OHERALDOThe Voice of Goa Since 1900

Business: China, India lift

sentiment EPFR Pg 12

These topics are out of syllabusfor this term. Tell BJP we are readyto answer any other questions.

(Continued on page 10)(Continued on page 10)

Sports: Pathan approached by

a stranger BCCI Pg 18

Goas Heartbeat: I didnt want hush

hush debut Narmmadaa Pg 14

It is in justice that the ordering of

society is centered.

Aristotle

Visit us at:www.oheraldo.in panjim, Saturday, September 18, 2010 priCe rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge rs 2.00) pages 18

IN BRIEFHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

After becoming the permanentvenue for the International FilmFestival of India (IFFI), Goa hasnow been named the permanentvenue for South Asian Film Fes-tival (SAFF).

The successive State govern-ments, earlier the BharatiyaJanata Party and now the Con-gress, have been striving to de-velop a film culture in the Statesince 2004 when the IFFI wasfirst hosted.

Making an announcement, atthe inaugural function of thefifth SAFF Chief Minister Digam-abar Kamat said that the gov-ernment wanted to developGoa as the destination of var-ious festivals and therefore aneffort was made to bring SAFFin Goa.

He hoped that with the timesthis festival will become popularnot only in the State but entirecountry.

He said the SAFF spreads themessage of peace and harmonythrough the medium of films.

Earlier, Kamat declared openthe 5th four-day festival, SAFFGoa 2010 an initiative of SouthAsian Foundation with the sup-port of the State government,Indian Council for Cultural Re-lations (ICCR), EntertainmentSociety of Goa and Kala Acad-emy, with the theme of dissolv-ing boundaries.

Ajit Gupte, Joint Secretary tothe Union Ministry of ExternalAffairs, and Deputy DirectorGeneral ICCR, Chief SecretarySanjay Srivastava, CommissionerNRI Affairs and former ExternalAffairs Minister Eduardo Faleiro,Secretary General SAFF RahulBarua, ESG CEO Manoj Srivas-tava, Festival Director RamizaAkhtar and others were alsopresent for the inaugural func-tion.

Prominent film makers and

actors from all South Asian coun-tries, representatives of the In-dian film fraternity also the timeAssamese directors BhupendraKaman and Hiren Bora are at-tending the festival.

The inauguration of the fes-tival was followed by an en-thralling contemporary danceperformance by noted Kathakdance exponent. SharmistaMukherjee and her group. Thefestival will showcase differentkinds of work under various seg-

ments providing opportunitiesand a forum to filmmakers fromparticipating countries to dis-cuss their work. The motto isalso to ensure participation ofpolicy planners and opinionleaders and facilitate marketingof all types of films from thecountries within the region.Over 50 films will be screenedat the festival from the SouthAsian Countries. The focus coun-try is Afghanistan for SAFF Goa-2010.

SAFF SETTLES IN GOA

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat lighting the traditional lamp to mark the opening of the four-day SouthAsian Film Festival (SAFF) at Panjim on Friday. Photo by Rozario Estibeiro

PTI

LUCKNOW, SEPT 17

Efforts to delay the judgementin the Ramjanambhoomi-BabriMasjid dispute beyond Septem-ber 24 were today rebuffed bythe Allahabad High Court whichdismissed a plea for mediationsaying it was aimed at creatingobstruction in the final disposalof the matter.

Rejecting the petition by de-fendant Ramesh Chandra Tri-pathi, a three-judge bench ofthe of the court also imposedexemplary costs of Rs 50,000terming his effort for an out-of-court settlement as a mischie-vous attempt.

The judgement will now bedelivered on September 24.

Allaying apprehensions ofpossible violence in the wake

of next weeks judgement in the60-year-old case, the Lucknowbench of the court observedthat arrangement of securityis the responsibility of the State.

We have read in the news-papers that the prime ministerof the country has assured thepeople that the government iscapable of meeting any contin-gency. We cannot comment butrepose confidence in the gov-ernment since they are the bestjudge of what is required inmaintaining law and orderand/or security of any individualof group of such individuals, asthe case may be, shall be takencare of, it said.

The court also made it clearthat arrangement of security isthe responsibility of the Stateand they were the authority to

asses the measures and not anyindividuals own perception.

....the application lacks bonafide and is a clear attempt todivert, deviate and also to createobstruction in the final disposalof this matter after more thansix decades without there beingany reason whatsoever.

Considering also the factthat all other learned counselappearing for different parties,whether plaintiffs or defendants,have seriously opposed it, wehave no hesitation in rejectingthis application.

The judges observed thatthe applicant has without anylawful excuse or reason filedthis application and we holdthis attempt mischievous, and,therefore, he deserves to beimposed exemplary cost.

Allahabad HC rebuffs moveto defer Ayodhya ruling

Five held overplot to harmPope in UK

PTI

LONDON, SEPT 17

Five people, believed to be ofNorth African origin, were ar-rested here today over a sus-pected terror plot to harm PopeBenedict XVI, now on a Statevisit to the United Kingdom.

The five men, aged between26 to 50 years of age, werepicked up by Scotland Yard thismorning in central London andwere being questioned bycounter-terror detectives.

All five are street cleaners inWestminster, and worked forVeolia Environment Services, amajor contract cleaning com-pany that does work for West-minster Council.

The men were picked up aftercounter-terrorism officers re-ceived intelligence of a potentialthreat this morning as they pre-pared to go on shift.

The men are not British na-tionals, the BBC reported. Otherreports said the men are ofNorth African origin, and mightbe Algerian. Searches were un-derway at their propertiesacross the capital.

Two acquitted in Wilma

shooting caseHERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

The Cuncolim police has re-ceived a serious jolt in the sen-sational Wilma Colaco shootingcase with the Sessions Courtdischarging two of the three ac-cused persons from the case.

While the main accusedLucky Singh is still at large, withthe police unable to lay theirhands on the accused hailingfrom Punjab, framed charges ofmurder and criminal conspiracyhave been issued against thefourth accused, Basu Das.

Additional Sessions JudgeDesmond DCosta dischargedMohan Chawan and Rohi lChaudhary before framingcharges against them, with thejudge observing that he findssufficient grounds to dischargethe duo from the case.

The discharge of the two ac-cused came as a setback to theCuncolim police, who hadchargesheeted Mohan Chawan,Rohil Chaudhary and Basu Dasin the case, while declaring theprime accused Lucky Singh as

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

Taking strong cognizance ofthe indiscipline by employees,the Kadamba Transport Corpo-ration has today issued memosto 20 head office employees andthreatened to take stern actionagainst them.

The 20 officers from the headoffice in Porvorim include upperdivision clerks (UDCs), lower di-vision clerks (LDCs), traffic incharges, drivers and conduc-tors.

Sources in the corporationtold Herald that the manage-ment was peeved with the ab-senteeism of the employeesespecially during the ongoingGanesh festival.

Many of the drivers, conduc-tors did not report for duty anddid not apply for leave or informthe office as a result of whichcommuters in rural areas facedproblems, as many of the busescould not pass through the vil-lages, sources stated.

When contacted KTC Chair-

man Dipak Dhavalikar con-firmed the development andsaid that strict action wouldbe taken against the erring em-ployees.

Yes, we have issued memosto the 20 employees and askedfor an explanation, Dhavalikartold Herald.

He stated that the KTC willhenceforth have zero tolerancetowards indiscipline.

The employees will have tocome on time otherwise facedisciplinary action, he saidadding We have also trans-ferred the traffic incharge inPanjim for lapse in duties andnegligence at the workplace.

The chairman further saidthat the indiscipline was causinglot of problems in the move-ment of buses and other admin-istrative works.

These employees remainedabsent without applying forleave and had been taking thecorporation for granted formany years, Dhavalikar said.

KTC gets tough on 20 truant workers

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

BELGAUM, SEPT 17

A pilgrimage from Vailakanniended in tragedy for a Fatordafamily, when two family mem-bers were killed while four oth-ers were injured in a roadmishap along the Khanapur-Yel-lapur highway on Friday afternoon.

CPI Arunkumar Naik of theKhanapur police told Herald thatthe incident took place 16 kmsfrom Alnavar-Khanapur a tabout 2.30 pm, when theGoa-based Wagon R (GA-08-3507) and a truck (KA-22-3B-9899) collided with each otheralong a sharp curve of the highway.

Police identified the deceasedas Rosita Louis Rodrigues (63)and Canossa Conception Ro-drigues (9), while the injuredpersons are Maria ConceptionRodrigues (42), ConceptionLouis Rodrigues (43), Chrishola

Conception Rodrigues (14) andKimberly John Pereira (18).

The occupants in the car werereturning from Vailankani, whilethe truck was proceeding to-wards Mangalore.

Rosita and Canossa died onthe spot, while the injured wereshifted to the KLES hospital,here, police said.

The two bodies had been sentto the mortuary at the Govern-ment District Hospital, here.

A KLES official told Heraldthat the injured persons wereadmitted in the hospital atabout 5 pm.

While three persons are se-riously injured, the conditionof Conception L Rodrigues isstable, the official said.

Police said the truck driverfled from the site after themishap and investigations arein progress.

Pilgrimage turnstragic for

Fatorda family

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

OLD GOA, SEPT 17

In a shocking incident, a 35-year-old woman and her three-and-half-year old son werecharred to death, after thewoman allegedly set themselvesablaze at Kerant-Chorao in thewee hours of Friday.

According to Old Goa Police,the incident occurred at about12.30 am when Raghvi Raguh-nath Wadekar along with herson Manjunath were in a room

behind her house, while otherfamily members were busy per-forming Ganesh Arti.

