8 April 2011 HERALD PUBLICATIONS PVT LTD

O HERALD O

Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, friday, apriL 8, 2011 postal reg. no. Goa 101 priCE rs. 3.00

Heartbeat: Dum Maaro Dum is a cool stylish thriller — Bips Pg 4 iN BRieF 13 killed in Brazil school shooting A man believed to be a former student opened fire in a school, killing 12 people and wounding 22 others before taking his own life, authorities said. “The information we have is that the number of fatalities is 13, and some 22 wounded, including gunshot wounds to the head,” Colonel Evandro Bezerra, a fire department spokesman said. — (PTI)

Business: IRDA guidelines on telemarketing Pg 9

Now, BaBush issue eChoes iN Delhi

BJP demands arrest of minister under FEMA HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

The Bhartiya Janata Party on Thursday demanded immediate dismissal of Goa’s Education Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate and his arrest under FEMA (Foreign Exchange Management Act) in view of getting caught at the Mumbai airport last Saturday with large amount of foreign exchange and Indian currency while trying to travel to Dubai.

It is a clear case of the Hawala racket as the “smuggler” minister had admitted after his detention that he had been smuggling out even larger amounts in past travels abroad and hence he did not know if it amount to any crime, BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told a press conference here.

Also present at the press conference was former Union minister and now BJP MP Shripad

Yesso Naik from Goa. Javadekar challenged the Prime Minister at a press conference here to keep up his word to act against anybody indulging in such wrong and illegal acts, pointing out that his government had rather acted fast to force the Customs to set free the guilty minister.

He alleged pressure was brought by someone in the Finance Ministry to set Babush free after 18 hours of detention at the airport in what is a clear case of the “Congress cover-up” to shield and save its minister.

Demanding an inquiry into who brought pressure on Customs to release the minister, Javadekar called for a CBI probe into the sources of money he had boasted to be carrying every time he went abroad.

He said it is also not clear whether Babush had taken (Continued on page 8)

No call from minister, says Customs HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

The Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) has denied that any calls were received by Customs officials at Mumbai Airport from the office of any minister, in the case of Goa Education Minister Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate’s detention by Mumbai Customs last week. According to a press statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) of the Central government, the decision was taken entirely as per Customs rules and regulations.

Investigations are still in progress and other investigative agencies have been contacted with details.

Babush to depose before Customs today HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

Education Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate will be deposing before the Air Intelligence Unit of the Mumbai Airport Customs, almost a week after he was det a i n e d a n d re leased for allegedly carrying undeclared foreign currency

2 more charged in Margao blast case HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

TIDES TODAY High Tide: 0024; 1406 Low Tide: 0706; 1933

The South Goa Sessions Court on Thursday framed charges against two more accused in the sensational Margao bomb blast case.

Accused Prashant Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar were charged by the court under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosives Substances Act, for waging a war against the State and for criminal conspiracy under the IPC. Both Ashtekar and Juvekar pleaded not guilty and will now be tried along with the four accused persons already facing trial in the bomb blast case.

Special Public Prosecutor S B Faria informed that Prashant Ashtekar and Prashant Juvekar will now be tried along with accused Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar by the court.

Remaining three accused persons Jai Prakash alias Ana, Rudra Patil and Sarang Kulkarni are still at large.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had charged a total of 11 accused persons, including deceased, Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, for preparing the

Improvised Explosive Devises and conducting test blasts at Talaulim-Ponda, followed by another test blast at Jath Sangli in Maharashtra.

The investigating agency has charged deceased accused Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, besides Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar, Dilip Mangonkar, Jai Prakask allias Anna, Rudra Patil, Sarang Kulkarni and Prashanth Juvekar for entering into a criminal conspiracy during the month of June 2009 to October 2009.

The NIA has pointed in the chargesheet that accused Malgonda Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Jai Prakash brought explosive materials like gelatin sticks and detonators and other accessories like Printed Circuit Boards, transistors, batteries, wires etc for manufacturing the (Continued on page 8)

UP ministers resign over irregularities PTI LUCKNOW, APRIL 7

Uttar Pradesh Family Welfare Minister Babu Singh Khushwaha and Health Minister Anant Kumar Mishra on Thursday resigned from the Cabinet, owning moral responsibility for the irregularities detected in their departments after murder of a CMO of the state.

“Taking moral responsibility for the irregularities in their respective departments both the ministers have willingly send their resignations to Chief Minister Mayawati, which she has forwarded to Governor B L Joshi,” Cabinet Secretar y Shashank Shekhar Singh told reporters here.

Chief Medical Officer of Family Welfare Dr B P Singh who was shot dead on April 2 near his house during a morning walk.

worth crores of rupees.

Sources said that Babush will be flying to Mumbai on Friday morning to depose before the Customs officials at the Sahara International Airport at 2.30 pm.

The minister, on April 2 was detained by the Customs at Mumbai international airport after he was found carrying foreign currency beyond permissible limits.

Appropriation Bill passed

English too should get grants: Willy HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

F o r m e r deputy chief minister Dr W i l f re d d e Souza reiterated his 1990s stand that all educational institutions irrespective of their medium of instruction should be given grants.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday here Dr De Souza, said Goa, Daman & Diu Official Language Act, 1987 provides, “the government shall not, in granting aid to any educational or cultural institution, discriminate against such institution only on the ground of language.”

Hence, he said the government should stop discrimination against institutions over medium of instructions.

Dr De Souza who was Opposition Leader in 1990, while moving a Cut Motion in the House, had clarified his stand on medium of instruction. The Government then had taken policy decision that only Konkani and Marathi medium schools will be given grants.

In his speech, Dr De Souza had pointed out that the Constitution as well as the Official Language Act permits the use of English.

Moreover, Article 452 of the Constitution, all education up to the age of 14 must be free and compulsory. “The State shall endeavour to provide for free and compulsory education for all children till they complete the age of 14 years,” he stated in his speech.

(air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 16 + 4

Sports: Dhoni’s Kings take on Pg 16 Gambhir’s Knights

Hazare steps up campaign, brushes aside Sonia’s plea

Social activist Anna Hazare talks with Swami Agnivesh during the 3rd day of his indefinite fast for Jan Lokpal Bill, in New Delhi on Thursday.

PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

Stepping up his anti-corruption campaign, Anna Hazare Thursday night brushed aside Sonia Gandhi’s appeal to him to withdraw his hunger strike as Government initiated talks on formation of a joint committee to draft an effective Lokpal Bill but there was no consensus on two crucial aspects.

Government on Thursday agreed to the formation of a committee with equal representation for civil society members and government representatives. But it is said to be having reservations over how to formally notify constituting it and give its chairmanship to a private individual, which could be set-

ting a precedent.

‘I thank Sonia Gandhi for her statement (appealing to him to end the fast). Soniaji, tell the government to get the Lokpal bill enacted at the earliest,’ Hazare said in a terse reaction to Gandhi’s appeal.

His address to the gathering at Jantar Mantar was received with wide approbation by his followers as his campaign received further momentum across the country.

Under pressure from a surging anti-corruption campaign, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with his Cabinet colleague Kapil Sibal late in the night and discussed ways to find a means to resolve the situation.

Sibal, who had earlier in the

day held two rounds of discussions with Hazare’s emissaries – Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal – is understood to have discussed with Singh the ticklish issue of the demand for notifying the joint committee of civil society members and government representatives and who would head it.

In the morning talks, the government agreed to the activists’ demand for constituting the committee with five members each from both the sides but there was no agreement on a formal notification to constitute it and on the demand that Hazare should head it. Another meeting between Sibal and the two emissaries are scheduled tomorrow morning.

Powerful quake hits Japan, tsunami alert

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

AFP TOKYO, APRIL 7

Probably for the first time in the history of the Goa Legislative Assembly the Goa Appropriation Bill, was passed without discussion in the House.

The BJP continued to disrupt the House proceedings for the third day in succession prompting the Speaker of the Assembly Pratapsing Rane to take up the business amid unruly scenes.

As the Opposition benches continued shouting slogans the Speaker started taking up the business as scheduled wherein the Goa Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2011 for Rs 8022.19 crore was also introduced, considered and passed.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had presented the budget for 2011-12 in the assembly on March 17.

A powerful earthquake hit northeastern Japan late Thursday, seismologists said, prompting Japanese authorities to issue a localised tsunami alert.

The quake, which hit at 11.32 pm local time (1432 GMT), was initially measured at 7.4-magnitude, according to the US Geological Survey, which said it struck 66 kilometres (40 miles) east of Sendai at a shallow depth of 25.6 kilometres (15.9 miles).

USGS seismologists later downgraded its strength to 7.1, and revised its depth to 49 kms.

Workers battling to control the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant on Japan’s northeast coast were ordered to evacuate, plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co said.

“After the earthquake and the

A grounded fishing boat stands amongst tsunami damage in Japan.

tsunami warning, all the workers evacuated to a safe area. The company confirmed all the workers have cleared the plant safely,” a TEPCO spokesman said.

“We have no information immediately indicating any abnormality at Fukushima Daiichi plant,” a spokesman told a press conference.

Japan’s weather bureau issued

a tsunami alert for its Pacific coast, saying that waves of up to two metres could hit the shoreline.

“Please be warned that a tsunami as high as two metres is expected in some areas,” Japan’s meteorological agency said.

In a statement on its website t h e H a w a i i - b a s e d Pa c i f i c Tsunami Warning Center said it

did not expect a Pacific-wide tsunami.

Footage from broadcaster NHK showed that the power was off in parts of Sendai, a regional commercial hub that was heavily affected by the March 11 quake.

The broadcaster said gas and water leaks were being reported in some areas of the city.

Although the epicentre was at a distance of 333 kilometres (207 miles) from Tokyo, it caused buildings to shake in the Japanese capital.

“Please do not hesitate to leave for higher ground, nor try to return to the coast line. Please do not try to check the status of the coastline,” broadcaster NHK said repeatedly.

Its advice not to go to the coastline was supposedly addressed to fishermen worried about their boats.

Pg 2

OHERALDO

GOA

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

Narvekar blasts members for holding House to ransom HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 6

E xc e p t f o r A l d o n a M L A Dayanand Narvekar majority ruling members chose to be mute spectators for the third consecutive day as functioning of the House collapsed over Babush Monserrate issue.

In an exemplary speech Aldona MLA flayed both the government as well as Opposition members as he invoked his right as an MLA to raise issues of importance before the House.

Raising a point of order when House resumed at 12.30 pm on Thursday after the adjournment, Aldona MLA pointed out that House has lost precious two days when no discussions were held but demands for grants were passed.

Moreover, the members were not able to raise any issue in the House due to adjournments forced by the Opposition.

The Opposition has been blocking proceedings of the

House since Tuesday with Speaker Pratapsing Rane refusing to allow their notice for an adjournment motion.

“Probably, for the first time in the history of Goa Assembly the Appropriation Bill, 2011 will be passed without any discussion, “ stated Aldona MLA while making a point as to whether House can be held to ransom due to one individual. “ One minister is not Goa,” he stated raising a pertinent question as to whether the Opposition is at all right in blocking the business of the House to force the government to sack Education Minister Babush Monserrate .

“Where do I get justice? stated Narvekar in a pitched voice as he indicated he has been robbed of an opportunity to raise important issues in the House. This is the last assembly session for most members with assembly elections likely to happen later this year.

Aldona MLA who has criti-

cized his own government on relevant issues -- this time too, did not hesitate in calling spade a spade .

“To remove a minister or not is a prerogative of the chief minister. He can do it in five minutes, “he stated in a subtle sign that chief minister should act he wants the House to function.

Seeking intervention from the Speaker he said “he wants justice” as he has been deprived of his right and there are enough provisions which can be implemented to provide relief to members like him.

“Why should I suffer,” stated Aldona MLA even as he that stated members on both the sides are enjoying.

The Opposition members are happy because they want to make a point by blocking House proceedings on the other hand ministers too, are happy because they need not face quizzing by the Opposition.

Britona locals fume over Princess scrap dumping HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 7

Residents of Britona on Thursday morning staged an agitation at the central and excise notified area by the Tourism Department at Malim under the Mandovi Bridge, where scrap of River Princess is being dumped.

The agitators blocked the traffic and informed the matter over phone to local MLA Dayanand Narvekar.

Narvekar rushed to the site and met the agitators, who apprised him that the delegation led by Penha-de-Franca Parish Priest Fr Mario Pereira had called on Chief Minister Digambar Kamat last Thursday to discuss the issue of dumping of scarp at Malim.

The chief minister had informed the delegation that the Tourism director and the officials of Goa State Pollution Control Board will meet them on April 4 and explain the matter in detail.

As neither the Tourism director nor officials of Pollution Con-

Britona locals along with their MLA Dayanand Narvekar at the scrap dumping site at Malim.

trol Board met the delegation as agreed and since the work of cutting of scrap of River Princess was started by the con-

1.25 cr sq mts of land added to mining belt during last 3 yrs HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

A whopping areas admeasuring 1.25 crore square metres have been diverted for mining purpose in the state during last three years, the state legislative assembly was told on Wednesday.

The reply tabled by Minister for Forest Filipe Neri Rodrigues stated that the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) is the authority for giving the approvals and the conditions are stipulated in the approval.

“The diversion of forest land for non-forestr y purpose has been done as per the provisions under section 2 of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980,” the reply given to the starred question raised by Sanguem MLA Vasudev Gaonkar reads.

As per the details tabled on the floor of the house, the diversion has been mostly taken

place in four major talukas -Bicholim, Sanguem, Qupeme and Sattari.

The land has been diverted to the major mining firms like Salgaocar private limited, V S Dempo and comp a n y, Pa i Pa l o n d i c a r, R P Timblo, Elray Minerals and

company and others, who are currently identified as the lease holders of the area.

The renewal period for these leases of mining companies will expire in the year 2027, the reply reads.

The Minister in his reply has said that the diversion is been

Bill to curb illegal film shooting unlikely this Assembly session HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

Goa government is examining the possibility of imposing heavy fines for the film producers, who illegally shoot in the state without prior permission from the authorities.

Entertainment Society of Goa (ESG), who had moved a proposal seeking to enact a law, which will penalize heavily for illegal film shootings in the state, in January this year, were expecting the bill or law to be enacted during the ongoing state legislative assembly session, which seems to be not happening.

ESG had already sent two reminders to expedite the process of forming the law.

ESG’s Chief Executive Officer Manoj Srivastava said that the proposal is pending with the state law department and is still being examined. “We wanted the bill to be passed for the cur-

nESG’s Chief Executive Officer Manoj Srivastava said that the proposal is pending with the state law department and is still being examined.

“We wanted the bill to be passed for the current assembly session. But it looks bit impossible,” he said.

rent assembly session. But it looks bit impossible,” he said.

Srivastava said that the quantum of penalty to be imposed for illegal shootings and what kind of punishments can be prescribed under the law is being examined by the experts.

“Also, the law department is studying under which act, the

ban can be imposed,” he added.

As per ESG figures, there are 600 film shootings happening in the state annually. Srivastava said that there are equal numbers of film shootings which are taking place illegally.

However, in the absence of proper mechanism, the illegal film shooting will continue to raise, official fears.

“If we fail to control now, in future we will have to face major problem as the film producers might not turn up to take permission,” he stated.

“The stringent law can ban such shootings as it is making the state to lose revenue,” he added.

ESG is a single window agency to get clearances for film shooting in the state.

The agency collaborates with the local panchayats or municipalities, with whom they share the revenue, earned from the shootings.

Airlines, AAI told about maintenance work: Navy HERALD REPORTER VASCO, APRIL 7

Indian Navy on Thursday stated that all commercial airlines and Airport Authority of India (AAI) have been taken into confidence about the present routine maintenance work of Dabolim runway.

A special programme has been worked out, where no flight is required to be cancelled but to reschedule few fights for certain hours.

In a press note, Navy PRO M C Joshi has stated that runway requires periodic maintenance as a routine, which is carried out to ensure requisite standards for safe operation of flights.

“Some airports, which have second runway, are able to carry out maintenance on each of the runway alternately, but airports like Dabolim which has only one runway for aircraft operations do not have this facility available and therefore need to make arrangements to interweave maintenance work with daily operations,” said Joshi.

He further stated that repairs

nNavy PRO M C Joshi stated that runway requires periodic maintenance as a routine, which is carried out to ensure requisite standards for safe operation of flights. are carried out in a phased manner with careful planning and naval authorities in Goa has consulted all the operators and AAI before commencing any major work and periodic meeting was held on March 25 with the stakeholders.

“To ensure this, all maintenance work is commencing only at 9 am when military hours of flying begin. All morning civil flights up to 8.30 am continue as before,” said Joshi.

He said that the maintenance work is also stopped between 1 pm to 3 pm, since it is the peak hours for civil traffic.

“When maintenance work

recommences from 3 pm till 6 pm, flights have the option to land and take off except that a minor reduction of runway length would occur for operations,” said Joshi.

“Due to reduction of runway, few aids such as PAPI, which are physically fixed on the ground, would not be available for this three-hour period,” he informed.

“The major restriction is during hours reserved for military flying, whilst the civil aircraft are only affected for three nonpeak hours between 3 pm and 6 pm, as a result, civil flights continue to remain unaffected for 17 hours in a day including the peak hours in the morning and between 1 pm and 3 pm,” added Joshi.

“However, all operators have also been given the approval to reschedule their flights as 5-6 flights being affected with rescheduling, while affected flights only need to either advance or postpone by an average of 45 to 75 minutes to operate in periods of no restriction,” he said.

done after proper demarcation and periodic inspections are carried out to ensure that the working is restricted to diverted area only.

The mining firms, at time of diversion of forest land, were bound with certain conditions like depositing the amount towards Compensatory Afforestation (CAMPA) and Net Present Value (NPV) of forest area diverted.

“Conditions like tree planting in blank areas are to be carried out during the course of the renewal period,” the reply reads adding that the regular visits are undertaken by the state and central officials to monitor the implementation of the conditions laid down in the diversions approvals.

In yet another reply, the minister has placed that in last three years the government collected Rs 46.39 crores through CAMPA and NPV. While in last five years Rs 126 crores have been col-

Loliem-Polem locals object mobile tower HERALD CORRESPONDENT POINGUINIM, APRIL 7

About 20 panchayat members of Loliem-Polem raised objection towards setting up of a mobile tower at Madditolop-Loliem.

The panchayat members on Sunday had a heated debate with the sarpanch at the panchayat office raising objection towards the mobile tower.

They demanded that the permission given to the company should be revoked. Barely 100 mtrs from the newly erected mobile tower there exists a similar tower of another company since the past six years and nobody had objected to it.

This correspondent was specially called by the persons opposing the mobile towers at the panchayat office and it was found that all of them were carrying mobile phones.

When contacted, General Manager of Telecommunications (BSNL) Goa G R Ravi said that they are not in a position to give the health hazards of the radiation and the best source to get the information is from the scientists from the health department, New Delhi.

A top source in the executive wing of the State government while speaking to Herald stated that in Goa it has become a common fashion by the people to raise objections on any development works. He further said that politicians are using the people for their own gains.

When contacted, LoliemPolem Sarpanch Pranali Prabhu Gaonkar said the panch members did not raise any objections at the meeting when the file for clearance was placed to them.

lected.

As per the condition, the department through CAMP funding has undertaken afforestation in the areas of 150 hc in last three years, planting around 3 lakhs seedlings, in the diverted areas.

The Minister said that the plantations are done on degraded forest land only having a canopy density of less than 0.4.

The areas are afforested with various local forestry species like Mahagony, saton, khair, teak, Hassan, nano, apto, etc.

Meanwhile, last week, Rodrigues has assured the State Legislative assembly that all the pending proposals to divert the forest land for mining purpose would be put on hold and the officers would be instructed not to process any such proposals till the Mining policy is finalized.

tractor, they were forced to stage the agitation.

Narvekar immediately ordered the contractor to stop the

Photo by Sachin Ambadoskar work of cutting scrap. Later, the Aldona MLA along with the delegation called on Chief Minister Kamat and informed him about

the situation.

The chief minister assured the delegation that henceforth no scrap will be cut at the site.

Speaking to Herald, Narvekar said when he had raised the issue of dumping of scrap of River Princess at Malim during the calling attention motion in the Assembly session, he was informed by the chief minister that the scrap will not be cut at the site and the area will be used only for dumping of the scrap.

“I had suggested to the government two sites for dumping of scrap, one at Candolim and the other at Baga, where there is an open space of about 50,000 sq mtrs,” informed Narvekar.

“Alternatively, the contractor should be asked to use the services of transhipper for the movement of scrap, but the government did not listen,” he added.

“I am with the people. If people of Britona/Malim do not want the scrap in their area, the government should respect their sentiments,” stated Narvekar.

Churchill accused of dislodging those who help him win polls HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

BJP leaders from Navelim constituency on Thursday have lambasted PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, accusing the Navelim MLA for dislodging BJP-backed Panchayats of Aquem-Baixo and Rumdamol in the last four years.

Briefing newsmen, Party leader Ulhas Tuemkar said that the BJP backed panchayat members of both Rumdamol and Aquem-Baixo had worked hard for Alemao’s success in Navelim constituency in the last elections. “Four years down the line and Alemao seems to have completely forgotten the role played by the BJP in getting him elected as an ML A four years ago”, Tuemkar said.

He also took strong objection to the dislodging of the Rumdamol Sarpanch Sharifa BI at the behest of the PWD Minister.

“Sharifa Bi was the only Muslim women in entire Goa at the helm

of panchayat affairs. The BJP had elected Sharifa to the coveted post”, he said, and charged the Congress and the PWD Minister for dislodging a member of the Muslim community from the top post.

Saying that the BJP workers have been singled out by the PWD Minister, Tuemkar said that even former ML A Luizinho Faleiro did not treat his political opponents the way Alemao does.

In his address, Sharifa BI said the BJP had supported Alemao in the Assembly polls for a change, adding that they now regret supporting Alemao in the elections. “Alemao would not have got elected if we did not support him. During his rule, Alemao has only given false promises”, she alleged.

Outgoing Rumdamol deputy Sarpanch Damu Naik said he and Sharifa Bi were dislodged by the Churchill-backed group

only because he had asked for details on the PWD tenders and work orders issued I the village.

“There was no reply from the PWD officials on my letter. This forced me to seek information under the Right to Information Act”, Damu said, and accused certain PWD engineers for their involvement in fraud.

