GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS
09 January, 2005
NO FINAL DECISION ON MOPA AIRPORT: Civil aviation minister Praful Patel
informed South Goa Member of Parliament Churchill Alemao that although Mopa
was selected as the site for an international airport, no final decision had
been taken. The minister was replying to a debate in the parliament.
Churchill has been demanding an assurance on the continuance of the civilian
airport at Dabolim even in the event of Mopa becoming functional as
international airport. (WE-GT)
WE STILL WANNA GO ON OUR SUMMER HOLIDAY: In a statement issued in Madrid
after the 26 December Tsunami, the World Tourism Organisation made a very
pertinent observation, which is of complete relevance to Goa. The
compensatory factor evident in the shift of tourist flows is twofold -
geographical and seasonal. In the very short term some of the tourists who
had intended to spend their holidays in destinations affected by the tsunami
may put off their plans until those destinations are again in a position to
provide the same facilities as before. In such cases, the tourist does not
usually forego holidays but switches to other destinations that provide the
same facilities.Incidentally it is this 'compensatory factor' that is
driving sales to Goa not just during the current season but also for
2005-06. Though there were initial fears that Goa would be hit by the fear
psychosis generated by the disaster, they proved to be unfounded with a
negligible amount of cancellations. (Reuven Proenca in WE-GT)
PANCHAYATS TO FLUSH TANKS: As part of its new sewerage strategy which is in
the process of formulation, the State government has plans to make it
mandatory for village panchayats to clear septic tanks regularly and to have
mini-sewage treatment plants instead of mega ones along the coastal areas.
(H)
GOA HAS ENORMOUS POTENTIAL: There are two things: One is hardware centre and
second is services. In hardware there can be two things, hardware
manufacturing and hardware designs. And Goa has enormous potential to become
one of the top hubs in the country.Moreover, Goa is a tourist centre and has
a very strategic location - only place in the country, which has an airport,
seaport and rail and road connectivity way within an area of 8 km.We also
need to identity a plot to develop that place as IT hub.Besides, Goa also
needs to have a computer shopping mall which attracts tourists to buy IT
products at cheaper rates. (Nitin Kunkolienkar in WE-GT)
PINTO'S BAIL PLEA DISPOSED OFF: One of the five bail applications filed by
Avelino Pinto was disposed off by president of Children's Court on the
ground that the explanation of delay of one year in filing the complaint
could not be taken as its face value and was also general in nature. The
victim had stated that she came to know about the arrest of the accused in
another case and felt emboldened to file her complaint. (WE-GT)
4-YEAR-OLD GIRL RAPED: In yet another shocking incident just within a week,
a minor aged just four years and three months was raped by a college student
(from Belgaum) aged 19 years, at Curchorem. (WE-GT)
LABOUR DROWNS IN WATER TANK: A 22-year-old labourer drowned in a water tank
at a hotel in Vasco on January 8, barely eight days after he came to the
State in search of a job. Bharat (22), who had climbed up the water tank, is
believed to have lost his balance and fell into the water tank. (H)
MERCES PANCHAYAT PROPOSES FLY-OVER: The gram sabha of the Merces panchayat
has passed a resolution proposing construction of a fly-over bridge or
underground sub-way at the Merces-St Cruz junction on National Highway 17 to
avoid accidents and loss of lives. The resolution was proposed by Floriano
Fernandes and was seconded by Antonio Pires. (H)
CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE IN DARKNESS: It was lights, camera and action at the
unique cable-stayed bridge at Aldona last month, when Chief Minister Manohar
Parrikar hosted a dinner bash for IFFI delegates and guests on the bridge.
But during the past few weeks, there have been no lights - the well-lit
bridge has been in darkness - no camera and little action by the government
to ensure that the state-of-the-art bridge is well illuminated at night. (H)
FEASTS IN ASSAGAO, ANJUNA: The people of the adjoining villages of Assagao
and Anjuna in North Goa celebrate their parish feasts today - Nossa Senhora
do Bom Parto and Nossa Senhora de Advogada respectively. We greet all the
netters from the two beautiful villages.
TIATR CONTEST: Vandana Productions, Borim, - devoted towards preserving
fading canvasses of Goa's rich heritage - is organising its annual all-Goa
Tiatr competition in collaboration with Fundacao Oriente at Kala Academy's
open air auditorium, Panjim, from January 18. (H)
FATORPA ZATRA: The annual Zatrotsava of Shri Shantadurga Kunkallikarin
Saunsthan, at Fatorda, will be celebrated from 14 January to 19 January. On
the second day, 15 Jan procession of the deity on ambari (elephant
chariot), on 16 Jan
