3 JUNE 10 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

Page 1:Layout 1 6/3/2010 1:04 AM Page 1

O HERALD O Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, thursDaY, june 3, 2010

Goa’s Heartbeat: Fathers should spend more time with kids Pg 14 IN BRIEF Trinamool trounces Left in civic polls Trinamool Congress on Wednesday ended more than two decades of Left Front stranglehold on the West Bengal’s urban municipalities and humbled ally Congress, capturing the Kolkata Municipality. -- (PTI)

priCe rs. 3.00 (air surcharge rs. 1.50) pages 18

Business: Tatas open Nano plant at Sanand Pg 12

Sports: Stosur sends Serena packing Pg 18

Centre drafts Order judicial probe: new rules for Mickky to Digambar sand mining ...Also investigate ‘excise scam’, drug nexus HERALD BUREAU NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday shot out a directive to the State governments to adopt a nationwide uniform mechanism for regulating mining of minor minerals, that includes minimum mining lease of five years and minimum size of mine not less than five hectares.

The guidelines also addresses the ticklish issue of sand mining and other river bed mining, stressing that leases should be granted stretch wise and depth may be restricted to three metres or water level, whichever is less, and after working out the safety zones.

He has forwarded to them the guidelines evolved by his ministry in March for sustainable mining of minor minerals, sug-

gesting that these should be incorporated in the mineral concession rules framed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957.

Other recommendations of the group formed in the ministry with Environment Secretary as the chairman that Jairam suggested implementation are: — Mandatory mine plans for minor minerals; — A cluster approach to mines in case of smaller mine leases operating currently; — Creation of a separate corpus for reclamation and rehabilitation of the mined-out areas; — Mining below groundwater table should be based on hydro-geological reports; and — Re-examination of classification of minerals into major and minor categories.

PI in drug nexus case gets bail HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 2

After cooling his heels in custody for over a month the suspended Police Inspector Ashish Shirodkar got some relief on Wednesday as the Bombay High Court granted him conditional bail.

Vacation Bench of Justice N A Britto granted his bail application on a personal bond of Rs 50,000 and one surety in like

amount. Shirodkar had moved the High Court in May when his bail plea was rejected by the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Court, Mapusa.

He was suspended along with six other police personnel, and arrested on graft and conspiracy charges following their alleged links with drug dealers David alias Dudu Driham and Yaniv (Continued on page 10)

Crime Branch to probe case

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

In the eye of a storm over the death of Nadia Torrado due to poisoning, Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco has requested Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to institute a judicial probe by a retired High Court Judge to investigate impartially the death of his good friend.

The tourism minister has also requested the chief minister to ensure that the judicial inquiry also probes into the Excise scam as well as the drug racket involving the kith and kin of political bigwigs in the government.

Complaining to the chief

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 2

minister about “witch hunting” indulged by the Goa police in order to unnecessarily harass him and his family, Pacheco charged the police with acting at the behest of some vested

The case of Nadia Joelle Torrado, who died after consuming rat poison, will now be investigated by the Crime Branch, even as the police maintained there were “suspicious circumstances” leading to the death of the women.

A press note issued here by the Goa Police Public Relations Officer stated, “As far as adding Section 306

(Continued on page 10)

(Continued on page 10)

Nadia’s husband files for anticipatory bail …says police are harassing HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

The husband of deceased Nadia Torrado has filed for anticipatory bail in the South Goa Sessions Court on Wednesday fearing arrest in the case, even as Nadia’s funeral took place at the Loutolim Church this morning.

Nadia’s husband Winston Barretto filed the bail plea this morning through his lawyer

Adv Srikant Naik, claiming that he fears an arrest as the police have been harassing and threatening him over the phone since Tuesday.

Adv Naik said that Barretto has informed that the police came to his residence and has lifted away his laptop and mobile phone without any intimation when he was out of the house. “I was told by my client that while he was at the

Hospicio hospital on Tuesday at the time of the second autopsy that he received a phone call from the police threatening him,” Adv Naik said.

He further said that Winston has filed the anticipatory bail plea as the police appeared hell bent in arresting him in a non-bailable offence.

Adv Naik said Sessions Court has issued notices to the police (Continued on page 10)

Mumbai-bound bus searched, drugs seized HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 2

The Anti-Narcotics Squad of the Customs and Central Excise raided a Mumbai-bound bus at Mapusa and seized 1.5 kg of narcotic substance, alleged to be opium, and caught redhanded the owner of the bus with the consignment.

Sources said one Sanjay Virdikar, aged 55, who owns at least three buses that run on routes besides Goa-Mumbai, has been arrested in the crime.

No details were available on the tip off and how the anti-narcotics squad zeroed down on the bus given the fact that there are numerous buses plying on the Mumbai-Goa route.

UK cabbie kills 12 In Britain’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996, at least 12 people were killed and 25 others injured on Wednesday when a taxi driver went on a shooting rampage. – (PTI)

Believe me sir!! This CCTV has been installed by CM to monitor all the government employees working in your office,except you...

HE RA LD

pg2:Layout 1 6/3/2010 12:09 AM Page 1

Pg2

GOA

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

Bailancho Ekvott demands dropping Mickky from Cabinet

Lucky escape for four at Calangute

Seeks impartial inquiry into Nadia’s death

Four persons had a miraculous escape after the vehicle in which they were travelling rammed into the premises of St John The Baptist Chapel at Umtta Vaddo-Calangute on Wednesday morning.

The accident occurred when the four occupants of Maruti 800 car were proceeding from Baga towards Calangute. The car driver lost control over the vehicle and rammed into the front portion of the Chapel damaging the gate and compound wall.

The four occupants, including the driver, escaped injury while the vehicle was partly damaged.

Luckily, nobody was on the road near the Chapel or in front of the Infantaria Bakery, which is otherwise a busy spot.

Admitting their mistake, the four occupants immediately swung into action and carried out repair work of the wall, besides cleaning the debris. They have promised to make good the losses to the Chapel Committee.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

Women’s organisation Bailancho Ekvott on Wednesday demanded that Chief Minister drop Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco from the Cabinet and order an impartial inquiry into the Nadia Torrado death episode.

In another related development, women activists under the leadership of Tara Kerkar called on Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Wednesday noon and submitted a memorandum demanding a thorough probe.

Addressing a press conference, Auda Viegas raised a host of questions concerning Nadia’s death and demanded that Pacheco be dropped from the Ministry.

She alleged that the dying declaration

by Nadia at the Mumbai hospital was given under duress as she was too ill and critical to give any statement at that time.

Referring to the dying declaration of the Nadia that she had mistakenly consumed the poisonous substance, Viegas said “when ratol enters your mouth, you spit it out.

Nobody would keep ratol near the toothpaste and nobody would consume full tube of ratol by mistake”.

She demanded to know where exactly the ratol consuming incident had taken place and the delay in shifting Nadia to the hospital.

When newsmen drew her attention to the plea made by the Torrado’s to leave the family alone and have questioned the NGOs for their role in the episode, Viegas said

Women outside the residence of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat Wednesday morning demanding probe into the Nadia death case.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

everyone should know that there is something known as the law of the land.

Colva Panch Calvert Gonsalves, who was present for the press briefing, said the police should seize the mobile of the Tourism Minister to get deep insight into the alleged SMS sent to various people.

Meanwhile, women’s activist Tara Kerkar led women to the residence of the Chief Minister to demand an impartial inquiry into Nadia’s death.

She said her NGO is not involved in pol-

itics and acting as per the directions of the government as alleged by the family, adding that NGOs have taken up various issues affecting women of the State.

Replying to a question, she said the Chief Minister maintained that the inquiry into the case is underway and that the law will take its own course.

The Chief Minister told newsmen that he has already told the media that he would not interfere in the case as that would be construed as trying to make an opinion in the case.

Churchill to revive agriculture with NREG scheme funds HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

If Rural Development Minister, Churchill Alemao is to be believed, he has ambitious plans up his sleeve to revive agriculture – first in his Navelim constituency and later across Goa – with the funds from the National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREG) scheme.

As per the scheme worked out by the RDA department, all expenses towards sowing, harvesting and other operations connected with paddy cultivation will be borne by the RDA through NREG scheme by providing employment to the agricultural labour.

“My RDA department will take care of the labour engaged for sowing and other operations through the NREG scheme. This should give a big boost for the farmers to cultivate the fallow

agricultural fields”, he said.

Saying that a survey will be carried out to ascertain fields lying fallow in Navelim constituency, the RDA Minister appealed to the farmers to obtain job cards under the NREG scheme and help the department take the scheme forward.

“This scheme will be implemented this year itself. People agitate over the destruction of fields. I appeal to the farmers to join hands and save the fields”, he said, while extending his support to the farming community for cultivation of the fields.

“The RDA staff will visit the various Panchayat areas and find out how many fields are fallow and how much funds would be required to bring the fallow land under cultivation”, he said, while appealing to the farmers to avail benefits under the scheme.

RDA Assistant Project Direc-

tor, Anjulo Fernandes said hat the NREG scheme will be implemented along Salcete’s coastal belt in a big way by motivating farmers to avail the benefits by cultivating the fallow fields.

“Our engineers would do the estimates of the funds required for cultivation. Farmers should only show their willingness.

They will be paid Rs 150 per day for the work done in the fields”, he added.

The NREG scheme could not take off in Salcete in a big way compared to other talukas and RDA official hope the fresh initiative by the RDA Minister to fund basic farming operations will motivate farmers to go back to cultivation. “There are around 1200 beneficiaries under the NREG scheme in Salcete. Now, we have plans to target maximum people, mostly farmers under this scheme”, Anjulo said.

Scooterist killed in Loutolim mishap HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

A 83-year-old scooterist was killed in a road accident at the Loutolim side of the Borim bridge on Wednesday evening.

Maina Curtorim police said that the scooterist was knocked down by a speeding jeep (GA 05 B 4664). Both the vehicles were proceeding in one direction, the police added.

The victim Ivens Menezes was immediately rushed to Hospicio and is believed to have breathed his last while being shifted to the Goa Medical College and hospital, Bambolim.

The police said the driver of the jeep fled away from the scene after the accident.

The police said a case will be registered against the jeep driver. Further investigations are on.

Guirdolim ZP member accused of digging trench in field HERALD CORRESPONDENT QUEPEM, JUNE 2

A resident of Mulle-Paroda, Quepem, has accused Guirdolim ZP member of illegally digging a trench in his paddy field at Coriade-Mulle.

In his complaint filed with Collector South Goa, Salcette Mamlatdar and Town Planning department, one Lourence

Oliveira stated that he along with others are the tenants and now deemed owners in possession and enjoyment of paddy field at Coriade-Mulle.

“There is a 3-mtr wide nullah, which passes through our paddy field. Recently, the Guirdolim ZP member through a contractor has illegally taken up digging of a trench through our paddy

field,” stated Oliveira.

“The digging of a trench has caused extensive damage to our paddy field. The contractor has also illegally done excavation alongside the nullah and the mud has been dumped in our paddy field, which has caused damage to our paddy beds,” added Oliveira in the complaint.

Oliveira has demanded investigation into the matter and early

action before the monsoon.

The complainant also demanded action against the contractor for illegal digging of a trench in the paddy field and for causing damage to the nullah.

When contacted, Guirdolim ZP member Sharmila Dias denied the allegations made against her. “The allegations made against me are false and baseless,” stated Dias.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JUNE 2

Decomposed body recovered COLLEM (HC): Collem police on Wednesday recovered a decomposed body of an unknown person at Suktolim-Mollem at about 9.15 am.

According to Collem police PI Manoj Mardolkar, the deceased person is suspected to be around 50-60 years of age.

Residents of Tonca-Marcaim have alleged that maximum water is being pumped to Madkaim Industrial Estate, thereby putting the villagers to a lot of hardship.

“About 100 houses in Tonca have been facing water shortage for the last three days,” claimed the residents.

The residents have accused operators at the water tank located near the industrial estate of releasing water to the industries instead.

In protest, about hundred villagers gathered at the water tank and demanded to know how industries were supplied water on time but not to them.

Supervisor Guru Naik claimed that a busted pipeline was the reason for water shortage and

water supply will be restored only after it is repaired.

“Work is going on to repair water pipeline at Priol. There is also low water pressure and once it is repaired then water supply will be restored,” said Naik.

Not satisfied with Naik’s reply, the aggrieved villagers claimed that the problem is routine, as water is released to the industrial estate.

“We are not getting water for the last three days, but water supply to the industrial estate is unaffected. How can this be happen? Villagers are left to suffer,” said Olav Aguair of Tonca.

“It is given to understand that water to industries is released between 10 am and 12 noon but we noticed that water is being released also after 12

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

Margao Municipal Council may become the first Civic body to have surveillance cameras to keep a track on the employees, informed Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat, as he made his presence felt in the corridors of the Margao Municipality on Wednesday in a bid to streamline the Municipal administration.

“I have told the Chief Secretary to appoint the Director of Printing and Stationary N D Agrawal to implement surveillance cameras in the Collectorate, RTO and Municipalities.

As far as the Municipalities are concerned, work of installing the cameras will start with the Margao Municipal Council”, Kamat said, after a closed door meeting the Chairperson Savio Coutinho, Chief Officer Y B

Tawde and others.

The Chief Minister he has issued clear-cut instructions to the Civic body to work out a mechanism wherein citizens can get their work done in a time bound manner. “They have assured to get back to me within two days on the mechanism they intend to implement in the civic body”, he said.

Asked whether he has made his presence felt in the civic body following complaints from the public, the Chief Minister said he has decided to concentrate more on Hospicio and Margao Municipal Council where the citizens are directly connected with the administration.

When his attention was drawn to the fact that the bio-metric finger scan reader is lying idle in the Margao Municipality since the last three years, Kamat said

his priority now is to install the surveillance cameras. “The entire state is moving in that direction.

These cameras will be made compulsory”, he added.

The Chief Minster said he would not mind if the Margao Civic body appoints a Public Relations Officer a la Hospicio to attend to the citizens. He made this statement when his attention was drawn to the absence of any staff at the reception counter during his visit.

Earlier, the Chief Minister took a round of the technical section and also interacted with the citizens to understand problems faced by the common man.

He directed the MMC CO to work out a system to ensure that correspondence received at the reception is forwarded to the dealing hand the same day.

Municipalities should be guided by Act on construction licenses: CM HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said the Municipal Councils should be guided by the Goa Municipalities Act while in the matter of issuing construction licenses.

He made this statement when newsmen drew his attention that Municipal elected representatives are not taken into confidence by the Chief Officer and the Technical section while issuing the licenses.

Initially, the Chief Minister said that once the

process of issuing licenses is streamlined, he would come to know who is to be blamed and who needs to be held accountable when something goes wrong. “I have asked for a systematic procedure for the issuance of construction licenses”, he said.

When newsmen pressed him to reply on the charge by the Chairperson and Councilors that they are ignored by the Chief Officer at the time of issuing licenses, the Chief Minister said “The Civic body ought to go by the provisions of the Municipalities Act while issuing the licenses”.

Chicalim p’yat razes 7 ‘illegal’ structures HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 2

Acting tough on structures that had encroached on private and communidade properties, Chicalim Panchayat on Wednesday razed down seven structures, including a single storey building at Alto Dabolim.

The demolition drive that commenced in the morning continued till the evening. The drive evoked strong reactions from the victims, as one of the victims alleged that the demolition drive is illegal and demanded an inquiry from the Director of Panchayat.

A single storey building that was demolished had seven rooms on the ground floor and some rooms on the first floor, while four houses were extended on private and communidade property at Alto Dabolim.

Chicalim panchayat also demolished two compound walls at Assoi-Dongri, Chicalim.

The building owner one Kamlakant Yadav is out of State, while his wife was helplessly watching the demolition, while some people have themselves demolished their structures.

Chicalim Sarpanch Raul D’Costa along with the panchayat secretary, panchayat members,

Tonca-Marcaim locals allege water being pumped to industrial estate HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JUNE 2

Surveillance cameras to make its presence at MMC first!

noon. Is this a aam aadmi’s government,” asked Aguiar.

Another resident, Divyashree Fadte, said: “We are facing water problem on regular basis. Water wells in our village are also not in good condition, water is also contaminated but we are forced to use the water from wells.

Hope the authorities will do something.”

Operator at the water tank agreed that water was released to industries way beyond specified time and some of the industry people were illegally opening the valve. Surprisingly, no complaint was made to the higher-ups.

“I always close the valve at about 12 noon, but it is opened by the industry people.

I will complaint it to my superiors,” claimed operator Nitin Gaude.

A single storey building that had encroached on Communidade land demolished by Chicalim Panchayat.

Photo by M Prabhav

Mormugao Mamlatdar and Block Development Officer carried out the demolition drive engaging earth mover machine and labour. Vasco police force was also deployed at the site to ensure smooth demolition drive.

V ictim Satyawan Mesta claimed that two extended rooms of his house which were demolished were legal.

In his complaint with the Director of Panchayat, Mesta has

claimed that his structures were legal and Chicalim panchayat by-passing all norms has illegally demolished his structures.

He has demanded an inquiry into the demolition drive carried out by Chicalim panchayat and has also threatened to approach the high court.

When contacted, Chicalim Sarpanch Raul D’Costa refuted Mesta’s claims. “People are free to approach the Director of Pan-

chayat or High Court,” added the sarpanch.

“Mesta had encroached on communidade land and he had no documents to claim ownership title that the land belongs to him,” said Sarpanch D’Costa.

This is the second such demolition drive within six months and it is learnt that shortly few more illegal structures near Dabolim circle would also face the axe.

CM for rabbits, rose garden in MMC park HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 2

Calling for the restoration of the Margao Municipal garden to its pristine glory, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat wants the Forest Department to introduce “rabbits” in the garden and mooted a rose garden in the southern portion of the Municipal garden.

Inspecting the ongoing renovation works in the Municipal garden on Wednesday noon, Kamat told Forest officials “during my childhood days, I used to come in this garden during the Portuguese era to play on the horses. We should try to restore the importance of the garden”.

Apparently impressed by the garden in Taleigao, the

Chief Minister advised Forest officials to replicate certain items in the Margao garden.

“Make the garden attractive.

Put some rabbits in the hut.

Let there be only one fountain in the southern portion”, he said.

Incidentally, the Chief Minister appeared a satisfied lot over the wide range of fountains installed in the Northern portion of the garden, popularly known as the Aga Khan Park for children.

“Put more items as attraction for the children. Replace the steel items with fibre to ensure children’s safety”, he told the forest officials.

When newsmen asked him over the exact date of the inauguration of the Municipal garden, Kamat replied saying

that the Northern portion will be inaugurated tentatively in mid-June after putting the minor things in place.

Incidentally, the Margao Municipal Council is yet to sign an agreement with the garden beautification contractor, who has been left high and dry by the Civic body – more than a decade after the Municipality roped in a private party to beautify the municipal garden.

Blame it on lethargy or otherwise, the Civic body is dillydallying on signing a fresh agreement with the contractor though it’s over a year since the Council had resolved on the question of consent terms with the contractor.

Opportunities for higher education at Brindavan colleges Professional and career oriented higher education requires focused emphasis with commitment and proficient attitude building approach. A well known forum for earning UG & PG courses in various streams of Science (Biological and Physical), Commerce & Management and Engineering is Brindavan Group of Institutions. Located in lush green and calm environment in IT hub of India, Bangalore, it is accredited by NAAC at 'A' Level, is affiliated to Bangalore University, and VTU, Belgaum, recognised by Government and approved by AICTE and UGC. Dr Sabha (a BE, MBA & PhD), a technocrat turned educationist, is the

Founder Chairman of the Institution and under his dynamic leadership, four colleges namely Brindavan College, Brindavan College (MBA & MCA), Brindavan College of Engineering and Brindavan Indp. PU College have registered excellent multi faceted growth.

Over 2200 scholars from 46 overseas countries including students from 22 overseas countries sponsored by GOI through ICCR, New Delhi with scholarships to study various UG and PG degree programs in the college. This institution follows learner centered teaching methodology and thus due emphasis prevails for students to evolve

and make best use of the academic, extra academic/co-curricular, cultural and sports domains. Key support to students is rendered by means of well set principles of discipline and administration system.

The strong and sound infrastructure in terms of adequate library, classrooms, Laboratories, seminar hall, indoor/outdoor sports facilities, canteen and hostel services helps the students in their learning process. Importance is laid on practical learning approach for all students, which is met via complementing classroom lectures, tutorials, lab sessions with industrial/institutional visits, organi-

sation of guest Lectures by experts from industries/institutes, industrial/research training assistance for post graduate students. Scholars are also encouraged to participate and present their training/research work in national/state level conferences, symposia etc.

They are provided with ample opportunities to enhance their personalities by organising various co-curricular in terms of literary presentations, exhibitions, College magazine and extracurricular activities via college fests, food fest, NSS, cultural shows etc. round the academic year at intra and inter-collegiate levels.

With all these efforts, Brindavan College has been registering excellent results every year and PG departments of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Applied Genetics have been securing many distinctions in University examinations. PG students are registering progression by securing PhD admissions through DBT-JRF, Univ entrance exams etc. With appreciable placements for students in companies and industries of national/international repute and many entrepreneurs being churned out, the institution feels high with pride and satisfaction, and continues to stand for excellence in higher education.

HE RA LD

GOA

Pg3

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

Pilerne forum says it has facts in ration card fiasco Challenges Bardez Mamlatdar, Civil Supplies Minister to an open forum HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 2

The Pilerne Citizens Forum (PCF) on Wednesday reiterated the 92 ration cards issued in PilerneMarra village were bogus and maintained they can prove this fact in an open forum where they have challenged the Civil Supplies Minister and the Bardez Mamlatdar to come and prove otherwise.

Addressing a press conference in the city, PCF Coordinator Prakash Bandodkar, who appeared peeved, minced no words in criticising the Civil Supplies Minister Jose Philip D’Souza, while at the same time calling the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat “a sleeping CM” who has closed his eyes to the ills plaguing Goa. Bandodkar said he challenged

the Civil Supplies Minister, Bardez Mamlatdar, and, if possible, the CM to come to an open forum in which PCF was sure they would prove the ration cards issued in connivance with the former talathi of PilerneMarra Ramdas Tukaram Salgaonkar were bogus.

He chided further, “The Mamlatdar has verbally claimed that the 92 ration cards were issued legally, but till date he hasn’t been able to show us any supporting documents on the basis of which the same were issued.”

He informed the PCF has now approached the first appellate authority (Deputy Collector, Mapusa) to obtain the supporting documents.

Bandodkar said it has been shockingly learnt through documents obtained under the

Right to Information Act two house numbers have been used to obtain one ration card. The house numbers belong to two residents of Pilerne Moicavado – Mrs Assuciana (H. No. 20) and Vassudev Naroji (H. No. 105) – who are shocked, he mentioned and added, “Both these residents have filed complaints at the Porvorim and Mapusa police stations and the Vigilance Department.”

He said both the residents have said they had not given no objection certificate for the issuance of the ration cards to the Rajpurohit family members, who have clandestinely used the two house numbers to obtain the all-important documents used to buy essential commodities from fair price shops.

Bandodkar said Government

procedures have been laid to rest while issuing the ration cards and the forum has vowed to get to the root of the racket.

For now once again demand action against the Bardez Mamlatdar and call for a through probe in the whole process fol-

lowed in issuing the 92 ration cards, he asserted.

On May 25, while bringing the issue before the media persons for the first time, the PCF Coordinator had said he smelled a rat and didn’t rule out the involvement of the Civil Supplies

Minister in the fiasco. He had demanded action against the talathi, mamlatdar and those concerned and if the minister failed to act, he had threatened to make him a party to the petition PCF would file in the High Court of Bombay at Goa.

Narvekar urges CS to direct GU on sports policy PANJIM (HR): Chairman of Ad-Hoc Committee on Education, Sports and Information Technology Dayanand Narvekar has urged Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava to direct Goa University to implement the sports policy in colleges from June 15, 2010.

In a letter to the CS, Narvekar said in-charge of colleges including management were pressurising students for compulsory attendance

that has created problems for players taking admissions in colleges and professional institutions.

The Chairman had said he was in receipt of a complaint stating GU had not adopted the sports policy and no students had been awarded sports merit marks. He mentioned the GU should have implemented the policy this year along with other institutes as per assurance given by the Government.

GOA

HE RA LD

Pg 4

GOA, THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010

S H O RT TA K E S ‘Consumers Shoppee’ opened

Govt’s claim on uplifting of disabled a joke: DRAG HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Mapusa MLA Francis D’Souza inaugurating ‘Consumers Shoppee’ exhibition at Don Bosco High School, Panjim. CCP Councillor Amondkar and organizer. Meenal Mohadikar are also present.

PANJIM(HND): Consumers Shoppee, an exhibition of electronics and household products was inaugurated at Don Bosco High School, Indoor Stadium, Panjim at the hands of Francis D’Souza, MLA of Mapusa, CCP Councillor Prasad Amondkar, organizer Meenal Mohadikar and others graced the occasion.

A special segment of various school products like school stationery, school books, educational books, educational CDs, School bags, water bottles, study tables, folders and files, computers, etc, have been displayed by various companies.

Major participants like Camlin, Alkosign, Alkon, Navneet Publications, Edurite, Broadway books, IFB industries, Morphy Richards, Eureka Forbes, Usha, Singer, TTK Prestige, Rock-nRaga, India Gate Basmati Rice, Delmonte, Mapro Foods, Gits, Pravin, KDD, Sundaram, Sanobar, Campco, AMC Cookware, Bajaj, Nirali, Hemcorp, Olivia, Karnataka soaps and many others have showcased their product and given live demonstrations.

This exhibition will remain open to the public till June 6 between 10 am to 8:30 pm.

Vardhapan Day celebrated

Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has criticised the State government’s claim of uplifting the disabled in Goa and ridiculed the same as a joke.

According to a press release issued here, the Chief Minister and the Social Welfare Minister has not bothered to meet the members of DRAG even once during their tenure for the last two years to find out what are the problems of the disabled in Goa in spite of several representations.

The press release states further that the State Government has till date not fulfilled its promise made in the State policy for the welfare of disabled of making all buildings, buses and streets disabled friendly by December 2008. The Government Departments do not implement the orders of the State Disability Commissioners. The Association has to issue ultimatums to the government departments to get the issues of the disabled resolved.

The press release says, although the Goa Childrens Act 2005 mandates that schools should provide barrier free access to the disabled students and the Education Department has a scheme to provide financial assistance to the disabled students, the Education Department does not possess the knowledge of disabled students

Schemes for STs, Dhangars launched HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Geet Madhuri programme presented at the temple mandap .

PANJIM(HND): Shree Shantadurga Nerlikarin Saunsthans 98 Vardhapan Day concluded recently with lot of religious activities from 7 am to 10 pm in the night. Many Mahajans, Bhaktagan, Gramhasth and prominent personalities attended the function.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat along with his wife Asha Kamat visited the temple for blessing and attended the Geet Madhuri programme of prominent Goan singer, Gauri Nayak Bhat and Sathi Kalakars The programme was sponsored by Bhatkar and family, Verem, Bardez.

Domnic elected President

PANJIM(HND): Domnic Britto has been elected as President of Help-In-Time Trust of Pomburpa, Arao.

Other members in the committee are Suresh Chodankar (Vice-President), Domnic C Fernandes (Secretary), Jyoti J Fernandes (Treasurer), Edwin Fernandes, Mariette Fernandes, Cajetan Pires, Lily Faria, Anthony R Dias have been elected members in the committee.

