Author: Team Admin

“The larger issue is not only about who pays more or less for electricity. It is about how policy changes are introduced and explained. The government’s move to install smart meters across the state is being justified as a measure for transparency and energy efficiency. But without trust and clear public consultation, smart meters may be viewed as tools for surveillance and billing manipulation, not reform. There is also the question of what “efficiency” really means for households. Air-conditioners are not indulgences anymore; they are responses to rising heat and humidity. A refrigerator runs 24 hours a day to keep…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The controversy over the recent power tariff hike intensified on Monday, with opposition parties taking on the government over what they termed “confusion and mismanagement” in the implementation of new electricity rates. Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Amit Patkar, along with MLA Carlos Ferreira and other party office bearers, met the Chief Electrical Engineer (CEE) of the Electricity Department to seek clarity on the revised tariff structure. The GPCC accused the Power Minister of misleading the public regarding tariff categories. The CEE, however, clarified that the time-of-day (ToD) tariff system currently applies only to…

Team Goemkarponn DABOLIM: Goa Tourism ushered in the 2025–26 tourism season with the arrival of the first international charter flight from Almaty, Kazakhstan, on October 25, signalling a promising start to the new travel season. Operated by SCAT Airlines (Flight VSV5212), the aircraft landed at Dabolim Airport, South Goa, at 5:30 a.m., carrying enthusiastic travellers eager to explore Goa’s culture, cuisine, and experiences beyond its famed beaches. Welcoming the visitors, Tourism Minister Rohan A. Khaunte said, “The arrival of the first charter flight from Kazakhstan signifies Goa’s growing international connectivity and appeal as a global destination. We remain focused…

Team Goemkarponn CANACONA: Undeterred by continuous rain, the Deepotsav-2025 celebrations organised by the Canacona Cultural Academy concluded on a colourful and successful note on October 24. Though the downpour forced organisers to shift the venue from the Shri Gaitonde Mini-Sports Complex to the Ravindra Bhavan, the festival drew a large crowd and enthusiastic participation from artists and residents alike. The programme began with a floral tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s statue at the KTC bus stand, Chaudi. The ceremony was attended by Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Laxuman Pagui, ZP (Poinguinim) Shobhana Velip, Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar, Dy. Sarpanch Sunil…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has urged Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant to take swift action to support farmers whose paddy fields have been devastated by relentless, unseasonal rains across several talukas, including Salcete, Shiroda, and Aldona. In a letter sent on Monday, GFP expressed grave concern over the extensive damage to standing paddy crops, which were flattened or spoiled due to continuous downpours triggered by a depression over the Arabian Sea. The heavy rain, accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms, struck during the critical harvest phase, leaving farmers facing significant financial distress. Citing meteorological reports,…

CORJUEM: A rented four-wheeler carrying tourists plunged into the water late last night at the Cuxem Tarir Ferry Point in Khorjuvem. According to sources, the vehicle was occupied at the time of the incident, though the exact number of passengers remains unclear. Fire and Emergency Services (FES) personnel rushed to the spot and successfully retrieved the vehicle from the water. Preliminary reports indicate that one of the passengers fled the scene soon after the mishap. Additional information suggests that the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m., when the jeep drove straight into the water at the ferry point. The…

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday took a stern view of the continuing stray dog menace across the country, summoning the Chief Secretaries of all states except West Bengal, Delhi, and Telangana for failing to submit compliance reports on the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and NV Anjaria directed the officials to personally appear before the court on November 3, warning that failure to do so would invite costs or coercive measures. The judges observed that despite clear directions, most states had not acted to…