Author: Team Admin

Goemkapronn desk MARGAO: Reacting to a report that Goa’s iron ore reserves have been depleted, the Goa Forward Party President, Vijai Sardesai, said he was shocked and demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr Pramod Sawant, for this strange and drastic depletion of Goa’s material wealth. It has been reported that Goa has only 260 million tons of iron ore reserves remaining, down from 2 billion tons in 2013. In April 2013, in response to a question posed by Shri Sardesai in the Goa Legislative Assembly, the former Chief Minister, Late Manohar Parrikar, stated that Goa has…

Goemkarponn desk PANAJI: Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral and Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas were involved in a heated verbal argument over the faulty operation of the sewerage treatment plant in the constituency. Cabral was on-site inspecting the plant after MLA complained that the plant discharged the treated waste into the river. He also alleged that the plant is faulty and non-operational. He charged that the river is polluted due to discharge. Cabral refuted the charges and said that the company, which is running the plant, has ensured that there is no fault. Both had heated arguments in front of locals, engineers,…

Goemkarponn desk PANAJI: There was a time when locals used to manufacture essence sticks, clay lamps, and soaps locally and sell the vegetables and fruits grown in Goan soil. This time, the scene of Diwali is such that the markets are flooded with various clay lamps, ample veggies, flowers and fruits, and designer akashkandils but hardly any of them are locally made/grown/manufactured. Diwali, the popular festival that honours the triumph of light over darkness, was celebrated across Goa today. Although the local vendors were sighted in local markets, most of them were seen selling products exported from outside States. If…

Goemkarponn desk PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today has asked the District Election Officers (DEOs) to exempt staff of the Directorate of Education (DoE) from election duties. This decision came into force after there was a demand from both teaching and non-teaching staff of schools to exempt them from election duties. As per the information, the DEOs will soon take a call on exempting the teachers as requested by the Directorate of Education. Director of Education Shailesh Zingde said that decisions taken in this matter will be officially conveyed later. The Director is learnt to have written to the DEOs…

Goemkarponn desk Savoi-Verem: Locals of Savoi-Verem have appealed that the building of Bal Bhavan be renovated on an urgent basis to avoid any adversity. According to villagers, this Bal Bhavan Kendra is dying slowly due to negligence in regular upkeeping by the concerned authority. Minu Gaude, the former panch member of VP Savoi-Verem, said that during his tenure, VP had written to the Rural Development Agency (RDA) to take up the maintenance and repair work of said building. Later due to Panchayat panel alteration and a few unavoidable circumstances, the renovation work remained pending, he added. One out of two…

Goemkarponn desk MOPA: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said that there is no condition for airlines to operate from both airports, and the Secretary of Civil Aviation is handling the matter. Speaking on the continuity of Dabolim after Mopa commences operations, Sawant said that the order issued by Centre in 2010 will be implemented and supersedes an order issued before that. “The Secretary of Civil Aviation is looking into the matter of Oman Air informing customers of shutting operations at Dabolim and shifting to Mopa from January 1,” he said, replying to queries by Goemkarponn. He said Dabolim and Mopa…

Questions galore on whether the airport is really ready or the State is in a hurry to start revenue for GMR GMR Keeps media away from main areas and just takes a whirlwind tour of the runway, which left many wondering, “What was GMR trying to hide?” SURAJ NANDREKAR/ Goemkarponn desk MOPA (PERNEM): At the outset, except for a couple of buildings that seem ready – the terminal building and the Administrative block, it is all about red mud, black patches of tar and concrete and construction debris out there as the new Greenfield Airport at Mopa readies for take-off…