February 26, 2015 … Chief Minister Shri Laximikant Parsekar  launched new fisheries training vessel “Ocean Queen” at  Captain of Ports”  jetty Panaji.

Minister for Fisheries Shri Avertano Furtado , MLA Shri Siddarth Kunkolienkar, Secretary of Fisheries Shri Amjat Tak, Director of Fisheries Smt. Shamila Monteiro, Captain of Ports, Capt. James Braganza,  Superintendent of Fisheries, Smt. Megha Kerkar  and others were present.

Marine Fisheries sector plays a very important role for the State of Goa. Fishing in the seas is becoming increasingly unpredictable and risky, so it was felt necessary to training  the fishermen to be equipped with knowledge of operating GPS, fish finder, life saving equipment and various fishing techniques.  The fisher youth  will be train in seamanship and navigation, different life saving equipment on board. The vessel launched is trawler cum purse-seiner. The total cost of the project is 118 lakhs which come under the RKVY scheme. The Fisheries department has a target to train 200 fishermen per year. The boat has been built by Shri Raymond of  Desa Engineering works at a cost of Rs. 90,69,000/-.

February 25, 2015 … The silver Jubilee Celebrations Committee of Government College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Khandola, Marcela in association with Syngenta India Ltd is organizing a one Day State Level Workshop titled “Swatchh Bharat- Nitall Goem: Mission Inspired by Patriotism” on February 27, 2015 from 9:30 am.

Honorable Governor of Goa, Smt Mridula Sinha has kindly consented to be the Chief Guest and to deliver the key note address. Shri Bhaskar Nayak, Director of Higher Education, will be the Guest of Honour while Shri Martin Ghosh, Site Manager of Syngenta India Ltd, will be the special invitee for the inaugural session of the workshop.

As a part of this workshop, a short film/ Audio Visual Presentation competition on the topic “Swatchh Bharat – Nitall Goem: How can I make a Difference?” is organized for the N.S.S. Units of Colleges of Goa.

Ms Tallulah D’Silva and Mr. Clinton  Vaz will be the Resource Persons for the workshop. The Valedictory function will be graced by Mr P.S. Jagadeesha, Head of CSR, Syngenta India Ltd. And Mr. Pradeep Morajkar, N.S.S. Coordinator, Goa University.

 Panaji: February  24,2015 … Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar  inaugurated newly constructed  Mahadwar  of  Shree Mauli Mahadev  Devasthan at a function held at Mencurem,  Bicholim yesterday.

Shri Naresh Sawal MLA Bicholim, Shri Ramesh Naik Leader of Shiv Sena Members of Devasthan Committee  other senior citizens attended the function.

Shri Suhas Naik resident of Mencurem a Social worker, businessman   has  constructed the  Mahadwar  in memory of his mother Smt Ansuyabai Baburao Naik,  at a cost of 14 lakh. Shri Keshav Zila Naik President of the Devasthan Committee ceremoniously received the letter of donation   from Suhas Naik.

Panaji: February 23, 2015  …. The Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly Shri Rajendra Arlekar today administered the oath of Office to the newly elected member of Legislative Assembly from Panaji constituency Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar at a simple ceremony held at Assembly Complex today.

Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar was present on the dias.

Besides Chief Minister, the swearing in ceremony was attended by Shri Anant Shet, Deputy Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly, Smt. Alina Saldanha, Forest Minister, Shri Avertano Furtado, Minister for Fisheries, MLA Shri Glen Ticlo JVA e souza, Shri Rajan Naik, Shri Jose Luis Carlos Almeida, and others and Councilors of City Corporation Panaji.

22/02/2015 …. The PNDT Advisory Committee discussed  about the  setting up of Ultra Sound, X-ray, C.T. Scan, new registrations,  renewal of licenses and other related issues at the meeting  held recently under the chairmanship of  Shri Swapnil Naik,  Additional Collector in his chamber at the  Collectorate, North Goa,  Panaji.

 The matters pertaining to JEC activities, approval of minutes of the last meeting and   other related  matter  were discussed at the meeting.

