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The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, Friday, december 31, 2010 postal reg. no. Goa 101 price rs. 3.00

Goa’s Heartbeat: Penelope, Natalie sexiest stars Pg 4

Visa on arrival facility extended Government today extended its tourist visa-on-arrival (TVOA) facility to nationals of Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and the Philippines from next month.

The TVOA will be allowed for

a maximum period of 30 days with single entry facility The facility will be provided only at the designated international airports on payment of a fee of USD 60 or equivalent amount in Indian rupees. (PTI)

Business: Pranab hints at more Pg 9 steps to curb inflation

(air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 14+8

Sports: Sehwag ruled Pg 14 out of ODIs

Technical institutes must keep 5% quota for poor PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

From now, technical institutes approved by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) have to reserve up to five per cent of super-annuatory seats for students from economically backward sections of the society. “Till now, tuition fee waiver scheme operated by AICTE allowed providing up to 10 per cent supernumerary seats that are given to students of economically backward category. “It was the discretion on the part of the institution to apply

for such a scheme. Now these seats are made mandatory for every institute up to five per cent, Human Resources Development Minister Kapil Sibal said.

Unveiling the revised AICTE norms here today, he said the technical institutes can from now on can increase the intake capacity per programme from 40 to 60 seats.

Opening up the doors to the corporate sector, he said companies can also set up technical institutes provided they set up entities registered as a nonprofit entity under Section 25 of the company’s act to run such

institutes.

No joint venture will, however, apply to this, he said, adding the scheme would only be allowed in 241 districts where at present no AICTE approved institute exist. “If the corporate sector wants to offer AICTE programmes, they can do so after setting up a section 25 company without a joint venture, and thereafter seek approval from AICTE for the programmes,� he said.

At present, only trusts and cooperative societies are allowed to run technical institutes.

(Continued on page 8)

Wrong policies making Goans jittery: Matanhy

BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 30

Social activist Matanhy Saldanha has said that Goa is ruled by lobbies causing insecurity amongst the people of Goa, even as the president of the Freedom Fighters Association Naguesh Karmali blamed the ills plaguing the State to the irresponsible political class ruling since liberation.

They were participating in a public debate on ‘50 years of Goa’s liberation – Heaven gained or Paradise lost’ – organized by GoaChronicle.Com at the Lohia Maidan here on Thursday.

Participating in the debate, Saldanha said that people of Goa are feeling insecure, isolated as reflected in the form of various protests over special economic zone (SEZ), mega

Boney M front man Farrell dead PTI MOSCOW, DEC 30

Bobby Farrell, the front man of the popular 70’s disco quartet Boney M, has died in the Russian city of St Petersburg, of unknown causes. He was 61.

The ‘Daddy Cool’ hitmaker, known for his flamboyant costumes and energetic dancing was found dead in his hotel room on Thursday morning, said his agent John Seine.

The death was sudden, since he performed with his band yesterday in the city and his body was found in his room by hotel staff after he failed to respond to a wake-up call.

Matanhy Saldanha addressing the public debate at the Lohia Maidan, Margao. Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

housing projects, coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) et al.

Accusing the government of pushing greed-based projects instead of need-based public utilities, Saldanha cited the instance of a Vasco project, and said that the project is being

Girls look at greeting cards in a gift shop on Thursday. Greeting cards still remain popular at this time of the year to celebrate the forthcoming New Year 2011.

1,000 cops to keep watch on New Year eve HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

pursued by the government to facilitate transportation of coal. “Goans have become a minority in their own land because of wrong policies pursued by the government�, he said and appealed to the citizens to change their mindset to bring change in the society.

In his address, Karmali said that freedom fighters were only responsible for the liberation of the State from the Portuguese regime, adding that freedom fighters never ruled Goa to achieve the dreams and aspirations of Goans.

He blamed the irresponsible political class that has ruled Goa for the mess in the State, saying political parties over the years have failed to give good political leadership to the people.

Around 1,000 policemen would be on guard for the December 31 night in Goa as the beaches are getting flooded with the visitors.

Police have chalked out separate traffic arrangements for the coastal belt, which witnesses chock-a-block vehicular moment at mid night.

Police spokesman Atmaram Deshpande said that two companies of Central Industrial Security Force, India Reserve Battallion force, Quick Response Teams and police station staff have been activated. “Besides this, there will be coastal police patrolling the beaches and also constant coordination with the Indian Coast Guard is also on,� Deshpande said.

(Continued on page 8)

(Continued on page 8)

Moily to look into Aarushi case lapse Parents to consult lawyers PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Lamenting that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) failed to “properly investigate� Aarushi Talwar murder case, Law Minister M Veerapa Moily today said he would take a “serious� look into “how such a lapse� took place. “Such a brutal murder case cannot be properly investigated and the accused not traced. I will definitely, seriously look into it,� Moily told PTI here.

He said while he was not referring to any proposed changes in existing laws but as a law minister he would look at “how such a lapse� took place.

CBI had yesterday filed a closure report in the Aarushi mur-

der case before a court on the grounds there was no available evidence at the crime scene to pursue the probe, meeting a dead-end in the case that shook the country over two years back.

Meanwhile, upset with the CBI filing a closure report, the parents of murdered teenager Aarushi Talwar today said they will consult with their lawyers before deciding on their future course of action to take the case forward. “Our lawyers have not yet read the closure report and, hence, we cannot say anything.

As a mother I would say that we won’t rest in peace till the case moves for ward,� said Nupur.

Ordinance to fight corruption soon HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, DEC 30

The government is bringing an ordinance to constitute an extraordinary anti-corruption mechanism in deference to a five-point agenda for “a battle against corruption� enunciated

by Sonia Gandhi in her inaugural presidential address to the Congress plenary session here on December 19, stressing that there should be no tolerance for corruption or misconduct.

Prime Minister Manmohan

Singh, who promised to put her agenda into action the very next day in the same speech in which he offered to appear before the public accounts committee (PAC) for the 2G scam probe, has moved fast and got the blueprint of the mechanism ready.

The new mechanism, sought to silence the Bharatiya Janata Party and other opposition parties trying to corner the government on alleged corruption in 2G spectrum allocation, Commonwealth Games and Mum-

bai’s Adarsh Society scandal, may be unveiled as early as next week as the United Progressive Alliance government’s first gift in the New Year.

The draft ordinance is understood to have been forwarded to the Law Ministry for examination before it is brought before the Union cabinet for approval, though it is not yet placed on the agenda compiled by the cabinet secretary for cabinet meetings.

Though provisions of the im-

pending ordinance are not known, sources said it may include constitution of the Lok Pal, the ombudsman who can also probe charges against the CM, in place of a bill that has been hanging fire for years. It is also expected to cover the five-point agenda of Sonia Gandhi that includes a new system to fast-track all cases of corruption by politicians and public ser vants, full transparency in public procurements (Continued on page 8)

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OHERALDO

Pg2 GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

Annual mining damage to Goa Rs 548 cr: expert HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

Even as iron ore mining industry contributes 10.14 per cent of State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an expert says that it also has environment degradation to the tune of Rs 548 crore per annum.

However, the expert also feels that State will lose Rs 1,842.20 crore every year if it bans iron ore mining.

The report on ‘Contribution of Goan Iron Ore Mining Industry’ by National Council of App l i e d E c o n o m i c Re s e a rc h (NCAER) pointed out that the major portion for environmental degradation comprises of deforestation which is valued at Rs 467.3 crore annually.

Goa, which has total surface area of 370,200 ha has approximately 2,000 ha covered under mining concession, which are active.

“Given the fragility of Goan ecosystem, the government has prepared a broad based regional plan to implement certain policy measures to maintain the balance of the same,” the report

says.

The report, which was released

by Chief Minister Digamber Kamat points out that the benefit of iron ore extraction in Goa is much more than the environment cost associated with it.

NCAER’s chief economic advisor R Venkatesan has estimated that costs associated with giving up iron ore industry in Goa would be greater by Rs 1,842.20 crore per year.

“The share of iron ore industry in Goa’s GDP will go up if the indirect contribution due to the multiplier effect is accounted for,” he said adding that the total share of iron ore mining in GDP including direct and indirect effects, is 12.74 per cent.

Though the state has earned Rs 9173 crore from the exports of iron ore, the study reveals that taxes paid by the mining industry to State and Centre are to the tune of Rs 2,500 crore, last fiscal.

“The Central government was paid Rs 2,000 crore in the form of taxes which includes corporate tax of Rs 1600 crore,” Venkatesan said.

Besides the contribution to GDP, the iron ore industry’s contribution to employment (workforce direct and indirect 75,000) is significant is only next to the tourism sector employment (84,000).

Addressing the gathering, the chief minister said that the Centre is planning to bring in drastic change in Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act (India) (MMRDA) “I too have recommended several changes. The suggested changes will give relief to all those living in mining areas,” he said.

Kamat stressed on the need to maintain balance between mining and environment, by creating less harm to the environment.

The dignitaries like President of Goa Mineral ore Exporters’ Association (GMOA) Shivanand Salgaoncar, former chief minister Shashikala Kakodkar, chairman of GMOA P M Mukharjie, transport director Arun Desai, Goa State pollution Control Board Chairman Simon D’souza and others were also present.

Body retrieved from Mandovi HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, DEC 30

Porvoim police retrieved a body floating below the Mandovi Bridge on Thursday.

Acting on information, a police team went to the site and retrieved the body with the help of a trawler.

The deceased has been identified as Vasudev Gaudi, an employee on a trawler. The body has been sent for an autopsy at the Goa Medical College Hospital at Bambolim.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

Transport department has recommended that State government should monitor registration of new mining trucks in the wake of Central government’s moratorium on mining in Goa. Transport Director Arun Desai said that the department would be carrying out a detailed study on number of mining trucks and the effects of moratorium on mining on them.

“We will place the recommendations before the State gov-

Bereaved family runs from pillar to post for fixing it Hospicio’s ailing morgue has come back to haunt the authorities and the citizens alike once again.

Relatives of a deceased person from Guirdolim on Thursday found to their utter shock that the mortuary was malfunctioning for want of the required temperature.

The incident came to light this morning when the relatives came to take possession of the body which was stored in the morgue since December 27.

When the morgue was opened, they found to their shock that the unit was not functioning at all.

The issue did not end there.

The relatives had to run from pillar to post to bring the issue to the notice of the Hospicio authorities, they said the departments pushed the buck onto each other.

The ailing Hospicio morgue.

Manuel D’Souza informed that immediately after they found that the morgue was not functioning properly with the right temperatures, he approached the casualty, only to be told to approach the people concerned. “When we ap-

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

proached another doctor, he told us that his job is only limited to post mortem examinations and that the maintenance and upkeep of the mortuary is the domain of other departments,” D’Souza recalled.

Undaunted, the relatives ap-

Moti Dongor assailants still at large HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 30

The accused in the Moti Dongor attack are still at large for the third day today, even as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat visited Hospicio hospital on Thursday noon to inquire about the condition of injured Maqbool.

The chief minister along with Margao PI Santosh Desai visited the Hospicio hospital in a private car around noon to inquire Maqbool’s condition. Hospicio doctors and staff were present when the chief minister came to see

the injured.

The chief minister’s visit assumes significance and is believed to be part of efforts to bring peace amongst the warring sections in the Moti Dongor locality – his stronghold in the Margao Assembly constituency.

Though Maqbool has been a close supporter of the chief minister over the years, he had openly worked against Kamat’s cousin brother, Laxmikant in the municipal polls.

Meanwhile, PI Desai said that

the police raided possible hideouts last night to lay their hands on accused Bashir Sheikh and three others assailants, absconding since the attack on Maqbool, besides women and children atop Moti Dongor.

“We conducted raids at some of the likely places frequented by the accused persons,” PI Desai said, while exuding confidence of nabbing the four accused soon.

The police have maintained skeletal presence on the hillock as a precautionary measure in

proached the police attached to the Hospital, only to be again told to meet the Public Relations Officer, who referred them to an LDC and later the Hospicio in-charge. “It was only after we called on the Hospicio in-charge that he referred us to a medical officer Dr Oscar, who tried to solve our problem,” he said.

What has agitated the relatives was that there was no one to tell them on the temperatures maintained in the mortuary. “There was no cooling, nor the general maintenance and upkeep of the unit,” they complained, before taking the body for the last rites.

This is not the first time that the Hospicio mortuary has come under close scrutiny of the citizens. IN fact, there were past reports of dead bodies decomposing inside the chambers for want of adequate cooling temperatures.

ernment asking them to put some monitoring on registration of new mining trucks,” Desai said.

Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) had recently imposed moratorium on new mining leases and renewal of existing leases till Goa finalizes mining policy.

“We need to restrict the number of trucks so as to avoid the constant wrangling between them. With MoEF restriction on expansion of mining, there is no point in permitting more number of mining trucks,” Di-

Navi Mumbai local held for restraining cop

We need to restrict the number of trucks so as to avoid constant wrangling between them. With MoEF restriction on mining, there is no point in permitting more trucks.

-- Arun Desai rector said adding that replacement can be done if need arises.

Currently 8000-odd mining

trucks are operational in the state. Other than these, around thousand more trucks from Karnataka runs here.

Meanwhile, Sesa Goa today told Chief Minister Digamber Kamat that they have hiked the freight rates to Rs 11.50 per tonne per kilometer. The mining firm was earlier paying Rs 6 per tonne per kilometer.

Confirming the hiked rate, Desai said that the new rates have been accepted by the truck operators. “This is a decent rate offered to them,” he said.

Bowing down to the demands

NCP spokesperson slams president

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, DEC 30

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

A 28-year-old man from Navi M u m b a i w a s a r re s t e d b y Calangute Police on charges of restraining a police officer from discharging his duties at Candolim on Wednesday.

According to Calangute Police, Atul Vaishavin had wrongly parked his vehicle (MH-43-AB4886) and had blocked the entry to the venue of Sunburn festival at Candolim.

When police officers led by Traffic Cell PI Uday Parab and others tried to convince him to remove the vehicle, Vaishavin allegedly misbehaved with PI Parab and snatched the electronic traffic baton from the Home Guard Sandeep Shetgaonkar, causing loss of Rs 450 to government property.

Vaishavin was later arrested based on a complaint by Bhusan Digamber Harmalkar. PSI Gaurish Parab is investigating the case.

The recent political turmoil within the State Nationalist Congress Party has angered its Chief Spokesperson Trajano D’Mello who slammed President Surendra Sirsat for failing to call a single Executive Committee meeting ever since he took over the post.

Sources said D’Mello in a letter has demanded with Sirsat to call for an emergency meeting to ascertain the views of the EC members on the whole political issue to retrieve the sagging image of the party.

The letter, which has been also signed by Chairman of the Minority Cell Salim Sayyed, has been for warded to party supremo Sharad Pawar, Goa Desk In-charge Praful Patel and Goa Observer Prakash Bhinsale, they informed.

The chief spokesperson lashing out at Sirsat mentioned the EC members were kept in the dark over the political develop-

ments within the NCP. He wrote that this was a matter of deep concern and called for immediate attention and action.

D’Mello has raised questions in the letter over whether Pawar and Patel were properly briefed in detail about the local politics of the NCP by Sirsat. He said the issue seems to have been mishandled as the party leaders have not been apprised in a proper manner.

He further stated in the letter that the State party president continued to tell him not to take a stand on important maters like highway diversion, Regional Plan, illegal casinos, etc, as he (Sirsat) would call for EC meeting to take a policy decision on these issues.

Sources said D’Mello has envisaged on the urgent meeting of the EC not only to take policy decision on several burning issues affecting Goa, but also to formulate a strategy of the party for the ensuing assembly elections.

Cong minority cell chief submits ‘wish-list’ Mapusa municipality pretty HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 30

Vacancies are yet to be created in the Digamber Kamat cabinet but All Goa Congress Committee Minority Department President Saifullah Khan has already recommended three candidates who could replace Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza and To u r i s m M i n i s t e r N i l ka n t Halarnkar.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Khan stated that if vacancies are created in the cabinet by dropping Revenue Minister Jose Philip D'Souza and Tourism Minister Nilkant Halankar, then Goa's lone woman legislator from Santa Cruz Victoria Fernandes should be given

When we demand that women should be given 33 per cent reservation, why is the lone woman legislator from Goa being denied a ministry?

-- Saifullah Khan priority for a ministerial berth.

"To fill the second vacancy, Kamat could either consider Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho or Aldona ML A Dayanad Narvekar," Khan said.

"We have written to the party

High Command that since the NCP has asked Chief Minister Digamber Kamat to drop two of its ministers, he should consider inducting Fernandes in the Cabinet. The other berth could be given to either Godinho or Narvekar," Khan said.

"When we demand that women should be given 33 per cent reservation, why is the lone woman legislator from Goa being denied a ministry," asked Khan.

