HERALD PUBLICATIONS-MAY 18

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O HERALD O The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, tuesDaY, maY 18, 2010

Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in

India: Mallika throws a bash for Hollywood’s head honchos Pg 9

Victory attained by violence is tantamount to a defeat, for it is momentary.

—Mahatma Gandhi.

IN BRIEF Agni II successfully test-fired The nuclear-capable Agni-II ballistic missile, with a strike range of 2000 kms, was today successfully test-fired during a user trial by the strategic forces from the Wheelers Island off Orissa coast.

The success came after two launches of the surface-tosurface Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) failed to meet mission objectives last year. -- (PTI)

Cyclone warning AP government alerted the district administrations of nine coastal districts to take preventive measures in view of cyclone warning issued by the Indian Meteorological Department. A low pressure formed over Bay of Bengal may turn into a cyclone. The low pressure area over SouthEast Bay of Bengal has concentrated into a depression and lay centred about 930 km eastsouth-east of Chennai.-- (PTI)

Goa: GCET results Pg 2 declared

pRiCe Rs. 3.00 (air surcharge Rs. 1.50) pages 18

Sports: Zaheer, Yuvi, 4 others face rap for pub brawl Pg 18

11 charged in Margao blasts HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

Exactly five months after bomb blasts rocked the commercial capital on the eve of Diwali on October 16 last, the National Investigation Agency on Monday filed a chargesheet against 11 persons, including six sadhaks (members) of Sanathan Saunstha having its headquarters at Ramnarthi, Ponda in the Margao bomb blasts case.

In the 30-page chargesheet, the NIA charged the 11 accused, including five who are absconding, for hatching a criminal conspiracy between June and October 2009 with the common object to strike terror in the minds of viewers, organizers and participants of the Narkasur competition at Margao and Sancoale by indulging in terrorist acts using improvised explosives devices.

Of the 11 accused, five persons have been shown as absconding, two are dead and four in custody.

The eleven, include Vinay Talekar, Vinayak Patil, Dhananjay Ashtekar and Dilip Mangaonkar, who are presently in custody, having been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosives Substances Act, criminal conspiracy and for waging war against the government of India. The accused absconding in the case are Jaiprakash alias Anna (Mangalore), Rudra Patil (Sangli), Prashant Ashtekar (Ratnagiri), Prasad Juvekar and

ACCUSED

1 Malgonda Patil (deceased) 2 Yogesh Naik (deceased) 3 Vinay Talekar 4 Vinayak Patil 5 Dhananjay Ashtekar 6 Dilip Mangonkar 7 Jaiprakash alias Anna 8 Rudra Patil 9 Sarang Kulkarni 10 Prashant Ashtekar 11 Prasad Juvekar 120-B of the IPC CHARGES Section Section 121-A of the IPC Section 16, 18 & 23 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Section 3,4,5 of the Explosives Substances Act. Sarang Kulkarni (Pune).

The chargesheet states that Dhananjay Ashtekar, a native of Ratnagiri, visited Sanathan Bhartiya at the Sanathan Ashram in Goa and stayed there for 10 days. Investigations have revealed that Dhananjay met accused Malgonda Patil at his room close to the room of the head of Sanathan Saunstha Jayant Athawale in the first week of June 2009.. The chargesheet stated that accused Malgonda Patil was the managing trustee of the Dharma Sabha, a trust of the Sanathan, adding that he was an active member of the organization and was a permanent resident of the ashram.

“The Sanathan Saunstha was

Police keep off Atala threats case Say they cannot take action due to ‘jurisdictional issues’ HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 17

The CID C r i m e Branch today said it cannot take any action into reports of d e a t h threats by Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benahim alias Atala to his former girlfriend and Swedish model Lucky Farmhouse, citing ‘jurisdictional issues’.

Lucky had exposed the police-drugs mafia nexus in Goa by uploading a spycam video on youtube.com wherein Atala admitted to links with Police Inspector Ashish Shirodkar.

The Crime Branch instead of acting on the reports has said that the Swedish police should look into the matter as Lucky Farmhouse was in Sweden when

she was threatened.

Speaking to reporters Crime Branch Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) Chandrakant Salgaonkar, said that it was for the local police to investigate the death threats to Lucky from her ex boyfriend and dreaded drug dealer Yaniv Benail alias Atala.

“We have to see where she was, when the threats were made to her by phone. There are jurisdictional issues,” Salgaonkar said adding “We should also see where the phone calls came from.”

“If the call was made here then the local police station will have to look into the death threats but if she was in Sweden, when the call was made then maybe the Swedish police should be told to probe,” Salgaonkar continued.

Lucky in an interview has also (Continued on page 2

against the Narkasur competition and had repeatedly complained to the government objecting to the conduct of the Narkasur competition”, the chargesheet stated.

The NIA has stated in the chargesheet that accused Malgaonda Patil and Yogesh were the sadhaks of Sanathan Saustha and added that Sanathan Saunstha is an organization showing extreme interest in the matters of Hindu religion and organised martial training in their property at Valpoi.

The chargesheet has charged accused numbers 1 to 10 (see chart ) for conducting the first test of the IED behind a hillock at Talaulim-Ponda near the

house of Laxmikant Naik, brother of deceased Yogesh Naik in the last week of August 2009. It stated that Dhananjay was staying in the ashram during the last week of August 2009, while Vinay Talekar and Vinayak Patil purchased SIM cards on forged documents from Ponda and Vasco.

Both Talekar and Patil purchased second hand mobile phones from Cell Touch shop, while accused Vinay Talekar purchased batteries and tapes for use in the IEDs. The chargesheet stated Ashtekar purchased electronic items, alarm clock from Mumbai and Kholapur to be used in the IEDs, while Dilip and other accused participated in the train-

PTI LONDON, MAY 17

Ash clouds from a new surge in Icelandic volcanoes caused fresh travel chaos in major European air routes shutting down key airports with Air India cancelling its Heathrow bound flights from Delhi and Mumbai today.

The black clouds also shut other major airports in Europe including Schipol and Rottredam in Holland, and Gatwick and London as well as flights to and

PTI NEW YORK, MAY 17

ernment denies it, Ibrahim is probably in Pakistan, where he has important ties to the powerful intelligence service,” it said.

The article described Dawood as “the most wanted man in India” who has for years led a 5,000-member criminal syndicate known as the D-Company.

“The organised crime group

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CM: Decision to ban Sanathan after examining chargesheet.

Accused files for bail.

No special court to file chargesheet.

Marathe welcomes chargesheet.

Ash disrupts travel plans again, AI cancels flights

fro from Ireland and Scotland.

Around 1,000 flights out of 28,000 were disrupted according to Eurocontrol. London’s Heathrow which is the busiest airport in Europe and Gatwick reopened at 1300 GMT (1730 IST) after being closed down for seven hours from 0400-1300 hrs. All airports in Ireland and Scotland were also shut down.

Air India cancelling its Heathrow bound flights from Delhi and Mumbai today.

Jet Airways, however flew sched-

Dawood, Laden in Forbes’ Most Wanted list Underworld don and India’s most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, mastermind of the 1993 Mumbai bombings, figures third on the Forbes’ Most Wanted list which has been topped by Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden.

The list, carried in the latest edition of the Forbes magazine, also has Mexico’s most powerful drug trafficker Joaquin Guzman in no.2.

The magazine, which has been releasing a list of most wanted fugitives for the past three years, pointed out that Dawood, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, possibly had a hand in aiding LeT execute the 2008 Mumbai attacks and also shares smuggling routes with Al-Qaeda.

“Though the Pakistani gov-

ing till 2005 organised in the property of Marathe..

Special Public Prosecutor S B Faria told newsmen that the NIA has attached documents to prove the physical location of vendors who had sold the electronic items in Mumbai and Kholapur, while enough evidence has been collected to prove access to the cell phones. “The NIA has collected sufficient evidence against all the accused persons to prove the criminal conspiracy The NIA has said that investigation has revealed that Dhananjay had prepared 12 circuits, out of which he had brought five circuits into Goa in August 2009. The IED was tested behind the house of Laxmikant Naik in the presence of Malgonda Patil, Yogesh Naik, Vinay Talekar, Dhananjay Ashtekar, Prashant Juvekar, Sarang Kulkarni, Jay Prakash and Rudra Patil.

has engaged in everything from narcotics to contract killing, working mostly in Pakistan, India and the United Arab Emirates,” the magazine said.

Bin Laden and Guzman hold their top ranks from Forbes’ Most Wanted Fugitives list that first came out in 2008 but Dawood, the most wanted man in India for his suspected role in the 1993 Mumbai bombings that

killed 257 people, has moved up from the fourth spot to the third.

Hector Gonzalez, a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) supervisory special agent, told Forbes: “Many of these criminals are hiding behind governments for protection.”

The article pointed out that since the 2008 list was published not a single one of the world’s most notorious criminals has been brought to justice “ The world has gotten smaller, and there has been globalisation of everything, including crime,” said Bradley Bryant, the FBI’s violent crimes unit chief.

“But the entire process of an international investigation takes longer. It can be a frustrating process and, sometimes, it is a lot slower than we would like it to be.”

uled flights from Delhi and Mumbai as their flights land at Heathrow in the night.

The latest closures came at the beginning of the week as travel was expected to be disrupted due to a five-day strike called by British Airways cabin crew.

Europe’s skies became a nofly zone for up to a week in April following the eruption of Icelands Eyjafjoell volcano, in the biggest shut down of continents airspace in the last 50 years.

Airports across Britain and Ireland were closed for much of yesterday because of the drifting ash.

The shifting of the no-fly zone southward will allow airports in northern England-including the key cities of Manchester and Liverpool-to reopen today.

A string of other airports re(Continued on page 2

No stampede at New Delhi station: panel PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

The incident at the New Delhi railway station which claimed two lives and injured eight others happened due to tripping of passengers at the foot over bridge and not due to a stampede on the platform, Northern Railway said tonight.

“Prime facie it transpires that there was no stampede like conditions on platform no. 12 and 13,” the high-powered committee set up to probe it said in its preliminary report, adding “the findings were arrived based on video footage available through CCTV installed at the platforms.”

The high-powered committee which was constituted today submitted its initial report to the Railway Ministry after preliminary investigation.

Naxals blow up bus, 36 killed PTI RAIPUR, MAY 17

Striking with impunity, Naxals today blew up a civilian bus in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh killing at least 36 people, including 12 special police Officers, the second attack in six weeks.

Police said 36 bodies have been recovered. At least 14 were injured, seven of them seriously.

The private commercial bus ferrying passengers from Dantewada to Sukma was blown up between Gadiras and Bhusaras near Chingavaram village, about 450 kms from here with the Naxals detonating an improvised explosive device (IED) with gelatin sticks planted on the metalled road.

The bus, which left Dantewada at 2 p.m. was targeted at 4.45 p.m after the Naxals got to know through their intelligence network that SPOs were on the bus. Some of the SPOs were also said to be travelling on the rooftop of the bus.

The passenger bus was completely mangled with its front portion squeezed into a steel ball. Several bodies which were brought out from the bus were mutilated.

The bodies of special police officers with INSAS rifles, civilians with their belongings, slippers and clothes were scattered around the site. Police officials at the scene said that some of the bodies were perched on

trees.

State Police Chief Viswa Ranjan said about 100 SPOs had gone to Dantewada on May 15 for an anti-Naxal operation.

Some of them returned by the bus. Under the Standard Operation Procedures, the security personnel have been advised not to use civilian vehicles.

CRPF Special Director General Vijay Raman had earlier said that the toll could be 50 seeing the magnitude of the explosion.

SPOs are mostly local people recruited to fight the Maoists and have emerged as the biggest threat to them.

Strongly condemning the attack, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said the Centre will have to re-look at its strategy deal with the Left wing extremists.

Chattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said he would urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to re-examine the strategy to tackle the Naxal menace, who were targeting innocent civilians.

While this is the first such (Continued on page 2)

HSSC exam results today HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 17

Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) will announce the HSSC (higher secondary school certificate) examination results 2010 tomorrow, at 3.30 pm. The results will be made available in the board’s official website.

Once the results are announced candidate will be able to check their results by logging in the website: (Continued on page 2

I was so excited to see flowing water... thought it's from tap

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GOA, TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 2010

28 arrested as police, activists clash outside Assembly complex HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, MAY 17

A police constable was assaulted and a police inspector manhandled, as activists and police clashed outside the Legislative Assembly complex in Porvorim on Monday, after their attempts to get Chief Minister Digambar Kamat to resolve their grievances met with little success.

Police arrested 28 activists and later released them on bail following the intervention of Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar.

Activists from different parts of the State first met at Verna in the morning to highlight their grievances over the new regional plan, national heritage, illegal mining, filling of fields, pollution of water and other issues.

Later, they decided to meet Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and accordingly, went towards the Legislative Assembly complex in Porvorim.

However, they were stopped outside the assembly complex by a police force and a delegation of women comprising Carmina Miranda, Judith Rebello, Judith Almeida and Swati Kerkar met Kamat.

Unhappy over the discussion with the chief minister, they requested Kamat to meet other villagers assembled outside the complex, but chief minister flatly refused to do so.

Agitated activists then tried to enter the assembly complex, but the police obstructed them.

In the ensuing scuffle, an agitator reportedly ripped off the rank stars of Police Inspector Devendra Gaad and allegedly

slapped lady police constable Avina Noronha.

The activists have, however, claimed that the police manhandled the women who were refusing to enter the police van.

Porvorim police then arrested 28 activists under Sections 143, 145 and 147 read with 149 of Indian penal code for unlawful assembly, obstructing government servants from carrying out their duties, assaulting police and rioting.

Opposition Leader Manohar Parriker rushed to the police station and held discussions with Superintendent of Police Arvind Gawas, before the 28 agitators were released on bail.

Parriker then assured the agitators that he would put forth their issues with the chief minister.

Speaking to Herald, environmentalist Prajal Sakhardande mentioned that the villagers had gone to meet the chief minister to place before him their demands on various issues and to urge him to solve their problems on a priority basis.

“But the chief minister did not give satisfactory answers to the delegation of women who had gone to meet him and even refused to meet the villagers who were waiting outside in the scorching sun,” said Sakhardande.

“This attitude of the chief minister annoyed the villagers and hence they started the agitation. The police manhandled the women who refused to enter the police van. The villagers will continue their agitation to press for their demands,” said Sakhardande.

Nigerian sentenced HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, MAY 17

The JMFC court at Canacona sentenced a Nigerian national to three months imprisonment for non-possession of passport or any travel document.

According to sources, Khalid Kumbi was arrested by Canacona police last month from a tourist spot for failing to possess any valid documentation including passport.

The case was registered under Section 14 of Foreigners Act 1947 and taken up by JMFC Court, Canacona trial.

In the conviction announced on Monday, Canacona JMFC Ram Prabhudessai sentenced Kumbi to three months imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000.

The accused has already undergone imprisonment for 29 days since his arrest, which will be counted in the three months sentenced period.

However, in default of nonpayment of fine, Kumbi has to go additional 15 days simple imprisonment, ordered the learned judge.

Public prosecutor Utkarsh Avde represented the case for the state, informed the sources.

KTC’s liability touches whopping Rs 48 crore HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 17

Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) is sitting on whopping loan liability of Rs 48 crore, which has increased four fold in last twelve years, a top level official said.

Official said that KTCL had taken a loan of Rs 10 crore from two different banks -- Goa State Cooperative Bank and Corporation Bank in 1998 and thereafter never paid it back.

The amount is mounting since then and the loan liability has touched Rs 40 crore, with corporation not in a position to pay it off.

The corporation is currently reeling under the pressure of sixth pay commission liability, which is around Rs one crore a month.

Official said that way back in 1998, the state government had diverted money given by planning commissions to KTCL. The money was given to public works department forcing the corporation to borrow finance from private banks.

The corporation was in dire need of buses and hence had to opt for the loan, which was paid in two different installments- Rs 10 crore and Rs 18 crore.

As the KTCL went in financial losses almost since decade, it has not been able to pay off the money. "We had requested state government to waive off the loan so that we can stand again on firm financial footing. But the request is not adhered to,” a senior KTCL official said.

Meanwhile, the state govern-

ment has conceded to the request of the corporation and has said that it will pay the loan, provided banks restructures the amount, which is “bloated” because of the failure to pay timely installments.

The recent implementation of sixth pay commission for 1,900-odd KTCL staff has translate into additional liability of Rs 43 crore and monthly liability of Rs 1.3 crore for the corporation, which going under financial rid.

Ornamental lamps along Salcete’s coast start functioning finally HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

Villagers gather at the Verna plateau in Cortalim.

Photo by M Prabhav

Govt lambasted for failing to protect State’s interest HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MAY 17

A large numbers of villagers on Monday severely criticized the state government for various irregularities and for destroying the ecology and environment in the State.

The residents, who came under the banner of the Village Groups of Goa (VGG), NGO’s and activists had gathered outside an open-air venue at the Verna plateau in Cortalim to vent out their grievances.

Various speakers lambasted the government for its failure

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, MAY 17

to protect the interests of the State.

On behalf of the VGG, Carmin Miranda put forth 13-odd demands, which highlighted the need to save the ecology and environment of Goa, loopholes in the Town and Country Planning Act, SEZ land, irregularities in documents like ration cards, election cards and residential certificates.

Council for Social Justice and Peace Secretary Fr Mavrick Fernandes questioned the unplanned development in the state by overlooking the basic

needs of people.

“The state administration does not seem to have any vision to develop the state and is only concerned about big projects that generate high kickbacks. The present meass will cause irreparable damage to the State,” said Fr Fernandes.

Activist Julian Rebello claimed that over 100 illegal bore-wells have been dug in Verna Industrial Estate, which has reflected on the depleting water table in the surrounding areas of Verna.

“Despite being aware of this,

authorities have not initiated any action against the violators,” added Rebello.

Noted tiatrist Price Jacob assured that he would highlight in his tiatrs the irregularities in the State and to create awareness on the need to save the pristine beauty of Goa. After the meeting, a number of activists later went to meet the chief minister at the secretariat to confront him on his government’s false assurances curb irregularities in the State.

GCET results declared

The Directorate of Technical Education, Porvorim, on Monday announced the results of Goa Common Entrance Test2010 (GCET-2010) examinations conducted for admissions to professional degree courses in the State in five subjects, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Computer Science.

Briefing the media at Porvorim, Director of Technical Education Vivek Kamat said 3,434 candidates had registered to appear at the exams, which were smoothly conducted in 10 centres across the State.

“The directorate had adopted measures to ensure that all norms are scrupulously adhered to and there were no malpractices or discrepancies reported,” said Kamat.

“ORS sheets were evaluated within 3 days and the results have been made available on the website www.dtegoa.gov.in.

The examinations were conducted with the assistance of Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay and hence it was possible to declare the results within soonest possible time,” he added.

Kamat informed that application forms for admissions would be accepted at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao from May 17 to May 21 and at Directorate of Technical Education, Porvorim from May 17 to May 28.

He informed that the highest

marks secured in each subject (out of 75 marks) were Physics (67), Chemistry (71), Mathematics (69), Biology (74) and Computer Science (67).

In the engineering colleges, there are a total of 814 seats and the Goa Engineering College at Farmagudi has applied to the All India Council for Technical Education to increase their civil and mechanical engineering seats from the existing 40 to 60.

“If the approval is received, then the engineering seats will be increased by another 40,” said Kamat.

He also informed that the National Institute of Technology has started looking for campus site in the State.

“At present, their office will be located at Goa Engineering College at Farmagudi. The seats proposed for NIT are 30 each for Computer science Engineering, Electronics communication engineering and Electrical and Electronics engineering.

Of these 90 seats, 45 seats have been reserved for candidates of Goa, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli,” he said.

He stated that the Goa Medical College has 100 seats, of which 85 are for Goan students, while in the dental college, there are 40 seats.

“The number of students appearing for the science faculty is increasing. Last year, 3,256 students had appeared for the

Saish excels

Saiesh Kapadi along with his father Dr Guruprasad Kapadi and mother Jyoti Kapadi.

Photo by Vishant Vaze

Saish Kapadi, son of well-known dentist Dr Guruprasad Kapadi from Bicholim, has excelled at the recent CET (Common Entrance Test) exams.

Saish, a student of Mushtifund high school at Panjim, scored 67/75 marks in Physics, 65/75 in mathematics and 67/75 in chemistry.

He has credited his achieve-

ment to his mother Jyoti, father Dr Guruprasad, teacher Venktesh Prabhudesai of R N Study Circle, teacher Chowdhuri, Ammya and other teachers of Mushtifund high school.

“Hard work, devotion and god’s blessings also helped me achieve this success,” said Saish.

Besides excelling in academics, Saish is also an artist and plans to become an engineer.

GCET examination and the number rose to 3,434 this year.”

The Directorate of Technical Education had also conducted G2CET-2010 (Goa Common Entrance Test for Direct Admission to Second Year of Professional Degree Courses) on May 14 for admission of Diploma and BSc degree holders to Direct Second Year of Degree courses in Engi-

neering and Pharmacy.

In all, 332 candidates registered to appear at the examinations, which were conducted at Panaji and Verna centres and 327 students appeared for the exams.

“The Results of the G2CET 2010 are also available on the website www.dtegoa.gov.in,” said Kamat.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, MAY 17

The ornamental lamps along Salcete’s coastal belt have finally been illuminated –more than three years after they were installed by the Goa Industrial Development Corporation.

The lamps were installed by the IDC around 2007 in the villages of Varca, Orlim, Carmona, Cavelossim and Rawanfond when former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro presided over Navelim constituency. However, the lamps – worth over Rs 4-5 crore – were lying unutilized since then, with Navelim witnessing a change in political guard.

Neither the IDC nor the local panchayat bodies, barring Cavelossim, showed no haste to illuminate the lamps, on the question of payment of street light bills.

PWD Minister, Churchill Alemao, who illuminated the lamps on his 61st birthday on Sunday, now says that there was nothing political on the delay in illuminating the lamps. “The lamps could not be commissioned in the last three years on the question of payment of power charges. Recently, I took up the

Transfer of GUCB staff termed unfair HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 17

The Deputy Labour Commissioner, has said that the mass transfers made by Goa Urban Co-Op Bank (GUCB) soon after the bank employees strike as unfair labour practice.

Deputy Labour Commissioner F Rodrigues in a letter addressed to the general manager of the Goa Urban Co-operative Bank has said that the mass transfers soon after the union differed strike and employees resumed duties amounts to unfair labour practice.

Rodrigues has asked the bank to maintain status quo and directed the bank to stop further transfers. The union had gone on a five day strike from May 3 to 7 to demand the settlement of charter of demands pending since 2003 and 2007.

After the intervention by the deputy labour commissioner the union had differed strike to August 1 and resumed duty on May 8. However, soon after the bank issued transfer orders of 28 employees to far away places.

Hubby stabs wife HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, MAY 17

A man allegedly stabbed his wife and seriously wounded her at their residence in Bandarwada Bicholim on Monday morning.

According to Bicholim police, a heated argument broke out between the accused Prakash Ittaly (35) and his wife Lingappa (25) at about 7 am over some petty issue. The Prakash then stabbed Lingappa with a knife and a chopper.

Lingappa was later rushed to GMC hospital at Bambolim, where her condition is reported to be critical. Bicholim police has booked an offense against Prakash under Section 307 of IPC and PSI Tukaram Walke is investigating the case.

PWD Minister Churchill Alemao along with Urban Development Minister, Joaquim Alemao commissioning the ornamental lamps at Varca.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

matter with the Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and IDC Chairman Babu Kavlekar, who assured to bear the electricity charges in illuminating the lamps”, he

said.

Incidentally, the Cavelossim village Panchayat had showed its willingness to illuminate the lamps by paying the power bills

from its coffers. However, the Panchayat’s offer failed to evoke the desired response either from the IDC or the Power department.

FROM PAGE 1 Police keep off Atala ...

claimed that she is in possession of spycam video tapes, which establishes the links of an influential politician’s son to the narcotics mafia in Goa. So far seven police officials including a police inspector and

a sub inspector have already been arrested for their links to Goa’s notorious narcotics mafia over the last two months.

In a development yesterday, fresh recordings surfaced which revealed that Atala had threatened to kill Lucky using senior

police officials.

The Crime Branch officials have already been accused of sabotaging the high profile probe into the policepolitician narcotics mafia nexus by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

HSSC exam results today http://gbshse.gov.in.

Result can also be accessed on mobile phones by sending the following SMS to ‘56263’: <space>GOA12<space>ROLL NO to 56263. Example: RESULT GOA12 123456 to 56263 The National Network of Education (NNE) has setup special dedicated servers which will enable students to get their results instantly on web and mobile with ease.

The board said arrangement for distribution of statement of marks and results of the examination will be done the next day (May 16) between 10.30 am and 1 pm at the board’s office in Porvorim and South Educational Zone in Margao.

All heads of recognized higher secondary schools in Bardez, Tiswadi, Pernem, Bicholim, Sattari and Ponda talukas will have

to collect the results and statement of marks from the board in Porvorim.

Heads of schools from Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem, Salcete and Mormugao will have to go to the South educational zone.

Private candidates have been asked to collect their mark sheets/passing certificate-cummark sheets from the board’s office.

Naxals blow up bus, 36 killed attack on a civilian passenger bus, on April 6 Dantewada had witnessed the worst-ever massacre of 75 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and one policeman in a Naxal ambush.

The Home ministry called a meeting in Delhi to review the situation. Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said the killing of innocent civilians showed “wanton disregard” for life by Naxals.

“This pattern of killing unarmed civilians has been the hallmark of Maoist violence over

the years. In the last two days, we have seen that a village sarpanch and five others were killed,” Pillai said.

The chief minister said the attack showed the desperation of the Naxals who were losing their support base.

“This incident shows the cruel face of Naxals. We have been saying this... when the Naxals support base erodes they resort to such methods. Their (Naxals) belief in people’s representatives and local population has finished,” he said.

On May 8, seven CRPF jawans were killed when Naxals blew up a bullet-proof vehicle in Bijapur district.

The Maoists also killed six villagers, including a sarpanch, near Teregaon in Rajnandgaon district yesterday and threw their bodies outside the villages.

Rajnandgaon district has witnessed a series of Naxalite attacks in the past. In July last year, Maoists had attacked a police party killing 29 personnel, including Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey.

Ash disrupts travel plans ...

main closed including Cardiff, Swansea and Bristol as well as Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness in Scotland. Britain’s Transport Secretary Philip Hammond said: “We are gathering more evidence all the time. The aircraft manufacturers are looking at that evidence. They are look-

ing at what inspection regimes they can put in place that would allow safe flying through a somewhat higher threshold of ash. If we can do that the likelihood of volcanic ash disrupting flights will obviously diminish. The British air traffic agency said the ash cloud was changing shape

and moving south, toward Oxford, 100 km northwest of London.”

Britain’s weather service said the northwest winds should shift midweek, redirecting the ash away from Britain. At Heathrow airport many passengers awaiting connecting flights had slept in terminals overnight after they were cancelled.

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GOA

GOA, TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 2010

CM: Decision to ban Sanathan after examining chargesheet HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said the Home Department as well as the Law Department will examine the charge sheet filed by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) before any decision is taken to ban Sanathan Saunstha in the state.

When his attention was drawn to the charge sheet filed by the NIA which has indicted the members of the Sanathan Sausthan to trigger serial blasts in Margao, Kamat told Herald that the law department will examine and study the charge sheet in detail and submit a detailed report to the government for action.

“The question of banning Sanathan Saustha will be taken after taking into account the legal issues. After all, the ban should stand in the court of law”, he added. There has been a clamour for imposing a ban on Sanathan Saunstha even amongst the Cabinet colleages of the Chief Minister.

THIRTY PA G E S

CHARGESHEET: The chargesheet filed by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) contains 30 pages, but the records attached to the chargesheet runs into more than 4000 pages.

The NIA has cited over 250 witnesses in support of its case.

NIA, Superintendent of Police, S Vijayan said the witnesses hails from not only Goa but across the country.

He said the two deceased ac-

cused Malgonda Patil and Yogesh Naik, though dead while carrying the IEDs on a scooter in Margao, have been named in the chargesheet, adding that the charge against them will be abated subsequently.

Special Judicial Magistrate, S B Faria told newsmen that investigations into the case would continue to nab the absconding accused and take the probe to the logical conclusion.

He said the NIA had to file the charge sheet on Monday due to circumstances that the 180 days custody of the accused was getting expired, adding that the NIA would continue to investigate the case. Sources in the know said the four accused in custody would have been released on bail if the NIA had failed to file the charge sheet in the court.

Accused files for bail HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

Accused Dilip Mangaonkar, who was arrested in the Sancoale bomb case have moved the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Vasco for bail.

The bail application moved by the accused assumes significance as the remaining three accused had got bail from the Magistrate’s court in the Sancoale bomb base.

The NIA, which is investigating the Margao and Sancoale case, will its reply to the bail application in the Vasco JMFC court on Tuesday.

Special Public Prosecutor, S B Faria said the NIA would vehemently oppose the bail application filed by accused Dilip in the Vasco court.

The accused has contended that he is entitled for bail in the planting of bomb at Sancoale since the investigating agency has failed to file the charge sheet within the 180 period in custody.

Virendra Marathe, caretaker of the Sanatan Ashram at Ramnathi-Ponda, has welcomed the charge-sheet filed by the NIA before the Sessions Court at Margao.

