GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 23 January 2004 PEOPLE-ORIENTED STATE BUDGET EXPECTED: The State Budget for 2004-2005 is expected to be people-oriented with no burden on the general public. While replying to a query Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stated yesterday (Jan 22), he would ensure that people would get worth for their money. "I have managed in the past to increase revenue of the State without increasing the burden of taxes," he said. (GT)
"RELAX CRZ, NOISE REGULATIONS": Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has impressed upon the Centre to give some relaxation to Goa on coastal regulation zone and noise pollution it being a tourist State. Stating that there cannot be a uniform law on such matters throughout the country, Parrikar said that in a tourist State like Goa, the coastal regulations framed years ago need to be looked up again. He made a strong case for demarcating some zones along the 105-km coastline where planned and regulated development could be permitted. (H) COPS SEAL KALPAVRIKSHA OFFICES: The Economics Offences Cell at the Goa Police headquarters on January 21 sealed the remaining offices of Kalpavriksha Marketing Pvt Ltd in Goa and seized some vital documents, official said. The company has duped over 45,000 investors in the state to the tune of Rs.10 crore. (NT) KTC MODIFIES VRS: Following poor response to the voluntary retirement scheme, the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited has now modified the entire scheme so as to prune the workforce. The modified VRS envisages the proposal to employ wards of the retiring employees who will, however, be not entitled for any additional benefits. (GT) STABBED IN BAINA: Bargaining with a commercial sex worker proved costly for a 23-year-old tourist (Hanumanta S Karigal) from Belgaum, when he was stabbed on Jan 22 in the red-light area in Baina. (H) CENTRE AGREES TO PAY 15% HRA: The Centre has agreed in principle to the proposal of paying 15 per cent House Rent Allowance to Central government employees in Goa, on par with the State Government employees here. Presently the Central government employees are paid 7.5 per cent of HRA. (GT) FM TURNS 10: All India Radio, Panjim's FM channel is completing 10 years of broadcast on January 24. Great programmes that were broadcast by FM channel over the years will be aired again for the benefit of countless listeners. (H) GOVT SUPPORT FOR EXPOSITION SOUGHT: Governor Kidar Nath Sahani has expressed his desire that the State government should extend all help to the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman for the Exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier, which will take place this year. Archbishop-Patriarch Raul Gonsalves informed that he had communicated the matter with the Governor, who in turn had also written a letter to the Chief Secretary in this regard. (H) A LIBRARY WITH 12,430 BOOKS, GARDEN: From a library of 12,430 books to a mini-botanical garden, a centre to promote Konkani language and culture is working to build its resources in this field and grow, from its base at Alto-Porvorim. Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr, the Porvorim-based research institute, has announced that it has come out with a set of four compact discs to observe "Konknni Osmitai" (Konkani identity). (H) GOODBYE, BANASTARIM BRIDGE: A part of history is being dismantled at Banastarim to be re-laid in remote Sattari to serve as a link for a few isolated hamlets. Goa State Infrastructure Development Corpn which has been entrusted with the task of relocating the 128-metre long Banastarim bridge, which is one of the oldest structural bridges in Goa, has started its work recently. While the steel bridge with six spans of varying lengths was built in 1927-29, it bore the burden of the large traffic during the post-Liberation period, even after it was blasted by the Portuguese forces to prevent the Indian military from crossing it during Operation Vijay in 1961. (GT) PUBLIC BUILDINGS TO BE MADE DISABLED-FRIENDLY: The State government has proposed to introduce 'barrier free' norms into the building bylaws so as to provide persons with special needs and disabilities, easy access to public buildings. As such public buildings like cinema halls, educational institutions including the university, hospitals, etc. would have to undergo modifications to provide easy access for the disabled. (H) VASCO MAN VANISHES: The Goa police is likely to hand over the inquiry into the alleged kidney transplant through forged papers, to the Deputy Superintendent of Police. The Police for the last two days tried in vain to trace the complainant Ankush Amonkar at his Vasco residence. It was found that the entire family had shifted to an unknown destination. (GT) ALL ROADS LEAD TO MAPUSA'S "APARANT MAAND": Bodgeshwar Temple grounds at Mapusa is getting anew look as it gears up for