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Sports: Aussies win after record ODI run chase Pg 16 Mubarak’s supporters clash with protesters Hundreds of supporters of Hosni Mubarak clashed with antiGovernment activists in Cairo during a massive rally against the besieged President who has vowed to quit by September, even as the military ordered the protesters demanding the leader’s immediate ouster to “go home”. Mubarak’s supporters took to the streets and urged the President, not to quit under any circumstances. They marched into an anti-Mubarak rally on the Tahrir (Liberation) Square and engaged in fist fights, witnesses were quoted as saying by the media. Mubarak’s supporters also damaged banners denouncing the President. – (PTI)

Business: Budget may allow Pg 13 new Pvt banks

Raja, 2 aides aRRested PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

A Raja, who as Telecom Minister had allegedly manipulated procedures in allocation of 2G Spectrum that has dented UPA Government’s image, was today arrested along with two officials

by CBI, a week before it has to file its final investigation report in the Supreme Court.

Retired bureaucrat, Siddartha Behura, who was Telecom Secretary in 2008 when the controversial decision to give licenses was taken, and Raja’s Personal Secretary R K Chandolia were also arrested with the former Minister, all of whom were called to the CBI headquarters this morning.

“Based on the facts disclosed so far during the investigations regarding their role in allocation of Letter of Intent and resultant Unified Access Services Licenses and Spectrum to certain companies ahead of others, the CBI has today arrested the then Telecom Minister, the then Telecom Secretary, the then Private Secretary to the Minister,” a brief statement issued by the CBI said.

It recalled that it had earlier registered a case under various Sections of IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act against unknown officials of DoT, persons and companies on the allegation of conspiracy and abuse of official position in order to give pecuniary advantage or favour to the applicant companies in the processing and allocation of letters of intent for UAS Licences and resultant spectrum allocation to launch telecom services.

Behura belonged to the IAS

Govt will tackle crude price: FM

Asserting that economic fundamentals are strong, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government will “take care” of the impact of rising global crude oil prices, which are hovering around two-year high due to crisis in Egypt and other Arab countries. — (PTI) (Report on pg 12)

(air surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16+4

Goa’s Heartbeat: Dhoom 3 Pg 4 — Aamir on board

CM, which way for aam aadmi?

while Chandolia is still serving in the Indian Economic Service.

The arrest of 47-year-old Raja, the dalit face of DMK, a crucial ally of the Congress at the Centre, comes almost two months after his resignation as minister in the wake of a Parliamentary storm over his continuance and Supreme Court breathing down the Government’s neck on investigations in the scam.

The 2G scam paralysed the entire winter session of Parliament on Opposition’s demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe to go into it. Unless a way is found on the issue, the forthcoming Budget session could again be in trouble.

CBI sources said that the (Continued on page 10)

HELL ON HIGHWAY: Hundreds of mining trucks line up daily on both sides of the road for almost a 15-km stretch from Mollem to Usgao-Tisk.

Motorists, who zigzag their way in-between trucks, often face the grave risk of being run over by the loaded vehicles. Pollution has kicked up a lot of dust, now the common-man seems to have lost his way too!

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

No move to give up islands: CM HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Based on the facts disclosed so far during the investigations regarding their role in allocation of Letter of Intent… and Spectrum to certain companies ahead of others, the then Telecom Minister, the then Telecom Secretary, the then Private Secretary to the Minister were today arrested.

— CBI statement

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday assured the House he will take up the issue of Indian Navy’s move to acquire Grande and Piqueno islands and Bimbvel beach, citing security reasons, with the Defence Minister, and if possible with the Prime Minister.

Castigating the Navy’s move to acquire the two off-shore islands and the beach as land grab, Kamat said the former (Navy) was making the State administration dance to its tunes for 2.5 acres of land for expan-

Gudlar case with CBI, says Ravi HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Robbing the Opposition of its chance to grill him over policedrug dealer nexus, Home Minister Ravi Naik told the Goa Assembly on Wednesday that suspended PSI Sunil Gudlar’s case has been handed over to CBI. The Home Minister made the statement during ‘Question Hour’ in response to a question raised by Poinguinim ML A Ramesh Tawadkar pertaining to a police official who was caught on camera selling drugs.

The PSI was suspended after a video clipping showing him selling drugs to two foreigner women was telecast by a local news channel on January 4.

The Home Minister also stated that the Crime Branch has filed an FIR against Gudlar under various Sections of the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, and NDPS Act. To a question whether this case too had been handed over to CBI along with other drug cases, Naik made a categorical statement that it has been referred to the CBI, and also submitted an order of the Home Department to Speaker Pratapsing Rane.

As revealed to the House, Anti-Narcotic Cell during the last three years booked 17 cases in 2008 and arrested 20 persons; in 2009 it booked 17 cases and arrested 24 persons, and last year it arrested 17 persons and booked 15 cases.

However, the Home Minister could not give satisfactory reply to a subsidiary question posed by the Poinguinim MLA who wanted to know why there had been a drop in the number of cases booked by ANC in 2010 if his claim that his Department had become more proactive in clamping down on drug trade in the State is to be believed.

sion of Dabolim airport.

The matter came up for a short debate on Wednesday af-

ternoon when Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho, who earlier in the day led a protest morcha

ISLANDS IN THE STORM There is no question of Navy acquiring any island. Central agencies are sending requests for land…, but we have not entertained them.

The Navy had never approached the State over the issue. They should give a presentation on why they need the islands I will take up the matter with the Defence Minister and if possible with the Prime Minister.

over the subject, in a calling attention motion placed the anxiety of the people over the acquisition of the islands, off the Vasco coast.

In his reply to the calling attention, Revenue Minister Jose Philip D’Souza said the Government had not taken any decision to give the islands to the Navy.

Instead, he said he will send a proposal to the Government for setting up an amusement park on the Grande Island.

Godinho, however, was not satisfied with Jose Philip’s reply and went on to point out to (Continued on page 10)

— Kamat’s statement in the House

CM rules out nationalising waterways HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said the State Government will not nationalise waterways of Goa. The Chief Minister made the statement during ‘Question Hour’ on Wednesday while responding to a question placed

by Mayem MLA Anant Shet.

The Central Government had moved a proposal to declare Goa rivers as national water ways.

Earlier, Minister for River Navigation Sudin Dhavlikar in his written reply, however, told the House that the proposal is in its preliminary stage and a draft Cabinet note to declare the rivers of Goa as national waterways has been forwarded to the Government.

The Opposition Leader Parrikar questioned the jurisdiction of River Navigation Department in handling this matter.

He said, Captain of Ports should have a say in this matter and there has to be a clarity on jurisdiction.

Intervening at this point, the Chief Minister clarified that the proposal has been shelved and the Government has no intention to nationalise waterways of Goa.

Rane raps cops for shoddy work HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Virtually endorsing the allegation of the BJP that Goa Police are inefficient and were not sincere in policing, Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Pratapsing Rane on Wednesday said the Police Department should work rather seriously.

Taking congnizance of objection raised by the Opposition about all information that was not given with respect to two starred postponed questions from the last session, the Speaker obser ved that six months was sufficient enough to collect information sought by the members.

The two postponed questions pertained to criminal cases pending for investigation, which the Home Minister Ravi Naik said could not be answered in totality this session as police needed more time to collect detailed information asked by the members.

LCD 32” with One USB Port

Speaker Pratapsing Rane drives ‘home’ his point.

Photo by Sachin Ambadoskar

Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar rejected the reply saying it cannot be accepted as the answers pertained to postponed questioned of July Assembly session.

Taking serious note of objections raised, the Speaker said the Police Department is not

working sincerely and properly.

He also warned that the concerned secretary will be pulledup if the reply is not given in time.

“The House cannot be taken for granted and this will go on their record if they do not reply in time”, the Speaker said.

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Female population on decline in Goa HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Even though Goa’s gender monitoring system has not reported female foeticide, a steady decline in the female sex ratio is becoming a major concern, an expert said.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on ‘Falling Sex Ratio and the Girl Child’, Director, International Centre Goa Nandini Sahai said that Goa is fighting a losing battle in maintaining a healthy male-female sex ratio.

“It is frightening to note that female population is declining.

If this continues then Goa would become like one of those North and North-Eastern States where

Loliem girl kidnapped?

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, FEB 2

A 17-year-old girl of LoliemCanacona has been reportedly kidnapped by a resident of Polem-Canacona.

In her complaint, the girl's mother informed Canacona police that her daughter had gone missing since January 31.

The mother has strongly suspected the involvement of a youth from Polem.

"We have booked a case of kidnap and have also invoked the Children's Act in the complaint. Investigations are on to locate the missing girl," Canacona PI Raut Dessai said.

girls are either imported from other States or a woman marries two men,” she said.

Sahai quoted the data by health department showing the annual decline of female births in Goa. In 2007, 21,725 live births were reported of which 11,079 were males and little more than 10,000 were females.

The latest being 1000 males to 925 females in the year 2009 as against 1000 males to 930 females in 2008. “We need to create awareness among the public. Goa boasts of many achievements on various fronts, with a high level of literacy, a formidable development index

and the highest per capita income but the gender ratio is frightening,” she added.

She urged the State Government to introduce a scheme on similar lines as Delhi government. In 2008, the Delhi government had launched ‘Delhi Ladli Scheme’ wherein parents of a girl child are given financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh.

Sahai said that she had proposed the scheme to the health minister and expects him to table it in the forthcoming budget session.

The scheme aims at enhancing the social status of girl child in the society as well in the family, ensuring proper educa-

tion to make the girls self-reliant, ensuring her economic security and protecting them from discrimination and deprivation.

Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Sameera Kazi did not support claims that Goa practices discrimination. “There is no much discrimination in Goa. The decline in female ratio may be because of migrants, contraceptive pills and unwed mothers abandoning their new borns,” she said.

Kazi has however mulled over setting up ‘village committees for women’ like the existing ‘village child committees’ in the

State.

Other speakers also echoed that decline in sex ratio continues to be a major concern of Goa with a sharp fall in birth rate due to universal literacy, family planning practices and a high standard of living.

The State’s Economic Survey 2004-05 pointed out that the ratio declined from 1,066 females per 1,000 males in 1960 to 961 females per 1,000 males in 2001.

The survey had revealed that high variation of the ratio in the total population in different religions might have been affected by ‘in-migration’ and ‘out-migration’ of population.

Instability haunts Salcete panchayats HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 2

The ghost of political instability has come to haunt Panchayat bodies in Salcete with the state heading for Assembly polls in the next one year.

Even as the fate of a beleaguered Colva Sarpanch Angela Borges – a close supporter of Benaulim MLA Mickky Pacheco – will be decided on Thursday, two more Panchayats -- Seraulim and Loutolim -- have been rocked by instability, with attempts being made to dislodge the incumbent sarpanchas.

Sarpanch of Seraulim – a village now part of the new Benaulim constituency – is now in

the news. Sarpanch Leapoldina Fernandes is facing a no trust motion. In the realignment of political forces, Leapondina’s detractors in the Panchayat body perceive as being close to the Churchill-Valanka combine. IN fact, the no trust motion is being tabled against her by a group of four panch members led by deputy Sarpanch Policarpo D’Cruz. The other signatories to the motion includes Seema Shanke, Agnelo Joaquim Da Silva and Fransco Rebello.

Sources in political circles said that with the Alemao’s trying to maintain their stranglehold over Seraulim ahead of the Assembly polls, their detractors

seeking the support of former To u r i s m M i n i s t e r M i c k k y Pacheco is not ruled out.

The signatories have alleged Leapoldina for failing to take the members into confidence, besides failing to undertake development and to stop illegal constructions. The motion is likely to come up for voting later this month.

Meanwhile, five members of the Loutolim village Panchayat have tabled a no confidence motion against Sarpanch Jose Caetano Fernandes, who was close to the powers that be in the constituency.

The signatories to the motion are Sergio Diago Fernandes, Pas-

coal D’Costa, Sukanya Naik, Mario Fernandes and Catarina Jaime Fernandes.

T h e y h a v e c h a rg e d t h e Sarpanch for the absence of development in the village since April 9, 2009 and for not taking the members into confidence.

Meanwhile, the fate of Colva Sarpanch Angela Borges will be decided on Thursday at a specially convened meeting.

That Angela is a known supporter of the former Tourism Minister is well know and the fact that one of the signatory to the motion is Calvert Gonsalves indicates the realignment of political forces in this coastal village.

Speaker cautions on foul language HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

If yesterday Cortalim MLA Mauvin Godinho took a dig at Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao by calling him ‘fat’, today the Goa Assembly witnessed more instances of members taking liberty in mocking at their rivals by using un-parliamentary language so much so that Speaker Pratapsing Rane had to warn erring members that he would not tolerate usage of nonsensical language in the House.

Heated exchange followed during ‘Question Hour’ between Home Minister Ravi Naik and Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar with the former taking pot-shots at Parrikar.

Parrikar objected strongly saying the minister is insulting the honourable members by casting aspersions.

Coming to the rescue of Parrikar, Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar too said this cannot be accepted.

At which point, the Speaker made it clear to all the members that he would not accept un-parliamentary language in the House.

“Please use clean language.

I will not allow nonsensical language in the House nor any drama. The members can walk out if they don’t want to adhere to rules of the House.”

MMC facing cash crunch, withdraws FDs to pay salaries HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 2

This should certainly come as an eye opener to the Margao Municipal administration and the elected council headed by Chairperson Sushila Naik.

Even as the civic body on Tuesday inked the Concession agreement, promising to pay to Fomento a one time payment of Rs 7.31 crore, it has come to light that the civic body had to rely on its fixed deposits to make salary payments to its employees for the month of January.

Herald understands that two fixed deposits amounting to Rs 50 lakh had to be withdrawn to make arrangements for the salary payments as the civic coffers were found almost empty.

While civic officials attributed the situation to the delay by the government to sanction the salary grant amounting to Rs 2.19 crore for the current financial year, insiders say the financial position of the civic body is not rosy with revenue recovery falling to an all time low.

Officials in the know said the civic body requires an amount of around Rs 60 lakh a month to meet the salaries of its employees. However, with the rev-

enue recovery in doldrums for want of manpower and other man made problems, the civic body is hard pressed to make the salary commitments.

If sources are to be believed, the current financial year is almost nearly end, but the civic body is yet to serve the house tax bills to the households in the city. “This is normally the time of the year when the taxation section braces up for house tax revenue of the coming financial year. But, sadly, the civic body is yet to officially serve notices to all the 40,000 households in the city,” an official informed.

Incidentally, in the absence of the house tax bill, the civic body cannot serve the demand notice or initiate action against tax defaulters, sources said.

This is not the first time that the civic body had to fall back on its fixed deposits to meet the salary requirements.

Interestingly, though the civic body is paying the salaries to the employees, including the common cadre employees, as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission, the government has recently informed municipal officials that they would sanction the salary grant in aid as per the fifth pay commission.

Opponents defaming Administrative Nessai murder: Davorlim temple backs chief Order on me: Curchorem MLA lapses shielding anticipatory bail tainted cops HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, JAN 30

Accusing his opponents of attempting to defame him, Curchorem MLA Shyam Satardekar said he was fully aware of the need for a bypass road for mining traffic.

"In order to defame me and to gain political mileage, my opponents are making false and baseless allegations against me that I am not concerned about the bypass road for mining traffic," said Satardekar, while speaking to media persons.

It may be recalled that Ganv Rakhan Manch had recently staged a Bandh at Curchorem to protest against the proposed four-lane road from Tilamol to Quepem court and had also

burnt an effigy of MLA Satardekar in protest.

"I am fully aware about the hardship faced by the people due to mining traffic and I am following up on the proposed bypass on a top priority."

"Chief Minister Digamber Kamat has assured me that work on the first phase of the bypass from Uguem to Guddemol to Capxem will be floated by February 15. The consultant will give the feasibility report of the final third phase from Guddemol to Tank Shir woi within a month," Satardekar said.

Commenting on the fourlane road, the MLA said though the design is of a four-lane, it is only the widening of the road, which is the need of the hour.

"The Government has taken up widening of roads all over the state, wherever it is essential. I assure that no house will be demolished while roadwidening work takes place from Tilamol to Sanguem court," he said.

"I will not pay heed to selfmade leaders who are from outside my constituency. I am born here and will also die here. I will not do any act against the welfare of the people from my constituency," said Satardekar.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

plea reserved

Transfer execution of four tainted police officials at Dabolim airport’s immigration counter has come to a halt for over a month due to administrative lapses.

Goa Establishment Board had recommended transfer of each of the two head constables and constables from the immigration counter to the Goa Reserve Police after they were allegedly caught extorting money from tourists at immigration check-points.

Superintendent of Police (Immigration) Tony Fernandes confirmed that the transfer could not be executed as the department has not given any replacement.

“I need some more staff to replace them. I had written to the department to replace the transferred personnel but there is no response yet,” he said.

He stated that around 15 chartered and other flights land at Dabolim airport daily and it requires enough staff to handle the situation.

“Immigration is even otherwise facing staff shortage and at present we are dependent on the Indian Reserve Battalion to assist us,” he added.

The four personnel, who have been languishing at the airport for around five years, faced inquiry after a complaint that they extorted money from the foreign and Non Resident Indian tourists by way of emotionally blackmailing them.

“They would say that they are not paid enough by the department and that they were trying to earn extra bucks to feed their family,” sources said.

Fernandes however denied that the personnel were transferred on charges of corruption. He said that he recommended their transfer as their tenure was complete at the airport immigration.

Additional Sessions Judge Vijaya Pol has reserved her orders to Thursday afternoon on the anticipatory bail filed by a teacher Rashikant Gauns in connection with the headless body murder case.

Public prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha called for the rejection of the bail application, arguing that applicant Gauns is required for investigations of the case. She pointed out that the police wanted to find out if the Swift Dezire car carrying the deceased was driven by him on the fateful night and if so to know the occupants of the vehicle.

She further pointed out that call details of mobile phones shows that the applicant was in touch with prime suspect Jayesh Naik, adding that interrogations of the applicant in police custody will throw more light on the case.

The prosecution also submitted to the court that though the Swift car was a brand new care, the same was given for servicing after the murder came to light, adding that the accused is required in police custody not to ascertain the names of the other accused, but to recover the head of the deceased as well as the weapon of offence.

In his arguments, defence lawyer, Adv Alban Viegas said the allegations made by the prosecution are false and baseless, adding that the applicant was in the school when the murder came to light.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 2

The managing committee of Shri Swami Samarth Temple, Rumdamol who came out in support of its president Jayesh Naik vis-à-vis the headless murder case.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 2

The Managing Committee of the Shri Swami Samarth Temple at Rumdamol-Davorlim has come out openly in defence of the Temple President Jayesh Naik, who is wanted by the police for investigations in connection with the sensational headless body murder case.

Temple Manager Padmanaba Pai told newsmen that the authorities are unnecessarily targeting Jayesh just because he is heading the temple and the Hindutva movement.

He cited a host of instances beginning from 2007 to justify that the police are out to harass Jayesh and his family by falsely implicating him in the murder case.

“The managing committee of Shri Swami Samarth Temple is not ready to believe on the involve-

ment of Jayesh and his family members in Sultan Bellary murder case.

Jayesh is the President of the Temple and is part of the Hindutva movement and we are certain that he would not be involved in the killing of an alleged thief,” Padmanaba said.

He failed to understand why the authorities have been again and again targeting Jayesh. “Is it because he is associated with the temple and is working for the Hindu community,” he asked and blamed certain politicians from the majority community for targeting Jayesh.

Padmanaba said the police were quick to identify the deceased with the help of finger prints and demanded to know why the police cannot lay their hands on thieves and burglars involved in the spate of thefts in temples and

21 injured in bus-truck collision

business establishments across the State.

He claimed that police have been unnecessarily targeting devotees flocking the temple on the pretext of carrying out investigations into the headless murder case. “We have full faith in Jayesh. The authorities want to finish him off.

Since Jayesh is the president of the temple, the police and politicians want to tarnish the temple image as well,” he added.

Meanwhile, temple devotees led

by Padmanaba this evening offered the sacred coconut to Lord Damodar at Pimpalkatta here and invoked blessings to do justice in the case.

“We have prayed to the Lord that justice is done to Jayesh and other members of the Temple who are being harassed by the police in the murder case”, he added.

House lauds Churchill for sports award HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

The Goa legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a motion congratulating PWD Minister and Churchill Brothers Spots Club patron, Churchill Alemao for winning Barclay Award.

Churchill was presented with the Barclays Shield in December last year for his immense contribution in promoting Goan and Indian football.

His family team has won the National League title besides several other prestigious allIndia championships.

The Congratulatory motion was moved by Curtorim MLA, Aleixo Reginalo Lourenco applauding Alemao for winning prestigious award from a premier institution of football world.

The damaged vehicle in the mishap.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT BICHOLIM, FEB 2

About 21 people were injured when a bus and two mining trucks collided with each other at Maina-Surla in Bicholim taluka on Wednesday.

According to reports, the mishap occured at about 8.30 am, when a truck (GA-08-U0017), proceeding from Ponda to Sanquelim, collided with an oncoming truck (GA-04-T-1240).

The first truck then rammed into a bus (GA-01-U-2228). The collision was such that the truck turned turtle.

The passengers in the bus injured in the mishap were Laxmi S Sawant, Sudesh S Sawant, Tulsi C Sawant, Rukmini Aroskar, Shobha S Sawant, Seeta Majik, Vijay Majik, Pradeep Usapkar, Narayan Majik and Pravin Rane (all from Poriem-Sattari), Bindiya Sawant, Leela Otare, Chandrakant Naik, Geetanjali Gaonkar, Eknath Gaonkar, Anant Suryawanshi and Hemant Suryawanshi (from Navelim and Sanquelim), Dyaneshwar Aroskar and Dayanand Aroskar (both from Mapusa), Vijay Gaonkar from Mayem and Sidharth

Photo by Sameer Umarye

Shinde from Usgao-Tisk.

The injured passengers were shifted to the Sanquelim Primary Health Centre, from where five passengers were later moved to the GMC hospital at Bambolim.

Nearly all passengers were discharged after treatment, except for Rukmini Aroskar who has suffered greivous injuries and is still at the GMC. PSI Ditendra Naik and Bicholim Hawaldar Harischnadra Parab are investigating the case under the supervision of PI Harish Madkaikar.

The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Speaker Pratapsing Rane, Minister for Power Aleixo Sequeira, Minister for Sports Babu Azgaonkar, Cortalim MLA and Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho and St Cruz MLA Victoria Fernandes spoke on the motion.

Scientists inspect garbage site at Mapusa KTC stand HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 2

A team of scientists from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) inspected a garbage site at the Kadamba Bus stand, Mapusa on Wednesday afternoon.

After carrying out the inspection, the scientists, Joshna Mahale and Avina Pereira, said the GSPCB had received a complaint from Shiv Sena that garbage was being dumped by people in the KTC Bus stand and that, the area is also being used as a urinal.

The GSPCB chairman, therefore, directed the two scientists to inspect the site and file a report in the matter.

Member of shiv Sena Ad Hoc Committee Philip D'Souza stated that he along with Shiv Sainiks Pratap Naik and Simepurushkar had met the GSPCB Chairman Dr Simon D'Souza at 11.00 am on Wednesday.

"We handed over to him a memorandum bringing to his notice about the garbage that is being dumped in the open space at Kadamba Bus stand and that the site has been turned into a urinal," Philip D'Souza said.

"We informed the GSPCB

chairman that the issue of dumping of garbage at the KTC bus stand was brought to the notice of the Kadamba Transport Corporation, Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) and the Mapusa Urban Health Centre several times," he added.

"Various NGOs have also taken up the issue but with no effective results. The site has also been visited by the Urban Health Officer and North Goa deputy collector. Directions were also issued to the MMC and KTC to maintain cleanliness at the bus stand."

"Despite all this, the area adjacent to the shuttle bus booking office continues to be used as a garbage dump, which is not cleared regularly. Very often, the garbage is set ablaze to avoid the task of taking away the garbage to the official dumping site."

"This dump emits foul smell and gives the entire bus stand an ugly look, specially since it is visited by locals as well as national and international tourists."

