5 FEB,2011 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

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Panjim I February, 5, 2011 I Postal Reg. No. Goa 101 I Price Rs. 3.00 I Air Surcharge Rs 2 I Pages 16+8

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PAkISTAN COuRT ADjOuRNS 26/11 TRIAL >> P12

sports

CIPRIANO’S FAmILy AGAINST GOvT mOvE FOR SIT PRObE >> P3

PAk TRIO FACES TRIAL IN ENGLAND >> P16

AP/PTI

InsIde

Herald Weekend

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P7 Mobile Number Portability is here. Telecom companies are back on the battleground.

P8 Manoj Caculo steps into the boardroom to discuss his company’s present and future.

Subsidy to be recovered from power guzzlers HERaLD REpoRtER Panjim, Feb 4: The Minister for Power Aleixo Sequeira has declared that 25 per rebate given to various power guzzling units by virtue of two notifications issued in 1996 with the initiative of then >Continued on pg 10

PUTTING THEIR FOOT DOWN: Anti-Government demonstrators gather in Tahrir Square, Cairo, on Friday. The Egyptian military guarded thousands of protesters pouring into Cairo’s main square even as embattled President Hosni Mubarak ignored mounting global pressure to step down saying it will plunge Egypt into chaos.

(More on page 11)

our newspaper has dressed up for the weekend to come to you. Starting today, the Saturday and Sunday editions of the Herald will come to you in this new contemporary packaging. The synergies of visuals and text content will run through every page where the pictures will speak as much as words.

We hope the Herald Weekend will be as much a part of your weekend as your chats in your balcao or your balcony, your cooking adventures, your family debates and your get-togethers. We will try and see that the paper stimulates, entertains, provokes debate and most importantly speaks for you, as it has always done.

Most importantly, we will try our best to see that the newspaper is relevant to everyone in Goa. From devotees in temples in Mangueshi and Ponda, to the village

sarpanch in Bicholim, from a government college teacher in Sanguem to a priest in Sernabatim. And above all it has to be relevant to the real aam aadmi of Goa. You. What will remain consistent are the core values of the Herald which we have cherished and you have respected. The accuracy of reporting, the zeal to be the voice of the people of Goa, with the realization that it is

Sujay Gupta

Editor Weekend editorweekend@herald-goa.com

the people who make the paper.

The institution of Herald is such that people walk in through our doors to pat us on the back, or give us a good mouthful if we have fallen short. Many an important campaign or a fight for a cause emerges from the embers of these banters and >Continued on pg 10

Nothing changes - Just Gudlar stole drugs from ANC to sell them back the faces of torture Govt letters evidence of police theft Cipriano died, she survived.

The Bicholim police, led by the same officer conducting an inquiry into the Cipriano case dragged and beat a woman unconscious in a minor property trespass case. A month and a half later, every policeman roams free and without charges. TEAM HERALD pulls this case out of oblivion and places it before you The tragedy is in the irony.

As policemen held prima facie guilty of brutally torturing Cipriano Fernandes, which led to his death, face arrest and punishment, a woman in Bicholim, gets far less attention because she has lived to tell her tale. Her

BRutaL VIoLatIoNS

Geeta Pednekar showing torture marks

Arrested before sunset.

Not produced before a magistrate because she was in hospital. She, a 29year old woman in perfect health was hospitalised in an unconscious state.

Allegedly beaten and kicked not just by a lady constable but also by PSI Valke, who has been posted in the same police station for seven years.

No action against a single police officer for close to 2 months.

torture story is actually a week older than Cipriano’s.

First, see what happened to her. This is her story, obviously denied by the Bicholim police. Why this happened to her is actually irrelevant and even absurd and will be dealt

with later. Geeta Pednekar, 29 of Bicholim was dragged across broken iron plates by Sub-Inspector Valke, flung into a police jeep, kicked in the abdomen till she lost consciousness only to regain it briefly at a primary health

centre. She fainted yet again only to find her-self at the Goa Medical College.

“Three lady constables and police Sub-Inspector Valke came to my house, dragged me and dumped me in the police jeep. I was dragged through broken iron plates near my house gutter…”.

“I was forcibly removed from my house and on my way to the Bicholim police station, I was beaten up by constables including the male ones. A woman constable Mamta kicked me on my abdomen several times”.

Clearly there are no gender >Continued on pg 10

Star-studded line-up for D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Panjim, Feb 4: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will inaugurate the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas on Saturday at Kala Academy, Panjim, to be followed by a lecture delivered by eminent scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar. This is the fourth edition of this lecture series, and will be held from February 5 to 10 at Kala Academy, Panjim.

Other speakers will include another great scientist and former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Tibetan leader and Buddhist luminary

DR R a MaSHELkaR to SpEak toDay His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Indian-born British economist and intellectual Lord Meghnad Desai, Human Rights activist and former Judge of South Africa’s Constitutional Court Justice Albie Sachs and Rajya Sabha MP, Hindu leader and President of the Indian

Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Dr Karan Singh.

Saturday’s talk will have Dr Raghunath Mashelkar speaking about ‘Making the Impossible, Possible’, from 5 pm to 7.30 pm. Dr Mashelkar is the former Director General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), a chain of 38 government research and development (R&D) institutions employing 20,000 scientists, which includes the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), located in Goa. A son of Goa, Dr Mashelkar >Continued on pg 10

VIBHa VERMa

HERaLD EXCLuSIVE

Panjim, Feb 4: It was always believed that officials of the Anti-Narcotics Cell stole drugs from their own seized stock and sold them back into the drug market. Now here’s proof. And it’s the same man Gudlar again.

In a letter written by Chief Secretary, Goa, Sanjay Srivastava (dated Jan 31, 2011) to Dr S K Sarkar Additional Secretary Service and Vigilance, Department of Personnel and Training, asking the CBI to investigate the case of P S Sunil Gudlar’s drug links as exposed in sting operation

n

Chief Secretary, Goa, Sanjay Srivastava’s letter to Centre.

by ‘Prudent media’, Srivastava states that the Special Investigation Team formed to conduct an inquiry had found prima facie evidence that Gudlar “committed theft of narcotic drugs from the

ANC godown”.

It is indicated that it was this stolen supply that Gudlar attempted to sell to the sister and girlfriend of drug don Dudu, which was caught on >Continued on pg 10

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For the first time, the polling and counting for CCP polls will be held on March 13, the results would be out within an hour. which has never happened anywhere in the country. — SEC, M Modassir

Acquittals outnumber convictions in crime branch cases

CCP polling, results on March 13!

teaM herald PANJIM, FEB 4:

For the first time ever election and counting in the state would be held on the same day with the State Election Commission planning the election and counting for the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) polls on March 13.

The election for 30-wards of CCP would be held through electronic voting machines (EVMs) and will be monitored online by senior poll officials.

During the election procedure, voter would be photographed and his finger print would be obtained before he is allowed to vote.

Polling would be held between 8 am to 5 pm and the counting can start by 8 pm.

Goa College of Pharmacy is proposed to be the counting centre for the elections.

Vardhan said that the entire process would be monitored online and two hourly updates of the voting percentage would be made available to the public through a website.

Burglary accused brought to Goa

headmaster’s charges scoffed Anjuman Nurul Islam High School has rubbished allegation by the suspended headmaster Abdul Aziz Mulla of being pressurised to sign on a letter that the alleged assault on a 14-year-old student was unintentional.

The chairman of the school’s managing committee Shaikh Shukur has termed the allegations as false, afterthought and misleading to the people and parents.

Mulla was suspended by the school management on Monday in connection with a case of corporal punishment against him that took place more than a month ago as a student had alleged that the principal had slapped him.

He had however alleged that the managing committee and the chairman asked him to sign on the letter assuring him that the matter would not be pursued further.

The data furnished in the Assembly by Home Minister Ravi Naik, Crime Branch has handled 546 cases in last 3 years of which 191 were cracked and 66 were closed.

Crime ‘n’ no punishment

SNAPSHOT

The four accused who were arrested in connection with the Rs 50 lakh burglary at Salvador-do-Mundo were brought to Goa from Bangalore on Friday evening.

A Manipuri security guard and three others were arrested on charges of decamping with ornaments and cash, all worth Rs 50 lakh, from a bungalow owned by builder Venkatesh Prabhu Moni at Salvador-do-Mundo on Wednesday.

A team of Porvorim Police led by PI Devendra Gad had left for Bangalore on Thursday evening to bring back the four accused – security guard Rashikant Sing (24), his brother Rakesh (19), father Ramanand (54) and neighbour K H Madhumangal (56).

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Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

anGanwadi teaChers blocked the road to Altinho-Panjim till late night demanding regularisation of services.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

2008: 5 convicted, 218 acquitted. 2009: 3 convicted, 88 acquitted, 2010: 1 convicted, 45 acquitted. If you are an accused in a case tried by the Crime Branch you have about 2 in a hundred chances of getting convicted. And it’s not we who are saying it. The government is.

The data furnished in the State Legislative Assembly by Home Minister Ravi Naik is shocking Crime Branch has handled total 546 cases in last three years of which 191 were cracked and 66 were closed.

And in case of the investigations which have reached to final conclusions, there are only 9 convictions while 351 accused were acquitted by judiciary as the Crime Branch

failed to prove them guilty.

The special unit with its head office at Dona Paula is manned by officers, who are kept away from routine law and order issues so that they can investigate properly in the crucial cases.

But the records speak otherwise. The profile of the cases which led to acquittals is stunning. The Crime Branch has not been able to get accused in cases like murder, rapes and even petty cases like gambling convicted in the court.

The reasons for acquittals are the conventional excuses given by men-in-uniform.

The reply on the floor of the House says that cases are acquitted because there is no evidence or at times accused is absconding.

Dudu diaries: Free, arrested, free again teaM herald PANJIM, FEB 4: The governments most prized arrests Dudu and Atala are both free now. Atala arrested in Peru is yet to be brought back, while Dudu has got bail conditionally. Team Herald looks back at how a man like Dudu came to India and established his drug network From a tourist to a garment trader and an alleged drug dealer! The story of Israeli national David Driham alias Dudu spans over a decade in Goa. Sources close to Dudu stated that he descended in Goa in 1998 as a tourist. Alike several other Israelis thronging to the Hippie cultured beach of Goa, he return again in 2004 and this time with his then Israeli girlfriend.

Dudu met an Israeli couple

in Goa during his stay here at a party. The couple was into the business of food products.

It’s here that thoughts of starting a business in Goa germinated in Dudu’s mind.

Two young Israeli business people Ronly Erez alias Shanti and Maria Varela owning the firm ‘Pure Vakhos Trade Pvt Ltd’ at Anjuna agreed to enroll Dudu and his girlfriend in the list of their employees.

The letter of recommendation given by the firm helped Dudu to get a business visa.

Dudu was supposed to handle marketing of the firm, which was into the food products. His girlfriend was given an administrative job.

Erez-Varela firm, which was formally incorporated in 1998 deals in importing and distributing olives, cheese products,

what’s his Business?

Dudu met an Israeli couple in Goa during his stay here at a party. The couple was into the business of food products. It’s here that thoughts of starting a business in Goa germinated in Dudu’s mind. chocolates and other packaged food products from European countries.

The firm still exists and caters to the hospitality industry, and supermarkets along Goa’s coastal belt. The firm with 49 per cent share to an Indian partner had come under scanner after Dudu’s arrest in February 2010.

With a responsibility of marketing on his shoulder, Dudu traveled to Bangkok and returned back with a

new passport and a visa.

Sources stated that things did not go well for much time.

On his return, Dudu changed his mind and told the Israeli business couple that he wanted to start own business.

His girlfriend, however, continued with her commitment before she resigned in 2005.

The anti narcotics squad claimed to have arrested Dudu with cocktail of drugs running in several lakhs of rupees near his Anjuna

house on February 21 night.

Upon searching his house, the team stumbled on the ‘letter of recommendation’ given by ‘Pure Vakhos Trade Pvt Ltd.’ The couple submitted entire company documents to the then ANC Superintendent of Police Veenu Bansal. They even requested the officers to protect them from the bad press they were getting after Dudu’s arrest. In their letter dated March 4, 2010, copy of which is available with Herald, the couple rubbished allegations that Dudu was the owner of their company and that it dealt with narcotics trade.

“We would like to inform you that the statements like ‘Dudu being an owner of our Company’, ‘our company involved in transfer of narcotics and that ‘it has not done any

legitimate business’ by the media and supposedly attributed by officers of your department are incorrect,” the letter addressed to SP ANC read.

Dudu then had started his own venture ‘Dudu Division Import Export Private Ltd’ at Anjuna. Bansal was quoted saying that Dudu’s company did not have Reserve Bank of India permission after which it was closed down. Dudu then traded garments in Anjuna flea market. Dudu had rented out a counter in the popular beach market and had his men selling imported and local garments. ANC recently charge-sheeted Dudu before the NDPS Court claimed that he carried out narcotics trade for 12 years from his rented premise in Anjuna.

Battle for PanjiM wards 29 & 7 A little over a month later, the people of Panjim will vote for change. For a corporation which will hopefully help bring about change to a city that is as diverse as it is unified in culture. Today, Herald looks at two wards, one that runs along one of Goa’s busiest rivers and one that needs to rid itself of the stigma of being located near a nullah that is desperately crying out for help. As always your responses, comments and criticisms are eagerly expected.

Water everywhere, but hardly a drop to drink

Nagging nullah at St Inez

shweta KaMat

shweta KaMat

PANJIM, FEB 4: A jetty facilitating anchoring of canoes by traditional fishermen, a road running alongside picturesque Mandovi River and a traditional Portuguese-era house could be the face of ward number 29 of CCP in the near future.

The calm Mandovi River water meets Arabian Sea at a short distance from this ward. This makes this part of

fishermen to anchor their canoes. It will also convert the space into a tourist spot from where one can see the Chorao Bird Sanctuary and the twin bridges dotting Panjim city adjacent to it.

The CCP is left with the task of moulding the existing resources in a way that this corner of the city can be developed in a bountiful way.

Though the locals claim that the garbage collection is one major issue that needs to be

Rupesh Haldankar I did this Foothpaths Drains Hot mixing of roads Promises not fulfilled Water problem Garbage issue city essentially beautiful. But the Portuguese-era houses and chock-a-block lanes haven’t left more space for further development.

The project under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) has been conceived that will provide a jetty for traditional

Total amount spent Rs 2.5 crore total development has been carried out Rs 9 lakh were provided

by CCP Rest of the amount managed through PWD, NH and MPLAD tackled, the corporator has already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for setting up of sewerage treatment plant for Ribandar.

“Garbage has been a major issue along with vexed sewerage issue haunting the ward,” Vanita Fernandes, who will be contesting against the sitting corporator Rupesh

Halarnkar at the forthcoming election, says.

High on the revenue collection, this ward, affiliated to BJP, has contributed Rs 12 lakh annually to the coffers of CCP. But in return, the ward has received funds worth Rs 9 lakh only.

Halarnkar feels that the ward was spared from being called underdeveloped only due to various developmental programmes implemented by state departments.

The constant follow-ups have managed to gain funds worth Rs 2.5 crore for this ward. However, the funds were managed through PWD and MPLAD. The ward which covers areas like Manaswada, Fondvem, Milrock and Patto has approximately 1400 voters. Halarnkar had

defeated Nolasco Pereira in the last election.

There are plans afoot to upgrade PDA market which will house fishermen and vegetable vendors on the ground floor. It will also have a community house for Ribandar on the first floor.

Vanita Fernandes, says, “He is been successful in doing much of the development work for the ward. However, he has failed to raise the issue of water shortage faced by the locals to the concerned department.

The ward receives water for hardly one hour in the evening”.

PANJIM, FEB 4: With not many civic issues to rue about, the residents of ward number 7 spread between St Inez and Tonca are waiting for the day when the nullah (creek) running through their ward would be made beautiful.

The ward is represented in CCP by Aldrin Basilio Soares, is a developed part of the city. Located in the heart of Panjim, the people in this ward feel that everything is fine. The proposal for dredging and cleaning up of St Inez nullah is pending with the government. With CCP running short of resources, the work is already listed to be taken up under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme.

A Rs 17 crore upgradation project has been on hold since sub-committee (JNNURM) member Nandkumar Kamat raised an objection to the concretisation of the nullah, stating that it will have an adverse effect on ecology. Moreover, the water body needs to be noti-

fied as a creek in order to get funding from the Central government.

Unfortunately, this project is unlikely to see completion even this year, as the deadline for forwarding the project to the central minister has already lapsed.

The delays over the project are worrying the locals, who are situated on its bank. The nullah which gushes through ward number 7, 8, 9, 13 and 16 is actually infamous for stink emanating from its waters and is not just a headache for CCP but even for Panjim MLA Manohar Parrikar, who chairs the subcommittee under JNNURM. On the garbage front, the

Milind Bharne, says, “A over-all a very good development has been carried out in the ward. Especially the rehabilitation of migrants was the great step taken

by Basilio.”

Aldrin Basilio Soares I did this…

Footpaths Drains Electricity and water to migrants Hot mixing (full ground) ward has no issues. A walk through the ward and random chat with the locals reveal that the garbage is collected at regular intervals without letting it pile up.

During last five years, developmental work worth Rs 50 lakh has been undertaken in the ward, which includes repairing of footpaths, drains, hot mixing of roads and others. The entire amount has come from the Corporation of the City of Panjim kitty.

In fact there is much more than the conventional development executed in this ward.

Garbage Rehabilitated migrant families Total amount spent Rs 50 lakh The corporator along with a private builder has rehabilitated nearly 40 families of migrants from Tonca to a building in 2007-08. Similarly, he has rehabilitated 20 migrant families from St Inez in his ancestral property.

