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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, thursday, september 2, 2010

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Goa’s Heartbeat: Bipasha to shoot fitness video in Goa Pg 14

Business: All stops removed Pg 12 for 3G service

Atala surety, Metri is stock witness of cops

BY VIBHA VERMA PANJIM, SEPT 1

It is more blessed to give than to receive.

— Acts XX

IN BRIEF US designates Pak Taliban as FTO The US designated Pakistanbased Tehreek-e-Taliban as Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), paving the way for overseas travel ban on its leaders and financial restrictions on the dreaded group. – (PTI)

Saffron terror: Digvijay differs with HM PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

Sparring continued within Congress over “saffron terrorism” with Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday maintaining that his use of the phrase brought home the message of right-wing terror and senior leader Digvijay Singh saying he has objection to such words.

Days after Congress party distanced itself from his remarks on saffron terror, Chidambaram said the party was supreme and he had no patent on the phrase – saffron terrorism – which has been used by two of his colleagues in UPA. Addressing a press conference, Chidambaram said there has been indication that rightwing fundamentalist groups were suspected to be behind some of the recent bomb blasts in the country.

Senior leader Digvijay Singh, who was originally credited the use of the term “saffron terror”, today said “I have objection to the use of caste, colour and religion to describe terror”.

“Terrorism can’t be related to any colour, creed or religion.

The Congress party media Chairman has taken the right stand that colour cannot be related to any acts of terrorism,” he told reporters.

Singh, however, said “terrorism in the country arises from fundamentalists among the Hindus and Muslims”.

In a major revelation that would further cement doubts of policemen-drug peddler nexus, the documents have confirmed that Prakash Metri, who stood surety for Atala alias Yaniv Benaim was a stock witness of police.

Atala is currently missing, with Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Court in Mapusa issuing warrants against him and forfeiting Rs 50,000 bail bond amount deposited by the Israeli drug peddler.

But what seems to be stunning is the fact that the person who stood surety for Atala is a stock witness for prosecution and has a history of being witness in at least five cases, so far.

Herald has exclusive access to documents which shows that Prakash Metri, a resident of Indranagar at Chimbel has stood as panch witness in over half a dozen police cases for over a decade.

In a case of theft in 2001, Prakash Baburao Metri (35) and

Documents show that Prakash Metri, a resident of Indranagar at Chimbel has stood as panch witness in over half a dozen police cases for over a decade. He has already remained panch witness in cases of heinous crime including attempt to murder, rape, threatening and others.

Mohan Kashinath Korgaonkar (23) were called by the Old Goa police to act as panchas. The case investigating officer Sub Inspector Suraj Halankar (now PI) had called the pair on July 28, 2001 in connection with the theft of a car stereo, Panchanama which lasted for about 45 minutes.

The local has already remained panch witness in cases

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

Sports: Ballack wins captaincy Pg 17 tug-of-war GSPCB hands over tar ball samples to NIO HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

of heinous crime including attempt to murder, rape, threatening and others.

Earlier, in another case on May 27, 2001, Metri was this time called by PSI Shirodkar in connection with a case of attempt to murder registered at Panjim town police station. The businessman, in the ‘scene of offence panchanama’ had confirmed that the complainant Ramchandra Kundaikar had pointed towards a place opposite Taleigao sports club where the assault occurred.

In the case continuation, Metri was taken as the second Panch witness, wherein the alleged accused Shashikant Narvekar had confessed that he assaulted the complainant Kundaikar.

Reeling out yet another case on November 14, 2001 Metri was interestingly called again by the Old Goa police for recovery panchanama for the offence under sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dan-

The Goa State Pollution Control Board on Wednesday picked up tar ball samples from three beaches in South Goa and handed the same to the National Institute of Oceanography in Dona Paula for a thorough analysis.

Officials at the GSPCB said tar ball samples were picked up from Velsao, Colva and Betalbatim shores today and handed over to Dr Sanil Kumar at NIO. Meanwhile, the National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) project assistants are planning to make a trip to Goa on September 7, 2010, for a meeting with officials of the State Mercantile Marine Department, GSPCB and Tourism Department on the subject.

Official sources said one of the major tasks NEERI intends to undertake the next day, September 8, is a site visit to collect samples in an effort to identify the likely sources of tar ball formation on Goa’s coast.

However, pollution board officials expressed doubts about the presence of the tar balls till

(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10)

Suicide blasts kill 28 in Pak PTI LAHORE/KARACHI, SEPT 1

At least 28 people were killed and over 150 were injured on Wednesday when three suicide bombers blew themselves up in back-to-back attacks targetting Shia processions in Lahore, even as unidentified gunmen wounded seven in Pakistan’s commercial capital Karachi.

The first blast, caused by a low intensity explosive device, went off near the Karbala Gamay Shah Imambargah or prayer ground after 6.45 pm where thousands of Shia Muslims had gathered to observe the Yaume-Ali. The suicide bombers struck in the nearby Bhatti

Volunteers carry an injured man to an ambulance.

Chowk area at about 7.15 pm.

Both sites are located close to the Data Darbar shrine that was recently targeted by suicide attackers. Geo News channel reported that the banned Lashkar-

e-Jhangvi al-Almi had claimed responsibility for the blasts.

Officials at the Mayo, Services and Gangaram hospitals told media they had received 17 bodies, including one minor girl and

a policeman. Over 150 injured were taken to the three hospitals.

The Mayo Hospital alone received over 100 injured people.

At least 35 of the injured, including six policemen, were in a critical condition, officials of the state-run Rescue 1122 service said. Officials said they feared the death toll could rise further.

Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said suicide bombers were responsible for two of the blasts. Witnesses too said they had seen the bodies of the suicide attackers.

The blasts triggered a stampede among members of the Shia procession that injured several persons.

Margao police nab kidnapper, rescue minor girl THE KIDNAP BID

PLAN FOILED

The incident occurred at around 10 am after the mother dropped her daughter at Comba.

Minutes later the mother received a call from her daughter’s cell phone, and the caller demanded ransom of Rs 20 lakh and threatened to rape and kill her daughter.

Police came to know of the incident through its sources.

Four police teams were formed as information was received that the victim’s mother was proceeding to meet the kidnapper.

The police followed the mother’s car to the SGPDA market and later towards the KTC bus stand, where she left a bag with money.

The accused picked up the bag and tried to make good his escape but the men-in-uniform intercepted him.

The accused revealed that he had kept the girl at a cybercafé at Navelim.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 1

High drama unfolded in the Commercial Capital on Wednesday morning after a minor daughter of a city-based petrol pump owner was kidnapped for ransom of Rs 20 lakh by a minor boy from the Gogol Housing Board.

In a swift action spanning around three hours and half, the Margao police rescued the kidnapped girl from a cybercafé at Navelim and also arrested the accused boy along with the booty. The police are on the look out for the accused accomplices involved in the daring incident.

The incident occurred at around 10 am when the mother of the XI Science student girl dropped her daught e r, w h o w a s p u r s u i n g computer education at a computer institute at Comba. Minutes after the mother returned at the petrol pump, she received a call from her daugh-

ter’s cell phone, with the Hindi speaking caller threatening that her daughter has been kidnapped by a Mumbai-based gang. The caller demanded ransom of Rs 20 lakh and threatened to rape and kill her daughter.

DySP Umesh Gaonkar informed that the police came to know of the kidnapping incident through its sources as the victim’s mother was frantically making arrangements to arrange the huge ransom and was averse to lodge a complaint fearing safety of her daughter.

Fortunately, police officers were on the field Wednesday morning, around the same time, engaged in a mock drill for the Queen’s baton. “Immediately, we formed four police teams as we received the information that the victim’s mother was proceeding to meet the kidnapper in a particular car”, DySP Gaonkar (Continued on page 10)

Goa to ‘participate’ at CWG

BY SHWETA KAMAT PANJIM, SEPT 1

Commonwealth Games in Delhi may be in the news for all the wrong reasons, but Goa’s handicraft artisans are looking at this international event with much hope to accelerate their growth.

Goa Handicrafts Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (GHRSSIDC) have roped in a private firm to publicise State’s handicraft products and its emporiums during the event.

Around 30,000 brochures have already made their way to Delhi which will be distributed

Corals to be protected up to 12 nautical miles The Environment and Forest Ministry is aiming at protection of corals not only between the low and high tide lines but up to 12 nautical miles into the sea beyond India’s coastline.

The current CRZ (Coastal Reg-

activities that can indirectly have a negative impact on corals, says a ministry statement on its website on status of coral protection in India.

The exercise is to give further teeth to the Wildlife Protection Act that protects all corals as Schedule I species under which

ulatory Zone) notification effectively protects only intertidal corals that lie between low tide and high tide line while the new notification will protect corals from harmful activities in the sea like dredging for ports.

The proposed protection to be provided under the new Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2010 being readied for enforcement this year itself will ensure that all corals are protected from anthropogenic

touching, removing, or dislocating corals in any fashion is a prohibited activity in the Indian territorial waters.

Also under the new CRZ notification, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshwadeep Islands, will have separate management plans to explicitly prohibit any anthropogenic activity negatively impacting corals in these two archipelagos.

India’s greatest coral reserves are found in these islands.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

in the national capital. To make it attractive, the brochures are pegged with the map of Delhi metro so that the travellers will inevitably pick it up.

GHRSSIDC Chairman Sameer Salgaonkar said that besides the metro stations, the corporation has identified 13 locations including malls, where there is large numbers of foot falls to distribute the brochures.

The brochure has a map of Delhi metro route and is dotted with the pictures of various

handicraft items, unique to Goa like hammocks, Azulejos tile painting, coconut craft and cultured ivory craft.

The corporation also intends to put up hoardings in the national capital during the Games which will speak about the handicraft products available in Goa and how to get them.

“We have already launched our website through which anyone can book the artifacts.

The sportsmen and delegates (Continued on page 10)

Nonsense!! being non resident Indian, I've been voting for years now hoping to be a resident one day.

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GOA, THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Coast Guard to monitor ship movement in Arabian Sea HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 1

Newly appointed Commander of Indian Coast Guard (ICG), Goa region, DIG N V Narasimha has said the Coast Guard will monitor the movement of ships in the Arabian Sea from the Mormugao port in the next three months.

Speaking to Herald during his first press meet since he took over as new DIG of Goa region about two months ago, Narasimha said enhancement plans of the Coast Guard has been in rapid pace after the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai.

“As part of enhancement of surveillance system, the stateof-art ‘Remote Operating Station’ will be set up in Goa. The radar will be installed as per the coastal chain of radars to monitor and keep tab on movement of vessels or boats in the deep sea,” he said.

Besides other coastal states in the country, Goa is also made available the facility of station to enhance surveillance system as per the decision of the Central government.

“A radar will be installed at Fort Aguada in another three months and depending on the height of the radar, it will cover the area. The radar that is going to be installed

…says presence of tar balls not due to oil spillage

“Tar balls on beaches across the State could be a result of industrial waste being dumped into The Indian Coast Guard today virtually ruled out the sea,” Narasimha said adding that whatever is the possibility of oil spillage being the reason dumped goes to the seas and comes back to for the presence of tar balls on Goan shores. shore with strong currents during monsoons.

Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira had Nonetheless, Narasimha said, we will wait for stated that the discharge of oil by some “rogue” the report from the National Institute of Oceanogvessel in the high seas may be the reason for raphy (NIO) and ruled out the possibility of the presence of tar balls along the shores at Colva, Mumbai oil spillage being the reason for the presBetalbatim, and Velsao besides several others. ence of tar balls on Goan shores.

Virtually ruling out such a possibility, Coast “In monsoons, the wind directions are from Guard DIG NV Narasimha while speaking to Herald South-west and not vice versa and as such it is said “Prima facie we have come to understand impossible for Mumbai oil spill to reach here,” that tar balls are a phenomenon witnessed by he stated. the Goan beaches for last 10 years during monOn the reports asked by the State governsoons.” ment on the movement of ships in Indian Further, he said, “the same beaches are wit- waters as well as exclusive economic zones, nessing the problem every year.” he said, “we have a system in place to check The DIG said that if it was a result of oil spillage the movement at MRCC Mumbai and if the then it would have been throughout the year and government wants the details we can provide not only during monsoons. them with the same.” in Goa will cover an area of Similar stations in many coun- big ships could not be stationed 50 miles (80 kms) from the tries have proved to be success- in Goa. “ICG is willing to setup instation into the deep sea,” ful in terms of surveillance,” said ternational standard Coast said Narasimha.

Narasimha.

“If the height is more, then it He further said Goa is having Guard Academy in Goa and apwill cover even more area,” he three ships, one fast patrol ves- proach has been made in this added. sel for rescue, search and sur- direction to the chief minister, “This is an effective system v e i l l a n c e o p e r a t i o n a n d but due to lack of revenue and to monitor the movement of recommended one more ship land in possession, the State the vessels and even small boats from Mangalore or Mumbai, be- government has kept fate of will be monitored from the sta- sides, helicopter squadron, but the project in balance,” he tion in Goa as well as in Delhi. due to lack of berthing facility, said.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

Experts blame CG, Navy for oil spillage HERALD RPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

Experts today blamed the monitoring bodies – the Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy for the oil spillage on the Goans beaches.

Merchant Navy chief engineer Surendra Shirodkar and Radio Monitoring Officer Gloria Furtado, who have experience of almost twenty years each in sailing on various vessels, including very large cargo carrier (VLCC) have alleged that the poor monitoring system by the Coast Guard and Navy has resulted in oil spillage in Indian waters.

The State government has roped in Indian Navy, Coast Guard, DG Shipping and the NIO to assist them in finding out the root cause of tar balls along the shores of Colva, Betalbatim, and Velsao besides others.

Speaking to Herald, Gloria Furtado flayed the authorities over bad monitoring of vessels in Indian waters, which wash and dis-

charge oil in seas.

She said that since there is a strict vigil by the Coast Guard in Japan, Singapore and other Eastern countries, the vessels discharge oil in Indian seas as there is no body to monitor here.

“The coast guard officials here are on a holiday after 6 pm everyday there is no night patrolling,” she alleged.

Mr Surendra Shirodkar further added that the coast guard and the navy are supposed to intercept each vessel in Indian waters and know their position and keep a track of any oil discharge by them.

However, he said, “in our 15 years of shipping experience on various VLCCs and other vessels we have never been intercepted by the CG or the Navy asking for positioning and other related matters.”

Further, he continued, “they may have maintained a log book to show that they are doing their job but in actual are they maintaining

the communication record on VHF.” Furtado added that most of the ships which go to the dry dock in Gulf have to wash in high seas around 15 nautical miles from the shore and therefore they wash it in Indian waters and this has resulted in formation of tar balls on Goan shores and beaches across India.

The Coast Guard, however, refuted the allegations saying it has been doing its job perfectly.

“We have been monitoring through our radars the movement of vessels in the seas,” said DIG NV Narasimha.

However, he added, if there is any discharge within 5 nautical miles it has to be checked by the MPT or the Captain of Ports.

“We have a pollution control vessel as well as a helicopter, which maintains constant vigil besides the Indian Navy is also very active upto 200 nautical miles from the shore,” he said.

Tar balls resurface on Velsao Beach HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 1

Tar balls continued to appear on Velsao Beach on Wednesday, albeit in smaller quantities in comparison to the first day when they were washed ashore.

The tar balls resurfaced on Wednesday afternoon, after the beach was cleaned a day ago by tourism officials and Drishti Special Response Service (DSRS) life-

guards.

Local people said during the high tide, a small amount of tar balls appeared on the beach.

“Few tar balls that were left unclean on the beach might have washed again into the sea and resurfaced today,” suspect a local, Caitan Vaz. “Luckily, the tar balls have appeared during the off season when movement of tourists is very marginal, but still the impact is visible, as few domestic tourists who make their way to the beach, have curtailed their movement since Tuesday,” said Vaz. The Drishti Special Response Service lifeguards, who have also joined to keep the beach clean, said the tar balls started resurfacing in the afternoon during the high tide, but the amount is very marginal comparatively to what had appeared on August 30.

Drishti Special Response Service lifeguards clean tar balls on the Velsao beach.

In a press note, DSRS has raised concern over appearance of tar balls on the beaches, as its business is directly connected with beaches.

“If the influx of tourists on beaches is affected, then it will be matter of liveli-

hood for the lifeguards working on the beaches,” stated DSRS. Considering these aspect, DSRS lifeguards voluntarily cleaned the beach along with the department of tourism.

School students engaged in the beach cleaning exercise at the Colva beach on Wednesday.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

Colva students respond to beach cleanup call HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 11

Students and village volunteers joined the beach clean up exercise at the Colva beach on Wednesday, even as officials of the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) made their presence felt at Colva to investigate the tar ball menace.

Around 20 students and two teachers from Infant Jesus High School, Colva responded to a call to clean up the beach hit by tar ball menace. Equipped with gloves and masks, the students lent a helping hand to clear the creek at Gandaulim-Colva invaded by tar balls.

“The students worked with diligence as they cleared the creek swarmed by the oil substance”, remarked Colva Civic and Consumer Forum secretary Judith Almeida as she complimented the school management for deputing the students for the save beach campaign.

A group of Forum volunteers also joined

the exercise as the manpower deployed by the agencies, including tourism department proved too inadequate. The labourers deployed by the tourism department were illequipped to carry out the job, as the local NGO called for the scientific disposal of the collected tar balls.

Almeida said the labourers deployed by the agencies were not even equipped with sufficient number of spades to collect the tar balls. She demanded that the agencies brief the labourers how to go about the beach cleaning exercise, saying that burying the oily substance would not serve the objective, fearing the tar balls would return back to the sea during high tide.

The villagers said that the disaster management cell in Goa seems to be non existent as they did not take the situation under control and people of the village had to do the work. It was pointed out that even the panchayat members were not to be seen

except for one lady panch member.

On Tuesday, labourers engaged by government agencies dug holes in the sand on the beach and filled it up with the tar, but were later stopped by CCCF volunteers. The Colva Civic and Consumer Forum lamented that there was no expert from the government side to advise and instruct the workers deployed on the beach how to go about the work.

Expressing her dissatisfaction over the visit of political figures on the beach, looking for name and fame, Almeida called upon the government agencies, including the tourism department to carryout out the work on a permanent basis.

Meanwhile, NIO officials descended at the Colva beach on Wednesday morning to take stock of the situation. The officials were seen collecting samples of the tar balls, besides the oily substance floating in the sea waters.

KABRASTAN AT SONSODO

Is CO authorised to recommend land acquisition sans Council nod?

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 1

In an interesting twist to the mystery surrounding the decision to acquire private property at Sonsodo for the proposed Kabrastan, land acquisition officials maintained that the government decided to acquire 16091sq mts of private property based on a letter from the Margao Municipal Chief Officer Y B Tawde.

Herald inquires have now revealed that the Chief Officer bypassed the elected Council by writing a letter to the Land Acquisition Officer on July 16 to acquire the private land admeasuring 16091 sq mts along with 14100 sq mts of land belonging to the Margao Communidade.

Interestingly, while the Margao Municipal Council had adopted a resolution to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts at Sonsodo belonging to the Margao Communidade, no such resolution was taken by the civic body to acquire the private land belonging to one Aninha Fernandes. This has raised a perti-

nent question whether the Chief Officer is authorized to recommend acquisition of land without the nod of the civic body and by keeping the City Fathers in the dark.

Herald inquiries have further revealed that the Chief Officer’s letter to the land acquisition office to acquire the private land in Chalta No 49 was seen by the Chairperson Savio Coutinho, indicating that the directions to acquire the private property for the burial grounds had come from the powers that be.

Both the Chairperson and the Chief Officer had no answer when asked whether the decision to acquire the private property admeasuring 16091 had the backing of the Councilors. In fact, Tawde initially maintained that the decision to acquire land for the burial grounds had the backing of the Council. But, he had no answer when his attention was drawn to his letter recommending acquisition of the private property for the burial grounds.

A councillor pointed out that

n Interestingly, while the Margao Municipal Council had adopted a resolution to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts at Sonsodo belonging to the Margao Communidade, no such resolution was taken by the civic body to acquire the private land belonging to one Aninha Fernandes. This has raised a pertinent question whether the Chief Officer is authorized to recommend acquisition of land without the nod of the civic body and by keeping the City Fathers in the dark. the elected members would not have given their nod for the acquisition of private property for the burial grounds, asserting that the resolution was passed by the civic body only to acquire Communidade land and not private land.

Meanwhile, it is not known whether the civic body had obtained administrative approval for the proposal to acquire land for the burial grounds. And, inquiries have only revealed that

GSIDC burdened with construction Operators for considering buses of p’yat ghars, market complexes under Indira Bal Rath Yojana HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

The private bus operators today said that their buses should have been considered under Indira Bal Rath Yojana by the State Government rather than spending lakhs of rupees to procure new buses.

“We have so many surplus buses that could have been considered under this scheme. Government would have saved the capital expenditure made on purchasing the buses,” All Goa Private Bus Owners Association, General Secretar y Sudip Tamankar said.

Briefing the media persons today morning, Tamankar said “If government wants we are ready to give buses for each school. Where government is spending more than Rs 10 lakh on each bus under this scheme, we are ready to work for just Rs 60,000,”he added.

Under this unique scheme, which aims to provide transport services to the students belonging to ST communities

to reach to their respective schools, the government has so far bought 120 bal raths across the State.

Tamankar said that the State Government is adding up to the traffic congestion by procuring new buses under the schemes.

“While on one side the central agency is paid to work out solution to decongest state roads, the government is congesting the same,” he alleged.

The Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) is been appointed by the Goa government to prepare a detailed roadmap for state’s traffic plan.

Meanwhile, despite meeting with the transport director on Monday, the association is firm on its stand to remain off the road on September 6.

The association along with Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) officials had a meeting with the transport director Arun Desai over their demand to have coordination committee to stop alleged ha-

rassment by KTCL. “Apart from this demand, we had put several other demands before the director,” he added.

“The director failed to give us any assurance over our demands.

On the contrary, KTCL is planning to run more buses on additional 50 routes,” he said.

Meanwhile, talking to Herald, Desai said that none of the transport operators’ demands would be heard or fulfilled unless they form a society.

“We had told them earlier that a society of conductors, drivers and owners needs to be formed before putting up any demand before the government,” he said.

Desai however refused to comment on strike called by the operators.

The private bus operators, who had appealed the State to take over their business which is currently running into loss, are now willing to take over the KTCL, in order to make it profitable.

Though the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) was constituted to execute big infrastructural projects, today it has been burdened with construction of panchayat ghars, village play grounds, market complexes and multi-purpose community halls – works which were otherwise carried out by PWD. The instances of panchayats wanting their panchayat ghars constructed through GSIDC have increased after it constructed a state-of-the-art community hall for Taleigao Village Panchayat which is in much demand since its commissioning.

“We would not like to take on small infrastructure projects for we have other bigger and complex projects waiting to be completed but projects whether small or big are approved by the board which is headed by Chief Minister,” said a official of the GSIDC who did not wish to be named.

Mostly, the commendations

come from MLAs and ministers for panchayats ghars, playgrounds and community halls in their respective villages.

Of the seventy-nine projects taken by the GSIDC during between 2007 and 2010, at least twelve projects pertain to construction of panchayat ghars, market complexes and multipurposes halls.

Of these, some have been completed which include panchayat ghar and market complex at Neura village panchayat in St Andre constituency of Francis Silveira who is also vicechairman of the GSIDC. Also, another project — improvement and construction of football ground and panchayat ghar at Batim Village Panchayat in St Andre constituency has also been completed.

The GSIDC though initially completed its projects at record speed during the last three years not all its projects were completed in time.

During the Monsoon Session of the Goa Assembly, the BJP had pointed out to the delay in

completing GSIDC projects. It must be recalled that GSIDC was constituted with the initiative of then chief minister Manohar Parrikar who felt that PWD was not able to deliver on expected lines in developing the State’s infrastructure.

Its other projects include multi-purpose hall and office building for village panchayat of Salvador do Mundo, reconstruction of panchayat ghar at Socorro, development of standard football ground and construction of multi-purpose hall, beautification and reconstruction of multipurpose hall at Tivim, construction of new panchayat building at Mathwada, Keri, construction of new panchayat building for Honda village panchayat in Sattari, construction of panchayat ghar cum market complex for Sancoale village panchayat, construction of second phase of Cortalim market complex at Thana for Cortalim-Quelossim and panchayat ghar and market complex for Taleigao village panchayat.

the civic body has so far not deposited 25 per cent of the estimated cost of land acquisition with the Land Acquisition office.

Surprisingly, the land acquisition office has notified Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act along with the urgency clause despite the serious lacunas, including the failure by the civic body to deposit 25 per cent of the estimated cost of acquisition at the time of submitting the land acquisition proposal.

Belgaum, Konkan reservoirs, rivers swell HERALD CORRESP9ONDENT BELGAUM, SEPT 1

Levels of most reservoirs and rivers in Belgaum and the neighbouring Konkan region have risen drastically in the past three days following incessant rainfall.

The level of Koyna reservoir has shot up with the current availability of water reading at 95 tmc feet in the reservoir against its maximum of 105 tmc feet.

According to sources, Varna reservoir is short of 1 tmc feet to reach its maximum capacity of 34 tmc feet, while Dhom reser voir had 9.1 tmc feet against its maximum of 13.50 tmc feet, Kaner reservoir is having 9.98 tmc feet against 10.10 tmc feet.

The level of all these reservoirs of neighbouring Maharashtra is certain to touch the brim if the rainfall continues for a few more days.

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Velim locals vow to continue stir till govt scraps fish meal project

Velim villagers armed with placards demand scrapping of the land acquisition process for the proposed fish meal plant at Cutbona jetty.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 1

Rejecting government’s offer to keep land acquisition process for the proposed fish meal project at Cutbona on hold, Velim villagers on Wednesday have vowed to continue their agitation till the process to acquire land admeasuring 30,000 sq mts is scrapped by the government.

The villagers went ahead with their planned dharna outside the Velim panchayat ghar this morning even as the government late last night decided to keep the land acquisition process on hold.

A written communiqué received from the Deputy Collector, Land Acquisition conveying government’s decision to keep the land acquisition process in abeyance found no takers with the agitated villagers.

In fact, the villagers warned the government not to play with the sentiments of the people, saying the authorities will have to face the consequences if they

fail to pay heed to their demands.

Convenor of Velim Civic and Consumer Forum Ramona Almeida said the villagers would meet again to decide the future course of action. Addressing the villagers at the dharna site, Almeida gave a call to the people to unitedly continue the agitation till their demand is met.

“What is this land acquisition process when the authorities continued the process all along without addressing the problems and fears of the villagers and now say the entire process is kept on hold”, she said.

“We have concluded that we don’t trust the bureaucracy and the political power. What they say, write and think is different.

We are going to continue our agitation till we get a complete assurance through proper channel to scrap the land acquisition process”, she said.

Warning the government not to play with the sentiments of the villagers, Almeida said the

Jewellery shop burgled at Calangute

Ferry breakdown leaves 50 Calvim commuters stranded

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, SEPT 1

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, SEPT 1

Barely days after a ferry along the Calvim-Carona route broke down, another ferry ‘Shiroda’ met with a similar fate on Wednesday evening, leaving about 50 commuters stranded in the middle of the river.

The Ferry ‘Shiroda’, carrying about 50 commuters, 10 motorcycles and two cars, left Calvim ferry point at about 6.25 pm and after traveling barely 150 mtrs, suffered a breakdown and was grounded due to low tide.

