Governor extends Statehood Day greetings
The Governor of Goa, Dr S S Sidhu, has extended warm greetings to the people of Goa on the occasion of historic and unique Statehood Day — May 30. Dr Sidhu said, "Today is a unique day because by celebrating the 24th anniversary of full-fledged Statehood, we are stepping into the Silver Jubilee Year of the Statehood.

Goa is already in the midst of the celebration of the Golden Jubilee year of its Liberation." "While Liberation of Goa in December, 1961 marked realisation of Goans’ centuries-old dream for freedom and self-rule, the attainment of full-fledged Statehood in 1987 took the democratic aspirations of the people to their logical conclusion. Both these events have ushered in a paradigm shift in the perceptions of the people. [NT]

Govt gives a soothing touch to Balli
A week after Balli was rocked by violence, Governor S S Sidhu visited the strife-torn village today to seek first-hand information on the situation and assess steps taken to restore normalcy. The governor later visited Quepem and handed over two cheques for Rs 1 lakh each to Quepem Deputy Collector Agnelo Fernandes to be handed over to family members of the two tribal activists who died in the Balli violence last week. Amidst tight security, the governor visited Adarsh Cooperative Society building and Achal cashew godown which was set ablaze, resulting in the killing of the two tribal youth on May 25. The managing director of the cashew factory submitted a report and a CD detailing the attack on the Adarsh office and factory premises. [H]

Efforts on to get CM, Joaquim, Monserrate, Parrikar for meet on garbage today: Parekh
Stating that there is still no solution in sight for the disposal of garbage regularly generated in the city, the Mayor, Mr Yatin Parekh on Wednesday said that he is trying to get the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, Minister for Urban Development, Mr Joaquim Alemao, the Taleigao MLA, Mr Atanasio Monserrate and the Panaji MLA, Mr Manohar Parrikar to attend a meeting on May 26, to find a solution to the problem that may very well turn into a health hazard. Earlier in the day, the Mayor held a meeting with the Deputy Mayor, Mr Rudresh Chodankar, Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji, Mr Melwyn Vaz, and opposition councillors, Mr Surendra Furtado as well as Ms Vaidehi Naik, in a desperate attempt to find a solution to the problem. [NT]

Sewerage connections compulsory for households: Corporation
The Goa Sewerage Development Corporation has said the government has made sewerage connections compulsory for households in areas where the facility is made available. Speaking to newsmen after commissioning the Rs 6.6 crore sewerage project in the Sirvodem ward of Margao Municipal Council, Corporation Chairman Ganashyam Shirodkar said households cannot say no to sewerage connections on the alibi they have septic tanks and soakpits. “The government has passed a Legislation to disconnect water supply to households releasing sewage waters in the open drains. Households cannot refuse to take sewerage connections on grounds their toilets are connected to septic tanks and soakpits”, Shirodkar said. [H]

Act against wells used as septic tanks, panchayat told
Ring-type wells are being built in Calangute and used as huge septic tanks by commercial establishments and even by a Calangute panch member, posing a health hazard to residents who consume ground water, Calangute gram sabha members complained on Sunday, and urged the panchayat to urgently stop the menace. This was the vociferous demand at the gram sabha on Sunday. A number of gram sabha members pointed out that ring-type wells were being built and illegally used as septic tanks to dump raw sewage in wards such as Gauravaddo, Khobravaddo, Agarvaddo and Naikavaddo. [TOI]

It’s raining mackerels at Cutbona
It has been raining mackerels in Cutbona as several trawlers returned at the jetty on Sunday morning with a huge catch of this variety of fish. A fisherman at the Cutbona jetty said that the trawlers which returned Sunday morning came with about four to five tonnes of mackerels each. He said with the fishing season nearing its end, it is a bit surprising to witness the huge catch of mackerels. The president of the Cutbona Trawler Owners Association, Mr Antonio Rodrigues said that around 15 boats arrived on Sunday, each carrying around 5-10 tonnes of mackerels depending on the capacity of the trawlers. Mr Rodrigues said the total catch on Sunday, which in particular had mackerels, was around 80 tonnes. He further said that on a normal day, the average total catch is around 50-60 tonnes of fish. [NT]