Aldrin will not be able to contest this time as the ward is reserved for women. At the last election, he defeated Milind Bharne. This time around, Maria Regina Almeida, the sitting corporator from ward number 6 will be contesting the polls.

The ward has approximately 1200 voters.

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Cipriano’s family against govt move for SIT probe HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 4: Family members of the custodial death victim Cipriano Fernandes have opposed Goa Government’s move of handing over the case to the Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Replying to a calling attention motion during the State Assembly session on the con-

Reacting to the decision, Cipriano’s paternal cousin Cosme Fernandes said that this was an attempt to dilute charges against the policemen and all those responsible for Cipriano’s killing.

“Ravi Naik is trying to dilute the case and charges against the suspended policemen by the handing over the

THE fAmiLy’s OPPOsiTiOn Ravi Naik is trying to dilute the case and charges against the suspended policemen by the handing over the case to a new investigating agency. We will not get justice if the Government continues playing tricks. — Cipriano’s paternal cousin Cosme Fernandes cluding day, Home Minister Ravi Naik on Thursday had said that SIT headed by Superintendent of Police Omprakash Kurtarkar will probe the death of Cipriano Fernandes.

case to a new investigating agency. We will not get justice if the Government continues playing tricks,” Fernandes told Herald.

At present, four agencies are probing into the killing

including Judicial Magistrate First Class, Panjim, State Police Complaints Authority, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and DySP Bossuet D’Silva who is looking into the procedural lapses.

Three policemen – PI Sandesh Chodankar, PSI Radhesh Ramnathkar and head constable Sandip Shirvaikar, were suspended after D’Silva’s preliminary report pointed out preliminary lapses.

Naik had said that the SDM’s inquiry concluded that the 38-year-old seafarer died due to injuries which he received while he was in the police custody.

The report also recommended that appropriate offences under Indian Penal Code should be initiated against the police officers on duty when Cipriano was in the custody.

NOC mandatory for ore-laden ships leaving from MPT HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 4: With Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) implementing the State government’s decision of compulsory NOC before ship laden with iron ore leaves the port, all the ore leaving State’s ports will now be accounted for.

After much delay and pressures from Ministry of Shipping, MPT has made it compulsory for the ships leaving its berths to have NOC from Mines and Geology Department.

Director of Mines and Geology Arvind Lolienkar said that the system has begun from February 1 onwards.

Sources stated that the officials from Union Ministry of Shipping had written letter to MPT Chairman asking him to abide by State government’s directives of making NOC compulsory.

As per figures available from Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association

MPT, govt to work unitedly, House informed HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 4: “High handedness” of Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) yet again became subject of heated discussion in the House on the concluding day of the Winter Session of Goa Assembly on Friday.

The Chief Minister Digambar Kamat however said the Centre has asked MPT to work hand-in-hand with Goa government.

A group has been formed consisting of three secretaries with chief secretary at the helm of affairs, to work out each problem pertaining to MPT and a meeting with new chairman is already held, Kamat said as members along with Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar raked up the issue during “Question Hour.”

Mormugao MLA, Milind Naik had tabled a question pertaining to various projects of MPT approved by the MoEF and GSPCB .

(GMOEA), around 80 percent of the ore exported from Goa leaves from MPT’s berths.

GMOEA’s Executive Director, S Shridhar said that the process of getting NOCs have been hassle-free until now. “We have not faced any problems,” he said.

State-run Panjim Port was the first one to implement compulsory NOC system, which was introduced by Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to arrest revenue leakage and illegal mining.

MPT has been delaying the implementation of this new system. Kamat had told the State legislative assembly that he had to lobby in Centre to make MPT enforce the new system.

MPT handled 40320 million tones of iron ore during period 2009-2010 which was more in comparison to earlier exports. The fiscal 2008-09 saw MPT handling 33809 MT of iron ore and 2007-08 had 27302 MT ore exported from this port situated at Vasco.

Vedanta Resource’s Sesa Goa Private Limited is the largest exporter of ore from this port. For the year 200910, 11531 MT ore, 2008-09 11011 MT ore and 2007-08, 8252 MT ore was exported by Sesa Goa from MPT.

Four agencies are probing into Cipriano’s death. JMFC, Panjim, State Police Complaints Authority, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and DySP Bossuet D’Silva are conducting separate inquiries.

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Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

MPT has made it compulsory for the ships leaving its berths to have NOC from Mines and Geology Department.

2 more held in headless body murder case HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, FEB 4: The Maina Curtorim police on Friday arrested two more persons Sandeep Kalangutkar and Rashikant Gauns in connection with the headless body murder case.

A day after the South Goa Sessions court rejected his anticipatory bail application, Rashikant Gauns, a teacher by profession, surrendered before the Maina Curtorim police on Friday.

The Maina Curtorim police have sought Rashikant’s custodial interrogation to identify his role in the commission of offence, locate his absconding associates, recover the missing head of the deceased and also to recover the weapons used in the commission of offense.

Though another suspect is believed to have surrendered to the Maina Curtorim police station, Maina Curtorim PI Sidhant Shirodkar only confirmed Rashikant’s surrendered to the police station today.

Rashikant had move the Sessions court for anticipatory bail fearing arrest by the police, but the court rejected his plea saying the crime he is required for interrogation is most heinous in nature.

Sources in the know said the police are now trying to lay their hands on two more persons in connection with

the case to help investigate and recover the missing head

and the weapons used in the commission of the crime.

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I will check up with the police stations if there is any delay. My office had earlier issued a circular to all police stations to seek sanction from the TCP. - Dy SP Umesh Gaonkar

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Goa I Saturday 05, February 2011

The residents of Madel have been running from pillar to post since the last one decade.

- Savio Dias

Hill cutting cases lying low in courts

Sulabh promises high sanitation standards

BY HeRaLD RePORteR Margao, Feb 4: Coming

Government lacks will, say activists

BY HeRaLD RePORteR

activists cry foul over inaction

Margao, Feb 4 : This should

Colva Civic and Consumer Forum secretary Judith Almeida and other prominent activists from Salcette, who were in the forefront last year, literally forcing the government to activate the flying squad to crack a whip against illegal land filing and hill cutting has cried foul over the sad state of affairs.

Almeida has lamented that the authorities have failed to take the investigations into the cases of illegal land filling and hill cutting to their logical conclusions.

“There is not even one case where the violators were made to restore the land to their original condition”, she said, and accused some unscrupulous officials for manipulating the inspection reports to suit the violators.

Almeida says if the government is serious in putting a stop to illegal land filling and hill cutting, they should come down heavily on the violators to act as a deterrent for others. “The fact that charge sheets are not being filed in the courts shows their indifference and callousness to the issue. Without a charge sheet, the trial against the violators would not commence and the violators would go scott free”, he added.

certainly raise eyebrows amongst activists and environmentalists in the forefront against illegal hill cuttings and filling of low lying agricultural land.

Blame it on police lethargy or simply the nature of investigations under section 17-A of the Town and Country Planning Act, most of the cases filed by the Flying Squads against illegal land filling and hill cutting in Salcette taluka are awaiting trial in the court of law.

If Town and country planning officials are to be believed, little less than half a dozen cases had come to the department for sanction from the police stations before charge sheeting the cases in the courts.

Tentative figures available from the Margao office of the Town and Country Planning department show that around two dozens complaints were lodged by the office with the concerned police stations last year based on reports re-

ceived from the governmentconstituted flying squads.

Sadly, the department has so far granted sanction to charge sheet only in a couple of cases, while pushing the blame on the law enforcing agencies for the delays.

Says Town Planner, Mar-

gao Rajesh Naik: “Based on the reports from the flying squad, my office has lodged around 24 cases last year pertaining to illegal hill cutting and land filling. As per the mandatory provisions, the police are required to seek sanction from the Senior

Town Planner. We have received proposals in 5-6 cases from the police”, TCP officials said the police have to seek the sanction from the Senior Town Planner as per the requirements, but the proposals in many of the case have not been forthcoming from the men-in-uniform.

“May be, the request for sanction have not come in some cases because of the verification exercise police has to conduct before concluding the names of the accused,” an official said.

When contacted, Margao Sub Divisional police officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar says that the police normally seeks sanction from the Town and Country Planning Department before charge sheeting the cases under the Town and Country Planning Act. “I will check up with the police stations if there is any delay.

My office had earlier issued a circular to all police stations to seek sanction from the TCP”, he said.

Incidentally, Maina Curtorim Police station incharge, PI Sidhant Shridokar said

unkinD cut: Hill cutting site in Salcette taluka. that some of the cases booked by the police station under section 17-A has been charge sheeted after obtaining sanction from the authorities. The Margao Town and Country Planning office – which has

its jurisdiction over Salcette – was literally on its toes in the month of June last year after the flying squads lodged as many as 14 complaints vis-àvis illegal land filling or hill cutting

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar Accordingly, the TCP had lodged FIRs against the concerned parties under Section 17 of the Town and Country Planning Act with the police stations at Maina Curtorim, Colva and Verna.

under severe flak for the poor upkeep and maintenance of public toilets in the commercial Capital, Sulabh International has promised to maintain high sanitation standards in the toilets run by the agency within the next three months.

Founder of Sulabh Sanitation and Social Reform Movement, Dr Bindeshwar Pathak on Friday had an interaction with Margao Municipal Chairperson Sushila Naik and Chief Officer Prasanna Acharya and promised to necessary changes in the public toilets.

He said some of the toilets are facing basic problems and promised to take all precautions to safeguard the health of the citizens. “We have conducted inspection of our toilets in Margao and have come to the conclusion that some of the toilets are facing basic problem. We intend to provide the same sanitation standard for these toilet by replacing the worn out roof, floor tiles etc”, he promised.

Pathak, however, underlined the need to ensure that only sewage waters finds its way into the septic tanks and soakpits, while bathroom waters is discharged into the storm water drains.

Possible health hazard 25 years down the line…satellite markets yet to be a reality lurking near Madel, residents move court Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

BY HeRaLD RePORteR

Margao, Feb 4: When the

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

BY HeRaLD RePORteR Margao, Feb 4: Just imagine a situation when helpless residents have to knock the doors of the Judiciary to protect them from stench and foul odour from a stinking market next door.

Indeed, Goa’s lone wholesale fish market – from where fish is supplied to the nook and corner of the state every day -- is giving sleepless nights to the neighbouring residents of Madel, prompting them to approach the high court to save them from a health hazard.

For the second time nearly a decade now, a resident of Madel and social activist, Savio Dias has filed a petition before the Panjim bench of the Bombay high court seeking direction to the South Goa Planning and Development Authority to maintain hygiene and sanitation in the market complex.

The reason: The SGPDA – which owns and runs the wholesale fish market – has defaulted in the maintenance of the market complex, posing a health hazard and a nuisance to the residents .

Says Mr Dias: “The residents of Madel have been running from pillar to post since the last one decade to get the wholesale fish market maintained in a hygienic manner, but in vain. There are maggots around the market as untreated waste water accumulates in the adjoining low lying fields. The water treatment plant erected at the wholesale market complex is

fisHY stencH: Untreated effluents from the market has found its way in the adjoining fields.

wholesalers unhappy with the arrangements It’s not just the Maddel residents which have time and again made noise over the unhygienic conditions in the wholesale fish market.

The Wholesale fish market association too is unhappy over the environment in the market and has called for improvement in the situation.

Says Association President M Ibrahim: “The situation is bad in the wholesale fish market. The PDA earns revenue from the trucks coming into the market everyday, but we hardly find any facilities for the wholesalers”. awaiting commissioning for the last half a decade despite the sorry state of affairs.”

Incidentally, the planning body had around eight years ago assured Dias that the authority will seek the help of Sulabh International for designing the water treatment plant facility at the wholesale fish market. In the same letter, the PDA assured the residents to initiate stringent action against the fish cutters and other hawkers conducting “unauthorized” trade in the wholesale fish market.

Take note, the PDA not only took the help of Sulabh to help design the facility, but the agency even erected a cylindri-

cal object to treat the waste water at a cost of Rs 3-4 lakhs.

Till date, however, the imposing cylinder object is lying at the fish market unused and idle for want of commissioning.

That’s not all. The PDA, in another letter to Dias on July 3, 2009, stated that the PDA has directed Ms Sulabh International to expedite work of the effluent treatment plant at the wholesale fish market to achieve the purpose of sanitation.

Admitted PDA Member Secretary, Sandeep Surlekar: “Sulabh’s effluent treatment plant has not been commissioned till date due to some problems.

Margao Municipal Council first deliberated on establishing “Satellite markets” in the city in 1985, the proposal evoked positive response from the citizens as it promised to ease congestion in the Commercial Capital.

As many as three satellite markets were proposed to be set up at Fatorda, Aquem and Calconda-Colmorod area.

Twenty-five years down the line, and the Satellite market proposal lie confined to the dusty minutes books of the Margao Civic body for want of implementation.

The result being that fish continues to be sold along the

sateLLite faiLuRe: Fish and vegetable vendors take shelter under umbrellas at the Gogol junction. roadside at Fatorda, Gogol and other places.

Information revealed that the satellite market proposal was revived during the pe-

riod 1995-2000 when city Fathers once again adopted a resolution in favour of these markets to decongest the city.

Sadly the resolution again

found its way in cold storage for want to concrete plan of action on the part of the Civic body and the government.

Says former MMC Chairperson, Savio Coutinho: “The proposal of satellite markets was discussed and approved during 1995-2000.

A resolution was even passed to go for the satellite market as it was believed that the markets could offer solution to the acute congestion”.

IN fact, Coutinho still feels that though much water has flown down the River Sal since the proposal was first mooted by the Civic body, the proposal still holds good today.

The only time when the Civic body came close to establish a satellite market was

during the period 2000-2005.

It was at the initiative of then Councilor representing Aquem, Damu Naik that the proposal for a satellite market at Aquem was revived by the Civic body. Sadly, the proposal was shelved midway by the powers that be and the plot of land, which was supposed to host the market, was later converted into a commercial zone.

Interestingly, Satellite markets had been on the poll agenda of most of the political parties and candidates over the years, but the proposal seems to have lost the initial momentum with the Civic body – thanks to indifference and callousness from the powers that be.

Will govt’s scheme end or aid scrap yards?

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

BY HeRaLD RePORteR Margao, Feb 4: Will Salcette’s countryside finally be rid of the menace of scrap yards with the government implementing the Goa Waste (scrap) Recycling Unit Scheme 2010?

Or, will the exercise only end up in regularizing or bestowing legal status on the 140-odd scrap yards dotting the countryside in the absence of Trade Zones to house the units – a fear expressed by the concerned Panchayat bodies.

Well, the Joint Committee constituted under the Goa Waste Recycling Scheme for Salcette taluka headed by Sub-divisional Magistrate, Johnson Fernandes has been virtually flooded with applica-

waste menace: A scrap yard at Fatorda. tions for registration of the scrap yards under the scheme.

A whopping 149 applications has been received for registration of the units under the scheme. Given the magnitude of the exercise, the Joint Committee has so far taken up 50 applications, of which the Committee has recommended for immediate shifting 18 of the scrap yards with immediate effect, indicating that all was not well in-

side the units all these years.

Says SDM Johnson Fernandes: “The Joint Committee has scrutinized around 50 applications for registration in the first phase. We have recommended to the Directorate of Industries for registration of the some of the units and immediate shifting of others”.

If Johnson is to be believed, the joint Committee came across certain objectionable activity within the

scrap yards located in residential units in violation of norms.

But, what has raised concern amongst the elected representatives at the grass root level is the manner in which the exercise is being carried out by the government. They have conveyed their strong resentment to the Joint Committee over the registration of the scrap yards and wanted the Committee to first shift the scrap yards to the Trade Zones before issuing the registration.

Says former Rumdamol Sarpanch, Ulhas Tuenkar: “Sarpanchas have expressed their deep resentment over the registrations of the scrap yards. There are no Trade Zones earmarked for the scrap yards. This means the scrap yards will continue to do

business under the pretext that they are registered units.

The government should shift the units if it is serious in doing away with the menace.”

Their apprehensions are understandable because the scrap yards will continue to operate at the existing sites in the absence of trade zones as mooted under the Scheme.

Incidentally, even members of the Joint Committee have felt the need to relocate the scrap yards from the residential areas to available plots in the industrial zones immediately before their rehabilitation under the scheme. That’s not all, the Agencies have stressed on the need for the registered scrap yards to adopt all precautionary measures against fire, vector borne diseases, and a stop to unauthorized dealings.

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goa

Candolim resort alleges misappropriation of funds

CALANGUTE, FEB 4(HC): The owners of Casa Blanca Resort, Candolim, have alleged misappropriation of funds to the tune of Rs 90 lakh by some former employees on Thursday. In his complaint, Antonio Fernandes has stated that Resort’s former manager and accountant misappropriated the funds.

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Based on the reports from the flying squad, my office has lodged around 24 cases last year pertaining to illegal hill cutting and land filling.

- Rajesh Naik

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Goa I Saturday 05, February 2011

Sulabh’s effluent treatment plant has not been commissioned till date due to some problems.

- Sandeep Surlekar

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“ opinion WEEKENDEDIT

Add P to PPP - Probity

T

he resignation of health minister Vishwajeet Rane as the chairperson of the PPP monitoring committee for the new district hospital at Mapusa, is nothing but an effort to hold off pressure from within his party and the opposition.

Clearly faced with allegations of irregularities and corruption over the manner in which government hospitals are sought to be managed and run in the PPP mode, ostensibly to modernize and upgrade health services in the country, the health minister has made a token attempt to clean up by appointing the health secretary as chairperson of the PPP monitoring committee.

The Health secretary, whose close proximity to the health minister is open knowledge, will all but be a proxy for the health minister.

This brings us to a larger debate over the need to bring in part or complete privatization of the health sector. The crucial operative part of this debate is that we are taking of a people sensitive area like health where the parameters for decision making have to be different from projects under industry and commerce. At the end of the day, the role of most important P in the 3 P’s is not public but private. The private partner in the partnership needs to make profits but overall contribute to the social cause.

