GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 20 Nov 2003 IS GOA SKY BUS WORTH RS.637 CR? The Konkan Railway Corporation is rooting for it. The Government of Goa is lobbying hard for it. But the question yet to be answered is: Does Goa really need a sky bus? In the pipeline there is a proposal for the Sky Bus Metro, to build a 10.5 km track from Mapusa to Panaji. According to a KRC brochure, "The civil costs approximates to Rs.450 crore per 10 km and the rolling stock will cost Rs.187 crore".How ill the skybus cross the Mandovi river? Will a third bridge have to be constructed? The proposal assumes a ridership of 2.5 lakh per day and offers no data on where these passengers will be found. From calculations worked out by the Kadamba Transport Corporation after studying five years of data, it would take over 4,000 bus-trips to move 2.5 lakh passengers. (Derek Almeida in GT)
CM DEMANDS BASE-LEVEL FOR TAX SHARE: Goa yesterday deviated a shade from its demand for 'special category' status in Central fund allocation. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has demanded before the 12th Finance Commission that the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula be amended to incorporate a "bottom-line threshold" that ensures that no State of the Union is allocated less than one percent of the country's divisible pool of taxes. Mr Parrikar said despite Goa contributing nearly 0.7 per cent to the divisible pool of Central taxes, it gets just 0.206 per cent allocated in return as part of Central assistance for the annual plan. Another specific demand by the State is for 50-50 split of grant-in-aid and loan components of the Central Assistant. Currently, Goa gets just 30 per cent as grand-in-aid and the balance 70 per cent as loans. Goa currently gets approximately Rs.120 crore form the Central divisible pool. If the proposal for one per cent bottom-line is accepted, this share will go up to Rs.300-400 crore. (H) NINE WORKERS HURT IN KUNDAIM FACTORY BLAST: Nine steel plant workers received burn injuries on face, chest and back when the furnace near which they were working exploded at Kundaim industrial estate. The injured Kissan Yadav, Tak Narayan, Upendra Yadav, Dharmendra Pusharam, Naresh Bhagat, Hari Shankar, Tarkeshwar Paswan, Ranjit Mohanto and Manoj Singh were employees of Mohit Steel Industries Pvt Ltd. Most of them were in the age group of 20-25 years. This is the second blast in factory in less than a fortnight. On 7 November a Norwegian engineer Edwin Sordbu along with another person lost their lives in a blast at Atamitech Pipes System India Pvt Ltd at Navelim-Sankhali in Bicholim taluka. (GT) MOVE TO DELETE NRI VOTER NAMES KICKS UP A ROW: It will take some time to answer the question whether Goan NRIs are eligible or not to exercise their franchise, but the sword of domiciles is presently hanging over thousands of voters as the respective Electoral Registration officers are bracing up to delete names from the electoral list on grounds that they have shifted their place of residence. (H) 'SEC NOT TO DELETE NAMES OF OVERSEAS GOANS': The Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar, said that the government has requested the State Election Commission not to delete the names of the non-resident Goans, from the State electoral rolls and the Commission has agreed to the request. (NT) TELGI TOOK 'TIME-OFF' IN GOA: If it is fun with a fast shady edge, it has got to be Goa. Over the last two weeks newspapers have made several passing references to Goa's flirtations with criminaldom. The first man in question is no doubt the man who takes down with several bigwigs, the master mind in the multi-million dollar stamp scandal, Abdul Kareem Telgi. Telgi is known to have enjoyed several herbal massages and jaccuzi baths in a South Goa resort, when he was supposed to be imprison last December. (H) CLEANLINESS DRIVE ON KR ROUTES: The Konkan Railway is launching a special cleanliness drive from 20 November to 5 December on its routes for effecting improvement in cleanliness standards of its stations and trains and will be implemented at all places having public interface. (GT) BODY ON RAILWAY TRACK: An unknown person, over 50 years of age, died yesterday at Davorlim, on the Konkan Railway track, as he was overrun by a speeding train. (NT) AIDS DEATHS DOUBLE: There have been twice the number of deaths due to AIDS in Goa in the year 2003 as compared to last year. As per the figures of the Goa State AIDS Control Society, the year 2003 has already seen 28 deaths due to AIDS, from January to September. (H) 'SEX WORKERS RESPONSIBLE FOR AIDS': The Health Minister, Dr Suresh Amonkar, said that the problem of AIDS is not of Goan origin and the commercial sex workers in Baina area, constituting 60 per cent CSWs from Andhra Pradesh and 40 per cent CSWs from Karnataka, were mainly responsible for spreading the disease in the state. (NT) COMMITTEE TO REVIEW WATER QUALITY: The government has reconstituted an "Apex committee" to review the water quality and system management of water supply and to decide on remedial measures required. (GT) TASTE OF GOA IN A 'NUTSHELL': At the Goa Pavilion of the India International Trade Fair at the Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.Cashew nuts, salted, shelled, unshelled. Then