log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8, 2026 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline 16 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 231 RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 MOVIES »PAGE 16 PLAY & PAUSE »PAGE 13 LIVE SMART »PAGE 14 Theatre remains my anchor: Juhi Babbar Soni Melodies of love and loss Comeback of the ‘Revenge quitting’ SPORTS »PAGE 8 Hetmyer, Shepherd power Windies to comfortable win over Scotland Why men drift Faheem drags unconvincing Pak over the line after big scare Of condoms and great music: Cast members of Jhankaar Beats reunite for a discussion Ahead of her performance in Mumbai, songwriter-singer Priyanka Nath opens up about love, loss, and music Why employees leave abruptly choosing mental health over toxic workplaces Reviving ancient art OLD GOA HERITAGE BUNGALOW CONTROVERSY >> SEE PGs 2 & 3 UNMASKING THE SILENT STRUGGLES ON CAMPUS 9 MAGAZINE MAGAZ REPORT RAISES QUESTIONS OVER PERMISSIONS FOR ‘REPAIR’ THE GOAN I NETWORK Demand rises but salt pans continue to fade What do 5 new GI tags mean for Goa’s agro universe Growing up with technology and growing away from patience 11 When immigration law finally catches up IN SHORT >> INDOOR FIREWORKS BANNED IN NORTH GOA PANAJI: In the aftermath of the deadly fire at the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub on December 6, 2025, the District Magistrate of North Goa has prohibited the use of indoor pyrotechnics and fire-producing equipment across the district, citing serious public safety concerns. The order, which comes into effect from Sunday for a period of 60 days, bans the use, bursting, ignition or operation of fireworks, sparklers, pyrotechnic effects, flame-thrower type devices, smoke generators and similar fire or smoke-producing equipment inside tourist establishments. These include, but are not limited to, nightclubs, bars and restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, resorts, beach shacks, temporary structures, event venues and other entertainment establishments throughout North Goa. >> See pg 3 Birch nightclub partner gets bail PANAJI: The JMFC, Mapusa, on Saturday granted bail to Ajay Gupta, a partner of Birch by Romeo Lane in a separate case related to the alleged forgery of documents for excise licence.  >> See pg 3 WEATHER >> Max: 35.1 C Min: 21.2 C Humidity: 86% TIDES Low: High: SC inspection finds structure was constructed, not repaired 08.28 20.10 01.54 14.44 KEY FINDINGS OF THE INSPECTION REPORT „„ASI permission allowed monitoring of repair work, not reconstruction „„Nine ASI status reports indicate original structure was demolished and new structure constructed „„New ground-plus-one RCC structure stands on the property „„Ground floor has six rooms; the upper floor is inaccessible due to absence of staircase „„Authorities found structure appears to be new construction „„Measurements match approved plan of multiple departments „„Plan lacks authentication from Director General, ASI „„Four temporary, broken tin sheds exist on the property „„Repair permission did not include any plan or photographs of the house to be repaired ter demolishing the structure that was originally existing therein,” reads an extract of the 100-page report. Justice Fernandes was tasked with inspecting Plot No. B, admeasuring 2,400 square metres, located at Survey No. 4/1 of Village Ella, Old Goa, and owned by Suvarna Lotlikar. The inspection followed a Supreme Court order to examine the permission for repairs granted by the Director (Monuments-II) on February 3, 2020. As per the report earlier placed before the Bench, Jus- Congress to drum up Oppn support in Parl on Goa bill tice Fernandes conducted site inspections on December 30, 2025 and January 7, 2026, and submitted detailed findings along with photographs of the structure standing on Plot B. The property is bounded by Survey No. 4/1A on the eastern side, motorable roads to the north and west, and an old fortification wall to the south, which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) considers to be pre-Portuguese. The report noted that the plot is enclosed by a loose stone wall on the north and west, a compound wall of the adjoining property on the east, and GI sheets covering portions of the eastern and northern boundaries. “There is a disputed structure on the property in Survey No. 4/1. It is a ground plus one floor building with RCC pillars, beams, laterite masonry, RCC slabs, and PCC flooring. The total height is 8.5 meters. The ground floor India, US on cusp of sealing bilateral trade agreement n FRAMEWORK FOR PHASE-1 FINALISED n US TO CUT TARIFFS ON INDIA TO 18% PTI NEW DELHI India and the US on Saturday announced that they have reached a framework for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement under which both sides will reduce import duties on a number of goods to boost two-way trade. The framework reaffirms the two countries’ commitment to the broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations, launched by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2025, according to a joint statement. While the US will reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the present 50 per cent, India will eliminate or cut down import duties on all US industrial goods and a wide range of American food and agricultural products, including dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruit, soybean oil, wine and spirits. KEY HIGHLIGHTS „„To open $30 tn market for Indian exporters „„Increase in exports to create lakhs of new jobs „„Huge market potential in textiles, apparel, leather and footwear „„Tariffs to go down to zero on a wide range of goods 4 Indian students among several injured in Russia stabbing attack PANAJI The Supreme Court-appointed inspection has concluded that the controversial bungalow at the Old Goa UNESCO World Heritage site was constructed by demolishing an existing structure. The report has indicated serious questions over the permissions granted for “repair work”. The findings are contained in a report submitted to the Supreme Court by Edgar Fernandes, retired District and Additional Sessions Judge, Goa, who was appointed by the apex court to inspect and supervise the assessment of the disputed site. “The permission required the Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Goa Circle, to monitor the repair work. Nine status reports with photographs in the ASI records, indicate that the disputed structure standing in Survey No. 4/1 in Village Ella is constructed af- BILL AIMS TO SAVE LAND, RIVERS, IDENTITY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Congress is reaching out to other Opposition parties in Parliament to secure support for the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2025, which aims to safeguard Goa’s land, rivers, and identity,  South Goa MP, Viriato Fernandes said on Saturday.  The bill, already introduced in Parliament, proposes the creation of a Goa Sustainable Development Board by amending Article 371(I) of the Constitution, Fernandes said while speaking at a press conference at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, where he was accompanied by GPCC president, Amit Patkar and AICC Goa in-charge Manikrao Thakre. He said, discussions are underway with several Opposition parties to ensure the bill’s passage.  “We are building consensus. Goa’s future must be protected, and this board’s decisions will be binding WHAT THE BILL PROPOSES „„Creation of a Goa Sustainable Development Board headed by CM „„To have representatives from Centre, experts, Oppn leaders and diverse Goan communities „„Protection of Goa’s land, environment, and ecology, including restrictions on harmful development „„Preservation of Goa’s cultural identity and heritage, covering language, art forms etc „„Special protection for traditional Goan communities such as fishermen, farmers, tribals „„Management of demographic changes to maintain socio-cultural balance and prevent Goans from becoming a minority on any State government in power,” Fernandes said. Fernandes accused the BJP’s “double engine” government -- 12 years at the Centre and 14 years in the State -- of causing large-scale damage to Goa.  He alleged that six rivers were taken out of State control through nationalization, while the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) was renamed Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) to facilitate coal han- dling.  “The Centre is trying to grab Goa’s lands, mountains, agriculture, and tribal areas. This bill is our attempt to reclaim them,” he said. The amendment seeks to strengthen Article 371(I) by adding new provisions under 371(I)(A), giving Goa constitutional guarantees to preserve its territory and identity.  >Continued on P6 „„Report flagged discrepancies in documents submitted to authorities >Continued on P6 The first phase of the pact is expected to be signed by midMarch. Implementation of the pact will lead to concessions and the elimination of duties on American goods by India. The US, through a separate executive order, has eliminated the 25 per cent tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil from February 7, as New Delhi has committed to stopping directly or indirectly importing oil from Moscow. Trump’s order has said that the US officials will monitor >Continued on P6 PTI MOSCOW At least six people, including four Indians students, were injured on Saturday in a stabbing attack at a university in Russia’s Bashkortostan Republic, media reports and the Indian mission here said. According to preliminary reports, a teenager armed with a knife entered a dormitory of the State Medical University in Ufa in the Bashkortostan Republic. He attacked the students living there and stabbed several of them, the Interior Ministry said. “The attacker resisted arrest, during which two police officers were stabbed. Furthermore, the suspect also inflicted bodily harm on himself,” Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj General Irina Volk was quoted as saying by RTVI. com webportal. Calling it an “unfortunate incident”, the Indian Embassy said, “Several persons including four Indian students have been injured”, adding it is in touch with the authorities, and officials from the Consulate in Kazan. WINNING START: Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of USA's Saiteja Mukkamalla during their T20 World Cup opening match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday. India won by 29 runs.  (Report on pg 8) 19 newly promoted SPs stuck without postings or offices THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI When the Goa government cleared one of the largest promotion lists in the police department in recent years, it was meant to project decisive- ness and renewal. More than two weeks on, it has instead revealed an administrative pause. Nineteen Deputy Superintendents of Police (DySPs), promoted on January 23 to the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) with immediate effect, remain without postings, offices or designated successors. Though elevated in rank, the officers continue to >Continued on P6 Goa emerges as India’s fastest Road deaths continue to haunt Goa, reveals data ROAD DEATHS: FACTS & FIGURES State for delivery of passports THE GOAN I NETWORK MEA SAYS GOA HAS SET 4-DAY BENCHMARK THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Goa has emerged as the fastest State in India for the delivery of normal (non-Tatkal) passports, with applicants receiving their documents in as little as 4-5 working days. According to data from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Goa has set a new national benchmark by issuing normal passports in just four working days after completion of police verifica- tion. The MEA has standardised passport issuance timelines across the country under the Passport Seva Program, prescribing a period of up to 30 working days for issuing a normal passport, excluding the time taken for police verification. However, performance data for 2025 shows that several cities have far outpaced this benchmark, with Goa leading the list. The data indicates that the Regional Passport Office (RPO) in Goa has been in the top position among the six fastest cities in the country for normal passport delivery. Kerala follows closely, with passport offices in Kochi and Kozhikode also demonstrating high efficiency. “Normal passports in these cities are issued within about five working days after police verification,” the report said. Mumbai, despite handling a very high volume of applications, has managed to streamline its processes. >Continued on P6 PANAJI he early weeks of 2026 have delivered a familiar and uneasy message from Goa’s roads -- fewer severe crashes on paper, but deaths that continue with grim regularity. Official traffic data for the year so far shows only a marginal decline in fatal accidents and grievous injuries compared with the same period last year, even as overall accidents have risen and deadly crashes continue to punctuate the calendar. As per the official statistics available with The Goan, 223 road accidents have been reported in Goa so far in 2026, up from 206 during the corre- T „„223 road accidents reported in Goa so far in 2026, up from 206 in the same period last year „„Fatal accidents declined marginally to 17 cases, compared to 18 reported last year „„Road deaths dropped to 17 from 19 in the corresponding period „„Grievous accidents witnessed sharp decline at 25 from 48 last year „„Grievous injury cases nearly halved to 29, down from 57 „„Minor accidents increased to 71 from 60 last year „„Minor injuries rose to 86 from 66 „„Non-injury accidents jumped significantly to 110 from 80 sponding period last year. Fatal accidents dipped slightly to 17 from 18, while the number of deaths fell to 17 from 19. Grievous accidents showed a sharper decline, dropping to 25 cases from 48, with the number of people grievously injured nearly halving from 57 to 29. At the same time, less serious crashes are becoming more frequent. Minor accidents rose to 71 from 60, and the number of people with minor injuries increased to 86 from 66. Non-injury accidents climbed steeply as well, from 80 last year to 110 this year, pushing up the overall accident count despite improvements in some severe categories. Behind these statistics lie lives abruptly cut short. At the start of the month, a 25-year-old motorcyclist, Sarvesh Borkar of Guddemol, was killed in a self-accident on the Zuari flyover. Police said Borkar lost control of his motorcycle at a sharp turn near the Toyota showroom while travelling towards Panaji around 7.20 pm. He died on the spot. Just days earlier, January 29 proved particularly deadly when four people were killed in three separate accidents across the State and borders. On the Goa-Karnataka national >Continued on P6