Todays Herald news dt.19.3.2012

Parrikar promises to make Calangute an international tourist destination TEAM HERALD teamherald@ herald- goa. com CALANGUTE: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assured his help and support to develop Calangute village and make it an international tourist destination to be liked by one and all. Addressing the gathering at Calangute Association Hall, Parrikar said Calangute is faced with many problems including garbage, congestion of roads, improper street lighting, etc. " Keeping my electoral promise to the Calangute villagers, I will put things in place not in five years, but within a year," he stated. " I will allocate Rs 60 crore during the year and do likewise in the years to come to make it an international destination but it is upto Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and Anthony Menezes to work together and clean up the mess," stated Parrikar. " Joseph, Michael and Anthony should sit together and draw a plan for allround development of the village and I assure to provide financial assistance from the government," he added. " I had assured the electorate of Goa that if BJP is voted back to power, petroleum prices would be cheaper by Rs 11 and it will be a reality by April 1. Initially, I had decided to abolish the tax, but I have decided to levy a charge of 5 paisa to keep a tab on malpractices including supplies, etc," said Parrikar. He further informed that the sewage treatment plant has been approved for Calangute. Parrikar assured the villagers that the power supply would be improved shortly by doing underground cabling, while 24- hour water supply would be reality within 2 years. " If you feel there is any corruption or illegal thing happening at any place, you may call me or inform me through an SMS and I will initiate action without disclosing one's identity," he said. MLA Lobo said he will try and develop the entire village to make it an international tourist destination liked by all. " The garbage from the beach front and other places would be removed and disposed accordingly while roads and footpaths will be done in the interest of the villagers besides parking for vehicles;" added Lobo. Sarpanch Sequeira also spoke and highlighted problems faced by the villagers. goodies for calangute dsad Keeping my electoral promise to the Calangute villagers, I will put things in place not in five years, but within a year. I will allocate Rs 60 crore during the year and do likewise in the years to come to make it an international tourist destination but it is upto Calangute MLA Michael Lobo, Calangute Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira and Anthony Menezes to work together and clean up the mess. -- Parrikar

Heraldo has published in People's Edit Page today (16.3.2012)

BSNL IN GOA IS IN MESS  by: Stephen Dias,D.Paula  T he communication network of BSNL is seriously affecting Goa, due to the malfunctioning of their services. BSNL clients are being deprived of communication facilities as their services are interrupted frequently, causing communication failure. This is one of the reasons why people dial their handsets repeatedly to get connected. This results in the unnecessary rise in costs. Many a times when we dial a particular number, we receive messages such the messages are either ' Network failure' or ' This number does not exist', ' lines on this route are busy' etc. There are several areas in which the BSNL's performance has been found to be below par: * The Staff working in their respective areas in Goa have no technical background or knowledge of the functioning of the network. * There is no co- ordination with the State government, resulting in a blame game either with the PWD or municipalities and panchayats – such as the CCP. * There is non- availability of proper equipment for fault finding of the leakages or faults in the cables. * The splicing of cables joints not adequate as no proper gadgets are available or issued. * There is improper planning for laying the pipeline, which generally are found crossing over the electrical underground HT cabling and water connection piping. * Faulty telephones sets are not replaced, or they replaced sets are also faulty or work for a short duration after replacement! Apart from this, the SDOT does not have telephone sets in stock. The receivers issued to clients are substandard and of the lowest quality. Every time the customer demands a replacement of their telephone sets, the BSNL has no stock to replace them. The old receivers are seen dumped and no repairs are undertaken as they have no expert technicians recruited for servicing and maintenance. The BSNL staff is lazy even in this 21st century. There are serpentine queues for the payment of The BSNL mobiles and landlines monthly bills at the telephone office. There should have been a single window for payment of both the bills. More counters need to be made available to clear the load at different locations in Panjim. Clients are invariably seen fighting with the BSNL staff at the counter, resulting in further delays. Often bills have been delayed in the post, further resulting in people rushing to pay the bills. The BSNL should therefore ensure that their facilities are improved. The State BJP Government could co- operate in the interest of Goans in the State.

Read People's Edit on Herald 15.3.2012

people's edit Celina De Vieira Velho e almeiDa The new minister of education… A ll over the highways and the village roads, one can see posters , hoardings of politicians saying: My vision for Goa, My promises for Goa. Now that the new government is in power in the State, cabinet ministers chosen will be allotted their portfolios and among them will be a new Minister for Education. I also have a dream. How do I envisage the new Minister for Education? In the ever increasing complexity of our society, I demand that the incumbent should be very highly qualified, towering above the rest of the crowd. He must have a good and correct knowledge in education and management of educational policies. This will enable him to draft a blue print of education prospects for Goa. It will also allow him to take in the changes, in the world educational scenario and use what is good for Goa. Guiding, creating opportunities for research in all fields, be it Science, Technology, Humanities, Languages, Sports, Music etc., should be his capability and top priority. Encouraging exchange programmes of scholars, organizing national and world seminars, debates, conferences in Goa to obtain ideas, opinions and ever changing policies that could be implemented so that the State gallops and a steady but good pace to be on par with the world . As a Minister of Education I pray that the new man in office possesses the intrinsic qualities required for the job, with honesty being his backbone. Every subordinate in the educational web viz., Principals, Directors, Deans, Managers, and Teachers should be drawn to him for his sincerity. Being honest, he should work for the best interests of the State and not for personal gains, seeking the limelight. He should be a dignified person, respecting himself above all, so that this attitude transcends and transforms into respect for others. Respect is to be earned, not demanded. Have you never heard of an irresponsible minister- who can create disasters at every step of planning and implementation of policies? The new minister of education must be someone who has a deep sense of responsibility and who will use his power to move forward in time, who has creative solutions for the Goan youth; who offers innumerable possibilities for their academic careers and job opportunities, so that our youth are not uprooted and do not move to foreign shores for employment. The loser is the State of Goa as a sizeable amount of money is spent on their education. Being responsible also implies a profound sense of dedication, not considering time and money. Give us a Minister who does his best for Goa. ( The writer is a teacher and former headmistress of People's HS, Panjim )

