28 Sept, Herald Publication Pvt.Ltd.

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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, tuesday, september 28, 2010

Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

Goa’s heartbeat: John eager to visit India again Pg 14

priCe rs. 3.00 (air surcharge rs 2.00) pages 18

Goa: Acquisition of islands purely for security purpose -- Navy Pg 3

Sports: It can’t get bigger than this -- Dhoni Pg 18

Prince Charles, Prez to open Games together PTI NEW DELHI/LONDON, SEPT 27

There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.

—Wilde

IN BRIEF 186 hospitalised after mid-day meal Altogether 186 children were today admitted to hospital after having mid-day meal at their school in Assam’s Dibrugarh district, sources said.

The students of tea garden labourers were served the meal around 1 pm and immediately after 30 of them fainted and 156 others complained of dizziness. They were rushed to the Barbarua Primary Health Centre where the doctors referred them to the Assam Medical College in Dibrugarh. -- (PTI)

Bangalore agent dupes jobless youth Police on Monday registered a cheating case against a Bangalore-based agent who allegedly collected nearly Rs 3 crore from unemployed youth promising them to get jobs in defence services.

Srinivas Reddy, a native of Pulivendula here and settled in Bangalore, had collected the money from more than 300 unemployed persons from several districts, police said, quoting a complaint.

He promised them jobs in Army, Air Force and Navy, but duped them. -- (PTI)

Rs 2 crore postal scam busted CBI today claimed to have busted a post office scam of over Rs two crore relating to senior citizen savings scheme (SCSS)and have arrested two persons in this connection.

The agency arrested the two, Ripal Shah and Ankit Shah, after it was detected that Rs 2.56 crore had been withdrawn from closed SCSS accounts at a post office in Vadodara in connivance with post office officials.

CBI said a case was registered on September 18 against four officials of chemical industries, an authorised postal agent, under various sections of the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act. –- (PTI)

Ayodhya verdict deferment plea hearing today PTI NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW, SEPT 27

Ruling out reconciliation, Sunni Central Waqf Board and Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha today said the Ayodhya title suit verdict by the Allahabad High Court should not be delayed further, as the Supreme Court prepared to hear tomorrow the plea to defer the judgement.

The submissions by the two key parties to the suit in separate affidavits before the Supreme Court came even as senior Congress leader and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said contesting parties have to resolve the issue through discussions or accept court verdict.

Nirmohi Akhara, also a key party in the suit, said it would request the apex court for deferring the case for three months to help find a solution through negotiations.

After the High Court verdict due to have been pronounced last Friday was stayed the previous day for a week, a threejudge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia will tomorrow decide the fate of the special leave petition seeking postponement of the judgement.

The petition by a retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chand Tripathi wanted the possibility of an outof-court settlement to be explored.

Scotland contingent waving on their arrival at the Commonwealth Games village in New Delhi on Monday.

Atala might have escaped via Nepal or B’desh: police HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Reacting to the successful escape bid by drug peddler Yaniv alias Atala Benaim to Israel, Goa Police today said he might have crossed Indian border either through Nepal or Bangladesh.

“Atala might have crossed Indian borders via Nepal or Bangladesh as red-corner notice against him is still in force. He could not have escaped through airports, sea routes or any important routes,” said a police official.

Police officials are though yet to confirm whether the tattooed-arm drug peddler has rea l l y re t u r n e d b a c k t o h i s hometown in Rishon – Letzion.

“We first need to verif y whether he is really back in his hometown. If that is so, we will

Churchill dares Faleiro, Sardinha HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

A day after Luizinho Faleiro and Francisco Sardinha made their presence in Benaulim cons t i t u e n c y, P W D M i n i s t e r Churchill Alemao has dared the duo to contest from Benaulim in the next Assembly polls instead of supporting the candidature of aspiring candidates.

Reacting to the presence of Luizinho and Sardinha at Colva at the birthday function of South Goa Congress Vice-President, Francis Sequeira, who has disclosed plans to contest from Benaulim, Alemao sought to know why Luizinho and Sardinha are propping other candidates in Benaulim.

He dared one of them to contest from Benaulim instead of supporting others as that would make them realise their stand in the constituency. “It appears that Faleiro now thinks that he is above Congress President Sonia Gandhi as he has started assuring tickets to Congress candidates”, he said, adding that

both Luizinho and Sardinha are trying their best to return to State politics and dared them to contest from Benaulim constituency in the coming polls.

On Faleiro’s statement that he is opposed to Greater Goa, Alemao said that it was the dream of late Ravindra Kelekar, who had espoused the cause of inclusion of Konkani speaking areas into Goa to make the state Greater Goa. “I have only made (Continued on page 10)

seek Israel government and Interpol’s help to track him down,” police spokesperson SP Atmaram Deshpande said.

Unquestionably, the important witness in the police-drug mafia nexus probe, Atala suddenly disappeared in July, which came to the notice of the police only on August 7 when he escaped Crime Branch summons.

Atala was arrested in March 10, 2010 from a shack at Pernem after the spy-video expose wherein he confessed links with anti-narcotics officials. The video uploaded by his former girlfriend Lucky Farmhouse on youtube.com and metacafe.com, also revealed on how police officials stole narcotics from Mapusa Court to re-sell the same in the market.

This led to suspension and

KTCL suspends 3 ‘drunk’ drivers HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) has suspended its three drivers in last 5 days for coming to the duty drunk and misbehaving with the seniors.

Sources stated that drivers – Herculano Pereira, Dayanand Naik and K G Naik, were placed under suspension in three different instances.

The first suspension came on Thursday when parents of Kendriya Vidyalaya at Bambolim complained about the driver ferrying their children.

The random checking of the driver found him to be drunk.

In the second instance, a driver attached to Porvorim depot was suspended for attending the duty drunk on Saturday.

The drive continued even today and a driver who was drunk and found gossiping in the office was suspended.

Officials stated that the suspended drivers were handed over to police to conduct medical test to confirm that they had consumed liquor on the duty.

Duo killed in Ribandar mishap HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, SEPT 27

arrests of seven police officials.

They were later released by the N a rc o t i c s a n d D r u g s P s y chotropic Substances (NDPS) Court at Mapusa.

(Continued on page 10)

In a tragic incident, two persons from Talekhol-Dodamarg died when a scooter and tourist bus collided with each other near the ice factory at Ribandar on Monday at about 8.15 am.

According to Old Goa Police, the accident occurred when scooter rider Pritam Gawas (22) and pillion rider Shivaji Arjun Gawas (28) were proceeding on their Honda Activa scooter (GA01-T-9268) from Old Goa towards Panjim.

On reaching Ribandar, the tourist bus (GA-04-T-4546), which was proceeding from the opposite direction, rammed against the scooter. Pritam died on the spot, while Shivaji died on the way to the hospital.

The bus driver fled from the site.

Aamir bowls a yorker

Says Butt lured him into spot-fixing PTI KARACHI, SEPT 27

Barely five days after the end of their scandal-hit tour of England, fresh turmoil today gripped the Pakistan cricket team with suspended pacer Mohammad Aamir’s shocking revelation that he was lured into spot-fixing by Test skipper Salman Butt.

On a day when team manager Yawar Saeed stepped down from his post, the Pakistan Cricket Board was left to do more firefighting in the spot-fixing scandal with the latest revelation.

The 18-year-old left-arm pacer was suspended by the ICC for his alleged involvement in spot-fixing during the fourth Test against England at Lord’s last month, along with Butt and Mohammad Asif.

PCB sources said Aamir had told chairman Ijaz Butt that he never wanted to be part of this “business” (spot fixing) but was forced into it by Butt and Asif.

“Aamir had gone to Butt and

claimed he was innocent and a victim of the “seniors power lobby” in the team,” a source told PTI. But the PCB refuted the reports with legal adviser Tafazzul saying that the implicated players continue to claim innocence.

“All three boys have been saying all along that they did not do anything wrong and they stand by it. They claim innocence and complete innocence and nothing but innocence. We

UFOs hovering over US, British N-missile sites!

PTI LONDON, SEPT 27

It may sound like a Hollywood science fiction plot, but a group of former US Air Force personnel has claimed that aliens have actually been hovering over American and British nuclear missile sites since 1948.

Even, once they had landed at Britain’s Suffolk nuclear base and deactivated the weapons, according to the officers who have announced to go public about their experience related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

Captain Robert Salas, a former American airman said: “We’re talking about unidentified flying objects, as simple as that.

They’re often known as UFOs, you could call them that.”

“The US Air Force is lying about the national security implications of unidentified aerial

I was on duty when an object came over and hovered directly over the site. The missiles shut down – ten Minuteman (nuclear) missiles. And the same thing happened at another site a week later.

-- Captain Robert Salas (Former American airman) objects at nuclear bases and we can prove it,” he was quoted as saying by Daily Mail.

The former officer said he witnessed such an event firsthand on March 16, 1967 at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.

He said: “I was on duty when an object came over and hovered directly over the site. The missiles shut down – ten Minuteman (nuclear) missiles. And the same thing happened at another site a week later.

“There’s a strong interest in our missiles by these objects, wherever they come from. I personally think they’re not from planet Earth.”

Colonel Charles Halt, another officer, said that he had seen a UFO at RAF Bentwaters, near Ipswich, one of the few bases in the UK to hold nuclear weapons.

The sighting is said to have taken place 30 years ago. First he saw the object firing beams of light into the base then heard on the military radio that aliens

In a compromise over the contentious issue of inauguration of Commonwealth Games on Sunday, Prince Charles will declare the Games open while President will say ‘let the Games begin’.

Highly placed government sources today said that this compromise has been worked out after arguments between Delhi and London over who would do the honours in the absence of Queen Elizabeth who has decided to skip the Games and instead send Charles as her representative.

The Indian side was keen that Patil should inaugurate the Games since she ranked higher in protocol to the Prince.

While the Indians were insisting on the President opening the Games, the office of the Prince said he will read the message from the Queen and end it by “declaring the Games open”.

“There is no row. Both The Prince of Wales and the President of India will have a promin e n t ro l e i n t h e o p e n i n g ceremony in Delhi. The Queen has asked The Prince of Wales to represent her at the opening of the Commonwealth Games.

“We cannot be specific about the choreography but The Prince will read out the Queen’s baton message, ending by declaring the Games open,” a statement from the Clarence House read.

The two sides are believed to have reached a compromise under which the Prince will end his statement “declaring the Games open”, while the President will say “let the Games begin”.

Sources cited the example of the Commonwealth Games held

had landed inside the nuclear storage area, he said.

“I believe that the security services of both the United States and the United Kingdom have attempted – both then and now — to subvert the significance of what occurred at RAF Bentwaters by the use of well-practiced methods of disinformation.”

Colonel Halt was among the six former US Air Force officers and one former enlisted man, who have announced to present declassified information which

they claim backs up their findings.

They have witness testimony from 120 former or retired military personnel which points to alien intervention at nuclear sites in the US as recently as 2003.

In a press conference in Washington, they will urge the authorities to confirm that alien beings have long been visiting Earth.

Robert Hastings, who has written on the subject, said that so far the aliens appeared interested in “mere surveillance” but warned they seemed to have gone further in some instances.

“At long last, all of these witnesses are coming forward to say that, as unbelievable as it may seem to some, UFOs have long monitored and sometimes tampered with our nukes,” he added.

are holding our investigations back at the moment and we are waiting for the Scotland Yard’s investigation report,” he said.

Another source revealed that Aamir, regarded as one of Pakistan cricket’s most promising young talent, had told Saeed about the pressure being exerted on him by Butt.

“Aamir’s claim is that he just did what he was told to do. He is claiming innocence now and says he didn’t even know Mazhar Majeed was introduced to him by Butt and Asif,” the source said.

Quite a few former Test captains, and even Pakistan’s former President, Pervez Musharraf, have urged the ICC to show leniency towards Aamir, all of 18 and the quickest to take 50 wickets in Test cricket.

But chief selector Mohsin Khan said that he didn’t agree with the viewpoint that Aamir should be shown leniency because of his age.

Government sources said that the compromise has been worked out after arguments between Delhi and London over who would do the honours in the absence of Queen Elizabeth who has decided to skip the Games and instead send Charles as her representative. in Malaysia in 1998 where the Queen was represented by a Royal family member and the Malaysian King opened the Games.

Likewise, India, sources said, feels that since the Queen would not be present here and only the Prince would be representing her, the President should have the honour of opening the Games as she is ahead in protocol.

Charles is attending the Games as a representative of Queen Elizabeth II, the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth who will give the event a miss for the first time in 44 years.

Earlier, a British tabloid quoted some of the officials of the Indian Department of Information as saying that the Indian President would open the Games.

The Queen’s Baton Relay has acted as the curtain-raiser to every Games since Cardiff in 1958.

It involves the Baton being sent off by the Queen, then carried through each Commonwealth nation until it is passed back to the Monarch as her message to the athletes is ready out at the opening.

Naxals deadline expires today PTI RAIPUR, SEPT 27

The distraught families of the four policemen kidnapped by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district tonight appealed to the ultras not to kill the hostages even as the 48-hour deadline set by the Naxals for their safe release expires tomorrow.

The family members are worried about their safety and some of them have left for Andhra Pradesh.

Your menu is very effective sir!!

All the countries are now ready to participate in the games only for the food that we are serving.

OHERALDO

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GOA

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GOA, TUESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Almost a year, NIA yet to make findings in Margao blasts public HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

Less than a month to go for the first anniversary of the October 14 Margao bomb blasts, but the National Investigating Agency (NIA) is yet to make public its findings on the role played by Sanatan Saunstha, if any, and other aspects relating to the funding of the organisation.

When the NIA had filed a chargesheet against the accused in the sensational case on May 17, the investigating agency had sought permission of the Sessions Court for further investigations into the case. Four months since the chargesheet was filed in the Sessions court, no findings on the Sanatan Saunstha and the funding aspects have come to the fore till date.

That’s not all. The Special courtFile photo of the Margao bomb blast. mandated under the NIA Act to try such cases is yet to be constituted, believed, the investigating agency has cited leaving the task of conducting the trial to around 250 witnesses, adding that it would the already overburdened Sessions court. take months, if not years to examine all the Incidentally, the Sessions court has not witnesses if the trial is not conducted exyet decided on the application filed by the peditiously. accused for day-to-day trial of the case. The Incidentally, three accused Jaiprakash court has examined a witness on Day One alias Anna, Rudra Patil and Sarang Kulkarni, of the trial and is likely to examine four who have been named in the chargesheet more witnesses on September 29-30 when are still at large. Trial against Vinay Talekar, the case comes up for hearing.

Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip However, if sources in the NIA are to be Mangaonkar have commenced, while the

Police team returns from Mumbai; Joe Boy still at large HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Goa police team on trail of Joe Boy in Mumbai has returned back empty handed on Monday morning. Sources told Herald that a team of three North Goa police officials returned back nearly five days after police chief DGP Bhim Sain Bassi had sent them to Mumbai in search of the suspected accused.

Joe Boy is on a look out after Michael Fernandes during police interrogation confessed that the former was given the contract to kill Roy, son of the Home Minister Ravi Naik.

A special police team was immediately formed and sent to Mumbai, on tip-off information. So also, police teams in Goa have still not achieved any further breakthrough even as Home Minister’s family is given fool-proof police security.

Rumors of Joe Boy’s arrest floated today evening though reliable police sources confirmed that they are still carrying out intense search to locate the history-sheeter.

“We are still tracing him…

Our teams are on constant look out for Joe Boy in Goa and outside,” a police officer told Herald.

When contacted the Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav refused to divulge anything on the investigation. “I am not aware,” was his pat reply when questioned on the rumours of Joe Boy’s arrest.

Joe Boy was apparently paid Rs 2 crore to accomplish the task. Before the police could reach Joe Boy after confession by the pistol-wielding chief Michael Fernandes, he managed to give the police a slip.

NIA has not yet filed a chargesheet against the other two accused, Prashant Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar.

Says Special Judicial Magistrate, representing NIA, S B Faria: “The NIA is investigating into the Sanatan role and all aspects relating to its funding. I have no idea when the report will be compiled by the investigating agency”.

On the trial of the sensational case, Faria said that the prosecution has so far examined a witness, adding that four more witnesses will be examined on the two days of hearing on September 29-30.

He replied in the negative when asked whether any Special court has been constituted to conduct trail of the case on a day-to-day basis.

The NIA on May 17 last had filed a 30-page chargesheet in the court, accusing members of the Sanatan Saunstha for hatching a criminal conspiracy between June and October 2009 with the common object to strike terror in the minds of the viewers, organisers and participants of the narkasur competition at Margao and Sancoale by indulging in terrorist acts by using Improvised Explosives Devises in an attempt to wage war against the Government of India.

Deadline to arm ZPs with more powers expires HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

The six-month deadline served by the South Goa Zilla Panchayat to the government to either devolve more powers and functions to the district panchayat bodies or face agitation have expired.

But, if the South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chairperson, Maria Rebello is to be believed, the government will be given additional three months time to meet the demands of the Zilla Panchayats under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment or face a stir.

“During the just concluded session of the Goa Legislative Assembly, the government and the opposition had spoken in favour of devolving more powers to the Zilla Panchayat. Even

last week, when we called on the Director of Panchayats, were told that the ZP will receive additional powers very soon. In view of this situation, I feel the deadline should be extended by three more months for the government to bestow the powers”, she added.

This question is likely to figure at the meeting of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat scheduled on September 30 as both the opposition and the ruling members are expected to seek explanation from the ZP over the powers and functions.

In fact, the opposition members have been gunning the Chairperson and the ruling Congress group for the failure to convince the party leaders on the need to bestow all powers on the district panchayat bod-

ies.

Incidentally, Panchayat Minister, Babu Azgaonkar along with Rajya Sabha MP Shantaram Naik are expected to attend the September 30 meeting of the South Goa Zilla Panchayat, raising hopes and expectations that the Congress leaders will make a strong case for the devolution of all power and functions to the ZP bodies.

“I am confident that the government will soon decide to arm the ZP bodies with additional powers. Our genuine demands had recently found support with the ruling and opposition MLAs and we all hope the positive attitude on the part of the MLAs will give the ZP’s more powers as per the Constitutional Amendment”, Rebello added.

Draft GLDBCR 2008 finalised, govt tells court HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

The State government on Monday told High Court that the draft Goa Land Development and Building Constructions Regulations (GLDBCR), 2008, has been finalised.

The State government in its affidavit stated that GLDBCR, 2008 has been finalised and notified in the Official Gazette on September 9, 2010.

It also stated that the suggestions made by amicus curiae Norma Alvares would be also taken into consideration though it was filed bit late with the Town and Country Planning Department.

The Bombay High Court at Goa in its order dated August 18 had directed the government to file an affidavit setting out the progress made in the matter

of finalisation of the draft.

The affidavit also reads that the government has made all possible efforts to supply water for at least one hour per day in Porvorim.

Earlier, PWD told Court that it will file an additional affidavit by Monday over time schedule on when and how the water will be released to the public at Porvorim.

The Division Bench comprising of Justice D G Karnik and Justice F M Reis was hearing public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Soter D’Souza, a resident of Socorro, complaining about acute water shortage in Porvorim and surrounding areas.

The additional affidavit will be filed in connection with the directions issued by Court asking to issue a weekly time schedule over water distribution to

Private bus conductors to be monitored from Oct 1 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Lawlessness by private bus conductors will come under scanner of Transport Department who has decided to initiate an extensive drive against them from October 1 onwards.

Transport Director Arun Desai told Herald that the department officials held a meeting with private bus operators and representatives from Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) on Monday and has decided to implement this drive.

Desai said that the conductors without uniform, non-issuing of tickets and rugged number plates on the buses will not be tolerated.

“We will take stern action against these irregularities which are against the Motor Vehicle Act,” the director said.

Today’s meeting in Panjim was the fall out of the demand by private bus operators who had accused Kadamba Transport Corporation of harassing them.

Desai said that the private bus operators were present for the meeting which discussed various issues that ails the public transport system.

“Since bus owners have conceded that they cannot control the conductors, we have decided to have this drive,” he said.

Automatic Tallying Machine (ATM) system planned to be implemented for ticket collection in the buses was also discussed during the meeting.

Private bus operators have said that they are ready to have ATMs in their buses only after KTCL implements it.

The meeting also resolved to have detailed schedule of shuttle service buses at Mapusa bus stand. It was also decided that shuttle service and private buses plying between Sanvordem and Margao will have uniform ticket fare.

KTCL also assured the cleanliness of Margao bus stand which is in a shabby condition.

The crucial issue of Kadamba buses entering Vasco city eating into the pie of city buses could not be resolved in the meeting today.

It was decided that city buses, KTCL and private bus operators in Vasco will soon meet and work out a solution.

Desai said that the next meeting between KTCL, Transport department and private bus owners is scheduled on October 19.

the public. The direction came after amicus curiae pointed out that PWD is yet to prepare a time schedule over supply of water in Porvorim.

The PWD, last month had assured that every fortnight, time schedule will be issued by the department.

The department on Monday also asked court to recall their order of not giving water connections for more then ten units without permission of the court.

Following the Court order of June 3, 2010, the executive engineer in its report had guaranteed that water supply would be made available to the areas of Porvorim at O’Coqueiro, PDA colony, Pundalik Nagar and at JMJ hospital for minimum of one hour everyday under normal circumstances.

Accused abused me, Parrikar tells court HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

Former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday submitted before a court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao that he was abused by accused in a 2004 case at Cuncolim.

Deposing before the court, Parrikar said the accused Ballapa Desai abused him, thus showing disrespect to the chair of the Chief Minister.

The incident had occurred in the run up to the 2004 Lok Sabha polls when Parrikar’s PSO lodged a complaint with the Cuncolim police alleging that Ballapa abused the Chief Minister during his visit to Cuncolim.

Based on the complaint filed by the PSO, the Cuncolim police arrested Ballapa before chargesheeting the case in the court.

BJYM demands probe into Canacona relief fund misuse HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) on Monday submitted a memorandum to the Director General of Police demanding investigation into the alleged misuse of public fund by the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) for Canacona flood relief.

The party alleges that neither the total funds of approximately Rs 100 lakh have been disbursed nor proper accountability is maintained. “Office bearers of

GPYC chanced upon this sensitive issue to collect funds in the garb of CRF, which eventually went unaccounted…the scam was systematically carried out, as even the standard practice of numbering the receipt books was not allowed,” BJYM president Pramod Sawant said.

A delegation of five members met the DGP Bhim Sain Bassi in his office even as other members were asked to remain outside the police head quarters. The extreme South taluka – Cana-

GPYC welcomes investigation HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Goa Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (GPYC) president has welcomed the BJP Yuva Morcha’s move to submit a memorandum to the Director General of Police demanding investigation into the alleged misuse of public fund by

the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress (GPYC) for Canacona flood relief.

Reacting to the development Amonkar told Herald that this would allow him to come on clean on the issue.

“I welcome the decision of BJPYM. I was expecting the NCP to make such a demand but that

17 structures to face axe along Colva coastline HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

The hammer will once again fall on the structures standing within the CRZ zone along the Colva coast as the Panchayat body has cleared demolition of around 16-17 structures along the belt.

Structures of the Tourism department, including stalls put up near the creek, however, have got a respite with the Panchayat body deciding otherwise after Tourism officials submitted documents to prove they were built in the 80’s.

Sources in the know said the 16-17 structures okayed for demolition have been served

demolition notices by the Panchayat body. If the Panchayat secretary Allaudin is to be believed, most of the structures listed for demolition are extensions to the existing houses, adding that the owners have voluntarily removed the structures after receiving the notices. “We have information that many of the owners have removed the structures before the panchayat could start the demolition drive. There are no major structures, but only extensions to the existing structures that will go during the demolition exercise”, he said.

The Director of Panchayats

had a month ago remanded around 41 cases back to the Colva Panchayat for hearing and decision. These parties had obtained stays from the Director of Panchayats to the demolition exercise planed by the Colva Panchayat as per the directions of the high court.

After providing personal hearing opportunities to the aggrieved parties, the Panchayat placed the matter before the body meeting, wherein only 1617 structures were okayed for demolition, while the remaining 20-odd structures, including structures put up by the Tourism department, getting a lease of life.

did not happen,” Amonkar stated.

Nonetheless, he added, this will help me to come out clean.

I assure the police full co-operation in the investigations.

“Today anybody can make allegation and since my conscience is clear I am ready fro any probe,” he said.

One held for camera theft at Mapusa HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, SEPT 27

Mapusa Police on Monday arrested a thief on charges of stealing a camera worth Rs 10,000.

According to Mapusa Police, Jude Pinto alias Savio was moving around Alankar Theatre in a suspicious manner on Monday evening.

After some people noticed him and informed the police, the police team led by Police Sub Inspector Nitin Halarnkar rushed to the site and nabbed Savio.

On interrogation at the police station, Savio confessed that he had stolen a Sony Cyber Shot Camera worth Rs 10,000 from a shop near Mapusa Court a few days ago.

Fruits, vegetables from hinterland make their presence in Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

Fruits and vegetables grown in the hilly areas of the State have finally found their way in the Commercial Capital.

The much-sought after mesh melons have literally flooded the city, with vendors from the hilly areas of Quepem and Canacona taluka making brisk business along roadsides in the last few days.

Like in the past, however, the vendors have expressed their resentment over the failure by the authorities to provide them a shade to carry on the business.

A vendor Prabhavati Velip told Herald that the vendors are forced to conduct business on the road side and in the scorching heat and rain in the absence of a shade or make shift shelter. “We have been demanded a temporary stall or shelter from the authorities over the last one decade, but in vain. The vendors are literally forced to sell their products from the road sides”, she added.

A couple of years ago when the BJP was ruling the state, a proposal was mooted by the

Fruits and vegetables from the hinterland talukas of the State have made their presence in the Commercial capital.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

then government to earmark a temporary area for the vendors to sell their produce in the city.

It is learnt that the authorities

had conducted a study on the subject and even the office of the Chief secretary was seized of the matter, but the make shift

1989 countermanding case: verdict likely to be announced today

Azgaonkar’s brother threatens to contest against Kamat

More than 20 years after Elections for two Assembly constituencies and the Mormugao Lok Sabha seat was countermanded following the death of an Independent candidate, the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao is likely to pronounce the verdict in the sensational Countermanding of Elections conspiracy case on Tuesday.

JMFC, Margao Vandana Tendulkar is expected to pronounce orders on Tuesday afternoon, which will decide the fate of the accused persons, including two city-based lawyers, Adv Anacleto Viegas and Adv Radharao Gracias, besides Freddy Dias, Dr Ernest Rodrigues, Lino Ferrao, Joe Fernandes, Norbert Almeida.

The police had charged the accused for criminal conspiracy to countermand the elections for the Velim and Curtorim Assembly constituencies and the Mormugao Lok Sabha constituency in the 1989 polls by impersonating the candidate, Caietan Jackson Fernandes.

Elections to these three constituencies were countermanded following the death of Caietano Jackson Fernandes. Police investigations later revealed that Caietano Jackson had never filed his nomination papers for the three constituencies and that he was impersonated as part of the conspiracy to countermand the polls.

The brother of Panchayat Minister, Babu Azgaonkar has threatened to contest against the Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat in the Margao constituency if justice is not done to him on the reservation of wards.

Babu’s brother Rajendra Azgaonkar, who is the sitting MMC councillor is sore over the fact that his ward has been reserved for women in the ensuing municipal election. What has agitated Azgaonkar is the fact that the ward he is representing was reserved for women during the previous term and wondered how come the same ward can be reserved again for women after one term.

Azgaonkar has contended that there are a couple of wards in the Margao Municipal Council which have not been reserved for women in the last four terms. To cite a few instances, he said that ward No 5 represented by Councillor Raju Naik has not been reserved for a women in the last three terms and is once again declared a general

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

cona was hit by sudden flood on October 2, 2009 that washed away several houses and caused damages to properties and crops.

Various sections of the society came forward offering all sorts of assistance to victim villagers by way of collecting funds for construction of houses, compensate residents, etc.

When contacted senior police officers, told reporters that they are looking into the matter to decide further course of action.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

ward in the ensuing polls. Similarly, he said the ward represented by Councillor Gonzaco Rebello has not been reserved for women for the last three terms and is declared a general ward for the coming elections.

“There are other wards too which have not been reserved for women for many terms now. Why is the government hell bent in only reserving my ward every alternate term”, Azgaonkar demanded to know.

“I am not against reservation of seats for women. But, why is the government so keen to reserve my ward, while other wards have not been reserved for women for many terms. Why this double standard for me and for others”, he asked.

Sources in the know said the matter has been brought to the notice of the Chief Minister to rectify the anomalies in the reservation of wards. “If the government is determined to see that I don’t contest the Municipal polls, then I will prepare myself to contest the Municipal polls from Margao”, he asserted.

shelter for the vendors is yet to become a reality till date, forcing the vendors to sell their produce along road sides and near the

Margao civic poll: candidates question DMA’s rotation system HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

Terming as “ward fixing” the reservation of Margao Municipal wards, the Independent group of candidates have questioned the logic behind the rotation system propounded by the Director of Municipal Administration for the ensuing poll.

Prospective candidates Croydon Madeira, Soccoro D’Souza and Laurel Abranches have pointed out that the so-called rotation rules applies only to certain wards, while other wards have been left untouched for years now.

Referring to Ward No 5 represented by councillor Raju Naik and Ward No 10 represented by councillor Narayan Fondekar, they demanded to know who these wards never got reserved every alternate year.

Laurel and Soccoro said that similar mix and match tactics have been carried out in Ward No 9 and Ward No 3 where minority community has been marginalised and sidelined. They also pointed out that the Muslim community in this whole episode stands no where and they are only forced to vote for whoever stands for elections as they do not come under any category.

“The government is dividing the public on caste, religion, gender, region etc and following the same policy that the British followed all over India in the pre Independence era”, they claimed.

