PANAJI: 04/09/2017 …. Goa: Mercedes-Benz,India’s largest luxury car maker inaugurated the largest 3S luxury car dealership in Goa. Strategically located near the Panjim city limits in the beautiful town of Ribander, the state-of-artluxury dealership was instated by Counto Motors. The new facility will cater to the requirements of Goa.The luxury 3S dealership was inaugurated by Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Mr. AakashKhaunte, Managing Director, CountoMotors.

• Mercedes-Benz has the most comprehensive network presence among all luxury car makers
• Counto Motors sets a new landmark in Goa with this magnificent 3S luxury car dealership
• Total investment of INR 10 Crores | Spread across a lavish34,000sq.ft. hosting a9 car displayand14 bays dedicated formaintenance and repair | Equipped to service up to 2700 cars a in a year
• 53 professionally trained staff to ensure maximum customer satisfaction by providing the renowned Mercedes-Benz brand and ownership experience
• The entire 3S facility was created in a span of 18 months
• Counto Motors will cater not only toGoa but also to its surrounding districts
• Located on the bank of Mandavi river, the facility provides customers one of the most scenic view of Goa
• Facility reaffirms the commitment to modern luxury

 Speaking on the occasion, Roland Folger, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India said, “At Mercedes-Benz India, we strive to create novel avenues of proximity with our discerning customers, across the country.

We aim to provide the best customer experience by offering our patrons the best of our products and services across markets. It is state-of-the-art facilities like Counto Motorsthat helps us in pursuing our carefully curated ‘Go to Customer’ strategy,whichhas been giving us a competitive edge in the market.

We are glad to have partners like Counto Motors, who with their deep market experience have ensured a superlative customer experience. With this new luxury car dealership, we are deepening our commitment and providing ‘modern luxury’ in its truest form to our customers in and around Goa.”

The architectural concepts of the new facility respond to the functional needs and our design to create spaces with intimate atmosphere. In line with Mercedes-Benz CI/CD, the facility is pretty unique and different because of the uses of angular design concepts which imitates Mercedes-Benz cars’ dynamic silhouette.

These angular elements are streamlined to create a visual & aesthetic appeal.The overall design boldly communicates the presence of non-rectangular forms providing sensuality and creating memorable experiences.

The state-of-the-art 3S facility is conveniently located at Ribander – between the main city of Panjim and Old Goa in the district of Ilhas on NH4A. The workshop is spread over a cumulative area of approximately 25,000 square feet, staffed by 28 professionally trained staff with a capacity to service/repair approximately 15 cars per day.

The workshop also comprises a dedicated body shop as well.Counto Motors houses a 9 car display and hosts 14 baysdedicated for maintenance and repairs.

The new world-class 3S facility will sell and service all the variants of Mercedes-Benz cars.  In addition to this, the facility will also provide free pick and drop services across the state of Goa, separate driver and customer lounge with TV and WiFi access, quick service, variety of official Mercedes-Benz accessories and merchandise to choose from. Counto Motors is located at Alcon House, Chalta No: 72, P.T Sheet No: 19, NH-4A, Ribander, Goa– 403006.

 Mr. Aakash Khaunte, Managing Director,CountoMotorssaid, “We are delighted with this opportunity to deepen our 7 year long relationship with the worldand country’s leading luxury car maker, Mercedes-Benz. In recent years,Goa has emerged as an important city forthe luxury car segment.

This has given us the opportunity to provide our patrons and brand enthusiasts a one stop 3S luxury car destination inGoa.Counto Motors is strategically located in the scenic town of Ribander, which has potential to serve not only the city of Goa but also its neighboring districts.

With this convenient location and 53 professionally trained staff backed by modern luxury and architecture, we assure a unique and world classMercedes-Benz brand experience for our discerning customers” Mr Khaunte said.

Panaji:September 3, 2017 ….  The Department of Urban Development has notified the Draft Rules “The Goa Real Estate (Regulation and Development) (Registration of real estate projects, Registration of real estate agents, rates of interest and disclosures on website) Rules, 2017”,  in the Official Gazette Series I No.21 dated August 24, 2017.

       The Draft Rules are available on the Departmental Website: www.urban.goa.gov.in.

