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Goa’s Heartbeat: Shilpa Business: USE to start trading in mesmerises at WIFW finale Pg 4 currency options today Pg 12 Another plaint filed against Geelani, Roy HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, OCT 28

Yet another criminal complaint was filed with the Tilak Marg Police Station here Thursday evening by a Delhite to register an FIR (first information report) against Kashmir separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, writer Arundhati Roy, Prof S A R Gilani and others for “jeopardising public peace and security” by making provocative speeches at the controversial seminar on Kashmir “Azadi” here on October 21.

The complaint of Sushil Pandit circulated by the BJP Thursday night charges the speakers at the seminar of offence of sedition under Section 124A of IPC as well offence under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The complainant seems to have been prompted by the BJP as the 6-page complaint goes on to reproduce relevant portions of the Act.

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Sports: India needs Kirsten: Gambhir Pg 16

TICKETGATE ENCORE? Tickets duplication of India-Australia cricket match comes to light

HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, OCT 28

In a stark reminder of the massive 2001 ticket scam, cricket lovers appear to have fallen prey to yet another ticket duplication racket at the recently cancelled one-day international match between India and Australia at Fatorda.

Herald is in possession of a photocopy of two sets of entry documents where one is a complimentary pass and the other a ticket priced at Rs 2,500. The location shown on both is south upper, the gate number shown is 3, seat number is same F-004.

However, only the serial number differs. The complimentary pass bears serial number 32639 while the priced ticket has 09149 as its serial number. On the back of the ticket as well as the complimentary pass, a computer chip is pasted.

The second ticket also bears the position, south upper, the same; the seat number F-0028 is the same, the gate number is identical but the serial number differs. The complimentary pass has 32663 as its serial number while the priced ticket has 09173 as its number.

Despite claim by the organisers that bar code system was used, owners of both the documents could enter the stadium without a hitch.

According to GCA, the capacity of Pandit Jawaharlal Stadium, Fatorda is 25,815 but only 9,180 tickets were sold to the public as 14,320 were complimentary passes while 1,915 seats were given as official passes to GCA members.

The GCA had awarded the contract to print tickets to a Pune-based company as part of its efforts to avoid duplication

12-yr old Goan boy brutally attacked in Oz Undergoes eye surgery PTI MELBOURNNE, OCT 28

ASLI YA NAKLI: Tickets with the same seat numbers.

and a scanner that used radio frequency for identification was put in service to grant access to the stadium.

Expressing surprise over the discovery of duplicate tickets, GCA Secretary Prasad Fatarpekar stated that the GCA had not allowed excess spectators in the stadium. What was even more shocking was that the tickets seemed to be coming from the same printing agency, he said.

Fatarpekar said “on the day of the match it was not a full capacity crowd. Officials had scanned each and every person through the scanning machine and had found that around

Pune printer summoned

The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) has summoned officials of the Pune-based Printer to Goa over the duplication of tickets for the cancelled oneday cricket match between India and Australia.

“We have written to the printer asking him to come

22536 people had entered the stadium”.

Fatarpekar stated, I am glad the issue came to light. It has disturbed us a lot at the Association. There could be an error

down and clarify on the tickets bearing same seat numbers, GCA Secretary, Prasad Fatarpekar said.

GCA has also summoned its executive committee members for an emergency meeting to discuss the issue on Friday. – (HNB) with the printer and if found, he would be penalized”. Secondly, if someone from our part has played mischief we won’t hesitate to take strict action against him, he added.

In another vicious attack against Indians in Australia, a 12-year-old student was bullied and brutally punched in the face and had to undergo a surgery to reconstruct his eye socket.

The boy, who asked not to be named, told The Age newspaper that two year 8 boys, whom he did not know, came up behind him at lunchtime on October 18 outside the school co-ordinator’s office at Carwatha College in Noble Park here.

“For no reason they came behind me with a scarf and were pulling me. When I told them to stop, one of them punched me in the eye,” the victim said.

The boy’s father said his family has been so traumatised by the bashing that he is considering returning to Goa. The family now felt “scared and insecure in this area and school”, he said.

He said his son had to have a titanium plate inserted under his eye and he feared there would be permanent damage.

“I feel he was attacked because he was black, because of his colour,” his father said.

However, the Carwatha College principal Bronwyn Hamilton said the incident was being probed thoroughly and she was convinced it was not a racist attack.

She said, “There has not been any other incidents involving these two students.”

However, she said the injuries were serious and the school was very concerned.

For no reason they came behind me with a scarf and were pulling me.

When I told them to stop, one of them punched me in the eye.

— Victim “The student concerned was suspended and expulsion proceedings have commenced. We have taken immediate action.”

A spokesman for the state education minister Brownyn Pike said bullying was not tolerated in Victorian schools.

He said all schools were required to have strong antibullying strategies in place and the Education Department worked with anti-bullying experts in developing new bullying guidelines.

Meanwhile, an Indian community leader has asked Victorian government to step up security in local schools after the attack.

Leader of Goan Indian community Glen Eira councilor Oscar Lobo urged the John Brumby government to put security guards in schools where bullying had occurred following the last week’s incident at Carwatha College.

Over 100 incidents of attacks on Indians, including racial, have come to light since May last year in Australia. 21year-old student Nitin Garg, who was stabbed to death here, was the first victim of such assaults this year.

NCP in damage control mode HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

Has the open spat between two legislators of the Nationalist Congress Party dented the image of the party? This question is uppermost on the lips of top office bearers who are demanding with their high command to bring about discipline within the party if it desires to make a mark in the Assembly elections.

A top party source who wished to remain anonymous said, “there are rivalries within parties, but they can’t come to a flash point and be fought in the open. There surely needs to be discipline”.

The source disclosed he has sent a report to Party General Secretary and in-charge of Goa desk Praful Patel. Something will happen by coming Monday or Tuesday in the matter, he men-

tioned.

When questioned on the recent development after the Vasco incident, NCP’s chief spokesperson Trajano D’Mello on Thursday said Jose Philip has also been asked to file a report of the incident by the high command.

On the other side Mickky too has been asked to explain what exactly happened, sources said.

Sources within the party said some of the office bearers were of the opinion that an impartial panel be appointed to investigate the spat between the two and also look into the function-

ing of every executive member, who may be trying to damage the party.

They said the party’s Benaulim ML A was working against candidates of Jose Philip for the municipal elections since the beginning of October and the latter had already written to the high command in mid-October regarding the activity of the former.

Pacheco has denied all claims made by Jose Philip that he was working against the candidates of the latter.

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You are violating party rules by calling police!! We are discussing very confidential issues here...

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Case filed against employee for breach of trust HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

Margao police has registered a case of criminal breach of trust against an employee o f a transporting company for fleeing away with cash of Rs 45,000.

The police said the employee

from Curdi-Ponda was told by the employer to withdraw an amount of Rs 45,000 from the bank. However, instead of handing the money to the owner, the employee fled away with the amount.

The Margao police are investigating.

Jose Philip attempted to kill me: Mickky HERALD REPORTER VASCO, OCT 28

NCP legislator and Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco on Thursday alleged that Revenue Minister and fellow NCP legislator Jose Philip D'Souza had attempted to kill him, besides instigating others to set them ablaze following their spat on Tuesday.

Pacheco's sworn statement to the police contradicts Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza's claims that he (Jose Philip) had protected the Benaulim MLA from the furious mob and escorted him safely to his friend's car.

Pacheco (46) had been called by the Vasco police on Thursday to submit his statement in connection with the assault on him at Hotel Maharaj, Vasco on Tuesday night.

"I was sitting at Hotel Maharaja, Vasco, along with my friends namely Simon Pereira, Edwin Carvalho, both residents of Vasco and Raul D'costa of Chicalim and Lazarus Diago Pereira, resident of Betalbatim, Kalpesh Shelvonkar, Ravindranath Sawant and others from about 8 pm onwards," stated Pacheco in his letter to the Vasco police.

"At about 8.30 pm, Jose Philip

D'Souza, Minister for Revenue and Civil Supplies, along with Kritesh Gaonkar, Councillor and former chairperson of Mormugao Municipal Council and a few others approached me and my friends. Jose Philip in an agitated tone wanted to know what I was doing in Vasco."

"Even before I could reply, Jose Philip charged at me and caught hold of my collar and began assaulting me with fist blows on my face and chest.

Soon Jose Philip was joined by the above named people with him and all of them started manhandling and assaulting my other friends who were with me as well," stated Pacheco.

He alleged that Jose Philip also called in more people and soon more than 80 people came there and they started smashing the hotel (Restaurant).

"Then Jose Philip lifted a chair and hit at me but I was lucky to have missed it narrowly, I would have even died if the said chair which was aimed by Jose Philip at my head had to hit me," said Pacheco in his statement.

"Kritesh Gaonkar, Nanoskar, Anthony and others broke soda bottles at the direction of Jose Philip and tried to stab me and my friends."

"However, we managed to escape from the restaurant. As I came out and sat in the vehicle (GA-08-F-1854) of my friend Lazarus Diago Pereira, Jose Philip along with Kritesh Gaonkar, Anthony Fernandes, Sanny (Jose Philip's Brother-inLaw) and others came chasing us and blocked the car by standing in front of it," said the Benaulim MLA. Pacheco then alleged that Jose Philip directed Kritesh Gaonkar and others to smash our car with a 20 kilo laterite stone on the windscreen.

"If it had to land on my friend Lazarus Diago Pereira, then that would have been the end of him.

Jose Philip even directed his friends to set our car on fire with us inside it."

"Kritesh Gaonkar, Sanny and others started throwing boulders on the windscreen and other places on the car and smashed the car. Jose Philip was heard asking for a lighter/matchbox to set the car on fire with us inside it," claimed Pacheco.

"However my friend Diago who was sitting on the driver's seat had good presence of mind and zoomed away in the same smashed condition and hence we were saved," he added.

Elect good candidates, appeals Dr Rebello HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

Social activist Dr Oscar Rebello has called upon the people of Margao to vote and elect good candidates in the ensuing Municipal polls for the betterment of the Commercial Capital.

Addressing the election meeting of former Margao Municipal Chairperson Piedade Noronha in ward No 3 of the Civic body, Rebello said the time has come for Goans to come together and unitedly support good candidates. “The time has now come to think and act collectively if Goa and Margao has to improve.

We have been selfish in our attitude in the past”, he said.

Dr Rebello reminded that what matters in a democracy is people and made a humble appeal to the people to vote for good candidates.

He also said that organizations such as the Loksamiti would remain vigilant and be after the candidates to usher in the development of the ward.

In his address, spokesman of the Margao Loksamiti Mohandas Lolienkar lambasted GPCC general secretary Vijay Sardessai for calling him an outsider, reminding Sardesai that he has been putting up in the town since the 70’s.

He said the Margao Loksamiti

Social activist Dr Oscar Rebello addressing the election meeting of Piedade Noronha.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

will act as a pressure group after the Municipal polls in the interest of the city, adding that Madgaonkars should get united after the polls to help in the development of the city.

Calling for an end to dynasty politics, Lolienkar said that the Loksamiti even will not hesitate to take on Piedade Norohna if she goes against the people.

Fo r m e r G P YC G i r i s h Chodankar said the Loksamiti is behind Piedade Norohna as she had fought against corruption in the civic body during her term. “Not a single person has raised a finger at Piedade for corruption. She has proved herself as a Councillor”, he said.

Chodankar said that some Congressmen are fooling the people by saying that the Con-

gress party is supporting a certain candidate in the ward. “Elections for the Municipal bodies are not fought on party lines.

The Congress party is not supporting any particular candidate.

These leaders are only fooling the voters”, he said.

In his spirited address, Piedade asserted that she had never taken any money during her tenure as Councilor of the Civic body. She appealed to the voters not to get misguided by the opposition talk that I am being supported by the BJP. “The Municipal polls are not fought on party lines. The symbol Hand and Lotus are not there in these elections”, she said, while making a humble appeal to the voters to decide which candidate would serve them better.

One more inmate inflicts self injury HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, OCT 28

Yet another inmate injured himself in Mapusa judicial custody on Thursday, the second such incident within a gap of 24 hours.

According to reliable sources, accused Pravin Bhatkande (20) from Anjuna, reportedly cut his hand with a mosquito coil stand, to protest against the ill-treatment in judicial lockup.

He was shifted to Asilo Hospital, Mapusa, and after administering medical treatment, the accused was brought back by the judicial lock-up authorities.

In his statement to the electronic media, Bhatkande has alleged that he was being illtreated in the judicial lock up.

He further claimed that he was not being offered proper food.

“I had some medical problems, but was not permitted to visit the doctor by the authorities. Hence, I was forced to take this extreme step of injuring myself,” claimed Bhatkande.

When contacted, Deputy Collector Dashrath Redker informed that he was not aware that Bhathkande spoke to the electronic media. Redkar further said when he visited the judicial lock up on Thursday morning, he found nothing serious.

“Injuries to Ashpaq Bengre and Amog Naik were caused by a straightened handle of a steel mug, which both used as a knife,” stated Redkar.

Redkar further informed that Bhatkande, who is a good friend of Aspaq Bengre, has been diagnosed by the doctor as mentally unstable, due to which he could have taken this step.

“I am personally monitoring the situation inside the judicial custody and after conducting enquiry into the matter, I will inform about these developments to my superiors,” said Redkar.

Conspiracy hatched to defeat my panel, claims Jose Philip HERALD REPORTER VASCO, OCT 28

Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza on Thursday accused political parties and rivals of hatching a conspiracy to defeat his panel in the Mormugao Municipal Council election on Sunday.

Addressing media persons at NCP office in Vasco, D’Souza said political parties and his rivals have clubbed together to defeat his panel.

“It is a conspiracy hatched by my rivals to create a gloomy picture in the council election to gain mileage and defeat my candidates,” said D’Souza.

He said this is not the first time that his rivals and political parties have clubbed together to defeat him, but despite similar efforts often by his rivals, D’Souza managed to win the elections twice from Vasco.

“I have never promoted ‘goondagiri’ in the port town in my political career of 30 years, but my rivals have created such a hype to defame me,” said D’Souza.

“I have faith in my people and they will answer all the critics in the election,” added D’Souza.

When asked about Pacheco’s allegation that D’Souza manhandled him, D’Souza shot back saying: “I protected him from the furious mob and escorted him safely to his friend’s car.”

He further clarified that the people from Vasco and Mormugao, who joined the Congress party on Wednesday, were neither NCP members nor workers.

“We welcome the decision of the Election Commission to sensitized Wards 15 and 16, as we too wanted transparency in the election process,” added D’Souza.

7 Mormugao wards declared sensitive HERALD REPORTER VASCO, OCT 28

Mormugao Deputy Collector and Election Returning Officer (ERO) Levinson Martins has declared seven wards of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) as sensitive, including the wards of the kin of Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza.

Former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco made his presence felt once again in the port town of Vasco and this time, he was seen at New Vaddem. Law enforcement agencies were on their toes for fear of another law and order problem in Vasco.

Martins’ decision to declare the seven wards as sensitive came after the State BJP demanded that wards in which D’Souza’s relatives are contesting should be sensitized in the wake of Tuesday’s incident.

Martins has stated that Wards 1, 2, 3, 9, 12, 15 and 16 should be declared as sensitive and made sure that election is held in a fair manner, while additional night flying squads with patrolling party would also be deployed.

Ward 1, where MMC Chairperson Shekhar Khadapkar is

MLAs spat internal matter: CM

contesting, has been declared sensitive, besides, Ward 2, where bigwig from BJP and former vice chairperson Rohini Parab is contesting, and Ward 3, which has been reserved for ST, has mostly news faces, are also declared as sensitive.

All Goa Congress Pradesh Minority Department President Saifullah Khan along with eight other candidates, who are in the fray from Ward 9, is also declared as sensitive.

Ward 12, which covers most parts of Khariwado and has sitting Councilor Lavina D’Souza and Felicity D’Souza, wife of former deputy speaker Simon D’Souza, is in the fray, beside other two candidates, has been declared as sensitive.

However, the most sensitive is Ward 15, from where Pascaol D’Souza, elder brother of Revenue Minister Jose Philip is in fray with Anil Chopdekar and MMC Vice Chairperson Kashinath Yadav.

Neighboring Ward 16 has Neny D’Souza, wife of the revenue minister, is in the fray with Anita Chopdekar, wife of Anil, and Marcelina Godinho.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat today preferred to stay away from the Mickky-Jose Philipe controversy saying it is their internal matter.

Kamat, however was quick to add that law will take its own course and it is same for everybody.

When this reporter posed the question to the chief minister on how much could the spat affect his government and its image, Kamat said “I will personally not want to comment on the issue.”

“It is the internal matter of the NCP legislators and I do not want to comment on it,” he said.

When pointed out that FIRs had been lodged against the two legislators who are very much part of his government Kamat replied: “This is a democratic process, law will take its own course and it will be same for everyone.”

Former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco was beaten up

by Jose Philip supporters when he was allegedly distributing money at a hotel in Vasco.

Goans will have to go without a fish on Friday with National Fishworkers Forum along with various fishing industry stakeholders joining hands in a country-wide strike.

The strike is called to protest the fresh Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) that allegedly threatens the livelihood of several lakh fishermen across the country.

NFF had strongly rejected the draft notification, since September 2010, when it came to in public view.

NFF President Matanhy Saldanha said that no fishermen will venture into the sea for fishing and also fish won’t be sold in the market.

He claimed that thousands of fisherfolks and other fishing communities have lend their support to the strike. Goa has 80,000 people actively involved in fishing industry.

Saldanha told Herald that the strike will get good response as it is concerning coastal environment, safety and livelihood of fisher folks.

“Fishermen across country will not go for fishing and there will be no sale of fish in the markets. The trawler owners have vehemently supported us along with the fishermen, fish vendors and agents,” he said.

NFF has decided to post telegrams to the Union Ministry of Environment & Forest, Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition and other central ministers.

In Goa, major places like Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and Canacona will have protest sit-in by the strikers.

Goa Fish Vendors Association President Shashikala Govekar said that the association members’ are in totally backing the striking leaders and they will participate in the day-long protest from 4am to 5pm.

“We have also requested vegetable vendors to show camaraderie and join the strike,” she said.

Nearly 175 trawler owners from Malim jetty have shown their solidarity. Mandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society Chairman Menino Afonso said that no trawler will

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

KTC employees on Thursday gheraoed the dy general manager at the Margao depot over the new work schedule finalized for the drivers from next month.

The employees questioned the K TC Dy GM, Pramod Gaonkar for the new work scheduled, saying the new scheduled is loaded heavily against the workers.

Led by Kamlakar Gadkar, the employees demanded an explanation from the deputy general manager over the issue. The employees were agitated as the KTC GM suddenly left his office without hearing them on the matter.

Gadkar said the drivers are not provided with any facility such as a rest room to rest after hard day’s work. “When we are tired and exhausted, we find no rest room in the depot to take some rest”, he said and charged the management for meting out harassment for the drivers and other employees.

Mickky to boycott meets presided by Jose Philip HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

Former minister Mickky Pacheco has said that he would not attend any meeting of the NCP as long as Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza heads the party.

“I have been humiliated by Jose Philip by leading the assault on me at Vasco for no reason. I cannot take things lying down.

I will not attend any meeting of the NCP which is presided over

by Jose Philip. I will not see his face again”, he said.

Pacheco told newsmen after the Vasco police recorded his statement on the ugly incident at the Vasco hotel where he was assaulted by Jose Philip and his supporters.

When asked whether he would appeal to the people of Vasco to defeat the panel supported by the Revenue Minister, he said that he would only appeal to the people to vote and elect good candidates who would look after the betterment of Mormugao. “The port Town need people who will truly work for the welfare of the town and its citizens. I will only appeal to the people to elect good people”, he said.

Fishing industry to come to halt today

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

KTC official gheraoed

When asked that it is learnt that former tourism minister Mickey Pacheco hatched a game plan against D’Souza to defeat his candidates to please high command so that the D’Souza would lose his party president post, the revenue minister said: “Adopting such anti-party means is Mickky’s style, but such things can be done with love and affection.”

Meanwhile, Goa Fishing Boat Owners Association (GFBOA) Vice President Jose Nicolau D’Souza has accused GFBOA President Simon Pereira, who joined the Congress party along with his supporters, of mixing politics with association affairs.

Pereira has, however, said he had joined the Congress party in his individual capacity.

"If GFBOA president’s post is associated with me, it’s not my problem," he said.

nMandovi Fishermen Marketing Cooperative Society Chairman Menino Afonso said that no trawler will venture in the sea during the strike period. “We have shut our business for the day no matter what would be the total loss we endure.

There will be no activity in the jetty. We have instructed out fishing team in the sea not to return back on Friday before 5 pm,” he said. venture in the sea during the strike period.

“We have shut our business for the day no matter what would be the total loss we endure. There will be no activity in the jetty. We have instructed out fishing team in the sea not to return back on Friday before 5 pm,” he said.

The jetty operates around 325 trawler boats, will be docked at the jetty. Several tones of fish being exported outside, hotels and to local markets will be closed entirely.

One may recall in September, Saldanha had claimed the draft notification as ‘bundle of contradictions’ as it gives blanket permission to set up nuclear plants along the coastline.

The forum had also expressed anguish that despite the Government knowing this would result in marine environment degradation, the latter is seeking setting up more such plants along the coastline which in long tern would displace traditional fishermen and destroy traditional occupation.

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NH: claim of 60 meter road width big lie, says Parrikar HERALLD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

While the State government is already finding it tough to meet the deadline on the Centre’s threat to withdraw the national highway projects from the state if the land acquisition is delayed, the Bharatiya Janata Party has alleged that the government is trying to cheat the people through the projects.

The BJP today alleged that the expansion is not carried out as per manual of specification for 4-lanning of National highway under the Public Private Partnership (PPP).

Opposition Leader, Manohar Parrikar while addressing a press conference alleged that the Government is trying to cheat people by claiming that the width of 60 mts is required for expansion.

“The claim that 60 mts width is required is a big lie,” Parrikar said adding “the manual doesn’t warrant width of the road 60 mts and at the most it can be 30 mts.”

Citing the manual, he said, the maximum width of the alignment including service lanes wherever required in urban sections ranges from 29 mts to

43.40 meters, respectively.

Maintaining that Goa can do with expansion of roads as done on Panjim–Mapusa highway, he said, BJP will not allow this project to be converted into another Common Wealth Games.

Parrikar has also raised questions about sustainability of the project.

“If the government is to be believed locals will be discounted from paying toll charges. But how will the project sustain which has been proposed to be build on PPP mode,” he asked.

Referring to the statement of Union Minister Kamal Nath during his Goa visit two days ago, Parrikar the minister should

...says, State is in anarchy HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

Claiming that the “State is in anarchy” the Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar said it is not only common man who doesn’t have faith in police but also Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza who took law in his hand instead of approaching police.

The revenue minister allegedly manhandled former minister Mickky Pacheco along with his supporters when later was in dinning in Vasco on October 26 night.

“Why didn’t the minister approach police if he believed Pacheco was there to distribute money”, remarked Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar said adding that this was a very serious issue.

“Will the governor sack the minister who took the law in his hand?” Parrikar asked suggesting that the government has not given due attention to this incident.

come clean as what will be quantum Centre’s contribution to the project.

How much the government is spending on land acquisition in reference to the minister’s statement that Goa will lose funds if the project is delayed.

TOLL CHARGES: According to Parrikar a person using a car to commute regularly through Ponda-Panjim highway will need to shell out Rs 2100 as toll chares every month.

He stated that he has confirmed the rates with the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

LAND ACQUISITION POLICY: The BJP has demanded that the government should come out with a proper land acquisition policy.

Claiming that the government has been paying pittance while acquiring agriculture land for commercial use, he said, the government should come out with land acquisition policy.

He said, States like such as Haryana pay Rs 1500 per sq mt but Goa government only pay 40-50 paise per sq mt.

HOUSE COMMITTEE: Parrikar also questioned why the government did not convene even one meeting of the House Committee (HC) even as it was formed to work out solution to problems raised by the people that are likely to be affected expansion of highways.