The Office-bearers of the committee will hold office for three years period.

World no Tobacco day held

PANJIM(HND): The World No Tobacco Day was observed recently by the IMA Goa Students Wing 2010-2011 in Goa Medical College in the library auditorium.

The theme for this year's World No Tobacco Day was ‘gender and tobacco with an emphasis on marketing to women’.

Dean of the Goa Medical College Dr Jindal, Director of Health Services Dr Rajnanda Desai, President of IMA Goa State, Secretary NOTE India Dr Shekhar Salkar and President of IMA Tiswadi Dr Sitakant Ghanekar were present on the occasion.

The dignitaries were welcomed by the Master of the ceremony Dr Padmanabh. A brief introduction of the IMA Students wing 2010-2011 was given by Dr Rataboli which was followed by a speech by Dr Sitakant Ghanekar. Dr Desai and Dr Jindal spoke on the occasion.

The speech was followed by the prize distribution of the competitions held: Essay writing competition- winner- Shanta Kudale was awarded cash prize of Rs 2500.

Poster making competition-winner- Deepika Chari was awarded cash prize of Rs 2500. Photography competition-winner- Rudra Caculo was awarded cash prize of Rs 2500, Short film making competition- winning team- Ankush, Shane Rodrigues, Anisha Deulker, Manu Babu, Rishva Keni were awarded cash prize of R 10000.

The guest speaker Dr Shekhar Salkar then enriched the audience with the growing problem of smokers and how and why females fall prey to I, says a press release.

Farewell to Fr Dourado

PANJIM(HND): Merxechim Salkam, Merces accorded a warm farewell to Rev Fr Caetano Rosario Dourado, Asst Parish Priest, Our Lady of Merces Church, Merces. He was posted as the Asst Parish Priest of Our lady of Merces Church, Merces on June 1, 2006. Fr Dourado felt the pulse of the people and always gave full co-operation and support to whosoever needed. He helped children and youth to bring out their talents and grow, says a press release.

As a servant of Goa and spiritual leader, Merxechim Salkam, a group from Merces say that they owe Fr Dourado a lot and will always remember his works. As a token of love and appreciation, the Merxechim Salkam have offered Fr Dourado a Videocon fridge.

The Merxexhim Salkam seek blessings on Fr Dourado for good health, immense courage and strength to face the turmoils of life and overcome them in his new posting as Procurator of the Minor Seminary of Our Lady, Saligao- Pilerne, Saligao after completing his full 4 years term as Asst Parish Priest in our Church, adds the press release.

The Government has launched a Scheme titled ‘Indira Bal Rath.’ The objective of the scheme is to provide transport facilities and support to the children of the Scheduled Tribe Communities who have their residential places in the remote areas in the State of Goa, The scheme is implemented through the Directorate of Social Welfare.

Under the scheme, mini buses are provided to the Schools/Institutions where the government has sanctioned 120 Mini Buses, out of which 62 buses were delivered in January and 44 buses were delivered in March. The remaining 14 mini buses will be delivered on June 4 Kala Academy (Black Box) at 11 am.

Similarly, the government has formulated a scheme titled ‘Bicycle to Gouly Students.’ The students of Dhangar (Gouly) Community are inhabiting in remote areas as well as hilly areas where transport is not easily available, it is therefore decided that if bicycles provided to the students of Dhangar (Gouly) Community it will be more convenient for these students to attend regular classes. Only the students of Std VIII to Std XII can avail the facility of this scheme.

51 bicycles have been sanctioned to the students of Gouly/Dhangar of Sattari Taluka.

The buses and bicycles will be delivered at the hands of the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the presence of Minister for Social Welfare Sudin Dhavalikar.

studying in government aided schools and how many of them are disabled friendly. The Kadamba Transport Corporation has not yet come out with its disabled friendly buses although it was promised four years back.

Crore of rupees are spent to give awards to regular sport persons but nothing for disabled sportspersons. The Goa Sports Policy does not even mention disabled sports persons. Where is the social uplifting of the disabled? DRAG questions.

The press release says, DRAG has also been successful in getting justice for disabled persons Samruddhi Savoikar and Rekha Zarunkar. In the case of Samruddhi Savoikar the Secretary Women and Child Development has directed the teacher of Sanjay School Porvorim to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 within 45 days of the order for throwing a pouch on Samruddhi thereby causing injury to her forehead.

The Secretary has also directed the Directorate of Provedoria to ensure that all the teachers of Sanjay School are given special training to handle disabled children and to have a pro-active approach in counseling so that the teaching environment is not adversely affected and such kind of incidents are avoided in the future.

He has also directed the Directorate of Education to use its powers to bring the Sanjay School under the preview of the

School Education Act. In the case of Rekha Zarunkar the Khola Village Panchayat has paid her dues of Rs 18,000 which were pending for the last 2 years. It may be recalled that DRAG had served the concerned departments an ultimatum of 15 days to resolve the above grievances.

DRAG President Avelino de Sa and member Vishant Nagvenkar have attended the disabled peoples conclave held recently in New Delhi organised by the National Centre for the employment of Disabled People (NCPEDP), New Delhi. The conclave was attended by 50 disabled leaders from all over India to discuss the provisions of the new law for the disabled which will be called the Rights of Disabled Persons Act and will consolidate all the laws for the disabled namely the Disability Act, National Trust Act, Mental Illness Act and Rehabilitation Council of India Act in view of the UN Convention on the Rights of the disabled.

DRAG also participated in the candle light vigil organized by the NCPEDP outside the residence of Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik to demand the inclusion of more disabled persons in the committee to draft the new law as only 3 disabled persons were included in the committee of 27 persons, adds the press release.

Stringent punishment for killing frogs HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Monsoon is the mating, breeding, multiplying, feeding and recruitment season for many species of frogs. It is during this time they become victim of their greatest predator- the man.

According to a press release, indiscriminate killing of frogs for their meat have been cause of drastic decline in their populations. Killing of frogs is ecological crime against the food chain affecting the ecological balance of territorial and aquatic ecosystems.

Frogs mainly feed on insects, and sue to this specialized habit, insects and vectors responsible for various diseases like malaria, filaria, encephalitis etc are brought under control. Frogs control vectors of unknown human and animal diseases.

Massive toxic recalcitrant residues from agrochemicals biomagnified in the food chain get accumulated in the fat deposits of frogs. The consumption of frogs over a period of times could trigger paralytic strokes, cancers, kidney failures and other deformities.

Government of India has banned catching, killing and export of frog legs. Frogs are protected under Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972. Catching killing and selling frogs, or serving frog meat in eating places contravene the provisions of Wild Life Protection Act, and attract stringent punishment with fine and imprisonment, adds the press release.

Disaster management workshop held at Bicholim

Lions BoDs installation

CALANGUTE(HC): The 37th Board of Directors of Lions Club of Calangute for 2010-11 will be installed at Hotel Goan Heritage, Gaura Vaddo, Calangute, on June 5.

Speaker Pratapsingh Raoji Rane will be the chief guest for the inaugural function, while Vasudev R P Valawalkar will be the installing officer.

The outgoing team was led by president Flavia Mascarenhas, secretary Aparna S Palyekar and treasurer Sabita V Valawalkar.

Mass for workers

PANJIM(HND): Mass for workers will be held on June 4 at Mary Immaculate Church, Panjim at 1:15 pm. The Mass is being organized by the Office of the Commissioner of Labour and Employment. A priest will be available for confession from 12:30 pm onwards. All are invited to this thanksgiving celebration, says a press release.

Seminar at GCCI

PANJIM(HND): As a part of 125th year celebrations of Congress Foundation, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee will organise a seminar on 'India's Vision of a Nuclear Free World' on June 9 at Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Panjim at 4 pm.

Former Union Minister Eduardo Faleiro will be the key speaker and will unfold the Rajiv Gandhi Action Plan which he placed before the General Assembly of the United Nations in the year 1988 during his address to the Assembly, says a press release.

The members of the public who are interested in the subject and would like to attend the said seminar may inform the PCC office in advance on 2223765 or 2420018 for reservation of seats. Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will be the chief guest while PCC President Subhash Shirodkar will preside over the function to be attended by ministers, MLA’s, office-bearers, district members, block presidents and members of Youth Congress, Seva Dal and Mahila Congress.

Anushka tops in Mary Immaculate school HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Anushka Vinay Shirodkar, student of Mary Immaculate Girls High School, Panjim secured 533 marks out of 600 marks (88.83%) in SSC Exam and topped the school results. She got highest marks in Konkani (94), besides English (79), Math (90), Science (92), Social Science (92) and Hindi (86).

She joined the school at Vth standard and has always excelled in all academic years. Presently she is residing in Banastarim and people from all walks of life have appreciated her achieve-

ment in examination. She is a daughter of Mr Vinay and Madhavi Shirodkar.

Shruti, Anisha, Pooja excel at solo dance contest in Calangute HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JUNE 2

Personnel of 5th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Pune, gives demonstrations on flood and disaster management at Mayem and Bicholim.

Photo by HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, JUNE 2

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Pune, conducted a workshop on flood and disaster management at Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) office on Wednesday.

The workshop was organized

by Flood and Disaster Management Cell Bicholim to guide the villagers in case emergencies arise during floods and natural calamities during the monsoon and other seasons.

Precautionary measures to be undertaken during floods, emergency services rendered during floods, rescue operations to save a drowning person, tracing a drowned person, measures to be adopted for self protection during rescue operations, etc, were demonstrated.

Live demonstrations were also conducted at Mayem Lake, where demonstrations like saving a drowned person with the help of rope, making use of plastic

bottles, pots, bamboos during emergencies, fire prevention techniques, gas leakage prevention technique and other required techniques to save the life of human beings were shown.

Demonstrations on other precautionary measures like providing urgent medical aid, rescue operations, primary first aid, services by fire brigade personnel, police and people were also shown with the help of a slide show at Bicholim.

The demonstrations were presented by Assistant Commander S A Ahmed (fifth Bn NDRF Pune), PI V R Dangi, PSI T C Nag and 30 personnel from NDRF 5th Battalion, Pune.

Earlier, the workshop was inaugurated by Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, Mayem ML A Anant Shet, Pale MLA Pratap Gawas, Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat, Shilpa Naik, Deputy Collector Narayan Gaad and Commander S A Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Pale MLA Pratap

Gawas has suggested making arrangement of an emergency vehicle in par with 108 ambulance to help the villagers during emergencies during monsoon disasters at Bicholim and Sanquelim.

Gawas also brought to the notice that the mud from the river basin at Supachi Pud and and Maulingtad has not been de-silted and as such it may cause floods.

MLA Shet and BMC Chairperson Satish Gaonkar also brought to the notice that precautionary measures adopted by WRD would have been better if it were adopted by taking into confidence the representatives of respective areas.

Sarpanchas, panchas and ZP members from Bicholim taluka were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Deputy Collector Narayan Gaad welcomed the gathering, Gurudas Desai compered the function, while Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat proposed the vote of thanks.

Students selected for IIT’s urged to be honest, patriotic HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat felicitated eleven students from the State who were selected in IIT’s at a simple function held at his official residence at Altinho, Panjim on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat expressed happiness on the selection of these students from Goa for the IIT ’s and wished them success in their future endeavour.

Kamat said, the credit of their success goes to their teachers as well as parents and urged the students not to forget the contribution of their parents in their march towards success.

He advised the students to be honest and patriotic and urged them not to forget their nation.

Vyankatesh Prabhudessai, Chief of the Aryaan Study Circle was also felicitated on the occasion for his efforts to train the students.

The students who were felic-

upcOming EvEnTS

Shruti Gawas, Anisha Pilarnkar and Pooja Salgaonkar won honours in sub-junior, junior and senior categories in the recently organised All Goa Record Solo Dance competition at Calangute.

The competition was organised by Ankush Ramnath Govekar, Arjun Appa Shirodker, Sajjan Parsekar and Rama Laxman Salgaonkar in collaboration with Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan Committee, Calangute.

In sub-junior category, the first four winners are Shruti Gawas, Sejjal Parsekar, Vanashika Mapsekar and Bhakti Naik.

Pratik Wadkar, Diksha Raikar and Ashvek Pilarnkar won the consolation prizes.

In junior category, Anisha Pilarnkar, Saish Nipankar, Tanvi Pai and Sanshika Shirodker won the first four places, while the consolation prizes were awarded to Shruti Nerulkar, Vidhi Lotlikar and Shruti Naik.

In the senior category, Pooja Salgaonkar, Aditi Morajkar, Vijendra Kumar and Sarvangi Dessai won the first four prizes.

Pramila Marathe, Saish Naik and Apeksha Kamal won the consolation prizes.

Hema Phadte, Shruti Chopdekar and Pradeep Morajkar were the judges for the competition.

The prizes were given away, in the absence of the chief guest and other dignitaries, by Shree

Shantadurga Saunsthan, Calangute, Secretary Siddesh Shirodker, Treasurer Yeshwant Khandolkar and members Laxman Shirodker and Rohidas Haldankar as the competition ended late in the evening.

Earlier, the inaugural function of All Goa Record Solo Dance competition was held in presence of the former chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Saligao MLA Dilip Parulekar, Saligao ZP member Michael Lobo, Calangute Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch Laxman Parab Palyekar and Sneha G Salgaonkar and Babreshwar Temple, Calangute, President Chandrakant Chopdekar.

Siddesh Shirodker welcomed the chief guest and other dignitaries and later proposed the vote of thanks.

Online updation of land records HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Directorate of Settlement and Land Records will be organizing an inaugural function of Online Updation and Integrated Land Records System on June 3at 12 noon at Conference Hall, Secretariat, Porvorim.

The inauguration will be held at the hands of the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the presence of Jose Philip D'Souza, Revenue Minister and Manohar Parrikar, Leader of the Opposition.

POWER SHUTDOWN JUNE 3 TALEIGAO: From 9 am to 2.30 pm. Areas affected are Dando, Mitra bazaar, Hyundai workshop and surrounding areas.

JUNE 4 TALEIGAO: From 9 am to 2.30 pm. Areas affected are Aadarsh Colony, Kavita co-op housing society, Buddhaseth apartment, Altass Manor and surrounding areas.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Asha Kamat along with the Students selected for IIT’s. Also present are MLA's Reginald Lourenco and Francisco Silveira, at the CM’s official residence at Altinho, Panjim.

itated on the occasion were Bhargav Joshi, Saish Kapadi, Antariksh Dicholkar, Nikhil Tavora, Rohit Giri, Viraj Parke, Kaustub Tilve, Neeraj Borkar, Nikhil Sahakari, Sama Bhatikar and Shivani Nayak.

Asha Kamat, Transport Minister Sudin Dhavlikar, Revenue

Minister Jose Phillip D' Souza, MLA's Reginald Lourenco and Francisco Silveira, Media Advisor Vishnu Wagh, Director, Technical Education Vivek Kamat, Director Art and Culture Prasad Lolyekar, Director of Information and Publicity Menino Peres and others were present.

Secretary (Education) Dr M M Modassir welcomed the gathering while Director of Education, Dr Celsa Pinto proposed the vote of thanks.

Director of Higher Education Bhaskar Nayak earlier introduced the students and compered the function.

Power Line Warning BICHOLIM: Newly erected 200 KVA transformer centre and its associated 11 KV line near Shri Nelson Fernandes House at Shantinagar, Mangor, will be test charged recently and will remain charged there after.

Hence the general public is hereby cautioned not to come in contact with the transformer, line and equipment as it is highly dangerous to human life and property.

HE RA LD

Pg 5

INDIA

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

Pak wooing India ahead of TMC storms to power in civic polls Home, Foreign Ministers' visit PTI KOLKATA, JUNE 2

DELHI BUREAU NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

Pakistan appears engaged in a reconciliation drive to reduce the trust deficit with India ahead of the Islamabad visits of Home and Foreign Ministers, by dropping its stiff opposition to construction of two power projects in Jammu and Kashmir on two rivers flowing into its territories.

The reconciliation marked end of the 4day annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission here on Wednesday, with Pakistan consenting construction of the 250 Megawatt Uri-II plant on the Jhelum and 44 MW Chutak on the river Suru, a tributary of Indus, in Kargil.

Pakistan Indus Commissioner Syed Jammat Ali Shah, however, sought to stress that his side has withdrawn objections to the two power projects not for the sake of building a climate for political talks, but because of getting a clarity from India to enable it to clear them on merit.

He, however, admitted that India eliminated trust deficit on the power projects by unveiling all details and agree for changes Pakistan sought. After India presented further details and technical information on the design of the Uri-II and Chutak projects, Pakistan gave consent to their construction in the “spirit of cooperation and goodwill,” he affirmed.

WATER THEFT: Denying his government

ever charging India of stealing water, Shah said New Delhi’s record in abiding by the provisions of Indus Water Treaty, however, had never remained straight.

“We have never leveled such charge. But when we see record of the implementation of the treaty, it is abysmal. In August 2008 there was huge reduction in the level of water in the Chenab. Construction on Wullar Barrage was also a deviation. And since 2007, they were not providing information on Chutak project,” he said, adding that Pakistan wants implementation of IWT in letter and spirit to create an atmosphere of trust.

Talking to reporters at the end of the four-day meeting headed by respective Commissioners, Shah said the delegations had also finalized the schedule of inspection visits in the current year. He said a mechanism to receive advance information on floods during monsoon beginning July 1 was also established.

The Pakistan Commissioner said both the projects approved in the meeting were hanging just for want of information. He claimed during the meeting India did come to conclusion that a resolution of issues was possible after providing adequate information in a transparent manner.

DESIGN CHANGES: He was happy that India agreed to adjust design of both the projects to the Pakistan’s satisfaction. “They

agreed to give an opening in the parapet wall. Our concern was that water levels or storage could increase if parapet walls remained solid, water level of storage can increase. This concern has been addressed.

We have now no objections to the two hydro-electric project. India can go ahead with their construction,” announced Shah.

He, however, said differences on the 45MW Nimmo Bazgo coming up on the Indus in Ladakh remained unresolved for want for further information. India has agreed to provide requisite information within a week. “On this project as well, we dropped our objections on parapet wall and free board as they were almost copies of Uri-II and Chutak projects. But our objections on gate structures and power intake were not addressed fully well,” Shah added.

He wondered why India could not provide sediment data as it forms basis of the project design. "They have now assured to provide this data in a week, after consultations at higher levels,” he added. He said the sediment data decided the level of spillway, besides intake level and spillway size.

Taking cue from the Baglihar row, when water levels at the Marala had dipped dangerously following the initial filling of the dam, both Commissioners have also agreed to take care in the future fillings of projects. They decided to form a schedule in advance so that the Baglihar type row does not recur.

Sonia's belated bid to clear Bihar mess DELHI BUREAU NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

Six months too late, Congress president Sonia Gandhi finally intervened to put an end to the turmoil in the party's Bihar unit by removing both the state unit chief Anil Sharma and AICC incharge Jagdish Tytler, a former union minister.

The entire party in Bihar was in disarray wondering how it will measure up in the upcoming Assembly elections in October in view of the Tytler-Sharma fight not only paralysing the organizational activities since last ovember but also placing the party high command in an awkward situation.

Social Welfare Minister Mukul Wasnik, who continues to be also one of the AICC general secretaries for want of the reshuffle in the party, has been entrusted the responsibility of Bihar as the AICC incharge while senior legislator Mehboob Ali Qaiser, who is also an AICC secretary, will now head the state unit.

The first task of Wasnik will be to reorganise the PCC and look for a consensus among the Bihar Congress leaders for a possible tie-up with Rashtriya Janata Dal of Lalu Prasad and Lok Janshakti Party headed by former union minister Ramvilas Paswan for entering the Assembly fray together to oust the Janata Dal(U)-Bhartiya Janata Government headed by Nitish Kumar from power in the state.

"We have held preliminary talks with both Lalu Prasad and Paswan, but still no picture has yet emerged on whether to fight the elections together or separately on our own strength," a senior party leader said. He said the party had suffered a virtual paralysis because of fights between Tytler and ousted PCC chief Sharma and as such no firm decision could be taken on alliance so far.

While Anil Sharma has completely fallen from grace, Tytler has been ehabilitated as the central leaders felt the mess was largely a reation of the state president who dared to challenge the high command’s authority. Tytler will now be incharge of Seva Dal, a frontal organisation of the party that was so far looked after by Wasnik.

The Congress president has, through her new appointments, also tried to balance the caste equations in the poll-bound Bihar. The party has set its sight on the Muslim voters, sensing a general pro-Congress inclination in the minority community and hence shortlisted Shakeel Ahmed and Qaiser as possible replacements of Sharma.

Final choice, however, fell on Qaiser as he is seen as a neutral person, while Shakeel Ahmed, a minister of state in UPA-I government, will be groomed as a national Muslim face by continuing him as one of the party spokespersons in the AICC head-

quarters here.

Mukul Wasnik is a Dalit, an important caste in Bihar’s electoral scheme, and now the party may change the Congress Legislature Party leader who is also a Dalit at present. Some forward caste leader may be picked up to complete the triangle in terms of caste.

Though most leaders from Bihar feel the high command delayed the decision by a few months, they heaved a sigh of relief as the Congress politics in the state had got stuck in the ego-clash between Tytler and Sharma for the past many months.

Ousted Bihar PCC President Sharma was facing dissidence past many months, rather right from the day he was appointed in the post. The party leadership felt it should not delay the change, particularly when the Congress of late has been faring well in the hustings in the state.

Both Sharma and Tytler had also come into difficulty, shocking the Dalits in Bihar by identifying castes of the new state office-bearers and even describing Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar as belonging to the Scheduled Caste. Tytler wriggled out of the controversy by accusing Sharma of releasing the press note describing caste of each office-bearer while Sharma tried to justify it on the ground that he only wanted to show that his new team has members from all castes and communities.

A local court has acquitted all the 27 accused involved in antiSikh riots of 1984 in the absence of witnesses against them in Bihar's Rohtas district.

Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) Nand Kishore Sharma while acquitting the accussed earlier this week (May 31) for want of evidences also crticised the police machinery for its failure to produce the four witnesses in court, whose absence led the court to let off the accused.

The four witnesses, all police persons, did not turn up on behalf of the prosecution despite repeated reminders issued by the court to the SP office and legal cell department of State's Crime department.

Court sources said that following the assasination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, rioters had gone berserk and set on fire a number of shops located on Jhabarmal Gali, Cinema Road on Dehri-on-Sone, GT road in which shops belonging to Sardar Buta Singh, Yogendra Singh, Avatar Singh, Gurubachan Singh, Uttam Singh, Sampoorna Singh and others were gutted.

The police after arresting 61 anti-socials filed an FIR against them with the Dehri-on-Sone police station on the basis of the statement of the then officer-in-charge K Jha and submitted a chargesheet against them on February 28, 1985. But the accused succeeded in delaying

n Additional District and Sessions Judge (III) Nand Kishore Sharma while acquitting the accussed earlier this week (May 31) for want of evidences also crticised the police machinery for its failure to produce the four witnesses in court, whose absence led the court to let off the accused. the trial taking advantage of legal technicalities.

Later, final charges were framed against 28 accused person on June 30,2006, after 21 years of the riots and the trial began.

One accused died during the course of the trial and the court on Monday acquitted the 27 accused for want of evidence.

Rohtas Superintendent of Police Vikas Vaibhav when contacted, told PTI here today that police was looking into the matter and necessary action would be taken against all those responsible for allowing the case to fall through.

PTI AHMEDABAD, JUNE 2

Tropical cyclone Phet in the Arabian sea has intensified further into a severe cyclonic storm, moved northwestward, and lay centred 1,000 km southwest of Naliya in Kutch district of Gujarat even as some parts of the state received rainfall.

The Indian Meteorological Department today said "the current environmental condition and Numerical Weather Prediction models suggest the system would intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and move slowly in a north-northwesterly direction for the next 24 hours and then re-curve northeastwards towards Gujarat and adjoining Pakistan coast".

IMD officials said that under the influence of 'Phet' widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would commence over coastal areas of Gujarat from June 4, and increase thereafter.

Meanwhile, rainfall was recorded in most parts of Amreli, Dharmpur in Valsad and some parts in coastal region of Jamnagar this morning.

Also, sporadic rains were registered in Palitana, Alang, and Umrada regions of Bhavnagar district.

Sky in the coastal towns of the state was overcast and the temperature had come down considerably.

According to weather depart-

semi-final before next year's Assembly polls.

In Sunday's election to a total of 81 civic bodies across 16 districts in West Bengal, TC also tasted success in the districts where it alone bagged 20 of 43 municipalities, the results for which were available till noon.

The party bagged another eight civic bodies where it had local-level seat adjustment with the Congress.

ATS to file chargesheet in ONGC terror plot PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 2

A chargesheet will be filed next week against two arrested terror suspects and their handler in Pakistan, who allegedly plotted strikes at ONGC headquarters and two markets here, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said today.

On March 13, the ATS had arrested Abdul L atif alias Guddu (29) and Riyaz Ali alias Rehan (23) from near Matunga railway station in central Mumbai.

"Final touch is being given to chargesheet. In certain areas, we needed permission from Home Department which has been granted. The chargesheet would be filed next week against the two arrested accused and their handler in Pakistan," a senior ATS official said on condition of anonymity.

The duo had allegedly conducted recce of three targets headquarters of public sector Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONCG), Thakkar Mall and Malgaldas Market in the city – and were planning to carry out attacks which included sabotage and setting them on fire, they said They used to receive instructions from a person in Karachi whom they referred as 'Uncle', the ATS said.

The 'Uncle' could be Bashi Khan, an aide of Tiger Memon who is closely associated with underworld fugitive Da-

27 anti-Sikh riots Phet intensfies into cyclonic storm accused acquitted PTI SASARAM, JUNE 2

Riding the winds of political change, Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress today won the 141-ward city municipal corporation polls, inflicting a crushing blow to the ruling Left Front in the civic elections, dubbed as a

The Left Front registered wins in 12 municipalities while Congress lagged behind winning only in three.

The Trinamool Congress, which had already won twothirds majority in the 141-member KMC, will not need the support of the Congress to rule Kolkata where her party has already captured 94 of the 135 wards the results of which were available.

The Left Front which was in power in KMC with 75 wards has managed to win in only 29 wards.

The Congress has so far got nine and the BJP three seats.

In the 2005 KMC polls, Left parties had won 75 seats, TC 42, Congress 21 and BJP three.

Congratulating Banerjee on her party's performance, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who is also the West Bengal Congress chief, said he accepted the people's verdict.

Mukherjee, speaking to reporters in New Delhi, said till the final results were out, it would be difficult for him to assess the "net loss or net gain" of the Congress, but said his party had lost some and gained some municipalities out of the 14 it held earlier.

ment, wind speed in the coastal areas of Gujarat would reach 6575 kmph by tomorrow and increase gradually.

Sea would be rough with waves from southwesterly direction and fishermen have been advised not to go out in the sea till tomorrow, they said.

The ports in the state have also been asked to hoist distress warning signal 2.

According to Sati Devi, Director, India Meteorological Department, Mumbai, severe cyclonic winds of 120-140 kmph speed is churning the Arabian Sea about 1100-1200 kms west-southwest of Mumbai and 600 km away from Oman.

It is likely to hit Karachi coast in Pakistan and Gujarat coastal areas by weekend.

Distant Port Warning No 2 has been hoisted at ports along Maharashtra-Goa coast (Dahanu to Margao) as a precautionary measure for seafarers, she said.

Several parts of Maharashtra including Mumbai, Pune and adjoining areas received sporadic rainfall due to the tropical cyclone.