the "Aparant Maand 2004" exhibition-cum-sale starting from today. The three-day exhibition will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar at 4.30 pm. The exhibition is expected to draw a crowd of about 50,000. (GT) CROCS INVADE CORJUEM RIVER: In what can aptly be described as a visual delight, residents of Corjuem are a witness to a spate of crocodiles at the Corjuem river. Crocodiles as long as 5 to 10 feet are seen moving frequently in the river and can be seen by the residents here while commuting in the ferry. As transportation of mineral ore through this route has been stopped, crocodiles are having a field day for breeding activities. Fishermen, however, are alarmed over this situation as it has directly affected their cache of fish. (GT) REMAKING THE PACKAGE: Tourism has acquired the character of one of the world 's big industries but the tourism products of India, in spite of being of high order and varied mix of richness of culture, architecture, historical monuments, festivals, virtually and every to several destinations, have, however, failed to be distinctly competitive. It is really sad that tourist arrivals have not risen beyond 2.5 million for the last four years. The situation in Goa is more or less similar to the national scene and in fact in recent times there has been a decline in the flow of the foreign tourists. (Edit in NT) "PAY AND PARK": What is happening in the cities of Margao and Ponda today will spread across Goa sooner or alter. For example, "pay and park" has come to stay. And congestion at the core of our cities must go. The only and completely open question for thorough debate is, "How are these twin objectives to be achieved in a democratic manner that is just and fair to various sections of people? (Edit in GT) MISLEADING IMAGE OF GOA: "Parachute journalism" doesn't quite work. Scribes flying into some state, taking a hurried look at it, and then analyzing issues with supreme confidence are bound to end up with a misleading text. More so when the State is one which has a heavenly-if superficial-look of peacefulness and bliss about it. Like Goa. (Edit in Herald) CHINCHINIM LAD DOES GOA PROUD: Justin Francis, a great grandson of the well-known writer, journalist and freedom fighter, Fanchu Loyola of Chinchinim, is creating waves in Canada. He was honoured with a Spirit of the Capital Youth Award at the Ottawa Congress Centre. The celebration is the only 'youth for youth' awards programme of its kind in Canada. He received a statue and 1,000 dollars as part of the recognition. Justin is involved in all aspects of school life at Lisgar Collegiate Institute and devotes many hours to charitable causes, festivals, contests, academics and musical events. A Greenboro resident, he hopes to set up a jazz music band at the University of Ottawa. "If you have a dream, work hard and you'll get there," he says. (GT) CYBORG WARWICK: Addressing the audience at a public lecture yesterday Kevin Warwick, professor of Cybernetics at UK's University of Reading, said, "By linking the brain to a computer we are simply upgrading the intelligence of a human being and increasing its capabilities." Will artificial intelligence inherit the Earth? "Yes. It is possible," he says. "We call the shots on this planet, not because of our physical capabilities but because of our brains. Computers are more powerful and networked computers even more so. So what happens when something comes up that has a more powerful brain? We lose our position of dominance." So how do we stop the machines from taking over? "By developing our brains," he answers, "Imagine if we could network our brains. We can stay one step ahead as Cyborgs." (GT) S P O R T S FRANSA FC LIFT BRAHMANI CUP: Fransa Football Clubs got the better of Ratan Sangha, Bagnam, Kolkata, 5-1 to emerge champions in the Brahmani Cup Football Tournament at Rourkela, Orissa, recently. (GT) D E A T H 21 Jan: NAVELIM, AQUEM BAIXO/USA: FELICIDADE SANTIAGO: wife of late John, mother of Alex/Elisbon, Olympio/late Illa/Succu, Antonette/Cajy and Mina/aRisto, grandmother of Keith, Ryan, Wayne, Priscilla and Kevin. Passed in USA. Funeral on 24 Jan in USA. 22 Jan: Nagao: ANDREW GOMES: husband of Maria, father of Delecia, Kingslee, Arcangela, Joaquim. 24 Jan: Benaulim: SEBASTIANA RODRIGUES. 22 Jan: Ponda: VAIKUNTH JAGANNATH PRABHU SHINKRE: brother of Janardhan, late Vasant, late Tulsi Kare and Audumber, husband of Ratan, father of Sameer/Leena, Santosh/Varsha, Seema/Mandar Prabhu Desai, Netta Manguirish Karapur and Sudeepa Nitin Nevrekar. G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 25.2 degC (77.4 degF) at 9.00 am today in Assagao. Max Temp: 30.8 deg C; Min Temp: 20.6 deg C; Humidity: 63% (Official figures for yesterday) Weather: A bright morning in Goa. Courtesy: H=Herald; NT=The Navhind Times; GT=Gomantak Times JOEL D'SOUZA, Assagao-Goa-India. 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