Author: Team Admin

Panaji: The long-simmering Mhadei river dispute exploded into a full-blown political war on Friday, with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar trading sharp, politically charged blows. Hitting back at Shivakumar’s fresh push for the Mahadayi diversion, CM Sawant minced no words: “D. K. Kumar is showing his party’s true colours. I don’t wish to dignify his remarks with a comment—he can say whatever he wants. But let it be clear: my fight to protect Mhadei will never stop.” Sawant’s defiant tone came in response to Shivakumar’s blistering attack, accusing the Goa government and…

Panaji: The Goa Health Department has confirmed that rigorous 24×7 inspections of fish and other consumable items are being carried out at key entry points into the State by the Quality Council of India (QCI), with random checks also conducted by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA). In a written reply to Unstarred LAQ No. 122 tabled by MLA Viresh Borkar, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane informed the House that a total of 1,735 fish inspections were conducted over the past two months at the Pollem and Patradevi checkposts, along with over 3,500 checks at the SGPDA Wholesale Market in Margao.…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: The Goa Forest Department has confirmed that several lands previously identified as private forests are being reviewed and, in some cases, excluded from the list based on specific criteria laid down by expert panels. In a written reply to Unstarred LAQ No. 124 raised by MLA Viresh Borkar, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane stated that the Review Committee-II, constituted for reassessment of private forest lands identified by the Thomas & Araujo Committee, has been actively scrutinizing survey numbers across Goa. Lands not meeting the three prescribed criteria are being removed from the official list of private forests. One…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Despite growing concerns over frequent road mishaps in Goa, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho has informed the Legislative Assembly that there has been no increase in the number of road accidents in the State between 2022 and mid-2025. Responding to Unstarred LAQ No. 034 tabled by MLA Carlos Ferreira, the Minister revealed that Goa recorded 1,809 road accidents between 2022 and June 2025. A year-wise breakdown shows 538 accidents in 2022, 510 in 2023, 504 in 2024, and 257 incidents reported in the first half of 2025. To address accident-prone areas, the government has identified several black spots…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: The Goa government is set to roll out significant changes to the Goa Victim Compensation Scheme, 2012, with a focus on expanding categories, enhancing compensation, and simplifying the process of access for victims. This was revealed in the Legislative Assembly in a written response to Unstarred LAQ No. 102 tabled by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas. Chief Minister and Home Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant stated that the new scheme is being drafted under Section 396 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. One of the key amendments proposed is to vest the power of awarding compensation with the…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: In a stark reminder of Goa’s ongoing battle with narcotics, the State government has reported a total of 250 drug-related cases registered under the NDPS Act between January 2024 and June 2025, with 162 cases in 2024 and 88 cases already registered in the first half of 2025. This was revealed by Chief Minister and Home Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant in response to Unstarred LAQ No. 114 tabled by MLA Viresh Borkar in the Legislative Assembly. While specific figures on drug seizures, estimated value, and arrests were detailed in an annexure, the reply highlighted the growing involvement…

Team Goemkarponn Zaurinagar: In a tragic incident, a 27-year-old construction worker identified as Basvraj Arakeri, a native of Haveri, Karnataka and residing in Zaurinagar, lost his life after accidentally falling from the rooftop of a building under construction. According to information received from the Casualty Police at the Sub District Hospital (SDH), Chicalim, the deceased was brought in after reportedly falling from the third-floor terrace while working at a construction site. During the inquiry, the deceased’s brother, Pradeep Hyati, informed police that the two were working together on the open terrace when Basvraj accidentally slipped and fell to the ground,…