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BJP presses for Ravi’s resignation Alleges Atala’s escape was facilitated by Goa Police HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

In view of fresh information that absconding Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala might have escaped from India, the BJP has once again demanded resignation of the Home Minister, Ravi Naik alleging Atala’s escape was facilitated by Goa Police.

The BJP has also warned that if the Home Minister does not tender his resignation, they would follow other democratic means to press their demand.

Addressing a press conference on Monday here, the BJP spokesperson Rajendra Arlekar reiterated their earlier demand that the investigation into police-drug dealer nexus must be handed over to CBI. Raising a question about the efficiency

Verdict in rape case against Mahanand on Oct 1 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

The final verdict in the rape case filed against serial killer Mahanand Naik will be delivered on October 1 in the City Sessions Court.

The alleged serial killer became infamous as dupatta killer, for using dupatta to kill his naive victims.

A girl residing at Shiroda in her twenties had initially complained against Naik of raping her. In the complaint to Ponda police station in the last week of April, 2009, she had said that Mahanand was blackmailing her with the semi nude pictures.

The college going girl was apparently friend of Mahanand’s wife and was often visiting his place as she was part of the drama group.

The rape case led Ponda police into series of murders by the 40-year-old accused, whose last count was 18.

Earlier in the beginning of this year, Mahanand was acquitted of killing Bhagu Upaskar, a woman from Ponda and subsequently in the first week of March, he was acquitted of killing Surat Gaonkar. In April, he was also acquitted from the charges of killing Nirmala Amonkar.

The court had acquitted Mahanand from the charges as the police were not able to establish the offence against him.

and sincerity of the Goa Police, the BJP spokesperson questioned the delay in issuing red corner notice and look out notice after Atala was reported absconding.

He said, red corner notice was issued seven days after Atala disappeared whereas look out notice was issued fifteen days later and in a way indicating that police are directly responsible for the escape of Israeli drug dealer.

Arlekar also alleged that Goa police have become inefficient and work under the patronage of their political bosses.

The BJP also criticised the Home Minister saying he has maligned the image of Goa and brought disrepute to the State by allegedly giving free hand to drug dealers.

On reports of threat to the life of his two

sons, Ritish Naik and Roy Naik who have been provided with extra security, the BJP said it is an attempt by the Home Minister to divert attention of the people from alleged involvement of Roy Naik in policedrug nexus and, escape of Atala.

Police have revealed that one Michael Fernandes, key accused in recent case of robbery has confessed that he was offered (supari) to do away with Home Minister’s son Roy Naik.

However, BJP claimed it is a ploy by Home Minister to mislead people.

The BJP spokesperson also pointed out that proper investigation was not conducted of the accused and only proper investigation will reveal whether the claims about threat to the life of Home Minister’s son has any substance.

Acquisition of islands purely for security purpose: Navy HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 27

Aware of growing public resentment over its move to acquire islands off the Baina coast, Navy has, however, maintained that the acquisition is purely for security purpose.

Speaking to Herald, Navy PRO Commander M C Joshi assured that people who have raised concern over the acquisition of Pequeno and Grande Islands need not worry since the acquisition of islands is merely for security purpose.

“People have apprehension that once islands are acquired, then they will be restrained from going to the shrine, which is located at Grande Island,” said Joshi.

“Similarly, there is apprehension among boat owners and water sports operators that they will not be allowed to take tourists for the islands trip. All these things could be incorporated after discussion with the State government in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Navy,” stated Joshi.

He said the MoU could incorporate apprehensions of the people and if the State government is willing, such MoU can be inked.

He was then reminded of a similar agreement inked in 1987, when the State government

handed over Anjediva Island near Karwar to the Navy.

The government had asked the Navy to ensure that pilgrims would be allowed to visit the Our Lady of Springs Church at the Island on the feast day on February 2 every year.

However, the Navy has unilaterally stopped pilgrims from visiting the Anjediva Island since 2005.

"I am not aware of the facts about Anjediva Island, but the acquisition of the islands off the Baina coast won’t harm interests of the people," said Joshi.

When asked if the proposed fishing harbour near Pequeno Island of Katem-Baina shore would pose a similar "security" threat, he said the fishing harbour would not be a threat since it would be away from Pequeno Island.

“The Navy agreed to allow a fishing jetty only after the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) agreed that effective bird-hit control measures are put in place once harbour is in operation,” said Joshi.

He said both security and tourism prospective should be looked after, as these islands could be safe haven for terrorists, who will use the sea route to accomplish its mission.

“Since these islands are close to approach way of airfield and

Dumped ore site at Bicholim not posing danger: mamlatdar

run way, one could easily target aircraft standing at Pequeno Island, as aircrafts are at a close distance from ground level,” he said.

When reminded that residential and commercial structures close to the runway could also pose a similar threat, he said: “Since Alto-Dabolim area is a residential area, there are less possibilities that terror elements could hide in such places.”

“Suspicious activities in such places will not be hidden from the people,” added Joshi.

He further said since the islands are unmanned, there is a need to ensure that it is manned properly to avoid any threat aspects.

Responding to a query that the Navy could beef up security by deploying security personnel on islands without the need to acquire islands, Joshi replied: “Will private owners of islands allow us station security personnel or to erect naval battery, guns and other armament on islands without acquisition?”

It may be recalled that St Jorge comprises three islands, two Grande and one Pequeno.

One Grande Island is owned by the State Government and the other by Navy (Ministry of Defence) and the Pequeno Island is owned by a private party.

Foetus case: Chorao man arrested HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, SEPT 27

Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat inspects mining site at Lamgao-Bicholim.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, SEPT 27

Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat on Monday visited the site of Sesa Goa at Lamgao-Bicholim, where heaps of dumped ore developed cracks, endangering the lives of the villagers.

Mamlatdar’s visit was planned in the wake of report that ap-

peared in section of media about the rising danger of the dumped iron ores at the hilly area of Lamgao. Local Councilor Manohar Shirodkar had raised an alarm in this connection.

Environmental Assistant Manager Dr Govind Parab and Mines Manager B K Prushti, w h o w e re a c c o m p a n y i n g

Photo by Vishant Vaze

Mamlatdar Bhat, made it clear that the company has taken due precaution while dumping the iron ore and there is no danger as predicted by the villagers.

Mamlatdar has advised the company officials to take additional precautions to safeguard the village.

Old Goa police on Monday arrested a person from Chorao in connection with the abortion of a three-month-old dead foetus case.

According to Old Goa Police, one Ketan Madkaikar was arrested in this connection.

Police arrested accused Ketan under Section 315 and Section 8 of Children’s Act and he was remanded to six days police custody.

It may be recalled that on Friday, a girl from Chodan aborted a three-month-old dead foetus after seeking the services of a private doctor from Old Goa to abort the foetus.

Highly placed sources at the Bicholim police station had stated that an unmarried girl from Chodan had an affair with a boy from the same village.

The girl then discovered that she was pregnant and was afraid to disclose it to her parents.

The girl, who was already three months pregnant, later decided to get an abortion done through a private doctor from Old Goa to ensure secrecy in her pregnancy.

ITM Goa to provide greater mileage to tourism fraternity!

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

The International Travel Mart, to be held in Goa next month will provide an opportunity for the entire tourism industry in India to reinforce business contacts and establish new ones.

The ITM in Goa will offer buyers rich and sublime experience of coastal belt of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra coupled with hinterland across Karnataka like Hampi and Dandeli, the organisers have said.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s (GTDC) managing director (MD) Nikhil Desai said that ITM Goa aims to provide greater mileage to the tourism fraternity.

The organisers said that ITM Goa will provide the perfect setting for discerning entrepreneurs from all over the country and abroad to discover new avenues and

renew old ones in these sectors.

“This will be the only travel mart in the world to offer buyers rich and sublime experience of coastal belt of Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra coupled with hinterland across of Karnataka like Hampi and Dandeli,” he said.

He said that though Goa is already a prime holiday destination, ITM hopes to provide an opportunity for the tourism industry in India as a whole to reinforce business contacts and establish new ones.

“We would like to provide an ideal platform for marketers and customers to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. We believe it will be a perfect time for people in the hospitality business to identify and attract even more potential customers,” GTDC MD said.

The event is scheduled from October 14

to 17 in Panjim in association with the State tourism department and supported by Indiatourism.

The mart will see active media promotion through various avenues including press advertising, outdoor publicity before and during events, besides direct mailers and special institutional promotions and invitations to prominent professionals in the travel industry.

GTDC Chairperson Shyam Satardekar said that tourism is highly competitive industry and through the mart we aim to put our best foot forward.

“It is an ideal platform for all members of the hospitality business to meet and exchange fruitful and innovative ideas. Goa is one of Asia-Pacific’s fastest growing markets, both for leisure and business and we need to drive home our advantage”, he added.

Miscreants lift Rs 1.20 lakh from van at Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

In a daring theft, unknown miscreants lifted away cash of Rs 1.20 lakh from a van which had come to deposit money in the ATM unit of a private bank situated on the Abade Faria Road.

Margao PI Santosh Desai informed that the bank officials have claimed that the van was parked near the bank and the staff had just gone out to answer nature’s call when the miscreants lifted away the cash through the window of the van.

The police are verifying the complaint even as the men in uniform have expressed surprise over the theft when money amounting to Rs 23 lakh was inside the vehicle.

Pilerne forum petitions ECI to stall Valpoi by-poll HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Pilerne Citizens Forum on Monday faxed a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr S Y Quraishi calling upon him to defer the October 18 Valpoi by-poll till the electoral rolls all over Goa were prepared by following uniform ECI guidelines.

PCF, which is taking the matter to the High Court, continues to maintain any election based on the present electoral rolls would be illegal as the ECI had admitted there was a case in what the forum had presented before it and called for an inquiry.

It may be recalled the forum had presented documentary evidence to prove that uniform ECI guidelines had not been followed while adding voter names to the electoral rolls in Goa. The copy of the letter has been faxed to the Secretaries of

Illegal wall: HC issues notices to Babush’s son HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday issued notices to Education Minister Babush Monserrate’s son Amit and five others in connection with illegal wall at Miramar.

The Division Bench comprising of Justice D G Karnik and Justice F M Reis passed the order in a connection with public interest litigation (PIL) filed by one Dr S P Deshpande from Caranzalem over demolition of the illegal wall in public open space.

The petitioner in his petition has said that around 1200 sq meter public open space is been illegally encroached by Monserrate and a wall has been constructed at Dr Jack Sequeira road at Miramar.

“The said area was approved as sub-division and was kept as open space as per Town and Country Planning Act in 1976.

The same is been zoned in the Public Outline Development Plan 2011 for the city,” the petitioner said.

The petitioner has alleged that despite issuance of show cause notice by both, Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) and North Goa Planning and Development Authority (NGPDA)

in February and April, 2010 respectively no further action over its demolition has been taken till date.

As such, Court along with Amit also served notices to the city Mayor Carolina Po, CCP Commissioner Elvis Gomes, chairman and member secretary of NGPDA and Karen Fernandes, the former owner of the plot.

Dr Deshpande through a letter dated November 19 and November 20, 2009 registered an official complaint with CCP and NGPDA and accordingly the inspection was carried out on January 6, 2010.

The inspection carried out by both the departments certified that the construction is ‘unauthorised’ and the show-cause notices were issued.

On January 11, CCP first issued notice to Karen Fernandes.

After learning about the change of the ownership of the said plots, the commissioner served show-cause notice to Monserrate, the present owner of the plot, on February 25.

Similarly, on April 22, member secretary of NGPDA also issued notice to Monserrate over demolition of the wall. Amit was supposed to file a reply within 15 days of the notice served.

ECI Bernard John and K F Wilfred, Director Administration ECI and State Chief Electoral Officer Gonesh Koyu.

Advocate Yatish Naik, legal adviser to PCF, maintained PCF would, anyway, approach the High Court over the matter, but we thought it would be better to send a final reminder to the ECI over the much-assured inquiry. There are a few days left for the election and we are hurrying with our plea, he stated.

In the letter, the forum informed the ECI that the joint CEO Goa in his communication dated 29/07/2010 had admitted that ‘The mamlatdars/ERO’s have not provided the details of the procedures. May be they

have thought that information provided by them was enough as they did not know the exact information required.’

The letter further reminded that Chief Minister Digambar Kamat too had admitted on 05/08/2010 that different mamlatdars had given different answers on procedures followed to enrol voter names and that he had told the State CEO to call them as they were supposed to follow uniform ECI guidelines.

Adv Naik once again maintained it was now for the people to question the roll of the election authorities in the State whether election based on the electoral rolls under scanner of ECI would be free and fair.

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sHORT TAkEs

Opposition gains momentum against Cotigao wildlife sanctuary as CWH HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 27

A new travel shop Travel@Ease was inaugurated at Gera Imporium, Patto Panjim recently, at the hands of Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar in the presence of proprietor Vinit Shah and Sarvesh Juwaskar.

Meet on implantology held

PANJIM (HND): The Academy of Implantology in association with Sky Dental Implants ‘Bredent, Germany’ held a meet in Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim recently.

President of the Academy, Dr Savio Lourenco presented the vision statement. Also present were secretary Dr Sanjeev Vas, treasurer Dr Anil Da Silva and editor Dr Gregory Pereira.

Vikram Vaidya, Sky Dental Implants (in-charge India) spoke in length about the latest trends in implantology with respect to material and design.

The conference was attended by the Executive Council members namely Dr Allwyn de Menezes, Dr Piedade Fernandes, Dr Reagan Dalgado, Dr Hemant Bakal, Dr Karl Souza and other leading Goan dental surgeons and implantologists.

Beach cleanliness drive held

Volunteers of Casino Association of Goa at the beach cleanliness drive at Miramar.

PANJIM (HND): On the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Casino Association of Goa (CAG), the apex body which houses both onshore and offshore casinos, organised a beach cleanliness drive at Miramar from 8.30 am to 11.30 am, on Monday.

Garbage, ranging from glass bottles to plastic bags, was collected in over 30 garbage bags on the Miramar beach. Around 100 CAG volunteers participated in the exercise.

In a press release issued here, CAG president John Snowball highlighted the importance of cleanliness and said, “Tourism is a fundamental component of the Goan economy. Goa’s beaches, in addition to all the public places, need to kept clean and tidy, and World Tourism Day is an ideal time to highlight that desire. In order to maintain and further develop sustainable tourism, awareness of keeping the beaches and environment clean and safe must be nurtured, and all sectors must play their part. Tourism and the environment can coexist harmoniously, but everyone needs to be constantly aware of their own personal responsibilities, and therefore contribute to maintaining Goa’s great beaches in a clean and pristine condition."

Youth empowerment program

PANJIM (HND): JCI Salcete Coastal conducted its training month by empowering youth at Our Lady of Rosary High School, Fatorda and at Carmel College, Nuvem.

Interactive training was provided by L Radha, K Gopi Kishore, Manju Anand, Ashwini Yadav, Pragdeeshswaran, S Preetha, G Sudha, Rajan Satardekar, Raghunath Jawahar, A A Felix, Harish Kumar, Dr Soni Jacob, Jyoti Anand and Abu Baker.

The project directors for the above training programme were Patricia Mendonca, Wyn Coutinho and Joel Alfonso.

The empowering youth module for shaping the future of young students of Our Lady Of Rosary High School, Fatorda was inaugurated by Headmaster Gromiko Fernandes in the presence of Rajan Satardekar, national trainer, JCI India and project co-ordinator Wyn Coutinho.

At the valedictory function, Manager of Our Lady Of Rosary High School Fr Boulais Costa, Headmaster Gromiko Fernandes, Zone XI President Milind Desai, Tulshidas Popkar and project co-ordinator Wyn Coutinho were present. The certificates for the empowering youth were distributed.

Also, a programme on shaping the future leaders and youth for the college and graduate level students was taken up for students of Carmel College for Women, Nuvem. Principal Sr Dr Aradhana was the chief guest and the resource trainers were Ashwini Yadav, Saiprasad Naik, Sudha and Vinita Palekar. The project director was Patricia Mendonca for the future module of training.

Rosanne wins orator contest PANJIM (HND): Rosanne Faleiro of Fatima Convent, Margao won the Junior Orator contest which was organised by Lions Club of Loutolim at Margao Municipal Hall for Avertano Furtado Trophy. She was awarded Rs 10000 and a memorial trophy.

The second prize was bagged by Nishi Singh of Almeida High School, Ponda and she received Rs 5000 while the third prize went to to Vailani Faria of Our Lady of Succour High School, Nagoa and she received Rs 2000. Eldon Noronha of Our Lady of Rosary High School, Fatorda was given a consolation prize of Rs 1000. The jury consisted of Victoria D’Souza, Anastasio Colaco and Ruth Coelho.

Chief guest Xavier Furtado distributed the prizes. Speaking on the occasion, he said that he was happy that Lions Club of Loutolim organise such an event for the youth, which will help them develop their talent and leadership.

Earlier, President of the Club Jeevandas Borkar welcomed the chief guest and the gathering. Uttam Kumar proposed the vote of thanks.

If it was Poinguinim MLA on Friday, on Saturday it was the turn of former MLA of the region to meet people and assure assistance, as support for the residents protesting declaration of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH) seems to be gaining momentum.

The State Level Expert Committee (SLEC) for Critical Wildlife hearing is scheduled at Cotigao Panchayat office on September 30 in connection with the government’s plans to declare Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary into a CWH. Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday toured Nadkem and met some people in the affected region and assured that he was with the people against the government’s move to declare Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as CWH. Tawadkar asked the people to come out in large numbers with whatever documentations they have and lodge strong protests when SLEC visit the village on Thursday.

However, the meeting with the affected locals of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary at Nadkem by former minister Isidore Fernandes took the limelight on Saturday with many turning up and expressing their opposition on various grounds.

The locals sought Fernandes’

Isidore Fernandes and others meet Cotigao residents, who’ll be directly affected by Critical Wildlife Habitat at Yeda-Cotigao.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

Udyami helpline for public

Concentration will help achieve goals: Rane

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India is setting up n ‘Udyami Helpline’ with toll free number 1800-180MSME or 1800-180-6763 across the country to provide easy and ready access to information regarding the various programmes of the government for MSMEs and to provide interaction with the banks.

The helpline will answer queries relating to the Ministry of MSME, office of the Development Commissioner MSME, SIDBI, Coir Board, KVIC etc, provide basic advice on how to set up an enterprise, provisions of the MEME Act, procedures for filing entrepreneurs memorandum, etc, and also answer individual bank related queries. Eventually, an appropriate interface will be established with the banks to ensure that the issues are addressed promptly.

CME programmes in GMC

PANJIM (HND): The Medical Education Cell of Goa Medical College will organise a series of Continuing Medical Education (CME) programmes in the GMC Library Auditorium.

The first CME programme will be held on September 28 at 3 pm and Dr Ray Bhatt, United Kingdom will talk on ‘Time Management’.

The second CME programme will be held on September 30 at 3 pm and Dr Sanjay Gandhi, Consultant Physician, Pune will talk on ‘Insulin Injection Techniques’.

The third CME will be held on October 1 at 3 pm and Dr Sachin Almel, Consultant Medical Oncologist, P D Hinduja National Hospital-Mumbai will talk on ‘Recent advances in chemotherapy of head, neck cancers’ and Dr Anupam Sachdeva, Consultant Pediatric Hematologist, Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi will speak on ‘Hemophilia’. All the CMEs are coordinated by Dr R G Wiseman Pinto. The Goa Medical Council has given CME accreditation for the CMEs.

Quiz competition

help in their fight against the pletely oppose the declaration people whose ancestral resigovernment. till directly affected 80 families dential areas are declared as “I wholeheartedly support consisting of 530 family mem- Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary your concern and I had sprawling over 68 sq Families No of family even wrote to SLEC ex- Area mtrs of land in 1986,” members pressing my opposition to said Fernandes. the declaration of Cotigao Nadkem Cotigao Sarpanch Ra16 80 Wildlife Sanctuary as CWH Endrem jesh Gaonkar, Canacona 02 09 till ‘The Schedule Tribes Block Congress commit06 35 and other Traditional Buthpal tee President Elvis FerDwellers Act 2006’ is im- Morphonamoll nandes, besides other 30 326 plemented in true spirit Keri prominent community 14 80 and residents of five hammembers like village Total 68 530 lets, which will be directly Budvont Krishna affected are first rehabiliGaonkar, ex-sarpanchas tated before anything else,” bers are first suitably rehabili- Manohar Velip and Bombo said Fernandes. tated.

Gaonkar, Panchas Sukdo Fernandes’ meeting at Yeda “It is the duty of the govern- Gaonkar and Nagesh Gaonkar on Saturday decided to com- ment to first rehabilitate the were present for the meeting.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Speaker Pratapsingh Rane said that concentration has powerful effects when it is used correctly as it is indispensable to becoming successful in all aspects of life. “Studies show that the more you concentrate on your goals, the faster you attain them,” he said.

Rane was speaking at a felicitation function of student and teachers, a programme organised by the parent teachers association at the Government Higher Secondary School, Sanquelim.

Speaking further, Rane said that the core of good planning lies in knowing how to stake out your goals. “These goals will then function as milestones, helping reach the destination much quicker,” he opined.

Local MLA Pratap Gauns, chairperson of municipal council Anand Naik and PTA chairman Namdev Kerkar also addressed the students.

Speaker Pratapsingh Rane addresses at the felicitation function of students and teachers at Government Higher Secondary, Sanquelim.

MLA Pratap Gauns, chairperson of local municipality Anand Naik, Principal SF Koti, vice-Principal Sunita Pai and PTA chairperson Namdev Kerkar are present.

Report of the annual activities of PTA were read out by Secretary Vandana Naik. The teachers were felicitated on the occasion for securing 100 per cent results in their respective subjects. Students were also felicitated on the

occasion for achieving a good percentage at the Board exams.

Principal of the higher secondary school S F Koti earlier welcomed the guests and vice Principal Sunita Pai proposed the vote of thanks.

Municipal garden in Chaudi thrown open to public

Parliamentary panel on SC/ST welfare to visit State

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 27

The lone municipal garden in the heart of Chaudi town, renovated by a starred hotel from the taluka, was thrown open to the public on Friday.

The latest renovation of this oldest garden, which once used to be the pride of Canacona Municipal Council (CMC) situated across the NH-17 passing through Chaudi town, is the fourth such work on the garden since its existence.

In the absence of Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot, who was scheduled to inaugurate the garden, Intercontinental, The Lalit Resorts General Manager Shrikant Wakardkar cut the ribbon and led CMC Chairperson Shyamsunder Dessai and his team inside the garden.

CMC Chief Officer Deepak Dessai, Deputy Chairman and Chaudi Councilor Dilip Kenkre, Nagorcem Councilor and former chairperson Ranghanath Naik Gaunkar, Councilors Santosh Tubki, Diwakar Pagui, Intercon’s Manager (pers) Glen Martins were present on the occasion.

The garden, admeasuring about 800 sq mtrs, was lying in a sorry state for the last several years and CMC’s efforts to renovate it on several earlier occasions could not yield any results till the starred hotel offered to renovate and maintain it for the people of Canacona.

In fact, it was during one of the visits of Intercontinental, The Lalit Resort Managing Director Jyostna Suri to a football match (New Year day) also attended by Urban Minister

uPCOMInG EVEnTs

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Intercontinental, The Lalit Resorts, GM Shrikant Wakharkar inaugurates the renovated Canacona Municipal garden in the presence of CMC Chairperson Shaysunder Dessai and others.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

Joaquim Alemao, that Suri offered to renovate and maintain the garden.

Justifying the delayed inauguration, CO Desai said gardens are not used in rainy season and hence decided to open the garden for public at this time.

Intercon’s GM Wakhardkar expressed happiness for allowing his hospitality group to be associated with the civic projects and assured that the garden will be maintained in all its true spirit.

Later, Manager Martins informed that the hotel’s infrastructure is used to renovate this garden and approximately Rs 8 lakh was spent.

The garden is provided with slides and other needs meant for the children, besides benches and other modes are provided for the elders to sit

and enjoy the beauty of ornamental plants and flowers.

Interestingly, due to paucity of space, no water fountain could be erected, while the provision of playing music and songs is not yet in its place.

A caretaker is already appointed and the garden will be opened for public from 9 am to 9 pm.

Suspension of ferry services HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Public is informed that the ferry services at KiranpaniAronda ferry route will be temporarily suspended from September 27, until further order to carry out under water repairs.

Public is requested to bear with inconvenience caused.

The Parliamentary committee on the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes consisting of about 25 Members of Parliament and 5 officers of the Secretariat will visit Goa on September 28, with a view to examine representation of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes in services of Mumbai Port Trust, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Power Grid Corporation of India Limited and National Aviation Company of India Limited at Mumbai, Western Coalfield limited and Bank of Maharashtra at Nasik and New India Assurance Company Limited and Bank of India at Goa. The committee will meet separately the representatives of the SC/ST Employees’ Welfare Associations of the concerned undertakings/banks at the places of visit. Concerned organizations/banks are requested to invite the said representatives to participate in the meetings as per the tour programme.

The committee will meet SC/ST Employees Welfare Association of New India Assurance Company Limited on September 29 at 9 am, will interact with the management of NIAL regarding representation of SCs/STs in services at 10 am, will hold meeting with SCs/ STs Employees Welfare Association of Bank of India at 11 am and will interact with the management of Bank of India regarding representation of SCs/STs in services and credit facilities provided by the bank at 12 noon.

PANJIM (HND): Adv Vishwanath Narayan Lawande Memorial Trust in co-ordination with the Navjivan Society of Freedom Fighters is organizing its 11th all Goa quiz competition on September 29.

The function will commence with homage being paid to Lawande by freedom fighters and public at Azad Bhavan, Porvorim at 9 am. The theme of the quiz will be freedom struggle of Goa and India.

A skit competition is also being organised for schools based on the same theme. Arrangements for refreshments and lunch have been made for participants at the venue. Rolling trophy and prizes will be distributed by ex-minister and social worker Nirmala Sawant, and Lokmat Editor Raju Nayak. The function will commence at 3.30 pm.

On these occasion, senior trustee Shambhu Bhau Bandekar will also be felicitated.

Staging of ‘Kal ani Aiz’ PANJIM (HND): ‘Kal ani Aiz’, a Konkani Tiatr written by Tomazinho Cardozo will be staged on September 29 at the DMK Auditorium of Kala Academy in the 36th Tiatr Festival organized by Kala Academy, at 7 pm.

Goa is going to complete 50 years of its liberation in the next year 2011. Is Goa developed in the true sense of the word during the last 50 years? This is the question asked by many Goans when they compare the situations in the Goa of the past and of the present times.

Tomazinho Cardozo’s ‘Kal ani Aiz’ deals with issues on social, political, religious and economic fields that are faced by the Goan society during the last 50 years and highlights the rapid changes that have taken place in the Goan society.

Mathias Mascarenhas and Irene Cardozo are in the lead roles lead roles while Anthony Carvalho, Sheik Amir, Simonia Cardozo, Jocelyn Mesquita, Larisa Fernandes, Shivanand Naik, Assis Cardozo, Tukaram Naik also feature in the play.

Child artistes namely Karan, Josepha, Violet and Vhorty also act in important roles. Sucorro de Santa Cruz, Sonia, Maria Cardozo, Joao Cardozo, etc participate in singing which forms an integral part of Goan tiatr.

The music is provided by Louis Cota, stage setting by Timoty Dias, background music by Joy Fernandes, light effects by Dnyaneshwar Morajkar and costumes by Simonia Cardozo. The play is produced by Kala Mogi Candolim and directed by Tomazinho Cardozo.

Talk on photo journalism PANJIM (HND): The Photo Journalist's Association Goa will hold an interactive session exclusively for its members with retired senior photo journalist P M Shirodkar on September 30 at the Goa Union of Journalist's (GUJ) office premises in Panjim at 9.30 am.

PM Shirodkar has worked as chief photo journalist for The Times of India, Mumbai and has a work experience of over 40 years. The two-hour session will basically focus on the changes that have taken place in photo journalism over the last 50 years and the changing trends as far as digital technology in Photography is concerned. The session will also focus on how to find stand alone 'News Photographs' and supporting news photographs for news reports and feature articles. GUJ President Prakash Kamat, Goa PTI correspondent Rupesh Samant and Goa IANS correspondent Mayabhushan Nagvenkar will also take part in the session.

Fund raising event PANJIM (HND): Inner Wheel Club of Margao will organise a fund raising Disco Dandiya dance programme, featuring DJ Suleman on October 1 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao from 7 pm onwards in aid of the girl child.

On this occasion, a recipe book compiled by the club members will be released at the hands of Asha Kamat and the function will be presided by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.

The Inner Wheel is the world’s second largest women’s organisation and comprises of womenfolk of Rotarians. It is a recognised voluntary non-governmental organisation to help and serve the underprivileged section of the society.

Entry tickets for donors are available at Big-G, Margao and Panjim.

POWER sHuTdOWn SEPTEMBER 29 CURTORIM: From 8 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are VP Curtorim, VP Macazana, VP Raia (Colleandongor, St Xavier, Backhbhat, Uddo).

ALDONA: From 9 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are Lakdem, Patin, Carona Naikawaddo, Gawar hospital, Khorjuem and surrounding areas.

OCTOBER 1 PERNEM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Pernem Municipal Council area.

BATIM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Goa-Velha, Batim, Curca, Santan, Moula-Batim, part of Pilar and surrounding areas.

WEATHER REPORT Max Temp: 31.60C Min Temp: 23.80C Humidity: 90% Rainfall past 24 hrs: 17.0 mm Seasonal Total: 3367.9 mm Forecast: Few spells of rain or thunder showers would occur.

OHERALDO

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Criminals using ruling panel to Goa must lay stress on khazan malign me: Merces ex-Sarpanch lands, says Dr Swaminathan HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, SEPT 27

Stating that allegations against him are baseless and false, former Merces sarpanch Prakash Naik said the mud-slinging exercise by the present ruling panel is to misguide people and to exact revenge on him at the behest of persons with criminal background.

Prakash was addressing a press conference in a city hotel to reply to allegations that it was during his term that illegal land filling activities in Merces were undertaken on a large scale.

