Author: Team Admin

Goa: Sibaya, in partnership with Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts, has expanded its presence in North Goa with the opening of Sibaya Courtyard by Stone Wood Premier, a 40-room hotel in Calangute. The property marks the second hotel under the Sibaya portfolio, with Stone Wood Hotels & Resorts providing hospitality management and operational expertise. Located in Khobra Vaddo, Sibaya Courtyard by Stone Wood Premier is positioned within the Baga–Calangute hospitality market, approximately a five-minute walk from Tito’s Lane and with convenient access to both Baga Beach and Calangute Beach. Despite its proximity to one of North Goa’s busiest tourism belts,…

Team Goemkarponn BAINA: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced that the monthly assistance under the Griha Adhar scheme would be increased soon, with the enhanced amount expected to be implemented around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Goa and credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Sawant made the announcement while addressing the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ at Ravindra Bhavan, Baina, organised to thank the government for implementing the Goa Ujwala Yojana. A large number of women attended the programme. The Chief Minister said nearly two lakh women were currently receiving Griha Adhar assistance, with the amount credited on the 10th of…

By Suraj Nandrekar Goa is finally waking up to a problem that has been staring it in the face for years. Traditional Goan houses are disappearing, one demolition at a time, replaced by concrete structures that may be bigger and newer but rarely carry the character of the homes they replace. The decision by the Town and Country Planning Board to restrict redevelopment of properties containing pre-1961 traditional houses is therefore significant. But it also raises an equally important question: is this move a boon for Goa’s heritage or could it become a bane for property owners and rural development?…

Team Goemkarponn BAINA: Transport Minister and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday urged BJP workers to remain united ahead of the upcoming elections, cautioning that individual political aspirations should not create a situation of “BJP versus BJP” within the party. Speaking at the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ at Ravindra Bhavan, Baina, Godinho said party workers should avoid anti-party activities and ensure that internal differences did not affect the party’s functioning. With elections approaching, Godinho also appealed to people to exercise caution against what he described as misleading statements and misinformation. He said the opposition had attempted to divert public attention through…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Town and Country Planning (TCP) Board has introduced restrictions on the redevelopment of properties containing pre-1961 traditional houses, in a move aimed at preserving Goa’s rural architectural heritage. The decision was taken at a meeting of the TCP Board chaired by Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane on Tuesday. As per the new directive, plots measuring 500 square metres or more that contain pre-1961 traditional houses and are located outside Outline Development Plan (ODP) areas will be subject to a Floor Area Ratio (FAR) cap of 40 per cent. The policy also bars the structural…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Bombay High Court at Goa has granted conditional bail to Nigerian national Ifeanyi Pascol Obi alias Alex, observing that an accused cannot be kept behind bars for an inordinate period when the trial remains pending due to delays not attributable to him. A Bench of Justice S G Chapalgaonkar passed the order in connection with a 2019 drug case registered by Calangute police involving alleged seizure of contraband worth several crores of rupees. Obi has been in custody since October 29, 2019, and has spent nearly seven years behind bars without the trial reaching conclusion. The…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Goa Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has given hotels, restaurants, sweet shops, caterers and other food establishments four days to comply with new disclosure requirements governing the sale and use of milk analogue products. FDA Director Shweta Desai announced the deadline at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, where traders, distributors, caterers and restaurant operators were briefed on the regulations. The move follows complaints and investigations indicating that milk analogue products were being used in food items and sold to consumers as genuine dairy products. Officials said instances had been detected where cheese analogue was used…