Police are yet to find the mo-tive behind the incident whereRaghvi reportedly pouredkerosene on herself and her son,before setting themselves ablaze.

A police team rushed to thesite and tried to put out the firewith the help of locals, but couldnot succeed.

The bodies have been sentto GMC Hospital in Bambolim.

Woman burns self, son in Chorao

India hitsback at Pakfor Kashmir

remarks PTI

NEW DELHI, SEPT 17

India today hit back at Pakistanrejecting as gratuitous itsstatements on Jammu and Kash-mir, saying they amounted tointerference in the internal af-fairs of the country.

It asked Islamabad to takeeffective action against infiltra-tion from across the LoC (Lineof Control) and dismantle terrorinfrastructure there as it is thepeople of the State who sufferfrom the consequences of ter-rorism fomented from acrossthe border.

Reacting sharply to PakistanForeign Minister S M Qureshiasking India to exercise re-straint in the State, Ministryof External Affairs officialspokesperson Vishnu Prakashsaid India firmly rejects gratu-itous statements issued by Pak-istan on Jammu & Kashmir,which amount to interferencein the internal affairs of India.

Migrant cap affecting UKBritish Business SecretaryVince Cable, who opposedplacing an annual cap on mi-grants from India and othercountries outside the EU, hassaid the limit imposed by theHome Office is already affect-ing the countrys economic re-covery.Placing an annual limit on thenumber of India and othernon-EU professionals whocould come to Britain forwork is one of the majoritems on the coalition gov-ernmentsagenda. Theplan, however, has been op-posed in several quarters.(PTI)

3 killed in protests Three persons were killed and30 others injured as violentprotests continued at severalplaces in the Kashmir valleywhere curfew remained inforce in Srinagar and othermajor towns for the fifth suc-cessive day today. (PTI)

Page 1_Layout 1 9/18/2010 12:41 AM Page 1

GOA, SATURDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 2010

GOA Pg 2OHERALD

O

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, SEPT 17

They were meant to provide self-employment to the unem-ployed, but many kiosks underthe Deendayal Swayam RojgarYojna (DSRY) are being subletto non-Goans.

Taking advantage of thelethargic attitude of authorities,many beneficiaries of the DSRYhave rented out their kiosks,thereby defeating the very pur-pose of the scheme.

It may be recalled that theState government had startedthe DSRY scheme, which waslater renamed as Goa Youth Ro-jgar Yojna Scheme, aimed atproviding self-employment tothe unemployed youth.

As per conditions of thescheme, kiosks are to be oper-ated by the allottee only. All ben-eficiaries were issued photoidentity cards by the Goa Hand-icrafts Rural and Small Scale In-dus t r i e s Deve lopment

Corporation (GHRSSIDC), whichare non-transferable.

As per the scheme, theGHRSSIDC is supposed to carryout inspection of the units/pro-jects once in 6 months and cer-tif y that the beneficiary isrunning the allotted kiosk.

A copy of the Identity Card isrequired to be displayed in thekiosk. During inspection, if it isestablished that the kiosk is op-erated by any other person, itshall be sufficient ground fortermination of lease/allotment.

It appears that authoritieshave failed to inspect the kiosksas required under the scheme,due to which many beneficiarieshave rented out their kiosks.

Speaking to Herald, somepeople opined that the govern-ment should survey the kiosksallotted under the DeendayalSwayam Rojgar Yojna Schemeand should terminate the allot-ment of those renting out thekiosks to others.

Self-employment scheme misused;

kiosks sub-let

A kiosk allotted under the Deendayal Swayam Rojgar Yojna Scheme.Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

PORVORIM, SEPT 17

The inspectors of Food and DrugAdministration (FDA) and Metrol-ogy Department on Friday in-spected shops at Kadamba busstand Mapusa and confiscatedgoods, which did not have labels.

The FDA inspectors confis-cated goods which did not haveinformation like the price, nameof the manufacturer, date ofmanufacture, date of expiry andthe weight on the packages ofthe food products. The inspec-tors also issued notices to theshopkeepers.

Speaking to Herald, Food andDrug Administration Depart-ment Inspector Rajaram Patilsaid adulteration, including mis-branding and mislabeling, isbeing treated as criminal offenceunder the Act and the guilty can

be punishment with imprison-ment.

Lately, one of the shopkeep-ers from Mapusa, who wasbooked under the Food Adul-teration Act, was awarded pun-i shment o f s i x monthsimprisonment by the Court, in-formed Patil.

Metrology Department In-spector D N Mapari informedthat he has confiscated 62 pack-ets of food items, includingchewable Supari worth Rs 5,000from the shops.

The punishment prescribedunder Standards of Weight andMeasures Act is that penalty tothe extent of Rs 10,000 can beimposed on the shopkeeper forthe first offence. The second of-fence carries the punishment ofboth penalty and imprison-ment, said Mapari.

FDA raids shops in Mapusa, seizes illegal goods

FDA Inspector Rajaram Patil inspects a shop at Mapusa. Photo by Anil Shankhwalker

Petrol pumps toremain closed

on September 20HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, SEPT 17

The federation of all India Pe-troleum traders has given a callfor all India petrol pump bandhon September 20, as many ofits demands have not been metby the Union government forthe last many years.

The general body of GoaPetrol Dealers Association, inan emergency meeting, has de-cided to support the call givenby the national body by keepingall the petrol pumps in Goaclosed on September 20, says apress note issued here.

The association has pledgedto ensure minimum inconven-ience to consumers.

804 compete for 347 beach

shacksHERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

There are a total of 804 appli-cations for the 347 shacks to beallotted for the forthcomingtourist season.

Director of Tourism SwapnilNaik told Herald that till the lastday of submission of documents,the department received a totalof 804 applications.

The method to decide whogets to put up a beach shackfor the coming tourism seasonwill be carried out through adraw of lots.

Naik said that the tourism de-partment has decided to followthe interim order issued by theHigh Court during the lasttourist season.

Naik further said Compared to last year, the

number of shacks this year willbe less by seven due to somelegal problems in Bambolim andother areas, he said.

Naik said the process ofgranting permissions for pri-vate shacks would start on Oc-tober 1.

On the number of beach beds,he said, the department had de-cided to grant permissions forfive pairs per shack in Calanguteand Candolim areas while else-where there would be 10 pairsper shack.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

The counsel representing theCentral Bureau of Investigation(CBI) in the death of Scarlet Keel-ing Eden today told Goa Chil-drens Court that no pages fromScarlets diary are missing.

S R Rivonkar was replying toan application filed by thelawyers representing the twoaccused Samson DSouza andPlacido Carvalho -- that fewpages from Scarlets diary weremissing. The Court will pass anorder on October 1.

No pages from Scarlets diaryare missing. CBI was given acopy of the diary provided bythe Goa police, who earlier in-vestigated the case. We havefurnished everything to theCourt from the investigation

that we carried out Rivonkartold the Court.

During the trial on August 27,the defence lawyers had movedan application that few pagesbelonging to the British victimsdiary were missing.

To this, the Court had askedthe prosecution to file a replyon September 3 but sinceRivonkar remained absent, theCourt adjourned the hearing toSeptember 17.

The diary with black coverwas recovered by Goa policeduring investigation betweenFebruary and May 2008, beforethe case could be handed overto CBI in June 2008.

The diary was recovered fromthe room of Scarlets localboyfriend Julio, who was alsoimplicated in the case of staying

with the minor girl. He was how-ever acquitted by the ChildrensCourt in November 2009.

In July 2010, Scarlets mother,Fiona Mackeown had identifiedthe diary and its contents. AdvPeter DSouza while cross-ex-amining Fiona pointed out thatfew pages of the diary weremissing. The sketches of thediary had revealed several hid-den facets of Scarlet.

Earlier, Adv DSouza had filedanother application seeking doc-uments on record wherein Fionahad identified dark blue shorts,white underwear and brownsandals belonging to Scarlet,which were found on Anjunabeach, the day after the minorwas found dead. Scarletsbruised was found on Anjunabeach on February 18, 2008.

No pages from Scarlets diary missing: prosecution

HERALD BUREAU

NEW DELHI, SEPT 17

The National FishworkersForum headed by Matanhy Sal-danha on Friday "completely re-j e c ted " the d ra f t CRZNotification 2010 issued earlythis week, saying it neither pro-tects the fishing communities'rights and livelihood nor thecoastal environment.

"Activities that do not needto be within 500 metres fromthe sea like atomic plants, green-field airports, so-called non-pol-luting industries, SEZs, largehousing projects are all permit-ted without any clear rationale,with no attempt to take accountof the cumulative impacts ofthermal power plants and portsalong the coast," the forum saidin a statement issued here.

Pointing out that there areonly cosmetic changes in thepre-draft notification of April,it said: "Either the Minister forEnvironment and Forests is try-ing to fool the people or thebureaucrats are hoodwinkingthe Minister and the publicwhile acting as puppets of thevarious lobbies and vested in-terests."

KHAZAN LANDS: It said con-cessions given to Goa are "noth-ing but humbug and mereeyewash" as mapping of itscoastal villages and 'khazan'lands do not entail any protec-tion to environment or fisher-men as it is silent on protectingtheir houses and means of liveli-hood.

"In fact, the special conces-sions provided for the fishingcommunity in Goa appears to

be an attempt to ghettoise themin order to take control of theentire village under the CoastalZone Management Plan andthereafter throw it open for landsharks and developers," theforum alleged.

It said mapping of the 'khazan'lands, an unique eco-system ofthe country found only in Goa,will also bring no tangible ben-efits, particularly where thereis no specific provision to pro-hibit their conversion for otherpurposes like pisciculture in theguise of their management.