CM confident of his candidates winning MMC elections HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

Coming out openly in support of Zarinha Shah in ward no 14 and Avinash Shirodkar in ward no 17, Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat has exuded confidence that 8-9 candidates backed by him would win from the Margao area of the civic body where 11 seats are at stake.

After addressing a public meeting of former Sirvodem Councilor, Zarinha Shah on Thursday evening, Kamat said most of his candidates from the Margao area would emerge victorious in the polls.

‘Out of the 20 wards, my candidates would win in 8-9 seats in the ensuing polls”, Kamat told Herald.

Earlier addressing the election meeting of Zarinha Shah, the Chief Minister said that though Shah was not representing Ward No 14 in the last five years, she c o n t i n u e d h e r work in the ward, earning goodwill from the local residents.

Making an appeal to the electorate to vote and elect Zarinha

to the Civic body, Kamat expressed confidence that the former Councilor would leave up to their expectations and promised to offer all out support to her to complete all pending works.

The Chief Minister said that he has taken up work on the underground sewerage project in Sirvodem, adding that work on the underground cabling would commence soon. “I will offer my full support to Zarinha”, he said.

Kamat’s presence at Zarinha’s election meeting assumes significance given that Congressmen and the Chief Minister’s close supporter Dayanand Deulkar is also in the fray. By

addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister has sent a clear cut message to the voters that he has rallied behind Zarinha in Ward No 14.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister attended a meeting organized by candidate Avinash Shirodkar and appealed to the voters of ward No 17 to elect him to the Civic body.

CM’s presence at the meeting organized by Avinash also assumes significance given that another congressmen and GPCC secretary Damodar Korgaonkar is also in the fray in ward No 17.

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Sagar Kavach exercise gets underway HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

The defence forces today conducted the ‘Sagar Kavach’ exercise to check preparedness in the State to counter any coastal terrorist attack.

The 48-hour long joint exercise by Goa police including marine police, Navy and Coast Guard began at 6 am today.

Addressing a press conference, police spokesperson Superintendent of Police Atmaram Deshpande said that the mock-drill exercise is a routine exercise to check preparedness of all security agencies.

“The drill is called to test our preparedness and security arrangements for any eventualities that may come from coastline. The exercise is likely to continue tomorrow (Friday),” he told reporters.

The officer however refused to discuss the modalities of the exercise. What was only revealed was that certain targets (and vital installations) were exposed for infiltrations by dummy terrorists. Once they were detected, they were sent to another target area as a continuation of the mock-drill.

Though the exercise is ahead of US President Barack Obama’s visit to Mumbai, the Goa police confirmed that the mock-drill has nothing to do with his visit.

“It has nothing to do with US President’s visit. Though, Goa is on general alert as other states during this period. We have no intimation of any specific security arrangement and have no role to play in the security aspect,” he replied to a question on Goa’s role during US President’s visit in India.

To yet another question on

Kavlem locals panic over ‘bomb’ threat HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, OCT 28

Panic gripped residents of Kavlem-Ponda on Thursday morning, after they learnt that a ‘bomb’ was planted in the Shantadurga Temple.

The ‘bomb’ turned out to be part of a mock drill by the Goa police.

According to reports, police personnel were deployed in the temple premise since morning and devotees were barred from entering the temple.

The news of bomb spread like wild fire, causing panic security arrangements as Goa shares waters with Mumbai, Deshpande replied, “Entire western states share common waters with Mumbai. We are just 105 km long stretch.”

The department said that through this exercise, they have learnt lessons (to enhance its security arrangements further). “The exercise is like a test…we have already picked upon earlier mistakes and corrected this time,” he said adding “Goa had similar exercise in May. We have performed better and rate this as largely successful.”

On the other end, the sudden call panicked the situation among road users who curiously wanted to know the reason for sudden nakabandi.

Most importantly, school students suffered as they reached late for their on-going midterm exams.

in the village. The bomb, however, turned out to be hoax, as it was part of the State police Sagar Kavatch operation to check the preparedness of the State police force.

The bomb squad was also pressed into service, which later unearthed a fake bomb planted in the temple.

Police seems to have even managed to nab two fake "terrorists", who had planted the bomb. Ponda DySP Serafin Dias and PI C L Patil were seen supervising the mock drill activity at the temple.

Long queues of vehicles were witnessed in the Panjim city and twin Mandovi bridges, which existed for hours together until afternoon.

Asked on the inconvenience, the officer replied that the exercise was called on by the central security agencies. “We understand the inconvenience caused to the people but such exercises cannot be declared in advance for security reasons.

We do not know the field operatives and such exercises are not controlled by the states who are just members of the security operation,” he said.

The comprehensive exercise includes three-tier security review – International waters manned by Navy, Territorial waters manned by Coast Guard and Coastline under marine police up to 12 nautical miles.

Besides, land is controlled by district police.

Coastal police intercept vessel at River Sal HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

The coastal police intercepted a vessel with four occupants at the mouth of River Sal at Betul as the two-day Sagar Kavach exercise got underway across the state to test the level of preparedness of the police and other security agencies.

The vessel was intercepted at the River Sal mouth by a team of coastal police led by PI Gurudas Kadam as they tried to enter the river.

After interception, they police team took the vessel to the Cutbona fishing jetty and after noting down their details allowed them to leave the jetty.

That’s not all. The coastal security was further put to test as the four occupants of the vessel were seen making their presence felt near the Betul fishing jetty. As reports said the four occupants boarded a Margao bound bus, the coastal police conducted a nakabandi on the Betul-Margao road and finally managed to apprehend the foursome.

They were made to alight at the Assolna police outpost and were later handed over to the Coast guard.

The coastal police are maintaining a close watch along the coast, even as the police tightened security at the Margao railway station, the collectorate building, Margao police headquarters, besides conducting nakabandi on the NH-17 at Nuvem.

A bomb disposal squad made their presence felt at the Margao railway station and conducted random checking of the station premises. The police also conducted a search of the passengers at the railway station.

Two tourists rescued from drowning at Calangute HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, OCT 28

Two tourists from Pune were rescued from drowning by Drishti Surf Life Team at Calangute on Wednesday.

According to Drishti reports, Ganesh Shined (24) and Shyam Bawake (39) were rescued by Drishti Surf Life Team of lifeguards Sachin Naik, Pratin Gaonkar and Gopal

Narvekar.

The duo was swimming in deep waters after sunset while the water sports activity continued normally.

The lifeguards mistook the

duo as the water sports operators, until they the duo in distress. Lifeguards Sachin, Gopal and Pratin rushed to their rescue and brought them safely ashore.

Union Minister urged to consider alternate route for highway HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

The Village Groups of Goa have urged Union Minister for Surface Transport, Kamal Nath to consider an alternative route for the proposed highway that will bypass Goa, which perhaps could proceed parallel to the Western Ghat (Karwar to Ramnagar).

In a memorandum, the NGOs told the Minister that the proposed highway would spell unmitigated techno-economic and social disaster for the state of Goa, leaving our future generations with an unwanted legacy of a permanent nightmare.

Taking strong exception to the central government’s proposal to use Goa in order to create a corridor that will link the state of Maharashtra with Karnataka, the Village Groups said they find the lack of thought, diligence and application of mind on the part of the authorities in conceptualising this corridor through Goa extremely shocking and distressing considering the impact and traumatic upheaval it is bound to cause on a vast number of people whose lives will be dis-

rupted due to the loss of their homes, properties and paddy fields, some of which are the only source of livelihood for their owners.

“After being exposed to the realignment plan in the office of the Land Acquisition Officer, Fatorda, Margao, we find that the plans are going to rip apart longstanding traditional communities, destroying a traditional way of life, with no benefits whatsoever for the people of the state of Goa”, the NGOs said, adding that most of the people in Goa find it difficult to understand why the existing highway cannot be widened to a four-lane highway utilizing the 30-meter width which is already in possession of the Goa government. “This state highway will cater admirably to the needs of traffic originating and terminating in Goa”, they said.

The Village Groups of Goa expressed their shock that the Congress government in Goa, after motivating the villagers of Goa to expend much of their time and efforts in giving their inputs for the Regional Plan 2021 in each village, now insults the same people by im-

Buyao chided for terming Chari as outsider HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

Supporters of Konkani singer and musician, Purnanad Chari, who is contesting Civic polls from ward No 8 of the Margao Municipal Council has condemned the statement made by BJP Cultural wing Convenor Sidhanath Buyao terming Chari as an outsider.

“Today, migrants have become Goans and now Goans are calling Goans outsiders in Goa state is the fate. Purnanand Chari has been staying Maddel for the last 20 years. He has been participating in all social, cultural and sports activities in Maddel.

He is a prominent Konkani writer, singer and artists and has been performing in Goa and all over”, reminded Savio Dias.

He said people who made manipulations in the ward reservation process to their benefit and wanted to get their Councilor re-elected for a second term are now calling people supported candidate, Chari an outsider.

He said that history will be created on November 1 as Chari will get elected with a thumping majority, adding that voters know the true facts and cannot be misled by false and baseless propaganda, again and again.

‘Korta Ti Vatt’ tops KA’s Tiatr contest HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, OCT 28

The results of the 36th Tiatr competition organized by Kala Academy have been declared and accordingly ‘Korta Ti Vatt’ staged by Goykaranchi Konkani Bhas, Songit, Kala Ani Sonskrutai Kendr, Merces has bagged the first prize for best performance.

The competition was held recently at the Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panjim and 21 Tiatr groups participated. The competition was judged by C D’Silva, Fr Bernard Cota and Vitorino Pereira who gave their detailed results after evaluating the performances staged in the competition.

As per the detailed results, ‘Kusvo’ staged by Ami Daizi - Fatorda was adjudged for the second prize, whereas ‘Pacharem’ staged by Alfi Art Productions, Divar bagged the third prize. The consolation prize was awarded to ‘Vadoll’ staged by Serula Art and Culture Academy, Penha-deFranca.

The first prize for direction was awarded to Avito A Fernandes for ‘Korta Ti Vatt’, whereas the second prize was awarded to Avinash Chari for ‘Kusvo’. The third prize went to Alfredo Fernandes for ‘Pacharem’.

The first prize for acting (male) was given to Rupesh Jogle (Jayson) – ‘Kusvo’ and Rosario Botelho (Zantto) – ‘Soimbacho Khell Ani Patkiancho Mell’, was selected for the second prize.

The first prize for acting (female) was awarded to Irene Cardozo (Catarina) – ‘Kal Ani Aiz’ and the second prize was awarded to Aesica Barreto (Dr Minu) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’.

Merit certificates for acting (male) were given to Ali Correia (Crist Pai) – ‘Tuji Vokol Moji Bail’, Martin Mendes (Rohan) – ‘Tuji Vokol Moji Bail’, Mathias Mascarenhas (Joaquim Pai) – ‘Kal Ani Aiz’, Ajit Kamat (Raul Pinto) – ‘Kalliz Dukhoilem’, Paul A Fernandes (Jose) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’ and Rodney D’Souza (Rockey) – ‘Udorgott’. Merit certificates for acting (female) were awarded to Maria Fernandes (Fiona) – ‘Tuji Vokol Mhoji Bail’, Merylyn D’Costa (Annie) – ‘Bondkhonn’, Valency D’Souza (Tasha) – ‘Matiechi Girestkai’ and Ivy Pereira (Hazel) – ‘Kusvo’.

Mathew D’Souza (Mathew) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’ was adjudged as the best comedian. Merit certificates for comedian were given to Kenny Fernandes (Kenny) – ‘Montri’, Hortencio Pereira (Paixao) – ‘Bessaum’, Anthony Carvalho (Castelino) – ‘Kal Ani Aiz’, Jane Rebello (Banumati) – ‘Moronn’ and Socur D’Silva (Pedru) – ‘Moronn’.

The prize for best child artiste (male) was given to Master Cameron Fernandes (Simao) – ‘Vadoll’, whereas the merit certificate was awarded to Master Darrel Mendes (Alex) – ‘Falleam Konnem Poilam’ Rosario D’Souza (Willy) – ‘Moronn’ and Flennon Ferrao (Principal) – ‘Pacharem’.

The prize for best child artiste (female) has been awarded to Shanice Caiado (Pearl) – ‘Thembe’ and the merit certificates were awarded to Vhorty Sequeira (Maria) – ‘Kal Ani Aiz’, Shenaya Pereira (Rosy) – ‘Vadoll’ and Joylin Barbosa (Jane) – ‘Don Vantte’.

The prizes in technical section were awarded as follows: Setting – 1st prize to Antonio Barretto –

Avito Fernandes

Aesica Barreto

Dorothy Viegas

Dipak Amonkar

Aleixo Fernandes

Sonia Sirsat

Ezilda Fernandes

Mathew de Souza

(Korta Ti Vatt), merit certificate – Surendra Satarkar (Tuka); light effects – 1st prize to Dipak Amonkar (Korta Ti Vatt), merit certificate – Nilesh Mahale (Udorgott); music (band) - 1st prize to Vitorin Araujo (Korta Ti Vatt); make up – 1st prize to Eknath Naik (Soimbacho Khell Ani Patkiancho Mell); costumes – 1st prize to Maria Pereira (Vadoll); background music – 1st prize to Aleixo Fernandes (Korta Ti Vatt), merit certificate – Saish Deshpande (Kantteamcho Turo).

Aniceto Lourenco (Goykar) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’

Aniceto Lourenco

Cameron Fernandes

Livia Menezes

Rosario Botelho

Anthony D’Souza

Cibyl Cabral

Lancy D’Silva

Ajit Kamat

and Elvis Mascarenhas (Niall) – ‘Pacharem’ were selected for first and second prize respectively for singing (male solo). Merit certificates were given to Andrew D’Souza (Birmoth) – ‘Kalliz Dukoilem’, Anthony D’Souza (Sonvasarachi Bonvdi) – ‘Vadoll’, Leslie Pereira (Mobile) and Agnelo Vaz (Put) – ‘Don Vantte’, Francis Pinto (Chorunk Zavnchem Na) – ‘Kusvo’ and, Alleluia Pereira (Monzati Koddlean Xikum –ia) – ‘Bondkhonn’.

Sonia Sirsat (Ostori) – ‘Kalliz Dukhoilem’ and Antonette Pereira (Cheddum Bhurgem) – ‘Mo-

ronn’ were selected for first and second prize respectively for singing (female solo). Merit certificates were given to Cibyl Cabral (Fashion) – ‘Kantteancho Turo’, Olga Vaz (Kusvo) – ‘Goykaramcher Dustt Porinam’, Nacia Afonso (Achar) – ‘Morossor’, Jessica Gomes (Adlo Temp) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’, Reema Dias (Maxean Maxean) – ‘Kusvo’, Agnes Nazareth (Ximiter) – ‘Tuka’ and Agnes D’Silva (Ostori) – ‘Soimbacho Khell Ani Patkiancho Mell’.

Cameron Fernandes (Orissak Madrink) – Vadoll, was adjudged as best child singer (male solo), whereas the merit certificate was given to Maython Barreto (Cherussan) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’ and Hashvaine Fernandes (Scientist) – ‘Montri’.

Wendy Fernandes (Ostoreo Kortat Desak Mahan) – ‘Bondkhonn’ was adjudged as the best child singer in the female solo category. The merit certificate was given to Oshin Jonah Fernandes (Eklem Eksurem) – ‘Pacharem’, Violet D’Souza (Novro Zai) – ‘Kal Ani Aiz’, Shayna Britto (Maim Paichi Ubh) – ‘Thembe’, Senozel Rebeiro (Madrinim Sambaulem) – ‘Tuji Vokol Mhoji Bail’ Claniffa Almeida (Burgem) – ‘Soimbacho Khell Ani Patkiancho Mell’.

Jhonny D’Silva and Clancy D’Silva (Somjikai) – ‘Udorgoth’ were selected for best duet/duo prize, whereas the merit certificates were given to Camisha Fernandes & Cressida Afonso (Bharat) – ‘Bondkhonn’, Alvito Araujo & Bonny Alvin (Korta Ti Vatt) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’, Ivy Pereira & Suzeta Pereira (Maim Pai) – ‘Kusvo’, Alifa D’Cruz & Sandra D’Souza (Bomboichi Sukddi) – ‘Thembe’ and Lenzie Camilo & Shirlie Camilo (Udorgoth) – ‘Udorgoth’.

Violet D’Souza, Josepha D’Souza & Vhorty Sequeira (Bharot Des) – Kal Ani Aiz were adjudged for the 1st prize of Best Trio and the merit certificates were awarded to Deepti Coutinho, Preeti Countinho & Joshlyn Gracias (Kaido) – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’, Sonali Naik, Murli Estibeiro & Valency D’Souza (Bharat Maim Des) – ‘Matiechi Girestkai’.

Ezilda Fernandes, Dorothy Viegas, Livia Menezes & Lancy D’Silva (Europi Goenkar) – ‘Kantteamcho Turo’ were selected for the 1st prize for quartet singing. Merit certificates were given to Lenzie, Michelle, Tresila & Shirlie Camilo (Share Market) – ‘Udorgoth’, Selvina Fernandes, Anthony Gonsalves, Pedro Fernandes & Anthony Mascarenhas (Belgaumkar) – ‘Besaum’, Mario Pinto, Bernard Noronha, Pobre Dias & Antonnette Barbosa (Bhoinnank Xittkavnni) – ‘Kusvo’.

Fr Mathew Fernandes (Dharati Mata Rakhumia) – ‘Bondkhonn’, was given the prize for Best Lyrics and the merit certificate has been given to Fr Dominick Alvares (Nisorgacho Samball Kor) – ‘Bondkhonn’, Manuel Dias (Cheddva Hem Lisaun Tuka) – ‘Falleam Konnem Poilam’ and Camilo Joao (Preeti) – ‘Montri’.

Conceicao Fernandes – ‘Kusvo’, was selected for the first prize for script writing and the second prize was given to Tomazinho Cardozo – ‘Kal Ani Aiz’. Merit certificate was given to Avito A Fernandes – ‘Korta Ti Vatt’.

Kala Academy has congratulated all the prize winners. The date for the prize distribution function will be declared later.

posing their own plans even before the Regional Plan 2021 is notified, without any consideration whatsoever as to availability of land, eco sensitive zones etc. “This proposed highway, will effectively sabotage the people’s Regional Plan 2021”, the NGOs said, while drawing attention to the fact that your plans for the proposed highway are passing through large tracts of agricultual paddy fields, wet lands and forests.

“This is in direct conflict and contravention of the National Policy for Farmers 2007, approved by the Central Cabinet, which has recommended that “prime farmland must be conserved for agriculture, except under exceptional circumstances, provided that the agenices that are provided with agricultural land for non agricultural projects should compensate for treatment and full development of equivalent, degraded / waste lands elsewhere.

Further, the commitment under the existing resettlement policy of the Central / State governments would be fulfilled in letter and spirit”, the memorandum stated.

The village groups also drew attention of the Union Minister to the fact that the proposed highway will lead to ead to large scale destruction of the River Sal - the only River that originates in Goa and is the source of all the springs and water bodies in South Goa.

Margao blast case: Solid Party member examined MARGAO (HR): South Goa Sessions court on Thursday examined the founder member of Margao-based Solid Party Nitin Naik in connection with the Margao bomb blast case.

Naik was examined at length by the prosecution before being cross examined by the defense lawyer, Adv Sanjeev Punaleykar on the blast case.

Naik told the court that members of the Sanathan Sanstha had been demonstrating against the Narkasur competition held in Margao since the last 6-7 years, objecting to the small size of the Narkasur effigy compared to the effigy of Lord Krishna.

During cross examination, Nitin admitted that the place where the blast had taken place does not fall along the procession of the groups participating in the Narkasur competition.

Naik said that as the competition was going on at the venue at around 9.30 pm to 9.45 pm, there was a big sound of blast, which came from the left side from the side of Grace Church at a distance of about 400-500 meters away from the stage. “We could not guess as to what it was. Within five minutes or so, the Chief Minister received a call and he left the stage along with MLA Damu Naik”, Naik submitted.

During examination, Naik said that Sanathan people used to come near the stage with placards opposing the Narkasur competition and that such competitions should not be organized.

UpCoMInG eVents Conference in neonatology

PANJIM (HND): Goa Association of Paediatricians and Maharashtra State Chapter of National Neonatology Forum in association with Department of Paediatrics, GMC will hold a conference in neonatology with focus on problems related to newborn babies and recent advances in the management of these problems on October 30 and 31 at Hotel Mandovi, Panjim.

Also, two pre-conference workshops on Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) and Ventilation by highly qualified and specialised national level faculty will be held on October 30 in the Library Auditorium, Department of Paediatrics, GMC, from 8 am to 12.30 pm. For more information and to register, contact organising secretaries Dr Virendra Gaonkar on 9623449394 or Dr Sushma P Kirtani on 9822123198, or email: mahaneocon@gmail.com.

DKA novel writing workshop

PANJIM (HND): Dalgado Konknni Akademi’s (DKA) two-day residential novel writing workshop will be inaugurated on October 30 at Colva residency, at 10 am by Konknni novelist and Sahitya Akademi award winner Damodar Mauzo, with the President of Tiatr Akademi of Goa, Tomazinho Cardozo as guest of honour.

DKA President will preside over the function. The basics and nature of novel writing, ways of designing a plot, developing the characters and scenes and all things going into the making of a good novel will be discussed at length.

Participants will be guided by well-known novelists Bonaventure D’Pietro, Hema Naik, Willy Goes and Mahabaleshwar Sail. Altogether, 20 participants will take part in the workshop, which will be co-ordinated by Vincy Quadros.

Our Lady of Piety feast

OLD GOA (HC): The Feast of Our Lady of Piety will be celebrated at Our Lady of Piety Chapel, Carambolim, on October 31.

St John De Baptist Church Parish Priest Fr Conceicao D’Silva will be the main celebrant for the Feast Mass, which will be held at 9.30 am. This year, the feast is celebrated by Wilfred Valladares and his family.

Free medical camp

PANJIM (HND): A free medical camp will be organised by RG Stone Hospital in association with IMA Tiswadi and Rotary Club Panjim, on October 31 at Don Bosco School, Panjim, from 9 am to 1 pm. The camp will give free medical consultation on problems related to gall bladder stones, kidney stones, enlarged prostate, hernia, appendix and piles along with free ultrasound. A free dental checkup will also be done in the camp.

Patients can get their registration done on RG Stone’s helpline number 9552546070.

Betim chapel feast

PANJIM (HND): The annual feast of Our Lady of Fatima Chapel, Betim will be celebrated on October 31 at 10 am. Fr Mario Pereira will be the main celebrant and Fr Henancio, the co-celebrant.

Contest on cultural depiction

PANJIM (HND): To salute the unity and diversity of the country, Rotaract Club of Ponda will organise a competition for students of standard IInd to IVth on October 31 at GVM’s Hall, Ponda at 9 am in which participants will have to depict the culture and tradition of any one state of the country through either dance or acting (monologue) in maximum 3 minutes.

Participants can use costumes and props to enhance their performance. Forms are available at Monginis cake shop, Dada Vaidhya Chowk, Ponda and Kishore Traders, Tisk-Ponda. Only 40 entries will be accepted. Registration has to be done by October 29. For details call event coordinator, Anwesha Singbal on 9823674970.

power shUtdown OCTOBER 29 PERNEM: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Khareband, Paraste in Pernem Municipal Council.

MANDUR: From 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Amparo Church, Bank of India, Miryabhat and surrounding areas.

CHIMBEL: From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Shirent, Shetye Stones Quarry, Parts of Govlem Bhatt, Menezes Twin Factory, Voilem Bhatt upto Bamon Bhatt, Gawanth, Entire Indiranagar, CM Raikar, Shah Kamaxi, Dateshwar Residency and surrounding areas.