Reacting to reports that the Sanatan Saustha has not been linked to the Diwali eve Margao bomb blast in the charge-sheet filed by the NIA before Margao

. NIA sleuths in the Sessions court to file the chargesheet in the Margao bomb blast case.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

No special court to file chargesheet

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

The National Investigating Agency (NIA) has finally filed the charge sheet before the South Goa sessions Court on Monday in the absence of a special court constituted by the government.

When this question was posed to the NIA, it’s Superin-

tendent of Police, S Vijayan said the Agency has already moved the Bombay high court to notify the special court, while admitting that the charge sheet was filed before the sessions court in the absence of the special court.

Legal sources, however, said there’s a clear-cut provision in the NIA Act which

empowers the Agency to file the charge sheet in the sessions court in the absence of a Special Court.

IN fact, sources in the know said the Sessions court Judge may even commence trial in the case, adding that the delay in the constitution of the special court would not at all hamper the trial.

sessions court, Marathe said this would end the rising opposition to the Ashram during the last seven months.

“We have been telling everyone that in no way are we (Sanatan Saustha) involved in the act (bomb blast). The chargesheet filed by the NIA is a fitting reply to those who have been opposing our organization,” said Marathe.

“Since the time of the inci-

dent (bomb blast), the police have been conducting investigations. Various documents and even our computer hard disks were attached, but in the end what has come to light is that we are innocent.”

“It has been a tough time during these seven months. Our organization name was tarnished with everyone especially politicians who were pointing fingers at us and demanding a ban,”

Marathe added.

Meanwhile, the Janajagruti Manch Bandora, who has been demanding a ban on the Sanatan Saustha, has expressed displeasure as the Sanatan saustha was not included for its alleged involvement in the bomb blast.

However, the Manch members stated that they would study the charge-sheet thoroughly before chalking out their future course of action.

2 waste bins at Aquem gutted HERALD REPORETER MARGAO, MAY 17

Two plastic waste bins were gutted in a major fire at Aquem late Sunday night.

The fire brigade rushed to Aquem as the waste dumped in the bins caught fire.

These bins were in the news a fortnight ago as they were found overflowing with waste in the absence of timely clearance by the Margao Civic body.

The fire that gutted two plastic garbage bins at Aquem last night.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar

CM’s help to be sought to save Goan clubs in Mumbai HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

The Federation for Goan Clubs (kuds) in Mumbai will approach Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat to assign a Minister for the kuds and work in tandem with the Federation and the office of the Archbishop to save the age-old clubs from being taken over by land sharks in the metropolis.

Federation vice-President, David Joseph said the time has come for the Goa government to stand out and reach out to these clubs in Mumbai, who are villagers, but owning assets and properties worth thousands of crores of rupees.

Joseph was in Goa in connection with a dispute wherein a club was reportedly sold to a

AG to give opinion on HSRPs committee report HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, MAY 17

Advocate General (AG) Subodh Kantak will give his opinion on the report compiled by Srivastava committee on High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs) issue within next two days.

“I have gone through the entire report… I will give my opinion in next two days… I don’t want to reveal anything…let the state government come out publicly.” Kantak told Herald.

He said that the final decision will be made by the cabinet. “I will give the opinion but the decision whether to go ahead with the scheme or not is upto the government,” AG added.

Once the AG gives his final comment over the matter, the file would be then moved to the cabinet for its final decision.

After the Srivastav committee presented its final report on the controversial HSRP at the floor of the house in March, the state government had forwarded the file to AG for legal opinion and also to look into the modalities of termination of the contract with Shimnit Utsch, who have been awarded the contract of installing HSRP in the state.

Bag with valuables robbed at Colva

Marathe welcomes charge-sheet HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, MAY 17

Pg3

real estate developer in Mumbai.

“The Federation will soon make a representation to the Chief Minister to assign a Minister for Clubs. That Minister would be working in tandem with the Federation of the Clubs and the Archbishop House. These bodies for no selfish motive. We are only interested that the benefits of the clubs should come back to the villagers in terms of beautiful accommodation, which will take care of rooms for the families and individuals”, he said.

“Our forefathers had a vision.

They took these assets so that Goans visiting Mumbai need not have to stay in hotels. We all should protect these assets, whose value today runs into thousands of crores”, Joseph

added.

Saying that the Federation is actively working to safeguard the interest of Goan clubs in Mumbai, he said only 243 clubs are existing today out of 341 clubs in Mumbai, while calling for united efforts to save and protect the traditional clubs.

Referring to the disputes involving the clubs with the real estate developers, he said the managers of the clubs do not understand the complicated mindset of the land sharks, who are waiting to grab these valuable assets .

Replying to a question, he said the awareness program initiated by the Federation has so far succeeded in making 70 clubs to register themselves.

Kurti sarpanch to face no-trust HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, MAY 17

After serving as sarpanch of Kurti-Khandepar panchayat for barely two months, Suraj Naik has now been confronted with a no-confidence motion filed by six members.

Suraj Naik was elected as sarpanch following the resignation of Hussain Mullah. Incidentally, Mullah is among the six members who have signed the no-confidence motion claiming that the sarpanch was not taking them into confidence while executing various works.

They even claimed that the autocratic behavior of the sarpanch had forced them to take such a step.

The other five panch members who have signed the noconfidence motion are Bhika Kerkar, Narayan Naik, Anita Naik, Parvin Banu Tahsildar and Ravindra Gaude.

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, MAY 17

Beware, tourists. Bag-snatching miscreants are on the prowl along the Colva beach.

A tourist family which visited Colva beach on Monday learnt the bitter truth when unknown miscreants decamped with their bag, which contained valuables worth around Rs 1.91 lakh.

Police said the Narendra Mehra family had visited Colva beach this afternoon. They sat on the beach to have lunch, when suddenly they realized that their bag has gone missing.

The bag contained diamond ornaments, a cell phone, two wrist watches and sun glasses.

The Colva police are investigating.

The committee had pointed out several irregularities in the HSRP contract and had said that the tender process has been vitiated by the government.

nI have gone through the entire report… I will give my opinion in next two days… I don’t want to reveal anything… let the state government come out publicly. The final decision will be made by the cabinet.

-- Subodh Kantak

Meanwhile, as the HSRP contract signed by the government with Shimnit Utsch still stands, public are been offered with the same number plates for their new vehicles till further decision comes on the matter.

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short takes Restricted water supply

PANJIM (HND): Due to shutdown of Assonora Water Treatment on May 21 for maintenance and updating of pumps and transformer, there will be restricted water supply to entire Bardez on that day, from 8 am to 5 pm. The public is requested to bear the inconvenience.

Blood donation camp held

The blood donation camp at the Surla Office of V M Salgaocar Group of Companies.

PANJIM (HNB): Fifty-one employees from different mining units of V M Salgaocar Group of Companies voluntarily donated blood at a camp in the Surla office on May 13, to mark the 94th birth anniversary of their founder-chairman late V M Salgaocar.

The programme was inaugurated by B R Jayanth, Senior General Manager-Mines, G Shirish, Additional General Manager and Dr S V Angadi, by garlanding the photo of late V M Salgaocar and lighting the traditional lamp.

The 51 employees from different mining units of the company voluntarily donated blood as a token of their commitment to society. This event was organized with the assistance of a team from the Blood Bank of Goa Medical College, Bambolim.

Renovated Chapel opened

Corlim Parish Priest Fr Assis Dourado inaugurates the newly renovated chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows at Calvaddo-Corlim.

Photo by Kanzil Rodrigues

OLD GOA (HC): Fr Assis Dourado, parish priest of St Joao de Facundo Church, Corlim, inaugurated the newly renovated Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows at Calvaddo in Corlim.

Others present on the feast day of Our Lady of Sorrows included editor of Vavreadachho Ixtt Fr Feroz Fernandes, and president of the chapel committee Samson Sardinha.

A large number of people from Corlim and surrounding areas took part in the feast mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows, which has been given a new look with an extension of the seating arrangements.

Fr Dourado, who was the main celebrant at the feast, cut the ribbon to inaugurate the renovated chapel.

In his homily at the feast mass, Fr Fernandes asked the people to follow in the footsteps of Mother Mary.

“People today are facing anxiety in each and every thing they do. Mother Mary can help us when we encounter such anxiety,” Fr Fernandes said.

Later, as part of the feast, a procession along with the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows took place in and around Calvaddo ward in Corlim.

Women urged to take benefits of schemes for education

Minister for Women and Child Development Ravi Naik distributes cheques to the beneficiaries under Kanyadhan scheme at Quepem on Monday. Also present are MLAs Chandrakant Kavlekar, Vasudev Gaonkar and Shyam Satardekar.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Stressing on women’s education, Minister for Women and Child Development Ravi Naik said that there are several schemes for motivating women in education and therefore women especially from less privileged classes should come forward and educate themselves.

He also explained about Shika, Shikva and Kamva scheme of the Directorate of Women and Child Welfare and urged women to avail the benefit of such schemes and at the same time earn money too.

Naik was speaking after disbursing cheques of Rs 30.60 lakhs under the Kanyadan scheme and also retirement

benefit scheme for Anganwadi workers and helpers under the ICDs of Canacona, Quepem and Sanguem at a function organized by Directorate of Women and Child Development, at Datta temple hall, Quepem.

Under the Kanyadaan scheme, a financial assistance of Rs 15,000 is given to the economically weaker section of the society for their daughter’s marriage.

Quepem MLA Chandrakant Kavlekar, Sanguem MLA Vasudev Goankar, Curchorem MLA Shyam Sathardekar also spoke on the occasion explaining the schemes of the Social Welfare departments and urging the people to avail maximum benefits out of it.

Govt urged to focus on basic issues to avoid social chaos in society cause of all the problems and agitations in the society are the four issues.

“There has been a progress of middle class people, but lower middle class and poor people find it difficult to make both ends meet because of the rising inflation. The corruption has become rampant in government departments,” said Dr Rebello.

“This is an era of globalization and if the money generated is not channelized properly to address the four issues then there is bound to be social problems and agitations regularly. The society should impress upon panchayats and

MLAs to focus their attention on these four issues,” added Dr Rebello.

Dr Rebello said rising cases of Cancer in Goa is really a cause of concern for one and all. Breast cancer is on the rise in Goa. “The treatment for Cancer is very expensive and is beyond the means of poor people. It destroys poor families, financially and mentally. The government should give priority to heath-related sufferings, especially Cancer,” said Dr Rebello.

Dr Rebello complimented Medha Parriker Rugna Seva Kendra for providing service to the public and suggested the

Kendra to widen the scope of health services.

In his welcome speech, Guruprasad Pawaskar said Medha Parriker Rugna Seva Kendra has got most of the health-related equipments and an ambulance which has been provided by North Goa MP Sripad Naik through MPLAD scheme.

“So far about 3,000 people have availed benefit of the Kendra. The Kendra also organizes health camps time-to-time for the benefit of the people,” said Pawaskar.

Sanjeev Namshikar introduced the chief guest, while Jeevan Misra proposed the vote of thanks.

Talpona locals vow to oppose proposed golf course

Training in Batik printing

cals,” said the locals.

Seeing no sarpanch or panch turning up to explain their stand on the issue, many people left deciding to oppose the project tooth and nail, but after a while, ruling Poinguinim Panch Damodar Shenvi reached and explained to the people that the owner has given a written assurance to employ local people in the golf project.

“But in a hurry, I forgot to bring the copy to show you now,” Shenvi told the gathering.

However, when some locals began to complain as to why gram sabha is not called to take members views in the project, which can have severe implications on the ecology and environment, Panch Shenvi had no answer.

“There won’t be additional burden on the existing resources, as the project owner will make their own arrangements even for the water required to maintain golf course lawns,” said Panch Shenvi.

Meanwhile, locals have decided to complain to the Director and Joint Secretary of Department of Science, Technology & Environment, Saligao, against the golf course and land violations at Talpona

The State Director Craftsmen Training, Craft Complex, Neuginagar, Panjim will start its new batch of training in Batik printing from June 1, if sufficient number of trainees as per the required capacity are available.

Interested candidates, with applications and birth or school leaving certificate and two passport size photos, should report to the in-charge of Batik Training Centre, Majikwada, Poriem, Sattari on May 25 at 10.30 am. The interview for selection of candidates will be held on the same day at 11 am at Batik Training Centre, c/o Pallavi Devidas Rane, 112/11A, Majikwada, Poriem, Sattari.

Ten candidates for the morning batch and ten candidates for evening batch will be admitted in the Centre. The candidates from reserve category shall be selected as per rules.

The course will be of one year duration in respect of Batik Printing. The monthly stipend of Rs 250 will be paid to each of the selected candidates during the training period. The age of the candidates should not be below 14 years.

The detailed information, if any, may be obtained from the Assistant Director, State Directorate of Craftsmen Training, Shrama Shakti Bhavan, 3rd floor, Panjim.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, MAY 17

Former associate professor of Goa Medical College Dr Oscar Rebello said every government should focus on four basic issues, namely education, infrastructure and environment, law and order and health and if these issues are taken care of, then there won’t be social chaos in the society.

Dr Rebello was speaking as the chief guest at the function organized by Medha Parriker Rugna Seva Kendra (unit of Keshav Seva Sadhna) to celebrate its 7th anniversary at Tourist Mini Hall, Mapusa.

Dr Rebello said the root

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, MAY 17

The golf course issue at Talpona took an interesting turn on Friday with locals gathering near the alleged site to discuss the issue threadbare.

The locals invited panchayat members for explaining their stand vis-à-vis not taking gram sabha into confidence, before the panchayat decided to grant permission.

Over hundred of people gathered at Talpona beach, nearby to the proposed golf course site, where few persons opposed the project tooth and nail, while others felt such developmental projects are blessing in disguise for developing the village provided locals are given full preference in employment.

Locals complained bitterly that the panchayat is acting highhandedly in issuing NOC for the proposed golf course bypassing gram sabha and despite giving intimation to explain panchayat’s stand, no panch has turned up at Friday’s meeting.

“We also want written assurance from the owner, while panchas and sarpanchas will be new faces when actually the time will come to honour the assurances in employing lo-

SBTF project begins at GSL

against CRZ rules and regulations in force.

In a memorandum circulated to press persons, locals have decided to complain against Poinguinim panchayat for deciding to grant provisional NOC to a Delhi-based company to set up a golf course at Talpona in gross violations of CRZ rules in force.

“For a project like golf course with far-reaching implications for environment and ecology, the panchayat did not see the need for an otherwise mandatory gram sabha,” states the memorandum.

“Talpona is in the grip of land sharks, where illegal constructions are cropping like wild vegetation,” added the memorandum.

With copies marked to Deputy Conservator of Forests, Director (settlement and land Records), Superintendent of Survey and Land Records, Director of Tourism and Director of Panchayat, locals have also asked government agencies to investigate the categorization of large chunks of erstwhile Poinguinim communidade land as private property and also initiate action against erring officials at various levels in government set up.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

‘Right approach can help individuals excel in life’

HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MAY 17

The steel cutting ceremony to mark the commencement of structural work for stateof-the-art Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) was held at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on Monday.

Chief Staff Officer (Air) Goa Naval Area Cmde A S Baghel inaugurated the steel cutting machine in the presence of Goa Shipyard Ltd Chairman and Managing Director RAdm (Retd) Vineet Bakhshi VSM, senior GSL officials and other dignitaries.

The Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) being set up at Naval Air Station Goa by Aeronautical Development Agency is a unique testing facility in the South Asian region, as this unique project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2012.

The facility will be used to simulate an aircraft carrier for full-fledged flight testing of ship-borne attack aircraft as well as for training of pilots. The test facility will have various systems for controlled take-off and landing as done on aircraft carriers.

GSL has been appointed as the main co-coordinator for this project to handle work related to steel procurement, structural fabrication, provisioning of equipment of Indian scope of supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the facility.

GSL will also carry out the system integration, while the civil work is being taken up by R&DE (E) Pune.

The project is the first such facility in South Asia and the third in the world. It will provide India a facility to test developmental aircraft before they are cleared for use on board aircraft carriers and also provide the Indian Navy with a facility to hone the skills of their pilots before they are deployed on board.

Director of Information Menino Peres addresses the function at Poinguinim.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, MAY 17

Director of Information Menino Peres said one need not migrate to cities to achieve big things in life, but if one have zeal and right approach, one can accomplish improbable by residing in villages itself.

Peres was speaking at a literature book release function at Poinguinim on Saturday evening. The book is written by journalist Ajit Painguinkar and published by Anujit Prakashan.

Peres also called Painguinkar as ambassador of Canacona for excelling in journalism for so many years.

“Even though Art and Culture department has subsidiary scheme to encourage young and new writers, it is inadequate to provide any boost for upcoming writers, who other than script writing are also forced to face the burden of publishing and selling books,” said Peres.

“Government must come out with something innovative to help upcoming writers in this regards,” added Peres.

Earlier, educationist and former minister Subhash Shirodkar released the fifth literature book ‘Nishpana Vriksha’ (Leafless Tree) of Ajit Painguinkar.

Speaking on the occasion,

Photo by Kathy Pereira

Shirodkar lauded the achievements of Painguinkar as a three-faceted personality for being a journalist and writer, cultural activist and a social worker.

On the occasion, about 65 local artists were felicitated.

Former head of Marathi Department Goa University Somnath Komarpant presided over the function.

Goa College of Music Rt principal Kamlakar Naik and Retd headmaster F Y Prabhugaonkar also spoke on the occasion.

Later, Antarnad Margao presented ‘Shabdasooranche Dene’, a musical programme.

‘Ensure high quality of cashew nut production’

Speaker Pratapsing Rane inaugurates Kulmaya Cashew Works at Kudnem on Monday. Also present are MLA Pratap Gawas, Sarpanch Naveen Phalkar, proprietor Shankar Dhawaskar, Anand Gad and others.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Speaker Pratapsingh Rane stressed on the need to introduce appropriate modern technology and ensure hygiene in cashew nut production process so that high quality is maintained. This, he said, will also boost export in this area.

Speaker was speaking after inaugurating Kulmaya Cashew Works factory at Kudnem- Pale.

Rane further highlighted the importance of cashew production in the State and said that increase in cashew nut production is a testimony to the improved living standard of people in the area.

Pale MLA Pratap Gawas, Kudnem Sarpanch Naveen Phalkar, proprietor of Kulmaya Cashew Works Shankar Dhawaskar and Anand Gad were present.

Shyam Gaonkar compered the function.

upCoMInG eVents International Museum Day

PANJIM (HND): From the simple wooden symbol to the jewelencrusted gold and silver versions, the Cross in its variations is today evoking curiosity and interest. To harness and contain this pursuit under one roof, Goa’s first ever ‘The Big Foot Cross Museum’ at Lotoulim is celebrating International Museum Day on May 18 by exhibiting a new panel of 12 unusual crosses to add to its already existing worldwide collection of 1182 crosses.

These crosses are classified into 91 categories and each cross carries a specific description. The unusual crosses include a ‘Gallean Priory Cross’ – that shows humankind standing on reason restless with unconscious energy; the ‘Penal Cross’ – this cross is carved from a solid piece of wood with incised passion symbols which date back to early Christianity; a ‘Celtic Cross of Commitment’ and more. It will be inaugurated at the hands of Tourism Minister Francisco Pacheco at 10 am.

‘Prathishtadin Mahotsav’

PANJIM (HND): Shree Narayana Guru Memorial Society Goa will celebrate the ‘Prathishtadin Mahotsav’ at Guru Mandir, Sree Narayana Giri, Ambegal-Ponda, on May 20 from 7 am onwards. The main programme of general convention, from 10.30 am to 1 pm, will be attended by His Holiness Rhithambharananda Swami, general secretary of Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust Shivagiri Mutt, Varkala, Kerala as chief guest andFr Agnelo Pinheiro, Prof Rachol Seminary, in-charge of inter-religious dialogue and Janab M Abubekar Saadi as guest of honors. More than 1000 people from all over Goa are expected to attend the function.

The detailed program is as follows: 7 am to 8 am - Guru pooja, 8 am to 10.30 am - Bhajan and recitation of Gurudeva’s poems, 10.30 am to 1 pm - general convention, 1.30 pm to 2.30 pm - mahaprasad and 3 pm to 5.30 pm - study class on Guru’s poem.

Rajiv’s death anniversary

PANJIM (HND): The death anniversary of late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi will be celebrated on May 21 at 9.30 am, at Rajiv Medical Complex, Bambolim.

A floral tribute will be paid to late Rajiv Gandhi by the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Subhash Shirodkar, CM Digambar Kamat, Cabinet Ministers, MPs, MLAs, party leaders, party office bearers, PCC members and party workers.

Later, floral tribute will be also paid at the Congress office, Panjim at 10.30 am.

Mamlatdar reviews works at Valpoi poWer shutdoWn HERALD CORRESPONDENT VALPOI, MAY 17

Sattari Mamlatdar Satish Desai recently reviewed the ongoing beautification works at Valpoi being carried out by Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC).

Mamlatdar Desai along with Water Resource Department officials accompanied by GSIDC contractor inspected the site opposite JMFC Valpoi.

With the monsoon fast approaching and GSIDC’s failure to complete the work within prescribed time, the mamlatdar questioned the contractor and officers for the delay.

Mamlatdar Desai directed PWD engineers to make necessary provision for shifting the water pipelines urgently and also instructed the contractor

Sattari Mamlatdar Satish Desai reviews the beautification work carried out by GSIDC at Valpoi.

Photo by Ashraf Khan

to speed up the ongoing work.

“Wherever the mud is dumped, it has to be cleared before the onset of monsoon,” instructed Desai.

As a safety measure for mo-

torists and pedestrians, the mamlatdar also directed the GSIDC contractor to barricade the stretch of road which is being dug for road widening.

MAY 18 ASSAGAO: From 8 am to 5 pm. Areas affected are Anjuna beach, Priazwaddo, Dando flee market, Goikarwada, Pedem, Tembi, Sorantto, Monterwado, Mazalwado, Ximwado and surrounding areas.

TALEIGAO: From 9 am to 2.30 pm. Areas affected are Housing Board, Part of Vodlem Bhat, Siddhivinayak Society and surrounding areas.

CARANZALEM: From 9 am to 2.30 pm. Areas affected are Marine Castle, Hotel Cozinheiro, Dando,Part of Borchem Bhat and surrounding areas.

PANJIM: From 9 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are Nizmar Centre, Lar Menezes, Hotel Sujay, Yes Bank and nearby surrounding areas.

MAY 19 TALEIGAO: From 9 am to 2.30 pm. Areas affected are Durgawadi Housing Board, Marcon Apt and surrounding areas.

CARANZALEM: From 9 am to 2.30 pm. Areas affected are St Antonio apt, area behind St Peter’s Chapel, Noble Shelter and surrounding areas.

PANJIM: From 9 am to 3 pm. Areas affected are Goa Sahakar Bhandar, Velho trade centre, Rizvi Sadan, Geeta Bakery, Glass tower, Shankar Parvati Building, Hotel liberty, MES office and surrounding areas.

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GOA, TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 2010

CM explores possibility of developing Carambolim Lake

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat along with Cumbarjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar inspects Carambolim Lake.

Photo by Kanzil Rodrigues HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, MAY 17

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat recently visited Carambolim Lake to explore the possibility of developing the lake as a tourist destination.

Kamat along with Cumbarjua ML A Pandurang Madkaikar, Carambolim Sarpanch Balchandra Naik and others visited the lake and discussed possibilities for beautifying Carambolim Lake as a tourist destination.

It may be recalled that Carambolim Lake has been attracting many tourists from all over the world, especially for bird sightseeing.

Speaking to Herald about his visit to the lake, Chief Minister

Kamat said: “We are thinking of exploring the possibility of developing Carambolim Lake as a tourism spot.”

“Taking into consideration the guidelines laid down by the High Court and as the local MLA has said that the lake was filled with water throughout the year, we would also explore the possibility whether the lake water could be used for daily household usage for nearby residents,” said Kamat.

When asked how long it would take for the process to beautify Caramboilm Lake, the chief minister said: “The government will try to find out what could be done for the development of the lake so that beauty

of the lake is maintained.”

“Some type of master plan will have to be worked out along with the guidelines laid down by the High Court,” he added.

MLA Madkaikar said though there are court hurdles, he would ask the chief minister to take up development work of Carambolim Lake through Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation.

“If the lake is developed into a tourism spot, then it will provide an opportunity for the locals to carry out some business at the tourist spot, where thousands of tourists will come to have a look at Siberian birds in and around Carambolim Lake,” added Madkaikar.

‘Co-operative societies can usher revolution in field of development’

High-rise committee member held on graft charge

HC: Putting pressure does not amount to abetment of suicide

PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Three persons, including a member of high-rise committee which looks into implementation of norms governing construction of towers, were today arrested on corruption charges, Anti Corruption Bureau said.

Engineer Shailesh Mahimtura, member of the committee formed by the Urban Development Department allegedly demanded Rs one crore from a builder and accepted Rs 15 lakh as first installment through his two aides Jahabeen Jumatiya and Kunal Dhuri.

All the three were arrested, Additional Police Commissioner (ACB) Niket Kaushik told PTI. According to ACB officials, the builder had a proposal to construct a residential-cumcommercial building at Matunga area in central Mumbai.

Officials of the high-rise committee had in April second week inspected the site and told the builder that Mahimtura would visit the site shortly. Later, Mahimtura inspected the site on April 27 and asked the builder to meet him, Kaushik said.

Since the builder had a total of eight such projects, Mahimtura demanded Rs one crore for approving them, Kaushik added.

"For over two weeks, the issue was discussed between the two.

Finally, the victim agreed to pay a bribe of Rs one crore and complained to us," Kaushik added.

Simply putting pressure on a person does not amount to abetment of suicide, High Court has held acquitting a widowed woman and her relatives in a criminal case regarding her husband's suicide.

Mandakini Landge (20), her mother Hirabai Markad, and her brother-in-law Bhausaheb Bhapse, all residents of Pathardi taluka in Ahmednagar district, were facing trial for abetting the suicide of Mandakini's husband, Kiran Landage.

Kiran and Mandakini married in April 2008, and one year later, on May 29, 2009, Kiran committed suicide by consuming poison outside her father's house in Madhi. Earlier, he had said that he would commit suicide on the threshold of Mandakini's house.

As per the prosecution's case, after Mandakini's father passed away sometime in 2008, she, alongwith her mother and brother-in-law, started putting pressure on

nJustice A V Nirgude of Bombay High Court held that even if the prosecution's story was to be accepted fully, it did not indicate that Mandakini and her family had 'mens rea' (intention) to cause Kiran's death.

Kiran to shif t to her parent's village, as there was nobody to tend to her father's farm.

However, Kiran was not willing to move from his house in Pimpalgaon Landaga.

Soon thereafter, Mandakini became pregnant, and was sent to her parents' house. Later,

Kiran's parents met with an accident, so he requested Mandakini to return, but she refused.

This situation apparently became unbearable for Kiran, and according to prosecution, he told his parents that he would go and die on the threshold of Mandakini's house.

On May 29, he actually consumed poison, and reached her house, where he was found dead.

Police booked Mandakini, her mother, and brother-in-law for abetment of suicide upon the complaint filed by Kiran's family; against which the latter moved High Court.

Justice A V Nirgude of Bombay High Court held that even if the prosecution's story was to be accepted fully, it did not indicate that Mandakini and her family had 'mens rea' (intention) to cause Kiran's death. "...the petitioners by putting pressure on Kiran did not commit any (criminal) act with mens rea," the High Court held, quashing the criminal case.

Purple Rain celebrates 25 years of music

Vehicle thief dies of heart attack PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Sanquelim Chairperson Sunita Verekar inaugurates the Maharshi Co-operative Society in the presence of the Societys’ chairman Dr Suresh Amonkar.

Photo by Vishant Vaze HERALD CORRESPONDENT MAYEM, MAY 17

Sanquelim Municipal Council (SMC) Chairperson Sunita Verekar on Monday stated that the co-operative societies can usher in a revolution in the field of development ultimately helping other like-minded associations like self-help groups.

She was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Ma-

harshi Multipurpose Co-operative Society at Sanquelim, which is founded and promoted by Dr Suresh Amonkar. Asstt Registrar of Co-operative Societies Vasudev Devidas, Kauthankar from Ponda office, Chairperson of Maharshi Co-operative Society Dr Suresh Amonkar, Secretary Satu Mainkar and councilor Deelip Desai were also present on the occasion.

In his speech, V B Devidas said the Society would help people raise their standard of living while Dr Amonkar assured that the Society would work to uplift the poor and downtrodden sections in the community.

The function was compered

by Pravin Blaggon while Satu Mainkar later proposed the vote of thanks.

A suspected thief arrested last week today died of a "heart attack" in a civic hospital here, police said.

Hemant Kumar Jain, who hailed from Rajasthan, was app re h e n d e d o n M a y 1 0 o n charges of stealing motor vehicles.

Lodged in a general lock-up in suburban Borivali, Jain complained of chest pain this morning, Additional Police Commissioner Ramrao Pawar told PTI. Subsequently, Jain was rushed to Bhagwati Hospital for treatment where he died, Pawar said.

"Prima facie it appears that Jain died of a cardiac arrest.

However, we are awaiting the post-mortem report to ascertain the actual cause of his death," he added.

Jain, along with his three associates, was nabbed from suburban Kandivali with three stolen jeeps, brought here from Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

The police laid a trap and apprehended them when they arrived in the city to sell the vehicles.

Swami Ramdev to First civilian expedition embark upon 2 year-long from Bengal nation-wide tour scales Mt Everest proposed party will field such PTI

PTI KOLKATA, MAY 17

Basanta Singha Roy and Debabrata Biswas, two members of the first civilian expedition from West Bengal by 'Mountaineers Association of Krishnanagar', reached the top of Mount Everest this morning.