Calvim Panch Freddy Pontes rushed to the River Navigation Department office at Britona and explained the situation to the officer on duty. On getting the assurance from RND staff that new ferry will be dispatched, Pontes returned to Calvim.

Speaking to Herald, Pontes said the officer-in-charge of RND, Britona, had assured him that they would dispatch Ferry ‘Penhade-Franca’ immediately.

“However the ferry reached Calvim at about 10.30 pm, but the commuters were ferried using a canoe before the ferry could reach the site,” informed Pontes.

“The commuters were left stranded on board Ferry ‘Shiroda’ in utter darkness,” added Pontes.

“The ferry boats plying along the Calvim-Carona route are suffering breakdowns time and again. Ferry boat is the only quickest and convenient means of transport for the villagers to travel out of village and if ferry service is disrupted, office goers suffer the most,” said Pontes.

“Realizing the difficulties of the villagers, the government should provide good ferry boats at Calvim and simultaneously construct bridge at Calvim as early as possible,” added Pontes.

It may be recalled that on August 29, the Ferry ‘Vagator’ plying along the Calvim-Aldona route suffered a breakdown, when water began to seep into the ferry due to a hole.

Husband sentenced for abetting wife’s suicide HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, SEPT 1

The Sessions Court, South on Wednesday sentenced one Fakirappa Hurakadli to three years imprisonment for abetting the suicide of his wife in the year 2005.

The prosecution had charged the accused for subjecting his wife to cruelty by demanding dowry from her relatives.

As her ordeal continued, the deceased wife set herself ablaze on February 22, 2005 at the railway quarters, Dabolim.

Public prosecutor Asha Arsekar had appeared for the state.

Bail rejected: The South Goa Sessions Court on Wednesday rejected the bail application filed

by Uday Naik, who was arrested by the Verna police in the illegal tapping of the underground petroleum line.

government should be ready to face the consequences if they do not pay heed to the voice of the people, adding “if the government does not listen to the people, unitedly, wed will show the power of the villagers”.

“We are firm in our decision that we will not allow the fisheries department to acquire 30,000 sq mts of land at Cutbona”, she asserted.

Velim Sarpanch Reny Caeiro came under sustained criticism from the villager, who questioned her for attending Tuesday’s meeting with the Ministers by keeping the people in the dark. When the Sarpanch read out the communiqué from the Land acquisition officers stating that the acquisition process is kept on hold, the villagers rejected the letter and asserted that nothing short of scrapping of the project would satisfy them.

The villagers also demanded to know the absence of local MLA and Water Resources Min-

Jewellery worth about Rs 1 lakh was stolen from Mega Gold Jewellery Shop at Naikka Vaddo, Calangute on Wednesday night.

According to Calangute Police, some persons broke open the shutter of the jewellery shop and decamped with ornaments like gold rings, silver rings, finger rings, nose pins, golden lockets, silver rings with stones and silver pendants on the intervening night of Wednesday and early Thursday morning.

In his complaint, the shop owner, Samanta Bishuta Gunadhar of Porba Vaddo, Calangute, has estimated the loss at about Rs 1 lakh. Calangute Police has registered the case under Sections 457 and 380 IPC. PSI Harish Gauns is investigating the case.

Devgan pays fine HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgan on Wednesday paid the fine of Rs 200, challan which was issued to him from Panjim police for smoking while on the sets of movie ‘Golmaal 3’ at Inox Courtyard on May 18.

Human rights meet at Dona Paula on Sept 3, 4 HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

A national human rights convention titled ‘The Truth Behind’ on September 3 and 4 at the International Centre in Dona Paula will delve into subjects like ‘mining and human rights violation’, ‘terrorism and human rights’ and ‘sexuality’.

The convention organised by Youth For Goa (YFG) is mostly targeted at college students to create awareness on violation of human rights in Goa and the rest of the country. It will cover a total of six topics giving an overview of human rights violations.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday Convenor YFG Melisa Simoes gave an overview of the convention. The first day will cover the inauguration by psychiatrist Meenakshi Martins and three topics – sexuality, Goa over the years and mining and human rights violation. Simoes informed Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar and MD of Sesa Goa Prasun Mukherjee will be the speakers at the session on ‘mining and human rights violation’ giving both positive and negative feedback on the subject.

She said Supreme Court advocate Mahesh Jethmalani will speak on ‘terrorism and human rights’ on September 4. We have tried to make the convention interesting by interspersing the event with documentaries and video clippings for the students to get a better idea of human rights violation, she mentioned.

Besides, she said, there will be documentary and research paper competitions. “We are expecting around 200 Goan college youth to attend the convention and also law students from Maharashtra and Karnataka,” she said and added, “There is no registration fee for the event.” The other speakers who will speak at the convention include former legislator Matanhy Saldanha and lecturer Prajal Sakhardande who will give their views on ‘Goa over the years’.

Today’s press conference of YFG was also attended by its PRO Amal Samantha, treasurer Gaurang Panandikar and joint secretary Sanketh Ajgaonkar.

ister Filipe Neri Rodrigues at the dharna. They recalled the statement of Fisheries Minister Joaquim Alemao stating that he would not mind dropping the fish meal project if the local MLA is opposed to the same, and demanded that the local MLA immediately convey his opposition to the fish meal project.

Agitated villagers also welcomed the statement of the Fisheries Minister to shift the fish meal project to North Goa, adding that Alemao should not waste any time to take the project to the North.

Another villager Melson Luis said the though Cutbona jetty plays host to 300 fishing vessels, the fisheries department has provided sanitation facility for only four toilets for the 2500odd labourers. Luis maintained that labourers had been answering nature’s call in the adjoining fields in the absence of sanitation facilities, forcing farmers to abandon the fields.

Shantaram named Torture Bill panel member HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 1

Member of Parliament Shantaram Naik has been appointed as member of the Select Committee constituted by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Hamid Ansari on the Prevention of Torture Bill 2010.

Ashwani Kumar, Dr.E.M.Sudarsana Nachiappan, Dr Vijaylaxmi Sadho, Dr Janardhan Waghmare, S S Ahuwalia, Kalraj Mishra, Maya Singh, Naresh Gujral, Brinda Karat, Satish Chandra Misra, Ahmad Malihabadi and Dr Ashok Ganguli are other members. The bill provides punishment for torture, inflicted by public servants or to any person inflicting torture with the consent or acquiescence of any public servants.

Since torture by policemen of citizens in their custody is increasing a need of such a legislation is felt. Besides India is a signatory to an International Protocol signed in this connection.

Legal Metrology officials raid shops, seize materials HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

Legal Metrology officials on Wednesday raided shops and establishments and seized materials, which were sold in infringement of Packaged Commodities Rules.

During surprise inspections at Ponda, Panjim, Mapusa, Margao and Vasco, the officials seized 1,837 packages of innerwear garments displayed for sale after altering the original MRP and affixing MRP labels of higher rates.

Controller N M Naik informed that the value of the seized prod-

ucts of brands ‘Euro’, ‘Pintex’, ‘Rupa’, ‘VIP’, etc is worth Rs 1.5 lakh. The Department has booked 13 cases against the offenders with three cases each at Ponda, Margao and Panjim and two cases each at Vasco and Mapusa.

Details of the raided establishments and its owners were not released as the department was carrying out the further probe, which will also decide upon action against holding respective business licenses.

“We have booked the offenders for smudging and altering the MRP by affixing stickers of

higher MRP. There are also packages without MRP labels but was put on sale,” he said.

The cases are booked for contravention of the provisions of the Standards of Weights and Measures (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 1977.

The raids are as a result of the festival season underway and with the approaching Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Naik further said that the raids will continue even as he has urged the consumers to remain vigilant and cautious while purchasing commodities.

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S H O RT TA K E S CME in Critical Care organised

Fuel pilferage case handed to Crime Branch: Gaonkar HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 1

Dr V N Jindal releasing the abstract book of CME at GMC. Also present are Dr Marilyn Nazareth, Dr N G Dhubashi, Dr R G Wiseman Pinto, Dr Dalia Bhandare, and Dr S Borkar.

PANJIM(HND): The Departments of Medicine and Anesthesiology, Goa Medical College in collaboration with the Medical Education Cell organized a CME (Continuing Medical Education) Programme at GMC Auditorium recently.

Dean of GMC, Dr V N Jindal was the chief guest and inaugurated the CME. Dr Marilyn Nazareth welcomed, Dr N G Dubashi, Dr R G Wiseman Pinto and Dr Borkar spoke on the topics.

The faculty comprised of Dr Jigi Divatia, Professor and Head of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and pain, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Sanjay Wagle, Consultant Intensivist Bombay Hospital Mumbai, Dr Vishnath Billa, Consultant Nephrologist, Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Dr Shiv Kumar Iyer Consultant Intensivist Pune and Dr Salil Shinde, consultant Pharmacologist Mumbai, Dr Chico Vaz conducted a panel discussion. The topics covered at the CME were: acute lung injury, new strategies in mechanical ventilation, ventilator acquired pneumonia, acute kidney injury, nutrition in critically ill, management of fungal infections, and panel discussion on criteria for ICU admissions, brain death and organ transplant.

The CME was coordinated by Dr Dalia Bhandare, Dr Marilyn Nazareth, Dr R G Wiseman Pinto, Dr N G Dhubashi and Dr V N Jindal.

Dr Dalia Bhandare, the organizing secretary proposed the vote of thanks, Dr Shirley D’Souza compered.

Nawaf, Noora excel at Abacus

Nawaf Baig and Noora Baig.

PANJIM(HND): Candidates from Vasco Abacus Centre (IMA), bagged awards at the 7th National Abacus Competition (All India Level).

Nawaf Baig and Noora Baig, sibling of Suleiman Zakaria Baig and Ayesha Baig, students of Deepvihar School, Headland, Sada, Mormugao, Vasco da Gama, won awards at the 7th National Abacus Competition organized by International Mental Arithmetic, Abacus Pvt Ltd, held at Chennai recently. Nikhat Shaikh was their instructor, says a press release.

Vasco Police DySP Mahesh Gaonkar said the fuel pilferage case at Alto Dabolim has been handed over to CID Crime Branch.

DySP Gaonkar said the case has been handed over to the CID Crime Branch, Dona Paula, from Verna Police to unearth all possibilities in the case, including involvement of officials of the oil company, if any.

“For the last couple of days, the case has been discussed in length and since it is a case of big spectrum and even the Essential Commodities Act has been invoked, it has been handed over to CID Crime Branch,” added Mahesh.

He further informed that the case has progressed a lot, as most of the accused have been arrested after the incident on August 23, while Verna Police on Monday attached four more

Free sessions on Rhythmic Breathing HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 1

Sri Ram Yoga Mandir Trust will organize free public sessions on Rhythmic Breathing in the State.

On September 3 at Radhakrisrina Temple, Near Mahalakshmi Temple, Panaji, between 6 pm to 6.45 pm. On September 5, between 11 am to 1 pm at 2nd Floor, Rotary Community Centre (Entrance from opp ICICI Bank), Tilak Maidan Complex, Vasco.

September 10, between 6 pm to 6:45 pm, at Basement, Radhakrishna Temple, Near Mahalakshmi Temple, Panaji.

According to a press release, diseases get aggravated if our breathing is inefficient, where knowledge about correct breathing is therefore a must for one and all. Rishi Patanjali knew about correct breathing for total health. These exercises require only 15 minutes every day and are priceless secrets from Rishi Patanjali, called Rhythmic Breathing Science, which will be revealed free of charge. Limited seats are available at all sessions, according to venue capacity, so registration is advised. For registration, contact Venkatesh Betigiri, Coordinator, Rhythmic Breathing Club on 9422443421 or veebee200303@yahoo.co.in.

Quiz contest at Margao MARCEL, SEPT 1(HC)

The 15th All Goa Inter-higher Secondary School Quiz competition organised by Parents Teachers Association of Goa Vidyaprasarak Mandal’s SNJA Higher Secondary School Farmagudi-Ponda will be held at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on September 4.

Lancio Moraes, winner of the first prize at CII’s Young Indian (Yi) All Goa Drawing Competition on the theme ‘a wish for my neighbhourhood,’ held at Don Bosco Panjim, along with Headmistress Sr Ida Lobo and art teacher Carmo Rodrigues.

Roque elected president

QUEPEM (HC): Avedem-Cottombi and Chaifi Deputy Sarpanch Roque Alleluia Alphonso was unanimously elected president of Panchayat Yuva Krida Khel Abiyan (PYKKA) of Avedem-Cottombi and Chaifi Panchayat.

Other committee members elected are Sarita H Naik (vice president), Menino Mascarenhas (treasurer), Vandana Sawant (secretary), Parashuram N Rane (joint secretary) and Pushpa T Naik, Silesh Kalekar, Minguel Fernandes, Ramchandra Raikar and Vishal Prabhu Dessai (members).

Jewellery exhibition

PANJIM(HND): M/s Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers will host a special exhibition cum sale at Hotel Woodlands in Margao on September 3, 4 and 5, between 10 am to 8 pm.

According to a press release, M/s Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers, established in Mumbai in 1909, has over the past ten decades gained a reputation for its gold, silver, diamond and pearl jewellery. In the last ten years, its innovative designs and master craftsmanship attracted customers from Goa who would frequent and patronize its Mumbai outlets. Gradually, a bond of trust and respect formed between M/s Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers and its Goan clientele.

Subsequently, the firm began organizing jewellery exhibitions in Goa at Hotel Mandovi and Hotel Fidalgo where jewellery pieces that aid Goan appeal were put up for sale for its valued Goan customers. The exhibitions invoked a tremendous response from its patrons in Goa and eventually, in the centenary year of its existence, M/s Waman Hari Pethe Jewellers opened an outlet in Panjim to an equally overwhelming response.

This exhibition will feature intricately crafted 22 carat, 23 carat gold and diamond jewellery. The exhibition cum sale would also include specially designed and crafted jewellery pieces that would appeal to the Christian community, adds the press release.

Verna Police attached three fuel tankers used by the accused in the pilferage racket.

Photo by M Prabhav

vehicles, including three fuel tankers.

Meanwhile, the bail plea moved by accused Uday Naik in fuel pilferage case in AltoDabolim is kept for argument in Sessions Court on September 1.

Naik has moved bail plea in the Sessions Court after he was

remanded to seven days police custody on August 27.

It may be recalled that on August 23, Zuari Indian Oil Tanking official along with Verna Police had busted a fuel pilferage racket and unearthed a tapping c o n n e c t i o n u n d e rg ro u n d pipeline along the NH17B at Alto-Dabolim.

BMC passes resolution to ban plastics HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, SEPT 1

Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) recently passed several resolutions, including a ban on plastics by making alternative provisions for the shopkeepers.

The BMC meeting, which was convened in BMC Hall, Bicholim, was presided over by its Chairperson Satish Gaonkar, Councillors Bhagwan Harmalkar, Manohar Shirodkar, Balu Birje, Kamlakar Teli, Aruna Patnekar, Afiza Beigand, Tanjua Gaonkar and other councillors.

A resolution to ban plastic was taken following the rising pollution and garbage due to plastic bags and bottles. Several suggestions were made to make available alternative solutions for the shopkeepers to end the menace.

The discussion also focused on increasing number of stray cattle, which are responsible for rise in the accident. It was decided to impose a fine of Rs 150 a day to the cattle owner and send the stray cattle at a cattle house at Nanus-Sattari.

Mock drill on floods waste of money, say Bicholim locals

The lone boat used by Bicholim fire force for the mock drill.

Photo by Samir Umarye HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, SEPT 1

The mock drill on floods in Bicholim, organised by the government, failed to impress the public, many of whom described it as an "eye wash and waste of time and money".

The exercise was organised by the district administration North Goa at Mayem to practice the rescue work during flood situation in Bicholim.

Bicholim fire force, several other government organisations and NGOs including NDRF, Dristhi lifeguards, health department, PWD, police were also involved.

The operation started at about 5 pm. At first, boats of NDRF, Dristhi and Bicholim fire force ferried the people across Mayem Lake and later they were taken to Government Polytechnic, Mayem, where doctors provided 'first aid'.

Even though the mock drill was carried out, it was surprising to note that Bicholim fire force was not equipped with a motorboat.

The only boat that the fire force had was a manual boat, which ferried about 10 locals across the lake.

“We had no other boat and the only motorboat that we have is yet to be repaired,” informed a fire force personnel speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The locals, when asked to c o m m e n t o v e r t h e e n t i re episode, claimed that all the organisations, which participated in the drill were from outside the taluka and might not reach the place in time in case of an emergency.

“It is nothing, but a waste of money. The fire force in Bicholim has to handle the entire situation,” claimed a local, who wished not to disclose his name.

When asked to comment on the situation, Assistant Divisional Officer of fire force Nitin Raikar admitted that during emergency, the fire force plays the important task and should be equipped with more facilities.

He however urged to contact the senior station fire officer to

comment over the situation of Bicholim fire force.

Speaking to Herald, senior Station Fire Officer Dattaram Redkar admitted that at present, they have only provided a rowing boat in Bicholim and the motorboat that they have got is not yet repaired.

When pointed out that Bicholim is already declared floodprone, Redkar shot back: “In case of floods and strong water currents, the motorboats can also be futile.”

It may be recalled that despite demands, the Bicholim fire force does not have good ladder, a hydraulic cutter and other such facilities.

“We will provide a ladder and the demand of hydraulic cutter for Bicholim is in the pipeline.

It is pending only because of lack of funds,” said Redkar.

Even though the government conducted mock drill with much fanfare, it hardly impressed the locals, who claimed that all the government machinery used during Monday’s rescue operation comes only when the water recedes and Bicholim fire force should be upgraded to handle the situation.

During the entire mock drill at Mayem Lake, 62 locals were ferried on the boat, another 52 persons were assigned at the first aid centre. There were seven ambulances, four buses and seven tents erected on the polytechnic ground.

North Goa Collector Mihir Vardhan, Bicholim Deputy Collector Gad, Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat, Mayem ML A Anant Shet and other government officers were present for the mock drill.

Community hall, Pickpocketing rife in other issues discussed places of worship! pack in my pant’s front pocket,” at Socorro meet he said.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, SEPT 1

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, SEPT 1

The Socorro Panchayat on Sunday deliberated on various issues, including the construction of community hall in the village.

The gram sabha was held on Sunday at church hall.

When Agnel Lobo suggested that the panchayat should acquire land in Survey No 220/11 for the construction of community hall, Wilbur Ticklo strongly objected to the proposal stating that the land belongs to him and hence the panchayat cannot build community hall on his land and Lobo’s proposal was rejected.

Sarpanch Pratima Narvekar said the panchayat cannot develop projects on private lands without the permission from their owners. “If such resolutions are adopted in gram sabha, then it will set a bad precedent and people will loose faith in the gram sabhas,” she said.

Peter Martins alleged that the work carried out in the Hindu Crematorium is of substandard quality.

However, some villagers said that when Martins was the panchayat secretary of Socorro panchayat, the tender for repairs of the Hindu crematorium was issued and the work was completed during his tenure. “He should have raised this matter then,” said the villagers.

Panchayat Secretary Subhas Faterpekar assured to look into the matter.

Residents of Carrem brought to the notice of the panchayat that they are facing acute water shortage for the last two years. T Victor Azavedo stated that part of Socorro village falls under the jurisdiction of Porvorim Police and the remaining under Mapusa Police.

“Hence the matter may be pursued with the Directorate of Police to bring entire Socorro village under the purview of Porvorim Police station,” said Azavedo.

The villagers suggested that open spaces in Green Hill and Sabnis Park may be taken up for beautification through the finance schemes of Rural Development Agency.

Earlier, the panchayat secretary read the minutes of the meeting held on April 18, 2010, and presented the annual statement of Income and Expenditure for 2009-10.

During the financial year 2009-10, the panchayat received total grant of Rs 32.02 lakh from the government. The panchayat collected Rs 40.92 lakh by way of taxes and Rs 19.99 lakh by way of construction license and other fees.

On the expenditure front, the panchayat spent Rs 48.38 lakh on Public works, Rs 13.88 lakh on Administration and Rs 9.33 lakh on Sanitation and Public Health.

Socorro Sarpanch Pratima Narvekar welcomed the villagers, while Kartik Kudnekar proposed the vote of thanks.

Pickpocketing is rife in places of worships and shrines, especially when devotees converge in lakhs at one place.

Vailankani in Tamil Nadu, one of the most visited Christian shrines in the country, has also become the target of pickpocketers.

It is suspected that organized groups are clandestinely working amid the lakhs of pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Vailankanni to pickpocket the unsuspecting visitors.

According to Sham Miranda, a devotee from Agonda visiting Vailankani, he was pickpocketed of Rs 43,000, his mother for Rs 7,000 and another woman of Rs 400 on the day of ‘Maddi'. Two male members of the group escaped by sheer luck and presence of mind.

Interestingly, the group had to leave Vailankani venue on Tuesday in their special transportation, a day earlier than their original plan, as they ran out of cash.

“We joined lakhs of people on Sunday afternoon to kiss the statue of Our Lady of Vailankani, but after coming out we realized that we have been robbed of our cash,” informed Miranda over the phone.

“As we are aware of such possibilities in such a huge assembly of devotees, I took special prevention and kept Rs 43,000, having eight notes of Rs 1,000 and the rest of Rs 500 denomination in one pack and another Rs 5,000 of Rs 500 notes in another

“Even then I was alert and kept on touching my pockets to feel the cash. However, I did not realize when I was robbed. I found the cash missing once we came out of the rush,” he added.

“Similarly, my mother could not imagine how her cash of Rs 7,000, again in Rs 500 notes, were taken from her purse. Another woman on reaching the hotel room found her small pouch having Rs 400 missing from her shoulder bag,” informed Miranda.

Interestingly, two of the male companions by their sheer luck, realized well on time that they were being pickpocketed and immediately remained alert to escape the bid.

Said another devotee: “I placed my valet in the back pocket of my pant, which was secured with a button. I had a feeling twice that someone was touching my pocket. On the third move, I found my pocket unbuttoned and that was the time I turned around to observe some suspiciously looking persons surrounding me.”

“I retracted from the area to join our people and saw the four persons also moving in different directions,” informed the devotee over the phone.

Another person from the group informed that he observed that his pant’s back pockets were repeatedly explored by unknown people, while he kept his valet in his pant’s front pocket.

Asst Director of Transport accused of violating HC order HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, SEPT 1

Adv Shitalkumar M Kakodkar of Quepem has accused the Assistant Director of Transport Quepem of issuing fitness certificates to trucks in violation of High Court Order.

Adv Kakodkar has sent a legal notice to the Chief Secretary, Chairman of Goa Pollution Control Board, Superintendent of Police South, South Goa Collector and the Assistant Director of Transport for willful committing contempt of High Court order passed in writ petition No 418/89 and 256/09.

In his notice, Adv Kakodkar accused the Assistant Director of Transport Quepem of issuing fitness certificates to trucks in violation of High Court order, as the assistant director of transport approves the trucks without removing the wooden or iron planks fitted over the body of the trucks.

“At the time of inspection, this is overlooked, which becomes contempt of the High Court order,” stated Adv Kakodkar in the notice.

The notice further stated that the tarpaulin is neither fastened to the cargo box nor gap at the base of flap doors is covered and sealed during ore transportation by trucks owners.

“The tarpaulin is just put over the ore, which during transportation spills, thereby causing dust pollution,” stated Adv Kakodkar.

The notice further stated that the timings mentioned by the High Court in its order is being violated.

“During night, mining in the form of coal and coke is being transported from Vasco-daGama Harbour, which travels through the jurisdictions of 3-4 police stations to pig iron or sponge plants at Sanvordem and Costi and Cortali,” added Adv Kakodakar.

“Trucks are transporting mineral ore before 7 am, for which empty truck travels between 3.30 am and 4 am to the mines, causing heavy sound pollution, which is being done with active support of government machinery,” alleged Adv Kakodkar.

In his notice, Adv Kakodkar brought to the notice of the officials that implementing the order does not mean only issuing challans to the trucks, but to see that dust pollution is not caused due to the transportation.

“If efforts are not made to implement the High Court order within seven days, then I will be constrained to file a contempt petition,” warned Adv Kakodkar.

‘Controlling one’s blood sugar is key to managing diabetes’

People present at the diabetes camp organized recently by the Lions Club of Colva and UK-based Silver Star Appeal (Goa Branch) along with Sharon Alemao D’Costa, Alexander Fernandes (president), Joaquim Da Costa (treasurer) at Colva.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 1

Eat healthy food, be more active, check up blood sugar regularly and take up diabetes medicines as prescribed by the doctor to manage Diabetes Type 2, advised specialists Dr Prakash Prabhu Desai and Dr Darshana Naik at the diabetes camp organised by Lions Club of Colva in collaboration with UK-based Trust Silver Star Appeal, Goa Branch, at Lions Hall, Colva recntly.

“When you have Type 2 diabetes, high levels of sugar build up in one’s blood which can lead to serious health complications.

That's why controlling one’s blood sugar is key to managing diabetes. Keeping your blood sugar under control, lowers the risk for complications later. High blood sugar can harm your organs and raise your risk of heart disease, the specialists advised the large number of people who attended the camp.

Dr Prabhu Desai stated that changing eating habits and being more active are often the first steps to control diabetes so that one works towards keeping the blood sugar level as close

to normal as one can.

Alexander Fernandes, president of the club, in his welcome address pointed out that Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease, which means that one will have it for life. The objective of the camp, Alexander said, was to undertake adequate control for which one had to work alongwith the doctor together to control the blood sugar, which can help reduce the risk of complications. Diet and physical activity may control your blood sugar at first, but one may need to take medicine down the road. Over time, one may need to change medicines, or add medicines, to keep the blood sugar under control. One may even need to use insulin, he added. Medicines were dispensed by the doctors.

The project, sponsored by Adv Valanka Alemao, member of the advisory committee of Silver Star Appeal, Goa Branch, was inaugurated by Sharon Alemao D’Costa, who was the chief guest as Valanka could not attend the function.

Dr Robinson D'Costa, project manager proposed the vote of thanks.

POWER SHUTDOWN SEPT 2

COLVA: From 9 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are Pedda Benaulim, Canna Benaulim, Colva, and Per-Seraulim.

PORVORIM: From 9.30 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are Socorro, O’Coquiero water tank, Sapna Garden, Angel resorts, Landscape, Techno craft, Casino, Pilerne, Indian audit and accounts, Bale hospital, Sangolda communidade plots, Gautam Hotel, Part of Saulem, Green Valley and surrounding areas.

SEPT 3

RIBANDAR: From 9.30 am to 3.30 pm. Areas affected are Kadamba Bus-Stand, Heera Petrol Pump, Hoble Garage, Merces Vaddy, Alto Ribandar, Patto, Ram Bhuwan Waddo, Chinch Wada, Kadamba Road, Manxer, entire Fondovem, PWD Water Tank, Goa Management Institute, Ribandar Police Station, Ribandar Residency, Hotel Missel, Sequeira Enclave, Bal Barathi High School, Mil Roc, Sao Pedro/Panvel, Bal Niketan and surrounding areas of Panaji, Ribandar, Merces, Chimbel and Tiswadi.

WEATHER REPORT Max Temp: 30.80C Min Temp: 23.80C Humidity: 83% Rainfall past 24 hrs: 007.2 mm Seasonal Total: 2927.5 mm Forecast: Occassional spells of rain or thunder shower would occur in some areas.

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Preference to SMIPL to tow vessel, AG informs HC HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

n

The gov High Court at Goa that Salgaoncar Mining Industries Private Limited (SMIPL), which has agreed to take the vessel free of cost, will be give preference to tow the vessel.

