Page 7 - Goa

No passes, accreditation needed for people to attend National Games in Goa

The Goa government has opened all the venues of the National Games 2023 for the general public and they can witness the sporting event without the need to have any passes or accreditation, a minister said on Saturday. Goa sports department, in an advisory issued on Thursday, said all the venues will be open for the general public till the end of the National Games on November 9. Talking to PTI, state Sports Minister Govind Gaude said, "An advisory has been issued to all the venue commandants and security in-charges to allow the general public to watch the games. The entry will be without any pass or accreditation card. They will be allowed only in the spectator areas from where they can see the matches." Initially, verbal intimation was given to all the venue commandants and security in-charges that the public should be allowed to watch the matches, he said. "But there were some complaints that people were not allowed despite the availability of empty seats in the stadium," he ...

PM Modi inaugurates 37th edition of National Games in Panaji, Goa

A cultural programme was held to entertain the crowd and all dignitaries present at the event. Children also displayed some Malkhamb performances

PM Modi to launch projects in Maharashtra, inaugurate National Games in Goa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday launch a scheme in Maharashtra aimed at benefitting more than 86 lakh farmers and launch projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore. He will later travel to Goa to inaugurate the 37th National Games. PM Modi will begin his Maharashtra tour by offering prayers at the famous Shri Saibaba temple in Shridi and inaugurate its new 'darshan queue complex', as per an official statement. He will perform "Jal Pujan" of Nilwande Dam and dedicate a canal network of the dam to the nation. The prime minister will later attend a public programme in Shirdi to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7,500 crore in sectors like health, rail, road and oil and gas. The new 'darshan queue complex' in Shirdi is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for devotees, the statement said. It is equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more tha

PM Modi to launch projects in Maharashtra, inaugurate National Games in Goa

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday launch a scheme in Maharashtra aimed at benefitting over 86 lakh farmers and launch projects worth over Rs 7,500 crore and then travel to Goa to inaugurate the 37th National Games. An official statement said Modi will begin his Maharashtra tour by offering prayers at the famous Shri Saibaba temple in Shridi and inaugurate its new "darshan queue complex". He will perform "Jal Pujan" of Nilwande Dam and dedicate a canal network of the dam to the nation and later attend a public programme in Shirdi to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth about Rs 7,500 crore in sectors like health, rail, road and oil and gas. The statement said the new "darshan queue complex" at Shirdi is a state-of-the-art modern mega building envisaged to provide comfortable waiting areas for devotees. It is equipped with several waiting halls with a cumulative seating capacity of more than 10,000 devotees. Its foundation stone

Goa govt makes it mandatory for shacks to sell its staple 'fish curry-rice'

Shacks on Goa's beaches will now have to mandatorily serve 'fish curry-rice', a staple of the coastal state, along with other Indian and international cuisines, state tourism minister Rohan Khaunte has said. The compulsory inclusion of the coconut-based preparation, savoured for its tangy and spicy taste, in the menu is part of the state's new Shack Policy that aims to promote the Goan cuisine, the minister said on Sunday. Till now, shacks along the shoreline offered North Indian food, but Goan dishes were not available at these places, he said. The government has now made it compulsory for shacks to "display and serve" the Goan food, including 'fish curry-rice', he said. "We have to project our rich cuisine to tourists, Khaunte said. He said the Shack Policy, which was recently passed by the cabinet, also intends to address the challenge of illegal hawking and vending on beaches. Many women, involved in illegal hawking and vending on beaches, would pretend to be working at the s

IRCTC launches Amazing Goa Ex Rajkot, the package covers 5 nights/6 days

IRCTC has launched a 5-night and 6-day package for those who are willing to explore the tourist's paradise. Here are the complete details about the IRCTC Amazing Goa ex Rajkot package

Attempts underway to disrupt harmony in Goa but govt taking action: CM

There are some conscious attempts to disrupt communal harmony in Goa but people must trust the state government as it is acting against such elements, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday. Talking to reporters after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri on their birth anniversaries, Sawant cited examples of a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj being broken and a church priest making anti-Hindu statements and someone posting something objectionable about Muslims. "Goa has maintained communal harmony for ages. But there are some people who are trying to disrupt it. People get disturbed with such instances and hold protests outside police stations," he said. "People should have full trust in the government. We have taken action and we will not allow communal harmony to be disturbed," the CM added.

Goa CM Pramod Sawant pledges to donate his kidney, liver and cornea

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday pledged to donate his organs as part of a pan-India initiative launched by Bharatiya Janata Party's medical cell. CM Sawant, in the presence of BJP's Goa medical cell convener Dr Shekhar Salkar and others, signed an online application pledging to donate his petition. He was immediately given a certificate for it. Addressing a press conference here, the chief minister said he has pledged to donate his kidneys, liver and cornea as part of the drive. Sawant praised the Union Health Ministry and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya for taking up the initiative of organ donation across the country. Organs can be donated online by anyone, who is above 18 years of age, he said. Thanking the Union government and BJP medical cell for giving him an opportunity to pledge his organs, he said, "Everyone should come forward and pledge to donate organs, which will save other lives in the future." Sawant said the Goa government has held four ...

Abbott India warns of laxatives shortage in tussle with Goa regulator

The two laxative brands together have estimated annual sales of $70 million in India, healthcare data firm Pharmarack says

Go, Goa, Gone: Bhumi Adhikarini Bill may once again stir pot of identity

Bhumi Adhikarini Bill is expected to ignite debates, provoke questions & controversies that simmer beneath the surface in this tiny emerald land: who qualifies as a Goan, and who does not?

