Ambedkar Bhawan to come up in Goa`s Panjim, CM allocates Rs 10 crore
The Goa CM praised Dr Ambedkar for envisioning a nation free from inequality and discrimination
Plant biodiversity along Sal, Zuari rivers on decline
Abdul Wahab Khan Panaji A study published in the Plant-Environment Interactions journal (2025) has called on the states River Rejuvenation Project to look beyond just beautification and instead address the need for deeper interventions, while flagging the decline in plant species diversity along Goas Sal and Zuari rivers due to increasing human activity and water []
Mango moment: Mankurad prices finally sliding
Shahin Bepari Lambe Panaji In some good news for mango lovers, prices of the prized Mankurad variety of the fruit have started to drop in the local markets. The small to medium-sized mangoes of the variety are now being sold at Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 per dozen, which is a sharp drop from the []
Prajat Halankar powers into semis
Staff Reporter Panaji Prajat Halankar continued his fine run at the Bandodkar Panjim Gymkhana Tennis Open 2025, outclassing Raju Kundaikar 6-3 in the mens singles quarter-finals. One of the tournaments most consistent performers, Prajat is set to return to thecourt later Thursday, teaming up with Avadhut Palekar for the mens doubles quarter-final. Palekar, meanwhile, heads []
Vaishistha Behl shines for Sunshine
Staff Reporter Panaji Vaishistha Behl delivered a sensational all-round performance to help Sunshine Worldwide HS, Old Goa clinch a narrow five-run win over Don Bosco HS, Panaji in the U-14 President Cup clash at Panaji. Batting first, Sunshine were bowled out for 216 in 33 overs, with Vaishistha playing a stunning lone hand smashing []
Govt eases norms for repair of single dwelling units in villages
Staff Reporter Panaji Easing the norms, the panchayats directorate has issued a new circular designating the village panchayat secretary as the sole point of contact for issuing no objection certificates (NOCs) for the repair of single dwelling units. The move, aimed at simplifying the process and reducing delays, was introduced to ease the burden on []
10,000 seats up for grabs: UG admissions via SAMARTH to commence on April 11
Staff Reporter Panaji The online admission process for undergraduate (UG) courses will commence from April 11 onwards, the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) said. Around 10,000 seats will be filled across the different programmes in various colleges. The admissions will be conducted on the SAMARTH e-Gov platform and online applications will be accepted from 11 []
IPL cricket betting racket busted,34 held, Rs 40 lakh articles seized
Staff Reporter Panaji The Crime Branch of Goa Police on Wednesday said it has busted a major IPL cricket betting racket through two separate raids, arresting 34 accused persons, including the main accused Lucky Kalra, a native of Rajasthan. Laptops, mobile phones, and other equipment worth Rs 40 lakh were also seized. Over the past []
Central agencies grill Atala over possible links to intl drug trade
Staff Reporter Panaji Officials from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) have separately interrogated Israeli national Yaniv Benaim alias Atala (50), who was recently arrested by the Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Goa Police in a drug-related case. Sources said both central agencies questioned Atala regarding his possible links to national and []
State, IOCL join forces to supercharge EV infra
Staff Reporter Panaji The Goa government has partnered with Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to set up a network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and advanced battery swapping facilities across the state. The initiative also includes developing essential roadside amenities such as toilets and changing rooms along national highways. To support the initiative, the []
Goa govt partners with TERI for Khazan revival, ecotourism
Staff Reporter Panaji The Goa government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to collaborate on the revival of Khazan lands and the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Natural Resource Management and Ecotourism in the state. The Centre will focus on coastal and marine resource management, []
BJP sets target to increase vote share to 52% in 2027 polls
Staff Reporter Panaji The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Goa unit has set an ambitious target to increase its vote share from the current 33.36 percent to 52 percent in the 2027 Goa legislative assembly elections. The party is also aiming to win over 27 seats in the 40-member assembly. Speaking at the North Goa BJP []
Freeing up space: Disposal fairs planned to auction old vehicles
Staff Reporter Panaji In a bid to free up resources and improve efficiency, the state government will dispose of off-road and underutilised government vehicles through auction for which disposal fairs to be organised in Porvorim, Mapusa, and Margao. Vehicles older than 15 years will be scrapped, while those below 15 years will be auctioned. Briefing []
Staff Reporter Panaji LD Samant High School made light work of Peoples High School, registering a commanding nine-wicket victory in their U-14 President Cup clash at the Panjim Gymkhana ground on Wednesday. Put into bowl, LD Samants bowling unit dismantled Peoples HS for a modest 89 in 22.4 overs. Sanchit starred with the ball, returning []
Govt revamping investments scheme to enhance usefulness
Staff Reporter Panaji The government is revamping the Goa State Incentives to Encourage Investments Scheme 2017 to improve the usefulness of the initiative to local industrial units. The umbrella scheme to incentivise industry is being revised under the Raising and Accelerating MSMIE Performance (RAMP) project, for which Goa has been sanctioned Rs 61.6 crore by []
Rights panel directs construction of crematorium in Sanguems Bhati
Staff Reporter Panaji The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has directed the South Goa collector, the panchayats director and the range forest officer to hand over land to the Bhati village panchayat in Sanguem taluka and ensure the construction of a crematorium within 60 days. The order was issued following a complaint filed by Bhati []
