Goa News Updates...

14% hike in Goa’s petrol consumption

Goa has witnessed a 14% increase in petrol consumption and a 6-7% jump in diesel consumption over the last year, Union secretary for petroleum and natural gas S Sundareshan said Saturday.

“LPG consumption is growing at 10% per annum. For a population of 14 lakh, 4 lakh gas connections is very good. If you consider that each family comprises 3-4 persons, we have covered the entire population,” he said.

When pointed out that the capital city does not have a single petrol pump providing 24-hour service, Sundareshan said he would inquire into it and directed BPCL officials to provide such a facility at the earliest.

City of Joy erupts once again

The city's reputation as the Mecca of Indian soccer is on the decline, but Kolkata is soaking in the WAKA WAKA fever!

As Planet Earth soaks up the biggest sporting spectacle in the world, the FIFA World Cup, the excitement level is also reaching fever pitch in India. Ever since this game was introduced to India by the British in the late 1800s, the 'beautiful game' has always had a special place in the heart of people from Bengal, Goa and Kerala.

While the performance of Bengal teams have nosedived rapidly over the last five years in the domestic soccer season, the enthusiasm and love for the biggest football event of the world continues unabated in the City of Joy.

India's absence from this event has never affected the spirit of this soccer-mad city. The entire city has turned into a special football zone. Different parts of this mega-polis have 'adopted' a particular nation and cheer them on during this one-month football festival.

Brazil and Argentina are the two perennial favourite teams in Kolkata. In fact one would even find special prayers being offered at temples for an individual team's success. Huge groups of people would be assembling in front of a television-set to cheer their 'adopted' nation.

One can also find street walls painted with different country colours. Cheap team jersey replicas can be found in every nook and corner of the city, especially at the Maidan Market in central Kolkata. Needless to say, the price of a particular jersey depends on the team's progress in the tournament.

The victory celebrations have to be seen to be believed. Hordes of people normally come out on the streets to celebrate the result of a particular game by spraying each other with the team colour.

Chapora, Cabo da Rama in Goa may get new lease of life

The state government is perusing a proposal for adaptive reuse of two well-known forts in Goa—Chapora in Badez and Cabo da Rama in Canacona. INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art & Culural Heritage) has already submitted detailed project reports in this regard, said development commisioner and secretary (archives) Narendra Kumar. Adaptive re-use is a process by which ancient buildings are adapted for new uses while retaining their historic features.

Allaying fears that hotels or any such venture may come up in the forts, Kumar said, “We are not going in for any change that would affect the basic character of the place… the restoration will be done without affecting the archaeological, historical and heritage value.”

The government may initially organize ‘light and sound’ programmes, as is done in places like the Red Fort, or host cultural programmes. Although other states have restored monuments for adaptive re-use, this will be the first such instance in Goa. However, given the problems government officials faced during the renovation of the Reis Magos fort, the government wants to put in place a proper law before going ahead with the project.

It intends to amend the Goa, Daman and Diu Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978 to facilitate the government to undertake restoration, renovation, re-erection and reconstruction of ancient monuments and to put them to adaptive re-use “without affecting their basic character, archaelogical, historical and heritage value”.

The government also wants to make sure that works approved by the authorities concerned do not get stalled midway. Besides, Kumar said, there’s a strong need to protect government officials and professionals involved with such projects from legal proceedings.

During the restoration of the Reis Magos fort, based on complaints filed by some organisations cases were slapped on government officials, including a police inspector. Officials need protection and the law will be amended, Kumar said. The amendment will come up in the next assembly session after which the government plans to go ahead with the project.

The pre-Potuguese picturesque Chapora fort has changed hands many times, falling to the Mughals and the Marathas besides the Portuguese. The Portuguese fortified it in 1717.

Cabo de Rama fort also has a picturesque view and attracts a large number of tourists. However, like the Chapora fort, it is also in a dilapidated condition. A witness to fierce battles in the past, it has a tunnel built by the Portuguse. The British had used the fort as a prison.

As part of its efforts to restore the state’s historical monuments to their former glory, the Goa government has spent around Rs 20 crore under the XII finance commission on places like Santana Church, the holy pond of Mahalsa temple in Verna, the Reis Magos church and the St Estevam fort.

Pacheco to move HC for bail in Nadia death case

Former Goa Tourism Minister Fransisco Mickey Pacheco will be moving for anticipatory bail in High Court on Monday.

Goa bench of Bombay High Court will also hear the anticipatory bail petition filed by Pacheco’s aide, Lyndon Monteiro tomorrow.

Both were denied relief by session court in Margao, last week.

The former minister in his earlier bail petition had claimed that he was being framed in the entire case.

Pacheco is on the run after he was questioned by Crime Branch in connection with the death of his 28-year-old friend Nadia Torrado.

Monteiro, his close aide and officer on special duty, is also missing since June 6 after he was charged for destroying evidence in this case.

Nadia had died on May 30 while being treated in a private hospital at Chennai.

Crime Branch on Saturday had questioned Pacheco’s live-in partner Viola Fernandes, who had given clean chit for him.

She had said that Pacheco is innocent and she herself was present in Mumbai when Nadia was shifted to a hospital there.

Goa woman’s death case: police raid Pacheco’s house

Police today conducted raids at the residence of former Goa minister Fransisco Pacheco in Betalbhatim village near here and also issued a look-out notice against his aide and co-accused Lyndon Monteiro in connection with the death of a woman friend.

“Seven computers have been confiscated after a team led by inspector Tushar Vernekar conducted extensive search of Pacheco’s residence in Betalbhatim village (40 km from here),” a top official said.

Pacheco had to step down as tourism minister and is on the run after his name was involved in the death of 28-year-old Nadia Torrado. Crime branch has already named Pacheco, along with his aide Monteiro, as accused in the case.

Police also a issued look-out notice against Monteiro, who is missing since June 6.

A sessions court in Margao has rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Monteiro and Pacheco.