Author: Team Admin

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Goa government has formally notified the North Goa Urban Mobility Area and South Goa Urban Mobility Area, paving the way for the rollout of electric bus services under the Centre’s flagship PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme. The Department of Urban Development said the notification will facilitate planning of routes, creation of supporting infrastructure, and eventual launch of e-bus operations across statutory and census towns. Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) has been designated as the implementing agency, while a state-level steering committee chaired by the Chief Secretary will evaluate and process project proposals. Introduced in August 2023,…

Team Goemkarponn CHIMBEL:Residents of Chimbel have renewed their pledge to resist the controversial Unity Mall project after the Goa State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) granted it conditional environmental clearance. The mall, proposed on a 20,855 sq m plot adjacent to the Chimbel wetland lake, has triggered concern over potential harm to the lake’s ecosystem, nearby aquifers, and traditional livelihoods. “This is the very site where the government’s IT Park plan was scrapped in 2018 due to public opposition,” recalled Govind Shirodkar, chairperson of the Chimbel Biodiversity Management Committee. While SEIAA has directed the developers to use treated water…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: With revised Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates set to take effect nationwide from Monday, the Goa government has announced strict action against traders who fail to pass on the tax benefits to customers. Officials from the State GST and Commercial Tax Department have been instructed to carry out surprise inspections across retail outlets to check profiteering. The Finance Department has already issued a notification and advisory, in line with the Union government’s directive, to ease the transition. Commissioner of Tax S S Gill said that all traders and companies must comply. “Everyone will have to…

Team Goemkarponn NAVELIM: Rosary College of Commerce & Arts, Navelim, recently organized an Inter-Class Social Awareness Competition titled “Heralds of Social Change” at the Navelim Parish Hall. The event aimed to raise awareness among students on pressing social issues and encourage them to use dance and drama as creative mediums to spread messages of change. In his welcome address, Principal Prof. Helic M. Barretto emphasized the role of youth in building a socially responsible community. Each class performed either a dance or a drama on themes such as Swachh Bharat, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Plastic-Free Environment, Green Tourism, and…

Team Goemkarponn CANACONA: As part of Teachers’ Day celebrations, the Lions Club of Canacona felicitated three local teachers for their dedicated contributions to education on Saturday. The honorees included Shri Damodar Vidyalaya Headmaster Jitendra Amshekar for his work in education and social service, Nilesh Prabhu Desai, Physical Education Teacher at Nirakar High School, and Ms. Maria Archana Carvallo, a devoted primary school teacher. The felicitation ceremony was held at Shri Damodar Vidyalaya, Loliem, where the awards were presented by Lion Regional Chairperson Dharmu Raut Desai during his official visit to the Canacona club. The event was attended by National…

“The state cannot pretend ignorance. Licensing security firms is not a casual affair. There are rules, checks, and verification processes in place under the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act. Yet, if individuals with criminal records are able to run such agencies, it points to either wilful negligence or active collusion within the system. In a state where nightlife and tourism are key drivers of the economy, laxity in regulating bouncers and security guards is not a minor issue. It directly affects law and order and, more importantly, erodes public trust.” The recent attack on Rama Kankonkar has once again…

Team Goemkarponn PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party (GFP) has reaffirmed its support for the people’s movement “Goa Against Gundaraj”, calling for swift and transparent justice in the brutal attack on social activist Rama Kankonkar. Describing the attack as not merely an assault on an individual but on every Goan who stands for truth and democracy, the party warned that such acts highlight the growing criminalisation of politics in the state. “The attack on Rama Kankonkar is a grim reminder that the foundations of our society are under threat,” a GFP spokesperson said. The party raised serious concerns over lapses…