From the way PPP projects in the health sector are being handled in Goa, there is very little confidence that the private part of the partnership will not be dictated by cold hard profit but by public service. And if there has been a failure it is this.

The Health Minister either by doing too much to push private players in the health sector and doing too little – at least visiblyto display complete transparency in the process of inviting private players, has failed to win people’s confidence. And he is on the wrong side of the time debate. He has indeed had time to display this transparency.

While consistent reporting on the subject will further unravel procedural lapses in the way the request for qualification for the Mapusa hospital project was issued or the fact that the law department did not vet it legally, the people of Goa have less complex but more important questions. In the ultimate analysis what is that people who cannot afford to pay exorbitant hospital bills asking. “Will we get basic health services free of charge?

Will a sufficient number of beds be available for needy patients? What will be the cost of a heart bypass operation or a brain surgery?

Simply put, the PPP model in Goa, salutes the Private P and takes for granted the Public P. Part privatisation is welcome only when the partnership between public and private is equal.

It cannot be a model where the beneficiaries are high premium paying health insurance policy holders or actually those who have immense wealth insurance.

Only once the above are addressed, will the immediate issues which are dominated discussions in the assembly be put into perspective. Issues like why was a consultant appointed for the North Goa districts hospital case by a committee headed by the health minister, need to be addressed. Secondly after a sufficient time lapse, we are still in the dark about the exact mode of the Public Private Partnership. Thirdly, the RFQ, as reported, states that companies with a turnover of a mere RS 15 crore for the last three years will be eligible while trusts and societies, to be eligible, will have to have a turnover of Rs 100 crores.

In the interest of transparency, let the Health Minister, as a test case put all the facts on the table and ensure that if the option of going to the old Asilo hospital was being taken away, the new option of going to the North Goa hospital to get themselves treated will not be a financial deterrent. After all, a hospital is not a holiday destination.

The people of Goa, urgently want another P to be added to PPP. Probity

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Vol. No CXI No. 036 I Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

www.herald-goa.com

The PPP model in Goa, salutes the Private P and takes for granted the Public P. Part privatisation is welcome only when the partnership between public and private is equal. --- Edit

The fact that one can travel between Margao and Panaji in 40-50 minutes despite the explosion of vehicles speaks volumes.---- Blaise Costabir

The Goa shining story, that needs to be told

Communication is the key to help Goa progress

W

hen asked to write on business, the first impulse is to talk about corruption or the lack of infrastructure or opportunity. However let us look at the example of Israel. Apparently despite the daily bombings and killings in Israel, the front page dedicates itself to positive news, the sad or gory details are consigned to inside pages.

Why not kick off on a positive note?

Why not talk of the growth drivers that have acted as a catalyst for business?

The three aspects that I believe have had a positive impact on Goa in general and business in particular are roads, air travel and telecom in the last few years.

Any visitor from another part of India cannot but comment positively on the state of the roads in Goa. Yes, we want better but what we have is far better than most parts of India. The State has added bypasses to avoid traffic cutting throughthe villages, this in turn has allowed widening of the roads. One major advantage of this is the reduction in accidents which were a common feature of the narrow roads.

The fact that one can travel between Margao and Panaji between 40-50 minutes despite the explosion of vehicles speaks volumes. The quality, of roads too have been by and large better almost throughout the year. For a nation resigned to the fact that every time the monsoons come our roads become lunar landscapes, Goa has indeed bucked the trend. Remo captured in song the telephone’s scenario in Goa with his song

bLAise costAbir “Graham Bell you are dead and it is just as well, if you heard the phones in Goa you would jump into a well’. The mobile has permeated into every strata of goan society. Owning a telephone is no longer a status symbol. Broadband, last mile connectivity and more importantly, easy availability are givens today.

Flying out of Goa some years ago, was an ordeal. If you did get a flight out it meant a minimum of three days. One day to go as the flights were only in the afternoon, worked the next day and flew back the third day. The timings of flights meant you could do nothing on the travel days, and two hotel room nights were needed. Today, you can choose the type of airline – full service or budget. Do your work and be back in Goa by evening. If you need to go further say Delhi, you can be in Delhi by 11, catch a late flight to Mumbai and take the early morning flight to Goa. Voila! In 24 hrs you can do your work in Delhi and return. Not to mention the luxury of catching an international connection from Goa itself, saves you the trip to Mumbai, immigration customs etc. .

The Government cannot but notice the positive impact of improved communication on economic development and the fact that it has in many ways con-

tributed to inclusive growth. Therefore while communication has improved, more can be done.

The improved road connectivity, backed with better public transport systems and the possibilities of improved or increased rail, bus and water connectivity should be explored. This will ensure people and produce in remote places can be transported easily, faster and more important cheaply.

Areas with less teledensity should be identified and all efforts made to ensure they are better connected either with stronger landline network or installation of towers to overcome geographical hurdles related to mobile connectivity.

The addition of a late evening flight from Mumbai/ Bangalore would surely increase productivity as currently due to traffic issues in these two cities, one has to stop work and head to the airport latest by 3 pm, earlier if you are in South Mumbai. Good communication, be it by road or telephone or air act as a catalyst for business, it drives business forward in geometrical proportions. With these improvements the business or economic development has been enormous. This in turn leads to inclusion of many who would otherwise be left out due to poor communications, especially those in more remote parts of the State.

Blaise Costabir, reluctant entrepreneur, now icon of Goa’s industry, made Shakti Water Tanks a success by thinking differently because he looked for a way when 500 well wishers felt there was none.

QUOTEROOM The police department needs to work rather seriously.

They can’t take the house for granted.”

--- Pratapsing Rane In spite of the global slowdown, the economy of the state has done well in all spheres --- S S Sidhu I am ready to face any inquiry into allegations of support to drug activities during my tenure as chief minister.”

--- Manohar Parrikar I am out of the committee to decide the bidder for the Mapusa Hospital.

--- Vishwajeet Rane Let me assure the house that there are no plans to privatize any hospital in the state.

--- Chief Minister Digamber Kamat

SECONDOPINION

This season will not have a happy ending 1992 was when Goa started booming and saw a slew of small hotels thanks to the return of Goans post the Gulf war.

My job brought me to this beautiful land as manager of a tourism company. The charm of Goa coupled with the prospect of a booming future in tourism led me to stay on and I have happily been a part of Goa and its transformation.

2011 Unfortunately, whilst the rest of the beach destinations around the world have grown in leaps and bounds, Goa is still pondering over whether to concentrate on beach tourism, hinterland or backwater tourism!! This coupled with a host of allegations of murders, rapes, drug cartels & assorted mafias!

The number of rooms and room rates has not shown any notable increase as compared with our competition of beach destinations in the Mediterranean and

rest of Asia. Being a charter destination, we need to be on par with the world on visa issuance, for which the local government must take it up with the centre!

Although tourism is one of the state’s largest revenue modules, the powers that be have not been able to do much, thanks to an inconsistent government and a local Russian Roulette with the tourism ministry and bureaucracy.

The purpose of this article is not to criticise the authorities, but to create awareness amongst the people due to

priced at Rs1400 approximately from the nominal price of Rs400. The government must compensate all vehicle owners who were forced to install the HSRP number plates.

S Kamat, Alto Betim

The corrupt governance has astounded all and our state should wake up to the realities. Or else, the time will dawn when it would be appropriate to enforce President’s rule.

Francis A Soares, Santa Cruz

Lyndon ALves

whom this industry has survived.

We have been so used to non-functional governments, more occupied with saving itself than being able to truly churn anything productive. Problems like the taxi menace in the south have been going on for over a decade and there is still no permanent solution in sight!

We do not have a fire fighting mechanism to counter the adverse media publicity for everything from rapes to mafias and drugs, things that are a part of tourism worldwide, but in Goa we allow them to rule our lives and reputations.

Priding ourselves on having one of the best coastlines in the country, we totally lack any world-class water tourism! Not a single tourist jetty exists in the state for water activities & tourists still only have

the option of unsteady canoes! It’s practically impossible to get a tourist boat licence (thanks to the anarchic licence raj), but the new mantra is to build marinas costing crores of citizens money!

We need to have a vision, created by the leaders of the trade, the TTAG, hoteliers etc. for whom this success is more than holding on to a chair.

Let us join hands to stem the rot in the system! As a Goa lover, I will be highlighting these various individual issues on a regular basis, that have been strangulating Goa’s tourism. May better sense prevail…

Lyndon Alves, after years of gaining experience working all over the country, now lives in Goa and runs Sunset Getaways, one of the state’s leading companies in the tourism and event business.

WEEKEND INBOX Mauvin, do not fool us!

It has been interesting to watch people like Mauvin Godinho and Dayanand Narvekar, take on the government on various counts. Their criticism is certainly justified. But having seen their performance in the past as Ministers and knowing their reputation, we cannot help thinking that they are giving vent to their frustration.

Had they been in the Cabinet, they would have been guilty of the same acts of omission and commission that they are presently accusing the government of. Mauvin pitches for Special Status for Goa which, he says would curb migration into the state and reduce the crime rate. However, isn’t he himself guilty of encouraging and lean-

ing on the support of the migrant vote bank in his constituency? Will he ever oppose the illegal slums and the grab of Comunidade land by migrants in Zuarinagar? Accept this as a challenge, Mr Godinho, if you really mean what you say, and if you have any love for Goa. Jose Maria Miranda, Margao

Invoke Prez’s rule

Dual breakdown

The government has terminated the contract with Shimnit Utsch with regard to the HSRP number plates. However, it has remained mum on refunding those who were forced to install the number plates, when the scheme was in force. A refund is imperative because, by government’s own admission, HSRP plates were over-

With rampant corruption going on in our peace-loving state, in which top persons in power have been ripping off Goa and Goans for selfish needs with full knowledge that there is no one to take action, coupled with a corrupt judicial system, judgement will come only if you have money and power.

Why are our learned sons of the soil like doctors, advocates, priests, engineers keeping mum over all these issues? They may be saying to themselves: Why should I bother?

While Egypt is in turmoil with a massive people’s protest against dictatorial rule, we, in Goa, are experiencing the breakdown of rule of law and order.

The deaths in police custody, the police-politician drug nexus and now the alleged police links in the prostitution racket, have tarnished Goa’s fair name.

Corruption has battered the ‘aam admi’. Goa needs an urgent change in governance with efficient and honest people at the helm of affairs.

J M de Almeida, Alto Betim

Compensate HSRP owners

Self advertisement Some journalists from the electronic media have gone to Egypt to cover the protest marches at Cairo. Instead of covering the protests, some of these journalists have made sure that the cameras are focused on them; they narrate the aggression on the news channel by Egypt’s security forces. As one commentator from Israel has commented, ‘These journalists are little narcissistic. Attack on the media at any uprising is normal.’

Therefore, it becomes the duty of a journalist to report what is happening on the ground rather than air his or her suffering. Compare the reporting of our media with that of BBC, or CNN. They do a thoroughly professional job, risking their lives but do not publicise.

However, they do lodge official protests to the authorities.

S N D Poojary, Miramar

Margao’s AC toilet

It is shocking to note that the newly inaugurated AC toilet doesn’t have a NOC from the health department. Rs20 lakh has been spent on building AC toilets and that too in the MMC garden, which is mostly occupied by Nongoans. Moreover, the existing sulabh toilets in the city are not properly maintained, which causes health hazards.

Instead of sorting out Margao’s traffic congestion, parking and garbage problems, the CM has inaugurated an AC toilet. He should instead concentrate on burning issues in Margao and that of the entire state.

Willie Severes, Majorda

F or l et ter to t he edi tor cont a ct us a t m a i l@ her al d- goa . com 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: Sujay Gupta (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. 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.

Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

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bizlife

You can switch over from CDMA to GSM and vice versa. But you have to change the handset, because the technologies are different. You cannot change circles. After submission, it will take maximum 7 days.

Wherever you are.. ...all networks follow In times when your mobile number and not your surname is your identity proof, Kirth George taps the pulse to see if and how mobile number portability will change the way we get connected.

E

veryone has a great “Idea”.

And “everyone is welcome”, and “happy to help”. And from the time of “wherever you go, our network follows”, we have wherever you are, all networks follow” Mobile number portability, is the – albeit slightly stretched - equivalent of changing your home without changing your address.

The shift has been tentative but significant. Bad network coverage, call drops and congestion will have low or zero tolerance. No wonder that one Vodafone store in Panjim has within a fortnight received, 40 applications from Idea customers, 30 from BSNL and 10 from Airtel, wanting to switch.

A city-based Idea outlet, on the other hand, has apparently bagged a corporate client with 70 connections an account earlier held by Vodafone.

But as initial feedback (see box) suggests, reveals that the change magnets, apart from the coverage and congestion factors, will be fancy and state of the art handsets.

This will make CDMA operators lose out. The sheer se-

G o a C a l l i n G

duction factor of handsets compatible with GSM phones make CDMA handsets look tacky. So R-Com and Tata-tele, both CDMA operators, lost the highest number of customers to other networks in Haryana, the first circle to introduce MNP in November, 2010.

The trends noticed in Haryana over a period of a month and a half show Vodafone as the largest gainer and BSNL the biggest loser in absolute terms. However, the customers opting for MNP was less than 1% so far.

According to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) about 10% of mobile subscribers may change their service providers in the first

year. The regulator then sees a considerable drop as competition will compel comanies to give good quality of service to retain customer.

But in Goa, where many villages, have no virtually no network, the good ole fixed phone still rings.

As Manisha Chadda, who lives between Calangute and Saligao and needs her mobile to juggle social appointments says “No network works here. So the only portability is landline portability”. Mobile telecom providers, you can’t win them all, can you?

What’s in a number?

Everything Your mobile number is your calling card and your Id proof. A few example’s n When calling phone banking, the IVR prompt of some banks ask you for the last four digits of your registered mobile number n your mobile number along with your date of birth is standard identification requirement to check your credit card account on phone

Haryana Circle - Wins and Losses OPERATOR

No. of user Joined Exited

Net Gain/Loss

Vodafone Aircel Tata Tele (GSM) Airtel Idea Cellular R-Com (CDMA) Tata Tele (CDMA) R-Com (GSM) BSNL

30,015 10,608 16,107 18,271 13,741 192 725 988 5,302

20,748 9,329 9,296 7,434 -1,863 -5,811 -7,190 -7,900 -20,503

I am currently using Vodafone and I don’t intend to change. I am having issues with coverage in certain areas and maybe prices are better some place else, but how do I get authentic information on who is better.

Gaurav Gupta, director, GKB Ophthalmics Ltd

I shuttle between Goa and Kerala. I had two BSNL numbers. In Kerala BSNL provides excellent service, but in Goa BSNL is frustrating. So I am shifting one of the cards to Vodafone. arun Thomas, 33, Production Engineer working in Kundaim.

9,297 1,279 6,811 10,837 15,604 6,003 7,915 8,888 25,805

n all online transaction confirmations are sent on your registered mobile number n your registered mobile number (RMN) is mandatory to subscribe to most DTH sevices like Tata Sky

I shifted from Reliance (CDMA) to Idea.

With CDMA you cannot use the phone when you travel abroad. The range of handsets provided by CDMA operators too, are very limited as compared to all the GSM phones now available in the market.

Khushi Dawda, owner of Very in Panjim

BSNL in Goa is a nightmare… sometimes I send an SMS today and it gets delivered the next day. Almost every evening after 5 pm I find it impossible to connect as the network is always busy. I have now opted for Vodafone

because I think Idea rates are a tad higher and with Airtel the coverage is weak. amit Soyru, 30,

Computer Engineer working in Panjim

I am planning to move from Idea to Vodafone. Idea in Goa - since it is so successful here - is facing congestion problems on the network. But, I will wait for the dust to settle, before I take a call.

Kenneth Travarso, 34, proprietor, Great Vaue Holidays, Panjim

W

hen Umesh Prabhudesai, turns the clock back by forty odd years and thinks of a decision he made, he will have a right to call himself a true visionary. Or even a soothsayer perhaps.

Prabhudesai, a partner in Om Cashew Industries in Mashem, realised that to get labour to process the cashew nuts, he would have to search elsewhere. Search he did and

from outside Goa, came the cashew labourers who had to be given shelter in an alien land.

Forty years later, Goa still needs a bit of ‘outsider’ help to let it produce something which every Goan feels, he has patented – the cashew.

But the romance is turning sour. While labourers came in the seventies, even the kernels now come from Africa and Indonesia to meet the

shortfall.

“While the continuous demand of the cashew processing factories is not met fully with the local production,

many owners import the raw kernels from Africa and Indonesia to keep the factory going all the year round. For 25 bags of 2 tonne weight a factory needs 160 to 170 labourers. But only half of that is available,” Chairman of Goa Cashew Manufacturers Association, Madhav Sahakari says.

But the pressure to produce is on. “Nine out of ten domestic tourists visiting Goa carry cashew nuts back home as a gift for friends and families,” says a shopkeeper in Panjim.

Goa has around 35 to 40 units with a varying processing capacity. The cashew factories are located more in the North Goa and only 30 per cent labour is available today since local labour has turning to other means of income.

Government schemes like

For 25 bags of 2 tonne weight a factory needs 160 to 170 labourers. But only half of that is available.

-- Madhav Sahakari

LEGENDS IN RESIDENCE

Born tough... and still having a Bal!

“Legends in residence” is a tribute to leaders in business & industry who are settled in Goa, for the love of this land. We start with Bal Mundkur, one of Indian advertisings first mavericks who founded ULKA which just completed fifty years, has redefined how India makes, receives and loves ad’s.

