log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 91 Instagram.com/thegoanonline MANDHANA TON HANDS AUSTRALIA BIGGEST LOSS IN ODIs >>12 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 CBC 15502/13/0016/2526 THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2025 Facebook.com/thegoan Mhadei just transit corridor for tigers, not habitat: Govt to CEC STATE REJECTS RESERVE STATUS, SAYS NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF RESIDENT TIGERS; CITES NTCA ADVICE AS NON-BINDING, WARNS OF DISPLACEMENT RISK TO ONE LAKH VILLAGERS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Government in its submission before the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has said that the Mhadei protected area is only a corridor whereby the tigers transit from Maharashtra to Karnataka or vice versa and that there is no scientific evidence to prove they are residents of the State. The State government also said that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recommendations are not binding on them and the final decision taken by the Petitioner would be subject to undertaking a review of the feasibility of the proposal to declare the protected area as a tiger reserve. The CEC, as directed by the Supreme Court has com- GOVT SUBMISSION ON MHADEI IS ONLY A PASSAGE FOR TIGERS MOVING BETWEEN MAHARASHTRA AND KARNATAKA; NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF OF RESIDENT TIGER POPULATION „„Declaring a tiger reserve would impact 1 lakh people living in the area for over 50 years; warns of possible unrest if displaced „„2014 NTCA study itself noted Mhadei as a tiger corridor; only 4 tigers seen in 2014, 3 in 2018, no evidence of cub-rearing „„Only adult tigers recorded, identifiable by stripes; no proof of breeding or permanent habitation „„Small size of protected areas and dense human population make a reserve impractical „„Corridor-level protection exists and a tiger reserve would add little value menced hearing on the Tiger reserve matter. It has to hear all the stakeholders including State, Petitioner Goa Foundation and various central agencies before submitting its report in two weeks. In its submission, the State government also cautioned that displacement of one lakh population from the protected areas could lead to armed rebellion in opposition to the decision to displace and resettling the local inhabitants. Quoting National Ti- ger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the State said that the area of Mhadei is only a route which is used by tigers to transit. "The protected area is only a corridor whereby the tigers transit from Maharashtra to Karnataka or vice versa and TIGER RESERVE Ambitious airport ferry terminal project lost at sea IN SHORT >> Lorry owners warn of stir over NH-748 curbs Mapusa waste piles up as workers go on leave MAPUSA: Mapusa’s garbage problem has resurfaced, with black spots across the town turning into dumping grounds despite MMC assurances. This recurring issue coincides annually with the Chaturthi exodus of civic staff, highlighting a persistent governance failure in waste management.  >> See pg 3 Belagavi wholesale veg market reopens BELAGAVI: The Belagavi Agricultural Produce Market Committee’s (APMC) wholesale vegetable market roared back to life on Wednesday, following the State Marketing Department’s cancellation of Jai Kisan Private Wholesale Vegetable Market’s trading licence.  >> See pg 7 CORRIGENDUM In our coverage of the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) elections, The Goan inadvertently reported that the third candidate in the fray for the Secretary's post and bagged just three votes was former Goa Ranji player Aditya Pai Angle when in fact it was another ex-Ranji player Hemant Pai Angle. The error is regretted. >Continued on P9 Gov gives assent to pvt varsities’ off-campus plan, ferocious dogs law >> See PG 3 MARGAO:The All Goa Lorry Owners’ Association has issued an indefinite strike notice to the South Goa District Collector, demanding the immediate resumption of heavy commercial vehicle movement along the Anmod-Goa NH-748 route.   >> See pg 2 the area of Mhadei is only a route which is used by tigers to transit," the State government said. In fact, it added that the 2014 report of the NTCA itself supports the contention of the State that the protected areas of Goa only acts as corridor for movement of tigers from the State of Karnataka to the State of Maharashtra and for which the protective measures have already been put in place. The State government highlighted that a total of 4 tigers were found to be present in Mhadei in the year 2014, however, in the year 2018, the figure went down to 3. "No evidence has been found through camera trapping on rearing of cubs. Only adult tigers have been found. Each tiger can be EUPHORIA TURNS INTO DISAPPOINTMENT: FC Goa fans lit up the stands during the clash against Al Zawraa in the AFC Champions League 2 at Fatorda Stadium on Wednesday. The Gaurs lost 0-2 to the Iraqi club in the opener.  (Report on Pg 11) GCCI seeks continuation of zero export duty on low-grade ore THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has urged the Centre to continue with zero export duty on low-grade iron ore, while claiming that imposition of duty would result in an annual revenue loss of more than Rs 800 crore from the existing production alone and also affect future bidding for mineral blocks. According to media reports, the Central government intends to impose a hefty 30 per cent duty on low grade iron ore exports from October to ensure an uninterrupted supply to steel companies at lower prices. The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters’ Association (GMOEA) has already >Continued on P9 PANAJI: In a bid to expedite the establishment of private universities in Goa, Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju has granted assent to the Act permitting such universities to set up transitional off-campus centres until their main campuses are established. Currently, as per law, the University should be set up on a land-owning or leased out for a period of 30 years with an area of not less than 50,000 sq mtrs. Separately, the State government has notified the law prohibiting the domestication, breeding, and regulation of “ferocious” animals, following the Governor’s assent. The Act proposes that the government may declare any breed or class of animals to be a “ferocious animal” through a notification published in the Official Gazette. As per the Act, the owners of animals declared “ferocious” shall be solely responsible for their actions and liable, if they harm any human or animal, for paying compensation. >> See pg 2 Transport dept slams brakes on vendor monopoly in taxi devices Operators can now buy AIS-140 compliant tracking units, certified meters from open market THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major relief to the taxi operators, the Directorate of Transport has withdrawn the system of vendor empanelment for digital fare meters and Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs), opening