, appears to have gone back on his commitment made on 19 April to the GBA delegation and reiterated at the start of the structured meeting of 21 April, 2010, that the meeting would be minuted and action would be taken as a consequence thereof.

When the Convener of the GBA called him to enquire if the directions have indeed been issued as promised, she was informed that the report was sent in a file to the Chief Minister and his response was awaited.

In turn, the CM informed that he would send the file back to the Secretary with his observations noted therein for necessary action “by the end of the week”.

The GBA has warned the Goa Government and the Goa Administration that frustration is building up and patience is running out among the people of Goa even as they continue to treat negotiations as a mockery.

Quepem panel demands arrest of perpetrators

Convention of school heads at Fatorda HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

The Salcete Taluka Level School Complex Committee will hold the annual convention for the heads of the high schools and higher secondary schools on April 30 at Our Lady of Rosary high school hall, Fatorda.

Committee president Gromiko Fernandes said the inaugural function will be presided over by the President of Diocesan Society of Education, Fr Antimo Gomes and the convention will be addressed by the Director of Education Dr Celsa Pinto on the Right to Education Act. The key note address will be delivered by the Principal of GVN College of Education, Ponda Dr Luis Vernol on Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation.

Chief Scientist, Goa State Council for Science and Technology, Dr Joseph D’Souza will deliver a talk on Climate change.

The bus and a truck that met with an accident at Bhoma-Ponda.

GBA condemns police inaction over assault on activist

Scheme to tackle stray cattle, dogs in villages

Quepem Taluka Mining Affected People’s Front members submit a memorandum to Quepem SDM. HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, APRIL 26

The Quepem Taluka Mining Affected People’s Front on Monday demanded immediate arrest of the two persons in connection with the assault on Herald’s correspondent John Fernandes and Pobre Fernandes on Friday.

In a memorandum to Quepem Police, the Front has demanded the arrest of Eupociano Pereira alias Evaristo Pereira and Soccor D’Costa within 48 hours, failing which the Front has threatened to

demonstrate at Quepem police station.

The memorandum strongly condemned the attack on John Fernandes and inaction of the police to take cognizance of the complaint filed against the accused.

“The accused persons had the audacity to assault the complainant while he was in the custody of the police force after submitting the complaint and was awaiting medical checkup as directed by the police officer on duty,” stated the memorandum.

Authorities crack whip on scrapyards near Arlem junction HEARLD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

After turning a blind eye to the illegal yards, the district authorities have finally cracked a whip against the two illegal scrapyards that have mushroomed along the eastern bypass near the Arlem junction.

The demolition operation was ordered by deputy Collector and the exercise was taken up by the demolition squad upon a requisition made by the Salcete mamlatdar.

The two illegal scrap yards

were in the news recently after a delegation of Fatorda Block Congress Committee called on the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to raze down the illegal structures.

A joint Mamlatdar, who was drafted for magisterial duties, initially gave the occupants of the scrap yards 10 minutes to clear the items or face demolition.

GPCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai, who had petitioned to the Chief Minister to clear the paddy fields of the two

scrap yards, said the local MLA Damu Naik do not hesitate to project him as the protector of illegalities in Fatorda, but added that the demolition of the two scrap yards shows that he would not tolerate any illegal activity.

O n t h e c o n t r a r y, t h e GPCC general secretar y said the local ML A did not initiate any steps to get the two scrap yards though he has been passing on the Eastern bypass almost ever y day.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 26

A women representative speaks at Quami Bedari programme at Valpoi.

Photo by Ashraf Khan HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, APRIL 26

Ittihad-e-Millat of Valpoi organised a programme ‘Quami Bedari’ at Unity High School hall, Valpoi, on Sunday.

All India Milli Council State Chairman Iqbal Mohiddin was the chief guest for the function, while Association of Goa Muslim Jamats President Shaikh Bashir Ahmed was the guest of honour.

Maulana Mufti Mohammad Hanif Quasmi was the special invitee. All the guests spoke on the teachings of Islam.

The programme which was aimed at bringing Sattari taluka Muslim community members under one platform for the wel-

fare of the community evoked good response. Over 300 Muslims attended the programme.

The programme commenced with ‘Qirrat’, which was recited

by Maulana Bashir Ahmed Misbahi.

Maulana Mufti Noor Mohammad Quasmi briefed on the main objective of the get together of Muslim brethren and sisters.

Shaikh Kamruddin and Women representative Anna Sahaf Shah also spoke on the occasion.

Haji Majid Aga presided over function,.Fehmida Khan compered the function, while Shaikh Badruddin proposed the vote of thanks.

Reshma Amonkar was elected unopposed deputy sarpanch of the 11-member Penha-de-France Panchayat. It may be recalled that the post had fallen vacant after former deputy sarpanch Visranti Dessai was voted out of office in no-confidence motion, which was passed against her by 6-0 votes.

Block Development Office Mapusa had convened a special meeting on April 26 to elect the deputy sarpanch in the panchayat office at Britona.

Sarpanch Gopal Sawant, Panchas Subhash Kalangutkar, Rajendra Naik, Jhanavi Bhonsale, Mohamad Badekhan, Reshma Amonker and Rajesh Volvoikar attended the meeting.

Block Development Office Extension Officer S V Naik conducted the election proceedings and Panchayat Secretary M S Mardolker assisted him. Since Amonkar was the lone candidate who had filed nomination for the post of deputy sarpanch, she was declared elected unopposed.

The illegal scrapyard near Arlem junction.

One held guilty for attempt to murder HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 26

Additional South Goa sessions Judge P V Kamat on Monday held guilty one Rajashekar for the offence of attempt to mur-

der one Damul Fulkar.

In this case, the accused had stabbed Damu with a knife in an incident that took place near the Old Railway Station, Margao on January 1.

The prosecution had charged the accused for stabbing the victim on his body and in support of its case had examined around nine witnesses, including the Investigating Officer.

“It will be solely responsible for the consequences if the people decide to leave the negoti-

ating table and take affirmative action to protect their right to life”.

INDIA

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GOA, TUESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2010

EU looking to better ties with India on terror PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Seeking to provide a "new dimension" to their otherwise "neglected" relations, European Union (EU) today said it is committed to expand its ties with India beyond trade and commerce to include issues of security and terrorism.

"Not only in terms of trade, the EU is seeking fruitful dialogue with India on security, terrorism and climate change, apart from greater cooperation in energy security, cultural and peop l e t o p e o p l e e xc h a n g e , " Graham Watson, Chairman of Delegation for Relations with India, said.

"In the past, EU has rather neglected relations with India but it is definitely seeking to expand and intensify contacts with India," Watson said.

Lauding the government for its "excellent policy" of fighting Naxals in Andhra Pradesh, Watson said the EU has a "huge interest" in working with India on issues related to terrorism.

Daniele Smajda, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of European Commission to India, said they wanted a "new dimension" in EU-India relations.

"Our relations encompass a wide range of important subjects from global security and climate change to the promotion of an open multilateral trading system," Smajda, who is part of an eight-member visiting delegation, said.

Smajda said although there have been many official delegations to India, the relation between European Parliament and the Indian Parliament remains a "weak" part.

"This is a little weak part inspite of several very important visits by delegations, perhaps it needs to be more regular," said Smajda.

Another Member of the European Parliament Lena Kol a r s k B o b i n s ka s a i d , " We perceive India as crucial for stability of the region, "while praising the country's democratic set up.

Digvijay blamed for Naxalism rise PTI RAIPUR, APRIL 26

Hitting back at Digvijay Singh for his "buck stops with the Chief Minister" remark following the Dantewada massacre of security forces, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh today described the Congress General Secretary as "intellectually dishonest" and blamed him for rise in Naxalism menace in the state.

"Whether Union Home Minister Chidambaram is intellectually arrogant or not, I have no hesitation to say that Digvijay Singh is intellectually dishonest for a deliberate, motivated and deceitful article," Raman Singh said in a statement.

Asking Chidambaram to rethink counter-Maoist strategy and not treat Naxalism as a mere law and order problem, the Congress leader in an article earlier this month had termed him as "intellectually arrogant".

Also, the article had said, "As far as law and order is concerned, the buck stops with the

Chief Minster, not with the Home Minister. Why is the Home Minister taking the flak when it is the Chief Minister who should be answering the questions?"

Slamming the Congress leader, the Chief Minister said, "Digvijay Singh talks about development first without realising that unless the state is able to dominate and control the areas, development cannot be achieved."

"Development cannot be a pre-condition in the fight against Naxals. Over the years Naxalites have destroyed hospitals, schools and panchyat buildings... Most of these areas have become inaccessible to dispense government services," the Chief Minister said.

All talk about development without effectively tackling Naxalism is over-simplification and a manifestation of seeing the vexed problem of Naxalism through tinted glasses, he said.

Fardeen case: Gomes' plea turned down PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 24

A special NDPS court today rejected the discharge plea of an accused in the Fardeen Khan drugs case.

The accused, Anthony Gomes, had sought to be discharged from the case, claiming that he was falsely implicated in the case and that the chemical analysis report from the forensic science laboratory failed to show a significant percentage of cocaine in the tested drug sample.

The prosecution however opposed the discharge plea saying Gomes was the main accused, who supplied drugs to co-accused Nasir Shaikh who in turn gave it to actor Fardeen Khan.

"The FSL report indicated that the actual percentage of cocaine in the seized substance is not enough to prove the charges against the accused," Gomes's plea stated.

Gomes's lawyer argued that the report does not mention any percentage of cocaine, which means that not even 0.1 per cent of cocaine - the bare minimum required under the NDPS Act - was detected in the test.

He also argued that the police had not recovered any drugs from Gomes and that he was arrested only on the basis of the statement of a co-accused.

Special NDPS Judge A A Bhatkar however, refused to accept the argument and rejected the plea.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested Fardeen outside an ATM in suburban Juhu on May 5, 2001 for allegedly possessing cocaine. While Fardeen claimed he had attempted to purchase only one gram of cocaine from Nasir, the NCB alleged that nine grams of cocaine was recovered from Fardeen and Nasir.

JNU debates dog 'menace' on campus PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

After countless heated debates over issues ranging from international relations to local elections, students at Jawaharlal Nehru University are at it again - this time they are discussing dogs in earnest!

After the alleged killing of a dog in 2008 created a furore among animal lovers, the ever increasing population of canines in the university campus has drawn battle lines between students now.

Constantly being bitten by stray dogs, visually - challenged students of the university have initiated a debate to find a solution to the problem.

"This is a psycho disease called animal love. Dogs are found sleeping in middle of roads, on the stairs and even resting in air conditioned ATMs. They do not

hesitate to ferocious bite if some one even unintentionally looks at them," says Rasheed, convener of visually-challenged forum at the university.

The numerous dhabas in the campus are favourite haunts for the dogs who are offered left overs by students some of whom even purchase food for the animals.

"It is a genuine problem for visually-challenged students.

They have to bear the burnt of stray dogs in the campus whose numbers just keep growing," says Associate Dean of Students, Prof Sachidanand Sinha.

"People in JNU are animal lovers. And our efforts to control canine population have not been productive. Apart from talking to NGOs and MCD, we are seeking opinion from our legal dept on the issue," he adds.

OHERALDO

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OPINION

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www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Grain Liquor Crisis

Vol No CX No: 109 Goa, Tuesday 27 April, 2010

T

Health... is wealth?

hese days, our State’s apex health institution the Goa Medical College and Hospital at Bambolim, bears the look of a construction site. Though the GMC campus is itself fairly new—it was built only in the mid-1980s, and part of it first utilised for the fledging Goa University—it is being renovated on a major scale.

It’s perfectly fine to want to keep up with the times, to expand and to grow more efficient. The problem is, however, that despite so much money being spent on building and maintaining the ‘infrastructure’, the average citizen of Goa still gets an abysmally poor deal with it comes to health-care.

Politicians like the double-FRCS former health minister Dr Wilfred de Souza presided over the construction and shift-over from the old GMC Complex in the heart of Panjim to Bambolim. Given the strong contractor lobby overactive in the State, it might not be fair to just blame our politicians alone, but a lot has indeed gone wrong. In recent times, health minister Vishwajeet Rane has come up with so many new—and some controversial—initiatives and plans. The question is: will this at all offer hope to the patient?

After spending many crores on concrete, and despite it (or because of it), the health system in Goa seems to be creaking. Much of the health budget goes into building structures and paying salaries. This is more than obvious from the fact that patients are made to bear a heavy bill whenever they fall sick. With the cost of medicine going up sharply in recent times—thanks to changes in the patent laws and other factors -- this becomes extremely difficult on not just the poor but even the middle-class.

What is the point of offering “free” treatment, if the medicines are so un-affordably costly?

Besides this, GMC and Goa’s district hospitals too clearly face managerial issues. Look at the long queues, crowded wards, difficult sanitation situation, and it becomes more than clear that Goa is being short-charged.

Another problem area is the manner in which Goa has been— or rather, has not been—building up its own skills and infrastructure. In recent years, the Goa government’s approach (regardless of which party has been in power) has been to promote the Mediclaim policy. If a particular line of treatment, or specialisation, is not available in Goa, then a patient can claim a reimbursement for treatment in hospitals outside the State.

So far so good. This almost seems to be a win-win-win situation.

The patient gets the healthcare without paying for it. The government meets its obligation. And the insurance companies do their job.

But the situation is not that simple. Why should outstation hospitals benefit as the taxpayer’s money gets channelised via the insurance firms involved? More than that, such a policy has resulted in the neglect of Goa’s own infrastructure. In the name of claiming outstation treatment for free, nothing has been done to build up specialisations here—for treatment even of heart or cancer complications for instance. Beneficiaries of Mediclaim also drop hints about how patients could be getting diverted away from the best hospitals, and how there is reason to suspect on what basis beneficiary hospitals are chosen.

The test of the pudding is in the eating. When our VVIPs, including the politicians and their kin, fall ill, they prefer to bypass Goa’s own health-care system, which they themselves had a hand in creating.

There are many committed doctors, nurses and other health professionals manning our hospitals. Hospitals still retain a touch of kindness, despite all the collapsing infrastructure, over politicisation and political interference, and intense corporatisation of the health-care sector. But our hospitals are no longer centres of efficiency, which once attracted patients from well beyond Goa’s borders. Today, many from Goa trek to Belgaum, Manipal, Bombay, Bangalore, Vellore or Madurai to meet their healthcare needs. We need to ponder why this is happening; at the very least, the professionals in the system should be given a chance to manage affairs efficiently and as per their own judgement.

Stop road rage Michael Vaz, Merces That Goa is known for innumerable road accidents. It appears that the traffic rules are supposedly meant only for the rule books. The way they are flouted by every section of vehicle users is really appalling.

The result is we are only mute spectators to large number of accidents that take place on our roads. There was a genuine proposal to fit the heavy vehicles with speed governors. Unfortunately that too has been shelved – one doesn’t know the reason. In this context the accident that occurred at Verna when 27 passengers on board the illfated bus were injured due to reckless over speeding should be an eye opener. Such was the height of rash and negligent driving that the bus after negotiating the turn at high speed, lost grip of the road and rode on just two wheels for some distance, before ramming on the ground and then dragged for several meters. One can imagine the horror of the stunned passengers inside.

Stringent action needs to be taken against the drivers especially manning the public transport vehicles, who are found violating the traffic rules and endangering the lives of the commuters.

Shame on the govt Marcos Alemao, Varca The Congress government of Digamber Kamat should be ashamed of the two ugly incidents wherein some criminal elements posed as doctor and robbed patients in the Gynaecology ward of GMC last month and in Hospicio hospital, Margao on April 22.

These two occurrences manifest that the

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

27 April, 1910 Being the Feast of Corpus Christi, there was no edition dated 27..

The purposeful production of alcohol reflects the cultural, religious social and geographical conditions writes PRABHAKAR KULKARNI

A

lcohol is well known for its medicinal qualities. It is antiseptic and its well known brand ‘Doctor’s Brandy’ is at times even prescribed for cough and cold. The purposeful production of alcoholic beverages is common in many cultures and often reflects their cultural and religious peculiarities as much as their geographical and sociological conditions. The discovery of late Stone Age beer jugs has established the fact that purposely fermented beverages existed at least as early as 10,000 BC. It has been suggested that beer may have preceded bread as a basic diet.

While alcohol has glorious history and is known for its medicinal value, its addiction is dangerous and large number of poor families, mostly in rural areas and also in urban areas are ruined by liquor addiction and that too by country liquor addiction.

Women in rural families are coming on streets to demand prohibition and closure of liquor shops which are safely maintained to earn money and also kept safe by law enforcing authorities who are known to be bound by lure of money. Even when a liquor shop was closed by majority of voting by rural women, a state minister stayed the closure order which then became a matter of another agitation. Ultimately that stay order had to be cancelled. Now the Maharastra government whose chief minister belongs to the Congress party which has tradition of 125 years and had stalwarts like Mahatma Gandhi whose anti-liquor campaign is quite well known, has initiated a scheme to let a few organizations allow producing liquor out of grains like Jawar. These organizations are exposed to be belonging to political leaders whose direct or indirect relatives are promoters of these companies.

When the state government’s decision to encourage the grain liquor production was exposed in print media, there was lot of criticism by social activists and famous personalities like Dr.Abhay Bang and ex-Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari. They issued an elaborate statement to the press criticizing the government’s decision and that too giving subsidy to grain liquor producing companies. When the criticism was so severe and the government was the target from all quarters, the decision to give subsidies to the companies is declared to be withdrawn, although the fact whether the subsidies are already given or not is not yet confirmed.

Congress leaders and ministers then started

Drink Disaster propaganda that sub-standard grains which cannot be used for human consumption will be used for liquor production. Besides, Congress leader and Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh declared that whatever is to be produced is industrial alcohol and not the liquor used for human consumption.

This point is however countered by a news-report in a Marathi daily which got the information under the Right to Information Act and stated that it is not only industrial alcohol but also the liquor which is used for human consumption. This disclosure has again triggered agitation against liquor production. ‘Jan Jagruti Samiti’ of Kolhapur in southern Maharashtra came out on streets with senior citizens and prominent social activists who have protested against the state-government sponsored liquor production. The slogan and placards hoisted by these activists pointed out that the new liquor production has absorbed Rs.25 thousand crores and demanded that instead of spending money for such damaging liquor, utilize the money for providing food to more that 84 lakhs of people who are starving without food.

Even the advanced countries which have real-

The Accidental Activist

A Woman is Priceless

I

’ve had multiple jobs in my life. Some I did just to survive, others I did because they were such a blast. Just a few of the things I have been are - professional clown at children’s parties, theatre director, art director, rally driver, the Sunsilk girl, ramp model, and the voice for a hand puppet called ‘Inky Ponky’. The only thing I have never introduced myself as, is ‘housewife’ – even though I have fulfilled that function in all but official name as well.

If ever I had to say it, I’d choose the more accurate ‘home maker’ and I’d say it with my chin held up. For the last two months I have been nothing except a home maker. Mother has been away, visiting my sister in Canada and I have opted to cook, clean and manage all for myself. And let me tell you that the next man who struts his designation and introduces his wife with ‘oh she’s just a housewife’ – is going to get a poke in the eye from me. Forget the husbands, women themselves always produce the word apologetically, as if it is something to be looked down upon, something that marks them as not quite worthy. Sister! Take it from me, you are more than worthy. And just so that you know it, I’ve jotted down the actual value that a woman gives to a home. Value that is always discounted and dismissed as merely ‘her job’. Let me tell you what

Goans are not secure under the present Congress government. What is the point of having securities in these two hospitals, when unknown persons posing as doctors enter the hospital premises under the nose of the security? Where were the nurses on duty when the con doctor robbed the female patients? Who was the nurse, whom the con doctor asked to give injection to the patient?

It is better to discard the securities and install CCTVs in every ward instead.

This is the only solution to catch the culprits.

A new ball game Prof Robert Castellino, Calangute IPL-3 is finally over. A new ball game has just begun. The IT department has started ‘conducting nets’ for the big players. These players are likely to face a barrage of bouncers and short-pitched stuff from the IT boys.

Some players will be ‘caught’, others will retire ‘hurt’, but most cases are likely to be referred to the third umpire. Endless replays will follow. In the end virtually all will get the benefit of doubt. And IPL-4 will be bigger and richer for the big players and the organisers. And we, the common people will continue to be fools and spend good money to watch this tamasha.

Do a through job Pravin U Sardessai, Adpai The electricity department in Ponda has already started pre-monsoon maintenance work. It is a common practice every year to replace the non-working sodium vapour lamps or the tube-lights. Electrical poles without any fixtures are also provided the necessary fixtures. However, there is much more to be done in this respect. In Ponda, we notice many sodium vapour lamps existing without a protective cover. These covers need to be provided on priority basis.

Also, the accumulated dirt noticed in some of the lamps needs to be cleared at once.

The existing two fixtures present on the poles need to be thoroughly checked, so that if one goes out of order during the rains, the other can serve the basic purpose for the benefit of pedestrians and travellers alike. In case this is assured, the linesmen

ized the bad effects of liquor addiction have been trying their best to prevent production of liquor.

In this regard Yoga expert and doctor Dhananjay Gunde says Russia is trying to reduce number of Vodka drinkers while in Germany anti-wine campaigning has reduced the sale of wine by about twenty five percent. Ex-mayor of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation Shivajirao Kadam has pointed out that it is unfortunate that senior citizens are almost compelled to come out on street to oppose the production of grain liquor when liquor addiction has proved to be ruining human lives and families. Similar agitations at various places in Maharshtra have communicated the anti-grain liquor protest to the state government which is now expected to reassess its policy to encourage grain liquor production and declare its new version of the previous policy decision.

Those who are interested to produce liquor out of grains are coming forward with new strategic arguments. They say that grains like Jawar is not much in use like wheat and only bad quality of Jawar, mostly the rotten type, is being used for liquor. This will add to the price which Jawar

producing farmers gets normally and in a way farmers are benefited. The fallacy in the statement is obvious. Farmers are not producing Jawar for liquor production. They are producing it for human consumption and Jawar is used in many families.

In fact Jawar is more used in rural areas while wheat is used in urban areas. This means if Jawar get better price farmers will be benefited but it will be at the cost of what farmers’ families really need. Again if rotten Jawar is said to be used, it is uncertain whether even the best quality of Jawar is not asked for by enticing to pay more and better price. The arguments which are made to protect liquor producing companies are thus illfounded and farmers are misled by these arguments.

The state government is not in a mood to stop the liquor production as it is confirmed by the state chief minister Ashok Chavan. During his recent visit to Kolhapur, Mr.Chavan said, ‘ It is not now possible to prevent the production by the companies which are already given permission by the previous government and which have invested large amount. But no permission will be given in future.” When the question was raised in the recent Assembly session the Chief Minister has assured to reconsider the previous decision and not to allow similar grain liquor production in future. However as the concerned companies are indirectly related to the party men in power, it is obviously not possible to reverse the decision.

But the government can compel the concerned companies to produce only industrial alcohol and not the liquor for human consumption. That much can be done or if this much is not assured public agitation may continue for the demand.

In spite of harsh criticism the state government has not yet decided to discourage grain liquor production or to restrict it only to production of industrial alcohol. The cabinet is divided over the issue. The Nationalist Congress Party leader and state home minister R.R.Patil has clearly opposed the policy as he knows better what ails people who are enticed by liquor addiction the production of which should be prohibited instead of encouraged. If the state cabinet is so divided over the issue why should the Congress chief minister stick to the cabinet’s earlier decision, instead of revising it in larger public interest?

The revision is also in government’s interest as it will prevent further agitations and challenge to law and order.

you would be paying if that was actually a job.

