2 JULY HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

Pg 1:Layout 1 7/2/2010 12:42 AM Page 1

O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, FRiDaY, julY 2, 2010

Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

Goa’s Heartbeat: Sanjay to play Shivaji Maharaj Pg 14 IN BRIEF GoM divided over caste in Census Divided over whether caste should be included in Census, a Group of Ministers failed to reach a conclusion on the issue and decided that the Government would seek views of political parties. (PTI)

Business: RBI for co-ordinated stimulus exit globally Pg 12

No SC bail for Mickky Lyndon’s arrest stayed for 3 weeks PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 1

The Supreme Court today dismissed absconding former tourism minister Francisco Mickky Pacheco’s anticipatory bail plea in the death of Nadia Torrado, observing he could tamper with the investigation owing to his “political clout”.

Pacheco is the prime accused in the case registered following the death of 28-year-old Nadia in a Chennai hospital on May 30 after she allegedly consumed poison.

A Bench of Justices R M Lodha and A K Patnaik, however, stayed the arrest of Pacheco’s aide and co-accused Lyndon Monteiro until three weeks and directed the State police to file its response to his anticipatory bail plea.

Police have charged 46-yearold Pacheco with culpable homicide while Monteiro has been accused of destroying evidence.

“We are of the view that you have political clout and can tamper with the investigation.

It would have been different if you had appeared before the Investigating Officer on June 5“, the Bench said denying Pacheco any relief while also pointing out that he was evading the sleuths for interrogation.

Goa Police welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and said it was favourable for investigation into Nadia’s death.

“The order is good for investigation. Now let’s see whether he wants to remain absconding or surrender before police”, State police spokesman Atmaram Deshpande said in Panjim.

The Sessions Court and the

AN EXPERIENCE AS EXCLUSIVE AS YOU ARE.

DJ Clement

DJ Navin • DJ Ryan Sat 3rd July, 9.30 pm onwards

What the Bench observed…

We are of the view that you have political clout and can tamper with investigation. It would have been different if you had appeared before the Investigating Officer on June 5 Postmortem reports indicate that there are over 14 injuries. There are injuries on the arms, legs and other parts. There are contusions in the body. Who will explain it?

You took her from Goa to Thane, from Thane to Chennai. You have been with her all along.

Certain things like her cell phone, laptops have to be located, they are vital clues.

Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court had earlier dismissed their anticipatory bail. Both the accused are since then evading arrest.

Though senior counsel U U Lalit tried to establish Pacheco’s innocence, the Bench pointed out that the postmortem report and conduct of the accused contradicted the claim.

“The postmortem reports indicate that there are over 14 injuries. There are injuries on the arms, legs and other parts. There are contusions in the body. Who will explain it?, the Bench asked disagreeing with the counsel’s plea that the former Minister had no role in the death of Nadia and hence entitled to the anticipatory bail.

Another rockin’ Saturday Nite at AZ.U.R! Featuring the debut of the sensational – DJ Clement!

With DJ Navin and DJ Ryan to ensure that the mercury stays at its peak all night long!

Only at our new transition lounge.

AZ.U.R – Be There.

“Look there are three reasons.

Your conduct. You are an influential person. At that time you were holding the position of a minister”. More so the learned Sessions Judge and the High Court observed that you have considerable clout and there are chances of tampering with the evidence.

The apex court pointed out that the former Minister had taken Nadia to different places in the country for treatment against medical advice after she reportedly consumed poison at Goa. “You took her to Chennai against medical advice. You took her from Goa to Thane, from (Continued on page 2)

PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 1

Aiming at ensuring safety for foreign and domestic tourists, Government today launched the ‘code of conduct for safe and honourable tourism’ in the country.

The code, first of its kind, was

t: +91 832 246 3333 www.goamarriottresort.com

Rights of admission reserved • Age 21 and above • Couples only

PTI LUCKNOW, JULY 1

Opening a new front against the Congress, UP Chief Minister Mayawati today created a new district carved out of Amethi — Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha constituency — and named it after Dalit icon Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj.

“The State Cabinet in its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati has decided to restore district status to Chattrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar. It also decided to rename Kanpur Dehat as Ramabai Nagar district,” an official spokesman said here.

With this, Mayawati has resurrected her 2002 decision to carve out the new district from some parts of Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts that was taken during her third stint as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The new district was scrapped during the Samajwadi Party ’s regime which issued a notification in this regard on November 21, 2003.

Spread over 3,070 sq km area, the new district will have five tehsils — Amethi, Gauriganj, Musafirkhana of Sultanpur district and Salon and Tiloi of Rae Bareli district, 16 development blocks and 17 police stations, the spokesman said.

All these tehsils fall within the Amethi parliamentary constituency, represented by Rahul Gandhi who had drawn Mayawati’s ire for his campaign to woo the Dalits in the State.

The Congress, however, said such steps will not affect the links between Amethi and Nehru-Gandhi family.

released ahead of the Commonwealth Games by Tourism Minister Kumari Selja. It aims at strengthening safety and ensuring that Indian tourism follows international standards of safe tourism practices, applicable for both tourists and local residents.

These are guidelines to en-

Coastal panchayats lax on infrastructure!

Though coastal village panchayats have grown richer in the last few years with increase in the tourists flow and soaring land prices, their contribution to-

*Wine trails

Mayawati carves out new district from Amethi

Sports: Pele takes another swipe at Maradona Pg 17

Pawar takes over as ICC president amid controversy

Sharad Pawar in Singapore, after he was elected president of the International Cricket Council on Thursday.

PTI SINGAPORE, JULY 1

Sharad Pawar today took over as ICC President in the middle of a blazing controversy over former Australian Premier John Howard’s rejection as Vice President, prompting former chief executive Malcom Speed to question the minister’s credentials.

Pawar’s rise to the coveted post came on a day when Australian and New Zealand offic i a l s re a c t e d a n g r i l y t o Howard’s rejection by the Afro-Asian bloc, raising speculation of a divided house within the ICC. Speed said if Howard was not good enough then Pawar was hardly an ideal candidate to lead the game’s governing body.

“The man who is to be the next ICC president, Sharad Pawar, is the Minister for Agriculture in the Indian government - a serious full-time job, feeding 1.2 billion people.

“He is a good and fair man but he will be working parttime as ICC president and, take it from me, he knows little about cricket administration,” Speed said.

Pawar, however, sought to downplay the snub to Howard saying there was no political connotation to the issue.

Addressing his first press conference as the President, Pawar said the move had nothing to do with politics and Howard’s policies on Africa, in particular towards Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

“What is the political connotation? There is no question of political connotation,” the 69-year-old Pawar, second Indian after Jagmohan Dalmiya to occupy the top post, said.

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat, who was also present at the press conference, said that the game’s governing body was not obliged to explain why Howard’s bid failed.

“The ICC does not have to give those reasons. There weren’t sufficient number of directors in support of the nomination, (it) did not go to a vote and the outcome was to request Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket to reconsider their nomination,” Lorgat said.

IPS officer may probe cops-drug mafia nexus HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

Bowing to criticism from various quarters including the High Court, the Government is mulling handing over the copsdrug mafia nexus investigations to a senior police officer, most likely from the Indian Police Service (IPS).

Six policemen including police inspector Ashish Shirodkar and an alleged Israeli drug dealer Atala were arrested in connection with the case only to be released on bail by the court for lack of evidence.

The High Court which heard the case a few days back had criticised the police investigations.

The court while hearing the bail application plea of a police inspector linked to the drug mafia said that police were unwilling to get to the bottom of the high profile drug probe, in which a son of a senior ruling party minister is linked.

Chief Secretary Sanjiv Srivastava speaking to reporters here said the police would follow all observations made by the Panjim Bench of the Bombay High Court, which includes the appointment of a responsible IPS officer to head the probe into the drug nexus.

“We will follow the honourable High Court’s observations. The court wanted an IPS officer to head the enquiry, we will do it. Currently the IGP (Inspector General of Police) and (Continued on page 2)

Govt unveils safety code for tourists

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

*Packaged drinking water

pRiCE Rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18

wards infrastructure development has been minimal.

Garbage problem which haunts the coastal belt is yet to be tackled head-on by these panchayats despite their coffers being filled to the brim.

Take for instance, Colva panchayat which has been dragged to the High Court by some active citizens of the village for nonperformance of civic duties such as garbage collection and disposal.

The annual income of this panchayat is pegged at about Rs 36 lakh but its contribution towards infrastructure has been just Rs 91,225.

While the panchayat has maintained that they have eng a g e d l a b o u re r s t o c l e a r garbage, citizens who have petitioned the High Court lamented that the panchayat has done absolutely nothing in setting up any facility to treat garbage.

As a result, the High Court has barred this panchayat from issuing licenses to multi-storied buildings without its consent until it puts in place adequate infrastructure to take care of garbage that is generated.

The number of constructions in the coastal belt has multiplied in recent times with panchayats liberally issuing construction licenses without the slightest thought to planning. Beach areas are affected the most with buildings lined up on either side of the road.

An official of the Tourism Department, who wished anonymity, said coastal panchayats should contribute more to improve the infrastructure.

“There are no footpaths and there is no place for anything more. European tourists are very particular of this and often (Continued on page 2)

courage tourism with respect for basic rights like dignity, safety and freedom from exploitation of both tourists and local residents, said Selja.

The code also recommends stringent measures against involuntary drug abuse, manipulated and incorrect information, cul-

tural and social intolerance that increases vulnerability to crime.

The guidelines would be applicable to all the owners, suppliers, contractors and employees of the travel and tour sector including hotels, restaurants, lodges, guest houses, tour (Continued on page 2)

Now that the Supreme Court has declined anticipatory bail, this looks like the safest possible hideout. Nobody opens these drainages sir!

HE RA LD

pg2:Layout 1 7/1/2010 12:17 PM Page 1

Pg2

GOA GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

BJP demands roll back of petro prices Threatens to disrupt Parliament sessions HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JULY 1

Bharatiya Janata Party Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde on Thursday warned the Central government that the opposition parties would disrupt the Parliament sessions, if the government does not roll back petroleum prices immediately.

He was addressing the gathering at the meeting organized

by BJP at Sirsat Hall, Mapusa, on Thursday evening.

“The Congress government at the Centre has increased prices of petroleum products twice in the last one year, due to which prices of essential commodities have skyrocketed,” stated Munde.

“Now, it is high time that people of all sections of the society and political parties come together and register their protest against price rise by observing Bandh on July 5,” said Munde.

“During BJP’s rule at the Centre, prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and gas were Rs 28, Rs 22 and Rs 6 per litre, while that of gas cylinder was Rs 150, which has now almost doubled,” he said.

“This has occurred due to the faulty economic policies of the Central government. Corruption has become a way of life now.

If the government does not roll back petroleum prices immediately, then the Opposition parties will not allow the Parliament to function,” warned Munde.

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 1

BJP leader Gopinath Munde addresses a gathering in Mapusa. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

Munde further said during the presentation of annual budget, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given the assurance to the House that they would control the inflation within 100 days, but the government has failed to control the price rise even after lapse of one year, which shows that the government is inefficient.

“The government has decided to decontrol the price of diesel and hence the people should not get surprised if diesel prices are increased further within one month. Increase in diesel prices increases transportation cost of

With hike in oil rates, prices of vegetables soar

the goods and eventually the common man has to bear the brunt of rise in prices of essential commodities,” added Munde.

Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar said due to rise in prices of petroleum products, prices of essential commodities will now increase further and the worst sufferers would be the poor and middle class people.

“Prices of crude oil has come down substantially in recent years and the cost of 1 litre of petrol at the refinery level works out to around Rs 25 per litre presently, but due to Central Ex-

While the prices of fish have soared consequent to closure of mechanised fishing with fishing ban in place; prices of vegetables too have increased substantially in the last few days and probably prices will increase further because of hike in the prices of oil.

Though there is not much fluctuation in the retail prices of onions and potatoes, rates of other vegetables have jumped considerably. Two days back tomatoes were sold at Rs 30 per kg, but retail price per kg has

gone up to Rs 35.

Retail prices of carrots, French beans and capsicum have also gone up. From Rs 40 per kg, carrots and French beans were sold at Rs 60 per kg in the Panjim market today. Even the price of common bhendi have risen to Rs 40 per kg.

However, vegetables sold at the stores of Goa State Horticulture Corporation Ltd, is slightly less but with limited supply it is in no possible to make a huge difference. Traders do not expect prices to drop immediately, as rains are also likely to impact the supply.

cise duty levied by the Central government and VAT imposed by the State government, petrol price get doubled by the time it reaches the citizens,” said Parrikar.

“If the Central and State governments reduces Central Excise duty and VAT respectively, then petroleum products could be made available at cheaper rate to Goans,” opined Parrikar.

BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar, Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza, Siolim MLA Dayanand Mandrekar, Kunda Chodankar and Govind Parvatkar also spoke on the occasion.

Fair price shop edible oil to cost less than market rate HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

Nigerian national at Sada jail injures self

Here is some relief for consumers as far as edible oil is concerned.

With effect from July 1, the government will provide 2 litres of edible oil per ration card at Rs 38 per litre, Rs 7 less than the market rate.

The scheme was introduced by the Central Government in February this year thereby allocating 1 litre of edible oil to each family at a subsidised rate.

The State Government has now decided to lift the backlog quota from February 10 to June 10, and distribute the same between July and November, and therefore, each family will now get Rs 2 litres of oil for the next four months.

The State government has appointed Goa Marketing & Supply Federation (GMSF) as nodal agency to supply edible oil to 525 fair price shops and the fair price shops will charge the ultimate price to the consumers at Rs 38 per litre, told Narayan Naik, Chairman, GMSF while

addressing a press conference on Thursday here.

He said this is one of the measures adopted by the Central Government to bring down the prices of essential commodities as there is unprecedented rise in the prices of commodities of daily consumption.

At present, the market rate of edible oil is Rs 45 per litre but consumers will pay Rs 7 less on edible oil bought from fair price shop. This will also help to control the prices of the edible oil in the ensuing festival month, Naik said.

GMSF in profit: The GMSF has broken the chain of financial loss of last thirteen years.

The chairman of GMSF claimed that last two financial years, it has been making profit. In 2008-09 GMSF made profit of Rs 74 lakh and Rs 51 lakh in 2009-10.

The GMSF has ten stores or Sahakar bhandars in the State but now intends to have at least, one store in each of the taluka as its financial health is improving, said Naik.

A 24-year-old Nigerian national, under trial at Sada Sub Jail in connection with the rape case, injured himself damaging electrical appliances in the jail premises on Thursday afternoon.

The accused, Obi Okoroafor, who was recently shifted from Margao to Sada-Sub Jail, allegedly damaged live electrical bulbs in the cell and sustained injuries to his hands.

Speaking to media, the jail authorities informed that the under trial was depressed for some time since the time he heard the news of his ailing father in Nigeria.

The accused took some tablets a day prior to the incident in desperation and it appears that he was depressed.

Jail authorities shifted Okoroafor at Chicalim Cottage Hospital and considering his mental status, he was later shifted at IPHC at Bambolim.

It may be recalled that Okoroafor was arrested in connection with the rape of a 25-year-old Australian woman at Canacona on April 17.

In her statement to Canacona police, the woman had stated that they had allegedly passed the night partying together, first at a starred hotel and then a beachside restaurant, before spending the night in a rented beach hut at Palolem.

The next morning, she complained to Canacona police that she had been raped by the Nigerian.

Writing on IED matches with accused handwriting: report HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

The handwriting experts at Hyderabad has submitted to the South Goa Sessions Court that the “On and Off ” writing on the Improvised Explosive Devises has matched with the handwriting of accused Dhananjay Ashtekar.

Submitting the handwriting expert report to the Sessions Court on Thursday, Special Public Prosecutor S B Faria said the handwriting expert has stated that the on and off writing mentioned on the IED is the handwriting of Dhananjay.

The prosecution has prayed to the court to frame charges against the accused under the Explosives Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and for waging a war against the State.

Faria said there is a strong suspicion about the involvement of the accused with the bomb blasts and told the court that the recovery panchanama and other evidence suggests the link between the accused and the blast.

MARGAO BLAST

At long last, the Outline Development Plan (ODP) for Margao city has been finally finalised on Wednesday.

If Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat is to be believed, the Margao ODP will come into effect immediately and will remain in force till 2016.

The Town and Country Planning Board headed by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat gave its stamp of approval for the ODP prepared by the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA).

The Chief Minister told Herald that the TCP Board finalised the ODP after receiving a report from the sub-committee appointed to go into the complaints lodged by the citizens over a host of discrepancies. The TCP Board after going through the report of the sub committee approved the ODP on Wednesday, Kamat added.

Replying to a question, the

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

Asserting that Nadia Torrado’s death is not just a suicide, but a well planned murder, Bailancho Ekvott President Auda Viegas has demanded that the investigating agency apply Section 302 of the IPC against the culprits for the murder of the Loutolim woman.

Addressing a press confer-

Chief Minister said though the ODP was to take care of the planning requirements till 2011, the TCP Board has revised the decision and the plan will now remain in force till 2016.

The Margao ODP had turned controversial after city-based NGO Citizens Welfare Front and professionals took to the streets of Margao over the host of discrepancies noticed in the plan.

In fact, taking cognisance of the agitation launched by the city-based NGO, the TCP Board headed the Chief Minister last year riverted back the ODP back to the SGPDA to rectify the anomalies and prepare the plan afresh.

Amongst the anomalies noticed in the plan, includes the failure by the planning body to prepare the mandatory land use map and land use register before drafting the ODP. The Chief Minister said the TCP Board would now forward the ODP to the government for final approval before the same is notified in the gazette.

CM keeps High Command abreast Wife of senior RTO officer show of Navelim political development caused for evading entry tax HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

With a fuming PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao threatening to constitute parallel block committees across Goa, the State Congress leadership has kept the Congress High Command abreast of the political development brewing in the Navelim Block Congress Committee.

The Alemao brothers – PWD Minister Churchill Alemao and Joaquim Alemao – on Thursday called on the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar to demand scrapping of the Conceicao Piexote-led Navelim Block Congress Committee.

The duo maintained that elections to the Navelim Block Committee were not carried out as per the norms set by the Congress party organisation and

hence demanded that the committee-headed by Piexote is scrapped immediately.

Sources in the know said the Chief Minister and the GPCC President gave a patient hearing to the Alemao brothers and assured to take up the matter with the Congress organisation handling the party polls.

It is learnt that the duo were assured that any illegality in conducting the elections would be set right at the level of the High Command.

When contacted, Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat said the issue was discussed at a meeting Churchill, Joaquim and Shirodkar had with him at his residence on Thursday morning. “Churchill has contended that the election for the Navelim Block Congress Committee has not been conducted as per the set election

GTDC launches special honeymoon package HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

‘Leave your worries and wallet behind and spend your honeymoon dedicated to each other’, says the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) slogan in their promo for luring the domestic tourists and honeymooners this monsoons.

In a bid to lure domestic tourists during monsoons, the GTDC has launched a special honeymoon package along with monsoon tourism packages.

Nikhil Desai, Managing Director, GTDC told reporters here, “The key features of the newly launched honeymoon package

include five nights and six days stay at two hotels located off Miramar and Calangute beaches and one situated alongside Mayem Lake.

“We launched the package just a fortnight ago and the response has been very encouraging," Desai said.

Couples will be provided facilities including pickup and drop from airport, railway station or bus stand, sightseeing.” Deepak Narvekar, Public Relations Officer, GTDC mentioned that the couples will also be been given a coupon to the popular Tito's night club.

norm. We have told him that the matter would be taken up with the High Command”, he said.

Kamat said that the election program is being handled by the Congress leader Oscar Fernandes and the matter will be resolved at the High Command level.

When contacted, the GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar said the entire issue is presently with the High Command and once again declined to offer any comments. “I have no direct role in the election process. There is an independent body conducting the polls”, he said, adding that the High Command is aware of the development.

Meanwhile, Conceicao Piexote has said that he has been duly elected as the president of the block through elections conducted by the Party organisation.

Mickky second politician to be denied bail HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

Former Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco has become the second politician from Goa, who has failed to get anticipatory bail from the Country’s Apex court in the last six months.

In January last, Russian woman rape accused, John Fernandes – who incidentally is the bête noire of Pacheco – had failed to get anticipatory bail from the Supreme Court in the rape case.

With all doors closed, John had no option than to surrender before the Crime branch probing into the rape case.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

A wife of a senior RTO officer has been asked to show cause by the Office of the Commissioner of Commercial Taxes why proceedings for prosecution and penalty should not be initiated against her for trying to fraudulently evade payment of Entry Tax. The show cause notice was issued to the RTO’s wife after she brought into the State a wheel loader from Dharwad and later submitted documents to the Registering Authority of the Directorate of Transport that the wheel loader does not attract any entry tax liability as

per inquiries made with the Sales Tax department.

Assistant Commissioner of C o m m e rc i a l Ta xe s , V S N Gaunekar, in the show cause notice, however, pointed out that as per provisions of Section 3 of the Goa Tax on Entry of Goods Act 2000, the wheel loader being earth moving machinery attracts entry tax @ 2 per cent on its value.

“By informing the Transport department that no Entry tax is payable on said goods, you have tried to fraudulently evade the payment of tax due from you under the Act. You are also therefore required to show cause as to why the Entry Tax

amount of Rs 57,000 should not be recovered alongwith interest amount of Rs 42,465 under Section 9 of the Act”, the show cause notice stated.

Gaunekar sought to know from her why proceedings for prosecution and penalty under Clause C of Sub section 2 of Section 41 of Goa Tax on Entry of Goods Act 200 should not be initiated for the alleged fraudulent act.

Hearing of the case will take place on July 2 and the Commissioner has called upon the party to deposit challan for Rs 99,465 in case she do not dispute the payment of the Entry Tax.

After IFFI, ESG likely to hold another mega event annually HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

Goa is likely to be a venue for another mega event in the film and television industry with Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG) examining the proposal to have Apasara Film and Television Producers’ Guild awards to be held in the State annually.

ESG governing council meeting on Thursday went through the presentation of the proposal by film and television producers’ guild. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava, Information Secretary Narendra Kumar and others were present for the presentation.

The award function is held in January every year and the guild has proposed that Goa should be a permanent venue for the event.

Sources stated that ESG is likely to give its nod to hold the event.

Countering the prosecution theory on the mobile phones with the accused, Adv Punalekar said there is no connection with the blast and the mobiles. “The mobile phones were given to the accused at the Ponda police station. How can the accused be linked to the blasts when there is no nexus between them and the mobiles”, he wondered.

Adv Punalekar said that section 15 and 16 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are not attracted against the accused and prayed that the accused are entitled for bail.

He also argued that the accused are not involved in any terrorist activities, saying terror cannot be unleashed by the accused against their own section.

“No one will terrorise one’s own section. At the most, it may amount to mischief under the IPC”, Adv Punalekar said.

Saying that the four accused arrested in the case comprises of an engineer, a self defense instructor, a teacher and an MBA, Adv Punakelar said the four have been languishing in jail for the last six months and denial of bail to the foursome would jeopardise their careers and their life.

After hearing the prosecution and defense arguments, Sessions Judge U V Bakre has reserved orders on the framing of charge and bail applications of the accused to July 14.

Meanwhile, an application was moved before the Sessions court by a resident of Miraj for release of his vehicle by the police in connection with the bomb blast case.

Nadia death: Bailancho Ekvott demands Sec 302 against culprits

Margao ODP finally gets approval HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

Defense lawyer Adv Sanjiv Punalekar, however, prayed to the court that the accused are entitled for a discharge as the prosecution has failed to link the bomb blast with the accused persons.

Adv Punalekar raised doubts about the handwriting expert report, terming the report as dubious and prepared without application of mind.

The council meeting also suggested that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Goa government and Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry over IFFI should be signed once in three years as against the practice of signing it annually.

"We have suggested that MoU be signed once in three years. It’s for the Centre to decide on the issue," Kamat, who also heads ESG, told reporters after the council meeting.

He said that the draft MoU for IFFI 2010 was finalised during the meeting today and it will be forwarded to Directorate of Film Festival for their nod.

"ESG will shoulder the same responsibilities which it had last year. We will not be taking additional responsibilities this year," Kamat said.

The meeting also discussed holding workshop for Cinephile members.

ence, Viegas demanded the arrest of all those who have been part of the incident and supported by the perpetrators of the crime against Nadia as well as those responsible for the destruction of evidence.

“As an organisation committed to the social cause, we have struggled for justice for women.

In this case too, we have not left any stone unturned to

gather the facts, which firmly points towards the alleged involvement of Mickky Pacheco and Lyndon Monteiro”, she said.

Expressing satisfaction that these facts have been taken note of by the Courts at all levels, Viegas said the NGO now expects the State machinery to act firmly to ensure that no culprit involved in this case escapes the hand of justice.

FROM PAGE 1 No SC bail for Mickky

Thane to Chennai. You have been with her all along. Certain things like her cell phone, laptops have to the located they are vital clues for the investigation officer to collect,” the Bench observed.

The counsel admitted that there did exist a relationship between Pacheco and Nadia for whose medical expenses he had spent Rs 40 lakh.

“On demure I accept some relationship. There was some relationship my lord,” the counsel told the court.

Meanwhile, PTI reported that the Crime Branch will move an application before local court on Friday to declare Mickky as absconder.

Police said that the application would be filed before Judicial Magistrate First Class in Margao seeking to declare the former minister as absconder.

Cops-drug mafia nexus

DGP (Director General of Police) are supervising the probe,” Srivastava said. Srivastava, however, refused to comment on accusations against Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Salgaonkar, who the Opposition has charged with attempting to derail and sabotage the probe into the nexus.

The police-drug mafia nexus was exposed after Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse uploaded videos of her former boyfriend Atala on www.youtube.com, boasting of his links with the police and politicians.

Even two months after the probe began, the police are yet to record Farmhouse’s statement. The High Court has also suggested that the sloppy police investigation could be a result of political pressure.

Code for tourists

agents and entertainment establishments. Service providers will also come under its ambit.

The guidelines will aid prevention of prostitution, sex tourism and forms of sexual exploitation like assaults and molestations to safeguard tourists — women and children in particular.

Selja said the code would ensure that Indian tourism follows international standards of safe practices — applicable to both tourists and local communities who may be impacted by tourism in some way.