there are the things which make your mouth water, especially if you are away from Goa for long. Sorpotel, balchao, pickles, para in plastic sachets. There's the soap Goldfish, synonymous with Goa. Artifacts like banana husk bags. Articles carved out of coconuts, sea shells. (Mayabushan Nagvenkar in Herald) FOUL PLAY ALLEGED: The father of one of the NSS volunteers who drowned at Nanora has alleged that his son was a victim of foul play. (GT) TODDY-TAPPER FALLS TO DEATH: A 55-year-old toddy tapper from Bapsora-Betul, Evangelisto alias Herald, died on November 19 after he had a fall from a coconut three. (H) 3 ITALIANS HELD FOR POSSESSING CHARAS: Three Italian nationals were arrested by the Anjuna police on charges of illegal possession of narcotics, on Tuesday. Police officials informed that Daniel Tomat, Lucva Folco and David Porla were arrested after a police team swooped down on their hotel room and found 315 grams of charas, worth Rs.31,500. (GT) AUSSIE WARSHIP: Mormugao harbour is now playing host to a hi-tech Royal Australian Navy warship, the "HMAS Newcastle". The 183.1 metre-long vessel, dropped anchor yesterday (Nov 19) morning and is scheduled to remain in Goa till Saturday. The ship boasts of state-of-the-art weapons' systems including anti-ship and surface-to-air-missiles, torpedoes and an array of guns. JM Baxi is the ship handling agent for the visit, while Panaji-based International Travel Bureau is the ground handling agent. (GT) BOOK READING: Seven Konkani books of amateur writers were released at the hands of the Speaker Vishwas Satarkar and Samir Anil Salgaocar, the director of Salgaocar Mining Industries, at the Kala Academy's Black Box on November 18. The books released were "Miras" (Vaman Takekar), "Nilam" and "Shituk" (Maya Kharangate), "Soseachi Mauxi" (Nayana Adarkar), "Aal" (Rajani Bhembre), "Shirvolleo" (Sunanda Nayak) and "Ratrani" (Ashok Bhosle). Jait Publication, in association with Konkani Academy and Kala Academy, have published the books. MASHELKAR TO SPEAK AT NIO: Dr RA Mashelkar, Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, will deliver a lecture "India on the March" at the National Institute of Oceanography at Dona Paula at 4 pm today. Best known for changing the mindset of Indian scientists from the old "publish or perish" to the modern "patent and prosper", Dr Mashelkar had the vision to propose India as a "global research and development platform". (GT) XAVIER COLLEGE'S GUIDELINES TO SAVE WATER: The rain water harvesting cell of St Xavier's College, Mapusa, has worked out a 10-point programme for water harvesting and conservation to be put into execution by all citizens, and in a special way by the local bodies, educational institutions and other organisations..Suggestions may be sent to [EMAIL PROTECTED] (GT) FREDERIKA'S SECOND BOOK: "The Pepperns and Wars of the Mind", a second book and fairy tale by Frederika Menezes, was released by Dr Olivinho Gomes at a the Hotel Mandovi on November 19. Dr Gomes said the writer's genius is apparent in her writing and added that the book had blossomed well. Frederika, a differently-abled girl, had written "Portrait", a collection of poems, some years back. The book has been published by Third Millennium Publishers. (GT) S P O R T S STEFFI CLAIMS SHOT PUT GOLD: Steffi Cardozo, a 14-year-old student from St Mary's High School, Mapusa, clinched her first gold medal in shot put at the inter-district athletic meet at Haridwar, Uttaranchal, which concluded on 18 November. (GT) D E A T H S 18 Nov: Siolim-Marna (Ex-Bombo, Uganda): ANGELINA (ESTEFAN) FERNANDES: Born 22-10-1940, wife of late Frank (Toto), mother of Daisy/Reis de Lima (Canada), Delaney/Ghulam, Donald/Sybille (Canada), David/Lynn (Mumbai) and Desmond/Havovy (London), grandmother of Christopher/Priya, Ryan, Farouk, Tariq, Ruth, Steven, Malcolm, Keith, Sharohann, great grandmother of Aria and Noah. Thanksgiving and Farewell Service at Marna, Siolim, on 21 Nov at 9 am and thereafter burial at St Inez Cemetery, Panjim. 20 Nov: Cuncolim: JOHN ROSARIO COLACO: husband of late Bibiana, father of Augustinho/Maria, Peter/Philomena, Caitano/Esperansa, Martin/Ida, Gladwin/Shalini, Milagrin/late Mameto, Matilda/Reginald, Marguerita/Domnick and Piona. 19 Nov: Raia: SALVADOR ANTHONY RODRIGUES: husband of Joana, father of Edwin/Espy, Robert/Olivia, Bruno and Angela. 07 Nov: Saligao: HILARIO ANTONIO SALDANHA: husband of Sebastiana (Emmy), father of Eric and Elston, passed away in Saudi Arabia. 19 Nov: Quepem/Betim: JOSE DIAS (JOSINHO): husband of Rosalina, brother of Florina/Francis, Alleluia, father of Rosy/Robert, Jimmy, Jessy/Albert, Patwin. 18 Nov: Santa Cruz: ALEXANDER D'SOUZA: husband of Clementina, father of Patrick, Mary. G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 27.0 degC (80.6 degF) at 8.30 am in Assagao-Goa. Max Temp: 35.0 deg C; Min Temp: 24.0 deg C; Humidity: 53% (Official figures for yesterday) Weather: Cool, refreshing morning in Goa today. Courtesy: H=Herald, NT=The Navhind Times, GT= Gomantak Times JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao-Goa-India. Website: www.goacom.com Goacom News Clippings at: http://www.goacom.com/news Webzine "GoaNOW": http://www.goacom.com/goanow ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################