GOACOM DAILY NEWS CLIPPINGS 17 Oct 2003 THREE DEPTS INDICTED: The probe by the development Commissioner into the out-break of jaundice in the city (Panaji) has indicted three government departments for their kneejerk reaction to the crisis and recommended a detailed inquiry to fix responsibility. Dr Vijay Madan, who submitted his preliminary report to the government recently, examined the role played by the Corporation of the City of Panjim, Directorate of Health Services and Public Works Department. Contamination of drinking water occurred between 11 July and 4 August after sewage seeped into the main water pipeline. However, the source of contamination was identified 20 days after the first report of foul smell from water. (GT)
ACTION AGAINST MISUSERS OF ACCOMMODATION LIKELY: After turning a Nelson's eye for years now, the authorities are finally bracing up to crack a whip against government servants misusing government accommodation. As a first measure, the district Collector JB Singh, has issued a circular to the heads of departments and offices on the allotment of government accommodation, and asked the employees to submit detailed information in a proforma positively by October 30. (H) FDA CONDUCTS RAIDS IN MARGAO, PONDA: The inspectors of Food and Drugs Administration, Panaji, conducted raids at Margao and Ponda following the discovery of a worm-infested chocolate at Mapusa on Wednesday. According to FDA director SN Tripathi, two separate teams verified confectionery stocks at shops, wholesale dealers and distributors. Referring to the news about worms found in capsules manufactured by a Goan company at Nagpur, Tripathi said the FDA officials also inspected the stocks at a pharmaceutical company, situated at Karaswada, Mapusa, but no such evidence was found. Nevertheless, the samples have been sent to the FDA laboratory for testing, he informed. (GT) CHOCOLATE AND ETHICS: Has India become a dumping ground for unsafe and substandard consumer food items and soft drinks by the MNCs? The evidence is not one and it is not isolated. First it was hazardous mineral water, then it was pesticide-containing soft drinks, and now it is worm-invested chocolates. Several consumers in Pune, Mumbai and Goa have discovered works in chocolates of Cadbury brand, triggering a series of investigations and seizure of stocks by the Food and Drug Administration office in the two states. Cadbury is the largest player in the Indian chocolate market, followed by Nestle India and Amul. The question that immediately arises is: does market leadership mean abdication of ethical values? (Edit in NT) DEBATE ON STATE'S DEVELOPMENT: Agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism and industry are among the areas identified for consideration of some 600 delegates picked up from a Goan diaspora who are expected to participate in a 3-day global conference scheduled in early January, next year. The conference-Gomant Vishwa Sammelan-scheduled to be held from January 3 to 5 next year, is aimed at involving an "eager-to-help" set of Goans in the present and future development process of the State, Chief Secretary DS Negi, announced in Panjim yesterday. Mr Negi said that some 300 Goans based abroad and an equal number residing elsewhere in India are expected to attend this conference. He said some big names in the field of industry as well as academics are being identified to confirm their participation well in advance. (H) PROTEST DHARNA AGAINST PWD NEGLIGENCE: The Socorro Civic & Consumer Forum will organise a protest dharna on 17th October at Mapusa PWD office, opp KTC Bus stand, at 10 am, and submit a memorandum to the Bardez Mamlatdar and Public Grievance Officer. The dharna will highlight the negligence of the PWD with regards the collapse of the Bobd (open tunnel) and road closure due to landslides. The road closure has caused untold hardships, inconvenience and endangerment for citizens travelling to and from Porvorim from the Socorro wards of Ambirna, Maina and Zosvaddo. Moreover people travelling to Salvador do Mundo, and Pomburpa now have to take a lengthy detour. The dharna will also highlight the plight of pedestrians and vehicles using the National Highway 17 which has become extremely dangerous for the villagers. (Valentine Coelho, Convenor) A MERE SCAVENGER? Is the job of the Corporation of the City of Panaji only to collect garbage, clean gutters and sweep the streets? Well it just seems so, said the corporators at a monthly meeting held yesterday. One of the main topics raised during the meeting was the International Film Festival in India which is proposed to be held in Panjim, the permanent venue for the IFFI and the exclusion of the Corporation and its key officials in the core committee constituted by the government. (H) FRIDAY BALCAO FOCUS ON DEMENTIA: Friday Balcao, the fortnightly discussion event to be held today, will feature the topic "Dementia: A new understanding, a new hope" by Dr Amit Dias, honorary secretary of the Dementia Society of Goa. The Friday Balcao will discuss various issues related to Dementia and identify possible interventions. It is estimated that there are 3000 people suffering from