Even the special concessiongranted to Kerala whereby thesetback area in backwater is-lands is reduced to 50 metresappears to be for the benefit ofhoteliers and developers whohave acquired large chunks ofland in these islands, rather thanin the interest of the local in-habitants, the forum said.

Colossal waste: It accused theministry of a colossal waste ofpublic funds by holding 10 con-sultations across the countryostensibly to understand viewsand opinions of the fishing andother communities living alongthe coast as none of the recom-mendations made in these con-sultations are reflected in thenotification.

Wondering whether the bu-reaucrats who drafted the CRZnotification were working aspuppets of vested interest, theforum said the special statussought to be given to Goa, Mum-bai and Kerala will only openup the coast to builders, thetourist lobby, land sharks andindustry.

Fishermen forumrejects draft

CRZ notification

Ravi on HCNPANJIM (HND): As Goa be-

comes a hub of activities, allgood, bad, the ugly in recenttimes, watch our Home MinisterRavi Naik giving out a specialmessage to all Goans. Tune into HCN on Saturday, September18 at 11:30 am. Watch the re-peat telecast at 9 pm.

Collectoratepeon

suspendedHERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

South Goa District Collector GP Naik has suspended a peonfor dereliction of duties.

Naik informed that the peonleft the Collectorate buildingwithout closing down the vari-ous sections as mandated as pera system in place.

He said such a callous attitudewould not be tolerated by theadministration.

Replying to a question, he saidthe police and the district ad-ministration have been maintain-ing vigil in view of rising theftsand that the failure by the peonto shut the doors of the varioussections certainly amounts todereliction of duties.

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, SEPT 16

Residents living near the gov-ernment school at Zuarinagar-Sancoale on Thursday caught acontractor red-handed whiledumping the garbage alongsidethe highway.

The residents later handedover the contractor to Verna Po-lice.

The area, barely 50 mtrs fromthe government school alongthe highway at Zuarinagar-San-coale, has become a dumpingground for garbage.

The garbage generated byelite class from Vidayanagar As-sociation, Zuarinagar and RagaviEstate from Sancoale andDabolim is being dumped nearthe government school at Zuar-inagar.

According to sources, the res-idents l i v ing in the poshcolonies, Vidayanagar and Ran-gavi Estate, have appointed acontractor to collect theirgarbage.

Sources further informed thatthe contractor has allegedly beendumping garbage near a residen-tial area close to the governmentschool, Zuarinagar, an exercisewhich has been go ing onsmoothly for the last one year.

When asked who had author-ized him to dump the garbage,the contractor said panchayatmembers from Sancoale haveal lowed him to dump thegarbage.

Sancoale Panch Girish Pillai,who was present at the site,claimed that the contractor wasmaking false allegations, as the

panchayat had not permittedhim to dump the garbage.

Vidayanagar Association Gen-eral Secretary Edy Fernandessaid most of the residents ofVidyanagar are regularly payingtax to the panchayat.

Despite repeated visits to thepanchayat, they are least con-cerned to collect the garbagefrom the colony. It is due to thisproblem, resident themselves col-lect Rs 100 from each house topay the contractor to collect thegarbage, informed Fernandes.

Unfortunately, we were notaware where the contractorused to dispose the garbage.

But now since the matter hascome to our notice, we will con-vene general body meeting towork out a solution to theissue, added Fernandes.

Contractor caught dumping garbage along highway

Accused contractor along with his goods rickshaw filled with garbage that was dumped near Govern-ment School, Zuarinagar-Sancoale. Photo by M Prabhav

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

SANGUEM, SEPT 17

A 79-year-old woman from Poko-rmoll-Kalay, Sanguem, died aftershe was hit by a speeding trainat Kalay on Friday morning.

The incident occurred at about8.30 am when Bhagi Toko Zangliwas returning home after sup-plying milk at the local milk co-operative society.

While she was in the processof crossing the tracks, the speed-ing train hit Bhagi, killing her onthe spot.

Sources informed that Zangli

is the daughter of freedomfighter Navlo Varak from Kalayand Bhagi herself had taken partin freedom struggle. At the timewhen Navlo was arrested andput behind bars by the Por-tuguese, Bhagi was also lodgedin the prison along with her fa-ther for one month, but was laterset free. The locals rushed to thespot, but could not help Bhagi,as she died on the spot.

Incidentally, this is not for thefirst time that a fatal incidenthas taken place along the tracksat Kalay.

In the absence of a railwayover bridge, public is compelledto cross the railway tracks, whichis in violation of railway rules.

Though frequent demandshave been made by villagers forthe construction of a railway overbridge in the locality, authoritieshave failed to pay heed to thevillagers request.

The question of the need foran over bridge at Kalay was alsoraised by Sanguem MLA Vas-sudev Meng Gaonkar during therecent Assembly session, but nopositive reply was given by the

government.The villagers have once again

urged the government to con-sider their demand for the con-struction of the railway overbridge, as it is not only the eldercitizens but school-going chil-dren are also compelled to crossthe railway tracks in the villagein the absence of over bridge.

Bhagi is survived by her hus-band Toko and five children. Rail-way Police headed by VikrantNaik conducted the panchanamaand later sent the body for postmortem.

Woman crushed under train at Kalay

Petroleumfirms pay

rent arrearsto MMCHERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

After Bharat Petroleum, Hindus-tan Petroleum on Friday de-posited a cheque of Rs 11.99lakh with the Margao Civic bodyas rent arrears.

Both Bharat Petroleum andHindustan Petroleum owed tothe C iv ic body rent duesamounting to Rs 34 lakh uptoOctober 31, 2009.

The MMC has so far suc-ceeded in recovering arrears tothe tune of Rs 22.53 lakhs fromboth the petroleum companies.

MMC Chairperson SavioCoutinho told newsmen that thecivic body would not rest tillthe balance arrears is clearedby the two companies. The ar-rears had mounted to Rs 34 lakhover the years as the petroleumcompanies nor the Civic bodytook the initiative to recoverthe dues, he said and vowedto recover the balance amountfrom the companies.

14-day remand for Margao

blast accusedHERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, SEPT 17

As many as six unnatural deaths have oc-curred along the 82 km-odd railway trackof South Western Railways (SWR) betweenVasco and Dudhsagar in the last three weeks.

For the Vasco Railway police, it was a gru-elling effort as they had to attend to the sixunnatural death cases along the long SWRroute without vehicles at their disposal.

The Vasco Railway Police, which is ex-pected to cover nearly the entire 82-km rail-way track, does not even have a motorcycleto attend to accidents along the railwaytrack.

We were forced to hire private vehiclesor adjust with some other police stations

to attend to accidents along the SWR route,said a source in the Vasco Railway Police.

The fatal mishap of a 79-year-old womanfrom Pokormoll-Kalay, who was killed afterbeing hit by a speeding train at Kalay onFriday morning also highlighted the diffi-culties of the Vasco Railway Police.

The body remained along the railwaytrack for over two-and-half hours, as thepolice took time to reach the site.

The many locals who had gathered atthe site were unaware of the plight of theVasco Railway Police and criticized the policefor delay removing the body.

If we fail to clear the body from thetrack in quick time, it can lead to a law andorder problem. To avoid that, we alert the

local police station, even though the RailwayPolice has the jurisdiction of cases alongthe SWR railway line, added the source.

In the last 20 days, six bodies have beenrecovered along the SWR track, includingtwo recent accidental deaths in Vasco.

One can only imagine the plight of theRailway Police, which is expected to manthe 82-km stretch without any vehicle,added the source.

"If bodies lying on the track or alongsidethe track are not cleared immediately, thencould be mutilated by another moving train."

In such cases, we literally have to collectthe mutilated remains from one place toanother and this is mainly due to the delayin attending to such cases, the source said.

Rly police man 82-km track sans vehicle

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, SEPT 17

An 80-year-old man from Alto-Dabolim was reported missing fromhis residence since the last 10 days.

According to Vasco Police, JohnMarthino Fernandes had left his res-

idence on September 7 morning afterhaving his breakfast and he was lastseen in Vasco.

A complaint to this effect was filedby his family member Mary Fernandeson September 10. However, it gotdelayed to lodge the complaint by

three days, as his family memberswere busy inquiring with relativesand friends to trace him. If any onehas seen this person, contact yournearest police station or Vasco Policeon 0832-2512304 or contact his sonLory on 9881286177 or 9404315294.

Dabolim local missing for the last ten days

HERALDR REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

Its six months since the threeday Carnival festivities ended inthe commercial capital, but pro-ducers and directors of tradi-tional Khel Tiatr still left in thelurch with the Margao civic bodydilly dallying on the question ofpayments for staging the tiatrduring the festival.

If the khel tiatr producers areto be believed, they have beendoing repeated rounds in thecorridors of the civic body sincethe last day of Carnival, but they

are yet to receive the paymentsamounting to Rs 1.87 lakh theamount the civic body owesthem for staging the Khel Tiatracross the Municipal wards dur-ing the Carnival festivities.

Friday saw a delegation of KhelTiatr producers calling on theMargao Municipal Chairpersonseeking to know the fate of theirpayments delayed since the lastsix months.

We have been knocking thedoors of the Margao Municipalbuilding since the last sixmonths, but in vain. All we have

received over this period is onlyassurances and promises, re-marked Sannny de Maina.

He maintained that variousartists who acted in the playsalong with the musicians ap-proach the directors for the pay-ments. We are helpless. Whenwe call on the MMC Chairperson,he only tells us to come tomor-row, he added.

MMC Chairperson SavioCoutinho said the payments aredelayed this year on account ofthe inordinate delays by theTourism Department in sanction-

ing the funds. Unlike previousyears, this years carnival organ-ization was given to an eventmanagement company by theTourism Department. As per thecondition, we were not author-ized to collect any sponsors andthe entire cost and expenditurewas to be borne by the TourismDepartment, Coutinho said.

