Will Parrikar pursue special status for Goa?
http://oheraldo.in/News/Main Page News/Will-Parrikar-pursue-special-status...
August 7, 2012 | Freddy Fernandes teamherald@herald-goa.com

Panjim: With the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs clearing the various features of the bill for passage in Parliament to amend Article 371 of the constitution to give special status to various regions and states, the question is will Goa feature among these states to allow the Goa government to have powers to enact laws to protect the land, language and culture of Goa, through special status?

BJP’s new Karnataka CM Jagdish Shettar is camping in Delhi to mobilize the support of BJP MPs from all states for smooth passage of the bill since Karnataka is lobbying for inclusion of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region for special status. Question is whether Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar will join forces with Shettar to push Goa’s case for special status given the threat to Goa’s land, culture and language and the fear of minoritisation of Goans in their own state?

Goa’s Member of Parliament Shantaram Naik, when informed about the Centre’s initiative and Karnataka CM’s moves said that this is a welcome development and Shettar’s move will give a fillip to the Goa demand. Naik said that if Goa’s BJP government pushes for Special Status for Goa, he would do every effort to support the move from Delhi by using his good offices with the ruling UPA.

Art 371 includes various states for various reasons, Goa’s name features there for its demand to have 40 MLAs, whereas Nagaland and other North Eastern states are included to protect their land and culture. Goa government in earlier attempt had passed an amendment to allow the Goa government to instruct the sub registrar not to register certain deeds in public interest to protect the land. However that bill did not get the president’s assent citing unconstitutionality. Amendment to Art 371 is required and Goa’s name should be included to give the Goa Government powers to enact law to protect the land, language and culture MP Shantaram Naik stated.

Group meets Goa Chief Minister, ups the ante on special status for Goa
Times of India - August 15

Panaji: A delegation of the Movement for Special Status for Goa (MSSG) met chief minister Manohar Parrikar on Tuesday and submitted a memorandum to him regarding special status to Goa under Article 371.

Click here to read memorandum

The delegation was led by MSSG convenor Antonio Lobo and included 11 members. Alina Saldanha, forest and environment minister and Francis D'Souza, revenue minister, also joined the delegation.

Lobo said that the chief minister was supportive and thanked the delegation for bringing to his notice important points that would strengthen Goa's case for special status.

In the course of the 35-minute interaction, Parrikar told the group not to raise their hopes too high as it would be difficult to get special status for the state as there are other states in India making similar demands.

But he agreed that Goa had a special case as it was made part of the Indian union much later than the other states. Lobo said that then PM Jawaharlal Nehru had promised special status to the state to protect its unique identity.

Parrikar told the group that he would get the BJP to support the demand for special status to the state and asked the group to help with measures to protect the land.

When asked whether the group felt the chief minister was sincere on the special status issue, Lobo said, "We have to go with faith at the moment." He added that the group has been formed with the specific purpose of attaining special status to Goa and included individuals irrespective of political affiliation.

Special status' NGO wants to know what it is
TNN Aug 10, 2012, 04.09AM IST

Mapusa: The NGO 'Movement for Special Status for Goa' (MSSG) has sought a meeting with chief minister Manohar Parrikar on the eve of his visit to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking special status of Goa.

The NGO's convenor, Antonio Lobo, has said that they will convey to the chief minister their perspective, about what is needed for Goa while asking for special status from the Centre. He said that they wanted to know from the chief minister what he exactly meant while asking for special status for Goa.

Every Goan must live happily:Goa Minister Avertano Furtado
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Every-Goan-must-live-happily-Minister...
Aug 16, 2012,

Margao: Stating that the government was working towards making Goa a modern state in the country, Labour and Fisheries minister Avertano Furtado, who is Navelim MLA, unfurled the national tricolour flag on 66th Independence Day celebration at the South Goa collectorate building, on Wednesday.

"Goa is known for its communal harmony world over and I urge the people to work hand in hand and this unity with a renewed will and vigour can take Goa further on the path of progress and prosperity," Furtado added.

The labour minister paying rich tributes to the freedom fighters said independence day is an appropriate occasion to recall the supreme sacrifices made by freedom fighters for the cause of India's independence and mentioned that Goa, though liberated from the colonial rule of Portuguese, 14 years after India's independence, has made tremendous and spectacular progress in almost all the areas.

"It is the endevaour of this government to ensure that every Goan lives happily and informed that the government has increased the daily wages from Rs 150 to Rs 225 while highlighting the various welfare schemes implemented for the people of the State" added Furtado.

