log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SATURDAY JULY 26, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 13 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 39 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us Instagram.com/thegoanonline Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in Govt clears path to legalise structures built before 1972 OVER 1 LAKH HOUSES TO BENEFIT, SAYS CM; CIRCULARS ISSUED TO REVENUE DEPT, DoP, DMA; PROCESS STARTS FROM AUGUST 1 THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a significant move, the Goa government has taken a decisive step to regularise over one lakh old houses constructed before 1972, including those located on Alvara or Bhatkar land, provided they are marked on the survey plan. The process, which begins on August 1, will involve the issuance of crucial certificates – Settlement Land Certificate from Deputy Collector and Structure Regularisation Certificate from either Panchayat or Municipality, as per the structural jurisdiction. The crucial decision was taken during the Cabinet meeting on Friday, following which the government issued three circulars to clear page 6 Festival, faith unite Goans in London Goan pilgrims visit Knock Shrine in Ireland IN SHORT >> Levinson appointed new GSPCB chief PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday told the House that the government has appointed Levinson Martins as the new Chairman of the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB). > > See pg 3 Man hacks wife to death in Bicholim BICHOLIM: In a shocking incident, a man allegedly hacked his wife to death with a sword in broad daylight at Vathadev-Bicholim on Friday afternoon and later surrendered to police.   >> See pg 3 Rottweiler attacks man, owner booked MAPUSA: Calangute police has booked a dog owner after his Rottweiler attacked and bit a 60-year-old elderly citizen at Anawada in Candolim on Thursday.   >> See pg 5 7 killed in Rajasthan school bldg collapse Jhalawar: A regular morning alive with the chatter of students assembling for prayers quickly turned into tragedy on Friday when a portion of their government school building collapsed, killing seven children and injuring 27, some of them critically.  >> See pg 8 WEATHER >> Max: Min: Humidity: 30.2 C 24.4 C 92% TIDES Low: 07.54 High: 02.04 21.04 14.33 PROCESS FOR REGULARISATION „„Settlement Land Certificate issued by the Deputy Collector „„Eligibility: House must appear in old survey plans (1970–1972) under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 „„Structure must occupy at least 25% of the plot and the plot size must not exceed 1,000 sqm „„Requires documents like Form I & XIV, Form D „„Certificate to be issued within 7 days if eligible „„Structure Regularisation Certificate issued by local panchayat or municipality „„Confirms the structure is legal and assessed for house tax „„Legal clarity: These certificates do not confer ownership rights but legally validate the structure and land „„The certificates will serve as conversion sanad, removing the need for another during reconstruction the confusion about which houses in Goa are legal or illegal. “This will benefit those whose homes are reflected in the original survey plans of the early 1970s. Even if the structure is on Bhatkar land or Alvara land, it will be considered for regularisation,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told media persons post meeting. He explained that the first step will be the issuance of a Settlement Land Certificate by the Deputy Collector. To be eligible, the house must be shown on the old survey plans prepared under the Goa Land Revenue Code of 1968, typically between 1970 and 1972. The structure must occupy at least 25 per cent of the plot, and the total area of the holding must not exceed 1,000 square metres. Upon submitting an application with a fee of Rs 1,000, the Deputy ROOT’S MASTERCLASS LEAVES INDIA REELING IN MANCHESTER>>13 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Collector will verify the supporting documents, such as Form I and XIV, and Form D, and consult the Directorate of Settlement and Land Records, if necessary. If you are found eligible, the certificate will be issued within one week. After verification, a “Settlement Land Certificate” will be issued within seven days, certifying the structure as legal and exempt from conversion provisions under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. The second step involves verification and certification from the local panchayat or municipal body, depending on whether the structure lies in a rural or urban area. The respective authority, either the Panchayat Secretary or >Continued on P8 Goa to get Third District with headquarters at Curchorem District gets cabinet nod, to cover tribal-dominated talukas of Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State cabinet on Friday accorded its approval for creation of Third District, comprising four remote talukas of Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora- which