NT Reporter Panaji As a proactive step to prevent the spread of dengue, the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) has instructed in-charges of all health centres to visit schools in their respective areas, check for mosquito breeding, and destroy it if found. The schools were closed for the Ganesh Chaturthi vacation, and during this period []

Shoma Patnaik Panaji The Centre has increased the contribution to the National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) from two to three per cent of royalty, adding to the burden on mining leaseholders of newly auctioned iron ore blocks in Goa. The change took effect on September 1. The mines ministry amended the Mines and Minerals (Development []

NT Reporter Vasco Accusing the BJP of reversing its stand on coal, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Amit Patkar on Wednesday reminded Vasco MLA and BJP spokesperson Krishna Salkar of his 2017 remarks at a Vasco public hearing where he opposed dredging at the port. Let me remind Salkar who, two days ago, said []

NT Reporter Panaji With a two-day GST Council meeting ongoing in Delhi, stakeholders in Goas hospitality trade said they are hoping for a flat 5 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on tourism services. Currently, GST on hotel rooms is 12 per cent for tariffs up to Rs 7,500 per night, and 18 []

NT Reporter Mapusa The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), in its ordinary meeting on Wednesday, resolved to float the sopo tender for 2025-26 with a 10 per cent hike, amounting to over Rs 1.65 crore along with taxes. The council also decided to continue with the existing sopo contractor until the tender process is completed to []

NT BUZZ brings you a glimpse of a few of the innovative Ganesh decor created by families around the state NT BUZZ Kalangutkar family, Calangute At the Kalangutkar home in Calangute, Ganesh Chaturthi is also a time to reawaken their creative streak. Every year, the family comes together to create a vibrant and eco-friendly backdrop []

As the first Onam of the new Malayalam century dawns today, Malayalees in Goa are not only keeping a tradition alive but also sharing it with their neighbours, friends, and fellow Goans, with a hearty spread- the Onam Sadhya ADITHI SHARMA | NT BUZZ For the many Malayalees living in Goa, Onam is both a []

NT Reporter Margao The fisheries department has issued a request for proposal (RFP) for setting up a multispecies marine fish hatchery on a PPP basis at the existing hatchery site in Benaulim. The project covers hatcheries for Seabass, Cobia, Pompano, Shrimp, Bivalves and Marine Ornamental Fish, along with common infrastructure. According to the RFP, the []

NT Reporter Margao South Goa Collector Egna Cleetus, along with Additional Collector-II Ramesh Gaonkar and other senior officials, visited the family of deceased Rajendra Gaonkar and Mohandas Gaonkar at Jogolimol, Sirsorem, Rivona, on Saturday. The visit came days after the tragic death of the two brothers, who were electrocuted while cutting grass for their cattle []

NT Reporter Mapusa A 42-year-old Russian national, Roman Boyko, was found dead in a rented room in Siolim on Friday. Anjuna Police has ruled out any foul play in the incident. Anjuna Police Inspector, Santana Fernandes, said the caretaker of a property located at Pereira Waddo, Siolim, informed the police that her tenant had been []

NT Reporter Panaji Waves Film Bazaar, South Asias largest film market and a key platform in Indias international film outreach, has opened submissions for its Co-Production Market at the 19th edition to be held from November 20 to 24 in Goa. Held alongside the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), the market was rebranded as []

PTI New Delhi The government is working on extending support measures for exporters such as rollout of export promotion mission, and moratorium on loans to help them insulate from the impact of US 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, an official said on Thursday. The government official also said this is a wake-up call []

Shoma Patnaik Panaji In an encouraging trend for entrepreneurship at grassroots level in the state, 932 scheduled caste, scheduled tribe as well as women entrepreneurs have benefitted from the Centres Standup India Scheme, under which loans running into Rs 210 crore have been sanctioned by banks as on March 31, this year. Among the smaller []

NT Reporter Curchorem Two brothers lost their lives after being electrocuted by a live wire laid on the ground to protect farmland from wild animals at Zamblemol Sisorem, under the Rivona village panchayat area in Sanguem taluka. The Quepem police rushed to the site after they received information from zilla panchayat member Suresh Kepekar about []

Diana Fernandes Margao As more young Goans look overseas for better job opportunities, a growing number are falling victim to fraudulent recruitment agents, often returning home financially drained and emotionally shattered. Take the case of Martha (name changed), a jobseeker who registered with an agent in Goa promising employment in Europe. After paying around Rs []

PTI Mumbai Goa will host the FIDE World Cup from October 30-November 27, a tournament offering three coveted berths for next years candidates and a prize purse of $2 million. The 206-member field features world champion D Gukesh, Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana and R Praggnanandhaa among others. But the reigning world champion, Gukesh is not []

