5 MARCH 2011 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

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Panjim I March, 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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wEEkEND

THE VoiCE of GoA -- SinCE 1900

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goa

BERLUscONi’s ‘RUBy’ HOgs LiMELigHT >> P11

INSIDE

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New GIM for managers

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When fishnets wove families

Arjun Singh dead

Congress leader Arjun Singh, passed away in New Delhi on Friday. Singh was the Union Minister of Human Resource Development in the Manmohan Singh cabinet from 2004 to 2009. (PTI)

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PM HAs NOT REsPONDED TO DRUg NExUs PROBE: MUNDE >> P3

My wORsT DAy, sAys BANgLA cAPTAiN >> P15

THE LOOT OF PANJIM - 1 Most of the time, the devil lies in the detail. As Panjim begins its countdown to elect a new set of corporators to manage the city, its residents demand a report card of the minute details of the functioning of the CCP. Every point in these details, which Herald will bring to you in a three part series, need not be recorded for posterity. But if you join all these little dots, a picture of organised loot, in the garb of managing your city will emerge. Loot in the allotment of shops in the new market, loot in the process of waste management, and even the loot of salaries meant for fictitious daily wage workers of the Corporation, most of whom were not actually working.

This loot involves not just readers in Panjim, but the whole of Goa. Please respond and rise against this daylight robbery.

Rs 6000 per truck trip for garbage when truck, workers and tools are CCP’s The Panjim Mayor’s wishes prevailed over CCP rules TEAM HERALD Panjim, March 4: This is the first of the two short stories we begin with. Panjim was faced with an acute problem of waste accumulation and lack of collection especially from hotels and restaurants, what did it do? Instead of

using its own resources to ensure collection, it engaged a Vasco-based contactor Sebastian Cruz to collect waste from April 2006 to March 2007 at Rs 6000 per truck per trip with no codal formalities or tendering being followed.

Not only was there no tendering, the approval for this

work was given post facto on July 25, 2007 for a period of work ending on March 31, 2007.

The CCP then signed another MoU with the same Sebastian Cruz for the collection of waste between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008. The same MoU also

states that this agreement would be in force till March 2010 thereby contradicting the validity of the MoU. Notwithstanding that all laws and procedures were given a go by, let us try and understand why this contract was needed in the first place.

The trucks were CCP’s, the

workers were CCP’s, the tools of collection were CCP’s, so why was Cruz getting paid? In addition he was allowed to collect sanitation charges from the CCP for which he would be paid a certain sum.

In 2009, it was decided that the hotel association would

take care of the garbage collection with the CCP contributing just Rs 2000 per day.

This cheaper arrangement was, however, short-lived as the High Court asked the CCP to make arrangements for collection. Immediately thereafter the CCP asked the same person Sebastian Cruz

to handle the collection and transportation at the same rate of Rs 6000 per truck.

The second story is even more bizarre. The CCP was asked by the court to stop dumping and treating waste at Patto Plaza and directed that the entire accumulated >Continued on pg 11

Cong think-tank re-jigged Shantaram named Secy; Brar gets Goa charge; Luizinho retains positions FROM OUR BUREAU New Delhi, March 4: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday re-jigged her team, booting out one-third to infuse new blood at all levels — general secretaries, secretaries and the highest decision-making Congress Working Committee (CWC).

A total of 14 secretaries have been removed while the new team of 34 secretaries includes Rajya Sabha MP from Goa, Shantaram Naik.

Goa desk incharge General Secretary B K Hariprasad, lost the responsibility of Goa and Gujarat, while he retained charge of Madhya Pradesh besides getting re-

Jagmeet Brar

Luizinho Faleiro

sponsibility of Chhattisgarh and Haryana.

The 52-year old Jagmeet Singh Brar, a former MP from Punjab, gets the charge of Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and assisting him is P Sudhakar Reddy.

Former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro retained his positions in the CWC as the

Shantaram Naik

permanent invitee and also retained charge of Sikkim, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura and assisting him are secretaries Major Ved Prakash and K Jayakumar.

Sonia has retained Ahmed Patel (61) as her political secretary and veteran Motilal Vora (82) as the AICC treasurer.

The list out after four

months of authorisation by the AICC on November 2 also shows two senior union ministers — Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik — drafted for the organisational work by retaining them as the general secretaries, indicating that they will be dropped from the Government in the reshuffle in May. Also removed from the CWC is Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, indicating of his exit from the Cabinet too in May. While Rahul Gandhi continues to be the General Secretary No 1, three of the nine >Continued on pg 11

MOMO MIA: A worker gives finishing touches to the King Momo float on the eve of the 4-day Carnival revellery that kicks off on Saturday in Panjim. (Report on page 2).

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro.

Viva power in South, loses punch in Panjim Political funds for Salcete

Budget pangs hit Carnival

GUILHERME ALMEIDA

RUPESH SAMANT/PTI

Margao, March 4: Sounds of Viva Carnival will reverberate across the State in the next four days, beginning from Fat Fat Saturday – moments after King Momo proclaims his decree of fun, fiesta and merry making.

But, welcome to Salcete’s countryside, where you should not be surprised if you come across revelers chanting Viva Churchill, Viva Mickky, Viva Joaquim, Viva Filipe, Viva Sardessai et al.

For, these and other politicos from this minority-dominated taluka are believed to have doled out huge sponsorships, running into lakhs of rupees on the Carnival festivities in their respective constituencies – this being the election year.

If PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao can boast of funding a grand float parade in Navelim village and has sponsored Carnival plays across Navelim and neighbouring Benaulim where daughter Valanka has >Continued on pg 11

Panjim, March 4: The stage is

Herald and HCN look forward to welcoming King Momo for the game show Bingo at its offices on Saturday.

Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

set for the four-day Carnival fiesta in the State even as a controversy has struck the festivities which will now be held with a pruned budget.

Committees constituted across the five main cities in the State to host Carnival parades will now have to work with a lesser budget after the Tourism Department announced financial support of a meager Rs 4 lakh for the committees as against last

year’s share of Rs 35 lakh.

The sudden drop in the budget had upset the Carnival committees, who were left to fend for themselves as Tourism Minister Nilkant Halarnkar and Director Swapnil Naik left for the US to participate in the travel mart. They are yet to return from their foreign trip.

To add to this, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) which was the main host for the festivities all these years, has pulled out of >Continued on pg 11

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goa SNAPSHOT Gold ornaments stolen at Vasco VASCO: Gold ornaments and cash worth Rs 1.10 lakh were stolen from a flat at Mestawado-Vasco on Friday morning.

According to Vasco Police, the burglars decamped with the booty from a flat at Shri Housing Society, Mestawado, between 9 am on Thursday and 7 am on Friday. The occupants, Pramod Naik along with his family had gone to their native place at Karwar for Mahashivratri on Thursday. When Naik returned on Friday morning, he found the main door of the flat open.

Police informed that the burglars managed to trace the cupboard keys and opened it. The inner locker of the cupboard was found in damaged condition.

Police further informed that gold ornaments worth Rs 60,000 and cash of Rs 50,000, all amounting to Rs 1.10 lakh, was found missing from the flat.

Vasco Police pressed finger print experts and dog squad into service to get lead in the case. Police registered a case against unknown persons and is investigating the case.

Two killed in mishaps VASCO: A 52-year-old cyclist from Bogda-Vasco died, after he was knocked down by a speeding motorcycle along the NH-17B near NSD DabolimChicalim.

According to Vasco Police, Rambahadur Dangi (52) succumbed to injuries at GMC Hospital in Bambolim on Friday morning.

Police said that the accident occurred when the deceased was crossing the highway on Thursday at 7.40 pm.

The victim was rushed to GMC Hospital with grievous head injuries. Vasco Police registered a case and is investigating the case.

In another mishap, a 47-year-old cyclist from Pateapur-Nuvem died, after he was knocked down by a speeding bus at Verna Industrial Estate on Friday morning.

According to Verna Police, Remedios Rodrigues was proceeding towards Verna Industrial Estate when a speeding bus (MH-07-C-7878) rammed against the cycle near the junction.

Police said the speeding bus was proceeding towards garage at Verna Industrial Estate.

The impact was such that the deceased was dragged nearly 20 mtrs away from the accident site. Verna Police arrested bus driver Naresh Ramesh Kudaskar (32) from Shindadurg-Dodamar under Sections 279 and 304 (a) of IPC.

Prajal Sakhardande, who is also a historian and lecturer, said he feared the fort wall and stone paving called ‘rajbid’ (meaning royal highway) abutting the former was in danger of being annihilated by construction activity.

body recovered at Kundaim MARCEL: Ponda Police on Friday recovered a body of a 15-year-old SSC student from Zuari River at Manas Wada-Kundaim.

According to Ponda Police, Vishal Singh of TiveremMarcel was reported missing since February 26.

Singh was studying in Std 10 in a school at Kundaim.

Police has recovered a note reportedly written by the deceased, however it is unreadable. The body has been sent for postmortem and PSI Sanjay Dalvi iis investigating the case.

Cop injured in mishap OLD GOA: A police constable attached to Old Goa Police station was injured, after the van in which he was traveling was hit by a passenger bus at Sao Pedro-Baiguinim on Friday morning.

According to Old Goa Police, the accident occurred when Police Constable Leeladhar Gawde and a hawaldar (driver) were proceeding from old Goa towards Panjim in Old Goa Police Robert van. On reaching at Sao Pedro, the van was hit by an oncoming passenger bus.

Police Constable Gawde escaped with minor injuries. Old Goa Police have registered a case against the bus driver under Motor Vehicles Act and is investigating the case further.

Seema is Seraulim sarpanch MARGAO: Seema Shanke is the new Sarpanch of the village Panchayat of Seraulim.

In the elections held on Friday, she was elected unopposed after the presiding officer received her lone nomination paper for the vacant post.

Her candidature was proposed Agnelo Da Silva and Francis Rebello. Three members were conspicuous by their absence.

Under the Central Mining Law, ordinary sand extracted in the State of Goa is hereby banned from transportation to any destination outside the territorial limit of the State of Goa” — Arvind Lolienkar

PWD assures not to alter remains of Old Goa fort HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4: Bowing down to the opposition from the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG), the Public Works Department (PWD) today assured that the remains of the Portuguese-era fort on the ‘Rajbid’ road at Old Goa will not be altered.

The assurance was given during an inspection by the PWD after representatives of GHAC highlighted the danger to a wall, moat and arch of the fort and a 11th century Kadamba-period stone paving.

Prajal Sakhardande, who is also a historian and lecturer, said he feared the fort wall and stone paving called ‘rajbid’ (meaning royal highway) abutting the former was in danger of being annihilated by construction activity.

This eight and half kilometer long royal highway connecting Old Goa to Goa Velha was the ancient trade route during the Kadamba period. PWD executive engi-

neer P B Sheldarkar said that it is developing only 1.6 kms road and that the existing one kilometer narrow tar road was widened.

“We are developing the road on request by Carambolim Panchayat. We will not touch the wall, arch wall and the moat of the fort,” he said.

However due to negligence, the laterite stone paving has been destroyed.

Similarly there are other development activities taking place in the same area, which does not fall under the PWD jurisdiction.

Prajal said that it will probe as to who was carrying out the developmental activities so as to inform them to preserve the remains of the fort.

The group under the banner ‘Save Rajbid’ had launched sustained campaign to save the rajbid as well the fort remains, but it alleged, that the State Archives did not heed to their grievances, which would have saved the laterite stone paving.

Amit Soyru

MOCKERy OF LAW: A car belonging to the Panjim Traffic Cell police seen parked outside his office although the space is designated as no-parking zone.

Mhadei dispute matter of 2 states: Munde HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4: The central Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership today virtually distanced itself from intervening in the Mhadei water diversion dispute with Karnataka saying it is a matter between the two states.

Despite the Supreme Court giving a go ahead for setting up a tribunal for resolving the dispute, Karnataka is still going ahead with the construction of dam.

Replying to queries from reporters during a press conference, BJP senior leader Gopinath Munde, said

Sand exporters block Goa-Majali road Freddy Rebello

Sand export banned

HERALD REPORTER

Comba house burgled MARGAO: The Comba locality of the city witnessed another daring burglary last night.

Unknown culprits barged inside the residential apartment of Ramachandar Keny at Comba and decamped with gold ornaments and cash, all amounting to Rs 1.40 lakh.

Keny said the miscreants effected entry into the house by opening the door latch through the ventilator. “The gold ornaments belongs to my wife and were kept in the house for daily use”, Keny said.

The police are investigating the case.

Meanwhile, the miscreants targeted another residential apartment in the Comba locality of the city last night, but could not lay their hands of any valuables, the police said.

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Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

ON GUARD: A police force stationed at the Goa-Majali check post.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT Poinguinim, March 4: Over 200 people involved in sand exporting business to Goa resorted to a road blockade at the Goa-Majali check post on Friday morning.

Over 2,500 vehicles were left stranded on both sides of the Karnataka-Goa border for over three hours, causing hardship to the commuters.

Only two ambulances carrying the sick were allowed to cross the Majali check post.

The road blockade which started at 9.30 am was called off at 12.30 pm, after Uttar Kannada Deputy Commissioner Krishnaaiya gave an assurance to the agitators that he would mediate with the Karnataka government to lift the ban on exporting the river sand outside the state.

It may be recalled that there are over 270 vehicles transporting sand from Kali river bed to Goa. This coarse sand is taken by the builders as high quality due to less salinity and many families at Karwar and Goa were dependent on this trade.

However, after ban was imposed many people have been deprived of their day-

to-day livelihood and those who had purchased vehicles to transport the sand from the banks are facing a daunting task to repay the loan availed by them.

The road blockade was led by former Karnataka minister Prabhakar Rane and other leaders from the Congress party.

Speaking to Herald, Rane said he has set March 10 as the deadline for the government to lift the ban on sand export, failing which they will launch more such agitations.

Karnataka Congress Executive leader Dipak Vaingankar said during the last monsoon due to non-extracting of the sand from the Kali river bed, the water bodies clogged and water entered the houses of the people, causing considerable damage.

Another KPCC leader Satish Sail speaking to media persons said the move by the Karnataka government on sand export from the state was done to take political revenge on the Bellary MLA’s who are engaged in mining exporting business.

A strong women force was

seated on the roads and a strong police force from Karwar that was present at the site remained as mute spectators.

Speaking to Herald, a senior policeman stated that recently at Hankon-Karwar, there was an agitation against a thermal plant and when they evicted the people on the road, false complaints were lodged against the police of torturing them.

The road blockade resulted in hardships to the commuters and many were seen alighting from the bus and walking across the border towards their destination.

Everyday over 200 vehicles carrying sand were traveling from Karwar to Goa and on a day they used to make three trips. After the ban, many of them have sold their vehicles while many of the persons who had purchased vehicles through bank loans are facing the threat of their vehicles being taken away by the banks due to non-payment of outstanding loan repayment.

The agitators left after raising slogans against the BJP government that is ruling Karnataka.

Panjim, March 4: In a major decision, the State Mines and Geology Department today issued a notification banning transportation of sand outside the State borders.