Bhoomkar sisters to clash in quarters
Staff Reporter Panaji Bhaavya Bhoomkar kept her impressive run alive across three categories at the Bandodkar Panjim Gymkhana Tennis Open 2025, storming into the semi-finals of the girls U-14 and reaching the quarter-finals in both the girls U-18 and ladies singles events. She is now set to face her elder sister, top seed Tithee Bhoomkar, []
Goas local onions output hit amid labour crunch, competition from cheaper imports
Bhiva Parab Panaji Its the season of gaothi kande or uliche kandeGoas prized locally grown onionsbut these once-ubiquitous kitchen staples have now become a rare sight in village markets and roadside stalls. With fewer farmers cultivating this traditional variety, gaothi kande are gradually being replaced by cheaper, readily available onions from outside the state. The []
Govt to address MSME supply woes with April 11 buyer-seller meet
Staff Reporter Panaji With over 60,000 registered micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the state and many among them facing difficulty in supplying components and equipments to large companies the government announced a buyer-seller meet on April 11, for large and small industry to come together and do business. The buyer and seller meet []
NSO fast-tracks data: Survey results in 3 months, says director general
Staff Reporter Panaji In a positive news to policy makers, results of different National Statistics Office (NSO) surveys will henceforth be disclosed within three months, said NSS, Director General, Geeta Singh Rathore, on Tuesday. Rathore said that, the decision to publish survey findings within a timeline is one of the decisions taken during the 18thnational []
1st quarter of 25 sees 23 dengue cases, down from 76 last year
Staff Reporter Panaji The first quarter of the new year has seen a decline in the number of confirmed dengue cases, with only 23 cases being reported as against 76 cases during the corresponding period last year. The month of March saw seven confirmed cases, of which five were reported in North Goa while two []
IPL online betting racket busted in Goa, 3 Telangana natives held
Panaji: Three natives of Telangana have been arrested in Goa for allegedly operating a racket accepting bets online on the ongoing IPL cricket matches, police said on Saturday, April 5. The crime branch raided an apartment in the Porvorim locality near here late on Friday night and caught the accused red-handed, a police spokesperson said. Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Coastal belt, bus stands, rail stns on police radar for drugs
Panaji: The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Goa police, as part of its efforts to crackdown on drug menace, is conducting surprise checks with the help of a police sniffer dog along the coastal belt as well as at the interstate bus stands and railway stations. SP ANC Tikam Singh Verma said that the []
GRE seeks stricter rules to curb illegal fishing activities
Panaji: Goenchea Ramponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) has urged the state government to make amendments to the Goa, Daman and Diu Marine Fishing Regulation Act of 1980, mainly to combat illegal fishing activities effectively. GRE on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to the Fisheries Department with their demands. We urge you to bring more stringent amendments to the []
Lazy Boys emerge Goa Handball League champions
Staff Reporter Panaji Lazy Boys etched their name in history, clinching the Goa Handball League 5.0 title in debut season. Organized by the Goa Handball Academy, the tournament featured six fiercely competitive teams, but it was Lazy Boys who emerged as the standout force, showcasing grit, resilience, and exceptional team spirit. Led by their captain []
In Goa, over 50k women in SHGs under Central scheme: Union Min
Staff Reporter Panaji Over 50,000 women in the state have been included in Self Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal AntyodayaYojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) scheme of the Centre. The scheme is a flagship poverty alleviation programme of the Government of India and is one of the worlds largest initiatives to improve the livelihoods of []
Now, aggregator taxis can rely on apps to calculate fares, issue receipts
Staff Reporter Panaji The state government has amended its Motor Vehicles Rules to recognise mobile applications as legitimate fare meters for taxi services. The notification, published on Thursday, marks a major shift in how ride-hailing services can operate in the popular tourist destination. The new rules, effective immediately, eliminate the mandatory requirement for physical printers []
AI Hackathon 2025 to boost mineral discovery
Staff Reporter Panaji Startups in the state aswell as entrepreneurs, students from the Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi and private engineering colleges are being invited to participate in the mining ministry promotedAI Hackathon 2025,a mineral hackathon focused on critical minerals using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The hackathon is aimed at fostering innovation in exploration, processing, research and []
Goan music, cuisine and art woo visitors to Goa pavilion in Lisbon
Staff Reporter Panaji The Department of Art & Culture made its debut at the prestigious BTL Lisbon 2025 (Bolsa de Turismo de Lisboa), presenting Goas rich and diverse cultural heritage on an international stage. The Goa Pavilion featured Goan art, literature, pottery, feni, and traditional delicacies such as bebinca and cashew nuts. Live pottery demonstrations []
Bribery allegations by Madkaikar are lies, says BJP natl gen secy
Special Correspondent Panaji Dismissing the bribery allegation levelled by the former BJP minister, Pandurang Madkaikar against the state cabinet ministers, the National BJP general secretary, Arun Singh on Thursday said that Madkaikar is a liar and that under the leadership of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant there is no corruption. This statement comes amidst allegations by []
