Mining cos asked to pay damages 2 Jul 2008, 0330 hrs IST,TNN PANAJI: Mining companies will pay Rs 3.40 crore to 761 farmers from Surla as compensation for crop losses. This is the largest ever compensation for crop loss in the state.
While disposing of a petition filed by the Surla panchayat and two others, a division bench comprising Justice S A Bobde and Justice R C Chavan on Tuesday directed this compensation to be paid to the farmers. In the initial phase, 502 farmers will receive the compensation. The rest will have to prove their claims. Counsel for the petitioner S N Joshi said the claim of 259 farmers is disputed as they are listed either as owners or occupants and not as cultivators. These claims can be settled by conciliation and the amount be disbursed later, he pointed out. The compensation amount has already been deposited with the court. The deputy collector of Bicholim has been appointed as commissioner for the disbursement. The petition had been filed by the Surla panchayat seeking compensation for crop loss due to mining activity. It named V M Salgaocar Mining Pvt Ltd, Chowgule & Co, Sociedade de Fomento, Salitho Ores Pvt Ltd, D B Bandodkar Pvt Ltd, V S Dempo Pvt Ltd and Timblo Mining Pvt Ltd in the court. The petitioners said that because of dumping of mining rejects, crops in adjacent fields had been damaged and soil adversely affected. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/Mining_cos_asked_to_pay_damages/rssarticleshow/3186359.cms * * * HC turns schoolkid's letter into PIL 1 Jul 2008, 0522 hrs IST,TNN PANAJI: Treating a letter written by a student regarding non-availability of text books from standard I to VIII as a PIL, the High court of Bombay at Goa on Monday has asked the Goa government to reply on the issue. The court took cognizance of a letter filed by Siddhant Premanand Phadte, a Standard VIII student of Bhatikar Model English High School of Margao, bringing to the notice of the court that many students had not received the free textbooks. Premanand alleged discrimination in the supply of books by the department as some schools have got them while others have not. The student had said that distribution was lacking especially in Marathi, history and geography textbooks. The government had earlier assured that the distribution would be streamlined. But students are still to get their books. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Goa/HC_turns_schoolkids_letter_into_PIL/rssarticleshow/3182979.cms * * * Bailancho Saad flays Margao incident NT NETWORK PANAJI ? The Bailancho Saad has strongly condemned the unleashing of communal violence in Margao after an alleged eve teasing incident and deplored as shameful the fact that certain sections resorted to communal violence to address this issue. The NGO has said that violence against any community cannot be justified because individuals have committed an offence and such incidents of violence sends a wrong message to all women that they should beat up the men, break the furniture, burn the belongings, stone the houses, attack family members, if any violence is committed against them by males, whether from within or outside the family and community. It felt that a crime is a crime irrespective of whether an outsider or insider commits it and has to be dealt with within the framework of law. While appreciating the leaders from different religions for their support in stopping casinos, which will destroy the social fabric, Bailancho Saad appealed to all religious leaders to promote good will in the same way between communities and impress upon their followers not to resort to violence. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070199 * * * Azgaonkar urges youth to inculcate reading habit NT NETWORK PANAJI ? The Panchayat Minister Mr Babu Azgaonkar has urged the youth to create habit of reading and visit local libraries and said he favored establishing of libraries in villages as these are store houses of knowledge. Mr Azgaonkar was speaking after inaugurating library of Satyam Shidabh Mahila Mandal of Tambose in Pernem taluka yesterday. Speaking further, Mr Azgaonkar appealed to the youth to invest their valuable time in reading instead of unproductive activities. He praised efforts taken by Satyam Shidabh Mahila Mandal to establish library in the village. ZP Member, Ms Supriya Mahale, sarpanch Mr Shashikant Mahale, ward members Ms Vinaya Samant, Ms Seema Khadpe, member of KTC board of directors Mr Dasharath Mahale, and Mr Suryakant Toraskar spoke on the occasion. Miss Simantini Gawande compered while Ms Pooja Salkar proposed the vote of thanks. Earlier the minister Mr Azgaonkar laid the foundation stone for community hall built at an estimated cost of Rs 7 lakh at Kadshi Mopa in Pernem. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070195 * * * Smoke inhalation causes death of trio NT NETWORK VASCO ? The Vasco police are yet to ascertain the cause of death of the three labourers who died under tragic circumstances while they were fast asleep in the railway quarters near Caranzol-Collem railway station at Dudhsagar on Friday night. The Vasco railway police provided the names of the three labourers as Ashok Bhole Barrik (32), Manoj Narsimha Kandi (21) and Sarveshwar Dhobi Naik (35) The trio were natives of Puri in Orissa. The Vasco railway police disclosed that the trio lighted coal in their closed room in order to get rid of the mosquitoes. Sometime late in the night the smoke suffocated them in their sleep and they were found dead on June 28 at around 11.30 a.m. by other labourers. The Vasco railway police when informed of the tragedy rushed to the site and conducted the inquest panchanama. In the preliminary investigation, the