log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline Pg 12 MONDAY AUGUST 11, 2025 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 55 Goa's Biggest Media Brand with Highest Viewership which makes us >> pg 6 7 key events for markets this week: Focus on US-India tariff updates IN SHORT >> Jewellery worth `  5L 1 stolen at Canacona CANACONA: In a major heist, thieves broke into an unoccupied house at Shingale-Ponsulem and robbed jewellery worth over Rs 15 lakh. Mikhila Fernandes has filed a complaint at the Canacona police station that unknown persons stole gold jewellery worth about Rs 15 lakh from her house.  >> See pg 2 Fire guts paper plate unit near Usgao PANAJI: A massive fire erupted near the PDA market in Tisk Usgao, reducing a paper plate manufacturing unit to ashes and destroying stock worth lakhs. According to the owner, the stock was completely gutted. IMD issues heavy rain alert from Aug 14-16 PANAJI: India Meteorological Department has issued an alert for heavy rainfall at isolated places over North and South Goa on August 14, 15, and 16. Authorities have advised public to remain cautious. VP poll: INDIA bloc for joint candidate NEW DELHI: The INDIA bloc will put up a joint candidate for the vice presidential polls and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is reaching out to Opposition parties to explore names and reach a consensus on it. Karnataka poll officer sends notice to Rahul BENGALURU: The Karnataka chief electoral officer issued a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asking him to share documents based on which he had alleged that a woman voted twice. WEATHER >> Max: 30.4 C Min: 25.2 C Humidity: 98% TIDES Low: High: 05:41 12:22 18:26 ------- AIFF chief blames ‘vested interests’ for ongoing crisis in club football RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Come join us Contact: 9011043385 / 9850755549 / 9130004704 / 9689923150 Email: marketing@prudentmedia.in Coastal belt amps up for music frenzy during I-Day weekend AUTHORITIES FACE ACID TEST AFTER HIGH COURT DIRECTIONS THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Anjuna-Vagator coastal belt, Goa’s famed nightlife hub, is gearing up for a thumping Independence Day weekend from August 14 to 17, promising a sensory overload of music, lights and revelry. But for many residents, it’s less a celebration and more a test of endurance. From open-air psychedelic parties to marathon club nights, dozens of venues are competing to lure tourists with extended “freedom” festivities. Promoters like 3rd Eye Events have announced their “G.O.A – Grooves of Azadi” beachside spectacle at Vagator, beginning 8 pm on August 14 and stretching into the early hours of August 16. The iconic Hill Top at Small Vagator is promising a five- PARTY TIME: FROM DUSK TO DAWN „„‘GOA – Grooves of Azadi’ beachside spectacle at Vagator, from 8 pm on August 14 up to early hours of August 16 „„Five-day ‘Monsoon Blast’ at Hill Top Small Vagator from August 13 to 17 „„Clubs such as Salud, Noah, Raeeth, House of Chapora, Makarena, Mayan Beach Club, Diaz club have advertised multi-day DJ line-ups and Bollywood-themed nights day “Monsoon Blast” from August 13 to 17, while clubs such as Salud, Noah, Raeeth, House of Chapora, Makarena, Mayan Beach Club and even the recently sealed Diaz club are advertising mul- complaints before, but enforcement is weak AUTHORITIES GEAR UP „„We are not against music or celebrations... But when bass-heavy music goes on till 4 am, it’s like living inside a nightclub „„Our elderly parents, children, even pets get disturbed... We’ve filed „„GSPCB officials say teams will be on the ground „„Anjuna Police say they have been instructed to respond immediately to complaints „„North district officials say if violations are reported, we will not hesitate to act ti-day DJ line-ups and Bollywood-themed nights. For locals, it’s a familiar prelude to sleepless nights. “We are not against music or celebrations. But when bass-heavy music goes on till 4 am, with flashing lasers bouncing off our bedroom walls, it’s like living inside a nightclub you never asked to join,” said Ravindra Harmalkar, a long-time Anjuna resident. DISTRESSED VOICES Govt bets on real estate sector to boost economy 3 LAWS AMENDED FOR FISCAL BENEFITS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government is betting heavily on the construction and real estate to rev up the business climate and has amended at least three laws in the recently concluded monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly which directly benefit players in the sector.  