Advocate General (AG) Subodh Kantak, informing the Court about tender process for the vessel, said that the government has considered the application of SMIPL as they are the actual owners of the vessel and were willing to remove free in view of the salvage value.

He told Court that a meeting of bidders M/s Titan Salvage and M/s Madgaonkar Salvage has been called on Thursday evening, which will be also attended by the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) headed by the Chief Minister Digambar

Kamaaa “We also want SMIPL to be present for the meeting. Their application will be taken up on priority,” the AG said.

He told the Bench that government cannot wait anymore.

The Division Bench comprising of Justice D G Karnik and F M Reis were hearing a

Congress is looting common man, says Shripad HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, SEPT 1

Intending to clear the misconception that BJP is working against the minorities, North Goa MP Shripad Naik said the top three states to give maximum protection to minorities were all BJP-ruled states, which included Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

He further said that this was revealed in a survey by the Centre, for which awards were given away recently.

Naik was speaking at a meeting organised by BJP in Merces to expose the corruption that has become deep-rooted in the Goa government.

“The Congress government in the State is looting the common man and if it is not shown the door in the forthcoming assembly elections, then it would lead to complete destruction of Goa,” stated Naik.

Speaking on the Central government, he said the SC order to the government to distribute free grains to the poor only goes to show that corruption is rampant at the Centre too and that the Congress is incapable of running the country.

He said the corrupt Congress has been ruling the country for several decades and alleged that the Gandhi and the Nehru family would be holding thousands of crores in Swiss Bank accounts.

BJP President Laxmikant Parsekar said the Congress came to power in the name of aam aadmi and today it is playing with the lives of the same aam aadmi.

Citing an example, Parsekar said the Centre allowed the grains to rot, instead of distributing it among the poor, because rotten grains are used to produce a strong alcoholic drink.

“Corruption has become synonymous with the State government and it is least bothered about the welfare of the common man, when it claims otherwise,” claimed Parsekar.

To prove his point, Parsekar said the BJP had listed 2,600 questions during the recent Assembly and out of this only 66 questions were taken up for discussion.

“In all the discussions, the BJP was able to pinpoint rampant corruption in the government,” he said and added that if all the 2,600 questions were discussed,

the corruption cases would have just piled beyond imagination.

Hitting out at the government for doing negligible development in the State, Parsekar said it has only been busy giving facelift to the projects that were completed during the BJP-regime.

He also alleged that the government has made a mess of several BJP schemes, which were benefiting the common man, such as DSS scheme, Cyber age scheme, interest-free education loan scheme, etc, and questioned whether the government is really interested about the aam aadmi.

Chiding the fashion of hereditary politics gaining popularity in the Congress, Parsekar questioned whether the policy of ‘one ticket for one family’ of the Congress still stands or has it changed.

“If the policy still stands, then Vishwajeet should not be given the Congress ticket in the Valpoi bye-elections,” he opined.

He further advised the St Cruz voters not to allow hereditary politics to gain foothold in St Cruz constituency.

Touching on the issue of Inox, where its leader Manohar Parrikar is accused of corruption, Parsekar said Inox was built at a cost of just Rs 17 crore.

“Today, the government is earning a revenue of Rs 4.5 crore every year as rent and a further Rs 2 crore annually as entertainment tax,” he informed and added that the cost has already been recovered within 3 years.

“This only shows the efficiency and the far-sightedness of the BJP government,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza said the governance in the State is at its lowest ebb with corruption gaining such a strong foothold that officers are now demanding bribe from MLAs for getting work done.

“If this is the case, then what would be the plight of the common man,” he questioned.

Citing rampant corruption in the mining sector, D’Souza alleged that a minister is involved in illegally exporting iron ore and the government is least bothered in inquiring into the matter due to which Goa continues to lose revenue.

BJP General Secretary Govind Pavatkar, Anil Hoble, Pamod Kamat and Girish Uskaikar also spoke on the occasion.

Return to state politics, Parsekar urges Naik HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, SEPT 1

Stating that he would personally like to see Shripad Naik to return to State politics to strengthen the BJP, President Laxmikant Parsekar said it depends on the BJP leadership and also on Naik himself to decide on the issue.

Parsekar made the observation when Herald questioned whether BJP would think of allowing Shripad Naik to contest the Assembly elections since a clean and honest politician is the need of the hour to weed out corruption in the State.

When questioned whether the BJP will field a strong and a clean candidate in St Cruz constituency this time around, Parsekar said they will definitely look for one such candidate.

But, when asked whether Naik would be the one, Parsekar said it again depends on the BJP leadership and Shripad Naik himself.

When Naik was put the question whether he would like to contest from St Cruz constituency,

he did not give a specific answer, but said that it is upto the BJP leadership to decide.

Traffic dept opts for entry road to ease congestion PANJIM, SEPT 1(HR)

To ease traffic congestion on Dayanand Bandodkar Marg in Panjim, Traffic Department has opted to let additional entry road to twowheelers via Old Patto Bridge to enter the city, on trial basis.

“To ease the traffic congestion during peak hours, it has been decided to allow additional entry road to the two wheelers to enter Panjim city via Old Patto Bridge from old Titan Clock Tower from 9 am to 10:30 am on trial basis,” the press note released by the Superintendent of (Traffic) Police Arvind Gawas states.

The trial session will be embarked from September 4 and the two-way traffic will be controlled near Hotel Sona and at Hotel La Vista junction for a smooth and safe vehicular traffic flow.

public interest litigation filed by River Princess Hatao Manch (RPHM).

The final hearing over the matter would be heard on September 6.

Accepting the proposal, SMIPL has said that they are ready to attend the meeting without any rights and prejudicial.

The Court has asked the government to check whether any other bidder is ready to remove free of cost and pay for the scrap.

The Division Bench also questioned on who will own the vessel after its remove.

Last month, the Advisory Committee after considering opinions of legal advisors inprinciple had decided that Titan Salvage would be the best option to remove the River Princess.

In March this year, SMIPL bid was rejected for not being in consonance with the tender conditions and accordingly an application was moved to the High Court.

Salgaoncar: work only after ownership HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

The original owners of River Princess- Salgaoncar Mining Industries Pvt Ltd (SMIPL), wants the ownership of the vessel back before starting the work to break it and take it away.

The state government today officially told the High Court that the SMPL would be given preference for removal of the grounded vessel, as they are the original owners and are ready to remove free of cost.

SMIPL director, Sameer Salgaoncar today said that they will start the work of breaking the ship only after getting the ownership of the vessel.

“We have already put the proposal before the government that the vessel should be given back to us before we go ahead with its work,” he said.

The director made it clear that the ship will be taken away from the shore and broken into pieces to avoid pollution on the coast.

“We do not want any kind of disturbances on the beach when vessel is being broken and taken away,” Salgaoncar added.

Talking about government’s earlier decision to tender the project to M/s Titan Salvage, Salgaoncar alleged that the company had no experience in salvaging.

He informed that SMIPL in past had towed away a transshipper and a tug which had run aground off Goa’s coast.

SMIPL owned the ship when it hit the shore in the year 2000 but later state government took over the ship under Goa Tourist Places Protection Act in 2003 tendering the work to salvage it.

Though the government had considered SMI’s application for the tendering process, the final decision will be taken only in a meeting scheduled on September 2. The meeting will be attended by the bidders and the government.

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GOA, THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Konkani speaking people of Belgaum pay tribute to Kelekar HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, SEPT 1

The Konkani-speaking people of Belgaum along with the noted litterateurs paid rich tributes to great writer Ravindra Kelekar.

Veteran Konkani writer, who was recently awarded with the p re s t i g i o u s D n y a n a p e e t h Puraskar, the Nation’s highest honour in the field of literature, died at Goa on August 27.

The function was organized

by Uzwaad Parivaar at the Bishop’s House here at Camp on Tuesday. Bishop of Belgaum presided over the function, while noted Kannada writer and senior journalist Dr Sarjoo Katkar was the chief guest.

Stating that Konkani language is the only language which is spoken in four states, Dr Sarjoo Katkar said as a noble Gandhian and one of the greatest Indian writers, people of Belgaum are privileged to pay tributes to Kelekar.

Appreciating Late Kelekar’s modesty, Dr Katkar further said Ravindra Kelekar who was also the recipient of the Padma Bhushan award, Sahitya Akademi award, Gomant Sharda Puraskar, was a role model of modesty and simplicity.

“Writers of his calibre do not belong to only one language and go on to become

Bishop Peter Machado and Dr Sarjoo Katkar garlands the photo of Ravindra Kelekar in the presence of V V Shenoy, Girgol Rodrigues, Simon Mendonsa, Deepak Pai Dhungat, Wilson Carvalho, Anthony Dias, Alfred Britto, J N Karanje, Mrs Almeida and others.

national epitome,” Dr Katkar said paying tributes to late Kelekar.

Bishop Peter Machado who also paid respectful homage to Ravindra Kelekar said: “It is our duty in paying rich tributes to a colossal litterateur and freedom fighter like the status of Ravindra Kelekar who devoted his life for the cause of the nation.”

“Kelekar also strived until his last breath for conserving the Konkani culture and language through his rich literature,” said Bishop Machdao urging the Konkani-speaking people in Bel-

gaum to take pride and maintain their mother tongue.

Senior Konkani activist V V Shenoy, journalist Subhash Kulkarni, social activist Deepak Pai and Alfred Britto also spoke on the occasion.

Two minutes silence was observed as a mark of respect to the deceased writer.

Editorial advisor of Uzwaad Girgol Rodrigues, Prof Inas Fernandes, Fr George Lopez, Fr Freddy Raj, Benny Pinto, Simon Mendonsa, Wilson Carvalho, Anthony Dias J N Karanje, Mrs Almeida and others were present.

Ganeshotsav Mandals urged to adopt precautionary measures HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, SEPT 1

Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares advised organising committees of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals of Mapusa, Pernem and Anjuna about precautionary measures to be taken during the Ganesh festival.

DySP Tavares convened a meeting of the organising committees of the Sar vajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals of Mapusa, Pernem and Anjuna. About 60 representatives of the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals attended the meeting, which was held in the premises of Mapusa Police station.

DySP Tavares also advised the committees about precautionary measures to be taken during the immersion of Ganesh idols.

He advised Sarvajanik Ganesh Mandals to have proper access control by keeping minimum entry and exit points at the ven-

ues, install CCTV cameras with a TV to monitor the movements of the persons visiting the Ganesh Mandals, ensure that the vehicles are parked far away from the pandals, where Ganesh idols are installed.

He also advised not to burst fire crackers near the pandals, provide identity cards to the volunteers of Ganesh Mandals, make available fire extinguishers and other fighting materials such as water, sand, etc, at the venue for its use in case of fire, deploy private security, especially during night and provide a detailed list of the programme fixed at the venues well in advance to the local police stations.

In regard to precautions to be taken during immersion of Ganesh idols, DySP Tavares said th e G a nesh Ma nd a l s should ensure that vehicular traffic in not obstructed during the procession, fire crackers are not burst at public places

like markets, bus stands, hospitals and provide date, time and the route through which Lord Ganesh idol will be taken for immersion to the local police stations.

Surendra Gaonkar suggested that the government should offer subsidy to the extent of 75% for the installation of CCTVs cameras in temples and Churches.

Vishwajeet Parab stated that the police should display photographs of the people convicted for thefts in the premises of the temples.

“Every Devasthans should maintain a register and the police patrolling the area should sign the register every day,” said Parab.

Police Inspector of Anjuna Police urged the representatives of Ganeshotsav Mandals to assist police in curbing thefts in Bardez taluka. Kehsav Naik welcomed the gathering and proposed the vote of thanks.

‘Samriddhi’ held at Candolim HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, SEPT 1

The Goa Institute of Management organized its annual national conference ‘Samriddhi’ at Hotel Fortune, Candolim, and deliberated on ‘Social Media and Business’.

The topic was chosen considering millions of people and businesses interact, share and collaborate through social networking sites, media communities and blogs bringing together people with similar interests, thus providing an opportunity to interact and express opinions.

The social network also provides a platform to discussion, products, services, problems and solutions. The social networking site enables an individual to look for jobsites and other associations, where conversations take place online.

The aim of ‘Samriddhi 2010’ was to seek deeper insight into the growing impact of social networking and to change the business outlook.

The ‘Samriddhi 2010’ also witnessed a ‘Buzz it’ competition on business strategies, where students from across the country were asked to submit a complete business plan for setting a new hotel.

Of the 145 entries, five colleges short listed are Mudra Institute of Communication, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, SIES College of Management Studies and IIM Khoziekode to vie for the top spot.

GIM always aims at imparting not just managerial skills to its students, but also inculcate in them a sense of social responsibility.

As future managers and leaders, it is the responsibility of the students to strive for inclusive growth in the society. The Samriddhi has made its contribution to the society by focusing on issues relevant to themes such as ‘financing India’s Development’. ‘Sustainable Green Inf r a s t r u c t u re ’ a n d ‘ S o c i a l Entrepreneurship’ at its earlier conferences.

The Samriddhi also draws a large number of distinguished corporate leaders, opinion makers and delegates from across the country for participation.

The Goa Institute of Management, a brainchild of Fr Romauld D’Souza supported by a team of professionals and industrialists has risen to be the one of the finest management schools in the country.

The GIM now enters a new phase in its legacy with the completion of new campus. The new campus offers an array of facili t i e s w h i l e i n c re a s i n g i t s strength of faculty from 16 to 35 members. The GIM also dwells on providing higher interaction with the industry and an exposure to entrepreneurship.

Prominent speakers for ‘Samriddhi 2010’ were Ivan Arthur (trustee - Asian Institute of Communication and Research), Abdul Khan (senior VP Marketing - Tata Docomo), Karthik Nagarajan (associate director Online Division - The Nielson Company), Deepak Gopalkrishnan (Windchimes Communications), Gaurav Mishra (writer and speaker at Gauravonomics), Rajiv Dingra (Founder and CEO of WAT Media), Rajesh Lalwani founder - Blogworks), Sanjay Sahay (head online marketing – Infosys Technologies) and Ratish Nair (co founder - Ad Magnet) among others.

Earlier, Ivan Arthur, former creative director of James Walter Thomson (JWT), who was the chief guest, inaugurated the event in the presence of Peter D’Lima, director of Goa Institute of Management at Hotel Fortune, Candolim.

Directory of Archdiocese launched HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, SEPT 1

The Directory of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman for 2010-11 was launched at Don Bosco Technical Institute, Fatorda.

Fr Andrew Pereira, Parish Priest of Benaulim (St John the Baptist Church) and Fr Savio D’Souza, assistant to the parish priest of Cansaulim Church launched the directory at a simple function during the workshop organized by the Diocesan

Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM, Goa) for the Parish Bulletin editors.

The publication is available at the Instituto de N Sra de Piedade, Café Amor, Pauline Book & Media Centre, Pauline Media Centre, Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media,Archbishop’s House in Panjim, Pauline Book and Media Centre and Liturgical Centre in Mapusa, Jivita Sondex and Kristu Kala Mandir at Old Goa, Lighthouse in Margao and

Treasure House at Vasco-daGama.

This fifth edition of the Directory has features on the triple centenaries the Pastoral Letter, the third centenary of death of Blessed Joseph Vaz, fourth centenary of the dedication of the Church of the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol and fifth centenary of the First Mass celebrated on the Goan soil.

In addition, the directory also presents the fact file of the Archdiocese.

OHERALDO

OPINION

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www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

The Scourge of TB

Vol No CX No: 222 Goa, Thursday 2 September, 2010

Chain reaction hits Sea Link

TB cannot be tackled solely as a health problem; it must be seen as a socio-economic malady, says fReddY diAS

T

uberculosis (TB) rates in various countries India estimates that 3 per cent of new TB cases of the world has shot up, aided by tattered in the country can’t be treated with standard health-care systems, political instability and drug regimens. The MDR TB has several issues a lack of commitment to curtail it, the World that have proved highly problematic for India.

As against the 6-month treatment regimen for aunched with so much fanfare, it has been unceremoniously Health Organisation (WHO) says. The disease has normal TB, MDR TB treatment takes up to two shot down like a clay pigeon. Not at all surprisingly, Chief become a bigger killer than malaria and AIDS years or more to treat with drugs that are less Minister Digambar Kamat’s ‘dream project’, the Vasco-Dona combined, but experts complain that attention potent and more toxic. Moreover, medicines for Paula Sea Link, has not found favour with the National Highway’s has shifted instead to more publicised diseases. drug-resistant TB are highly expensive.

Authority of India (NHAI). The central body has correctly prognos- There are 10 times more TB cases in the world The worst form of drug-resistant TB - the exticated that the grandiose project to connect Panjim and Vasco than AIDS cases, according to WHO data.

WHO says that tuberculosis is uglier and more treme type referred to as XDR - is also raising its will only turn out to be another white elephant. head much more frequently. WHO estimates there A meeting was held recently, attended by NHAI Chairman Bri- frightening than ever, as it moves with people may be around 25,000 XDR TB cases a year with jeshwar Singh and an NHAI General Manager, Chief Minister Digam- and does not respect national boundaries. UN most proving fatal. Since XDB TB was first defined bar Kamat, Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava and PWD Minister experts attribute the spread of the dreaded illness in 2006, a total of 53 countries have reported Churchill Alemao, where the NHAI delivered the coup de grace on to poverty, malnutrition, poor living conditions, atleast one case of this killer strain till 2009the project, saying there was insufficient traffic to justify investing lack of drugs and to low priority accorded by governments, particularly of developing countries, WHO also pointed out to the fact that there was such a huge amount. to their state-run health systems.

The daily movean urgent need to expand and accelerate diagnosis Instead, the NHAI officials suggested, the Goa government capabilities in countries and have technology that should opt for solutions successfully deployed by countries like ment of immigrants already having the disease has increased the number of cases even in councould diagnose MDR TB in two days rather than Malaysia, Singapore and others, like roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ferries tries that have well-functioning public healthtraditional methods which can take up to four ound f ilence for vehicles and, if necessary, hop-in, hop-out speedboats for pascare systems. months. Drug-resistant TB usually arises when sengers. These vessels can transport vehicles and commuters from India has 19 million or a third of the world’s of the opinion that the actual TB cases in Goa presence. people are poorly treated or take sub-standard one end to another quickly and efficiently. This will be a much TB patients. For years now, warning bells have will be 40 to 50 per cent higher than those There are 20 designated Microscopy Centres medicines. Not all countries have the surveillance cheaper option that will not have any major environment impact, been sounded on the growing incidence of TB in recorded by the public health centres. Because (DKCs) functional all over the state, where sputum systems to pick up cases of XDR TB. The funding the NHAI said. fatal conjunction with AIDS. With eight lakh peo- of the stigma attached to TB, patients prefer to examinations are conducted and 300 DOTS cen- required for MDR TB control in 2015 will be 16 If all of this sounds familiar, it is because these are the very ple dying of TB every year and three million HIV go to private Health practitioners as the govern- tres. Official statistics revealed that 90 per cent times higher than the funding that is available in same arguments made in these columns over a year ago, after the positive cases reported, the Union Government ment health-care set up requires them to go to of all detected TB cases are of pulmonary infection 2010, the WHO report said.

Chief Minister announced this quixotic project during the 2009 must urgently respond to the problem by seeking the state-run medical centres. It is said that, other (those that infect the lungs), while the rest of the Recently, a group of American scientists have budget. Except for a few maverick self-styled experts, it has drawn implementation of a comprehensive strategy, than infected migrants, the rise in the number of cases are extra-pulmonary (those that infect other reportedly found that a combination of two drugs universal condemnation from anyone with even a modicum of health experts say.

HIV positive persons has led to an increase in TB organs! namely, Clavulanate and Keropenem, meant commonsense.

According to health experts, TB in India cannot cases in Goa. Health officials say that 216 persons per lakh for fighting other bacterial infections like Why would any sensible person say to spending Rs2,400 crore be tackled solely as a health problem, but must According to the health officials, in an HIV pos- individuals are detected with TB each year in the ecoli, completely blocked the growth of 13 to build a bridge from somewhere near the San Jacinto Island to be treated as a symptom of a socio-economic itive person, the immune system becomes weak western region of India, including Goa. In 80 of strains of XDR TB, isolated in the lab. Acthe village of Siridao, near Agassaim? With that much money, the malady. Overpopulation and unsanitary conditions which makes them prone to infections and TB these cases, the TB bacteria is detectable and in cording to the scientists, the drugs worked in state government could build every other bridge that is on the are the main causes for the spread of the disease, infection is the most common in sub-tropical re- 20 cases, the sputum examined is found negative tandem - while one brought down the guard of drawing board in the state, including the parallel six-lane Zuari to which the urban poor are particularly vulner- gion like Goa. There has been a considerable in- or the bacteria is present, but not detectable. the TB bacteria by inhibiting the enzyme that bridge, the bridges over the Talpona and Galgibag rivers to able, living as they do in congested and squalid crease in TB cases which can be attributed to Forty cases are that of relapse and 16 of extra- normally shields it from antibiotics, the other straighten out National Highway 17 at Goa’s southern border, tenements, lacking in basic civic amenities. The migration into the state from other parts of the pulmonary TB. Every sputum positive person can killed it.

After three years of lab research, Clavulanate bridges to the riverine islands of Chorao and Divar, and many situation can only get worse in the years to come country; plainly from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and infect another 10 to 15 persons through droplet with the urban population density increasing. Karnataka that test positive for TB after coming infection while coughing. was found to be highly effective in inhibiting smaller bridges.

To make matters worse, there is a growing in- the crucial enzyme that shields TB bacteria Alternatively, it could build a railway track from Majorda to The past three decades have seen a phenomenal to Goa. Since the year 2005, hundreds of patients in cidence of drug resistant TB. According to WHO’S while Meropenera was highly effective in Pernem, including railway bridges across the Zuari and Mandovi growth rate of 400 per cent.

In Goa, in last five years, around 12000 indi- Goa have been put on the DOTS or Directly Ob- global report on drug-resistant TB, which does killing the TB organism completely. If this Rivers, so that local commuter trains can be operated between Margao and Mapusa, to ease congestion on NH17. This would not viduals were referred for TB diagnosis, and on served Treatment Short course programme by not respond to most effective drugs, is fast sweep- combination works in humans, it will be only make commuting within Goa a pleasure, it would also make an average, 150 to 200 TB cases are detected the State government’s TB cell. Studies had proven ing through the world. What is worse, India and possible to completely eliminate the organism widening the highway unnecessary, saving a lot of houses from each year, say local health officials attributing that patients if left unsupervised do not take China are home to 50 per cent of the globe’s within two weeks time, the scientists claimed. the rise in pulmonary infections to increasing medicines as prescribed, and therefore DOTS was multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) cases. World- Clinical trials on humans are now reportedly demolition.

But this government suffers from an edifice complex. It thinks cases of HIV positive persons and high rate of introduced wherein a volunteer ensures that pre- wide, there are an estimated 9.4 million cases of planned simultaneously in South Korea and South Africa. big is beautiful, because massive expenditures provide for even migration into the state. State health officials are scribed doses are taken by the patients in his/her the new TB strain, with 1.8 million deaths. more massive kickbacks. That is why it hurried to make a provision Facts of Life of a huge Rs100 crore (an amount that, in itself, is enough to build two bridges) in this budget for ‘consultants’ to prepare a feasibility

By Marc de Souza report, even before the NHAI could give its say on the project.

Now, that Mr Kamat & Co have got a (no) feasibility report from very so often, I think, God decides to take a large stick and further week. The patching work, which messes up the structure Goa government had turned shaky and was likely to come crashing the NHAI, for free, are they still going to give those so-called conwhack me to let me know I am alive and that I ought to count of the roof, can sometimes create more leaks than they fix. Never- down like the Mandovi Bridge. I thought of Shakespeare’s immortal sultants their big bucks? my blessings. It all started with unexpected leaks. There was theless, I am taking my chances. line: “When sorrows come, they come not in single spies, but in a pitter-patter in the pots and pans, buckets and what not, that The living room is the only room in our house that doesn’t re- battalions.” hold the drips in the two bedrooms, bathroom and the dining semble the food festival grounds at closing time. This is because Then the phone stopped ringing. And I thought, God has finally room. With frustration and depression, I finally managed to get I keep it shut. But Zico, our pet, ventured into the Holy of Holies put down his stick. Before long, there was a bloodcurdling scream hold of a repair man. and spilt cough syrup on the carpet. from the dog, who got badly entangled in his own chain. He’d He came along in his battered old jalopy of a van, with a terrible My day was ruined. I felt sorry for myself. I felt like an overworked, been singing the blues all day. It was hard to keep him quiet. ccording to its own information, there are at most about 1,500 or so people who have taken Portuguese citizenship, bumper sticker: “I don’t get mad; I get even,” and parked in the unrewarded, persecuted senior citizen. And then, God took out Perhaps it had dawned on him, with all the confusion, that we were living in the valley of tears. but are still living in Goa. So why is the Election Commission middle of my driveway. He brought sand and black metal, but the his stick…

The phone rang. A friend said that his mother was in a coma What was God trying to tell me? “I’m tired, Lord. I’ve all the (EC) so concerned about getting these people off the electoral sun only peeped out for a day-and-a-half, and the rains again bore rolls? Can such small numbers scattered across several constituen- down with the fury of the Greek Gods, unabated in intensity, and that they were wondering whether to turn off life support. symptoms of a burnout,” I prayed, “I am sorry for counting flooding the place.

Gulp. The phone rang again. It was my daughter in Toronto, calling minor irritations while ignoring your downpour of blessings. cies seriously distort the poll results?

Most of the sand was washed away, and the pebbles too tried to say that a good friend had died that morning, of cancer, leaving Help, Lord.”

Instead, the EC should first turn its attention to the thousands I know we do a lot of complaining. The great temptation is to of people who complain every time there is an election that their to follow suit. But I managed to persuade them not to abandon two small children and a grieving husband. Gulp, once more. The names went mysteriously missing from the electoral rolls, and me in my dire moments. The ACC cement bags got wet, and the phone rang yet again. It was another friend asking for prayers, be- keep blaming those who are closest to us for our present condition. contents of one bag hardened and proved useless. After the new cause their two-year-old had a seizure.

We rant and rave about all the little irritations that crop up. Occathey could not exercise their franchise. It is a travesty of democracy moon, there has been a respite, the heavens resting, having flooded Gulp, gulp, gulp… What would happen next? sionally, we need to quit complaining and start praising. Just rethat people who want to vote are denied this basic right. Before the earth. The solitary rose now turns its face to the warming sun.

The telephone, which had malfunctioned for weeks, was dishing member: “When life knocks you to your knees, get up. If it knocks it tries to exclude alleged foreigners, let the EC look at including Now, there are four workers inside and on the roof of the house. out rotten news. Could I unplug it and crawl back into my shell you again, isn’t that the best position from which to pray?” Very genuine citizens who fall through the cracks in its system.

They have been there for some ten days and may remain for a with my rosary beads? Then, somebody called to report that the true indeed…!

L

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little House of Horrors

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Missing voters first!

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Letters to the Editor

All Goa mourned Kelekar Dr Francisco Colaço, Margao Dr Nandakumar Kamat wrote an article, ‘Challenges to Konkani post-Kelekar’ in a Goa newspaper [not yours]. The erudite historian tackled the issue well but, sadly, chose to disparage his neighbour who, he claimed, did not grieve enough for Ravindrabab.