 The meeting was attended by  Dr. Shirley Rebeiro, Chairperson of Advisory  Committee, Smt. Nita Marathe, APP, Shri Shashikant Khanolkar, and Smt. Vasundhara Desai,  members.

Panjim, Feb 12: The Director of Tourism, Shri. Ameya Abhyankar, in a statement issued today said, “The Department of Tourism receives more than three to four complaints a day from the IRB posted along the North Goa beach belt and also from South Goa coastal belt of growing number of illegally erected beach shacks and unauthorized deck beds, umbrellas, huts and other material being laid out by shack operators.”

Countering allegations made by shack operators today Shri. Abhyankar said, “There is a Shack Policy in place which clearly specifies the number of deck beds permitted to be put out by shack operators during the season.

It is very clear that not more than 10 pairs are permitted for shacks on public beaches. Additionally if there is any further requirement this can be increased by another 5 pairs at the request of the applicant on a case to case basis depending upon the availability of the space on the beach stretch.

The Department has further constituted two flying squads one each for North Goa and South Goa Districts respectively in order to keep a check on such illegalities. The Flying squads have powers to crack down on any illegalities noticed on the spot by virtue of the standing orders.

Going by the complaint reports from the IRB and site inspections and having confirmed that the shack operators are laying out more number of deck beds than the permissible number thereby causing a nuisance the Department has directed the Flying Squads to take immediate action.

We have also noticed that the deck beds laid out by shack operators are not within 5-10 meters from the outer boundary of the shacks as required under the policy.Yesterday’s action was initiated by the Flying Squads by virtue of the orders where in 2 illegally erected shacks on the Candolim beach stretch and all deck beds in excess of the permissible limits were removed.”

The Dept . of Tourism, Govt. of Goa has strongly defended its move to clear unauthorized deck beds and sun shades along the coastline from Baga to Sinquerim in keeping with provisions of the Shack Policy for 2013-16.

The department is initiating action in pursuance of powers conferred upon the Director of Tourism under section 5, read with section 4 and section 2 (c ) of the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act 2001 and notification number 6/4 (59) 2001 – DT dated November 26, 2001.

The Director has declared illegally unauthorized erected beach shacks , illegally placed deck beds, umbrellas, huts and any such violations as are not permitted by the tourism policy for erection of temporary seasonal structures 2013-16 as nuisance and further prohibits such acts on beach stretches extending from Baga to Sinquerim .

The Director under section 13 of the Goa Tourist Places Protection and Maintenance Act had directed all IRB tourist police, IRB PSIs and in-charge of flying squads to strictly implement his orders to maintain tourist places free form nuisance.

11/02/2014 ….Drishti Lifeguard Services, in its endeavor to provide safe swimming for tourists along Goa’s beach belt and to ensure that its lifeguards are fit and render effective services, is conducting a competition for its team of lifeguards here in Goa.Titled Run-Swim-Board-Run, the competition has been organized for the lifeguards and has already commenced since February 2, 2015.

The competitions can be witnessed by the general public between 9.30 am to 10.30 am at the beach location enlisted below.The competition at Baina and Arambol has already been conducted between February 2-5, 2015.

It is currently on at Majorda and Morjim (February 9-12). From (Feb 16-19) it will be held at Colva and Vegator, (Feb 23-26) at Benaulim and Calangute, (March 2 – 5) Varca and Baga2, (March 9 – 12) Cavelossim and Candolim, (March 16-19) Agonda and Miramar, (March 23-26) Palollem, (March 30) Arambol and Baina, (March 31) Baga2 and Benaulim, (April 1) Miramar and Palollem, (April 6) Baga 2 (April 7) Benaulim, (April 14) Benaulim.

“Fitness for lifeguards providing water safety and beach lifeguarding services in Goa is critical to their performance. Regular work out’s the norm rather than a one-of event,” said Shri. Manoj Agiwal, a key official from Drishti Lifeguard Services here in Goa said in a press communiqué.

