Daily Goa News Clips: 13 DEC 2006

RESIDENTS HAD WARNED AUTHORITIES OVER ILLEGAL MINING
SANGUEM: Dhargini residents are no strangers to any crisis. Even before the "man-made" landslide killed six innocent souls, the villagers had written letters, warning various government authorities that sooner or later the "violent action" witnessed in Saleli would be repeated in Dhargini. The villagers dashed copies of a letter on March 22, 2006, to Mamlatdar, Executive Engineer of Water Resource Department, Bhati Sarpanch, Director of Mines and Industries, Chairman of Goa Pollution Control Board and Sanguem PI complaining against M/s Timblo ltd for operating beneficiation plant "illegally" at Dhargini-Bhati which was causing enormous dust and noise pollution and also water scarcity. [Preetu Nair, GT]

AICHEA DISAK CHINTOP
(Thought for the Day)

Mojea bapaichim bara xetam ani hanv bhik magon khatam.
(Although my father is a landlord, I am destined to be a beggar.)
DOMNIC FERNANDES <jyodom@hotmail.com>

Curse of the local deity?
UGUEM: Ever since Satish Mirashi's body was found floating yesterday in the water body of the Tollem mine, which swallowed alive six workers and around six vehicles, the local populace here is more than certain that the collapse of the mining dump was a sign of God's wrath. It is reliably learnt that on Monday evening some people from Dhargini and Uguem, got together and offered prayers to the Zagrut Dev and begged for forgiveness, while pleading that their Gold help retrieve the missing bodies. And less than 12 hours after the "gharannem", Satish's body was found. They believe that the Naikidev is still upset over the shifting of her "devasthan" from the mining site in Tollem (on which once stood paddy fields) to a place in Uguem. [GT]

Only 9 lifeguards in the land of beaches
PANJIM: Although the state is in the midst of high season, and the inflow of tourists only set to increase with the coming Christmas and New Year festive season, State's 105-kilometre coastline is being manned by only nine lifeguards. The Goa Tourism and Development Corporation has been entrusted with the job of recruiting 100 lifeguards, and at present are finding the going tough, as only one applicant has been able to pass the test whose standards have been set by the National Institute of Water Sports. [GT]

GTDC’s ‘Ya Ya Mayem Ya’ on Dec 17
PANAJI, Dec 12: The Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited (GTDC) with the professional assistance of Sean Ad Event is organising fun-filled family event titled ‘Ya Ya Mayem Ya’ by the Mayem Lake on December 17, 2006 from 10.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m, says a press release issued here.Goa revolves around its villages and is not just about the Sun, sea, and sand. There are several masterpieces in its treasure trove, and the Mayem Lake encircled by green hills is one of the best lakes in the state and has served as an ideal holiday spot over the years, not just for tourists but for locals and nature lovers too. [NT]

GOA TOON
By Alexyz

Rane for maritime university in Goa
VASCO: Chief Minister Pratapsing Rane has favoured the creation of an autonomous maritime university in Goa and assured the Society for Industrial and Technical Education in Goa of all help from his government. Rane was speaking as chief guest at the valedictory function of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Institute of Shipbuilding Technology, Goa, at the institute complex in Bogda. [GT]

Accident victim succumbs to injuries in hospital
PANAJI, Dec 12: A road accident victim, who was undergoing treatment has succumbed to his injuries. According to the Calangute police, the accident took place near Kamat Holiday Home, Gaurawado, Calangute, on December 9 at around 3 p.m. wherein Ms Van Damme Islam, from Belgium, dashed her vehicle against an on coming motorcycle injuring the rider, Jaime Mascarenhas from Gaurawado. The police rushed the injured to the hospital and he later on succumbed to his injuries. [NT]

MBA plans cycle yatra in six talukas from Dec 28
PANJIM: Mhadei Bachao Abhivan is planning to have a three-day cycle yatra from December 28, covering the six talukas of the state to draw people's attention to the Mhadei issue. Starting from Bondir in Sattari taluka, the cycle journey will end at Tambdi Surla. Besides, MBA has written to all Goans based in London to send an independent memorandum, raising concern about the issue to the Prime Minister and Water Resources Minister. [GT]

Delhi fog delays flights from Goa
VASCO: All Delhi-bound flights from Goa were delayed yesterday as the airport in the national capital was enveloped in thick fog. The delay in flights caused chaos at the airport lounge as passengers had to wait for long hours for their flights. [GT]

MPT Workers to got on token strike
VASCO: Employees of Mormugao Port Trust affiliated to the Goa Port and Dock Employees Union lead by Lawrenco Cardozo, and Mormugao Port and Railways Workers Union led by AG Peters, will go on a one-day token strike on December 14 in support of their long pending demands. [GT]

Bankers to join strike
Goa Bank Employees Association has decided to join the one-day all India general strike called by the National Convention of Workers on December 14, to press for their demands. The workers have been opposing privatization of the public sector banks, merger of public sector banks, unrestricted FDI in the banking sector and outsourcing of banking operations, etc. [H]

NOITE DE BEETHOVEN
London’s Bergonzi Quartet to perform at Beethoven’s statue in Siolim