He said that the Tourism De-partment has promised to releasethe funds within the next fewdays, adding that the moneywould be disbursed to the kheltiatr producers immediately.

Tiatrists yet to be paid for carnival performance

The South Goa Sessions Courton Friday remanded bomb blastaccused Prashant Ashtekar to14 days judicial custody.

The accused was producedbefore the court today after theexpiry of his remand period.The National InvestigatingAgency prayed to the court forextension of the remand period,which was granted by the court.

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

Forest-related crimes will nowcome under strict vigilance, asmotorcycle-borne guards willnow patrol the forest areas toavert any untoward incidents.Forest Minister Philip Neri Ro-drigues in a formal ceremonytoday morning distributed 30motorcycles to guards.

The guards will no morehave to walk into thick forestareas. The motorcycles are dis-tributed to various guards, as it

will help them carry out en-hanced work, Rodrigues toldreporters.

Additional Principal ChiefConservator of Forest DrShashi Kumar said that thetwo-wheelers will be put intooperation shortly. This willhelp to carry out improved pa-trolling along the wildlife sanc-tuaries and protected forestareas, he said.

The motorcycles are procuredunder Compensatory Afforestra-tion Fund Management and

Planning Authority funds. Forthis, the Goa government re-ceived Rs 12.2 crore as first in-stalment.

Dr Kumar further said thatthe department would purchasevehicles, mobile phone connec-tions and research and boundaryclearance survey, under its an-nual plan. The department isalso anticipating purchasingwireless system to connect allwildlife sanctuaries in Goa.

To a question on Keri Tigerkilling trial at Valpoi, the chief

conservator said that the firsttrial was heard on September7. Ironically, the trial begins,nearly five months after an in-dictment against five accusedwas filed in the Judicial Magis-trate First Class court on April21.

Suryakant Majik, a homeguard and his father GaneshMajik, Naguesh Majik, AnkushMajik and Bhiva Gawas havebeen indicted for killing the pro-tected species. The next datefor hearing is on month-end.

Motorcycle-borne guards to patrol forests

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

One of the three dream bridgesof PWD Minister Churchill Ale-mao over River Sal will be com-missioned on Liberation Day onDecember 19 this year.

If the PWD minister is to bebelieved, the 74-meter longTelaulim-Varca Bridge will bethrown open for traffic on De-cember 19 this year.

Alemao also said that the 620meter-long Assolna-Cavelossimbridge would be completed andcommission on December 19,2011.

On the fate of the controver-sial Sinquetim-Benaulim Bridge,Alemao told newsmen that thematter was presently pending inthe High Court, adding that thePWD was awaiting a court deci-sion before going ahead with theconstruction work.

Churchill along with seniorPWD officials inspected the twobridges of Assolna-Cavelossimand Telaulim-Varca this eveningand expressed satisfaction overthe progress of the work.

Thanking the people ofTelaulim for welcoming theTelaulim-Varca Bridge with open

arms, Alemao said that 60-70 percent of the bridge work is almostcomplete and added that thebridge would be thrown openfor traffic by December 19 thisyear. The estimated cost of thisbridge is put at Rs 10.5 crore.

As far as the Cavelossim Bridgeis concerned, he said nearly 40per cent of the 620-meter longbridge is completed till date andthe balance 60 per cent workwould be completed in all re-spects by December 19 next year.This bridge has 21 spans and isestimated to cost Rs 55 crore,he added.

The PWD minister said the As-solna-Cavelossim bridge wouldnot only benefit the residents ofthe two villages of Cavelossimand Assolna, but would give aboost to tourism and benefit en-tire South Goa.

Let the court decide. If thecourt gives a decision in favourof the bridge, we will go aheadwith the construction of the Sin-quetim-Benaulim Bridge. We willwait for the court order, headded.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

BELGAUM, SEPT 17

A seasoned commission agentwas reportedly caught red-handed by farmers at the Bel-gaum vege tab le marke t ,exposing the dubious role beingplayed by middlemen engagedin the vegetable trade betweenBelgaum and Goa.

The involvement of few du-bious commission agents, whoare allegedly involved in hikingprices of vegetable despitelesser purchase rate and rise insupply, not only affects farmers,but also causes a sharp rise inretail prices of vegetables inGoa.

The incident took place atBelgaum vegetable market,where a seasoned commissionagent was reportedly caughtred-handed by farmers, whileattempting to gulp a huge mar-gin in a deal of green chillies.

The farmers from Belgaum

taluka had sold green chillies atthe wholesale vegetable market.

Due to the shortage, thegreen chillies were sold in notime. The farmers after sellingtheir products collect their pay-ment from the commissionagents, wherein a farmer andthe buyer both pay a certainpercent of commission to the

commission agent.However, the agent instead

charged Rs 220 per quintal butonly paid Rs 160 to the farmers.

Farmers, who realized thewrongdoing of the agent imme-diately caught hold of him andmade him pay the difference ofpayment he had received fromthe customers.

The incident has raised dubi-ous nexus between the middle-men engaged in vegetable tradebetween Belgaum and Goa,which has led to a huge discrep-ancy in prices of vegetables be-tween Belgaum and Goa.

The agitated farmers who arenow united under the bannerof different organisations havetaken the commission agents totask and have taken a decisionto bring the discrepancies tothe notice of the district admin-istration.

Meanwhile, questions havebeen raised about the profitmargin maintained by the com-mission agents, who are en-gaged in supplying wholesalevegetables to Goa.

The incident has not onlythrown open a nexus betweenthe commission agents and thewholesale suppliers, but lookingat the vast disparity in prices atBelgaum and Goa, questions are

GOA, SATURDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 2010

GOA Pg 3OHERALDO

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

Days after he hogged the headlinesvis--vis the alleged immigration andmoney laundering racket, formertourism minister Mickky Pacheco hasslapped a notice on the Indian Expresscalling upon the newspaper manage-ment to pay him Rs 50 crore as damagesfor defamation.

Pachecos lawyer, Adv Srikant Nayak

said that Pacheco has also demandedan unqualified and unambiguous apol-ogy from the Indian Express within 7days failing which he has threatenedto initiate immediate legal and criminalproceedings for the offence of defama-tion.

In his notice, Adv Nayak said thenews under the heading GoasPacheco may be part of mega racket,US tells India is false, baseless and

highly defamatory and made with theintention to defame the BenaulimMLA.

By saying so, you have engaged inwriting a wanton, malign and com-pletely outrageous, false and whollyindefensible libel of the Benaulim MLA.The published contents are a matterof record and have been read by mil-lions of people around the country andthe world and have inflicted grave, in-

calculable and irreparable damage tothe reputation, character and credibilityof the former minister, the noticestated.

You have alleged that top govern-ment sources said that the Bureau ofDiplomatic Security first got in touchwith the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) through the US mission in NewDelhi, and has since backed the alle-gations against my clients with docu-

ments and details of banking transac-tion. You have further alleged that theevidence is being described as sub-stantive and watertight, Nayak saidin the notice.

Meanwhile, the Benaulim MLA toldnewsmen after inaugurating free tai-loring classes at Majorda that he didnot care for the political leaders andthat only God and the people woulddecide his political future.

Mickky threatens to sue Indian Express for defamation

Let the political leaders plotagainst me, but I know that Godand the people are with me,he added.

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

A five-day old infant was foundabandoned behind the busstand at Cabo de Rama on Fri-day.

Wrapped in a bed sheet, thebaby girl was found abandonednear the bus stand since thelast 24 hours as evident by thefact that the infant had sus-tained some ant bites.

Upon receiving a complaint,the Cuncolim police took pos-session of the infant and firstadmitted her to the Balli Pri-

mary Health Centre fromthere she was rushed to Hos-picio for further medical treat-ment.

Margao sub-divisional Policeofficer, DySP Umesh Gaonkarinformed that they would referthe infant to Apna Ghar afterher discharge. It appears thatthe child was delivered at homeand was abandoned just to con-ceal the birth, he said.

The Cuncolim police haveregistered a case against un-known persons and investiga-tions are on.

Infant found abandoned

Belgaum middlemen spike up veg prices in Goa

HERALD CORRESPONDENT

BELGAUM, SEPT 17

The intervention of the Hor-ticulture Corporation of Goain regulating the supplies ofvegetables and other horticul-tural produce from Belgaumis necessary to curb inflationcaused by middlemen en-gaged in the vegetable tradebetween Belgaum and Goa.

In fact, the Horticulture Cor-poration of Goa has been en-couraged to enter into an

agreement with the Horticul-ture Produce Growers Con-sumers Marketing Society(HOPCOM), to provide a bigrelief to consumers in Goa.

We will welcome any suchmove from the Goan authori-ties, HOPCOM Deputy Direc-tor I K Doddamani told Herald.

A couple of years ago, HOP-COM did supply vegetables toGoa, but the supplies could notbe continued for long due toreasons that were not known.

being raised about the authen-ticity of the retail prices.

This results in adding the bur-den to the consumers dailybudget. However, when asked,a long time vegetable vendorfrom Belgaum expressed igno-rance of such a nexus.

Meanwhile, the wholesaleprices of some of the vegetablesin Belgaum market per 10 kiloswere Green Chilly (Rs 160-170),Shimla Mirch (Rs 250-300), Cab-bage (Rs 60-70), Beans (Rs 160-170), Coriander (Rs 450-500 fora bunch of 100 pendhis).

Govt intervention needed!