the market for taxi operators to procure devices from any approved source. The decision is aimed at reducing costs for vehicle owners while maintaining full compliance with legal requirements. Earlier, three companies had been empanelled for VLTDs and two vendors for fare meters, effectively limiting taxi operators to purchase only from those suppliers. With the cancellation of the empanelment lists, operators now have the freedom to procure devices directly from the open market. The department, however, clarified that while the choice of vendors is now unrestrict- M A R KE T- D R I V EN O PT I O N S „„Taxi operators free to buy fare meters and VLTDs from any approved source „„Move aims to cut costs, boost competition, and ease financial burden on taxi owners „„Devices must still comply with Central Motor Vehicles Rules and Goa Motor Vehicle Rules „„VLTDs must be AIS-140 compliant with emergency buttons; meters certified by Legal Metrology Dept „„Policy expected to improve compliance across taxi fleet, allow price comparison, and promote market-driven costs ed, the technical and legal requirements under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules and the Goa Motor Vehicle Rules remain fully binding. The move is expected to encourage market competition, reduce the financial burden on operators, and promote wider compliance across the State’s taxi fleet. “This reform provides taxi operators the freedom to choose certified devices while ensuring compliance with all safety and metering standards,” Director of Transport Pravimal Abhishek said. Under Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, inserted through GSR 1095(E) dated November 28, 2016 and effective from April 1, 2018, all public service vehicles are required to be equipped with VLTDs along Delhi man arrested for viral ‘Haunted Mopa Airport’ video POLICE SEIZE MOBILE PHONE, LAPTOP AND CAMERA THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Mopa Airport Police have arrested Akshay Vashisht, a Delhi resident and administrator of the Facebook channel ‘Real Talk Clips’, for uploading a video containing false and alarming claims about Manohar International Airport, Mopa. The case was registered on Monday, following a complaint by the Social Media Monitoring Cell, PHQ, in Panaji, under Cr No. 46/25 u/s 353(2) r/w 3(5)BNS 2023. The video, titled “Goa Ka Haunted Airport,” allegedly contained malicious and superstitious allegations capable of creating public fear, intended to promote the channel. During the investigation, police traced Vashisht to Dwarka, Delhi. A team from Mopa Airport Police brought him to Goa for further ques- >Continued on P9 Govt flags off Majhe Ghar scheme on Modi's b'day THE GOAN I NETWORK tioning, where he was placed under arrest  on Wednesday evening. In his video, Vashisht narrated multiple stories about the airport. He claimed that PANAJI The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is evidently banking on the Pramod Sawant government's 'Majhe Ghar' scheme linked to the recent controversial laws it passed to regularise illegal houses on government land, comunidade land and others to earn it electoral pelf at the upcoming Zilla Panchayat polls and subsequently at the 2027 assembly elections. On Wednesday, the scheme had a 'soft-launch' on the occasion of the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi where Sawant said the scheme is expected to benefit nearly 50 per cent of the State's population. The chief minister said, notifications giving the laws effect have already been issued and once all the legal formalities and technicalities are completed, the scheme will be formally launched with application forms to seek benefit being made available simultaneously. >Continued on P9 >Continued on P9 IN THE VIDEO „„Airport built on cremation ground; several labourer deaths during construction „„Mysterious peepal tree said to protect airport and nearby village „„Alleged secret couple sacrifice for airport’s completion „„Pilots avoid night flights; 'woman in white saree' seen near planes during takeoffs Masked men rob K’taka Surge in brain-eating amoeba puts Kerala on alert SBI branch; flee with 61 cases, 19 deaths this year; health dept orders strict monitoring, early detection cash, gold worth `21 cr AGENCIES PTI BENGALURU Three masked men armed with country-made pistols and knives allegedly robbed a nationalised bank in this district, making off with over Rs 21 crore in cash and gold ornaments, after tying up the staff, the police said on Wednesday. The incident occurred at around 6.30 pm on Tuesday at the State Bank of India branch in Chadchan town of Vijayapura district, they said. In total, cash and gold ornaments worth over Rs 21 crore have been stolen by the robbers, as per the estimate of the bank authorities. According to police, three masked men came to the bank under the pretext of opening a current account and threatened the manager, cashier and other employees with pistols and knives. The gang tied up the hands and feet of the staff. They escaped with cash to the tune of over Rs 1 crore and gold ornaments weighing approximately 20 kg, worth Rs 20 >Continued on P9 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM erala’s health department is on high alert following a rise in cases of Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but deadly brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the ‘brain-eating amoeba’. So far this year, 61 cases have been confirmed across the state, with 19 reported deaths, many of them in recent weeks. The disease has a very high fatality rate and progresses rapidly once symptoms begin. K WHAT IS AMOEBIC MENINGOENCEPHALITIS? „„Amoebic meningoencephalitis is caused by Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that thrives in warm, stagnant, or poorly treated water „„It enters the body through the nose, usually during swimming or bathing in contaminated water, and travels to the brain, causing severe inflammation „„The main symptoms of PAM include fever, headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, and nausea Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George has called the situation as a serious public health concern. She said the infection, once mostly seen in limited areas like Kozhikode Preventive measures Health officials are urging the public to avoid swimming in untreated water bodies and to seek medical help immediately if any of these symptoms appear after water exposure and Malappuram, is now being reported from different parts of Kerala, according to a report. “Unlike last year, we are not seeing clusters linked to a single water source. These are single, isolated cases, and this has complicated our epidemiological investigations," George said. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the Health Minister had said, “After the 2023 Nipah outbreak, we issued strict instructions to investigate every meningoencephalitis case. We also asked the practitioners to check the cause of that meningoencephalitis. If they find amoeba, they will >Continued on P9