Heraldo News dt 15.3.2012

AGCMF condemns Churchill's statement PANJIM: All Goa Catholic Minority Front ( AGCMF) condemns the purported statement made by Churchill Alemao, stating that he blames the Church for his defeat in the recently held Assembly elections where he and his family members were voted out. According to a press release, Churchill had said that eighty percent of the clergy worked against the Congress, such fabricated and baseless comments accusing the Church should not have come forth from such a leader who has shown his frustration on losing the elections. Mr Alemao should have gracefully accepted the mandate given by the people of Goa who vented their anger and sought for a change. Mr Alemao should give a public apology to the Church Authorities and the people of Goa at large. The AGCMF welcomes the statement made by the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar that he would get the dates changed for IFFI which coincide with the Novenas and Feast of St Francis Xavier, a demand which was made by Church authorities and other religious leaders. The AGCMF strongly condemns the desecration of the Cemetery and Kabrastan at Curchorem, adds the press release issued by AGCMF Convenor Barnabe Sapeco and Eddie Fernandes.

Published in Heraldo dt 14.3.2012

What went wrong…. and why? Goan voters are now convinced that Congress not only lacks the will, but is incompetent in giving Goans a people friendly Regional Plan. They strongly believe that Congress tickets are sold at a price to the highest bidder. There isn't any single factor solely responsible for the Congress debacle in the Assembly elections of March 2012. Curiously, Goans at large are airing ' a single dominant' factor responsible for the Congress' defeat by the BJP. Had ' family raj' been the only reason for the Congress defeat, how can we explain the retention of the Rane and the Monserrate fiefdoms in Sattari and around Taleigao? Surely, there were several factors responsible for the anger vented by Goa's voters against the Congress. The performance of the Digambar Kamat government was surely below par. Since 2007, not a single rupee was received and spent as grant from the JNNURM mission of the Central government. And the promised Rs 600 crores hasn't yet been received from the Central government leaving urban Goan residents fuming. There was rampant corruption all around. The aam admi, especially the youth were thoroughly disillusioned as ministers preferred to grant jobs in his particular ministry to his kith and kin. Every Congress minister behaved as if he was the Chief Minister of his own constituency, completely ignoring deserving youth from elsewhere, who thereby were forced into paying huge sums of money for gainful employment and routine services. By promoting undeserving candidates from Sattari, for instance, the youth across Goa were left high and dry, fuelling and catalyzing their anger against the Congress. The Congress was unable to control inflation. Adding to Congress woes, were the electronic media's exposures of telecom scam, the Commonwealth fiasco, the rise in crime rate and drug peddling even amongst the police as well as the kith and kin of Congress ministers. Instead of fighting elections as one, the Congress ministers were seen accusing each other. It was a Himalayan blunder to induce BJP legislators, whose abilities were suspect, into the Congress fold, thus weaning away loyalists, and turning loyalty in Congress into a casualty. Instead of highlighting its performances, the Congress High Command preferred to repeat its promises and pledges, already in the 2007 manifesto. This angered the voters. Did they expect voters to believe that the Congress would fulfil the promises and pledges in the next five years that they did not keep for the last seven years- be it on the mining or medium of instruction issues? The saga of RP 2011 and RP 2021 is a sordid and sorry affair. Goan voters are now convinced that Congress not only lacks the will, but is incompetent in giving Goans a people friendly Regional Plan. They strongly believe that Congress tickets are sold at a price to the highest bidder. What was the promise of zero tolerance to corruption in the Congress manifesto, all about when in fact, for five years, the Congress government had its hands full of corruption. Goan voters were utterly disappointed with Congress star campaigners from outside Goa who wined and dined in 5 star luxury, and fined Goans with exorbitant travel and boarding charges. Goans were angered by their defence of family raj and the challenge to do what they willed with their vote, resulting in the Congress in Goa meeting their Waterloo at the hustings. Much money from Goa has been siphoned out. It is now the turn of those who received Goan hospitality to salvage Congress in Goa from the imminent ' disaster of silence' in the next 5 years. The Congress High Command must reimburse the empty coffers of the Goa Congress office so that loyal Congress workers can carry out work of rebuilding of the party after the parasites have left. Will New Delhi heed the call? " You can fool all the people for some time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time" is a lesson the Congress must learn from the results of Assembly Elections of March 2012.

BSNL IN GOA IS IN MESS ARTICLE BY STEPHEN DIAS

To,

The Editor;

Herald

Panjim

 

Kindly publish my article in People's Edit Page. Thanks.

 

Stephen Dias

Retd . Scientist (Tech) NIO.

D.Paula

 

Date: 14.3.2012

Mob: 9422443110

 

                                   

                BSNL IN GOA IS IN MESS

                      By: Stephen Dias, D.Paula

 

The communication network of BSNL is seriously affecting Goa, due to mal functioning of their services. The customers are been deprived of communication facilities as their services are interrupted frequently causing communication failures which make the people to dial their handsets repeatedly to get it connected. This makes the cost to increase needless reasons. Many a times the messages are either "Network failure" or "This number does not exist" and so on.

There are several issues which BSNL performance is found much below par:

 

1)     The Staff working in their respective areas in Goa has no technical background of the functioning of network.

2)     No coordination with the local government resulting in a blame game either with the PWD or CCP. ( This has been told me by SDOT.)

