Author: Team Admin

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has granted environmental clearance to Fomento Resources Pvt Ltd for its Kalay Mineral Block-IV in Sanguem taluka, paving the way for renewed iron ore extraction in the State. The approval permits Fomento to mine up to 0.75 million tonnes of iron ore annually and handle around 3 million tonnes of waste within a lease area measuring 152.5 hectares. The project, recommended earlier by the Goa State Expert Appraisal Committee, will however need further approvals, including forest and wildlife clearances and consent to operate from the Goa…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: In a major push towards sustainable agriculture, the Goa government has launched a subsidy scheme offering farmers up to 90% financial support for biogas plants, composting units and soil health management. The scheme, introduced under the “Development of Manures & Fertilisers” programme, is aimed at reducing dependence on chemical fertilisers, improving soil fertility and promoting organic practices. Farmers installing biogas units will be eligible for a 90% subsidy, covering the cost of excavation, transport and GST, while repairs after six years will attract a 20% subsidy. Similarly, portable organic manure units and vermi-beds will also receive…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Goa is on track to face a widening electricity deficit, with regulators warning that the state’s demand–supply gap could swell nearly fourfold to 192.58 MW by 2029–30, up from the present shortfall of about 48 MW. The projection comes from the Joint Electricity Regulatory Commission (JERC), which has cleared the state power department’s five-year business roadmap while cautioning that urgent steps are required to prevent blackouts and voltage fluctuations in the coming years. According to the Commission, electricity consumption in Goa is expected to surge at a rate of around 5% annually, driven by urban growth,…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: With Eid-e-Milad barely two weeks away and the onset of Goa’s peak tourism period, the State is grappling with a severe beef shortage that threatens to disrupt both festive and hospitality demands. The crunch follows a strike by cattle traders in Maharashtra and Karnataka, who have halted supplies citing harassment and attacks by vigilante groups during cattle transportation. The move has left Goa dependent on limited inflows from Telangana, which fall far short of requirements. “Goa’s daily requirement is around 20-25 tonnes, and even more during festivals, but at present only about five tonnes are reaching…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The age-old tradition of decorating the wooden canopy over the head of the Ganapati idol in Goa reflects the deep botanical knowledge passed down through generations. In Goa, the wooden rectangular frame placed above the worshipped clay idol of Ganapati is decorated with a variety of seasonal floral wealth, symbolizing a prayer for nature’s blessings. The Ganesh Chaturthi festival—celebrated from the fourth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month Bhadrapad—coincides with the flowering and fruiting of numerous herbs, creepers, wild plants, and cultivated crops such as paddy and millets. Tanaji Gaude from Talule, Bandoda (Phonda)…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: Goa has emerged as the country’s second most inflation-affected State, with consumer prices in July 2025 rising by 6.34 percent compared to the same month last year. The State trails only Kerala, which recorded the highest inflation rate at 8.89 percent. The latest figures from the Consumer Price Index (CPI) show Goa well above the national average, highlighting the growing pressure on household budgets in a State otherwise known for its high per-capita income and human development indicators. While food prices at the all-India level showed a decline of nearly 1.8 percent year-on-year in July, Goa…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: A delegation from Goa University, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. (HAG) Harilal B. Menon, visited the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), Warnemünde, Germany, from August 18 to 20, 2025, to expand cooperation in marine and coastal research. The visit follows the signing of an MoU earlier this year, when an IOW team had travelled to Goa University in February. The team also comprised Prof. Jivan S. Parab from the School of Physical and Applied Sciences, Dr. Siddhi K. Jalmi from the School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, and Dr. Sheryl O. Fernandes from the School…