Panaji: June 27, 2016 … Chief Minister Shri Laxmikant Parsekar released an exclusive field study book titled “Traditional Knowledge and Technologies – A Boon of Wisdom” authored by well known folklorist Shri Vinayak Khedekar at Secretariat, Porvorim today.

The book is published by West Zone Culture Centre, Udaipur.

The significant aspects of book are food and eating habits, traditional technology, and ethnic wisdom etc. of cultural field. Overall this is a unique attempt made by the author Shri Khedekar by studying and documenting a very vital aspect of Goan conventional life.

The book illustrates immense use of natural resources and their utility in domestic and for material purpose.

Chief Minister Shri Parsekar louded the work of Shri Khedekar in the work of traditional folklore.

Panaji: June 26, 2016 ….  The Department of Science and Technology, Government of Goa organized a half-day Training Workshop on June 21, 2016, in order to sensitize and make all concerned Government Department aware of their roles and responsibilities waste management Rules as well as the implementation of the GNGCA.

            The Chief Secretary, Shri R.K. Srivastava addressed the participants during the said Workshop and urged the participants to take a proactive part in the implementation of the Act. The Secretary, Science and Technology and Environment, Shri Kunal gave the concluded remarks.

             Resource persons for the Workshop included Adv. S.B. Faria (Retired Director of Prosecution and Legal Retainer for the Goa State Pollution Control Board) who explained the legal aspects of the provisions to fine under the GNGCA with various case studies and scenarios, while Dr. Mohan Girap, Scientist C, Goa State Pollution Control Board explained the salient features of the new Rules as well as roles and responsibilities of various stakeholder Departments.

             More than sixty five Government officials as well as members of the Monitoring-cum-Working Committee for Solid Management attended the Workshop. The question and answer session had queries on the difficulties faced during the implementation of Acts and Rules on ground, which were deliberated and discussed upon.

Panaji: June 26, 2016 … The Government has reconstituted Monitoring Committee for private television channels at the level to monitor programmes and advertisements telecast by cable TV channels at the State level and enforce the provision of cable Act and Rules.

          The reconstituted committee comprise of the Secretary (Information and Publicity) as the Chairman. The members of the committee are Representative of DGP Police, Secretary (Social Welfare), Director, Doordarshan Kendra Panaji, Shri Paresh Prabhu (Representative of Media Organisation), Smt. Jyoti Kuncolienkar, Dr. Radhika Nayak, Dr. Anil Rane and Dr. (Smt.) Sheila D’souza.

        Director, Information and Publicity is the member secretary. The nominated members will have a term of two years.

Panaji: June 25, 2016 …. Public are informed that personnel deputed by the subordinate offices of Division VI, Electricity Department, Mapusa i.e Sub Division I(U) Mapusa, Sub Division II Porvorim, Sub Division III-R Mapusa and Sub Division IV Calangute

for collecting personal information like Mobile Phone numbers, email ID’s etc. from Consumers to incorporate the same in the Data base,which will facilitate the Department to send various types of information like power outages within their area, bill related information etc. through automated SMS/CALL/WEB PORTAL/MOBILE-APP.

They are requested to Cooperate with them by providing the requisite information which will enable them to avail the services mentioned.

Panaji: June 24, 2016 … Directorate of Social Welfare is implementing scheme Grant of Scholarship/Stipend for Differently Abled Persons. The scheme was launched in the year 2002.

The Application forms of the scheme of Grant of Scholarship/ Stipend for Differently Abled Person available at the Directorate of Social Welfare from June 25, 2016 to August, 30, 2016 on any working day during Office hours.

Application form complete in all respect should reach to the Directorate of Social Welfare on or before September 30, 2016.

Panaji: June 23, 2016 … The District Magistrate, South Goa Margao in public interest has notified the  traffic signages as “Rumbler Stripes”, “Drive Slow” “ ‘Y’ Junction Ahead”, “Overtaking Prohibited” and “40 Speed Limit” and also directed authorities for erection of  cautionary sign boards demarcating the location for the visibility of  the road users for the purpose of regulating Motor Vehicle Traffic.