"The NCP High Command has asked both of its ministers to resign. If the NCP changes their decision, we have nothing to do with it since it is their party matter. But if the vacancies are created, then Fernandes and either Godinho or Narvekar should be

view of the fact that Maqbool is still convalescing at Hospicio hospital.

Meanwhile, the four persons arrested in the case have moved for regular bail before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Margao.

Sources in the know, however, said that the bail applications might be withdrawn by the accused persons and file fresh applications before the Sessions Court after the Margao police slapped section 307 of the IPC against the accused persons.

Transport Dept recommends cap on mining trucks

Hospicio’s morgue malfunctions HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 31

GOA

inducted to replace the two outgoing ministers," said Khan.

Responding on rumours that D'Souza, who is his archrival, is planning to join the Congress party, Khan said: "The Congress party is just like an ocean and those wishing to join the party are most welcome. I don't have any differences with D'Souza if he plans to join the Congress party," said Khan.

When asked if D'Souza's entry into Congress would dent his chances of seeking the Congress ticket to contest the next assembly polls from Vasco constituency, Khan replied: "The party High Command will decide as to who are the winnable candidates from Vasco."

cool on decongesting market

of the truck operators, Fomento had already hiked the freight rates to Rs 11.27 per tonne per kilometer.

The State government’s restriction on carrying capacity and on timing had forced mining truck owners to demand for hike in freight rates as the rates offered to them were very less.

It’s been almost two months now, since the truck owners have put forth their demands.

Pressing for a hike, All Goa Mining Truck Owners Association had finally given a strike notice of December 27.

Drishti team rescues six HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, DEC 30

Six persons were rescued by the Drishti Team in separate incidents at different beaches during the holiday weekend.

The Drishti Surf lifeguard Rajesh Dhuri rescued a minor Dutch girl and two Indian tourists off Vagator coast during the Christmas week holidays.

Mohan Shrivastava (25) and Sachin Gupta (23), both natives of Madhya Pradesh were rescued while they struggled in waters.

Another minor Dutch girl was also rescued by the lifeguard Rajesh in the close proximity.

In another incident at Calangute, two friends, Syed M Mehdi (25) of Hyderabad and Kunal D Madkaikar (26) of Mumbai were rescued by the Drishti Surf Life Team as they struggled to swim back to safety.

According to Drishti reports, the friends duo continued swimming in unsafe waters despite repeated requests from the Dristhi Team. Noticing Syed struggled Kunal went for his friend's rescue but himself ended up in deep trouble.

Both were finally rescued and safely brought to the shores by the Drishti Team of lifeguards Sachin Naik, Ganesh Pednekar and Ramkrishna Shettili.

In another incident at Agonda shores, a South African Edward Timothy Ferguson (20) was rescued by Drishti Lifeguards Rajendra Velip and Vljay Velip.

Youth booked for assaulting woman HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, DEC 30

Vehicles parked in front of the gate of the Mapusa Municipal market.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

the market should be totally prohibited.

MMC Chairperson Sudhir Kandolker and Chief Officer Madhura Naik who attended the meeting had agreed to take necessary steps.

However, considering the present situation prevailing in the market, it is evident that MMC officials have not taken any preventive steps so far.

Vehicles are still parked in front of both gates of the market and also inside the market in a haphazard manner.

Vendors are seen occupying pavements and sitting on internal roads of the market to sell their goods.

The market is so congested that if fire breaks out again during day time it will be impossible for fire tenders to enter the market to extinguish the fire.

Fire hydrants have also not become operational as yet, nor are the officials of the Public Works Dpartment in a position to comment on when they would be operational.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister

Digamber Kamat has released compensation of Rs 3.3 lakh to the 16 shopkeepers whose goods were destroyed in fire, as assured by him during his visit to Mapusa market recently.

While 12 shopkeepers were given Rs 25,000 each, four fruit vendors got Rs 7,500 each.

"The chief minister has assured to release more compensation after receiving reports from authorities. Mapusa Merchants Association (MMA) has also decided to offer compensation to the shopkeepers and this amount will be handed over to them in a few days," said MMA President Yehswant Gaudalker.

"The MMC has not taken the necessary steps to prevent the recurrence of a fire mishap in the market. The MMC had agreed to request the traffic police to post personnel in the market to prevent parking of vehicles in front of the gates and in the market. But nothing has been done in this regard," Gaudalker added.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, DEC 30

The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) does not appear to have learnt lessons from the fire that destroyed 16 shops in the municipal market, causing a loss of about Rs 1 crore.

Following the incident, B a rd e z D e p u t y C o l l e c t o r Dashrath Redkar had convened a meeting of shopkeepers, officials of the PWD, electricity Department, fire brigade, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and the MMC in his chamber to discuss the fire that broke out in the Mapusa Market and to take preventive measures.

Redkar then mentioned that the market is so congested that it becomes nearly impossible for the fire tenders to enter the market. He also said the electrical wiring has become old, vehicles are parked in the market in a haphazard manner and that, water connection has not been provided to the fire hydrants.

He suggested that entry of the two and four wheelers in

Theft accused confess to Socorro burglary PORVORIM: The four accused Umesh Gopal Reddy, Geeta Umesh Reddy, Santosh Bhasker Reddy and Sunder Pradeep Reddy, who were arrested by Porvorim police on December 28 in connection with the theft at the residence of one Manohar

Korgaonker from Porvorim, have admitted to another theft at Socorro.

Socorro resident Gurish Pednekar had registered a complaint with Porvorim Police on December 25 that burglars had decamped with gold and silver

ornaments worth Rs 42,000 from his house.

Since the accused confessed to another theft, a fresh offence under Sections 454 and 457 of IPC were registered against them. PSI Dinesh Gadekar is investigating the case.

Valpoi police has registered a complaint against a youth from Thane-Pali on charges of assaulting a woman from the village on Wednesday evening.

According to Valpoi police, Sanjay Gaonker (25) allegedly pelted a stone on Shakuntala Ainker (22) and seriously injured her head. she is presently undergoing treatment at GMC, Bambolim.

Shakuntala's father, Ganesh, later filed a police complaint that Sanjay had assaulted Shakuntala while she was returning from her field on Wednesday evening.

Police is on the lookout for the accused and PI Shivram Vainganker is investigating the case.

Driver booked for abusing mining official VALPOI: Valpoi police has registered a case against a truck owner from Pissurlem on charges of abusing an official of a mining company.

According to reports, the incident took place shortly after a meeting between truck owners and officials of the mining company at Sonshi-Sattari on Thursday evening.

The meet was convened to discuss the demand of truck owners for increased transportation charges.

While the officials and truck owners were leaving the office after the meeting, a truck owner allegedly abused an official. A police complaint was later lodged in the matter.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg3 GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

MMC to restart garbage collection door-to-door Hoteliers not too happy with the scheme HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 30

The Margao Municipal Council has decided to revive the doorto-door collection of garbage from the city’s eateries, but the hotel owners have expressed their strong reservations about the scheme given the bitter past experience.

President of the South Goa small and medium hotel owners Association C P Jaggi had a meeting with the MMC Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya on Thursday and discussed the possibility of reviving the door-to-door waste collection concept.

While offering wholehearted support to the Civic body in its bid to ensure clear Margao, Jaggi made it amply clear to the Chief Officer that the scheme can turn out a success only if the Civic body collects the garbage fees from the hotel owners on a daily basis.

On the other hand, the Chief

Officer maintained that it is impossible to collect the payments on a daily basis and insisted that the system can be streamlined if the hotel owners agree for the monthly payment of fees.

Says Jaggi: “The daily payment system is not at all acceptable to the hotel owners. We have seen in the past that there were occasions when the Municipal workers did not turn up to collect waste from the hotels for days together. We are ready to cooperate with the Civic body if the payments are done on a daily basis”.

He made it categorically clear that the hotel owners under no circumstances would pay the monthly fees because of the bitter past experience. “Hotel owners based on the category are ready and willing to pay the fees to the Civic body. But, the Civic body should first put a full-proof system in place”, he

added.

The Margao Municipal Council had been unsuccessfully trying to implement the door-to-door waste collection from the hotels and other eateries over the years, but in vain.

The scheme was first implemented by the Civic body over a decade ago with private participation, but it met a natural death for want of support from the Municipality.

Ex-Chairperson Savio Coutinho had made a determined bid to put the mechanism in place, but scheme had to be abandoned even before its implementation on account of bureaucratic hurdles.

Plans to outsource waste collection from the hotels to private players in the last one year also failed to succeed.

GGEA urges CS to put on hold recovery of pay-scale benefits HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

The Goa Government Employees Association has urged the Chief Secretary to withhold recoveries of pay scale benefits extended to LDCs and UDCs via a circular, even as the association was seriously negotiating with the Government to settle the demand of upgrading pay scales of left out categories.

President GGEA M L Shetkar said the question of withdrawal of the circular extending the pay benefits did not arise because they were in talks with the government on upgrading of pay scales to left out categories.

“We urge the Government to withdraw the circular as it has created confusion,” he stated.

Sattari woman dies of burns HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, DEC 30

A 30-year-old woman from Dhatwada in Vante-Sattari died of injuries in the GMC hospital on Thursday, after she had accidentally got burnt at her residence.

According to Valpoi police, Suvarna Atmaram Pilekar had sustained 50 per cent burn injuries on December 26 while she was cooking food.

She was married one-andhalf years ago.

MMC to act tough against stray cattle HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, DEC 30

Thanks to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, the Margao Municipal Council has finally decided to act tough against stray cattle in the jurisdiction of the Civic body.

More than a fortnight after the chief minister issued instructions to the civic body to tackle the stray cattle menace headon, MMC Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya on Thursday issued a public notice on Thursday cautioning cattle owners to take care of their animals.

Acharya warned that any cattle found straying on the roads or near the municipal garbage bins will be seized forthwith, impounded and detained or otherwise disposed off without any further notice.

“We have viewed the menace very seriously and treated as

continuing nuisance by the Civic body”, Acharya stated in the notice.

He said the Civic body has placed plastic bins within the jurisdiction of the Civic body to facilitate proper storage and collection of the waste. “It has been observed that the cattle is being found straying on the streets due to negligence of their owners and that the cattle is feeding on the waste and filth dumped in the garbage bins. This has resulted in garbage being strewn all over, besides causing damage beyond repairs. It may also result in the spread of diseases and serious health hazard in the city”, the Chief Officer added.

Stray cattle has been haunting the citizens and motorists in recent years with the Civic body turning a blind eye to the menace despite having a cattle impounding squad.

Re-inventing the wheel.

NINE TIMES. 15-24 Oct, AZ.U.R

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In a press note issued here, Shetkar noted, “The whole confusion arose out of implementation of order No 8/7/2008-Fin (R&C) dated 11-11-2009 granting pay scale of Rs 9300-34800 with grade pay of Rs 4,200 to the head clerks who function outside the Secretariat.”

He observed further, “The Di-

rectorate of Accounts extended the same benefits to all the LDCs/UDCs under ACP schemeI & II from January 1, 2006. This organization had brought this matter before the Government in April 2010, but the same had failed to act timely in this matter and had allowed the confusion to prevail till November 2010.”

He stated the extension of this benefit neither amounted to functional/regular promotion nor required creation of new posts for the purpose. We have respected the advice of the Chief Minister on upgrading pay scales and as such the recovery of these benefits was not fair, he mentioned.

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Eminent Goan physicist talks to varsity students CYRIL D’CUNHA PANJIM, DEC 30

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat presenting two medallions to Dr Jose de Souza, former Manager of Bank of Baroda and Correspondent of Correio de Leirio Portugal which he was awarded for his contribution in the field of Portuguese poetry at a function held at Chief Minister’s residence, Altinho on Wednesday. MP Francisco Sardinha, chairman of Goa State Law Commission, Ramakant Khalap and Consular of Portuguese Consulate in Goa, Antonia Souza are also present.

‘Centre should immediately reserve 33% for women’ HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, DEC 30

Mayem MLA Anant Shet has stated that the Central government should immediately reserve 33 per cent seats for women in the Parliament and Assembly, so that women can play a key role in society.

He was addressing a women’s camp organised

by Kantayani self-help group at Panchayat hall, Chorao, on Sunday.

Shet congratulated the women for making allround progress and for organising programmes to enable them compete with their male counterparts.

Other dignitaries present on the dais were Social Welfare Board Mandal Chairperson, Manisha Naik, artiste Amita Naik Salatry, Sarpanch Salvador D’Cruz Fernandes, President Resha Borkar and Panch Shrijaya Haldankar.

Manisha Naik, Amita Naik Salatry, Jaimala Gavnekar, Harsha Naik, Jaimini Fadte and Kalidas Borkar emphasised various ways to promote women leadership through various programmes and activities.

Chorao ZP member Vrunda Naik was the chief guest at the concluding programme. Manjusha Sonnaik compered the function, while Laxmi Mathodkar later proposed the vote of thanks.

In this bewildering world of science, more specifically physics, there have been extraordinary minds which have spawned some revolutionary findings. Dr Vasudev (Nitant) Mangesh Kenkre, who has been internationally recognised for his seminal contributions in physics research, is one. This multifaceted scientist also has other interests, like visual art, philosophy, comparative religion and literature. He has authored several books and written over 200 scientific articles.

A Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Mexico (UNM) in the USA, he is known not only for his erudition but also for his concern for ecology and the environment. Presently on a sabbatical, Dr Kenkre took time off from a rare visit to talk to physics students at the Goa University (GU). After meeting Professor and Head of the Department of Physics Dr J A E Desa, he headed straightaway for the lecture room.

To one familiar with methods of mathematical analysis or of theorems which follow strict rules of inference, examples like holding a mouse by the tail in one hand and bacteria in the other sounded pretty cool. But Dr Kenkre took the relationship between the two to a different dimension, involving mathematical analyses of two problems of interest to biologists from two regimes – a laboratory worker working with bacteria in Petri dishes and the other concerned with the spread of epidemics.

Though it was a highly technical subject, he succeeded in grabbing their attention and, with the help of simple formulas, explained diverse conclusions. Dr Kenkre, who is also the founder and Director of the Consortium of the Americas for Interdisciplinary Science in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which brings together scientists and researchers from Latin America and the USA through a highly successful and widely recognised programme, stepped up the ante with a vigorous discussion on ‘Non-Linear Extinction in Biological systems’.

Lecture over, I asked for his comments on Goa. He said that whenever he comes to the land of

his birth, he is impressed by the tremendous progress, but quickly adds that he dearly misses the Goa he left decades ago, which was beautiful and simple. He describes concretisation of urban areas as an ‘eyesore’. That Goa is now perceived in the western world as a place where drugs were freely available saddens and worries him immensely.

Featured in Samvad India Foundation’s ‘Glimpses of Indian Scientists’, Dr Kenkre, who speaks Portuguese, Konkani, Marathi, Hindi, Sanskrit and English, as also a bit of German and French, did his schooling at People’s High School and Dhempe College of Arts and Science in Panjim, before graduating from IIT Bombay in Electrical Engineering. He went to the State University of New York, Stonybrook, to study Theoretical Physics, ultimately earning a PhD in Statistical Mechanics. He has mentored 16 Physics doctoral students.

Long settled in the USA, Dr Kenkre says his consortium has been funded by the Los Alamos National Laboratory and the National Science Foundation. Among his works are the application of mathematical models to the theory and spread of epidemics; work on microscopic theory of friction on a nano scale; transport processes on cellular membranes and quantum transport of electrons and excitations.

Would he be willing to share his expertise on tackling environmental and ecological problems in Goa? He answers in the affirmative. He recalls his father Mangesh ‘Abba’ Kenkre’s abilities as a painter and artist and who was also a member of the Institute Menezes Braganza, Panjim. His uncle, Mangesh Surlakar, was the founder of People’s High School, he states proudly. He also remembered fondly the time he spent at Dhempe College, attending the maths lectures of Prof Joe Menezes; and credits him for a grounding in the subject that shaped his career. Another of his contemporaries, Dr Vivek Monteiro, son of Brigadier Innocence Monteiro, he says, now works for the betterment of slum dwellers in India. The road to success is paved by dreamers, they say, and these two certainly have a dream.

Trysem classes for women at Sakral HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, DEC 30

The Chief Guest Lions District Governor Nitin Maganlal handing over items to one of the inmates at Providoria at Serra House, Altinho, Panjim, by Lions Club of Mala Fontainhas, Panjim as part of Christmas programme, in the presence of Lions President Barnabe Sapeco, Dr N M Pal, Lion Jovito Lopes, Lion Ezilda Sapeco, Sister Sucorrina and others. The members interacted with the inmates and sang Christmas carols which was sung by all those present on the occasion.

Minister for Panchayati Raj, Manohar Azgaonkar inaugurated Trysem class for women at Sakral Torxem in Pernem, on Wednesday.

The class has been started under a scheme implemented by the Government Polytechnic. The three-month course will train the women in making novelty items like flowers, candles, sea shell

work, pot designs and other items.