FIR against Kankonkar over swami comment
Panaji: Police registered an FIR against activist Rama Kankonkar for allegedly hurting religious sentiments after he posted a video on social media against a religious leader. Several followers of Sadguru Brahmeshanandacharya Swami Maharaj, gathered at the Panaji police station late Wednesday evening demanding for his arrest. They also filed a complaint against Kankonkar for making []
Undergo regular screenings for early detection of kidney diseases: Doctors
Padmavati Prabhu Panaji: This year on World Kidney Day, doctors have advised that at-risk individuals undergo regular screenings for early detection of kidney diseases, enabling patients to lead longer lives even with the condition. Kidney diseases in the risk populations can be detected through urine tests and blood examinations. The urine examination is conducted to []
Goan youth rescued from Myanmar scam returns
Panaji: An engineering graduate from Goa, who was lured on the promise of job opportunity in Southeast Asian countries and made to indulge in cybercrime and other fraudulent activities has been repatriated. The Goan youth was brought back to the state on Tuesday night by a cyber crime police team, said Cyber Crime SP, Rahul []
Congress cannot be trusted: Atishi says AAP wont enter alliance for 2027 Goa polls, party replies
PANAJI : Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi on Monday said that the party would contest the 2027 elections in Goa and Gujarat alone without opting for an alliance with Congress. The former Delhi chief minister was on a day-long visit to the coastal state to inaugurate the party's office in Margao. Talking to reporters, Atishi said, We are getting ready to contest the elections (Goa and Gujarat) on our own. Till now, there are no talks of an alliance. On reasons for ruling out an alliance with the Congress, Atishi said it was very clear that Congress cannot be trusted. She said that the people of Goa voted the BJP to power in 2022, but at the same time, the Congress won 11 seats, and 8 of its MLAs later joined the saffron party. The Congress is the main opposition party with only three MLAs, and AAP has two legislators, she said. Atishi said, When the two AAP candidates won the 2022 elections, there were rumours that they would not survive in the party even for two months. But they are still with the party because they have not come to make money from politics. Asked if the AAP is not interested in an alliance with like-minded parties, she said. When eight out of 11 MLAs join the BJP, what is like-minded? The AAP has shown that our two MLAs got elected and are still standing with the party. The BJP also tried to lure our MLAs. We are not interested in politics where winning elections and making money is the sole aim. Our interest in politics is to deliver for the people, she said. Speaking about the party's loss in the Delhi assembly polls, Atishi said that the question is not what will happen to the AAP but what will happen to the people of Delhi. BJP has already announced that they will close 250 Mohalla clinics. They have already announced that they will stop free medicine, she said. She said party leader Arvind Kejriwal had warned that if AAP loses, power cuts will start, the quality of education will again become bad in government schools, and this is already happening. Systematically, the works of the AAP government were stopped. If you look at the Delhi elections, from manipulation to misuse of machinery and intimidation of voters, they tried everything. Delhi has never seen this kind of election. But despite all this, there was only a 2 per cent difference between BJP and AAP, she said. Atishi alleged that the BJP has not fulfilled its elections promise of providing Rs 2,500 to the women of Delhi. The prime minister had assured that on March 8, on Women's Day, all women will get the first instalment in their bank account. Forget about getting the instalment, the registration for the scheme has even not started, she claimed. It goes to show that BJP has no intention of delivering on the promises they made, she said. Meanwhile, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Amit Patkar said it is pre-mature to discuss about the alliance at this point of time. It is premature to discuss about the alliance, two years ahead of the elections. The prime focus of all the parties is to strength their base in each constituency. The Congress has started working in all 40 constituencies. We will expand our base, Patkar said, taking to PTI. AAP and Congress as well as other like-minded parties are already fighting as a united opposition in the assembly and raising issues of the people, he pointed out.
Man held with Rs 11.67 crore hydroponic weed in Goa; biggest drug haul in state
PANAJI: A man has been arrested in Goa for possessing hydroponic weed valued at Rs 11.67 crore, police said, claiming it is the biggest seizure of drugs in the history of the coastal state. The man was arrested on Saturday from Guirim village, located between Panaji and Mapusa cities, a police crime branch spokesperson said. We seized 11.672 kilograms of hydroponic weed valued at Rs 11.67 crore from him. This is biggest seizure of drugs in Goa's history. He has been booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the spokesperson said. Hailing the police, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in a post on X on Saturday said, Congratulations to the Crime Branch Goa Police for Goa's Biggest-Ever Drug Bust! In a major breakthrough, the Crime Branch has successfully busted a drug racket, arresting an individual in possession of 11.672 kg of hydroponic weed worth Rs 11.67 crores. This is a testament to the relentless efforts of our law enforcement agencies in keeping our state drug-free, he said. The Goa government remains committed to a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, the CM said, adding that intelligence networks will be strengthened and surveillance enhanced to crack down on such crimes to safeguard the youth and society. Hydroponics is a type of cultivation without soil in an artificial environment by using water-based mineral nutrient solutions.