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OHERALDO GOA, FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER, 2010

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O HERALD O

IVF 32 years on

Vol No CX No: 273 Goa, Friday 29 October, 2010

Parting with unsweet sorrow

T

he Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), the body that administers Goa’s port, has a long history; it is one of India’s oldest major ports. MPT has had several chairpersons over the years, and their relationships with the state government of the day and the people of the state have seen ups and downs. But never, ever, before the tenure of Praveen Agarwal, whose term as MPT Chairman just expired, have ties touched their nadir as they have at present.

This is unfortunate. A port exists for its hinterland and for the people who live there. Administrative issues do create tensions – minor and major – from time to time, but relationships should never deteriorate to the point where they begin to resemble a ‘fight-to-the-finish’. That is like cutting one’s nose to spite one’s face. Regrettably, that has been the reality of MPT-Goa government dealings over the past few years. And, to be fair, the fault lies on both sides.

Mr Agarwal is clearly a dynamic and ambitious man. He had a great vision for the port. This included a grand expansion plan to create new facilities, including container depots, oil-handling terminals, a berth for cruise liners and a marina, both to the east as well as to the west of the existing port infrastructure. But it also included impractical proposals like a massive new extension of the port into the Baina bay.

Seen in pure managerial terms, Agarwal’s tenure as MPT chief was a highly successful one. The port greatly expanded its materials-handling capacity and its revenues, despite the global recession. His expansion plans scored one major success in the successful private-public participation (PPP) project for MPT’s state-of-the-art coal terminal. But his plan for eastward expansion into the Vasco bay came a cropper, thanks to the large-scale eviction and resettlement that would have been required at Khariwada.

Agarwal’s vision and missionary zeal for the port was obviously not matched by the kind of people-management skills that are required to turn dreams into reality in Goa. His running battle with the people of Vasco over the coal dust pollution in the town as a result of the port also did not earn him much sympathy.

Some of the steps he has taken in his last days seem quixotic at best, and resemble a bizarre at vendetta at worst. The first was his sudden turnaround and refusal to make the port a designated pharma hub; he had earlier agreed to it. His excuse was lame at best: that the port could not handle pharma containers unless the contentious Khariwada area was vacated for the MPT’s eastward expansion plan. The pharma industry in Goa, which now has to send containers all the way to Mumbai for export, rightly felt it was being unnecessarily victimised in a fight between the port’s chief and the government.

And last has come what can only be called a parting kick, reiterating the MPT’s ownership claim to lands and waters far, far away from the port. Written to 15 seaside Village Panchayats, Mr Agarwal’s letter, written just a day before he was to remit office, said any and all activity along the waterfront of these villages needed the MPT’s prior permission. Such a claim would be reasonable if it restricted itself to the areas the port currently uses and those that form a part of its expansion plans. But to alienate the population of the state in which the port is situated is certainly not the best policy. Just like chairpersons of ports, governments of states too have finite terms, which expire. But both the ports and the states go on forever. It is a spirit of accommodation, of give-and-take, which always yields the best results. Eternal feuds have no place in a modern democracy.

Society is still to decide when an embryo becomes an individual says DR GLADSTONE D’cOSTA, F.R.c.S.Ed.

W

hen Robert Edwards was at Cambridge, a childless couple next door would visit him to coo over his young family. As he later described it “The trees bore fruit, the clouds carried rain, and our friends, forever childless, played with our Caroline and Jennifer.” Therein, like the legendary falling apple, a concept took root. He started work on the idea in the 50s but it wasn’t till Patrick Steptoe independently developed the technique of laparoscopy (key-hole surgery), that Edwards was able to translate his concepts into workable technology. Interestingly, the initial reception was so hostile that he never ever got a research grant from any government agency. In 2010, 32 years later, his work was finally awarded the stamp of recognition with the Nobel Prize.

When Edwards and Steptoe announced the imminent birth of the first “test-tube” baby in 1978, all hell broke loose. On the one hand, religious groups denounced the technique as an interference with God’s scheme of things. “No conception without the conjugal act” One can’t help wondering what the 4 million individuals born as a result of this technique since 1978 would have to say. And I really wonder if God by whatever name one chooses to use, would be so cruel as to deny 8 million parents the sublime joy of bringing up their very own child.

Medical ethicists sounded alarm bells about the Frankenstein monsters that would be unleashed on society. Louise Brown was born on the 25th July 1978, perfectly healthy and normal.

4 million babies later, there is as yet no scientific evidence that babies born from IVF are any more prone to deformities than those in the normal population; and 4 million is a sizeable sample indeed.

However it is the third group of objections that continue to cause concern; and to appreciate these we need a clear understanding of what IVF actually involves. The term stands for In Vitro Fertilisation, which literally means fertilisation in glass, or in a laboratory as opposed to in vivo or in the body. 10 percent of otherwise healthy married couples are infertile for various reasons.

In these cases an ovum is removed from the mother by laparoscopic technique and fertilised with sperm from the father, in the laboratory.

Cells could also come from banks. The fertilised ovum is then implanted into the uterus of the mother.

Musical interludes

TuBE TEch This stage differentiates it from surrogacy, where the fertilised ovum is implanted into the uterus of a third party on a fee-for-service basis.

IVF therefore has far less medico-legal connotations and complexities than surrogacy. Nevertheless, it is at this stage that the off-shoot techniques spring up and cause concern.

In an attempt to increase the success rates, IVF clinics usually implant two to six embryos in one cycle. Whilst this does increase the chances of a successful implantation, the down side is that it often results in a multiple pregnancy which is associated with increased complication rates.

The mother now faces the dilemma of proceeding with a multiple pregnancy and exposing herself to additional risks, or opting for foetal reduction, where the pregnancy is reduced to a single one by selective destruction of the other embryos.

Some clinics often preserve surplus embryos to cater to failures or in anticipation of future pregnancies. Storage is usually not permitted or ad-

visable beyond five years and therefore surplus unused embryos need to be disposed of. This availability, in turn spawns a whole new field of embryo research. Today we have the phenomena dubbed by the media as “saviour siblings” where an additional embryo is developed solely to make available tissue to correct a defect in an existing sibling; a legally permissible procedure in some countries.

Turning to our legislature for guidance only causes frustration as our legislators are too busy throwing microphones and chairs at each other.

India’s first undisputed “test tube” baby dates back to 1986. (The ‘test tube’ baby of 1978 was disputed till recently). Yet till date all we have is a ‘Code of Conduct for Assisted Reproductive Technology’ by the ICMR 2005. Based on this a draft of the ‘ART (Regulation) Bill 2010’ is awaiting attention. In other words we do not as yet have any laws on the subject.

Legislation has always lagged behind scientific

“Times They Are a-changing”

S

atyajit Ray’s ‘Pather Pachali’ or ‘The Song of the Road’ has a special significance for me. Feel as though I was born or may be conceived on the road. I just love being on it, driving or being driven as is the case now. My nephews generally allow me this indulgence.

Today it’s from Goa to Mumbai we are driving in some modern car, don’t ask me the name. I stopped following car names since the 1950s, after the Chevrolets, Buicks and Fords and used to drive Dad’s Hillman Minx. But that was in my early 20s, the old route via Poona, Satara and Belgaum. Now in my 70s it is the adjacent seat.

This is my cinematographer nephew and not a maniac for speed like the first one. But today’s cars and highways beget speed. Like the car brands my music tastes are ancient, Bing Crosby. Frank Sinatra and the Platters. Now I’m feeling my way through the

newer ones – Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Elton John, cult figures today.

We started on Mick Jagger and his lyrics are great, irreverent and modern. There was one about Sympathy for the Devil and I just loved it. There is more of Mick but I also remember his ex-wife Bianca who looks after the rights of displaced persons and was involved with the Orissa tribal movement fighting Vedanta.

Modern music systems baffle me, light years after His Master’s Voice gramophone. They switch back and forward like yoyos. It took us till 10 to hit the Golden Quadrilateral and from then speed just happened. Breakfast between Kolhapur and Satara with the ghati special called puneri missal. Then onwards. More music, something old, something new, Billie Holiday, even opera singer Edith Pfiaff and her La Vie en Rose, with her distinct French accent. More music, less automobiles at high noon and after, the truckers take

Letter of the Day Yoga is universal Subhash R.Surlakar,Vasco da Gama Your article ‘Jesus Christ was the Greatest Yogi’ (Goa’s Heartbeat, Herald, 24 Oct) was impartial and informative. It was a befitting reply by a proud Indian, Father John Ferreira of Agra to the allegations made a US pastor Mark Driscoll against the practice of yoga in Christian dominated countries. Only a couple of months ago an Indian origin American tried to acquire the patent of yoga in his name, to which Baba Ramdev`s immediate reaction was though the science of Yoga originated in India thousands of years ago, every individual in this world has a right to practice yoga, regardless of his country, caste and creed, as yoga is a gift from God to us. No pharmaceutical company makes medicines based on caste and creed, so also is yoga the common

100 Years Ago PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

29 October 1910 Ships sink near Aguada

Due to bad weather assailing Goa, sank near Aguada’s Sandbar two Cargo-boats while carrying merchandise worth 15000 Rupees.

medicine of God for all humans. Father Ferreira has proved a very strong point.

Practicing yoga regularly keeps the yogi physically fit throughout his life and also makes him mentally strong to fight the evils in the world single-handedly.

Mapusa public debate A S Prabhu, Moira

High road to kickbacks

Tobacco smoke prevents fever

Image of Port Town

O Comercial 2nd anniv

O Comercial under the editorship of Mr. Antonio Xavier Gomes Pereira has completed two years of its publication.

Stomach screening invention

Apropos of many cases of speckled fever, states the British Medical Journal that tobacco smoke is one of the best preventatives to arrest that malaise.

GBA seems to be in a tricky situation. The poor attendance at their Panjim rally shows that the same people who marched to Panjim and Margao in 2006 have lost touch with the issue. They are not trusting GBA for their own follies. First, they claimed to be apolitical, but that philosophy did not serve the purpose. A divide and rule policy has downsized the GBA. Then the internal bickering, mud slinging and ego clashes within the GBA were out in the open which further lowered their image.

But Goans do not have a choice. The CM has realized that GBA is not the same tiger that roared in 2006; that in fact many of its teeth have fallen down since then. If they are sincere in their act now, they have to regroup first all their prodigals since some like Dr. Oscar Rebello and Patricia Pinto are indispensable. Then only we can expect Goans to rally behind them to have a change of government.

Vasco wants Lorna

It is reported that two German Scientists have developed a new scientific apparatus “Bioroengenography” to analyze the stomach in cinematographic way.

Due to notices issued by the Captain of Ports not a single river-vessel can be seen in the Mandovi River.

Allwyn George, Carmona

the Municipal elections and MLAs are seen brawling. For what? We do not need any saviour here in Vasco or for that matter, any god-sent ‘social workers’. We are gripped with basic problems that do not need the help of any God or miracle men.

We simply need people, whoever we elect, to bear full responsibility of their positions.

The dynasty rule seems to be all in vogue here in Goa or in India too. For those who believe in dynasty rule, there is nothing in store but to be made a fool.

Now on a comeback trail, the Goan nightingale Lorna has proved that she is still a crowd-puller as was evident during her several performances both in Panaji and Margao. It must be said that Lorna has thousands of fans in Vasco as well who would be all too eager to see her perform live here. Unfortunately there has not been a single show of Lorna in the Port Town after her comeback. It may not be possible for all her fans from Vasco to travel to Panaji or Margao to watch her shows. It would be nice if Lorna would perform in Vasco as well and bring cheer to her fans here. May be a local social club could organize the show which could be sponsored by a business house.

No boats in the river

GBA needs its teeth again

In the run up for Mapusa Municipal Council elections, campaigning has reached fever pitch with candidates making lofty promises. Whether they will clean up the mess is a moot question. Will they address issues like muck in the market, potholes and encroachments on footpaths, garbage in every nook and corner, haphazard constructions, parking problems, etc? The candidates are using various strategies to woo the voters.

Once the elections are won, the next strategy is to loot and plunder the public exchequer to amass fortunes in one term to last for five generations. In the circumstances, the trump card is in the hands of the voter to exercise his vote judiciously.

I would invite a public debate with the aspiring candidates at the Municipal hall to know their minds.

Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco

Augustus Alphonso, Vasco All of us agree that the image of the port town is tarnished. Let us not get into those details. We are at the brink of voting in

progress. The PNDT Act of 1994 was designed to curb the use of ultra-sound machines in prenatal sex determination. The legislators completely missed the fact that IVF technology now enabled selection and manipulation of sperm and ova so as to produce a male child. A writ petition by CEHAT (Centre for Excellence in Health and Allied Themes) resulted in an amendment so that the act is now called the PC (Pre-Conception) & PNDT Act. Looking beyond our borders scarcely provides any comfort either. U.Ks. ‘Human Fertilisation & Embryology Act’ came only in 1990, and permits the implantation of two embryos. The USA does not have any regulation apart from the requirement to report pregnancy success rates. Italy and Germany permit fertilisation of up to three embryos; but all fertilised embryos whether one or three, have to be implanted; no preservation is allowed. Spain allows the preservation but not the destruction of embryos. In Israel, a single woman seeking IVF had to be examined by a psychiatrist till recently!

Even as the laws, from a global perspective are non-existent, inadequate or completely conflicting and confusing, there does appear to be a universal hesitation in destroying embryos or permitting research on them. To my mind this uncertainty arises from the simple fact that society, unlike some religions has not yet firmly decided one basic issue; when does an individual become an individual? Is it at the time of fertilisation, or at 28 weeks (re: the MTP Act) or at birth based on the old concept of “independent existence”.

At the moment we seem to believe that it is the moment of fertilisation but we are hesitant to give it the stamp of legality. If this issue is settled, all the above complex ramifications fall into place as the embryo then acquires legal status with all the rights of an individual.

If we chose to remain undecided, then the words of Charles Cantor, CSO of Sequenom Inc., USA should serve as a chilling reminder of the ‘brave new world’ to come. He was addressing the Human Genome Organisation 20th anniversary lecture titled ‘Genomics; 20 years ago and 20 years from now’ at the International Genetics meet. He declared “Genetically engineered humans will be a reality by 2028, whether we like it or not or whether it is ethical or not” (The author is a Member, National Executive Committee, Voluntary Health Association of India)

India has never been able to scale any socio-political height, despite being a great economic power many times during the past three to four thousand years of our history. Bhagwats, Gadkaris, Thackerays, etc. would do well to address themselves to the debility that has been enervating our society and adopt measures to improve the basic mores, instead of focusing their vindictiveness on the minorities of India.

Vascokars Disgraced Carmen Correia, Vasco

Goa needs development, but not at the cost of the people. Going ahead with the expressway demolishing more than a hundred houses built with the owners’ hard earned money, is not fair. The Government should consider the sentiments of the people while planning any development. The Union Minister, Roads and Transport, Kamal Nath stated that the funds will be diverted to other states if the people of Goa object to the expressway. Goans do not mind if the funds are diverted to other states, if the houses are saved. No chance of this happening, because there are monetary benefits to the concerned parties if their expressway dreams come true.

The local MLA along with his supporters has put Vascokars to utter shame and humiliation. Grievances can be solved appropriately. Our lives are at risk with all the bad elements in the city. Politicians have set a bad example to our youth who are the leaders of tomorrow. Vascoites are suffering in silence. This beautiful commercial hub has suffered from mass destruction.

The Goans in Vasco are watching all the merry-go-rounds and one-act-plays that take place in Vasco municipality. Empty promises are made by the councillors. What has happened to Adarsh Nagar, Baina, Mangor Hill, New Vaddem, and Vaddem? They are totally destroyed. Vascokars, please wake up to reality. Think before you cast your vote. Let good prevail over evil.

We were once powerful

Double-Faced Pranab

A C Menezes, Chinchinim

S Kamat, Alto-Betim

The letter by S Kamat ‘Rotten to the core’ (Herald, 28 Oct) is an interesting observation on the upper echelons of Indian society.

This weakness could be the reason why

Pranab Mukherjee should not exhort the IMF-World Bank about alleviation of poverty, because his initiatives at poverty eradication are clearly anti-poor. Many pro-

Marcos Alemao by email

By Ervell E Menezes

their lunch break.

Our lunch was at 2. Cute little dhaba called Shanti near Lonavla.

Poor Andre, needed a break though he doesn’t admit it. The senior, not necessarily the better, has to do the thinking at times. Good 45 minutes, tandoor chicken, dal and rotis to the good.

Then back on the last lap and Bob Dylan. I’m accustomed to him by now ‘You’ve Got to Serve Somebody,’ ‘Times They Are a-Changing’, the works. The quickest toll change in the world is the Vashi Bridge, an example of Mumbai efficiency, after the sleepy ones en route.

Then back to the Mumbai traffic, yuk. You can’t have it good all the time, can you? Not in life too. May be the devil or God or whoever, sees to it. Didn’t Horace Walpole say: “In small proportions we just beauty see.

In short measures life may perfect be.”

Letters to the Editor grammes actually exploit the voiceless poor. It is often reported that in NREGA for instance the villagers work for 3 months even more and when they get paid a cut goes to those managing the program.

Sometimes imaginary workers are paid and the money safely ensconced in the pockets of the politicians and bureaucrats.

He should talk of rampant food inflation which is managed by juggling the base of the CPI indices, fudged statistics of female infanticide, tons of foodgrains, the number of starvation deaths and malnourished children. The sheer cussedness of some of these things is very disturbing, but then like they say, this is India!

Interlocutors’ agenda S N D Poojary, Miramar The Kashmir problem is rooted in religious bigotry and it is not the result of any failure on the part of the Indian nation. Two of the three-member panel of interlocutors have been constantly airing their personal views. One of them even suggested that the Constitution could be amended to pave the way for a discussion on azadi to Kashmir. They seem to be preparing a blueprint to dismember the country and gift Kashmir to Pakistan, on a platter. One wonders whether these peace-makers are there to plead the cause of the separatists or, to preserve the unity and integrity of the Indian nation. Nobody should entertain the delusion of finding a solution to the Kashmir problem by negating the Constitution.

Our writ petitions worked Casvin Fernandes, Chinchinim I refer to the letter ‘NGO taking Panchayat Power’ by Nelson Lopes (Herald, 27 Oct) and strongly object to it. It is because of the writ petitions filed in the High Court by the Green Goa Foundation that the Chinchinim market has been cleared of encroachments and noise pollution by a notorious dance floor has been eliminated.

A big landlord from the village has sold agricultural plots to non-Goans who have built illegal houses in the area reserved as green belt. Form I & XIV contains such names as Sharma, Swami, Akbar Shaikh, Makandar and others who are to swamp Goa. Could Nelson Lopes possibly be on on their pay rolls?

Paths of Wisdom Hajj (Pilgrimage)

By Samir Khan “Behold, the first House (of Prayer) established for mankind is the one at Mecca: it is full of blessings and a centre of guidance for the whole world. In it there are clear signs and the station of Ibrahim; whoever enters it becomes secure. Pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by all who can make their way to it. As for those who refuse to follow His command, surely Allah does not stand in need of anything.”

(Holy Qur’an – 3:96-97) That the Ka’bah was constructed by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) who lived eight or nine centuries before Prophet Musa (may Allah be pleased with them) stands undisputed. And, that the Ka’bah is older than the Temple of Jerusalem is also beyond dispute.

Here it is stressed that there are several clear signs which prove that the Meccan sanctuary enjoys God’s blessings and has been chosen by Him as His sanctuary.

Even though it is located in the middle of wide expanses of desert, God has seen to it that its inhabitants enjoy a satisfactory living.

Although the rest of Arabia was plunged into chaos and disorder for about two and a half thousand years, peace and tranquillity reigned in both the precincts and the environs of Ka’bah.

Thanks to the existence of Ka’bah, the entire peninsula enjoyed four months of peace and order every year. These were the sacred months when people went on Hajj Pilgrimage.

Even during the advent of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) this sanctuary enjoyed such veneration that even those who thirsted for each other’s blood saw their enemies in the sacred territory but dared not attack them.

The verse 3:97 declares the Hajj Pilgrimage as an obligatory prayer for the believers who are able to afford the expenses of the Pilgrimage. It is a duty enjoined by Almighty Allah so that the believers may earn the pleasure of Allah who does not stand in need of anything.

xPrinted 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@heraldgoa.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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VIA’s outgoing chief under flak for claims on employment to Goans HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

The SEZ Virodi Manch has condemned the statements of outgoing president of Verna Industries Association, Cyril Pereira that Industrial development at Verna has brought benefits to a sizeable number of Goans in the form of employment.

In a statement, Manch Convenor Charles Fernandes said the outgoing president of the Association has preferred silence on the quantum of benefits, which is not more than 5-10 per cent. “Pereira speaks of largest revenue to the treasury but failed to elaborate. Land admeasuring 65 lakhs sq mts of

the people have acquired for Verna Industrial Estate in 5 phases at paltry rates of Rs 5 and Rs 10 per sq mts and allotted at the rate of Rs 350 to 600 per sq mtr officially and three times the amount unofficially.

The local Panchayats have lost jurisdiction and control over these lands ever since industrial estates have been declared as notified areas since 2000. The only revenue earned by the local panchayats is in the form of construction licence fees which are collected

by GIDC and 90% of the same is given to panchayats in form of grant in aid. Even a mobile cart and stationary cart operating in the village pays trade tax to

the panchayats but the existing global companies and gigantic industries at Verna Industrial Estate do not pay a penny to panchayats for trade operations”, he said.

Charles reminded Pereira that the Verna Industrial Estates just as other industrial estates in the State are ruled by labour contract system wherein the workers are paid meagre salaries without any job securities and necessary benefits. “How does Pereira expect Goans to take up such jobs with salaries which do not even take care of the basic needs of decent living that Goans are adapted to? Surely, we can see many Goans today

opting for secure and well paid jobs in Mumbai, Bangalore, Gujarat, Delhi and other parts of the country. During his tenure as President of Verna Industries Association, the least Pereira could have done in the interests of Goans was to make serious efforts to abolish contract labour system in the Verna Industrial Estate”, he added.

Referring to Pereira statement blaming the change in social fabric on the villagers who give rooms on rent and ration cards given by panchayats, Charles said that Pereira’s knowledge seems to be scarce as ration cards are not given by panchayats but by Mamlatdars who today act on dictates of politicians and currency. “The downtrodden villagers who have lost their lands and peace to the devastating gullible industrial estate, and not realising the serious implications, fall prey to the little extra money that can be earned in this manner”, he said, and asked Pereira to explain why these workers should be fleeing to neighboring villages and why during his tenure did not make attempts to ensure that GIDC makes satisfactory arrangements for housing migrant workers from the Verna Industrial Estate within the estate.

Hubli-bound bus rams against wall, four hurt HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, OCT 26

Four passengers were injured, after a Hubli-bound bus rammed into a retaining wall at Mokhardmoll-Bhatpall, Canacona, on Wednesday midnight.

According to police sources, the minibus (KA-25-C-2555), which was proceeding from Tilamol-Quepem to Hubli, headed into a retaining wall at about 1.45 am on Wednesday.

“Four passengers, including the bus cleaner, sustained minor injuries in the mishap,” informed police sources.

According to sources, the bus was returning to Hubli after attending a marriage engagement ceremony of a Hindu community at Tilamol on Wednesday evening, when it met with the mishap.

German robbed

MARGAO (HR): Unknown culprits stole a laptop and two mobile phones of a German national last night. Colva police said the German national was sleeping in the house with the door of the galary open when the miscreants effected entry inside and lifted away the laptop and two mobile phone, all worth around Rs 63,000.

‘Revoke forest, environmental clearances of mining leases’ HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, OCT 28

The Goa Federation of Mines Affected People (GOAMAP) has demanded the immediate revocation of all the forest clearances and environmental clearances given to various mining leases in Goa. The affected people pointed out that the permissions granted by Ministry of Environment and Forest, New Delhi are hostile to the ecology as well as to the traditional economies of people and are based on false data presented in EIA reports, even as GOAMAP condemned the government decision to divert nearly 1282 hectares of forest land in Goa in mining companies during the last five years.