Full time cook – Rs 2,500 at bare minimum. There are actually professionals in Mumbai who shop and provision the house for busy families. That daily trip to Mapusa market that you take for granted? It would cost you Rs200 a go. That is Rs 6000 a month.

How about full time nanny to the children? Forget that you can ever find a decent girl to take care of the children. Even if you found a midway decent one, you’d have to cope with her flirtation with the next door gardener, her stealing of shiny objects, and her sullenness when corrected. You’d also pay Rs 3000 minimum. That leaves us with the sweeping, the swabbing and the washing of dishes. Tot up another Rs2000. Wife looks after your old father and mother as well? Hmmm. Caregiver to the old is another profession that pays well – Rs 5000 a month if you were hiring somebody. The tab is Rs 18,500 and we haven’t even got to the big ticket items.

Wife sits down and gets the children to do their homework does she? A tutor would put you back another Rs1500 in a month.

She sorts out their quarrels, listens to their problems and teaches them the important things in life. That’s called counseling and you

GU rating disappointing

S Kamat, Alto Betim

The NAAC rating for Goa University is clearly disappointing. Considering the support the university got from the people of Goa against its conversion into a central university which was also ratified by the State Govt, the university administration should have pulled itself up by its bootstraps and excelled in their domain. They seem to have gone the other way of being complacent and redolent in the new found public support and in the process become indolent. This will not do. The Goa University has to and must live up to the promise of becoming an A grade university. That is the least that they can do for the people of Goa and India. However, one does not appreciate the manner in which the Secretary, Department of Education, is dealing with the matter of the lower rating that the Goa University got from the Central agency. Where is the necessity to write to the CM on this matter? The Secretary should realize that at the University he is dealing with educated and professional people and he could have just walked across to the Vice Chancellor and thrashed out the issue. If necessary, later, a meeting could have been convened with the Chancellor, the Governor of Goa and the CM. Dealing with important and critical matters in an oblique manner has been the hallmark of our bureaucracy. They little realize that such methods rarely work and are seen more in the nature of a complaint getting people’s backs all arched up or when the intention is to play politics. Surely the Secretary’s intention was not this and therefore if the aim was to do good for Goa and the University, let him approach the matter directly and in a forthright manner.

Stray dog menace D Desouza, by email I spent my early years in Goa and now reside in US. I still visit Goa almost every alternate year as it evokes many childhood memories.

My favourite spot is the Xelpem fountain in Duler, that I frequented with my childhood

won’t believe what you would have to pay for one session if you were in Canada! Two hundred dollars an hour is the going rate.

Let’s put down a mere Rs 5000. Now comes the real invisible work. Women put their careers on hold for their husbands and children. How many potential doctors, actors, lawyers, writers, professionals have we lost because they decided to put their needs second? The court now recognizes this. A woman who gave up her ambitions to support her husband’s flourishing career is now entitled to a lifetime percentage of his earnings – because he would never have had that career without her active support. So all you men who talk about your salary – by law part of that salary is not yours at all. The sweat and blood that built your career and those fancy figures on your pay slip were also contributed by your wife.

No longer ‘just a housewife’ is she? There is no price you can put on the biggest role that a woman plays – that of growing children, not only in her own body, but in a home that is warm and safe.

So sister – when I am introduced to you and you say ‘I’m a home maker’ – say it with pride. There is no ‘just’ about it. And if your husband dares say it – leave him to me. I have a wicked right swing.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

certainly need not the trouble of repairing the same during heavy showers. This becomes a difficult task. Lamps and tubelights with lower intensity need to be replaced with new ones, so that ample lightness is available on the main road during monsoons.

On several occasions, I have come across instances wherein maintenance work of poles has not been carried out for almost a year and sometimes even more. The electricity department in Ponda should undertake all-round maintenance work on all electric poles. No doubt, the ‘Aam Admi’ needs to be assured ample light on main roads during the monsoons.

By Venita Coelho

friends who have since emigrated to Australia, US and Canada. However at times, we still make a point to visit Goa together.

I just returned from US and attempted to visit Xelpem fountain to cool myself from the sweltering heat, but to my dismay, I was hounded by pack of dogs and I could only avoid being bitten by throwing stones at them but this is not very helpful as they attack you from all sides. I tried to visit the fountain by using different routes hoping to avoid the dogs, but the result was the same.

The residents who live in the area made no attempt to chase the dogs away and when questioned they say “the dogs come only running at, but do not bite.” This is not very reassuring since they attack you from all sides. I watched the news on the TV how a child in Margao was bitten by a stray dog that had rabbis. As a result of which I had to give up going to my favourite fountain, and had to tell my friends about

the incidents and warn them that it was no longer possible to go to the fountain.

As many outsiders visit the fountain, it would be helpful if the authorities could compel the owners to put a collar around their neck and a tag to know that they have been vaccinated against rabbis and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to the pedestrians, and to take appropriate steps to find a solution to the menace of stray dogs, bearing in mind that if a person is bitten by a dog having rabbis, he has to undergo painful injections on his abdomen. Remember: prevention is better than cure.

Powerless, powerless!

Savio Faleiro, Margao For some residents of Borda/Fatorda, it was but coincidental to read “Aleixo shocked over staff absence…” [Sunday Herald 25/April] considering the unsavory sweaty ordeals faced of late with regular power cuts lasting for as long as a shocking eight hours and even more and that too without the onset of monsoons in sight, in time of ‘development’ and technological progress, and by living, in case of Fatorda, just about 500 metres away from the concerned substation! Considering the good work generally done by the Electricity department and with the extremely good intentions and initiatives of the power minister himself, to discipline, streamline, improve and modernize the department to better standards, it is baffling to say the least as to why the ground personnel cannot rectify an apparently simple problem of one single phase going off time and again [three times in two days with average time of power cut lasting for almost 6 hours!]. It would be worth if the authorities concerned “reflect and appropriately act.”

Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and should have the writer’s name, address and telephone number. The editor reserves the right to edit letters for size and readability, and to delete any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable matter.

Paths of Wisdom Laws

By Kahlil Gibran “You delight in laying down laws, yet you delight more in breaking them.

Like children playing by the ocean who build sand-towers with constancy and then destroy them with laughter.

But while you build your sand-towers the ocean brings more sand to the shore, And when you destroy them, the ocean laughs with you. Verily the ocean laughs always with the innocent.

But what of those to whom life is not an ocean, and man-made laws are not sand-towers, But to whom life is a rock, and the law a chisel with which they would carve it in their own likeness?

What of the cripple who hates dancers?

What of the ox who loves his yoke and deems the elk and deer of the forest stray and vagrant things?

What of the old serpent who cannot shed his skin, and calls all others naked and shameless?

And of him who comes early to the wedding-feast, and when over-fed and tired goes his way saying that all feasts are violation and all feasters law-breakers?

What shall I say of these save that they too stand in the sunlight, but with their backs to the sun? They see only their shadows, and their shadows are their laws. And what is the sun to them but a caster of shadows? And what is it to acknowledge the laws but to stoop down and trace their shadows upon the earth?

But you who walk facing the sun, what images drawn on the earth can hold you? You who travel with the wind, what weathervane shall direct your course?

What man’s law shall bind you if you break your yoke but upon no man’s prison door?

What laws shall you fear if you dance but stumble against no man’s iron chains? And who is he that shall bring you to judgment if you tear off your garment yet leave it in no man’s path?

(Courtesy: The Prophet)

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INDIA

HE RA LD

Pg9

GOA, TUESDAY, 27 APRIL, 2010

OPinionatED

Goa(h) Goa(ns) Gone?

G

BY MARIA DE LIMA PEREIRA

oa is promoted as a prime tourist getaway in the world.

A land of sand, sea, surf. No I am not going to state another alliteration for which this beautiful land of mine is gaining infamy. For most of my young life, I’ve been an NRG (non-resident-Goan) living in Bombay (Mumbai ). Therefore I cannot help but compare the lifestyle of the two places where I have lived.

People who were born and lived most of their impressionable life during Goa’s Portuguese era tell of its glorious past. A time when joys were shared and sorrows divided –of course there certainly were also some extremely judgemental people who love to indulge in mudslinging on their ‘less fortunate’ fellowmen and women.

The hospitality and warm nature of native Goans that has often been spoken about seems fabled or akin to wishful thinking to me. For, most of the time since my return to Goa, I have not found these ‘natural’ Goan qualities on display.

In fact what I have found in plenty is isolation and segregation, especially of the less fortunate.(no exaggeration).

Here while the natives are quick to condemn their ‘less fortunate’ fellowmen especially the female population, with epithets ranging from ‘thontem, tiklem, poskem, rand baile and vanzudd etc., blithely blind to their own deficiencies or unwilling to accept that they too are human and therefore have deficiencies.

Being mentally handicapped is the worse form of disability.

No I do not mean what is normally termed as mentally challenged. This form of mental handicap that Goans I have encountered suffer from, is their belligerent, stick-in the mud, holier-than-thou attitude. But despite their sanctimonious attitude Goans flout rules flagrantly. Unlike in Bombay, where rules are strictly adhered to, in Goa the rules that the Government has made for driving cars or riding motorbikes and scooters, senior citizens and the disabled are not being implemented, or adhered to by the public. In public transport, the seats reserved for certain categories are occupied by ‘normal’ people, leaving disabled or senior citizen commuters standing for the entire journey, making me question ‘who is the really disabled or old person then?

The half ticket facility too is not being given and when questioned, the bus conductors and drivers, in both the State and private buses arrogantly reply that if it is not to people’s convenience or comfort, then they better arrange for private transport. And men find perverse pleasure in pushing the belief of women’s lib and equality in the face of women – for they will push and dash her as they rush to occupy vacant seats in the bus, making me again question, ‘who really is the weaker gender, both physically and emotionally? .

Most Goans it seems, haven’t heard the saying ‘United we stand, divided we fall’. And indeed various divisive forces are making merry, taking the utmost advantage of Goan disunity and narrow vision. Whenever I recall the differences in the two places that I have resided to my Goan acquaintances or colleagues, I am appalled by their belligerence in replies such as ‘If Bombay is better than Goa, why don’t you go back there. Why have you come here? My reply is, ‘this is the land of my ancestors, the land I love and want to do whatever I can to ensure its progress in the right way. They don’t seem to realise that this stick-in-the mud attitude really leaves them shackled with no scope for the right kind of development- mental development and thereby development of their land by gaining more knowledge, exploring newer horizons constantly. They watch the world from their small ‘prison’ window, wrongly thinking it is the entire view, and firmly resist any attempts to get them out of their ‘prison’ and view the beautiful wide world outside that welcomingly beckons them. They would prefer that you join them in their dungeon and share their view from the small ‘prison window’.

The ‘less fortunate’ instead of being embraced and helped, are condemned, isolated and segregated by Goans with narrow vision. This narrow vision is worsened by forcing Konkani as the compulsory medium of instruction. Don’t get me wrong, I love my maim bhas. It gives us our unique identity, a sense of belonging to a particular community with rich traditions. It has to be made a compulsory subject in schools and colleges, while keeping English as the main medium of instruction. English will help Goans when they go out into the wide world, otherwise they will be physically and emotionally handicapped. Foreign languages can be learned later in life if the need arises.

We lament about Goa having been over taken by bhailes, but then whose fault is it? Most certainly our own. How can we Goans grumble when we go in search of a better future to other states and countries? The natives there too could be lamenting that we the migrants there have taken over their land, just as we are forever grumbling about how we the natives are now a minority with our land being overtaken by the bhailes .Just as we have found lucrative opportunities in other lands, migrants have found opportunities here. And once we have migrated we do not bother about our ancestral homes or land. It is only when we return after being displaced or disillusioned by the ‘lands of opportunity’ that we cry foul in a case of ‘dog in the manger’. We then feel displaced and supplanted in our own land- a land which we had unthinkingly left, not bothering to look back . We , unthinking of the future sell our land to the highest bidder.

We must remember that money is not everything, that it makes for poor cold bedfellows. It affords us a shallow life.

All this has lead to the unfortunate trend where marriages having been increasingly occurring outside the community, state or even religion. And thus bhailes have been directly or indirectly entering the State and Goan community.

Our younger generation seems to be living a life of lassitude, giving the term sossegado a completely wrong interpretation. It seems that though globalisation has visited our tiny State, it hasn’t yet met the two adages’ time is money’ and ‘time and tide wait for no man’. It seems to be a joke in Goa about the flouting of the punctuality rule. For time is happily idled away and nothing ever starts at a given time. So to avoid frustration, boredom and irritation, it is advisable to go half an hour or more later than the given time, so that you are in fact actually in time. In the meantime, you can do things that are of utmost importance to you, instead of wasting your time doing nothing, or rather, letting others waste your time. It’s time we really wake up from our slumber, and join the world or we will be left behind and rue our fate when it’s absolutely too late. .

We as Goans must come out of our strait-jacket way of thinking, get out priorities right, take cognizance of the important issues that matter, try to correct the wrongs as much as we possibly can and work towards really developing our land.

And yes, just how we learn and work with various peoples in various lands, we can work together with them to develop our land – but we need the help of quality people, not migrant riff-raff who spoil the name our of land giving a wrong picture to the world. It is necessary is to ensure controlled migration. So Goans of the world, cast aside your differences and your horse-with-blinkers attitude, accept the new while adhering staunchly to the old and unite to save your land. Show the world that you are indeed a warm, loving, educated and hospitable people, willing to accept change for the better of your land.

SC quashes expulsion of Amarinder Singh PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

The Surpeme Court today quashed the expulsion of former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in a land "scandal" and ruled there was no breach of privilege by him but rather the state assembly "exceeded its powers."

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan cautioned if the legislature was allowed to expel members for their executive actions, then with every change of government, political rivals would be expelled by the ruling party on flimsy grounds frustrating parliamentar y democracy.

"It is our considered view that the Punjab Vidhan Sabha exceeded its powers by expelling the appellant (Singh) on the ground of breach of privilege when there existed none. The allegedly improper exemption of land was an executive act attributable to the appellant and it did not distort, obstruct or

threaten the integrity of legislative proceedings in any manner.

"Hence, the exercise of legislative privileges under Article 194 (3) of the Constitution was not proper in the present case," the bench, also comprising Justices R V Raveendran, P Sathasivam, J M Panchal and R M Lodha, said in an 89-page judgment.

Singh was expelled from the assembly and his seat declared vacant from the present 13th As-

sembly on September 3, 2008, for "breach of privilege" after a special committee appointed by the House held him guilty for the alleged irregularities that took place in Amritsar when he was the Chief Minister of Punjab.

The scam relates to grant of exemption on 32.5 acres of land in a prime area by Singh to certain land developers allegedly in violation of rules.

"If we were to permit the legislature to exercise privileges for acting against Members for their executive acts during previous terms, the courts are likely to be flooded with cases involving political rivalries.

"One can conceive that whenever there is a change of regime, the fresh incumbents would readily fall back on the device of legislative privileges to expel political opponents as well as dissidents. Such a scenario would frustrate some of the basic objectives of a Parliamentary democracy," Justice Balakrishnan writing the judgement said.

SUMMER SOLACE: A girl enjoying refreshing natural coconut water during a hot summer day in New Delhi on Monday.

Mamata defends expense for ads

Govt in no mood for JPC on IPL, phone tapping

CPI(M) wants law against phone tapping

At the party briefing, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said the final call on the issue of JPC for both the matters has to be taken by the government.

Singhvi, at the same time, mentioned the practical difficulties in constituting JPC to probe these issues.

"JPC does not have those statutory, penal and coercive powers which are with the country's regulatory and investigating agencies to punish the violators.

It is also possible that the ongoing probe into the IPL is impeded with a JPC taking up the matter," Singhvi said.

Referring to the performance of JPCs constituted in the past, Singhvi said, "The history of other JPCs in terms of penal outcomes or punishment to the guilty has not been encouraging."

Singhvi also dismissed suggestions of any contradiction in Home Minister P Chidambaram's

KOLKATA, APRIL 26

PTI

The CPI(M) today demanded a law against eavesdropping of telephone conversation by central surveillance agencies and said that alleged tapping of phones of party General Secretary Prakash Karat and others must stop immediately.

Stating that the advanced technology was imported in 2005 to keep a tab on terrorists, an editorial in CPI(M) mouthpiece 'Ganasakti' alleged the phones of Karat, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, NCP leader Sharad Pawar and Congress' Dijvijay Singh were also tapped.

"Under which law was the tapping ordered and by whom? Is this done in a democratic country? It amounts to betrayal of democracy," it said.

The fault of Karat, it said, was the CPI(M)'s decision to withdraw support to the UPA government over the nuclear deal "which would barter away India's sovereignty".

TARAKESWAR (WB), APRIL 26

PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Government appears to be in no mood to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe either the IPL controversy or phone tapping allegation, notwithstanding the strident demand the opposition has made on both the issues.

Congress sources said there was "no question of a JPC probe" on the either of the issues as it does not serve any purpose.

"Can the Home Minister make a false statement on the floor of the House? We cannot constitute a JPC at the drop of a hat," the sources added.

Regarding the demand of the opposition for a JPC on the raging IPL controversy, a minister shot back saying, "Is JPC equipped to look into the IPL? The money of government is not involved in IPL. Government is only concerned about the violation of laws and the agencies concerned are probing it".

Bedi may contest polls PTI BHOPAL, APRIL 26

India's first woman IPS officer, Kiran Bedi said here today that she may think of contesting elections if the Women's Reservation Bill aimed at providing 33 per cent reservation to women in Parliament and State Assemblies becomes mandatory.

"I may think of contesting elections if the Women's Reservation is implemented in the country," Bedi, who took voluntary retirement from the service few years back told reporters after a programme 'Spectrum 2010' organised by the Bhopal School of Social Sciences (BSSS).

When asked whether she thinks that in the present situation, the bill will be passed by Parliament, Bedi said, "I don't know". She also clarified that before that (Women's Bill) she will not enter politics even if any party offers her a ticket.

"It (offering of a party ticket) has already been happened and I had declined that offer," Bedi said.

When a student asked her whether women need 'Quota or

statement on the phone tapping issue saying it should be appreciated that the statement, which is a final one, has at the same time left the doors open for further probe if any more correct and credible information on the issue comes up.

"If any credible information comes forward, of course the guilty would be punished," Singhvi said hailing the statement as "very fair, balanced and public interest statement".

"There is no question of awareness of violation. Home Minister speaks as Government of India. He is speaking out the government's view," he said, dismissing suggestions that the government was in any way behind the alleged tapping of phones of politicians.

Singvhi refused to comment on the suspension of IPL Chairman Lalit Modi saying a political party is not at all concerned with a decision taken by any sports body.

VHP demands ban on cow slaughter PTI JAMMU, APRIL 26

Mauka (chance)' in politics, Bedi shot back by asking him to clarify whether he was talking about 'Connaught place wali or Najafgarh wali (urban or rural women or literate or illiterate women).

Bedi said that at present there are very few women in the country who are equal to their male counterparts and added that all women are not equal in the country and it may take another 25 years at least to bring them at par with others if efforts are made in the right direction.

Earlier, addressing students Bedi asked them to use their education to spread the light of knowledge among the underprivileged sections of the society.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad today claimed that number of cows have been decreasing in the country and demanded a ban on slaughter of the animal.

Nearly one lakh bovine animals, including cows, are daily slaughtered throughout the country, National Secretary VHP Khem Raj Sharma told reporters here adding those involved in this must be treated as murderers.

The number of cow slaughter centres have increased from 36 to over 3,500 now he said, adding thousands of such centre were functioning illegally in the country.

Describing cow as the most useful creature, he said there are nearly 200 centres in the country where urine, dung and milk of the animal are used for preparation of medicines and in 40 such centres youths are being trained.

PTI

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee has defended the expenditure in advertisments for organising railway programmes and pilloried the CPI(M) for trying to make an issue out of it.

"We have every right to advertise. You (CPI-M) publish advertisements without doing any work. You are angry with us because we work," Banerjee said at the inauguration of a new railway line between this pilgrim town and Talpur in Hooghly district.

She said Indian Railways had taken up a large number of projects, many of which had been completed and that was why the railway published its success stories through advertisements.

Banerjee said the Left Front government had published advertisements in newspapers claiming successful implementation of projects which were far from complete.

"We are part and parcel of the

Blind gets eyesight after 26 years PTI ROURKELA (Orissa), APRIL 26

Twenty-six years after she was born, Mangil Oram saw the light of day for the first time, thanks to an NGO. Mangil, who lives on the outskirts of Rourkela, never imagined she would ever be able to see one day as she did not have the means even to consult a doctor, let alone go in for eye transplantation.

Her husband, Geyani Oram, was also too poor to afford the costly treatment and so was her father Sukru Badaik. A local NGO 'Sakhayama' volunteered to help her.

She told reporters when they called on her that she was contacted by 'Sakhayama' which had earlier helped her younger brother, who was also born blind like her, gain eyesight. ''The NGO came to know my address from my brother and contacted me. The NGO bore all expenses for the surgery,'' she said.

Alok Bagdia, president of Sakhayama, said that the NGO was working among blind people from various sections of society for a long time.

The operation was done at Nagpur and the entire expenses, including travelling, were borne by his organisation, Bagdia said.

Bagdia said Sakhyama was trying to arrange for eye transplantations at Rourkela itself with the help of local surgeons.

The NGO also has a plan to open an eye bank here.

Saying there was no dearth of eye donors, he feels what is needed is creation of awareness about eye donations.

Women can serve flock well: Kerala's first female cleric PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, APRIL 26

When she was ordained the first woman priest of a mainstream Christian Church in Kerala 21 years back, it was not without a bit of anxiety that Reverend Marathakavalli David took up clerical duties.

Now, when she looks back, she feels that she has been able to carry out the spiritual tasks entrusted to her by Trivandrum Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) satisfactorily without centuries of male dominance posing any hurdles in her way.

Wife of a fellow priest and mother of two daughters, Marathakavalli even feels that she could address the spiritual and social problems of her parishioners far more sensitively and understandingly than many of her male counterparts.

"Women could be more compassionate and her soothing words and empathetic approach

could give greater solace to those who suffer from physical and mental traumas", says 59year-old Marathakavalli.

"When I look back to my clerical experiences of the last 21 years, I feel great satisfaction.

When the synod of the church decided to ordain me, many in the church had doubts about the acceptability of a female priest. But I could prove such misgivings were wrong," she told PTI. A leading Protesant church of India, CSI was formed through unification of Anglican, Methodists, Presbyterian and Reformed Congregations in 1947.

Born at Neyyattinkara near here, Marathakavalli wanted to be a priest since her school days.

Apart from the disciplined and religious atmosphere of her home and the Bible classes she attended at the Sunday school, her acquaintance with Rev Haris,

an aged parish priest, helped her nurture her hopes of becoming a priest.

"His (Rev Haris’s) selfless services influenced me a lot. I learnt the dignity and divinity of being a priest from him. I thought a priest could serve society better than anybody else," she said.

She was also moved by the stories of Florence Nightingale, famed as the lady with the lamp for her services to the wounded, and William Carry, the missionary who preached the Gospel among the poor and needy in India.

"I was fortunate that my parents or relatives did not raise any objections when I revealed to them my plans. Luckily by the time I graduated from Kerala university, the United Christian Seminary here started a women batch for theological studies for the first time, though only four women turned up for it", she recalled.

On completing the three-yearcourse in theology, she was appointed as ‘the Bible woman’ at the Christ Church, Kollam. She used to make house-to-house rounds of the parish to spread messages of the scripture, conduct Bible classes and assist the parish priest in his pastoral works.

After her marriage to Rev Dr D David, now head priest of CSI church at Kazhakkuttam, the couple were sent out for missionary work by the church to the backward regions of Andhra Pradesh.