Two of the laws the government amended shortens by half the waiting time for individual builders and real estate firms to obtain construction licences and occupancy certificates from civic officials. A third law tweaked by the government gives direct financial benefit to players in the industry in as much as they will be permitted easier terms to pay infrastructure tax instead of paying it in a lump sum at the commencement of construction. Town and Country Planning Minister Vishwajit Rane piloted the Bill which amended the Goa Tax on Infrastructure  Act. Once it comes into force when notified after it re- CONCRETE PLANS „„Two of the laws the government amended shortens by half the waiting time for individual builders and real estate firms to obtain construction licences and occupancy certificates from civic officials „„Another law tweaked gives direct financial benefit to players in the industry „„Amendment to the law governing stamp duty on property mortgage deeds and trust deeds could also impact the real estate sector ceives the gubernatorial nod, builders and construction firms will get to pay the  infrastructure tax  in two equal instalments, one at the start of construction and the other on receiving the completion certificate, instead of the earlier regime where the entire tax had to be paid upfront at the beginning.   Industry sources said, the easing of terms to pay infrastructure tax will be a short in the arm, especially for the smaller players who execute eight to twenty unit projects as the financial burden to start on a project will be reduced.  “For larger players the ben- efit of the easier terms may not add up to much but it does impact initial investment costs significantly,” a prominent Panaji-based architect who requested anonymity said. On reforming the  licencing  regimes for the construction and real estate sector, the government has amended the municipal and panchayat laws to cut short the time period for issuance of construction licences and occupancy certificates. While Rane, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, piloted the amendments >Continued on P5 Another resident, Michael D’Souza said the long weekend could be “unbearable” if authorities don’t step in. “Our elderly parents, children, even pets get disturbed. We’ve filed complaints before, but enforcement is weak once the parties start and tourists pour in,” D’Souza said. The High Court of Bombay at Goa recently closed a contempt petition on loud music but laid down strict guidelines to curb noise pollution. These include a 24x7 complaint helpline (112), mandatory online noise monitoring systems for open-air venues, prompt police inspections, CCTV surveillance at commercial establishments and legal action against violators. Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) officials say they are ready to monitor >Continued on P5 Alarm bells ring as revenue arrears soar past `5k cr WRD BIGGEST DEFAULTER: CAG REPORT THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa government finds itself grappling with massive revenue arrears to the tune of Rs 5,223.81 crore till March 31, 2024. Of this, 42 per cent of the arrears have been mounted for more than three years, revealed the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The auditing agency  has recommended the State Government to undertake necessary measures to recover outstanding revenue arrears for enhancing revenue receipts and achieving deficit targets. The CAG noted that the arrears of revenue as on March 31, 2024 amounted to Rs 5,223.81 crore of which, Rs 2,190.47 crore (42 per cent) was outstanding for more than three years. Further, Rs 126.72 crore was under legal adjudication, leaving arrears of Rs 5,097.09 crore, which were yet to be re- BIG DEFAULTERS „„WRD: A sum of Rs 2,245 cr is pending to be recovered by the Department of which Rs 432 crores are pending for last 3 years „„CTD: The Tax Department has arrears of Rs 2173.56 crore of which Rs 1475.56 crore are pending for more than 3 years   „„POWER: Department is due to recover Rs 462.55 crore from consumers covered. The Water Resources Department is the biggest defaulter on the recovery front. A sum of Rs 2,245 crore is pending to be recovered by the Department of which Rs 432 crores are pending for the last three years. This is followed by the >Continued on P5 Quepem family hit by 2 mystery deaths in US within months THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI A pall of gloom descended in a Quepem neighbourhood after news trickled in that Celio Pereira, who was found unresponsive in his Houston-Texas service apartment by police, had died.  