Terming this a scandal, GOAMAP has called upon the government of India to act decisively and cancel all the mining leases in Goa, adding that the glaring example is the case of Borga Iron Ore mine at Rivona where in out of 71 hectares of the lease 66 hectares is forest that has been granted Forest Clearance by government authorities.

GOAMAP has urged Minister of Environment and Forest, Government of India Jairam Ramesh

MNE’s five candidates in fray for Mapusa civic polls HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, OCT 28

The Mapusa Nagrikancho Ekvott (MNE) has fielded five candidates for Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) election slated for Sunday.

The five candidates are Samira Swar, Jeanette Gomes, Freeda Coutinho, Angela Sequeira and Jacinto D’Souza. Of the five candidates, four are women.

Speaking to Herald, Samira Swar, a BCom graduate who is contesting from Ward 8, said she is confident of defeating her rivals, Ilma Braganza and Maria Nelson Carvalho.

"My Ward 8 has four decades old water pipeline, which is corroded and small in size for providing adequate water supply to 1,342 voters and others in the ward," she said.

"The new pipeline is still not been laid despite having been approved by the PWD about six years ago," said Swar.

"The power supply system is problematic with chronic short circuits and power tripping occurring almost daily especially during monsoons and which according to the electricity department can be solved through the installation of a fused-based power supply system," added Swar.

"If elected to power, I will concentrate on these vital is-

sues," assured Swar.

Jeanette Gomes, who is contesting from Ward 4, claimed that not much has been done in her ward by the sitting councilor.

“There is great need to be done with regard to garbage, bad roads, overflowing of drains, and gutters and insufficient street lighting to meet the requirements of 1991 voters of the ward,” said Gomes.

“If elected, I intend doing something positive in this regard, including house-to-house garbage collection, which is being done presently in selected areas despite the entire ward paying taxes for it,” said Gomes.

Freeda Coutinho, who is contesting from Ward 6, said there is a need for police patrolling in her ward during night to prevent occurrences of criminal activities.

“The huge potholes on the badly tarred and uneven roads cause accidents and injuries to pedestrians, including schoolchildren,” said Coutinho.

“Besides, proper vehicle parking facilities needed to prevent illegal parking, which causes traffic bottlenecks, zebra crossing and traffic police to be posted during school hours for safety of schoolchildren at traffic roads,” added Coutinho.

Angela Sequeira, who is con-

testing from Ward 15, highlighted the need for Joggers Park in the uncultivated agricultural land towards the Mapusa River, as there is no such facility for the local residents, especially the senior citizens.

“The heavily used one-andhalf km Morod road is pothole ridden and rendered unusable during monsoons. The main nullah, which runs through the market, the storm water drainages and open gutters need to be covered with concrete slabs,” she said.

The lone male candidate, Jacinto D’Souza, who is a structural engineer by profession, is contesting from Ward 3.

“There is a slum area in my ward, where hygiene desperately needs to be improved through cleanliness programmes to prevent diseases like typhoid and Malaria,” said D’Souza.

“Lack of sanitary facilities in my ward has led to people defecating/urinating in open spaces. If elected, I will convince the PWD to build proper public toilets,” added D’Souza.

MNE Convenor Antonio Lobo said they have chosen the candidates because of their active participation in MNE activities, selected for their commitment towards fulfilling the aims and objectives of their organization.

Crackdown on illegal activities: Merces VP issues show cause notices HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, OCT 28

Continuing with its action against illegalities in the village, the Merces panchayat has issued show cause notices to four persons, whose reply the panchayat has found unsatisfactory.

The four persons include Pundalik Navale and Nivrutti Waghmude (both scrap yard dealers), Rajesh Roadlines and Bhupinder Singh (tiles dealer).

It may be recalled that the current panchayat had served notices to several persons who were found undertaking illegal activities in various parts of Merces.

When contacted, Sarpanch Deepika Shirgaonkar confirmed that the decision was taken after the recently held panchayat body meeting, wherein it was decided that the replies of the concerned parties was unsatisfactory and that further action is needed.

However, when pointed out that the panchayat had issued notices to as many as 20 persons, Deepika informed that

out of them only four had replied and hence the panchayat decided to deal with them first.

"Show cause notices to the remaining offenders will be served in due course of time," she said and added that the delay has been caused due to the fact that the panchayat has been unable to figure out the correct survey number where the illegalities are undertaken.

"The Merces Talathi has also proceeded on leave, which has made the task difficult," Deepika informed and said that the additional Talathi who has been deputed is not fully aware of the areas in Merces.

Deepika further added that the ruling body will sit with the Talathi and try to get the correct survey numbers so that the show cause notices are served to the offenders at the earliest.

Giving the details of the show cause notices, Merces VP Secretary Rupesh Halarnkar informed that the two scrap yard owners Pundalik Navale and Nivrutti Waghmude have been

Family has lucky escape as house wall collapses CANACONA (HC): A family had a lucky escape, when a wall of their house collapsed due to incessant rains in AvemCotigao, Canacona.

The mud wall of a residential house belonging to Janu Kust Gaonkar suddenly collapsed at about 4 pm, causing a loss of about Rs 30,000. Talathi has reportedly conducted a survey of the damages caused.

Since the past six days, rains

have been intermittently lashing only in some of the areas in Cotigao, Gaondongrim, besides some parts of Shristhal, Poinguinim, Loliem, while rest of the areas witnesses dry spell. “If the incident had occurred at night, some family members, who sleep in the same room, would have come under the wall debris,” informed one Rohidas Gaonkar from the village.

given a 90-days deadline to avail the government's offer and shift the scrap yards from the village.

"As for Rajesh Roadlines, the owner has been told to stop his activities, failing which the panchayat would initiate further action," he said and added that in the fourth case, the panchayat has revoked the NOC issued to tiles dealer Bhupinder Singh with immediate effect.

AppoIntments

to initiate measure and crack down on mining in Goa just the way he acted in case of Niyamgiri mines in Orissa.

“Mining industry has been over running the state of Goa with high level political nexus and ruining the state of Goa everyday of its existence. Far more strict steps are necessary even though moratorium is in force on new mining leases;

Operations of the existing mines are creating havoc. This is evident from the current unrest amongst people of Goa against mining industry”, stated Sebastian Rodrigues, while warning that the situation will go out of hand with unpredictable consequences in case the government of India fails to act and stop mines in Goa.

AppoiNtMENts

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Will face Cauvery issue legally: TN CM PTI CHENNAI, OCT 28

A day after Karnataka’s refusal to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Thursday said his government would face the issue legally, but asserted that it would not come in the way of recent good ties between the two States.

After chairing a meeting of DMK functionaries, Karunanidhi told reporters, “We will approach the issue legally and continue to fight for securing our share of water. But I don’t want to comment on basis of media reports as it will affect ties and lead to unnecessary differences.”

He said he did not come across reports of Karnataka saying that it will release

water after (the Krishnarajasagar) dam reached its maximum storage capacity of 124.7 feet.

To a question, he said there was no need to take up the matter with Prime Minister again as he was aware of it and also noted that a case was pending in the Supreme Court over the Cauvery dispute.

FROM PAGE 1

NCP in damage control mode Sources said Mickky has been open in his outburst against Jose Philip and holds him as one of the responsible persons for what he went through after the death of his close friend Nadia Torrado.

Mickky had refused to meet Jose Philip when the latter was in the lock up.

Soon after the recent spat Jose Philip very openly said on a TV channel Mickky was jealous because he (Jose) was made the party president and as a result was working against him in Vasco to ensure the defeat of his wife and brother in the municipal elections.

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GOA, FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER, 2010

opinionated India’s signing of CSC ‘Political’ Shigmo of positive step: US Municipal Polls

S

By Sandesh Prabhudesai

atish Gaonkar must be the odd-man-out in Goan municipal politics. He has been the chairperson of the Bicholim Municipal Council for the last 10 years – two consecutive terms. Gulzar Bi Khan, chairperson of Valpoi Municipality is another exception, with an uninterrupted tenure of five years.

Valpoi comes under Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane’s constituency, while Bicholim is with the opposition BJP MLA Rajesh Patnekar.

But that is not the case with the other nine municipalities.

Not a single has maintained such stability. Pernem, in fact, created a record. Only one councillor out of 10 did not become chairperson or vice chairperson in the last five years. This tiny municipality had seven chairpersons and four vice-chairpersons!

In Vasco, out of 20 councillors, 15 became either chairperson or vice chairperson. Curchorem and Cuncolim each had eight out of 10 councillors holding either post. Canacona had seven of 10 councillors holding these posts, including five chairpersons.

Mapusa (15) had six such power seekers. Sanguem and Quepem (10) had five each. In short, the last term of Goa’s 11 municipalities was a dirty power game.

I had an opportunity to interact with some of these powerhungry politicians, opinion makers and the public at large when I toured all the 11 municipal towns to conduct public television debates.

In Vasco, these power seekers felt there was nothing wrong in different members of the same family contesting from different wards. One lady even argued that if more members of one family are elected to the council, there will be “real stability”.

Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza’s wife and elder brother are contesting.

Margao Chairperson Savio Coutinho argued that the musical chairs power game won’t stop unless there is a legally fixed minimum compulsory term for a chairperson. The new trend is to amicably share the posts in rotation. Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao was proud of providing a ‘stable’ Cuncolim Council with five chairpersons and three vice chairpersons out of 10 councillors.

Grievances were almost identical everywhere. People want a proper market, a spacious bus stand, widened roads, regulated parking, clean gutters, regular garbage disposal with houseto-house collection, sewage systems, gardens, a Ravindra Bhavan, controls on stray cattle and dogs, and a stop to illegal construction concentrated in an area.

For his Cuncolim Council, Joaquim Alemao has provided practically everything. People now want a second playground, another community hall, etc. But Bicholim was unique. In spite of being a BJP-supporting council, the councillors were all praise for the Congress government and minister Alemao – for providing financial help for development projects. Stability is the magic word that created wonders in this so-called opposition-led council. The government gave them everything they asked for.

In fact, till I reached Bicholim, I believed that the Congress government was neglecting opposition-ruled municipalities.

BJP MLAs and chairpersons complained of neglect. This included Francis D’Souza’s Mapusa, Vijay Pai Khot’s Canacona and Vasudev Meng Gaonkar’s Sanguem. But, strangely, the reality was different.

Goa’s municipalities are ‘wonderful’. The proper towns – Vasco, Margao and Mapusa – are in a mess. Problems are everywhere and no solutions are in sight. The level of polity is worse than the gutters. Similar is the case of developing mining towns Bicholim and Curchorem. They are confronted with new problems every time, but no councillor seems conscious enough to chalk out a vision-based long term plan for these developing towns.

The remaining six municipalities – Pernem, Valpoi, Cuncolim, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona – are a big question mark.

Are they really municipalities? Or just a market surrounded by villages called municipal wards? But, this peculiar situation throws up a lot of scope to visualise, plan and expand in a systematic manner. But no long-term developmental plan exists anywhere.

None of the councillors seem aware that each municipality, under the 74th amendment, needs to prepare a developmental plan through a participative process, taking opinions from the general public in each ward. None of them knows that each councillor needs to set up a ward committee and hold public hearings – just like the Gram Sabhas in the villages.

Councils don’t even invite public to attend council meetings – a mandatory requirement under the law. They call ‘secret meetings’ in chambers. In fact one vice chairperson, during a debate, objected to a journalist panellist publishing news without asking for a copy of a resolution under the Right to Information Act! He didn’t think it was his duty to address the media about resolutions passed at the council meeting.

In Cuncolim, Joaquim Alemao claimed to have prepared a development plan. But the chairperson admitted that it wasn’t officially adopted by the council or even made public. In Bicholim, experts were assigned to prepare a plan, but as a mere formality.

None of their suggestions were implemented. In Margao, an organisation called Margao First prepared and submitted a plan. Forget about implementing or adopting it; most of the councillors have reportedly not even read the document!

There was an interesting debate on the role of the MLA. No MLA attends council meeting, though officially invited as per law. MLAs – whether ruling or opposition – said attending these meetings was ‘political interference’. But they all want to ‘control’ the council and the councillors. If they don’t listen, they are toppled or humiliated by denying developmental funds to their ward.

People expect the MLA to assist the council, no matter which party each belongs to. Actually, the MLAs rule the roost; councillors dance to their tune. But sometimes, councillors belonging to the ruling party sideline the local opposition MLA and deal directly with their political masters in the government.

In fact, that’s the reason reservation proved to be just a political master-plan for collusion between the ruling party aspirants for municipal council seats and the ruling masters in Porvorim. Reservation for women had no common criteria. But the Municipalities Act clearly states that reservations for OBCs and STs should be on the basis of population.

But it was a common complaint that wards with a sizeable ST/OBC population were not reserved. Pernem had to leave the Ward 9 seat vacant, as not a single ST candidate could be found to contest. Many municipal wards have ‘imported’ or ‘imposed’ ST/OBC candidates from other wards. Strangely, there is not a single ward in the entire state reserved for SC, even though the community has a sizeable population in several wards.

In a debate held in Cuncolim, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao admitted that the wards were reserved without conducting an official census of the ST and OBC communities.

He blames Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) D A Hawaldar for this, but is mum over why no action has been taken against him. Joaquim’s silence says it all...

The municipal election has been converted into a political battlefield for MLAs and ministers. Their (and their cronies’) eye is on construction. Expect every kind of illegality for the next five years. Goan towns are going to be further messed up, with no planning and totally sidelining the public.

I foresee only one immediate solution. Ask each candidate who are going to be his/her ward committee members for your ward. Get an assurance from these people that they will function on a regular basis and prepare a developmental plan with a long-term vision. Then vote accordingly.

Otherwise, simply reject them...

Says India to be central part of any UNSC reform PTI WASHINGTON, OCT 28

Terming New Delhi’s signing of an international convention governing liability in case of nuclear accidents as a “positive step”, US has hoped thatAmerican companies would get a level playing field in doing nuclear commerce in India.

Indian government’s signing of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC), which is the basic international standard involving this kind of cooperation, is a very positive step, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns told reporters at a White House news conference.

“We consider the signing of the Convention on Supplemental Compensation to be a positive step. What we seek is a level playing field for our companies.

India leadership has said that’s what it wants to ensure, too, and so I think we’re making

progress,” Burns said.

“Our companies are engaged in discussions right now. We’re engaged in discussions. I think we’re making progress. What we’re interested in is simply to ensure that there’s a level playing field for our companies,” he said in response to a question.

Burns said the civilian nuclear agreement that was completed at the end of the last administration removed the single biggest irritant in US-India relationship and opened the door to wider cooperation.

“We’ve worked hard in this administration to follow through, completing, for example, a reprocessing agreement between the US and India six months ahead of schedule,” he said.

“We look forward to US companies contributing to Indian civil nuclear development. And the signing by the Indian government in Vienna of the Con-

Info on Headley was ‘more in general’: US PTI WASHINGTON, OCT 28

The US on Thursday said that the information it had on David Headley was “more general and less specific” before the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, a day after India expressed disappointment for not being provided specific inputs on the Pakistani-American LeT operative.

“If we had information that could have helped to prevent the attacks and pinpoint specific aspects of the attack, we would have certainly shared that too,” Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communication Ben Rhodes told reporters.

“The fact of the matter is that the information that we had before 26/11 was not of that nature. It was just a far more general and less specific. However, after we picked up Headley, we did know a lot about 26/11,” he said.

His remarks came after Home Secretary G K Pillai said in New Delhi that India was “disappointed” that specific inputs on Headley were not provided by the US, which could have helped it arrest him on his second visit

before 26/11.

At a special White House briefing of the Indian reporters on Obama’s maiden India trip from November 6 to 9, Rhodes also said the US has launched a review of its agencies’ handling of inputs provided by two of the three wives of Headley about his involvement in the 26/11 strikes.

“The Director of National Intelligence (Admiral (Retd) James Clapper) has ordered a full review of everything that we knew related to the Headley case,” he said.

“Some of this is vast amount of information within the US intelligence system and the nature of the kind of information that we received in this instance from Headley’s ex-wives, which was of a more general nature.

“But we want to find exactly, given the importance of this case... whenever we have that information, whenever the review is completed, we will certainly share that with Indians as well in the spirit of the co-operation and partnership that we have,” Rhodes said in response to a question.

vention on Supplemental Compensation is a very positive step toward ensuring that international standards apply and that US companies are going to have a level playing field on which to compete,” Burns said.

India on Thursday signed the CSC, which sets parameters on a nuclear operator’s financial liability, at the IAEA in Vienna.

Meanwhile, inching closer towards endorsing New Delhi’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council, the US has said India would be central part of any consideration of reform and expansion of the most powerful wing of the world body.

“Given India’s rise and its significance, we believe that India will be a central part of any consideration of a reformed Security Council,” Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns told reporters at a special White House news conference on India.

Sonia dubs Nitish as opportunist

PTI BHAGALPUR (Bihar), OCT 28

Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, accusing him of doing “politics of opportunism” by tying up with BJP. “Nitish Kumar is involved in politics of opportunism by joining hands with communal forces,” she said questioning the chief minister’s secular credentials.

Addressing election rallies, Gandhi said charged that the Bihar administration had failed on all fronts, including health and education sectors, despite getting crores of rupees from the Centre.

Vice President, Hamid Ansari presenting Degree Certificated to a student at the 28th Convocation of Gandhigraam Rural Institute in Dindigul District of Tamil Nadu on Thursday.

Obama to visit Gandhi museum, interact with Mumbai businessmen American first couple may miss date with the Taj PTI MUMBAI, OCT 28

During his two-day visit to India’s financial capital next month, US President Barack Obama will visit the Gandhi Museum to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi who has been an inspiration to him.

“Gandhi is one that has inspired Americans, inspired African Americans, including Dr King, and it’s very personally important to the President,” official sources said.

The US President will reach here on November 6 and will visit the museum at Mani Bhawan in south Mumbai after making a statement in memory of those who were killed in the Mumbai terror attacks, at the Taj Hotel, where he will stay.

“Taj, where the President is staying, was of course, a centrepiece of the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. So the President wanted to take time to pay his respects to the victims who lost their lives and to sign the guest book there, but also to make some brief remarks to an assembled group of people who are connected to those attacks,” the sources said.

The US President will then attend a business summit organised by the US-India Business Council.

He will participate in three events at the business summit, which include a round table with

Nirmohi Akhara to approach SC before November 30 PTI AYODHYA, OCT 28

Wives of Air Warriors of the Indian Air Force in warrior dress during the Air Force Wives Welfare Association(AFWWA) Day in New Delhi on Thursday.

Stapled visas to Kashmiris to figure in Singh-Wen talks PTI HANOI, OCT 28

The controversial issue of stapled Chinese visas to Kashmiris and Sino-India economic ties are expected to figure in crucial talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao here on Friday.

China started the practice of issuing the stapled visas about two years back and the issue triggered a major row in July this year when Beijing wanted to give such a visa to India’s Northern Area Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal.

India responded by suspending high-level defence exchanges for which Lt Gen Jaswal was travelling to Beijing and has repeatedly made it clear that these will remain on “pause” till China reverts to its earlier position on Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting between Singh and Wen, the first top level contact since the July incident, will

take place in the backdrop of Beijing’s unwillingness to review its policy. China has said it will not relent on the issue of stapled visas to people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Setting a positive tone ahead of his meeting with Wen, Prime Minister Singh on Wednesday said in Putrajaya in Malaysia that there is “enormous” possibility of India and China working together as the world has enough space to accommodate the growth ambitions of both the countries.

Singh, while replying to a question on India-China relations after delivering a lecture on ‘India’s Development Experience’, kept aside the controversial issues like stapled visas over which the two countries had a war of words on Tuesday.

The issue is expected to figure in talks that Singh will have with Wen tomorrow on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit here.

Rejecting India’s assertions

that Beijing should respect its sensitivities on Kashmir, China on Tuesday said its policy of issuing stapled visas to Kashmiris would remain unchanged.

Ma Zhaoxu, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, had said at his bi-weekly briefing, “As for the Indian Kashmir visa our policy is consistent and has stayed unchanged.”

He was replying to questions whether the issue would come up for discussions at the meeting between Singh and Wen. The comments prompted India to assert that it wants China to follow a uniform policy on issuing visas to all Indians.

Sources in Kuala Lumpur, where Prime Minister Singh was on a visit, said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India, and it expects China to follow a uniform policy while granting visas to Indians “regardless of ethnicity or place of domicile” of the applicant.

Nirmohi Akhara, the main litigant in the Ayodhya title suits, on Thursday said it will approach the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court verdict before November 30, but would simultaneously continue its efforts to resolve the dispute amicably.

“The Akhil Bhartiya Sreepanch Ramamnandiya Nirmohi Akhara Parishad would approach the apex court before November 30, but at the same time it will continue its efforts for reaching an amicable solution to the vexed issue,” the mahant and sarpanch of the Nirmohi Akhara, Bhaskar Das, told newspersons here.

He said that representatives of the Akhara will meet the president of the Sunni Central Waqf Board and members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and request them to contribute in order to reach an amicable solution to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Mosque dispute.

“We will meet people of the stature of former President A P J Abdul Kalam, Swami Ramdev, Sri R a v i s h a n k a r, the Shankaracharyas and Mahamandaleshwars to seek their help in resolving the issue,” the mahant said.

Spokesman of the Akhara Ram Das said they will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this regard, though the Akhara would try to keep political people at bay as they create unnecessary hurdles.

He said that yesterday he met the other main litigant in the case, Hashim Ansari.

“Hashim Ansari wants peace and tranquility in Ayodhya and has been working for the same.

He told us that though he is ready that the mosque be built at another place away from the disputed site, some fundamentalists are against it and are trying to isolate him (Ansari),” Ram Das said.

entrepreneurs and another one with US CEOs. Obama will also deliver a speech at the summit.

He will spend the night in Mumbai.

On November 7, the US President will visit a school in Mumbai, the sources said.

He will visit the school and participate in celebrations around the Diwali holiday that morning. Then he will go to the Town Hall to meet university students and talk about future partnership to take Indo-US ties to a new level.

At the Town Hall, there will be round tables on areas of partnership that the US and India are pursuing, including one on agriculture and food security. There will be another on the topic of democracy as India and the US are the world’s two largest democracies, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the White House has strongly refuted reports appearing in the American and Indian media that US President Barack Obama apparently cancelled his planned trip to Golden Temple so he will not have to wear a head covering that could fan misconceptions he is a Muslim.

“We’ve visited multiple religious sites – mosques, churches, synagogues – on foreign travel. We’ll do so on this trip, probably in Indonesia. So I think that the decision we made was driven by, again, the

interests of time, how to best advance our common interests with India in these three days,” Deputy National Security Adviser for Strategic Communication, Ben Rhodes, said.

“Unfortunately, we’re not going to be able to get to every place we advanced,” he told reporters when asked about news reports that Obama cancelled his planned trip to Amritsar and the Golden Temple.

The American first couple, Barack and Michelle would miss a tryst with Taj Mahal, a symbol of love during their maiden visit to India, but US official did not rule out a future trip.

“The first couple would not be having a trip to the Taj Mahal this time”, Rhodes said at a White House briefing on US President’s visit to India adding “but hopefully he would in future".

“He (Obama) loves to see the Taj Mahal. He could at some point.” he said.

Though President Obama and the first lady may skip the fable marble monument, renowned the world over as a symbol of romance, the couple will instead make a trip to the Lutyens, Humayun’s tomb considered a forerunner to the Taj. Michelle would be accompanying the President only on the first two legs of his Asia trip, India and Indonesia before peeling off for the rest of the Presidential tour.

12 die after consuming illicit liquor in Punjab PTI CHANDIGARH, OCT 28

Twelve people were on Thursday killed and 20 others were taken ill after they consumed illicit liquor in Dasuya area of Hoshiarpur district of Punjab, police said.

The tragedy took place after the victims drank hooch which was brought in by two persons from an illegal distillery in Gurdaspur district, they said.

