UGDP condemns 'HASTY' EC Move; to stand by Matanhy
MARGAO, Aug 20: Uproar marked Saturday's presidium meeting of the United Goans Democratic party with a section of members questioning senior leaders, Secretary General Anacleto Viegas and vice-president, Radharao Gracias, for issuing a whip to Matanhy Saldanha which resulted in the latter's disqualification. While the duo maintained that the whip was issued to Saldanha after discussing the matter threadbare at the party fora, members demanded that the minutes be produced forthwith for their perusal.

Colourful Bonderam celebrations at Malar
DIVAR, Aug 21: Pomp and gaiety marked the celebrations of the Malar Bonderam organised by Sao Mathias Sports Club in Malar (Divar) on Sunday. The Bonderam march-past comprising national flags of eleven nations including the Indian national tricolour and the flag of the Republic of Portugal, first went around the boundaries of the village carried by the flag bearers to the accompaniment of Goan music played by the brass band.

Delhi experts' report on removal of "River Princess" soon: Willy
PANAJI: Deputy Chief minister Dr Wilfred de Souza on Aug 22 stated that the officials of the National Institute of Shipbuilding and Designs, Delhi, would study and submit a report by next month to re-float new tenders to remove the grounded "River Princess" off Sinquerim beach. Replying to the Demands for Grants for tourism in the Goa Assembly, Dr de Souza said that he had already received a legal opinion from the Advocate General stating that the tenders awarded to UK-based Crosschem Company be scrapped and that a new tender be invited by the government to remove the vessel.

Wipro may set up base in Goa
Our Regional Bureau / Panaji August 31, 2005
Goa may soon figure prominently on the national IT map with Wipro expressing desire to set up shop in the state. Its chairman Azim Premji, who was in Goa last weekend, also had a meeting 45-minute meeting with Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane on Saturday.

The Chief Minister told the media that Wipro is interested in coming to Goa, but refused to divulge further details and added that no specific project was discussed during the meeting. Rane said that industrialists are showing interest in IT sector in the state. The minister said that many IT firms in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Mumbai are increasingly looking at Goa as an ideal location for their units.

Rane also said a single-window system was necessary. He said the government can help the entrepreneurs by offering them land. He said the state's IT policy would be ready by September 15.

Once the policy is put in place the government will push aggressively to get more business to set up units in state, Narvekar said.

On September 5, top players in the IT field will have an interaction with state government officials at a day-long programme to be organised by the CII in New Delhi, he said.

He stressed that the state government's effort was to get IT firms to Goa and develop it into a knowledge industry hub. He said Goa has the potential skilled manpower to become such a hub.

'Garbage problem will be solved within a year'
PANAJI: Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao said that the State Urban Development Agency would take up garbage management in the State with technical assistance from World Bank and assured that the problem would be solved within a year. Replying to viewers who called up Panaji Doordarshan as part of a 'Phone-In' programme on Aug 22 evening, Alemao said the garbage collection, treatment and disposal in Goa would be entrusted to private parties.