"We worked with Bhinsa Mission in Adilabad in north Andhra Pradesh. I could meet different kinds of people, majority of them grief-stricken due to one reason or other. Giving solace to them was as important as saying prayers myself, she said.

The mission work also helped her pick up knowledge of parish governance and managing the

church-run schools in the rural settings.

Acknowledging her work as a missionary, Marathakavalli was ordained as the first woman Christian priest in the state at the M M Church at Palayam here on May 28, 1989, along with eight male priests.

"Though all in the church were not happy with the ordination of a woman, I believe that in course of time I could reverse the opinion of the skeptics through my dedicated work", she said.

"From by experience, I can say with confidence that women priests are better equipped to console the grief-stricken," she said.

As a female cleric, she dons the same religious robes as those worn by male priests. She also performs all pastoral duties like baptism, wedding rituals, death ceremonies, Sunday services.

UPA and will keep on working.

If necessary I will provide clarifications on the expenses," she said at the function yesterday.

The project had been started during Banerjee's earlier stint as railway minister in the NDA Blaming the CPI(M) for not getting the project completed, she said, "You were part of UPAI. Why didn't you exert pressure to get the project completed?

Just because you have not done anything, do you expect me to do the same? You cannot stop me from working."

Pakistan based Hindu, Sikh families want visa-free zone PTI AMRITSAR, APRIL 26

Hindu and Sikh families settled across the border want a visafree zone between India and Pakistan that would facilitate frequent visits to their near and dear ones here.

"Hundreds of Hindu and Sikh families, living in Pakistan for more than seven decades, approached me and expressed the desire to visit their relatives frequently in India. But visa problem restrain them all the time," Ramesh Singh, founder chairman of Pakistan Sikh Council, said.

Singh, who is presently leading a delegation of 150 Hindus and Sikhs, is staying at the guest house of the Golden Temple.

"Majority of Hindu and Sikh families are settled in Karachi. It is nearly 1,000 kms away from Islamabad where one has to travel for visa. Pilgrim visa fee for India is just Rs 15 but travel expenses from Karachi to Islamabad and hotel stay is highly expensive," he said.

Moreover, it was not assured that one would get visa in a single visit as two or three visits are sometimes required due to want of mandatory documents in the Indian embassy.

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From Page 1 Sea-side hotels

should be within half a kilometre.

Other conditions stipulated in the guidelines include: — The overall height of construction upto the highest ridge of the roof, shall not exceed 9 metres and the construction shall not be more than two floors (ground floor plus one upper floor); — Construction of basement may be allowed subject to the condition that no objection certification is obtained from the State Ground Water Authority that it won’t affect groundwater flow; — Necessary arrangements for the treatment of the effluents and solid wastes must be made.It must be ensured that the untreated effluents and solid wastes are not discharged into the water or on the beach; and no effluent/solid waste shall be discharged on the beach; — Though no construction is allowed in the no development zone for the purposes of calculation of Floor Space Index, the area of entire plot including the portion which falls within the no development zone shall be taken into account; — The total plot size shall not be less than 0.4 hectares and the total covered area on all floors shall not exceed 33 percent of the plot size i.e.., the Floor Space Index shall not exceed 0.33. The open area shall be suitably landscaped with appropriate vegetal cover; — The construction shall be consistent with the surrounding landscape and local architectural style; — Groundwater shall not be tapped within 200metre of the High Tide Line; within the 200metre 500metre zone it can be tapped only with the concurrence of the Central/State Ground

Water Board; — Extraction of sand, leveling or digging of sandy stretches except for structural foundation of building, swimming pool shall not be permitted within 500metres of HTL; — The quality of treated effluents, solid wastes, emissions and noise levels etc., from the project area must conform to the standards laid down by the competent authorities including the Central/State Pollution Control Board and under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; and — No flattening of sand dunes shall be carried out.

In CRZ-II, new buildings shall not be allowed on any new roads but this restriction will not apply to the housing schemes of the state urban development authorities implemented in phases, in which construction had commence prior to 19.2.1991 when the first CRZ notification was issued at least in one phase and all relevant approvals of the state and local authorities were obtained prior to that date. Even in case of these housing schemes, specific approval of the ministry would be required on a case-to-case basis.

Also permitted in this zone will be reconstruction of authorised buildings, subject to no change in the space index and flor area ratio norms and no change of existing use. Godowns for storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas, as also non-hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilisers and goodgrains in notified ports, desalination plants and non-conventional power plants will be allowed in this zone.

Development ban

The restrictions are applicable not only to the land area 500 metres from the high tide line (HTL) but also up to 600 metres in case of the tidal influenced water bodies like bays, estuaries, creeks, backwaters, lagoons, etc. The restrictions will also cover land falling between the hazard line and 500 metres from HTL. Hazard line means the line demarcated by Ministry of Environment and Forests through Survey of India (SoI) taking into account tides, waves and sea level rise and shoreline changes.

Pak obstructs pact on Classification CRZ-III are the areas that the Goans would love not to be spoiled.

SAARC connectivity These are the areas that are relatively undisturbed and include PTI THIMPHU, APRIL 26

Pakistan has played a spoiler in SAARC efforts to firm up agreements on developing intra-regional connectivity and establishing a common response to disasters.

A Motor Vehicles Agreement, providing for connectivity between Kabul and Dhaka crisscrossing the region, and a pact on Rapid Response to Natural Disasters were proposed to be signed during the upcoming 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu on April 28-29.

However, Pakistan has refused to come on board even though it had given its consent earlier, sources said.

SAARC comprises India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and Maldives.

The Summit, to be attended

by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of other seven countries of SAARC, will have climate change as the main theme and a convention is expected to be signed on cooperation in protection of environment.

coastal zones in the rural areas, development or undeveloped, and also areas within municipal limits or in other legally designated urban areas that do not have substantial buildup.

The CRZ-IV basically identifies the areas of the fishermen interest as it covers water areas from the HTL to 12 nautical miles on the seaward side as also water areas of the tidal influence water body from the mouth of the sea up to the influence of the tide which is measures as five parts per 1000 during the driest season of the year.

The notification also has detailed guidelines on development of beach resorts and hotels in CRZ-II and CRZ-III with prior approval of the ministry.

BCCI slaps charges

clean chit to Union Minister Sharad Pawar, saying there is no involvement of any of his relatives either in the present or the initial bids.

He ruled out any political interference in the functioning of the BCCI saying as far he was concerned nobody can change his decisions.

At the meeting, a three-member committee of former players — Sunil Gavaskar, M A K Pataudi and Ravi Shastri — was appointed to discuss the modalities of withholding three foreign and four Indian players after discussing the issue with franchises.

Manohar said many important documents were missing from the IPL and BCCI offices.

Arizona immigration law protesters urge US action REUTERS PHOENIX, APRIL 26

Arizona's tough new immigration law has renewed calls for Washington to reform federal immigration laws, and protesters decried the state's action as a violation of US civil rights at a rally in the state's capital.

Representative Luis Gutierrez, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force, called the new Arizona rule that police determine if people are in the country illegally a ''serious civil rights catastrophe that Republicans in Arizona are unleashing on immigrants.'' ''I am going there to let the people of Arizona know that they are not alone in fighting against bigotry and hatred,'' said Gutierrez, an Illinois Democrat yesterday.

The immigration reform issue's profile soared after Arizona's Republican Governor Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill to require police to determine if people are in the country illegally if there is ''reasonable suspicion'' that is the case – which critics charge will open the door to racial profiling.

The measure is expected to spark a legal challenge and is already a hot issue in the runup to November congressional elections and one on which minority Republicans are seen as more vulnerable. ''I have not seen the Latino community nationwide react in such

a forceful way to an attack on immigrants since 2006, just after House Republicans passed a measure to criminalise and deport all undocumented immigrants and their families,'' he added.

President Barack Obama called the Arizona law a ''misguided'' effort that showed the need for national reform.

Senate and House of Representative Democratic leaders said last week they were considering bringing immigration reform up for debate ahead of another of Obama's priorities, climate change legislation.

Immigration is a bitterly contested issue in the United States, where some 10.8 million illegal immigrants live and work in the shadows. But until recently it has been eclipsed at the national level by issues including healthcare and financial reform, angering many Latino supporters of Obama.

Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, asked on CNN's ''State of the Nation'' if HispanicAmerican voters might be stay home without a serious effort

by Obama to deal with immigration this year, said that although it was a national issue, ''there is a problem in the Latino community. They see it as a civil rights issue of their time.''

Echoing this sentiment, Ramon M Garcia, an activist who traveled from Tucson to take part in yesterday's rally said, ''I feel very strongly that the law is extremely unconstitutional and racist, and it violates both human and civil rights.''

Jennifer Allen, the executive-director of immigrant rights group the Border Action Network, said the protest sought to boost voter registration among Arizonans opposed to the law, in a bid to turn Brewer out office in the state's gubernatorial elections in November. ''Governor Brewer has to be held responsible for signing what is now an international shame on the state of Arizona,'' Allen told Reuters.

A call seeking comment from Governor Brewer's office today was not immediately returned.

An estimated 460,000 illegal immigrants live in the desert state, which also straddles the main point of entry for illegal immigrants crossing into the United States from Mexico.

“Many of the records are missing. The IT is asking for documents.

We don’t have them. We have asked BCCI CAO Prof Ratnakar Shetty to look into the missing records and papers,” he said.

Asked about the charges levelled against Modi, Manohar said the charges basically relate to the initial bid of Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, allegations relating to broadcasting deal, bid rigging of two new franchises (Kochi and Pune), internet rights and behaviorial pattern.

Attacking Modi, he referred to the former IPL chairman’s statement that the entire world knew about the IPL affairs but said even the members of the Governing Council were not aware of the matters.

He cited the example of Rajasthan Royals franchise of the Jaipur IPL team in which shares of two persons are sold and transferred to certain individuals and certain companies.

“There is a company called Tresco and Blue Water... nobody knows what is Blue Water? And what is Tresco and all these things.

I did not find in the shareholders register the name of Raj Kundra or Shilpa Shetty who claim to be the stakeholders,” Manohar said As regards Kings XI Punjab, Manohar said the bids were given in the name of a company and was signed by Preity Zinta who did not hold a single share in that company when the bid was given.

He also referred to registration of a company in Britain four months after which its bid was accepted. The company Emerging Media is a co-owner of the Rajasthan Royals.

“We are asking Modi, how could he sign an agreement with A when the bid came from B. Modi made a statement that the entire world knows who the shareholders are but the fact is that not even the Governing Council members know about Rajasthan Royals.

I did not find the names of Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra in the papers and they claim to be stakeholders,” he revealed.

For all the allegations against Modi, Manohar said if he manages to convince the Board of his innocence in his reply, the inquiry proceedings against him would be dropped.

“It is the duty of the Board to look into the allegations and to have an inquiry it is important to suspend the person concerned.

It’s not punishment. The person has to be kept out of the Board’s functioning to ensure a free and fair inquiry.

“The Board would hold an inquiry and if Modi’s reply convinces the members, proceedings would be dropped,” he said.

Asked whether the Board was worried about Modi’s threats of exposing other BCCI office-bearers, Manohar said there was no concern.

“The BCCI is not worried. If there are other others guilty, we will sack them and take the same action,” he said.

On whether he would share the blame for the scandal, Manohar said the whole system worked on faith and he could not be held responsible for entrusting Modi with the job.

Phone tapping

and did not allow Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha to function, leading to premature adjournment of the two Houses for the day.

“I wish to state categorically that no telephone tapping or eavesdropping on political leaders was authorised by the previous UPA government. Nor has the present UPA government authorised any such activity,” Chidambaram said in the Lok Sabha amid slogan shouting by agitated opposition members. He made an identical statement in the Upper House.

He however said if any evidence was forthcoming or was discovered, the matter would be thoroughly investigated.

Chidambaram said the report in ‘Outlook’ magazine on phone tapping was thoroughly investigated by appropriate agencies and “nothing has been found in the records of the NTRO (National Technical Research Organisation) to substantiate the allegations.”

“Further enquiries are being made into the allegations in the magazine. If any evidence is forthcoming or discovered, the matter will be thoroughly investigated by the appropriate agencies,” said Chidambaram.

The news weekly had alleged in an article that the phones of Union Minister Sharad Pawar, Congress leader Digvijay Singh, CPI(M) leader Prakash Karat and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had been tapped.

The opposition charge in the Lok Sabha was led by senior BJP leader L K Advani who demanded a “clear” statement from none other than the Prime Minister that the Government will not do any phone tapping. Advani wanted a law to be passed to prevent the government from tapping phones of political leaders.

A similar demand was made in the Rajya Sabha by BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu. Members from the BJP, Left, AIADMK, JD(U) and SP did not allow Question Hour and legislative business in both the Houses of Parliament. The Houses were briefly adjourned twice.

Responding to Advani’s demand, Leader of Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee said the Prime Minister could make a statement only at 1530 hours as he had a luncheon meeting with visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Otherwise, they should allow the Home Minister to make a statement to clarify the issue.

But the opposition members were not satisfied with Mukherjee’s statement and continued their protests. Members of the BSP, which is cosying up to the government ahead of the crucial cut motions, were conspicuously silent during the protests.

I have evidence

Hamburg for few big brands. She also participated in the Reality Show, which made her a known name in the country.

Narrating anecdote after anecdote of how police were squeezing money from Atala while she was in Goa, Lucky said that one night her boyfriend met the police officer on a lonely road and Atala gave him Rs 47,000 but he was still asking for more.

“This is the same policeman who sold the plastic bag with different drugs in one of the videos and the policeman Atala gave information to about other criminals. He was driving a motorcycle/scooter when we met,” she said.

“I remember his face. Atala did not tell me that he was going to pick up drugs or pay bribes. He felt safe with the fact that I was not interested in his “friendly contact” with the corrupt police to take over his business,” she said.

He was proud of his friendship with those corrupt men but at the same time scared and wanted someone to come along with him in the car in case something happens,” Lucky said.

The model, who left Goa in February 2008 after putting up the videos on social networking website, said that she had to punish Atala.

“I had to punish him and today I’m happy I did it. Atala (Yaniv Beniam) treated me very nicely in the beginning and really tried to project himself as a good man. He kept his drug problems secret,” she said.

“After I had gone back to Sweden for two months and was coming back to Goa to move into his house everything had changed.

He was now heavily addicted to cocaine. He was very aggressive and violent to me and everyone around. I was very was disappointed.

I had come all the way from Europe to live with him (but when I landed here I found him) a junkie,” said the jilted lover.

“Everyday policemen would come to the house and discussed dirty business with Atala. At first I thought those men were criminals and not police because I could not believe (that police could be so) corrupt and greedy,” she alleged.

Lucky said that Atala was banned from India in 2006, he had been to jail in Israel and was not welcome back there. She also said that before he came to Goa he had been arrested in Thailand for drugs and banned there too.

“He had asked around among his criminal friends if someone could get rid of me. So I continued to record when I had the chance and booked a ticket back to Sweden,” she said narrating about her days before she left for her country.

She also said that police should probe Atala’s link in British teenager Scarlet Keeling case as Scarlet was regular visitor to his coffee shop.

“The policeman who the mother Fiona MacKeown accused to be involved in the murder was the same policeman visiting Atala almost every day,” Lucky claimed.

She said that the police have not yet contacted her for a statement.

“I will tell them everything if they contact me,” Lucky added.

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Karzai vows security to Indians in Afghanistan PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Seeking to assuage India's strong concerns, Afghan President Hamid Karzai today assured Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that his government is committed to providing full security to Indians in the war-ravaged country.

Meeting Karzai for the first time after the February 26 terror attack in Kabul in which nine Indians were killed, Singh affirmed that India remains committed to assisting the government and people of Afghanistan in their efforts towards the reconstruction and development of that country.

The two leaders discussed the issue of terrorism which threatens the region.

"President Karzai assured me that the government of Afghanistan will take all possible measures for the security of Indians in Afghanistan," Singh said after his wide-ranging discussions with the Afghan leader.

"We were of the view that the attacks of February 26, 2010, in Kabul were the handiwork of those who do not wish to see the emergence of a strong, in-

British envoy to Yemen escapes suicide bombing AFP SANAA, APRIL 26

Britain's envoy to Yemen Timothy Torlot today narrowly escaped a bomb triggered by a suicide bomber who threw himself at the ambassador's convoy in the capital Sanaa, a security official said.

"The ambassador was not hurt" in the attack, said the security official who requested anonymity.

The official and witnesses said the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber, who was the only casualty. Medical officials said two bystanders were lightly wounded.

The British Foreign Office confirmed that the ambassador escaped an explosion without specifying whether it was a suicide attack or not.

"We can confirm that there was an incident in Sanaa this morning. There was small explosion beside the British ambassador's car. He was unhurt.

No other embassy staff or British nationals were injured," a spokesman in London said.

The statement added that Britain was working "urgently" with Yemeni authorities to find out what happened.

dependent and pluralistic Afghanistan," he said.

Terrorists struck on February 26 at two hotels in Kabul, which were home to Indians engaged in developmental projects, killing nine of them and injuring 10 others.

New Delhi has conveyed its serious concerns over the spate of attacks by Taliban and extremist elements on Indians working for the reconstruction of war-torn Afghanistan.

Singh said he had conveyed to Karzai that the perpetrators of such attacks would not succeed in undermining India's commitment to assist the

Afghan people.

Profusely thanking the Indian leadership for the sustained assistance, Karzai, who is on a day's visit, said India has shown to be a strong partner of Afghanistan.

Karzai, who will join Singh at the SAARC summit in Bhutan on April 28-29, said they discussed the situation in Afghanistan and in the region as well as their common struggle with terrorism and extremism.

"We discussed the upcoming Afghanistan Peace Consultations which should comprise people of Afghanistan, those from all walks of life, to advise on how to move forward for reintegration and reconciliation of those elements of Taliban and others who have accepted the Constitution and who are not part of the Al Qaeda or any terrorist network," Karzai said.

The Afghan President said he had requested Singh to send Indian representatives to the follow up of the London conference which would be held in Kabul.

Singh said he had an extremely productive discussion with Karzai on a whole range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

REUTERS PARIS, APRIL 26

French Prime Minister Nicolas Sarkozy will look to bury past tensions with China and win its support in global issues from Iran's nuclear plan to monetary reform during a visit to Beijing this week. Accompanied by Economy Minister Christine Lagarde and other ministers, Sarkozy will present his ideas for a global currency system that relies less on the dollar, though officials do not expect him to talk specifically about the yuan.

Relations between France and China hit a low in 2008 when protesters disrupted the passage of the Olympic torch through Paris and Sarkozy met Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

While Sarkozy may bring up the subject of human rights to placate voters at home, the focus will be on charming China, a key player in top diplomatic disputes as well as one of France's main rivals in Africa in its quest for raw materials.

Underlining the importance France places on China, the April 28-30 stay will be Sarkozy's fourth trip to China since his

election in 2007, and his second full state visit.

His wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, often skips his overseas voyages, but she will be by his side this week and together they will open France's pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai.

Sarkozy will meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao, with officials hoping the encounters will help along talks over a new round of United Nations sanctions against Iran.

China would like to water down the proposed punitive measures and the talks are progressing only slowly, Western diplomats and officials say. Iran is China's thirdbiggest crude oil supplier, after Saudi Arabia and Angola. ''It's out of the question that importers will be victims of any sanctions,'' said a source close to Sarkozy. ''If fuel was on the list, which isn't at all certain, then China would be compensated by oilproducing countries for any shortfall in Iranian supplies.''

Sarkozy also plans to use the opportunity to explain his proposal for diversifying the global monetary system to reflect a more complex world -- an idea

Call for school cross ban sparks uproar in Germany A call by a German politician of Turkish origin for a ban on Christian crosses in state schools has sparked an uproar in her conservative party and death threats from far-right groups.

Ayguel Oezkan, the 38-yearold daughter of Turkish immigrants, is poised to become social minister in the centreright government of the western state of Lower Saxony, and called for the ban in an interview with a German magazine. ''Christian symbols do not belong in state schools,'' she told weekly Focus last week. ''Schools should be a neutral place.''

Members of her party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel, have been quick to denounce the comments and some

PTI KUALA LUMPUR, APRIL 26

An ethnic Indian P Kamalanathan won a stunning victory for the ruling Barisan National front in a crucial by-election, giving a boost to Prime Minister Najib Razak's aim to win back flagging public support a year after he took office.

Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) nominee Kamalanathan beat back strong challenge from the opposition stalwart Zaid Ibrahim, a well-known lawyer who has been touted as a possible successor to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The ethnic Indian candidate secured 1,725 more votes than his opponent to wrest the Hulu Selangora parliamentary seat, in a victory hailed by Premier Razak who said, "It was a hardfought win for us. I believe that we are on the right track."

However, the opposition cried foul over the result claiming that the ruling coalition had used official resources and might to humble them. The win for the MIC who form the third largest electoral force in theb country was a shot in arm for the ruling front as it was perceived that in 2008 election, the community had voted with the opposition.

Sarkozy to discuss Iran, currencies in China

An overhead view of Filipino residents as they sift through their burnt homes that caught fire in a slum area of Quezon City, eastern Manila, Philippines on Monday. Reports from fire officials said that the blaze killed one person and damaged at least 300 shanties which left more than 1,000 families homeless in Manila's capital on April 25.

Reuters BERLIN, APRIL 26

Ethnic Indian wins crucial Malaysian by-election

are demanding she renounce her regional minister role, which she is due to assume tomorrow.

Lower Saxony state premier Christian Wulff, an ally of Merkel who won praise last week for appointing Oezkan to his cabinet, brushed aside her comments as ''personal opinion'' and reaffirmed that his government welcomed crosses in schools.

Stefan Mueller, a member of parliament who represents Merkel's CDU and its Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) allies on integration issues, used stronger language, calling the remarks ''absurd and shocking''. ''Politicians who want to ban crosses in schools should think about whether they belong in a Christian party,'' Mueller was quoted as saying in German media.

Oezkan, a lawyer who was

born in Hamburg to parents who migrated to Germany in the 1960s, said in an interview with German daily Bild that she did not consider herself a devout Muslim but that her family celebrated Islamic holidays.

Oezkan, who would be the first state minister of Turkish origin in Germany, told the paper she had received death threats. She is reportedly under 24-hour protection from police.

Germany is home to nearly 3 million people of Turkish origin, many of whom came to the country as ''Gastarbeiter'', or guest workers, in the decades after World War Two. Merkel's government has tried to address perceived problems in integrating the country's Muslim population with a series of so-called ''integration summits''.

he wants to make a major subject of the G8 and G20 summits hosted by France next year.

China has shown interest in an overhaul, challenging the dollar's status as the world's favoured currency.

Sujata Koirala meets Krishna, apprises about Nepal developments PTI THIMPHU, APRIL 26

With the peace process in Nepal precariously poised, its Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala on Monday apprised External Affairs Minister S M Krishna about the latest developments and underlined that India was supporting the efforts to take the process to its logical end.

Krishna and Koirala, who is also the Foreign Minister, had about 30-minute meeting on the margins of the SAARC Summit here during which they discussed issues related to drafting of the new Constitution in Nepal, a process which is to be concluded by May 28 but looks difficult to be achieved.

"We had discussions on issues related to the peace process, writing of Constitution. Whatever is happening currently, I briefed him on the picture," Koirala told PTI after the meeting.

To a question, she said, "the situation is not very good in

Nepal."

Asked about Krishna's views on the situation in response to her briefing, she said, he is "very concerned and helpful and very positive."

She rejected the allegations of Maoist leader Prachanda that India was not playing a positive role in the peace process. "I don't think so...If Nepal is destabilised, India will also be affected. I think India wants to help and support the peace process."