Thick Rumbler Stripes 10 each, On Varca road 20 meters prior to Khareband junction in Margao City of Salcete and  on Colva road 20 meters prior to Khareband junction in Margao City of Salcete. Drive Slow Singnage “Y” Junction ahead, on all three approach roads 40 mtrs prior to Khareband junction in Margao City of Salcete  and overtaking prohibited and 40 Speed Limit, on Khareband Bridge, 20 mtrs prior on either side in Margao City of Salcete Taluka of South Goa District.

Panaji:  June 22, 2016 … Dy. Chief Minister, Shri Francis D’Souza has appealed to the people to devote atleast one hour per day for yoga to remain physically and mentally fit in life. Yoga has been scientifically proven as a science which helps to keep oneself healthy irrespective of caste and religious. It is an ancient science and world has accepted Yoga Science for healthy life, he added.

Shri D’Souza was speaking after inaugurating International Day of Yoga organized by the Directorate of Health Services at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panaji today.

 Speaking further Shri D’Souza said yoga is like a preventive medicine which enhances vitality, improves memory and stabilizes mind and emotions.  Today our life style has changed and we forget to breathe scientifically, he remarked.

We have to prefer natural food with the combination of yoga to remain healthy in life and keep oneself away from the doctor, he mentioned.

Shri Sidharth Kuncalienkar, MLA highlighting the importance of yoga said that Yoga is necessary to maintain healthy life and to help build up our mind. He complimented Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who indeed made all efforts to give Yoga, an Indian art International recognition.

 Shri Ashish More, Secretary, Health, Dr. Pradeep Naik, Dean GMC, were amongst those present on the occasion.

 Dr. Makarand Gore, key note speaker on Yoga gave presentation on Power of Yoga to maintain health and wealth.

 Director, Health Services, Dr. Sanjiv Dalvi welcomed the guests and Dr. Jose D’Sa, Dy. Director, proposed the vote of thanks.

Panaji: June 21, 2016 …. The Department of Urban Development in order to boost the efforts towards achieving Swachh Bharat Nitol Goem has sanctioned 43 numbers of Ace Hopper Tipper Vehicles to the various Municipal Councils.

The decision was taken based on the experimental exercise carried out in Ponda Municipal Council by sanctioning 7 numbers of such Vehicles for waste collection which has resulted in improvement of waste collection, transportation and disposal in the Municipal Council. The Director of Urban Development, Mr. Elvis Gomes stated that the status of waste collection in various Municipal Councils was studied through the Swachh Bharat Mission Cell of the Goa State Urban Development Agency and based on the recommendations, vehicles have been allotted to seven each to Margao and Mormugao Municipal Council, five to Mapusa Municipal Council, three each to Curchorem-Cacora, Cuncolim, Quepem,  Bicholim, Sankhalli Municipal Councils, two each to        Sanguem, Valpoi and Canacona Municipal Councils and one to Pernem Municipal Council                                 

          Besides the above, Ponda Municipal Council has also been allotted 2 numbers in addition to the 7 vehicles sanctioned earlier.

          These vehicles can reach even remote corners of the towns and instead  of collecting the waste in bins, the citizens can directly place their waste in the vehicles when it comes for door to door collection. As a result, the waste does not remain in the bins but directly gets transferred to the disposal site. Ponda Municipal Council has shown tremendous progress by using such vehicles. Mr. Gomes further added that in addition, the Municipal Councils have also been allocated grants ranging from Rs. 1.10 crores in the case of bigger Councils to Rs. 50.00 lakhs in the case of smaller Municipal Councils from 14^th Finance Commission for Solid Waste Management. He added that it is for the Municipal Councils to take up the challenge now that they are armed with sufficient resources to make Swachh Bharat Mission successful. It may be recalled that each Municipal Council has already been provided with sufficient number of waste collection bins in the recent past.       

Panaji, June 20, 2016. … Union Defence Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar in the presence of Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar, MLA and Chairman EDC laid the foundation stone for the proposed work of design, construction, supply, erection, testing and commissioning of 2 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant at Patto, Panaji, today.