NT Reporter Panaji In the past 40 months, a total of 107 police personnel in Goa were suspended, according to official data. Of these, 12 cops were dismissed from service, while 80 were reinstated following departmental inquiries. Fifteen police personnel remain under suspension. The most recent suspensions occurred in July this year, when two constables []

I even stopped going to Church Panaji : A special court in North Goa on Monday acquitted Transport and Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho in the 27-year-old power rebate scam. Pronouncing the verdict in open court, special judge Irshad Agha cleared Godinho of all charges. I had to wait for 27 years but I got justice. []

Panaji: Brenden Valentine Crasto, a Roman Catholic with Goan roots and technically a citizen of Pakistan, was on Monday officially granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Crasto, a long-time resident of Anjuna, has become the third person in Goa to receive Indian citizenship through the CAA route. The citizenship certificate was handed []

Administrative machinery must remember that it needs to be sensitive to peoples suffering Chief Minister Pramod Sawants statement yesterday deferring the closure of the highway section in Porvorim from OCoqueiro junction to Mall de Goa has brought much relief to commuters ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi. He said that the decision on the proposed closure of []

India is the worlds fourth largest economy but what does that mean when the top 10% of the population holds more than 75% of the total national wealth, as Oxfam noted recently Mohan Bhagwat, the head of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has noted that health and education are out of reach of ordinary Indians, and []

Roque Dias Margao The shortage of beds at the South Goa District Hospital (SGDH) resurfaced on Monday, with several patients forced to receive treatment on stretchers, wheelchairs, and even on the floor a situation that left visitors dismayed. Upset relatives appealed for urgent action, urging that the hospitals unused additional floor be opened for []

NT Reporter Ponda Data presented during the recent assembly session has underscored the urgent need for better healthcare facilities at the Sub-District Hospital (SDH) in Ponda. Between April 2024 and June 2025, 5,865 patients from Ponda taluka were referred to Goa Medical College (GMC) for treatment. Of these, 3,876 patients were referred from SDH Ponda, []

NT Reporter Pernem As many as 59 sanctioned posts remain vacant at the Community Health Centre (CHC), Pernem, affecting the essential medical services. As per the reply provided by state government on the floor of House during the recently concluded assemby session to a question raised by AAP Velim MLA Cruz Silva, vacant posts at []

NT Reporter Panaji Two persons from Bardez have become the latest victims of cyber fraud, losing close to Rs 90 lakh in total to trading and task-based scams. In one case, police said a senior citizen, who is a retired employee, lost Rs 69.75 lakh in a trading scam that occurred between July 5 and []

Research suggests broader strategies addressing abandonment, migration Abdul Wahab Khan Panaji : A study conducted across multiple sites in Goa has challenged the conventional wisdom that surgical sterilisation is effective in controlling stray dog population. According to the study, intensive sterilisation campaigns achieving 58-66% female coverage have failed to reduce the adult dog numbers over []

New varsities could also be beneficial to local students (Editorial) How many universities should Goa have? What spin-offs will they bring to the state? And are there ways to secure the maximum benefits from them? Earlier this month, the Goa Public Universities Bill, 2025, was tabled in the state assembly and sent to a Select []

Many people dont associate cities with trees. Trees within cities reduce heat, recharge the soil and water, and provide spaces for recreation Dol ka baadh, Jaipurs naturally grown forest reserve of some 105 acres that has taken root and thrived over the last three decades or thereabouts is the focus of a new battle that []

Villagers to approach Election Commission, seek resurvey of two wards Margao : The Seraulim gram sabha on Sunday expressed grave concern over discrepancies in the electoral roll of two wards and demanded a resurvey of the entire village voters list. The meeting saw strong participation from youth members who said they were alarmed by the []

Locals push for village to be placed in CRZ-II to facilitate construction Pernem: Questioning the governments claim of 100% coverage under the Har Ghar Jal scheme, Arambol gram sabha members on Sunday said many houses in the village still lack PWD tap connections. They added that wells in the area have turned contaminated and the []

Panaji: A major dispute over the Rs 15 RoRo ferry fare and frequent changes in the sarpanch post dominated the Chorao gram sabha held on Sunday. Villagers strongly opposed the panchayats decision on the ferry fare, demanding accountability. When we had asked for the fare to be rolled back, why did the panchayat take a []

Margao: The gram sabha of Betalbatim on Sunday demanded the appointment of a full-time secretary, holding the absence of one responsible for pending works and projects in the village. Concerns about migrants and mega projects were also discussed at length during the meeting. The session, chaired by deputy sarpanch Ilma Dias, was delayed due to []

PTI New York/New Delhi President Donald Trump has indicated that the US may not impose secondary tariffs on countries continuing to procure Russia crude oil. There were apprehensions that additional secondary tariffs would have hit India in case the US decided to enforce them. Trump imposed tariffs totalling 50 per cent on India, including 25 []