3)     Non-avaibility of proper equipments for fault finding the leakages/faults in the cables.

4)     Splicing of cables joints not adequate as no proper gadgets are available or issued.

5)     Improper planning for laying the pipeline which generally are found crossing over the electrical underground HT cabling and water connection piping.

6)     Faulty telephones sets are not replaced or they replaced sets are also faulty or working for a short duration after replacement!

  Apart from this the SDOT does not have the receivers in stock. The receivers which are been issued to the customers are of substandard and lowest quality. Every time the customer demands for replacement of their sets, the BSNL have no stock to replace them. This has happened thrice with me. The old receivers are seen dumped and no repairs are undertaken as they have no expert technicians recruited for servicing and maintenance. The BSNL staff is lazy and lethargic in this 21^st Century.

 The BSNL mobiles and landlines find big serpentine queues for payment of their monthly bills in the telegraphic office Panjim. There should have been a single window for payment of both the bills. More counters needs to be made available to clear the load at different locations in Panjim.

It is found all the time the customer seen fighting with the BSNL staffs at the counter, resulting in further delays. ( Those who pay on line are lucky).

Often bills have been delayed in posting resulting in further people's rush for making the payment.

The BSNL should therefore see that the facilities are improved and that the local BJP Government could cooperate in the interest of Goans at large in the state of Goa.

============================================================

Published in Herald dt 14.3.2012 by Peter Fernandes

Open letter to Churchill Dear Mr. Alemao, The people of Goa especially the Catholic community was shocked to read that you attribute your defeat to the Church and her priests. If by this you mean that the Church revolted against Congress, I agree with you. Yes, we Catholics were fed up of the Congress blackmail game of coming time and again to power on secular platform, and then looting us for the selfish gains of its MLAs. As for blaming priests, who among them has spoken against any Congressmen or stated that the Congress should be rooted out of power. But yes, the priests have urged the faithful repeatedly to elect a democratic and clean government - a government without corrupt MLAs. And if you, your family and many veteran congressmen were rooted out it is because we Goans felt that you all fitted in the category of corrupt, non- performing ' secular' government. In December, Dr. Shiv Prabhu, a Hindu brethren wrote that he used to attend the novenas of St. Francis Xavier and he mentioned that during the earlier BJP rule, Mr. Manohar Parrikar played with the holiday of feast St. Francis Xavier ( that attracts people of all religions) and he was immediately sacked by the miracle of St. Francis Xavier. In December 2011 he challenged that your government by playing with feelings by hosting the IFFI during the novenas and the closing ceremony on the feast day, the Congress government would be rooted out never to come to power again. And today if we see, St. Francis Xavier performed that miracle. Stop blaming anyone else. Blame yourself, your pride of your family, and your own party; blame your High Command who sent their men to collect their monthly booty. Blame yourself for so many unfulfilled promises in PWD. You promised Goa 24 hours water supply. People don't receive water for even an hour in their taps, but the looting continued. The results clearly showed that people were fed up with the congress. Rest in peace for the next 5 years. Goa doesn't need you. You can start enjoying the crores of rupees you looted. How come your brother felt ill after loosing elections? Is it because they are scared of the skeletons in the cupboards, or because they were more concerned of powerful chair than the voice of people? I am grateful to ' Herald' for their marvellous, gutsy investigation. If it wasn't for their team and their editor, today Goa would no longer exist. Thank you on behalf of all Goans for true, sincere and courageous journalism. Adeus Alemao brothers  Peter Fernandes

Letter addressed to Herald Editor by Stephen Dias

Dear Sujay,

Herald Editor

 

From where you got these news that Mathany Saldanha has refused Speaker portfolio?   And that he has been given Tourism in place of it. I think you got the wrong news.

Do you know that the people of Goa has appealed Mr. Parrikar and the Delhi BJP High Command that Matanhy is able man to be a Minister and he should be given a Cabinet Minister?

Please do not distort the news which you do not know for sure.

This news is planted in Herald to upset Matanhy, I believe.

Stephen Dias, D.Paula

PAST REFLECTIONS AND FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

To,

The Editor,

Gomantak Times

Panjim

 

This article of mine (Dr. Joe D'Sousa) , may kindly be published.

Thanks

 

Dr. Joe D'Sousa

Panjim

Date: 13.3.2012

Landline: 0832-2223496 (Res)

 

 

           PAST REFLECTIONS AND FUTURE ASPIRATIONS

                                  By: Dr. Joe D'Sousa

 

You can fool all the people for sometime but you cannot fool all the people all the time is the lesson the Congress party should understand and admit.

Who will in the remotest sense ever agree that the electronic voting machines in Goa were manipulated against the Congress candidates? The Congress must admit that it had badly insulted the basic intelligence of the Goan voters; and justifying defeat and attributing the humiliation to the Church, the Election Commission, the Goa police and the Government servants, shows how shallow minded, and arrogant certain leaders, are there in the Congress. How silly! Politicians send voters to Shirdi, Valankanni and Potta and blame priest for their debacle? A bad carpenter always blames his tools.

It is a matter of sadness that a 125 years old Congress party, had to gravitate its opinion on ticket distribution keeping in mind the views of the Rane parivar, the Ravi Naik family equations, the Alemao manipulability and the Monserrate blackmail. Now that the voters have partially demolished the dynastic raj, the Congress should not allow the cancer of "affection towards defection" and the emergence of power centres within families to gather roots in the future without sacrificing loyalty, hard work and the true will of the people.

Now that Congress raj is at ground zero in South Goa, it would be a challenge for " individuals' to establish themselves doing the talking instead of dishing out empty press briefing exhibiting shallow promises and silly excuses.

