Author: Team Admin

“Mopa airport caters to elderly travellers, families with children, first-time visitors and passengers carrying heavy and multiple pieces of luggage. Many passengers take time to locate their driver, load bags and settle in. International arrivals take even longer due to immigration and baggage delays. These are routine realities, not exceptional circumstances. What makes the policy even harder to defend is the airport’s own infrastructure. GMR has installed several speed breakers across internal roads to ensure safety. Speed breakers are designed to slow vehicles down. When movement is deliberately restricted for safety reasons, penalising drivers for not clearing checkpoints fast enough…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: The magisterial inquiry into the deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub has uncovered serious and long-standing violations of fire safety norms, widening the scope of accountability and placing Goa’s regulatory and enforcement machinery under intense scrutiny. The tragedy, which claimed 25 lives in North Goa, is now being linked to years of systemic lapses rather than isolated failures. The inquiry has revealed that none of the clubs operating at Birch by Romeo Lane, nor the restaurants that functioned at the premises earlier, had ever obtained the mandatory Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC). Instead, the…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Retired Justice Sandeep Shinde has been selected for appointment as the Goa Lokayukta, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced on Tuesday. The Chief Minister said the government has initiated the formal process and will forward the recommendation to the High Court for its opinion. “Retired Justice Sandeep Shinde has been selected for the post of Lokayukta. We are now sending the recommendation to the High Court. Once it comes back from the High Court, he will be appointed,” Dr Sawant said. He added that after the completion of all statutory and administrative formalities, Justice Shinde will officially…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant issued a stern warning to government servants, cautioning them against falling prey to external benefits, inducements or influence while discharging their duties. Emphasising accountability in public service, the Chief Minister revealed that around 20 government officers have already been suspended for misconduct. Addressing officials and youth, Dr Sawant said government employees are not merely servants of the government but public servants answerable to the people. “Those in service must remember that they are accountable to society. Any deviation from duty or ethics will invite strict action,” he said. Reiterating the government’s commitment…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: Retired Bombay High Court Judge Justice Ferdino Rebello met Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and raised serious concerns over what he termed as illegal administrative actions facilitating unregulated development in Goa, including a 2023 circular issued by the Town Planner permitting hill cutting. Speaking after the meeting, Justice Rebello said he placed a detailed 10-point charter of demands before the Chief Minister, focusing on systemic reforms in land-use planning and development regulations. He alleged that the 2023 circular related to hill cutting was issued without legal authority and demanded its immediate withdrawal. “The Town Planner has no…

Team Goemkarponn Margao: As Goa approaches the 60th anniversary of the historic Opinion Poll of January 16, 1967, Madganvcho Awaaz, along with youth leader Prabhav Naik, has called upon the State Government to launch year-long Diamond Jubilee celebrations to honour the landmark democratic event that safeguarded Goa’s distinct identity. In a detailed representation submitted to the Chief Minister of Goa, Prabhav Naik underscored the historic importance of the Opinion Poll, describing it as a defining moment that shaped Goa’s political and cultural future. He stated that the democratic verdict not only preserved Goa’s unique identity but also paved the way…

Team Goemkarponn Panaji: After repeated setbacks, the State government’s plan to bring Goa’s only sugar factory back into operation has shown signs of momentum, with multiple private players stepping forward to explore the project. Officials confirmed that four companies have expressed interest in redeveloping the Sanjivani Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited (SSSKL) at Dharbandora, which has remained closed since the 2019 crushing season. In response to this renewed participation, the government has decided to push back the deadline for submission of bids to February 5. The agriculture department had floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) in November for the redevelopment of…