According to a message received from the expedition base camp at Solo Khumbu in Nepal, team leader Basanta Singha Roy and another member Debabrata Biswas reached the top of the world's highest mountain at 7:40 am.

The message said the two had set out from the summit camp at South Col above 26,000 feet at around 10:00 pm last night and reached the top after a gruelling climb of about ten hours.

The expedition organised by MAK which left for the mountain on April 4 had initially planned to climb through the Rongbook glacier, North Col and North East ridge route in Tibet, but were disallowed by the Chinese government.

The expedition members then decided to climb from the traditional Khumbu Glacier, South Col, Southeast ridge route in Nepal.

n Team leader Basanta Singha Roy and another member Debabrata Biswas reached the top of the world's highest mountain at 7:40 am.

The expedition members set up their base camp at Solo Khumbu at 16,000 feet on April 14. They set out from the base camp for the final push on May 13.

Other members of the team were Asok Roy, Sourav Sinchan Mondal and Bivas Sarkar.

West Bengal Sports Minister Kanti Ganguly congratulated the team. He said a civic reception would be accorded to them.Leader of the first successful Indian Everest Expedition in 1965 Capt. M S Kohli also congratulated the expedition leader and its members for their success.

In a message Capt. Kohli said "It's wonderful. My congratulations to all of them."

HYDERABAD, MAY 17

Renowned Yoga guru Swami Ramdev today said he would embark upon a nation-wide twoyear-long tour commencing this September to meet over 50 crore people as a part of his 'Bharat Swabhiman' campaign.

The movement with the slogan 'Bharat Bachavo Aur Bharat Banavo' intends to eradicate corruption, crime, poverty from India and thus transform it into a world power.

"Our aim is to transform villages and I will try to spend maximum time there and get more number of people enrolled in the movement. My endeavour is to meet over 50 crore people," he told reporters here.

"Two lakh members of Patanjali Yog Peeth from Haridwar had began the 'Bharat Swabhiman' yatra in 600 villages besides one crore members were taking up classes at district-levels," he said adding even some top leaders from Muslim community too had expressed a wish to be part of the campaign.

The Yoga guru, who had recently announced to launch a political party to cleanse the system, said he himself would not contest the polls, but his

(honest) candidates who would help in building a 'Prosperous and Self-Sufficient' Bharat.

"The new party will shake the political scenario," Baba Ramdev claimed and added that some parties have already held talks with him and even invited him to join them.

However, several issues including the naming of the party will be decided later may be in next two years, he added.

"We want a law that seeks death penalty for corruption, adultery, rape and dowry. The law should be such that the capital punishment is awarded immediately to the guilty and there should not be any scope for mercy petitions," Baba Ramdev said.

Nearly, Rs 250 lakh crore (black money) is lying outside India and we want necessary legislations to bring it back.

The same money can be ploughed back in the country for various development projects and creating employment.

Swami Ramdev claimed he would live for 150-200 years with the help of Yoga and added had there not been pollution in air, water, food and in the surroundings, I could live for a longer life for at least 400 years.

The band members cutting the anniversary cake.

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

One of Goa’s longest lasting bands ‘Purple Rain’ completed 25 years in the music business recently. The occasion was celebrated with a thanksgiving mass at Ribandar church. Later there was a live concert of Pur-

ple Rain’s original music and was followed by Dine and Dance at A Lua, Merces.

Tony Dias, Deputy Commissioner of Customs and C e n t r a l E xc i s e , w a s t h e chief guest and raised the toast in honour of the Band and also launched their

Dawood's aide gets lifer for abducting businessman PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

The Delhi High Court today sentenced a man to life imprisonment for abducting a businessman at the behest of under world don Dawood Ibrahim and demanding a ransom of Rs 1.5 crore.

The High Court expressed its anguish that government accommodation was used for the crime which in fact was a reflection of official corruption.

The accused K K Saini was operating from a government quarter which was alloted to a Supreme Court official where the abducted businessman was kept in confinement.

The businessman Sikander Lal Pahwa was abducted on March 2, 1994, from Greater Kailash II in South Delhi and kept in a sector XII government quarter in R K Puram from where the accused was making calls for ransom through a telephone which was in the name of another person.

The accused had rented a government quarter allotted to an Assistant Registrar of the Supreme Court Hari Shankar Khekhar.

The victim was released by the abductor allegedly on payment of ransom, which was denied by Pahwa's family.

Investigation into the incident made it clear that the phone calls reaching the victim's family were originating from Dubai.

The High Court noted how the abduction was carried out at the instance of Dawood Ibrahim in which his front man and international gangster Babloo Srivastava completed the task through Saini who illegally used the government accommodation and other facilities

n The thriving black market where every thing is done in the darkness of secrecy provides a thriving and fertile ground for the mafia to grow.

If citizens of this country conduct themselves as required by the rules of law, we see little scope for the mafia to spread its tentacles. there.

Justice Pradeep Nandrajog, who refused to show any leniency to Saini, was critical of a government official becoming a prey to mafia, giving a scope to spread its tentacles.

"The thriving black market where every thing is done in the darkness of secrecy provides a thriving and fertile ground for the mafia to grow. If citizens of this country conduct themselves as required by the rules of law, we see little scope for the mafia to spread its tentacles", the court said.

"It is time each one of us reflects on our being as a human and use our conscience to reflect upon our actions and do a self audit as to whether our actions breed darkness and secrecy where microbes of the underworld not only thrive but multiply with immunity," the court said.

website ‘ www. purpleraingoa .com’.

The show also featured the debut performance of dance troupe ‘Purple Juniors’ choreographed by Quennie, specially flown in from Chinchinati, Ohio.

The show was hosted by RJ Savio of FM Rainbow.

Census 2010: BMC to fete fastest 100 enumerators PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

In order to boost the morale of enumerators, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), the census executing agency, is contemplating a public felicitation for the fastest 100 enumerators.

"During my review meetings, I discovered that few enumerators had already completed their quota of 150 houses in less than 15 days.

Also, a lot of other enumerators had completed 50 per cent of their houses, which is surprising," Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar told PTI. "We have planned a public felicitation to honour such enumerators. A memento and a certificate will be awarded to these enumerators. About 100 enumerators will be selected on the basis of quickness with which they complete the task," Mhaiskar said.

There are 28,906 house blocks in the city (one house block consists of 150 houses).

One person will visit 150 homes. About 31,797 enumerators will carry out the survey She further informed, about three enumerators who have finished 150 houses in the G North Ward.

The first phase of 15th National Census began from May 1 with house listing and will continue till June 15. The civic body has started door-to-door process of data collection for census.

"We need to honour the dedication of enumerators, the rapidity and their spirit. This will encourage enumerators to complete the census on schedule," said Mhaiskar.

Meanwhile, about 1,000 enumerators have not got their house lists.

House lists are the lists, which spell out the houses to be enumerated by the enumerators.

By not having it, they won't be able to start work.

"This is because 10 per cent of enumerators have yet not reported to us. But we are confident that the census will be completed by June 15," Mhaiskar said.

"National guidelines make it compulsory to finish phase one

by June 15 so we won't be able to provide these 1000 enumerators with additional time.

They will have to finish it within the same time period," she added.

appointMents

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GOA, TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 2010

Panel flays Railwaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; disaster management PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

Railways' preparedness for tackling emergencies is not upto the envisaged levels, with less than 25 per cent of the frontline staff trained to handle disasters or mishaps in many divisions, a Parliamentary panel has said.

The committee found that specialised disaster management training courses were poorly attended by the Railway staff.

It also observed that the Railways were neither able to rapidly access the disaster sites nor provide organised rescue and relief operation during the first hour of any mishap.

In most of the railway divisions, less than 25 per cent of the frontline staff were trained to handle disasters or mishaps, it found.

Highlighting the delayed arrival of rescue and relief equipment at disaster sites, the Public Accounts Committee in its latest report noted that this also led to delayed restoration of rail traffic causing diversions and

cancellation of trains.

"It was found that provision of rescue and relief equipment such as accident relief trains, accident relief medical vans and self-propelled accident relief trains was inadequate and maintenance was deficient," the panel noted.

The committee also noted that not placing relief equipment strategically in the railway divisions curtailed speedy response to disasters.

Capacity building for emergency preparedness is an integral part of disaster management. Rapid access to the accident site is a fundamental step in providing quick and effective rescue and relief operations within the first hour of the accident, which is called 'golden hour'.

The committee observed that Railways' response to disasters within the golden hour was ineffective, coordination arrangement was poor, preparedness and expertise were lacking while there were other deficiencies like availability of necessary equipment.

Sale of platform tickets stopped at stations PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

Sale of platform tickets was on Monday stopped at three major railway terminus in the city to ensure better crowd management in the wake of the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station which left two persons dead.

A Northern Railway spokesperson said that sale of platform tickets has been stopped at New Delhi, Old Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations from this morning.

"A strict monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure that only bonafide passengers enter platforms," the spokesperson said, adding GRP, RPF and scout and guides have also been asked to properly handle the summer rush.

Railways have set up a fourmember high-powered committee to investigate the incident.

In view of the incident and to decongest New Delhi station, officials indicated that several more trains could be shifted to Anand Vihar railway terminal in east Delhi.

The new terminal was inaugurated in December last year to handle trains mostly bound for eastern states, but only about seven trains were announced.

Railway officials said that they were waiting for the communication network at the station to develop properly before shifting more trains. But following yesterday's tragedy, there has been a renewed sense of urgency to shift more train to Anand Vihar soon, officials said.

Railway Board is now mulling operating more trains to eastern states like Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa from Anand Vihar terminal, he said.

The station in its full flow has the capacity to accommodate three lakh passengers and about 272 trains daily.

At present, Railways are running special trains from Anand Vihar Station, with 2,000 trips arranged for this summer season alone.

The station is flanked by Anand Vihar metro station on one side and the inter state bus terminus on the other.

New BP jackets for better protection PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

The new lot of 59,000 bullet proof jackets being procured for jawans and officers of para-military forces will ensure enhanced protection from bullets fired from AK series rifles and enable troops operate better in even humid conditions.

Central forces like the CRPF, ITBP, CISF, BSF, SSB, NSG and Assam Rifles have been sanctioned the new protective gear by the Home Ministry after it floated tenders carrying enhanced specifications last year.

"The jackets will allow better mobility to the troops. These have been kept light weight and are better resistant to humidity as the para-military personnel undertake both static and patrolling duties," a top officer in the Bureau of Police Research and Development - an organisation entrusted with the task of modernisation of police forces - said.

The extreme weather conditions in the country have been kept in mind while procuring the new jackets, which will be light in weight and provide better fit-

ting to a 6 ft tall jawan, Anurag Tripathi, spokesperson for the Kanpur-based company, which has been awarded the contract for these jackets, claimed.

The jackets conform to a set of international guidelines for such vests, he said, adding the material used has better resistance to water and moisture thereby making it last longer.

These jackets have been tested as per the most stringent norms of NIJ (National Institute of Justice) and have passed all the tests, Tripathi said.

The company will supply the jackets in eight months, he added.

The Home Ministry had informed the Lok Sabha last month that there was a shortage of 8,71,21 bulletproof jackets in central para-military forces.

The new orders were placed on April 27 by the Home Ministry.

The government had earlier cancelled the initial test results in November last year after the "integrity of the testing process had been vitiated by the activities of the chief scientist of the Terminal Ballistic Research Laboratory (TBRL)" in Chandigarh.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Islam does not allow celebrating birthdaysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PTI SAHARANPUR (UP), MAY 17

In a fresh fatwa, Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deboand has said that Islam does not permit celebrating birthdays.

Responding to a query posed by a woman, the country's biggest Islamic seminary observed that the tradition to celebrate birthdays was started by the Jews and Christians, but Islam does not permit this practice.

The Darul Uloom Deoband has in recent days issued edicts declaring that working in banks and opting for an insurance policy was against the tenets of Islam, sparking a debate. The seminary had also decreed that it was illegal according to the Sharia or Islamic law for a woman to work and for a family to accept a woman's earnings.

Leading Islamic body Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's spokesman Abdul Hameed Nomani had maintained that fatwas should not be generalised and should be seen in the context in which they have been issued.

"People must read between the lines and not generalize the fatwas," Nomani had said.

OHERALDO

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OPINION

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O HERALD O

St. Inez Creek and Urban Flooding

Vol No CX No: 129 Goa, Tuesday 18 May, 2010

Planting trouble

W

ith summer here and the monsoons around the corner, it is but natural that our attention should go towards horticultural crops and agricultural operations. Reports in the press (Herald, May 17) have highlighted the difficulties facing mango and cashew farmers.

While mango consumers have had to face high prices, it is not as if mango growers have received good prices either.

Mango production has been hit this year, making it tough making it for those on both sides of the producer-consumer fence.

Agricultural officers are quick to come out with explanations, often blaming it on the weather conditions. This may be partially true, but certainly the State has a bigger role to play. It needs to be proactive, do something specific to increase the quantity and quality of horticultural crops, and somehow make sure that the buyer and the producer gets a better deal.

As things stand, government staff tends to employ a mostly bureaucratic approach to their work. While they spend a lot of hours in their offices -- sometimes air-conditioned—it is not clear just how much benefits percolate down to the fields.

While States like Kerala have managed to keep large tracts of their land green and under cultivation, in Goa large tracts of land have remained barren despite all the talk about fallow land. Traditional varieties have been neglected, while the high-yielding ones have their own problems.

Despite the well known fact that agricultural labour is increasingly scarce to come by in Goa, little has been done on the mechanisation front. Seeing an agricultural tractor working in the fields is still a rarity, let along harvesting or threshing machines. Given the official bureaucratic approach, it is not surprising that farmers have hardly been able to benefit from the tractors that are supposed to be available with the agricultural department.

While the government cites a number of reasons why it cannot expand its tractor and mechanisation operations to more areas of Goa, private initiative has shown how this can be made possible. Gulf-returned youth like Natha Umbraskar of Saligao have been working hard and long hours to offer farmers an affordable tractor service—even though this is not backed by any government subsidies.

Instead of promising the stars, the State would be far more productive if it was realistic in how to encourage the commonman to solve their own issues. Instead of trying to get its own staff to plough fields, it could make it possible for more local youth to take up to such ventures. Unfortunately, when the government thinks of such programmes, it first of all thinks of doling out subsidies. Such plans often end up in attracting the wrong persons, and could well kill such initiatives instead of promoting them.

On paper, the Goa government has a lot of schemes meant to promote agriculture. It even sells seeds to villagers through its outlets. But because its approach is tied up in red-tape, the end result is that it hardly manages to make an impact.

Selling vegetable seeds only during-office-hours and through specified government offices is not going to work. The government needs to be in the marketplace—in popular markets like Mapusa, Margao, Bicholim or Canacona—where vendors sell and sit their plants and seeds, and find many takers. If private vendors find takers for their seeds every Friday market-day in Mapusa, surely the government is getting something rather wrong when it fails to make an impact. Even though its seeds are very reasonably priced.

Agricultural officers continue to talk in incremental figures, aiming very low, in a way that will hardly have an impact on Goa. Agriculture director Satish Tendulkar has been quoted saying that there are just two government ‘paddy combine’ machines in the whole of Goa. They plan to get two to three more in this season. For an area of 31,000 hectares officially said to be under paddy cultivation in Goa, this is a drop in the ocean.

It is time Goa secured more results on the agricultural fronts. Food security is a serious issue indeed. To start with, officialdom also needs to take stringent action against those claiming to be tenants of paddy-fields, and yet keeping their fields fallow each successive monsoons.

Paddy fields M. Fernandes, Candolim There is a vast area of paddy fields in Candolim, which once belonged to Candolim communidade and it was taken over by farmers free of charge. For the last five years they are not being cultivated. The area is more than five lakh square metres.

These paddy fields can be cultivated two times a year, during rainy season and after rainy season called ‘vaingan’. After these two seasons of paddy cultivation, vegetables can be grown.

It has two big lakes, one is known as ‘Nagtollem’ and has fives smaller lakes. It is high time the Agriculture Department takes over these fields and cultivates them.

No pressure Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco There are several places in Vasco which do

100 Years Ago PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

18 May, 1910 l

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His Highness the King of Sundem has returned to his Palace at Bandora after a visit to his father-inlaw the Maharaja of Pungenoor.

The horned cattle from Hyderabad, Shikarpur, Mysore, Gaya, and Bengal is going to be exported to Bombay.

The inhabitants of Ireland have remitted a sum of Rupees 82 thousand to succor eleven thousand Indian children in the care of the Irish Mission in Bombay.

While on hunting spree the Maharaja of Panna slew 14 tigers which tallies to 22 since April of the current year.

The Prince Aga Khan gifted to the Prince of Wales a lion estimated to be worth five thousand rupees.

“A

St Inez creek can play a dual role: beneficial and/or detrimental writes DR. ANTONIO MASCARENHAS

city located on the banks of a river fails to discharge flood waters”. This would be a likely headline within a month. It is a paradox that, despite all scientific advances and lessons learnt from natural hazards, urban flooding still persists. It is indeed a humiliation for a modern society that monsoon inundations constitute one of the foremost natural hazards of our times.

Through this article, the author addresses two topics, with particular reference to the ancient St Inez creek: the use and significance of gradients in the form of antecedent drainage, and the beneficial role of coastal wetlands in the alleviation of inundations. It also states that natural hazards culminate as disasters, only when human development interferes with the functions of natural systems.

Do we have methods to avoid urban flooding?

If these inundations cannot be neutralized, such phenomena can be curtailed. The distinctiveness of coastal landforms governs the impacts of flooding and the antecedent drainage patterns play a critical role. The major factors that control the damage potential of storm waters are geomorphology, elevation, drainage, and the role of natural ecosystems, the wetlands in particular.

The Survey of India (SoI) toposheet of 1964 reveals interesting facts: (1) The environment of Panjim constituted a natural coastal wetland. The Campal -Miramar sector was a marshy lowland with sparse swellings. Similarly, the Mala Lake was a permanent wetland where rain water used to accumulate. The overflow emptied itself into the adjacent creek that connected itself, under the road, to the main Ourem creek. Mala lake therefore functioned as a flood bay, probably over the centuries. (2) The other ancient asset was the St. Inez creek. Fully operational till about two decades ago, this water body originated from the foothills of Dona Paula plateau, and wound its way through Tonca and St. Inez, before debouching into the Mandovi. Interestingly, the tidal effect could be felt as far as Tonca. (3) On the eastern side, the Patto – Ribandar stretch comprised a network of backwaters, supported by an intricate system of creeks and canals, all linked to the Mandovi. That was the scenery of yesteryears.

The geological significance and the ecological importance of wetlands are documented globally.

Wetlands comprise features such as mudflats, marshes, with water bodies as lagoons, creeks, lakes and backwaters. Each of these units has a

Water Woes definite role to play and specific functions to perform. These ecosystems help in the retention as well as supply of water and hence alleviate flooding problems. Swampy ecosystems are highly productive, support a diverse heterotrophic food chain, act as spawning and breeding grounds and hence nurseries for marine biota. Wetlands also serve as storehouses of nutrients. Wetlands maintain the health of a region and play a protective role. Hence, these ecosystems are of immense value to mankind.

St Inez creek can play a dual role: beneficial and/or detrimental. Being a water pathway, the creek can function as channel to empty city flood waters into the Mandovi, provided rainwater is diverted towards the creek. Conversely, the blocked creek can also enhance urban flooding if creek water overtops its banks after a torrential downpour, an episode similar to the deluge that occurred in Canacona in 2009.

Unfortunately, frenzied development in the form of insatiable greed has drastically changed the landscape around Panjim. The St Inez creek is choked beyond redemption; several parts are characterized by filth and squalor. Similarly, the Mala lake resembles a bombed site, and appears beyond all bounds of restoration. The city bus terminus comprises reclaimed lowlands, and represents the

From the heart

The Tamarind Tree

T

here she stands, in the corner of my huge building complex, aged yet strong, her withered bark curled and crusty. A strong sturdy tree she once was and decades have not diminished that power. But there is a deep sorrow in her form these days as memories of years gone by creep up, causing her wrinkled brow to frown with disdain.

Once, long, long ago, there was a wild forest around her. She was one among many and her days were filled with the merry singing of birds in her hair, the gurgling of a little brook at her feet and the prancing of tiny animals up and down her trunk. As seasons changed, the world around her changed from green to yellow to red. She revelled in it and in the Artist of Life who had created her and her companions. She basked in the hot summer sun, shivered when gusty winds swept around her body and teased her hair, smiled at the rain pouring down her back and waved out with dainty hands to the clouds that brought relief to the scorched earth.

Birds would seek refuge in her, making homes for their tiny ones in the nooks and crannies of her magnificent body. She pro-

not get adequate water supply. I happen to live in the heart of the city along the Svatantra Path. Here pressure is so inadequate that the water does not rise even to the first floor of the buildings. Several residents living here have been coming to the ground floor to collect water everyday for several years now. When this problem was brought to the notice of the local legislator, I was told that the pipe-line supplying water to this locality are old and clogged hence the water pressure is low. A promise was also made that the problem would be rectified as soon as possible. This was two years back. Till this date nothing has been done to solve the problems of the residents here. Any improvement in the water supply will be of no use if the pipelines supplying the water are old and clogged and cannot sustain the water pressure.

Tar balls Freddy Fernandes, Dubai In Goa a lot of things are seasonal, Goan weddings too are mostly preferred during the holidays, Diwali, Christmas or summer holidays. During the end of the summer, April, May we have another season for tar balls to make way to the shores, I have been a witness to this absurd phenomena for a couple of decades and as time goes by the amount of this unhealthy and unwarranted residue just keeps on increasing.

Come April, May we are stuck with tar deposits all along our coast. During this particular season every year this aberration makes it’s presence felt, affecting sea life, birds and humans as well.

What can be the source of this highly pollutant chemical compound? From where does this tar come? Can it be the ships, barges, oil tanks or factories? Although year after year this particular problem is highlighted by the media, our authorities have not taken any action nor have they come up with any action plan to stop this aberration.

With gratitude P K Pal, Panjim My senior citizen fraternity, who has been using the swimming pool facility provided by the Sports Authority of Goa, joins me in

largest reclamation in the history of Goa. At all these sites, recurring flooding proves that the resilience of natural ecosystems of Panjim has collapsed.

Human interference has contributed to the environmental breakdown of wetlands and water bodies. These systems are under threat due to several reasons: Mangrove swamps are being filled rapidly; cutting of hills has resulted in siltation and sedimentation of mud in wetlands; effects on traditional farming and fishing activity are routinely reported; uncontrolled settlements and dwellings have resulted in indiscriminate reclamation of lowlands and water bodies; natural drainage systems which were in place for centuries have been altered irreversibly. Therefore, a rapid decrease of coastal wetlands is a major cause for concern.

To cap it all, the recent news that a large lowlying area at Tonca has been filled and a road laid over it, is nothing but a mockery of ecological principles. A tall building in the same area is bounded by a retaining wall that is projecting by a meter into the St Inez creek. Obviously, commercial avarice has thrown the prevailing ecological regulations to the winds.

Also, it is shocking to learn that our local authorities still doubt whether the tide gets into the

St Inez creek. We have already proved that the Survey of India (SoI) Toposheet published in 1964 shows that St. Inez creek was clearly functional during the early 1960’s. The daily tidal ingress of saline waters was then routinely observed up to and even beyond Tonca; the same partly holds today. Obviously, when the creek was functional, the tidal effect was experienced twice daily. The presence of fish also proves that the creek was productive, oxygenated and nutrient-rich even in the late 1970’s. St. Inez creek was a part and still constitutes the antecedent drainage of the area.

The crisis of city flooding needs to be understood. In London, streets never get flooded; the Thames takes care of it. In Paris, whenever the Seine rises above the danger limit, the flood gates are opened, and water is diverted into flood bays.

Potential hazards are thus managed. In contrast, the Worli creek of Mumbai is packed to the brim with garbage; natural outlets having disappeared, rain water routinely invades people’s homes. Similarly, the fields of Caranzalem remain submerged for weeks simply because rain water has nowhere to go.

On July 26 2005, Mumbai was paralyzed. The heavy downpour of the day flooded the metropolis.

The ancient Mithi River, now an open sewer, was in spate. The waters rose so treacherously, overflowed the concrete banks, and flooded the area around the airport. The primary reason was that Mithi River course has been altered and narrowed so drastically that the flow of storm water was blocked at every bend, and as such, rain water had nowhere to go. Even the Santa Cruz airport runway was under 50 centimetres of water. That was how Mithi River struck back. By analogy, an identical situation may emerge in Panjim if St Inez creek is not restored to its past glory.

In brief, coastal wetlands are nature’s flood reservoirs as channels, lakes, ponds and wetlands can contain and distribute flood waters. Natural water bodies can also hold large amounts of rain water.

Such interlinked drainage systems alleviate the impacts of heavy rainfall by receiving, accommodating and leading excess waters back into the sea. Coastal wetlands have an inherent hazard prevention value, assist in the retention (as well as supply) of water and hence alleviate flooding. For this reason, wetlands have to be designated, and their role in dispersing flood waters needs recognition as critical areas to be preserved.

tected them with the fierce love of a mother for her child. And delighted with the mother birds when the fledglings took their maiden flight, falling clumsily to her lower branches. Often, squirrels ran up and down her trunk, calling out to each other as they played ‘Catching Cook’ and ‘Hide-n-Seek’ in gay abandon. They would nibble nuts and berries hidden in her cavities for the winter nestling contently, safe in her warmth.

Ah, those days were long gone and so were the birds and the squirrels. Her companions had been chopped down mercilessly to make way for the concrete jungle that was homes to the human race. ‘Why did you spare me’, the tamarind tree seems to cry to them. ‘I can’t bear this life’. I watch her weighed down by the abundant fruit she yields every summer and can almost feel her sadness. It bespeaks of the horror that is called progress. Development at the cost of Life.

The children of my complex run to the tamarind tree every morning and pelt her with stones. She endures their unkind ways because she knows they desire her fruit. Maybe that is why I am still alive, she muses. Because I am useful to them. My

By Auriel Ribeiro Sa friends were not needed anymore. And not for a single moment did they consider the life of those innocent, helpless birds and squirrels.

Once in a blue moon, a band of monkeys come and assemble in her branches. They too are out for the fruit and leaves, it appears.

The tamarind tree shows delight to see a shadow of her former life reappear but it is short-lived. Having used her, they leave without even a ‘Thank You’. They ravage and plunder just like their human cousins.

Still, the tamarind tree smiles her sad smile as she awaits the final stroke of doom. It almost seems as if she wants it now and I can understand why.

When you are unwelcome, you do not want to prolong your stay. You hope for a better place, a warmer welcome somewhere else. Life is like a prison for a living entity like her. Life hurts when she knows the future of human life without her and her kind is destined for extinction. They will realize their error too late, she fears. Can they survive without her? Maybe Yes. But without her kind? Certainly and absolutely not!

Letters to the Editor Letter of the Day

Selfish merchants

Vassant Alornekar, Morjim

The Mapuca municipal market was started in 1959 and it was leased out on condition that an auction would be held periodically. The rent was fixed to Rs.150 to Rs.200 a month. After liberation the godfathers of merchants creeped into the municipal council and with their help the rent remained the same and no auction was held thereafter but many of the lessees sold their premises for lakhs of rupees and everything looked normal. The Mapuca municipal council should first initiate an auction of the market shops and the rent should be increased to at least Rs 10,000 a month.

Mapuca merchants have been taking consumers for a ride. Duplicate materials are sold at exorbitant rates. All the merchants have been selling their wares at the MRP which is quite high and many of them exceed the MRP too. Nonstick pans of reputed companies sold in the market do not last for more than a month. Stainless steel goods get rusted. Those goods where MRP is not mentioned is sold at any price.

The people of Bardez should not support the merchants as they are selfish and look only after themselves. They are not interested in the Draft Plan but want to get rid of non Goans selling goods on footpaths for a lesser amount.

The Income Tax Department should raid their premises as many of the merchants are very rich but pay very little income tax. expressing wholehearted thanks and deep felt gratitude to the personnel and the staff of SAG for considering our request for a concession of the fees to the extent of 50 per cent. This certainly motivates the senior citizens who are interested in sports and other facilities provided by SAG. Through this letter I request more and more senior citizens to take full advantage of the facility which is certainly going to keep them fit and busy in their days of dawn.

Real boon Socorro D'Souza, Margao The right to information has been a real boon in the fight against corruption in Goa/India. The problem lay in the fact that no information was available to the citizens earlier and the officials denied them the same. At the national and State levels, planners, politicians and administrators, all out of touch with reality, were claiming there was total transparency.

The innovative solution to the problem of corruption was found not in the acts or publications of the government but by realizing the immense power of the right to information.

Corruption deprives members of the public of their basic entitlements, information is necessary for them to secure what is rightfully theirs.

In the gathering of information relating to development projects and detection of corruption therein, a powerful weapon is the social audit. A social audit collects official data and compares it with the actual progress of a project. A social audit can be carried out by any interested members of the public. Often social audits turn up interesting results.

Destroying Goa Jose Maria Miranda, Margao It is really shocking to read nearly everyday of some activity or the other being carried out in this State which is detrimental to our ecology, environment or demography.

Most, if not all, these activities have the blessings of our third rated politicians, for whom their own personal wealth is more important than the lives and health of the people and the wealth of the State. We are also aware that the CM cannot be trusted as his promises are meaningless because for him it is more important to retain his chair than to keep to his word.

