Goa News Clips
 

Two Planes Miss Collision At Goa Airport, - Probe Ordered November 17th, 2008 Panaji, Nov 16 (IANS) A probe was ordered after a Moscow-bound Trans-Aero aircraft’s wing brushed against the tail of another plane at Goa’s Dabolim airport Sunday afternoon, airport officials said here. All 356 passengers on board were safe.The incident occurred at 2.30 p.m., when the Moscow-bound flight was on the runway, readying for the take-off, the officials said. The Trans-Aero flight’s right wing brushed against the tail wing of another chartered flight from Britain, the officials said. The passengers were immediately evacuated, they said, adding all passengers on board the Trans-Aero flight were safe. However, both flights were grounded on the runway, blocking the outgoing traffic. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) initiated an enquiry into the freak mishap. “The inquiry will try to determine if there was any lapse on part of the pilot or were there other factors involved that could have led to the incident,” Dabolim International Airport director Paul Manikam told IANS. Airport officials said techniocians would inspect the two planes Monday and decide on their airworthiness. They said a preliminary report on the mishap was sent to the DGCA in New Delhi and a detailed investigation would be carried out by a special team from Mumbai Monday. Hundreds of chartered flights from Germany, Russia and Britain use the paramilitary airport facility at Dabolim every year from October to March, Goa’s tourist season. This year nearly 700 chartered and scheduled flights are expected to land in Goa.

Goa to have its own Anti-Terror Squad http://www.zeenews.com/states/2008-11-16/484064news.html Panaji, Nov 16: Goa Police will have its own Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) as the state was frequently being mentioned as a target by terrorists during interrogations, a top official said on Sunday. "Goa's special cell would be a 150-strong force that would look into aspects such as collection of terror-related intelligence and cyber crime," Superintendent of Police, Atmaram Deshpande, who is in-charge of the cell, told media. Most of the manpower for the ATS would be sourced from the police force itself, said Deshpande, who has studied various anti-terror squad models across the country. "This is a high risk prone unit and hence we would need tried and tested personnel that can be readily banked upon during emergencies," he added. The special cell would also look at sourcing Armed Forces Short Service Commission officials from the Rajya Sainik Board and hire personnel for jobs like Telecom and Cyber crime expertise, he said adding that the special cell would be accorded the status of a police station, but would be used only for close door operations. "The cell will not deal with the public, instead it will handle sensitive back end chores, apart from dealing with any terror related contingencies," Deshpande said. Goa has been getting annual warnings from the centre as the state has been on the terror radar, a police official said. Bureau Report

"Book-on-head" race! Picture by Joel D’Souza On Sunday afternoon the Lions Club of Assagao in association with their counterparts in Anjuna, Arpora/Nagoa, Calangute, Aldona, Mapusa, Mapusa Suburban, Tivim, Bicholim and Sanquelim, held a regional level sports meet at the Assagao school ground for underprivileged children from their respective areas

Kin of 2 Goan sailors ecstatic MARGAO: There were ecstatic scenes at the homes of the two Goan sailors who were held captive on board the hijacked ship "MV Stolt Valor". The families of Alister Fernandes from Cuncolim and Isidore Fernandes from Raia, telephoned GT to express their gratitude for consistently taking up their cause. The two families said they received a telephonic message from the National Union of Seafarers of India that their sons have been released and that the ship had left for Mumbai and would reach in the next five to six days. "We are happy that Alister and other (18) sailors have been released," said his mother, who incidentally celebrated her birthday on November 16. [GT]

Tourism scenario in state is improving After a shaky start and against the gloomy scenario projected on the tourism front in view of global meltdown, the tourism scenario is improving in the state with the number of charter flights and tourists showing a sign of recovery in the state. According to Mr Charles Bonifacio, the former president of Travel and Tourism Association of Goa, the inflow of chartered tourists has improved considerably and the scene is showing sign of immense recovery after a shaky start. Mr Bonifacio also said that the flow of Russian tourists is encouraging while the flights from United Kingdom have also been bringing in a lot of chartered tourists, allowing the tourism industry in Goa to heave a sigh of relief. [NT]

Goa entertains droves of Russian tourists Increase in the number of Russian tourists arriving in the state over the years and expectation of a further increase in their arrival has prompted Goa's tourism industry to rise to the occasion and cater to their needs. A senior official in the state tourism sector told "The Navhind Times" that some hoteliers have appointed chefs specialising in Russian delicacies to cater to the Russian tourists. [NT]

Traffic arrangements in view of feast at Old Goa The District Magistrate, North Goa, has ordered the diversion of traffic and parking of vehicles at Old Goa in view of feast of St Francis Xavier to be held on December 3, 2008. All vehicular traffic from Panjim desiring to proceed to Ponda and Old Goa will be diverted from down below Mandovi bridge to take right and proceed via bye-pass (Kadamba Plateau). Those attending the feast will be allowed to take the normal road via Ribandar Patto to come up to Bhakia's property where they will park their vehicles. [GT]

Cattle fair continues to attract buyers Tucked away behind the Rosary College, Navelim, was the cattle fair which drew buyers from far and wide. Local tradition says that sale of the cattle has been part and parcel of the feast fair since decades, bringing cattle buyers and sellers on the feast day. [H]

GKA's tiatr manuscript scheme Goa Konkani Akademi is planning to publish around 10 tiatr manuscripts this year under its "Tiatr financial assistance for publication scheme", to publish the manuscripts of Konkani drama and tiatr presented during various festivals and feasts of different villages of Goa. 75 per cent financial assistance will be given to publish each selected manuscript in the form of a book. The last date for submitting the form along with the manuscripts is December 15, 2008. [GT]

Benaulim carpenters - dying breed The Goan Catholic carpenter is a rarity nowadays. Several ornamental altars and artistic images of saints which adorn not only homes of the rich and churches, bear testimony to the craftsmanship of the ancestors of carpenters from B enaulim. However, today, it is just carved furniture that still is Sebastiao Rato's forte. Barely a handful of Benaulim's carpenters remain loyal to their ancestral occupation. [H]

'Village' depicting traditional Goa at Cuelim A visit to the Three Kings Heritage Village at Cuelim could provide you with the details of the rich and unique culture and tradition of Goa. Opened earlier this month and situated at the foot of the picturesque Three Kings Hill in Cuelim, the Village gives a detailed insight for every visitor. Promoted by Jose Maria Furtado, the it presents fugdi dances by indigenous tribes of Goa with exotic beats of ghumots. The traditional art of pottery, bamboo basket weavers, toddy tappers, cobblers and poder and various vegetation plants are also on display. [H]

Tusker destroys plantations at Pernem Banana plantations belonging to Vilas Parab and others were destroyed by an elephant on Saturday night at Kadashi-Mopa. Earlier, the same tusker had destroyed the paddy field and banana plantations of farmers at Fakirpato-Patradevi. [GT]