“Under the Central Mining Law, ordinary sand extracted in the State of Goa is hereby banned from transportation to any destination outside the territorial limit of the State of Goa”, the notification issued by Director of Mines and Geology Arvind Lolienkar reads.

Further all transits passes issued by Mines and Geology Department for transportation of ordinary sand shall be stamped with ‘valid to only Goa’, the notification adds.

Lolienkar said that the decision was taken after excessive sand mining was noticed which was basically done for the purpose of export.

“With the notification coming into effect from today, no sand would be transported outside State boundaries. Now the transit passes would be valid only for Goa thus restricting further unloading of sand in other parts of the State”, he said.

Experts had earlier predicted that Goa could face major sand scarcity in the near future with the ban on sand transportation from nearby Karwar and depletion of sand resources in the State.

The industry players say that places like Colvale have been saturated forcing the sand extractors to look out for new avenues. But considering the pace of construction activity in Goa, the sand will be a scarce commodity in the near future.

“water diversion dispute is a matter within two states and not the party.”

Asked what the party’s stand on the issue is, Munde reluctantly replied, “I have no knowledge on the issue but we will try and take up the issue with Karnataka government.”

Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar intervened and said that the party has assured its support to the Digambar Kamat government on the issue.

“We are totally backing the government on the issue and there are no two ways about it,” he said.

jail official gets threats HERALD REPORTER Vasco, March 4: Irked with moves to have him transferred, the under trial Balesh Desai along with three other undertrials allegedly threatened Assistant Jail Superintendent of Sada Sub Jail with dire consequences on Thursday.

Balesh Desai, who was recently in the news along with Shrikrishna Desai, Amok Naik and Amey Shirodkar allegedly barged into the office of Assistant Jail Superintendent Bhanudash Pednekar and threatened Pednekar of dire consequences. It is learnt that Desai along with other inmates have formed a group to gain control over jail activities.

4-day carnival to kick-off today HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4: Notwithstanding the controversy surrounding the annual festival of Carnival, the 4-day extravaganza is all set to kick-off in the capital city of Panjim on Saturday.

Chief Secretary Sanjay Shrivastava, secretary tourism D C Sahu in the presence of other officials will flag off the parade at Patto Bridge.

Carnival, a tradition that Goa has inherited from Portuguese rule, involves public celebration in form of long continuous parades of colourful floats, led by King Momo or king of the carnival.

The King Momo’s float, which is made by State Tourism Department,willheraldtheparade.Similarly,aQueen Momofloathasbeenintroduced from this year.

The Panjim Carnival Committee has selected noted Konkani stage artist Ceazar D’Mello as King Momo while Flavia Fernandes has been nominated as this year’s Queen Momo.

The committee has already received 90 forms for float parades participation while spot entries will also be accepted. The prize money has been increased from last year’s Rs 3.48 lakh to Rs 3.75 lakh.

According to information

& publicity department’s press release, due to demand, sponsored category will be there this year with three cash prizes and they will be given Certificate of participation.

Besides that there will be other five categories namely, traditional, Club/Institution, family funk junk Car & Clown/Jokers. The prize money for 1st Prize of the Traditional category has been increased to Rs 50,000.

Even before carnival float parades could hit the streets, controversy struck the festivity as it will be held with a pruned budget as the main host - Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), has pulled out of the event.

GTDC was hosting all the parades and deciding on the King Momo’s float. But the responsibility has been borne by the tourism department this year.

The Tourism Department had announced a financial support of Rs four lakh each for the five carnival committees as against the last year’s budget of Rs 35 lakh for Panaji alone.

The drop in the budget apparently upset the committees and Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had to intervene and hike the budget.

Besides Panjim, the float parades will be held at Margao, Vasco, Ponda and at Mapusa on March 8.

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TCP sources stated that both the plans do not have eco-tourism hubs while micro industrial spaces are notified at certain places. Sources also said that the plans for Bicholim and Sanguem taluka would be taken up next for approval.

PM has not responded to drug nexus probe: Munde HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4 : The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) today said that the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has not responded to their letter for a central probe in the police-politician- drug mafia nexus in Goa. BJP senior leader Gopinath Munde, who is the party’s election in charge of Goa, said at a press conference that the prime minister is silent on the issue.

Munde’s reaction came after the questions by reporters that the BJP central

Now rain harvesting must for new industries

HERALD REPORTER

Panjim, March 4: The new industries in Goa will not get the clearance from Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) unless they have rain harvesting facility.

In a significant decision today, the board decided that the units will not be issued consent to establish unless they carry out rain water harvesting facility or ground water recharge measures.

The board decided that industries will adopt these measures in consultation with the Water Resources Department and Directorate of Industries, Trade and Commerce.

GSPCB in their meeting today also cleared 10 new approvals from various industries either for setting up new plant or expansion.

The applicants included the companies like Siemens, Nestle, Berger Paints .

EXPOSING NEXUS TMunde’s comment have comes a couple of weeks after chief minister Digambar Kamat told the media here that the union ministry of personnel which functions under the prime minister was sitting on the important decision to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the police-politician-drug mafia nexus. leadership including North Goa MP Shripad Naik had never raised the drugs issue in the parliament.

“The law and order situation is a state subject and we don’t want to raise it in the parliament,” Munde said adding however the party’s senior leader Arti Mehra,

who is the party’s secretary in charge of Goa, had raised the issue with the prime minister through a letter. “…but there has been no response from him,” said Munde, who is the BJP’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha.

Munde’s comment have

comes a couple of weeks after chief minister Digambar Kamat told the media here that the union ministry of personnel which functions under the Prime Minister was sitting on the important decision to allow the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the police-politiciandrug mafia nexus.

“The chief secretary had written to them (DoPT), but they have not responded. We will write a reminder again,” Kamat had said, adding that there had been no response from the DoPT for nearly a week.

2 held in ANC raids at Anjuna HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4: Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) sleuths on Friday arrested two alleged drug peddlers in separate raids at Anjuna, late on Thursday night.

The two peddlers are identified as Jai Bahadur from Nepal and Krishna Bahadur Chetry from Assam.

According to a senior officer, Jai was arrested with 1.145 kgs of Charas worth Rs 1,14,500. Hours later, the

team raided yet another place in Anjuna and caught Krishna with 275 grams of charas worth Rs 27,500.

Both arrests were made on a tip-off. They have been remanded to police custody for interrogation.

Comply with directives or face action: PCB to MPT HERALD REPORTER

Panjim, March 4 : Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) today asked the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) to comply with all the directions given by them while executing its expansion projects failing which a criminal case would be filed.

GSPCB Chairman Simon de Souza on Friday said that formal action including criminal case would be filed against MPT, if it goes ahead with its expansion project without adhering to the directives of the board.

De Souza had inspected MPT on February 1, 2011 and subsequently instructions were issued to them to stop construction activity or

development at berth number 7 until environmental clearance and coastal regulation zone permission from Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is obtained.

The board had rejected MPT’s application for consent to establish berth number 7 as the project had not been granted environmental clearance by MoEF. De Souza said that the board had also initiated the process of directing MPT to carry out a comprehensive Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study for considering the projects like development of berth number 7 and development of west of break water for iron ore export terminal.

Taking cognizance of the

pollution due to coal handling, the board was also in the process of issuing directions to MPT to explore the possibilities of shifting of coal and coke handling activities of berth number 10 and 11 to berth number 7.

The board had also directed MPT to complete EIA, Environment clearance and CRZ permissions for the cruise terminal, base port for Indian Coast Guard, national centre for Antarctic and ocean research vessels, NIo ships and foreign naval vessels projects. other projects like additional mooring dolphins, construction of berth number 4 and extension of berth number 8 have also come under scanner of the board.

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Goa I Saturday 5,March 2011

GSPCB Chairman Simon de Souza on Friday said that formal action including criminal case would be filed against MPT, if it goes ahead with its expansion project without adhering to the directives of the board.

TCP okays plans for Quepem, Ponda HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4: Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board on Friday approved surface utilization plans for Quepem and Ponda talukas which would be notified along with the Sattari taluka plans.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Chief Minister Digamber Kamat who also

heads the state level committee said that the Board has approved surface utilization plan for Ponda and Quepem Talukas and has been forwarded to the State government for notification.

“Both the talukas along with Sattari taluka plan would be notified very soon,” Kamat said.

TCP sources stated that both the plans do not have eco-tourism hubs while micro industrial spaces are notified at certain places.

The state government has already notified Regional Plans for Canacona and Pernem talukas.

Sources said that the plans for Bicholim and

Sanguem taluka would be taken up next for approval.

Regional Plan 2021 has been facing stiff opposition from the activist groups, who areopposedtoecotourismzones andseveralindustrialzonesinthe backward talukas.

The TCP officials, however, have rubbished all the allegations.

BACK IN MARGAO

EXHIBITION & SALE OF EXCLUSIVE TEAK WOOD

FURNITURE FROM MUMBAI

Venue -

N. D. NAIK HALL

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Time - 10am to 8pm Ample Parking Space Available

From - 4th, 5th, 6th & 7th March 2011 IDEAS / GRAPHISADS

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Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

To dismiss Zimbabwe by 10 wickets,I could not have asked for more from my team.

-- Kiwis captain Daniel Vettori

Angry fans stone bus

AFP

New Delhi, March 4: Angry Bangladesh fans stoned the West Indies bus on Friday, furious after their team defeat.

The bus came under attack as it was heading back to the hotel, in what police claimed was a case of mistaken identity, with fans thinking it was the home team's vehicle.

Zimbabwe flattened New ZealaNd captain Daniel Vettori attempts to run-out a Zimbabwe batsman.

AFP Ahmedabad, March 4 : New Zealand romped to a clinical 10-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the World Cup on Friday, boosting their chances of making it to the quarter-finals.

After bowling out the African nation for just 162, the Kiwis rode on unbeaten half-centuries by Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum to canter to the target with 99 balls to spare in the Group A clash at the Sardar

Patel Stadium.

The opening partnership between Guptill (86) and McCullum (76) was the highest for the tournament.

The victory, the second for New Zealand by a 10-wicket margin in the tournament, moved them up in the table with four points from three games. Pakistan lead the charts with three wins from as many matches.

Guptill, named man of the match, launched New Zealand's chase with a bang, carting seven fours and two

scoreboArd Zimbabwe: B. Taylor lbw b Styris 44, C. Coventry run out 0, T. Taibu lbw b Southee 8, C. Ervine c Ryder b Mills 11, E. Chigumbura lbw b Vettori 1, R. Chakabva c Taylor b Vettori 0, G. Lamb run out 18, P. Utseya b Southee 36, G. Cremer c B. McCullum b Mills 22, R. Price lbw b Southee 11, T. Panyangara not out 4. Extras: 7. Total: 162 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-27, 3-42, 4-46, 5-46, 6-86, 7-89, 8-122, 9-157, 10-162. Bowling: Mills 10-029-2, Southee 9.2-3-29-3, Bennett 8-0-37-0, Vettori 10-3-25-2, Styris 40-13-1, N. McCullum 3-0-15-0, Ryder 2-0-10-0.

New Zealand: M. Guptill not out 86, B. McCullum not out 76. Extras: 4.

Total: 166 for no loss. Bowling: Panyangara 5.3-0-42-0, Price 7-0-23-0, Utseya 6-0-23-0, Lamb 5-0-18-0, Cremer 7-0-38-0, Chigumbura 3-021-0. Man-of-the-Match: M Guptill.

Bangla bungle AFP New Delhi, March 4: The West Indies destroyed Bangladesh by nine wickets in an embarrassingly onesided contest Friday, dismissing the World Cup co-hosts for just 58 runs -- their lowest ever one-day total.

In front of a stunned capacity crowd of 25,000 in Dhaka, the home side's batting imploded and they were all out in just 18.5 overs -sparking angry scenes from supporters who hurled placards from the stands.

The Caribbean side romped to their second win of the tournament in just 12.2 overs, with Chris Gayle mak-

ing an unbeaten 37 and sit second in Group B with four points from three games, level on points with South Africa.

Spinner Sulieman Benn grabbed 4-18 and fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Darren Sammy claimed three wickets each as Bangladesh fell well short of their previous one-day low of 74, notching the fourth lowest score in World Cup history.

Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful were the only two batsmen who made it into double figures in a match that could prove pivotal to quarter-final hopes with India, South Africa and England also in Group B.

scoreboArd Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal c Sammy b Roach 0, Imrul Kayes c Thomas b Sammy 5, Junaid Siddique lbw b Roach 25, Mushfiqur Rahim c Sarwan b Sammy 0, Shakib Al Hasan b Benn 8, Raqibul Hasan c Pollard b Sammy 4, Mohammad Ashraful c Thomas b Roach 11, Naeem Islam c Thomas b Benn 1, Shafiul Islam c Pollard b Benn 0, Abdur Razzak not out 2, Rubel Hossain b Benn 0. Extras: 2. Total: 58 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-16, 3-25, 4-36, 5-41, 6-51, 7-56, 8-56, 9-58, 10-58. Bowling: Roach 6-0-19-3, Benn 5.5-2-18-4, Sammy 7-0-21-3.

West Indies: D. Smith b Naeem 6, C. Gayle not out 37, D. Bravo not out 9. Extras: 7. Total: 59 for 1. Fall of wicket: 1-29. Bowling: Shafiul 2-0-110, Naeem 6-1-14-1, Rubel 1-0-12-0, Razzak 1-0-8-0, Ashraful 2-0-110, Shakib 0.2-0-1-0. Man-of-the-Match: K Roach.

sixes off 108 balls on way to his 10th ODI half-century.

McCullum was equally belligerent, hitting six fours and two sixes in his 95-ball knock.

Earlier, seamers Tim Southee, Kyle Mills and Scott Styris shared six wickets after Chigumbura won the toss and elected to bat on a benign wicket.

But it was not a start they would have wished for, losing their top five batsmen inside 15 overs to a combination of Kiwi pace and spin.

Opener Charles Coventry was the first to go, run out with just two runs on the board as Hamish Bennett at mid-on threw the stumps down at the bowler's end.

Tatenda Taibu, coming into the game on the back of a match-winning 98 against Canada, earned a reprieve when Vettori failed to pouch a sitter off Southee.

But the bowler was rewarded off the very next ball when he had Taibu trapped leg before wicket for eight, a decision upheld after television replays showed Southee's ball would have hit the off-stump.

Mills, back in action after missing his team's sevenwicket defeat to Australia, sent back Craig Ervine for 11 before Vettori dismissed Chigumbura and Regis Chakabva.

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goa

Bingo takes Goa by storm

Host Prince Jacob and anchor Jovito Lopes in action at the HCN’s Bingo draw.

HERALD NEWS DESK worth Rs 15000, Inner box Side Bottom Corner Box no PANJIM, MARCH 4: Due to overwhelming response, the 2nd draw of Bingo will be held on March 5 at 8.30 pm.

Prizes worth Rs 5 lakhs are to be won on the Bingo tickets. To be part of the draw, a post card should be bought from any of the HCN dealers for Rs 30 to get a Bingo ticket free.