Inspite of my several appeals in writing to Churchil Alemao, that the schemes of Rural Development Agency (RDA) and of Goa State Council for Science and Technology (GSCST) are revitalized and Goa centrically be made dynamic, he did not even reconstitute the Council membership made by Manohar Parrikar of 2002.

What was an added nail to the coffin of Goan woes was sadly Valanka was made to distribute gas cylinders, symbolically under RDA schemes in Benaulim and involve herself in exhibitions, while the GSCST remained in mute silence. Is it visionary to distribute water tanks, gas cylinders, and domestic implements and ignore the tenets of human resource empowerment in the rural sector? Digamber Kamat did previous little to energize and make his ministers responsive and responsible.

The paradox and irony of erstwhile Congress ministry was flabagastingly rich in ridicule and deceit.

The antigambling act in Goa was used to encourage gambling and promote the casino culture. The police who were supposed to check drug peddling; encouraged or promoted drug culture and were agents in the sale of drug. The kith and kin of ministers were patrons of the drug mafia and benefactors of rave parties. Who drugged Scarlet Keeling to death? Is Fiona Keeling the mother of Scarlet a mad woman crying from the roof top demanding justice for her daughter?

Was it right to Babush Monserrate as Minister of Education? Didn't the Education Dept. muddle with the issue of Medium of Instruction in the High Court? For seven long years Filipe Neri Rodrigues slept over the New Forest Policy and nominated a deceased journalist on the wild Life Advisory Board and made a mockery of Environment in Goa by reconstituting the Board just before the Goa Assembly elections with exactly the same persons.

It is upto Manohar Parrikar and the new minister of Forests to undo the damage done to our " Forest cover" by illegal mining and overall neglect to our green cover. Ever Goan knows how pathetic is our Environment and the substandard nature of power supply. Aleixo Sequeira failed miserably to clean our beaches off from the tar balls menace, the garbage woes of our cities and kept Goa in periodic darkness will BJP find a permanent solution to the pollution mess generated by in competency of the Digamber Kamat administration is a million dollar challenge?

Dr. Wilfred D'Sousa of the Trinamool Congress had alleged that there was a "discreet collector" in the PWD Ministry of Digamber Kamat, who collected and siphoned funds meant for development with the connivance of government officials. Thus leakages in the budget are a priority for the BJP government.

The ignorance shown both by Digamber Kamat, who was in charge of mining of the existence of illegal mining rampant in Goa as well as of Ravi Naik denials to the existence of the drug mafia are major "Himalayan blunders" of the Congress party as many powerful Congress men were involved the mining as well as the drug trade fiascos.

The removal of River Princess off the Candolim Coast appears to be sidelined. The role of the North Goa Collector and that of the Director of Tourism in the tender process involving the removal of River Princess needs a study and the guilty individuals charged and punished.

As a Chairman of the Steering Committee of JNNURM, Parrikar is fully aware that he along with me has cleared at least two vital DPR's (detailed project reports) on Solid Waste Management and of Revitalization of St. Ines creek. I have worked hard sitting with Tetratech Ltd. and WAPCOS preparing these projects under Parrikar's Chairmanship. Within 100 days of his Government; funds from JNNURM must flow to Goa, these projects are society oriented and a priority in the BJP manifesto too. 

Personally, I do not wish or care if Parrikar does not reduce petrol prices as they are controlled in the International market.  Prices of Gas cylinders affect the " Aam Admi" much more than petrol used mainly by the rich for their luxurious transport system.

The BJP has addressed several women related issues in its manifesto; it has also address the problems of senior citizens and their security both financially and physically.

Police protection to disabled and "vulnerable elderly living alone should now figure in Manohar Parrikar budget of March 2012.

Let us wait and hope the elders bless Parrikar for giving in to needs. Let Goa Budget – 2012 of Parrikar do the talking till then Goans must wait and watch.

Published in NT dt 13.3.2012

Family raj, MoI, drug nexus led to Congress' defeat: Mauvin

Published on: March 13, 2012 - 01:08

More in:

• Goa News

VASCO: Senior Congress leader and newly-elected Dabolim MLA, Mr Mauvin Godinho maintained that issues pertaining to family raj, illegal mining, medium of instruction, police-politician drug nexus were responsible for the defeat of Congress in the recently held Assembly election in the state.

Mr Godinho was addressing media on Monday after launching the widening and hot-mix carpeting work of the road leading to Sesa Goa workshop from Vales House at Alto-Dabolim. The two-kilometre stretch, which is used by taxi operators and hundreds of people daily as a shortcut, was in a dilapidated state. It was a long-pending demand of the people and taxi operators to expand the road. The estimated cost of the work is Rs 1.38 crore.

Chicalim village panchayat sarpanch, Mr Francisco Nunes, deputy sarpanch, Ms Marie Mascarenhas, panch members, Mr Raul D'Costa, Mr Hemant Fadte, Mr Seby Pereira, Ms Nirupa Naik, Ms Joanita Landez, Mormugao Municipal councillors, Mr Sudesh Kolgaonkar, Mr Rupesh Fatji, Mr Rocky Alvares, Mr Ajay D'Souza, Mr Ligorio Monteiro attended the function.

"There was a wave in the state against the Congress owing to promotion of family raj and other issues badly hitting Goa and its people especially illegal mining, drug nexus and medium of instruction. However, I am happy that I could withstand the wave and emerge victorious from Dabolim constituency," stated Mr Godinho. He however said that the people from minority communities who were with the Congress earlier this time supported other parties due to the anti-Congress factor.

"The Congress leaders have done a mistake by removing me as the chief of Congress campaign," stated Mr Godinho pointing out, "I always favoured addressing issues affecting people and opposed family raj politics. However, Congress leaders allocated more than one ticket in a family and the same was rejected by the people in the assembly polls."