This competition aims at ensuring fitness with a spirit of competition. The two-and-a-half month long series of competitions between lifeguards is compulsory irrespective of their ranks.

“The Run-Swim-Board-Run competition is a vital part of the regular day-to-day jobs of a lifeguard as rescues in Goa happen within the surf zone and the speed and agility of the lifeguard to approach victims makes the difference between Life and Death,” said Shri. Agiwal.

The judging is based on best timing system and culminates with the grand finale on April 14, 2015. A total prize money of Rs. 60,000/- has been announced for the competition, besides medals and certificates to be presented to the winners.
The on-going competition can be witnessed on the beaches of North and South of Goa between 9.30 am to 10.30 am from Monday to Thursday.

The Director of Tourism, Shri Ameya Abhyankar said, “We are happy that Drishti Lifeguard Services is organizing such an event for their lifeguards. This ensures fitness and wellness of the team who in turn have to serve on the beach belt of Goa where tourists throng from far and wide.”

Shri. Abhyankar further said, “Goa Tourism is making all efforts to ensure that Goa is a safe holiday destination for tourists on and off the sandy shores.”

Panjim, Feb 10 : The Tourism department and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has revised the float parade dates for Ponda and Shiroda and the same will now be held on February 15 and February 17 respectively.

As per the earlier schedule, the float parade for Ponda was fixed on February 17 and Shrioda was on February 16, 2015.
As per the revised schedule, the first parade will be held as usual in Panjim on February 14, Margao and Ponda on February 15, Vasco and Curchorem on February 16 and Mapusa and Shiroda on February 17.

A meeting held on Saturday, February 7, 2015 was held to chalk out details for carnival wherein all the respective municipal councils and carnival committees were appraised of the plans and schedules. The municipal councils/carnival committees were impressed upon to ensure that all arrangements for Carnival in their respective cities are organized well and security arrangements taken care of to ensure smooth conduct of the float parades.

In the meantime, preparations for Carnival in Goa are on in full swing and city venues are being decked up for the Carnival celebrations commencing from February 14, 2015.

Panaji: Feb 9, 2015 …. The Human Resource Development Corporation has in a Press Release stated that 400 security personnel of Goa Recruitment Society (GRES) who have undergone training have been given the placement in GMC Complex , Bambolim and Kala Academy , Panaji with effect from February 1, 2015.

About 200 employees engaged by GRES have been withdrawn and GRES has offered alternate employment in other units for which they were advised to report to the Society’s office before February 7, 2015. About 80 female GRES employees engaged in GMC and other Hospital have been asked to continue by GRES. Thus, the GRES has not removed any employee in these five units and offered them the placement in, other units wherever there are vacant positions.

As far GHRDC is concerned, we are selecting and recruiting the people as per the laid down norms and the entire system is open and transparent.

As per the announcement of the Government of Goa while selecting the personnel in security and housekeeping, the employees of GRES will be given special relaxation in age, education and selection test with a view to accommodate maximum suitable personnel form GRES. This process is going on there is no scope for any opposition or agitation  on this issue.

The Goa Human Resources Development Corporation is formed by the Government of Goa with a view to generate employment amongst the unemployed youth by providing them training and developing skills for all types of services like house-keeping, security maintenance etc.

by imparting training and developing skills amongst the unemployed youth, the Corporation can develop the quality manpower which can undertake various types of jobs in the Government Departments and other organizations.

 The corporation has advertised in the local newspapers on July 4, 2014 for five hundred vacancies of trainee Security Guards and 100 Trainee Housekeeping Attendants. After undergoing the election tests, 400 persons Trainee Security Guards were selected and they have undergone four months theoretical and practical training. Out of this, 256 trainee personnel were belonging to Goa Recruitment and Employment.

The Corporation has published the second advertisement for another 500 Trainee Security Guards on December 3, 2014. The Corporation has received the total response of 2600 candidates and there are about 950 applicants belonging to GRES. All suitable candidates have undergone the first round of Physical Efficiency Test (PET) and the second round of PET will be conducted after February 18, 2015 as the code of conduct is applicable to Panaji City.