You could win the following prizes: Black Out within 30 nos – Rs 3,00,000, Full Housie worth Rs 80,000, 2 Dots worth Rs 10,000, High No Rs 15 each, Low No Rs 10 each, winner of both High an Low gets Rs 350 each, 4 Corners worth Rs 10,000, Butterfly worth Rs 5000, Cross worth Rs 5000, I Pattern

Lions Club of Colva to open centre for senior citizens HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 4: Lions Club of Colva is geared up to launch three events - unveiling of Lions Club Board at Colva Beach junction, reopening of renovated Club House and inauguration of Senior Citizens Center, on March 6.

The club signboard will be unveiled at 10.30 am followed by re-opening of the renovated Club House and the inauguration of the Senior Citizens Center at the Club House at Four Roads Colva.

The unveiling of signboard and the reopening of the club house will be done

by PWD, RDA and Science and Technology Minister Churchill Alemao while Adv Valanka Alemao will inaugurate the Senior Citizens Center.

Lion Alexander Fernandes, president of Lions Club of Colva stated that the long cherished dream of the club to have the center for the benefit of everincreasing population of senior citizens will be accomplished.

Lion Alexander stated that with the help of Social Welfare Department, transport will be provided to senior citizens.

Restricted water supply HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARCH 4: There will be restricted water supply to entire Bardez and parts of Bicholim taluka on March 6 and 7 due to proposed shutdown for maintenance by Electricity Department on March 6 at Assonora Water Treatment Plant from 9 am to 5 pm..

The Department regrets any inconvenience caused to the consumers.

worth Rs 10,000, Outer Box worth Rs 5000. Right Hand

called out, gets one ticket free for the next draw.

There will be restricted water supply to entire Bardez and parts of Bicholim taluka on March 6 and 7 due to proposed shutdown for maintenance by Electricity Department on March 6 at Assonora Water Treatment Plant from 9 am to 5 pm.

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Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

Lions Club of Colva is geared up to launch three events - unveiling of Lions Club Board at Colva Beach junction, re-opening of renovated Club House and inauguration of Senior Citizens Center, on March 6.

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WEEKENDEDIT

Goa’s a laughing stock in Delhi

T

here is a way to tackle disappointment. By willingly suspending any belief that a government or any of its institutions functions for the benefit of its people and if it does not, there is a checks and balances mechanism.

It is here that some institutions like the police get targeted because it is perhaps the most visible form of authority on the streets and it has had its fair share of criticism. But, a far greater failure which has diseased the very innards, is basic government inefficiency. While examples of this will be evident in every department, who do you go to when the Chief Minister, the Urban Development Minister, the Chief Secretary, the Development Commissioner, and the Secretaries of PWD, Finance and Housing have failed to meet for over a year to finalise crucial projects for Panjim to be funded by the Union Ministry of Urban development under the JNNURM? It’s a colossal crime and needs to be highlighted especially on the eve of the CCP elections. All these worthy men are members of the State Level Committee (SLC) whose responsibility is to go through various projects for the upgradation, repair and new development of the facilities for cities. Since Panjim is the only city in Goa selected under the JNNURM, this committee’s job is to green light these projects, prepare detailed project reports and send them to the JNNURM cell in Delhi and then follow up to procure funds.

The four projects – solid waste management, water supply, sewerage and the development of the St Inez Creek –have been proposed. The first three were proposed by the CCP and the last by the State Urban Development Agency (SUDA). With the SLC not meeting for over a year, no progress has been made on these projects. Insiders in the Ministry of Urban Development in Delhi say that Goa has been branded as a laggard state by the ministry and most importantly by the Asian Development Bank, the main funding agency of the JNNURM project. To add insult to injury, the ADB has told its technical experts not to follow up with Goa for any further assistance, since Panjim and Porbandar are the only two cities which have not made any efforts to pitch for and procure funds for its projects.

The indictment is serious. ADB, which has a full team of technical experts on standby to actually travel to various states that need help to prepare detailed project reports in an efficient manner ,so that the funding is sanctioned, have given up on Goa because there is a lack of will. This is completely understandable.

When the Chief Minister and the Urban Development Minister cannot find time to sit even for one day in the entire year for the sake of Goa’s capital city, why should an external funding agency bother? It has left Goa to its own fate.

Sadly, those who rule Goa have also left Goa, and in this case Panjim, to its own fate. But perhaps there is a method to this callousness. If Margao or Cuncolim – the constituencies of Digambar Kamat and Joacquim Alemao had been selected as beneficiary cities of the project with 383 crores of projects, the august committee would have met and cleared these projects.

What tops is the sheer nonchalance and insensitivity when reminded of their failure. Joacquim Alemao says that it is up to the CCP to push for these projects, when the CCP has indeed sent reminders to his department. So whom do the Urban Development Minister and the Chief Minister need reminders from to do their basic work – run the state?

Goa happens to be a state by chance. It is essentially a collection of villages and constituencies each ruled by a constituency king who gets elected from his backyard and needs to service his backyard to continue in politics. It is we who confuse politics with governance and get disillusioned when one does not follow the other.

When you do not have illusions you do not get disillusioned.

Discarding the first is a survival pill to prevent the disappointment of the second. But hopefully, we will never accept this as a final solution. Let us not be priests who will forgive colossal sin even if the penitent bares his heart in confession. The voter wants accountability in political life, and has seen nothing but tokenism.

It’s time to extract that accountability.

When the Chief Minister and the Urban Development Minister cannot find time to sit even for one day in the entire year for the sake of Goa’s capital city, why should an external funding agency bother?

– Edit

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Vol. No CXI No. 063 I Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

A couple of years back Goa hosted its first boat show and boat sales started booming in the state, a couple of years later, we have two annual boat shows and a lower sale of boats!

– Lyndon Alves

Full day school; fuller life for children

T

he demand for full day school education as a critical infrastructure requirement should be actually made by educationists and teachers. At present, the proposal is mooted by the government. It is a tragedy that the trigger is pulled by the educationists to shoot it down.

Parents and learners would welcome the move only if the confidence building measures are taken up by the teachers and educationally inclined managements. If these two camps project themselves as unprepared and as victims, the move would definitely meet opposition.

I perceive the teacher as the main stumbling block to the goal of a full time school. Many of them have entered the profession because of long vacations and the evening off. For others it is easy life without accountability for results. For some, it is a part-time assignment with full time opportunity for tuitions and micro businesses. For very few, it is commitment and joy forever. It is because of these few that we find young achievers in art, music, sports, theatre and science.

It is these few children who salute and respect those few gurus.

Many teachers and school managements do not know what is to be done with children if they are full day on the school campus. A school is today reduced to a location to teach the prescribed syllabus of the Board of Education. Little do we realise that the little syllabus can be mastered even through an open school learning mode.

PrAbhAkAr Timble The formal school mechanism has higher objectives to achieve. It is a laboratory for children to grow into adults.

The teacher needs to move away from being a mere tutor. These higher goals are sacrificed and mercilessly butchered at the altar of grades and marks.

A laundry list of items covering playground, library, toilets, common room and canteen though required should not come in the way of a full day school. In fact, absence of these basic facilities does not justify even part-time and half-day schooling. I have also seen the argument of denial of access to education to rural children being put forth to oppose the full day school. To my mind, the rural child will learn and flower better in a full day school environment. It would be a venue wherein differently placed learners can learn at their own pace in a group environment. It would throw opportunities to learn crafts and channelize creative energies of rural children.

Group learning, group living and group playing would open the locked door of pluralistic learning and enrichment.

In a full day setting, the school turns into a community offering scope for natural learning by the child. What happens in a school can make or break a child’s

life. A teacher has the enviable opportunity of shaping the formative years of a child so as to make the child’s life, a wonderful journey. We need to realise that everything in this world, including the values we teach have an expiry date.

Hence, continuous learning and training of teachers is imperative. The main task of the teacher earlier was to provide information and make the child to retain, recall and repeat the same. Today, there is explosion of knowledge at different locations, channels and sites. Along with the full day school, we badly require proper recruitment and training of teachers. Both these are in a state of crisis today.

I feel the government will procrastinate on the issue of full day school. Most likely, the implementation would be put off for another year. I would argue to make a beginning by making the full day school operational for teachers from the fresh academic year. Let the teachers get acclimatised first. I am confident that the children will adopt the full day schooling much faster.

There are schools which have adequate physical facilities. These remain unutilised, underutilised and idle since the children and teachers desert the campus converting it to the silence of the graveyard for the major part of the day.

Embrace the full day school norm.

There is no need to wait for a circular from the Directorate of Education, if you find in full day school gold for your children.

What’s rocking Goa’s boat?

G

oa, inspite of having one of the smallest stretches of the country’s vast 5000 km plus coastline, has still managed to achieve the highest brand value and popularity, for its beaches and beach tourism both domestic and internationally.

It’s a shame though, that with over 40 world class beach resorts and the same number of weekly charter flight arrivals into the state, we hugely lack behind in infrastructure for watersports and water based tourism. Neighbouring competition like Thailand, where tourism started booming around the same time as Goa, today boast of over a dozen world class marinas, whilst we still do not have a single tourist jetty other than the ones in Panjim that cater mainly to the low end dance cruises and casino boats. It is shameful that the controversial casino boats seem to have been able to generate much more logistic support from the authorities than the local tourist boat operators!

India’s luxury market has been booming and boat ownership is an integral part of this phenomenon. One walk past the Gateway of India,would showcase a fair idea of the way boating has taken shape in our country from the sheer

lyndon Alves number of boats, cruisers and luxury yacht’s parked in the not too clean waters of the Mumbai harbour.. Waters that can barely be used for leisure purposes.

Goa should ideally be taking advantage of this growth and be the lead in bringing this high-end luxury boating market closer to our shores, being barely 200 nautical miles and a happy day cruise away from the waters of Bombay and Cochin.

Whilst a lot of planning, thinking and tall statements have been made by the authorities in the recent past, owning a boat in Goa still has its challenges, there does not even exist the basic infrastructure to enable refuelling or water supply.

Unfortunately boats in Goa, still have to be fuelled up, using ‘jerry cans’ that eventually lead to spilling of fuel and the polluting of our clean waters!

Add to this, the lack of enterprise and cooperation from the authorities that have led to entrepreneurs refraining

from participating in our water tourism, from the mere inability of being able to even register a boat, for reasons best known to the authorities that be. During the tenure of the last COP (Captain of Ports) internationally certified luxury yachts were registered as barges, something that would shock boating aficionados world-wide!

A couple of years back Goa hosted its first boat show and boat sales started booming in the state, a couple of years later, we have 2 annual boat shows and a lower sale of boats!

Let’s not keep dreaming of a better tomorrow without doing something about it today! Its good that finally some sense prevailed and one can today see the start of some good on our waters, starting from the removal of the infamous ‘River Princess’ even after over 10 years of damage to the coastline and the locals of the area who thrive on beach and water tourism!

Let’s hope that we see an end to this menace and the start of a sincere effort to make our state the country’s boating capital and take water tourism and boating to its logical positioning on this beautiful coastline we have been blessed with!!

PEOPLE’SEDIT

What carnival?

Adelmo FernAndes

T

he carnival festivities get underway in the state today with the carnival parade winding its way through the streets of Panjim.

But it will not be a spontaneous people’s carnival. In the past few years an attempt was made to revive the people’s carnival. Unfortunately it has met with little success. The carnival should depict Goan culture. It seems that in an age of consumerism it could be difficult to have more of the traditional carnival. Now the parade has more of foreign dancers. They could be dancers from Brazil or African dancers. Where does this leave the average Goan?

Well now, Goans end up as sheer spectators standing along the parade route in the hot afternoon sun, watching girls gyrating to deafening music played by amateur musicians belting out pop or rock music as part of the parade. Commercialisation has also been the bane of Goan carnival. Most of the floats appear nothing more than advertisements-on-wheels. In the past, carnival was more of a socializing event as people came out of their homes spontaneously to join the revelry.

The carnival was alive and kicking in the villages. Now, hardly anyone in the villages celebrates the carnival as the youth head to the nearest city to watch the float parade. Of course, some of the youth do put up floats for the parade, but by and large the carnival in our villages is slowly dying.

Carnival has now become more of a money spinning event where everyone wants to make a quick buck. The enthusiasm of the carnival is sadly missing. It is true that Goa is a tourist destination.

Now, the carnival is being used as an occasion to lure more and more tourists to the state. Why don’t we depict the true Goan culture to these tourists? In other states, artisans along with the government or the concerning bodies, make it a point to showcase local talent. But in Goa, we go to have a look at Brazilian and African dancers and Bollywood actors to entertain us and the tourists who throng the state.

Indeed watching a carnival parade passing by has become a big bore for the Goan population. There is no participation of the common man on the street as he is been pushed into being a mere spectator. Business interests have taken over all the fun of the Goan carnival. While in some cities decorative lights are put up by driving nails into trees along the parade route, what is left after the carnival parade is over is a lot of garbage on the streets and buntings hanging from trees and electric poles. In several cities, it is never clear as to who will take care of the mess.

WEEKEND INBOX How the cookie will crumble!

This refers to the recent outburst of Churchill Alemao that NGOs in Navelim are working at the behest of Luizinho Faleiro. For most of us in Navelim, life is much more than the above named individuals. There are a lot of other better things happening in Navelim. Most of the NGOs are working to save Goa from greedy politicians. When we were not happy with one politician, we thought the other was better. But the switch over only proved disastrous, akin to the proverbial jumping from the frying pan into the fire. It is very convenient to invoke another’s name to divert attention from the main issue. It has been mentioned that NGOs are misleading people.

But the statement which referred to

Mopa airport clearly proved as to who was misleading whom.

If these politicians wish to get a reelection, they must listen to the voice of the common people and not force people to listen to their voice. Otherwise, it will only end up as the familiar saying of how the cookie crumbled.

Maria Isabela, Navelim

Field day for rats IF...

Local politicians believe that banning sale of Ratol would be a solution to rising suicides among the youth. Banning Ratol is not going to discourage suicides.

There are various other means which are available and readily shown with perfection in TV serials and movies. Various choices are on the list.

If politicians are sincere, then they

should try to find out the root cause of increasing suicides. Banning Ratol is a rat–friendly gesture of our politicians.

This will be catastrophic to farmers, as it will only increase rat population numbers in the state.

Allwyn George, Carmona

Restore road names There was no any reason to change names of roads of Christian personalities and put some other names. It is an offence to all Goans to change the name of the patron saint of Goa St Francis Xavier. The Mapusa Municipality can build new roads and name them according to their choice instead of replacing the existing road names. The MLA of Mapusa Francis D’Souza should intervene and restore the old road names,

which underwent the recent change.

Marcos Alemao, by email

Ambitions thwarted Recently, we have seen Dayanand Narvekar spitting fire against Vishwajit Rane, over several issues and he is right on most counts. Of course, since Narvekar is out of the cabinet, and considering the fact that Vishwajit is a clever political manipulator, it is obviously a do or die battle for his staunch opponent.

For one, I frankly fail to understand Vishwajit’s fascination with PPP. Except in selected cases, the Private Partner always emerges as the sole winner. Coming to Mr Narvekar, human memory is not so short. All of us remember the manner in which he wanted to set up

two private medical colleges in Goa by acquiring at government’s cost, two mammoth plots of land which he would donate at nominal prices to private parties that were short-listed millionaires who would laugh all the way to the bank.