Telaulim-Varca Bridge will beopened on Dec 19: Churchill

PWD Minister Churchill Ale-mao has reiterated his de-mand for a Greater Goa byincluding Konkani speakingareas of Karwar and Kar-nataka into Goa.

I am against Vishal Go-mantak. But, there is no harmif Konkani speaking areas ofKarwar are including into thestate to make Greater Goa,he said.

The PWD minister saidJnanpith awardee RavindraKelekar had espoused thecause of inclusion of Konkanispeaking areas into Goa.Our leaders should give aserious thought to Kelekarsproposal, he said.

Reiteratesdemand forGreater Goa

HERALD REPORTER

MARGAO, SEPT 17

With the tar ball menace continues to haunt Sal-cetes coastline between Colva and Betalbatim,Deputy Collector, Margao Johnson Fernandes onFriday dashed off a letter to the Tourism Depart-ment to ensure that the beach stretch is free fromthe tar ball menace.

Incidentally, the deputy collector has claimedthat the Tourism Department has already deployedmanpower to collect the tar balls from the Gan-daulim-Betalbatim beach stretch.

The letter from the Sub-divisional Magistrateto the Tourism Depat assumes significance in viewof the fact that a large number of tar balls wereseen washed ashore the beach stretch these days.

When the attention of the deputy collector was

drawn to the fact that the collected tar balls con-tinue to lie on the shoreline, he said the prioritywas to first clean up the beach stretch and thenlift away and dispose off the material in a scientificmanner.

Replying to a question, he said his office cantake over the beach cleaning operations underthe disaster management only in the event theTourism Department expresses its inability to man-age the same.

We are not averse to deploy our manpower toclean up the beach stretch. But, the Tourism De-partment should communicate to us stating itsinability to carry out the work, he added.

Meanwhile, labourers deployed by the TourismDept were seen on the Salcete beach belt clearingthe tar balls washed ashore in the last 24 hours.

Dy collector asks Tourism Dept to clean up tar balls

Labourers clearing tar balls from the Majorda beach on Friday. Photo by Sidharth Mehta

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

The Goa State Commission forWomen (GSCW) will conduct aseparate inquiry into the at-tempted escape incident by in-mates of Protective Home, GSCWchairperson Ezilda Sapeco said.

I will be calling for detailsfrom respective authorities assoon as possible. The commissionwill simultaneously carry out aninquiry into the escape, she saidwhile speaking to Herald.

Sapeco asserted that the com-mission would render complete

assistance to the Directorate ofWomen and Child and ProtectiveHome officials, so that such in-cidents do not occur again.

Protesting against their pro-longed lodging at Merces Pro-tective Home, nine womenrescued from prostitution racket,fled from the Home but werelater traced with the help of OldGoa police.

These incidents should nothappen again and for this, weare ready to provide assistanceif required. The commissionmembers will meet the inmates

to find out their problems, etc,she said.

The authorities on Thursdaytried to keep the incident underwraps as it exposed their lethargyof keeping the women for overthree months against the legalprovision to release them within15 days.

I dont have any informationon the escape. If there is anysuch incident, I will ask for a re-port, Director of Women andChild department Sanjiv Gadkartold Herald when contacted forreaction on Thursday evening.

Escape bid from protective home

Women Commission to probe

Decision onbail plea of

rape accusedreserved

HERALD REPORTER

PANJIM, SEPT 17

The Childrens Court will decidea bail petition on September 29,filed by Bangladeshi father whois accused of raping and assault-ing his minor daughter.

The 45-year-old Azad Mia,hailing from Bangladesh andpresently residing at Curti inPonda is booked under sections376 (rape), 323 and 354 of In-dian Penal Code and section 8(2) of Goa Childrens Act. He iscurrently in judicial remand.

Arguments on his bail petitionwas heard in the Court todaywherein the prosecution gavea detailed sequence of eventsright from April 2009, when the14-year-old girl became her fa-thers victim.

Public Prosecutor PoonamBharne told the Court that Miaoften raped his daughter bytying her hands and legs to thebed, in the absence of his wife.

GOA Pg 4GOA, SATURDAY,18 SEPTEMBER, 2010

upcoming evenTs

OHE

RALD

O

sHorT TaKes

By AyESHA BARRETTO

Music is both, a universal language andbond, that brings people together evenafter years of no communication! A perfectexample of this is the musical reunion ofLorna and two of the Monsorate Brothers,which will take place soon, exactly after adecade and a half!

As part of the Heritage Jazz Konkani RocksGoa! Celebrating Lorna and more concert,Lorna will take centre stage at Ravindra Bhavan,Margao, on Wednesday, 22nd September 2010,while being backed by trumpeter Bosco Mon-sorate and his brother, Blasco Monsorate onthe trombone, along with an additional ninemember ensemble. This is indeed a historicalmoment for one and all involved as, Lorna andthe Monsorate Brothers last worked together,in the confines of a studio, 15 years ago.

Born to renowned trumpeter, the latePeter Monsorate, and to a family full of mu-

sicians, it is no wonder that both the brothersare as good as they are at what they do.Their talent and skills have, in turn, led toa successful career and their playing alongside many stars, like Lorna.

But what was it like recording with thenightingale of Goa back then? Recalls Bosco,I first recorded a song with Lorna back in1972. It was different back then as both, themusicians and the singers would record to-gether, live and simultaneously, in the studio.It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the sessionwith her. In 1995 however, I never met herbecause the musicians came and recordedthe song first and then, she came and dubbedher voice later. So, for me, this will be a re-union after 38 years! I cant wait for Wednes-day to get here because I know that it willbe a great moment for me and that, together,all of us will create magic on stage!

Now, with so many years having gone by,

what do they expect will happen? Blasco says,We always wanted to plan shows with Lornabut never had the sponsors. Also, as each ofus went into our different fields of work, itbecame tough for all of us to come together.But now, I am really looking forward to it be-cause it has been too long a gap and I knowthat it will be a great concert. This will be ourfirst time live, on stage, with Lorna and whenit comes to playing along side her, you justknow it will be spectacular! I am also lookingforward to the reunion as I didnt see this hap-pening after so long. Hats off to Armando andHeritage Jazz for making this possible! I justhope that, one day, all the Monsorate Brotherswill be able to play on stage with her.

So, with all this energy and enthusiasm hap-pening off stage, one can only imagine whatpassion will erupt on stage! One thing is forsure. For those present, they will be a part ofan unforgettable moment in history.

Lorna to share stage with Monsorate Bros after 15 yrs

Restricted water supply to BardezPANJIM(HND): Due to repairs at Podocem water treatment

plant, there will be restricted water supply to entire Bardezand part of Bicholim Taluka on September 18, says a press re-lease.

Catechism children performing on stage at St Alex Church,Calangute to celebrate Mothers Day on the occasion of Feast ofNativity of Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated by the Catholics inthe coastal belt of Calangute.

Distribution of JonosPANJIM(HND): Comunidade of Morombi-o-Pequeno will be

distributing the Jono to its Jonoeiros for the year 2010 at itsusual place of meeting at Merces on September 19, between10 am to 12.30 pm and thereafter from Mondays to Thursdaytill September end at the Office of the Administration of Co-munidades, Panaji, between 10 am to 12.30 pm. The compo-nents are requested to produce their I D Cards issued by thisComunidade while collecting the Jono, says a press release.

Function at Pilar SeminaryPANJIM(HND): The Archdiocese will be celebrating the Laity-

Sunday on September 26. In view of this event, the DiocesanCentre for Laity will organize a special programme for ChristianProfessionals. This programme would be held at the PilarSeminary Annexe, from 9 am to 2 pm. Rev Dr Fr Victor Ferrao,Dr Wiseman Pinto, Averthanus D'souza and Joe Noronha willbe the speakers of the day. Fr Joseph Salema will moderatethe panel discussions while Fr Daniel Pereira will coordinatethe event.

A team of delegates from 'Dimensions'; a Mumbai basedForum of Christians Professionals and Entrepreneurs will alsoaddress the gathering. The purpose of organizing this seminaris to impart faith formation as well as better networkingamong professionals and entrepreneurs.

Those interested should contact by email(goalaity@gmail.com)or telephone (2232496) latest by September 22.There is no reg-istration fee, says a press release.

YMCA meet at CalangutePANJIM(HND): The National Board of YMCA, the highest

policy making body of the Indian YMCA will hold its deliber-ations on September 18 at Nizmar Resorts, Calangute andwill be attended by over 190 delegates from across the 9YMCA regions of India spanning the whole country fromKanyakumari to Shimla. The National Board is a yearly eventand deliberates on policy matters and implementation of its'action plans' for the triennium 2009-2012 having the overar-ching theme "one Body, many parts: called to witness."

The National President John Cherian will chair all the meet-ings beside the national board which will see an officialopening on the morning of September 18 preceded by praiseand worship conducted by YMCA Bombay. The inaugural onSaturday will feature addresses by the national president, thehost YMCA president Dr Peter Philip, YMCA Goa President PM Vaz and special guest Kohei Yamada, secretary general Asiaand pacific Alliance of YMCA in Hong Kong.

Dental check-up campsCANACONA(HC): The Directorate of Health Services, Panjim,

in coordination with few NGOs will organise five free dentalcheck-up camps in Canacona taluka from September 18 to 23.

Patients will be examined free of cost for teeth problems,besides related activities like teeth cleansing, simple extractionand small fillings. Medicines will also be provided free of costin the camps.

The dental camps under Community Health Centre (CHC)Canacona will be accordingly held in rural medical Centres.The camps will begin at 9 am.

