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HC trips power play in Mollem, scraps Tamnar construction nod | Goa News – Times of India

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PANAJI: In a setback to the state government ahead of the zilla panchayat election on December 12, the high court of Bombay at Goa on Monday quashed the construction licence issued to Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd for a substation power plant at Sangod, Mollem.
The plant is one of three controversial projects against which there is strong public resentment. While the government said that the decision on the issue of double-tracking would be taken after the Union minister concerned visits Goa, it indicated that the power transmission project would be pursued by the government on the grounds that if not done, the state’s power situation would be badly hit after two years.
Villagers approached the high court stating that the construction licence dated October 5 was issued by the sarpanch of the village “in breach of the provisions of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act”, and that no resolution was taken at the gram sabha approving the grant.
Villagers Krishna Zore, Kanta Shelke, Uttam Shelke and Antonio Mario Barreto filed the petition seeking revocation of the construction licence granted by the Mollem panchayat. The petition pertains to the establishment of the substation power plant, construction of residential units, pump house, well and badminton court, and amalgamation of plots in Sangod.
At a panchayat meeting on September 11, it was resolved by a majority of the members of the panchayat that the application would be referred to the gram sabha for deliberation and discussion. On that same day, it applied for permission to hold a gram sabha meeting on October 4. But permission for this was denied by the deputy collector and sub-divisional officer, Dharbandora, stating that due to Covid, there may be a possibility of a large number of people gathering at the meeting.
The villagers stated that they were surprised to note that on October 5, the sarpanch issued the construction licence. “The sarpanch has no powers under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act to issue construction licenses, that too without a resolution to that effect from the panchayat,” the petitioners submitted in court. “…However, the sarpanch unilaterally issued the license though she is not empowered to do so under the Act.”
In the petition, the villagers said that they have no proper details of the project and its impact on the village. “It is supposed to be a major project involving the establishment of a substation power plant, amalgamation of plots, construction, laying of overhead electric lines, etc, and therefore the villagers are entitled to know its impact particularly on the environment and infrastructure of the village,” they stated in their petition.
On July 22, 25-30 villagers from Palaskata ward had sent a letter to the village panchayat asking for clarity on the project, since it appeared to involve the laying of overhead electric lines which may impact the village. Since this information was not furnished, a reminder was issued on August 29.
The sarpanch then invited a few villagers for a meeting at the panchayat office in September to discuss the project, where it was decided that the application would be placed before the gram sabha at its next meeting for discussion and deliberation. This did not happen.
The Tamnar project obtained its technical clearance from the town and country planning’s Quepem office in October last year.

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Broke Swiggy guy walks 3 km to deliver food, Social media helps him find better job. Heartwarming story is viral

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Social media can be a wondrous place at times. While on most days, its ugly face is on display, on days like today, it sets examples of the power of kindness. In a social media post, a LinkedIn user shared how a delivery executive, in need of money and a better job, bagged one after the users on the platform came together to help the person out.

Priyanshi Chandel, Marketing Manager at tech company Flash, shared an incident about a Swiggy delivery agent who had come to deliver food at her residence. When she asked the late and out-of-breath delivery person, identified by her as Sahil Singh, about what happened, he told her that he had no transport and had to walk 3 km to deliver the order.

He also said that he was out of money and had nothing left to pay his landlord too. Singh told her that he was not looking for money from her but requested her to help him bag a job. He said that he had a degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering, and had worked with Byju’s and Ninjacart before. He had to move back to Jammu during the pandemic.

“I have not eaten for a week, just drinking water and tea to get by. I am not asking for anything, please if you can find me a job, I used to make 25k before, I am 30 years old, my parents are getting old and I can’t keep asking for money from them (sic),” Chandel quoted saying.

She also shared his marksheets and contact number for people to help. His details shared show that he is a 2018 BTech graduate from Mewar University, and completed his schooling from the Jammu and Kashmir state board.

After she shared the details, the comments section was filled with people who stepped up to help. While someone recharged his Yulu account so that he did not have to walk around to deliver food, someone offered a place to stay. Many offered to help him with his applications, while some offered jobs too.

Chandel, later on put an update on the post, and said that he received a job.

However, so far it is unclear what job he has received.

2023 has so far been a year of job losses, an eventual outcome of the pandemic and increased hiring by tech companies. For instance, the SSC MTS 2023 recruitment exam that took place in Uttar Pradesh in May saw over 55 lakh applications for Group D jobs. Numerous candidates who applied for positions such as peon, watchman, gardener had educational backgrounds like BTech, MBA, and Master’s degrees.

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Goa CM, NRI Commissioner writes to MoEF for help in safe return of Goans from Ukraine

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Panaji: Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged Union Minister for External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar to help in safe return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

Sawant tweeted “we are concerned about the Goans in Ukraine who are considering to return to India in the light of ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis. I request Union Minister for External Affairs @DrSJaishankar ji for help in the safe return of Goans. I am keeping track of the situation.”

The chief minister’s tweet comes hours after Goa’s NRI Commissioner Narendra Sawaikar wrote to the Union External Affairs ministry seeking help in return of Goans who are in the Ukraine.

“Many Goans are currently residing in Ukraine due to various purposes including higher studies and due to the ongoing tension between Russia and Ukraine, I have started receiving requests for help and assistance from them to return back to India,” Sawaikar wrote.

The Commissioner further wrote in the letter that advisories have already been issued by the Ministery of External Affairs to Indians currently in Ukraine and our Indian Mission in Kyiy is currently handling the matter.

“Striking note of urgency, the Government of India has recently asked the family members of Embassy officials in Ukraine as well as students and citizens whose stay is not vital , to leave the Eastern European nation amid it’s raising tensions with Russia,” the letter reads.

Sawaikar wrote that the Goans in Ukraine are in touch with this office as they are anxious to temporarily return till the situation normalizes.

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Election Commission announces polling dates and counting days for Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 states

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On Saturday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for the Vidhan Sabha elections in 5 States, namely, Goa, Punjab, Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

While briefing the media, Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra informed that the elections in the poll-bound States will commence from February 10, 2022, to March 7, 2022. Elections in the State of Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in 7 phases, followed by Manipur with 2 phases. Elections in Goa, Uttarkhand and Punjab will be conducted in a single phase.

According to the Election Commission of India, the votes will be counted on March 10, 2022. ECI informed that all physical campaigning will be ceased until January 15, 2022, in light of the rising cases of Coronavirus.

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