The PM appointed Knowledge Committee (KC) had already passed severe strictures against such Private Medical Colleges (PMCs) mushrooming everywhere because they involve kickbacks to greedy politicians. Despite all opposition (he even cold-shouldered our IMA delegation!) Narvekar rode roughshod over dissenting voices through a self-appointed high powered commission and almost secured what was dear to him.

But then Goa witnessed the change of guard. Those who live in glass houses…

Dr Francisco Colaço, Margao

Drum up support via Facebook This is in response to the article ‘Walk like an Egyptian’ by Dr Oscar Rebello, which made interesting reading. Well, in the Middle East, the people have risen – through organised social links like Facebook to the rescue – against their long standing but corrupt presidents. Well, coming back to Goa and as coined by Dr Rebello, an organised action is required against the corrupted political system of our country. The government servants need to rest after hogging up the public’s hard earned money by way of bribes.

Therefore, we need social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter to drum up support for an uprising – obviously for the good of all.

Agniyah Shaikh, Dubai

F or l et ter s to the e di tor co nta ct us at edi tor weeken d@her al d- go a. 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: 6558510 (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.

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

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goa SNAPSHOT

PPPA get-together MARGAO: The Perpetualites Past Pupils Association (PPPA) will organize a get-together ‘An evening with the past Perpetualites’ on March 5 at the PSC school hall, Navelim from 5 pm.

All the past pupils of Perpetual Succour Convention high school are welcome to attend the program. It is organized with an aim to interact with the past pupils to foster a bond of togetherness.

A variety program has been chalked out for the evening.

Betalbatim forum’s meet PANJIM: Betalbatim Civic and Consumer Forum (BCCF) will hold its monthly meeting on February 5 at St Jude’s HS, Betalbatim at 4.30 pm.

After the roundup of the utilities - electricity, BSNL, water, LPG etc, hike in Goa Dairy milk prices, garbage and distribution of next lot of composting units, delayed gram sabha, RP 2021 & non-inclusion in census of thousands of Goans working abroad, are some of the other issues to be discussed.

carnival Khell at Velsao PANJIM: Villagers of Velsao Razvoir will organise their 8th annual traditional carnival programme on March 6 behind Cansaulim Cemetery at 2.30 pm This year Carnival Khell (3 partio) will be performed by Com Soccor D’Silva and his troupe. There will be spot prizes, free seating and free housie rounds.

Honda launches compact generator

Honda EU30is is equipped with a digital iMonitor that displays wattage, engine speed and hours of operation. To aid servicing, the i-Monitor also features a self-diagnostic function alerting the operator when maintenance is due thereby increasing engine life.

HERALD REPORTER Panjim, March 4: The process for removing the M V River which was grounded off Candolim beach in June 2000 starts tomorrow as the State Government has finally managed to obtain much awaited Customs clearance.

The job of cutting the vessel which has been awarded to Arihant Ship Breakers, a Mumbai-based company, however will not start from tomorrow. But other works such as putting the nets, clearing the decks will be done, said a company official.

Also, the company will conduct pooja tomorrow morning at the ship site before actual work of cutting the vessel could begin.

When contacted Bernard Rodrigues, Director of Salvage Operation, Arihant Ship Breaker told Herald that permission from Customs had come.

There will be a pooja before initiating the work. However actual cutting up of vessel may not happen tomorrow, he added.

The company has got 180 fair weather days to remove the vessel which will be done by cutting it into pieces.

Scrap will be then moved to

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, MARcH 4: Honda Siel Power Products Ltd (HSPP), the market leader in portable genset industry, recently launched its most advanced ultra compact 3 KVA generator model EU30is that can even power an air conditioner.

Made in India and specially designed for the Indian market for residential and business applications, these generators can be installed in homes, restaurants, offices, banks, showrooms and other commercial establishments.

Speaking on the launch, National Head Sales & Marketing, Gagan Pal, said, “Home and small-business owners have been demanding an ultra compact, fuel efficient and silent alternate power source that can even power their AC. Our latest generator, EU30is provides the industry’s most precise voltage and frequency regulation to better support today’s sophisticated electronics.”

Honda EU30is is equipped with a digital i-Monitor that displays wattage, engine speed and hours of operation. To aid servicing, the i-Monitor also features a self-diagnostic function alerting the operator when maintenance is due thereby increasing engine life.

As a safeguard, the engine automatically shuts down when the oil level is low, minimizing any potential damage. It is also equipped with auto choke feature that helps to start the generator without wastage of time to fuel in priming and draining EU30 is 39% smaller, 40% lighter and more portable, as compared to similarly classed conventional generators.

For further details, contact Gagan Pal, National Head Sales & Marketing on 0120 -2341050 - 59 or email at ho.mktg@hspp.com or visitwww.hondasielpower.com for information.

Mardi Gras fever at Casino Carnival

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MARcH 4: Casino Carnival twill bring the Mardi Gras fever to Goa to coincide with the Goa Carnival.

The event will showcase the best in Goan Jazz entertainment. The famous D’jazz band from Goa will play in fusion with Gerard Woody the renowned Jazz/Funk DJ with live music on Saxaphone and flute. Gerard Woody combines foot tapping jazz on sax with house and hip hop to make for exhilarating dance experience.

For reservations call 08322222092.

Arihant Ship Breakers will be the third company to try at removing the grounded vessel which has caused immense environmental damage to the beach in the last ten years.

Work on removal of Appointments Appointments Princess begins today Britona jetty which has been identified as Customs point.

The government has not signed a formal agreement with the company yet as they were awaiting a clearance from Customs however it is expected to be signed at any time now, said a tourism official.

The company has already paid a performance guarantee to the government which is 10 per cent of Rs 99 crore of its quotation.

Arihant Ship Breakers will be a third company to try at removing the grounded vessel which has caused immense environmental damage to the beach in the last ten years.

In 2005, UK-based Crosschem was awarded the contract to remove the vessel within 110 days which it failed to do. Eventually, the contract was terminated as it did not even pay the bank guarantee.

Second came Jaisu Shipping Co Pvt, which was awarded the contract to refloat the vessel within 180 days. It too failed to carry out the work within stipulated period and the contract was terminated after freezing its bank guarantee of Rs 5 crore.

Margao school watchman killed HERALD NEWS DESK

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Goa i Saturday 5, March 2011

Margao, March 4: A watchman manning a city-based Higher Secondary and Secondary School at Comba was found murdered in the school building in the wee hours of Friday.

The deceased, Ganpati Joshi, a native of Nepal, was found lying in a pool of blood, before he succumbed to his head injuries in the Hospicio hospital.

Margao sub divisional police officer, DySP Umesh Gaonkar informed that the miscreants apparently came to commit theft in

the school as evident by the missing cash from the office of the school headmistress.

“The miscreants broke open the office housed in the ground floor and the first floor before moving towards the second floor, where the thieves might have encountered resistance from the watchman, who sustained injuries on his head”, DySP Gaonkar said.

He said the police has registered a case of murder and robbery since cash of Rs 10,000 has been found missing from the office of the school headmistress.

Appointments

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SNAPSHOT Govt in talks to liberalise FDI: FM

NEW DELHI: The govt is engaged in discussions to further liberalise foreign direct investment rules, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

Policymakers have long grappled with opening up more sectors such as multi-brand retail and insurance and banking.

Last month, the govt warned of a slowdown in foreign investment, and called for liberalising reforms.

Facebook valued at $65 b SAN FRANCISCO: Investment firm General Atlantic is investing in Facebook, valuing the leading social network at $65 billion, representing a 30% boost from its last big investment in January.

General Atlantic is purchasing a block of roughly 2.5 million Facebook shares from former Facebook employees, giving the firm a 0.1 percent stake in the company, CNBC said.

The deal, which has not closed and requires approval from Facebook, would give General Atlantic a 0.1 percent stake in Facebook.

In January, Facebook said it had raised $1.5 billion from investors including Goldman Sachs and Digital Sky Technologies, as well as through a private offering to overseas investors conducted by Goldman Sachs, at a valuation of roughly $50 billion.

Facebook is the world's No.1 Internet social network with more than 500 million users.

Goldman eyes Indian fund manager BANGALORE: Goldman Sachs is in advanced talks to buy Indian fund manager Benchmark Asset Management Co Pvt Ltd, which manages assets worth about $667 million.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management (India) Pvt Ltd is likely to seal the deal at a valuation of 4-4.5 percent of the assets under management of Benchmark, a 10-year-old fund manager whose main portfolio is gold exchange-traded funds, the newspaper said.

Goldman Sachs India head Brooks Entwistle and a Benchmark official offered no comment, it said.

Reuters could not immediately reach the officials.

Microsoft Corp's Bing search engine launched 'Bing deals' for both, desktop and mobile, allowing consumers to find the best deals locally, a service that will pit it against daily deals website Groupon.

Goa I Saturday 5, February 2011

Swami Yogananda, a 103-yrold yoga teacher at the international yoga fest in Rishikesh.

Hundreds of tourists have arrived for the annual festival.

BOARDROOM

‘A GIM’ that shapes managers Herald Pics

With 40 years experience in industrial business to his credit, he grooms more than 200 MBAs / PGDMs per year. At the age of 70, he has big dreams, to take the insititute to one in top five in India by 2015. Bharati Pawaskar sits down with P F X D’Lima, third time Director of Goa Institute of Management (GIM) n What are the key areas where management could be applied?

Management could be applied to anything and everything, from hotels to hospitals and industries to agriculture. We are planning to introduce banking and insurance as part of our management curriculum soon.

Some banks have approached us with the intention of starting a course here and we may collaborate with them. Insurance is another growing area in India and if the market exists we would go for that course in the near future. n The fee structure in GIM seems to be exorbitant. Is there any specific reason for this?

First of all, let me make the point clear. I do not agree that our fees are high. In fact, we are quoting the lowest fees in business schools of our standard, compared to other similar management institutes in India. Our fees are, just Rs 5.5 lakh for two years.

n Who are your prospective students and do you have any criteria in choosing them?

Any graduate student with minimum of 50 per cent marks, with or without experience in business or industry are our criteria. Really speaking, final decisions are

this course after they have few years of experience. All over the world, management education has underlined these criteria.

Students of Goan origin or domicile get 15 per cent marks added to their XAT scores for the purpose of calling them for the interview.

FACT FILE n GIM has highest ratio of girls – 35 per cent in

Goa.

n Study tie up with Lisbon, Germany and Antwerp. n 25 -30 per cent Goans in GIM – most in part-

time courses.

n Hostel facility for 480 students, 50 cabins for fac-

ulty.

Eco-friendly infrastructure – solar panels, garbage management plant, rain water harvesting

n

taken based on their XAT score, their previous academic record and their job experience to date.

We are here to benefit from all those experiences and shorten their learning period. But this learning is not a substitute for experience.

We prefer students to join

After that it is a level playing field so as to ensure that all our students are of a similar level. n GIM makes independent thinkers and logical analysts on the line of IIT. Could you differentiate?

I think we should not compare IIT with management.

Both are two different

NURTURING MINDS: P F X D’Lima at the new GIM campus at Sanquelim. branches. IITs train undergraduates while we groom graduates. One is pure applied science, the other is behavioural social science related to all fields from economics to human psychology. n Isn’t the location of GIM remote for daily commuters?

Not at all! We are only 30 km away from Panjim, which is not really that remote. There are reasons why we came here. We got 50 acres of land with beautiful ambience for 6 crore. If we had to go for the Kadamba plateau, the cost of the land itself would have been 10 times as much.

Our estimate was 60 crore

and here in Sanquelim we hope to manage within our budget. We have raised these funds through bank loans (40 crore) and hope for more 10 crore through donations and 10 crore from internal generation over the past 17 years.

We still have the part-time course at our premises in Ribander, and also the Center for Economic Research under Prof Arindam Das Gupta which we are very proud of. n The objective in GIM’s view is not only to benchmark with the ‘Best in Class’ but indeed be able to ‘Next Mark’. Please explain.

Best Class means what-

ever everyone is doing at that time, you choose the best one and practice it now.

Next Mark means you anticipate what would be the best practice in future and adopt that future practice today.

This policy is in line with the theory of the renowned Management Guru the late C K Pralhad. n What about the placements?

We have campus interviews. Within two days of the results most of the students get picked up. Our term ends in March.

By the previous December all are well placed in nationals, multinationals in India and abroad.

BP-RIL deal may usher fresh oil, gas investments REUTERS NEW DELHI, MarcH 4

A man holds a flexible keybord at the CeBIT IT fair in Hanover, central Germany. More than 4,200 tech firms from 70 countries are expected to attend this year's CeBIT, with many of the big names that stayed away during the global financial crisis returning to Germany.

Sensex ends flat PTI MUMBaI, Mar 5

Mumbai, Mar 4 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today touched a five-week high of 18,736.97 before ending flat due to profit booking amid firm global trends.

Tracking rally in Asian stocks, the 30-share barometer opened firm and surged by 247 points to touch five-week high. Later, profit booking at existing higher levels, however, pulled the index down to 18,486.45 points at close, a fall of mere 3.31 points.

BP's $7.2-billion deal to jump into India's oil and gas sector with Reliance Industries is the first sign of new investment that could attract more players, helping to boost output and meet surgAban Offshor, 577, 593.25, 577, 585.5 Abb Ltd., 687.05, 748.9, 682.15, 729.75 Abg Shipyard, 367, 367, 352.95, 355.05 Acc Limited, 999.9, 999.9, 982.3, 987.25 Adani Enterp, 618, 619.7, 598, 599.6 Aditya Birla, 781.6, 790.05, 766.6, 773.8 Allahabad Ba, 209.9, 209.9, 203.55, 204.65 Alstom Proje, 534.9, 545, 531, 532.9 Ambuja Cemen, 123.6, 124.9, 121.85, 123.2 Andhra Bank, 143, 144.55, 139.35, 140.15 Asian Paints, 2574.95, 2597, 2491.1, 2508.25 Axis Bank Li, 1324.4, 1341, 1313.15, 1328.3 Bajaj Hindus, 72.6, 73.4, 70.35, 70.75 Bank Of Baro, 860.4, 901.9, 860.4, 883.25 Bank Of Indi, 462, 464.9, 457.5, 460.35 Bharat Elect, 1685, 1710, 1675, 1680.25 Bharat Forge, 334.6, 339.05, 333.05, 334.75 Bharat Petro, 583.3, 589.25, 567.2, 580 Bharti Airte, 330.55, 333.6, 324.15, 326.95 Bhushan Stee, 405, 409, 395.2, 398.8 Biocon Limit, 328.05, 332.7, 326.55, 327.85 Bombay Dyein, 352.6, 358, 344.3, 350.95 Bosch Limite, 6139, 6139, 6002.1, 6059.1

ing demand.

