Sunday, October 17, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

India Australia ODI Sunday In Goa

Posted: 17 Oct 2010 04:59 AM PDT

The first match of the one day international series between India and Australia has been rained off.

The game in Kochi was abandoned without a single ball being bowled at the Nehru Stadium after the pitch was saturated by a deluge of rain on Sunday morning.

Fans will have to wait until Wednesday before the next meaningful action with the second match at Vishakapatnam.

The third and final one day game is due to take place on Sunday in Goa.

Australia are keen to do well in the one day series after losing the Test series 2-0.

Courtesy: Sport360

Goa bypolls: CISF personnel deployed at Valpoi

Posted: 16 Oct 2010 09:53 PM PDT

Valpoi assembly constituency goes to the bypolls on Monday. Electioneering ended on Saturday evening for the byelection where health minister Vishwajit Rane seeks to retain his assembly seat in a straight fight with the BJP’s Santosh Halarnkar. The byelections were forced because Rane, who had won the Valpoi seat as an independent in the 2007 assembly elections, resigned as MLA and minister on June 24 to join the Congress party. He was however re-inducted into the cabinet on the same day. Rane had to get re-elected to the legislative assembly within six months.

North Goa district collector and district election officer Mihir Vardhan told TOI that all preparations for the byelections have concluded. Vardhan said 2 companies of Central Industrial Security Force ( CISF) personnel have already arrived in Goa and deployed to the polling stations to maintain security. The polling officials will report on Sunday.

Vardhan said 5 mobile squads of excise officials are touring the Valpoi constituency round-the-clock to prevent the distribution of liquor for wooing voters. Meanwhile, the office of the chief electoral officer has banned the hiring or procuring or use of vehicles by a candidate or his agent for free conveyance of the voters to and fro from the polling station. Termed as “corrupt practice”, it shall attract a fine which may extend to Rs 500. The order will be in force on the polling day October 18 from 8am to 5pm.

The CEO has also enforced the directions of the Election Commission of India that no person shall be allowed to either carry or use phone in the 100 metres perimeter of polling stations.

Courtesy: TOI

Karnataka ban gives fillip to sand extraction in Goa

Posted: 16 Oct 2010 09:45 PM PDT

The ban imposed by the Karnataka government on “export” of sand to Goa coupled with growing demand from the construction industry have been a blessing in disguise for the sand extractors in the state who have quickly jumped to cash in on the opportunity and taken to “vigorous” excavation of sand to meet the growing demand and at the same time increasing its rates. The mines director, Mr Arvind Lolienkar told The Navhind Times that the sand excavation has started after the monsoon break adding that his department issues permission to the excavators after collecting fee of Rs 24,000 from each of them. He informed that the licence for sand extraction was valid for a year.

Goa: Sand Extraction at Amona

Workers in canoe extract sand from a river at Amona

Another official of the mines department informed that following the ban imposed by the Karnataka government the demand for sand excavated by the locals have gone up manifold as a result of which many Goan sand extractors have jumped to derive advantage of the arising situation. He, however, said the demand for sand has not been quantified yet. He also said that with the rains almost stopping the construction activities have begun on a war-footing and the demand for sand has increased.

An official of the public works department, Mr M D'Souza informed that the price of sand has increased from Rs 2,800 for five cubic metres to Rs 3,500. He also said the prices of other construction materials have also gone up. The PWD official further said that laterite stones, which were sold at Rs 11 to Rs 12 each till some time ago, now cost between Rs 14 and 15, while the prices of mud bricks have jumped from Rs 3 to Rs 5.50 each. The price of cement bags has also risen sharply from Rs 220 per bag till sometime ago to Rs 310, he added.

A civil contractor, Mr Ashok H informed that the sand extractors were making best use of the situation arising out of the ban on sand export from Karwar. He further said that a slight premium was being charged by the sand suppliers in case the sand supply was urgent. A substantial quantity of the sand was imported from the neighbouring district, he added.

Courtesy: Navhind Times
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