GOA

TheGoanfilm Kaajro (Bitter Tree) won a National Award at the 67th https://exam.pscnotes.com/national-film-Awards“>National Film Awards. M Venkaiah Naidu, Honourable Vice President of India handed over the national award to Shri Rajesh Pednekar, Creative Producer of the Konkani filmKaajroat the award ceremony held atRashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Kaajro, the film which is directed byNitin Bhaskarspeaks about the class and caste discrimination practiced in Society globally cutting across international boundaries. It is produced by de Goan Studio which is co-founded by Gayatri andRajesh R. Pednekar. This is their second feature film which has won a national award. The first film K Sera Sera (2016) also won a National award.

The film premiered in the Indian Panorama Section at the 47th IFFI (International Film Festival of India) at Goa and at several film festivals in India and internationally.

The ICAR-CCARI currently has 24 scientists, besides the director in four departments natural resource management, crop science, animal and science and Horticulture science.

Sawant said that Goa is fast becoming the preferred base for startups and tech entrepreneurs who are looking at remote working. The priority of my government is to retain Goans in Goa. I call upon all Goan youth and entrepreneurs. Come create a new India, not just technology startups but startups of all kinds, he said.

Goa along with other coastal states has been facing the brunt of extreme weather events occurring more closely than ever before. Activists said that despite this, the impact of the Climate crisis has been overlooked in the draft coastal zone management plan (CZMP).

A series of in 2019 and 2020, extremely heavy rainfall that caused unprecedented flooding, and even a hail storm more recently has made experts realise that the close sequence of these events is evidence of Climate Change.

With the sea level rise likely to be in the range of a metre in the near future, the ramifications are likely to be catastrophic for Goa, as many parts in low lying areas would be submerged. Beaches would face greater erosion and cultivable land would be lost. Even settlements could face threat from these extreme weather events.

Promoting Sustainable Development with threats of natural hazards in coastal areas, especially sea level rise, is one of the objectives of CRZ Notification 2011.

Three bidders have shown interest in setting up model beach shacks at overall the cost of Rs 4 crore inNorth and South Goa.

The contractors have to study the site conditions and quote the rates accordingly. No extra claims will be entertained due to the conditions prevailing at the site, approaches, storing and stacking facilities, etc.
To be built in the one-plus-one format, these shacks are expected to be an upgraded version of the current structures and will allow tourists to relax and enjoy their meals while being able to take in an unhindered view of the sea from the upper deck.

Once set up as part of a pilot project, the four model shacks will be leased out.

After a prolonged delay, finally, the has appointed retired Bombay high courtjusticeAmbadasJoshias new Goa Lokayukta.

The High Court had directed the state to appoint a new anti-Corruption ombudsman by December 2020. Advocate Aires Rodrigues had approached the court seeking a direction to the government to appoint a Lokayukta.

The term of the previous Lokayukta PK Misra ended on September17, 2020. Misra also held the position of chairman of GHRC before being appointed as the Lokayukta.

The amendments have omitted provisions enabling complaints against public functionaries on allegations of Nepotism, lack of Integrity, mal-administration and improper or corrupt motive.

The has notified the Goa EV ConcessionalChargingInfrastructurePolicy2021, paving the way for EV charging stations across the state. It will also boost sales of electricvehicles.

As per the policy, the charging stations operators shall be allowed other sources to generate revenue, but with prior approval.

Revenue generated will be shared with the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) on a 50:50 basis. Of the GEDA charges, 20% will be shared with the land-owning agency while the remaining 80% will go into the Goa Decarbonisation Fund.

The policy stated that Goa is among the fastest growing states in the country. The Goan economy is largely dependent on tourism as the annual arrival of tourists are almost five times that of the local Population.

Goa has a total population of 15 lakh and receives about 75 lakh tourists every year. The movement of these seasonal tourists is largely dependent on unorganised transportation, including unmetered taxis, motorcycles, ferry boats and rickshaws.

In a shocking revelation, it has been found that two-third of the people who died in road accidents in 2022 were on two-wheelers.

The state also witnessed a rise of almost 9% in road accidents during the year.
As per the Goa Police traffic cell data, 3,011 road accidents were reported in 2022, out of which 253 were fatal wherein 271 succumbed to injuries. A total number of 181 persons on two-wheelers died in the accidents while 51 pedestrians lost their lives.

In 2021, 2,849 accidents were reported, out of which 218 were fatal. Almost 226 persons lost their lives. A total number of 152 persons on two-wheelers died while 36 pedestrians lost their lives.

The highest number of accidents in North Goa were reported in the jurisdiction of Panaji police (211) followed by Mapusa (182) and Porvorim (157).

Amidst a serious debate onKarnatakas plans to divert water from theMhadeiriver basin, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture ministerRavi Naikonce again reiterated his plan to build several Dams across Goa to store rainwater for consumption and export.

Naiksaid that Goa can use the dam water to earn Foreign Exchange through export of water.

The central government should give us Rs 20,000 crore and we can build as many dams that we want, and we can store as much water as we want, said Naik.

While urging the Goa electricity department to do more to reduce power transmission and distribution losses, Goa chamber of commerce and (GCCI) has said that adopting the KVAh billingsystemas against Kwhbillingfor low tension (LT) powerconsumerswill adversely affect Goas economy which is just picking up.

GCCI has also warned that low tension electricity consumers may see their power bills increase by 10-12% if the power department goes ahead with the plan to shift to KVAh billing. In 2021-2022 the department adopted KVAh based billing instead of Kwh billing for high-tension (HT) power consumers.

In a kilowatt hour (kWh) billing system the consumer is charged for the actual power consumed by the electrical equipment, however the kilo volt ampere hour (kVArh) based model also calculates the electricity stored up in electrical appliances even when they are not being used to generate heat, Light or movement.

GCCI has also warned that low tension electricity consumers may see their power bills increase by 10-12% if the power department goes ahead with the plan to shift to KVAh billing.