Asia's third-largest economy is expanding at more than 8 percent a year. But it struggles to pump even a third of the oil it guzzles, while gas use -- limited by poor infrastructure -- is already 30 percent more than

Brigade Ente, 99.4, 99.5, 97.05, 97.4 Cairn India, 352, 353.5, 345.35, 351.15 Canara Bank, 621.9, 626.9, 609.5, 611.5 Central Bank, 162.5, 163.7, 157.5, 157.9 Century Text, 323.1, 328, 314.15, 317.1 Cesc Ltd, 314.75, 322.9, 314.5, 319.55 Chambal Fert, 71.95, 72.4, 70, 70.2 Chennai Petr, 190.3, 194.95, 190.3, 192.55 Cipla Ltd, 310.45, 310.8, 303.2, 304.15 Colgate Palm, 835, 884.4, 802, 829.55 Container Co, 1206.1, 1214.95, 1185.65, 1194.7 Crompton Gre, 252.1, 254.75, 244.5, 250.1 Cummins Indi, 666.6, 679, 660.15, 668.55 Dabur India, 99.55, 103.5, 99.15, 102.9 Deccan Chron, 70.8, 74.7, 68.55, 72.6 Dish Tv Indi, 62.8, 63.2, 59.1, 59.85 Divi’s Labor, 606, 617.8, 604, 615.7 Dlf Limited, 226.5, 227, 221.05, 222.5 Dr. reddy’s, 1586, 1601, 1565, 1571.9 Edelweiss Ca, 38.25, 38.7, 37.05, 37.4 Educomp Solu, 468, 473.4, 464.1, 466.6 Eih Limited, 77, 80.5, 77, 78.85 Engineers In, 285.1, 307, 284.65, 293.1

production.

India has sought to attract the big international players since 1999 with its New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP) but still only two foreign companies -- BG and Cairn Energy -- are producing any serious amounts in

Essar Oil Lt, 109.1, 111.25, 108.5, 110.3 Essar Shippi, 84.4, 89.5, 84.4, 89.5 Exide Indust, 143.25, 145.45, 140.8, 141.35 Federal Bank, 363.65, 374, 360.55, 370.1 Financial Te, 785, 819, 780, 795.15 Gail (india), 456, 460, 448.15, 455.3 Gammon India, 129.05, 129.7, 121.75, 122.65 Glaxosmithkl, 2178, 2184.9, 2111.15, 2166.55 Glenmark Pha, 304.7, 306.8, 293.05, 301 Godrej Indus, 176.9, 179.8, 173.05, 174.15 Grasim Indus, 2285, 2313.5, 2276.55, 2300.2 Great Offsho, 245, 247.85, 239, 240.2 Gtl Infra.Lt, 36.4, 36.7, 35.2, 36.15 Gujarat Mine, 125, 127.3, 122.5, 123.55 Gujarat N R, 47.1, 47.75, 46.55, 47.45 Gujarat Stat, 93.5, 94.45, 92.2, 93.6 Gvk Pow. & I, 27.1, 27.3, 26.65, 26.75 Hcl Technolo, 461.05, 468.8, 461.05, 462.85 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2210, 2232.9, 2206.5, 2218.25 Hdfc Ltd, 679.65, 687, 675, 681.5 Hero Honda M, 1520, 1554.45, 1507.2, 1536.8 Hindalco in, 212, 213.4, 207.5, 210.05 Hindustan Co, 35.8, 36.45, 35.05, 35.25

the country.

"This deal brings in one of the majors in a material way.

Twenty-three blocks and an important gas play," said Richard Quin, lead analyst for Middle East, North Africa and India at energy research consultancy Wood Macken-

Hindustan Ma, 62.3, 65.05, 61.15, 61.4 Hindustan Pe, 328.7, 335, 323, 329.45 Hindustan Un, 290, 291.9, 286, 287.9 Hindustan Zi, 1320.05, 1355, 1320, 1343.25 Housing Dev, 155, 165.85, 155, 159.15 Icici Bank L, 1030, 1046.45, 1011.4, 1016.35 India Cement, 90.05, 93, 88.3, 90.4 India Infoli, 82, 83.4, 78.05, 79.3 Indiabulls F, 147.45, 151.4, 146.25, 147.65 Indiabulls R, 110.9, 112.9, 110.2, 111.15 Indian Bank, 220.1, 224.45, 219.5, 222.55 Indian Hotel, 82.65, 83.45, 81.05, 82.6 Indian Oil C, 318.5, 318.5, 310.05, 314.6 Indian Overs, 141, 144.45, 138.9, 139.95 Indus Dev Ba, 139.4, 141.65, 138.85, 139.6 Indusind Ban, 235.5, 240, 234, 238.8 Infosys Tech, 3067, 3090, 3048, 3062.2 Infra. dev., 150, 150, 146.65, 147.95 Ispat Indust, 23.45, 23.6, 22.6, 22.7 Itc Ltd, 174.55, 174.8, 172, 172.4 Ivrcl Infras, 76.1, 78.4, 73.2, 73.9 Jai Corp Lim, 172, 175.85, 168.55, 169.5 Jaiprakash A, 86.9, 88, 83.5, 84.05

zie. "I suspect the Indian government is very happy about it."

BP, which has only one block, picked up through Indian government auctions, is now paying privately-owned Reliance for a 30 percent stake in 23 of its blocks, in-

Jet Airways, 451, 459, 439.4, 442.9 Jindal Saw L, 215, 215, 196.05, 196.8 Jindal Steel, 680.4, 684.9, 671.5, 678.35 Jsw Steel Li, 966.2, 971.05, 945.25, 952.95 Kotak Mahind, 420, 427.25, 415.1, 419.2 Lakshmi Mach, 2175, 2190, 2102, 2125.65 Lanco Infrat, 38.5, 39, 36.4, 36.85 Larsen & Tou, 1680, 1682.5, 1606, 1610.8 Lic Housing, 199.7, 201.35, 194.6, 195.7 Mahanagar Te, 41.25, 42.45, 41, 41.8 Mahindra & M, 683.55, 692, 672.2, 676.15 Max India Lt, 147, 151, 147, 148 Moser-baer (, 39.5, 41.1, 39.5, 40.35 Nagarjuna Co, 107.4, 108.8, 103.3, 104 Nagarjuna Fe, 27.75, 27.75, 27.1, 27.2 National Alu, 445.95, 451.95, 440.2, 442.5 Neyveli Lign, 101.35, 102.9, 100.25, 100.8 Ntpc Ltd, 178.6, 181.3, 178.2, 179.15 Oil And Natu, 269, 271.1, 267, 268.85 Omaxe Limite, 135, 141.1, 132.15, 138 Oriental Ban, 353.9, 359.9, 348.9, 350.95 Pantaloon Re, 269, 271.5, 266.55, 269.25 Parsvnath De, 29.9, 30.1, 29.25, 29.45

cluding the big gas producer D6 in the KGbasin.

The blocks now produce about 1.8 billion cubic feet/day (bcf/d) -- more than 40 percent of India's total production and more than 30 percent of total consumption.

Petronet Lng, 115.6, 117.8, 115.55, 116.75 Power Fin Co, 260.25, 281.7, 258.2, 267.5 Power Grid C, 99.3, 99.95, 98.65, 99 Praj Industr, 68.5, 68.7, 65.8, 66.2 Punj Lloyd L, 67.1, 67.45, 64.1, 64.65 Rajesh Expor, 125.5, 126.8, 121.5, 122.8 Ranbaxy Labs, 463.7, 464.6, 450, 452.2 Rashtriya Ch, 81.85, 82.3, 80.35, 80.75 Reliance Ene, 1120, 1172, 1066.1, 1088.84 Reliance Ind, 660, 671.7, 641, 646.25 Reliance Ind, 984.65, 994.8, 978.1, 982.2 Satyam Compu, 63.9, 64.95, 63.05, 63.65 Sesa Goa Ltd, 277.1, 281.25, 270.15, 276.05 Shipping Cor, 105.7, 106.9, 105.45, 106 Siemens Ltd, 857.5, 859, 850.15, 854.25 Sintex Indus, 152.75, 155.3, 149.5, 151.4 Sobha Develo, 285, 289.5, 270, 272.7 State Bank O, 2708, 2728, 2693.05, 2704.65 Steel Author, 159, 159.5, 154.35, 155 Sterlite Ind, 170, 171.8, 165.15, 166.35 Sun Tv Netwo, 430, 430, 417, 419.55 Suzlon Energ, 48.55, 49, 47.2, 47.55 Tata Communi, 211.55, 218, 196.9, 212

Tata Motors, 1193.7, 1194.5, 1165.9, 1175.75 Tata Power C, 1186.25, 1232.25, 1186.25, 1224.1 Tata Steel L, 630.2, 633.15, 616.2, 618.2 Tata Teleser, 15.2, 15.45, 15.2, 15.25 Tech Mahindr, 686, 697.85, 673.25, 685.25 The Ge Shpg., 268, 272.85, 265.25, 266.8 The Phoenix, 181, 181.75, 171.1, 173.25 Thermax Ltd, 605, 612, 599, 600.95 Titan Indust, 3475.05, 3491.95, 3434, 3445.4 Torrent Powe, 229, 248.75, 227.05, 235 Triveni Engg, 105.6, 105.6, 101.25, 102.75 Tv18 India L, 74, 78.3, 74, 76.65 Uco Bank, 102.45, 102.75, 98.5, 99.05 Ultratech Ce, 983, 1016.7, 967, 1009.75 Union Bank O, 327, 331.3, 324.55, 327.1 Unitech Ltd, 35.5, 36.9, 35, 36.5 United Phosp, 143, 144.95, 138.6, 142.15 Videocon Ind, 190.3, 192.5, 185.8, 188.5 Vijaya Bank, 79.45, 79.6, 76.85, 77.25 Voltas Ltd, 162.5, 164, 155.75, 157.3 Wipro Ltd, 448, 452.4, 440, 441.4 Yes Bank Lim, 275.95, 282.35, 274.5, 275.35 Zee Entertai, 123.55, 124.8, 122.5, 123.8

9

Goa I Saturday March 5, 2011

www.oheraldo.in

The thumb rule, as healthcare majors in Goa say, is that you need three cardiac operations per day per hospital for the healthcare industry to break even,” — MLA Dayanad Narvekar

bizlife

Two people would perennially be at work weaving the net while others would just hang around and chat. Weaving nets used to bring communities closer. Those days are gone.

— Caetano Pinheiro

CLOSURE REPORT

Once upon a time in Goa, life revolved around two significant daily events. One was when the nets were cast and the other when the fish was brought in. Even to this day, that hasn’t changed much.

What has, are the fishing nets, which are not woven by family members anymore. Ajay Thakur went looking for the old fishing net and reached Dandi village in Agassaim. He didn’t get the net but came back with a catch of old stories and a sad realisation- weaving nets used to actually weave a bond among families. That’s gone now

When fishnets wove families

Herald pic

T

Ajay Thakur

IT’S NYLON NOW: Caetano Pinheiro of Aggassaim with the new nylon nets used these days 70 feet long, the traditional Goan fishnet was made at home by each fisherman’s family. The base material was cotton threads painstakingly plaited, sometimes three, sometimes four of them together. These threads were strong enough to ensnare tons of fish as

The hike of five percent for all forms of health care will hit all Indians. But Goa, with its expanding high speciality health care facilities aimed at promoting health tourism will be particularly hit.

Team Herald does a check up and realizes that a post budget medical check-up could upset your bank balance

T

BONDING BY THE BEACH: In the past families took handwoven woven nets out to sea wo things one learns at Dandi, Agassaim.

One, the Chinese saying, “don’t stand by the water and long for fish, go home and weave a net,” and the other, a Rampon(pronounced Raponn) was not just a fishnet, it was the daily family reunion – moms and dads, sisters and brothers, dad and son, daughters and mom, visiting cousins - all weaving an arm length of fishing net an hour for almost half of the year.

Somewhere between the drone of motorized canoes and the swish of PA6 nylon fishing nets, the good ole’ ramponbid a quiet adieu almost 60 years back. About

UNHEALTHY BUDGET BLOW

they swam in through the tides of Zuari. “The net got heavy when wet since we pulled and pulled. So we went off to sleep after a huge catch,” says 68 year old Manuel Pinheiro wistfully. Pinheiro remembers seeing fish nets woven at home since times immemorial.

The coconut tree fibre preceded the cotton and present day nylon.

Weren’t the old home made nets good enough then that they disappeared? “Modern nylon nets are stronger, lighter and do not take time to dry,” explains Caetano Pinheiro. Caetano represents the nextgen kharvis or fishermen who branched out into other trades but the heart still gets entangled in the Nets. 44 year old Caetano who works in Swindon, London remembers how the nets were woven in just every household.

“Two people would perennially be at work weaving the net while others would just hang around and chat not like the present when every-

thing comes readymade.

Weaving nets used to bring communities closer.

Those days are gone,” laments Caetano.

For the expert, modern day fishing nets are made of PA6 (Polyamide 6) and comes in different varieties. This means that for different sizes of fish, the fishermen employ different kinds of nets with sized mesh. Not in the past when homes used to mesh nets that were meant to be of a common size. A kilo of nylon net would cost anywhere between Rs 600 to Rs 1000 depending upon the quality you were interested in. Earlier, the cost would be cheaper by almost 6070 per cent. Interestingly, the traditional fishing nets weren’t good enough

for deep sea fishing and hence these nets were tied to coconut stems stuck in shallow waters for gillnet fishing or for canoes that would venture mostly in backwaters or mouths of the river. It’s with nylon fishnets that present day fishing industry took roots in Goa. “But learning to weave a fishing net was a part of growing up as a fisherman,” reiterates Caetano. A feeling shared by his senior Manuel, “The boys would not be jobless as they are now.

Then they would either catch fish or weave nets and make an equally good job of each.” The net that bonded families now are woven by machines of iron and steel, without a heart.

he phrase, “can’t afford to fall sick,” is acquiring an ominous reality after the Union Budget has announced an increment of five per cent across all forms of health care. Cath lab tests, dialysis and other normal tests which may not be covered by insurance will all be costlier. While this will hit everyone in the country, Goa, which pitches itself as a destination for less expensive medical treatment, may lose this comfortable unique selling proposition.

“The previous Budget’s had introduced a 5 per cent hike in health packages and pre-insurance health checkups but the current budget has brought the increment by 5 per cent across all forms of healthcare,” clarifies Brijesh Kolangath, Hospital Administrator, Vivus-SMRC Heart Centre, “Needless to say, the patient will now have a post-treatment financial suffering.”

Herald Pics

A cath lab at Vivus- SMRC Heart Centre

It’s another…….Tequila Sunrise I Six ‘DesmondJis’ please! A few months from now, bartenders in India will have to respond to that order, and pour out India’s answer to the ultimate party starter- Tequila. DesmondJi was conceived and turned into reality

by Goa-based Desmond Nazareth. Kurt Bento drank to his spirit and his passion.

Sachin Ambadoskar

WHAT AN IDEA DESMONDJI: Desmond Nazareth and one of his creations

t all started with a margarita, or the lack of one rather. Ten years ago, Desmond Nazareth, was requested by a few friends to replicate the fabulous cocktails he used to make when working and living in America.

