GOA

In theclimate changescenario, Goa will witness erratic rainfall patterns, which means not only long dry spells but also sudden bursts of heavy showers, which are known to triggerlandslides. Currently, the state is severely lacking in historic landslide data, making it difficult to predict vulnerable spots for the future.

To fill this data gap, researchers have decided to create an inventory of landslides with details of the time and rainfall received during the period to enable accurate prediction of landslides.

After the massive landslide in the forests of Satre in Sattari in 2021, the formed a committee to map landslide hotspots in Goa, and a few vulnerable spots were found, including at Satre and Mauxi in Sattari, areas near Sanvordem, and in parts of Canacona.

Mapping landslide vulnerability, identifying hotspots, developing a functional early warning system for the state, and creating a landslide inventory for Goa with time stamps and associated rainfall data are keys to saving lives in the future.

The state governments efforts over the last two years to improve theease of doing business(EODB) appear to have borne some fruit, with Goa making it to the top 20 states in the fifth edition of the assessment exercise.

The assessment report under Business Reforms Action Plan for 2020 released by finance ministerNirmala Sitharamanplaced Goa in the Aspirers category, but did not give a ranking.

BRAP 2020 includes 301 reform points covering 15 business regulatory areas such as access to information, single-window system, labour, Environment, land administration and transfer of land and property, utility permits and others. The sluggish pace in regulatory reforms prevented Goa from breaking into the top Achievers category.

Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Rajasthan and West Bengal joined Goa in the Aspirers category.

DPIIT assesses the states through a competitive system in order to spur reforms and also boost investor confidence, foster business-friendly Climate, and augment across the country by introducing an element of healthy competition.

This time around, Goa has managed to return to sit among the top 20 states.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that to keep engineering programme seats from going vacant in Goa, the state will incentivise pursuing technical Education in the state.

We have seen that over the last five years continuously the seats in engineering colleges in the state, even polytechnics, they remain vacant, almost 50%. After clearing Class X and XII, students only think of joining, BA, BSc, BCom, BBA programmes and do not think outside of these courses. Technical education may not be affordable at present to students from economically backward and rural sections. To boost these students, we will provide incentives, said Sawant, speaking at the World Youth Skill Day event in the state.

he world’s first chatbot allowing citizens to report plastic dumps in public places is set to be tested in Goa by theWorld Wildlife Fund(WWF) – India. It will be launched on Thursday and citizens can use WhatsApp to connect with the chatbot. It will ask several questions to understand the type and quantity of plastic dumped. Location and photographs of the dump can also be shared.

Data collected through the chatbot will then be analysed by WWF-India to draw up a strategy to clear the blackspots, with primary focus on dumps located in marine environments.

After its trial period, WWF-India has plans to introduce the chatbot in other parts of the country as well.

Tourism activities in Goa and southern Maharashtra generate large quantities of plastic waste in the marine Environment. These regions, known for their pristine natural beauty, are faced with the challenge of protecting endangered marine species and vital habitats, such as coral reefs, from plastic waste.

Private hospital, Nursing homes will now have to compulsorily register with the following the state cabinet approving the Goa Clinical Establishment Regulation Rule, 2021.

They have to compulsorily register with the directorate of Health Services. Till date, we did not have a clinical establishment act in the state, but now we have one in line with that of the Union Government.

The state cabinet, also granted approval to hand over the Pernem bus stand to the Kadamba Transport Corporation from the transport department.

The closing celebrations of the two-day Dia Mundial Da Lngua Portuguesa (Portuguese Language Day) was held recently atInstitute Cames CLP, Panaji.

Jos Lus Peixoto, acclaimed Portuguese writer and winner of prestigious literary Awards, whose works have been translated into twenty-six languages, was the guest of honour of this year’s celebrations.

Propelling theKonkani languageto notability in states that speak the tongue,Goa Universityis setting up Konkani study centres in Karnataka and Kerala, said the universitys vice-chancellor, Harilal Menon. He was speaking at the launch of the first-ever English-to-Konkani dictionary on library sciences.

There are people who speak Konkani across Kerala and in Mangaluru, Karnataka has many writers in the language, Menon said.

GU has already signed an MoU with Vishwa Konkani Kendra, Mangaluru, while an MoU with Sukrtindra Oriental Research Institute, Kochi, is going to be inked in the coming two weeks.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) intends to develop an eco-themeparkor amusement park, along with accommodation facilities, atMayemlake.

Mayem lake attracts thousands of tourists every year. And since an extreme adventure Sports facility, including bungee jumping, was introduced there in 2019, it has become even more popular.A senior officer said that they now want to develop a theme park there focusing on nature, which would be children and family-oriented.

Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) intends to develop an eco-themeparkor amusement park, along with accommodation facilities, atMayemlake.

Mayem lake attracts thousands of tourists every year. And since an extreme adventure sports facility, including bungee jumping, was introduced there in 2019, it has become even more popular.A senior officer said that they now want to develop a theme park there focusing on nature, which would be children and family-oriented.

While a cloud still hangs over the resumption of Goas crucial mining sector, the MormugaoPortAuthority (MPA) appears confident about the industrys future and plans to go ahead with the Rs 842 crore project toredevelopberth No.9and three barge jetties.

Highlighting the importance of the Prime Ministers Gati Shakti master plan, Jalota said that the Centre aims to bring down the cost with integrated planning with the overall objective to bring it down from 13-14% of the GDP to 7-8%.

MPA aims to take advantage of Goas river Network by launching ferry Services for tourists as well as locals. He said that two floating jetties have been commissioned at Panaji and Old Goa, which will be used for river cruises.

Drishti Marine, the state-appointed lifeguard agency, has introduced a self-driving robot Aurus, and Triton, anArtificial Intelligence(AI)-powered monitoring system, to augment its life-saving capabilities at popular beaches.

With Aurus, they will be able to better monitor the states expansive coast and manage crowds during peak hours, Awasthi said.
Aurus is a self-driving robot that has been developed to assist lifesavers by patrolling extensive non-swim zones and alert tourists during high tide, he said.

Both the AI systems will be operated by tech lifesavers stationed at thecentral control room. The team at the control room will decide the areas Aurus and Triton will patrol.