Reports Team Herald & impact

B

al Mundkur, 86, is a man who has seen the best and the worst in Indian advertising. Having spent more than 43 years in the industry, he is one of the few living legends who’ve seen Indian advertising grow over five decades – from the early 1950s to the modernday advertising we see today.

What makes Mundkur a gem among many who came along and got forgotten in Indian advertising is the fact that his approach remained the same for years together.

And simple – to keep focusing on the clients’ need and growth in the marketplace.

What changed, however, as years passed, was his method. His ability to change and adapt as per the changing marketplace with a strong hold on the guiding principles which he laid down in 1960 when he decided to start Ulka. The idea was to start an agency that would stand out among multinationals; one which focuses on doing campaigns that truly relate to Indian consumers.

How did the name Ulka come along? Mundkur says he didn’t want to link the agency to the name of its founder, as that would give rise to the question – after him, who? It was Mundkur’s mother who joined the dining-table discussion about the agency’s name and suggested Ulka, which means a meteor, more commonly called a shooting star. Mundkur co-founded Ulka with wife Ann, and it was in the 1980s that his brother Bhaskar Mundkur joined as managing director.

How did it all start?.In 1950, he met up with a shy

Cashew crunch Cashew, the fruit or the nut, has been closely associated with Goa in a few forms and was the core of a huge industry in the past. But, as years go by, traditional methods of cashew shelling and peeling are being replaced by machines. Will mechanisation bear fruit for the cashew industry or will it lead to rot? Bharati Pawaskar reports

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Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

Shreta Arora

young Britisher – that was Robert Hardcastle, who offered him a career in advertising after a casual discussion on music. Mundkur finally started his advertising career on January 1, 1951. The period between 1951 and 1960 was a turbulent one for Mundkur, as he refused to conform to the establishment mores, and finally in 1960 decided to quit Bomas.

In 1961, he started Ulka with Weikfield Products India Pvt Ltd., a Pune-based company, as his first client. This business was awarded to him by the agency’s new MD, Wally Olins, as a “parting present”, he recalls. “He gave me this present despite the fact that I took away his best creative team. Anyway, that happened as a result of my very good relations with the top management. I could have walked away with several businesses, but I chose not to. I decided to start from scratch.” Ulka became popular for many campaigns.

Apart from the famous public

service campaigns (on crippled children and the Indian Cancer Society) that the agency rolled out, what brings Mundkur joy even today is that his agency was instrumental in launching the first ever credit card in India (Diners Club) with a campaign running four print ads, across India. Ulka later won many key accounts over the years – Gabriel, ITC, Godrej & Boyce and Gold Spot, to name but a few.

Today, he lives in a beautiful cottage on the banks of the Mandovi near Betim, meets visitor when he wants to and travels when he feels like, his last notable expedition was to the village of Mundkur in Karnataka to trace his roots.

He does write though for prestigious journals like Asian Affairs. It’s been a long journey. And a line from one of the Diners club ads of ULKA, which made it the brand that it became, best describes Bal Mundkur “When you realise the journey is the destination, you belong”.

Happy journey’s Bal.

Sachin Ambadoskar

nutty faCts n Over 685,000 hectares are under cashew cultivation here.

With an average annual export worth US $564 million, India meets two thirds of world demand for cashew n The Cashew season is just for three months a year – March, April and May. The collection of raw material during this period is over very soon and the factories are left with no other option than to import.

Dayanand Niradhar Yojana and Pensions have diluted the labour in rural Goa. Moreover, machines cannot replace man easily in Goa. Unlike Karnataka, where the processing sector has started mechanising the cashew peeling operations, Goa still believes in hand peeling and machine peeling is in the preliminary stage here. The peeling and shelling machines introduced

recently is expensive and small factory owners cannot afford to invest Rs25 to 30 lakhs in it, though some owners have tried investing together in one machine and use it commonly.

The irony and the problem is that Goa can’t walk away.

There is a demand and there is the raw material. Giving it up isn’t easy. But it’s an industry that needs to bloom again so that the cashews you buy

are not only homegrown, but home plucked, peeled and delivered.

Rising Stock The steep fall in the processing capacity of cashew in Goa could necessitate the import of nuts from other states, which would directly affect prices. Goan cashews are in much demand. The US is the largest buyer of Indian cashews, followed by the EU,

Japan, Australia, Canada, Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Middle East.

But of late, India’s consumer market is growing at a swift pace and it may soon supersede the US. This upcoming trend can be linked to the Multicommodity Exchange in Mumbai as there are sections that are seriously thinking of promoting cashew as the next commodity for future trading after almonds.

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SNAPSHOT BSnL 3G sees 3 m subscribers

MUMBAI: State-run telecom entity, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) expects its 3G (third generation) mobile services subscriber base to touch 3million mark by March, a senior company official said.

BSNL was the first telecom firm to roll out 3G mobile services in the country and currently it covers 650 cities across four zones.

Data usage has increased six times and the number of post-paid customers has gone up since the rolling out of 3G services, Yadav said adding now there is a need to focus on the network and handset related issues.

potential in Uk-India trade : Tata

LONDON: The UK-India trade and investment relationship has significant unrealised potential, given the synergies possible between the two countries, Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata said.

Speaking at the first meeting of the India-UK CEO Forum yesterday at Number 10, Downing Street, Tata said: "The UK has a special place in the hearts and minds of Indians and Indian industry."

"However, I feel our trade and investment relationship has significant unrealised potential given the synergies possible between the two countries -such as what we could achieve by leveraging the technology and manufacturing capabilities in the UK, to serve the global market," he said.

Tata, who is also the co-chair of the forum, said he hoped the UK-India CEO Forum "is able to help build trade and investment between the two countries to a level approaching its potential and we intend to look at a range of sectors and ideas on how this could be facilitated by government and industry from both countries, working together."

Sensex tumbles 441 pts PTI MUMBAI, FEB 3

The BSE benchmark Sensex lost over 441 points as worries over rising inflation and high interest rates pulled it down to over 5-month low of 18,008.15, on heavy sell-offs in realty, FMCG, IT, banking, capital goods and auto segments. Marketmen said investor sentiment was reflected in PM Manmohan Singh's statement that although the economy has been on a high growth trajectory for the past few years, inflation posed a "serious threat to the growth momentum".

Whatever was followed previously was followed even today.

It was wrong previously. It is wrong even now.

-- Kapil Sibal, Telecom Minister

BOARDROOM

Set to have a mall of a time

Sachin Ambadoskar

Manoj Caculo is at the helm of affairs at the Caculo Group, a company that is slowly edging its way into a few different sectors in Goa. About to launch Goa’s first mall, he talks business with Kurt Bento n The Caculo Group is now in its centenary year. How far have you come in the last 100 years?

At the beginning, we worked on construction of bridges, roads and other infrastructure based projects.

We’re now handling dealerships for three of the biggest automotive brands in the world and about to make our foray into the retail sector. n The company has recently undergone a change. How necessary was this move and why exactly did it come to be?

We started off as a family business, but as time passed it was inevitable that we start moving towards being a corporate entity, especially in light of the direction we were taking as a company. Coincidentally, it also happened to

No magic lamp to control inflation: FM New Delhi, Feb 4: FM Pranab

A Casio ‘Exlim EX-TR100’ digital camera with 12.1 mega-picel CMOS image sensor and 3-inch touch screen LCD display is displayed at a press preview in Tokyo on Friday, 2011.

We believe Reliance, as Atlas Energy's JV partner and a company with substantial financial resources, would have been the most natural and obvious partner for -- Mukesh Ambani

Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

Mukherjee said steps have been taken to tame inflation but the govt has no magic lamp to bring it down immediately.

"You cannot expect that there is any magic wand or like Alladin's magic lamp that you rub it and your problem is solved," Mukherjee said.

He said the RBI has taken steps, including tightening of the monetary policy, to control inflation. Driven by high prices of fruits, milk, meat, eggs, food inflation crossed 17% for the week ended January 22. Headline inflation shot up to 8.43% in December from 7.48% a month ago. PTI Aban Offshor, 672, 688.7, 653, 658.2 Abb Ltd., 710.75, 717, 689, 691.15 Abg Shipyard, 358, 361.5, 339.15, 343.45 Acc Limited, 965, 998.95, 962, 974.7 Adani Enterp, 610, 618.7, 597.8, 602.15 Aditya Birla, 774, 783, 760.35, 770.95 Allahabad Ba, 202.25, 207.9, 202.2, 203.8 Alstom Proje, 581.05, 597, 571.7, 582.25 Ambuja Cemen, 126, 126.5, 119.55, 120.6 Andhra Bank, 139, 143.3, 137.15, 140.7 Ashok Leylan, 54.55, 55.35, 52.35, 52.5 Asian Paints, 2450.05, 2506.9, 2450.05, 2486.25 Axis Bank Li, 1245.35, 1268.3, 1212.2, 1222.6 Bajaj Hindus, 86, 86.2, 81.2, 81.85 Bank Of Baro, 845.3, 866.45, 826.2, 832.15 Bank Of Indi, 453, 460, 438.05, 442.2 Beml Limited, 825, 825, 790, 794.65 Bharat Elect, 1747, 1747, 1680, 1694.2 Bharat Forge, 336.8, 340.85, 331, 333.35 Bharat Petro, 592.4, 607.5, 585.1, 588.45 Bharti Airte, 343, 343.5, 330.5, 332.5 Bhel, 2200, 2219.7, 2170.6, 2187.7 Bhushan Stee, 400.1, 414.6, 395.05, 399.1

Work timings have increased, parking spaces have decreased and there is no longer that luxury of stopping at four to five places to shop. People want the comfort of getting everything under one roof now.

Goa will have a proper mall and we will be the first ones to do it.

be our centenary year, so it made it more poignant. We decided to become the Caculo Group, but at the same time, we have made it a point to keep our core family values intact. Essentially, we’re still a family, albeit a much larger

one. n You moved beyond the automotive sector to retail what was your thinking behind this bold move?

The mall has been in the planning stages for four years now. The retail sector is a good area to invest and why not? Goa has the spending power. It’s not a huge market but it will get there. At the end of the day, Goa will have a proper mall and we will be the first ones to do it. n What is your business model at the mall and what makes the mall so significant in the first place?

Work timings have increased, parking spaces have decreased and there is no longer that luxury of stopping at four to five places. People want the comfort of getting everything under one roof

BUILDInG Goa: Manoj Caculo strikes a pose in front of the Caculo Group’s newest venture, the Caculo Mall now. If you look at department stores today or even branded stores, with the price of real estate on the rise, it becomes a deterrent and so not many of them are able to do justice to their own brands.

We worked on a different

model when it came to the mall, we didn’t sell space, we leased it out. It makes it easier for the brands and establishments as it gives them more room to maneuver. n When it comes to changing Goa for the better, be it in business or administra-

tion, what does one need in your opinion?

There’s a lot that one can do. Take the government for instance, there is a dire need to improve infrastructure, create more avenues for employment, so that there’s a better scope for growth.

PM asks states to consider waiving local taxes New Delhi, Feb 4: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked states to consider waiving mandi, octroi and local taxes for taming inflation which affects poor "harder" and poses serious threat to the country's growth momentum.

He said much of the responsibility for checking price rise lies with the states.

"Much of what needs to be done ....lies in the domain of state governments... There seems to be a strong case for waiving mandi taxes, octroi and local taxes, which impede the smooth movement of essential commodities," Singh said addressing chief secretaries of states here.

Stressing on the need for a paradigm shift in the institu-

Biocon Limit, 347.65, 348.2, 336.15, 338.7 Bombay Dyein, 390, 403.9, 390, 392.65 Bosch Limite, 6060, 6157.7, 6021, 6069.8 Brigade Ente, 100, 117, 100, 111.55 Cairn India, 333, 333.95, 320.1, 322.8 Canara Bank, 576.05, 585.3, 558, 561.45 Central Bank, 169.5, 172.3, 163, 164.2 Century Text, 330, 334.05, 319.6, 321.1 Cesc Ltd, 302.2, 310, 299.1, 300.9 Chambal Fert, 75, 77.15, 74.8, 75.25 Chennai Petr, 210.5, 215.7, 210.5, 212.35 Cipla Ltd, 329.4, 329.4, 322, 324.3 Colgate Palm, 807.05, 821.7, 801.05, 811.6 Container Co, 1190, 1190, 1162, 1167.15 Crompton Gre, 272.85, 276.4, 265, 268.1 Cummins Indi, 672.4, 680, 640.35, 648.55 Dabur India, 92, 93.2, 91.9, 92.45 Deccan Chron, 89, 91, 84.9, 85.75 Dish Tv Indi, 60.1, 60.45, 57.05, 57.45 Divi’s Labor, 636.9, 665, 632.7, 656.95 Dlf Limited, 236.1, 244.7, 234.3, 237.1 Dr. reddy’s, 1607, 1616, 1572, 1580.9 Edelweiss Ca, 37.5, 38.4, 36.85, 37.45 Educomp Solu, 461.05, 473.5, 450.1, 454.95

tional arrangements, he pressed the states for reviewing functioning of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Acts (APMCAs) On "an urgent basis".

Underscoring the role of super stores, the Prime Minister said the storage facilities have to be augmented and "supply chains need to be dovetailed with the organised retails for quicker and more efficient distribution of farm products".

Driven by high prices of fruits, milk, meat, eggs, India's food inflation crossed 17 per cent for the weekended January 22.

While the Indian economy is projected to grow by 8.8-9.0 per cent this fiscal, inflationary concerns are looming

Eih Limited, 102, 102.8, 99.5, 100 Engineers In, 289, 292, 285, 286.35 Essar Oil Lt, 120, 122.25, 117, 117.7 Essar Shippi, 98.85, 99.8, 96.25, 96.6 Exide Indust, 131, 133.1, 129.05, 129.95 Federal Bank, 355, 363.65, 345.6, 347.3 Financial Te, 753.05, 766, 735, 741.4 Gail (india), 465, 466.9, 450.25, 453.05 Gammon India, 134.2, 134.9, 127.15, 130.35 Glaxosmithkl, 2178, 2259.85, 2178, 2230.35 Glenmark Pha, 290, 298.5, 290, 293.1 Gmr Infrastr, 43, 43, 38.15, 38.5 Godrej Indus, 171.1, 176, 167, 168.1 Grasim Indus, 2295, 2329.45, 2275, 2298.65 Great Offsho, 291.15, 299.75, 286.4, 289.2 Gtl Infra.Lt, 40.35, 40.75, 39.55, 40.15 Gujarat Mine, 121.85, 122.55, 117, 118.15 Gujarat N R, 57.15, 57.75, 55.1, 55.2 Gujarat Stat, 104.7, 104.7, 100.5, 101.65 Gvk Pow. & I, 31.15, 31.45, 30, 30.1 Hcl Technolo, 492, 492, 478, 480.35 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2051, 2085, 2005, 2017.75 Hdfc Ltd, 624, 632.9, 600.1, 604.15

ManMohan SpeakS

There is a perception that schemes do not provide the intended benefits in full measure on account of tardy implementation. over the growth prospects.

However, the Prime Minister partly attributed the rise in prices of "superior food products" to rising income level and "corollary of faster growth ".

Singh said the lasting solution for price inflation lies in increasing agricultural productivity and production not only of cereals but also of pulses, oilseeds, vegetables

Hero Honda M, 1550, 1584, 1517.45, 1537.2 Hindalco in, 246.55, 251.25, 234.55, 236.55 Hindustan Co, 37.5, 37.9, 35.95, 36.25 Hindustan Ma, 62.45, 68.65, 61.65, 65.05 Hindustan Pe, 341, 349.35, 337.25, 340.75 Hindustan Un, 279, 279.4, 271.5, 272.95 Hindustan Zi, 1307.7, 1313.55, 1266.25, 1275.8 Housing Dev, 139.3, 144.8, 134.75, 137.35 Icici Bank L, 1020, 1034.75, 990.2, 996 Idea Cellula, 71.4, 72.7, 69.2, 69.95 Ifci Ltd, 53, 53.95, 52.05, 52.3 India Cement, 91.6, 92.7, 87.8, 88.75 India Infoli, 78.35, 79.1, 74.95, 75.9 Indiabulls F, 152.1, 156.8, 152.1, 153.4 Indiabulls R, 121, 123.9, 115.05, 116.4 Indian Bank, 217.1, 223.25, 214.25, 217.25 Indian Hotel, 92.6, 94.6, 92.3, 92.45 Indian Oil C, 321, 328.65, 315.65, 319 Indian Overs, 128.4, 130.2, 122.75, 124.2 Indus Dev Ba, 140.8, 142, 135.55, 136.3 Indusind Ban, 226.15, 228.7, 218.5, 220.45 Infosys Tech, 3099, 3123.7, 3026.4, 3047.9 Infra. dev., 141.5, 144.15, 136.8, 137.95

and fruits and augmenting the supply of milk and milk products, poultry, meat and fish.

He said while the Centre would provide support for checking inflation.

"Each state has to work out a suitable plan of action suited to its requirements and its capabilities."