Speaking on the occasion, Azgaonkar said that under Trysem classes started by the Government Polytechnic, short term courses in tailoring and embroidery are being conducted to enable unemployed women to earn livelihood and supplement their family income.

Speaking further, Azgaonkar said that the objective of the Government behind implement-

ing these schemes is to promote self employment and therefore the women should avail the benefit of these schemes to improve their living conditions. He also informed that the Government apart from lending financial support is also providing marketing facility to sell the products produced by Mahila Mandals and Self Help Groups.

Member of BoD GAPL, also spoke on the occasion.

GOA

UPCOMING EVENTS Party at Casino Carnival PANJIM (HND): Casino Carnival, aboard luxury ship on River Mandovi has organised the much-hyped about Mercedes Benz 12-hour party on December 31. The party has an unlimited list of exciting surprises with some of the top performers from around the world – Dale Anderson, Global Underground; Anil Chawla, Ministry of Sound; Aneesh Gera, UK; One Tribe, Pune; Uzi Mumbai besides other performers. The occasion will also boast of the launch of the much-awaited Music Fact3. The event will also feature sky dance floor by Funky Heads, visual led and fireworks display, with multi-floor entertainment, unlimited liquor and liquers-shooters with unlimited cuisine and open air lounge by Pan Asian Bowl. A special Mercedes Benz VIP select lounge has been created with swanky Mercedes cars on display, besides special luxury yatchs will be used as feeder boats. The event is supported by Alcon, Radio Indigo, Pan Asian Bowl, Funky Heads, Voodoo, Cabo, Indianightlife.com

New Year Barbeque Nite at Leda PANJIM (HND): Leda, the lounge restaurant situated near Colva Beach in South Goa has organised the New Year Barbeque Nite on December 31. The lavish spread includes seafood, meats, veggies with lip smacking home-made desserts. There is also hot buffet of classic Indian and continental dishes and lip smacking home-made desserts all for Rs 600. The restaurant with its ambience, setting and music has also become one of the more popular restaurants of South Goa. Leda offers an unique dining experience which reflects Goan lifestyle, offering warmth in an elegant setting with the fresh produce in an innovative and contemporary menu, an extensive wine list with friendly and highly-efficient service. For special requests can contact Manager Ms Gail or Chef Prakyath. For details and reservations call 2781458.

New Year’s Eve service

PANJIM (HND): There will be a thanksgiving service on New Year’s Eve at Loyola High School, Margao on December 31, 2010.

The service will begin at 11.45 pm in the school quadrangle.

Sound & light crib presentation

PANJIM (HND): A sound and light crib presentation is underway at 32, Lake View Colony, Near Magsons Supercentre, La Campala Road 3, Miramar. The presentation will last till January 15. The 25-minute presentation can be viewed from 6.30 pm to 9 pm daily. For further details, contact 9822586605.

New Year programmes

CURCHOREM (HC): St Sebastian Sports and Cultural Club of Kupamoddi-Hoddar in Curchorem will organise its annual threeday programme to celebrate the New Year. The opening ceremony will be on January 1, at 6.30 pm in the presence of social worker and businessman Nilesh Cabral and Sanvordem Parish Priest Fr James Torres E Silva. A Konkani drama ‘Bunty Aur Bubly’ will be staged on the ground near Hoddar Chapel. An all-Goa star competition will be organised at 5 pm, while a crib competition will be conducted only for residents of Hoddar. Other competitions include an all-Goa solo dance for children below 12 years and above 12 years and an all-Goa Fancy Dress competition.

The prize distribution ceremony will take place on January 3 in the presence of Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar, Assolda Sarpanch Tony Fernandes, Panch Damodar Naik and Vice Chairman Baburao Dessai. A Konkani drama 'Amche Moga Pasot' will be stages later in the evening. Further details of the programme are available with Cajetan (Ph: 9850743893) or Alsin (Ph: 9420978910).

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GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

Polls in Karnataka, but bars closed at Polem Dry days leave liquor traders high and dry

HERALD CORRESPONDENT POINGUINIM, DEC 30

Liquor sellers at Polem-Cana-

cona have been left high and dry, following an activity across the Karnataka border.

There are no elections in Goa, but elections to Zilla Panchayats in Karnataka on December 31 have forced all liquor stores within a radius of 5 km along the Karnataka-Goa border to stop sales from December 29 till December 31.

Incidentally, it was observed that at Karwar, where elections will be held, liquor bars were fully in operation on December 29, while at all bars selling liquor at Polem remained closed after obeying the dictates of the Goa excise department.

On learning that all bars at Karwar were operating in full swing, the liquor dealers at Polem, who closed business were aggrieved.

Many of them complained that while they were forced to down their shutters, their counterparts at Karwar had roaring business, even though elections are to be held there.

There are over 30 liquor bars and restaurants operating along the 5-km radius at Polem, which borders Karnataka.

Most customers hail from Karwar and the liquor trade is the only flourishing business in this

tinsel village. Many families sustain their livelihood in this trade.

In recent times, many elections to various state bodies were held at Karwar and curbs were placed on the sale of liquor and transportation at Polem.

Speaking to Herald, many bar owners felt that the ban of selling liquor in Goa is unwarranted when elections are held outside the State.

As per the excise rules, during the 'Dry Days' a person is entitled to stock three quart bottles of Indian made foreign liquor and six bottles of beer in his possession for his personal and family consumption.

"When enough stock of liquor is available at the residential premises during the period of ban on sale of liquor, why should there be a ban on sale of liquor by legally authorized vendors," asked an agitated bar owner from Pollem.

When contacted, Canacona Excise Inspector Shamba said he had to go as per the directives of the government and that the same, pertaining to the curbs on liquor vendors, was published in the Official Gazette

of Goa and is in force till December 31.

On the other hand, liquor sellers in Karwar told Herald that a circular was issued to them to close shop between December 30 and 31.

This is a peak season for merry makers at Polem and many bar and restaurant owners claimed they had stocked fish, meat and vegetables anticipating large business during the end of the

Sanguem students get acquainted with RTI Act HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, DEC 30

A legal literacy camp organised

by Sanguem Taluka Legal Services Committee in association with District Legal Services A u t h o r i t y, South Goa, was conducted for SSC students at Union High School, Sanguem.

Advocates A n a n d Gaonkar, Abilasha Naik and Anjali Phaldessai

were the resource persons at the camp.

Anand Gaonkar spoke on the ‘Right to Information Act’ and outlined the various authorities and departments that come under the purview of the Act. Anjali Phaldessai provided the students with the provisions relating to the newly envisaged ‘Anti Ragging Act’, while Abilasha Naik spoke of free legal aid and those entitled to get benefits under the scheme constituted by the Legal Cell.

Earlier, A Fernandes welcomed the students while Abilasha Naik proposed the vote of thanks.

More Goa News on Page 7 Santa Cruz to serenade into New Year HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, DEC 30

Santa Cruz parishioners will welcome the New Year with a grand New Year's Serenade on January 1 from 7 pm onwards.

The Serenade will be organised by Santa Cruz Serenade Committee under the leadership of president Tony Fernandes and with the active support of Santa Cruz Church Parish Priest Fr Cristovam Caldeira.

Nine beautifully crafted floats, representing the nine wards from the village, will participate in the float, which will wend its way from AltoSanta Cruz to the Church Square.

All the preparations for smooth conduct of the Serenade are in full swing and Tony himself was supervising the work of cutting the branches of trees which could pose an obstacle for the floats along the route.

The other members of the Serenade committee include Arseanio Dias, Mariano Araujo, Britto Fernandes and Simon Bothelho.

Andrew bags GUJ award HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, DEC 30

Andrew Pereira of Times of India, Goa edition, has won the Lambert Mascarenhas award instituted by the Goa Union of Journalists (GUJ) for the news s t o r y “C h a n drayaan-I was ‘killed’ by heat stroke”.

The award was given for the best investigative news report/article, which was published during the period from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010. The competition was open for the working journalists of English, Marathi and Konkani newspapers in Goa. A total of 44 entries were received for the competition. The judges for the competition were Dr Nandakumar Kamat, Prof Surendra Sirsat and Flaviano Dias.

Lambert Mascarenhas award is treated as a prestigious award in Goan journalism.

year. But the ban on sale of liquor has left them high and dry.

It is learnt that the affected liquor sellers have decided to hold a meeting and will send a letter to Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, who also holds the excise portfolio, asking him to compensate them with for the losses they have suffered. They will also ask the chief minister to waive the excise taxes during the period of ban.

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www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Is the media losing credibility?

Vol No CX No: 328 Goa, Friday, 31 January, 2011

T

CBI’s litany of failures

he Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI’s) decision to file a closure report in the sensational Aarushi double murder case comes as a bitter disappointment. This 14-year-old’s murderer should not go unpunished.

Regrettably, the so-called premier investigative agency – the CBI – has lost much of its lustre in recent years. The list of cases it has botched up continues to grow, like Pinocchio’s nose.

In April, a New Delhi court let off senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot case after accepting the CBI’s closure report giving him a clean chit. The agency submitted that there was no evidence to proceed against Mr Tytler, as two witnesses were “not reliable” and their statements were “false and concocted”.

In August, the CBI gave a clean chit to Moninder Singh Pandher in the savage Nithari killings case, and filed closure reports in three of the 19 cases registered in 2006. It said it hadn’t found any evidence suggesting these children had gone missing from Nithari, as their DNAs did not match.

Though the CBI has filed chargesheets in 16 of the 19 cases, Mr Pandher has been spared in most of these too, after the CBI claimed that he “was not present in the house at the time of crime”, and that the murders were committed solely by his domestic help Surinder Koli.

In October, the CBI filed an application before the chief metropolitan magistrate in New Delhi seeking closure of the Bofors pay-off case against Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi. It filed a withdrawal report under Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code. (CrPC) and informed the court that all efforts to extradite Quattrocchi to face trial in India had failed.

Just over a month ago, the CBI said it had found no evidence to support the allegations made by the late Ruchika Girhotra’s family against former Haryana Police chief S P S Rathore. It filed a closure report in that case too, rebutting all the charges made by Ruchika’s father S C Girhotra and her brother Ashu, against whom police had filed false cases of car theft at the behest of Rathore. The CBI’s closure report said the allegations levelled by the duo against Rathore were “unfounded” and “baseless”.

But what is to be done about the botched Aarushi investigation? The Noida police allowed media personnel to trample all over the scene of the crime, obliterating vital evidence. The autopsies on Aarushi and domestic help Hemaraj were done by non-expert MBBS doctors, who lost crucial clues. Aarushi’s vaginal swabs were found to be switched with someone else’s. All this suggests deliberate sabotage, but the CBI has failed to look into any of these angles.

If this is the justice people are to expect, then it is no wonder that in India, the A Rajas and Suresh Kalmadis – who are suspected of having misappropriated thousands of crores of rupees – get ample notice of when they are going to get raided, while pro-people activists like Dr Binayak Sen, who worked for poor tribals, are sentenced to life imprisonment because he exposed the wanton atrocities committed by the Chhattisgarh government-sponsored Salwa Judum.

I

Visa mess

t is as if the new visa regime is designed to specifically hurt Goa. It hits long-term tourists hardest; the kind that are this state’s best friends. Just because Indian diplomatic missions in the USA neglected to check the background of one David Coleman Headley, enabling him to survey targets in India for the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), why are the other 4,999,999 foreign tourists that come to this country being made to pay the price?

Epaper and Updates Freddy Agnelo Fernandes, Dubai Wish the staff and management of Herald, Compliments of The Season and May the dawn of the New Year 2011 bring good health, love, joy, peace, happiness and prosperity to you all.

My first chore as soon as I switch on my laptop or computer is to read the Herald.

I have made it my home page and have been religiously following this routine for a long time. I and a lot of other Goans were very happy with the new presentation of the Herald web page and then ecstatic with add on of the e-paper.

When I go through the e-paper (Herald) I feel I am reading it in Goa sitting in my ‘balcao’. It is a great feeling the go through the e-paper, but as all good things have their faults, the updates seem to have gone haywire,

100 Years Ago PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

31 December 1910 New Year eve

Today being New Year’s eve people around the villages of Goa are geared up to usher the festive occasion.

Welcome 1911

Although there is reluctance from the Republican Government various Organisations have already chalked out the mode how to bring in the New Year 1911.

Searching the dead

The search is on to recover the bodies of the passengers who submerged when their cruise liner got sunk off the Cabo (South Africa) coast.

No objection to celebrate

From the latest notification issued by the Republican Government it states that the Government has no objection for the festivities to take place as it does not involve any religious characteristics.

OPINION

S

Before asking for a clean chit, let the media do some loud thinking, says BhARATi PAWASKAR

adly, it is the talk of the town. Serious allegations have been cast on the media – Goan and global. A continuous fall in the public perception of the integrity of the media is distorting its earlier clean image, and there’s a question mark on its role in society as a whole. But do all journalists play puppets at the hands of autocrats, bureaucrats or political masterminds?

Do they get sold so easily or are they so cheaply available? Who could and should be blamed? I sincerely feel, not all but a few should be blamed for what is presently happening in the media, not only in Goa but all over the world. Let’s ponder a little.

The word is mightier than the sword, to some extent. But not always do words seem powerful weapons, because their voice is often weakened by overpowering circumstances. Not always do the Wikis and Mickkys get along, or the leaks make hay all day. If one tries to speak in a lighter vein, all of us save for that rainy day, you see!

And, of course, how unpredictable the weather is these days. Extended monsoons are as common as the traffic jams and road accidents. Doesn’t it rain most of the year? Why, in Goa we have just witnessed a rainy December. That the prices of onions bring tears to the eyes of the ‘aam admi’ is yet another story.

Let’s be little serious now. Things get more complicated when a finger is pointed towards the media, blaming it to be the root cause of the rot in the society. But how far or how close are these allegations from truth? Are they baseless or do they hold any substance? If true, what would be their implications in the long run? And if hollow, why are they being projected so precariously and why is so much hype made about it? One needs to find answers. And, to find the correct ones, there is a need for introspection.

No one will disagree that as the fourth pillar of democracy, the media has an important role to play in informing and shaping public opinion in an objective manner, free from the influence of power or avarice. And, as the need of the hour, the ‘bold and beautiful’ face of the media should at times turn ‘cold and dutiful’, to point out the naked truth. Do we turn a blind eye to the bare facts? Fearing a punch to the face, do we let go

PuncheS & PincheS the pinch at the back?

What has happened to this noble profession so proudly called the fourth estate? In our democratic setup, is this pillar shaking for any particular reason? What has contributed to the decline in the media’s credibility – particularly the print media – over the years? How can one stop further damage? Are there any corrective steps that may help in restoring this blurred vision?

Having spent more than half my life in mainstream journalism, today I pause and look back.

Seen with a neutral mindset, the whole set up shows flaws. Yes, the picture has changed over the years and I dare not say it has changed for the better. We, as journalists, share the same planet and are a part of the same society that points its fingers at our blunders. As members of society, shouldn’t we accept our duties, liabilities and responsibilities? Should unwanted obligations and favours come in the way of a lawful

The one that got away

Breakfast of Champions

A

bout 50 metres down the road from where I live is a huge mansion that belongs to a bigtime builder. The perimeter wall is 14 feet high, as opposed to the permitted height of 5 feet for us lesser mortals. The place looks like a fortress and I’m sure the high perimeter wall is not the only illegality in the construction. It probably violates roofline height, FAR, setbacks, zoning regulations…

When the house was first built, the roof tiles were painted a bright golden colour. Soon, the Airports Authority came down on the owner like a tonne of bricks. Airline pilots coming in to land at Dabolim airport in the daytime were getting blinded by the sunlight reflecting off the roof. So the roof tiles are now painted in an environment-friendly green. It is a case of outward show and inward woe – like an American car.

The lack of environment-friendliness is on the inside. The entire place is air-conditioned. When there is a power failure, there is no ventilation. So a huge, ‘silent generator’ kicks-in. On the outside, at one corner, is a spiral staircase enclosed in a translucent glass cylinder. It’s good for absorbing and trapping the sun’s heat, so the air-conditioners are made to work harder and consume more electricity; one more ‘tiny’ contribution to global warming.

Then there are the mandatory one dozen expensive cars inside

sometimes the e-paper is not updated for days and the worse thing is the archives of e-paper nor the opinions and others, can’t be accessed, it’s a pity that the joy that the readers were getting is terminated prematurely.

My humble request to the Staff and Management of Herald not take this joy away from us of reading the e-paper. Through your lack of dedication to the cause, I hope you will continue to be committed to cause of your valued readers and see that the facilities you have provided on the web pages are kept abreast and updated at all times so that Goans all over the world can be happy reading your regularly updated epapers and other fields of archives.