Goan iron ore port aims to add 7mt of shiploading capacity
Steel Business Briefing (subscription)

Metals and mining firm Sterlite Industries India Ltd is poised to win a contract for building a new 7.2m tonnes/year terminal exclusively for iron ore exports at the Mormugao port in southwest India's Goa state. Of the eleven applicants earlier ... Read More

Salgaocar see off Dempo to claim crown
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1444924.html

The Goan giants needed just a point from the final match to stave off the challenge of Dempo, who were six points adrift but with a match in hand. Dempo won with an incredible 14-0 scoreline over Air India but Salgaocar's victory meant their I-League ... Read More

Goa received 273 more charter flights this tourism season
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/articleshow/8612692.cms
Posted: 27 May 2011 08:19 PM PDT | Source: Goa Blog Courtesy: TOI

For the current tourist season which is drawing to a close, Goa received 273 charter flights more than the previous season, totalling nearly 900 flights with more than 50 % of the total charter tourists coming from Eastern Europe – Khazakistan and Russia. Announcing the statistics of charter tourism for the current season, the government on Friday said that a total of 899 charter flights carrying 1,71,178 travellers from 12 international destinations have landed into Goa since the start of the tourist season in October 2010.

This is a marked rise from the 626 charter flights that flew into Goa in the previous tourist season with 1,37,790 passengers onboard, director of tourism Swapnil Naik said. The season saw charter flights from UK, Russia, Poland, Germany, Norway, Kazakhstan, Finland, Denmark, Switzerland, France, Netherlands and Iran fly into Goa. Statistics show that more than 50% of the total number of charter flights arriving into Goa originated from Eastern Europe, mainly Russia and Kazakhstan.

In all 435 flights arrived from Russia and 20 from Kazakhastan from a total of 899 flights. Ralph de Souza, spokesperson for the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) said, “There is no doubt that Goa’s popularity is increasing across the globe. This tourist season, the state has seen a large increase in tourists from countries like Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia.” Officials, however, said this is not to indicate that English tourists are very few. Goa continues to attract a steady stream of visitors from the UK. Officials said that a total of 261 charter flights carrying 57,848 travellers arrived into Goa from UK. De Souza said travellers arriving from Russia and other Eastern European countries arrive into the state mainly through the charter route. He further said that “Goa has consistently received a high number of British travellers, especially long staying guests.

However, tourists arriving from the (East European) region are significantly higher than these numbers because many arrive via Mumbai as the connectivity of flights is better.” Overall, the arrivals of charter flights were high in December and January which is normally the case. 167 flights came in December 2010 and 187 flights in January 2011. TTAG spokesperson said, “Goa is the only holiday destination in India which has enjoyed the highest number of repeat tourists, especially from UK and parts of Western Europe.

Foreign tourists arriving into Goa stay for an average period of two weeks including short and long term stays, not less.” Tourism officials said that over the last year Goa has embarked on “a 360 degrees targeted campaign, proactively pitching Goa as a holiday destination,” to the European countries, Scandinavia, Russia, and the east, including Japan. Commenting on the season, director tourism said, “Each year we have either been on par or are doing better than the previous years. We are pleased that we will be closing the tourist season on a healthy note and are extremely optimistic about the coming tourist season as well.”

Courtesy: TOI

I-League Title Race Scenario: Only A Two-Horse Race Now
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/05/29/2501008/
By Rahul Bali | 29-May-2011 3:05:00 AM

With effectively just one round of matches remaining only two teams are still in contention to win the I-League title and both of those clubs are from Goa.

The I-League regulations state that in case the teams are locked on points, the head-to-head result is being looked at with the team securing highest points being placed higher, thereafter even if the second option is also similar goal difference shall be the determining factor.

If the goal difference is also the same, the number of goalscored is considered and the last option being the drawing of lots wherein luck plays a key role. For several weeks the I-League title looked like a four horse race as East Bengal and the Goan trio of Salgaocar, Dempo and Churchill Brothers all stayed in contention for the biggest domestic prize in Indian football.

Now with only eight matches remaining in the season, the title can only be won by two clubs - Salgaocar and Churchill. Therefore for the seventh straight season a Goan club will be crowned champions.

