log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline WEDNESDAY JANUARY 21, 2026 GOA GREEN GOLD: HOW EVERYDAY VEGGIES BECOME LUXURY ITEMS MEMES EMERGING AS EVERYDAY POLITICAL EXPRESSION IN GOA, SAYS RESEARCHER IN SHORT >> Football legend Lotlikar no more PANAJI: Former India international and stalwart defender of Dempo SC and the Mormugao Port Trust, Mahesh Lotlikar, passed away at the Goa Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday following a brief illness. He was 77. Born in Chinchinim, Lotlikar earned a reputation as a commanding central defender. Renowned for his strength, positional awareness and tactical intelligence, he was a mainstay in Dempo’s backline for several decades.  >> See pg 11 UK mulls social media ban on teenagers LONDON: The British government says it will consider banning young teenagers from social media as it tightens laws designed to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen time. The government said it would consult with parents, young people and other interested parties about the safe use of technology. The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 12 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 214 Goof-up or design? Questions linger over CZMP port limits >PG 6 Facebook.com/thegoan 2 3 GOA Panaji braces for high-stakes CCP elections in March THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has issued a strong warning to commercial establishments and event organisers, making it clear that noise pollution beyond permissible limits and timings will not be tolerated, with strict action, including heavy fines and suspension of consent, being initiated against violators. GSPCB Chairman Levinson Martins said that noise levels in the State are governed by the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, which clearly define permissible decibel limits for residential, commercial and industrial zones. “All music must stop after 10 pm. If the permissible noise level goes up action will be initiated as per the rules,” Martins said. He clarified that under the Noise Pollution Rules, the district collectors, deputy collectors and the police department, including Superintendents of Police, are the primary authorities empowered to take action against noise violators. Deadline applies to weddings, private functions too: Martins MAPUSA: Emphasising that there will be no relaxation on timings, Goa State Pollution Control Board Chairman Levinson Martins categorically stated that music must stop by 10 pm, including at weddings and private functions. “As per law, there is no music allowed after 10 pm. The only exception is for 15 days in a year, which are specifically notified by the Environment Department,” he said. However, following directions from the High Court, the GSPCB has also been mandated to monitor noise pollution and initiate action where required. Online monitoring Martins said the Board has strengthened its enforcement mechanism by installing online noise monitoring systems in 38 locations across the State that have been identified as chronic noise pollution hotspots. “These online systems send real-time alerts directly to the GSPCB office whenever noise levels exceed permissible lim- 30.3 C 19.2 C 85% TIDES Low: 06.36 18.15 High: 00.38 11.57 Thyroid warning signs: Expert advice on insomnia, fatigue and constipation 9 SPORTS Jemimah holds nerve as Delhi Capitals beats Mumbai Indians its,” he said, adding that the Board plans to expand the monitoring network to cover more areas in the coming days. Noise levels are monitored separately during daytime (6 am to 10 pm) and night-time (10 pm to 6 am), as stipulated under the rules. 24X7 complaint helpline To involve citizens in enforcement, the GSPCB has also activated a 24-hour public complaint system. Martins said members of the public can report noise violations at any time by calling 8956487938. “Once a complaint is registered, it is immediately forwarded to the concerned police station, the deputy collector and the police inspector for necessary action,” he said. Heavy fines, consent suspension The chairman said the GSPCB has also begun imposing penalties in cases where violations are detected through its monitoring systems. “For the first violation, the fine is Rs 20,000, for the second it is Rs 40,000 and for repeated violations, we can either suspend the consent to operate or impose a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh,” Martins said. Since September, the Board has fined 22 establishments, while another 14 cases are currently under monitoring, with most violations reported from the North Goa beach belt. Around 600 more cases are under scrutiny. ‘We mean business’ Appealing to commercial establishments and event organisers, Martins said the Board is serious about >Continued on P5 THE GOAN I NETWORK 12 MAPUSA Even as Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Chairman Levinson Martins (IAS) on Tuesday spoke at length about strict enforcement against noise pollution, ground reality along the nightlife-heavy Vagator-Anjuna coastal belt suggests little has changed. The weekend just gone by witnessed continuous loud music, particularly during night hours, across several stretches of the coast – raising serious questions about the effectiveness of GSPCB’s online noise monitoring systems installed at chronic hotspots and the alerts they are supposed to generate. Residents and campaigners allege that all-night trance music parties continue unabated, especially in areas such as Ozran and Anjuna, leaving locals with no respite