BJP leader Sheikh Jina said the Congress leaders including the PWD Minister also only fooled the Muslim community on the kabrastan issue.

“The time has come for the community to take to the streets to expose these Congress leaders. We will all work against the Congress in the coming elections”, he said.

Replying to a question, Jina said the BJP would field a candidate against Alemao in Navelim constituency whether the latter contests on the Congress ticket or not.

Activists hold dharna in support of Hazare HERADL REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

Social activists from Salcete held at dharna outside the South Goa district Collectorate here this evening to express solidarity with Anna Hazare, whose fast entered the three day today.

Armed with placards, the activists called upon the youth and the people to join Hazare in order to put a stop to corruption.

Activist Laurel Abranches said they have come to expressed their solidarity with the fasting Hazare. “Anna has gone on a fast on behalf of the aam admi.

We are come out in the open to show our solidarity. Corrup-

tion should stop. The demand raised by Hazare for a Lokayukta should be put in place immediately”, he said.

Colva based activist Judith Almeida said the time has come for the people to free themselves from corruption. “Corruption has percolated deep down in the society”, she said, adding that the movement offers hope for the people of Goa to get various issues plaguing the state resolved.

Saying that a host of burning issues has put Goans to the backfoot, Almeida urged the people to take the opportunity to take Goa and India forward.

Rally in Vasco today HERALD REPORTER VASCO, APRIL 7

Mormugao Union of Journalists (MUJ) along with residents of Mormugao will hold a candlelit rally from Hutatma Chowk near St Andrew Junction on April 8 at 6 pm, to extend support to veteran social activist Anna Hazare.

MUJ has urged Mormugao residents and from entire State to extend their support to fight against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats by pressurising the government to enact the Lokpal Bill (Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill)

in the Parliament and Lokayukta in the State.

The candlelit march will start from Hutatma Chowk and will pass through the ity, before culminating near the MMC building.

Signatures will be taken in support of the Lok Pal Bill at the Centre and Lokayukta Bill in the State, which will be forwarded to the Governor and President through the office of Mormugao Deputy Collector.

Further details of the rally are available on 7709790389 or 9421153217.

Plaint filed for flooding fields at Shiroda HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, APRIL 7

The United Goans Shanti Concern, an NGO, has filed a complaint against illegal flooding of Khazan fields at VazemShiroda.

In his complaint to the Ponda taluka deputy collector’s office, United Goans Shanti Concern President Francisco Pereira has claimed that a private party is deliberately storing sea water through sluice gate resulting in flooding of Khazan land at Vazem.

According to the NGO, the saline water is stored for better breeding of fish. However, it adversely affected the agricultural land as well potable drinking water.

“Majority of the land has become unfit for cultivation, as for most of the year it is filled with saline water. In some parts of the khazan land due to flooding, man-

Saline water flooding Khazan land at Vazem-Shiroda.

groves and even other wild plants have grown as a result farming activity is not possible,” states the complaint.

“Wells have been polluted due to the flooding of khazan

land. Many families who were dependent on the well water have now opted for tap water.

Even some of the mud houses near khazan land are at risk, as water level has risen,” added

the complaint.

The NGO has requested the authorities to immediately inspect the site and take some necessary action against illegal flooding.

Union demands bonus for KR staff on par with Railways HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

Demanding the integration of the Konkan Railway Corporation with the Indian Railways, the National Railway Mazdoor Union has called upon the KRCL to settle the long-pending issue of bonus to employees on par with the employees of Indian Railways and immediately filling of vacant posts.

The Union has further favoured doubling of the Konkan railway line to meet the growing requirement of traffic.

Addressing newsmen, NRMU general secretary P R Menon said the employees have expressed their desire that KRCL be integrated with Indian railways as a single entity like any other zonal railway. “Integration of the KRCL with the Indian railways will benefit the staff and employees in a big way”, he said.

The top brass of NRMU is in Goa for a special conference of the employees to discuss the long-pending demands, including bonus and non-filling of vacant posts.

nThe Indian railway employees are being paid 72 days bonus, whereas KRCL employees are paid of bonus of Rs 3500.

This discrimination should stop.

-- P R Menon

“The Indian railway employees are being paid 72 days bonus, whereas KRCL employees are paid of bonus of Rs 3500.

This discrimination should stop immediately when the two section of employees put in the same work”, Menon said.

Saying that the KRCL employees are overburdened due to shortage of manpower, the union demanded that the Konkan railway management fill up the vacancies on a priority basis. “This wil not only help the existing employees, but will create job opportunities for the land losers as well”, he added.

The Union made a strong case for the doubling of the existing KR line to meet the require-

ments.

“Traffic is at its peak on the KR line. There’s optimum utilization of the line”, he said, while demanding doubling of the line.

“The KR should take up electrification of the line for faster traffic. These measures would also generate employment”, he added.

The conference will deliberate on the payment of bonus at par with Indian Railways, besides a new pension policy for those employees recruited after January 1, 2004.

OHERALDO

GOA

Pg3 GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

Sardessai accused of faking documents for visa to US HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

A senior Congress leader has found himself dragged into controversy of faking documents to impersonate as officials of Goa tourism delegation to obtain visa for the US trip.

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Vijay Sardessai and two others – Akbar Mulla and Rajesh Kale – have been accused of producing fake letters to procure visa for their America trip.

In his complaint letter to the Ambassador of the USA, Henry Araujo alleged that all three persons posed as delegates of the official delegation nominated by the Government of India for conducting road shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas in the USA from February 21 to March 2, 2011.

“The three persons produced a fake letter, forging signature of the Director of Tourism, showing them as official delegates, approved by Goa government for attending the above mentioned road show for promoting Goa tourism in the USA,” the complaint letter reads, a copy of which is available with Herald.

The official delegation approved by the Government of India comprised of Tourism Minister Nilkant Halankar, Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava and Tourism Director Swapnil Naik.

The complainant has demanded action against the ‘unauthorised delegates’ for obtaining 10-year Multiple Entry Tourist Visas, which were procured from the US consulate at Mumbai.

The Tourism Department on January 27 had applied to the Visa Officer of the USA Consulate in Mumbai to issue visas to four officials for participating in the road show.

While the three names from the delegates list including that of the tourism minister, chief secretary and tourism director

HC seeks reply on PIL against Dum Maro Dum

Trouble for John as HC serves him notice HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

Based on media reports, the Bombay High Court at Goa in a suo-motto action has served notice on John Fernandes seeking his presence in the Court to consider why his bail should not be cancelled.

After spending one and half year in the jail, Fernandes, accused of raping a 25-year-old Russian, was granted bail by South Goa District and Sessions Court on April 1. The notice is also served on the public prosecutor Carlos Ferreira, this being a criminal offence.

The court granted him bail on four sureties of Rs 50,000 each, and asked not to interfere with the investigation and has to appear before the investigating agencies as and when called.

The Russian, employed with a five-star resort, had accused Fernandes of spiking her drink at a beach shack in Colva village on December 1, 2009 before raping her in his car.

The case initially registered with Colva police was later transferred to the Crime Branch after the Russian Consulate and the victim alleged tardy investigations. Fernandes, who had unsuccessfully contested assembly election in 2006, avoided arrest but later surrendered before the Crime Branch on January 6, 2010 after the Supreme Court too refused him bail.

were approved, Assistant Tourism Officer Rajesh Kale’s got rejected.

Kale, according to the tourism director travelled to the US at his own cost alike the other two members – Sardessai and Mulla.

“Since his name was not approved for the US road show, Kale applied for private leave which was accepted by the ministry to join the delegation at his own cost,” Naik told Herald.

The director said he was not in the know of the fake documents. “I don’t know what documents have been doctored. If there was any such issue, let it come to me and I will file an FIR,” he said.

The Tourism Department participated in promotional activities on February 22 in San Francisco, February 27 in Los Angeles and March 2 in Las Vegas.

The tourism minister is already in controversy for lavish spending during foreign trips in the guise of tourism promotion abroad.

Rubbishing allegations, Halarnkar, who was inducted in the cabinet in June 2010, said that he attended only the US trip out of the four foreign trips

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

Bombay High Court at Goa today served notices to the makers of film ‘Dum Maro Dum’ for allegedly portraying Goa in a very negative manner.

The notices have been served by the Division Bench comprising of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and F M Reis on the petition field by Savio Ro drigues, who sought ban on the movie for offensively depicting Goa in the movie.

The respondents: distributors of Fox Studios, director Rohan Sippy, State chief secretary, and Chairperson Central Board of Film Certification are asked to file a reply by April 13, when the matter will be next heard.

Rodrigues, who runs a news web portal, petitioned against the movie urging the Court to ban the release of the movie ‘whose raunchy trailers have already hit the small and big screen.’

He contended that this was an attempt to label Goa as drugs, sex and crime infested State. The journalist also produced before the

‘No eligible engineer to replace Nirmal’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

Electricity Department is forced to give extension to its retired Chief Electrical Engineer Nirmal Braganza because there are no officials eligible for the post.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat in the written reply on the floor of the House has said that chief electrical engineer had retired on October 01, 2006 and was granted extension for initial one year period.

“The same was extended every year. The last extension was given from October 01, 2011 to December 31, 2011 or till the post is filled on regular basis, whichever is earlier,” Kamat has said.

The chief minister has said that the extension was granted due to non availability of eligible superintending engineers in the feeder grade to be considered for promotion to the post of Chief Electrical Engineer. Interestingly, the salary drawn by the chief electrical engineer has been rising every-time he gets an extension.

From October 2006 to February 2007, Rs 1, 75,904 salary was paid to him and between March 2007 to February 2008, the salary of Rs 5, 10,130 was paid. He was paid Rs 7,10,048 between March 2008 to February 2009 and Rs 11, 21, 519 from March 2009 to February 2010.

As per the records, between March 2010 to February 2011 he drew total salary of Rs 10,87,480.

Kamat has said that besides chief electrical engineer, another superintending engineer has also been given extension.

Colvale local held HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 7

Mapusa Police arrested a resident of Colvale on charges of obstructing the Colvale talathi from performing his duties.

In his complaint, Colvale Talathi Sanjeev Signapurkar told Mapusa Police that when he had gone for site inspection at Ramnagar-Colvale, one Dharmesh Bhosale abused him and stopped him from conducting the inspection.

Mapusa Police rushed to the site and arrested the accused. PSI Nitin Halarnker is investigating the case.

Court video-footage of the movie trailer and hard copies of the movie script including a dialogue by actress Bipasha B a s u w h e re i n s h e l a b e l s Goan women as cheap.

The thriller movie directed

by Rohan Sippy on Goa’s underbelly is all set to hit the theatres on April 22.

The petitioner said that the movie only aims at driving away decent tourists by encouraging criminal activities here.

Meanwhile, soon after the hearing, Rodrigues and the representatives of the Fox entertainment had heated discussion over the issue outside the Court hall.

to Italy, Berlin, US and London.

“I don’t go for all foreign trips.

I have been for one overseas trip so far. I don’t burden the government’s expenditure.

There should be a check on my predecessors who would frequently be on official and unofficial travel to foreign countries,” Halarnkar said, while speaking to Herald.

The tourism promotional event comprised of road-shows, advertisement and exhibitions.

The minister claimed that he was executing the ‘tourism calendar year’ designed by the previous tourism minister Francisco ‘Mickky’ Pacheco.

“The past minister had proposed the calendar programme which was sanctioned in AprilMay 2010 and I am just implementing on the decisions, after I got into the cabinet,” he said.

Chargesheet filed in tempo burning case

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

The Maina Curtorim police on Thursday filed a chargesheet against seven persons in the 2008 tempo burning case at the Rumdamol Housing Board.

Those chargesheeted in the case are Jayesh Naik, Hanumant Pednekar, Rajesh Pednekar, Mantesh Ragi, Maruti Laamani, Swapnil Naik and Prashant Govekar.

They have been charged

under section 143, 147, 148, 186, 427, 336s, , 436 read with 149 of the IPC. In the chargesheet, the police charged the accused for setting the Tempo on fire on April 18 2008 at the Rumdamol housing board. The case was registered by then Maina Curtorim Police station incharge, PI Harish Madkaikar.

The case was revived only recently after the police arrested Jayesh Naik in connection with the headless body murder case.

OHERALDO

Pg 4

GOA

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

UPCOMING EVENTS Gaunekar birth anniversary pANJiM (HND): The Vidya Vikas Mandal will organise a programme to commemorate the 75th birth anniversary of H M N Gaunekar, founder president of Vidya Vikas Mandal on April 9 at 10.30 am at the Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law auditorium. The event will also include the felicitation of Eduardo Faleiro, NRI Commissioner. Vidya Vikas Mandal president R G Kare will preside over the function.

Panchayat workers’ meeting

MARGAO (HR): A special general body meeting of the Panchayat Workers Union has been convened on April 9 at 10 am at T B Cunha hall, opposite Azad Maidan, Panjim. AGPWU President Nanda Vagurmekar has requested all workers employed in various Panchayats in Goa to attend the meeting without fail and deliberate on the issues as per the agenda.

Theatre workshop for children

pANJiM (HND): Abhivyaktee will organise a ‘Children’s Theatre Workshop’ for boys and girls of 7 to 13 years. The workshop will be held from April 10 to 17 at Club House, Government Colony, Patto, Panjim, from 9 am to 1 pm. Participants will be taught voice and speech, improvised drama, body movement, yoga and stage acting. For details, call ph 2423951 or 9422448494.

Fonseca to address WFTU

pANJiM (HND): Christopher Fonseca, National Secretary, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and General Secretary, Goa State Committee of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) will participate in the 16th World Federation of Trade Union (WFTU) underway in Athens, Greece till April 9. He will also address the World Trade Union leaders in the Conference on April 8 on behalf of Indian delegation. The World Federation of Trade Union comprises of worlds' leading trade union organisations formed with the objective of protecting the rights of the working people across the globe.

Industrial Tribunal Lok Adalat

pANJiM (HND): A Lok Adalat for the settlement of cases pending in the Industrial Tribunal-Cum-Labour Court-I will be held on April 9 at the Industrial Tribunal-Cum-Labour Court-I, Shram Shakti Bhavan, First Floor, Patto Plaza, Panjim from 10 am.

Global Astronomy month

pANJiM (HD): To celebrate Global Astronomy Month 2011, the Association of Friends of Astronomy will organise a month long Beach Astronomy programme which will be inaugurated on April 9 at Miramar beach, Panjim, at 7 pm, on the occasion of International Astronomy day.

Workshop against corruption

pANJiM (HND): Asha Family Responsibilities and Rights Association will conduct a Workshop on ‘Prevention of Corruption (Lok Ayukta)’, on April 9 at Asha Centre Hall, Sweet Home Building, 1st Floor, Near Kenkare Hardware, Next to Marjorie Apartments, Mapusa, from 10 am to 12.30 pm. Workshop will be conducted in Konkani and English. For free registration call 2256445 or 9822166876 or e-mail trustasha@yahoo.co.in

Retreat at Carmelite Monastery

pANJiM (HND): Fr Joby Kachapilly will be conducting a Lenten renewal retreat from April 11 to April 13 at the Carmelite Monastery Margao. On April 11, the retreat will be from 5 pm to 8 pm and on April 12 and 13, it will be from 10 am to 5 pm.

Sanguem steel factory workers on flash strike HERALD CORRESpONDENT SANGUEM, APRIL 7

About 250 contract workers working in an iron and steel c o m p a n y a t C o s t i - K a l a y, Sanguem, are on flash strike since the last two days, demanding immediate increase in their wages.

The agitated workers are sitting in front of the main gate of the plant, which is in operation at Costi.

The workers, who are working on contract basis for seven labour contractors, are demanding a pay hike of Rs 330 per day as against the present payment

Meeting reviews Nehru Kendra activities HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

The 4th Quarterly meeting of District Advisory Committee on Youth programme (DACYP) was held at Margao recently.

Collector of South Goa, G P Naik chaired the meeting.

During the course of discussions District Youth coordinator for Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK), Margao Shirish P Lawande explained in detail the status of regular, special and co-ordination programme, besides various activities carried out and the constructive work done by the youth clubs attached to Nehru Yuva Kendra for the year 2010-2011.

The issue related to the progress made in allotment of land to NYK was also figured during the meeting.

The District Youth Co-ordinator informed that 110 youth in two batches and 30 youth from various youth club have successfully completed the training in capacity building, youth leadership qualities and personality development programme under Institute of Management Training and Research and Rajaram Institute of Industrial Technology, both located at Margao.

of Rs 135 for a 12-hour duty.

In addition, the workers have also demanded provision for all other facilities otherwise applicable for workers employed in factories.

The workers have accused the contractors of denying them any benefits applicable for industrial workers.

“Moreover, whenever a worker remains absent from duty for a day, the contractors deduct two days wages from the monthly salary,” the workers alleged.

The workers however claimed to have no intention for the clo-

Rivers begin in mountains or hills, where rain water or melted snow collects and forms tiny streams called gullies. Gullies either grow larger, when they collect more water and become streams themselves, or meet streams and add to the water already in the stream.

When one stream meets another and they merge, the smaller stream is known as a tributary.

The two streams meet at a point which is known as a confluence.

It takes many tributaries to form a river; a river grows larger as it collects water from several tributaries. Streams usually form rivers in the higher elevations of mountains and hills. It is therefore a natural process of collecting water as the river progresses downhill.

The areas of depression between hills or mountains are known as valleys. A river in the mountains or hills will usually have a deep and steep V-shaped valley, as the fast-moving water cuts away at the rock as it flows downhill. The fast-moving river picks up pieces of rock and carries them downstream, breaking them into smaller and smaller pieces of sediment. Running water changes the earth's surface more than catastrophic events such River Formation as earthquakes or volcanoes because of its constant motion and the fact that it carries these rocks, and constantly breaking them down.

Leaving the high elevations of the mountains and hills and entering the flat plains, the river slows down. Once the river slows down, the pieces of sediment have a chance to fall to the river bottom and be “deposited”.

These rocks and pebbles are worn smooth and get smaller as

Contact Us:

Government of Goa has hosted 50-plus Citizen Centric e-Services for the benefit of the general public on the eve of Golden Jubilee Year of Goa liberation.

The Directorate of Women and Child Development has also hosted 4 e-services namely Kanyadan Scheme, Grant-In-Aid Scheme to provide financial assistance to the mahila mandals, registration of homes under Juvenile Justice Act and registration of homes under Goa Children’s Act. Citizens can file online e-application through http://eservices.goa.gov.in

S H O RT TA K E S Summer camp for kids PANJIM (HND): Kids Camp offers 'Summer Time 2011' , a fun-filled learning package of activities for children of 5 years and above which includes overnight camp, excursions and field trips, swimming, football and skating classes in art and craft – glass, fabric and tile painting, papier mâché etc. For details and registration, call Kids Camp on 09822142825.

Kids Camp and Young Achievers is a not-for-profit English medium school situated at Porvorim.

Lecture on rabies at GMC

PANJIM (HNB): Goa Medical College Staff Society will organize a lecture on 'Rabies - The Clinical Perspective' by Dr Hoshang Vakil, Medical Director of Novartis Vaccines, at the GMC Library auditorium on April 8 at 3 pm. The lecture is open to all medical practitioners and concerned individuals and has one CME credit.

Seminar held for college students

pANJiM (HND): The two-day UGC sponsored National Seminar organised by Shree Damodar College of Commerce and Economics, Margao was held recently at Govind Ramnath Kare Law College Hall, Margao, on theme ‘Emerging issues and challenges in microfinance”. The organising team comprised of Nirmala Gopinath (Convener), Shilpa Prabhudesai (Coordinator), Sheetal Arondekar (Co-coordinator) and Dr Manoj Kamat (Organising Secretary).

Hundred brochures were printed and sent to various colleges all over India. Sixty-one participants participated in the seminar of which 19 were local and 42 were out station delegates. In all, four technical sessions were held. R G Kare, President of Vidya Vikas Mandal delivered the welcome address. An introduction to the seminar was given by Shilpa Prabhudesai (Coordinator).

Nurses thank chief minister

pANJiM (HND): The President of Trained Nurses Association of India, Goa State Branch (TNAI), Anita Fernandes Coutinho and its Members have thanked Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat for granting enhancement in Nursing and Washing Allowances from April.

The president, the secretary, the treasurer and the members of TNAI have also expressed their gratitude to the Chief Minister, Health Minister, Vishwajeet Rane, Secretary Finance, Ramaswamy, Secretary Health, Rajeev Varma and other government officials for their co-operation and support in enhancing the grant for Nursing.

RBI launches rural credit

The trolley/wheel chair passage at KRC station Canacona.

HERALD CORRESpONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 7

Konkan Railway Corporation (KRC) has constructed a ramp to help commuters reach the platform, placed over a height of 12-mtr, at KRC station in Cana-

How are Rivers Formed?

ivers are very useful to civilizations, as they indirectly provide us with food, energy, recreation, transportation routes and, of course, water for irrigation and for drinking. But where do they start and where do they end?

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

KRC constructs ramp at Canacona station

Natural World

R

sure of the factory and that they are very satisfied with the functioning of the company.

Union Leader Anand Betkikar decried the role played by labour contractors in taking workers for a ride.

“This time we will continue with our agitation till the time our demands are met,” added Betkikar.

Incidentally, due to sudden strike resorted by the contract workers, the operation of the factory have reportedly come to a standstill, as most of the workers on strike are from the operational division.

Public urged to avail benefits of e-services

the water continues flowing.

Most of the sediment deposition occurs in the plains. The wide and flat valley of the plains takes thousands of years to create. Here, the river flows slowly, making Sshaped curves which are known as meanders. Eventually, a river flows into another large body of water, such as an ocean, bay, or lake.

The transition between river and ocean, bay or lake is known as a delta. It is a landform that is created at the mouth of a river where that river flows into an ocean, sea, estuary, lake, reservoir or another river. Deltas are formed from the deposition of the sediment carried by the river as the flow leaves the mouth of the river. Most rivers have a delta, an area where the river divides into many channels and river water mixes with sea or lake water as the river water reaches the end of its journey.

From the mountains to the delta, a river does not just flow - it changes the surface of the earth as it goes along. It cuts rocks, moves boulders, and deposits sediments, constantly attempting to carve away all of the mountains in its path. The goal of the river is to create a wide, flat valley where it can flow smoothly towards the ocean, besides being a bearer of marine life and a constant easy source of energy and water.

Comments or queries? Bouquets or brickbats? Talk to us!