Your May 15 edition exposes one Captain Mehta who has felled several mangroves to make way for a commercial project, on the banks of Mandovi at Naroa, Bicholim and is also involved in hill cutting, including on a portion which is a reserved forest area.

He has apparently, like the mine owners, enticed the locals with promise of jobs.

Goans must understand that money cannot buy a clean environment and the much needed ecological balance which such activities tend to destroy.

I am sure that the people of Naroa can unite and ensure that this man does not have his way, even if he has the backing of politicians.

Educational mess SND Poojary, Miramar First, it was the chief of the AICTE to be arrested for corruption, and now, the chief of another regulatory body, president of the MCI. There is also a need to have a hard look at the functioning of the University Grants Commission (UGC) as well. To start a course, or a department, or a college, the management makes an application to the appropriate regulatory body and the regulatory body sends an inspection team, or an affiliation committee -- consisting of handpicked members though -- to the concerned institution for a physical audit. The management, apart from extending elaborate hospitality to the visiting team, does extensive window-dressing. The team pleased with the ‘sincerity’ and ‘commitment’ of the management, recommends ‘conditional’ permission or affiliation, stipulating certain requirements to be met.

This is the beginning of the rot. Once the permission / affiliation is granted, it is nay impossible to withdraw it. The next inspection committee, consisting of more or less the same members finds that the requirements are not met; but gives further extension to the management. The cycle continues. If it were to be ensured that unless the basic requirements were met, no permission / affiliation would be given, many of the existing institutions with dubious records would not have seen the light of the day. But it is naïve to believe that these corrupt officials are operating lone without the connivance of the functionaries at the higher echelons of power.

Paths of Wisdom

Is Man Free?

by Osho A man once came to a master to ask how free and independent Man is. Is he totally free, or is there a limitation?

Is there something like fate, kismet, destiny, a God who puts a limitation beyond which Man cannot be free?

The mystic answered in his own way not logically but existentially. He said, “Stand up.”

The man thought this to be a stupid answer, “I am asking a simple question and he is asking me to stand up.” But he thought to himself , “Let us see what happens.” He stood. And the mystic said, “Now, raise one of your legs up.”

The man, by this time thought that he had come to a madman; what has this to do with freedom, independence? But now that he had come... and there must have been a crowd of disciples, and the mystic was so respected; not to follow him would be disrespectful, and there was no harm. So he lifted one of his legs from the earth, so one foot was in the air and he was standing on one foot.

And then the master said, “That’s perfectly good. Just one thing more.

Now take the other foot up also.”

“That is impossible!” the man said, “You are asking something impossible.

I have taken my right foot up. Now I c a n n o t t a ke m y l e f t f o o t u p . ” The master said “But you were free.

In the beginning you could have taken the left foot up. There was no binding order. You were completely free to choose whether to take the left foot up or the right foot up. I had not said anything about it; you just decided.

Yo u t o o k t h e r i g h t f o o t u p .

In your very decision, you made it impossible for the left foot to be lifted up. Don’t bother about fate, kismet, God. Just think of simple things.”

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

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

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GOA, TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 2010

opinionated Advani uses Sachar report to claim Muslims better off in Gujarat Special status for

D

Goa, a far cry

By Adv. Cleofato Almeida Coutinho

espite Goa being noted as a sea side holiday destination and a great place for people the world over, there is large scale migration particularly from the upper middle classes from coastal areas to countries like Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc. But the sea side holiday destination has created a problem which we seem unable to deal with. Goa has become a haven as holiday homes for rich of North India, leading to a high demand for housing. This has led to a demand for special status for Goa, it is not a demand for economic package but for non application of central laws for our state in general and a ban of sale of property to those not domiciled in Goa. Development that began after liberation has also led to large scale influx of lower middle class/labour class into Goa due the demand for menial labour and basic traders at the lower level.

As a result, Goa is being overwhelmed. The areas of concern are (i) employment where there is a decreasing employment opportunities with increasing number of qualified people both from inside and those entering the state. (ii) politically it is felt that locals are losing their dominance in electoral politics due to the two way migration. (iii) in the area of real estate, demand for housing has led to large construction activity.

It is felt that villages are loosing its character due to all this.

The demand for Special Status for Goa has its basis in an argument that being small and already overwhelmed we need protection and our land/our property cannot be permitted to be sold to those who are not domiciled in Goa. That landlords sell property to the highest bidder, it is felt imperative that the trend has to halted by barring sale to those who are not domiciled.

Can such a demand can be met in the teeth of some fundamental provisions of the constitution?

Article 19(e) (freedom to reside and settle) of the constitution in the chapter of fundamental rights and removes all internal barriers between India or between any of its parts. Provisions of residence and settlement is almost universal in all countries including countries like Sri-Lanka and Pakistan. It’s impossible to discriminate against the persons in matter of civic amenities and their right to reside and settle anywhere in India. However discrimination in areas of admission to educational institutions on grounds of domicile to a limited extent are permissible.

Restriction on residence and settlement is not possible unless restrictions are imposed on grounds of ‘public health’, ‘public order’ and ‘in the interest of scheduled tribes’.

If we examine restrictions based on the ground of public health it can be noticed that restrictions are brought in “red light areas” and on the ground of public order criminal elements are prohibited from residing in certain areas. Restriction can be brought in the interest of scheduled tribes. Tribal areas need protection of the law. Tribals are gullible, and fall pray to unscrupulous elements due to their poverty and backwardness. The Constitution and Law give special treatment to tribals and their areas, preventing other citizens in settling in tribal areas and/or buying tribal areas.

There is no other restriction that could be brought about within the exiting provisions of Article 19(e) and 19(5). There is a general grievance that we are getting overwhelmed. The sale of property by landlords is a part of best bargain for them in the present situation. The sale of land and houses is seen as creating a problem to the traditional village characteristics and the demand for special status is to halt the trend.

The demand to ban sale of property for residence and settlement is almost impossible in view of constitutional guarantee of residence and settlement. It has to be noted that the demand requires a change to the fundamental rights, something that is guaranteed to all citizens of the country. That we are getting overwhelmed shall not fit in the present scheme settlement and residence. It makes no sense chasing the unachievable.

Solutions must be found within the existing frame work of law, land laws and planning laws.

Some states it appears have brought in legislature to imposing restriction on sale of agricultural land to persons other than agriculturists. Those restrictions are in furtherance of agricultural operations. The situation in Goa is altogether different. Despite the agricultural Tenancy Act and the legal fiction of deemed owner, agricultural lands are uncultivated, particularly in coastal areas. The fall in agricultural production and the fields lying fallow is alarming and ought to be taken up with the seriousness it deserves. The natural resources of land has to be put to better productivity.

Steps will have been taken by legislature to increase agricultural production and areas like contract framing etc., may have to be permitted to give a boost to agricultural production.

An embargo on non-Goans entering into contracts may not help that process. Nobody comes to Goa to exploit our agricultural land for agricultural purpose. Hence, a ban on the sale of agricultural land will serve no purpose. It may only help the Government to score brownie points and we may feel that government has responded to the demand, but that won’t help the cause for which the special status is sought.

Agricultural land may be brought with ulterior motive. The ban on sale of agricultural land won’t help the cause for which the demand for special status is made.

To what extent would the land be used for housing commercial and industrial activity, ought to be on the basis of the requirement of the developing State. Once the embargo on use of land for purposes other than agricultural is made clear, and the eco sensitive zones which cannot be touched under any circumstances are marked out, a major solution could be seen to the problem. Undoubtedly, the solution will have its own problems.

Due to influx of migrants there is also sense of us in Goa getting overwhelmed politically. Some seek special laws to manage migration visa, voting rights. In view of our election laws, it would be impossible to create an embargo on voting rights of those not domiciled here. Enumeration of voters play a vital role in that connection. If voters are enumerated, only after that the registration in their native place is cancelled, the problem could be eased. Normally people do not wish to cut off links with their native villages. No doubt enumeration shall not solve the problem completely but to a large extent taking into consideration the sentiment of the migrants to their native village the problem can be eased.

Most migrants hold a ration card in the villages and are enrolled as voters in their native villages. Like the electoral system, the Public Distribution System doesn’t permit a person to hold two ration cards. But the administration almost never bothers to check if the native village ration card has been cancelled. Both on the electoral and PDS front, the administration is found lacking. Without any major change in law or without any special law, the issue can be addressed by the administration. But when vested interests are involved, the problem gets complex and cannot be remedied by special laws.

We may not be in a position to now reverse the tide, but if immediate steps are taken, it could certainly be halted.

Migration for opportunities is a worldwide phenomenon, but our problem is the problem of our smallness. It would be difficult to change the electoral laws for us. But certainly there should be no problem in enforcing the existing laws and nobody can point accusing finger to that.

We have various laws which can achieve this, but there ought to be strict implementation of the existing laws and regulations. We ought to be ruled by the rule of law.

(These views were expressed by the writer at the seminar on migration organized by the Goa Study Group at the International Centre, Dona Paula, Goa)

HERALD CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI, MAY 17

Bhartiya Janata Party veteran Lal Krishna Advani has used some "pertinent facts" from the report of a high-power committee headed by Justice Rajinder Sachar, a former Delhi High Court Chief Justice, to dispel "malicious propaganda that injustice is being done to Muslims in Gujarat."

In his latest blog on Monday, he says the Sachar report that the Muslims of Gujarat are progressing well in the field of education and that they are provided ample opportunities and are well care for. It also explodes the myths about their discrimination or denial of equal opportunity.

The committee set up by the Prime Minister to make a detailed study of the economic, social and educational conditions of Muslims in the country talks of Gujarat's Muslims, including their women folks, better educated than the status of the community in other states like in terms of literacy and education up to secondary level.

The Muslims' literacy and education are because of years of encouragement they got in the state and can not be attributed as a contribution of the BJP chief minister Narendra Modi's government as Advani has tried to make out using the Sachar report's statistics. He, however, insists that Justice Sachar proves convincingly that "Muslims are far better off" than their compatriots in other states in Modi's regime.

To buttress his case, Advani further quotes a comment reportedly made by Ahmedabad Jama Masjid's Imam Mufti Shabbir Ahmed Siddiqui that “Muslims have an opportunity to prosper in the peaceful environment that the Modi government has created. Modi has provided an atmosphere which is conducive for those who want to trade peacefully in Gujarat."

Here are quotes from the Sachar report that Advani has used to claim the Muslims are progressing well in Modi's Gujarat: * In terms of literacy level, Muslims in Gujarat stood at 73.5 percent as compared to the national average of 59.1. While the figure for the urban males was 76, it was 81 for those living in rural areas as compared to the national average of 70 and 62 respectively in similar category. * Even Muslim women in the urban areas of Gujarat have average literacy rate 5 point higher than the national average whereas their counterparts in rural areas of Gujarat fare even better with a literacy rate of 57 percent as compared to the national average of 43 in similar category. * Also in Gujarat, a greater percentage of Muslims have attained primary, secondary and higher secondary level education compared to the national average and compared to other states. Against the national average of 60.9% (and 42.2% in UP), Gujarat had 74.9% Muslims at the primary level while the percentage is 45.3 at Secondary level

as compared to national average of 40.5% and 29.2% in UP. * The average years of secondary schooling for Muslim children between age 7 and 16 years is higher in Gujarat at 4.29 years compare to the national average of 3.26 years. The figures in West Bengal, UP and Bihar are 2.84, 2.60 and 2.07 years respectively. The truth is that the Muslim children in Gujarat are benefiting from equal opportunities to access secondary schooling as other children. * In terms of per month per capita income, Muslims in the urban areas of Gujarat earn an average Rs 875 which is more than the national average of Rs 804. In contrast, it is Rs 662 in UP, Rs 748 in West Bengal, Rs 811 in Punjab, Rs 803 in Andhra Pradesh and Rs 837 in Karnataka. * The story is similar in rural Gujarat where the per capita monthly income of the Muslims 20-25% more than the Muslims living in the rural areas of most other states.

It is on an average Rs 668 as compared to the national average of Rs 553. * In terms of people living below poverty line, Gujarat had 54% Muslims living below it in 1987-88 while the figure stood at 34% in 2004-2005 showing a healthy pace of improvement. * Even in terms of share of Muslims in state employment, i.e, government jobs, it is 5.4% in Gujarat while it is 2.1% in West Bengal, 3.2% in Delhi and 4.4% in Maharashtra.

Shiv Sena demands Bagwe’s resignation

With annual Amarnath Yatra set to begin from July 1, Jammu and Kashmir government has sought around 7,500 personnel of paramilitary forces from the Centre to ensure smooth conduct of the nearly two-month-long yatra.

The additional security personnel will be deployed along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to facilitate passage of pilgrims to the cave shrine of Lord Shiva at Amarnath in south Kashmir

A candidate leaps while performing a long jump as he undertakes a fitness test during recruitments of constables for the Punjab police and Punjab Armed Police in Amritsar on Monday. About 500 candidates from the Amritsar zone underwent various physical tests on day one of the recruitment drive, according to Punjab police officials.

Her very first trip to India recently has left a strong imprint on award-winning Canadian author and filmmaker Shandi Mitchell who has discovered the germ of a story in the bustling capital Delhi.

Mitchell, whose films have been screened at various international film festivals, forayed into writing with her debut novel "Under this Unbroken Sky," which picked up First Best Book award in 2010 Commonwealth Writer's Prize in the Caribbean and Canada region.

"I might have found a story while I was there (in India). I saw the flash of a story. We'll see. Of course, I would have to return for much more research," Mitchell told PTI in an interview.

The author, who spent her

Three persons were on Monday sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for raping a 25-year-old Japanese tourist, in a trial that lasted less than a month.

Handing down the sentence, District and Sessions Judge J K Sen observed that the crime was of a very serious nature.

"Their acts have immensely harmed the reputation of Bihar and the nation as a whole." The tourist was raped on April 16.

Sentencing Pappu Kumar, Uday Kumar and Anuj Kumar, he also fined the convicts Rs 10,000 each.

Two other accused Lutan Yadav and Rajan Yadav are evading arrest. Their properties have been attached.

Police had filed the chargesheet on April 21.

The five had forced the woman out of an auto-rickshaw in which she was travelling from Bodh Gaya to the Gaya Railway station and raped her.

26/11 memorial unveiled; ‘swift’ hanging of Kasab demanded PTI BHUINJ (Maharashtra), MAY 17

A memorial for the security personnel killed in the 26/11 Mumbai attack was unveiled here on Monday in the presence of family members of the martyrs who demanded "immediate" execution of Ajmal Kasab.

The Shaheed Smriti Udyan was unveiled in Bhuinj in Satara district, from where braveheart Tukaram Ombale hailed.

Ombale's daughter, Vandana, said the memorial is a permanent tribute to the martyrs. "The sentence of Kasab should be executed swiftly," she demanded.

Smita Salaskar, widow of police inspector Vijay Salaskar, said people should

come forward to pressurise the government for executing the death sentence of Kasab immediately.

"Kasab has been sentenced to death...I feel this process would drag on for the next two years. Is there not going to be any change in the existing system? Can't we treat this as an exceptional case?" she said.

Vinita Kamte, slain IPS officer Ashok Kamte's wife, said this was the first time she was attending any function in memory of the 26/11 martyrs.

"This is because Ashok had worked in Satara as SP and also the fact that his bodyguard Jayavant Patil, killed in the attacks, was also from Satara district," she said.

Himalayas, officials said.

While, army would sanitise mountain peaks, deep valleys and high altitude forests enroute the twin tracks and around the Shrine, CRPF would be tasked to guard pilgrims, the tracks and the Shrine with the help of state police force.

The state government, which has already prepared the blue print of security set up and traffic management, will utilise 14,000 security personnel belonging to police and para military forces for the yatra this

year.

In view of increase in the militancy in Kashmir valley this year, well planned security strategy has been formulated to ensure incident-free yatra, which will conclude on August 24, they said.

The state police will conduct recee of Pahalgam-Amarnath track from June and would start track sanitisation, high altitude area dominations, identification of vital places, camps and deployment of troops. The police have already conducted recee of Baltal-Amarnath route last week.

Canadian author sees flash of a story in India PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Julio Ribeiro, has dashed off a letter to state government expressing surprise over the appointment of four 'tainted' senior IPS officers.

The letter written on April 15 and addressed to Home Minister R R Patil not only questions the appointment of Joint Commissioner of Police Himanshu Roy, Additional CP (North Region) Ramrao Pawar, Deputy CPs Ajit Patil (Zone 12) and Sanjay Banerjee (Zone 11) to sensitive posts but also alleges that they have a reputation for "greed and corruption".

Ribeiro, who runs Public Concern for Governance Trust, an anti-corruption NGO, told PTI that he had written the letter keeping police reforms and operational freedom in mind.

"I read in the newspapers that in Maharashtra Assembly these four policemen were criticised for their professional misconduct. Still they managed to get key postings which is very surprising and unfortunate," he said.

"Many people came to me and levelled corruption allegations about these four tainted policemen. I have brought this issue

to the notice of Home Department and we as an NGO would continue to do this," said Rebeiro, who was Director General of Punjab Police during its worst years of terrorism.

"The chief of crime branch should be unquestionable but the politicians and police are taking people for a ride," Ribeiro added.

Politicians were interfering in appointing each and every police official, he said adding even junior level officers were also appointed with blessings of politicians.

"The four cops, whom I named in my letter have god fathers following which they became untouchable," Rebeiro alleged and demanded that the appointments should be done in a free and fair manner so that citizens get right police officer to protect them.

When contacted Jt CP (Crime) Himanshu Roy said, "I do not even have the knowledge about the letter and nobody told me about it. Home Department has not informed me anything about it."

Additional CP RamRao Pawar said, "I do not know what the allegations are. So I do not want to say anything on the matter."

The other two DCPs refused to comment.

PTI GAYA (Bihar), MAY 17

J&K seeks 7,500 paramilitary personnel for Amarnath yatra PTI JAMMU, MAY 17

PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

3 get life rap for raping Japanese tourist

PTI PUNE, MAY 17

Shiv Sena on Monday demanded the resignation of Mahrashtra Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe embroiled in a controversy over issuance of passport saying the criminal cases pending against him were of serious nature.

"The cases against the minister include serious charges like abduction. Bagwe has alleged that Pune Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh has hatched a conspiracy against him but it was not Singh who has filed the cases against the minister charged with offences since 1971," party mouthpiece 'Saamana' said in an editorial.

It said issuance of passport to Bagwe had been stalled because of the criminal record of the minister and it was surprising that despite this, he continues to hold the home portfolio which governs the police department.

"Some leaders have declared that Dalit community to which Bagwe belongs will come on the streets to support the tainted minister. Instead of that why does not Bagwe resign to honour the constitution drafted by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar?," the party asked.

Ribeiro missive questions appointment of top cops in Maharashtra

childhood on the Canadian prairies and wrote in her maiden book about lost stories of her Ukrainian ancestors, was in the city recently for the Commonwealth Writer's Prize final ceremony.

Returning to her home in Nova Scotia, Canada where she lives with her husband, Mitchell says she had a bit of culture shock and found it difficult to adjust to the "empty streets" after spending over a week in the second largest populated country in the world.

"My trip to Delhi was amazing and I would love to return.

Oddly, I had a bit of a reverse culture shock at home. I was walking the empty city streets here (in Nova Scotia) the other night and found it quite disconcerting not to see any life! I guess the constant mo-

tion of Delhi made a strong impression on me," Mitchell said.

"For me India has always been this mythological magical country. Lucky me. Fortunately, I now have friends in India to help me understand and see," says the author who is gathering stories all the time. "Like all writers I am waiting and watching and looking for stories all the time."

Among authors Mitchell has read Arundhati Roy, Vikram Seth, Rohinton Mistry ("A Fine Balance") Khaled Hossami ("The Kite Runner"). Other favourites include Ian Martin ("Life of Pi") Steven Gallaway and Jessica Grant. She also likes the book by journalist and writer Thrity Umrigar "the space between us" which Mitchell says "is very American Indian."

Special Public Prosecutor in 26/11 trial Ujjwal Nikam said the memorial would serve to inspire coming generations and would encourage them to do acts of valour for the country.

"Kasab was nearly a pawn in the hands of the other country...we did the job of teaching that country a lesson," Nikam said.

"With the swift conclusion of the 26/11 case, a message has gone out in the world that when it comes to such cases we deliver justice swiftly," he said.

In an apparent reference to the demand for hanging Kasab immediately, Nikam said "an eye for an eye is not our culture ...we let the judiciary dispense the justice."

Mallika throws a bash for Hollywood's head honchos

CANNES (Agencies): Mallika Sherawat sure knows how to garb and keep the attention abroad. Hardly visible in the BTown, this brunette is busy making headlines at Hollywood.

At the on going Cannes Film Festival, Mallika's movie Love Barack is all set to be screened and she is all excited about it.

Mallika is hosting a grand bash at the festival and the buzz is that she is inviting head honchos of several Hollywood production companies and other international personalities.

According to the sources, the party falls on May 17 late in the evening and she intends to make it a memorable one.

Dwelling on the fast pace of the trial, Nikam said there were doubts raised at the Government-level that 26/11 case would also drag on like 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, which went on for 14 years.

Justice P B Sawant blamed "politicians who are after money" for terror attacks in various countries. He also alleged that private sector, in collusion with certain economists, was trying to defame the co-operative sector.

Madan Bhosale, Chairman of Kisan Veer Satara Co-operative sugar factory, who conceptualised and built the memorial, announced that a member from families of each of the four 26/11 martyrs in the jurisdiction of the factory would be given jobs at the sugar co-operative.

Andamans receive first monsoon showers PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

The much-awaited south-west monsoon on Monday brought first showers to the Andaman and Nicobar islands, setting the stage for its early progression towards Kerala.

"South-west monsoon has set in over parts of south Bay of Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and most parts of Andaman Sea," Ajit Tyagi, Director General of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told PTI here.

He said a depression in the Bay of Bengal was expected to pull the monsoonal flow towards the mainland and it may reach Kerala earlier than May 30.

Last week, IMD had issued a forecast stating that monsoon

could reach Kerala by May 30.

The onset of monsoon has now set the stage for the fourmonth rainfall season that has been eagerly awaited by the farm community who had to bear the brunt of a severe drought last year.

The weather office said conditions were favourable for further advance of monsoon over more parts of Bay of Bengal and remaining parts of Andaman Sea during next two days.

The IMD last month forecast a normal rainfall for this year with a precipitation of 98 per cent of the Long Period Average, subject to a model error of plus or minus five per cent for the entire season (from June to September).

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Javier Bardem film "Biutiful" moves Cannes crowd REUTERS CANNES, MAY 17

Death stalks the cast of ''Biutiful'', Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's moving portrayal of a father rushing to put his chaotic life in order before it is too late.

Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem plays the central role in a Spanish-language drama set in the back streets of Barcelona, where immigrant workers live in squalor and struggle to survive in a world where they are treated like animals.

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Turkey, Brazil seal nuclear US-based rights group claims Israel plays wargame assuming Iran fuel swap deal with Iran Lankan forces killed civilians has nuclear bomb Lanka appoints commission PtI TEHRAN, MAY 17

Iran today signed a nuclear fuel swap deal under which it will ship 1,200 kilogrammes of low enriched uranium to Turkey, to help end Tehran's stand-off with the West over its atomic programme.

The agreement, under which Iran will receive nuclear fuel for its reactors, was signed between foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey and Brazil.

Iran will ship 1,200 kilogrammes of low-enriched uranium to Turkey, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference after the deal was sealed following marathon 18-hour talks.

Turkey will turn the low-enriched uranium into reactorgrade fuel that can be used by Iran in medical research reactors.

The Iranian enrichment to create fuel for research reactor on its own would have taken it closer to levels needed for making weapons-grade material – uranium refined to 90 per cent purity.

The deal would deprive Iran — at least temporarily — of the stocks of enriched uranium that it could process to the higher levels of enrichment needed in weapons production. The material returned to Iran in the form of fuel rods

Two Italian soldiers killed in Afghanistan ReuteRs ROME, MAY 17

Two Italian soldiers were killed and two others seriously wounded when their convoy struck a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, the Italian army said today.

The convoy hit the bomb while on its way from the western city of Herat to Bala Murghab in the north, the army said.

Military deaths in Afghanistan in the past have prompted calls from Italy to pull out and a poll last year showed a majority of Italians want their troops to leave.

Italy has about 2,400 soldiers in Afghanistan, mainly deployed in the western part of the country that is less violent than other areas in the south and the east.

The mission has benefited from being seen as a humanitarian operation, but a rising number of casualties has raised comparisons with the war in Iraq.

Italy's commitment to the US-led war in Iraq wavered after 19 troops were killed there in a single attack in 2003.

It pulled out of Iraq completely in 2006.

could not be processed beyond its lower, safer levels, which are suitable for use in the Tehran research reactor.

The agreement was brokered by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan who flew here yesterday to join negotiations with Iranian officials in what western and Russian authorities have maintained was last chance to avoid new UN sanctions against Iran.

The agreement announced after talks between Lula, Erdogan and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad may frustrate US efforts to step up sanctions against the Islamic republic.

There is "no ground anymore for new sanctions (against Iran)," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said at the news conference.

He said Turkey will treat the Iranian uranium as "amanat" and "will protect it in our state like our own property."

Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said the agreement should "satisfy" international community that no further sanctions are required.

Under a UN-backed deal last October, Iran was to ship 1,200 kg of its low enriched uranium -- enough for a single bomb if

purified to high level -- to Russia and France for further processing into reactor-grade fuel.

They had offered to mediate to find a resolution to the impasse at a time when world powers are in talks to impose a fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran.

Lula and Erdogan held joint negotiations with Iranian official in what western and Russian authorities have maintained was last chance to avoid new UN sanctions against Iran.

The agreement, reached after 18-hour-long talks, may frustrate US efforts to step up sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Iran now wants to hold talks with the US, Russia, France and the IAEA about its new deal.

Ahmadinejad called on six world powers, which have been discussing further UN sanctions on the major oil producer, for fresh talks on Iran's nuclear programme in light of the fuel exchange agreement.

"Following the signing of the nuclear fuel swap deal, it is time for 5+1 countries to enter talks with Iran based on honesty, justice and mutual respect," Ahmadinejad said, referring to the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.

PtI NEW YORK, MAY 17

On the eve of Sri Lanka's first 'unification day' marking the end of the civil war, a US-based rights group today claimed that the military there killed thousands of civilians by shelling "no fire zones" during the last phase of the ethnic conflict.

The International Crisis Group, an advocacy group based in Brussels and Washington, said despite its promises to protect civilians and aid workers, the Sri Lankan government had bombed relentlessly in areas where it knew unarmed people were present.

ICR said it has reasons to believe that senior government and military officials were aware of the attacks, but failed to protect the civilians.

"The violations, by both sides to the conflict, became particularly frequent and deadly in the months leading to the government's declaration of victory over the LTTE in May 2009," the group said in a report, released on the eve of the first anniversary of the end of the bloody civil war that had claimed over 70,000 lives.

At the same time, the IRV also said the LTTE "deliberately carried out operations" in some areas in northern Lanka with a heavy civilian presence in order to get international at-

to probe rights violations PtI COLOMBO, MAY 17

Sri Lanka today announced constitution of a 'reconciliation commission' to probe rights abuses during the last seven years of war with the Tamil Tigers as pressure mounted from international groups.

The setting up of an eight member commission headed by Chitta Ranjan de Silva, Chairman, which also includes two Tamilians was announced in a statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat and comes as Colombo observes a year of its forces total victory over LTTE. The three decade war ended this day when Sri Lnakan Army launched their final assault on the Tamil Tigers killing their supremo Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

'Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation' Commission constituted yesterday will report on the lessons to be learnt from the events in the period, February 2002 to May 2009, a Presidential Secretariat statement said today. tention against the government.

Sri Lanka announced victory in the Eelam War-IV on May 18 after its forces killed the entire Tamil Tigers leadership, including their chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. The country will observe tomorrow as 'unification day'.

The report said evidence gathered by Crisis Group provides reasonable grounds to believe that government security forces repeatedly and intentionally violated the law by attacking civilians, hospitals and humanitarian operations.

The group claimed that the military encouraged hundreds of thousands of people to move in to the 'no fire zones' declared by the government and then subjected them to "repeated and increasingly intense artillery and mortar barrages."

"It also provides reason to believe that senior government and military officials were aware of the massive civilian casualties due to the security forces' attacks, but failed to protect the civilian population as they were obliged to under the laws of war," it added.

Final Thai crackdown feared as peace talks collapse ReuteRs BANGKOK, MAY 17

Thailand's government demanded today an end to protests that have killed 37 people in four days of escalating street violence in Bangkok before holding talks with its opponents seeking immediate elections.

The government gave an estimated 5,000 people hunkered down in a sprawling protest encampment in central Bangkok until 1330 hrs IST to leave, or face criminal charges.

After their plea for a ceasefire and UN moderated talks was dismissed by the government on Sunday, the ''red shirt'' protest leaders on Monday offered talks as long as a neutral arbiter took part and troops withdrew.

Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said in response that rioting and violence against troops must end first. ''The government is ready to go forward with negotiations when the situation is defused, when the protest ends, violence ends, attacks on authorities end.''

That seemed to leave the talks at a dead end, with both sides demanding the other stops acting violently first.

Across the city, people were hoarding food and hotels were pleading for guests to leave.

Carry condoms, UK tells woman soldiers PtI LONDON, MAY 17

With pregnancies at the bases in Afghanistan are on the rise, UK has launched a campaign warning its female soldiers to carry condoms.