SIOLIM, Dec 12: The vibrant ward of Gaunsavaddo in Siolim enjoys the proud privilege of playing hosts to a rare musical performance of the famed Bergonzi Quartet from England. The Bergonzis will perform at around the statue of Beethoven, on December 14 at 5.45 pm. The Bergonzi Quartet comprises of Kit Massey and Melanie Hamer on violin, Charlotte Stock on viola and David Butler on cello.
The performance by the English music makers, organized by the “Friends of Beethoven” comprising Alexyz, Wendell Rodrigues, Olimpio Almeida, Alister Miranda and others, is the first little step to revive the grand musical traditions of Siolim village, who gave birth to the likes of Johnson of the Jolly Boys and other renowned Goan music maestros. The initiative also involved the restoration the statue of German composer Ludwig wan Beethoven. It is probably the sole statue anywhere in India, standing in the compound of the house of Pinta Xapai. Believed to have been erected around 75 years ago, the statue was left in total disarray for several years. It has now been restored by Goa’s popular terracotta artist Verodina Ferrao.
This is a unique occasion – “Noite de Beethoven” - is the first homage that is being paid to this particular heritage monument of the German composer. Incidentally, the Bergonzis will be performing together for the last time, as they are scheduled to go their own way after Goa concert. [GoaNewsClips]

Catholic MPs meet PM over travel subsidy
PANJIM: A delegation of Catholic Members of Parliament met Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and handed over to him a memorandum to extend yearly pilgrim subsidy to Christians to go to their pilgrimage centre, Bethlehem in Israel, from 2007 onwards on the same pattern as Muslims and Hindus for pilgrimages. The delegation was led by Dr HT Sangliana, MP, and consisted of MPs from Rajya Sabha and Lob Sabha, including Shri Selam Jesudasu, Kharsingh Robert, Silvius Gondpan and others. Rajya Sabha MP, Shantaram Naik, from Goa, the only non-Christian MP, who was a part of the delegation to support the cause, as, his state, Goa, has a population of 30 per cent Christians, whose feelings too he proposes to represent. [GT]

APARANT MAND at Navelim
Aparant Mand, an exhibition of handicraft items and fun and festival will be held at Navelim, Margao, from 16 to 19 December, said Education Minister at a meeting held at Navelim on Sunday. [GT]

1000 kg beef found abandoned
MARGAO, Dec 12: Mystery shrouds the discovery of 1000 kilogram of beef staked in 20 boxes, which were found abandoned at the Margao railway station on July 12. That Goa receives meat from belgaum and its suburbs is an admitted fact, but the fact that beef landed at the railway station and later found abandoned has baffled Animal Husbandry officials and the police. [H]

Maharashtra will return Sal area to Goa as per deal
PANJIM, Dec 12: Union Minister for Water Resources Soffuddin Soz told Shantaram Naik, MP, during the Question Hour today in the Rajay Sabha, that the area of Sal village in Bicholim taluka, which was handed over to the Government of Maharashtra for the purpose of providing infrastructure to the displaced persons affected by Tillari Irrigation Project, will be returned to Goa as per the agreement between Maharashtra and Goa, and that there is no dispute over the same. [H}

Chandor villagers present development plan to panchayat
MARGAO, Dec 12: The villagers of Chandor presented a five-year development plan to the panchayat at the gram sabha held recently. Titled ‘The Five-Year People’s Plan for the Sustainable Development of Chandor Village’ (2007-2012), the plan proposes a series of measures aimed at reasserting the economic and political independence of the village in the style of the independent village republics of Gandhi’s gram swaraj fame. [NT]

Brian Mendonca's presentation at History Hour
PORVORIM, Dec 13: Since his first poem 'Requiem to a Sal' (1987) describing the cutting down of a sal tree near his home in Vasco, Brian Mendonça has tried to keep pace with Goa's 'development.' In the presentation Brian tries to join the dots and map a socio-cultural landscape of Goa in the making. He lingers on the themes which have inspired his poetry on Goa over the last 20 years, viz. its religious rituals, travel, its architectural heritage, the polarity between the rivers and the sea, the railways, insanity, influx, and suicide to mention a few. Mixing memory and saudades he provides a poetic-history of a Goan community in transition. His self-published collection of 50 poems on Goa entitled Last Bus to Vasco: Poems from Goa (2006), freeze on a page, vignettes of a Goan way of life which are slowly being erased. The collection was showcased by the National Book Trust, New Delhi at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2006. Brian works in Delhi as an editor for a leading publisher of children's books.

'Govt should ensure availability of theatres for Konkani films'
PANAJI, Dec 12: The Goan film-maker, Rajendra Talak, today said that the government should ensure availability of theatres for release of Konkani films in the state, as well as make all such productions free from the entertainment tax, at least for next few years. Addressing a press conference, this evening, Talak said that his bilingual film, ‘Antarnaad’ in Konkani and ‘Saavli’ in Marathi, will have a simultaneous commercial release in Goa and Pune, respectively, on December 15. The film portrays identity clash between a mother and her daughter, in the field of Indian classical music, with the film-maker making a strong statement about the futility of the re-mix music trend.

Where are the football fans?
PANJIM: Imagine this. Sporting Clube de Goa playing Dempo SC at the Fatorda stadium, which has a seating capacity of 27,000 and only 2500 spectators in attendance. This is the sad plight of Goan football nowadays. A declining attendance at football matches is beginning to alarm Goa Football Association and their promoters.[Suraj Nandrekar, GT]

REMEMBER SHAKTI to perform on Dec 15
"Remember Shakti", featuring ace guitarist John McLaughlin, tabla maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain, mandolin vidwan U Shrinivas, kanjira wizard V SelvaGanesh and Carnatic vocal maestro Shankar Mahadevan, is back again to treat Goans to an electrifying musical evening on December 15 at Kala Academy, at 6.30 pm. [GT]

First global reunion of St Xavier's College
PANJIM, Dec 12: Around 150 alumni and alumnae of St Xavier's College, Mapusa, from USA, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Australia, the UK, Gulf and other parts of the country will descend on Dr Marianho Saldanha Lawns of the college on December 17 to celebrate their first international reunion. Principal prof Newman Fernandes said, "We required our extudents to reunite as the world has become borderless. The meet will give us an opportunity to interact with our former students to establish networks and linkages for higher education on the other side of the world." [H]