            Speaking on the occasion the Defence Minister said that the State Government has initiated steps for the conservation and protection of environment. He instructed the authorities concerned to comply with the necessary formalities that are required to be completed before the execution of work so that there could not be any hue and cry over the project by Non Governmental and other organizations and the work is completed in stipulated time period.

          The Union Defence Minister further informed that this is a new project undertaken by the Government which is estimated to cost Rs.1118 lakhs. In order to get rid of sewage problem the Government has already taken up the work of treating the garbage on scientific lines for the disposal of garbage in the state.

          Shri Parrikar said after completion of the project the residents of Mala, Panaji will benefit the most besides deriving the benefits by the people from the city.

          Shri Siddharth Kuncolienkar, MLA and EDC, Chairman in his address said that sewerage treatment plant at EDC Patto Plaza was initially constructed almost 25 years ago. However, the plant was not operational. He said, after the completion of 2 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant project, it is planned to divert the Sewage at part of Mala area, as it will reduce the present load of Mala Sewage pumping station.

          He further informed that the proposed plant is based on the SBR (Sequential Batch Reactor) Technology which can give a B.O.D. less than five, as similar plant at Tonca which is giving B.O.D. as 2 to 4. Besides the water from the new proposed plant can be used for purposes like gardening, flushing and many other purposes, he added.

Smt. Vaidehi Naik and Shri Shubham Chodankar both former  Mayors, Corporation City of Panaji, Councilors’ Dr. Shital Naik,  Shri Vithal Chopdekar, Smt. Diksha Mainkar and Shri Uttam Parcekar, Principal Chief Engineer amongst those present on the occasion.

Earlier Shri Dilip Dhavlikar, Executive Engineer welcomed and later proposed a vote of thanks.

Panaji:  June 19, 2016 … Minister for Fisheries and Labour, ShriAvertano Furtado has said that the Government has decided to merge the State Employment Exchange data with the union Government’s new job sites in a bid to combat unemployment.  The North Goa data will be complied followed by South Goa, he added.

 Shri Furtado was extending his warm greetings to the people of the State on the 70^th Goa’s Revolution Day at Lohia Maidan, Margao, recently informed that for the time in Goa component of variable dearness allowance has been added to the Minimum Wages based on consumer price index.  The minimum wages has been enhanced from Rs. 215 to Rs. 307 with effect from May 20, 2016, he said.

 The Union Home Ministry, Fisheries Minister said, taking cognisance of the dual citizenship issue bothering Goans has decided to form an authority to handle the issue.

 Shri Furtado informed that the work on the District hospital has been accelerated to serve the people of the District.  Nursing college will be set up in the District hospital for Goans to pursue nursing studies.  The Government, he said has appointed Administrator in GMC to restructure smooth and hassle free functioning to benefit people and added that subordinate staff for cardiology, super speciality will be appointed shortly.

 He also informed that the additional land has earmarked for expansion of KTC bus stop at Margao, expansion work of which will be undertaken to ease congestion.

 The Government, Shri Furtado said aims to provide 24×7 power supply to Goa by 2019.  Efficient lighting programme has been launched to promote LED based household lights. Three LED bulbs at the rate of Rs. 25 each will be distributed to all households within a month, he remarked.

 Recalling the supreme sacrifice of the known and unknown freedom fighters, Shri Furtado appealed to all stakeholders to join hands, working with unison for accelerated and inclusive socio-economic development of the State, uplifting the living condition of the people.

 Freedom Fighter, Shri Vaman Prabhugaonkar also spoke on the occasion.

 Earlier, Shri Furtado, freedom fighters and other dignitaries laid wreath at the Martyrs Memorial and at the statue of Dr. R.M. Lohia.   A garland was also laid on the portrait of  Dr.Lohia on the occasion.

 The children from various schools sang patriotic songs while the police band paid compliments to the Martyrs Memorial.

 MLA,Margao, Shri Digamber Kamat; Collector(South), Shri Swapnil Naik; Supdt. of Police, Shri Shekhar Prabhudessai; Freedom fighters and senior government officials were amongst those present on the occasion.