Adverts in the army's official magazine Soldier warned "on deployment, there'll be 50 blokes to each woman" and urge female squaddies, medics and administrative staff to use a condom or "face something you really don't want to hear".

Officially, a "no-touching" rule bans military personnel from having sex in a war zone. But, according to senior officers, provided sexual relationships are between soldiers of a similar rank and do not impact on operations commanders often turn a blind eye.

However, if, for example, a female nurse is caught having sex with a senior officer, both would face serious disciplinary action and could be thrown out of the army.

Once female soldiers become pregnant, they are flown home immediately, because rules bar expectant mothers from frontline service.

Between January 2003 and February 2009, at least 102 British servicewomen posted to Iraq had been sent home after it was found they were to become mothers.

Over the same period the number of female soldiers who had discovered they were pregnant while in theatre in Afghanistan was 31.

Condoms are readily available to male and female soldiers at bases such as Camp Bastion, which houses 8,500 British troops — including 700 women.

"The defence ministry does not encourage sexual relationships in theatre. All personnel are expected to behave in accordance with the armed forces values and standards at all times", a minister of defence spokesperson said.

Patrick Mercer, a Conservative MP and a former commanding officer, said unwanted pregnancies were "incredibly expensive" for the British army.

The body of pro-red shirt suspended Thai Army specialist Major General Khattiya Sawasdipol, alias Seh Daeng, the leader of the red shirts forces, leaves from hospital for funeral ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand.

Schools have been closed and while Monday and Tuesday were declared public holidays, markets and banks remained open.

Fighting near the protest encampment was intense overnight. A rocket hit the 14th floor of the Dusit Thani Hotel, a Reuters photographer said, triggering gunfire from ''all around'' in pitch blackness, since power had been cut to the area.

Malaysia’s ethnic Indian MP gets death threat

Guests at the Dusit were evacuated today morning after spending much of the night cowering in the basement.

Fighting spread to two new areas of the city of 15 million people at the weekend as the army struggled -- so far without success -- to impose a security cordon around the encampment, occupying a 3 sq km area of the commercial district.

A renegade Thai soldier seen

as the de facto military adviser to the ''red shirts'' died, the director of a hospital where he was being treated after an assassination attempt said today.

Maj-Gen Khattiya Sawasdipol, better known as Seh Daeng (Commader Red), was shot in the head on Thursday, fueling the latest eruption of violence in a five-year crisis pitting the rural and urban poor against what they call an ''establishment elite'' that has tra-

Hiking into the secret heart of Tibetan ‘paradise’

PtI KUALA LUMPUR, MAY 17

A controversial Malaysian lawmaker of ethnic Indian origin has received death threat after he alleged corruption in a government-owned sand mining company.

Unidentified persons sent S Manikavasagam a death threat, warning him not to a get involved in the Selangor state government-owned sand mining company.

A red paint bag with the death threat attached to it said "don’t get involved in the sand mining issue. You will die," according to the opposition MP from Kapar constituency.

Local media said he woke up to find his and his wife's cars splashed with red paint in his home in Meru. A death threat was attached to one of the split paint bags.

Manikavasagam said that three bags containing red paint had been hurled from the outside into his porch where the two cars were parked.

The controversial PKR lawmaker has alleged corruption in the Selangor state government-owned sand mining company after claiming that two company insiders and a contractor had handed some incriminating documents to him.

ditionally run the Kingdom of Thailand.

The death of the flamboyant Khattiya, an embarrassment to the fractured Thai military, threatened to further stoke tensions in Bangkok as the government deadline for people to leave the encampment ticked closer.

Military helicopters dropped leaflets on the encampment, barricaded with walls made of tyres, bamboo poles and razor wire, calling for protesters to leave immediately.

At least 37 people have been killed and 266 injured since then, according to government figures.

Protest leader Jatuporn Prompan told supporters in the encampment, including women and children: ''The king's glorious mercy is the country's only hope now. It's the only way out.''

King Bhumibol Aduladej, 82, has stepped in to end past crises during his 63 years on the throne, but has been hospitalised for the past seven months and not publicly commented on the crisis.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva vowed ''no retreat'' against ''armed terrorists'' seeking to topple his government.

The ''Red shirts'' say Abhisit's army-backed government is illegitimate and they want him to call elections now.

ReuteRs JIUZHAIGOU, CHINA, MAY 17

A dozen waterwheels spin in a quiet woodland above the village of Rexi, powering not mills but prayers, painted onto endlessly spinning drums.

Barely 6 km away, buses ferry thousands of tourists to visit one of China's most famous scenic spots, but this small clearing is filled only by the sound of birdsong.

Jiuzhaigou -- or nine-village gorge -- is one of the gems in China's tourism crown, where lakes tinted jewel colours by minerals and algae are craddled by pristine forests. Tibetan villages dot the mountain slopes.

But gawping at the scenery is a flood of tourists that tops 10,000 a day in high season,

who can make the boardwalks running through the narrow valleys seem like crowded city sidewalks.

For visitors longing to get away from it all, a new ''ecotourism'' project aims give them a taste for wilderness by hiking down a smaller valley inside the main park, without the spectacular lakes but with equally precious tranquility.

Along with a rich collection of plants, birds and animals, Zharu valley hides a sacred waterfall festooned with prayer flags, an important shrine to a holy mountain, civil war hideouts and two ruined villages, that last year had only 88 visitors. ''I wanted to help people get a better sense of the amazing natural beauty here, to get away from the buses and into the

wilderness,'' said eco-tourism project manager Li Jianyu.

The fluent English-speaker started the programme last year after stumbling across long-forgotten plans for a different kind of visit, and has been running it almost singlehandedly ever since, doing everything from advertising and translating to guiding, cooking and pitching tents.

There are day hikes, overnight camping and for the very fit a three day trek around the holy mountain, Zhayizhaga, reaching altitudes over 4,000 metres.

Local Tibetans follow a branch of Buddhism called Bon, which is rooted in animistic traditions. They fought hard to prevent logging in the area in the 60s and 70s, and have always been careful guardians of the land. ''We never cut trees or hunted animals on the sacred mountain,'' said guide Langjie, who turned down a well-paid oil industry job to return and work in the valleys where he grew up.

The creation of the park added legal force to the religious injunction that has helped preserve one of China's most bio-diverse areas, with animals ranging from the famous giant panda to the tiny but also rare Duke of Bedford's vole.

ReuteRs HERZLIYA, ISRAEL, MAY 17

A nuclear-armed Iran would blunt Israel's military autonomy, a wargame involving former Israeli generals and diplomats has concluded, though some players predicted Tehran would also exercise restraint.

Yesterday's event at a campus north of Tel Aviv followed other high-profile Iran simulations in Israel and the United States in recent months. But it broke new ground by assuming the existence of what both countries have pledged to prevent: an Iranian bomb. ''Iranian deterrence proved dizzyingly effective,'' Eitan BenEliahu, a retired air force commander who played the Israeli defence minister, said in his summary of the 20-team meeting.

Though the wargame saw Iran declaring itself a nuclear power in 2011, the ensuing confrontations were by proxy, in Lebanon.

In one, emboldened Hezbollah guerrillas fired missiles at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv. That was followed by US and Israeli intelligence findings that Iran had slipped radioactive materials to its Lebanese cohort, to assemble a crude de-

vice.

Neither move drew Israeli attacks, though Ben-Eliahu said his delegation had received discreet encouragement from Arab rivals of Iran to ''go all the way'' in retaliating.

Instead, Israel conferred with the United States, which publicly supported its ally's ''right to self-defence'' and mobilized military reinforcements for the region while quietly insisting the Israelis stand down to give crisis talks a chance. ''As far as the United States was concerned, Israel was trigger-happy. It sought to use the Hezbollah (missile) attack as justification for what the United States was told would be an all-out war,'' said Dan Kurtzer, a former US ambassador to Tel Aviv who played President Barack Obama.

Kurtzer voiced satisfaction with his team's response to the ''dirty bomb'', which entailed cajoling U.N. Security Council powers into mounting an armed intervention against Hezbollah. ''Countries like China and Russia have their own terrorists, and don't want to see them getting nuclear weapons,'' he said.

Israel bars Noam Chomsky from entering West Bank AFP RAMALLAH, MAY 17

Renowned Jewish-American scholar and political activist Noam Chomsky said he was barred from entering Israel and the West Bank on Sunday to speak at a Palestinian university.

Chomsky had been invited to speak on Monday at Bir Zeit University near Ramallah, but was stopped from entering the West Bank at the Israeli-controlled crossing from Jordan, he told Israel's Channel 10 television.

"I went with my daughter and two old friends. We went in the normal way to the border where we were all interrogated. They were particularly interested in me," he told Channel 10 from Jordan.

Chomsky said the border officials were "very polite," as

they "transmitted inquiries from the (Israeli) ministry of the interior."

However, he was denied entry because "the government did not like the kinds of things I say and they did not like that I was only talking at Bir Zeit and not at an Israeli university too," he said.

"I asked them if they could find any government in the world that likes the things I say," Chomsky said.

Officials at Israel's interior ministry, which control the country's borders, were not available for comment.

Palestinian lawmaker Mustafa Barghuti, who had invited Chomsky to speak at the university, said the scholar had been detained at the border for five hours.

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Mines Ministry says no to Nalco disinvestment PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

The Ministry of Mines has turned down a request from the Finance Ministry on further dilution of government equity in the National Aluminium Company Limited (Nalco), causing differences to crop up in the government. Mines Minister B K Handique said that his ministry is not in favour of any further equity dilution in the navratna PSU. "We are not in favour of any further divestment in Nalco.

It does not need require any funds. It is doing good," Handique told PTI. He said that the aluminium producing company would not be in need of funds for the next two years.

"The Nalco board had earlier expressed views against disinvestment. But, on the request of the Ministry of Finance (Department of Disinvestment), we had asked the board to consider the matter again," he added.

The Department of Disinvestment, which comes under the Ministry of Finance, had

asked the Mines Ministry to consider 10 per cent disinvestment in Nalco, a proposal that was forwarded to the firm''s board for further deliberation.

"The Ministry of Finance had made a reference to the Ministry of Mines in March 2010 to consider disinvestment of 10 per cent equity, out of the remaining 87.15 per cent of the total paid-up capital held by the government in Nalco," Handique had earlier said in Parliament.

His statement comes days after Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said that his party, the Biju Janata Dal, would oppose any move by the Central Government to disinvest Nalco. Many non-Congress political parties and trade unions are also opposed to the move.

State BJP president Jual Oram had even threatened to "hit the streets" if the Centre took any such step. The stateowned company reported a five-fold jump in its net profit to Rs 391.48 crore for the fourth quarter ended March

TALK BUSINESS

Nissan’s Leaf to cost under $38k REuTERs LONDON, MAY 17

31, 2010, as against the yearago period.

The company has cash reserves of about Rs 4,300 crore.

As per the disinvestment plans, the Union Government intends to to garner as much as Rs 40,000 crore this fiscal by selling some of its equity in PSUs such as SAIL, Coal India, Engineers India and Hindustan Copper.

India tops list for exports to UAE PTI DUBAI, MAY 17

India, China, US and Japan have topped the list of exporting counties to the UAE in March 2010 with a total export value of 24.6 billion dirhams- 60% of the total value of the country's imports. Germany, UK, Italy, Switzerland, France and Malaysia were the other countries in the list.

According to preliminary statistics from the Federal Customs Authority, the UAE's non-oil foreign trade was about AED 63 b by the end of March 2010. This is made of AED 40.8 b of imports, AED 6.8 b of exports and AED 15.4 b worth of re-exports.

SAIL mulls contracts with engineering exporters AGENCY KOLKATA, MAY 17

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) is mulling contracts with engineering export companies to mitigate the problem of volatility in input prices, a top SAIL official said here Monday.

'We are willing to enter into some kind of term contract with engineering ex-

porters... may be at least for three months,' SAIL chairman S K Roongta said.

He said two things are worrying the engineering exporters - one is the volatility of input cost and the other is the volatility in foreign exchange.

'If some exporter wants I can keep a fixed price for three months,' Roongta said.

HM to double TN plant capacity by 2012 end PTI CHENNAI, MAY 17

On assuming office as president CII, Hari Bhartia and director general, CII, Chandrajit Banerjee made a courtesy call on Prime Minster, Dr Manmohan Singh, at his residence.

Max NY Life announces ‘Photography Hunt’ PANJIM (HBD) -- Max New York Life Insurance has announced an innovative photography contest under its I-Genius programme.

Referred to it as I-Genius Photography Hunt, the initiative is primarily aimed at nurturing photography skills among children.

The I-Genius Photography Hunt seeks participation from parents as well as children across the country. The contest is open for children aged between 5 and 18 years and their parents.

Registration for Photography Hunt is open till the June 30, 2010. Participants can logon to www.igenius.com to fill the form and upload the entries.

A panel of judges headed by photographer Dinesh Khanna, Satbir Singh (national creative director, Euro RSCG Advertising), Mani Jayaram (executive creative director, Euro RSCG Advertising), and Vishwajeet Singh Rana (Max New York Life Insurance) would judge the entries.

The winners of this contest will walk away with prizes such as SLR Camera, digital cameras and camera mobile phones while the grand prize for this contest is a Chevrolet Spark. Additionally, the top 12 children’s entries will also be featured in the I-Genius calendar for the year 2011.

Stocks down for 2nd day PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Extending the losses for the second consecutive day, the benchmark Sensex on BSE today closed down by 159 points after recovering two-third of the losses suffered in early trade on weak Asian cues.

The 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange ended at 16,835.56 points, down 0.94 per cent or 159.04 points.

After opening lower, the markets plunged by 443 points in the intra-day. However, the sentiment got a boost after blue-chip stock Larsen & Toubro unveiled its fourth quarter numbers.

Marketmen said L&T's 44 per cent jump in profit at Rs 1,438.10 crore for the January-March period lifted sentiment and helped markets recover. L&T jumped 4.9 per cent, the highest gain among Sensex stocks. The stock carries 6.6 per cent weight in Sensex.

C K Birla Group owned Hindustan Motors, which sells various passenger vehicles in technical collaboration with Japanese automaker Mitsubishi, plans to double its manufacturing capacity at its Thiruvallur plant near here by 2012 end, a top company official said.

"The Thiruvallur plant has a capacity of 12,000 units and this year the company should be reaching close to 5,000 units. Next year it should touch 10,000 units and two years down the line, capacity would be doubled to reach 24,000," Hindustan Motors India executive-vice president Y V S Vijay Kumar said.

The company currently has two manufacturing facilities in India, one at Thiruvallur and the other at Uttarpara in West Bengal.

Hindustan Motors sells passenger cars including premium sedan Lancer-Cedia, Outlander, Pajero and Montero in India.

The Thiruvallur plant manufactures Cedia, Outlander, Pajero and Montero while the Uttarpara facilty makes cars Ambassadors and Multi-Utility Vehicles - Trekker, Porter and Aban Offshor, 802.35, 846.5, 775, 792.75 Abb Ltd., 685, 874, 685, 829.05 Abg Shipyard, 257.75, 259.9, 247.75, 256.75 Acc Limited, 874, 884, 863, 866.6 Adani Enterp, 589, 591.9, 575.3, 582.75 Aditya Birla, 759, 776, 750, 772.85 Allahabad Ba, 155, 160.4, 152.1, 159.45 Alstom Proje, 580, 584, 575, 579.8 Ambuja Cemen, 104, 105.9, 102.05, 105.45 Andhra Bank, 130.5, 132.45, 127.8, 130.75 Ashok Leylan, 68.5, 68.5, 65.65, 66.6 Asian Paints, 2120, 2137.95, 2100.15, 2124.5 Axis Bank Li, 1270, 1277.1, 1230.5, 1262.2 Bajaj Hindus, 106.4, 110.95, 104.45, 110 Bank Of Baro, 686, 686, 653.6, 676.05 Bank Of Indi, 323.9, 330, 318, 329.3 Beml Limited, 1012, 1012, 980.1, 1002.65 Bharat Elect, 1760, 1785, 1725, 1777.25 Bharat Forge, 263.8, 280.2, 254.7, 275.35 Bharat Petro, 553, 555.45, 539.55, 542.65 Bharti Airte, 260, 267.5, 258.15, 266.65 Bhel, 2330, 2350, 2277, 2318.75 Bhushan Stee, 1545, 1545, 1465, 1496.5

Pushpak.

Last year the company had sold 2,200 units in the country.

Kumar said the company would make "minimum investments" for doubling plant capacity, but did not elaborate.

Hindustan Motors began operations at Thiruvallur plant three decades ago with the manufacture of earthmoving equipment. From

1998, the facility began to make cars.

About the launch of "Evolution" series in India, he said the company would bring out the premium luxury sedan Mitsubishi Evolution 'EVOX' in August this year.

'This will be a very high performance four seater capacity sedan with 300 BHP and will deliver very high horse power', Vijay Kumar said.

Vijay Kumar said the car would be introduced as a Completely Built Unit (in India) and

Biocon Limit, 284.9, 284.9, 277.3, 283.35 Bombay Dyein, 525, 544.9, 516.1, 541.15 Bosch Limite, 4878, 5040, 4700, 5000.35 Brigade Ente, 136.4, 141, 134, 139.6 Cairn India, 289, 291, 281.2, 288.35 Canara Bank, 421.3, 427.5, 415.25, 425.5 Central Bank, 143, 144.5, 140.55, 143 Century Text, 464, 471, 451.65, 468.65 Cesc Ltd, 391.3, 399.7, 388.1, 392.45 Chambal Fert, 58.1, 60.3, 58.1, 59.75 Chennai Petr, 266, 267.7, 252, 255.9 Cipla Ltd, 312, 316, 306.1, 314.95 Colgate Palm, 728, 747.95, 722.05, 729.8 Container Co, 1325, 1325, 1285, 1303.95 Crompton Gre, 242, 250, 240.1, 246.9 Cummins Indi, 559.5, 572, 559, 563.2 Dabur India, 182.05, 188.25, 180.1, 187.5 Deccan Chron, 139, 142.3, 136, 140 Dish Tv Indi, 37.2, 38.7, 36.6, 38.5 Divi’s Labor, 688, 706, 685, 702.85 Dlf Limited, 294, 297, 280, 287.05 Dr. reddy’s, 1285, 1315, 1273.55, 1307.8 Edelweiss Ca, 402.2, 404.45, 395, 400.05 Educomp Solu, 602, 603.5, 584.3, 590.9

would be targeted at the 'niche' market. Initially, the company aimed to sell 40 units a year.

'This vehicle would be on the SUV Outlander platform and will aptly satisfy those passionate about high performance cars', he said.

On the recently launched upgraded Sports Utility Vehicle "Outlander" Bharat Stage Four (BS IV) version, he said the company has got 'tremendous response' for it.

'Already we are doing about 120-150 units of Outlander every month. We are targeting to sell around 250-300 by October' he said.

The company also plans to launch Bharat Stage IV variant of premium SUV Pajero by August this year.

Asked if they would launch Bharat Stage IV variant of Mitsubishi Lancer-Cedia sedan, he replied in the negative. 'Sales of Cedia is only in few pockets like Punjab, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Totally we are selling around 120 units. There are no plans to upgrade the Cedia as of now', he said.

Mitsubishi and Hindustan Motors jointly have 40 dealerships across the country.

Eih Limited, 123.5, 125.8, 120.5, 122.6 Engineers In, 405, 417.7, 396.2, 400 Essar Oil Lt, 128.5, 131.25, 124.6, 130.1 Essar Shippi, 86.15, 86.15, 83.2, 84.9 Exide Indust, 118.8, 119.3, 117.1, 118.3 Federal Bank, 278.7, 295, 272.3, 292.3 Financial Te, 1396.5, 1405, 1359, 1393.75 Gail (india), 420.05, 435, 418.5, 433 Gammon India, 205.25, 206.5, 200, 202.55 Glaxosmithkl, 2133, 2179, 2119, 2160.45 Glenmark Pha, 271, 278.55, 264, 276.65 Gmr Infrastr, 58, 59.75, 56.85, 59.2 Godrej Indus, 162.2, 166.9, 159, 162.05 Grasim Indus, 2635, 2635, 2575, 2601.8 Great Offsho, 440, 445, 431.65, 440.1 Gtl Infra.Lt, 40, 40.8, 40, 40.55 Gujarat Mine, 118, 120.85, 115.25, 119.95 Gujarat N R, 71.6, 72.25, 70, 71.8 Gujarat Stat, 87, 92.65, 87, 92.35 Gvk Pow. & I, 41.5, 42.2, 41.1, 42 Hcl Technolo, 404.4, 404.4, 392, 394.35 Hdfc Bank Lt, 1942, 1946.8, 1914.5, 1928.85 Hdfc Ltd, 2750.05, 2775.5, 2715, 2759.45 Hero Honda M, 1880, 1880, 1833.35,

1849.2 Hindalco in, 161.8, 166.3, 158.2, 163.85 Hindustan Co, 116.35, 117, 112.2, 115.8 Hindustan Ma, 73.7, 73.7, 72.2, 73.1 Hindustan Pe, 329.3, 338, 329.3, 336 Hindustan Un, 237.1, 241.35, 230.8, 240.05 Hindustan Zi, 1062, 1065.35, 1034.05, 1054.55 Housing Dev, 249.9, 249.9, 242.2, 246.9 Icici Bank L, 898, 904.9, 883.05, 901.1 Idea Cellula, 56.4, 57.45, 55.25, 56.7 Ifci Ltd, 51, 52.2, 50.2, 51.95 India Cement, 114.75, 115.45, 108.3, 114.95 India Infoli, 100.1, 104, 98.4, 101.6 Indiabulls F, 144, 151.9, 143, 149.4 Indiabulls R, 154, 168.95, 154, 168.3 Indian Bank, 207.1, 215, 202.6, 211.3 Indian Hotel, 114.9, 115.7, 112.85, 115.25 Indian Oil C, 310.2, 320, 309.45, 318.65 Indian Overs, 92.1, 94.65, 91.3, 93.8 Indus Dev Ba, 116.05, 117.8, 113.75, 116.35 Indusind Ban, 182, 185.9, 174.1, 180.05 Infosys Tech, 2635, 2648.05, 2576.05,

Nissan, Japan's third-biggest carmaker, said on Monday its Leaf electric car would cost under 30,000 euros ($38,110) in most European countries after incentives offered by governments to push the new technology.

Nissan Motor Co and French alliance partner Renault are investing over 4 billion euros in electric vehicles and see them accounting for 10 percent of new car sales by 2020, an ambitious forecast compared with those of other carmakers and analysts.

Electric vehicles are expected to account for 4.5 percent of the total 100 million strong light vehicle market by 2020, according to a recent report by HSBC analysts.

Nissan said the Leaf hatchback, which has a cruising range of 160 kilometres, would

The soaring prices of steel and related products have been a concern for the smallscale engineering industries.

SAIL supplies ISP grade pig iron to most of the engineering exporters.

Prices of pig iron have spiralled from Rs 17,600 per tonne in December 2009 to Rs 23,700 per tonne in April 2010.

Mobile gaming Rev to pass $5.6 b PTI BANGALORE, MAY 17

Worldwide mobile gaming enduser revenue is forecast to surpass USD 5.6 billion in 2010, a 19 per cent increase from 2009 revenue of USD 4.7 billion, according to IT research and advisory firm Gartner, Inc. The market would continue to see steady growth through 2014, when the market is projected to reach USD 11.4 billion, Gartner said.

"The hype around mobile application stores has opened this market up to numerous publishers and developers — further expanding revenue potential and competition in this industry," said Tuong Nguyen, principal research analyst at Gartner.

"Although we expect most mobile gamers to continue to gravitate toward 'free' games, we do not expect the ad-supported model to take off within the next three years — despite the success we have seen with this approach in the Japanese market", he said.

Gartner estimates 70 per cent to 80 per cent of all mobile consumer applications downloaded are mobile games.

Moreover, 60 per cent to 70 per cent of these downloaded games are ‘free’.

2616.35 Infra. dev., 164, 164, 158, 160.9 Ispat Indust, 17.8, 18.45, 17.7, 18.35 Itc Ltd, 266, 268.9, 265, 266.15 Ivrcl Infras, 167.7, 168.5, 160.05, 163.05 Jai Corp Lim, 228, 234, 226.15, 232.2 Jaiprakash A, 127.1, 128, 123.7, 125.85 Jet Airways, 503.2, 515.7, 502, 510.05 Jindal Saw L, 190.25, 194.95, 187, 193.8 Jindal Steel, 600, 661.7, 600, 657.6 Jsw Steel Li, 1179, 1182.5, 1137.45, 1171.1 Kotak Mahind, 750.8, 788.8, 744.5, 784.5 Lakshmi Mach, 1950, 1950, 1896.1, 1917.8 Lanco Infrat, 59.05, 62.8, 59, 62.25 Larsen & Tou, 1525.05, 1619.75, 1475.1, 1606.9 Lic Housing, 969.8, 974.7, 930, 962.75 Lupin Limite, 1770, 1788, 1733.2, 1768.5 Mahanagar Te, 64, 64, 61.45, 61.85 Mahindra & M, 552, 560.9, 542.2, 555.4 Maruti Suzuk, 1250, 1254.8, 1237.05, 1241.5 Max India Lt, 175.5, 185, 172.65, 184.3 Maytas Infr., 190, 195.5, 185.55, 194.3

cost 29,955 euros ($38,050) after incentives in Portugal, and 29,995 euros after incentives in Ireland, including the battery.

In the Netherlands, buyers would pay 32,839 euros for the car and benefit from 6,00019,000 euros in tax savings over five years.

In the UK, the Leaf, which will be built in Nissan's UK Sunderland plant from 2013, would cost 23,350 pounds after government incentives, including the battery, Nissan said.

Nissan said the price would be "about the same as a comparably-equipped diesel or hybrid vehicle".

Nissan said it had chosen the four markets for the initial launch in Europe because of "significant government incentives for electric cars and the ongoing development of charging infrastructure for their successful adoption".

BOARD MEETINGS Bilpower ICRA Bombay Rayon JK Lakshmi Cem sagar Cements Man Inds supreme Tex Chennai Petro Vatsa Edu Omnitech Info Source: Indiainfoline.com

MF FUNDA FIDELITY MuTuAL FuND announced a unique Loyalty Premium for investors in Fidelity Equity Fund (FEF) who have stayed invested since inception. This coincides with Fidelity completing five years of business in India.

The eligible investors will receive 2 free units at current NAV for every 500 units of FEF held since inception. The units will be added to the eligible investors portfolios on May 18, 2010 at the applicable net asset value.

“At Fidelity we have always maintained that equities as an asset class outperform over the long term and it pays to stay invested in equity funds irrespective of market cycles which is borne out by the performance of the Fidelity Equity Fund over the last five years. The fund has delivered a CAGR of more than 25% over the last 5 years and helped triple investor money,” Ashu Suyash, MD and country head - India, Fidelity International, said.

FRANKLIN TEMPLETON MuTuAL FuND has approved May 21, 2010 as the record date for declaration of dividend under FT India Balanced Fund. The face value of per unit is Rs 10.

The quantum of declaration is 30% as on the record date. sBI MuTuAL FuND has launched a new open ended equity scheme - sBI Psu Fund. The NFO will open for subscription from May 17, 2010 to June 14, 2010.

The objective of the scheme would be to provide investors with opportunities for long-term growth in capital along with the liquidity of an open-ended scheme through an active management of investments in a diversified basket of equity stocks of domestic public sector undertakings and in debt and money market instruments issued by PSUs and others. The NFO price for the scheme is Rs 10 per unit.

The scheme offers growth and dividend option. Dividend option offers payout and reinvestment facility.

Minimum application amount will be Rs 5,000 and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter and Rs 1,000 for additional purchases and in multiples of Re 1 thereafter.

Entry load nil for the scheme. Exit load 1% if exit within 3 years from the date of allotment and Nil if exits after 3 years from the date of allotment.

The scheme performance would be benchmarked against BSE PSU Index. The fund manager for the scheme will be R Srinivasan.