Rs 25 crore for bldg wont cover dues: Mapusa bank depositors
Staff Reporter Panaji Amid the state governments move to take over the erstwhile Mapusa Urban Cooperative Banks head office building Nandadeep for Rs 25 crore, there is no sign of closure of the liquidation proceedings for the beleaguered depositors with deposits valued atRs 71.7 crore remaining unpaid as of date. Depositors on Friday told The []
16 dengue cases in Jan-Feb period; 70% drop from last yr
Staff Reporter Panaji Goa has witnessed a decrease in dengue cases in the first two months, compared to last year. The state has reported a total of 16 confirmed cases of dengue in January and February, this year, as against 55 cases during the corresponding period last year. This year, seven cases were reported in []
Goa CM to head GST councils revenue analysis panel
Staff Reporter Panaji The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council has reconstituted its Group of Ministers (GoM) on the Analysis of revenue from GST, appointing Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant as the convenor of the panel. The GoM includes Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, Chhattisgarh Finance Minister O P Choudhary, Gujarat Finance and Energy []
Liberation protagonist Evagrio Jorge honoured at birth centenary celebration
Staff Reporter Panaji Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) on Thursday celebrated the birth centenary of Evagrio Francisco Jorge at his residence in Carmona, honouring the life and legacy of the distinguished freedom fighter, writer,and editor. Born on March 6, 1925, in Carmona, South Goa, Jorge was a staunch opponent of Portuguese rule and actively participated in []
Congress demands Ranes ouster for mass land conversions
Staff Reporter Panaji Stating that land converted between March 2023 and July 2024, was 10 times more than the land converted during 1986-2005, Congress on Friday demanded the sacking of Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vishwajit Rane and Chief Town PlannerRajesh Naik. GPCC president Sunil Kawthankar blamed Rane for the mass land conversions that []
Unauthorised pre-primary schools under scanner
Special Correspondent Panaji Appealing to the parents not to enrol their children in unrecognised pre-primary nursery, kindergarten I and Kindergarten II schools, the directorate of education (DoE) on Friday said it will conduct a survey to check the legal status of such schools running around the state. The DoE also warned those running []
'Ministers busy counting money': Goa BJP leader accuses own government of corruption, incompetence
Former Goa minister and BJP leader Pandurang Madaikar on Thursday slammed his own government as corrupt and incompetent after a minister allegedly took a bribe from him. Stating that no work happens under the Pramod Sawant-led government, Madaikar alleged that all the ministers are usy counting money. Loot is going on.Nothing is moving. They are only busy counting money. All ministers are busy counting money. Nothing is happening in Goa, Madaikar said. Speaking to reporters after a one-on-one meeting with BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh in Panaji,Madaikar alleged that a minister from the Sawant-headed cabinet had taken a hefty bribe from him to complete a small work. I was also a minister, so I know very well how ministers work in the government. I gave Rs 15 to 20 lakh to a minister for a small work. But he has not done my work yet. He kept my file pending. Whenever I tried to contact him, he refused to do his work to meet us, India Today reported Madaikar as saying. However, Madaikar refused to name the minister to whom he had to pay the bribe but told reporters that the name would be revealed when he leaves the party. In response, Goa Chief Minister Sawant, without denying the charges levelled against his government by Madaikar, asked him to name the minister. He has not made an allegation against me. Ask him [who the minister is], The Wire reported the CM as saying. Madaikar's statements instigated sharp criticism from the opposition parties with Congress demanding an official clarification from the CM. It is a serious charge by their party colleague. Others who continue to be ministers have levelled allegations of corruption. This is not to be taken lightly. This allegation has to be seriously looked into. There needs to be an inquiry, said Congress leader YuriAlemao, reported Hindustan Times. Madkaikar served as the Minister for Power, Social Welfare and Non-Conventional Energy in the Manohar Parrikar ministryfrom 2017 to 2018. His wife contested the 2022 Assembly polls on a BJP ticket, but lost to the opposition Congress candidateRajesh Faldessai.
Couple held in Goa for killing five-year-old girl on occult practitioner's advice
PANAJI: A couple has been arrested in Goa for allegedly killing a five-year-old girl from their neighbourhood and burying the body in their backyard, an official said on Friday. The accused Babasaheb Alar (52) and his wife Pooja (45) have told the police that an occult practitioner had advised them to sacrifice a kid to end their woes, the official said. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Ponda) Shivram Vaigankar told reporters that the parents of the child had complained that she went missing on Wednesday. CCTV footage showed that the kid entered the house of the accused but did not come out, said Vaigankar. During interrogation, the childless couple confessed to killing the girl on the advice of a person practising black magic, he said. The couple believed that sacrificing a child would bring an end to their problems, the official added. They also told police that they had buried the body in their compound. The couple have been booked for murder and destruction of evidence,
30% preference for women in industrial plot allotment
Staff Reporter Panaji Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday announced that women entrepreneurs in the state will henceforth get 30 per cent preference in the allotment of industrial plots with the government keen on encouraging more Goan women in business. Godinho said the government has decided to give priority to women applicants for small plots []
Madkaikars bribery charge stirs up a hornets nest
Special Correspondent Panaji Claiming that he has paid a bribe of nearly Rs 20 lakh to the personal assistant of a minister to get his file cleared, former Bharatiya Janata Party minister Pandurang Madkaikar has stirred up a hornets nest by stating that Goan ministers are more concerned with counting money than tackling the problems []
Roll back decision on school reopening in April
Special Correspondent Panaji A delegation comprising parents and members of parent-teachers associations (PTAs) from various schools around Goa on Wednesday met the education secretary Prasad Lolyekar demanding that the decision to start the academic year 2025-26 from April 1 be rolled back and instead, the schools reopen during the first week of June as per []
Opposition demands probe into ex-ministers corruption claims
Staff Reporter Panaji/Margao Opposition legislators called on law enforcement agencies, including the police, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and Vigilance Department, to investigate corruption allegations made by former minister and ex-Cumbharjua MLA Pandurang Madkaikar. Madkaikar, who is presently in BJP, claimed on Tuesday that corruption is rampant in the government, alleging he was asked to pay nearly []
