log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline THURSDAY MAY 7, 2026 GOA Upkeep dispute deepens Cutbona jetty concerns CYBER TECH QUANTUM COMPUTING: BEYOND CLASSICAL LIMITS >PG 8 IN SHORT >> 31 houses get notices for Mala lake pollution PANAJI: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has issued show-cause notices to 31 houses found discharging sewage and wastewater into drains connected to Mala Lake.  >> See pg 3 June 15 deadline for ASI bylaws PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to draft long-pending heritage bylaws by June 15, which will govern development around centrally protected monuments in the State. On Wednesday, the Bench heard a PIL seeking time-bound preparation of draft site plans and heritage bylaws for 21 centrally protected monuments in Goa.  >> See pg 3 HC orders panel for open jail plan PANAJI: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday ordered the Home Department to constitute a panel of ‘reputed experts’ and finalise a roadmap for an Open Correctional Institution by June 15.  >> See pg 3 Row over industrial waste at Pissurlem VALPOI: Controversy has erupted over a waste processing project operating in the Pissurlem Industrial Estate, where large quantities of industrial waste are reportedly being transported from South Goa.  >> See pg 2 Two booked for attempt to murder MARGAO: Colva police have registered a case of attempt to murder in connection with the stabbing incident at Benaulim on May 6. Police informed that Zion Alvares, a resident of Nuvem, sustained injuries on his leg and other parts of his body after he was attacked by two persons with a knife. WEATHER >> Max: 31 C Min: 26 C Humidity: 74% TIDES Low: High: 07:31 20:40 00:25 14:43 Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) 15 pages PRICE ` 10 PANAJI MARGAO GOA VOLUME XI, NO. 319 2 3 GOA GCZMA nod for erosion mitigation at 3 beaches Instagram.com/thegoanonline RNI: GOAENG/2015/65729 LIFE Train smart this summer: The dos and don’ts of exercise HC turns focus on pollution in casino areas of Mandovi RAISES CONCERN OVER ‘VERY HIGH’ FAECAL BACTERIA LEVELS NEAR CASINO ZONES; ORDERS COMPREHENSIVE STUDY THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday turned its focus to the offshore casino belt in the River Mandovi, citing “very high” levels of faecal coliform in stretches where casinos operate. “The main issue requiring immediate redress is the very high level of faecal coliform bacteria detected in the river, particularly in areas where offshore casinos operate. In view of this, we propose to expand the scope of the present matter to include the Mandovi riverine stretch to address the evident and ongoing water pollution therein,” the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar observed, while extending the scope of the Mala Lake pollution proceedings to the Mandovi. The Bench has sought a response from the Goa State MANDOVI POLLUTION PROBE „„Ordered comprehensive water quality study (qualitative and quantitative) „„Study to cover IFFI jetty, Mandovi bridges, and estuarine stretch „„Includes areas around casinos and tourism vessels „„Board directed to place all relevant reports on record „„GSPCB asked to submit action taken report by June 1 „„HC calls for data-based analysis and monitoring „„Remedial action to begin based on existing data Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), including an action taken report by June 1. The Court referred to a newspaper report stating that a qualitative and quantitative study conducted by the GSPCB had revealed alarming findings regarding the river’s water quality. Goa faces 2-year freeze on new tribal projects THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a major setback, the Union Tribal Affairs Ministry has imposed a two-year moratorium on the Goa government from taking up any new tribal welfare projects, citing exhaustion of allocated funds and pending utilisation certificates. The decision was conveyed during a meeting of the Project Appraisal Committee (PAC), the central body responsible for evaluating and approving tribal welfare proposals. According to official documents, the committee noted that Goa has substantial unspent funds, which now stands diverted for other projects and pending utilisation certificates (UCs), prompting the restriction on fresh project approvals. As per the data presented, against a total allocation of Rs 8 crore for FY 2025-26, an amount of Rs 5.83 crore has already been approved, while utilisation certificates worth Rs 4.32 crore remain pending, including Rs 2.82 crore that is still unspent. In addition, the State has forwarded fresh proposals amounting to Rs 36.15 crore. The PAC observed that the continued accumulation of MORATORIUM ON TRIBAL SCHEMES „„Reason is unspent funds and pending utilisation certificates (UCs) „„Of Rs 8 crore allocation (FY 2025–26), Rs 5.83 crore approved „„Rs 4.32 crore UCs pending, including Rs 2.82 crore unspent „„Goa submitted fresh proposals worth Rs 36.15 crore „„PAC flags poor fund utilisation and financial management „„Ongoing project approved: Ashram school block in Canacona (Rs 19.67 crore) „„Rs 2.82 crore reallocated from unspent funds to this project „„Fresh proposals for school expansion and hostel block not cleared „„Aim is to ensure full utilisation of existing funds before new approvals unspent funds reflects inadequate fund utilisation and financial management, leading