"Following our meeting, Dr Simon D'Souza directed his scientists to conduct the site inspection," Philip D'Souza said.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg3 GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

Thousands try to march on Assembly against land acquisition by Navy

Lokayukta Bill put on hold, to come up next session HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Thousands of people trying to march on the Goa Assembly protesting against land acquisition by Navy.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Thousands of protestors today tried to march on Goa Assembly protesting acquisition of Grand Island and Bimbvel beach

by Indian Navy.

However, the protestors led by Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho were stopped at the bridge where they submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister Digamber Kamat demanding to stop the unjustified land acquisition.

On July 9, 2010, Indian Navy had submitted a proposal to acquire land at Bimvel Beach for the naval base – INS Hansa.

In a similar proposal on July 14, 2010 they had also requested for the acquisition of three Islands – Piken Island, Grande (large) Island and Grande (Small) Islands.

The Indian Navy had said that the proposal has been made in order to address

the security concerns related to aircraft operations from Naval Air Station at Dabolim.

Talking to reporters, Godinho said that people are anxious about government’s move to hand over the island as traditional fishermen would be affected. “Nearly thousand people from Vasco have gathered here as they don’t want to lose these islands and beaches,” he said.

“All this is purportedly being done in the name of security. The Grand Island is being used by the traditional fishermen as a resting place when they are out at sea. Similarly, tourists emanating from various points in Goa converges on this island for picnics and other sea related activities including fishing and scuba diving,” the memorandum reads.

“Goa government should intervene very strongly and stop this unjustified land acquisition and seek the intervention of the Central government,” it adds.

Photo by Sachin Ambodoskar

The traffic snarls were witnessed at Kadamba bus stand as well as on both side of the old bridge with police trying their best to regulate the vehicular flow.

The old bridge was blocked entirely by the protestors, blocking several vehicles on their way to assembly session. After some time police managed to give way for the vehicles partially restoring the traffic.

The memorandum placed to the Chief Minister has also highlighted other demands like protection of the families from eviction at Khariwaddo, Vasco, special category status for Goa, immediate solution to the garbage issue, control over environmental degradation as a consequence of unsustainable mining, clarity on the status of Dabolim airport (to be maintained with international status) after the construction of Mopa airport and legalization of illegal houses on Communidade land.

The State will have to wait till next session of the Goa Assembly to see the progress in constituting Lokayukta. “ The government will try to introduce Lokayukta Bill in next Session of the Goa Assembly,” Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said on the floor of the House during ‘Question Hour’ on Wednesday.

The chief minister was responding to a question tabled

by Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza seeking to know the exact status of Lokayukta Bill.

The chief minister told the House that the Central government has raised fresh queries and it is being re-examined by the government.

“The Government of India has advised that it would be appropriate if the proposed Bill is withdrawn as it suffers from legal infirmity. However, the issue is presently under consideration of the government,” Kamat stated.

The Goa Assembly had approved the Bill on January 25, 2007 and was sent for assent of the Governor on August 11, 2007.

It was forwarded to the Central Government on October 12, 2007.

Honeymoon over? BJP turns heat on Churchill Alleges scam in water tank distribution, demands JAC probe HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

The PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, who was treated with kidgloves by the Opposition during last three and half years in Goa Assembly, was in for a surprise today as the party not only alleged a scam in the distribution of water tanks by the PWD but demanded enquiry through Joint Assembly Committee (JAC).

In what could be termed as first ever fierce clash between BJP and PWD Minister, the House witnessed chaos during ‘Question Hour’ on Wednesday as Fatorda ML A Damu Naik hurled accusations at Alemao over distribution of water tanks even as later offered to resign if charge levelled against him is proved correct.

“I’ll resign if it is proved that I have taken even a single rupee.

I have worked with pure intention of helping people who were suffering due to water shortage,” said Alemao while responding to allegation by the Fatorda MLA. The Fatorda legislator had tabled a question on whether a scheme was formulated by PWD for distribution of water tanks, and whether the cabinet approval was taken before deciding to distribute water tankers to people.

While in his written reply the PWD Minister stated that the scheme was formulated for distribution of water tankers, the

Suspended principal of Panjimbased Anjuman Nurul Islam High School Abdul Aziz Mulla has alleged of being pressurized to sign on a confession letter that the alleged assault on a 14-yearold student was unintentional.

Mulla said that the managing committee and the Chairman asked him to sign on the letter assuring him that the matter would not be pursued further.

“I was told by the managing committee and particularly by Chairman and Manager that for the sake of the school and to

Around 200 temporary workers from premier government hospitals today held a dharna at Kadamba bus stand demanding that they be regularised in services.

The workers employed at Goa Medical Collage (GMC) and Hospital, Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour (IPHB), Chest hospital and Dental College, Bambolim forwarded memorandum to Chief Minister Digamber Kamat and Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane putting across their several demands.

Christopher Fonseca, general secretary of All India trade Union

Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday critcised the State government for not pressing hard on the demand for Special Status for Goa. Participating in the discussion on motion of thanks on Godinho said that despite the Central government going out of its way to help Goa, the government doesn’t seem to be interested in getting projects sanctioned for the state.

“The Central government has gone out of its way to help the people who would have lost the houses due to the expansion of national highways in Goa. Similarly, on CRZ issue, it has helped the fishermen who were on the verge of losing their houses.”

On Special status, he said, the leaders in the past have failed to get this demand of the people met.

“When I say special status I mean about protecting Goa’s identity. The illegal constructions and the rise in the crime rate will come down once we get special status,” he said adding that these are the problems due to large scale migration in the state.

But, he continued, the government has not done much to get this demand met even when the Central government has been so supportive.

On the Rs 200 cr sanctioned by the Centre for the 50 years celebration, he said, “Rs 200 cr is nothing, we should have got much more.”

He said that Goa is a tourist state but it has failed to create additional infrastructure.

“When centre is going extra

mile to help what are we doing as in Tourism sector even Rajasthan is getting more aid then Goa,” he said adding “We have failed to impress centre on the issue.”

The Cortalim legislator also demanded that the state charge some kind of tax for the trucks carrying ore from neighbouring states.

“These trucks are adding additional load on the state’s infrastructure and we must come out with some kind of tax for maintaining the infrastructure,” he said.

On the law and order situation, he said, “the state is getting bad reputation due to the alleged involvement of police personnel’s in drug trade.”

“We get to know from other states that our policemen are involved in drug smuggling,” he said pointing to a Margao head constable being arrested in Belgaum for smuggling narcotics.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

BJP legislators Manohar Parrikar and PWD Minister Churchill Alemao engaged in verbal duels on Wednesday. Photo by Sachin Ambodoskar

same was not attached to the answer sheet.

The administrative approval was obtained but not cabinet approval, the minister said in his written reply.

However, he told the House that the decision was taken by him using emergency power vested in him.

The department has so far incurred expenditure to the tune of Rs 99.73 lakh in distribution of water tanks wherein BPL families, the consumers of high elevated areas and tail areas which face scarcity of water, and beneficiaries identified by the local elected representatives, were considered for distribution of tanks, he said in his reply.

The Opposition Leader

Manohar Parrikar however said the criteria was not adequate as it means all consumers in Porvorim ought to get water tanks as the area is considered as high elevated area and residents there do not get regular water supply.

Moreover, Parrikar pointed out that the PWD Minister could not have used his emergency power for distribution of water tanks, “it could be used for supplying water through tankers.”

‘In fact, the power which the minister is talking about is limited to the decision about purchases and not distribution of tanks.

The cabinet meeting was warranted because he was distributing government property,”

avoid any damage to its reputation and good will, I would have to give such a statement and that matter would be closed at that stage itself and no one would pursue it further,” the letter to the School Chairman reads.

“In these circumstances and without any choice being given to me I was coerced to write what was dictated to me by the manager Iftikar Aga,” it added.

Mulla was suspended by the school management on Monday in connection with a case of corporal punishment against him that took place more than a

month ago as a student had alleged that the principal had slapped him.

The student’s parents complained to the school authorities, Directorate of Education and also reported the incident to the police. The management accordingly initiated an inquiry and found him guilty.

Mulla, who claims to have been serving in the institution for 21 years, is taking legal assistance to approach Court against the school management.

He said the incident was a ruse to victimize him and that the management has betrayed him.

200 hospital workers hold dharna HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

RND workers agitate

Suspended school principal alleges forced confession HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Mauvin flays govt for going soft on Special Status

Congress (AITUC) said that government should regularize the services of all these employees on the permanent rolls.

“Chief Minister last year had assured that all the Class VI workers will be regularized.

However, there has been no effort on government side over the issue,” he said.

“We request the ministry to intervene in the present matter to regularize the services of 208 employees on the permanent rolls,” the memorandum reads.

“New hospitals are being opened in Mapusa, Margao and other areas while GMC is being upgraded. We urge upon you that all these 208 workers

should be taken on the rolls of these hospitals,” it added.

The agitating workers mainly belong to the categories of housekeeping, cleaning, sweeping, attendants and ward boys.

The protestors have also demanded that no new recruitments be done on regular vacancies or on contract basis in any of these hospitals until these presently employed workers are confirmed in service.

Apart from this, the workers have also demanded to revise the salaries and to pay the salaries and allowance on the principle of ‘equal pay for equal work’.

stated Opposition leader.

The Opposition also demanded that the minister should keep the scheme on the table of the House if at all it was formulated, cornering Alemao as they refused to buy his justification he had purely worked in the interest of people and that he was innocent.

Parrikar said, the PWD minister should agree for JAC if he has nothing to hide even as Alemao claimed that he used his power to take the decision in question.

“I prove that you have had no power in distributing water tanks,” retorted Parrikar.

While Alemao declined to accede to the demand of to the Opposition for a JAC enquiry,

Casino Royale gets stay on licence cancellation HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

The management of Casino Royale on Wednesday got a stay on the government order of cancellation of their licence.

The order to this effect was passed by the Administrative Tribunal, sources in the company told Herald.

The under secretary Home V P Dangui had passed an order on Monday terminating license of Casino Royale and Arabian Sea King as they did not have trading licence from DG Shipping.

Following the order, the company had moved the administrative tribunal yesterday which granted a stay on the government order. The next hearing in the case is fixed for February 11, officials said.

the Fatorda MLA stuck to his stand that he wanted ‘JAC’ alleging scam of Rs 4-5 crore in the distribution of water tanks.

What followed was chaos as Alemao and Naik ridiculed each other despite warning from the Speaker Pratapsing Rane. The assurance of the minister that he would formulate a scheme if the Opposition wants so did not deter Fatorda MLA and he rushed to the well of the House.

Intervention by the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat who clarified that the decision of distribution of tanks was taken under maintenance clause and the ‘intension of the minister is not to be doubted,” did not satisfy the Fatorda MLA.

The employees of River Navigation Department (RND) today held a dharna in front of Captain of Ports protesting against the failure of department to resolve their long pending demands.

The agitators through a memorandum have said that the overtime wages payable on revised rates have not been paid since October, 2009.

They have also mentioned that the arrears as per Sixth Pay Commission have also not been paid.

“All the pending overtime allowances should be paid on immediate bases without further delay,” the memorandum reads.

The workers have also asked the department to stop the introduction of 3-shift working as it will cause inconvenience and prejudice to the existing staff.

“The introduction of 3-shift working amounts to violation of existing service conditions of RND, which is illegal,” it adds.

CM assures action in Shiroda hill cutting HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday assured action in the alleged hill cutting near Karai Salium and Ananwadi and continuous illegal extraction of sand at Kumbharwada in Nirankal, Shiroda.

Kamat was replying to a calling attention motion tabled

by Shiroda MLA Mahadev Naik.

He confirmed that the hill cutting was in progress near the panchayat ground at Karai Salium. “The area cut is approximately 25x25 mtrs with height of about 5 mtrs,” he informed.

However, he mentioned the hill cutting was adjacent to the panchayat playground. “Since there are some old cuttings in the area more time was required. Action will be taken

after ascertaining the facts, he assured.

The chief minister said at Anandwadi no hill cutting was found and on inquiry with local people it was reported no such activity was carried out in the area. The matter needs more study, he stated.

Naik also tabled the issue of large-scale sand extraction and informed a road had been built to facilitate the same by damaging properties of residents.

The CM in his reply stated one Pundalik Shetkar had applied for quarrying permit to extract 600 cubic metres of sand for six months and the same expired on August 31, 2008.

He said villagers had also complained against one S T Shekhar for extract sand illegally but nothing was found during the site inspection.

CBI counsel withdraws from Scarlett case HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 2

A public prosecutor representing Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Scarlett Eden Keeling case has withdrawn from appearing in the court.

Sources stated that Public Prosecutor R Rivonkar has written to Goa Children’s Court and CBI stating that he doesn’t want to continue fighting the case.

Rivonkar has been representing CBI in the case in which two

locals – Samson D’Souza and Placido Carvalho, are charged for culpable homicide, outraging modesty, destroying evidence and leaving the British teenager to die on Anjuna beach on February 18, 2008.

It is learnt that Rivonkar was disturbed as the trial was dragging on for several months. The case also saw nearly three Court President’s handling the matter after the transfer of each of them.

After Rivonkar’s withdrawal,

CBI has appointed a Mumbaibased lawyer to fight the case.

The case came up for hearing today but the new CBI lawyer has sought an adjournment.

T h e c a s e c u r re n t l y h a s reached to a stage where Murli Sagar, a crucial witness, is being cross examined.

Fiona after her cross examination, talking to reporters, had expressed doubts on the way the investigating agency was handling the case.

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GOA

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GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

UPcOmINg EvENTS Cortalim-Quelossim gram sabha PANJIM (HND): The ordinary gram sabha of the village panchayat of Cortalim-Quelossim will be held on February 6 in the office of the Village Panchayat Cortalim-Quelossim at 9.15 am.

Fire hydrants in Mapusa market still dormant

Overnight fun and adventure PANJIM (HND): Wildtrek adventures will conduct an overnight trip forests trip on February 5 and 6. The group will depart from Mapusa and Panjim in the afternoon and the participants will experience bonfire, night trek, tent stay, coracle boating, crocodile sightings, bird watching, syntheri rocks, temple, and return on February 6 by 8 pm.

Charges of Rs 1700 per head includes everything. Jungle jeep safari and white water rafting is optional. Call 9822123458/9822155805 for information and booking.

Office opening at Mardol MARCEL(HC): The VPK Urban Co-operative Credit Society Ltd will open its new head office building at Akar-Mardol on February 6 at 4.30 pm. According to a press note, Home Minister Ravi Naik will inaugurate the new building in the presence of Priol MLA Deepak Dhavlikar and other dignitaries. The press note further states that the VPK Urban Cooperative Credit Society is among the first cooperative society in the State to crop deposits of Rs 100 crore in March 2010. There are 18 branches across the State and by 2015, VP aims to reach 30 branches across the State.

VPK also has targeted to achieve Rs 1,000 crore deposits and loan of Rs 700 crore and Net NPA (non-performing assets) percentage to zero percent. The press note also mentions that the VPK’s profit for March 31, 2010, was Rs 1.79 crore.

The society started its operation 1993 in Mardol and within 18 years has 18 branches across the State.

'Yuva Utsav-2011' at Canacona CANACONA(HC): The Nehru Yuva Kendra, South-Goa, will hold a two-day 'Yuva Utsav-2011', a youth convention and district cultural festival, at Matvem-Moll in Cola-Canacona from February 5. According to district youth coordinator, Shirish Lawande, the two-day festival will be inaugurated by South Goa MP Franscisco Sardhina in the presence of Canacona MLA Vijay Poi Khot, Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavelekar and ZP (Cola) Krishna Velip. Two young artistes from Canacona, Yogita Vernekar and Milind Velip, will be honored on the occasion with the 'Yuva Puraskar of the year' of Nehru Yuva Kendra.

The festival will have various competitions that include lamp dance, Ghumat, Aarti, besides folk dance competitions for local groups on the first day of the Utsav. On Sunday, there will be competitions like street play, elocution and solo singing. Only youth between 15 to 35 years of age are allowed to participate in the competitions.

‘Aparant Maand 2011’ expo PANJIM(HND): Goa Handicrafts, Rural and Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd will be organizing ‘Aparant Maand 2011’ mega exhibition at Ponda from February 11 to 20.

Fire hydrant hidden amongst the goods of hawkers.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 2

Despite repeated requests by the shopkeepers, fire hydrants installed in the Mapusa Municipal market are yet to be made operational.

The fire hydrants have now become invisible as either they are hidden under the beds of hawkers or being used as a support to keep their goods.

It may be recalled that on December 20, 2010, 16 shops were gutted in a fire, causing loss of property worth Rs 1 crore. Later, Deputy Collector Dashrath Redker had convened a meeting of shopkeepers and officials of PWD, Electricity Department, Fire Brigade and Mapusa Municipal Council to discuss the issue and take preventive meas-

Bicholim MLA lauds institutions for helping downtrodden HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, FEB 2

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar has stated that the work of some social institutions has helped poor and downtrodden sections from the rural areas.

He was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the threeday exhibition organised by Utkarsh Gramin Sanstha Mulgao in association with the Art and Cultural Department at Deendayal Hall Bicholim on Thursday.

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“Utkarsh Gramin Sanstha Mulgaon is among one such social institution which has made the women class united,” said Patnekar.

BMC Chairperson Anisha Vernekar, Sangeeta Naik, Krishna Chari, Dinesh Sinha, Milind Mate, Mahadev Tirodkar, Deelip Gadekar, Anup Arolkar and others were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Mahadev Tirodkar welcomed the gathering, while Padolkar compered the function.

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ures.

During the discussion, PWD (water division) Assistant Engineer Prakash Surlikar had stated that the work of laying of 400 mtrs running water pipeline was still pending.

“We have submitted the revised estimates to the head office and they are hopeful that the entire work of installing fire hydrants and providing water connection to it will be completed soon,” Surlikar has said.

Now, it’s more than a month, but the PWD does no seem to be in hurry to complete the remaining work of fire hydrants.

There are 1,114 shops in Mapusa Municipal market. Besides, the hawkers occupy every inch of the footpath and the road in-

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side the market. The roads inside the market are so badly blocked by them that in case the fire breaks out in the market, it would be difficult for fire brigade to wend its way through the hawkers.

Hence, the Mapusa Merchants Association had requested MMC to install some fire hydrants to meet any eventuality.

The PWD at the request of MMC had decided to install five fire hydrants in the market.

Accordingly, PWD floated the tender for the installation of five fire hydrants and it was awarded to a contractor on January 8, 2009, for Rs 11.18 lakh.

Though more than one year has lapsed, the work of installation of fire tenders is still hanging in the balance.

Speaking to Herald, Shiv Sena Ad-hoc committee member Philip D’Souza stated that neither MMC authorities nor the PWD are bothered about installation of fire hydrants in market.

“May be they are waiting for big fire to cause massive loss of public property. The fire hydrant installed in the market are now lying either hidden under the beds of the hawkers or sometimes used to keep their goods” claimed D’Souza.

“It is high time that Mapusa shopkeepers take up this issue seriously with the higher authorities before the occurrence of another catastrophe,” said D’Souza.

Drivers’ panel in Sanguem holds meet, demands salary hike Given the hike in transportation rates along various mining routes in the State, the drivers’ community from Sanguem and Uguem areas recently convened a meeting to discuss various issues affecting them and also demanded an increase in the monthly salary.

The drivers present for the meeting strongly felt the present salary paid to them to be far less and not sufficient for looking after day-to-day needs of their family.

“The rates of all daily need goods have increased, but our salaries have remained the same over the years,” lamented the speakers at the meeting and called for increasing the monthly salary to Rs 10,000.

The drivers at the meeting also stressed on the demand to increase daily allowance to Rs 100 as against the present Rs 60 per day paid by the truck operators.

During monsoon season, the drivers however had fixed the monthly allowance at Rs 8,000.

The drivers had given the truck owners time limit till February 5 to accept their demands failing which they had threatened of handing over the keys of the vehicles to the truck owners on February 6.

HERALD NEwS DESk PANJIM, FEB 2

Dr Mody

during this period. The British national was lucky in this case as he made a clever move by rushing to the super specialty center for heartcare at NUSI Wockhardt Hospital.

Further to this, all the required investigations and immediate Coronary Angiography were performed, followed with urgent Angioplasty by Dr Rohit Mody (Sr cardiologist, NUSI Wockhardt Hospital) with successful stenting. The hospital setup is fully equipped to handle any cardiac emergency 24/7 with complete team of Cardiologist, Cardiac Surgeon, Cardiac anaesthetist, Non invasive cardiologist, Intensivist, with Latest Cathlab & dedicated Cardiac Operation theatre.

NUSI Wockhardt has a dedicated emergency number (08326684444) to handle all emergency calls is available.

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Anjuna-Caisua Sarpanch Lavino Rebello felicitating PI Manjunath Dessai at Anjuna.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, FEB 2

Anjuna-Caisua Sarpanch L avino Rebello and Panch member Dinesh Patil felicitated Anjuna PI Manjunath Dessai on Monday.

PI Dessai was felicitated for his service and on completion

Consumers Shoppee expo opened

HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM, FEB 2

NUSI Wockhardt saves heart patient in nick of time The idea of medical tourism never crossed the Goan mind until the setting up of the high end Super-specialty hospital “NUSI Wockhardt Hospital” in the state, which is putting Goa on a global front. With the advent of this hospital, the state is gearing up to this concept, which caters to people coming in either for planned or for emergency treatment.

Besides being ver y well equipped to treat foreigners when it comes to health care, Goa is also an interesting location for getting your health propped up for those long postponed surgeries due to its scenic nature and home away from home feel. The hospital has modern facilities, short waiting times and very affordable prices for procedures, hospital services and medicines.

It was a regular day recently, for Dr Rohit Mody (Sr. Cardiologist, NUSI Wockhardt Hospital), who was busy giving cardiac consultations to patients till the time he met a British national of around 45 yrs of age with a complain of chest pain. This British citizen had come to Goa on his holiday trip where he encountered uneasiness in his chest.

It is extremely important to understand that first hour after the onset of heart attack is called the golden hour because most deaths and cardiac arrests occur

S H O RT TA k E S

of one year of service at the Anjuna Police station.

Under PI Dessai’s leadership, the Anjuna Police have busted prostitution rackets and have seized drugs in Anjuna.

Rebello wished the police inspector and his team all the best in his future endeavours.

Manisha Naik, President, Social Welfare Board Goa opening the exhibition.

PANJIM(HND): Consumers Shoppee exhibition of consumer and interior products was inaugurated on Wednesday at the hands of Manisha Naik, President, Social Welfare Board Goa, at Campal Parade ground, Panjim.

Organiser of the expo Meenal Mohadikar, Ashok Shenvi, Nitin Chimulkar, Tirodkar and others graced the occasion.

In this five day exhibition many reputed companies have displayed their new products and are also presenting live demonstrations. A separate section of interior and home decor is the main attraction of this exhibition. Companies like IFB, Singer, Novel, Prime Pravin Masale, Prince, Advent Healthcare, TTK Prestige Ltd, Bajaj Electricals, Tata Motors, Shakti, Solar, Gifts, Karnataka Soaps, Girnar, Mc Cains, Hem Corporation, Sanobar, Godrej Foods and others.

Werner ladders, Rainbow Electronics, Signoware, Nirali, AMC Cookware, Olivia, Sumeet, Bosch, Samurddhi Plastics, SSCPL, Lotus Furniture, Ganesh House of Furniture, Mobilia Classica, Abhi Impex, and many others have participated in this exhibition.

This exhibition will be open till February 6 from 10 am to 9 pm.

Ponda group wins Bhajani contest COLLEM(HC): Dada Maharaj Bhajani Mandal, BandiwadePonda, bagged the first prize in the All Goa Bhajani contest organised by Dudhsagar Kala Kendra Collem in the premises of Mallikeshwar Temple, Collem.

The second prize was won by Panvelkar Bhajani Mandal, Panvel-Ribandar, while the third prize was won by Vittal Rukamai Bhajani Mandal of Udalse-Sancorda.

In the individual prizes, the best singer prize was awarded to Santosh Malsekar of Dada Maharaj Bhajani Mandal, Bandivade. Best harmonium player prize was awarded to Prashant Shetkar of Vittal Rukamai Bhajani Mandal, Udalse, while the best Pakhawaj player prize was awarded to Avinash Kavalekar of Panvelkar Bhajani Mandal, Panvel.