even after repeated complaints. “These days there has been absolutely no relief from the all-night loud trance music parties at Ozran, Anjuna,” said Desmond Alvares, a prominent anti-noise pollution campaigner and one of the petitioners before the High Court in cases related to noise violations. RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS „„Desmond Alvares, a prominent anti-noise pollution campaigner says these days there has been absolutely no relief from the all-night loud trance music parties at Ozran, Anjuna „„Another resident says the Board makes big announcements about action taken and action to be taken, but the reality is very different as loud music continues well beyond permissible hours „„Jawish Moniz, an active campaigner against noise revealed they have been complaining to the police and GSPCB, but no one is taking action While the GSPCB has announced a slew of measures, including real-time monitoring, public complaint helplines and heavy penalties for violators, locals say enforcement on the ground remains weak, with authorities allegedly turning a blind eye and deaf ear to complaints. “The Board makes big announcements about action taken and action to be taken, but the reality is very different,” said a resident, pointing out that loud music continues beyond permissible hours, especially on weekends. Jawish Moniz, another Anjuna resident who has been actively campaigning against noise pollution and alleged illegalities in the area, said complaints to both the police and the GSPCB have yielded little result. “We have been complaining to the police and even to the GSPCB about loud noise. But who is actually taking action?” Moniz asked. The violations have renewed concerns among residents about the accountability of enforcement agencies, particularly in designated nightlife zones, and whether the monitoring systems and legal provisions being cited are translating into meaningful action on the ground. As the peak tourist season progresses, locals fear that without visible enforcement, the gap between policy pronouncements and ground-level action in Goa’s coastal belt will only widen further. AFTER PSYCHOPATH ANGLE… CAPITAL CHEER: Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant congratulates Nitin Nabin on assuming charge as BJP national president in Delhi on Tuesday. Sawant expressed confidence that Nabin’s dynamic leadership will further strengthen the party’s organisational journey and advance the shared vision of a stronger, self-reliant and Viksit Bharat under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hearing in Luthras bail plea adjourned Max: Min: Humidity: INFO CAUTIONS ON HEAVY FINES, SUSPENSION OF CONSENT PANAJI: Canacona Police arrested a 29-year-old man during a narcotics raid near a mosque at Colomb, Canacona, and seized suspected charas. The accused, Deepu Singh, a resident of Palolem and a native of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, was found in possession of 431 grams of a blackish, sticky substance believed to be charas, valued at approximately Rs 4.31 lakh. WEATHER >> RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 Pollution board warns strict …But loud music continues to blare in Vagator, Anjuna action on music after 10 pm Ruckus exposes gaps in surveillance Drugs worth `4.31l seized in Canacona PANAJI: The Mapusa court has adjourned the hearing on the bail applications of brothers Gaurav and Saurav Luthra in connection with the Birch fire incident to January 22. Counsel for the accused concluded arguments, while the Assistant Public Prosecutor is scheduled to make submissions on the next date of hearing. Instagram.com/thegoanonline PWD principal chief engineer may get extension despite legal cloud THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA Even as the third service extension granted to Principal Chief Engineer (PWD) Uttam Parsekar comes to an end on January 30, sources indicate that the State government is considering retaining him in the post, possibly through an alternative route, despite multiple legal challenges pending before the High Court. Highly placed sources in the Public Works Department said Parsekar remains the front runner for the post, with the government reluctant to disturb the existing administrative arrangement barely a year ahead of the Assembly elections. “The thinking is to avoid upheaval at the top of the department at this stage,” a source said. Parsekar’s continuation has, however, come under legal scrutiny. Separate petitions before the High Court have challenged not only his repeated extensions but also promotions within the PWD, alleging violations of recruitment rules. Notices have already been >Continued on P5 Cops find photos of over 100 women on Russian’s phone PARALLEL CHECKS ON LEADS BEING CONDUCTED THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI As police pursue the probe into the murder of two Russian women and assess whether they were the only victims of Russian national Aleksei Leonov, his mobile phone has yielded over 100 photographs of different women, raising fresh concerns. DOUBLE MURDER INVESTIGATION Leonov, currently in judicial custody, had initially confessed to killing Elena Kasthanova and Elena Vaneeva over money disputes and borrowing of a fire-dancing crown. During questioning, he allegedly went further, claiming responsibility for five more killings, including that of a woman from Assam. Senior officials reiterated that Mandrem police are treating these claims with serious caution, citing his alleged dis- „„Cops examining