"Any adversity is a golden opportunity to re-strengthen the party and hence it is high time to induct new faces into the party," stated Mr Godinho. He informed that he had tendered works for about 50 to 60 roads in Cortalim constituency but due to implementation of model code of conduct, they could not be started.

When asked about other remaining works in Dabolim constituency, Mr Godinho stated that the Chief Minister, Mr Manohar Parrikar has ensured the people of turning Goa into a model state and so he believes that Mr Parrikar would always support him in his good cause.

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SPOILERS PLAYED NO MAJOR ROLE IN CONGRESS DEFEAT (CONTINUATION); NT DT 13.3.2012

Spoilers played no major role in Congress defeat

Published on: March 12, 2012 - 00:54

More in:

• Goa News

Story Summary: 

The clear mandate given by the Goan electorate is obvious from the fact that though there were many spoilers fielded in various constituencies

PANAJI: The clear mandate given by the Goan electorate is obvious from the fact that though there were many spoilers fielded in various constituencies, the voters clearly rejected most of them and showed their power by voting for the candidate that they felt should win.

However, though Mr John Monteiro in Cuncolim could be termed as a spoiler, there too the vote bank in the Congress strongholds like Chandor, Guirdolim almost en masse voted against the Congress candidate.

CUNCOLIM

Subhash alias Rajan Naik    BJP        7738

Joaquim Alemao  INC            6425

John Inacio Monteiro Independent    4830

Milagres Gonsalves Independent    603

Jose alias Brany Fernandes UGDP        543

Mario Morais Trinamool Congress    325

Rony Rodrigues Independent        191

Derick Dias Janata Dal (United)     85

Even heavyweight candidates like Ms Piedade Noronha, Dr Wilfred de Souza and even Mr Savio Coutinho got a very minor share of the vote. Analysts feel that spoilers were not allowed to dictate and change decision of majority of the voters.

In this election, the South electorate gave Congress its worst ever electoral results, the party managing to win four out of the 17 seats at stake with Salcete – the Congress bastion - giving the party only two out of the eight seats. Right in the middle of the Congress heartland two BJP-backed Independent candidates – Mr Avertano Furtado (Navelim) and Mr Benjamin Silva (Velim) defeated Congress heavyweights, Mr Churchill Alemao and Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues with the party not having an excuse that there were rebels to eat into the party votes.

Velim

Benjamin Silva    Independent        13164

Filipe Neri Rodrigues INC        8238

Cliffton Desouza Independent        386

Michael Beny Da Costa Trinamool Congress   340

Navelim

Avertano Furtado Independent        10231

Churchill Alemao INC            8086

Iliyas Shaikh Independent        261

Jose Paul Coutinho Janata Dal (United)    202

Nuvem and Benaulim seats too went against Congress with Mr Aleixo Sequeira and Ms Valanka Alemao facing defeats. Mr Sequeira, power and environment minister in the last government has been representing Loutolim since 1994.

Nuvem

Francisco Xavier Pacheco Goa Vikas Party     12288

Aleixo Sequeira    INC            8092

Abdul Sayed Independent    482

Marcos D'Souza Independent    279

Prabhakar Gaude MGP         250

Peter Dourado    Independent    206

Benaulim

Caetano R Silva Goa Vikas Party    9695

Valanka Alemao    INC            7694

Humberto Gomes    Independent        1775

John Fernandes    Trinamool Congress    1277

Ashley Francis Dias Independent        289

P Xavier George Independent        245

Subhash Chodankar Independent    122

Even more shocking than Independent candidate, Mr Vijai Sardessai winning from Fatorda was the votes polled by the Congress nominee, Mr M K Shaikh, who got 660 votes while the winning candidate polled 10375 votes.

In Mormugao taluka, out of the four seats only Mr Mauvin Godinho won on the Congress ticket with a margin of 944 votes.

Ponda saw Congress heavyweight Mr Ravi Naik losing by 3000-odd votes with no spoiler while Mr Rajesh Patnekar poached from the BJP and backed by Mr Vishwajeet Rane lost to an Independent candidate in Bicholim.

Ponda

Lavoo Mamledar MGP            12662

Ravi Naik INC                9472

Sayad Imtiyaz Trinamool Congress    502

Gitesh Naik UGDP        223

Mohan Naik Independent        189

John Mascarenhas Independent        91

Vaibhav Marathe Samajwadi Party    91

 

Bicholim

Naresh Sawal Independent    8331

Rajesh Patnekar INC            6532

Manohar Shirodkar BJP        5411

Pandurang Raut    Trinamool Congress   720

Aldona saw another shocker in a straight fight as a new face for the BJP defeated veteran and prospective Congress leader Mr Dayanand Narvekar by more than 3000 votes.

Aldona

Glenn Ticlo BJP                11315

Dayanand Narvekar INC         7839

Dr Wilfred de Souza    Trinamool Congress    643

Ravindra Panjikar Independent    256

Julius Pereira    Goa Su-Raj Party    236

Even Poriem represented by senior Rane and Taleigao nurtured by Mr Atanasio Monserrate saw tough fights with not so large margins.

Poriem

Pratapsingh Rane INC        13772

Vishwajit Krishnarao Rane BJP        11225

Taleigao

Jennifer Monserrate INC        10682

Dattaprasad Naik BJP        9531

Annabelle Pereira Goa Su-Raj    333

Natty Po SJP(R)             226

Vasudev Sharma Independent    143

Sanjay Korgaonkar Independent    81

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ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN NAVHIND TIMES DATED 12.3.2012 BY FR. VICTOR FERRAO

Goan electorate gives a message in mandate

Published on: March 12, 2012 - 00:09

More in:

• Goa News

BY FR VICTOR FERRAO

The fall of Congress, though unexpected by the Congressmen, was deeply inscribed within the Congress culture. The two terms of misrule, along with the annoying and thriumphalist arrogance, and corruption coupled with an attitude of disregard to the welfare of the common man and environment, oozed from the Congress converting it into a monster in the eye of niz Goemkars.