Hotel managements and tour operators will maintain two people as focal points to ensure that all safety norms and guidelines of this code are adhered to.

The officers shall provide correct information to tourists like information on child lines — 1098, women’s help lines - 1091 and local police helplines — 100.

The pointsmen will act as a liaison with the local police and immigration authorities, women and child welfare committees and civil society partners to ensure safe tourism.

In case of an incident of exploitation, personnel will be sensitised to report correct information with law enforcement agencies and other agencies providing care and support, according to the guidelines.

Guidelines stipulate that identified victims (abused tourists) will not be treated as criminals. They should be identified as persons in need of care and protection and should be provided with legal, medical, psycho-social and assistance without delay.

Reacting to the incidents of rape involving two Dutch women and a Brazilian woman recently, Selja said these are shameful incidents and should not have happened. “Our law enforcing agencies are doing the needful,” she said.

Coastal panchayats

question the absence of footpaths”, he pointed out saying highend tourism would be affected if infrastructure was not put in place at the earliest.

Calangute, the richest panchayat that garners around Rs 3.5 crore annually, seems to be doing little better. Panchayat officials said Rs 1 crore was spent on constructing roads and footpaths.

Candolim panchayat which earns about Rs 82 lakh annually, said plastic as well garbage is being regularly lifted.

To keep beaches clean Tourism Department has engaged contractors and spends around Rs 9.15 lakh a month in both the districts.

But all efforts will be futile until panchayats engage themselves in infrastructure development. Gaurish Dhond, newly inducted President of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG), said contribution of tourism industry in the terms of revenue is Rs 800 crore but the Government’s spending on infrastructure has been only Rs 40 crore.

Acknowledging that this is a wake-up call, he said “tourism will see better days ahead”, if efforts are made to tone up the infrastructure. The TTAG has submitted a memorandum to the Government highlighting the need for better infrastructure, he said.

HE RA LD

GOA

Pg3

GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

Govt’s failure to release RP a slap on society, says GBA Demands a freeze on FAR HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

Goa Bachao Abhiyan (GBA) has said that the State government’s failure to release Regional Plan 2021 is a slap on the face of the society.

The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had assured to have RP 2021 in phases beginning with two talukas – Pernem and Canacona.

“After we protested on June 11, the government announced the release of these two taluka plans by the end of this month.

Even the Town and Country Planning Department last week confirmed that the RP for Canacona and Pernem taluka is almost ready,” Sabina Martins GBA convenor told

Panjim witnesses moderate to heavy rainfall after 5 days HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

After a gap of almost five days, the capital city of Panjim witnessed moderate to heavy rainfall measuring 55.8 mm on Thursday.

The rains began lashing the city since morning with office goers and school students being at the receiving end. The long queues of vehicles were seen in the city in the morning.

With the rainfall on Thursday, the total rainfall has touched 39 inches mark in the State, which is normal.

Met department officials said that the current is the second spell of monsoons. The monsoon current which was lull for last five days intensified today.

The department is expecting the showers to continue for next 24 hours.

reporters on Thursday evening.

She alleged that inspite of the assurance to complete the work within six months, the State government has not come out with a single plan in the last three months.

“This is a slap on the face of the society,” Martins stated.

As such, GBA has demanded a freeze on FAR to 50 or what has been referred to as VP3 in the draft RP 2021 until the plan is finalised.

Martins said that the housing schemes are meant to deduct open spaces of 15 per cent and roads 20 per cent from their area calculable for FAR as a part of good planning.

“This rule having been widely flouted so

far has been the reason why overbuilt mega housing has emerged as an eyesore with the dense packing of apartments,” she said.

Martins said that GBA would urge the Opposition party to take up the matter in the coming monsoon session.

“We have been always pressing for the same,” she said.

However, GBA Secretary Reboni Saha alleged that at the time of finalisation of RP 2011, BJP had also dirtied their hands. “All the 40 legislators were beneficiaries of faulty RP,” she maintained.

When asked, Martins said that the RP issue will be taken up even in the forthcoming Valpoi bye-election.

Govt compelled to ‘spoon feed’ p’yats on garbage treatment plant Drafts ‘model estimate’ to avail funds HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

With most panchayats doing practically nothing to solve garbage problem a desperate Department of Panchayats has been compelled to “spoon feed” them.

The department in its bid to help panchayats has now drafted “model estimate” so that panchayats avail funds for setting up of garbage treatment facilities. It also intends to impart training to panchayats in vermi-composting and has been collaborating with Indian Council Agriculture Research (ICAR), Old Goa. A documentary on vermicomposting will be shown to panchayat members to give them fair idea of what they are supposed to do, told Menino D’Souza, Director of Panchayat.

Commenting on lethargic attitude of the panchayats, he said though the department has offered funds to the panchayats for setting-up composting facility, none have come forward to avail funds.

“A documentary on vermi-composting will be shown to panchayat members to give them fair idea of what they are supposed to do.”

Menino D’Souza, Director of Panchayat Ru r a l g a r b a g e d i s p o s a l scheme under which a panchayat is entitled to get funds for land acquisition and setting up of facility for garbage treatment, is also a non starter.

Two weeks back the High

Dr Hubert announces candidature for Benaulim Assembly polls HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

Taking a dig at PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao on several counts, City-based noted dentist, Dr Hubert Gomes on Thursday declared plans to contest the next Assembly polls from Benaulim and exuded confidence that even Valanka Alemao would come to the conclusion that the doctor deserves to be elected unanimously as the next Benaulim MLA. Announcing his candidature at a press conference at Benaulim on Thursday, Dr Gomes said he would go by the decision of the people of Benaulim on which party to contest the polls, but firmly ruled out the possibility of contesting the election on the BJP. “I have a dream, a vision and a strategy for Benaulim, but sadly I have a problem. I don’t have the background of smuggling, I have no illegal mines and I don’t extort money from the hoteliers.

But, Goa has a chance to create history. The people of Benaulim have decided to contribute to give me victory in the constituency”, he said.

Asked whether he has the backing of former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco as most those aligned to him are supporters of the Benaulim MLA, Dr Gomes said he enjoys good relations with everybody, adding “I don’t ask whose supporters they are. Supporters from all camps are supporting my candidature”.

Clarifying that he is not a politician by profession, Dr

Dr Hubert Gomes addressing the media to announce his candidature for the Benaulim Assembly polls.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

Gomes lamented that the dreams and aspirations of the people of Goa has been shattered by the present political lot. “This is my first meeting.

The second meeting will be held at Dando grounds before the elections”, he said, expressing confidence that the money and muscle power will not work this time in Benaulim.

Saying that God has given him three strong points, he said that he is a hardworking and trustworthy person and a good administrator, adding “with these three qualities, I have an agenda to safeguard the future of our children”.

He vowed to bring together and unite all people to decide the destiny of Benaulim constituency and added hat hence-

forth, the high command will be the people of Benaulim.

On how he will meet the money power of his rivals, Dr Gomes said “I don’t have a rich daddy, but the people have vowed to contribute money for my victory. There is a revolution in Benaulim and hopefully the true liberation has just started after nearly 50 years of liberation”.

Asked whether he hopes to receive the support of her sister, Maria Rebello, who is the Chairperson of South Goa Zilla Panchayat and a close supporter of the PWD Minister.

Dr Gomes said “my sister is a gem of a person. She can be weighed in gold. People are telling that she is going to work without asking whose supporter one is.”

Churchill welcomes Dr Hubert’s move Says Valanka will contest from Benaulim HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JULY 1

PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao has welcomed the decision by Dr Hubert Gomes to contest from Benaulim and reiterated that his daughter Valanka will contest the next Assembly polls from Benaulim.

Reacting to the announcement by Dr Gomes to contest from Benaulim, Alemao told newsmen that any one is free to contest Assembly elections, and said “as far as my daughter Valanka is concerned, she would contest from Benaulim 200 per cent”.

He said South Goa Zilla Chairperson Maria Rebello, who is Dr Hubert’s sister, is with him and will support his daughter in Benaulim.

Referring to the remark by Dr Gomes that the constituency has not yet been liberated in the true sense, Alemao demanded to know whether there was no freedom in Benaulim. “Dr Hubert doesn’t know much about Benaulim because he was not staying in the village. He should tell when there was no freedom in Benaulim”, the PWD Minister demanded to know.

Complaint false: CCP commissioner HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

Corporation of the City of Panjim Commissioner Elvis Gomes on Thursday dismissed allegations of forgery and cheating against terming them as false.

Acting on a complaint by one Khemlo Sawant of Betalwada-Amona in Bicholim, Calangute police have registered an offense against then Captain of Ports Elvis Gomes, Amona Sarpanch Paresh Phadte and one C

D Chitnis on charges of fraudulently signing a forged plan pertaining to an iron ore conveyor belt system close to the jetty of the company.

Sawant has alleged that Chitnis submitted the forged plan as a genuine one in the office of Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority, Saligao.

Clarifying his stand here today, Gomes told Herald that the allegations and the case is false.

Court in a suo motto writ petition on garbage had taken Coastal Village Panchayat (CVPs) to task on their failure to comply with its directions pertaining to collection, disposal and setting up of composting units but none have come to the department for any help, pointed out D’Souza.

There are about 26 CVPs but except one or two, rest are yet to do anything concrete in terms of constructing composting pits and most are struggling with land acquisitions.

The department is well aware about the problems panchayats are facing in acquiring land due to opposition from the people nevertheless, it feels panchayats are not doing enough to address the problem.

The department has also made arrangement to pick up plastic collected by panchayats. But according to panchayat director, the response from panchayats has been lukewarm.

Panchayats at Velsao-Pale, Agonda, Pollem, Cavellossim however have been exception.

They collect plastic regularly which is then lifted by the person arranged by the department, said D’Souza.

Govt postpones GSPCB environmental public hearing should include the exact width of the proposed highway inThe government has postponed cluding highway and service the Environmental Public Hear- roads, village-wise structures ing by the Goa State Pollution to be demolished or acquired Control Board (GSPCB) in view along with survey numbers be of the proclearly dep o s e d picted on widening of the alignNH-17 until the “Numerous representations, ment plan. exact details of from the affected public have Citing a High the project are been received which indicate Court of Delhi made available. that complete and clear infor- order, Sequeira A letter dis- mation regarding the prosaid that the patched to the posed widening were not court had obG S P C B t h e provided to the revenue auserved that M i n i s t e r f o r thorities and village panchay- public hearings E n v i ro n m e n t ats.” relating to enviAleixo SeMinister for Environment r o n m e n t a l queira states Aleixo Sequeira c l e a r a n c e s that he had reshould not be ceived numerous representa- conducted without providing tions, from the affected public detail and complete informawhich indicate that complete tion to the public well in adand clear information regard- vance before a public hearing ing the proposed widening is held. were not provided to the revenue authorities and village panchayats.

“This has apparently caused fear and anxiety in the minds of the affected people and there is total confusion on the entire project proposal due to lack of clarity in the information,” the minister said in the letter.

“After discussion with the Chief Minister, I am directed to inform you that the proposed Environmental Public Hearing should be postponed until the following details are clearly made available to authorities, MPs, MLA’s, NGO’s, Public, etc affected by the project,” he said.

Sequeira said that the details HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

NH17 WIDENING

Pg 4

HE RA LD

GOA

GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

S H O Rt tA K E S

Goa Freedom Fighters urge K’taka govt to restart pension

Dr Chandrakant Shetye examining a patient.

Free Eye Camp at Betki

PANJIM (HND) — Sesa Goa Ltd as a part of its CSR initiative organized a free eye camp at Betki-Khandola.

The camp was aimed at treating and providing free eye-care services to the people of rural areas. The patients were examined

by Dr Chandrakant Shetye (eye specialist) and his team.

A total of 215 villagers were screened for cataract, vision correction and other eye problems out of which 32 patients were detected with cataract (19 females and 13 males), 3 patients were identified with Pterygium and 151 required vision correction. Spectacles with vision correction glasses will be provided by Sesa Goa to patients.

Others present were Dinesh Gawade Sarpanch Betki Khandola, Panchas Geeta Ghadi, Nonu Naik, Dr Fernandes and Dr Urmila Gawas, PHC doctors, Dr Basavraj Patanshetty, Sesa doctor and Mahesh Mahajan Manager Safety.

The camp was coordinated by Dr Sunil Kakodkar, AGM Medical Services-Sesa Goa, Shruti Dhupkar, Varsha Vaze and Sashikant Kambli.

Appasaheb Pawar addresses the meeting of the Goa Freedom Fighters at Belgaum.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JULY 1

The Goa Freedom Fighters Association (GFFA) has once again urged the Karnataka government to restart the pension that was allotted to them.

The appeal was made during

a meeting of the GFFA at Girish Complex, here, on Tuesday.

About 100 Goa freedom fighters or their widows/heirs were present for the meeting. GFFA President Appasaheb Pawara and Balasaheb Patil rendered guidance to the members.

GFFA, which has 164 members, was granted a special pension of Rs 500 per month by Karnataka government. The members received the pension for five years since 1991.

In 1991, without giving any reason the pension was withdrawn. Most of the members who were dependent on the pension given to them were shocked by the attitude of the government and since then are fighting for their right with a little or no support to their demand.

“We fail to understand why Karnataka government is neglecting our demand for pension,” said Appasaheb Pawar expressing the anguish over unwarranted delay Karnataka government has observed since the last 15 years.

“While many of the members have died, those who are alive are either too old or ailing. The widows of the members who have died are facing hard time.

Hence, we have urged Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to release our pension for last 15 years and also restart it at the earliest,” urged Appasaheb.

Vasudev Narayan Upadhye (80) who has taken part in the freedom struggle for Goa expressing his anguish over Karnataka Government’s attitude said many members who sacrificed their youth for the Liberation of Goa are now going through tough time of their life.

“In 1955, I was the member of the batch of 22 persons who entered Goa via Castle Rock,” he told Herald adding that he and the youngsters in the group had to undergo the torture by Portuguese soldiers who arrested them after their entry in Goa. The Freedom Fighters who are in an agitating mood also submitted a memorandum to the Karnataka chief minister through Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum.

UPCOMiNG EVENtS e portal launch

PANJIM (HND) — Goa Handicrafts, Rural & Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd will launch its “e portal for marketing of Goan Handicrafts” at the hands of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat at Auditorium 2,Maquinez Palace,Panjim on Friday, July 2 at 6.30pm.

Sameer Salgaocar, Chairperson, GHRSSIDC and the Board of Directors, GHRSSIDC will be present.

Customers from all over India will now be able to log on to www.ghrssidc.org or www.goanhandicrafts.com and purchase Goan handicrafts online through GHRSSIDC shopping cart.

This e website will provide the Goan artisans a marketing channel to sell their handicrafts.

Counselling meet

PANJIM (HND) - Indigrow Institute of Professional Studies (IIPS) Porvorim will hold a counselling meet for Std XII students and graduates on July 3 at 3 pm.

The meet will highlight the BBA and three MBA programmes offered by IIPS in Goa. For further details contact IIPS, Beside Orion Hotel, Alto Porvorim or call 6510102, 6510008 or 9637177049.

Writer’s felicitation

CANACONA (HC) -- Canacona Lions will felicitate Konkani writer Jess Fernandes at a function in Canacona on July 3.

Fernandes, who was born and brought-up in Canacona, is the recipient of prestigious Government of India’s Sahitya Academy Award for his literary work Kirvant, a Konkani book.

Fernandes, whose original name is Menino Jesus Fernandes resides in Quepem, received the Sahitya Academy Award from President Pratibha Patil.

Incidentally, sources in Canacona Lions informed that Fernandes’s literature work Kirvant, a Konkani book was released at a Lion’s function four years ago at Canacona, which subsequently went on to bag the prestigious all India award.

Canacona Lions are installing their 30th Board of Directors under the presidentship of Moteshino Fernandes on July 3 in a function at Molyma Resorts, Kindlebhag.

The installation officer will be Lions District Chairperson (Sigh-first) Dr Celso Fernandes, where PWD Minister Alemao will be the chief guest at the function.

Workshop on interview skills

PANJIM (HNB) -- Detroit Institute will conduct a 5-day workshop in Panjim on ‘Interview Skills’ from July 8.

It will include topics such as how to prepare a Biodata, Covering letter, Interview techniques, dress code for interview, probable questions for a personal interview, written tests, telephonic interview, mock interviews and group discussions.

The course will be conducted at Detroit Institute, Near Mary Immaculate Conception Panjim Church, Opposite Progress High School, Panjim. Further details are available on Ph: 9822131835.

Mr N L Vhatte- BM (PIP) and Prasad B Naik - Associate Manager (Safety) receiving the award at the hands of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat.

Sesa wins consolation prize

PANJIM (HND) - Sesa Industries Ltd - Pig Iron Plant, won consolation prize in Category C (251 and above workers) for 2009.

The prize was received by Mr N. L. Vhatte- Business Manager (PIP) at the hands of Chief Minister, Digamber Kamat.

Manguirish Pai Raikar - Chairman of Green Triangle Society of Goa and Mr S M Paranjape, Chief Inspector of Factories & Boilers were present.

The award ceremony was organised by Green Triangle Society of Goa in collaboration of Inspectorate of Factories & Boilers for those industries having remarkable performance in occupational safety, health and environment.

Recently Sesa Industries Ltd won coveted International Safety Award by British Safety Council at London for the second consecutive year.

The new president of Rotary Club of Panjim Midtown Rtn Gaurish Shirodkar along with Past District Governor Rtn Bahu Naik, Assistant Governor Rtn Gaurish Dhond, Outgoing President Rtn Ashok Menon and other members of the board after the installation ceremony held in Panjim on Sunday.

Steps taken to improve working of itis: minister HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 1

Mr. Nagvenkar (Chairman, Ann Institute, Porvorim), Nancy Gomes and John D’Souza.

Nisha cast felicitated

PANJIM (HND) — Mr. Nagvenkar, Chairman of ANN institute, Porvorim recently felicitated Nancy Gomes (actress of Konkani movie ‘Nisha’) and John D’Souza (actor of Konkani movie ‘Nisha’) for their outstanding performances in ‘Nisha’.

The movie produced and directed by Neville Pereira recently won the Best Audio Award at Konkani Song and Music Awards organized by Tiatr Academy, Goa. The movie has a strong social message for the youth and has been released on VCD which is available at all leading music stores.

Minister for Craftsmen Training Vishwajeet Rane has said that the Government has initiated steps to improve the functioning of Industrial Training Institutes in the State and added that Government will play a role of facilitator to see that the requirements of ITIs are met.

Speaking as chief guest after felicitating toppers of State level and All Goa skill competition 2009 at a function organized by State Directorate of Craftsmen Training at Industrial Training Institute, Cacora-Curchorem, Rane had a word of praise for Allan Fernandes who passed out from ITI, Cacora and stood first at All India level skill competition in fitter trade.

In order to enhance the managerial skills of the Principals of ITIs initially, three Principals will be sent to IIM, Ahmedabad under Centre of excellence project funded by the World Bank, he said and stressed the need to conduct orientation courses for ITI trainees to maintain organization behavior when they pass out from the institute.

Shyam Satardekar, MLA and Chairman of GTDC

was the guest of honour.

Urging the ITI trainees to devote more time in studies, Rane said the students after completing their studies should try to secure jobs in the skills they possess. There are instances that the trainees possessing ITI skills are trying to secure government jobs even of attendant and therefore there is need to create such craftsmen who will get job placements and meet the requirements of industries.

Shyam Satardekar, MLA said that hard work, dedication and determination are keys to success.

He said this is an era of competition and hence collective efforts are needed to motivate students to excel in studies and bring laurels to the institute.

Aleixo F da Costa, State Director of Craftsmen Training presented the annual report of examination conducted last year.

Of the toppers who honoured on the occasion 89 excelled in All Goa Skill competition and 41 at SCVT examination.

Earlier Sudesh Rane, Chairman Institute Management Committee, ITI, Cacora welcomed and Edwyn Fernandes, Principal ITI, Cacora proposed the vote of thanks.

Nutan elected PMC chief HERALD CORRESPONDENT PERNEM, JULY 1

Nutan Aroskar was on Wednesday elected sixth chairperson of Pernem Municipal Council (PMC) defeating her opponent Dr Sainath Channekar by 6-4 votes.

Councillors Resha Mashelkar, Shrikanti Kashalkar, Kavita Asolkar, Sudhir Deshprabhu and Nilesh Pednekar voted in favour of Nutan, while Isidore Fernandes, Pradeep Deshprabhu and Narayan Mayekar voted for Dr Sainath.

Mapusa Deputy Collector Dashrath Redkar, who was the extension officer, conducted the polls. He was assisted by PMC Chief Officer Shivprasad Naik.

Interestingly, even as the tenure of PMC is coming to an end in October, the council has the distinction of electing 9 councillors either as chairpersons or vice chairpersons during its tenure. Constant change in the guard has hampered development works in the council.

Eye clinic held at Parra CALANGUTE (HC) — The free eye clinic organised by Parra Panchayat in collaboration with Drishti Opticals evoked good response from the villagers.

Over hundred villagers got their eyes tested through sophisticated technology. Those wanting to avail the opportunity of spectacles at a reasonable rate were provided with it. The eye clinic, which began in the morning concluded late in the evening.

Earlier, the free eye clinic was inaugurated by Parra Sarpanch Benedict D’Souza, who later underwent the eye test at the hands of Dr Supratik Saha.

Kitchen gardening workshop

MARGAO (HR) – Goa Chitra in association with Vardaan Eco-shop, Margao will hold a workshop on kitchen gardening, the organic way, on July 4 from 10 am to 5 pm at Goa Chitra Museum, St John the Baptist Road, Pulvaddo-Benaulim.

The workshop will be conducted by Additional Director, OFAI Secretariat, Mapusa Miguel Braganza.

The day-long workshop will lay emphasis on how to grow vegetables and herbs in your backyard or even in pots using local seed and organic inputs, safe pest control, maintaining soil fertility, water management and composting.

The workshop fees will include lunch, tour of the organic farm, museum tour by the curator of Goa Chitra, Victor Hugo Gomes and a composting demonstration on contemporary composting methods by Eulalia of Vardaan. For registrations and details contact Eulalia/Vardaan at 9527463684 or Victor Hugo/Goa Chitra at 9850466165/6570877 or email at gaochitra@gmail.com.

POWER SHUTDOWN FRIDAY

TALEIGAO: Between 9am to 3pm. Areas affected are Samarth Residency, Borchem Bhatt, Barreto Apts, Peace Heaven School and surrounding areas.

SATURDAY

TALEIGAO: Between 9am to 3pm. Areas affected are Chaitanya Apts, Kamat Villa, Mysore Holiday Home, area behind Hotel Ananaz and surrounding areas.

Halwai is Task Force member

PANJIM (HND) — Prominent Vasco-based businessman Munnalal R Halwai has been appointed member of the Task Force Goa of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India recently.

A businessman since early childhood, Munnalal has completed a course in Food Processing and has been part of the industry. Munnalal, on his part, plans to look into many areas affecting food processing in Goa including adulteration and other ills. He is of the opinion that the central ministry along with the state authorities can work effectively to curb the malpractices in the food processing industry.

As member of the task force, he also plans to implement various methods to spread awareness about adulteration of food and other malpractices by organizing awareness seminars and other outreach programmes to create a wider awareness amongst the public.He also proposes to make available testing kits to the public that will enable them to test milk and other commodities, consumed on a daily basis by infants, pregnant women and other groups of people, for adulteration.

Fado evening at Cidade

PANJIM (HND) - A special traditional live Fado evening will be held at “Alfama” restaurant at Cidade de Goa on July 6 at 8 pm.

Well known Fado singers invited for the evening are Miguel Cotta, Chantalle Cotta Viegas, Danica da Silva Pereira and Efigenia Miranda. Franz Schubert Cotta and Carlos Meneses will provide musical accompaniment. For further details contact 2454545.

SILS workshop underway HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 1

Excise Inspector of Tiswadi taluka, Krishna Diukar addressing the students of Dhempe College of Arts and Science at a function organized on International Observance Day Against Drug Abuse.

Excise inspector calls to make world drugs free HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JULY 1

Highlighting the need to make the world drugs free, Excise Inspector Krishna Diukar appealed the students to think about health and not drugs.

He was speaking at the International Observance Day Against Drug Abuse organized in collaboration with Dhempe College of Arts and Science, Miramar recently.

Dr Wagh, former Health Director explained a heartrending account of his experience on drug abuse and alcoholics and appealed to the students to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Later, Naguesh Sardessai, Professor of Peoples Higher Secondary School, Mala, appealed to the students to be conscious of the friend’s circle in this regard. Varsha Vengurlekar, Professor, incharge of NSS Wing also spoke on the occasion and thanked the Excise Department on behalf of Dhempe College of Arts and Science for organizing the event. Eleuterio Fernandes, Acting Excise Inspector proposed the vote of thanks. Mario Fernandes, Mohan Arlekar, Dinanath Mardolkar, Sujit Narvekar, Ashish Ramnathkar, Venkatesh Kalangutkar, Vijayanta Naik, Nirmala Gawde, were also present.

Parents called upon to protect children from addictions HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, JULY 1

Dr Shekhar Salkar has called upon the parents to keep proper watch on their children and note their physical and mental changes to protect them from different addictions.

He was addressing the parents and students during observance of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking programme organized by the district administration at BMC hall, Bicholim, on Tuesday.

Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat, Uday Sardesai, Kaustubh Chanekar, Sunil Naniwadekar

and Dattaram Shetye were present on the occasion.

On the occasion, Dr Salkar presented the ill-effects of drug addictions with the help of a slide show.

Earlier, students of Shri Shantadurga and Radhakrishna High School, Bicholim, staged a rally to create anti-drug awareness throughout Bicholim, which was inaugurated by Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar.

The function at BMC hall was earlier welcomed by Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat, while Gurudas Desai compered the function.

A 3-day Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery (SILS) workshop is currently underway at Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao.

The workshop which is organized by the Department of Minimal Access Surgery at Apollo Victor Hospital headed by Dr Rajkumar Palaniappan will continue till July 3 involves 4 faculties from all various parts of the country to train laparoscopic surgeons in SILS. 30 select senior laparoscopic surgeons from all over the country are participating in the workshop.