Discourage begging Vishal d’Costa, Cuncolim In Margao city, approximately 60-70 migrant baggers operate their business daily and their number increases day by day. It is sad to see that 90 per cent are children between age group of 9-12 years. These children approach asking to polish the shoes even if one is wearing kitos and then harass asking for money.

When I was small, my parents thought me a good practice to give alms ‘IZMOL’ once a month. An old lady used to collect the izmol and in return pray for the family and give blessings, and I used to wait for the lady to come, but now it has become a business and source of easy money.

It is a request to the people to give alms only to the needful, concerned NGO to discourage begging on the streets and provide them education and skills so they can earn their living. Or else, they will fall prey to the paedophiles verse case future gang leaders of Moti Dongor.

Wake up call Denis D’Souza, Caranzalem The Freedom fighters who claim that they have liberated Goa, is wrong and baseless.

Goa was annexed by the Indian Armed forces. Dictator Salazar’s orders to the Governor General Vassalo Da Silva was to destroy Goa and return to Portugal.

Most of the bridges and roads leading to Panjim were laid with mines and explo-

life? Is there a way to save our identities in this chaos? How can news and views remain as two separate entities? Can one survive only by respecting ethics in journalism? Does joining hands either with the opposition or the ruling majority help in cleaning the corroded system? Let us see what’s happening around us.

I feel the ‘journalism of courage’ is losing its sting in a marriage of crime and politics. A handshake with wrong persons gives way to ‘paid’ news. The virus of ‘planted’ news raises its head.

Leaks by vested interests become ‘investigative journalism’. Are we projecting ourselves as products and marketing our saleability?

Editors add to the credibility of the media, but ever since some reputed newspapers in the metros started marketing news as a product, the importance of editors has diminished. Page Managers have taken over. Result: a strategy that puts revenue first, if necessary, by catering to the lowest

common denominator – sensationalism replacing lofty journalism.

The quality of full-time media staff has dropped considerably. Many have ‘other sources’ of income, and use media clout to promote their personal interests. Homework is given little importance.

No special training is imparted to trainees. This negligence leads to serious factual errors. Glamour in the electronic media allows for mushrooming of ‘instant journalists’. Absence of job security can be blamed for lack of a professional attitude and a general apathy towards knowledge.

Tolerance of readers’ criticism is another pointer to media’s trustworthiness. We find most media houses nowadays give little space to readers’ views and avoid publishing critical letters. Those who stand by their news and views stand tall.

Let us ponder over it and try to change our mindsets. If there is a will, there will surely be a way!

Newton’s Law states that every action has an equal and opposite reaction. As the wind pushes us to the wall, we must retaliate and stand up with our hallmarks of morality and conscience.

The nexus between politicians and journalists has blemished and tarred the media’s clean image.

If this relationship could be kept to the minimum and at purely official levels, no hand-in-glove situation would come up. But to get late night developments in volatile political scenarios, reporters often wine and dine with politicos. This affinity gives rise to vested interests, with both trying to take advantage of each other.

Imagine a journo turning into a politician, as has happened with my good friends Sanjay Nirupam and Sanjay Raut. In the early ’90s, both were my fellow journalists in the ‘Indian Express’ group, Mumbai – Nirupam was a reporter in ‘Jansatta’(Hindi) and Raut a reporter in ‘Loksatta’ (Marathi). Both fell in love with politics. After they became bedfellows with the Shiv Sena, both got instant promotions as editors of ‘Saamna’ (Hindi and Marathi), the Sena mouthpieces. Soon both emerged with larger-than-life figures as aggressive editors. Now, we all are familiar with their avatars as MPs. The rest is history... Let us take care not repeat it, at least in Goa.

the compound. Two of them are the cheaper 7-to-8 lakh rupee variety that are used for marketing, transporting dogs, exchanging LPG cylinders and other mundane household tasks. The huge gate, covered by translucent glass sheets, is manned 24/7 by uniformed security guards. The water ‘usage’ must be seen to be believed.

They have a guard dog which is chained during the day and onthe-loose at night. He attacks anything that moves and tears it to pieces. They also have a huge, excitable, friendly bitch called ‘Frisky’, who had an encounter with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at a very early age.

Some years ago, the builder’s family was holidaying with relatives in the US of A. The youngest member of the family, aged all of 5 years, fell in love with a 5-week-old puppy, which then became a ‘must-have’. There was not enough time to do the paperwork to bring the dog to India. So the 5-year old simply tucked the puppy inside his baggy T-shirt and brazenly walked through ticketing, emigration, and health. But that’s as far as he got. He was frisked by the DHS and the pup was out of the T-shirt, like a cat out of the bag.

Seeing the comical situation and the tears in the little boy’s eyes, the DHS simply waved him through with his pup. The redfaced parents received a verbal wrap on the knuckles and were

Ensure fact finding

PS Reddy, Commissioner of Excise, Panaji

This has reference to the news item ‘Wake up Goa police and smell the Coffee’ (Herald, 28 Dec) regarding the Excise Check post at Dodamarg and Patradevi. I am shocked and deeply hurt with the contents specially bringing my name in the picture when nobody from your daily has ever contacted me in this month on this issue.

The Department has posted Excise officials at all the border Check posts whose basic duty is to check the vehicles and ensure that excise material goes in and out of the state only with proper documents.

It is the duty of the Excise staff posted at the Check post to ensure the transportation of any excise articles is in accordance with the Excise Act and Rules. Nobody is allowed to sit in the Excise Check post other than Excise officials.

I am not agreeing specially with the report ‘Rs10 is all that you pay to evade border post checking!’ by Vibha Verma mentioning my name, who never contacted me or any official from the Head office.

You are requested to clarify my position. We once again assure that the Excise officials posted at the Check posts shall discharge duties strictly in accordance with the Rules and Regulations.

Hubert Mickky Valanka Arwin Mesquita, UAE I welcome the recent publicised support,

by Benaulim Seat Aspirant Dr Hubert Gomes, towards removing the ‘dubious’ additions to RP2021 ie Eco-Tourism zones, Growth Hubs, Micro Industrial areas. From what I understand, these were never proposed by the respective areas / villages of Goa and were not even put forward by the eminent personalities in the Task Force.

Certain survey numbers of some Eco-

given a little booklet by the DHS supervisor. This was a small manual on airport security in the USA and how passengers are expected to behave to make everybody’s job quick and easy, along with enhanced security.

For example, during ‘Frisking’ and ‘Pat-Down’, passengers should stay calm, relax and enjoy it. In short, they should treat the episode like the old saying about what one should do when rape becomes inevitable. Charm the rapist, get his name, address, telephone number and social-security number. Then file a complaint at the nearest police station. The book talked about ‘Frisking’ as if it was a milder form of rape, albeit with less prejudice. At the other end of the spectrum, of course, we have ‘extreme prejudice’ which is American for ‘assassination’.

Similarly, there is no point in getting agitated during a ‘PatDown’ by Uncle Sam’s goons at the airport. Simply get all the details of the DHS personnel involved and hand it to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) if and when you arrive in Delhi. Then patiently wait 20 years for action. If you get to Goa instead, don’t forget to report to the Animal Rights groups like PFA, PAWS, GAWT, GSPCA, IAR and PETA. In the meantime, if you need anonymity, change your name to ‘Frisky’, ‘Pat’ or ‘Patsy’.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

sives. The Governor’s last wireless message to all the military units in the border areas and bases in Goa were ordered ‘Nao abra fogo retira fica em Panjim. Deus ajuda aos Goeses’ (Do not open fire, withdraw and be in Panjim. God help the Goans). The Indian Armed Forces of marched into Goa without any provocation, opposition or bloodshed and without any destruction of Goa and the Goans.

The clarion call given by Raul Fernandes in his article ‘If we do not stop the rot now, we are damned’ (Herald, 26 Dec), is a wakeup call for all Goans to unite and form an alliance and remove the ‘rot’ for the betterment of Goa and the Goans.

By Anthony Simoes

Tourism zones are already confirmed to be purchased by vested interests and it appears that the Government is trying to give these lobbies a Back door entry. Can I request (A) Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco and the other Benaulim Seat aspirant (B) Valanka Alemao to clearly state their views and immediate support on this critical issue for Goa and Goans?

Let us unite Blaise Costabir, Margao Your article ‘If we do not stop the rot now, we are damned’ (Herald, 26 Dec) made interesting reading and personally I endorse your sentiment. This huge problem reminds me of the Hymn… so wide/deep you can’t get around / under it, etc. The only way is to start chipping, and each of us must do his bit, every drop makes the ocean.

However, despite your sincere plea, I doubt if it will work. I say this because your paper carries the advertisements glorifying the misdeeds on every birthday, it is advertisement revenue. But it is this same logic that each of us gets knocked down by. For you advertising revenue, for me, an illegal outhouse, or a government job or during land acquisition I want the

line bent a bit to miss my property.

And so the rot continues, we get the crumbs and the big boys get to feast, year after year. If you read the glorification on birthdays, you will believe that there should not be any downtrodden people in Goa, because our mighty men have been picking them up from time immemorial and now, the progeny is lending a helping hand. Of course, we know that the only downtrodden seeing better days are mighty men themselves.

Can the Herald start investigative journalism and expose these mighty men and their clay feet? It is clear whatever they do, the paper trail is impossible to wipe out. So while I am with you, I believe to take this forward in the direction you mention, Herald will have to walk the talk. Once that happens, the flood gates will open and the common man will come forward.

God bless India!

Allwyn George, Carmona The 2G spectrum scam by DMK King Raja has shattered the very foundations of our democracy and shown how the system is ineffective and prone to corruption at the highest corridors of power.

Our simple PM has taken the major brunt of the attack from the opposition, while Sonia Gandhi remains untouched by default.

This case and the opposition behaviour in Parliament and outside have put every Indian in shame and disgrace and it only proves that corruption is deeply embedded in our system of democracy.

To the outside world which is watching India in disbelief are wondering whether we at all should be in the UN Security Council as a permanent member, where we are supposed to lead and show an example to the other countries. Or is corruption part of our glorious culture as well? Well then, God bless India!

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 Spending of Believers

By Samir Khan “And give (O Prophet!) glad tidings to those... whose hearts shiver whenever Allah is mentioned, who patiently bear whatever affliction comes to them, who establish Prayer, and who spend (for good purposes) out of what we have provided them.”

(Al-Qur’ân – 22:34-35) These verses of the Holy Qur’ân record some salient characteristics of believers.

One of them is that they spend out of what Allah has provided them. Allah never calls the things that are unlawfully earned or are inherently impure His sustenance (rizq). The meaning of this verse, therefore, is that believers spend out of the lawful and wholesome sustenance bestowed on them by God. Again, this spending is not to be understood in its absolute sense. For the spending which is approved by Islam consists of spending to meet the legitimate needs of oneself and one’s family, spending to assist one’s relatives, neighbours and the needy, spending to support acts of public welfare, and spending in order to generously contribute to efforts aimed at upholding the Word of God. The Qur’ân does not sanction extravagant expenditure, spending on luxury, nor excessive ostentatious spending to display one’s piety. Such spending is not infâq, because it is not sufficiently meritorious. Such forms of expenditure are in fact condemned as extravagant and wasteful.

At the same time, the Qur’ân does not approve of a person being stingy and niggardly in his spending, of spending so sparingly that one’s dependents live in unduly straitened circumstances, spending on oneself much less than is warranted by one’s financial position, or an aversion to providing assistance to God’s creatures. Whatever a person spends in this way is not deemed, in Islamic parlance, as infâq. It is rather considered bukhl (miserliness; niggardliness) or shuhh al-nafs (covetousness; avarice).

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. junior@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald; junioryouth@herald-goa.com — 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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Pg 7 GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

WISL workers ink settlement pact with WISL management HERALD REPORTER VASCO, DEC 30

After a delay of over a year, 350-odd workers of the Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL) and Mormugao Marine Logistic inked a four-year wage settlement agreement with the management of WISL on Thursday.

The workers, who have been affiliated to Goa Trade Commercial Workers Union, were represented by All Goa Trade Congress Union leader Christopher Fonseca. The agreement was signed in the presence of Central Assistant Labour Commissioner Karmchand and worker representatives Prashad Haldankar and Vinay Dabolkar at WISL office, Harbour-Mormugao.

S p e a k i n g t o re p o r t e r s , Fonseca said after a long bilateral discussion, both the management and workers had agreed to ink the fouryear wage settlement, which

Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL) and Mormugao Marine Logistic workers seen along with All Goa Trade Congress Union leader Christopher Fonseca, Central Assistant Labour Commissioner Karmchand and worker representatives while signing the new wage settlement at WISL office.

Photo by Prabhav

was gracefully accepted by workers.

"In terms of time period, the p re s e n t w a g e s e t t l e m e n t agreement is similar to the previous one, but this agreement has much more to offer to the workers. With the fouryear agreement, workers would get Rs 4000 increment with effect from October 2009

HCN Housie 2nd round begins, draw on Jan 12 HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, DEC 30

The second round of New Year’s bonanza of HCN Housie begins with excitement, the draw of which will be held on January 12, 2011. To participate in this housie one has to buy a Faber Castell pen for Rs 50 and get a housie ticket free.

The prizes of the 1st draw that amounted to Rs 3 lakh was launched on December 23 and the winners of the first draw were announced as follows: Full house was shared by two persons – Narendra Naik of Verem, Goa (Rs 50,000) and Stephen Carvalho, House No 20, Velsao-Pale (Rs 50,000).

The Jaldi Five was shared by two persons – Joaquim Fernandes from Vaddy, Merces (Rs 5,000) and Baby Duelin (Represented by Estella Rodrigues, Majorda, Utorda (Rs 5,000).

In any horizontal line, Cruz Correia, Caranzalem Mutation, Ilhas won Rs 10,000.

This time, the amount of the total prizes is going to cross Rs 4 lakh. For the 1st draw, the Jackpot for a full house was Rs 2 lakh within the first 20 numbers called out, which did not go to anybody, but for the next draw to be held on 12 January 2011, the jackpot amount has been increased to Rs 3 lakh

within the 1st 25 numbers called out.

Besides this, other prizes to be won would be Rs one lakh for full house, Rs10,000 for Jaldi five (any five numbers), Rs10,000 for the first horizontal line, Rs10000 for 2nd horizontal line and Rs10000 for the 3rd horizontal line.

Besides these prizes, the first number called out wins one ticket for next housie. Two consecutive numbers will win two tickets for next housie. Three consecutive numbers will win Rs500 each and four consecutive numbers will win Rs1000 each.

How to play the housie? One can participate in this game show from home. The special feature of this, even if one does not play his/her housie game, there are chances to win and get a prize. Registration of the housie ticket number is not required this time as was the case in the 1st draw. Once you get your housie, it gets registered on its own. The winners will be traced even if they have not registered. This comes as a surprise.

The draw of the Housie will be shown live on 12 January 2010 on HCN Channel at 8 pm.

Participate in Housie and watch it live on HCN.

till 2013," said Fonseca.

Besides increment, workers

would also get variable Dearness Allowance, insurance benefits and canteen, he said.

"With this agreement, we have been laying a firm foundation for a better working condition and better productivity for the company," said Fonseca.

He thanked the Central Assistant Labour Commissioner Karmchand and Adv Suhash Naik for mediating with workers and management to sign the agreement.

The workers and union leaders also expressed happiness with the present wage settlement.

"Whatever we have de-

manded we have been given and this is one of the best wage settlements for us," said union leader Vinay Dabolkar.

Added Central Assistant Labour Commissioner Karmchand: "It is rare that union leaders considered the management's point of view. In this agreement, workers will benefit and management's interest will also be taken into consideration," "After a harmonious discussion within the parameters of the industrial policy, both parties have agreed to ink the wage settlement," said Karamchand.

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INDIA Engineering student held for hoax call PTI LUCKNOW, DEC 30

An engineering student has been arrested by the Government Railway Police for allegedly making a hoax call that bombs had been planted at the Charbagh Railway Station here.

Hemant Mishra (20), who is a BTech student at Vision Insti-

tute of Technology at Kanpur, was arrested by the GRP from Charbagh Railway Station, official sources said today.

Police said that on Monday last a call was made on SP GRP’s mobile number that bombs had been planted at the station, which later turned out to be a hoax.

GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

K’taka BJP wants oppn to debate on scams in legislature session PTI BANGALORE, DEC 30

Under attack over alleged scams, ruling BJP in Karnataka today invited opposition parties to utilise the legislature forum for a debate on the issues during the joint session of the state Assembly beginning from January six.

The BJP central leadership had deployed its leaders including Arun Jaitley to guide Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his team on ways to take on the belligerent Congress and JD-S during the session.

Jaitley, who arrived here yesterday, was joined by Dharmendra Pradhan, in-charge of Karnataka affairs, General Secretary Anantkumar, state unit party president K S Eswarappa and others to evolve strategies to counter the opposition which have been making allegations

of corruption and land scams against the Yeddyurappa government.