When repeatedly asked to name the alleged criminal persons whom he suspected to be using the ruling panel to malign his name, Prakash was reluctant to do so.

"When the time is right, I will disclose the names," he said.

He further chided the deputy Sarpanch Yateen Palekar for dragging his name in the hafta racket and challenged him to prove the allegations, before

opening his mouth.

Prakash then disclosed that he has in his possession some incriminating evidence which would prove the involvement of some of the ruling panchas in demanding money from private parties for getting work done.

But, when asked to produce the evidence to the press, Prakash again backed out and said that he would wait for the reaction from the ruling panel and only then would he decide whether to go public with the evidence or not.

Speaking on the illegal land filling activities in the village, Prakash said that such activities were going on for decades, even before the current panchayat body was formed. He further lauded the NGOs for taking up the fight against such activities and said that the opposition panchas are ready to support them in the campaign if they wish so.

"The irony is that the current

ruling panel has never involved the opposition panchas in any decisions they have taken," he added and informed that they are willing to extend full co-operation with the current dispensation provided the ruling panel is committed in the positive development of the village and also stays away from pointing accusing fingers at others.

When asked why action was not taken against the illegal land filling activities when he was in power, Prakash said that wrong information has been fed to the press and to prove his point, he produced a copy of the letter addressed to the collector and the TCP to initiate action against such activities.

"No sooner panch Deepika Shirgaonkar, who is currently the Sarpanch, brought it to my notice that illegal land filling is being undertaken in Vaddy-Merces, I initiated immediate action," he said and added that no further progress could be done as he was ousted from office.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

Even though Goa has enough to contribute in the agriculture sector, it needs to give serious attention to agricultural lands like Khazan lands, agricultural scientist Dr M S Swaminathan said.

Speaking exclusively to Herald, Dr Swaminathan said that Goa should lay stress on khazan lands, which is on the verge of diminishing.

“Goa’s agricultural scenario is like any other place – optimistic and challenging. The State is on the threshold of agriculture. There are lots of equipments and technologies with ICAR. However, serious attention should be given to khazan lands,” he said.

Widely known as the father of green revolution in India, the scientist was in Goa to inaugurate the ‘Progressive Farmers Club’ at Taleigao on Monday.

Dr Swaminathan, also the Member of Parliament urged the necessity to have food parks

n Goa’s agricultural scenario is like any other place – optimistic and challenging. The State is on the threshold of agriculture. There are lots of equipments and technologies with ICAR. However, serious attention should be given to khazan lands. and enhancing integrated farming like fish farming. “Horticulture is progressing. We have revitalised agriculture in Goa so that we hold special agricultural zone…this will be a transformation in Goa,” he stated.

When asked how he perceives the future of agriculture in Goa, the 84-year-old scientist quickly

responded that the major challenge is to encourage younger generation into this sector.

“It’s a challenge to bring in younger generation to conserve the farming tradition and so also, conserving prime farm land for agriculture,” said the ICAR ex-director general.

Nearly 40 members of the club, officials from NABARD, ICAR Director N P Singh and others were present during the event organised by Krishi Vigyan Kendra of ICAR. Dr Swaminathan suggested the State government to distribute ‘entitlement cards’ and ‘soil health cards’ to all farmers in Goa. “In future, credit will be based on nutrients… Farmers can avail number of schemes…

Our aim should be making this sector a profitable venture. Technological and skill empowerment besides small management farm is important,” he further said.

Local farmers namely Andre Cruz Almeida, Joaquim D’Souza and wife of Uttam Kerkar were felicitated at the function.

GO-1 channel launched in Vasco HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 27

A local port town-based television channel, ‘GO-1 News and Entertainment’, was launched at Hotel La-Paz Garden, Vasco, on Saturday.

The ‘GO-1 News and Entertainment Channel’ is an initiative of Elvino Araujo, who has worked with well-known news channels in the State before launching his venture in Vasco.

Fr Jose Antonio da Costa launched the channel in the presence of Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho, Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson Shekhar Khadapkar, former Herald felicitates Prince Jacob at the hands of Deputy General Manager, Marketing, Herald Savio Monteiro on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations of Prince Jacob’s Production at Joao Agostinho Pai Tiatrist Hall in Margao recently.

MMC Chairperson Carlos Almeida, Councilor Krishna Salkar, Editor-in-Chief of GO-1 News and Entertainment Channel Araujo and others.

Appreciating the initiative of Araujo, Fr da Costa said news channels are the voice of the people, which helps in transforming society in a better manner.

“It is a good initiative to inform the people about what is happening in their surrounding and wish GO-1 to prosper in its initiative,” said Fr Costa.

Godinho said media is the strong pillar of democracy, as it plays an important role to express opinion of different seg-

Dance contest at Margao HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 27

The Unbeatable Dance Academy, Vasco, will organise an All Goa Solo Dance competition ‘Thunder Nite 10’ at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on September 28 at 7 pm.

As many as 13 best dancers from Goa will rock the stage in one of the biggest dancing events, ‘Thunder Nite’, in which Dance India Dance (DID) finalist of first season Prince Gupta will judge the best dance performances of Goa and he too will rock with the entire dance troupe.

The audition rounds of the solo dance competition were held in August and September at St Theresa’s High School hall, Mangor-Vasco.

In all, 32 participants from all over the State had participated in the contest and 13 participants have been selected for the finals from junior and senior

categories.

Finalists from junior category are Owais Shaikh (Margao), Anisha Pilankar, Vaidehi Singh and Ashwet Pilankar, all are from Vasco, Sanshika Sirordkar (Mapusa) and Pratik Wadkar (Sanquelim).

Finalists from senior category are Amit Rajput and Vishal Mandrekar (Ponda), Ashish Nakate (Margao), Kamaljeet Kaur (Vasco), Ashotosh Naik (Porvorim), Suresh Nayak (Colva) and Mangal Chuhan (Vasco).

The winner will be awarded with attractive gift hampers and prizes.

Tickets for the programme are available at Ravindra Bhavan (Margao), Pastry Palace (Panjim), Emmanuel Wedding Centre (Margao), Bombay Garments (Vasco) and Pastry Palace (Margao).

For more details, contact Tushar Volvoikar on 9923309275 or 9822227801.

Minister for PWD, Churchill Alemao felicitating Prince Jacob and Comedy Supremo Humbert on the occasion of silver jubilee celebrations of Prince Jacob’s Production at Joao Agostinho Pai Tiatrist Hall in Margao recently.

Rains aid growth of Koleroga disease, farmers suffer losses HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

The areca nut farmers in the State are in for a major loss due to incessant rains that has kept unleashing in the State.

Agriculture Department has estimated that almost 30 per cent of areca nuts have dropped immaturely creating crisis for 3,500 to 4,000 farmers who grow this crop.

State agriculture director Satish Tendulkar told Herald that they have been receiving complaints from the areca nut farmers from across the state about the dropping of the nuts due to rains.

“Koleroga disease has hit the crop and spraying of fungicide is not proving effective as rains are flushing them down. The excessive rains have helped in the growth of this disease,” Tendulkar explained.

The state has till date received 132 inches of rainfall and the Met department has predicted that the rains will continue even in the month of October.

Goa has around 2,000 hectares of land under areca nut cultivation with 2,000 tonnes of the nuts produced, which are usually exported outside the state.

The regions of Ponda, Sattari and Sanguem have the crop, which is usually mixed with other plantations like Coconuts.

Tendulkar said that usually there is 10 per cent areca nut

droppings are reported annually.

The director informed that department will provide a subsidy to the areca nut farmers as support price at the rate of Rs 20 per kilo nuts produced.

Talking to Herald, Goa Bagayatdar Society Chairman Narendra Sawaikar said that lot of farmers from Ponda, Sanguem, Valpoi and Canacona have suffered a loss.

“The rains were unprecedented and never in past such a situation have arisen. The actual impact of loss will be visible after few months,” he said.

Sawaikar said that they are contemplating to seek financial assistance from government to the farmers through bagayatdar society.

The excess rains that has hit Goa has also put state met department under worry.

Indian Meteorological Observatory in-charge K V Singh said that the continuing rains is detrimental to the crops. “This is a harvest time and farmers expect it to be sunny so that they can dry the crop especially paddy,” he said.

Worried agriculture director said that the paddy cultivation in the coastal belt of Salcette, Tiswadi and Bardez has taken a beating due to rains.

“At the beginning we were expecting a goody harvest due to good rains; however, we need

a dry spell in the days to come.

Harvesting would now start and in the absence of dry spell the crop will spoil,” Tendulkar said.

“There is no impact on the coconut crop. But there will be damage for chilly cultivation in Canacona and Quepem areas,” he added.

Attempt to murder case lodged against Navelim local HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 27

The Margao police has registered a case of attempt to murder after a resident of Navelim was stabbed on his abdomen in a bar late Sunday night.

Margao PI Santosh Desai said the incident occurred in a bar at Belem-Navelim when the accused Cypriano Rodrigues, a resident of Sirlim allegedly stabbed the victim Sertor Barreto with a beer bottle on his stomach.

The police attributed the incident to previous enmity between the victim and the accused over some money matters.

PI Desai said the Sertor was immediately rushed to Hospicio hospital, from where he was shifted to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim. The police said the victim was operated at the hospital last night and is under observation.

Unbeatable Events Chief Tushar Volvoikar along with the shortlisted finalist for the ‘Thunder Nite’ dance competition.

ments of the society.

Earlier, MMC Chairperson Shekhar Khadapkar said media is a powerful tool, as people have seen recent Commonwealth Games’ poor preparation and corruption.

Our L ady of Candelaria teacher Hilarina compered the function, while Araujo proposed the vote of thanks.

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INDIA

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GOA, TUESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Officers warned not to be casual in disciplinary proceedings DELHI BUREAU NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

The Government has warned senior bureaucrats not to be casual in handling the disciplinary and vigilance proceedings against staff, making an excuse of delay in getting appropriate advice from the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).

The erring officers against whom inquiry establishes irregularities escape penalty for many years just because the UPSC whose advice is mandatory before taking action often do not get all relevant papers and the file keeps going back and forth between the commission and the concerned department.

Pointing out that the UPSC cannot react if the case records and relevant documents are not provided, a circular

warns that the concerned bureaucrat will now be issued a written warning to be more careful in future if the commission returns any incomplete proforma and documents.

"A second time default by the same officer shall invite minor penalty proceedings against him, says the circular issued by the Department of Personnel.

It requires the concerned bureaucrat to verify and certify that all the details as required in the proforma to be submitted to the UPSC. If the certificate has been issued in a slip-shod manner, the concerned joint secretary, director or deputy secretary concerned of the department of ministry will be held responsible, the notification adds.

The circular has been issued following

n The circular has been issued following a report of an experts committee, headed by former UPSC chairman P C Hota, that was set up to suggest measures to expedite the process involved in disciplinary and vigilance proceedings. a report of an experts committee, headed by former UPSC chairman P C Hota, that

was set up to suggest measures to expedite the process involved in disciplinary and vigilance proceedings.

The committee came out with a shocking finding that the full details are not povided to the UPSC while seeking advice in as many as 40 per cent cases of disciplinary proceedings.

To ensure prompt disposal of the disciplinary inquiries initiated by the departments and ministries, the committee recommended that the bureaucrat in charge should give a certificate in writing to UPSC that all details as required in the standard proforma are provided and should be hauled up if the certificate is found to be defective because of all items in the proforma have not been complied with.

Kalyan dubs Ayodhya dispute settlement proposal as drama PTI LUCKNOW, SEPT 27

Dubbing as "drama" the proposal to settle the Ayodhya issue through reconciliation, temple movement leader Kalyan Singh today alleged that Congress welcoming the deferment of the verdict by the Supreme Court proved that it was in favour of delaying the judgement to serve its political gains.

Claiming that a solution to the problem was also not possible through negotiations, the former BJP leader said that several such attempts were made in the past but to no avail.

He termed the new proposal to settle the issue through reconciliation as a "drama".

"It is clear that on this issue, which is based on faith and belief, court also cannot find a universally acceptable solution," Singh, founder of the Jan Kranti Party, said in a statement issued here.

Blaming the Congress, Singh said that its welcoming the deferment of the verdict by the Supreme Court proved that it (Congress) was in favour of delaying the judgement to serve its political gains.

Reiterating that there were

Resolve dispute or accept verdict: FM to contesting parties PTI SAGARDIGHI, SEPT 27

Union Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today said contesting parties in the Ayodhya title suit have to resolve the issue through discussions or accept the court verdict.

"The two contesting parties who filed the Ayodhya title suit have to resolve the matter among themselves through discussions. If it was not possible, then the court verdict has to be accepted," Mukherjee told reporters on the sidelines of a function here when asked about the Centre's stand on the 60year-old dispute.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia will tomorrow decide the fate of the special leave petition seeking deferment of the Allahabad High Court verdict on the Ayodhya title suit.

The apex court had on Thursday, stayed for a week the High Court verdict following a petition by a retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chand Tripathi seeking its deferment to explore the possibility of an out-of-court settlement. only two options to solve the issue, he said that it could be either with Muslims giving up their claim over the land or through a law enacted by Parliament like the one in the Shah Bano case.

The Supreme Court had on September 23 deferred by a week the pronouncement of ver-

dict in the Ayodhya title suit by the Allahabad High Court.

The order came on a petition filed by retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chand Tripathi which pleaded for exploring the possibility of an out-of-court settlement on the 60-year-old Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suit dispute.

Omar asks Geelani, separatists not to target school children PTI JAMMU, SEPT 27

As schools in Kashmir Valley reopened today after over three months, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah asked hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and other separatists not to target children because they are going to schools.

Though the educational institutions reopened today, attendance was thin against the backdrop of Geelani's call to parents not to send their wards to schools and colleges and his appeal to teachers to stay at home.

"We hope Syed Ali Geelani and other separatists will cooperate and will not target children because they are coming to schools," Omar told reporters here.

"It is unfortunate certain separatist leaders have decided that children's education is not important. Education should be kept out of the purview of any conflict," he said.

Kerala CM criticise Cente's decision PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, SEPT 27

Senior CPI-M leader and Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today criticised Union government decision appointing P J Thomas, as Central Vigilance Commissioner, since he still figures as an accused in Palmolein import graft case.

'The case in which a senior congress leader (K Karunakaran) is involved remains seriously still now', Achuthanandan, who took up the case when he was the Opposition leader, said while addressing a meet the press programme organised by the Thiruvananthapuram press club here.

Thomas, figures as an accused in the case filed in 2003, in which the then Chief Minister K Karunakaran is listed as the first accused. The case pertained to alleged irregularities in the import of palmolein through a Singapore-based firm that caused the exchequer a loss of Rs 2.3 crore.

Kannada actress Vaishali Kasaravalli is no more PTI BANGALORE, SEPT 27

Noted Kannada actress Vaishali Kasaravalli died at a private hospital here today, family sources said.

Vaishali (59) is survived by her husband, internationally acclaimed Kannada film director Girish Kasaravalli and daughter, Ananya who is also a well-known actress.

Vaishali, who would have turned 60 this December, was ailing for over five years. A chronic diabetic, she suffered liver damage and was also undergoing dialysis for renal malfunctioning.

She has acted in several Kannada blockbusters of the early 80's including "Yeradu Kanasu", "Henne Ninage Yenu Bandhana" and "Professor Huchchuraya" and bagged the national award for costume designing in "Tai Saheba".

The government had yesterday announced a comprehensive plan for resumption of classes in schools and colleges and holding of annual examinations in the Valley.

However, Geelani had asked people to strictly observe "civil curfew" when schools and colleges resume their normal functioning in the Valley and also appealed to teachers and the non-teaching staff to stay at home.

Omar hit out at local media for creating a "hype" over the development.

"I was very disappointed this morning to seek OB vans parked outside schools (in Kashmir).

You were filming children being brought to schools. You were unnecessarily making targets out of children, where it should not have been done.

"Please don't give much hype... the moment media starts projecting this as somebody's victory or somebody's loss, you are endangering the lives of the

children more than anybody else," he said, while inaugurating a hospital project here.

"Please cooperate with the government. Education is now a fundamental right of children.

We want to restore that right.

We are doing everything possible to ensure safety of children coming to schools."

On the response of the Centre's eight-point package, he termed it as "mixed" and said a beginning has been made.

The package was not announced to make any particular person happy, he said, adding the aim is to resume political dialogue, reach out to people who have lost their kin and show them that government stands by them in difficult times besides compensating the losses to an extent.

"As I said right in the beginning, that it is nobody's victory or defeat. It is victory of those children who have been able to come back to schools and resume their education," he said.

Man detained for having Dawood, Kasab pics in mobile released PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 27

Detained for over 24 hours as his mobile phone had images of terrorist Mohammed Kasab, under world don Dawood Ibrahim and Taj Mahal Hotel in flames, the 27-year-old man has been released, police said today.

"Shafi Khan Ahmed, hailing from Bihar, has not been booked as nothing suspicious was found during questioning and was given a clean chit," Dilip Patil, Senior Inspector at Sahar Airport Police Station told PTI. Shafi, a four wheeler driver, was released last night, Patil said adding, "he told us he did not know the consequences of saving such images on the mobile phone. Just for a curiosity, he had downloaded those images."

According to police, Shafi forgot his mobile phone at the security checking counter before he proceeded to board the Air India flight to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officers found Shafi's phone and when they scanned through it they came across images of terrorists Masood Azhar, Kasab, underworld gangster Dawood, Taj Mahal Hotel in flames during Mumbai terror attacks and some prominent politicians.

Subsequently, Shafi was handed over to the city police by the CISF after which he was grilled for over 24 hours.

Various other security agencies have also questioned him but they found Shafi innocent, the officials said.

Dengue cases cross 3,000 in Delhi PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

With just five days left for the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the city continued to grapple with a dengue outbreak as cases of the vector-borne disease reached 3,013 after 97 more patients tested positive.

The capital has reported five dengue deaths this season.

South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 437 cases, followed

by MCD Civil Lines Zone (392), Rohini (354) and Central Zone (337).

The civic bodies are attributing the rapid increase in dengue cases this season to prolonged monsoon and stagnation of water at Commonwealth Games construction sites.

The dengue outbreak has also raised concern among several countries which are sending

teams to participate in the Games to be held here next month.

India has issued a health advisory for participants and visitors coming for the event asking them to take precautions like carrying full-sleeve clothes and bringing mosquito repellent creams, oils, mats or coils.

The government yesterday sought to play down concerns over dengue during the Games saying the prevalent variant of the mosquito-borne disease was not very dangerous.

"Dengue count in the country is still low. The type of vectorborne disease is subtype 3, which is not very dangerous," Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad had said.

He said that countries like Sri Lanka and Indonesia have seen a very large number of dengue cases.

OHERALDO

OPINION

Pg8

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Of India Shining and Rotting Grain

Vol No CX No: 244 Goa, Tuesday 28 September, 2010

I

The Atala gotala

t seems drug dealer Yaniv Benaim alias Atala has not only fled from tiny Goa but from India as well, and is safe and sound in his home town in Israel. In a report titled ‘Goa drug king hides in Rishon-Letzion’, the respected Israeli news portal Ynet.com says that the 36-year-old Atala is back in his home town in Israel, “after escaping from house arrest by the Indian authorities”.

The man with the tattooed arm jumped bail in July, after the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court at Mapusa granted him bail on 21 June. While he was out on bail, the Goa Police did not bother to keep a watch on him, and was apparently unaware of exactly when and how he fled.

The cops say they became aware of Atala’s disappearance only when he failed to respond to a Crime Branch summons on 7 August. However, it took them a full 18 days more to issue a ‘Lookout Circular’ on 25 August. Even if this lookout circular becomes an Interpol ‘Red Corner Alert’, Atala may be caught only if he tries to travel overseas using his own passport. For a man who managed to return to India even after being deported, evading a lookout circular should not be too difficult.

Many foreigners have fled the country after being released on bail. The longwinded explanation by the police, that Atala may have crossed the border into Nepal and made good his escape, is just empty speculation. He didn’t need to do anything that complicated.

Impounding passports – the usual move by courts to prevent the flight of accused persons on bail – is of little use in preventing offenders who are foreign citizens from escaping.

For example, all that Atala needed to do was to go somewhere other than Goa – say Mumbai or Delhi – visit any police station and make a regular ‘NC’ police complaint that his passport was ‘lost’ or ‘stolen’. He could then take the stamped copy of the police complaint to the Israeli consulate or embassy, get temporary travel papers, and leave the country officially and with full ‘dignity’.

Will the police now investigate and find out exactly how Atala escaped? Will they inquire with the Israeli Embassy whether he was issued temporary travel papers or not? And if he was, on what basis? This kind of post-flight probe is essential if the police want to prevent such escapes by foreigners in future.

To ensure that foreigners on bail cannot do the bunk, police must either issue lookout circulars as soon as they are released on bail, or notify immigration authorities that they are not to be allowed to leave the country.

Now that Atala is back in his hometown, what will the police do? The nexus between the police and drug dealers, in which unscrupulous police personnel stole seized drugs from the police ‘muddemal’ stores and sold them to drug dealers, must be broken. These death dealers and their police accomplices must be punished. But for that, the police need to move for Atala’s extradition from Israel. Will they or won’t they?

Dhoni’s Double

H

e truly is the king. M S Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings comprehensively outclassed South Africa’s Warriors on Sunday night to win the Champions Cup, their second major T20 title, just five months after they were crowned the IPL Champions – a spectacular double.

The final was played at the Wanderers, Johannesburg, the same venue where Dhoni led India to the 2007 World T20 title over Pakistan. Unfortunately, fresh player auctions take place before the fourth edition of the tournament in 2011, and the Super Kings may never be the same side again.

Callous policies have been the bane of politicians says AnTHonY J sIMoes

I

n the late 1980’s, there was a private bus called ‘Rukmini’ which plied between Siolim and Panjim via Anjuna, Calangute, Candolim, Pilerne and Verem. The conductor was a short, dark, scruffy looking character whose walk was a waddle. He treated all his passengers like royalty.

This bus was used during noon time by women transporting liquor from Pernem to places in the south. Because of his walk and laid back ways, these women had rechristened the conductor as cansulo (tortoise).

One day, a woman on his bus spilled some rice which she was carrying in a bag, on to the floor of the bus. This was the only time I ever saw cansulo get agitated and he even lost his cool. He even raised his voice as he said to the lady, ‘Kitem tu kortai go bai. Yi amchi Laxmi mungo!’ Then he sat down to salvage the spilt rice with a care bordering on reverence, as if a profane act had to be balanced by a sacred one.

From the Vedic period, food has been invested with an aura of respect and reverence. It is sad that this respect has been destroyed by those in charge of procurement and storage, particularly when we are classified as a nation with the largest number of under and malnourished children, women and men in the world. Our farmers are confronted with the challenge of producing food for 1.2 billion human beings and over 1 billion farm animals. The demoralising impact of the indifference shown to the safe storage of grains produced by hard labour in sun and rain by millions of farm women and men can only be imagined.

The callous attitude of our politicians and policy makers is the stuff that horror stories are made of. For them, a peasant is not a person who keeps us all alive by producing food. He is a factor of production like the muck and manure that he works in.

The view from Udyog Bhavan is of fertiliser subsidies, crop insurance, credit, etc… In other words, everything but people. If a peasant commits suicide, it is just another statistic. Good for a numbers game during the next election. It does not occur to them that somewhere there is a wife and child who think that the sun rises and sets because of the peasant.

Cansulo was a peasant from June to September.

He worked in someone’s field during the monsoon. He saw how his toil in the rain and sun, brought the rice out of the ground in slow stages, due to his ploughing, sowing, manuring and weeding. He had made a covenant with the weather gods before, during and after planting the crop.

Therefore, the reverence and the reference to

Food ConCerns Laxmi. For the policy makers and city dwellers, their rice comes from a packet on a rack in the local supermarket. They are not touched by the vagaries of the weather or a truant monsoon.

Their callousness comes from this disconnect with nature and its forces.

The Food Corporation of India will happily procure 60 million tons of grain when there is a bumper crop. They know very well that they only have secure storage facilities for 45 million tons.

This 45 MT storage includes relatively insecure storages like roof and plinth storage. We hardly have any vacuum silo storages.

In fact, our whole production, storage, and transportation infrastructure for grains are arranged back to front partly because of history and partly because of the cussedness and corruption of our policy makers. The middle class keeps quiet because they are beneficiaries of this totally corrupt and distorted distribution system.

Oldies like me remember the horrific food shortages of the 1950s and the 1960s. Famine was avoided because of America’s Public Law 480. Over the years, thousands of ships brought

American wheat to Indian shores. This grain was quickly and efficiently sent to the hinterland and drought affected areas in what would then pass off as a real time operation. It was literally a ship to mouth existence. Huge storages were created at the ports for balancing the distribution and avoiding a logistical nightmare for the exporterimporter nexus.

Then in truly toynbeesque fashion we responded to this challenge of perennial food shortages. We discovered M S Swaminathan who brought in the green revolution. Food-grain production kept on increasing but we did not bother to create sufficient storages at the farms. So we sacrificed the food security of the farmers and peasants by using the existing infrastructure. The storages were at the ports and cities. Good for city-dwellers and exporters. But not so secure for the growers. As domestic production increased, the situation got worse. This forced us to export grain at a loss and starved our very own poor.

Worst of all, this was not the result of stupidity or ignorance or negligence. It was the result of

a well thought out long term scam/fraud. So, year after year, we had food inspectors declaring grains ‘unfit for human consumption’. This is the first step of the fraud. It is when the Jackals and the Hyenas move in for the kill.

First we get the exporters who happily export the best of the grain, fictitiously labelled unfit for human consumption, to Europe to feed their cattle. These cattle are 10 times more food secure than the 800 million poor of this country. European meat and milk producers benefit from our loss. Then our local dairy farmers grab the grain for producing their milk and value added products like butter, ghee, cheese.

Next in line come our poultry farmers who use the lesser grain to feed their chickens to produce eggs and table birds. Each time these things happen, the poor of this country have to tighten their belts. They pay for it with their loss of nutrition, health and even their lives. No wonder we have so much of rural/peasant distress/suicide among farmers.

For extreme cynicism how about saying that farmer suicides are helping women empowerment since their widows take on the added responsibilities of the family.

Lastly come the real rascals with their godfather’s blessings from Baramati. They can take the worst of the ‘not for human consumption’ grain and turn it into alcohol. If you can’t change the world, you can get drunk and change your mind to accept the world and its rot. The badly spoilt grain gets ploughed back into the soil as manure/humus.

This ‘achievement’ is only possible if we allow grains to rot. Along the way of course, some of it is consumed by all kinds of vermin. Rats, monkeys, crows, and mice have a field day. So often we see the poor trying to salvage grain by separating it from rodent droppings, worms, fungus.

This is the kind of high growth, the ‘India shining’ that we are building on the living corpses of hundreds of millions of millions of poor Indians. It’s like starving the horse on whose back you are riding.

This is what you get when you have PMs and planners who are ex World Bank classical economists. The ones we have, belong to the Economic school called the Chicago Mafia with people like Milton Freidman as their founder and ultimate reality. What else can you expect from someone who says that ‘The profit motive is the soul of economics’?

Economics never had a soul because people never mattered. Even when reduced to labour, they ranked long after capital, land and information. This lesson I learned in Economics 101.

Humour and Intelligence

Life’s Like That

L

ife without a dash of humour would be total claptrap. With our mounting woes and worries pulling us down everyday, a few laughs add the much required spice. Indeed, the unexpected problems and challenges in life would undoubtedly become unbearable but for this gift that holds things together when everything else is falling apart.

This skill can very well be developed like any other; all it takes is a little effort, change of perception and application of one’s intelligence.

Linguistic intelligence can be enhanced by puns, satires, anecdotes, and not to forget, the ‘verbal punctuations’, in the form of pregnant pauses, loud mouthed exclamations, incredible question marks etc., while mathematical intelligence according to Mark Wahl, author of the ‘Mathematical Mystery Tour’, states that hu-

mourous stories grip the attention, and motivate previously fearful students to work more confidently towards understanding the subject of Maths.

Well, being an ex-student in this subject, what was more captivating was competing figures, vital statistics, the reduction and seduction of variables, the union and intersections … Well, the maths class never did sound more interesting. Visual –Spatial intelligence can be enhanced by cartoons, witty posters and, illustrations and funny pictures, provided you are not the character involved.

Kinesesthetic intelligence is concerned with bodies, and the moulding of the same, creating an ‘action’ sentence, funny contact and speaking volumes with the blessed body.

Call it body language, or non verbal communication. Musical

By smitha Bhandare Kamat

intelligence can best be improvised with musical puns, such as those by the noted composer P D Q Bach, and help to sharpen the listening skills and improve concentration. Limericks, funny rhymes add to the laughter lines.

Interpersonal intelligence has become a priority, and indispensable, in today’s world. Spontaneous response, witty remarks, amusing revelation and cracks makes the smile linger on the lips of many for quite some time. And last, but definetly not in the least, is the intrapersonal intelligence. All it takes is the ability to laugh at one’s own foibles or mistakes. Rather than wallow in self depreciation, shame and anger, better to admit it is a honest mistake and move on.

Well guys, like I was telling this middle is a big mistake, lets quickly finish with it and explore the next fib, for the next week.

Letters to the Editor Vote for a change Nolasco Mendonca, Kuwait Is India truly called to be a democratic country? Yes, only as per our Constitution.

Huge promises are made by the elected members before election that they will effect new changes in the system, be it in road development, providing 24 hours drinking water, installation of bore wells, uninterrupted supply of electricity, homes for the poor and a host of other necessities.

When they are elected, everything is thrown out of the window.

Our Food Minister, instead of supplying food grains to the poor and needy, stocks them in godowns and in other secure places. Corruption must be nipped in the bud at all costs. We must pave the way for the younger generation to take up the

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

28 September 1910 Salvage proposal

A French citizen proposed to the Portuguese Government to allow him to salvage the entire war material from the Cannon Boat “Liberal” submerged near the coast of Tabriz.

mantle of responsibility.