As per the agreement between mainstream parties and Maoists in 2006, the new Nepal Constitution is to be written by May 28. However, the parties

continue to be divided, making very difficult the possibility of new Constitution being drafted within the prescribed time.

Asked about the possibility of the Constitution being written by May 28, Koirala said, "it does not look like. I don't know what will really happen. We still have to decide, all parties.

Right now we are in discussions whether to continue Parliament or to have other arrangements."

She said her Nepal Congress party feels that there should be a national consensus government which will include Maoists.

"We should solve the problem through dialogue... Maoists are the single largest party in Parliament and we need their support to write the Constitution.

We need them inside the government. So we will try to bring them in the government. Without them how will you write the Constitution," she said.

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Govt for discussion on FDI in multi-brand retail PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

India today said it would next month initiate discussion on liberalising Foreign Direct Investment in sectors ranging from defence to agriculture and even retail -- a source of political woes for the government in the past.

The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the nodal agency for framing FDI policies, will come out with six discussion papers in mid-May on overseas investment norms.

"All the issues, which are troubling you will be covered (in the discussion papers)," DIPP Secretary R P Singh said at a FICCI event when asked if multi-brand retail would also figure in the discussion papers.

In its first term, the UPA government had shelved plans to open FDI in multi-brand retail owing to fierce opposition

L&T wins Rs 212-cr order PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Electrical and electronics division of infrastructure major, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), has bagged orders worth of Rs 212 crore from Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL), a top company official said.

"We have won an order to the tune of Rs 212 crore from MSEDCL. It entails implementation of IT solutions for MSEDCL's automatic meter reading, setting up of an IT and communications network and integration of the distribution network across 95 towns," L&T's President (Electrical and Electronics Division) R N Mukhija, told reporters here at a press meet today.

L&T is empanelled by the Power Finance Corp Ltd (PFC), which is the nodal agency for revised accelerated power development and reform programme, for systems integrator, network service provider and meter data acquisition solution provider.

from its then allies -- Left parties -- and petty traders.

India, however, allows 51 per cent FDI in single brand retail and 100 per cent in cashand-carry (wholesale) sector.

While transnational companies like WalMart, Carrefour and Indian industry chambers are pitching for opening up multi-brand segment, a Parliamentary panel has proposed a "blanket ban" on entry of corporates into this unorganised sector employing millions of people.

Sources in the DIPP said the discussion papers, which would be put in public domain on May 12 or 13, would deal in sectors like retail, defence, pharmaceutical and agriculture.

The DIPP would seek public comments on the concept papers, Singh said.

On pharmaceuticals, Singh said the department was not

Credit growth likely by Q2 FY 11 PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

averse to FDI, but is demanding review of the policy.

"They (Department of Pharmaceutical) are not opposing (FDI). They are only saying that FDI (policy) should be reviewed and it should not result in Indian companies being purchased by outsiders," he said.

India allows 100 per cent FDI in drugs and pharmaceuticals through automatic route.

In March this year, India had released a compendium of all the polices related to FDI as part of a drive to make things simple.

The West, including the US and EU, is separately asking India to open its financial sector to FDI and a Bill to raise FDI in insurance sector to 49 per cent from 26 per cent now is pending clearance in Parliament.

FDI inflows in the first 10 months of 2009-10 were USD 22.9 billion.

Rajesh Exports to roll out 300 retail stores AGENCY MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Rajesh Exports Ltd, one of India's top jewellery makers and exporters, plans to open 300 retail stores in India over the next three years, and has lined up a capex of 30-40 billion rupees, a top official said.

The firm currently has 25 retail outlets in the country, which it runs under the masslevel brand 'Shubh'.

"Within the next three years in India we are planning to open about 300 stores and by the end of this financial year we should be in a position to open 80-100 stores," Rajesh

Mehta, chairman and managing director, told Reuters in an interview on Monday.

The firm has earmarked a capital expenditure of 6-7 billion rupees for FY11, he added.

The firm plans to increase revenues from retail operations to 20-25 percent of total revenues from the current 1.5 percent.

Mehta also plans to set up retail operations overseas with showrooms in the Middle East, Far East, US and parts of Europe including the UK and France.

"We will start looking at pushing our retail operations

overseas from the next financial year. We are looking at retail companies as well as individual retail stores also for takeover or some kind of association," he said.

The company currently does not have any retail operations overseas.

The firm is also in advanced talks with overseas firms to acquire gold refineries and mines, and is likely to close some deals over the next 3-4 months, he added.

"We should be able to come out with some results in the next 3-4 months..the geographies will be either Australia or

China's undersea tunnel opens to traffic AGENCY XIAMEN, APRIL 26

China's first undersea tunnel connecting the southeastern Fujian province with Xiamen island was opened to traffic Monday.

The Xiamen island is one of the special economic zones launched by the government in

MF FUNDA

Urology camp held PANJIM (HBD) -- Sesa Goa Limited conducted a Urology camp on April 21, 2010 as part of their ongoing health related CSR activity with the help of RS Hospital, Porvorim for the spouses of employees residing around its Codli mines. The camp was attended by 26 spouses who underwent Ultrasonography of abdomen and pelvis to detect the abnormalities in the kidneys and uterus. The secretary of Sesa Goa Worker’s Union, Diogo Saldhana and Venkatesh Gaonkar were instrumental in coordinating with the employees and their spouses to take the benefit of this camp.

Vivek Mishra, business manager – south visited the camp site and interacted with the attendees and the team of RG Hospital, Shabab Khan, Dr Mazhar Shaikh, Dr Rajdeep Bhide, Praveen Varuthe and Yasmin Shaikh. Similar camps have been planned at other units of the company.

Sensex rises for 5th day; closes 51 points higher PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Good corporate earnings so far this season induced buying interest in the stock market, which saw the barometer Sensex advance 51 points -- the fifth straight day of gains.

The 30-share Sensex of the BSE ended the day at 17,745.28 points, up 51.08 points, or 0.29 per cent, from its previous close.

The index opened on a weak note but soon gained strength on firm Asian cues. It surged over 132 points to touch an intra-day high of 17,826.48.

Higher levels during the day triggered profit-booking in bluechip RIL and ICICI Bank, limiting the overall gains.

the 1980s, Xinhua reported.

The 8.7-km tunnel, built at a cost of 3.2 billion yuan ($468 million), was designed for driving speed of about 80 km per hour and is expected to cut travel time between the two areas from an hour to just nine minutes, Xinhua reported.

It took four years and eight months to complete the tunnel. Six kilometres of the tunnel is under the sea with a maximum depth of 70 meters.

It boasts the world's largest tunnel with a maximum area of 170 sq. meters.

'The tunnel was designed and constructed by Chinese experts and is a result of extremely tough work caused by loosening soil and a permeable sand layer under the water, said Zeng Chao, vice director of the tunnel project.

'The project garnered valuable experience for Aban Offshor, 1223, 1229.2, 1210.2, 1221.55 Abb Ltd., 824, 833.8, 809, 811.4 Abg Shipyard, 255, 256, 250.05, 254.95 Acc Limited, 902.5, 916, 902.5, 910.15 Adani Enterp, 564, 576, 558.05, 573.15 Aditya Birla, 845, 847.8, 836.15, 838.3 Allahabad Ba, 167.25, 171.5, 165.8, 168.35 Alstom Proje, 610.15, 619, 608, 611.95 Ambuja Cemen, 121, 122.8, 119.35, 121.85 Andhra Bank, 121, 126.1, 120.95, 125.05 Ansal Prop &, 83.8, 85.4, 83, 84.85 Ashok Leylan, 56.75, 57.45, 56.3, 56.5 Asian Paints, 2091.5, 2105, 2058.1, 2067.85 Axis Bank Li, 1240, 1287, 1237.95, 1279.6 Bajaj Hindus, 130.15, 131, 126.2, 127.2 Bank Of Baro, 651.15, 678.8, 647.65, 674.85 Bank Of Indi, 382.2, 388.3, 380.3, 381.7 Beml Limited, 1040, 1054, 1030.7, 1050.4 Bharat Elect, 1899, 1909, 1881.15, 1893.85 Bharat Forge, 276, 279.7, 274.05, 276.5 Bharat Petro, 500.1, 504, 497, 502.15 Bharti Airte, 300.1, 303.9, 296, 297.4 Bhel, 2495, 2518, 2481, 2509.9

building more undersea tunnels in the future,' he added.

Two more tunnels will be built in Fujian province, and another tunnel is under construction in Jiaozhou Bay in eastern Shandong province, said Zeng.

The government is also planning to build an undersea tunnel between Fujian province and Taiwan.

Chief engineer of the railway ministry He Huawu said close economic ties between China and Taiwan made the building of a cross-Strait undersea tunnel very important.

Volume of cargo between Taiwan and the mainland grew by an average 11 percent annually and the growth rate for the other way was 20 percent in recent years.

In 2008, both sides launched their first direct cargo flight and shipping services after a gap of sixty years.

Bhushan Stee, 1805, 1834, 1801.3, 1820.95 Biocon Limit, 294.2, 299.45, 294.2, 295.9 Bombay Dyein, 609.65, 609.65, 580.6, 584 Bosch Limite, 4979.8, 4980, 4840.05, 4866.55 Brigade Ente, 144.5, 145.8, 141.05, 141.8 Cairn India, 301, 303.75, 300, 301.75 Canara Bank, 412, 413, 404.5, 409.95 Central Bank, 156.5, 158.5, 155.6, 157.5 Century Text, 545, 549, 536.15, 538.6 Cesc Ltd, 402.8, 414.7, 398.45, 411.9 Chambal Fert, 65, 66.3, 63.55, 65.45 Chennai Petr, 285.15, 286.75, 281.35, 283.3 Cipla Ltd, 333, 336.5, 328.9, 329.75 Colgate Palm, 755, 759.5, 750.05, 754.8 Container Co, 1450, 1459.7, 1437.65, 1438.45 Crompton Gre, 263, 263.95, 259.65, 262 Cummins Indi, 530, 534.95, 515.7, 519 Dabur India, 178, 178.5, 177, 177.55 Deccan Chron, 156, 156, 152.8, 154 Dish Tv Indi, 37.25, 37.55, 37.05, 37.1 Divi’s Labor, 685, 704.2, 634, 694.15 Dlf Limited, 335, 340, 321.1, 322.95

South Africa," he said.

Mehta said demand for gold and diamond has improved from last year and he expected a topline growth of 30-40 percent year-on-year in FY10 and hopes to clock 15-20 percent growth in FY11.

"Gold demand is expected to go up in this fiscal because prices have more or less stabilised now. I see prices coming down a little from the current levels in the next 5-6 months," he said.

Diamond sales contribute to

1-2 percent of the firms revenues and the rest is contributed by gold.

Earlier in the day, Rajesh Exports told stock exchanges its current order book stood at over 46 billion rupees.

Mehta also said the appreciating rupeee will have little impact on the margins of the gold jewellery exporter.

"Rupee appreciation does not really matter to us as our exports and imports match each other and that is not a worry for us," he said.

Credit growth, which stood at 16.6 per cent last fiscal, is likely to pick-up by the end of the second quarter of this fiscal, a top banking industry official said.

"Credit off-take saw a 16 per cent growth year-on-year. However, it has declined post-March this year and the trend continues. It will start picking up in the next quarter," Union Bank of India's CMD and Indian Banks' Association's (IBA) chairman, M V Nair, told reporters on the sidelines of an IBA event here.

Nair had earlier said that credit and deposit growth for the industry might go upto 20 per cent by the end of this fiscal. He had further said that credit growth for his bank (Union Bank) might be ahead of the industry level at 25 per cent.

On lending rates, Nair said that they were likely to remain stable for the moment.

"There is no need to raise rates at this point as there is enough liquidity in the system," Nair said.

Union Bank does not plan to

IPO CORNER

Tara Health Foods fixes price-band at Rs 180-190 MUMBAI (PTI) -- Punjab-based Tara Health Foods has fixed the price-band of its initial public offer (IPO) at between Rs 180-190 per share.

The issue opens on April 28 and closes on April 30, a press release issued here today stated.

The company, among India's leading organised players in the cattle nutrition and healthy edible oil industry, is eyeing up to Rs 190-crore through its IPO. The issue will constitute 33.28 per cent of the fully-diluted postissue paid-up capital of the company.

The company intends to utilise the proceeds of the issue towards setting up a new edible oil refining plant and also for the expansion of its cattle feed plant at the existing location at Malerkotla, Punjab.

The company has a significant presence in north India and is among the few organised players in both animal nutrition and nutritive edible oil segments in the country.

It has two manufacturing units--one in Punjab at Jitwal Kalan near Malerkotla in Sangrur district and another in Uttaranchal at Sitarganj. Both the sites have cattle feed manufacturing plants of 250 tonnes per day (tpd) each adding up to 500 tpd of installed capacity.

In addition at Malerkotla, the company has a 250 tpd captive consumption oriented solvent extraction plant and 120 tpd refining plant for edible oil.

The company's profits have shown a significant upward trend over the years with its PAT growing from Rs 1.16-crore in FY 07 to Rs 17.12-crore in FY 09. Net sales have also shown an upward trend from Rs 31.4-crore in FY 07 to Rs 195.1-crore in FY 09.

Atherstone Capital Markets Limited is the sole book- running lead manager to the issue and Bigshare Services Pvt Ltd is the registrar to the issue.

Dr. reddy’s, 1220, 1251.9, 1213.05, 1244.3 Edelweiss Ca, 429.95, 429.95, 419, 420.15 Educomp Solu, 715, 717.3, 702.55, 709.95 Eih Limited, 130, 131.5, 128.7, 128.95 Engineers In, 2474, 2495, 2449, 2460.3 Essar Oil Lt, 142, 143, 140.25, 140.8 Essar Shippi, 95.9, 96.5, 92.5, 93.05 Exide Indust, 123, 123.4, 120.5, 121.75 Federal Bank, 295, 299.9, 292.4, 293.9 Financial Te, 1583, 1590, 1547, 1552.6 Gail (india), 424.95, 426.85, 421, 423.1 Gammon India, 227, 227, 222.3, 223.7 Glaxosmithkl, 1867.4, 1912.9, 1867.4, 1883.75 Glenmark Pha, 270, 271.9, 266, 267.75 Gmr Infrastr, 63, 64.2, 62.3, 63.95 Godrej Indus, 168.1, 170.7, 165.2, 166 Grasim Indus, 2835, 2864, 2835, 2846.95 Great Offsho, 425, 460, 425, 453.5 Gtl Infra.Lt, 42.6, 42.8, 42.2, 42.25 Gujarat Mine, 140.2, 140.95, 139, 139.3 Gujarat N R, 85.95, 91.55, 85.5, 91.15 Gujarat Stat, 93.5, 93.7, 92.5, 92.7 Gvk Pow. & I, 46.35, 46.5, 45.7, 45.9

Hcl Technolo, 389, 393.75, 383.5, 391 Hdfc Bank Lt, 1957.7, 1996.9, 1957.7, 1989.6 Hdfc Ltd, 2740, 2839.7, 2735.25, 2829.75 Hero Honda M, 1890, 1911.8, 1863, 1869.75 Hindalco in, 178.3, 185.2, 178.3, 184.15 Hindustan Co, 135.3, 137.5, 134, 134.75 Hindustan Ma, 80.2, 82.65, 80.05, 80.9 Hindustan Pe, 304.5, 305, 300.1, 301.05 Hindustan Un, 239.5, 242, 239, 241.5 Hindustan Zi, 1225, 1254, 1211.5, 1245.35 Housing Dev, 281.7, 283.7, 270.75, 271.9 Icici Bank L, 980.1, 998.15, 958.4, 960.15 Idea Cellula, 65.8, 66.8, 65, 65.15 Ifci Ltd, 53.7, 53.7, 50.65, 51.1 India Cement, 136.1, 139.7, 132.2, 133.1 India Infoli, 116.8, 118, 113.1, 113.35 Indiabulls F, 130.4, 133.75, 130.35, 132.15 Indiabulls R, 175.2, 175.85, 170, 171 Indian Bank, 192.85, 221.35, 192.85, 219.8 Indian Hotel, 111.25, 111.25, 109.15, 109.5 Indian Oil C, 283.95, 283.95, 280.2, 280.7 Indian Overs, 100.4, 102.9, 99.8, 102.15 Indus Dev Ba, 126.4, 127, 124.05, 124.65

Indusind Ban, 192.4, 194.75, 191, 191.8 Infosys Tech, 2730.1, 2754, 2725.05, 2738.95 Infra. dev., 171, 172.95, 168.45, 169.25 Ispat Indust, 20.8, 20.8, 20.3, 20.4 Itc Ltd, 266, 270.9, 265.1, 267.4 Ivrcl Infras, 177, 180.4, 175.1, 179.7 Jai Corp Lim, 272.45, 273.85, 266.2, 268.45 Jaiprakash A, 159.5, 162.9, 158.2, 159.05 Jet Airways, 510.5, 522.4, 509.7, 512.1 Jindal Saw L, 218, 221, 217.55, 219.3 Jindal Steel, 721, 738.9, 721, 736.4 Jsw Steel Li, 1206, 1230.9, 1202.05, 1212.4 Kotak Mahind, 753, 760.95, 746.45, 756.35 Lakshmi Mach, 2040, 2108, 2036, 2072.1 Lanco Infrat, 59.1, 60.15, 57.9, 59.65 Larsen & Tou, 1625, 1636.45, 1612.1, 1620 Lic Housing, 899.35, 909.7, 884.25, 903.45 Lupin Limite, 1666.9, 1669, 1638.1, 1648.5 Mahanagar Te, 73, 73.4, 72.25, 72.55 Mahindra & M, 525, 532.5, 524, 529.35 Maruti Suzuk, 1370, 1385.4, 1327.05, 1333.7 Max India Lt, 190.05, 192.4, 184, 184.7

come out with any teaser rates which are very low interest rates offered for a limited introductory period to attract new borrowers, at this time.

Asked about rising concerns on the huge overseas capital inflows, Nair said that it should not pose a problem provided the inflows are managed properly.

BOARD MEETINGS Greaves Cotton Polychem Apcotex Inds Hinduja Glob Power Finance IDFC PTC India Raymond Aventis Pharma India Nippon Indraprastha Med Ispat Inds Bhagwati Auto Shree Renuka Sug Ceekay Daikin Sobha Dev Chokhani Glob JSW Ener Container Corp Moldtk Pla Dena Bank Motilal Oswal Dhruv Estates Navneet Pub Welspun Gujarat Garware Marn Yash Management Gillette India Peninsula Land Yes Bank Glaxosmithkl Phar Petronet LNG Zenith Health Goodyear India Piramal Life Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA TAURUS MUTUAL FUND has announced that the per unit value for all plans of Taurus Short Term Income Fund will be changed from the existing Rs 10 to Rs 1000 with effect from April 26, 2010.

ICICI PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND has announced that the minimum application amount for all fresh purchases / switch-ins under the institutional option of ICICI Prudential Short Term Plan and ICICI Prudential Income Opportunities Fund will be Rs 1 crore and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter. The changes will be effective immediately.

BIRLA SUN LIFE MUTUAL FUND has approved April 30, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of Birla Sun Life Enhanced Arbitrage Fund. The face value of per unit is Rs10.

The quantum of dividend for retail and institutional plan will be 1.38% (Rs.0.138 per unit) as on the record date. The NAV for retail plan was at Rs 10.1554 per unit and Rs 10.1766 per unit for institutional plan as on 22 April 2010.

Also, the AMC has approved April 30, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of Birla Sun Life Pure Value Fund. The face value of per unit is Rs 10.

The quantum of dividend will be 10% (Rs.1 per unit) as on the record date.

BHARTI AXA MUTUAL FUND has approved March 29, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under quarterly dividend option in eco plan and regular plan of Bharti AXA Equity Fund.

The face value of per unit is Rs 10. The quantum of dividend under both the plans will be 10% (Re 1 per unit as on the record date).

Maytas Infr., 214.1, 217.8, 207.05, 209.1 Moser-baer (, 75.25, 75.4, 74.15, 74.45 Mrpl, 77.4, 77.4, 75.6, 75.65 Nagarjuna Co, 184.45, 186.95, 180, 182.85 Nagarjuna Fe, 32.2, 32.45, 31.55, 32.2 National Alu, 410, 421, 409.5, 415.55 Neyveli Lign, 152.4, 152.9, 150.2, 152.5 Ntpc Ltd, 206.8, 206.8, 204.25, 204.8 Oil And Natu, 1005.1, 1028.75, 1002, 1017.75 Omaxe Limite, 95.4, 96, 94.2, 95.5 Oriental Ban, 344, 346.45, 338.1, 341.15 Pantaloon Re, 429, 433.2, 421.15, 424.8 Parsvnath De, 130.5, 130.75, 124.1, 124.7 Petronet Lng, 82.4, 82.85, 82, 82.45 Power Fin Co, 274, 284, 274, 282.25 Power Grid C, 110, 111.35, 109.7, 110.4 Praj Industr, 88, 92.6, 87.35, 91.8 Punj Lloyd L, 167.5, 168.25, 165, 166.1 Punjab Natio, 1049.75, 1049.75, 1024, 1029.9 Rajesh Expor, 129, 132.2, 127.8, 129.05 Ranbaxy Labs, 457.25, 459.1, 441.2, 445.15 Rashtriya Ch, 85.8, 85.8, 83.25, 84.35

Rel. nat. re, 63.2, 63.4, 62.75, 63 Reliance Cap, 739.4, 744.8, 733.6, 737.25 Reliance Com, 170, 170.6, 168.1, 169.1 Reliance Ene, 929, 932, 920, 920.05 Reliance Ind, 862, 864.8, 835.05, 845 Reliance Ind, 1080, 1097.8, 1063.5, 1071.25 Reliance Pow, 162.2, 163.4, 159.2, 159.75 Rolta India, 188.4, 188.4, 184, 185.5 Satyam Compu, 93.1, 93.5, 92.05, 92.25 Sesa Goa Ltd, 442, 448.4, 437.5, 440.5 Shipping Cor, 160, 161.45, 158.35, 160.3 Siemens Ltd, 722, 724.8, 712.5, 714.1 Sintex Indus, 328.9, 332.8, 321.1, 330.05 Sobha Develo, 325, 327, 315.1, 315.9 State Bank O, 2264, 2279, 2241.1, 2251.55 Steel Author, 226, 231.65, 226, 229.35 Sterlite Ind, 805, 848, 801.15, 842.6 Sun Pharmace, 1690, 1690, 1584, 1603.15 Sun Tv Netwo, 435, 435.45, 425.6, 426.95 Suzlon Energ, 72.4, 72.4, 70.85, 71.05 Tata Communi, 278.1, 279.5, 275.35, 275.65 Tata Consult, 786, 791, 780.2, 785.1 Tata Motors, 847, 860.8, 835, 850.8 Tata Power C, 1364, 1389, 1361, 1368.55

Tata Steel L, 650, 664.7, 650, 656.85 Tata Tea Ltd, 1044, 1059, 1037, 1048.85 Tata Teleser, 23.8, 23.95, 23.7, 23.75 Tech Mahindr, 826, 834, 820, 822.25 The Ge Shpg., 331, 335.9, 330.2, 332.25 The Phoenix, 227.8, 227.8, 209, 217.8 Thermax Ltd, 730, 743.9, 725, 735.2 Titan Indust, 2080, 2087, 2047, 2063.2 Torrent Powe, 312.5, 315, 306, 307.5 Triveni Engg, 111, 114.5, 108.15, 112.9 Tv18 India L, 83, 83, 81.75, 82 Uco Bank, 67, 67.9, 66.35, 66.8 Ultratech Ce, 1119, 1119, 1093.1, 1098.1 Union Bank O, 307, 311.6, 305.15, 310.15 Unitech Ltd, 85.8, 86.45, 83.6, 84.15 United Phosp, 145.4, 149.4, 145.3, 148.65 Videocon Ind, 240, 240.95, 236.05, 239.95 Vijaya Bank, 53, 53.2, 52.15, 52.45 Voltas Ltd, 183, 184.95, 182.3, 183.25 Welspun Guj, 272, 275.2, 269, 273.8 Wipro Ltd, 695, 704.5, 693.3, 699.1 Yes Bank Lim, 274.1, 282.45, 273.5, 281.3 Zee Entertai, 312, 314, 307.5, 310

Biz13:Layout 1 4/26/2010 10:12 AM Page 1

BIZ

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India long way off from 20-km/day road target REuTERs NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

India is likely to build only 1213 kilometres of road a day in the current fiscal year to endMarch 2011 against a 20 km per day target, Transport Minister Kamal Nath said on Monday.