That is unfair. He further subdivided these “callous” ones into “Lusophile”, “Anglophile”, etc. I am neither a Lusophile nor an Anglophile, but just ‘low profile’.

But grief is a very personal matter. I, for one, mourned Kelekar’s passing with heartfelt tears. Many others also grieved – simple people on the streets – with tears in eyes.

They may not have appeared on television or given press statements; yet they were deeply moved.

Who says, for instance, that Digambar Kamat grieved more than I did; just because

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

2 September 1910 Mumbai floods

Torrential rains assailed the city of Bombay for about 12 hours, totally inundating the areas of Kalbadevi, Girgaum, Tardeo, Grant Road and Foras Road.

Cunchelim Bridge

The Technical Council of the Public Works Department approved the reconstruction of the bridge at Cunchelim in its last session.

Safety committee

A committee was appointed to elaborate over storage space and sale of inflammable goods and explosives, exported from the state.

Poor masonry work

The recently constructed masonry works undertaken at ‘Canal de Paroda’ are already crumbling.

he declared a public holiday! Would he now give us good governance and more jobs to the minorities, which invariably vote for him? Would those with long faces at Ravindrabab’s funeral promote communal harmony henceforth? Would those who, by means fair or foul, want to chase away the last Portuguese vestiges, stop chasing imaginary shadows and pursue noble causes?

Finally, would our Konkani mogis unite and make a truce for the sake of Konkani?

It’s time we cease to behave like babies, 50 years after Liberation from the hated Portuguese Salazar regime. Ravindrabab gave us the best he could, adopting Gandhian thought as a way of life. We are already on the verge of forgetting Mahatma Gandhi.

Let not the death of a Gandhian who walked amidst us and practiced what he preached, go waste.

Double standards Sameer P Khutwalker, Vasco I am a Goan, brought up in a mixed community; my friends included Catholics and Muslims. I have no affiliations with extremist elements. But my heart hurts at the double standards of NGOs and pseudo-secular people, who criticise the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) for its opposition to the paintings of Dr Jose Pereira, which hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus.

Where were Dr Pereira’s defenders when Churchill Alemao and his supporters marched to Inox in Panjim and stopped the screening of ‘The Da Vinci Code’, which they said hurt the sentiments of Christians, after which the movie was banned in Goa? These double standards lead secular people to change their mindset.

Hindus have become soft targets in this country, as they are tolerant. Would Dr Pereira paint Gods of other religions in the same manner? And if he did, would the people of those religions tolerate it? Artists and creative people should respect all religions as they respect their own.

Who hired consultant?

P L Fernandes, Old Goa The National Highways Authority (NHAI) has shot down the Sea Link, which would

Letter of the Day

Fraud in Panjim Market

Anil Dessai and others, Panjim

I refer to a special meeting of the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) held on August 16, shown live on TV channels discussing various frauds committed in the allotment of shops as well as spaces in the city Municipal Market complex. Many shops and spaces are registered in the names of present Councillors. And the kith and kin of these CCP Councillors have applied to transfer these allotments in their names.

As per the Municipality Act amended from time to time, these shops and spaces have to be auctioned or tendered. No councillor can obtain Municipality property in their names. If that is done, they stand to be disqualified and debarred from contesting elections in future. We are shocked that such illegalities are taking place in the CCP. People of Panjim, Taleigao, Caranzalem, Dona Paula and Ribandar should be careful of the present Councillors, if and when they contest elections in March 2011. In the meanwhile, the government should start the process of disqualifying the Councillors in whose names shops and spaces in the Municipal Market are registered. have been a white elephant. Many more bridges could be built all over Goa with that kind of money. But the consultants are already working, and Rs100 crore is a lot of money. Who is responsible for throwing it away? Why were they hired before the NHAI gave its nod? This is extravagance that we cannot afford, like the bizarre idea of airconditioned toilets, when there are insufficient ordinary toilets in Goa!

Dr Willy’s mistake Joseph Sebastian Fernandes, Calangute The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has staked its claim to Mapusa, Siolim, Porvorim, Calangute and Saligao constituencies in North Goa, for the next election. Saligao was once the stronghold of DrWilfred de Souza. In the last elections, he campaigned all out for his party candidates, neglecting his own seat, which he lost.

It is rather surprising that the old fox of Saligao has not reacted to the NCP’s claim.

Is he afraid the party will ask for his removal from the State Planning Board?

Dr Willy’s mistake is that he voluntarily gave up the NCP Presidents’ post and resigned from the party, creating a vacuum now filled by his former PA, whom he had removed from his staff owing to irregularities. This former PA is now hogging the limelight.

Preparedness & prevention

Call of the BPO Diogo D’Souza, Guirim “What you saying men?” That’s what any schoolgirl in Goa, Mumbai or Delhi may want to ask Venita Coelho as a knee-jerk reaction to her middle (Herald, 31 August).

Obviously, Venita wants Herald readers to notice her name in the credits at the end of some film that may well turn out to be a box-office flop.

Venita needs to go to Whitefield in Bangalore to see the number of Goans in BPO call centres before misquoting some ‘pioneers’ as saying: “We would have to spend too much money training Goans to speak correct English.” Or, perhaps, Goans should spend some time to teach Venita gratitude for the hospitality of having her live here.

Goan history Tony Alphonso, Aldona

Mumbai has a Malaria epidemic. Delhi is overcome with Dengue. The CWG fiasco shows we never seem to learn. Food grains rot while millions starve… The reason is, those responsible escape any consequences of their sins of commission and omission!

It is high time the government and the people get together and quickly tackle the garbage problem, if we want to avoid an epidemic. We should be prepared for the worst if this is not done!

The Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) is fighting to get Shivaji Maharaj a more prominent place in Goan textbooks. Was Shivaji a Goan?

Did he fight for Goa? No, Shivaji was a great Maratha warrior, who fought for the Marathas.

Rather, we must demand more space for T B Cunha, Jack Sequeira, Ravindra Kelekar, Blessed Joseph Vaz, Shenoy Goembab, Fr Agnelo D’Souza, and for the Pinto and Rane revolts. It’s a shame that Manohar Parrikar, Churchill Alemao, Francisco Sardinha and Digambar Kamat are quietly listening to the HJS’s nonsense!

‘No’ to catering college

‘Wisdom’ from afar

John Eric Gomes, Porvorim

Sahil Naguesh Naik, Porvorim The residents of Bandora have opposed construction of a catering college next to the Ganesh Ganpati Devasthan at Farmagudi (‘Bandora residents urge government to shift catering college’, Herald, 1 September).

Students cook meat and other non-vegetarian items. If allowed, the college will spoil the religious sanctity of the temple.

Besides, I have seen how the catering college students in Porvorim have no discipline at all. Students say that ragging goes unreported. Used condoms lie around the place, and the authorities don’t take any action. We don’t need this in Bandora.

Diogo Furtado, Utorda The letter ‘One more Alemao?’ (Herald, 17 August) shows that Arwin Mesquita is jealous of the Alemao brothers making a name in Goan politics. He is in Abu Dhabi and cannot contribute for the welfare of Goa and Goans, but the Alemaos can.

Let them play their role in Goa, while he earns his daily bread in Abu Dhabi.

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

Remember small things

By Mother Tereza Some of my sisters work in Australia.

On a reservation, among the Aborigines, there was an elderly man. I can assure you that you have never seen a situation as difficult as that poor old man’s. He was completely ignored by everyone. His home was disordered and dirty.

I told him, “Please, let me clean your house, wash your clothes, and make your bed.” He answered, “I’m okay like this. Let it be.”

I said again, “You will be still better if you allow me to do it.”

He finally agreed. So I was able to clean his house and wash his clothes.

I discovered a beautiful lamp, covered with dust. Only God knows how many years had passed since he last lit it.

I said to him, “Don’t you light your lamp? Don’t you ever use it?”

He answered, “No. No one comes to see me. I have no need to light it.

Who would I light it for?”

I asked, “Would you light it every night if the sisters came?”

He replied, “Of course.”

From that day on the sisters committed themselves to visiting him every evening. We cleaned the lamp, and the sisters would light it every evening.

Two years passed. I had completely forgotten that man. He sent this message: “Tell my friend that the light she lit in my life continues to shine still.”

I thought it was a very small thing.

We often neglect small things.

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

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

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OHERALDO

INDIA

GOA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2010

opinionateD

Wooing the minorities

T

By BRIg (RETD) IAN DA COSTA

he disclosure by the brand new Goa Desk In Charge and Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Arti Mehra that her party will woo the minorities in Goa to prove their secular credentials, comes as no surprise. However, it is well known that actions speak louder than words.

The BJP’s track record in respect of their secular credentials is very bad indeed. This phenomenon is not confined to Goa alone, but to other states where the BJP is or was in power, like MP, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Here, the minority Christian community is regularly harassed by the saffron brigade under the pretext that they to carry out ‘conversions’ among the ranks of their non-Christian brethren.

There is no doubt that the BJP feels the loss of power in Goa, where their shining star Manohar Parrikar had to bite the dust after the recent elections. I have said it before and I say it again, that the Indian National Congress is lucky indeed, as it does not have to do much to win the Assembly elections here in Goa. The BJP itself does enough damage to its own name by its own actions, to prove that they have been, and still are, an intensely communal-minded party that wants to establish Ram Rajya in India. There is no place for anyone belonging to any other religion in their scheme of things. The promises that they make are meant only to be broken. Can we forget the actions of the saffron brigade units like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, the Sri Ram Sene and some others, attacking prayer meetings, beating up and even killing priests, pastors and participants of prayer meetings in many parts of India, as well as raping nuns?

Prior to fall of the Manohar Parrikar government, we had the release of a CD of a film supposedly on Goa’s history that showed Catholics, the Clergy and the Church in a bad light.

The Education Department had issued instructions to schools that this CD be shown to all students. After much damage was done, the BJP government had to do a U-turn and the CD was withdrawn.

More recently, we had the strange spectacle of the Legislature Ad-hoc Committee on Law – headed by Mapusa BJP MLA Adv Francis D’Souza – referring a completely misguided proposal made by a citizen that the Archbishop and the Church should be brought under the provisions of the Right to Information (RTI) Act to the Law Department, when it should have been rejected ab initio, because the Church has absolutely no connection with the government. There was an uproar, and the party leaders hastily clarified that it was not their intention to bring the Church under RTI. A few years ago, this same Mapusa MLA allegedly led a gang of hoodlums who attacked Hotel Mandarin in Mapusa, destroying furniture, breaking glass panes, smashing TV sets and throwing soda water bottles to cause damage and scare bystanders. No action was taken against the MLA or members of the mob, though the violence was all captured live on video.

It is well known that the owner of Mandarin Hotel is Mathew Braganza, then in the Congress and now in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The destruction of name plates of homes and commercial establishments bearing Portuguese-oriented names – by a mob of RSS swayamsevaks and BJP activists led by a handful of freedom fighters – in the Fontainhas conservation ward in Panjim, is another example of their fascist tendencies. No action was taken by the police against the perpetrators of these ghastly crimes. In fact, the police refused to even record an FIR lodged by the affected persons, most of whom were Catholics.

Incidents like these made the minorities feel that the then Parrikar government was sending a clear message to all Goans that the police under the BJP dispensation was meant to protect such marauding groups and to intimidate the minorities.

This reminds me of a local circus in a small South Indian town, which decided to paint donkeys with black and white stripes and masquerade them as Zebras. One day, while their open air show was on, down came a heavy shower and the donkeys were washed clean to their original colour, to the utter embarrassment of the Circus owners. People added to their discomfiture by throwing shoes and tomatoes. Rotten eggs were just not available. The lesson was clear. A leopard can’t change its spots.

I repeat that actions speak louder than words. So there will have to be a genuine change of heart and not just fancy talk, for the BJP and its saffron brigades to become acceptable to the minorities. This is true also of a very large section of the majority community, which deplores such bullying tactics.

After all, we are all Indians first and then Punjabis, Bengalis, Maharashtrians, Keralites, Rajasthanis and others.

The Christian minority has substantially contributed to the progress of the Indian nation in more areas than one. Look at educational institutions (schools and colleges), hospitals and dispensaries, orphanages and old age homes. These institutions, which cater to all communities with no discrimination, are a testimony to the hard work, love for the poor and patriotism of this minuscule community, which makes up only 2.5 per cent of India’s population.

We propagate and practice true secularism in our institutions; whether it is Mother Teresa’s Sisters of Charity or the fathers of the Jesuit or Salesian (Don Bosco) orders, they are all here to serve our brethren, especially those from the more unfortunate and poor sections, irrespective of religion, community or caste. For this, we need no certificate from any party or politician. God bless us all with wisdom, tolerance and understanding, so that we can bond together and build a happy and prosperous India. Jai Hind!

BJP to rebuild devastated Leh village HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

The Bhartiya Janata Party on Wednesday announced to rebuild 200 new houses and gift them to a village in Leh devastated in a cloudburst last month.

Their fast reconstruction to beat the deadline of Octoberend before area becomes inaccessible in the severe winter will be overseen by a high-powered Leh Relief and Reconstruction Committee headed by BJP President Nitin Gadkari, with party MP Tarun Vijay as its convener and General Secretary Jagat Prakash Nadha of Himachal Pradesh as its general secretary.

Tarun said the reconstruction will be taken up immediately with the help of local engineers, architects and contractors who understand the traditional houses, the climatic situation and have expertise to build houses which can withstand natural calamities like earthquake and sudden flash floods.

Saffron terror phrase not VICTORY FOR MAYA my patent: Chidambaram HC order quashed on new Amethi district few members of UPA and there was a debate on in Parliament on 'saffronisation of education' in Days after Congress party distanced itself from 2001. his remarks on saffron terror, Home Minister P "A number of others have used the phrase. I Chidambaram today said the phrase brought have been told that a number of my colleagues home the message of rightin the UPA have used the phrase wing terrorism and the purin the past. So, I can't claim patent pose has been served. over that phrase," he said.

However, he said party is BORDER FENCING: Governsupreme and he had no patent ment has carried out various conon the phrase -- saffron terstruction and development work rorism. related to fencing and building Addressing a press conferof roads along Indo-China and ence, Chidambaram said there Indo-Bangla borders. has been indication that right"Three kilometres of fencing wing fundamentalist groups and five kms of road works were were suspected to be behind completed in August, 2010 under some of the recent bomb phase-II of the project. Seven kms blasts in the country. of fencing was replaced in August, "These are religious fundaunder phase III of the projThese are religious funda- 2010 mentalist groups. The message ect. Poles for floodlighting were ought not to be lost in phrases mentalist groups. The erected on a length of 30 kms and perhaps the use of that the month of August," message ought not to be during phrase has brought the mesHome Minister P Chidambaram sage home. So, the purpose, lost in phrases and persaid briefing about development in a way, has been served," he work along Indo-Bangladesh borhaps the use of that said. der.

His reaction came when he phrase has brought the On Indo-China border, 15.22 was asked whether he stood kms of road formation works and by his recent remarks that a message home. So, the 2.36 kms of surfacing works were new phenomenon of "saffron purpose, in a way, has completed in August. "Formation terrorism" involved in many and cutting works were combeen served. bomb blasts has been uncovpleted for the Sugar Point-Lepcha ered, which has created a con-- P Chidambaram Road (Himachal Pradesh) and the troversy.

Bona-Gelling road (Arunachal Asked to comment whether there was differ- Pradesh)," he told reporters here while presenting ence between policy of this Home Ministry and the August report card of the Ministry of Home his Congress party, he said "party is supreme".

Affairs.

When BJP and Shiv Sena raised the issue of Chidambaram said Rs 23.54 crore was released minister's remarks in Parliament, Congress General to left wing extremism affected states to fight Secretary and media department chief Janardhan with the menace and carry out development Dwivedi had said that terror has no colour and work. that care should be taken on use of words.

"Unified Commands have been created in the The Home Minister said the phrase was used states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and by a number of people in the past, including a West Bengal," he said.

PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

Rizwanur case: CBI moves SC PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

CBI today moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court order asking it to launch a fresh probe and register a murder case in the death of computer graphics teacher Rizwanur Rahman, who was found dead near a railway track.

The agency said a fresh probe was not required in the case as it had earlier conducted the detailed probe and arrived at the conclusion that the offence was made for abetment of suicide against industrialist Ashok Todi and his relatives.

The agency has appealed against the May 18 order of the division bench of the High Court which had set aside the single bench decision directing CBI probe into the case.

Parking areas cannot be sold as garages, flats: SC PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

The Supreme Court has ruled that builders/promoters cannot sell parking areas as independent units or flats as the same is to be extended as "common areas and facilities" for the owners.

A Bench of Justices R M Lodha and A K Patnaik in a judgement rejected the argument of a real estate development company that they are entitled to sell garages/stilt parking areas as separate flats to owners who intend to use it as parking facilities.

"If a promoter does not fully disclose the common areas and facilities, he does so at his own peril. Stilt parking spaces would

Rathore to undergo 18-month sentence

PTI CHANDIGARH, SEPT 1

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today dismissed a plea of disgraced former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore challenging his conviction and 18-month sentence for molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra two decades ago, saying his conduct as a top official was "shameful".

"He should have acted as a

guardian of the society, but his act was shameful," Justice Jitendra Chauhan said in his 104page order pronounced in the presence of 68-year- old Rathore's counsel-wife Abha, the CBI lawyers and relatives and friends of Ruchika, who had committed suicide three years after the incident in Panchkula on August 12, 1990.

Rejecting his plea for release on probation, the judge observed, "There were certain mitigating factors for taking a lenient view for his (Rathore's) release on probation like his old age, heart ailment, protracted trial, ailment of his daughter and his unmarried daughters and there are certain aggravating factors as well like his official position."

not cease to be part of common areas and facilities merely because the promoter has not described the same as such in the advertisement and agreement with the flat purchaser.

"The promoter has no right to sell any portion of such building which is not ‘flat’ within the meaning of Section 2(a-1) and the entire land and building has to be conveyed to the organisation. The only right remains with the promoter is to sell unsold flats.

"It is, thus, clear that the promoter has no right to sell ‘stilt parking spaces’ as these are neither ‘flat’ nor appurtenant or attachment to a ‘flat’, Justice Lodha writing the judgement said.

Bangalore ACP summoned PTI KOLLAM (Kerala), SEPT 1

A court here has summoned a senior Bangalore police officer probing the 2008 blasts there to appear before it in connection with a complaint alleging that the arrest of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani in the case was unlawful.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Soundaresh directed Bangalore Assistant Commissioner of Police Omkaraiah to appear in the court on September 13.

The order was passed yesterday on the complaint filed

by Madani's brother, Abdul Salam, that the arrest of the PDP leader by a Bangalore police team from his Anwarssery camp near here on August 17 was not in accordance with law.

Big B says he is a proud Mumbaikar PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 1

Under attack from political parties for his comments on Mumbai metro, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan today said that being a "proud Mumbaikar" he never opposed the development of the city.

The 67-year-old star claimed that his comments on his blog regarding the proposed metro track invading his privacy were misinterpreted by the media.

"Mumbai as a city has given my family and me a place in their hearts besides recognition and respect. My family and I have never, and at no point of time would ever, like to disregard the conveniences of my fellow Mumbaikars and the development being undertaken for a better future for the city and them," Bachchan said in a statement posted on his blog.

He said his post on the matter clearly talks about the "general happiness" that metro will bring to the commuters.

"Indeed I have ended the piece by saying welcome 'fellow

THE MUMBAI METRO ROW " iT is finally happening. The MuMbai as a city has given

Metro rail being laid over the metropolis called Mumbai, some under the ground, some above… There is happiness from the commuter s, for, the misery of crowded locals and the uncertainties of the autos or the cabs shall hopefully be greatly reduced. "but here is the killer! it's going to roll over Prateeksha! So bye bye privacy and hello fellow t r a v e l l e r . "

my family and me a place in their hearts besides recognition and respect. My family and i have never, and at no point of time would ever, like to disregard the conveniences of my fellow Mumbaikars and the development being under taken for a better future for the city and them. i am proud to be a Mumbaikar and i welcome the changes which.

passengers'. By fellow passenger I include myself as one," said Bachchan, adding, "I am proud to be a Mumbaikar and I wel-

come the changes which are being seen in the city."

Bachchan said that he requested everyone visiting his

--big b’s controversial post -- big b’s statement on blog

blog to read it in it's entirety rather than pick up words and fabricate stories which create unnecessary sensation.

In the post that created such furore, Bachchan had said: "It is finally happening. The Metro rail being laid over the metropolis called Mumbai, some under the ground, some above over large tracts of cement structures is taking shape. There is general happiness from the commuters, for, the misery of crowded locals and the uncertainties of the three-wheeler or the yellowblack cab shall hopefully be greatly reduced.

"But here is the killer! it's going to roll over Prateeksha! So bye bye privacy and hello fellow traveller."

But after his comments were published in the media, they drew flak from Shiv Sena, Congress and MNS. Naseem Khan of Congress said, "His remarks are very unfortunate. He should care for interests of other people also. Why should the convenience of one person take precedence over that of lakhs of commuters."

PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

In a political victory for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, the Supreme Court today gave the go ahead for creation of a district carved out of Amethi Lok Sabha Constituency represented by Rahul Gandhi and named after Dalit icon Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj.

The apex court decision came when it quashed the Allahabad High Court's interim order staying the creation of Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj Nagar district by renaming Amethi, a pocketborough of the Gandhi-Nehru family and a Congress stronghold.

The issue was decided in favour of the Mayawati government on the ground that an earlier petition challenging its decision was dismissed by the same High Court on August 11.

A bench comprising Justices R V Raveendran and H L Gokhale said that the High Court bench which passed the interim order on August 18 should have taken into account the order of August 11 of its own bench.

"Judicial propriety demanded

BJP, govt engage in blame game HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

Parliament's monsoon session over, the blame game began between the government and the main Opposition Bhartiya Janata Party on Wednesday, faulting each other while claiming satisfaction for own performance.

At a joint Press conference, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, accused the government of poor floor management and said it cut a sorry figure many a time, antagonising various sections leading to a strong polarisation against its several measures.

At a separate Press conference, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, blanked by his deputies V Narayanasamy and Prithviraj Chavan, blamed the BJP for a double-speak, taking one stand in morning meetings and reversing it in the House and then taking sadistic pleasure of blaming the government of floor management.

Bansal said he has a reason to be satisfied about the government's performance in the over a month-long session that ended on Tuesday as 21 official bills could be passed despite eight of the 26 working days disrupted by the Opposition while the Lok Sabha also held six debates and entertained seven call-attention motions.

APPOINTMENTS

that the High Court should have considered the final judgement of August 11. It could not have taken a different stand," the bench said.

Significantly, another division bench of the high court comprising Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice Satish Chandra had dismissed a petition on August 11 challenging the creation of the new district.

The Uttar Pradesh government had moved the apex court challenging the August 18 interim order of the Lucknow Bench of the High Court which stayed restoration of the new district till March 31 next year or till further orders.

The state government had ap-

pealed against the order which had restrained the operation, implementation and execution of a July 1 notification issued by UP government creating Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar district.

The High Court had on August 18 passed the order on the petition filed by one Manoj Kumar Rastogi and two others seeking quashing of the July 1 notification in view of the specific embargo placed through an earlier notification that no change in the boundaries that impedes ongoing census should take place.

They had also sought a direction for restoring the boundaries of Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts prior to July 1 notification.

The proposed Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar district had within its boundaries five tehsils of Sultanpur and Rae Bareli districts which form part of Amethi constituency.

Mayawati had ordered formation of Chatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Nagar district on May 21, 2003 but following a change of guard her arch political rival Mulayam Singh Yadav had scrapped it on November 23 the same year.

appointments

OHERALDO

Pg10

GOA, THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2010

Militants, civilians killed in Pak air raid REUTERS PESHAWAR, SEPT 1

Pakistani government air raids have killed up to 45 militants, their family members and other civilians with no ties to the fighters, officials said today.

Three strikes last night targeted Pakistani Taliban militants in one of their strongholds in the Tirah Valley in the northwestern Khyber region on the Afghan border.

“We have reports that 40 to 45 terrorists were killed,” a security official told Reuters. Taliban insurgents often deny

official death tolls of militants.

Pakistani forces have stepped up air strikes in Khyber and adjoining Pashtun tribal lands in recent months against activists who fled military offensives in the Taliban strongholds of Swat and South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan last year.

Air strikes could undermine efforts to win over civilians for the fight against the Taliban.

“Some of the families were living in the vicinity of these hideouts and they were also among the dead,'' said the security official.

From page 1

Police nab kidnapper

stated.

The police tracked the movement of the kidnapper through the mobile location as he continued to change his location, from Holy Spirit Church square to Agalli, Davorlim.

“The police followed the mother’s car incognito before the car finally stopped near the district Court when she came out with a blue bag stashed with money. The mother later headed to the SGPDA market and later towards the KTC bus stand, where she left the bag. The helmet wearing accused, who was lying in wait for the ransom, picked up the bag and tried to make good his escape only to be intercepted by the men-in-uniform”, Gaonkar said.

It is learnt the accused boy removed the cash from the bag and stacked them in the Aviator’s dickey, but luck did not smile on the Std XI Commerce student as he was nabbed by the police before being arrested for kidnapping upon a complaint from the victim’s mother.

Upon interrogation, he revealed that he had kept the girl at a cybercafé at Navelim, who was later rescued and brought at the police station.

DySP Gaonkar praised the police for their swift action and said they certainly deserved award for the excellent job.

Margao PI Santosh Desai said the police are on the look out for the accomplices of the accused and the Alto car used by the accused to commit the offense.

Replying to a question, DySP Umesh Gaonkar said both the accused and the victim knew each other well and added that the accused might have kidnapped her to blackmail her to give in to his monetary demands.

He said preliminary interrogations of the accused revealed that he knew the girl well, adding there is a strong possibility that he kidnapped her to blackmail her.

Sources in the know said the accused, who is a resident of Mutt, Gogol, told the police during interrogations that the victim girl was allegedly aware of his plan and that he wanted the money to venture into business.

The accused boy was late this evening sent to Apna Ghar.

Atala surety

gerous weapons or means) and 504 (threatening) of Indian Penal Code.

Not enough, on July 31, 2003, Metri was once again remembered, this time by the Agassaim police in a case of rape against a maid servant. The three page panchanama explaining the location where the offence was allegedly committed, belongings, etc was carried out for over an hour, which was written in English and explained to the panch witnesses in Konkani language.

The sudden disappearance of Atala for over a month has indeed raised a question mark on the functioning of the police machinery even though the drug peddler was released on conditional bail.

Goa police is otherwise also at the receiving end when the police-drug mafia nexus was exposed, a couple of months ago, after Atala’s revelation via secretly filmed footage that appeared on Internet video sharing sites – youtube.com and metacafe.com.

The disclosure detailed how some drug squad officials gave him confiscated narcotics from Court locker to re-sell in the market.

This resulted in the suspension and subsequent arrests of seven police officials including Police Inspector Ashish Shirodkar, Sub Inspector Punaji Gawas, head constable Sheikh Hussain and constables Sandeep Parab, Saish Pokle and Ramchandra Kankonkar. The tainted men, booked for conspiracy and corruption charges have been released on bail.

Tar ball samples

such time that NEERI officials make their presence felt. If they don’t manage to get the samples we will make it available for them, they stated.

While the report on the tar balls is awaited, a big question before the authorities concerned is its scientific disposal.

