Panaji, July 29, 2018  .. The Construction work of 2^nd phase of Goa Dental College, Bambolim commenced today in the presence of Minister for Health Shri. Vishwajit Rane, Dean Dr. Ida De Noronha de Ataide, faculty Dr. Anita Spadigam, Deputy Director (Admin) Smt. Anita Fernandes, HoDs of various departments, faculty and students.

Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that the construction of the new building is designated as Phase II of the Dental College and will house the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department with OT, wards, casualty and OPD and the work is expected to be completed in 15 months.

 “Along with the above departments, Conservative Dentistry, Oral Pathology, Orthodontics, Pedodontics and Oral Diagnosis and Radiology departments will be also shifted in the new building,” informed Dr. Ida de Ataide informed.

Margao:  July 28, 2018 … The Collector & District Magistrate, South Goa District, Dr. Tariq Thomas inaugurated a workshop on Consumer Rights Awareness organised by Goa Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyam, South Goa District at Collectorate, Margao recently.

Asserting that Panchayats are stakeholders in the development of the State Dr. Thomas said responsibilities comes along with power.  He urged the panchayat to to create adequate awareness of various rights of the consumers by conducting such trainings.The youths need to skill in multiple options for their empowerment, he added.

Shri Rolland Martins, GOACAN highlighting the members of the various consumer rights which the laymen are not aware in his key note address urged them to pass off the knowledge they acquire to others for the betterment of the society at large.

Smt. Nelly Rodrigues, State President also spoke on the occasion.

The workshop was attended by sarpanchas, ZP Members and panch members of all the panchayts in the South District.

 Panaji : July  27, 2018 … The famous autobiography of Smt. Sunita Deshpande ‘Aahe Manohar Tari’ will be theatrically presented at the Prayog Saanj which will be held on July 28,  2018 at 6.30 p.m. at Multipurpose hall of Sanskruti Bhavan, Patto, Panaji. Shri Prashant Mardolkar has conceived, written and directed the presentation and will be presented by Smt. Siddhi Upadhye and Kum Radha Mardolkar. Shri Kedar Manerikar and Shri Sindhuraj Kamat have composed the music.

The Directorate of Art and Culture organizes month end theatre activities called ‘Prayog Saanj’ on the last Saturday of every month. This will be the 62nd performance. Its main objective is to provide a platform to the new groups and budding artistes in the field of drama.

The Directorate of Art and Culture provides its multipurpose hall free of cost for the performance. Those interested in performing in ‘Prayog Saanj’ can contact the Directorate of Art and Culture for further details. The programme is open to all.

Margao:  July 26, 2018 …. Governor of Goa, Dr(Smt) Mridula Sinha will inaugurate Kshitij 2018  at Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda at 9.30 a.m. today Kshitij 2018 is an event of Don Bosco Project Expo.

Fr. Felix Fernandes, Provincial Panaji Province; Fr. Paul D’Douza, Rector, Don Bosco and Fr. Kinley DÇruz, Director, Don Bosco College of Engineering will preside over the function.

Panaji, July 25, 2018 …. The Directorate of Transport has compiled their monthly report of number of accidents that occurred and number of Challans issued for the month of June 2018. 

As per the report there were 306 road accidents of which 14 Fatal Accidents (North Goa – 3 and South Goa – 11), 15 Grievous Accidents ( North Goa – 6 and South Goa – 9), 57 Minor Accidents (North Goa – 11 and South Goa – 46), 220 Non – Injury Accidents (North Goa – 118 and South Goa – 102).

The total number of people who lost their lives in road accidents were 14 (North Goa – 3 and South Goa – 11 ). 11 riders lost their lives in these accidents while 2 pedestrians lost their lives in the road accidents.

16 people were Grievously Injured (North – 6 and South – 10) while 74 persons suffered Minor Injuries (North – 16, South – 58).

A total 6937 Challans were issued by Transport authorities for the month of June.

Panaji, July 24, 2018 …. The Bharat Scouts and Guides Association, Tiswadi in association with Abhimanas Foundation, Kolhapur, Jagrut Nagrik Manch, Vasco and the Department of Sainik Welfare will observe “Kargil Vijay Diwas” on July 26, 2018 at Martyr’s Memorial, Azad Maidan, Panaji at 11.00 a.m. to commemorate the success of Operation Vijay and to pay respects to the brave officers and men who laid down their lives for the country.

Commandant 2STC, Brigadier A. K. Sharma will be the Chief Guest on the occasion.

The coordinator of the event Guide captain, Smt. Sunaina Shet informed that the young students need to be informed about the sacrifices of our brave jawans for the country thus instilling in them a sense of patriotism.

Maj. Venugopal Nair ( Retd.)  Secretary, Department of Sainik Welfare has supported the event.  Around 49 Scouts and Guides along with Scouts masters and Guide captains will attend the event along with ex- servicemen.

Panaji, July 23, 2018 … As per Section 185 of Motor Vehicle Act 1988 whoever, while driving, or attempting to drive a motor vehicle has in his blood alcohol exceeding 30 mg per 100 ml of blood detected in a test by a breath analyser shall be punishable for the first offence with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees or with both.

For a second or subsequent offence if committed within three years of the commission of the previous similar offence, the violator will face an imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to three thousand rupees or with both.