Moser-baer (, 64.3, 65.3, 63.5, 64.5 Mrpl, 70.1, 71.65, 69.85, 71.45 Nagarjuna Co, 161, 166.5, 159.6, 163.75 Nagarjuna Fe, 30.4, 31.55, 30.4, 31.3 National Alu, 408.05, 417.95, 400.05, 410.15 Neyveli Lign, 147.75, 148.5, 144.5, 147.75 Ntpc Ltd, 204.05, 205.85, 202, 204 Oil And Natu, 1030.3, 1039, 1020, 1027 Omaxe Limite, 93.45, 93.5, 91.1, 92.8 Oriental Ban, 340.15, 345, 330, 337.45 Pantaloon Re, 405.5, 409.85, 390, 404.4 Parsvnath De, 111, 115, 109.75, 114.35 Petronet Lng, 81, 83.5, 80.35, 83.15 Power Fin Co, 280.2, 295, 280.2, 293.25 Power Grid C, 105, 105.9, 103.05, 103.65 Praj Industr, 83, 85.9, 82.1, 85.3 Punj Lloyd L, 140.25, 143.95, 137.1, 138.4 Punjab Natio, 997, 1005.1, 978.2, 1001.15 Rajesh Expor, 124, 125, 121.05, 121.8 Ranbaxy Labs, 453, 458, 442.1, 454.25 Rashtriya Ch, 79.6, 80.7, 78.3, 79.65 Rel. nat. re, 45, 47, 45, 46.3 Reliance Cap, 664.9, 677.8, 656.5, 673.5

Reliance Com, 142, 143.25, 140.05, 141.7 Reliance Ene, 899, 910, 880, 907.4 Reliance Ind, 788, 788, 765, 781.4 Reliance Ind, 1034.7, 1034.7, 1009, 1016.55 Reliance Pow, 144, 144, 141, 142.55 Rolta India, 174.5, 174.55, 167.6, 171.25 Satyam Compu, 87, 87.5, 85.55, 87.1 Sesa Goa Ltd, 368, 391.45, 358, 389.6 Shipping Cor, 164, 167.4, 160.15, 166.05 Siemens Ltd, 665, 712.95, 655.1, 696 Sintex Indus, 290, 293.7, 285.1, 288.95 Sobha Develo, 308.5, 313.9, 305.2, 310.15 State Bank O, 2210, 2272, 2141.35, 2250.75 Steel Author, 205.15, 211, 204, 209.95 Sterlite Ind, 690, 707.85, 677.5, 700.65 Sun Pharmace, 1581.9, 1589, 1550.3, 1580.55 Sun Tv Netwo, 437.9, 444.9, 426.2, 437.3 Suzlon Energ, 65, 65.1, 62.05, 64.6 Tata Communi, 250.1, 252, 244, 248.15 Tata Consult, 774.95, 774.95, 734.1, 745.75 Tata Motors, 807, 807, 774.6, 789.2 Tata Power C, 1320, 1322.7, 1300, 1319.7

Tata Steel L, 532.55, 540.8, 523, 536.35 Tata Tea Ltd, 1060, 1116.3, 1055.25, 1105.9 Tata Teleser, 20.8, 21, 20.5, 20.55 Tech Mahindr, 710, 724, 682, 719 The Ge Shpg., 305.5, 308, 295.2, 301.7 The Phoenix, 204, 211.5, 202.2, 205.7 Thermax Ltd, 661.25, 679.9, 661.25, 669.25 Titan Indust, 2262, 2268, 2205, 2250.2 Torrent Powe, 330, 338, 326.05, 336.55 Triveni Engg, 106, 110.5, 106, 109.7 Tv18 India L, 76.4, 77.45, 75.05, 76.35 Uco Bank, 69.8, 73, 68.75, 72.7 Ultratech Ce, 950, 951, 909, 945.4 Union Bank O, 296.1, 299.85, 289.1, 293.65 Unitech Ltd, 75.5, 77.35, 73.15, 76.85 United Phosp, 167, 172.55, 166.2, 171.8 Videocon Ind, 210, 220.2, 208.15, 215.9 Vijaya Bank, 54.6, 57.5, 54.25, 57.1 Voltas Ltd, 174.15, 180, 169.75, 178.3 Wipro Ltd, 652, 660, 637, 645.45 Yes Bank Lim, 257.2, 276.35, 240, 272.8 Zee Entertai, 288, 307.95, 288, 306.3

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India targets 2,500-km highways in 2010-11 AGeNCY NEW DELHI, MAY 17

India plans to build 2,500 km of new highways in 2010-11, which means 7 km will be added to the network every day -- well below the revised target of 12 km.

Last year, only 2,008.93 km highways could be constructed against the target of building 3,165.55 km.

The government had last year set a target of building 20

Thermax ties-up with Lambion PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Pune-based energy and environment solutions' provider, Thermax, today signed a technology transfer license agreement with Lambion Energy Solutions, a German engineering company with expertise in converting waste to energy.

The technology transfer would provide Thermax with high efficiency combustion systems for using biomass, high in moisture content, for energy generation, Thermax's MD and CEO, M S Unnikrishnan, said in a press release issued by the company.

"The new agreement with Lambion and subsequent technology ugradation will equip the company with advanced systems to provide industry eco-friendly ways of extracting energy from waste," he said.

The agreement was signed

by Thermax's Executive VicePresident Hemant Mohgaonkar and Lambion's MD, Axel Lambion.

km of highways everyday as part of its plans to improve infrastructure.

But recently, Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath said the target had been lowered to 1213 km per day.

The country Monday set targets for the infrastructure sector, critical to its economic growth, for this fiscal.

The government targets to award contracts for 9,000 km highways in 2010-11.

It plans to spend Rs

35,680.86 crore on construction of roads and highways. Of this, Rs 21,256 crore will be contributed by the private sector.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, an outlay of Rs 22,000 crore has been provided to the ministry of rural development.

The amount will be spent on constructing 19,090 km of new roads and upgrading the existing 15,000 km.

Growth not to be hit by Greece: ING PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

India's reliance on domestic factors for growth and its comfortable foreign exchange reserves would help the nation to insulate itself from the Eurozone debt crisis, financial services firm, ING said.

Although the International Monetary Fund and Euro-Zone nations are trying to bail out crisis-ridden Greece with their mammoth rescue packages, the sentimental impact may leave domestic financial markets volatile in the near-to-medium term, ING financial markets economist, Deepali Bhargava said.

"We do not expect huge hit (on Indian economy)from the external side as the recovery is based on domestic factors. We also have comfortable reserves.

However, this may result in high volatility in the domestic financial markets," Bhargava said.

ING Chief International Economist, Rob Carnell warned that the current Eurozone debt crisis, which is a fall out of the 2008 global financial crisis, could lead to the downgrading of ratings of countries like Spain, Ireland and Portugal.

Carnell added that the debt crisis may also weigh heavily on the Euro and it is expected to drop further during the course of the year.

In the overseas market, the euro slumped to a 4-year low today as investors dumped the single currency on sovereign debt worries and fears that recent belt-tightening measures would hurt a recovery in the euro zone area.

L&T eyes 25% growth in order-book, 20% in Rev PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Engineering firm, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), is eyeing a 25 per cent increase in its order-book inflow and a 20 per cent growth in revenue this fiscal on the back of huge growth opportunities in sectors like power, infrastructure, hydrocarbons and defence, a top company official said.

The company's order-book as on March 31 crossed the Rs 1,00,000 crore mark.

"The company is ready to harness the opportunities thrown-up by sectors like power, infrastructure (urban) and hydrocarbons. As India is poised to grow at an accelerated pace in the next few years, it will create lot of opportunity for us," L&T's CMD, A M Naik, told reporters here today.

However, non-food inflation, which has been raising its head in the recent past, is a great concern.

"We believe our margin will remain under pressure for some time though we are cautiously optimistic for the fu-

ture," Naik said.

The operating margin of the company for the year (FY10) at 13.1 per cent improved by 140 basis points over the previous year, Naik said.

The capex for the company in FY 11 would be around Rs 2,200-2,300 crore, Naik said.

The company posted a growth of 44 per cent in its net profit to Rs 1,438.10 crore in Q4 FY 10 over the same period last year.

Net sales of the company rose to Rs 13,374.89 crore in the fourth quarter, up 27.75 per cent from Rs 10,468.98 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal.

The total income of the company rose to Rs 13,585 crore for the fourth quarter, from Rs 10,605.31 crore in the same quarter ended March 31, 2009.

"The large order-book of the company provides sufficient visibility to its growth momentum in the medium term. In addition, various cost optimisation initiatives launched by the company,

Two L&T Group companies – the finance and IT arms - are likely to enter the capital market with initial public offers (IPOs), a top executive said today.

While L&T Finance may launch its IPO in the latter part of this year, L&T Infotech was likely to do in the next fiscal (FY 12).

"We are planning to float the initial public offering (IPO) of L&T Finance in the second-half of this year. We are likely to schedule L&T Infotech's IPO in FY 12," L&T CMD A M Naik, said.

"We believe the move will unlock a lot of value for our shareholders," Naik said.

The company is keenly watching the market conditions and would launch the IPOs when it was sure that it would get the right market valuations, he said.

The diversified conglomerate also plans to float an infrastructure fund of USD 250 million in the next 3-4months.

"We are working on a plan to float an infra fund. We need two anchor investors to float this fund. I believe, in next three to four months, this will be finalised," Naik said.

LAUNCH PAD

eMachines730 from Acer

PANJIM (HBD) – Acer has announced the launch of a new notebook, eME730, under its super value brand eMachines. eMachines, from the house of Acer, is bringing to the market an aggressive mobile computing solution that exists in the market. It enables to make the dream of owning a laptop a reality for the average Indian consumer. This Notebook from eMachines, is one of the most economical Core i3 based laptops available in the market. eMachines730, with its dual tone refreshing design, is the option in terms of price-performance ratio, as it offers competitive prices for the specifications incorporated.

The eMachines730 comes with a Intel Core i3-330M processor, 1 GB DDR3 RAM upgradable to 4 GB of DDR3 Memory, 15.6" HD 1366 x 768 (WXGA) pixel resolution, 250 GB HDD, 8X DVD-Super Multi double-layer drive and Linpus Moblin OS & BT at a price of Rs 30,066.

L&T, apart from its core competencies of engineering and infrastructure construction, is also eyeing the immense business potential from contracts for defence ships.

"We see a great demand coming from defence ship orders," Naik said.

At present, the company has orders to build 10 ships and in future L&T will focus on this segment, he said.

With the economy back on the revival path, L&T plans to add around 4,000 personnel at the net level this fiscal, Naik added.

SP Jain offers 4-yr Global BBA course PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Mumbai-based B-school SP Jain Center of Management has introduced a novel four-year 'Global BBA' program giving students an opportunity to pursue the course in two of their campuses at Sydney and Singapore.

"This is a unique high-end initiative taken by us and is a four-year undergraduate course in Bachelor of Business Adminstration (BBA). First two years, the course will be conducted in Singapore, followed by next two years in Sydney, Australia," Nitish Jain, president of SP Jain Centre of Management said.

"This new model exposes students to different cultures and business environments thereby leading to 'experiential learning' and introducing and sharpening global perspec-

PTI BHUBANESWAR, MAY 17

In a bid to prevent rising kitchen fires, a group of young innovators, technologists and engineers has developed a cooking gas alarm and SMS system to prevent accidents due to leak either from stove or rubber pipe.

Even when no one is at home, the resident gets an SMS on his or her mobile phone about the impending danger in case of a gas leak with the help of the innovative gadget put together by a Bhubaneswarbased company 'RoboticWares'. ''We are working to make common man's life more simple and secure. We are targeting military, medical, consumer

Maruti brings in Nippo as consultant PTI NEW DELHI, MAY 17

The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki India, today appointed Japanese firm Nippo as its consultant for developing a test track at Rohtak, in Haryana, where its research and development centre is being set up at an investment of Rs 1,500 crore. A board meeting of the company held today approved the appointment of Nippo and also the modalities of the arrangement with parent Suzuki Motor Corp (SMC) for development of the test track.

"The board approved the appointment of Japan''s Nippo as consultant for development of the test track. Also, the arrangement with Suzuki, on how to develop the track according to criteria set by them, has been approved," Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) Chairman R

and industrial sector as a potential market of robots," says CEO of RoboticWares, Kushal Nahata.

Claiming that some 7,000 people suffer burns every year due to cooking gas leak, he said fire can be prevented with the help of remote gadgets which can help switch off the cylynder after getting an alert.

Another significant addition to the company's kitty of innovative products is Remote Video Surveillance known as 'Far Eye' which provides a complete software solution for office or home security, he said.

"Far eye monitors home or office round the clock, captures motion event using webcam and saves into compressed

video clips. It enables one to remote video surveillance from anywhere in the world," said the chief technology officer of RoboticWares, Gaurav Srivastav.

Similarly, RoboticWares has developed University Automation System known as Unimator, used by around 10,000 students, enabling video lecturing, assignment system and storing complete information of college on web.

Leading educational institutions like HDF School of Management, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) and a college of Architecture have been successfully using Unimator helping them streamline administration and

tives," Jain said.

The course will begin from September this year and a total of 120 students (12th passed or IB students) will be selected from across the globe through an entrance exam, he said.

At the end of the program, students will be conferred with an international degree from SP Jain Center of Management from Sydney, a degree equivalent to any other Australian University degree giving them impetus for the pursuit of further education or career globally, she said.

On the fee structure, Jain said, "we will be charging USD 1200 per year."

SP Jain Centre also has their MBA programmes in Dubai and Singapore besides Mumbai. It will have establish its campus in Sydney by 2012 and its centre is recognised by Australian government, Jain said.

a host of other activities, Srivastav said.

Besides developing new innovations, RoboticWares imparts training programmes on Embedded System and Robotics to the students across the country.

It also regularly holds certification training programmes for professionals, students and embedded developers under a package called robotics Certification Standards Alliance (RCSA).

"RCSA is a national alliance in conjunction with several top robot manufacturers in the world to provide standardised industrial robotic training and certification," said COO of RoboticWares, Gautam Kumar.

Hyundai to launch 1 new car model every year AGeNCY SEOUL, MAY 17

Heartened by a maturing Indian automobile market, Hyundai Motor has decided to launch at least one new model in the country every year even as moves are afoot to expand the rural marketing network and localise more components.

'Our plan is to introduce more than one new model every year and refurbish more than one existing model to gain market share,' the company's managing director Han Woo Park told a group of visiting Indian journalists at the company's headquarters here.

'In addition we will expand our dealership for deeper market penetration in India,' Han said about the Indian market where the company has the capacity to produce 600,000 cars per annum from its two units in Chennai, of which a third is

exported.

Hyundai claims to be India's largest exporter of cars and second largest passenger car manufacturer after the IndoJapanese Maruti-Suzuki. Last fiscal, the company's Indian operations accounted for 600,588 cars -- a 20.8 percent growth over the year before.

The Indian arm, company officials said, currently exports cars to some 110 countries across EU, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Australia. It has been the number one exporter of passenger car out of India for the sixth year in a row.

The company's current offerings in India include the Santro King, i10, i20, Accent, Verna and Sonata Transform.

According to company officials, among the new cars that could be launched in India is a diesel variant of its popular i10

model that is being exported out of Chennai, with the engines sourced from S Korea.

Also on the anvil is the Santa Fe sports utility vehicle, a new Sonata sedan and a fully refurbished i20 and i10 models. And to reach out to a larger market, the company's India arm will also expand its dealer network, focused on rural India, officials said.

'The growth is higher in markets beyond the 40 major Indian cities,' Han said. 'Our main priority is the domestic market where the demand is increasing. A fall in exports is not a major concern.'

The Indian plant has shipped out around 50,000 units of i20 to the EU, which is now catered by the group's plant in Turkey owing to the duty advantage the country is getting as an associate member of the European Union.

Indian Bank’s online redressal

aided by lower input costs led to an improvement in the profitability of both project and product businesses," Naik said.

However, the slowdown in the industrial sector over a large part of the year coupled with continued global recession in the hydrocarbon sector, impacted the flow of orders for the industrial valves business.

Therefore, for the full year, the segment achieved customer sales of Rs 2,150 crore, a decline of 11 per cent as compared to the previous year, he said.

L&T also expects to get five to six airports contracts in the next three to four years in India and in overseas markets, Naik said, adding that the company is looking forward to work related to expansion of the Bangalore airport.

The total debt for the company stood at Rs 6,800 crore with plenty of cash on its books, Naik said.

The L&T Board has recommended a dividend of Rs 12.50 per equity share.

L&T Finance, Infotech plan IPO PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

SMS alert for kitchen gas leaks

PTI CHENNAI, MAY 17

Indian Bank launched an online redressal system for customer grievances that would offer response within 24 hours of lodging of the complaint.

The service was launched by Reserve Bank of India regional director K R Ananda and Indian Bank MD T M Bhasin.

'With this new e-enabled service, the customers can lodge their complaint online by accessing the bank's website', Indian Bank CMD Bhasin said.

The complaint would be attended online and the updated redressal information would be sent by E-mail or SMS (Short Messaging Service) as per customer's request, he said.

On the occasion, he also launched Jewel Loan for Senior Citizens which would sanctioned within one hour.

Under the scheme, jewel loan upto a maximum of Rs five lakhs and a minimum of Rs 15,000 could be availed, Bhasin said.

AirAsia to offer 1 m free seats PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

As a part of its promotion campaign, Malaysia-based budget airline, AirAsia, said it plans to offer 1-million free seats across its global network.

The promo offers seats starting from as low as Rs 89 and the passenger will have to pay only airport taxes from Kuala Lumpur to destinations such as Johor Bahru, Alor Setar, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi, Penang and others, a company press release said here today.

AirAsia has a network of 130 routes spanning across 20 countries including India.

Under the offer, a one-way Mumbai-Kuala Lumpur ticket would cost only Rs 3,990 (inclusive of taxes) while New DelhiKuala Lumpur would cost Rs 4,490 (inclusive of taxes), the release said.

The seats under this offer are open for booking from May 18-23 for travel period from January 3-May 8 next year, the release said.

The booking is, however, available on the first-comefirst-serve basis and can be made exclusively through the company's website, the release said.

Godrej Properties plans projects across 4 cities ReuTeRs MUMBAI

Real estate firm Godrej Properties Ltd will launch new projects across 4 cities in FY11, totaling 15 million square feet, taking its presence to 10 cities across the country, top officials said on Monday.

"The new projects would be launched in Mangalore, Chennai, Kochi and Hyderabad.

These would be residential properties, including affordable and mid-income...," chairman Adi Godrej said.

Godrej Properties MD Milind Korde said that the company

intends to develop around 15million square feet across these cities.

"Tier-II cities in the country are growing and we expect a good demand from the cities...," Korde said.

The company has a net debt of Rs 450 crore as on March 31. It has 54-million square feet under development on an ongoing basis, of which 72 percent is residential, Korde said.

Godrej also said that the company was open to dilution of further stake in the next two years, "just as an op-

tion", in case the company needs to raise funds for projects.

For the quarter ended March, its net profit tripled to Rs 56.46 crore.

Godrej attributed this to considerable momentum in sales and recovery in markets like Mumbai and Bangalore.

The recovery was witnessed mainly in the mid-income sector, Godrej said.

The company has delivered around 3.9-million square feet in FY10, against 3.7 million square feet delivered from inception till FY09.

Essar Power signs PPA for Salaya II power plant PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

Essar Energy plc, today said that its indirect subsidiary, Essar Power Gujarat Limited (EPGL), has signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL).

The PPA is for 800 MW of contracted capacity from the 1,320 MW coal fired Salaya II power project to be located in Jamnagar district in Gujarat, a

press release issued here stated.

The PPA is valid for a period of 25 years from the start of commercial operations.

Under the terms of the PPA, EPGL will supply power to GUVNL at a levelised tariff of Rs 2.80 per kwh (around US cents 6.2 per kwh). EPGL was awarded the contract following a competitive bidding process.

The balance of power from

Salaya II can be sold by EPGL on the open market.

Commenting on this agreement, Essar Energy's CEO, Naresh Nayyar, said, "today’s agreement continues our longstanding and successful relationship with GUVNL and furthers the progress of our phase two development plans to increase our generation capacity from 1,220 MW to more than 11,000 MW by the end of 2014."

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT Being Different Tuesday, 18 May, 2010

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Don't believe in miracles - depend “on them - Laurence J Peter

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A handful from a crowd of people will always stand out in some way or the other. As clothing is the most visible and seems to give one a preconception of someone’s personality, most stick to fashion norms set by society. Herald finds out about the ones that do not

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formonn “Nirmonn toxem - Anonymous

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email us at: goasheartbeat@herald-goa.com

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Look out for the Carnival Plays

The Open Competition of Carnival Plays begins today. Nine theatre groups are all out to set the mood and entertain the crowds as they compete for the title of the best tiatr. The competition is scheduled to take place at the Ravindra Bhavan, starting today

­H­O­R­O­S­C­O­P­E Your energy levels are up, and you're going to help a friend who's down.

Nice work! Productivity (21 Mar – 19 Apr) is easy for you today -maybe easier for you than anyone else you work or live with. It's a good time to cloister yourself away and get things done while your people are freaking out.

Get creative. You'll come up with some interesting, beautiful, lucrative things.

Reach out to a friend in (23 Sep – 22 Oct) need. You may not be able to help them with the biggest issues in their life, but just giving them a sounding board or the ability to focus on smaller issues can be a big help.

Tolerance is right up there with being a good person when it comes to being human. You've got (20 Apr – 20 May) to take care of the home front today -- even if you're stuck at work or on the road. It's not that hard to do, as you've got people you can count on who are ready to help.

Sometimes the big questions are too hard to answer. They're the ones worth posing. Your great (23 Oct – 21 Nov) emotional energy affords you the opportunity to give up control over some aspect of your life without fretting or freaking out. In fact, you may come to look on today as a game-changer!

Any plan you come up with today is just what you think it is: perfect!

You can get through (21 May – 21 Jun) quite a lot of work today because you are harder to distract. Of course, it helps if you close the doors and shut off email for a while, but do whatever works for you.

You're going to be learning something new; what is anyone's guess. Have fun with it! You're a bit (22 Nov – 21 Dec) out of sync with a friend or coworker who needs to hear from you that it's just a temporary thing.

Unfortunately, you may be too busy to deal with them until late in the day.

You're heading for the top. Yep, the sky is the limit! Take in the view from up there. Your en(22 Jun – 22 Jul) ergy levels should be high throughout the day, so make the most of them! You may find that your friends can't quite keep up with you, but you can go it alone for a while if need be.

Some days are easy as pie. Others are more complicated, like chocolate fondues. You're rid(22 Dec – 19 Jan) ing a crest of good energy today, and you need to make the most of it -- because it means you're sure to be dropping off before long! It's a bumpy ride, but it smooths out soon.

You are irresistible. More irresistible even than a flower or a good game of football. It's a good (23 Jul – 22 Aug) day to indulge in teamwork -- your good social energy means that you can let your ego take a back seat while the group makes decisions. Play up the value of consensus.

Have you gotten a bit rigid with some of your ideas? Open up a little.

If you've got pets, devote (20 Jan – 18 Feb) extra energy to them today. If not, consider getting one -- or just hanging out with someone else's -- as a little non-human energy should be just about right for you.

Get to some kind of stretching class. Your quads and your mind need flexibility! Let your (23 Aug – 22 Sep) family set today's agenda. That could be sweet or troublesome, but it's a nice gesture on your part. Your natural inclination is to bring people together on a day like today.

It's important to pay attention to what you eat.

So, what is it you're eating? Your love life is on (19 Feb – 20 Mar) the upswing, even if you didn't think you had any higher to go. It's a good day for you to ask someone out, spend time with your sweetie or just enjoy the good times with family.

the form of wall hangings, ceramic art, flowers in all colours and shapes, designs on cloth and paper and so on, hand made by the duo.

Walk around the house and more such aesthetics meet the eye. Enter the attic and you will find a sewing machine and bits of cloth strewn around the room, all part of their experimentation with fashion. The sister duo are the least bit interested in bracketing their style, which to the common eye says simple yet sophisticated and very personality based. ‘Kurtis’ with various neckcuts and different lengths of sleeves and capris coupled with ethnic shoes purchased from their travels around India and stoles in a million colours are their casual style. Large, colourful earrings are enhancing accompaniments. It is just something we experiment with, they say in unison.

Designing, cutting and stitching your style and making it comes alive is enjoyed as a hobby by many others like the two; then comes alteration. Altering used clothes or even new ones are a commonality with people who dress different. Handfuls who do it themselves state that their finished works give them immense satisfaction.

It all begins when a particular piece of clothing which is either old or doesn’t really suit the personality of the wearer is ‘mentally creatively meddled with’, states Deepa, who does this on an everyday basis. “The fashion going around isn’t my thing and the sizes too,” she smiles. And having a creative spark and a sewing flare, she alters her clothes, t-shirts among most. “Large sized t-shirts with very catchy slogans cannot be read because they flap about. A tuck, a nip and other such altering techniques and you have a customised t-shirt with readable slogans which can be coupled with leg lock denims or a tutu skirt with leggings and Mary Janes,” she exclaims. Carrying her personality on her clothes is what Deepa does!

HERALD FEATURES arnival plays and tiatrs have been a part of our culture since ages, still continuing to hold fort as a form of entertainment. This time, it is on a roll with 27 plays lined up to entertain the audience over a span of three days. The Open Competition of Carnival Plays, organised by HCN and Ravindra Bhavan in collaboration with Vandana Productions, has brought together some of Goa’s forerunners in the tiatr scene in Goa. Each of these nine tiatrists will perform three plays of their choice in the three hours allotted to them. The plays will be of lengths varying from a minimum of 25 minutes to a maximum of 45 minutes. The participating troupes performing on the first day include Miguel D’Souza de Quellosim who will present ‘Vaitt Paulanim’, ‘Jivit Jielo’ and ‘Emkonddant Paulo’; Frank de Benaulim will present ‘Court Ravta’, ‘Devak Bhettoita’ and ‘Ghorabo Pissudlo’; and Vincent de Cacora will present ‘Visvas Dovorlo’, ‘Ghat kelo’ and ‘Sot Lipona’.

The second day will see Peter De Macazana presenting ‘Koxtt’, ‘Ghat’ and ‘Moronn’; followed by Jose de Velim’s ‘Hanv Guneanvkari’, ‘Mhaka Maf Kor’ and ‘Mhoji Chuk Zali’; and Jack Rodson presenting ‘Noxibantlem’, ‘Konnank Chukona’ and ‘Sukh Ravta’.

The final day has Salvador Afonso presenting ‘Mog’, ‘Rag’ and ‘Dusmankai’; followed by Eddy de Quepem presenting ‘Devan Sonsar Ghodlo’, ‘Monxak Sonsarant Dhadlo’ and ‘Devcharan Taka Nadlo’; and finally Xavier de Sanguem will conclude the competition with his plays ‘Tem Tuka Somzonk Na’, ‘Monis Mhonn Dakhoum-ia’ and ‘Mhaka Polleunk Naka’.

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BY CHRISTINA VIEGAS HERALD FEATURES ny man can be a father, but it takes a special person to be a dad,” goes a famous proverb that tugs at any girl’s heart who has been blessed to be loved and nurtured by a good dad. And this is one which all the Alemao daughters will vouch for! Yes, we are talking about Goa’s big daddy with a bigger heart, Mr Churchill Brazy Alemao, Minister - Public Works Department, Department of Scie n c e , Te c h n o l o g y a n d Environment, Rural Development Agency.

As he steps into the 62nd year of his life, the numerous wishes in the local dailies were evidence of the immense love and respect people have for this charismatic persona. There were pages on his achievements and life, but I got interested in delving behind his father-daughters relationship.

He is the living example of a hardworking father who slogged it out in providing his daughters not just shelter and food, but he loved them and empowered them with the greatest gift – education. And, at a time when most parents didn’t give a damn in educating girl children! In fact, even today female babies are being aborted without a qualm! In his usual baritone voice, he enlightens me amidst loads of laughter, “When I got my first daughter, my wife and I rejoiced. Then came the second one, again I was very happy, wife was happy too. Then came number three, and I rejoiced even more and wife was okay. But when number four came in, I was very, very happy but wife got jittery and I was still rejoicing. With number five, I threw a huge party. Wife started saying that many will consider them a burden and so on. I just told her that daughters are a treasure to their parents.”

Like most Goans, Mr Alemao made the sacrifice of leaving home to work as a seaman to provide for his family. Nothing came easy. Yet today, all his daughters are educated, capable, independent women. To enlighten me, adding more humour, his daughter Ms Valanka Alemao pipes in, “We’ll talk in numbers. Number one

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‘Serious about gyming? Read Schwarzenegger,’ says Aamir B

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Papa practises what He preaches

(Above) Mr Churchill Alemao with his wife, son and four daughters during younger days and (below) the proud papa with his five precious daughters

BY NOMRATHA FERNANDES HERALD FEATURES hink unconventional dressing and a Gwen Stefani comes to mind.

In the Indian context perhaps a Kiran Rao, a Shruti Hassan or an Adhuna Akhtar. Lady Gaga creeps into mind somewhere along, but lets not go to extremes. Unconventional fashion has always been frowned upon. Experimentation with colours, styles, cuts and the matching of two or more clothing items were beautiful, but traditional and limited. With a boom in individualistic thought and expression, unconventional dressing is out on the street, in your office, at your school and seated beside you in the bus. Yes, it is definitely being accepted a lot more now than in yesteryears.

But of course, not sticking with the fashion norms laid down by society brings with it its share of stares and comments. “The herd will attack something they don’t understand or something that is different,” says one among the lot. But those who are content with their look don’t let such things bother them or their creativity.

A lehenga, which is traditionally worn with a choli and a dupatta, coupled with a plain white or black tank top and a myriadly coloured stole definitely says alternative dressing. Kaftans in a million designs are another spotting.

The Ali Baba and harem pants topped with t-shirts are yet another. Among the others are shirt dresses and leggings, shorts and kurtas and all that take you away from the regular jeans and t-shirt.

An unconventional sense of dressing is more about comfort than style, and even more about creativity, all round creativity in most cases, that just extend to one’s fashion sense.

People who dress out of the ordinary don’t only stop at dress, but are usually creative or creatively inclined. Annabelle and her sister Mercedes are a perfect example. A look at their room and you will find embellishments to the windows, doors, walls and atop the bedroom furniture in

Tourism

ollywood star Aamir Khan, who sported an eightpack look for his blockbuster film ‘Ghajini’, has a suggestion for those wanting to go for body-building – read ‘The Encyclopedia of Body Building’ by Arnold Schwarzenegger. “One book I would strongly recommend to anyone who is training is ‘The Encyclopaedia of Body Building’ by Arnold Schwarzenegger,’ he said.

Aamir says he wants to take fitness more seriously now and has created a group on a social networking site to encourage even his fans to stay healthy.

“Let’s make a group, who decides to live healthy.

