CM to discuss Goa mining policy with officials
Posted: 01 Jun 2012 06:01 AM PDT

Chief minister Manohar Parrikar has decided to hold meeting with officials to discuss and deliberate on the much talked Goa mining policy this month. State government has asked the ministry of environment and forest not to issue any environment clearance till the state government finalized the mining policy. ”The aim of mining policy would be to have sustainable development and to have conservation of natural resources”, said director of mines Prasanna Acharya adding that the chief minister will take a final call on mining policy.

Acharya said that the meeting will be held after June 15, 2012. Chief minister Manohar Parrikar had said that by May-end the drafting of the mining policy will be completed. And since there is no heavy mining activity from June to August, government was supposed to throw the mining policy draft open for public suggestion for 30 days. Goa exports nearly 85% of its iron ore to China, as well as accounting for 50% of India’s iron ore exports. India contributes 8% of the world’s total iron ore export, of which Goa handles half.

Goa exports iron ore to Japan, South Korea, Europe and the Middle-East. Most of Goa’s ore is exported to China. Goa has 338 mining leases out of which around 90 operational mines in Goa, which exported around 43 million tonnes last year.

Goa bans swimming, water sports on beaches for monsoon
Posted: 01 Jun 2012 06:29 AM PDT

Ahead of the coming monsoon, the Goa government Friday banned water sports on Goa Beaches along the state’s 105-km coastline. It also cautioned tourists and local residents against swimming in the sea which gets churned dangerously by the lashing monsoon winds. "The permission granted by the Captain of Ports for plying off water sports vessels within the state of Goa has come to an end. Therefore, all the water sports operators plying their vessels within the state of Goa are hereby directed to stop their operations immediately," a state government directive said Friday.

The statement, issued by the state information and publicity department, also said that water sports operators who continue with popular water sports operations like jet skiing, speed boating, banana boating, para-sailing and the like, would be banned from water sports-related activity. "The vessel shall be confiscated and auctioned," the statement said, adding that the directives were issued because “during the monsoon, the sea is rough and hence dangerous for swimming”. "All tourists as well as the general public are therefore hereby cautioned not to venture into the sea so as to avoid untoward incidents which may include death due to drowning," it further said.

According to figures released by the Goa government, nearly 2.7 million tourists arrived in Goa during the October 2011-March 2012 season, out of which nearly half a million were foreigners.

Union immigration bureau takes over in Goa
http://www.goablog.org/posts/union-immigration-bureau-takes-over-in-goa...
Posted: 01 Jun 2012 09:21 PM PDT

The Bureau of Immigration (BOI) of the Union home ministry on Friday took over the management of the immigration desks at Dabolim airport, the seaport at Mormugao and the foreigner’s registration office (FRO) in Goa, SP (Immigration) Tony Fernandes said.

Fernandes told TOI that for now the Goa policewill continue to operate the immigration counters at the airport, seaport and FRO, but subsequently they would be replaced by the BOI staff.

A Union ministry of home affairs notification stated that the central government hereby appoints the foreigners regional registration officer, Goa, as the ‘Civil Authority’ and ‘Registration Officer’ for the jurisdiction of the entire state of Goa including Goa international airport and Mormugao seaport with effect from May 31.

The BOI has selected 35 Goa police staff to work under them and requested an additional 30 staff till such period they bring in their own employees. BOI has requested the Goa police to provide names of 50 staff, of whom it will select 30. BOI plans to post 41 staff at the airport, nine at the seaport and 15 at the FRO.

As per the home ministry policy, all airports where international flights land are to be manned by immigration bureau officials. Already, the 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 handled by the immigration bureau.

The immigration bureau had plans to post 170 personnel in Goa. Their plan was to post 100 personnel at the Dabolim airport alone, so that there are immigration officials available for two shifts. This was rejected by the Goa police due to shortage of staff. Presently, 45 Goa police personnel are posted at the airport, 10 at the seaport and 27 at the FRO.

Sources said that under the immigration bureau, the desks will be handled professionally, the staff will be trained and hi-tech equipment will help detect fake passports.

Courtesy: TOI

Late medieval era Church music legacy preserved by rare organs
http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/print.aspx?aid=112284

Late medieval era Church music legacy preserved by rare organs

Panaji: Handful of piped organs from the late medieval era preserved by the Goan Churches here are the last vestiges of the musical legacy brought in by the Christian missionaries during the Portuguese colonial rule in the state.

Couple of these musical organs, have been repaired and put to use, while few more are gathering dust waiting for expert hands to get them fixed. Saint Ignatius Loyola Church at Rachol, 80 kms from here, still plays music through piped organs during Sunday masses.

Traditionally, the wind was blown through a pedestal board for this instrument while the organist plays with the keys. For the sake of convenience, at this Church, the conventional pedestal board has taken a backseat and wind is blown through an electric motor.

The organ is kept on the inside gallery just opposite the Altar of St Ignatius Loyola, the founder of Jesuit order. Fr Mousinho Ataide, attached to Rachol Seminary, said that these instruments date back to 1880, and are perhaps few of the last remains of the wind blowing musical instruments, which are on the wane.