 Inviting suggestions from public on or before the expiry of 10 days so that they may be taken into consideration at the time of finalization of said draft rules.In view of the representations received from some stakeholders requesting to extend time limit, the Government has decided to extend the time limit upto September 11, 2017 for submission of suggestions.

Panaji: September 2, 2017 … Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar inaugurated the online portal of Department of Public Grievance on friday at the Secretariat in Porvorim. 

While speaking on the occasion, Shri Parrikar said that “the advantage of such Public Grievance Redressal Service is that a person will not need to send complaints by post or come all the way to Panaji to lodge a complaint instead he or she can register it from their homes itself and the person will get an acknowledgment number by which his or her complaint can be tracked.”

This online service of the Department of Public Grievance is aimed at providing the citizens with a platform to redress their grievance. If the citizens have any grievance against government departments/organization in the state, they may lodge their grievance at www.goaonline.gov.in which will go to the concerned Department for immediate redressal.

“If a grievance is not addressed within the stipulated time, then it will be looked into by the higher authorities such as Secretary,” said Shri Parrikar adding that there are also future plans to link this portal by an interactive mode.

Present on the occasion was Shri Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Information Technology, Smt. Padma Jaiswal, IAS, Secretary, Public Grievances, and Shri D. G Sardessai, Director of Public Grievance.

01/09/2017 …. In his Independence Day address to the nation on 15th August, 2014 Hon’ble Prime Minister called upon that all schools in the country should have toilets with separate toilets for girls. Only then our daughters will not be compelled to leave schools mid way…

The Department has taken new initiative for furtherance of Swachh Vidyalaya Campaign and instituted Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar in 2016-17 to recognize, inspire and celebrate excellence in water, sanitation and hygiene practices in schools. Swachhta in schools plays a significant role in determining the health of children, attendance, dropout rate, and learning outcomes. For the first time, government schools have been ranked on the basis of Swachhta on various criteria viz. Water, Sanitation, Hand washing with soap, Operations and Maintenance, Behaviour Change and Capacity Building.

35 States and UTs participated in this Puraskar, at District and State levels, in an online mode. Thereafter, these were evaluated and awarded at district and state levels. Out of 643 schools shortlisted by the states, 172 schools have been selected for the National awards for Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2016-17.

In the national award ceremony held at Dr S. Radhakrishnan Auditorium, Delhi Cantt. HRD Minister, Shri Prakash Javadekar gave away the prizes to the national awardees. Shri Upendra Kushwaha, Minister of State (HRD) also graced the occasion.

While addressing on the occasion Shri Upendra Kushwaha said that we have to take the cause of Clean India Campaign in the mission mode and we should set the target to achieve it. He stressed to take ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ pledge to make our country clean and beautiful. He added that these awards given by the ministry are in line with Prime Minister’s Swachh Bharat Mission. He asked teachers and parents to teach students about cleanliness and regularly monitor them too.

Shri Prakash Javadekar congratulated the winners of Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017-18 and also told that next year this competition will be open to private schools also. This year 2, 68,402 schools from both central and state governments participated voluntarily in the competition which is in itself an achievement and a beginning of ‘New India’. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that the students are ‘cleanliness ambassadors’ and they will lead the vision of Clean India of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He added that it is the need of the hour to change our mindsets and inculcate the habit of cleanliness everywhere in the country. He also thanked CSR partners, panchayats and various other organizations for their contribution in furthering the cause.

The schools were given an award of Rs. 50,000/- each as additional school grant, to be utilized for swachhta related activities, which was digitally transferred to them, along with a Certificate. School principals/teachers and students from the schools collected the awards. Besides, awards to 11 districts with highest participation for the National Level Awards for Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2016-17 were given to concerned District Collectors/District Education Officers. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan who have been declared top three States with maximum number of schools in Five Star and Four Star ratings (green & blue category) were given a Certificate of Recognition. The best practices in sanitation and maintaining Swachhta in schools by states were also shared on this occasion. UNICEF and ASCI were the technical and knowledge partners with Department of School Education and Literacy in this endeavour.

The Department also released Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Swachhta in schools and started registration for Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017-18 from 1st September, which coincides with the commencement of Swachhata Pakhwada for the Ministry. The registration for Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar 2017-18 closes on 31st October and is open to government, government aided and private schools as well.

