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The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, sunDaY, august 29, 2010
Goa: Churchill for merging Pg 3 Karwar areas into Goa
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Centre revokes nod to mining project at Pirla HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 28
IN BRIEF Mining firm raided A mining firm owned by Congress Rajya Sabha member Anil Lad and his brother Santhosh Lad, MLA was raided by officials of the Forest and Mines and Geology departments on Saturday, official sources said. According to sources, a 50-member team, including survey officials led by Sandur Range Forest Officer Mahesh Patil conducted a raid on the mining areas of V S Lad & Sons in Bellary District and also questioned some employees of the firm. – (PTI)
Union minister escapes unhurt Union Minister of State for Power Bharat Solanki escaped unhurt when his car collided with the pilot vehicle leading his convoy near Borsad town in Gujarat, police officials said. The accident took place when the minister was on his way to attend a programme in Umreth town, they said. A cow came in way of Solanki’s speeding convoy due to which the pilot vehicle’s driver applied sudden brakes, leading to the collision, the officials said. – (PTI)
The Union Environment Ministry has revoked the clearance granted to an iron ore project at village Pirla in South Goa which it found to be based on wrong information. The withdrawal came a month after the National Environment Appellate Authority rejected the nod given by the Ministr y to a private firm Careamol Iron Ore Limited. The NEAA order said that the project proponent had submitted false data and concealed data in respect of distance of river, archaeological sites from
Talasha first Goan in CWG team HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 28
Goa’s swimming sensation, Talasha S Prabhu created history as she became the first State sportsperson to clinch a place in India swimming team for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi. Talasha bagged yet another gold, her second, in her pet event, 100m freestyle (0:59.23) on the concluding day at 64th Senior National Aquatic Meet in Jaipur on Saturday. Winner of silver medal in 2008 and bronze in 2009, she stayed ahead of Maharashtra’s Jyotsana Pansare and Karnataka’s T Sneha in a close finish. Talasha, who is Dempo Brand Ambassador, proved her mettle in the championship winning a medal in each event she participated. Her tally stands at two gold, two silver and a bronze. The talented swimmer was in the race for the individual title, but with Richa setting a new record, Talasha was pushed to the second spot. The Swimming Federation of India (SFI) has finalised a list of 13 boys and 7 girls for the National aquatic team. The final preparator y camp is due to start at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee pool on September 1.
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 28
The private buses in the State have threatened to remain off the road on September 6, if their demand to have a coordination committee to stop harassment by Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) is not fulfilled. All Goa Private Bus Owners Association, general secretary Sudip Tamankar told a press conference that the government has been dragging its feet over the issue. “We had submitted the memorandum to State Transport Ministry way back in February seeking to have a coordination committee to fix the issue boiling between the KTCL and private bus operators,” Tamankar said. Transport department has failed to form the committee, which was supposed to have representatives from KTCL, the department and private bus op-
The private bus operators claim they have submitted a memorandum to State Transport Ministry in February last seeking to have a coordination committee to fix the issue boiling between the KTCL and private bus operators. But till date, the Transport department has failed to form the committee. erators. The private bus operators rued that they have been at the receiving end due to undue favours granted to KTCL by the State government. “KTCL claims to be facing
Ravindrabab cremated HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, AUG 28
A huge number of people from different walks of life bade a tearful farewell to veteran Konkani writer Ravindra Kelekar (85), as his mortal remains were cremated with full honours near his residence at Priol on Saturday. Those who visited the residence to offer condolences to the bereaved family included numerous politicians, writers, freedom fighters, activists and academicians. They included Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar, ministers Jose Philip D’Souza, Joaquim Alemao, Churchill Alemao and Aleixo Sequeira, MLA’s Deepak Dhavlikar, Babu Kavlekar, Victoria Fernandes, Laxmikant Parsekar, Damu Naik and Mahadev Naik, former chief minister Shashi k a l a K a k o d k a r, former ministers Nirmala Sawant and Matanhy Saldanha, Goa University ViceChancellor Prof Dilip Deobagkar and Registrar Prof Sangodkar, (Continued on page 10)
loses every month although it has its own infrastructure which was built by the State government. All the bus stands are constructed by the State government for them but the State does not earn a single paisa from it,” Tamankar pointed out. “KTCL is not spending a single paisa on maintenance of these bus stands, still they earn the revenue in a form of parking fees at the stand,” he alleged. However, as per the statistics available from KTCL it is been stated that since last three years KTCL has spend nearly Rs 8 crore on the maintenance of all ten bus stands in the State. Tamankar said that KTCL has been receiving undue favours from the government. “In 2001, Parrikar-led government had formed a subsidy scheme for the private buses. Till date 150
Man arrested for killing receptionist HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, AUG 28
Girish Kelekar lights the pyre and consigns the body of his father, Ravindra Kelekar, to flames. Photo by Amresh Parab
Rifles ‘misfire’ during guard of honour MARCEL: It was an embarrassing situation for the Goa Police, as one rifle malfunctioned while other rifles misfired during the guard of honour ceremony for departed veteran writer Ravindra Kelekar. There were, in all, four rifles being handled by the policemen. One rifle began to malfunction and the policeman handling the rifle quickly withdrew from the guard of honour
ceremony. To make matters worse, the three other rifles were misfiring on at least four occasions. The policemen handling the rifles were seen changing the cartridges in a desperate attempt to complete firing rounds outside the Kelekar residence. According to sources, the rifles are from the Portuguese era and are often in need of repairs.