Email Junior Herald at junior@herald-goa.com or join our Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/Herald.Jr. Our readers are invited to rave, rant, chat or even contribute. No message will go unanswered!

cona.

“The work on the staircase is already completed and even railings are fitted, but it is yet to be made operational for commuters arriving or leaving the KRC station at Canacona,” informed a source.

According to sources, the KRC station Canacona is situated at a height of approximately 12 mtrs above the sea level and commuters arriving and leaving the railway station has to climb/scale down around 50 steps to reach the platform, situated on the second floor, but almost at par with the third floor height of KRC building.

Several times, people carrying heavy luggage, besides the aged and handicap commuters had no option, but to climb these steps with great difficulties and often heard complaining to the KR personnel manning the sta-

Photo by Kathy Pereira

tion.

According to sources, heeding to various commuters requests, a station master in the past had reportedly proposed the trolley passage, which can assist needy commuters or help in carrying their luggage in a better way to reach the platform.

The staircase has now been constructed, however sources at the KRC station Canacona could not confirm or deny if any wheel chairs or luggage trolleys will be made available, or the needy commuters will have to simply walk on passage route to avoid the steep steps to reach or alight from the platform.

Meanwhile, some commuters said: “KRC should have instead fitted a lift to assist the needy commuters to reach or alight down from the over 12-metre height platform.”

Goan exhibits work at Fulbright art expo HERALD CORRESpONDENT NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

A commemorative exhibition of art works by Fulbright alumni artists titled ‘Fellowship’, on display at the American Centre in New Delhi, includes the works of Goan artist and faculty member of the Goa Art College Hanuman Kambli.

It brings together the work of 10 former recipients of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship, which offers, among other disciplines, teaching and re-

CM to release John Aguiar's books HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat will release two books

by John Aguiar at a function on April 9 at Goa Chamber of Commerce Hall in Panjim at 3.55 pm. Gulmohar, in Konkani, is a collection of Konkani poems while ‘Offside’, written in English, is a collection of essay and assorted writings.

Poet Madhav Borkar will speak on ‘Gulmohar’ while Journalist and Publisher Goa 1556, Fredrick Noronha, will speak on ‘Offside’, Director of Information & Publicity, Menino Peres will be the guest of honour while Manguerish Pai Raikar and Konkani poet Sanjeev Verekar will be the special invitees.

search awards in art in the US. Others include Barodabased artists Indrapramit Roy and Vasudev Akkitam, Delhibased Sundeep Bali, Sushanta Guha, Gopika Nath and Rahul Kumar and Suresh Nair from Varanasi.

Curated by Kathryn Myers, a professor of art at the University of Connecticut, the display features varied mediums, from painting to sculpture, photography and ceramics. The exhibition is on till April 29.

pANJiM (HND): Rural Planning and Credit department of the Reserve Bank of India has started functioning from April 1.

The department, among other things, undertakes financial inclusion and financial literacy initiatives and also looks after implementation and monitoring of the Lead Bank Scheme.

Its jurisdiction covers the entire state. The contact details of the department are: The General Manager and Officer-inCharge, Reserve Bank of India, Rural planning and Credit department, 3A/3B, 3rd floor, Sesa Ghor, Patto, Panjim. Phone 2438656; fax 2438657.

Talk on yoga held for elderly

pANJiM (HND): Healthy mind and healthy body can only be achieved by regular practice of meditation, pranayam and yogasanas, said a senior and experienced Yoga teacher, Bhalchandra (Balabab) Kakodker. He was speaking at a talk recently organised on benefits of Yoga for senior citizens by Forum for Senior citizens of India in collaboration with Giants group of Margao and Ambica Yog Kutir, Comba.

The talk which was held in the premises the Forum was attended by a large number of citizens from in and around Margao. Kakodkar listed the benefits of Yoga and was emphatic that Yoga can protect ones body from diseases. His lecture was supported by demonstrations on pranayam and yogasanas

by Ganapat Mangueshkar.

The President of Giants group of Margao, S S Velgeunkar, the President of Shri Ambica Yog Kutir, V D Kulkarni, the founder member of Forum, Giri Pai Raiker, the past president of the Forum, Prof Vithaldas Nagvenkar were present.

The President of the Forum, Eknath G Naik, welcomed and General Secretary Diogo M D’Costa, proposed the vote of thanks. S S Velguenkar compered the programme.

A free week-long workshop on Yoga was announced by Kulkarni. For further details, call 2731749 during office hours.

POWER SHUTDOWN ApRiL 9

From 9 am and 3 pm at Housing Board, Vasantnagar, Taranagar, Rudreshwar Colony and lower Harvale area in Sankhali.

ApRiL 8, 9, 10 AND 13

From 9 am to 2 pm. Areas affected are Durganandnagar, Camral, Khamamol, Sanvordem, Tisk, Gandhinagar, Panchwadi, Amirai and surrounding areas.

ApRiL 11 to 14

From 9 am and 5.30 pm at Ambegal, Talematha, Torla, Navarwada, Deulwada and Pale-Kothambi in Bicholim.

IPL on large screen at Cidade de Goa HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Cidade de Goa’s Doçaria 24 hour coffee shop will screen all IPL (Indian Premier League) matches

on large LCD screen from April 8 to May 28, with an exciting menu to cheer the palate guests.

For details call Cidade de Goa on 2454545.

K’taka govt urged to legalise distilling of local liquor HERALD CORRESpONDENT BELGAUM, APRIL 6

This could be the bad news for a number of bootleggers in Belgaum and Goa, who have been thriving on the illicit liquor trade.

The Beda Ramoshi community in Belgaum taluka, who is engaged for generations in illicit distilling of Arrack (hooch), has now urged the Karnataka government to legalise their business of distilling hooch from cashew, molasses and jaggery.

“Goa government allows distilling of Feni from cashew, while Adivasis in Maharashtra are allowed to distil liquor from Mahu flowers. Then why cannot the Karnataka government legalise our distilling,” the community has stated in an official memorandum submitted to the state government.

The Ramoshi’s, who are also identified as Berad’s belong to

n Goa government allows distilling of Feni from cashew, while Adivasis in Maharashtra are allowed to distil liquor from Mahu flowers. Then why cannot the Karnataka government legalise our distilling. scheduled tribes category, are also upset by frequent raids conducted by the state excise department.

For generations together, thousands of communities in and around Belgaum including the neighbouring Chandgad

taluka are engaged in illicit distilling locally known as 'Hatbhattis'.

Once upon a time, this community depended on hunting and collecting of other forest products. But with the diminishing of forests, they have turned to this illegal profession and have attracted the wrath of excise department and liquor lobby in the state.

Known for their unyielding nature, the Ramoshi’s under veteran leader Bhimrao Gasti have taken a decision to intensify their agitation till the state government legalizes their profession.

Once this is through, it is likely that the bootleggers in Goa may have bad time, as their business which is thriving with the blessings of certain police and government officials from either side, may be challenged once the illicit distilleries are legalised by Karnataka.

OHERALDO

Pg 5

GOA

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

Penha-de-Franca panchayat approves 2011-12 budget HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, APRIL 7

Penha-de-Franca Panchayat in its recent Gram Sabha approved the budget of the panchayat for 2011-12.

In the Rs 1.23 crore budget, the panchayat has shown grants from government as Rs 55.30 lakh, out of which Octroi is Rs 40 lakh and matching grants as Rs 4.25 lakh. Income for 201112 by way taxes and fees has been projected as Rs 37 lakh, which comprises house tax to the tune of Rs 30 lakh and professional tax as Rs 5 lakh.

The income through fees has been estimated to be Rs 10.68 lakh, which includes construction license fees of Rs 5.50 lakh and sanitation and health fees Rs 2 lakh.

On the expenditure front, Rs

Portuguese Professors to celebrate Golden Jubilee HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Portuguese speaking professors, who graduated from Iscola Normal Luis de Camoes in 1960, will celebrate their Golden Jubilee on April 10 with a Mass in Portuguese at Ireja Matriz, which will be celebrated by former Rector of Rachol Seminary, Dr Arnolfo Mazarello. It will be followed by a group photo on the steps of the Church and a luncheon at Upper House, near Panjim Gardens.

Around 17 professors will participate in the programme, the details of which are given on the Portuguese website, A book ‘Revista Academia’ will be released on the occasion.

The book is edited jointly by Prof Borges da Cunha (Lisbon), Prof Viriato Crasto (Panjim) and Br Jose de Sousa (Margao}, with articles from their colleagues and many academic issues.

The book is profusely illustrated with photos of college events and carries a message from South Goa MP, Francisco Sardinha (then Education Minister) and an article on spirituality - ‘Passagem’- by Dr Arnolfo Mazarello.

51.75 lakh has been earmarked for public works, which includes construction of drains and roads, development of open spaces and gardens, purchase of electrical materials, garden play equipments, etc.

Administration expenses have been shown Rs 17.12 lakh. For sanitary and public health and family welfare, a provision of Rs 22.05 lakh has been made in the budget, out of which Rs 12 lakh is for solid waste management, Rs 6 lakh for collection and disposal of garbage and Rs 2 lakh for purchase of garbage bins.

An amount of Rs 4 lakh has been earmarked for social work, out of which Rs 50,000 is for sports clubs.

The villagers were not happy about the provision of Rs 50,000 made for sports clubs in the

budget.

The villagers stated that the panchayat should stop the practice of paying equal amount to all the clubs in Penha-de-Franca area.

Some sports clubs in Penhade-Franca are very active in the field of football and they have earned the name for themselves and for the village by winning trophies. Such clubs should be encouraged by offering bigger amounts then the dormant clubs, claimed the villagers.

Some villagers also opined that that the panchayat should start the football tournament and keep the rolling trophy.

Sarpanch Eknath Narvekar accepted the suggestions and agreed to raise the amount earmarked for sports club (Rs 1.50 lakh).

Mollem SHG celebrates second anniversary HERALD CORRESPONDENT COLLEM, APRIL 7

The second anniversary day of Holy Cross and Vailankani Self Help Group of Kajumal-Mollem was recently celebrated in the premises of Holy Cross Chapel.

Social worker and industrialist Rakhi Arjun Salgaonkar was the chief guest for the programme.

T h e g u es t o f h o n o u r w a s Mollem Sarpanch Janu Suzare, while Dharbandoda ZP member Rasmi Lambor presided over the programme.

The special invitees for the programme were Fr Orlando Lopes (parish priest of Our Lady of Piety Church Collem), Manjunath Hegade (manager of Madhuvan Farm Collem), Girish Tendulkar (headmaster of Somanath High School Dabal), Tribolo Souza (secretary of Goa Pradesh Congress committee), Armando Misquita and Vaishali Khadeparkar.

After inaugurating the programme, Rakhi Salgaonkar appealed to the women to constitute self help groups and avail benefits of various schemes launched by the government, which helps them to improve their living condition.

Speaking further, Rakhi assured the members of self help

groups and Mahila Mandals of Sanvordem that the office of Sanvordem MLA would provide any sort of help.

Rashmi Lambor in her speech said that she will be undertake developmental works in remote areas like Mollem, Sacorda and other parts of Sanvordem constituency.

Janu Suzare, Girish Tendulkar and Manjunath Hegade also spoke on the occasion.

On the occasion, an all Goa patriotic song singing contest was organized. Sateri Self Help Group of Bondumal-Mollem bagged the first prize, while second prize was won by Adarsh Self Help Group of NawadaCollem. The third prize was won

by Mahadeo Parvati Self Help Group of Mollem.

The consolation prizes were awarded to Mahadeo Self Help Group of Makadem-Mollem and Unnati Self Help Group of Collem.

Suresh Kolvekar, Umesh Naik and Baburao Dessai were the judges for the contest. In all, 20 self help groups across the State participated in the contest.

Earlier, Armando Misquita welcomed the chief guest and gathering, while Tina Mascarenhas proposed the vote of thanks.

Damodar Bhuvan gets Rs 50 lakh

Cooking contest held at Chimbel

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJJIM, APRIL 7

To encourage nutritious cooking among women, the Chimbelkarin Mahila Mandal in association with Nehru Yuva Kendra-North Goa organised a nutritious cooking competition for women of Chimbel.

Altogether, 13 participants contested at the competition, which was won by Shubhada Priolkar. The second prize was bagged by Resha Paryekar and the third prize was won by Rasika Gawas.

Earlier, representative of Nehru Yuva Kendra Kusha Naik explained the importance of a balanced diet in maintaining the health of a family.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat handed over a cheque of Rs 50 lakh as financial aid for renovation and reconstruction of Damodar Vidya Bhuvan Comba to Narayan Damodar Pai Fondekar, President of Damodar Vidya Bhuvan at his Margao residence on Thursday.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister in his budget speech had assured to provide financial assistance to Damodar Vidya Bhuvan.

The renovation and reconstruction of the 95 years old Vidya Bhuvan will be taken up after monsoon. It is estimated to cost Rs 1.10 crore of which the State Government has funded Rs. 50 lakhs and the rest will be raised by the committee members by way of donations.

Admissions open at St Xavier’s Academy HERALD NEWS BUREAU PANJIM, APRIL 7

St Xavier’s Academy, English Medium Special School, a project of Caritas-Goa, Kadamba road, Old Goa, has invited admissions for hearing impaired, mentally challenged, slow learners and physically disabled to the preprimary, primary, secondary and higher secondary sections for academic year 2011-12.

The admissions will be open on April 12 and 13 from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm.

The requisites are birth certificate, IQ certificate, passport size photograph (3 copies), audiogram for the hearing impaired.

Vocational training is offered to the differently abled students according to their aptitude. Residential facility, separate for both boys and girls, is available.

For further details, contact manager/headmistress, St Xavier’s Academy, Kadamba Road, Old Goa, on 2285743 or 2284838.

World health day observed HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has said that the Government is committed to providing good health care to the people of the State and therefore urged the government doctors look into the issue of management of drugs.

The Health Minister was speaking at the ‘World Health Day-2011’, State level function organised by the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) at Kala Academy, Panjim, on Thursday.

The theme of the World Health Day-2011 is ‘Antimicrobial resistance: no action today, no cure tomorrow’.

Rane further said that World Health Day 2011 focuses on antimicrobial resistance and its global spread which threatens the continued effectiveness of many medicines currently in use, while at the same time it

Cater to poor, credit societies exhorted HERALD CORRESPONDENT

Lohia Maidan meet cancelled HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

Goenchea Rakhondarancho Avaz along with NGOs, social workers, senior citizens have informed that the public awareness meeting scheduled on April 8 at the Lohia Maidan, Margao stands cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances. Laurel Abranches said the meeting will be held at a later date.

MAYEM, APRIL 7

Director of Goa State Cooperative Bank Ltd and Vice Chairman of Goa Rajya Sahakari Sangh Ramesh Shirodkar has called upon co-operative credit societies to cater to the needs of poor and deserving people.

He was addressing the gathering during the inaugural function of Sewa Kendra affiliated to Vishwadeep Urban Co-operative Credit Society at societies office at Bicholim on April 4.

Retiring civil supplies inspector felicitated

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, APRIL 7

Kamat inaugurates Goafest

Canacona Mamlatdar Chandrakant Shetkar felicitates retired Food and Civil Supplies inspector Baby Mahale.

Photo by Kathy Pereira HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, APRIL 7

Canacona Mamlatdar Chandtrakant Shetkar stated that not every government servant is privileged to reap retirement benefits in the present hectic and tension-filled world, and only a few are lucky to attain the superannuation in their lifetime.

Shetkar was speaking at the felicitation function of Food and Civil Supplies inspector Baby Mahale, who on superannuation, retired from her service on March 31.

Mahale of Assolna retired after giving 38 years of service and a special felicitation function was organized by fair price shop owners of Canacona and

Poinguinim Kala Krida Sanskrutik Mandal along with the staff of Canacona at Canacona Mamlatdar office.

Mamlatdar Shetkar felicitated Mahale by presenting a shawl and a memento also on behalf of the food and civil supplies and other staff. She was presented a picture of Bharat Mata as memento by the staff of Canacona.

Narayan Velip (fair price shop owner), Sally Fernandes (staff member) and Kala Krida office bearer Subhash Mahale also spoke on the occasion.

The function was compered

by Mamlatdar staff Pramod Naikgaunkar and Civil Supplies godown keeper Khadar proposed the vote of thanks.

Sarvanand tops at social work course HERALD CORRESPONDENT CURCHOREM, APRIL 7

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat inaugurating Goafest 2011 at Zuri beach, Varca in the presence of Tourism Minister, Nilkhant Halarnkar, Valanka Alemao and the representatives of the organizers of the festival.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, APRIL 7

Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat on Thursday inaugurated the Goafest 2011 – India’s biggest and most prestigious advertising and marketing festival -- at the Zuri Whitesands Resort at Varca in the presence of Tourism Minister, Nilkhant Halarnkar.

In his address, the Chief Minister thanked the organizers for holding the festival in Goa for the last six years and offered his

best wishes for the success of the festival.

Reminding the audience that Goa plays host to the International Film Festival of India, the Asian Film Festival and the Children’s film festival, Kamat said that Goa should be seen as a prefect destination for festivals.

“The government is trying to support the festivals. It’s important for people to visit Goa and see for themselves what is Goa. You come to know the place and

the people better when you come down and experience things”, he said, adding that he has no doubt that the participants of the Goafest 2011 will go back home with sweet memories.

The Goafest attracts more than 3000 people from all over India and the entire resort has geared up for the much-awaited festival which will see speakers and guests from the marketing and advertising fields.

Sarvanand Tukaram Sawant Dessai of Pongirwal-Curchorem topped Indira Gandhi National Open University in post-educational diploma examination in social work course.

According to the merit list of IGNOU, Sarvanand stood first among all the centers of IGNOU in post-education diploma in social work course.

Earlier, Sarvanand had completed bachelor’s degree in social work through Shivaji Open University Kolhapur on the basis of district, state and national youth award awarded by the Centre.

The registrar of Shivaji University gave special permission to answer the degree examination as an external student, being the first student syllabus for practical examination for this course was prepared and Sarvanand answered the examination under the guidance of Principal of Karmaveer Hire College.

risks jeopardizing important advances being made against major infectious killers. To underline this, the WHO public awareness campaign will include a special focus on the HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria epidemics.

In his welcome address Health Secretary, Rajiv Verma said that the World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 to mark the founding of World Health Organization (WHO). Each year, WHO selects a key global health issue and organises international, regional and local events on the Day throughout the year to highlight the selected area. He highlighted the achievements in the health sector in the State Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava said that it is advisable to take the entire prescribed dosage; if one takes only a part, the microbes become

After completing bachelor’s degree in social work through Shivaji University Kolhapur-Maharastra, Sarvanand took admission in IGNOU for further education in social work and stood first among all the centres.

He was awarded the gold medal at the 22nd convocation ceremony on April 2.

drug resistant and stronger.

He also said that schemes for patients are functioning effectively.

Shrikant Kakode and Dr Nagesh Kakode were felicitated for their good work in the health sector. Village Health Sanitary Committees of Betki under PHC Betki, Seraulim, under PHC Cansaulim and Sant Matias under PHC Corlim were presented with prizes of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 and of Rs 10,000 respectively for their good work.

Prof and Head of Department (Pharmacology) GMC, Dr P V Rataboli, renowned cardologist, Dr Francisco Colaco, Dr Paul Prabhakar Francis, Focal Point, Family Health & Research, WHO Country office, presented their keynote addresses.

Director DHS , Dr Rajnanda Dessai was also present.

Ex-Guv Jamir in Nagaland by-poll fray HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

Former Governor of Goa and Maharashtra S C Jamir will contest the Aonglengden by-election in Nagaland to be held on 5 May. The Congress is confident of winning the elections with the former chief minister in the fray for this by-election.

The Election Committee of Congress, at a meeting on Tuesday recommended Jamir’s name to AICC. The Aonglengden byelection will be notified on 11 April; 18 April is the last date for nominations; scrutiny is on 19 April; 21 April is the last date of withdrawal, while counting of votes will be on 13 May. The by-election comes following the death of Congress MLA Nungshizenba late last year.

AICC member-in-charge of Nagaland Luizinho Faleiro will visit the state. The Congress is planning to rope in senior central Congress leaders for the election campaign.

‘Use experience for benefit Power line warning of society’ HERALD REPORTER

Bicholim MLA Rajesh Patnekar, BMC Chairperson Anisha Vernekar, Councilor Kamlakar Teli, Ajit Birje, Director Nishant Chanekar, Shivram Falari and Amita Shirodkar were present on the occasion.

Earlier, Chairman Sanjay Neugi while highlighting the progress of the Society stated that the Society has posted a profit of Rs 12 lakh during this financial year.

Nishant Chanekar compered the function, while Secretary Manoj Hinde proposed the vote of thanks.

MAYEM (HC): Dr Madhav Lele has called upon senior citizens to make use of their invaluable experience and knowledge to uplift the society.

He was addressing the gathering during the felicitation programme of Sripad Kavlekar (95) and Dada Arlekar (87) from Mayem-Bicholim that was organised on Gudi Padwa day at Senior Citizen Centre Bicholim, run by Bab Sawaikar Trust.

Prakash Shirodkar, M K Patil, Dalvu Guruji, Tari Guruji, Dattarm Shetye and Ramnath Desai were present on the occasion.

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, APRIL 7

cases were reported from Calangute, five each from Cola and Baga and four from Arambol.

In his reply to the House Nilkant Halarnkar, Tourism Minister stated that “there were no lifeguards deployed at Arambol beach which had four drowning cases in 2010 and two in 2009.

In 2008, eight people have drowned at this beach.

Lifeguards were deployed at this beach when contract with Drishti was extended in September 2009, covering Keri,

MARGAO, APRIL 7

Electricity department has informed that the newly erected 200KVA transformer on plinth mounted sub station behind Holy Spirit Church, Margao will be commissioned on April 8 and will remain charged.

Assistant Engineer, Santosh Lolienkar said the transformer along with associated HT underground cable will be commissioned on Friday. Hence, warned members of the public not to come in contact with these cables and equipments to avoid any untoward incidents.

Drowning deaths on rise

In 2010, 44 drowning deaths were reported in the State – a figure which was higher than 34 drowning deaths reported in 2009.

Nonetheless, an increase of 10 per cent in 2010 is certainly not a healthy trend.

In 2008, 72 deaths due to drowning were reported from various beaches of the State.

