Page 24 - Goa

Invest in Goa and be partners in industrial growth: CM Pramod Sawant

Stating that Goa prefers to encourage eco-friendly industries, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday called upon the investors to invest in the state and be partners in industrial growth.

Water sports policy to benefit tourists, operators of Goa: Tourism Minister

Stating that Goa faces challenges on tourism from Sindhudurg belt and from Karnataka border, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte said that his department is promoting water sports

Foundation stone for IIT-Goa campus to be laid in next six months: CM

Goa's Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the foundation stone for setting up of IIT-Goa project will be laid within the next six months

Govt plans to auction 22 mineral blocks in 3 states within next two months

The government plans to auction 22 mineral blocks in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and Goa in November and December. The mines to be auctioned include six iron ore blocks, three blocks each of limestone and gold, two blocks of bauxite, one block each of copper, phosphorite and glauconite, according to the mines ministry. The notice inviting tenders for the blocks were floated in September. While the mines in Maharashtra will be auctioned next month, those in Uttar Pradesh and Goa will be put on sale in December. So far, more than 180 mineral blocks have been put on sale since the system of auctioning of mineral blocks began. The government started the process of allocating mineral blocks through auctions in 2015-16. The ministry has expressed hopes of auctioning 500 mines by the end of 2024. The Centre is aiming to increase the mining sector's contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 5 per cent from 2.5 per cent at present. The ministry has also notified the Mi

State scan: Has Goa become the go-to party-hopping destination in India?

Goa isn't new to defections. Political analysts say there have been at least 10 major episodes of defections since the state was liberated in the early 1960s

Auctioning of mining leases in Goa to get over by Nov 2022: CM Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday said the auctioning of eligible iron ore mining leases in the state will get over by November 2022, but it would take one year after that to begin the extraction of fresh ore. Talking to PTI in Sankhalim, his Assembly constituency in North Goa, Sawant said this one-year period is required to complete all the formalities. The mining activities in Goa had come to a standstill in March 2018 after the apex court quashed the second renewal of iron ore mining leases given to 88 companies in Goa in 2015, and prohibited the extraction of fresh ore. The state has now put up four iron ore mining leases for auction. This is for the first time in Goa's mining history that leases are being awarded through auctioning. "The first batch of four leases have been auctioned by the State Directorate of Mines and Geology, SBI CAP and Metal Scrap Trade Corporation Limited, while the process is on to auction the rest of the leases by November 2022," he ...

Goa's leader of opposition Yuri Alemao to initiate 'people's movement'

Goa Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao on Friday said his first task (as LoP) will be to initiate a people's movement against the "anti-people policies" of the government.

Amit Shah approves Rs 488 cr to UP, Punjab, Goa for disaster mitigation

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday approved the release of Rs 488 crore to Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Goa as central share of the State Disaster Mitigation Fund (SDMF) for 2021-22. Based on the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, the central government has allocated Rs 32,031 crore for the SDMF and Rs 13,693 crore for the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for 2021-22 to 2025-26, according to an official release. These mitigation funds are to be used for undertaking mitigation activities, involving local level and community-based interventions, which will reduce the risks from disasters and promote environment-friendly settlements and livelihood practices. The home minister has always emphasised that before the 1990s, the central government had a relief-centric approach and there was no scope for saving lives and property and it was not part of the planning process, the statement said. Now as per the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government has .

App-based taxi services will be available in Goa soon: CM Pramod Sawant

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said his government was firm on introducing app-based cab services in the coastal state. "I want to give you an assurance that in a few days app-based taxis will be available," Sawant told reporters in Chandigarh. Two months ago, Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho had said the state government was firm on introducing app-based cab services and would not bow down to pressure from the private taxi lobby which was against it. Private taxi operators have been opposing app-based cab services, claiming it will destabilise their business. On private taxi operators opposing app-based cab services, Sawant said, "In a few days the taxi issue will be resolved and you will get app-based taxi in Goa." Responding to a question on Haryana BJP leader Sonali Phogat's mysterious death in Goa last month, Sawant said, "On demand of her family, we have handed over the investigation to the CBI." "Any assistance which CBI may require from the Goa Police

Mamata-led Trinamool Congress spent big for Goa polls, drew blank

The Goa assembly elections were keenly fought with the Trinamool Congress and Aam Aadmi Party throwing their hats in the ring but when it came to poll expenditure, it was the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress that loosened its purse strings spending a whopping Rs 47.54 crore. The BJP, which retained power in Goa with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the helm, spent over Rs 17.75 crore towards election expenditure in the state. The Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP spent nearly Rs 3.5 crore in Goa, where it tried its luck for the second consecutive assembly elections. The details of the election expenditure were submitted by the respective political parties to the Election Commission recently. The Congress, which was hoping to dislodge the BJP from power in Goa, spent approximately Rs 12 crore on the Goa elections. The Nationalist Congress Party gave Rs 25 lakh each to the 11 candidates it had fielded for the elections, besides spending on the campaign from the party's central fund. The