A very senior official said burial of tar balls was not a solution because they will continue to remain underground. Goa doesn’t have a scientific hazardous waste disposal site or else the same could be buried at this place, he stated.

He said using the black substance for road construction is one possibility that can be explored.

Goa to ‘participate’

arriving in India will go back with the handicraft of Goa,” Salgaonkar said.

He said that the foreigners participating in the event are likely to be keener in going through the website.

The 2010 Commonwealth Games, which will be held in Delhi from October 3 to October 14, will have participation from nearly 72 nations.

Goa’s economy partially gains through handicraft sales and exports. GHRSSIDC marketing officials said that the demand for hammocks in America resulted in three shipments of the products being exported there.

“We also exported one shipment of jute bags to America.

These bags were produced at Priyadarshani Self Help Group, Shiroda,” they added.

The first ever heavy consignment of Goan handicraft items had left Indian shore last year which was sent to Switzerland.

Blair: Brown a ‘disaster’ as PM PTI LONDON, SEPT 1

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has branded his successor Gordon Brown’s premiership as a “disaster” and said he was “desperately sorry” for deaths in the Iraq war.

In a memoir that has become a best-seller even before its release, Blair said the aftermath of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was “terrible” and that he had failed to predict “the nightmare it unfolded.”

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Obama shifts focus to Af-Pak as combat mission in Iraq ends PTI WASHINGTON, SEPT 1

Declaring that "Operation Iraqi Freedom" is over, US President Barack Obama today asked Iraqis to lead responsibility for their country's security from now on and shifted focus to AfPak region, where the Al-Qaeda leadership "remains anchored".

Terming the end of combat operations in Iraq as a "remarkable chapter in the history of the US and Iraq", Obama said it was time to turn the page and that his most urgent task now was to restore the US economy and put millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom is over, and the Iraqi people now have lead responsibility for the security of their country. This was my pledge to the American people as a candidate for this office," he said in his live televised prime-time speech from his Oval office in White House.

Obama said he had announced in February last that "would bring our combat brigades out of Iraq, while redoubling our efforts to strengthen Iraq's Security Forces and support its government and

people."

"That is what we have done," he said.

The US has removed nearly 100,000 US troops from Iraq. It has closed or transferred hundreds of bases to the Iraqis and has moved millions of pieces of equipment out of Iraq, he said.

Obama, the Commander-inChief of US forces, said ending the war is not only in Iraq's interest – it is in America's own.

"The United States has paid a huge price to put the future of Iraq in the hands of its people.

We have sent our young men

Book on Pope interviews due out this year REUTERS VATICAN CITY, SEPT 1

Pope Benedict has granted a series of interviews to a German journalist who will publish it late this year as a book in German and Italian editions, the Vatican announced.

Peter Seewald, who published two interview books with the German-born pontiff before he was elected to head the Roman Catholic Church in 2005, conducted the interviews in late July at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo, it said yesterday.

“The book will be published quite soon (before the end of this year) in Italian and German, and if possible also in other languages,” spokesman Rev Federico Lombardi said in a statement. The interviews were conducted in German.

Seewald’s previous books with Benedict -- Salt of the Earth (1996) and God and the World (2000) -- were bestsellers in several languages. The then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger was outspoken about the state of the church.

“He didn’t want to look at any of the questions beforehand, nor did he request that anything be admitted or added,” Seewald, a Bavarian like the pope, wrote in the introduction to Salt of the Earth.

According to the Italian daily Il Giornale, the working title of the new book is Light of the World.

Pak cancels US talks over security checks REUTERS ISLAMABAD, SEP 1

Pakistan's army said today it scrapped talks with US military officials after a military delegation sent to Washington had to go through “unwarranted” airport security checks.

Mistrust exists between Pakistan and the United States even though they have been allies for decades.

Security at US airports has been especially stringent since the 2001 al Qaeda attacks on New York and Washington, with scores of passengers complaining they had been singled out for checks due to their ''Middle Eastern'' or ''Muslim'' appearance.

The Pakistani delegation was visiting the United States at the invitation of the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The delegation ... was subjected to unwarranted security checks at Washington airport by the US Transport Security Agency,” the army said in a statement.

The delegation was later

cleared and US defence officials expressed regret over the incident. The statement did not give the date of the visit.

“However, as a result of these checks, military authorities in Pakistan decided to cancel the visit and called the delegation back,” the army said.

A US embassy spokesman said talks were underway to possibly reschedule a visit.

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper said US security officials detained an army brigadier who was part of the 8-member delegation at Dulles International Airport after a passenger complained he did not feel safe around the delegation.

The newspaper said the brigadier was removed from the flight and detained along with other members of the delegation after they disembarked, and were later released.

In March, a Pakistani parliamentary delegation called off a two-week US trip, sponsored by the State Department, after lawmakers were tagged for further screening at Washington's airport as they were en route to New Orleans.

Blair did not foresee Iraq ‘nightmare’ REUTERS LONDON, SEPT 1

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said today he could have not have imagined what he called the nightmare that unfolded in Iraq but still did not regret joining the US-led invasion.

In extracts of his memoirs released before the book's publication, Blair echoed previous statements that the 2003 invasion was justified because Saddam Hussein posed a threat and could have developed weapons of mass destruction.

“I can't regret the decision to go to war ... I can say that never did I guess the nightmare that unfolded,” said Blair, referring to the years of political and sectarian bloodshed in Iraq that followed the invasion.

“I have often reflected as to whether I was wrong. I ask you to reflect as to whether I may have been right.” Blair was the closest ally of former US President George W Bush over the decision to invade Iraq.

The decision was the most controversial of Blair's 10-year premiership, provoking huge protests, divisions within his Labour Party and accusations he deceived Britons over his reasons for war when weapons of mass destruction were not found.

“I feel words of condolence and sympathy to be entirely inadequate,” Blair wrote of the war’s casualties.

“They have died and I, the decision-maker in the circumstances that led to their deaths, still live.”

and women to make enormous sacrifices in Iraq, and spent vast resources abroad at a time of tight budgets at home," the President said.

He said a transitional force of US troops will remain in Iraq with a different mission: advising and assisting Iraq's Security Forces, supporting Iraqi troops in targeted counter-terrorism missions, and protecting our civilians.

"Consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all US troops will leave by the end of next year," the President said.

Bedbug back in news in America!

SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

Don’t be too quick to dismiss the common bedbug as merely a pestiferous six-legged bloodsucker. Though entomologists say they are not known to transmit diseases, two American federal agencies -- the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention -issued a joint statement on bedbug control, acknowledging that the problem is big.

Their advice to fight the bedbugs that disappeared and reappeared after 40 years is to try a mix of vacuuming, crevice-sealing, heat and chemicals to kill the things. Experts suspect that the new bugs came in America from overseas, because the ones found in cities now are resistant to different insecticides used on poultry or cockroaches.

Ask any expert why the bugs disappeared for 40 years, why they came roaring back in the late 1990s, even why they do not spread disease, and you hear one answer: “Good question.”

“The first time I saw one that wasn’t dated 1957 and mounted on a microscope slide was in 2001,” said Dini M. Miller, a Virginia Tech cockroach expert.

The New York Times on Tuesday said the bugs have probably been biting our ancestors since they moved from trees to caves.

He said because of the drawdown in Iraq, the US will now be able to apply the resources necessary to go on an offensive in Afghanistan.

"As we speak, Al-Qaeda continues to plot against us, and its leadership remains anchored in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. We will disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda, while preventing Afghanistan from again serving as a base for terrorists," the President said.

As the US approaches its 10th year of combat operations in Afghanistan, Obama said "there are those who are understandably asking tough questions about our mission there. But we must never lose sight of what is at stake."

After he assumed office in January 2009, Obama said, nearly 12 Al-Qaeda leaders and hundreds of its extremist allies have been killed or captured around the world.

Obama said within Afghanistan, he has ordered the deployment of additional troops, who under the command of General David Petraeus, are fighting to break the Taliban's momentum.

Pak politician apologises to Ranjit Singh PTI ISLAMABAD, SEPt 1

A top Pakistani politician who berated the great Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh as the epitome of mismanagement and corruption has apologised saying he has had a change of mind.

Leader of Opposition in Pakistan's parliament, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, who in the past frequently referred to Ranjit Singh while highlighting issues of mismanagement and corruption said his views changed after he read a book on the 19th century Sikh ruler.

Khan surprised fellow lawmakers in the National Assembly when he tendered an apology for "frequently quoting his (Ranjit Singh’s) name in meetings for wrong reasons".

The Pakistani leader said his views on Ranjit Singh changed after he read a book on the life of the Sikh ruler written by noted Indian journalist Khushwant Singh.

Khan made the remarks yesterday while chairing a meeting of parliament's Public Accounts Committee, an anti-corruption watchdog.

"I was wrong. Ranjit (Singh) was a great administrator of Punjab," he said.

North Korea seeks stronger military ties with China REUTERS BEIJING, SEPT 1

North Korea vowed to strengthen military ties with China today, days after the North's leader Kim Jong-il finished a visit aimed at bolstering the bond with his isolated country's sole major supporter.

Comments from Kim Yongnam, the second-ranked official in North Korea, highlighted the recent efforts of Pyongyang and Beijing to shore up their relationship in the face of regional tensions and possible succession moves in the North.

China confirmed on Monday that Kim Jong-il, who rarely leaves his country, visited for five days and told President Hu Jintao that he was willing to return to negotiations about scrapping the North's nuclear weapons.

Kim Yong-nam told a visiting commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) that the bond between the two neighbours has “shown great vitality”, China's Xinhua news agency reported from Pyongyang.

Beijing has recently fretted about military exercises between the United States and South Korea, saying they threaten China's security interests and could destabilise the region. On Wednesday, the PLA

Why Americans believe Obama is Muslim?

SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

A first-of-its-kind study of smear campaigns conducted by the Michigan State University says there is something beyond plain old ignorance that motivates Americans to believe President Obama is a Muslim.

The research by psychologist Spee Kosloff and colleagues suggests people are most likely to accept such falsehoods, both consciously and unconsciously, when subtle clues remind them of ways in which Obama is different from them, whether because of race, social class or other ideological differences.

These judgments, Kosloff argues, are irrational. He also suggests they are fuelled by an “irresponsible” media culture that allows political pundits and “talking heads” to perpetuate the lies. “Careless or biased media outlets are largely responsible for the propagation of these falsehoods, which catch on like wildfire,” said Kosloff, visiting assistant professor of psychology. “And then social differences can motivate acceptance of these lies.”

A Pew Research Centre poll in August 2010 found that 18 per cent of Americans believe Obama is a Muslim – up from 11 percent in March 2009 – even though he’s a practising Christian. Kosloff noted that the poll

was conducted before Obama’s recent comments supporting the right for Muslims to build a mosque near New York’s Ground Zero.

Ko s l o f f a n d c o l l e a g u e s launched their study prior to the 2008 U.S. presidential election, as the candidates were being bombarded with smear campaigns. It’s the first comprehensive experimental study of the psychological factors that motivate Americans to believe the lies.

The American Psychological Association has published in its 'Journal of Experimental Psychology: General' results of the study in which the participants were shown false blog reports arguing that Obama is a Muslim or a socialist or that John McCain is senile. They show: On average, participants who

supported McCain said there is a 56 per cent likelihood Obama is a Muslim. But when they were asked to fill out a demographic card asking for their own race, the likelihood jumped to 77 per cent. Kosloff said this shows that simply thinking about a social category that differentiated participants from Obama was enough to get them to believe the smear.

Participants undecided about the candidates said there is a 43 per cent chance McCain is senile – a number that increased to 73 per cent when they simply listed their own age on a card.

Undecided participants said there is a 25 per cent chance Obama is a socialist – a number that jumped to 62 per cent when they considered race. “Even though being a socialist has nothing to do with race,” Kosloff said, “irrationally they tied the two together.”

Kosloff said the increase in belief that Obama is Muslim likely reflects a growing disenchantment with his presidency – a sense that people feel Obama is not on their side.

“When people are unsatisfied with the President – whether it’s the way he’s handling the e c o n o m y, h e a l t h c a r e o r Afghanistan – our research suggests that this only fuels their readiness to accept untrue rumours,” Kosloff said.

School for pregnant teens to open in Malaysia AGENCIES KUALA LUMPUR, SEPT 1

A school exclusively for pregnant teenagers will be opened in the month of September in Malaysia's Malacca state, an official said.

The purpose of opening the school is to help the girls overcome the stigma of having children without being married, the official said on Wednesday.

The school, which starts September 16, will accept about 30 students, school chairman Abdul Rahman Abdul Karim was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

The Islamic affairs depart-

ment in Malacca will run the school and offer classes in math, science, English and other subjects as well as religious counselling for the girls, Abdul Rahman said.

The teenagers can also stay in a hostel next to the school.

Abdul Rahman said: "We want to give them a second chance to rebuild their future. After they deliver their babies, the girls can go back to their ordinary schools."

The plan comes after Malaysian officials have voiced increasing concerns about teenagers who become pregnant and drop out of school.

Some young mothers have abandoned their babies in garbage dumps, bushes or public toilets.

Sex out of wedlock remains a taboo for many Muslims in Malaysia, where more than 50 babies have been found abandoned so far this year. Most of them were found dead.

Officials in Malacca have recorded at least 170 babies born out of wedlock this year.

More than 70 were delivered by teenaged girls.

Malacca's chief minister recently encouraged Muslim teenagers to get married if they cannot resist having sex and

Actor Paul Hogan vows to fight Australian tax office REUTERS SYDNEY, SEP 1

Actor Paul Hogan, star of the “Crocodile Dundee” movies, has vowed to continue fighting the Australian tax office which has barred him from leaving Australia until he pays a massive bill, saying he's victim of a witch hunt.

Hogan, 70, was served with a departure prohibition order 10 days ago while in Australia to attend his 101-year- old mother's funeral which has prevented him from leaving to return to Los Angeles where he lives with his wife and son.

The Australian Tax Office refused to comment on reports of seeking tax on A 34 million dollar of allegedly undeclared income from Hogan, saying it cannot give details of individual taxpayers.

But the actor went public in the Australian media this week to put forward his side in his five-year row with the tax office, saying he had done nothing wrong and the tax office was on a witch hunt for a high-profile case.

“I can't pay 10 percent of what they're asking.... bugger `em!”

The actor told Australian television Nine Network’s “A Current Affair ” program broadcast late yesterday.

“If I was a tax evader, which I’m not, I must be the dumbest one in the world to keep coming back here instead of fleeing to a tax haven ... I know they're absolutely desperate to nail some high-profile character with money to justify the expense to the taxpayer.”

Hogan, who was once a painter on the Sydney Harbour

Bridge, is under investigation as part of Australia's biggest probe into offshore tax evasion, Operation Wickenby.

The operation is budgeted to cost at least $300 million.

The tax office has claimed he put tens of millions of dollars in film royalties in offshore tax havens, a claim that he has denied. He has never been charged with tax evasion.

A popular Australian TV comedian, Hogan hit international fame as Mick “Dundee in the 1986 film Crocodile Dundee,” which went on to become Australia's most successful film ever and won Hogan a Golden Globe for best actor.

Two sequels followed and Hogan married his Dundee costar Linda Kozlowski which was his second marriage.

promised to allocate state funds to help them start a family.

navy was due to start artillery exercises in the Yellow Sea between China and the Korean peninsula. Washington and Seoul plan to hold their own military exercise in international waters off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, a move the Pentagon has said is meant to show North Korea that Washington is committed to defending ally South Korea.

The September 5-9 naval drills are aimed largely at detecting and repelling North Korean submarines from infiltrating the South's waters, a government official said. The latest exercises follow Seoul's pledge to take tough action against the North in the event of further provocations, after it accused P yongyang of a submarine attack against one of its navy ships in March, killing 46 sailors.

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TALK BUSINESS

ICICI Bank opens Caranzalem branch

Bridge demand, supply gap in power: PM PTI TIRUPATI, SEPT 1

The opening of the Caranzalem branch of ICICI Bank.

PANJIM (HBD) -- ICICI Bank has inaugurated its 13th branch in Goa at Caranzalem. The branch aims to provide the best service to the customers in terms of their wealth management, portfolio management and investments.

With the ongoing mantra of "Khayal Aapka"; ICICI Bank now has 2040 branches in India to reach out to its customers. With 13 branches and 38 ATMs in Goa, the bank aims to provide an excellent banking experience to its customers.

ICICI Bank, Caranzalem wealth management branch was inaugurated by Chief Secretary, Goa State Sanjay Srivastava and Cesar Menezes, CMD, Wallace Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd. The occasion was graced by Trevor Barreto, regional head, Goa and Kolhapur region. The event was also graced by Purunjay Singh, eminent businessman, Nirmala Rebello, Principal, Secondary section, Sharada Mandir and Eurnice Desa, principal, junior section, Sharada Mandir. The team of Caranzalem Wealth Management Branch is led by branch manager Vishal Gulati.

Seagram’s Fuel partners Liverpool Football Club PANJIM (HBD) -- Pernod Ricard, the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits, through its brand Seagram’s Fuel has inked an association with Liverpool FC, a renowned English football club.

The Anfield club, known worldwide for its skillful players, sparkling play and outstanding record on the football field, especially the Premier League, matches the exciting and youthful category of Seagram’s Fuel.

Surya Group is largest GI pipe manufacturer PANJIM (HBD) -- Surya Roshni has become the largest GI pipes manufacturer in India with its steel pipes manufacturing units spread over different locations at Bahadurgarh (Haryana), (Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh), Bhuj (Gujarat) and coming up in Shimoga (Karnataka). Renowned for its quality, it has certification from BIS, ASTM, API and European standards.

The Surya group is adding fifth and sixth plants at Bahadurgarh factory to augment the GI capacity for meeting this enlarged demand. It has, installed a gas generator set, imported from England for continuous supply of electricity.

Incidentally the steel pipe plant at Bahadurgarh in Delhi (NCR) has the distinction of being one of the largest factories at a single location in India for GI pipes.

LIC to hold all Goa drawing competition PANJIM (HBD) -- During the 54th anniversary of Insurance Week, LIC Goa Divisional Office has decided to hold an All Goa drawing Competition on September 4, 2010 at 3.30 pm at Jeevan Vishwas, EDC Complex, Plot No 2, Patto, Panjim.

There will be two categories. Category I, for children upto 8 years and Category II, for children above 8 years and below 15 years. The first 35 entries in each category will be accepted. Only drawing paper will be supplied. Other painting material is to be brought by the participants. Three prizes in each category will be awarded to the winners. Participants are required to enroll with the CRM department, on or before September 3, 2010, by 4 pm.

For details contact 2438418.

LIC Life Plus: Meanwhile, ‘LIC Life Plus’, authorised premium collection help centre – will be inaugurated at the hands of S N Battacharya, LIC’s chief (marketing) central office, Mumbai in the presence of A K Madhankar, Sr divisional manager (Goa Division) and special invitee Savio Coutinho, chairperson of MMC, on September 6, 2010 at ‘Blue Bell’, Navelim at 10 am.

It is an initiative to improve the bond with its already existing clientele through its excellent customer service. It is headed by Joel Cardozo, development officer of LIC, Goa Division who has been associated with LIC for 16 years.

Sensex surges by 235 points; RIL, Infosys lead gains PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 1

The BSE benchmark Sensex bounced back smartly by 235 points today, with heavyweights RIL and Infosys leading the gains on frantic buying by fund houses amid firm global cues and impressive GDP growth.

Shrugging off slower export growth in July, the 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange ended the day higher by 234.75 points, or 1.31 per cent, at 18,205.87.

The National Stock Exchange’s wide-based 50-share Nifty Index added 1.29 per cent to finish at 5,471.85.

Laying the foundation stone of a Rs 6,000 crore power equipment manufacturing plant near here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the nation needs to bridge the gap between demand and supply of electricity for sustained economic growth.

"Availability of affordable power is of critical importance to development of agriculture and industries," Singh said.

Stressing upon the need to bridge the gap between demand and supply of electricity, he said that it was the "only way to achieve higher rates of economic growth on sustainable basis."

India has installed capacity of over 1.62 lakh MW, and the power deficit is about 13-14 per cent. The government plans to add over 78,000 MW

by March 2012, the end of the current 11th Plan Period.

The new plant, NTPC BHEL Power Projects Pvt Ltd (NBPPL), will go on stream in 2014-15 and produce equipment to support 5,000 MW of power generation capacity, Singh said after laying the foundation stone at Mannavaram near here.

This will be India's first integrated plant that will manufacture turbines, generators and boilers.

India has ambitious power generation capacity addition targets in the 11th (2007-12) and 12th (2012-17) Five Year Plan periods, Singh said, adding that large additional capacity targets mean big demand for power equipment.

"I'm very happy that our public sector has come forward to take lead in manufacturing power equipment to help us achieve our target in power sector," he said.

NBPPL is a 50:50 joint venture between state-owner

power generator NTPC Ltd and equipment manufacturer Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL).

Singh said the joint venture brings together vast experience and expertise of NTPC and BHEL. "It will provide direct employment to 6,000 men and women and indirect employment to another 25,000 people," he said, adding, "I greatly appreciate the vision of Andhra Pradesh to have large industrial hub around this plant."

Singh added, "I'm sure that this innovative manufacturing plant will go a long way in improving economic condition of people of this backward area."

NBPPL CMD C P Singh said the JV would help meet huge emerging demand for setting up of new power projects in the country.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah could not attend as he was indisposed.

JP Morgan fund eyes China, India

PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 1

REUTERS HONGKONG, SEPT 1

JP Morgan Asset Management is eyeing China and India's toll roads sector for opportunities, as well as Indonesia's power and logistics industries, after investing a third of its $860 million Asia infrastructure fund.

"The toll road sectors in China and India are developing quite rapidly. We will be prepared to look at toll roads in other countries," Philip Jackson, chief of JP Morgan's Asia infrastructure investments group, told Reuters in an interview.

"Several of our colleagues are in Indonesia at the moment, so it's definitely on our radar screen."

Infrastructure has become a distinct asset class over the past few years, with global firms such as JP Morgan, Citigroup Inc, Macquarie Group Ltd and Morgan Stanley investing in segments from logistics to utilities.

Tata Motors to focus overseas Tata Motors, India's leading vehicle maker with about two-thirds of the local market, plans to focus on Africa, Russia, China and the Middle East for growth, Chairman Ratan Tata said on Wednesday.

"We hope to increase market share in these economies and widen the pasenger car and the commercial vehicles range," Tata said at an annual shareholder meeting.

Last month, Tata, India's top truck maker, which also makes utility vehicles and cars, swept past forecasts with a fourth straight quarterly profit, driven by strong demand at its JaguarLand Rover unit.

All stops removed for 3G service Decks were cleared today for launching 3G mobile and broadband services in the country, with the government allocating air waves to private operators after making certain amends to the licence terms.

The operators are authorised to use the spectrum for a period of 20 years from today, according to the amended licence conditions that allows companies to offer 3G services till the validity of the spectrum even if their telecom licences expire prior to that.

The government has imposed a roll-out obligation, under which the service A GROUP Aban Offshor, 768, 779.7, 765.05, 775.4 Abb Ltd., 783.25, 785, 776.3, 781.3 Abg Shipyard, 232, 237, 230, 235.2 Acc Limited, 878.95, 889.2, 870, 885.35 Adani Enterp, 655, 678.5, 654.5, 675 Aditya Birla, 804.7, 820.7, 802, 809.3 Allahabad Ba, 210.8, 213.55, 208.25, 212.7 Alstom Proje, 710.15, 716.9, 704, 709.6 Ambuja Cemen, 126.5, 126.8, 123.05, 124.2 Andhra Bank, 153, 156.5, 153, 155.2 Ashok Leylan, 74.6, 75.5, 74.25, 74.75 Asian Paints, 2793.1, 2793.1, 2728, 2738.75 Axis Bank Li, 1330.65, 1359, 1330.65, 1354.1 Bajaj Hindus, 114.45, 117.2, 114.45, 116.35 Bank Of Baro, 806, 820, 802.3, 818.55 Bank Of Indi, 444.1, 452.6, 443.35, 451.6 Beml Limited, 1010, 1017.65, 1006.25, 1013.15 Bharat Elect, 1670, 1708, 1661.1, 1695.35 Bharat Forge, 350.5, 357.6, 350, 356.1 Bharat Petro, 767, 785.9, 763, 778.7 Bharti Airte, 329, 339.8, 328.8, 337.65 Bhel, 2411.65, 2429.95, 2403, 2420.6

National air-carrier, Air India, has been ranked as the 'Most Trusted Brand' in the aviation sector in the country by the the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey 2010.

This is the fifth consecutive time that the country's flag-carrier has bagged the honour.

The flag-carrier has also been ranked 28th among the top 50 service brands, ahead of leading banks, insurance companies, food-chains and airlines, an Air India press release said here today.

Recently, Air India was presented the Reader's Digest Trusted Brand Gold Award also for the fifth consecutive year.

The Most Trusted Brands Survey, conducted by the Economic Times in collaboration with The Nielsen Company identifies brands that bond with consumers.

These brands are not just the

most familiar, but those that consumers believe provide quality and reassurance, the release said.

A sample of 8,160 consumers across socio-economic classes, age, income and geography, was surveyed with parameters such as the brand's quality of service, value for money, popularity, confidence and repurchase intent, etc.

Air India operates across 113 destinations including 15 international ones across the USA, Europe, Canada, the Far-East and south-east Asia and the Gulf.

BOARD MEETINGS Sterling Hol Fin Parenteral Drug Prithvi Info Karur KCP Varun Merc KEW Inds Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA JPMORGAN MUTUAL FUND has decided to modify the Exit load structure for both Retail and Institutional Plan under JPMorgan India Active Bond Fund as follows with effect from September 2, 2010.

Earlier Provision: For any amount if redeemed within six months of allotment of units: 0.50% Revised Provision: For any amount if redeemed within one months of allotment of units: 0.25% A switch-out or a withdrawal under SWP shall also attract an Exit Load like any Redemption.

REUTERS MUMBAI, SEPT 1

PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

AI most trusted in aviation: survey

providers would have to cover at least 90 per cent of the service areas in the metros within the next five years.

Bharti Airtel, Vodafone, RCom, Tatas, Idea Cellular, Aircel and S Tel were the operators who had bagged 3G spectrum in the auction in May that fetched the government over Rs 51,000 crore apart from about Rs 16,000 crore from the two telecom PSUs -BSNL and MTNL. BSNL and MTNL were awarded spectrum more than a year ago in view of their obligation to procure equipments through cumbersome process of inviting tenders. BSNL offers services throughout the country, except Delhi and Mumbai

Bhushan Stee, 1824, 1859.9, 1807.2, 1818.45 Biocon Limit, 340.5, 343.4, 338.3, 341.2 Bombay Dyein, 555.7, 606, 555.7, 600.3 Bosch Limite, 5985, 6091, 5985, 6002.6 Brigade Ente, 138.8, 140.9, 136.5, 138.95 Cairn India, 333, 344, 331.6, 340.05 Canara Bank, 515.05, 523, 510, 520.4 Central Bank, 181.35, 183.3, 180.05, 182.7 Century Text, 482, 496.75, 482, 495.35 Cesc Ltd, 382.5, 384.8, 378.15, 382.65 Chambal Fert, 67, 68.95, 66.7, 68.75 Chennai Petr, 239.8, 243, 232.5, 241.35 Cipla Ltd, 304, 306.4, 303.25, 305.4 Colgate Palm, 829, 834.5, 822, 826.55 Container Co, 1308, 1326.8, 1308, 1321.25 Crompton Gre, 298, 301.2, 296.6, 299.95 Cummins Indi, 745, 748.5, 730, 733.5 Dabur India, 211, 212.5, 210.35, 211.7 Deccan Chron, 124.25, 127.8, 124.25, 127.35 Dish Tv Indi, 50.9, 54.1, 50.5, 53.8 Divi’s Labor, 745, 752, 743.3, 745 Dlf Limited, 303.5, 312, 303.05, 310.05

where MTNL is the operator.