Jaitley said the Core Group debated on the prevailing political situation and the BJP’s prospects in the on-going panchayat elections.

“The meeting essentially related to the political situation in the state. We have in particular last night and today morning discussed at length the on-going panchayat elections and the party, which has had an aggressive campaigning, is optimistic of doing extremely well,” he said.

He said BJP wants the opposition to engage itself in normal democratic activities in the state legislature and added “the opposition have made certain charges, the party is ready to debate on them”.

Jaitley said BJP wants to see

how the opposition reacts to its invitation of debating on scams and will decide future plans in the event of the opposition not willing for a debate.

“The BJP expects the Governor to function within the purview of the Constitution,” he said to a query on outbursts

by Governor H R Bhardwaj against the state government.

Jaitley said the Core Group did not discuss the issue of change in leadership of Yeddyurappa, who last month got a reprieve to continue in office despite allegations of corruption.

He avoided response to a query whether Yeddyurappa would be allowed to expand his ministry, remarking “it is the prerogative of the Chief Minister”.

Jaitley said the group would meet again after the panchayat election results were announced.

Gujjars to send delegation to hold talks with govt PTI JAIPUR, DEC 30

Gujjars, agitating for reservation in government jobs, today decided to send an 11-member delegation to hold talks with government officials in Kaalwari village in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur district.

The delegation will be led by Bhim Singh Khata according to Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla.

Four officials - Principal Secretary Home and Urban Devel-

opment G S Sandhu, Bharatpur Divisional Commissioner Rajeshwar Singh, Bharatpur District Collector Krishna Kunal and Pali District Collector Neeraj K Pawan would hold talks on behalf of the government, officials said.

This will be the second round of talks between the two sides.

The first round of talks was held at Pilukapura, the epicentre of the agitation in Bharatpur district, with state Energy Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday.

Gujjars have been blocking rail tracks and roads for the past ten days in support of their demand for five per cent reservation in government jobs.

“As far as the talks are concerned, I am all out to cooperate but whatever our people want will be done. I understand that people are suffering but the government should find a concrete way for a permanent solution to the problem in order to avoid this situation,” Bainsla told reporters at Pilukapura.

Incessant snowfall snaps links to Kashmir Valley PTI SRINAGAR, DEC 30

Kashmir Valley was today cut off from rest of the country as incessant snowfall forced closure of Jammu-Srinagar National highway and cancellation of all flights to and from the international airport here.

The snowfall also prompted authorities to close schools, which were kept open to compensate for the loss of studies during the five-month-long summer unrest, in the Valley where normal life was paralysed with people preferring to stay indoors.

The 294-km highway, connecting the Valley to the rest of the country, was closed this morning after moderate snowfall in Qazigund and Jawahar Tunnel area, the gateway to Kashmir, officials said.

Nearly two feet snow had accumulated in Qazigund as snowfall continued across the Valley through out the day, the officials said.

They said all inbound and outbound flights from Srinagar International Airport were cancelled due to poor visibility.

“The road clearance work is in progress and a decision on allowing traffic (on the national highway) would depend on the weather conditions,” he said.

Schools have been closed due to moderate snowfall in Kashmir Valley, which has resulted in many roads getting blocked, and to avoid inconvenience to the students.

“All the schools, which were functional so far, will now remain closed for winter vaca-

Mobilise resources to help people: Farooq PTI SRINAGAR, DEC 30

Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, who is also the president of ruling National Conference, today asked Jammu and Kashmir administration to gear up to tackle the problems that have erupted due to snowfall.

“Government should use all its resources to help the common people and work to provide respite to them. This is our moral and basic duty,” Abdullah said in a statement.

He said the administration should mobilise its men and machinery to help people in dealing with problems due to snowfall.

Abdullah, who is chief minister Omar Abdullah’s father, asked the heads of Power Development Department, Public Health Engineering Department, Roads and Buildings Department and Food Supplies department to “personally monitor” the work of their departments. tion,” an official of the Divisional Administration Kashmir told PTI. The state government had last month announced that students of classes IX, X, XI and XII will attend school during winter vacation.

Kashmir has been in the grip of intense cold wave with temperatures plunging to minus six degrees Celsius.

School close in Kashmir division on December 15 every year and reopen on March 1 due to intense cold wave. Kashmir University has also postponed the ongoing examinations till further notice.

The snowfall, which began yesterday, has ended a twomonth dry spell in the Valley which experienced the first snowfall of the winter much ear-

lier than usual on October 22.

Road clearing operations are underway in all snow-bound areas of the Valley with 75 snow clearing machines pressed into operation.

Power Development Department has fanned out its workforce to restore snapped power lines.

Officials said five houses were damaged in South Kashmir which has experienced the maximum snowfall so far with Shopian district receiving 15 inches of snow. Tral area and Kulgam district recorded six inches each.

Some hilly areas of Kishtwar and Doda districts also experienced snowfall since last night while rains lashed Jammu region.

Sena wins over MNS in Mumbai University Senate PTI MUMBAI, DEC 30

Policemen frisk a pedestrian at a railway station in Mumbai. Mumbai police warned that four operatives of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant outfit were preparing a ‘violent attack’ during the festive season and called for residents to be vigilant.

AP gets big share in Krishna water dispute PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Making a final decision on dividing the surplus water of River Krishna, the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal today allocated the maximum share of water to Andhra Pradesh while also enhancing the share of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Now, Andhra Pradesh will get 1,001 TMC, Karnataka 911 TMC and Maharashtra 666 TMC of water from the river. Earlier allocation was 811 TMC for Andhra Pradesh, 734 TMC for Karnataka and 585 TMC for Maharashtra.

The Tribunal headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar also allowed more water to be stored in the Almati Dam in Karnataka. With this order, 524 metres of the dam height could be used to store the Krishna water from its earlier 519 metre.

The Centre will set up the Krishna Water Implementation Board after three months for implementation of the award.

“The states who want to file a review or seek explanation on the award can do so within the next three months,” Justice Kumar told PTI. It is understood that the award will be valid till May 31, 2050. Since the Tribunal has the force and decree of the Supreme Court, no appeal against the award can be filed in any other court except the tribunal itself.

Reacting to the tribunal’s decision, Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Ramrajya Nimbalkar told reporters, “No decision can be 100 per cent because no decision can give you 100 per cent of what you want.”

PM not to open Eco Park in Chennai PTI CHENNAI, DEC 30

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not inaugurate Tamil Nadu government’s ambitious Adyar Eco Park as scheduled during his visit here on Monday, as the Union Environment Ministry has not given its clearance for the project.

“Since the Union Environment Ministry has not given its clearance to the proposal sent by the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Prime Minister will not inaugurate it as scheduled on January 3,” the state government said in an official release here late last night.

The park will be opened later after obtaining the approval, it said.

Singh is scheduled to visit Chennai to inaugurate the prestigious 98th Indian Science Congress to be held on city outskirts on January 3. Deputy Chief Min-

ister M K Stalin had invited Singh in person at Delhi recently to inaugurate the Eco Park.

The postponement of the event has raised many eyebrows as Singh was scheduled to share dais with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at a time when six year-old ties between DMK and Congress are uneasy over 2G spectrum allocation scam involving former Union Telecom Minister A Raja.

Central intelligence agencies had also recently warned that banned outfit LTTE was trying to target the Prime Minister and Karunanidhi besides Home Minister P Chidambaram.

According to the Tamil Nadu government, the Adyar Poonga (the Eco Park) is “an ambitious project to restore the ecological balance in the Creek and the Estuary area extending initially to about 58 acres.”

In his first political battle, the 20-year-old Aditya Thackeray, who had recently anointed youth face of Shiv Sena, emerged victorious overcoming the challenge of his uncle MNS chief Raj Thackeray and wiping out the dominance of Congress and BJP in the Mumbai University Senate.

Shiv Sena won eight out of the total 10 seats of the Senate which is an important decision making body of the over 150year-old University.

from PAGe 1 Technical institutes...

Further, corporates can set up campuses through PPP (publicprivate partnership) or through build-operate-transfer mode under agreement with public sector.

Further relaxing norms, he said in rural sector, only 10 acre will be required to set up an engineering institute while in urban sector only 2.5 acre.

He said the measures are aimed at easing the pressure on the education sector and providing relief to the students in matters of admission.

“These are all incentives given for expansion of the education sector because the demand is huge and supply is less and the problems of fees etc. So when the sector expands and meets demands, the pressure on the system will be much less. It will be easier for students,” he said.

Significantly, Sibal also said that as per the new AICTE norms, stand alone post graduate programme can be offered by institutes as against the existing norm where PG courses are allowed in campuses where under graduate programme exist.

Wrong policies

Dr Kiran Budkule of Goa University lamented that the people have lost their value and called upon the political parties to do soul searching and get rid of the dead wood.

She said the citizens have to be responsible and become vigilant citizens.

Representatives of the political parties were then asked by the coordinator Julio D’Silva to outline their vision for Goa. While Bharatiya Janata Party legislator Damu Naik said the BJP has shown the trailer during the four and half year old rule, M K Sheikh of the Congress said the party is committed for the development of Goa as a secular state for the progress and welfare of the people.

Maharastrawadi Gomantak Party’s R S Mardolkar said that the party is committed to the upliftment of the Bahujan Samaj.

Earlier, Julio D’Silva called for amendment of the law to empower voters the right to cast a negative vote. Activist Mohandas Lolienkar, Nazario Pinto, Sunil and others also presented their views on the issue.

1,000 cops

Goa is on high security parameters as part of an alert on the western coast to avoid any possible intrusion from the seaside.

Deshpande said that although the alert is not State specific, police machinery has geared up to ensure smooth year-end festivities.

Police have also appealed the people to keep an eye on suspicious elements and unclaimed baggages. “We appeal to people to cooperate with the police so that they can celebrate the festivities incident free,” Deshpande said.

Police have also asked hotels to tighten security around their premises. Hotel staffers were seen frisking people entering their premises and also starred hotels have put up door frame metal detectors at the entrance.

Ordinance to fight...

and contracts, competitive system of exploitation of natural resources and protection of whistle blowers.

Sonia Gandhi also wanted end of the discretionary powers enjoyed by the chief ministers and ministers, particularly with regard to the land allotment and housing. This part of her agenda 0may require action at the State level, the sources said.

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GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

Pranab hints at more steps to curb inflation PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Expressing concern over food inflation rising to a 10 week high of 14.44 per cent, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today indicated the government will take more steps to check rising prices.

"We are looking into it. So far as onion is concerned we have taken care of it... but the fluctuation in milk, fruit, vegetables and certain commodities have contributed to the inflation," he told reporters here.

Pointing out that the rise was not because of the base effect, he said the price rise was real.

"This is an area of concern... earlier we thought that it is because of the base effect but it is not merely the base effect.

There has been real increase in the prices of certain food items," he said.

Continuing its rise for the fifth consecutive week, food inflation rose to a 10-week high

Mahendra IPO to raise up to Rs 165 cr ReuTeRs MUMBAI, DEC 30

Diamond jewellery maker C Mahendra Exports Ltd plans to raise up to Rs 165 crore via its initial public offering and has fixed a price band of Rs 95-110 per share for the offer.

A host of gem and jewellery companies such as Thangamayil Jewellery, Shree Ganesh Jewellery House (SHRG.BO) and Goenka Diamond & Jewels have tapped the primary market for funds since the start of 2010.

The Gujarat-based C Mahendra Exports, which is involved in sourcing, trading, processing and manufacturing of diamonds and diamond jewellery, is offering 15 million shares in the IPO. The issue, which opens on Friday and closes on Jan 6, will constitute 25% of the fully diluted post-issue paid-up capital of the company.

CSR DEEDS

of 14.44 per cent for the week ended December 18 as prices of vegetables, fruits and protein-based products continued to escalate.

"We are waiting for the full monthly figure. Weekly variations are there. Whether these are corrected in the coming week that is to be seen," Mukherjee said. Food articles contribute about 14 per cent in the wholesale price index.

While the government is concerned over the rising food-

prices, Mukherjee expressed hope that the overall inflation for the financial year would be around 6.5 per cent.

"I am still holding that yearend inflation may be around 6.5 per cent," he said.

Mukherjee's estimates of year end inflation, however, is higher than 5.5 per cent indicated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh earlier this month.

On an annual basis, onions became costlier by 39.66 per cent, whereas on a week-onweek basis, the increase was 3.49 per cent.

The rate of price rise of vegetables was 29.26 per cent on an annual basis, while on a weekly basis, it was 4.58 per cent.

Fruits became 21.97 per cent more expensive, while milk was 17.75 per cent costlier on a year-on-year basis during the week under review.

Similarly, egg, meat and fish prices rose by 20.34 per cent on an annual basis.

BHEL has orders of Rs 38,600 cr PTI TIRUCHIRAPALLI, DEC 30

BHEL has accrued an outstanding order worth Rs 38600 crore as of November end 2010,a top official has said.

"We will end this year with a fat order position, as typically the last few months of the financial year is when we get more orders from our customers," AV Krishnan, ED, BHEL Trichy Complex, said.

In the recent past, there has been a spurt in IPP (Independent Power Plant) projects.

Out of the Rs 38600 crore orders, the IPP segment contributes to over 25%. The remaining quantity is out of Public Sector Segment and Power Stations run by various State Electricity boards, he said. This outstanding order book includes eight units of super critical sets namely those that exceed 600MW capacity,he said. As of March 31 2010,the installed capacity was enhanced to 10000 mw and by 2011-12,it will be stepped up to 14000 mw production capacity, he said.

Powergear plans to foray into renewable energy PTI CHENNAI, DEC 30

High voltage electricity equipment manufacturer Powergear Ltd has proposed a Rs 150 crore "greenfield project" with an European partner for making its formal foray into the renewable energy sector.

The Bangalore-headquartered company,which has been manufacturing "busducts" and "control cubicles" for the energy sector, is currently "holding talks" with top officials of an European company, Powergear Ltd Founder-Chairman X Durairaj said.

"We have started diversifying into Renewable energy sector and already we are in talks with European partner ...the deal is likely to be completed in January second week," he said.

It would be a Rs 150 crore ‘greenfield’ project whereby the European partner would

Sesa celebrates National Energy Conservation Day

provide "technology" and ‘funding’ support while his company would look after the "construction" and "operations" of the project.

It is understood that in the joint venture, the Indian company would hold a majority stake of 51 per cent. "It is too early to comment on this..,” he said.

For setting up the manufacturing facility through the joint venture, he said they were scouting for locations in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"We need a 25 acre land for the facility. While the wind energy in Tamil Nadu is exhausted, in these four states there is huge potential for us..

In Andhra Pradesh alone 90 per cent of the wind energy potential remains untapped...", he said.

"We want to commence the production of the plant by January 2012 and in another 3-5 years we are expecting revenues (from this facility) of Rs 500 crore", he said.

On future plans, he said they were expecting revenues of Rs 148 crore this year too."That is mainly because of the reces-

sion .. Last year we reported Rs 148 crore. This year too we are expecting it to be the same..", he said.

About 70 per cent of the products are exported and still there is some recession in the overseas markets, he said.

The company currently has four manufacturing facilities -two in Chennai, one in Bangalore and one near Andhra Pradesh, he said and added they planned to make additional investments in the Chennai facility as part of its expansion.

"We have planned to make Rs 10 crore additional investments in our plant at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai. This is mainly to expand the facility. We want to increase the capacity of the plant". The Chennai facility manufactures busducts and control cubicles.

Durairaj and other company officials were here last night to announce the major shipment of 2x817 MW generator units for a nuclear power plant in Mexico. "This is the first time an Indian company is exporting such huge generator units to a Nuclear power plant in Mexico", he said.

Nov core sector growth slows PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Growth in key infrastructure sectors dropped to a 21-month low of 2.3 per cent in November, over the same month last year, raising apprehensions about the momentum of expansion in the country's total factory output.

In October, these sectors had recorded an impressive growth of 8.6 per cent.

The lacklustre growth of the 6 infrastructure sectors, which have a weightage of 26.68 per cent in the overall industrial output, was largely on account of dip in petroleum refinery and cement output.

The core sectors--crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel -- had expanded by 5.9 per cent in November 2009.

Petroleum refinery output contracted by 3.7 per cent and that of cement by 11.6 per cent in November, according to the official data released today. The refinery production had expanded 4.8 per cent and cement by 9 per cent in November of 2009.

Coal production witnessed a sluggish growth of 0.7 per cent this November, against 4.7 per cent in the same month last year.

Growth in the finished steel sector too was slow. It expanded by 4.4 per cent last month, as compared to 11.7 per cent in November 2009.

However, crude oil production witnessed a significant jump as it expanded by 17 per cent in the penultimate month of 2010. The sector had con-

tracted by 1.6 per cent in November 2009, the data said.