We must vote for a change.

Dismal reading David Furtado, Candolim Flavia Sequeira’s letter ‘Help the migrants’ (Herald, 21 Sept) made dismal reading. Goa has an inflow of wandering tribes from neighbouring states, penniless, outcasts in their own society, and dream of a mythical goldmine in Goa. A good number of these jobless men and women are involved in crime and target Goan homes, if the numerous burglaries committed by them in the past are any indication.

However, some of these migrants are involved in running small businesses and blend with the local populace. But to recommend them for issuance of a ration card is beyond comprehension.

Several hundred of our own locals have to run from pillar to post to obtain this document. Although some of the migrants live by the laws of the land, giving everyone a ration card isn’t correct.

Let’s come closer Raju Vernekar, Mumbai Due to public ire Kashmir is afire Its political quagmire Situation is dire

Land concession cases

Once heaven on earth Terror took birth And Kashmir became a hearth Peace lost its worth

Eucharistic Congress

Separation has led to disaster Kashmir can’t be kept farther There will not be any answer Unless Kashmir is brought closer

In its last session the Land Council detailed over 600 cases on invested land concessions.

It is at the Church of St. Francis de Assisi that the Eucharistic Congress will take place on 22nd to 25th of November 1910.

Committee appointed

The entire Committee entrusted to hold the Commercial Exposition found that the military headquarters was unfit to hold the exposition of that magnitude and as such they decided to hold the same at the municipal squares of the City.

CBI probe needed Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco Home Minister Ravi Naik has said that the government would take appropriate decision as regards handling over the policedrug dealer nexus case to the CBI, if the police probe finds substantial evidence.

How can the police be expected to investigate their own personnel, when the Op-

Letter of the Day

Minister for Valpoi?

Tulsidas Malkarnekar, Margao

Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane recently gave the press a list of developmental works to the tune of Rs 200 crores that was undertaken by him in Valpoi. Major chunk of funds earmarked for Goa is diverted to one constituency only. This is unbecoming of a Minister. Unfortunately we are plagued by such Ministers in Goa and our Chief Minister is no exception as he too works only in specific areas.

Vishwajeet was able to get funds diverted, and give jobs to people from Valpoi, because he has got the power and ability of arm twisting. This is not an achievement by any standards.

It would have been better if he had not accepted the minister’s post. But he is power hungry and does have the symptoms of a ‘mass leader’ but a ‘forced leader.’

The time will come when we will elect a genuine leader for the masses. position Party has been saying that top police brass is involved? Why is Government shying away from handing over the investigation to the CBI? Is there more than meets the eye?

Only a CBI enquiry will bring out the truth in the entire case.

Anti climax Antonio Menezes, by email The article ‘Allies of colonialism’ (Herald Sept 25) by Teotonio R D’Souza was an anti-climax. How I wish Teotonio had covered the behaviour of the Portuguese clergy and above all, the Goan clergy, mostly of a certain community, towards humbler Catholics of Goa for 451 years! Instead, here are tales of Christian missionaries operating in the then British India, albeit, for a much shorter period.

Challan the buses Marcos Alemao, Varca I have endorsed the views of Soter D’Souza in his letter of the day ‘Welcome move’ (Herald, 22 Sept). However, I lament whether this is a permanent or temporary move.

If the RTO is very serious about the illegalities of the private bus owners, the RTO should also challan the bus which skips the stop. Stopping anywhere is a nuisance caused to the bus passengers, pedestrians as well as motorists.

Prosecute the corrupt

flective of Britain’s negative view towards India.

Why does Britain or its media always emerge as India’s greatest critic? Editors of the Indian print or visual media should not get swayed and give them undue coverage. The travel advisories issued by their government during the tourist season is also a case in point.

Traditionally, western countries give the least publicity to India in news coverage, but do not hesitate to project our country as a land of snakes, stray cattle and starving beggars.

Though, the western media is compelled to comment or report on India’s positive development, or on natural disasters, events like Ayodhya are always lapped up for negative coverage.

Navy’s land grab

Socorro D’Souza, Margao

Glestone Fernandes, Cuncolim

In Goa, the “policeman” has become a euphemism for ineptitude. What can one expect, when recruitment, transfer, promotion and serving political bosses are all determined by political allegiances and bribe collections?

How many have suffered misuse of police actions? How many innocent citizens are arrested and tortured by fabricated crimes?

How many actual criminals go Scot free when police suppresses evidence?

When citizens request reports of government officials, false or incomplete information is provided. Justice is denied due to lack of evidence. Government officials must be subjected to a lie detector or narco analysis by a court of law. Impartial truth can then be found out.

The saving grace is that there are a honest few in public service. We appeal to them to expose and prosecute their corrupt colleagues.

The Navy has now stepped in to rub salt to the wounds of our bruised and battered Goa. Trying to grab our islands and beaches for its so called defence plans is incorrect.

This could annihilate the fishing community in those areas. Besides, many more problems could surface as a result of this.

We urge the Naval authorites to reconsider its decision. Goa’s identity must be preserved at all costs.

Why this negativity?

Valentino Fernandes, by email The scathing criticism by the British media and of the CWG bosses, Mike Hooper and Mike Fennel, over the state of disarray at the Games Village, and the overall scenario at the country’s major sporting event, even though it carries much substance, is re-

Stop this waste Willie Severes, Majorda Goa has become a happy ground for drug peddlers, criminals and others. Daylight robberies have become just another common thing. Valuable resources of the State are wasted by pampered politicians and their families. The common man does not get any security.

Dishonest and corrupt ministers should resign, and stop wasting public money by using security cover to protect their wrongdoings.

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 The Wish-Fulfilling Tree

by Sri Ramakrishna Into a room full of children at play walks their uncle, who, of course, knows better. Laughing at their preoccupation with make believe games, he asks them to go out to the massive banyan tree, which will grant them whatever they wish! Upon hearing this, the children rushed out and stood under the branches of this huge tree and ask for what all children crave: toys and candy.

In a flash they get what they want, but along with an unexpected bonus: the built-in opposite of what they wished for. With toys they get boredom; with candy, tummy aches.

Sure that something has gone wrong with their wishing, the children ask for bigger toys and sweeter candy. The tree grants them their wishes, and along with them bigger boredom and bigger tummy aches. Time passes. They are now young men and women and their wishes change, for they know more. They ask for wealth, power, fame, sexual pleasure—and they get these, but also cupidity, insomnia, anxiety, and frustration/disease.

Time passes. The wishers are now old and gather in three groups under the all encompassing branches. The first group exclaims, “All this is an illusion!” Fools, they have learnt nothing.

The second group says, “We are wiser and will wish better next time.” Greater fools, they have learnt less than nothing. The third group, disgusted with everything, decides to cop out and asks for death. They are the most foolish of all. The tree grants them their desire, and with it its opposite: rebirth, under the same tree. For, where can one be born, or reborn, but within this cosmos! The lame child was pushed down in the scramble and when he dragged himself to the window, he was transfixed watching his friends make their wishes, in opposites.

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

HOW TO CONTACT US: mail@herald-goa.com — For press notes, general queries. junioryouth@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald & Careers. heraldmirror@herald-goa.com — Sunday Mirror. reporters@herald-goa.com — For Reporters. business@herald-goa.com — For Business news. editor@herald-goa.com — For Letters to the Editor. sports@herald-goa.com — For Sports news. advt@herald-goa.com — For Advertisements. 2day@herald-goa.com — For Herald 2day. tiatr@herald-goa.com — For Tiatr Reviews and Reports. Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

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OHerALdO = =

INDIA

GOA, tuesdAy, 28 september, 2010

opinionated The Goan extortionists

By Jose MarIa MIranda

Murders, robberies, assaults, extortions, rapes, kidnappings which were almost unknown to Goa before Liberation have now not only made their entry into Goa but have come to stay.

Some may complain that the Portuguese were harsh to those who openly opposed their presence in Goa. True. But because they were harsh to the law breakers too, very few dared break the law.

It is an accepted fact that the high incidence of crime and breakdown of law and order is a direct consequence of lack of enforcement of law and shoddy investigations, often deliberate, and consequent acquittals of the accused. If the politicians are generally being blamed for this situation, and rightly so, the police and the judiciary should be no less. The Police bow to the dictates of the politicians but often act on their own, for obvious reasons, to protect the guilty.

Even when the Government machinery is fully behind the police, the latter, seem afraid of the muscle, money power or the influence wielded by the accused and hence adopt a casual approach which enables the accused to go Scot free.

There is total lack of seriousness in dealing with criminals and absence of accountability emboldens the police to take things lightly.

The judiciary, on its part, on the pretext of affording a “fair trial” and “in the interests of justice” do not hesitate to yield to frequent postponements, blissfully oblivious of the famous saying that “justice delayed is justice denied”. Solely castigating the police for the flaws in the investigations but failing to pin them down for their failures which could often be deliberate, have allowed even several murders to go unpunished.

It was painful to hear recently on TV channels the father of a young lady murdered five years back in Bangalore say that he has lost faith in the judiciary, because of the slow progress the case is making and that he “is ashamed of being called an Indian.” Certainly many more feel the same way though they may not express it.

We had recently a much publicised case of extortion, which came to light because it was caught on camera. The Vice-President of Goa branch of Shiv Sena was trapped red handed while taking extortion money from Hotel Majestic in Porvorim. He had threatened to bring a morcha, if the money was not paid. For a change, the police represented by the PI of Porvorim, Devendra Gaad at least apparently showed some firmness in dealing with the case, while the chief of the Sena pleaded for a compromise.

However, as it happens with most issues in Goa which hit the headlines, the matter is hardly spoken about now and if not already hushed up, might have been sent to cold storage, until it is forgotten forever. Due to delays and constant adjournments in the judicial process, people are constrained to go for compromises. The Shiv Sena may have punished its vice president in Goa, but everyone is well aware of their activities particularly in Mumbai, on the pretext of helping the locals.

They are trying the same stunts in Goa but fortunately, the people have kept them at a distance.

Almost all the political parties in India thrive on extortions, which they generally call donations. Those who refuse to pay up will eventually have to reap the consequences, sooner than later. We have seen how an engineer who refused to contribute for Mayawati’s birthday bash had to pay with his life.

And in a country like this, which has neither law nor justice, anyone who wields muscle or money power or has the right contacts can extort with impunity. It is said that even some NGOs indulge in extortion and even if they don’t, there are always people, including builders and others involved in illegalities who will dampen their spirits to continue their good work, by spreading rumours about them.

Extortions are not new to Goa. Some Goan politicians rob Peter to pay Paul and to Paul it matters very little from where the money comes from. One of them is as much seasoned in politics as he is in extortion, as his trade is now decades old.

He was initially known for his muscle power, extorting money for his sports club. His high sounding name used and perhaps also misused, at times, by one and sundry, was enough to put a fright in many who dared defy him or his henchmen.

One could go and feast in his name in any bar, restaurant or hotel and just walk away. People would even be scared to pronounce his name in vain unless it was to praise him.

Today, people have changed but he hasn’t. People are free to and do criticise him. At last, at least some people have realised that he is one of the most corrupt politicians and one of the worst turncoats Goa has ever seen. But he has made his whack and couldn’t care less for his critics. He has even trained some of his family members in the art of extortion. No one dares denounce him or her for he could be blacklisted forever. Apparently you are stripped, except of your garments and of course the booty, before you see His or Her Majesty.

Whether it is to secure jobs or contracts or have construction files passed, the stakes are very high in Goa. They are called bribes, but in fact are extortions for there is not only misuse of position but the risk of losing the job or the deal, even if claimed on merit, if the amount is not paid. It is certainly not for no reason that Goa has been labelled as one of the most corrupt states in India. Is there a way to stop bribes and extortion in Goa? Can we emulate Hotel Majestic and expose the crooks? Can we stand up for justice and be counted, oblivious of the consequences? Or are we going to be part of the “system” and endorse injustice, discrimination and abuse and misuse of power? Fellow Goans, we need to reflect where we are heading to…

DGCA puts onus on local police to guard aircrash evidence PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

To ensure that vital evidence is not lost after an aircrash, aviation regulator DGCA proposes to put the onus on local police and fire authorities to ensure that the wreckage and evidences are properly preserved.

As the action required to be taken by police and other state agencies may vary from case to case, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come out with detailed do's and don'ts for the police to streamline the action that has to be taken by them.

The move comes in the wake of recommendations of the enquiry committee which went into the crash of an Air India Express plane, which overshot the runway at Mangalore airport and burst into flames on May 22, killing 158 people.

A draft Air Safety Circular, issued by the DGCA's Air Safety Directorate, deals with issues

ranging from rescue of passengers, crew and others to medical checks, post-mortem, handing over of bodies as well as guarding of the wreckage and preserving evidence, including through photography.

While the police should ensure that the Captain and Copilot, who may be dead or alive, are "immediately subjected to medical check up for consumption of alcohol" by collecting their blood or urine samples, the circular makes it mandatory for all dead bodies to be subjected to post-mortem.

It also deals with eye-witnesses and how the police would record their names and addresses and those of others who would have a first-hand account of the accident.

These details are to be supplied to the Inspector of Accident or the Investigator, who would be the "final authority" in all matters, the fresh guidelines said.

US arms sale to Pak matter Schools reopen in Kashmir of concern for India: Antony Valley after three months PTI WASHINGTON, SEPT 27

Ahead of his talks with top US officials here, Defence Minister A K Antony has said he would convey New Delhi's concerns about supply of American arms to Pakistan as a portion of them is being diverted against India and seek an "early solution" to export control restrictions.

Antony, who arrived here last night along with a high-power delegation to hold wide-ranging talks with US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Gen (Retd) James Jones among others in the next two days, said he would also call for moving from a buyer-seller relationship to that of transfer of technology and co-production.

"We feel that even though the US is giving arms to Pakistan to fight terrorism, our practical experience is (that) it is always being misused. They are diverting a portion against India. Certainly I will express my concern," he told reporters hours after his arrival here.

Visiting Washington at the invitation of Defence Secretary Robert Gates, Antony is accompanied by Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen Bikram Singh and Andaman and Nicobar triservices Command Admiral D K

Joshi, apart from IAF's Director General (Air/Operations) Air Marshal A K Gogoi.

Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar and the Defence Minister's adviser Sundaram Krishna are also part of the high-level delegation.

Noting that on the whole Indo-US defence relationship is expanding, Antony said export control restrictions is another "matter of concern" for India.

"We want an early solution to that (export control restrictions)," he said, adding that defence bodies like Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) are still on entities' list.

"Both countries have stake in strengthening this relationship," Antony said, adding that the bilateral defence ties have been steadily strengthening in the recent past.

Responding to a question on recent remarks by the US Defence Secretary that he would be discussing the fighter jet deal with his Indian counterpart, Antony said he was not in a position to tell who would get the multi-billion dollar contract.

"It is a multi-vendor-situation. Trials are over. I can't say who will get it," Antony said.

He also said that in the area of defence procurement, India had a very few procurements

from the US in the past, but added that in the last few years it has increased steadily in the high-technology area. "Many are in the pipelines... some through multi-vendor routes, many more would come, but which items I can't say."

"Now, our approach is rather than buyer-seller relations, we want technology transfers, and if possible co-production and joint production," Antony said.

US Defence Secretary Gates had told Pentagon reporters last week that he wants to strengthen and expand America's military-to-military ties with India.

"We are looking to expand this relationship in ways that are mutually beneficial," Gates said. "They (India) have a big competition going on for a new modern fighter. We'll probably have some conversations about that."

The US Defence Secretary said he had a very good visit to India last year, wherein he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Indian counterpart.

Responding to a question on the India's concerns about restrictions on export of hightechnology items, Gates acknowledged that this was high on the agenda and he would like to see those restrictions removed.

PTI SRINAGAR, SEPT 27

After remaining shut for 100 days, schools in Kashmir Valley reopened today with students and teachers given a free passage by security forces despite curfew and restrictions in many parts.

However, attendance was thin against the backdrop of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani's call to parents not to send their wards to schools and colleges.

The education system in the valley had become a collateral damage in the ongoing unrest, which began on June 11 with the killing of a 17-year-old student in police tear smoke shelling.

In order to ensure the smooth functioning of schools, the state Government had pressed a fleet of state road transport corporation buses into service.

More than 170 buses were deployed on 11 city routes for facilitating the movement of students and school staff.

The attendance of the students, however, was just around 20 per cent but authorities were hopeful that that it would improve from tomorrow.

State Education Minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed yesterday announced a com-

Sustained efforts needed to resolve J& K issue: Natwar PTI CHANDIGARH, SEPT 27

Welcoming the Centre's decision to send an all-party delegation to Kashmir, former union minister Natwar Singh today said that sustained efforts and monitoring on day-to-day basis was needed to resolve the problems in the state.

"The all-party delegation (which went to Kashmir recently) did some good efforts...it has to be sustained efforts and not episodic and must be monitored on daily basis," he told reporters here.

The prime concern of the Centre must be to bring peace and tranquillity in Kashmir, he said, adding that "the anger of people in Kashmir must be handled by providing a healing touch and minimising the friction."

81-year-old Singh, who previously held several key positions in the government, said "We (India) took the Kashmir issue to UN Council in 1947 accepting the chapter six which talks about disputes, but instead we should have adopted chapter seven of the Council which deals with aggression."

He said that Pakistan had succeeded in making Kashmir an international issue. prehensive plan for restarting the learning process and holding of annual examinations in the Valley.

"We have formulated a plan to reopen all the schools in rural as well as urban areas including Srinagar city from tomorrow," the minister said.

He said the department will ensure that students of the Valley do not lose a precious academic year due to the ongoing unrest.

Geelani had yesterday said,

"No right thinking person can deny the importance of education in society, but to think that they (government) are concerned about the future of our children is like a mad man's dream".

He appealed to people to strictly observe civil curfew when schools and colleges would resume their normal functioning in the Valley. The separatist leader also appealed to teachers and the non-teaching staff to stay at home.

SC slams CBI for slow probe on UP CM’s assets case PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

Delhi Metro trial run between Okhla and Sarita Vihar stations as well as the Sarita Vihar Depot covering a total of 15 km of the 20 km-long Central Secretariat-Badarpur line, in New Delhi on Monday.

Indian racially attacked in Australia PTI MELBOURNE, SEPT 27

After a lull in racial attacks against Indians in Australia, a 21-year-old man from the community was brutally assaulted by a group of teenagers with baseball bats after they asked him "Buddy, are you Indian?"

The man was walking to Sandown Park rail station here when four teenage boys on bikes approached him, three with baseball bats, police were quoted as saying by local newspaper 'Dandenong Leader'.

One of them asked him "Buddy, are you Indian?"

Police official Jo Hayden said the man was hit from behind, fell and was kicked while lying on the ground. Two passers-by took him home.

He was bruised and had a large cut on his nose and told police that his attackers looked about 15-16 years old, the report said, without naming the victim.

Federation of Indian Association of Victoria (FIAV) President Vasan Srinivasan said he was surprised about the attack which took place in eastern suburb which is considered to be multicultural.

"My only request to youngsters is, let's learn to respect each other, live with harmony and peace. What else we can say?" Srinivasan was quoted as saying by the paper.

Hayden said another Indian was attacked last Tuesday night, but refused to comment if it was racially motivated.

The 39-year-old was walking home about 6pm local time along Moncur Ave in Springvale when he was punched to the ground from behind and kicked while on the ground, police said.

They said there were witnesses, but no clear description of the attacker.

Since 2006, the Indian population of Greater Dandenong has risen by 1200, with 3 per cent of its residents from India.

BSF-BDR discuss cross-border firing, smuggling issues PTI DHAKA, SEPT 27

Preventing casualties in cross border firing, and tackling illegal infiltration and narcotics smuggling were among issues that were discussed during a high level conference of the border forces of India and Bangladesh, that concluded here today, but no firm consensus emerged.

The Director General-level five-day border conference between Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) was held at BDR's Pilakhna Headquarters here.

Discussions put emphasis on several issues, including preventing killings and injuries in cross border firing, tackling illegal infiltration, narcotics smuggling, officials told a press briefing after the conclusion of the conference.

A 22-member BDR delega-

tion, led by Director General Mohammad Rafiqul Islam, and a 20-member BSF delegation, led by Director General Raman Srivastava attended the conference.

The officials also discussed measures to halt erection of any structure within 150 yards of the border and the issue of criminals taking refuge in each other's territories.

The two sides also discussed steps to alleviate problematic issues and increase mutual cooperation between the two border security forces.

However, the five-day meeting failed to arrive at any firm consensus over the issues, sources said.

The BDR delegation included the deputy director general, director (operation & training), concerned BDR sector commanders, BDR headquarters officials, land record

and survey department officials, and Joint River Commission officials.

The BSF delegation included senior officials from the BSF headquarters, frontier inspectors general, and home and foreign ministry officials.

Bangladesh last week asked the Indian border guards to use alternatives to firearms to avoid deaths of innocent Bangladeshis in cross border firing.

Home Minister Shahara Khatun made the call in a meeting with Shrivastava, and the BSF chief assured her to consider alternatives to bullets.

BSF, on its part, asked Bangladesh to stop the movement of people along the border at night.

Both India and Bangladesh have frequently accused each other of firing on civilians from across the border.

Mamata to submit report to PM on Hills, skirts statehood issue PTI DARJEELING, SEPT 27

Seeking to give a healing touch in Darjeeling, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee today said she would submit a report to Prime Minister for a special Hills package, but skirted the Gorkhaland demand.

"I understand you have suffered a lot and have been neglected over the years for lack of development. What you require is a special package which I would like to request Prime Minister to announce for you," Banerjee said addressing people at Darjeeling railway station.

"You are very much part and parcel of our motherland. Love your mother. Have faith on me and come to us and allow us to come to you.

There is no barrier between the plains and the Hills and it is time that all of us should dedicate ourselves for the betterment of the people of Darjeeling.

"It is my fervent appeal to maintain the bond of brotherhood between the people of the Hills and the plains who should live in peace and tranquillity," Banerjee said.

Starting her speech in Nepali to wide applause, she said that such special packages were also needed for the people of Telengana, Bundelkhand and Junglemahal to dispel poverty and underdevelopment.

In an apparent rejection of the Gorkhaland demand by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM), Banerjee said, "You are asking something. May be I have a difference of opinion, which I do not agree to."

Lining up priorities for development in the Hills, she said "what you are agitating I think is for employment, education, health and for peace and democratic rights."

The Railway Minister said that she would return to Darjeeling in two to three months. "I hope to see your smiling face like the face of the Kanchenjungha."

"On my return to Delhi, I will submit a report to the Prime Minister urging for a special package for the Hill people here which you need most. After the Commonwealth Games, I will talk to him about you," Banerjee said.

The Supreme Court today slammed CBI for dragging its feet in the disproportionate assets case involving Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and wondered whether the probe agency and the BSP boss are "together".

A bench of Justices B Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar bluntly told the counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that if the agency was not keen on pursuing the case, then the "petition must go".

"What is this? Every time, you seek time or an adjournment. Sometimes, you seek time for filing reply, then you say that you want to file a counter-affidavit then you say that you want to file an affidavit."

"If both of you are together then let this petition go," the bench remarked when the CBI counsel sought and adjournment of the matter on the plea of filing a reply in the case.

Opposition parties have before alleged that the CBI was willing to let Mayawati off the hook in exchange for her support to the Central government during a crucial vote in Parliament earlier this year.

Earlier, the CBI had said that the prosecution of Mayawati in the disproportionate assets

case cannot be dropped as it has found cogent, credible and admissible evidence against her.

The probe agency, in an affidavit filed in response to Mayawati's contention that the proceedings against her be dropped in the wake of the Commissioner Income Tax (CIT appeal) order of April 5 and 19, 2010 giving her a clean chit, said that the order has been challenged before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT).

The CBI had also submitted that it will consider a representation made by Mayawati for closure of proceedings against her in the corruption case in view of the favourable orders passed by the income tax authorities.

The chief minister, in her affidavit, had alleged that the CBI was proceeding in a discriminatory and hostile manner against her in the DA case by adopting different yardsticks vis-a-vis cases those involving Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad.

She had contended the case registered against her by the CBI six years ago has been "completely demolished" by the two orders of the Income Tax Department passed on April 5 and 19 in her favour.

The I-T orders relate to the assessment years 2001-02 and 2002-03.

AppoiNtmeNtS

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Relatives of German bus crash victims gather AP BERLIN, SEPT 27

Thirty-two people remained hospitalized in Germany Monday after a Polish tour bus crashed on its way home from a Spanish holiday, killing 13, police said.

About 100 relatives of the victims arrived in the town of Koenigs Wusterhausen outside Berlin early in the day — many not knowing whether their loved ones were among the dead, said Piotr Antonczak, deputy mayor of the Polish town of Zlocieniec, where the people aboard the bus were from.

Bettina Schramm, a spokeswoman for Dahme-Spreewald police, said 18 people suffered serious injuries in the Sunday crash and a further 20 lighter wounds. They were taken to hospitals between Berlin and Leipzig for treatment. Six people were treated and released early Monday and returned home on a bus organized by the Polish embassy, she said.

Schramm said she could not comment on the condition of those in the hospitals.

Ryszard Szklany, Poland's deputy consul in Berlin, said on

Poland's TVN24 that the relatives were going to the various hospitals to help identify the bodies.

"In some cases identification of bodies is difficult," Szklany said.

The tour bus was on its way back to Poland from Spain when it crashed on a highway outside Berlin Sunday. Police said a car entering the highway hit it, causing it to hit a bridge abutment.

"Our bus was going straight on the highway and then from around a curve a red car came suddenly," tour organizer Ewa Kramek told TVN24 news in an interview from her hospital room where she was treated for a broken elbow. "Our driver was trying to avoid it, to escape to the left side. We were under an overpass, and then it hit hard on the left side."

The driver of the car, identified only as a 37-year-old woman from Berlin, and one of the two passengers in her car were among the injured.

Chancellor Angela Merkel offered her condolences after the crash, and pledged that Germany would do whatever it can to help those who were injured.

Tehran condemns Moscow for banning S-300

S-300 air defence system AGENCIES MOSCOW, SEPT 27

Russia's ban of S-300 air defence systems to Iran shows it "cannot be trusted," Iran's top military commander said on Monday according to the Fars news agency.

On September 22, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree banning the delivery of S-300 air defence systems and a host of other arms to Iran as a part of measures Russia is taking to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 1929 of June 9, 2010.

"This [delivery ban] has no negative effect on us...but they

[Russia] have broken a contract...showing that they cannot be trusted, which we already know," Iranian Defence Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said.

He said the ban was evidence that Russia "cannot act independently, even when dealing with such a simple issue."

Last week Vahidi said the delivery ban was illogical since the UN Security Council Resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program did not impose restrictions on air-defence systems.

Pak named head of IAEA board AFP VIENNA, SEPT 27

Pakistan, which refuses to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and was home to a notorious nuclear smuggling ring, was named head of the UN nuclear watchdog's governing board here today.

At a special one-day meeting, the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member board of governors appointed "by acclamation" the head of Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission, Ansar Parvez, as its chairman for the next 12 months, taking over from Malaysia.

The board of governors is the IAEA's most important policy-making body after the 151-nation general conference and meets five times a year.

Its rotating chair is appointed for a period of one year with the main task of presiding over debates and helping the board of governors reach consensus decisions.

Parvez said he saw no problem with the choice, even though Pakistan, like India and Israel, refuses to sign the NPT. Pakistan has held the chair before and India has done so twice.

Some observers see Pakistan as a potential problem because

it was home to a nuclear-smuggling ring run by scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan, the father of Pakistan's atomic bomb and a national hero.

Khan publicly confessed in 2004 that he shared atomic secrets with Iran, Libya and North Korea, although he later retracted his remarks.

There is also concern about the security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and stockpile of weapons-grade material, and the danger of it falling into the hands of Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgents.

But speaking to reporters after his appointment, Parvez insisted that Pakistan was a "very law-abiding member" of the IAEA. "We have been a member of the IAEA ever since it was created. All our civil installations are under IAEA" safeguards, he said.

In fact, given Pakistan's special position, "maybe we can try to mediate in some of the things which the IAEA has been dealing with for the last few years," Parvez argued.

He said that he had heard no objections to Pakistan's nomination inside the board room. Furthermore, it was the duty of the chair to remain neutral.

FROM PAGE 1 Atala...

The NDPS Court also released Atala on June 21, with conditions.

Atala however flouted these conditions by visiting coastal belt though he was debarred and he further did not inform the investigating officials about his change in address.

While, the negligence in the Crime Branch investigation is quite evident, as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Home Minister Ravi Naik have refused to hand over the case to CBI.

Churchill dares...

a suggestion to the Goans leaders to debate on Kelekar’s dream to decide the future of the State”, Alemao said.

Incidentally, the PWD minister said that he was accused by many when he had signed the Tillari and Konkan Railway project on grounds that these projects would adversely affect Goa and Goans, adding that Goans have now realised how these and other projects have benefit the State.

“Karwar has land admeasuring 3250 sq kms and around three lakh population. If the area is merged with Goa, then we can get nuclear power from the Kaiga plant and can shift the Navy from Dabolim to the Sea Bird at Karwar”, he added.

Afghan poll body orders vote recount REUTERS KABUL, SEPT 27

Afghanistan's election body has ordered a partial recount of votes from seven of the country's 34 provinces on suspicion of fraud, potentially delaying the results of a parliamentary poll further, an official said today.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) may also push for the recount of ballots in other provinces after the September 18 ballot, which was hit by widespread allegations of fraud.

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ISI elements were involved in 26/11: Pak spy chief PTI WASHINGTON, SEPT 27

Less than a month after the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan's spy agency chief Lt Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha had admitted before the CIA that the terror strikes had ISI links but claimed it was not an "authorised" operation and carried out by "rogue" elements, according to a new book.

However, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) later received reliable intelligence that the ISI was directly involved in the training for Mumbai, says the book entitled 'Obama's War' written by investigative American journalist Bob Woodward.