Department of Minimal Access Surgery at Apollo Victor Hospital headed by Dr. Rajkumar Palaniappan is one of the few centers to start this technology as early as it was introduced in to our country in the last week of July 2009. He is one of the leading in the country performing most of advanced SILS procedures on a regular basis. He also has the distinction performing India’s first single incision total hysterectomy, fundoplication, cardiomyotomy, gastrojejunostomy & incisional hernia.

Since the introduction of laparoscopy in a large scale during the 80s, surgery around the world had taken a huge leap and has grown heaps and bounds. Three decades, and it still is the most

appreciated of all surgical innovations, due to its advantage and its ever-growing use and applications. Made popular by the huge success of gall bladder surgery, its application is now extended to all gastro specialties including cancer & obesity.

Over the last decade, lots of interest has been shown towards reducing the surgical insult still further which lead to innovations like 3 port cholecystectomy (normally needs 4 ports), 2 port appendectomy (normally needs 3 ports) and Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (Operating through endoscopic route) with few promising results. This led to the invention of a revolutionary technology of “Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery” or SILS, where the laparoscopic surgery is performed through a single port placed through the belly button. The principle is same as in conventional laparoscopy; however specialized ports and instruments are used to perform this revolutionary technique. The advantages will be a post-operative scar less abdomen (the incision is made only inside the belly button which gets buried inside it after surgery), lesser hospital stay and pain even lesser than laparoscopy.

HE RA LD

Pg 5

GOA

GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

Naikaband Project ‘rainwashed’

Sanguem locals for immediate posting of Sanguem Mamlatdar HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JULY 1

The view of the washed away Naikaband project at Wadem-Sanguem.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, JULY 1

The Naikaband Project constructed by the Irrigation Department across the backwaters of Selaulim Reservoir at Wadem Colony No 1 in Sanguem was washed away in the first rains.

Incidentally, this is not the first time that the Naikaband Project got washed away in the very first rains, but it has become a regular feature in the village notwithstanding the fact that the government goes on constructing the project every year before the monsoon knowing well that the project will be washed away in the rains.

The project is constructed with mud across the backwaters of Selaulim Reservoir every year to facilitate water storage for irrigation purpose for onward supply to the agriculturists in and around Wadem Valkini Colony No 1.

However, as the project is constructed with loose mud and covered with mudfilled cement bags, the project gets washed

Korgao native hangs to death HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, JULY 1

A 45-year-old man from Sakhlem Bhat-Carambolim, but native of Korgao-Pernem, committed suicide by hanging himself with the dupatta to the ceiling fan in his rented room on Wednesday evening.

According to Old Goa police, Balkrishna Dessai was working in a private company at Corlim Industrial Estate and was supposed to work in the third shift on the day of the incident, but the deceased did not report for duty and was at home.

Police further informed that the incident might have occurred between 6 pm and 7 pm.

The deceased was residing on rent along with his wife and two children, who were not present in the room at the time of incident. Police said the Dessai may have ended his life out of tension and frustration.

Police said the complaint was filed by one relative of the deceased Jairam Priolkar. Old Goa Police has registered the incident as unnatural death.

Photo by Alfred Fernandes

away due to heavy rainwater.

“The agriculturists in the locality have time and again called on the Irrigation Department officials to construct the project of a permanent nature using concrete and steel bars, but the department insists on the construction of the project with loose mud,” said a villager.

“The reason being the department gets to auction the project work every year and allegedly make some money,” alleged the villager.

However, the department claims that as the area where the project is constructed remains under water for most part of the year, it is difficult to undertake the work of permanent nature.

Kurdi Wadem Farmer’s Club Spokesman Joseph Cardozo said: “The villagers however argue that the work of permanent nature could be taken up in phases and if planned properly, the work could be undertaken in a year’s time.”

Added Francisco D’Costa: “Due to the

washing away of the Naikaband Project, farmers in the locality for whose benefit the project is otherwise constructed face water scarcity problems during summer.”

It is pertinent to note here that every year due to the washing away of the bhandara, several hundred truckload of loose mud gets deposited in the Selaulim reservoir.

Sources informed that for the construction of the bhandara, over 800 truckload of loose mud is emptied into the reservoir every year.

“However, once the project gets washed away, the loose mud gets deposited into the reservoir, thus affecting the water storage capacity of the Selaulim reservoir,” informed sources.

They have also called on the department officials to construct a permanent project in the village to do away with the siltation of the Selaulim reservoir caused by the annual washing of the Naikaband Project.

GOACAN holds road safety awareness campaign at Porvorim HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JULY 1

The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) organized road safety awareness campaign at Porvorim to mark the State Road Safety Week.

GOACAN volunteers holding placards with various messages about road safety stood near O’Coqueiro Junction on Thursday morning and advised vehicle owners to wear seat beat, helmets and drive cautiously.

Speaking to Herald, GOACAN Co-ordinator Roland Martins said GOACAN will observe Road Safety Week from July 1 throughout the State to create awareness among the public about the importance of road safety and traffic management, need to instill traffic discipline to reduce accidents in Goa. “During the Safety Week,

n

GOACAN volunteers holding placards with various messages about road safety stood near O’Coqueiro Junction on Thursday morning and advised vehicle owners to wear seat beat, helmets and drive cautiously.

we will be providing knowledge to the public about safe driving practices, importance of wearing helmets and seat belts, dangers caused due to usage of mobile phones and alcohol intake while driving vehicles, observance of speed limits, etc, by distributing pamphlets, organizing meetings, etc,” said Martins.

Martins further informed that 46 people died in road accidents in the State in May, this year.

Hence it is of utmost importance to create awareness about road safety among the general public.

“GOACAN volunteers will disseminate the accident

statistics, examine its cause and involve various stake holders in finding solutions to reduce fatalities,” added Martins.

“We will impress upon PWD the need to set up a Road Engineering Cell (REC) as well as guidelines on the constructions and maintenance of safe roads for the village panchayats and municipal councils,” said Martins.

“We will also take campaign of road safety and traffic management to educational institutions, Mahila Mandals, self help groups and NGOs working with the disabled and senior citizens,” he said.

King Cobra rescued HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JULY 1

King Cobra in forest cage at Hathipal Rescue Centre, Cotigao.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

A 3.5 metre King Cobra was rescued from a residential area in Poinguinim and was later shifted to Hathipal Rescue Centre, Cotigao.

According to forest sources, the King Cobra was found straying nearby to a house of one Sanjay Bhat at PanaskandemPoinguinim. Forest officials Deepak Hanskar and Prabhakar caged the cobra with great difficulty. The cobra was shifted to Hathipal Resuce Centre, where it is presently kept in the cage.

Interestingly, it is learnt that this is the sixth cobra rescued

by Hathipal Rescue Centre, Cotigao. Rescuer Deepak Hanskar caught four of these, including three cobras from a single house, informed sources.

Oil packets handed over to fair price shops in Vasco HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JULY 1

Civil Supplies Minister Jose Philip D’Souza on Thursday handed over oil packets to fair price shop owners in Vasco, even as the Central government has revived its stand to distribute palm oil to ration cardholders after nearly a decade.

In oil distribution function at Pushpagandha, Sahakar Bhandar, Vasco, D’Souza along with Mor-

mugao Municipal Council Chairperson (MMC) Shekhar Khadapkar, Deputy Collector Levinson Martins, DySP Mahesh Gaonkar, Civil Supply Director Gurudas Kelankar, Civil Supply Federation MD Chandrakant Gaude, Councilors Kritesh Gaonkar, Arnold Rego and Lavina D’Souza distributed oil packets to fair price shop owners.

D’Souza said he is glad that during times of inflation, provid-

ing oil to the common people at subsidized rate would be beneficial for them.

He urged ration cardholders to avail the benefits and take their ration quota of oil, which will be beneficial for them during festivals.

He further informed that a ration cardholder could avail 1 litre packet of oil at Rs 38 from the fair price shop.

The State government had approved the scheme to distribute palm oil in February, but it was not materialized immediately and to fill the backlog, the civil supply department has decided to distribute two oil packets of 1 litre each to the ration cardholders till December, but after December the ration cardholder would get one packet of 1 litre.

People from Sanguem, particularly those hailing from the remote areas, have urged the government for immediate filling of vacant post of Sanguem Mamlatdar.

Sanguem Mamlatdar’s post is lying vacant since the transfer of Pundalik Korjuenkar from Sanguem Mamlatdar office over a month back.

In the absence of the Mamlatdar, all the work relating to the Sanguem Mamlatdar office is being handled by Joint Mamlatdar Amol Gaonkar.

Incidentally, though the Sanguem Mamlatdar office is on paper provided with the services of two Joint Mamlatdars and a full-time Mamlatdar, the office since the last many years has remained functional with the services of one joint mamlatdar and a mamlatdar. The post of the Joint Mamlatdar is vacant since the last over three years.

However with the post of Mamlatdar also becoming vacant since the last over one month, locals have been facing a lot of problems in getting their works done.

Moreover, the lone Joint Mamlatdar working at the Sanguem Mamlatdar office presently stands overburdened with day-to-day work as he has to single handedly look after the affairs of one Joint Mamlatdar and the Mamlatdar in addition to his routine work.

Given the vacant Mamlatdar’s post, the cases posted for hearing before the Mamlatdar are adjourned since the last over

n Sanguem Mamlatdar’s post is lying vacant since the transfer of Pundalik Korjuenkar from Sanguem Mamlatdar office over a month back. In the absence of the Mamlatdar, all the work relating to the Sanguem Mamlatdar office is being handled by Joint Mamlatdar Amol Gaonkar. one month and the litigants are made to face extreme hardships in traveling to the Mamlatdar’s office only to take dates in the matters.

Besides, the common man here is faced with the extreme hardships in getting their mutation work done. While earlier excuses were given by the officials of the work relating to mutation being kept in abeyance owing to the sudden transfer of power to the Deputy Collector to deal with mutation cases.

It is now the absence of the Mamlatdar at the Sanguem Mamlatdar that the work pertaining to mutation matters is held up for over a period of one year.

The day-to-day administrative work is also affected severely at the Sanguem Mamlatdar’s office in the absence of a fullfledged Mamlatdar despite eagerness shown by the staff at the Sanguem Mamlatdar office in helping the people.

Electronic items missing

CALANGUTE, JULY 1 (HC) -- Electronic items worth about Rs 55,000 have been reported missing from a guesthouse at AnjunaVagator.Vilas Datta Naik informed Anjuna police that a TV, DVD and other electronic items have been missing sometime between June 5 and June 17. Anjuna Police is investigating the case.

HE RA LD

Pg7

GOA,FRIDAY, 2 JULY 2010

Student irked to see attackers free PTI MELBOURNE, JULY 1

An Indian student, who lost vision in one eye after being brutally bashed up by a teenage gang,is disappointed to see his assailants walk free following a court verdict, but has not lost hope in the Australian judicial system.

“I will fight for it (justice). I want to see them behind bar.

They should be punished,” 27year-old Kanan Kharbanda said, expressing his extreme disappointment over yesterday's ruling.

All his attackers, who assaulted him two years back, escaped prison with only one given an eight-month suspended jail term and 40 hours of community work.

Kharbanda's case had received blanket media coverage across India and other parts of the world.

However, he refused to call the attack on him a racial assault.

“I don't know, I cannot say if it

was racially motivated,” Kharbanda said, adding the other side of the story was that post-attack he received immense support from Victorian police officer Rob Bailey who assured him of his safety as well as from the Australian government and political leaders.

“Rob Bailey was my case officer and he has been really helpful.

My lawyer from Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), leader of opposition party Ted Belluia, Indian consulate have all helped me from time to time in rehabilitating me back,” he acknowledged.

Kharbanda said everyone is disappointed with the decision on his case and that the DPP will now be appealing against the sentencing.

Like hundreds of Indian students, he came to Australia after taking loan from a bank to acquire quality education.

“I come from a middle class family and my father borrowed money for my education," he said.

“I came here to lead a good life, but see what has happened ... though I thank God that I was not stabbed.

There is a disability but I am looking at the positive side now,” Kharbanda said.

He said his accounting course was to get finished by early 2009 but because of the assault he had to take a break that pushed him back.

“I was to finish my studies last year but I finished it (the course) only this May,” he said.

Kharabanda had to fly back to India for treatment after the attack. "I have received compensation from the government that has helped me to stay on,” he added.

According to Crime Victims Support Association President Noel McNamara, it was beyond belief that the youths who assaulted Kharbanda had been let off "scot free".

“It's disgraceful. The Indian community has the right - all citizens have the right - to be

up in arms" against it, he said.

Shadow Attorney General Robert Clark said it was extraordinary that none of the attackers would spend time behind bars.

The 'Herald Sun', which published the story about the verdict, received on its website some 420 responses since yesterday, with most of the readers criticising the ruling.

Handing over the sentence yesterday, Judge Susan Cohen gave eight-month suspended jail to Majang Ngor of the teenage gang for the unprovoked attack on Kharbanda.

At least three other youths who cannot be named because of their age - were given ninemonth youth supervision orders in the Children's Court.

Ngor pleaded guilty in the County Court to recklessly causing serious injury, intentionally causing injury, robbery and attempted robbery over the attack.

Kharbanda was attacked by the youths at the Sunshine Station in March 2008.

Abu Salem’s gang sharp shooter held PTI NEW DELHI, JUL 1

- A policeman takes an empty shell of a bomb found in Kalamana, which triggered panic in the area, police investigation is on, in Nagpur on

An alleged sharp-shooter of Abu Salem gang was arrested in the national capital, police said today.

Mohd Akram Siddiqui, who was declared a proclaimed offender in a case of extortion and attempt to murder in Mumbai, was apprehended by Crime Branch, Additional Commissioner (Crime) Neeraj Thakur said.

He was residing in Lado Sarai under a fake identity.

The arrest came yesterday after police received an input that he would come near Lado Sarai Bus Terminal in Mehrauli.

“Siddiqui was a part of Salem's network of sharp-shoot-

WB framing rules to see schools don’t create fear PTI KOLKATA, JULY 1

The West Bengal government today said it was formulating rules to ensure that schools do not create fear among students as physical and mental torture pose hindrance to their natural development.

Making a statement in the assembly on the suicide of La Martiniere for Boys student Rouvanjit Rawla, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said it was mandatory to ensure that the atmosphere in schools do not, in any way, create fear among students.

The state government, he said, had issued circulars a number of times to make school administrations and inspectors aware of it.

Some incidents, however, did take place which showed that school administrations and

some teachers did not pay proper attention to the issue, he said, adding, "The school education department is formulating rules in this regard.”

Bhattacharjee said Rawla had committed suicide at his residence on February 12. His father Ajay Rawla had filed a complaint at the Shakespeare Sarani police station against five teachers including principal Sunirmal Chakarvarthy saying that physical and mental torture by them led him to commit suicide.

Noting that it was revealed during police investigation that Rouvanjit was very jovial, Bhattacharjee said the class VIII student was admonished a number of times because of inattentiveness, bunking class and misbehaviour.

Rouvanjit was caned by Chakarvarthy due to these reasons a few days before the incident (his suicide), he said.

Chakarvarthy had called him on February 12 for misbehaving in class and asked his parents to see him by writing a note in his diary.

The detective department of Kolkata police was investigating the case, he said According to Bhattacharjee, a team was sent by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights to probe the incident.

The team had visited the school on June 8 and 9 and submitted its report to the Commission, Bhattacharjee said.

He said that another threemember team visited the school claiming to having been sent by the Human Resources Development Ministry.

But it was found that the ministry had not entrusted any such responsibility to the team and the matter is being investigated, he said.

ers and hardcore criminals in India, who assisted him in his criminals activities while Salem himself was abroad," Thakur said.

He used to live with one Sanjay in Naini in Allahabad.

“Sanjay used to get directions from Salem who used to extort large amounts of money from builders, film fraternity, jewellers etc. Those who acceded to his demands were spared. However, those who resisted were pressurised, often in the form of lifethreatening assaults,” Thakur said.

In 2000, a jeweller Subhah Babu Lal Soni was shot at his residence in Mumbai by Siddiqui and his three associates, he said.

Viveka wasn’t depressed: kin PTI MUMBAI, JULY 1

Super model Viveka Babajee was in a relationship with stock analyst Gautam Vora and the two were contemplating marriage before she committed suicide, her family claimed today trashing Vora's claim that they were just good friends.

Breaking their silence since Babajee's suicide on June 25, her family also rubbished suggestions that the former Miss Mauritius was suffering from depression and said they would weigh the option of pressing abetment to suicide charge against Vora .

Though the family personally avoided the media, its representative Dale Bhagwegar read out the statement of her mother Dayawanti Babajee which said she does not agree with the depression theory put forth in the media.Bhagwegar attributed their absence to the family's “sadness and pain” and their being unaccustomed to “media frenzy and attention” after the tragic death of Babajee .

Companies cashing in on gay tourism PTI

NEW DELHI, JULY 1

A year after the Delhi High Court decriminalised homosexuality, a variety of business models catering to the dormant 'pink economy' are giving it a fresh lease of life.

Gay tourism leads the way for the pink flavour with various travel companies like 'Indjapink,' ' L a Pa s s a g e t o I n d i a ' a n d Bangkok-based 'Purple Dragon,' offering to cater to gay clients wanting to explore India with their partners “India is high on the wish lists of many of our customers. The big attractions of India are history, culture, cuisine, shopping and its own very unique experiences. We are happy about the Delhi High Court's ruling and this might put some of our prospective India customers at ease,” Douglas Thompson, Managing Director, Purple Dragon Ltd told PTI. The company that has been operating in India for the past three and a half years sends between 200 and 250 customers to the country per year.

Meanwhile, a Delhi based travel company Indjapink has made queer tourism a speciality.

“We create passionate tours for the gay community offering them outstanding, personalised service and make them experience India in a discrimination

free atmosphere,” says founder Sanjay Malhotra.

The gay community in India now feels free and liberated from the ancient laws which have been used to discriminate and abuse the community, he adds.

“They feel they can breathe easy, and live a life the way they want to. Post the High Court order, we have started getting more enquiries from gay men, both in India and abroad, who are open to travelling in India without having to disguise their sexuality," he says.

La Passage to India another Delhi-based travel company dealing in gay tourism is upbeat on more people from the community visiting India.

It's a three billion dollar industry worldwide. Gay tourists are wealthy and have expensive hobbies like arts and fashion.

We expect around 1200 tourists this year," says Arjun Sharma, founder of the company.

Fiji-Indian Shobhna Kumar who launched India's first online queer literature store says she is delighted by the popular response.

“It's an attempt to create a comfort zone for people who want to access queer literature and find it difficult to pick up such books in a normal bookstore.

It's about empowering and informing. The lesbian gay bisexual transgender community

(LGBT) wants to see their lives reflected in fiction,” she says.

We sell books related to gay fiction, academics, children, women and their health and how parents should deal with homosexual children, adds Kumar.

Shobhna who has worked for the rights of LGBT community in US and Australia says she feels it is an exciting time to be in India with youngsters being more confident and open about their preferences today.

“These are good beginnings but the pink economy is still untapped in the country. It still targets foreigners and will take time to get Indian consumers," she says.

Greetings and gifts company Archies which launched greeting cards for the queer community this Valentine's day says the response has been overwhelmingly good.

“The response was really good and we plan to introduce more greeting cards this time. It's a feeling, a thought that we help people to convey,” says Yohan Arya, PRO, Archies Greetings.

“The gay community is a targeted consumer and its growing now," says Simran. She along with friend Sabina had launched Azaad Bazaar the first LGBT online store in July last year and found that nearly half of their customers were straight.

The party scene has seen grow-

ing activity from the gay community in Delhi, ever since historical order by Delhi High Court last year.

“I organise between five to ten gay parties in a month. More people are coming out and accepting their identity. It's an untapped market and will see a lot of boom in the times to come," says Manish, who organises gay parties in Delhi. However, apart from these initiatives, the future of pink economy depends on the change of mindset of the people and development of gay-friendly infrastructure.

“We need more gay friendly hotels, spots and clubs across the country for the LGBT community. People need to change their mindset as many of them still frown upon couples who are not straight," says Arjun Sharma, of La Passage to India travel company Anjali Gopalan, founder, Naz foundation charity, which had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to challenge section 377 IPC the Delhi HC, says it is simply too soon to draw a conclusion on the pink economy.

“There has been no dramatic change. The law can change in hours but a change of attitudes takes more time. After the High Court order, homosexuality cannot be swept under the carpet and the pink economy is a natural outcome,” says Gopalan.

OHERALDO

Edit Page Template:Layout 1 7/2/2010 12:13 AM Page 1

OPINION

Pg8

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Time To Be Truly Responsible

Vol No CX No: 169 Goa, Friday 2 July, 2010

Unwanted guest to stay longer

D

espite her name, the MV River Princess is more of an old maid than a bathing beauty. The ship, which has languished on the Candolim shoreline for over 10 years now, may take longer to leave, if the shortlisted tenders for her removal are any indication.

With three or four huge gaps, each eight to 10 metres long, on her seaward side, the ship is full of sand and mired some 10 metres into the seabed. Her decadelong stay has destroyed part of the Candolim beach in Goa’s tourist heartland. Successive governments led both by the ruling Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have conspired in making her a permanent, though unwanted guest.

We have now discovered that it may take three more years for her complete removal. A simple operation that could have earned the state a few crores, had it been done on time, will now end up costing the Goan taxpayer up to Rs125 crore! This unconscionable burden is no thanks to Goa’s short sighted politicians, who led unstable governments that were chary of offending the ship’s owner – mining magnate and Sanvordem independent MLA Anil Salgaocar. They spent the first few years in unnecessary litigation, a few more in hiring obviously dubious firms that had neither the intention nor the ability to salvage the ship, and the rest in further litigation when these outfits expectedly failed to deliver the goods.

It is now obviously beyond salvage. Finally, earlier this year, the present government floated new tenders to cut the ship into pieces and remove it. Thankfully, it has also cut out all the dubious parties while making the shortlist.

There is now hope that we may see the last of this unwanted guest; even though it will not be too soon. Of the 12 companies that submitted bids for the Princess’s removal, just two have been shortlisted – the homegrown Madgavkar Salvage and the Singapore-based Titan Salvage.

The bids are to be discussed and the tender allotted in the meeting of the State Disaster Management Committee scheduled for today. But it will take from nine months to three years to remove the ship, after work begins in October, following the withdrawal of the monsoon.

While Titan Salvage is reported to have quoted Rs125 crore for the removal of the ship in three years, Madgavkar Salvage has given five different options. These include cutting the ship up to water level (for no charge except the scrap), cutting the vessel up to ground level (Rs 25 crore), cutting the ship up to two metres below the sea bed (Rs45 crore), removing the ship completely (Rs 98 crore) and including beach replenishment (Rs125 crore).

While Madgavkar will clear the entire area and dispose off the scrap and other debris, Titan will leave this last headache to the state government.

It seems that there is only one very obvious choice.

The Madgavkars are a local company and will not be able to abandon the job halfway. They have an excellent record in salvage. And they are quoting lower prices and offering better services. Cutting the ship only till the waterline or till the heavily silted seabed is no option, though, as it will not only leave a significant navigation and safety hazard for local watersports operators, tourists and swimmers, but will lead to a worsening of beach erosion in the area. It is for the committee to choose between the other three options.

Whatever their choice, this is not a guest we can afford to entertain any longer. She must be evicted from our shores at the earliest. And it is a matter of deep regret that it is the Goan taxpayer, not the uncaring politicians responsible for her long sojourn, who will have to foot the bill.

Why not take responsibility for the mess around us, urges RUi dA gAMA

W

hen we do not take responsibility, the next thing that we do is, get into neutral mode or compromising attitude and then into a blame game. Respect is due, to all those who have learnt to take responsibility for their lives and also failed to take responsibility for the public mess around us today. We do not expect anyone to be perfect by taking the responsibility for everything. I, Me, Myself and My Family is one attitude that the vast majority of our population feels responsible for. Our failure to take responsibility makes us go into the denial mode or keep silent, which is another form of denial. But there are a few, who learn from the failures and make a milestone to success. Fear and insecurity is one big cause for us not taking responsibility. Most of the time, it is not ‘I’, but ‘You’ or ‘They’ who are responsible. Denial is a hidden form of lying. And lying is the most irresponsible way of living. It reflects badly on our character. For instance, before the Court of Justice, we are told to deny first, in order to make the opposite party prove the accusation.

However, taking responsibility for the accusation if it is true, does not make the accused Guilty.

The opposite party still has to prove the accused guilty. And the Judgement would be based on evidence and merits of the case. But fear takes over and we are told not to take the risk but deny it and lie before the Court of Justice. Hence, there is more denial and lying than acceptance.

In today’s world, The word “ Honesty “ has lost its meaning. Unfortunately in the so- called ‘modern times’ we have less number of people who accept responsibility, speak the truth and shame the devil. Living like hypocrites is what we enjoy doing, least realizing that we get what we deserve. It is either ‘you’, ‘he’, ‘she’, or ‘they’ who are to be blamed. Most of the time we put up false pretences and fake it. Those who fake it, will never make it.

Coming back to ‘I’, ‘Me’, ‘Myself ’ and ‘My Family’, most of us have done so well, that Greed has entered our lives and taken us over. And the more material things we have, the more we want and there is no end to it. The gap between the materially rich and the materially poor is widening.

And there is so much unrest or restlessness within us . It is nothing but outer manifestation of our inner struggles which leads to our unhappiness and dying in despair. We are already paying this

Life And Living price although many might have not realized it, due to their busy preoccupation in satisfying their human wants. We have all come empty handed and in the same way we will go; nothing shall we will take with us. On the contrary, it is someone else who will benefit from what we leave behind, and even the thieves will have an eye on it and try robbing it. Man-made self destruction is taking the majority of us into loneliness and isolation. What is the use of wearing a maskof putting on a façade and smiling on the outside when we are in reality living with fear, worry, anxiety, guilt, sorrow, anger and crying inside.

Some people are good looking, dress well, have the best of cars, bungalows and a grand lifestyle; but they do not have a smile on their face and no joy in their lives. We are blindly

following science and technology, wanting comfort and shortcuts in life. But it will cut short our life, our families, and create an unstable society.