Within this framework, one will have to concede that the menace of illegal mining, reckless devastation of ecology and the mindless sale of land to outsiders, the destructive regional plan, along with the allotment of tickets to the families, became the center of gravity that generated and maintained the anti-Congress wave in Goa. This wave is not to be perceived as anti-Congress per se, because the Congress that positioned itself before the electorate this time appeared to be a pack of some business tycoons, who seemed to have ganged with a solo desire to loot and pilfer Goa.

Within the same context, we can see how suddenly the BJP began to look to be the natural alternative to an apparently rogue Congress. The Goans who turned out in record number for the polling process made a clear statement that anyone who has any nefarious design for Goa will certainly meet his/her waterloo. BJP in Goa appears dressed in an attire of a rescuer and suddenly, it has begun to appear that the long dark night has ended and a new dawn of hope has emerged. Hence, it is important to understand the profound message that is inscribed in the mandate received by the new government through the thumping majority.

There is a rationale embedded in the defeat of Congress and the exhilarating victory of BJP. The voter has spoken that he/she is mindful of Goa and Goans. Hence, one might call the rationale of the voter as 'the mindful reason.' Yes, Goans have made a collective leap. 'The mindful reason' has evolved from our society over a long period of time. It is a dialectical product of the crony capitalism unleashed as development in Goa. The BJP has become a direct beneficiary of the dividend produced by the mindful reason of the voter. The pseudo-development generated on crass crony capitalism is rejected by the people. The niz Goemkars have come together. There is an amazing power in the unity of the Goans. For the first time the Goan - Hindus, Christians and the Muslims - have come together for the sake of Goa. The masses have given their verdict.

The mindful reason' exhibits zero tolerance to corruption. Any dishonour to Goa will trigger bad taste. Our society manifests aesthetical as well as ethico-moral sensibility and the playfield of the mindful reason of Goans will certainly be dynamised by these sensibilities. The heightened levels of aesthetical as well as ethical values in our society is a welcome development and promises to tackle those who are waiting to prey on Goa and its rich natural as well as cultural resources. The natural resources are mainly exploited by the mining barons and the builder-lobbies, along with the tourism lobby. Tourism in Goa has been made into a commodity and is positioned as a holiday destination, which converts Goa into a raw material where many mafias and lobbies have always operated in tandem with the politicians as well as the locals with vested interest. That is why we need to nurture the aesthetical as well as ethical sensibilities exhibited by the mindful reason. There may be fear that the new regime that has crossed the finishing line may betray the people and build a nexus with the lobbies and mafias that are on the prowl. Hence, the BJP will have to live up to the promises that it has made. The levels of expectations are high and Goans have almost re-invented a BJP with the communal stains almost white washed. Mr Manohar Parrikar, the Chief Minister has become the new face of this born again BJP. Hence, any betrayal will offend the aesthetical as well as the ethical sensibilities that are churned into our society. The Chief Minister has apparently made all the right gestures. It is for him and his government to build on the rich dividend that has evolved in the context of the misrule as well as the misconduct of Congress in Goa. If the BJP fails to understand the power of the mindful reason of the voter, then it will also dig its grave.

 

(The writer is a professor at the Rachol Seminary)

 

FROM THE NAVHIND TIMES DATE 12.3.2012

CSJP calls for inquiry into feasibility of mining activity

Published on: March 12, 2012 - 00:53

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• Goa News

Story Summary: 

The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), in its appeal, has urged the newly-formed government to constitute an independent commission to conduct inquiry into the feasibility of the existing mining activity

PANAJI: The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP), in its appeal, has urged the newly-formed government to constitute an independent commission to conduct inquiry into the feasibility of the existing mining activity and the total ban imposed on illegal mining in the state.

The CSJP has also urged the government to put a moratorium on sale and conversion of all land for the next five years so that the carrying capacity of the land could be studied and accordingly, necessary checks could be implemented. However, it wants an exception to be made for single dwelling units in the settlement zone.

The council has also urged the government to commit itself to the state human rights commission and the state minority rights commission.

CSJP member, Fr Maverick Fernandes, in a press release, said that Regional Plan 2021 should be re-formulated through a participatory process after abolishing the TCP Act, 1974 and replacing it with the Goa Development Planning Act, 2010. Fr Fernandes said that a framework has been submitted in this regard to the government by the CSJP.

"Devolve powers (functions, functionaries and finances) to the local-self governing institutions in a time-bound manner, approve the report of the 2nd Finance Commission and appoint the 3rd Finance Commission," stated Fr Fernandes, adding that, appropriate legislations, policies, and programmes in consonance with the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments to address corruption, alienation of traditional communities from their land, right to ownership of resources etc should be enacted.

Stating that the fragile eco system of Goa must be protected as part of an invaluable and irreplaceable heritage, the CSJP called for preserving traditional livelihood of the Goan people and their culture.

Meanwhile, GBA arguing that it has been monitoring the process of preparing the Regional Plan 2021 over the last five years has demanded two months of public viewing and error correction of the final plan.

Stating that it was necessary to have a clear process of conducting hearings and the guidelines for processing suggestions, the GBA stated that the 73rd and 74th amendments should be legally bound into st ate planning acts before revisiting the Regional Plan=====================================================================================

From Navhind Times dated 12.3.2012

Spoilers played no major role in Congress defeat

Published on: March 12, 2012 - 00:54

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• Goa News

Story Summary: 

The clear mandate given by the Goan electorate is obvious from the fact that though there were many spoilers fielded in various constituencies

PANAJI: The clear mandate given by the Goan electorate is obvious from the fact that though there were many spoilers fielded in various constituencies, the voters clearly rejected most of them and showed their power by voting for the candidate that they felt should win.