According to the book, the then President George W Bush during his meetings with his top aides had said that the terrorist attack on Mumbai was just like 9/11.

"President Bush called his national security team into the

Oval Office as Mumbai sorted through the blood and rubble.

You guys get planning and do what you have to do to prevent a war between Pakistan and India, Bush told his aides. The last thing we need right now is a war between two nuclearpower states," Woodward says in his book which hit the stands today.

Giving an insight into the thinking and a ctions of the Bush Administration during and immediately after the Mumbai attacks, Woodward writes that an "upset Bush asked his aides about contingency plans for dealing with Pakistan," given his policy of "zero tolerance" for terrorists and their enablers.

"This is like 9/11, he (Bush) said," Woodward wrote.

"The United States military did not have 'war' plans for an invasion of Pakistan. Instead, it had and continues to have one of the most sensitive and secret

of all military contingencies, what military officials call a 'retribution' plan in the event of another 9/11-like attack on the US by terrorists based in Pakistan," the book says.

Under this plan, the US would bomb or attack every known alQaeda compound or training camp in the US intelligence database. "Some locations might be outdated, but there would be no concern, under the plan, for who might be living there now.

The attribution plan called for a brutal punishing attack on at least 150 or more associated camps," Woodward says.

According to Woodward, within 48 hours of the Mumbai attack, the then CIA Director Mike Hayden contacted Pakistan Ambassador to the US, Hussain Haqqani.

"CIA intelligence showed no direct ISI links, Hayden told him.

These are former people who are no longer employees of the

Pakistani government," he wrote.

"Bush informed the Indians himself. He called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, with whom he had a strong personal relationship. My intelligence shows that the new Pakistani government is not involved, Bush said. It looked like a war had been averted for the moment," Woodward writes.

"In a call to Lieutenant General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, the head of the Pakistani ISI, Hayden said, "We've got to get to the bottom of this. This is a big deal'," the book says.

He urged Pasha to come clean and disclose all.

On the day after Christmas, Pasha flew to the United States, where he briefed Hayden at CIA headquarters, the author writes.

"Pasha admitted that the planners of the Mumbai attacks – at least two retired Pakistani Army officers – had ISI links, but this

had not been an authorised ISI operation. It was rogue. There may have been people associated with my organisation who were associated with this," Pasha said.

"That's different from authority, direction and control," Pasha is quoted as saying by Woodward.

According to Woodward, Pasha provided details that fit with the picture developed by US intelligence.

"Hayden told Bush he was convinced it was not an official Pakistani-sponsored attack, but it highlighted the problem of the sanctuaries in Pakistan. The ease of the planning and execution, the low cost, and the alarming sophistication of the communications system that LeT had used were all troubling," he said.

The author says that the Mumbai terrorists spoke with handlers back in Pakistan with

US doesn’t want to arm Pak against India: Obam PTI WASHINGTON, SEPT 27

The US does not want to arm Pakistan against India, President Barack Obama had categorically told his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting at the Oval Office months after assuming the top American office.

"We do not begrudge you being concerned about India," Obama had told Zardari at the meeting on May 7, 2009, which was also attended by the Pakistan President's son Bilawal, according to a new book.

This was a chance for the two Presidents to forge a personal connection, writes award-winning investigative American journalist Bob Woodward in his latest book 'Obama's War' that hit the stands today. "... We do not want to be part of arming you (Pakistan) against India, so let me be very clear about that," Obama, who assumed office in January 2009, had said.

To his remarks, Zardari responded saying: "We are trying to change our world view but it's not going to happen overnight."

Running into 417-pages, the book gives a detailed account of how the United States has not been able to make things move in a positive direction and get desired cooperation from Pakistan in the war on terror, despite having significantly increased the aid to Islamabad.

One of the main reasons, several top US officials say, is Pakistan's apprehension and hatred

against India, according to the book.

"Pakistan thinks about the US role in Afghanistan in the context of its relationship with India," the then Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair told Obama at one of his situation room meetings.

It was the cliché that Pakistan's obsession with its “mortal enemy”, India, causes the nation to harbour terrorists, the book says.

"There's a fundamental incoherence in the strategy" for dealing with Pakistan, US Vice President Joe Biden said at the same meeting chaired by Obama.

"What Pakistan does not want, as a matter of faith, is a unified Afghan government that is led by a Pashtun sympathetic to India" like President Hamid Karzai, he said.

So for Pakistan, supporting Taliban "is a hedge against that.

But our policy is designated to strengthen a Karzai government and to wipe out the Taliban," Biden said indicating that it was impossible to win over the Pakistanis completely, the book says.

At another situation room meeting on October 7, Woodward writes, the consensus inside the intelligence community was that Afghanistan would not be straightened out until there was a stable relationship between Pakistan and India.

"We need to move aggressively on India-Pakistan issues in order to try to reduce the tensions between the two countries," Obama said at the meeting, the book says.

US air strikes in Pak kill 53 terrorists PTI ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, SEPT 27

Fred Mallett's winning entry in the Navarre Beach Sand Sculpting Festival entitled "Mother Ocean" is shown in Navarre Beach, Florida.

Stuxnet virus attacks Iran AGENCIES LONDON, SEPT 27

A powerful computer code attacking industrial facilities around the world, but mainly in Iran, was probably created by experts working for a country or a well-funded private group, according to an analysis by a leading computer security company.

The malicious code, called Stuxnet, was designed to go after several "high-value targets," said Liam O Murchu, manager of security response operations at Symantec. But both Mr O Murchu and US government experts said there is no proof it was developed to target nuclear plants in Iran, despite recent speculation from some researchers.

Creating the malicious code would have required a team of five to 10 highly educated and well-funded hackers. Government experts and outside ana-

lysts said they have not been able to determine who developed it or why.

The malware has infected as many as 45,000 computer systems around the world. Siemens AG, the company that designed the system targeted by the worm, said it has infected 15 of the industrial control plants it was apparently intended to infiltrate. It's not clear what sites were infected, but they could include water filtration, oil delivery, electrical and nuclear plants.

None of those infections has adversely affected the industrial systems, according to Siemens.

US officials said last month that the Stuxnet was the first malicious computer code specifically created to take over systems that control the inner workings of industrial plants.

The Energy Department has warned that a successful attack against critical control systems "may result in catastrophic phys-

China begins Tibet railway extension AFP BEIJING, SEPT 27

Runners dressed in gorilla suits run past Tower Bridge in London during the Great Gorilla Run. The Great Gorilla Run is a 7 km fun run to raise money for The Gorilla Organisation, a conservation charity with community-based employment and education projects in Africa that reduce pressure on areas of threatened gorilla habitat.

China has begun building a 13.3billion-yuan (two-billion-dollar) extension to the world's highest railway line, which links Tibet to the rest of the nation, state media reported Monday.

The extension linking the Tibetan capital Lhasa to Xigaze - t h e H i m a l a y a n re g i o n ' s second-biggest city -- should be completed in four years, the official China Daily said.

The building of the 253-kilometre (155-mile) line, which began on Sunday, is the first extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, which opened in July 2006, the report said.

Nearly half of the line will be laid in tunnels or on bridges, it added.

Chinese authorities see the railway as an important tool in modernising and developing the vast region.

However, critics say that the

line is allowing the Han Chinese, the nation's majority ethnic group, to flood into Tibet, harming local culture and accelerating environmental degradation of the pristine region.

"The railway will detour around nature reserves and drinking water sources," Zhang Qingli, Tibet's Communist Party chief, was quoted as saying by the state-run Xinhua news agency.

"More measures will be taken during construction to better protect the fragile plateau environment."

Railways minister Liu Zhijun said the extension would play a "vital role in boosting tourism in the southwestern part of Tibet and promoting the rational use of resources along the line," according to the China Daily.

Authorities are also planning another extension from Lhasa to Nyingchi in the southeast of Tibet, the report said.

Sobhraj’s wife, mother-in-law jailed PTI KATHMANDU, SEPT 27

Nepal's Supreme Court today convicted and slapped sevenday imprisonment on Nihita Biswas, the "wife" of Charles Sobhraj and her mother following their outbursts against its decision to uphold the life sentence of the 'bikini killer'.

22-year- old Nihita and Shankuntala Thapa, who was also Sobhraj's lawyer, were convicted for use of abusive language against the judges after the apex court in July upheld

the life imprisonment for Sobhraj in the 1975 sensational murder case of American tourist Connie Jo Bronzich.

The top court not only slapped seven-day imprisonment and Rs 50 as fine on Nihita and her mother, but also banned Thapa from assuming any position as judge in future, myrepublica online, the website of Republica newspaper said today.

They had accused the judges of corruption following the final verdict in the case on July 30 which dashed Sobhraj's hope for freedom.

satellite phones that went through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service in New Jersey, making the calls difficult, if not impossible to trace and routed them in a way that also concealed the locations of those talking.

"The FBI was horrified by the low-cost, high-tech operation that had paralysed Mumbai.

American cities were just as vulnerable. A senior FBI official responsible for thwarting similar attacks in the United States said, Mumbai changed everything," the book says.

In his book, Woodward writes that the open secret is that LeT was created and continues to be funded by the Pakistani ISI. "The intelligence branch of the Pakistani military uses LeT to inflict pain and hardship on India, according to US intelligence. These gunmen had, quite possibly, committed an act of war," Woodward says.

Sobhraj, whose father was an Indian and mother a Vietnamese, was sentenced by the lower courts to a 20-year life term for the murder of Bronzich and one year jail and Rs 2,000 fine in the fake passport case. He has already spent seven years in prison.

Nihita and Thapa had abused the judges, saying they took bribe and gave biased judgment against Sobhraj.

"How can you convict a person without any evidence?"

Thapa asked. "We provided all the evidence necessary to prove

that he is not guilty. They simply did not look at the facts," she claimed, adding her client was "denied" justice.

Many television channels had recorded the outbursts by Thapa and Nihita against the apex court on July 30. On August 1, the apex court ordered Nihita and her mother to appear before it for publicly criticising its judges.

The court's verdict came in response to a petition filed by advocates Rajan Adhikari and Shanta Sedhain, who accused the duo of contempt of court.

ical or property damage and loss".

Mr O Murchu said Symantec's analysis of the code shows that nearly 60% of the computers infected with Stuxnet are in Iran.

An additional 18% are in Indonesia. Less than 2% are in the US. "This would not be easy for a normal group to put together," said O Murchu. He said "it was either a well-funded private entity" or it "was a government agency or state-sponsored project" created by people familiar with industrial control systems.

A number of governments with sophisticated computer skills would have the ability to create such a code. They include China, Russia, Israel, Britain, Germany and the United States.

Chasing militants of the Haqqani network, NATO helicopters carried out at least two air strikes in Pakistan killing more than 53 Taliban fighters, after insurgents had attacked an Afghan security outpost near the border.

The helicopter gunships trained their guns on Haqqani militants at least six kilometres inside Pakistan on Saturday after the insurgents had attacked an Afghan army outpost.

"The ISAF helicopters did cross into Pakistan territory to engage the insurgents," NATO commanders were quoted as saying by the US media.

"The strike killed 49 militants," an ISAF spokesman said.

The helicopters returned to the border area yesterday when they were attacked by small fire by insurgents from North Waziristan in Pakistan.

Pirates hijack cargo ship off Somalia AGENCIES ATHENS, SEPT 27

Pirates hijacked a Panamanian flagged, Greek-operated cargo ship with a crew of 12 Ukrainians aboard, some 900 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, Greek harbour police said on Monday. "We were informed on

Saturday afternoon that the cargo ship MV Lugela had been hijacked by pirates", a police spokesman said. No information was immediately available concerning the cargo carried by the ship operated by TDM Carrier, based in the Greek port of Piraeus, or its itinerary.

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Hassle with your bank? Go to Banking Ombudsman HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Banks offer several services to their customers and are expected to deliver quality services. What do you do if the banking system fails to meet your expectations? How can you improve the way in which your bank conducts its business? Where do you lodge your complaint against poor services of your bank?

Banking Ombudsman – Who is it and Why is it there?

The Banking Ombudsman Scheme is designed to improve weaknesses in your bank’s operations. The Banking Ombudsman Scheme was launched in the year 1995 to address consumer grievances against the banks in India.

Since then it has been modified from time to time to improve its efficiency.

The Banking Ombudsman is a quasi judicial authority. The offices of the Ombudsman are located throughout the country. A single office caters to multiple areas. For example, the office of the Ombudsman at Mumbai

caters to the whole of Maharashtra and Goa. So if your bank in Panjim bounced your cheque in error and fails to make good its error, you can file a complaint with the Ombudsman in Mumbai.

Anybody who has a grievance against a bank can lodge a complaint with the Banking Ombudsman in whose jurisdiction the branch of the bank complained against is located.

In cases where the bank has centralized some of its operations, like housing loans, credit cards, etc. and the complaint relates to any such centralized operation, the complaints would have to be made to the Banking Ombudsman in the State in which the bank customer receives the bill. Further, all regional rural banks, commercial banks and even scheduled primary cooperative banks having business in India are covered by the Scheme. Internet banks too come under the net of the Ombudsman scheme.

How does the process work?

It is a simple and hassle free

process. One has to file a written and signed complaint with the office of the Ombudsman under whose jurisdiction the defaulting branch of the bank is located. The complaint does not have to be in any specific format. If one does not know how to go about his / her complaint, the Scheme provides a standard format for lodging complaints. The form is relatively easy to understand.

However, one may also use his/ her own format to file a complaint. You may also file your compliant electronically.

The Banking Ombudsman will provide the opportunity to settle the dispute by agreement. In the event of failure to resolve the issues by the parties between them, the banking Ombudsman will hear each side, assess the documents and pass an Award. If either party to the dispute does not agree with the Award and wants to pursue the matter further, they can file an appeal before an Appellate authority. The Appellate Authority is the Deputy Governor in charge of the

Banking Ombudsman Scheme.

The Ombudsman also has the powers to reject a complaint.

Complaints that can be filed with the Banking Ombudsman The Ombudsman can address several issues. Failure of the bank to render services as promised is the primary reason behind most grievances. For example, if the bank fails to honour a cheque issued by an account holder in spite of having sufficient funds in his account, the account holder can complain to the ombudsman.

In a similar case of Ishwar Prakash Chopra Vs. State Bank of India, CPR 1995(1) 429 (SCDRC - Maharashtra), a complaint was filed for deficiency in service of the bank for dishonoring the plaintiff ’s cheque by bank despite sufficient balance in the bank account. It was held that dishonoring cheque despite sufficient funds due to negligence is a deficiency in service on part of the bank of the opposite party.

In another instance, in the case of Narayan Rao Mahadeo Manjrekar Vs.Sangli Bank Ltd.&

another, CPR1995 (1) 582 (SCDRC - Maharastra), a complaint was filed for default in service for charging of interest at higher rate than that agreed upon in the loan agreement with the bank.

It was held that the charging of the interest by a bank contrary to the stipulation of loan is deficiency in banking service and the complainant was entitled to get Rs 5 L as compensation.

Complaints related to interest rates, cheques, demand drafts, bank guarantees, loans, liens, fixed deposits, lockers etc can be filed with the banking Ombudsman. You can approach the banking Ombudsman for your complaints related to credit cards and internet banking as well.

To make the working of the ombudsman effective the RBI funds the office of ombudsman entirely.

Under the Ombudsman scheme amended in 2006, a customer can file a complaint against the bank in the event of failure of the bank to follow

the provisions of the fair practices code for lenders or the Code of Bank’s Commitment to Customers issued by the Banking Codes and Standards Board of India (BCSBI). The rising complaints received against banks recovery techniques, non-observance of the RBI’s guidelines on engagement of recovery agents by banks has also been specifically brought under the scope of the Ombudsman Scheme.

However, no complaint can be filed unless the complainant has approached the bank first to resolve the issue. Also, the complaint should be filed within a year from which the complainant received any communication from the bank on the subject matter. In order to keep the process fast and efficient, the scheme also requires that subject matter of the complaint should not be one that had previously been dealt with by the Ombudsman or any court of law.

Efficiency of the Banking Ombudsman Scheme Statistics show the banking

IDFC launches first tax-free infra bonds

PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 27

Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), which was recently accorded the infrastructure finance company status by the Reserve Bank, today launched the country's first tax-free infrastructure bonds to raise Rs 3,400 crore.

"We will raise up to Rs 3,400 crore through the country's first long-term tax-free infrastructure bonds in one or more tranches. These long term bonds will hit the market on September 30 and will be open for subscription up to October 18, 2010. We will be listing these bonds after the five-year lock-in period is over," IDFC managing director and chief executive Rajiv Lall said here while lunching the bonds, which come in four series carrying a maximum of 8% coupon.

Each of these bonds has a face value of Rs 5,000, and an investor can get income tax rebate of up to Rs 20,000 under Section 80CCF-which was introduced in the Finance Act 2010- over and above all other prevailing deductions.

These bonds, which enjoy the highest rating- LAAA-- from Icra, can be bought back or redeemed after five years lock-in period or can be traded on the bourses.

On the conservative way of fixing the yield, Lall said, "our yield rate is capped at par with the interest rate on government securities and hence cannot offer a yield rate more that is above what the 10-year Gilts offer. Also, our objective is to encourage the average retail investors who are salaried as it is a tax-free bond, to invest in these bonds."

The FY2011 Budget had said

TALK BUSINESS

GHRSSIDC invites artisans to participate at trade fair PANJIM (HBD) -- GHRSSIDC Ltd has invited applications from Goan handicrafts artisans to participate in GHRSSIDC stall, Goa Pavillion at India International Trade Fair 2010 to be held at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from November 14 to 27, 2010.

India International Trade Fair is organised by ITPO and is a major tourist attraction visited by lakhs of people every year. The cost incurred towards boarding/lodging and traveling of the selected handicraft artisans will be taken care of by GHRSSIDC Ltd. The last date for receiving applications for participation at India International Trade Fair is October 11, 2010.

GHRSSIDC also participates in various exhibitions all over India throughout the year to promote and sell Goan handicrafts. Handicraft artisans who are interested in participating in these exhibitions may also contact GHRSSIDC head office.

For details contact Neha Mahambrey, John Sebastian, Krishna Karapurkar at the GHRSSIDC Head Office at Crafts Complex, Neugi Nagar, Panjim or call 2228157/2225328.

Sensex ends 72 pts up PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 27

The BSE benchmark Sensex today added 72 points to close at a fresh 32-month high, led by blue-chips such as RIL and SBI amid firm global cues.

Rising for the second straight session, the Bombay Stock Exchange’s 30-share barometer ended higher by 72.20 points, or 0.36 per cent, at 20,117.38 — its best finish since January, 15, 2008, when the index settled at 20,251.09.

In a similar trend, the wide-based Nifty-50 index of the National Stock Exchange ended 0.29 per cent higher at 6,035.6.

The Sensex shuttled between a high of 20,267.98 and a low of 20,082.26 points during the day’s trade.

PTI KOCHI, SEPT 27

Godrej Consumer looks to buy in India Indian personal care products maker Godrej Consumer Products Ltd, which has made four overseas acquisitions this year, is also interested in buying domestic firms to boost growth, the chairman of the $2.5 billion diversified group said on Monday.

India is the world's fastest growing major economy after China and demand for products such as soaps, shampoos and hair conditioners are growing fast on the back of rising incomes in the nation of 1.2 billion people.

Aban Offshor, 864, 875, 840, 844.15 Abb Ltd., 878.6, 922.75, 878.6, 908.05 Abg Shipyard, 246, 250.3, 242.25, 243.05 Acc Limited, 1015.3, 1032.5, 1007.1, 1012.7 Adani Enterp, 675.15, 684.45, 668.6, 670.75 Aditya Birla, 885.1, 891.95, 868.15, 871.8 Allahabad Ba, 228, 234.5, 228, 229.2 Alstom Proje, 763.1, 776.3, 740, 766.05 Ambuja Cemen, 147, 150.35, 143.8, 145.25 Andhra Bank, 167, 168, 163, 163.4 Ashok Leylan, 74.5, 75.2, 73.25, 73.75 Asian Paints, 2805, 2824.4, 2769, 2778.4 Axis Bank Li, 1519.95, 1526.8, 1493.2, 1507.15 Bajaj Hindus, 132.9, 136.9, 132.75, 134.9 Bank Of Baro, 878, 881.9, 868, 874.7 Bank Of Indi, 502, 502, 494.65, 497.5 Beml Limited, 1095.55, 1123.95, 1075, 1114.9 Bharat Elect, 1766.7, 1795, 1766.6, 1776.6 Bharat Forge, 358, 364.95, 357.1, 359.15 Bharat Petro, 795, 801, 785.1, 788.4

REUTERS MUMBAI, SEPT 27

Indian builder Lanco Infratech will consider an initial public offering for its power business as it looks to fund expansion plans to meet rising demand in Asia's third-largest economy, a senior official said.

The group has not set a timeline for the fund raising, but is currently consolidating all its power projects under a single company, K Raja Gopal, chief executive of Lanco's thermal power business, told the Reuters India Investment Summit in Mumbai.

"As we move forward, we will be requiring huge financial budgets to support our plans.

To meet these needs at an appropriate time, we will be looking at an IPO or two," he said.

Lanco currently operates 2,082 megawatts of generation capacity, and plans to commission another 2,000 MW by March. It also has a further 5,000 MW under development across the country.

Stay in market to gain: UTI

the government would allow infrastructure financiers to offer infrastructure bonds to help fund large infra projects and convert themselves as infrastructure finance companies (IFCs). Following this, the government had set a panel under HDFC chairman Deepak Parekh to suggest modalities for this.

The panel called for IFCs and also proposed to institute a Rs 50,000-crore infrastructure fund as the first step towards meeting the Plan panel's projected USD 1-trillion infra spending in the 12th Plan.

Following this, the Reserve recently accorded the IFC status to a few NBFCs, and IDFC became one of the first ones to get this label. Under the RBI norms, an IFC can issues bonds up to 25% of its total infrastructure project exposure, besides mobilise funds through ECBs up to 50% of its networth.

REUTERS MUMBAI, SEPT 27

Ombudsman Scheme has been effective in dealing with customer complaints efficiently and in reasonable time. To give an example, during the year 2007-08, the Banking Ombudsmen received 47887 complaints.

There was a 24 percent rise in the number of complaints filed in the previous year (38,638). The Banking Ombudsman could settle 89 percent of the total complaints as against 84 percent in the previous year. Further, of the 11percent of complaints carried forward to the next year, only as little as 6 percent were more than 2 months old.

However, the scheme is not entirely error free and some consumers have complaints against the Ombudsman’s office. In some instances, impolite behaviour and delay in responding to customers has been a common cause of distress. You can get a list of deficiencies in the services of the Ombudsman at http://www.customer-complaint.in.

Lanco Infratech mulling IPO

"Our first priority will be acquisitions in India," Adi Godrej said at the Reuters India Investment Summit in Mumbai.

"All acquisitions will be in the areas we understand well - household insecticide, haircare and personal wash."

Godrej Consumer, with a market value of $2.9 billion, had acquired a company in Indonesia for $270 million and paid $43 million for two firms in Argentina, since the start of the fiscal year in April. It also bought a firm in Nigeria.

It bought out the remaining 51 percent stake in its Indian

Bharti Airte, 370.1, 376.4, 365.25, 373.15 Bhel, 2472, 2484.5, 2458.65, 2467.6 Bhushan Stee, 433.5, 439, 430.2, 431.5 Biocon Limit, 354.45, 359.75, 350, 356.2 Bombay Dyein, 647, 662.8, 644.2, 647.1 Bosch Limite, 6266, 6266, 6150, 6162.6 Brigade Ente, 151.8, 153.6, 149.2, 150.5 Cairn India, 330.5, 334.9, 330, 334.2 Canara Bank, 576.5, 582, 575, 580.5 Central Bank, 202.6, 203.8, 196.05, 198.05 Century Text, 514.7, 517, 510.1, 511.35 Cesc Ltd, 402.95, 405, 392.05, 394.4 Chambal Fert, 72.2, 72.3, 70.15, 70.75 Chennai Petr, 251.3, 254.45, 248.6, 249.35 Cipla Ltd, 321, 324.95, 319.15, 321.3 Colgate Palm, 913, 928, 909.05, 911.75 Container Co, 1302, 1328.05, 1293, 1310.25 Crompton Gre, 323.2, 323.2, 313.55, 319.15 Cummins Indi, 757.2, 759, 746, 750 Dabur India, 105.9, 106.65, 104.65, 105.25 Deccan Chron, 134.4, 135.85, 133, 134.5 Dish Tv Indi, 54, 55.95, 54, 55.4 Divi’s Labor, 718.5, 725.5, 712.5, 717.65

joint venture with Sara Lee Corp , Godrej Sara Lee, which is now renamed as Godrej Household Products Ltd, for 185 million euros ($249.5 million).

The chairman said the company was interested in buying unlisted personal care firm Paras Pharma in Ahmedabad if the price was right.

"Typically, valuations tend to be much higher than what we are comfortable with. There is no problem with high valuation if on integration we get a lot more," he said.

Its rivals Emami Ltd and Marico Ltd are also interested

Dlf Limited, 370.15, 375.4, 367, 369.5 Dr. reddy’s, 1511.7, 1511.7, 1485.1, 1493 Edelweiss Ca, 54.5, 56.25, 53.8, 54.3 Educomp Solu, 618, 632, 617, 626.45 Eih Limited, 143, 144.85, 140.05, 140.45 Engineers In, 356, 358.9, 354, 356.4 Essar Oil Lt, 134.8, 135.8, 133.1, 133.8 Essar Shippi, 111.45, 115.4, 111.45, 114.3 Exide Indust, 162, 168.3, 161, 166.5 Federal Bank, 390.75, 394.9, 386.05, 389.85 Financial Te, 1250, 1250, 1188.2, 1231.1 Gail (india), 482.5, 489.1, 477.55, 479.85 Gammon India, 232, 235, 226.55, 231.85 Glaxosmithkl, 2114.05, 2164.9, 2100.15, 2157.1 Glenmark Pha, 291.9, 299.4, 286.25, 296.95 Gmr Infrastr, 59.2, 59.8, 58.1, 58.3 Godrej Indus, 226, 226.5, 219.55, 220.75 Grasim Indus, 2175, 2205.8, 2171.1, 2180.75 Great Offsho, 388, 389.9, 376.5, 380.45 Gtl Infra.Lt, 45.8, 46.2, 45.7, 45.95 Gujarat Mine, 136.2, 138, 135, 135.95

Gujarat N R, 63.5, 63.5, 60.9, 61.45 Gujarat Stat, 113.4, 114.5, 112.3, 113.8 Gvk Pow. & I, 48.65, 48.85, 47.3, 47.5 Hcl Technolo, 421.5, 426, 415.55, 417.65 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2500, 2510.8, 2433.7, 2438.45 Hdfc Ltd, 736.45, 738, 724.4, 728.45 Hero Honda M, 1875, 1888, 1851.15, 1860.35 Hindalco in, 192, 199.7, 192, 196.85 Hindustan Co, 61.1, 62.6, 60.35, 60.7 Hindustan Ma, 75.3, 75.55, 74.25, 74.35 Hindustan Pe, 544.9, 547.6, 539.75, 541.4 Hindustan Un, 318, 319.55, 308.1, 308.85 Hindustan Zi, 1098.4, 1134.5, 1085.05, 1126.5 Housing Dev, 269.7, 273.4, 268.2, 270.95 Icici Bank L, 1117.55, 1130.85, 1110, 1115.1 Idea Cellula, 78, 78.4, 76.15, 76.9 Ifci Ltd, 63, 63.65, 62.05, 62.3 India Cement, 118.1, 120.25, 115.5, 116 India Infoli, 112.5, 117.4, 111.15, 116.7 Indiabulls F, 146.15, 146.75, 143.65, 145.2 Indiabulls R, 176.25, 179.5, 175.1, 177.95 Indian Bank, 296, 296, 264, 271.4

in acquiring Paras Pharma, which has over-the-counter and personal care brands such as 'Moov', 'Krack', 'D Cold', 'Set Wet' among others.

Two private equity firms that hold a majority stake Paras Pharma have said they were looking to sell the holding for as much as $700 million.

OVERSEAS OPPORTUNITIES Godrej will continue to pursue opportunities overseas in South Africa, where it has haircare brands such as Rapidol and Kinky, Latin America and Indonesia to balance stiff competition in India.

Indian Hotel, 104.45, 104.8, 103.05, 103.3 Indian Oil C, 440, 455, 437.6, 449.75 Indian Overs, 137.5, 138.85, 134.4, 134.95 Indus Dev Ba, 154.2, 155.45, 153, 153.6 Indusind Ban, 258.9, 262.5, 253.5, 261.15 Infosys Tech, 3055, 3060, 3023.35, 3032.6 Infra. dev., 208, 210.8, 205, 205.75 Ispat Indust, 23, 23.25, 22.5, 22.6 Itc Ltd, 180.4, 180.6, 177.3, 178.4 Ivrcl Infras, 174.2, 174.2, 169.9, 170.4 Jai Corp Lim, 260.5, 264.7, 258.05, 259 Jaiprakash A, 122, 124.5, 121.35, 121.75 Jet Airways, 836.4, 836.4, 815, 824.6 Jindal Saw L, 205.95, 213.9, 205.15, 210.6 Jindal Steel, 698.6, 704, 694.85, 699.1 Jsw Steel Li, 1282, 1327, 1280.15, 1319.9 Kotak Mahind, 484, 494.9, 483.55, 486.45 Lakshmi Mach, 2450, 2469, 2380, 2403.3 Lanco Infrat, 67.05, 68.7, 66.3, 68.35 Larsen & Tou, 2054.7, 2054.7, 2020.5, 2026.8 Lic Housing, 1365, 1410, 1358, 1403.5 Lupin Limite, 404, 407.5, 399.1, 402.95 Mahanagar Te, 65.25, 65.9, 63.6, 63.8 Mahindra & M, 700, 704, 689.6, 694.5

The Indian Economy and stock markets will continue to do well and investors will gain if they remain invested in the capital market, Unit Trust of India chairman and managing director, U K Sinha, today said.