"The road ahead is very long.

I can say only this," Nath said while addressing a conference on infrastructure.

India had last year set a target of building 20 km (12 miles) of roads each day, as part of its plans to improve infrastructure in Asia's third-largest economy, but achieved only less than half of that due to problems in acquiring land and awarding contracts.

Foreign investors have shied

away from the sector even though the government has allowed 100-percent foreign direct investment, due to problems in land acquisition and difficulties in collection of toll tax.

"This financial year (2010/11), we should be close to building 3,000 km," Nath said.

But, achieving that target will need an investment of about 2 trillion rupees ($45 billion) annually, of which the government expects 60 percent to come from the private sector, he said.

India needs to spend $500 billion in the five years to 2012 to overhaul its congested ports and airports, fix its potholed roads and generate more

power, the government has said, to sustain 8-9 percent economic growth.

India, with a total length of 3.3 million kilometres of roads, has the third-largest road network in the world, said a report by Ernst & Young on Monday.

Analysts estimate poor infrastructure shaves an estimated 1 or 2 percentage points off India's annual economic growth, which slowed to 6.7 percent in 2008/09 after three years of 9 percent or more growth.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that building infrastructure will be crucial for India to achieve a growth rate of 10 percent in the next few years.

Tata MotorsIOB tie up for financing

RBI says good monsoon will ease inflation

PTI CHENNAI, APRIL 26

PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

TATA Motors entered into a partnership with Public sector Indian Overseas Bank for financing its range of commercial vehicles across the country.

Under this tie-up, the bank would not collect any processing charges from customers and no collateral security would be required upto Rs 1 crore funding.

Indian Overseas Bank would offer loans for Tata Motors' commercial vehicles upto 85 per cent on the onroad cost, it said.

This facility would be available in all the 1,998 branches of the bank and also at the commercial vehicle dealerships of Tata Motors, the release added.

Even though the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation has risen to 9.9%, an expected good monsoon this year might help it ease, an RBI official said.

"The optimistic forecast of a normal monsoon may help ease inflation. The RBI has already given this projection," Reserve Bank of India's Deputy Governor, K C Chakrabarty, said on the sidelines of Indian Banks' Association event.

The RBI's projection for WPI inflation for this fiscal is 5.5%.

The WPI inflation had risen from 1.5% in October 2009 to 9.9% by March this year following a below average rainfall coupled with inadequate supply of food and essential items.

The Deputy Governor stressed the fact that all banks needed to implement reasonable security practices to protect sensitive information and address cyber threats effectively.

UID name changed for national appeal PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Government's ambitious UID project was today renamed 'AADHAAR' and its new logo unveiled with chairman Nandan Nilekani underscoring that the scheme would lay the foundation for effectively delivering services especially to the poor.

Nilekani, Chairman of Unique Identification Authority of India, said AADHAAR translates into 'foundation' or 'support' and the project, aiming to give a 16-digit number to all citizens of the country starting from February next year, will now be known by the new name.

"We wanted a name that could effectively communicate its transformational potential and its promise to residents.

Something that had a national appeal, that could be recog-

‘World running out of diamonds’ AGENCY LONDON, APRIL 26

The supply of diamonds in the world is dwindling, said De Beers, the biggest miner of the sparkling gem.

De Beers said it will reduce its production to extend the life of its mines. Des Kilalea, a diamond analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said that taking into account the moderated output diamond prices could rise by at least 5 percent a year for the next five years.

The diamond industry, in the past 20 years, has not found new diamond deposits to match the two biggest mines in Africa, which are owned by De Beers, or the Russian mines of Alrosa.

nised across the country, could resonate in different languages and easy to remember and speak," he told reporters, adding the acronym UID was confusing.

Nilekani, who was addressing a seminar organised by the UIDAI here, said the same standard was also set for making of the logo, which shows a sun in yellow and a fingerprint in the centre, and has been created by a Mumbai resident .

The logo, selected after a nationwide competition, was unveiled by Dhaneshwar Ram, a farmer from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh who was invited by the UIDAI to speak on the hardships faced by the common man in getting an identity proof.

Calling the project as a "door that will open all other doors",

Nilekani said it will especially help the poor to avail various facilities once they have a clear identification.

While the country has seen an expansion of the public private services and programmes available to Indian residents over the last decade, "the poor cannot access these due to the lack of clear identification," he said.

He said the workforce of the country will be approximately 800 million by 2020. "The UID will be the key to ensuring that these hundreds of millions of residents have access they need to build their skills, enhance their productivity and grow their incomes."

The logo creator, Atul Sudhakarrao Pande, was given a cheque of Rs one lakh after his design was selected among over 2000 entries.

Bridgestone ups its tyre prices by 3.5% PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Tyre-maker, Bridgestone India, today said it has increased its tyre prices by 3.5 per cent on the back of increased raw materials prices, effective from today.

"We have hiked tyre prices by 3.5 per cent from today onwards owing to an increase of raw material prices," Bridgestone India's General Manager (Sales and Marketing), Vaibhav Saraf said.

"With prices of natural and synthetic rubber increasing substantially in the last 6-7 months, the company is compelled to increase its tyre prices," Saraf said.

The company took a call

after steps taken by fellow players last week. Apollo Tyres, JK Tyre, CEAT and MRF have all announced hikes at around the same level as Bridgestone.

"We have increased the tyre prices by 3.5 per cent this time (for the second time this year).

Earlier, the company hiked tyre prices by 1.94 per cent after the Union budget," he said.

"There is a tremendous pressure on tyre companies and they have been facing trouble as natural rubber and other raw material prices have gone up substantially in the last 6-7months," Saraf said.

The Japanese tyre-maker today inked an MoU with the Maharashtra Government to set up its second plant at

Biz confidence index up 2% in April: survey PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Continuing with the trend of the last four quarters, the Business Confidence Index (BCI) in India has shown a two per cent increase in April over the January level, though the Political Confidence Index (PCI) remains on a downward trajectory, a NCAER-MasterCard survey said today.

BCI in India continues to remain buoyant with an increase of two per cent as compared to 153.6 per cent in January 2010, the latest NCAER-MasterCard Worldwide Index of Business Confidence said.

"The Business Confidence Index rose by two per cent over January. The net effect of the mix of business environment has been perceived to be positive in the business

"My sister told me about this competition. I read through their concept notes and knew that I had to create something which is easily recognisable. Any rural person would be able to easily recognise the sun and the fingerprint," Pande, who is a designer by profession, said.

Pande, who would turn 39 tomorrow, said winning the competition was the best birthday present for him. "It will be taken to millions of people and will be at the front of this ambitious project," he said.

UIDAI Director General R S Sharma said the first 16 digit number would be rolled out by February next year. He said the UID infrastructure will be a foundation over which applications in finance, insurance, health labour, welfare services and others can be built.

sector," National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) Swenior Research Fellow, Shashanka Bhide, said while releasing the survey findings.

The increase in the confidence level is the fourth successive increase in the index and therefore follows very closely to what is happening to the industrial performance, he said.

"The labour market situation is finally turning out to be more positive. Firms are very optimistic in terms of employment and wage bills. Employment is expected to increase across segments and wage rates are also expected to increase," Bhide said.

The continued improvement in overall BCI reflects broadbased recovery in the Indian

economy. But the business confidence has not been extended to the political management of economic issues. Favourable policies can further strengthen business optimism in the coming months, the survey said.

However, according to the survey, the political confidence declined by 16.48 per cent at 105.7 points this quarter as against 120.6 points during the January period.

"We had expected that the PCI will also match with the BCI over time. but we find that after the general elections last year, there has been a decline in the political confidence index," Bhide said.

The survey was carried out in March, after the presentation of the Union Budget and its findings are based on 547 responses.

Chakan, near Pune at an investment of Rs 2,600-crore in phases.

"This new plant will begin passenger car radial tyre (PSR) production and truck and bus radial tyre (TBR) production to cater to the growing demand for these tyres in India," the company said a statement.

The plant is scheduled to start turning out passenger car radial tyres and truck and bus radial tyres from January 2013 and August 2013, it said.

The tyre major has set up its first plant at Pithampur near Indore in Mandhya Pradesh which produces PSR tyres. The company plans to start passenger car radial tyre in 2011, the statement said.

Nissan begin test trials of export cars PTI CHENNAI, APRIL 26

Japanese automaker Nissan Motor India has begun test trials of exporting its cars to Europe.

The first trial consignment of six cars left for Barcelona from its Oragadam plant (near Chennai) through the Ennore Port, today, it said.

The shipment was expected to reach Barcelona in 22 days.

Nissan Motor India MD and CEO Kiminobu Tokuyama said the company was gearing up for exports to Europe from second half of 2010." Domestic production of Micra would begin next month and we will soon start production for exports in July,” he said.

The company would export to more than 100 countries including Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Godrej Consumer FY10 PAT up 97% PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Adi Godrej-led Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) has clocked a 97 per cent jump in its PAT at Rs 339.6 crore in FY 10 as against Rs 172.6 crore in the year-ago period.

Its sales revenue (net of excise) increased by 47 per cent to Rs 2,041.2 crore from Rs 1,392.9 crore in the year-ago period.

"We have fared well in FY 10.

There has been a healthy growth in both sales and profit and we look forward to this year (FY 11) which should also

be a good one," GCPL's chairman, Adi Godrej said.

In Q4 FY 10, the company's PAT was up 56 per cent at Rs 91.7 crore as against Rs 58.7 crore in the year-ago period.

The company clocked a sales revenue of Rs 509.2 crore, up 48 per cent from Rs 343.9 crore in the same period last fiscal.

The company's performance in FY 10 was driven by its international businesses kicking-in healthily, acquisitions, raw material costs remaining low and the markets being good, he said.

"This fiscal I expect our new

acquisitions to contribute and raw material costs to remain stable," Godrej said.

The GCPL Chief said that the company's Indonesian acquisition, Megasari Makmur Group, would itself bring-in Rs 50 crore after interest cost of acquisitions.

"Besides, we have achieved handsome cost-savings which will also help us," he said.

One point of concern, he noted, is the high food inflation which has forced low-income urban households to spend more on food than FMCG products.

Raw material costs would remain steady and there was no immediate plan to hike prices of its products, Godrej said.

On whether more acquisitions were in the offing, Godrej said that "we will continue to look at various opportunities."

GCPL was interested in an acquisition in Latin America but nothing has been firmedup there so far, he said, adding, he would not comment on media speculation that the company had zeroed-in on a couple of companies there for acquisitions.

Multi-lingual solution at BIAL soon PTI BANGALORE, APRIL 26

Moveo Systems,a provider of innovative next-generation human interaction solutions, today signed an agreement with Bengaluru International Airport Ltd to deploy a multilingual human interactive airport solution, claimed to be the first of its kind.

Moveo Systems, a Bangalorebased private firm, will set up easy-to-use interactive and intuitive touch panel kiosks at strategic locations across the airport that will enhance interaction levels with passengers, making travel for them more engaging and exciting.

The kiosk will be a one-point of contact which will provide information regarding the airport services, the various food and retail options, airlines, immigration, customs protocol and travel guidelines. Additionally, the passenger will receive live news feeds, destination, weather and city guides at the kiosk.

Maruti Suzuki Q4 more than doubles AGENCY MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Maruti Suzuki, India's top carmaker, said its fourth-quarter net profit more than doubled on strong sales, but missed forecasts as tough competition, higher raw material prices and costs associated with migrating to new emission norms and new launches hit margins.

Shares in Maruti, worth $8.8 billion, fell 1.1 percent in a Mumbai market that was up 0.3 percent.

Car sales in India have been robust in 2010 with a revival in the economy bumping up demand, while availability of credit has brought back customer confidence.

But higher raw material prices, a rise in interest rates and hike in fuel prices threaten to spoil the party.

"The industry will continue to grow by 13-14 percent on continuing demand but I see Maruti stock underperforming in the short to medium

term because there is nothing new happening and everything has been factored into its valuations," said Umesh Karne, analyst with Brics Securities.

"The market is also concerned about the increasing competition and how the company will tackle it," he said.

Maruti, which sells one of every two cars in India, is facing intense competition in the compact car segment from other global carmakers.

Data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers showed that total industry car sales rose 28.4 percent in the March quarter from a year earlier.

Maruti, 54.2 percent owned

by Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp, sold 287,422 cars in the March quarter up 22 percent from a year earlier.

Maruti reached its full capacity of 1 million cars in its fiscal year ended March and is adding capacity to produce

Volkswagen hikes China investments by $2.2 b AGENCY SHANGHAI, APRIL 26

Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest automaker, will build two plants in China as part of a 1.6 billion euro ($2.2 billion) expansion plan to capture growth in the world's most dynamic auto market.

The German carmaker, which operates in China through two joint ventures, reiterated its long-term goal to sell 2 million vehicles a year in the world's biggest car market.

"Growth in China has surpassed all expectations," chief executive Martin Winterkorn said in a statement on Monday.

Volkswagen shares were up 1.3 percent at 74.43 euros by 0915 GMT, while the STOXX Europe 600 Automobiles & Parts index was 0.5% higher.

The 1.6 billion euros brings Volkswagen's total investment plans for the Chinese market to

6 billion euros. Last week, a top manager told Reuters the company had hiked its investment in China but declined to say by how much.

Volkswagen said it plans to use the money to build two production sites and to launch seven new or revamped models

this year in China.

China is on track to overtake Germany as the group's largest single market this year.

China's car sales zoomed up nearly 50 percent last year, defying falling sales in the rest of the world, thanks in part to a series of government measures

designed to stimulate spending during the global downturn.

Overall Chinese auto sales are set to rise faster than expected this year, with some industry insiders now forecasting a 20 percent increase, raising talk Beijing will cut incentives to cool growth.

Other automakers are also racing to increase capacity as China's market shows no signs of slowing yet. Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp (BAIC), China's No. 5 automaker, and partner Hyundai Motor, will build their third manufacturing plant in China, BAIC's President Wang Dazong said.

Since VW's Chinese activities are operated through two separate joint ventures with Shanghai Automotive (SAIC) and FAW Group, its earnings there are booked as a share of profit for equity-accounted investments.

German energy firm to invest $133 m in India AGENCY NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Evonik Energy Services, the Indian arm of German power generation major Evonik Industries, Monday said it plans to pick up equity worth about $133 million (Euro 100 million) in various power projects where it is involved as an engineering and services partner.

The company will make the strategic investments as a minority partner and will continue to concentrate on its key areas of operations in India -design and engineering, operations management and providing IT services.

'We are prepared to take up equity in specific power plants, because our clients get added reassurance if they know we have put in our own money,' said J.T. Verghese, managing di-

rector of Evonik Energy Services.

'So we will look at picking up minority stakes, which will typically be in the range of 10-20 percent. Each investment for plants will not exceed $33.2 million (Euro25 million) and total investment could be around Euro 100 million in the next two-three years,' added Verghese.

Evonik Energy has just concluded a large operational and maintenance contract with Sterlite Energy for its 2,400 MW coal-fired power plant at Jharsuguda in Orissa. The deal is reported to be around Rs.1,400 crore.

'I will neither confirm nor deny the figure. But its close,' said Verghese.

Evonik has also signed an IT diagnostics and systems optimisation pact with state-run

power generation major NTPC for installation of such a package at about 30 power plants of 500 MW. 'These systems can diagnose and predict before a fault happens and help in improving efficiency. A one percentage increase in efficiency in a plant can increase profit margins by as much as 20 percent,' said Verghese.

The company is also looking at the non-conventional energy space with great interest and said that it is scouting for solarthermal power projects wherein it could be the dominant partner.

'We might be interested in majority stakes in solar-thermal power projects. But this sector itself is in early stages and hence it is premature to name them,' said Verghese.

250,000 more cars annually from April 2012. It is also tweaking existing capacity to raise output by 80,000 this year to meet demand.

General Motors, whose India sales rose 130 percent in the March quarter, has revised its sales outlook for 2010 based on the success of its Chevy Beat minicar, which it launched in January.

Hyundai Motor Co is Maruti's closest competitor in the domestic segment with its popular i10 and i20 hatchbacks. Its car sales in India rose nearly 38 percent in the quarter.

Maruti reported net profit of 6.56 billion rupees ($148.1 million) for its fiscal fourth quarter ended March, compared with 2.43 billion a year earlier.

Net sales rose to 82.3 billion rupees from 63.1 billion a year ago.

A poll of 12 brokerages had estimated net profit at 7.33 billion rupees and net sales at 83.87 billion.

Office space rentals seen stable REuTERs NEW DELHI

Rents for office space are seen stable in 2010 as increased spending by IT and ITES firms absorbs space put out over the last few quarters, a recent survey by real estate consulting firm C B Richard Ellis showed.

The market for commercial space in major Indian cities has seen a boost in demand in the March quarter even as rents remain hobbled by excess supply.

"I don't expect rentals moving up in the near future. The supply is enough, although the market has picked up and office take-up has improved," Anshuman Magazine, chairman of C B Richard Ellis (South Asia) said.

"It will take time before we see any upward movement in rentals."

The rental values in the central business district of New Delhi appreciated by 4% over the previous quarter while remaining flat in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Pune according to the report.

The study across seven major cities forecast rents to remain stable overall while they may ease up in New Delhi and Bangalore due to supply beating demand.

Telecom, FMCG and pharma companies are also taking up office space, even as the ITITES sector which is seeing rising demand continues to be the major occupier.

"Unlike last year, the last quarter of 2009 onwards we have seen demand improving, absorption taking place and there is a momentum in the market," Magazine said.

Welspun India raises Rs 156 cr MUMBAI: Textiles firm Welspun India Ltd said on Monday it raised 1.56 billion rupees through a sale of shares to institutions. The funds would be used for capital expenditure and investments in growth opportunities, it said.

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT The Saga of conversion of Future h s i t e old GMC F “

Tuesday, 27 April, 2010

Built by the Portuguese in 1842, it was originally the Escola Medico-Cirurgica de Goa. Post liberation and it became the Goa Medical College (GMC) and then on has been venue for hoards of films. More recently, the tentative plans for the Old GMC Building reek with underhandedness. The Herald delves (Left) Medical students of the 1978 batch pose happily at the hostel of the old GMC

HERALD FEATURES

T

he Old GMC Building, a landmark of Panjim has paid its due to society, in more ways than one. It has been witness to the welcoming of new life to many a family, saved those on the verge of death not to mention moulding and making majority of the members of the medical fraternity of Goa. Serving an entire different section of society it became a film lover’s haunt more so during its ten-day hosting of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). It presently maybe in the wrong hands and if inaction and lethargy continue to be the government’s modus operandi, the building will just be another picture in a book of great Goan heritage structures that no longer exist.

The GMC’s shift to Bambolim and conversion to a central point for film related activities in the state did not hurt the sentiments of its past or present students. With a considerable amount of tweaking, their alma mater was very much intact, inside and out. Present news on the supposed plans for the Old GMC building will be a shocker: first, getting in a builder to convert the structure into a mall a few years ago and now, asking the same builder to start a film school at the same venue.

A public sub-committee under the 37th Governing Body of ESG, headed by writer and dramatist Vishnu Vagh with members comprising of Goa’s renowned artists and representatives of the Indian Medical Associations, lightly called the Vagh Committee opposed the transforming of the structure into a mall. It was then to be handed over to a private building firm. These plans were strongly opposed by the Wagh committee and later scrapped by the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG).

It seems like the opposition of the Vagh committee did not drive home

with the ESG officials. They appointed another committee to scan through the suggestions put forth by the sub-committee. The reports of the workings of this community for the future of the old GMC Building were not made public. It was also not presented to the Governing Body. There was no notification issued by the government or the ESG about the other members on the committee. The ESG did not hold back the Letter of Intent issued to the builders in question as suggested by the Vagh Committee.

The builders made a presentation before the 48th Governing Body in February 2010. It suggested the setting up of a film school. The body then set up a committee of ESG members to present its report to the Governing Body and without any notice made dealings with the builders at hand.All this implies that the builders with a smokescreen of setting up a film school, hand in hand with some corrupt ESG officials, will decide the future of the heritage structure – a back door entry to the scraped plans of the Vagh Committee.

“We are not against the setting up of a film school,” says a key member of the Indian Medical Association, Goa clearing the air. He adds, “just like medicine it is an art and a very viable one.” Moreso, it will also generate large sums of money which could be partly used for maintenance of the heritage structure. “We will be assured that it will be around for future generations to come and for Goa’s cultural history as well,” he stresses.

The only thing permanent is change, they say. And it is required for every society to grow, but change should be inclusive of each and every concern of society, in this case of heritage and culture.

Tell Me More – Understanding Language Disability Disability is of different types, language disability is just another kind of disorder which needs special attention.

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES child who is about two and half years old and has learnt the skill of communicating through speech will be very enthusiastic about his newly acquired skill. Although in the first few months some difficulties are noticed, they normally outgrow them. But some children are faced with the dilemma of framing sentences long after their counterparts have learnt to speak fluently, this could be due to language impairment. StammerYour material possesing, stuttering, pronunciation problems, sions say a lot about who impoverished vocabulary and difficulty you are, so think when learning new words are included in lanyou shop. All that energy (23 Sep – 22 Oct) has to be good for someguage impairments and can be overcome thing -- and you should think of exwith a little help. actly the right project! You may want But when do you realise that a child to track down an ex, redecorate your has language impairment at an early home or convince your boss to give stage? “On an average, a child at the you a raise. Anything is possible! age of two should be able to string toTake care of your vision, gether two words at least, and if the both physical and emochild doesn’t do this, he probably has tional. What future do you a disorder that needs attention,” says see? If you're having a

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­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E Someone new on the scene makes you uncomfortable, but they just need time to fit in. Your (21 Mar – 19 Apr) needs are on the back burner, but that's fine by you. It's just one of those days when you would rather help friends, family or colleagues with their business and make sure the whole group is doing well.

What are you most passionate about? Focus on that and you'll find a new direction. Take it easy (20 Apr – 20 May) today -- there's no need for you to go all-out! You may find it somewhat easier to roll back your latest projects than to let them proceed on their own, as you can make up the lost time later.

hard time making up your mind, there's an easy solution -blow it off! Nothing is so important that it can't wait for another day, and most likely you need to let your subconscious wrestle with it.

(23 Oct – 21 Nov)

Make the changes you need to improve your health today. It's been long enough. Does your (21 May – 21 Jun) love life need a boost?

If not, good for you -- but if so, now is the time to make it happen! It needs your active involvement to work, so make sure that you're on it when opportunity knocks.

If you're feeling shy, try to figure out why. Introspection is key to understanding. Your laughter (22 Nov – 21 Dec) is infectious today, and you might find that your friends are all looking for ways to provoke it.

It's a really good time to kick back and enjoy the people you spend your time with.

Keep yourself busy but avoid singing legal documents. Today's not the day for deals. Whether (22 Jun – 22 Jul) you live with your mate, friends or just pets, you need to settle a fight before it gets ugly today.