On September 18, camp will be held at CHC Canacona,Cotigao Panahcyat area Rural Health Sub Centre (September20), Gaondongrim Panchayat area Rural Health Sub Centre(September 21), Sristhal Panchayat Panchayat hall (September22) and Agonda Panahayat area Rural Medical Centre (Sep-tember 23). Health Service sources in the taluka have requestedthe public from respective areas to take benefits of this freecamps.

HERALD REPORTER

VASCO, SEPT 17

With Mormugao Port Trust(MPT) Chairman Praveen Agar-wal likely to vacate his officenext month, all eyes will nowbe set on the continuity of theport's expansion plans.

There is a strong apprehensionthat with Agarwals transfer, theambitious port expansion planmay come to a standstill, as ef-forts were put in by the MPTchairman to ensure that port isdeveloped in a sustainable man-ner taking into consideration theinterests of all stake holders.

Though there are apprehensionsthat some projects may be droppedor come to a standstill once Agar-wal vacates his office, the chairmanhas insisted that MPT projects willgo on despite his absence.

We are here for a fixedtenure, what best I could do fordevelopment of the port, I havedone. My successor will carryon with whatever necessary hasto be done, said Agarwal.

He claimed that he had heardfrom some people that some proj-ects may be stalled or come to astandstill once he vacates his office.

There is a general finding bya top management school thatthe problem with developingeconomies like India is that theydo not have well-institutional-ized organisations for infrastruc-

ture development, he said.The finding suggests that lots

depend on individuals, particularlythe one who takes decision, whichis the greatest weakness of or-ganization and government in de-veloping economies, informedAgarwal.

The finding generally sug-gests that once the person whotakes decision to leave the post,there are possibilities that proj-ects may get stalled or may notproceed as per the plans, in-formed Agarwal.

"However, in the case of MPTprojects, plans outlined by theMPT will carried forward by mysuccessor."

When asked how he can assurethat expansion plans will moveahead when top managementschool has opined that once deci-sion-maker leaves the office, thereis a possibility that project maydie, he shot back saying: It wonthave any implication on MPT, asMPT is an unique organizationdriven by growth and has positivemomentum for development.

MPT, being Central governmentorganisation, is well structuredin terms of procedure, guidelinesand instructions, whatever ap-provals Board of Trustees havetaken for concerning land, estate,foreshore, water area, is as perthe land policies of major portsand instructions of Central Vigi-

lance Commission, Control andAuditor General, Planning Com-mission and Ministry of Shipping.

When asked despite comply-ing procedures, things have notmoved in the right direction forMPT, especially with the Stategovernment, he said: I have feltno constraint and never foundimpediments created by theState government.

All our projects are proceed-ing as per the schedule andthere are certain procedures tobe followed and certain rulesto be compliances, we are flow-ing all that, said Agarwal.

However, in his five-year tenure,Agarwal had made plans for manyprojects including major projectunder execution development ofIron Ore Terminal at West of BreakWater on Public Private Partner-ship, development of Berth No 7as second coal terminal (PPP), de-velopment of coal terminal atBerth No 11 (PPP), developmentof cruise berths to promote cruisetourism through Goa, marinas onnorth and south banks of riverZuari wherever possible, cargoberth complex, development ofVasco terminal to create facilitiesfor the much needed containerterminal for local industrial need,facilities for Indian Navy, CoastGuard, Custom Foreign Navy andrehabilitation of Khariwado fishingjetty to Katem Baina shore.

Will Agarwals departure stall MPTs expansion plans?

Kingfisher Voice of Goa

auditions todayHERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, SEPT 17

Season six of the KingfisherVoice of Goa kicks-off with thefirst audition at Alua, Merces onSeptember 18 at 5 pm. Onceagain the search begins for Goa'snew sensation.

According to a press note re-leased by the organizers, the au-ditions are open to all Goans inthe age group of 18 years andabove. There is no entry fee forparticipation and the entry formsare available at the venue itself.

Interested participants shouldbe at the venue by 4:30 pm. Par-ticipants will be provided withbackup music and those who in-tend to get their own instrumentsare allowed to do so. Participantsare informed that the judgmentwill be on their singing and noton the music as it is a talentsearch for the best voice of Goa.

This is the first time auditionswill be held in English as well asour very own language Konkani.To boost talent there will be cashprizes in each category for allauditions besides the gala prizeof Rs 3 lakh for the English roundand Rs 50,000 for the Konkaniround at the grand finale.

The event is open to generalpublic and for their entertainmentband Crimson Tide will be perform-ing live. The organizers appeal toall Goans to come forward in largenumbers to participate in this eventand showcase their talent.

Rangmanch inaugurated

Ajit D Naik, Chairman of Merces Sanskrutik Trust along withYatin Pundalik Palyekar, dy sarpanch of Merces and the trustmembers at the inaugural function of Rangmanch.

PANJIM(HND): Yatin Pundalik Palyekar, dy sarpanch of Mercesvillage panchayat inaugurated Rangmanch (stage platform)in the presence of Ajit D Naik Chairman of Merces Sanskrutiktrust and trustee Dhaktu Vegulekar, Adv Prashant Vengurlekar,Namdev Salgaonkar, Vinod Narvekar, Dattaram Chari, SukaGovekar and Kamlakant Chari.

The Rangmanch is donated to Merces Sanskrutik Trust byYatin Palyekar in memory of his late father Pundalik Palyekaron the occasion of Ganesh Pratishthapana, says a press re-lease.

more goa news

on page 9

GOA, SATURDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 2010Pg 5OHERALDO

Pg 5_Pg12 9/18/2010 12:36 AM Page 1

Casinos to stay? Stephen Dias, Dona Paula

The Bombay High Court at Goa has keptthe final arguments on the operation ofcasinos in the River Mandovi for 20 Sep-tember. It remains to be seen whether thevessels will remain permanently at differentlocations within the river, as per their al-lotment suggested by the Captain of Ports.

Casinos in the Mandovi pollute the riverenormously. It is choc-a-bloc with fishingtrawlers, tourism boats, barges, etc, andthe chances for collisions are very high.NGOs have threatened a street protest onthis issue. Leader of the OppositionManohar Parrikar has already smelled a ratand kickbacks.

What is the guarantee that these casinoswill not further increase in numbers, justas happened with beach shacks?

Cast-e in stoneNeeraj DAguiar, Cuncolim

Adv Aires Rodrigues has called the govern-ments decision to hold a caste census asa step in the reverse direction (Consti-tution laid low, Herald, 17 Sept). In thatcase, is not the reservation of seats forOBC and ST candidates in the panchayatand municipal elections also a step in thereverse direction?

The government does not want to erad-icate caste. On the contrary, all steps aretaken to ensure that India remains boundby chains of caste. It is a shame that evenafter 60 years of Independence, we stillfollow the British policy of divide and rule.

Reserving seats for a certain caste meanstaking the caste out of competition. Theday is not far when seats in buses and trainswill also be reserved on caste basis. Cheersto democracy!

Save Mapusa nowFloriano Lobo, Goa Su-Raj Party

It has never happened in Goa since 1961.A municipal election is being contested bycivil society collectively on a progressiveand disciplined Peoples Manifesto.

Kudos to Mapusa Nagrikancho Ekvottled by Adv Antonio Lobo, ex-Bar Councilmember from Goa.

The Citizens Panel needs to be supportednot only by Mapxemkars, but by Bardezkarsand Goans alike. One glance at todays Ma-pusa and the sad state of the famous FridayMarket tells a sorry tale of mismanagement.

Civic change comes only when one issubmerged up to the nose, it is said. Thefilth has already reached the nostrils andMapusas survival is in peril. The MapusaNagrikancho Ekvott, hopefully will cleanout the Aegean stables.

Think of the motherM X DSouza, Mapusa

The Catholic Church in adhering to the dik-tat of its Master is trying to defend the un-born child from ravenous abortion mills.The foetus in the womb, though not yetborn, is very much alive, so killing it is acrime.

The killing of the foetus of a girl child is

a crime in India; why not the other sex?But we must be sensitive to the mothers.Sometimes the woman is hapless and forcedto terminate her pregnancy.

People who are not gifted with a childmust adopt children. The mothers mustnot to ashamed to give birth. Killing theinnocent foetus would be more shamefuland painful.

The Church, both clergy and laity, mustboldly stand up to defend life. Its futilepreaching to others about pro-life, whenwe hate life itself: I have come that theymay have life, and have it to the full. (John10:10)

Municipal mix-upAdelmo Fernandes, Vasco

The names of the three major municipalitiesin Goa Mapusa, Margao and Mormugao have the same abbreviation, MMC. Thiscreates confusion among newspaper read-ers, and probably also in official documents.

They should have different abbreviations,for example, MoMC for Mormugao, MuMCfor Mapusa and MaMC for Margao.

We are not weedsPeter DSouza, Mapusa

The recent statement by BJP MLA PrahladRemani: I will not rest until the seeds ofChristianity are weeded out, shows how

wicked he is. He is ungrateful, having donehis education in a Catholic school and col-lege.

Isnt the BJP hypocritical when so manyof their MLAs studied in Catholic schoolsand colleges, and send their children abroadto Christian countries like the US, UK andAustralia.

What Christianity has given to this coun-try is its finest educational institutions, or-phanages, etc, which the BJP forgets.

Justice for NareshRicky Fernandes, Dubai

Over 45 days have passed since our belovedNaresh was brutally murdered. Still, GoaPolice have not come up with anything con-crete. What was the motive? Who else wasinvolved?

The police said they are yet to establishthe motive behind the murder. Snehal hasalready confessed. What stops the policefrom revealing the motive now? Is theresome political pressure? We need an an-swer.

Practise, dont carpAshley J Fernandes, Margao

Music that sucks Jerry Fernandes (Herald,15 Sept) is somewhat true. But I would liketo remind Jerry that is talking about thefew musicians he listens to.