Goa government approves golf course at Terekhol village
PTI | 09:08 PM,Aug 02,2012

Panaji, Aug 2 (PTI) Goa state tourism minister Dilip Parulekar told the state legislative assembly that the government has approved the proposal to set up a golf course at Terekhol village of Pernem taluka.

Parulekar said that the committee constituted under the chairmanship of the earlier tourism minister has accepted the offer of the New Delhi-based Leading Hotels Ltd, to set up a PGA-standard golf course with allied services. Leading hotels was selected by the committee after following all formalities, he said. The group has already prepared a detailed project report and feasibility report, which have been forwarded to the union ministry of tourism for examination, under the large revenue generation scheme.

“However, they made some observations on which clarifications are being furnished,” he said. The state government is also examining offers made by other groups like Gold Resort and Hotels Pvt Ltd, Haryana, Opus Hotel and Resorts Pvt Ltd, Bangalore and Corporate Club of India, Bangalore, the minister said.

India's Goa may cut iron ore output by 18 pct-official
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/10/india-ironore-mining...
Reuters

India's Goa state plans to cap its iron ore output at 45 million tonnes per annum due to its limited infrastructure, the mining department head said, down 18 percent and likely to cut India's depleted exports further. India ... Click to read more

Goa expresses concern over colonisation attempts by Russians
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/270678/goa-expresses-concern-over-colonisation...
Deccan Herald

"Like all other foreign citizens in Goa, Russians are entitled to all rights and freedom under international and national law provided they abide by the Indian law," Novikov said, adding that Russians should be held liable if they are found responsible ... Click to read more

Goa's draft mining policy soft on capping ore extraction
http://twocircles.net/2012aug10/goas_draft_mining_policy_soft_capping_ore_extraction...
TwoCircles.net

By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar, IANS,. Panaji: After making a vocal case for sustainable mining, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's much-awaited draft mining policy appears to have turned its back on a crucial recommendation of a government committee ... Click to read more

Illegal Mining in India On the Way Out For Good?
http://agmetalminer.com/2012/08/09/illegal-mining-in-india-on-the-way-out-for-good/ 
MetalMiner

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told legislators in the state legislative assembly that his government had looked into all 40 cases and their licenses would be cancelled. Immediately, the fallout of this action would be a drop in India's iron ore ... Click to read more

Goan Tribune, June 2,1957 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52243088@N00/7745598122/ 
Goan Tribune, June 2,1957

Goan Tribune, a periodical published by patriotic Goans in Mumbai (Bombay), spearheaded the movement seeking Goa's liberation from 450 years of Portuguese colonial rule. Such opinions could not be aired in Goa, where there was censorship of the press

Water released from Anjunem dam
http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Local News/Water-released-from-Anjunem-dam/39545.html
August 4, 2010 | Herald Correspondent

Heavy rains in Virdi and Chorla Ghats of Sattari taluka on Tuesday morning forced authorities at the Anjunem Dam to open two gates and release water to maintain water level at the dam.

According to Assistant Engineer M K Huddedgaddi, the two gates of the dam were opened and water was released at the rate of 10 cubic mm to maintain the normal water level. "However, after two hours the gates were closed, as rains stopped during low tide. The rainfall at Chorla Ghat and Virdi area on Tuesday itself was recorded as 103 mm," informed Huddedgaddi. Though both the gates were closed later, the water level from Walwanti River, Sanquelim and Bicholim Rivers rose substantially, crossing the danger level, due to which low-lying areas like Dattmandir, Gauthan, Kudne and other parts of Sanquelim, which are close to Walwanti River, were submerged.

In Bicholim, areas like Gaonkarwada, Bandarwada, Bordem near the Circle were also submerged under water. Water entered paddy fields, damaging plantations. Muddy water along with the mining silt too flowed in the fields at Advalpal, Kudne, Nanora, Mulgao, Shirgao and other low-lying areas of Bicholim taluka. The loss could not be ascertained.

All the four irrigation pumps at Sanquelim were also put into service to maintain the water level, which rose due to heavy rains. Water level of Walwanti and Bicholim rivers also increased tremendously, resulting in low-lying areas coming under water.

However, the water level started receding slowly Tuesday evening, due to which further danger was avoided.

Authorities from the irrigation department were monitoring the situation round the clock. The Disaster Management Cell also remained alert. Bicholim Mamlatdar Pramod Bhat said the situation was under control.

Goa has 16% diabetic patients: Health Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar
http://www.oheraldo.in/News/Local News/Goa-has-16-diabetic-patients-Parsekar/63016...
teamherald@herald-goa.com
August 12, 2012 | Team Herald

Margao: Stating that the diabetic scenario in Goa is a matter of grave concern, Health Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar on Saturday said the government would consider the proposal of Apollo Victor Hospitals to open a kidney transplant centre at the hospital.