While shopping, he found out that ingredients to put together a margarita – tequila, orange liqueur – were way too expensive, (tequila was being directly imported at the time).

Ten years later, Desmond Nazareth now manufactures, bottles and will be launching his own brand of agave spirit in India – DesmondJi. Blue-green agave is the plant from which agave spirit is made, which of course, is the main ingredient in tequila. “The tequila, which has become the popular version of agave spirit is 51 per cent agave, whereas most people in Mexico drink the 100 per cent agave.” says Desmond. Not to be confused with 100 per cent alcohol content, 100 per cent agave is the amount of agave spirit in the drink.

But, before all that, before talking about how it tastes as good as tequila, before talking about the margarita mix, the question arises

– where does the raw stock come from? Desmond explains, “I was doing some research on agave spirits and tequila when I came across a photograph of the agave plant. It looked very familiar and I knew that I’d seen it somewhere on my travels in India. Then, when I looked at where the agave plant grew in Mexico and traced latitude lines across the map, it passed over a certain area of Andhra Pradesh.

So, a while back I set out with a friend to discover the area” Over in Andhra Pradesh, Desmond came across huge wastelands full of a variety of the blue-green agave plant and he started to dream again. It was always an idea that stayed dormant in his head, but after this discovery, things began to fall into place.

Fast forward to today, Agave India, Desmond’s flagship company will be launching a few different versions of agave spirits in India, 51 per cent, 100 per cent and oak aged golden agave, besides their flagship brands – a margarita mix – a premixed version of margarita, where all one needs to do is add fresh lime juice and ice. There will also be a blue curacao blend, a slight variation from the original. The margarita mix contains an orange liqueur, which

is also available separately by Agave India, using essential oils from the famed Nagpur Orange.

About the name, Desmond is coy, since it wasn’t a first choice initially but something that came to be after a lot of brainstorming. The tradition of putting the creator’s name as the brand was an age old practice that was discontinued, until now. “A friend suggested the name and it sounded apt. DesmondJi shortens to DJ, which could be used as well.”

It also seems right, given the hard work that has gone into the project

from day one.

And there it is, great liquor, available at approximately a third of the cost of the imported version, manufactured and created here. It is something to be proud of, especially since Desmond has also insisted on creating a mini profession for the local villagers where the plant is available. Besides his distillery there, he also educates the villagers on how to grow the plant and how they can earn from it. DesmondJi seems more than just a locally made ‘foreign’ liquor. It’s got the heart and soul of a local in it!

Tequila and Mezcal are Geographical Indications (GIs) in Mexico owned by the Mexican Government. This means that only agave spirits produced from specific species of agave grown in specified regions of Mexico and governed by specific rules can be called Tequila and Mezcal.

What is now known as Tequila used to be described as ‘mezcal de Tequila’ not so long ago, which translates to ‘the mezcal from Tequila’ – Tequila being name of a small Mexican town! Over the past several decades this particular mezcal acquired the status of Mexico’s national spirit and now Mexicans are very protective about any misuse of that name.

Most of the Tequila that is exported by Mexico (primarily to the USA) around the world is technically 51 per cent agave. It is never described as such, though. What that means is that 51 per cent of the raw material that goes into the fermentation comes from the agave plant and the remaining 49 per cent comes from some other sugars, typically raw cane sugar or corn sugar. 100 per cent agave is mostly drunk locally in Mexico but also available selectively around the world for the true connoisseur.

Staff at Vivus-SMRC get ready for an operation Vivus like other top class specialized healthcare facilities in Goa, will now have to figure how to reduce the impact of this hike on the ultimate consumer, the patient, but it’s difficult. “This budget has been a healthcare designer’s worst nightmare,” says Kolangath Goa’s health tourism economy has been looking at tapping European markets, especially the United Kingdom. It’s well known that UK’s National Health Services has been increasingly looking east to offload patients who have been hit by waiting periods, as world class healthcare is available in India at a tenth of the cost.

Though quite a few of the healthcare providers that Herald talked to remained mum about the possible impact of this hike, sources say that healthcare majors in India are pressurizing Centre to roll back these impositions. In Goa, most of the hospitals have 25 beds and are airconditioned, so are the Intensive and Critical Care Units. Not only is everybody affected, “but so will medical tourism,” explains former health minister and Aldona MLA Dayanand Narvekar.

“The thumb rule, as healthcare majors in Goa say, is that you need three cardiac operations per day per hospital for the healthcare industry to break even,” informs Narvekar, “Currently, these people have been struggling despite subsidies by Government as Goans go to Mumbai to get themselves treated”. The budget will definitely impact Goa’s image as a tourism destination he adds. “During tourist season there are 12 dental clinics that remain open through the season surviving on foreign tourists if they too begin to feel the pinch what will be the difference between healthcare back home and Goa,” Narvekar explains.

But the fear is far from over. The budget is not explicit on whether the 5 per cent hike is on your final bill or on everything, from your air-conditioned hospital stay to the surgical procedure / treatment that you underwent to medicines” Either way, the financial diagnosis won’t be healthy

10

www.oheraldo.in

india

“

Definitely, I am directing ‘Dabangg 2’. I would have loved though if Abhinav Kashyap had stayed on to be the director because no one wants to disturb the winning combination.

– Arbaaz Khan

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Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

We’ll always keep the interest of people of J&K in our minds. We are willing to discuss all issues that have bearing on peace and well-being of the people.

- PM Manmohan Singh

CWG broadcasting rights: Case against Lalli, Dehlvi PTI NEW DELHI, MARCH 4: The CBI Friday carried out searches at the residence of suspended Prasar Bharti CEO B S Lalli after registering a case against him and others for alleged irregularities in the award of broadcasting rights of Commonwealth Games reportedly resulting in a loss of Rs 135 crore to the exchequer.

The case was filed against Lalli, Director of Zoom Communications Wasim Dehlvi and others under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code late Thursday night, official sources said.

Besides Lalli’s residence, the searches were being carried at the residence of Dehlvi and two more places, the sources said.

The CBI moves comes after Information and Broadcasting Ministry cleared the deck for prosecution of Lalli facing allegations of corruption relating to broadcast rights given to SIS Live.

Chargesheet against Justice Yadav PTI CHANDIGARH, MARCH 4: The CBI Friday filed a chargesheet against Justice Nirmal Yadav and four others in the 2008 cash-atjudge’s-door scam, on a day when she is to demit office as a High Court judge.

The chargesheet was filed in the court of Special CBI Judge Ritu Tagore here under various sections, including 120-B of the IPC relating to conspiracy and sections 11 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Special CBI court posted the matter for April 6 after the CBI filed the 25page chargesheet against Justice Yadav, who is to demit office as a judge of the Uttarakhand High Court.

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world Australia welcomes Jap apology SYDNEY: Canberra on Friday welcomed an apology made by Tokyo's foreign minister to an emotional group of former Australian prisoners of war for their suffering at the hands of Japanese troops during World War II. Seiji Maehara made the gesture in person on Thursday to five men now in their 80s and 90s, who travelled to Tokyo from Australia with their families -- more than six decades after the end of the war.

"Minister Maehara reiterated Japan's feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology for the tremendous damage and suffering inflicted on many people during the war," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Berlusconi's 'Ruby' hogs limelight VIENNA: "Ruby", the teenager at the heart of a sex scandal involving Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was the star turn Thursday at the Vienna Opera Ball, a highlight of the Austrian social calendar.

The Moroccan-born pole dancer Karima El Mahroug, nicknamed "Ruby the Heart Stealer," joined entrepreneur Richard Lugner in his box alongside former "Dallas" actor Larry Hagman and attracted frenzied attention.

Dressed in a long embroidered gown, the 18-yearold hogged the media limelight with photographers jostling to photograph her. A debutante even asked her to autograph her bouquet.

Hells Angels win court battle WELLINGTON: New Zealand's High Court has overturned a ban on biker gangs publicly wearing club insignia after lawyers for the Hells Angels successfully argued it limited freedom of expression.

The Wanganui Council introduced the ban on biker "patches" in 2009 after a spate of gang-related violence, arguing it would curb public intimidation in the North Island town.

Through reckless military provocations, they (the North) are continuing to threaten peace.

--President Lee Myung-Bak

South Korea warns of ‘reckless’ North AFP SEOUL, MARCH 4: South Korea's leader warned troops Friday to guard against North Korea's "reckless" military provocations, as a new dispute erupted between the two countries over four defectors from the communist state.

President Lee Myung-Bak stressed the need for separate branches of the military to work together to counter the threat from the North's special warfare forces, which Seoul says number 200,000.

"Through reckless military provocations, they (the North) are continuing to threaten peace," he told a multi-service officer commissioning ceremony at Gyeryongdae, 160 km (100 miles) south of Seoul.

The defector dispute is the

latest episode in a year of high tensions and comes as US and South Korean troops stage major military exercises that the North has branded a rehearsal for invasion.

The South tried Friday to repatriate 27 North Koreans whose boat drifted across the border on February 5.

But it says two men and two women who were on the boat chose to stay in the South -- a claim rejected by Pyongyang.

The North as of late afternoon had refused to send anyone to the frontier village of Panmunjom to accept the 27, apparently because it also wants the other four also to be returned.

A Seoul unification ministry spokesman said there was no word from the North on the transfer as of 6:00 pm (0900 GMT).

The communist state late Thursday accused the South of "despicable unethical acts" and said the group on the boat had been held hostage in a bid to fuel cross-border confrontation.

The North said their craft had drifted in fog and all those on board had demanded they be sent home.

But Seoul had pressured them to remain in the South "by appeasement, deception and threat", it said.

"This cannot be interpreted otherwise than a grave provocation to the DPRK (North Korea)," said a statement attributed to the North's Red Cross.

Seoul's Unification Minister Hyun In-Taek told parliament the four had not been forced to stay. "We made a decision after respecting their free will," he said.

FROM PAGE 1

Rs 6000 per truck trip

waste be removed after composting. A tender was floated to remove the waste in three phases and three work orders were issued on 14.12.2007, each between Rs 3.90 lakh and Rs 4.87 lakh. As per the terms and conditions, the waste had to be dumped sixty kilometers away from the EDC building. On 25.01.2008, one contractor M/s Jayesh Dharwatkar began the work of removing the waste on his own saying that he has received permission from the Mayor Tony Rodrigues and that he had already dumped 2000 cubic metres of waste at Honda Sattari for which he had to be paid.

Inquiries revealed that far from dumping the waste at Sattari, it was actually dumped at the Campal ground barely 3 kilometres away.

Unlike stories of huge scams, the sheer amount of money involved in these irregularities is pittance compared to some of the bigger scams. But they reveal how the system of governance was totally hijacked by those ruling the Corporation.

Cong think-tank re-jigged new general secretaries are former Gujarat MP Madhusudan Mistry, once an NGO and an appendage of former chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, Rao Birender Singh, Rajya Sabha member from Haryana, and old hand back in position Oscar Fernandes.

Dropped are Mohsina Kidwai, V Narayanasamy and Prithviraj Chavan.

Sonia Gandhi has also removed veterans Arjun Singh and Mohsina Kidwai as members of the 19-strong CWC, relegating them as permanent secretaries and dropping altogether detractor G Venkataswami who hit headlines recently mounting an attack on her publicly.

The 40-year old heir apparent Rahul Gandhi appears still not prepared to shoulder bigger responsibilities as he has been allotted the same old responsibility as the in-charge general secretary for Youth Congress and student wing NSUI, with three secretaries in tow: MPs Meenakshi Natarajan and Jitendra Singh and Ms Shanimol Usman.

Political funds for Salcete set her eyes, his rival and former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco has not lagged behind. Ask the flamboyant Benaulim MLA on his plans for the ensuing Carnival festivities and this is what he says: I have sponsored khell tiatr shows not just in Benaulim, but in Nuvem and Cortalim constituencies as well – indicating the importance these constituencies hold for him in his political scheme of things.

The scene is no different either in Velim or Cuncolim – represented by Water Resources Minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigeus and Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao respectively. Sources in the know say that the

Cuncolim MLA has not said no to requests for sponsored khell tiatr in the villages of Ambaulim, Paroda, Chandor and Guirdolim – which forms part of his Cuncolim constituency.

His Velim counterpart and Water Re sources Minister, Filipe Neri too is busy coordinating between the organizers and the khell tiatr directors to ensure there is no disappointment at the eleventh hour.

In neighbouring Curtorim constituency, local MLA Reginaldo Lourenco has associ ated himself with the Curtorim float parade and is busy involved in arranging khell tiatr in his constituency for the next four days.

In Fatorda, Vijay Sardessai is busy giving final touches to his Adieus Carnival pro gramme scheduled on the last day of Carni val at the SGPDA grounds. He is believed to have sponsored a float centered on Fatorda, besides the khell tiatrs in his pockets of influence.

Amongst the lot, the PWD Minister is believed to have sponsored Carnival folk plays almost ward wise and at prominent places in his Navelim constituency.

Carnival plays come with a package of three plays, with rate ranging between Rs 7,500 and Rs 10,000. As part of the package, many a politician ropes in Directors of their choice to stage the plays in their areas of influence.

Carnival goers celebrate Fat Thursday and 'Weiberfastnacht' in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Friday. The beginning of the street carnival is marked in Duesseldorf, Mainz and Cologne.

Dylan to play first China shows, says promoter AFP SHANGHAI,

MARCH

4:

American music legend Bob Dylan will play in China for the first time in his illustrious career in two April concerts timed to mark his 50 years as a performer, Beijing-based promoters said Friday.

The news comes a year after a Taiwan promoter said its bid to take Dylan to China was scuttled after the

Beijing government refused to approve shows by the writer of some of rock's most iconic and politically charged songs.

Dylan, who will be 70 in May, will play in Beijing at the Workers' Gymnasium on April 6 and then hold a concert at the Shanghai Grand Stage in that city on April 8, promoters GehuaLiveNation said in a statement.

Budget pangs the event.

“King Momo’s float heralding the parade will be put up by the Tourism Department”, GTDC Chairman Shyam Satardekar said.

Satardekar said that the Tourism Department had decided to drop GTDC from the organising list and host the festivities on their own.

“We were not considered by the Department right from the beginning”, he claimed.

Tourism Department officials insisted that the Carnival committees should scout for commercial sponsors for the event.

Panjim Carnival Committee Chairman Joaquim Teles said it was only after Chief Minister Digambar Kamat’s intervention that the budget was hiked to Rs 30 lakh for Panjim and Rs 15 lakh each for the other four cities.

Teles said Rs 50,000 will be awarded for the float that wins the parade competition.

“There was little uncertainty initially but now everything is on track. We are ready to celebrate Carnival in a grand way”, he said.

Another hiccup was CCP Mayor Caroline Po who was heading the Panjim committee had to step down considering the impending civic polls.

Teles said that around 90 floats will be participating in the parade, which has banned commercial floats advertising products.

“There is no theme for the floats but basically, it’s a colourful parade showing different kind of dances and full of creativity”, he added.

Goa attracts around 30,000 tourists, basically domestic crowd for the float parades.