The cyclone has been named 'Phet' as per a suggestion made by Thailand to the IMD, which is the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) for South Asia as nominated by the World Meteorological Organisation.

n Final touch is being given to chargesheet. In certain areas, we needed permission from Home Department which has been granted. The chargesheet would be filed next week against the two arrested accused and their handler in Pak.

wood Ibrahim and is one of the masterminds of the 1993 blasts.

Khan is accused of having transported explosives to Mumbai prior to the serial blasts, the ATS added.

In the chargesheet, it would be also mentioned that the phone calls the accused duo had received over and again came from Karachi, the ATS official said.

"The two arrested were also given task of arranging passports to send their associates from here to Pakistan for recruitment," the official added.

"First of all, I would like to congratulate Mamata Banerjee for her excellent performance both in Kolkata and also in the districts. I accept the failure of

the Congress to perform up to the expectations which we had.

I accept the verdict of the people with all humility," Mukherjee said.

HE RA LD

INDIA GOA, THRUSDAY JUNE 3, 2010

Pg7 Navy chopper crashes into river, 1 killed PTI VISAKHAPATNAM, JUNE 2

A Chetak helicopter of the Navy today crashed into a river near Anakapally town, about 50 kilometres from here, killing one person and injuring three others including the pilot.

The victim, Navy diver Kishan Kumar (26) suffered serious injuries in the crash, which apparently occurred af ter the helicopter hit a high-tension wire, Visakhapatanam (Rural) DSP Vineet Brijlal told PTI. Kumar died at the Anakapally hospital.

The three others, including the pilot, survived the mishap and received minor injuries, he said.

Brijlal, quoting available information, said the mishap occurred when the chopper, belonging to INS Dega here, touched a high-tension wire while flying low near Sarada river bridge. The personnel were on a routine survey to locate a safe landing place to deal with an emergency situation, he said.

A fisherman who witnessed the crash told police that the chopper, after hitting the electric wire, spun in the air once before plunging into the river.

The locals informed police, who managed to extricate the four Navy personnel from the water and rush them to Anakapally hospital, the DSP said.

53-year-old Cong man clears exam PTI PRATAPGARH, JUNE 2

At the ripe age of 53, former state minister and Congress leader Dal Bahadur Kori has cleared the UP Board Class X examinations by securing first division with 381 marks.

After the results were announced yesterday, Kori said he has realised his dream which he could not fulfill earlier due to poverty and responsibilities that fell on him after the sudden death of his father.

Kori who was twice elected MLA from Salon on BJP ticket and had been a minister for social welfare in 1997 had appeared in the examination as private candidate from Baijnath Inter college here.

He later joined Congress in 2009 and is presently the state general secretary of the party.

Jaya's DA case adjourned PTI BANGALORE, JUNE 2

A special court here today adjourned the trial in the disproportionate assets case against former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to June 14.

When the case came up for hearing before Judge B M Mallikarjunaiah, the counsel for Jaya sought over 10 days time stating that certified copies of necessary documents were still not ready.

However, Special Public Prosecutor B V Acharya argued that all the requisite documents had already been given and "the reason was just a pretext to seek adjournment."

After hearing both sides, Judge Mallikarjunaiah adjourned hearing of the case to June 14.

58-year-old woman gives birth

PTI MUVATTUPUZHA (Kerala),JUNE 2

In a rare case, a 58-year-old woman gave birth to baby boy at a hospital here.

The baby, weighing 2.3 kg, was born through a caesarian section on Monday, Dr S Sabine, Head of Reproductive Medicine team of the St George hospital in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district, told PTI. The woman, Cicly, underwent Hormone Replacement Treatment to prepare her uterus for the pregnancy before she conceived through the In Vitro fertilsation (IVF), he said.

Cicly, had the usual complications of her age. She had mild diabetes and hyper tension. Normaly during the last three to four weeks of pregnancy, there was high incidence of neo-natal complications, Sabine said.

"She came in with pain and an emergency caesarian was performed her on Monday and the baby delivered, 24 days ahead of the due date. The baby is healthy and matured and has not been kept in the incubator", he said.

OHERALDO

Edit Page Template:Layout 1 6/3/2010 12:06 AM Page 1

OPINION

Pg8

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Mapuça going, going ….

Vol No CX No: 143 Goa, Thursday 3 June, 2010

Annus Horribilis

T

he first year of the second term of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the centre was nothing to be enthusiastic about. After its triumphant return to power with an increased majority, thanks to a divided, dazed and demoralised opposition, the self-styled UPA-II promised that inflation would be curbed and that employment would be increased. Neither, regretfully, has happened.

Prices, especially of basic necessities, have been showing a relentlessly upward trend. In December 2009 − the so-called deadline announced soon after the election for bringing food inflation down to single digits − inflation in prices of essentials shot up to a record high of 20 per cent! Last week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh promised to bring down food prices by this December…

Notwithstanding this abject failure on so many fronts, the prime minister returned to his pet theme of ‘growth’ in his address to mark the occasion on Tuesday. After the standard lip service to ‘pro-people’ policies and programmes and “strengthening our social and economic foundations”, he went on to boast that in the current financial year, the economy would grow at the rate of 8.5 per cent, which he described as “one of the best performances in the world”. It is a sad irony that a country that lags behind some of the tiniest of its neighbours on the global human development index should boast so much about the “strong fundamentals” of its economy and its perverse ‘jobless’ growth rate.

Last year was a hard one. The unprecedented global financial crisis had a strong ripple effect in India, especially in exportoriented industries. It was also a year of severe drought in most parts of the country and devastating floods in a few. This contributed to exacerbate the upward movement in prices of food and basic consumer goods, which hit the aam admi very badly. But it is precisely in bad times that good governance shines, by intervening to make a difference. Here, sadly, the UPA-II failed abjectly; it has drifted with the situation, on occasion even worsening it through measures that were ham handed or cynically sought to profit on people’s misery.

For the rich, however, the year went very well. The economy, which had slowed down to 6.5 per cent in 2008-09, recovered to 7.4 per cent in 2009-10. The stock markets shot up by nearly 70 per cent. Indian industry performed incredibly well, putting the bad year well behind it and showing a huge spike in productivity. However, the common people do not really seem to have benefited from this rapid recovery.

Legislation shows intentions, but the real test is in implementation. Education is now a fundamental right, thanks to UPA-II. But has this made even an iota of difference to the thousands of single-teacher primary schools in the country, where one mostly-absent teacher is expected to simultaneously teach students of Stds I. II, III and IV? At this very moment, Congress think tanks are busy working on a Food Security Bill.

Let us hope that when it is passed, it will have more teeth than the Right to Education Act. What India really needs is more legislations like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which has brought remarkable transformed in places like rural Bihar. If someone could conceive of an urban version of the NREGA, that would solve a lot of India’s problems.

Mamata’s miracle

A

fter years of showing promise only to fall at the real hurdle, Mamata Bannerjee’s Trinamool Congress has routed the Left Front in the West Bengal municipal elections, sweeping both Kolkata and Salt Lake City. The party will likely come to power in more than half of the state’s 81 municipalities.

Most of all, Mamata has won this on her own steam, without being in alliance with the Congress. This shows how unpopular the CPI(M) and the Left parties are in West Bengal; they could not even take advantage of a divided opposition!

Cheap publicity Maria Miranda, Margao Goan politics stinks and Goan politicians stink even more. Nadia Torrado is no more and while people pray that her soul may rest in peace, the Goa Police try to prove their well known “efficiency” by not allowing her to be at peace even in death.

In the process of investigating whether the suicide was abetted or whether it was a murder, the police harassed the victim, already in agony. When did we see the police so diligent and eager to investigate attempted suicides, except at the behest of the victim’s family? And if all this was not enough, in a blatant case of utter disrespect to the deceased and her family, the police lift the body for another autopsy just minutes before she was laid to rest. If at all such a procedure was necessary, couldn’t it be done the previous day when the body arrived? It

100 Years Ago

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

3 June, 1910 • At the Village of Mulcornem, a foreigner is conducting some tests to find out if Goan soil is suitable for the plantation of tobacco.

• It is reported that one of the major and most dangerous evils affecting the governance of the country, is the cancer of perjury.

• The Municipal Court which due to pestilences was shifted earlier to the village of Velsao has recommenced from its headquarters at Mormugao.

• It is shameful to report that the Treasury Offices is indulging in issuing covertly the duplicate receipts of the contribution already effected.

• In the present alimentary crisis, the efforts to rear neat cattle and caprine herds in large tracts of pastures available at the “Novas Conquistas” is praise-worthy.

Mapuça is in a sorry state of disrepair and a shadow of its former circumspect self laments erVeLL e. MeneZeS

T

he city of Mapuça has always been dear to my heart. If not for any other reason than it is closest to my village of Bastora. As little boys in the early 1950s we cycled to and fro ad infinitum. Early morning to buy the newspapers for the cricket scores, later on some errand or the other and still later, not so sure why. Oh yes, something to look forward to, was the treat by my grand-uncle who was then working as administrator with the then famous C. D’Souza Restaurant. We would hang around the place till spotted, called in and given a right royale treat.

It was the old market near the Alankar cinema today, before it moved in 1960 to the present structure inaugurated by the then Portuguese Governor Vassalo da Silva (who thankfully refused to blast the bridges before the Liberation) and was the brainchild of the well-known architect Pinto do Rosario. It still stands strong today while latter structures like the fish market (built in 1991) have come crumbling down. In the United Kingdom, we have songs of “London bridge is falling down.” but it is only in Goa that you have the real thing.

But as the capital of Bardez, Mapuça, is in a sorry state of disrepair and a shadow of its former circumspect self. Take the Asilo Hospital where the aam admi (Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s favourite in rhetoric, not in deed) has to fight tooth and nail to get his due. As one doctor described it, “doctors of the Asilo are known to shunt patients to the Goa Medical College Hospital in Bambolim, because the best care is available there. It is like a post-office. Not only that but also because most of the Asilo doctors are believed to be doing their own practice in private clinics nearby, like Mapuça Clinic and Sankalp.”

Then there is the case of Dr. Malika, who was responsible for a few pregnancy deaths and a big hue and cry was raised by the press and the patients, but to no avail. There is a certain immunity to being suspended or sacked from the Asilo. It seems to be a law unto itself. Call it the survival of the weakest.

But whatever has happened to the new Asilo Hospital whose foundation stone was laid by the then Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in 2004? It is still to be functional. Why? Is it being seen as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) project? The new

ThoSe Were The DayS

A

MinDing our BuSineSS hospital has been ready since 2009, but only in name. Why the delay? Everyone is pointing fingers elsewhere and hence truth is the casualty.

“We are partly outsourcing it to private parties,” says Dr Rajnanda Desai who is the Director of Health Services, and weighs her words as though rationed. Reminds one, of our cricket captain Vijay Hazare who on the 1947 tour of Australia spoke so little that it was said “runs flowed more easily from his bat than words from his mouth.”

But that was because of his problem with language.

Not Dr Desai. For her it is being non-committal.

In two telephonic conversations she spoke not more than two lines. Being favoured over Dr Sanjiv Dalvi for the post, she doesn’t seem to mind the designation but appears reluctant to be in the firing line. It’s like eating your cake and having it too. Dr Dalvi too was not available for comment. Mapuça BJP MLA Francis “Babush” D’Souza was out of station. The trouble with doing a story in Goa is that the key persons are usually absent and those present are not willing to be quoted.

Another disaster is the Mapuça fish market.

Since August 2009 it is out in the open because

Poor me! Poor you! Poor excuse!

re you a victim? Do you have some deep, dark family secret you would like to share with the whole wide world. No? Too bad. You will never get your five minutes in the spotlight.

Recently, I heard an author speaking about his new book and how his publisher wanted to send him on a book tour, but the publicity person said, “It is too bad you are not a victim. We could book you on a lot more talk shows”.

Of course we all know there are plenty of real victims. But some real victims are getting lost in the shuffle of trash since fingerpointing became the national pastime. A Reader’s Digest told a teacher, who sued in court, because she had repeatedly failed to make the minimal acceptable score on a standardized national test. She felt victimized because the test did not accommodate her slowness in understanding written and spoken information.

This is just one of the many examples of whining going on.

Children blame parents, parents blame schools, political parties blame each other, and, when there is nobody to palm the blame on to, even God is blamed. This constant blaming and self-excusing has turned us into a totally irresponsible society. And, unfortunately, the finger-pointing has become very rampant, Take the case of Miramar - the authorities were blamed for lack of water supply, which was the case; but now it comes gushing

is certainly cruel and unacceptable to a civilized society to inflict indignities on the deceased with the sole objective of nailing a politician.

The publicity given by the police and the media to this unfortunate episode denotes complete lack of sensitivity, minimum human decency and total disregard to the sensibilities of the victim and her family. Wouldn’t it have more prudent and sensible to maintain some confidentiality and secrecy on such a sensitive issue? And what about the representative of this woman’s organization hysterically making a most insensitive and crude remark, though it was actually meant to hit the politician? Is this the way of upholding women’s honour and dignity, particularly of someone who is no more?

Change needed Willie Severes, Majorda Suddenly there is a big hue and cry about a politician’s involvement in the death of Nadia Torreado. Where were the women groups when the girl was involved with the politician before her death? This women group seems to be politically motivated,or it is up to just gain publicity.

Years back a ruling party Speaker was caught red handed in a molestation case.

There was a huge noise those days too, but nothing really happened. To my suprise this particular politician is still an active member of the legislative assembly. This shows how flexible we Goans are to politicians money power, just enough to be their stooges at some point of time.

Hence, instead of asking the CM and the minister to resign, these groups should work on to see that Goans wake up to change the current group of selfish, corrupt and womaniser cabinet minister’s in the next elections.

Tainted cabinet C Da Costa, Margao The current ruling dispensation has its cup full of woes. The ring master CM, Digambar Kamat is running a cabinet where in most if not all of his ministers are tainted.

The CM protected Sudin Davalikar in the Sanathan blast case. The home minister, Ravi Naik’s kin was allegedly involved in the

the market built in 1991 had developed cracks in 2006 and had to be vacated in 2009 with slabs of plaster falling. Now it is virtually like buying fish in a gutter. Folks have fallen on their backs and soiled their clothes and the fisherfolk are as rude as ever if you get too close (in the given space) to their ware. MLA Francis “Babush” D’Souza’s sister Mrs Alima Monteiro goes to Panjim market to buy fish. “I just can’t bear to go there,” this former Bastora panch member declares outspokenly. Mrs Monteiro also mentions the Datta Prasad farmhouse which now works as a commercial establishment thanks to the gratis of the Bastora Panchayat members who are said to be taken care of in cash or kind like free cement bags. As for the “ gutter fish market” it is situated just a stone’s throw from the Town & Country Planning Office and the PWD Office of Bardez district. What a crying shame!

Another major nuisance is the presence of twowheelers in the heart of the market which pose a physical threat to the pedestrians who have limited space for themselves. These include heavy Bullet motorbikes. There are six gates which at one time were locked to prevent this. But the

reasons given for not doing so, is that the shopkeepers want them open they bring in their goods.

The second reason is security and a case of fire as only one person has the key. Both reasons can be nullified because the goods can be brought in early morning or late evening and the second one is that the key can be made available with another market official in case of a fire.

The Kadamba Bus stand is another sore point.

There is a distinct stink of urine at the ticket counter and the ones selling tickets are worst affected. When the sun comes up the stench is reduced a bit, but in the mornings and evenings it is unbearable. The Sulabh toilet on the periphery claim that they administer enough of disinfectants, but it is the scores of pedestrians urinating against the wall that is responsible for this. Surely something can be done to curb this.

Garbage, the eternal Goa problem, afflicts Mapuca too. Now it is being dumped in the Altinho.

But because of objections raised by the neighbouring Assagao village, a gate has been erected and only Mapuça Municipal vans are allowed to dump their garbage. This has led to non-Mapsekars throwing their garbage wantonly on the pristine hillside. Posing as restaurateurs from nearby villages wanting to deposit garbage there, we spoke to the watchman and he agreed to allow us with a “give me what you want” clause.

All this makes it clearly evident that Mapuça is a neglected city. Whatever happened to that sewerage proposal with a Japanese company? And the acquitting of land near the KTC bus stop?

These continue to remain major question marks as the once proud city sinks deeper into the morass of neglect and decay.

Meanwhile our wordatarian Chief Minister Digambar Kamat continues to wax eloquent on how statehood “has given us the power to legislate.” But who is using that power, Mr Kamat? If you did, the Sanathan Saunstha would have been banned by now. There is enough evidence. You could have instituted a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the drug mafia. Swedish model Lucky Amori Farmhouse was willing to give evidence to the Goa Police but was never called.

Why? Because there are too many Holy Cows around and you know who they are, Mr Kamat.

and in many instances the supply pipes burst and the water storage tanks overflow.

Now the blame is placed on the government for this situation, and, at this rate, they wonder what will be the fate come month of May. Garbage is cleared regularly during the day and the place now is minus the foul odour and street dogs have lessened, still complaints are sharp that the garbage collectors come at odd hours for collection. The blame bounces back and forth.

The inside Miramar roads are asphalted - look good - not, great - become broad and smooth. Now some folks blame that because of no potholes, motorbikes keep zooming about, especially the young drivers, devoid of road and civic sense, who are untameable.

The once quiet, peaceful place has become accident-prone.

The street lights surely dispel darkness and brightens up the place, and night prowlers and thefts are on the decline. But again the cry is that lights to be switched on at dusk and switched off at dawn, go on merrily past the stitch-off time. What a waste.

It appears the state of affairs has reached such a proportion that one does not know what is right and what is wrong! Uncertainty is the only certain thing!

I see that Bing Crosby’s words of wisdom, which came tumbling

out of his mouth have found their way back once again into current consciousness, as they do from time to time: “Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative. Don’t mess with Mr. In-between”.

When I heard these words of the immortal American singer some 50 years ago, they stuck me as a great programme for living.

The half-century since, has not convinced me otherwise.

Nevertheless, I’ve never heard so much assorted yowling, complaining, criticising, lying and misinformation in all my born days as I’m hearing now. Far from eliminating the negative, people seem to be manufacturing the negative in great dray loads. And it’s mighty stinking stuff.

Well, isn’t it about time we all grew up and resurrected responsibility? If you are living a sinful life, you are responsible. The fact that everybody else is doing it, does not make it right or excuse you. If you are mad at the sullen attitude of the people, running a co-operative society, to a large extent, you are responsible.

There are lots of problems in the world. If you are brave and true and responsible, it will not make them all go away overnight. But it is a start. So let’s pack up our victim suits in an old valise, and venture forth with valour, value, vigour and virtuous velocity.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

Justice or publicity stunt?

Nita do Rosario Gomes (Curtorim)

Much noise has been made over the death of one Nadia Torrado. It is very sad to learn that she has passed away. I wish I had the support of the SP South and his “Great Boys” to investigate into the mysterious death of my husband who expired on 8th December 2002. I call it mysterious because of the revelations in the autopsy report and the self-accident theory framed by the Verna Police are a miss-match and a mystery.

Till today as I agonise through the pains of being a widow, I also live with the mystery not knowing who and what took away my husband and made our boys fatherless. It’s eight years that I have been waiting for a reply to the queries I had raised to the senior police authorities then.

But surprisingly all the “Best Boys” of Margao Town Police and some NGOs are up in arms over the death of Nadia Torrado while some of our politicians have even claimed that the deceased was raped by a minister and was pregnant. If the claim is true that this minister and the girl were recently seen together in Dubai at a football finals then it appears that it was a consented friendship between both. So how can the BJP President Arlekar claim that the deceased was raped and NGOs claim a foul play? If a women like Nadia could get so much of administrative assistance from the police and NGOs why have many others and myself been deprived of such assistance? Is it because we have no ministerial backing? Or is it that there were no publicity stuns to gain? I fail to understand where was the police force and NGOs when a young girl in ParodaQuepem, consumed Ratol and was also shifted to a Mumbai Hospital after being admitted first at Bambolim hospital? Till today no truth has been revealed in this case.

What about a case of a young woman who set herself on fire within 7 years of marriage in Margao in March? What about so many husbands silently killing their legal wives, while they have been having extra-marital affair with other women? Who is expected to give these helpless women justice? Why aren’t the police and the NGOs serving such causes for the betterment of common people more sincerely? And if they claim that they do so, why didn’t the same team of police officers collectively discuss and register the best targeted cases against one Mahanand? Why has he been evicted by the court for lack of proper evidence while registering the cases? Why is this case being so much highlighted? Is it the best opportunity to gain publicity or gain monetarily?

Atala case and hence the police let things slip.

Mickey Pacheco’s record in the police stations is in the red including the latest.

Viswajeet Rane had Aires Rodriguese crying ‘threat’.

Churchill continues to be the ‘bluff master’.

Babush Monseratte is a Lord…

Digambar Kamat himself is anti-women and claims he doesn’t need Goan votes…he also feels that the media is suffering from insomnia and loves to misquote his poor self.

The aam aadmi along the mining belts are suffering and the CM, who has strong

By Marc de Souza

links to mines…both illegal and legal remains to look the other way… also a big mining house from Margao is alleged to be the CM’s main financier during the polls and toppling games.

There are so many others against almost all the ruling MLA’s and it seems that Digambar is happy to fool the people shouting ‘aam aadmi’…

The current CM is fooling the people and is least bothered if the aam aadmi suffers… he is only interested in his kaam which is securing his kodel even when the earth below his legs is shrinking…But the CM doesn’t care…so long as Monti Dongor hill

is stable, so will be his political career and the Margao seat…the rest can go to…

Dignity in death?

Mrs. F C, by email The suicide of a fellow Goan, Joelle Nadia Torrado has been making headlines for the last couple of weeks and in her death even more. The post mortem carried out in Chennai did not reveal much but baseless rumours are spreading like wild fire basically from NGOs who lack accountability and are mostly motivated politically.

The cause of death is known but the reason behind it is “whether intentionally or forced into it”, is not known which is most important for the investigation. But what is tragic is that her final rites could not be carried out as the so called NGOs have decided to make it a platform to gain some fame!

If they are targeting the minister involved, will not the information be available with him; Why hit out at the girl’s family? The family at least in death should have the right to decide to put her to rest in peace. These NGO’s should not have the right to make a mockery of her death! Let her rest in peace and let the investigation be carried out by people who know their job.

Missing column Gustavo Stephen Godinho, Nagoa, I whole heartedly congratulate the government’s move of coming out with a special bulletin which will highlight the existing vacancies in government departments. This move of the government will help educated Goans to find good placements easily, and will help to stop educated youngsters from migrating to other parts of the world.

But I have doubt regarding the success of this special bulletin. I dont know how far it is going to help the youngsters with one important column missing. Yes the column that gives information of which minister has these vacancies/posts and what is the price he has fixed for the same. If this important column is missing then how the job seekers know how much they have to pay and to how many of them. Respected ministers, please stop wasting our hard earned money on such useless ways, and stop fooling the people.

Paths of Wisdom Its Already Here

By Osho Swami Ramteerth narrated a small story: a lover went away to a far land.

He did not return. His beloved kept watching the road. She was tired of waiting. He wrote letters, repeatedly saying , “I am coming now, I am coming soon, this month, next month. Years passed and his beloved finally was very upset. There is a limit to waiting.

She travelled to the distant city where her beloved was. She asked for directions and arrived at his house. The door was open. It was evening, the sun had set.

She stopped at the door looking inside.

For many days she had not seen her lover. He was sitting before her, but he concentrating deeply on what he was writing. He was so absorbed that his beloved didn’t want to disturb him and his train of thought. She decided to wait a while. He was so overwhelmed with emotion that tears were flowing from his eyes. He was writing something and continued to do so for an hour or two.

Then he lifted his eyes and saw her : he couldn’t believe it, he was shocked.

He had been writing a letter to his beloved. He was writing a letter to the one who had sat two hours in front of him. And she was waiting for him to lift his eyes. He couldn’t believe it. He thought, “It must be a hallucination, an illusion, perhaps a sort of auto-hypnosis. I had such abundance of feeling for my beloved, perhaps that is why she is appearing to me as if in a dream.

Is it not an illusion?” He rubbed his eyes.

His beloved began laughing. She said, ”What are you thinking? Do you think I am a mirage?” He started trembling.

He said, ”But how did you come? I was writing a letter to you. Mad one – why didn’t you stop me? You were in front of me while I was writing you a letter.”

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

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

HE RA LD

Pg9

INDIA GOA, THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010

OpINIONATeD

Goans becoming irrelevant

By JOSE MARIA MIRANDA

M

any politicians, either in the heat of the moment or because by nature they are arrogant or insensitive, often make stupid or offensive remarks and then deny having made them or having been quoted out of context.

Since generally there are no recordings of such remarks, it is difficult to prove what has been said and, at times, the sayers themselves wouldn’t perhaps recall what they have exactly stated. Our CM has been quoted as having recently made some controversial statements, which have raised a storm.

He is reported to have said that he does not depend or rather does not need our votes. Though we have never known to be arrogant, obviously, he cannot accept having made such an offensive remark. However, if he did, he has involuntarily, spoken his mind and if he didn’t, that’s the plain truth. We know that politicians have been exercising undue pressure at Mamlatdar Offices to include names of migrants and if one has to do a thorough investigation on this, one will definitely find hundreds, if not thousands of names either fake or those who also have voting rights in Karnataka. The CM is on record, soon after his election as CM, when asked about his protection to migrants, that they too had equal rights as the Goans. But he ought to have also spoken the truth here and had said that they have, in fact, more rights than the Goans. They are squatting free and defecating even more freely on Comunidade land, in fields and in bundhs not under the complacent eye but in connivance with the authorities. The CM had put forth the suggestion of rehabilitating the Monti Dongor people, whereas he has never thought of rehabilitating the poor Goans, some of whom still live in thatched huts. He is now rehabilitating in cultivable fields opposite the Railway Station, migrants who are illegally squatting a few yards away. The migrants can put up shops anywhere and everywhere and move about with their gaddas freely even during peak hours on Margao congested roads, whereas the poor Goan women selling agricultural produce, squatting on free spaces without disturbance to the traffic are being shooed away by the municipal employees, with Councillors and even the Chairperson turning a blind eye to this arrogance against Goans. The day is not far when migrants themselves will act against the locals and the good Goans will be watching this helplessly.

But it is not Digambar bab alone who does not depend on Goan votes. There are many others too. And, as I have often said earlier, the sole objective of the politicians in protecting, supporting and encouraging migrants, is to make Goans irrelevant. The politicians know it only too well that they can never depend on Goan votes, as Goans could revolt any moment should they act in detriment of their State and its interests.

Hence, they encourage in-migration and thus strengthen their vote-bank, not out of love for migrants, but for their votes.

However, there are some who certainly still depend on Goan votes and one of them is none other than Churchill Alemao who, while supporting the Rahejas project in Carmona, apparently stated that Goans squeal like pigs.

Well, thanks to the Congress and the PWD portfolio so generously dished out to him, Churchill has amassed enough wealth to win ten more elections and that is why perhaps he has not cared to react to the people’s protests in Carmona.

He certainly thinks he has enough money power to buy the voters. But he may be in for a surprise, if his voters revolt against his anti-Goan stance. Since money is all that matters to him, it is not surprising that he is supporting the Rahejas, against the local people.

Or else he should tell us what interest he has in this project.

