Tag: Goa

  • Heavy rain in Goa kills one, many houses submerged

    Heavy rain in Goa kills one, many houses submerged

    Panaji: A 56-year-old woman was swept away in flood waters while several houses in low-lying areas of Goa were inundated as the coastal state witnessed heavy to very heavy rains in the last 24 hours, officials said on Thursday.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘red’ alert for Goa, forecasting heavy rains in parts of both North Goa and South Goa districts on Thursday. The weather department also predicted inundation of houses in low-lying areas, fall of weak trees and structures, localised and short-term disruption of essential services, and low visibility during intense rain spells.

    The Fire and Emergency Services received several calls of tree fall on roads in parts of Goa while the State Disaster Management Authority has asked all its staff members to cancel their leaves and weekend offs and report on duty until the alert is withdrawn.

  • Not a single case of cavid in Goa in two days

    Not a single case of cavid in Goa in two days

    Panaji (IANS). No new COVID-19 case has been reported in Goa in the last two days. While the active cases stand at 14, none are hospitalised.

    Speaking to IANS, epidemiologist Dr Prashant Suryavanshi said the situation is not alarming as hospitalizations are zero and no new COVID-19 cases have been reported.

    “There are instances where zero Covid cases have been reported in the last few days, however people should exercise caution,” he said.

    Dr. Suryavanshi said, “There is no tension as such. But I would like to appeal to the people to follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. People should wear masks.”

    The Health Department urged people to follow the new guidelines for home isolation issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “Patients should be kept separate from other family members and in a well-ventilated room. Also triple layer medical mask should be worn at all times.

  • PM Modi to flag off Goa’s first ‘Vande Bharat Express’ on Tuesday

    PM Modi to flag off Goa’s first ‘Vande Bharat Express’ on Tuesday

    Panaji (IANS). Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express from Madgaon railway station through video conferencing on Tuesday morning.

    Speaking to IANS, Baban Ghatge, Deputy General Manager, Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, said that the program would take place at the Margao railway station at around 9 am. Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will also be present in the programme.

    This train will run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai and Madgaon station in Goa. The train will cover the journey in about seven and a half hours, saving about an hour in travel time compared to the fastest train currently connecting the two places.

    The Vande Bharat Express was scheduled to start on the Madgaon-Mumbai route on June 3, but the inauguration was canceled due to the Odisha train accident.

    According to officials, the state-of-the-art Vande Bharat Express will improve connectivity on the Mumbai-Goa route and provide a means to travel with speed and comfort to the people of the region.

  • History of Goa Revolution Day will be included in the textbook: CM Sawant

    History of Goa Revolution Day will be included in the textbook: CM Sawant

    Panaji (IANS) | Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday announced that the history of Goa Revolution Day (June 18, 1946) will be included in the Class 11 history textbook from the next academic year. CM Sawant said this at the state level function of Goa Revolution Day at Martyr’s Memorial at Azad Maidan Panjim.

    Extending greetings on the occasion of Goa Revolution Day, the CM said, on June 18, 1946, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr. Julio Menezes took the initiative to protest the oppression by the Portuguese rulers and the people of Goa massed to take back their motherland from the Portuguese. started the revolution.

    The Chief Minister said, the history of Goa Revolution Day is already included in the syllabus of Class IV Gomantak Bhal Indian textbook. However, this history will also be included in the class 11 history book (textbook) from the next academic year.

    CM Sawant said that immediate action will be taken on the pending pension of freedom fighters within one and a half months. Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai said that freedom is not only limited to politics but also social and economic freedom.

    He said, we can proudly say that our system is developing day by day and our Indian constitution is accepted as one of the best constitution in the world.

    Pillai also recalled the contribution of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr. Julio Menezes who fought against the Portuguese rule and said that the new generation should benefit from their contribution.

    –IANS

  • In a first, debris washing up on Goa’s shores to be studied

    In a first, debris washing up on Goa’s shores to be studied

    Panaji: When the waves lap the shore along Goa’s 100+ km-long coastline, with the seafoam comes debris of different kinds. As the waters withdraw, the shore is left with not just tide lines but debris lines, with plastics and other waste.
    Now, in a unique effort, the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB) will begin a study of this debris line and of the nature of wastes thrown up by the sea. It has engaged the assistance of all 44 coastal village biodiversity management committees (BMC).
    The debris lines will be examined and the waste will be collected for processing accordingly. Any seaweeds found washed up along the shore will be collected and sent for preservation and for further studies.
    “As the waves recede, a debris line is created along the coast. But so far, no study on this debris line has been carried out. This debris line is indicative of the disposal patterns. At times, seaweeds, dead animals, jellyfish and starfish are washed ashore. While some of the debris is residual plastic, others are valuable, like seaweed,” said GSBB chairperson Pradip Sarmokadam.
    The effort will help in collecting, preserving, and studying the economic potential of seaweed, he said.
    “Seaweed has tremendous economic potential which needs to be studied,” he said. “On the other hand, we need to collect and give residual waste for responsible disposal. We are tying up with the Goa Waste Management Corporation to dispose of such waste collected. Residual plastic is one of the most difficult to dispose of for panchayats, as they are plastics with food tied inside and cannot be recycled.”
    He said the idea is to get such residual plastic waste out of the beach ecosystem.
    “Beaches are among the most vulnerable ecosystems,” he said. “And such waste can affect various ecosystems on a beach, like the sand dune vegetation. We have already started conducting rigorous meetings with the 44 coastal village biodiversity committee members to explain the project and its importance. Our environment minister Nilesh Cabral has also approved the programme.”
    He said the study of the debris line and processing of the debris washed up on the shore is also a part of the strategy to build climate resilience.
    “As a part of building climate resilience, we also need to be more watchful of the beach ecosystem,” he said.