Baburao Dessai, Jairam Dessai and Pramod Harmolkar were the judges for the contest.

Subash Naik from Sanvordem was the chief guest for the inaugural programme. He inaugurated the contest in the presence of Devidas Sahakari, a teacher of Piety H/S Collem, Manish Lambor, chief of Dudhsagar Kala Kendra.

Speaking on the occasion, Naik congratulated the members of Kala Kendra for organising the contest which helps to preserve Goa’s culture.

Earlier, Manish Lambor welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries.

Former Mollem sarpanch Narayan Gaonkar was the chief guest for the prize distribution programme.

Babu More, Lala Shirodkar, Suresh Kumar Mahavar and Naresh Purohit were felicitated by the chief guest.

Suresh Kolvekar compered the programme, while Ankush Naik proposed the vote of thanks.

Lions awareness programmes

Nitin Maganlal, Padmakumar Nair and other addressing the media.

Photo by Thomas Fernandes

CALANGUTE(HC): District Governor of Lions Club District 324 Nitin Maganlal has outlined various awareness programmes of the Club.

He outlined the programmes in the presence of Padmakumar Nair (president Lions Club of Calangute), Vasudev Walavalkar, Michael Mascarenhas, Eknath Salkar, Surendra Nagvekar, Sadanand Verenkar and Filipe Dias at a press conference at Resort Riio, Tamudki, Arpora, on Sunday. Addressing the media, Maganlal said: “We are also simple people involved in social service with our Lionism motto ‘Together in Service’ and try our best to give to the society something better and the best we can.” Maganlal outlined the main thrust programmes which include Right to Information (RTI), Consumer Rights and legal awareness, Environment and Traffic discipline.

Elaborating further, Maganlal said: “We want the youth to be more involved in the social issues, etc, and it will be our initiative to get them involved through workshop and awareness campaigns on Right to Information and Consumer rights.”

He also outlined the desire of the Lions to participate in the Carnival floats in interest of spreading a message for the society. The other programmes being introduced by the Lions Club are the ‘Lions Quest’ for adolescence and eye-sight eradication at the young age for kids through a training programme for the teachers, Lions Bravery Awards, etc.

Earlier, Padmakumar Nair welcomed and outlined the objective of the press briefing. Vasudev Walavalkar also addressed the media.

POWER SHUTDOWN FEBRUARY 4

PARRA: Between 9 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Cancabandh, Khalapwada, Abaswada Canca, Sonarwado, Naikwaddo, Freitaswado Verla, Vanciowado, Sorvemvaddo, Guirim and surrounding areas.

FEBRUARY 5

PANJIM: Between 9 am to 6 pm. Areas affected are Part of Panaji city, areas around Old Secretariat, Souza towers, Delhi Darbar, Neugi Nagar, People’s High School, PDA, Anna Rita Apartments, Jairam complex, Bhatlem, EDC complex, Patto Plaza, Patto, Azad UGC coaching classes for OBC PANJIM(HND):: The fourth batch of the UGC sponsored NET/SET Maidan, Panjim Residency, Fontainhas, TB Hospital, Shankarwadi, Mala and surrounding areas. coaching classes for weaker sections like SC/ST, OBC and minorities FEBRUARY 6 conducted by Goa University will commence from February 19.

NORTH GOA: From 7 am to 2 pm. Talukas of Bardez, Pernem, Interested candidates may collect registration forms from the Course Co-coordinator Prof B F Rodrigues, Department of Botany Bicholim and Tiswadi will be affected. Restricted power supply will be witnessed at Panjim. and submit the same on or before February 12.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg 5 GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

Temple panel alleges massive illegalities in Gaondongrim HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, FEB 2

Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan Gaondongrim has alleged mass illegalities in Satorlim-Gaondongrim, where laws of the land are thrown to the winds.

The temple body has claimed rampant illegal activities that include construction of houses, hill cutting, tree-felling, besides illegal construction of a 2.5-km road in Satorlim area.

Speaking to media, Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan committee President Amarnath alias Deepak Dessai alleged that government authorities pay no heed to these rampant illegal activities, encroachments in Devasthan lands and panchayat pays no heed to the pleas for stopping the jungle rule.

“Some residents of Satorlim area in Gaondongrim have illegally taken up construction of a road through Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan property and are using heavy machine in landcutting, uprooting of several trees to an distance of over 2.5 kms,” said Dessai.

Huge mango, jackfruit and cashew trees, numbering around 30, besides hundreds of smaller trees that include coconut saplings belonging to Devasthan have been either uprooted or cut down to make way for the illegal road, alleged the temple committee.

JCB machines are also used for land-cutting where embankments are destroyed and mud levelled for the illegal road and in the process causing environmental hazards in the area.

Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan

The huge trees have been cut at Satorlim-Gaondongrim to make way for a road.

former president and member Suhas Dessai said the committee has met over the issue, inspected the area and accordingly filed complaints to forest authorities over cutting of trees.

“Forest officials conducted the panchanama, but took no further action against the culprits who committed grave illegalities in front of every one’s eyes. Not, even the JCB involved in illegal activities is confiscated by the authorities,” he claimed.

“As if the illegal land cutting and several huge tree-felling is not enough, some residents have fearlessly taken up construction of houses in Devathan property at Satorlim paying little heed to laws of the land. About 10 such house building works are underway,” he informed.

“Despite knowing the facts, Gaondongrim Panchcyat has kept its eyes shut and refused to initiate any action against the perpetrators of mass illegalities,” stated Dessai.

“In fact, due to political protection, government law is no longer in existence in Gaondogrim and age-old temple property is unsafe, as most of the land has been encroached by few elements from the village. Even government departments have failed to initiate actions,” informed Dessai.

When contacted, Gaondogrim Sarpanch Rajendra Velip has almost corroborated the illegal construction of a road at Satorlim.

“Panchayat has not granted any road construction license at

Car gutted at Gogol junction

Brit man, woman found dead at Palolem, Calangute

BY HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 2

A Tata Indica car was gutted in a major fire at Gogol junction here on Wednesday.

The incident occurred around 1.15 pm when the car parked at the junction caught fire. Fire services informed that the car was left damaged in the incident. The estimated loss on account of the fire is yet to be ascertained as the owner have so far not turned up at the fire station with any report.

16-yr-old ends life at Pomburpa HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, FEB 2

A 16-year-old girl committed suicide in a rivulet at Pomburpa on Monday.

According to Mapusa Police, they were informed that the girl had jumped in the rivulet in Pompurpa on Monday evening, they conducted search operations with the assistance of fire brigade.

However, the body was fished out only on Tuesday evening and it was sent to GMC Hospital in Bambolim for a post mortem.

Police informed that the deceased was in love with a boy and due to some quarrel with her fiancé, she jumped in the rivulet.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, FEB 2

Fire men in an operation to extinguish the fire to the car.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

Tanker, truck collide at Poinguinim market HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, FEB 2

A tanker and a truck collided with each other at the Poinguinim market, disrupting traffic along the national highway on Wednesday.

According to sources, the mishap too place as the tanker (GA-01-D-3969) was heading towards Margao.

On reaching Poinguinim bazaar, the tanker was attempting to overtake a stationary passenger minibus, when it rammed into an oncoming truck (KA-20-A-8610) proceeding to-

wards Karwar.

The truck suffered extensive damage to its front portion and was removed within an hour.

However, the tanker was still there lying in the centre of the road till late evening, disrupting traffic along the narrow Poinguinim bazaar junction road.

It may be recalled that a few months ago, an inter-state truck had rammed into a few shops near this location at Poinguinim bazaar, killing a newspaper agent and businessman of the locality.

Meet at Canacona HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, FEB 2

The Canacona Block Congress Committee will convene a general meeting at Shristhal panchcyat hall at 4 pm on Sunday evening, the first such meeting since Elvis Fernandes was appointed president of the newly delimitated Canacona constituency.

Satorlim, but the residents there claims ownership of the land, which Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan committee claims as theirs,” said the sarpanch.

“The land at Satorlim is unfortunately in dispute, but panchayat is not involved in road construction,” remarked Velip, who however did not offer any comments on a number of illegal constructions on way in the same area.

It may be recalled that a war in going on between the Velip and Dessai communities to control the affairs of Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan Gaondongrim, where the Dessai community although in minority are heading the temple body having vast property in the village.

Velip Mhajan claims although they are in majority, no due representation is given to the community, while committee headed

by Amarnath Dessai inform that few Velips have encroached on several lakhs of Devasthan land and are bent on destroying the age-old institution by encroaching other land tracts by controlling the temple committee.

Shri Mallikarjun Devasthan Committee President Amarnath Dessai has called for government’s intervention to stop the jungle raj of few Gaondongrim residents who pays little heed to the rules of the land and takes on illegal constructions fearlessly in government, Devasthan and even communidade lands.

Dessai has appealed to Governor Dr S S Sidhu to initiate probe into the ongoing illegal activities at Gaondogrim and especially at Satorlim area.

A tanker and a truck in a head-on collision at the narrow Poinguinim bazaar.

Photo by Kathy Pereira

A 60-year-old British man was found dead in a rented room at a Palolem beach hut on Wednesday.

According to Canacona police, Golden Foster had checked in a beach hut at Palolem on the night of January 31.

The owner of the beach hut last saw Foster enter his room at around 11 pm on Tuesday night.

As Foster failed to come out till Wednesday afternoon, the suspicious beach hut owner alerted the Canacona police.

It was later discovered that that the British national lay dead on the bed, police said.

Canacona PI Raju Raut Dessai told Herald that the body has been sent to Hospicio at Margao for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.

CALANGUTE CORRESPONDENT ADDS: A 64-year-old British woman passed away due to heart attack at Calangute on Wednesday.

According to Calangute Police, Carol Helen Hurt and her husband had come down to Goa on a holiday and were staying at a Guest House at Gaura Vaddo in Calangute.

When they returned to their g u e s t h o u s e o n Tu e s d a y evening, Carol complained of illness and both went to sleep.

At about 4 am on Wednesday, the husband found Carol cold and lifeless.

He then called the owners of the Guest House, who informed the Police and summoned a doctor.

The doctor examined Carol and declared her dead. PSI Mahesh Kerkar investigated the case.

Curtorim residents want action against illegal sand extraction HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 2

Agitated residents of Sovonxem, Curtorim have demanded that the concerned authorities, including the village Panchayat, crack a whip against illegal sand extraction and the migrant labourers working on the boats used for extraction.

With their representations falling on the deaf ears of the authorities and the menace posed by the movement of sand transporting trucks shows no sign of abating, the villagers have threatened to take drastic action to open the eyes of the government to the problem.

The residents maintained that the road leading to Manke Tar, where sand extraction is going on, has become a death trap, with around 30-40 trucks transporting sand plying on the road on a daily basis.

Saying that the sand transporation activity has even prevented children from riding cycles on the road, they said the increasing traffic has badly hit the locals and affected their routine life.

Moreover, they pointed out that around 60-70 migrant labourers hailing from Bihar, Orissa and other states working on the sand boats have become a headache for the locals.

“These workers move around late night creating fear in the minds of the people. Our children are scared to come out at night. We have no idea of their antecedents. There is also no medical checkup of these migrant workers”, the residents said and have called for immediate action before they are forced to stop movement of the truck traffic in the locality.

Incidentally, the Senior Technical Assistant, PIO, Directorate of Mines and Geology, Hector Fernandes told Anthony Batist Fernandes under the Right to Information Act that no quarrying lease/permit has been granted for river sand extraction along Zuari river.

This has prompted the residents to ask a pertinent question, as to why the authorities are turning a blind eye to the illegalities and are dragging their feet to crack a whip against the activity.

Voters aggrieved by mini EPIC HERALD CORRESPONDENT SANGUEM FEB 2

You may well need a magnifying glass while reading details of the new Election Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) issued by the Election Commission of India.

The new EPIC has shrunk to such an extent that it has become difficult to read details on the card, complain most voters from Sanguem constituency.

"The names and addresses of the card holder have such small fonts, that it makes it difficult for many, particularly the senior citizens, to read the details on the EPIC. Besides, the mini EPIC has also made it difficult to identify the photograph of the person printed on the cards," complained an aggrieved voter.

"The size of the cards has been reportedly reduced only to save cost on printing, paper and lamination work," alleged another citizen from Sanguem.

While admitting that the mini EPIC would pose difficulties to the election and government officials as well as the card holders themselves, Sanguem Councillor Deepak Marathe also claimed that the agency entrusted to

Naval ship Cankarso returns after capture of pirates HERALD REPORTER VASCO, FEB 2

The Indian Naval Ship 'Cankarso', which is based in Goa, returned on Wednesday after successfully capturing 15 pirates off the Arabian Sea near Lakshadweep Island on January 28.

It may be recalled that the Naval Ship successfully engaged the pirate mother ship 'Prantlay' in self-defense and sunk the ship near Lakshadweep Island.

According to Navy PRO Commander M C Joshi, the ship 'Cankarso' is a newly inducted WJFAC (Water Jet Fast Attack Craft) based at Goa and commanded by Cdr Arun Bahuguna.

"The vessel returned to Goa on Wednesday after capturing 15 pirates, who were threatening merchant ships in the Arabian sea," said Com Joshi.

"While on an anti piracy patrol near Lakswadweep islands in an

The Indian Naval Ship Cankarso.

operation named 'Island Watch', the pirate ship was ordered to stop on being accosted at high sea."

"However, the pirate ship fired at 'Cankarso' and tried to flee west, but the 'Cankarso' opened fire in self-defence due to which a fire broke out on the pirate's

mother vessel and the boat eventually sank."

"The pirates were brought to Mumbai and handed over to the police. The fishermen were released and are being taken to Mumbai by another naval ship," Com. Joshi added.

Relocation of Marathi school: parents, students voice concern HERALD REPORTER VASCO, FEB 2

A public notice by Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) seeking to relocate one of the oldest Marathi school in port town has generated concern among parents and students.

Run by the Chowgule Education Association, the Mata School at Baina offers education in Marathi medium from primary to high school and also offers English medium education from Std 5 to SSC. As many as 600 students study in the school, which has over 35 teaching and non-teaching staff.

The school has now been asked to relocate elsewhere as the lease agreement has expired with the MPT and despite an extended period, the management failed to shift the school.

Alarmed by the public notice, the Parent Teacher Association has convened an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue.

The school is likely to get land from the State government to shift the school elsewhere.

In its public notice on February 1, the MPT had asked the school management to relocate the school from the

port town next academic year as the management had inked a lease agreement with MPT in 1973 for a period of 29 years.

When the 29-year lease period expired in 2002, the school management was asked to relocate the school.

Following persistent requests from the school management, the matter was taken up with the Ministry of Shipping.

The ministry later accorded approval to extend lease for two years from June 2009 and also regularized the lease during the intervening period from 2002 to 2009.

The lease was subsequently extended to June 2011 and a notice to this effect was issued to the school management in October 2010.

According to sources, the management had sought help

of the state government to allot land to relocate the school. The process in this connection is in the final stage and the school is likely to get land near an exiting school.

Incidentally, Mata School has shifted premises on different occasions.

The school was first lo cated at Baina beach, before it was moved near Dr Baban Parulekar's clinic at Baina.

The school was then shifted to its present location neaer the Railway Over Bridge at Baina.

n The new EPIC has shrunk to such an extent that it has become difficult to read details on the card. issue the EPIC has delayed in issuing the cards.

"In some cases, over a year and half has lapsed since the submission of photograph and other details, but the citizens are still awaiting their EPIC," Marathe said.

When Marathe confronted Sanguem Mamlatdar Amol Gaonkar in this connection, Gaonkar blamed the agency for the delay caused in issuing the cards.

"Our office has submitted all relevant details to the agency, but they have not issued the cards as of date," said Gaonkar.

Marathe and other voters from Sanguem have requested the Election Commission to rectify the anomaly and direct the agency, entrusted with the work of printing the EPIC, to print cards of the earlier size.

Savordekar withdraws hunger strike HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, FEB 2

The indefinite hunger strike started by Suhas Savordekar and others was withdrawn on Wednesday following assurance by the Quepem deputy collector that his demand would be implemented in 15 days.

Incidentally, while Sanvordekar ended his indefinite hunger strike, members of Ganv Rakhon Manch began their indefinite hunger strike at the same place on Wednesday.

Sanvordekar had launched an agitation to protest against the non-implementation of the high court in respect of ore transportation in the area.

He was joined by his daughter Pratiksha, president of Motor Bike Pilot association Shankar Dessai, Sanju Talekar, Mahesh Gaonkar, his wife and their two children.

At about 11.30 am on Wednesday, Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes along with Quepem Mamletdar Sudin Natu met Sanvordekar in front of the Curchorem Police Station and handed over a copy of the decision taken in respect of his demand.

Adv. Sanjit Dessai, Adv. Sheetal Kumar Kakodar, Adv. Atrey Kakodkar, ex-Councillor Paresh Bhende, Ashish Karmali and others were present on the occasion.

Shetal Kumar Kakodkar later offered a glass of lime soda to Sanvordekar to end his hunger strike.

Adv Sanjit Dessai informed the deputy collector that Curchorem police were mute spectators when some youth tried to attack Samvordekar and the ladies who were seated in front of the police station.

Anticipating threat to his life, some well-wishers of Savordekar remained awake the whole night well prepared to face any eventuality.

OHERALDO

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O HERALD O Vol No CXI No: 034 Goa, Thursday, 3 February, 2011

No more islands for the Navy

E

ach and every Goan has a lot of respect for India’s defence forces. Goa’s government, too, has always cooperated with the defence authorities. When the Navy needed the Anjediva Island off Karwar for its Seabird Naval Base, Goa handed it over without asking anything in return. Unfortunately, the Indian Navy has not reciprocated this attitude.

The latest instance of this is the Feast of our Lady of Springs on the Anjediva Island, which was to be held yesterday. Despite having signed a written agreement at the time of acquisition that pilgrims from the state would be allowed to worship at the shrines on the island on two days each year, the Navy has not allowed this since 2005, citing security reasons. It blatantly flouted this agreement once more this year.

In a letter to naval authorities, Godfrey Gonsalves from Margao had requested that arrangements be made to allow pilgrims to hold two masses on 2 February 2011 at the church on Anjediva Island, to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Springs. However, Naval authorities replied that it was not possible to allow anyone on the island owing to “security concerns” and “ongoing naval exercises”.

Strange, is it not, that these so-called security concerns do not come in the way of allowing civilians to enter the Seabird Naval Base during Navy Week? Why, they are even allowed onto warships. ‘Security’ is merely an excuse the Navy makes every time it wants to avoid answering awkward questions.

The Navy is very persistent when it wants to acquire land from Goans and the Goa government. However, it is extremely reluctant when it is asked to hand over any land for the use of the Goan people. Its repeated refusal – on one pretext or the other – to hand over a mere 2.5 acres (10,000 sq metres) of land at the Dabolim airport for the Airport Authority of India’s (AAI’s) airport expansion project shows this. That land was to be given to another central agency, not to the Goa government. But, as Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said in the Legislative Assembly yesterday, the Navy literally made both the Goa government and the AAI “dance for it”.

That is why so many people marched on the Legislative Assembly yesterday to demand that the state government refuse to allow the Navy to acquire two of the islands of St George and the Bimbvel Beach for the usual ‘security‘ purposes. Deputy Speaker Mauvin Godinho raised a calling-attention motion in the House to focus attention on the issue.

In reply, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that the Indian Navy as well as other central agencies were only keen on grabbing land in Goa on various pretexts, and that there was “no question” of allowing the Navy to acquire the islands. Citing the example of the Navy’s reluctance to hand over land for the expansion of Dabolim Airport, Mr Kamat also said that the state government has had a “bad experience” in dealing with central government agencies once it handed over land to them, and that a “proper policy” must be framed for handing over land to them.

In any case, the Navy’s claim that the two islands and the beach are needed to counter security threats to the air base holds no water. It already has one of the three islands in its possession. But it has done nothing to make it secure.

Not a single sentry is posted there. Even after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, no one from the Navy guards Grande Island. So much for so-called security considerations! ‘Security’ must be more than a mere word to justify an insatiable hunger for land.

OPINION

www.oheraldo.in

Immunisation against infectious diseases T

Benefits of vaccination should be effectively communicated to the public, says fReddY diAS

here are thousands of different bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites that can invade a human body and interfere with its normal functions. A billion people in the world have malaria. More than a quarter of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis (TB), according to a report prepared by researchers at the USbased Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.

However, CDC researchers say that we could avoid a tremendous amount of suffering by educating people about preventable infectious diseases like measles, mumps, polio and rubella (German measles), which are uncontrolled in many countries, particularly developing countries of the world.

Infectious diseases experts say that factors such as poverty, immigration, improper knowledge and imperfect vaccines have thwarted hopes of wiping out a wide variety of diseases. And, as a result, several dozen infectious diseases like cholera, typhoid, encephalitis, shinglesis, amebiasis, tape worm infestations, etc have appeared or dramatically expanded their global range, during the last few decades. Epidemics have struck both temperate and tropical countries.

For instance, millions of women of child-bearing age are said to be unprotected against rubella, which is known to cause birth defects. Yet, so many avoid shots or do not get their boosters that the situation has become ‘epidemic’. CDC researchers say the major problem is that there is no adequate working system for vaccination in many countries. Adults, they said, account for more than 60 per cent of all cases of diphtheria.

In every instance, a vaccination would have protected the victims. Acute bacterial illness - diphtheria is still a hazard for people living in poor countries. Further complicating the situation, say CDC researchers, as recently as a decade and a half ago, many current vaccines ‘were not yet available or were not being produced in their present, refined state.’

Today, vaccines are available against a host of infectious illnesses, that in the past, claimed millions of lives. The smallpox vaccine helped humankind wipe out the scourge from the face of the earth; different other vaccines are available to ward off measles, poliomyelitis, tetanus, hepatitis (which causes jaundice), typhoid, diphtheria, mumps and whooping cough. Rabies, which till date has no cure, can be effectively prevented by vaccination. Vaccines against malaria, leprosy and

Sound of Silence AIDS are under trial.

Most of the vaccines are administered right from birth. At birth, a dose of BCG vaccine, which prevents tuberculosis, is given along with hepatitis B vaccine and oral polio dose. At the age of one and half months, a child is given DPT vaccine, which is a combination against three infectious diseases, namely diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus.

This dose has to be repeated at two and half months and at three and half months. At nine months, the child is given a dose of measles vaccine and at 15 months, a dose of MMR vaccine, which gives immunisation against measles, mumps and rubella. A dose of DPT and OPV (oral polio vaccine) booster is given at 18 months. At five years, DPT raft is administered again; TT vaccine is repeated at 10 years and later, at 15 years. Certain minor side-effects may, however, occur with injectable vaccines. These include pain and tenderness and sometimes, a tiny swelling at the injection site. Mild fever sometimes follows a DPT shot, but is easily controlled with paracetamol.

The pertussis component (which is aimed against whooping cough) of the DPT, for instance, may in some rare cases, cause neurological damage and fits, which is why it is not recommended for children who have a history of fits and other nervous symptoms.

Families, in which epilepsy is common, should avoid the DPT shot. Instead, babies born into

such families may be immunised with the DT vaccine which is quite harmless. BCG causes a tender nodule, which may later break down and form a scar - but this is part of the natural immune response and is no cause for concern.

The measles vaccine is one vaccine in the Universal Immunisation Programme (UIP) schedule that, perhaps, is the most problematic. Fever and rash commonly follow a measles shot. The MMR vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella causes similar problems as the measles vaccine.

Similarly, the hepatitis vaccine can occasionally cause fever and headache.

Should the knowledge of such adverse effects deter us from vaccination? Say experts, “definitely not, if we take into account the huge benefits that follow. Immunisation has been the most dramatic public health success story. But for the worldwide immunisation efforts made since the mid-70s, millions of children would have died from vaccine preventable diseases annually. An increase in the immunisation coverage from 20 to over 60 per cent today has helped prevent half of the deaths.

These benefits vastly overshadow the potential adverse effects of vaccination. Measles vaccination, experts say, despite its problem areas, also prevents affliction like pneumonia and malnutrition which can follow if a baby gets measles. Now on to other vaccines not included in the UIP. The

earlier cholera and typhoid vaccines often caused painful swelling and fever, and provided only 5060 per cent protection. These have been replaced by more effective and safer vaccines. Today, there are two types of typhoid vaccines available in the market - one given orally and other as injection.

