Goa News Clips
 

'This doesn't look like Diwali' 22 Oct 2008, Gauree Malkarnekar, TNN http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-3625715,prtpage-1.cms PANAJI: The ripples of the global economic slowdown have hit Goan shores, dampening the Diwali spirit. Despite this being the season when consumers usually splurge on durables, sales are down considerably—around 50% less than last year—and festive discounts have failed to appeal. Satish Dhond, proprietor of Casa Madhav, Panaji, dealers for some of the leading electronic brands, admitted that sales have fallen by over 50%. “We have goods worth Rs 1 crore in the godown and no buyers. This doesn’t look like Diwali,” said Dhond. Owner of Tarcar Electronics, Panaji, Umesh Tarcar, agrees. “Sales are down by at least 40%. Thanks to the heat, airconditioners are selling.” Dhond says even items priced below Rs 5,000, such as toasters are not in demand. “The prices are same as last year. Besides, there are discounts and offers such as microwaves free with washing machines, but no buyers.” Akshay Sankhwalker of Sony Exclusive, however, believes that the actual impact of global recession will be felt later. “Sales have dropped by a small percentage as against last year’s Dussehra-Diwali season. The actual impact will be felt next year. Employees have already received their bonus for last year, so they are likely to spend.” Sankhwalker expects sales to pick up by November. It’s not just sales of electronics that are seeing a slump, but furniture too. A Kamat of The Living Room, St Inez, said, “Last year during the Dussehra-Diwali period we sold over 30 sets of furniture, this year we are finding it difficult to sell even five pieces.” Kamat believes the low tourist inflow could be one of the factors behind this. “Nearly 10% of our buyers during this period last year were NRIs or foreigners. Many NRIs and foreigners own apartments in Goa and furnish them when holidaying in the state.” Irshad Dessai of Godrej Intelio and Elegant Interiors, said, “Compared to last year, there are virtually no customers coming in. Decorative lighting fixtures and chandeliers have fewer purchasers, as do sofa sets, dining tables and cupboards.” Sales have also slowed down for Vasco based, Noble Furnishings. Owner, Nipun Goyal, said, “Sales have almost come to a standstill. Usually, we sell goods worth Rs 4 to 5 lakh during the Dussehra-Diwali period. But this year, only one or two sets have been sold so far.”

Goa The Land Of Sun, Sand And Surgeries Excerpt from: http://www.digitalgoa.com/ca_disp.php?id=646 Goa the land of sun, sand and surgeries Samriti Grover Tuesday, September 23, 2008, (Mumbai/Goa) Sun, sea and surgeries - medical tourism has been steadily adding to international tourist arrivals in the holiday state Goa for close to five years now. Recent trends indicate that the number of foreigners and NRIs looking for a nose job or thinner thighs has almost doubled in the last two years. "We have all the facilities available. So what we do is give them the best quality which is not even available in the western markets at rock bottom Indian prices. If we give them best quality at Indian prices they just want it," said Dr Vikas Panvelkar, Medical Director, Vrindavan Hospital. It's a trend doctors from across India are cashing in on who fly down to Goa for various surgical procedures. Doctors say it's a very lucrative business with international exchange rates working in their favour. For instance, if a nose job in the US costs up to Rs 4 and a half lakh, it costs a little less than Rs 2 lakh in Goa. Similarly, liposuction costs between Rs 4 lakh and 12 lakh in the US but you have to shell out just over a lakh in Goa. And with cosmetic surgery topping the procedures, it's easy to combine fun with a cosmetic touch-up. "Last tourist season starting from October to April, we have done about 100 cases of different types of cosmetic surgeries. Majority of these were tourists," said Dr Vikas Panvelkar. Doctors and patients say that apart from the cost of surgery, medical facilities are excellent in Goa - a state that's gifting another USP to tourist operators. The doctors are now planning to give added services to their patients which include airport pick ups and even arranging for hotel stays perhaps taking medical tourism to a more tourist friendly level.

Ravi: Politicians shielding goons Despite coming under intense pressure and criticism from cabinet colleagues for "using" the police force against his peers in politics, Home Minister Ravi Naik seems intent on catching the bull by its horns. "Goons are being shielded by elected representatives in the state. This has to be completely eradicated," Naik said, while speaking as chief guest at the workshop. [GT]

Sarpanch battles for life, blame it on Goa bandh An electricity pole laid across the road by supporters of Goa bandh at Britona on Sunday night was the cause of the accident that has left Penha de franca sarpanch, Eknath Narvekar, battling for life at the Goa Medical College Hospital, Bambolim. Narvekar collided against the electricity pole while he was returning home on his scooter from his night duty. [GT]

Police falter on bullfight again Colva police have once again faltered in catching the fighter bulls by their horns. Despite the banned bullfights under the High Court scanner, a bull fight took place on the Benaulim-Sernabatim border, putting the cops in an embarrassing situation, with the men-in-uniform as usual descending at the venue at the fag end, around the time when one of the bull emerged victorious. [H]