  • Goa To Host 3-day Meet Of Audit Institutions Of G20 Countries, CAG Murmu To Deliver Inaugural Address

    Goa To Host 3-day Meet Of Audit Institutions Of G20 Countries, CAG Murmu To Deliver Inaugural Address

    Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Girish Chandra Murmu will deliver the inaugural address for the three-day conference of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) of G20 countries, which begins in Goa on Monday, an official said.

    Murmu is the chair of the SAI20 engagement group under India’s G20 presidency, a government spokesperson said.

    “The SAI20 summit will take place in Goa from June 12 to 14. CAG Girish Chandra Murmu will deliver the inaugural speech on June 12,” the official said.

    Delegates from SAI20, guest SAIs, invited SAIs, international organisations, engagement groups and other invitees will attend the summit, he said.

    SAIs of Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Spain, UAE, Morocco and Poland will be participating in-person, he said.

    “Under the guiding philosophy for India’s Presidency of G20, Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam, i.e. ‘one earth, one family, and One Future’, CAG had proposed the collaboration of SAI20 engagement group on two priority areas — blue economy and responsible artificial intelligence (AI),” the spokesman said.

    Blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of our ecosystem, he said.

    With AI making greater inroads into governance, SAIs must inevitably prepare themselves for auditing AI-based governance systems, he said.

    SAIs will look for opportunities to adopt AI into their audit techniques to increase their effectiveness, the official said.

    “Importantly, consensus will be derived on the role and responsibilities of SAI20 engagement group, in the times to come, in fostering accountability in governance and strategically partnering with the governments to respond to global challenges,” he said.

  • PM Modi to flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express on Saturday

    PM Modi to flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express on Saturday

    New Delhi (IANS) | Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express train from Madgaon railway station on Saturday through video conferencing. An official statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that the running of this train will improve connectivity on the Mumbai-Goa route and provide a faster and more comfortable means of travel to the people of the region.

    This will be the 19th Vande Bharat train to run in the country.

    The train will run between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus in Mumbai and Madgaon stations in Goa.

    It will complete the journey in approximately seven and a half hours, the statement said. Thus the travel time will be reduced by about an hour as compared to the existing fastest train connecting both the places.

    –IANS

  • PM Modi to flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express on 3rd June

    PM Modi to flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express on 3rd June

    CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi to flag off Goa’s first Vande Bharat Express on 3rd June. This will be 19th Vande Bharat train in the country that will cover journey between Mumbai and Goa in approximately seven and half hours; saving about one hour of journey time as compared to the current fastest train on the route, said a statement from PMO.

  • Case registered against man for raping minor girl in Goa

    Case registered against man for raping minor girl in Goa

    Panaji (IANS) | The Goa Police has registered a case against a 28-year-old man for allegedly raping a minor girl and impregnating her in South Goa district. Police told IANS that the victim’s mother has filed a complaint. In his complaint, he said that the accused raped his daughter, due to which she became pregnant.

    Police said the accused person has been identified as Rahul Chandra, a resident of West Bengal. The accused is working in Goa. But at present he is absconding. We are looking for him.

    Police said that the accused person and the victim were friends for the last two years. Police said, “They know each other for the last two years. After the medical examination of the victim, the doctors told that she is pregnant for the last four months. Police is further investigating the matter.

    –IANS

  • NCB busts international drug cartel in Goa

    The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) busted an international drug cartel in Goa and arrested two Russians – a 1980 Olympic silver medallist woman swimmer and a former policeman – along with an Indian and seized various drugs including cocaine and charas.

    The operation was conducted by the NCB’s Goa unit over the past two weeks, an official said on Saturday.

    “Based on a tip-off that a Russian drug cartel was actively operating in Arambol and its adjoining areas in Goa, a probe was launched. As per the intelligence inputs, a Russian woman named S Varganova was found involved in the supply of drugs to foreign nationals. During the investigation, we also received information that led to the identification of a local man named Akash,” the NCB official said.

    S Varganova is a 1980 Olympic silver medallist woman swimmer and the other is a former policeman. Drugs along with Indian and foreign currencies, fake documents and IDs were also seized from their possession.

    During the entire operation, different kinds of drugs, including 88 LSD blots, 8.8 grams cocaine, 242.5 grams charas, 1.440 kg hydroponic weed, 16.49 grams hash oil, 410 grams hash cake – were seized along with Rs 4.88 lakh cash, he said, adding that the NCB also recovered Indian and foreign currencies, fake documents, IDs and material required to grow hydroponic weed. Along with various forms of drugs, total proceeds in cash recovery valued at Rs 4,88,000, USD 1,829, Thai Baht 1,720 were also recovered.