GOA

In view of the and given the paucity of time, indications within the finance department suggest that avoteonaccountwill be introduced instead of a full-fledgedbudgetbeing placed for the 2022-23 fiscal. The finance department has already started working on a vote-on-account budget in anticipation of a new government being formed.

With the term of the current government at its fag end, the administration has opted not to table a full-fledged budget and has left it to the new government that is sworn in after March 10 to outline its own financial roadmap.
A similar practice was followed in March 2012 when the state faced elections for the 40-member House. In 2017, within 10 days of being sworn in, then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had presented a full budget for the state.

While the financial estimates are being prepared, the projections for Capital Expenditure will be left up to the new government that is sworn in, said finance department officials. They also pointed out that 10-year state development loans taken from 2012 onwards, when mining came to a halt, will come up for repayment in the current financial year. The repayment will weigh down the states finances and budgetary allocations.

About 2,000 voters have been found eligible to cast their votes via postal ballot in North Goa, with the number expected to go up in the coming days.

Thehas offered postal ballot facilities for senior citizens above the age of 80, those with physical disabilities, those who are part of essential Services and involved in the election process, and those who are hospitalised due to prolonged Covid.

The Election Commission has offered postal ballot facilities for senior citizens above the age of 80, those with physical disabilities, those who are part of essential services and involved in the election process, and those who are hospitalised due to prolonged Covid.

Goa witnessed a 65% increase in the seizure of drugs in 2022 compared to the previous year. Police last year seized over 207kg of narcotic substances worth over Rs 5.1 crore, and arrested 180 persons.

Over half of those arrested are from outside the state (97), followed by Goans (54) and foreigners (29). Among the drugs seized were ganja, charas, LSD, MDMA, ecstasy tablets and powder, cocaine, hashish oil, heroin and cannabis.
In 2021, Goa police seized over 134kg of various kinds of drugs worth over Rs 2.7 crore, and arrested 138 persons.

The Goa governments decision to notify theMalabar tree nymphas the state butterfly highlights the urgent need to protect the states forest stretches, the natural habitat of this threatened species.

Endemic to the southern Western Ghats, the Malabar tree nymph falls under the near threatened category in the international Union for Conservation of Nature () list.
It is mostly found in habitats where water gradually drains out from moist hilly Soil, stagnates and flows slowly in shallow streams passing through cool, undisturbed and moist forests.
In Goa, this butterfly has been documented in moist forests as well as the Myristica swamp vegetation in Sattari, Sanguem and Dharbandora and in Canaconas protected forest areas.

This butterfly is known to often glide above tree canopies and fly lower in forest openings every now and then. Its flight movements have earned it the name, paper kite.

Among the many habitats that Goas 103-km coastline is blessed with is the mangrove forests that hide in their depths a bounty of marine wildlife. To give people the opportunity to catch a glimpse of this underwater wealth, the states forest department is likely to start intertidal walks for nature lovers from November.

Following the success of one such walk that was held during the 71st Wildlife Week that culminated last week, chief conservator of forestsSantoshKumar said that efforts will be made to replicate it.

Chief information commissioner Vishwas R Satarkar has instructed all departments to update their websites and proactively disseminate information under the Right To Information Act.

Satarkar said the commission will organise various programmes to raise awareness about the act and will try its best to reach out to every citizen.

The commissions revamped website, gsic.goa.gov, was also launched. Apart from information on the act, the website contains information on rules framed by the government, judgements and other details regarding the act.

The had approved grants in aid to the commission in 2009.

The amount provided under the relevant budget head to the commission for 2021-22 stands at Rs 2 crore.

Funds up to Rs 50 lakh will be allocated to a selected village to develop like kiosks for sale of local products, arts, crafts, multi-utility hall for organising local fairs and festivals, Home stays, Wi-Fi and solar streetlights, among others. Financial support over and above this amount in a financial year will be decided by the tourism department depending on the availability of funds.
The tourism department will not transfer or disburse funds directly to any village panchayat.
The scheme is part of the state governments economic revival plan to make villages self-reliant under the Atmanirbhar Bharat, Swayampoorna Goa initiative launched by the chief minister on October 1, 2020.

Mangrovesare popular as fish nurseries and natures DEFENCE systems. In Goa, they are a perfect setting foruniquecelebrations, crocodile worship and boat festivals even as their potential for honey, vegetables and medicinal benefits need to be explored.

Making a case for comprehensive mapping of MANGROVES and identifying their importance in various aspects with other activists, Fr Bolmax Pereira, a botanist and priest, suggested conservation status for the Kandella candel as a state mangrove species.

The study urged marking of mangrove sites with Avicennia spp, Aegicera and Sonneratia caseolaris species for mangrove honey, areas with Acrostichum aureum species (akur) a vegetable delicacy, and potential mangrove pharmacy sites.