The 20 persons, who were taken ill after consuming the illicit liquor, have been admitted in the local Civil Hospital, they said.

Police said two persons identified as Jaswant Singh and Kala have been arrested in the case. They had been named as the suppliers of the illicit liquor by the victims, they said.

The victims were residents of villages around Dasuya town located on the Jalandhar Pathankot national highway.

A case has been registered in the regard at the Dasuya police station, they said.

A police team has been sent to various areas in Gurdaspur district from where the accused had brought the illicit liquor, they said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal has described the incident as “unfortunate” and ordered a magisterial inquiry into it.

The probe will be conducted by the local area magistrate, official sources said.

Taking the issue seriously, the Deputy Chief Minister has also asked Director General of Police (DGP) P S Gill to order a separate independent inquiry by IG Zonal and submit its report within seven days.

He has also directed the DGP to take immediate and effective steps to curb illicit distillation of liquor and its sale.

The victims were identified as Riaj, Jamal Masih and Tidi (both brothers), Kala, Ramu, (an employee of Sarpanch Ranjit Singh) (all from Kahalwan village), Joginder Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Tribhavan Rai (all of Gilzian village), Hari C h a n d ( o f Ko t l a v i l l a g e ) , Swarn and Gurbachan (both from Balran village) and Mohinder Singh (from Khokhar village), a report from Hoshiarpur said.

“All of them consumed hooch on October 26 and two of them died the same evening,” Deputy Commissioner Dharam Dutt Ternach told PTI. “Out of the 20 patients admitted in the Civil Hospital, Dasuya, the condition of one is stated to be serious. Six bodies have been brought to the hospital for postmortem and the remaining bodies are expected to reach the hospital later in the day,” he said.

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TALK BUSINESS

Free mobile connections for BSNL landline subscribers PANJIM (HBD) -- In an innovative move to use the landline customer database of BSNL in Maharashtra to boost its mobile busiess, Sachin Pilot, the Union Minister of state for Communication and IT announced the launch of ‘Pyari Jodi’ scheme.

The scheme will enable all BSNL landline subscribers in Maharshtra and Goa to get a free mobile SIM card. All calls from this free SIM to the landline on which it is offered will be free. This will be a benefit for BSNL’s 26 lakh odd landline subscribers in Maharashtra.

Pilot said that performance of the scheme would be monitored and its extension to other circle would be examined. Minister expressed that efforts to expand subscriber base should go hand in hand with constant monitoring of quality of service.

CBI net up 20.70%

USE to start trading in currency options today PTI MUMBAI, OCT 28

United Stock Exchange of India (USE), today said it will be commencing live operations in US Dollar-Indian Rupee currency options from October 29.

The call and put options will be introduced on the USD-INR spot rate with 12 'In The Money', 12 'Out of The Money' and 1 'Near The Money' Option with a strike price interval of 25 paise, thereby providing a price scan range of Rs 6.25, a press release issued here stated.

These options will be available for expiry in the 3 near months and the 3 quarterly

months going up to one-year allowing users flexibility to take price insurance up to oneyear on foreign exchange.

USE has successfully conducted mock trading session for members on this new product, the release said.

"We are very excited to bring this new product to traders, investors and hedgers across the country. We hope that corporate entities and SMEs with currency exposure utilise this powerful product for their hedging requirements." United Stock Exchange's Managing Director & CEO, T S Narayanasami, said.

USE has a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with eq-

uity participation by both PSUs and the private sector banks.

All 21 Indian public sector banks have promoted United Stock Exchange by investing in its equity. Besides, five private sector banks also have an equity participation in the Exchange-they are Axis Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and J&K Bank.

Apart from banks, Jaypee Capital, MMTC and Indian Potash have also invested in the USE. Bombay Stock Exchange is also a strategic partner with USE as it holds a 15 per cent stake and all its members are connected to the new USE platform.

JCB forays into safety footwear PTI NEW DELHI, OCT 28

Indian Inc tops web 2.0 usage PTI MUMBAI, OCT 28

Construction and earthmoving equipment major JCB India, today announced its foray into footwear segment, as it looks to widen its customer base.

The company will be selling both safety and lifestyle shoes through Reliance Footprint and Reliance Retail outlets apart from its 360 distribution outlets in the country.

"We are keen to connect with larger customer base.

We want to establish our paradigms of construction sights-safety, reliability and ruggedness to the new product segment," JCB India MD and CEO Vipin Sondhi said.

Eyeing incremental benefits at low costs, 75% of the country's firms use web 2.0, taking India to the top of 17 developed and emerging nations where the interactive medium is used by businesses, a survey said.

The reasons for taking to web 2.0 services, which encompasses popular websites like Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, are myriad - like performing IT functions, public relations, sales, marketing and customer service, the survey commissioned by anti-virus maker McAfee has found.

In India, market pressure proved to be a big driver for firms to adopt web 2.0 in their

Centre, states to try solve GST issue today S Sridhar, CMD of Central Bank of India, addressing the media in the presence of V R Iyer and R K Dubey, executive directors of the bank.

PANJIM (HBD) -- Central Bank of India has posted a net profit of Rs 379 crore for the quarter ended September 30, 2010 vis-à-vis Rs 314 crore for the quarter ended September, 2009 recording a growth of 20.70% on a YoY basis.

Correspondingly Operating Profit zoomed to Rs 777 crore as on September 30, 2010 from Rs 514 crore as on September 30, 2009 showing a growth of 51.17%. Net Interest Margin (NIM) also spurt up to 3.14% as on September 30, 2010, as compared to 1.81% as on September 30, 2009. This was attributed to a strong growth in Net Interest Income of Rs 1346 crore.

The total business of the bank increased to Rs 2,83,561 crore as on September 30, 2010 from Rs 2,43,718 crore as on September 30, 2009, a growth of 16.35% (YoY) basis. Gross NPA ratio declined to 2.28% as on September 30, 2010 from 2.64 % as on September 30, 2009. Net NPA declined to 0.68% as on September 30, 2010 from 0.69% as on September 30, 2009. NPA Provision Coverage decreased to 70.5% as on September 30, 2010 from 74.3% as on September 30, 2009. Return on Assets (RoA) has increased to 0.86% as on September 30, 2010 from 0.80% as on September 30, 2009.

Nat Geo Mission Army registration opens PANJIM (HBD) -- National Geographic Channel is all set to drive the youth of the country to live the life of an Indian Army soldier.

After the mega success of Mission Udaan, Mission Everest and Mission Navy, Nat Geo now collaborates with Indian Army for its next mega Mission Property – “Idea presents Nat Geo Mission Army”.

Through this series, Nat Geo will take five shortlisted citizens, through an exclusive journey, which will be tough and adventurous, only one among the five will win the grand prize of being a part of an Indian Army Mission abroad, a feat never accomplished by any other TV channel in the country.

General Vijay Kumar Singh PVSM, AVSM, YSM, ADC, Chief of the Army Staff launched ‘Idea presents Nat Geo Mission Army’ during an event held at India Gate. The event was graced by the top brass of the Indian Army. The ambience was provided by the spectacular display of the Army band, military equipment and horse cavalry, thus, capturing the spirit of the Indian Army.

Through a unique docu-reality format, Nat Geo will take its viewers inside the Indian Army, giving them an opportunity to experience the life of soldiers who epitomize ‘Courage under Fire’.

Mission Army will take you close to the Indian Army, to pay a tribute to our Indian Jawan. In the series; five Indian citizens from different walks of life will get chance of a life time to experience the life of the soldier.

Interested participants can register online, for Mission Army on-ground selections, by logging on to www.natgeotv.co.in/missionarmy or by sending MISSION to 5667722. Nat Geo has created an exclusive facebook page, where interested participants can register. The facebook page will have a host of features like information of the participants, videos, factoids and an interesting photo gallery.

Sensex slips below 20,000mark; closes 64 points down PTI MUMBAI, OCT 28

Stock market benchmark Sensex slipped below the psychological 20,000 level today and ended 64 points lower as investors preferred to remain cautious ahead of RBI’s policy meet next week, apprehending a hike in short term rates.

Extending losses for the third consecutive session, the 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange ended lower by 64.33 points, or 0.32 per cent, at 19,941.04 — the lowest close since October 20, when it had closed at 19,872.15.

The wide-based 50-share Nifty index of the National Stock Exchange too lost 0.41 per cent to finish at 5,987.70.

PTI PANJIM, OCT 28

State Finance Ministers and the Centre will try to reconcile their differences on the contours of the proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) at a two-day meeting starting here tomorrow.

However, it is unlikely that the Finance Ministry will be able to salvage the April 1, 2011, deadline for roll-out of the new tax regime even if a consensus is reached at the meeting.

Some states -- including West Bengal, which heads the state GST panel -- do not agree with the Centre's proposal on the constitution of a GST Council, led by the Union Finance Minister, to deliberate on the state subject of indirect taxes.

Furthermore, a proposed body for settlement of disputes has not garnered any consensus either.

The GST Council and Dispute Settlement Authority

CBA goes live on TCS solution PTI MUMBAI, OCT 28

Tata Consultancy Services today said Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has gone live on its banking solution platform in the country.

"CBA was looking for an India ready IT solution that could be delivered quickly in a country where CBA had no existing IT team," Commonwealth Bank CIO, International Financial Services, David Boyle said.

He said this partnership with TCS has enabled the bank to launch quickly and the TCS BaNCS platform supports the CBA products which is beyond basic loans and deposits and included trade finance, remittance and foreign exchange services.

Aban Offshor, 812.15, 821.5, 775.65, 784.5 Abb Ltd., 888.5, 888.5, 860, 867.8 Abg Shipyard, 430, 479.9, 430, 470.75 Acc Limited, 994.45, 1009.7, 981, 984.45 Adani Enterp, 684, 692.6, 675, 683.7 Aditya Birla, 838.5, 841.85, 810.65, 822.2 Allahabad Ba, 255.2, 259.7, 250.75, 253.8 Alstom Proje, 777.75, 792, 760, 778.65 Ambuja Cemen, 140.4, 143.9, 139.3, 142.5 Andhra Bank, 187, 189.9, 173.5, 175.25 Ashok Leylan, 77.9, 77.9, 75, 75.4 Asian Paints, 2612, 2698, 2502.65, 2648.45 Axis Bank Li, 1455.5, 1471.2, 1440, 1444.8 Bajaj Hindus, 129.4, 129.5, 123.1, 124.4 Bank Of Baro, 993.25, 1049, 984.9, 1011 Bank Of Indi, 520.8, 521.6, 498.1, 501.4 Beml Limited, 1120.5, 1138.8, 1085, 1094.15 Bharat Elect, 1745, 1765, 1702.5, 1726.5 Bharat Forge, 381, 386, 363, 369.9 Bharat Petro, 702, 741.6, 702, 720.2 Bharti Airte, 324.9, 336.5, 324.25, 330.65 Bhel, 2498.65, 2501, 2435, 2447.55 Bhushan Stee, 525.5, 528.8, 503, 507.2

were key features in the initial draft of the Constitution Amendment Bill formulated by the Centre and sent to the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers on GST for approval.

The states had rejected the first draft of the Centre, alleging that it gave veto power to the Union Finance Minister on state taxation issues. The draft had proposed that changes in GST could only be made with the consent of the Union Finance Minister and a twothirds majority of the states in the council.

After the states' opposition, the Centre had floated a second draft proposing that alteration in GST could only be done when there is complete consensus. While Congressruled states agreed to the idea, BJP-ruled states, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu opposed even the second draft.

The BJP-ruled states wanted to know the exact meaning of 'consensus' and suggested that

the word be replaced with 'consent'.

These states are also opposing the Dispute Settlement Authority proposed by the Centre. The authority is proposed to be chaired by a retired judge of the Supreme Court to resolve disputes arising out of the GST regime.

"Eight to 10 states have been opposing the dispute settlement mechanism, including Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh," Madhya Pradesh Finance Minister Raghavji had said.

Now, even Empowered Committee Chairman Asim Dasgupta, who is the Finance Minister of West Bengal, suggested that both the GST Council and Dispute Settlement Authority should be done away with.

"Empowered Group of State Finance Ministers Chairman Asim Dasgupta recently met Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and has submitted a proposal to do away with GST Council and the dispute

settlement body in the Constitution Amendment Bill," an official source said.

Given the stiff opposition of some states to the Centre's proposal, the Union Finance Ministry is likely to ask the states to come out with their own proposal, to which the Centre would give its response, the source said.

Meanwhile, economic thinktank CUTS said the GST regime will promote a common market in India and enhance consumer welfare, but the Centre should address states' concerns on the issue.

"State governments have some genuine concerns regarding the expected impact and implementation procedures of the proposed Goods and Services Tax. They should be addressed by the Centre and a suitable path based on political consensus should be devised," CUTS International Secretary General Pradeep S Mehta said.

Many analysts said that GST

17.2% increase in Direct Tax Collection: Rev Secy PTI CHENNAI, OCT 28

Revenue through Direct Tax collection rose by 17.2 per cent to around Rs 2.02 lakh crore as on September 30, 2010, which is 47 per cent of the finance ministry's budgetary target for the current fiscal, Sunil Mitra, revenue secretary, Ministry of Finance, said today.

Speaking to reporters after participating in an interactive session on Direct Taxes Code, organised by Confederation of Indian Industry here, he said tax collection (both direct and indirect) target for the current fiscal is Rs 7.45 lakh crore. "Of this, Rs 3.15 lakh crore will be through indirect tax and Rs

Biocon Limit, 437.7, 438.1, 418.8, 421.95 Bombay Dyein, 629.35, 635, 622.6, 627.45 Bosch Limite, 6111.7, 6230, 6111.7, 6199 Brigade Ente, 138.5, 139.5, 136, 136.4 Cairn India, 322.1, 328.85, 315.25, 317.3 Canara Bank, 745, 746.7, 710.2, 716.05 Central Bank, 240, 241, 230.5, 234.05 Century Text, 510, 512.8, 498.05, 501.55 Cesc Ltd, 380.95, 380.95, 367.15, 370.6 Chambal Fert, 82.9, 84.2, 81.15, 82.5 Chennai Petr, 243.4, 244.6, 238.15, 239.75 Cipla Ltd, 353, 357.95, 347.65, 350.15 Colgate Palm, 890, 890, 870.1, 875.6 Container Co, 1288.95, 1305.95, 1271.3, 1296.7 Crompton Gre, 323, 331.45, 321.1, 326.45

4.30 lakh crore through direct tax", he said.

Looking at the current growth and scenario in the country, tax collection in the current fiscal would increase by around 19 per cent compared to last year, he said.

Mitra said direct tax net collection stood at Rs 2,02,121 crore as on Sept 30 this year, a 17.2 per cent increase compared to last year.

Revenue from Customs between April and September 2010 was Rs 62,747 crore compared to Rs 37,907 crore last year, an increase of 65.5 per cent.

Central Excise collection stood at Rs 60,360 crore, as

Cummins Indi, 755, 792, 755, 777.15 Dabur India, 103.85, 104.2, 98.4, 99.3 Deccan Chron, 132.4, 134.45, 129, 129.7 Dish Tv Indi, 58, 58.6, 55.65, 56.65 Divi’s Labor, 714.7, 714.7, 685.25, 692.45 Dlf Limited, 365.85, 365.9, 352.1, 354.8 Dr. reddy’s, 1650, 1663, 1636, 1645.9 Edelweiss Ca, 67.6, 68.2, 63.3, 64.15 Educomp Solu, 581, 586, 553.4, 558 Eih Limited, 129, 130.5, 128.05, 128.4 Engineers In, 347, 349, 345, 346.45 Essar Oil Lt, 142, 144.25, 138.55, 140.3 Essar Shippi, 112, 112, 108.3, 110.8 Exide Indust, 156, 156.5, 151.1, 152.75 Federal Bank, 464.3, 476.35, 461, 470.7 Financial Te, 1098, 1105.8, 1051, 1056.8 Gail (india), 494, 503.8, 484, 490.05 Gammon India, 197, 200, 196, 196.5 Glaxosmithkl, 2260.95, 2302, 2226, 2258.9 Glenmark Pha, 327, 328.4, 312.6, 316.4 Gmr Infrastr, 54.8, 55, 53.15, 53.65 Godrej Indus, 228.1, 228.6, 217.05, 218.7 Grasim Indus, 2260, 2292, 2225.95, 2278.9 Great Offsho, 385, 390, 377.5, 379 Gtl Infra.Lt, 44.6, 45.7, 44, 44.85

Gujarat Mine, 138.5, 138.5, 133, 134.85 Gujarat N R, 64.05, 64.7, 62.8, 63.1 Gujarat Stat, 117, 118.4, 111.55, 112.55 Gvk Pow. & I, 43.5, 43.65, 41.9, 42.3 Hcl Technolo, 415.1, 420, 399, 410.4 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2256.5, 2315.85, 2241, 2266.7 Hdfc Ltd, 685, 699.4, 676.2, 692.2 Hero Honda M, 1865.5, 1927, 1865.15, 1907.75 Hindalco in, 220, 220.5, 213.35, 216.3 Hindustan Co, 62.8, 63.2, 60.8, 61.4 Hindustan Ma, 73.3, 73.95, 72.05, 72.2 Hindustan Pe, 486, 501.5, 485, 487.05 Hindustan Un, 294.75, 301.45, 289.1, 291.3 Hindustan Zi, 1212.6, 1248, 1212.6, 1237.3 Housing Dev, 257, 259, 250, 251.6 Icici Bank L, 1114.5, 1118.1, 1078.05, 1089.05 Idea Cellula, 67.5, 68.45, 64.2, 65.4 Ifci Ltd, 75.15, 75.5, 71, 71.65 India Cement, 117.5, 119.45, 110.15, 111.45 India Infoli, 117, 117.9, 111.15, 112.9

against Rs 43,234 crore, a 39.6 per cent increase. Service tax collection rose by 16 per cent to Rs 26,889 crore from Rs 23,188 crore, he said.

Earlier speaking to industry representatives on the DTC draft Bill, Mitra said the department has so far received 1,600 comments from stakeholders on the bill, which was put on the public domain last year.

The main issues are MAT on gross assets, shift from exempt-exempt-exempt (EEE) system to exempt-exempt-tax (EET) and capital gains.

“The DTC Bill is likely to be introduced in the Monsoon session,” he added.

Indiabulls F, 212.5, 222.6, 207.25, 218.5 Indiabulls R, 196.2, 199.5, 192.1, 196.35 Indian Bank, 308.8, 310, 289.5, 292.2 Indian Hotel, 98.5, 103, 98.5, 99.35 Indian Oil C, 419.9, 429.8, 418.15, 420.95 Indian Overs, 171.8, 172, 161.4, 163.15 Indus Dev Ba, 178.8, 185.4, 170.65, 180.15 Indusind Ban, 271.6, 275.5, 268.3, 270.45 Infosys Tech, 2984, 3032.9, 2948.05, 2970.85 Infra. dev., 205.2, 206.85, 199.05, 201.1 Ispat Indust, 20.9, 20.9, 20.05, 20.25 Itc Ltd, 169.15, 171.7, 165, 167.05 Ivrcl Infras, 151.9, 151.9, 145.25, 148.15 Jai Corp Lim, 252.45, 252.45, 245, 246.8 Jaiprakash A, 125.7, 125.7, 120.5, 121.8 Jet Airways, 825.95, 837.45, 795, 801.45 Jindal Saw L, 220.1, 221.3, 215.1, 216.25 Jindal Steel, 701.5, 701.6, 687.5, 692.65 Jsw Steel Li, 1275, 1331, 1273.65, 1319.7 Kotak Mahind, 481.5, 490, 472.6, 477.9 Lakshmi Mach, 2726.4, 2748.8, 2685.4, 2708.35 Lanco Infrat, 66.5, 66.5, 62.35, 64.2 Larsen & Tou, 2019, 2040.5, 1986.35, 2000.55 Lic Housing, 1415, 1426.6, 1340.1, 1353.7

roll-out is now a victim of politics, as it is supported or opposed on political lines, though disguised in economic diction.

Introduction of GST, which will subsume excise duty and service tax at the central level and VAT at the state level, besides various other cesses, surcharges and local levies, has already missed the original deadline of April 1, 2010. Now, even the revised timeframe of April 1, 2011, is all set to be missed.

While the Constitution Amendment Bill for rolling out GST was originally proposed to be tabled in the Monsoon Session of Parliament, officials have now admitted that it is unlikely to be tabled even in the Winter Session.

An amendment to the Constitution is required for the roll-out of GST, since under the present mechanism, the Centre cannot impose tax beyond manufacturing, while states cannot impose service tax.

Dhanlaxmi buys 15% stake in Destimoney PTI MUMBAI, OCT 28

Dhanlaxmi Bank will acquire a 15 per cent stake in Destimoney Securities for Rs 13 crore to increase the private lender's product offerings to customers by way of providing them online broking services.

"We will acquire a 15 per cent stake in Destimoney Securities to provide online broking, a new initiative from our side," the bank's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Bipin Kabra, said here today.

Destimoney Securities is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Destimoney Enterprises, a financial services provider and advisory company owned and controlled by PE firm New Silk Route.

Lupin Limite, 459.6, 459.6, 437, 440.9 Mahanagar Te, 70.5, 70.5, 67.9, 68.7 Mahindra & M, 733, 739.7, 721.35, 733.05 Maruti Suzuk, 1529.7, 1549, 1515, 1534.8 Max India Lt, 165.1, 169.8, 162.2, 166.7 Maytas Infr., 199.7, 205, 198.55, 202.55 Moser-baer (, 68, 68.3, 65.55, 66.4 Mrpl, 84.5, 84.9, 81.5, 82.05 Nagarjuna Co, 152.7, 152.85, 148, 149.25 Nagarjuna Fe, 33.45, 34.2, 33.25, 33.65 National Alu, 397, 418.75, 393.7, 412.65 Neyveli Lign, 166.7, 166.7, 157.8, 159.85 Ntpc Ltd, 198.05, 199.5, 192.3, 194.05 Oil And Natu, 1308, 1328.5, 1292, 1303.85 Omaxe Limite, 146.05, 151.05, 146.05, 148.05 Oriental Ban, 507.3, 513.95, 491.1, 496.1 Pantaloon Re, 483.75, 485.45, 465.25, 470.7 Parsvnath De, 70.1, 70.1, 67.5, 68 Petronet Lng, 115.95, 116.25, 112.7, 114.1 Power Fin Co, 372, 372.7, 355.1, 358.1 Power Grid C, 102.7, 102.7, 99.2, 99.95 Praj Industr, 71.2, 72.1, 69.05, 69.4 Punj Lloyd L, 125.5, 126.35, 121, 122.35 Punjab Natio, 1340, 1353.9, 1300.05,

businesses.