He said though various social sector programmes for

Ispat Indust, 24.8, 25.15, 24.05, 24.35 Itc Ltd, 159.6, 160.75, 151.7, 153 Ivrcl Infras, 79.4, 79.5, 73.65, 74.05 Jai Corp Lim, 172.2, 176.65, 168.5, 170.15 Jaiprakash A, 85.8, 87.85, 83.1, 83.6 Jet Airways, 518.35, 534.75, 502, 505.9 Jindal Saw L, 218.5, 221.95, 213, 214.5 Jindal Steel, 649.8, 662.9, 631.25, 636.7 Jsw Steel Li, 927, 938, 885.2, 896.15 Kotak Mahind, 378.05, 381, 356.35, 359.75 Lanco Infrat, 48.1, 49.6, 47.1, 48.2 Larsen & Tou, 1634, 1634, 1558, 1570.05 Lic Housing, 178.65, 187.8, 175, 177.2 Maruti Suzuk, 1230, 1236.4, 1176, 1182.95 Max India Lt, 151.45, 153.8, 149.5, 150.1 Maytas Infr., 178, 178.25, 174.25, 175.4 Moser-baer (, 50.7, 51.8, 49.1, 49.7 Mrpl, 67, 68.9, 66.8, 67.75 Nagarjuna Co, 111.5, 112.3, 102.5, 104.25 Nagarjuna Fe, 29.2, 29.8, 29, 29.1 National Alu, 422, 424.8, 417.3, 420.55 Neyveli Lign, 105.35, 108.4, 103, 103.6 Ntpc Ltd, 180.7, 181.7, 175.25, 176.95 Omaxe Limite, 137, 138.8, 135, 136.3 Oriental Ban, 341.05, 345, 326.5, 329.65

the empowerment of the poor and the disadvantaged have met with reasonable success, "there is a perception that the schemes do not provide the intended benefits to them in full measure on account of leakages and at times tardy implementation."

Singh also asked the Chief Secretaries to explore ways and means by which the infrastructure deficit in the states could be bridged.

"While we have made some progress in the last sixand-a -half years in improving our infrastructure and tried new models like the Public Private Partnership, much more needs to be done and it has to be done on a priority basis," he said. PTI

Pantaloon Re, 292, 301, 280.1, 285.45 Parsvnath De, 44, 44.85, 41.5, 43 Petronet Lng, 127.3, 129.2, 125.55, 126.3 Power Fin Co, 262, 267.9, 253, 254.95 Power Grid C, 98.45, 100.2, 97.15, 97.3 Praj Industr, 75.4, 76.7, 72, 72.55 Reliance Com, 118.5, 120.9, 114.05, 114.75 Reliance Ene, 1037, 1076, 1037, 1065.17 Reliance Ind, 570, 577.4, 550, 555.65 Reliance Ind, 947.4, 947.4, 913.15, 920 Reliance Pow, 132.5, 135.8, 128.05, 129.3 Rolta India, 138.65, 141.35, 137.05, 137.9 Satyam Compu, 61.5, 61.55, 59.85, 60.35 Sesa Goa Ltd, 323.1, 331.45, 316.25, 318.7 Shipping Cor, 117.2, 117.6, 114.05, 114.6 Siemens Ltd, 849.95, 856.8, 845.1, 848.5 Sintex Indus, 150.05, 153.6, 147, 148.1 Sobha Develo, 233.75, 239, 224.1, 226.25 State Bank O, 2648, 2695, 2630, 2645.8 Steel Author, 164.6, 165.7, 160.15, 161.55 Sterlite Ind, 171.5, 175, 167.1, 168.3 Sun Pharmace, 432, 446.85, 411, 416.55 Sun Tv Netwo, 505.95, 505.95, 452.5, 464 Suzlon Energ, 49.25, 50.8, 47.55, 48.05 Tata Communi, 237.95, 240.85, 231, 233.5

Tata Consult, 1176, 1183.1, 1140.25, 1148.8 Tata Motors, 1150.25, 1189.95, 1140, 1150.85 Tata Power C, 1230, 1234, 1176.1, 1184.3 Tata Steel L, 637.75, 652, 632, 635.9 Tata Teleser, 17.1, 17.2, 16.7, 16.75 Tech Mahindr, 646.25, 663, 625.6, 634.7 The Ge Shpg., 296.25, 301, 290.5, 293.8 The Phoenix, 192, 193, 188, 189.15 Thermax Ltd, 653.3, 673, 650.1, 656.3 Titan Indust, 3600, 3642.25, 3490, 3513.35 Torrent Powe, 217, 220, 213.35, 214.8 Triveni Engg, 95.8, 96.75, 91.9, 93.05 Tv18 India L, 78, 78.85, 77, 77.65 Uco Bank, 109.2, 110.45, 105.1, 105.65 Ultratech Ce, 1033.65, 1033.65, 996, Union Bank O, 331, 335, 327.85, 330.5 Unitech Ltd, 46.3, 46.3, 42.6, 43.1 United Phosp, 143, 146.5, 140.05, 140.75 Videocon Ind, 206.95, 209.5, 203.2, 204.05 Vijaya Bank, 91.1, 91.9, 85.65, 86.4 Voltas Ltd, 180, 190.75, 171.05, 172.85 Wipro Ltd, 441.5, 444.05, 430, 436.7 Yes Bank Lim, 271.1, 273.3, 260.55, 262.65 Zee Entertai, 116, 117.9, 113.9, 114.9

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india SNAPSHOT Three persons burnt alive

A woman and her two grandsons died of burns early today when their thatched house was gutted at Shevara in Bihar's Sheikhpura district early today, police sources said.

The fire engulfed the hut as a kerosene lamp fell down when they were asleep, sources said. Chando Devi (70) and her grandsons - Guddu Kumar (10) and Mithu Kumar (06), who sustained over 80 per cent burns – died on the spot, they said.

Two boys drown in river

Two minor boys drowned in river Darna here when they entered the waters for a swim, police said today. The incident took place yesterday when both the seventh grade students-- Shubham Walzade (13) and friend Shubham Deshmukh (12) went for a swim and met a watery grave failing to judge the deep waters, police added. PTI COR

Fire breaks out in auditorium

A fire broke out in the basement of the the stateowned auditorium 'Sarat Sadan' here in Howrah, West Bengal today, police said.

Two fire tenders soon brought the blaze under control with limited damage to the building. The cause of the fire was being investigated, police said.

Businessman returns safe

A businessman, who was abducted by unidentified miscreants three days ago from Dimapur, returned home unharmed, police said today.

Sudep Das was kidnapped from his house by unidentified gunmen on Monday night and remained traceless till his return last night. Police suspected that family members of the printing press owner might have paid ransom to get his release..

Goa I Saturday 5 , February 2011

Kareli incident in Allahabad, which happened during SP regime, is an example of atrocities against women.

--- Mayawati

India expects no final proposal at Durban climate conclave New Delhi, Feb 4: India is not expecting any “concrete” or “final pronouncement” at the climate conclave inDurban later this year on four key issues, including one pertaining to emission cuts.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, however, said it does not mean that “We should not negotiate, we should not discuss or exchange views” on the crucial climate change issues. “....One should understand it very clearly that we are not going to get a final pronouncement on these issues.

They will still be on agenda.

They will be discussed and as I said Durban will not have a final say....,” the minister said while describing the journey from Cancun summit to Durban conference.

Maintaining that he was approaching the Durban Climate Conference from a real-

NOT YET THE FINAL WORD Describing the journey from Cancun summit to Durbain Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh I“....One should understand it very clearly that we are not going to get a final pronouncement on these issues. They will still be on agenda. They will be discussed and as I said Durban will not have a final say...” istic point of view, he said, “If we approach it from a sense of exaggeration we will be hit by another disappointment.”

“I don't see any agreement on second commitment period for Kyoto Protocol, legally binding agreement on emission cuts, controversy over 2 degrees Celsius versus 1.5 degrees Celsius global goal for temperature rise and peak year for emission cuts.”

The minister, who was addressing a session of Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2011, also said it was

time for everyone to stop interpreting Cancun and start implementing it.

He said unlike the Cancun conference, where the nations were meeting in the backdrop of disappointment of the Copenhagen climate meeting, this time they were meeting in the backdrop of “two huge accomplishments” achieved at the conference at Nagoya last October. “If you ask me from the environmental point of view, Cancun was a disappointment but from the polit-

ical point of view it was an advancement,” Ramesh said.

“Cancun should be seen as a template of actionable point that will end at Durban," he said.

Reiterating the statement he had made at Cancun last year in which he accepted Bolivia's criticism on the draft accepted by the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India, China) countries, Ramesh said his “heart” is with Bolivia, but his “head” is not.

The BASIC nations had said at Cancun that they were "very happy" with the two draft texts prepared by climate negotiators from almost 200 nations on the Kyoto protocol and a long-term action to combat climate change.

Bolivia, however, had criticised the draft as too weak and accused other nations of trying to isolate it at the UN climate change conference.

Mercury rises in Rajasthan

Mercury rose by a few degrees in parts of Rajasthan where night temperature ranged between 8.8 degrees Celsius to 16 degrees Celsius.

Sriganganagar recorded a lowest of 8.8 degrees Celsius followed by Churu at 9.1 degrees C. Dabok recorded a night temperature of 10.4 deg C. Pink City Jaipur had a minimum temperature of 11.6 deg C followed by Jodhpur at 12.5 degrees Celsius, MeT department said here today.

Girl injured in wall collapse

A four-year-old girl was injured when a wall collapsed in the national capital this afternoon, fire brigade officials said. The incident took place in Welcome area at around 1:30 pm.

“A four-year-old girl was injured in the incident and was rushed to a nearby hospital where she is undergoing treatment,” the officials said.

Dowry victim suicides

A woman allegedly committed suicide over dowry at her house in Modinagar area, Ghaziabad police said.

Richa was found hanging from the ceiling fan of her house last evening, SHO Yogesh Pathak said.

A suicide note was recovered from the house in which the victim has alleged that her husband Praveen was harassing her over dowry, he said.

Elephant owner fined

Forest Department officials has imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on a man for misusing his elephant for alms-seeking on the streets here, officials sources said. The 73-year-old man took the elephant to streets here yesterday for seeking almms from shops and establishments, which was against the Wildlife Protection Act. Following a tip-off, they detained him. After warning him, they imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on him.

Body found in hospital building

The body of a 25 year-old man was found on the seventh floor of a private hospital building in Bangalore today, police said The deceased was identified as Ramdev, a native of Bihar who was working as mason, police said. Police ruled out any foul play behind the incident and declared it as a case of unnatural death.

Woman sets herself ablaze

Grief-stricken by her lover's suicide, a woman set herself ablaze here today, police said.

The deceased was identified as Gina (20), police said. Gina was in love with her neighbour Mukund (28), a mason and father of three children.

Taunted by his friends and parents for having an extra-marital affair, Mukund hung himself at his residence two days ago while his wife and children were away at her parents'house.

: Opposition members displaying placards during Governor's address to the joint session of the state assembly on the inaugural day of budget session in Lucknow on Friday.

Mayawati flays oppn for uproar Lucknow, Feb 4: Criticising the opposition parties for uproar during the governor address on the opening day of the budget session in the Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly, Chief Minister Mayawati said such an act was violation of the parliamentary traditions.

"As the leader of the House and chief minister I condemn the behaviour of the opposition parties in strong words,” Mayawati told reporters after the opposition members disrupted the proceedings of the House during Governor's address.

On the opposition's demand of releasing jailed independent MLA Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya, she said he has a long criminal history.

“Raja Bhaiyya, whose release SP MLAs are demanding, has a past criminal history which is not hidden from anyone,” she said.

Mayawati alleged that SP was a party of goons and mafias and this was the reason it was ousted from the

power by the people in 2007.

On opposition demand's to dismiss the government on the issue of atrocities against women, the CM said government facts prove that as compared to other states less cases of women harassment took place in UP. “Kareli incident in Allahabad, which happened during SP regime, is an example of atrocities against women," she said.

Criticising Congress, Mayawati said it was during this party's regime Phoolan Devi emerged and was forced to take up weapons.

"Whatever allegations are being levelled on the BSP regime, such incidents had happened during the regime of opposition parties as well," she said. She alleged that while no action was being taken in cases of atrocities against women in Congress ruled Delhi and Haryana, BSP government did not hesitated in putting behind the bar its ministers and MLAs found guilty in such cases. PTI

We also have to ponder over how the CAG report (on 2G spectrum) was leaked and not only about the SIT report --- Jayanthi Natarajan Rape case accused held One person was arrested in connection with the alleged rape of a 23-year-old womanpassenger of a local train, who was seriously injured in the incident and continues to battle for her life.

APPOINTMENTS

APPOINTMENTS

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Cong ready for JPC to break logjam HERALD CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, Feb 4: Ahead of an all-party luncheon meeting convened by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday to break the Parliament logjam, the Congress on Friday officially dropped a broad hint to yield to the Opposition insisting on a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam.

"We are open to a suggestion to bring a resolution on the issue," party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan affirmed at an AICC press briefing here. She, however, left reporters guessing if it were another trick to use the majority to defeat the resolution as she added that "we will debate it in the Parliament and put to vote."

She also did not spell out which scams the Congress want to be sent to the proposed JPC as the government may restrict it to just the 2G scam, rejecting probe into the Adarsh housing scam as a state subject and the Commonwealth Games

(CWG) irregularities already under probe by the multiple agencies.

An adamant Opposition had blocked entire business of Parliament during the winter session in November-December with daily pandemonium and the government's prime worry is that it cannot afford the protest spilling over to the budget session that begins on February 21 impacting transaction of the important annual financial business.

Natarajan sought to clarify that she was not pre-empting the luncheon meeting called

by Mukherjee as "it is our suggestion and we hope opposition will respond and allow both Houses to function to transact legislative business."

She remained evasive on who will bring the JPC resolution and in which house, but she still dropped the hints that it will be in the Lok Sabha as she said better leave the finer details up to the parliamentary affairs minister to work out in consultation with Mukherjee.

FROM PAGE 1 Herald Weekend arguments.

We hopefully have always been available and promise to be even more so for each and every section of society from each and every corner of Goa. We have tried to fill some gaps in our overall coverage. This edition and all Saturday editions will have a generous sprinkling of business news and features to highlight and pay tribute to the entrepreneurial zeal of Goa’s business and industry, in addition to our comprehensive news and views coverage.

The Sports pages will have more colour and content from the village football field to the cricket world cup.

And finally, we humbly submit ourselves to the grand examination of the people of Goa. Do tell us over the next few weeks if we have lived up to your expectations. Herald is your newspaper. And hopefully it shall continue to be a part of YOU.

Nothing changes restrictions in khaki brutality.

Geeta was picked up by the Bicholim police on January 1 evening after a complaint by her paternal aunt’s daughter Suman Shirodkar alias Anjali Agarwadekar and her husband Arvind Agarwadekar that Geeta had beaten Suman.

The couple complained against me that I entered their house and beat Suman but the fact is contrary. Infact they came to my mother’s house when it was locked and when I reached there, they thrashed me”, she alleges.

Geeta’s maternal home is a disputed property and the matter is pending in Court as Geeta’s father, claiming to be a bachelor, had sold the house to Suman Shirodkar and her husband.

Geeta, however, claims that she had not trespassed into another’s property but was at her house when the incident happened. She claims that her property has been illegally occupied.

Geeta continues her tale of torture. “I fell unconscious and don’t know what happened. I regained consciousness only at local health centre and complained to the doctor of abdomen pain. I fell unconscious again and later found myself at Goa Medical College and Hospital”, recalls the lady, who still quivers after the terrifying incident.

Geeta claims that her relative saw the policemen beating her when she was unconscious even at the police station. She says that they were threatened by the police against divulging anything.

“During her treatment at GMC, Geeta said that police forced her to sign on a paper which she refused. She informed the Goa State Commission for Women (GSCW) that the police were threatening her to sign on the paper or face jail in Aguada Central Jail.

She was discharged on January 5 but the police torture did not halt. She was actually denied entry to her own house till the States Women’s Commission intervened.

And about twenty days later, police guards stationed for her protection (sic) were withdrawn by the order of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM).

A day before the police guards were withdrawn in an order by the SDM, Bicholim police had locked her inside her mother’s house on January 26.

“Since no policemen were there, I entered the house but on their return they latched the main door from outside. However, they opened it later”, she added.

GSCW Chairperson Ezilda Sapeco, who had several personal trips to Bicholim has initiated inquiry into the ‘police atrocities’. In her inquiry, she had also asked the Bicholim police extracts of station diary pertaining to the case, SDM’s report and other related details.

Unlike in the Cipriano case, when the police gave various reasons for his death starting from fits, to convulsions to epilepsy and his alcoholism, in Geeta’s case there is no excuse.

The State’s Women’s Commission has found clear prima facie evidence of brutal torture inflicted upon Geeta.

DySP Bicholim, Bossuette D’Silva who is incidentally inquiring into procedural lapses in the Cipriano case has meanwhile denied charges of police assault on the woman.

He said that the Bicholim police have registered a case filed by both – Suman and Geeta against each other. However, Geeta is not co-operating with the case probe.

Gudlar stole drugs camera during the sting operation carried out by the two ladies.

The shocking revelation needs to be put in context. This police officer who was commended for his role in arresting Dudu, by his superior Venu Bansal (then SP ANC), actually stole seized drugs from the godown of his department to sell to the girlfriend and sister of the same man he had arrested.

The Chief Secretary’s letter to Sarkar, after his first written on January 21 (ten days ago) is the second request for a CBI inquiry. Hence, it is clear that the Government has now technically asked for 2 CBI probes for cases of a similar nature.

The Herald is in possession of both the letters. In the letter written on January 21 the Government has handed over case number CID CB PS Cr No 16/2010 under different Sections of the IPC, Prevention of corruption Act and the NPS Act against Ashish Shirodkar and other officers, who were arrested after drug lord Atala’s girlfriend Lucky farmhouse uploaded pic-

tures. Vide the latest letter of January 31, case Cr No 3/2011) regarding Gudlar’s involvement has now been handed over.

“This case has hence generated considerable controversy.

These cases are similar in nature and have links and involvement of local police officers, therefore, in the interest of fairness and justice and to impart credibility to the investigations, Government of Goa has decided to entrust the enquiry of the case to the CBI”, the Chief Secretary’s letter stated.

The big question now is “Why is this man Gudlar still free after first the Crime Branch and now the Special Investigation team finding clear initial evidence of his direct involvement in the theft and peddling of drugs? But that’s another story.

Star-studded line-up was born on January 1, 1943 in Mashel, Tiswadi, in a modest family. He went to school barefoot and almost had to give up studies owing to his family’s strained economic circumstances.