 Date: August 30, 2017 … The Directorate of Art and Culture in joint collaboration with India International Rural Cultural Centre, New Delhi, will be organizing “Lecture Dance Demsonstration series’ in the field of Indian Classical dance by renowned Odissi danseuse, Vani Madhav from Orissa and Manipuri danseuse, Bimbavati Devi from Kolkata, from September 4, 2017 to September 9, 2017.

The main aim of this activity is to strengthen the cultural values in education by organizing dance demonstrations in schools by the renowned classical dancers from other states and also to create awareness amongst the students about rich Indian Cultural heritage.

Vani Madhav along with her accompanists shall conduct lecture/dance demonstration series in Odissi Dance at South Goa at Abhinav Vidya Mandir, Molem, Sanguem-Goa, Barabhumi High School, Tambdi Surla Sancordem, Sanguem-Goa, Union High School, Sanguem-Goa, Shri Sharda English High School, Sanvordem, Sanguem – Goa, Holy Cross Institute, Quepem-Goa, Government High School, Balli, St. Theresa of Jesus High School, Canacona-Goa, Government High School, Sadolxem, St. Anthony’s School, Pajifond, Margao-Goa, Vidya Vikas Academy Comba, Margao-Goa, Government Higher Secondary School, Baina, Vasco-Goa , Murgaon High School Headland Sada, Mormugao Goa.

Bimbavati Devi and her accompanists will conduct lecture/dance demonstration series in Manipuri Dance at North Goa in 12 schools namely Vikas High School, Valpe Virnoda, Pernem-Goa, Government Higher Secondary School Pernem-Goa, Shree Ram Vidya Mandir, Halarnkar Charitable Trust, Housing Board, Colvale, Bardez-Goa, Vasant Vidhyalaya English High School, Siolim, Bardez Goa, Our Lady of Grace High School, Bicholim-Goa, Dyanjyoti High School, Karapur, Bicholim-Goa, Government Higher Secondary School, Valpoi, Sattari-Goa, Shree Hanuman Vidyalaya Valpoi, Sattari-Goa, Vidhya Vrudhi Saunstha, Kurtarkar Nagari, St. Cruz, Ponda-Goa, Dr. K.B. Hedgewar Vidhyalaya, Ponda-Goa, K.B. Hedgewar High School, Cujira Complex, Bambolim, Panaji – Goa, Mustifund High School, Cujira Complex, Bambolim, Panaji – Goa.

Panaji: August 29, 2017 ….  The Department of Urban Development had notified the Draft Rules “The Goa Real Estate (Regulation and Development) (Registration of real estate projects, Registration of real estate agents, rates of interest and disclosures on website) Rules, 2017”.

    The Draft Rules are available on the Departmental Website: www.urban.goa.gov.in.

        All objections or suggestions, to the said draft rules may be forwarded, either through e-mail viz. goarera@gmail.com or by post, to the Secretary (UD), Department of Urban Development, Collectorate Building, Ground Floor, Panaji – Goa – 403001 before the expiry of 10 days so that they may be taken into consideration at the time of finalization of said draft rules.

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Panaji: August 28, 2017 …. The concluding function of “Photography” workshop organised by Directorate of Art & Culture, Govt. of Goa and West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur held on August 11, 2017 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Vice Chairman, Ravindra Bhavan, Shri. Saish Panandikar was Chief guest for the function.

He said that every one has to make use of what they have learnt from the expert and make use of it in their career and prosper’.  Photography has the potential and Goan youth should take advantage of this art and prosper in photography career. Today Government is providing platform for the budding artists to showcase their talent and art through its various programmes & schemes. Young generation should take advantages of such opportunity to develop their skills & techniques to gain prosperity in the field of art.

Expert for this workshop Shri. Prasad Pankar, Deputy Director Accounts & Admin Art & Culture Shri. Ramesh Mahale & Assistant Accounts Officer Shri. Upadesh Kossambe were present on the occasion.

Shri. Ramesh Mahale, Deputy Director Accounts & Admin Dept. of Art & Culture welcomed the gathering.

          Shri. Pratik Chari & Smt. Reshma D’costa expressed their views about their experience of the workshop. Expert of this workshop  Shri. Prasad Pankar shared his views about the Photography Art.  

          Assistant Accounts Officer Shri. Upadesh Kossambe proposed vote of thanks & Shri. Yogish Joshi anchored the function.