As informed to Goa Assembly to a starred question tabled by Vijay Pai Khot, six drowning

Ashvem, Mandrem, Morjim, Vagator, Anjuna, Miramar, Caranzalem, Dona Paula, Vaiguinim and Bambolim.

Baga and Calangute beach stretches that have deployment of lifeguards, also had good number of drowning incidents in 2010.

Since 2008, Anjuna beach had three drowning deaths each year.

Other beaches from where more than two drowning deaths were reported are Velsao, Morjim and Mandrem and Miramar.

OHERALDO

Pg 6

www.oheraldo.in

O HERALD O

Must the backward remain poor?

Vol No CXI No: 097 Goa, Friday, 8 April, 2011

Delhi’s superbug: Scourge or scare?

T

he Lancet is one of the world’s most prestigious and respected medical journals. Last year, it published research findings about bacteria that apparently originated in New Delhi, which were resistant to most known antibiotics, even the most advanced drugs of last resort. Its findings were angrily disputed by the Indian government, which said that it was wrong to say that the ‘superbug’ originated in New Delhi.

Now, in a new finding published in the journal, ‘The Lancet’ has said that bacteria producing the New Delhi metallo-betalactamase 1 (NDM-1) gene that confers immunity from most known antibiotics have been found in 51 out of 171 samples taken from water pools and rivulets, and two out of 50 tap water samples in India’s capital. Positive samples include those collected in and around the commercial hub of Connaught Place and the historic Red Fort area. It says urgent action is called for to prevent the spread of this resistant gene to other species of pathogenic bacteria.

Once again, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has reacted sharply, saying that NDM-1 positive bacteria are not a major problem in the country. It says the fact that “patients are responding well to medical and post-surgical antibiotic treatment indicates that NDM-1 is not a significant problem in the country”. It further says that a study carried out by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the same area showed that bacteria isolated from stool samples of pregnant women did not show any Esch coli resistant to Carbapenems – the antibiotics of last resort – indicating no presence of NDM1.

Surely both ‘The Lancet’ and the Union Health Ministry cannot be correct. It is for the central government to investigate this matter more thoroughly. Bacteria resistant to all known antibiotics can be potentially disastrous, as they would suddenly take the world back to the pre-antibiotic era, when any small infection could be fatal.

It is also for state governments like Goa to initiate studies in their own states to check if these resistant bacteria are a potential problem there. Though the Union Health Ministry has claimed that chlorination carried out for making tap water safe for drinking inactivates sensitive and drug-resistant bacteria alike, we all know that tap water cannot be trusted to be germ-free.

The ministry does have one point. It says Carbapenem resistance develops mainly in patients who are on carbapenem therapy. But this antibiotic is used very sparingly in the country, and only under the supervision of doctors. However, it is best to err on the side of caution. The Lancet’s recommendation, that: “International surveillance of resistance… needs to be established as a priority,” would be the most prudent course of action.

Family fiefdom

C

harity, it is said, begins at Home. No one practices this maxim as assiduously as Home Minister Ravi Naik, who has placed both his sons on the government payroll.

They are both being paid salaries from the state government coffers, as they are shown to be his Personal Assistant and his Private Secretary.

Mr Naik’s son, Roy – the subject of much controversy over the last three years – is drawing a salary of Rs19,904 per month as the Home Minister’s ‘Personal Assistant’. His second son, Ritesh, earns Rs29,441 per month as the Home Minister’s Private Secretary. Needless to say, this princely sum of Rs49,345 is being paid from the public exchequer, which relies on the taxes from Goa’s ‘aam admi’.

The word ‘nepotism’ is completely inadequate to describe the kind of wantonly shameless and blatantly immoral behaviour that this represents.

Typical pond mentality Kalidas Sawkar, Panjim I appreciate B V S Priolkar for his letter ‘Why this separatism?’ (Herald, 6 April).

There was no Goan in the India team which won the World cup but still everybody in Goa went crazy. When they went screaming joyously on roads after the victory, it was as a result of Team India spirit. However, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi and others have announced prizes only for players of their own states.

This is a typical pond mentality and will only divide team spirit. Sachin Tendulkar, well known for his team spirit and nationalism, is a rare guy, who dared Shiv Sena in Mumbai and declared he is Indian first.

However, the Congress government who

100 Years Ago

The politicians, religious and self-righteous leaders feed off the poor and illiterate, says JAMeS ferNANDeS

O

h! So Saheb wanted to keep us uneducated, so that we always supported and followed him, exclaimed the residents. At an informal interaction with the people of Valpoi and Porien constituency, the people informed the promoters of the interaction that their village did not have educated people, to which the promoters jokingly asked the people, if they would have supported and followed Pratapsingh Rane all these years if they were educated? They replied in unison, Oh! So Saheb planned to keep us uneducated?

The headmaster of a school was of the view, that if English is made the medium of education in the villages, the students would suffer. When confronted as to why he did not send his children to Marathi primary school, why he wanted to deny the same level of education, which had given an opportunity to his children to be successful in their respective careers, to the children of the backward and poor villagers, he replied that since he was educated in English, he could assist his children, the same assistance he said, would not be available to children of the poor and backward parents, as they were illiterate.

It is whispered in several corners of Goa, that Bhausaheb Dayanand Bandodkar had a change of heart just before the Opinion Polls could be conducted. He made his feelings known to his close associates and told them that it would be suicidal if Goa is merged with Maharashtra. Similarly, if Bhausaheb had to realise that the government primary Marathi schools were keeping the people living in the interiors of Goa backward, he would certainly have a change of heart and would have ordered that all Marathi primary schools should forthwith be changed to government English primary schools.

This article abstains from speaking up for or against a particular medium of education. It is only intended to arm the backward and the poor people with a language that would give them courage and conviction to seek employment beyond their village, beyond their state and country.

Neither is it intended to undermine the Marathi

General-Consul felicitated

Our eminent and popular General-Consul at Bombay was the target of a warm demonstration and thanksgiving by the Portuguese residents of that city.

Prof Vitola tops ranking

Came first in the ranking at the last Teacher’s Examinations held at Municipal Lyceums in Nova Goa our distinguished Professor Vitola Ramachandra Sinari the Professor intern of the Lyceum of the Vila de Mapusa.

Vehicle section inspection

After the suggestion forwarded by Mr Vidigal was requested to the local government by the Bardez Municipality, a technician to inspect the automobile section.

Severe quake strikes Italy

An earthquake with devastating consequences occurred at Avezzano, Italy, killing 12 thousand people and injuring another 20 thousand.

language. On the contrary, it is accepted that Marathi is one of the most beautiful languages and, when spoken by people from certain areas of Maharashtra, sounds very sweet and pleasing.

If Marathi is the mother tongue of Maharashtrians, the mother tongue of Goans is Konkani. Therefore, a very strong case should be prepared to strengthen and fortify the Konkani Language and, at the same time, it should be insulated from the perils of elimination or possible extinction.

He was a Std II failed student. She was a Std IV passed student. They had two things in common; they were both successful and respected members of their community; both knew a little English that assisted one to take up employment as a seaman, while helping the other to take up a job in the Arabian Gulf. The talukas of Salcete,

I

does not know where to hide when the Sena takes on any issue went quite parochial against his nationalism by declaring prizes only to Maharashtrians.

Down with corruption

Bardez, Tiswadi, Mormugao, Quepem and a miniature part of Cancona and Sanguem taluka are witnesses of their semi-literate and illiterate residents becoming successful and respected individuals. These residents, armed with stuttered broken English, succeeded in getting employment as seamen, or in foreign lands, and were successful in raising themselves socially and economically.

Decades ago, the middle class and even several poor parents, decided to shun the Marathi municipal schools in Bombay, as they realised that lack of English knowledge was responsible for many of them languishing at the lowest levels of employment.

Therefore, they admitted their children to English medium schools. Since this wise and enlightened decision, the children of several of these

their shacks and houses. These English-speaking goons, he said, are a conduit for AIDS, drugs, pimps, prostitutes and paedophiles, massage parlours, discos and casinos, all so alien to our great and glorious culture and traditions.

All this depravity and degradation he traced to people who think that the ability to say CAT, RAT, MAT, FAT amounts to proficiency in English.

At this same public meeting, Naguesh Karmalli exposed another massive conspiracy, beyond Goa and India, designed to destroy Konkani and, with it, our unique culture going back to Lord Parshuram himself. The Portuguese Consulate is luring Englishspeaking Goans with the promise of a Portuguese passport. Why, asks Naguesh-bab; when the Portuguese government is so bankrupt that their PM has quit. What’s the catch? Reveals Naguesh, thanks to the EU, a Portuguese passport allows travel to any place in Europe without a visa. That, he says, is where our CAT, RAT, MAT, FAT English-speaking Goans who don’t get shack licenses are going.

There is a huge demand for toilet attendants in Europe, whom Naguesh in his inimitable style calls SANDAS SAFAI KARMACHARIS. “That,” says Naguesh triumphantly, “is why there’s demand for English.” QED! Twenty years ago, when ‘Tai’ Shashikala decided on no grants for English-medium primary schools, it was a conspiracy by the elite; those double-income couples that could not pursue their

Letter of the Day

Far from the truth

Veena Edmunds, Anjuna

I join the protest along with Anna Hazare, who has gone on a fast unto death in protest for a more stringent anti-corruption law. The steadily increasing support that he has garnered is awesome. It appears that corruption has become a spice of life and thanks to such corrupt people; India stands ninth on the list of most corrupt nations worldwide. The evil of corruption is increasing day by day.

It is time that we stand up to fight the evil of corruption that has spread its tentacles and is eating into India’s moral fabric.

It is very disconcerting to know that the Bollywood film, Dum Maro Dum, has featured Goan women in an adverse manner. That Bipasha Basu is reported to have called Goan women cheaper than liquor, is very revolting. In a way, this is nothing new.

Bollywood films more often than not, portray Goans as drunkards and loose characters.

And now this derogatory statement concerning Goan women! All this is far from the truth. Goan women, known for their dusky beauty, have a high moral character and are very loving, gentle and caring. They have a high ethical sense and are dedicated to their families. Simplicity has always been their hallmark.

The drawbacks of the film must be viewed seriously by the government and the film must be banned. Imagine the adverse impact it can create among millions of viewers of the film across the country on the status of Goan women! In fact, earlier Rohan Sippy had said that the film would not feature anything fishy about Goa. He has gone back on his words.

It is heartening to know that Bailancho Saad and other organisations, and also the Shiv Sena, have come forward in protest. The government must not take it lying down, as in other cases, but take up the matter seriously and get the scene/s rectified before it is too late.

Anna Hazare... Jai ho!

Savio Corban, Cansaulim Anna Hazare is the new father of the nation.

He is the man on a mission to weed out corruption. Why is our so-called democratic government so paranoid of the Lok Pal bill?

Is it because they feel that corruption is the birth right of every elected representative? Winds of change are blowing right from Egypt to India.

The time has now dawned to reign in the financial terrorists who are bleeding our motherland and think that the nation is their personal fiefdom. We should all

By Anthony Simoes

careers because of a shortage of Ayahs, Butlers and Cooks in Goa. English education did not teach ‘A’ for ‘Ayah’, ‘B’ for ‘Butler’, ‘C’ for ‘Cook’. It taught, instead, stupid things like ‘A’ for ‘Apple’, ‘B’ for Ball, and ‘C’ for ‘Cat’.

This completely liberated the Goan hoi polloi, who immediately raised their sights, and saw cruise liners, the middle-east, and cushy jobs as governesses to minor sheikhs and managers of MNCs. This time, it’s once more an elite conspiracy. The ‘DoubleIncome – India Shining’ types now need ‘Ayahs’ who can speak to their children in English, ‘Butlers’ who can impress their guests and ‘Cooks’ who know English ‘continental’ cuisine…!

At a public meeting in Canacona, Naik Gaonkar said, “I suspect that people are demanding grants to English-medium primary schools not for the sake of English, but for a hidden agenda.”

Another speaker said, “It is the desire of British rulers to leave English and cricket in the blood of Indians. It’s time that English is erased completely from the turf.” Take a bow, Lord Macaulay and Sir W G Grace. May you turn in your graves forever.

When I talked to the CM about Naguesh’s claims of an exodus of toilet attendants, he said: “I will build 2,000 Air-Conditioned Sulabh Souchalayas to cater to English-speaking tourists.

Then you will see our Brain-Drain ‘Sandas Safai Karmacharis’ rushing back to Goa. There will be a huge spin-off for local manufacturers of toilet paper like ‘Abanias’.

Letters to the Editor

Cajetan Peter D’Souza, Mumbai

The issue of corruption has taken gigantic proportion affecting every one in one way or the other. It has taken 42 years to debate the Lokpal bill without any outcome. People have whole-heartedly rallied behind the Gandhian. There is no political colour to this demand. The Executive and the Legislature have miserably failed to protect the interest of the people they represent. The ombudsman in existence in other countries should be the reference for implementation.

Is 42 years not enough to bring up an acceptable piece of much wanted legislation?

parents have succeeded professionally or academically. These successful students, however, speak Marathi at every given opportunity, and are proud of their Marathi credentials.

Indeed, it is worth imagining and hallucinating how many of the backward people of Sattari, Pernem, Ponda, Bicholim, Sanguem and Canacona talukas would have succeeded in becoming successful professionals and academicians, if they were educated in English primary schools. It would, indeed, be worth dreaming, how many of the children of backward parents, armed with a little English, would have the courage and conviction to take up lucrative employment as a seaman or in a foreign land, thereby becoming economically successful and respected members of their community.

Therefore, with due respect to the Marathi language, all primary Marathi schools should be changed to government English primary schools.

The teachers in these English primary schools, while teaching the English alphabets, should informally teach the corresponding alphabets in Konkani and, when teaching a particular lesson or subject, the teacher should move to the next sentence or paragraph only after all the students have understood it in Konkani.

The teachers, at all times, should instill in the students a love for the mother tongue Konkani, as well as the pride associated with speaking in the mother tongue. While making a strong case for changing the Marathi primary schools to government English primary schools, we suggest that it should be mandatory for a child of OBC, SC, ST tribals and children coming from below the poverty line to be educated in the best English medium schools aided by the government. This will enable these students of the unfortunates to be armed with English knowledge, and leave behind their backwardness and poverty, while at the same time, be proud of their Goanness and their mother tongue Konkani.

(James Fernandes is the President of Goynche Niz Mogi, email: gnm4july@yahoo.com,website: www.loversofgoa.com)

Conspiracy killed the Cat

n the last few weeks, Goa’s linguistic tectonic plates have started shifting again after a two-decade lull in seismic activity on the language issue. Simultaneously but coincidentally, we are told, political tectonic plates have started grinding in preparation for expected mid-term assembly polls.

Distressed desperados are calling for desperate measures. Any issue will do for these demagogues, never mind communal harmony, social peace or the welfare of school children. They are ideal guinea-pigs for all our quixotic experiments. We don’t even need windmills…

More interesting is the infinite capacity of Goans for producing conspiracy theories. Jeffery Archer and his ilk can take a back seat. My first encounter with this Goan characteristic was when I opposed the Konkan Railway alignment. I was accused of being financed by the bus lobby, which would lose business to the Railway.

When good people opposed charter tourism in the 1980s, they were immediately labelled as agents of the tourism industry in Thailand… Even Ramakant Khalap suggested that the tourism industry in East and South-East Asia was out to destroy tourism in Goa, as it was challenging them.

I was happy to hear Naguesh Karmali at a public meeting say that it was the English-speaking ‘kharvis’ in the coastal belt who have destroyed Goa physically, spiritually, morally and environmentally, by catering to the influx of foreign charter tourists in

Nelson Lopes, Chinchinim

8 April 1911

LoverS of GoA

Breakfast of Champions

Anna Hazare leads PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

OPINION

support Mahatma Anna Hazare in his crusade for getting this elusive bill passed so that corruption is nipped in the bud.

Sullying Goa’s image Sayed Iftiyaz, Margao Goa is a peaceful state in India. People here are warm, affectionate, loving, charming and basically have a susegad nature.

Do we think we are still known for all the above qualities? The Bollywood film ‘Dum Maro Dum’ says it all. Goans are fighting to stop the release of the film because it will affect our image the world over. Who has to be in the forefront in opposing the film release? Out of the 40 MLAs, except for one MLA, who else has voiced his concern to ban the film? All the 40 MLAs know that whatever is projected in the film is their handiwork.

Prejudicial portrayal Max Desouza, Canada They come to Goa on a holiday, to buy property, to get married, to have film festivals and yet run down the people of Goa down in their movies.

This trend has been going on for decades.

Remember the film ‘Bobby’ where a Goan was portrayed as a drunk in one of the dance numbers? The truth of the matter is that some Indians from other states are “sexually suppressed” no wonder they take exceptions to occasions like “Valentines Day.” The only way to teach these bigots a lesson, is for the Goa government to ban Indian film festivals till they change their prejudicial and ignorant ways of thinking.

MoI status quo ‘mantra’ Anthony Alvares, Navelim The mess over the Medium of Instruction is the handiwork of our popular government who has but one agenda, ‘Save money’. For years, the government has managed to do just this.

If English medium schools are brought under grant-in-aid, then huge funds will have to be allocated. If you want your child to be educated in the mother tongue, please do so. Why must you complain if others choose doom for their children by choosing English? If English is a foreign language, stop its official usage in the entire

country. There’s no denying that it is a global language. Someone may not want his son to be a genius Kalam or an astute Parrikar, but a fluent Mani Shankar Aiyar or an eloquent Kapil Sibal.

And as of now, I will go broke rather than sending my children to an English school than having them speak broken English.

Awry diplomacy Willie Severes, Majorda Incentives of crores of rupees and residential plots have been given to India’s World cup winning cricket team by all and sundry.

Money from corporates and advertisers has made cricketers richer. Hype has been created by politicians and film stars to prop up their own popularity. While cricket is being pampered, hockey or any other sport in India, for that matter, is given the cold shoulder treatment. Many sports personalities are overlooked by the government without any facilities and rewards. It is a shame that some sporting disciplines do not even have the proper infrastructure.

Keeping in mind the government’s affinity towards cricket, why isn’t it made the national game? Why is this diplomacy about keeping hockey as the national game, when everyone is glued to cricket?

Health hazard at Borda Anthony Dias, Margao Residents of Borda, Margao are facing a huge health hazard by illegal mobile towers that have come up at a residential complex at Borda, Margao.

These mobile towers pose health hazards, because they emit electromagnetic radiation. The constant electromagnetic radiation from the communication towers could lead to cancer and also cause neurological, cardiac, respiratory and ophthalmologic disorders. These towers emit radio frequencies (RF), a form of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), for a distance of up to 21/2 miles. Children are at the greatest risk, due to their thinner skulls, and rapid rate of growth.

In view of the above, we urge the Margao Municipality to take immediate action in this matter.

Paths of Wisdom The Greatest Losers

By Samir Khan Say (O Muhammad!): ‘Shall we tell you who will be the greatest losers in respect of their works? It will be those whose effort went astray in the life of the world, and who believe nevertheless that they are doing good.

Those are the ones who refused to believe in the revelations of their Lord and that they are bound to meet Him. Hence all their deeds have come to naught, and We shall assign no weight to them on the Day of Resurrection’.”

(Holy Qur’ân – 18:103-105) The efforts of those who did not believe were exclusively devoted to this worldly life. In other words, whatever they did was for the purpose of gaining worldly goods and they paid no heed to God and the Hereafter. They mistook worldly life as their true objective and they set their eyes on worldly success alone. Even if they believed in the existence of God, they did not care enough to find out what would please Him. Nor did they care for the fact that one day they would return to God and would be required to render their account to Him. They considered themselves no different from animals, albeit endowed with rationality, animals possessed of absolute freedom, unencumbered with any responsibility; animals whose term in life had only one purpose – to enjoy worldly life to its full.

No matter how great their worldly attainments might be, they are bound to come to an end with the end of the world itself. All that man is intensely proud of – his grand palaces and splendid mansions, his grand highways and wondrous vehicles of transportation, etc. – will all be left behind at the time of man’s death and will have absolutely no weight in God’s scale.

If anything is to be of enduring benefit to man in the Next Life, it will be the good deeds that he has performed.

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

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

OHERALDO

pg7_Layout 1 3/31/2011 10:56 PM Page 1

Pg 7

INDIA

opinionated Lets’ get M.A.D.

GOA, FRIDAY 8 APRIL, 2011

PTI

By John Eric Gomes

J

ust rearrange furniture in the hall or bedroom or utensils in your kitchen and see what happens in the family! And when a whole nation needs change, things are not easy. I have just witnessed 80 year old Anna Hazare with the citizen journalist mike in his hand taking the help of CNN-IBN to exhort all citizens of India to revolt against corruption! This was followed by an infuriated Kiran Bedi and Arjun Kerjiwal the renowed RTI activist, saying that the Lokayukta bills contemplated by the government are an eye wash. Eminent and prominent citizens including renowned judges, lawyers, policemen, bureaucrats, NGOs and people from all walks of life have together prepared a draft Bill.

The government was willing to consider it, but not promulgate the finalised draft for public information and feedback. Much like what is happening to our RP 2021, Police and Lokayukta Bills! Anna Hazare has, therefore, gone on a fast unto death at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 5 April against corruption and government wrong practices to bring the government to its senses!

Middle East

The tyrants, royalty and mullahs who have ruled for decades, living the good life whilst keeping their subjects as second class citizens are being challenged .The younger generation with the internet, mobile phones and access to limitless knowledge, is no longer willing to wait patiently to change the system according to the laws and rules made to keep the ruling class in power.

Egypt has been able to effect a bloodless coup due the army siding the people. Nobody knows what the aftermath of elections will bring, but whatever it is, it was a risk worth taking on the path to human rights and freedom! The other Gulf countries are all in turmoil, in various stages of change. People are risking their all to challenge the entrenched system. The worst is Libya, where the United Nations Security Council has authorised a no fly zone to prevent Gaddafi using air power to bomb and strafe his own dissenting citizens. He has heavily armed and trained ground forces, besides mercenaries and his own personal elite guards, whilst the citizens have to fight this uneven bloody battle with captured weapons, and is learning how to use them on the job!