Keeping safe from infectious diseases is a neverending battle. The problem that the health sector labours against is that ‘disease’ is easily visible even to the lay person and can be quantified, while ‘health’ cannot easily be measured. Benefits of vaccination should be effectively communicated to the public. The more educated the parents, the more likely a child is to get proper immunisation.

Adverse effects must not deter people from getting themselves vaccinated. Its effects should be weighed against the potential benefits. Side effects of vaccination can be prevented if appropriate precautions are taken, such as using properly sterilised equipment, maintaining the cold chain for the vaccine, using one syringe and needle for each person, and strictly adhering to other guidelines.

According to UNICEF, vaccines have prevented 2.5 million deaths and it has the potential to save another 2.5 million lives if these vaccines are expanded to developing Asian and African countries.

Universal child immunisation is one of the targets under the Millennium Development Goal programme of the UN. India has a long way to go with nearly 40 per cent of our children missing out on vital vaccines, Arunachal Pradesh, UP, Meghalaya, MP and Tripura all had full immunisation coverage of less than 40 per cent. In Tripura, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, 10 per cent children took absolutely no vaccination. In some cases, the first doses are given, but multiple dose vaccines are not followed through.

Goa, however, along with Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Punjab and Kerala, has achieved the highest level of complete immunisation; 80 per cent or higher. These figures have been released by the latest UNICEF Coverage Evaluation Survey-2009, which estimates that 61 per cent of Indian children in the age group of 12 to 23 months were fully immunised, Goa, it is said, is polio free, as not a single case of polio has been detected for the past ten years.

A loaded letter

Facts of life

L

ast week, I received a letter that began “I read with much interest, nay, with amusement your articles. You ought to be able to write on current affairs engulfing Goa and Goans. You still seem to live in hope. What are you hoping for when devastating things occur daily and Goa keeps sinking?”

Presuming that he is truly, as he says, a retired clown, I think he must have been grinning as he wrote the letter, wondering if I could see how he was pulling my legs. Perhaps, if he were saying this to my face, he would wink, so I could tell he was not serious.

The writer was pitching a slow ball, wanting me to hit it for a six, like in cricket. I am sure, when he mentioned: “The vultures are circling over Kamat’s administration. CM is on the ropes. He is lost in a haze under a heavy fog. I wonder if he is aware how he got in. Now, at last, he is a lame duck. When Kamat is committed to the party, hook, line and sinker, how would he now flunk out and fall back on his promises to so many hooded fangs?’’

It is a loaded letter. He has tipped his hand by laying it on so thick. He must have known how much I would enjoy executing it.

Somehow, I sweated a little harder and reached a little higher! I

guess, that is exactly what happened. If you take a look at the way the missive is put together, you would surely get into a quandary.

May I suggest you face reality? Kamat is not a lame duck. Nobody is able to wound him. The catch is, he is still in power and isn’t missing a trick. No ploy is going to work. Mickky’s fiasco released a hurricane of hot air. But nobody, deep in his heart, cared much about this bit of bungling. In a way, it offers an occasion of phoney indignation that serves as a welcome distraction for certain people.

More to the point, the situation defies definition. He has far more power and political support to draw on.

You mention that commodity prices have jumped so very high, so also unemployment, immorality is rampant, scams, drug nexus, empty promises... In which direction is it travelling? If it is headed in all directions, it is sure to be stopped and contained.

Oh you, you devil you! You are trying to tease me, are you not?

Is this your heavy-handed idea of a joke, to make me wonder if the parade is passing me by? You are saying that this grossness is going on under my nose, and all I can find out is that over ninety per cent agreed on my suggestion. Please tell me you are kidding;

By Marc de Souza otherwise your amusement in which I expose myself as an old fool out of touch, would be ill-considered. Why argue if Kamat’s party is going to lose, the ruling party is going to lose, when the truth is a third party must be the winners, and both the other parties would be ashamed...

Mr Clown, wouldn’t you have written me: “I read with much concern, nay, with sadness what you write...” The knock came loud and clear, the day the ex-clown with politics on his breath, came into my office.

He huffed and puffed for the sake of the waiting visitors. But between the two of us, he doesn’t mean much of it, but you don’t find that out, until he lets the mask slip. Even while I was raging at him with the savagery that surprised both of us, later I noticed he had the sad, kind face of a circus clown. He probably hoped I would see through the game, he was playing with me.

Mr Clown thanks for the New Year greetings. It must leave a nice clean taste in your mouth when you speak of the Valentine feelings.

We’ve had a good time today, haven’t we? I’ll light a candle for you on Tuesday at St. Anthony’s’ Shrine in that niche at Miramar. How else do you tell that he is still lovable, as an out of work clown?

Letters to the Editor Goa’s death knell

Promises going haywire

Maurice Braganza, Parra

James Moraes, Cuncolim

I was in for a rude shock when I read the Chief Minister’s announcement that the government had received over 600 applications for operating of mines in Goa. Rampant mining will destroy the beauty and agriculture of Goa forever. Just imagine the green hillsides of Goa, pock marked with large gaping holes.

The government in power should not get blinded by the short term royalty gains and miss the larger picture of a healthy lifestyle of rural Goa and its agricultural practices, marred by mining. When we preserve and protect nature, we will get the same in return.

We have the Regional Plan 2021 favouring the mining lobby, hoteliers and industrialists by way of eco-tourism and micro hubs, the police-drug nexus, a brutal beating that led to death of a Goan in police custody, land scams, ordinances, influx of migrants, pollution of virgin beaches, forced mega housing projects, MPT expansion plans, flaws in CRZ regulations and corruption spreading everywhere in government departments.

CM confirms that eco-tourism hubs are earmarked to create local employment, boost economy and stop migration. The present hotels, industries and even the electronic city employ maximum migrants as employees. But where are the locals?

With law makers and breakers ever present, even the Opposition parties cannot be relied upon. God save us.

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

3 February 1911 Eligibility criteria for voting

According to the proposal presented by the Home Minister, it says that individuals above 21 years of age and who know to read and write has a right to vote and also other individuals who has their own recourses.

New endeavour

It is now the endeavour to stop helping friends and their friends in their quest for employment in all the government offices.

Government intimation

The Editors of Monarchists newspapers from Lisbon received the intimation that henceforth, the Government will not help to protect their properties and neither their valuable lives should they insist on continuing the publications.

Opportunism rules

It is vehemently claimed that nowadays, the politics is regulated by opportunism and mutual tolerance and least by conviction.

Existence of Confrarias Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim The traditional institutions of confraternities are being slowly extinguished and are losing its charm and utility.

If those in authority feel that this vestige appendix of historical origin no longer serves useful purpose, or is irrelevant and redundant, then a collective decision will avoid the controversial decision being held hostage at the discretion and whims and fancies of a few. The confraternities seem to have outlived their purpose.

Disaster looms large Marcos Alemao by email It is too much for the common man under Congress rule at the centre. If the government at the Centre continues under Sonia Gandhi, PM Manmohan Singh and the Finance Minister (FM), the cost of petrol and diesel will reach Rs100 per litre. The aam admi has been hit below the belt. Those in power do not feel any pinch when the cost of living rises every now and then, because they get everything at government’s cost.

If the cost of petrol/diesel is more than international levels, then why doesn’t FM Pranab Mukherjee cut the taxes imposed

Letter of the Day

Ominous warning signs

Pradip Kamat, Atlanta, USA

I hope the old, corrupt, self-serving, and foolhardy politicians are closely watching the non-political revolution in Egypt. Egyptians are coming together due to common issues such as corruption, nepotism and dictatorial policies of the regime.

Indian people regardless of political affiliation are tired of rising prices, cataclysmic wealth accumulation by corrupt politicians, land grabbing, delaying of infrastructure development, pollution and appalling conditions of living.

Politicians and their self-serving policies undermine our fragile democracy, create vote banks, stall reform, fix prices, provide subsidies to their vote bank that leads to unfair market practices. Politicians beware. This will be a people’s movement not supported by any political party, but a common goal of freedom, and selfless government of the people, by the people and for the people. on petrol and diesel in the country?

Kudos108 emergency service Clifford Z Fernandes, Dubai I am, indeed, overwhelmed and thank the dial 108 Emergency services who were prompt and very efficient in their service.

We had an emergency on 31 Jan ‘11 from Chimbel and their turn around time was just 15 minutes. This is unbelievable, yet true. Many thanks to the team Ragendra (Jettu) and Miss Evita. Keep up the good work 108.

Sulabh toilets Justin Fernandes, Panjim Well done Digubab, for inaugurating the first air-conditioned toilet in Margao. It’s a great achievement for the Congress government in Goa. However, they are not in a position to solve or tackle any burning issues facing the common people.

It will be a novel idea if our corrupt government constructs 40 airconditioned toilets in every constituency.

Idiotic driving sense Des McLeish Calangute / London I would implore you to refrain from referring to deaths and injuries on Goan roads as ‘mishaps’ in your otherwise excellent newspaper.

The definition of a mishap is an unlucky accident, whereas it must be clear to any

observer that these deaths and injuries result mainly from the apparent obsession of all road users in Goa, to get from A to B at the fastest possible speed, with no regard for their safety and that of others.

A more appropriate phrase, perhaps like ‘idiotic and senseless waste of life’ would be suitable. The Herald which is reputed in campaigning for justice, should also campaign for road safety.

Road rage maniacs Merlyn Fernandes, Sao Jose de Areal In Goa, an initial driving test uses a computer generated program to assess the learner’s knowledge of various road signs.

However, the driving test fails to assess the learner’s hazard perception skills and temperament, the two important things needed for safe driving. The accident rate in Goa is very high, thanks to the maniacs on the road who are neither assessed for their hazard perception skills nor temperament. A competent driver is skilful at basic manoeuvres, obeys traffic laws and has respect for life and property. All these elements are crucial for a complete driving training lesson/s to be made aware of the rules of the road.

Attire satire Augustus Alphonso, Vasco/Kuwait The letter by Duane P Coutinho (Herald, 31 Jan) entitled ‘I will protest’ is a good example of how people defend their own

philosophy in life. She has said that people don’t foolishly ape anything. Does she know how vulnerable Goan youth are to western trends? Does she know of the various consequences arising due to drug addiction?

I believe that practically only ‘one’ in ten parents will think in such a liberal way, as she does. The West has influenced some of my closest friends in Candolim. The letter ‘No respect’ by Maria – Calangute of even date, says it all on dress attire. I, however, respect Duane’s individuality but I did not fully blame the Europeans, only partly. It seems appropriate that tourists adhere to the saying ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ In doing so, at least some semblance can be made out of the attire confusion.

Road to justice P L Fernandes, Old Goa The headlines in your newspaper ‘Cipriano: Killed by khaki’ (Herald, 29 Jan) speaks of the efforts of your newspaper in bringing out the gory details and sequences leading up to his death, without fear. It also shows the integrity of two important reports (1) Of the Head of Forensics at the GMC Dr Dias Silvano Sapeco and (2) SDM Sabaji Shetye, who needs to be applauded as upright, fair, and unbiased, in my opinion.

Hats off to all of you.

This will emphasise that the rule of law must be obeyed and no one should be above law. That nothing is hidden, that will not come to light. Everyone should realise that, sooner or later, the law and justice catches up with the offenders. In this case, it will be delivered and should be wound up soon.

Rape of Arpora hill Dr Flora Miranda, Panjim Arpora was a beautiful village in the 1980s.

We grew fruit like papayas, chickoos, custard apples, guavas etc. After Nilaya was built on the summit, others also started building, mostly from Delhi.

Animals that lived on the hill are now displaced. Pythons devour fowls. Wild bees make nests and sting people.

Does the government have a solution to our woes?

Paths of Wisdom Dharana, Ashtanga Yoga

D

harana, the premier level of concentration, is known as the sixth stage or limb of the total eight stages of Patanjali`s Ashtanga Yoga or Raja Yoga. The concept of Dharana can be said to be the collection or concentration of the mind (merged with the withholding of breath), or `the act of holding, bearing, supporting, maintaining, retaining, keeping back, a good memory`. This term `dharana` is derived from the verbal root `dhri` meaning to hold, carry, maintain and resolve. Modern sciences like clairvoyance, clairaudience, mesmerism, hypnotism; thought reading, music, mathematics and others depend upon the concept of Dharana.

While practicing Dharana, the sadhaka holds steady his mind, in terms of concentration or single focus. The prior limb Pratyahara involves withdrawing the senses from external phenomena; whereas Dharana builds up further concentration upon this by refining it further to the state of `ekagrata` or `ekagra chitta`. `Ekagrata` refers to single-pointed concentration and focus, which is similar to the idea of `shamata`. Thus, Dharana simply depicts the state when the mind thinks about one object and avoids other thoughts.

Dharana is the preliminary step of deep concentrative meditation, where the object being focused upon is strongly held in the mind without the consciousness shrugging away from it. There is a subtle difference between Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi (the three combined elements of Samyama). In the former, the object of meditation, the meditator, and the act of meditation itself remain separate, that means, the meditator or the meditator`s meta-awareness is conscious of meditating on an object, and of his or her own self, which is concentrating on the object.

(Source : Indianetzone)

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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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GOA, THURSDAY 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

opinionated Envoy’s remark on ankle ‘Chaka Chak’ and ‘Chek Chek’

By Rui Ferreira I compliment the Herald for its news report (90% of wells in Panjim contaminated.” Herald, 27 Jan) that highlighted the realities of the precious resource of ground water being contaminated in Panjim.

I wish to bring to the notice of the citizens that, in earlier times, every house in Panjim had a well for the use and benefit of its occupier, thereby making it a self-sustaining unit. Water being the basic necessity of life, before any house was constructed, it was essential that a well had to be dug and built to cater to the needs of the construction of the house, as well as for subsequent use of the dwellers. Besides, the water was being used for drinking and cooking purposes, many old houses had either a small front garden or a backyard one, for which water from the well of the house, was utilised.

Subsequently, development and demand of land for housing and commercial purposes increased and the priorities of a wellplanned city changed. The construction of buildings came first and subsequently water was made available from the Public Works Department of the government, without maintaining a safe distance of septic tanks, from the existing wells, as well as underground water sumps, thereby polluting the ground water.

It was heartening to note that the present Mapusa Health Officer Pradeep Korgaonkar who previously served as Health Officer of Panjim Health Centre, publicly claimed that 90% of the wells in Panjim have been contaminated after he was transferred from Panjim. It is surprising to note that Dr Korgaonkar lacked the courage and conviction to take and initiate action on complaints addressed to him about disposal of sewage in open drains of Panjim city when he was its Urban Health Officer. How many such cases are there on record of Dr Korgaonkar, for his prompt and immediate action, when he was the Urban Health Officer of Panjim city, to prevent violation of the Goa Public Health Act 1985?

Thus, does this not indicate that the present Health Officer was incapable of fulfilling his duties? Will the present Health Officer take remedial measures in curbing any further decay, deterioration and contamination of the ground water in Panjim like Dr Korgaonkar had taken in the past?

Will the Corporation of the City of Panaji take corrective measures while issuing licences to new constructions in Panjim city to ensure that its ground water is free from pollution and contamination and prevent public nuisance or would it remain a silent spectator?

There are many houses in Panjim that still have wells in their compound and are faced with sewage and open discharge of waste and toilet water, next to their wells. While the Chaka Chak Goa campaign was launched with wide publicity, to get media attention by certain so-called concerned citizens, it remains only a superficial exercise carried out once in a lifetime, while beneath the surface of their feet there is Chek Chek (sounds of slush) in Panjim.

monitors disturbing:Sibal PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

Human Resource Development Minister ( Kapil Sibal today termed as “disturbing” the comments of a US diplomat calling ankle monitors tagged on some Indian students in California as “very hip and happening.”

“Comments of the US official (on ankle monitors tagged on some Indian students) are disturbing...,” Sibal told reporters on the sidelines of an Indian Council forAgricultural Research (ICAR) function here.

Juliet Wur, Public Affairs Officer at the US Consulate in Hyderabad, had yesterday said, “Those anklets are used when you have somebody who might

Maoist arrested PTI

ROURKELA, FEB 2

A hardcore Maoist was arrested and two landmines, explosive materials and posters were seized from him from a village in Jharkhand police said here today.

A joint team of police and CRPF arrested Kushal Kerketa (24) from Raidihi village in Jharkhand area during the combing operation yesterday, they said.

He was allegedly involved in several Maoist incidents in Sundergarh district, including blasting of Bandamunda railway cabin last month.Kushal was said to be a right hand man of Sameer, a Nuagaon Maoist area commander of Jharkhand.

flee. And so you give them the choice--would you go to the prison or would you like an anklet. The anklets are very hip and happening. Many of our movie stars caught in drunken driving or else choose the anklets than sitting in orange suit in a prison.”

Some of the Indian students at the Tri-Valley University in California, who are in danger of being deported after the college was shut down over alleged visa fraud, are being made to wear ankle bracelets so that they can be tracked. The students are mostly from Andhra Pradesh.

Wurr had later apologized for the remarks.

“I deeply apologise. Because

I would never want to insult or hurt the feelings of any Indian and particularly of young people who are going through a very trying time now with this situation. I forgot about the feelings behind that and I think people responded when I did not mention that,” she had said last night.

Asked about steps taken by the Union HRD ministry on the issue, Sibal said, “The External Affairs Ministry is looking into the matter."

Yesterday, he had also appealed the student community to be “careful” in choosing institutes while going abroad to pursue higher studies.

IADMK students wing activists wearing party supremo Jayalalithaa masks Students wing of AIADMK at the launching of election campaigning through mobile phones at Presidency College, in Chennai on Wednesday.

I’m ready to retract comments: Venkataswamy PTI

HYDERABAD, FEB 2

Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh, G Venkataswamy, who created a flutter by demanding Sonia Gandhi's resignation as party president, today said he is ready to withdraw all his comments.

“I had to make those comments because I was worried that party may suffer in Telangana region. I am ready to withdraw all comments...I request her (Gandhi) separate Telangana,” the octogenarian leader said, appearing to be backtracking on the issue.

If I am expelled, party workers in Telangana would form a new outfit called Telangana Congress,

he claimed.

Meanwhile, Venkataswamy's son and Congress ,member of parliament G Vivek said he did not agree with the comments of his father and that he has faith in the leadership of Sonia Gandhi.

Slamming Venkataswamy for his attack on Gandhi, Youth Congress activists met Andhra Pradesh Congress president D Srinivas at his residence here late last night and demanded that disciplinary action be taken against him immediately.

In a no-holds-barred-attack on Gandhi, Venkataswamy, a Dalit leader from Telangana region, yesterday alleged that the party is fast losing its base all over the country and that cor-

ruption and inflation have risen under Sonia’s leadership.

He demanded that she step down from the post of party president and make way for an lndian who has risen from the grass roots.

Taking exception to Congress high command's move of inviting Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi for the two parties to work together, Venkataswamy said the decision has lowered the stature of Congress. Chiranjeevi supports united Andhra Pradesh demand.

Congress leaders in the State, led by Srinivas, have condemned Venkataswamy's comments against the party president in one voice.

“These comments are most

Strategic affairs analyst Subrahmanyam dead PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

Security and strategic analyst K Subrahmanyam died here today after a brief illness.

82-year-old Subrahmanyam, who is survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter, breathed his last at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, family sources said.

He was suffering from cancer and diabetes but his end came after a heart attack, they said.

Subrahmanyam, a prominent

international strategic affairs analyst, journalist and a former Indian civil servant, headed the Kargil Committee and was the founding director of the security think-tank, Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses.

He also headed the Prime Minister's Task Force on Global Strategic Developments.

Subrahmanyam, described as the doyen of India's strategic affairs community by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, was the premier ideological champion

of India's nuclear deterrent.

He was appointed the convenor of India's first National Security Council Advisory Board (NSCAB) by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in 1998.

This board drafted India's Nuclear Doctrine, which now governs all policy aspects relating to usage and deployment of the nuclear arsenal. Its most significant aspect was the declared No First Use policy and the consequent directive on a second strike capability.

Interestingly, Subrahmanyam declined the honour of a Padma Bhushan in 1999, stating that bureaucrats and journalists should not accept government awards.

He chaired several government committees and commissions of inquiry, including one on the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Subrahmanyam was appointed Chairman of the Kargil Review Committee in 1999, an inquiry commission set up by the Indian government .

A Raja: Blazing political career script gone awry PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

Andimuthu Raja's love for poetry is believed to have got him close to DMK supremo M Karunanidhi for a blazing political career but the script went awry in a rare case of a former Union minister having to undergo the ignominy of arrest consumed by the 2G spectrum scam.

A prominent Dalit face of DMK, 47-year-old Raja had come a long way from being a lawyer and a block-level leader in rural Tamil Nadu to Union Minister of State and finally a cabinet minister before he was forced to quit in November last.

The end of his stint as Union telecom minister mired in a huge controversy came in a bru-

tal rush after days of stalemate and now his arrest comes at a critical time for the DMK ahead of the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

The Dalit factor helped Raja get early breaks in his political career, like becoming a Union minister at the age of 35--in the NDA government in 1999. And he never looked back holding several portfolios both in the NDA and UPA regimes at the Centre.

He became telecom minister in May 2007. And again in 2009, despite 2G scam allegations and the high-profile Dayanidhi Maran being in the race for the post, for being a rare Dalit DMK leader and for his loyalty to M Karunanidhi, who too is a poet and writer himself.

Raja's choice for the highprofile Telecom Ministry surprised many in the political corridors in Delhi, but Karunanidhi and his DMK stood by him all along despite widespread allegations against him over his involvement in alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation.

Raja was born on May 10, 1963 in Perambalur in Tamil Nadu and often likes to reminisce that he had to go to Trichy for an education as there were no facilities nearer home. In Trichy, Raja got a BSc and then his law degrees. He was a student leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam, the parent body of the DMK. As an interesting aside, Raja

writes poetry in Tamil. His literary skills are believed to have got him close to Karunanidhi.

Raja was a student leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam, the parent body of the DMK. From a block level leader he rose quickly and was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996. Raja earlier represented Perambalur and now represents the Nilgiris constituency in Tamil Nadu and this is his fourth term in parliament after being re-elected in 2009.

His catchphrase in that election campaign was "Oru kilo arisi oru rupa, oru hello 50 paisa" (One kg rice one rupee, a hello on the phone 50 paisa) When he resigned on November 14, Raja again said, "I

brought revolution in the telecom sector." But his bid to take credit has been neutralised by the controversial 2G Spectrum allocation.

Raja hit headlines for the wrong reasons ever since he allocated license for the 2G bandwidth in 2007 soon after he took over the coveted portfolio.

Raja has been facing criticism after he decided in 2007 to bring in new players and give licenses and spectrum as per the existing policy of “first-cum-first-serve” basis and rejected demands for auctioning.

After the licenses were given January 2008 at 2001 prices of Rs. 1,658 crore, two of the telecom operators who got spectrum sold part of the equity at

much higher premium. This led to controversy as it was felt that the spectrum allocation had led to a huge loss to public exchequer.

Various agencies including CBI, CVC and CAG started independent investigations into the alleged scam.

The CAG has put the loss at Rs. 1.40 lakh crore on the basis of new licences of 2008 and Rs. 36,000 crore on giving licenses to existing operators for giving additional spectrum beyond contractual limit of 6.2 Mhz. Raja had been pleading innocence ever since he was targeted by the opposition and has been maintaining that he had just followed the procedures laid down by his predecessors.

Hashmi will be sporting a paunch in political thriller

PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

He played a buff gym instructor in his latest Dil Toh Bachcha Hai Jee and Emraan Hashmi will have to undo the hours spent working out as he starts shoot-

ing for Dibakar Bannerjee's Shanghai, where he will be seen sporting a paunch.

The actor who will star alongside Abhay Deol in the political thriller, says that the planned weight gain is giving him sleepless nights.

“I lost quite a bit of weight for Once Upon A Time in Mumbai' and bulked up a bit for Dil Toh... and I have to grow fat for 'Shanghai', so my body has been going through a roller coaster ride,” Hashmi told PTI. The 31-year-old, who will play a small time criminal, a man living on the margins of society,

in the much hyped film, said that the yo-yoing patterns often make him sick.