Nevertheless, he was a rank holder in the matriculation examination.

An apocryphal story says that his school principal and science teacher, Bhave, once concentrated the rays of the sun through a magnifying lens on a paper till it burned and told him, “This lens is you. If you concentrate on your studies, one day you will reach the sky.” Though his mother could not support his college education, Dr Mashelkar managed to become a chemical engineer, won a Tata scholarship, went overseas and got his PhD degree.

He did ground-breaking work in polymer science and engineering, going on to become the head of the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL). He was then named Director General of the CSIR. Under his leadership, the CSIR was first in the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO’s) Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) filings among developing nations in 2002. CSIR still has a 30-40 per cent share of all US patents granted to Indians in India during the last three years.

His personal experience of reaching the very top of his profession from the most dire of circumstances has convinced him that India is fated to become one of the world’s greatest intellectual and economic engines. He has been responsible for creating an unprecedented national awareness in India on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR).

He led the challenge to successfully revoke the US patent on the wound-healing properties of Turmeric. He also chaired the technical committee that successfully challenged and revoked US patents on Basmati Rice. This set in motion a movement for the protection of traditional knowledge in the entire developing world.

Two Sundays ago, Dr Mashelkar and former Atomic Energy Commission chief Dr Anil Kakodkar sat and listened to the dreams, hopes and aspirations of young people from across Goa at the youth convention for the Vision Document for Goa2035 – to prepare a roadmap for the development of Goa – at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. He remarked, after listening to the ideas of dozens of young Goan men and women that it was possibly among the finest three hours of his life.

Mashelkar is presently the president of the Global Research Alliance, a network of publicly funded research and development institutes from the Asia-Pacific region, South Africa, Europe and the USA with over 60,000 scientists. He is also the President of India’s National Innovation Foundation.

Other topics and timings: Sun Feb 6: Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, ‘Imagination Leads to Creativity’, 5 pm to 6 pm.

Mon Feb 7: Dalai Lama, ‘Ethics for the New Millennium’, 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm.

Tue Feb 8: Lord Meghnad Desai, ‘Kosambi, Modernity and the Question of Social Inclusion’, 5 pm to 7.30 pm.

Wed Feb 9: Justice Albie Sachs, ‘Light on a Hill’, 5 pm to 7.30 pm.

Thu Feb 10: Dr Karan Singh, ‘The relevance of Vedanta in today’s context’, 5pm to 7.30 pm.

An interaction session between the public and the speaker is held subsequent to the talk.

The Directorate of Art & Culture initiated the D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas to commemorate the birth centenary of Damodar Dharmanand Kosambi, Indian mathematician, statistician, physicist, historian and polymath, and a great son of Goa. This festival is the only one of its kind in the country.

Subsidy to be recovered power minister Mauvin Godinho, will be recovered and notices to the effect will be issued within a month.

“The notification has been issued on January 27, for recovery of subsidy to the tune Rs 13 crore”, stated Power Minister during “Question Hour” on Friday while replying to a question tabled by Mandrem MLA, Laxmikant Parsekar.

Mandrem MLA wanted to know what the Government has done to recover subsidy after Supreme Court upheld the decision of the High Court wherein two notifications — dated May 15, 1996 and August 1, 1996, released by power department, were declared null and void.

The Department has on its list ninety-nine units which were illegally allowed 25 per cent rebate as a result of two notifications.

The Power Department had not taken Cabinet approval before those notifications were issued.

Sibal turns 2G scam gun on BJP HERALD CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, Feb 4: Armed with a retired Supreme Court judge's report, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday passed the 2G scam buck to the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), asserting that its NDA government had laid founda-

tion of the scam.

Under attack comes its Telecom Minister Arun Shourie in the NDA government for all "wrongs" in the spectrum allocation since 2003, including the firstcome-first-served principle followed by arrested A Raja to benefit own favourites.

Shourie, who was the telecom minister in 2003 and 2004, went on record in December after the Supreme Court asked the CBI to probe the 2G spectrum muddle in entirety from 2001 that he was ready for questioning by the investigating agency.

Sibal quoted retired Justice

Shivraj V Patil's report that the procedures adopted since 2003 were against the union cabinet's decisions and the telecom regulator TRAI's recommendation. He told a Press conference that it is now on BJP to explain its NDA government's scam first before attacking the Manmohan government.

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The government of Egypt has to ensure that peaceful protests can take place. The “systematic targeting” of journalists was totally unacceptable.

— By Robert Gibbs

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Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

I don’t care what people say about me. Right now I care about my country. Will die on Egyptian soil.

— By Hosni Mubarak

Will Mubarak resign under US deal?

PTI Washington, Feb 4: Embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is likely to step down immediately and turn over power to a transitional government headed by Vice President Omar Suleiman, backed by the army.

A deal to this effect is being brokered by the Obama administration, which is in talks with top Egyptian leaders, New York Times reported today quoting US officials.

Officials said under the proposal, the transitional government headed by Suleiman would prepare constitutional reform to prepare the country for a free and fair election in September.

US officials, the paper said,

AIMING FOR DECICIVE blOW: Anti-government protestors throw stones during clashes in Cairo, Egypt, Thursday. Another bout of heavy gunfire and clashes erupted Thursday around dusk in the Cairo square at the center of Egypt's anti-government chaos, while new looting and arson spread around the capital. Gangs of thugs supporting President Hosni Mubarak attacked reporters, foreigners, and human rights workers and the army rounded up foreign journalists.

What next for protest-torn Egypt?

AGENCIES

CAIRO, FEB 4: Egypt's president refuses to stand down despite pressure from the US and EU. What is next for his protest-torn country?

President Hosni Mubarak is adamant he will not stand down before planned elec-

tions in September. But the US, backed by the EU, is piling on the pressure for him to go now. Today's “day of departure” protests could have a decisive influence on the course of events, especially if there is violence on a large scale.

The Obama administration arm-twists Mubarak into

quitting immediately and handing over power to a transitional government headed by his deputy, Omar Suleiman. That would oversee constitutional and legislative changes to pave the way for new parliamentary and presidential elections. With much talk by the regime of

Egypt crisis has nine Arab leaders worried AGENCIES Cairo, Feb 4: The protests in Tunisia and now Egypt have several Arab leaders concerned about the prospect of dissent spreading to their country.

YEMEN President Ali Abdullah Saleh came to power in 1978.

He rules over the poorest country in the Middle East and has already shown he has been seriously rattled by events in Tunisia and Egypt.

It had been widely anticipated that he would try to pass power on to his son. He has now said he will not do this and will step down when his current term ends in 2013.

ALGERIA Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika won power in 1999 with the backing of the army in an election that was widely viewed as fraudulent.

In attempt to head off further protests, he has announced that a state of emergency - which has been in place since 1992 - will be lifted. He has also announced plans for new job creation schemes.

JORDAN Real power in Jordan rests with the monarchy.

King Abdullah II took over from his father King Hussein in 1999. He has sacked his government and announced a pro-reformist prime minister in the wake of the protests in Tunisia and Egypt.

It is thought people in Jordan will accept change under the monarchy rather than attempt to personally remove him from power.

SAUDI ARABIA

The Al Saud dynasty holds a monopoly of power. Political parties are banned and the opposition is organised from abroad.

King Abdullah succeeded the late King Fahd in 2005.

He is seen as being untainted by corruption and favours reforms which are balanced towards Saudi traditions.

The Shia represent 10% per cent of the Saudi population and feel deeply marginalised. There have been frequent confrontations and street fights with the security forces but Saudi Arabia is one of the least likely autocratic Arab nations to face upheaval.

SYRIA Political power is held by a small elite and the opposition is repressed. The Alawitecontrolled pan-Arab Baath party took control in 1963.

Bashar al Assad came to power in 2000 after the 30year rule of his father.

The government justifies an existing state of martial law because it remains at war with Israel. A referendum in 2007 endorsed al Assad as president for a second sevenyear term. He was the only candidate.

LIBYA Colonel Gaddafi led a successful military coup against King Idris in 1969.

Whilst introducing a system of governance based around 'people's committees' he retains absolute power. In recent years he has come in from the cold diplomatically on the world stage.

There is growing anger that Libya's resulting new wealth from its oil industry is

not being passed down to its people. He is seen as a man who would do anything to retain power.

KUWAIT The al-Sabah family has ruled since 1991. There is an elected legislature which has become increasingly assertive in recent years - the first Arab country in the Gulf to have an elected parliament.

In May 2009, four women were elected to the National Assembly. But the ruling family holds most of the key cabinet posts and political parties are not permitted.

MOROCCO Mohammed VI became the monarch in 1999. Under the constitution the king can dissolve parliament and dismiss or appoint the prime minister.

Despite continuing reforms, ultimately power remains in his hands. He has initiated political and economic changes and launched an investigation into human rights abuses during his father's rule.

THE PALESTINIANS The Palestinian Authority has not held elections since 2006, leaving the president Mahmoud Abbas and parliament members in office after their elected terms have ended.

In the wake of the protests, prime minister Salam Fayyad has said he will set election dates. Fatah is concerned about holding elections with the prospect of defeat. The Islamist group Hamas took control of Gaza in elections in 2006.

the need for an "honourable" solution, Mubarak is persuaded by Suleiman and the military that he needs urgent medical treatment abroad followed by a period of convalescence in distant Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea. The Egyptian government plays the stability card, arguing that an "orderly transition" is already under way, that constitutional changes will take time, and that Mubarak's sudden departure will only make matters worse.

Regime is likely to warn that the banned Muslim Brotherhood is orchestrating violence or will hijack popular protests.

expect the protest in Egypt to grow in size and intensity today and the administration fears that it may spread to engulf the entire Arab world, including some of its closest allies in the region.

Notwithstanding denials

by Mubarak himself that he does not propose to quit, the NYT said, the Obama administration was in advance talks with top Egyptian leaders about the possible immediate resignation of the embattled President.

Washington feels that the best solution to check protest disintegrating into widespread violence was to take tangible steps to address the protesters' main demand that Mubarak leave office.

"Creation of a military

backed caretaker government in Egypt is one of the several proposals being discussed between officials of the two governments," the paper said.

Undertheplan,VicePresident Suleiman backed by Chief of Egyptian armed forces Lt Gen Sami Enan and Field Marshall Mohamed Tantawi, the Defence Minister would immediately begin a process of constitutional reform.

The proposal also calls for the transitional government to open dialogue with members from a broad range of opposition groups, including the banned Muslim Brother-

hood, to open up the country's electoral system to hold free and fair election in September, the paper quoted officials as saying.

Mubarak, the NYT said, had balked, so far, at leaving and there was not yet any indication that either Suleiman or the Egyptian military was willing to abandon the President.

The reports of immediate change over in Egypt came as top US officials including Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have opened constant direct contacts with Suleiman.

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“

We hope India also will come to the meeting with a constructive attitude so that a comprehensive, sustained and result-oriented dialogue process with Pakistan can be resumed.

— by Abdul Basit

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Goa I Saturday 00, Month 2011

The Socialists are seeking "an Albania that is freed from the escalating corruption.

26/11 case: Pak court adjourns trial

SNAPSHOT Myanmar gets new Prez Myanmar named a key retired general as President today, an official said, as the military hierarchy retained its stranglehold on power in the country's new political system.

Thein Sein, who shed his army uniform to contest controversial elections last year, "was elected as the President with a majority vote," a Myanmar official told AFP .

The former junta prime minister had been tipped for the post even before the electoral committee vote, supporting fears that the regime has engineered the political process to hide military power behind a civilian facade.

A key ally of junta strongman Than Shwe, the 65year-old became a civilian to contest the November election as head of the junta-backed USDP, which claimed an overwhelming majority in the poll.

PTI Islamabad, Feb 4: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court today adjourned the trial of LeT's Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others charged with involvement in the Mumbai attacks till February 17 after prosecutors sought more time for the Lahore High Court to decide on a related petition.

The prosecution team told anti-terrorism court Judge Rana Nisar Ahmed that more time was needed for the High Court to decide on its plea to declare lone surviving Mumbai attacker Ajmal Kasab and terror suspect Fahim Ansari as "proclaimed offenders" or fugitives.

The Federal Investigation Agency's plea was listed for hearing by the High Court yesterday but could not be taken up as the bench handling the petition was dissolved following the retirement of a judge.

Pak hopes for positive Indian attitude at talks PTI Islamabad Feb 4: Pakistan today said it is going to the upcoming Foreign-Secretary level parleys with India with an “open mind” and was hopeful of a “constructive attitude” from it so that the stalled peace process can be resumed.

Referring to the upcoming meeting between the Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India on the margins of the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting in Bhutan, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said, “Pakistan is going to Thimphu with an open mind”.

He added: “We hope India also will come to the meeting.”

— by Edi Rama

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, front center, and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, second right, pose with top members of the Russian Orthodox clergy during a meeting with hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Kremlin in Moscow.

Cabinet dissolution likely in Pakistan PTI Islamabad, Feb 4: The Pakistani capital was today abuzz with reports that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani would dissolve the federal cabinet in the next few days though there was no of-

ficial word on such a possibility.

The Pakistan People's Party-led government was reported to be weighing two options – whether to dissolve the entire cabinet or to reduce its size to half in line with a landmark constitutional reforms package passed by parliament last year.

Reports also said that several key ministers could be dropped during the exercise.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Gilani are expected to chair a crucial meeting of the PPP's central executive committee later in the day to decide the matter, TV news channels reported.

Geo News channel reported that Gilani might dissolve the cabinet and announce the names of 10 to 12 ministers. The existing cabinet comprises 62 members.

Under the 18th constitutional amendment, the size of the cabinet should not be more than 11 per cent of the total strength of parliament.

The reported move to downsize the cabinet is also aimed at improving the image of the PPP, which has been battered by charges of corruption and inefficiency.

US senators urge Germany to stop EIH from supporting Iran PTI Washington, Feb 4: Nine in-

call for acTIon Expressing their grave concern with the continued financial support of Iran's nuclear proliferation activity by Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIH) in Hamburg, the senators urged the German government to take immediate action to end these practices.

we must make sanctions as strong as possible to deny Iran the economic means to developthoseweapons.EuropäischIranischeHandelsbankmusthalt thesepracticesorbeclosedimmediately," they said.

Expressing their grave concern with the continued financial support of Iran's nuclear proliferation activity by Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank (EIH) in Hamburg, the senators urged the Germangovernmenttotakeimmediateactiontoendthesepractices.

"In September, the United States sanctioned EIH, citing its role as a key financial lifeline for Iran and its facilitation of Iran's proliferation activities. EIH is one of Iran's few remaining access points to the European financial system," the letter said.

fluential US Senators have urged Germany to stop Hamburg-based bank Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank from routing funds that could be used to support Iran's nuclear programme, warning that all entities doing so will be debarred from the US financial system.

EIH was sanctioned by the United States in September, 2010, for its facilitation of Iran's proliferation activities.

Incidentally, the letter from the nineSenatorswaswrittentoGerman Foreign Minister Guido WesterwelleonFebruary1,before India's Finance Ministry announced its decision to pay Iran for Iranian crude oil through EIH in euros.

"Payments in euros will be made through Hamburgbased Europäisch-Iranische Handelsbank AG (EIH Bank)," a senior Finance Ministry official said on Thursday after a high-level meeting on the issue, which was attended by National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon, Department of Economic Affairs Secretary R Gopalan, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao and Oil Secretary S Sundareshan, among others.

In their letter dated February 1, which was released to the press on February 2, the

New anti-govt protests in Albania

PPP leader withdraws bill to amend blasphemy law

aGEncIES

PTI

ALBANIA, Feb 4: Thousands

Islamabad, Feb 4: Facing

of Albanians converged on central Tirana on Friday demanding that the government step down over corruption allegations,twoweeksafterasimilar anti-government demonstration turned violent and left three people dead.

Protest marches were also being held in another three cities, including the town of Lezha northwest of Tirana, Vlora to the southwest and Korca to the southeast.

The demonstrations come two weeks after three protesters were shot dead in clashes with security forces during anti-governmentprotests in Tirana. Another 150 were injured in the violence.

The opposition Socialists are demanding that conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha hold early elections over allegations of corruption and vote rigging in the previous 2009 general election.

But Berisha has refused to resign, accusing the opposition of trying to stage a coup.

death threats from extremist elements, senior Pakistan People's Party leader Sherry Rehman has withdrawn from Parliament a bill aimed at amending the controversial blasphemy law through elimination of the mandatory capital punishment under it.

Rehman has withdrawn the private member's bill, which she had submitted in the National Assembly or Parliament's lower house for amending the blasphemy law last year.

Her decision came after Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani made it clear that his government has no plans to amend the law.

Gilani, during a meeting with a delegation of parliamentarians, announced that Rehman, also former information minister, had "agreed to withdraw her bill" in keeping with the PPP's policy.

Rehman said she would abide by decisions made by the Prime Minister and the PPP on the issue.

US senators expressed their concern to the German Foreign Minister that EIH continues to conduct transactions on behalf of entities under US and EU sanctions.

"EIH is one of Iran's few remaining access points to the European financial system," said the letter signed by Senators Frank R Lautenberg, Mike Johanns, Barbara Boxer, Bob Casey, Scott Brown, Al Franken, Kirsten Gillibrand, Mark Kirk, Jon Kyl, Joe Lieberman and Jerry Moran.

"The threat of a nucleararmed Iran is undeniable and

In a statement, she said that "had it (the bill) appeared on the (Parliament's) agenda, perhaps some of our colleagues would have understood that it was not suggesting repeal of the law, but protecting our Holy Prophet's name against injustices done via procedures introduced by (late military dictator) Zia-ul-Haq." "No Muslim would expect not to protect the Holy Prophet's name, and no Pakistani would ever suggest anything other than that," she said.