BJP natl gen secy reviews govt functioning during Goa visit
Special Correspondent Panaji BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh, who had visited Goa on Tuesday, met a number of state office bearers of the party, besides the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and the state BJP president Damodar Naik and reviewed the functioning of the party and the state administration. Later, Naik said that []
Varun Albuquerque conferred Honorary Consul of Russia
Staff Reporter Panaji Varun Albuquerque (39) has been conferred as the Honorary Consul of the Russian Federation inGoa. Albuquerque is a Director of the Alcon Victor Group that has diverse business interests ranging from real estate development to hospitality and healthcare. The notification on February 12 in the Gazette of India states that the President []
Govt will rebuild Porvorim temple at site chosen by devotees: CM
Staff Reporter Panaji Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the government is ready to reconstruct Porvorims Dev Khapreshwar temple at a location decided by either a committee or the devotees. The temple was recently demolished under strong opposition by locals and devotees to facilitate the construction of the elevated corridor at Porvorim. Porvorim MLA []
Porvorim flyover: Temple demolition triggers protest
Staff Reporter Panaji Porvorim witnessed tension through the day on Sunday as the authorities began demolition of the Dev Khapreshwar temple while translocating the massive heritage banyan tree at Vadakode along the highway NH66. Devotees and others protested in large numbers even as the police had a tough time to assuage the feelings of the []
Goas endangered species take centrestage at Carnival
Staff Reporter Panaji Protecting some of Goas endangered species was one of the focal points of this years vibrant Carnival float parade held in Panaji on Saturday. Tableaus from across Goa showcased the rich culture, heritage and traditions that define the state. Addressing the crowd, King Momo thanked and welcomed everyone in attendance. I want []
Protest a spontaneous reaction against distortion of history, says BJP
Staff Reporter Panaji The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said that it had no role in the protest organised by the Bajrang Dal activists Friday night, outside the residence of the noted Konkani writer, Uday Bhembre, over his statement about Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his links with Goa. State spokesperson of the []
Communicate decision on Mormugao flyover, High Court tells Navy
Staff Reporter Panaji Disposing of a petition challenging the construction of the Mormugao flyover, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the Navy to communicate its decision on the project tothe authorities. The petition was filed by retired Indian Navy Officer, Cdr Atul Pant in public interest stating that the flyover comes within []
Study identifies 17 new hover fly species in Goas protected areas
Bhiva Parab Panaji A study has recorded 19 species of hoverflies in Goas protected areas, with 17 species and 12 genera being newly reported for the state. Hoverflies, also known as flower flies, play a crucial ecological role as key pollinators of both, wild and cultivated flora. The survey, conducted between March 2023 and March []
Staff Reporter Panaji Dempo SC will aim to return to winning ways when they take on Delhi FC in an I-League 2024-25 away fixture at the Mahilpur Football Stadium, Punjab, today. The Golden Eagles come into this encounter on the back of a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat at home to Sreenidi Deccan. Marcus Joseph continued his []
Remarks on Shivaji Maharaj: Bajrang Dal protests against Konkani writer
Panaji: Bajrang Dal activists protested outside the residence of Konkani writer Uday Bhembre over his statement about Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his links with Goa. A group of activists staged a peaceful protest outside the 87-year-old writers residence in Margao city of South Goa on Friday evening, condemning his video titled Jagor, uploaded Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Parents across Goa oppose start of academic year in April
Submit memorandum to Education director Special Correspondent Panaji: Parents of school students from across the state on Thursday submitted a memorandum to director of education Shailesh Zingade stating that they want the new academic year to begin from the first week of June as was done all these years, and not from April 1. Stating []
Apply online through Centres portal to use electricity poles
Goa site on Gati Shakti non-functional: ISPs Panaji: In a bid to arrive at a solution to the issue of unauthorised installation of cables by internet service providers (ISPs) and cable operators on electricity poles, the government on Thursday directed all the telecom service providers and ISPs registered in the state to apply online through []
Goas e-waste generation sees alarming 7-fold rise in decade
Shoma Patnaik Panaji: With a high penetration of electrical and electronic equipment across different economic groups, Goas e-waste generation has increased seven-fold in the last decade, according to the governments latest inventory of e-waste. The inventory reveals that the state presently generates close to 7,000 tonnes per annum of e-waste as compared to 1,000 tonnes []
Goas red relic rips Gurugram: Vintage Mini Minor wins honour
Ramnath N Pai Raikar Panaji: The red coloured 1959 Mini Minor model of Morris car owned by Goan vintage car enthusiast Milind Angle has won an award in the Maharaja category at the 11th edition of the 21 Gun Salute Concours dElegance, which recently concluded in Gurugram. The event was held from February 21 to []
Goa partners with NSE on skilling programme in finance
Panaji: Goa on Thursday became the fifth state to collaborate with the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE) on youth skilling, following Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Chhattisgarh, and Assam. The state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NSE to launch the Student Skilling Program, aimed at equipping Goas youth with industry-relevant skills in the Banking, []
Haokip treble trembles Panjim Footballers
Guardian Angel ease past Pax of Nagoa 4-2 Benaulim/ Nagoa: Churchill Brothers and Guardian Angel secured wins in their respective matches in the Goa Professional League relegation zone on Thursday. At Benaulim ground, Churchill Brothers defeated Panjim Footballers 4-2. The deadlock was finally broken in the 50th minute when Alent Colaco played a precise through []
Karimabad to clash with Khorlim in North Zone final
Panaji/ Porvorim: Karimabad CC and Khorlim XI booked their spots in the North Zone final of the GCA Division A after securing dominant wins in their respective semifinals on Thursday. At Panjim Gymkhana, Karimabad CC powered past Pedne CSC with a 97-run victory, courtesy of a stellar all-round performance from Siddharth Karpe. Batting first, Karimabad []
Digital payment for traffic challans
Staff Reporter Panaji The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (Headquarters), has announced that from March 1, 2025, cash payments for traffic challans under the Motor Vehicles Act will be discontinued. Payments will be accepted only via digital modes, including debit/credit cards, QR codes generated on e-challan machines, and the online portal echallan.parivahan.gov.in. Violators will also []