LOK SABHA TV ASATO MAA SADGAMAYA

HIGHLIGHTS OF PROGRAMMES March 05 to 11, 2011 LIVE PROGRAMMES

TELECAST OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE LOK SABHA Monday to Friday, 11 am onwards

Insight Weekend Saturday, March 5, 1.30 pm

Arbuda Lakhanpal explores what constitutes Public Art and why India’s Capital is found lacking in it

Agenda Monday to Friday, 10 am

Saturday, March 5, 8 pm

Sansadnama Monday to Friday, 1.30 pm

Wednesday, March 9, 8.30 pm

Lok Manch Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 7 pm Public Forum Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, 7 pm Healthy India Saturday, March 5, 6 pm

Topic: Glaucoma

OTHER PROGRAMMES House Highlights Monday to Friday, 9 pm

Dateline

Hauslon Ki Udaan

‘Women’s Day Special’

Weekend Classic Film

Saturday, March 5, 9 pm Sunday, March 6, 2 pm

ANKAHEE Director: Amol Palekar 1985 / 135 minutes / Colour /Hindi Cast: Amol Palekar, Deepti Naval, Dr. Shreeram & others National Award for the Best Music Director, 1985 Uninterrupted Viewing Film Courtesy NFDC

Log on to http://164.100.24.209/lstv/dailyschedule.aspx for the full schedule

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SNAPSHOT

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Shahbaz Bhatti was working for inter-faith harmony.

-- Yousuf Raza Gilani

Goa I Saturday, 5 March, 2011

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It is easy to kill anybody here. I have seen it with my own eyes.

- Libya Resident

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Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

Details of the plan are still sketchy but the idea is believed to involve the establishment of a Palestinian state within temporary borders, while providing guarantees about talks on final status -- Maariv Newspaper issues.

Uneasy calm prevails in Libya, journos reprimanded AGENCIES TRIPOLI, LIBYA, MARCH 4: A state of terror has seized two working-class neighborhoods here that just a week ago exploded in revolt, with residents reporting constant surveillance, searches of cars and even cellphones by militiamen with Kalashnikovs at block-by-block checkpoints and a rash of disappearances of those involved in last

week’s protest.

As rebel fighters in the country’s east celebrated their defeat of a raid on Wednesday by hundreds of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi’s loyalists in the strategic oil town of Brega, many people in Tripoli said they had lost hope that peaceful protests might push the Libyan leader from power the way street demonstrations had toppled the strongmen in

neighboring Egypt and Tunisia.

But the authorities still seemed intent on preventing demonstrations of dissent and any attempt by foreign journalists allowed in Tripoli to send word of it abroad. As Friday noon prayers — a potential flashpoint across the region — approached, official minders tried to order journalists not to leave the hotel in Tripoli where they have all been accommodated. The government says around 130 journalists have been permitted to come here, but Col. Qaddafi has made clear they are not popular.

In a rambling, three-hour

speech to loyalists on Wednesday, he said: “Libya doesn’t like foreign correspondents. They shouldn’t even know about the weather forecasts in Libya, because we are suspicious.”

Even in what pass for normal times, Libya severely restricts visas for foreign reporters, issuing them only when the authorities wish to mark some important event offering tribute to Colonel Qaddafi.

Reports trickling out of Tripoli from witnesses on Friday said pro-Qaddafi forces had set up roadblocks back by armored vehicles in restive neighborhoods of the capital, searching cars. Ac-

cording to The Associated Press, Internet services seemed to have been halted.

The authorities’ measures raised fears among residents that attempts to protest after Friday prayers would be met with the same harsh reprisals as demonstrations a week ago. The climate of fear suggests just how effectively the government’s ruthless application of force in Tripoli has locked down the city and suppressed simmering rage, even as the rebels have held control of the eastern half of the country and a string of smaller western cities surrounding the capital.

“I think the people know that if they make any protest now they will be killed, so all

the people in Tripoli are waiting for someone to help them,” one resident said. “It is easy to kill anybody here. I have seen it with my own eyes.”

Several people in the two neighborhoods, Feshloom and Tajura, speaking on the condition of anonymity for fear of Colonel Qaddafi’s secret police, said militias loyal to the colonel were using photos taken at last week’s protest to track down the men involved. “They know that there are people who have energy and who are

willing to die, so they pick them up,” another resident said.

Residents of Feshloom showed reporters cellphone photographs taken at Tripoli Central Hospital of a large wound in the chest of a neighbor, Nagi Ali el-Nafishi, 56, and they pointed out a bloodstain on the concrete where he had been shot after leaving a mosque last Friday.

A doctor who examined him told reporters that the bullet had exploded his heart and lungs, causing him to die of blood loss within minutes.

Israel eyes diplomatic initiative to end isolation AFP JERUSALEM, MARCH 4: Facing growing isolation over the impasse in peace talks, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu is planning a new initiative to set up a Palestinian state within temporary borders, press reports said on Friday.

The Israeli premier is largely expected to announce his new diplomatic initiative during a visit to the United States in May, in an address to the US Congress or at the annual meeting of the pro-Israel lobby group AIPAC. Details of the plan are still sketchy but the idea is believed to involve the establishment of a Palestinian state within temporary borders, while providing guarantees about talks on final status issues, the Maariv newspaper said.

With regard to Jewish settlements -- the thorny issue which scuppered direct peace talks last September - Netanyahu's plan would include a partial freeze on construction, but would permit building in the major settlement blocs as well as in occupied and annexed east Jerusalem, it said.

Netanyahu on Thursday met with senior White House advisers Dennis Ross and Fred Hoff, an official in the premier's office said, for talks which were believed to focus on the new initiative.

Russians, Georgians hold fresh security talks AFP GENEVA, MARCH 4: Russians and Georgians met in a fresh round of talks Friday amid heightened tensions after Tbilisi claimed to have uncovered a Moscow-backed bomb plot outside a private television station.

"The discussions have begun this morning at 9:00 am (0800 GMT). They will last a day," said a UN spokeswoman Ana Beauclair.

The 15th round of talks since 2008 are mediated by the European Union, the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and are meant to prevent another flare-up in violence over the Moscow-backed breakaway regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

www.oheraldo.in

sports

Both Dempo and East Bengal stand a good chance of progressing to the next round in AFC Cup championship going by the strength of the opposition in their groups.

But the big question is, whether their participation in Asian competition hampers their I-League title aspirations.

Salgaocar maintain winning momentum HERALD CORRESPONDENT Margao, March 4 : Salgaocar Sports Club had Lady Luck smiling on them after they survived a scare when HAL, Bangalore almost came close to defeating them but it was the green brigade all the way when they achieved a 3-0 victory in a 17th round match of ILeague at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Friday.

The Bangalore team with R Srikanath, Lilyan Kenneth, Rohit Chand and Joseph Adeola among others came close to stealing the show but Salgaocar managed to consolidate their lead at the top of the table with 40 points, seven ahead of second placed fellow Goans Churchill Brothers.

HAL put up solid resistance against the much superior Salgaocar, especially in the first half and fortified the defence by playing Xavier

Vijay Kumar. They packed the midfield to cut Salgaocar’s strikers Yakubu Yusif and Japanese Ryuji Sueoka.

The strategy almost worked as they chased after every ball and refused to wilt any under pressure. That forced Yakubu, Sueoka and Gilbert Oliveira to take harried shots at the rival goal.

Salgaocar survived a close call at the opening when Ankit Sharma’s free kick was blocked by Salgaocar goalkeeper Karanjit Singh in the second minute. A minute later, action shifted to the rival penalty area following man-of-the-match midfielder Gilbert Oliveira’s cross from the right. HAL’s defenders were caught napping but Francis Fernandes shot wide from close range.

Salgaocar coach Karim Bencherifa’s decision to bench Tomba Singh and try out Baldem Singh did augur well for him as the waist line exerted the usual free flow-

ing passes to the forwards.

Salgaocar midfielder Gilbert was the biggest culprit as he bungled after receiving Francis Fernandes’ measured cross from the left in the 15th minute.

Yakubu almost broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when the Ghanaian striker’s smart header off a chip from Gilbert was saved on the goalline by HAL defender Gautam Debnath.

In the last ten minutes, Salgaocar upped the tempo and went all out in search of goals, but Yakubu and Ryuji failed to find the mark from ideal situations.

Changing ends, Salgaocar came into their own. It was probably the pep talk of coach Bencherifa that saw the players step on the gas.

They not only mixed power and pace in their attacks but also decided to go for the kill.

Salgaocar shot into the lead in the 60th minute when Yakubu picked up the ball

Pune rally to beat Air India HERALD SPORTS DESK Panjim, March 4 : Pune FC beat Air India 2-1 in an ILeague match on Friday at Balewadi Sports Complex, Pune on Friday.

Air India’s Okorogor fired home a right footer to the right of Subrata Paul in the 31st minute.

Brazilian Edmar Figueira (man-of-the-match) and Izumi Arata scored late in the second half to help Pune

GFA Second Division: Milagres SC v. Sesa FA (Juniors), Duler Stadium, Mapusa, 4 p.m.

Aldona Cup soccer semis: Sangolda Lightning v.

Nerul SC, Quitula ground, 4.45 p.m.

Dempo Cup Veterans soccer: Ilhas Veterans v.

Ponda Veterans, Don Bosco ground, Panjim, 4 p.m.

Nagoa panchayat cup soccer: St Sebastian Boys, Murida v. Verna SC, Nagoa panchayat ground, 4.30 p.m.

22nd St Rock Super soccer: UC Benaulim v. Betalbatim Sporting Club, St Rock ground, Calata-Majorda, 4 p.m.

South Goa District Women Festival: Nehru Stadium, Fatorda, 9 a.m.

FC make a splendid rally to beat Air India.

The first half belonged to Air India without doubt.

Pune FC showed no urgency in creating chances, while Air India played with purpose all through.

Pune kept probing and the visitors kept defending with Edmar making no mistake to score the equaliser.

Japanese midfielder Arata sent the whole stadium in celebration mode as he slot-

ted in the second goal for Pune in the 75th minute with a rasping strike after the ball ricocheted from the upright after Paresh Shivalkar’s attempt.

Pune recorded their fourth win of the season and moved to 19 points.

The first half belonged to Air India without doubt.

Pune FC showed no urgency in creating chances, while Air India played with purpose all through.

from defender Rino Anto and made his way to the box to slot past HAL goalkeeper P Pramod. Salgaocar maintained pressure and doubled the lead in the 72nd minute through Gilbert. Following a well measured cross from Francis from the left, striker Sueoka and Ekena failed to connect it and midfielder Gilbert nicely tapped it in to give the 2-0 cushion.

Substitute Ekene Ikenwa rounded off the tally in the 90th minute off a pass from Tomba Singh.

Salgaocar coach Bencherifa said he was very happy with the result adding that the three points were very essential as it fitted in the scheme of their objective.

“We were on the ascendancy in the second half, after having some difficulty in the first. Actually we needed just one goal but after scoring two, we knew that we would reach the top,” Bencherifa pointed out.

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Goa I Saturday 5, Marchy 2011

We were on the ascendancy in the second half, after having some difficulty in the first.

-- Karim Bencherifa, Salgaocar coach

Bhakti gets Air India scholarship HERALD SPORTS DESK Panjim, March 4: Goa Carbon brand ambassador and Asian U-18 girls chess champion Bhakti Kulkarni was honoured by Air India who has offered the

Goan girl a seat on their star-studded team at the ongoing National team chess championship in Kochi.

“This is a great honour to play in India's strongest woman team,” Bhakti said.

Air India has four Woman GMs in their team and Bhakti is yet to become a WGM. Bhakti has never played in National team chess championships. “Air India has offered me a

scholarship and not a sponsorship. I have to assist Air India in team championships like National team championship, public sector, inter institution,” explained Bhakti.

7-a-side in Doha Qatar PANJIM – St Alex Boys, Calangute will organise their 7-a-side Denis Menezes memorial inter-village soccer tournament sponsored by Alfred Menezes on March 4 at Al Ahli ground, Doha Qatar from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cash prizes and trophies will be awarded to the winners, runners-up and semi-finalists. An U-14 exhibition soccer match and ladies open 3-a-side soccer tie-breaker will also be held. Details may be obtained on 30097551 or st.alexboys@yahoo.com.

St Anthony’S high School, Monte-de-Guirim winners of U-14 girls volleyball championship. Standing (l to r): Rohisha Bandekar, Natasha Pereira, Komal Chavan, Kamakshi Lotlikar, Rama Ghosh (captain) and Glafy Fernandes. Middle row (l to r): Damini Parsekar, Sheetal Naik, Clarissa Fernandes, Ruksar Nigoni, Shrilakshmi Naik and Pratnya Tari. Sitting (l to r): Fr Paul Alvares (headmaster), Fr Steve Rodrigues (principal) and Anthony D’Sousa (PE teacher). St Anthony beat St Rita’s High School, Maina-Curtorim in straight sets 25-17, 25-18 and 25-20. At the district finals they beat St Theresa’s High School, Candolim.

SAG tennis cricket at Ponda PANJIM – The Goa Tennis Ball Cricket Association in collaboration with the Sports Authority of Goa will organise their 10th State SAG cash prize money tennis ball cricket championship for men and women from March 22 to 28 at Ponda. The winners in both the categories will take home Rs 60,000 while the runners-up will have to be content with Rs 36,000 alongwith trophies and certificates. The third place winners will get Rs 24,000, trophies and certificates. Details may be obtained on 9421139232 or 2335292.

9-a-side soccer at Sanquelim

PANJIM – Sanquelim Footballers will organise their 9-a-side soccer tournament on March 13, 20 and 27 at Municipal ground, Sanquelim. The winners will walk away with Rs 15,000 while the runners-up will take home Rs 8,000 respectively. Last date to submit entries is March 5. Details may be obtained from Millind Rane on 9970054849 or Anup Govekar on 9923036686.

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Rohan Bopanna put up a gallant fight against Viktor Troicki before losing as India conceded a 0-1 lead against Serbia in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group tie in Novi Sad. Bopanna lost 3-6 3-6 7-5 6-3 3-6 in the first singles after fighting for threehours and 19 minutes at Spens Sports Center.

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Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

England's next three league matches are winnable games to qualify for quarter-finals.

-- Jonathan Trott

Will Goa host Lusofonia Games in ’13?

No doubt, big events offer big chance for infrastructure development. Look at CHOGM and IFFI. It’s a great opportunity for Goa to get the infrastructure and also to witness international athletes of 11 countries.

-- Gurudatta Bhakta, GOA secretary

JOVITO LOPES Panjim, March 4: Will Goa host the 3rd Lusofonia Games in October-November 2013? With the highpowered ACOLOP (Associacao dos Committees Olimpicos de Lingua Oficial Portuguesa) headed by its President Vong Iao Lek in Panjim to take stock of the infrastructure and other facilities, the Goa Olympic Association (GOA) appears confident that everything will be spot on for staging the event. However, many are skeptical.

The GOA has been responsible for getting the Lusofonia Games during the 2nd Lusofonia Games held in Lisbon in 2009. That was the only bid, and as such it was readily accepted, although there were strong rumours that Brazil were strong contenders. In fact, Brazil were never interested in the 3rd edition.

