HEADLINES
🔹 Even after HC rap, illegal sand mining on in Ragada, say locals
🔹 ₹ 3k cr borrowing majorly spent for Nat’l Games infra
🔹 Urban naxals may not be on police list, but they exist: CM
🔹 Water leakage in KA was from AC duct: PWD
🔹 Saarthi portal disruption hits renewal of driving licences
🔹 4 Nerul fishermen get interim relief from sheds demolition
🔹 With no marshals to regulate traffic, it’s a free-for-all in Goa’s Smart City
🔹 Over 60 Goan football clubs stare at de-recognition
🔹 River Kushawati not polluted; but debris of collapsed bridge caused problem
🔹 Std XI admissions start amid stream confusion
🔹 Goa to miss deadline on 2019 coastal plan again
NEWS IN DETAIL
THE TIMES OF INDIA
🔸 Even after HC rap, illegal sand mining on in Ragada, say locals
The high court of Bombay at Goa had directed the state authorities to take steps to stop unauthorised sand mining in Ragada last month, but the illegal activity has not ceased. Ragada, a tributary of the Mhadei, rises in the hilly terrain of the Western Ghats in Karnataka and enters Goa through the Tambdi Surla forest.Mining of sand, gravel and pebbles is currently taking place at Tambdi Surla, Sacorda and Dharbandora, according to local residents. Labourers from outside the state have been employed for this activity, they said.
🔸 ₹ 3k cr borrowing majorly spent for Nat’l Games infra
State govt has borrowed approximately Rs 3,000 crore for the financial year 2023-24, out of a total borrowing limit of Rs 4,200 crore. A senior official said that for the current financial year 2024-25, the state borrowing limit is Rs 3,700 till Dec.“The borrowing limit will be increased during the period of Jan to March. There has been overall average revenue growth of 14-15%, and it is expected to do better,” said the official.The official said that the reason for the borrowing in the 2023-24 financial year was the huge amount spent on creating infrastructure for the 37th National Games, which Goa hosted from Oct 25 to Nov 9 last year.
🔸 Urban naxals may not be on police list, but they exist: CM
Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday that urban naxalites exist in Goa even though they may not be on the police record. “All urban naxals will not figure in the police list,” he said. “Police may not have registered the cases as urban naxalism, but urban naxalites exist. It is important to get rid of urban naxalites in the interest of the country, as they are dangerous to the country.”
THE NAVHIND TIMES
🔸 Water leakage in KA was from AC duct: PWD
While the water leakage in the newly renovated auditorium of Kala Academy on Sunday evening following a pre-monsoon shower drew severe criticism over “sub-standard works”, the Public Works Department (PWD) said the seepage was from the AC duct.
🔸 Saarthi portal disruption hits renewal of driving licences
The Saarthi portal, which is integral to India’s transport services, experienced unexpected downtime due to infrastructure issues recently. The portal’s unavailability for 48 hours since May 16 has left many applicants unable to access essential services such as fee payment, renewal of driving licences, and booking slots for learner’s licenses. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in a letter addressed to all states has expressed inconvenience to citizens.
🔸 4 Nerul fishermen get interim relief from sheds demolition
Admitting an appeal, the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) western zone bench based in Pune has stayed the demolition order issued by the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) against four fishermen from Nerul village in North Goa.
HERALD
🔸 With no marshals to regulate traffic, it’s a free-for-all in Goa’s Smart City
Even as Smart City works in Panjim have made the life of its residents miserable, the State’s capital city’s cup of woes continues to overflow. The Panjim Traffic Cell of Goa Police is now grappling with staff crunch and to rub salt to the injury, the agencies carrying out works too failed to deploy marshals at the sites.
🔸 Over 60 Goan football clubs stare at de-recognition
More than 60 clubs face de-recognition from the Goa Football Association (GFA) if they fail to register mandatorily under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Speaking to O Heraldo, GFA president Caitano Fernandes said that football clubs failing to register will face problems.
🔸 River Kushawati not polluted; but debris of collapsed bridge caused problem
QUEPEM: The suspected pollution of River Kushawati whose waters had suddenly changed colour yesterday was reportedly due to the collapse of an under construction bridge over the main canal at Karali.
THE GOAN
🔸 Std XI admissions start amid stream confusion
Class XI admissions have begun and classes are likely to commence in the second week of June. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding stream specifications since the Goa government has already decided to eliminate streams in Class XII results. While some higher secondary schools continue to take admissions based on streams for various obvious reasons, other schools have categorised the streams into Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3.
🔸 Goa to miss deadline on 2019 coastal plan again
Alike CZMP 2011, Goa’s finalization of the coastal zone management plan CZMP 2019 is heading towards a never-ending saga with State all set to miss its May 31 deadline to finalize the coastal plan. There has been a delay of almost five years since the CRZ notification 2019 was notified — the Rules and Regulations of which are currently not applicable to Goa in the absence of the plan.
