GOA

The Union ministry for , shipping and waterways aims to modernise all the major ports across the country and use them to spur port-led economic activity, Union minister of ports, shipping and waterwaysSarbananda Sonowalsaid.

Sonowal laid the foundation stone for Mormugao Port Authoritys (MPA) Rs 122.7 crore international and domestic cruise terminal, which is expected to be ready by March 2024.Sonowalalso laid the foundation stone for a flyover ramp at Baina, and five projects for the New Mangalore port.

Sonowal said that along with the cruise terminal, a fishing jetty and community development programs are also on the anvil.

Seven different colouredmicroplastics black, blue, red, grey, brown, green and transparent were identified in thewatersamples collected and tested by the National Institute of (NIO) and Delhi-based advocacy group, Toxics Link, from across the Goa.

Black coloured microplastics were dominant in all the water samples followed by blue, red, grey, brown, green and transparent.

Microplastics (MP) are particles of plastic that are less than 5mm in size and have been recognised globally as one of the most critical emerging marine pollutants due to their persistence, ubiquity and toxic potential.

The research identified 129 microplastic particles in all the locations and a total of 26 different polymer types were found.

Among all the microplastics analysed, at 28.4% polyacetylene was found to be the maximum followed by EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) at 25.9%, styrene/isoprene ABA block copolymer at 9.9%, polyvinyl alcohol at 9.9%, polyamide at 8.6%, poly vinyl chloride (PVC) at 8.6% and polyvinyl pyrrolidone at 8.6%.

Blue-coloured microplastics were most commonly found, which, according to the study, might have originated from fishing nets or the use of other plastic packaging products.
Polypropylene (PP) fibres were found in typically blue or red colour. These are widely used in the packaging, Fisheries and textile industries.

The main sources of the transparent and white microplastics are plastic carry bags and packaging materials and can also be sourced from fishing lines.

The Department for Promotion of and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which reports to the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has picked Margao-based Forum for Innovation Incubation Research & Entrepreneurship (FiiRE) as one of the two incubators for the Startup India Seed Fund scheme, the other being Keralas IIM Kozhikode.

DPIITs Start-Up India mission held a meeting in Delhi to select the incubators after which FiiRE was selected as an incubator to disburse seed funds to startups.

The Centre started the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) to provide financial assistance to startups for proof of concept, prototype development, product trials, market entry, and commercialization with an outlay of Rs 994 crore.

In April, then Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal had unveiled the Startup India Seed Fund scheme and had said that early-stage startups across 300 incubation centres, particularly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities would be supported.

Only 45% of the children enrolled in Classes I to VIII in Goa underwent annual Health check-ups in schools during 2022-23, under a central government scheme, alongside the midday meal scheme.

As per the scheme, children have to undergo annual health check-ups in schools and teachers have to inform parents in case any medical intervention is required.

“The said that health check-up has been carried out for 45% of the enrolled students only, while iron folic acid (IFA) doses were administered to 77% and deworming tablets were given to 83% of enrolled students. Project Approval Board (PAB) expressed concern over health check-ups not being conducted for about 55% of the enrolled students.

The Union Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture ministry will provide chana dal at subsidised rates under PM Poshan or midday meal scheme. Using this will ensure that students get sufficient intake of proteins.

49 state-run schools in Goa to attain 100% results this year. Many of these schools are located in extremely interior regions with children of daily wagers, forest dwellers and tribals as their students, a majority of whom are first generation learners.

Many of these interior government schools managed the results though the school head held more than one charge. Damodar Gaonkar also doubled as head of Government High School, Gaondongrim, Canacona, where he ensured 100% results.

At Government High School, Morpirla, Quepem, the school attained 100% results for eighth year in a row, even though it is left to cater exclusively to children of tribals, who are mostly first-generation learners.

Lawminister Nilesh Cabral said that hisdepartmenthas vetted the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed between the directorate of mines and geology and the Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd (MECL) to identifynewiron Ore mines in the state.

With the signing of the MoU, Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd, which is in the process of being formed, will identify new mineral blocks in the state for e-auctioning.

For over 10 years, efforts to provide industrial have remained at a standstill, much to the frustration of local entrepreneurs and manufacturing units. The Rs 10 crore budgetary allocation made for Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is insufficient to address the requirements of the industrial estates atVerna,Kundaim, Pilerne, Madkai, Colvale and other places.

Goa’s industrialists want the government to allocate higher funding, particularly if power, raw water, roads and other amenities need to be put in place at Latambarcem, Shiroda, Panchawadi, and Sanguem industrial estates.

According to the government’s own admission, industrial plots cannot be allotted at Latambarcem as roads and power infra are not available.

Goa Investment Promotion Board approved four investment proposals in Latambarcem Industrial Estate while GIDC allotted a 50,000 sqm plot to Unichem Laboratories in April 2021.

The has issued a work order to ConvergenceEnergyServices Limited for commissioning ofsolarPV systems at 151 households in Sanguem, Quepem, Sattari and Canacona to provideelectricitywith comprehensive maintenance contract for five years under the Remote Village Electrification Programme (RVE).

As per the cabinet decision, the work order is issued for the tender to design, manufacture, supply, install, test and commission a 500 Wp Solar condition system at 151 households, at the rate of Rs 43,000 each and six Home lighting systems at the rate of Rs 20,000 each in Goa with comprehensive maintenance contract for five years under RVE.

Under the scheme, 100% financial assistance will be provided to households, with an upper limit of Rs 90,000 per household, for a 500 Wp Solar System. Each household will be charged monthly electricity charges, as determined by the government, depending on the number of units consumed.

Goa government has constituted a three-memberscreeningcommittee headed by the chief secretary to examine proposalsrelatedto the modelcodeof conduct.
The proposal after scrutiny will be sent to the chief electoral officer to be forwarded to the of India (EC) for its approval.

With the code of coming into force, theproposalswill be presented before the screeningcommitteesubmitted through the general administration department by the respective department with the approval of the departmental secretary or that of the principal secretary.

The committee will examine each proposal before submitting it to the chief electoral officer, vis-a-vis the ECs instructions available in the form of a manual Model Code Of Conduct. Proposal submitted to the committee will be submitted to the chief electoral officer along with full details and a note explaining why the proposal cant wait till the completion of the election process.