He is obviously more concerned about the possibility of builders committing suicide than our poor people doing likewise out of frustration and despair with their displacement, unemployment, health hazards and poverty caused by mining, acquisition of their fields, etc. Churchill’s inglorious past and present are too well known to need any repetition. How many political parties he has changed and on how many issues, including Mopa, he has done a turn around, are also on record. Hence, whose only interest is to save Goa from unscrupulous politicians like him.

Govt asks Naxal-hit States to double police recruitment PTI RAIPUR, JUNE 2

Home Minister P Chidambaram today asked Naxal-hit States to double the capacity of their police training institutes as also police recruitment to fight the menace of Leftwing extremism.

"Most States have barely sufficient capacity to impart basic training to newly-recruited constables. It is often realised that the capacity of the training institutes limits the number of constables that can be recruited in any year in that State. "...the first order of business is to enhance the capacity of training institutes in the States to at least double the present capacity and to recruit at least double the number of policemen and women that are being recruited, at present, every year," he said while addressing the inaugural function of the 40th All India Police Science Congress here.

Chidambaram also laid emphasis on setting up specialized schools to train the police forces in forensic investigation, detective training, intelligence gathering, and cyber crime.

"States are barely able to recruit the number of policemen and women necessary to fill vacancies that arise due to normal attrition – retirement, resignation, disablement or death”.

"How will States be able to add to the net strength of their police forces? Unless

States are barely able to recruit the number of policemen and women necessary to fill vacancies that arise due to normal attrition – retirement, resignation, disablement or death.

Unless capacity is increased manifold, States will not be able to fill the huge number of vacancies – estimated at 3,35,000 – and increase their sanctioned strength.

-- P Chidambaram capacity is increased manifold, States will not be able to fill the huge number of vacancies – estimated at 3,35,000 – and increase their sanctioned strength," he said.

The Minister also praised the efforts of the Chhattisgarh government in dealing with Maoists and offered all possible Central assistance.

Expressing concerned over insufficient

policemen and stations, he said, "Inadequate and ill-equipped police forces" makes the task of policing almost formidable.

"The total number of sanctioned posts as on March 31, 2010, in all ranks, is about 21 lakhs. Of these, about 3,35,000 posts are vacant. Thus, the police-population ratio for the whole country is about 160 per 100,000 persons. This ratio, is much lower than the international norm.

"In a state like Bihar, the number is about 75; in UP it is about 115; in Andhra Pradesh it is about 125; in Orissa it is about 135; in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, two States most affected by Left wing extremism, the number is about 205," the Minister said.

Further, the distribution of the police force among the police stations is badly skewed. "There are not enough police stations. Even where there is a police station, the strength of the police force in a station is often no more than 20 persons. In some of the districts most affected

by Left wing extremism, the police station exists only in name," he said.

He also stressed on the need of imbibing latest technologies in policing. "Technology can be inducted quickly into functions such as surveillance, communication, data management, inventory management and personnel management".

"Advanced technologies are available and can be used for data collation and correlation, data mining, analysis and prediction," he said.

Fresh directive to airlines post Mangalore crash PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

In the aftermath of the Mangalore air crash, aviation regulator DGCA has issued a fresh directive to all airlines re-defining "correct landing" procedures and to ensure that a senior cabin crew is present in the cockpit in case one of the pilots has to go out.

The directive came in the backdrop of the crash which claimed 158 lives and another incident in which an Air India Express plane from Dubai to Pune, with 118 persons on board, plunged a few thousand feet after hitting an air pocket.

In the second incident, the commander had gone to the toilet after putting the plane on auto-pilot mode and the co-pilot blanked out as the aircraft dived over 6,000 feet.

The fresh directives, issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reiterating the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), asked airlines, nonscheduled and general aviation operators to "ensure that 'correct' landings are aimed by pilots

What the DGCA directive says…

Ensure that 'correct' landings are aimed by pilots rather than achieving soft landings at lower 'G' (gravity) values that may compromise the runway stopping distance required.

In case of an "unstabilised approach" the pilots should make a 'go-around' so that they get another opportunity to conduct a safe approach.

It is mandatory to man the cockpit at all times. In case one of the crew members has to leave the cockpit, the cabin crew is required to be inside and occupy the observer seat but not those meant for the pilots. rather than achieving soft landings at lower 'G' (gravity) values that may compromise the run-

way stopping distance required".

In case of an "unstabilised approach" if not timely corrected, the pilots should make a 'goaround' so that they get another opportunity to conduct a safe approach, it said.

As per preliminary investigations, the Mangalore crash occurred after the plane reportedly missed the touchdown point, an area of about 500 feet, on the runway.

As a large percentage of incidents and accidents occurred during approach, landing or take off phases of a flight when the pilots generally operate on manual flight mode, the DGCA said "it is critical that SOPs are followed meticulously in these phases of flight".

"Pilots need to bear in mind that a good landing is the result of a good approach which is built on adherence to SOPs. A good landing is not one that the passengers perceive as a soft landing, but one that is made at the correct point on the runway with the correct flight parameters," it said.

'CRPF determined to eliminate naxalism' PTI SRINAGAR, JUNE 2

Maintaining that the recent killing of 75 CRPF personnel by naxalites in Dantewada has not affected the force's morale, a senior paramilitary official today said the men were prepared to take on the Maoists in a more determined manner to eliminate the menace.

"We are ready to meet any eventuality. The force is determined to eliminate the menace of naxalism which of late has spread its tentacles, posing a threat to the nation," Special Director General, CRPF (J&K Zone), N K Tripathy said at the passing out ceremony of CRPF recruits a t t h e t r a i n i n g c e n t re i n Humhama near here.

He said the attack on the force has not affected the morale of its jawans and officers.

"Their morale was high and is high and will remain so."

As many as 383 recruits of the 78th batch passed out at the centre today, with the number of personnel to have been trained at the institute reaching 15,221.

"Training the personnel is important. We will improve the kind of training being given to them. Whatever is necessary will be done. They will gain experience and meet the challenge posed by naxalites," he said.

Tripathy said the recruits were put through 44 weeks of rigorous training which involved weapon training, PT, battle obstacle, jungle warfare and law.

He said the training also comprised of human rights and dis-

aster management to make the personnel efficient peace keepers.

Addressing the recruits, Tripathy said "the CRPF will leave no stone unturned to foil the evil designs of the naxals."

He said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is under control and there is complete coordination between the security forces.

However, he denied there were plans to pull out CRPF troops from J&K and divert them to naxal-infested areas.

"Security forces are the target of both naxals and terrorists," he said, adding there is no evidence of links between Maoists and terrorists operating in the valley.

Responding to a question on security arrangements for the two-months-long Amarnath Yatra commencing from July 1, he said arrangements for the yatra have been finalised.

The force has acceded to the request of the state government for more troops for the yatra, he said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka has taken all steps to prevent naxal activities in the state, Home Minister V S Acharya said.

"We are taking all possible steps and keeping a strict vigil on naxal movements. We will disclose the actions being taken," Acharya told reporters here.

Recently the Anti-Naxal Force had arrested two Maoists, identified as Manohar from Udupi and Nandakumar from Shimoga, he said.

CRPF personnel display martial art tactics during a passing out parade in Humhama on the outskirts of Srinagar on Wednesday.

Sahay blames BJP for J’khand mess PTI JAMSHEDPUR (Jharkhand), JUNE 2

BJP's lust for power in Jharkhand is the reason behind the prevailing political instability in the State, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Subodh Kant Sahay said today.

"BJP joined hands with JMM to form government in Jharkhand only because of its lust for power," he said here on the sidelines of the final match of Jharkhand Premium League cricket match.

"It is a curse that Jharkhand is lacking an honest leadership," he said. BJP character was exposed when the leadership changed the party's Parliamentary Board's decision on Jharkhand government five times, he said.

"Four power hungry state BJP leaders had forced the parliamentary board to reconsider their decision," he said.

APPOINTMENTS

Satish Sharma files papers for RS seat PTI LUCKNOW, JUNE 2

Riding high on the support from Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal, Congress candidate Satish Sharma today filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh.

During nomination, Sharma, a former Union Minister, was flanked by SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav and RLD state president Ram Asrey Varma, besides senior Congress leaders, including AICC secretary Parvez Hashmi, UPCC president Reeta Bahuguna Joshi and CLP leader Pramod Tiwari.

Sharma filed his nomination papers before the returning office and principal secretary Vidhan Sabha Pradeep Dubey this afternoon.

RLD state president Ram Asrey Varma, who is suffering from some infection, had come all the way from the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, where he was undergoing treatment.

Having 21 members of its own in the UP Legislative Assembly, the Congress was 13 s h o r t o f t h e re q u i re d 3 4 votes.

However, with the support the SP, having 19 surplus votes, 10 MLAs of the RLD and four independents, the Congress nominee is most likely to be elected to the Upper House.

SP which has 87 members in 403 member Assembly had already fielded two candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls.

"We are grateful to RLD, SP and Independents who have extended support to the Congress candidate to strengthen secular forces in the state," Congress Legislative Party Leader Pramod Tiwari told reporters.

APPOINTMENTS

HE RA LD

Pg10

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

Israeli minister praises commandoes for raid PTI JERUSALEM, JUNE 2

Israel today praised the raid carried out by its navy commandos on the terrorist supporting aid flotilla headed to Gaza, saying “there is no mercy for the weak” in the region and a strong defence was the only option.

Israel’s Defence Minister Ehud Barak today visited the Shayetet 13 base in Atlit and praised the commandos who participated in the bloody raid on the Gazabound ships that left nine proPalestinian activists dead and dozens others wounded, Army Radio reported.

“You carried out the mission and prevented the flotilla from reaching Gaza,” Barak said.

“We need to always remember that we aren’t North America or Western Europe.

“We live in the Middle East, in a place where there is no mercy for the weak and there

aren’t second chances for those who don’t defend themselves.

“You were fighting for your lives – I saw it, and I heard it from your commanders,” he said.

Barak was accompanied by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, and Navy commander Eliezer Marom.

Nine terrorist supporting activists were killed on Monday in clashes that occurred when Israeli naval commandos took control of the Mavi Marmara ship, one of the six aid ships intercepted by the IDF. Seven Israeli soldiers were wounded, two seriously, when attacked by the activists.

Meanwhile, Israel has begun deporting the first batch of foreign activists apprehended aboard the aid carrying ships, the Foreign Ministry said today, indicating that the rest of the

Shahzad - a ‘hybrid terrorist’ PTI NEW YORK, JUNE 2

Faisal Shahzad, the PakistaniAmerican Times Square bombing suspect, is being labelled as a “hybrid terrorist”, someone who acted alone in the US but drew inspiration from outside extremist forces like the Taliban.

There may be other such radicalised Americans who are waiting for a chance to attack the country, CBS News reported.

“In one sense, Shahzad was a lone wolf, with evidence suggesting that he alone bought, assembled and delivered his botched IED,” it said.

But, it is also clear that Shahzad had some help, “drawing inspiration, financial support and bomb training from the Pakistani Taliban,” the report said, citing unnamed sources.

It also noted that out of the 15-20 people rounded up in Pakistan, none has been conclusively linked to the May 1 botched attack in Times Square where Shahzad allegedly tried to set off a car bomb.

The 30-year-old PakistaniAmerican, which the report branded as a ‘hybrid terrorist’, was apprehended 53 hours later at John F Kennedy airport trying to escape to Dubai. He is believed to have been working in collusion with the Pakistan-Taliban.

If the Times Square bombing was successful, Shahzad planned to attack four other targets — Rockefeller centre, Grand Central Terminal, the World Financial Centre and Connecticut

headquarters of defence contractor Sikorsky.

The father of two worked as a financial analyst in Connecticut where he lived with his wife.

But his personal and professional life began to unravel last year during the financial crisis.

In two e-mails, the terror suspect has expressed frustration with the state of the Muslim world.

Shahzad is also likely to lose his home in Connecticut to foreclosure. Milford Superior Court had ordered that the accused would lose his house at 119 Long Hill Avenue if he did not repay Chase Home Finance LLC on July 31, the Connecticut Post reported.

Shahzad currently has been charged with attempted terrorism and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction.

If convicted, he could be in prison for life.

The three other Pakistani men arrested in the US last month do not face criminal charges in connection with the foiled terror plot. They are said to have given Shahzad money but did not know what it would be used for.

Pir Khan, a 43-year-old taxi driver from Watertown, Boston, was arrested on May 13, along with his cousin, Aftab Khan, 27, on immigration charges.

On Monday, a federal immigration judge ruled that Pir Khan has been in the US illegally since 1991 but put off a decision on the deportation until August, according to the Boston Globe.

activists will be escorted out of the country throughout the day.

325 foreign activists, out of the 680 that participated in the mission, were transferred this morning from the Ela detention facility in Be’er Sheva to Ben Gurion Airport for flights to their countries of origins.

Another 186 activists were still at the prison but Israeli authorities were processing their release “at this moment,” a prison service spokeswoman said.

In the face of mounting international criticism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to deport all the foreign activists yesterday.

Israeli officials said that all the 680 activists held would be released, including two dozen that Israel had threatened to prosecute earlier on charges of assaulting its troops.

South Korea goes to polls REUTERS SEOUL, JUNE 2

South Koreans voted in regional polls today, a barometer of support for President Lee Myungbak as he tries to push through business-friendly reforms, with North Korea a key issue for the first time in years.

Voting for nearly 4,000 mayors, governors and local government representatives has been overshadowed by the March sinking of a South Korean naval vessel, which Seoul has blamed on the reclusive North, fuelling shrill rhetoric on both sides including threats of war.

Lee’s uncompromising stand on the sinking of the Cheonan has seen him and his Grand National Party (GNP) bounce back in opinion polls from a voter backlash after a decision to scrap a plan to shift a large part of the government from Seoul and rows over US beef imports and a river-development scheme.

FROM PAGE 1 PI in drug nexus...

alias Atala Benaim came to light through a spy cam video on the net, a couple of months ago.

The defence counsel Arun Braz D’Sa speaking to reporters after the Court order said Ashish has also been asked to report to the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ravindra Yadav during his suspension period and not to visit the coastal belt till further orders.

In the Court the defence counsel submitted that neither the alleged video clipping on www.youtube.com and www.metacafe.com nor the complaint prima facie showed Ashish’s involvement in the crime.

The counsel for the prosecution Adv Carlos Ferreira meanwhile told the Court the State was looking out for a senior officer who is/was not connected to the anti-narcotic cell at any point of time to take over the nexus probe from the present investigating officer Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) C S Salgaonkar.

The High Court in the last hearing had sought to know if the State government had any plans to hand over the investigation to an independent agency such as CBI in view of the involvement of several policemen.

The State Government however replied in negative saying there was no necessity to hand over the case to CBI, at this stage. The case is being investigated by the Crime Branch which is headed by DySP Salgaocar.

The suspended policemen face charges under sections 380, 409 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, sections 7, 11 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 and sections 28, 29, 30, 31 and 59-B of Narcotic and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Order judicial probe.... interests, following the death of Nadia Joelle Torrado. “I hope my request for the judicial inquiry will be granted in all the three cases with immediate effect,” he added.

A day after the Investigating Officer Raju Raut Dessai issued summons to him to report to the Maina Curtorim police station without fail in connection with the ongoing investigations into the Loutolim woman death case, Pacheco, in his letter, said that late Nadia was undoubtedly his good family friend and his personal friend. “Despite the fact that her entire family including her husband have time and again given statements before various authorities including the Sub-Divisional Magistrate that late Nadia consumed Ratol accidentally and they do not hold anyone responsible for her death nor do they suspect any foul play, the police have been witch hunting and traumatizing the family,” he informed the chief minister.

The tourism minister further said the police have served all of them notices not to leave the State without their permission, adding “surprisingly, I have been served a similar notice. I have been summoned before the police to record my statement.”

He told the chief minister that following such a weird and biased behaviour of the police authorities, it is but natural, that he has lost his faith on the uprightness of the police force.

Pacheco further said that it is also evident that the police force is thus behaving at the instance of some vested interests in the government, who have been always inimical to him.

While requesting for a judicial probe, the tourism minister drew attention of the chief minister that there are also urgent serious matters which police should deal with, namely the drug racket and the excise scam, both plaguing the State.

Crime Branch to probe case of IPC (abetment of suicide) is concerned, it has come to notice during investigations that there are certain suspicious circumstances surrounding the death which point towards abetment of her suicide.”

The PRO said the press release from Goa Police was necessitated due to factually incorrect reports pertaining to the case appearing in the media.

The press note clarified that the second post-mortem was necessitated because the death had taken place within seven years of marriage and as such inquiry proceedings to be carried out by the sub-divisional magistrate, Margao, became mandatory. As a result of this the SDM investigating the case as per provisions of Section 176 of CrPC had ordered the second autopsy on the body of Nadia, it mentioned.

The PRO stated the case was transferred to the Crime Branch with immediate effect for a professional investigation.

Nadia’s husband files... stations of Margao and Maina-Curtorim and the arguments in the case would be heard in the court on Thursday morning.

In his bail application, Winston has apprehended that the police would arrest him and forcibly record his statement in connection with the case. “My client had no connection with the death since the incident occurred at Loutolim while he was putting up at Fatorda,” Adv Naik added.

Meanwhile, Nadia’s funeral took place this morning at the Loutolim Church. The Sub-divisional Magistrate had handed over the body to the relatives on Tuesday evening after the second post mortem examination.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Nadia’s mortal remains were laid to rest at the cemetery. Amongst the many people who attended the funeral service was Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco.

HE RA LD

Pg11

WORLD GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

Japan’s PM quits ahead of polls, yen sinks to two-week low Reuters TOKYO, JUNE 2

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said today he and his powerful party No. 2 would resign after a slide in the polls threatened their party's chances in an election expected next month.

The yen sank to a two-week low against the dollar after Hatoyama became the fourth Japanese leader to leave office in a year or less, with some investors worried that political instability would make Japan's weak economy more dependent on the Bank of Japan's easy monetary policy.

Calls built up in Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) for him to step down to revive the party's fortunes ahead of an election for the upper house of parliament expected on July 11 that it must win to smooth policymaking.

With tears in his eyes, Hatoyama told party lawmakers that he and party Secretary-General Ichiro Ozawa would resign.

“In order to revitalise our

party, we need to bring back a thoroughly clean Democratic Party. I would like to ask your cooperation,” Hatoyama said.

Hatoyama's ratings slid on voter doubts about his leadership, while the old-style image of Ozawa, seen as pulling strings behind the scene, had also eroded public support.

Analysts have tipped outspoken Finance Minister Naoto Kan as the frontrunner to replace Hatoyama, who quits after just eight months on the job. A new leader will be chosen on Friday, in a few days, a party official said.

The latest political turmoil, including the departure of a tiny leftist party from the ruling coalition, has distracted the government as it thrashes out a plan to cut huge public debt and a strategy to engineer growth despite a fast-ageing population. “'Hatoyama's resignation may cause delays in the scheduled releases this month of the government's growth strategies and fiscal discipline targets. Whoever replaces Hatoyama would

need to work them out before an upper house election, or else disappoint voters,” said Hirokata Kusaba, an economist at Mizuho Research Institute.

“Things could not get any worse after Hatoyama quits, given the current deadlock in many important issues.”

The yen sank to 91.78 per dollar from around 91.10 before the news but that weakness helped boost the Nikkei share average, which is heavily populated by big Japanese exporters.

Bond futures edged higher.

Finmin Kan next?:

Finance Minister Kan has in the past pressed the Bank of Japan to do more to fight deflation and has sounded more positive than Hatoyama about raising the 5 per cent sales tax in the future to fund bulging social welfare costs.

That stance would be welcomed by investors worried about Japan's huge public debt, which is nearly 200 per cent of GDP. ''If Finance Minister Kan takes over, it would be welcome news

Japan's Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama bows before a general meeting of lawmakers of his ruling Democratic Party of Japan at the parliament building in Tokyo.

‘India, US working hard on Headley case’ PTI WASHINGTON, JUNE 2

India and US have been “burning the mid-night oil” and working very hard on the David Headley case, America's top envoy to New Delhi said today, hoping that Indian investigators will “soon” get to quiz the PakistaniAmerican who has confessed to plotting the Mumbai attacks.

However, Timothy Roemer, who was here to attend the first Cabinet-level Indo-US Strategic Dialogue, was tight-lipped -- like other federal officials -- about the questioning of the 49-yearold LeT operative by an Indian investigators' team which is in the United States.

“President (Barack) Obama is extremely interested in resolving this (Headley issue), and our government is very interested in resolving this,” the US Ambassador to India told reporters at a reception hosted by the US-India Business Council.

“This is symbolic, I think, in many ways of how close we are to working together, shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand,

trying to make sure that both our countries and people are better protected, sharing intelligence in the middle of the night and hopefully saving lives doing that,” he said.

Roemer said he was hopeful that the “interview with Headley will take place soon” and it is “symbolic of this extraordinary cooperation between these two great countries on counter terrorism issues.” “...I would just remind you that as a 9/11 commissioner, we asked for access right after 9/11 to Khalid Sheikh Muhammad (who was arrested in Pakistan),

and ... we could not get access to Khalid Sheikh Muhammad the mastermind of 9/11,” he said.

Muhammad is currently in American custody and faces the death penalty if convicted of his involvement in the 9/11 attacks.

“But because this (Headley case) is such an important thing to India, to the people of India, to the government of India because this is so symbolic, because we recognise Headley's role in the Mumbai attacks, we are working burning the midnight oil and working to make this happen soon,” Roe-

mer said.

“I do not want to comment on how long it would last, nor precisely on the timing, only to say that that cooperation has been going on for months for direct access (to Headley), the Indian and the US intelligence have been sharing (information) and briefing each other,” the US ambassador said in response to a question.

The US has been sharing information, which it gets from Headley, directly with the Indian intelligence, “to try to protect the next attack and try to understand the terrorist network and what they are doing,” Roemer said.

The US government, starting from the very top, including President Barack Obama, recognises how important is the issue of access to Headley, he said.

“He (Obama) told our government to work on this and make this happen and that's what we have been doing,” he said.

“We are working our fingers to the bone, burning the midnight oil, trying to make sure that this does happen and both the direct and indirect accesses are important for the Indian

Gores to split after 40 years of marriage

Reuters WASHINGTON, JUNE 2

Former US Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, a couple who stuck together throughout his long career in politics, announced they had decided to separate after 40 years of marriage.

The Gores, in an e-mail mes-

sage to friends confirmed by spokeswoman Kalee Kreider, said the decision was made “after a great deal of thought and discussion.”

“This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together following a process of long and careful consideration,” they said.

“We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we do not intend to comment further.”

Al Gore, (62) a Democrat, who was Bill Clinton's Vice President for eight years, narrowly lost the residency to Republican George W Bush in 2000 and won a Nobel Peace Prize and an Academy Award in 2007 for his work against global climate change.

He has maintained a heavy travel schedule in pushing the theme of climate protection.

Tipper Gore(61) is an avid photographer whose photos are linked on www.algore.com.

She was active in the 1980s in trying to get record companies to put warning labels on their records about profane lyrics. They have four children, all adults.

The Gores left the impression of a couple deeply in love during

the Democratic National Convention in 2000, when they exchanged a long, passionate kiss on stage that became famous.

They were reported in May they had purchased an 8.8 million dollar ocean-view villa in Montecito, California.

“Total shock” was how some in the broad Clinton-Gore community were describing the reaction to the news.

Married in 1970, Al and Tipper were together during Al Gore's complete career in politics, which spanned terms in the US House of Representatives and the Senate, representing Tennessee, and on to the vice presidency.

Compared to the seemingly rocky marriage between Bill and Hillary Clinton, the Gores by all accounts had seemed to have a rock-solid relationship.

Cocoa doesn’t lower everyone’s cholesterol Reuters NEW YORK, JUNE 2

Eating chocolate could bring down cholesterol levels -- but only in small amounts and only in some people, according to an analysis of eight studies.

Dr. Rutai Hui of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College in Beijing and colleagues found chocolate only helped people who already had risk factors for heart disease and only when consumed in modest amounts.

Eating moderate amounts of cocoa could be “a worthwhile dietary approach” for preventing high cholesterol in certain groups of people, the researchers concluded in a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition The analysis came after several studies suggested that chocolate may be good for your health.

One study released in March showed that among 19,300 people, those who ate the most chocolate had lower blood pres-

sure and were less likely to suffer a stroke or heart attack over the next 10 years.

But, like the new analysis, that research came with caveats; the difference in chocolate consumption between the top and bottom chocolate-consuming groups was around six grams, or about one-seventh of a Hershey's milk chocolate bar.

Hui and his colleagues searched the medical literature to find studies that looked at how cocoa affected blood fats, or lipids, and found eight trials including 215 people.

When all studies were analyzed together, the researchers found eating cocoa cut levels of LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, by about 6 mg/dL and reduced total cholesterol by the same amount.

But cocoa had no effect on cholesterol in the three highest-quality studies.

Further analysis showed that only people who ate small amounts of cocoa, an amount containing 260 milligrams of polyphenols or less, experienced cholesterol lowering effects.

People who consumed more showed no effect. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds found in fruits, vegetables, chocolate and red wine. A 1.25ounce bar of milk chocolate contains about300 milligrams of polyphenols.

The researchers also found that healthy people didn't get any cholesterol-lowering benefits from cocoa, but people with risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, saw their LDL

cholesterol and total cholesterol drop by around 8 mg/dL each.

“Future research efforts should concentrate on higherquality and more rigorous randomized trials with longer follow-ups to resolve the uncertainty regarding the clinical effectiveness,” said Hui and his team. “ Then we can really eat chocolate without feeling guilty.”

for the JGB market because Kan is more proactive about fiscal discipline and about raising the consumption tax than any other cabinet minister,” Mizuho Research's Kusaba said.

The Democrats swept to power last August after a landslide election win for parliament's powerful lower house, ousting the conservative Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after more than 50 years of almost non-stop rule.

But doubts over Hatoyama's leadership skills have eroded the government's approval ratings, with one poll showing support at just 17 percent after he failed to keep a campaign pledge to move a US airbase off Okinawa island in southern Japan.

Some analysts said the change of the party's top two leaders would help restore the Democrats' popularity ahead of the election, although many voters had been outraged when two leaders of previous LDP-led governments quit abruptly after just a year in office.

“Although getting rid of Ozawa and Hatoyama won't win back all that support, at least the Democrats will no longer have to be on the defensive during the campaign.” said Katsuhiko Nakamura, director of research at the Asian Forum Japan.

“Looking at the numbers, Kan is the most likely to take over.

But there was so much criticism of the Liberal Democratic Party for switching prime ministers without an election, he may decide to go to the polls again fairly quickly.”

“This will put an end to downward trend in the popularity of Democrats,'' said Hidenori Suezawa, chief strategist at Nikko Cordial Securities.

“Ozawa must have made this decision to win the election.''

Voter suspicions over a funding scandal embroiling Ozawa, seen by many as the real power behind Hatoyama's administration, were a big factor in the party's ratings slide.

16 killed in Bangladesh as building falls PTI DHAKA, JUNE 2

A five-storey building collapsed over a nearby slum area here, leaving at least 16 people dead and several others trapped under the rubble.

Rescuers have so far pulled out 16 bodies from the debris of the building that collapsed last night, while several others were trapped under tones of rubble at the Begunbari at Tejgaon industrial district in the capital city.

“The death toll rose to 16 today as rescue workers pulled out more bodies from the rubble,” a police official told PTI. Army troops were called in to assist the fire brigade rescuers after the building built on columns came down late night flattening three tin-roofed struct u re s h o u s i n g p o o r s l u m dwellers.