Panjim police on Saturday arrested a former manager of a guest house at Dona Paula for killing a male receptionist and critically injuring his wife in a fit of rage. Shamsunder Anchan, 27, who tried to flee after killing Siddharam Alure, 30 and Alure’s wife, Rajashree, was apprehended at Kadamba bus stand Saturday morning, few hours after the crime. Police said that Anchan wanted to avenge Alure, for sacking him from the job at the guest house. “He doubted that Siddharam and his wife were behind his suspension,” police said. According to police, Anchan came to the guest house this morning and killed Alure by slitting his throat, on the second floor of the guest house. He also called Rajashree upstairs and stabbed her in the stomach and ran away. (Continued on page 10)
private buses have received the subsidy but simultaneously, 90 KTCL buses too have been benefited by it,” the bus operators said. The Corporation is the winner of ‘Kilometer Per Litre Fuel Consumption Efficiency’ award which is constituted by Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa governments. “If they are having such high fuel efficiency than there is no reason for them to have revenue loses,” he claimed. The private bus operators who had appealed the State to take over their business as it runs in losses, today said that they are ready to take over the KTCL. “Give us KTCL for two months without any liability like Chairman or Managing Director. We will bring it in the profit,” Tamankar said.
In a quiet move, Pakistan is handing over de-facto control of the strategic Gilgit-Baltistan region in the Occupied Kashmir to China in an area witnessing a simmering rebellion against Islamabad. The New York Times said that there were two important new developments in Gilgit-Baltistan; a simmering rebellion against the Pakistani rule and the influx of an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the area, which is closed to the world. “China wants a grip on the strategic area to assure unfettered road and rail access to the Gulf through Pakistan”, the paper said, and for this purpose is building high-speed rail and road link. The link up would enable Beijing to transport cargo and oil
tankers from eastern China to the new Chinese built Pakistani Naval base at Gawadar, Pasni and Ormara in Balochistan, just east of the Gulf in 48 hours. “Many of the PLA soldiers entering Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to work on the railroad. Some are extending the Karakoram Highway, built to link China’s Xinjiang province with Pakistan. Others are working on dams, expressways and other project,” the paper said. It said that mystery surrounds the construction of 22 tunnels in secret locations, where even Pakistanis are barred. Tunnels would be necessary for a projected gas pipeline from Iran to China that would cross the Karakorams through Gilgit. “But they could be also used for missiles storage sites,” the Times said. So far, the paper quoting foreign intelligence sources, Pak-
istani media and Pakistani Human Rights groups, said the PLA construction crews had been living in temporary encampments and went home after completing their assignments. But now they are building a big residential complex, clearly designed for a long term presence, and the New York Times said what is happening in the
region is a matter of concern for Washington. Coupled with support for Taliban, Islamabad’s collusion in facilitating China’s access to the Gulf makes it clear that Pakistan is not a US “ally”, the New York Times said. The paper said that there was widespread brutally-suppressed local movements for democratic rights and regional autonomy
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The company declared in its EIA that the River Kushawati is at a distance of 2.6 kilometres of the project site whereas actually it is at a distance of only 50 metres. The EIA document was made available only in English and the public hearing venue was nearly 40 kilometres away from the project site. There is also an archaeological monument within a distance of 500 metres which was never disclosed to the NEAA.