Govt to lay underground cable: CM
Staff Reporter Panaji Stating that the issue of internet service providers (ISPs) and cable operators in the state has been resolved for now by providing them a six-month relief, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said the government plans to lay a single underground cable in the near future for providing internet services. He said []
Power dept-induced internet outage affected 4 lakh users
Staff Reporter Panaji Around one lakh individual fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) cable lines in the state were affected by the February 25 internet outage, which was a result of a drive carried out by the electricity department, internet service providers (ISPs) said on Wednesday. With each line servicing a family of four, at least four lakh consumers []
Indias first fully stitched ship set to sail from Goas Mandovi river
Staff Reporter Panaji In a momentous recreation of maritime history, Indias first stitched ship, built using age-old techniques and conventional materials, was formally launched on Wednesday at Hodi Innovation Shipyard in Divar. Rear Admiral K M Ramakrishnan, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding Karnataka Naval Area (FOK), launched the ship in the presence of senior officers of []
Distressed Ponda youth stuck in Cambodia waits for help
Soiru Velip Panaji In the midst of deportation of illegal Indian immigrants by the United States, a Goan youth from Ponda taluka has remained stuck in Cambodia for over a year after he was caught by the local administration for entering the country illegally. According to Goa Commission for NRI Affairs, the youth was promised []
Tie-up with Taj Group to boost hospitality skilling, create jobs: CM
Staff Reporter Panaji The Goa government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), Taj Group, to establish a hospitality skill development centre at Fort Aguada. The centre will train 1,000 students annually, enhancing employment opportunities for youth in the state. This collaboration paves the way for Indias largest []
Main accused among 2 granted bail in Anjuna attempted eviction case
Staff Reporter Panaji The District and Sessions Court, North Goa, on Tuesday, granted conditional bail to Janardan Khorate, the main accused in a case of attempted forceful eviction of a family in Anjuna, citing the failure to provide him with the grounds of his arrest. The court also granted conditional bail to another accused Nikhil []
Goan mangoes yet to hit markets, vendors anticipate delayed season
Staff Reporter Panaji As mangoes from neighbouring states arrive in Panajis markets, Goan mangoes are still struggling to make their way to the shelves. However, local vendors are optimistic as early varieties of raw Goan mangoes have begun appearing, signalling the start of the pickle season. While mango lovers are eager to indulge, the official []
Young minds at Morpirla govt school thrive in culture of innovation
Staff Reporter Panaji Government schools are rarely seen as hubs of innovation. But students from PM Shri GHS, Morpirla have defied expectations. Despite coming from tribal backgrounds and facing numerous challenges, these young minds have showcased remarkable creativity and ingenuity. Four projects from the school have been selected for the E-Pitching round of the prestigious []
Internet services badly hit as power dept cuts cables
Banks, businesses suffer, but Sudin says no other option Special Correspondent Panaji: A large number of business establishments, banks, offices, restaurants and residences were severely affected across the state on Tuesday due to internet outage as the electricity department recommenced its drive of clearing the electricity poles of cables hanging from them by severing the []
CM stresses on reducing emergency response time
Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday stressed on enhancing the 112 Emergency Response Support System to significantly reduce the response time across the state. The directions were issued by Sawant during a high-level meeting held at Mantralaya with top officers. He also reviewed the key agenda of the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal []
Agri depts dragon fruit test on barren land yields success
Shahin Bepari Lambe Panaji: Goa agriculture department has managed to successfully cultivate dragon fruit in the states unique climatic and soil conditions, proving the crops viability for commercial farming. Success of the project provides hope for transforming Goas wasteland into productive agricultural zones, offering new opportunities to farmers. The experiment, which began in September 2022, []
Goa tick surveillance: No KFD virus detected ahead of cashew season
Padmavati Prabhu Panaji: All the samples collected during the tick surveillance to prevent cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) ahead of the current cashew season have tested negative for the virus, the State health Department said. Ahead of the cashew season which begins in February, our team visited various villages in Sattari and collected more []
Economic offences cell files chargesheet against couple in Rs 41.54L investment fraud
Panaji: The Economic Offences Cell (EOC) of the Goa police on Tuesday filed chargesheet before the District and Session Court, Margao against Myron Rodrigues and his wife Deepali Parab in connection with one of the investment fraud cases of over Rs 41.54 lakh. Police said that a notice under Section 41 A CrPC was issued []
Goa court sentences local man to rigorous life imprisonment for rape-murder of Irish-British woman
PANAJI: A court in Goa on Monday sentenced a 31-year-old local resident to rigorous life imprisonment for the rape and murder of Irish-British national Danielle McLaughin in 2017. The court had on Friday pronounced the accused, Vikat Bhagat, guilty of raping and murdering the 28-year-old tourist, whose body was found in a forested area in Canacona village of South Goa on March 14, 2017. District and sessions judge Kshama Joshi on Monday sentenced Bhagat to rigorous life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 for the rape and murder and Rs 10,000 for the destruction of evidence. The convict will also undergo imprisonment of two years for destruction of evidence, with the court ruling that both sentences will run concurrently, said Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing the victim's mother, Andrea Brannigan. After the verdict on Friday, the victim's family members also issued a media statement, which was read out by their representative. We, as Danielle's family and friends, are so thankful to everyone involved in our fight for justice, they have treated her like their daughter and have tirelessly fought for her, it said. They were thankful that their hard work paid off, and Bhagat was found guilty of taking Danielle from them, the family said. Police Inspector Philomena Costa, who investigated the case, said it was the meticulous probe that resulted in the conviction. He said he was extremely happy with the verdict. As per the chargesheet filed by the Goa police, McLaughin, who hailed from Donegal in Northwest Ireland, was on a visit to Goa in March 2017 when Bhagat befriended her. He murdered her after spending an evening with her. McLaughin was struck with a stone, which resulted in her death, it said. Her body was found lying in a pool of blood, without clothes, with injuries to the head and face.