The sensex, which as an index was created in 1980, had given a compounded return of 17 per cent year-on-year, Sinha told reporters on the sidelines of a function here. This was the period when GDP was growing very low, there was external war and civil disturbance in the country and natural calamity. Despite all these, the benchmark has given a compounded return of 17 per cent, he said.

Financial Inclusion can also take place through the Capital Market, he said.

UTI also launched schemes for milk farmers, women and income protection scheme for girl child below poverty line in Bihar, which is the largest scheme in the world.

Sinha, who chaired a committee on behalf of the Central government on Capital flows to the country, said during 20002009, the Indian economy had become closely integrated to the global economy.

Indian corporates have foreigners on board, Foreign pension funds are investing in India, he said adding Indian

pension funds will have to come to the market and it would give a boost.

There were no plans to start a Real Estate fund, he said.

UTI has passed through certain problems in the past. 'We started with rs 13,000 crore in 2003 and the fiscal ending march this year it was rs 89,000 crore. We grew very well.

However, our focus is reaching out to investors', he said.

UTI presently has one crore investors.

Asked if enough protection was being given to investors, he said Indian investors are being protected. No where in the world today entry load has been banned like in India.

BOARD MEETINGS Abbott India Energy Dev Shree Renuka Sug Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA SBI MUTUAL FUND has approved October 1, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of Magnum Multiplier Plus Scheme 1993.

The face value of per unit is Rs 10. The quantum of dividend will be Rs 7 per unit as on the record date.

Maruti Suzuk, 1494, 1495, 1472, 1479.1 Max India Lt, 172, 172.35, 167.2, 169.35 Maytas Infr., 226.9, 228.4, 218.05, 224.05 Moser-baer (, 73.1, 73.45, 70.55, 70.85 Mrpl, 80.9, 80.9, 78.75, 79 Nagarjuna Co, 171, 171, 164.5, 164.85 Nagarjuna Fe, 31.4, 31.45, 30.65, 30.75 National Alu, 406, 411.4, 404, 409.2 Neyveli Lign, 161.3, 165.15, 161.3, 163.05 Ntpc Ltd, 209.5, 215.7, 209.2, 214.6 Oil And Natu, 1445, 1467.1, 1439.5, 1457.9 Omaxe Limite, 143.05, 146.6, 140.5, 143.35 Oriental Ban, 446.55, 460, 440.6, 458.1 Pantaloon Re, 500.25, 505.15, 492, 495.85 Parsvnath De, 143.75, 146.9, 143, 146.05 Petronet Lng, 110.45, 111, 108.5, 108.8 Power Fin Co, 345, 346.9, 340.2, 342.9 Power Grid C, 107.1, 107.1, 105.3, 105.85 Praj Industr, 78, 78, 76.4, 76.85 Punj Lloyd L, 133, 135.2, 130.7, 132.45 Punjab Natio, 1299.8, 1311, 1287, 1301.4 Rajesh Expor, 100.25, 102, 99.6, 100.3 Ranbaxy Labs, 572.2, 580, 565, 566.7 Rashtriya Ch, 83.6, 83.8, 82.2, 82.45

Rel. nat. re, 40.05, 40.5, 39.65, 39.8 Reliance Cap, 819, 824.5, 809.2, 811.7 Reliance Com, 170.5, 171.8, 169.1, 169.75 Reliance Ene, 1160, 1182.9, 1150, 1160 Reliance Ind, 885.15, 896.7, 875, 877.4 Reliance Ind, 1008, 1019.9, 1005.1, 1010.2 Reliance Pow, 161, 163.5, 160.2, 160.8 Rolta India, 171.1, 173, 168.55, 169.2 Satyam Compu, 90, 99.6, 88.1, 96 Sesa Goa Ltd, 336.6, 340.4, 336, 337 Shipping Cor, 163, 164.6, 162.65, 163 Siemens Ltd, 790, 795, 781.2, 785.5 Sintex Indus, 364, 371.8, 360, 368.95 Sobha Develo, 394.7, 401.8, 387.2, 390.7 State Bank O, 3145, 3199.85, 3145, 3180.65 Steel Author, 207, 208.8, 205.5, 206.9 Sterlite Ind, 174, 178.95, 173.7, 177.85 Sun Pharmace, 1947.25, 1961.95, 1937.1, 1945.6 Sun Tv Netwo, 522.4, 543.25, 519, 531 Suzlon Energ, 54.9, 55.1, 53.25, 53.45 Tata Communi, 325.9, 327.85, 321.2, 321.75 Tata Consult, 935, 941.45, 922, 927.6

Tata Motors, 1090.5, 1095, 1070.3, 1083.7 Tata Power C, 1329.05, 1356.7, 1310.25, 1343.55 Tata Steel L, 635.5, 649.5, 634.2, 645.9 Tata Teleser, 23.05, 23.2, 22.8, 22.8 Tech Mahindr, 764, 787.8, 754.1, 776.4 The Ge Shpg., 311, 314, 308.4, 312.3 The Phoenix, 242, 243, 233.9, 237.75 Thermax Ltd, 791.2, 799.9, 780, 786.15 Titan Indust, 3345, 3419.95, 3310, 3396.8 Torrent Powe, 333, 334.4, 326, 327.95 Triveni Engg, 114.6, 120.85, 114, 118.8 Tv18 India L, 94.5, 95.2, 92.9, 93.4 Uco Bank, 115.75, 116.7, 114.75, 115.15 Ultratech Ce, 1016.5, 1042.9, 1000.55, 1024.5 Union Bank O, 387.3, 388.9, 376.05, 380.6 Unitech Ltd, 87, 88.6, 85.45, 87 United Phosp, 192, 192, 185.5, 186.05 Videocon Ind, 263.95, 274.9, 262.2, 272.95 Vijaya Bank, 84.1, 84.4, 82.85, 82.95 Voltas Ltd, 235.9, 241, 233.5, 237.55 Wipro Ltd, 448.3, 452, 442.95, 444.6 Yes Bank Lim, 339, 347.2, 337.35, 345.65 Zee Entertai, 307.85, 309.65, 304.15,

OHERALDO

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GOA, TUESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Push mobile banking to reach remote areas: FM

PTI SAGARDIGHI (WEST BENGAL), SEPT 27

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today called upon banks and financial institutions to lay emphasis on mobile banking as a means of increasing penetration in un-banked areas and hinterlands. He said there are areas in the country where banks are not able to open brick and mortar branches and such localities could be fertile ground to expand banking through mobiles.

"In such a scenario, banks should rely more on mobile banking which would also help in reaching the goal of financial inclusion," Mukherjee said. The FY''11 budget has proposed bringing 60,000 villages which have a population of 2,000 and above under the ambit of banking and financial services by March, 2012.

The government and the Reserve Bank have been pushing banks to work towards this objective, and mobile banking is expected to play a crucial role in this ambitious scheme. Ac-

cording to the latest study by the Boston Consultancy Group, bankers in India are optimistic about reaching out to unbanked sections of society through mobile phones.

The survey covered 13 public sector banks, seven private sector lenders and four foreignorigin banks. While 57% of the respondents from public sector banking space expressed their "high optimism" about efficacy of mobile banking, 43 per cent were "optimistic" about it.

None of the PSB respondents was pessimistic about the potential of mobile phones to take financial services to the 55 per cent un-banked population of the country. Besides, with the increase in penetration of mobile telephony, cellular operators have been demanding that the RBI allow them to introduce mobile banking services in a big way.

In October, 2008, the RBI had issued final mobile banking guidelines and capped daily fund transfer at Rs 5,000 and purchases at Rs 10,000. How-

ever, the RBI had desisted from issuing mobile banking licences to telcos as it was apprehensive of them being misused by nefarious elements.

Furthermore, it wanted the initiative to be driven by banks and not telcos. In July, RBI Governor D Subbarao had said: "The RBI has a clear preference for the bank-led model, given the growing concerns about money laundering and financing of terrorism, a bank-led model is decidedly safer and more sustainable than one being pushed by telcos.

"He, however, had admitted that a mobile operator-led model helps accelerate financial inclusion. Finally, on September 15 this year, Bharti Airtel was issued a licence to launch mobile banking services by the RBI, but without cash withdrawal or redemption facilities.

Mukherjee urged banks to follow the lead of State Bank of India and the Corporation Bank, which have take initiatives in Mobile Banking.

Unique identity project to take off from Sept 29 PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

With the launch of the 'Aadhaar' number on September 29, India will become the first country in the world to implement a biometric-based unique ID system for its residents on a national scale.

The national launch of Aadhaar will herald a new chapter in the efforts of the Govt in enabling inclusive growth and bringing in efficiency and transparency in governance.

Aadhaar has the potential to fundamentally transform the service delivery and governance in the country.

The UIDAI promises to ensure the uniqueness of the Aadhaar numbers through the use of biometric attributes (finger prints and iris) which will be linked to the number.

"This will help agencies and service providers clean out duplicates and fakes from their databases. The elimination of duplicate, ghost and fake iden-

tities across various schemes is expected to substantially improve the efficiency of the delivery systems by ensuring that the leakages are reduced and the benefits reach the right people," the authority said.

The Adhaar would be launched nationally by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi by distributing the first set of numbers among the villagers of Nandurbar district of Maharashtra.

Toyz Club to be set up in Goa

CWG: AI offers flights, schemes PTI

MUMBAI, SEPT 27

HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

In a bid to cash-in on the extra traffic expected during the Commonwealth Games, staterun Air India has offered two special schemes to its passengers flying out of Delhi.

Besides, the national air-carrier would operate two special flights from Auckland and Brisbane to Delhi.

Air India is the official airline partner for the mega sporting event starting in Delhi from October 3.

A passenger can avail of these two short-term promotional schemes between October 1 and November 14, Air India said in a press release here.

Under the scheme 'Lucky 7', any individual traveling seven times on Air India domestic/international network in economy class from Delhi during the validity period will be eligible for an economy-class return ticket (two coupons) to any destination on the Air India domestic network from Delhi.

Similarly, the scheme 'Jumble 12' entitles an individual presenting 12 original economyclass boarding cards of the scheme period for travel on Air India domestic/international network from Delhi will be eligible for an economy-class return ticket (two coupons) to any destination on the Air India domestic network from Delhi.

However, for executive-class passengers an individual presenting seven original executive-class boarding cards during the scheme period will be eligible for an economy class return ticket (two coupons) from Delhi as well as two upgrade vouchers as an additional incentive.

Air India would also operate two special flights from Auckland and Brisbane to Delhi for officials and players.

The well-known men’s magazine Toyz is no longer just a reading material. It has expanded into several ventures – cafe, bars, restaurants, cars, toys, apparel and perfumes.

Goa will soon experience Toyz in the form of a 3,000 square meter Superclub.

Toyz will be available for everyone to dine and drink soon in Goa. Meanwhile, this year, Toyz has gone into a new enterprise, one that literally takes it to new heights.

Toyz president and CEO Mel Macasaquit and his new partner Rajshekhar Rao introduced their new baby – Toyz Air. "We will soar beyond the clouds aboard our aircraft," Macasaquit said. The CEO promised that come October, the aviation industry will be surprised with exciting business activity courtesy of Toyz Air. The aircraft boasts of "fun and excitement in the air" with its state-of-the-art videoke sound system, exquisite food and bar menu, and the graceful hospitality of a female model flight attendant. "There’s nothing more you can ask for," Macasaquit proudly declared.

Toyz likewise announced the opening of five more bars around Metro Manila.

Toyz is famous for its affordable American-Italian cuisine, fine ambience and acoustic music. For the sports enthusiast, the Formula 1 Racing-inspired

Mixing Scotch whisky with Darjeeling tea PTI KOLKATA, SEPT 27

Although willing to experiment with exotic flavours Indians still prefer drinks with an Indian touch, even if it means having an unorthodox cocktail of Scotch whisky and Darjeeling tea, says an international whisky connoisseur.

"A cocktail made by mixing whisky with tea is catching up fast in India. I was quite surprised when I noticed this as Indians already consume lot of tea here, so I thought they will not like such type of a cocktail.

But I think they prefer an Indian touch in their drinks," says whisky expert Stephen Marshall.

Boozing around 120 million cases annually, India is one of the world's largest consumers of whisky.

Having tasted the best of the spirits across countries, the Scottish connoisseur, who is also the global brand ambassador for Dewar's whisky, says the combination remains one of his favourites.

To make the cocktail, one peg of whisky is poured into two pegs of first flush chilled Darjeeling tea. Before topping it with lots of ice and a sprig of mint, sugar syrup or honey is added to suit taste.

"The combo gives an amazing taste. It makes for a fresh, daytime drink," Marshall told

LAUNCH PAD

Kingfisher Ultra now in Goa PANJIM (HBD) -- United Breweries Limited has launched Kingfisher Ultra in Goa. Kingfisher Ultra is created for the young and successful achievers who pride themselves on their taste and discernment. The touch, feel and the taste of the premium beer will stimulate your taste buds making you long for more. The beer is packaged in a distinctive embossed bottle with a ring pull crown and has a great after taste that leaves an impact.

The brand, launched in September 2009, is currently available in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Puducherry, Delhi and Chandigarh.

Apart from this, the brand has also floated properties based on two important genre of entertainment – music and movies. Kingfisher Ultra promotes music and talent through its music based property Kingfisher Ultra Soul Flyp.

Kingfisher Ultra Reel Nites, the property based on movies brings world class cinema from across the globe to movie lovers in India.

For more information log on to http://kingfisherworld.com/ultra.

Swavalamban pension plan PANJIM (HBD) -- Following his announcement in the Union Budget 2010, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee presented to the country “Swavalamban”, a pension scheme for the unorganised sector and distributed Pran Cards to a few beneficiaries.

Swavalamban Yojana is administered by Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority and LIC is the Facilitator.

The scheme aims at covering the unorganised sector under this new pension system from age 60 years. Members of unorganised sector aged between 18 years to 55 years shall be included under the scheme that provides for minimum monthly contribution Rs 100, minimum annual contribution Rs 1000 and maximum annual contribution Rs 12,000 per member.

Under the scheme government contribution will be Rs 1000 per annum for financial 2010-11 and this scheme shall be available for another three years.

In the presenting ceremony Namo Narain Meena Minister of State, R Gopalan Secretary Financial Services, Rakesh Singh additional Secretary Financial Services Government of India, Yogesh Agarwal chairman PFRDA, T S Vijayan chairman LIC, Thomas Mathew T MD LIC, Sunita Sharma executive director LIC and R R Dash zonal manager, LIC Eastern Zone were also present.

The dignitaries included honorable Members of parliament including Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Mannan Hossain and Moinul Hassan as well as Legislative Assembly.

PTI during a recent visit to the city.

"The trick to combining different things with whisky is to get good flavours together. Tea has a strong flavour of its own that works with the whisky."

Having a much defined taste which can vary from being quite gentle to very strong, smoky and very heavy, Scotch whisky has, however, traditionally not been used for cocktails.

"But there's a whole plethora of ways of drinking whisky. Cocktails can also be made with soft drinks, ginger, beer, etc," says Marshall.

After conducting tasting and blending sessions with whisky aficionados in cities like

Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Delhi, the specialist says the choices of Indian drinkers have matured over the years.

"I came here first in 2006 and since then the tastes have changed a lot. Now people are more interested in finding out different kinds of flavours. I have been to some of the best bars in the country and met the best of bartenders – all are experimenting," he points out.

Favouring blended malt whisky over the in-vogue single malt ones, Marshall says that the blended ones take the best of the single malt to improve their taste.

"When you get many of

them, then why get satisfied with single? Blended ones take the best of the single malt and sell it after making it better," the connoisseur opines.

Blended whisky is made from a blend of multiple malts and grains, but single malts are singularly produced from one distillery.

"It takes immense skill to blend whisky as the aim is to have the same final flavour," he says while rejecting the perception of whisky as stuffy and an old man's drink.

"Whisky is all about enjoying yourself and enjoying life.

It is a perfect social lubricant as it encourages you to talk while drinking," he said.

L&T bags Rs 1,610 cr order PTI CHENNAI, SEPT 27

Engineering and construction company Larsen and Toubro has bagged a Rs 1,610 crore order from Visa Power, a Visa Steel and Power Group Company, for its 2x600 MW power plant being set up in Chhattisgarh. "Larsen and Toubro has won the project through international competitive bidding process and it includes the execution of Balance of Plant (BOP) package for Visa Power Ltd for their 2x600 MW power plant, which is being set up in Raigarh, Chattisgarh," L&T said.

Vedanta setting up telepresence AGENCY GURGAON, SEPT 27

And Sanjay Bansal, chairman and managing director of Gurgaon-headquartered Business Octane, is bent on showing how. In an interview Bansal says that the immersive telepresence solutions company wants to shrink distances, and also is focused on developing solutions that can be applied not just in India but across geographies. ExCERPTS: You are currently implementing immersive telepresence solutions for Vedanta. What is it you’re doing for them exactly?

Our biggest customer right now is Vedanta. It is an order for 12 (immersive telepresence) rooms, and they are going to be using these for their monthly and quarterly business reviews and routine point-topoint calls.

These are 12 rooms set up across different locations?

Five have been built and handed over. These are Tuticorin, Jharsuguda in Orissa, Sesa Goa in Goa, Vedanta House in Mumbai and Hindustan Zinc headquarters in Udaipur. Work is still going on for seven others, including its London and Zambia offices.

What benefits does the company see from implementing this solution—cost savings, ease of use, etc?

You don’t even need IT support staff to make the call for you.

You just select who you want to speak with from a roll down directory, and include them in the call with the touch of a button. And you can even connect some of your legacy videoconferencing rooms. Overall, if I were to give an analogy, immersive telepresence is like a very high level of system engi-

neered car. The first car that came out resembled a rickshaw with an engine on top of it.

Videoconferencing is like that— the moment there is a bump on the road, I feel it. And the cars of today address hundreds of objectives that were not taken care of in the first go.

Immersive telepresence, if you were to quantify what the customer gets compared with videoconferencing, you can safely say that the experience is 8-10 times better.

Is the costing for immersive telepresence also proportionately higher?

Typically immersive telepresence would cost two-and-a-half to three times more than a videoconferencing implementation. It is a very strong business case that when you put in a videoconferencing facility, your rooms don’t get utilised more than 10 hours a month.

This was a study done in the US for pharmaceutical companies—they are the biggest users of videoconferencing technology there. According to the study, when these companies use immersive telepresence, the usage goes up to 60-80 hours. So maybe you have paid three times more, but your usage is at least six times higher—your return on investment is faster.

But it happens in a country like India where connectivity is not as widespread as may be desired, or connections as fast? How do you translate those aspirations in the Indian market?

One of the most important bandwidth providers in the world is Tata Communications, and it is headquartered in India. Also, bandwidth cost has come down dramatically over

the last three or four years. We often have chief information officers coming to our office, and I tell them I have 45 Mbps bandwidth any-to-any here. I ask them what they think it costs me. Their typical estimate of bandwidth cost is three to four times what we are actually paying. And they get amazed that the bandwidth is available.

Let’s take the example of Vedanta. Vedanta locations are in the jungles, actually. To go to Jharsuguda in Orissa you need to take a train to Kolkata, then a bus – it takes 36 hours to reach. The bandwidth is there, and the cost is not what most would imagine. The other thing is, the bandwidth requirement for immersive telepresence has come down by half in the last three month.

Bandwidth requirement for immersive telepresence has come down? How’s that?

Earlier, we required 15 Mbps (megabits per second) for a room where 15 people would be able to talk to 15 on the other side. Now, that same room requires 7.5-8 Mbps bandwidth. That is because new advancements have been made in the codec technology.

We use Polycom codecs inside our telepresence cards. Now, Polycom is the first company in the world to have implemented high profile in all their codecs.

High profile is an International Telecommunication Union body Standard, which has come out from the research that we wanted to slash the bandwidth by half.

How do you compete with these cloud services that are available for free or next to nothing? Take the example of Skype.

It is all in the degree of experi-

ence. And when we say Skype, it is one-to-one communication not a group of people here talking to multiple groups of people at multiple locations.

With our solution, up to 600 people across 40 different locations can join in the same call.

They can also exchange data, expect that when they get up to explain something on a white board, they are audible at all times and their writing is legible across centres —this is known as media-rich immersive telepresence.

What would you estimate the telepresence market at in India currently?

The market is at a very initial stage where it is being created.

Though there have been some studies done which predict that by 2012 there will be a $20 million telepresence market in India, there has been no study done on what is the size of the market today.

Since last year, we have done 500 presentations of immersive telepresence in India. There are orders coming in, but putting a number on it is a challenge because everything is in the realm of possibilities. It has not yet become a mature market that you can say it is going to grow like this. For example, one of our orders is of the size of $3 million, and that is also to complete a partial requirement of the client.

Who are some of your other clients?

Citrix is one, then we have DuPont, Agrotech, a Fortune 500 company, TVS Capital, a body under the ministry of earth sciences and Air India.

The ministry of earth sciences has an institute called the Institute of Tropical Metrology in Pune.

Source: FE

scent made exclusively by Toyz will be available in the market soon.

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Tuesday, 28 Sept, 2010

It!

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES welve years ago the ‘Google Guys’ Larry Page and Sergey Brin set up a company that would later revolutionise the concept of internet searches forever. They introduced Google to the world. The website has gained so much popularity over the years that the term Google has become synonymous with search engines and is presently even used as a verb.

The now California-based company was first incorporated as a privately held corporation on September 27, 1998 and since then has only increased in the search counts.

Google has moulded itself into various forms, now becoming a much sought after encyclopaedia, dictionary, directory, library, music guide, cookery book, health guide and much more. The company has stretched its arms into the far reaches of the web world. With its myriad applications from the e-mailing system of Gmail to the social networking site Orkut or the video sharing site Youtube or the photo sharing site Picasa, Google seems to have its fingers in every pie of the virtual world. Even if you are lost you don’t have to worry, Google Earth or Google Maps will come to the rescue with its intricate mapping systems that show you the way and everything on the way as well.

Google has an appeal to every strata of society, be it the student who is doing his assignment or the businessman looking out for information on the latest business trends, or a doctor researching for the latest equipment, everyone who has accessed the internet has somehow, somewhere come across this portal. However tech-savvy you may be, you always come back to Google.

“Although I am pretty old-school and not very tech-savvy, I do use Google, especially

T

on my overseas trips to look for hotels and book flights,” says architect Gerard Da Cunha.

Businessman and owner of Hotel Manoshanti, Panjim, Gaurish Dhond, who although is pretty tech savvy, says that he sometimes has his son search out information for him. “I use the internet, especially Gmail and Facebook, but sometimes when I have to search for information and am short of time, I ask my son to do it for me.”

His son, Viraj, who has now joined the family business apart from setting up his own enterprise dealing in solar water heaters, says, “I use Google to search for anything and everything. In business, we use it to find out more about a person before we have a meeting with him and sometimes when my father has his events and needs to give a speech, he looks for some suitable quotes that can be incorporated into the speech.”

Google’s popularity has grown in the years and it has expanded its reach to the farthest corners of the land. Its reach is so wide that a certain blog went to an extent of saying that ‘If you are not in Google, you don’t exist’, the phrase being used as commercial bait for businessmen to set up websites and accounts in the various email portals. A group on Facebook christened itself with that name. Although it may seem derogatory a phrase, it just goes on to show the reach of the search engine.

The popularity of Google has kept the company true to its mission statement: ‘To organise the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful’.

Your great day is here!

Go out and find another person to share it with -pronto. You're itching for (23 Sep – 22 Oct) something new today -boredom doesn't suit you well. It's a great time for you to broaden your horizons and find someone or something that can rock your world in a totally new way.

Someone headed for danger won't be cautious -- and you may pay the price. Beware. You've got (20 Apr – 20 May) a lot going on today, so focus on the present and make sure that you're not thinking too far out in the future. It's not that it's a bad idea -- just that you should be better at it in a few days.

Gambling can be fun and very profitable -- for the house. Be cautious, avoid risks. Your obses(23 Oct – 21 Nov) sive nature helps you out today as you spot a flaw in a major plan or just an outlying data point that could change everything. Your energy isn't quite up to fixing it, but you can alert the right people.

There is a slow movement toward a direction you may really like, so speed things up. You're (21 May – 21 Jun) on the move once again, and you are feeling good about the new direction. In fact, you may not even be paying much attention to the destination, as the journey is allconsuming!

Despite the quietness of the day, you will not be bored. It's time you had a break. Today is nearly (22 Nov – 21 Dec) perfect for deep, philosophical investigations, which could be relevant to work, spirituality or just your own personal interest. You may not reach any final conclusions, but that's not the point.

Evidently, what you said may have been misinterpreted -- time for damage control. Projects (22 Jun – 22 Jul) start to get a lot more complicated today, and you might have to call in reinforcements. That's not good for your pride, but it's far better than letting yourself fall behind.

Don't let unsatisfactory service ruin your day.

Exercise your rights as a consumer. Your com(22 Dec – 19 Jan) munication style is heightened today --and that is true for most of your peers, as well! It's a great day for you to dive into online and in-person chat with gusto and see what comes of it.

In friendship and at work, the entire group needs to contribute to the teamwork. You've got to make (23 Jul – 22 Aug) a bigger difference today -- but it's harder than usual to make up your mind. That could just mean trusting someone else's judgment, or it could mean working on already settled plans.

Your creativity will rescue a grateful, overwhelmed coworker today. You're a hero. Inspired by new cre(20 Jan – 18 Feb) ative energy, you decide to tackle some intensely personal project -- and might put aside all other concerns, at least for the time being. It's one of those days that demands focus!

Even if things are coming to a close, it's not a good day to make your final move. Everyone knows (19 Feb – 20 Mar) you're a creative powerhouse, but it's days like today that you really show them what you're worth. It's one of those days when you need to make sure that you're in the loop.

Say goodbye to unpleasant work issues. Someone's going, so relief is coming -- soon. You're (23 Aug – 22 Sep) facing a tough decision, and you've got to leave your feelings out of it this time. It's one of those days when the left brain is dominant for good reason -- it really does have all the answers.

Pg14

The saying, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’, is very much followed in Fairyland School. The school displayed an exhibition for its decennial celebration which also encouraged a parent-student participation. Herald elaborates

BY DOLCY D’CRUZ HERALD FEATURES ntering the Fairyland school premises, young Class V students, neatly dressed in their uniforms with cute smiles on their faces, greeted the audience and explained the journey of the school from the year 2000 to the present academic year. The management, staff and students celebrated the Decennial anniversary of the school by organising an exhibition that required involvement of the parent, teacher and child. The unique exhibition brought out the talent of not just the young budding minds but also taught a lot to the teachers and parents. “The school organises annual exhibitions every year, wherein each student along with their parent and teacher works on an exhibit. We saved some of the best exhibits from over the years and put together this exhibition,” said Cyena Pegado, Coordinator of Fairyland School.

The three-day exhibition was inaugurated on September 25 at the school premises. Students of the Fairyland Kindergarten, Primary, High School and Special School participated in the exhibition. The entrance of the school was marked with exhibits from academic year 2000 to 2010 with scenes like Wonders of Water, My Community and Me, which displayed miniatures of people working in different occupations while Our Ancient World had dinosaurs in the background and the evolvement of the planet in the forefront.

The school involves the students in different extracurricular activities like tie and dye, ceramic and glass paintings and candle making. “We have different activities and workshops for educating the students like snake awareness workshop and snack making workshop. We urge parents also to participate in these workshops.

We bring experts from their respective fields to teach our students.

This year, Nandini Raikar, Hobby Idea expert teacher taught the students about painting on ceramic mugs, plates, bowls and even glass. The workshop on tie-dye was conducted by Parul Kapur, lecturer, Garment technology, Government Polytechnic. Many mothers and even our teachers showed great interest on the subject,” says Cyena.

“The tie and dye workshop which was for Class V and VI students involved both synthetic and natural colours like turmeric, tea, coffee, beetroot and mehendi. Some of the exhibits showed how the work is done. The ceramic painting workshop was conducted for Class

IV students,” says Brigida Pegado, Headmistress of Fairyland School.

All these creations were on display at the exhibition and Nikhil Shetty, a student, was very excited to show his creations. After a quick brief on what they exhibition was about and what materials were required for painting, when questioned on what he painted, he immediately pointed out to an artistically drawn frog on a ceramic tile.

The very neatly presented exhibits had different themes according to the class the students studied in. Parents helped their wards in setting up the exhibit in the school and children showed their curiosity by learning the gist behind these activities, besides what they had learnt in their classrooms. The primary students along with their parents had painted sceneries using their fingerprints and thumbprints. The lower KG created paintings using paper cut-outs, paper crumpling, paper folding and mosaic paintings; some took creativity to the next level by adding pencil shavings to create fish scales on a painting. Students of Upper KG created miniatures of a scene using play dough which is very safe for children to mould and play with. Students of Class III made pretty looking accessories out of moulded and painted maida, glass, paper rolls, fruit protection covers and thermocol.

As experienced every year, parents and children bond well when they work together; this of course, with assistance from the teachers of Fairyland. They learn about what interests their children and this in turn boosts their kids’ creativity. “I helped my son Sayed Alfaaz by cutting sunflowers out of thermocol for a garden setting.

He did the remaining painting. I assisted him because he was using cutters and it is risky for a child to handle. Sayed has been to different schools but I found this concept very different. It was a great experience working with my son for the first time on a project and it was like an extracurricular activity for both of us,” says Altaf Alfaaz from St Cruz.

Another part of the exhibition was the Class I using parts of the coconut tree to make things like ropes, brooms and artistic works like a tortoise from a coconut shell and a fly using a coloured coconut shell and painted banana leaves for the wings. The exhibition also included a photography section where students had clicked photographs of the various workshops held during the year. Candle making and decorations was exhibited.