Why blame our Governments? We get what we have voted for. If the one who speaks the truth stands for election, very few voters will vote for him. The one who speaks the truth will not use money or muscle power, neither will he use any corrupt means to get elected. Why blame the teachers, when majority of us adults have been such bad students in moral science, with our day- to- day- fleshy /greedy behaviour, not wanting to speak or defend the one speaking the truth . Why blame our children and youth, when everything good or bad begins with us as parents, teachers and adults? Why blame our men and women for dressing indecently when

we silently enjoy watching each other dressed in this way, in the name of fashion? Why blame environment degradation and pollution, when we want to enjoy the material luxuries of modern day life. Why blame neighbours and friends, when we only think of our own convenience and want to misuse them? Why blame the religious and spiritual, when we want to sin and serve the evil one? Alternatively, let us take responsibility by asking what can we do for others, for the poor, for the morally and spiritually bankrupt, making certain that we never compromise on the truth.

The solution is to take full responsibility of what is happening around us. Like saying: God First, Another Man Next and Me Last. In India, everything begins with God and Gods. So why do we fail to see God in the heart of another man? It is time we know who we are, why we are here, from where are we and where we will go, if not to the place we come from. There is nothing which is ours, but time. And time will tell, although it might be late for some. Many will say, it is next to impossible, but it is possible. It has to begin with ‘Me’. I cannot say ‘You’, ‘He’, ‘She’ or ‘They’. I have to take my share of responsibility for the mess around us, and speak the truth. It is a small beginning, and everything and everything begins from small things. If we speak the truth, many others will follow us. Do not fear the consequence of speaking the truth. Suffering for the good is no suffering. If we do not change by suffering, suffering will change us. Without pain, there is no gain. Many believe Jesus Christ took responsibility alone for the salvation of Mankind.

Mahatma Gandhi took responsibility for India and led the nation to freedom from colonial rule.

Nelson Mandela was jailed for 27 long years but was responsible for freeing South Africa from racism. They spoke the truth, lived for the truth, died to self and the truth set them free. They still live on with or without their dead photograph/statues hanging on the walls and in the centre of streets. We have to teach and educate a new generation of selfless people, for their own happiness, the welfare of our society and the prosperity of our nation. Let us as Indians, take responsibility, demand accountability and command the respect of our people.

(The writer is the Convenor of Asha Family Responsibilities & Rights Association – Mapusa)

My ivory Tower garden

From the heart

I

t is the monsoon season. The sowing and planting bug has bitten me too. Like the farmer who sows seed in hope of a fruitful harvest, I have planted my favourite little herbs and shrubs, not in a vast field, but in tiny little pots in the space beyond my box window.

I feel the same anxiety that the farmer feels as I run every morning to see if the saplings have shot up from the brown mud.

Ah! At last! A chilly sapling peeps out at me from its bed. I touch the tender leaves gently, marvelling at their beguiling green colour and the delicate greenish-white, almost opaque, stem. In my excitement to reap a rich harvest, I had sown too many seeds, I fear, as I see many more shoot up the next day.

The orange-blossomed ‘abolim’ shrub has survived its transition from a neighbour’s garden to my cosy little pot. I caress it as I sing to express my love for this flowering plant that brings back childhood memories. Being a city girl, I longed for the annual holidays to Goa, when my cousins and I would collect the flowers from a neighbour’s garden and string abolim garlands. We would then run to the cross nearby and offer them up along with a fervent prayer.

A dying lemon grass plant has found a home in my window garden. Its aromatic flavour spices my tea and refreshes my soul.

As does the tulsi shrub that was near-death in the dried-up bed of my Society garden. To me, the tulsi is a medicinal herb and an air purifier.

I have sown a handful of coriander seeds in a pot, but I do not see any life there yet. I hope and peep. The fragrant mogra plant in my building complex garden blossomed recently. I had cut off a budding branch of this lovely shrub last week and potted it. I have been plucking a few of its flowers for my altar. Some, I place at Mama Mary’s feet as she blesses my work. I check on it and sigh with relief that it hasn’t withered away and died yet.

The ‘money plant’ occupies a quiet shady place in the corner of my little garden. As it grows and twines around the grill on my window, it will frame my garden with a natural arch. Some say growing a money plant brings wealth; for me it is enough that it gifts me ample oxygen and adds beauty to my window garden.

My son has inspired me ; he learnt the skill of potting a plant at summer camp which has borne fruit for me. “Mama, I want to

By Auriel Ribeiro Sa

plant a sapling,” he said one day. So we potted our first, a curry leaf sapling. I, who had no time for little pleasures before, found a hobby that gives me a few minutes of happiness.

The friends in my ivory tower garden are good friends – they always teach me something new - like hope, patience, joy, disappointment, abundant life. When I talk to them, they listen. When I sing to them, they dance. They give me, not just material benefits, but spiritual gifts as well.

I have prepared the compost for ‘friends’ yet to come and collected discarded pots so they can stay with me for a long time.

I don’t know as yet which ones they will be; I pick them not for their usefulness or beauty but for my happiness, you see.

Plants need love and quality time just like we do. Plants too have feelings. They feel delighted when they hear soft soothing sounds like that of a violin, they become agitated when they hear various kinds of loud unmelodious sounds.

The friends in my window garden have very little space to grow in the concrete jungle I call my home. But I am certain they feel at home with me because I do love them with all my heart.

Letters to the Editor Catch more crooks Soter D’Souza, Socorro The arrest of Registrar of Cooperative Societies P K Pattidar by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is just a drop in the ocean.

We have hundreds of these scoundrels entrenched in the Secretariat, municipalities, panchayats and government departments.

Their plunders are clearly visible to the public, but the authorities only act after a complaint is lodged.

There could be hundreds of shops and flats owned by shady government servants and elected leaders registered in ‘benami’ names. All that needs to be done is to crosscheck the agreements and sale deeds with the occupants of these premises in our ‘prospering’ towns and villages, and investigate

100 Years Ago

how these properties came to be acquired.

But will this ever be done when everyone, from top to bottom, is enjoying this party?

One goat gets sacrificed periodically, just to maintain statistics. But we should also not forget that there are hundreds of sincere and hardworking civil servants whose contributions to society never get recognised.

Not my words Francis Braganza, Verna I am disappointed that my letter ‘Fight highway expansion’ (Herald, 21 July) as it appeared in your newspaper distorted my views. The word ‘fields’ in the second para is not mine. I had used the word ‘hinterland’, to indicate the route a new highway should take to save houses, which has a totally different meaning from ‘fields’, not only in terms of the content of the letter, but also the whole issue.

Partitioning villages PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

2 July, 1910.

Edifices Constructed The construction work of two edifices one of which will be used as the residence for the local administration while the other will be availed for the surveillance offices, has commenced at Vasco da Gama .

Re-Tiling Houses The un-tiled houses of Fontainhas, which earlier had the tiles removed due to pestilences ravaging the Capital City, are yet to be tiled again. This is causing heavy losses to the Owners.

Government Offices The works of re-construction of one section of the Military Headquarters to be availed for the Government offices, are proceeding at earnest in Bicholim.

Governors’ Campaign The Spanish provincial governors launched a campaign against the immorality and vices which are impeding the rightful instruction.

Sudin Govenkar, Alto-Porvorim In the article ‘Highways: Wrong concept and defective planning’ (OPinionatED, Herald, 23 June), S Padmabhushan has explored the sentiments of people of villages against demolition of their houses for road widening, disregarding the tremendous hazards to villagers who have to cross these 4- to 6lane roads daily, at the risk of accidents.

Highways with large roads will divide villages, compromising the unity of villagers.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat needs to avoid partitioning of villages in Goa. Partition has been a blight on the nation since 1947.

Talk with Churchill Arwin Mesquita, Abu Dhabi This is to inform Goans that during PWD Minister Churchill Alemao’s Dubai visit on Saturday 26 June, I discussed with him critical issues facing Goa and Goans. I agreed to send a list of concerns that Goans feel about the preservation of Goa and the Goan identity.

These concerns are based on a signature campaign by UAE Goans (and some from Kuwait). It was given earlier to Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on 17 November 2008, but not much action was taken on most critical points.

Letter of the Day

Not in my backyard!

Diana Pinto, Nagoa

Your editorial ‘Not in my backyard’ (Herald, 29 June) is one-sided and grossly unfair.

Goans in the past have willingly accepted industrial estates, highways, sewage treatment plants and other so-called ‘public utilities’ in their backyards, based on faith and trust in the assurances given by the government of the day.

However, over time, it has become evident that while the government reserves the right to acquire private and institutional land, it does not feel any reciprocal obligation to ensure that the acquired land is used for the proper purpose.

There are well founded allegations about outright land scams engineered by politicians and bureaucrats to benefit industrial magnates. In fact, on 26 March 2009, the Herald headline itself said: ‘SEZ sins exposed – CAG says irregularities began before framing policy.’

As an example, a so-called ‘Electronic City’ at Verna has metamorphosed into a hotchpotch of pharma, food & beverage, electronic and whatever other industry that found it convenient to plant itself there.

Garbage has taken on a life of its own, thanks to the complete lack of thought and effort by the authorities on safe disposal of the toxic garbage generated by an industrial estate. The PWD’s inability to supply the promised water has resulted in deep borewells that have made village wells and springs run dry.

The reason we are so desperately in need of infrastructure is not being possessive about our backyards, but because our ruling elite thinks it is their divine right to allow their cronies to defile Goa in complete disregard of the rules and regulations. Give up my backyard? Not on your life; not until the government inspires confidence and trust in its sincerity, ability and diligence of purpose.

We also discussed some innovative ideas on migrant control, real estate control, etc. Mr Alemao said he will look into the issues and raise it with his government at the earliest.

Eighth wonder…?

Melson F M Louis, Margao Newly inducted Tourism, Ports and Housing Minister Nilkanth Halarnkar should give his first priority to getting rid of MV River Princess, grounded off Candolim beach soon after the end of this monsoon season, and to recover all expenditure incurred by the government from the owner of the vessel, Anil Salgaocar.

Or is the present Congress-NCP coalition government led by Digambar Kamat happy to get MV River Princess listed as the eighth wonder of the modern world?

All the past chief ministers and tourism ministers of Goa since 6 June 2000 jointly share the ‘honour’ for the prolonged delay

in not clearing the vessel, for reasons best known to them and their fellow MLA, Anil Salgaocar, owner of MV River Princess.

Kabrastan chaos Venan B Dias, St Estevam It is very disheartening to see the treatment meted out by the government to its own people. The Kabrastan issue – providing a decent burial ground for Muslims – has put the entire state to shame.

Where are the moral values, ethics, etc, which the great defenders of ‘Goan identity’ talk about? Why are Muslims denied this right? Are they not citizens of this country like Christians and Hindus?

Who are we to decide who is a migrant?

We are all migrants on this planet, and the burial ground is the nodal point through which we pass on to the next realm. Denying a burial place or allotting one next to a garbage dumping ground is not only un-

ethical but ungodly.

Crime unreported Stephen Dias, Dona Paula I live very close to the Police Outpost at Dona Paula. On 28 June between 9am to 9.30am, one person splashed acid from a bottle onto a woman’s face, and hid near the banana trees. When the woman screamed, some people caught the assailant, gave him a thrashing, and handed him over to the police outpost. The woman was sent to GMC for treatment.

I do not know whether it was a love affair or a theft. There were lots of people outside the police outpost, but no news about the case has appeared in either of the two leading local English newspapers. This is a major crime. Have the police not bothered to report this incident to the media?

Maybe the present Congress government does not want such reports to become public; it may be their way of making Goa a ‘crimefree state’? I request the Leader of the Opposition to investigate this incident and find out why such cases are not reported.

Nerul bans Sao Joao Very worried Nerulkar, Dubai Sao Joao is definitely a fun time to be in Goa. These festivals deepen relationships and encourage fellowship. It brings people together, fosters brotherhood and a sense of belonging. But, in recent times, they are neglected. Families no longer have much of a bond with their neighbours, thanks to a nuclear mindset.

In my village of Nerul, Bardez, Sao Joao has been banned! I couldn’t believe it. Many people from Goan villages have moved abroad.

There are a handful of villagers still enthusiastic about such traditions, but they are banned from organising them. Panchayat authorities in Nerul say it pollutes wells. I say such a negative attitude pollutes minds. We Goans need to preserve our culture. It breaks my heart to see this sad state of affairs.

Letters should be 150 words or less in length, and should have the writer’s name, address and telephone number.

The editor reserves the right to edit letters for size and readability, and to delete any personal attacks or libellous /objectionable matter.

Paths of Wisdom

Controlling Anger

By Samir Khan Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:”The strong man is not the one who can throw another down. The strong man is the one who can keep hold of himself when he is angry” (Muslim) Anger has a “feeling aspect” and an “acting aspect”. It is felt through irritation, frustration, disappointment, and a desire for revenge. It can be given vent to, through a violent outburst or physical assault.

“Anger management” is not just about controlling this emotion but channelling it properly and constructively. Understand that anger does not always work negatively if managed properly. Islam teaches us not merely to suppress the negative aspects of anger, but to sublimate it for constructive action.

[And the servants of (Allah) Most gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, they say, “Peace.”] (Holy Qur’an- 25:63) Anger is a natural emotion that is evokes in reaction to insults or threats.

Getting angry is one thing, expressing it in words or action, is another. If we are well we can suppress our anger and hereby avoid the bad consequences of its unbridled expression as Allah teaches us in the Quran, [O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for Allah is with those who patiently persevere.]

(Holy Qur’an- 2:153). Here “patient perseverance” also means endurance against afflictions, steadfastness in the face of setbacks, courage against hostilities, and self-restraint against provocation.

Remember, Patience is the strongest defence against anger. People who are impatient easily lose their temper when they are faced with hostility or a setback.

Patience strengthens us against all kinds of provocation. Patience helps us keep our cool. In addition to the above basics, the Holy Prophet has also taught us many ways to conquer the rising anger in a person. He said:”If one of you gets angry and he is standing, then he should sit down until his anger subsides. If it does not, then he should lie down.” (Abu Dawud)

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

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

HE RA LD

Pg9

GOA, FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2010

opinionated Orissa seeks Rs 2,400 cr The Maoists By: Adv.Radharao F.Gracias

I

grew up in the sixties and the seventies of the last millennium. And those were wonderful years to grow up in.

There was revolution in the air.

Everywhere. The world was split between east, west, capitalists, communists.

The east was red. The west was bad. Left was right. Right was wrong. Young people tended or pretended to be communists, socialists or some type of leftists. Coffee table discussions centered around liberation theology, motorcycle diaries, little red book, Das Kapital. Environmentalists were just waking up. Silent spring was in the air. Just about.

Things have changed in Goa. In a generation. Everything is for sale. Land. Votes. Honour. Morality. Everyone has become a broker. And Goa has gone broke!

Leftists strode the world stage. A thousand flowers were a bloom. In China. In Chairman Mao’s garden. Ho Chi Minh had sent the returning French into oblivion. Americans were soon to taste their first defeat in Vietnam. Patrick Lumumba was spreading revolution in Congo. Kwame Nakruma had hoisted the red flag in Ghana. Che Guevara had just been martyred somewhere in South America. In death he got a halo. Fidel Castro was undisputed leader in Cuba. His business, to export revolution duty free.

Kanu Sanyal and Charu Mazumdar threatened to paint India red. Cultural revolution was unsettling China. Naxalbari was exploding in India. The cultural revolution went its full course and cleansed China. In India superstition wrapped in ritual continues to holds sway. As religion. Naxalbari was pacified.

But the issues raised remained dormant. The embers of Naxalbari are reigniting now. Will the elusive revolution finally materialize?

Are the Maoists completely in the wrong? Is there substance in their struggle?

Life started in the raw for India, China, Korea, Taiwan, others post Second World War. The others have emerged into the first world. The thousand flowers that bloomed in China have now borne fruit. China is a super power.

We take pride that our democracy has survived. Rightly so.

We have survived. So what? Life is not merely a matter of survival. Have we thrived? The cockroach too has survived.

Two million years! It is still a cockroach. We have created a middle class of two hundred million. More than the combined population of England, France and Germany. Yes, and we have also created an under class of a billion people. Twice the population of Europe. What has democracy achieved for the under class after independence?

The Maoists are propounding violence to overthrow the system. We abhor violence. We are Gandhi’s heirs. Only when it suits us. What chance does the billion strong under class has to improve its lot within the system? Nothing positive has happened in the last sixty years. Nothing may happen in the next sixty.

The entrenched establishment is difficult to dislodge through the constitutional process. Those who hold levers of power manipulate or manipulate to keep others out. The Congress is so well entrenched, that despite majority of the people not supporting it, it still clings to power.

The BJP is the saffron side of the same coin. How do those who have been deprived the benefits of development secure power within the system? There is certainly a theoretical way.

We have assured equality before the law. Everybody can contest elections. But to win you need much more.

Those who have taken up arms against the State are the frustrated elements from the billion strong under class. If the system does not find a solution then the solution will come from outside the system. The establishment will oppose. Violence will follow. Is the State entitled to use violence to maintain a system which has created a billion strong under class? The question needs an answer.

Like Mao had for China, Nehru had a vision for India. And indeed he had a vision. But it did not proceed beyond his loins.

The fourth generation of Nehrus is now set to usurp power.

Through constitutional means!

The Maoists are a threat. To those who share Nehru’s vision.And to you. And to me. To the underclass they may be saviours. Yet. Do you have a strong opinion about something? Then write it down in around 1,100 words and send it to ‘editor@heraldgoa.com’ with the word ‘OPinionatED’ in the subject line. Or send it to: OPinonatED, Herald, Rua San Tome, Panjim, Goa403001. If we find it suitable, it will appear in this column.

Please note all contributions will be edited to correct the English and improve readability. Personal attacks or any matter that is potentially libellous may also be edited out.

for five Naxal-hit districts PTI BHUBANESWAR, JULY 1

To counter Maoist propaganda of the State's failure to carry out development works in certain areas, the Orissa government has submitted a Rs 2,400 crore action plan to the Centre for socio-economic development of five worst Naxal-hit districts, official sources said today.

The five districts were Malkangiri, Rayagada and Gajapati in southern region and Deogarh and Sambalpur in western region.

The highest amount of Rs 511 crore was planned to be spent in Gajapati district, the sources said.

“We are hopeful that the Planning Commission will accept our Integrated Action Plan for left wing extremism affected districts,” R V Singh, special secretar y of the Planning and Coordination Department, said.

While the integrated action plan sought Rs 486 crore for Rayagada district, the amount proposed to be spent in Gajapati district was Rs 511 crore followed by Rs 510 crore in Deogarh district and Rs 474 crore in Malkangiri district. Sambalpur required Rs 396 crore, he said.

The money would be spent mostly in construction of roads, culverts and bridges, health, education, electrification, skill development of locals, social welfare, animal resource development, infrastructure creation, irrigation, sports, rural water supply and other activities.

The State government's action plan for the five districts followed a visit of a five-member Planning Commission team which held discussion with the district administration.

The idea was to bridge the gap between Maoist-hit districts

and the developed districts, the official said.

The socio-economic condition would certainly change with proper expenditure of funds meant for different developmental activities in the five districts.

As Maoists often get support from the local residents, mostly tribals, citing non development of their areas, the new plan could upset their objectives of misleading the people.

If sanctioned, Rs 2400 crore would be spent in the five districts where Maoists had considerable presence, they said.

Meanwhile, a guard of honour was given to eight CRPF jawans from Orissa, who were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and other senior police officers offered floral tribute to the martyrs at the CRPF group centre here.

at the memorial in past, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Nilesh Jinjadiya said.

The ACP said statements of people concerned have been recorded while Ahya is out of country and efforts are on to contact him.

We have also checked records at Kasturba Dham from where the items were stated to be

missing and at joint charity commissioner office, but neither side was maintaining records making it difficult for the investigating team to confirm whether the items were in the memorial in the past, the ACP said.

It's very difficult for us to find out whether the items claimed to be missing were kept at the memorial, the officer said, adding only a couple of persons have claimed to have seen them at the memorial while others attached with the memorial have denied to have seen these items.

Vaccharajani has denied the allegation saying he had no idea whether the items had been kept at the memorial.

While Rathod who claimed to be the manager of Kasturba Dham did not have any authentic document to prove his designation, Jinjadiya said.

Gandhiji’s belongings go missing from memorial PTI RAJKOT, JULY 1

The police have begun probe into the allegations of some of Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings going missing from a memorial here.

Manager of Kasturba Dham Jaysinh Rathod in an affidavit to joint charity commissioner has said that some of Gandhiji's belongings were missing from the memorial.

He has accused former managing trustee of Kasturba Dham Pravin Ahya of auctioning off spectacles, sandals, a plate and a bowl, belonging to Father of the Nation, in the US in 2002.

Rathod has also accused another trustee Vibhakar Vaccharajani of aiding and abetting Ahya in taking the articles out of the memorial.

Police have started probe by taking statements of the people concerned to confirm whether the missing articles were kept

PTI CHANDIGARH, JULY 1

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today decided to conduct daily hearings from tomorrow on a revision petition of former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore challenging the Session's Court verdict sentencing him to an 18-month jail term for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika Girhotra.

The hearing in the case of 68year-old Rathore, who has spent over a month in the high security Burail jail, was adjourned

by Justice Jitendra Chauhan till tomorrow.

The court will now hear the matter on a day-to-day basis.

Rathore's lawyer wife Abha did not press for his bail and instead sought two days time from the court to argue the main revision petition. The judge, however, told her that the common man should not be affected as other cases were already lined up.

“I will not force this court to bypass other cases,” Abha said after which Justice Chauhan directed that the arguments in the case will be heard daily from to-

morrow for one hour.

Rathore is undergoing prison term for molesting Ruchika, a classmate of his daughter, 20 years ago.

Abha, during the hearing, questioned the locus standi of Madhu Prakash, mother of sole eyewitness in the molestation case Aradhna, to file a petition in the Sessions Court seeking enhancement of Rathore's sentence of six months jail term awarded to him last year.

Allowing the petition's of Madhu Parkash and that of the CBI, the Sessions Court here had enhanced the six months sentence to 18 months prison term which has been challenged in the High Court by Rathore.

“She (Madhu) had no right to file any revision. She is not a complainant nor is she the victim. She is some stranger. She is not the aggrieved girl nor is she a member of Girhotra family,” Abha contended.

She argued that Madhu's revision itself is “not maintainable and this raises a legal question.”

Countering Abha, Ruchika family lawyer Pankaj Bhardwaj

PTI NEW YORK, JULY 1

commuters, while Russian capital Moscow is at fourth place with a score of 84.

Brazilian city Sao Paolo is ranked sixth, followed by Italian city of Milan, Argentinian capital Buenos Aires, Spain's capital Madrid and London.

Swedish capital Stockholm, with a low index score of 15, is the best city for commuters, while cities like Melbourne and Houston had also the most painfree roadway traffic, found the survey.

Among the US cities, Los An-

BJP questions Anderson’s exit after Bhopal tragedy PTI

RATLAM, JULY 1

BJP President Nitin Gadkari today questioned exit of then Union Carbide Corporation chairman Warren Anderson from the country after the Bhopal gas tragedy.

Gadkari said that Union Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee had been quoted as saying that Anderson was allowed to leave Bhopal because of the law and order situation in the city.

“One can understand the reasons behind allowing Anderson to leave Bhopal but why was he allowed to flee from the country,” he told a press conference here.

Rajiv Gandhi was also the External Affairs Minister when Anderson was allowed to leave the country, Gadkaro said.

The BJP president demanded that the Nuclear liability bill should be scrapped and added that a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) should be set up to

HC to hear Rathore case daily from today said that it was on the basis of the complaint of Madhu Prakash earlier that the whole case had moved.

“How can anyone decide not to make Madhu a party. This is beyond my imagination,” Bhardwaj said.

Abha also alleged that Madhu had procured the inquiry report of the then Haryana DGP R R Singh in the molestation complaint against Rathore.

“She managed to procure the confidential inquiry report using political pressure. Later, she filed a criminal complaint (against Rathore) on the basis of that report. It is a conspiracy which I will tell the court later. There was no RTI at that time,” she said.

Abha also contended that while Ruchika and Anand Prakash family had been making “bogus” claim that the FIR in the case was not registered by the police earlier, the truth remained that they did not give any statements to the police, despite being approached by a senior police official.

Delhi world’s fifth worst city for commuters: study Ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, a new study has ranked the national capital fifth among 20 cities of the world where traffic has gone worse in the past few years, adversely affecting people's heath and productivity.

New Delhi, which will receive thousands of athletes and foreign tourists during the mega sporting event, scored 81 out of 100 in IBM's 'Commuter Pain Study', reflecting its failure to keep the transportation infrastructure at pace with economic activity.

The study, conducted in 20 economically important cities of the world, interviewed 8,192 motorists, majority of whom said daily commute has become a longer and more grueling task than before.

According to the study, released today, Beijing and Mexico City scored 99 each out of 100 in the commuter pain index to become the top two cities in the world having the worst traffic jams.

With a score of 97, Johannesburg is the third worst city for

Devotees participating in the Trishul-Bhant Yatra to Chandi Mata shrine, in Bhaderwah 30 km from Doda city in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. More than 20,000 people from different corners of the state participate in the Yatra..

geles had the worst traffic, scoring 25 on the commuter pain scale, followed by New York and Houston.

According to the survey, about 49 per cent said the traffic problems had become worse while 18 per cent said it had become a lot worse.

Conversely, only 20 per cent of those surveyed said the situation had improved at all and only 5 per cent said it had improved substantially.

Interestingly, in the category of

substantial improvement, New Delhi and Beijing led the way at 17 per cent and 16 per cent respectively, the report said.

“This can be attributed to new transportation capacity being aggressively added in both these cities," it said.

The study also highlighted how traffic problems have an adverse impact on commuters' health.

While 30 per cent of the total respondents reported increased stress from traffic, 27 per cent said there is an increase in anger

and 29 per cent said traffic woes have harmed their performance in work or school.

“The congestion in many of today's developing cities is a relatively recent phenomenon, having parallelled the rapid economic growth of those cities during the past decade or two,” said the report.

“We know the enormity of this problem -- both in its objective and subjective dimensions. Traffic congestion does not just add stress to our already-stressful lives; it impedes economic development while increasing air pollution,” it said.

The survey also found that for about a quarter of the respondents, increase in gas prices would be factor to consider other forms of transportation to go to work.