all together account for around 28 per cent of State's scheduled tribe (ST) population. Curchorem in Quepem taluka has been designated as the headquarters of the third district, following government approval of a proposal submitted by a panel led by the Chief Secretary. Currently, the coastal State has two districts – North Goa and South Goa – with headquarters at Panaji and Margao respectively. Of the total 12 talukas, five are in North, seven are in South. However, with the creation of a third district, the boundaries of the existing North Goa district will remain unchanged, whereas, the South FOCUS ON ST POPULATION „„The new district accounts for around 28% of the State’s ST population „„The move aims to improve governance and service delivery in remote and tribal-dominated areas „„The district is expected to benefit from central funding for setting up hospitals, schools, sports complexes, museums, etc „„The socio-economic indicators of the region make it eligible under the Aspirational District Programme, potentially attracting more development funds „„After the new district is formed, South Goa will comprise only Ponda, Salcete, Mormugao. North Goa remains unchanged Goa will consist of only Ponda, Salcete and Mormugao. The Council deliberated that the creation of New District which is majorly inhabited by the tribal population will also facilitate setting up of new hospitals, educational institutes, sports complex, museum, etc from the central funds. “The proposed New District consists of a significant component of people belonging to the tribal community. Around 28 per cent of the total population in the proposed New District is Scheduled Tribes. The unique needs and challenges of the tribal community can be fulfilled by the creation of this district, which is poised to House votes down resolution Cabinet approves off-campus for Romi Konkani in schools centres for private varsities DESPITE CM’S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW, FERREIRA PERSISTS; RESOLUTION LOST BY 24-6 MARGIN THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Legislative Assembly on Friday rejected by a 24-6 vote a private member's resolution seeking introduction of Romi Konkani in schools in the State moved by Aldona MLA, Carlos Alvares Ferreira. The resolution was put to vote after Ferreira rejected the request from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to withdraw it when six MLAs from the Opposition voted in favour while 24 from the ruling side rejected it. ON PAGE 2&3 Ferreira sought to argue that Konkani in the Romi script has been in use for over 450 years in Goa and is currently used by a significant section of the population. He said, the National Education Policy supports and recognises the need for ef- FERREIRA’S ARGUMENT IN SUPPORT „„Romi Konkani has been used in Goa for over 450 years „„It is the home language for a significant section of Goans „„The NEP supports education in one’s mother tongue or local language for effective learning „„Some Opposition MLAs argued that in Karnataka, Konkani is taught in both Devanagari and Kannada scripts with government support SAWA N T ’ S CO U N T E R „„The script issue was settled in 1962 in favour of Devanagari „„A committee of educationists under the NEP has already framed the language policy „„He warned that raising the Romi script issue could be divisive fective educational benefits through the power of language. Quoting a para from the NEP, Ferreira said the policy also recognises that young children learn and grasp nontrivial concepts more quick- ly in their "home language" which is usually the same as mother tongue or the one spoken by local communities. Ferreira urged the government to therefore make >Continued on P8 Temporary measure aims to accelerate higher education growth until main campuses are ready THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a bid to expedite establishment of private universities in Goa, the State cabinet on Friday granted nod to allow setting up of transitional off-campus centres until the main campus is established. The cabinet approved amendment to the Goa Private Universities Act, 2020 to amend sub-section (1) of section 6. The amendment would be introduced in the oncoming monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly. “In sub-section (1), in clause (ii) of Section 6 of the said Act, after the expression ‘whichever is higher’, the expression ‘and may possess an off-campus centre adhering to the guidelines of the regulatory body so as to start the operation of the university in the initial stages until the expiry of the maximum period specified or until the main campus is established, whichever is earlier,” the cabinet note stated. THE GOAN I NETWORK the university and ensure that it is not used for any other purposes besides academic and research. The amendment also allowed only non-profit making companies to be the sponsoring body of a private university. And in case the adequate numbers of eligible >Continued on P8 >Continued