railway police have ruled out any foul play and have said that the trio most probably died due to the suffocation. The bodies were sent to Hospicio hospital http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070189 * * * Salgaocar allowed to withdraw plea? NT NETWORK? PANAJI ? The single judge of the Bombay High Court, Mr Justice N A Britto allowed the counsel for Mr Anil V Salgoacar to withdraw the petition challenging the order passed by the judicial magistrate first class, Panaji.? Liberty has been given to the petitioner to challenge the order of JMFC, Panaji before the Sessions Court, Panaji. The petitioner has to approach the Sessions Court within a period of two weeks. The state government was represented by public prosecutor, Mr C A Ferreira. ? The petitioner had challenged the order dated February 7, 2008 passed by the JMFC, Panaji whereby the? petitioner was joined as accused and summons were issued against him in a case filed by the state against? M/s Salgaoncar Mining Industries Ltd (SMIL). The magistrate had made the petitioner as accused on an application filed by the state on the ground that at the relevant time he was the managing director of the company and hence responsible under Section 16 of the Environment Protection Act (EP Act).? The original complaint was filed by Mr Sanjeev Khirwar, collector against SMIL through its managing director alleging that SMIL is the owner of the vessel M V River Princess, which is grounded? close to Candolim beach since June, 2000 and has failed to comply? with directions in contravention of the said? EP Act.? According to the complainant the vessel had formed a barrier along the coastline thereby preventing the natural flow of water while causing grave and serious danger to the ecology and the environment.? It was also alleged that on February 2, 2001 the state government had issued directions to SMIL under Section 4 (5) of the EP rules which the company failed to comply. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070185 * * * Muslims are tired of supporting Congress: Shaikh NT NETWORK PANAJI ? The Bharatiya Janata Party today said that there is a general perception about Muslims being Congress loyalists and moving away from the BJP, which has been proved wrong. The party also stated that it would stress on spreading awareness among the Muslims about the pseudo-secular role, which Congress is playing before them. The desk in-charge of the BJP for party?s Goa Minority Cell, Dr Nahid Shaikh, addressing a press conference, this evening said that Muslims are tired of supporting Congress party, which has done nothing for them except utilise the community as a vote bank. Today, the Muslim community has moved away from the Congress party and the BJP will convince the community that Muslims will be much safer under the National Democratic Alliance government at the Centre. Speaking further, Dr Shaikh lamented that the Muslim community has been left behind as most of its members had limited education. ?This aspect has made it difficult for them to understand certain truths,? she pointed out. Dr Shaikh also said that it is more important to make the Muslims in India aware about these truths, rather than undertake a membership drive for the party, in order to increase the Muslim members in the BJP. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070182 * * * Colva civic forum refuses to rest NT NETWORK PANAJI ? The Colva Civic and Consumer Forum, a body protesting against mega projects in Colva today demanded that no more mega projects should be allowed in the village and those under construction also be stopped and demolished. It also demanded that all those that are illegal be demolished while conceding that the legal ones could be allowed to continue. The forum had come to the director of panchayats because today was the hearing challenging the ex partie stay granted to Akar constructions in Goa. Ms Judith of the forum demanded that first the basic infrastructure like water and lights be settled and only then projects like the one in question should be allowed to come up in the village. Another complain was that also these projects drive up the price of land so that villagers cannot buy land in their own villages and the demography of the place also changes. The Colva gram sabha had recently resolved not to allow any mega projects to come up bowing down to the wishes of the villagers. The gram sabha had also demanded that no occupancy certificate be issued to buildings under construction unless the infrastructure like roads, power, water and garbage are provided for, which was agreed to by Ms Fernandes who however said that she would follow the law while doing the same. At that time Ms Judith had accused the local body of ignoring the resolutions passed by the gram sabha. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070181 * * * Goa's mining industry worried about 15% export duty Agencies Posted online: Panaji, July 1: IST Font Size Print Feedback Email Discuss Save & Share Article What's this? Digg My Yahoo Fark del.icio.us Newsvine Reddit Rate This Article 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Rating: 0 Tuesday , July 01, 2008 at 1622 hrs Centre's decision to impose 15 per cent export duty on iron ore has worried Goa's mining lobby, which fears that the industry may face a severe setback on this account. The duty, effective from June 13, 2008 is applicable to all kinds of iron ore, irrespective of its iron content. The Central government in its circular had said that the duty structure is changed to further strengthen a policy regime that enables conservation of good quality ore and ensures its availability to domestic industry at a reasonable