“Sixteen per cent of Goa’s population comprises of diabetic patients. Every sixth person is affected with diabetics. It is a serious situation”, Parsekar said, after inaugurating the state-of-the-art 20-bedded dialysis unit at the Apollo Victor Hospitals this evening.

The Health Minister conceded that dialysis facilities at the GMC, Hospicio and Canacona Health Centre have proved insufficient, adding that the government has plans to set up dialysis centre at the North Goa district hospital and South district hospital, which is under construction.

On Apollo Victor’s proposal for a kidney transplant centre, Parsekar said “the government can consider the proposal. GMC has done 3-4 successful kidney transplants, but the programme is affected for want of suitable kidney donors”.

Apollo Victor Medical Director Dr Robert D’Costa said “The way forward to Apollo Victor Hospitals includes setting up a kidney transplant facility at the hospital. One of the obvious benefits of getting a kidney transplant is that the patients’ quality of life improves”.

In his address, Apollo Victor Director, Operations, Varun Albuquerque said the new dialysis centre promises to cater to the alarming rise in kidney failure cases across the state of Goa.

“The exclusive dialysis unit for chronic kidney disease is housed in the brand new five-floor extension of the Apollo Victor Hospitals which also has a 200-seater auditorium, which will be used for medical and scientific events”, he added.

Fr Francis Carvalho is Pilar Society's superior general
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Fr-Francis-Carvalho-is-Pilar-Societys...
TNN | Aug 13, 2012
 
Panaji: Fr Francis Carvalho, 65, from Uguem-Sanguem was elected as the new superior general of the Pilar society at the XVIII general chapter held at Pilar Deepti Sadan, Porvorim, on Saturday.

This is the first election after the raising of the society to pontifical right. The house decided to invite cardinal Oswald Gracias as a gesture of appreciation and gratitude towards him, to preside over the election of the superior general, though canonically, it was not necessary for a president from outside as in the case of societies of diocesan.

Expressing the expectation of the Holy See, Gracias, stated that "the society of Pilar is a premier indigenous missionary congregation in India. Therefore there is much to be expected by the church in India and the universal church". In his address, the new superior general, Carvalho, said, "I am here to collaborate with the members of the society of Pilar, so that all of us become instruments of God."

Fr Hilario Fernandes, Fr Dominic Alvares, Fr Frederik Rodrigues, Fr Anthony Castello were elected as councillors to the superior general. Fr Roque Fernandes was elected as the general treasurer of the society of Pilar. Recently on June 27, Carvalho was conferred a doctorate in the faculty of canon law at the Gregorian University, Rome. Carvalho defended his doctoral thesis entitled, 'The role of the hierarchical authority of the church in the re-constitution of a de facto extinct institute of consecrated life: A canonical investigation'. Carvalho had studied cultural anthropology in London. He has also worked in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, served as the vicar general of the Pilar Society and as a novice master of the Pilar seminarians.

Goa readies its UNESCO heritage report on Western Ghats
http://oheraldo.in/News/Main Page News/Goa-readies-its-unesco-heritage-report...
teamherald@herald-goa.com
August 14, 2012

Panjim: The report for inscription of the Goa sector of Western Ghats, as a world heritage site is ready for submission to UNESCO. The report would be routed through the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF), shortly.

The Minister for Environment and Forest Alina Saldanha when contacted said she has received the file from Forest Department, and it would be sent over to MoEF shortly, upon approval by the chief minister.

Goa missed an opportunity to have Goa sector of Western Ghats listed in world heritage site of UNESCO, while 39 sites in the Western Ghats made it to the UNESCO world heritage list in July 2012.

The Goa stretch was not included in the list due to apathy of the State Government but later it declared that it would take up matter with MoEF, and make efforts to have the Goa stretch of Western Ghats included in the list.

A team of Forest Department officials headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Richard D'Souza, has studied details of the recent UNESCO decision, which tagged several sites in the Western Ghats as world heritage sites.

Environmentalists have been worried about increasing mining activity near the Western Ghats range, and its listing as heritage site can provide much needed protection. Moreover, UNESCO inscription can boost tourism and research-oriented activities.

The bio-diversity within the Goa sector of Western Ghats reflects one of the most complex, plant-animal-bird life combine. More than 1,512 species of plants including some rare endemic species along with animals and reptiles form a part of this region. The State has time till January 2013, as UNESCO had extended the deadline to submit its case. Western Ghats are considered as one of the world’s biological diversity hotspots.