Taking serious cognizance of the menace of drunken driving, the Hon’ble JMFC ‘B’ Court, Ponda has recently sentenced one such violator to undergo imprisonment for a period of one week and also to pay fine of Rs. 2,000/- and in default to undergo imprisonment for a period of one month. The Hon’ble Court has also suspended the Driving Licence of the violator for a period of 6 months.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic (HQ) has stated that driving under the influence of alcohol being one of the major causes of vehicle accidents, violators are being strictly dealt with. As this violation being non-compoundable, the same is referred to appropriate Court of Law with a request to impose maximum  fine and imprisonment, as also suspension of Driving Licence.

Panjim: July 22, 2018: ISUZU RFC India 2018, the fifth edition of India’s most prestigious international off-road motorsport event, is back in Goa. With competitive stages starting from tomorrow, ISUZU RFC India 2018 will be held at various locations across the State over the next seven days before the announcement of the winner on 28^th July.

This year, 39 teams, each consisting of a driver and a co-driver, will compete against each other, with the top Indian driver of the competition getting monetary benefits worth USD 10,000, including a free automatic entry worth USD 3,900 to the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) Global Series Finale to be held in Malaysia at the end of the year.

RFC India was launched by Delhi-based Cougar Motorsport Pvt. Ltd. in 2014. It is the India Chapter of the Rainforest Challenge of Malaysia, which is listed among the top ten toughest motor races in the World and has over 51 editions being held in 21 countries worldwide. Though merely four editions old, RFC India is unarguably considered as the country’s toughest international off-road motorsport competition and is counted amongst the top three toughest events in the RFC Global Series. In the last three years, the event has had four successful editions in Goa as well as two regional chapters in Bengaluru and Chandigarh.

Out of the 39 contenders in ISUZU RFC India 2018, the UTs of Chandigarh and Delhi are sending 3 teams each; 4 teams hail from Goa; 10 from Kerala; 7 from Hyderabad; 5 from Karnataka, including a Ladies Team; 3 teams hail from Maharashtra and Arunachal Pradesh each; and 1 from Tamil Nadu.

Cougar Motorsport’s Founder & Director Mr. Ashish Gupta said, “This year we have the first-ever participation from the North-East; the host state is sending its largest-ever squad; we also have a record 10 teams from Kerala, which is the highest number of participating teams from any state ever. We have always desired to grow this sport beyond its male-centric image and I am delighted to welcome an all-ladies team, after a gap of four years. The interest in RFC India among Indian offroaders, which supersedes all boundaries of age, gender and region, proves that we have been successful in our quest of uniting the best offroading talent of India on a single platform.”

He added, “It is great to see the growth this sport has witnessed in merely five years since the launch of RFC India. In 2016, the RFC India Champions Gurmeet Virdi and Kirpal Singh Tung made our country proud by winning their category at the RFC Global Series Finale in Malaysia. Our other contenders have also had phenomenal performances in various national off-road motorsport events. In each edition, we have had a substantial number of off-roaders making their RFC India debut. In fact, 13 rookie drivers will be participating in ISUZU RFC India 2018, with one of them being merely 18 years old. This speaks volumes about the substantiality of this competition in the country’s off-roading context and our determination to develop Indian motorsport at large.”

The competition will be spread across 26 Special Stages (SS) that will test the contestants’ driving and vehicle recovery skills, team spirit and their physical and mental endurance under extreme off-road conditions. Based on a point system, the competitors will earn set-points on successful completion of stages. However, penalties will be incurred in case of failure to complete a task, non-adherence to the rules or environmental damage at the event location. The team with maximum points in their account at the end of the competition will win the coveted ‘ISUZU RFC India 2018 Champion’ title.

Capt. J. Shankar Srinivas, Vice President – Service, Customer Relations, EA & PR, Isuzu Motors India, said, “ISUZU Motors India is proud to be associated with RFC India this year. ISUZU has always been in the forefront in offering vehicles that are highly durable, reliable and capable, which has been proved in many toughest rally raids across the world. This platform gives us an opportunity to showcase the vehicle attributes to those off-roading enthusiasts and also promote the spirit of adventure in the country. I wish the best to the participants of ISUZU RFC India 2018.”

Season 5 of this mega off-road motorsport event will be kicked-off in off-road terrains in the Goan hinterlands and gradually move towards the urban centers. Screening the participating vehicles for their adherence to RFC India mandatory specifications, the vehicle scrutiny was held today at the International Centre Goa (ICG) in Dona Paula. The contestants who successfully cleared the scrutiny proceeded for a ceremonial flag-off, held at the same location.

The first set of the Special Stages will be held at DOT in Village Kumbhari of Taluka Sanguem on 22^nd and 23^rd of July. The competition convoy will thereafter move to Suquerbag in Quepem, where Special Stages will be held on 24^th and 25^th of July and to the Green Hills Agri Farm in Maina, Quepem on 26^th and 27^th of July, before eventually culminating at the Rajiv Gandhi IT Habitat in Dona Paula on 28^th of July.

The tracks have been laid and the participants are ready to roar; the country’s annual off-roading extravaganza hereby begins! Now, only time will tell who will be the ultimate off-roading champion of India who will represent the country at RFC 2018 Global Series Grand Finale.