Anyone who wants to join can. Each one of us is responsible for figuring out a diet for ourselves, a workout/sport/walking schedule, and a rest schedule. You decide what is good for you and stick to it and every night, I’ll post how I fared that day and in response you comment on my post. That way all the comments are tagged together to my post in one space, and so it will be easier for all of us to stay together on this one topic,” posted the star.

The 45-year-old also shared his knowledge on how to be fit and maintain a healthy and toned body.

He added, “The best way to get a healthy and balanced diet for yourself is to visit a qualified dietician. Not the dieticians who put you onto new fad diets, like high protein diets, low carb diets, blood group diets, ‘don’t eat carbs at night’ diets, Atkins diet, Santa Barbara diets, ‘have this pill’ diet, ‘eat only this one day and that on another day’ diet, falana diet, dhamkana diet etc. Instead, get a good old fashioned calorie count diet.” Aamir also stressed on the importance of proper exercises and work out sessions for the desired results.

ve Father of fi Mr , daughters h Churc ill the Alemao is ideal of archetype women ent empowerm

Sara Barros Pereira did her BA, number two Anna Coutinho did her BSc, number three Sharon D’ Costa did her MPhil and is consellor in Don Bosco, Kuwait, number four, myself Valanka am a lawyer (corportate and civil law) and social worker and number five Wanda Dangle is a dermatologist in Pune.”

Inform Mr Alemao that he is the ideal example of a man championing women’s empowerment. Most other politicians just talk.

But he has lived what he has preached, that a girl child is equally precious and important.

He says, “I am constantly telling people all over to encourage their daughters and give them the best education and support. Get out of your old mindsets of just getting them married off where they are left to the mercy of their husbands and in-laws. What can be more grief to a parent than to palm off your daughter to a drunkard or waster? Make your daughters independent in every manner!”

He continues, “In my 15 years experience as seaman, I traveled the world. Abroad, men treat women equally, but not here in India.

This is not fair!” Finally he adds, “After five girls, I prayed in Vailankanni to God to give me a son only if he will be good natured. And finally, I got Savio who at the age of 19 years got his flying pilot license from Australia.” And then, the proud daddy gets me all emotional as he concludes, “We come into this world alone and we leave alone. But a parent who has a daughter will leave this world with loads of her love.”

Awwww! Isn’t that sweet? I wish my daddy was alive. But for all you lucky people out there, drop everything right now and go give your daddy a huge cuddly hug.

Katy Perry to get married in Goa?

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op star Katy Perry’s marriage to funnyman Russell Brand won’t be an extravagant affair - the couple are reportedly planning an intimate party in India.

Perry’s friend R&B star Rihanna has suggested they could get hitched in India where the 34-year-old British comedian proposed on New Year’s Eve. They will fly their select guests to a secret location for seven days of celebrations and it looks like the place could be Goa, reported News of the World.

The couple are sending a henna-inspired hand-shaped invite, complete with a huge diamond engagement ring, which hints at an exotic location. It tells guests they’ll need a passport and at least a week off work. The date on the invite is October 18 to 25, 2010. And the text reads: “Save the Week, For the Wedding of Katy & Russell. You will be contacted soon with more information.”

The I Kissed a Girl hitmaker insisted they are planning a “small” wedding focusing solely on their love for one another with only their family and friends.

“The wedding will be small. I always have a ton of people around me and I think the people that are going to share this moment with us are the people we want to integrate into each others’ lives,” said Perry. “We don’t want it to be a drink fest of people, just one night and then forgetting about it. We want it to be about the love,” she added.

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GOA’S HEARTBEAT Tuesday, 18 May, 2010

WHAT’S UP IN GOA??

‘Open Competition of Carnival Plays’, organised by HCN and Vandana Productions will take place on May 18, 19 and 20 at Pai Tiatrist Auditorium, Margao. Call 9822983541.

A new panel of 12 unusual crosses will be added to the already present 1128 crosses on display at ‘The Big Foot Cross Museum’ on May 18, International Museum Day at Ancestral Goa, Big Foot, Lotoulim. It will be inaugurated by Francisco Pacheco, minister for tourism at 10am at the Ancestral Goa, Big Foot, Lotoulim.

Call 2777034.

A tagline competition, organised by the website www.goaadventures.com is open to entries. E-mail goaadventues@gmail.com.

A photography exhibition by Thomas Vaz will be held on May 18, International Museum Day from May 18 to 25 at the Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa. Call 2285299.

‘School Administration’ a seminar, organised by the All Goa Government Recognised Unaided Schools Association will take place on May 21 from 9am to 1pm. Call 9822132182 or 9823158535.

A five-day workshop on rangoli design, organised by the Directorate of Art and Culture, will be held from May 24 to 28 at the Swami Vivekanand Society, Panjim. Professional rangoli artist Gunvant Manjrekar will lead the workshop. The last date to submit entries is May 18. Forms are to be submitted to the Department of Art and Culture, 5th Floor, Shrama Shakti Bhavan, Patto, Panjim. Call 2438103.

‘Urinary and Renal Diseases’ a medical camp on, organised by the Gomantak Ayurveda College and Research Centre, Shiroda will take place on May 22 from 10am to 2pm.

Call 2306309, 2306827 and 2307395.

‘Relevance of Neuroscience to Management’, an open preview session

WORD OF THE DAY

tomfoolery Pronunciation tom-foo-luh-ree Function Noun Meaning 1 : foolish behavior 2 : something trivial or silly; nonsense Example Sentence Randy’s tomfoolery and silly antics always got his family and friends in splits.

SUDOKU 555

will take place on May 18 between 3.30pm to 6.30pm at the International Centre, Goa, Dona Paula. Call 2452805-10 or 9765404391.

‘Delivering Quality, Serving Communities: Nurses leading Chronic Care’ will be the theme of the state nursing conference organised by the Trained Nurses Association of IndiaGoa branch, to be held on May 19, International Nurses Day. ‘Olakh’, the Marathi play, presented

by Kala Academy’s Rangmel will be held presenting on May 20 at 7:30pm at Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

‘Adoption of energy efficient processes, technologies’, a workshop, organised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India, New Delhi will take place on May 19 at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula.

Call 2452805-10. Visit www.energymanagertraining.com.

A musical programme ‘Padmashree M Boyer Hanchea Kantarancho Ugddas’ which will highlight memorable songs sung by the late M Boyer will take place on May 23 at the Ravindra Bhavan, Sanvordem. It is organised by Konkani singer Andrew D’ Souza and the Tiatr Academy of Goa. ‘Solar Training Workshop’, organised by The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula will take place on May 29 and 30 at the International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. Call 9765404391.

An art, craft and clay exhibition, organised by the Bal Bhavan, Miramar will take place from May 20 to 22 from 10am to 7:30pm at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

‘Balotsav 2010’, a children’s festival, organised by the Bal Bhavan and the Directorate of Art and Culture will take place on May 20 at 2:45pm at the Kala Academy, Panjim. Call 2420452.

10:00 Choti Bahu 10:30 12/24 Karol Bagh

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with the music teachers attending the concert to encourage the students. The music teachers at the school include Ludowick, Domnic, Elvis, Assumption, Jason, Gabriel, Steffi, Sneysha, John, Russell, Antonette, Shenna, Reegan, Saninia, Romeo while the Hindustani music teachers are Eknath, Rupesh, Laxnikant and Harsha.

The course commenced on April 14 and concluded on May 14 at Pilar, Porvorim and Margao simultaneously, with over 150 budding singers.

Pilar music school was founded 1978 and the students have been excelling in the Trinity College, London exams. The enrolment for the regular course begins from the June 1, 2010.

KK rocks ‘Ek sham…’

BY JANICE RODRIGUES HERALD FEATURES he melodious voice floating in the air drew anyone and everyone who heard it. The singer KK and his versatile voice entertained the crowds gathered at the Bandodkar Ground, Campal for the Seagram’s Imperial Blue ‘Ek Sham Yaaron ke Naam’ Concert, on May 15, 2010.

The concert, part of a countrywide tour, had come to Goa after touring the cities of Bangalore and Indore.

KK along with his band performed some of his best numbers, setting the crowds swaying to tunes such as ‘Yaaron Dosti’ and ‘Tu Hi Meri Shab Hai’. The tempo picked up pace with songs like ‘Ek Nazar Mein Bhi Pyaar Hota Hai’ and ‘O Humdum Soniyo Re’.

The crowds gathered were overwhelming, with even the VIP areas packed with people grooving to the music.

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LAFFS

“I like a woman with a head on her shoulders. I hate necks.”

– Steve Martin

Frameflixx honours Young

Konkani Legends continue to Live On

Creative Talent

HERALD FEATURES t is an undisputable fact that music is a part of Goan life. Every Goan has grown up listening to melodious tunes by musicians such as Alfred Rose and Chris Perry, and it is only fair to let the younger generation have a share of this legacy. In a bid to do just that, SAREGAMA Records in association with the Tiatr Association of Goa have released an album titled, Konkani Classics Revisited, a compilation of two CDs which takes the listener on a journey through the yesteryears.

Konkani classic songs like ‘Boom Bang Bang’, which have entertained listeners for decades, are now been presented with new voices of young singers. This compilation by Felix Correia has been produced with a focus on the younger generation so that they are familiar with the true tunes of Goa.

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Instructions for Sudoku SUDOKU SOL 554 9 x 9 letter: To solve a Sudoku puzzle, every number from 1 to 9 must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, in each of the nine horizontal rows and in each of the nine boxes

HERALD FEATURES orjim Beach took on a glittery new avatar on Sunday evening as the beautiful beach was speckled with numerous glamorous celebrities, gathered together for the Frameflixx Awards 2010.

Frameboxx, India’s leading animation and visual effects industry, presented the second edition of the Frameflixx Awards 2010 to the most aspiring and creative talent in the animation and visual effects industry.

Among the many awards given, Divya Mehrotra of Image, Chennai bagged the Grand Challenger VFX Award while Rajinder Gurjod, Picasso Indore won for Best Design, Prerit Ahuja from Bhopal won for Best Photography and Krishna Kotiyar won for Best Animation Film OPEN Category LIVE Action.

‘Trikster’ by Frameboxx Andheri won Best Live Action Short Film and the Best VFX in Feature Film was awarded to ‘Aladin.

The jury present included prominent personalities of the industry such as director Sanjay Gadhvi, Shelly Page of Dreamworks Animation, Biren Ghose of Paprikas, Merzin Tawaria of Prime Focus, among others. Merzin Tawariawas bestowed with the Platinum Achievement Award.

Those present had one more reason to celebrate with the announcement of the tie up between Frameboxx and Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) to co-partner and organise the Frameflixx Digicon Awards, thus giving rise to the Indian Chapter in the Digicon Awards. The winners of the event are directly nominated and eligible for going to Tokyo for the Asia Digicon Awards.

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SOUTH POLE

11:00 Godh Bharaai 11:30 Indian Idol 13:00 Godh Bharaai 13:30 Indian Idol 15:00 C.I.D Classics 18:00 Indian Idol : Extra 19:30 Godh Bharaai 20:00 C.I.D Classics 21:00 Indian Idol 22:30 Crime Patrol

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PEN T HAP

BY DOLCY D’ CRUZ HERALD FEATURES early 50 children who attended the music summer camp organised by Fr Agnel Music School gleefully performed some of the songs they learnt during their classes at a recently held concert in Porvorim.

The children played the keyboard, guitar, trumpet, violin, drums and even Indian instruments like sitar, tabla and harmonium.

“Music has to continue with practice. It is not enough to learn music for some time and then not practice. It is said that music is in the blood or an inborn talent but music has to be cultivated within one. One has to know its basics like learning A B C. While performing on stage, music takes over all our emotions. It purifies our soul as no one can think of evil at that time,” said Fr Glen D’Silva, Director of Pilar Music Academy.

The school has introduced Hindustani music this year and teaches students to embrace this form of music without any bias. “There is no difference between Hindustani and western music. We have been conditioned to do things in a certain way, hence we assume that Hindustani music is only meant for Hindus, which is a misunderstanding. Catholics can also learn this music as it a deeper understanding of music whereas western music has stagnated. If we talk about communal harmony why can’t we learn the music?” said Fr Glen who is one of the first priests to introduce Hindustani music.

The school organised three concerts at each of their centres, Pilar, Porvorim and Margao,

GARFIELD

10:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 11:00 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 11:30 Behenein 12:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 12:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 13:00 Tere Mere Sapne 13:30 Hamari Devrani 14:00 Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat 14:30 Behenein 15:00 Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai 15:30 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 16:00 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 16:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 17:00 Sasural Genda Phool 17:30 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 18:00 Zara Nachke Dikha 18:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya 19:00 Saath Nibhana Saathiya 19:30 Sasural Genda Phool 20:00 Sajan Ghar Jaana Hai 20:30 Behenein 21:00 Sapna Babul Ka ...Bidaai 21:30 Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai 22:00 Sabki Laadli Bebo 22:30 Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya

CURR

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Music Students excel in Course-end Concert

Funny Quote

DAILY GROOK GENDER BENDER

by Francis Rodrigues gynaecs who love parents to wonder, just simply have hidden a'gender!

Education

11:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 11:30 Pavitra Rishta 12:00 Do Saheliyaan 12:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 13:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 13:30 Pavitra Rishta 14:00 Choti Bahu 14:30 Do Saheliyaan 15:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 15:30 12/24 Karol Bagh 16:00 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 16:30 Choti Bahu 17:00 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 17:30 Jhansi Ki Rani 18:00 Pavitra Rishta 18:30 Ghar Ghar Mein 19:00 Do Saheliyaan: Kismat ki Kathputaliyaan 19:30 Choti Bahu 20:00 Jhansi Ki Rani 20:30 Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli 21:00 Pavitra Rishta 21:30 Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi 22:00 12/24 Karol Bagh

10:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

11:15 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 12:00 Mr. and Mrs. Sharma Allahabad Wale 12:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

13:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 13:30 Maniben.com 14:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

14:30 Mr. and Mrs. Sharma Allahabad Wale 15:00 Lapataganj 15:30 FIR 16:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

16:30 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 17:00 Mr. and Mrs. Sharma Allahabad Wale 17:30 Gutar Gu 18:00 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

18:30 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 19:00 Lapataganj 19:30 Mr. and Mrs. Sharma

09:40 College Road Trip 11:25 Armageddon 14:25 Thomas Crown Affair 16:35 Tortured 18:45 27 Dresses 21:00 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 23:35 Jingle All the Way

09:30 Polar Storm 11:30 Hollywood One on One 12:00 Mr. Deeds 14:00 Stop-Loss 16:15 Deep Blue Sea 18:30 The Murder of Princess Diana 20:30 TMZ 21:00 Eight Legged Freaks 23:00 Deep Blue Sea

08:30 Mahima Durga Kali Ki 12:05 Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaye 16:30 Ishq Vishk 20:00 Fun2shh

14:05 Ella Enchanted 16:00 Keeping Mum 18:35 Chasing Amy 21:00 Miranda 23:05 Rat Race

09:30 Gunaah 12:30 Dhoop 16:00 Dayanayak 20:00 Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai 23:00 Techno Warriors

12:00 Aamdani Atthanni Kharcha Rupaiya 16:00 Sandwich 20:00 Tango Charlie 23:10 Dil Ki Baazi

08:45 A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries 11:15 Chicks on Flicks 11:45 All the Pretty Horses

08:00 Vijaya Dashmi 12:00 Saudagar 16:00 Suraj 20:00 Qahar

E N T E R TA I N M E N T Allahabad Wale 20:00 Maniben.com 20:30 Taarak Mehta Ka Oolta...

21:00 Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo 21:30 Mr. and Mrs. Sharma Allahabad Wale

10:30 Mile Jab Hum Tum 11:00 Rang Badalti Odhni 11:30 Geet 12:00 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 12:30 Dill Mill Gayye 13:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 13:30 Geet 14:00 Rang Badalti Odhni

14:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 15:00 Just Married 18:00 Laughter Ke Phatke 18:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 19:00 Geet 19:30 Rang Badalti Odhni 20:00 Dill Mill Gayye 20:30 Jaane Pehchaane Se Yeh 21:00 Mile Jab Hum Tum 21:30 Geet 22:00 Rang Badalti Odhni

11:00 Csi 12:00 World Records Smashed 13:00 Criss Angel Mindfreak 14:00 Scare Tactics

15:00 Video Zonkers 17:00 The Amazing Race Asia 18:00 Terminator 19:00 World Records Smashed 20:00 Breaking The Magician's Code 21:00 So You Think You Can Dance

09:30 Friends 10:00 Monk 11:00 V.I.P 12:00 The Bold and The Beautiful 12:30 Castle : Little Girl Lost 13:30 American Idol 14:30 Two and a Half Men 15:00 The Bold and The Beautiful

15:30 Monk 16:30 Friends 17:00 Castle: Little Girl Lost 18:00 V.I.P 19:00 Friends 19:30 Two and a Half Men 20:00 Monk 21:00 Friends 21:30 Two and a Half Men 22:00 Castle : A Death in the Family

09:30 Hitz 10:00 AFC Champions League :Suwon Samsung Bluewings vs. Beijing Guoan 12:00 Roland Garros H/ls 13:00 FIM Motocross World Championship 2010 : Women's Race 14:00 AFC Champions League 2010 : Round 16: Seongnam Ilhwa vs. Gamba Osaka 16:00 Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup 2010 : Races: Race 1 17:00 FIA Wtcc 2010 : Inside Wtcc 17:30 Spirit of Golf 2010 : History of the Open Champ 18:00 TNA Impact 20:00 Supa Strikas 20:30 Golf Focus 2010 21:00 Score Tonight 21:30 Roland Garros H/ls

Tomazhino Cardozo, the President of the TAG who had received the State Award for Literature, while releasing the two CDs, said that it was a very good day for him. “Two albums with songs sung of stalwarts of Konkani music are being sung by young singers with an attempt to preserve the authenticity of these songs,” said Cardozo.

Cardozo also praised the efforts of the singers like Alfred Rose. “Alfred Rose was known all around the world for his lyrics and visionary thoughts,” said Cardozo.

Cheerleading Champ 18:00 KIA X Games Asian 2009 19:00 Goals of the Season 20:00 Sportscenter India 20:30 Sportscenter Asia 21:00 The Contenders : Germany 21:30 The Contenders : England 22:00 Sportscenter India 22:30 Sportscenter Asia

11:30 Motorsport Mundial 12:00 Real NBA 12:30 UEFA Champions League 2009/10: Inter Milan vs.

Barcelona 14:30 The Inside Story : Pakistan vs. England: 1st T20 15:00 West Indies Tour of South Africa 2007/08 : 3rd ODI 17:00 WWE: After Burn 18:00 Sports News 18:15 Motorsport Mundial 18:45 Mobil 1 The Grid

07:00 Kids Club 07:30 Flavors 08:00 English News 09:00 Konkani News 10:00 Marathi News 11:00 Fusion Concert 11:30 Marine 12:00 Konkani Songs 12:30 Flavors 13:00 English News 14:00 Konkani Movie 09:30 The Contenders : Brazil 15:30 Sangeet 10:00 Sec Women's Gymnastics 16:00 Campus Rocks 16:30 Flavors : Florida vs. Alabama 11:30 MLB Regular Season 2010 17:00 Kids Club : Minnesota Twins vs. New 17:30 Konkani Songs 18:00 Konkani News York Yankees 19:00 Marathi News 14:30 Euroleague 2009/10 H/ls : 20:00 English News Semi Finals & Finals 21:00 Straight Talk 15:00 NBA Classic Games 22:00 English News 2009/10 : Los Angeles 23:00 Interview with Rahul Roy Lakers vs. New Jersey Nets 23:30 HCN Smash Hitz 17:00 Uca National High School Note: Subject to change

HERALD CROSSWORD - 555 Across 1- Famous last words; 5Banned apple spray; 9- Inclined; 14- Complain; 15Anger; 16- Arm joint; 17- Editor's mark; 18- Nailed obliquely; 19Legend maker; 20- Unexplored land; 23- To ___ (perfectly); 24Airport abbr.; 25- Bumped into; 28- 1920's decorative school; 31- Breach; 34- Bendable twig, usually of a willow tree; 36Antlered animal; 37- Inter ___; 38- Direct; 42- Clairvoyant; 43Fail to tell the truth; 44- Born before, senior churchman; 45Affirmative answer; 46- Italian innkeeper; 49- Compass pt.; 50- Pince-___; 51- Big name in PCs; 53- County in central England; 60- Apartment sign; 61- "Rule Britannia" composer; 62- Asian sea; 63- In reserve; 64- Lucie's father; 65- Wise; 66- Ascended; 67- Checked out; 68- Between ports; Down 1- Formerly, formerly; 2- London gallery; 3- A wedding cake may have three of these; 4- Extreme; 5- More bohemian; 6- Young roarer; 7- Novelist Waugh; 8- Fix up; 9- Simple shed; 10- 1961 Heston role; 11- Adjoin; 12- Director Ephron; 13- Defunct airline; 21Pong maker; 22- Nocturnal tropical lizard; 25- Like rocks in a stream; 26- Lauder of cosmetics; 27- Wearies; 29- Discourage; 30Mischievous person; 31- Forest clearing; 32- Buenos ___; 33- Mili-

tary chaplain; 35- Decoration SOLUTION - 554 at the top of a chair leg; 37Hole maker; 39- Fill with glass; 40- Secreted; 41Staggers; 46- Comblike body structure; 47- Hans Christian Andersen's birthplace; 48- Sea nymph; 50- Bridget Fonda, to Jane; 52- Capital of Tibet; 53Burt's ex; 54- Some Ivy Leaguers; 55- "No Ordinary Love" singer; 56- Deuce topper; 57Some nest eggs; 58- Anger; 59- Zeno's home; 60- Rocky hilltop;

pg16:Layout 1 5/17/2010 10:23 PM Page 1

SPORTS

Pg16

GOA, Tuesday, 18 May, 2010

Sesa FA held, ONGC pip HAL Sesa FA…1 ONGC…2

NISA…1 HAL…1

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

ONGC edged past HAL 2-1 in

a final round clash of ONGC Second Division League at KSFA Stadium, Bangalore on Monday.

Sesa Football Academy and NISA played a 1-1 draw in another league encounter. Israil Gurung scored in the 66th for Sesa FA while N.Dewan Singh

drew parity in the 81st.

With both teams already out of the qualifying race, a win could have helped either side to salvage some pride but, their dismal performance continued in the final round as they shared a point each to stay on seventh and eighth places in the standings.

After a pale first half, Sesa took the lead through Israil Gurung, while NISA levelled the account through Dewan Singh.

Both teams have only garnered two points each from five matches HAL suffered their first defeat in the final round, while ONGC have brightened their qualifying chances.

Mumbai hold Churchill goalless Mumbai…0

Churchill…0

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Mumbai FC moved out of the relegation zone after holding Musli Power Churchill Brothers to a dull goalless draw in an ONGC I-League match at Cooperage stadium on Monday.

The Goan giants were also reduced to ten men in injury time when skipper Odafa Okolie was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

Mumbai started with Evans Quao upfront with Abhishek Yadav as coach Khalid Jamil opted for Basheeru Abbas on the bench. Churchill Brothers had Reisangmi Vashum and Jaison Valles on the wings while Warun Deep and Naoba S i n g h w e re t h e t w o f u l l backs.

Churchill got the first opportunity in the very second minute as Odafa spilled from a one-onone situation as he lazed around before attempting a shot as Bernard Achaw tracked back to clear the danger.

Mumbai fans couldn’t believe their bad luck as a Peter Siddique header from a corner-kick in the sixth minute found the back of the net but the referee had blown his whistle for an infringement.

Odafa fluffed another opportunity as he did well to get ahead Anas Edathodika but Nidhinlal came off his line to deny the Nigerian who could only resort to a dive.

At the half hour mark, Kalu Nnanna’s shot from 30 yards

l

Mumbai move out of drop zone

Mumbai and Churchill Bros players in the thick of action at Cooperage in Mumbai on Monday.

landed at the feet of Reisangmi Vashum who sent it over the bar from inside the box.

Just before the end of first half, Abhishek Yadav missed with the goal at his mercy after Arindam Bhattacharya was out of place in order to deny Evans Quao’s header.

In the second half, play was pretty much the same as neither side had the upper hand in the proceedings.

The two coaches changed their personnel in order to add some pace to the game with Lalrinfela and Alex Ambrose making their way in.

Basheeru Abbas had a shy on goal while Felix Chimaokwu’s shot was well blocked by Nidhinlal to ensure that the scoreline remained intact.

Referee Shaji Kurian was at the centre of action when he stopped play when Churchill

Brothers were almost through on goal with Anas being on ground while allowing Mumbai to attack moments back. Skipper Odafa led the protest against the referee with the Churchill officials joining in.

Nidhinlal was the hero for Mumbai as he stopped a fierce right footed shot from Naoba Singh with the home side’s midfielders being guilty, allowing the full-back a lot of space.

In injury time, Odafa picked up his second yellow card and was thus given marching orders by the referee.

With this point, Mumbai move out of the drop zone as they have a better goal difference than Shillong Lajong.

Meanwhile Churchill remain second but now have a one point lead over third placed Mahindra, having played two games less.

St Anthony soccer: Volsau Brother, Goa Velha v. Games 7788, Bogmalo, Firguem Bhat ground, Goa Velha, 5 p.m.

Shooting Star soccer: Varca SC v. Ambelim SC, Ambelim ground, 4.30 p.m.

Sai Avtar Super soccer: PVC Parra v. Adarsh YS, Saligao, Anjuna Gymkhana ground, 4.30 p.m.

4th All-Goa Pandharinath Shirodkar memorial boxing, organised by Panjim Boxing Club, Campal ground, 5 p.m.

United Boys volleyball: Odxel SC, Taleigao v. Friends Circle, Mercurim, Merces Moloca court, 8 p.m.

Eslinda Alemao memorial soccer quarters: Parish Youth, Nuvem v. Cuncolim Union, Mandopa ground, Navelim, 4.30 p.m.

Nerul Panchayat Cup soccer: Arpora SC v. Sodiem-Siolim, Nerul ground, 4.30 p.m.

Lakhanpal Novino Gold Cup soccer quarters: Calangute Association v. Sai Avtar, Anjuna, Dr Gustavo Monteiro Stadium, Candolim, 4.30 p.m.

pg17:Layout 1 5/17/2010 11:09 PM Page 1

SPORTS

GOA, Tuesday, 18 May, 2010

Talasha pockets 10 gold, sinks 6 State records

Pg17 Siolim drub Vaddem XI sai avtar super cup

HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Talasha Prabhu HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Dempo Goodwill Brand Ambassador, Goa’s ace swimmer international Talasha Prabhu, as expected, hogged the limelight at the 22nd Goa State Juniors and Sub-Juniors Aquatic Championship which concluded at Fatorda swimming pool, Margao on Sunday.

In a superlative performance, fit for champions, Talasha won 10 gold medals in all the 10 events she participated; but the real achievement was breaking

six State meet records in her favourite events of 100m, 200m, 400m free style, 50m butterfly, 50m breast and 200m individual medley; thus proving her allround ability at the meet.

Talasha is presently based at the Commonwealth probables training camp in Bangalore and left Goa on Monday morning.

Individual championships Boys group I - Akash Fulkar. Girls group I - Talasha Prabhu.

Boys group II - Rajat Sirsat.

Girls group II Clarissa D'Souza.

Boys group III - Raunak Pai. Girls group III - Neetya Halarnkar.

Boys group IV - Xavier Michael D'Souza. Girls group IV - Suman Patil. Boys group V - Rishikesh Rao. Girls group V - Dharini Shetty Individual championships – Diving: Boys Group III Allahad Chetti. Girls Group III Genevie D'Costa. Boys group IV - Nikhil Nagvenkar. Girls group IV - Nikita Sheth.

Boys group V - Lyzander Gomes.

Toddlers race: 1st Rahul Patil, 2nd Nathan Fernandes, 3rd Krish Borkar Other results: 50m backstroke boys group I: 1 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 0 0 . 3 4 . 8 2 , 2 A ka s h Fu l ka r 00.35.24, 3 Damodar P. Karekar 00.35.90.

50m backstroke girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 00.35.22, 2 Poorva Cardozo 00.39.10, 3 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 00.39.15 50m backstroke boys group II: 1 Rajat J. Sirsat 00.36.63, 2 Nihal Chico 00.39.09, 3 Mark A. Ribeiro 00.39.78.

50m backstroke girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 00.38.62, 2 Akshita A. Naik 00.39.78, 3 Michelle Rodrigues 00.40.50.

50m backstroke boys group III: 1 Aby Jose 00.40.76, 2 Raunak Pai 00.41.60, 3 Ashwin J. Mascarenhas 00.41.80.

50m backstroke girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 00.43.87, 2 Aavani V. Prabhu 00.46.19, 3 Magdalene J. Pereira 00.49.32 50m backstroke boys group IV: 1 Xavier Michael D' Souza 00.44.47, 2 Yash Damodar Gavnekar 00.46.31, 3 Jerry D. D'Mello 00.49.38 50m backstroke girls group IV: 1 Suman Patil 00.45.31, 2 Marushka A. De Oliveira 00.47.66, 3 Shriya Pradeep Karekar 00.57.97.

50m backstroke boys group V: 1 Rishikesh R. Rao 00.57.38, 2 Sagar d. Patil 01.03.38, 3 Zi-

Nikita Sheth

Nihal Chico

Lyzander Gomes

Raunak Pai

Rajat Sirsat

dane Iqbal 01.13.04.

50m backstroke girls group V: 1 Dharini M. Shetty 00.57.90, 2 Mithika K. Karapurkar 01.00.59, 3 Michelle P. Estibeiro 01.07.40.

