log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline MONDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2025 GOA What will move the Dalal Street this week: 6 main triggers IN SHORT >> Rain-hit farmers to get aid by year-end, assures Sawant PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has announced that paddy farmers who incurred crop losses due to erratic rainfall will receive compensation by December 31. He said the assessment of damages and verification of applications is currently in progress. The Chief Minister also urged farmers who have not yet applied for compensation to submit their forms at the earliest. 30% SIR forms collected in State PANAJI: Goa’s Special Intensive Revision exercise recorded strong voter participation, with 3,50,408 enumeration forms collected up to Sunday, accounting for 29.57 per cent of the total. According to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, details of 11,85,034 existing electors have also been compiled and digitised as part of the ongoing process. 4 of Haryana gang held at Margao PANAJI: The Railway Protection Force in Margao has detained four individuals believed to be connected to Haryana’s notorious Sahashi Gang and seized gold worth Rs 50 lakh The suspects were intercepted aboard the Matsyagandha Express following a specific intelligence alert from Southern Railway. K’taka trawler caught for illegal fishing PANAJI: Fisheries Department has seized a large fishing trawler from Malpe, Karnataka for allegedly carrying out illegal fishing activities in Goan waters. This is the fourth trawler seized by the department in past 8 days. Goan fishermen have been demanding action on such trawlers. 1,000 kg illegal beef seized at Mollem PANAJI: Mollem Police have registered a case against two Karnataka residents who were allegedly caught transporting 1,000 kg of beef illegally in a Mahindra Xylo at the Mollem check post. According to the complaint, the accused were transporting the meat from Kittur, Karnataka, without the mandatory documents required under the Goa Animal Preservation Act. Illegal immigration tearing UK: Home Secy LONDON: Illegal immigration is tearing Britain apart and tougher measures such as an extended waiting period of 20 years for refugees to acquire permanent residency are required to unite the country, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. Mahmood said it confirmed reports of UK Home Office’s plans to model the latest crackdowns on a tough system followed by Denmark. WEATHER >> Max: 32.2 C Min: 20.6 C Humidity: 88% TIDES Low: High: 02:47 15:12 08:29 22:07 The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 150 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 2 CM labels charges of job scam accused as ‘big lie’ Message of Oppn unity echoes from Yuri’s birthday celebration >> pg 6 Facebook.com/thegoan GOA Massive Anjuna coast structure triggers outcry; legality under scanner INFO 50% of people don’t know they’re diabetic, say experts ASKS DUPED INDIVIDUALS TO FILE FRESH COMPLAINTS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday dismissed the allegations made by prime accused in the jobs-for-cash scandal Pooja Naik, terming them a “big lie.” Urging victims not to be misled by her statements, Sawant appealed to all individuals who were allegedly duped by Naik to file fresh complaints at their respective police stations. In a recent public video, the prime accused claimed that she paid huge sums in cash to a state minister, a senior IAS officer, and a PWD engineer, alleging their involvement in the scam. On Sunday, several people claimed to be victims of the high-profile jobs-for-cash scam met Sawant at Ravindra Bhavan in Sanquelim. They recounted how they lost large sums of money after being promised government jobs by Naik, but never received any employment. During the meeting, the victims laid out their case in detail, saying that they had IAS officer Nikhil slaps `  7 cr 1 defamation notice on Pooja PANAJI: IAS officer Nikhil Desai, a senior AGMUT-cadre officer, has issued a legal notice to jobs-for-cash accused Pooja Naik, who has named him as an alleged beneficiary in the case. Sent through Advocate Jonathan George, the notice accuses Naik of criminal defamation under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and seeks Rs 17 crore in damages. It claims her allegations are false, malicious, and entirely fabricated, causing significant harm to Desai’s professional and personal reputation. >> See pg 3 placed faith in Naik’s assurances and handed over their hard-earned savings. According to them, Naik repeatedly promised placements in various state government departments but the jobs never materialized. After listening to their ordeal, Sawant urged the affected parties to compile all relevant evidence and file formal complaints at their local police stations. He told them that most victims had paid money in cash, leaving little documentary evidence, and therefore “the case will have to be proven” through formal police complaints and statement. “Whatever she (Naik) is speaking now is a big lie,” the Chief Minister said. “You have paid money in cash and there is no evidence to prove it. So everyone will have to file fresh complaints in their respective police stations against Naik. The case will have to be proven,” he added. Sawant reiterated that the investigation is progressing and said additional complaints will help strengthen the case against Naik and any Major relief for structures in mangrove buffer zone GCZMA SAYS CRZ REGULATIONS WILL NOT APPLY RETROSPECTIVELY TO PRE-EXISTING STRUCTURES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major relief to structures existing on lands declared as mangrove zones, the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has said that coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms will not be made applicable retrospectively to such structures that were standing before the land was declared as mangrove buffer zone in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011 During its meeting held on October 28, GCZMA said that the plan was notified only on September 7, 2022, while some structures in the mangrove buffer zone have been in existence much before it was declared as protected zone. The decision was taken following a complaint filed by Trajano D’Mello pertaining to illegal construction in the no development zone (NDZ) in The decision followed a complaint about alleged illegal construction in Aldona’s no-development zone. After inspection, GCZMA experts found sluice gates and bundhs around the site and concluded that its jurisdiction extends only up to the sluice gates, placing the property outside CRZ purview Aldona village. Following the complaint, the GCZMA’s expert members conducted the site inspection and noted that there are sluice gates on both the sides of the property and a bundh on two sides. The Authority noted that is jurisdiction lies up to the sluice gates and the property in question is beyond the CRZ purview. The Authority also observed that on Goa approved CZMP 2011, both the sluice gates were marked by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), who drafted the plan. “With regards to the plot falling within the mangrove area, as per the CZMP 2011, as declared on September 7, 2022, these structures will not be affected as these structures were standing long before the area was declared as mangrove buffer,” the Authority said. “The declaration in the CZMP 2011, will now not apply retrospectively to any structure existing before the area >Continued on P7 Ready to face narco test: Pooja Naik PANAJI: Amid the escalating jobs-for-cash controversy, accused Pooja Naik on Sunday released a video declaring she is ready to face any inquiry — including a narco analysis test — to prove her innocence. Emphasising transparency, she urged Goa Police to conduct a thorough forensic probe of all mobile phones she used during the period of the alleged crime, insisting that the truth will emerge through a full investigation supplemented, if necessary, by narco testing. other involved persons. Speaking to the media following the meeting, the victims expressed deep disappointment: “We gave her money with great hope, >Continued on P7 CEC team back in Goa for fresh review of tiger reserve proposal THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has arrived in Goa for its second round of consultations as part of its ongoing review of the proposed tiger reserve in the State. The Apex Court has granted the panel an additional week to finalise and submit its report. CEC member and retired IFS officer Sunil Limaye arrived in Goa on Sunday and is scheduled to meet the North and South Goa District Collectors along with senior Forest Department officials on Monday, November 17. He is also expected to visit the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary to assess ground conditions and interact with local residents. >> See pg 3 9 SPORTS India stumbles as Proteas seal historic win at Eden Gardens 12 Coastal body under scanner for U-turn on dunes, turtles CONTRADICTS OWN REPORT AT VAGATOR BEACH NEAR LEGISLATOR’S PROPERTY THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) has come under sharp criticism after allegedly contradicting its own findings regarding the existence of sand dunes and sea turtle nesting activity at Vagator beach – a stretch that lies in proximity to a property owned by coastal MLA Michael Lobo. The Anjuna–Caisua Biodiversity Management Committee has filed a formal complaint accusing the coastal authority of misleading higher authorities and suppressing scientific evidence. Copies of the complaint have been sent to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, the Chief Secretary, the GCZMA, the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Goa State Biodiversity Board and MLAs Vijai Sardesai, Yuri Alemao and Viresh Borkar. 47 turtle nestings Information obtained by Expert report confirmed sand dunes, destroyed vegetation MAPUSA: On October 24, 2024, the Biodiversity Management Committee reported that unknown persons had destroyed sand dunes and coastal vegetation near Survey No 354/1 at Vagator beach. Following this, a three-member expert team – Radha Rao, Bhargavi Kelkar and Gorakh Tuyekar – inspected the site on November 29, 2024. The experts confirmed the presence of sand dunes as per the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2011 and documented damage to the dune vegetation. the Committee under the RTI Act revealed that the Forest Department had recorded approximately 47 nesting instances of Olive Ridley turtles on Vagator beach between 2022 and 2025. The Committee says this evidence clearly establishes the ecological significance of the site. Despite this, the GCZMA submitted a report dismissing both the existence of sand dunes and the occurrence of turtle nesting on the beach. Ambulance staff fight at Margao caught on camera, goes viral THE GOAN I NETWORK MARGAO The South Goa District hospital was back in the news for all the wrong reasons after a video showing a hospital ambulance driver and staff fighting over the duty of closing the ambulance door went viral. As the video triggered outrage, South Goa District hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Rajendra Borkar has promised stern action. Dr Borkar has promised to order a probe into the episode saying that necessary action will be taken against the concerned persons. He admitted that there cannot be a dispute on a petty issue of closing the door of the hospital ambulance when patients are waiting to be shifted to the Goa Medical College The fight between the driver and a hospital staff was over a petty issue of closing the ambulance door and hospital at Bambolim. “What we have watched in the video is totally unacceptable. I will order a probe to verify the facts. Necessary action will be taken against the concerned persons, he said. In the video, the ambulance driver and a hospital staff are seen fighting over a petty issue of closing the ambulance door when patients were waiting in the ambulance. One of the patients was referred to the district hospital from Sanguem and was waiting in the ambulance for shifting to the Goa Medical College and hospital. Contradictions within GCZMA Interestingly, in July this year, during the disposal of a complaint about illegal constructions at the beach, the Member Secretary of the GCZMA, Sachin Desai in his order stated that Vagator beach had no sand dunes and no record of nesting turtles. The Biodiversity Management Committee has alleged that this position contradicts >Continued on P7 Govt announces freeze on new co-op societies THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday announced that the government will halt permissions for traditional credit co-operative societies, asserting that many of them have “turned into a system of loot.” Speaking at the 72nd All India Co-operative Week 2025 celebrations, Sawant said the State intends to gradually phase out such entities and instead promote modern, transparent and technology-driven co-operatives. The Chief Minister stressed that the government’s priority is to strengthen new-age co-operatives with professional management and digital oversight to prevent financial irregularities. “Traditional co-operative society’s days are over. We will not grant any more >Continued on P7