to the decision to halt new project sanctions for the next two years. The directive has been formally communicated to the State government. Just before the moratorium, the committee approved a major ongoing project –construction of a higher secondary block at Ashram School in Amone, Poinguinim, Canacona, with a total outlay of Rs 19.67.87 crore. The PAC also allowed the reallocation of unspent balances of Rs 2.82 crore towards this project. However, fresh proposals submitted by the State, including Rs 19.67 crore for additional works on the school block and Rs 16.47 crore for a hostel block, were not cleared. Instead, the PAC advised Goa to rework its proposals within a ceiling of Rs 10 crore and resubmit them with clearly defined outcomes and deliverables. Officials indicated that the moratorium is aimed at enforcing financial discipline and ensuring that previously sanctioned funds are fully utilised before new commitments are made. In view of this, the Bench said it would widen the ambit of the proceedings to cover the Mandovi riverine stretch to address the “apparent and ongoing water pollution” in the area. Directing immediate steps, the Court ordered the GSPCB to place on record all relevant reports. “We direct the Member Secretary of the GSPCB to conduct a comprehensive study – both qualitative and quantitative – of the water quality in the Mandovi River, particularly in the estuarine stretch near the IFFI jetty and the Mandovi bridges, and to prepare a report accordingly,” it said. The study must also focus on the estuarine stretch where other marine vessels engaged in tourism activities operate. “The study shall gather and analyse data relating to water quality in the vicinity of each >Continued on P9 6 SPORTS SRH dominates Punjab Kings to strengthen playoff push High Court bars new casino vessel entry into Mandovi PRIOR COURT NOD, MANDATORY CLEARANCES MADE COMPULSORY; SLAMS GOVT FOR DEFENDING ‘DEAD CARGO’ THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI In a firm assertion of regulatory control, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed that no new offshore casino vessel shall enter or operate in the Mandovi River without its prior permission. “The vessel does not possess a certificate of survey as of today. In view of this, we deem it appropriate that it shall not sail in the River Mandovi without first obtaining the requisite certificates and permissions, and in any event, not without the prior permission of this court,” the Division Bench of Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Amit Jamsandekar said after hearing the matter challenging the new casino Deltin, over three days. The court further ruled that if the Goa government proposes to permit casino operations for the new vessel, it must place its decision before the court prior to issuing any order. It also made clear that any amendment to an exist- The 112-metre Deltin casino vessel docked at Mormugao Port. COURT’S CALL „„Vessel cannot sail without required certificates, including a survey certificate „„No entry or operation in the Mandovi without prior High Court permission „„State must seek court approval before permitting casino operations on the new vessel „„Bench flags absence of survey certification despite State’s claim of fitness ing licence – to shift from the 70-passenger capacity MV Royale Floatel to the new vessel – cannot be effected without prior leave of the court. The matter has been posted for further hearing on July 6 at 2.30 pm. During the hearing, Advocate General Devidas Pangam submitted that the vessel was Tar ball pollution gets ‘State disaster’ tag DRAFT 2026 RULES MANDATE CENTRALISED REPORTING AND STRICTER ACCOUNTABILITY FOR COASTAL STATES THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has unveiled draft Tar-Ball Management Rules, 2026, directing coastal States to treat tar-ball pollution as a “State disaster” and put in place a centralised, public reporting mechanism to tackle the recurring environmental threat. The draft assumes importance for Goa, which has been grappling with the tar ball menace for over a decade now, with as many as 35 beaches affected, most of them in South Goa, impacting tourism and fragile coastal ecosystems. Last week too, tar ball appeared along the coastal stretch of Cavelossim to Varca, ahead of monsoon season. The draft mandates State governments to establish a centralised reporting system under State Level Crisis Man- 15 fit for sailing and carrying on trade. The Bench, however, questioned the claim, noting that the operators themselves had brought the vessel as “dead cargo”. “Captain of Ports is defending this?” the court asked. When Pangam said the >Continued on P9 Bengal’s first BJP govt to take oath on May 9 PTI KOLKATA The first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal will be sworn in at the Brigade Parade Ground here on May 9, heralding a saffron era in the eastern state that had long eluded the pan-Indian powerhouse. BJP LEADER ADHIKARI'S ASSISTANT SHOT DEAD >> See pg 9 DRAFT RULES: AT A GLANCE „„Tar-ball pollution to be treated as ‘State disaster’ „„Goa badly hit: 35 beaches affected, mainly in South Goa „„Recent tar-ball sightings reported Cavelossim–Varca stretch „„Action to be taken under the Disaster Management Act „„SPCBs to maintain detailed incident database (extent, quantity, disposal) „„States must ensure prompt shoreline cleaning and collection „„District