Witnesses and officials overseeing the rescue operation at the scene said over a dozen people were likely trapped inside the collapsed structures.

Gunfire, blasts as Afghans hold peace meet AFP KABUL, JUNE 2

Gunfire and explosions rocked the Afghan capital today as President Hamid Karzai hosted a landmark gathering of 1,600 leaders to seek a national consensus on how to end nearly nine years of war.

Three explosions, including at least two caused by rocket fire, and gunfire were heard within minutes of the three-day “jirga” opening under what had been billed as rigorous protection enforced by 12,000 security personnel.

Two blasts were heard as Karzai delivered his opening address and condemned the Taliban for bringing suffering and oppression to Afghanistan, while a third took place later about 200 metres (yards) away, said AFP reporters.

Bursts of gunfire could also be heard in the vicinity of the giant air-conditioned tent in the southeastern Kabul suburbs, they said.

Although there was no im-

Soyuz back from space mission Reuters KOROLYOV (Russia) JUNE 2

A Russian Soyuz spacecraft with three astronauts on board landed on the steppe of Kazakhstan today, Russia's Mission Control said.

Russian Oleg Kotov, NASA's Timothy Creamer and Japan's Soichi Noguchi arrived near the town of Zhezkazgan as planned, at 0725 Moscow time (0855 IST), an announcer at Mission Control outside Moscow said.

“There has been a soft landing,” the announcer said to applause from observers in the gold-lined, Soviet-era Mission Control building.

The trio of astronauts, who make up Russian Expedition 23 and are commanded by Kotov, left Earth in December of last year for the 100 billion dollars, 16-nation International Space Station (ISS).

Under blazing sunshine, Kotov gave a thumbs-up signal to medics as they draped a blanket around his shoulders. The Russian cosmonaut was handed a large green apple, which he gently tossed into the air before taking a bite.

“The astronauts are smiling and I'm glad we managed to uphold tradition by giving an apple to each of the crew,” Igor U s h a ko v, d i re c t o r o f t h e Moscow-based Institute of Medical and Biological Problems, told reporters at Mission Control.

mediate claim of responsibility for the blasts, the Taliban have dismissed the jirga as a propaganda stunt and are opposed to peace talks until US-led foreign troops leave Afghan soil.

The Islamist militia's nine-year insurgency against Karzai's Western-backed government is now at its deadliest and the group last month vowed to unleash a new campaign of attacks on diplomats, lawmakers and foreign forces.

Karzai appealed to the jirga delegates to advise him on how to bring the poverty-stricken countr y, blighted by three decades of war, out of the latest conflict and encourage the Tal-

iban to disarm.

“We need a national consultation, a peace consultation all over Afghanistan,” Karzai said.

“The Afghan nation is looking at you. They await your decisions, your advice so that you can show the Afghan nation the way to reach peace, to rescue Afghanistan from this suffering and pain.”

Hundreds of bearded men in tribal dress and turbans sat in rows and a portrait of Karzai hung above the blue-carpeted stage with a shield carrying the words National Consultative Peace Jirga written in Dari and Pashto.

Women delegates, who at

APPOINTMENTS

300 account for about 20 percent of the total, were mostly seated in a separate section as Afghanistan's conservative social mores traditionally keep women apart from men to whom they are not related.

OHERALDO

Pg 12:Pg12 6/2/2010 11:04 PM Page 1

BIZ

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

TALK BUSINESS

Dornier Seastar CD 2 gets into production PANJIM (HBD) -- The world’s most advanced seaplane, the Dornier Seastar CD 2 has now gone into production, announced InterGlobe General Aviation Pvt Ltd, the exclusive representative for Dornier Seaplane Company in SAARC (including Mauritius).

The new fully certified all composite twin engine seaplane provides the fastest cruise speeds, the most comfortable cabin and the greatest reliability of any other amphibious aircraft available, making it the most apt seaplane for the vast coastlines of Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and Mauritius.

The seaplane is being assembled at the new facility in SaintJean-sur-Richelieu in the southern suburb of Montreal, Canada.

Indoco PAT grows 34% PANJIM (HBD) -- Indoco Remedies Limited, a global pharmaceutical company, recorded 34% growth in the (Profit after Tax) at the close of the financial year ended as on March 31, 2010. The PAT grew higher to Rs 42.09 crore as against Rs 31.44 crore over the last year and the revenues grew higher to Rs 402.31 crore as against Rs 355.26 crore over the last year. The Board of Directors of Indoco Remedies Limited at their meeting held in Mumbai on May 31, 2010 announced the audited annual results for the financial year 2009-10 and also recommended a dividend of Rs 7 per share (70%).

Suresh G Kare, CMD said, “The global slowdown has portrayed many growth challenges to our nation and a considerable introspection and realignment of business strategies is required for corporate India to continue the growth momentum. We wish to assure our investors that Indoco’s performance in the Indian market shows potential and our international business has shown satisfactory growth. Indoco’s business strategies are well placed to progressively pursue higher growth, for both domestic and international business.”

For the year ended March 2010, net sales stood at Rs 398.28 crore, net Profit at Rs 42.09 crore and EPS at 34.26.

Infotech signs a long term agreement with Seawell AS PANJIM (HBD) -- Infotech Enterprises Limited (IEL), a global engineering services and technology solutions provider headquartered in Hyderabad, announced that it has signed a long term Master Service Agreement with Seawell AS of Norway to provide Engineering Support Services.

Seawell is an international drilling and well services company.

This agreement with Infotech would enable Seawell to further expand its engineering capacity and improve competitiveness. Seawell Facility Engineering Centre, located at Infotech Enterprises’ Manikonda facility in Hyderabad was inaugurated today.

This agreement would offer Seawell’s Drilling Facility Engineering (DFE) increased flexibility and the ability to take on more projects. Seawell would now have a dedicated group of engineers based in India including key representatives from Seawell. This group of engineers would be responsible for managing the agreement and interfacing with the global resource of DFE. This resource group, provided by Infotech, would offer engineering support services for all the DFE offices and use the same management systems and tools that have already been implemented in the rest of the organization.

GKB Ophthalmic assigned 2/5 by Crisil Equities PANJIM (HBD) -- Crisil Equities has assigned a Crisil IER fundamental grade of 2/5 (pronounced two on five) to GKB Ophthalmics Ltd (GKB). The grade indicates that the company’s fundamentals are ‘moderate’ relative to other listed equity securities in India.

Crisil Equities has assigned a valuation grade of 3/5, indicating that the stock is ‘aligned’ to the current market price of Rs 48 (as on May 10, 2010). Our one-year fair value of the stock is Rs 52.

The grades are not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold the graded instrument, or a comment on the graded instrument’s future market price or its suitability for a particular investor. Goa based GKB Ophthalmics is an established player in the organised ophthalmic lens manufacturing industry in India.

Mercedes-Benz posts 112% growth YoY PANJIM (HBD) -- Mercedes-Benz India announced its sales performance for May 2010. The company sold a total of 410 units in May thus taking the cumulative total from Jan-May 2010 to 2013 units. The newly introduced C 200CGI BlueEfficiency has emerged as an overwhelming favourite with 145 units of this model already sold in May (within 2 weeks of its debut in India).

Sensex shoots up 170 points; RCom zooms 11pc, Airtel 5pc PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 2

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex shot up by 170 points today on a last-hour rush at telecom counters, a day after it tanked over 370 points.

The 30-share index closed at 16,741.84, higher by 169.81 points, or 1 per cent.

The index opened higher amid mixed cues from Asian peers and was volatile throughout the day. The barometer rallied in the final hour of trading on heavy demand at the telecom counter.

The gauge moved between a high of 16,774.15 and a low of 16,571.45.

FIIs snap 3-month rally, turn net sellers in May PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

The euro zone turbulence has led foreign investors to snap their three-month long investment streak in the Indian equity market and emerge net sellers of shares over Rs 9,400 crore in May. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were gross buyer of stocks worth Rs 52,192 crore in May, while they sold shares worth Rs 61,628 crore, becoming net sellers of Rs 9,436 crore, data available with market regulator SEBI showed.

This is the first time after January that FIIs turned net sellers of shares in 2010. During the February-April period, overseas buyers had invested a whopping Rs 30,500 crore in Indian stock markets.

"In May, the market was sharply down due to risk aversion by investors globally owing to uncertainty over the euro- zone, which led to heavy selling by FIIs in the Indian market," brokerage firm Sharekhan said in a note. Stock market benchmark Sensex sank 614 points, or 3.62%, while the Nifty lost 192 points, or 3.63%, in May. Equities across the globe faltered in the month largely on fears of deepening euro-zone crisis, coupled with political tension between North Korea and South Korea. FIIs play a significant role in Indian equity markets and their movement (inflow or outflow) causes fluctuation in indices.

With a net outflow of Rs 9,400 crore last month, the

total net investment by overseas investors in 2010 came down to Rs 20,569 crore, almost at the same as in April, 2010. After a record investment of Rs 83,400 crore in 2009, FIIs started selling shares in early 2010.

Till January, they were net seller of shares worth Rs 500 crore. However, from February the scenario started changing and they made a net purchase of shares worth Rs 1,216 crore.

In April, FIIs were net purchaser of shares worth Rs 9,361 crore and March had attracted a whopping Rs 19,928 crore. According to Sharekhan, "In the coming days, it remains to be seen how PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) handle the crises and this may affect FII flow.

Pg12

Asian Paints new unit to start in Q3 REUTERS MUMBAI, JUNE 2

India's largest paints maker, Asian Paints, expects to start construction of its Rs 735 crore plant in Maharashtra in the Oct-Dec quarter, its top official said on Wednesday.

"At this stage, we have acquired the land... the environmental approval, we think, will come in a month or two," P M Murthy, MD and CEO said.

"We expect the phase one to get commissioned by end of 2012," he added.

The company has lined up a Capex of Rs 300 crore in FY11, he added.

Earlier on Monday, Asian Paints said, it has signed an initial pact with state of Maharashtra to set up a 400,000-tonnes a year paintmaking plant.

Panasoic eyes Rs 75 cr WC turnover PTI KOCHI, JUNE 2

Cashing in on the football mania during the FIFA world Cup, Panasonic India is targetting a sales turnover of Rs 75 crore from soccer crazy states of Kerala, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Goa. Panasonic, which is the primary sponsor of the Indian Football Team, has kicked off road shows to promote its products during the world cup in Kochi, Kolkatta and Goa. The road show here was flagged off by N P Pradeep and Mohammed Rafi, members of the National Football team from the state.

Kunal Dua, Panasonic's marketing manager, Sports and Eco products, said from Kerala alone they were targeting Rs 30 crore during the world cup.

Panasonic has introduced a unique 'Panasonic Soccer Mania 2010' offer on their range of 'Viera' Plasma TV and LCD TVs where the customers can get assured gifts.

Riding the global recovery, India's biotech industry bounced to high growth in fiscal 2009-10 to post revenues of Rs 18,500 crore, a whopping 52 percent over the previous fiscal.

'As against a decline of 18 percent in 2008-09, the biotech industry has grown remarkably well in 2009-10 and we are on track to achieve $5 billion this fiscal (2010-11),' Karnataka Biotech Vision chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said here Wednesday.

While the industry, spanning bio-pharma and agri-biotech, Aban Offshor, 685, 701.35, 682.5, 694.9 Abb Ltd., 855, 861.45, 845.35, 854.45 Abg Shipyard, 246, 253.7, 246, 249.45 Acc Limited, 820, 836.8, 820, 826.8 Adani Enterp, 538, 544.85, 532, 540.85 Aditya Birla, 711, 723.8, 708, 713.45 Allahabad Ba, 163, 163.95, 158.7, 160.6 Alstom Proje, 582, 590.95, 578, 587.5 Ambuja Cemen, 107.4, 111.2, 107.4, 110.7 Andhra Bank, 135, 136.5, 132.1, 134 Ashok Leylan, 60.5, 61.45, 59.8, 61.05 Asian Paints, 2061.45, 2098, 2023, 2079.85 Axis Bank Li, 1195, 1206.95, 1168.5, 1201.15 Bajaj Hindus, 107, 109.5, 106.15, 108.15 Bank Of Baro, 705.55, 717.7, 705, 711.65 Bank Of Indi, 324, 331.15, 320.5, 327.65 Beml Limited, 970, 979.95, 962, 968.25 Bharat Elect, 1705.45, 1735.7, 1672.5, 1699.8 Bharat Forge, 261, 263.35, 257, 261.25 Bharat Petro, 584, 584.45, 571.7, 575.45 Bharti Airte, 257, 272.45, 254.35, 270.35 Bhel, 2321, 2328.9, 2285.1, 2321.45

PTI RIO DE JANEIRO, JUNE 2

French tyre major Michelin today said it will hire about 200 people in India this year as it gears up to start production from its Chennai plant in the next two years. The company is investing Rs 4,000 crore over a period of seven years on setting up the plant in Tamil Nadu that will produce truck and bus radial tyres.

"Our goal is to hire a little less than 200 people this year.

They will be sent to Thailand for a three-week course once they come on board with us, after which they will be assigned to one of our overseas facility till the plant in Chennai becomes operational," Michelin President (Africa, India and Middle East) Prashant Prabhu said.

He said the company has already hired about 60 people for its Chennai plant. In November last year, Michelin announced that it would invest Rs 4,000 crore on setting up a truck and a bus radial facility in Tamil Nadu scheduled to start operations in 2012.

The proposed facility, spread over 290 acres, would be constructed near Chennai and will employ a total of about 1,500

workers from local communities. "By late 2011 or early 2012, we will start bringing wage labourers at the Chennai plant," Prabhu said, without divulging details.

On marketing and sales side, the company will enhance its workforce as its Chennai plant goes on stream, he added but declined to reveal the exact number. Michelin has about 200 people on its sales and marketing team in India.

Asked what Michelin plans to do with the 100 acre land at Rajangaon in Pune, which it had inherited from its aborted joint venture with Apollo Tyres, Prabhu said the company is yet to decide on its future course of action. He exuded confidence that the company''s decision to focus on the truck and bus radial tyres in India will pay off.

"The rate of radialisation of truck and bus tyres in India is just about 10-15 per cent, which is the lowest for any market of such a big size.

It offers a lot of potential for us," he said.

Sun Direct’s FIFA WC offer PANJIM (HBD) -- Sun Direct Pvt Ltd is offering a free broadcast of the FIFA World Cup 2010 in ESPN and Star Sports for the new subscribers.

The offer opens June 5 and closes July 12, 2010.

The existing subscribers of Sun Direct can watch FIFA world Cup by subscribing at a special price of Rs 40 + Taxes.

BOARD MEETINGS Kappac Pharma SS Forgings Vertex Spin KLK Electric Stanrose Mafat Vesuvius India Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA

Biotech rebounds on global recovery AGENCY BANGALORE, JUNE 2

Michelin to hire 200 in India

accounted for Rs 14,400 crore, the equipment and ancillary segment contributed around $1 billion.

As the country's biotech hub, Bangalore accounted for 27 percent or Rs 3,888 crore, with exports contributing Rs 3,650 crore.

Of the 380 biotech firms across the country, 198 are located in Karnataka and 191 in Bangalore owing to rich human capital and cost advantage over peers overseas.

'New challenges such as global warming, energy, health and food security offer huge opportunities for the biotech industry,' Shaw said at the in-

Bhushan Stee, 1332, 1335.05, 1277.05, 1299.75 Biocon Limit, 289, 290.95, 283.4, 287.55 Bombay Dyein, 506.4, 515.5, 499, 507.8 Bosch Limite, 4950, 4950, 4880.15, 4947.25 Brigade Ente, 132.95, 139.4, 131.2, 137.95 Cairn India, 294.45, 294.6, 283.7, 290.4 Canara Bank, 407, 409.5, 397.2, 405.35 Central Bank, 144.2, 146.5, 142.6, 145.9 Century Text, 435.5, 444.5, 433.2, 442.2 Cesc Ltd, 375.5, 381.95, 368.25, 369.9 Chambal Fert, 63, 63.3, 60.7, 61.65 Chennai Petr, 248.9, 251, 247.15, 249.6 Cipla Ltd, 323, 327.95, 322.2, 324.75 Colgate Palm, 751, 813, 749, 802.1 Container Co, 1330, 1354.7, 1310, 1327.1 Crompton Gre, 241, 244.6, 237.1, 239.95 Cummins Indi, 564, 564, 544.05, 551.4 Dabur India, 184, 187.05, 182.7, 185.1 Deccan Chron, 122, 129.2, 120.05, 127.5 Dish Tv Indi, 37.7, 38.65, 37.45, 38.5 Divi’s Labor, 731.3, 754, 731.2, 748.75 Dlf Limited, 271, 274.95, 266.05, 273.2

augural session of 'Bangalore India Bio 2010' biotech summit in this tech hub.

Noting that conventional and western models were not working in addressing new challenges, Shaw called for greater investment in research and development to create niche technologies.

'India has emerged as an attractive market for the global pharma sector, as evident from increasing investment flows into the country. We offer huge cost advantages with high value of services,' Shaw, chairperson of India's leading biotech firm Biocon, noted.

Clinical data management,

Dr. reddy’s, 1403, 1425, 1395.2, 1405.05 Edelweiss Ca, 421, 435.4, 416.05, 418 Educomp Solu, 543, 561, 538.1, 553.65 Eih Limited, 115.2, 116.45, 114.5, 115.3 Engineers In, 337, 347.8, 335, 339.2 Essar Oil Lt, 121.9, 122.9, 120.2, 122.1 Essar Shippi, 80.6, 82.85, 80.1, 81.65 Exide Indust, 122, 122, 118.4, 120.2 Federal Bank, 334.2, 337.5, 326.15, 334.75 Financial Te, 1321.55, 1358.2, 1306.15, 1349.6 Gail (india), 451, 456.5, 450.05, 454.35 Gammon India, 198.5, 206, 198.5, 204.95 Glaxosmithkl, 2095, 2127, 2082.5, 2107.85 Glenmark Pha, 273.45, 273.45, 263.6, 266.9 Gmr Infrastr, 57.9, 58.5, 56.55, 57.1 Godrej Indus, 147.5, 149.4, 145.75, 148.45 Grasim Indus, 1790, 1817, 1769.4, 1776.5 Great Offsho, 451, 451, 444.1, 447.4 Gtl Infra.Lt, 35.85, 36.35, 35.35, 36.15 Gujarat Mine, 126, 126, 120.5, 124.2 Gujarat N R, 62, 62.3, 59.35, 59.85 Gujarat Stat, 95.25, 99.2, 94.5, 98.7 Gvk Pow. & I, 43.9, 43.9, 42.5, 42.8

Hcl Technolo, 366.5, 374.8, 366, 369.9 Hdfc Bank Lt, 1848, 1862.75, 1828, 1853.05 Hdfc Ltd, 2738, 2749.9, 2689.1, 2710.6 Hero Honda M, 1929, 1998, 1912.1, 1986.45 Hindalco in, 143, 145.3, 139.6, 142.7 Hindustan Co, 111, 111, 105.45, 109.35 Hindustan Ma, 73, 73, 70, 71.3 Hindustan Pe, 366.5, 368, 363, 365.3 Hindustan Un, 233.9, 239, 232.4, 237.75 Hindustan Zi, 944, 954.1, 920.1, 936.35 Housing Dev, 220.55, 229.4, 218.65, 227.45 Icici Bank L, 844.7, 849.9, 823, 842.3 Idea Cellula, 51, 53.95, 49.05, 53.45 Ifci Ltd, 53, 54.1, 52.2, 53.8 India Cement, 107, 108.4, 105.5, 107.65 India Infoli, 94, 94.8, 91.1, 93.7 Indiabulls F, 140.5, 143.95, 140.25, 143 Indiabulls R, 154, 155.95, 150.1, 154.1 Indian Bank, 218.05, 225.5, 218.05, 224.8 Indian Hotel, 103.25, 103.25, 98.85, 100.25 Indian Oil C, 359, 360.3, 352.25, 353.85 Indian Overs, 90, 90, 87.45, 88.6 Indus Dev Ba, 115.9, 115.9, 109.05, 110.9

drug discovery and low-cost product manufacturing are the advantages Indian firms enjoy in the global market.

Of the 32 new foreign firms which have invested in India, 11 are located in Bangalore, with an upfront investment of Rs 1,500 crore.

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said the state's revised biotech policy offered many fiscal incentives and concession to prospective investors in the industry.

'A bio-venture fund with a seed capital of $10 million will be set up to incubate start-ups by young entrepreneurs,' Yeddurappa said.

Indusind Ban, 187.8, 189.8, 182.1, 185.5 Infosys Tech, 2635, 2651.95, 2624.1, 2640.25 Infra. dev., 149, 156.75, 149, 155.8 Ispat Indust, 17.5, 17.5, 17.15, 17.4 Itc Ltd, 284, 284.8, 279.25, 281.3 Ivrcl Infras, 166, 172.6, 164.2, 171.3 Jai Corp Lim, 226.9, 228.8, 223.1, 226.8 Jaiprakash A, 119.8, 120, 117.4, 119.65 Jet Airways, 449.95, 504.75, 449.95, 494.6 Jindal Saw L, 190.9, 191.75, 187.7, 190.25 Jindal Steel, 630.5, 638, 617.85, 624.45 Jsw Steel Li, 1058, 1062.05, 1030, 1053.95 Kotak Mahind, 759.7, 759.7, 742, 754.35 Lakshmi Mach, 1819, 1820, 1792, 1798.9 Lanco Infrat, 61.8, 63.35, 61.2, 63 Larsen & Tou, 1605, 1638, 1585, 1631.55 Lic Housing, 923.5, 944, 917.9, 937.6 Lupin Limite, 1875, 1875, 1822.25, 1842.9 Mahanagar Te, 54.5, 56, 53.75, 55.1 Mahindra & M, 567.4, 578.8, 564, 574.55 Maruti Suzuk, 1261, 1286, 1261, 1278.25 Max India Lt, 161.25, 163.2, 160.1, 161.35 Maytas Infr., 200, 202.8, 195.05, 200.05

MORGAN STANLEY MUTUAL FUND has announced the introduction of weekly dividend option (re-investment facility) under regular plan of Morgan Stanley Short Term Bond Fund. The changes will be effective from June 7, 2010.

Offer Price: Units of Rs 10 each at par on June 7, 2010 and at applicable NAV based prices thereafter.

UTI MUTUAL FUND has approved June 7, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of UTI Fixed Term Income Fund - Series IV - Plan - IX (May / 08-24 months). The face value of per unit is Rs 10.

The quantum of dividend will be 100% of distributable surplus as on the record date.

Also the AMC has announced the revision of exit load structure under both the options i.e. regular and institutional option of UTI - Floating Rate Fund (STP). The changes will be effective from June 2, 2010.

Accordingly, the exit load charge is 0.75% if the investment made on or after June 2, 2010 is redeemed on or before 15 days from the date of acceptance.

ICICI PRUDENTIAL MUTUAL FUND has approved June 7, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under dividend option of ICICI Prudential Interval Fund II- Quarterly Interval Plan D. The face value of per unit is Rs 10.

The quantum of dividend will be 100% of distributable surplus as on the record date.

Moser-baer (, 58.9, 61.95, 58.9, 61.6 Mrpl, 67, 68.3, 66.9, 68.05 Nagarjuna Co, 174.9, 179.35, 173.2, 178.2 Nagarjuna Fe, 30.05, 30.45, 29.6, 29.95 National Alu, 420.05, 432.8, 417.2, 427.45 Neyveli Lign, 148.1, 150.9, 146.15, 149.85 Ntpc Ltd, 198, 199.45, 196, 197.5 Oil And Natu, 1148, 1188.4, 1147.35, 1182.35 Omaxe Limite, 92, 94.5, 92, 93.75 Oriental Ban, 324.85, 329, 322.15, 325.4 Pantaloon Re, 394.75, 419.95, 390.55, 416.05 Parsvnath De, 123.2, 125.8, 121.6, 123.8 Petronet Lng, 81.1, 83.9, 81, 83.45 Power Fin Co, 286.25, 290, 283.5, 288.7 Power Grid C, 104.4, 104.65, 103, 104.4 Praj Industr, 77, 78.05, 75.85, 77.5 Punj Lloyd L, 119.05, 120.5, 114.1, 115.5 Punjab Natio, 997, 1000, 985, 989.65 Rajesh Expor, 87.8, 91.3, 87.8, 90.35 Ranbaxy Labs, 430.35, 436.3, 426.25, 429.95 Rashtriya Ch, 81.9, 81.9, 79.25, 80.7

Rel. nat. re, 53, 54.4, 53, 53.95 Reliance Cap, 639.75, 652, 634, 646.3 Reliance Com, 140, 156, 140, 154.85 Reliance Ene, 891, 892, 873.01, 891.9 Reliance Ind, 760, 768.4, 749.05, 760.85 Reliance Ind, 1015, 1021, 1003.35, 1011.05 Reliance Pow, 154, 158, 153.8, 156.75 Rolta India, 161.5, 165.75, 161.45, 163.85 Satyam Compu, 84.35, 86.2, 83.4, 85.7 Sesa Goa Ltd, 365, 374.6, 361.25, 373 Shipping Cor, 160, 162.8, 158.3, 161.5 Siemens Ltd, 675, 686.35, 667.55, 682.7 Sintex Indus, 275.95, 283, 272, 280.65 Sobha Develo, 286, 293, 282, 285.75 State Bank O, 2212.2, 2267, 2210, 2258.25 Steel Author, 197.8, 203.1, 196.3, 201.6 Sterlite Ind, 629, 637.7, 618.55, 634.5 Sun Pharmace, 1685, 1698.65, 1651.3, 1682.5 Sun Tv Netwo, 407.95, 408.9, 397.15, 399.65 Suzlon Energ, 56, 56.5, 53.45, 54.2 Tata Communi, 235.55, 242.95, 225, 240.65 Tata Consult, 737.8, 759.5, 736.3, 754.25 Tata Motors, 735, 749.85, 726.1, 746.15

Tata Power C, 1255.45, 1258.6, 1221.2, 1241.15 Tata Steel L, 485, 486.9, 476.4, 484.3 Tata Tea Ltd, 1079, 1089, 1064.2, 1068.85 Tata Teleser, 19.5, 20.1, 19.25, 20 Tech Mahindr, 642, 673.5, 637, 669.2 The Ge Shpg., 288, 296.5, 288, 295.2 The Phoenix, 200, 200, 196.05, 196.9 Thermax Ltd, 696, 704.8, 684.4, 685.3 Titan Indust, 2220, 2234.9, 2175.6, 2205.55 Torrent Powe, 322.8, 325, 320.15, 323.5 Triveni Engg, 94.45, 95.45, 92.75, 94.2 Tv18 India L, 82.6, 85.2, 80.8, 84.55 Uco Bank, 77.1, 79.45, 76.5, 79.05 Ultratech Ce, 928, 965, 918, 948.65 Union Bank O, 284, 292, 283, 290.65 Unitech Ltd, 69, 71.3, 68, 70.95 United Phosp, 177, 181.6, 176.5, 179 Videocon Ind, 203.45, 204.45, 200.05, 202.5 Vijaya Bank, 59, 61, 58.3, 60.7 Voltas Ltd, 180, 183.95, 179.5, 183.35 Wipro Ltd, 660, 665.5, 647, 649.95 Yes Bank Lim, 280, 284.95, 279, 283.55 Zee Entertai, 282.5, 282.5, 274.25, 276.1

OHERALDO

Pg 13:Layout 1 6/2/2010 11:08 PM Page 1

Pg13

BIZ

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010

Tatas open Nano plant at Sanand PTI SANAND, JUNE 2

Tata Motors today opened its brand new plant here, set up at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore to manufacture Rs 1 lakh car Nano.

