Author: Team Admin

Unity Mall Land Row: Joint Inspection Postponed

Goa News January 23, 2026

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: A joint site inspection of land earmarked for the proposed Unity Mall at Chimbel began today but was later postponed after objections were raised by villagers over the limited scope of the exercise. Officials who arrived at the site initially commenced inspection of only the proposed mall area, prompting villagers to demand that the survey cover the entire stretch from Toyyar Lake to the project site. Following delays and discussions at the spot, both villagers and authorities agreed to defer the exercise and undertake a comprehensive survey on Wednesday, combining physical verification with Google satellite imagery. Pramod…

ED Conducts Multi-City Searches in Money-Laundering Probe Linked to Birch

Goa News January 23, 2026

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today launched extensive search operations in Goa and Delhi after registering a money-laundering case against the promoters of the nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, the venue of a devastating fire that killed 25 people and injured over 50 on December 6, 2025. According to officials, searches are being conducted at eight to nine locations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These include the residential and office premises of brothers Saurabh and Gaurav Luthra, who owned the nightclub and are currently in judicial custody. Properties connected to individuals suspected of assisting in…

“Even projects undertaken by the Housing Board itself have become unaffordable. Flats and plots that should have been priced to match local incomes are instead pegged at rates that cater comfortably to buyers from outside Goa. A double-bedroom flat costing ₹65 lakh is now being presented as normal. The question that needs to be asked honestly is simple. For whom is this normal? For many Goans, this is an impossible figure. For buyers from Delhi, Mumbai or other metropolitan cities, it is often seen as a bargain. This mismatch has consequences. There have been repeated instances where Housing Board plots and flats have ended up in the hands of non-Goans, legally but questionably.” Goa Housing Board Has a New Home, But Where Do Goans Live? The Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, recently inaugurated the new office of the Goa Housing Board. It is a plush, modern building. Photographs show clean lines, fresh paint, and the promise of efficiency. Yet outside its walls lies an uncomfortable question that the state seems unwilling to confront. If the Housing Board has found itself a new home, what about the people of Goa for whom it was created? The Goa Housing Board was established with a clear social purpose. It was intended to provide affordable housing for Goans, particularly middle-class and lower-income families, in a state where land is scarce and demand is high. That purpose today stands diluted, if not entirely defeated. Housing, instead of becoming more accessible, has steadily slipped out of the hands of Goans. Across Goa, land prices and apartment rates have soared beyond the reach of local families. This is not an abstract complaint but a lived reality. Young Goans with stable jobs are unable to buy homes in their own villages or towns. Families that once dreamt of settling their children close by now see them pushed to the fringes or out of the state altogether. The irony is painful when this crisis is unfolding under the watch of an institution meant to prevent precisely this outcome. Even projects undertaken by the Housing Board itself have become unaffordable. Flats and plots that should have been priced to match local incomes are instead pegged at rates that cater comfortably to buyers from outside Goa. A double-bedroom flat costing ₹65 lakh is now being presented as normal. The question that needs to be asked honestly is simple. For whom is this normal? For many Goans, this is an impossible figure. For buyers from Delhi, Mumbai or other metropolitan cities, it is often seen as a bargain. This mismatch has consequences. There have been repeated instances where Housing Board plots and flats have ended up in the hands of non-Goans, legally but questionably. Meanwhile, Goans watch their applications rejected, their savings fall short and their hopes collapse. Dreams of owning a modest home turn into long-term debt or permanent displacement. The deeper problem lies not only in pricing but in policy intent. The Housing Board appears to have drifted from its original mandate. Instead of acting as a protective institution for Goans, it increasingly mirrors the open market, where purchasing power alone decides access. When state-backed housing becomes indistinguishable from private real estate, the social contract is broken. This trend feeds into a larger fear simmering across Goa. Slowly but steadily, Goans feel pushed out of their own land. Coastal villages, urban centres, and even hinterland areas are witnessing a demographic shift driven by speculative buying and external capital. Housing becomes an investment asset rather than a basic need. In such a climate, celebrating a new office building rings hollow. What Goa needs is not better offices, but better outcomes. The government must revisit the Housing Board’s role with urgency. Are there strict eligibility criteria that genuinely prioritise Goans? Are there price caps linked to local income levels? Are resale restrictions enforced to prevent speculative flipping? These are not radical ideas. They are standard tools used by governments that take affordable housing seriously. There is also a moral dimension that cannot be ignored. Housing is not just about shelter. It is about belonging, continuity, and dignity. When Goans are forced to leave because they cannot afford to live here, the social fabric of the state weakens. Culture, language, and community life suffer quiet erosion. The inauguration of a plush office should have been an occasion to recommit to the Housing Board’s founding purpose. Instead, it risks becoming a symbol of misplaced priorities. Infrastructure without intent serves little purpose. Goa does not need grand buildings to administer policies that fail its people. If the Housing Board is to remain relevant, it must answer the most pressing question facing Goans today. Not where its officials sit, but where Goans will live.

