Amended noise action plan of Goa
Goa government has notified the ‘Amended Noise Action Plan’ to purportedly streamline the processes related to curbing noise pollution in the state, as specified before the High Court on April 30. The
Goa
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139 mining dumps are lying on forest land
PANJIM: If one can presume a combination of arrogance and patronage enjoyed by mine owners in their operations, the almost 139 mining rejects dumps lying on forest land, majority of which belong to large mining firms, are a glaring indication. In a written reply on the floor of the House, Forest Minister Alina Saldanha said that total 139 mining dumps are on forest land, of which 95 are in South Goa and 44 in the North. A total of 37 dumps are on government land.
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Efforts would be made to further reduce rate of tobacco consumption: CM
PANJIM: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar today said that efforts would be continued to bring down the rate of tobacco consumption and would target the reduction to 6 per cent. This statement was made after Sanquelim MLA Dr Pramod Sawant moved a motion congratulating the government for the State award conferred on it for ranking first in the list of States with the least tobacco consumption at 8.8 per cent.
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New national water law coming
It will have guiding principles on laws States may adopt In a move that will have far-reaching implications, the Centre has decided to frame a new National Water Framework Act with guiding principles on water laws the States may adopt. States that adopt and reform will be incentivised for water projects. That such a law would be made is buried in the pages of the draft new national water policy, which is yet to be considered by the National Water Council, the supreme policy body chaired by Prime Minister and with Chief Ministers as members.
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Legislators demand comprehensive policy to boost State’s tourism
PANJIM: Setting up of golf course, convention center, theme parks and encouraging wedding tourism were the major demands placed by the legislators in the State Legislative Assembly today, in promoting Goa as a major tourist hub in the world, apart from being highlighted as a beach tourism destination. A need for formulating a comprehensive tourism policy, giving direction to state’s tourism, was also raised on the floor of the House. Speaking during the demand for grants for tourism, the legislators cutting across party line pointed towards government’s failure in promoting the state’s hidden tourism sides including its heritage, hinterland, historical monuments, and others as major tourist attractions.
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Govt says mid-day meal not fit even for animals
PANJIM: The head of government’s opinion that the food is sub-standard and not fit to even feed animals and the leader of opposition’s statement that students refuse to eat the meals and nearly 60 to 70 per cent of the food is thrown out, is serious rebuke to highlight the abysmal quality of food supplied to children under the midday meals scheme in Goa. Rancid food, lizards and foreign objects in meals which have regularly dogged the scheme intended to keep children in school, is evidence of a good scheme gone horribly wrong to the extent that students may now stay out of school, just to avoid the revolting food served to them.
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Govt proposes to consider illegal tree felling as offence
PANJIM: The state government has proposed to consider illegal tree felling cases as theft and impose stringent penalties of compulsory imprisonment against the offenders henceforth. This was disclosed by the chief minister Manohar Parrikar, on behalf of the state forest ministry, during question hour in the Goa Assembly on Monday. The matter was raised by Opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane and Valpoi MLA Viishwajeet Rane.
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Mines Dept embarks on ‘Operation Dumps’
PANJIM: As the final touches are being given to the much-awaited Mining Policy which is likely to be tabled in the House this week, Mines and Geology Department has embarked on a massive exercise of identifying, locating and quantifying mining dumps, which are lying across the State. Besides other aspects, the draft mining policy is expected to cover all aspects of the controversial dump handling which has been the bone of contention and has evoked heated debates in political and social circles and dump handling was banned during this financial year.
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Govt Creating Artificial Iron Ore Shortage: Miners’ Body
The federation representing merchant miners in the country claims stocks at mine heads reveal that there is no real shortage of iron ore, a key steelmaking ingredient. In a letter to the finance ministry,
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Garbage, pollution issues discussed at Chicalim meet
VASCO : A number of issues like garbage, rainwater harvesting, tax on illegal houses, pollution by garages, Chicalim Park and a shipyard dominated the Chicalim gram sabha on Sunday. The annual budget for 2012-13 was also passed and approved at the gram sabha, which was convened at the panchayat complex ground. Deputy Sarpanch Nunes informed that the panchayat was conducting plastic drives regularly besides the door-to-door collection of garbage. He said the panchayat is working on the garbage sorting out station.
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Garbage, cleanliness issue dominate Socorro meet
PORVORIM: The issues of cleanliness and disposal of garbage dominated the Socorro gram sabha on Sunday. The villagers alleged that the panchayat was not paying enough attention towards cleanliness of the village. “There has been rise in the number of construction workers due to spurt in construction activities in Socorro. During monsoon, there is every possibility of spreading diseases like typhoid, cholera, etc,” complained the villagers.