Only months earlier, Celio’s twenty-year-old son had also tragically died in the USA in a random shooting incident. According to acquaintances, Celio was down in Goa in March this year and had last spoken to his sister and mother just a week ago (last Sunday). His  family is said to have grown suspicious when their calls to him went unanswered. Within a few days, the police found him in an unresponsive state during a routine welfare check. His close friends in Houston are now assisting with the difficult process of arranging to fly his body to Goa for the funeral, which is expected to take place later this week. IN LINE FOR LUCK: Hundreds queue up at the government sports complex in Sanguem on Sunday, hoping to get their hands on Ganesh Chaturthi coupons. Although sales began at 9 am, people started lining up as early as 6 am. (Report on pg 3) Dept pushes for taller shacks THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Ahead of the upcoming new tourism season, the Tourism Department has proposed to increase the height of beach shacks from the existing 5.5 meters to a maximum of nine meters. For this, it intends to amend the Beach Shack Policy 2023-26. The Department has approached the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) for its No Objection (NOC) to undertake necessary amendments to the policy in line with Goa Erection of Shacks on Public Beaches (Regulation and Control) Act 2024. According to the Goa Erection of Shacks on Public Beaches Act, 2024, for temporary and seasonal structures other than the beach shacks permitted by Department, coverage of plot is restricted to 33 per cent of the total plot area. Also, the structure must have access of at least three meters. The Act specifies that the height of such temporary structures should not exceed nine meters and a minimum setback of one meter is maintained from the boundary of the plot on all sides. The Department now intends to incorporate all these guidelines pertaining to the >Continued on P5 Govt clueless on number of Soon, women to get first access to donor organs CENTRE’S PRESCRIPTION TO STATES Goan NRIs residing in US PTI 18 AGENTS OPERATING IN STATE, SAYS CM THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The State government has no data as to the number of Goan NRIs in the United States of America (USA), according to a written reply furnished by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the Goa legislative assembly during the recently concluded monsoon session. “This data is not available with the Office of Commissioner for NRI Affairs,” Sawant said in response to a query  posed by Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares-Ferreira. Ferreira had sought to know the number of Goan NRIs living in the US and whether the State government was providing assistance to Goans who had illegally entered that country and are under threat of deportation in the face of a rigorous drive launched by the Trump Administration to expel illegal immigrants. Sawant said the Office of Commissioner for NRI Affairs has corresponded with Indian Missions in the US who are providing assistance to the affected persons. Replying to another supplementary, Sawant said, there are 18 legal agents operating in Goa who help send Goans to the US and other countries for employment.  Ten of these legal agents are based in North Goa, >Continued on P5 NEW DELHI omen patients should be accorded priority in organ transplant waiting lists to check gender disparity, the Union Health Ministry has advised States. It has also suggested that weightage be given to near relatives of deceased donors awaiting organ transplant. These suggestions are part of an advisory issued by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (NOTTO) under the Health Ministry to all states and Union Territories on the 15th Indian Organ Donation Day on August 2 for augmentation of organ W „„Give weightage to near relatives of deceased donors awaiting organ transplant „„Honour deceased organ donors, ensure they receive a dignified funeral „„Felicitate family members of deceased donors at public functions at state/district level on 15th donation and transplantation in India. The advisory called for honouring deceased organ donors and ensuring they receive a dignified funeral and felici- August, 26 January, state foundation day etc. „„Make provision to give tating the family members of deceased donors at public functions at state/district level on 15th August, 26 January, state foundation day etc. “To make provision to give additional points in allocation criteria for female patients in the waiting list „„Developing facilities for organ and tissue retrieval in all trauma centres „„Take up training of emergency responders and ambulance staff for early identification of potential deceased donors additional points in the allocation criteria for female patients in the waiting list for deceased donor organ transplants, so as to address gender disparity. To make provision that if a near relative of a previous deceased donor needs organ transplant, then he may be given priority,” advisory said. It also suggested developing facilities for organ and tissue retrieval in all trauma centres and register them as organ retrieval centre under the Transplantation of Human Organs and Tissues Act (THOTA), 1994. Similarly, states are advised to develop facilities for organ and tissue retrieval in their respective medical colleges in a phase-wise manner. States were asked to take up training of emergency responders and ambulance staff for early identification of potential deceased donors.