TEHELKA SCRIBE DETAINED AT MINE, FREED
PANJIM: A Delhi-based journalist working with national weekly Tehelka, along with well-known green activist Rajendra Kerkar, were forcefully detained by security guards posted at a mining pit at Pissurlem, after the duo was 'caught' taking photographs of open dump sites. Speaking to GT, Kerkar informed that he was assisting the Tehelka staffer Prerna Singh Bindra who was wroking on a story on mining and its effects. [GT]

Mob attacks SEZ site at Verna
VASCO, Aug 20: The protest against SEZs took an ugly turn when a mob of around 100 people entered the premises of K

PICTURE FOR TODAY

NOT TOO MANY on a single scooter... Are we?

SC orders status quo on hoardings
PANJIM: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Goa government to maintain status quo on removing all the legal and illegal hoardings and billboards erected within a setback area of 40 metres from either side of the National Highways. [GT]

North Zone administrator seals Mapusa Comunidade office
MAPUSA, Aug 20: The Administrator of North Zone Communidades, Mr Narayan Gaad, Tuesday sealed the office of the Mapusa Communidade here. According to the Administrator, rampant irregularities have been taking place in the Mapusa Communidade that included misappropriation of funds, selling of 151 Communidade plots illegally, allotment of kiosks illegally on Communidade land and various other irregularities. [NT]

Goa's bank employees to join nationwide strike today
VASCO: The Goa Bank Employees' Assopciation is participating in the nation-wide bankers' strike today. [GT]

8 trade unions to observe strike today
NEW DELHI, Aug 20- Eight major trade unions including All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Centre for Industrial Trade Union (CITU) will observe a strike across the country today to protest against the government's 'anti-labour' and 'neo-liberal' policies.Trade unions, to be supported by some 40 federations/associations of central and state government employees besides Left parties, will stage demonstrations and block rail and roads traffic during the day-long agitation. [Agencies]

Recruit saves 2 young lives while training
PANAJI : It was supposed to be part of a training exercise, but turned out to be a real life experience for a lifeguard recruit who saved two children - aged 7 and 10 years - from a possible drowning at the Calangute beach. The incident occurred when a group of lifeguard recruits were dispatched to the Calangute beach for a short stint to gain experience in handling large crowds. [TOI]

HC summons chief town planner
PANAJI: The high court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday directed the chief town planner, Morad Ahmad, to appear before it on Wednesday with regards to the alleged illegal hill cutting at Pilgaon. After perusing the records submitted by the chief town planner pertaining to the hill cutting, the court wanted to know whether he had personally visted the site and filed the report. [TOI]

Questions/Answers in the ASSEMBLY SESSION

On Day of the monsoon session, the BJP cornered Home Minsiter Ravi Naik over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state by turning the spotlight on the Chief Minister's constituency - Margao.
The alleged goof-up by the police over the Battlo case featured among the issues which the Opposition used vociferously to grill the Home Minister.
Stating that a cabinet meeting held on September 7, 2006, decided to keep number of offshore casinos at minimum but not exceeding five, the Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik, in a written reply informed the House that the conditions for operating an offshore casino in Goa include a license issued by the director general, Shipping, Ministry of Surface Transport and an NOC from the Captain of Ports, besides the statutory fees.
Mr Parrikar noted that out of the 100 cases of robbery registered at the Margao police station from August 2007 to July 2008, only 20 per cent were detected, as against the detection rate of 35 per cent at the Ponda police station, 38 per cent at the Panaji police station and 44 per cent at the Mapusa police station. 'Transfer these police officials and the crime detection rate in Margao will rise to 40 per cent,' he suggested.
The Forest Minister, Mr Filipe Neri Rodrigues, informed the House that some unscrupulous miners, who have got into business recently, were resorting to illegal means while carrying out business and that all possible steps would be taken to stop the illegal practice. Mr Rodrigues, who holds the charge of both of them, also said that he would also initiate steps to discipline the staff of forest department to curb illegalities.
The Chief Minister said that there was an apprehension in the minds of the people of Goa as regards shortage of petrol and diesel in various petrol pumps in the state, resulting in hardships. Mr Kamat said that the government has already discussed the issue with the oil companies and would wait for next three days for the situation to improve. Presently, there are altogether 104 petrol pumps in the state, and three major oil companies namely Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd supply petroleum products to Goa.
The Home Minister, Mr Ravi Naik said that there are no beggars of Goan origin operating in the state as the government has taken care of old and needy people through the Dayanand Social Security Scheme, and would ensure that those beggars existing in Goa, leave the state at the earliest. He also assured that the alleged nexus between the tourist police deployed on the Goan beaches and the beggars would be investigated into. [NT, H, GT, TOI]

'AITARACHEO KATKUTLEO' - A compilation of Konkani humour essays will be released on 8th September at 7:30 p.m. at the hands of veteran Konkani author and social worker Shri Damodar Mauzo (Bhai) at Our Lady of Lourdes School-Hall at Utorda. The book is the first by the Kuwait-based author Lino B. Dourado, who is also a well -known Konkani poet. Lino’s writings and poems in Konkani and English have been published in several newspapers, periodicals and magazines. Lino is well-known on several Goan and Mangalorean Forums and his popularity has been phenomenal on goa-world.com, goanet.org, mangalorean.com, daaiz.com, daijiworld.com and Gulf-Goans e-Newsletter. “Aitaracheo Katkutleo” is full of humour, wit and musings on day to day happenings penned by him. For more details, contact the author email: libado23s53@yahoo.com. The book is dedicated to the fond memories of his parents and is published under by Goa Konknni Akademy under the “Poilo Chonvor Arthik Yevzonne” scheme.

Keeping the faith alive
Maria Thereza do Rosario Colaco of Solar dos Colaco, Ribander says, “My devotion to Our Lady of Rosary, the family patroness, brought me out of a serious illness. The doctors thought I wouldn’t make it. I was determined to be home for the feast of Our Lady which we celebrate at our house oratorio.” As faith would have it, Maria Thereza recovered and was discharged a day prior to the feast. Her family oratorio is one of the many beautiful ornate altars and chapels common in grand old homes of Goa. Years ago, the Colaco family had an Order from the Patriarch that on August 15, the local priest should perform Litany in complete regalia and with incense. Her nephew, Antonio Botelho, says, “The tradition has changed. First, the incense disappeared, then the priest refused to come. However we continue with the quinzena – similar to Novenas.” The statue of Our Lady of Rosary, found by Jose Bernado Colaco during a shipwreak, takes centre stage on the beautifully carved altar. [Nicole Suares, Goa Times, TOI]

Max temp: 26.7deg C. (at 07.30 am today); Seasonal rainfall: 2160.6 mm.
Since yesterday the mornings have been rather misty in Goa.