BOARD MEETINGS Aarti Drugs Hindustan Const Pratibha Inds ABB Hitachi Home Puravankara Proj ICICI Bank India Nippon Radico Khaitan Allsoft Corp Alpa Lab AMD Inds Roto Pumps IOB ITC Asian Fert Jet Air India Atlas Cycle JK Paper Ballarpur Inds Shakti Pumps Bhagwati Oxy Shipping Corp Bharat Elect Bharat Fert Shoppers Stop BHEL Khaitan Chem Kinetic Engg Birla Capital KPIT Cummins Sika Interplant Blue Star SKS Logistics Madhucon Proj Can Fin Homes Century Ply Mahindra & Mahindra Subex Moser Baer Delta Corp Syndicate Bank Nagarjuna Fert Tata Chemicals National Fert Emkay Glob Fin TTK Prestige Federal Bank Nestle India Uco Bank Gillette India NRB Bearings Great Eastern Sh GSL Securities Welspun India Gujarat Pipavav Western India Ship Zicom Elect Hero Honda Source: Indiainfoline.com

1310.35 Rajesh Expor, 109.8, 123, 109.8, 118.25 Ranbaxy Labs, 592.9, 597.55, 575, 580.45 Rashtriya Ch, 100.85, 101.35, 80, 98.6 Rel. nat. re, 39, 39.3, 37.5, 37.8 Reliance Cap, 849.25, 852, 813.95, 820 Reliance Com, 184.7, 185.35, 178.15, 179.9 Reliance Ene, 1180, 1199.95, 1180, 1190 Reliance Ind, 881.7, 889, 866.6, 869.85 Reliance Ind, 1099.4, 1100.9, 1074.6, 1082 Reliance Pow, 157.55, 159.5, 151.5, 152.95 Rolta India, 173.9, 173.9, 165.1, 166.75 Satyam Compu, 81.9, 81.9, 79.65, 80 Sesa Goa Ltd, 333.9, 334.5, 321, 323.6 Shipping Cor, 182.9, 183, 173.3, 175.1 Siemens Ltd, 819, 841.25, 811, 821.85 Sintex Indus, 209.3, 209.9, 194.05, 198.5 Sobha Develo, 375.1, 376.4, 355.1, 360.4 State Bank O, 3198, 3236, 3165.1, 3188.35 Steel Author, 214.5, 214.5, 191.15, 202.6 Sterlite Ind, 174.6, 174.6, 168.25, 170.4 Sun Pharmace, 2113, 2145, 2075.4, 2118 Sun Tv Netwo, 518.8, 523.5, 490.1, 496.75 Suzlon Energ, 57.9, 58, 56.55, 57.05 Tata Communi, 312, 324.1, 308.6, 313.7

Tata Consult, 1050, 1067.55, 1040, 1052.9 Tata Motors, 1200, 1210, 1185.25, 1192.6 Tata Power C, 1398.6, 1429, 1380.2, 1413 Tata Steel L, 617.5, 619.4, 601.1, 603.85 Tata Teleser, 23.1, 23.55, 22.55, 22.7 Tech Mahindr, 774, 775, 742, 747.3 The Ge Shpg., 332, 336.5, 319.5, 326.55 The Phoenix, 257.85, 259.85, 248, 249.45 Thermax Ltd, 807, 860, 807, 852.45 Titan Indust, 3599, 3639.8, 3455, 3480.7 Torrent Powe, 308, 308, 289.5, 294.75 Triveni Engg, 122.9, 122.9, 118.6, 119.4 Tv18 India L, 91.4, 91.4, 85.4, 86.95 Uco Bank, 138, 138.35, 128, 129.35 Ultratech Ce, 1098.5, 1114.7, 1070.25, 1092.2 Union Bank O, 389, 393.05, 374.25, 379.55 Unitech Ltd, 89, 89.3, 85.2, 85.95 United Phosp, 204, 211.45, 202.15, 206.3 Videocon Ind, 263.45, 266.9, 255.2, 256.95 Vijaya Bank, 113, 113.85, 107.6, 109.3 Voltas Ltd, 248, 253, 238.4, 241.25 Wipro Ltd, 435, 436, 421.5, 427.05 Yes Bank Lim, 370.05, 372.3, 355.1, 359.15 Zee Entertai, 280.55, 282.4, 274.75, 277

OHERALDO

WORLD

Pg13

GOA, FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER, 2010

Myanmar tells ASEAN Suu Kyi may be freed soon AFP HANOI, OCT 28

Myanmar has told its neighbours that democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi may be freed after the November 7 elections, according to a source at a summit where the junta is under fire over the discredited polls.

Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win tackled the divisive issue with his regional counterparts during Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) talks in Hanoi Wednesday.

"He said they will release Aung San Suu Kyi maybe after the elections," said a foreign ministry official from one of the ASEAN delegations, who attended the dinner meeting.

However, Nyan Win "did not say specifically" what date Suu Kyi -- who has been in detention for 15 of the last 21 years -would be freed from house arrest, the source told AFP. Authorities in Myanmar have

Myanmar residents in Japan stage a protest in Tokyo against the country's ruling junta.

previously told AFP that the democracy icon will be released when her current term of house arrest expires on November 13, but the military state has made no official confirmation.

Western governments as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-

moon -- who holds talks Friday with ASEAN leaders -- have repeatedly said the vote will not be credible unless Suu Kyi and other opponents are set free.

Ban has expressed his growing "frustration" with the Myanmar junta in recent weeks and called on its neighbours to be more aggressive with its pariah neighbour or risk tarnishing their own democratic credentials.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who said Wednesday that he believed it was not too late to fix the "credibility deficit" undermining the elections, indicated the region was anticipating an imminent release.

"Our understanding is that once the present term of her sentence has expired, once she has served her sentence, then that would be it. And that notion was not disputed," he said Thursday.

France slams Bin Laden for threats AGENCIES PARIS, OCT 28

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Thursday denounced Islamist terrorist leader Osama bin Laden's threat of new attacks and said France was in a state of "extreme vigilance."

Kouchner was reacting after a taped message purportedly from the Al-Qaeda kingpin said that five French hostages kidnapped in the Sahara had been taken as a warning, and threatened more attacks on Frence.

"The unacceptable threats are not new," Kouchner told reporters, playing down Bin Laden's influence over the North African Al-Qaeda affiliate that carried out September's kidnap of the French nationals in northern Niger.

"Mr Bin Laden has taken this opportunity. It was opportunism. It's not him, it's not Mr Bin Laden who is holding the hostages," Kouchner said.

EU rules let Iran import, export oil, gas AGENCIES TEHRAN, OCT 28

The United States and Europe have worked cooperatively on Iran policy since President Obama took office, but a small crack might have begun to open over sanctions that are beginning to pinch ordinary Iranians.

The European Union issued regulations this week that went well beyond a U.N. Security Council resolution passed in June, outlining tough restric-

tions on the sale of equipment and technology to the Iranian oil and gas industry, as well as on investment in those sectors.

But the regulations - unlike legislation passed by the U.S. Congress - allow for the import and export of oil and gas to the Islamic republic.

"If you want to send a tanker filled with refined petrol to Iran, and you have proved that you are not carrying any other goods that we deem illegal, Europe has no problem," said a European official who specializes in sanction policies and spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. "We don't want any negative effect on the Iranian population or to deprive them of energy, so we do not follow US measures that go beyond United Nations sanctions."

The EU will also permit financial transactions needed to import of oil and gas to Iran. The United States, by contrast, penalizes companies if they sell gasoline to Iran, and has increased pressure on international oil companies and refineries to cancel their contracts with the country.

The practical effect of the European action might be minimal because European oil giants might still refuse to supply Iran with fuel for fear of appearing to thwart US sanctions.

US officials said Wednesday that they were broadly pleased with the European regulations, which they said could devastate Iran's oil and gas industry. "We are going at the supply, while they are going at the back end," said a senior administration official who handles the Iran portfolio. "We have had the kind of cooperation and coordination with the Europeans that has been unprecedented."

The US official said he had never heard any concerns raised by his European interlocutors about the effect of the sanctions on ordinary Iranians.

"The regulations turned out to be pretty solid," he said. "At

each stage, when they have faced a choice between going soft or going heavy, they have gone heavy."

US officials have in the past said that if the increased pressure is hurting ordinary Iranians, they should blame their leaders for the Islamic republic's increasing isolation.

But EU officials said Wednesday that they specifically allowed fuel sales to ease the burden on average Iranians.

According to June statistics, Iran needs to import 4.7 million gallons of refined petroleum each day because of the country's low refining capacity. After US sanctions were implemented in July, Iranian leaders announced that they had started an emergency plan to increase local production by mixing oil with high-octane products.

Mount Merapi erupts again as victims buried REUTERS JAKARTA, OCT 28

Indonesia's Mount Merapi has erupted for a second time, hours after some of its victims were buried in a mass grave.

The volcano in central Java shot huge clouds of gas and ash into the air on Thursday afternoon, two days after its initial eruption.

At least 32 people were killed in the first eruption.

Tens of thousands of people

remain in temporary shelters, and officials have urged them not to go home.

The latest eruption came shortly after at least 20 of those who died were buried in a mass grave in Sidorejo village, south of the volcano.

Coffins were placed in a large grave and covered with bamboo poles.

Relatives scattered flower petals on top before the graves were covered with earth.

Afghan wedding collapse kills 65 AFP KUNDUZ, OCT 28

Sixty-five people, all but one women and children, died when a ceiling collapsed at a wedding in one of the most remote regions of northern Afghanistan, an official said Thursday.

The accident happened on Wednesday in a village in the Jalga district of Baghlan province, an impoverished and isolated area deep in the Pamir mountains.

"Sixty-five people have been killed. They will be buried today," Mahmood Haqmal, spokesman for the provincial governor, told AFP. Among the dead were 52 women, he said.

The remainder included 12 children and one man, he said, adding that the newly-weds were unharmed.

A government delegation left for the area to "find out how the accident happened," Haqmal said, speaking from the provincial capital of Puli Khumri.

Officials said the first floor of a mud-brick and wooden building collapsed at 1:00 pm during the wedding party in Warchi village.

Haqmal said the upper floor of the two-storey building was packed with people when it crashed to the ground, crushing people on the lower floor.

Houses in the area were very

old, he said, made of mud bricks covered with wood, and probably unable to bear the weight of so many people.

Weddings are one of the principal forms of entertainment and social interaction in Afghanistan, where men and women typically celebrate in separate quarters -- which could explain the high number of female fatalities.

Traditionally, women celebrate indoors while the men party in the open, the two parties not mixing.

Others were buried in private ceremonies, including Maridjan, the elderly man seen by local people as the spiritual guardian of the mountain.

Officials said most of the victims had died from burns or suffocation.

Teams are continuing to search the ash-covered slopes of the volcano for more victims.

Officials issued the highest alert for the volcano on Monday and told residents to evacuate,

but some stayed behind to look after crops and livestock.

Some of those who did evacuate are reported to be suffering from respiratory and other ailments caused by the volcanic ash.

"The dust gave them throat burn, influenza, respiratory problems and conjunctivitis.

That is what we have found so far, most of them children," one paramedic told Reuters news agency.

Pg 14

SPORTS GOA, Friday, 29 October, 2010

AFC team impressed with Dempo, Salgaocar HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, OCT 28

The 6-member AFC delegation which inspected the Dempo and Salgaocar clubs infrastructure and administrative set up, as part of the assessment criteria for classification as professional clubs expressed satisfaction with their visits.

The AFC team will now present the reports in New Delhi at the meeting of all I-League clubs on November 2, where recommendations will be made, to make up for any lacuna, so as to fulfill the criteria, the first deadline being December 31.

Armando Colaco, Dempo’s secretary-cum-head coach disclosed that the delegation was happy with the presentations by various departments and more so with the gymnasium. All the three coaches, Armando, Mauricio Afonso and Mathew D’Costa

The AFC officials with Salgaocar officials, general secretary RAJ Gomes, Peter Vales, Schubert Furtado of GFA and others in Vasco on Thursday.

possess A Licence, which is one of the major requirements. They inspected the training ground at Goa University, Taleigao.

On the question of owing a stadium, Armando said that all out efforts were on to get suitable land at Santa Cruz.

Besides Armando, Manuel Rebello, Custodio Almeida, Ashok Arolkar, Mathew D’Costa, Maurice Afonso, Camilo Gonsalves, Raju Kulkarni, Francis D’Sousa, A N Kolvekar and Sudhakar

Shanbag were also present, representing various departments.

Meanwhile, Salgaocar’s general secretary R.A.J. Gomes stated that the AFC team visited the training grounds at BITS Pilani, Vasco where they had an overview of the indoor facilities including medical. They also inspected the Tilak Maidan in Vasco and Steve Kim, AFC communications manager AFC, suggested few changes including the arrangement of a dedicated

press box.

Later, they met with the officials at Salgaocar House, Vasco where a power-point presentation provided an insight of the club history and activities. The youth development programme was much appreciated.

They also got involved in a one-to-one session with all the club officials, Leopold Fernandes, Ashwin Nayak, Ashok C, Elaine Colaco, Nicolas Falcao, Abhijit Patil.

Goa thump Gujarat 4th All-Goa inter-village late Eslinda Alemao football: Navelim Villagers Union v.

Roseman Cruz SC, Nagoa, Navelim ground, 4.30 p.m.

Lourdes soccer: United Club of Utorda v. United Club of Benaulim, Utorda SAG ground, 4.30 p.m.

The Goa sub-junior football team alongwith Savio Messias.

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA OCT 28

Goa U-15 qualified for the second round after they breezed past Gujarat 4-0 in 33rd Sub-Junior Nationals for Mir Iqbal Hussain trophy at Seoni, MP on Thursday. Goa led 2-0 at the breather.

Goa qualified with six points from two matches, while Rajasthan were second with three points and Gujarat finished last with no point.

Goa took the lead in the 28th minute through Austern Fernandes who netted an outstanding free kick. Seven minutes later, Goa was fortunate to double

the lead after a Gujarat defender deflected the ball into his own net.

Fifteen minutes after change of ends, Savio Vaz punted in from 15 yards out. With 20 minutes to go, Jesus D’Sousa shot from close to round off the victory.

Coach, Seby Rodriguese, was happy with the display, “The boys communicated well and passed the ball until they found room to penetrate the opponents,” remarked Seby.

Assistant coach, Gajanan Kambli, explained the team will return to Goa, and will go for the second round only in mid-November.

Curtorim down Guirdolim HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, OCT 28

Curtorim Gymkhana defeated Guirdolim SC 3-0 in 4th All-Goa intervillage late Eslinda Alemao soccer at Navelim ground on Thursday.

The score was 1-0 at the break.

Curtorim took the lead through Roy Colaco in the 15th

minute. Guirdolim fought to equalise but were disappointed by their strikers.

In the second half, Curtorim combined well and increased their tally in the 12th minute.

In the dying minutes, Daniel Estibeiro of Curtorim rounded off the tally.

Bhakti in joint 2nd spot HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, OCT 28

Bhakti, Ivana and Riddhi with six points each after the end of eight rounds stand a chance to finish in the medal list if they win the remaining rounds at the World Youth Chess championship in Halkaidiki, Greece.

Results: WIM Bhakti Kulkarni (six points) beat WIM Hoang Thi Nhu 2214 of Vietnam. She is

now in joint second position in U-18 girls. Riddi Zantye (six points) beat Gombocz Zsofia of Hungery in U-8 girls. WCM Ivana Furtado (six points drew) with WFM Li Zhuoling 1863 of China in U-12 girls.

Nitish Belurkar (five points) drew with Czupor Attila 1757 of Hungary in U-10 and Riya Savant (five points) beat Korchagina Alena of Russia in U-10 girls.

Sagun to lead Goa HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, OCT 28

Sagun Kamat will lead the Goa State Ranji team which will participate in the Ranji Trophy match between Goa and MPCA from November 1 to 4 in Indore and Goa v. Rajasthan from November 10 to 13 in Rajasthan.

Other members of the team - Shadab Jakati (vice-captain), Swapnil Asnodkar, Vaibhav Naik,

Rahul Keni, Ajay Ratra, Vidyut Shivaramakrishna, Amit Yadav, Harshad Gadekar, Saurabh Bandekar, Robin D’Souza, Sherbahadur Yadav, Ryan D’Souza and Advait Katkat. Rajesh Kamath (coach), Sarvesh Naik (asst. coach), Govind Parab (manager), Danny Pereira (physio) and Prabhakar Bairgond (trainer).

The team will fly on October 30 to Indore via Mumbai.

SC Davorlim in semis HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, OCT 28

Sporting Club of Davorlim got the better of Betalbatim Sporting Club via the sudden death 6-5 to enter the semi-finals of Lourdes soccer organised by United Club of Utorda at Utorda ground on Thursday.

In the tie-breaker, Joaquim Figueredo, Melvin Figueredo, Jose Colaco, Vincente Colaco, Braz Vales and Piedade Colaco netted for Darvolim while Cajie D'souza, Johnson D'Souza, Bradley Rogtao, Jeston Fernandes and Haston D'costa were on target for Betalbatim.

Goa Maroons, DHL, NYC up KUWAIT CITY, OCT 28

Goa Maroons entered the semifinal of 35th UGC soccer tourney defeating KGA 2-0 at Ministry of Health ground in Shuwaikh under the auspices of Kuwait India Football Federation (KIFF), Kuwait.

DHL also made it to the last four beating CRC 2-1. Navelim Youth Center beat Indian Strikers 2-1.

Ian D’Souza made no mistake to put Maroons one up with a spot kick.

Philip Dias scored the other goal.

Terrance D’Souza of DHL scored from a through pass by Jose. Seby Fernandes equalised.

Cruz Silva scored DHL’s sec-

ond goal towards the end of second half.

After the change of ends the Indian Strikers struck the early blow when Noufol scored off a corner kick.

To the relief of the NYC fans and supporters Christiano Pires headed in from a free kick to level the scores.

It was Alfred Pires who saw his side home with a header in the dying minutes of extra time.

In the semi-finals on Friday, Navelim Youth Center take on United Friends Club and Goa Maroons play DHL.

Pg 15

SPORTS GOA, Friday, 29 October, 2010

Salgaocar, Churchill win, Arsenal crush Newcastle in League Cup Sporting Clube shocked AGENCIES LONDON, OCT 28

Duran cup AGENCIES NEW DELHI, OCT 28

Salgaocar Sports Club scored a facile 3-1 win over Air India while Garwhal Heroes shocked Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in the quarter-final league matches of the 123rd Durand Cup football tournament at Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi on Thursday.

After a barren first-half in the Group D match, Marcus Mascarenhas opened the scoring in the 54th minute to put Salgaocar in the lead, seven minutes before Japanese recruit Sueoka Ryuji

doubled the Goan side's lead.

Ghanaian Yusif Yakubu then took the match beyond the airmen's reach with his injury-time strike.

Air India captain, Vijith Shetty, reduced the margin by scoring in the dying minutes of the game.

In another encounter, Ashish Pandey and captain Gangamlung Kamei scored a goal each in the 8th and 84th minutes respectively to help Garwhal Heroes overcome Sporting Clube de Goa. Mackroy Peixoto pulled one back for the Goans.

On Wednesday, in the opening quarter-final league match, defending champions Churchill Brothers swept aside a spirited challenge from MEG, Bangalore 4-2.

Star striker Odafe Onyeka Okolie, who scored a brace, gave Churchill a head start while Bineesh Balan and Hardeep Singh scored one each.

For MEG, Lokeshwar Singh scored both the goals to reduce the margin.

In Friday's fixtures, Army Red face MEG, Bangalore, while Pune FC will lock horns with Indian Air Force.

Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner made goalscoring returns from injury on Wednesday as Arsenal thrashed Newcastle United 4-0 away to reach the last eight of the League Cup. Also through to the quarterfinals are West Ham United, who came from behind to beat Stoke City 3-1, and Aston Villa, who beat Championship (second division) Burnley 2-1 at Villa Park, both after extra-time.

Despite the lure of a Europa League place for the winners of England's "third trophy", most clubs continue to treat it as a chance to try out young players and give run-outs to squad

members -- as well as those on the comeback trail from injury.

That certainly worked out well for Arsene Wenger, without a trophy for five years.

At the end of a frantic first half, Bendtner, making his first start of the season after recovering from a groin problem, thumped a header goalwards and Ryan Taylor's attempt to clear it ended with the ball bouncing off his goalkeeper Tim Krul and over the line.

Walcott, in his first start since injuring his ankle playing for England in early September, broke clear to put Arsenal two up eight minutes into the second half.

Bendtner completed his busy night when he collected a pass

Calangute A win Doha Goans inter-village football HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, OCT 21

Calangute A won the 7–a-side inter-village football tournament organised by Doha Goans Sports Club (DGSC) at Al Ahli Stadium, Doha, defeating Raia 1-0 in the finals.

A throw-in by Santan saw Casmiro executing a perfect and accurate header in the second half which shocked Raia's goalkeeper and gave Calangute a 1-0 lead.

Thereafter, Raia missed two golden opportunities to score in the last two minutes of the game, which were foiled by the agile Calangute keeper.

Santan, ex-Dempo SC and Sesa Club player played a stellar role for the winners and was adjudged best player of the finals and highest scorer of the tournament.

In all, 10 teams participated.

Earlier, Calangute A defeated Benaulim in the first semi-finals

Volleyball probables

PANJIM (HSD) -- Following players have been selected by Goa University for pre-university volleyball coaching camp for women at the University ground, Taleigao from October 29 to November 7 from 2.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

Veronica Dias, Pooja Singh, Deepa Deykar, Quency Rebello, Venissa Fernandes, Lysette Rodrigues, Stancey Mascarenhas, Livia Fernandes, Ageema Rodrigues, Melissa Pereira, Danish Rudy Dias, Christie Dias, Alvita Pereira.

The captain of Calangute A receiving the trophy from Melwyn Barreto in Doha.

and in the second semi-finals, Raia defeated St Andre.

Following individual prizes were awarded: Best goalkeeper Mathew (Calangute A). Best defender Franky (Raia). Promising player - Terrence (Benaulim).

Outstanding player of tourna-

ment Caji (Curtorim). Most disciplined team Rest of Villages.

Best team managers Dominic (Benaulim) and Paul Fernandes.

Melwyn Barretto was the chief guest and gave away the winners trophy. Deniz D’Souza gave away the winner’s individ-

ual trophies. Alex Soares gave away the runners-up trophy and Avito Carvalho gave away the individual runners-up trophies while Antonio Macaranhas gave away the trophies to the team managers who displayed their sporting sprit. Natcey Barretto gave away the best outstanding player trophy.

Mario D'Costa compered.

Mathew Estrocio (advisor) and Mario Periera (sports advisor) proposed the vote of thanks.

The tournament was officiated by a Qatar Football Federation referee.

The tournament witnessed a large Goan crowd. Besides, the tournament was supported by many community members and business establishments in Qatar.

Cameron Fernandes also supported the event and Melwyn Barretto sponsored the winners and runners-up trophies.

The event was organized by

Vidula, Deeptesh get FIDE rating HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, OCT 28

Nine-year old Vidula Dempo completed her FIDE rating 1426 after the women’s rating tournament in Sangli and U-9 Nationals in Ahmadabad.

Vidula is a student of Sharada Mandir School, Mira Mar. She has won the U- 7 and U-9 State chess championships and finDeeptesh

Vidula

ished 11th in the U-9 Nationals in Gujarat.

Deeptesh Karmalkar, secured his FIDE rating 1554 from the rating tournaments in Hubli, Bangalore and Pune. He is a student of People’s High School,

Panjim. He gave full credit to his coaches W ilson Cruz, Avinash Malvankar and Shravan Barve.

With the addition of two new players, the number of Goan FIDE rated players has touched 75.

GOA DIARY Archery coaching camp

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Amateur Archery Association, Goa in association with the Sports Authority of Goa will organise their annual winter archery coaching camp for boys and girls from November 10 to 22 at Vidya Prabodini HSS, Porvorim and Zantye College, Bicholim from 8 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. Those interested may collect entry forms from Villas Palkar, Vidya Prabodini HSS, Porvorim (9422634366), Siddeshwar Naik, Shirodwadi, Mulgao (9225785731) or Satyavan Harmalkar, Bordem, Bicholim (9923484955).

Swimming at Campal

PANJIM (HSD) -- Learn to swim classes will be held at Campal from November 2 to 21. Gents - 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Children - 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Ladies - 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Children – 3.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Mixed batch of ladies and gents - 5.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Those interested may contact the Sports Authority of Goa, Campal, Panjim from 6 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on all days, except Mondays and holidays.

3-a-side floodlit tie-breaker

PANJIM (HSD) - Penha de Franca SC will organise their All-Goa 3-a-side floodlit football tie-breaker on October 30 near village panchayat, Penha de Franca, Britona at 7 p.m. The winners will pocket Rs. 10,000 while the runners-up will take home Rs. 5,000.

Spot entries will be accepted.

BFA football practices

PANJIM (HSD) - Brasil Futebol Academia will start its regular practices on November 1 for age groups U-18, Monday to Friday.

U-16 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. U-14, U-12 and U-10, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students may report to the BFA office in Agassaim at 7.15 a.m. Breakfast will be provided to the students followed by regular practices. The Vasco futsal will commence on November 4. Freshers may also join.