The bid was officially vetted by Sports Minister Babu Azgaonkar, the then Sports Secretary Dr M M Modassir, GOA President Subash Shirodkar, who attended the official meeting of the Olympic Committees in Lisbon and put pen to the paper ratifying the deal.

Also present at that crucial time in Lisbon were SAG’s Executive Director, V M Prabhudesai, SAG’s Joint Director Vinayak Naik, SAG Treasurer Ashraf Padyal, SAG members Dr Shrikant Azgaonkar and Shravan Dubashi and as such one can conclude that the hosting had the full backing of the SAG much moreover as the Government’s Sports Secretary Dr Modassir was also part of the same official delegation and participated in the crucial ACOLOP meeting to decide the venue.

That Goa would host the event in 2013, was made abundantly clear at the closing ceremony of 2nd Lusofonia Games when the ACOLOP Flag and the Flame Lantern were officially handed over to V M Prabhudesai, who majestically waved it in front of thousands of participants of the Lusofonia Games as a gesture of acceptance. Since the event would be held in

India, Goa’s singing sensation Sonia Sirsat was specially invited and she did regale the spectators with her melodious voice to the backing of a Western-Indian fusion group appropriately called LisGoa with some Portuguese artistes performing on tabla and sitar with aplomb. That’s Part One. Part Two starts now and this is the most important one and serious too. Goa has to host football, futsal, volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, taekwondo, judo, athletics, table tennis and the recently included chess. And that’s the exact reason that a strong ACOLOP delegation is in Goa for assessment work. There are two technical delegates who will inspect the infrastructure and other facilities and give the verdict.

Football is being proposed to be staged at Nehru Stadium, at Fatorda (Margao), volleyball and basketball at indoor stadium at Campal (Panjim), beach volleyball at Mira Mar (Panjim), table tennis at the community hall at Taleigao, taekwondo and judo at Don Bosco’s indoor stadium in Panjim, athletics at SAG’s track at Campal (Panjim).

A cursory look at all these venues tells one that the infrastructure and facilities are rudimentary for staging a world class event. Consequently, some will have to be built for the occasion, like a full-fledged stadium for volleyball and basketball which do not exist at the moment, while the others will have to undergo extensive modifications and upgradations so as to qualify for the international standard. The less talked about the track the better. The Campal track is a disgrace.

From the time of accepting the bid in 2009 until now, nothing has happened in connection with the Lusofonia Games. The only big noise has been heard is about hosting the National Games in 2014 after all this time the IOA insisted that these would be 2011 National Games, when everyone, except the IOA knew that Goa would not host the event in 2011 as the Jharkhand Games were being held in 2011 and the National Games in Kerala were scheduled in 2012.

Candolim in finals HERALD CORRESPONDENT Calangute, March 4: Candolim Sports Club prevailed over Sangolda Lightning 4-2 via the tie-breaker after a goalless draw to move into the finals of Laxmi and Subha inter-village soccer tournament organised by Nerul Sports Club at Nerul ground on Friday.

Changing over, Sangolda regrouped themselves and kept attacking the Candolim citadel time and again but Candolim keeper Bharat

Morje was equal to his task, bringing off superb saves.

Candolim keeper Morje brought off smart saves from Agnelo Quadros and Govind Balekaronacoupleofoccasions.

In the tie-breaker, Samir Naik, Shankar Palienkar, Stanley D'Silva and Joelif Simoes converted for Candolim while Mahendra Ombadkar and Amar Haldankar were on target for Sangolda.

Llyod Mascarenhas (Sangolda) was declared man-ofthe-match.

Photo: Savio D’Sousa

Photo: Jovito Lopes

Brazil’s Bernard Rajzman (left), 2nd vice-president ACOLOP and member of Brazil Olympic Committee and Jorge Ajuz, Brazil’s Olympic Committee’s technical delegate at Dabolim on Friday.

Had Goa hosted the National Games either in 2011 or 2012 or 2013, then the State would have been in a position to host the Lusofonia Games at virtually no additional expenditure.

Those connected with Goa’s sports administration, are skeptical about hosting the Lusofonia Games in 2013, firstly because till now the Government has not given the official green signal and secondly no budget allocation has been made. And that’s the main worry. To further buttress the point, they pointed out that the Govern-

ment is not in a position to have the floodlights at Nehru Stadium for the past 10 years, with the result that Goa lost two big opportunities in 2011 itself as Dempo Sports Club’s AFC Cup home matches had to be shifted to Pune and then the SAFF Games football was moved to Orissa even when two powerful ministers are fully immersed with official football in Goa. No doubt, big events offer big chance for infrastructure development. Look at CHOGM and IFFI. “It’s a great opportunity for Goa to

MozaMBique’s Marcelino Macome, 3rd vice-president of ACOLOP, being greeted by Gurudatta Bhakta, GOA secretary and Navin Acharya, SAG’s assistant secretary. get the infrastructure and also to witness international athletes of 11 countries,” declared Gurudatta Bhakta, GOA secretary.

“Goa’s participation in the Lusofonia Games in Macau and Lisbon has had a very positive effect on the performance of Goans at the recently concluded National Games with taekwondo getting six medals, football the

bronze and athletics the bronze. No doubt, most of the participants had exposure at Lusofonia Games.

Our standard has gone up,” remarked Bhakta.

“Our work should start from today itself in all seriousness. There can be no extensions or postponements as the calendar is fixed,” asserted Bhakta who was humble enough to accept

that things can happen provided the Government gives total, financial support.

The ACOLOP delegation comprises the Executive Committee, technical delegation and Macau Coordination Committee. They are Vong Iao Lek, Macau (president), Bernard Rajzman of Brazil (2nd vice-persident), Marcelino Macome of Mozambique (3rd vice-pres-

ident), Mario Rosa of Angola (NOC secretary general), Franklin Palma of Cabo Verde (dy secretary general), Augusto Viegas of Guine Bissau (treasury), Jorge Ajuz of Brazil, Jose Tavares of Macau, Lam Lin Kio of Macau, Marcia Costa of Macau, Chao Kuok Wai of Macau, Joaquim Lobo of Macau), Elsa Luk of Macau (all coordination committee).

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Cristiano Ronaldo broke his four-game scoring drought with a hat-trick as Real Madrid trounced lowly Malaga 7-0 in La Liga at the Bernabeu on Thursday to trim the gap with leaders Barcelona.

Barca 71 points from 26 matches, Real have 64 and third-placed Valencia have 51.

“

Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

India's bowling attack, of course, we have seen it so many times. They have a world class performer.

-- Kevin O' Brien

My worst day, says Bangla captain AFP Dhaka, March 4: Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan said his team's nine-wicket rout by the West Indies on Friday was the "worst day" of his career, but insisted his side's World Cup campaign was not over.

"We did not play well at all," said Shakib after Bangladesh were shot out for their lowest one-day total of 58 in just 18.5 overs, with

the West Indies cantering home in the 13th over of their innings.

"I did not expect that we would play so badly. This has to be the worst day of my career."

A sell-out crowd of 25,000 packed into the Sher-eBangla stadium saw the daynight match come to an end even before the lights came on, jeering the home team and throwing paper placards on the field to show their dis-

gust.

"I am not surprised they were angry, they have every right to be," said Shakib.

"They expect a lot from us because we have done well over the past few years. But I did not think we were capable of such a defeat.

"Our fans expect us to win games against good teams, especially at home. We just did not play good cricket at all. Nothing went right other than winning the toss."

Bangladesh's score was well short of their previous low of 74 against Australia in Darwin in 2008 and was also the fourth lowest total in World Cup history.

The World Cup co-hosts, with one win from three games in Group B, were left with a mountain to climb to stay in contention for the quarter-finals.

They face England, South Africa and the Netherlands in their remaining group

matches. But Shakib said Bangladesh were not yet out of the race.

"It is definitely possible to come back," he said. "If you win two out of three matches, we may still qualify.

I know it will be hard to come back after losing this game.

"But the boys know they are capable of coming back strongly. They have done it before, so why not this time?"

Spin trap may not work: Ponting TODAY’S MATCH

into’s CATERERS

Sri Lanka v.

Australia 2.30 p.m.

PTI Colombo, March 4: Australian captain Ricky Ponting today fired a series of salvos on the Sri Lankans ahead of tomorrow's highprofile World Cup match here, saying the pressure of playing at home and pitch conditions could work to the disadvantage of the co-hosts.

Upping the ante on the eve of the crucial Group A match, Ponting said Sri Lanka's talk of spin trap may not work tomorrow as Premadasa stadium has not got much turn in the previous matches.

He said the pitch conditions could instead work to the advantage of Australia's three-prong pace battery.

Sri Lanka are considering playing all their three spinners -- Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and

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Rangana Herath.

"The wicket is not spinning as much as it used to because it has all been re-laid and there seems to be more pace in it and, watching the second innings of the game (on Thursday when Pakistan beat Canada), it seamed around at night," Ponting told reporters at the prematch press conference here.

"The first game (Sri Lanka vs Pakistan) was a really high-scoring one and didn't really favour the spinners as much as they would like. I'm not sure if the Sri Lankans are entirely happy with what they've seen with the wicket conditions but it should suit us down to the ground," he said.

He said that home support can be double-edged and "there is huge pressure on all teams from this part of the world" to perform. "It's definitely something they (Sri Lanka) have to contend with and I think as the tournament goes on India will have to do the same thing.”

"You know the support they get and how good it can be when they are going well but when they aren't going so well, I think they realise how harsh that support, or so-called support can be, be it public or media pressure," he said.

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“

Goa I Saturday 5, March 2011

To dismiss Zimbabwe by 10 wickets,I could not have asked for more from my team.

-- Kiwis captain Daniel Vettori

Angry fans stone bus

AFP

New Delhi, March 4: Angry Bangladesh fans stoned the West Indies bus on Friday, furious after their team defeat.

The bus came under attack as it was heading back to the hotel, in what police claimed was a case of mistaken identity, with fans thinking it was the home team's vehicle.

Zimbabwe flattened New ZealaNd captain Daniel Vettori attempts to run-out a Zimbabwe batsman.

AFP Ahmedabad, March 4 : New Zealand romped to a clinical 10-wicket victory against Zimbabwe in the World Cup on Friday, boosting their chances of making it to the quarter-finals.

After bowling out the African nation for just 162, the Kiwis rode on unbeaten half-centuries by Martin Guptill and Brendon McCullum to canter to the target with 99 balls to spare in the Group A clash at the Sardar

Patel Stadium.

The opening partnership between Guptill (86) and McCullum (76) was the highest for the tournament.

The victory, the second for New Zealand by a 10-wicket margin in the tournament, moved them up in the table with four points from three games. Pakistan lead the charts with three wins from as many matches.

Guptill, named man of the match, launched New Zealand's chase with a bang, carting seven fours and two

scoreboArd Zimbabwe: B. Taylor lbw b Styris 44, C. Coventry run out 0, T. Taibu lbw b Southee 8, C. Ervine c Ryder b Mills 11, E. Chigumbura lbw b Vettori 1, R. Chakabva c Taylor b Vettori 0, G. Lamb run out 18, P. Utseya b Southee 36, G. Cremer c B. McCullum b Mills 22, R. Price lbw b Southee 11, T. Panyangara not out 4. Extras: 7. Total: 162 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-27, 3-42, 4-46, 5-46, 6-86, 7-89, 8-122, 9-157, 10-162. Bowling: Mills 10-029-2, Southee 9.2-3-29-3, Bennett 8-0-37-0, Vettori 10-3-25-2, Styris 40-13-1, N. McCullum 3-0-15-0, Ryder 2-0-10-0.

New Zealand: M. Guptill not out 86, B. McCullum not out 76. Extras: 4.

Total: 166 for no loss. Bowling: Panyangara 5.3-0-42-0, Price 7-0-23-0, Utseya 6-0-23-0, Lamb 5-0-18-0, Cremer 7-0-38-0, Chigumbura 3-021-0. Man-of-the-Match: M Guptill.

Bangla bungle AFP New Delhi, March 4: The West Indies destroyed Bangladesh by nine wickets in an embarrassingly onesided contest Friday, dismissing the World Cup co-hosts for just 58 runs -- their lowest ever one-day total.

In front of a stunned capacity crowd of 25,000 in Dhaka, the home side's batting imploded and they were all out in just 18.5 overs -sparking angry scenes from supporters who hurled placards from the stands.

The Caribbean side romped to their second win of the tournament in just 12.2 overs, with Chris Gayle mak-

ing an unbeaten 37 and sit second in Group B with four points from three games, level on points with South Africa.

Spinner Sulieman Benn grabbed 4-18 and fast bowlers Kemar Roach and Darren Sammy claimed three wickets each as Bangladesh fell well short of their previous one-day low of 74, notching the fourth lowest score in World Cup history.

Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful were the only two batsmen who made it into double figures in a match that could prove pivotal to quarter-final hopes with India, South Africa and England also in Group B.

scoreboArd Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal c Sammy b Roach 0, Imrul Kayes c Thomas b Sammy 5, Junaid Siddique lbw b Roach 25, Mushfiqur Rahim c Sarwan b Sammy 0, Shakib Al Hasan b Benn 8, Raqibul Hasan c Pollard b Sammy 4, Mohammad Ashraful c Thomas b Roach 11, Naeem Islam c Thomas b Benn 1, Shafiul Islam c Pollard b Benn 0, Abdur Razzak not out 2, Rubel Hossain b Benn 0. Extras: 2. Total: 58 all out. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-16, 3-25, 4-36, 5-41, 6-51, 7-56, 8-56, 9-58, 10-58. Bowling: Roach 6-0-19-3, Benn 5.5-2-18-4, Sammy 7-0-21-3.

West Indies: D. Smith b Naeem 6, C. Gayle not out 37, D. Bravo not out 9. Extras: 7. Total: 59 for 1. Fall of wicket: 1-29. Bowling: Shafiul 2-0-110, Naeem 6-1-14-1, Rubel 1-0-12-0, Razzak 1-0-8-0, Ashraful 2-0-110, Shakib 0.2-0-1-0. Man-of-the-Match: K Roach.

sixes off 108 balls on way to his 10th ODI half-century.

McCullum was equally belligerent, hitting six fours and two sixes in his 95-ball knock.

Earlier, seamers Tim Southee, Kyle Mills and Scott Styris shared six wickets after Chigumbura won the toss and elected to bat on a benign wicket.

But it was not a start they would have wished for, losing their top five batsmen inside 15 overs to a combination of Kiwi pace and spin.

Opener Charles Coventry was the first to go, run out with just two runs on the board as Hamish Bennett at mid-on threw the stumps down at the bowler's end.

Tatenda Taibu, coming into the game on the back of a match-winning 98 against Canada, earned a reprieve when Vettori failed to pouch a sitter off Southee.

But the bowler was rewarded off the very next ball when he had Taibu trapped leg before wicket for eight, a decision upheld after television replays showed Southee's ball would have hit the off-stump.

Mills, back in action after missing his team's sevenwicket defeat to Australia, sent back Craig Ervine for 11 before Vettori dismissed Chigumbura and Regis Chakabva.