Goa

We have a ruling Congress coalition akin to that of the Centre, with the same arrogance of power and corruption, vote bank politics and chicanery to stay in self serving power, with the help of vested interests. We have a CM, who lets his ministers do anything and when challenged, there is no problem issuing an ordinance, regularising, covering up and protecting each other. We have our politicians-police-drugs nexus, with casinos and the culture that goes with it. In a shocking admission, the home minister revealed on the floor of the House that most of the suspended cops have been reinstated! Also 1,187 cops have not been transferred for the last five years in contradiction of the Goa Police Service Rules! The Tourism Minister Mickky Pacheco was absolved of the criminal case filed against him and his replacement Halarnkar, Chief Secretary, Vijay Sardesai, along with other government officials’ toured USA and Europe spending Rs1.35 crore ostensibly to get educated, and visited The Strip at Las Vegas to improve our tourism! The ‘River Princess’ saga is well known. At last, after eleven years (with no consequences for those responsible) it is being cut up at site for a consideration of Rs99 crores, a job that could have been easily done by local Madgaoncar Salvage after it ran aground, and later ironically volunteered by the owner Anil Salgaoncar to cut it up at site it for free! Even now, with fast approaching monsoons, there seems to be no sense of urgency, further delayed due customs and scrap disposal procedures! It is reported that Rs 2.63 crores has been spent on 33 high end vehicles for ministers since June 2007! Digamber Kamat has three cars - two for personal use (Honda City & Toyota Corolla) and one Hyundai car for his staff).

Ravi Naik has two cars - two (Honda City &Toyota Corolla). Even Advocate General Subodh Kantak has use of a Honda City car!

Halarnkar got a Honda City worth Rs7 lakh on his appointment as a parliamentary secretary. Their wining and dining bills besides other perks have been widely serialised in “Lion Roars”. But nothing will cramp their style and the increasing perks (official and unofficial) plus high salaries they unanimously sanction for themselves. Like some Libyans who support their tyrants, we have many Goans supporting what I see as our many ‘Gaddafis!’

Will this current order/state of affairs ever change?

General- Pritish Nandi says: “The Indian Political Philharmonic Orchestra must be the world’s most amazing cacophony of rogues, rascals and robbers. This is not just Ali Baba and his ‘chalis chors.’ Everyone among the ‘chalis chors’ is another Ali baba with his own ‘challis chors!’ They are not only robbing you, me and the exchequer. They are destroying institutions, subverting laws, vandalising our heritage and history, and trying to build a dazzling amoral edifice of crime and corruption unprecedented in the nation’s history”.

Right now, the old guards amongst our politicians are sponsoring their more educated sons and daughters. I see headline “Indian Sarpanch Dazzles at United Nations”. M/s Chhavi Rajawat MBA, quit her senior manager post with Airtel Group to become India’s youngest backward Rajasthan Soda village head, a traditional elder citizen post. There was awe and disbelief among ministers and ambassadors when this jean clad, articulate and computer savvy woman who could be a front line model/Bollywood actress said amidst applause “I want this conference to help bring about faster change so that this generation can enjoy that kind of life that I and you in this audience take for granted”.

The global financial meltdown, Japan’s Tsunami and Wikileaks are forcing drastic change in the old world order. Let us help by getting MAD (Making A Difference).

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

Madhya Pradesh government today moved the Supreme Court seeking its permission to intervene in the petition filed by CBI for restoration of the stringent charge culpable homicide not amounting to murder instead of death due to negligence against the accused in 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy case.

The State government has sought to intervene in the petition filed by CBI in which the apex court has decided to reexamine its own September 1996 judgement by which the accused persons were tried for the offence of criminal negligence which resulted in a lighter punishment of two years' jail term of several accused, including former Union Carbide India Chairman Keshub Mahindra, on June 7, 2010.

The application filed through advocate C D Singh said the de-

PTI

Three Indians accused of raping a four-year-old girl on a school bus in Dubai were acquitted by a court here after a forensic examination found that there was no evidence of the crime.

The Indian child was allegedly raped by the three suspects on November 11, and later dropped off at her home. The parents, however, alerted the police on January 9 this year.

The court said it could not rely on the confessions to the police as they were made in the absence of a translator, and were incompatible with the forensic report, Khaleej Times reported.

“The confessions in the interrogations by the public prosecution do not also stand since they are incompatible with the technical reports. The verdict also relied on findings of a medical panel, which was formed by the Ministry of Justice to determine whether the girl was molested or not,” the court ruled.

The three men, including two

supervisors and a driver — aged 26, 37 and 44, were released from detention today after spending three months in prison.

“Gems Education notes that the Dubai Court has reached a conclusion that no rape or molestation of one of its students by the accused in the case has occurred, thereby conclusively refuting assertions which appeared in certain sections of the media that Gems Education or

cision to intervene in the matter was taken after a high-level committee appointed by the state government suggested that there were ample evidence against the accused persons to be prosecuted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which attract maximum punishment of 10 years imprisonment.

After CBI moved the apex court following the Bhopal trial court ruling, the apex court had in August also sought replies of seven accused on the CBI plea for restoration of the charge of culpable homicide for the world's worst industrial disaster that left over 15,000 people dead and thousands maimed.

Besides Mahindra, Vijay Gokhale, the then Managing Director of UCIL, Kishore Kamdar, then Vice President, J N Mukund, then Works Manager, S P Choudhary, then Production Manager, K V Shetty, then Plant Superin-

tendent and S I Quereshi, then Production Assistant, were convicted and sentenced to two years' jail term by a trial court in Bhopal on June 7 this year.

The curative petition in the criminal case was filed after a nation-wide outrage over the trial court judgement in the 26year-old case, following which the Centre appointed a group of ministers (GoM) to recommend steps including ways to get the punishment enhanced.

The charge under section 304 part-II was diluted to section 304A by a bench comprising the then Chief Justice A M Ahmadi and Justice S B Majmudar on the plea of the accused in the 1984 gas disaster case.

CBI has sought reconsideration of the September 13, 1996, apex court judgement which had whittled down the charge to 'causing death due to rash and negligent act' against Mahindra and six others.

MUZAFFARNAGAR: A group of unidentified armed men looted cash and other valuables from the passengers of a train, on the Delhi-Ambala route between Khatauli and Sakoti railway stations here, police said.

Some armed men barged into the passenger train last night while it was nearing the Sakoti railway station and managed to escape soon after looting the passengers, they said.

APPOINTMENTS

Activists of Centre for Peace & Progress stagging a candle light demonstration near the Gandhi Statue in Kolkata on Thursday to support social activist Anna Hazare.

He’s home after serving 27 years in jail PTI LAHORE/ATTARI (Amritsar), APRIL 7

Touching the soil of the country after 27 years in Pakistani jail, Indian national Gopal Das today came home to an emotional welcome by his elder brother and sister who had last seen him as a young man.

52-year-old Das was set free after Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari remitted his sentence on humanitarian grounds following an appeal by the Indian Supreme Court.

Das crossed over to the Indian side of the border from Pakistan at the Joint Check Post here after being freed by the authorities in the neighbouring country.

As soon as he entered India, he bowed his head on the soil and kissed it as tears welled up in his eyes.

Das's family members, including his brother Anand Vir, two sisters and niece Navjot besides, a dozen people from Bhaini Mian Khan village of Gurdaspur district of Punjab were here to receive him.

Gopal hugged all his family members as they broke down in tears.

Lamenting that he had lost the golden period of youth behind the bars in Pakistan, he asked the Indian government

n I have a grudge against the Indian leadership who has never bothered about Indian prisoners rotting in prisons in Pakistan for the last many years.

- Gopal Das why it was sitting silent for the last 27 years.

“I have a grudge against the Indian leadership who has never bothered about Indian prisoners rotting in prisons in Pakistan for the last many years.

“32 Indian nationals, who have completed their jail term, are still languishing due of lack of initiative on the part of the Indian government,” he claimed.

Thanking the president and prime Minister of Pakistan for releasing him, Das said he was also thankful to the Supreme Court of India for his release but said the role of Indian leadership was “disgusting”.

He claimed that seven such Indian prisoners who had already completed their sentence

died due to ill health. Moreover, nearly one dozen Indian nationals have almost lost their senses.

Das had crossed over to Pakistan inadvertently in 1984 and was arrested by Pakistani Rangers on charges of spying.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was set to be released by the end of this year.

Struggling hard to control his tears, Das's elder brother Anand Vir, said, “It was the voice of the Supreme Court judge which came out from the deepest core of his heart and heard

by Almighty, which ultimately fell in the ears of the prime minister and president of Pakistan and his brother's release matured.

Anand said that he did not have any hope from the Indian leadership as all their requests went unheard but the request at the door of God was heard.

His elder sister Krishna Devi, who is too weak to move but still managed to reach Attari border to receive her brother, said, “Gopal was young when he was arrested in Pakistan and now there are lot of changes in his appearance. I am enormously happy to see my brother alive here on Indian soil.”

“At one time the entire family had lost all hope to see Das

Pakistan prosecutors approach court in Mumbai attacks case PTI ISLAMABAD/LAHORE, APRIL 7

Pakistani prosecutors have approached a court to set aside a lower court's order barring the collection of voice samples of seven suspects, including Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, charged with involvement in the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

The Federal Investigation Agency filed the revision petition in the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court last week, sources told PTI. The High Court is yet to set a date for hearing the petition.

In October last year, the antiterrorism court conducting the trial of the seven suspects had

3 Indians accused of raping school girl in Dubai acquitted DUBAI, APRIL 7

Armed men loot passengers

MP moves SC for intervening in Bhopal gas tragedy case

Dubai Modern High School has failed to protect its students," a spokesperson for Gems Education told the media.

“These men are family men, fathers with young children, loving husbands who we understand have endured not only immense emotional but also physical suffering... Their character and integrity have been subjected to attack by many sections of the community, the statement said.

rejected apetition filed by the prosecution to obtain voice samples of the accused.

Lawyers defending the accused had then contended that the petition went against the provisions of Pakistani laws.

The revision petition filed in the High Court bench states that the accused were in telephonic contact with Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving attacker who has been sentenced to death by an Indian court.

It further states that the voice samples of the seven suspects are needed so that they can be matched with the recorded con-

versation between the attackers in Mumbai and their alleged handlers based in Pakistan, sources said.

India has been pressing Pakistan to provide voice samples of the seven suspects arrested for allegedly planning, financing and facilitating the Mumbai attacks and other persons who allegedly directed the attackers from Pakistani territory.

The Mumbai attacks, which drew widespread global condemnation, began on November, 26, 2008 and lasted until November, 29 killing 166 people.

again but God is great,” said Devi with tears in her eyes.

She told her brother: “I know how I spent 27 years in your absence, since in these years I missed you immensely especially on the festivals of Raksha Bandhan and Tikka.

Navjot, niece of Das, said, “My uncle was in Pakistan's prison at the time of my birth.

Now I am delightedt o see my uncle in the family. I think God has honoured all my prayers.”.

On March 27, Zardari had remitted the remaining jail term of Das. The diplomatic gesture came ahead of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to India to watch the Indo-Pak World Cup semi final at Mohali.

A two-judge bench of the Indian Supreme Court had appealed to Pakistan last month to remit the remaining period of Das' sentence and release him on humanitarian grounds.

Asked about the protests launched by social activist Anna Hazare, Das said, "Indian leadership is suffering from the disease of corruption that must be treated. I extend support to the genuine cause of Hazare who is fighting to eradicate corruption from grass root level.”

Minister summoned

MUZAFFAPUR: A Bihar court today summoned Union Minister and former AICC In-charge of Bihar affairs Mukul Wasnik to appear before it on May 6 next in connection with a case charging him with fraud and cheating. (PTI)

Sonia, Rahul, to campaign in West Bengal

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi will hit the campaign trail in the middle of this month in the first phase of West Bengal assembly elections where Congress is contesting in alliance with Trinamool Congress against the Left Front.

“Soniaji is expected on April 15 and address three meetings in in Jalpaiguri and Malda districts", PCC spokesman Omprakash Mishra told PTI here today.

He said Rahul Gandhi was expected in North Bengal for campaigning on April 14 and would address four election meetings -- one in Malbazar/Chalsa in Jalpaiguri district, the second at Dalkhola in Uttar Dinajpur district, the third at Mothabari and fourth at Harischandrapur, both in Malda

NIRMALA INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION B.Ed Special Education ALTINHO, PANAJI, GOA 403 001

Applications with full bio-data are invited from quali•ed candidates for the following posts for the academic year 2011-2012 so as to reach the undersigned within •fteen days from the date of publication of this advertisement.

Applications must be accompanied by certi•ed copies of mark-sheets of all the examinations from SSC onwards. Those already employed shall forward their applications through the proper channel and shall account for break in service/academic career, if any.

Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Category of Post : General

1) Lecturer 2) Posts

Essential Quali•cations: a) Master’s Degree in any subject area with not less than 50% of marks AND b) M.Ed Degree in the speci•c disability area (Mental Retardation) with not less than 55% of marks or an equivalent grade of B in a 7 point scale from RCI Recognised Institute or an equivalent degree from a foreign university recognized by RCI Special Education.

The Candidates must be registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India.

The appointment to the above posts will be subject to approval from Goa University /Goa Government.

SCALE OF PAY, TERMS AND SERVICE CONDITIONS As prescribed by Goa University/ RCI/ UGC/ Goa Government and other competent authorities from time to time.

Please note that no T.A.D.A. will be paid to attend the Interview.

Dr Rita Paes PRINCIPAL Con•dant 2224052

OHERALDO

Pg 8 GOA, FRIDAY 8 APRIL 2011

WORLD

from page 1 Arrest of minister

mandatory permission of the External Affairs Ministry necessary for any minister to travel abroad and whether he had secured the FCRA (Foreign Currency Regulation Act) clearance for his foreign travel. It is also mysterious that he was detained but his “criminal” son Rohit, charge-sheeted for an alleged rape of a German girl in Goa, and his two other colleagues were allowed to proceed to Dubai without a check on their baggage, the BJP spokesman said.

While he demanded the minister’s arrests under FEMA “for clear violation of many provisions of the Act,” he conveniently forgot that it was his own BJP-led NDA government that had enacted the law in 1999 removing provisions of arrest, imprisonment and criminal offence under FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act) and making the crime a civil offence punishable with just a fine and that too not five times the seized foreign exchange under FERA. Minister Babush had to be released and asked to report to the Customs in Mumbai on April 8 as nothing more could be done except to ask him to pay a fine as provided under FEMA as it happened only recently with Pakistani Sufi singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan arrested at Delhi airport.

Interestingly, BJP national secretary Aarti Mehra, incharge of Goa affairs, shot off letters to Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister P Chidambaram asserting that Babush was found carrying an amount 25 times higher than the permissible limit and wanted action against him under FERA. Asked how she can call for invoking FERA that is no longer on the statute as it had been rescinded by her own party’s government, she wriggled out saying the government can book the minister under any other law if there is honesty to book one stashing money in crores and smuggling it out of the country like Hawala operations.

Margao blast case

IEDs from difference sources. The IEDs were assembled at the residence of Laxmikant Naik, the elder brother of accused Yogesh at Talaulim-Ponda and also discussed about the actions to be taken against the government, organisers and participants and viewers of Narkasur competitions on grounds such competitions are against Hindu religion and practices.

Obama fails to break budget impasse AFP WASHINGTON, APRIL 7

With a deadline looming, Democrats and Republicans in Congress were locked in intense budget talks to avoid a government shutdown after President Barack Obama failed to break an impasse in late-night talks.

Obama met Republican House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner and Democratic Senate

leader Harry Reid late Wednesday, seeking to defuse a showdown before a midnight Friday deadline for federal funding to run dry.

If no deal is reached, vast parts of the US government will be shuttered, forcing combat troops to go without paychecks and national parks to close in a shutdown that could also damage the fragile economic recovery.

Pakistan spells out ‘concerns’ to US General AFP ISLAMABAD, APRIL 7

Pakistan spelt out “concerns” dogging its troubled alliance with the United States at talks Thursday with the most senior American to visit since the release of a CIA contractor accused of murder.

US commander of the Middle East and Afghanistan, General James Mattis, flew in as relations took a further knock from a White House report criticising Pakistan’s fight against Islamist militants on the Afghan border.

Mattis was meeting Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Kayani and chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee, General Khalid Shamim Wynne, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Shavers at the US embassy told AFP. During the meetings, Mattis would “hear from them their concerns with regard to the relationship with the US military here”, Shavers said.“He’s going to be in listening mode... that’s the main reason why he’s here,” he said.

Mattis aims to visit Pakistan every three months and last visited in November, Shavers added.

The United States has made Pakistan a front line ally in the nearly 10-year war in Afghanistan and against AlQaeda, which US officials believe has carved out a global headquarters in Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan.

OHERALDO

Biz9_Layout 1 3/31/2011 9:53 PM Page 1

BIZ

Pg9

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

IRDA issues guidelines on telemarketing PTI HYDERABAD, APRIL 7

Tele-callers of insurance products should be trained according to the syllabus prescribed by the Insurance Regulation and Development Authority (IRDA) and they should inform clients that the call is being recorded and that the client is entitled to a voice copy, according to the new guidelines issued by the insurance watchdog.

"The training shall be for duration of not less than 25 hours as per syllabus to be prescribed by the IRDA in matters related to regulations, disclosures, ethical conduct of business and specific instructions to be complied with while making the calls," the IRDA said.

The new guidelines on telemarketing and distance mode marketing shall come into force from October 1.

The hours during which calls are made shall be in accordance with orders issued by TRAI/DoT from time to time. In

India to wait till Dec to get Swiss details PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

India will have to wait till the end of this year to get information about funds stashed in banks in Switzerland where Parliament will take time to ratify the tax treaty signed between the two in August last year.

India and Switzerland had signed an agreement on August 30, 2010 to amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with a view to facilitating exchange of information between the two countries.

"The status is that that DTAA is in Parliamentarian process in Switzerland. We are running through this process in the next couple of months... we will be ready by Swiss side to conclude the agreement before the end of this year", Johann N Schneider-Ammann, Head of Federal Department of Economic Affairs in Switzerland told reporters here today.

India has already completed the formalities for implementation of the revised DTAA. The amended treaty will enable India to get banking information in specific cases, beginning April 1, 2011.

Referring to his meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Schneider-Ammann said, "we had a very good discussion with the Minister about the financial issues in general. We discussed double taxation agreement".

The new tax agreement, he added, would help in enhancing partnership between the two countries and also resolve the issues concerning blackmoney.

"We do want to solve issues around the black money. I can tell you Switzerland is very much interested...we respect all the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) prime conditions", said the visiting Minister.

The revised DTAA provides for exchange of banking information as well as information without domestic interest.

The pact, however, will not allow "fishing expeditions", a term used for seeking general information without specific details about wrong doers.

Sprint Nextel, Persistent in JV PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 7

Sprint Nextel Corporation, the third-largest wireless provider in the United States, and Persistent Systems, a leader in outsourced software product development (OPD) services, have announced the formation of a joint venture.

The JV will provide national long distance, international long distance, Internet services and managed network services in India, a release stated.

Sprint International Holding, Inc will own 74% and Persistent will own 26% of the equity in the joint venture company.

Sprint International's investment in the joint venture is subject to the approval of the Indian Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

all, instances where a policy is issued without obtaining a proposal in physical form, insurers should provide a verbal transcript of the voice/electronic record of the queries raised and answers on the basis of which the policy has been underwritten, along with the policy bond, the IRDA order further said.

"No inconvenience, nuisance or harm shall be caused to the clients in the course of solicitation or thereafter. Full disclosures shall be made to the clients under all modes of distance marketing and the requirements of confidentiality, privacy and non-disclosure shall be complied with," it said.

Also, insurers shall not solicit ULIPs of non-single premium type for annualised premiums exceeding Rs 50,000 over telephonic mode (voice as well as SMS). Single premium ULIPs shall not be solicited for a premium of more than Rs 1, 00,000 over telephonic mode.

The IRDA also banned selling

or soliciting variable insurance product over distance marketing mode.

The records pertaining to every call made and SMS sent by a Telemarketer/Corporate Agent/Broker that materialises into a policy shall be transferred to the insurer’s location within 30 days of conclusion of sale. In case of telephone calls the records transferred shall be the recordings of the entire conversation.

Insurers/Brokers shall monitor the calls live by arranging for listening to at least 1 per cent of the calls as they happen.

Insurers shall verify at least 3 per cent of calls leading to sales for compliance with the guidelines, by engaging a team of dedicated employees to listen to the call recordings.

The observations made in the course of verification should be preserved in a retrievable form for a period of not less than three years, IRDA added.

Leela eyes mid-market brand PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 7

Country's leading luxury hotel chain, Hotel Leela Venture, is mulling a new mid-market brand by end-this year even as it mulls an overseas foray into Maldives and Mauritius during the fiscal, a top company official said.

"We are a luxury brand and are receiving a lot of requests for a second brand in the midmarket segment and will soon make an announcement on the same by end-this fiscal," Leela Hotel's President, Rajiv Kaul, told reporters on the sidelines of a hotel investment summit HICSA here today.

The company, which so far runs hotels through the build, own and operate model, is evaluating various models for its second brand, Kaul said, adding that the mid-segment hotels would be on management contracts. Leela is also planning to enter the overseas market through management contracts in Maldives and Mauritius this fiscal.

MPT achieves 50 million tons target HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Mormugao Port Trust chairman P Mara Pandiyan, IAS announced that Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) has crossed the 50 million tonnes cargo throughput during the year 2010-11.

The figure has touched 50.02 tonnes, up from the 48.85 million tonnes handled last year. The port has secured the 7th position among the 12 major ports of India, he said, surpassing the 50 million tonnes target set by the Ministry of Shipping.

Of the total throughput, exports accounted for 40.84 million tonnes, while imports 9.18 million tonnes, registering an increase of 16 per cent, an alltime record, said Pandiyan.

Giving a breakup of the cargo, the chairman said that iron ore constituted 40.35 million tonnes, coal/coke 6.93 million tonnes, besides 1.5 million tonnes of POL and other liquid cargo.

Pandiyan added that 10.63 million tonnes was loaded by Mechanical Ore Handling Plant

Syngenta: Living in harmony with nature

AI to scrap deal between Balwa, HCI

Syngenta India Limited is committed to promote and maintain high standards of corporate social responsibility worldwide in an industry that is essential to global agriculture and food production.