The new plant at Sanand was inaugurated Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, who seven years ago dreamt of making an affordable family car for the common man.

Inaugurating the facility, spread over about 1,100 acres, Modi said what all it cost him was Re 1 to have the plant in the state.

"When Ratan Tata said in a press conference in Kolkata that they are leaving West Bengal, I sent him a short SMS saying welcome to Gujarat, he said, adding that "And now you can see what a Re one (worth)

SMS can do".

The inaugural ceremony was warmed up rains that accompanied a dust storm.

In October 2008, Tata Motors abandoned plans for setting up the Nano manufacturing plant in Singur following fierce opposition from locals with protests spearheaded by Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee.

As it searched for a new site, the company started limited production of Nano -- touted as the world's cheapest car with a factory gate price of Rs 100,000 (little over USD 2,000) -- from its Pantnagar plant in Uttarakhand.

Modi welcomed the Tatas to his state, offering express clearance to the project, land et al.

"When I came here first on an industry visit, invited by Gu-

jarat Chief Minister, I was told that if it (the Nano plant) is not in Gujarat, I will be a stupid.

"I am no longer stupid after investing on the plant in Gujarat," Tata said while inaugurating the plant.

Modi said the revolution brought by Ford in the early 20th century with its small car is being replicated now by Ratan Tata with his Nano.

The Sanand facility has the capacity to manufacture 2.5 lakh units annually, which can subsequently be increased to 5 lakh units per annum. Pilot commercial production of Nano at Sanand has already begun.

Ever since the idea of making a car costing only Rs 1 lakh was conceived way back in 2003 by Ratan Tata, his dream had to face many challenges.

At a time when input costs were soaring, keeping the cost of production of a comfortable mini car powered by a 623cc engine giving a competitive mileage, was a big challenge for the engineers of Tata Motors.

Opposition to setting up Nanao plant at Singur delayed not only the original plans for the commercial launch of Nano by about five months, but also affected its availability.

Till the time the Sanand facility was ready, the company went ahead with limited production of Nano from Pantnagar in Uttarakhand. It has so far delivered over 35,000 units.

However, only the first 1,00,000 customers are assured of getting the car at an ex-factory price of Rs 1,00,000.

Nod to Chinese telecom gear PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

In a move that could help several cellular operators, the government has agreed to allow import of telecom equipment certified by international security audit firms.

The Department of Telecom is preparing the modalities for the import of sensitive telecom gears to which the Ministry of Home Affairs agreed to.

The move will prove to be a breather for Chinese vendors like Huawei and ZTE, as well as Indian telcos like Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices that are looking for cost-effective telecom gear to expand their networks.

As per the proposal, telecom companies will be allowed to import the equipment from foreign suppliers only after an International Certification Agency visits the plant of the vendor

and gives a security clearance.

India currently does not have any Certification Agency so it was planning to rope in eight such international bodies to carry out the task.

The Mobile operators who intend to import telecom equipment have to give a bank guarantee to the Department of Communication.

The operators will be liable to forfeit their bank guarantee and may also face criminal proceedings, if any security threats are detected in the equipment at a later stage.

The stopgap solution, which will be in place for the next 12 months, will ensure that Indian telcos do not face project delays.

The government, in the meantime, will initiate the process to set up an indigenous Certification Agency of international standard.

LAUNCH PAD

Innova Special Edition

PANJIM (HBD) -- Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd announced the introduction of the ‘Innova Special Edition’ to commemorate five successful years of the Innova in India. In addition to the existing Innova line-up, the Special Edition has been designed to give the vehicle an enhanced refined look, and boasts affordable luxury.

The new variant has power windows, power door lock and air-conditioning at a price of Rs 8,86,960 ex-showroom Delhi.

Contributing to the new look are Bumpers, Front Grill, Hood Mould and Rear Door Garnish all in body colour, and Body Stripes with the special edition insignia. The new variant will be available in one colour − Premium Super White.

The Innova Special Edition will be on sale for a limited period, ie June to September 2010.

Cutchsoft’s cheque management software CHENNAI (PTI) -- Cutchsoft, a city-headquartered software product development company today launched cheque management software "Cheque SOS" targeting small and medium enterprises.

The software "Cheque Strategic Office Software (SOS)" provided printing of multiple cheques and avoids mismanagement of cheques including human errors, Cutchsoft Private Ltd managing director Yasser Rahman said.

"This product is targeted at SMEs having an annual turnover of Rs 5-10 crore...it helps organise, print and track the cheques issued by the company. This will help the company's financial dealings efficiently and saves time", he said.

Priced at Rs 1,999 per product, the product would be available across the six channel partners of the company, he said.

The company would also provide free update of the software, he said.

"We have planned to increase our channel partners from six to 40", he said.

Company officials have also said that they had planned to export the product initially to Middle East, as the overseas market was "two-times" more than the Indian market.

Austrian Airlines to fly Mumbai-Vienna from Oct MUMBAI (PTI) -- As a part of its network expansion plans in India, Austrian Airlines will introduce a new air service connecting Mumbai and the Austrian capital, Vienna, from October this year.

The airline, which is part of the aviation major, Lufthansa Group, also plans to add an additional flight on its New DelhiVienna sector, a company press release said here today.

"From October 31, 2010, Austrian Airlines will be flying from Mumbai to Vienna and offer tailor-made connections to Europe and beyond," the release said.

Austrian Airlines presently covers over 139 destinations worldwide, making it the largest European destination network.

In Vienna, passengers have access to Austrian's 104 destinations across Europe, the release said.

The airline is also expanding the frequency of flights on its existing route from New Delhi to Vienna from five to six from the winter this year compared to previous winters, it said.

The Vienna arrivals will also be co-ordinated with connections to Austrian destinations throughout Western, Central and Eastern Europe, the release said.

Following the introduction of these services, Lufthansa Group -- Lufthansa Airlines, Austrian Airlines and Swiss Air -would be operating over 70 flights per week in and out of India.

e-service to promote biz in UAE AGENCY DUBAI, JUNE 2

An industry lobby in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched an e-service to create awareness on the importance of communication in the modern business environment.

The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), an initiative of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has launched the e-service for its associate members from over 20 countries and the business community in the region.

The e-service includes a membership directory, an e-library and a chat networking service that connects all members who can now view each others' profiles and contact numbers.

GE Appliances forays into India, eyes $10 m revenue PTI CHANDIGARH, JUNE 2

Announcing its entry into the Indian market with the launch of air conditioners in Punjab, GE Appliances said that it would soon roll out other kinds of home appliances to earn a revenue of up to USD 10 million by the end of the current fiscal.

GE appliances, which showed its intention to enter the Indian market over eight months ago, has tied up with Delhi- based Shelka Marketing Private Limited for distributing appliances in the northern region.

“We are looking to earn a revenue of USD 10 million this fiscal with the launch of our ACs, washing machines, refrigerators and cooking appliances from the northern region only,” GE sales manager (appliancesIndia) Narender Singh Ranawat said here today.

John Abraham is ambassador for Haier India HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

IEL ties up with Seawell for Engg support services PTI HYDERABAD, JUNE 2

Infotech Enterprises Limited (IEL), a city-based engineering services and technology solutions provider, today said it has signed a long-term master service agreement with Norway-based Seawell AS, an international drilling and well services company, to provide Engineering support services.

This agreement with Infotech would enable Seawell to further expand its engineering capacity and improve competitiveness.

Seawell Facility Engineering Centre, located at Infotech Enterprises' Manikonda facility

was inaugurated here today.

Krishna Bodanapu, President – Engineering, Infotech Enterprises Limited said, Seawell would now have a dedicated group of engineers based in India including its key representatives.

This group of engineers would be responsible for managing the agreement and interfacing with the global resource of Drilling Facility Engineering.

"Infotech is aggressively expanding into newer Industry verticals to drive growth. Signing this agreement marks our foray into drilling equipment and facilities in the Oil & Gas industry. As the demand for

Global military and commercial helicopter major Sikorsky Aircraft Corp is likely to tie up with more Indian companies in the next few months to produce components locally, a company official said Wednesday.

Keen to set a wider footprint in India, the US-based company is also planning to initiate discussions with state-run firms to jointly develop new technology or produce aircraft suited to India's security needs.

'Our priorities are bigger than just transactional. Of course, we want to sell our S76, S-92, the Black Hawk and the Sea Hawk, but we are also looking at a larger strategy, a multi-faced approach in this market space,' Anthony Moreland, Sikorsky's regional sales executive-India, said.

Asked if this meant more partnerships with Indian companies to manufacture components or develop new technology, Moreland said: 'Absolutely, and you will hear about some of those in the next six to eight months.'

Sikorsky has a joint venture with Tata Advanced Systems that will roll out the first Indian-made S-92 chopper cabins in November.

'The first cabin from our relationship with Tatas will be delivered in November. We have also just appointed Deccan (formerly Deccan Aviation) as a

service facility for Sikorsky products on the commercial side,' said Moreland.

Manufacturer of the wellknown Black Hawk attack helicopter, Sikorsky is very keen on pushing its S-92 helicopter, a widely used VIP chopper, in India.

Asked about the possibility of joint production of aircraft or development of technology suited to India's defence needs, he said: 'We are meeting internally next week, to discuss the merits of partnerships with Indian companies in developing of higher altitude aircraft or who knows what, brand new technology for example.'

'In five years, we will have products being developed locally for this market. If the Indian market is willing, we can bring some really exciting technology,' said Moreland.

Citi partners with NSE to launch FIX Protocol PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 2

Citigroup Global Markets said it has become the first brokerage house in India to launch the next generation industrydriven messaging standard- Financial Information Exchange (FIX) protocol adopted by NSE. The platform offers cutting edge execution to use the protocol to transact in an electronic, transparent, cost-

efficient and timely manner.

"It is designed to improve the efficiency of India's equity markets while bringing together our global capabilities under a single platform," Citi's Head of India Equity Technology, Kumar Goradia, said.

The internationally recognised standard FIX has been extensively tested by Citigroup for the last six-months in collaboration with NSE, the first

India in this year as it has tied up with another distributor Servomax which would be responsible for selling GE items in South India.

"We are also looking for more partners who could be associated with us for launching our products in eastern and western markets," he said.

GE Appliances would also open its exclusive outlets known as 'GE Shoppees' in northern region to further penetrate the markets. "We will open our first outlet in Chandigarh and thereafter more shops will be opened in smaller cities," said PK Mahindra, Managing Director, Shelka Marketing.

He further said that Shelka would set up India centric Appliances Modification and Training Excellence Centre for development of prototypes, product demonstration and training to GE dealer sales staff.

R-Com up 10% on Etisalat news PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 2

Shares of ADAG firm Reliance Communications today surged 10 per cent on the BSE after a newspaper report said the UAE-based telecom major Etisalat was in talks to buy 25 per cent stake in the company.

Shares of Reliance Communications climbed 10 per cent to a high of Rs 153.40 on the Bombay Stock Exchange in the morning trade.

According to a media report, Etisalat is in talks to acquire 25 per cent stake in Anil-Ambani Group firm Reliance Communications and is in advance stages for the deal. On the National Stock Exchange, the stock jumped to a high of Rs 153.30, up 10.40 per cent.

After acquiring 25 per cent stake in the company, the UAE based firm will make an open offer to acquire an additional 20 per cent stake in the telecom services provider, the report added. As per March quarter shareholding pattern available on the BSE, promoters held 67.58 per cent stake in Reliance Communications.

The sale of stake will help Reliance Communications raise funds for its 3G roll-out plan, the media report said. R-Com had earlier this week deposited Rs 8,585.04 crore to the government for 3G spectrum that was auctioned recently.

The company has bagged spectrum in 13 circles, including in Delhi and Mumbai.

drilling and well services increases globally, we are looking forward to supporting Seawell by providing flexibility and scalability which will translate into a distinct competitive advantage," Bodanapu said.

Chris Levett, executive vice president, Seawell AS said, "Seawell believes that the agreement with Infotech Enterprises will offer the necessary resources support to handle and meet market dynamics.

Seawell believes that Infotech is very well placed to accommodate Seawell's requirements with its high score on Business Environment as well as people skills."

Sikorsky planning more JVs with Indian firms AGENCY NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

Haier announced the appointment of Bollywood actor John Abraham as its brand ambassador in India. John will feature across all brand communications as well as product advertising for its range of consumer durables and electronics products.

Haier also launched a film for its new LED TVs, featuring the new brand ambassador John Abraham.

Taking “You Inspire Us” forward, Haier also forayed into a new product category – small kitchen appliances. These include blenders, toasters, citrus juicers and electric kettles. The entire new range of Haier products will be available in retail outlets selling Haier products as well as in the Haier Experience Centres and Zones across the country.

While the company expects 60 per cent revenue from ACs, it intends to get the rest from other electronic appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators.

GE Appliances has plans to launch its washing machines in July, refrigerators in September and cooking appliances in January next year.

With the intention of tapping only top-end customers in the country, the company would import its products from Latin America, North America, Europe and South East Asia.

"We will be importing our products from different countries to meet country's requirements. We have also kept our avenues open to local sourcing of these products in future provided we get same standard which we maintain," he said.

GE Appliances has also plans roll out its products in South

exchange to implement this protocol in India.

"Support for FIX is an important part of NSE's efforts to improve throughput and efficiency of pre-trade message processing. We expect the use of FIX messages to become widespread in all market segments. We congratulate Citi on being the first to go live with FIX in India," NSE's VP, new products, Vidhu Shekhar, said.

Less than an hour after the inauguration of the Tata Nano plant, a high speed wind blew away the roof of the production line near Sanand at the outskirts of Ahmedabad on Wednesday.

Gulf of Mexico oil-spill to be game-changer for oil, gas ind PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 2

Energy conglomerate, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), expects the Gulf of Mexico oilspill to be a major gamechanger for the oil and gas industry leading to tougher regulatory clearances and operating procedures, a top ONGC official said.

"The oil-spill in the Gulf of Mexico will impact the industry in a big way. It will also affect the functioning of oil companies worldwide," ONGC's Chairman, R S Sharma told reporters here today.

In addition, regulatory approvals for off-shore and deepwater exploration projects in several countries will become

more difficult, Sharma added.

ONGC is satisfied with its agreements with off-shore drilling company Transocean, which owned the rig that caught fire in the Gulf Of Mexico incident, he said.

"We are quite satisfied that they are meeting all contractual requirements. Transocean is a well-established, wellrecognised company which has a majority of the world's off-shore drilling," Sharma said.

Besides, Sharma said that discussions with foreign firms for a strategic JV for its Krishna Godavari (KG) basin gas block is still on and would take more than six months to come to a decision.

"We are looking at global exploration majors with expertise to produce from deep sea.

Moreover, the JV will also help our company to de-risk exploration. However, nothing has been finalised yet and will take some time to come to a conclusion," Sharma said.

ONGC has opened its KGbasin block data to global companies and has sought a firm offer last month, he said.

Currently, ONGC has a 65 per cent interest in KG-DWN-98/2 (KG-block) that has been assessed to hold 14-trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.

The total capex for ONGC in FY 10-11 stood at Rs 46,400crore.

Expect overall good monsoon this year: weatherman PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

In what could be good news for millions of farmers, the weatherman today said India could experience good monsoon this season after a year of drought that resulted in the loss of 16 million tonnes of foodgrain.

"Overall we expect good monsoon this year," Ajit Tyagi, Direc-

tor General, India Meteorological Department (IMD) told PTI here.

Tyagi met Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who reviewed the monsoon situation in the country against the backdrop of cyclone 'Phet' threatening the progress of the annual rain season.

Experts here believe that the severe cyclone churning up the

Arabian Sea could have little effect on the monsoon as they forecast building up of weather patterns favourable to the annual rains.

"We expect normal monsoon with 98 per cent (of the long period average of 89 cm) as projected earlier. There is no change," Tyagi said when asked about the rainfall this season.

Lifestyle

Relationships

Sports

Business

Health

Art

Culture

Environment

Education

GOA’S HEARTBEAT

Information Technology

Entertainment

Fashion

Travel

Tourism

Parenting

Pg14 Existing in Fragments Driven with Passion by Man’s Powerful Creation voilem kellem kaddun The difference between ordinary and “ Meza “ extraordinary saguad zoddi naka - Anonymous is that little extra - J Johnson

“

“

Thursday, 3 June, 2010

email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

Always fervent about anything that moved on wheels, Rohan Coelho has come a long way from getting punished in school for sketching a Mercedes to exhibiting his passion through art to bringing out Goa’s first automobile magazine. Herald drives into his world to learn what fuels his motor As the world sets out to simplify life through various technological and economical advancements, the true meaning of simplicity and humanity seems to have gotten overshadowed by self-created towering borders and distinctions. Is there a way of ever finding our way back?

BY P K PAL o through any newspaper any day and you will find that invariably, there will be news of violence, war, sabotage, accident, murder, rape, robbery, theft and bloodshed screaming in the headlines. The terrorists, the extremists, the fanatics, the criminals, the thieves, the robbers all fill up our mind and we start thinking, are we living in such a world where there is no harmony, peace and compassion?

The world resembles today the pieces of a broken glass, several fragments of a once complete whole. We are divided in the name of nationality, religion, gender, class, colour and language.

The list is long. It seems that we are looking for a reason to separate. The human being, the most intellectually developed of all species on the planet is never free. And the irony of the fact is that he himself weaves the chains that cage him.

To travel from one country to other, a citizen needs a passport and visa. In the name of security, he is frisked and his luggage scanned. In Europe, he is not allowed to carry his basic belongings, like a bottle of water in an airplane.

A person is looked at with suspicion till he is proven harmless. This surely offends a person’s dignity, but it is discarded as being legitimate in the name of security. On the other hand, if we look at migratory birds, they are free to fly from one country to another. They have no borders and no barrier.

If anybody views this situation from a neutral perspective, he is sure to question: who are we unsafe from: why are humans so insecure of their own specie?

The answer is: the feeling of separateness, which reminds us that we belong to different nations, religions, race and so on, is responsible for a feeling of hatred and consequent insecurity from one another. In the post-colonial era most countries claim to be sovereign and independent, their people have however

G

lost their freedom.

Different agencies claim to have worked for uniting this fragmented world. One of them is the European Union. One of its claims is that by introducing a common currency, Euro, there is unity, at least between the countries falling within the Union. However, the claim is totally punctured when one sees that the purchasing power of a Euro changes from one country to the other. In other words, Euro does not level the economic standard of the countries.

Another mantra that the modern world boasts of in the name unity is globalisation. They say that globalisation has shrunk the world and it has become one global village, but the point to notice here is ‘globalisation’ has come up largely in the leisure sector with fewer benefits and greater expenses.

Cutting the long story short, we are where we were: in an age of hierarchy and separateness. The only difference is that we have now learnt the art of choosing sophisticated pretexts to perpetuate this hierarchy. Despite all the agencies that work for equality, one world is never achieved simply because we are contented in the celebration of this showpiece unity in reality, the urge for oneness does not exist because we have created so many distinctions.

As long as there is quest for power and dominance, there can be no unity and the world will continue to exist in fragments and split further. If the world of peace has to replace the world of pieces, then the quest for power has to be replaced by human greatness. The yardstick of progress must shift form material gains to compassion of hearts, humility of minds and nobility of actions. Only then can the world be an abode of peace and harmony for all humanity.

­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E Is this a real problem, or just an annoyance? Wait and see before you make a move. Watch out for (21 Mar – 19 Apr) serious frustration, especially late in the day -- things could start to slow to a snail's pace by then!

It may be a good time to withdraw and wait to come back at a time when things are running smoothly.

Keep things loose today -- don't be bothered if your daily routine gets disrupted. You're dealing (23 Sep – 22 Oct) with a little too much craziness today -- and your indecision isn't helping! The good news is that you can take a break soon and let your mental batteries start to recharge.

An authority figure has a heart. Tell them your problem. They will be compassionate. Your (20 Apr – 20 May) friends are on your side for sure, even if you were worried about them recently. It's a good time for you to step up and ask them for something new -- you never know what they can do for you!

Take your imagination into new directions; explore the past as well as the future. You need to (23 Oct – 21 Nov) bust out some big ideas today -- so it's a good thing your imagination is in overdrive! Your friends are looking at you funny again, but this time it's awe, not curiosity about your fashion choices.

A misunderstanding will cause you to waste a lot of time today -- take it in stride. You and your (21 May – 21 Jun) mate -- or friends -- are dreaming about big change right now, and you need to be the one to articulate it precisely. It may be hard for others to hear, but you know what needs to be done.

It will be afternoon before your engine gets revved up today. Don't get frustrated. Expect to find (22 Nov – 21 Dec) some new way to lose your keys or otherwise set yourself back in some minor way. It's not the end of the world -- in fact, you may find that you've got more time to think.

When you realize how short your to-do list is, be prepared for your mind to wander. You and (22 Jun – 22 Jul) your coworkers or family members could use a bit of brainstorming or daydreaming today -so get to work! It's one thing to dream up hot ideas, but quite another to get going on them.

There's no crisis your cleverness can't defeat.

Use creativity to your advantage. Try to push (22 Dec – 19 Jan) forward a little -- you should be able to make some good progress if you don't have to rely too much on friends or coworkers.

They aren't slacking -- they're just a little overwhelmed!

Looking at something over and over again will not make the meaning any clearer. Remember (23 Jul – 22 Aug) that all that glitters is not gold -- especially on days like today!

The sunlight may catch almost anything, but you have to remain calm and just accept that your judgment is cloudy for the time being.

Bank statements are full of details -- double check recent debits and deposits. Money might be (20 Jan – 18 Feb) a problem for you today, but you can work through any issues that may arise as long as you are willing to confront them directly. If your credit card is maxed, that doesn't mean you apply for another!

Not a lot will get done today -- a last minute cancellation will keep things mellow. You need (23 Aug – 22 Sep) to be patient with your people today -- though they can't help dawdling! If you give them the time they think they need, you should score far more points than you realize.

It's a waste of time to compare yourself to others -- you'll only get confused. Your generous (19 Feb – 20 Mar) nature isn't even tested today by all the requests for help and attention. You've got more than enough positive energy to make everyone's life at least a little better.

BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES n one hand we have the established business persons, equipped with their shrewdness and well cultivated blitz on the veneer as they go about their trade and on the other we have a novice entrepreneur with a different kind of energy – youthful, still innocent and full of the joy of learning and experimenting; a sponge, ready to soak in every happening. It is a pleasure to get chatting with Rohan Coelho, editor and publisher of Goa’s first automobile magazine: Autobuzz!

Abounding energy with an affluence that is infectious, this graduate in Fine Arts says, “As an artist, I was absolutely inspired by various kinds of cars. I paint cars on canvas. Doodling cars on my sister’s notebooks, tissues at restaurants, etc is my favourite pastime. I had exhibited my works twice at the Autocar Performance Show in Mumbai and at the Auto Expo 2010, in Delhi.”

So, how did he buckle himself into the seat of this new venture of giving Goa its first auto magazine? The excited reply is, “It was just flooring the accelerator of a fast car and feeling the rush of blood pumping through my veins.” Laughing, he continues, “Okay exaggeration apart, this is something that I like doing, being surrounded by cars.” He goes on to expound, “In fact, this is passion alongside a huge challenge as I was a person who hated to read and writing is definitely not for me. But here I am!”

The automobile enthusiast comes with the experience of having worked at Autocar India, Mumbai in the web designing department. He enlightens, “I guess that was just an excuse for me to get to know people in the auto industry, and to further help me find the right path to get into some Automobile Designing Institute. My dream was to be a successful car designer. The best job at any of these car magazines would be getting to test the cars.”

Candid and honest, he adds, “I want to live in Goa and I want to follow my dreams and passion. So, I got into bringing out this monthly magazine.

But I admit, I am just putting together a team and there is still a lot to be done in terms of bettering the magazine. There is huge potential in Goa in terms of people constantly buying new cars and even in the modification department.”

An interesting anecdote from his school days, Rohan says, “In the ninth standard in school, I was punished and thrown out of class by my Hindi teacher for sketching a Mercedes in 1996.” Ruefully, he sighs, “She passed away a couple of years ago.” One can imagine the feeling of pride that would have swelled through the lady had she been alive to witness her student’s magazine launch.

With the special focus on cars and bikes, what kind of stories can we expect? The reply is, “Reviews of the latest ones that make their presence on our very own roads, interviews with Goans and their machines to trips around Goa.” Interestingly, Rohan promises to bring out stories on places

O

left off the tourist guide. So, can we expect to see aspects of Goa that most of the media, especially the national media, haven’t delved into? The reply is, “Absolutely! That’s the idea!” And does he look at his venture as the ideal platform to enlighten youngsters about careless deaths on roads by garnering in interviews with top cops and residents of Goa who are role models?

Rohan affirms, “Yes, definitely! That would have a real impact on the youth.”

But today’s publishing line operates by the famous tenet: sponsorship/advertising-cum-stories. How is Rohan going to handle this? How difficult is it going to be to walk that fine line in not succumbing to potential advertisers and yet have your magazine garnering in the bucks through quality content?

Is he going to live up to readers’ faith who will be looking for quality information or will he become just another to join the bandwagon?

The prompt reply is, “I am well aware of this and yes, I need sponsorship for survival in a small place like Goa. But then, even before my first issue I have already put my foot down.” Citing an example, he says, “A big showroom wanted me to review a car that was not moving in the market. I agreed to do it but on condition that I would bring out the status of the model exactly the way it was and in no way would I hoodwink the reader. Similarly, I had a whole page free where I could have just carried one of the top brand cars.

But no, that would’ve not been fair to my advertisers who were paying.”

Kudos to the young man, for the moment! But only time will tell how this artistic soul will survive in the murky world of capitalism with its calousness, hypocrisy and cut-throat competition; where capitalist eats capitalist and the things you own end up owning you. As of now, we congratulate him for his sincere efforts and wish him the very best and hope he enlightens the readers looking up to him for appropriate information on what coupes or bikes they can invest their bucks in. Besides, we want to read of many journeys to aspects of Goa that is still left untouched.

Richard Burton’s love letters Fathers should spend more qualto Elizabeth ity time with kids, exhorts SRK Taylor released T

hey divorced twice and went on to marry different people but screen icon Elizabeth Taylor has revealed that Richard Burton longed for another reunion on the day he died. Burton’s turbulent romance with Taylor is part of the Hollywood lore and the 78-year-old actress is publishing a series of unpublished love letters sent by Burton to her, 26-years after his death.

Though the actress has not released the final letter but according to her, in the heartbreaking note written just hours before his death, Burton said that he was happiest with her and asked for another chance. Ironically, the actress, who was banned from attending Burton’s funeral by his widow, received it a few days later.

Burton had just finished filming with John Hurt when he penned the note. He then went to bed and died of a cerebral haemorrhage aged just 58.

He wrote that although he was not unhappy, he was happiest with her.

Nobody else could know what happened between them, he said, telling her that he wanted to come home.

It was the final word in their notorious affair and means so much to Taylor that to this day she keeps it in the table by her bed. He sent it in 1984 whilst in Celigny, Switzerland with his final wife, Sally Hay Burton.

“Richard was magnificent in every sense of the word and in everything he ever did. He was the kindest, funniest, and most gentle father,” Taylor said, adding that when the note was handed to her she realised that she had lost him forever.

“All my kids worshiped him. Attentive, loving – that was Richard – from those first moments in Rome we were always madly and powerfully in love.