NT Reporter Panaji The newly-formed Goa Animal Federation (GAF) has suggested a Rs 100-crore plan for controlling stray dogs in the state, and found fault with animal husbandry departments proposed Rs 10,000-crore solution which the organisation claims is both ineffective and financially unsustainable. Objecting to the governments shelter-centric approach, federation members argued that the government []

NT Reporter Panaji Exposing the low side of crime detection rate in Goa, government figures pointed out that over 14 per cent kidnapping and abduction cases remained undetected, and that 6 per cent rape cases also remained unsolved in 2024. As per the government data, 30 murders were reported last year in which the police []

NT Reporter Panaji Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane met Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi and held discussions on ways to use funds released under the PMs MISTHI scheme for mangrove conservation in Goa. They also deliberated on the forest management plan for the state. We discussed how Goa []

SUJATA DABOLKAR In Goas forests during the monsoon, a remarkable wild mushroom makes its appearance Termitomycesheimii. For generations, it has been a delicacy in local kitchens, a vital part of forest soil health, and a silent partner to termites. My research has revealed another surprising role for this mushroom: it can naturally create gold []

Unauthorised security agencies to be closed down Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said innovation, involvement, and investment form the foundation for the goal of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Swayampurna Goa. Addressing the 79th Independence Day state-level function in Panaji, Sawant highlighted the ongoing efforts to empower local artisans, particularly in rural areas, through initiatives []

Self-reliance must as economic selfishness rising globally New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a clarion call for making a Samriddh Bharat by becoming self reliant in fields ranging from fighter jet engines to energy and artificial intelligence, as he announced a task force for next generation reforms, GST changes as big gift []

Special 40% tax on luxury and sin goods on cards New Delhi: The central government has proposed two tax rates of 5 per cent and 18 per cent in the revamped goods and services tax (GST), slated to replace the current indirect tax regime by Diwali this year, highly placed sources said. The Centre has []

Agency conducted raids in Goa New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said it has seized Rs 1.41 crore in cash from the residence of Karnataka Congress MLA Satish Krishna Sail, apart from gold jewellery and bullion of 6.75 kg from the bank lockers of his family, as part of a money laundering investigation. The []

161 people, mostly two-wheeler riders, lost their lives Amresh Parab Panaji: These figures will give some relief to road users: the police said that 161 people were killed in road accidents in the state in the last seven months, a decrease in fatalities by over 12 per cent as compared to the corresponding period of []

Special Correspondent Panaji: Reacting to the recent passing of the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of Goa Bill, 2025 in the Parliament and the granting of the Presidential assent to it, Speaker of Goa legislative assembly Ramesh Tawadkar said if the Election Commission of India considers Census 2011 to effect delimitation []

Margao: Former chief minister and Margao MLA Digambar Kamat on Friday said that if every citizen acknowledges their duty and contributes to the advancement of the state and the country, then the nation will soon attain self-sufficiency and self-reliance. He was addressing the 79th Independence Day celebration at the South Goa Collectorate after unfurling the []

10 self-help groups from various talukas identified by agri dept Padmavati Prabhu Panaji: In a bid to improve agricultural productivity, reduce drudgery and ensure sustainable farming practices, the Directorate of Agriculture aims at expanding drone usage in the farming sector. Accordingly, the state government has initiated steps to create Drone Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs) to []

Margao: A day after the state government notified the amendment increasing the number of wards in A-Class municipalities to 27, Margao BJP MLA Digambar Kamat on Friday said the amendment to Section 9 of the Goa Municipal Act, 1968 increasing the number of wards in A-Class municipalities from 25 to 27 will help []

New road signage must be installed professionally for safety of motorists (EDITORIAL) Road signage plays an important role in regulating vehicular traffic. It goes without saying that a professionally displayed signage system helps in ensuring road safety. The State Road Safety Council meeting chaired by the Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho earlier this week finally decided []

Given the restricted room for manoeuvres against the restrictive trade practices so patently deployed by worlds trade major, India has little latitude in building coalition or alliances The world is inured to US President Donald Trumps revealed penchant to double down tariffs on allies and adversaries alike, using it as a weapon to wreak wrenching []

Nirgosh Gaude Ponda Within a year of the fatal attack on an elderly woman at BondbaagBethoda, fear of the bison has returned to haunt the villagers. Locals said they have witnessed heavy movement of the animals in recent days, with a herd grazing in residential areas despite the wild-proof trench constructed last year. Upset residents []

NT Reporter Panaji The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the chief officer of the Margao Municipal Council to demolish an illegal structure covered by the transgression report dated July 30, 2020, preferably within one month. The registry has been asked to communicate the order to the chief officer for immediate action, with []