If that means giving in for the time being, so be it -- you don't want to escalate!

Solve your problem with a friend's help. Consult the expert in your circle.

You're still carrying the (22 Dec – 19 Jan) banner forward, starting new projects and plans with ease.

The people around you may not know what's up, exactly, but they are sure to see that you're heading in the right direction.

Old friends are like antiques -- collect the ones you love, whatever their condition. Your good en(23 Jul – 22 Aug) ergy is still flowing freely today. It's a good time to enjoy what you've got and make sure those closest to you are doing okay.

Renew any commitments you've made soon.

If you go too fast in life, you'll always feel rushed.

So savor every day. Your interest in other cultures (20 Jan – 18 Feb) is peaking, which means it may be time to plan another trip.

If you're on the road or just got back, your energy may be well spent in organizing your pictures and keepsakes

It's hard to swallow some people's beliefs, but tolerance is an enviable skill. You're feeling a new (23 Aug – 22 Sep) depth to one particular emotion today, and it almost certainly helps you get right with your mate or a coworker. It may surprise you, but that's par for the course these days.

They're looking for a doormat, not a partner.

Be happy you're out of the running. There's a lot (19 Feb – 20 Mar) going on today, and you may need to move on from old business before you're quite ready.

That's fine -- as long as you find a way to honor what has come and gone recently.

Anjali Nunes, speech and language pathologist at Sethu. The child then has to be referred to a speech analyst to avoid further complications. “We at Sethu get the child assessed by a doctor to rule out any physical problems that could be the reason for the disability,” says Nunes. The reason for a speech disorder could be varied. “It could stem from an intellectual difference or maybe a language perception delay or even a neurological problem,” says Nunes.

Upon the occurrence of language disorders in Goa, Nunes states, “Although there is no survey to state the occurrence of the disorders in percentage, the occurrence is quite high. A lot of children suffer from various disorders, especially stammering and the pronunciations of certain words. The disorder is spread equally through all the languages.”

Sethu is organising a month-long course, titled ‘Tell Me More’, for anyone working with children who are faced with the various types of language disorders. “The course will help them understand what the child faces and how to help them,” adds Nunes.

Dev posta “ Sonsta-taka Anonymous

“

Only when we are no longer afraid do “we begin to live - Dorothy Thompson

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d b a ll s a n C r y s ta l t s might no tarot card r e lu re fo be a hug t u B . ans the Go n i g indulgin e s is s ti ll p o h o ro s c b y m o s t. d o te d o n g ets gazin Herald g l ta the crys through ball

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES few years ago, a fun visit with friends to a predictor of the future turned out to be a disturbing experience.

“You’re about to find your true love, dear!”

Disgusting! Yes, nauseating to be told this, when you are married and a fulfilled mom.

The lady looked loony and sitting in the corner of an attic store in a narrow crowded alley in Bangalore, she managed to give us goose flesh. It got further exacerbated when she continued, “You will be totally smitten by him. But, at first you will not recognise him as your soul mate.”

On inquiring sarcastically, “You mean I will meet him at a fancy dress party?” Ominously, she had stared and replied, “Dear, you have to seek this man out and look at him with clear and fearless eyes.

The flower of love may flourish in the most unexpected of places and you must be ready to pluck it.”

Great! Unsettling, in fact! An earful I needed, ‘never’ to indulge in having your future predicted from a bunch of cards. You had firmly believed that, a caressing laugh over the phone that sends shivers down your spine, or a feeling of mushiness over a lazy smile or longing gaze, belonged to several thousand light-years in the past. Instead, you were being portentiously commanded to wear Cupid’s blinkers, by a lady wearing a black scarf and a gold hoop earring, flinging a bunch of cards. Sure sounded loony!

But why do we human beings have this compelling need to know what the future has in store for us? What is it that makes us have a quick scan of the daily horoscope in every possible local daily despite our frazzled, hectic lives? In fact, remember those teenage days when we sat dreamyeyed plucking off the petals of a flower chanting, “She/he loves me, loves me not, loves me, loves me not….,” till your last petal says, “loves me.” If it is otherwise, you pick up a flower and repeat it all over again, till you end with those three magical

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words. One major subject that ruled our lives then was ‘Zodiac Star signs’. Who can forget the umpteen times we were buried in a star sign book penned by the evergreen Linda Goodman? We devoured every word that the writer prophesied about the special one in our life – an intense crush, an attraction, a beautiful love, whatever. We discovered whom we ought to love, why our current crush was so compelling, or what was wrong with our relationship.

Talk to a handful of teenagers and you are not surprised that they still go gaga over the tradition of reading star signs.

According to them, “It is just curiosity of wanting to know the personality traits of the person you fancy. We don’t know whether it’s true or not, but it is an enjoyable indulgence.” while another adds, “Once you start following star signs you get thoroughly hooked on to it. We start believing that we can learn more about ourselves, our future, careers, and most of all our partners.” Though there were a few who opined differently, “Never!

My friends and I just don’t believe in this. We don’t even indulge for fun.”

As for tarot reading, quite a number of youngsters say, “It is all crap! They only predict plausible stuff in such a vague manner that the situation can go either way. Very clever!” One girl informs, “When very young, I was told, very soon, I would fall down a real tall building, and was instructed to keep away from heights. Till today, I wake up with nightmares of me hurtling down a deep chasm. This kind of stupid stuff spoils your otherwise peaceful life.”

Yet, our tarot readers are optimistic saying, “We get more tourists coming in than locals. But this is only because of lack of awareness. We get clients even from 11 to 14 years. What is important is the reader. She/he should be intuitive and very efficient. Sometimes, it is inborn and mostly it is learned systematically. You have to be able to hand out the truth tactfully as people are paying to know the possibility of the future.”

Shahrukh snubs Riteish and picks Rampal

S

hahrukh Khan was good friends with Riteish Deshmukh and Arjun Rampal.

While his friendship with Arjun is still intact, Riteish seems to have left with a bitter taste in his mouth.

The reason behind the rift seems to be Shahrukh choosing Arjun over Riteish to play the villain in ‘Ra One’ in spite of Riteish being the first choice. According to sources, Riteish was chosen for the negative role. Even director Anubhav Sinha wanted Riteish to do the role as he had already worked with the actor before in ‘Cash’.

Riteish was finalised for the project and his remuneration had also b e e n f i xe d . H o w e v e r, Riteish then read in the newspapers that Arjun had been chosen as the villain in ‘Ra One’.

Arjun was unsure about playing the role as he was suffering from a back problem. He was chosen later though. And while Riteish is upset a b o u t h i s o u s t e r, h e hasn’t spoken a word about it to SRK. He mentioned it to a few close friends but he feels Shahrukh or Anubhav should have informed him that he would no longer be doing the film.

Shahrukh will be playing a super-hero like character in Ra One and Arjun will be the villain. The movie began rolling earlier this month. Kareena Kapoor plays the heroine.

The movie is based on gaming and super heroes.

However, now Riteish states that he was never offered the film in the first place.

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT Tuesday, 27 April, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Konkani Song and MusicAwards 2009’ will take place on April 30 at 5pm at the Conference Hall of the Tiatr Academy of Goa, Campal, Panaji.

A communication aides training programme, ‘Tell Me More’ for children with language impairments will be held in the month of May. The last date to register is April 27. Call 65137489. Email reachus@sethu.in.

A musical performance by the Choir of Santa Ceceliaof the Rachol Seminary will take place on April 27 at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Call 2653083.

A musical programme ‘Padmashree M Boyer Hanchea Kantarancho Ugddas’ which will highlight memorable songs sung by the late M Boyer will take place on April 28 at Goa Velha (Zuari), Taleigao on May 6 and the Ravindra Bhavan, Sanvordem on May 23. It is organised by Konkani singer Andrew D’ Souza and the Tiatr Academy of Goa. The 15th European Film Fest 2010 is on till May 5. It is organised by the Entertainment Society of Goa and the Delegation of the European Union to India.

The films will be screened at the Maquinez Palace, Panjim. The festival is free and open to all.

The Mr and Ms Youth Eye Contest is open for auditions. It is hosted by Mandovi Entertainment. Call 9764215051, 9923038056, 9923423946 or 9403879759.

‘Summer T 10’ will feature Remo Fernandes and his band ‘The Microwave papadums live in concert on April 30 at the Rajendra Prasad Stadium, Margao from 6pm onwards. It is organised by 9 entertainment and Turbog. Call 9922562192.

‘Portrait and Nature Photography’ sessions for children over the age of seven, facilitated by Assavri Kulkarni will take place on April 28, 29 and 30 between 4pm to 6pm at the Sunaparanta–Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Panjim. Call 2421311.

A chess tournament for persons under 25 will take place on May 1 at

9:15am at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. Call 2452805, 2452808, 2452809 and 2452810.

Summer Camp workshop for children, organised by Art Escape Junior starts on May 1 at the Art Escape, Benaulim.

Call 9820695272, 9881568756 or 9323590051.

The 8th Introduction to Kayaking and Taining Program 2010, organised by Goa Kayaking will take place from May 7 to 10 and May 14 to 17 at the Vainguinim beach, Dona Paula. Call 9422056037 and 2462182. E-mail goakayaking@gmail.com.

Musician Harri Stojka and his band will perform at Zeebop, Utorda on May 1 at 7.30pm. Call 9922023293 or 2228010. Visit websitewww.heritagejazz.com.

Experimath, A Workshop for Parents to Teach Children Basic Mathematical Concepts through Learning by Doing will take place on May 1 from 9:30am to 4pm at the Sethu Centre, Altinho, Panaji.

The last date to register is April 28. Call 6513749.

A 6-month part time training programme for pre-school teachers, organised by Sethu will run from the month of June to December 2010 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The last date to register is May 15. Call 6513749. Email reachus@sethu.in.

A Paintball Tournament, organised by Splat, Goa’s first paintball arena in Anjuna is announced for the month of May. The age limit is 16 years and it is free and open to all. Call 9552929873 or 6451873.

Parchment, punch craft, paper quilling will be taught in an art and craft workshop for kids between 5 to 16 years.

The last date to register is March 31. Call 9881696445.

Candle making workshop of seven different types of candles will be held for kids and adults. Call 9850025287.

Tailoring classes will take place every Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 6pm at Porvorim. Call 9765731003 or 2411828.

buffet

Meaning 1 :a blow, as with the hand or fist 2 :a violent shock or concussion

DAILY GROOK TERMINAL ETERNAL

Example Sentence Fed up of Chris’ abusive behaviour, Roger gave him a stinging buffet to put him in his place.

the stranded passenger inside airport babble, for the wait to endure must be intermin'able!

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BY RYAN AND RUSSEL D’COSTA HERALD FEATURES imply Ballroom Dance Academy organised a memorable music and dance concert in memory of the late King of Pop Michael Jackson at MPT Sayantara Auditorium, Headland Sada, Vasco da Gama. The concert witnessed an electrifying atmosphere with a full house attending it.

The event started with a brief intro on the life of Michael Jackson which was followed by the Simply Ballroom Dancers shaking a leg to the popular tunes of the legendary star. As per Mic and Daisy, the founders of Simply ballroom, “Michael Jackson was one of the greatest dancers of all time. His effortless and original moves have mesmerised people around the globe, even inspiring a generation of dancers.”

They add, “The concert is a tribute to a legend, a hero, the King of dance. Like Michael Jackson, Simply Ballroom strives for perfection and purity, grace and grandeur in the divine art form of dance.”

The concert also had a young band of teenagers comprising Neil Anthony on the lead and vocals, Shiv on the lead, Nikhil and Aldryich on the Rythms and the youngest of the lot, Mauzwin, on the drums performing live medleys and songs of the King of Pop. Mic dedicated the song ‘Gone too soon’ to the memory of the King of Pop which the latter had famously sung in the past in memory of Ryan White, a cancer patient.

The song was followed by a dance performance by Mic and Shruthi. The event also had some fine singing by Dr Eliza and Malcolm and Wayne Remedios. The event concluded with the entire team of Simply Ballroom giving the final farewell to the King of Pop by singing the famous song ‘We are the world’.

The chief dignitaries present for the day was Milind Naik ( MLA of Mormugao), Mr Shirodkar (Financial advisor and CEO of MPT) and Mr Kunchairia (CME of MPT).

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Fantastic ‘Feni’s’ Festive Weekend

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES lways one to preserve and promote our Goan traditions, Maendra Alvares once again succeeded in a much needed attempt to preserve and promote our very own ‘Feni’ when he organised a festival on the spirited brew over the weekend titled, ‘Goan Brew – High Spirits and Healing’.

Ancestral Goa, Big Foot wore a festive look as an air of veritable ‘Feni’ enveloped the place. The mascot, Dr ‘Coco’ ju’, (for coconut and cashew) pranced around welcoming the crowd. The star of the festival was the lone man crushing cashew apples. He could put a tiatrist to shame with his amazing articulation as he demonstrated the distillation process live.

Lined up at counters was a humble selection of medicinal ‘Feni’: the brew had flavours of various herbs, coffee, vanilla etc. Also in the offing were some interesting cocktails: ‘Feni’ with mango liquer, with Blue Curacao etc. The disappointing factor was that the potential and versatility of the drink was not substantially highlighted. Perhaps, more of the ‘Feni’ stakeholders should have chipped in and supported the festival.

But hats off to Alvares who has done his best! Animated he informed, “We good a real good response. On the first day, I got 700 visitors and today (Sunday) the crowd is still coming in.” Inform him that we need more people like him who would speak through their actions and he acknowledges humbly, “I am happy I could do it. What is the use of constantly complaining that the government is not promoting our drink and only promoting wines, and not doing anything about it? So, I just went ahead and did it. It is just the beginning and there is a lot more potential in improving the festival in the coming years” The highlight of the festival was the photography organised by the Goanshutterbugs.

It was a relief to see that the amateur photographers did not dwell on bars or taverns and instead brought out the very essence of ‘Feni’-making which is the hardship and toil of the ‘bhaticars’ who distil the

A

by Francis Rodrigues

M Alvares: The man behind the move

When life throws lemons at you, take out the ‘Feni’ liquor. Sanjeev Sardessai announced the prizes which were given away

by Mr Eduardo Faleiro to the first three winners: Newelle Fernandes (first), Chetan Parker and Nikita Tally (second) and Mohit Kakodkar (third).

We look forward to see more festivals on the Goan spirit with more participation from ‘Feni’ enthusiastists and stakeholders and perhaps at a venue which will garner in more crowds, especially the locals.

Photos by Christina Viegas

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 537 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

Photos by Janice Rodrigues

SUDOKU 538

Entertainment

Remembering Michael Jackson…

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succeed, failure may be your style.”

– Quentin Crisp

Function Noun

EN

PEN T HAP

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES oa has produced a number of musicians, a large number of whom are attracted to the scintillating sounds of western classical music.

With the growing number of choirs and orchestras, Goa has a lot of talented musicians who excel in both spiritual as well as secular music. Showcasing such talent is the Choir of Santa Cecelia of the Rachol Seminary, all set to enrapture the audience at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on April 27, 2010.

The concert will see the coming together of around 140 artists including the 85-member Choir of Santa Cecilia together with the 55-member Symphonic Orchestra. The free concert has been an annual feature for a long time now, attracting a huge number of musicians who voluntarily participate and share their love for music.

The Choir of Santa Cecilia, over a century old, was set up in the year 1905 and named after the patroness of Music and musicians, St Cecilia. The choir has mastered tunes in various languages of Latin, English and the other vernaculars in the likes of Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, Schubert, Xavier, Barreto and Paranjoti.

The concert will feature compositions like Ave Maria, Mhoima Bajuk, Regina Coeli performed by the solo soprano Preethi Coutinho, Hallelujah from ‘The Messiah’, a bhajan ‘Tu Hai Swami’ arranged by Fr Romeo Monteiro, along with solo performances by Victor Da Costa at the violin playing the tunes of Spring I from the Four Seasons by Vivaldi; another violin solo by Sancha de Apsuncao Pereira who will play the tunes of Mozart.

The concert with its blissful itinerary is bound to attract music lovers from across the state, and is sure to be a treat to the senses of everyone listening.

Funny Quote “ If at first you don't

Pronunciation buhf-et

CURR

Information Technology

Santa Cecelia all set to enrapture Audiences

LAFFS

WORD OF THE DAY

Education

GARFIELD

(Above)The star cashew apple crusher

SOUTH POLE

1st Place: Newelle Fernandes

10:00 Sabki Laadli Bebo 10:30 Sasural Genda Phool 11:00 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 11:30 Behenein 12:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat 14:30 Behenein 15:00 Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Behenein 18:00 Sabki Laadli Bebo 18:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 19:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Sabki Laadli Bebo

10:30 Crime Patrol 11:00 Pyaar Ka Bandhan 11:30 Indian Idol 13:00 Godh Bharaai 14:00 C.I.D 18:00 Indian Idol 19:00 Sukh By Chance 19:30 Godh Bharaai 20:00 C.I.D Classics 21:00 Indian Idol 22:00 Indian Idol: Rubaroo

10:00 Choti Bahu

10:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 11:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Do Saheliyaan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Choti Bahu 14:30 Do Saheliyaan 15:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 15:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 16:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 16:30 Choti Bahu 17:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 17:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 18:00 Pavitra Rishta 18:30 Ghar Ghar Mein 19:00 Do Saheliyaan 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 22:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 22:30 Do Saheliyaan 23:00 Pavitra Rishta 23:30 Jhansi Ki Rani

11:15 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 12:00 Lapataganj 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Maniben.com 14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

14:30 Lapataganj 15:00 FIR 15:30 Jugni Chali Jalandar 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta …

16:30 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 17:00 Gutar Gu 17:30 Lapataganj 18:00 FIR 18:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

19:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 19:30 Lapataganj 20:00 Maniben.com

09:25 War, Inc. 11:15 The Medallion 13:15 What Happens in Vegas 15:20 The Pink Panther 2 17:15 Snow Dogs 19:30 Scary Movie 21:00 Starship Troopers 23:25 Day of the Dead

09:30 Murder She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle 11:30 Hollywood One on One 12:00 Life Without Dick 14:00 21 16:30 The Making of : Fracture 16:45 Pistol Whipped 18:30 American Ninja 20:30 TMZ 21:00 Flash Of Genius 23:30 Exit Wounds

08:15 Taxi No. 9211 11:00 Biwi Ho To Aisi 15:00 Dil Hai Tumhaara 20:00 Dilwale

09:30 Strangers 12:30 Blackmail 16:00 Julie 20:00 1947: Earth 23:00 Enemy of the State

09:30 A Shock to the System 11:20 The Curse of the Jade Scorpion 13:20 Alex and Emma 15:20 Chicks on Flicks

15:50 G.I. Jane 18:20 Hollywood One on One 18:50 Art Heist 21:00 Fun with Dick and Jane 23:05 The Crow: Wicked Prayer

08:30 Ek Aur Himmatwala 12:00 Guru 16:00 Joru Ka Ghulam 20:00 Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya 23:55 Kis Kis Ki Kismat

08:00 Yeh Raaste Hai Pyar Ke 12:00 Sangam 16:00 Bol Radha Bol 20:00 Shola Aur Shabnam

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 21:30 Jugni Chali Jalandar 22:00 Lapataganj 22:30 FIR

10:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 11:00 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 11:30 Geet 12:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 12:30 Dill Mill Gayye 13:00 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 13:30 Geet 14:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 14:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum

15:00 Chhote Sarkar 18:00 Laughter Ke Phatke 18:30 Dill Mill Gayye 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 22:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh

15:00 Video Zonkers 17:00 The Amazing Race Asia 18:00 Life on Mars 19:00 Masters of Illusion 20:00 Cyril: Simply Magic 21:00 So You Think You Can Dance : 10 - 8 Live 22:00 David Blaine 23:00 Csi: Crime Scene Investigation: Sin City Blue

11:00 CSI: Miami : Dissolved 12:00 Masters of Illusion 13:00 The Amazing Race 14:00 Scare Tactics

10:00 Psych 11:00 V.I.P 12:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 12:30 American Idol

2nd Place: Chetan Parker and Nikita Talli 14:30 Two and a Half Men 15:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 15:30 Psych 16:30 Friends 17:00 Prison Break 18:00 V.I.P 19:00 Friends 19:30 Two and a Half Men 20:00 Psych 21:00 Friends 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Prison Break

09:00 TNA Xplosion 10:00 2010 Hannspree Sbk Superbike World Champ 12:00 Inside Racing 2010 12:30 Engine Block 2010 13:00 Internazionali Bnl D'italia 15:55 AFC Champions League 18:00 TNA Impact 20:00 Supa Strikas 20:30 Golf Focus 2010 21:00 Score Tonight 21:30 TNA Impact 23:30 Supa Strikas

09:00 ICC World T20 2007 H/L : England vs. India 11:00 PBA Women's Series 12:00 Barclays Premier League 14:00 NBA Classic Games 2009/10 : Indiana Pacers vs. Los Angeles Lakers 16:00 FIM S1 Supermoto World Championship 2009 H/ls 17:00 Premier League H/ls 18:00 ICC World T20 2007 H/L : England vs. India 19:00 Final Score 19:30 Simply the Best 20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 Barclays Premier League 22:00 Sportscenter India

22:30 Sportscenter Asia 23:00 ICC World T20 2007 H/L : England vs. India

10:30 MUTV: The Big Match With Denis Irwin 11:30 Goalfest 12:00 Real NBA 12:30 Coca-Cola Championship 14:30 UEFA Champions League Magazine Show 15:00 UEFA Champions League 16:00 Arch Trophy Cricket 17:00 WWE: After Burn 18:00 Sports News 18:15 West Indies Tour of South Africa 2007/08 20:15 Goalfest 20:45 Real NBA 21:15 Sports News

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Flavors 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Remembering Michael Jackson 11:30 Fusion Concert 12:00 Talking Talkies 12:30 Flavors 13:00 English News 14:00 Konkani Movie 15:00 Luminare 15:30 Sangeet 16:00 Fusion Concert 16:30 Flavors 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Remembering Michael Jackson 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Straight Talk 22:00 English News 23:00 The Three Famous Fiddlers 00:00 Face-2-Face 00:30 Flavors Note: Subject to change

3rd Place: Mohit Kakodkar

HERALD CROSSWORD - 538 Across 1- Cong. meeting; 5- Fortunetelling cards; 10- Collide with; 14- ___ boy!; 15- Diciembre follower; 16- Switch ending; 17- Up and ___!; 18- Rate; 19- Purim month; 20- Large bee; 22- Intoxicated; 23- Autobahn auto; 24- Extol; 26Radical '60s org.; 29- Wellbehaved; 31- Enclosing band; 35- Vestige; 37- Actress Ward; 39- Architect Saarinen; 40- Appraise, charge per unit; 41- Two-legged support; 42Cosecant's reciprocal; 43- Impersonator; 44- Queue after Q; 45- Up and about; 46Previous monetary unit of Spain; 48- Hula hoop parts; 50- That girl; 51- "Venerable" English monk; 53- Drunkards; 55- Knot; 58- Verve; 63Moon of Jupiter; 64- Water vapor; 65- Go back, in a way; 66- Coup d'___; 67- New Hampshire city; 68- Gift tag word; 69- Salinger girl; 70- Conductor Dorati; 71- Process of combustion; Down 1- Swedish auto; 2- Famous last words; 3- Goblet part; 4- Brazilian ballroom dance; 5- Shipworm; 6- Resuscitation; 7Network of nerves; 8- Bay window; 9- Also; 10- Shaved; 11Language of Pakistan; 12- Complain; 13- Flesh of a hog; 21Sled; 22- Pair; 25- Mil. school; 26- Leash; 27- Hang; 28- Satisfies; 30- Profundity; 32- Film

composer Stevens; 33SOLUTION - 537 Bert's buddy; 34- ___ is human; 36- Think; 38- State in the S United States; 41Actor Pitt; 45- Hammett hound; 47- ___ Aviv; 49Part of a saddle; 52- Consumed; 54- Cram; 55- Elation; 56- Devices for fishing; 57- According to the Bible, he was the first man; 59Depilatory brand; 60- Cross inscription; 61- Scent; 62Iditarod terminus; 64- Jamaican popular music;

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SC Davorlim pip Varca st anthony soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

Sporting Club of Davorlim overcame Varca Sports Club 2-1 to move into the quarter-finals of St Anthony Super Soccer organised by St Anthony’s Sports Club, at Colva ground on Monday. The teams were levelled 1-1 at the break.