We had more time but not enough,” the actress added. The letters, to be published in Vanity Fair magazine, show Burton’s complex, passionate and occasionally tortured soul.

B

ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan says parenting and spending quality time with children need more focus and attention by busy fathers. “Each time I am away from home for long I make sure that on return I have spent enough time and catch up with my children.

I am sure a lot of fathers today go through this guilt as they may have missed seeing their child grow,” said the actor-producer who recently shot for a toothpaste commercial as a doting dad today. “In most cases, fathers never realise this as they have been busy with work, office meetings, deals and catching up with friends that they tend to miss out on smaller but important moments of their child’s growing years.” He said life has indeed become very mechanical for many young working parents that I see but there is a definite need to work around it. Childhood habits, illnesses, accidents, school disruption and under achievements are just some issues that work as precursors of problems in adulthood and the next generation.

“Children are impressionable. So, parenting is not about you, your feelings, or your thoughts on how the child should develop. Instead it is about the person your child is and can be. While most of us did not figure out what we wanted to be until we were older, a lot of us had ideas about the types of careers, the type of person and what we want out of life as we grew up,” SRK said. Being a parent is the greatest joy for him and playing the perfect father is the best role ever, he said. “I am the actor-entertainer, it is definitely my children that offer unconditional love and bring entertainment and joy to my life,” he added.

Lifestyle

Relationships

Sports

Business

Health

Art

Culture

Environment

GOA’S HEARTBEAT Thursday, 3 June, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Children’s Film Festival’, organised by the Entertainment Society of Goa will take place on June 5 and 6 from 3pm onwards at the Maquinez Palace, Panjim.

It is free and open to all. Call 2428111, 2428113 or 2428115.

A poultry, piggery and dairy development short term training programme, conducted by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Patto, Panjim will be held from June 21 to 24, June 3 and June 9, respectively.

Visit Farmers Training Centre, Curti, Ponda. Call 2437244.

‘Paltadcho Munis’or ‘The Man Beyond the Bridge’ is being screened till June 7 at 6pm and 8pm at the Maquinez Palace, Panjim and on June 5 and 6 at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Call 2428111, 2428113, 2428115 and 2653083.

‘Road Safety Awareness Program’organised by the Traffic Wardens of Chorao and the Traffic Cell, Panjim is being held till June 4 from 5pm to 7pm at the Ribandar ferry wharf.

‘India’s Vision of a Nuclear Free World’, the topic of a seminar organised by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee will take place on June 9 at 4pm at the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Panjim. It is being held as part of the 125th year celebration of the foundation of the Congress. Call 2424252.

‘Climate Change and Biodiversity – Citizens Responsibilities in mitigating the Adverse Impacts’, a panel discussion, one of the events as part of the day-long event schedule organised by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) will take place on June 5, World Environment Day, from 10am to 6pm at the NIO, Dona Paula. Call 2450281, 2450235, 2450228 and 2456700.

A month long blood donation drive, organised by Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) and Goa State Blood Transfusion Council will take place in June. It is being held to commemorate ‘World Blood Donor Day’ on June 14.

Call 9922353445.

Live musical concert, organised by Father Peter Cardozo and the Sonata Music School, Margao and the All Goa Youth Fusion Concert Committee will take place on June 6 at 10:30am. Tickets are available at Furtados, Pedro Fernandes Musical Instruments and Vibes, all in Margao.

Football trials for selection of players for the 3rd Division Team, U-20’s Team and U-16’s Team of the Chicalim Youth Club will be held on June 5 at 4.30pm at the Chicalim Panchayat Ground, Chicalim. Call 9822120807.

‘Media and Terrorism in South Asia’, an international seminar, organised by Forum for Media Professionals and the International Centre Goa will take place from June 4 to 6 at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. The inauguration to the seminar will take place on June 3 at 6:30pm. Call 2452805 to 2452810.

The 2nd Selection Trial for Snooker (Men) is being held till June 6 at Clube Tennis de Gasper Dias, Miramar. It is organised by Cue Sports India. Call 9923499356, 2462220 or 2462221.

The feast of St Anthony will be celebrated at St Andrews Church, Goa Velha on June 13.

Scholarship programmes, offered by the Institute Camoes, for Portuguese and non-Portuguese students are open till June 4. E-mail clpicgoa@gmail.com.

Call 6647737.

Arena Animations Academy Specialist Programme will begin on June 7. It is organised by Arena Animations. E-mail mgmanimations@gmail.com. Call 9423885224, 9823013484, 9823611824 or 2225153.

Free embroidery, needle work, cutting and tailoring 1-year courses, organised by the Commissioner fro Labour and Employment as part of labour welfare activity begins on June 7. Registration closes on June 4. Visit the nearest Labour Welfare Centre.

CURR

Information Technology

EN

PEN T HAP

Entertainment

Fashion

Travel

Tourism

INGS email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

tittle-tattle

TAG organises Roman Konkani Writing Workshop

E

HERALD FEATURES ver wondered how difficult it is to compose a song? Well, imagine writing it in Roman Konkani script! To help upcoming scriptwriters and lyricists write in Roman Konkani, Tiatr Academy Goa is organising a workshop on June 7, 2010 from 10 am onwards at TAG’s Conference Hall, Campal Trade Centre, Panaji.

The workshop will deal with the correct method of writing in Konkani in Roman script with regards to grammar and spellings. In the present times, very few tiatr artistes have formal education in Konkani in Roman script. This is the main reason why different scriptwriters and lyricists write Konkani in Roman script in different ways.

Tomazinho Cardozo, President of TAG explains the importance of writing Roman Konkani in the right way.

“Nowadays, writers are taught to write Konkani in Devnagiri script in school and as English is a compulsory subject they know the alphabets, so when it comes to writing Roman Konkani, they add the two together, often with a lot of mistakes. Through this workshop, we aim at correcting their mistakes and help them write better. I will be the speaker for the first session of the workshop as I am a member of the Goa Konkani Academi, I can help the writers.”

TAG aims at bringing uniformity in the writing of Konkani in Roman script among the tiatr artistes by organising series of workshops to that effect. After the first workshop scheduled on June 7, depending on the response, further classes will be organised.

Tiatr artistes interested in attending the workshop should confirm their participation by informing TAG in writing or through phone before June 4, 2010. TAG requests the tiatr artistes to take benefit of the workshop so that the standard of writing Konkani in Roman Script is improved.

Kerkar’s Art Camp to have an Eclectic Ensemble of Artists HERALD FEATURES allery Beyond and Kerkar Art Complex are venturing into the second art workshop / camp of 2010 which started on June 2, 2010 with the finale on June 9, 2010.

Art camps or workshops, in the good old fashioned way, are still one of the few ways for the art fraternity to meet, communicate and exchange ideas.

During these sessions, films and slides of the participating artists are collectively viewed and discussed.

New ideas, exchange of techniques and information of what is happening from the various parts of the country that the artists have come from are also in-

G

Sheetal Gattani

Rajan Krishnan

cluded in the discussions. A lot of them are today travelling the world over, visiting and participating in the art fairs.

The showing at the end of the camp gives the artists and viewers a chance to meet.

The current workshop is hosting 14 painters, namely, Amitava Das, Mona Rai, Puneet Kaushik, Pratul Dash, Farhad Hussain all from New Delhi; Dileep Sharma, Sheetal Gattani, Yashwant Deshmukh and Anjana Mehra from Mumbai; Murali Cheeroth, Bangalore; P G Dinesh and Rajan Krishnan, Kochi; Suhas Shilker and Viraj Naik from Goa.

Funny Quote

Pronunciation tit-el – tat-el Function Noun Meaning 1 : idle or foolish chatter; gossip Example Sentence Jane and Elle meet up at least once a month to catch up with goings-on and indulge in tittletattle.

“I hate women because they always know where things are.”

– James Thurber DAILY GROOK CREED GREED

by Francis Rodrigues the catholic congregation tho' often hard to please accepts any denomination but prefers....twenties!

Yeshwant Deshmukh

Mona Rai Anjana Mehra

P G Dinesh

Dileep Sharma

Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 567 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

Farhad Hussain

Murali Cheeroth

Amitava Das

Pratul Dash

The Mustard Seed celebrates the Women of Today Herald Features he Mustard Seed Art Company was back to enchant the audience with their latest presentation, ‘Women in Labour’ which was staged at the Maquinez Palace on June 1, 2010. The four-part performance was delivered skillfully, something the Mustard Seed is known for. The woman-based presentation celebrated the women of today and how they have evolved into respectable life givers.

The entire presentation comprised a song titled ‘Jinx or Minx?’, a dance performance ’Bridge of Life’ and two short plays, ‘Karuna’ and ‘Art for Art’s Sake’.

Around 13 members of the Mustard Seeds, namely Clinton Monteiro, Dayle Rodrigues, Della Dias, Ingrid C de Noronha, Israiel Sarvishta, Kiran Bhandari, Lorraine E.C. Noronha, Michelle Noronha, Nikita Fernandes, Rosary De Souza, Santosh Madihalli, Sonam Bhobe, Sydney Rebello and Veda Bhandari, were a part of this presentation.

T

GARFIELD

SOUTH POLE

22:30 Crime Patrol

10:00 Sabki Laadli Bebo 10:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 11:00 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 11:30 Behenein 12:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat 14:30 Behenein 15:00 Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 Zara Nachke Dikha 18:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Sabki Laadli Bebo 22:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

10:00 Godh Bharaai 10:30 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 11:00 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 11:30 Boogie Woogie Kids 12:30 Indian Idol: Extra 13:00 Godh Bharaai 13:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 14:00 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 14:30 C.I.D 16:00 C.I.D Classics 18:00 Indian Idol 19:30 Godh Bharaai 20:00 Maan Rahe Tera Pitaah 20:30 Baat Hamari Pakki Hai 21:00 Boogie Woogie Kids 22:00 Indian Idol: Extra

10:00 Choti Bahu 10:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 11:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Do Saheliyaan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Choti Bahu 14:30 Do Saheliyaan 15:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 15:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 16:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 16:30 Choti Bahu 17:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 17:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 18:00 Pavitra Rishta 18:30 Ghar Ghar Mein 19:00 Do Saheliyaan 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 22:00 12/24 Karol Bagh 22:30 Do Saheliyaan

10:00 Maniben.com 10:15 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

11:15 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 12:00 Mrs. and Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Maniben.com 14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

14:30 Mrs. and Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 15:00 Lapataganj 15:30 Yeh Chanda Kanoon Hai

Parenting

Pg15

LAFFS

WORD OF THE DAY

SUDOKU 568

Education

08:55 Tom Yum Goong 11:05 Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde 13:05 Dragon Lord 14:55 Con Air 17:10 Who Framed Roger Rabbit 19:15 Strange Wilderness 21:00 Scream 23:15 Rob-B-Hood

09:45 In Good Company 12:00 Batman Begins 15:00 By The People: The Election of Barack Obama 17:30 TMZ 18:00 Batman Begins 21:00 Dracula Dead And Loving It 23:00 Clear And Present Danger

12:10 Nigahen 15:55 Pratiggya 20:00 Khullam Khulla Pyaar Karen 23:40 House on Haunted Hill

09:30 Gunaah 12:30 Home Delivery 16:00 Kyun! Ho Gaya Na...

20:00 Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai

09:00 29th Street 11:05 A Good Man in Africa 13:00 Closer

14:50 Rat Race 17:05 Festival in Cannes 19:05 The Dog Problem 21:00 K-PAX 23:30 John Carpenter's Vampires

08:00 Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai 12:00 Deewana 16:00 Suhaag 20:00 Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai

08:00 Phool Aur Angaar 12:00 Kshatriya 16:00 Maa Kasam 20:00 Saajan Chale Sasural

E N T E R TA I N M E N T 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

16:30 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 17:00 Mrs. and Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 17:30 Gutar Gu 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

18:30 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 19:00 Lapataganj 19:30 Mrs. and Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 20:00 Maniben.com 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta…

21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 21:30 Mrs. and Mr. Sharma Allahabadwale 22:00 Lapataganj 22:30 Yeh Chanda Kanoon Hai

10:00 Dill Mill Gayye 10:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 11:00 Star One Horror Nights 12:00 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 12:30 Dill Mill Gayye 13:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 13:30 Geet 14:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 14:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 15:00 Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai 18:00 Laughter Ke Phatke 18:30 Star One Horror Nights 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni

20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 22:30 Dill Mill Gayye

11:00 Fear Factor:Super Worm Pit 12:00 Video Zonkers 13:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 14:00 Wipeout Australia 15:00 Whacked Out Sports 15:30 Video Zonkers 17:00 The Amazing Race 18:00 Terminator 19:00 Wipeout Australia

20:00 Ghost Adventure 21:00 Sports Crash 22:00 Top Chef : New Orleans Finale, Part 2

11:00 American Idol 12:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 12:30 Castle 13:30 90210 14:30 Scrubs 15:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 15:30 30 Rock 16:00 The Simpsons 16:30 Friends 17:00 Castle 18:00 90210 19:00 30 Rock 19:30 The Simpsons 20:00 Whose Line Is It Anyway?

21:00 Friends 21:30 Scrubs

11:00 FIA F1 World Championship Raceday 2010 13:45 FIA F1 World Championship Chequered Flag 2010 14:30 K1 World Max 2009 : Japan 16:30 Roland Garros 2010 H/ls 17:30 Roland Garros 2010 22:30 Ace 2010

11:30 FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 South Africa : Egypt vs. USA 13:30 The Contenders : Germany 14:00 FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 South Africa:Semi final 1: Spain vs. USA 16:00 FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 South Africa: Brazil vs. South Africa

18:00 World Cup : Eygpt: Mens 19:00 Premier League World 19:30 Sportscenter Express 20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 The Contenders 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia

09:30 WWE: Raw 12:30 Zimbabwe Triangular ODI 2010 : 4th ODI: Zimbabwe vs. India 20:15 Zimbabwe Triangular ODI 2010 : Review: 4th ODI 21:15 2010 South Africa Tour to West Indies : 5th ODI

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Flavors 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Interview with Vivek Pathien 11:30 Ankur- Special Childrens Programme 12:00 Konkani Songs 12:30 Flavors 13:00 English News 14:00 Trendsetters 15:00 Student of Voice 15:30 Sangeet 16:00 Hymn Singing 16:30 Flavors 17:00 Kids Club 17:30 Konkani Songs 18:00 Konkani News 19:00 Marathi News 20:00 English News 21:00 Straight Talk 22:00 English News 23:00 Melody in Memory of Late Jack Sequeira 23:30 Divine Sitar 00:00 Sobit Amchem GoemS Note: Subject t o change

HERALD CROSSWORD - 569 Across 1- Lineage; 6- One of the Simpsons; 10- San ___, Italy; 14Legend maker; 15- Hostelries; 16- Inter ___; 17- Renaissance fiddle; 18- Ooze; 19- Ho Chi ___; 20- Scottish trousers; 22- Financial combination of Japan; 24- Total; 26- Indonesian cigarette; 27- Arabian Nights hero; 31- Bass, e.g.; 32- Continue a subscription; 33- Short journey; 36- So there!; 39- French 101 verb; 40- Force upon; 41- Architect Saarinen; 42- Broke bread; 43- Earth; 44- Pending; 45Bleat of a sheep; 46- Cotton fabric; 48- Vitality; 51- Break off; 52- Chung or Rather, e.g.; 54- Area with coin-operated games; 59- Hammett hound; 60- Switch ending; 62- Large wave caused by tidal flow; 63Observed; 64- Queue after Q; 65- Long-winded speech; 66Mandlikova of tennis; 67- 365 days; 68- Pop pieces; Down 1- Sharp bristle; 2- Bakery worker; 3- Bumpkin; 4- Corner; 5- Finetoothed blade; 6- Fleur-de-___; 7Don Juan's mother; 8- Move stealthily; 9- One who seeks advancement; 10- Branched; 11Best of a group; 12- Capital of Belarus; 13- Island of Hawaii; 21- Prefix meaning "beneath"; 23- Waist band; 25- One of superior rank; 27Calculus calculation; 28- Riga resident; 29- Memo heading; 30-

Apian; 34- Atmosphere; 35- SOLUTION - 568 Grammarian's topic; 36- 8th letter of the Hebrew alphabet; 37- Horne solo; 38Actor Ian; 40- Plumy; 41Chang's twin; 43- Apply powder to oneself; 44- Disrobe; 45- Tropical fruit; 47Actress Balin; 48- Old Testament book; 49- Consumed; 50- Stallion, e.g.; 52Money; 53- Roster; 55Crime boss; 56- Not "fer"; 57- Remnant; 58- Electric fish; 61- Belonging to us;

SPORTS

Pg16

GOA, Thursday, 3 June, 2010

Super soccer at Benaulim on Saturday HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

The 18th Super Soccer tournament in memory of Eslinda Alemao will start on June 5 at Dando ground, Benaulim.

In all, 16 teams will participate with Dramapur taking on SC Davorlim in the inaugural match.

The other teams are Saligao United, Carmona SC, Varca SC, Don Bosco Oratory Fatorda, Betalbatim SC, Sao Jose Areal, Navelim Villagers Union, Gloria SC Raia, Maina SC, Cuncolim Union, UC Benaulim, PY Nuvem, Verna SC and hosts United Boys of Dando.

Details may be obtained from Sanford on 9890593165 or Babush on 9822142470 or Dalo on 8805584061.

Damani wins 2nd snooker tourney l Advani leads overall ranking for 2010 Asian Games HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

B r i j e s h D a m a n i e m e rg e d champion as two other contenders for the top spot, Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta faltered against Yasin Merchant and Manan Chandra respectively following an electrifying drama in the final sess i o n o f s e c o n d S n o o ke r Selection Tournament for 2010 Asuian Games at Clube Gaspar

Dias, Mira Mar on Wednesday.

Damani, who was only hoping for the fourth position after the end of the last session yesterday, did his job well defeating Kamal Chawla 4-3.

It was, however, Damani’s spurring partner Sourav Kothari’s win against Alok Kumar that confirmed Damani the third position.

Damani’s fate for the top spot then hanged on AdvaniMerchant and Aditya-Manan

matches. One could see Damani sitting with fingers crossed and he heaved a deep sigh of relief as Aditya went down tamely to Manan Chandra 1-4 while Pankaj lost the battle to Merchant by an identical margin.

Final standings: Brijesh Damani, 11 ranking points, Pankaj Advani 9, Aditya Mehta 7, Alok Kumar 6, Manan Chan-

U-19 football camp at Fatorda HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Following players who have been selected for the U-19 football Goa team have been asked to report to Mario Aguiar at PJN Stadium, Fatorda on June 4 at 7.30 a.m.

Albino Gomes (goalkeeper), Shilton Fernandes (goalkeeper), Raju Haldankar, Clinton Rodrigues, Meldon D’Silva, Jesmon Carvalho, Mario Lobo, Nazarene Pereira, James Fernandes, Shane Temudo, Allwyn Fernandes, Jesvil D’Souza, Lyndon Pereira, Brandon Fernandes, Edberg Sequeira, Hasten D’Costa, Pandh a r i C h o p d e k a r, M y r o n Fernandes, Xavier Dias and Godfrey Silva.

Damani cues the ball.

Goa Velha enter last four

palyekar soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Goa Velha sc registered a 4-3 win via the tie-breaker over Nerul Sports Club to enter the semi-finals of late Pramodini Dattaram Palyekar Soccer organized by Football Club of

Siolim at St. Anthony’s Church ground, Siolim, on Wednesday.

On crossing over Nerul’s Clyde Dias failed to score from close while Avinish Shirodkar’s hot blooded shot was superbly collected by Goa Velha’s keeper Joseph Rodrigues.

At the other end Nerul’s

keeper Xavier Estrocio halted Vishant Pednekar’s strike.

In the tie-breaker Goa Velha scored through Vishant Shirodkar, Valerio Vaz, Francis Pires, Elves Lopez, while for the Nerul, Rajendra Madgaonkar, Sarvesh Dabolkar and Deepraj Sangelkar were the scorers.

AFC C Licence course concludes at Duler

dra 5, Yasin Merchant 4, Kamal Chawla 3, Sourav Kothari 2, Shabaaz Adil Khan 1.

Overall standings: 1 Pankaj Advani 20, 2 Aditya Mehta 13, 2 Brijesh Damani 13, 2 Yasin Merchant 13, 5 Manan Chandra 12, 6 Alok Kumar 10, 7 Sourav Kothari 7, 8 Kamal Chawla 6, 9 Shabaaz Adil Khan 2.

Scores: Sourav Kothari beat Alok Kumar 4-1. 102 (102)-28, 67 (62)-0, 13-76, 69 (61)-16, 7468; Manan Chanrda beat Aditya Mehta 4-1. 50-46, 66-24, 3188, 67-29, 76-49.

Brijesh Damani beat Kamal Chawla 4-3. 62-40, 55-65, 0982 (69), 52-45, 73-12, 17-73, 76 (58)-01; Yasin Merchant beat Pankaj Advani 4-1. 71-27, 0266, 69-35, 65-55, 110 (110)-19.

Tommorow’s fixtures: billiards 10 a.m. - Geet Sethi vs B Bhaskar, Pankaj Advani vs Sourav Kothari.

12 noon - Devendra Joshi vs Rupesh Shah, Dhruv Sitwala vs Alok Kumar. 2 p.m. - Pankaj Advani vs Alok Kumar, Ashok Shandilya vs Geet Sethi. 4 p.m. - Geet Sethi vs Sourav Kothari, Rupesh Shah vs B Bhaskar. 6 p.m. - Devendra Joshi vs Alok Kumar, Pankaj Advani vs Dhruv Sitwala. 8 p.m. Devendra Joshi vs Sourav Kothari.

UC Nerul sail into finals

sai avtar soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

United Club, Nerul registered a well deserved 2-0 win over Sodiem Siolim Sports in Sai Avtar Super Soccer organized

by Sai Avtar SC Anjuna at Anjuna Gymkhana ground, Tembi on Wednesday. Nerul scored a goal in each session.

Russel Fernandes put Nerul ahead in the 25th minute. Maula Naik made it 2-0 on crossing over with an adroit placement.

Anjuna Gym move into quarters fr chico cup HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JUNE 2

Participants at AFC C Licence course alongwith Milton Fernandes Marcus Pacheco, Savio Messias, Vandana D’Cruz.

HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JUNE 2

The 15-day AFC "C" Licence football coaching course concluded at Duler, here on Wednesday.

It was conducted by AFC instructor and India's goalkeeping coach Marcus Pacheco with Vandana D'Cruz being the course coordinator. In all, 19 coaches from Goa participated.

The participants went through 18 practical sessions, 20 theoretical classes and three video archives. Two seminars on laws of the game was conducted by Gokludas Nagvekar, a seminar on understanding the

body in motion was explained

by Dr. Mahindra Kuchodkar and nutrition and first aid was covered by Jovito Lopes.

Speaking to Herald, Marcus said, “Over the past few weeks the boys have worked extremely hard, both physically and mentally to keep up with the workload that the AFC has set. It was tough but we got through."

During the course the participants were lucky to witness the final day I-League match between Salgaocar and Lajong at Duler.

On the final day, former Goan footballer Arthur Pereira who

played for Orkay Mills dropped in to wish the coaches well. For the closing ceremony GFA secretary, Savio Messias was present along with the chief guest, Goa University sports head, Milton Fernandes.

The participants: Seby Morais, Ashwin Crasto, Franky Mendonca, Menino Miranda, Reagan Mascarenhas, Leroy Almeida, Naresh Virnodkar, Amit Virnodkar, Savio Pereira, Sebastiao Rodrigues, Francisco Savio Vaz, Milagres Carvalho, Ramesh Vhonnalli, Mario Vales, Richard Sanchez, Pankaj Fondekar, Eugenio Rodrigues, Chandrakant Naik, Reggie Cardozo.

diogo vaz soccer

ground, here on Wednesday.

The teams were locked goalless at the end of regulation time.

Bruno Coutinho of Bardez Veterans was declared man-ofthe match. Bramanand Sancoalcar was the chief guest.

Bardez Veterans enter finals HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

All Goa DiogoVaz memorial football finals: Merces Villagers v. Bardez Veterans, Don Bosco ground, Panjim, 5 p.m.

Exhibition football: Veterans U-55 v. Don Bosco U-15, Don Bosco ground, Panjim, 4 p.m.

Romeo Cup memorial soccer: Cabesa v. Bandh, St. Cruz football ground, 5 p.m.

Bayside Fr. Chico Cup soccer: Siolim Sodiem Sports & Cultural Associa t i o n v. Va l a n k a n n i Arambol Sports Club, Dr. Gustavo Monteiro Stadium, Candolim, 4.30 p.m.

Late Pramodini Dattaram Palyekar soccer quarters: Candolim SC v. HC Arpora, St. Anthony’s Church ground, Siolim, 4.45 p.m.

Sai Avtar Super soccer semis: Milagres SC v. Sai Avtar SC Anjuna, Anjuna Gymkhana ground, Tembi, 4.45 p.m.

Late Silko memorial soccer: St Michael Goa Velha v. YSC Shiroda, PAP ground, Goa Velha, 5.45 p.m.

Bardez Veterans beat Snows Veterans, Raia 5-4 in All-Goa Diogo Vaz memorial football tournament organised by Don Bosco Past Pupils at Don Bosco

Anjuna Gymkhana got better of PVC, Parr a 6 - 5 v i a t i e breaker af ter both teams were involved in a 1-all draw to move into quarter-finals of Fr. Chico Cup inter-village football tournament organized by Candolim Sports Club and sponsored by Bayside Properties Private Limited at Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim on Wednesday.

Anjuna forged ahead in the 5th minute through Gautam Diukar. Down by a goal, Parra fought back to restore parity but missed a couple of scoring opportunities.

Changing over, Parra kept on mounting pressure on Anjuna defense and levelled the score through Waldron Martins. Anjuna too had a couple of scoring opportunities to make the issue safe but their forwards failed to find the net.

With scores level, the tiebreaker was resorted to, to decide the winners.

Anjuna kept their nerves to get better of Parra 5-4. Savio Carvalho, Vinayak Mulgaonkar, Gaurish Mandrekar, Stanley Sequeira and Gautam Diukar converted for Anjuna while Waldron Martins, Jerry D'souza, Jitendra Shetye and Vasant Gadekar were the scorers for Parra.

Kala Vaibhav triumph

The captain of Kala Vaibhav Cricket Club, Parse receiving the winners trophy in the presence of Hrishikesh Ghadi (president), Sohan Naik, Vishal Ghadi, Dr. Dharmanand Moraskar and Shyam Palyekar (treasurer).

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 2

Kala Vaibhav Cricket Club of Parse won the 2nd all-Goa floodlit cricket tournament organised

by Shantinagar Cricket Club.

They trounced Politics of Assonora in the finals to take home

the glittering trophy and Rs. 12,000. Politics had to be content with Rs. 6,000 and a trophy.

Bangar 89 of Karaswada, Khorlim defeated Sai Shradha Sports and Cultural Club of Ghateshwarnagar, Khorlim in

the 2nd all-Goa inter-ward cricket tournament organised

by Shantinagar Cricket Club, K h o r l i m . B a n g a r 8 9 w e re awarded Rs. 4,000 alongwith a trophy while Sai Shradha took home Rs. 2,000 and a trophy.

