log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline TUESDAY MARCH 17, 2026 GOA Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 14 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 268 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 3 13 2 11 Assembly session cut short as Oppn erupts as govt clears Budget without scrutiny Ponda by-poll code kicks in GOA INFO Delays in sewage projects raise concerns over restoration of Sal After Birch nightclub row, King’s Mansion comes under lens Science of minerals: Why they are non-negotiable for wellness SPORTS FC Goa shares spoils with Punjab FC Terms move as ‘murder of democracy’ HOUSE PASSES ENTIRE BUDGET WITHOUT DISCUSSION THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Amid uproar and protests from the Opposition benches, the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday passed the State Budget for 2026-27, with grants worth Rs 23,868 crore -- nearly 79 per cent of the total outlay -- being cleared without discussion, after the government decided to curtail the ongoing Budget Session following the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct in South Goa ahead of the Ponda by-election. The House also passed 79 demands for grants without debate, triggering sharp criticism from the Opposition, which alleged that the government had denied them the opportunity to raise key public issues during the budgetary exercise. The 79 key demands that went unanswered included those on tourism, water resources, home and police, Mines and Geology, power, civil supplies, environment, social welfare, drinking water, fisheries, tribal welfare, sports, etc Chief Minister Pramod >PG 6 FROM GAS STOVES TO FIREWOOD: INNOVATION AND TRADITION RISE AMID LPG CRUNCH 'ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER' TRIUMPHS AT ACADEMY AWARDS IN SHORT >> Father, son found dead in Bicholim BICHOLIM: There was shock in Bicholim after an active social worker and his son were found dead at their house in Naiknagar-Borde at Bicholim on Monday evening. Both bodies were discovered in the same room, and police investigation continued until late at night.  >> See pg 3 38 commercial LPG cylinders seized MAPUSA: Officials from the Civil Supplies at Bardez seized 38 commercial LPG cylinders illegally stored at a secluded place in Sangolda on Monday. The civil supplies department had instructed its taluka officers across the State to be vigilant to prevent black marketing of LPG cylinders.  >> See pg 5 LAST DAY: THE ACTION IN ASSEMBLY „„House approves 79 demands for grants without discussion „„Opposition MLAs allege they were denied the chance to raise key public issues „„Demands related to tourism, water resources, PAGE 2 >> Oppn protest disrupts House yet again on private member bills Speaker says ECI cannot dictate terms to House amid MCC row home and police, mines and geology, power etc passed without debate „„Chief Minister opts to push the full Budget instead of a Vote on Account „„Govt cites extraordinary circumstances due to election code „„Oppn MLAs rush to the Well of the House shouting slogans „„Protesting MLAs marshalled out „„Govt says issues can be raised in the next session scheduled around August– September tion MLAs, who were later marshalled out of the House. During the proceedings, Opposition MLAs rushed to the Well of the House and raised slogans against the government. As the House continued with the Budget passage, the protesting members shouted “shame, shame” before they were ordered to be marshalled out. Defending the decision, Sawant said the government had decided to curtail the ongoing Budget Session and convene a Monsoon Session in August–September, where the Opposition would get an opportunity to raise their issues. “The government has decided to curtail the Budget Session and convene a Monsoon Session later. With the by-election and upcoming municipal elections, we have decided to pass the full Sawant refused to opt for a Vote on Account and instead pushed for the passage of the full Budget, citing extraordinary circumstances arising out of the election code as well as the upcoming municipal elections. The Budget was passed amid strong protests by Opposi- State Budget instead of opting for a Vote on Account,” the Chief Minister said. “This is an election year and we will get time only till December as elections are scheduled late. We need to take up developmental works and hence it was necessary to pass the entire Budget,” he said. He added that similar situations had occurred in other States and even in Parliament where full Budgets were passed under extraordinary circumstances. However, the decision drew sharp criticism from the Opposition. Goa Forward Party MLA Vijai Sardesai termed the move an “injustice to the Opposition”, pointing out that 79 per cent of the Budget had been passed without discussion. “Nearly Rs 23,868 crore worth of grants were cleared without debate. Demands for grants are meant for MLAs to raise issues and ensure solutions both physically and financially. By not opting for a Vote on Account, the government has denied the Opposition its democratic right,” Sardesai said. THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The passage of the entire State Budget in the Assembly without presenting a voteon-account triggered sharp criticism from the Opposition, who termed the move a “murder of democracy” and accused the government of bypassing legislative scrutiny. Speaking to mediapersons after being marshalled out of the House, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao slammed the move. “The session was cut short, and the Chief Minister is passing the whole budget without discussion on any of the demands. This is a murder of democracy; never in history has something like this happened,” he said. He added that the Opposition had requested a ‘Vote on Account’ to allow debates later, but the government ignored it. Alemao also accused the administration of acting arbitrarily. “He is dictatorial, so all six of us have come out in protest. They are match-fixing, acting arbitrarily… Goans have to decide what is happening with this government and who the ‘moles’ within the elected members are. Today, they are running a ‘bulldozer government’,” he said. St Andre MLA Viresh „„Yuri Alemao called the saying members were hurt move a “murder of democ„„Venzy Viegas alleged racy”, saying the BJP ministers were entire Budget was profiting from passed without STORM land converdiscussion on sions and using demands. He IN THE those profits to accused CM of HOUSE „buy votes acting “dictato„Vijai Sardesai rially” and termed said he stayed in the administration a the House initially to get “bulldozer government” his statements officially „„Viresh Borkar claimed recorded before walking Opposition MLAs were out. He reminded the manhandled and physicalgovernment of a similar ly removed from the House, situation in 2013 Borkar said Opposition members were physically removed. “We have been hurt. The Speaker is giving rulings, and they are manhandling us,” he claimed, adding that people should understand what is happening and how Opposition MLAs are being treated. Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas accused BJP ministers of profiting from land conversions. “BJP ministers are converting land to make profits. For example, if land costs Rs 2,000, they make it Rs 5,000, earning a profit of Rs 3,000 per square metre. They use these profits to buy votes.” Political buzz intensifies over Ponda by-election 10 patients dead in ICU blaze at Odisha hospital PTI BJP, CONG MOVE TO FINALISE CANDIDATES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI With the Election Commission announcing the schedule for the Ponda Assembly by-election, political activity has intensified, with both the BJP and the Congress moving swiftly to finalise their candidates for the crucial contest. The Election Commission on Sunday announced the date for the Ponda Assembly by-election. The by-poll was necessitated following the death of former minister Ravi Naik on October 15, 2025. The BJP’s central leadership is scheduled to meet in Delhi on Tuesday to finalise the party’s candidate. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and State BJP President Damodar Naik are likely to attend the meeting. Party sources said the Goa unit has forwarded the names of two probable candidates, Ritesh Naik and Vishwanath Dalvi, to the national leadership, and the Parliamentary „„BJP Central leadership before March 23 meeting in Delhi on Tues„„Ketan Bhatikar likely day to finalise candidate to be the Congress „„Sawant, Damu candidate likely to attend „„He is the BY-POLL only aspirant „„BJP has sent two names POWER to apply for the -- Ritesh Naik ticket so far PLAY and Vishwanath „„GPCC has Dalvi recommended his „„BJP Parliamentary name to the CEC for Board to take final decision final approval Board is expected to take a final call ahead of the nomination deadline on March 23. Speaking to reporters earlier, the party president said the party had followed its internal consultative process before forwarding the names. The State Election Committee met and shortlisted two candidates pending final decision. BJP has also begun its campaign activities in the constituency. He said party workers had started groundwork even as the leadership was in the process of selecting the candidate. Meanwhile, former MGP leader Ketan Bhatikar is likely to emerge as the Congress candidate for the by-election. Bhatikar, who joined the Congress last month ahead of the polls, is the only aspirant to have applied for the party >Continued on P5 Viegas claimed the short session was designed to cover up these activities. GFP chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai, who stayed in the House, clarified why he did not immediately walk out. “I remained in the House to ensure my statements were officially recorded. I walked out only after speaking and making the government aware of a similar situation in 2013. In 2013, Manohar Parrikar presented a full budget, but it had to be cut short. He took a ‘Vote on Account’ for four months, and discussions happened later,” he said. FRUITFUL SEASON: A mango tree in full bloom on the outskirts of Panaji on Monday. The State hopes for a good harvest this season as the flowering phase has been strong.   Narayan Pissurlenkar Govt blinks, suspends bandhara project at Mirabag for 4 months THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Work on the proposed Mirabag bandhara project will be halted for at least two to four months, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said on Monday, adding that a final decision will be taken after discussions with Chief Minis- ter Pramod Sawant. Shirodkar said the pause would coincide with the monsoon season and indicated that public sentiment would be taken into account before any further steps are taken. “If people are happy with the halt, I am also happy. A final decision will be taken after discussing the matter with CM,” he said. Residents opposing the project have been staging protests for the past 31 days. The opposition intensified on Saturday after the Dept made a presentation at a public meeting in Sanvordem. Hundreds of villagers from Sanguem, Curchorem, and Sanvordem raised objections. BHUBANESHWAR At least 10 patients were killed after a major fire broke out in an ICU in Odisha government-run SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack early on Monday, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said. He said that around 11 hospital staff members suffered burn injuries while rescuing patients to safety. The chief minister, who visited the hospital, has formed a six-member fact-finding team, which will investigate the reason behind the fire incident and submit its report by this evening. The fact-finding team headed by Development Commissioner D K Singh will visit SCB Medical College and Hospital and submit a report to the chief secretary by this evening, as per a statement issued by the CMO. The fire broke out between 2.30 am and 3 am. Fire service personnel rushed to the hospital and doused the flames, an official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the deaths and announced that ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh. Two ships with crude, LPG to State raked in `1,749 cr from casinos in 5 yrs: Data CASINO JACKPOT: STATE’S EARNINGS reach India; one docks in Guj THE GOAN I NETWORK TRUMP SEEKS ALLIES' HELP IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ PTI NEW DELHI Two Indian-flagged crude oil tankers that sailed safely from the UAE's Fujairah port despite an attack on the terminal are scheduled to reach India on Tuesday, a senior official said even as United States President Donald Trump announced that he has requested approximately seven nations to deploy warships to assist in maintaining transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude from the UAE, and all 22 Indian seafarers onboard are reported safe, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways on Monday. Jag Laadki is the fourth out of the 28 Indian ships that were stuck in the war-hit Strait of Hormuz for last two weeks. Currently, 22 Indian-flagged vessels with 611 seafarers remain in the western Persian Gulf. Two LPG carriers started their journey on March 13 and crossed the Strait of Hormuz early on March 14. The first ship, Shivalik reached Mundra Port in Gujarat where advance paper work and priority discharge was arranged, he said adding the other vessel, Nanda Devi is to reach Kandla on Tuesday. The two ships carry about 92,712 tonnes of LPG -- equivalent to a day's requirement of cooking gas in the country. These were among the 24 ships stranded on the west side of the strait. PANAJI he State government has generated more than Rs 1,749 crores from the casino industry over the past five years, with 23 casino licences including 17 onshore casinos and six offshore casino vessels, issued under the Goa Public Gambling Act, 1976. As per figures tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who also holds the Home portfolio, said the government had collected Rs 1,749,32,43,907 from casino operations between April 2021 and February 2026 through licence fees and related charges under the Gambling Act. T „„Govt collected Rs 1,749.32 crore from casino operations between April 2021 and February 2026 „„Money was through licence fees and other charges „„Revenue increased sharply after the pandemic „„From 2023–24 to the current financial year, the state collected Rs 27.24 The revenue rose sharply in the years following the pandemic as collections from the license holders stood at Rs 186.35 crore in 2021-22, climbed to Rs 353.78 crore in 2022-23, and peaked at Rs 603.76 crore in 2023-24. Receipts dipped to Rs 461.71 crore in 2024-25, while Rs 143.70 crore has been collected so far in the current financial year up to February 28. As per further details, all six offshore casino vessels currently operating in Goan rivers crore from vessel-related charges „„Mooring fees largest component contributing over Rs 26.61 cr „„Six offshore casino vessels operating in Goa have received clearances from Captain of Ports and backwaters have obtained the necessary clearances from the Captain of Ports Department. “Total six vessels doing casino operation are presently operating in Goan rivers and backwaters, for which NOCs/ permissions have been granted by the Captain of Ports Department. No offshore casino vessel is operating without valid permission,” reads the reply to the starred question tabled by MLA Govind Gaude. Between 2023-24 and the ongoing financial year, the State collected Rs 27.24 crore through vessel-related charges, mooring fees, survey fees and registration charges. Mooring charges formed the largest component, accounting for more than Rs 26.61 crore during this period. The government said compliance with maritime and environmental regulations is monitored through periodic >Continued on P5