Varca dominated the early stages of the match with Milroy Marques missing an easy goal scor-

ing chance after dribbling past the rival defenders.

Davorlim took the lead in the 27th minute through William Niaso.

In the very next minute, Varca equalised when the referee awarded a penalty for handling the ball in the penalty area. Elvis made no mistake to find the target for Varca.

After the lemon break, Varca had an easy chance to take the lead but Elvis and Wilroy failed to find the target.

Davorlim scored the match-winner in the 50th minute through Andrew Colaco. Orlan Vaz was given the man-of-the match prize.

PY Assonora advance viviana soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

Hosts, Parish Youth of Assonora ‘A’ defeated Parish Youth of Curpavaddo 2-1 via the tie-breaker to move into the second round of 2nd All-Goa Viviana memorial 7-a-side Assonora Parish Youth football tournament, at Assonora, on Monday.

In another match, PY Assonora ‘B’ scored a facile 4-2 win over PY Pernem.

Joseph Fernandes, Leslie Pontes, Cyriano D’Souza and Anslem Trinidade scored for Assonora B while Vick and Thomas reduced the margin for PY Pernem.

Assonora goalkeeper B. Emmanuel Ferrao was named the man-of-the match.

Earlier, on Sunday, PY Morjim overcame PY Tivim 3-2 via the tie-breaker.

Arpora pip Adarsh, enter semis

colormax imperial soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 25

Rajesh Pomburphekar’s 56th minute strike enabled Arpora Sporting Club to register a 1-0 win over Adarsh Yuvak Sangh Saligao, to move into the semifinals of 3rd Colormax-Imperial Rolling Trophy soccer tournament, organised by United Club Nerul and sponsored by Jaysingh L. Rane, at Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim on Monday.

Arpora held an upper hand throughout the match, but time and again the strikers failed to score. Pramod Mardolkar and Kishor Palkar were the main culprits.

However, in the 56th minute, Rajesh after receiving a fine through pass from German Fernandes, beat the advancing Adarsh goalkeeper Lawrence Trinidad with a neat placement.

Churchill, Dempo share points taca goa soccer HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, APRIL 26

Musli Power Churchill Brothers earned their first point in the Taca Goa U-20 league, after drawing 1-1 with Dempo Sports Club at Duler stadium, here on Monday.

Both teams scored in the second half.

Goals from Lenny Pereira for

Churchill in the 51st minute and Romeo Fernandes for Dempo in the 58th minute ensured their teams did not go home empty handed.

In the ver y 5th minute, Churchill’s Dhillon Fernandes attempt was fisted away by Dempo custodian Flann D’Souza. In the 8th minute, Dempo’s Jessel Carneiro was saved by Churchill goalkeeper

Preston Fernandes.

Dempo’s Jayesh Chopdekar’s long range effort was pushed onto the cross bar by Preston in the 15th minute.

Ten minutes before the breather Dempo’s Jessel put the ball in the net but it was rightly ruled off side by the referee.

Changing over, Churchill opened the scoring through de-

Nagoa move into quarters pilerne cup HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

Maina 6 captain receiving the 1st inter-village volleyball trophy from Tourism Minister Micky Pacheco.

Maina 6 defeated Colva boys 24-25, 14-25, 16-25 in the finals. Also seen are Menino Fernandes, Colva Sarpanch Angela Borges, Zilla Panchayat member Nelly Rodrigues and ex-Sarpanch Snowkon.

Goa move into 2nd round of Nat shooting HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

Goa defeated Tamil Nadu 15/3 15/5 to advance into the second round of 29th National Shooting Ball Championship at Margao, on Monday.

Other results – senior boys: Mumbai bt Madhya Pradesh 15/13, 17/15, 15/12; Maharashtra bt Orissa 15/2, 5/9; Chandigarh bt Pondicherry 15/5, 15/11; Rajasthan bt Shami 16/15, 16/14, 15/5; Madhya Pradesh bt Jharkhand 15/0, 15/5; Mumbai bt Andhra Pradesh 15/2,15/9; Punjab bt HL Nasik 15/7, 12/15, 15/11; Maharashtra bt Chandigarh 15/9,15/5; Har yana bt Pondicherr y

15/3,15/0; Vidharba bt Bihar 15/3, 15/6.

Junior boys: Madhya Pradesh bt Andhra Pradesh 15/4,15/2; Uttar Pradesh bt Pondicherry 15/5,15/3; Punjab bt Jharkhand 15/4,15/4; Haryana bt Chattisgarh 15/1,15/3; Maharashtra bt Goa 15/2, 15/1; Orissa bt Kerala15/14, 15/2; Madhya Pradesh bt Haryana 7/15, 15/6, 15/10.

Sub junior boys: Maharshtra bt Karnataka 15/8, 15/1; AP bt Tamil Nadu 8/15, 15/8, 15/11; Punjab bt Jharkhand 15/4, 15/4; MP bt Rajasthan 15/8, 5/12.

Senior girls: MP bt AP 15/0, 15/0; Vidarba bt Karnataka 15/10 15/17 15/10.

Sub junior girls: UP bt MP 17/15, 15/10; Vidarba bt UP 15/6, 15/5; Goa bt Delhi 15/11, 11/15, 15/4 and Maharashtra bt Rajasthan 15/0, 15/1.

Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar in the presence of guest of honour Savio Coutinho, chairperson, Margao Municipal Corporation. Also present were Manoj Sule, president, Shooting Ball Federation of India, ML Gupta, general secretary, Shooting Ball Federation of India, V M Prabhudesai ED SAG, Gurudutta Bhakta, secretary general and Goa Olympic Association, Asraf Pandiya, treasurer, SAG.

Betalbatim in semis National board sailing cayman cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, APRIL 26

Betalbatim Sporting Club defeated St Rock’s Youth Club, Cal a t a , M a j o rd a 4 - 2 v i a t h e tie-breaker to march into the semi-finals of All-Goa Cayman Cup inter-village football tournament at Curtorim ground, on Monday. There was no score at full time.

With the regulation time ending goalless, the tie-breaker was enforced. Betalbatim scored through Luis Rogtao, Desmond

fender Lenny Pereira in the 51st minute. Seven minutes later, Dempo managed to equalise after Romeo Fernandes punted the ball home from a cross.

Just before the end of play, a heated tussle broke out between Dempo’s Terence Fernandes and Churchill’s Ashley Araujo, but the referee diffused the situation.

Fernandes, Alliston Rogtao and Cajetan D’Souza while Lavin Mendes and Melliston Pereira converted for Majorda.

UC Nerul up

holy cross soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

United Club of Nerul scored a narrow 1-0 win over Goa Velha Sports Club in the 14th Holy Cross soccer tournament on Monday. David D’Souza of Nerul scored the only goal for Nerul.

Mix Friends, Bl Vaz ahead HERALD SPORTS REPORTER VASCO, APRIL 26

Mix Friends of Cortalim and Blessed Father Jose Vaz marched into the last eight of James Alvares memorial beach soccer tournament defeating Jack Devil and Friends of James-II by 7-1 and 2-0 respectively, at Bogamalo beach, organised by United Youth Club Bogmalo, on Monday.

Mix Friends led 4-0 at the breather. In the first session, man-of-the match Cruz of Mix Friends scored four quick goals.

Crossing over, Rosario and Elvino scored a goal each, while Cruz rounded off the tally by scoring his fifth goal. Cosmi reduced the margin for Jack Devil.

In the second match, Marcus and Lenny scored for Blessed Father Jose Vaz, Sancaole. Marcus was named the man-of-the match.

kicks off on Wednesday HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, APRIL 26

Defending champion Donald Coelho faces a tough contest from his nearest rival Remy Fernandes in wind surfing nationals, as the National Board Sailing Championships 2010 kicks off at Vainguinim Beach, near Cidade de Goa from April 28 to May 2.

The championship is held under the aegis of Laser Class Association of India and hosted

by Goa Yachting Association.

Last year, the championship had gone down to the wire as the winner was decided in the last race with Donald Coelho triumphing over Remy Fernandes to win the title. Two other Goans, Derrick Menezes and Charlie, will also vie for top honours at the championship. The Goan sailors, however, face a tough contest from the army sailors from Army Yachting Node, Mumbai, who have been practicing very hard to upset the applecart of the Goans, who have been dominating this event from the last 8-10 years.

This was disclosed by Organising Secretary Hakim Sabir at a press conference held at Cidade de Goa, on Monday.

Apart from wind surfing, Laser National Championship will also be held concurrently, with defending champion Rajesh Choudhary tipped to be the favourite to retain his title in the Laser Standard category. But this time around, there is tough contest for Rajesh in the form of Jasveer Singh, B K Rout and Mrinalini S. Also, all eyes will be on Olympic hopeful Rohini Rau who is bound to give the men a tough fight.

The Laser Class championship is divided into Laser Standard, Laser Radial and Laser 4.7 categories.

Altogether, 10 clubs and 50 participants will fight for top honours in 10 different categories at the national championship. The clubs include Army Yatching Node, Mumbai; Indian Naval Watermanship Training Centres, Vizag, Mumbai and Kochi; Tamil Nadu Sailing Association; Royal Bombay Yacht Club; National Sailing School Bhopal, EME Sailing Association; EME Sailing Club Bhopal; Corps of Engineers Sailing club; NDA Sailing Club and Goa Yachting Association.

Speaking at the conference, Secretary of the Laser Class As-

Nat champion Donald training hard for the championship

sociation of India (LCAI) Lt Col Anil Das lamented the lack of sponsors for sailing in the country, which is primarily responsible for the sport not gaining wide popularity among the audience.

“In most cases, parents of the sailors have to face the financial burden in the absence of sponsors,” Das said and added that the government support to the sport is limited to a certain extent.

When questioned what the associations have done to popularise the sports in the country, Das informed that LCAI in association with Yachting Association of India conducts a programme ‘Connect to School’ wherein children, including girls, from schools are introduced to the sport and those who show potential are trained and guided to excel at national and international level.

“Such programmes have been started in clubs like Tamil Nadu Sailing Association, EME Sailing Club in Secunderabad and National Sailing School at Bhopal,” Das said and added that the National Sailing School at Bhopal is run and funded by the MP government and the result has been that sailors from this club have begun to excel in the sport.

When Herald questioned Organising Secretary Hakim Sabir as to what is being done to promote the sports in Goa, he said that schools are involved at the sub junior level and 2-3 coaching camps are conducted every year. Hakim also said that initially, all facilities, including coaching, equipment, etc are provided to the participants, but later on, the participants have to buy the equipment themselves if they wish to continue with the sport.

Nagoa Sporting scored a fluent 4-2 win over Nerul Sports Club to enter the quarter-finals of 17th Pilerne Panchayat Cup soccer tournament organised by Pilerne Sports Club, at Maddanim ground, Pilerne on Monday. Nagoa led 3-0 at half time.

Nagoa’s Rajesh Salgaocar scored a brace while Pradip Chopdekar added his name into the scorers list.

Crossing over, Nerul reduced the margin through Jennifer Clemente and Abhijeet Govekar.

Venancio Gonsalves of Nagoa rounded off the tally in the dying minutes.

Adarsh prove better shooters sodiem siolim super soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 26

Adarsh Yuvak Sangh Saligao edged past Sai Avtar Anjuna 54 via tie-breaker in Sodiem Siolim Super Soccer at St. Anthony’s church ground, Siolim on Monday.

Anjuna took the lead in the 10th minute through Gaurish Mandrekar. Soon, Sandesh Chopdekar equalised for Saligao.

Within a gap of four minutes, Shekar Kerkar scored for Anjuna while Sandesh equalised for Saligao.

With the match ending in a 2-2 draw, the tie-breaker was enforced, were Avelino Fernandes, Siddesh Kesarkar and Sandesh Chopdekar scored for Adarsh while Stanly Sequeira and Shekar Kerkar converted for Anjuna.

Goa Premier League cricket: Al-Fatah Sports Club v. Goa Sports Academy, Panjim Gymkhana; Dempo Cricket Club v. Salgaocar Sports Club, BITS Pilani ground; Chowgule Cricket Club v. Sarvodaya Sports Club, Porvorim ground, 9.30 a.m.

Sodiem Siolim Super Soccer (quarters): Candolim SC v. Arpora Sporting, St Anthony ’s Church ground, Siolim, 4.30 p.m.

3rd Colormax-Imperial Rolling Trophy soccer (quarters): Penha de Franca v.

United Club Nerul, Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim, 4.45 p.m.

Pilerne Panchayat Cup inter-village soccer: Vailankanni Sports Club, Arambol v. Adarsh Yuvak Sangh, Saligao, Maddanim ground, Pilerne, 5 p.m.

2nd All-Goa Mount Carmel festival volleyball: Ponda Youth Club v. Odxel Taleigao, PMC volleyball court, Tisk, Ponda, 7.30 p.m.

Frank Pires memorial soccer: St Anthony’s Sports Club, Colva v. Nuvem Sports Club, Siridao church ground, 4.35 p.m.

14th Holy Cross soccer: Sao Jose de Areal v. Dramapur Sirlim SC, Vodlemoll ground, Kakoda, 4.15 p.m.

Cayman Cup soccer: Enfermos Sports Club v. Guirdolim Sports Club, Curtorim ground, 4.30 p.m Eslinda Alemao memorial soccer: Sporting Club of Davorlim v. A.A de Majorda, Davorlim ground, 4.30 p.m.

St Anthony Super Soccer: Ambelim Sports Club v. Cuncolim Union, Colva ground, 4.30 p.m.

James Alvares memorial beach soccer: United Boys of Nepal v. Cortalim Boys; Eagle Boys v. Majorda, Bogmalo beach. Kick off: 4.45 p.m.

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GOA, Tuesday 27 April, 2010

Bayern Munich: 22-HansJoerg Butt; 21-Philipp Lahm, 6-Martin Demichelis, 44-Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, 26-Diego Contento; 10-Arjen Robben, 17-Mark van Bommel, 31-Bastian Schweinsteiger, 25Thomas Mueller, 11-Ivica Olic, 18-Miroslav Klose.

Olympique Lyon: 1-Hugo Lloris; 13-Anthony Reveillere, 4-Jean-Alain Boumsong, 3Cris (or 41-Maxime Gonalons), 20-Aly Cissokho; 41-Maxime Gonalons (or 17Jean Makoun), 6-Kim Kallstrom; 10-Ederson, 8-Miralem Pjanic, 19-Cesar Delgado; 9Lisandro Lopez.

(TOP) Philipp Lahm leads the teammates during the Bayern Munich training session in Lyon.

Claude Puel, head coach of Olympic Lyon gives some coaching tips to players during a training session.

Lyon need Bernabeu spirit to see off Bayern REUTERS LYON, APRIL 26

The spirit which saw off Real Madrid earlier in the competition will be revived if Lyon are to fell Bayern Munich tomorrow and book their place in a first Champions League final.

Trailing 1-0 after the first leg in which the Germans had to play most of the game with 10 men after Franck Ribery's sending off, Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez and coach Claude Puel said the Ligue 1 side need to up the ante. ''The team must change its attitude, its mentality. We played too defensively. We must have a more positive mind-set. We need to change tactics if we are to progress,'' Lisandro told reporters.

The Argentine said Lyon should be inspired by their performance at the Bernabeu in the first knockout round when a 11 draw gave them the edge against Real Madrid after a 1-0 win+ in the first leg. ''We've made it once, we can do it again. That day, we all

Raul to miss rest of season REUTERS BARCELONA, APRIL 26

Real Madrid striker Raul damaged ankle ligaments in Saturday’s 2-1 La Liga win at Real Zaragoza and will miss the remainder of the season, the club said on their website on Monday (www.realmadrid.com).

A scan of his right ankle showed the injury would keep him out for at least four weeks, meaning he will be unavailable for the club’s remaining four La Liga matches as second-placed Real bid to close the one-point gap to leaders Barcelona.

wanted to go through.''

Puel said Lyon were likely to be a better team now that they have their backs against the wall. ''I prefer this (kind of situation) because we play better when we have to go and get a result.''

Puel, however, has some defensive woes before the clash at their Stade Gerland, with centre back Cris doubtful with hip and knee pains, Mathieu Bodmer ruled out injured and Jeremy Toulalan suspended after picking up a red card in Munich.

Centre Jean-Alain Boumsong has resumed training following a calf injury and should at least be in the squad.

Following their scrappy 1-1 league draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach on Saturday, Bayern must up their tempo and they will have to do that without playmaker Ribery, suspended following his red card in the first leg.

Ribery will be joined on the sidelines by Croat Danijel Pranjic, who is also suspended.

As Bayern chase an unprece-

dented treble for a German team with domestic honours also in their sights, they are also concerned about a potential weakness in their central defence.

Martin Demichelis and Daniel van Buyten picked up injuries in the game against Gladbach and are racing against the clock to be fit for the match. ''I could not step on my leg after the hit,'' Van Buyten said after taking a knock on the thigh and limping off. ''It is even worse now and I do not know if I will have enough time to recover by Tuesday.'' Demichelis was taken off at halftime with a thigh muscle injury.

But Bayern sports director Christian Nerlinger sounded confident both would be fit in time, saying: ''As things stand now I assume both will be available for the match against Lyon.''

Captain Mark van Bommel will add steel to the midfield with the Dutchman returning to Champions League action after sitting out a suspension in the first leg.

Sevilla crash to dramatic defeat la liga REUTERS BARCELONA, APRIL 26

Sevilla missed the chance to climb above Real Mallorca into Spain’s fourth Champions League qualification berth when they conceded a penalty in added time to lose 4-3 at Getafe in a dramatic La Liga match.

Substitute Daniel Parejo tore off his shirt and ran to the corner flag to celebrate after netting his spot kick but the

referee made him take it again as a team mate had encroached into the area yesterday.

He made no mistake with his second effort and the Getafe fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle as the disconsolate Sevilla players trudged off.

Mallorca had to come from a goal down to rescue a point at home to 10-man Malaga but Sevilla failed to take advantage and stayed fifth on 54 points with four matches left.

Alonso’s thumbs insured for $13.33 m REUTERS LONDON, APRIL 26

Double world champion Fernando Alonso gave a 10 million euro ($13.33 million) thumbsup to future Formula One success with Ferrari today.

Team sponsors Santander said they had insured the Spaniard's thumbs for five million each as part of a publicity campaign for accident and life insurance ahead of next week's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona. ''Alonso's thumbs are a symbol, as well as being essential for driving a Formula One car, in that they make a sign of victory and show that everything is under control and well protected,'' the bank said in a state-

ment.

Alonso, who joined Ferrari this season after winning championships with Renault, told a news conference in Madrid that he hoped the first European race of the season would reinforce his title challenge.

The Spaniard, winner of the Bahrain season-opener, is third overall after four races. ''The time has come to show who is up for winning the championship and who is not. Now in Europe the moment of truth has arrived for drivers and teams who are going to show who is able to develop quickest,'' said Alonso. ''A nice fight is starting,'' he added.

Sampdoria stun Roma serie a REUTERS MILAN, APRIL 26

AS Roma handed the Serie A title initiative back to leaders Inter Milan after losing 2-1 at home to Sampdoria, their first league defeat in 25 games.

Claudio Ranieri's side looked to be returning to the summit after Francesco Totti's 14thminute goal but a second-half double from Giampaolo Pazzini sent Samp back up to the fourth and final Champions League qualifying spot.

Inter, who had let slip a ninepoint lead from February, beat Atalanta 3-1 on Saturday and lie two points ahead of Roma with three games left as they seek a fifth straight scudetto.

The visit of Samp had looked the toughest-remaining hurdle in debt-laden Roma's fairytale route to a surprise fourth Serie A title and so it proved.

Totti, substituted in last weekend's derby win over Lazio because he was over-excited, e x p e r t l y t u r n e d i n M i r ko Vucinic's pass to boost calls for the Italian to come out of international retirement at June's World Cup. But it was another Azzurri striker hoping to be in South Africa who produced stunned silence in the Stadio Olimpico.

First Pazzini headed in former Roma forward Antonio Cassano's cross early in the second half before poking in the winner five minutes from time yesterday.

Roma, who also face Inter in the Italian Cup final on May 5, probably did enough to claim a draw, with Totti hitting the post and a strong penalty appeal being turned down.

Sampdoria moved two points above Palermo, who beat thirdplaced AC Milan 3-1 on Saturday, and six above Juventus.

Delhi Daredevils batsman Paul Collingwood has dismissed match fixing charges surrounding the IPL and is confident that the high profile Twenty20 tournament faces no threat to its existence from the

ongoing controversies. ''I've never been approached or felt I've been close to being approached. ''But I don't want to be involved with anything like that -- whether it be for England, playing for counties or the IPL. I would hate to think that anybody in my team

would even come close to something like that,'' Collingwood was quoted as saying by 'cricinfo.com'. ''Whatever happens, the IPL will continue,'' he added.

The IPL has been caught in a web of controversies in recent weeks which has resulted in the

UNI KOLKATA, APRIL 26

The Asian Football Confederation told Indian club owners to come forward and take up the challenge of professionalising the game in the continent.

The All India Football Federation, India's supreme soccer regulating authority, quoting AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam said the Asian Football body would go all out to help the Indian clubs provided they believed in change and its benefits.

Hammam has exhorted the Indian soccer clubs to take up the challenge for betterment of soccer in the Indian sub-continent.

Speaking to the AFC ad-hoc committee for Indian Professional Football, Bin Hammam was forthright in his views saying that AFC would go all out to help improving Indian soccer standard. ''The timing of this meeting is significant,'' said Bin Hammam. ''We all saw India taking part in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011 finals draw. I am sure it was a proud moment for you and millions of Indians back home and I congratulate you on India’s achievement. ''But I would be failing in my duty if I don’t point out that both Indian and Asian fans had to wait for 26 long years for this moment. India last played in the Asian Cup in 1984,'' added Bin Hammam. ''I as well as millions of Indians want to see India playing in each and every Asian Cup after this.

However, this can be guaranteed only when there is a solid and professional base of club foot-

n I as well as millions of Indians want to see India playing in each and every Asian Cup after this.

However, this can be guaranteed only when there is a solid and professional base of club football in the country.

-- AFC President Mohamed Bin Hammam ball in the country. ''AFC and FIFA want to listen to you as you are the owners and presidents of Indian clubs.

We urge you to share your ideas for professionalising football in India.''

The AFC president said this meeting and more threadbare discussions would pave the way for the future. ''In addition to the artificial turfs being sponsored for some clubs under FIFA’s ‘Win in India with India’, AFC and FIFA can think about contributing to the clubs’ costs towards professionalising their administration.''

In the meeting, AIFF General Secretary Colaco made a presentation to the members on the I-League.

The committee then approved the new criteria for professional clubs in India to join the I-League.

The deadline for the clubs to meet the conditions is December 31, 2010, already set by the AIFF Executive Committee.

Rooney scoops PFA award

REUTERS LONDON, APRIL 26

Wayne Rooney's glittering season continued when he was named English soccer's players' player of the year.

