Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

Goa Government has not given NOC to Navy to acquire the two islands – A.K. Antony

Posted: 10 Nov 2010 04:36 AM PST

Union Minister of Defence, Shri A.K. Antony informed Mr. Shantaram Naik, MP in Rajya Sabha today in a written reply to his question that the Government of Goa has not so far granted NOC to hand over two islands requested by Indian Navy.

The Minister further informed Mr. Naik that Indian Navy has made a request for handing over "Grandi Island" (large) owned by private party having an area of 5,28,575 sqm and "Pikene Island" comprising an area of 2,78,525 sqm owned by Government of Goa.

He further said that these islands are located at a distance of less than 4 kms in the landing funnel of Dabolim Airport. This proposal has been made in order to address the security concerns related to aircraft operations from Naval Air Station Dabolim and the case is being processed as per existing regulations.

Meanwhile ,Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shri R.P.N. Singh informed Mr. Shantaram Naik in the Rajya Sabha today that the Ministry has requested Government of Goa at the highest level to expedite the land acquisition for upgradation / widening of NH-17 and NH-4A in the State of Goa.

He further informed Mr. Naik that for widening of NH-17 in Goa, the letter of acceptance has been issued on 20.05.2010. The total cost of the project is Rs.1872.00 crores and the scheduled completion of four laning is 36 months from the appointed date. The total land required to be acquired for widening of NH-17 in the State of Goa is 310.10 ha. for which 3(A) notification has been published.

The contract of NH-4A has been awarded and the agreement has been signed on 19.02.2010. The total cost of the project is Rs.471.00 crores and the scheduled completion is 30 months with effect from appointed date. The total land required to be acquired for widening of NH-4A in the State of Goa is 131.70 ha. for which 3(A) notification has been published, he said.

The Minister further informed Mr. Naik that the State Government of Goa has requested for reduction of Right of Way (ROW) for National Highways to 45 m in identified stretches in Urban area/patches of thickly and densely populated area.

No further changes to NH4A alignment: Goa Govt

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 07:50 PM PST

fusing to bow down to the demands of the National Highway Diversion Action Committee (NHDAC), the State government on Tuesday decided to go ahead with the widening of the NH4A based on the new alignment submitted by the high-level committee.

While the government decided to go ahead with the alignment, the NHDAC decided to go ahead with its agitation against the project.

The high-level committee appointed by the government which included legislators, PWD, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and land survey officials brought down the number of demolitions for the NH4A widening from 569 to 168 by reducing the width to 35 meters and proposing bypasses wherever necessary.

However, the re-alignment was not acceptable to the NHDAC which sighted that the highway will create noise pollution, cause vibrations which will damage existing structures.

Following this, the government invited the NHDAC for discussion, which was also attended by PWD and the NHAI officials at the Secretariat conference hall.

However, the meeting seemed to have failed to reach any solution with the government finally deciding to go ahead with the new alignment without any further changes.

Chief Minister Digambar Kamat while speaking to Herald stated that the government has made committed efforts to save the houses.

"Majority of the people are satisfied by the re-alignment and only a few individual problems exist. It's basically become a political issue rather than anything else," Kamat stated indirectly indicating to the BJP's support to the agitation against the project.

The chief minister stated that his government brought down the width from 60 meters to 45 meters and 35 meters in thickly populated areas.

"Wherever there were houses like Bhoma and Corlim, we proposed bypasses. I also assured the committee that we will not acquire any more land apart from that acquired by PWD but still they are not satisfied," he said.

"For big projects like this some houses are bound to be demolished. We can't save all houses but we have brought down the number drastically from 569 to 168," Kamat said.

Replying to a query, Kamat said the new re-alignment will be sent to the Centre soon for finalisation of the alignment.

The government's decision seems to have been influenced by the tough talking by the Union Minister for Road and Surface Transport Kamal Nath who had threatened to withdraw the project if the government delayed in acquiring land.

Sunil Desai, convenor of NHDAC, told Herald that they demanded that the re-alignment is not according to the Draft Regional Plan.

"…but the CM stated that the RP 2021 is in draft stage and that cannot be accepted," Desai said.

He said that the NHDAC basically opposed the highways (both NH17 and NH4A) passing through cities.

"The highways should pass through the hinterlands and not city," he said adding the government decided to go ahead with the present alignment.

On what would be their next step, Desai said, "we will continue our agitation until our demands are met."

The meeting was also attended by PWD Minister Churchill Alemao, Power Minister Aleixo Sequeira, PWD Principal Chief Engineer J J S Rego, NHAI officials and PWD officials besides other legislators.

Courtesy:Herald

GMC doctors fight over chair, take case to cops

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 07:26 PM PST

Two doctors at Goa medical college and hospital (GMC) got into an argument over kissa kursi kain front of staff and patients at the blood bank of the hospital. They abused each other and even threatened to break bones. Later, both the doctors went and filed cross complaints at the Agasaim police station.

Agasaim police have registered a non-cognizable offence acting on complaints filed by the two medical officers, Dr Vijay Dessai and Dr Sanjay Korgaonkar. Sources said that the two got into a fight over who is the boss and where the chair and table for the boss needs to be placed on November 1 afternoon.

Korgaonkar, who was holding charge of the blood bank, had placed his table and chair in an AC room in the blood bank, which he decided to turn into his office. This upset his colleague Dessai, who asked the table and chair to be removed from the room. Later, he personally took out the chair and table from the room and left it in the corridor. When Korgaonkar came to know about this, he was upset and questioned Dessai, who refused to listen to him, said sources.

Sources said that this further upset Korgaonkar who asked Dessai to behave as he was the boss of the blood bank. According to Korgaonkar’s complaint to the police, Dessai threatened to break his bones and used abusive language at him. Meanwhile, Dessai in his complaint said that Korgaonkar used abusive words against him.

Courtesy:TOI

Bangladeshi national loitering near Navy base in Goa arrested

Posted: 09 Nov 2010 09:43 AM PST

A Bangladeshi national, who was without a valid travel document and found loitering in a prohibited area inside the Naval base near here, has been arrested, police said.

Rehman Naushi (25) was picked up on October 31 by Indian Navy officers and handed over to Goa police after he was found moving in the prohibited area between two naval bases near Vasco town.

Police said an FIR was registered in the case by Indian Navy Commander Saurav Mukherjee on November 1.

Rehman has been booked under section 447 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for trespassing and section 14 of the Foreigners Act, as he was without valid documents to enter India.

Sensing a terror angle, the Anti terror squad, Crime Branch and Home Ministry officials have also interrogated the suspect.

He is currently lodged at Sada sub jail.

Courtesy:ZN
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