Sonali Phogat death case: Family accuses BJP's Kuldeep Bishnoi of murder

BJP leader Sonali Phogat's brother has accused party leader Kuldeep Bishnoi of murdering his sister.The revelation was made by Rinku at Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat which was held in Hisar.The Khap spokesperson Sandeep Bharti while talking to ANI said that after allegations by Sonali's family members, Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat has decided that Kuldeep Bishnoi should explain his stand before Mahapanchayat.Sonali Phogat's brother Rinku Dhaka said, "I had sent one of my acquaintances to the hospital after Sonali's death, and Sudhir Sangwan, who is one of the accused in the murder, had enquired whether the person was sent by Kuldeep.""One of our acquaintances was in Goa. After Sonali's death, we called him and sent him to the hospital. When he reached, Sudhir Sangwan met him and asked where was he from. When he said that he is from Hisar, Sudhir immediately asked if Kuldeep has sent him. He didn't say anything, but Sudhir again asked the same question in the car," Rinku Dhaka said.Khap ...

BJP's expenses on assembly polls in five states up 58% to Rs 344 cr

In 2017, BJP had spent Rs 218.26 crore on the elections in the five states. In 2022, the expense was Rs 344 crore. Congress's bill rose from Rs 108.14 crore to Rs 194.80 during the same period

Goa CM launches host city logo for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday launched the host city logo of FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup India 2022

Goa defectors reading BJP's 'script' to tarnish Cong's image: Ex-AICC secy

Former AICC secretary Girish Chodankar alleged that those who have joined BJP by betraying Congress and people of Goa are now reading out the "script" penned by BJP to tarnish the image of his party

8 Goa MLAs who switched to BJP, CM Sawant arrive in Delhi to meet PM Modi

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant arrived in Delhi along with the eight newly inducted MLAs, who defected to the BJP from the Congress, late at night on Sunday.Sawant along with the new BJP joiners would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.CM Sawant said, "We have come to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi."Earlier on September 14, all the eight MLAs; Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Rajesh Phaldesai, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes joined BJP after meeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at the Assembly complex."I went to a temple, asked Gods and Goddesses that this (joining BJP) is in my mind, what should I do... God said, you go ahead, don't worry," said former Congress MLA Digambar Kamat."We have merged with BJP with a majority of 2/3rd to strengthen the hands of PM Modi and CM Pramod Sawant... Congress Chhodo, BJP ko Jodo," said former Congress MLA Michael Lobo.Meanwhile, Goa CM Sawant also took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi-led ..

Goa CM Sawant to meet PM along with eight MLAs who switched to BJP

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant along with eight MLAs, who recently switched to the BJP from the Congress, will leave for Delhi later on Sunday to meet PM Modi and other senior saffron party leaders

Sonali Phogat case: CBI, forensic experts leave Goa hotel after 10 hrs

The CBI, along with forensic experts visited the Leoney Grand Resort in Goa, where late BJP leader Sonali Phogat stayed before her death with her aides

Goa to disburse financial aid to 216 patients till PM Modi's next birthday

The governor also announced the kickstart of the cleaning of the Miramar beach before inaugurating a Cow shelter home with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant for 20 cows

Accepted merger of CLP into BJP: Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar

Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar on Thursday said he had accepted the merger of the state Congress Legislature Party (CLP) into the ruling BJP. He went through a letter submitted by Congress MLAs and found that they have required numbers, he told reporters. Eight out of 11 Congress MLAs on Wednesday passed a resolution to merge the legislature party into the BJP.

Cabinet reshuffle likely in Goa after 8 Congress MLAs join ruling BJP

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai on Thursday morning amid talk of a cabinet reshuffle in the wake of eight Congress MLAs joining the ruling BJP. The chief minister, however, told reporters here that the meeting, which followed Wednesday's dramatic developments, had nothing to do with politics. He met the governor at Raj Bhavan to discuss programs for the celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday (September 17), Sawant said. But a senior BJP leader said a reshuffle was likely in the next few days as the party would need to accommodate at least a couple of Congress MLAs who have crossed over, including former chief minister Digambar Kamat. The BJP now has 28 MLAs in the 40-member Assembly after eight Congress MLAs switched sides on Wednesday. In 2019, when 10 out of 15 Congress MLAs had defected to the BJP en-masse, the ruling party had dropped three ministers to accommodate three new entrants, and the same pattern may be followed now,