Goa badminton probables

PANJIM (HSD) -- Following players have been selected to represent the Goa badminton team for the sub- junior Nationals at Shroornagar, Hyderabad from November 11 to 14.

U-13 boys - Dhruv Angle and Tejan Fallary. U-13 girls - Anura Prabhudesai and Emilia Silveira. U-16 boys - Rahul Chandrashekar and Chinmay Kamat. U-16 girls - Anushka Kuvelkar, Anura Prabhudesai and Pranjal Chimulkar. Vinayak Kamat (coach) and Govind Navelkar (team manager).

The preparatory camp will be at Multipurpose Hall, Fatorda from October 29 to November 8. Players have been asked to report at the venue at 4 p.m.

Rosary cup football

MARGAO (HC) -- Rosary Youth Club, Zoriwaddo, Davorlim will cross swords with St Xavier’s Footballers, Mapa, Panchawadi in the inaugural match of the 7th Rosary Cup football tournament organised by Rosary Youth Club, Zoriwaddo at Rosary ground, Zoriwaddo, Davorlim on November 14.

Cross Boys, Curchorem; Dom Dum,Valpai, Rebello Pandal, Maina, St Anthony’s Assolda, Margao Footballers, Mix Friends, Pilerne, Sporting Club de Menezes, Goa Velha, St Joseph, Shiroda, Telaulim Boys, Navelim, St Cross Boys, Davorlim, Bye Eleven, Curtorim, Real Benaulim, Youth of Ambelim and Fatima Boys, Dicarpale are vying for the title.

Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 will be awarded to the winners and runners-up respectively.

sports director Collin Fernandes and his team consisting of Diogo Rodrigues, Reggie Vaz, Mario Periera, Richard Fernandes, Fidelise Miranda. Mathew Estrocio and Anthonio Vaz extended full support on the field.

Meanwhile, a football tournament for Under-15 and U-19 boys will be held in November.

Details may be obtained from Collin Fernandes, Reggie Vaz, Mario Pereira, Natcy Barretto or Luto on 9850478452.

from substitute Cesc Fabregas to cut in and curl home an excellent third goal four minutes from time, with Walcott adding a breakaway fourth in stoppage-time.

Kenwyne Jones headed Stoke into an early lead, Scott Parker equalised six minutes from time

and Mark Noble proved the key man in extra-time as he set up goals for Manuel da Costa and Victor Obinna.

Emile Heskey came off the bench to fire Villa ahead in the 86th minute of their game against Burnley but Clark

Carlisle equalised in the last minute.

Winger Stewart Downing blasted Villa back into the lead after six minutes of extra-time but they had to hang on for the last 20 after Marc Albrighton was sent off.

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SPORTS

AFC team impressed with Dempo, Salgaocar Pg 14

GOA, FRIDAY, 29 OCTOBER, 2010 www.oheraldo.in

India need Kirsten: Gambhir AGENCIES NEW DELHI, OCT 28

Prolific Indian opener Gautam Gambhir feels that the Indian Cricket Board should renew the contract of coach Gary Kirsten after it expires at the end of the Cricket World Cup next year.

"Gary is the best coach India has ever had. I have often said that and I keep on stressing that we need Gary. I don't need to speak much about him. His fabulous record speaks for itself. He has been a great man-manager.

So I believe that he should be retained after the World Cup also," Gambhir said at the sidelines of a promotional event here.

Gambhir is thus the latest among the Indian stars to join the bandwagon who want the South African to be retained as Cricket South Africa wants him

to take over once he finishes his stint with the Indian team.

The opener also supported Kirsten's idea of sending the top-order batsmen to South Africa, a week in advance so that they can get themselves acclimatised to the pace and bounce of wickets over there.

"We haven't played much cricket in South Africa of late.

So it will be a great idea if we go there a bit early to get used to the conditions. If such a thing happens, it may just work in our favour," Gambhir said.

He also reiterated that one can't continue his blazing form for life and there is bound to be ups and downs.

"Right now I am coming back from injury. It's always a difficult thing when you come back from injury. Only when you spend con-

siderable time out there in the middle, you get to know how it's shaping up for you," he said.

The Delhi batsman also feels that just because Bangladesh whipped New Zealand 4-0 in the ODI series, it did not mean that it will be a cakewalk for the Indians when they meet the Black Caps from November 4.

"You can never take any international opposition lightly. Just because Bangladesh beat them 40 doesn't mean that we can take it easy against the New Zealanders.

"Their team consists of some proven matchwinners who can turn a match head on. So we need to be very careful and can't take things for granted," Gambhir said.

On a lighter vein, he said that walking ramp is tough but not as tough as opening the batting for the country.

He also said that he hasn't seen the likes of Yuvraj Singhs and Mahendra Singh Dhonis walk the ramp but said that a cricketer's endeavour is to perform on field rather than score points off it.

AGENCIES NANJING, OCT 28

Carlsen was troubled for a short time by Chinese hopeful Wang Yue but eventually got a draw, while Etienne Bacrot of France settled for the peace treaty quite early against Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan.

With just two rounds to come in the six-player double round-robin tournament, Carlsen retained his lead and barring a debacle, he looks set to annex the title.

The Norwegian took his tally to 5.5 points out of a possible eight to keep Anand and Bacrot at a full point distance. Topalov and Gashimov are on 3.5 points and sharing the fourth spot, while Wang now has 2.5 points in his kitty.

Anand held

Wo r l d c h a m p i o n Viswanathan Anand played out a draw with Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria to remain in jointsecond after end of the eighth round in the Pearl Spring Chess tournament, here, China, on Thursday.

After surviving a real scare against Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in the seventh round, Anand could do little with his white pieces against Topalov, who appeared well-armed after his first victory in the tournament in the previous round.

The lead positions remained unchanged as the other two games of the day also ended in draws.

Salgaocar, Churchill win, Sporting Clube shocked Pg 15

Pg16

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Friday, 29 Oct 2010

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Film Finance Scheme:

No Benefit to this Goan

Rezavank fator porian zhorta - Anonymous

The film finance scheme, meted out by the Entertainment Society of Goa is supposed to be a great help to Goan filmmakers, the state over.

Filmmaker, Neville Pereira could avail of the scheme.

Yet, he did not! Herald delves behind to discover the true story

Unreal, extraordinary to be named besides Bradman: Tendulkar

BY NOMRATHA FERNANDES HERALD FEATURES ot a statistician by profession, Neville Pereira boldly states, “Ninety percent of marriages these days are plagued with extra-marital affairs.” He cannot stand by these figures but what he can stand by is, the central theme behind his latest Konkani movie, ‘Xtra’, based on that exactly.

The movie’s audio CD has already been launched while the motion picture itself is still in the making – the shooting continues in and around North Goa. Neville assures it will be complete by the end of the year.

Presenting people with a subject that is clandestine and viewed as wrong by the majority is not an easy task. But with a substantial amount of research, a dedicated team and an approach that gets people thinking and considering, rather than concluding, one has pretty much rounded up the factors that create a solid movie. Neville feels he has bagged all three. Commenting on the flow of the movie, he says, “An attraction to a member of the opposite sex is completely natural. Of course it happens even when one is committed or married and even then it is not wrong.

The actions that follow this attraction decides what is wrong or not.”

The movie is presented this way too. No right, no wrong, the decision being left up to the people, just like in real life. It is a risky topic to wrap a movie around, he admits, adding, “Only these make better films.”

‘Xtra’ introduces Sonia Diniz and Jayesh Raut, who play the main characters. Both on the cusp of adulthood, Neville is impressed with their acting abilities. “I want more young people, dedicated young people to participate in the Konkani movie scene,” he stresses.

With the audio album featuring Lorna, who “very humbly accepted my offer”, Succour de Santa Cruz, Lawry Travasso, Mamta and Goa’s young, rising Konkani singer Ulfa Khwaja, it hopes to be a keeper.

As for the movie?

Neville, the cast and crew have all got their fingers crossed.

So, how did Neville go about getting the film to materialise?

N e v i l l e

N

teaches music, the keyboards and the guitar. He also takes up technical projects for producers of Konkani films. Those are his day jobs. A lot of the money made from them is diverted towards making movies. Film-making is his dream turned reality. ‘Nisha’ was his first and ‘Xtra’ his second. Just like his first, this film too sees Neville heading the various facets of the filmmaking process – camerawork, sound, lighting, directing, dialogues, script and music. Post production activity that includes mixing, dubbing, duplication, subtitling, etc are also taken care of by him.

All this he does in his personal studio. He is the producer too. A natural inclination towards the aforementioned and previous experience with other film-makers are sure pre-requisites.

“The movie doesn’t involve a single sponsor. It is entirely my production,” he says. Fulfilling almost all the criteria under the film finance scheme, availing of it would be a great benefit for the upping of quality of this and any other of his upcoming films.

Neville surprisingly negates this!

As per the clauses of the scheme, the aspects of film-making taken care of by him, as mentioned earlier, would automatically be compartmentalised. Neville states that by availing the scheme each compartment would then have to present a separate bill to the Entertainment Society of Goa. “The only people I pay are the singers and the actors. Everything else I do, and pay for it too. The authorities will not accept one bill that covers it all. Now if I utilise the scheme I would have to present false bills. Why do I have to hand over false bills? That would be corrupt and I do not want to be partaking in it,” he stressed. He makes a clear-cut point, one that has to be considered by the authorities in special cases like this one.

Smaller in comparison, but a grievance nonetheless, is the fact that he utilises his own camera. Sadly, he concludes, “I’m still making movies in digital format. If somehow the scheme allows me to just hire a camera I would go celluloid,” he states.

T

he only current cricketer to be named in ESPNcricinfo’s all-time World XI, Indian batting icon Sachin Tendulkar says he finds it “unreal and extraordinary” to be placed alongside legends such as Don Bradman with whom he would have loved to play.

Tendulkar is the only Indian in the team which features four Australians, three West Indians, two Englishmen and a Pakistani.

“It would have been great to play in this dream team, to walk out with Bradman after lunch, or build a partnership with Viv Richards, and talk to Sobers about cricket,” Tendulkar told ESPNcricinfo.

“Just playing and having a conversation with them about cricket. I would have liked to have asked Jack Hobbs and Len Hutton what it was like to play on uncovered wickets, who were the best bowlers they had faced,

Barack's Platter: Will it be Obama Malai Tikka Burger?

T

Some are destined to succeed, some are determined to succeed - H H Swami Tejomayananda

he guessing game is on among presidential watchers of the gastronomic kind. What will be on the ‘Obama Platter’ that US President Barack Obama intends to create when he visits India next month?

Back in June, making a rare visit to the State Department for a reception for External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, to demonstrate that US-India ties are among his “highest priorities”, he also declared his culinary designs. “And I intend to create an Obama Platter,” he declared.

“I am told one of Hillary Clinton's favourite restaurants in Delhi has added a new item to the menu - the ‘Hillary Platter’,” he said. “This is true,” he added turning to Clinton who was standing by his side. He then asked, “What does it have – ‘chapati’?”

“It’s got all kinds of things,” said an obviously delighted Clinton diplomatically to the president who can make a ‘chapati’ and cook some ‘dal’, an art he learnt from a Pakistani college mate's mother on a visit to Karachi.

The mouth-watering ‘Hillary Platter’ created July 19, 2009 at Delhi's famous Bukhara restaurant has much more than chapati. It includes ‘murgh malai kabab’, ‘seekh kabab’, ‘paneer tikka’, ‘tandoori aloo’, ‘sikandari raan’, ‘dal bukhara’, ‘tandoori jhinga’, mixed ‘raita’, ‘naan’ and ‘kulfi’.

But the presidential palate appears to be markedly different from the former first lady's. A year before he became president, Obama said in an interview that his favourite food is from Italian Fiesta Pizzeria in Hyde Park, Chicago.

During the campaign, he was often seen eating fast food - from donuts to pork chops to fried

chicken. Days before being sworn in he went to a popular fast food joint on Washington's U Street for a chilli half smoke and sweet tea, plus cheese fries.

And despite first lady Michelle Obama's healthier eating campaign, the president has not stopped indulging in an occasional Philadelphia cheese steak sandwich, enjoying a mint chocolate chip ice cream cone or sneaking out for a burger lunch with Vice President Joe Biden.

So much so that last June, he even took visiting Russian President Dmitri Medvedev for a summit over an all American lunch at Ray's Hell Burger in Arlington, Virginia, a Washington suburb across the Potomac River.

For the “main course”, Obama ate a cheddar cheeseburger, topped with lettuce, tomato and bread-and-butter pickles. He washed it all down with bottled iced tea.

So our guess is his creation could well be not a platter, but an ‘Obama malai tikka burger’!

(Courtesy: IANS)

and of course, the mental aspect of the game,” the 37-year-old, who has been in international cricket for over two decades, added.

Tendulkar said he is glad that he played with or watched live nearly 60 per cent of the selected side.

“I played with Malcolm Marshall in county cricket, I played against Viv Richards in an exhibition game, and Lillee bowled to me at the nets at the MRF Pace Academy, when I was 15. It was such a thrill. I remember I called my brother and said to him that Dennis Lillee had bowled to me. So to now find myself in this company is unreal. I first met him when I was 12,” he said.

Pace legend Wasim Akram, the only Pakistani to have made the elite XI, said it was one of his biggest achievements to be named in the starstudded line-up.

“I never thought I would play for Pakistan, let alone be picked for an alltime World XI like this. It is a very special thing, to be picked by these judges and even more of an honour to be in the same team as guys like Sir Don Bradman, Sir Viv Richards, Sir Garry Sobers, Sachin and the others,” he said.

“A lot of people ask me who was the best bowler I ever saw. Imran was great, no doubt, very hardworking and shrewd. Dennis Lillee I never really saw, but people tell you obviously about how good he was. But when I rate a bowler, I look at how he did around the world, on different pitches in England, the subcontinent and Australia, and Malcolm Marshall, I feel, was the best of the lot,” he added.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who currently plays in the Indian Premier League, said, “to be one of only four Australian players to be chosen is an absolute honour, although I do think there were several other wicketkeepers, like Rod Marsh, Ian Healy, Mark Boucher or Alan Knott, who could have easily been picked ahead of me in this team.”

A Life of Talent and Strength

BY ELVIS SEQUEIRA HERALD FEATURES hough the scene has changed today and the stigma that was once attached to the acting profession has faded away, we have in our midst many female tiatr artistes who made their foray on to the Konkani stage at rather difficult times and still continue to grace the Konkani stage with their immense talent and exuberance. One such artiste who has served the Konkani stage with dedication for more than 50 years is Ubaldina Fernandes known to tiatr audiences as Diana.

Born to Jose Batista and Eufermiana Coutinho of Navelim, Salcette, Diana studied at Holy Family Convent School, Sancoale and later at Fatima Convent High School, Margao. She was only eight years old when she got her first professional acting assignment. She was introduced as a child artiste by her brother, late Camilo Batista in late Minguel Rod’s tiatr ‘Open To Close’. Her first performance in a professional setup not only evoked a thunderous applause from the audience but also resulted in the little girl being offered the opportunity to perform in many tiatrs at the village level. Besides this, she also received offers from well-known directors Ligorio Fernandes, late M Boyer, late Jacint Vaz, Rx Verna, Junior Rod, Joe Meny and many others to act in their tiatrs.

In 1965, Diana married Joaquim Anthony Fernandes of Mandur, and with the active support of her husband, Diana continued acting in tiatrs, although she took short breaks in between to take care of her children. The untimely death of her husband in 1977 saddled her with a huge responsibility of keeping the home fires burning, besides caring for her seven children.

Diana, the brave woman that she is, admitted her children to a boarding school, with the exception of her newborn who she carried along with her for the tiatr rehearsals and shows. She brought up her children giving them the best of education and all this she accomplished with tiatr as her only source of income.

Besides acting in tiatrs, Diana has also acted in films like ‘Padri’ and ‘Roddonaka’ and several VCDs produced by Prince Jacob, Annie Quadros, Capucina Alvares, Neville Pereira and others. She has also written, directed and staged her own production (Tiatr) titled

T

There was a time when female artistes acting in tiatrs were looked down upon by society.

Their morality and character was a matter of debate in the so-called higher echelons of society. Yet, many bravehearted women embraced tiatrs, breaking all social barriers that came their way.

Tiatr personality Diana is one such woman ‘Ankvar Bhavak lagon’. For her immense contribution to the Konkani stage, Diana was felicitated by Kala Mogi, Candolim in 1993 and by Kala Academy, Goa in 2001.

As a ‘tiatrista’, she is an active member of Prince Jacobs’s Productions for the last 25 years on the trot, besides acting in tiatrs, produced and staged by other well-known directors, playing both, comic and serious characters with aplomb. When asked to elaborate on her association with Prince Jacob Productions for the last 25 years, she says, “Prince Jacob’s troupe is like his extended family. He treats his artistes with due respect. I am very grateful to him for creating special roles for me at this age and for all the help he has rendered to me over the last 25 years.”

Today, at the age of 68, Diana is still active on stage traipsing across London, Kuwait, Muscat, Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, besides performing in various states of India. When questioned about how long she intends to continue acting, she reveals, “As long as I get roles that suit my age. Today, all my children are well-settled in life, but I will continue till I can, not for money, but for the love I have for tiatrs.” She also has a sound piece of advice to newcomers, “Do not try to imitate anyone, as your own acting may be better than the one you are trying to imitate. Just be yourself.”

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WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

Gastronomix 2010, a culinary challenge organised by the Agnel Institute of Food Crafts and Culinary Sciences, Verna will be held on October 30 from 9am to 1pm at Agnel Institute of Food Crafts and Culinary Sciences, Agnel Ashram, Verna. Call 9822184111.

The 2-day novel writing workshop, organised by the Dalgado Konknni Akademi’s (DKA) will be held on October 30 at 10am at Colva Residency, Colva. Call 2221688 or 9881810832.

A meeting with Dr Asim Dasgupta, Chairman of EC and Finance Minister of West Bengal, organised by Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry will be held on October 29 at 4.30pm at Hotel Mandovi, Panjim.

Closing Ceremony of Dastkari Haat Crafts Bazaar innovative and contemporary crafts will be held with cultural programmes presented by the teachers and students of the Kala Academy, on October 29 from 6 pm onwards. Call 2420452.

The feast of St Simon the Zealot and St Judas Tadeu will be celebrated on October 31 at 10.30am at the Church of Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Batim, Tiswadi.

A One Act Play Competition at High School, Higher Secondary and College level organised

by Kala Academy Goa will be held in month of December, 2010 at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Registration closes on October 29. Call 2420452 ‘My dogs are afraid of the sound of Diwali fire crackers….are yours too?’, a discussion on the topic of the Safer Festivals That Include Our Animals organised by International Animal Rescue will be held at the Earthworm Ecostore, Porvorim on October 29 at 5:30pm. E-mail earthwormgoa@gmail.com. Call

Parenting

Pg2

HOROSCOPE 2410871.

Workshop on Pictorial Warning and the Role of the Media will be organised by the Voluntary Health Association of Goa (VHAG) on October 30 at Caritas Holiday Home, St Inez, Panjim, from 9am onwards. Call 2221012, 9604174127 or 9594628415.

A Halloween crafts and decorations class fro children aged between 6 to 10 years, organised

by Sunaparanta will be held on October 30 from 4pm to 6pm at the Sunaparanta – Goa Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Panjim. Registration closes on October 28. Call 2421311.

‘Tum Kitem Kortolo Aslo?’, a Konkani movie by Shamaz Films (Goa) will be publicly screened from October 29 onwards at the INOX, Panjim and Osia, Margao. Screening time at Osia will be 3.30pm and 6.30pm and at the INOX will be 6pm.

A specialised tennis coaching camp for students organised by Kinesis Tennis Academy and the Goa State Tennis Association will be held from November 1 to 20 at the Kinesis Tennis AcademyClube Tennis De Gaspar Dias, Miramar, Panjim. Registration forms are available at Champs, Angleys, Club Gaspar Dias, Panjim Gymkhana, Panjim, or BPS Sports Club, Margao. Registration closes on October 29. Call 2423862, Daily Kayaking Expeditions, organised by Goa Kayaking will be held from October 28 to 31 in the Mandovi, Zuari and Nerul rivers. Visit www.goakayaking.blogspot.com. E-mail goakayaking@gmail.com. Call 9422056037 or 2541715.

Workshop on Pictorial Warning and the Role of the Media will be organised by the Voluntary Health Association of Goa (VHAG) on October 30 at Caritas Holiday Home, St Inez, Panjim, from 9am onwards. Call 2221012, 9604174127 or 9594628415.

Early planning involves too many details.

Wait until you 21 Mar - 19 Apr know more before moving on.

You're possessed by a weird energy today -- and it might take you somewhere new.

That's usually good as far as you're concerned, but the ride might involve emotional turbulence, so buckle up.

Taurus Instead of focusing on who may or may not be there, focus 20 Apr - 20 May o n h a v i n g a good time. Your mood is lifting higher and higher today, so see if you can share your good energy with someone else who needs a boost.

It could be your best friend or a stranger on the subway, but you do need to act quickly.

Certain people Gemini have no right to give you advice, but that won't stop them 21 May - 20 Jun t o d a y. Yo u should go bargain-hunting today, if you intend to do any shopping at all. Your ability to spot deals and haggle should help you get more for your money and end the day feeling satisfied.

Look closely - the small details you come across today will help you 22 Jun - 23 Jul choose wisely.

Try not to worry too much about your comrades or colleagues -- they are fine on their own. You need to make sure that you're using every bit of your energy now, and directing it toward your own goals.

Put all your finances in order today -- review your budget and 24 Jul - 23 Aug trim some fat.

You should find it easier than ever to make real connections with people -- they are craving contact, and your natural warmth means that you can reach out to them without exhausting yourself.

A recent achievement has you feeling proud of your23 Aug - 22 Sep self. You should celebrate. Get together with friends today -they need your wisdom, and you need their social energy, so it's win-win. Try not to offer unsolicited advice unless you see someone falling down a rabbit hole.

A good listener wants to do all the talking today -- you'll be 23 Sept - 22 Oct thrilled to let them. Let others take the heat today -- you need to chill out and just let your energy levels refill. It's one of those days when any attention you draw on yourself is likely to rile you up too much.

Scorpio Do a friend a favor today and you'll reap huge rewards.

23 Oct - 22 Nov They have a generous spirit.

Engage someone in a deep conversation -- they are sure to stimulate a part of your brain that needs it badly. Your need for socializing is rarely strong, but when it hits, you're practically helpless.

Sagittarius They drive you

Capricorn Take care of any last minute research with conversations 22 Dec - 20 Jan and first-person accounts. A colleague proposes a new project -- or maybe a new idea or perspective-- and you need to give it your complete attention.

It may not work out, but it can lead to newer, better proposals in the future.

Aquarius Don't wait until the last minute to double-check the details. Go 21 Jan - 19 Feb over everything now. You've got to start moving today -- everything depends on it. Your energy demands forward motion, and you should be able to get your people to see that your plans are totally workable.

If you're afraid they're going to be too critical, then don't ask 20 Feb - 20 Mar their opinion.

You're a wellspring of creative energy now, and you may even be able to power other people's work.

You may not feel like a muse, but that's exactly how you're operating, so focus on the right people.

Aries

Libra

crazy with the details, but be grateful they're 23 Nov - 20 Dec on top of everything. You typically tell people 'my way or the highway,' but right now you need to revise that a bit, or scrap it entirely. Flexibility is the only way to deal with today's problems, so stretch out a bit early on.

WORD OF THE DAY

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Pisces

DID YOU KNOW? Volcanoes are not always Flaming Mountains

farraginous Pronunciation fuh-RAJ-uh-nus Function Adjective Meaning 1: consisting of a confused mixture; formed of various materials in no fixed order Example Sentence The large box at the stadium’s lost and found desk contained a farraginous assortment of sports equipment and other items.

