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August 26-September 1, 201320 Pushpa Iyengar *Caught between a rock and a hard place* In a few weeks, the Goa government which suspended mining activities on September 10, 2012, will be observing its first anniversary. The year has been marked by flip flops by Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, as the cacophony by stake holders, egging him to put them back into business, has risen coupled by his realization that such a huge chunk of revenue from the mining industry – Goa’s only industry apart from tourism which filled the coffers to the extent of almost 20 per cent of the gross state domestic product (GSDP) – has vanished. He’s beginning to realize the truth of what his cabinet colleague – Panchayat Raj minister Laxmikant Parsekar – confessed in July: “I have realized that is not an easy task to accomplish what I was shouting about all those years (in the opposition), as several aspects are involved in such an exercise. I have realised the bitter truth that it is extremely difficult to do something that I was demanding for the last several years.” Read Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/lead/363-mining-malaise-1 August 26-September 1, 2013 *Lion Roars – 20* *Shooting from people’s shoulders* Is the Calangute legislator Michael Lobo using his position and as a consequence of that wasting taxpayer’s money to solve his owns problems? Admitting he was buying property in Guirim for himself he felt that the revenue department was not being fair when it increased the minimum rates for property prices in Goa. He went on to say that the increase in the land rates for the purpose of determining stamp duty and registration of sale deeds was done arbitrarily and without any thought. Lobo of course made it look like he was concerned over the common man’s plight in paying such high sums. No one believed him and the more he speaks these days, the more it only goes against them in more ways than he knows. Read Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/lion-roars/lion-roars-2013/362-lion-roars-20 Travel and Living August 26-September 1, 2013 *Goan liquor producers – 2* *A spring in their step* If it weren’t for the “killer freight” and another slayer called customs duties the Raia-based Springfields (India) Distilleries would have had the pleasure of serving up affordable tequila, the real McCoy that too all the way from Mexico. But you can still get your shots thanks to Villa Vercelli Tequila Silver (the clear variety) the company has begun importing from Tequila Orendain De Jalisio, S.A De C.V. Why pick on a name like Springfields? “It was a lovely day during the rainy season when the paddy fields were lush green and all around seemed to have a great light 'springy ' feel to it - that was actually how we decided on the name,” says Mario. Read Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/travel/361-goan-liquor-producers-2 Hot News August 26-September 1, 2013 *NIT-picking* Team GS For long, Goa has lagged in the higher education sector, with parents sending their children to Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai to get a professional degree. Things have changed in recent years with BITS-Pilani, Goa Management Institute and the National Institute of Technology (NIT) setting up shop here. But NIT, which is functioning temporarily at the Goa Engineering Campus at Farmagudi since the academic year 2010 -11, and now has 400 students, is again in the eye of the storm over land issues. And politicians are to blame for the current outrage among the people by leading them to believe that son-of-the-soil qualification will count to get jobs. Read Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/letters/365-nit-picking-a *The Week That Was* August 26-September 1, 2013 Team GS *One man’s meat is another man’s poison* Two rivals of Parrikar had two different points of view last week on mv Horseshoe, one attacking him and the other backing him.The mayor of Panaji, Surendra Furtado called the decision by Parrikar, the legislator who represents the capital, “a betrayal of the people of Panaji”, while BJP North Goa MP, Sripad Naik, batted for the Chief Minister, saying, “As far as the existing casinos are concerned, they have made investments. Driving them out before their agreements expire will send a wrong signal that Goa is not safe for investments. The existing casinos will stay here till the expiry of their agreements.” Read Full Story: http://www.goanspirit.com/index.php/contact-us/letters/111-the-week-that-was/364-one-man-s-meat-is-another-man-s-poison -- Lionel Messias Editor, *Goan Spirit*, *Goa's Spirited Online Weekly Magazine.* ** Website:www.goanspirit.com Worked for the best: Goa Today, Gomantak Times, Herald, Mid-Day, The Pioneer, Indian Express (Bangalore), Economic Times (Chennai, Hyderabad), Newstime (Hyderabad), Gulf News (Hyderabad) 125-E, Bellem, Velsao, P.O. Cansaulim, Goa 403712 Tel: 0832-2884484 Mob:9822152164