But in cities like New Delhi, Moscow and Los Angeles, such feeling was relatively absent, perhaps suggesting that at least a modest rise in gas prices would not much affect traffic in those cities.

Stating that there won't be any reduction in number of cars on the roads in near future, the report also called for other steps, including taking help of advanced technology, to tackle the problem.

She claimed that Rathore had been targeted by his enemies, who were opposed to his occupying the post of president of the Haryana Lawn Tennis Association.

Abha contended that neither the trial court nor the appellate court had taken into consideration the defence plea that nobody had examined the site of the incident, otherwise the entire case could have turned on its head.

Abha's sister Neerja, her lawyer daughter Priyanjali, CBI counsel Ajay Kaushik, Anand Parkash (father of Aradhna)and S C Girhotra, father of Ruchika, were among those present in the court.

Abha had on May 26 filed a revision petition in the High Court for suspension of sentence and grant of bail to Rathore, a day after he was sentenced and lodged in the jail.

Ruchika, a budding tennis player, had committed suicide three years after being molested

by Rathore on August 12, 1990.

look into the functioning of CBI and other autonomous institutions.

Accusing Congress of using CBI for its political purposes, Gadkari said that there were a number of questions which the Congress would have to answer.

The BJP president said that from 2002 to this year, the number of encounters took place in Gujarat were much less than those in other states, despite this the CBI was hounding officials in Gujarat and not doing anything else in other States.

Gadkari said that the CBI has been working so blatantly for the Congress that its name should now be changed to “Congress Bureau of Investigation.”

Gadkari said he was saying this as in most cases in which Congress interest was involved, CBI had either given a clean chit or allowed dilution of charges as happened in the Bhopal gas tragedy case.

The BJP president said that the joint director of the CBI at the time of release of Anderson had said that this was done under pressure from the USA. Gadkari said that he was opposed to withdrawal of subsidy on various petroleum products.

“India is a poor country and its people cannot afford withdrawal of subsidy,” he said.

BJP also demanded early extradition of Anderson from USA and increase in financial support to Madhya Pradesh government for various things including disposal of toxic waste following the Bhopal gas disaster of December 1984.

PI summoned in police torture case PTI MUMBAI, JULY 1

Hearing a petition alleging police torture on a group of businessman to settle a civil dispute, the Bombay High Court has asked police inspector posted at Kolhapur to appear tomorrow or else face suspension from service and contempt action.

A division bench on Monday ordered Sanjeev More, police inspector attached to Shahupur police station in Kolhapur to appear in person on July 2 to answer charges of kidnapping and torture levelled against him by businessmen.

“Despite our earlier orders, the police inspector is not present even today and has written a letter to public prosecutor saying he is preoccupied with maintenance of law and order in view of village panchayat elections in Kolhapur,” observed Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice Anoop Mohta.

“If he does not turn up on July

2 we shall recommend suspension from service and initiate contempt proceedings,” the judges said.

The petition, filed by Shailesh Kamdar and three other businessmen from Dhule, sought an enquiry into alleged police atrocities including kidnapping and extracting an amount of Rs 8.15 lakh under pressure.

M/s Joshi freight carriers at Dhule bagged a two-year contract from Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) to carry on business of transporting parcels, specific allied services and courier by MSRTC buses.

M/s Joshi appointed M/s Siddhivinayak freight as their sole selling agents for carrying on transport business. M/s Siddhivinayak in turn appointed M/s Prithvi as their agents for Kolhapur and asked Rs 12 lakh security deposit.In September last year, M/s Prithvi paid Rs 8 lakh security deposit to M/s Siddhivinayak and agreed to pay the balance of Rs 4 lakh.

appoinTMenTs

OHERALDO

Pg10

GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

Christian Wulff elected as German president AP BERLIN, JULY 1

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s candidate was elected German Presi d e n t o n We d n e s d a y i n a lacklustre victory that took an embarrassing three rounds of voting and dashed hopes of a strong show of support from her governing coalition.

Christian Wulff, a 51-year-old deputy leader of Ms. Merkel’s conservative party, won 625 votes in a special Parliamentary Assembly compared to 494 for opposition candidate Joachim Gauck; 121 delegates abstained mostly from the Left Party, which had withdrawn its own candidate in the final round.

Wulff, a former State Governor, led in every round of the secret ballot but was unable to garner the absolute majority needed in the first two rounds as members of Ms. Merkel’s own

coalition broke ranks to support his opponent.

He needed only a simple majority to win the third round, though the coalition came together to give Wulff an absolute majority and spared Ms. Merkel the ignominy of not being able to get her choice confirmed.

Nineteen members of the coalition did not vote for Wulff.

Two killed in Baghdad blast AFP BAGHDAD, JULY 1

Roadside bombs in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Thursday killed two civilians and wounded 12 other people, three of them soldiers and one a militiaman, security and medical officials said.

Twin bombskilled one civilian and wounded seven, including the soldiers.

OHERALDO

Pg11

GOA, FRIDAY 2, JULY, 2010

Taliban rejects negotiations with NATO AGENCIES KABUL, JULY 1

The Taliban in Afghanistan have said that there is no question of their entering into any kind of negotiations with NATO forces.

It comes after US commanders and the British army chief of staff, Gen David Richards, suggested that it might be useful to talk to the Taliban.

The Taliban statement is uncompromising, almost contemptuous.

They believe they are winning the war, and cannot see why they should help NATO by talking to them.

They assume, perhaps wrongly, that the Americans are in disarray after the sacking of the NATO commander Gen Stanley McChrystal last week, and regard any suggestion that they should enter negotiations with them as a sign of NATO’s own weakness.

June, they point out, has seen the highest number of NATO deaths in Afghanistan: 102, an average of more than three a day.

Nowadays it is extremely hard for Westerners to meet Taliban leaders face to face, either in Afghanistan or in Pakistan.

But a trusted intermediary conveyed a series of questions to Zabiullah Mujahedd, the acknowledged spokesman for the Afghan Taliban leadership, and gave us his answers.

The text runs as follows: "We do not want to talk to anyone - not to [President Hamid] Karzai, nor to any foreigners - till the foreign forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

"We are certain that we are winning. Why should we talk if we have the upper hand, and the foreign troops are considering withdrawal, and there are differences in the ranks of our enemies?"

This is propaganda, of course - yet many Afghans, even those who hate and fear the Taliban, are coming round to exactly the same view.

The Taliban are still deeply unpopular in many parts of the country.

Memories are still vivid of the brutal and extreme way they governed from 1996 to 2001.

They, together with their supporters, certainly do not represent anything near a majority of the Afghan people.

They are still predominantly a Pashtu faction, and when they were in power they caused much anger by imposing Pashtu cultural norms on the complex and varied peoples of Afghanistan.

Nevertheless, there is an instinctive and widespread dislike of having foreign troops, and especially non-Muslim ones, based in Afghanistan.

People who do not support the Taliban know that the NATO-led force is preventing the Taliban from returning to power.

But the dislike of occupying forces goes very deep.

The key to the Taliban's remarkable success in capturing Kabul from the more moderate mujahideen leadership in 1996 was their ability to convince dozens of uncommitted warlords that they were bound to win.

Arroyo moves to rewrite constitution

AFP MANILA, JULY 1

Former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo on Thursday launched a bid to change the constitution, raising speculation she is plotting to grab back power while trying to shield herself from prosecution.

Arroyo, 63, filed a petition to parliament calling for a constitutional convention, which if successful could change the system of government to one ruled by a prime minister rather than a president.

However Arroyo's successor, Benigno Aquino, played down the initiative, saying she did not have the support in parliament to succeed.

"The filing of the charter change (resolution) is not a threat as far as we are concerned," Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda told reporters.

"If we are able to convince the members of the house that this is not a valid or a good time to amend the constitution, then that will be dead in the water."

Arroyo, who was required by constitutional term limits to

stand down after nearly a decade in power, has long been suspected of wanting to continue leading the country.

She took the unprecedented step for a sitting president of contesting, and winning, a seat in parliament in the May 10 national elections.

Arroyo's critics have accused her of wanting to use her position in parliament as a platform to change the constitution and become prime minister.

During her presidency, Arroyo had frequently said the gridlock arising from the presidency and parliament not agreeing on policy directions was holding back economic progress.

She tried repeatedly to change the constitution, but her initiatives were blocked by the Senate, many of whose members, including Aquino at the time, harboured their own ambitions to the presidency.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said Arroyo's fresh bid to change the constitution could also be part of her efforts to avoid possible prosecution for alleged crimes committed during her time in power.

Aquino has said he intends to set up a Truth Commission to investigate and possibly prosecute Arroyo for alleged vote rigging, corruption and rights abuses.

A change to another form of government would derail the work of the investigative body, according to Casiple, from the Manila-based Institute for Political and Electoral Reform.

"It's just a matter of time before the commission starts its work," he said.

Arroyo and her aides could not be reached for comment on Thursday.

Cyprus issues warrant for Russian spy REUTERS NICOSIA, JULY 1

Police in Cyprus issued an arrest warrant on Thursday for a suspected Russian spy wanted by the United States who vanished shortly after being freed on bail on the Mediterranean island.

Christopher Robert Metsos, 55, who American authorities accuse of being the paymaster for a network of Russian agents in the United States, failed to report to a police station on Wednesday, violating terms of his bail granted a day earlier.

A police statement issued on Thursday said Metsos was wanted for "disobeying a court order" on June 30. "We have no indications of where he may be," Michalis Katsounotos, a police spokesman, said, adding that he had cleared out his apartment.

The spokesman declined to speculate about whether he had fled Cyprus. Police were searching for him on the island.

Police released a photograph of Metsos on Thursday. The suspect was of medium build, balding with grey hear, rimless spectacles and a neat moustache. It was taken in Cyprus on June 29, shortly before he was released on bail, police said.

OHERALDO

Biz12:Pg12 7/1/2010 11:02 AM Page 1

BIZ

Pg12

GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

May exports jump 35% trend will continue, the only worrying aspect is the crisis in the Eurozone economies, which is likely to affect our exports to those markets," Federation of Indian Export Organisations president A Sakthivel said.

A sharp erosion in the euro value has also reduced the margins of exporters. The euro has depreciated by about 17.5 percent against the rupee since last November.

Labour-intensive sectors like engineering, gems & jewellery, leather and man-made fibres have registered healthy growth rates in May, the commerce ministry officials said.

Yes Bank chief economist Subadha Rao said though exports have not yet recover significantly, the overall numbers this year are likely to be higher than those of 2009-10. "We expect exports to touch USD 195-200

PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 1

Exports posted an impressive 35.1 percent growth at USD 16.1 billion year-on-year in May, but the lingering debt crisis in many Eurozone nations may slow down the pace of expansion in the coming months.

Exports in May grew on a low base of USD 11.95 billion a year ago when the consignments had plunged by over 29 percent from the previous fiscal under the impact of the recession in the US and several other advanced economies.

Imports also surged 38.5 percent in the reporting month to USD 27.4 billion compared to the same period last fiscal, indicating a rapid pace of domestic economic activity. As a result, trade deficit widened to USD 11.29 billion from USD 7.8 billion a year ago.

"While we hope the growth

TALK BUSINESS

Nakoda acquires polyester plant in South Korea PANJIM (HBD) – Nakoda Ltd one of the leading players in the fully drawn yarn segment, announced that it has signed an asset purchase agreement with Kyunghan Industry Company Ltd for acquisition of their entire manufacturing facilities located at Kyunghan in South Korea through its subsidiary Indo Korean Petrochem Ltd. The total capital investment for the Korean Venture would be USD 40 million.

“This acquisition marks our entry into new geographies. We plan to work collectively to close similar deals in future to expand our network across the globe. We have bought the plant and machineries only whereas the land and buildings are leased making the venture economical for us” said B G Jain, CMD, Nakoda Ltd.

New range at The Loot PANJIM (HBD) -- The Loot, a value retail chain has introduced a wide range of denims for men and women. On racks are brands such as Levi’s, Lee, Wrangler, Mufti, GAS, Eccentrics, Spykar and more.

Priced at Rs 700 onwards, The Loot is also offering all its customers an up to 60% off on its merchandise.

LAUNCH PAD

Tata rolls out water purifier with Rs 499 price tag NEW DELHI (PTI) -- Keeping an eye on the common man, Tata today launched two new variants of its water purifier ''Swach'' in the North-Indian market, with the low-end version quoting a rockbottom price of just Rs 499. After launching water purifiers priced at Rs 749 and Rs 999 in Maharashtra last year, group company Tata Chemicals today introduced two new variants -- Swach Smart and Swach Smart Magic -- at Rs 749 and Rs 499 respectively.

In 2009, the group had launched the Nano -- the world''s cheapest car -- at a price tag of less than Rs 1.5 lakh, giving many Indians the chance to own an automobile without burning a gaping hole in their pockets. "We are selling 20,000-25,000 units in two states (Maharashtra and Karnataka) already, and with the product launched in the North we are expecting to do better," Tata Chemicals Managing Director R Mukundan told reporters here.

He said the company aims to sell one million units of Swach water purifiers in the current fiscal. "We have a target of selling one million water purifiers in the current fiscal," Mukundan said, adding that Tata also expects the water business to contribute over Rs 100 crore to its topline.

The company is also looking at expanding its water filtration segment by increasing the manufacturing capacity through the addition of another production line. "The production line is proposed to come up in Haldia in West Bengal," Mukandan said, declining to give further details.

He said that the company has earmarked a budget of Rs 50 crore for its water filtration business and, out of this, around twothird has already been spent. Last year, Tata Chemicals announced its foray into the water business with the launch of ''Swach'' in two variants -- priced at Rs 749 and Rs 999.

Sensex ignores positive domestic cues, falls 191 pts PTI

MUMBAI, JULY 1

The BSE benchmark Sensex today nosedived over 190 points on selling pressure across sectors, particularly metal and realty, notwithstanding feel-good factors such as a fall in food prices and rise in exports.

After recording the sixth straight quarterly gain – the longest winning streak in its 25-year history, the 30-share index fell by 191.57 points, or 1.08 per cent, at 17,509.33.

The National Stock Exchange’s headline Nifty 50 also lost 1.15 per cent to 5,251.40 points.

billion level this fiscal year," she said.

Battling the recession in the Western markets, which account for the bulk of shipments from the country, exports had dropped to USD 12 billion in May 2009.

Crisil principal economist DK Joshi said, "the pace of exports (growth) may slow down in the coming months because it is over a low base. The figures look good, though it is over a depression."

Oil imports increased by a whopping 66.7 percent to USD 8.8 billion in May, while the non-oil imports rose by 32.3 percent to USD 18.6 billion.

For the April-May period, exports grew by 35.7 percent to USD 33 billion over the comparative months last year, according to the data released today.

Imports during the first two months grew by 40.9 percent to USD 54.74 billion year-onyear. During April-May, trade deficit increased to USD 21.7 billion compared to USD 14.5 billion last year.

HT Media to dilute up to 23% in HMVL PTI MUMBAI, JULY 1

HT Media Limited will be diluting up to 23 per cent of its holding in its subsidiary Hindustan Media Ventures (HMVL) through an IPO scheduled to hit the capital market on July 5.

NMVL today fixed the priceband for its IPO at between Rs 162-175 per share and plans to raise Rs 270-crore through the issue. HMVL publishes the Hindi-language Hindustan newspaper.

"The dilution by HTML would be between 21 and 23 per cent depending on the exact price at which the sale happens," a senior official from Edelweiss Capital, one of the book running lead managers, said.

Post-IPO, HTML will hold the rest of the equity, he added.

The IPO, opening on July 5 will close on July 7 and the company plans to utilise Rs 135-crore or half of the funds raised for prepayment of loans, Rs 66-crore for setting-up new units and another Rs 55-crore for upgrades, it said in its red herring prospectus.

After three years of being in the red, the company registered a net profit of around Rs 45-crore in 2009-10, which is slated to move up as advertising revenues increase with an upward movement in the GDP. HMVL's Chief Executive Officer, Amit Chopra, said, "it is not a question of being in the red or black. There is a good future considering the geographies we are present in and the advantages accruing from association with HTML in areas of content, supply-chain, circulation and ad sales."

Aban Offshor, 840, 854.3, 836, 849.25 Abb Ltd., 862, 863.95, 858.1, 860.6 Abg Shipyard, 260, 261.4, 258, 259.1 Acc Limited, 862.25, 872.5, 860.8, 866.6 Adani Enterp, 535.8, 540.35, 533.55, 536.85 Aditya Birla, 768.7, 768.7, 747.2, 762.1 Allahabad Ba, 162.15, 162.85, 159, 160.1 Alstom Proje, 670.6, 672, 657, 659.55 Ambuja Cemen, 114.4, 115, 112.7, 113.05 Andhra Bank, 131.5, 131.5, 127.6, 129.3 Ashok Leylan, 63.25, 63.9, 62.55, 62.6 Asian Paints, 2329.95, 2338, 2275.3, 2329.75 Axis Bank Li, 1242, 1242, 1215.05, 1233.65 Bajaj Hindus, 116, 119, 114.5, 116.95 Bank Of Baro, 690.8, 723.8, 690.8, 719.6 Bank Of Indi, 347.5, 364.1, 346.1, 357 Beml Limited, 1000.6, 1006.95, 990, 995 Bharat Elect, 1723, 1737.9, 1708, 1718.7 Bharat Forge, 286.1, 290.7, 283.9, 288.35 Bharat Petro, 663, 677.8, 655.1, 660.3 Bharti Airte, 263, 266.25, 261.1, 265.05 Bhel, 2451.8, 2451.8, 2407.05, 2427.7 Bhushan Stee, 1397.2, 1432, 1381, 1422.35

SBI launches green channel facility MUMBAI: State Bank of India, said it has launched its ''Green Channel Counter'' facility on a countrywide basis, which is intended to smoothen the process of transacting business. From now onwards, customers need not fill-up any pay-in slips or draw cheques for depositing or withdrawing money from their accounts.

This will save paper, thereby contributing to the concept of ''Green Banking'', the bank said in a statement here. To start with, three types of transactions have been enabled through this facility -- Cash Deposits, Cash Withdrawals and Fund Transfers.

Base interest rate into effect PTI NEW DELHI, JULY 1

Banks will not lend below the minimum or base interest rate from today as directed by RBI, but may continue to give cheaper credit to some preferred clients as per their discretion under existing agreements.

While public sector major State Bank of India has made its intentions partly clear in this regard, industry sources said that some of the top private sector banks might do the same.

RBI's direction on having a base rate--the minimum rate below which banks cannot lend with effect from July 1, was largely aimed at bringing

parity between different classes of borrowers and discourage discounted lending by banks to blue-chip customers, mostly large corporate houses.

However, the banks seem to have found a loop-hole in the whole exercise in the name of loan agreements already signed with their existing clients.

Almost all the banks have announced their respective base rates, being effected from today, which range between 7.0-8.75 per cent. This means they would have to lend at a rate equal to or above these base rates.

In the previous regime, the banks' interest rates were linked to their Benchmark

RBI for co-ordinated stimulus exit globally PTI MUMBAI, JULY 1

A Reserve Bank report made a strong case for co-ordination among central banks globally while formulating their stimulus exit strategies, which, otherwise, could pose major challenges to countries in the form of capital flows. "...there is a pressing need for international co-ordination of policy exits of systemically important countries. Lack of policy co-ordination in this respect could create adverse spill-overs from one country to other through interest rate differentials," RBI's report on Currency and Finance said.

With the recovery in sight,

RBI started exiting from its easy money policy late last year by restoring its SLR to 25%. It also hiked its shortterm rates by 0.5% and mandatory cash reserve ratio by 1% so far this year. Prepared by a group of professional economists in the RBI, said an early communication on exit of fiscal policy measures cold undermine confidence in the market and aggravate recovery concerns.

"Untimely or early communication regarding the exit of certain policy measures may not be desirable and thus needs careful assessment by policymakers," the report said.

In the face of continuing un-

certainties in global markets, the RBI is in a dilemma to exit to hike its policy rates while on the other side, the economic recovery is still at nascent stages.

Noting that the central banks need to devise a calibrated exit from the accommodative stance, the report cautioned that while an early exit mat derail the recovery process, delayed actions could build up inflationary pressures in the economy.

The RBI is widely expected to hike its short-term rates (repo and reverse repo) by atleast 0.25% to tame the high inflation, which rose to 10.2 per cent in May.

TDS awareness meet held HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, JULY 1

As a part its ongoing awareness campaign on matters relating to Tax Deducted at Source (TDS), the Income Tax Department has launched a week-long contact program for Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) of the State Government of Goa in the Seminar Hall of the Secretariat today.

This is the IT Dept’s fourth such contact program in this series, the first three being with the corporate bodies and associations. In the coming days, the Income tax department will hold a series of programmes covering all the DDOs in the state Govt. This awareness campaign is aimed at facilitating and informing various deductors and payers about the important provisions of the TDS systems, their duties while deducting the TDS amounts, and the precautions to be taken by them while filing the TDS returns.

Manoj Joshi IRS, Additional Commissioner of Income Tax, TDS Range, presided over the contact program. In his introductory speech he stressed on

Biocon Limit, 324.9, 324.9, 320.2, 322.25 Bombay Dyein, 482, 488.9, 478.05, 484 Bosch Limite, 5375, 5429.9, 5360, 5372.5 Brigade Ente, 134, 135.95, 133, 133.95 Cairn India, 301.5, 303, 295, 296.85 Canara Bank, 447.85, 455, 446.15, 452.05 Central Bank, 141, 141.05, 138.65, 139.9 Century Text, 458, 460, 452.3, 455.45 Cesc Ltd, 374, 377.95, 373.7, 375.55 Chambal Fert, 65.75, 66.5, 64.8, 65.35 Chennai Petr, 255, 255.9, 249.25, 252.85 Cipla Ltd, 338, 339.8, 334.55, 335.25 Colgate Palm, 839.8, 847.2, 831.05, 840.6 Container Co, 1344.5, 1350, 1322, 1334.6 Crompton Gre, 256, 258.5, 255.1, 257.3 Cummins Indi, 590, 600, 588.1, 597.45 Dabur India, 210.9, 211.4, 205.8, 206.2 Deccan Chron, 122.5, 125.55, 121.5, 122.95 Dish Tv Indi, 47.9, 47.9, 45.4, 45.8 Divi’s Labor, 771.7, 785.5, 763.05, 781.25 Dlf Limited, 286.7, 286.7, 281.65, 283.85 Dr. reddy’s, 1450, 1472, 1435.05, 1440.45 Edelweiss Ca, 484.7, 491.9, 479.4, 483.85 Educomp Solu, 530, 540.4, 526.6, 528.7

the need to enter the correct details in the online TDS forms by the payers. He stated that the incorrect entries made in the quarterly returns filed by the deductors lead to mismatches in the system due to which due tax credit cannot be given to the deductee. This creates great hardship for the deductee from whose payments the tax has been deducted at source. This is because only when the TDS entries have been made correctly by the deductor or payer can the payee or the person on whose behalf the TDS has been deducted be allowed the credit for TDS as claimed in the Return of Income filed by the tax payer (deductee).

He asked the audience, consisting of the DDOs of various Departments of the state government, to make correct entries in the quarterly TDS returns filed by them so that the mismatches are reduced and the TDS deducted by them gets credited to the account of the persons on behalf of whom they had deducted the tax. He also asked the DDOs to rectify the errors in the TDS returns

Eih Limited, 119.55, 125.5, 119.55, 122.05 Engineers In, 312, 326.4, 310.25, 321.95 Essar Oil Lt, 140.9, 142.7, 138.5, 139.95 Essar Shippi, 86.65, 87.7, 85, 85.55 Exide Indust, 130.9, 131.65, 129.5, 130 Federal Bank, 315.1, 318.6, 313, 316.15 Financial Te, 1339.45, 1349.6, 1323, 1343.4 Gail (india), 465.8, 483, 460.5, 466.25 Gammon India, 214.1, 216.75, 212.1, 214.7 Glaxosmithkl, 2200, 2219.85, 2180, 2188.6 Glenmark Pha, 271, 271.5, 267, 270.3 Gmr Infrastr, 59.9, 60.2, 58.75, 59.8 Godrej Indus, 167, 167.5, 165, 165.65 Grasim Indus, 1841, 1864.8, 1811.5, 1845.4 Great Offsho, 440.5, 446.75, 438, 441.7 Gtl Infra.Lt, 47, 47.85, 46.55, 47.05 Gujarat Mine, 127.85, 130.6, 125.25, 126.15 Gujarat N R, 63.6, 63.6, 62.2, 62.3 Gujarat Stat, 101.05, 103.3, 100.65, 102.2 Gvk Pow. & I, 44.3, 44.3, 43.45, 43.75 Hcl Technolo, 364, 365.5, 358.65, 363.4 Hdfc Bank Lt, 1912, 1929.7, 1895, 1907.4 Hdfc Ltd, 2932, 2934.6, 2896, 2915.4

Hero Honda M, 2055, 2057, 2015.2, 2020.15 Hindalco in, 143, 143.9, 141, 142.95 Hindustan Co, 119, 119.5, 117, 118.45 Hindustan Ma, 70.6, 71.75, 70.5, 70.95 Hindustan Pe, 468, 484.7, 463.4, 469.9 Hindustan Un, 267, 273.15, 264.35, 272.5 Hindustan Zi, 965.1, 965.15, 947.05, 952.25 Housing Dev, 247, 251.6, 241.6, 243.65 Icici Bank L, 854.45, 857, 836.55, 841.45 Idea Cellula, 59.2, 60.1, 58.5, 59.75 Ifci Ltd, 56.95, 58.25, 55.85, 57.8 India Cement, 107, 107.85, 106.1, 106.5 India Infoli, 97, 97, 94.4, 94.95 Indiabulls F, 140.2, 143.9, 139.2, 140.2 Indiabulls R, 155.3, 159.3, 153.5, 156.35 Indian Bank, 225.9, 227, 222.5, 225.7 Indian Hotel, 105.05, 105.9, 104.05, 104.8 Indian Oil C, 403, 407.7, 396.9, 400 Indian Overs, 104.25, 104.45, 103.25, 103.95 Indus Dev Ba, 118.5, 119, 117.5, 118.45 Indusind Ban, 204, 207.35, 203, 205.55 Infosys Tech, 2791, 2791, 2751, 2767.05 Infra. dev., 177.05, 183.9, 177.05, 182.3

they had filed for financial years 2008-09 and 2009-10 as the processing of the Income Tax returns for these years are being carried out. It was stressed that correct PAN, name of the deductee and the amount credited as TDS to government account be verified by each deductor and corrections be carried out immediately in these Returns.