SPORTS

Pg17

GOA, Thursday, 3 June, 2010

Pepe in squad after recovery REUTERS LISBON, JUNE 2

Witch-doctors put magic in African team spirit REUTERS JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 2

If Sebenzile Nsukwini's bones are anything to go by, the World Cup is going to pass off without a hitch and hosts South Africa are destined for great things. ''Eish, it is looking very good for South Africa,'' the 33-yearold Zulu witch-doctor said after casting her eyes over a seemingly random scattering of animal bones and sea shells during a seance in downtown Johannesburg. ''Look, the trouble is far, far away. No bombs,'' she added, pointing to a polished and highly decorated knucklebone lying apart from the mass of trinkets strewn across the concrete floor in the corner of a dingy bus station.

A weekend newspaper report, vehemently denied by the South African government, of an ''80 per cent chance'' of a terrorist attack during the June 11-July 11 soccer spectacular suggests her confidence is not universally shared.

But in Africa, where mysticism and magic play a part in many people's lives, pronouncements from a 'sangoma' such as Nsukwini can carry as much weight as those from governments, especially when it comes to the murky world of security agencies.

In sport, too, sangomas have been a regular but unofficial fixture on the African team sheet, using their ability to commune with the dead to determine a player's fortunes and whether a dose of sympathetic magic and traditional 'muti' potion is in order.

Predicting the outcome of a World Cup is beyond a sangoma's normal remit, although Nkuswini was confident enough to say South Africa would ''be strong'' despite being a lowly 83rd in the FIFA rankings and 125-1 outsiders according to the bookmakers.

There was more certainty

from 78-year-old Nigerian soothsayer John Adatiri, who was able to make a precise call on the outcome despite admitting it was the first time he had analysed a soccer tournament in his 50 years as a mystic.

After a brief but intense stare into a two-sided mirror pulled from an old wash bag in his zinc-roofed hut in Lagos, Adatiri declared: ''Nigeria go play quarter final. Brazil go win.''

In Ivory Coast, another West African nation with big World Cup hopes, fans have been going to juju priests and a charmed grove near the capital to conjure up some magic on the pitch. ''We are visiting our sacred forest two or three times a week to support the fight,'' said Gnahouleou Emile, president of the national side's supporters' club.

South Africa's sangomas have also done their bit, slaughtering a cow at the new 95,000-seater Soccer City stadium near Johannesburg to bless the pitch and give national side Bafana Bafana (The Boys) a spiritual boost.

However, insiders say traditional beliefs might be on the wane at top domestic clubs due to an influx of non-African coaches who prefer to get their team spirit from the training manual rather than the afterlife. ''All the muti stuff was before my time,'' said Linda Moreotsene, a soccer reporter at the Sowetan newspaper. ''I can't say I've seen any smoke or herbs being burnt in the changing rooms. Many of the top sides have got European coaches now and they don't think much of that sort of thing.''

Nevertheless, for many ordinary South Africans, muti -- derived from the Zulu word for 'tree' -- is a potent force and 'muti killings', in which a child or old person is murdered for their body parts, are not unheard of in remote areas.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz named the following 23-man final squad for the June 11-July 11 World Cup in South Africa late on Tuesday.

The only player to be dropped from the 24-man provisional squad announced in May was midfielder Ze Castro.

Pepe, who has been recovering from a knee injury he sustained last December, was

included in the squad after being cleared by national team doctors

REUTERS BERLIN, JUNE 2

Defender Andreas Beck was the only player to be cut from Germany coach Joachim Loew's 23man World Cup squad on

Italy leave out Borriello, Rossi AGENCIES MILAN, JUNE 2

AC Milan striker Marco Borriello and Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi were omitted from Italy's 23-man squad for the World Cup on Tuesday with coach Marcello Lippi surprising pundits by choosing Fabio Quagliarella.

Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, defender Mattia Cassani and midfielder Andrea Cossu were the other players from a provisional 28-man squad to miss out on the trip to South Africa for the June 11-July 11 finals.

Winger Mauro Camoranesi, part of the team that triumphed in the 2006 tournament, was included on the Italian soccer federation's squad list despite pulling out of altitude training in the Alps on Tuesday with a knee injury.

He can be replaced before the start of the tournament if the injury, which has initially been assessed as not serious, becomes worse.

The world champions, who face Mexico and Switzerland in their final friendlies on Thursday and Saturday, meet Paraguay in their Group F opener in Cape Town on June 14 before facing New Zealand and Slovakia.

World Cup winner Lippi, who will quit after the finals and be replaced by Fiorentina's Cesare Prandelli, waited until the final hours of deadline day to name

his squad having earlier planned to announce his 23 in mid-May. Injury-prone Borriello has had a successful season at Milan, complete with some spectacular goals, while Rossi can play in any position across the front line.

However, Lippi has opted for the pace and power of Quagliarella despite his relatively modest goal return of 11 in Serie A for Napoli last term.

Giampaolo Pazzini was also included in the list of strikers alongside established names Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Di Natale.

Lippi had been criticised in the Italian media for relying too

Argentina's first contact with media on Tuesday did little to dispel the uncertainty surrounding the team since they bunkered up at their World Cup base after arriving in South Africa on Saturday.

Coach Diego Maradona and captain Javier Mascherano reassured fans that the squad were in good spirits and all 23 players were vying for a place in the team to face Nigeria in their Group B opener in Johannesburg on June 12.

But Maradona's supposed certainties about having found his team and tactics when Argentina beat Germany 1-0 in a March 3 warm-up in Munich no longer appear to be absolutes.

"The team will come out (of the practices) very few days before (the Nigeria match)," Maradona said at the squad's University of Pretoria base.

"I have 23 wild cats prepared to leave their skins on the pitch.

With each training session it gets harder to decide."

Maradona said it did not bother him not to have any

warm-up games arranged in the coming days before the tournament starts on June 11.

"I'm not concerned because our practices carry you to a level you might not reach in a match risking injury to one or other (player)," he said.

The less experienced players were making "a very big leap in quality" while the veterans were in optimum shape.

"We're going to reach a level that the (Argentina light blue and white striped) shirt deserves... Argentines should relax because to beat this team (rivals)

heavily on his 2006 heroes during a lacklustre qualification campaign but a handful of young players such as Bari defender Leonardo Bonucci have made the cut.

"The age factor is certainly a variable that can influence things. The motivation and physical condition of an older player can condition selections," former Italy midfielder Stefano Fiore, who played in the Euro 2000 final, said.

"But I don't think this should be a big problem for Italy. The coach has his men, those he won the World Cup with, and even if they are not young they can make up for it with experience."

Marco Borriello

GOALKEEPERS: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari).

DEFENDERS: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan) MIDFIELDERS: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan) .

FORWARDS: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli).

ing for Andreas Beck,'' said Loew from the team's training cap in northern Italy. ''He invested a lot in this training camp and always behaved in a correct way. He even addressed the team (after the decision) and was awarded with a round of applause.''

The 23-year-old Beck had won his first of seven caps in February last year but the past season was not the best for the Hoffenheim right back who was also injured.

Loew's young team, led by new captain Philipp Lahm, now includes only six out-and-out midfielders.

The three-time World Cup winners have been drawn in Group D alongside Ghana, Australia and Serbia.

They play their last friendly match against Bosnia in Frankfurt on Thursday before departing for their tournament base near Pretoria in South Africa on June 6.

GOALKEEPERS: Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Hans-Joerg Butt (Bayern Munich).

DEFENDERS: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Serdar Tasci (VfB Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Dennis Aogo (Hamburg SV).

Midfielders: Sami Khedira (VfB Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV).

Strikers: Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Cacau (VfB Stuttgart).

Maradona not bothered by dearth of practice matches AGENCIES BUENOS AIRES, JUNE 2

UNI NEW DELHI, JUNE 2

GOALKEEPERS: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (Porto).

DEFENDERS: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica) MIDFIELDERS: Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Pepe (Real Madrid), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting) FORWARDS: Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United).

Germany’s defender Beck dropped Tuesday after a string of injuries left him with few options.

Germany's 27-man preliminary squad was reduced to just 24 players when captain Michael Ballack, fellow midfielder Christian Traesch and versatile defender Heiko Westermann were ruled out of the June 11-July 11 tournament with injuries.

Loew declined to call up other players to replace them and decided to cut just one player for his final 23-man squad ahead of the June 11-July 11 tournament in South Africa.

He also stuck with all six strikers despite the absences in midfield, as well as his exciting crop of younger players who were crowned European under-21 champions last year, including starting keeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Dennis Aogo and Jerome Boateng and playmakers Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. ''Obviously this is disappoint-

and his club Real Madrid on Sunday.

will have to put all their beef on the grill," said Maradona using favourite imagery.

He suggested that those who did not believe Argentina would do well in the tournament were ignorant.

"Those who know about football in Argentina said we beat 'nobodies'," he said sarcastically, referring to the 5-0 victory over Canada in their farewell in Buenos Aires on May 24.

"We had a great farewell with Canada... Spain beat Saudi Arabia 3-2," he said without going into detail.

Spain to give Fabregas run out REUTERS MADRID, JUNE 2

Spain will give Cesc Fabregas a run out in their World Cup warm-up against South Korea but Fernando Torres must wait a little longer, coach Vicente del Bosque said today.

The European champions play fellow World Cup competitors South Korea in Innsbruck tomorrow (2130 IST) looking for an improved performance from their lacklustre 3-2 win over Saudi Arabia last weekend. ''Cesc is fine, he has been training better every day and tomorrow he will be one of the ones to play,'' Del Bosque told a news conference in Austria.

The Arsenal midfielder, subject of a transfer bid from Barcelona yesterday, has been recovering from a cracked bone in his right leg and has not played for two months.

Torres, who missed one of two training sessions on Tuesday, is close to a return from knee surgery but the coach sounded a note of caution over the Liverpool striker.

Giuseppe Rossi

Mary Kom eyes gold at Olympics, Asiad

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio, 24, is one young player already established in the Azzurri starting XI and shaping up to be a key man even if fans do not expect Italy to prosper this time.

Marchisio was earmarked to fill the problem left wing role in a 4-4-2 but has been employed as a playmaker in a 4-23-1 formation in recent training sessions.

"I thank Lippi for the faith he is showing in me. I don't consider myself as a second striker but as a midfielder who offers a bit more... and inserts himself into spaces," he told reporters.

With yet another feather in her cap after the triumph at the Asian Women's boxing championships, four-time world champion MC Mar y Kom today asserted that it is her dream to win gold medals at the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 Olympics.

Mary Kom won her third Asian title as Indian boxers finished fourth in the event with two gold, a silver and five bronze medals in Astana, Kazakhstan last week.

With women's boxing due to be introduced in the Olympics for the first time at the 2012 Games in London, the reigning World Champion feels that a gold will raise the profile of the sport in India. ''It is my dream to win gold at the Asian Games and the Olympics. Women's boxing does not get the attention it deserves.

An Olympic gold will bring much needed publicity and media coverage. The sponsors will also flock to us,'' Mary Kom told UNI. ''I have won gold at the World Championships and at the Asian level as well. A gold at the Olympics will be a huge high point in my career. ''Everyone plays for the gold medal. But I am determined to fulfill my dream and will go all out,'' she added.

When asked to point out the countries who have the ability to pose a strong challenge to India at the Asian Games, Mary Kom felt that continental powerhouse China and DPR Korea will be the main rivals. ''China and DPR Korea will be the toughest opponents. China are the hosts this time. So they will get the home advantage,'' she stated. ''It also depends on the draw.

Sometimes luck also plays a role.

At the Asian Championships, some girls went into the final after just two bouts, while others were not so lucky. ''I had to go through four tough rounds. But I gave my best and I am happy that I could make the country proud,'' she added.

The 27-year-old lamented the lack of support to women's box-

ing from the Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) the government and the sponsors despite consistent success at the international level. ''It is very difficult to get sponsors. I am very lucky that I managed to get sponsors now, but for a long time I struggled due to lack of funds.� ''However, I took it as a challenge and worked hard in order to achieve success. I knew that winning medals at the international level will attract the sponsors,'' she said. ''Support from the government is also vital. During the national camps, when the government and the federation announces financial incentives for winning medals, it gives us that extra motivation,'' she added.

The boxing icon from Manipur thanked 'Olympic Gold Quest' for extending much needed support to her. ''I want to thank Olympic Gold Quest for coming forward to help me. I got top class medical facilities when I was injured. They have played a very big role in my success,'' Mary Kom remarked.

Talking about the probable successors who may take over the mantle after her retirement, she said, ''All the boxers are good. Sarita is also good, Rupa is also good. There are so many good boxers who have the talent to make it big.''

SPORTS

Damani wins 2nd snooker tourney Pg 16

Mary Kom eyes gold at Olympics, Asiad Pg 17

GOA, THURSDAY, 3 JUNE, 2010 www.oheraldo.in

In BrIef E Bengal eye Booth as chief coach East Bengal are considering to hire David Booth as a chief coach, club secretary Kalyan Majumder said.

Club coach Phillip de Riders will have to leave since the Asian Football Confederation, the supreme soccer body of Asia, in a directive has advised that all I-League teams in India are required to have A licensed coaches from 201011 session onwards.

Football probables for Asian Games The All India Football Federation has announced 24 probables for the Asian Games 2010 to be organised in November in China.

Probables: Defenders: Vishal Kumar, Ravinder Kumar (Karnataka), Abhishek Das (West Bengal), Inderpreet Singh (Punjab), Deepak Devrani (Chandigarh), Raju Eknath Gaikwad (WIFA), Souvik Ghosh (West Bengal), Lalrozama Fanai (Mizoram), Prathmesh Premnath Maulingkar (Goa). Midfielders: Akshay Vimal Kumar Mall (Gujarat), Subodh Kumar (Jharkhand), O Milan Singh (Jharkhand), Shilton D’Silva (WIFA), Jewel Raja Sheikh (IFA), Bikramjit Singh (Chandigarh), Lalrindika Ralte (Mizoram), Tirthankar Sarkar (West Bengal), Kh Jibon Singh (Manipur). Forwards: Mandeep (Haryana), Jagtar Singh (Punjab), Malsawmfela (Mizoram). Goalkeepers: Ravi Kumar (TFA), Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Punjab) and Jagroop Singh (Punjab).

Paul, Gourmangi for overseas trials National football team goalkeeper Subrata Paul left the country on Tuesday for Canada for a trials session with the Vancouver Whitecaps while defender Gouramangi Singh will head to Australia on Thursday to try his luck with new A-League side Melbourne Heart FC. Paul will attend a 10-day trials with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which will make their Major League Soccer (MLS) debut from next season (2011). If the star goalkeeper impresses the Vancouver Whitecaps FC management he can join mid-season. The club plays in the second division this season. Paul could not sign a contract with the AIFF on Tuesday for the preparation of next January's Asian Cup in Doha. Gouramangi, Churchill Brothers' defender, is leaving for Australia on Thursday evening for trial with Melbourne Heart FC from June 7-19.

The club will make their ALeague debut this season which starts in August.

Fabregas not for sale Arsenal says it has “no intention” of selling captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, rejecting a formal offer from the Spanish champion for the midfielder.

Arsenal said in a statement Wednesday that Fabregas is “a highly valued member of the team and part of our future plans.” It stressed that the Spain midfielder is under contract until 2015 and that it expects Barcelona to “respect our position.”

Barcelona club director general Joan Oliver said the club had made a written offer to Arsenal on Tuesday at the start of the official transfer window. Oliver said “everybody knows that Cesc wants to sign for Barcelona and that we also want him to come here.”

Laxman practising on gravel pitch Leaving no stone unturned in his preparation for next month's Sri Lanka tour, stylish batsman VVS Laxman is practising on gravel wickets to fine-tune his technique against spinners. The elegant stroke player said playing spinners well would be crucial to the team's success in Sri Lanka and he was not taking any chance. "For the last two weeks, I am practising hard for the coming Sri Lanka tour. I am playing on the gravel pitches to finetune my technique as Sri Lanka has some quality spinners in Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan," said the middle order batsman today. "They also have some other good slow bowlers like Rangana Herath. I want to do well and start the season on a high," he said.

India seek revenge PTI HARARE, JUNE 2

Back in their elements after the opening match debacle, a confident India will have a score to settle when they take on hosts Zimbabwe for the second time in the ongoing cricket tri-series here tomorrow.

Zimbabwe had spoiled Suresh Raina's captaincy debut when they inflicted a stunning sixwicket defeat on India in the tournament opener in Bulawayo but the visitors were quick to recover as they thumped Sri Lanka in their second outing to bounce back.

At the halfway stage, all three teams have one win and a defeat against their names and India will go all out for a win tomorrow at the Harare Sports Club to put one foot in the June 9 final of the tournament.

For India, their batting has been the biggest strength so far as they posted 285 in the first match and chased down 242 with consummate ease in the second tie with 6.3 overs to spare.

B a t t i n g m a i n s t a y Ro h i t Sharma has been in the form of his life as he slammed consecutive centuries to anchor the Indian innings in both the matches.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and vice-captain Virat Kohli have also sizzled with the bat.

The team, however, has not been served well by its openers.

Both Dinesh Karthik and Murali Vijay could not give starts that India is so used to when Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir open the innings.

Raina, on his part, looked in good nick in both the matches but the team is yet to get a big knock from the skipper.

The last time they met Zimbabwe, it was India's inexperienced pacers which let them down. But in the match against Sri Lanka, the young guns put up a better bowling performance with Ashok Dinda and U m e s h Ya d a v looking better bowlers.

The spinners, however, have done a decent job with Amit Mishra and Ojha doing well and Ravindra Jadeja chipping in.

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will require something extraordinary tomorrow to pull off a repeat performance against the mighty Indians.

Their high-flying campaign has already been brought down to earth by Sri Lanka last night when the hosts were skittled out for a paltry 118 in 24.5 overs in a rain-curtained match.

Australia's Samatha Stosur celebrates victory. (Right) US Serena Williams leaves the court after losing her women's quarter-final.

Stosur sends Serena packing AP PARIS, JUNE 2

Early on, Serena W illiams knocked dirt from her shoes by angrily whacking them with her racket, as if punishing the clay that keeps tripping her up at the French Open.

The top-ranked Williams stumbled in the quarterfinals

Oz to field separate teams for Tests, T20 UNI MELBOURNE, JUNE 2

With the shortest version of the game increasing in popularity, CA chief executive James Sutherland has revealed that Australia may field separate Test and Twenty20 teams in the near future. ''While hosting Tests here, Australia could have its Twenty20 team touring somewhere else. ''As more Twenty20 cricket is played there are clearly opportunities for players to choose to be specialists,'' Sutherland said during a keynote speech at a major Cricket Australia (CA) seminar on the Gold Coast yes-

terday. ''It is difficult not to see a generation of players coming through with an eye to becoming Twenty20 specialists.” ''Taking it through to its natural extension, if you have a specialist team then why can't you have a specialist Twenty20 team and a specialist Test team (playing) at the same time?'' he added.

Bringing up the example of rugby, Sutherland said, ''In rugby union, for example, the ARU has a sevens team and a Wallabies team.''

The trend of employing specialists has already caught on in the Australian side with several T20 stars featuring in the side which reached the final of the r e c e n t Wo r l d T 2 0 i n t h e Caribbean.

Pacers Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes, who have retired from first-class cricket, and opening batsman David Warner are some of the Australian cricketers who are solely employed in Twenty20 cricket.

Australia's T20 vice-captain Cameron White and all-rounder David Hussey, are also limited overs specialists.

Lalit Modi, suspended Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, has accused N Srinivasan, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), of harassing him by issuing show cause notices on flimsy grounds.

Replying to the second show cause notice, Modi said the board secretary appears to be keen on defending England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Giles Clarke than protecting his interests as the board vice-president.

Wednesday, squandering a match point and losing to Australian spoiler Samantha Stosur, 6-2, 6-7 (2), 8-6.

A 12-time Grand Slam champion, Williams won her only French Open title in 2002 and hasn’t been to the semifinals since 2003.

The upset was the second in

a row for the No. 7-seeded Stosur, and the third in as many days at Roland Garros. Stosur ended four-time champion Justine Henin’s Roland Garros winning streak at 24 matches in the fourth round.

It was Williams’ first Grand Slam loss since her meltdown in the semi-finals of the U.S.

Currently lying at fifth place after the first selection tournament in Bangalore, eight-time world champion Geet Sethi said that he cannot be written off as yet and that he has the capability to sparkle when it matters the most and turn the tide in his favour.

The charge sheet was slapped on Modi on complaints made by Clarke, who said the suspended IPL chairman was trying to create a parallel league in England and splitting world cricket.

Modi said: "I am pained that instead of standing up for me and advising Mr Clarke to desist from making patently irresponsible, unfounded and motivated allegations against me, you have chosen to issue a show cause notice to me."

"Considering my contribution to the IPL over the past 3 years and my firm and unyielding stand against rebel/unofficial

cricket... the least that was expected, in the circumstances, was that the elementary courtesy of seeking my response or comment, be extended to me.

Instead, you have, hastily, chosen to issue a show cause notice to me."

"What is even more unfortunate is that (like Mr. Clarke) the show cause notice makes allegations which go beyond those made by Mr.Clarke. The show cause notice makes various assumptions and presumptions which are totally misconceived and baseless," he said.

Geet maintained that all the nine players vying for the two billiard places at the 2010 Asian Games are quite competitive and it would be a big challenge for him to win one of the two qualifying spots.

“The picture, though, would be clear only after the third selection tournament,” he added as he interacted with the press here today.

Speaking on his form, Geet said that it is fine and that he has been practicing very hard, but hastened to add that he has to translate his form during the matches, which will decide his fate.

When questioned whether the shorter version (100-break format) allows the lesser known players some advantage, Geet disagreed and said that whatever be the format, it is the one who is more competent who always wins and cited the example of Pankaj Advani who has been able to triumph in all the formats.

“However, the shorter version opens up the field much more since most of the players are unable to survive in a longer format,” he said and added that the tournament is still wide open and that anybody could win.

Speaking on the prospects of India at the Asian Games, Geet said that India is the top seed in billiards and will definitely grab two medals, but the colour of the medals will depend on the performance of the players who get selected.

“In snooker too, India has been winning medals, and hopefully this time around we will improve our performance and bring home more medals,” he informed and said that in 9-ball

and 8-ball pool tournaments, the aim is to win a medal, which has eluded India previously.

Commenting on the scenario of the sports in the country, Geet was all praise for the younger generation of players who, he said, are bettering the records/benchmarks set by the previous generation, which augurs well for the growth of the sport.

When queried as to what should be done to attract the middle-class to the sport, as currently it is dubbed as rich man’s sport, Geet said that the sport should be transformed from the current club sport to entertainment sport and a family should be able to enjoy it for a minimal fee.

“Ten years ago, cue sports had been able to establish as an entertainment sport and there were more than 2 lakh tables all over the country,” he informed and lamented the interference of the government, which was responsible for its downfall, since it thought that it was more of a betting industry and levied taxes due to which

n Geet Sethi advised that the BCCI, for at least once, should keep aside the commercial aspect aside and start thinking for the honour of the country.

Photo: Rozario Estibeiro

from a service break down in the second set, also reached the semifinals in 2007 and 2008, then lost each time.

The other semi-final will be between No. 5 Elena Dementieva and No. 17 Francesca Schiavone, the first Italian woman to reach the final four at Roland Garros since 1954.

AGENCIES LAHORE, JUNE 2

Spain's Rafael Nadal serves during his men's quarter-final against compatriot Nicolas Almagro.

Nadal in title contention lDjokovic follows Federer, Serena AP PARIS, JUNE 2

Four-time champion Rafael Nadal is back in the French Open semifinals.

The second-seeded Nadal beat No. 19 Nicolas Almagro 76 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-4 Wednesday in an all-Spanish quarterfinal.

Nadal has yet to drop a set in the tournament. Last year, his 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros ended with a fourth-round loss to Robin Soderling, who upset Roger Federer on Tuesday.

Nadal improved to 7-0 against Almagro.

Don’t write me off, pleads Geet Sethi HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, JUNE 2

Open last September against Kim Clijsters. This time she directed any anger only at herself—and her shoes.

Stosur, a semi-finalist for the second year in a row, will play Thursday against No. 4 Jelena Jankovic, who beat unseeded Yaroslava Shvedova 7-5, 6-4.

Jankovic, who rallied three times

PCB appoints Butt as vice-captain Pakistan on Wednesday appointed opener Salman Butt as vice captain for the upcoming tours of Sri Lanka and England after he lost the Test captaincy to Shahid Afridi.

"Butt has been appointed vice captain for the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka and for the tour of England," a Pakistan Cricket Board spokesman said. The 25-yearold will be deputy to Afridi who was last week appointed captain for the two tours.

But once Afridi, who has not played a Test since 2006, made himself available for the longer version of the game Butt was pushed to the deputy's spot.

But once Afridi, who has not played a Test since 2006, made himself available for the longer version of the game Butt was pushed to the deputy's spot.

Pakistan take on hosts and defending champions Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in the Asia Cup from June 15-24 before their tour of England.

Pakistan play two Twenty20 and two Tests against Australia before taking on England in four Tests, five one-day and two Twenty20 matches.

BCCI issuing notices on flimsy grounds: Modi AGENCIES MUMBAI, JUNE 2

Pg 18

the tables are now priced at Rs 25,000.

“However, we have been taking up the issue with the government and trying to sort out the differences,” he added.

On what keeps him going, as he enters the 36th year in competitive sports, Geet said that it is his addiction to the sport, which he said is getting deeper the longer he plays.

The decision of the BCCI not to send the cricket team to Asian Games means that India will lose a sure chance to win a medal, and it has received a lot of flak from certain quarters. The issue was posed to Geet,who pointed out that it’s a loss to the country as India had a sure shot chance to win the gold.

He further advised that the BCCI, for at least once, should keep aside the commercial aspect aside and start thinking for the honour of the country.

Geet opined that it is always an honour to represent one’s country, be it at Asian, Olympic or any other game, and that to win a medal is always a dream.

Austrian Jurgen Melzer produced a dramatic fightback from two sets down to send third seed Novak Djokovic spinning out of the French Open on Wednesday.

Melzer, playing in the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time, looked down and out before an incredible revival earned him a 3-6 2-6 6-2 7-6 64 victory.

The 22nd seed had never clawed back a two-set deficit before but he suddenly burst into life and eventually wore down Djokovic in a match lasting four hours and 15 minutes to earn the dubious prize of a semi-final against Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic was too consistent in the first two sets but Melzer lifted his game brilliantly to take the third set.

The Austrian snatched the fourth on a tiebreak and broke once in the ninth game of the decider before serving out for victory on his third match point.

Force India sues Lotus AGENCIES LONDON, JUNE 2

The Vijay Mallya-owned Force India Formula One team has sued F1 rival Lotus in UK, accusing it of copying their VJM03 wind tunnel model.

"The Force India F1 Team confirms it has instigated UK civil proceedings against 1Malaysia Ra c i n g Te a m S D N B H D ( a Malaysian company), 1Malaysia Racing Team (UK) Limited (Lotus Racing's parent companies), Michael Gascoyne and Aerolab SRL," the Silverstone-based team said.

The F1 team, of which Mallya is the Chairman, alleged that Lotus, when it used the Aerolab and Fondtech facilities, utilised Force India's intellectual property, including components and tyres exclusively licensed by Bridgestone, on its wind tunnel model design for the current Lotus T127 chassis.

Force India said these are serious claims and it "would not be taking such action if it could not provide supportive evidence."

Force India believes Aerolab copied the team's wind tunnel - a tool used in aerodynamic research - design model and passed it on to Lotus.

Incidentally, Lotus technical boss Gascoyne worked with Force India in the past before he was shown the door.