Court convicts Goa man for 2017 rape-murder of Irish-British woman; sentencing on Feb 17
PANAJI: Nearly eight years after an Irish-British woman was raped and murdered during her Goa visit, a court on Friday convicted the lone accused in the case, a 31-year-old local resident. Judge Kshama Joshi of the District and Sessions Court at Margao town found Vikat Bhagat, the lone accused, guilty of raping and murdering the woman, Danielle McLaughin (28), said Vikram Varma, the lawyer representing Andrea Brannigan, the mother of the deceased. The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence on Monday (February 17), he said. Varma informed that the public prosecutor has sought maximum sentence for the accused from the court. Though the lawyer did not elaborate, such heinous offences attract life imprisonment or death. McLaughin, who arrived in the coastal state as a backpacker tourist, was found dead in a forested area of Canacona village in South Goa district on March 14, 2017. Bhagat, a local resident, was later arrested by the police on rape and murder charges. The accused, lodged at the Central Jail, Colvale in North Goa, on Thursday attended the court proceeding through video conferencing. The verdict was slated to be pronounced on Thursday, but it was postponed for a day later by the trial court judge. Brannigan, the mother of the victim, is in Goa to witness the conclusion of the judicial process. The family friends are so thankful to the public prosecutor and the investigating officer for justice. They have treated her like their daughter and tirelessly fought for her. The accused has been found guilty of taking Danielle away from us, family members of the victim said in a statement after the verdict was pronounced. As per the chargesheet filed by the police, McLaughlin, who hailed from Donegal in Northwest Ireland, was on a visit to Goa in 2017 when Bhagat, a local she befriended during her stay, murdered her after spending an evening with her. The police investigation revealed the Irish-British woman was struck with a big stone multiple times, resulting in her death. The victim was found lying in a pool of blood with no clothes and injuries on her head and face, according to the chargesheet.
Goa court postpones verdict in Irish-British woman rape-murder case to Friday
PANAJI: A court in Goa on Thursday postponed the verdict in the 2017 rape and murder case of 28-year-old Irish-British national Danielle McLaughin to Friday. The case came up for hearing before judge Kshama Joshi of the District and Sessions Court, Margao. The verdict in the seven-year-old case will be announced at 2 pm on Friday, the court said. McLaughin was found dead in a forested area of Canacona village in South Goa district on March 14, 2017. Vikat Bhagat (31), a local resident, was arrested in the crime. He is currently lodged at the Central Jail, Colvale in North Goa. Bhagat attended the hearing on Thursday through video conference. Andrea Brannigan, the victim's mother, is in Goa to witness the conclusion of the judicial process. Vikram Varma, Brannigan's lawyer, said the family members are hopeful that justice would be done. The girl died a brutal death. We are hopeful that justice would be done, he said. The prosecution produced enough evidence against the accused, Varma said, adding that as the victim was dead, the case was mostly based on circumstantial evidence. The woman, who hailed from Donegal in Northwest Ireland, was visiting Goa as a backpacker tourist when Bhagat befriended her, and allegedly murdered her after spending an evening with her. She was hit with a stone which resulted in her death, as per the police charge sheet.
South Goa SP shunted out via wireless message after seeking intel on Bajrang Dal leaders
PANAJI: The Goa government has transferred South Goa district Superintendent of Police (SP) Sunita Sawant by issuing a late night wireless message from the control room, officials said. SP Sawant was transferred on Monday night as part of a routine procedure, an official said on Wednesday. Opposition Congress alleged that the SP's sudden and politically motivated transfer came after she began collecting information about Bajrang Dal leaders in the state. It also said that the move exposed how the administration was being controlled by the RSS-BJP's communal agenda. SP Sawant was transferred via a wireless message on Monday night. IPS officer Tikam Singh Verma, who held the charge as the SP of Anti Narcotics Cell, was appointed in her place. It was a routine transfer and no motive should be attributed to it, the official said. The police sources, however, said Sawant was transferred after she sent a wireless message to all police stations, directing them to collect information about the members of the Bajrang Dal, a right-wing outfit. When contacted, Director General of Police (DGP) Alok Kumar said the transfer of an SP-rank official is executed by the state government. I don't want to comment anything on it as transfers of Superintendent of Police rank officials are done by the government, he said. SP Sawant was not available for comments. Bajrang Dal, a right-wing extremist organisation accused of several attacks against the minority communities has been active in Goa. It had organised a massive public meeting last month at Sanvordem village in South Goa that was addressed by BJP MLA from Telangana T Raja Singh. Goa Bajrang Dal convenor Viraj Desai said he did not have any information about the transfer of the SP or about the police seeking any details about his organisation's activists. Bajrang Dal is active in nation building. We have been holding several orientation programmes for the youngsters. We have no idea why the SP was transferred, he claimed. The Congress said the hasty transfer of Sawant by the BJP government was yet another glaring example of how the BJP-RSS ideology was interfering with the administration to protect its divisive agenda. In a media statement issued here, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar said, The moment SP Sunita Sawant began collecting information about Bajrang Dal leaders in Goa, the government panicked and immediately transferred her. This clearly shows that BJP is not interested in governance but in shielding its ideological allies and suppressing officers who perform their duty with integrity. The Goa police force was being manipulated to serve the BJP's political interests instead of upholding the law, he said. This is nothing but an act of intimidation against an honest officer who was merely doing her job. The BJP government has once again exposed itself as an enabler of lawlessness, ensuring that no action is taken against fringe elements that threaten Goa's communal harmony, he said. The Congress leader sought to know what the BJP government was trying to hide. Why is it afraid of a fair investigation into Bajrang Dal leaders? This transfer is proof that the law enforcement agencies in Goa are being used as mere puppets of the BJP to safeguard its false narrative. The people of Goa will not tolerate this blatant misuse of power, he said. The Congress strongly condemns this politically motivated transfer and demands immediate justification from Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, he added. We stand in solidarity with officers who work fearlessly in the interest of justice, and we will continue to expose BJP's attempts to hijack the administration for its communal agenda, he said.