Income Tax Officer Hanumanthappa, gave a presentation on the issues related to TDS highlighting the common errors made by the deductors and the methods of correcting those mistakes so that the concerned payee is able to get the credits for TDS. The procedure for verifying the TDS statements filed by the deductors using the internet was also explained. Venkatesh, from the TIN facilitation centre, Panjim enlightened the audience about the ways of going about filing the TDS statements online and the precautions to be taken during that. S Sundar Rajan IRS, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, was also present for the program.

Ispat Indust, 17.9, 17.95, 17.55, 17.7 Itc Ltd, 304.8, 304.8, 300.25, 303 Ivrcl Infras, 186, 188.95, 182, 188.05 Jai Corp Lim, 250, 250, 243, 245.25 Jaiprakash A, 126.5, 129, 126, 128 Jet Airways, 525.1, 531, 522, 527.7 Jindal Saw L, 202.3, 202.3, 197.85, 199.05 Jindal Steel, 612, 621.45, 610.25, 613.5 Jsw Steel Li, 1054.65, 1055, 1033.9, 1036.9 Kotak Mahind, 769.9, 776.4, 756.5, 770.15 Lakshmi Mach, 2061, 2088.25, 2050, 2052.9 Lanco Infrat, 66.6, 66.85, 65.5, 66.55 Larsen & Tou, 1799.6, 1805.95, 1786, 1794.15 Lic Housing, 994.9, 995.25, 966.65, 975.9 Lupin Limite, 1964, 1972, 1921, 1930 Mahanagar Te, 67, 67.25, 65.25, 65.75 Mahindra & M, 625, 630.1, 613, 615.15 Maruti Suzuk, 1424.3, 1424.3, 1380, 1400.9 Max India Lt, 154.4, 158.05, 154.3, 156.45 Maytas Infr., 210.4, 211, 207.1, 208.15 Moser-baer (, 68.6, 68.6, 67.2, 67.95 Mrpl, 75.75, 76.9, 74.55, 76.2 Nagarjuna Co, 187, 188.4, 185.2, 186.7

Prime Lending Rates decided by them from time to time.

In the earlier system, the banks could lend at a rate above the BPLR, and even below that for their preferred customers. But discounted rates are not allowed in base rate regime.

However, to honour the existing loan agreements signed with their customers, the banks can give the customer an option to continue with the Benchmark Prime Lending Rate system till the facility falls for renewal or review.

If the customers want to switch over to the base rate regime they are allowed to do so on their existing loans also.

A circular to this effect was

Wockhardt is now Fortis Hospitals PANJIM (HBD) -- Wockhardt Hospitals in Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata have been rechristened Fortis Hospitalsand are to be headed by Vishal Bali.

Bali, CEO, Fortis Hospitals Group said "The transaction of the 10 Wockhardt Hospitals into the Fortis Healthcare network has been successfully completed and these hospitals are now rechristened as Fortis Hospitals. This deal is a landmark in the Indian Healthcare sector and ition has been accomplished seamlessly."

With the addition of 10 hospitals of Wockhardt, Fortis Healthcare scales up its presence to a network of 68 hospitals and bed capacity of over 12,000. It now extends its reach to 22 cities across the country and adds to its kitty 2 internationally accredited hospitals located in Bangalore and Mumbai besides its own in Mohali.

issued by State Bank of India today, the first day of its base rate regime, wherein it has fixed the rate at 7.5 per cent.

Sources said that some of the leading private sector lenders are also going to follow the same model, where they would allow the existing customers to continue with their existing rates if they desire so.

This is despite, the banks having the right to change the rates or even enforce a renewal or review of the rates as per their convenience in floating rate schemes.

But, they are giving this option as they do not want to lose blue-chip customers, especially large corporate clients.

As such, SBI has also decided to continue its teaser home loan rates, where it offers an aggressive 8 per cent interest rate for the first year and subsequently increase it in later years. The scheme was earlier valid till yesterday. Such offers have already come in for criticism by RBI and government officials.

BOARD MEETINGS Flex Foods Hester Bio Vardhman Poly Global Boards Kohinoor Broad Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA ICICI PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND has filed an offer document with SEBI to launch ICICI Prudential Regular Savings Fund, an open ended income fund. The NFO price for the scheme will be Rs 10 per unit.

The scheme shall offer growth and dividend option. Dividend option shall have dividend payout and dividend reinvestment facility with dividend reinvestment as default facility.

Entry load will be nil for the scheme. If the amount sought to be redeemed or switched out is invested upto 1 year an exit load of 2% of the applicable NAV will be charged. If the amount sought to be redeemed or switched out is invested for a period of more than 1 year the exit load charge will be nil.

Minimum application amount will be Rs 15,000.

The minimum subscription (target) amount of Rs 1 lakh is expected to be raised during the NFO period.

The scheme`s performance will be benchmarked against CRISIL Composite Bond Fund Index. The fund manager of the scheme will be Chaitanya Pande.

IDFC MUTUAL FUND has filed an offer document with SEBI to launch IDFC Infrastructure Fund, an open ended equity fund. The NFO price for the scheme will be Rs 10 per unit.

The scheme shall offer growth and dividend option.

Entry load will be nil for the scheme. Exit load charge will be 1% if redeemed within 365 days from the date of allotment/investment. Minimum application amount will be Rs 5,000.

The minimum subscription (target) amount of Rs 10 million is expected to be raised during the NFO period. The scheme’s performance will be benchmarked against FTSE-IDFC India Infrastructure index. The fund manager of the scheme will be Kenneth Andrade.

Nagarjuna Fe, 32.4, 32.45, 31.5, 31.65 National Alu, 422.7, 434.5, 422.7, 430.1 Neyveli Lign, 154.9, 161.5, 152.05, 160.05 Ntpc Ltd, 199, 201.9, 197.3, 199.95 Oil And Natu, 1320.8, 1346.9, 1296.65, 1302.3 Omaxe Limite, 94, 94.9, 93.4, 94.05 Oriental Ban, 324, 327.7, 317.55, 318.9 Pantaloon Re, 419.9, 422.8, 410.35, 420.95 Parsvnath De, 122.9, 124.4, 122.05, 122.35 Petronet Lng, 77.65, 77.65, 76.6, 77.05 Power Fin Co, 298.6, 299.5, 294.25, 298.25 Power Grid C, 103.7, 104.05, 102.5, 103.25 Praj Industr, 81.5, 81.6, 80.6, 81.05 Punj Lloyd L, 134.8, 136.8, 131.8, 133.45 Punjab Natio, 1045, 1048, 1005.3, 1020.35 Rajesh Expor, 82.6, 83.2, 81.8, 82.15 Ranbaxy Labs, 460.1, 467.55, 458, 460.6 Rashtriya Ch, 82.45, 84.5, 81.85, 83.25 Rel. nat. re, 65.95, 66.25, 64.45, 64.95 Reliance Cap, 760, 760, 745.1, 751.55 Reliance Com, 197.4, 197.4, 191.5, 192.25 Reliance Ene, 900, 913.99, 900, 900 Reliance Ind, 974.4, 985, 966.9, 971.45

Reliance Ind, 1084, 1086.35, 1066.5, 1076.25 Reliance Pow, 171.5, 172.4, 168.85, 169.55 Rolta India, 166.2, 168.2, 166, 166.8 Satyam Compu, 90.9, 93.4, 90.2, 92 Sesa Goa Ltd, 350, 353.75, 347.1, 351.6 Shipping Cor, 157.8, 158.6, 155.65, 157.45 Siemens Ltd, 733.1, 735, 714.15, 715.65 Sintex Indus, 321.9, 321.9, 315, 315.7 Sobha Develo, 289.2, 289.25, 285.1, 287.8 State Bank O, 2291.1, 2299, 2254, 2262.25 Steel Author, 191, 192.4, 188.65, 189.25 Sterlite Ind, 168.25, 168.25, 163.2, 164.1 Sun Pharmace, 1780, 1782, 1743, 1752.65 Sun Tv Netwo, 436.5, 439.45, 429, 431.05 Suzlon Energ, 57.15, 57.8, 57.15, 57.35 Tata Communi, 262.9, 264.7, 259.5, 260.45 Tata Consult, 750, 750, 725.75, 732 Tata Motors, 777.8, 780.1, 761.15, 762.75 Tata Power C, 1310, 1317, 1288.4, 1309.9 Tata Steel L, 483.7, 486, 472.25, 475 Tata Tea Ltd, 121.6, 122.4, 119, 121.1

Tata Teleser, 22.25, 22.25, 21.9, 22 Tech Mahindr, 728, 746.4, 728, 736.3 The Ge Shpg., 291, 293, 286, 290.55 The Phoenix, 209.6, 221.8, 209.6, 215.5 Thermax Ltd, 755, 765, 741.4, 745.65 Titan Indust, 2360, 2367.75, 2341, 2349.7 Torrent Powe, 332.45, 342.3, 328, 340.65 Triveni Engg, 101, 104.25, 100.35, 102.5 Tv18 India L, 96.1, 97.2, 94.8, 95.85 Uco Bank, 77.45, 78.25, 76.6, 77.75 Ultratech Ce, 878.95, 878.95, 861.5, 866.6 Union Bank O, 311.9, 314.8, 310.1, 313.5 Unitech Ltd, 73.8, 73.8, 72.2, 72.7 United Phosp, 183.4, 186, 180.1, 181.4 Videocon Ind, 213, 213.3, 208.8, 211.3 Vijaya Bank, 64.2, 64.95, 64.15, 64.75 Voltas Ltd, 197.7, 201.5, 195.5, 198.7 Wipro Ltd, 384, 384, 372.1, 375.15 Yes Bank Lim, 267, 271.2, 266, 269.6 Zee Entertai, 307.5, 307.5, 297.6, 298.85

Pg13­

HE RA LD

SPORTS GOA, Friday, 2 July, 2010

Serena sees off Kvitova, in final l Nadal faces Murray in semis today

Bopanna and Qureshi crash out AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 1

Serena AFP LONDON, JULY 1

Defending champion Serena Williams reached her third successive Wimbledon final after seeing off a challenge from gritty Czech Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/5), 62 on Thursday.

The world number one was given a stiff challenge from the unseeded world number 62, but Kvitova began to run out of steam in the second set and could not stop Williams from taking a step closer towards a fourth Wimbledon title.

The American top seed's victory means that at least one of the Williams sisters has advanced to 10 out of 11 straight finals here, with Serena now having made six.

"It definitely wasn't easy. I worked really hard," Williams said. I'm happy to still be here, it's such a blessing to still be in the tournament. I definitely worked really hard," the top seed said in a courtside interview.

Vincent to coach Churchill Bros

"I didn't expect to get as far at the beginning of the tournament. It's such a blessing to still be in the tournament."

Kvitova had been expected to be little more than a sacrificial lamb on Williams' route to a fourth crown, but the feisty Czech gave as good as she got in a tight first set.

She broke the Williams serve in the fifth game but the American levelled and took the tie-break 7-5.

Kvitova battled defiantly in the second set but a double fault to hand Williams a double break at 5-2 meant there was no way back. She served out for the match, clinching victory when a stone dead net cord fell short of Kvitova's outstretched racket after an hour and 33 minutes.

Russian Vera Zvonareva booked a place in final when she beat unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6, 6-3, 62 in the semi-final on Thursday.

The 21st seed reached her first Grand Slam final after a

Murray

slow start against the world number 82, losing the first set before coming through with increasing confidence on a cloudy, breezy day.

Britain’s Andy Murray punished Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for one crucial error of judgement on Wednesday to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year.

Fourth seed Murray eventually raced to a 6-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory but the first half of the match was a tense affair for the Scot who will face Rafael Nadal in the last four on Friday.

GOA DIARY

GCA office-bearers

PANJIM (HSD) -- Following members have been appointed as office-bearers of Goa Cricket Association (GCA) from July 1 by the president of Goa Cricket Association, Dayanand G. Narvekar.

Sanjay Kanekar (1st vice-president), Prakash Phadte (2nd vicepresident), Chetan Dessai (3rd vice-president), Prasad V. Phaterpekar (secretary), Vinod Phadke (treasurer), Amaresh Naik (joint secretary), Vivek Pednekar (joint secretary) and Kishori Haldankar (joint secretary).

Karate classes at St Ines

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, JULY 1

Singapore-based Vincent Subramaniam from Bangalore was appointed head coach of Churchill Brothers on Thursday.

Osmani Hussain, a former player with the club, has been named assistant coach.

Churchill Alemao, PWD Minister and Patron of Churchill Bros, stated that Vincent will take over from Brazilian Carlos Pareira for the new season. Vincent holds AFC, UEFA, FA England professional diplomas, his last appointment being the head coach of Home United FC in Singapore Pro League since 2007.

Earlier, he was the Singapore National coach and head coach of Singapore Armed Forces Football Club and Geylang International Football Club.

Fifty-five-year old Vincent had a stint with the AFC and is currently the AFC Coaching Course elite instructor and member of AFC Technical Study Group. He guided the team for club championship from 1994 to 1998 and was named Coach of Singapore in 1996 and 1997. He was also the head of the National Singapore Youth teams from 1978 to 1984.

After serving as Singapore National coach in 1999 and 2000, Vincent was appointed senior staff coach for Singapore FA in 2002 and 2003.

PANJIM (HSD) -- As part of the Silver Jubilee year celebrations, sensei Joseph Rodrigues, 4th Dan Black Belt,WSKF, Japan will launch new batches of karate for adults at Basilio’s Fitness Centre, St. Inez on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 6.15 a.m (mixed batch ), Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays - 8.15 a. m (ladies only). Certification for the belts awarded will be given

by World Shotokan Karate-Do, Japan.

Batches are open to all above 21 and special attention will be given to fitness in the form of abdominal work-outs, stretching, muscle toning and cardio workouts through kata. The ladies batch will have special self defense training as well. Those interested may contact Joseph on 9822166165.

Fitness test for referees

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Goa Football Association will be conducting the first physical fitness test for all referees on July 25, at PJN Stadium, Margao. All referees have been asked to report at 6.30 a.m. as it is compulsory for officiating during 2010-11 season.

TT meeting

PANJIM (HSD) – Clubs affiliated to Goa Table Tennis Association have been asked to attend a meeting on July 4 at 11 a.m. at Clube Vasco de Gama, Panjim to finalize the table tennis tournament calendar for the year, according to Vero Nunes, president.

TT, basketball coaching

PANJIM (HSD) – The Don Bosco Oratory conducts regular coaching in TT, basketball, skating at the Oratory complex, Panjim. Those interested may contact Don Bosco Oratory office, Panjim between 10 and 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. or Fr Ralin De Souza, who has recently taken over as the director of Oratory.

Blindfold chess

PANJIM (HSD) – The Chess Activity Centre will organise their first blindfold chess team championship in July/August. It is a team event of three players. The demonstration game of visualization will be held on July 3 between 4 and 6 p.m. at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula.

Clarke, Harris lead Aussies to easy win AGENCIES LONDON, JULY 1

Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting and Ryan Harris led Australia to a comfortable 78-run victory over England in the fourth Oneday International at the Oval on Wednesday.

Clarke made an unbeaten 99

and Ponting 92 to lift the touring side to a commanding total of 290 for five and England, who clinched the series on Sunday, never looked like reaching their target.

Eoin Morgan made a typically fluent 47, including successive sixes off James Hopes, but he

fell to Harris who completed figures of five for 32 to win the man-of-the-match award in an impressive bowling display from the world champions.

England chose to field after winning the toss.

P P Pandey (Kalyan SSA), V C Zirwal (Nashik SSA), B C Borkar (Nag[pur), S S Avhad (Mumbai A) who have been selected for BSNL Maharashtra Circle chess team after the 10th selection trials at Sanchar Bhavan, Patto, Panjim under the auspices of Divisional Sports and Cultural Board, alongwith C A Sasane (Sangli) and S R Shinde (Raigad) (stand-byes), P V Desai, DSCB Goa secretary 2nd from left, Kamble (DGM Mobile) 4th from left, G R Ravi (GM Goa) 5th from left. In all, 56 including four from BSNL, Goa participated. G R Ravi gave away the prizes in the presence of Sujeet Kumar, DGM, Panjim, Kamble, D Pandey, DGM F and P V Desai. N A Khandeparkar was named manager of the team which will participate in All India BSNL chess tourney in Haryana.

Frenchman Tsonga, the 10th seed, left Murray’s dipping return which landed on the line at 5-5 in the second tie-break and allowed him to go on and take the set.

After that, Murray did not look back and took the match with a ferocious crosscourt forehand.

With England’s footballers already eliminated from the World Cup, the British sporting public have pinned its hopes on Murray becoming the nation’s first men’s champion at Wimbledon since 1936.

India's Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani partner Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi crashed out in straight sets from the doubles quarterfinal of the Wimbledon in London.

Bopanna and Qureshi lost 46, 6-7(3), 2-6 to Juergen Melzer of Austria and Germany's Philipp Petzschner.

Qureshi had become the first Pakistani player to reach the last eight of any Grand Slam event and the quarter-final appearance is also the best-ever Grand Slam performance for his partner Bopanna.

The first two sets witnessed close-fought battle with both the pairs holding their serve, apart from the break in the very first game by the European pair, while the second set went into a tie-break.

However, the Indo-Pak duo were nowhere in the competition in the third set as Bopanna dropped his serve twice -- in the third and seventh games - to hand over the match to their rivals in an hour and 37 minutes.

Melzer and Petzschner will now be up against seventh seeds Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Belgian Dick Norman, who beat second seeded American brothers pair of Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6(4), 7-6(5), 6-7(3), 7-5 in another quarterfinal match.

PTI SINGAPORE, JULY 1

Barely a few hours after taking over as ICC President, Sharad Pawar sought to downplay the controversial rejection of former Australian Premier John Howard as a vice-president candidate, saying there was no political connotation to the issue.

Addressing his first press conference as the top official of the game's governing body, Pawar said they have asked Australian and New Zealand Boards to find another candidate and submit it to the ICC by August 31.

Pawar said the rejection of Howard had nothing to do with politics and his policies on Africa, in particular towards Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe.

"What is the political connotation? There is no question of political connotation," Pawar said.

ICC Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, who was also present at the press conference, said that the game's governing body was not obliged to explain why Howard's bid failed.

"The ICC does not have give those reasons. There weren't sufficient number of directors in support of the nomination, (it) did not go to a vote and the outcome was to request Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket to reconsider their nomination," Lorgat said.

Lorgat refused to be drawn

Sharad Pawar addressing the press after taking over as ICC President in Singapore on Thursday.

into a debate on how the ICC would react if Cricket Australia and Cricket New Zealand renominated Howard.

"I think that's speculative and we must wait for August 31 and see what comes forward," he said.

Pawar said, "We (will) wait for their recommendation." If Howard's nomination had gone through, he would have become ICC vice-president for two years and then take the top post from Pawar in 2012.

Pawar said ICC would try to encourage the resumption of Indo-Pak bilateral series if there is government clearance from both sides.

"The recent Foreign Secretary and Home Minister's visit to Pakistan is a welcome sign. If India

and Pakistan start playing and it influences the bilateral relations of the two countries and also if both the governments permit, we will be happy to encourage," he said.

"ICC wants India and Pakistan to continue their bilateral series.

But ICC had not taken the initiative to stop that. It was because of some unforeseen circumstances that both the countries had decided to stop it. But now that the process to improve relations between the countries is on, it will give some dividends to cricket too," Pawar added.

The cricketing ties between India and Pakistan were stalled after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008.

Meanwhile, ICC said that it plans to implement an umpire decision review system at next year's World Cup, to be held in Indian sub-continent, to minimise the refereeing errors.

"We've just seen in another World Cup (FIFA) that is going on what happens when match officials get the decisions wrong. It can have a significant impact on the outcome of a game.”

"We're very keen to use the decision review system at the upcoming World Cup. There are a few issues around cost and the availability of technology that we still must work hard at overcoming," Lorgat said.

‘ICC is as political as any political party’ l New ICC chief Pawar knows little about cricket: Speed

Mad Max move into finals HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JULY 1

Mad Max, Taleigao trounced Sao Jose de Areal 5-1 to secure a berth in the finals of Gumboots football tournament organised

by Gumboots Boys of Orlim at church ground, Orlim on Thursday. They led 2-0 at half time.

Mad Max who enjoyed the lion share of exchanges went into the lead when Valencio Piexoto’s rasping shot gave no chance to the rival goalkeeper.

The early goal galvanized Mad Max who repeatedly raided the Sao Jose de Areal citadel.

Their persistent forays paid dividends when Cedric Peixoto bulged the net from hand-shaking distance.

Despite the double blows, Sao Jose de Areal failed to combine as a cohesive unit as their rearguard looked disjointed and their forwards did not show urgency in their approach work.

Mad Max continued in the same vein after change of ends and attacked the rivals from both flanks. Cesar further consolidated the lead soon after resumption when be placed the ball to the far corner of the net after receiving a through pass from Cedric Peixoto.

After taking a 3-0 cushion, Mad Max slackened their pace but their forwards did not lost the appetite for goals as Valencio’s shot deflected from a rival defender and caught the goalkeeper on the wrong foot.

Xavier put the issue beyond doubt when he punished the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot.

Sao Jose de Areal managed to reduce the margin at the fag end when Flyod blasted home from close range.

No politics in Howard’s rejection, claims Pawar

Malcolm Speed AGENCIES BRISBANE, JULY 1

If John Howard was rejected for inexperience then even Sharad Pawar does not qualify to be the International Cricket Council (ICC) President as he knows "little about cricket administration", said former ICC CEO Malcolm Speed describing the snub to the ex-Australian Prime Minister a "disgrace".

"Rest assured, he (Howard) was not rejected because of his lack of experience as a cricket administrator, his strong opposition to Robert Mugabe's disastrous regime in Zimbabwe or his outspoken views about Muttiah Muralitharan's contro-

versial bowling action. There is more to it than that," Speed wrote in a column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

Speed said Pawar, who will head the ICC until 2012 starting on Thursday, would not even be available full-time as he is a serving Union Minister in the Indian government.

"The man who is to be the next ICC President, Sharad Pawar, is the Minister for Agriculture in the Indian government -- a serious full-time job, feeding 1.2 billion people. He is a good and fair man but he will be working part-time as ICC President and, take it from me, he knows little about cricket administration," Speed said.

The Australian claimed that Pawar spent little time in the ICC meetings he attended in the past.

"I was present at several ICC board meetings he attended.

ICC meetings generally last two days. Pawar attended for one hour and was then replaced by one of the Board of Control for Cricket in India apparatchiks.

They were concerned that he was too busy and would be too reasonable," he recalled.

Speed's tenure in the ICC ended rather acrimoniously in 2008 after a fall-out with the then President, Ray Mali over

the governing body's refusal to take action against financial bunglings in Zimbabwe Cricket.

Speed said Australia and New Zealand, who jointly nominated Howard, should now refuse to put up an alternate candidate as has been asked by the ICC. "The decision of the ICC members to reject the nomination of John Howard by the cricket boards of Australia and New Zealand is a disgrace and an insult to both countries."

"So where to now? Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket should refuse to put forward another nominee.

Under the rotation system, it is then the turn of Pakistan and Bangladesh," Speed said.

"When these two countries come forward with their joint nominee, Australia and New Zealand should politely refrain from voting. In the meantime, they should be banging the table and making their displeasure widely known," Speed said.

"The rejection is a symptom of the wider malaise that afflicts world cricket and its dysfunctional governing body. Under previous rotation systems, Australia and New Zealand have accepted nominations from

other countries for the presidency when they clearly had strong reservations about the candidates.

"They expected the same respect for their candidate and they did not get it. Instead they and Howard were insulted", he reckoned.

Praising Howard, Speed said the former PM would have been the perfect leader to make the "dysfunctional" body work.

"Howard has been rejected because his appointment would provide ICC with strong leadership that would thwart the ambitions of several current administrators to downgrade and devalue the role of the ICC," he said.

"Howard would have stood in their path. The role requires strength of character -- a leader, diplomat, statesman and politician. The ICC board is as political as any political party. The countries that voted him down want a compliant figurehead who will do their bidding.”

"To conclude, let me make a prediction. The ICC head office moved from London to Dubai in 2005. Howard's rejection is a clear sign that the ICC will be based in Mumbai by 2012," he added.

St Anthony pip Betalbatim HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, JULY 1

St Anthony’s Sporting Club, Colva entered the semi-final of 34th Cana Benaulim inter-village football tournament organised

by Cana Benaulim Sporting Association edging past Betalbatim Sporting Club 1-0 at St John Baptist ground, Dando, Benaulim on Thursday. There was no score at half time.

Betalbatim Sporting Club had the lion share of exchanges in the opening session but it was poor finishing by their forwards which kept the scoreboard bar-

ren.

Betalbatim Sporting Club lost the golden opportunity to broke the deadlock midway in the opening session when striker Denzil Rogtao ballooned over from hand-shaking distance after being fed by Bonnie Fernandes.

Betalbatim Sporting Club had one more opportunity just five minutes before half time but Denzil Rogtao was the culprit as he shot wide as Bonnie Fernandes assist.

After change of ends, St Anthony’s Sporting Club were a

transformed side and made umpteen forays into the rival territory with their forwards and midfielders working in tandem.

With the match heading for tie-breaker, St Anthony’s Sporting Club’s Leslie Fernandes struck the match-winner when he unleashed a snap shot which crashed into the net off a Nelson Gomes pass.

Stung by that setback, Betalbatim Sporting Club tried their best but failed to get past the Colva defence.

34th Cana Benaulim soccer quarters: Sporting Club of Davorlim v. Cana Benaulim Sporting Association, St John Baptist ground, Dando, Benaulim, 4.45 p.m.

Gumboots soccer semis: St Micheal Boys, Orlim v. Real Benaulim, church ground, Orlim, 4.30 p.m.