Goa police apply for jobs on immigration desks
Posted: 26 May 2011 -GoaNet

Almost 150 Goa police personnel have submitted applications to be posted on deputation at the immigration desks in the state to be taken over by the Union ministry of home affairs.

The ministry has plans to take over the immigration desks at the Dabolim airport and Mormugao seaport and the foreigners’ registration office by June 30. The bureau of immigration will create 175 posts for the same.

Immigration services at major international airports in India and foreigners’ registration work in seven major cities-Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Amritsar, Bangalore and Hyderabad-are presently handled by the immigration bureau.

Sources said that under home ministry’s instructions all airports in the country where international flights land are to be manned by immigration bureau officials.

“After consultations with ministry officials it was decided that Goa police personnel may work on deputation at the immigration centres and the FRO. We therefore invited applications from interested personnel. We have so far received almost 150 applications,” said a senior police official. “Most police personnel who have applied for the posts ranging in rank from SP to constable live in and around the airport area. Also, those who are tired of the erratic working hours at police stations have also applied. In the immigration office they would have to work only for fixed hours in shifts,” the official said.

The immigration bureau plans to post 175 personnel in Goa. Over 100 personnel will be posted at the Dabolim airport alone, so that there are immigration officials available for two shifts. At present, 45 Goa police personnel are posted at the airport, 10 at the seaport and 27 at the FRO. The airport has received harassment complaints mainly to international travellers. Sources said that under the immigration bureau the desks will be professional, the staff will be trained and hi-tech equipment will help detect fake passports.

Courtesy: TOI

Mapusa boy tops IIT-JEE exam in Goa
Posted: 27 May 2011 01:47 AM PDT

With a rank of 1368, Ugam alias Vassudio Kamat from Mapusa has secured the highest rank in Goa this year at the Indian Institute of Technology-Joint Entrance Exam ( IIT-JEE). The exam was held on April 11.

Kamat says his first preference is a seat at the IIT, Bombay, where he would like to pursue either civil or mechanical engineering. “The idea of being creative and exploring the world of science has attracted me to engineering,” said Kamat.

The 17-year-old scored 73.33% in the Class XII board exam with 84.33% in the physics-chemistry-math combination. “Apart from my family, Subhash Naik, the principal of Saraswat Higher Secondary School, Mapusa, was a great source of inspiration and constant motivation to me,” said Kamat, who enjoys reading and playing cricket.

He credited God, his school teachers and coaching classes for his achievement as well.

Courtesy: TOI

Younger Goans in Portugal prefer movies to culture
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=242320#

Panaji, June 2 (IANS) Younger generations of Portuguese citizens of Goan origin would "rather go watch a movie", than listen to stories and facts about their Goan heritage, feels a leading Portugual based musician.

Arvi Barbosa is a member of a Lisbon-based Goan music troupe called Ekvat. It is scheduled to perform in Goa Thursday. "The new generation would rather go watch a movie, rather than dance with us," said Arvi, addressing a press conference in Panaji.

Ekvat has 25 performers, of whom 17 are Goans born and brought up in what was once Portuguese East Africa and others from Portugal, who specialize in Goan music written in Konkani. "Goans born in Africa had very little or no knowledge of Konkani, although a few of them might have heard Goan music as kids in their parents' home. To teach them to sing in Konkani and to dance Goan deknnis, harvest dances and mandos is the normal task of Ekvat," Arvi said.

Arvi said that while Ekvat has tried to stick to the traditional aspects of Goan music over the years, the repertoire of this musical group has evolved and included modern Goan music too. "We started first with music and dance pieces we had brought with us from Goa. Gradually, over the years we have been creating new songs and dances," he said.

Virginia Bras Gomes, also a Portuguese national and a member of the troupe, said that Ekvat is a part of Casa de Goa, a foundation based in Lisbon set up to promote Goan culture in Portugal. The troupe is backed by Goa based Non-Resident Commissioner for Goans, Eduardo Faleiro. "The purpose of this group is to make music and dance of Goa known to a wider audience and to motivate the young generation of Goans born abroad to identify themselves with their ancestral roots and culture," said Faleiro, a former union minister of state for external affairs.

The Portuguese ruled Goa as a colony for nearly 450 years, before Goa was liberated from the Luso regime in 1961 by the Indian army.

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