“It does make me ill and you can only push your body to a limit and I find it very difficult.

But when a good role comes your way, you have to put in the effort to make it look credible on screen,’ said the actor.

With Shanghai Hashmi hopes to break a lot of stereotypes that he has accumulated during a seven-year-long career, the most popular being the “serial kisser” tag.

In 'Dil Toh ....' he again played a lothario, who lives off wealthy

socialites and is guilt-less about his dalliances.

"He is a typical sicko who thinks he is God's gift to women and passes himself off as a love guru. But he is confused and feels lost when he finally does fall in love,” said the actor about his role.

But Hashmi is unperturbed about the stereotype sticking forever.

“There was a point in my career where I was really upset about the tags that seemed to follow me everywhere but now I am ok with it and know that it can be used to your advantage,”

said Hashmi.

The actor's career graph sky rocketed with last year's hit Once Upon A Time In Mumbai, where he played a unscrupulous and ambitious con man and his coming films will break the stereotypes that have dogged him for years, hopes Hashmi.

While the much awaited sequel to Murder will delve into the dark world of a serial killer taking his pick in the drug and alcohol fuelled bylanes of Goa, Dirty Picture, a bio-pic of the soft porn star Silk Smitha, will see him playing a pimp.

With most of his time spent away from home, the actor says that he misses his 11-monthold son Ayan the most.

While shooting for Dil Toh..., Hashmi bonded with his co-star Ajay Devgn, who too is a new father, on the subject of fatherhood.

“Children grow up really quick and Ajay advised me to try and spend as much with Ayan as possible. I will be heartbroken if I come back from a month-long shoot and my own son refuses to recognise me and that does happen when they are still babies,” said Hashmi.

Pultizer Prize winner recounts encounter with cobra on a highway PTI

NEW DELHI, FEB 2

An encounter with a cobra on a highway in India is one surreal experience that American writer Richard Ford will not hurry to forget and promises to include it in one of his forthcoming novel or short story.

Ford, who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1996, recounts coming face-to-face with a cobra as amongst the most incredible experiences during his maiden visit to the country, which he says produces “grand, complex and layered” literature.

“My wife and I were returning

to Delhi after attending the literature festival in Jaipur and while our driver was settling the highway toll tax I was shocked and shaken to see a man with a cobra in his hand tapping on our cab's glass window," said Ford.

It took Ford some time and advice from well meaning friends to realise that the phenomenon was not unusual in the country and the cobra had been positively defanged by snake charmers before being exhibited to him in such a fashion.

“You will definitely find a

mention of this in one of my future works of fiction,”Ford told PTI during an interview here.

Eyepopping poverty, large numbers of people everywhere, massive construction and the rapidly growing cities are the other aspects that the author found striking about India.

“In Kolkata as well as in Jaipur, it was heartening to see a whole sea of people all so passionate about books and authors. While you can see eyepopping poverty you also get to see a widening middle class which you hope will have more sympathy for the

poor when they climb the social ladder,” said Ford.

The 67-year-old writer had inaugurated the 35th International Kolkata Book Fair in Kolkata and had participated in the fifth edition of the annual DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, both of which took place last month.

“On my drive from Jaipur to Delhi I saw enormous half- built buildings and massive construction... Next time you go, Jaipur will just be a commuter drive from the capital,” points out Ford who has explored the theme of transience in his works

of fiction.

Rejecting the idea of harbouring a stereotype image of India filled with snakecharmers and elephants, the author says. “One always has a view of some place you have never been, a whole melange of discrete impressions from movies or books but when you get there the whole aura of the place vanishes. I can't even remember what India was in my head before I came here.”

The Mississipi-born author who currently lives in Miami has traveled extensively inside America and outside and even situated his plots in Mexico,

Paris etc but he says incorporating India into his fiction would be tough.

“The only way that Richard Ford will set his works in India is if he drops everything he is working on currently, all his projects and comes down to India and live here for a while,” says the writer who is familiar with works of Rabindranath Tagore and has read authors like R K Naryanan, Kiran Desai, Anita Desai, V S Naipaul etc.

Also, he says, “I write for the American reader so you have to have got to have a lot of Americans travelling to India for me to be able to set a story here.”

unfortunate. I condemn all the utterances made by Venkataswamy. It seems he was not in consciousness. He was talking about not being made the president (of India) and denied appointment (by Gandhi).

But these are all his personal issues," Srinivas said.

State minister and prominent Dalit leader in Congress D Rajanarasimha said Venkataswamy's comments are aimed at positioning himself or his son for the post of chief minister if separate Telangana is realised.

Several State Ministers, legislators and other party also strongly condemned Venkataswamy’s remarks against Gandhi.

Doc hangs himself PTI SITAPUR (UP), FEB 2

A doctor posted at the district hospital here allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling of his room, police said today.

Ashish Rajani, in his mid 30s, was posted as an anaesthetist at the district hospital here.

Rajani was found hanging from his room ceiling yesterday, they said, adding the body have been sent for post-mortem.

Ashish recently got engaged and was supposed to marry soon.

APPOINTMENTS

OHERALDO

Pg 10 GOA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY•3, 2011

WORLD

Ban lays stress on understanding as Harmony Week begins UNI UNITED NATIONS, FEB 2

The UN has embarked upon the first World Interfaith Harmony Week with a wide range of activities across the globe, including India. ‘’The first World Interfaith Harmony Week is an opportunity to focus global attention on the efforts of religious leaders, interfaith movements and individuals

around the world to promote mutual respect and understanding between followers of different faiths and beliefs,’’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in his message as the week began yesterday.

In November, the UN General Assembly resolved that the first week of February be devoted to spreading, ‘’the message of interfaith harmony and goodwill i n t h e w o r l d ’ s c h u rc h e s ,

mosques, synagogues, temples and other places of worship... based on love of God and love of one’s neighbour or on love of the good and love of one’s neighbour, each according to their own religious traditions or convictions.’’

Film screenings and panel talks held by civil society, UN entities and other intergovernmental organisations marked the beginning of the week.

These partners play an indispensable role in supporting UN efforts for peace, Mr Ban noted.

‘’Respect for diversity and peaceful dialogue are essential if the human family is to cooperate globally to face shared threats and seize common opportunities,’’ Mr Ban said. ‘’That is why efforts by States, civil society and other actors to build trust among communities and individuals lie at the heart of so many United Nations initiatives, from the Alliance of Civilisations to our wide-ranging work to protect human rights, promote social cohesion and build a culture of peace.’’

Russia threatens to hit back over envoy row REUTERS MOSCOW, FEB 2

Russia threatened to retaliate on Wednesday after Ireland expelled a Russian diplomat in a row over the use of forged Irish passports by Russian agents in the United States, Interfax news agency reported.

Ireland asked the Russian diplomat to leave after a police investigation showed Russian intelligence had stolen the identities of Irish citizens to forge passports for use by a spy ring operating in the United States.

“This groundless and unfriendly act will not go without a corresponding reaction,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

The diplomatic row follows

on the heels of several tit-fortat expulsions between Moscow and other western countries after charges of spying and intelligence activities.

Both Russia and Britain carried out mutual diplomatic expulsions in December after London cited evidence of Russian intelligence service activities against British interests.

Earlier last year, 10 Russian spies uncovered by Washington were deported from the United States in a Cold War-style swap for a ring of foreign agents working in Russia.

The Irish government last June called on Israel to withdraw a staffer at its Dublin embassy over the use of fake passports in the assassination of a Hamas commander in Dubai.

FROM PAGE 1 Raja, 2 aides arrested decision to arrest Raja was taken after one of those questioned by it had reportedly given details of some financial transactions of the former minister between 2007, when the process for giving the new licences began, and January, 2008 when the actual licences were given.

They said the person who had ‘spilled the beans’ could be made an approver during the trial.

Raja, a lawyer and five-time MP, was forced to resign in November last after embarrassing details of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report of a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer in the allocation of Spectrum in 2007-08 became public.

The arrest also comes two days after DMK Chief M Karunanidhi held discussions with Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to firm up the alliance between the two parties for the coming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.

Both the parties have ruled out Raja’s arrest having any impact on the political tie-up between the two parties.

“What has happened is law taking its course and it has nothing to do with the political alliance”, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters at the daily AICC briefing.

However, the Opposition parties are unimpressed with the CBI action describing it as “too little, too late” facing the Supreme Court deadline and made it clear that they would not rescind from their demand for constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to go into scam.

DMK’s arch rival AIADMK went a step further and demanded the arrest of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia and family members of Karunanidhi who had conversations with Radia. Party chief Jayalalithaa said the arrest was well-timed for the elections.

No move to give up islands: CM some anomalies in the same. Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar too stood up to support the deputy speaker on the issue and made a case for Navy’s shifting to Karwar naval base (Sea Bird).

Citing Jose Philip’s reply in the House Parrikar questioned how the deputy collector concerned had entertained this move. “There has to be a clear cut policy decision by the Government in this regard. If deputy collectors keep entertaining demands like this there will be no land for Goans”, he asserted. Assuaging fears raised over the acquisition of the islands, the CM said he agreed with the sentiments of both Parrikar and Godinho. “In fact when the file came to me I was surprised how the same had been moved. I asked the CS to look into the issue. The deputy collector may have probably acted since the demand was from the defence forces”, he told the House.

Kamat said he had made a categorical remark that opinion of the elected representative was important in this regard and sent the file back. As far as allotment of land and acquisition for Central agencies we will frame a policy because everyone has an eye on Goa, he stated.

The CM said he assures this House there was no question of acquiring any island. “Some defence officer had met the deputy collector and moved the file. Central agencies are sending requests for land on one pretext or the other, but we have not entertained such requests”, he mentioned and added, “‘Once land is given to central agencies, the experience of the state government has not been very good”.

He clearly stated the Navy had never approached the State government over the issue. They should give a presentation on why they need the islands, Kamat mentioned.

Godinho highlighted in the backdrop of the change in land acquisition policy at the Centre any land can be acquired directly.

I want categorical assurances from the State Government that the island won’t be acquired.

Parrikar too highlighted how the defence forces had stayed put at Panjim even after getting land at Bambolim.

The CM assured that he will take up the matter with the Defence Minister and if possible with the Prime Minister.

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WORLD

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

Begin transition in Egypt immediately: Obama

PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 2

US President Barack Obama has sought immediate beginning of an orderly transition in Egypt, which has witnessed massive protests seeking the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.

“What is clear, and what I indicated tonight to President Mubarak, is my belief that an orderly transition must be meaningful, it must be peaceful, and it must begin now,” Obama said in his speech at the White House after he spoke for 30 minutes with Mubarak, who has been ruling Egypt for three decades.

The process of orderly transition must include a broad spectrum of Egyptian voices in opposition parties, he said.

“It should lead to elections that are free and fair. And it should result in a government that’s not only grounded in democratic principles, but is also responsive to the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” Obama asserted.

Referring to his conversation with Mubarak, the second one in less than a week, Obama said the Egyptian leader understood the status quo is not sustainable and that a change must take place.

“Indeed, all of us who are privileged to serve in

Michelle wants to visit India again PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 2

Fascinated by her maiden trip to Mumbai and New Delhi last N o v e m b e r, U S F i r s t L a d y Michelle Obama wants to make another trip to India; but this time along with her two daughters Sasha and Malia.

This was stated by none other than President Barack Obama himself when he dropped in at a White House meeting between National Security Advisor ShivShankar Menon and his American counterpart Tom Donilon, informed sources said.

SituationS Vacant

positions of political power do so at the will of our people. Through thousands of years, Egypt has known many moments of transformation. The voices of the Egyptian people tell us that this is one of those moments, this is one of those times.”

US President said his administration has been in close contact with its Egyptian counterpart and a broad range of the Egyptian people, as well as others across the region and across the globe. “And throughout this period, we’ve stood for a set of core principles,” he said.

Obama also praised Egyptian army for not using force against agitators and allowing peaceful protests.

“First, we oppose violence. And I want to commend the Egyptian military for the professionalism and patriotism that it has shown thus far in allowing peaceful protests while protecting the Egyptian people. “We’ve seen tanks covered with banners, and soldiers and protesters embracing in the streets. And going forward, I urge the military to continue its efforts to help ensure that this time of change is peaceful,” he said.

President Obama said he supports rights of speech and information to the Egyptians and US will continue to back democracy in Egypt.

“We stand for universal values, including the rights of the Egyptian people to freedom of assembly, freedom of speech and the freedom to access information. Once more we’ve seen the incredible potential for technology to empower citizens, and the dignity of those who stand up for a better future.

“And going forward, the United States will continue to stand up for democracy and the universal rights that all human beings deserve, in Egypt and around the world,” he said.

US will continue to extend the hand of partnership and friendship to Egypt, and it stands ready to provide any assistance that is necessary to help the Egyptian people as they manage the aftermath of these protests.

Pak relatives seek terror charges for US man AFP LAHORE, FEB 2

Students and demonstrating relatives of three Pakistanis, who died after a US consulate worker opened fire, protest against alleged US consulate worker Raymond Davis near the scene of the incident in Lahore on Wednesday.

Israel asks West to ensure Egypt honours peace deal

8 Indians pay blood money

UN, the U.S. EU and Russia, have demanded that Hamas relinquish terrorism, recognise Israel and accept as binding previous negotiated agreements between the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Israel if it wants international acceptance.

The Israeli Premier is not drawing a comparison between the two situations but would like the international community to add this condition among others, including a return to democracy and respect for human rights, the officials said.

“The matter was made clear to the Americans and many other countries,” a senior official in Jerusalem told the daily adding, “We are not opposed

Eight Indians facing trial for allegedly killing a Pakistani youth have paid blood money to the victim’s father who agreed to a compromise and pardoned them, a move likely to help the accused escape the gallows.

“We arranged the visit of the victim Mumtaz Yusuf ’s father Mohd Yusuf to Dubai. He appeared in the court and said that he has pardoned those involved,” said Dubai-based hotelier and businessman S P Singh Oberoi, who has paid the money on behalf of the accused.

Mumtaz Yousuf died after a group clash in 2009 and 10 youths — eight Indians and two Pakistanis — were tried for killing him.

PTI JERUSALEM, FEB 2

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the international community to make it clear to any new Egyptian leadership that will emerge that it must meet a series of conditions in return for receiving legitimacy in the eyes of the West, similar to those posed to Hamas following the Islamist movement’s victory in Palestinian elections, senior officials told daily Ha’aretz.

As Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak fights a seemingly lost battle against protesters seeking his ouster, Israel has asked the global community to make it clear to any regime in the country that it must abide fully by the peace agreement with the Jewish state.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged the international community to make it clear to any new Egyptian leadership that will emerge that it must meet a series of conditions in return for receiving legitimacy in the eyes of the West, similar to those posed to Hamas following the Islamist movement’s victory in Palestinian elections, senior officials told daily Ha’aretz.

The Mideast Quartet of the

to democracy in Egypt but it is important for us to preserve the peace agreement.”

The Prime Minister’s Bureau issued a statement yesterday to clarify the Israeli position on the situation in Egypt.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel’s interest is to preserve the peace with Egypt...Israel believes that the international community must require any Egyptian government to preserve the peace agreement with Israel,” it said.

The more than threedecade-long peace agreement between the two countries has ensured that Israel did not have to face any major War in the region.

PTI DUBAI, FEB 2

A man shovels ice and snow from the sidewalk during the morning commute in lower Manhattan on Wednesday in New York City. The icy weather is part of a massive winter storm that stretches from New Mexico to Maine and has brought freezing rain and blizzard conditions to more than 30 states.

Australian cyclone evacuees turned away REuTERS CAIRNS, FEB 2

Australian police turned people away from jammed evacuation shelters on Wednesday as a huge cyclone neared the northeast coast, leaving many to wait outside in the open, praying police will relent and squeeze them in before the storm arrives.

Cyclone Yasi is the most dangerous cyclone to come ashore in Australia in a century, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and overwhelm cyclone shelters which are already refuge to more than 10,000.

At a shopping centre which serves as a shelter in Cairns, a tourist city destined to feel Yasi’s wrath within hours, Selwyn Hughes stood with his family in the uncovered carpark and said his only comfort for the moment was in numbers.

“There are so many of us here. Surely they have to do something, find somewhere safer to move us to before it arrives,” Hughes said, squatting on a pink suitcase with his five children, aged two to 13.

The family’s only possessions

n Cyclone Yasi is the most dangerous cyclone to come ashore in Australia in a century, forcing tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes and overwhelm cyclone shelters which are already refuge to more than 10,000. were a small box of food, including a tin of powdered milk, and clothes and a pram for twoyear-old daughter Minoota.

Around them 80 others sat on the ground and shared advice or sympathy.

At a steel barrier gate, four police guarded entry to a ramp up to a cinema complex being used as a rooftop entry point to the makeshift cyclone shelter, as grey clouds swirled and winds whistled over fences and rooftops.

“It’s making it very difficult. We’re disappointed we can’t take any more people in, but I’ve been through in there and it’s just not safe,” said acting police inspector John Bosnjak.

Inside, more than 2,000 people lay in front of shuttered shops and food courts, or sat on empty tables, while children

played on moving walkways.

All seven evacuations centres set up in the region have reached capacity ahead of Yasi’s arrival, filled also by hundreds of foreign backpackers sent away from usually thriving waterfront hostels.

Around 30,000 people in lowlying suburbs evacuated their homes and poured into the centres when doors opened at about 6 am, or bunkered down in the homes of friends at the urging of the government, helping ease the strain on shelters.

Others joined a stream of traffic heading south.

Cairns Mayor Val Schier advised residents to batten down in their own homes, while lastminute preparations were also being made to open an eighth shelter and move people there by bus.

The families of three Pakistanis who died after a US government employee opened fire in broad daylight demanded Wednesday that terror charges are brought against the American.

Dozens of relatives and students gathered close to the site of the shooting in the eastern city of Lahore last week, shouting “hang Davis,” “death to American dogs” and “cruel people be accountable for our blood”.

The US consular employee, whom Pakistani police identified as Raymond Davis, is under investigation for the double murd e r o f t w o Pa k i s t a n i motorcyclists.

A third Pakistani was run over by a vehicle from the US consulate in Lahore that came to Davis’ assistance. Davis said he shot the two men in self-defence, fearing they were about to rob him, but was taken into Pakistani custody.

“We demand the Raymond Davis trial be held under the anti-terrorism act,” said Sajjad, brother of Ibad-ur-Rehman, who was killed by the US vehicle, speaking at a joint news conference convened by the relatives.

“The weapon was openly used in public, when people crushed under the vehicle and

when people tried to stop the car, guns were aimed at them — all this falls into acts of terrorism,” Rehman said.

A Pakistan court on Tuesday blocked any move to free Davis although Washington has stepped up calls for his release, citing diplomatic immunity.

“We want him kept on remand and denied bail,” said Mohammad Waseem, brother of Mohammad Faheem, one of the two men on a motorcycle whom the American thought posed a direct threat.

Mohammad Rashid, brotherin-law of other motorcyclists Faizan Haider, said the grieving families were dissatisfied with the police investigation.

“The government is deliberately weakening the case against the US citizen and are portraying the victims as robbers,” Rashid said.

Relatives said they would stage a peaceful rally outside the US consulate in Lahore on Thursday.

“We appeal on the government to allow this peaceful rally and provide security, otherwise we will try to get inside the US consulate,” Waseem said.

Although Washington says the man is a diplomat, questions remain about why the American was driving around with a gun and US officials have so far declined to confirm his name.

‘Jihad Jane’ pleads guilty to terror charges PTI BOSTON, FEB 2

An American woman, who styled herself ‘Jihad Jane’, today pleaded guilty to charges that she worked online to support Islamic terrorists and moved overseas to plot killing of a Swedish artist who drew cartoons of Prophet Mohammad.

Blonde-haired, blue-eyed Colleen LaRose replied “yes” when she was asked by US District Court Judge Petrese Tucker in a Philadelphia court if she was pleading guilty, after denying the charges last year.

LaRose, 47, changed her plea to guilty to all counts of a superseding indictment charging her with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, making false statements and attempted identity theft.

LaRose was arrested in October 2009 in a plot to kill Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, whose cartoons had angered many across the Muslim world.

She faces a maximum potential sentence of life in prison and a one million dollar fine when sentenced on March 3. She had pleaded not guilty to the charges last year.

“Today’s guilty plea, by a woman from suburban America who plotted with others to commit murder overseas and to provide material support to terrorists, underscores the evolving nature of the threat we face,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security David Kris said.

LaRose’s case, which came to light months after Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley was charged with plotting terrorist attacks in India and Denmark, was seen as a disturbing new development of home-grown terrorism.

Like Headley, La Rose’s American citizenship and appearance made it easy for her to travel in and out of the country undetected.

A former resident of Pennsylvania, LaRose was charged by indictment in March 2010.

A superseding indictment was filed in April 2010, adding co-defendant Jamie Paulin Ramirez, a US citizen and former resident of Colorado.

Ramirez is awaiting trial which is scheduled to begin May 2, 2011.

Jordanians show dissent with new PM AGENCIES AMMAN, FEB 2

The people of Jordan had raised their voice against the appointment of the new Prime Minister Maarouf Al Bakhit, an ex-army general and former ambassador to Israel. Jordan’s king Abdullah on Tuesday, Feb 1 dismissed his government and appointed Bakhit to head the country’s new government.

The people took the protest to the streets of Jordan following the unemployment, inflation, and skyrocketing prices in the country. The people blamed Samir Rifai’s government for the economic crises and demanded him to fire.

After a three weeks of street protest in the country, Abdullah zeroed on Bakhit to form a new government. But the decision by the Jordan’s king failed to satisfy the Jordanians.

Abdullah said, “The new government will have the task of taking practical swift and tangible steps to launch a real political reform process, in line with the King’s vision of comprehensive reform, modernization and development.”

n LaRose, 47, changed her plea to guilty to all counts of a superseding indictment charging her with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, making false statements and attempted identity theft.

According to documents filed with the court, LaRose and her co-conspirators recruited men and women on the Internet to wage violent jihad in South Asia and Europe.

She recruited women who had passports and the ability to travel to and around Europe in support of violent jihad, the documents added.

Prosecutors said LaRose “worked obsessively on her computer to communicate with, recruit and incite other jihadists.”

LaRose and her co-conspirators communicated on the internet with each other regarding their plans, which included martyring themselves, soliciting funds for terrorists, soliciting passports and avoiding travel restrictions.

She also stole her boyfriend’s US passport and transferred it in an effort to facilitate an act of international terrorism.

In e-mails recovered by the FBI, LaRose had also agreed to marry an online contact from South Asia so he could move to Europe.

In addition, LaRose also received a direct order to kill the Sweden cartoonist in a way that would frighten “the whole Kufar (non-believer) world.”

LaRose had allegedly bragged in one email that her appearance allowed her to go anywhere undetected, saying it was “an honor and great pleasure to die or kill for” jihad.

She had posted a comment on YouTube in 2008 that she was “desperate to do something somehow to help” the suffering Muslim people.

LaRose travelled to Europe in 2009 where she planned to train with jihadists and find and kill the Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks.

Nepal set for 4-way fight in today’s PM poll PTI KATHMANDU, FEB 2

A key party of Indian-origin people from Nepal’s southern Terai plains today fielded its candidate for the post of Premier at the last minute, a move that will turn tomorrow’s 17th round of polls into a four-corner contest also involving Maoist chief Prachanda and candidates from NC and CPN-UML. Deputy Prime Minister Bijay Kumar Gachhedar of the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum - Democratic (MPRF-D) filed his nomination papers in a surprise move shortly before the 4 pm deadline for the purpose expired. Gachhedar has support from two other Madhesi parties.

From the single largest party UCPN-Maoist, its Chairman Prachanda filed his nomination papers, while Nepali Congress (NC) again fielded Ram Chandra Poudyal for the top post.

CPN-UML of caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal put up its President Jhala Nath Khanal for tomorrow’s elections, seven months after Premier Nepal resigned under intense Maoist pressure.

President Ram Baran Yadav had last week directed Parliament to begin a fresh process for the election of Prime Minister on the basis of majority vote as political parties had failed to hammer out a deal to form a consensus government.

Prachanda, Poudyal and Khanal had earlier also contested the elections, while Gachhedar has joined the fray for the first time.