The operators have been awarded 5 Mhz of spectrum in each circle they won in the auction.

In the two metros of Delhi and Mumbai, three operators - Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Reliance Communication had emerged the winners while no operator could bag pan-India spectrum in the auction that was conducted between April 9 and May 18 this year.

The government had auctioned three 3G slots throughout the nation, while four slots were offered in five circles.

3G allows high-speed mobile broadband access enabling users to download full length

Dr. reddy’s, 1370, 1375, 1353.6, 1368.55 Edelweiss Ca, 50.1, 50.5, 49.15, 50.1 Educomp Solu, 548.3, 556.3, 543, 549.55 Eih Limited, 142, 146.8, 140, 143.5 Engineers In, 325, 333.75, 325, 329.2 Essar Oil Lt, 123.15, 124.9, 123.05, 124.2 Essar Shippi, 99, 101.45, 97, 97.95 Exide Indust, 148.9, 148.9, 145.3, 147.85 Federal Bank, 341.25, 349, 341.05, 346.7 Financial Te, 1365, 1374, 1343.1, 1349.6 Gail (india), 468.65, 473.2, 464.2, 470.05 Gammon India, 209.5, 215, 206.55, 208.25 Glaxosmithkl, 1860.7, 1889.95, 1860.7, 1880.25 Glenmark Pha, 286, 291, 283.1, 289.35 Gmr Infrastr, 56.05, 57.45, 56, 57.2 Godrej Indus, 199, 202.65, 196.65, 201.9 Grasim Indus, 2025, 2054, 2020, 2044.85 Great Offsho, 378.05, 384.1, 377, 382.7 Gtl Infra.Lt, 45.3, 46.2, 45.2, 45.9 Gujarat Mine, 120.4, 122.35, 120.05, 121.55 Gujarat N R, 55.8, 57.15, 55.25, 56.6 Gujarat Stat, 116, 117.9, 115.5, 117.6

Gvk Pow. & I, 45.45, 46.75, 45.2, 46.45 Hcl Technolo, 384.15, 388.5, 376.8, 386.1 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2135.55, 2155, 2120, 2149.25 Hdfc Ltd, 631, 634.75, 621, 623.1 Hero Honda M, 1795.2, 1809.45, 1740, 1764.8 Hindalco in, 167.6, 174.85, 166.5, 174.25 Hindustan Co, 56.6, 60.2, 56.6, 59.85 Hindustan Ma, 72.5, 79.2, 72.4, 77.95 Hindustan Pe, 526.3, 539.8, 526.3, 534.4 Hindustan Un, 264.5, 267.35, 264, 266.55 Hindustan Zi, 1056.9, 1127, 1053.55, 1114.95 Housing Dev, 254, 259.9, 250.2, 259 Icici Bank L, 980.35, 1002.7, 980.35, 995 Idea Cellula, 71.75, 72.5, 71.1, 72.1 Ifci Ltd, 58.95, 59.6, 58.8, 59.3 India Cement, 107.85, 109, 106.7, 107.45 India Infoli, 94, 94.5, 92.3, 93.95 Indiabulls F, 140.1, 143.35, 139.1, 141.45 Indiabulls R, 168.85, 175.65, 168.5, 174.25 Indian Bank, 251.8, 252.9, 247.8, 249.3 Indian Hotel, 104.5, 105, 103.5, 104.4 Indian Oil C, 414.5, 428, 411.25, 423.95

movies, make video calls and watch live television programmes.

According to the amendment, if the operators fail to achieve the roll-out obligations, they would be given extension for one more year after paying 2.5 per cent of the spectrum acquisition charge per quarter.

Also, in case of two companies merging, only one slot of spectrum can be retained, according to the amended rules.

The operators will have to pay the upward revised spectrum usage charges ranging between 3-8 per cent depending upon the quantum of spectrum held by them.

Indian Overs, 125, 126.8, 124.3, 125.45 Indus Dev Ba, 122.45, 124.6, 122.1, 124.3 Indusind Ban, 223.95, 229.7, 223.25, 228.9 Infosys Tech, 2713.85, 2784.5, 2708.25, 2776.15 Infra. dev., 179, 181.9, 178.5, 181.35 Ispat Indust, 18.8, 19, 18.6, 18.85 Itc Ltd, 164.25, 164.3, 161.8, 163.15 Ivrcl Infras, 157.3, 159.2, 156.2, 158.35 Jai Corp Lim, 256.1, 265.5, 255.3, 262.75 Jaiprakash A, 110.4, 110.5, 107.6, 109.9 Jet Airways, 728.8, 742, 709.25, 722.65 Jindal Saw L, 204, 207.1, 201.25, 205.75 Jindal Steel, 690.15, 699.25, 686.05, 698.2 Jsw Steel Li, 1140, 1180.9, 1133.15, 1173.15 Kotak Mahind, 835.65, 835.65, 815.3, 830 Lakshmi Mach, 2127, 2186, 2127, 2181.25 Lanco Infrat, 66.85, 68, 66.65, 67.6 Larsen & Tou, 1820, 1838, 1802, 1833.7 Lic Housing, 1212.35, 1215.8, 1193, 1199.25 Lupin Limite, 360.95, 360.95, 349.15, 356.8 Mahanagar Te, 61.3, 63.15, 61.3, 62.7 Mahindra & M, 632, 636.9, 625.2, 630.15 Maruti Suzuk, 1262, 1281.15, 1262, 1272.75

IDBI MUTUAL FUND announced launch of its second index fund, IDBI Nifty Junior Index Fund. The NFO will be available from September 2, to September 15, 2010. The scheme shall re-open for continuous sale and repurchase wef September 27, 2010.

The face value of each unit will be Rs 10 and the minimum investment will be Rs 5,000 and in multiples of Rs 100 thereafter.

Under the Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) investors can pay Rs 500 per month for a minimum period of 12 months or Rs 1,000 pm for a minimum period of 6 months or Rs 1,500 per quarter for a minimum 4 quarters continuously.

This Fund will be managed passively and hold the securities in the same proportion as CNX Nifty Junior Index.

The AMC also unveiled a new fund named as IDBI Ultra Short Term Fund, an open ended debt scheme. The NFO price for the scheme is Rs 10 per unit. The new issue will be open for subscription from September 1 and closes on September 2, 2010.

CARE (Credit Analysis & Research) has assigned `CARE AAAf` rating to IDBI Ultra Short Term Fund. The assigned rating indicates highest credit quality rating by CARE to a fund and carries credit risk similar to instruments having minimal credit risk.

The scheme offers two options viz. growth and dividend option. The dividend option has three sub-options (frequency of dividend declaration) - daily dividend (compulsory reinvestment), weekly dividend and monthly dividend.

It is the intent of the scheme to maintain the average maturity of the portfolio within a range of 30 days to 120 days under normal market conditions depending on the fund manager`s assessment of various parameters including interest rate environment, liquidity and macro-economic factors.

The minimum application amount is Rs 5,000 and in multiples of Rs 100 thereafter. The fund seeks to collect a minimum subscription (minimum target) amount of Rs 100 million under the scheme during the NFO period.

Entry load charge is not applicable for the scheme. The scheme will charge an exit load of 0.25% for exit within 7 days from the date of allotment. Benchmark Index for the scheme is CRISIL Liquid Fund Index. The fund manager of the scheme will be Gautam Kaul.

IDFC MUTUAL FUND has approved September 6, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of IDFC Asset Allocation Fund - Plan A (Aggressive plan, Moderate Plan and Conservative Plan).

The quantum of dividend will be Rs 0.06 per unit for Aggressive plan, Rs 0.04 per unit for Moderate plan and Rs 0.02 for Conservative plan as on the record date on a face value of Rs 10 per unit.

Max India Lt, 155.75, 157.9, 152.5, 154.4 Maytas Infr., 210.95, 214, 206.1, 210.45 Moser-baer (, 62.35, 64.7, 61.7, 64.25 Mrpl, 76, 76.8, 75.25, 76.55 Nagarjuna Co, 155.05, 158, 153.5, 157 Nagarjuna Fe, 29.6, 30.05, 29.35, 29.85 National Alu, 409.9, 409.9, 397.8, 403.35 Neyveli Lign, 158, 160, 157.2, 159.35 Ntpc Ltd, 196.1, 197.9, 195.4, 197.55 Oil And Natu, 1349.6, 1354.7, 1332.3, 1338.95 Omaxe Limite, 129.7, 130.5, 127, 129.85 Oriental Ban, 427.4, 437.9, 424.5, 434.85 Pantaloon Re, 459.9, 468.35, 455, 466.55 Parsvnath De, 137.6, 140.5, 135.5, 138.05 Petronet Lng, 109, 112.3, 108.3, 111.6 Power Fin Co, 353.9, 354.7, 348, 348.95 Power Grid C, 108.8, 109.7, 107.3, 108.2 Praj Industr, 74.45, 75.5, 74, 74.8 Punj Lloyd L, 106, 107.7, 105.6, 107.35 Punjab Natio, 1190, 1208.7, 1176.25, 1203.25 Rajesh Expor, 93.5, 96.05, 90.8, 91.9 Ranbaxy Labs, 492, 500, 489.35, 498.5

Rashtriya Ch, 79.8, 82.65, 79.75, 81.65 Rel. nat. re, 37.5, 38.35, 37.15, 38.15 Reliance Cap, 762, 768.85, 753, 763.8 Reliance Com, 157, 164.9, 156.5, 164 Reliance Ene, 1107.9, 1107.9, 1026.6, 1044.64 Reliance Ind, 852, 861.95, 844, 855.95 Reliance Ind, 925.05, 943.8, 921, 936.2 Reliance Pow, 152.95, 155.9, 151.85, 155.25 Rolta India, 163.1, 168, 162.55, 166.85 Satyam Compu, 80, 80.5, 78.9, 79.15 Sesa Goa Ltd, 320, 327, 317.6, 325.8 Shipping Cor, 161.9, 163.4, 161.1, 162 Siemens Ltd, 692.6, 698, 683.5, 695.6 Sintex Indus, 360.9, 367.05, 357, 365.4 Sobha Develo, 333.95, 349, 331, 346 State Bank O, 2775, 2786.3, 2737.25, 2776.5 Steel Author, 187.1, 189.25, 185.55, 188 Sterlite Ind, 154.5, 157.5, 152.2, 156.5 Sun Pharmace, 1750, 1762, 1740, 1750.55 Sun Tv Netwo, 481.8, 484.9, 478.1, 482 Suzlon Energ, 46.5, 46.95, 45.95, 46.6 Tata Communi, 335, 354, 334.05, 349.6 Tata Consult, 842, 861, 840, 858.4

Tata Motors, 1015, 1019.5, 1003.15, 1010.75 Tata Power C, 1228, 1248.65, 1220.35, 1239 Tata Steel L, 526, 539, 525.7, 537.95 Tata Teleser, 22.4, 23, 22.4, 22.85 Tech Mahindr, 638.25, 652, 632.5, 646.8 The Ge Shpg., 299.7, 306.7, 297.2, 304.65 The Phoenix, 239.5, 244.8, 236.35, 241.95 Thermax Ltd, 759, 776.4, 751.05, 756.6 Titan Indust, 2956, 2984, 2942, 2956.25 Torrent Powe, 335.25, 339.95, 335.25, 336.7 Triveni Engg, 97, 98.75, 96.1, 97.75 Tv18 India L, 88.6, 92.7, 88.6, 92.25 Uco Bank, 111.8, 115, 111.8, 114.3 Ultratech Ce, 910.1, 915, 900.5, 909.8 Union Bank O, 332.5, 339.5, 330.5, 336.65 Unitech Ltd, 78.05, 80.6, 77.9, 80.2 United Phosp, 185.5, 187.55, 183, 186.8 Videocon Ind, 258.1, 262.95, 257.15, 261.2 Vijaya Bank, 80, 80.8, 79, 80.35 Voltas Ltd, 203, 206, 200.1, 203.95 Wipro Ltd, 400.25, 404.5, 398.65, 403.55 Yes Bank Lim, 312.55, 321.2, 312.3, 319.85 Zee Entertai, 292.1, 292.1, 280.25, 287

OHERALDO

Biz13_Layout 1 9/1/2010 11:50 PM Page 1

Pg13

BIZ

GOA, THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2010

July exports grow 13.2% PTI NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

Exports in July grew by 13.2 per cent, the lowest expansion so far this fiscal, to USD 16.24 billion as major markets like the US and Europe are facing fragile economic recovery.

During the first three months of 2010-11, the shipments grew by about 30 per cent.

In July 2009, exports stood at USD 14.34 billion, according to the official data.

Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar had recently said that the slowdown in the growth rate may continue for the rest of the fiscal as the developed countries may go for fiscal consolidation by partially rolling back economic stimulus packages.

India's exports showed robust growth rates in April (36.2%), May (35.1%) and June (30.4%).

Industry experts opined that as the government has announced some more incentives to the laggard sectors, exports would achieve the target of USD 200 billion in 2010-11.

"The sops provided by the government in the Foreign Trade Policy will help in getting close to the target of USD 200 billion in the current fiscal," Axis Bank Chief Economist Saugata Bhattacharya said.

"The sops would help in achieving USD 200 billion export target," International Trade expert with India's prestigious Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Rakesh Mohan Joshi said.

Imports in July grew by 34.3 per cent to USD 29.17 billion from USD 21.72 billion in the same period last year, indicating a rapid pace of domestic economic activity. As a result, trade deficit widened to USD 12.93 billion from USD 7.38 billion a year ago.

Oil imports increased by 4.4 per cent to USD 7.66 billion in July, while the non-oil imports rose by 49.6 per cent to USD 21.50 billion.

For the April-July period, exports grew by 30.1 per cent to USD 68.62 billion over the comparative months last year.

Imports during the four months to July grew by 33.3 per cent to USD 112.21 billion year-onyear. During April-July, trade deficit increased to USD 43.58 billion compared to USD 31.42 billion last year.

After witnessing contraction for 13 months to

‘Invest in training agents’ PTI MUMBAI, SEPT 1

Insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation today called upon the industry to invest heavily in training their agents if it wants to grow more profitably.

LIC Chairman T S Vijayan said it is high time that the life insurance industry professionalised its distribution channels by training its agents.

"We have to migrate to fullytrained profession agents. Unless we as an industry invest in training our agents and making them qualified trained professionals, we cannot continue to growth. If we don't invest in this, at least we should entrust this job to some professional institutes which can do this for us," Vijayan to an insurance seminar.

Online frauds high: RBI PTI MADURAI, SEPT 1

Reserve Bank of India has cautioned the public to be aware of online frauds, especially involving lotteries, and fraudsters who were faking websites of banks and RBI documents and circulars.

"While the RBI picks up only secondary information, the number of complaints of such online frauds is high... in Chennai it is one a day," RBI GM (Forex Department) S K Maheswaran said.

Stating that even fake websites of RBI or commercial banks were being created to lure unsuspecting individuals, he asked the public to cross check anything puported to be RBI circular with informaton on its website 'www.rbi.org.in.'

Super online banking in China AGENCY BEIJING, SEPT 1

China's central bank has started a 'super online banking system' that would allow customers to access any number of accounts through a single website.

The People's Bank of China has started an 'online payment inter-bank clearing system', which supports real-time interbank transfers and inter-bank balance inquiries, China Daily reported.

The banking system links online different commercial banks and enables customers to access multiple accounts on a single website.

Before the launch of the new system, customers had to log on to different banks' websites to manage their accounts, and

LAUNCH PAD

APC 600VA Back-UPS

November 2009 due to the global demand slump, exports entered into the positive territory and have since posted a decent growth.

In the annual review of FTP, the government has announced various incentives including extension of two per cent interest subsidy to sector like leather, engineering, textiles and jute.

Besides, benefits under Market Linked Focus Product Scheme to garment exports to EU extended till March, 2011.

PANJIM (HBD) -- APC by Schneider Electric, a global leader in critical power and cooling services, launched BR600CI-IN – a high performance, value-for-money 600VA PC UPS, designed to protect valuable PCs from harmful voltage fluctuations The BR600CI-IN UPS protects sensitive electronics of a PC from extreme voltage fluctuation through its ‘Automatic Voltage Regulation’ feature It also enables customers to enjoy 21 minutes of reliable backup time due to superior best-in-class battery.

Priced at an MRP of Rs 2975, the new APC BR600CI-IN Back– UPS is available through more than 5,000 channel partners across the country and is backed by APC’s strong after-sales service.

For details contact 1800 4254 877 / 1800 4254 272 (Toll Free Numbers).

inter-bank transfers usually took one or two days.

The charges for the new system have not been finalised.

At present, commercial banks in China charge different fees for inter-bank transfers.

The 'super online banking system' will surely inc re a s e b a n k s ' e f f i c i e n c y in the long run, said Guo Tianyong, head of the C h i n a B a n k i n g Re s e a rc h C e n t re a t t h e C e n t r a l University of Finance and Economics.

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Pg14 GOA’S HEARTBEAT Prince all set for Celebrating the Birth International Spotlight of Divine Lord Krishna moddki dod “ naKumbarak - Anonymous

“

man is great by deeds, not by “Abirth - Chanakya

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

“

Thursday, 2 Sep, 2010

Tiatrists have always taken inspiration from life around them, presenting reality with a little garnishing of comedy, drama and music. The end result? Entertainment that brings to the attention of the audience the reality of society.

The successful Prince Jacob takes it to the next level as his tiatr, ‘Roddo Naka’ made into a film, is all set to star at the Kuwait International Film Festival, this year

BY ELVIS SEQUEIRA HERALD FEATURES t a time when land is being grabbed by the land sharks, depriving our farmers, fishermen, toddy-tappers and others of their livelihood, people from other states are registering their names on electoral rolls in collusion with our politicians.

These people, who call themselves Goans, and are many a time misguided to take up nefarious activities as a source of income. While many lawful job positions are sold to others, the susegad Goan is in deep slumber, unaware or rather unbothered about his shrivelling identity.

Prince Jacob’s latest tiatr ‘Kedna Utt’ttolo’ highlights this issue in a touching story with a thought-provoking script, strong dose of comedy, beautiful stage sets (double revolving stage) and of course towering performances from his cast. But will the susegad Goenkar ever

A

wake up?

Prince Jacob has done his job of taking the horse to the water and now waits to see whether the horse will decide to drink it or not.

This tiatr, after completing 25 shows on August 27, 2010 and is still running houseful, is no doubt a major success and it is not the first time that Prince Jacob has taken the mantle of creating awareness among the people through his tiatrs. He has done it earlier with ‘Zaiat Zage’ and ‘Roddo Naka’, another poignant tale of sexual exploitation of women by the political class. It was later made into a film with English subtitles and will hit the screen at the Kuwait International Film Festival organised by Kala Mogi, Kuwait this year end.

Prince Jacob’s Productions, formed in the year 1985, will celebrate its silver jubilee on September 19 this year, yet another milestone for the showman of the Konkani stage.

The Prince in action

­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E People often look at your reaction to know how to act. Try to keep them guessing. Ignore the tiny (21 Mar – 19 Apr) details today -- you've got to focus on issues of great importance, and you've got people who can take care of the small stuff for you. It's a really good day for you to think big!

If your routine gets disrupted today, embrace the chaos and just go with the flow. You can (23 Sep – 22 Oct) see both sides of almost any issue -- and while it might exasperate your friends and lead to a few Hamlet moments, you're perfectly happy with your broad perspective. Put it to good use today!

Socialize with friends over food -- you'll feed your soul while you feed your body. Reach out to (20 Apr – 20 May) someone close and let them know what's going on inside your heart. That may be a surprise to them -- and to you, as well, as you start to spill secrets even you didn't know about.

You have a lot of drive, but where are you going?

Slow down 'til you have an answer. Business (23 Oct – 21 Nov) matters are much tricker than they appear -- probably because your competitors (or clients, even) are engaging in some seriously complicated chicanery. Step back and wait for them to fail!

If they're too tight with money to help you out, ask them to give a little time. You're as busy as (21 May – 21 Jun) you've ever been -- and it's all awesome! You can multi-task with the best of them, and your great energy should help you rack up new accomplishments with great ease.

A mismatched pair adds tension to your world for a while, but they'll leave soon. Your friends and (22 Nov – 21 Dec) family have a lot to say today -- too much, most likely! That doesn't mean you should blow them off, but at some point your impatience is sure to show through. Then it's time to act!

Feeling tired today? Rely on a coworker's high energy to get you through the day. You aren't in the (22 Jun – 22 Jul) best of moods -- and if anyone deigns to cross you, they should figure that out pretty quickly!

You might not literally bite their head off, but they may actually wish that you would.

Approaching deadlines can't distract you from today's business. Focus on the now. Get rid of any(22 Dec – 19 Jan) thing holding you back today -- though you may want to think two or three times about losing any people who seem like dead weight.

Emotional baggage, physical detritus and dead-end projects can go.

A new action item gets put on your 'to-do' list today. Make it your top priority. You're making a (23 Jul – 22 Aug) great first impression today -- and are likely just as impressed with the people you meet.

It's an excellent time for you to build teams and forge lasting partnerships.

If everything was easy, you'd never feel like you accomplished anything, would you? Your big brain (20 Jan – 18 Feb) is on of your most attractive features -- though it's got some serious competition! Today, though, it leads the pack, and should help you rekindle your love life in a big way.

A group of women will inspire you to give more help than you were prepared to give. You can (23 Aug – 22 Sep) see the heart of the matter with frightening speed today -so much so that your peers might start to see you as some kind of machine. Let them think what they want, as long as they know you're right!

Creating something new brings you huge satisfaction today. Try cooking or baking. Don't let your(19 Feb – 20 Mar) self get nailed down to anything too specific today -- your energy is better for you if it's loose and free-flowing. You can handle big-picture stuff, but the nitty-gritty eludes you for now.

Janmashtami is here; the birth of Lord Krishna.

Herald delves into the tradition behind the festivities

BY NOMRATHA FERNANDES HERALD FEATURES rishna, the bare mention, brings joy to his believers.

His interesting life and valuable teachings have spread far and wide, being an inspiration and an influence to many. More interesting is the story of his birth, which when narrated, fills the air with intrigue and keeps the listener attentive all throughout.

We go back thousands of years, when Kansa was King of Mathura and ruled with an iron fist. Though he was known as a tyrant to his subjects, the King harboured a soft corner for his sister, Devaki. Upon her marriage, he even rode out to the castle of Vasudev, her newly wedded husband. It was a trip made by a devoted brother sending off his beautiful sister to her in-laws home, an emotional journey for both. However, the incident that follows on this trip sprinkles the story with romance and charm. “The eighth child of Devaki will be the cause of your death,” boomed a voice from the forest, to King Kansa. His feelings towards his sister changed instantly and the king pulled out his sword to decapitate her. Upon Vasudev’s deal that every child born from the womb of Devaki will be handed over to him, he released his trembling sister.

In the course of time, King Kansa mercilessly kills all of the couple’s children and upon the knowledge of the eighth, chains Vasudev and his wife in a prison cell. Baby Krishna hence, was born in prison. Though in a dire situation, his birth filled his parent’s hearts with joy. A miracle followed his birth. His father managed to break free of the prison and handed over Krishna to Yashoda, a simple woman from the village of Gokul. And it was here that Lord Krishna spent a lot of his youth. Tales and anecdotes galore have come out of his years in Gokul, from the very people that played with the baby and watched him grow up. The most famous being those about his love for ‘maakan’. The earthen pots that contained ‘maakan’ were hung from the roofs of the houses in the village. Little Krishna, aware of this, used every opportunity

K

Goan Scenery on Greenwich Canvas

HERALD FEATURES mily Partrick, a Greenwich based artist, has unveiled the latest collection of her paintings, one of which has a Goan element. The artist has painted a view of the scenery of the landscape across the Tiracol River. The painting titled ‘Looking towards Maharastra’ was painted at a house overlooking the Tiracol River while the artist was staying in Goa in 2008.

Emily draws inspiration from everyday life, be it a place, the home or the family. According to her, an artist and his family profit from living besides one another. A studio is an inward-looking empty space waiting for the artist to bring it alive, whereas the clutter of

E

Goa’s serenity and scenery draws many an artist to either unwind or experience its pristine beauty, and English artist Emily Patrick, who visited the state to paint its quaint sights, is no different a home is an infinitely rich source of subject matter. As a wife and mother, Emily’s intention is to make her family and others aware of the romance of everyday life. Her works have a calm and humane subject matter and a style that appeals to many as they provoke thought, curiosity and admiration.

Justin Bieber wants to be the Next John Travolta S

inger Justin Bieber is eyeing John Travolta’s role in a remake of hit movie musical ‘Grease’. The teenage pop singer is set to make his film debut next year in his own 3D movie memoir, which will document his stellar rise to fame.

However, Bieber is already considering his next big screen project.

He wants to star as Danny Zuko in a new version of 1978’s ‘Grease’. “It would be a lot of fun. It’s been talked about a lot over the years but it would be awesome to play Danny,” said the young star.

‘The Baby’ hitmaker has also picked out his fantasy co-stars, admitting he would love to act opposite Miley Cyrus as Zuko’s love interest Sandy Olsson.

“If I had to pick my perfect Sandy I would go for Miley Cyrus without hesitation.

She can sing, dance and act,” he said. “I would really want some great people to star in it. Wouldn’t Susan Boyle make an amazing Principal McGee? We’d just need to write it into the script that she broke into song. I am obsessed with Susan Boyle. When I look at her original (Britain’s Got Talent) audition it makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

to get to the pots. He would get up, upon a tall stool and enjoy the goodness of home-churned butter. These, besides other stories make the Lord easy to relate to by his followers.

He was human; he had quirks which only connected people to his life and message.

Mostly unaware of his royal blood, the Lord associated with everyone from the village. A little boy with a peacock feather in his hair was a familiar sight in the village of Gokul.

Krishna’s birth and life is a message, one of triumph. To most of his believers, Hindus and non-Hindus, celebrating the birth of their Lord holds high regard. Besides the pomp of the rituals and fervour associated with the celebration, they believe that by welcoming his birth they welcome truth, light and intelligence into their lives.

‘DAHI HUNDI’ IN GOA The celebration of Janmashtami has a highlight in with the tradition of ‘dahi handi’. In Goa groups of young boys get together days before Janmashtami and practise the pyramid shaped climb that reaches the ‘handi’. This tradition has been carried down for centuries and based on Krishna’s love for butter.

The earthen pot that hangs high from a decorated rope is to be broken by the topmost boy. This event is attended by many. People who are witness to ‘dahi handi’ say that it is exciting to watch. The anticipation levels are surely high. The climb to the top is not easy for the people involved nor is carrying the weight of them ones climbing, but it is a joint effort and that of constantly trying. It overlaps with the birth of the Lord and should be applied to our daily lives.

Try and try till you succeed

Bipasha to shoot Fitness Video in Goa

T

hough the glitterati of Bollywood are usually attracted to Goa’s sandy shores for either relaxation or partying, Bipasha will be spending a lot of time in Goa in the coming weeks for an entirely different reason. The sultry actress will be shooting her fitness video on the beaches quickly before winter sets in.