Syngenta’s crop protection division at Corlim, Old Goa – Santa Monica Works is a place synonymous with the term ‘living in harmony with nature’. A visit to the site gives us out of the world experience with its pristine scenery aspersed hundreds of fruit giving and shade giving trees. Spread across Govind Bene, Sakharam Borkar, Dr K Diwakar and Sudhakar S Kada of Syngenta 200 acres of green sur- with the corporate social responsibility award for Community & Social welfare. roundings, the Santa MonSyngenta has identified nine ica Works is a 40 year with farmers to understand villages surrounding its plant farmer’s agricultural problems establishment that commenced its crop protection production and provide support for yield namely: Old Goa, Corlim, activities since the year 1971 improvement and pest man- Carambolim, Dhulapi, Gaundalim, Mangaddo, Marcel, Baand was known as ‘Ciba’. Over agement. nastarim andCumbarjua.

“As a part of its CSR infinithe years, as a part of global reThe project is an effort tostructuring of business, Syn- tives in Goa, a community enwards a participative developgagement initiative called genta was formed in the year ‘Sparsh’ was launched as a sys- ment process for which a social 2000.

Thinking that students are tematic programme towards need assessment study was future citizens of our commu- sustainable community devel- conducted with the help of Parnity, Syngenta conducts educa- opment around Santa Monica ticipative Rural Appraisals tools tional visits of the schools in Works,” says Sakharam Borkar, and a technique which ensures surrounding villages to ac- Executive CSR. Designed to that the needs identified are quaint the students and the focus on need based initiatives actual needs of the community teaching community about like women empowerment, en- and includes all sections of the company’s operations and the gagement with unemployed society.

The initiative is being rolled standards it employees for youths, Malaria awareness prosafeguarding of health, safety, gramme, domestic waste man- out with the help of Mardarenvironment in its operations. agement and agricultural yield shak, a grassroots development “We believe, this acquaintance improvement, ‘Sparsh’ has agency, which specialises in will help us to create aware- been touching hundreds of community development work. ness about the technology and lives since inception. Several The idea is to have this agency youth engage- as a nodal agency and get substandards ment initiatives ject matter specialists agency among the edulike training on board to undertake certain cational comcourses in com- activities. The initiative largely munity, in puter applica- looks at partnership building at particular and tions, repairing all levels- community, panchaythe community, of cell phones, ats, government organisations at large,” says driving of four like PHC, Schools, NGOs like Piyush Mehta, wheelers and Toxic Links, Chaitanya, etc, vice president, Manufacturing tourist guide courses were con- Banks like NABARD, local lead Operations.

Syngenta is guided by the ducted, building the capability banks, and other such instituconviction that value creation and gainful employment to tions which can contribute to the overall development of the depends on the successful inte- many.

In July 2008, Syngenta en- communities. gration of business, social and The initiative is supported by environmental performance. gaged with a NGO named Being a crop solution company, Margdarshak to assist Syn- a team of professional from Syngenta shares with Goan genta-Goa in implementing Margdarshak and a project adfarmers its wealth of knowl- ‘Sparsh’ the community devel- visory group which includes edge and expertise in the agri- opment initiative in the region. local experts on education, cultural yield improvement, The project commenced with health, agriculture, sociology, effective management of pests, the ground work by conducting environment etc. In addition to green shed technology, new va- the social economic assess- this the project is supported by rieties of seeds etc to improve ment of this region. Post this a Project management team inthe economic well being of the assessment, the community de- cluding the senior staff of SMW, framers. Syngenta has a centre velopment initiatives were Margdarshak.

The project will slowly look called ‘Krishi Mitr’ to support launched in March 2009. The at developing or utilising local initiative is designed to cover the agricultural community in nine villages around the Santa bodies / councils / panchayats Goa. The centre has adopted 30 Monica Works, of which the ac- to become the drivers of the farmers in the vicinity – Priol, tive work has been started in project so that the project may Veling and Mardol and strives villages – Corlim, Cumbharjua, have long term sustainability.

It is notable that Syngenta to build agro-social network. It Gaundalim, Carambolim, Bawas recognised by the Green nastarim, Marcel and Old Goa. helps to develop positive attitude towards agriculture, Within a short span Sparsh Triangle Society when it won adopt good agricultural prac- could build around 120 groups the corporate social responsitices and use of innovative crop of SHG (Self Help Groups) aver- bility award for Community & solution to increase yield and aging around 20-25 women in Social welfare in March 2010.

Their success stories of quality of produce. Two plots each group. Now, nearly 2500 Sparsh and Krishi Mitr have fuwomen, meaning 2500 famiof 1000 sq mts have been taken from farmers on trial basis and lies, are linked with Sygenta elled a desire in Syngenta to do a Crop cafeteria has been set through the ’Sparsh’ project. their bit better with verve and up. All the agricultural activities Syngenta also provides educa- more vigour. Syngenta is confiin this crop cafeteria are car- tional aids such as books for li- dent that with time, what they ried by Krishi Mitr Staff to braries, uniforms, shoes and do, will next mark corporate demonstrate the difference to stationary to the needy stu- social responsibility standards the farmers between the old dents. The ‘Sparsh’ programme in Goa and help the company ways of working and new state has brought a new dimension give back to society in abunof the art methods. Regular to the engagement programme dance for what it has received from it. meeting are also organised of the site.

Air India has decided to scrap the controversial deal between Shahid Balwa's hotel chain and Hotel Corporation of India to have management rights over Centaur Hotel, located on the banks of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

The deal had come under the scanner after Balwa, whose firm had signed a deal with HCI for running the management of the hotel, was arrested by the CBI in connection with his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam.

Moreover, Balwa's alleged links with global terrorist Dawood Ibrahim had also raised eyebrows keeping in view the strategic location of the hotel which also houses the Sher-eKashmir International Convention Centre where all VIPs including Prime Ministers hold meetings during their visits.

Balwa is at present in judicial custody and has been named by the CBI as an accused in the first chargesheet in the 2G case filed by the investigating agency. "The day this issue was brought to my notice, I asked the Air India Chairman to cancel it," Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said.

BHARATI PAWASKAR

PTI NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, APRIL 7

(MOHP) at berth No 9 as against 12.01 million tonnes loaded in 2009-10. The fall in iron ore handling at this berth was mainly due to the extended monsoon and ban on iron exports from Karnataka.

Further, the Chairman said the container traffic at the Port was 17602 TEUs during the year under report as compared to 17296 TEUs handled in 2009-10.

In all, the Port handled 948 cargo vessels as compared to 985 vessels in 2009-10.

An all time record output of 3400 tonnes per hook was achieved while loading iron ore lumpy on to the vessel M V Clear in August last year, surpassing the previous record of 3100 tonnes, Pandiyan asserted.

There has also been a 21 per cent increase in traffic handled at Mooring Dolphins, the figure rising to 7.36 million tonnes from the corresponding figure of 6.06 million tonnes in 200910, besides a 6 per cent rise in traffic handled by trans-shippers and Floating Crane. Rail

traffic has also increased to 6.93 million tonnes from 5.22 million tonnes handled in 2009-10.

Cruise traffic has also risen with 21 cruise vessels calling at the Port with 9371 passengers as against 19 vessels during the previous year.

The chairman also laid out future plans of the port which includes all mooring dolphins will be capable of handling Panamax size vessels with a draft of 14 meters. from next month and the construction of a berth alongside the breakwater, meant mainly for berthing of non-cargo vessels including cruise vessels with a draft of 8 meters schedule to be completed by August, 2011.

The development of 4 MMTPA Mechanized Coal Import Terminal at existing berth No 11 on DBFOT basis will be fully mechanized for handling of import coal. The concession agreement is likely to be signed in November, 2011.

The development of Coal Handling Terminal at berth No 7 on Design, Build, Finance,

P Mara Pandiyan, IAS

Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) basis is under progress and the scheduled date of commencement of operation is May 2013, Pandiyan disclosed.

Other plans include the development of 7.2 MMTPA iron ore export terminals at West of Breakwater (WOB) at the Port next month with a berth for additional shiploader for loading of iron ore, said Pandiyan.

This is possible to achieve with the cooperation of Unions, Employees, Officers of MPT and Port Users and thank them for their unstinted support.

Cairn extends deadline for Vedanta stake sale PTI NEW DELHI, APRIL 7

A day after the government referred its USD 9.6 billion deal to a panel of ministers, UK's Cairn Energy Plc today said it has extended the deadline for completion of the sale of a majority stake in its Indian unit to Vedanta Resources by over a month to May 20.

Cairn Energy's sale of a 40 to 51 per cent stake in Cairn India and the subsequent open offer

by Vedanta group for acquisition of an additional 20 per cent interest were previously to be completed by April 15.

The Edinburgh-based firm has since announcing the deal with Vedanta in August last year maintained that the April 15 deadline is sacrosanct and it will not go back to its shareholders for extension of the same.

But today, the company extended the deadline at its level and did not take a fresh mandate from shareholders, an indication that its previous stance was only to pressure the government into taking a decision on the transaction expeditiously.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs had yesterday

referred the Cairn-Vedanta deal to a Group of Ministers (GoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee as there were sharp differences over the conditions to be set for such nod.

The extension at the company level indicates that the deal provides for much more time than what Cairn and Vedanta have been harping upon and the GoM, which has to give its recommendation to the Cabinet for a decision, will not have to rush into things.

Cairn Energy in a statement said Vedanta has received market regulator SEBI's clearance to commence an open offer for up to 20 per cent of Cairn India shares.

The open offer will be made

by Vedanta's subsidiary Sesa Goa and will open for acceptances between April 11 and 30.

"Cairn and Vedanta have extended the long stop date in the sale agreement, by which all conditions must be completed or waived (where permitted) to May 20 in order to accommodate the completion of the open offer," the statement said.

More importantly, Cairn said SEBI has made changes in its

deal with Vedanta and has struck down the call and put option.

As per the August announcement, Cairn Energy was to sell a minimum of 40 per cent out of its 62.25 per cent stake in Cairn India to Vedanta. Vedanta then was to make an open offer for an additional 20 per cent and any shortfall in the open offer was to have been made up by Cairn selling more shares with an upper ceiling of 51 per cent.

But SEBI has now disallowed this, which in effect means Cairn Energy will only sell a 40 per cent stake at Rs 405 per share to garner USD 6.7 billion.

Cairn Energy said the company "looks forward to the successful completion of the transaction after obtaining all the necessary government of India approvals and consents."

"SEBI has also notified Vedanta that the put and call options exercisable by Cairn and Vedanta respectively and the preemption right exercisable by Vedanta in connection with the transaction must be removed from the sale agreement as they do not comply with certain Indian securities regulations.

Focus to cut CO2 emission in steel Cos PTI JAMSHEDPUR, APRIL 7

The need for proper management of coal and coke, which was important for blast furnances in steel-making industries was today emphasized by Tata Steel MD, H M Nerurkar.

The focus was to reduce carbon dioxide emission in steelmaking and sustain the coke cost for economic steel production, Nerurkar said inaugurating a two-day international conference on coal and coke, organized by the Indian Institute of Metals, Jamshedpur chapter and Tata Steel here.

Due to volatility of coal prices, he said, it was a challenge before stakeholders on how to maintain quality and address environmental aspects as well. The past few years witnessed a wide fluctuation in price of the coal and the ever increasing appetite of the steelmakers to get control on coking coal has further fueled prices, he said. Nerurkar said an increase in performance efficiencies guaranteed improved competitiveness not only among steel makers, but also in steel and other materials.

Orissa mulls fresh deal with Rio Tinto PTI

BHUBANESWAR, APRIL 7

Orissa government said it was considering a proposal of making a fresh agreement with Australian mining giant Rio Tinto for undertaking mining activities in the state.

This was stated by Orissa's Steel and Mines minister Raghunath Mohanty yesterday while replying to a question in the assembly.

Rio Tinto, which had signed

an agreement with the state owned Orissa Mining Corporation (OMC) for exploration of minerals in 1995, however failed to implement the project about a decade ago due to slump in the international market.

A joint venture company in the name of Rio Tinto Orissa Mineral (RTOM) was formed for exploration of 15 million ton iron ore per annum from Gandhamardan and Malangtoli

mines, Mohanty said.

As the agreement with Rio Tinto had become defunct, the OMC had moved the Orissa High Court to wind up the RTOM. However, there had been no progress as the matter was subjudice in the HC, the minister said.

"We are considering whether to sign a fresh agreement with Rio Tinto," the minister said.

Raising questions on the

state government's move to enter into a fresh agreement with Rio Tinto, a Congress MLA wanted to know how it would be beneficial for Orissa.

Meanwhile, sources in the steel and mines department said that the state government had already prepared a draft for entering into a fresh agreement with the mining major. The draft agreement was under consideration of the law department, it said.

Biz10_Pg12 3/31/2011 10:55 PM Page 1

OHERALDO

Pg 10

BIZ

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

Food inflation falls to 9.18% NEW DELHI: Food inflation fell to a four-month low of 9.18 per cent for the week ended March 26, prompting experts to suggest that record foodgrain production will keep the numbers stable in the coming months. Food inflation fell from 9.50 per cent in the previous week and 21.15% a year ago. The rate of price rise during the week ended March 26 was the lowest since the week ending November 27, 2010, when it was recorded at 8.69 per cent.

W Hotels Worldwide continues global expansion HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc announced plans to open W Mumbai, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in India.

“Locations such as the Delhi

NCR region, Goa and Kerala are targets for Starwood to develop W Hotels and Retreats.”

Located in bustling South Central Mumbai where modern architecture intertwines with colonial cultural monuments, W Mumbai will introduce its world renowned lifestyle hotel concept to one of India’s hippest cities, where the country’s music, fashion, media and entertainment industries converge. Under a management contract with Jaguar Buildcon Private Limited, W Mumbai will be developed on approximately three acres of land and is expected to open by 2015. Overlooking the Mahalaxmi racecourse, the hotel will form a part of the Namaste Tower, an iconic 55-story mixed-use building designed by WS Atkins to look like clasped hands. Expected to be a landmark in the city of Mumbai with its iconic design, W Mumbai will be a highly anticipated and spectacular addition to India’s financial and fashion capital.

“We are excited to bring the W lifestyle to Mumbai, another step in W’s global expansion

into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Frits van Paasschen, president and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc “W Mumbai will offer a contemporary take on design, fashion and music in the heart of one of the city’s most vibrant districts, bringing an innovative and distinctive experience to Mumbai. When W Mumbai

opens, Starwood will have seven of its nine brands present in India.”

W Mumbai will house more than 350 stylishly appointed guestrooms, including two WOW Suites and one Extreme WOW Suite (W’s take on the Presidential Suite); two contemporary restaurants and one destination bar; the signature W lounge (W’s interpretation

of the traditional hotel lobby); WET pool deck; SWEAT, stateof-the-art fitness center; and a signature spa for guests to detox and refuel for what’s to come.

W Mumbai will also house stylish spaces for luxury designer retail stores and boast a full calendar of exclusive and exciting W Happenings events that showcase what’s new and

next in design, fashion and music for both guests and locals alike.

“We are thrilled to partner with Starwood and its distinct stable of brands. It is the perfect time for W Hotels to enter India, specifically Mumbai, a city that matches W’s vibrant energy, and strong association with fashion and Bollywood.

Atul Auto sales up 60% PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 7

3-wheeler maker Atul Auto said it has clocked 60% jump in sales at 19,406 units in FY 11, against 12,345 units in FY 10.

"At the beginning of the year we had projected a growth of 50% on sales, but we beat our own estimate and achieved 60% growth due to better market conditions and increasing dealer network. We have grown substantially higher than the industry, which grew 18%," Atul Auto director Vijay Kedia said.

"Taking into consideration the growing demands, especially in the semi-urban and rural markets, the sales are likely to grow substantially up in the current year," he said.

Resorte Marinha Dourada bags award HERALD BUSINESS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Resorte Marinha Dourada has

Jose Lourdes Proenca, director of Resorte Marinha Dourado receiving the award at the hands of Speaker of Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar and Minister of Tourism, Subodh Kant Sahai.

won the National Tourism Award for the 4th time. The 206-AC-room resort is located in the scenic village of Arpora just minutes away from Baga Beach.

The architecture brings Portuguese Goa in the resort. The well maintained 206 air-conditioned rooms have balconies with a view of the pool and the aesthetics of the picturesque lakes backed by swaying palms and a lofty hill range.

Matrix pumps Rs 50 crore in MIPS

The Baga river winding its way to the Arabian Sea is an excellent view from the rooms. A complimentary transfer from the hotel to Baga Beach and back is provided although a walk is surely recommended to sample the beauty around. 90% of the resort’s clientele are repeat guests.

It has a multi-cuisine restaurant, a Varanda, which has live music at least 4 times in the week apart from 2 outdoor bars - Agor (poolside bar) and Baracuda open till late.

PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 7

Private equity firm Matrix Partners India today said it has invested Rs 50-crore as the sole investor in the first institutional round of funding of Maharana Infra and Professional Services Private (MIPS).

With the completion of this financing, Matrix India, Director, Amit Kapoor will join the board of MIPS, a release said.

MIPS is one of the largest service providers to higher education institutes in North India. Currently, the group is running 20 courses with 10 campuses with more than 10,000 students.

BOARD MEETINGS Frontline Bsns S&T Corp Polytex India Pradeep Metal Steel Exchange Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA BIRLA SUN LIFE MUTUAL FUND has decided to revise the exit load structure of Birla Sun Life International Equity Fund- Plan A and Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund-Long Term Plan. As per the revised structure the exit load charged will be nil. The changes will be in effect from 11th April 2011. Birla Sun Life International Equity Fund-Plan A has an investment objective to generate long-term growth of capital by investing predominantly in a diversified portfolio of equity and equity related securities in the international markets. Birla Sun Life Government Securities Fund-Long Term Plan is an open ended gilt scheme with an investment objective to provide the investor current income consistent with a portfolio invested 100 per cent in securities issued by the Government of India or the State Government.

Sensex down 21 points PTI MUMBAI, APRIL 7

The BSE Sensex erased mid-session gains and fell for the third consecutive day to 19,537, down 21 points, on selling pressure amid high global oil prices.

Meanwhile, further easing of food inflation to 4-month low wasn't a strong enough positive for investors to sustain intra-day gains.

The 30-share Bombay Stock Exchange index, Sensex, initially fell to day's low of 19,537.02 as investors booked profits amid apprehensions of a hike in interest rates as crude oil prices hover at 2-1/2-year highs.

Aban Offshor, 689, 710, 675.7, 701.95 Abb Ltd., 804, 809.55, 792, 805.7 Abg Shipyard, 380.2, 403.8, 379.25, 400.1 Acc Limited, 1121.4, 1137.75, 1061, 1128.85 Adani Enterp, 664.9, 664.9, 649.2, 652.05 Aditya Birla, 872.95, 885.9, 866.35, 877.9 Allahabad Ba, 230.6, 233.8, 230.1, 231.5 Alstom Proje, 636.85, 637, 625.55, 629.75 Ambuja Cemen, 150, 152.6, 148.7, 151.45 Andhra Bank, 155.95, 157, 154.5, 155.8 Ashok Leylan, 58.1, 58.5, 57, 57.7 Asian Paints, 2579, 2579, 2545.9, 2551.7 Axis Bank Li, 1430, 1458, 1416.7, 1445.75 Bajaj Hindus, 81, 85.35, 80.5, 83.8 Bank Of Baro, 950.5, 985, 943.2, 979.95 Bank Of Indi, 484.45, 491.5, 481, 489.5 Beml Limited, 752.05, 770.05, 743.6, 759.25 Bharat Elect, 1794.25, 1834.85, 1794.25, 1827.5 Bharat Forge, 364.95, 369.5, 359, 365.1 Bharat Petro, 605, 616.8, 603.05, 613.8 Bharti Airte, 353.3, 358.25, 345.7, 357 Bhel, 2205, 2212.9, 2177.15, 2195.15 Bhushan Stee, 472.05, 473.6, 460.15,

461.4 Biocon Limit, 363.65, 377.4, 360.7, 374.7 Bombay Dyein, 406.3, 413, 398.1, 406.85 Bosch Limite, 6684, 6684.05, 6625.3, 6642 Brigade Ente, 100.9, 103.35, 99.7, 102.1 Cairn India, 348.95, 353.55, 343.05, 343.95 Canara Bank, 634, 643.65, 634, 640.05 Central Bank, 144.85, 147.5, 143.05, 145.95 Century Text, 382.9, 387, 378.85, 382.3 Cesc Ltd, 322, 323.15, 317, 318 Chambal Fert, 81.45, 89.6, 81.2, 88.85 Chennai Petr, 236, 239.45, 232.25, 237.9 Cipla Ltd, 320.5, 322.45, 319.4, 320.45 Colgate Palm, 855.7, 855.8, 838.1, 846.35 Container Co, 1238, 1238, 1198.45, 1227.85 Crompton Gre, 288.8, 291.5, 285.05, 287.95 Cummins Indi, 701.25, 709.95, 686.9, 694.8 Dabur India, 100.55, 100.85, 98.75, 99.75 Deccan Chron, 87.8, 89.9, 85.4, 88.25 Dish Tv Indi, 67.5, 68.15, 66.8, 67.1 Divi’s Labor, 690, 697.6, 685.5, 695.6

Dlf Limited, 272, 274.7, 268.35, 269.8 Dr. reddy’s, 1642, 1643, 1623, 1628.75 Edelweiss Ca, 40.8, 41.4, 40.45, 40.65 Educomp Solu, 475, 475, 458.7, 462.05 Eih Limited, 85.15, 89.6, 82.4, 88.85 Engineers In, 310, 313.95, 305, 305.5 Essar Oil Lt, 131, 134.8, 130.5, 132.85 Essar Shippi, 107.25, 112.65, 107.25, 112.65 Exide Indust, 148.3, 148.3, 146.25, 146.85 Federal Bank, 414.45, 426.65, 412.05, 420.65 Financial Te, 906.3, 912, 896.15, 901.6 Gail (india), 477, 481.3, 470.1, 473.15 Gammon India, 127.6, 131.05, 127.6, 128.35 Glaxosmithkl, 2138.8, 2180, 2131, 2148.85 Glenmark Pha, 303, 308.7, 301.15, 303.5 Gmr Infrastr, 42, 44.2, 41.7, 43.9 Godrej Indus, 194.25, 197, 191.2, 191.95 Grasim Indus, 2550, 2559.7, 2512.65, 2522.1 Great Offsho, 284, 294.7, 279.85, 289.6 Gtl Infra.Lt, 38.2, 39, 38.2, 38.6 Gujarat Mine, 139.1, 146.5, 137.15,