100m freestyle boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 01.04.03, 2 Kaustubh K. Natekar 01.04.50, 3 Damodar P. Karekar 01.07.37.

100m freestyle girls group I: 1 Ta l a s h a Prabhu 01.01.47(N.M.R), 2 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 01.12.84, 3 Akshata A. Godinho 01.15.40.

100m freestyle boys group II: 1 Nihal Chico 01.09.62, 2 Rajat J. Sirsat 01.10.16, 5 Yash S. Nagvenkar 01.14.75.

100m freestyle girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 01.13.65, 2 Akshita A. Naik 01.15.10, 3 Michelle Rodrigues 01.15.15.

100m freestyle boys group III: 1 Raunak R. Pai 01.15.03, 2 Joao Carlos Elton Estrocio 01.17.50, 3 Aby Jose 01.17.68.

100m freestyle girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 01.24.70, 2 Aavani V. Prabhu 01.34.47, 3 Magdalene J. Pereira 01.35.65.

100m freestyle boys group IV: 1 Xavier Michael D' Souza 01.22.25, 2 Yash Damodar Gavnekar 01.23.41, 3 Jerry D. D'Mello 01.26.62.

100m freestyle girls group IV: 1 Suman Patil 01.28.22, 2 Akshata K. Karapurkar 01.35.44, 3 Nora F. Vales 01.36.18.

200m breaststroke boys group I: 1 Damodar P. Karekar 03.14.03, 2 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 03.30.83, 3 Akash Fulkar 03.35.16.

200m breaststroke girls group I: 1 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 03.28.66, 2 Nikita A. Naik 03.32.13, 5 Natalina E. Assangi 03.49.81.

200m breaststroke boys group II: 1 Rajat Sirsat 03.28.54, 2 Yash S. Nagvenkar 03.39.72, 3 Jowett D'Souza 03.42.63.

200m breaststroke girls group I I : 1 M i c h e l l e Ro d r i g u e s 03.21.84, 2 Clarissa E. De Sauza 03.22.63, 3 Shraddha Shetty 04.07.90.

800m freestyle boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 11.57.28 (NMR), 2 Kaustubh K. Natekar 12.28.88, 3 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 13.10.37.

800m freestyle girls group I: 1 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 12.03.27, 2 Akshata A. Godinho 12.14.75, 3 Sayali PrabhuVerlekar 14.04.48.

800m freestyle boys group II: 1 Marc Arnaldo Ribeiro 11.17.53, 2 Nihal Chico 12.25.50, 3 Yash S. Nagvenkar 13.48.62.

800m freestyle girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. De Souza 11.10.57, 2 Michelle Rodrigues 12.32.56, 3 Aadini Prabhu 12.51.54.

50m freestyle boys group I: 1 Kaustubh K. Natekar 00.27.25, 2 Akash fulkar 00.27.72, 3 Ninad Nitin Walke 00.29.07.

50m freestyle girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 00.28.34, 2 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 00.32.34, 3 Akshata A. Godinho 00.32.43.

50m freestyle boys group II: 1 Rajat J. Sirsat 00.29.91, 2 Nihal Chico 00.30.59, 3 Yash S. Nagvenkar 00.32.79.

50m freestyle girls group II: 1 Akshita A. Naik 00.32.50, 2 Clarissa E. D'Souza 00.33.47, 3 Michelle Rodrigues 00.34.75.

50m freestyle boys group III: 1 Aby Jose 00.33.97, 2 Raunak R. Pai 00.34.32, 3 Neil A. Godinho 00.34.46.

50m freestyle girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 00.37.22, 2 Magdalene J. Pereira 00.40.43, 3 Aavani V. Prabhu 00.40.96.

50m freestyle boys group IV: 1 Xavier Michael D' Souza 00:36:38, 2 Devansh Malviya 00:37:85, 3 Jerry D. D'Mello 00:37:94.

50m freestyle girls group IV: 1 Suman Patil 00.38.66, 2 Akshata K. Karapurkar 00.41.15, 3 Hritva Pangam 00.44.19.

50m freestyle boys group V: 1 Rishikesh R. Rao 00.49.16, 2 Sagar D. Patil 00.54.87, 3 Madhukar Sagar Bhaidkar 00.57.41.

50m freestyle girls group V: 1 Dharini M. Shetty 00:46:04, 2Mithika K. Karapurkar 00:49:66, 3 Valletta Pereira 00:53:40.

100m backstroke boys group I: 1 Damodar P. Karekar 01:19:20, 2 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 0 1 : 1 9 : 9 7 , 3 A ka s h Fu l ka r 01:23:53.

100m backstroke girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 01:18:56, 2 Poorva Cardozo 01:26:19, 3 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 01:28:09.

100m backstroke boys group II: 1 Rajat J. Sirsat 01:24:94, 2 Marc A. Ribeiro 01:28:63, 3 Nihal Chico 01:39:63.

100m backstroke girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 01:25:50 (NMR), 2 Michelle Rodrigues 01:28:84, 3 Shraddha S. Shetty 01:29:16.

100m backstroke boys group III: 1 Ashwin J. Mascarenhas 01:31:22, 2 Raunak R. Pai 01:32:01, 3 David Fernandes 01:34:15.

100m backstroke girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 01:43:12, 2 Aavani V. Prabhu 01:50:00, 3 Priyanka Bhat 02:22:81.

100m butterfly boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 01:13:63, 2 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 01:15:97, 3 Kaustubh K. Natekar 01:16:40.

100m butterfly girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 01:17:69, 2 Akshata A. Godinho 01:27:09, 3 Poorva Cardozo 01:34:00.

100m butterfly boys group II: 1 Rajat J. Sirsat 01:17:16 (NMR), 2 Nihal Chico 01:23:87, 3 Marc A. Ribeiro 01:35:25.

100m butterfly girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 01:22:47 , 2 Akshita A. Naik 01:28:57, 3 Michelle Rodrigues 01:28:59 100m butterfly boys group III: 1 Raunak R. Pai 01:27:59, 2 Ashwin J. Mascarenhas 01:32:35, 3 Joao carlos Elton Estrocio 01:40:77.

100m butterfly girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 01:51:82, 2 Aavani V. Prabhu 01:56:56, 3 Magdalene J. Pereira 01:58:40.

400m freestyle boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 05:32:19, 2 Kaustubh K. Natekar 05:46:03, 3 Damodar Pradip Karekar 05:46:72.

400m freestyle girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 04:54:88, 2

Sunanda C. Chaudhari 05:44:53, 3 Akshata A. Godinho 05:49:00.

400m freestyle boys group II: 1 Marc A. Ribeiro 05:24:97, 2 Nihal Chico 05:39:23, 3 Rajat J. Sirsat 06:04:88.

400m freestyle girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 05:31:63(NMR)2 Michelle Rodrigues 05:56:25, 3 Aadini Prabhu 06:00:68.

50m breaststroke boys group I : 1 K a u s t u b h K . N a t e ka r 00.39.25, 2 Damodar P. Karekar 0 0 . 3 9 . 4 4 , 3 N i n a d Va l k e 00.43.22.

50m breaststroke girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 00.40.29 (NMR), 2 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 00.41.30, 3 Nikita A. Naik 00.44.19: 50m breaststroke boys group II: 1 Rajat Sirsat 00.43.06, 2 Yash S. Nagvenkar 00.44.04, 3 Jowett D'Souza 00.46.12.

50m breaststroke girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 00.41.91, 2 Akshita A. Naik 00.44.44, 3 Michelle Rodrigues 00.44.46.

50m breaststroke boys group III: 1 Raunak R. Pai 00.46.60, 2 Neil A. Godinho 00.46.66, 3 Aby Jose 00.46.69.

50m breaststroke girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 00.46.44, 2 Magdalene J. Pereira 00.47.16, 3 Aavani V. Prabhu 01.00.94.

50m breaststroke boys group IV: 1 Yash Damodar Gavnekar 00.50.03, 2 Amey Kailash Nale 00.53.06, 3 Xavier Michael D' Souza 00.56.49.

50m breaststroke girls group IV: 1 Suman Patil 00.52.79, 2 Nora F. Vales 00.52.80, 3 Simran S. Bhaidkar 00.56.50, 50m breaststroke boys group V: 1 Sagar D. Patil 01.02.78, 2 Madhukar Sagar Bhaidkar 01.04.31, 3 Rishikesh R. Rao 01.08.81.

50m breaststroke girls group V: 1 Dharini M. Shetty 01.01.59, 2 Valletta Pereira 01.02.71, 3 Mithika K. Karapurkar 01.05.60.

200m freestyle boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 02.31.47, 2 Kaustubh K. Natekar 02.37.09, 3 Damodar P. Karekar 02.48.56.

200m freestyle girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 02.14.47 (NMR), 2 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 02.42.94, 3 Akshata A. Godiho 02.46.00.

200m freestyle boys group II: 1 Nihal Chico 02.34.38, 2 Rajat J. Sirsat 02.38.81, 3 Marc A. Ribeiro 02.40.47.

200m freestyle girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 02.38.00, 2 Michelle Rodrigues 02.46.71, 3 Akshita A. Naik 02.50.72.

200m freestyle boys group III: 1 Raunak R. Pai 02.40.94, 2 Joao Carlos Elton Estrocio 02.44.25, 3 Ishaan Malviya 02.53.54.

200m freestyle girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 03.17.44, 2 Aavani V. Prabhu 03.36.90, 3 Priyanka A. Bhat 04.07.34.

100m breaststroke boys group I: 1 Damodar P. Karekar 01.26.37, 2 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 01.32.06, 3 Kaustubh K. Natekar 01.34.34.

1500m freestyle boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 26.04.41, 2 Ninad Nitin Valke 26.33.59, 3

Yogesh Shirodkar 27.28.84.

1500m freestyle boys group II: 1 Marc A. Ribeiro 22.14.01, 2 Nihal Chico 22.57.49, 3 Yash S. Nagvenkar 26.20.31.

1500m freestyle girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. De Souza 22.40.93, 2 Shraddha Shetty 26.39.11, 3 Pratiksha G. Naik Govenkar 28.14.92.

200m backstroke boys group I: 1 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 0 3 . 0 5 . 7 5 , 2 A ka s h Fu l ka r 03.08.03, 3 Kaustubh K. Natekar 03.25.88 200m backstroke girls group I: 1 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 03.03.68, 2 Poorva Cardozo 03.04.75, 3 Natalina Erica Assangi 03.13.13.

200m backstroke boys group II: 1 Rajat Sirsat 03.03.63, 2 Marc A. Ribeiro 03.07.19, 3 Nihal Chico 03.29.34.

200m backstroke girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. De Souza 03.02.18, 2 Michelle Rodrigues 03.16.13, 3 Shraddha S. Shetty 03.18.59.

400m individual medley boys group I: 1 Akash Fulkar 06.51.32, 2 Kaustubh K. Natekar 07.07.93.

50m butterfly girls group IV: 1 Suman Patil 00.46.16, 2 Akshata K. Karapurkar 00.47.09, 3 Hritva Pangam 00.48.69.

50m butterfly boys group V: 1 Rishikesh R. Rao 01.00.15, 2 Madhukar Sagar Bhaidkar 01.10.19, 3 Sagar D. Patil 01.15.12.

50m butterfly girls group V: 1 Dharini M. Shetty 00.52.68 (NMR), 2 Mithika K. Karapurkar 0 1 . 0 5 . 1 9 , 3 Va i s h n a v i N .

Halarnkar 01.05.99.

50m butterfly boys group I: 1 Kaustubh K. Natekar 00.30.72, 2 Damodar P. Karekar 00.31.17, 3 Akash Fulkar 00.32.04.

50m butterfly girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 00.31.25 (NMR), 2 Akshata A. Godinho 00.37.44, 3 Sayali N. Prabhu Verlekar 00.38.31 50m butterfly boys group II: 1 Rajat J. Sirsat 00.32.84 (NMR), 2 Nihal Chico 00.35.22, 3 Marc A. Ribeiro 00.38.93.

50m butterfly girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 00.35.40, 2 Akshita A. Naik 00.37.50, 3 Michelle Rodrigues 00.39.63.

50m butterfly boys group III: 1 A s h w i n J . M a s c a re n h a s 00.38.69, 2 Raunak R. Pai 00.38.94, 3 Joao Carlos Elton Estrocio 00.38.95.

50m butterfly girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 00.44.84, 2 Magdalene J. Pereira 00.47.50, 3 Aavani V. Prabhu 00.49.00.

50m butterfly boys group IV: 1 Yash Damodar Gavnekar 00.41.37, 2 Xavier Michael D' Souza 00.43.19, 3 Jerry D. D'Mello 00.48.69.

100m breaststroke girls group I: 1 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 01.35.75 (NMR), 2 Nikita A. Naik 01.37.72 (BMR), 3 Akshata A. Godinho 01.45.52: 100m breaststroke boys g ro u p I I 1 Ra j a t J . S i r s a t

01.34.68, 2 Yash S. Nagvenkar 01.38.63, 3 Jowett D'Souza 01.39.22.

100m breaststroke girls group II 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 01.33.34 (NMR), 2. Michelle Rodrigues 01.37.87, 3 Akshita A. Naik 01.41.53: 100m breaststroke boys group III: 1 Raunak R. Pai 01.42.50, 2 Aby Jose 01.44.42, 3 Taran Mukherjee 01.44.51.

100m breaststroke girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 01.44.37, 2 Magdalene J. Pereira 01.44.88, 3 Aavani Prabhu 02.14.56: 200m individual medley boys group I: 1 Damodar P. Karekar 0 2 . 4 7 . 0 4 , 2 A ka s h Fu l ka r 02.48.69, 3 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 02.55.12.

200m individual medley girls group I: 1 Talasha Prabhu 02.38.25 (NMR), 2 Sunanda C. Chaudhari 03.06.00, 3 Akshata A. Godinho 03.12.81.

200 m individual medley boys group II: 1 Rajat J. Sirsat 02.56.47, 2 Nihal Chico 03.05.35, 3 Marc A. Ribeiro 03.07.37.

200m individual medley girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. D'Souza 02.58.06 (NMR), 2 Michelle Rodrigues 03.14.18, 3 Aadini Prabhu 03.29.87.

200m individual medley boys group III: 1 Raunak R. Pai 03.12.53, 2 Joao Carlos Elton Estrocio 03.23.57, 3 Ashwin J. Mascarenhas 03.26.49.

200m individual medley girls group III: 1 Neetya N. Halarnkar 03.40.22, 2 Magdalene J. Pereira 03.46.06, 3 Aavani V. Prabhu 04.03.41.

200m individual medley boys group IV: 1 Yash Damodar Gavnekar 03.25.00, 2 Xavier Michael D' Souza 03.41.75, 3 Mohak Bhandari 03.56.84.

200m individual medley girls group IV: 1 Suman Patil 03.44.22, 2 Nora F. Vales 03.53.57, 3 Marushka A. De Oliveira 03.53.75.

200m butterfly boys group I: 1 Ramakant alias Sahil S. Nayak 03.19.84, 2 Kaustubh K. Natekar 03.19.86, 3 Macvil J. Carvalho 03.55.35 200m butterfly girls group II: 1 Clarissa E. De Souza 03.17.06, 2 Michelle Rodrigues 03.38.43, 3 Pratiksha Naik Govekar 03.59.88.

Diving - boys group – V: 1 Lyzander N. Gomes 95.2, 2 Brendon D. D'costa 71.4, 3 Hritvik Pangam 59.

Boys group IV: 1 Nikhil N Nagvekar 106.9, 2 Anirudh A Bhat 104.5, 3 Sheikh MD. Hassan 37.20.

Girls group IV: 1 Nikita Sheth 80.75, 2 Vinela O. Dias 71.1, 3 Deepshika Bhandari 67.55.

Boys group III: 1 Aalhad V. Chati 197.45, 2 Shivsagar Pillai 183.35, 3 Joliston Andrade 145.30.

Girls group III: 1 Genevieve D'Costa 187.05, 2 Noella Ferreira 118.25, 3 Shivani R. Kadam 107.2.

PY Assonora emerge champions HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Parish Youth, Assonora overcame Parish Youth, Tropa (Siolim) 2-1 via the tie-breaker in the finals to emerge champions in 2nd All-Goa 7-a-side football tournament in memory of Vivian Fernandes at Assonora church ground, on Sunday. The teams were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation period.

Assonora shot into the lead in the early minutes with a goal

by Norwin Pontes. Tropa tried hard for the equaliser and their efforts bore fruits as their hardworking striker Ryan scored a gem of a goal to get his team back into the game.

In the ensuing tie-breaker, Norwin Pontes and MA Francis scored for Assonora while Ryan was the lone scorer for Tropa.

Assonora received Rs 10,000 while Tropa had to be content with Rs 6,000.

Following individual prizes were awarded: Best goalkeeper – Marian Mendes. Best defender – Lloyd. Best half – M A Francis.

The victorious Parish Youth Assonora team which won the 2nd All-Goa 7-a-side football tournament in memory of Vivian Fernandes at Assonora church ground on Sunday.

Best forward – Vincent Rodrigues. First scorer – Norwin Pontes. Youngest player of the tournament – Franco Colaco.

Earlier, Altar Boys of Tropa defeated Altar Boys of Assonora 3-1 in an exhibition match.

Brahmanand Sankhwalkar was the chief guest and gave away the prizes.

Also present were Dyna Braganza, ZP member, parish priest of Assonora, Fr Luis Pinto Lourenco, sponsor of the tour-

nament Prudente Fernandes and his sons, Viriato Fernandes and Vilfan Fernandes.

Youth president, Purity Ferrao welcomed. Anselm Trinidade compered. Alinda Coelho proposed the vote of thanks.

Sodiem Siolim Sports Club drubbed Friends XI Vaddem 51 in the inaugural match of Sai Avtar Super Soccer Cup organised by Sai Avtar Sports Club, Anjuna at Anjuna Gymkhana ground, Tembi, on Monday.

Mayur Toraskar drew first blood for Sodiem by tapping the ball in off a cross from Dylan Noronha. Minutes later, Dylan scored a brace with a solo effort.

Changing over, Vaddem reduced the margin through Jorge D’Souza’s header.

Sodiem hammered in two more goals through Nikhil Goltekar and Rakesh Vaigankar.

Varca in quarters

shooting star soccer HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Varca Sports Club trounced Fr Agnel, Paroda 3-0 to enter the quarter-finals of Shooting Star soccer tournament at Ambelim ground, on Monday. Varca led 1-0 at half time.

Varcar took the lead through Columbus. Elvis doubled the lead for Varca. Changing over, Columbus rounded off the tally for Varca.

Saligao up Nerul Cup

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, MAY 17

Saligao United got the better of Cuncolim Union 5-3 via the tiebreaker after the teams were involved in a 1-1 draw to enter the semi-finals of 17th Nerul Panchayat Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Nerul Sports Club at Nerul ground, on Monday.

Cuncolim took the lead in the 28th minute through Parission Rebello.

Saligao restored parity in the 10th minute of the second session when they were awarded a penalty as Trevor Dias was brought down in the danger box by Cuncolim defender Raghuvir.

Nestor Dias made no mistake in slotting the ball past the goalkeeper to bring his side on level terms.

Nestor Dias, Alfred Rodrigues, M.A. Francis and Trevor Dias converted for Saligao while Joel Fernandes and Aniket Naik were on target for Cuncolim.

GOA DIARY Diogo soccer

PANJIM (HSD) – The 13th AllGoa Diogo Vaz memorial veterans football tournament organised by Don Bosco Past Pupils, Panjim will be held on May 22 at Don Bosco school ground, here. Those interested may contact Angelo Albuquerque on 9890203985 by May 19.

7-a-side soccer

PANJIM (HSD) – The 1st AllGoa open 7-a-side football tournament organised by Youth of Mascarenhas in memory of Silko Miranda will be held on May 26, at PAP ground, Goa Velha. The winners and runners-up will receive Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. Details may be obtained on 9881283943.

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SPORTS

Mumbai hold Churchill goalless Pg. 16

GOA, TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 2010

www.oherald.in

goa Briefs Benaulim in quarters HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

United Club of Benaulim scored a fluent 2-0 win over Ambelim Sports Club to enter the quarter-finals of Eslinda Alemao Memorial Mandopa Football Cup organised by Mandopa Sporting Club at Mandopa sporting ground, on Monday.

Changing over, Benaulim took the lead when Carlos slotted past the goalkeeper.

Ossy Fernandes doubled the lead for Benaulim in the 50th minute.

Moita ahead HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, MAY 17

Moita Sporting, Agassaim edged past St Sebastian, Goa Velha 5-4 in St Anthony soccer tournament at Firguem Bhat ground, Goa Velha, on Monday.

Moita led 4-2 at the breather.

In the first session, Michael 2, Freddy and Sydney scored a goal each for Moita while Agnel and Razden reduced the margin for St Sebastian. Changing over, Adolf and Khoda scored a goal each for St Sebastian while Sydney increased the lead for Moita in the dying minutes.

Candolim in semis HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, MAY 17

Candolim Sports Club defeated Saligao Sporting Club 2-0 to enter the semi-finals of Novino Lakhanpal Gold Cup inter-village football tournament at Dr. Gustavo Montiero stadium on Monday.

Changing over, Candolim took the lead through Roy Das. Down by a goal, Saligao fought back but were unable to convert the scoring opportunities that came their way.

Roy Das made the issue safe for Candolim off a Vincy Rebello move.

Kricket Klub triumph HERALD REPORTER VASCO, MAY 17

A breezy 73 from Aditya Agarwal helped Kricket Klub, BITS Pilani to defeat Nayal Bori by 8 wickets and emerge as South Goa Zone champions of Goa Cricket Association ‘B’ Division at BITS ground, Sancoale, on Monday.

KK BITS booked their berth in the State finals of B Division.

This is the second consecutive appearance of KK BITS in the State finals.

Electing to bat, Nayal Bori were all out for 137 in 28.4 overs. Shaukat Ali topscored with 44 followed by Sachin Bhat 34, scored for Nayal Bori.

For KK BITS, Agarwal claimed 3 for 16 while Piyush snatched 2 for 26.

In reply, KK BITS achieved the target in 35 overs. Aditya who struck 73 runs in 55 balls was supported by Kuldeep 27 for KK BITS.

Yuvi, Zaheer, 4 others face rap for pub brawl PTI MUMBAI, MAY 17

The Cricket Board will issue show cause notices tomorrow to six players, including senior members Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan, for their alleged involvement in a pub brawl in St Lucia after India's humiliating exit from Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies.

Besides Yuvraj and Zaheer, show cause notice would be served to Ashish Nehra, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja, according to BCCI sources here.

The tough stand by the Board came in the wake of tour manager Ranjib's Biswal's report to B C C I P re s i d e n t S h a s h a n k Manohar and his meeting today with the latter at BCCI headquarters here.

Without naming either the errant players or their number, BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said show cause notices would be sent to these players by Board Secretary N Srinivasan tomorrow at the behest of Manohar.

"The manager of Indian team, Ranjib Biswal, today met the Board President. The Board President and Secretary took information from him regarding the West Indies tour and also from the written report (submitted

by Biswal earlier)," Shetty said.

"We also conducted an en-

quiry over the incident in the West Indies that was widely reported in the media. After considering all the information that we have gathered, the President took the decision that the Board Secretary will issue show cause notices to those players tomorrow," he said.

Shetty said identity of the players would be revealed only when the notice is issued tomorrow.

The Board decided to crack the whip on these players after a hue and cry was raised in the media about the brawl on the night the team crashed out of the tournament following their third straight defeat in the Super Eight stage.

The hardened stand of the Board came after Biswal met Manohar and Srinivasan to give them first-hand information of

n Besides Yuvraj and Zaheer, show cause notice would be served to Ashish Nehra, Rohit Sharma, Piyush Chawla and Ravindra Jadeja today.

-- BCCI

Ballack out of WC with ankle injury REUTERS BERLIN, MAY 17

Germany's World Cup hopes suffered a severe blow on Monday when captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the finals in South Africa with an ankle injury.

It was also a personal setback for 33-year-old Ballack, who was set to play at his third World Cup and is unlikely to get another chance to perform on the sport's biggest stage.

Chelsea midfielder Ballack was injured in the first half of Saturday's English FA Cup final against Portsmouth, limping off during the first-half of his team's 1-0 win after a late tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng who was booked.

The ankle was so badly swollen that a planned scan on Sunday had to be postponed until Monday morning.

"Germany captain Michael Ballack has been ruled out for the World Cup in 2010 in South Africa," said the German Football Federation (DFB) in a statement.

"According to the diagnosis today by national team physician, Dr. Hans-Wilhelm MuellerWohlfahrt, a complete recovery can be expected, but a return to training will not be possible for at least eight weeks."

The DFB said Ballack has suffered a tear of one ankle ligament and a partial tear of another. They said his right ankle would be placed in a cast and he would have to wear a special shoe for two weeks once the cast was removed.

Michael Ballack walks with crutches.

the happenings in the Caribbean.

The incident for which the players are about to be hauled over the coals happened at the "Tequila Joe's" pub on May 11 at Gros Islet after India lost to Sri Lanka in their last Super Eight fixture and crashed out.

According to reports, six Indian cricketers were in the same pub when the fans started taunting and abusing them for their failure to reach the semi-final and the cricketers reacted leading to the brawl.

The reports were promptly denied by Yuvraj on his Twitter page where he wrote "There was no fight, not even an argument" and asked the media not to "make up stories".

After returning home, Nehra too denied there was a brawl in which the players were involved.

"No one said anything to us.

There were many fans from all over the world from different teams but nothing happened with us," Nehra had told reporters.

"As far as my knowledge goes, no untoward incident happened with us. We went to have our dinner there and were watching the West Indies and Australia match. Rest of the things that I am listening now, I have no knowledge of anything," he had said.

Perry guides Aussie eves to T20 WC title PTI BRIDGETOWN (Barbados), MAY 17

Medium pacer Ellyse Perry scalped three wickets for 18 as Australia emerged as the Women's World Twenty20 champions after defeating New Zealand by three runs in a thrilling summit clash here.

Opting to bat, Australia made a modest 106 for eight in their 20 overs but their pacers bowled with purpose and accuracy to restrict New Zealand to 103 for six at the Kensington Oval yesterday.

Perry was the impressive of the lot as apart from picking up three crucial New Zealand wickets, she held her nerve in a tense last over to guide Australian eves home, just hours after their male counterparts had lost in the corresponding final to archrivals England.

Needing 14 off the last over, Perry, backed by some superb fielding, did not concede a single boundary to give New Zealand the heart break, a year after they had lost to England in the final of the last edition at Lord's.

Chasing a modest 107, Sophie Devine (38 not out off 35) rescued New Zealand from a toporder collapse to give them a shot at victory after they were reduced to 29 for four at one stage. The target was gettable, but New Zealand lost wickets at regular intervals to allow Australia to claw back into the game.

Pg 18

Talasha pockets 10 gold, sinks 6 State records Pg. 17

Sudha betters Nat record PTI KOCHI, MAY 17

Sudha Singh of Railways stole the limelight winning the women's 3000m steeplechase gold and bettering her own national and meet records on the penultimate day of the 50th National Open Athletics Championship here today.

Twentyfour-year old Sudha got off to a flying start and kept the momentum up to win the gold in record time of 10:09.56 secs, bettering her own national record of 10:10.77 secs set in 2009 and meet mark of 10:18.76 secs set in 2007.

Rafael Nadal of Spain bites his winners trophy after his straight sets victory against Roger Federer of Switzerland.

Nadal claims Madrid Open title AP MADRID, MAY 17

The way Rafael Nadal has been playing on clay, it’s hard to imagine he won’t take home a fifth French Open title this year.

Nadal improved to 15-0 on clay this season and won a record 18th Masters title Sunday, beating top-ranked Roger Federer 64, 7-6 (5) in the Madrid final.

Nadal, who will return to No. 2 in Monday’s rankings, dodged questions about being the fa-

vorite at the French Open starting May 23.

“I’m very happy with everything so far this year. I think I’ve returned to my top form and that’s the most important thing for me,” Nadal said. “Am I favorite to win at Roland Garros?

I was last year and I lost.”

“The most important thing is winning at home; winning in Madrid is a dream. After that, I think about the ranking,” said Nadal.

Kaneria’s future in jeopardy

AGENCIES SYDNEY, MAY 17

Pakistani leg spinner Danish Kaneria's Test future is in jeopardy after he was arrested and latter released on bail during a betting probe in England.

Kaneria is free to play and would be eligible for the series against Australia in July after he got bail until September 15, but Pakistan Cricket Board Chief Operating Officer Wasim Bari could not guarantee that the leg spinner would be retained in the side.

"We have not received any documentation as yet, it would be unfair to make a comment until I know the full details," The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Bari, as saying.

Kaneria, who played the last two Tests against Australia here last summer, is under investigation for alleged spot fixing during an English domestic game last season.

The 29-year-old and Essex team-mate Mervyn Westfield were arrested by police last week and questioned over accusations of fraud, namely betting on a game they were playing.

The investigation centres around a Pro40 (England's 40over competition) win against Durham in September last year. Spot fixing relates to betting on small outcomes within a game, such as how many runs or extras will be conceded off a certain over.

Kaneria has denied any wrongdoing, saying after he was first linked to the case last month: "The story is baseless. I have played my cricket for Pakistan as well as for Essex, with pride and honesty … For the last two years I have been Essex's best performer and have never done anything wrong."