Four fraudsters held for duping tourists through online booking of non-existent villas in Goa
Panaji: Four persons were arrested on Monday for allegedly cheating hundreds of tourists by making fake bookings for them in non-existing villas in Goa through online platforms, police said. The accused operated out of a rented place in Hyderabad and had been duping tourists since 2022, ssuperintendent of police, Goa north, Akshat Kaushal said. The accused, Saurabh Duseja, a resident of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, and Hyderabad residents Sayed Ali Mukhtar, Mohammad Firoz and Mohammad Azharuddin Saif, were involved in the multi-crore scam. Kaushal said that the scam came to light following a complaint by a Chandigarh resident, who was cheated of `20,000 while attempting to book a villa online. Upon arriving at the location, he discovered the villa did not exist. Operating from a rented room in Hyderabad, the accused would field calls from potential victims and use female telephone operators to build trust, he said. Kaushal said that the gang dupes unsuspecting tourists by exploiting loopholes on online booking platforms. The accused cheated tourists by listing non-existent properties for rent and collected advance payments through multiple bank accounts, he said. The SP said the Goa police recently received several complaints about online fraudsters targeting tourists. The victims said they were duped by fake villa listings on online booking platforms, where they were asked to pay advance for non-existent properties. As per initial investigations, more than 500 people have fallen prey to this scam. Efforts are underway to contact the victims and formally record their complaints, he said.
Woman tourist, instructor killed in paragliding accident in North Goa
PANAJI: A 27-year-old woman tourist and her instructor were killed after they crashed into a ravine while they were paragliding in North Goa, police said on Sunday. The accident occurred at Keri village on Saturday evening, an official said. Shivani Dable, a resident of Pune, and her instructor, Sumal Nepali (26), a Nepalese national, crashed to death at Keri Plateau around 5 pm, he said. The official said Dable had opted to paraglide with an adventure sports company operating illegally. As per the complaint, the paraglider plunged into a ravine soon after it took off from a cliff, killing the duo on the spot, he said. A case has been registered at Mandrem police station against company owner Shekhar Raizada under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for endangering human life.
High Court upholds Speakers decision not to disqualify 8 MLAs
Panaji: Upholding order of the Speaker of Goa legislative assembly Ramesh Tawadkar not to disqualify the eight Congress MLAs who joined the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in September 2022, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday disposed of the petition filed by former Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar. Chodankar had [] The post High Court upholds Speakers decision not to disqualify 8 MLAs appeared first on The Navhind Times .
They take on Inter Kashi at Fatorda Stadium today at 3.30 p.m. Panaji: Dempo SC are ready to make their presence felt as they host Inter Kashi at the PJN Stadium, Fatorda, today. Its the same hallowed ground where they first began their home dominance in the I-League, a place where history has been written [] The post Golden Eagles aim for glory appeared first on The Navhind Times .
GCA to host International GM Chess at Taleigao
Panaji: The Goa Chess Association unveiled the much-anticipated Late Shri Manohar Parrikar Goa International Open Grandmaster Chess Tournament 2025 at a press conference today. Set to run from January 11 to 19 at the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Indoor Stadium in Taleigao, the tournament promises to be a marquee event on the Indian chess calendar. [] The post GCA to host International GM Chess at Taleigao appeared first on The Navhind Times .
After congestion chaos, police turn off 2 traffic signals in city
Staff Reporter Panaji Two traffic signals along the Dayanand Bandodkar Marg in Panaji had to be turned off months ago as the traffic chaos only worsened at two crucial spots on the thoroughfare. A senior police officer said the road width is not enough and the signals at the Customs House junction and another near [] The post After congestion chaos, police turn off 2 traffic signals in city appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Deploy cops 24/7 at beaches, demand shack operators
Staff Reporter Panaji Shack operators have sought round-the-clock patrolling by police personnel at beach stretches across the state to prevent untoward incidents and ensure safety. The demand comes against the backdrop of recent altercations between tourists and shack operators, including their staff, particularly over alcohol and food service beyond closing hours. Shack operators said that [] The post Deploy cops 24/7 at beaches, demand shack operators appeared first on The Navhind Times .
Sawaikar, Kavlekar among 6 names shortlisted for state BJPs top post
Special Correspondent Panaji The state BJP core committee has forwarded names of six probable candidates to the central leadership in Delhi for the post of partys presidentship in Goa. The leaders, who have made it to the list include Narendra Sawaikar, Damodar Damu Naik, Chandrakant Babu Kavlekar, Dilip Parulekar Dayanand Mandrekar and Dayanand Sopte. The [] The post Sawaikar, Kavlekar among 6 names shortlisted for state BJPs top post appeared first on The Navhind Times .