141.25 Gujarat N R, 54.6, 55.2, 53.5, 53.8 Gujarat Stat, 101.4, 103, 100.1, 102.1 Gvk Pow. & I, 29.5, 30.6, 29.5, 30.05 Hcl Technolo, 490.05, 500, 489, 497.85 Hdfc Bank Lt, 2375, 2378, 2339.6, 2354.75 Hdfc Ltd, 696.05, 719.9, 696.05, 715.7 Hero Honda M, 1680, 1708.7, 1675, 1694.85 Hindalco in, 212.7, 217.5, 212.7, 216.05 Hindustan Co, 40.65, 41.7, 40.5, 41.05 Hindustan Ma, 64.65, 65.25, 63.55, 63.75 Hindustan Pe, 354.05, 370.7, 354, 366.75 Hindustan Un, 277.6, 279.25, 275, 276 Hindustan Zi, 137.95, 139.8, 137, 139.35 Housing Dev, 197, 199.7, 193.75, 195.9 Icici Bank L, 1100, 1114.4, 1093.7, 1104 Idea Cellula, 66.5, 66.8, 64.7, 66.35 Ifci Ltd, 56.65, 57.8, 56.6, 57 India Cement, 102.9, 104.5, 100.7, 103 India Infoli, 78.8, 83.6, 77.7, 82.9 Indiabulls F, 162.3, 163.5, 159.8, 161.05 Indiabulls R, 139.5, 143.85, 138.5, 143.2 Indian Bank, 240, 246.4, 238.7, 245.55 Indian Hotel, 86.15, 92.45, 86, 91.85

Indian Oil C, 329, 337, 325.35, 335.65 Indian Overs, 155, 156, 152.4, 155.45 Indus Dev Ba, 150.4, 152.2, 149.05, 150.35 Indusind Ban, 271, 276.8, 269, 274.15 Infosys Tech, 3261.9, 3261.9, 3237.7, 3245.9 Infra. dev., 165.7, 166.05, 162.65, 163.2 Ispat Indust, 25, 25.45, 24.1, 24.6 Itc Ltd, 183, 183.5, 181.35, 182.55 Ivrcl Infras, 89.75, 95.2, 89.5, 94.5 Jai Corp Lim, 199.8, 208.8, 196.1, 199.1 Jaiprakash A, 98.3, 99.8, 97.7, 98.15 Jet Airways, 490.1, 494, 482.2, 484.5 Jindal Saw L, 206.95, 208.5, 203.6, 205.7 Jindal Steel, 711.05, 717.4, 705.3, 708.6 Jsw Steel Li, 1014, 1014.9, 990.15, 1001.15 Kotak Mahind, 449.7, 453.8, 442.9, 445.55 Lakshmi Mach, 2405, 2490, 2401, 2448.65 Lanco Infrat, 43.2, 45.2, 42.9, 44.55 Larsen & Tou, 1658.1, 1676.5, 1647, 1669.5 Lic Housing, 232, 234.9, 228.9, 231.05 Lupin Limite, 407.5, 410.4, 405, 407.55 Mahanagar Te, 51.55, 55, 49.4, 50.3

Mahindra & M, 727.5, 738.9, 721, 733.3 Maruti Suzuk, 1279.55, 1285, 1268, 1278.25 Max India Lt, 167.1, 170.9, 164.5, 169.5 Moser-baer (, 47.25, 48.1, 47, 47.4 Mrpl, 68, 70.5, 68, 69.15 Nagarjuna Fe, 30.1, 32.2, 30.1, 31.95 National Alu, 98.1, 100, 97.9, 98.1 Neyveli Lign, 113.2, 114.9, 110.55, 113.05 Ntpc Ltd, 192.35, 192.65, 185.8, 186.15 Oil And Natu, 299.9, 301, 290.3, 291.6 Omaxe Limite, 141.8, 141.8, 136, 138.55 Oriental Ban, 391.5, 397.45, 385.35, 389.1 Pantaloon Re, 288, 296.55, 282.25, 294.5 Parsvnath De, 46, 48.4, 45.15, 47.3 Petronet Lng, 126, 129.2, 125.75, 128.3 Power Fin Co, 258.15, 262.8, 258.15, 261.15 Power Grid C, 105.05, 106.7, 104.4, 104.95 Praj Industr, 76.9, 78.3, 76.2, 77.25 Punj Lloyd L, 75, 77.4, 74.8, 76.25 Punjab Natio, 1198, 1209.9, 1190.9, 1199.45 Rajesh Expor, 107.75, 109.3, 106.2, 106.55

Ranbaxy Labs, 464.1, 470.25, 460.15, 461.5 Rashtriya Ch, 85, 89.4, 82.6, 88.7 Reliance Cap, 632, 633.3, 622.5, 624.5 Reliance Com, 110.5, 112.2, 110, 110.75 Reliance Ene, 1134, 1140, 1121.01, 1130.4 Reliance Ind, 708, 728.35, 703.25, 708.85 Reliance Ind, 1045.05, 1047.55, 1035.1, 1041.9 Reliance Pow, 136.6, 137.2, 135, 135.65 Rolta India, 154.9, 155, 151.5, 152.3 Satyam Compu, 76.9, 77.2, 75.2, 76 Sesa Goa Ltd, 325.7, 325.75, 315, 315.8 Shipping Cor, 115.5, 118.75, 115.5, 117.75 Siemens Ltd, 890.5, 897, 890.5, 895.3 Sintex Indus, 165.9, 173, 165.55, 169 Sobha Develo, 324.1, 327.1, 318.1, 324.3 State Bank O, 2794, 2835, 2775, 2812.9 Steel Author, 172.4, 175.55, 172.05, 173.95 Sterlite Ind, 177, 177.4, 173.9, 174.7 Sun Pharmace, 444.6, 444.6, 438.2, 441.25 Sun Tv Netwo, 442.05, 457.4, 441, 448.8 Suzlon Energ, 52.5, 54, 50.95, 53.45 Tata Communi, 255, 260.5, 254, 255.2

Tata Consult, 1220, 1220, 1195.15, 1199.2 Tata Motors, 1289.75, 1302, 1276.5, 1290.9 Tata Power C, 1303, 1322, 1303, 1319.85 Tata Steel L, 636, 642, 634, 638.35 Tata Teleser, 18.2, 18.35, 18, 18.2 Tech Mahindr, 735, 754, 720.25, 750.3 The Ge Shpg., 285, 295.45, 282.1, 291.6 The Phoenix, 207, 216, 198, 199.8 Thermax Ltd, 668, 685.5, 666, 682.95 Titan Indust, 4035, 4054.75, 3981, 3991.65 Torrent Powe, 261.5, 271, 261.45, 267.95 Triveni Engg, 98.55, 104.1, 97.6, 103.15 Tv18 India L, 84.5, 84.9, 82.65, 83.75 Uco Bank, 116, 118, 114, 116.05 Ultratech Ce, 1110.95, 1125.05, 1096, 1100.6 Union Bank O, 348.9, 353.85, 344.4, 351.4 Unitech Ltd, 45.75, 48.85, 44.5, 47.75 United Phosp, 152.4, 155.95, 150.5, 154.6 Videocon Ind, 201.7, 203.8, 199.2, 200.2 Vijaya Bank, 90, 91.8, 89.05, 90.3 Voltas Ltd, 186.5, 186.5, 181.2, 182.3 Wipro Ltd, 464.95, 473.75, 458.65, 472.45 Yes Bank Lim, 319.5, 332, 317.6, 330.3

OHERALDO

Pg 13

WORLD

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

Japan using gas to avoid explosion at atomic plant AFP TOKYO, APRIL 7

Workers at Japan’s stricken nuclear plant on Thursday pumped nitrogen into a crippled reactor in a bid to prevent a possible explosion, as the government mulled widening an exclusion zone around the site.

With the crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi plant approaching the end of its fourth week, operator Tokyo Electric Power said it was concerned a build-up of hydrogen gas at the No. 1 reactor could cause another explosion at the site.

And a week after the UN’s nuclear watchdog said the 20-kilometre (12-mile) evacuation zone around the stricken plant should be increased, chief government spokesman Yukio Edano indicated Tokyo was considering widening the zone.

“The existing safety standards

for local residents are that an evacuation order is issued if there is a possibility that they might receive radiation 50 millisieverts or above,” he said. “The standard assumed that a high level of radiation is emitted temporarily.”

“We are discussing how best to issue evacuation orders based on data and standards for accumulative radiation,” Edano said.

He added a procedure to inject nitrogen gas into the housing around reactor No. 1 was “proceeding smoothly”.

TEPCO said they were concerned that massed hydrogen inside the vessel could mix with incoming oxygen, creating an explosion.

Experts say the risk of a detonation could rise as the nuclear fuel rods cool and as the steam inside the containment vessel condenses into water, reducing pressure inside the unit and

drawing air in through cracks.

Workers began pumping in nitrogen, an inert gas abundant in the atmosphere, which they hope will displace the oxygen. The process to inject 6,000 cubic metres (210,000 cubic feet) will take around six days, TEPCO said.

“Workers started injecting nitrogen gas at 1:31 am (1631 GMT Wednesday). Since the pressure level went up, they confirmed that the gas was successfully going into the container,” said a spokesman with Japan’s nuclear safety agency.

TEPCO said it was also planning to inject nitrogen gas into reactors number 2 and 3 as a preventative measure.

In the days after the earthquake and tsunami crippled the plant, large explosions resulted from hydrogen accumulation near the reactors, damaging the outer buildings housing them.

Around 3,400 people are unaccounted for along the 40-kilometre stretch of coast covered by the exclusion zone and on Thursday, around 300 police began searching for bodies in the the outer 10-kilometre band of the zone.

Television pictures showed officers in full body suits entering the area, while a police spokesman said all officers were

armed with radiation meters.

Pg 14 GOA, Friday, 8 April 2011

SPORTS GSA emerge GPL champions HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Goa Sports Academy defeated Dempo Cricket Club by virtue of 1st innings lead to emerge GPL champions at Cricket Academy Stadium, Porvorim on Thursday.

Dempo won the toss and elected to field. GSA scored 279 all out in 93 overs, thanks to Tushar Narvekar who scored 71 with 10 fours and Reagan Pinto 64 with 6 fours. Sujay Tarafdar scored 50 with 7 fours.

Arun Wagji was Dempo’s top wicket taker with 4-53. Shailesh Misquin claimed 3-39.

Dempo were all out for 220 in 81.1 overs thus conceding a lead of 59 runs.

Santosh Upadhya scored 35 with 4 fours followed by Shailesh Misquin scoring 27 with

2 fours and 3 sixes.

Reagan Pinto took 4 wickets and I S Reddy claimed 3.

In the second innings, GSA were 202 for 1 in 30 overs with Sagun Kamat scoring a classic 119 studded with 11 fours and 7 sixes in 111 minutes. Anup Kolambkar and Tushar Narvekar were the not out batsman on 50 and 19 respectively.

Kunal Nair was the lone wicket taker for Dempo.

GSA innings: Sagun Kamat ct behind Keenan Vaz b. Shailesh Misquin 12, Anup Kolambkar ct.

Kunal Nair b. Shailesh Misquin 10, Tushar Narvekar ct. Harshad Gadekar b. Shailesh Misquin 71, Reagan Pinto lbw Arun Wagji 64, Suhail Chandok ct. Arun Wagji b. Yeshwant Raikar 10, Abhinav Kumar ct. Arun Wagji b. Harshad Gadekar 33, Naveen

Sharma bowled Arun Wagji 5, Ryan D’Souza lbw Arun Wagji 1, Sujoy Tarafdar st. Keenan Vaz b. Arun Vagji 50, Inder Shekhar Reddy bowled Harshad Gadekar 0, Sherman Vaz not out 14. Extras 9. Total 279 all out (93 overs).

Fall:1-20, 2-32, 3-126, 4-149, 5-199, 6-210, 7-215, 8-219, 9219, 10-279.

Bowling: Harshad Gadekar 233-71-2, Shailesh Misquin 14-439-3, Kunal Naira 7-1-11-0, Santosh Uphadya 12-1-50-0, Yeshwant Raikar 3-0-24-1, Arun Wagji 21-4-53-4, Ilyas Naroo 131-24-0.

D e m p o i n n i n g s : Ro h a n Belekar ct. Tushar Narvekar b.

Reagan Pinto 25, Kunal Nair lbw b. Sujoy Tarafdar 0, Madhu Kamat bowled I S Reddy 22, Chandrakant Ghadi ct. Tushar

The victorious GSA team alongwith sitting (l to r): Sagun Kamat, Vikas Sawkar (manager), Xavier Marques (president), Vallabh Prabhu (secretary), Prakash Mayenkar (coach) and Aditya Angle (captain).

Narvekar b. Reagan Pinto 21, Keenan Vaz ct. Abhinav Kumar b. Reagan Pinto 20, Ilyas Naroo ct. I S Reddy b. Anup Kolambkar 20, Yeshwant Raikar run put (Reagan Pinto) 8, Santosh Upadhya lbw Reagan Pinto 35, Harshad Gadekar ct. Sagun Kamat b. I S Reddy 20, Shailesh Misquin bowled I S Reddy 27, Arun Vagji not out 0.

Dempo aim at maintaining winning run HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARGAO, APRIL 7

An upbeat defending champions Dempo are determined to maintain their winning momentum when they take on Viva Kerala in the I-League encounter at Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Friday at 4.15 p.m.

Dempo who defeated Viva Kerala in the first-leg are confident of continuing their good showing.

Dempo coach, Mauricio Afonso is keen to exploit the home advantage and play for a win. “The morale of the players

is high and I am confident that they will play to win,” stated Afonso, after the team had a light training session at University ground, Taleigao on Thursday.

“Viva Kerala are low in placement but we cannot afford to relax. We have to work hard and put them under pressure,” Mauricio added.

Mauricio will have a full squad to choose from.

Ranty Martins is in fine form and will lead the attack. Roberto Mendes da Silva alias Beto will surely keep Viva Kerala’s defend-

ers on their toes. Climax Lawrence will operate as a central midfielder and will have Nigerian Ogba Kalu, Clifford Miranda and Peter Carvalho. Mahesh Gawli, Domnic Noronha, Samir Naik and Debarata Roy will form the back four while Subhashish Roy Chowdhury will be under the bar.

Viva Kerala coach P Kunhi Krishnan said, “We cannot underestimate our rivals. Dempo are one of the best teams in the country and also have the home advantage. So we have to play well. This is a crucial match for

Customs, Ponda up HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

I-League: Dempo v. Viva Kerala, Nehru Stadium, Fatorda-Margao, 4.15 p.m.

GFA U-14 North Zone playoff: Dunes SC v. Portais SC, Duler Stadium, Mapusa, 4.15 p.m.

1st All-India Invitational Veterans soccer: Golden Gunners, Mumbai v. Bardez Veterans, 3.15 p.m.; Salgaocar Veterans v. Kerela Veterans, sports complex, Ponda, 5 p.m.

Rusi Daver soccer quarterfinals: Sai Avtaar, Anjuna v. FC Siolim, Saligao Sporting ground, 4.30 p.m.

All-Goa Cavelossim Panchayat Cup soccer: St Cruz Club of Cavelossim v. United Boys of Benaulim, Fr Drunston and Wellington ground, Cavelossim, 4 p.m.

XIII Immaculate soccer: Goa Velha SC v. Chinchinim Villagers, panchayat ground, Avedem, Paroda, 4.30 p.m.

Bardez Cup soccer: UC Nerul v. Sirsaim SC, Dr Gustavo Monteiro Stadium, Candolim, 4.30 p.m.

Curtorim Panchayat Cup soccer: Maina SC v. Davorlim SC ,Curtorim ground, 4.45 p.m.

Villagers of Goa-Velha Super Soccer semis: St Mathew ’s Azossim v. St. Lawrence, Agasaim, Goa Velha ground, 4.30 p.m.

Customs and Central Excise Veterans ousted Air India, Mumbai 3-2 while Ponda Football Veterans defeated Kolhapur Veterans via the penalties 6-5 in All-India Veterans football tournament at sports complex, Ponda on Thursday. Air India led 2-0 at the lemon break.

Customs shot into the lead when Lector chipped the ball to Franky who scored. Charles Lobo doubled the lead for Customs off a pass from Francis.

Crossing over, Air India opened their account through Joginder Thapa off a Jacinto D’Silva.

Minutes later, Customs’ Franky found the net over an advancing rival keeper.

Air India got their second goal when Santan D’Souza beat keeper Trevor hands down.

Franky Mascarenhas was adjudged man-of-the-match.

Later, Ponda and Kolhapur were unable to open the scoring after good goalkeeping from both the team’s custodians.

In the tie-breaker, Santan, Ramesh, Martin, Oswaldo, Terry and Vincent scored for Ponda while Prasad, Shambaji, Raju, Raju D and Sunil netted for Kolhapur.

Kolhapur’s Raju Jodke received the man-of-the-match award.

Chandor in quarters HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

A brace by Victorino Fernandes helped Chandor Sports Club defeat Sao Jose de Areal Sports Club 2-0 to move into the quarter-finals of XII Immaculate Soccer organised by Immaculate Conception Sports Club, Ave-

dem, Paroda, at Village panchayat ground, Avedem, Paroda on Thursday. There was no score at the lemon break.

Chandor broke the deadlock when Victorino Fernandes scored in the 56th minute.

Victorino completed his brace in the 66th minute.

Wilfred Leisure ahead HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

Wilfred Leisure Sports Club, Curtorim defeated Rossman Cruz Sports Club, Nagoa via the penalties in All-Goa Cavelossim Panchayat Cup soccer tournament sponsored by Village Panchayat of Cavelossim and organised by St Cruz Club of

Cavelossim at Fr Drunston and Wellington ground, Cavelossim, Thursday.

Rossman Cruz shot into the lead in the 9th minute through Anthony Fernandes.

Wilfred leisure equalized when Sartorio Monterio shot on target in the 30th minute.

Carmona move up HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, APRIL 7

A superb save in the sudden death from goalkeeper Mohamad Sheik helped Carmona Boys beat Valankanni Boys, Calangute 6-5 in Villagers of Goa Velha Super Soccer at Goa Velha ground on Thurs-

day.There was no score at full time.

In the tie-breaker, Royston, Janson, Alex, Maxi, Mohammad and Shiradhar converted for Carmona while Oilex, Standly, Savio, Lawrence and Talwar scored for Valankanni. Roy’s kick was saved

by Mohammad’s good dive.

both the teams,” said Krishnan.

Except for Nigerian striker, Felix Chumaikwu who has a double booking, Viva Kerala will be at full strength and could try for a win.

Viva Kerala’s coach is confident that his strikers Sabbeth CS and Anil Kumar will provide the punch in the attack. He also believes that the midfielders will work in tandem with the forwards to put the rival defence under pressure.

Viva Kerala expects Sharath K to produce a stellar performance under the bar.

Sesa held, Vasco beaten HERALD SPORTS REPORTER PANJIM, April 7

Sesa Football Academy and Malabar United played a goalless draw in 2nd Division Group B Ileague match at Tata Complex, Jamshedpur.

Royal Wahingdoh beat Vasco Club 3-1 in a Group C match in Tamil Nadu.

Ko ko S a k i b u p u t Va s c o ahead in the 50th, but Royal hit back and scored through P H Boy Singh (60), Henry Ndupirm (65), Jacky Chand Singh (90+4').

Sodiem advance HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, APRIL 7

Sodiem Sports and Cultural Association, Siolim defeated Friends XI, Vaddem 3-1 in the inaugural match of Bardez Cup inter-village football tournament organised by United Club of Nerul at Dr Gustavo Monteiro Stadium, Candolim, on Thursday.

Vaddem began on a promising note and could have forged ahead in the very 3rd minute but a Francis Sequeira try missed the net by inches.

Sodiem got their act together and scored in the 20th minute through Nikhil Goltekar off a defensive lapse. Sodiem could have doubled the lead in the 28th minute but a Mayur Toraskar try kissed the bar and went out of play.

Prestonio Fernandes doubled the lead for Sodiem in the closing minutes of the first half off Nikhil.

C h a n g i n g o v e r, S o d i e m scored another goal through Nikhil off Preston’s move in the 40th minute. Vaddem reduced the margin through Dinesh Dhargalkar in the 50th.

Goa Velha move into Zaino finals

MARGAO (HC) --Goa Velha Sports Club beat St Rock’s Youth Club, Majorda 5-4 via the tie-breaker to march into the finals of AllGoa SWC Cup inter-village football tournament at Zaino

ground, Velim on Thursday. The teams were locked goalless at full time.

In the tie-breaker, Vishant Pednekar, Rydon Cordeiro, Vizal D’Silva, Jerome Rodrigues and

Melwyn were on target for the winners while Naveen, Hayson Velho, B Parulekar and Anthony converted for St Rock.

Goa Velha will meet SWC, Zaino in the finals for April 10.

Penha de Franca triumph HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, APRIL 7

Janifer Clemente netted a brace in the last eleven minutes to crown Penha de Franca Bardez Zone Second Division champions, after they routed 10-man Saligao United 5-1, in GFA’s Second Division inter-group play-off at Duler Stadium, Thursday. Penha led 2-1 at the interval.

Saligao captain James Soares received his second yellow card and was promptly sent off in the 63rd minute, where Saligao were only behind by a goal at the time.

With Penha missing their prolific forward Francisco Fernandes through suspension and Saligao missing their midfield dynamo Philino Ratos through injury; it was always going to be interesting to see how each team would cope.

After just eight minutes, Manguseh Kankonkar gave Penha the lead with an outstanding strike from outside the box, which curled over the Saligao custodian’s head and into the top corner.

Twelve minutes later, Penha doubled their lead when Janifer Clemente sent in a teasing low cross from the right flank, which the Saligao defence

made a mess of trying to clear, before Ryan D’Sousa placed the ball past the goalkeeper.

In the 30th minute, Saligao’s Cleton Rodrigues let fly a rasping shot, which gave the Penha goalkeeper little chance of saving, as it nearly made a whole in the net.

Changing over, Saligao looked to get back, but were put on the backfoot after their captain James was sent off.

In the 65th minute, Penha defender Bruno Fernandes headed home from close range after receiving a cross from Janifer.

In the 79th, Janifer swung in a corner, which was deflected in by Saligao defender Mahesh Rane for Penha’s fourth.