The England and Manchester United striker, who has scored 34 goals for his club this season, was the clear winner of the main

Dravid tips KP to make history in Test UNI LONDON, APRIL 26

Indian Test great Rahul Dravid has tipped his IPL teammate Kevin Pietersen to smash all records as England's best Test batsman.

Dravid had seen Pietersen hit a six to seal Royal Challengers Bangalore's nine-wicket win over Deccan Chargers for the IPL third-place play-off in Mumbai on Saturday night. ''I think KP is going to be a great player. Kevin obviously can play all forms of the game, he is a fantastic talent.” ''It will be a disappointment if he doesn't end up with 35 Test hundreds. I've told him that,'' Dravid was quoted as saying the 'Daily Mail'.

Pietersen booked his place as the first and possibly only England player to qualify for this year's Champions League in September.

The right-hand batsman had criticised England's pacemen for turning down the chance to play IPL, claiming they were depriving themselves of vital T20 experience.

No match fixing in IPL, says Collingwood UNI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Professionalise soccer in India: Bin Hammam

suspension of IPL chief Lalit Modi, and Collingwood hoped that the game as a whole will not be affected. ''I guess there will be allegations floating around in the next few weeks. But I hope cricket doesn't take a battering because of it,'' he stated.

award ahead of fellow nominees Cesc Fabregas, Didier Drogba and Carlos Tevez yesterday.

That made it four years in a row it has gone to a United player following two for Cristiano Ronaldo and one for Ryan Giggs.

The 24-year- old Rooney missed United's 3-1 win over

Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday with a groin strain which might also rule him out of the final two league games of the season but he should be fit to lead England's attack at the World Cup. Aston Villa midfielder James Milner won the Professional Football Association's (PFA) young player of the year award.

The conditions are the same as those that would apply to all clubs eligible to participate in the AFC Champions League in 2011.

Colaco asked AFC for support in certain key areas: Setting-up the league structure and regulations; evaluating the capacity of existing clubs to meet AFC and FIFA Club Licensing criteria; weeding out the clubs that cannot meet AFC criteria.

FIFA’s Regenass stressed the world governing body’s support in professionalising Indian football.

Attending the first meeting were AIFF General Secretary Alberto Colaco, President of Churchill Brothers Joaquim Alemao, East Bengal's President Pronab Das Gupta, owner and secretary of Shillong Lajong Larsing Sawyan, FIFA’s director of member ssociations Thierry Regenass, and AFC's vice-president Manilal Fernando, who is also the FIFA Development Officer for South Asia.

rome masters UNI ROME, APRIL 26

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi advanced to the second round of the ATP Masters event here along with their respective partners after getting a bye in the first round.

The third seeded duo of Paes and his Czech partner Lukas Dlouhy will face the winner of the opening round match between Ivan Ljubicic/Michael Llodra and Julian Knowle/Andy Ram. Whrereas, the eighth seeded Indo-Bahamian combination of Bhupathi and Mark Knowles will play the winner of the match between Simone Bolelli/Potito Starace and Igor Andreev/Mikhail Youzhny.

Both the Indian aces are enjoying a rich vein of form in recent times. Paes and Dlouhy had won the Miami Masters this year after beating Bhupathi and Knowles in the final.

Bhupathi-Knowles also finished runners-up at the Monte

UNI LAHORE, APRIL 26

n I will try to induct the same kind of aggression and fire in the team, which was Pakistan's trademark in 1990s as it is necessary for us to win and retain the title.

-- Pakistan Coach Waqar Younis who he said would play a key role on the slow and low wickets in the West Indies. ''Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and Abdul Rehman are all talented spinners and can play the role of match-winner against any team,'' Afridi said.

None of the Pakistani players have featured in the just-concluded IPL, but they are still recognised as one of the dangerous Twenty20 outfit after their exploits in the first two editions of the tournament they finished runner up after losing to India in the 2007 finals, before they went all the way to be the champions in 2009.

Pakistan team manager, Yawar Saeed insisted that the national side had put behind the disappointments and controversies from the disastrous tour of Aus-

fed cup REUTERS NEW YORK, APRIL 26

Bethanie Mattek-Sands kept American Fed Cup hopes alive by battling past Ekaterina Makarova 6-4 2-6 6-3 to leave the semi-final between the United States and Russia tantalisingly poised at 2-2.

Ranked 129th, Mattek-Sands broke world number 62 Makarova three times in the final set of the reverse singles encounter before wrapping up victory in just over two-and-a-half hours on the indoor hard court in Birmingham, Alabama yesterday.

Continually cheered on by loud chants of ''USA, USA, USA'' from the partisan crowd, Mattek-Sands threw her racket and both arms into the air in celebration after the match ended with the Russian left-hander hitting a forehand long.

The best-of-five tie will be decided later on Sunday with the concluding doubles. The winners will host the November final against holders Italy who crushed Czech Republic 5-0 in Rome yesterday.

World number six Elena Dementieva had earlier fended off a gritty fightback by Melanie Oudin in the first reverse singles to give Russia a 2-1 lead.

Neither player held serve for the first 10 games before an error-strewn first set went into a tiebreak which Dementieva clinched 7-4 after winning the last four points.

Baseliner Oudin then raised her level, breaking the erratic Russian in the first, third and fifth games of the second set to level the match.

Although Dementieva was again broken in the third game of the final set to trail 1-2, she won the next four games before sealing victory when Oudin hit a forehand long.

Paes, Bhupathi get first round bye

Waqar aims to induct trademark of 90s in team Coach Waqar Younis is aiming to revive Pakistan's trademark flair as the national side prepares to defend its World Twenty20 title at the Caribbean. ''I will try to induct the same kind of aggression and fire in the team, which was Pakistan's trademark in 1990s as it is necessary for us to win and retain the title,'' Waqar said.

The newly-appointed coach was optimistic about Pakistan's chances to win the World Cup, starting April 30 in the West Indies, though he refused to predict about the result. ''Twenty20 is a different type of cricket where no one can predict anything but it is important to perform to your potential.

You have to bowl, bat and field well on the given day in order to win the match,'' he said.

Meanwhile, Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi said the team would feel the absence of Umar Gul, world's highest wicket-taker in the shortest format of the game, though he admitted that rest of his bowling attack was good enough to fill up the void. ''Umar is an expert of reverse swing. He could have been lethal on the slow pitches in the West Indies but all the other available players are also equally good and eager to perform in the mega event,'' Afridi said.

The 28-year-old was also keeping faith in his spinners,

Mattek-Sands hauls US to 2-2

tralia and were looking forward to the World Twenty20. ''Whatever happened during the Australian tour is history now and the players are looking forward to give their best in the championship,'' he told the PPI. He also informed that the national players' discipline was being monitored closely, following the PCB's punishment following the team's embarrassment in Australia. ''Those who are in the team I think have learnt their lessons and there is no disharmony in the team now. The players know their boundaries and they know they can't cross those boundaries. If any player does indulge in indiscipline no time will be wasted in taking action against him,'' Saeed said.

Carlo Masters last week.

Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber is to be Rafael Nadal's first opponent at the Rome Masters after battling past Pablo Cuevas 6-7 6-1 6-4 today to set up a second-round meeting with the reigning champion.

Nadal looked to have regained his awesome clay-court prowess when sweeping away the opposition to win his sixth consecutive Monte Carlo Masters earlier this month to send an ominous message to his rivals with the French Open looming.

T h e S p a n i a rd , w h o h a s dropped from top to third in the world rankings after an injuryhit 2009, should be well rested for his Rome title defence on his favourite surface after missing last week's Barcelona Open.

World number one Roger Federer, who has a bye to the second round like Nadal and the other top seeds, will start his campaign against Ernests Gulbis after the Latvian beat Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis 6-2 6-2.

Younis wants quick decision on appeal AGENCIES KARACHI, APRIL 26

Banned Pakistani batsman Younis Khan is pushing for a quick decision on his appeal against an indefinite ban imposed on him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the player's lawyer said on Monday.

"My client wants his ban to be revoked and decision should be taken as soon as possible on it," said Ahmed Qayyum, Younis's lawyer.

"So far we have not received any official notification from PCB regarding appointment of Justice R. Irfan Qadir to hear the appeal," added Qayyum.

Younis was banned last month when the PCB punished seven of Pakistan's leading cricketers in the aftermath of a catastrophic tour of Australia. The former Pakistan captain was banned for an indefinite period for 'infighting' along with another ex-captain Mohammad Yousuf.

Younis, meanwhile is hoping to make his international return soon.

"I have not heard anything about the hearing from PCB yet.

I am still waiting and whenever they will call, I will go." Younis said he is keeping himself fully fit as there are chances of him being recalled for a marathon tour of England this summer.

"I am practicing as I always have done. I am not one of those who will sit around when not playing."

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Professionalise soccer in India: Bin Hammamx Pg. 17

National Board sailing kicks off on Wednesday Pg. 16

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www.oherald.in

Amin gets ready to clean up IPL PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Newly-appointed IPL Commissioner Chirayu Amin today said his immediate priority is to clean up the Twenty20 league, which has been rattled by a massive financial scandal.

Amin replaced the flamboyant Lalit Modi, who has been suspended for alleged bid rigging and shady TV and internet rights deals among other charges.

With the league in the eye of a storm, Amin said he has his task cut out.

"The immediate task is to clean-up the IPL. The game has just been concluded and so we will start planning for the next year. That is the priority right now," Amin, who also owns a pharmaceuticals company, said.

The Baroda Cricket Association chief, who is also a BCCI vicePresident, was a surprise pick for the job considering that his name was not even mentioned in the

No entertainment tax on IPL this year: Chavan PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan today ruled out levying entertainment tax on this year's IPL matches played in the state.

"It is not possible to levy tax on IPL since the season is over," Chavan told reporters here.

To a question on whether the IPL season 4 will be taxed, he said the cabinet will take a decision on the issue.

Asked asked for his reaction to Bombay High Court's query to the government on whether

there is any conflict of interest if a minister holds a post in a sports organization like BCCI, Chavan said the government would seek legal advice before replying. The high court has asked the government to reply

by May 5.

The court also asked the government to clarify whether it has decided to levy entertainment tax on IPL tournament.

The court's direction came in response to a PIL which has alleged that government had decided to levy this tax but did not implement it.

run up to the IPL Governing Council meeting here today.

After the meeting, Board President Shashank Manohar also publicly attacked Modi for shady deals and his ‘behavioral pattern’.

Amin said the Governing Council will wait for Modi's reply to the show cause notice against him before taking any further action. Modi has been given 15 days to explain himself.

"Modi has been given an opportunity to reply to all these things and we will wait till the reply comes. Once he replies then the Council will look at it and will decide about the further action," Amin said.

"A show cause notice has been given to Modi and now he will have to reply to all the allegations. The public and the media know all about it and I have nothing more to comment," said Amin, also the president of Baroda Cricket Association.

Uninvited guests and security mismanagement marred Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik's reception in Sialkot, forcing the hassled newly-weds to leave the function before it was over.

The reception was hosted by Malik and turned out to be a headache for his family since many uninvited guests showed up to take part in the celebrations at the Sialkot hockey ground.

Added to this heavy security arrangements by the Punjab Police and the insistence of the local administration on enforcing the energy conversation measures also led to the problems during the function.

A private channel 'Duniya' reported that tennis star Sania's family, which had arrived from India for the celebrations, left for Lahore early as they were upset at the mismanagement at the function.

Eyewitnesses at the function said Shoaib and Sania, who were

sitting on the stage and greeting the guests, also left before the function ended.

"There is no reason known why they left but apparently there were problems when the younger brother-in-law of Malik, Adnan was stopped at the main entrance by security guards from entering the function," one eye witness said.

Eyewitnesses said hundreds of people showed up for the reception many of whom were not invited and without invitation cards.

"This led to a huge rush at the main entrance and it made life difficult for the security personnel as well to control the sit-

n A petition filed by Safdar Ali alleged that the cricketer has been selling invitation cards for his ‘walima’ on April 27 for Rs 15,000 each

A Pa k i s t a n i c o u r t today summoned cricketer Shoaib Malik to appear before it on May 3 in connection with a petition that alleged he had ‘sold’ invitation cards for a reception to celebrate his wedding to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.

Additional Sessions Judge Malik Rafiq of the court in Lahore admitted the petition filed by a man named Safdar Ali, who alleged the cricketer was selling invitation cards for his 'walima' (reception) on April 27 for Rs 15,000 (about USD 200) each.

The judge listed the matter for hearing on May 3 and directed Shoaib to appear before him on that date.

Ali, who described himself as a fan of Shoaib, said he had taken leave from work on April 27 to witness the walima.

"But then I found out that Shoaib is selling invitation cards for the event for Rs 15,000. He has hurt thousands of fans with his actions. He had made his wedding a business," Ali alleged.

In a separate development, a man named Hasan Sheraz filed another petition in the Lahore

Sunil Gavaskar at the BCCI headquarters for the IPL governing council meeting, Mumbai on Monday.

B C C I P re s i d e n t S h a s h a n k Manohar today gave a clean chit to the successful bid by Rendezvous Sports World which bagged the Kochi IPL franchise for USD 333 million and said the Board was not concerned whether the bid-winner gives away sweat equity or not.

"That's been accepted and document is signed. And we're not concerned if he (Rendezvous owner) gives sweat equity to someone or not. That's his problem, he can give 100 per cent as sweat equity," Manohar told reporters at a press conference here.

The Kochi franchise was under the scanner after the nowsuspended IPL commissioner Lalit Modi revealed its ownership pattern by stating that Sunanda Pushkar, a friend of former junior foreign minister Shashi Tharoor, owned free equity in the consortium.

Modi accused Tharoor of asking him not to reveal the ownership details -- a charge denied

by the former minister who had to resign in the wake of the controversy.

Manohar also said there were no irregularities with regard to the two new IPL franchises -Kochi and Pune (Sahara Adventure Group).

"There is no question of irregularities with regard to the two new franchises. Because of the bid conditions, which were unreasonable when the first tender was issued, the (IPL) Governing Council took a decision to cancel that tender," Manohar said.

"As far the two new bids are concerned there is no irregularity as far as far as the Board is concerned. There is a complaint made by Kochi franchise that they were arm-twisted by Modi to surrender their rights in favour of somebody else," Manohar said.

Manohar brushed aside talks that former Board president Sharad Pawar or his family members were involved with the new bids or bids for the earlier eight franchisees.

The rise and rise of Modi before the big fall

AGENCIES MUMBAI, APRIL 26

PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Punjab Cricket Association President I S Bindra was the lone member to support the embattled Lalit Modi when the governing council met on Monday to decide the future course of action in the wake of the raging IPL controversy.

Bindra said that Modi should have been given time to explain his stand before being suspended and issued a show cause notice which he has to respond within 15 days.

Barring Bindra, none of the council members spoke in Modi's favour during the 90-minute meeting and all of them endorsed BCCI President Shashank Manohar's decision to suspend him, a top BCCI source said.

Commended and condemned in equal measure, IPL chief Lalit Modi rose meteorically in the last few years but his fall was no less spectacular as he was booted out of the very empire he created.

Modi was suspended late last night barely moments after the IPL final game's presentation ceremony, bringing an unceremonious end to his stint as the IPL chairman and commissioner.

The man, who became the youngest BCCI vice President in 2005, was known for his brash style of functioning that often rubbed people the wrong way and probably hastened his fall once damning revelations of financial irregularities in the IPL came to fore.

The 46-year-old was just another businessman before becoming arguably the most influential authority in Indian cricket with his brain child, the Indian Premier League, that became a cash cow for the BCCI within three years of its inception.

But one look at his past before he became the all-powerful IPL Chairman and Commissioner is enough to know that Modi led an eventful life.

Even that would be an understatement considering that his first brush with controversy came as early as in college when he was arrested for alleged drug peddling while studying at the Duke University in the United States in 1985.

Once he returned to India, Modi tried his hands at many businesses before entering the business of cricket.

In his many attempts to enter the BCCI, Modi finally succeeded when in 2004, allegedly under the patronage of the then Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje, he became the Rajasthan Cricket Association chief.

uation," he said.

To make matters worse, the power corporation officials insisted that no extra lighting would be allowed at the reception.

Since reaching Pakistan, Shoaib and Sania have had a torrid time.

O n S u n d a y, newspapers reported that the couple had demanded that the media interested in covering their wedding reception in Sialkot and Valima reception in Lahore on April 27 would have to buy rights for this purpose.

Reports said that Sania's mother had made it clear that only those media people would be allowed to cover the functions or interview the couple who bought the rights.

"Shoaib was upset at the heavy presence of the media in the five star hotel in Lahore and warned the hotel management he would leave if the media came on the floor he and his family members were staying on," one source said.

Pak court summons Shoaib for selling invitation cards PTI LAHORE, APRIL 26

PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Bindra backs Modi at meet

Uninvited guests throng Shoaib-Sania reception PTI LAHORE, APRIL 26

‘No issues with Kochi, Pune bids’

High Court in which he alleged that Shoaib had violated a ban on serving more than one dish at marriage functions and the government’s order for such events to be concluded by 10 pm.

Sheraz further alleged that a ban on using decorative lights at wedding functions had also been violated during a reception hosted for Shoaib and Sania in the cricketer’s hometown of Sialkot last night.

"Cricketer Shaoib Malik has committed both violations. The reception in honour of the couple at Sialkot hockey stadium continued till midnight and decorative lights were used in abundance," Sheraz contended.

He asked the court to penalise Shoaib for flouting the government's orders.

The government of Punjab province last year imposed a bar on serving more than one dish at wedding functions as part of a series of austerity measures.

The federal government recently imposed strict restrictions of the use of electricity as the country is grappling with a crippling energy shortage.

BCCI not given fee for IPL share transfers PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

The Cricket Board was yet to receive its due share of five per cent as transaction fee for transfer of shares by IPL franchisees Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab, BCCI chief Shashank Manohar said today.

Manohar said that Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra, who were sold 12.5 per cent of Rajasthan Royals franchise stakes by the original owners – Emerging Media of United Kingdom, are not named as share holders in the documents available with the Board.

The Board was also awaiting a similar fee from the Kings XI Punjab franchisees as Bollywood star Preity Zinta, a current stakeholder, was not holding a single share when the bid for the Mohali franchise was successfully made by her and subsequently got some shares in the team, Manohar said at a press conference here.

In both these cases neither the permission of the IPL Governing Council was taken as required nor was the BCCI paid its due share of five per cent transaction fee, Manohar said.

"There was a company based in UK by the name of Emerging Media IPL. The company was owned by a single individual Manoj Badale. The company started four months earlier to the bid. His bid was accepted. However the agreement is signed with Jaipur I P L , " t h e B o a rd c h i e f e x plained.

Manohar also said that the agreement was signed by two other persons who were not part of the original bid.

It is alleged Raje's government altered the Sports Act to help Modi's RCA election, held for the first time in 40 years.

Modi's win bruised many an egos, and the man who was hurting the most was incumbent Kishore Rungta. Rungta accused Modi of fraud and impersonation.

But for all the legal rumblings that followed, there was no looking back for Modi as he became the BCCI vice-President the next year.

He was by Sharad Pawar's side when he overthrew Jagmohan Dalmiya as the BCCI President. The loyalty earned Modi the firm backing of the heavyweight politician, who was among the few who backed him openly in the current drama.

Modi rose up the ranks in BCCI before flooring the Board with the IPL. He got in top corporates and Bollywood stars to finance a concept that was a winner even before the first ball was bowled in 2008.

With its mix of Bollywood and cricket, the two national obsessions in India, IPL struck a chord almost instantly with the fans, who thronged the stadiums to watch the world's best cricketers competing for city-based franchises.

There were murmurs of Modi having silent stakes in Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab but nothing came out of them in the inaugural year.

The first season was a massive hit and as eager fans got ready for the second edition, the IPL and its chief was hit by its first major controversy.

With the dates of the event coinciding with the general elections in the country, it was threatening to be a security nightmare for the government, which promptly asked the IPL to adjust dates accordingly.

But the ever-so-brash Modi was in no mood to listen. He took on the country's Home Minister and shifted the tournament to South Africa.

Now there is suspicion that many of those matches might have been fixed and Modi himself had a role to play.

But the mother of all scandals erupted during the third edition that was preceded by bidding for two new teams for next season.

Before the bids, Modi had suffered his first major setback since the stupendous rise, losing the RCA elections amid much drama.

The bids for the new IPL teams were initially cancelled as the BCCI found the conditions set by Modi to be too stiff and when they did happen, there was an unlikely winner in Kochi.

The virtually unknown Rendezvous Sports World Group pipped the likes of Adani Group and Videocon to clinch the deal.

But the whole affair snowballed into a devastating controversy when Modi revealed the team's ownership pattern.

All hell broke loose when it emerged that union minister Shashi Tharoor's close friend Sunanda P ushkar had been given a sweat equity worth Rs 70 crore in the team.

Tharoor resigned as a result and the nationwide IT raids on IPL and its franchisees' offices revealed murky details of financial dealings and kickbacks that allegedly Modi got.

BCCI called the IPL Governing council meeting to discuss all the issues but Modi termed it as illegal and said he would not attend any unauthorised meeting.

Later, he changed his mind and decided to attend and chair the Council meeting, but the BCCI chose to suspend him for his "individual misdemeanours".

I will continue to play in IPL, says Sachin UNI MUMBAI, APRIL 26

Master blaster Sachin Tenudlkar who has voluntarily retired from international Twenty20 cricket, said he would continue to play

in the Indian Premier League (IPL). ''It has been a very special tournament for us, barring the final. Most likely I will be playing next year as well. It has been fun playing in the IPL. I have enjoyed a lot. I have always enjoyed playing cricket,'' Tendulkar said after his side lost by 22 runs to Chennai Super Kings in the IPL III summit clash here.

Tendulkar said poor fielding has cost his side dear in the grand finale at the D Y Patil Stadium, although their slow beginning in the runchase was also to be blamed. ''A couple of important catches cost us.

There is a saying that catches win matches. The

I am brand ambassador, Raj co-owner of RR: Shilpa PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

Clarifying her position in the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals, Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty today said she is the Brand Ambassador of the team and her husband Raj Kundra is a stake-holder.

BCCI President Shashank Manohar today raised questions about the ownership of the RR saying there was confusion over the stakeholders.

Manohar said the stakeholders register does not have the names of

Shetty and Kundra.

One of the charges against the suspended Lalit Modi is with regard to initial bid of RR, which won the inaugural edition in 2008.

"Woke up and heard on TV that we are not co-owners of RR. Only want to say there is 'No Doubt' that Raj is a stake holder and I am the Brand ambassador," the Bollywood beauty wrote on her twitter page.

"This is the truth !Dunno (Don't know) why all this confusion.

Will have clarity on a lot of things by tomorrow," she wrote.

n It has been a very special tournament for us, barring the final. Most likely I will be playing next year as well.

It has been fun playing in the IPL. -- Sachin

start in the run-chase also was not up to the mark.''

Robin Singh, the Mumbai Indians coach, agreed with Sachin saying, ''the batting in the first ten overs cost us the match coupled with 3he dropped catches which helped Chennai Super Kings reach a score of 168 rather than around 145-150 which we had targetted.''

MCA only collecting info on IPL PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 26

The Corporate Affairs Ministry today said it was collecting information on all franchisees of IPL teams and described this as a part of normal practice for any company and was not a probe.

"My ministry is merely collecting information that we should have in the normal course of those companies that are franchisee companies," Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told reporters here.

The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), he added, was not conducting any probe but was only doing the due diligence as lot of questions have been raised publicly about the ownership pattern of the franchisee companies.

"My ministry is not conducting a probe.... Because a lot of questions are raised publicly...we should do our due diligence," Khurshid said.