LAFFS

Though volcanoes now look like mountains with flaming tops, a volcano is actually an opening in the crust of the planet through with hot ash, molten rock and gases blow out from deep underground. Most volcanoes are over 10,000 to 1,00,000 years old and the conical shape that volcanoes generally acquire is due to the convergence and divergence of tectonic plates and layering of lava over time. In actuality, a volcano can exist in nearly any form, including volcanic vents which exist on the ocean floor, ice volcanoes, which have been found on other planets, and volcanoes that are a crater in the ground. More than 80% of the Earth’s surface is volcanic in origin and planet Jupiter’s Moon Io is the most volcanic place in the solar system.

WIZARD OF ID

Funny Quote

“A hospital bed is a parked taxi with the meter running.”

– Groucho Marx

DAILY GROOK ORGAN BARGAIN

by Francis Rodrigues aren't mafia thefts before funeral time, of human body parts - organ'ised crime?

GARFIELD

MIND BENDERS

SUN MOON TIDES

Tongue Twister

Friday 32° C | 22° C

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, So a peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked.

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked?

Clear

Riddle Me This

Sunrise 0630 - Sunset 1807 Moon rise 2332 - Moon set 1152 High 02:59

D Tide timings are for Mormugao Harbour. For Panjim/Calangute add 20 mins. For Colva add 30 mins

16:00 Qayamat: City Under Threat 20:00 Sapoot 09:00 10:55 13:15 15:05 17:05 19:00 21:00 23:05

09:00 11:30 14:00 16:30 18:45 21:00 22:45

I fly when I’m born. I lay when I’m alive and I run when I’m dead. What am I?

TIDES Low High Low 08:40 13:36 20:32

Underclassman Pretty Woman Armour of God Bedtime Stories Into the Blue 2 Police Story III Nine Months Paycheck

Kiss the Girls Duplicity Jackie Chan's Who Am I? The One Duma Simon Sez Star Trek

08:30 11:30 15:00 19:00 22:30

Jo Bole So Nihaal Sau Din Saas Ke Sarkar Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...

Hey Ram

Last ‘Riddle Me This’ Answer: A postal stamp

12:45 15:10 18:45 21:00 23:05

08:30 12:00 16:00 20:00

Underworld Open Range The King The Ten Ultraviolet

Adventures of Tarzan Tashan Judge Mujrim Suhaag

08:30 Money Train 10:45 Sunshine Cleaning

08:00 12:00 16:00 20:00

08:00 Gardish 12:10 Kismat Konnection

Dacait Jab We Met Shakti: The Power Judaai

16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta 18:00 Malegoan Ka Chintoo 18:30 Papad Pol 19:00 Gutar Gu 19:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Malegoan Ka Chintoo 20:30 Gutar Gu 21:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta

11:00 Geet 11:30 Dill Mill Gayye 12:00 Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani 12:30 Mano Ya Na Mano 13:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 13:30 Geet 14:00 Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani 14:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 15:00 Geet 15:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 16:00 Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani 16:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 17:00 Geet 17:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 18:00 Dill Mill Gayye 18:30 Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani 19:00 Geet

IDIOT BOX 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 Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak? 14:30 MasterChef India 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 MasterChef India 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 23:00 Kaali: Ek Agnipariksha 23:30 Maryaada ... Lekin Kab Tak?

09:00 Saas Bina Sasural 11:00 Tera Mujhse Hai Pehle Ka 13:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 13:30 Aahat 15:30 C.I.D 20:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00 Comedy Circus Ka Jadoo 22:00 C.I.D 23:00 Crime Patrol

10:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya 12:00 Sa re ga ma pa Singing Superstar Spot Light 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 15:00 Dil Se Diya Vachan 15:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya

16:00 Pavitra Rishta 16:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 17:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 17:30 Preet Se Bandhi Yeh Dori...

19:00 Dil Se Diya Vachan 19:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Singing Superstars

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 Lapataganj 15:00 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 15:30 FIR

19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Pyaar Kii Ye Ek Kahaani 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni

12:00 Minute to win it 13:00 Ncis: Los Angeles 14:00 So You Think You Can Dance 16:00 Minute to win it 17:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 18:00 Step it Up and Dance : A Scary Surprise 19:00 Minute to win it 20:00 E Buzz 20:30 Guinness World Records 21:00 Ghost Adventure : Sloss 22:00 Ghost Hunters 23:00 Nightmares and Dreamscapes

10:00 Best of Koffee with Karan

11:00 Lie to Me 12:00 MasterChef Australia 13:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 13:30 How I Met Your Mother 14:00 Friends 14:30 The Simpsons 15:00 Ugly Betty 16:00 Best of Koffee with Karan 17:00 The Moment of Truth 18:00 How I Met Your Mother 20:00 V.I.P. 21:00 The Moment of Truth 22:00 Best of Koffee with Karan

09:00 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games H/ls : Dressage Grand Prix 10:00 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 : West Bromwich Albion vs. Fulham 12:00 Intercontinental Rally Challenge 2010 12:30 FIA F1 World Championship Raceday 13:15 FIA F1 World Championship 2010 Main 15:15 FIA F1 World Championship Chequered 16:00 International Motorsport 17:00 Simply the Best 17:30 Golf Focus 2010 18:00 TNA Sikander 20:00 Game 20:30 Ace 2010 21:00 Score Tonight 21:30 V8 Supercars Championship Series 2010 23:30 Glitch

09:30 Winter X Games 13 Clas six : Snowboarding 10:30 World of Gymnastics 11:00 Winter X Games Europe 12:00 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 : Manchester City vs. Arsenal 14:00 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Semifinal 2: Germany vs. Spain 16:00 Bwf Super Series : Swiss Open 17:00 Premier League World 17:30 16 Nations: Road to Qatar : Iran 18:00 X Games 15 Classix 19:00 World of Football 19:30 Football Asia

20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 Bpl Express : Liverpool vs. Blackburn Rovers 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia 23:00 Football Asia 23:30 Premier League World

09:30 Liga BBVA Show 2010/11 10:00 Total Italian Football 2010/11 10:30 2010 Pakistan vs. South Africa H/ls : 2nd T20 12:30 2010 Zimbabwe Tour of South Africa H/ls : 3rd ODI 14:30 FIFA: Futbol Mundial 15:00 Liga BBVA Show 2010/11 15:30 Total Italian Football 2010/11 16:00 ICC Cricket World 16:30 WWE: Smackdown 18:30 European Tour 2010 : Day 2: Andalucia Masters 21:30 UEFA Europa League H/ls 22:30 WWE: Smackdown 10:30 Football League Show 11:00 Dutch League 13:00 Liga BBVA Show 2010/11 13:30 Total Italian Football 2010/11 14:00 UEFA Europa League 2010/11 H/ls : Match Day 3 15:00 UEFA Champions League

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Tatoo 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Frame Box Animation 11:30 Fusion Concert 12:00 Success Mantra 12:30 Konkani Songs 13:00 English News 14:00 Konkani Movie 15:30 Sangeet 16:00 Fusion Concert 16:30 Lorna Rocks Goa 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Tatoo 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Care for Mother Earth 21:30 HCN Smash Hits 22:00 English News 23:00 Fairyland 23:30 Fusion Concert 00:00 Fantasia 00:30 Fashion Show Note: Subject to Change

SUDOKU 692

Instructions for Sudoku 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

SUDOKU SOL 691

HERALD CROSSWORD - 692 Across 1- Sudden explosive noise; 5Fall birthstone; 9- Cookwear; 14- Siouan speaker; 15- Actress Campbell; 16- Paris divider; 17- Editor's mark; 18Mariners can sail on seven of these; 19- Instant; 20- Squid; 22- Braided; 24- From Cardiff; 26- Jackie's second; 27- Bring into being; 30- Omitting; 35Tripoli's country; 36- Amazes; 37- Barbershop request; 38Small batteries; 39- Young hare; 42- Broke bread; 43Pace; 45- Plunge head-first; 46- Essential oil; 48- Having the power to heal; 50- Unerringly; 51- Balderdash; 52- Like soft-boiled eggs; 54- Visionary; Hotbed; 57- Grave; 59- Gap; 60- Getting ___ 58- Aimless bit of gunfire; 62- Portents; 63Bread spread; 65- Bang-up; 66- Adjust to zero; years; 61- Driving aids; 64- John in England; 67- ___ Blanc; 68- Netman Nastase; 69- Diary bit; 70- Congress, e.g.; 71- Optical device; SOLUTION - 691 Down 1- Winter pear; 2- ___ boy!; 3- Christmas; 4Escape; 5- Marked down; 6- Nobles; 7- Actress Gardner; 8- For fear that; 9- Late bloomers; 10- Continue steadily; 11- Reformer Jacob; 12- A single time; 13- Call for; 21Dense element; 23- Bluffer's ploy; 25- Nevertheless; 27- Category; 28- Lasso; 29- "Barnaby Jones" star; 31- Nothing more than; 32- Angry; 33- Essential; 34- Abrasive mineral; 36- Tel ___; 40- Prepares for publication; 41- Mock; 44- Associate; 47- Spencer; 49- Warm and cozy; 50- Condescending; 53- Flip over; 54Golfer's "watch out!"; 55- "So be it"; 56-

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Friday, 29 Oct 2010

Parenting

Pg3

An Evening on Women and their Bodies

Gastronomix 2010 promises New Challenges HERALD FEATURES ospitality students in Goa are eagerly awaiting the Annual Gastronomix 2010 – the Culinary Excellence Challenge organised by Agnel Institute of Food Crafts & Culinary Sciences, Verna, Goa on October 30 from 9am to 1pm at the institute complex.

This year, along with the regular events namely Chefcom (student culinary excellence challenge) and Barcom (student mixology excellence challenge), a new competition for the upcoming Bakery and Patisserie students would be the Bakecom (student bakery and patisserie excellence challenge).

The event has been extremely popular amongst students of hospitality institutes in Goa since its inception in 2008. Judges for this culinary and mixology challenge will be executive chefs, pastry chefs, food & beverage managers and professionals from the hotel industry.

Gastronomix is the only event organised on an All Goa basis which gives a platform for upcoming hospitality students to show their skills in culinary, patisserie and mixology challenges.

The event also provides the students a platform to show their talent and skill to the judges, who, being hospitality professionals could prove to be potential employers in the future.

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Dr Geeta Pandya HERALD FEATURES he Rotary Club of Panjim organised an informative talk hosted by gynec-endocrinologist Dr Geeta Pandya who also released her book ‘Know Your Breasts’. The book was released at the hands of Dr Wilfred de Souza. The event also saw the felicitation of the eight-year-old M Bharat, who had excelled at the Under-9 national chess tournament.

The event which

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Wendell presents First Ever Goan-made Sari to the World

had a huge attendance focussed on the welfare of women’s health and in keeping with this, Dr Pandya delivered a talk on the topic, ‘Menopause – A Myth or Reality’. The talk proved to be the most interesting and informative part of the evening where Dr Pandya, with the aid of a slideshow presentation, shed light on the problems that are faced by a menopausal woman.

“The effect of menopause can be seen on various aspects of a woman’s life; the deficiency of hormones in the body causes other ailments including osteoporosis Alzheimer’s, disturbance of sleep and rapid body regulatory fluctuations,” explained Dr Pandya. She also enlightened the predominantly male crowd about the mood fluctuations in a woman, thus urging them to be more sympathetic toward their spouses and mothers.

Dr Pandya, also a writer of many books about women’s health, also highlighted some misconceptions of menopause. “When a woman misses the menses cycles for two or three months, she thinks she is menopausal.

But that is not so. Only if a woman doesn’t get her cycle for one year, she is menopausal,” said Dr Pandya. She also spoke about the regular check ups for breast cancer as the cancerous tissues multiply far before lumps of any sort are formed.

Dr Willy de Souza felicitates M Bharat who excelled at the Under nine, National Chess Tournament.

Also seen is president of the Rotary Club of Panaji, Dinesh Kamat

Receives a Standing Ovation

A

HERALD FEATURES ce designer Wendell Rodricks unveiled his latest Kunbi tribe collection on the second day of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week (WLIFW). The collection displays the ethnicity of a group of people who have almost remained hidden in today's society. The Kunbi saree had perhaps been the biggest revelation of the Week so far.

The Goan designer had created something out of the box, something totally unique which people not only in Goa will wear but even sari lovers around the world will appreciate - the very first Goan made sari.

The original Kunbi sari was mainly worn by the Kunbi tribe of Goa. Wendell wanted to change that perspective by introducing soft pastel shades with irregular designs flowing along the saree, giving the whole collection a very modern and an elegant look.

The eco-friendly handloom made from vegetable dye has its origins from the Kunbi tribe which consists of aboriginals who settled in the Canacona taluka in the South of India’s smallest state.

Wendell's love for Goa and his dedication to build its cultural heritage has made this work possible. His sari collection will now compete with other Indian states that have their own type of traditional saree.

Goa must surely be proud and Wendell must be delighted as it took nearly seven years of extensive research in sourcing the weavers, working with the tribals and then creating designs that mixed well with today's contemporary style of clothing.

This is a very large and colour ful feather in his cap!

Applauding the master creator: Models with ace fashion designer, Wendell Rodricks

TIATR REVIEW

HERALD FEATURES

Godfather highlights a Simple Man’s Selflessness HERALD FEATURES ngratefulness is the key word in Comedian Agostinho’s drama Godfather. Instead of being grateful to a stranger who adopts her and takes utmost care of her, the orphaned educated child, at the behest of her boyfriend, rejects her godfather in public and leaves him to his fate.

Nicolau (Salu de Loutolim), a municipality employee, does not hesitate to collect the daily garbage accumulated on the roadside.

His diligent services win him honours and praise from his fellowmen.

One fine day, while on his routine duty in garbage collection, Nicolau spots a new born baby in the dustbin.

Being a bachelor, he is unsure whether to adopt the child or abandon it at the same spot. He finally picks up the rejected child and proceeds straight to the village priest (Tommy) to take his opinion.

Seeing the kind-hearted municipality worker’s determination to adopt the child, the priest suggests baptising Nicloau as its godfather. Thereafter, Nicolau looks after and goes on to educate his godchild, Carol (Sanida).

After completing her studies, Carol returns from Bangalore to her godfather. She falls in love with Judas (Philip Almeida), who is also an officer in the municipality. Carol was always under the impression that her godfather was an officer in the municipality, but Judas reveals the truth about Nicolau to Carol.

Educated and depressed that she is, Carol begins to hate her godfather and decides to flee with her lover, who promises her a bright future. Will Carol find herself secured with Judas? Does she finally regret her decision?

The garbage issue gripping every Goan household has been handled very tactfully. Who is responsible for the garbage in the state? Rather than putting the blame on some, aren’t all Goans

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to be blamed for the mess?—inquires comedian Agostinho.

Doses of comedy at the right time were provided by Janet, Salvy, Agostinho and Jaju. A special mention needs to be made for Tommy in his role as an understanding priest. The ending unfortunately looked abrupt, with the audience expecting more to the flow of the story.

Songs rendered by Xavier Gomes (Sudharop Korat), Xavier/Tommy/Jaju (Sarpanch Chor), Tommy (Padri), Philip/Janet (Podven Fosta), Jaju/Xavier/Salu (Political Carnaval) were worth listening to as each of them had a message or two for the audience.

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Friday, 29 Oct 2010

Anusha Rizvi Publicity Hungry, allege Peepli Live Actors

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Pg4

I

t was going to be a situation where the old flames could have come face to face with each other.

licity.

“Whatever Rizvi is doing is only for publicity. The initial budget of the film was rupees two crore. Aamir increased it to rupees 10 crore.

He also took the initiative to showcase the movie in Berlin and at the Sundance Film Festival,” veteran actor Raghubir Yadav said.

Actor Sitaram Panchal, who played the role of local politician Bhai Thakur, too has supported Aamir on the controversy, saying Rizvi’s reaction springs from a pricked ego.

“The whole controversy is a non-issue. Her ego is pinched because it is Aamir’s name that is receiving a media glare. With this controversy she is managing to receive some too,” Panchal said. Nowaz, who portrayed the character of a TV journalist, said, “I am surprised with her attitude because Aamir was professional at every level.”

Rizvi has alleged that those worthy of the credit for the film’s success are not receiving it. It is being touted as Aamir’s movie she claims.

Eva, Jessica and Rachel unveil Directorial Debuts

The cast members of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Guzaarish were all set to promote their film on Salman Khan’s Bigg Boss when an inevitable thing happened.

It is learnt that when Salman came to know that the cast members of Guzaarish are being scheduled to visit his show to promote the film, the superstar banned the move. He told the channel that that was not going to happen since it would have put him in a tough situation where he had to meet his exflame Aishwarya who is playing the lead in Guzaarish.

In the past too, Salman has avoided being in the company of Aishwarya. The latest act just reiterates Salman’s stand.

Nicole Kidman Stoic in ‘Rabbit Hole’

Shilpa mesmerises at WIFW Finale

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H

Parenting

Salman dodges Meet with Aishwarya

aghubir Yadav and other actors of Peepli Live have come out in support of their producer Aamir Khan. They all agree that director Anusha Rizvi’s latest stint – adding controversy to the movie – was for publicity alone.

Rizvi, who wrote and directed the film with her husband Mehmood Farooqui as co-director, said they decided to step out from the movie after ‘differences’ with Aamir over credits.

But the actors of the movie have supported Aamir, collectively agreeing that Rizvi wants pub-

ollywood actresses Eva Mendes, Jessica Biel and Rachel Weisz have unveiled their directorial debuts at the annual Glamour Reel Moments event in Los Angeles.

The three actresses stepped behind the camera for the first time as part of the magazine’s yearly project, which sees women tackle short films based on readers’ real-life stories, reports a leading UK website.

Mendes put forward a movie called California Romanza, which stars Christina Ricci, while Rachel Weisz directed The Thief and Biel helmed Sodalis, about the friendship of two young girls.

Tourism

The films were unveiled at a star-studded ceremony recently.

The trio follow in the footsteps of past contributors, including Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courtney Cox, Kate Hudson and Kirsten Dunst.

Demi Moore, who has also taken part in the project in the past, attended the event and later wrote a message to the three actresses on her Twitter page.

“Celebrating this year’s Glamour Reel Moments directorial debuts of 3 amazing women Jessica Biel, Eva Mendes and Rachel Weisz! Great work ladies!” it said.

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rieving and coping with loss are highly personal processes, and surely un-decipherable.

You can add one more notch to the list of fine performances by Nicole Kidman.

A star yes, but also through-and-through an accomplished actress. In Rabbit Hole, she again delivers; showcasing depth, restrained emotion, and channelling all the inner angst you would expect from a mother dealing with loss. She is stoic alright, but that does not mean there are no tears.

Based on a play written by playwright David Lindsay-Abaire it does leave a certain amount of anticipation to whether this tremendous piece would work on film.

As the grieving couple mourning the loss of their son in an accident, Nicole Kidman as Becca and Aaron Eckhart as Howie Corbett deliver subtle performances, and avoid reaching for after-school melodrama. Interestingly Kidman’s character turns to science, shunning the local therapy group, with their incessant ‘God talk’.

Sandra Oh is well cast in a supporting role that adds some laughs, and a dollop of sadness. Dianne Wiest also has a small, but pivotal role as the mother. She’s given some of the best lines during some lighthearted scenes.

Devoid of clichés, Rabbit Hole takes time to reveal layer after layer of melancholy, but also hope and perseverance; Hollywood action and neat ending this is not.

n the backdrop of a majestic white set, showstoppers Shilpa Shetty and Chitrangada Singh sashayed the ramp as designer Tarun Tahiliani brought the curtains down on the latest edition of Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week with a grand show.

“Tarun has been like family to me. He is absolutely adorable. What I like best about him is that he brings out a new avatar in me every time and I love to walk for him,” said Shilpa looking stunning in a white lehenga and a net blouse.

On the other hand, actress Chitrangada set the ramp on fire as she walked in a silk blush gauze saree encrusted with crystallised elements.

Tarun’s collection titled ‘New Democracy’ aimed at providing a new direction to India’s textiles, prints, fabrics, weaves and colours.

“As we get westernised, our Indianness is getting lost somewhere. My collection is an attempt to bring it back with the use of Indian handlooms and drapes,” said Tarun.

“My inspiration has never been wealthy women.

I get inspired by the poor or those on streets, because that’s where you find real Indianness,” he added.

Placing Ice on Injury may prevent Healing

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Kids posting Profiles of Single parents on Matrimonial Sites

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study by a matrimonial site has revealed that a growing number of children are posting profiles of their single parents for re-marriage. Matrimonial site Jeevansaathi.com said that nearly 50 to 60 lakh children, between the age group of 18 to 25 years, posted their parent's profile on the website this year.

“It's interesting to note that children are now convincing their parents for re-marriage so that they have a secure future. This shows that the relationship between the kids and the parents is becoming more open. Children are no longer averse to discussing sensitive issues such as their own parent’s re-marriage,” said Rohit Manghnani, Jeevansathi.com's business head.

The details of the posted profiles show that most children are keen to get their single parents settled because they have seen them struggling all through their lives.

“My parents were separated when I was just five. I live with my mother and want her to be happy. I posted her profile on a matrimonial site in the hope of finding her a companion,” says a concerned Akshat Sharma, 21 years.

Another youngster, who posted the profile of his father states, “Since the demise of our mother about 24 years back, our dad has been our constant unconditional support. What we are today is all because of him. He had struggled a lot and now we wish that our father should enjoy the fruits of life.”

(Courtesy: IANS)

he conventional method of placing ice on an injury may prevent healing, according to scientists. For years, people have been told to put a bag of frozen peas on a torn or sprained muscle to reduce the swelling. But for the first time, researchers have found a hormone produced by inflamed tissue that could help heal damaged muscle.

This discovery turns the conventional wisdom that swelling must be controlled to encourage healing, says a leading UK paper.

It also paves the way for new methods of treating sports injuries.

The findings could lead to new therapies for acute muscle injuries caused by trauma, chemicals, infections, freeze damage and exposure to medications, according to the journal Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology.

Researcher Lan Zhou, from the Neuro-Inflammation Research Centre at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, US, said, “We hope that our findings stimulate further research to dissect different roles played by tissue inflammation in clinical settings, so we can utilise the positive effects and control the negative effects of tissue inflammation.”

The study suggests muscle inflammation after acute injury is essential to repair.

Zhou and his colleagues discovered that inflamed cells produce a high level of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) which significantly increases the rate of muscle regeneration.

This discovery could also change how much patient monitoring is required when potent anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed over a long period.

(Courtesy: IANS)

James Bond’s Aston Martin fetches 2.6 Million Pounds

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silver Aston Martin DB5 sports car driven by Sean Connery in the 1964 James Bond film ‘Goldfinger’ sold for 2.6 million pounds ($4.1 million) at a recent auction in Lon-

don.

The Aston Martin, specially outfitted for the world's most famous spy was the star attraction at a classic car auction in London that also saw rocker Rod Stewart's Lamborghini sell for 600,000 pounds ($946,000).

Auctioneer Peter Haynes had earlier estimated the Bond supercar could have snagged as much as 3.5 million pounds ($5.5 million).

Bond’s gadget master Q outfitted the car with an ejection seat, machine guns, radar and nail-throwing machine.

American broadcaster Jerry Lee, who purchased the car in 1969 for $12,000, sold it to raise money for his charitable foundation.

Harry Yeaggy, who bought the car, is likely to display it at a car museum in Ohio. Yeaggy later stated that it has been “a last-minute decision” to fly into London for the auction and that he had spent a little more than he had planned.

“I thought a European would buy it. But I guess they didn't appreciate Bond as much as we do,” he was quoted by a leading UK TV channel. “We're going to drive the car round the streets of London tonight. We're going to have a bit of fun with it,” Yeaggy said. The car, which is said to be in an excellent condition, is the only surviving example of two Aston Martins used in the early Bond films, after the other was reported stolen in 1997. The sale proceeds will benefit Lee’s charitable foundation supporting education and anti-crime projects internationally.

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