However, though Mr John Monteiro in Cuncolim could be termed as a spoiler, there too the vote bank in the Congress strongholds like Chandor, Guirdolim almost en masse voted against the Congress candidate.

CUNCOLIM

Subhash alias Rajan Naik    BJP        7738

Joaquim Alemao  INC            6425

John Inacio Monteiro Independent    4830

Milagres Gonsalves Independent    603

Jose alias Brany Fernandes UGDP        543

Mario Morais Trinamool Congress    325

Rony Rodrigues Independent        191

Derick Dias Janata Dal (United)     85

Even heavyweight candidates like Ms Piedade Noronha, Dr Wilfred de Souza and even Mr Savio Coutinho got a very minor share of the vote. Analysts feel that spoilers were not allowed to dictate and change decision of majority of the voters.

In this election, the South electorate gave Congress its worst ever electoral results, the party managing to win four out of the 17 seats at stake with Salcete – the Congress bastion - giving the party only two out of the eight seats. Right in the middle of the Congress heartland two BJP-backed Independent candidates – Mr Avertano Furtado (Navelim) and Mr Benjamin Silva (Velim) defeated Congress heavyweights, Mr Churchill Alemao and Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues with the party not having an excuse that there were rebels to eat into the party votes.

Velim

Benjamin Silva    Independent        13164

Filipe Neri Rodrigues INC        8238

Cliffton Desouza Independent        386

Michael Beny Da Costa Trinamool Congress   340

Navelim

Avertano Furtado Independent        10231

Churchill Alemao INC            8086

Iliyas Shaikh Independent        261

Jose Paul Coutinho Janata Dal (United)    202

Nuvem and Benaulim seats too went against Congress with Mr Aleixo Sequeira and Ms Valanka Alemao facing defeats. Mr Sequeira, power and environment minister in the last government has been representing Loutolim since 1994.

Nuvem

Francisco Xavier Pacheco Goa Vikas Party     12288

Aleixo Sequeira    INC            8092

Abdul Sayed Independent    482

Marcos D'Souza Independent    279

Prabhakar Gaude MGP         250

Peter Dourado    Independent    206

Benaulim

Caetano R Silva Goa Vikas Party    9695

Valanka Alemao    INC            7694

Humberto Gomes    Independent        1775

John Fernandes    Trinamool Congress    1277

Ashley Francis Dias Independent        289

P Xavier George Independent        245

Subhash Chodankar Independent    122

Even more shocking than Independent candidate, Mr Vijai Sardessai winning from Fatorda was the votes polled by the Congress nominee, Mr M K Shaikh, who got 660 votes while the winning candidate polled 10375 votes.

In Mormugao taluka, out of the four seats only Mr Mauvin Godinho won on the Congress ticket with a margin of 944 votes.

Ponda saw Congress heavyweight Mr Ravi Naik losing by 3000-odd votes with no spoiler while Mr Rajesh Patnekar poached from the BJP and backed by Mr Vishwajeet Rane lost to an Independent candidate in Bicholim.

Ponda

Lavoo Mamledar MGP            12662

Ravi Naik INC                9472

Sayad Imtiyaz Trinamool Congress    502

Gitesh Naik UGDP        223

Mohan Naik Independent        189

John Mascarenhas Independent        91

Vaibhav Marathe Samajwadi Party    91

 

Bicholim

Naresh Sawal Independent    8331

Rajesh Patnekar INC            6532

Manohar Shirodkar BJP        5411

Pandurang Raut    Trinamool Congress   720

Aldona saw another shocker in a straight fight as a new face for the BJP defeated veteran and prospective Congress leader Mr Dayanand Narvekar by more than 3000 votes.

Aldona

Glenn Ticlo BJP                11315

Dayanand Narvekar INC         7839

Dr Wilfred de Souza    Trinamool Congress    643

Ravindra Panjikar Independent    256

Julius Pereira    Goa Su-Raj Party    236

Even Poriem represented by senior Rane and Taleigao nurtured by Mr Atanasio Monserrate saw tough fights with not so large margins.

Poriem

Pratapsingh Rane INC        13772

Vishwajit Krishnarao Rane BJP        11225

Taleigao

Jennifer Monserrate INC        10682

Dattaprasad Naik BJP        9531

Annabelle Pereira Goa Su-Raj    333

Natty Po SJP(R)             226

Vasudev Sharma Independent    143

Sanjay Korgaonkar Independent    81

=====================================================================================

NEWS FROM CSF DT 12.3.2012

Monday, March 12, 2012

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Church asks new govt to protect Goa *National Consultation on Grass-Root Ecumenism

March 10, 2012 by admin  
Filed under Election, Goa, Government, National, newsletter-india, State

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Goa, March 10, 2012: The Catholic Church in Goa has urged the state's new government to protect environment, ban illegal mining and empower local civic bodies.

The government should make several steps to protect forest, paddy fields, mangroves, beaches and villages that are "part of an invaluable and truly irreplaceable heritage" of Goa, the Goa archdiocese's Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) said soon after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar took the oath.

In the recent elections, Parrikar's Bharatiya Janata Party won 24 seats in the 40-member state legislative assembly along with its ally, the Maharashtra Gomantak Party.

In a statement enumerating the Church's expectations from the government, CSJP executive secretary Fr. Maverick Fernandes says firm steps are necessary for a small state such as Goa where fragile and limited land faces "inappropriate and indiscriminate developmental pressure."

The council called for a five-year moratorium on sale and conversions of land to help review its carrying capacity and implement necessary development controls.