Goa govt launches taxi service app to facilitate easy travel for tourists

The Goa government on Friday launched a taxi service app through which people can book a cab online to travel anywhere within the coastal state. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant launched the "Goa Taxi App" in the presence of state Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) chairman Ganesh Gaonkar and director of tourism Suneel Anchipaka. Speaking on the occasion, Sawant said the tourist footfall in the state will increase, once visitors are assured of their safety, and the introduction of the taxi app is a major step towards it. The app will also help bring down the travelling cost for tourists, who have been complaining about exorbitant taxi fares in the coastal state, he said. Tourists were complaining that travelling to Goa from Mumbai by flight is cheaper than travelling to a hotel in the coastal state in a taxi, the chief minister said. Khaunte said "Goa Taxi App" has been operational at the Manohar International Airport (MIA), Mopa since the last

Taking corrective actions at Goa unit; stopped Digene production: Abbott

Drug maker Abbott on Thursday said it is implementing corrective actions at its Goa-based facility from where it had produced antacid Digene Gel that was recalled from the market due to non-compliance with manufacturing norms. Earlier this month, regulator DCGI cautioned against the consumption of Digene Gel citing safety concerns even as the drug maker recalled several batches of the medicine manufactured at the Goa facility. The drug regulatory body also advised doctors and healthcare professionals to carefully prescribe and educate their patients to discontinue the medicine's use and for reporting of any adverse drug reactions arising due to consumption of the said product. Goa FDA officials had conducted multiple inspections of the plant after the drug maker announced the recall of the antacid produced at the site and found various lapses of manufacturing norms, including hygiene issues, industry sources said. "We voluntarily stopped Digene manufacturing at our Goa site upon th

Goa state warns Abbott India on antacid Digene license suspension

The state authorities have given Abbott seven days to respond to the notice to defend its position

Abbott recalls antacid Digene Gel made in Goa after consumer complaints

India's drugs regulator issues advisory against use; company says there is no 'health concern'

False tsunami alert triggers panic at Porvorim in Goa; probe ordered

A siren giving a warning about tsunami erroneously started playing from the Early Warning Dissemination System at Porvorim near here, triggering panic among the local residents, an official said on Thursday. The siren started sounding the alert after 9 pm on Wednesday and it continued for more than 20 minutes, local residents said. Whether the siren went off due to any technical error or any other reason is being probed, with a state minister saying that he has sought a report into it. The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) is installed on a hillock at Porvorim in North Goa on the outskirts of state capital Panaji. Talking to reporters on Thursday, North Goa District Collector Mamu Hage said, "It was a false warning as there was no such intimation of tsunami from any of the authorities." "There was no mock drill or anything. I have personally checked and found out that there was no warning either from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) or the Indian National Centre for

130 mn rural households get tap water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission

Goa, Telangana, Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands have reported 100 per cent coverage

Goa AAP chief Palekar arrested for misrepresentation of facts on car crash

The Goa Crime Branch on Thursday arrested state Aam Aadmi Party president Amit Palekar for allegedly misrepresenting facts in connection with an accident wherein a Mercedes car mowed down three people near Panaji earlier this month, an official said. Palekar has been accused of misrepresenting facts by introducing a wrong person as the car driver before the investigation officer in an attempt to save the main accused who was at the wheels at the time of the accident, a senior police official told PTI. The AAP leader, however, said he has nothing to do with the crime and claimed his arrest was part of "dirty politics", while his party colleagues sought to link the police action with formation of national opposition bloc INDIA, which they claimed, has rattled the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Palekar was arrested under Indian Penal Code section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), the police official said. Earlier, ...

Goa will get wings with new airport, set to clock double-digit growth: CM

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said the coastal state is expected to clock a double-digit economic growth after the commissioning of a new international airport which is expected to provide a fillip to tourism. The Manohar International Airport at Mopa in North Goa was inaugurated in December last year and it started commercial operations in early January. Addressing a Western Zonal Council meeting in Gujarat's capital Gandhinagar in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Sawant said Goa's economy did not suffer any major setback during the COVID-19 pandemic due to smart initiatives taken by the state government. The CM said a double digit economic growth rate is expected in Goa due to the commissioning of the Manohar International Airport which will enhance global connectivity through new routes to meet increasing travel demand. He said the tiny state has secured the 4th position by garnering 72 points in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index Report .

Maha minister orders special audit of work done on Mumbai-Goa Highway

Maharashtra Minister Ravindra Chavan on Sunday said he has ordered a special audit of the work done on the Mumbai-Goa Highway in the last 12 years and reason for the delay in the project. The PWD minister's announcement has come a day after he got stuck in traffic for more than two hours on the highway while inspecting the ongoing repair work on the route. The Navi Mumbai traffic police has banned the movement of heavy vehicles on Mumbai-Goa highway from Sunday till the end of the Ganesh festival to be held next month. Talking to reporters after an event in Dombivili town, Chavan said Rs 4,500 crore have been disbursed for the project, but under some pretext the work has been delayed. A special audit will be conducted on the work done on the project over the last 12 years, he said. The work on the highway will be completed by end of this year, Chavan said, adding that a lane of the highway will be opened for people from Konkan who are travelling for the upcoming Ganesh ...

By 2040, we want to create 'atmanirbhar' India: Prez Murmu in Goa assembly

Earlier, the President was accorded a warm welcome at the assembly complex by Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant