log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY MARCH 19, 2026 GOA Consent for Cuncolim fish meal plant challenged in tribunal Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 270 2 GOA 2 Romtamel troupes banned from Valpoi Shigmo festival 3 Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 LIFE Gudi Padwa: Celebrating the festive spirit with prosperity Fast-track gas distribution networks: Centre to States TOLD TO WAIVE FEES, CLEAR PROJECTS WITHIN 24 HOURS, AND APPOINT NODAL OFFICERS TO EXPEDITE ROLLOUT AMID LPG CRISIS THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In response to the ongoing LPG supply constraints, the Centre has urged states to fasttrack expansion of City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks by introducing immediate measures such as granting deemed approvals for pending pipeline permissions and waiving road restoration charges to speed up infrastructure rollout. Invoking provisions under the Essential Commodities Act, the Union Ministry for Petroleum has already stepped in to regulate fuel distribution. As part of its broader strategy to ease pressure on LPG supplies, the Centre has asked states to implement a series of short-term measures, „„Waiver of road restoration and permission charges „„Allow CGD firms to restore public assets at their own cost „„Permit 24x7 work to accelerate project execution „„Relax seasonal restrictions delaying infrastruc- PIPED GAS EXPANSION valid until June 30, 2026 to ensure rapid CGD expansion. These include granting deemed permissions for all pending CGD pipeline applications from municipal bodies, PWD and other authorities, and mandating approval ture rollout „„Appoint State nodal officers for inter-department coordination „„Invoke Essential Commodities Act to regulate fuel distribution „„Short-term measures valid till June 30, 2026 „„Push for domestic PNG connections to reduce LPG dependence „„Encourage commercial shift from LPG to natural gas of new permissions within 24 hours. States have also been asked to waive road restoration and permission charges, which are seen as a major financial hurdle for CGD entities. Additionally, the Centre has proposed allowing CGD companies to restore public assets at their own cost, with an undertaking to meet required standards. To accelerate onground work, states have been urged to permit 24x7 working hours and relax sea- Injured student gets lifeline from Goa Board, writes exam from bed THE GOAN I NETWORK MAPUSA For most students, board exams are a test of preparation. For 15-year-old Tarak Gawas of St Rita High School in Colvale, they have become a test of sheer resilience. With his leg in a plaster cast after an accident, Tarak cannot walk, sit or even remain In big relief for flyers, India bars seat selection fee on 60 pc of seats PTI NEW DELHI India has moved to curb rising passenger complaints over airline seat fees, directing carriers to make at least 60% of seats on every flight available at no additional cost, in a step aimed at improving fairness and transparency for flyers. The directive, issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, addresses a long-standing concern among travellers who have increasingly flagged hidden charges for seat selection across airlines. Airlines currently price seats based on location, with window, aisle and extra legroom seats typically attracting higher charges, leaving only a limited number of free seats, often in less preferred rows. The new rule shifts that balance, ensuring a majority of seats can be selected without added cost, giving passengers more flexibility and reducing the need to pay for basic seating preferences. The ministry said the move is aimed at ensuring fair access at a time when air travel continues to expand rapidly across the country. Another key change targets group travel, a frequent source of frustration for passengers. Airlines have been instructed to seat travellers booked under the same PNR together, preferably in adjacent seats. This addresses common situations where families and groups are split across rows, often leading to last-minute seat swaps and disputes before departure. upright for long. Yet, when his Class 10 board examinations began, giving up a year was not an option. Instead, he will write his papers lying down on a bed – thanks to a rare but carefully structured intervention by the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE). At the Colvale examination centre, arrangements have been quietly put in place to accommodate Tarak’s condition. A bed has been set up, ensuring he can attempt his papers in the only position his injury allows. An escort will assist him to and from the centre, and if needed, a writer will be provided – every detail designed to ease his discomfort without compromising the sanctity of the examination. Behind this effort lies a simple but powerful idea: that circumstances beyond a student’s control should not decide their academic future. GBSHSE Chairman Bhagirath Shetye said the decision was taken “purely >Continued on P9 sonal restrictions that typically slow infrastructure projects. “The CGD expansion remains stunted due to the following reasons: absence of dedicated utility corridors, which requires a long-term solution; delays in obtaining statutory permissions from various local authorities, which can be alleviated by the State immediately, and, in the long term, addressed through a single-window portal; and high road restoration and permission charges, which can be eased by the State through a short-term waiver,” the Ministry said. To streamline execution, the Centre has recommended appointing a State nodal officer to coordinate between >Continued on P9 NAKSHA SURVEY IN PANAJI, TALEIGAO FROM MARCH 20   >> See pg 3 8 SPORTS Real Madrid, PSG and Arsenal advance into UCL quarterfinals LPG frenzy grips Goa as panic bookings surge Distributors struggle to keep pace as govt claims sufficient stock THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Panic booking of LPG cylinders continues unabated across Goa, with oil companies supplying over 85,000 domestic cylinders in the last seven days, even as the government maintains that supplies to distributors are on track. Combined data from Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited shows that 178.406 MT of domestic LPG was supplied on March 18 alone — translating to over 12,500 cylinders in a single day, reflecting an unusually high offtake driven by continued panic booking by consumers. In comparison, commercial LPG dispatch stood at 8.688 MT, which is roughly 450–500 cylinders, indicating that the surge is largely concentrated in the domestic segment. The total domestic LPG stock currently available stands at 362.586 MT, equivalent to roughly 25,500 cylinders, highlighting the limited buffer amid surging demand. Despite the spike in demand, authorities have reiterated that incoming DEMAND AND SUPPLY „„Over 85,000 domestic cylinders supplied in the last 7 days „„178.406 MT (12,500+ cylinders) supplied on March 18 alone „„Current stock: 362.586 MT (~25,500 cylinders) — limited buffer LPG supplies to agencies remain steady and are being maintained as per requirements. Officials have sought to reassure the public that there is no disruption in the supply chain and that replenishment is happening regularly. Sustained high cylinder dispatches indicate rising consumer anxiety, with booking trends showing no signs of easing. Distributors are under pressure as demand surges. While the government maintains that supplies are stable, the ground reality suggests a panic-driven spike rather than an actual shortage, keeping the system under continuous strain. 15 Jobs-for-cash twist: Key accused Pooja refuses narco test THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The jobs-for-cash scam in Goa has taken an intriguing new turn with the prime accused Pooja Naik refusing to undergo a narco-analysis test. Police had sought her consent for the test as part of their investigation, but Naik declined. Following her refusal, the Crime Branch has now filed an application before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC), Ponda, seeking permission to proceed. The scam, which erupted last year, created a storm across political circles in the State with allegations surfacing that candidates were asked to pay money in exchange for government jobs. A minister and an IAS officer were implicated in the allegations and the controversy had led to the registration of multiple FIRs, suspension of government employees and had also triggered widespread public outrage. Naik, who faces multiple FIRs registered in Madkai, Ponda, Divar and Porvorim, had earlier alleged that she was pressured to undergo the narco test. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had directed the Crime Branch to conduct a thorough probe, leading investigators to >Continued on P9