To get elected for the post, a candidate requires at least 300 votes in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

Another two rounds of elections, if required, will be held on February 5 and 6 respectively.

President Yadav’s second deadline to form a national consensus government had expired on January 26, following 16 rounds of polls for the Premier’s post which did not produce a winner.

Maoists, who gave up insurgency and joined mainstream politics in 2006, have 238 seats in Parliament while NC has 113 and CPNUML 108.

The combined strength of the Madhesi parties is 83.

Biz12:Pg12 2/2/2011 10:37 PM Page 1

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BIZ

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

Market fell on FII selling; fundamentals strong: FM PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

Attributing the fall in stock

markets in the past few days to selling by FIIs, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today asserted that the fundamentals are strong and the economy will clock 8.5 per cent growth in the current financial year.

The volatility in stock market has been on account of "continued selling by FIIs," he said, adding the Indian economy has "strong fundamentals".

"While the stock market has its own mind and it take cues from developments all around, I want to take this opportunity to retreat the strong fundamentals of the Indian economy," Mukherjee told reporters here.

The benchmark index Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange had lost 5.90 per cent in the past five trading sessions with investors resorting to hectic selling in wake of Egypt crisis and high inflation etc.

The markets, however, recovered today gaining 68 points to close at 18,090.62 points.

The government, Mukherjee said, would stick to the growth projection of 8.5 per cent for the current fiscal. The economy expanded by 8 per cent during

2009-10 and recorded 8.9 per cent growth rate in the first half of the current fiscal.

"I am confident that we will meet our growth projection for the year...(2010-11) will end with a better than projected fiscal balance and more moderate inflation," Mukherjee added.

While the price rise had been a problem for the government after the food inflation soared to 18.32 per cent for the week ended December 25, the fiscal deficit is likely to moderate on the back of higher revenue growth and better the anticipated realisation of funds from sale of 3G spectrum to telecom companies.

"There have been fluctuations (in inflation). At one point of time, food inflation went as high as 18.32 per cent. In the large economy like India, these kinds of periodic fluctuation's are not unusual," he said.

In the remaining three months, the Minister added, "there may be some fluctuations".

Mukherjee said that recent estimates by the Central Statistical Organisation suggested

that "the stimulus led recovery in 2009-10 was stronger than earlier believed. Growth rate of GDP has been revised from 7.4 per cent to 8 per cent in 200910 and from 6.7 per cent to 6.8 per cent in 2008-09".

More importantly, he added, both savings and investment growth have shown strong recovery in 2009-10 over the preceding year. "This augurs well for sustaining high growth of the economy in the medium to long term," he added.

Referring to the 8.9 per cent growth in the first half of the current fiscal, he said "(It) has taken the economy back to the pre-crisis growth momentum".

Economy was growing at above 9 per cent before the global meltdown pulled down the growth rate to 6.8 per cent in 2008-09.

The fiscal performance during the current fiscal has been

"very satisfactory", Mukherjee said, adding the gross tax collection up to December 2010 showed a growth of 27 per cent year on year.

Customs and excise duties recorded a growth of 66 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively, indicating that "manufacturing activities is on strong growth path in spite of monthly fluctuations in the index of industrial production witnessed in recent months," he said.

"Both the fiscal and revenue deficits are well below the levels recorded in the corresponding period of the last year.

"While the current fiscal situation has been aided by more than anticipated realisation in non-tax revenues it has also afforded the opportunity to increase plan and other developmental spendings in the course of the year," the minister said.

ITC may hike packaged foods prices PTI MUMBAI, FEB 2

With rising input costs and high food inflation, tobacco giant and FMCG major ITC today said it may soon hike prices of its packaged foods by 7-8 per cent.

"Prices of agricultural commodities are increasing. Prices have risen by 30-35 per cent in the past two years. There is also a simultaneous rise in freight rates and packaging costs. We may increase prices of packaged foods by 7-8 per cent," ITC Foods Chief Executive Chittaranjan Dar said.

ITC makes and sells packaged foods under brands such as Ashirwaad, Sunfeast, Yipee (noodles) and Kitchens of India (ready to eat foods).

On growth in the business of packaged foods segment, Dar said that company was looking at a 14-15% growth in FY 12.

FCI to build food grain godowns PTI ITANAGAR, FEB 2

PTI MUMBAI, FEB 2

The Food Corporation of India (FCI) has proposed constructing 10 godowns in district headquarters of Arunachal Pradesh soon for storing food grains in order to overcome various impediments while supplying PDS items to remote areas of the state.

"Land allocation process for the proposed godowns in seven districts has been completed and it is in progress in Tawang, Aalo and Anini", FCI Dy GM (Arunachal Pradesh region) Harish Chander told the first meeting of the state consultative committee of FCI.

Sensex fails to keep gains PTI MUMBAI, FEB 2

The BSE benchmark Sensex snapped its 5-day losing streak but failed to maintain initial sharp gains due to fag-end profit booking, mainly in power and capital goods sectors, and closed about 68 points up at 18,090.62.

Smart rise in heavyweights like RIL, ICICI Bank, TCS, Tata Motors and Bharti Airtel helped the Sensex rise. As news of former Telecom Minister A Raja's arrest, along with his two former associates in connection with the 2G spectrum scam, filtered in, the market washed out major part of its early gains. Initially, the Sensex shot up to a high at 18,306.00, up nearly 284 points, on fresh buying in Realty, Oil & Gas, Metal and IT on strong global cues.

Aban Offshor, 680, 680, 657.55, 660.75 Abb Ltd., 720, 729.7, 696, 699.7 Abg Shipyard, 341.65, 349.5, 338.15, 343.55 Acc Limited, 978.85, 995, 956.15, 991 Adani Enterp, 570, 596.9, 570, 583.35 Aditya Birla, 751, 770, 746.55, 759 Allahabad Ba, 201, 203.15, 197.9, 200.25 Alstom Proje, 577, 588.9, 567.4, 584.4 Ambuja Cemen, 122, 124.4, 119.55, 121.2 Andhra Bank, 138, 140, 135.2, 137.55 Ashok Leylan, 56.5, 57.85, 55.5, 55.95 Asian Paints, 2483, 2525.05, 2445.65, 2485.45 Axis Bank Li, 1255, 1257, 1216.05, 1225.05 Bajaj Hindus, 82.15, 83.85, 81.35, 82.15 Bank Of Baro, 855.1, 869.95, 855.05, 860.35 Bank Of Indi, 442, 449.7, 440.45, 444.45 Beml Limited, 844.25, 849.9, 810, 819.7 Bharat Elect, 1775, 1775, 1704.05, 1742 Bharat Forge, 340.2, 345.5, 331.5, 340.65 Bharat Petro, 584.05, 607, 571, 593.65 Bharti Airte, 310, 325.8, 304.45, 322.8 Bhel, 2210.5, 2219.7, 2122.55, 2138.6 Bhushan Stee, 402.45, 406, 392, 394.8 Biocon Limit, 343.75, 345.8, 339.65, 340.75 Bombay Dyein, 381.4, 390, 375.95, 379.8

Bosch Limite, 6054, 6054, 5926, 5961.5 Brigade Ente, 92.1, 97.4, 91.5, 95.45 Cairn India, 330.1, 336.4, 328.75, 330.4 Canara Bank, 585.25, 600, 563.2, 569.4 Central Bank, 171.6, 171.6, 164.7, 166.3 Century Text, 331.2, 331.2, 314.4, 316.5 Cesc Ltd, 299.95, 305.6, 299.95, 303.3 Chambal Fert, 72.05, 72.8, 70.7, 71.3 Chennai Petr, 213.5, 217.5, 207.5, 209.35 Cipla Ltd, 332.55, 334, 322.45, 325.5 Colgate Palm, 804, 811.95, 760.05, 787.2 Container Co, 1175, 1214.35, 1175, 1197.45 Crompton Gre, 275, 277.45, 264, 270.45 Cummins Indi, 702.1, 730, 702.1, 711.4 Dabur India, 94, 94.65, 92.45, 93.55 Deccan Chron, 89.8, 89.8, 86.1, 87.15 Dish Tv Indi, 57.5, 59.5, 56.2, 58.95 Divi’s Labor, 619, 631, 610.25, 626.15 Dlf Limited, 224, 233.85, 216.2, 227.15 Dr. reddy’s, 1620, 1632, 1575.8, 1613.4 Edelweiss Ca, 39.3, 39.85, 37.75, 38 Educomp Solu, 465.5, 471.1, 459.3, 461.7 Eih Limited, 99.5, 102.5, 99, 99.7 Engineers In, 280.2, 290, 273, 284.35 Essar Oil Lt, 119.15, 121.35, 117.5, 118.6

MF industry can achieve $1 t AUM in 5 years: SEBI Capital markets regulator SEBI's executive director K N Vaidyanathan has said the mutual fund industry can comfortably achieve the USD 1-trillion assets under management levels in the next five years if the asset management companies (AMCs) get customer-centric.

"The industry needs to reinvent the wheel and offer simple solutions to him (the customer) - bank deposit-like and bank deposit plus. If you do that over the next three to five years, you can make him feel comfortable," he said at the ICRA MF awards last

Essar Shippi, 97.1, 99.95, 97.1, 98.15 Exide Indust, 129, 129.05, 124.1, 125.05 Federal Bank, 366, 367.05, 353.55, 356.7 Financial Te, 721.15, 757.8, 721, 746.1 Gail (india), 463.5, 469.75, 458, 461.15 Gammon India, 140, 143.5, 136.4, 139.35 Glaxosmithkl, 2252.1, 2297.95, 2200, 2257.35 Glenmark Pha, 303, 306.8, 290, 291.1 Gmr Infrastr, 39, 39.1, 37.8, 38.25 Godrej Indus, 167.2, 171.45, 167.2, 168.85 Grasim Indus, 2262.35, 2287, 2230.25, 2240 Great Offsho, 302.6, 302.6, 295.5, 298.5 Gtl Infra.Lt, 40.6, 40.95, 39.95, 40.25 Gujarat Mine, 120.35, 121.4, 118.3, 119.15 Gujarat N R, 57.8, 58.5, 57, 57.5 Gujarat Stat, 102, 103.4, 101, 102.5 Gvk Pow. & I, 30.15, 31, 29.5, 30.35 Hcl Technolo, 496.35, 503.45, 485.65, 498.2 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2051.5, 2063.5, 2006.2, 2019.9 Hdfc Ltd, 642.3, 644, 613.3, 617.45 Hero Honda M, 1602, 1634.7, 1508.05, 1522.8 Hindalco in, 232, 237.9, 231.15, 234.8 Hindustan Co, 36.9, 36.9, 34.8, 35.45 Hindustan Ma, 62.5, 62.9, 61, 61.2 Hindustan Pe, 346.7, 352.9, 336.3, 341.3

evening.

Taking a critical line, Vaidyanathan said it "amazes" him how one of the safest products, the liquid funds, is the least sold.

"It amazes me the least risk product in the country, which is liquid funds, is not sold to retail investors," he said.

Currently, the total AUM of the industry stands at around Rs 6,75,377 crore.

AMCs should seriously invest in investor connect, a job they had been delegating to the distributors till now. "You cannot delegate it to someone else, you have to establish that connect with investors," he

Hindustan Un, 271.25, 276.55, 269.1, 274.6 Hindustan Zi, 1260.9, 1279.95, 1235, 1270.85 Housing Dev, 126, 135.25, 126, 131.45 Icici Bank L, 1015, 1023.85, 1002.15, 1011.4 Idea Cellula, 67, 69.45, 65.95, 68.6 Ifci Ltd, 52.2, 52.6, 50.3, 51.15 India Cement, 92, 93.5, 86.75, 88.2 India Infoli, 78.2, 79.75, 77, 78.65 Indiabulls F, 156.6, 159, 153, 153.95 Indiabulls R, 118, 120.9, 108.2, 116.85 Indian Bank, 212.2, 216.25, 209.5, 211.35 Indian Hotel, 92, 93.7, 91.6, 92.7 Indian Oil C, 327.3, 333.7, 320.15, 325.85 Indian Overs, 128.4, 129.9, 125.65, 126.35 Indus Dev Ba, 140.5, 141, 136.65, 137.4 Indusind Ban, 221.25, 228.5, 220, 223.3 Infosys Tech, 3113, 3164, 3065, 3089.25 Infra. dev., 144.9, 145.4, 140, 141.05 Ispat Indust, 24.2, 25.05, 24.2, 24.6 Itc Ltd, 160.75, 161.7, 158, 159 Ivrcl Infras, 77.9, 78.4, 73.85, 74.95 Jai Corp Lim, 170.1, 174.15, 168.05, 169.15 Jaiprakash A, 81, 82.7, 80.2, 81.05 Jet Airways, 518, 541, 493, 504.1 Jindal Saw L, 211.95, 215, 208.25, 211.8

said.

It is noteworthy that in the past as well, SEBI has made moves like lifting the entry load which have not gone down well with the distributors. Asked if there would be any revocation of the stand, Vaidyanathan said, entry load is a "closed chapter" and "there isn't an economic case out there."

In the last few years, SEBI's policy vis-à-vis the mutual funds industry has focused on ensuring greater investor focus, addressing systemic risks, tighten regulatory framework and development of the market, he said.

Jindal Steel, 637.5, 650, 629.3, 643.1 Jsw Steel Li, 912, 945, 897.35, 929.95 Kotak Mahind, 377.65, 386.95, 367.25, 372.4 Lakshmi Mach, 2180, 2180, 2120, 2148 Lanco Infrat, 49.9, 50.15, 47.55, 48.55 Larsen & Tou, 1598, 1600.7, 1565, 1573.5 Lic Housing, 183, 183, 170.5, 171.95 Lupin Limite, 414.9, 421, 413.05, 415.15 Mahanagar Te, 47, 47.8, 46.5, 46.8 Mahindra & M, 716.9, 719.9, 692.5, 700.55 Maruti Suzuk, 1248.45, 1248.45, 1211, 1217.05 Max India Lt, 148, 149.9, 142, 146.7 Maytas Infr., 180.1, 180.1, 176.05, 177.9 Moser-baer (, 51.35, 52.3, 50.55, 51 Mrpl, 66.7, 67.4, 66.2, 66.85 Nagarjuna Co, 110.9, 113, 107.55, 108.45 Nagarjuna Fe, 27.8, 27.95, 27.35, 27.45 National Alu, 412, 417, 401.15, 406.55 Neyveli Lign, 101.8, 104.6, 101, 102.75 Ntpc Ltd, 187, 189.9, 179.7, 180.25 Oil And Natu, 1184.4, 1210, 1177, 1181.6 Omaxe Limite, 123, 137.45, 123, 135.85 Oriental Ban, 336, 338.9, 327, 329.85 Pantaloon Re, 287, 292.05, 284.6, 285.8 Parsvnath De, 44.2, 45.5, 42, 45.2

Petronet Lng, 126.4, 127.25, 124.75, 125.15 Power Fin Co, 246, 255.75, 242.6, 251.75 Power Grid C, 96.05, 96.5, 94.35, 95.55 Praj Industr, 74.1, 75.95, 73.15, 73.8 Punj Lloyd L, 91.5, 92.9, 90.8, 91.25 Punjab Natio, 1111.9, 1117, 1075.1, 1079.95 Rajesh Expor, 131.2, 136, 131.2, 134.3 Ranbaxy Labs, 537.5, 545.5, 533.45, 539.25 Rashtriya Ch, 81.3, 82.9, 80.1, 80.55 Reliance Cap, 509.8, 509.8, 491, 496.05 Reliance Com, 120, 121.3, 115.9, 116.95 Reliance Ene, 1154, 1154, 1055, 1079 Reliance Ind, 575, 576, 558.2, 562.7 Reliance Ind, 910, 927.9, 907.3, 921.3 Reliance Pow, 132.1, 132.5, 127, 127.75 Rolta India, 138.5, 139.7, 136.15, 136.9 Satyam Compu, 59.5, 61.1, 59.5, 60.15 Sesa Goa Ltd, 326.75, 329.2, 316.4, 317.75 Shipping Cor, 113, 116.4, 112.5, 114.05 Siemens Ltd, 858.7, 858.7, 843, 849 Sintex Indus, 143.4, 144.75, 141.65, 142.35 Sobha Develo, 259.2, 263, 240.55, 243.9 State Bank O, 2624.7, 2633.6, 2560, 2573.75 Steel Author, 162.8, 163, 159.55, 160.15 Sterlite Ind, 166.75, 171.15, 166.75, 168.5 Sun Pharmace, 431.75, 441.75, 430, 436.6

...Will ‘take care’ of oil price impact PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

Voicing concern over world oil prices touching a 28-month high of USD 102 a barrel, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the government is watching the situation closely, as he promised to "take care" of its impact on domestic retail fuel prices.

"Unfortunately, developments in the Middle East and its impact on the Arab world is causing uncertainty about (oil) production (and) about (its) availability. We are watching the situation (closely)," Mukherjee told reporters here.

The spike in global rates has meant that the gap between domestic retail fuel price and their cost of production has widened, necessitating action either by way of price increase or hike in government subsidy.

Diesel is currently being sold at a loss of Rs 9.23 per litre while every 14.2-kg cylinder of domestic LPG is underpriced by Rs 356.07. Kerosene through PDS is sold at a loss of Rs 21.60 per litre.

Unrest in Egypt fuelled Brent crude price to an intraday high of USD 102.08 per barrel yesterday, its highest level since late September 2008 after the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy sent financial markets into a tailspin.

World oil prices are on the spike on fears the escalating turmoil in Egypt will disrupt supply flows through the strategic Suez Canal.

BOARD MEETINGS ACC Omnitech Info Organic Coat Allied Digit Hindustan Foods Ambuja Cements ICSA India IITL Projects India Gelatine Birla Cotsyn Jumbo Bag Scooters India Cummins India Surya Pharma Koutons Retl Tele Techno Titan Trading Eco Recycling Midas Pharma Whirlpool Source: Indiainfoline.com Sun Tv Netwo, 499.95, 502, 485.1, 494.85 Suzlon Energ, 48.25, 49.6, 47.6, 48.05 Tata Communi, 225, 235.8, 225, 233.7 Tata Consult, 1170, 1198.9, 1162.35, 1182.45 Tata Motors, 1087.3, 1128.9, 1077.3, 1114.25 Tata Power C, 1230, 1249, 1209.45, 1219.6 Tata Steel L, 631.1, 634.95, 615.8, 626.25 Tata Teleser, 16.9, 17.25, 16.7, 16.8 Tech Mahindr, 641, 645, 634, 641.05 The Ge Shpg., 296, 299.65, 287.05, 293.45 The Phoenix, 200.05, 205, 200.05, 202.45 Thermax Ltd, 687.8, 725, 670, 670.6 Titan Indust, 3633, 3642, 3518.1, 3536 Torrent Powe, 231, 232, 220.3, 221.6 Triveni Engg, 93.7, 94.2, 91.85, 92.9 Tv18 India L, 75.95, 77.4, 75.6, 76.4 Uco Bank, 106, 107.4, 104.05, 105.4 Ultratech Ce, 1002, 1014, 986.05, 999.85 Union Bank O, 326.75, 328, 321.15, 322.75 Unitech Ltd, 44.3, 47.05, 44, 45.15 United Phosp, 136.6, 138.45, 133.8, 134.55 Videocon Ind, 206.1, 208, 201.6, 204.15 Vijaya Bank, 90.6, 91.25, 88.1, 89.35 Voltas Ltd, 186, 190, 184.8, 187.9 Wipro Ltd, 431.7, 442.3, 430, 437.85 Yes Bank Lim, 267, 269.8, 262.55, 264.5 Zee Entertai, 113, 114.85, 110, 112.3

OHERALDO

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BIZ

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011

India should raise FDI cap in key sectors: FIccI PTI MILAN, FEB 2

Amid a striking slump in foreign inflows, the Indian government should seriously consider raising the cap on foreign direct investment (FDI) in single -brand retail, defence and insurance sector, industry body FICCI said today.

"To take India to the next level of reform, the government should actively consider increasing FDI cap in singlebrand retail, insurance and defence sector," Ficci President Rajan Bharti Mittal, who is spearheading Indian CEOs delegation in Italy, told reporters here.

"FDI is short this year...It is expected to be down by 30-35 per cent at the end of the current fiscal," he said.

India's FDI during JanuaryNovember 2010 declined by 26 per cent to USD 18.99 billion (Rs 86,921 crore).

Mittal, who is also the

managing director of Bharti Enterprises, said the ceiling on FDI in defence sector should be raised to 49 per cent from the current level of 26 per cent.

Whereas in single-brand retail, he said it must be increased to 100 per cent. At present 51 per cent FDI is allowed in single-brand retail..

Even Italian investors, especially those from the fashion industry,are demanding 100 per cent FDI in single-brand retail, he added.

FICCI also asked the government to allow multi-brand retail upto 51 per cent, subject to investment in the back end.

On FDI in multi-brand retail, he said, "I don't know which way the policy is moving... My belief is if FDI opens up, many companies can come, including (global retail giants) Walmart, Tesco and Carrefour".

On slow growth of India-Italy

trade, Mittal said: "Trade is slow because of high duties.

Italians have raised their concern and I have spoken to the Commerce Minister to consider finding a middle path."

He also said that tourism, infrastructure and manufacturing are the key sectors where India can strongly engage with Italy in the coming years.

During January-November 2010, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) pumped in about USD 39 billion into the Indian economy.

"A major reason for the decline in inward FDI is reported to have been the environmentsensitive policies pursued, as manifested in the recent episodes in the mining sector, integrated township projects and construction of ports, which appear to have affected the investors sentiments," RBI had said in its Macroeconomic and Monetary Policy Development report.

Macro Dairy to supply to Wal-Mart PTI CHANDIGARH, FEB 2

Dairy major Macro Dairy Ventures Private Limited (MDVL) today said it has tied up with Bharti Wal-Mart wholesale cash and carry store for supplying its premium milk.

MDVL is claimed to be country’s first vertically integrated dairy unit set up in Ludhiana at an investment of over Rs. 100 crore.

It has Holstein Friesian breed of cows with a strength of 4,500 and has own processing plant with a capacity of 1.5 lakh litres per day.

MDVL is also in discussion with big retail chains to tap potential in growing organised market for milk in Punjab.

“We have tied up with Bharti Wal-Mart’s Best Price store for supplying our milk to them in Zirakpur and Jalandhar,” MDVL, Chief Operating Officer, Ravinderjit Singh said today.

A model poses with Maruti Suzuki's Kizashi sedan in New Delhi on Tuesday. Maruti Suzuki's Kizashi which comes a with 2.4 litre DOHC J- series engine will be available at price of Rs 16.5 lakh for manual transmission variant and at price of Rs 17.50 lakh for Continuos Variable Transmission (CVT) variant.

US-India trade up over 30% in 2010 PTI WASHINGTON, FEB 2

The Indo-US bilateral trade is expected to increase by more than 30 percent in the first 11 months of 2010 to touch USD 50 billion.

The bilateral trade could even touch the magical figure of USD 50 billion when the statistics for December are available, officials said, adding this reflects the growing trade relationship between the two countries.

According to the latest figures made available by the US Department of Commerce, between January to November 2010, the total bilateral trade between India and the United States was USD 45,011 million.

This is in comparison to USD 34,416 million during the same

period in 2009; showing an increase of 30.79 percent.

The total bilateral trade in 2009 was 37,607 million(about USD 37.61 billion), which was a significant drop from USD 43,386 million in 2008 mainly because of the downturn in the global economy.

In 2007, the total bilateral trade was USD 39,042 million.

The figures also reflected a greater increase in India’s export to the US than American export to India; even though both showed signs of increase.

Between January to November 2010,India’s export to the US had stood at USD 27,398 million as against USD 19,381 during the same period in 2009; thus showing an increase of 41.36 percent.

IIFCL plans to raise Rs 1,200 cr PTI MUMBAI, FEB 2

India Infrastructure Finance Company Ltd (IIFCL), a whollyowned government company, plans to raise up to Rs 1,200 crore through public issue of tax-free bonds for funding infrastructure projects.

The issue opens on February 4 and closes on March 4. The company will issue 10-year bonds with 8.15 per cent interest compounded annually and 15-year bond with 8.30 per cent.