price. But the mining lobby in this tiny coastal state has several apprehensions regarding the move. "The increase will severely impact Goan iron ore industry," Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association President Shivanand Salgaonar told reporters here while briefing presspersons in presence of Chairman and Managing Director of Dempo group of companies, Srinivas Dempo, Sesa Goa managing director P K Mukharjee and others. The increased duty will force the producers to stop extraction of low grade ore and its export, Salgaoncar said. "This will affect the mining industry in particular and Goan economy in general," he said. Any effort to curb export of iron ore, without matching domestic consumption for the ore currently produced would severely affect the iron ore industry and the employment and economic activity dependent on it, he added. Goa is India's largest iron ore exporter with 105 active mining leases and exports touching a mark of 33 million tonnes annually. The exporters contend that the current iron ore production in India is more than sufficient to meet the needs of the domestic steel industry. "There is in fact a large surplus of production over domestic consumption and there is ample availability of iron ore resources in the country," Salgaoncar said. The mine owners and exporters have objected to the heavy tax on the low grade ore as Indian steel industry consumes high grade lumps and fines. "Goan iron ore is of lower grade which is unfit for consumption by steel industry hence there is necessity of exports," he said, adding that "Goan iron ore producers have no option other than export. These fines, if neither utilized within India nor exported, could pose environmental problems when stored". http://www.financialexpress.com/news/Goas-mining-industry-worried-about-15-export-duty/329895/ * * * Family to launch lectures in memory of Sardesai Ankita Pandey Sunil Gavaskar to kick off the lectures on December 16, just before England's tour of India takes off MUMBAI: Cricket and Goa are never a perfect match. Until Dilip Sardesai came along, and changed that with wristy shots and such masterful play against spin bowling that India took notice. That was back in the 1960s and 70s but even to this day, the late Sardesai remains the only Goan to have played for India. His demise, at the age of 66, on July 2, 2007, was grieved by the entire nation. On his first death anniversary, the Sardesai family (wife Nandini, son Rajdeep and daughter Shonali) wants to ensure that Dilip's memories continue to live on. Dilip was never one for elaborate rituals, thus the family wants the day to be a quiet affair spent in remembrance of the man dearest to them. In his honour, Nandini, a sociologist and Rajdeep, editor-in-chief, CNN-IBN, have decided to launch Dilip Sardesai Memorial Lectures. Similar in conception to the Spirit of Cricket Lecture, instituted by the MCC in the memory of the late English cricketer Colin Cowdrey, these will be an annual affair. It is only befitting that the first of these lectures will be given by Sunil Gavaskar on December 16, just before England's tour of India kicks off. England had always been a special opponent for Dilip, against whom he made his international debut in the Kapur Test on December 1, 1961. He went on to play 30 Tests, finishing with 2,001 runs at an average of 39.23. "This was Rajdeep's idea and I think it is apt," Nandini told DNA. "We hope to invite prominent and articulate speakers for a discourse on various issues of the game. The CK Nayudu Hall at the Cricket Club of India (CCI) has already been booked. And there is no better person to get this started than Sunil Gavaskar, who knew my husband very closely." On Wednesday, the family will also pay a visit to the Seva Sadan, an institution set up in 1908 to protect and empower destitute women and girls in Mumbai, where they've organised a dinner for over 100 girls. "We wanted to spend the day in a meaningful way. This institution is especially close to our hearts," Nandini said. "We are also going to have talks with the trustees of the institute to set up a scholarship fund in Dilip's name for the higher education of the girl child." There are various other funds and awards already been instituted in the memory of the man many liked to call 'Sardee'. This year under-19 pacer Dhaval Kulkarni became the first recipient of the Dilip Sardesai Scholarship. Given by the Mumbai Cricket Association, the scholarship entails a six-week training stint at the Australian Cricket Academy. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1175029&pageid=2 * * * BJP accused of gaining mileage NT NETWORK MARGAO â€" The Margao Block of Congress Committee recently alleged that BJP workers in Margao tried to gain cheap political mileage by blowing a minor incident between two individuals out of proportion and disturbing the communal harmony of the people of Margao. In a press statement issued here by the president of the Margao Block of Congress Committee, Mr Dayanand Deulkar has appealed to the citizens of Margao not to succumb to the pressure of select few who actually take advantage of situations to settle their personal or political scores and try to hold the entire city at ransom. Mr Deulkar further stated that the people of Margao had to face a lot of hardships, even though they had nothing to do with the incident that occurred in Davorlim and complimented the collector, Mr G P Naik and the police department for handling the situation efficiently and said that prompt action by the police has helped in controlling the situation which otherwise would have gone out of hand. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=070255