Bipasha is all set to go to Goa well in advance of her earlier plan to shoot her video. “I want it to be shot outdoors in Goa. Winter gets too crowded. And I’ve a film to shoot in September. So I’ve to rush the video.

I am going crazy doing my calorie counts. This time I have no team. I am doing everything on my own. It’s a little boring to do it by myself. But I’ve always been a loner.”

Apart from the video, Bipasha is all set to shoot a re-mix of the song ‘Dum Maro Dum’ for Rohan Sippy’s film of the same title. The song will have the actress swinging to the sound of the R D Burman track Dum Maro Dum. The copyright issues with Dev Anand and his film ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’ have apparently been sorted out. Pritam Chakraborty is all set to record a new version of the Asha Bhosle classic.

Says Bipasha, “I can’t talk about it right now. But when it happens it will happen. Give it another two weeks.”

Lifestyle

Relationships

Sports

Business

Health

Art

Culture

Environment

GOA’S HEARTBEAT Thursday, 2 Sep, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Pravah’, a 2-day IRCEN Festival of Dances, organised by India International Rural Cultural Centre, New Delhi and the Kala Academy will be held on September 4 and 5 at the Kala Academy, Panjim. The inauguration of the festival will be held on September 4 at 6.30pm at the same venue. Call 2420452.

‘Classical Music Festival’, organised by the Directorate of Art and Culture and the Pandit Firoz Shah Dastur Memorial Foundation, Thane will be held on September 4 and 5 at the Goa State Museum, Patto, Panjim..

The inaugural function of the programme will be held on September 4 at 5pm at the same venue. Call 2438103, 2438006 or 2437306.

The All Goa Toroloco Tequila Cocktail Competition is on for bartenders, both experienced and amateurs. Call 2262922, 2253377 or 2407030-71.

30th Tiatr Competition, organised

by Kala Academy, Panjim will be held from September 21 at the Kala Academy. Call 2420452.

An art and craft exhibition of the children from Sanjay School, Porvorim will be held on September 2 at 8.30am at the Sanjay Centre for Special Education, Porvorim. Call 2412880.

A Junior Oratory Contest for the late Avertano Furtado Rolling Trophy, organised by the Lions Club of Loutolim will be held on September 4 at the Margao Municipal Hall, Margao. Call 9552002878, 9860606994 or 9923029197.

‘Panaji Ganeshotsav’, organised by JCI St Inez and Shree Mahalaxmi Saunsthan Committee and Bhartiya Saunskruthik Mandal will be held from September 11 to 19 at the Shree Mahalaxmi Temple, Panjim.

All Goa Major Ranking Table Tennis Tournament, organised by the JCI St Inez and the Panjim Table Tennis

Club, will be held from September 16 to 19 at the SAG Indoor Stadium, Campal, Panjim. Call 93264129171.

‘The Goan Voice of Reason’ by Juino Souza will be released on September 3 at 5:30pm at the Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim. Call 2417772 or 2411971.

An inter-school drawing and photography competition will be organised by Big Foot , Loutolim. The competition is in two categories; for Std V-VII the theme is Ganesh for prosperity and for VIII-X the theme is Ganesh festival celebrates unity and love. Registration closes on September 22. The winners will be announced at the Bal Mela at Big Foot in the month of November. Call 2777034.

Preliminary rounds for ‘Vem Cantar – The Portuguese Song Contest 2010’, organised by the Heritage Cell of the Rosary College of Commerce and Arts, Navelim and the Fundacao Oriente will be held on September 11 from 5pm onwards at the Clube Harmonia de Margao, Margao and on September 12 at 5pm at Clube Vasco de Gama, Panjim. Call 2736864, 2701584, 2701564 or 2714546.

Ghan Barse Re’, an exhibition of paintings by Shridhar Kamat, a tribute to BB Borkar through the visual media will be on display from September 4 to September 8 at Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

‘Save the Girl Child’ will be the theme for the state level inter-college street play competition organised by the Directorate of Health as part of the implementation of the Pre-conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act on September 21 and 22 at the Maquinez Palace, Panjim.

benevolent

22:30 Aahat

08:45 Elegy 10:55 Honey I Shrunk the Kids 12:50 Nine Months 14:55 Police Story 16:45 Igor 18:35 P.S. I Love You 21:00 Bruce Almighty 23:05 Moonraker

08:00 The Witches 10:00 Madagascar 2 12:00 The Bucket List 14:00 Hotel for Dogs 16:15 Terminator Salvation 18:30 TMZ 19:00 I Am Legend 21:00 Bloodsport 23:00 Star Trek

Pg15

17:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 17:30 Gutar Gu 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta 18:30 Papad Pol 19:00 Lapataganj 19:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Papad Pol 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta 21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 21:30 Mrs. & Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 22:00 Lapataganj

Shrikant Deshpande

13:15 Krish Aur Krishna 15:40 Jaan 20:00 Mr. & Mrs. Khiladi 23:30 House on Haunted Hill

A Clean and Green Ganesh Chaturthi

W

14:45 Shade 16:40 Rick 18:35 The Hottest State 21:00 Hollywood Ending 23:25 The Curse of the Jade Scorpion

09:30 Do Qaidi 12:30 Julie 16:00 Ghar Ka Chiraag 20:00 Pratighat

12:30 Tezaab: The Terror 16:00 Hadh Kar Di Aapne 20:00 Golmaal: Fun Unlimited 23:25 Heeralal Pannalal

08:50 El Mariachi 10:35 Adaptation.

12:50 Redline

12:00 The Don 16:00 Shola Aur Shabnam 20:00 Chandramukhi

10:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 11:00 Geet 11:30 India's Magic Star 13:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 13:30 Geet 14:00 Dill Mill Gayye 14:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 15:00 Geet 15:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 16:00 Dill Mill Gayye 16:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 17:00 Geet 17:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 18:00 Dill Mill Gayye 18:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye

‘Andher Nagari’ to be performed at Kala Academy

HERALD FEATURES ith Ganesh Chaturthi less than a fortnight away, everyone is getting ready for the festivities, and celebrating this festival in an eco friendly way will only add to the joyousness. For this you need a truly eco friendly Ganesh idol which is one that is made of clay and finished with natural colours so that it does not contaminate the water bodies.

In a bit to make everyone’s Ganesh Chaturthi an eco friendly one, the Earthworm Ecostore in collaboration with eCoexist, a social enterprise in Pune, is bringing out eco-friendly Ganesh Idols made of clay and painted with turmeric, geroo, and multani mitti.

The colours which were once used traditionally for these idols are lost to brightly coloured toxic paints that contaminate our seas, rivers, lakes and wells. The need to create awareness and bring about a conscious change is what prompted this endeavour. A limited number of idols will be for sale as well as display at its store at Alto Porvorim from September 4, onwards.

The Store also has eco friendly decorations and garlands to replace those made out of plastic and other non biodegradable materials.

Adding to the festive theme, Earthworm Ecostore will also be hosting a clay idol making workshop for children by sculptor Sachin Madage on September 4, 2010 from 4pm to 6pm while on September 9, Rajendra Kerkar will talk on the Significance of Matoli during Ganesh Chaturthi at 5pm at the eco store.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T

10:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum

Parenting

J

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 644 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

11:00 Lapataganj 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 Lapataganj 15:30 Yeh Chanda Kanoon Hai 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta 16:30 Papad Pol

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

Tourism

HERALD FEATURES ohn D'Silva, the first tiatrist to have his name entered in the Limca Book of Records 2010 for writing, directing and producing 25 tiatrs with all having their title with a double alphabet in it, will be releasing his new Tiatr entitled ‘Pisollem’ on October 8, 2010.

Congratulated in the Goa Legislative Assembly for his great feat and described as ‘The Emperor of the Konkani Stage’ by a Goan magazine, D’Silva’s contribution to the Konkani stage has never gone unnoticed.

Written with logical dialogues and powerful messages, D’Silva’s tiatrs always connect with the audience. The story of ‘Pisollem’ is based on the lifestyle of the Goan community with its impact on family life. Though a serious backdrop, the play is peppered with adequate comedy and good music, which add to the entertainment quotient.

The cast includes S Lemos, Roma, Anthony San, Mita, Joe, Peter de Pedda, Comedian Nato and John D’Silva with music by Philip de Sanvordem, Piety de Uguem, Jose Carvalho, Anicet and Jose Dias. Lights effects will be provided

by A P Rojols and Stage Management will be done by Remie and Elvis de Sinquetim.

WIZARD OF ID

10:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 11:00 Entertainment Ke Liye 12:00 Aahat 13:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 13:30 Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega 15:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 15:30 Comedy Ka Daily Soap 16:00 C.I.D 19:30 Mahi Way 20:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00 Comedy Ka Daily Soap 21:30 Entertainment Ke Liye

Travel

John D'Silva to release New Tiatr following Record-making Feat

DAILY GROOK KING SONG

by Francis Rodrigues tho a high-keyed veggie pretender, elvis really did love meat tender!

11:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 14:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 15:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 15:30 Choti Bahu 16:00 Pavitra Rishta 16:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 17:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 17:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 18:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 18:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan 19:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 22:00 Sanjog Se Bani Sangini 22:30 Mera Naam Karegi Roshan

Fashion

INGS

Girish Sanzgiri

GARFIELD

10:00 Tere Liye 10:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 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 Chhote Ustaad 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 22:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

Entertainment

T

“There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full.”

– Henry A Kissinger

SUDOKU 645

EN

PEN T HAP

HERALD FEATURES he Directorate of Art and Culture will be organising a Classical Music Festival in collaboration with the Pt Firoz Shah Dastur Memorial Foundation, Thane on September 4 and 5, 2010 at the Goa State Museum Auditorium, Patto, Panjim.

The inaugural function will be held on September 4 at 5pm and will be followed by a classical music programme by vocalists from Mumbai, Pune and Goa. Vocalist Gautam Kamat from Mumbai will present the recital followed by a recital by Girish Sanzgiri from Mumbai. Both the classical singers are disciples of late Pt Firoz Shah Dastur.

On Sunday September 5, Shilpa Duble Parab from Goa will present a vocal recital at 4pm. Pravin Gaonkar from Goa will present a vocal recital at 5pm followed by a recital by Shrikant Deshpande from Pune. The singers will be accompanied by Tulsidas Navelkar and Dayesh Kosambe on Tabla and Raya Korgaonkar and Subash Faterpekar on the Harmonium.

Funny Quote

Pronunciation buh-nev-uh-luhnt Function Adjective Meaning 1: expressing goodwill or kindly feelings 2: desiring to help others Example Sentence Little Anne was a sweet girl and the entire neighbour loved her caring and benevolent nature.

CURR

Information Technology

Classical Music Festival to captivate Music Lovers

LAFFS

WORD OF THE DAY

Education

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

12:00 World Records Smashed 13:00 Whacked Out Sports 14:00 Wipeout 15:00 Fear Factor 17:00 World Records Smashed 18:00 Charmed 19:00 Fear Factor 20:00 Sports Crash 21:00 Racers Revealed 2010 22:00 24

10:30 How I Met Your Mother 11:00 MasterChef Australia 12:00 Glee 13:00 Castle 14:00 Criminal Minds 15:00 Ugly Betty 16:00 The Simpsons 16:30 Friends 17:00 Criminal Minds 18:00 Glee 19:00 Castle 20:00 How I Met Your Mother 20:30 MasterChef Australia 22:00 Criminal Minds

10:30 MotoGP World Championship 2010 : Main Race 13:30 Glitch 14:00 Barclays Premier League 2010/11 : Blackpool vs.

Fulham 16:00 Max Power 2010/11 17:00 TNA Impact 19:00 Score Tonight 19:30 TNA Impact 21:08 2010 Clydesdale Bank 40

10:00 PGA Europro Tour 12:00 Barclays Premier League 2010/11:Bolton Wanderers vs. Birmingham City 14:00 MLB Regular Season 2010 : Oakland Athletics vs.

New York Yankees 17:00 Goals!

17:30 Hitz 18:00 Bpl Express : Bolton Wanderers vs. Birmingham City 19:00 Premier League World 19:30 16 Nations: Road to Qatar

20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 The Contenders - Cl T20 21:30 Superstars (A CLT20 2010) : Matthew Hayden 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia

09:30 WWE: Bottom Line 10:30 US Open Tennis H/ls 11:30 Asian Festival of Speed 12:30 ITU World Championship Series 2010 13:30 European Tour Weekly 14:00 Mobil 1 The Grid 14:30 Motorsport Mundial 15:00 Race It 15:30 WWE: Raw 17:30 US Open Tennis H/ls 18:30 WWE: Raw

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Sanz Sangodachi 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Gokulashtami Special 11:30 Fashion Show 12:00 Village Wise 12:30 Sanz Sangodachi 13:00 English News 14:00 Konkani Movie 15:00 Hymn Singing 15:30 Fashion Show 16:00 Khell Tiatr Results 16:30 HCN Smash Hits 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Gokulashtami Special 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Straight Talk 22:00 English News 23:00 Khell Tiatr Results 23:30 Noman Tuka Goa 00:00 Talking Talkies Note: Subject to change

HERALD FEATURES ala Academy’s School of Drama will be presenting its new play production ‘Andher Nagari’ written by eminent modern playwright Bharatendu Harishchandra. The show will be held on September 3, 2010 at 11am at Kala Academy’s Dinanath Mangeshkar Kala Mandir, Panaji.

The play has been translated into Marathi by Prakash Misal and is being directed by well known Goan theatre personality Madhukar Joshi. Satish Gawas, a well known Goan theatre activist, has designed the lights for the play.

The show is open to theatre lovers and general public.

K

HERALD CROSSWORD - 645 Across 1- Mother of Isaac; 6- Comic Foxx; 10- Possesses; 14Remove hair; 15- Baltic feeder; 16- Cover; 17- Consumed; 18- Mon ___!; 19Air; 20- Similarity; 23- Not accented; 27- Born before, senior churchman; 28Salver; 29- Speaks publicly; 34- Can't stand; 36- Buenos ___; 37- Beverage commonly drunk in England; 40Eye doctor; 43- Draft org.; 44- Acclaim; 45- Wash lightly; 46- Beat; 48- Bottom of the barrel; 49- Essential oil; 53- Still existing; 55- Milk cows; 60- Chip in; 61Banned apple spray; 62Racket; 67- H.S. exam; 68Member of the Conservative Party; 69- Little bits; 70- Actress Daly; 71- Portico; 72Expeditiously; Down 1- Compass dir.; 2- Eureka!; 3Deserter; 4- Hail, to Caesar; 5Artist Rousseau; 6- Fishing gear; 7- Actress McClurg; 8Consider; 9- Thrash; 10- The number system with base 8; 11Injury; 12- John ____ Garner; 13- Guide; 21- Green prefix; 22Landlord; 23- A Musketeer; 24Snares; 25- Vows; 26- Russian no; 30- Inspire anew; 31- Draw a bead on; 32- Fidelity; 33Conger; 35- Fortified wine; 37Fungal infection; 38- Ruhr city;

39- Bikini blast; 41- Essen SOLUTION - 644 exclamation; 42- Golden; 47- Singer Torme; 49- Go with the flow; 50- Aromatic herb; 51- Saturn's largest moon; 52- Aggregate of qualities that make good character; 54- Ohio city; 56- Burmese, Manx, and Scottish Fold; 57Bunches; 58- Edible corm; 59- ___ Little Tenderness; 63- Alley ___; 64- Give ___ rest; 65- Pouch; 66- Compass pt.;

Pg16

SPORTS GOA, Thursday, 2 September, 2010

Calangute VP emerge champs

Dempo fire 3 in 3 minutes against Sesa

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, SEPT 1

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, SEPT 1

Calangute Panchayat emerged champs at PYKKA State level football tournament organised

by SAG at Taleigao ground on Tuesday. In the finals, they defeated Taleigao Panchayat 2-0.

Allister Fernandes and Agnelo Fernandes were the scorers for Calangute Panchayat. With this win, Calangute Panchayat will play at All-India PYKKA football tournament. Velim Panchayat bagged the third place. Mandrem Panchayat claimed the fourth place.

In the girls tournament, Calangute Panchayat will face Taleigao Panchayat tomorrow at 10.30 a.m at Taleigao ground.

In the first semi-finals, Taleigao Panchayat defeated Siolim Panchayat 5-0. Leena Gaunso scored a brace while Anushka Viegas, Manisha Shirvoikar and Karuna Kunkolkar were the other scorers.

In the second semi-finals, Calangute Panchayat defeated Navelim Panchayat 6-0. Preethi Shinde, Mamta Patil and Valencia Rego scored a brace each.

Dempo walked way with full three points scoring three quick goals in just three minutes against Sesa Football Academy 3-0 in GFA Kingfisher Pro League at Tilak Maidan here on Wednesday.

Dempo gave a good display but the Sesa youngsters played their hearts out against the experienced rivals who had foreigners Roberto Silva and Kalu Ogba in their rank. It was only in the closing stages that Sesa surrendered and suffered three quick goals.

Peter Carvalho scored a brace and substitute Joe Rodrigues added his name to the scorers list with Kalu Ogba doing the spadework.

After waging a relentless attack, Dempo scored the opener in the 88th minute when Peter Carvalho tapped a pass from Kalu Ogba. Two minutes later, af ter a coordinated move Joaquim Abranches’ shot deflected from goalkeeper Shayan Roy. It travelled to Peter Car-

Dempo’s Kalu Ogba heads with Sesa Inacio Colaco closeby.

Photo by M Prabhav

valho, who easily headed the ball in.

Dempo rounded off the tally in injury time after a move ini-

tiated from the right flank by substitute Johnny Dias. Valeriano Rebello who was put through essayed it to Ogba who in turn

Dramapur Boys lift Catherine Trophy

relayed it to Joe Rodrigues, who easily scored.

Earlier, Sesa missed nearly four chances and the Dempo goalkeeper had a tough task to keep a tab on strikers Lezly Fernandes, Jayganesh Goltekar.

“Often, we don’t have a good start at the beginning, but as the League progresses, we improve,” remarked Brazilian Roberto Silva.

Beto acknowledged that despite not playing to their full potential they had walked way with three points scoring three goals in the last three minutes. We were lucky,” he added.

Beto blamed the non-availability of a ground for regular practices.

Disheartened Sesa coach Clifford Chukwuma said that despite exhibiting a good game the team was beaten only in the last few minutes. “We had many opportunities but poor finishing let us down,” he added.

Clifford assured that Sesa will come back strongly.

Loyola, St Rock’s, St Joseph advance

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, SEPT 1

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, SEPT 1

Franky Oliveira scored a brace as Dramapur Boys came from behind to outsmart St Anthony’s, Deussua 4-2 to win the Catherine Viegas memorial football tournament organised by Union of Chinchinim Villagers at Church ground, Chinchinim on Wednesday. Dramapur Boys were trailing 1-2 at half time.

St Anthony’s took the lead in the early moments of the game when a Dramapur defender, in trying to avert danger, put the ball into his own goal.

Dramapur regrouped quickly and took the fight to the rival camp. They succeeded in neutralising the lead when Franky punished the rival goalkeeper with a stiff grounder.

Unfazed about the equalizer, St Anthony’s went into the attacking mode and created many openings. They were rewarded when Clifford punted the ball to the far corner of the net after he picked up a pass from Alvito Pereira.

Crossing over, Dramapur put up a dazzling display and attacked the rival citadel with

St Rock’s High School, Tolleacanto, Velim, St Joseph Convent High School, Nagoa and Loyola High School, Margao recorded victories in Salcete Taluka U-14 inter-school football tournament at Manora, Raia on Wednesday.

St Rock’s overcame St Joseph HS, Aquem 4-3 via the tiebreaker. In the tie-breaker, Sheldon Simoes, Cryson Fernandes, Jaffrey Pinto and Joel Fernandes were on target for St Rock’s while Liston Colaco, Joel Colaco and Robin Colaco scored for St Joseph.

St Joseph Convent, defeated Government Multipurpose HS, Borda 2-1. The teams were tied 1-1 at the lemon break.

Cyledon Soares put St Joseph into the lead but their joy was shortlived when Alliston Dias equalised for Government Multipurpose. St Joseph’s Mathias Fernandes fired home from close range.

Loyola swamped Mae dos Pobres High School, Nuvem 30. After a barren first half, Loyola came with renewed ideas with striker Sneeden Madeira being a thorn in the rival defence as he repeatedly harassed the rival defenders with sorties.

Dramapur Boys receiving the Catherine Viegas trophy at Chinchinim on Tuesday.

gusto. They created many forays into the rival penalty area with their forwards troubling the rival defence with well orchestrated raids. Vicky Ferrao restored parity soon after resumption off Cedric pass.

After levelling the score, Dramapur went into the attack.

Franky struck the second time to give a 3-2 lead. Zildo rounded

U-14 India camp in Margao HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, SEPT 1

Goan footballer, Joel Fernandes, will be part of a 29-player squad which will take part in U-14 India training camp, which starts on Thursday at Chowgule College ground, Margao.

The camp will be conducted

by AIFF academy coach, Colin Toal, in preparation for next year’s Asia Cup qualifiers. The boys will be together until September 30.

Goan goalkeeping coach, Mario Aguiar, is part of the coaching staff. “I am really excited to be with the team, there are a lot of talented players in the camp,” remarked Mario.

off the tally late in the second half.

Dramapur Boys claimed Rs 5,000 plus a trophy while St Anthony’s walked away with Rs 3,000.

Fo l l o w i n g p r i z e s w e r e awarded: Best disciplined team: Sirlim SC ‘A’. Highest scorer of the tournament: Clifford, St Anthony ’s

Deussua. Man-of-the match: Franky Oliveira, Dramapur Boys. Best goalkeeper of finals: Sunny, Dramapur Boys.

Farewell goal: Zildo, Dramapur Boys. Best defender: Revelon, Dramapur Boys. Best half of the tournament: Clifford, Dramapur Boys. Best player of the tournament: Cletus, Sirlim SC.

Cuncolim United, St Alex win HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, SEPT 1

Cuncolim United Higher Secondary thrashed Adarsh Higher Secondary, Vazangal-Shiroda 40 to enter the finals of Zone IV inter-higher secondary football tournament at Tilamol Panchayat ground, Quepem on Wednesday. There was no score at half time.

Crossing over, Cuncolim United were aggressive and called the shot at regular intervals at the rival citadel.

Sedroy Coutinho’s free kick outside the box gave no chance to the rival goalkeeper. The goal boosted the morale of Cuncolim

as they intensified the attacks that unsettled the rival defence.

Faizan Khan doubled the lead with a long ranger.

After taking a 2-0 cushion, Cuncolim slackened their pace but did allow their opponents to strike the rhythm. Flinton Correia headed in off a lobby from Faizan Khan in the 50th minute. Stanley Silva drove the last nail into Adarsh coffin in the 55th minute.

In the other semi-final, St Alex Higher Secondary, Curtorim mauled Guardian Angel Higher Secondary, Curchorem 5-0. Both teams displayed attacking football but goals eluded them de-

spite calling the shots.

After a barren first half, St Alex were a transformed side and attacked the rival citadel in waves. St Alex rocked the Guardian Angel citadel in the 40th minute when Cleston Fernandes’ stiff grounder beat the rival goalkeeper hands down.

Thereafter it was a one-way traffic for St Alex as their opponents surrendered their challenge meekly with Dasley Fernandes striking twice to give them a comfortable lead. Cleston, who was on song scored a brace. Ryan Fernandes completed the rout with a snap shot late in the second half.

Russel stars for UC Utorda HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, SEPT 1

A fine brace by striker Russel Monteiro helped United Club of Utorda beat Verna Sports Club 3-2 in GFA Third Division league at Verna ground on Wednesday.

United Club were leading 2-0 at the breather.

United Club with a couple of experienced players like Russel Monteiro and Allister Monteiro in their ranks made short work of their opponents.

Russel opened the scoreline in the 10th when he picked up a ball from his colleague and slotted past the rival goalkeeper with a snap shot.

United Club piled on pressure and came close to increasing the lead but inept shooting by their forwards prevented them from inflating the lead.

Allister doubled the lead in the 35th minute with a stiff shot

after he received a pass from Russel.

Verna stepped on the pedal after change of ends with their midfielders working hard to put the rival citadel under pressure.

Jose Cardozo reduced the margin with a deft placement.

Stunned by the reducer, United Club went on the attacking mode and created many forays. Russel struck the second time in the 58th minute when he placed the ball to the far corner of the net. With time running out, Verna managed to pull one back through Matinez Abranches in the 76th minute.

With this win, United Club topped Group E with ten points from four matches while Verna collected nine points. Both United Club and Verna qualify for the play-off.

At St John Baptist ground, Dando, Benaulim, St Sebastian

Bardez squeeze past Ilhas HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, SEPT 1

Nehal Naik scored the all-important goal for Bardez as they defeated Ilhas 1-0 in the Bajaj Allianz talent hunt competition at Tivim ground on Wednesday.

Bardez qualified for Saturday’s final against Salcete and have kept their chances alive of being selected for the Bayern Munich camp.

One boy will be selected from

the final.

“The performance was good from both teams today and it’s unfortunate that only one could make it to Saturday’s final,” remarked Seby.

On Monday, Salcete defeated Ilhas 4-0 at Verna ground and the following day they beat Bardez 3-2 at Verna to qualify with six points. Bardez took the second place with their victory over Ilhas.

Sports Club blanked United Club of Dando, Colva 2-0. The winners led 1-0 at half time. St Sebastian surged ahead in the 5th minute when Elvis Baretto beat rival goalkeeper Minguel Fernandes off a pass from Meldon D’Silva.

3rd Division football: Holy Cross SC, Arambol v. Cunchelim SC, Siolim ground; Sirsaim Sports and W.C v. Youth Sports Club, Colvale, Tivim ground; Dando Boys Club v. Orlim SC, Dando ground; Pax of Nagoa SC v. Parish Youth of Nuvem, Verna ground, 4 p.m.

Maha Bank Platinum Trophy soccer semis: Nagoa Sporting Club v. Milagres Sports Club, Mapusa, Calangute Association ground, 4.30 p.m.

Goa University inter-college (men) football: Government College, Khandola v. Fr. Agnel, 9 a.m; St. Xavier’s v.

Rosary, 10.30 a.m; Don Bosco v. Chowgule, 2 p.m; DM’s v.

Government College, Quepem, 3.30 p.m, University ground, Taleigao.

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Pg17

GOA, Thursday, 2 September, 2010

Vasco take on Sesa in Fed Cup opener

teams in group B, will cross swords the next day.

Vasco Sports Club will take on Winners of both matches will Sesa Football Academy in the clash in the final on September opening match of 32nd Feder- 17 for a place in the tournament ation Cup Preliminary qualifying proper, according to AIFF press knock-out round at the Duler release. stadium in Mapusa on SeptemGroup A matches will be held ber 14. at Silchar in Assam, while Group Sporting Cube De Goa and B matches will be played at Malabar United the other two Duler.

SCHEDULE HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM SEPT 1

Group A at Silchar Sept 15: Oil India v/s Mohammedan sporting(match 1).

Sept 16: NISA, Manipur v/s Shillong Lajong FC(match 2).

Sept 18: Winner Match 1 v/s Winner 2.

Group B at Duler Sept 14: Vasco v/s Sesa Football Academy (match 1).

Sept 15: Sporting Clube de Goa v/s Malabar Utd(match 2).

Sept 17: Winner match 1 v/s Winner 2.