Rehman said the changes she had suggested in the blasphemy law "were simple: that people be given a chance to prove their innocence like in all laws, and that cases be tried at the higher courts, that penalties be given according to the Quran, and that no one who makes false charges in the name of the Holy Prophet... goes unpunished."

Gilani, earlier at the meeting, made it clear that his government "has no intention to amend the law." He also asked religious parties to help

authorities in framing policies to check the law's misuse.

After a court in Punjab sentenced a Christian woman to death last year for allegedly insulting the Prophet Mohammed, President Asif Ali Zardari asked Minority Affairs Minister Shahbaz Bhatti to head a committee of religious scholars and clerics to findwaystopreventmisuseofthe blasphemy law.

At about the same time, Rehman, who has received death threats from extremist groups, had submitted the private member's bill in National Assembly to amend the law by removing the mandatory death sentence.

Rehman, whose relations with top PPP leadership are strained, did not receive much support for the move from the party.

After outspoken Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was assassinated by his police guard last month for opposing the blasphemy law, Rehman was even advised by friends and supporters to leave Pakistan.

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sports

PLAYING TODAY Odafe-less Churchill aim full points against Chirag.

Pune FC v. Indian Arrows; Mumbai FC V. JCT. IMG-Reliance have awarded Mahuaa Khobor, a Bengali channel, the exclusive rights to broadcast I-League matches, for the 2010/11 season.

Somdev Devvarman and David Martin bowed out of the doubles event of the South African Tennis Open after losing the closely fought quarter-final against Karol Beck and Dudi Sela 7-6(1), 3-6, 10-12.

Caculo Chargers triumph Goa Reds, Fighters win HERALD SPORTS DESK

HeRAld SPoRtS RePoRteR Panjim, Feb 4:Goa Reds beat Goa Blues 17-16 and Fighters beat Torpedos 3-10 in the finals of Pre-Youth Girls National Championship and the Pre-Sub Junior Girls National Championship organ-

Panjim, Feb 4: Caculo Chargers emerged champions in Pro-Badminton League Team Championship organised by Panjim Badminton Club in association with SAG at Indoor Stadium, Campal here on Friday.

Caculo beat hot favourites Fomento Flamingos 3-2 in a pulsating nail-biting encounter.

Former State champion Pankaj Naik combined brilliantly with All-India civil services bronze medallist Marina to win the mixed singles event with comfortable ease. They beat Navneet Nasnodkar and Malati Dani 21-11, 21-16..

In the under-19 boys doubles event, Aniket Shenai and Saish Salelkar looked down and out after losing the first set but came back strongly to beat Krishnaraj Gauns and Pranav Silimkhan 13-21, 21-18, 21-15 in three tight sets, giving a commanding 2-0 lead to the Chargers.

The victorious Caculo Chargers team led by Pankaj Naik with Bosco George, SP, Sarfraz Sheikh, Sandeep Heble.

Fomentos, led by Goa's top shuttler Floyd Araujo won the next two events, winning their men doubles and singles events to tie the scores at 2 each.

In the men doubles, top seeds Floyd Araujo and Navneet Nasnodkar smashed their way to a comfortable 21-10, 21-15 win over Pankaj Naik and Krushnan Naik. In the singles event, it was virtually a stroll in the park for Floyd as he eased his way past Manoj Humraskar winning 21-8, 21-10.

The decisive veterans 45-

plus doubles event was expected to be a close contest but Santosh Prabhudesai and Dr R Borkar representing Fomentos sccumbed quite meekly to Goa's top veterans pair of P.K. Gupta and Tanaji Sawant, losing 21-17, 21-11 to hand over the title to the Chargers.

SP Bosco George was the chief guest and distributed the prizes in the presence of Goa Badminton Association president Richard De Souza, secretary Narahar Thakur, PBC president Sarfraz Sheikh, SAG coach Roy

Navdurga, Symbiosis in finals

Navdurga kept their cool in the final over of the thrilling match winning the first semi-finals by a solitary run. They defeated Pragati Vidyalaya Borim in a nailbiting match which saw every ball having its own charm as the ding- dong battle ended up with the run out of Samarth to put Navdurga into the finals.

Skipper Vikrant of Navdurga with 24 not out with 4 hits to the fence and 3 wickets

was declared the man-of-the match.

Symbiosis, who have some of the best boys from Shiroda in cricket proved their superiority with a comfortable win of 8 wickets to have a summit clash with Navdurga in the 11a.m match slated for Saturday.

Siddanth with 3 fours and 1 six scored 22 runs off 10 balls to claim the man-of-the match award against A. J. Almeida Ponda.

Almeida having batted first and having scored 72 for 4 in their allotted overs could not contain Siddanth with the support of Akilesh with 21 runs.

Dada Vaidya Curti defeated A.J.Almeida Ponda by 17 runs with 3 wickets to spare. Tushar played a stellar role in the victory of Dada Vaidya scoring 23 runs with 1 boundary and 1 six. Saidutt with 17 runs was the only Almeida player who gave some resistance to Dada Vaidya bowlers.

Sports Club at Curtorim ground on Friday. There was no score at half time.

Crossing over, Betalbatim Sporting put up a better display and created many forays into the rival territory and nearly broke the deadlock but Denzil Rogtao blasted wide.

In the penalty shoot out, Cajie D’Souza, Alliston Rogtao and Luis Rogtao were on target for Betalbatim Sporting Club while Aggie Antao was the lone scorer for Sao Jose de Areal. Jeremy Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting and Franky Valadares of Areal were named best players.

International Betty D’Silva presenting the man-of-the match award to Siddanth of Symbiosis Shiroda.

HERALD SPORTS DESK Ponda, Feb 4:Navdurga HS Madkai and Symbosis Shiroda entered the finals in Under-14 category and Pragati Vidyalaya Borim and Dada Vaidya HS Curti moved into the semi-finals in the Under-16 category of Ponda Youth InterSchools Cricket Tournament organized by Sports Excell to commemorate the Silver Jubilee celebrations of GVM’s GGPR College, Ponda.

Betalbatim prevail over Areal HeRAld CoRReSPoNdeNt Margao, Feb 4:Betalbatim Sporting Club prevailed over Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club 3-1 via the tie-breaker to storm into the semi-finals of 3rd All Goa Wilred Leisure Cup intervillage football tournament organized by Wilred Leisure

Infant Jesus High School, Colva, winners of State level U- 14 football tournament organised by Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs alongwith manager Fr. Diago Fernandes, Headmistress Flora Valadares, PE teacher Shailesh Goankar, teacher Gilroy D’Souza, PTA member Domnic Lourenco.

Athaide and others. PBC secretary Sandeep Heble welcomed and proposed the vote of thanks.

Senior club member Tukaram Kalangutkar was felicitated on the occasion in recognition of his contibution towards badminton in Goa.

ised by Goa Basketball Association at Fatima Convent High School court, Margao.

Pioala and Gosipa scored 7 points each for Reds while Soudra scotred 8, Hanna 6 for Blues. Earlier, Reds defeated

Greens 13-10 while Blues beatYellow 6-10. Franzila and Kinski 6 each scored for Figheters while Rhea and Leandri scored 4 each for Torpedos. Torpedos beat Wavviors 12-7 while Fighters beat Riders 10-8.

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sports SNAPSHOT Jakati to lead Goa HERALD SPORTS DESK

Panjim, Feb 4: Shadab Jakati will lead Goa at South Zone K. S. Subbaih Pillai Trophy from February 10 to 18 in Kerala.

Shadab Jakati (captain), Ajay Ratra, Swapnil Asnodkar, Vaibhav Naik, Reagan Pinto, Rahul Keni, Rohit Asnodkar, Sahil Dhuri, Harshad Gadekar, Sherbahadur Yadav, Amit Yadav, Ganeshraj Narvekar, Darshan Misal, Gaurish Gawas, Ninad Pawaskar.

Rajesh Kamath coach. Sarvesh Naik asst. coach. B. Prabhakar trainer. Danny Pereira physio. Dayanand Naik manager.

The team will leave on February 8 from Dabolim.

No power to decide on issue, says GFA Appeal Committee

BY SPORTS REPORTER

HERALD SPORTS DESK

D Bosco, Rosary top HERALD SPORTS REPORTER Mapusa, Feb 4: Don Bosco HS, Panjim edged out St Britto’s HS Mapusa in the boys U-14 North District basketball final organised by DSYA at Youth Hostel, Mira Mar on Friday.

In the girls final, Our Lady of the Rosary HS Dona Paula overcame Chubby Cheeks HS Porvorim.

In the U-17 boys final, Don Bosco HS Panjim also got the better of St Britto’s HS Mapusa, while Sharda Mandir, Mira Mar, prevailed in the girls final.

In Higher Secondary inter-zonal basketball final, Dempo, Mira Mar defeated St Xavier’s HS Mapusa.

Don Bosco HS Panjim won the girls final.

Panjim, Feb 4: Six Second Division football clubs from Bardez Zone who were summoned by Goa Football Association (GFA) to present their case for reducing the number of teams from nine to eight before the Appeals Committee had to go home disappointed with no hearing taking place at all on Friday.

“We were officially called by the GFA to present our case seeking reduction of Bardez Zone Second Division clubs from nine to eight, but no hearing could took place,” disclosed Tony Remedios, president, Saligao Sporting.

In all, six clubs were all set to present the case, but the Appeals Committee said, “We can take up only disciplinary cases. And, that was the start and the end,” remarked Tony.

“We came all the way from

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Margao, Feb 4: An injury time

Basketball tourneys HERALD SPORTS DESK Panjim, Feb 4: The basketball tournament for Youth Girls and Youth Boys will be held at Fatima Convent High School, Margao on February 6 at 9 a.m.

Following boys have been selected Juvend Diniz, Makenzuie D’Costa, Venkatesh Reddy, Anthony Colaco, Christopher Fernanades, Ashok Galannavar, Jesus Fernandes, Neil Fernanades, Sidney Palha, Abhinav G. Wadikar, Rosyn Fernandes, Gistan Peter Rodrigues, Ashhley do Rego, Nothan Peter Rodrigues, Soham Tamba, Gavin Silveira, Eric de Santa Rita Vaz.

20-20 cricket at Curchorem HERALD CORRESPONDENT Curchorem, Feb 4: The 3rd all-Goa white season ball and full coloured dress 20-20 cricket tournament organised by Sanguem-Quepem Patrakar Sangh in association with SAG and Kudchade Vikas Sanghatana will start on February 5 at SAG ground, Curchorem.

The inauguration of the coloured T-shirts and pants was done by Curchorem MLA, Shyam Satardekar in the presence of president of Patrakar Sangh Prahar Savardekar and others.

In all, 32 teams are participating in the tournament which will conclude on March 13.

The tournament will be inaugurated by Quepem MLA, Chandrakant Kavlekar at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Tomorrow, the first match will be played between Arlem Cricket Club and Sanguem Cricket Club while the afternoon match will be between Alankar Sports Club and Kudchade RCC. The first prize will be Rs. 30,000 while the second prize will be Rs. 20,000 besides other prizes.

3-a-side football tie-breaker PANJIM, (HSD) -- Jolly Boys of Agramorod, Paroda will organise an all-Goa 3-a-side football tie-breaker on February 5 at Paroda at 7.30 p.m. The winners and runners up will be awarded Rs 6,666 and Rs 4,444 respectively.

our residences to place before the Appeals Committee our contention that one team has to be demoted from the Second Division to the Third Division. In fact, we were asked by GFA to do that. But we were crestfallen when the Chairman of Appeal Committee, Valmiki Menezes declared that the Committee could not decide on the matter,” explained Tony adding that the committee said that it takes decisions on disciplinary matters.

“Whom shall we approach now?,” queried Tony and added that the Appeal Committee was in no mood to listen to them. Besides, Valmiki, Cleofato Coutinho (deputy chairman), former treasurer John Dias, John Lobo, Olympian Fortunato Franco, Fortunato Braganza were also present, with the only absentee in the 7-member panel being Selwyn Botelho, who is away in Dubai.

Jayprakash Poulekar of Laxmiprasad, Paul Carvalho of Peddem Bomm, Elvis Rodrigues of Penha da Franca, Seby D’Costa of Benny, Savio Fernandes of Milagres and Tony Remedios dutifully reported at the appointed time at the GFA headquar-

ters and were left clueless about the future course of action.

“We have asked the acting secretary to give us a reply within two days as no matches of the Bardez Zone will take place. In any case, the matches should not be started at all till the case is decided,” said Tony.

Tony and the other five representatives were sad and somewhat irked that such a treatment was meted out to them. “If the Constitution is somewhat faulty, why did the GFA call us today. Would the same treatment be meted out to the professional teams,” voiced Tony in a choked voice.

It is the Executive Committee (minutes of December 12, 2010) that had decided to have nine teams in the Bardez Zone Second Division, but the six clubs had pointed out that the decision was malafide and bad in law.

The clubs then had written to GFA president, Shrinivas V Dempo on January 20 saying that at a meeting instead of discussing their case, a draw was already drawn by the vice-president (Bardez) and given to the teams.

The six clubs had appealed

to the president as, “Saligao had appealed to the Appeal Committee for the matter to be heard as the matter is with the EGM and as the games of 2nd Division are likely to be held from the first week of February, the Appeal Committee may be instructed to hear the matter before the start of the league, failing which we will have no alternative but to decide our future course of action.”

The Appeal Committee of GFA is one of the two judicial bodies with the committee consisting of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and three members. The chairman and deputy chairman shall have to be practicing advocates.

However, the present committee has a total of seven members and not five as mandated in the Constitution.

A member, when asked how the Executive Committee had approved a 7-member panel when the Constitution speaks of five, clarified that they were not given an opportunity to express their views at the meeting on December 31, 2010 when committees were finalised and the president threatened to resign if any name in the committees was

deleted and hand over charge to vice-president.

The Appeal Committee was right in not hearing the case as the function is governed by the FIFA Disciplinary Code as applicable to the association.According to present GFA Constitution, “The Committee is responsible for hearing appeals against decisions from the Disciplinary Committee that are not declared final by the relevant FIFA regulations as well as decisions passed by the Player’s Status Committee concerning the eligibility of players,” according to the prevailing GFA Constitution.

“The decisions pronounced by the Appeal Committee shall be final/irrevocable and binding on all parties concerned.

This provision is subject to appeals lodged with the Arbitration Tribunal of the Association.”

Some members observed that the decisions of the Executive Committee, except Disciplinary Committee and Players Status Committee, cannot be taken up by the Appeal Committee and that it is right that no hearing could take place today.

Cavelossim stun Calangute Association

Tennis ball cricket Sanguem, Feb 4: The first all-Goa 11-a-side tennis ball cricket tournament organised by Daredevil Boys, Sanguem will be held from February 12-27 at SIP ground, Sanguem.

Rs. 22,222 and a trophy will be awarded to the winners while Rs. 11,111 will be awarded to the runners-up. Other prizes semi-losers Rs. 3333, man-of-the match for every match Rs. 500, best bowler Rs.1000 and best batsman Rs. 1000.

“

At the National Cricket Academy -- if I can bowl and throw also but if I can’t, then I'll let them know. At the moment I'm fully fit. -- Virender Sehwag

6 Bardez Division clubs report, go home disappointed

Boxer Nehal wins Panjim, Feb 4: Pugilist Nehal of Arpora punched away to victory at the 15th State Boxing Championship underway at Campal Indoor Stadium here.

Nehal of Arpora beat Lawrence Lakra of Saligao, sending the latter for a “count” in the 2nd round winnig by unanimous decision.

Amongst the women boxers, Kakshlata Patil of SAI Peddem had a tough opponent in Chetan Aghariya of RCC Peddem but her experience and straight punches to her opponent’s face won her the bout.

In another exciting senior midweight bout, Ibrahim Mulla of Panjim Boxing Club beat Hemant Chodankar with a heavy right to the chin, before referee Phadte had to stop the bout.

“

We were officially called by the GFA to present our case seeking reduction of Bardez Zone Second Division clubs from nine to eight, but no hearing could took place.

-- Tony Remedios, president, Saligao Sporting

Goa I Saturday 05, February 2011

goal by striker Vitorino Fernandes helped Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim to defeat Calangute Association 1-0 in GFA First Division league at Cuncolim school ground, on Friday.

There was no score at half time.

Santa Cruz enjoyed a slight edge over their opponents and had clear two scoring chances to surge ahead but striker Vitorino Fernandes spurned chances. Later, Levino Fernandes missed the golden opportunity to put his team in front but he shot wide from close range.

Cavelossim gained the upper hand in the 28th minute when striker Vitorino

Fernandes was brought down by Calangute defender Ali inside the rival penalty box and referee Judas awarded the penalty. Midfielder Desmond Fernandes took the spot but squandered the golden opportunity as his try hit the crossbar.

Calangute Association made a couple of frays into the rival territory but they failed to get past the Cavelossim defenders.

Crossing over, Calangute Association were an improved side as they went into the attacking mode and troubled the rival defence with well orchestrated raids.

Midway in the second session,Calangute Association nearly broke the deadlock but

Cavelossim goalkeeper Flyod came to his side rescue as he fisted away a strong header from Varindrajit Singh off a cross from Manuel Crasto from the left. Later, Manuel Crasto’s pile driver missed the target narrowly.

The Calangute Association had their share of chances but the rival goalkeeper blocked Aiken Dias try.

In the 85th minute the referee erred as Cavelossim midfielder Desmond Fernandes retaliated against a Calangute player and instead of flashing the red card, he cautioned him with a yellow.

“The decision angered the Calangute bench which was not happy,” said Calangute coach Valentine Ezeugo.

With the match heading for a barren draw, Santa Cruz struck the match-winner in injury time. Following a swift cross from Stephan Baretto from the right, Calangute defenders fumbled to clear the ball and lurking striker Vitorino Fernandes placed the ball to the far corner of the net with loud cheers from Cavelossim supporters.