Police put brakes on Navelim bull fight A 4,000-strong crowd of bull fight lovers were treated to a bout of ‘dhirio’ at Telaulim, Navelim on October 19, before the arrival of the police towards the fag end of the fight, led to its disruption. Two persons were arrested for organizing the sport. Sunday’s fight, it is reliably learnt, was organized by a close relative of a police sub inspector, on the occasion of the village feast, with the paddy field serving as the arena. The swelling crowd of onlookers cheered lustily as the two bulls - Moti and Samsung - locked horns and aggressively charged at each other. People were seen perched on coconut trees and compound walls to get a better view of the fight, that appeared to get more exciting as it progressed. [TOI]

Rs 4 crore spent on renovation of churches The Union Minister of Tourism and Culture Ms Ambika Soni, informed Mr Shantaram Naik, in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, that during the last five years, an amount of Rs 400.68 lakh has been incurred by Goa Circle of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), on renovation and up gradation of churches and convents in Goa, which are under World Heritage. [NT]

Rock-cut cave discovered in Ganje A team of Vivekanand Itihas Sanshodhan Mandal, Keri recently brought to light a new rockcut cave in Ganje village of Ponda taluka. Near the main temple of Ganjeshwari, there is a hillock on top of which is a single-cell cave without pillars and verandah. This single cell measures 58 cm in width and 65 cm in length. There is no possibility of entering the cave. This cave is about 2 km away from Ganje on the way of Valpoi-Usgao. [Rajendra P Kerkar]

Ethel's `Eve's Revenge' launched "Eve's Revenge, Stories of Nemesis", a book of poems by acknowledged Goan writer, columnist and radio personality Ms Ethel Da Costa was released recently at a heritage home in the city in the midst of a glittering evening of jazz, cocktails and a large gathering of prominent personalities from Goa and outside. Eminent Goan cardiologist Dr. Francisco Colaço welcomed the gathering and introduced the author, while Sapna Sardessai of Printer's Devil described the book and its making. The author surprised the gathering by choosing seven guests to release the book - Ashwin Tombat (Editor, Herald), Rajan Narayan (Editor, Goan Observer), Jamshed Mistry (Mumbai-based High Court Lawyer), Surendra Furtado (Businessman, City Corporator), Satish Sonak (Lawyer-Activist), Dr Brian Mendonsa, (Senior Editor, Oxford University Press, Delhi) and Daniel Ferrão (Antique Conservationist). The book features 52 poems, all passionate, soul-stirring and unabashedly autobiographical. According to Ethel Da Costa, "The collection put together over the years are stories of my life, and the journeys women and men walk and live through their spiritual and emotional evolution." Published and distributed by Broadway Book Centre, the book has been edited by eminent Goan international literateur Victor-Rangel Ribeiro, and comes in both English and Marathi versions. The Marathi translation has been done by Anant Salkar. Supported by the Vasantrao Dempo Foundation, the book features forewords by Shrinivas Dempo and Remo Fernandes, Preface by Margaret Mascarenhas (Author of Skin) while Rex Weiner, a prolific writer based in Los Angeles (USA), has the Last Word. Designed and printed by Printer's Devil, the book also features photo essays complimenting the chapters by Goan photo-artist, Prasad Pankar. While the jazz band `Fab Fusion' led by Elvis Rumion (guitar/sitar) and Bosco D'Souza (drummer) kept the toes tapping.

Drastic drop in Goa rentals A month ago, it would have been nothing but a dream to get a single-bedroom fully furnished apartment at Miramar for a monthly rent of Rs 7,000. Today it is a reality. “A 3BHK in a prime locality like Dona Paula which cost Rs 30,000 per month till recently is now finding it difficult to get even Rs 18,000,” said Robert Fernandes of Ferns Real Estates, Tonca. Desperate landlords are ready to let out their properties at low rentals instead of keeping them empty, he said. [Gauree Malkarnekar, TOI]

Goa's three Great "V"s Modern Goa has lost two of its great sons in the death of Vishwasrao Dattajirao Chowgule and Praful Priolkar... Goans have reason to salute the memory of the triumvirates - Vassantrao S Dempo, Vishwasrao Chowgule and Vassudevrao M Salgaocar - all of whom made Goa what it is today, though Vishwasrao was always the leader so far as launching new ventures was concerned. All of them have bid adieu to this mortal world but not without leaving a rich legacy for the new generations to emulate. The first to pass away was Vassudevrao. He was followed by Vassantrao and now, finally, Vishwasrao. [Pramod Khandeparker, GT]

Heineken to set up brewery in Goa The maker of Tiger beer, Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd, the Singapore-based joint venture between Dutch brewer Heineken NV and Singapore's Fraser and Neave Ltd, has fixed Goa as the location for one of its two new breweries in India. The company has also appointed a new chief executive for South Asian operations. [H]