England play Bulgaria AP LONDON, SEPT 1

England takes the first step toward restoring its damaged reputation following its World Cup mishap when qualifying for the 2012 European Championship begins against Bulgaria on Friday.

The Italian coach will need his players to rediscover that form and make an equally emphatic start to Euro 2012 qualifying, with the Bulgaria fixture at Wembley followed by another Group G match at Switzerland on Tuesday.

But Capello’s plans have been rocked by injuries, with veterans John Terry and Frank Lampard ruled out and Peter Crouch forced to withdraw from the squad with a back injury. Defender Phil Jagielka is also struggling with an ankle injury.

I’m not Harry Potter: Mourinho

AP MADRID, SEPT 1

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has warned his team’s supporters who are hoping he will help end its two-season title drought that they shouldn’t expect any miracles, saying “I’m a coach—I’m not Harry Potter.”

Madrid opened its Spanish league campaign last weekend with a scoreless draw at Mallorca as title favorite and fierce rival Barcelona started with a 30 win at Racing Santander.

“At FC Porto and Inter Milan, I also started with a draw. At

Porto, I went on to win four titles. And at Inter, I won two in the first season and three in the second. It’s not how you start— it’s how you finish,” Mourinho said in Wednesday’s edition of newspaper AS. “The first games are always very strange.”

“I’m a coach—I’m not Harry Potter. He’s a magician, but in reality magic doesn’t exist.

Magic is fictitious and I live in football, which is real,” said Mourinho, who once described himself as The Special One while at Chelsea.

Mourinho said international breaks haven’t allowed him to train enough with a full team, while new German international signings Mesut Oezil and Sami Khedira have proven hard to incorporate into the team as they spoke no Spanish and little English.

The team also carried a number of injuries into the season, Mourinho said, including playmaker Kaka. Cristiano Ronaldo was hurt against Mallorca and will be out for up to three weeks.

While pleased with his players’ defensive effort against Mallorca, Mourinho said it will take a lot of work to supplant Barcelona, which has captured the league two years running

since Madrid won in 2008 for its last title.

“We lack so much, so much,” Mourinho said. “We could have continued playing as we did last year with the same structure we had. That would have been an easier way to start the season, but that would have brought a misleading result. That’s not the direction I want to go in. Not at all.”

A year after spending more than ?250 million ($343 million) on superstar players like Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso, Madrid decided to invest in Mourinho after having bowed out of the Champions League early for the past six years as it seeks its 10th title.

Mourinho said he is the perfect person for that task.

“My profile is a lot different to what Madrid has had (as coach) over the past years. If things go badly here and I have to leave, I’ll have another club to go to the next day,” Mourinho said. “And it won’t be the Gava or Palmeiras of my city—I’ll have one of the world’s biggest clubs waiting for me again.

“That stability allows me to say I’m the ideal person to be at Madrid because I don’t fear anybody. Madrid needs stability and I’m here to give it to it.”

Ballack wins captaincy tug-of-war with Lahm REUTERS BERLIN, SEPT 1

Michael Ballack will resume his duties as Germany captain when he returns to the national team after an injury layoff, winning a tugof-war against Philipp Lahm who replaced him at the World Cup in South Africa. ''I have in the past days had a personal discussion with Ballack and I decided that Michael Ballack will continue being the captain of our team,'' Germany coach Joachim Loew told reporters today, ahead of their first Euro 2012 qualifier against Belgium in Brussels on Friday. ''But I told him that as things stand today I do not see him being able to help the team (after his recent injury).''

Ballack is not expected to return to action for his country until next month at the earliest.

The 33-year-old, who has won 98 caps and scored 42 goals, had said he was expecting to take over the role again after he missed the World Cup due to an ankle i n j u r y, s u f f e r e d when playing for Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Defender Lahm was picked to lead the Germany team at the tournament where they finished third and had said he

wanted to stay on as captain even when Ballack returned.

The two were locked in a verbal row as Ballack returned to fitness after signing for former club Bayer Leverkusen.

Ballack, however, is not expected to make his international comeback until October at the earliest, missing the qualifiers against Belgium and then Azerbaijan on September 7 due to a lack of match practice. ''Michael had a short preparation due to the injury, he has only played two games and he knows that he is not yet in a position to strengthen the team. He understands that his performances so far are not what he wants them to be,'' Loew said.

Loew said Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira had cemented their starting spots in midfield after a superb World Cup and that Ballack would have to return to top form to win a place in the team. ' ' We w i l l s e e what the situation is in the coming weeks. I will monitor his development and in October I will decide whether I will boost the squad with him,'' said Loew, adding that Lahm would remain captain when Ballack was not on the pitch.

Saraswat Vidyalaya football HERALD SPORTS CORRESPONDENT PANJIM, SEPT 1

Saraswat Vidyalaya High School, Khorlim, Mapusa will organise a football tournament as part of their centenary celebrations on September 3 and 4 at the school ground.

The tournament has been sponsored by Shriramnath Burye in memory of his mother Neeta Narayan Naik Burye.

Football teams from following eight schools of four talukas -

Salcete, Bardez, Tiswadi and Bicholim will participate: Mae de Probes HS, Nuvem (Salcete); Infant Jesus HS, Colva (Salcete); Progress HS (Sanquelim-Bicholim); St Joseph HS, St Britto’s HS, St Anthony’s HS (Bardez); Don Bosco HS, Panjim and Fr Agnel HS (Tiswadi).

On Saturday, September 3, the tournament will be inaugurated by Narayan Burye at 10 a.m. On the first day, four matches will be held. On Sep-

Savio to file nomination for GFA’s top post l Peter also in the race; Dempo to decide today HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, SEPT 1

General secretary, Savio Messias is all set to file his nomination for the post of GFA president tomorrow, the elections for which are slated for October 24.

“I will file my nomination at 11 a.m. on Wednesday. I am surely contesting the election,” disclosed Savio, who has in all 10 years of total experience, with seven being as general secretary and the rest as assistant secretary. As the full fledged secretary, Savio devoted his time and energy, without receiving any remuneration or even honorarium. Several clubs have already pledged their support to Savio, given the work he under-

took for the past seven years.

They feel confident that he will be able to carry on the schemes and programmes, since he is totally involved in the same.

The other candidate, Peter Vaz, GFA vice-president for one term and president of Sporting Clube de Goa, is also expected to file his nomination for the post of president, since he has already announced his intention.

Several clubs who have backed him, said that his contribution for the past three years for Goan football is to be highly appreciated, having taken up several issues benefitting the clubs, players.

Shrinivas V Dempo (Baba), president of Dempo Sports Club,

Bhakti ranked 9th in world U-18

PANJIM (HSD) -- Bhakti Kulkarni progressed into top ten world rankings for the first time in her career. She is ranked number nine in the world U-18 girls category with her career’s best rating of 2294. She was ranked 18th in the July rating list.

However, Bhakti maintains her No. 1 position in Asia as National Junior Champion. “These are phenomenal achievements,” opined her coach Dronacharya awardee Raghunandan Gokhale.

GOA DIARY

TT Club in Panjim

PANJIM (HSD) -- Ex-Goa top seed and table tennis trainer Wilbur Fernandes will launch the new “Will Table Tennis Club” affiliated to Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim on September 2 at Don Bosco Oratory.

The scheme aims to identify sporting ability by rendering utmost dedication towards the members to ensure everyone gets a chance to reach their full potential. “Sports has given me so much that I want everyone to have the same opportunity,” stated Wilbur.

“Will’s Table Tennis Club” is also associated with Paralympic Table Tennis Association of Goa. President, Audrey Alfonso, will guide the disabled members of the club.

Details may be obtained from Wilbur Fernandes on 9881903443.

3-a-side yie-breaker at Galgibag

PANJIM (HSD) – The Parish Youth of Galgibaga church will organise their 3-a-side tie-breaker at Galgibag ground on September 5 from 10 a.m. The winners and runners-up will receive Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 2,000 respectively. Individual prizes will also be awarded.

All-Goa soccer at Collem

COLLEM (HC) – The Progressive Sports and Cultural Association of Collem will organise their 14th All-Goa soccer tournament from October 2 at Collem village panchayat ground. The finals will be held on November 14.

The winners will be awarded Rs 7777 and a trophy and the runners-up Rs 4444 and a trophy. Individual prizes will also be awarded. Limited entries will be accepted on first-come-firstserve basis. The last date for submission of entries is September 19. Teams may contact Agnelo Diniz on 9423312696 or Wolton Diniz on 9158595329.

is also likely to be in the race.

The position is expected to be clear tomorrow, when Baba is expected to meet the Press to share his vision for Goan football. Baba is being strongly backed by Joaquim Alemao, GFA president and Urban Development Minister and former AIFF treasurer, Shivanand Salgaocar, president of Salgaocar Sports Club and even PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, patron of Churchill Bros.

So far, seven forms have been issued for filing nominations, five being for the post of members. The prospective candidates have already started canvassing, with even some MLAs and politicians taking keen interest in the

ensuing elections being held under the new constitution. It is only the president that will be voted by all 157 permanent clubs, while the rest will be voted on zonal basis.

Clubs have opined that under the new constitution, it is the president who is the executive head and as such needs to give time and be easily accessible.

At one time, it looked as if it would be a direct fight between Savio and Peter until Baba’s name came suddenly into the scene. That was, coincidentally on the same day when the AIFF delegation was in Goa for inspecting the venues for laying the astro turf.

Meanwhile, the names of Lawrence Gomes, Arnaldo Costa, Prakash Naik, RAJ Gomes, Dionisio Sardinha, Sanjiv Nagvekar, Angelo Albuquerque, Jaju Fernandes, Anthony Pango, Schubert Furtado, Patrick D’Sousa, Blaise D’Cruz, Gajanand Gad, Bhagat were doing the rounds. Lavino Rebello is a sure contestant for the post of vicepresident.

Meanwhile, after the meeting of some Bardez clubs today, the following named have been announced – Babli Dhargalkar, Tony Remedios, Uday Lingudkar and Gajanand Kerkar. Francis Fernandes of Siolim stated that he will contest for the post of vice-president.

Dress rehearsal for Queen’s Baton held HERALD CORRESPONDENTS OLD GOA/CANACONA, SEPT 1

A general dress rehearsal in connection with Queen’s Baton Rally, which is part of the Commonwealth Games 2010 was held from Canacona to Patradevi on Wednesday. The relay will be held in Goa on September 7 and 8.

The Queen’s Baton will enter the State from Karnataka via Polem and then proceed towards Margao, Ponda and from Ponda it will go towards Old Goa from where it will proceed to Santa Monica Jetty in Panjim via Old Goa Jetty. Thereafter it will proceed to Patradevi via Mapusa and will leave the State at 11 a.m. on September 8.

From Santa Monica Jetty, the Baton will be then taken to Kala Academy where it will have a night halt and on the next morning the Baton will be taken to Mira Mar, from where it will then proceed to Mapusa and Pernem from where it will go to Patradevi and later it will be handed over to the contingent of Maharashtra at the Patradevi border.

Director of Sports and Youth Affairs, Dr Susana De Sousa, SAG’s ED V M Prabhudesai, SP North Arvind Gawas, SP D K Sawant, SP Alland D’Sa, DY SP

Banaulikar and other police officers, were part of the rehearsal.

Speaking to Old Goa Correspondent, Gawas said, “Security of the Baton as well as of the people who will carry the Baton and of other dignitaries is an important. More than 500 police personnel from North, along with 300 traffic personnel and 400 personnel from South would be part of the security.”

Authorities in Goa are leaving no stone unturned in their preparedness to ceremoniously receive the Baton which will arrive in Canacona on September 7, adds our Canacona Correspondent.

Security personnel and sports officials reached Polem border today, and examined the surroundings to prepare for the big day on September 7, when the Baton will be brought at Polem from Karwar.

The preparations included a dry run from Polem. The rally will be taken in a motorcade along the National Highway passing through Chaudi.

Policemen, some of whom were armed and others with lathis were stationed at several strategic locations along the route, including Chaudi, CharRasta. The motorcade consisting of about 30 vehicles, with over

a dozen with beacon lights, sped through the route.

School children who came out to watch the motorcade as well as the shopkeepers were left to wonder for a short period, what was going on.

tember 4, the finals will be played at 2.30 p.m followed by prize distribution function at 4 p.m. The ex-chairperson of Mapusa Municipal Council, Sneha Bhobe will be the chief guest.

The winning team will take Rs 4,100, runners-up Rs 3,100 and the semi-final losers Rs 1,100 each.

Dharbandora VP girls top

COLLEM (HC) -- Dharbandora Panchayat girls beat Kalay Panchayat girls 2-0 in PYKKA volleyball tournament at Mollem VP court. Dabal Panchayat took the third place while Mollem Panchayat claimed the fourth place respectively.

UEFA bans vuvuzelas Reuters BERNE, SEPT 1

Vuvuzelas have been kicked out of European competitions after UEFA said the controversial plastic trumpets drowned out supporters and detracted f ro m t h e e m o t i o n o f t h e

game.

Vu v uzelas will not be allowed in stadiums in UEFA competitions such as the Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2012 qualifiers af ter UEFA's ruling today.

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Dempo fire 3 in 3 minutes against Sesa Pg 16

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Savio to file nomination for GFA chief’s post today Pg 17

GOA, THURSDAY, 2 SEPTEMBER, 2010 www.oheraldo.in

Sania Mirza bows out AGENCIES NEW YORK, SEPT 1

Nadal, Wozniacki advance after hot day l Sharapova comes back to avoid upset

India's Sania Mirza bowed out of the US Open with a second round defeat at the hands of Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Wednesday.

The Russian, seeded 20th, won 6-2, 6-4 and faces Argentine Gisela Dulko in the third round.

Pa v l y u c h e n k o v a r a c e d through the first set, breaking Sania twice, before the latter could find a foothold in the match.

Sania finally managed to break the Russian's serve in the sixth game of the second set but the latter broke back in the very next game and held serve to make it 4-4.

Pavlyuchenkova broke Sania's serve for a second time in the set in the ninth game and then then held her own to seal a comfortable win.

In BrIef

After SAI, Randhir resigns from NDTL A day after parting ways with the Sports Authority of India, IOA Secretary General Randhir Singh today resigned from the Governing Body of the National Dope Testing Laboratory after the Sports Ministry had not invited him for the National Sports Award ceremony here on Sunday.

"I hereby tender my resignation from the Governing Body of the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) with immediate effect," Randhir wrote in a letter addressed to Sports Minister M S Gill.

Bindra, Narang to spearhead Indian challenge in CWG Beijing Olympic gold medallists Abhinav Bindra along with ace rifle shooter Gagan Narang spearhead 28-member (17 men, 11 women) Indian challenge in the Commonwealth Games to be held here from October 3 to 14.

Narang will also represent in 50m prone and 50m 3 position event. He will be the only shooter to participate in three rifle events.

But there has been big disappointment for rifle shooter Sanjeev Rajput, as he failed to make the team.

However, Rajput has been picked up for the Asian Games.

Portugal without Ronaldo, coach for Euro opener Portugal will open its qualifying campaign for the 2012 European Championship on Friday without injured captain Cristiano Ronaldo and without suspended coach Carlos Queiroz.

Also missing for the Group H match against Cyprus is midfielder Deco, winger Simao Sabrosa and defender Paulo Ferreira— three of Portugal’s most capped players who have all retired from international football since the World Cup.

Locnville to perform at CL T20 Globetrotting Cape Townbased duo, Locnville, will perform at the Airtel Champions League Twenty20 opening concert on September 9 at Emmarentia Botanic Gardens here.

The identical twin brothers, Andrew and Brian Chaplin, who have become household favourites, following the release of their first single 'Sun in my Pocket', will perform as support to Spanish music sensation Enrique Iglesias in the 'Enrique Live' Concert, an event which will formally inaugurate the League that gets underway a day later at the Wanderers Stadium.

Zidane returns to help boost morale Zinedine Zidane has made an appearance at France’s training camp to help coach Laurent Blanc restore the beleaguered national team’s confidence following its poor performance at the World Cup. Zidane, who won the 1998 European Championship and 2000 World Cup with France, spent Wednesday with the players at its camp in Clairefontaine.

Legalise sports betting in India: Delhi court AGENCIES NEW DELHI, SEPT 1

Rafael Nadal AGENCIES NEW YORK, SEPT 1

Day 2 at the US Open was a day for the hot and tired.

The hot: Those who played in the glare of the punishing midday sun, when temperatures veered into the mid-90s and forced tour-

nament officials to employ their extreme weather policy.

The tired: The 14 men and 28 women whose matches went the distance - that’s five sets for men and three sets for women - including the first three matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium, where play ended at 12:53 am, on Wednesday.

The highlight match of the long, steamy day at Flushing

ICC had warned PCB about nexus before sting AGENCIES DUBAI, SEPT 1

The International Cricket Council had conveyed its apprehension to the PCB about the alleged nexus between some Pakistani players and suspected bookmakers even before the British tabloid came out with the spot-fixing scandal on August 28.

Well placed sources in the Board said that the ICC officials had a confidential discussion with PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt last month in which they conveyed their apprehensions about the possible links between players and bookies.

"The ICC passed on the information and some text messages to Butt which indicated that Pakistani players had been in touch with Mazhar Majeed even during the Twenty20 World Cup over spot-fixing issues," a source said.

He said immediately after the ICC conveyed its apprehension to the PCB that something might be going on in the Pakistan and England series that Butt rushed the board's legal advisor, Tafazzul Rizvi to meet with the ICC anti-corruption and security unit officials and the Pakistan High Commission in London.

Tiwary keyed up to perform consistently

champions league PTI JAMSHEDPUR, SEPT 1

Member of India ODI squad for tri-series in Sri Lanka and Jharkhand Ranji skipper Saurabh Tiwary today said he would have to perform consistently in the upcoming Champions League beginning in South Africa next week.

"It (Champions League) is an important tournament for me and I am confident to put up my best," Tiwary, who joined Tata Steel today, said.

"I have been working hard and had practiced with my Team India members to ensure consistency in my performance," Tiwary said on the sidelines of the ongoing Jharkhand Ranji trial camp, here.

Tiwary, who had toured twice as part of country’s ODI team member including the recent tri-series in Sri Lanka, admitted that one had to become a hardhitter for survival in the shorter version of limited over tournaments (Twenty20).

Meadows wound up being one that went straight sets but felt like something more. Topseeded Rafael Nadal got a stern test from 93rd-ranked Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia and needed 3 minutes short of 3 hours to defeat him 7-6 (4), 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Nadal’s match ended at 11:34 pm, on Tuesday, and left the topseeded woman, Caroline Wozniacki, to finish out the night with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Chelsey Gullickson in the only meeting of the five on the feature court, spanning almost 14 hours, that didn’t have much drama.

No. 14 Maria Sharapova got off to a slow start in Ashe Stadium before rallying for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 over Jarmila Groth of Australia.

Another long one in Ashe Stadium was No. 3 Novak Djokovic’s 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 7-5, 63 victory over friend and fellow Serbian Viktor Troicki. The match took 3 hours, 40 minutes

Caroline Wozniacki

and Djokovic felt the heat.

Also needing five sets was No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, who defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

No. 19 Mardy Fish had a bizarre five-set win against Jan Hajek. The score: 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1.

No. 31 David Nalbandian needed five sets for his victory over Rik de Voest. No. 16 Marcos Baghdatis lost in five to Arnaud Clement of France.

The weather is supposed to be equally brutal on Wednesday and Thursday, then a change.

Paes-Dlouhy out UNI NEW YORK, SEPT 1

Defending champions Leander Paes and Lukas Dlouhy crashed out of the US Open, suffering a shock first round defeat against the unseeded pair of Martin Damn and Filip Polasek here.

Seeded third in the event, Paes-Dlohy won the first set 76 but went down in the second and third set to concede the match 7-6, 3-6, 4-6 to their unseeded rival Martin Damn and Filip Polasek .

Maria Sharapova

Betting in cricket and other sports should be legalised in India, a Delhi court has said, pointing out that the police have failed to curb illegal betting in the country. Legalising betting, the court said, would help the government keep track of the transfer of funds and even use the revenue generated for public welfare.

"It does not need divine eyes to see that 'satta' in cricket and other games is reaching an alarming situation. The extent of money that it generated is diverted to clandestine and sinister objectives like drug trafficking and terrorist activities," additional sessions judge Dharmesh Sharma, of a Delhi trial court. "It is high time that our legislature seriously considers legalising the entire system of betting online or otherwise so that enough revenues can be generated to fund various infrastructural requirements for the common man and thus check the lucrative business in organised crime."

The judge cited a media report that claimed more than Rs. 20,000 crores (approximately US$427 million) were pumped in by illegal betting syndicates during the IPL last year.

"A little surfing on the internet would reveal that in Delhi alone there would be operating as many as 2,000-3,000 bookies at any given point of time when cricket matches or even other matches are played all over the world. This could not be done under the very nose of police without their knowledge," the judge said.

Tainted trio to sit out against Somerset l To be quizzed but not to be arrested: PCB official PTI LONDON/KARACHI, SEPT 1

Pakistan's tainted trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Aamir will miss the team's practice game against Somerset tomorrow as they faced another round of interrogation from the Scotland Yard amid growing calls for their ouster from the ODI series against England.

The trio left Taunton for London today accompanied by a security officer and were expected to have an emergency meeting with Pakistan Cricket Board officials, besides being questioned

by Scotland Yard sleuths on their alleged role in the 'spot-fixing' scandal that has rocked world cricket.

The ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat is also said to have met the PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt during the day to discuss the scandal in the backdrop of England's Players' body demanding the ouster of tainted cricketers from the Twenty20 and ODI series.

The trio, which has been implicated in the scandal after a sting operation by a British tabloid, is set to be quizzed by the Scotland Yard for the second time but they are not in danger

ICC doing nothing: Watson PTI MELBOURNE, SEPT 1

Salman Butt

Mohammad Asif

of being arrested, a Pakistan Cricket Board official said.

Their meeting with Pakistan High Commission officials here has, however, been postponed to Thursday. I The trio will now miss Pakistan's practice match against Somerset starting tomorrow as that will clash with their meeting with PCB and High Commission officials at the High Commission here.

Pakistan team manager Yawar Saeed said no player has been charged as yet nor any case registered against them and they are available for the forthcoming

Mohammad Aamir

Twenty20 and one-day series.

"As it stands now, the players have only been questioned by Scotland Yard. No one has been charged neither has Scotland Yard found any incriminating evidence against any player," a PCB official said.

"We have hired a barrister to assist the players and will be present when they meet with Scotland Yard detectives today.

The questioning is part of routine investigation but all the players who are being questioned are available for selection and play in the coming series," he added.

The Pakistan High Commission has also asked the Scotland Yard to provide it with a preliminary report on the investigations.

The investigations are still on but England's Professional Cricketers Association wants the three to be dropped immediately so that the remaining tour does not become a "sideshow" to the murky scandal.

PCA chief executive Angus Porter said England players want the International Cricket Council to take decisive action before Sunday's Twenty20 International at Cardiff.

Pak players, officials involved in fixing: Asif’s ex-girlfriend ICC officials in Pak to meet Veena Malik PTI LAHORE, SEPT 1

Going a step further after claiming that her former boyfriend Mohammad Asif has links with bookies, actress-model Veena Malik on Wednesday said Pakistan Cricket Board all along knew about this and all national cricketers and officials are "involved in match-fixing from head to toe".

Malik said she will meet ICC's anti-corruption unit official Reza Hasan on Thursday who arrived in the country on Wednesday regarding her revelations that Asif has links with Indian bookies.

"A senior police officer called me on phone on Wednesday and told me that an ICC anti-corruption unit official will meet me on Thursday to ascertain the veracity of the revelations I made about Asif and his links with Indian bookies," Malik told reporters.

"Pakistan Cricket Board had evidence of this but no action

Lee, Johnson, Bangla players approached

was taken against Asif. From head to toe, Pakistani players and officials are involved in match-fixing," Malik claimed.

She reiterated that Asif was involved in match fixing and his links with bookies had come to light when she travelled with him to Bangkok before Pakistan's tour of Australia.

"Asif told me he was offered USD 40,000 by an Indian bookie to underperform in Australia but he had demanded 200,000 dollars," she said.

Malik said Asif's links with bookies was the reason why she broke off with him.

"I did not want him to indulge in such activities," she said.

She further claimed that Asif was not friends with Salman Butt and Mohammad Aamir, the two other cricketers at the center of 'spot-fixing' scandal that has rocked world cricket.

"Perhaps the common cause (of match-fixing) has brought

them closer," she said.

A PCB official, who did not want to be named, said Malik was "heartbroken" after her split with Asif and had been targeting the cricketer since he refused to marry her.

"In the light of this, her allegations should not be taken seriously," the official said.

During a recent appearance on a TV news channel, Malik had claimed that Asif had told her the Pakistani team would not win a single match on its Australian tour.

"When Pakistan started losing in Australia, I jokingly said 'For God's sake, win a match'.

To this, he

replied 'We won't win anything until 2010'," she had told the Express News channel.

The murky saga of bookies making approaches to cricketers widened with revelations that two more Australians, fast bowlers Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson, had confronted an alleged Indian bookmaker during the Ashes in England last year.

All-rounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper batsman Brad Haddin had revealed yesterday that they were approached by a bookmaker in England during the Ashes and Australian team manager Steve Bernard today said the same happened to Lee and Johnson during that time.

Lee, Johnson and Watson had passed on the mobile phone number of the alleged bookmaker who approached the trio during the Ashes in London last year, a report in the "Daily Telegraph' said.

The alleged bookie also tried to get the phone numbers of the

Australian players but they refused to pass on any personal details, it said about an incident that happened in July last year before the second Ashes Test at Lord's.

Watson blamed the ICC for the 'spot-fixing' scandal, saying the world body's anti-corruption unit is "not really working".

Watson, said it is disappointing to see a newspaper sting exposed what should have actually been handled by the ICC. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board today said several senior players, including captain Shakib Al Hasan, were approached by illegal bookmakers during the home Test series against India earlier this year.

Shakib along with opener Tamim Iqbal were contacted by matchfixers and the incident was immediately brought at the notice of ICC's Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU), BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus told cricinfo.

Fans want ticket refund after scandal AGENCIES LONDON, SEPT 1

Angry and disillusioned by the 'spot-fixing' allegations against Pakistani cricketers, upset fans in London are demanding ticket refunds while sponsors are having second thoughts about their investment in the sport.

Fans are demanding ticket refunds in the wake of allegations of 'spot-fixing' against Pakistani players, and the worst affected is Yorkshire, where an England-Pakistan ODI match is being scheduled at Headingley on September 12.

"Reaction has been particularly marked in Yorkshire where large numbers of ticket holders have demanded a refund. According to club officials the callers said they are furious about the betting allegations which has now turned into a drama involving at least four investigations, three of them criminal," a report in The Guardian said.

"Other grounds staging games in the five-match series have also been affected by the scandal. It could also undermine ticket sales for the two Twenty20 Internationals in Cardiff. Neither of

Asif set to lose film role AGENCIES KARACHI, SEPT 1

Mohammad Asif may be dropped from an Indian film in which he was supposed to play a cricket coach after it emerged he was one of the three Pakistani players embroiled in a spot-fixing scandal.

The 27-year-old pace bowler was due to star in a Malayalamlanguage film about a Pakistani cricketer who travels to Kerala to teach students. those games at 16,000-capacity Swalec Stadium are anywhere near to a sellout, with only 6,000 tickets sold for the second match on September 7.