administrations to lead on-ground response and transport „„Mandatory inclusion in District Disaster Management Plans agement Groups constituted under the National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan (NOS-DCP). This system is intended to allow citizens to report sightings of tar balls, improving real-time response and monitoring. >Continued on P9 Although who the next chief minister will be is still a mystery, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is being seen as the frontrunner while the names of state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, Union minister Sukanta Majumdar and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta are also in the mix, party insiders said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin, several Union ministers and chief ministers of BJP- and NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the oath ceremony, with indications emerging that the central leadership is inclined towards picking a “bhumiputra” face rooted in Bengal’s linguistic and cultural ethos to head the government. Mamata’s standoff partially Delhi tops as India’s ‘theft’ capital THE DATA: THEFT & PROPERTY CRIME recalls Goa’s 1994 drama PTI THE GOAN I NETWORK PANAJI Mamata Banerjee’s refusal to resign after the West Bengal poll verdict has drawn a curious parallel with a political drama that unfolded in Goa more than three decades ago. Banerjee has alleged that the BJP “stole” the election with rigging by the Election Commission of India. She lost both her own seat and her party’s majority on May 4, yet insists she will not step down, even if the impasse her actions have thrown up can last until today (Thursday) the day that the current term of West Bengal assembly ends. Back in 1994, Goa witnessed a somewhat similar THE 1994 EPISODE „„CM Wilfred de Souza refused to step down „„Congress single-largest party (18 seats) „„Pratapsing Rane named CLP leader „„De Souza alleges irregu- larities, flew to Delhi „„PM Narasimha Rao intervened „„Deadlock resolved after talks „„Rane became CM, De Souza Deputy CM standoff, though under very different circumstances. Then incumbent Chief Minister Dr Wilfred de Souza refused to quit to pave way for the new government formation post the 1994 assembly election. Unlike Mamata, De Souza had won his Saligao seat and the Congress he led had also returned as the single-largest party with 18 seats. The Opposition alliance had won 16 seats with the MGP winning 12 and the BJP four but their chief ministerial face, Ramakant Khalap, had lost the Mandrem seat. However, the Congress’ >Continued on P9 NEW DELHI elhi dominated theft statistics, with almost 497 cases per day, and nearly three-fourths of all such cases registered in 19 major metro cities, according to the latest Crime in India report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) on Wednesday. Out of 2,80,867 cases registered under ‘offences against property’ in 2024, theft was the most prevalent offence with 2,46,882 cases, making up 87.9 per cent of all property crime cases. Delhi reported a staggering 1,80,973 theft cases in 2024, resulting in almost 3,480 cases per week, and roughly 497 cases per day, which is 73.3 per cent of the national D „„Delhi records 497 thefts daily „„Accounts for 73.3% of theft cases in 19 metros „„1.8 lakh theft cases in total - a major lead over other metropolitan centres. Mumbai followed with 10,854 cases (4.4 per cent), Bengaluru 9,229 cases (3.7 per cent) and Jaipur 9,051 cases (3.7 per cent), according to the report. In 2024, crimes under the ‘offences against property’ header dipped by 14.4 per cent from 2023, when 3,28,100 cases were recorded. According to the data, across the spectrum of IPC and BNS crimes (5,93,096 2024 in Delhi alone „„Theft forms 87.9% of property crimes „„Property crimes dip 14.4% from 2023 cases), theft emerged as the single largest crime category, accounting for 41.6 per cent of all registered cases. Crimes against senior citizens The number of crimes against senior citizens was the highest in Delhi among all the Union territories and metro cities in 2024, according to the latest Crime in India report released by the NCRB. As per the report, a total of 1,267 crimes were registered „„Theft is largest crime category (41.6%) overall in Delhi „„Mumbai, Bengaluru, Jaipur trail far behind against senior citizens in 2024 in Delhi, in comparison to 1,361 cases in 2023, showing a slight dip. “A total of 32,602 cases were registered for committing crime against senior citizens in 2024, showing a rise of 16.9 per cent in registration over the 27,886 cases in 2023,” the overall report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) stated. Delhi registered a rate of 110 cases per lakh population in 2024 for crimes against senior citizens -- one of the highest among the UTs. Among the states, Madhya Pradesh topped the list in this category with 5,875 cases registered in 2024, an increase from 5,738 in 2023. In different crime categories affecting senior citizens across the country, 4,786, cases were registered under theft followed by 4,451 for forgery, cheating and fraud and 1,229 for murder in 2024. Juvenile crime Delhi continued to dominate juvenile crime statistics in 2024, recording the highest number of cases and crime rate among metropolitan cities, with around 42 “Child in Conflict with the Law” (CCL) out of every one lakh minors >Continued on P9