Economists said the slower pace of growth in different sectors would impact Index of Industrial Production (IIP) badly.

"The contraction in cement is a surprise...the contraction in core sector growth will adversely impact IIP growth. It may come down to single digits," Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi said.

Core sector growth in November was slowest since February 2008-09, when it had slowed to 1.9 per cent.

India's industrial output grew by double digit of 10.8 per cent in October.

IIP Data for November is ex-

PANJIM (HBD) -- Sesa Industries Ltd celebrated National Energy Conservation Day on December 14, 2010 at Pig Iron Plant, Amona.

Various competitions were conducted over the period of one week for the employees, Sesa Technical School students and children of Government High School from Amona and Navelim.

Poster & Elocution competition based on the theme ‘Energy Conservation’ was conducted for high school students from Amona and Navelim. The elocution competition was held in the company premises and was judged by energy manager, electrical manager and AGM of PIP. Around 70 students participated from both the schools.

Prize distribution function was held on December 16, 2010 and chaired by N L Vhatte, business manager (PIP). Other dignitaries present were Anil Thankappan, energy manager PIP, Yogita Nagvekar and Krutika Khandolkar, Teachers from Govt High School Amona and Navelim.

The ceremony ended with vote of thanks proposed by Aashish Sharma, GET PIP. sesa Dnyanjyoti shishyavritti:

Air India today said it has decided to shift the headquarters of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Air India Charters Limited (AICL) to Kochi in Kerala.

However, the engineering wing of the company would operate from Thiruvananthapuram, a company press release said here.

AICL, which runs Air India Express currently is headquartered in Mumbai.

The decision comes following the AICL Board approving the proposal to this effect on October 8, it said.

"The headquarters of Air India Charters Ltd (AICL) will be

shifted to Kerala in pursuance of a decision taken on October 8, 2010 in the 178th meeting of the Board of AICL," the release said.

All operational and administrative functions will henceforth shift to Kochi, while the engineering functions for AICL would be at Thiruvananthapuram, it said.

Air India Express presently connects 16 Indian cities to 14 international destinations with a fleet of 21 Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

PTI COIMBATORE, DEC 30

A total number of 1,340 applicants today got spot appointment at a job fair organised by Coimbatore District Small Industries Association and District Industries Centre, (Coimbatore and Udhagamandalam),here.

Another 1,120 applications were under process, as the managers of various companies were satisfied with the jobseekers from 8th Standard fail to Diploma holders and total number of aspirants were 5,230, CODISSIA Chairman, M Kandhasamy said.

About 135 industries, particularly engineering sector, in and around the city participated in the fair, with some BE graduates aspirants also attending the interviews, he said.

PANJIM (HBD) – The Sesa Dnyanjyoti Shishyavritti for this academic year was introduced at Somnath English High School, Savergal, Kirlapal -Dabal wherein 292 students were given cheques, certificates or token of appreciation to encourage them towards academic excellence for achieving higher standards in their academic pursuit.

A welcome speech on “Sesa Dnyanjyoti Shishyavritti 20092010” was delivered by Leena Verenkar, manager environment, Sesa Goa Ltd Motivating Talk by Joseph Coelho, associate general manager, Sesa Goa, the Guest of Honor was Rama Gaonkar, Sarpanch, V P Kirlapal Dabal, Chief Guest was Bhagirath Shetye, assistant director of education and the compere was Samiuddin Khan, Sr officer CSR-SGL .

This scheme for meritorious students for each standard right from Std V to XII from schools in Sesa Goa’s areas of operation.

The Scheme has covered 49 high schools and 8 higher secondary schools benefiting 292 meritorious students from academic year 2009-10.

PTI BANGALORE, DEC 30

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today made it clear that it has no solution for Micro finance Institutions that have been hit, but said the Malegam Committee may look at "grey areas" in their regulation.

RBI Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty said MFIs are in the business of taking money and giving loans and if people do not pay back, RBI has no solution for it.

"People have to pay back money to the lender who has given the money.If they don't pay back, we have no solution," he told reporters in response to questions after inaugurating

"Grameena Vikas Kendra" (branchless banking unit) of Corporation Bank at Mallohalli in the Bangalore district.

He said people (MFIs) must first make people credit worthy before lending, should not "exploit" those who take loans, "should not charge that much high rate that people are not able to repay the money", must do due deligence and should not lend more than their customers can absorb.

"They (MFIs) should bring good lending practices to the fore, then only it (their business model) will work."

He said there are already RBI regulations governing nonbanking financial institutions

APPOINTMeNTs

PTI MUMBAI, DEC 30

No solution for MFIs who have been hit: RBI Bhagirath Shetye, Sarpanch Rama Goankar, Joseph Coelho, Leena Verenkar with the students.

As per the data, growth in coal output during the first eight months of the fiscal slowed to 0.6 per cent, from 9.7 per cent in the year-ago period. Similarly, growth in electricity generation slowed to 4.5 per cent from 5.8 per cent in April-November 2009-10.

However, finished steel output growth was higher at 6.9 per cent during the period under review, as against 2.9 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

AIExpress to shift base to Kerala

1340 get spot appointment at job fair High School students participating in drawing competition.

pected on January 12.

During the April-November period of the current fiscal, crude oil, petroleum refinery products and cement production have registered a growth of 11.5 per cent, 0.8 per cent and 4.1 per cent, respectively.

Growth in crude oil and refinery products output had contracted to 1.4 per cent and 1.2 per cent respectively in the same period last year, though cement output was up by 11 per cent during April-November 2009-10.

and MFIs, adding, if there are any "grey areas", the Malegam Committee would examine and come out with recommendations.

MFIs had been badly hit due to the freeze on lending by banks.

Asked if the RBI would ask MFIs to reduce interest rates, Chakrabarty said: "In a competitive environment, pricing comes out of competition. I cannot force a person to reduce the price."

Earlier addressing the function, he said 72,000 villages with a population of more than 2,000 in the country are aimed to be covered under banking services by March-end.

Carrefour to open 1st store in Parsvnath ReuTeRs NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Parsvnath Developers said on Thursday French retailer Carrefour will open its first cash-and-carry store in India at one of the realtor's New Delhi malls.

In September, a Carrefour executive told Reuters its first store in India will have a surface area of 5,000 square metres.

India's $450 billion retail sector is largely closed to foreign firms and favours small stores, which provide livelihoods for hundreds of thousands and serve a market of more than 1 billion. Multi-brand retail is restricted to cash-and-carry or wholesale outlets.

ISO 9001

REGISTERED FIRM

OHERALDO

Pg 10 Govt clears Rs 1200 cr equity infusion in AI PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Government today approved the infusion of the second tranche of equity of Rs 1,200 crore to ailing Air India with the condition that its management should rationalise the wage structure of over 25,000 employees.

Announcing the decision of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for further equity infusion, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said, "This will not only help restructuring the airline, but will also shore up its finances".

The first tranche of equity infusion of Rs 800 crore was made in February this year for its revival plan.

"The infusion of enhanced equity fund would give the much needed impetus to Air India for its revival plan", an official statement said.

Sources said the equity infusion was being made in a phased manner as it was based

BIZ

GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

on the performance parameters of Air India.

The official statement said the CCEA, while granting additional equity, "directed Air India management to work towards rationalisation of wage structure".

With the CCEA directive aimed at cutting costs, the Na-

tional Aviation Company of India Limited (NACIL) received the official nod to go ahead with its plans to review and renegotiate all agreements with its 14 unions.

Two of these unions were de-recognised following a flash strike three days after the May 22 plane crash in Mangalore this year.

At present, there are 10 wage agreements signed between these unions and the management.

The employees' unions have been opposing moves to slash wages or allowances, contending that the airline's wage bill was only 18 per cent of the

total turnover, as against a global average of about 22 per cent for most international carriers.

The wage restructuring plans, proposed by the Air India management earlier, had also suggested freezing of payment of arrears for three years.

Its total burden after three years was estimated at Rs 218 crore.

There have been strong indications that the Government intended to raise Air India's working capital to about Rs 7,000-8,000 crore. The Committee of Secretaries had earlier recommended the infusion of an additional Rs 5,000 crore.

Hotel projects: Board for fast clearance PTI NEW DELHI, DEC 30

But, the earlier tranche of equity infusion of Rs 800 crore was primarily used by the flag carrier to meet its huge debt burden.

Keeping this in mind, the Civil Aviation Ministry had proposed that the government provide sovereign guarantee to back the loans it has taken so far mainly to fund its fleet expansion. Such a guarantee would help the airline restructure its debts.

The Reserve Bank had recently asked the national carrier to provide a letter of support from the government due to a poor debt-equity ratio of the company.

an overall passenger load factor of 66.3 per cent between April and November, up from 63.1 per cent a year ago.

The national carrier had also sought government's nod to operationalise six strategic business units (SBUs) relating to low cost airline, cargo, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), grounding handling, engineering and related business.

In 2007 when the erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines were merged into NACIL, it was decided that these SBUs would act as separate profit centres.

But without the government clearing this proposal, the SBUs cannot be operationalised.

India tool only for consumer services access: RIM REUTERS NEW DELHI, DEC 30

Aiming at steamlining the system for speedy clearances of hotel projects, government today decided to constitute a Board at both central and state levels.

The Union Cabinet approved the creation of Hopsitality Development and Promotion Board for approving and facilitating of hotel projects.

The decision will facilitate the setting up of a Hospitality Development and Promotion Board at the central level as a single-window clearance system. In order to facilitate the processing of proposals of hotel project approvals and expeditious disposal of the same in a time-bound manner by the Centre and state governments, a facilitation system at both levels is required.

The Air India Board, which met in Mumbai few days ago, reviewed the financial performance which showed improvement in revenue, yields and overall passenger load factors since its turnaround plan came into operation.

During April–November this year, Air India recorded network revenue of Rs 7,250 crore as against Rs 5,911 crore achieved during the corresponding period last year, reflecting a growth of 22 per cent.

According to official figures, the airline's yield per revenue passenger kilometre on its network rose by 12.2 per cent during the period, as it registered

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion said on Thursday the network data analysis system (NDAS) was a tool to gain lawful access only to its consumer services including BlackBerry Messenger, and does not enable access to highly secure corporate emails on its devices.

RIM, in a statement, reiterated that there would be no change to its security model for corporate emails, clarifying after the Economic Times newspaper earlier reported RIM had offered to install the tool at its premises in India to help tap data.

RIM has said it is cooperating with the Indian government and is enabling mobile carriers to lawfully access data on BlackBerry Messenger.

India had threatened to shut

off BlackBerry Messenger and corporate email services unless it gains access to them, in a campaign driven by fears that unmonitored communication puts the country's security at risk.

RIM averted a ban earlier this year, and the Indian government said in late October that RIM had set up an interim arrangement for lawful interception of BlackBerry Messenger services and assured a final solution by the end of January 2011.

Indian government officials have said discussions are still on with the company on corporate email access. But no easy fix is seen as BlackBerry's reputation is built on its system security and a compromise under

pressure from governments could damage the device's popularity with business professionals and politicians.

RIM said it was "technologically infeasible" to enable access to corporate email through an NDAS. The company has earlier said it is confident that India's security concerns could be resolved to their mutual satisfaction and has consistent global standards for lawful access, which do not include special deals for specific countries.

RIM uses powerful codes to scramble, or encrypt, email messages as they travel between a BlackBerry device and a computer known as a BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

China defends rare earth quotas

REUTERS BEIJING, DEC 30

China defended its export controls on rare earth minerals on Thursday, saying that they were in line with World Trade Organisation rules, after a government move to slash export quotas on rare earths sparked trade concerns.

Sensex gains 133 points PTI MUMBAI, DEC 30

Brushing aside spike in food inflation and weakness in global markets, the BSE bellwether Sensex surged for the second straight session today, moving up 133 points on value buying in blue chips like Infosys and HDFC. In a day of volatile trade, the Bombay Stock Exchange barometer Sensex ended the day with a smart gain of 133.04 points at 20,389.07.

Similarly, buying in the Realty and the IT stocks lifted the National Stock Exchange's wide based Nifty to end above the 6,100 level at 6,101.85, up 41.50 points or 0.68 per cent from previous close.

Aban Offshor, 773, 814.8, 772.5, 810.25 Abb Ltd., 802.5, 807, 778, 781.05 Abg Shipyard, 405, 406.8, 396.1, 401.15 Acc Limited, 1085, 1092.9, 1074, 1076.4 Adani Enterp, 649, 700, 630.05, 647.7 Aditya Birla, 840, 846.7, 826.35, 832.05 Allahabad Ba, 220.8, 226.45, 220.5, 225.05 Alstom Proje, 692.6, 701, 675.25, 680.25 Ambuja Cemen, 143, 152.6, 141.75, 143.35 Andhra Bank, 149.3, 149.85, 147.85, 148.3 Ashok Leylan, 62.35, 62.9, 61.3, 62.25 Asian Paints, 2823.4, 2844, 2806.75, 2822.9 Axis Bank Li, 1320, 1338.7, 1305.1, 1333.8 Bajaj Hindus, 118.9, 124.9, 117.3, 122.45 Bank Of Baro, 890, 902.35, 886, 899.75 Bank Of Indi, 432.7, 438, 428, 436.65 Beml Limited, 986, 1005, 982.15, 998.8 Bharat Elect, 1716, 1775, 1707, 1754.8 Bharat Forge, 371, 378.25, 365.5, 375.05 Bharat Petro, 662.05, 666.95, 653, 659.2 Bharti Airte, 355, 360, 351.05, 357.45 Bhel, 2312.8, 2346, 2307.45, 2337.6 Bhushan Stee, 462, 471.7, 456, 465.55 Biocon Limit, 421, 421.9, 413.6, 417.2 Bombay Dyein, 514.05, 522, 511.05, 518.65 Bosch Limite, 6300, 6389.95, 6231, 6260.3

China, which produces about 97 percent of the global supply of the metals used in the production of numerous high-tech products, cut its export quota by 35 percent for the first half of 2011 compared with a year earlier, saying it wanted to conserve reserves.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu reiterated at a

Brigade Ente, 109.8, 110.7, 109, 110.05 Cairn India, 332.9, 335.3, 327.65, 334.75 Canara Bank, 648, 655, 640, 647.5 Central Bank, 172.25, 173.95, 171.55, 172.9 Century Text, 420.5, 421, 415.15, 416.45 Cesc Ltd, 367.9, 368.8, 359.3, 361.5 Chambal Fert, 84.5, 88.25, 84.5, 87.8 Chennai Petr, 246.3, 249, 244.75, 247.65 Cipla Ltd, 367.4, 371.8, 363.55, 369.05 Colgate Palm, 859, 870.55, 855.1, 866.45 Container Co, 1239.6, 1279, 1221.25, 1264.3 Crompton Gre, 313.95, 313.95, 304.5, 305.95 Cummins Indi, 769, 775.3, 757.1, 769.75 Dabur India, 98.9, 100.2, 98.6, 99.8 Deccan Chron, 109.95, 109.95, 107.25, 108.6 Dish Tv Indi, 69.8, 71.7, 67.65, 71.15 Divi’s Labor, 657, 657, 641, 646.7 Dlf Limited, 287, 288.45, 284.75, 287.4 Dr. reddy’s, 1690, 1695, 1676.55, 1685 Edelweiss Ca, 46.5, 46.9, 46, 46.3 Educomp Solu, 523.4, 539.9, 520.9, 527.6 Eih Limited, 115.7, 118.5, 113.5, 114 Engineers In, 334.8, 351.9, 327, 332.3 Essar Oil Lt, 137.85, 138.6, 135.35, 136.65 Essar Shippi, 112.05, 114, 109, 110.05 Exide Indust, 168, 170.4, 164.85, 169.45

regular news briefing in Beijing that the quotas were necessary for environmental protection.

"This accords with relevant WTO rules," she said. "In the future, China will continue to supply rare earths to the international market and will take effective management steps over their export in accordance with WTO rules."

The foreign ministry does not set China's policy on rare earths.

China has refused US requests to end export restraints on rare earths that have alarmed trade partners, and Washington could complain to the WTO, which judges international trade disputes, the US Trade Representative office said last week.