Commitment needed to excel, remarks Digambar l Talasha Prabhu awarded special memento

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JULY 1

Commitment and extensive training are very important for a sportsperson to achieve success, stressed Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, at Kala Academy, here on Thursday.

Speaking after felicitating students who bagged medals at 55th National School Games 2009-10 and presenting cheques to the tune of Rs. 8.50 lakhs to educational institutions having secured the winners and runners-up places at State secondary and higher secondar y schools sports, D i g a m b a r re m a r ke d t h a t sports today was a viable career option and as such the students had to work hard to earn laurels.

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister, Manmohan

Singh and the Planning commission had assured full support for hosting the National Games in Goa. “Pull up the socks and prepare for the big event,” he stressed.

Talasha Prabhu, Goa’s ace international swimmer was honoured for her splendid achievements – four gold with three national records being set at National Schools Games in Kolkata this year.

Talasha was the lone Goan at Asian Schools Swimming championship at Doha-Qatar and is presently undergoing coaching for India probable team for Commonwealth Games. Her father, Satish received the special memento and the commendation certificate.

A total of 49 medals were won at the Nationals – 11 gold,

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat addressing the medal winners at Kala Academy Panjim in the presence of Dr. Susana de Sousa, DSYA director on Thursday.

14 silver and 24 bronze. High schools (winners) were awarded Rs. 15,000 each and runnersup Rs. 10,000 (each). Secondary school winners received Rs.10,000 each while the runners-up took home Rs.7000 each.

Addressing the large gathering, Dr. Susana D’Souza, DSYA director, explained the benefits that the youngsters are getting in Goa today as compared to when the DSYA was launched in 1973, 37 years ago when the budget was just Rs 10 lakhs.

“Today, thanks to the government, it has increased to Rs 73 crores,” Dr Susana added.

Dr. Susana welcomed. Assistant Director (Sports) R. N. Tari proposed the vote of thanks.

Lifestyle

Relationships

Sports

Business

Health

Art

Culture

Environment

Education

Information Technology

Entertainment

Fashion

Travel

Tourism

Parenting

Pg14 GOA’S HEARTBEAT Grow your Own Greens paus, nam zalea “ Ailear oth - Anonymous

“

“

is Safety Always “Safety First- Charles M Hayes

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

Friday, 2 July, 2010

Do you have a space behind your house or an idle terrace and are wondering what to do with it? Herald suggests you turn it into a kitchen garden. An ideal way to keep busy, stay healthy and save money

Changing your Attitude to Road Safety Goa is observing State Road Safety Week from June 1 to 7.

Road safety is a growing concern for the state’s population as more people use their own vehicles nowadays. Apart from the authorities, the citizen alone can address these concerns in their own ways

BY NOMRATHA FERNANDES HERALD FEATURES oday’s fast-paced world demands of people to be up and about. Almost every day a certain amount of time is spent on the road, be it on your bike, in your car, squeezed among passengers in the bus or simply talking a stroll on a lovely Sunday evening.

As far as public thought goes, road accidents are blamed on a handful of generic reasons.

They include speeding, drunken driving, underage driving, bad roads, increase in traffic and disobedience of traffic rules. Statistical data provides a solid backup to this train of thought. As for the reason behind these issues, the general public points fingers at authorities, either stating they are not doing enough or tagging them as inefficient. There definitely is a problem here – those in-charge are not doing enough to curb road accidents and maintain road safety, but is the layman doing enough either? The reason behind road accidents cannot be limited to just the aforementioned as much as a host of other factors, on the part of the driver/rider and the pedestrian. Among the many, a lack of basic road sense can be highlighted.

At strategic points in the city, where one can view the road as a whole, for example the stairs of the Church of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Panjim brings to view many a young people using their cell phones – the pedestrian casually jaywalking while texting away to their friends, the guy on the bike who has to, for some obscure reason zoom down the road with his right hand controlling the bike and his left holding his phone. The same goes for drivers. It may seem harmless to most

T

but if something does go wrong, it will be regrettable and you will have wished you never did it in the first place.

With cell phone usage being one highlight, the point to be made here is the apathetic, casual attitude towards road sense. It is not the fact that you are using your cell phone alone that is a direct cause for an accident, but the attitude that allows you to, when it is clearly not appropriate. This also applies to the pedestrian.

A certain respect to the rules of the road and the people using it should be instilled into the young as soon as they are old enough to travel alone. They should be educated about the dos and don’ts while using the road and the precautionary measures against the dangers of the roads. The community as a whole should update themselves with the latest development of road routes and rules and should assist the younger generation with their attitudes on the road. It can be something as simple as discouraging your friend or relatives from speeding or turning on their left signal or not overtaking. How to rightly cross a road can be another. It definitely goes a long way.

An alteration in attitude to the cause of road accidents will play a huge role in lowering their number too. A very common example is reflexively blaming the larger vehicle in a vehicle collision and ignoring the actual course of the accident. Attitudes to such incidents and many more should be revised.

It is our right that persons associated with maintaining road safety perform their jobs well. This right is accompanied by a duty, in this case a duty to be performed by the citizen, respecting their own and other life on the road. Begin now.

­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E No one's facing the real problem. It's up to you to make a stink -- and a change. You may or may (21 Mar – 19 Apr) not believe in karma -but it believes in you! Seemingly inexplicable events keep piling up today that can only be understood in relation to your long-ago decisions.

Remember the value of flexibility if things begin to feel a bit overwhelming today. You might not feel (23 Sep – 22 Oct) all that hot about your own prospects right now -- so brighten someone else's! It can be as little as sending them an e-card, or as big as helping them rearrange their lives.

Some type of futuristic idea will captivate your imagination -- and sway your goals. You may not (20 Apr – 20 May) always be on the cutting edge -- far from it, oftentimes -- but right now, you're making it your business to be the early adopter that everyone else rushes after madly.

Utilize your imagination to solve a confusing problem -- answers will come easily. Your dreams are (23 Oct – 21 Nov) clearer than usual -- if you can remember them, that is. If not, don't panic, because the odds are quite good that you've just fully absorbed the message in the right way.

Pare things down. Too much is going on for you to be effective at any one thing. You may (21 May – 21 Jun) be locked into the wrong career path -- or on the right path, but stalled out! Today brings some new info your way that should make you see your work in a new, brighter light.

You've learned lessons from the problems of others. Apply them to your own life. Your mental en(22 Nov – 21 Dec) ergy is a little quieter and more relaxed than usual, so see if you can get some space for yourself and just ponder life's big mysteries.

You're likely to come up with some sweet answers.

Avoid anything that involves a lot of numbers, letters or other small details today. You should (22 Jun – 22 Jul) already be listening to that intuition of yours, but today brings messages that could not be clearer. If you aren't sure what to do next, find a quiet place and let it bubble up from below.

Today your creative writing will alert others to one of your many hidden talents. A tentative (22 Dec – 19 Jan) request for assistance comes your way, probably somewhat early in the day -- and you surprise everyone (including yourself, most likely) by dropping everything and rushing to the rescue!

If you reach your boiling point today, don't fly off the handle! You will regret it. If you keep your (23 Jul – 22 Aug) cool, you win big today -- but it's not easy! You may need to get your friends to back you up -- or get them to back off -- when things start to get sticky late in the day.

A mystical idea has a big influence on your reality.

Re-examine your ideas on faith. You are bridging (20 Jan – 18 Feb) your dream life and the real world. It may feel a little extra weird, but that's cool -- in fact, it may lead to a new understanding between you and the universe as a whole.

Not a lot will get done today. Fortunately not a lot needs your attention, so relax. Reject new (23 Aug – 22 Sep) tasks today unless they seem to be life or death -- your ability to keep up with ongoing work is somewhat compromised. The good news is that things should settle down for you quite soon.

Instead of transforming yourself, why not rediscover yourself? You are already good. It's a really (19 Feb – 20 Mar) good day for you to take care of personal business -- your great emotional energy can help you tackle almost anything from laundry to intensive therapy. Pick your own path!

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES itchen gardens are a very old concept and a very healthy one at that. Maybe this is the reason why it has come back into vogue.

A healthy life is what everyone aims at having and kitchen gardens are a good way to achieve that goal, not forgetting that they are mostly organic and hence reduce the amount of chemical consumption and they do cut over household expenditure.

“A Kitchen garden is a garden attached to any house or home,” says Minguel Braganza, a trained horticulturist turned organic agriculturist. A house with any amount of land area can have a kitchen garden. “People can grow almost anything, from fruits and vegetables to spices in their garden,” says Minguel. Goan temperature, soil and water availability changes from place to place.

And when growing a kitchen garden, you should keep in mind all these factors and choose the plants accordingly.

“You can grow crops that are seasonal as well as perennial,” explains Minguel, adding, “plants like chillies, coriander, and drumstick can grow throughout the year, while vegetables like cluster beans locally called ‘guvar’ or ‘tidki-midki’, and ladyfinger are seasonal.”

Though modern buildings are designed with very limited space to grow plants, if you are staying in such flat systems, you have no reason to be disheartened.

“You can grow vegetables that grow as vines: cucumber, pumpkins or any of the gourds, brinjals and tomatoes can be grown in potted plants with the vines entwining the grills and railings,” suggests Minguel. And if you have a private terrace, you can convert a corener into a flowerbed.

Soil is the main component of a garden and depending on the kind of soil, one can grow the suited plants. “The soil should not have stagnant water, and if the soil is too soft, you can add paddy husk or a little sand to make the soil a little hard. If the soil is too sandy, you can mix compost in it, this makes the soil softer,” explains Minguel. Soil with mica in it is the best to grow plants as it holds the nutrients very well.

Seeds are available commercially in any of the zonal offices of the agricultural department; some seeds can be obtained from vegetable itself, while coriander can be grown using the coriander seeds we use in food.

“Coriander seeds need to be soaked overnight and when they spilt into

K

half, you can sow them, says Minguel.

Once the seeds are sowed in the soil, it is time to see to the fertilization of these seeds to ensure that they grow properly. “As far as possible stay away from chemical fertilizers and insecticides, rather, use organic manure and composted waste like banana peels, onion peels and egg shells or even manure,” suggests Minguel.

The next important thing is the amount of sunlight required. Although each plant requires different amounts of sunlight, the approximate amount is relatively the same.

Leafy vegetables need a little sunlight while the flowering plants need lot of sunlight.

“Plants are more favourable to the rising sun, so it is better to have the garden facing the East or North rather than having it in the West; if the sunlight is too much, you can use the shade nets,” says Minguel. When the whole world is going eco friendly and resorting to use of CFL bulbs, you can make an exception when it comes your plants, when there is lack of sunlight, “you can use the incandescent light bulbs (yellow bulbs) in the place with less sunlight, to replicate the light from the sun,” he adds.

The seasonal temperatures are another factor that is important; plants like cabbages and cauliflowers grow well in low temperatures. “The head forms better when it is cooler, while radishes and turnips grow well during the rains,” explains Minguel.

When it come s to fruits, there are many trees that grow all over the state. Banana, papaya, guava are some of the fruits that can be grown in your backyard. “Papayas need a dry surrounding at least around the base of the trunk, and guava trees can be cut to keep as bushes, making it easy to remove the fruits as well as keeping the tree in proper shape,” he advises.

Mango and jackfruit need a lot of space to grow, while you can use kokum trees instead of Ashoka trees; while they are ornamental they also give fruit.

Minguel Braganza is conducting a one day workshop at Goa Chitra in Benaulim to help people understand the concept of kitchen gardens and to grow them better.

MJ’s Son may have Vitiligo, like ‘King of Pop’ M

ichael Jackson’s son Prince Michael is reportedly suffering from the same disease called Vitiligo which was said to be the reason behind Michael gradual lightening of the skin. The 13-year-old revealed white patches under his arm while on a recent holiday to Hawaii with his siblings Paris, 12 and Prince Michael II, eight.

While there is the possibility it was the result of sun exposure but it appeared more dramatic than peeling skin, the report said. Vitiligo is a hereditary skin condition which discolours the face and body.

Jackson, who died last year at the age of 50 due to drug overdose, blamed the disease for the gradual lightening of his own skin over the years. His claim was always met with some skepticism from critics, who accused him of intentionally bleaching his skin.

Now that Prince Michael is showing signs of similar symptoms, some are convinced it is evidence Jackson really was the teen’s biological parent. For years the paternity of Jackson’s children has been under question because of the difference in skin tone.”It proves once and for all that Michael is the father,” a family source said.

Prince Michael and his sister Paris were born to Debbie Rowe, Michael’s wife from 1996 to 1999.

Prince Michael II, also known as Blanket, was born to an unknown surrogate after the divorce.

Sanjay Dutt to play Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj B

ollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has acted in several films since his debut in 1981. All the characters had different shades right from a young, charming boy in ‘Rocky’ to a criminal in ‘Khalnayak’ and a lovable goon again in the Munnabhai films. But, Sanju Baba is going to do something totally different this time. He is going to don the role of great historical figure Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The project is being kept under wraps now but it is certain that Sanjay Dutt will be playing the role of the great Maratha warrior.

Nobody is speaking about the project on record, as Dutt is busy with other assignments and will take at least a year to come out of legal hassles.

According to a source close to the project, “No one can essay the flamboyant Maratha warrior better than Sanjay Dutt. He looks as brave as the warrior and can gallop on the screen with a sword in hand. We needed someone, who can look like the character of Russell Crowe in ‘Robin Hood’ or ‘Gladiator’.”

But, Soham Shah, who is directing the film, denies Sanjay Dutt being their first and the last choice for playing Shivaji. He said, “For now, I will say that I can never imagine making a film without Sanjay Dutt. I am here only by his support and guidance.

I can think of working on a big project like ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’ only because of his support and trust. Right now, I am preparing to direct a film for Sanjay Dutt Productions. I will start working on the Shivaji project only after completing this one.”

Shivaji is the director’s dream project and he has been working on it for more than a year now. Soham added, “I want the film to appeal to people of all age groups. ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’ would have special effects like that of Hollywood’s ‘Prince Of Persia’.” Initially, the film was supposed to be in Hindi but Soham and the producers are trying to make the film into a Hindi-Marathi bilingual.

Lifestyle

Relationships

Sports

Business

Health

Art

Culture

Environment

GOA’S HEARTBEAT

Education

CURR

Friday, 2 July, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

State Road Safety Week will be observed by GOACAN from July 1 to 7.

A workshop on Kitchen Gardening, The Organic Way, organised by Goa Chitra, Vardaan Bookstore and Ecoshop will be held on July 4 from 10am to 4pm at the Goa Chitra Museum, Benaulim. Call 9527463684.

‘World of Books’, a 1-day workshop on books, organised by the Kala Academy, Panjim will be held on July 4 from 10:30am onwards at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

A Konkani Compering Workshop, organised by the Dalgado Konknni Akademi will take place on July 4 from 10:30am to 1pm at the Tiatr Academy of Goa, Campal, Panjim.

Call 9881810832.

A film appreciation course, conducted by the Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), the National Film Association of India (NFAI) and the Film Telivision Institute (FTI), Pune will be held from July 3 to 11 from 9:30am to 9:30pm at the Maquinez Palace, Panjim. Registration closes on July 2. Visit ESG, Maquinez Palace, Heritage Precint, D B Marg, CampalPanjim. Call 2428111, 2428113 or 2428115.

A laughter show for senior citizens, organised by the Lions Club of Margao will be held on July 4 at 5pm at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Call 2653083.

A workshop for editors and managers of the parish bulletins, organised by the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM) will be held at Don Bosco’s High School, Panjim on July 4, St Xavier’s College, Mapusa on July 11 and Don Bosco’s Technicals, Fatorda on July 18. Call 2422653.

An open invite to Goan artisans to participate at ‘Dilli Haat’, a traditional Indian market in New Delhi is made by the Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC). It will take place from August 26 to September

kinship

Tourism

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

T

HERALD FEATURES he Indian Institute of Architects, Goa Chapter, the Goa College of Architecture and Fundacao Oriente will host a presentation by Professor Matthew Landrus of Princeton University, USA. The topic of the presentation is, ‘Proportions of Movement, Form and Force in Leonardo Da Vinci’s Art and Engineering’ and will take place on July 2 at 5.30pm. The presentation will focus on some of the finer aspects of Da Vinci’s work and theories.

Profesoor Landrus is an internationally renowned researcher and speaker on Da Vinci and medieval art. He specialises in the history of the medieval age through early eighteenth century art, architecture, technology, and natural philosophy, with a specific interest in the Italian Renaissance. As an art historian, he is particularly interested in the artist's intent, education, and general knowledge.

The event is open to the general public.

Fruitful Monsoon

Parenting

Pg15

‘Tum Londonkar Vo Goemkar’ to be released in Mapusa HERALD FEATURES nthony Sylvester’s Traditional Tiatr ‘Tum Londonkar Vo Goemkar’ is due for release on July 3, 2010 at 3:30pm in Mapusa. This traditional tiatr has a number of senior artistes performing in it. The tiatr has been conceptualised with the social message of how people working in European countries should still be connected to their motherland.

The story is of a young boy who goes abroad on a Portuguese Passport and the difficulties he goes though when there is no one to look after him.

The cast of the tiatr includes Sabina, Jessie Dias, Sharon, Fatima, Effie, Wilson, Jr Nelson, Ben Evangelisto, Hortencio Pereira and Francis de Tuem, among other artistes.

The tiatr includes various categories of songs like solos, duets, trios, quartets.

A

Photos by Chiquitita D’Souza

HERALD FEATURES he monsoons in Goa floods the local market with a variety of seasonal fruits that are wholesome and streghtening during the season.

A walk around the Mapusa market and you will be bombarded with an array of colours. Buy some and you have a variety of taste too.

Most locally grown these delicious offerings are sold at affordable rates.

Here are just a few.

T

“When I took office, only high energy physicists had ever heard of what is called the Worldwide Web... Now even my cat has its own page.”

– Bill Clinton DAILY GROOK VAIN DRAIN

by Francis Rodrigues vascular operations can be a real pain, for the injections are mostly in vein!

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 593 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

SOUTH POLE

12:00 Dance India Dance Limelight 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Choti Bahu 14:30 Dance India Dance L'il Masters

Travel

INGS

Princeton University Professor to speak on Da Vinci’s Work

GARFIELD

10:00 Comedy Circus Ke Superstars 15:00 C.I.D 18:00 Aahat 20:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00 Comedy Circus Ke Superstars 22:00 C.I.D 23:00 Aahat

Fashion

Funny Quote

Pronunciation kin-ship Function Noun Meaning 1 : the state or fact of being related; family relationship 2 : relationship by nature, qualities, etc; affinity Example Sentence For some unknown reason, Ron felt a deep kinship towards his new neighbours.

11:00 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 11:30 Behenein 12:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat 14:30 Behenein 15:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 Tere Liye 18:30 Sabki Laadli Bebo 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Chaand Chupa Badal Mein 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Tere Liye

EN

PEN T HAP

Entertainment

LAFFS

WORD OF THE DAY

SUDOKU 594

8. The GHRSSIDC will have 25 stalls for Goan artists. Registration closes on July 5. Visit GHRSSIDC, Crafts Complex, Neugi Nagar, Panjim. Call 2224478, 2225328, 2414916 or 2417914.

A CME programme on colorectal cancer, organised by the Medical Education Cell of the Goa Medical College, Bambolim will be on July 2 at 3pm at the GMC library. Call 2458727, 2458724, 2458728 or 2458722.

Free Sanskrit speaking classes, conducted by Siddharth Seva Pratishthan are being held till July 12 from 6pm to 7:30pm. Call 9260039334, 9270159090 or 9762471782.

A Biodiversity Awareness Workshop Programme, organised by the Department of Botany and Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) will take place on July 3 at the Goa University. Call 2221345, 2221346, 2456031, 2456108, 2456480 or 2221375.

A reproductive child health programme will be held on July 2 at 10:30am at the conference hall, Directorate of Health Services, Campal.

Call 2225976 or 2225538.

Vishwakamat Travels will be celebrating 25 years on July 2 at the Sungrace Gardens, Ponda. There will be a variety of entertainment programmes. Call 9822126654.

The e-portal for the marketing of Goan handicrafts of the Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Limited will be launched by Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat on July 2 at 6:30pm at Maquinez Palace, Panjim. The website is www.ghrssidc.org or www.goanhandicrafts.com. Call 2428111/13/15.

The Goa City Finals of The Limca Book of Records Quiz 2010 will take place on July 2 at 11:30am at the Don Bosco High School, Panjim.

Call 2422854, 2221986 or 2224131.

Information Technology

16:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 16:30 Choti Bahu 17:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 18:00 Pavitra Rishta 18:30 Kahani Ab Tak 19:00 Ghar Ghar Mein 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Dance India Dance L'il Masters 23:00 Pavitra Rishta

11:15 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 12:00 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta …

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Papad Pol 14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

14:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 15:00 Office Office 15:30 Gutar Gu 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

18:00 Gutar Gu 18:30 Papad Pol 19:00 Lapataganj 19:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Sri Adi Manav 20:30 Gutar Gu 21:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

23:00 Gutar Gu

10:00 Dill Mill Gayye 10:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 11:00 Star One Horror Nights 12:00 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 12:30 Dill Mill Gayye 13:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 13:30 Geet 14:00 Rang Badalti Odhni

23:30 Death Race

08:55 Airheads 10:50 Meet the Spartans 12:35 Goldeneye 15:05 My Best Friend's Girl 17:10 Deception 19:15 Strange Wilderness 21:00 Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 23:25 Fanboys

09:45 Body of Lies 12:15 The Jackal 14:45 The Making of : Yes Man 15:00 Death Race 17:00 Bulletproof 18:30 TMZ 19:00 Stevie 21:00 Body of Lies

08:00 Tum Bin 12:15 Hum To Mohabbat Karega 16:15 Aashiq 20:00 Kranti 23:45 Sultanat

09:30 Nishabd 12:30 Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat 16:00 Mumbai Express 20:00 Ab Tak Chhappan

08:00 29th Street

‘Chol-ia London’ - A Plea to Goans settled Abroad

11:00 CSI: NY : Cuckoo's Nest 12:00 Destination Truth 13:00 Scare Tactics 15:00 Whacked Out Sports 15:30 Slamball

17:00 The Amazing Race 18:00 So You Think You Can Dance 20:00 Destination Truth 21:00 Sony Style Tv Magazine 21:30 E Buzz 22:00 The Patriot

10:00 30 Rock 10:30 The Simpsons 11:00 America's Got Talent 12:00 Friends 12:30 White Collar 13:30 Glee 14:30 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

15:00 Desperate Housewives

HERALD FEATURES

HERALD FEATURES hough the idea of going abroad and earning a few extra bucks is acceptable, deciding to leave and never return to one’s homeland, one’s ancestral roots, is highly objectionable. There’s urgency for Goans to come back and help preserve traditional occupations, ancestral houses and Goa’s identity before it is lost forever, says Roseferns in his drama ‘Chol-ia London’.

Although Anton (Roseferns) is illiterate, he is hard working and feels proud to toil in his ancestral fields along with his wife Isabel (Roshan), thereby preserving it all for posterity. On the other hand, Anton’s educated brother Marian (Peter), whose son Nikhil (Victor) works in London as a pharmacist, makes plans to join him. But before taking that decision, he wants to grab the existing land from his brother and sell it off.

When all his efforts prove futile, Marian along with his son decide to trap Anton in an unexpected situation. Anton is falsely implicated to have connections with a terrorist and is arrested by the police. With Anton behind bars, Marian expects that things will improve as far as greed for property is concerned.

But in a twist of events, fate disfavours Marian and Anton is rewarded for his honesty. He is instantly released from the prison. Meanwhile, due to a tussle between Anton’s daughter-in-law Aisha (Antonette de Maina) and Isabel, Anton’s son Aaron (Ulhas Tari) slaps his wife and insults her publicly.

Aisha’s temper mounts and she instantly phones her father who is in London. On his arrival, she relates the entire incident to him. But Aisha’s father has high regard for Anton who had shown sympathy towards him over the years and holds his daughter responsible for not being able to adjust with her in-laws.

When Aisha’s father reveals the truth about Nikhil’s lifestyle in London

T

10:05 A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries 12:35 Balls of Fury 14:30 Man About Town 16:30 Committed 18:30 Hilary and Jackie 21:00 Butterfly on a wheel 23:20 Push

12:00 Commando 16:00 Mehndi 20:00 Don 23:50 Kyaa Dil Ne Kahaa

12:00 Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge 16:00 Indra: The Tiger 20:00 Prem Granth

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 14:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 15:00 Laughter Special 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 22:30 Dill Mill Gayye

Tiatr Review

16:30 Friends 17:00 White Collar 18:00 Glee 19:00 30 Rock 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 Friends 20:30 America's Got Talent 22:00 Glee

09:00 2010 Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships 14:00 Ace 2010 14:30 FIA Wtcc 2010 15:00 Game

15:30 Wimbledon H/ls : Day 10 16:30 2010 Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships : Mens Singles Semifinals 23:30 Inside Racing 2010

19:30 Zimbabwe Triangular ODI 2010 H/ls : 1st T20 21:30 Winning Post 22:00 ICC Cricket Show 22:30 WWE: Smackdown

09:00 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa :Ghana vs.

Germany 11:00 Football Asia 11:30 Indonesian Open : Day 2 15:00 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: Australia vs.

Serbia 17:00 2010 FIFA World Cup Matchday H/ls 18:00 Sportscenter Express : South Africa 18:30 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Pre-Show 19:20 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Quarter Final 1: Netherlands vs.Brazil 21:30 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Post Show 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia 23:00 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Pre-Show 23:50 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa : Quarter Final 2: Uruguay vs. Ghana

09:30 Don't Tell My Mother : Lagos 10:00 Creative Vision 11:00 Dangerous Encounters : Monster Crocs 12:00 Nat Geo Specials : Crossing the Himalaya 13:00 Built for the Kill : Oceans 14:00 Don't Tell My Mother : Dhaka 14:30 Don't Tell My Mother : Lagos 15:00 Intimate Enemies 16:00 Nat Geo Junior : Big Bang 16:30 Nat Geo Junior: Science Mein Twist - Chemistry 17:00 Most Amazing Moments 18:00 Nat Geo Wild : Hiss of Death 19:00 Mega Factories

09:30 World of Athletics 10:00 Race It 10:30 Moto GP H/ls : TT Assen 11:30 Motorsport Mundial 12:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 12:30 2010 South Africa Tour to West Indies H/ls : 1st T20 14:30 Zimbabwe Triangular ODI 2010 H/ls : 2nd T20 16:30 FIFA: Futbol Mundial 17:00 WWE: Smackdown 19:00 ICC Cricket Show

07:00 Kids Club jeens 07:30 Flavors 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Sao Joao 12:00 Konkani Songs 12:30 Flavors 13:00 English News 14:00 Konkani Movie 15:30 Sangeet 16:00 Face-2-Face 16:30 Flavors 17:00 Khell Tiatr 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Khell Tiatr 22:00 English News 23:00 In Conversation with 23:30 Fusion Concert 00:00 Talking Talkies Note: Subject to Change

to Marian, he gets a heart attack and is partially paralyzed. But his desire to go to London does not subside. What is the outcome? Does Marian succeed in grabbing and selling the ancestral property from Anton and does he reach London?