Some musicians in Goa spend their timeslashing one another with their tongues,instead of spending time in serious practice.Others hold government jobs and music isjust a side business. They qualify as goodcritics on the sidelines.

Jerry is being unfair to good musicianslike Brian, Fortes, Steve, Iggy, Mac and afew others that are worth listening to. Ihope the ones who destructively criticizeothers use their time more seriously topractice, so that they can be better musi-cians than critics.

Police slothConceisao Filipe N Menezes, Chinchinim

I fully support Menino Fernandes (PoliceLethargy Herald, 15 Sept). Despite makinga complaint in the Cuncolim Police Stationin November 2009 for damage to my com-pound wall and gate, besides a number offruit-bearing trees (I was also threatenedwith dire consequences in front of the po-lice), the culprit was let go with a merewarning.

I am reminded of Adv Aires Rodrigues re-vealing that half of Goas police officers arefacing disciplinary action (Herald, 10 Sept).

Feeding frenzyVishal DCosta, Cuncolim

Goa is naturally beautiful. Tourists visit Goato enjoy its nature and not its concretepavements nor its designer electric posts.Ministers are on a feeding frenzy of publicfunds. The Sky Bus project was a waste ofpublic fund in the name of tourist attractionand promotion. Public funds are squanderedon beautification of Goan beaches, androads leading to MLAs bungalows. Instead,we must think of ways and means to savethe eroded Candolim beach and preservethe sand dunes off the Miramar beach. Thelist is endless.

Lakhs of rupees have been spent on thebrand ambassador of GTDC, and the man-aging director of GTDCs foreign trips. Noone pays any heed to restore the crumblingCabo De Rama Fort. Mahatma Gandhi oncesaid, there is enough in this world foreveryones need but not enough for every-ones greed. Goa needs to be saved fromthe feeding frenzy of its ministers.

Problems of Plenty

The visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Britain inmid-September has a very special signifi-cance for the entire world. The focus of his

visit will be the beatification on Sunday 19 Sep-tember of John Henry Cardinal Newman, who isacknowledged to be one of Britains most tow-ering intellectuals, on par with St Thomas More,G K Chesterton, Hillaire Belloc and Ronald Knox.Britain should feel proud that such an outstandingthinker will be included in the pantheon of menand women whom the Catholic Church proposesfor emulation by people all around the world.The conferment of the title of Blessed or Saint isan endorsement of the persons sanctity nothis / her intellectual achievements. In Newman,however, like in St Thomas More, the qualitiesof mind and personal sanctity are eminently com-bined. It is precisely because of this that Newmanstands out in todays world as a person to bevenerated as well as emulated.

Cardinal Newman is more relevant today be-cause of the widespread conspiracy to create abarrier between faith and reason. According tomany popular articles which appear in the mediaand also in many so-called specialised journals,the argument is proposed that faith and reasonare mutually exclusive and incompatible. It is saidthat faith is contrary to reason and is based onblind acceptance of dogmas that cannot standthe scrutiny of reason. It is also asserted thatthose who accept or profess any belief are irra-tional and ignorant. According to these arguments,any belief should be rejected which does notpass the test of reason.

It is precisely this kind of flawed reasoningthat Newman addressed in his many writings andsermons. In his most outstanding treatise, TheGrammar of Assent, Newman showed, quite con-clusively, that reason itself is based on certainassumptions that are taken as axiomatic. All ar-guments are based on axioms or presuppositions,which are not established by reason. He goes onto show that belief is not contrary to reason but,in fact, is demanded by reason.

Interestingly enough, Dr Sarvapalli Radhakr-ishnan, one of the most eminent Indian philoso-phers and statesmen, shared Newmans view ofthe mutual relationship between reason and faith.In his widely read book The Present Crisis ofFaith, Dr Radhakrishnan observes: A philoso-phers loyalty to reason does not commit him tothe proposition that the nature of ultimate realitycan be apprehended only as an object of reason.

Many philosophers, both in the East and theWest, have reached the conclusion that reality issupra-rational that it is not in its ultimate natureaccessible to conceptual understanding andthat religious insights are also genuine revelationof ultimate reality. He goes on to observe: Au-thentic religion is based on the consciousness ofbeing in direct relationship with the Supreme.This experience transcends all forms, all imagesand concepts. The union is effected in the centralself, which is the root of intellect and will alike.All religious utterances are vain attempts to dealjustly with the meaning of the experience whichhas been attained.

John Henry Newman had the unique distinctionof stressing the importance of the role of thelaity in the Church at a time when the laity werepractically relegated to the periphery of theChurchs life. Newman emphasised the fact ofthe consensus fidelium in the process of deter-mining what the Church teaches as demandingimplicit obedience. He gave an elaborate descrip-tion of the unwavering loyalty of the faithful tothe doctrine of the divinity of Jesus at the timeof the Arian heresy; even when many theologians

and Bishops were in error. In a defence of an article which appeared in

the Rambler, Newman asserted that the bodyof the faithful is one of the witnesses to the factof the tradition of revealed doctrine, and becausetheir consensus through Christendom is the voiceof the Infallible Church. He cites St Augustinesobservation that in matters whereupon the Scrip-ture has not spoken clearly, the custom of thepeople of God, or the institutions of our prede-cessors, are to be held as law (On Consultingthe Faithful in Matters of Doctrine, GeoffreyChapman, London, 1961, pg 23).

Newman was obviously decades ahead of hiscontemporaries in the matter of recognising theimportant role of the People of God in the devel-opment of Doctrine. His influence was palpableduring the Ecumenical Council, Vatican II (1962-65). The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem is indelibly markedby the insights of Cardinal Newman. Bishop Gor-don Wheeler, retired Bishop of Leeds, wrote:Those of us who took part in Vatican II becamevery aware that Newman had not only come intohis own but the whole mind of the Council was

imbued with his thought. In his reflections on the theologian John Duns

Scotus, Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2010) pointedout that valuable theologians enriched withtheir specific thought what the People of God al-ready believed spontaneously about the BlessedVirgin, manifested in acts of piety, in the expres-sions of art and, in general, in Christian living.He noted how faith in the Immaculate Conceptionor in the bodily assumption of the Virgin was al-ready present in the People of God, while theologyhad not yet found the key to interpret it in thetotality of the doctrine of the faith. Thus thePeople of God precede theologians and all thisthanks to that supernatural sensus fidei, namely,that capacity infused by the Holy Spirit, whichqualifies us to embrace the reality of the faith,with humility of heart and mind.

Pope Benedict XVI gently invited theologiansto listen to this source of faith and have the hu-mility and simplicity of the little ones. In thissense, the People of God is magisterium thatprecedes, and that later must be deepened andintellectually accepted by theology (Pope Bene-dicts address on 7 July 2010 when he spoke ofBlessed Duns Scotus at the general audience inPaul VI Hall).

Cardinal Newman, who was born in 1801, wasdescribed as that shining light, and pride of theEnglish race, and came into prominence as oneof the leaders of the Oxford Movement, whichendeavoured to spread Anglo-Catholic ideas inthe Church of England. A pamphlet called Tract90 published in 1841, in which he tried to rec-oncile the Thirty-Nine Articles of the Church ofEngland with the Catholic doctrine of the Councilof Trent, aroused great controversy. He was re-ceived into the Catholic Church on 9 October,1845, and was ordained priest in Rome in 1847.He was elevated to the rank of Cardinal by PopeLeo XIII in 1879. He died in 1890. Preaching atthe London Oratory, Cardinal Manning said: Thehistory of our land will hereafter record the nameof John Henry Newman among the greatest ofour people, as a Confessor for the Faith.

Amid the confusion which is being spread inour times about the sanctity of life, the sanctityof marriage, the complementarities between thesexes and the mutual reinforcement afforded byfaith and reason, Cardinal Newman stands out asa beacon of light. We need to pray: Lead KindlyLight amid the encircling gloom. Lead Thou meon...

OPINIONwww.oheraldo.in

Pg8Vol No CX No: 236

Goa, Saturday 18 September, 2010

Letters to the EditorLetter of the Day

Misguided mobsMaria P Mascarenhas, Cansaulim

I agree with Listen to the People by Jeremiah DSouza (Herald, 15 Sept). Goas villagesreally are under evil attack. I recall Thomas Hardy: God was palpably present in thecountry and the devil had gone with the world to town. The devil is really all out toruin Goas lush countryside and resorts to all kinds of tricks. In Gram Sabhas, the sanevoices of villagers who seek to protect their natural habitat are sought to be stifledby heckling and manhandling. The tragedy is that the mob is sometimes blissfully un-aware that they are being used by unscrupulous builders. The disruption of the Cansaulim Gram Sabha is a clear case where a particular builderstooped so low as to even use religious sentiment to gather a mob to stifle the voiceof opposition from villagers to a mega-project. Little did the gathering understandthat they were called in the name of their beloved God to destroy His beautifulCreation and to fatten the pockets of an individual who shows contempt for the faith.

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 concernedauthors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

Paths of Wisdom

John Henry Cardinal newman will be beatified tomorrow in Britain by Pope Benedict XVi, says aVertHanUs l dsoUZa

OHERALDO

Tongue in Cheek

By adelmo Fernandes

OHERALDO

The Workers in theVineyard

The Kingdom of heaven is like this.Once there was a man who went outearly in the morning to hire some mento work in his vineyard. He agreed topay them the regular wage, a silver coina day, and sent them to work in hisvineyard. He went out again to the mar-ket place at nine oclock and saw somemen standing there doing nothing, sohe told them, You also go and work inthe vineyard, and I will pay you a fairwage. So, they went. Then at twelveoclock and again at three oclock, hedid the same thing. It was nearly fiveoclock when he went to the marketplace and saw some other men stillstanding there. Why are you wastingthe whole day here doing nothing? heasked them. No one hired us, they an-swered. Well, then, you also go andwork in the vineyard, he told them.