The rare earths issue adds to the growing list of trade-related disputes between China and the United States, which has accused China of poorly enforcing intellectual property rights and for its indigenous innovation policies that discrimi-

Federal Bank, 395.25, 397.45, 388.55, 393.15 Financial Te, 885, 909.7, 874.3, 895.75 Gail (india), 510.75, 513.85, 502.8, 510.7 Gammon India, 171.4, 171.4, 168.2, 169.65 Glaxosmithkl, 2270, 2338.8, 2261, 2324.9 Glenmark Pha, 359.7, 359.7, 351.4, 352.85 Gmr Infrastr, 45.25, 45.25, 44.65, 44.8 Godrej Indus, 184.1, 186.4, 182.35, 183.7 Grasim Indus, 2314.95, 2320.75, 2300, 2316.9 Great Offsho, 384, 395, 381.1, 393.2 Gtl Infra.Lt, 42.2, 43.85, 42.1, 43.45 Gujarat Mine, 134.4, 141.7, 133.2, 140.55 Gujarat N R, 61.15, 64.5, 61.15, 64.25 Gujarat Stat, 114.6, 117.5, 114, 116.85 Gvk Pow. & I, 39.95, 40.1, 39.7, 39.95 Hcl Technolo, 457.5, 460.05, 453.1, 459.45 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2336.2, 2343.4, 2288.05, 2305.5 Hdfc Ltd, 712.55, 731.75, 712.55, 729.2 Hero Honda M, 1956.25, 2019, 1941.1, 1993.65 Hindalco in, 242.4, 245.2, 240.9, 244.65 Hindustan Co, 47.75, 48.9, 47.4, 48.4 Hindustan Ma, 67.35, 73.3, 67, 69.85 Hindustan Pe, 395, 396.5, 386.05, 388.1 Hindustan Un, 304, 310.55, 304, 309.3 Hindustan Zi, 1335, 1350, 1325, 1339.45 Housing Dev, 186.9, 189.5, 186.3, 188.55

nate against foreign companies.

Prices have surged for rare earth minerals since the authorities in Beijing slashed exports by 40 percent this summer.

BOARD MEETINGS Aditya Ispat GCV Services Welcure Drugs Astra Micro UMESL Source: Indiainfoline.com

Icici Bank L, 1123.1, 1143.6, 1123.1, 1136.85 Idea Cellula, 70.05, 70.85, 67.4, 68.05 Ifci Ltd, 63.55, 65.5, 63.55, 65.15 India Cement, 106.05, 106.4, 104.1, 104.7 India Infoli, 81.5, 83.55, 81.25, 83.1 Indiabulls F, 165, 171.4, 165, 170.85 Indiabulls R, 126, 133.2, 124.6, 132.3 Indian Bank, 244.9, 248.2, 243.15, 245.05 Indian Hotel, 95.6, 96.75, 93.25, 94.1 Indian Oil C, 346, 346, 335.15, 337.3 Indian Overs, 141, 148.8, 140.75, 145.9 Indus Dev Ba, 161.2, 161.8, 160.15, 160.35 Indusind Ban, 254.9, 266.9, 253.5, 262.45 Infosys Tech, 3410, 3454, 3402, 3446.95 Infra. dev., 178.3, 179.8, 175.35, 178.4 Ispat Indust, 23, 23.65, 22.6, 23.45 Itc Ltd, 173.3, 176.35, 172.65, 174.55 Ivrcl Infras, 126.75, 127.5, 125.45, 125.95 Jai Corp Lim, 219, 219.9, 216.2, 217.45 Jaiprakash A, 102.4, 103.35, 101.75, 102.9 Jet Airways, 715, 738.65, 713.35, 733.3 Jindal Saw L, 182.9, 184.5, 177.95, 181.3 Jindal Steel, 715, 725, 706.1, 721.7 Jsw Steel Li, 1148, 1183.9, 1125, 1177.05 Kotak Mahind, 451.05, 452, 442.5, 444.95 Lakshmi Mach, 2362, 2455, 2362, 2397.65

MF FUNDA JM FINANCIAL MUTUAL FUND files offer document with SEBI to launch JM Fixed Maturity Fund-Series XX, a close ended income fund offering fixed maturity plans.

Under the scheme, six plans will be launched. JM Fixed Maturity Fund - Series XX - Plan A to F offers plans of tenure from 3 months to 24 months from the date of allotment of the respective plan(s) (including the date of allotment).

The NFO price is Rs 10 per unit.

Options offered: Growth and Dividend option with dividend payout option.

Loads: There will be no entry load for investing in any plan under the scheme. Also since the plans will be listed on the stock exchange, no exit load will be charged Minimum application amount: Rs 5,000 only in the plan for each option and in multiples of Rs. 10 thereafter.

Minimum target amount: The fund seeks to raise a minimum subscription amount of Rs 10 million under each of the plans.

Benchmark: Crisil Liquid Fund Index: For plans with tenure less than 91 days and Crisil Short Term Bond Index: For plans with tenure of 91 days or more but less than three years.

Fund manager: Shalini Tibrewala TATA MUTUAL FUND files offer document with SEBI to launch Tata Fixed Maturity Plan Series 31 and Tata Fixed Maturity Plan Series 32. Tata Fixed Maturity Plan Series 31 comprises of 3 schemes namely Scheme A, Scheme B and Scheme C. Both are close ended debt funds and the new fund offer price is for both the funds is Rs 10 per unit.

Tata Fixed Maturity Plan Series 31 Options offered: The scheme has following options: a) Growth Option b) Periodic Dividend Option (Payout) Loads: Entry Load (During NFO): NIL Exit Load (Upon Maturity): NIL Minimum application amount: Rs 10000 Minimum target amount: Rs 200 million for each scheme.

Benchmark: The Benchmark indices for the Scheme A, B and C shall be as follows:For the schemes having maturity between 01 to 12 months from the date of allotment: Crisil Liquid Fund Index.

For the schemes having a maturity more than 12 months upto 18 months from the date of allotment: Crisil Short Term Bond Fund Index Fund Manager: Murthy Nagarajan Tata Fixed Maturity Plan Series 32 Options offered: The scheme has following options: a) Growth Option b) Monthly Dividend Option (Payout) c) Periodic Dividend Option (Payout) Loads: Entry Load (During NFO): NIL Exit Load (Upon Maturity): NIL Minimum application amount: Rs 10000 Minimum target amount: Rs 200 million for the scheme.

Benchmark: Crisil Short Term Bond Fund Index Fund Manager: Murthy Nagarajan KOTAK MAHINDRA ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY announced the launch of its Kotak Multi Asset Allocation Fund.

The scheme will take exposure to gold through Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). The NFO will be open from December 31, 2010 to January 14, 2011.

Speaking on the new fund, Sandesh Kirkire, CEO, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company said, “At Kotak Mahindra AMC we believe in offering investors pragmatic financial solutions that will help add value to their investment portfolio. With the availability of multiple asset classes and the constant news flow surrounding these assets, today the average retail investor often wonders where to invest. Currently the equity market is reeling under aftermath of the Eurozone crisis and domestic political uncertainty and uncertainty over global growth still remains. On the other hand, yields remain high in the debt market, providing highyielding opportunities. Gold has been a good performer the recent past due to the impact of global economic turbulence.

However gold prices are trading near all time highs. This underlines the fact that various asset classes perform differently in various economic cycles hence it is very difficult for investors to choose the right asset class at the right point of time. There is thus the need for a product which offers stability of debt, growth from equities as well as overall diversification from gold and this is what we are looking at offering our investors with the Kotak Multi Asset Allocation Fund.”

Adding to this, Lakshmi Iyer, Head- Fixed Income and Product, Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Company said,``The investment objective of the scheme is to generate income by investing predominantly in debt and money market securities, to generate growth by taking moderate exposure to equity and equity related instruments and provide diversification by investing in Gold ETFs. In this way, the scheme is suitable for investors who seek stability of debt, growth potential of equities and diversification of the portfolio by taking exposure to gold. In terms of Risk-Return positioning, Kotak Multi Asset Allocation has a risk-return profile of MIPs with better return potential with relatively lower risk since we have seen that portfolios with random varying exposures to gold have outperformed CRISIL MIP Blended Index across time horizons.``

Lanco Infrat, 61.5, 63, 61, 62.65 Larsen & Tou, 1946, 1979.9, 1946, 1975.45 Lic Housing, 201, 201, 189, 193.65 Lupin Limite, 471.6, 478.45, 464, 474.75 Mahanagar Te, 53.5, 53.8, 53.05, 53.3 Mahindra & M, 777.9, 782.7, 772.75, 776.1 Maruti Suzuk, 1422, 1439.5, 1413, 1420.45 Max India Lt, 144.95, 146.9, 142.7, 145.3 Maytas Infr., 183, 183.75, 178.1, 179.3 Moser-baer (, 61.9, 62, 60.6, 61.6 Mrpl, 72.4, 72.4, 71.05, 71.55 Nagarjuna Co, 140.9, 140.9, 136.15, 137.8 Nagarjuna Fe, 32.55, 34, 32.55, 33.75 National Alu, 380, 385, 380, 381.85 Neyveli Lign, 135.2, 135.2, 130.2, 130.75 Ntpc Ltd, 198, 203.8, 197.35, 202.25 Oil And Natu, 1304.7, 1304.7, 1285, 1294.6 Omaxe Limite, 146, 147.95, 146, 147.3 Oriental Ban, 399.95, 400, 392.4, 394.3 Pantaloon Re, 355, 369.8, 351.5, 363.8 Parsvnath De, 52.1, 55.8, 51.25, 54.7 Petronet Lng, 125.1, 125.65, 122.75, 124.3 Power Fin Co, 314, 314, 303.3, 304.65 Power Grid C, 95.7, 97.55, 94.65, 96.6 Praj Industr, 80.5, 85.9, 80.15, 85.45 Punj Lloyd L, 108, 108.5, 106.9, 107.5

Punjab Natio, 1225, 1240, 1210.05, 1215.95 Rajesh Expor, 123.75, 139.25, 123.05, 135.7 Ranbaxy Labs, 589.25, 593.25, 581.2, 590.4 Rashtriya Ch, 96.25, 100.5, 96.2, 99.2 Reliance Cap, 648, 657.85, 642, 654.85 Reliance Com, 138.8, 139.95, 136.75, 138.45 Reliance Ene, 1160, 1160, 1126, 1143.26 Reliance Ind, 734.9, 748.7, 700.4, 703.1 Reliance Ind, 1052.4, 1055.75, 1046.25, 1051.2 Reliance Pow, 153, 155.65, 151, 154.45 Rolta India, 154.6, 154.6, 151.4, 152.8 Satyam Compu, 66.65, 67.25, 65.8, 66 Sesa Goa Ltd, 323.9, 326.7, 318.5, 324.65 Shipping Cor, 131, 131.9, 129.4, 129.7 Siemens Ltd, 813, 818.3, 802.35, 809.85 Sintex Indus, 180.4, 181.9, 176.4, 180.75 Sobha Develo, 314.8, 334.8, 310, 325.05 State Bank O, 2751, 2780.45, 2741.8, 2749.65 Steel Author, 181, 182.3, 177.25, 181.25 Sterlite Ind, 186.5, 189.95, 183.2, 188.7 Sun Pharmace, 485, 488.25, 473.2, 482.45 Sun Tv Netwo, 528.6, 530, 521, 524.4 Suzlon Energ, 51.8, 54.9, 51.8, 54.6 Tata Communi, 255, 258.9, 251, 253.95

Tata Consult, 1152.5, 1174.8, 1152.5, 1170.2 Tata Motors, 1274, 1305, 1273.2, 1300.15 Tata Power C, 1341.45, 1375, 1333.15, 1365.25 Tata Steel L, 670.6, 676.6, 670, 672.75 Tata Teleser, 19, 19.2, 18.85, 19 Tech Mahindr, 695.05, 703.6, 694.6, 700.1 The Ge Shpg., 331.25, 342, 328.2, 339.3 The Phoenix, 220.1, 223, 216.25, 217.15 Thermax Ltd, 850, 895, 841.35, 870.05 Titan Indust, 3534.95, 3574.45, 3496.5, 3536.1 Torrent Powe, 281, 283.95, 275.55, 280.7 Triveni Engg, 112.1, 113.3, 110.2, 111.95 Tv18 India L, 69.35, 72.25, 68.75, 71.6 Uco Bank, 113, 113.65, 111.7, 113.05 Ultratech Ce, 1072, 1074, 1051.5, 1069.15 Union Bank O, 337.9, 345, 335, 343.75 Unitech Ltd, 62.1, 65.1, 62.1, 64.8 United Phosp, 169, 173, 167, 172.1 Videocon Ind, 216.3, 219.75, 212.95, 215.8 Vijaya Bank, 97, 97.8, 95.85, 96.2 Voltas Ltd, 216.9, 216.95, 213.5, 215.05 Wipro Ltd, 490, 495, 485.45, 489.95 Yes Bank Lim, 309.7, 310.15, 305.3, 308.6 Zee Entertai, 142.5, 146.5, 142.05, 144.6

Pg 11

SPORTS

GOA,Friday, 31 December, 2010

Sarvodaya, Mechvac win Man-of-the-Matches Saurabh Bandekar (left) and Shailendra Srigar HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

Dhiraj Narvekar’s brilliant 51

in just 35 balls went in vain as Sarvodaya Royal defeated Salgaocar Sports Club by 8 wickets in Goa Premier League T20 match, at GCA stadium Alto Porvorim, on Thursday.

Batting first, Salgaocar scored 115 in 18.4 overs.

But Sarvodaya Royal easily managed to reach the target in just 13.3 overs to score 119.

Besides Dhiraj, Shadab Jakati (22) and Suraj Dongre (11)

were the top scorers for Salgaocar. Four of their batsmen, including three tailenders were out for duck.

Shailendra Srigar toppled Salgaocar’s batting order with his brilliant spell by taking four wickets giving 14 runs in 3.4 overs.

Robin D’Souza (2), Darshan Misal (1) and Amogh Desai (1) were the other wicket takers.

In their reply, Sarvodaya claimed their victor y with Shavaz Khan scoring 41 in 24 balls and Hemant Shetgaonkar 29 in 33 balls. Aniket Desai (18) and Robin D’Souza (15) also contributed for their team.

Salgaocar bowlers hardly managed to take any wickets, except for Shadab Jakati and Dhiraj Narvekar taking a single wicket each.

In another match, Mechvac Fabricators defeated Al Fa t a h C r i c k e t C l u b b y 4 wickets.

Batting first, Al Fatah scored 122 in 20 overs losing 5 wickets. Mechvac scored 125 in 18.5 after losing 6 wickets.

Al Fatah’s middle order tried their level best to set a huge

target with Gajanan Azgaonkar (49) not out, Rahul Keni (31) and Sher Bahadur Yadav (16).

Opener Sachin Sardessai managed to score only 13 in 31 balls while Saheel Dhuri went o u t f o r a d u c k . Yo g e s h Chodankar (9) was the other scorer.

Saurabh Bandekar, Domnic Fernandes, Amit Yadav, Vivian Castilino and Shashank Rao claimed one wicket each for Mechvac.

Mechvac lost their top order scoring only 16 runs, with Rohit Sabharwal (13), Rupesh Sarvankar (3) and Shashank

Rao going out for a duck. Kiran Powar (26), Saurabh Bandekar (47) not out and Amit Yadav

(17) came to the rescue as the team managed to score 125.

Saheel Dhuri (2), Yogesh

Condankar (2) and Srinivas Phadte (1) were the wicket takers for Al Fatah.

Pg 12 GOA, Friday, 31 December, 2010

SPORTS

Chirag salvage draw against Dempo SC R E S U LT S Dempo 1 Chirag 1 Man-of-the match: Peter Caravalho (Dempo) M Bagan 2 Mumbai 0 Man-of-the match: Shilton Paul (Bagan) AIFF XI 2 HAL 1 Man-of-the match: Malsawmfela (AIFF) ONGC 1 Churchill 1 Man of the Match: Peter Odafe (ONGC) HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, DEC 30

Dempo Sports Club’s chief coach Armando Colaco may believe that every day is a new day, but there is nothing new in his team’s performance as Chirag United benefited out of rival’s floppy error at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda after a 1-1 draw left Dempo still searching for their third win in the round six I-League match on Thursday.

Promising striker Cliffton Gonsalves raised hopes with a strike in injury time of the opening session. Dempo however lacked the conviction to break their unimpressive display and Chirag were back on even terms through Brazilian Josimar da Silva Martins late in the second half.

It was the same old story of missed chances to haunt the home team, allowing Chirag to snatch a point.

Dempo made their intentions clear as they instantly went on the offensive and struck the rhythm early and kept the momentum. Their shirt passing and distribution was impressive but they were let down with poor finishing by captain Ranty Martins as he had Chirag custodian Abhijit Mondal at his mercy but ineptness by the Nigerian striker in the 18-yard box proved to be their downfall.

Dempo spurned a good chance in the 12th minute when Roberto Mendes da Silva found Nicolau Borges free on the left and the last named sent a through pass for Cliffton Gonsalves, outwitted a rival defender. However, Chirag keeper Abhijit Mondal brought down Cliffton inside the penalty box and referee A Rowan from SSCB without any hesitation pointed to the dreaded spot. The resultant spot kick taken by striker Ranty Martins hit the right post,

Mohun Bagan, AIFF XI win PTI KOLKATA, DEC 30

Mohun Bagan scored a 2-0 win over Mumbai FC in a Round VI I-League match at Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium here today, but not before being tested by the inexperienced side.