The organ at Rachol was gifted to the seminary by then Archbishop in late 1800s to this Church constructed in the medieval era. Rachol seminary where the Church is housed is amongst the first churches built by the missionaries in Goa. The Church management concedes that the ageing musical organ has been a costly affair to maintain.

Ataide said that a person is specially called from London, periodically to upkeep this rare instrument.

"During the feast, organ is accompanied by violin. Despite crossing 100 years of its service, it still gives melodious voice," the Father said, adding the music is much better than the electronic piano.

The long pipes fitted inside the cupboard-shaped wooden structure create unique echo once wind is blown through them which is authentic sound of the medieval Church music. Alike Rachol Church, Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa, 10 kms away from Panaji, too has preserved one of such organ. But its not used since last 15 years waiting for the repairs.

Fr Savio Barretto, Rector of the Basilica, said that the repairer had visited and inspected the instrument few years back, but he did not turn back.

The basilica is a part of UNESCO heritage site.

The instrument, which has `Hurry Brothers, Calcutta,` inscripted on it is a much bigger than the one at Rachol Seminary. The organ in Basilica was manufactured by Anglo-Indian organ building firm, Hurry Brothers, of Calcutta and rest were by a German firm.

Fr Barretto admits that the organ, which one amongst the last few left in the world, has been left as a `show-piece`. Until we get it repaired, it’s like a showpiece, said Fr Barretto, showing the huge wooden piped organ, installed facing the deity on the upper portion of the Church.

Considering the sanctity and antiquity of the instrument, the Church has not kept the instrument open for public viewing.

Basilica of Bom Jesus has thousands of deities and tourists flocking every year.

Across the road from Basilica, in the same complex, at Se Cathedral Church, there is another piped organ, which is much smaller.

PTI

What measures would you recommend when setting up a second medical college in Goa?
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/What-measures-would-you-recommend...
TNN | Jun 3, 2012, 05.13AM IST
 
The first suggestion is to ensure there is appropriate infrastructure that meets the requirements of the medical council of India. To set up this kind of infrastructure will take a long time, two years at least. It is good that the college will be a state-run one, as kick backs and capitation fees that come with a private college are too many. Although there has been an increase in the number of seats at GMC, this increase seems to have been done in a hurried manner. The authorities should also think about the future and job opportunities of these students. They need to make sure that job opportunities are available, as avenues are less even abroad. Another aspect is that doctors want to remain in the cities, but the cities are saturated with doctors. However, the situation is exactly the opposite in villages. Facilities need to be improved at the rural level so that doctors consider working there.

Francisco Colaco, Cardiologist, Margao

I am happy that the government is considering setting up a second medical college in the state as Goan students have to face many hardships in seeking admissions outside the state. To have another college in the state is a matter of pride. However, authorities need to ensure good teaching staff and basic facilities. A medical college also needs a tough administrator and the academic atmosphere should be competitive. Besides, no rules should be waived and loopholes should be avoided during examinations. Our CM is dynamic and will surely consider all these aspects.

Fatima Menezes Mesquita, Opthamologist Surgeon, Vasco

Only time will tell if the decision to set up a second medical college in South Goa is right or wrong. However, to set up a new medical college, the government should first come up with proper planning. There should be planning for proper classrooms, various departments, OTs, ICUs, faculty blocks and a morgue. The required number of qualified staff like doctors should also be recruited. The task is not small as the existing medical college first needs filling up of so many vacancies. It also requires better equipment, organization etc.

Padmanabh Rataboli, Doctor, Britona

The government needs to be congratulated for planning to set up a medical college and hospital in Margao. We badly need to improve the medical facilities in government hospitals by increasing the number of doctors and nurses. This college will resolve this problem to a good extent. But, the doctors should be made to work in rural areas for at least for two years as government would be spending huge amounts on these doctors.

Ranjan Naik, Consultant, health services, Panaji

River Princess, which ran aground the Sinquerim shoreline nearly 12 years ago on June 6, 2000, has finally disappeared as its removal was completed last month.

Arihant Ship Breakers, which had bagged the contract for cutting and removing the massive vessel from the beach, had begun the project three months back. “The officials in its report on May 24 confirmed completion of the project. We will verify the claim before submitting a detailed report to the state government,” Tourism Director Swapnil Naik told reporters. The government had made arrangements for unloading the scrap at Britona jetty, which went through a brief hiccup over customs duty but it was resolved subsequently.

Over 56 technical staff members, another group of 50 workers, and specialist undersea cutters and divers from Mumbai had joined the operations. The entire exercise was video-recorded, Naik said. The National Institute of Oceanography will conduct a survey of the beach stretch and the waters where the ship was grounded off.

Courtesy: dearcinema

Shah Rukh Khan apparently buying 50 percent stake in a Goan football

The warring Khans — Shah Rukh, Salman — come face to face on field

Daily News & Analysis

SRK is apparently buying 50 percent stake in a Goan football club called Dempo SC. A source says, “The actor is very much into sports and has big plans too. In India, cricket and cinema are two most popular forms of entertainment and SRK is already ... Click here to read more