"The funds raised through the public issue will be utilised for company's infrastructure lending activities," IIFCL CMD, S K Goel told reporters here.

The company will not utilise the proceeds of the issue for providing loans and acquisitions, Goel said.

Bonds with a maturity of 10 years will be issued in series I and II whereas series III and IV will have a maturity of 15 years each. Each bond has face value of Rs 5,000.

These bonds will be issued only to Resident Indian Individuals (Major) and HUF. Bonds

can be held in demat or physical form. It is proposed to be listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and can be traded post the five-year lock-in period.

It will be the first bond issue by a Government of India enterprise with tax benefits under Sec 80CCF of the Income Tax Act, 1961, Goel said.

IIFCL provides financial assistance to long-term infrastructure projects. As of September 30, 2010, 105 of the 124 projects (excluding PMDO projects) for which the company had sanctioned finances, were being carried out through PPP mode. This represents 85 per cent of its total consolidated loan portfolio.

Of the total number of projects financed by IIFCL, 21 projects had achieved commercial operation as of September 30, 2010. Its major exposures are presently in the power, road and airport sectors. As of September 30, 2010, IIFCL's debtequity ratio was 7.86.

As of March 31, 2010 and September 30, 2010, it had no non-performing advances.

DCC panel for UID, bar coding for all pharma products HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

In order to safeguard the interests of the genuine drug manufacturers of the country and to counter the entry of counterfeit drugs into the market, the sub-committee of Drug Consultative Committee (DCC), constituted by the drug controller general of India (DCGI), has apparently decided to recommend to adopt a unique ID and bar coding for all the pharma products in India.

The DCC sub-committee will soon submit its recommenda-

tion to the DCGI for adopting this unique ID and bar coding on the pharma products across India after due diligence so as to safeguard the interests of the genuine drug manufacturers of the country.

This move is expected to bring a check on the entry of counterfeit drugs into the market which is spoiling the reputation of the country and genuine manufacturer-exporters of pharmaceutical products, sources said.

This decision was taken by the sub-committee members H

CSR DEEDS

Sesa distributs sports kit to schools in Navelim Village PANJIM (HBD) -- Meanwhile, Sesa Goa distributed sports kit to four schools of Navelim. It was distributed at the hands of chief guest Pandhari Gawas, Sarpanch - Navelim Village Panchayat in presence of Bharat Gawas - Panch member, Narayan Sawant, Principal Govt High School, Navelim, teachers of primary schools in Navelim, Dinesh Kamat - associate manager (Production), Met coke Division, Shriram Venkata, Sr Engineer - Met coke Division.

Sports kit included sets of Badminton Rackets, Badminton nets, footballs, skipping ropes and rings.

Programme was coordinated by Shruti Dhupkar and the vote of thanks was proposed by Ramdas Madkaikar.

Fertilizers:

Shamrao Desai, manager- production of Met Coke Division distributing fertilizers among farmers.

PANJIM (HBD) -- Sesa Goa distributed fertilizers to 131 farmers of Navelim on January 7, 2011.

Fertilizers were distributed to the farmers of Sastacho akh, Ackhacho bandh and Fanaswadi Farmers club.

These groups of farmers cultivate Paddy and vegetables. Shamrao Desai, production manager of Met Coke Division; Babaji Sinari, associate manager - production and Pradeep Gauns were present at the function.

G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat Food & Drugs Control Administration, (FDCA), Salim Veljee, director, Goa, Foods and Drugs Control Administration, Dr Jagshetty, Karnataka Drugs Controller, M Bhaskaran, Tamil Nadu Drugs Controller at a recent meeting that was held in Gujarat on January 19. Malai Mitra who convened the meeting will be submitting the report to the DCGI shortly.

The committee was set up with a view to gauge the situation in the country with regard to counterfeit drugs and get a clear picture of it so that re-

Cuban rum, cigar, music soon in Goa HERALD BSUINESS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

The Ambassador of Cuba to India, His Excellency Miguel Angel Ramirex Ramos while on a visit to Mysore said that he plans of making the famed Cuban rum more known to the people of India.

He said, “We produce the world’s best rum, Havana Club.

Our cigars are famous throughout the world. In the beginning we were importing our rum and this meant the price to the buyer was high. We have now fully operational bottling plants in Chandigarh and Delhi. We will soon have similar plants in Karnataka and Goa.” “All these years you have been drinking the worst rum, Bacardi, our enemy No 1! Sip a Mojito or Pina Colada made with Havana Club rum and you will be converted for life! Our cigars are being marketed by one of the leading Indian tobacco companies and have been well received,” he added.

The ambassador went on to add that Cuba's music has its roots in its people. “You have influences of African traditional music. From the Rumba, Salsa, Mambo to the Timba, every genre of Latin Music has its roots in Cuba. The Cuban band, Calle-13, has won three Grammys at the 10th Grammy Awards. Cuban Jazz is making its presence felt in India with shows in Delhi.”

quired steps can be taken in favour of implementation of computerisation of drug distribution system up to retail stage. The meeting held at the Gujarat FDCA's office discussed about the benefits of implementing unique ID and bar coding and its effectiveness in rooting out the menace of spurious drugs.

A source associated with the whole process informed that the committee has decided to go with the unique ID and bar coding since they came in to the conclusion that implementation of this technology will

help in detection of spurious drugs efficiently and effectively.

Thus it is expected that the country will be able to deal with the menace of spurious and fraudulent drugs in an organised manner and help deal with this problem.

Once the DCGI secures the nod of the DCC, the DCGI's office will further initiate a dialogue with the stakeholders to get their opinion on the same. Source informed that the DCC subcommittee has come into consensus on adopting unique ID and bar coding after enough consider-

Budget may allow new Pvt banks PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

India is considering allowing new private sector banks, including by industrial houses, and a roadmap for the same could be announced in the annual Union Budget to be presented later this month.

While the formal and final guidelines would be announced by RBI on who should be allowed to set up new banks and what should be the terms and conditions for them, a roadmap on the subject could be announced in the Budget speech on February 28 by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, sources added.

In his Budget speech last year, Mukherjee had said that there was a need for extending the geographic coverage of banks and improving access to banking services.

The RBI is close to finalizing the guidelines for entry of new banks in the private sector, based on its consultations with the government and various stakeholders, as also the feedback to its August 2010 discussion paper on the issue, sources in the know said.

Among the various options, the RBI is considering grant of licence for small banks for initial few years, which could be upgraded to full-fledged banking licences after the central bank is satisfied with their performance and fulfillment of certain criteria, sources said.

The guidelines would dwell

upon issues like minimum capital for new banks and promoters contribution, minimum and maximum caps on holding of promoters and others, foreign shareholding, business model for the new banks and whether industrial houses, NBFC (nonbanking financial companies) could be allowed to run banks.

Among others, a number of corporate houses, including Anil Ambani-led Reliance group, the Aditya Birla group and the Religare group, have expressed interest in obtaining banking licences. A number of NBFCs and micro-finance institutions are also said to be interested in the banking business.

Mukherjee had said in his Budget speech in February 2010 that RBI was considering giving some additional banking licences to private sector players and NBFCs could also be considered, if they meet the RBI's eligibility criteria.

Pursuant to this, RBI in its Annual Policy Statement in April 2010 said that it would prepare a discussion paper marshalling the international practices, the Indian experience as well as the extant ownership and governance guidelines for grant of new private sector banking licences.

The discussion paper put out for feedback on August 11, 2010 and thereafter the central bank also held discussions with various stakeholders from the industry, banks, NBFCs and MFIs, consultants and other entities.

ation and deliberation. It was equivocally agreed by all that considering the present scenario, it was best to have unique ID and bar coding on all pharma products since it stands out to the best technology available in the war against counterfeit.

Meanwhile, US exports of merchandise to India grew by 17.2 percent from USD 15.03 billion during the period JanNov 2009 to USD 17.61 billion during the corresponding period in 2010.

Cut and polished diamonds and jewellery are a major item of India’s exports to the US, accounting for 21.5 percent.

Exports of this item had declined from USD 5.6 billion in 2008 to USD 4.6 billion in 2009.

Textiles exports to the US, which account for 23 percent, fell by 10.3 percent from USD 5.42 billion in 2008 to USD 4.86 billion in 2009.

Iron & Steel products which

account for 5.3 percent of India’s exports to the US, fell by 33.8 percent from USD 1.68 billion in 2008 to USD 1.12 billion in 2009.

Exports of Organic Chemicals fell by 10.2 percent from 1.46 billion in 2008 to USD 1.32 billion in 2009.

Exports of pharmaceutical products grew from USD 1.43 billion in 2008 to USD 1.66 billion in 2009.

Pg 14

SPORTS

GOA, Thursday, 3 February, 2011

MPT walk past Margao HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 2

Nhehern Acharya, World and Asian gold, silver and bronze medalist and State yoga champion being felicitated by V M Prabhudessai, Executive Director, SAG on his arrival from Thailand.

Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Sports Council registered a 2-1 win over Margao Sports Club in GFA’s First Division League at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Wednesday. There was no score at half time.

MPT made it clear from the start that they were not going to let Margao dictate terms, holding their own in the midfield remaining solid at the back.

It was Margao who should have gained the lead early when Gamy Costa was a bit slow in racing the well measured pass from Perrryson Rebello inside the rival penalty area.

After an initial scare, MPT nearly found success but Margao captain Soccoro Colaco foiled

striker Kayson Velho’s kick in the nick of time with a neat tackle.

MPT came close in taking the lead when Zico Fernandes unleashed a stiff shot which was well taken care of by Margao keeper Agnelo Gomes.

Midway in the opening session, Margao took over the reins and had umpteen scoring chances to break the deadlock but Perryson Rebello was the worst culprit as he spurned the easiest chance with only MPT keeper Juje Siddito to beat.

Later again, Perryson outpaced a rival defender and shot straight into the rival goalkeeper.

Crossing over, both teams showed urgency in their approach and went all out in

search of the equaliser and fired sorties against each other’s citadels.

MPT went into the lead in the 53rd minute when Kayson picked up the ball from Zico Fernandes and the former unleashed a snap shot beating the Margao keeper Agnelo Gomes hands down.

The goal spurred MPT to mount pressure on the rival citadel and doubled the lead in the 57th minute when Rekson Fernandes outwitted a couple of defenders and unleashed a left footer which crashed into the net.

Stung by double blows, Margao regrouped quickly and nearly reduced the margin in the 62nd minute when Parryson was brought down by MPT defender Savio Quadros inside the

penalty area and referee Melwyn Costa without wasting time pointed to the dreaded spot and also put his hand in the pocket to flash a yellow but retracted after realising that the erring players were earlier booked for a yellow.

Substitute Fredric Endro took the spot kick, squandered the golden opportunity as MPT veteran keeper Juje Siddi fisted away and from the rebound, Endro blasted wide much to the dismay of the Margao supporters.

Margao had their fair chances to get back but their forwards let them down.

Margao reduced the margin late in the second half when substitute Stephan Noronha slotted past the rival keeper with a stiff grounder.

Salgaocar confident despite setbacks HERALD CORRESONDENT MARGAO, FEB 2

Salgaocar Sports Club coach Karim Bencherifa believes that his side has a good chance to earn full three points from their away match against Air India in the 13th round match of 4th ILeague in Kolhapur on Thursday.

“We have to convert chances and stay focused throughout the match,” said Bencherifa. Salgaocar are on a high after winning nine matches so far but Air India will present a new challenge.

Salgaocar will sorely miss the services of their in-form Japanese striker Ryuji Sueoka and midfielder Gilbert Oliveira

after both have been ruled out due to double bookings. To add to their misery, striker Ekene Ikena and defender Rino Anto will also sit out due to injuries.

However, the Moroccan coach is still hoping that his team will come good on Thursday. “Suspension or injuries are a part of the game. Yes we will miss the services of key players, but we still have match winners on the bench. The mood in the team is very high and I hope they carry it into the match on Thursday. I have respect for Air India and I am confident they will give a good account of themselves on Thursday,” Bencherifa concluded.

Dezlon stars for St Mathew HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 2

Dazzling Dezlon Antao scored the all-important goal in the 26th minute to give St Mathew Sports Club of Azossim a 1-0 victory over Merces Sports Club in GFA’s Second Division at DSYA ground, Santa Cruz on Wednesday.

Three minutes from the end, Merces custodian Floyd da Merces Joao was shown the red card by referee Anthony Vaz, for deliberately kicking an opponent.

His replacement Shawn Joao miraculously saved the resulting penalty from Stanley Pires.

The match kicked off fifteen minutes late, but once it started it was definitely worth waiting for as both teams were eager to earn their first points of the season after a recent spell of losses.

Salvador Gracias did well for St Mathew getting up and down

the field and putting in some dangerous crosses until he was utilised in the centre of the midfield.

The experienced Merces midfield did well to hold up the ball, but they lacked the pace to keep up with their opponents. After they conceded the goal, substitute Kiran Kari was brought on and Pedro Araujo was moved from the centre forward position to the midfield to inject some pace.

In the 26th minute, a long looping free kick was played into the Merces area and Dezlon reacted quickest, to chip the ball over the advancing Merces keeper.

After the change of ends, the pace and intensity of the game seemed to drop.

St Mathew has now collected three points from four matches, while Merces are yet to open their account after four matches.

PES College of Arts and Science, Ponda winners of Goa University men inter-college volleyball championship alongwith Dr A S Dinge, Alex Vaz, Milton Fernandes at Massano de Amorim court, Panjim.

Progress, Rosary triumph HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 2

Progress HS, Sanquelim, Bicholim defeated Unity HS, Valpoi 6-1 in the finals of U-17 boys North District football tournament, organised by DSYA at Peddem sports complex here on Wednesday.

In the girls finals, Our Lady of Rosary HS, Dona Paula overcame Holy Cross, Bastora 4-0.

Progress HS, Sanquelim, Bicholim qualified for the finals after they defeated Don Bosco HS, Panjim 1-0 in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

In the other semi-finals, Unity HS, Valpoi defeated St Ann’s HS, Tivim 3-2 via the tie-breaker,

after the match ended goalless.

In the girls semi-finals, Our Lady of Rosary HS, Dona Paula thrashed St John of the Cross, Bicholim 11-0.

Sonali Bhomkar netted an impressive six goals, Anuska Viegas scored three and Leena Gaunso and Sibel Fernandes also scored.

Holy Cross HS, Bastora got a walkover in the other girls semifinals.

In a group level primary-middle school U-13 football match organised by DSYA, Saraswat HS, Mapusa defeated Sacred Heart, Parra 5-1.

Roman Noronha scored a brace, Saish Naik, Prasanjeet Parsekar and Adi Ahmad also scored. Parra netted a consolation goal via the penalty spot.

Fr Agnel College, Pilar winners of Goa University women inter-college volleyball championship alongwith Alex Vaz, Milton Fernandes at Massano de Amorim court, Panjim.

Wilred Leisure thrash Ambelim HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 2

Wilred Leisure Sports Club crushed Ambelim Sports Club 5-1 to cruise into the quarterfinals of 3rd Wilred Leisure Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Wilred Leisure Sports Club at Curtorim ground, on Wednesday. Wilred Leisure led 4-0 at the breather.

Wilred Leisure enjoyed a lion share of exchanges with striker

Nickson Castana having been in sublime form and was a thorn in the rival defence as he demolish the rival citadel with well orchestrated raids and kept their rival defenders on their toes.

Wilred Leisure opened their scoring early when Agnelo Martins converted the spot kick in the 16th minute.

Wilred Leisure outplayed their opponents in all depart-

ments as their opponents were disjointed as they rarely troubled the rival defence. Three minutes later, Nickson increased their tally when he bulged the net off a pass from Agnelo Martins.

In the 26th minute, Nickson struck a second time to complete his brace.

Earlier, Sertorio Monteiro added his name on the scorer list in the 20th minute.

C r o s s i n g o v e r, W i l r e d Leisure played at a leisurely pace and did not allow their opponents to bounce back as their defenders were alert in frustrating the rival attacks.

Tony Dias nodded in off a chip from Steven Dias soon after resumption.

Ambelim scored their consolation goal late in the second half through Ladsilau Fernandes.

Fomento Flamingos, Models Eagles advance

GFA Second Division: Vaddy SC v. Goa Police SC, Santa Cruz ground; Curtorim Gymkhana v. Mangor SC, Tilak Maidan, Vasco. Kick off 4 p.m.

GFA U-16: Guirdolim Club v. Sarzora SC, Carvorim-Chandor ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-14: Ave Maria AWC v. Young Strikers Club, Rosary ground; Raia SC v. Salcete FC, Raia ground; Mandopa SC v.

Betalbatim SC, Mandopa ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

St Sebastian Boys soccer inaugural: Mount Mary, Verna Nagoa v. Mad Max, Taleigao, 7 p.m.; Crazy Boys, Sancoale v. Carmona Boys, 8 p.m. St Sebastian SC ground, Bandh, St Cruz.

3rd Wilred Leisure Cup soccer: Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda v. Cuncolim Union, Curtorim ground, 4.30 p.m.

Holy Cross soccer: Agalli v.

Murida, 3.45 p.m., Dongorvaddo v. Amabji, 4.45 p.m., Rosary ground, Fatorda.

Players in action at the Pro Badminton League on Wednesday.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

Hot favourites Fomento Flamingos stormed into the semi-finals of Pro-Badminton League organised by Panjim Badminton Club in association with SAG at Indoor Stadium, Campal, here.

Fomento thumped defending champs Models Eagles 3-0 to emerge on top of their group at the end of round robin league.

Models Eagles too made it to the semi-finals after emerging second.

In the other half, strong contenders Caculo Chargers scored a scintillating 3-1 win over Fallary Warriors to emerge group winners.

In the semi-finals, Fomento Flamingos will meet Fallary Warriors while Caculo Chargers will clash with Models Eagles.

Results: Fomento Flamingos

beat Models Eagles 3-0. Navneet Nasnodkar and Malati Dani beat Darwin Barretto and Astha Gupta 21-10, 16-21, 21-17. Krishnaraj Gauns and Pranav Silimkhan beat Rahul Chandrashekar and Chinmay Kamat 18-21, 21-19, 21-17.

Floyd Araujo and Navaneet Nasnodkar beat Parag Chauhan and Darwin Barretto 21-17, 2113.

Models Eagles beat GBA Super Riders 3-2. Parag Chauhan and Astha Gupta lost to Seby Ferrao and Anushka Kuvelkar 921, 17-21. Rahul Chandrashekar and Chinmay Kamat lost to Sharmad Mahajan and Prathit Naik 14-21, 21-19, 16-21. Parag Chauhan and Darwin Barretto beat Sharmad Mahajan and Seby Ferrao 21-19, 21-17. Sunny Sawant beat Salil Naik 21-14, 21-17. Anil Paiguinkar and Ajay Gupta beat Sudin Kuvelkar and Rupchandra Humraskar 21-14, 17-21, 21-5.

Caculo Chargers beat Fallary Warriors 3-1. Manoj Humraskar and Marina lost to Sandip Kanji and Anura Prabhudesai 13-21,

18-21 Aniket Shenai and Saish Salelkar beat Yash Angle and Sanath Kamat 21-14, 21-19.

Pankaj Naik and Krushnan Naik beat Sandip Kanji and Chinmay Fallary 21-14, 21-13. Pankaj Naik beat Chinmay Fallary 21-14, 2113.

Fomento Flamingos beat Harbour Blues 3-1. Navneet Nasnodkar and Delreen Fernandes lost to Mohammed Sheikh and Pranjal Chimulkar 20-22, 13-21. Krishnaraj Gauns and Pranav Silimkhan beat Tejas Prabhugaonkar and Eeshan Vernekar 21-10, 21-17. Floyd Araujo and Navaneet Nasnodkar beat Mohammed Sheikh and Pratik Kamat 22-20, 21-16.

Caculo Chargers beat PBC Panthers 3-0. Pankaj Naik and Marina beat Vishal Vernekar and Rhea Kossambe 21-14, 16-21, 21-16. Aniket Shenai and Saish Salelkar beat Dhruv Angle and Varad Karekar 21-11, 22-20.

Pankaj Naik and Krushnan Naik beat Ankush Patil and Vishal Vernekar 21-9, 21-13. Fallary Warriors beat Welfits Twisters 3-0.

Sandip Kanji and Anura Prabhudesai beat Luciano Soares and Hetal Kenaudikar 21-19, 21-11.

Yash Angle and Sanath Kamat beat Chirag Narvekar and Ashish Narvekar 21-6, 21-8. Sandip Kanji and Chinmay Fallary beat Luciano Soares and Arnold Rodrigues 21-4, 21-14.

GBA Super Riders beat Harbour Blues 3-0. Seby Ferrao and Anushka Kuvelkar beat Mohammed Sheikh and Pranjal Chimulkar 22-20, 18-21, 23-21.

Sharmad Mahajan and Prathit Naik beat Tejas Prabhugaonkar and Eeshan Vernekar 21-8, 2112. Sudin Kuvelkar and Seby Ferrao beat Laxmikant Kenaudikar and Iftikhar Sheikh 218, 22-20.

PBC Pathers beat Welfits Twisters 3-0. Ankush Patil and Rhea Kossambe beat Mahesh Pawaskar and Hetal Kenaudikar 21-11, 21-14. Varad Karekar and Dhruv Angle beat Ashish Narvekar and Chirag Narvekar 21-11, 21-12. Vishal Vernekar and Mahesh Angle beat Mahesh Pawaskar and Luciano Soares 21-10, 12-21, 21-7.

Pg 15

SPORTS

Man Utd cruise past Villa AGENCIES LONDON, FEB 2

Manchester United may have kept their powder dry in the transfer window but they remain the team to beat in the Premier League as two goals by Wayne Rooney helped them to a 3-1 home win over Aston Villa on Tuesday.

United, who barely spent a penny as their rivals splashed out more than 200 million pounds ($318.8 million) in a bid to match their consistency, move to 54 points and stay five clear.

Arsenal are second with 49 after they fought back to beat Everton 2-1 at The Emirates while fourth-placed Chelsea won 4-2 at Sunderland to make it three league wins in a row.

The champions are now on 44 points and just a point behind Manchester City, who visit Birmingham City on Wednesday.

The night’s other game was

Arsenal ................2 Sunderland ..........2 Man Utd ................3 West Brom ..........2 a 2-2 relegation thriller between West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic.

A year ago England striker Rooney was the hottest property in the game as everything he touched turned to goals but he has never been able to regain that form after an injury last March.

He had a forgettable World Cup and a flat first half of the season for United, with the diversion of his shock transfer demand and quick change of mind adding to the pressure.

MARVELLOUS FINISH In recent weeks, though, he has begun to show signs of his

Everton ..................1 Chelsea ..................4 Aston Villa ..............1 Wigan ....................2 former sharpness and he certainly hit the ground running on Tuesday when he netted 50 seconds after kickoff.

He brought down a clearance from United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and sent a dipping shot just under the bar from the edge of the box—then doubled the lead with a tap-in from a perfect Nani cross at the end of the half.

Villa briefly threatened when new signing Darren Bent scored after 58 minutes only for United defender Nemanja Vidic to finish superbly after Rooney set him up five minutes later.

Dada Vaidya, Navdeep advance

Winger Ashley Young hit the bar with a long-range curler for the visitors but United always looked to have another gear in reserve.

ARSENAL RALLY In contrast Arsenal had to dig deep after Louis Saha put Everton ahead after 24 minutes.

The Merseysiders, who led 21 until the last minute in the same fixture last season, defended well until Andriy Arshavin lashed in the equaliser after 70 minutes.

Poor Everton marking allowed Laurent Koscielny to head Arsenal’s second from a corner five minutes later.

Sunderland, who beat Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in November, went ahead after four minutes through Phil Bardsley.

Chelsea hit back with a Frank Lampard penalty and a goal for Salomon Kalou only for Kieran Richardson to level again with a low free kick after a frantic first 26 minutes.

John Terry restored Chelsea’s lead on the hour, Kalou then saw a shot rebound off both posts and away to safety before Nicolas Anelka knocked in the fourth in added time.

