NEED FOR LAW TO CURB ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
PANJIM: The communal riots which broke out at Curchorem and Sanvordem last week following the demolition of an illegal structure by miscreants has now opened the eyes of the politicians, who in the past abetted illegal constructions in the state. Now people frequently discuss about the encroachments on the roadside, along the highways or open spaces in various parts of Goa. The modus operandi is that these encroachments mushroomed with a view either to extend a house, a shop, a garage or convert it as a religious structure. At many place a small ghumati or wayside cross was built arguing that the spot was accident-prone and such structures would bring divine intervention to arrest casualties. (Vithaldas Hegde, GT)

GSCB to file FIR against Velip
PANJIM, Mar 9: The Goa State Co-operative Bank has resolved to file an FIR against its former chairman Prakash Velip and ex-managing director RR Phal for investing Rs.55 crore in bonds and causing loss to the bank. (H)

Woman ends life
MARGAO, Mar 9: Elvira D'Souza (45), a housewife from Aquem-Alto, committed suicide on March 8 afternoon by hanging herself from the roof. The Margao police said that the woman committed suicide with the help of a dupatta. The body was shifted to Margao Hospicio Hospital for post-mortem. The reason behind the drastic step is not known. (NT)

Mapusa river contaminated
MAPUSA, Mar 9: The Tar river in the city was found contaminated today morning, after miscreants dumped a poisonous chemical, believed to be industrial waste, into the river. The incident came to light when people were shocked to find the river water blackish and fish struggling for life. While a number of people were busy trying to gather the fish, Sarpanch of nearby Bastora panchayat Janardhan Parsekar alerted Mapusa police. (H)

GCT SCAN: It is free, provided it works
PANJIM: The treatment may be free at Goa Medical College and Hospital but that doesn't necessarily ensure good facilities to the patients coming here. Often investigations, treatment and even operations are delayed because either a machine is dysfunctional or because the patients don't have right connections. (Preetu Nair, GT)

7 foreigners deported, 2 'missing': DGP
PANJIM, Mar 9: Director General of Police, Neeraj Kumar, today said the Goa police have got deportation orders for 13 foreign nationals, out of which seven have already been deported, four others have challenged deportation orders and two others (Russians) are "missing". (H)

Goa goes a visiting
Contacto Goa, a series of episodes on RTP, the Portuguese channel, has just completed screening its first three episodes. Nalini Elvino de Sousa, part of the team that conceptualised and shot this series says, "We've finished shooting the first 10 episodes in Goa. The remaining three will be shot in Mumbai, Kerala and Daman and Diu." The latter are places that also had a strong Portuguese influence and Kerala also has a huge Goan population in places like Fort Cochin and Ernakulam. The team, Nalini, Christopher Rego and Desmond Nazareth, along with pretty host Liesel Britto went through Goa, capturing the essence of Goa as a former Portuguese colony and the influences that were left behind. Each 25-minute episode covers different aspects of the culture in Goa, especially art, music, food and other cultural events. (Kurt Gidwani, GT)

'No outside entered Sanvordem'
MARGAO, Mar 19: District Magistrate, South, JB Singh, today asserted that no person either from Bhatkal or Hubli had entered Sanvordem-Curchorem on Friday last, but confirmed that members of the minority community from Panjim, Margao, and Sanguem and other parts of Goa were part of the 800-odd crowd that assembled near the local mosque that day to protest against the prayer house demolition. (H)

Holy Spirit Church - a structure under stress
MARGAO, Mar 19: Blame it on vibration caused by heavy movement of traffic or otherwise, the centuries-old Holy Spirit Church - an architectural heritage structure located at old market here - is under strain. Indeed, the grouting work on the side walls of the church bears the testimony of the cracks developing on the structure - fact that has spurred church authorities and others to demand an action plan to protect the monument. (H)

Goods worth Rs.2 lakh gutted
VASCO, Mar 9: Household material, including electrical fixtures, furniture and other valuable equipment was gutted in a fire that broke out at police quarters, Bogda, in the room belonging to Mr Tulsidas Gawas, this evening. The total loss is estimated to be Rs.2 lakh. The cause of the fire was short circuit. (NT)

Apply early for visa to visit UK: British Deputy High Commission
PANAJI, Mar 9: If you are thinking of visiting the UK this summer, and have already made your travel plans, the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai advises you to apply early for your visa. March to July are the busiest times of the year for the visa department, and by applying as early as possible you will minimise any delay in processing your application. Mandy Ivemy, head of the visa department in Mumbai, said: "We welcome bona fide visitors to the UK, and aim to make the visa procedures for them as swift and smooth as possible. (NT)

Good news for mango growers
Goa State Horticultural Corporation Ltd has initiated efforts to introduce the delicious Malcorada mango to the consumers of Pune, Mumbai and Delhi cities. Although this may be an ambitious trial, the efforts could well be a great success for not only fetching a good price but also encourage large scale plantation under the variety recognised by Goans as the king among other Goan varieties. Mango is one of the major fruit crops covering an area of 4226 Ha with a production of 18,700 tonnes per year. The prominent Goan varieties are Malcorada, Afonso, Monsorrate, Fernandina, Xavier, Colaco, Hilario, Salgado, Furtado, Costa, Barreto and many other but Malcorada is the most preferred table purpose variety among Goans. It was appreciated for its resistance to fruit fly at the International Mango show held at London last year. (GT)

08 Mar: Porvorim: VIRGINIA DA CUNHA SOUSA VARMA: Wife of Bhim, mother of Reena/Vinay, Arun/Henny, Ziley/Sheila, Gajraj/Maya.
09 Mar: Nagoa-Verna-Mazilvaddo: PEDRO XAVIER FERNANDES: Husband of Lily, father of Bonnie/Hermes, Edmund/Fiona, Agnelo/Emma, Jovita/Walter, Christina/Peter.
08 Mar: Chinchinim: CARMO DIAS: son of Ana Maria/Late Capuciano, brother of Succorina/Domnic, Juliana/abel, Joanita/Ameliano.
08 Mar: Curchorem: FILIPE JS COLACO: Husband of Agnel, father of Arthur/Militta, Loretta/Jude, \cynthia/Raymond, Olga/Desmond, Celina/Agostinho and Mala.
09 Mar: Velim-Tolecanto: FR ARISTON TRAZES DIAS; (Ex-Vicar of Britona, Marcel, Sadolxem, bambolim, Velim: Son of late Santan/Filomena, brother of Gilbert/Bernadina, Franklin/Mira, Elias/Carmen.