It also wants the government to ban on illegal mining and appoint an independent commission to review existing mining activity in the state.

The Church wants the government to empower local self-governing institutions in a time-bound manner. It urged the government to enact laws, policies, and programs to address corruption, alienation of traditional communities, right to ownership of resources, depleting natural resources, loss of people's rights and identity, discrimination against minorities.

The Church council also urged that the government to reformulate the state's Regional Plan 2021 with people's participation and protect the Goan people's traditional livelihoods and preserve their culture and environment.

Another demand is to set up of human rights and minority rights commissions for the state.

- timesofindia

 

SWEARING CEREMONY OF CHIEF MINISTER MANOHAR PARRIKAR.

Dear M. Parrikar,

This ceremony was among the best I ever seen in the history of Goa which took place in open ground "SAG" and not at the Raj Bhavan which every Goan could witness the ceremony and people have praised you that you will follow all the promises made in your BJP Manifesto and especially for the Youth in Goa who do not have to leave the state for job in future. This response might have come after my email to you yesterday before you have taken the OATH. Thanks Sir. I appreciate.

 CHERIOS!  Keep it up Sir Manohar-bab. 

Until then all Goans especially from Minority group are with you.

Kindly give us your latest e-mail contact. May be Herald can publish them after it appears in the Gazette.

THANKS

Stephen Dias

D,.Paula

DATE: 10.3.2012

Parrikar swears by promises after swearing-in

Date:2012-03-10

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: The Panjim MLA is finally Chief Minister again. Taking oath in the very constituency where  he campaigned and won for the fifth time, Manohar Parrikar, heralded all over as a symbol of change, lived upto the billing from the start, as his honeymoon with Goans starts.

Extending his swearing-in function to a short public meeting, he played to the gallery by saying what they wanted to hear - "zero tolerance to corruption and reduction in petrol prices."

Sworn-in as twentieth Chief Minister of Goa, he said "My government will have zero tolerance to corruption," as he addressed a large gathering of people who attended the swearing in ceremony held at SAG ground in Panjim on Friday evening.

"I will root out corruption," said Parrikar further adding that his government is here to help common man. "I want to make Goa, a golden state," said Parrikar even as he admitted that he does not have a magic wand.

The Governor of Goa K Sankarnarayanan administered the oath of office to Parrikar and five other cabinet ministers. Parrikar was dressed in a pinkish short-sleeved shirt and took the oath in Konkani.

Other MLAs who were given the oath of office were Francis D'Souza, tipped to be the Deputy Chief Minister, Mathany Saldanha, Laxmikant Parsekar, Dayanand Mandrekar and MGP's Sudin Dhavalikar who took the oath in Marathi.

Parrikar, 56, became the Chief Minister for the first time in October 2000 but his tenure lasted till February 2002. On June 5, 2002, he was re-elected and became the Chief Minister again, till 2005.

In his brief speech, Parrikar declared that his government would deliver on all the promises made to the public by his party. "I'm speechless," he said as he began his speech and further added that they would start implementing on the assurances in few days time.

He also told the youth that henceforth they need not go outside Goa seeking jobs nor will they have to bribe to get jobs.

He also said it would take some time before all the promises are fulfilled, nevertheless he asked people to keep the manifesto copies with them.

The new Chief Minister also reiterated his promises to bring down the petrol price. "By April 2 price of petrol will come down," declared Parrikar to a loud applause from people.

The second phase of cabinet expansion is expected after the budget, Parrikar is expected to retain the key portfolios of Home, Education and Finance. His first test will be to prepare the budget and allocate expenses and draw up road map of generating revenue.

Herald report dt 10.3.2012

Parrikar stalls Kamat govt's bye bye decision to give Rs 600 crore contract to IT firm

Date:2012-03-10

TEAM HERALD

teamherald@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: The decision of the outgoing Digambar Kamat government to appoint an Udaipur-based IT company to set up a Radio Frequency Identification system, three days before elections, will be put on hold and subject to a review by the Parrikar government.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar asked for both the Principal Secretary Mines RK Verma as well as the Director of Mines and Geology, Arvind Lolienkar, why this was done in such haste. Both the officers said that the government had to comply with its promise to the High Court. The Chief Minister then asked it to be put on hold till the entire process of selecting E Connect Solutions Udaipur was examined. In fact, reacting to Heralds lead story on Friday on the issue, the Chief Minister confirmed that he has asked the Director Mines not to go ahead and implement the order. As reported, according to the order all mining companies will have to pay Rs 34 per tone of ore which leaves their mines. At 35-40 million tons as the production of iron ore annually, it amounts to about Rs 120 crore or Rs 600 crore in five years.

The bureaucracy which took this decision, obviously with the concurrence of the political executive are internally using the following arguments to defend the decision. In the quarterly meeting of the Central Coordination-cum-Empowered Committee (CEC) on monitoring and minimising delays in grant of approvals for mineral concessions, held on 20th September, 2011 in New Delhi, E-Connect, consultants to the State Government of Rajasthan, made a detailed presentation on the GIS linked tenements registry system prepared for the State Government of Rajasthan and the empowered committee had asked state

governments to work with this company. However, this was not a system for monitoring ore transportation but mapping leases.

The point here is not whether E Connect Solutions is a competent company or not. The point is if proper tendering procedures were followed. Now the questions:

d)         Was there a tendering committee which studied all the tenders

e)         Was there a technical bid. If so which were the companies shortlisted

f)         Which were the companies finally selected and asked to participate in the financial bid

g)         What were the final scores including the scores of L1 (the lowest bidder) and L2 (the second lowest bidder).

The answer to these questions and the biggest one of them all, why couldn't the government approach the court and ask for time till a new government takeover is critical. After all, the last decision taken by the outgoing government could turn out to be one of its most controversial.