Dementia in Goa. KRISHI GHARS: The Chief Secretary, Mr Dev Singh Negi, said that around 30 krishi ghars would be operational in the state by the end of March next year. The krishi ghars are run by the agricultural producers' societies and the procurement of products and marketing form the key factors in their operation. He also said that the Goa Horticultural Corporation will be acting as the nodal agency for giving subsidies to such projects. (NT) LIFE GUARDS AT THE RECEIVING END? Whenever there is death due to drowning in the sea, the first question that comes to mind is whether a life guard was present at the time of the incident? However, the way life guards are being treated by the tourists is pathetic. "The tourists abuse us, some become violent and sometimes we are even assault". "The tourism department too has not taken our case and we are still being treated as labourers," says frustrated life guard. (GT) MARG TO OBSERVE 3-DAY MOURNING: MARG activists will observe a three-day mourning to highlight the agony and pain suffered by an aged old mother, when she lost her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren in a tragic road mishap in Verna on 5 September. A 50-hour satyagraha will be observed beginning on 18 October at 9 am at the Freedom Fighters' Office at Lohia Maidan, Margao. (GT) GOA TO HOST FORENSIC MEDICON 2004: Silver Jubilee Forensic Medicon-2004, the 25th annual event of the Indian Academy of Forensic Medicine and World Congress on Forensic Medicine will be held at the new auditorium of the National Institute of Oceanography at Dona Paula from 7 to 9 February 2004. A new website pertaining to the conference www.goagovt.nic.in/forensic2004 was launched by Health Minister Dr Suresh Amonkar yesterday. (GT) VERNA COMUNIDADE OKAYS LAND FOR FOOTBALL GROUND: The shareholders of Verna Comunidade at its extra-ordinary general body meeting held recently, in a majority decision approved the request of the Verna panchayat for the allotment of 36,600 sq mts of land for setting up of a football ground. (H) IFFI ORGANISERS, BEWARE! The shocking news of the rape of a Swiss diplomat outside the venue of the ongoing International Film Festival of India on Wednesday Night at New Delhi, must have sent a wave of uneasiness in Goa where the IFFI will be staged next year. (Jeronimo Fernandes, Assonora, in a letter to the editor, GT) TIATR "PORDDO" TO BE RELEASED: Writer and director of the Konkani stage John D'Silva will release his new non-stop tiatr "Porddo" (Curtain) all over Goa on October 25. (H) VAZ CAPTURES THE ESSENCE OF GOA: With no formal training at all, Thomas' artistic shots of Goa and all things Goan are so enduringly breathtaking, that he became the first Goan to be awarded a national award (1979) and the President's award subsequently. Born in Mapusa's famous family of Pedro Vicente Vaz or Mr Baker, Thomas displayed keen interest in photography and wanted to master the art from a very tender age. His work includes colour postcards of Goa, cards, slides, booklets, holders, Goa souvenir (Old Goa: Rome of the East) and a pictorial book entitled Goa, Images and Impessions". (Rajeshree A Nagarsekar in Herald Insight) HARSHADA FOR FRANCE: Artist Harshada Kerkar Sonak has left on a painting tour of France and Portugal. Harshada is commissioned for portraits in Lisbon which will be exhibited there. The tour will conclude with her exhibition of still lives organised at Tolaris Art Gallery in France. (NT) S P O R T S CABRAL STUN SALGAOCAR: Underdogs Cabral SC pulled up one of the biggest upsets in the Servo Governor's Cup football tournament when they stunned crowd pullers Salgoaocar SC by a solitary goal victory to enter the semi-finals at GFA's Duler grounds in Mapusa yesterday. The match winning goal came in the 67th minute through striker Thomas D'Cruz of a free kick. (GT) CHINCHINIM THRASH ST SAVIO: Strong contenders CRC Chinchinim thrashed St Savio SC, Calangute, 4-0 to storm into the finals of the Seagram's Imperial Blue Champions Cup football tournament at Taleigao yesterday. (GT) D E A T H S 14 Oct: Panjim: ALBERTINA JOSEFA LUISA DE SOUZA E FERNANDES: relict of Antonio Carminho, mother of late Beatriz/Aleixinho, Andre/Paula, Simon/Bertha, Michael (ex-MLA)/hyacinth, Fernando/Fatima and Bitush/Manuel. 16 Oct Navelim: VISHNU BOMBI KUNCOLIEKAR: husband of Laxmi, father of Satish/Sunita, Vinay/Pranati and Dayanand. 06 Oct: Sydney, Australia: JOHN BAPTIST CANDIDO D'SA: (Ex London and Kenya Police and Courts), husband of Angela (Aggie), Father of Christine, Glafy, Milla and Shelley. Father-in-law of Joe Gomes, Braz Goes, John Moran and Rodney Lavocah, Grandfather of Andrea Gomes, Mark, Ian and Gary Goes, Sean Moran and Alan and Lisa Lavocah, all of Sydney. Condolences to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] G O A W E A T H E R Temp: 26.3 degC (79.3 degF) at 8.80 am in Assagao-Goa. Max Temp: 35.1 deg C; Min Temp: 24.6 deg C; Humidity: 60% (Official figures for yesterday) Rainfall so far: 2699.6 mm Weather: The morning is nice and cool today in Goa. 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 # ##########################################################################