the project site, forest cover in proposed mining lease area in its Environment Impact Report. The appeal against Jaisinh Maganlal owned mining project was filed by Gomantak Shetkari Sanhatana through Supreme Court lawyer Ritwick Dutta. Mr Dutta said that the mining project was granted environmental clearance in September 2007 by the Environment Ministry even though the project proponent had given wrong information. He claimed that the company misled the government by declaring in its EIA that the river
Netraval wildlife sanctuary a fact allegedly hidden by the firm. After conducting a site visit on July 15 and 16 to ascertain the site’s distance from the river as well meeting the affected people, the NEAA rejected the environmental nod given to it. Environment Ministry in its order said that in compliance of the tribunal’s order and taking note of the fact that the project proponent has concealed factual information which is essential for appraisal of the project proposal in terms of environmental integrity, the clearance is revoked”.
2 pilots, 8 crew of Jet flight suspended for serious lapses PTI MUMBAI, AUG 28
The crew, including two pilots, of a Chennai-bound Jet Airways plane Friday night were suspended on Saturday after a probe indicated “serious procedural lapses” in an emergency evacuation carried out by them suspecting fire that was not there. 14 passengers sustained injuries in the evacuation when 141 passengers, including an infant, were deplaned using emergency chutes and services after the pilot reported fire in one of the aircraft’s engines when it was on the taxiway for take-off. The handling of the situation by the crew came under attack from passengers some of whom said they were virtually thrown out of the aircraft. Proper evacuation procedures were not followed and in the sudden surge of passengers, many of them received injuries. After a preliminary probe, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found “serious
Pak giving China de-facto control of area in PoK? PTI NEW YORK, AUG 28
H I D D E N FA C T S ?
Colourfully dressed youngsters dance through the streets of Piedade-Divar as part of the Bonderam 2010 celebrations on Saturday. (Report and more photos on Page 2) Photo by Rozario Estibeiro
Bus owners threaten stir on Sept 6
Kushawati is at a distance of 2.6 kilometres of the project site whereas actually it is at a distance of only 50 metres. Similarly, the EIA document was made available only in English and the public hearing venue was nearly 40 kilometres away from the project site. There is also an archaeological monument within a distance of 500 metres which was never disclosed to the NEAA. The NEAA had directed the Environment Ministry to place the project before the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife as it is located within 10 km of Cotigao and
in both Gilgit and Baltistan, where Sunni Jihadi groups allied with the Pakistani army have systematically terrorised the local Shia Muslims. “Gilgit and Baltistan are in fact under military rule,” the paper said, pointing out that the local people are aspiring for legislature and other institutions without restrictions like those imposed in other parts of PoK. The Times said in PoK the elected legislature control only four out of 56 subjects, covered in the state constitution, the rest are under the jurisdiction of a “Kashmir Council”, appointed by the President of Pakistan. In comparison, the paper said, India gives more power to the state government in Kashmir; elections there are widely regarded as fair, and open discussion of demands for autonomy is permitted.
procedural lapses” in the emergency procedures carried out Friday night by the cockpit and cabin crew, took them off duty and later suspended them. Those suspended are both the pilots, including the commander, four cabin crew members and four additional cabin crew members. “The preliminary fact-finding by the DGCA has indicated serious procedural lapses in dealing with the emergency and evacuation situation as per existing procedures laid down in aircraft rules and regulations, by the operating aircraft crew members of the Jet Airways flight 9W2302,” an official statement said here.
The DGCA has removed the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Digital Flight Data Recorder to analyse recordings of voices and other parameters of the Boeing 737 aircraft. Jet Airways, however, maintained that the crew of the Mumbai-Chennai flight “initiated a precautionary evacuation on the taxiway due to a suspected fire around the left engine. “The precautionary evacuation was carried out in the interest of safety of the guests and the crew. The crew carried out the evacuation in accordance with standard operating procedures. Subsequent inspection of the engine has indicated that there was no fire,” the airline said. The DGCA said it was treating the incident as “serious” and added that a formal investigation would be carried out by a team comprising Director Air safety Mumbai, Flight Operation Inspector and Cabin Safety Incharge of DGCA.