Opinion January 23, 2026

“Even projects undertaken by the Housing Board itself have become unaffordable. Flats and plots that should have been priced to match local incomes are instead pegged at rates that cater comfortably to buyers from outside Goa. A double-bedroom flat costing ₹65 lakh is now being presented as normal. The question that needs to be asked honestly is simple. For whom is this normal? For many Goans, this is an impossible figure. For buyers from Delhi, Mumbai or other metropolitan cities, it is often seen as a bargain. This mismatch has consequences. There have been repeated instances where Housing Board plots…

Why A. R. Rahman’s Interview Deserves Applause, Not Outrage

Opinion January 23, 2026

Sandeep Heble When a legend speaks and an accomplished journalist listens, the outcome should ideally be something lasting. That is precisely what the conversation between A. R. Rahman and BBC’s Haroon Rashid offers. It is measured, expansive, intelligent and grounded in music and lived experience. Rahman is not merely a composer. He is an institution, someone who has shaped how India hears itself and how the world hears India. Haroon Rashid, calm and probing without being intrusive, belongs to a rare breed of interviewers who allow artists to think aloud rather than perform for headlines. By any reasonable measure, this…

Siddhant Chaturvedi Invites Guests to Experience Mumbai Like a Local, only on Airbnb

Business News January 23, 2026

Goa: As music increasingly shapes how India’s Gen Z travel with 77% planning trips around concerts and festivals in 2026 , Airbnb is bringing fans closer to the culture they love. As part of its global live music partnership with Lollapalooza, Airbnb has partnered with actor, musician, and cultural voice Siddhant Chaturvedi to host Lolla India Like a Local, an exclusive Airbnb Original Experience in Mumbai. Designed as an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience, that brings guests into the city that shaped Siddhant – through its neighbourhoods, food, music, and creative spaces – bringing to life the magic of everyday travel before…

“Change Is Inevitable in Kerala,” Says PM Modi as BJP Pushes for New Political Alternative

India News January 23, 2026

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday delivered a sharp political message in Kerala, declaring that change in the state was unavoidable and urging voters to move beyond the long-standing dominance of the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Addressing a rally in Thiruvananthapuram, he positioned the Bharatiya Janata Party as a development-focused alternative that could reshape Kerala’s political and governance landscape. The Prime Minister accused both the LDF and the UDF of corruption, misgovernance and appeasement politics, stating that despite changes in government over the years, the system itself had remained unchanged. He said the…

Free Pain Relief Camp Benefits Over 100 at Daivadnya Bhavan, Margao

Business News January 23, 2026

New Delhi: Daivadnya Bhavan, Margao organised a comprehensive Pain Relief Camp with physiotherapy consultation at its Colconda premises on January 18, 2026, aimed at promoting preventive healthcare and improving quality of life for residents. The initiative was conducted in association with Dr. Sasmit Lotlikar, an experienced pain medicine specialist and interventional spine physician, and witnessed enthusiastic participation from the local community. Renowned medical professional Dr. Ravindra Shirodkar graced the event as the Chief Guest. His presence added significance to the programme, particularly in light of his recent recognition with the Award of Excellence conferred by the Honorable Minister for Social…