Roseferns has created awareness among the audience about the aftereffects of all those Goans who promptly sell their ancestral houses and properties only to settle abroad for the love of foreign currency. If this practice continues, he warns that Goa will no longer belong to Goans; empower others and Goykars will have nothing left to claim as their own.

Although the comic interludes by Sally and Brian could have been improved, songs rendered by Peter, Roshan, Tony de Ribandar, Roseferns, Victor and Ulhas Tari had powerful messages for the viewers. A trio by Victor/Tony/Ulhas Tari on dysfunctional Goa police administration was well accepted.

HERALD CROSSWORD - 594 Across 1- Apply powder to oneself; 5- Feels for; 10- Warts and all; 14- Iams alternative; 15Corpulent; 16- Cupola; 17Seaport in NW Morocco; 19- Uh-uh; 20- Unfettered; 21- Declared; 23- Anybody; 26- Unwillingly; 27- Stylish; 28- Tints; 29- Decree; 30Creates; 31- Perform in a play; 34- Branta sandvicensis; 35- Outmoded; 36Bronte heroine; 37- Big bang cause; 38- Seizes with teeth; 39- More cunning; 40- Rubber; 42Makes amends; 43- Pardon; 45- Glitter; 46- Grim character; 47- Inanimate object; 48- All there; 49- Illegible; 54- Member of a great Peruvian people; 55Facial expression used by Elvis Presley; 56- New Mexico art colony; 57- Editor's mark; 58- Irritably impatient; 59- Gaelic language of Ireland or Scotland; Down 1- Tic ___ Dough; 2- According to; 3- CD forerunners; 4- Unite; 5- New settlement; 6- Demote; 7- Actor Auberjonois; 8- Computer key; 9- Weathered; 10Congenitally attached; 11Prophecy; 12- Urge forward; 13- Disreputable; 18- Leg up; 22- License plates; 23- Smell;

24- Ancient; 25- LiveliSOLUTION - 593 hood; 26- Finds pleasing; 28- Spud; 30- British buddy; 32- Fish basket; 33- Curt; 35- Doubt; 36Stretch; 38- Common; 39Rise to one's feet; 41- Say again; 42- Place for beehives; 43- Bears the ictus; 44- Had in mind; 45- Article of bedding; 47- Very, in Versailles; 50- Vane dir.; 51- Ingot; 52- Acapulco article; 53- Compass pt.;

Pg16

GOA, Friday, July 2, 2010

I have no problem with Van Persie: Sneijder AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 1

Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder insisted on Wednesday that there has been no World Cup fall-out with striker Robin van Persie, who was unhappy at being substituted in the 2-1 sec-

ond round victory over Slovakia.

Van Persie had been accused of angrily suggesting to coach Bert van Marwijk that Sneijder and not him should have been replaced.

The Arsenal striker, who has

struggled throughout the finals, scoring just one goal, and Inter Milan player Sneijder were summoned for talks with van Marwijk on the flight back to their base camp following Monday's match.

"Robin assured me that he

had not said those words and I have no reason to doubt him," said 26-year-old Sneijder, who went on to score the match-winning second goal, minutes after van Persie had been replaced.

"I don't have a problem with him and I never have done. He was disappointed to come off, that one can understand and it really isn't a serious matter."

Sneijder, who has scored twice as the Netherlands attempt to win the trophy for the first time, insisted that unlike previous Dutch squads there was a sense of unity as they confront five-time champions Brazil in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

"We will be united as never before against Brazil," he said.

"We have already drawn a line under the Last 16 match and we will be 120-percent raring to go against Brazil."

The winners of that quarterfinal will play the victors of Friday's other last eight clash between two-time winners Uruguay - appearing in their first quarter-final in 40 years - and Africa's sole remaining representatives Ghana.

FIFA sees no political meddling in France AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 1

FIFA on Thursday said France's government was not guilty of interference in the national football team, after former coach Raymond Domenech and ex-president Jean-Pierre Escalettes were quizzed by politicans.

"I have no information claiming that what happened yesterday ( We d n e s d a y ) constituted governmental interference in our eyes," said FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot at his organisation's daily press briefing.

"FIFA will continue to follow this matter with all due attention."

Domenech and former French Football Federation (FFF) president Escalettes on Wednesday addressed a hearing of the National Assembly's Cultural Affairs commission, called to discuss the team's disastrous World Cup showing.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Tuesday warned the French government against any meddling in football affairs and said government interference could result in the FFF being suspended from FIFA.

Pg17

GOA, Friday, 2 July, 2010

You’ll remember me, ‘ballboy’ Mueller warns Diego But with three goals at this World Cup already and a Champions League final appearance, plus the German league and cup double, under his belt, Mueller is now a household name and sure to cause Argentina problems in Cape Town on Saturday.

"Now I have won two titles and played in the Champions League with Bayern, so a few things have changed," said Mueller.

He is too young to remember Maradona as a player, but he saw the midfield maestro play in former Germany captain Lothar Matthaeus' testimonial game in 2000 and was greatly impressed.

"He was overweight at that time but what he did with the ball was amazing, something I have rarely seen," he said.

"As a coach I can't judge him but the results and the convincing way Argentina are play-

AFP ERASMIA, JULY 1

Germany's striker Thomas Mueller gives a thumbs up as he poses for photographers following a press conference at the Velmore hotel in Erasmia near Pretoria.

Ballack loss a blessing in disguise: Matthaus AFP CAPE TOWN, JULY 1

The loss of Michael Ballack ahead of the World Cup has been a blessing in disguise for Germany, according to former captain Lothar Matthaus.

Ballack was set to take the captain's armband in South Africa, but his World Cup dream died when he injured his ankle playing for Chelsea against Portsmouth in the FA Cup final at the end of May. It was seen as a huge blow for German hopes in South Africa, but their young side has coped without him.

"I'm genuinely upset for Michael Ballack, but I have to say his absence has helped Germany," Matthaus, who captained the team when they beat 2010 quarter-final opponents Argentina in the 1990 final, told Fifa.com.

"I don’t mean that in a spiteful way, but Ballack was arguably holding up a number of players who’ve now blossomed.

"Each of them has taken on a little more responsibility. Germany are playing with far more pace.

"Ballack often took a lot of pace out of the game, but that

Aguirre quits as Mexico coach AFP MEXICO CITY, JULY 1

Javier Aguirre on Wednesday resigned as Mexico coach following the team's defeat to Argentina in the last 16 of the World Cup. The 50-year-old replaced exEngland manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in April 2009, but Sunday's 3-1 defeat to Argentina in Johannesburg was the fifth successive time the country had failed at the second round stage.

"It's very clear. The first person responsible is me. I believe that I have to resign my job," Aguirre

C

ristiano Ronaldo, the world's costliest player, fought to save his battered reputation on Wednesday as Mexico coach Javier Aguirre and the entire Nigeria team paid heavily for World Cup failure.

Ronaldo's Portugal were knocked out of the World Cup

by Spain in the last 16 on Tuesday, with the Real Madrid star failing to shine in a disappointing personal campaign.

"I feel a broken man, completely disconsolate, frustrated

told a news conference.

"It's the most honest solution, the fairest and it's something I have to do."

Diego Maradona thought Thomas Mueller was a ballboy when they first met, a demeaning snub which has fired-up the German star to plot Argentina's downfall in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

The 20-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder scored twice in Germany's 4-1 hammering of England last Sunday and is a contender for the tournament's best young player.

But he was virtually unknown outside of Germany when he made his debut in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Argentina in Munich in March and attended the post-match press conference as his country's great new hope alongside the Argentina coach.

Maradona joked he thought the ballboy had arrived and felt so slighted that he stormed off and refused to return until the German left the stage to him alone.

Pele takes another swipe at Maradona AFP BERLIN, JULY 1

wouldn’t fit the mentality of this young team. Missing out is a p e r s o n a l c a t a s t ro p h e f o r Michael, but it’s benefited Germany."

Matthaus added that the spirt installed in the team by coach Joachim Loew could be enough to see them beat the more experienced Argentina here on Saturday.

"The biggest factors in Germany’s favour are their team spirit and the attacking strength they've shown so far," he said.

"Taken together, those two aspects could be enough to win.

But on the other hand, everyone knows all about Argentina’s quality.

Man loses eye in vuvuzela fight AFP HARARE, JULY 1

A Zimbabwean man has lost an eye in a fight over a vuvuzela, a state daily reported on Thursday.

The man, who was not identified, was attacked at his home in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo by three teenagers after he refused to give up a vuvuzela the three claimed belonged to their friend.

"One of them allegedly kicked him in the chest and when he fell to the ground the others also assaulted him," the newspaper reported.

"He sustained a swollen right eye that had to be removed," it said.

Brazilian footballing legend Pele's war of words with Argentina coach Diego Maradona continued on Thursday as he said the latter was not a good coach because of the troubled private life he had led.

Pele, who earlier during the World Cup finals said that Maradona had only taken the Argentinian coaching job because he needed the money, said Maradona's previous troubles - which included treatment for a cocaine addiction could only have a bad effect on the team.

Argentina - who have won all four of their matches at the World Cup finals thusfar - face an impressive German side in Saturday's quarterfinal in Cape Town.

"He (Maradona) is not a good coach, because

he had a bizarre lifestyle which cannot go down well with his team," three-time World Cup winner Pele told German magazine 11Freunde.

By contrast the 69-year-old Pele said there was much to like about the young and vibrant German side that destroyed England 4-1 in their Last 16 match last Sunday.

"This young German team is a pleasure to watch," he said.

"It is clear to see that something has changed in German football, it was already beginning to happen at Euro 2008 (where they lost 1-0 to Spain in the final) and the youngsters Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller, they are like their predecessors Wolfgang Overath and Pierre Littbarski.

"They can dribble, deliver pinpoint passes, and produce something surprising at any moment," added Pele, who nevertheless feels that they are too young to win at this World Cup.

Portugal coach Queiroz rules out quitting AFP LISBON, JULY 1

Po r t u g u e s e c o a c h C a r l o s Queiroz said he would not quit the post despite returning empty-handed from the World Cup and amid signs that all was not well between him and star players such as captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 57-year-old Mozambiqueborn coach - who was, along with Ronaldo, the focus of criticism for Portugal's last 16 1-0 defeat by European champions Spain - said that there was no dishonour in their failing to win the trophy for the first time.

"It is totally out of the question (resigning)," said Queiroz, formerly assistant coach to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

"If the national coach must resign for having lost 1-0 against Spain in the last 16 of the World Cup then there is something that is not right.

"Spain is one of the big

favourites. We haven't succeeded in winning. That will be for the next one," added Queiroz, who is in his second spell in charge of the national side having been at the helm from 1991-93.

Queiroz, who is credited for unearthing the 'golden generation' of Portuguese players such as Luis Figo and Rui Costa who ended up reaching the Euro 2004 final, said that he would

World Cup flops pay heavy price and an unimaginable sadness," he said.

Coach Carlos Queiroz believes the 25-year-old struggles to cope with the pressure of playing for Portugal.

"Portugal needs Ronaldo, and Ronaldo needs the national side. But if this shirt (the Portuguese strip) unnerves some players, they have no grounds to be here," said Queiroz.

While there is a question mark over Queiroz's future, Mexico are already looking for a new coach following a 3-1 defeat by Argentina that condemned the country to a fifth successive last 16 exit.

Aguirre took responsibility by resigning, 14 months after replacing ex-England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.

"The first person responsible

is me. I believe that I have to resign. It's the most honest solution," said the 50-year-old.

Aguirre was in his second spell as national coach, having led Mexico to the 2002 World Cup where they were eliminated by the United States in the last 16.

Mexico's best performance at a World Cup remains a run to the quarter-finals in 1970

and 1986, when both tournaments were staged at home.

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan, meanwhile, banned the country's football team from international competition for two years following their dismal showing in South Africa.

"President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years

be looking towards qualifying for the 2012 European Championships.

"Continuity is assured," said Queiroz, who has also coached South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Real Madrid among others.

"For the moment we are going to rest and then do better in the next challenge ... and try and win over two or three discontented supporters." to enable the country to put its house in order," spokesman Ima Niboro told reporters.

Nigeria finished bottom of their group in South Africa with just one point from three matches. They lost to Argentina and Greece and drew with South Korea.

The decision will put Nigeria on a collision course with FIFA, who take a dim view of any political interference in the independent running of national federations.

(AFP)

ing means he is doing things right."

When Germamy last played Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals at Berlin's Olympic Stadium four years ago, Mueller watched the game with friends on a giant screen in Munich and well remembers the 4-2 penalty shoot-out win.

"I remember us winning through sheer willpower and I haven't forgotten the scenes after," he said, referring to the skirmishes between players from both teams on the pitch after Germany's Jens Lehmann saved the final penalty.

"We musn't be provoked," warned Mueller ahead of this weekend's clash in Cape Town, before joking: "I won't mind a fight afterwards if we have won."

pg18:Layout 1 7/1/2010 11:43 AM Page 1

Pg18

GOA, FRIDAY, 2 JULY, 2010

www.oheraldo.in

Uruguay, Ghana chase last four dream

Will Samba boys peel the Orange?

FIFA yet to act on Nigeria’s soccer ban

AFP JOHANNESBURG, JULY 1

AP JOHANNESBURG , JULY 1

One-time football power Uruguay are on the verge of their first World Cup semi-final appearance in 40 years with African hope Ghana blocking their way at Soccer City here on Friday.

Before Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay were the dominant South American team winning two World Cups in 1930 and 1950, two Olympic Games gold medals and eight of their 14 Copa America titles.

La Celeste's World Cup fortunes have been in decline since their seismic 2-1 upset of Brazil in the 1950 final before 174,000 fans at the Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro.

Uruguay reached the semi-finals in 1954 and 1970, but on Friday Oscar Tabarez's team get their chance to reach the last four af ter a break of four decades.

Ghana, with all of Africa behind them, are out to create history of their own, but Uruguay are surfing the wave of South American success at South Africa 2010.

Forlan hopes the strong South American presence in the quarter-finals will encourage FIFA to revisit their quota of finals places rather than force the fifth team in the regional qualifiers to play off against a Central American side.

Ghana are bidding to become the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. Ghana's 'Black Stars' are the lone flag-waver for Africa in the first World Cup staged on the continent and there is an emotional outpouring of support for them against Uruguay.

Nigeria has told FIFA it has banned its national team from international competition for two years following its poor performance at the World Cup. FIFA is studying the ban to decide whether it should be considered government interference—which could result in a ban being imposed by soccer’s governing body.

FIFA demands that national federations operate independently from governments, or face suspension from international soccer. Such a penalty extends beyond the national team, to club teams from playing in international competitions and bars officials from attending FIFA meetings.

“We have been now officially informed of that and we are looking at this case,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said Thursday at the daily World Cup briefing. “We need a little bit of time. … We are not at the step of taking sanctions.”

Nigeria is next scheduled to play in early September, at home against Madagascar in a qualifier for the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

Nigeria president Goodluck Jonathan ordered the Super Eagles to sit out international competition for two years on Wednesday as punishment for their poor showing in South Africa.

If FIFA does suspend Nigeria, it could threaten the Nigeria’s place in the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, which begins July 13 in Germany. The club team Heartland also could lose its spot in the African Champions League.

On Thursday, Nigerian lawmakers intervened to try and resolve the situation.

The House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the president to rescind the ban, while also asking a legislative committee to open an investigation into the World Cup performance.

KEY TO MATCH

The battle for goals between the two opposing attacks. Asamoah Gyan and Kevin-Prince Boateng against Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan will decide who goes through to the last-four of the tournament.

Brazil players Daniel Alves, Kaka (centre) and Robinho (right) attend a training session at the Saint Stithians school in Johannesburg.

AFP PORT ELIZABETH, JULY 1

Brazil, without suspended Ramires and injured Elano, face the Netherlands here on Friday for the fourth time at a World Cup in what promises to be an explosive quarter-final.

In 1994 Brazil overcame the Dutch 3-2 at the same stage of the competition before going on to win the title. Four y e a r s l a t e r i n Fr a n c e t h e Oranje lost out again, 4-2 on penalties after drawing their semi-final 1-1.

They first met in 1974, with the European side prevailing 20.

The Netherlands are in arguably better shape than they have ever been to exact revenge on their arch nemesis at the Nel-

‘Let’s see how Argentina cope with defeat’ AFP ERASMIA, JULY 1

With Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final fast approaching, Germany Captain Philipp Lahm has insisted his side are cool, calm and collected -- and looking forward to inflicting defeat on Argentina.

On Wednesday, German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger opened a war of words between the two bitter rivals by branding the Argentinians ‘disrespectful’.

In response, Argentina coach Diego Maradona accused Schweinsteiger of being nervous of facing his star-studded side, but Lahm has said the Germans are looking forward to seeing how the South Americans cope with losing.

"We have to focus on the task at hand, we know the Argentinians will be a tough game, we need to be cool and it remains to be seen how the South Americans deal with another defeat on Saturday," said a straightfaced Lahm.

The badblood between the s i d e s

Philipp Lahm

stems from four years ago when Germany beat Argentina 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out at the quarter-final stage at the last World Cup at Berlin's Olympic Stadium.

This time, with a semi-final place again at stake, there will be plenty of pressure on referee Ravshan Irmatov from Uzbekistan and Lahm says his side will need to make sure they keep their discipline in Cape Town.

Germany picked up five yellow cards in their shock 1-0 defeat to Serbia in the group stages and had striker Miroslav Klose sent off for a second yellow.

Against Argentina, six German players -- including Lahm and Schweinsteiger -- are in danger of missing the semis if they get another booking.

"Referees have to act according to the rule book, we had problems against Serbia and Australia, because the referees tend to be a bit card happy, so we have to be careful," said Lahm.

Attacking midfielders Lukas Podolski and Mesut Ozil missed training with slight strains on Wednesday, but both are expected to play.

Brazil-born striker Cacau, who is recovering from a pulled stomach muscle, did some light

jogging, but is unlikely to play against Argentina.

Lahm says his side are relishing the chance to claim a major World Cup scalp.

"Since the final whistle against England, we have been looking forward to the Argentina game and the build up starts as soon as we get on the plane this afternoon," said Lahm.

"We have a lot of qualities to offer and whenever we act as a collective unit, we are able to impose our game on the opposition, but everyone must play at the top of their game if we are to beat a team as strong as Argentina."

son Mandela Bay stadium and extend their unbeaten record in South Africa to five games.

Bert van Marwijk's men are seeking to be crowned champions at the ninth attempt, after falling at the final hurdle twice - in 1974 and 1978.

Van Marwijk, appointed after Euro 2008 when Holland excelled in the 'Group of Death' only to run out of steam against Russia, has claimed his team are the "underdogs".

"Brazil are a very mature and stable team.

"They convey a positive form of arrogance, that others cannot win. We might be the underdogs against Brazil, for the first time in this World Cup," he said.

Holland's previous international outings have often been

marked by discord in the camp, insisting nothing had happened. sometimes along racial lines, but Dunga's Brazil meanwhile are one of the hallmarks of the 2010 aiming to become the first of squad has been its harmony. what could be an all-South That unity was briefly threat- American cast list for the semiened by an outfinals. burst from Robin The Selecao van Persie who How the Dutch defence, are seemingly w h e n h e w a s virtually impregnable up coming to the taken off during at just the to this quarter-final after boil Monday's last 16 right time judged win over Slovakia the concession of just two on their 3-0 last reportedly said penalties, will stand up to 16 rout of Chile, "it is not me that its toughest examination one of the most should be substiattractive sides at yet against the tuted but Wesley these finals. goal-scoring wizards Sneijder".

G o a l s f ro m Van Persie later from South America. Juan, Luis Fabiano denied that he and Robinho put had mentioned Sneijder, but just Brazil into the last eight with a to be on the safe side van Maar- record of three wins and a drab wijk held clear the air talks be- draw with Portugal in Durban. tween the pair, with Sneijder later Brazil suffered a shock quar-

KEY TO MATCH

TODAY’S MATCHES

19.30 Netherlands v. Brazil 00.00 Uruguay v. Ghana

REUTERS TOKYO, JULY 1

Japan midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura has quit international soccer two caps short of making 100 appearances after the Blue Samurai were knocked out of the World Cup. Local media reported on Thursday that the 32-year-old had decided to retire from the national side after spending most of the South Africa finals on the bench.

“My next Japan game? There won’t be one,” Nakamura told Thursday’s Nikkan Sports after Japan were beaten on penalties

by Paraguay in the last 16 of the World Cup on Tuesday.

“I wanted to leave some mark on this World Cup. It’s weird. It’s as if the soccer gods are testing me.”

Nakamura was controversially left out of Japan’s squad by Frenchman Philippe Troussier when the country co-hosted the World Cup in 2002 and the team reached the last 16.

He played at the 2006 finals under Brazilian Zico when the Japanese exited meekly in the first round after collecting just one point.

“Tolerating (not playing) has been really hard,” said Nakamura, who played 98 times for Japan and scored 24 goals.

“Me and the World Cup obviously don’t go well together,” added the former Celtic and Espanyol player. “Maybe that’s just destiny.”

own experience.

"Holland have a good tradition at the World Cup, we have to be very careful with the Dutch players, they are very technically able and we have to be able to deal with that."

In midfield Dunga is without Ramires, suspended after picking up a second booking against Chile. Elano, who has scored twice, is also out with the ankle injury he suffered against the Ivory Coast.

Felipe Melo is also carrying an ankle injury and faces a race against time to take Ramires' place on the left.

Kaka is one of three Brazilians and no fewer than seven Dutch who will miss an eventual semifinal should they receive a second yellow card.

Cup, picked Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, Spain’s David Villa and Thomas Mueller of Germany to fight it out for the 2010 top scorer award.

But for Eusebio, Messi is the star. “I have no doubt that this little player who happens to be Argentinean, Messi, will be the best player of this tournament,” he told reporters, here.

FIFA World Player of the Year Messi is still waiting for his first goal in the competition but has played brilliantly, coming close repeatedly and setting up his teammates while helping his country canter through to the quarters.

Eusebio picked Brazil to win their sixth trophy, but was less sure which team would challenge them in the final, and shied away from criticising compatriot Ronaldo for a less than convincing tournament.

“Unfortunately for Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo did not do very well in this championship, but I am not going to condemn him for that,” he said.

“I have also played in the past and I can understand players are in good or bad form.”

Portugal lost to Spain in the second round, with Ronaldo, World Player of the Year in 2008, scoring just one goal which came during the team’s 7-0 rout of North Korea.

However, Eusebio said his country were unlucky not to made it through to the quarterfinals.

“I believe Portugal played very well, we were beaten by Spain, by 1-0, and a very doubtful goal,” he said.

Villa scored the winner for Spain, which some Portuguese players said should have been disallowed for offside.

MORE SPORTS ON P 13, 16, 17

Messi the best: Eusebio REUTERS JOHANNESBURG, JULY 1

Nakamura says Japan career over

ter-final defeat to eventual beaten finalists France in Germany in 2006, and are anxious to atone for that reverse as they seek a sixth world crown.

Gilberto Silva said: "I believe we can win (the title)."

Turning to the upcoming test against Holland the former Arsenal midfielder added: "We know that if we give them space it will be very difficult for us and we could have a problem."

Dunga, under enormous pressure to deliver the title, has the utmost respect for Friday's opposition.

"They play their football like South Americans," said the 1994 World Cup winning captain.

"Even though Brazil has beaten the Dutch twice before, every World Cup provides its

Argentina’s Lionel Messi is playing well despite not scoring at the World Cup and will easily be the best player at the tournament, former Portugal great Eusebio said on Thursday.

The top scorer at the 1966 Cup also urged the media and public not to be too hard on England’s Wayne Rooney and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, who he said had tried but failed to reach their full potential in South Africa. Eusebio and Germany’s Gerd Mueller, Golden Boot winner at the 1970 World

100th-cap Klose eyes Ronaldo’s record AFP ERASMIA, JULY 1

On the eve of his 100th cap, Germany striker Miroslav Klose admits he is eyeing Brazil Ronaldo’s all-time record for the most amount of goals at the World Cup finals.

Klose will make his 100th appearance for Germany in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final against Diego Maradona's Argentina in Cape Town and the Bayern Munich hot-shot is looking for his third goal of the current tournament.

The 32-year-old scored his 50th goal for Germany in last Sunday's 4-1 rout of England in the round of 16 and his tally puts him third on the table of Germany's all-time goal-scorers.

Having scored five at each of the last two finals, Klose has now scored 12 goals in three World Cups -- the same amount as Brazilian legend Pele.

He is the only player at South Africa 2010 with a realistic chance of reaching Ronaldo's tally of 15 goals in this year's tournament and Klose has the Brazilian's record firmly in his sights.

"Until now, I have scored five times at each of the last two World Cups," said Klose, who was the top scorer at Germany 2006.

"So a few more goals should come here, if I continue my rate and score like I did at the last two tournaments, and I can

catch up with Ronaldo."

Despite dropping retirement hints last Monday, the 32-yearold Polish-born forward now says he wants to play at Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and the Ukraine.

"My main goal is to play at Euro 2012," Klose told German magazine Sport Bild.

"I was born in Poland, have relatives there and love the country and the people.

"It would be nice to play a big tournament there once again."

Klose arrived in South Africa on the back of a poor Bundesliga season with Bayern Munich, where he warmed the bench and scored just three German league goals, but he has repaid the faith showed in him by Germany coach Joachim Loew.