Editorial

North Goa Collector must review and withdraw prohibitory orders Citing intelligence inputs of possible terror threat along the western coast of India and anti-social elements committing crime in Goa, North Goa district collector R Menaka has imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code for 60 days which will last till April 10. Paradoxically, the state police have expressed ignorance …

Government should make people partners in forest conservation The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has said what Goans want about the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary: it has recommended upgrading of the sanctuary to a tiger reserve. There is little to disagree when the NTCA says the protected area could become a deathtrap if it was not managed properly. The NTCA report, …

Everyone has a right to differ with government of the day A controversy has erupted in the state over the statement made by the Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao on the Citizenship Amendment Act. The Archbishop urged the central government to immediately and unconditionally revoke the CAA and stop suppressing the right to dissent. He also appealed …

A transparent tendering system can help in curbing corruption The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president Girish Chodankar has alleged a scam in procurement of medicines for the Goa Medical College and Hospital to the tune of Rs 40 crore. According to him, medicines were being procured by the government›s central hospital from a private firm Wellness Forever which does not …

State must improve financial situation through prudent financial management The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has advised the Goa government to evolve a strategy to avoid falling into a debt trap. The CAG has said that it would be wise for the state to adopt a well planned borrowing-repayment approach to come out of the current economic situation. The state …

State’s development roadmap is unclear owing to unrealistic revenue projections Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has presented the budget for the financial year 2020-21 with a revenue surplus of Rs 353 crore. The total budgetary expenditure for the forthcoming financial year has been pegged at Rs 21,056 crore. The budgetary expenditure is about Rs 1,507 crore higher as compared to that …

Government should address migrant problem in a comprehensive manner CHIEF Minister Pramod Sawant has made a disturbing revelation that migrants are involved in around 85 per cent of the heinous crimes like rape and murder reported in the state. His statement came in the wake of double murder of migrants at Fatorda earlier this week. The murderer who was nabbed …

Portuguese passport holding Goans in UK may need help to get Indian citizenship THE exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union post Brexit has put the Goans holding Portuguese passport living in that country in a fix. The Goans would have to exercise the option available to them judiciously before the transition period comes to an end on …

AFP London British telecoms giant Vodafone revealed Wednesday that it would cost about 200 million euros ($221 million) over five years to remove controversial Chinese group Huawei’s equipment from core 5G European activities. “We have now decided, as a result of the EU (recommendations) and the UK government’s decision, to take out Huawei equipment from the core,” Vodafone CEO Nick …

There is something fishy in delay in demarcating private forests THE state government’s failure to demarcate private forests despite several extensions given to it by the National Green Tribunal is beginning to take the form of a mystery. There is merit in the criticism that something is fishy, as seven committees were formed for a clear demarcation of private forests …