Subair Muritala Ali (45+1st) and Ashim Biswas (79th) struck in each half to help Mohun Bagan pick their second consecutive win.

The three points helped Mohun Bagan improve their position in the standings with eight points from six matches while the Mumbai outfit remained on nine points from as many outings.

In another match, AIFF XI registered their second win on the trot defeating HAL 2-1 at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, here.

While Malswamfela opened the accounts for the AIFF XI in the first half, midfielder Bikramjeet Singh doubled the lead before HAL striker R C Prakash notched up a consolation goal scoring from the spot.

much to the dismay of the Dempo supporters.

A couple of minutes later, Ranty blew away the easiest chance, shooting over from five yards after Ogba Kalu assisted.

Thereafter, Roberto floated the ball inside the rival territory but man-of-the-match Peter Carvalho’s unimpressive header went straight into the rival keeper’s hands.

Chirag who were struggling throughout the opening session, had a first look at the rival goal in the 30th minute when midfielder Lalkamal Bhowmick outpaced Domnic Noronha and found striker Junior Elijaih at the top of the box, who unleashed a snap shot which deflected from John Dias’ leg and went out for an abortive flag kick.

Dempo shot into the lead in injur y time when Roberto Mendes da Silva sent a defence splitting pass from the left via Nicolau Borges inside the rival penalty box, but the ball eluded striker Ranty Martins and Chirag keeper Abhijit Mondal, and striker Cliffton Gonsalves, made no mistake in punting the ball in.

The second half saw Dempo dish out some ragged football combined with bouts of free flowing short passes and Ranty wasted a gilt edged scoring opportunity off Ogba Kalu’s pass.

Dempo coach Armando Colaco’s move pulling out striker

Chirag United and Dempo Sports Club players try to take control of the ball.

Cliffton Gonsalves and shifting Roberto Mendes upfront backfired as the waist line comprising Nigerian Ogba Kalu and Nicolau Borges were woeful out of touch and both were responsible for erratic miss-passes. Peter Carvalho nearly doubled the lead but his header off Roberto Mendes da Silva’s free kick sailed over the crossbar.

Just when everything seemed

in tune with Dempo still celebrating, there came the shocker in the 89th minute, when left wingback Marcus Peixoto lost the ball near his own half allowing midfielder Lalkamal Bhowick to head a perfect ball for striker Josimar da Silva Martins to beat Dempo keeper Laxmikant Kattimani with a snap shot to the right of the keeper.

With this draw, Dempo col-

ONGC hold Churchill Bros AGENCIES KOLHAPUR, DEC 30

ONGC defence did a brilliant job as they hold Goan giants Churchill Brothers to a 1-1 draw in the Round VI encounter of the I-league played at Sahu Maharaj ground, Kolhapur, on Thursday.

ONGC took an attacking approach and put pressure on their opponent right from the outset and didn’t let them dominate.

Also, Churchill Brothers strikers especially their Nigerian marksman Odafe Onyeka Okolie was under sever check by the ONGC heart of defence.

It was ONGC who looked in command and former Air India striker N D Opara struck in the 20th minute as he scored off a Robin Gurung pass from the right flank. After taking lead ONGC maintained their fine run and created three more chances through N D Opara, Peter Odafe and Robin Gurung.

Though just before the lemon break Churchill’s danger man Odafe equalised in the injury time with his free kick finding

the back of the net to end the first half proceedings on level terms.

After resumption, though Churchill Brothers tried their best to surge ahead, but the ONGC defence stood firm and solid. Peter Odafe and Robin Gurung though didn’t get a chance to book their name in the scoresheet but did well in the defence. It was real tussle on in the second despite both the teams failed to add any more goal to the scoreline.

In the second half, Churchill did create some chances of which it was their Nigerian striker Odafe Okolie, who ran through alone to try and score but Robin Gurung did his job well. ONGC’s Nigerian defender Peter Odafe was later adjudged the Man-of-the-Match.

ONGC Manager B K Bhowmick said that though the team has played well so far, a win has been elusive of them.

He also mentioned that his team is without some key players and midfielder L Lalmuanpuia’s absence was felt by the team today.

“This is the first time that the team is playing in the Ileague and we have played well, but then I don’t know what’s lacking that we are not able to score three points which is very crucial for us at this juncture. We have drawn against good teams like Pune FC, Churchill Brothers today and next we play I-league winners Dempo Sports Club. I hope that we are able to register a win soon,” added Bhowmick.

Photo: Third Eye

lected nine points from six matches while Chirag United have nine points from the same encounter.

The match saw heated arguments soon after half time bet w e e n D e m p o B r a z i l i a n’ s midfielder Roberto Mendes da Silva and Nigerian Ogba Kalu, but captain Ranty Martins cooled tempers with his intervention.

I-League venues shifted HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

Due to unavailability of Dr. Ambedkar Stadium, Delhi and KSFA Stadium, Bangalore, the venues for the I-League matches have been shifted to Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurgaon and Kanteerva Stadium, Bangalore.

AIFF XI will play there next three matches at Tau Devi Lal Stadium, Gurgaon. The matches are: January 8: AIFF XI v. Dempo SC. January 15: AIFF XI v. Mumbai FC. January 19: AIFF XI v. JCT. The following matches which were supposed to be held at KSFA Stadium have now been shifted to Kanteerva Stadium: January 3: HAL v. Salgaocar. January 30: HAL v. Dempo.

SC Dovorlim in semis HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, DEC 30

Sporting Club of Dorvorlim entered the semi-finals of Loutulim Panchayat Cup organised by Socio Cultural Club of Loutulim defeating St Jose de Areal 3-2 at Montir ground, Loutulim.

Conny Dias scored a self goal for St Jose de Areal. Paxton Gomes and Rosebud Gomes scored for the winners. Aslon Olivera scored a brace for the losers.

The Lalit beach polo team alongwith Mac Vaz, president, Equestrian Association of Goa warming up horses for the exhibition beach polo to be held at Intercontinental The Lalit Goa resort on December 31.

Goa United, Dunes, Nerul win gfa U-16

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, DEC 30

Leon Fernandes scored in the 17th minute to seal victory for Goa United Sports Academy as

they defeated Anjuna Gymkhana 1-0 in GFA’s U-16 football at Poriat ground, Calangute on Thursday.

At Municipal ground, Dunes Sports Club hammered FC San-

Brasil Futebol, Fr Agnelo draw gfa U-14

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, DEC 30

Brasil Futebol Academia and Fr Agnelo Youth Center drew goalless in GFA’s U-14 football at Agasaim ground on Thursday.

At Don Bosco ground, Panjim, Portais Sporting Club and Jawahar Club also played out a 0-0 draw.

At Cansaulim ground, Cortalim Gymkhana worked hard to overcome Dabolim Youth

Sports Club 12-0.

In the remaining U-14 fixtures, AA de Majorda-UtordaCalata defeated Sarzora Sports Club 5-0.

Ave Maria Athletic and WA o v e rc a m e U n i t e d B o y s o f Palolem 3-1.

Verna Sports Club got the better of Snow’s Football Academy 2-1.

Young Strikers Club drew 11 with Colmorod Ratwaddo Sports Club.

quelim 21-0. The score was 100 at the breather.

United Club of Nerul thumped Saligao Sporting Club 12-0 at Dr Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim.

Anson De Sousa netted four goals, Nar Bahadur Sonar scored three and Akshay Diukar scored a brace. Kinan D’Sousa, Raj Tendulkar and Lincoln Gonsalves also got their names on the score sheet.

In GFA’s Second Division at Tilak Maidan, Vasco, Benfica Youth Club defeated C AC, Cansaulim 2-1.

Lalita, Ankita, Deepika win gold matsogi championship HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, DEC 30

Lalita (Haryana), Ankita and Deepika won gold medals on the opening day of the 2-day 6th National organised by Matsogi-Do Association of Goa at SAG multipurpose hall, Fatorda on Thursday.

In the 23kg girl’s (0-14 yrs), Lalita bagged the gold while the silver went to Tanvi Gupta.

In the 23-26kg category, Ankita of Uttrakhand bagged the gold while her colleague Samik Sha and Anit Kour claimed the silver and bronze medals re-

spectively.

Deeika of Haryana clinched the gold medal in the girls 26 to 29 kg section while Aditi of Uttarakhand and Kangeena of Jammu and Kashmir won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

E a r l i e r, T i t o C a r d o z o , councilor, Margao Municipal Council and president of Matsogi Do Association of Goa was the chief guest and dec l a re d t h e c h a m p i o n s h i p o p e n i n t h e p re s e n c e o f Taranjeet Singh, president, Matsogi-Do Federation of India. Umesh Vaz and Baburao Tirodkar presided.

GPL T20: Sarvodaya Royal v.

Dempo CC, GCA Stadium, AltoPorvorim, 9.30 a.m.

GFA Third Division play-off finals: Sao Jose de Areal SC v.

Siolim Sodiem SCA, Nehru stadium, Fatorda, 4 p.m.

GFA U-16: Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim v. Brasil FA, Don Bosco ground, Panjim, 4 p.m.

Loutulim Panchayat Cup quarter-finals: Maina SC v.

Verna SC, Montir ground, Loutulim, 4.30 p.m.

Fr Agnelo Youth inter-village football: Chandor SC v.

Dicarpalim SC, Panchayat ground, Avedem-Paroda, 4.30 p.m.

Pg 13

SPORTS

GOA, Friday, 31 December, 2010

Rossman in Fr Agnelo quarters Dr Salkar flays police for requesting original certificates HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, DEC 30

l Seeks Home Minister Ravi’s intervention

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, DEC 30

Dr Shekar Salkar flayed the request from Mapusa Police asking him to furnish original copies of all the exhibits for further investigation of the case filed by him against Dayanand Narvekar and others.

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“The FIR has been registered on 28-12-2010 under Sections 465, 468, 471 read with 120-B of IPC. The copies are Xerox ones. You are requested to furnish original copies of all the exhibits for further investigation of the case,” the Mapusa Police Station Inspector has stated.

Dr Salkar, as such, sought the intervention of Home Minister, Ravi Naik, fearing that the Mapusa Police is unwilling to proceed with the investigation of the case till the original documents are submitted.

“From the police’s letter, it is very clear that the PI is totally under the influence of MLA, Narvekar and is unwilling to proceed with the investigation of the case. It is ridiculous that the onus of submitting the original copies should be asked from the complainant,” remarked Dr Salkar.

“I as a layman feel that the Constitution of India has given enough powers to the Investigating Officer to search any premises including Government

and private and gather documents which are needed to frame charges and prove them in the Court of law.

My request to you is to shift the case to Crime Branch and give charge of investigation to an upright officer as early as possible,” stated Dr Salkar.

Dr Salkar hoped that, “better sense will prevail and that Narvekar’s affiliation to the ruling party will not dampen your sprit to uphold the law and Constitution of India.

Otherwise, I have no option but to approach the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay, Goa Bench for respite.”

Dr Salkar pointed out that the Mapusa Police could immediately record the statements of Dayanand Narvekar, Sushma Narvekar, Ganeshraj Narvekar, Dr. Ravindra Chodankar, P. R. Borkar, Chetan Dessai, Ratnakar Shetty to start with and at the same procure the necessary documents and not the other way round.

Rossman Sports Club, Nagoa scored a solitary goal win over Curtorim Gymkhana to advance into the quarter-finals of Fr. Agnelo Youth inter-village football

tournament organised by Fr Agnelo Youth Sports Club, Cot o m b i - Pa ro d a a t V i l l a g e Panchayat ground, Avedem-Paroda. Martin Abrahances netted the all-important goal in the 23rd minute of the first half.

Martin stunned Curtorim with a rasping drive from the right of the box giving no chance to the rival goalkeeper. Stung by the setback, Curtorim Gymkhana after crossing over, improved their attack but all in vain.

pg14_Layout 1 12/31/2010 12:13 AM Page 1

Pg14

GOA, FRIDAY, 31 DECEMBER, 2010

Sarvodaya, Mechvac win Pg 11

Chirag salvage draw against Dempo Pg 12

Dr Salkar flays police for requesting original certificates Pg 13

Sehwag ruled out of ODIs PTI DURBAN, DEC 30

India were today dealt a massive blow ahead of next month's ODI series against South Africa with aggressive opener Virender Sehwag ruled out due to a shoulder injury.

Sehwag, who had nursed a shoulder injury a few months ago as well, will be replaced by Rohit Sharma in the squad for the five-match series starting here on January 12.

"Virender Sehwag has been advised to withdraw from the ODI series against South Africa to tend to his shoulder. Rohit Sharma will replace him in the

squad," the BCCI said in a statement.

"Murali Vijay will stay back in South Africa for the ODI series, as the 17th playing member of the squad," Board secretary N Srinivasan added.

The previous shoulder problem had forced the 32-year-old out of the ICC World Twenty20 Championships in May. India is currently playing a three-Test series against the Proteas, which is locked 1-1 after the visitors notched up an 87 run win in the second Test yesterday.

The third Test will be played from January 2 in Cape Town.

SPORTS Contact us on: sports@herald-goa.com

www.oheraldo.in

Umpire Davis was Clarke replaces drunk on eve of Ponting as captain 2nd Test: SA players AGENCIES MELBOURNE, DEC 30

AGENCIES JOHANNESBURG, DEC 30

South African cricketers have alleged that they spotted umpire Steve Davis drunk on the eve of India's series-levelling Durban Test and are now mulling lodging a complaint against the Australian who controversially ruled AB de Villiers out in the hosts' second innings.

The Proteas reportedly saw the 58-year-old umpire "in a drunken condition" at the Umhlanga hotel where both teams and match officials had stayed during the Durban Test.

Sources in the Proteas camp, on condition of anonymity, told the Afrikaans daily Beeld that Davis was regularly seen in a particular bar over the past week. They said he was also seen stumbling into the Sandton hotel in the early hours of the morning during the first Test in Centurion last week.

Proteas team manager, Mohammed Moosajee, referred the daily's query to Vincent van der Bijl, head of the ICC referees Panel, who said he was aware of the "stunning" allegations but declined to comment on whether Davis would face any disciplinary action.

"There are established procedures to be followed and (any action) can only occur as soon as we receive an official complaint," Van der Bijl said.

Davis, along with his Pakistani colleague, Asad Rauf, committed quite a few umpiring blunders during the second Test, with lbw decisions involving de Villiers and Mark Boucher being the most important ones.

Television re-

p l a y s showed that both decisions were wrong.

Michael Clarke is Australia's 43rd Test captain after succeeding the injured Ricky Po n t i n g f o r Monday's fifth Ashes Test in Sydney. Clarke, who has been the deputy since 2008, takes the coveted job at a time when the team is at its nadir and the 29-year-old is in a severe batting rut.

Ponting's broken left pinky

not only means he may never add to his 152 Tests, but it accelerates the transition to Clarke during a summer in which his performances have indicated he is not ready for the role. He now has no choice after his appointment and the elevation of Brad Haddin to vice-captain was approved in a unanimous decision.

Ponting will be replace by Usman Khawaja.

Chelsea win, Arsenal draw, Liverpool lose AGENCIES LONDON, DEC 29

Chelsea ended their dire run with a 1-0 home Premier League win over Bolton Wanderers but Arsenal, seeking to go joint-top with a win, conceded a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw at 10-man Wigan Athletic on Wednesday.

It was a miserable night for Liverpool as they were booed off after being outplayed and outfought by Wolverhampton Wanderers, who moved up from the bottom of the standings

after securing their first away win of the season with a goal

by Stephen Ward.

Florent Malouda scored the solitary goal for Chelsea.

A Ben Watson penalty after 17 minutes had Wigan ahead but Andrei Arshavin equalised after 39 with an acrobatic volley and Nicklas Bendtner forced his way through to put them ahead just before halftime.

It was Wiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s luck as Sebastien Squillaci headed into his own net in the 81st minute.

Razzaq flattens New Zealand AGENCIES WELLINGTON, DEC 30

Abdul Razzaq produced a manof-the-match performance with bat and ball to ensure Pakistan salvaged some credibility and embarrassed New Zealand by 103 runs in their third and final Twenty20 international in Christchurch on Thursday.

Razzaq, who was dropped by Nathan McCullum while on two in the 19th over, proceeded to smash three sixes and three fours and finish 34 not out off 11 balls and help his side to a credible 183 for six in their 20 overs.

The 31-year-old medium fast bowler then destroyed New Zealand's batting lineup taking three wickets as the hosts, who had already wrapped up the series after wins in Auckland and Hamilton, crashed to 11-5 before limping to 80 all out.

The hosts had lost four wickets for three runs in the first 17 balls with Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Dean Brownlie and captain Ross Taylor all failing to score.

Razzaq finished with figures of 3-13 off four overs, though the return was only inflated when Scott Styris hit successive boundaries off his final two balls.