When evening came, the owner toldhis foreman, Call the workers and paythem their wages, starting with thosewho were hired last and ending withthose who were hired first. The menwho had begun to work at five oclockwere paid a silver coin each. So, whenthe men who were the first to be hiredcame to be paid, they thought theywould get more; but they too weregiven a silver coin each. They took theirmoney and started grumbling againstthe employer. These men who werehired last worked only one hour, theysaid, while we put up with a wholedays work in the hot sun yet youpaid them the same you paid us.

Listen, friend, the owner answeredone of them, I have not cheated you.After all, you agreed to do a days workfor one silver coin. Now, take your payand go home. I want to give this manwho was hired last as much as I havegiven you. Dont I have the right to doas I wish with you with my own money?Or are you jealous because I am gener-ous? (Mathew 20; 1-16)

100 Years Ago

18 September 1910Peace at last!The Treaty between Russia and Japan,which assures a lasting peace betweenthe two nations, was finally signed.

Exams abolishedThe Senate of the University of Bombayabolished the system of Previous Ex-aminations, to facilitate the youth whodesire to obtain a fast matriculation.

Juvem SchoolThe inhabitants of Sto Estevam submit-ted to the Government a petition re-questing to establish in the village anall-Girls High School.

Saraswat conventionIn the coming December will take placeat Mapusa, the convention of GaudSaraswat Brahmins Parishad, with theaim to bring back to its fold all the divi-sions and sub-divisions from that HinduClass.

PRIMEIRO DIARIO NAS COLONIAS PORTUGEZAS

No resort onthis island!

The picturesque Konko Island at Palolem Beach is thejewel in that picturesque beachs crown. Part of itsmagic is that it is uninhabited, completely wild, is a

nesting place for rare birds that shun habitation like theWhite Bellied Sea Eagle, and for other wildlife.

From decades, hoteliers and builders have laid their evileye on this marvel of nature. Now, once again, new rumoursare afoot that developers are planning to set up a resort onthe island. But local residents are fiercely protective of theirpatrimony, and it is not at all surprising that they havevowed not to allow anyone to touch their island. Accordingto them, it protects their beach and village from naturaldisasters.

A wooded hillock 68,000 sq metres in size, the island isseparated from the mainland by a narrow channel that canbe waded across at low tide. It originally belonged to alocal bhatkar, who reportedly sold it to a Delhi-based en-trepreneur for a paltry Rs 60 lakh. Now, this absentee owneris trying to make an enormous profit on his small investment,as big time players in real estate, politicians and film starsare all vying to buy it and set up a resort.

What has opened the doors to development on the islandis the new draft CRZ rules made public just a few days ago,which open up areas between 200 and 500 metres fromthe high tide line for so-called restricted development bythe hospitality industry. But that is not the only provisionwhich Konkos would-be developers are looking at. Theyalso seek to misuse the specific exception for Goa in therules, which allows housing structures in the CRZ area tobe rebuilt.

There is a tiny structure on the island that was originallyused for storing coconuts. It is a small, single room, inruins. Somewhere along the way, it mysteriously acquireda house number, ever though nobody ever stayed there.Probably, it was an exercise in trying to set up a resort.Now, the new developers want to set up a resort by re-building what they will claim is an old house. If UnionMinister Jairam Ramesh needs any evidence that the pro-visions in his new CRZ draft are prone to misuse, he onlyhas to look at this case. The exception has been made forfisherfolk, but the ones who will take maximum advantageof it are big builders.

Local residents, who must be congratulated for their vig-ilance in this matter, have demanded that the governmentshould acquire this island and leave it undisturbed for pos-terity, banning any sort of development that could disturbits natural state. If the government cannot afford it, it canpossibly do a deal with a Britisher who had offered in 2007to buy it and leave it undisturbed. It has a similar agreementwith a British foundation, for restoring the Reis Magos fort.How about keeping this one for nature?

Crossing the line?

Former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan has a sterling rep-utation for probity and public service. But in his latestaction, of stating that eight of the 16 former Chief Jus-

tices of India were definitely corrupt, he seems to havecrossed the line.

Judicial probity is a burning issue in India today; a graveconcern in a country where the other two pillars of democracy the Legislature and the Executive are in dire straits. Thisis the one institution that the public still has faith in.

To frontally assault its highest functionaries on the basisof what he was apparently told by two former ChiefJustices is not correct. The Indian Judiciary deserves betterthan that.

Lead Kindly Light

We need the rains. Water is necessary for sustaining life onthe planet. In fact, water is the main component of anylife form. Rains are a must to sustain life. They are re-

sponsible for the greenery we see around us. But then, when itrains continuously, people start to complain.

Incidentally, Goa has had rainfall in excess of the usual this year.Everyone seems to wonder when it will stop raining. The rain hasbeen so much more this year that someone even commented thatthe rainfall should be measured in feet and not in inches!

Too much of rain will bring hardship to the people, and can alsobe counter productive. The paddy that has grown during normalrainfall can wither away and die if the rain is in excess.

In the past, around this time of the year, the downpour is onthe downslide. The rains begin to ebb. But it seems that this year,the rain has increased in momentum when, in fact, it should beslowing down.

Fortunately, Goa does not witness the floods that some of the

other states in the country have to learn to live with. In this state,all the flooding that takes place is more man made, as the guttersstart to clog, resulting in flooding of the roads.

Anything in excess is not good. But then, in the case of therainfall, it may not be true. If there is too much of rain, it can beharvested. No one can say for sure that we will have a goodmonsoon next year. This is where the concept of rain water har-vesting gains importance.

Unfortunately, in Goa, rain water harvesting has not picked upin a big way, mostly because of the lackadaisical attitude of thestate government. The Meteorological Department has alwaysfound it difficult to predict the weather.

It can be said that predicting the rainfall can be the most un-predictable thing to do. When the Met Department says that itwill rain, the sun will probably shine it all its glory. And when theMet Department predicts that it will be bright and sunny, onemight as well take out the rain wear, as it may rain cats and

dogs. The reason why the weather has become so unpredictable in

recent years is because of the pollution the atmosphere is subjectedto, resulting in global warming. This has had a telling effect onMother Nature as well as on the weather.

Be that as it may, it is but human to complain of excess of rain,as no one wishes to be in discomfort. And since it has been rainingcontinuously this year when the rains should have almost stopped,almost everyone is complaining.

People feel that we are facing a problem of plenty plenty ofrainfall. In any other state it (the excess of rainfall) would havebeen considered a blessing. But in Goa, where very few peopleare still into cultivating paddy, most of the rain water goes intothe sea without being used. What a waste of a most precious re-source! If only we could try to utilise to the fullest Gods gift ofplentiful rain

Moral Considerations

GOA Pg 9GOA, SATURDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER, 2010

OHE

RALD

O

appointments

BY HERALD REPORTERMARGAO, SEPT 17

Removal of sand bags from theMajorda beach appears goingon a slow pace despite ordersfrom the Sub-divisional Magis-trate, Margao.

A visit to the Majorda beachrevealed that thousands of sandbags continue to be buriedunder the sand. The SDMs orderto a starred resort to removethe sand bags have not beenobeyed fully as those bags ex-posed due to the sea erosionare removed.

However, locals maintainedthat thousands of sand bags arestill buried under the sand andraised apprehensions that thebeach as well as the creek will

Work on buried sand bags at slow pace at Majorda beach

Sand bags continue to dot the Majorda beach despite orders from the Sub-divisional Magistrate.

undergo a change if the bagsare not removed at the earliest.

A local villager, Adv RadharaoGracias said the sand bags buriedunder the sand by the resort tokeep at bay erosion near thehotel premises will spell doomfor tourism and destroy the ecol-ogy. Already, the rivulet haschanged its course, and this isgoing to severely affect thebeach, he said

Radharao said that thoughthe deputy Collector had actedquickly by issuing notice on thestarred resort, the governmentand the Tourism Departmentappears least concerned aboutthe situation. We will wait forsome time to see the govern-ment action. If not, we will

knock the doors of the highcourt to demand action againstthe resort for burying sand bagson the beach, he warned.

Inquiries with the SDMs of-fice has revealed that the starredresort has sought time to clearthe beach of the sand bags. Itis learnt that the SDM JohnsonFernandes has fixed inspectionof the beach stretch next weekbefore initiating action againstthe resort.

HERALD REPORTERVASCO, SEPT 17

Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) andGoa State Pollution ControlBoard (GSPCB) may lock hornsover the proposed iron ore ter-minal at West of Breakwater(WOB) in MPT jurisdiction.

The proposed iron ore termi-nal at WOB will be developedat an estimated cost of Rs 1,012crore on Public Private Partner-ship (PPP).

The terminal will be a dedi-cated iron ore berth with a ca-pacity of 7.2 metric tonnes. Theproject, which will be completedby February 2014, requiresnearly 140,000 hectares of landto reclaim.

Though MPT had a smoothsailing for most of its other proj-ects,but the iron ore terminalremains to be controversial forGSPCB, as it failed to hold publicconsultation despite MPT havingpaid Rs 5 lakh fees for holdingpublic consultation.

Speaking to Herald, MPTChairman Praveen Agarwalclaimed that as far as iron oreterminal at WOB is concerned,MPT executes its project afterapproval from Cabinet Commit-tee on Infrastructure (CCI),which is chaired by DeputyChairman Planning Commission.

"The WOB proposal is beforethe CCI, which is likely to get

appr