Lata to turn 81 today

­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E Try to keep things short and sweet today. Avoid overexplaining your point of view. Brevity is the (21 Mar – 19 Apr) soul of wit, so that makes you extra-witty today. You keep it all short and sweet, and certainly leave people wanting more. You may start to ramp up in a few days, but for now, cut to the chase.

Parenting

Parents and Kids get Crafty

E

The virtual first step for almost every internet surfer has got to be a search engine; Google being the most preferred. Herald looks into the growth of Google on its completion of 12 years

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ollywood playback legend Lata Mangeshkar turns 81 today, with fans swearing by her golden voice even as she has chosen to cut down on assignments after singing for over 1,000 Hindi movies. Starting her career in 1942, she reigned over the film industry for decades and is still the first preference of many filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Madhur Bhandarkar and an inspiration to established singers of today.

Lata, who was born September 28, 1929, also featured in the Guinness World Records book from 1974 to 1991 for having made the most recordings in the world. She was last heard in Bhandarkar’s ‘Jail’.

“Lataji has given us so much in terms of music, love and affection. I just hope that she lives on forever and gives her blessings to us,” said filmmaker Yash Chopra who has vowed only to work with her among the female singers in the industry. “Lataji is far more than a singer. She mirrors all the

John Travolta eager to visit India again

H

ollywood star John Travolta was felicitated with the GQ Legend award at a glittering ceremony here in Mumbai. The award was presented to the 56-year-old actor by none other than Bollywood’s brightest star in Hollywood, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Travolta said he was looking forward to coming to India again and meeting Bollywood stars.

It was recently rumoured that the Hollywood legend would be doing a live event with Akshay Kumar who has donned a retro John Travolta look in his upcoming movie 'Action Replayy', but Travolta denied these rumours. “We have had no conversation to this effect so far,” he added.

High profile guests from the field of business, film, literature, art and fashion were present at the function. Abhishek Bachchan won the GQ Ultimate Man while Aishwarya bagged the Excellence award. Aamir Khan was given the Cinematic Icon of the Year award and it was presented to him

by Travolta.

Abhishek found the Hollywood biggie “very sweet and human.” He said the actor who featured in movies like 'Grease', 'Saturday Night Fever', 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Face Off' was one of his childhood favourite.

Among the other winners were Rohan Bopanna (Excellence award), Arjun Rampal (GQ Most Stylish Man Award), Adi Godrej (Business of the Year), Arjun Atwal (Sportsman of the year), Naseeruddin Shah (Lifetime Achievement award), Karan Johar (Producer of the year), Priyanka Chopra (Woman of the year), Ranbir Kapoor (Actor of the year), Arnab Goswami (TV Personality of the year) and Narayana Murthy (Agent of social Change award).

beauty of the soul. It is that beauty that I want to capture in my songs,” Sanjay Leela Bhansali said.

Bhansali’s forthcoming film ‘Guzaarish’ is also inspired by one of Lata’s imperishable melodies.

Starting her career in 1942 with songs in Marathi, Lata’s first Hindi song was ‘Paa lagoon kar jori’ for Vasant Joglekar’s movie ‘Aap Ki Seva Mein’ in 1946. Two years later, composer Ghulam Haider gave Lata her first major break with the song ‘Dil mera toda’ in ‘Majboor’ and after that there was no looking back for the nightingale of India, as she is fondly called. She has worked with all the major composers of the bygone era and mesmerised the current lot too.

Lata has recorded songs for over 1,000 Bollywood movies and sung in more than 36 regional Indian languages. She is the second vocalist ever to have received the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honour.

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Tuesday, 28 Sept, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

36th Tiatr Competition, organised

by Kala Academy, Panjim is being held at the Kala Academy through the month of September and October.

Call 2420452.

Applications from Goan handicraft artisans are invited by the Goa Handicrafts Rural Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited (GHRSSIDC) to participate at the GHRSSIDC stall, Goa Pavillion at India International Trade Fair 2010 to be held from November 14 to 27, 2010 at the Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Registration closes on October 11. Visit GHRSSIDC Head Office at Crafts Complex, Neugi Nagar, Panjim.

Call 2228157 or 2225328.

‘Kal ani Aiz’, written by Tomazinho Cardozo will be staged on September 29 at 7pm at the 36th Tiatr Festival organised by Kala Academy, at the Kala Academy, Panjim.

The State Level Youth Festival 2010, organised by the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs will be held to select young persons for the National Youth Festival 2011. The North District Level Youth Festival will be held on September 30 and October 1 at Gomantak Maratha Samaj Hall, Panjim.

The 10th Goa State (under-16) interschool Tennis Ball Cricket Championship for boys and girls and the 7th State (under-19) inter-higher secondary school championship for boys and girls, organised by the Goa Tennis Ball Cricket Association and the Sports Authority of Goa will take place from October 3 to 5 at Vasco and Campal, Panjim.

Art of Writing Haiku, a workshop

by Kala Ramesh will be held on October 22 and 23 from 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 6pm at Sunaparata – Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Pan-

fresco

Parenting

Pg15

Photos by Chiquitita de Souza

Anil Counto and Srinivas Dempo(above) Anil Counto and Dr Pocinho Mario Miranda reply Counto said, “This honour is not mine alone but that of Goa and Goans.” An interesting observation by Counto was that spoken and written Portuguese language in Goa is fast diminishing, the government should encourage Portuguese as a third language at the high school level, which would empower Goans to understand and deal with all Portuguese documentation records, sans the need of a translator.

The ornate interiors, the manicured gardens, the music and the hushed tones of conversation floating in the night air were the ingredients for the perfect night.

Pandurang Phaldesai (left)

Maria A Couto and Varsha and Mangurish Pai Raikar(right)

“An archaeologist is the best husband any woman can have; the older she gets, the more interested he is in her.”

– Agatha Christie DAILY GROOK MOTION EMOTION

by Francis Rodrigues like many a wonder of natural science, an earthquake is a moving experience!

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 666 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

12:00 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 14:30 Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

15:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 15:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 16:00 Pavitra Rishta 16:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 17:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 17:30 Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

18:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 18:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 19:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 19:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

22:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 22:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan

11:15 Lapataganj 12:00 Gutar Gu 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Papad Pol 14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

14:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 15:00 Lapataganj 15:30 FIR 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

16:30 Papad Pol 17:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 17:30 Gutar Gu 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta …

18:30 Papad Pol 19:00 Gutar Gu 19:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Papad Pol 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo

Carolina Po with the Furtados

Lambert Mascarenhas

WIZARD OF ID

11:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 11:30 Pavitra Rishta

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

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GARFIELD

11:00 Comedy Circus Ke Superstars 12:30 Aahat 13:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 13:30 Entertainment Ke Liye 15:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 15:30 C.I.D 19:30 Mahi Way 20:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00 Comedy Ka Daily Soap 21:30 Entertainment Ke Liye

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INGS

Order of ‘Merito’ for Goa’s ‘Count’o

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES ast weekend saw a special evening of classy wines, tasteful treats and elegant people come together at the official residence of the Consul General of Portugal in Goa. It was an absolutely important evening for Goa’s prominent construction tycoon, industrialist and philanthropist, Anil Counto as he was honoured with one of the highest Portuguese civilian awards – the Insignia of ‘Commendador’, Order of ‘Merito’ at the hands of the Ambassador of Portugal to India, Dr Luis Filipe de Castro Mendes.

The honour was bestowed on the renowned Goan for his constant endeavours in strengthening the ties between India and Portugal.

The crowd was a good mix comprising of the ever affable, Consul General of Portugal to Goa, Dr Paulo Neves Pocinho, the eminent Lambert Mascarenhas and Mario Aurora Couto, Mario de Miranda, Goa’s cartoonist of international repute, Pandurang Phaldesai, member secretary of the Kala Academy, Carolina Po, the Mayor, Dr Wilfred de Sousa, deputy chairman of the State Planning Board, and industrialist Ralph de Souza, amongst others. The Saraswat ladies truly stood out in the crowd as they shimmered with their inborn elegance and class while the men looked elegant in their formal suits.

After speeches were made by Dr Mendes and Dr Pocinho, in

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Funny Quote

Pronunciation fres-koh Function Noun Meaning 1: art of painting on a moist, plaster surface with colours ground up in water or a limewater mixture 2: a picture or design so painted Example Sentence The magic of the lifelike frescos by great artists have the ability to transport you to a realm unthinkable.

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 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 15:00 Kaali: Ek Agnipariksha 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 Tere Liye 18:30 Sabki Laadli Bebo 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Tere Liye

EN

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SUDOKU 667

jim. Call 2421311.

Gandhian ideology will be discussed at the book discussion as part of the recently launched ‘ICG Book Reading Club’, organised by the International Centre Goa (ICG) is being held on October 1 at 5.30pm at the ICG, Dona Paula. Call 9765404391.

Ways to analyse and review a film will be the subject for the tenth and final session of the film appreciation course ‘Imago: The Language of Film’. It will be held on October 1 at 5.30pm at Gallery Gitanjali, Fontainhas, Panjim. Call 9423316395, 9823572035 or 9823253361.

The Italian Film Festival, organised by the Italian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the International Centre Goa will be held from October 22 to 24 at 6pm at the International Centre Goa. Call 9765404391.

The All Goa Toroloco Tequila Cocktail Competition is on for bartenders, both experienced and amateurs. Call 2262922, 2253377 or 2407030-71.

‘Unseen Goa’, a presentation by Sanjeev Sardessai will be held on September 29 at 6.30pm at the Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Panjim. Call 2421311.

Free public dental check-ups, organised by Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited and the Indian Dental Association (IDA) will be held in Margao throughout September and October as part of Oral Health Month 2010.

SMS her/his postal pin code to 5676725.

The 7th Interactive Session of the Series on Health, organised by the International Centre Goa will be held on October 8 from 6pm to 7:30pm at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. The 8th session will be held on October 15. Call 9765404391.

Information Technology

08:10 Hot Shots! Part Deux 10:00 What's the Worst That Could Happen?

12:00 Shanghai Noon 14:10 Die Another Day 16:45 Direct Contact 18:35 The Mist 21:00 The Day the Earth Stood Still 23:05 Quantum of Solace

09:00 Seven Pounds 12:00 Black Dawn 14:00 Rush Hour 2 15:45 Proof of Life 19:00 Mortal Kombat 21:00 Get Smart 23:15 Clear and Present Danger

36th Tiatr Competition 2010-11 - Day III

BESAUM

R E V I E W

08:00 Anjaam 11:50 Jungle 15:40 Soldier 20:00 Garv: Pride and Honour 23:50 Sbo Gold

09:30 Banaras 12:30 Bewafaa 16:00 Main Hoon Rakhwala 20:00 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam

09:35 Hard Ball 11:40 Festival in Cannes

BY RON FIDELIS he opening song began this tiatr with a court scene and then the rosto and finally the prison, interspersed between the verses of the song. However, had this bunch rehearsed some more, their capabilities would be seen in a much different light, as was rightly pointed out by the director, who humbly held himself responsible first and refused to divulge the names of the cast who took the rehearsals lightly. Had the United Dramatic Association, Carambolim’s managed to captivate the minds of the audiences like efforts of stalwart Hortencio with his outstanding stage presence, this wouldn’t have been the case.

Even amongst the amateur bunch however, noticeable performances did come from Seby de Quepem and especially Anthony Gonsalves. This boy impersonates one with a huge ego; courtesy his economic disposition in society. Of course, humour indeed is the best way to put an ego to rest and none in the audience had complains.

Using a background canto, this rich kid is seeing inviting the advocate, the judge, the inspector and other bigwigs of society – the same few who are seen setting up an innocent man in the opening song. The plot of the play is thus set right at the beginning with the court room scene showcasing everything – including a quick verdict by the judge no sooner than he hears the case which clearly came across as fake. With more melodrama than drama in the flashback story that follows, overdone at certain places and not so much at other junctures, direction was clearly a lacking. Then again, when an artist has one’s eyeballs moving all over the place and negligible attention is paid to the intonation during dialogue delivery, we know it is a half done act. A mistake made here, also by many more playwrights, is the obsession about directing one’s selfwritten play. The script apart, if it got the right treatment from a specific professional director, things would definitely be different.

The goof-ups were also humourous. For instance, when the police constable is told to search the house for a bag of money, he mindlessly begins searching the entire stage instead of restricting himself to just that part of the stage

T

13:40 See This Movie 15:25 K-19: The Widowmaker 18:45 The Curse of the Jade Scorpion 21:00 Basic 23:10 Pretty Persuasion

12:00 Ek Ladka Ek Ladki 16:00 Adventures of Tarzan 20:00 Deewane Huye Paagal 23:55 36 China Town

12:00 Phool Bane Angarey 16:00 Sone Pe Suhaaga 20:00 Gopi Kishan

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 21:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 22:00 Lapataganj 22:30 FIR

11:30 Dill Mill Gayye 12:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 12:30 Mano Ya Na Mano 13:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 13:30 Geet 14:00 Dill Mill Gayye 14:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 15:00 Geet 15:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 16:00 Dill Mill Gayye

16:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 17:00 Geet 17:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 18:00 Dill Mill Gayye 18:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Sarabhai vs Sarabhai 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 22:30 Dill Mill Gayye

12:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 12:30 Breaking The Magician's Code

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

13:30 David Blaine : Magic Man 14:30 The Amazing Race 17:00 Masters of Illusion 18:00 Charmed 19:00 Fear Factor 20:00 So You Think You Can Dance

12:00 How I Met Your Mother 12:30 The Simpsons 13:00 MasterChef Australia 14:00 Friends 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 Ugly Betty 16:00 How I Met Your Mother 16:30 The Simpsons

17:00 Bones 18:00 MasterChef Australia 19:00 How I Met Your Mother 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 Best of Koffee with Karan 21:00 MasterChef Australia 22:00 Bones

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 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 15:00 Kaali: Ek Agnipariksha 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 Tere Liye 18:30 Sabki Laadli Bebo 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Tere Liye 22:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

10:00 US Amateur Championship 12:00 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 : Liverpool vs.

Sunderland 14:00 MLB Regular Season 2010 : New York Yankees vs.

Toronto Blue Jays 17:00 The Monday Night Verdict 18:00 X Games 15 : All Access Prv 19:00 Barclays Premier League Hls 20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia

21:00 Bpl Express : Liverpool vs.

Sunderland 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia 23:00 Barclays Premier League Hls

10:30 Italian Serie A : Fiorentina vs. Parma 12:30 Moto GP H/ls : Gran Premio De Aragon 13:30 Asian Festival of Speed : GT3A - P3: Sepang Malaysia 14:30 Serie A Show 15:00 La Liga H/ls 16:00 FIM Speedway World Cup H/ls 17:00 WWE: After Burn 18:00 Serie A Show 18:30 UEFA Champions League Magazine Show : Preview (MD-2) 19:30 2010 H/ls : 07:00 FIM KidsSpeedway Club Round 6: Cardiff - Great 07:30 Noman Tuka Goa Britain 08:00 English News 20:30 Champions 09:00 UEFA Konkani News League H/ls 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Konkani Palkachim Noketram 21:30 Football League 11:30 HCN Smash Hits Show 12:00 Lorna Rocks Goa 22:00 Mundial 12:30 Motorsport Ankur 13:00 English News 14:00 WWE: Konkani Movie 22:30 After Burn 15:30 Sangeet 16:00 Rhythmic Breathing 23:30 UEFA Champions League 16:30 HCN Hits 2010/11 : AJSmash Auxerre vs. Real 17:00 Kids Madrid CF Club 17:30 Konkani Palkachim Noketram 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News Nat geo 21:00 Fight LornaScience Rocks Goa 13:00 : Samurai 21:30 Fusion Concert Sword 22:00 English News 23:00 True Revolutionz 14:00 Stories : IC 814 Hijack 23:30 Talking Talkies 00:00 My campus Rocks 15:00 Big : 00:30 LornaDam Rocks Goa 01:00 Art of living 16:00 01:30 Nat Life Geo is toJunior live : Monkey Thieves - The Monkey Catcher Note: Subject to Change

depicting a poor household illuminated by the area lighting. The entry made through the bedroom door instead of the main door also had everyone laughing.

With a supportive band as well as an extremely patient audience however, a smiling drummer Santan from Mistri Cotta kept many amateurs within the beat, almost making it look as if it were a CD skipping. A vibrant quartet penned by Selwyn de Siolim and a song about a quack doctor removing the devil out of his patients with his magic medicine were the only ones that stood out. With popular tunes being used in cantos and cantarams, we did miss a background score at certain places; especially since it would have camouflaged the huge dead air when dialogues were forgotten. That would have been a huge besaum.

This being only the third play yet, wonder what we would see when in tomorrows play with a name like ‘Tuji Vokol, Moji Bail’ to be put up by Konkan Kalavistar Kendra, Vasco.

HERALD CROSSWORD - 666 Across 1- Long stories; 6- Canadian gas brand; 10- Agree; 14- ___ Grows in Brooklyn; 15- Mongrel dog; 16- Employs; 17- Bikini blast; 18- German sausage; 19Gossip; 20- Bleat of a sheep; 21- Twixt's partner; 23- Totaled; 24- ___ is human; 26- Sound of a horse; 27- Tenfold; 29- Former French currency; 31- Some are pale; 32- Braid; 33- Bottle lid; 36- One recording the past; 40- Bandleader Brown; 41Goddess of love; 42- Architect Saarinen; 43- Pertaining to the moon; 44- Capital of Russia; 46- Large marine mammal; 48Stuffing for pillows; 49- Twice, a comforting comment; 50Money bag; 52- Antlered animal; 55- Circular band; 56- Capital of Fiji; 57- Water wheel; 59Actress Heche; 60- Not kosher; 61- Happening; 62- 365 days; 63- Tidy, without fault; 64- Cowboy display; Down 1- Swedish auto; 2- ___ boy!; 3Muchness; 4- Loser to DDE; 5Dog breed; 6- Cinder; 7- Deodorant brand; 8- Ollie's partner; 9- Giant Mel; 10- Jewish; 11- Of Thee ___; 12- Shelflike sleeping space; 13This, in Tijuana; 22- Like some humor; 23- Oscar de la ___; 25Kiln for drying hops; 26- Neet rival; 27- Wonka's creator; 28- "Night" author Wiesel; 29- Finely ground meal of grain; 30- Torn clothing; 32-

___ colada; 33- Tessellated; SOLUTION - 665 34- Dynamic beginning; 35Bow; 37- Small egg; 38Actor Auberjonois; 39- Cancun coin; 43- More massive; 44- Barker and Bell; 45Kitchen utensil; 46- Feeble peevish complaint; 47- Tropical plant used in cosmetics; 48- Kool-Aid maker; 49Salver; 50- Free from contamination; 51- Eye layer; 53- Queue; 54- The Green Hornet's sidekick; 56- RR stop; 58- Egg head?;

SPORTS

Pg16

GOA, Tuesday, 28 September, 2010

MRF Calangute win Goans Hockey tourney

Sirsaim edge past FC Sanquelim lSporting Clube of Davorlim maul Macasana; Canacona win

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, SEPT 27

MRF Calangute and Taj, Benaulim alongwith Fr. Ralino D'souza, Fr. Wilfred Fernandes, administrator Don Bosco, Lloyd Macedo, Dexter Pereira, Benny Viegas, executive member, Alexander Remedios, DSYA coach and Eliter Fernandes, SAG coach.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

MRF, Calangute got the better of Taj, Benaulim 3-2 in the 1st all-Goa 4-a-side indoor hockey

Domaciano re-elected UC Benaulim chief HERALD SPORTS DESK MARGAO, SEPT 27

Domaciano Fernandes, proprietor of Pedro's Bar, BenaulimBeach was elected President, United Club of Benaulim for the fifth consecutive term at the AGM at Cana-Benaulim Panchayat hall on Sunday.

Following members were appointed to the Executive Committee and other posts. Remy Fernandes (vice-president), Fermino Fernandes (general secretary), Tony Fernandes (joint secretary), Severino Fernandes (treasurer), Francisco Fernandes (assistant treasurer), Rony Diniz (sports secretary), Santano Fernandes and Ossy Fernandes (assiatant secretaries). Organizing committee: Cajie Fernandes, Ancete Fernandes, Isidore Silva, Menino Fernandes. Disciplinary committee: Joaquim Diogo Silva, Cassidy Fernandes, Anthony Fernandes, Rosario Silva, Goddy Rodrigues, Remedious Fernandes and Cliff Fernandes.

tournament organised by Goans Hockey at Don Bosco indoor auditorium. Throughout the tournament one was able to feast upon some scintillating display of stick work , pace and passion.

The young lads from Bastora delighted the Sunday crowd with some splendid display of “total hockey".

Lloyd Macedo, vice-president of Goans Hockey welcomed and appreciated the teams for their commitment and passion for the sport. Fr. Ralino D'Souza, director of Don Bosco Oratory was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Pankaj Karapurkar and Alfy Fernandes of Bastora were awarded most promising young players award. Dexter Pereira , treasurer proposed the vote of thanks.

Third Division soccer: Augustias SC v. St Domnic Savio SC, Quitula ground; Youth Club of Manora v. Our Lady of Gloria SC, Loutolim ground; Sports & Welfare Club of Zaino v. Dicarpale SC, Dicarpale ground; United Club of Telaulim v. Navelim Sporting Club, Navelim ground; CRC Chinchinnim v. St Sebastian YC, Fatorda, Dando ground; Chicalim YC v. Baina SC, Tilak Maidan; Odxel SC v. Panjim Footballers, Taleigao ground; Crown Club v. Sateri SC, Santa Cruz ground; Nerul SC v. Pilerne SC, Anjuna ground. Kick off 4.15 p.m.

St Joseph Festival soccer semis: Curtorim Gymkhana v.

United Club of Benaulim, Dramapur ground, 4.30 p.m.

Flame of Unity under-14 soccer: Infant Jesus High School, Colva v. St Joseph Educational Institute, Chandor, Mabai ground, Per-Seraulim, 4.30 p.m.

First half goals from Drynan Pereira and Pandurang Korgaonkar were enough to give Sirsaim Sports and Welfare Club the edge as they defeated Football Clube de Sanquelim 2-1 in GFA’s Third Division at St Christopher ground on Monday.

Drynan netted in the 12th minute to put Sirsaim ahead.

Pandurang doubled the lead in the 29th.

Sanquelim put up a good fight after the breather. In the 59th,

Ismael Savonur scored a consolation goal.

Although Sanquelim lost, they had the last laugh as they took the second play-off place.

This was the last match of Group C. BAFF finished first with 13 points followed by Sanquelim with 9 points. Sirsaim finished on 9 points but had an inferior goal difference. Colvale finished fourth also on 9 points. St Christoher Sports Club collected 3 points, while Eagle Sports Club finished last having lost all their matches.

The match between Quitula

Sports Club and A. A. de Moira at Quitula ground was postponed just before kick off as the Match Commissioner felt it was not in a suitable The matches between CDJ Ribander and Aivao United FC and Cabesa Sports and Cultural Club and Nauxim Sports Club were postponed due to heavy rains.

Sporting Club of Davorlim hammered Macasana Welfare Club 13-3. Macasana scored through Terence Miranda (4, 85), Paxton Gomes (7, 56, 58), Piedade Colaco (27, 28), Agnelo Colaco (36, 79, 80), Ronnie Fur-

tado (83), Braz Vales (86), Telu Raikar (87).

Macasana’s scorers: Melvin Sequeira (46), Daryl Moraes (54), Aleixo Vaz (62).

Canacona Sports Academy beat Davorlim Sports Club 2-1.

Prashant Goode (29), Kevin Dias (65) scored for Canacona. Arnaldo D'Costa (73) netted for Davorlim.

Cross Boys beat Patrong 2-0.

Raitura beat Arlem YA 4-1.

David Barbosa (4, 32), Nelson Colaco (29, 53) scored for Raitura. Ashley D'Souza (68) scored for Arlem.

Friends win Sunshine League title HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Friends Sporting Club, Carambolim won the first Sunshine League Cup defeating Dhulapi Sports CIub, CorIim 4-1 via tiebreaker organized by Sunshine Sports Club, Carambolim from August 15 to September 26 at Carambolim Panchayat ground, on Sunday.

Friends held an upper hand and dominated the match only to be denied victory by Dhulapi goalkeeper Ritesh Naik who affected splendid saves twice off Nitish Mistry and Frankie Mascarenhas. Friends Keeper was hardly tested with some superb defending by Friends captain Benzy Gonsalves and Sahil Balpravesh. Melwyn Pereira, Gouri s h Va i g a n ka r a n d B o s c o Gonsalves excelled in midfield for Friends. In the tie-breaker Sahil Balpravesh, Gourish Vaigankar, Frankie Mascarenhas and Bosco Gonsalves converted for Friends while only Lavesh Dhulapkar was on target for Dhulapi. Sagar Dhulapkar and Kishen Dhulapkar shot wide for Dhulapi.

Earlier, in the semi-finals,

Friends Sporting Club, Carambolim.

Friends Sporting defeated Small Boys Club, Carambolim with a brace from Frankie Mascarenhas. Dhulapi S.C. defeated SAIPDA by 3-1 margin. Bhandas Dhulapkar(2) and Lavesh Dhulapkar scored for Dhulapi. The finals was well supervised by Diniz D'Costa.

In all, 16 teams participated.

Wilson Valadares, ex-sarpanch

was the chief guest while Sameer Volvoikar, ex vice-chairman of Kadamba Transport Corp. and Smita Naik, deputy sarpanch were the guest of honours. Dinesh Usgaonkar, president of the club and Narayan, secretary welcomed.

Friends were awarded Rs. 6,000 plus a trophy while Dhulapi SC had to be content with

Rs. 4,000. Following individual prizes were awarded: Best goalkeeper: Ritesh Naik of Dhulapi SC. Best player of the match: Sai Dhulapkar of Dhulapi SC. First hat-trick of the tourney: Sameer Bomkar of RSC. Best disciplined team: Sunshine Sports Club (Blue) and best veteran player: Diniz D'Costa of Sunshine Sports Club.

Black Arrow Boys triumph

Sohail with Vengsarkar

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Black Arrow Boys defeated Vailankani Boys 3-1 to lift the

Pinc Panthers win Goa Super Sixes lSohail Khan adjudged best batsman

Selwyn memorial soccer title organised by the Boys of Povoacao at Macasana church ground.

Olga, mother of late Selwyn was

the chief guest and gave away the prizes. Placid compered. Agnelo Estibeiro proposed the vote of thanks.

GOA DIARY Floodlit tie-breaker at Morjim

PANJIM (HSD) – The M.S.C Morjim will organise an all-Goa 3-aside floodlit football tie-breaker and one-man show on October 1 at 7 p.m. at Govt. Primary School, Pokarwaddo, Morjim ground.

The winners and runners-up will be awarded Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 3,000 respectively. Details may be obtained from Paresh on 9823646979 or Damodar on 8888802815.

7-a-side football at Agarwado

PANJIM (HSD) – The M.S.C, Morjim will organise their all-Goa 7a-side one-day football tournament at Govt. High School, Agarwada ground from October 3 to 10 at 10 a.m. The winners and runnersup will be awarded Rs. 12,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively. Other individual prizes will also be awarded. Details may be obtained from Paresh on 9823646979 or Damodar on 8888802815.

Road running race

Pinc Panthers led by Gaurang Gandhi.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 27

Pinc Panthers beat XXX Energy Drink by three runs in the finals of Goa Super Sixes 2010 at Benaulim on Monday. Pinc Panthers scored 63 for the loss of two wickets in five overs (Mohinder Amarnath 17, Aditya Singh 34 with 4 sixes, Lalchand Rajput 12). XXX Energy Drink

60 for three in five overs (Sachin Joshi 17, Nitin Kamal 14, Shrikant Kalyani 20). Best batsmen: Sohail Khan. Best bowler: Nilesh Kulkarni. Best fielder: Suresh Menon. Butter fingers: Kalpesh Mehta.

In the semi-finals, Pinc Panther beat Royal Marathas by 32 runs and XXX Energisers beat Bombay Bombers by 38 runs.

MARGAO (HC) -- Young Boys of Bencleamvaddo, Cuncolim in collaboration with Goa Athletic Association will organize their first-ever 5Km road running race for men open category on October 3 at 10.30 a.m. It will start at Bencleamvaddo and finish at Comba Paricotto winding its way through Cuncolim Municipal Council wards – Takeband, Kedgicotto, Golleacanto, Macorni and Belathem. Barefoot runners are not eligible. Rs 3000, Rs 2000 and Rs 1000 will be awarded besides Rs 500 each to the 4th, 5th and 6th place finishers. Participants from outside Cuncolim will be given Rs 100 as travelling allowance.

Details may be obtained from Shripad Kundaiker on 94224561493 or Paresh Kamat (9823727112) or Mario Moraes (9822075047). Spot entries will be accepted upto half an hour before the start of the race.

Blaster Boys lift Collem Trophy

Arjun Salgaoncar giving away the trophy to the winners of Dudhsagar Pearls Football tournament at Collem in the presence of Sandeep Dessai (Collem Sarpanch), Nilesh Panchwadkar (president of Dudhsagar Pearls) , Rashmi Lambor (ZP), Krishan Gavas, Manjunath Hegde.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, SEPT 27

Blaster Boys of Collem defeated Dudhsagar Pearls Association, Collem 1-0 in the finals of 15th football tournament organised

by Dudhsagar Pearls Association of Collem at College panchayat ground. There was no score at

half time.

Charles scored the match-winner.

Blaster Boys won Rs 5000 and a trophy. Dudhsagar had to be content with Rs 3000 and a trophy.

Losing semi-finalists Rakesh Sports Club and Mahamaya Group were awarded Rs 1000

each.

Fo l l o w i n g p r i z e s w e r e awarded: Best player Shounak Verenkar. Best goalkeeper Appa Gaonkar. Best defender Walton Diniz. First goal Charles. Best disciplined team Saish. Future player Aman Gaonkar.