Four minutes later, Janifer tapped in his second after getting on the end of a dribble into the box by teammate, Ryan.

“We played well and I am happy with the whole team’s performance, let’s hope this form continues,” stated Penha coach Rama Krishna Naik.

Penha topped Group B with six points from four matches and a zero goal difference. After winning today’s play-off 5-1, their goal difference ended on +4.

Extras 22. Total 220 all out (81.1 overs). Fall: 1-0, 2-46, 358, 4-86, 5-113, 6-130, 7-140, 8-189, 9-193, 10-220.

Bowling: Sujoy Tarafdar 144-34-1, Ryan D’Souza 11-3-210, I S Reddy 28.1-14-38-3, Reagan Pinto 21-4-81-4, Anup Kolambkar 7-2-24-1.

GSA (2nd innings): Sagun Kamat ct behind Keenan Vaz b.

Kunal Nair 119, Anup Kolambkar not out 50, Tushar Narvekar not out 19.

Extras 14. Total 202/1 (30 overs). Fall: 1-180.

Bowling: Harshad Gadekar 10-6-0, Arun Vagji 8-0-52-0, Shailsh Misquin 4-0-25-0, Kunal Nair 4-0-20-1, Yeshwant Raikar 2-0-24-0, Ilyas Naroo 6-0-38-0, Santosh Upadhya 5-0-29-0.

Dutta Ray Trophy probables PANJIM (HSD) -- The following players have been shortlisted for the final round of selections for the State team participating in the 20th U-21 National Championship for Dutta Ray Trophy.

Soma Korgaonkar, Sugitesh Mandrekar, Neves Fernandes, G u e n d o l e n Va z , J o y n e r Lourenco, Daison Cardozo, Keenan Almeida, Mariano Fernandes, Richard Fernandes, Tyson Fernandes, Alber Gonsalves, Freddy Faria, Jayesh

Chopdekar, Parshuram Koddenevar, Pedro Gonsalves, Aaron Fernandes, Girish Naik, Basilio Rego, Rowlin Borges, Mandar Desai, Brain Mascarenhas, Nicholas Fernandes, Marcus Fernandes, Blake Haldankar, Amol Salgaokar, Brain Rodrigues, Stephene Barretto, Cliff Fernandes, Adwin Lucas and Alvito Miranda.

Those selected may report to Welvin Menezes or Lino Pereira at Duler Stadium on April 8 at 7.30 a.m.

GOA DIARY Chess tourney at Marcela

PANJIM (HSD) -- Khandola Chess Club will organise their chess tournament on April 23 and 24 at Cumbarjuvekarni hall, Marcela for U-7, U-9, U-11 and U-15, boys and girls.

Rs 3,000, Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 will be awarded in the open category while the winners in the other categories will be awarded special prizes. The tournament is restricted to youth from Tivrem-Korgao, St Estevam, Cumbarjua and Betki-Khandola.

The last date for registration is April 22. Details may be obtained from Manoj Naik on 9326125628, Kusha Naik on 9420978260 or Yogesh Pai Bir on 2287104.

I-League matches kick-off

PANJIM (HSD) – The I-League matches will kick off at 4.15 p.m., from April 8 onwards according to a press release from the GFA.

Hockey tourney at Caranzalem

PANJIM (HSD) – Caranzalem Sporting Club will organise their 2nd All-Goa 6-a-side hockey tournament on April 17 at Caranzalem ground at 9 a.m. Details may be obtained from Jude on 9923497623.

Paralympic TT selections

PANJIM (HSD) – The Goa Paralympic Association will conduct selection trials on April 9 at Ponda sports complex at 4 p.m. to select probables for paralympic senior and junior National table tennis championship to be held on April 30 and May 1 in Bangalore. The selections will be done in two age groups - juniors (below 18 years as on 1/1/11) and senior/men/women (above 18 years). Those interested may report alongwith their disability certificates.

Details may be obtained from the Goa Paralympic Association, Ponda on 9422970919 and 9422579433.

Volleyball tourneys at Loutolim

PANJIM (HSD) -- Miracles Youth Club, Vanxem, Loutolim, Salcete will organise their 3rd All-Goa volleyball tournament in memory of Vailan D'Mello from April 14-17 and 3rd All-Loutolim interward Jose Marie D'Mello memorial volleyball tournament from April 10-14. Details may be obtained from Socorro D'Mello, president on 9850468460 and organising secretary, Frank Dias on 9822136961.

Shotokan karate classes

PANJIM (HSD) -- Sensei Joseph Rodrigues will conduct shotokan karate classes for students above 7 years and adults from April 6 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p.m. at Goa College of Pharmacy, 18th June Road, Panjim (mixed batch children and adults) and at Basilios Gym, St Inez, Panjim at 6.15 a.m. for adults. Details may be obtained from Sensei Joseph on 9822166165.

Soccer trials at Betalbatim

MARGAO (HC) -- Bresources Betalbatim Sporting Club will conduct selection trials to select their U-14 football team on April 7 at Betalbatim sports complex at 3 p.m. Those born on or after 1/1/1998 are eligible. Those interested may contact coach Eban Mesquita at the venue with full playing kit.

Pilerne gen body meeting

PANJIM (HSD) – Pilerne Sports Club will conduct its general body meeting on April 10 at the village panchayat hall at 10 a.m.

Hike to Tambdi Surla

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Goa Hiking Association will organise a 1day hike to Tambdi Surla waterfall on April 10. The bus will leave Hira petrol pump at 8 a.m. and Ponda at 9 a.m. Details may be obtained from Pramod Kamat on 9422058071 or 9822984848, Mangirish Pai on 9420164130, Vishwas Kadam on 9823885031, Chandresh Naik on 9422390807, Chandu Dantye on 9923514068, Naikhil Rawal on 9270955733 or 9673701894, Dr Richard Fernandes on 9823539804 or Mukesh Naik on 9503052536.

Mega pool event

PANJIM (HSD) -- M&S will organise a mega pool tournament at Game On, Betim on April 9 and 10 from 11 p.m.. The winners will take home Rs 5,000 and a cue while the runners-up will have to be content with Rs 3,000 and a cue. Individual prizes will be awarded. Details may by obtained on 9049051800.

Youth football at Curtorim

PANJIM (HSD) -- The second phase of Australian Sports Outreach Youth Development Programme under GFA will be held from april 7 (3.45 p.m.) at Curtorim ground. Boys and girls born on or after January 1, 2000 are eligible. Details may be obtained from Zonal Head, Arnaldo Costa on 9822582836, or John Rodrigues on 9657960544 or head coach, Joaquim Gunja on 9881335618.

Athletics workshop at Bicholim

MARGAO (HC) – The Goa Athletic Association in collaboration with Bicholim, Pernem, Sattari Talukas Physical Education Teachers Forum will organise an athletic workshop-cum-felicitation programme at Shivaji Maidan, Bicholim on April 8 and 9 at 9 a.m.

Pg 15

SPORTS GOA, Friday, 8 April 2011

Rooney stuns Chelsea, Barca win AFP PARIS, APRIL 7

A composed Wayne Rooney netted a potentially priceless goal as Manchester United earned a 1-0 Champions League quarterfinal, first leg victory at Chelsea, while Barcelona thumped Shakhtar Donetsk 5-1 in Spain.

Rooney had come under fire - and earned a two-match ban, along with front-page headlines -- for a foul-mouthed tirade at television cameras after scoring his hat-trick in a 4-2 win over West Ham last week.

After firing home decisively at Stamford Bridge, the England forward resisted any temptation to scream out his feelings as he raced towards the cameras behind the goal after sweeping home Ryan Gigg's low cross in the 24th minute.

Tuesday's fireworks comprising Real Madrid's four-goal salvo against the other English survivors, Tottenham, and Schalke's 5-2 demolition of holders Inter Milan in the San Siro had set the entertainment bar sky-high.

Although the goal count in London was lower, the fullblooded nature of the encounter kept the fans on the edge of their seats as both sides set about their business with gusto.

United, who saw off Chelsea in a penalty shootout in the 2008 final, gambled on the fitness of England veteran Ferdinand following more than two months struggling with a calf

injury and his experience was a boon in a tense affair.

Rooney's strike gave United their first win at Chelsea in nearly a decade and the threetime European champions are now clear favourites to advance to a likely semi-final against Schalke.

Chelsea came agonisingly close to levelling moments before the break when Didier Drogba crossed into the danger zone only for misfiring sidekick Fernando Torres to fail to get a touch, the ball bouncing on to clip Edwin Van der Sar's far post.

Frank Lampard half-connected with the rebound but United's French fullback Patrice Evra was alert to the danger, clearing off the line.

Chelsea went out to Jose Mourinho's eventual champions Inter Milan last season in the last 16 while United exited in the quarters to Bayern Munich.

This time, Ferguson had underlined the importance of the away goal -- and Javier Hernandez could even have made it 20 three minutes before the interval but United's Mexican 'little pea' just failed to get his head to Rooney's cross.

C h e l s e a h a d w o n t h re e straight jousts with United, including last month's stormy 2-1 league defeat that led to Ferguson receiving a five-match touchline ban.

The arrival of Nicolas Anelka -- for Drogba -- almost sparked

a Chelsea revival as the French veteran teed up Torres but van der Sar made a fine stop from the Spaniard's header.

After Chelsea were denied a penalty -- when United defender Patrice Evra clashed with Ramires in the box -- Torres earned a late booking after going to ground under a challenge from Valencia and complaining vociferously.

In the Nou Camp, Barcelona turned the screw early against Shakhtar Donetsk as Andres Iniesta opened the scoring after just two minutes from close range.

Iniesta then clipped a neat ball into the box for the marauding Dani Alves to collect and stroll past keeper Andriy Pyatov before firing home for 2-0 11 minutes before the interval.

At the other end Luiz Adriano wasted a fine chance to level when he blasted wide when well-placed after 10 minutes.

But Barca survived that scare and were in cruise control once former United centre half Gerard Pique made it 3-0 soon after the restart.

Yaroslav Ratkitskiy bundled in for the visitors before Seydou Keita smashed home Barca's fourth and Xavi completed the rout on 86 minutes.

The only downside for Barca came when Iniesta earned a yellow card which means he will miss the second leg through suspension.

Messi Facebook draws over 6 m AFP BUENOS AIRES, APRIL 7

Chelsea . .0 Man United .1 Barcelona .5 Shakhtar . . .1 Chelsea's Ivorian striker Didier Drogba (left) vies with Manchester United's Brazilian defender Rafael Da Silva at Stamford Bridge, in London, on Wednesday.

Rooney gets 2-match ban AFP LONDON, APRIL 7

Manchester United star Wayne Rooney has been banned for two matches following his expletiveladen tirade at a television camera, the FA confirmed Thursday.

Ro o n e y w i l l n o w m i s s United's upcoming Premier League clash with Fulham as well as their FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester City on April 16 after an appeal by the club was rejected.

Rooney had surprisingly been charged with using abusive language after he swore into a camera following his hat-trick in the 4-2 win over West Ham at Upton Park last Saturday.

The charge carried a mandatory two-match suspension but United had appealed to have the ban cut to one match at a hearing on Wednesday.

India's first World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev has been chosen for the Global Diversity Award for Sports 2011 for his outstanding achievements in cricket and his recent induction into the ICC Hall of Fame 2010.

Rt Hon. Keith Vaz, Labour MP, Chairman, Home Affairs Select Committee, who hosted the event, described Kapil as "Global Sporting Icon".

The award was instituted by the Next Step Foundation, a non-partisan not-for-profit organisation set up by Vaz that promotes diversity and leadership issues in the United Kingdom. Previous recipients of the Award include Reverend Jesse Jackson, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and Britain's ace motor racing expert Lewis Hamilton.

Arjan Vekaria, of Demystifying India, an organisation uncovering barriers to business success with India, presented the award to former Indian cricket captain in the presence of former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd, former Indian wicket keeper-batsman Farooq Engineer, leading NRI Labour MP Virendra Sharma and Mrs Valerie Vaz, MP, at a gala function organised in the dining room of the House of Com-

Sania-Elena shock Huber & Co AGENCIES CHARLESTON, APRIL 7

Kapil wins Global Diversity Award for Sport 2011 PTI LONDON, APRIL 7

Following tens of millions of other social media fans worldwide, Barcelona midfield star Lionel Messi set up a Facebook page on Wednesday.

In contrast to his electronic peers, however, within just a few hours his page had attracted more than six million followers.

Such popularity warranted a speedy response from the Argentina international.

"Welcome to everyone and thanks for all the messages you

mons here last night.

Vaz said Kapil would travel from London to Leicester, about 160 km today to inaugurate Soar Valley College's cricket pitch. Soar Valley is a specialist Maths and Computing College which has recently seen major building works as part of the building schools for the Future initiative.

As part of the improvement the original site of the school building was developed into new playing fields, including the new cricket pitch that Kapil will inaugurate.

The new cricket pitch will be known locally as "Kapil Square".

Receiving the award, Kapil said, "I played cricket with total passion and I enjoyed my cricketing career. After I stopped playing cricket, I started playing golf. I really enjoy golf now."

Kapil regaled the audience with a number of embarrassing incidents he had to face during his cricketing days as his English was not good enough.

When he was chosen to tour England in 1979, the erstwhile Indian captain Bishen Singh Bedi remarked, "How can we take Kapil? He can not speak English."

"Then I took him aside and told him that we should take somebody from Oxford. He may not play cricket but he can speak English."

He also narrated his experiences in Australia and the Caribbean, where he found it difficult to understand their accent of English language.

Sania Mirza and partner Elena Vesnina pulled off a big upset, ousting second seeds and strong contenders Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond from the Family Circle Cup with a straight-set victory.

The unseeded but in-form Indo-Russian pair beat the local favourites 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the US $721,000 WTA hardcourt tournament.

The Sania-Elena pair saved eight break chances, including five in the second set, when the Americans upped the intensity in a bid to stay in the match.

In the quarter-finals, they will take on the Russian-Australian combination of Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova.

In the singles, Sania is set to clash with German wildcard Sabine Lisicki, who shocked fourth seed Marion Bartoli of France 6-2, 6-3 in her seccond round match.

Meanwhile, World number one Caroline Wozniacki cruised into the third round dispatching American qualifier Irina Falconi 6-1, 6-1.

have been sending me. Now we shall be closer with Facebook," said the two-time world footballer of the year, whose followers come from all corners of the globe.

Messi, 23, was later hoping to help propel Barcelona towards the CL semis with Barca taking on Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk at the Nou Camp Wednesday.

pg 16:Layout 1 4/7/2011 10:48 PM Page 1

Pg16

GSA emerge GPL champions Pg 14

GOA, FRIDAY, 8 APRIL, 2011

Rooney stuns Chelsea, Barcelona win Pg 15

Dhoni’s Kings take on Gambhir’s Knights

PTI CHENNAI, APRIL 7

It will be a classic case of 'friends turning into foes' when Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash with Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening match of the IPL on Friday, less than a week after the duo guided India to their historic World Cup triumph in Mumbai.

As the cash-rich Twenty20 cricketing extravaganza gets underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, it will be the beginning of new era sans Lalit Modi, who was the face of the event during the first three editions.

Also this will be the first time that the league will feature 10 teams with the inclusion of Pune Warriors and Kochi Tuskers Kerala.

It will be there for all to see how the BCCI organises an event where Modi used to have a final say in every aspect. The former IPL commissioner and vice-president of BCCI has since then been suspended and now has taken refuge in London after the cricket board pressed numerous charges of corruption against him.

After a hugely successful play-

ers' auction which saw some of the young Indian players commanding astronomical prices, the Chirayu Amin-led IPL governing council will now look to capitalise on India's World Cup triumph which has definitely upped the stakes by manifold.

Coming back to tournament, defending champions CSK will certainly start as the overwhelming favourites against a team that hasn't been able to cash in on its enormous fan-following across India, thanks to its principal owner Shah Rukh Khan.

After having failed to make it to the semi-finals during the last three editions, the KKR management led by SRK and coowner Jay Mehta have gone for a revamped side with Gautam Gambhir at the helm and T20 specialist Yusuf Pathan as one of the marquee players.

With Kolkata's favourite son Sourav Ganguly no longer a part of the team, it will be a big challenge for Gambhir and his boys to start winning and get the cricket crazy Kolkatans rooting for them.

The bigger challenge will be to get past CSK who have inarguably been the most consistent team during the last three editions with one championship, one runners-up and a last four finish. The biggest strength for CSK has been their ability to retain the most of their core players save Muttiah Muralitharan who will don the Kochi jersey.

Having retained Dhoni, Suresh Raina, local hero Murali Vijay and South African allrounder Albie Morkel, the home team bid successfully to retain spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, prolific run-machine Subramanium Badrinath and Australian Michael Hussey, which gives their batting a formidable look.

n It will be a classic case of 'friends turning into foes' when Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings (CSK) clash with Gautam Gambhir-led Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the opening match of the IPL on Friday, less than a week after the duo guided India to their historic World Cup triumph in Mumbai.

The Indian captain is, however, the one who believes that its more about the on-field exploits than the reputation onpaper.

"Our team is quite good. Like I always say, it is about what we do on field; it's more important than how the team looks on paper. Fitness is the key during a long tournament like IPL.” "If all the players are fit and available for selection, it is a very good side," Dhoni said.

The skipper was all praise for his team's batting line-up.

"The batting line-up is as good as last year. Badri, Raina are there and South African Faf du Plessis has come in.”

"We have all-rounders and Hussey will also join in. Overall, it's a very good batting line-up," he said.

Dhoni, however, played down the pressure factor, although there is a lot at stake.

"IPL is not about less pressure.

Batting slots are decided according to situation. When all are shuffled up and down the order, it's according to the situation.

Batting slots from 1-3 are fixed, then it's me or Badri. Aniruddh is batting very well for us. If we have to change the batting order, everyone has to be comfortable about doing it."

For KKR, it will be a make-orbreak year. Gambhir, who hadn't exactly fired with the bat after the first edition of IPL will like to carry the confidence of his

Batting game-changers SACHIN TENDULKAR T T

he master has a knack of proving his detractors wrong by turning the tide when the waves are perilous. Sachin Tendulkar was highly criticized for his inability to excel in the T20 version of the game.

With Mumbai's disappointing outings in the first two seasons, captain Tendulkar was under immense pressure. Just when it seemed detractors might get away, the champion struck back with 618 runs in 15 matches from the 2010 season. His knocks propelled Mumbai to the final but luck didn't abide by the master. This season, fresh from World Cup triumph, he will be looking to start from where he had left and given the purple patch he is going through his opponents should be wary of him.

O

ADAM GILCHRIST

ne look at Gilly on field and it would take pinching to make you believe that he had retired from international cricket almost 4 years ago. As active, as athletic and as devastating as he was during his days in national colours, Gilchrist led from the front to take Deccan Chargers to the IPL title in 2009. He is one of the most consistent performers of the league, both in front and behind the wickets, and holds the record for being the first batsman to get to the 1000 runs mark in IPL. Some might take his lack of realmatch practice as a disadvantage but the demolisher has time and again shown he only waylays for his preys. In charge of Kings XI Punjab this year, Gilchrist would try to live up to the expectations of the owners, fans and teammates.

A

AB DE VILLIERS

B de Villiers is one of the few practicing masons left of the once revered art of cricketing masonry. AB adds stability as well as flamboyance to any team he plays for. Be it South Africa or his former team Delhi Daredevils, he has been a proven performer. He was the corner stone of Delhi’s batting line in the first three editions of the tournament. His 105 (not out) in IPL II versus Chennai was just an exhibition of the oozing talent that this South African lad possesses. IPL 4 would expect AB to live up to his past performances, entertain the crowds and irritate the oppositions.

TILLAKARATNE DILSHAN

T

illakaratne Dilshan will be forever remembered as the man who revolutionized an unorthodox shot and used it to effect with clinical precision. His trademark paddle-scoop, known as 'Dil Scoop', is not one that goes by the cricketing books yet the doubters have never had the courage to guffaw it as a biblical blunder. That’s because the impact and not the rules decide games inside the 22 yards. His contribution to Delhi Daredevil’s success cannot be measured by statistics. He has contributed in almost every win of Delhi's and now in Royal Challengers Bangalore's colours, he is expected do what he does best- 'Scoop the opposition out of the game'.

VIRENDER SEHWAG

T

he Delhi bomber has his reputation of playing the game in his own unconventional manner. A player who plays all three versions of the game in the same fashion, Sehwag has done it all that was once considered taboo. He holds the record for scoring the fastest triple century in Test Cricket and fastest century by an Indian in ODI cricket. Though his lesser success in T20 cricket remains a mystery, Sehwag was never defined by averages. His average of 35.11 in one-day internationals is a statistician's shame not of the batsman who has been quintessential part of every Indian victory. Viru, the face of Daredevils, was the only player retained by Delhi franchise during this year’s auction thus a lot will be expected out of him and the captain will strive to live up to his team’s dream.

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

www.oheraldo.in

here was a time when they ruled the game. Though innovations and calls of equalisation have brought their tyranny to a lesser level, they still remain the rulers revered. Fans still cheer for the sixes, laud a well-hit boundary and jeer when they see heir back. The batsmen, undoubtedly, are the most entertaining performers of the game and arguably the most crucial element for teams to succeed in any version of cricket.

Here are some of the batsmen who will hold key of their team's fortunes in IPL 4.

World Cup success into IPL. Also, he would like to showcase leadership skills and justify his USD 2.4 million price which was the highest during the auctions.

With the likes of Brett Lee and Shakib Al Hasan set to join

after Australia vs Bangladesh, KKR will depend a lot on veteran all-rounder Jacques Kallis and explosive English batsman Eoin Morgan to put up a solid show.

Apart from Gambhir and Yusuf, some of the domestic players to watch out for in the KKR squad will be Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary, former captain Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Delhi all-rounder Rajat Bhatia, left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah and seamers L Balaji and Pradeep Sangwan.

Ishant eyes comeback Agencies HYDERABAD, APRIL 7

After having been ignored from the Indian limited-overs' side in recent times, Ishant Sharma is looking forward to making an impact in the IPL to launch his comeback.

"Cricket is my passion and the hunger to be part of the best possible action is natural," Ishant

was quoted in the website of Deccan Chargers, who he will represent in the IPL this year.

"There comes a time in every sportsperson's life when one has to prove to oneself. I am probably going through that phase and would like to challenge myself in the upcoming IPL to win back my place in the Indian side."