The Frenchman had a great game operating in a deep-lying position, perhaps in a dry run for the arrival of Fernando Torres, who could make his debut against former club Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

GOA, Thursday, 3 February, 2011

Shirgao, Shiroda in 2nd round all-goa t30 cricket HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 2

Shirgao Sports Club and Shiroda Youth Club scored fluent victories to move into the second round of All-Goa T30 cricket tournament organised

by Union Club of Margao at SAG sports complex, Fatorda on Tuesday.

The tournament was inaugurated by GPCC general secretary, Vijay Sardessai in the presence

of club president Mohammed Iqbal, Abu Talib and Kadar Gajid Iqbal, Abu Talib and Kadar Gaji.

Brief score: AEM Warriors 91 for 8 in 15 overs. Aslam Shaikh (26), Sushant Govekar (16). Nagrajan 2-14, L Prashant 2-23, Vivek Karapurkar (1-6) lost to Shirgao Sports Club, 92 for 6.

Ramling Patil (19), Rajendra Dabholkar (15). Aslam Shaikh 2-22, Khwaja Akhtar 2-5, Pushpshil Desai and James Fernandes 1 wicket each.

Vivek Karapurkar of Shirgao was adjudged man- of-the-

match.

Shiroda Youth, 152 for 9 in 20 overs. Vishwajeet Phadre Gaonkar (31), Vikrant Prabhu (26), Junaid 2-28, Sudin Redkar, Ravindra, Imam Shaikh and Munna took 1 wicket each. They beat Super Strikers 88 all-out.

Chandan Pillay (49). Kishore Parpati, Vikrant Prabhu took 2 wickets each. Rahul Patil, Navin Naik and Govin took a wicket each.

Vikrant Prabhu of Shiroda Youth got the man-of-the-match award.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

Dada Vaidya High School, Curti and Navdeep High School, Tarvalem won their respective first round matches against GVM’s RPRS High School, Bandora and Sarvodaya High School, Usgao respectively in U-16 Ponda Youth inter-school cricket tournament organised by Sports Excell to commemorate the Silver Jubilee celebrations of GVM’s GGPR College, Ponda.

Dada Vaidya batting first scored 91 for 3 wickets in 10 overs at the Sports Complex

Grounds, Ponda. Tushar scored 25 runs in 15 balls and was declared man-of-the-match. RPRS could only score 78 runs for 6 wickets with Yogesh contributing 21 runs.

Navdeep scored 98 runs for 9 wickets in their 10 overs.

In return, Sarvodaya could score only 81 runs for 4 wickets in 10 overs. Kunal Gaonkar got the man-of-the-match award for scoring 38 runs.

Earlier, the tournament was inaugurated by Sudin Dhavlikar, Minister for Transport. He appreciated his Alma Mater for

taking the initiative in organising the tournament which would be a platform for the rural budding youth of Ponda.

He complimented the idea of taking the Ponda Boys to Mumbai to play against top academies.

Chairman Bhaskar Khandeparkar of Goa Vidyaprasarak Mandal also stated that plans to start the GVM Sports Excell Cricket Academy was in full swing.

Principal P M Bhende welcomed. Kennedy D’Silva proposed the vote of thanks.

Infant Jesus High School boys team alongwith Divakar Kotkar, Shailesh Gaonkar (school manager), Yogesh Parab and Devraj Tari (State sports organisers), Shankar Fallari and Celvin Fernandes (SAG coaches).

The Goa U-15 team for sub-junior Nationals defeated Tivim XI 5-2 in a friendly, at Duler Stadium here on Wednesday.

Binatone Singh, John, Lestern, Gilbert and Sanito scored for Goa. Lester and Jolwyn reduced the margin for Tivim.

Mundvel SC pull out HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 2

Our Lady of Rosary High School girls team alongwith Walter Cabral, Amol Nadkarni and Carol Gomes (school managers), Yogesh Parab and Devraj Tari (State sports organizers), Shankar Fallari and Celvin Fernandes (SAG coaches).

Mundvel Sports Club pulled out of GFA’s Second Division playoffs on the eve of their match.

Sources in the GFA informed that Mundvel cited the main reason being their players are busy preparing for SSC and HSSC exams.

Mundvel were scheduled to take on Wilred Leisure Sports Club at Cuncolim ground, on February 3.

Apurva gets FIDE rating

Indus International School, Bangalore winners of South India open martial arts championship held at Mapusa alongwith Grandmaster Jugeshwor Singh. They claimed seven gold, a silver and a bronze. Goa emerged runners-up at the competition.

Ponda Footballers win HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

The State football boys (top) and girls (bottom) teams which will participate in PYKKA National competition in Aurangabad from February 3 to 6 alongwith Gokuldas Verdekar (joint director of accounts), Mahesh Naik (assistant secretary, complexes), Navin Acharya (assistant secretary, programme) and others.

A shot from AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit both posts but that was the closest either side came to scoring in a 0-0 draw between the Serie A leader and third-place Lazio on Tuesday.

Milan stretched its lead to five points ahead of Napoli, which visits Chievo on Wednesday. Lazio is seven points behind.

Milan dominated throughout and in the 51st minute Ibrahimovic’s shot from just beyond the area ricocheted first off the left post, and then the right before bouncing away as the Sweden striker looked on incredulously.

“We had a lot of chances right up until the end. Lazio defended well but I don’t think they ever shot on goal tonight,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri said.

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 2

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, FEB 2

Infant Jesus High School, Cuncolim and Presentation Convent High School, Margao, emerged champs in U-17 boys and girls categories respectively in South Goa District inter-school volleyball tournament organised by DSYA at SAG court, Fatorda on Tuesday.

In the boys finals, Salcete winners Infant Jesus HS, Cuncolim scored a straight hard fought 25-21, 14-25, 25-20, 25-14 win over Quepem Taluka winners New Educational Institute, Curchorem.

In the girls finals, Presentation scored a straight set 25-15, 2512, 25-10 win over St Andrew’s, Vasco.

AGENCIES MILAN, FEB 2

Goa win U-15 friendly

Infant Jesus Cuncolim, Presentation champs Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar and other officials alongwith both the teams.

AC Milan, Lazio draw 0-0 in Serie A

Ponda Footballers defeated Rising Star of Madkai 7-6 via the tie-breaker in Madkai Panchayat Cup at Madkai panchayat ground. The score was 1-1 at full time.

Ponda dominated and could have been up by three goals.

Bobby got the ball inside the danger zone but missed the crossbar by a whisker. Pasha got a ball on top of the danger zone but his weak try was easily collected by the keeper. Minguel dribbled past two defenders but instead of shooting gave the ball to Naresh whose try went out.

Madkai and Vishwas got an

opportunity inside the Ponda half and released the ball to Oudumber whose try hit the post.

Changing ends, Ponda dominated but their forwards forgot their shooting shoes at home.

Madkai who got the only opportunity managed to convert.

Victor got the ball on the flanks and dogged a defender and released a well measured pass to Newton who shot into the goal, giving no opportunity to Marvil under the Ponda bar.

Down by a goal, Ponda got their main defender Simon move up and he released the ball to Naresh on top of the box. Naresh placed the ball to the left of the

GOA DIARY Chess tourney at Ponda

PANJIM (HSD) – SRS Computer Services will organise their third Ponda Taluka Level chess tournament for school students on February 13 from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at Wagle High School, Mangeshi. The tournament is open to Std V to X students of Ponda Taluka schools. The winners will get cash prizes and trophies. An overall championship trophy will be awarded to the best school. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Last date to submit entries is February 9. Details may be obtained from Sagar Sakordekar on 9422593131or Amogh Namshikar on 9422455896.

Volleyball tourney at Merces

PANJIM (HSD) – Stars of Molloca, Merces will organise their AllGoa floodlit volleyball tournament from February 14 and the finals will be on February 20 at Molloca court. Top teams including Churchill Brothers, Varca, Da Cruz, Panjim, Goa Police, Merces Six, Pujari Six, Vasco, 2STC Bambolim, Crown Club, Houshi and Shantadurga, St Cruz will participate. The winners and runners-up will pocket Rs 10,000 and Rs 8,000 respectively.

Details may be obtained from Inacio on 9822183473 or Paulo on 9850478209.

Tennis ball cricket at Chicalim

VASCO (HC) -- United Boys of Vaddem, Vasco will organise their 1st All-Goa full arm floodlit tennis ball cricket tournament at SAG ground, Chicalim from February 4 to 6.

The winner and runners-up will take home Rs 20,000 and Rs Rs 10,000 respectively. Spot entries will be accepted. Details may be obtained from Gracias on 9850454518, Kalam on 9637837937 or Amar on 9921749449. The semi-finals and finals will be held on February 6.

keeper to draw level. Then Cyril’s header kissed the post and rebound. Pasha got the ball but his shot ballooned over.

In the tie-breaker, Cyril, Simon, Naresh, Franky, Minguel and Keni scored for Ponda while Pasha’s shot hit the crossbar. On the other hand, Oudumber, Sanju, Damu, Babush and Avil netted for Madkai while Orlando and Domnic failed.

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

Apurva Naik secured her FIDE Rating of 1604 from 12 games.

She completed her rating performance by participating in Maheshwaranand Saraswati FIDE rating tournament, Pune and Suraj FIDE rating tournament in Sangli.

Including Apurva, Goa now has 83 FIDE rated players.

Apurva is a Std VI student of S S Samiti’s High School, Ponda.

She is being coached by Wilson Cruz, Amogh Namshikar and Raghunandan Gokhale.

PES, Govt Sanquelim win HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, FEB 2

PES College, Ponda and Government College, Sanquelim won their inter-college cricket matches against Fr Agnel College, Pilar and G R Kare Coll e g e o f L a w, M a r g a o o n Wednesday.

PES College beat Fr Agnel College by 28 runs. PES won the toss and elected to bat first and scored 164 for 9. Ashwadeep Dewari (49), Dhannanjay Kilhal (38) and Dattaraj (17). Narayan Chavan 3-28, Alex Roy 2-23 and Kunal Fatarphekar 2-29. Fr Agnel College could score 136. Kunal Fatarphekar scored a brilliant 64, Akshay Madkaikar (31), Sujay Gaude 3-21, Ashwadeep Devari 2-19 and Prasad Naik 1-16.

In another match, Government College, Sanquelim beat G R Kare College of Law, Margao. Batting first, Sanquelim scored 142 runs. Pravin Naik (26), Jayant Satardekar (26), Vaman Chari (23). Raghu Parkar took 5 wickets giving away 26 runs, Pankaj Naik 2-13 and Harish Naik 2-38.

In reply, G R Kare College also scored 142 runs in 20 overs.

Manish Shirsat scored 64 runs with 6 fours and 3 sixes, Aditya Panjikar (16) and Prasidh Naik (11). Vaman Chari 3-31, Mahadev 1-27 and Jayant Satardekar 129.

The rule of ball-out was introduced to break the tie where Sanquelim won the match 1-0.

Yesterday, Zantye College, Bicholim and Rosary College, Navelim won the first round matches.

Narayan Zantye College beat post graduate students of Goa University by 6 wickets.

Batting first, Post Graduate scored 122 for 8 in 20 overs.

Kunal Sahi was the top scorer with 35. Vishnu Mandrekar (20) and Bhagesh Dawane (24).

Ramnath Chari 2-19, Damodar Pokle 1-15 and Sanjay Shinde 127.

Zantye College won the match in the 18th over with 6 wickets in hand.

Damodar Pokle (41), Sagar Gawas (36), Sushant Desai (13).

Kunal Sahi, Samir Desai and Bhagesh Dawane claimed 1 wicket each.

In another match, Rosary College beat Architecture College by 8 wickets.

Rosary College won the toss and asked Architecture to bat first and bundled them out at 54.

Akhil Prabhugaonkar took 4 wickets giving away just 4 runs, Stanley Gomes 2-9 and Tausif Shaikh 1-3.

Abhishek Desai (21) and Yogesh Patel (9). Krishna Jangid took 2 wickets for 32 runs.

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Pg16

PES college win GU men inter-college volleyball Pg 14

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 FEBRUARY, 2011 www.oheraldo.in

world cup Briefs Yusuf can play crucial role: Kapil The Indian batting order may be filled with explosive players who can take the game away from the opposition, but 1983 World Cup winning skipper Kapil Dev feels all-rounder Yusuf Pathan's role in the lower-middle order could swing the team's fortunes in the mega event. "(Yusuf) Pathan can turn the game around for India coming at 6-7. He has the capability to win matches from losing situations," the legendary all-rounder said when asked about the one player who can turn the tide in the February 19April 2 tournament.

"As long as he is at the crease, the opposition cannot breathe easy," he said at a promotional event for Idea Cellular here.

I hope India win the WC for Sachin: Ojha With World Cup Trophy being the missing feather from Sachin Tendulkar's dazzling cap, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha hopes that the tournament favourites India will do it this time as a special tribute to the milestone man.

For 37-year-old Tendulkar, who has scored more than 32,000 runs and 97 centuries in international cricket, it will be in all probability his last chance to lift the Cup. "I will follow the Indian side. My best wishes are with the team. I hope we win the Cup for Sachin paji.

I pray that we do it for him. His contribution to Indian cricket is immense, with World Cup being the only missing feather from his cap," the Hyderabad spinner told PTI from Visakhapatnam.

Chawla defends WC selection Piyush Chawla's inclusion in India's World Cup squad has raised many eyebrows, but the leg-spinner today defended his selection by saying that he has nothing to prove to his critics and if given a chance his performance will speak for itself in the mega-event.

"There is always pressure when you play for India.

And when there is pressure there is performance. I have nothing to prove as I have proved myself a number of times and I will do it again in the World Cup," Chawla said.

WC will reverse poor perception of 50-over cricket: ICC ICC CEO Haroon Lorgat believes next month's cricket World Cup will dismiss fears of the demise of the 50-over format of the game and prove that all three formats can co-exist.

"I think the talk of poor interest in 50-over cricket is overstated. I firmly believe that all three forms of the game (Test, ODI and T20I) will co-exist and in fact thrive at international level," Lorgat told Espnstar.com.

"I hope that the ICC Cricket World Cup, being the game's flagship event and cricket's biggest prize, will add to reversing the poor perception of 50over cricket as some of the recent matches already have.

Two for Rooney as Man Utd cruise past Villa 3-1 Pg 15

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

WC will be our biggest gift to Sachin: Dhoni

PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

As Sachin Tendulkar gears up to play probably his last World Cup, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian cricket team is desparate to make it a special one for him by gifting the champion

batsman the trophy which has eluded the side for 28 years.

In his twodecade long illust r i o u s c a r e e r, during which he has featured in five World Cups since 1992, Tendulkar has virtually every b a t t i n g re c o rd under his belt but a world title is the only trophy which is missing from his cupboard.

And Dhoni said his team will do whatever it takes to make it a memorable tournament for Tendulkar, who is approaching 38.

"We all love him (Tendulkar) a lot. Most probably it is his last World Cup although we all want him to play many more World Cups. But practically speaking it seems impossible," Dhoni told reporters during a promotional event here.

"So, that (the World Cup trophy) can be the biggest gift from the team to him," he said.

"We believe in each others' talent and we have a very good team. The environment in the dressing room is very good. And if we perform to our potential we have a very good chance of winning (the World Cup)," Dhoni added.

Dhoni termed the 2007 inaugural World Twenty20 title in South Africa as the biggest achivement of his captaincy career so far, but refused to make any predictions for the upcoming mega-event.

"It (World Twenty20 title) is the most memorable moment of my career since I made my debut in 2004 and it will always be there up in the league.

"But I don't want to make any predictions for the (ODI) World Cup. I can only assure all that we will give our best. We play one game at a time.

So at present I am just thinking about the Bangladesh game (on February 19 in Dhaka)," he said.

Dhoni also hailed the format of this year's World Cup and said it is a welcome change from the 2007 edition.

In this year's World Cup, 14 teams

are divided into two groups of seven from where top four from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals unlike the 2007 edition, where 16 teams first competed in a pool stage, then a "super 8" stage, followed by semifinals and a final.

"It is a good format for us. It is a bit of relief from 2007. Here even if you lose a few games you have a chance to get into the quarter-finals," Dhoni said.

"But it will be about playing consistent cricket. Whoever plays consistent cricket in the tournament will get into the knockout stage," he added.

Four years ago in the West Indies, weighed down by the pressure of expectations, India crashed out of the World Cup at the preliminary stage but Dhoni insisted that the present outfit is well prepared to handle the burden in the upcoming event.

"Now we call pressure added responsibility. We know the expectation level is high but we are prepared for it because we knew for long that the World Cup will be held in India. Expectations is something which is beyond our control," Dhoni said.

The Indian skipper was also satisfied with the 15 players he has got for the tournament.

"I am really happy with the squad.

I know I am the lone wicket-keeper in the team but it is not a worrying factor.

If anything major happens to me, we can always bring in the reserve wicket-keeper as it is happening in India. But one wicketkeeper gives us the liberty of having one more variation in the side," Dhoni said.

"We also have variety in our bowling department. We have not got express fast bowlers but we have got decent bowlers who are very skillful," he said.

Dhoni differed with England batsman Kevin Pietersen, who criticised the scheduling of the World Cup for having long gaps between matches.

"It is difficult to get a perfect schedule but I am quite happy with the schedule. Some of our players have got a few niggles and the gap will

DRS, Super Over to make WC debuts

Chepauk Stadium wall collapses

The much-debated Decision Review System (DRS) and the Super Over, used in case of tie matches in knockout stages, would make their World Cup debut in the upcoming extravaganza which unfolds in the sub-continent on February 19.

As per the playing conditions for cricket's showpiece set out by the International Cricket Council , DRS will be used in all matches.

DRS, which has been used in Test matches selectively when the two competing teams' Boards have agreed to its implementation, has been consistently opposed by the Indian board.

Sri Lanka's former World Cupwinning skipper Arjuna Ranatunga on Wednesday came out wholeheartedly in its support at a function in Mumbai .

"If ICC has the technology, they might as well use it and give the benefit to the players.

It is a World Cup and one decision can change the game," said Ranatunga.

Two people were injured when a wall collapsed at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday.

The incident took place after the ticket sales for World Cup matches started at the Stadium. A 23-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman were injured and have been admitted to a hospital.

As the crowd grew in, some of them leaned on to the compound wall resulting in its collapse. The stadium officials said that the compound wall that collapsed was freshly cemented as a part of the renovation process for the World Cup.

AGENCIES MUMBAI, FEB 2

Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2nd left), Yusuf Pathan (left), Gautam Gambhir (3rd left), Yuvraj Singh (3rd right), Piyush Chawal (2nd right) and Harbhajan Singh (right) pose as part of a promotional event ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Sachin-Viru's opening key: Bhajji PTI NEW DELHI, FEB 2

Strong starts by the opening duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag would be key to India's success at the forthcoming World Cup, offspinner Harbhajan Singh said today.

"I am always reminded of the 1983 World Cup, have seen the clippings so many times. This time around, if Sachin and Sehwag stay together at the crease for the first 15 overs, it would be very difficult for the opposition to come back into the match," Harbhajan told reporters here today.

Enjoy home conditions, don’t feel pressure: Srikkanth, Gilly PTI CHENNAI, FEB 2

Enjoy playing in front of home fans instead of getting bogged down by their expectations and success would follow -- this is the advice that 1983 World Cup winning team member and chairman of selectors Kris Srikkanth has for the Indian cricket team ahead of the mega event starting February 19.

The flamboyant former batsman said Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men just have to revel in home conditions and play to their natural ability to bring the coveted cup to India, ending a 28-year-old wait.

"I advise the players to play to their natural abilities. Be relaxed. Do not put pressure on yourself. Enjoy when you win the games," Srikkanth told PTI in an interview.

"I have been saying this for some time now that pressure would be there. But the players

have to cope with it and come out winners," he said.

Meanwhile, terming India as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup, former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist on Wednesday cautioned the co-hosts not to get bogged down by the weight of expectations, instead enjoy playing in front of the home crowd. Gilchrist said if Dhoni's men play their natural game, they can go a long distance in the mega-event, starting from February 19 to be jointly hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

"Pressure of expectations will be very high and it would depend on the players and management how they deal with it. If the Indians just focus on cricket and forget everything else, they will have a good chance. They are one of the favourites," said Gilchrist, who would be captaining the Kings XI Punjab in the fourth edition of the IPL.

Aussies win after record ODI run chase AFP SYDNEY, FEB 2

Australia conjured up their biggest ever successful run chase to beat England by two wickets in a thrilling sixth oneday international at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

After a Jonathan Trott century helped England post their highest ever ODI score against Australia of 333-6, the home side batted their way into contention, needing six to win off the final over with two wickets in hand.

Tailender John Hastings edged a boundary off the second delivery from youngster Chris Woakes to hand Australia victory with four balls to spare, the home side making 334-8.

It was Australia's record run chase in an ODI and extended their lead over the tourists in the seven-match series to 5-1 with one game to play.

Captain Michael Clarke's late season return to form continued as he smashed 82 from 70 balls

to lead the unlikely chase, with late support from David Hussey, who made 38.

The match seemed to be England's to lose with Australia needing 70 off 48 balls, but the pair took 16 off James Anderson's eighth over -- the 44th of the innings.

They followed it up by notching 14 off Anderson's ninth as the England bowler went on to finish with a disastrous 91 runs from his 10 overs.

Shane Watson, with 51 off 34 balls, got the home side off to a flying start in reply to what had the look of a match-winning total by England, before falling to the spin of Michael Yardy.

Mitchell Johnson was promoted to number four and made 57 before being stumped from the bowling of Kevin Pietersen, while the recalled Callum Ferguson was run out for 46.

An Australian win seemed unlikely after Trott's second centur y of the series helped England post what was also their

highest ODI score in Australia.

Trott continued his superb series by making 137, taking his haul for the series to 361 runs at 72.20, the English number three the leading scorer for either side despite his team's indifferent form.

Before falling to the secondlast ball of the innings Trott was offered good support by captain Andrew Strauss, who made 63 from just 69 balls, and Ian Bell,

with 45 from 32 deliveries.

Trott, was earlier given out lbw on 82 to Shaun Tait but handed a reprieve after a review of the decision, reached triple figures for the fourth time in ODIs from exactly 100 balls, having hit seven boundaries.

In an outstanding game for the England man he took a brilliant catch to remove Brad Haddin (20), and bowled during the Australian innings.

England: A Strauss c Hussey b Smith 63, M Prior b Johnson 18, J Trott c and b Tait 137, K Pietersen c Smith b Lee 29, I Bell c Clarke b Tait 45, E Morgan c Tait b Watson 21, P Collingwood not out 7, C Woakes not out 0. Extras: 13. Total: 333 for 6. Fall of wickets: 41-1, 121-2, 189-3, 293-4, 319-5, 330-6. Bowling: B Lee 9-1-66-1, S Tait 10-0-59-2, M Johnson 6-0-43-1, J Hastings 7-0-48-0, D Hussey 4-0-25-0, S Smith 7-0-40-1, M Clarke 1-0-7-0, S Watson 6-0-40-1.

Australia: S Watson c Strauss b Yardy 51, B Haddin c Trott b Anderson 20, C Ferguson run out (Prior) 46, M Johnson st Prior b Pietersen 57, M Clarke run out (Trott) 82, C White c Morgan b Finn 20, D Hussey c Prior b Finn 38, S Smith run out (Finn) 0, J Hastings not out 7, B Lee not out 2. Extras: 11. Total: 334 for 8. Fall of wickets: 71-1, 87-2, 166-3, 194-4, 224-5, 314-6, 317-7, 327-8. Bowling: C Woakes 9.2-0-730, J Anderson 10-0-91-1, S Finn 10-0-51-2, M Yardy 10-0-47-1, K Pietersen 6-0-43-1, J Trott 4-0-29-0.

Man-of-the-match: J Trott.

help them to recover," Dhoni said.

With the controversial Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) to be implemented in the tournament from the last eight round, the Indian captain said the teams will have to do their homework on the subject.

"We have done our background check although we have not used it (UDRS). It's not that every team will be pleased with the system at the end of the day but we need to do our homework right," Dhoni said.

Dhoni also expressed his disappointment at not playing at the Eden Gardens where the hosts were scheduled to take on England on February 27. The fixture has been shifted to Bangalore because of Eden's unpreparedness.

"Playing in the Eden Gardens before one lakh people is always special. We will miss the passionate Kolkata crowd but it is out of our control," he said.

AGENCIES CHENNAI, FEB 2