Arjun Salgaonkar was the

chief guest at the prize distribution function. Rashmi Lambor, Sandeep Desai, Krishna Gauns, Dr Rajendra Lambor, Manjunath Hegde, Raju Khandeparkar were among those present. Nielsh Panchwadkar welcomed. Kistod Fernandes compered and later proposed the vote of thanks.

Pg17

SPORTS GOA, Tuesday, 28 September, 2010

Madrid, Inter look to find cutting edge

Goa’s GoldEn UndER-19

AP LONDON, SEPT 27

Goa’s star striker and highest scorer Rakesh Kumar who scored in all five goals (two field and The Goa team receiving the National U-19 Trophy from J&K Revenue Minister in Jammu. three spot kicks).

Manager Braz Rodrigues (centre) alongwith assistant coach Baptist Fernandes and coach M Muthawali.

Heroes arriving today HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

The Goa schools football team which won the National U-19 junior football championship in Jammu defeating Chandigarh in the finals will be accorded a befitting reception on their arrival at Margao Railway Station on Tuesday at 6.30 a.m., stated DSYA director, Dr Susana de Sousa.

The school boys deserve a warm reception as they won the gold, stated Dr Susana who said she would be personally present to felicitate the champions.

She had a special word of praise for goalkeeper Marshall whose heroic saves in the tie-breaker in the semi-finals and finals made a world of difference.

That apart, Marshall disGoalkeeper Marshall Fernandes (vice-captain), played a very safe pair of hands during the regular who in all saved four penalties.

Nhehern in four world yoga finals HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 27

World champion Nhehern Acharya put up a sterling show at World Yoga Championship Championship in Argentina as he reached the finals of all the four events he was selected to participate.

Achar ya is a member of India’s 12-member team.

time, she added.

Dr Susana said that coach M M Muthawali deserved a special mention for his meticulous planning and strategy.

He was ably helped by assistant coach Baptist Fernandes, she added. Mana g e r B r a z Ro d r i g u e s excelled in looking after the lodging, boarding, transportation and other arrangements, Dr Susana pointed out.

“The threesome worked as a dedicated unit, inspiring the boys to put on their best display and the students responded with aplomb.”

Goa team: Shyamsuddin Honnapur (Fr Basilio Andrade HSS, Majorda), Vilfrax Furtado (Rosary HSS, Navelim), Clinton Dias (Govt HS Sadar Ponda), Mazar Ali (Govt HS Ponda), J o a l a n Fe r n a n d e s ( S t

Xavier’s HSS, Mapusa), Amiruddin Shaikh (Rosary HSS, Navelim), captain Mohammed Ali (Dempo HSS, Panjim), Newton d’Sousa (Gaonkar HSS Raia), Bitu Singh (Jawaharlal Nehru HSS, Fatorda), Albert Gonsalves (St Xaviers’s HSS Mapusa), Nikil Naik (Vidhya Prabodhini, Porvorim), Rakesh Kumar (Govt HS Sadar, Ponda), Agnelo Fernandes (Rosary HS, Navelim), Bishnoo Singh (Govt HS, Sadar Ponda), Pilino Ratos (St Xavier HSS, Mapusa), vice-captain Marshall Fernandes (St Xavier’s HSS, Mapusa), Archie Fernandes (Jawaharlal Nehru HSS, Fatorda), Feriton Fernandes (Damodar HS, Gudi Paroda).

Officials: M M Muthawali (coach), Baptist Fernandes (asst coach), Braz Rodrigues (manager).

Saeed quits as Pak manager REUTERS KARACHI, SEPT 27

Yawar Saeed has stepped down as Pakistan manager following the team's controversial tour of England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said today.

The PCB said Saeed had asked the board chairman if he could be relieved of his duties. ''Yawar Saeed met with the chairman today who has accepted his request, the board will announce a new manager in due course,'' PCB media manager Nadeem Sarwar told reporters.

Saeed has come in for severe criticism for his handling of team affairs on the tour of England, which was marred by corruption allegations. ''I don't want to comment on my decision but I have been thinking about it for a while now,'' Saeed said.

Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and team mates Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif

were suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after newspaper allegations that they had deliberately arranged for no-balls to be delivered at last

month's fourth test.

The ICC also launched an investigation into suspicious ''scoring patterns'' by Pakistan in the third one dayer, which the visitors won.

The 75-year-old managed the Pakistan team on numerous tours since the 70s and was a member of the inquiry committee that probed into the team's poor performances in Australia early this year that led to the banning and fining of seven players.

Former Test captain, Aamir Sohail said he was not surprised that Saeed had stepped down as there was too much pressure on the current board and team management after the England tour. ''I think the PCB is under pressure now to make a fresh start and I think we can expect more changes,'' he said.

Pakistan will next play South Africa in the UAE.

Defending champion Inter Milan and nine-time titleholder Real Madrid will look to rediscover their cutting edge up front when they renew their Champions League campaigns this week.

Inter, which drew its opening Group A match 2-2 with FC Twente and next plays Werder Bremen.

Madrid will expect more when it travels to Auxerre for its second Group G match this season as coach Jose Mourinho continues his bid for Champions League success with a third team. Inter coach Rafa Benitez’s mood will not be helped by the potential loss of striker Diego Milito, who is doubtful for the Bremen match after injuring his thigh against Roma.

Inter striker Samuel Eto’o, scored the team’s equalizer at Twente as the reigning champions earned a point from what proved to be a tough opener against the tournament newcomers.

Bremen also opened up with a 2-2 draw against English side Tottenham, which is at home to Twente on Wednesday. Madrid remains unbeaten in the Spanish league and kicked off its European campaign by beating Ajax 2-0.

But Mourinho, who guided Inter to Champions League glory last season, is worried about his side’s goalscoring issues which he believes has cost it four points in two domestic matches.

“I am obviously concerned because we need to score,” said Mourinho. “We are a solid team in defense. We have only allowed one goal in six official games — five in La Liga and one

PREVIEW Chelsea's Ivory Coast footballer Didier Drogba participates in a team training session at the club's training ground in Cobham, southern England on Monday.

in the Champions League—and our tactics aren’t the problem, but we aren’t scoring.”

Kaka is still out with a knee injury but Madrid team doctor Carlos Diez said the Brazil attacking midfielder, who hasn’t played since the World Cup, was making good progress.

“He is almost free of symptoms at the moment,” said Diez.

In the group’s other match, AC Milan and Ajax—who have won 11 European Cups between them—meet at the Amsterdam ArenA. Barcelona, which began Group D with a 5-1 thrashing of Panathi-

David Beckham has been told to "drop his pants in court" by the hooker, who claimed she had a threesome with the footballer, to prove his innocence.

Irma Nici insisted she knew intimate "distinguishing characteristics" which would support her story.

Becks sources branded her a desperate, raving liar, and he has lodged a 16 million pounds writ after the 26-year-old Bosnian hooker challenged him to drop his pants in court to prove his innocence.

Team Beckham lawyers vowed to step up their bid to sue her and the US magazine, which published the vile slur for 16 million

pounds damages.

"This should be seen for what it is -- the ravings of a desperate woman," the Sun quoted a source as saying.

"She is a malicious fantasist without a single shred of evidence to support her pack of lies.”

"The writs stand against her, the magazine and its publishers. The statement is further proof that she has absolutely no evidence. If she had, she would have disclosed it by now to one of the many publications she has been trying to hawk her story to.

It is not surprising that she's had no takers," the source said.

The source added: "Attention is now being focused on the magazine publishers as to

serie a

REUTERS MILAN, SEPT 27

HERALD SPORTS DESK MARGAO, SEPT 27

Mae dos Pobres High School, Nuvem emerged champions in first 8-a-side inter-school soccer tournament in memory of Sr Magdalene SFN organized by St. Joseph Convent High School, Nagoa at Nagoa panchayat ground on Saturday.

In the final match Mae dos Po b re s d e f e a t e d Ra j e s h Nanoskar’s highly motivated Our Lady of Perpetual Succour High School team, Cortalim by a solitary goal from Stephen Colaco.

Both teams played consistently throughout the tournament but experienced Bharat Lokhapuri’s tough team did not allow the Cortalim boys to touch the winner’s trophy with their clever play.

Lincoln Fernandes of Perpetual Succour was declared best goalkeeper of the tournament and Jose Travaso best striker.

Godfrey Mascarenhas of Mae dos Pobres was adjudged best defender and Ivon Colaco best midfielder. The best discipline trophy was awarded to Our Lady of Snow’s High School, Raia.

Sr Clarina Gonsalves, headmistress of St. Joseph Convent alongwith other special invitees gave away the prizes.

Valencia Antao compered.

Bonavine proposed the vote of thanks.

Inter Milan remained top of Serie A despite Saturday's defeat at AS Roma after most of the unlikely chasing pack lost leaving Lazio the main beneficiaries five matches into the season.

It was also a good day for Juventus and their new Serbia winger Milos Krasic, who opened his account for the club with a hat-trick in a 4-2 home win over Cagliari which banished memories of Thursday's 3-1 loss to Palermo.

The former CSKA Moscow player, who Juve fans liken to their retired hero Pavel Nedved because of his Slavic blonde hair and driving runs, netted with an angled drive, a ferocious volley and a scrappy third to send Luigi Del Neri's enigmatic side up to ninth.

Mauro Zarate's second-half goal yesterday gave Lazio a 10 win at Chievo to end the home side's hopes of top spot and lift the Romans level on points with champions Inter, who stay first on goal difference following the 1-0 defeat by last term's runners-up.

Argentine striker Zarate, a rare bright spot last season before Lazio's flirt with relegation, has endured a difficult start to the campaign but rewarded coach Edy Reja for restoring him to the starting lineup by finishing off Stefano Mauri's pass.

Brescia could have surged to

Yuki wins 1st round AGENCIES KUALA LUMPUR, SEPT 27

Making an impressive start at the ATP Malaysian Open, Indian teen Yuki Bhambri demolished fellow wild card Yew-ming SI of Malaysia 6-2 6-0 in the first round here on Monday.

Yuki may go on to play the biggest match of his career in the next round as he is likely to face world number 11 Spaniard

why they maliciously went ahead with this article, knowing it was based on lies."

However, Nici seems unmovable from her words.

Nici's management said earlier: "Irma stands by her previous statements. Any lawsuit against her is a publicity stunt and without merit.

"Any attorney who brings an action against her should be prepared to face sanctions and pay all legal costs because they will lose.

"There is more to the story that Irma hasn't told yet. We are highly confident that Irma can provide enough detail and other forms of proof to persuade a jury that her tryst with David Beckham did in-

Copenhagen in the other match.

Elsewhere Wednesday, Valencia hosts Manchester United and Bursaspor goes to Rangers in Group C, while Group B play sees Hapoel Tel Aviv hosts Lyon and Schalke is at home to Benfica.

On Tuesday, Chelsea hosts Marseille as it looks to follow up an opening Group F win at Zilina, which visits Spartak Moscow, and Arsenal travels to Partizan Belgrade and Braga hosts Shakhtar Donetsk in Group H. In Group E, Basle is home to Bayern Munich and Roma hosts Cluj.

Pack fail to overhaul Inter

Mae dos Pobres triumph

David Ferrer.

Ferrer is up against Australian wild card Bernard Tomic in his first round and barring an upset he will make thes second round.

Yuki and Kei Nishikori have been given a wild card entry into the doubles event and they will are pitted against formidable Brazilian pair of Bruno Soares and Marcelo Melo, who are seeded third.

Becks told to ‘drop his pants’ to prove innocence AGENCIES LONDON, SEPT 27

naikos, travels Wednesday to Rubin Kazan, who beat the Spanish champion 2-1 at the Nou Camp in last year’s tournament Lionel Messi was expected to be missing for Barcelona but the Argentina forward has been included in the squad that travels to Russia.

Messi, who hurt his ankle in a league match against Atletico Madrid eight days ago, hasn’t yet been given the all-clear by the club’s medical staff to return to action. Brazil defender Adriano definitely misses out for Barcelona with a muscle strain.

Panathinaikos hosts FC

deed take place.

"Mr Beckham had better be prepared to drop his pants in court if he wants to pursue this matter as he has distinguishing characteristics which will prove without a doubt that Irma is telling the truth.

"Mr Beckham's baseless lawsuit is understandable. After all, he has to tell Posh something," the management added.

Becks' 21-page writ was lodged with a Los Angeles court on Friday. It details his claim for around £16million plus punitive damages.

In addition to Nici and US magazine In Touch, which printed the story, the mag's publishers Bauer and its editor Michelle Lee are also named as defendants.

the summit but lost 2-1 at Bari and fellow promoted club Cesena also slipped up.

The modest team from the town near Rimini, in the top flight for the first time since 1991, had the chance to join Inter on 10 points but lost 4-1 at home to Napoli after taking the lead.

Uruguay World Cup forward Edinson Cavani cleverly struck twice late on for the inconsistent Naples side to leap to the top of the scoring charts alongside Inter's Samuel Eto'o on five goals.

Stop-start Sampdoria failed to keep pace with a 0-0 home draw against Udinese, who picked up their first point of the

season but remained bottom.

Fiorentina also secured their opening win of the campaign with a 2-0 victory over Parma in Florence to ease the pressure on new boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.

The Serb's former side Catania drew 1-1 at home with Bologna to lie two adrift of the top alongside Napoli, Bari and AC Milan, who beat Genoa 1-0 on Saturday thanks to another Zlatan Ibrahimovic strike.

Palermo continued their rollercoaster start to the season by coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Lecce after substitute Massimo Maccarone netted on the rebound in stoppage time.

pg18:Layout 1 9/27/2010 11:43 PM Page 1

SPORTS

Friends win Sunshine League title Pg 16

GOA, TUESDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER, 2010

It’s CGF v. Govt now

www.oheraldo.in

l DDA comes under attack for mess l Dikshit takes exception to Hooper's comments on population PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

The Commonwealth Games Federation and the Delhi government were locked in a verbal duel while a blame-game started on the mess surrounding the event even as athletes continued to trickle into the much-criticised Games Village here today.

Both Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi expressed confidence that things were being sorted out in the Village though she cannot give a time-line as to when everything would be alright.

Both of them said the Village developers had not done their job properly.

A day after CGF CEO Mike Hooper's criticism blaming authorities for the lack of preparations, Dikshit hit back at him.

"It is really a very unkind and undiplomatic remark that has been made," Dikshit told reporters here.

However, Hooper received strong backing from CGF boss Mike Fennell, who in-

Aiyar to be ‘hell out of the country' during CWG AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

sisted that the New Zealander neither blamed the Indian government nor made any disparaging comments about India's vast population being responsible for traffic snarls as was reported in the media.

"Far from any emotive commentary, Mr Hooper merely stated the fact that the responsibility for delivering and operating the Games lies with authorities in India, as per the Host City contract," Fennell said.

"What I have witnessed today is a vicious and totally unwarranted attack on Mike Hooper based on entirely false reports.

"Mr Hooper has my full support. He has always worked tirelessly for the good of the Games. Now it is time for us all to concentrate on delivering a good Games, for the athletes of the Commonwealth and the people of

India," the CGF boss added.

Amid the verbal war, the athletes' arrival continued with England (61), Australia (59) and Canada (30), Scotland (77) and South Africa (113) checking in to the Games Village for the October 3 to 14 event and giving mixed feedback to the campus, which has been severely criticised for poor cleanliness in its residential towers.

While Scots felt the facilities could have been better as Delhi got seven years to prepare after winning the bid, the Aussies, who were one of the most apprehensive about coming to the Indian capital, gave a thumbs up to their living area.

"I am not concerned at all because once people get here they will want to be a part of the Commonwealth Games experience," Australian chef de mission Steve Moneghetti said.

"I am very confident. I have seen nothing here (to disrupt the Games).

The Games will be going on in full swing and the athletes will have the stage and environment to perform their best," he added.

Dikshit appeared to blame the DDA, which comes under the Union Urban Affair Ministry, when she said the buildings in the Village had seepage which the DDA and the builder should have looked at before handing over.

"We inherited it (the Village) in a very difficult situation. It is improving by almost the hour. We are working very hard (to make things right)."

"I do hope that at the end of it everything will be alright...of course there are some seepages which the builder and the DDA should have looked at earlier," Dikshit said.

Asked whether the entire complex will be ready by the Wednesday deadline as set by her yesterday, Dikshit refused to talk about the time-line and said some

Kalmadi fights back, hints at conspiracy AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

A vocal critic of the Commonwealth Games, senior Congress leader Manishankar Aiyar today left the Capital, saying he will be "hell out of the country" during the mega sporting event. "I am getting the hell out of the country," Aiyar said shortly before he left Delhi. He is believed to have gone to Aiyar had said last month that he was in no mood to witness the games and that he will opt to stay out of Delhi.

"I am hell out of the country for these two weeks, since I do no want to witness the games," Aiyar had said after attending ex-Union minister Shashi Tharoor's marriage in Kerala on August 22. The Games is due to start on October three.

59-year-old Aiyar, who has often gone ballistic for holding the Games in India, has stuck to his stand that it was premature for India to conduct such big sproting events.

Commonwealth Games Organising committee chief Suresh Kalmadi on Monday hit back at his detractors saying that the "conspiracy against the CWG is a conspiracy against India" and that a "few pictures of dirty toilets does not mean that the Games Village is not world class".

Speaking to IBN 18 editor-inchief Rajdeep Sardesai, Kalmadi said he had never considered resigning at any stage. "I take responsibility for mess but must be given credit if Games are a success," he said before training his guns at Mani Shankar Aiyer, who he blamed for not having worked for two years while he was the Union Sports M i n i s t e r.

Kalmadi, who is also the president of the Indian Olympic Association, also did not spare Commonwealth Games Federation CEO and asked "Mike

Hooper has been in India for four years, what was he doing?"

"I am ready to face judicial inquiry after games on corruption charges, hang me if I am proved guilty," he told CNN-IBN while clearly indicating that he was not prepared to go down without a fight.

"Some countries did not want India to get the games," Kalmadi said. He also accused the builder and the contractor for delaying the CWG village because of a fight between the two.

"Work in flats are still going on, it's a good sign that the sun has come out and the stagnant water has dried up. We should have got the village clean from DDA and the builders. Cleaning up the village is not the work of the Organising Committee."

"There are small issues, small complaints of accommodation and transport. We are coming to terms with full-mode operations, but there is no need of any more complaints. All the people have enjoyed the games village," he asserted.

buildings are still wet and authorities are finding it difficult to drain out the stagnant water from the basements.

"I won't give you a timeline... It depends on how dry the buildings become. How quickly the water is removed from the basements and how quickly the lifts are working," she said.

The embattled OC boss Suresh Kalmadi joined the attack on the Village developers, saying, "Cleaning is not my job, it should have come clean to us when it was handed over."

Kalmadi also sought to downplay the issue of cleanliness at the Village, saying that all major problems have been sorted out and a majority of the flats were ready to be occupied.

"People are now happy with whatever they have got. Over a 1000 people have come now and they are very happy. Most of the athletes are happy," Kalmadi said.

"80 per cent of the flats are fine. The sun is out and everything will be fine.

All the athletes are happy," he said.

Kalpana Devi of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has created history by winning bronze m e d a l i n t h e Wo r l d C u p (women) Judo-2010 by defeating Nazaraova Shokhida of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

The sporting event was a world ranking and Olympic qualifying event, held between Sept. 25th to 26.

With her win, Kalpana Devi became the first Indian woman judoka to win a medal in World Cup, said an official release of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Sunday.

The latest win is bound to give Kalpana a high jump in her world judo ranking that positioned her on 93rd position on September 15, 2010.

With her win Kalpna has made her strong stake for com-

Pacers take time to find their rhythm after injury: Sree AGENCIES MUMBAI, SEPT 27

Having made an unimpressive comeback to competitive cricket, temperamental pacer S Sreesanth has said fast bowlers take time to rediscover their rhythm after an injury lay-off.

Sreesanth had sustained a knee injury during the Test series against Sri Lanka while warming up for a nets session.

The pacer made his way into the squad at the expense of young Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun.

Playing for Board President's XI, Sreesanth, who is trying to break into the Test squad, had an ordinary day yesterday as he struggled to get his line and length right. Sreesanth gave away 41 runs in his 13 overs without any success.

However, he took two wickets and troubled the Aussie batsmen with his accurate line and length.

"I feel no shyness to say that I was struggling (yesterday). I would love to forget that (performance) from my book. It was not easy coming back from an

injury, especially for a fast bowler. It takes time," Sreesanth told reporters after the end of the second day's play.

Sreesanth said his cousin from Australia called him today and told him about some comments doing round there, taking a dig at his performance and shortened run-up.

The pacer said he felt "motivated" to prove that he was capable of doing much more than his Saturday's poor show. Outspoken by nature and accused of being verbal, Sreesanth indicated that he had moulded his nature now.

ing Olympic games in London.

She was the only woman judoka who qualified for this Women Judo World Cup from India.

There were a total of 103 judokas competing in this event.

Only 17 countries from all over world could qualify for this championship.

Among the competing countries were sporting heavyweights like USA, Russia, Japan, Israel, South Korea, Spain, Ukraine, Vietnam etc.

She won Gold medal in Commonwealth Judo Championship at Singapore earlier this year.

Veena’s parents receive death threat UNI MELBOURNE, SEPT 27

Mohammad Asif's former girlfriend Veena Malik has reportedly revealed that a death threat was given in person to her parents' home last week.

Malik, an actress, also received threats few days ago for handing over phone records to International Cricket Council (ICC) showing Asif was in regular contact with an alleged Indian bookmaker Dheeraj Dixit.

Malik claimed that Dixit - a freelance photographer - is an illegal bookmaker and fixed the matches with Asif when they met in Bankok before the disastrous Australian tour earlier this year where Pakistan lost all the matches.

Malik was interviewed by an ICC official and she handed over all the printed call records claiming Asif calling Dixit regularly.

After the meeting she received an emailed death threat but the recent visit by an unknown man to her parents' home, the location of which is supposed to be secret, concerned her the most.

The email said, ''Don't talk to the media, keep your mouth shut, bitch. I'll kill you, watch what I do.''

AGENCIES JONNESBERG, SEPT 27

An emotional Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said it could not get bigger for his side to bag their second title of the year by winning the Champions League Twenty20 title.

Dhoni heaped praised on his team-mates for playing as a cohesive unit to bag their second title in five months after winning the Indian Premier League in April.

"It is a big moment. We are playing for the last time as a unit. We know some players will no longer be with us after the IPL auction. It is an emotional moment," he said after his side scored an easy eight-wicket win over Warriors in the lopsided grand finale at the New Wanderers Stadium.

"It can't get better, winning the IPL and now the Champions League Twenty20," he said. He also gave credit to the team's success this season to coach

BCCI unearths new financial scandal ipl 3

AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

Two days before its AGM, the Cricket Board's bigwigs have allegedly unearthed new financial irregularities in IPL 3 accounts through an internal audit on Monday.

The alleged irregularities came to the fore when the IPL's Governing Council met here on Monday to go through the accounts of the third edition of the T20 league held in MarchApril with now suspended Lalit Modi as chairman.

"An amount of Rs 76 crore and 22 lakh through sale of hospitality tickets for the final (on April 25), the third place tie (held on April 24) and the two semifinals (all held in Mumbai) is unaccounted for," BCCI sources, who did not want to be named, said here.

"Hospitality ticket for the final cost Rs one lakh, it was priced at Rs 80,000 for the third place tie and cost Rs 50,000 for the two

PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 27

It was a chaotic Monday on Delhi roads today as the exclusive lane for Commonwealth Games remained out of bounds for normal traffic while around 1,600 blueline buses kept off the stretches on selective stretches.

Police enforced the restrictions on the lanes from Games Village to practice venues from 8 am leading to serpentine queues on several stretches with people complaining that they had a harrowing team reaching their destinations.

The restrictions were imposed at 8 am for a period of 12 hours, a senior police official said.

The most affected were those using the NH-24, connecting the capital and the Uttar Pradesh border town of Ghaziabad, due to athletes starting to move out of the Village for the practice venues.

Meanwhile, 89 people had to shell out Rs 2,000 each today for straying into lanes on roads reserved for CWG traffic here.

Stephen Fleming and the "fantastic" foreigners.

"Fleming took over as coach and we wanted to create an atmosphere that was good for the younger players. The senior players have really done a good job. We had some fantastic foreign players like Mike Hussey and Matthew Hayden who had really helped out the youngsters," Dhoni said.

"I am really happy with the performance in the knockout stages. The bowlers had done really well. The pacers have done well but we had banked more on the spinners throughout the tournament. The line that Ravichandran Ashwin bowled with Muttiah Muralitharan was crucial. Laxmipathy Balaji was also very good," he added.

He said his side had faced some fitness issues initially but overcame them to win the tournament. The start of the tournament, a few of the players were infected with flu.

But we overcame that and lifted the trophy. It was really satisfying," said Dhoni.

"The environment has been superb. We got a lot of support in Durban. It was 50-50 support for both sides here," he said.

Warriors captain Davy Jacobs said his side was disappointed to have lost in the final but admitted that Chennai deserved to win.

Virender Sehwag speaks with teammate Sachin Tendulkar as he rests his leg on a table after it was hurt by a ball during a practice session in Mohali on Monday.

Sehwag, Bhajji’s injuries are minor, says physio PTI MOHALI, SEPT 27

Swashbuckling Indian opener Virender Sehwag today batted with ease after having hurt his right knee while facing speedster Ishant Sharma during yesterday's net session, at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

However, Sehwag didn't take any further part in the net session once he was done with his batting as he didn't want aggravate the injury.

Senior off-spinner Harbhajan Singh also looked in some discomfort as he walked with a

slight limp as his ankle was bandaged. Harbhajan however came out after a break and took part in training.

The Indian team's physio said that Harbhajan and Sehwag had sustained minor injuries and there wasn't any reason for worry.

Harbhajan, later bowled at the nets of Sector-16 stadium, in Chandigarh after the conclusion of the match between Australia and Board President's XI. Pacer Ishant and Zaheer Khan bowled with full steam during the three hour session. Sachin, Laxman and Amit Mishra also

sweated it out.

Former captain Rahul Dravid is expected to join the team tomorrow while skipper M S Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Murali Vijay are expected to reach here

by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Harbhajan later today underwent an MRI scan in a local hospital.

"He underwent an MRI scan around pelvic and hip area.

There is no serious injury but since he got a sprain, it would be advisable to take rest for the next few days," Fortis sources said.

who attended him yesterday said it was just a precautionary measure and there was nothing to worry about.

"It's only natural for him to rest today and not to aggravate things (in a practice game). He should be fit and fine soon," the doctor said.

Making a comeback after an injury, the Board President's XI skipper yesterday got out to a rising delivery from Aus-

tralian speedster Ben Hilfenhaus during their warm-up here.

The southpaw was hit near the right hand wrist area making him shake his hand for a while before returning to the pavilion.

His hand wrapped in an ice pack, the Indian opener was rushed to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital at Sector 16 and a senior orthopedician from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) was summoned.

An MRI of his hand was also done, but luckily there was no injury, the doctor who accompanied Gambhir from the stadium to the hospital, had said.

Gambhir does not come out to bat, prefers rest PTI CHANDIGARH, SEPT 27

India opener Gautam Gambhir, who was hit on his wrist by a rising delivery during Australia's tour opener against Board President XI, opted to take rest and did not come out to bat today.

However the doctor

Warm-up game ends in a draw PTI CHANDIGARH, SEPT 27

Shane Watson and Ajinkaya Rahane struck brilliant tons and speedster Ben Hilfenhaus earned a five-wicket haul as the threeday warm-up game between Australia and the Board President's XI ended in a draw at Sector 16 cricket stadium here today.

Chasing a virtually unachievable target of 516 runs in 40 odd overs, BP XI made 174 without losing wickets, a much better performance after their first innings batting collapse.

While opener Shikhar Dhawan (5) retired hurt after a rising de-

semifinals. There is no account for these and there is no signed contract," the sources said.

"Also only 30,000 tickets for the final have been accounted for while the stadium (D Y Patil Stadium) was packed to capacity as everyone had seen and it can hold 52,000 people. Over 20,000 tickets are unaccounted for," they said.

The final was held between eventual champions Chennai Super Kings, led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar-captained Mumbai Indians.

The sources also revealed that there appeared to be irregularities in another deal wrapped up by Modi.

The Delhi-based company which got the deal (for supply of machines to screen spectators' bags at the match venues) existed only on paper and the invoice for a much lesser amount than shown in the accounts was sent to the Board by another Bangalore firm, the sources explained.

CWG lane restrictions cause chaos

Kalpana wins historic It can’t get bigger bronze in Judo WC than this: Dhoni AGENCIES TASHKENT, SEPT 27

Pg18

Saeed quits as Pakistan manager Pg 17

livery by Hilfenhaus hit him close to his ear, 22-year-old right-handed Rahane reached his century in just 103 balls. The opener's unbeaten knock of 113 was studded with 18 boundaries and a six.

Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been included in the Test squad, batted with patience in the second innings and consumed 102 balls for his 52 that included nine hits to the fence.

Batting first, Australia made 505 in their first innings, mainly due to the brilliant tons struck by openers Shane Watson (115) and Simon Katich (104) followed by a dazzling

knock by Marcus North (124).

Resuming at 143 for six, Board President could only add 34 runs before being bowled out for 177, giving Aussies a huge 328 first innings lead.

However, Australia did not enforce the follow-on and decided to bat again in their second innings.

Australia suffered an early jolt in their second innings, when Ricky Ponting, opening the innings to spend some time in the middle, mistimed a pull shot off Jaidev Unadkat to Umesh Yadav at square-leg.

Ponting, who made 42 in the

first innings, would have liked more runs under his belt considering three of his teammates striking tons in the first innings.

Piyush Chawla bowled well and earned three scalps in second innings castling Tim Paine (0), Steve Smith (19) and having Mitchell Johnson (5) lob a catch to Ajinkaya Rahane as they declared their second innings at 187-6.

Opener Watson's (104) unbeaten ton studded with 18 boundaries was the only highlight of Australia's second inning as the visitors set BP XI a virtually unachievable target of 516 runs in less than 40 overs.