possihave been harmed bilities to check if accused „„Inquiry underway to linked to any other trace the women deaths since his wherever possible arrest POLICE „„Focus on „„Trying to Mridusmita PROBE: identify people THE ROAD Sainkia from in the photos Assam, found AHEAD and determine dead at her why they were Korgao residence stored about 10 days ago „„Efforts on to probe „„Police verifying reports whether any of the indithat she and Leonov knew viduals in the images may each other play of psychopathic tendencies, while simultaneously carrying out parallel checks on every lead emerging from the seized device and his movements in Goa. “We are examining all possibilities to verify whether he is linked to any other deaths, right from the day of his arrest. His phone contained more than 100 images of women and a couple of men. We need to establish who they are, why these photos were stored on his device and whether any of them may have been harmed. Wherever possible, efforts will be made to trace these women,” a police source told The Goan. One of these inquiries is about Mridusmita Sainkia, hailing from Assam, who was >Continued on P5 Six PIs facing criminal cases demoted after court order 1 More than six months after directions from the High Court of Bombay at Goa, the Goa Police have demoted six officiating/ad-hoc Police Inspectors (PIs) facing criminal cases, reverting them to their substantive rank of Police Sub-Inspector until they are completely exonerated or acquitted. 2 The officers reverted to PSI rank are Terence Vaz, currently posted at GRP ‘A’ Coy, Altinho; Sandhya Gupta (Crime Branch); Sunil Gudlar (under suspension); Vilesh Durbhatkar (GRP ‘B’ Coy, Altinho); Sushant Gawas (SPCR, Panaji); and Rahul Dhamsekar (Traffic Cell, Dabolim Airport). 3 The demotions follow a petition filed by PSI Anand Narvekar who pointed that in 2022, the DGP had promoted four PSIs with a specific clause stating that the promotions would be subject to the final outcome of the criminal cases against them. >> See pg 3 Controversy erupts over governor’s FORGED PAPERS, FAKE ID & HELP FROM GOA AGENT policy address in Kerala Assembly How a Filipino secured Indian passport through fraud ARLEKAR ACCUSED OF ‘OMITTING’ PORTIONS OF SPEECH PTI KOCHI The Kerala government's policy address, delivered by the Governor in the State Assembly on Tuesday, sparked a row after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar of “omitting” portions of the speech. In response, the Lok Bhavan claimed that the Governor's suggestions had been excluded from the original draft. After Arlekar concluded his two-hour-long policy address and left the House, Vijayan told the Assembly that the Governor omitted portions including sections criticising the BJP-ruled Centre's fiscal policy and references to Bills pending approval from the Lok Bhavan. Soon after the CM's accusation, the Lok Bhavan termed the controversy over the Governor's speech as “unnecessary and baseless” and claimed that Arlekar had asked the government to remove the “half-truths” from the draft of the policy address. “The government had responded that the speech could be prepared and read with amendments that the Governor found appropriate. There was also an indication that the speech could be sent again with the suggested changes. “However, the same speech was sent back to the Governor after midnight yesterday without any amendments. The Governor, who returned late to Thiruvananthapuram from Kozhikode, read the speech in the Assembly this morning,” it said. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI n a case that triggered a serious national-security alarm, the Goa Police are probing how a Philippine national managed to obtain an Indian passport under a false identity -- a breach police believe goes far beyond routine document fraud. The arrest itself is not the story. What has stunned officials is the elaborate trail of forged paperwork, a gender-transition complication, and the alleged involvement of a Goa-based agent who is suspected to have arranged documents for jobseekers I PASSPORT PUZZLE: FAKE ID, REAL THREAT „„Philippine national allegedly assumes Indian identity of Erica Achumi using forged personal details „„Fake Aadhaar, local address proof, and supporting papers arranged to establish Indian citizenship „„Goa-based agent suspected to have provided documents, including a rent agreement using his own address „„Accused allegedly concealed nationality, visa status, and prior identity while applying for the passport in 2017 „„Intelligence agencies alert Goa police about a Philippine national holding an Indian passport „„Crime Branch coordinating with Nagaland police to verify the assumed identity documents „„Officials examining whether accused let work visa lapse before gender transition from the Northeast, placing them in casinos and possibly other corners of the hospitality industry. The Crime Branch, earlier this month, arrested Federico Pinapin Moreno, 41, after central intelligence agencies alerted Goa Police that a for- eign national had obtained an Indian passport in the name of Erica Achumi. “He used forged documents, suppressed material facts and misrepresented his identity to obtain the passport from the Goa Regional Passport Office in 2017. He had been staying in the country without a valid visa or permission, by way of changing his nationality,” sources told The Goan. CB now believes Moreno -- a hairstylist in a Porvorim salon known for a high-profile clientele -- underwent gender-affirmation surgery nearly >Continued on P5