With this win Santa Cruz Club of Cavelossim collected 16 points and remained undefeated and at the top of the table from six matches while Calangute Association suffered their third defeat and have 12 points.

Cavelossim coach Severino Fernandes said, “I am happy with the performance

of my boys. We missed many chances in the first half. I believe in my boys and they always play for a win and will continue to play well in the reaming matches.”

Meanwhile the supporters of Calangute Association who were unhappy with refereeing rushed towards the supervising officials and used abusive language but Fabian D’Souza cooled tempers.

Meanwhile there was no board for the fourth official for substitutions as he had to tell them personally by calling the players jersey numbers.To make matters worse, there was no stretcher and they had to make use of a makeshift polythene stretcher.

Betalbatim prevail over Areal HERALD

CORRESPONDENT

Margao, Feb 4: Betalbatim Sporting Club prevailed over Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club 3-1 via the tie-breaker to storm into the semi-finals of 3rd All Goa Wilred Leisure Cup inter-village football tournament organized by Wilred Leisure Sports Club at Curtorim ground on Friday. There was no score at half time.

Crossing over, Betalbatim Sporting put up a better display and created many forays into the rival territory and nearly broke the deadlock but Denzil Rogtao blasted wide.

In the penalty shoot out, Cajie D’Souza, Alliston Rogtao and Luis Rogtao were on target for Betalbatim Sporting Club while Aggie Antao was the lone scorer for Sao Jose de Areal. Jeremy Fernandes of Betalbatim Sporting and Franky Valadares of Areal were named best players.

GFA Second Division: Agasaim YC v. Merces SC, St. Cruz ground, 4 p.m.

GFA U-14: Colmorod Ratwaddo SC v. United Boys of Palolem, Rosary ground; Ambelim SC v. Snow's Football Academy, Assolna ground. Kick off 4 p.m.

V.V. Dempo Trophy organised by Goa Veterans Football Club: Quepem Veterans v.

Marmagoa Veterans, Chandor, 4 p.m.

GFA 2nd Division South play-off: Curtorim Gymkhana v. Wilred Leisure SC, Cuncolim ground, 4 p.m.

3rd Wilred Leisure Cup soccer: Verna Sports Club v.

Chandor Club, Curtorim ground, 4.30 p.m.

Holy Cross soccer: Murida B v. Dongor Vaddo, 3.45 p.m; Aguada v. Marlem , 4.45 p.m.; Rosary ground, Fatorda.

St Sebastian soccer: Navelim Footballers v. Real Boys, 7 p.m.; Maina Curtorim v. Pogo Boys, 8.15 p.m., Greenfield, Santa Cruz.

EPL clubs go all-out, strenghten squads despite recession

BY SUPRIYA BAKHT

H

ave clubs in England ever heard of the word ‘recession’, I wonder? After a record-breaking 225 million pounds was spent by English clubs in the January transfer window, the second half of the 2010-11 Premier League is set to become the most exciting season in years.

As is customary, deadline day was a flurry of bids being accepted and rejected, and as the transfer window concluded, four clubs spent four fifths of the total expenditure. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Aston Villa broke their banks to strengthen their squads for the remainder of the season.

Tune in for an enthralling weekend of football to see how these extravagant purchases fare on their debut!

WOLvERHAmPTON WOLvES mANCHESTER UNITED: Manchester United were uncharacteristically quiet this January transfer window despite the frenzied buying by the other top clubs in England, but with a five point advantage over their closest rivals Arsenal mid-way through the season, Alex Ferguson is content with his current squad. He and his team will be confident of extending their unbeaten streak to a club record 30 matches in their away fixture against the Wolves on Saturday. As expected, United won convincingly against Villa this week, with two goals from Rooney and a third coming from Vidic. A late goal ended

the Wolves hopes for a well-deserved draw on Wednesday, as they lost to the Bolton Wanderers. Unless they miraculously manage to turn their season around, the Wolves appear to be heading for the Division One Championship, with only five wins so far, they are in last place in the league.

NEWCASTLE – ARSENAL: Arsenal will be relieved by Andy Carroll’s controversial departure from Newcastle. The last time the two sides met was at the Emirates Stadium in November when Arsenal lost 1-0 and Carroll’s sole goal was the difference between them. Arsene Wenger and the Gunners travel to St. James Park on Saturday to avenge their earlier home-loss and to attempt to close the gap between themselves in second place and United. While determined Arsenal clawed their way back from a goal down against Everton to win 2-1, Newcastle lost their mid-week fixture against Fulham and will obviously miss Carroll in what promised to be a tough fixture even with the striker’s presence. The only silver lining for the Magpies is the 35 million pound windfall they have to spend in the next transfer window!

mANCHESTER CITY–WEST BROmWICH ALBION: Manchester City will need to up their game on Saturday when they take on West Bromwich at home. Once upon a time, City were tied at the top of the league with their local rivals United. Now, they trail second placed Arsenal by three points and the recent slump in form is an issue of concern for City manager Roberto Mancini. City are ruing their mid-week result against Birmingham after conceding a lead that eventually lead to a 2-2 draw and the two points they squandered. Blessed with a benevolent and extremely wealthy owner, City contin-

ued to fortify their squad with yet another expensive buy, signing Edin Dzeko from Wolfsburg. West Brom are just about avoiding the drop zone and a much-needed win would put them clear of the danger of relegation.

CHELSEA – LIvERPOOL: The Chelsea – Liverpool fixture on Sunday is the highlight of this weekend’s fixtures. Two of the most active sides in the transfer window face-off and this week’s highly publicized transfers are put to test, it will be interesting to see how the four new signings fare on their debuts. Chelsea have been struggling for a majority of the season but after three consecutive wins, they are returning to their winning ways and will be looking forward to their fourth straight win at Stamford Bridge. In a single day, Chelsea spent over 70 million pounds on Torres’s extravagant move from Liverpool and centre-back David Luiz from Benfica. Clearly, neither Abramovich nor their management has noticed the current economic environment. The sale of Torres gave Kenny Dalglish the chance to splurge on a replacement, Liverpool bought Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez and Carroll from Newcastle. Suarez immediately continued his goal scoring ways (111 goals in 159 appearances for Ajax), scoring on his debut and other new players will be hoping to replicate his form on Sunday. The Torres transfer saga has left Liverpool fans burning their old Torres jerseys and praying for vengeance that they might get if Suarez and Carroll deliver. A must watch game if there was ever one!

Supriya Bakht was once a legal eagle and then saw the light at the back of the net. A rabid Arsenal supporter and an overall football fanatic - she now lives, loves, and writes football from a shack on a beach in Goa.

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sports

“

My insistence on pushing Sachin down the batting order against his wish during the 2007 World Cup led to a "breakdown" of relations with the iconic cricketer.

-- Greg Chappell in the book SACH

size 10cm x 2col insertion on 5-2-2011 TEam IndIa captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni meeting with groundsmen during the inauguration of the M S Dhoni Charitable Foundation cricket tournament at JSCA cricket ground in Ranchi on Friday.

Dempo pip St Sebastian SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 4: A jubilant Jeovito Fernandes came off the bench to keep up his goal scoring form, netting the winner for Dempo Sports Club as they overcame St Sebastian Sports Club, Santa Cruz 2-1 in GFA's 2nd division at DSYA ground, Santa cruz on Friday. Dempo led 1-0 at the lemon break.

In a high intense match, the referee was kept busy handing out seven yellow cards in total. Ashley Rodrigues, Savio Pereira, Lino de Araujo and Custodio D’Cunha were booked for St Sebastian. Wellington Fernandes, Bharat Thapa and Tyson Fernandes were the Dempo players booked.

Dempo attacked dangerously down the wings, with the full backs overlapping the wingers to exert pressure on their opponents. Mandaro

Dessai was particularly efficient as he dribbled through two and three defenders at a time and made his crosses count. His pace also allowed him to get into good goal scoring opportunities, but he failed to keep his composure.

St Sebastian started the match defensively with a fiveman midfield which tried to stop their opponents from holding onto possession. In the second half a few substitutions in midfield allowed them to attack more.

Dempo opened the scoring in the 26th minute when Jorex Fernandes got on the end of a Tyson Fernandes cross to slot home.

A few minutes later Dilip Rodrigues was unlucky as he rattled the crossbar with a shot for St Sebastian.

In the 71st minute, St Sebastian equalized through Dilip Rodrigues who volleyed in a corner taken by Lino de

Salgaocar SC hammer Dabolim SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, FEB 4: In a high scoring match, Rossman Cruz Nagoa Sports Club defeated Colmorod Ratwaddo Sports Club 7-4 in GFA’s U-16 league at Nagoa ground on Friday. Rossman led 4-2 at the interval.

Cleto Borges and Nicky Fernandes scored a brace each, while Daniel Fernandes, Clinton Braganza and Shelton Fernandes also scored for Rossman.

Denzil Nejinery and Avelino Gomes scored a brace each for Colmorod.

In GFA’s U-14 league at Tilak Maidan, highly disciplined Salgaocar Sports Club hammered Dabolim SC 23-0.

It was totally a one-sided affair as Salgaocar Juniors pumped one goal after another.

The previous record was in

the name of Vasco which had defeated Dabolim 18-0 a few weeks back.

Salgaocar Juniors faced very little resistance as the ball hardly ventured into their half. Had not been for Dabolim goalkeeper, the scoreline would have been even higher.

The architect for Salgaocars was 12-year old Danny Dave Fernandes from Arlem, Margao. Although sjort in stature, he skillfully scored 8 goals.

Delbert Francis Fernandes, his mate upfront, scored 5.

Danny was adjudged manof-the match. Mariano Dias, the Technical Director of Salgaocar Youth Development was very pleased with the performance.

Salgaocar will play their next match against Vasco Sports club on February 9.

Araujo.

Four minutes later Dempo reassured their superiority, when Mandoro Dessai crossed from the left and Wellington Fernandes played the ball back for Jeovito to smash into the back of the net.

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“

Goa I Saturday 05, February 2011

The IPL has slapped a fourmatch ban on batsman Manish Pandey (Sahara Pune Warriors) for breaching its guidelines.

-- Chirayu Amin

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sports

“

The PCB has retained Shahid Afridi as captain for the World Cup. Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed will also continue as head coach and bowling consultant.

-- Media Manager Nadeem Sarwar

Making dreams come true for footballers Steve McMahon–Churchill Bros Academy soon Photo: Jovito Lopes

steve McMahoN with Churchill Alemao, Valanka Alemao, Roosvelt Alemao and Ciabro Alemao at Varca on Friday.

By JovIto LoPes & chaRLes D’soUsa Panjim/Margao, Feb 3: Making dreams come true for Indian football and making it big on world stage could become a reality with the right move of establishing the Steve McMahon–Churchill Brothers Academy in the near future under Project Heroes.

One of England’s football legend, with a playing career spanning over 15 years where he played more than 600 games in what is now known as the English Premier League and donned colours for Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Swindon Town, Steve McMahon has done the ground work for the past two days, having interacted with Churchill Brothers Chief Patron, PWD Minister Churchill Alemao; President, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao, Legal Advisor Valanka Alemao, Directors Roosevelt Alemao, Ciabro Alemao and other officials including Savio Alemao and ultimately concluded that the Goan soil was fertile enough to launch the prestigious academy in the near future.

Steve, who is best remembered for being captain and an integral member of the great Liverpool side of 80s where he was instrumental in winning three League championships and two FA Cups having won 17 full England caps and played in the 1988 European Championships and the 1990 World Cup finals finishing third, dealt with the huge potential that India hold for making it big in football at world level. “Surely, it cannot be done overnight. It will take

time. What’s essential is to start right, to have a structured programme in place so that ultimately an Indian player would play in the Premier Championship (EPL). Once that entry is made, the rest will be history,” remarked the once powerful Liverpool midfielder.

Steve’s is a wholesome programme. He follows an integrated, practical and well-tested approach with bottom – up process for build up with the roof being the last aspect, strongly pointing out that the foundation is the key to success.

children will display greater passion and practice with higher dedication so that we raise the standard of Indian football in the ultimate analysis,” reasoned out the great TV presenter.

“I have come to Goa on a personal invitation from Churchill and knowing his passion for football and his team’s superb showing, I felt that having earned so much as a footballer I had to give something back,” said Steve.

“We will ultimately set up academies for 8 to 16 years, targeting about 240 youth in

what steve MacMahoN has to say We will ultimately set up academies for 8 to 16 years, targeting about 240 youth in all and identifying ultimately 22 best in each age-group. These youngsters will go global.

We shall identity talent, nurture talent, make teams and showcase each team in the Middle East, Asia, South America, Russia and Europe. The top priority is to develop an ongoing academy and then develop the talent that has been identified.

“I am going to help to make Indian football big,” that’s Steve’s mantra.

Steve has held a number of managerial and coaching roles in addition to being a regular analyst with BBC and Sky sports in the UK. For the past three years, Steve has been based in Singapore, where he continues his punditry work with ESPN STAR Sports and has become the face of football for over 1 billion viewers across Asia.

“I need to convert the strong viewership into participation as talent abounds in India,” asserted Steve at an impromptu press briefing at Churchill’s residence at Varca on Friday.

“We will give our youngsters an opportunity with the help of my group and in association with Churchill Brothers in Goa. And, I am sure the

all and identifying ultimately 22 best in each age-group.

These youngsters will go global. We shall identity talent, nurture talent, make teams and showcase each team in the Middle East, Asia, South America, Russia and Europe. The top priority is to develop an ongoing academy and then develop the talent that has been identified,” pointed out Steve.

“It’s one of its kind project, identifying the best football players throughout India. So, at Varca or other parts of Salcete, you will have in the years to come, the cream of talented India players,” asserted Churchill Alemao, who one day will propel India to the great world stage. That’s when Indian football will be noticed, added Churchill.

“We will build elite 22-man squads and the youth teams

Nat Games moved ahead to 2014, says Azgaonkar UNI Panjim, Feb 4: The National Games, which were scheduled to be held in Goa in 2011, will now be held in 2014, Sports Minister Manohar Babu Azgaonkar informed the House today.

Replying to a question tabled by BJP MLA Francis D’Souza, the minister said the National Games are proposed to be organised at 12 different centres in the State, wherein one of the centres was at Quepem, where the requisite infrastructure for

hosting the event of Sepak Takraw, is being developed through the State budget.

“The Central grant of Rs 12 crore has been received by the State government on January 6 last year. So far, no funds have been spent from the Central assistance on creation of infrastructure and the total grant has been kept in the consolidated fund,” he added.

The Sports Authority of Goa is in the process of appointing technical consultant for Part 1 infrastructure development of the national games to be held in Goa. In

Part 1 infrastructure development will be done at 11 centres.

D’Souza said Azgaokar is an incompetent sports minister as no infrastructure development for National Games in Goa has started.

Chief Minister Digamber Kamat said, “Planning Commission team had come down to the State and examined some existing infrastructures both indoors and outdoors and suggested for upgradation of existing infrastructure. Appointment of consultants process is on.”

will compete in various competitions and demonstrations. We will have tie-ups with the youth teams from EPL teams and then it will be easy to showcase the players in Europe, which is the final destination,” sounded Steve.

“The academy sides will rub shoulders from the academies from Premier League, Spanish League and other European opponents,” declared Steve.

“We will set up the Churchill Cup championship in Goa where youth teams from England, Spain, Germany will exhibit their talents in Goa. We have to make an awareness. Finally we have to make Indian football an industry, a business venture,” stated Steve.

“The road map is a tough one and long too. We have a definite plan. There is a long way to go. There is lots of hard work. We need committed and dedicated players with high enthusiasm, the type of which is being displayed and has been shown by Churchill for football all these years,” thundered Steve.

“We will produce heroes and that will the time when we will be able to provide the best Indian football talent throughout to top leagues and strategic clubs throughout the world,” disclosed Steve.

There will be scouts looking for talent at several locations and venues to start with. The selections will start thereafter as part of the second stage. Professional coaches will then take over

for monitoring and developing players. Coaches from England, Spain, Germany will also be roped in periodically. The boys to be selected will have to demonstrate ability, commitment, dedication, skill, focus, concentration, attention, aptitude, learning ability and potential.

Steve and his group visited Churchill Bros’ Club House at Varca which is near completion and also inspected the proposed site for the fullfledged stadium at Benaulim which will ultimately house the academy.

“Infrastructure will have to be put in place as at least one ex-Premier league manager will attend and assist at final trials. “We will have to develop state-of-the art facilities,” the Singapore-based TV personality said.

Academics and football will go side-by-side with a typical day consisting of breakfast, morning training, school, lunch, class room session, snack, afternoon training, dinner and classroom session.

“It’s an excellent project. It has always been my dream all these years. I am happy that there is a structured programme and with a person like Steve it is bound to be a big success,” remarked Churchill.

“It will be a very big collaborative effort which will give the much-needed push for our football. We have made a beginning and as they say, the journey of thousand miles starts with the first step, and that’s what we have done exactly for the past two days,” exclaimed Churchill, who had to answer pertinent questions, some very tough, as to why Churchill Bros could qualify for the project. And, they earned the right on sheer merit, for the Churchill team could showcase their club on a professional basis.

Steve and his three-member team left Goa today on a radiant note. What follows next is the most important stage – planning - for which a team of Churchill Brothers officials will move to Delhi and Singapore with the required inputs.

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Goa I Saturday 05, February 2011

Sourav Ganguly would not be part of IPL-4 following the objection raised by a few franchises of buying him outside the auction. -- Chirayu Amin

Pak trio face trial in England PTI London, Feb 4: The tainted Pakistan trio of Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir will face a trial after they were charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments by the

UK prosecution service in the spot-fixing scandal.

They were today issued summons by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service to a first hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 17.