on P8 EDU TO NEXT LEVEL F L A SH B ACK : THE AMENDMENTS The Goa Private Universities Act, 2020 came into force from April 1, 2020 to allow private universities to set up their campuses in the State. Total five private universities have so far got government consent. During the Budget session, the government had amended the act in bid to vest the powers of the land acquired with Speaker breaks silence on 39A uproar; replies on August 7 MAPUSA A day after uproar in the Goa Legislative Assembly over key questions related to Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act going unanswered, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Friday clarified that most of the pending queries pertaining to the TCP department will be addressed on the penultimate day of the ongoing session. Tawadkar informed the House that a majority of the starred and unstarred questions related to the TCP portfolio have been scheduled for response on August 7, the second last day of the current monsoon session. One question has been deferred to the next session, while another has been transferred to the Industries Department for reply. The clarification comes in the wake of strong protests in the Assembly, especially from the Opposition, who raised concerns that several questions regarding Section „„The change will allow universities to start operations early, provided the off-campus centre follows the regulatory body’s guidelines, and remains in use only until the main campus is established or the permitted period ends „„Existing law mandates that a private university must own or lease land for 30 years, covering at least 50,000 sq mtrs „„Universities must use land strictly for academic and research purposes „„Only non-profit companies can sponsor private universities >Continued on P8 „„If enough eligible reserved category candidates are not available, seats can be filled from unreserved categories Two cops suspended Govt mulls review of laws defining Goan origin for molesting woman amid House ruckus; POGO resolution rejected UPROAR IN ASSEMBLY outside Panaji pub THE GOAN I NETWORK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Two police constables attached to branches of the Office of the North Goa Superintendent of Police have been suspended following serious allegations of molestation and assault on a woman outside a pub in Patto-Panaji. Details shared by SP Rahul Gupta stated that the woman accused Omkar Jadhav and Mayur Naik of outraging her modesty outside the pub. “The woman has alleged that the accused touched her inappropriately, hurled abusive words and that one of them assaulted her with a mobile phone on her forehead, causing an injury. The accused were immediately suspended from duty and an FIR was registered against them,” the SP said. “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable as part of a disciplined police force,” he added while further informing the media that a show cause notice has been issued to a third police personnel who had accompanied the two suspended personnel. PANAJI mid ruckus by the Opposition, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the government is open to reviewing the provisions regarding the individuals born in the State in the interest of Goans. Addressing the House, Sawant said that the Goa Succession, Special Notaries and Inventory Proceeding Act outlines specific provisions for individuals born in Goa and those born outside but governed by the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867 and so also A „„Sawant stresses the need to strengthen and review the Act to address current challenges and protect Goan identity „„His remarks came in response to a Private Member’s Resolution by RGP MLA Viresh Borkar, seeking a clear legal definition of RGP MLA Viresh Borkar marshalled out of the ‘Goans’ and ‘Persons of Goan Origin’ House for his persistent protest demanding „„The resolution was rejected by the House, a clear definition of the terms ‘Goans’ and leading to uproar by the Opposition ‘Persons of Goan Origin’. the Official Gazette released in February 1995. He said that the Act specifies persons who prior to the 20th day of December, 1961, were governed by the provisions of the Civil Code of 1867 as in force in erstwhile Portuguese regime over Goa and which continued in force, to the person born in Goa of parents who are governed by the provisions of the Civil Code of 1867, any person born outside the State of Goa of parents who were or are governed by the provisions of the said Civil Code of 1867 or rest of India, etc. “Goa remains committed to reviewing and strengthening the existing provisions of The Goa Succession, Special Notaries and Inventory Proceeding Act in response to the emerging needs to challenge and uphold the interest of Goans,” Sawant told the House. Sawant was responding to the Private Member Resolution moved by RGP MLA Viresh Borkar who urged that the House recommend the government that the terms ‘Goans’ and ‘Persons of Goan Origin’ be clearly defined in law to >Continued on P8