GOA

The unprecedented resignations of over a quarter of Goas 40 MLAs, to switch sides even before parties declared candidates for the 2022 assembly election, reflects that the power has shifted from to representatives, signalling a new dimension of Democracy, experts say.

In the past, it was common for MLAs to join a new political party after the ticket was denied to them. But this time, threeCongressMLAs put in their papers and joinedBJPand TMC, four BJP MLAs joined AAP, MGP, Congress, and some decided to contest as independents. Two independent MLAs resigned to join BJP, and one GFP MLA quit to join BJP.

Most of the MLAs quit their parties considering their political future, and also fearing being denied ticket by their parties, which would lead to them being out of the race.

and Climate-change”>Climate Change are posing a threat to crops and there is an urgent need to make a shift to ‘Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture“>Climate-Smart Agriculture‘ to meet the increasing demand for food, saidBalasaheb Sawant, vice chancellor of KonkanKrishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli while speaking as the chief guest at the two-day national level conference on agriculture and climate change.

To avoid losses there is a need to propagate varieties of mango, paddy and other crops that would suit aptly to the changing climatic conditions. Indian farmers through their hard work have made it possible to get good yield of crops of temperate zone grapes and apples in the tropical areas, said Sawant at the event organised by the department of economics at Laxmibai Halbe College, Dodamarg, and the Indian council of social science and research.

The state cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to bring theNRICommissionunderthehomedepartment. It will help streamline the Commissions working, chief minister Pramod Sawant said.

The NRIcommissionwill now be under the Home department. This has been done after making changes in the business rules. Till now, the NRI commission was a separate head and department. The status of NRI commission will not change. In fact, its working will be streamlined

Norway, which has made tremendous strides in greenenergy, ship building and urban wastemanagement, is keen to increase its strategic PARTNERSHIP with Goa, said Norwegian consul general Arne Jan Flolo, who was on his first official visit to the state.Norwayis exploring ties and opportunities in Goa as part of the larger India-Norway bilateral roadmap.

Norway has offered to facilitate partnerships between local shipyards and Norwegianshipbuildingfirms, and also collaborate on student exchange programmes with Goa-based maritime institutes

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that as the decided not to increase the tariff, it will have an additional burden of Rs 120 crore on the state government.

Last year, due to thepandemic, the state government had kept the tariff order in abeyance up to March 31 this year. Considering the prevalence of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, it was also proposed to keep the tariff order for financial year 2021-22 in abeyance, a cabinet note said.

The cabinet note also stated that since the general public is facing difficulties on account of the ongoing pandemic, implementation of the tariff order issued in the financial year 2021-22 at this juncture would further increase the burden on consumers.

The cabinet accordingly resolved to keep the tariff order for financial year 2021-22 in abeyance from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, except for the levy of tariff of Rs 3.5 per unit as per the tariff order for financial year 2021-22 to the electric vehicle charging station category, and the implementation of kVAh-based tariff for high tension (HT) or EHT categories. For all other categories, the subsidy will apply to nullify the tariff order for 2021-22, issued by the joint electricity regulatory commission.

In a bid to kickstart privateinvestmentin Goa and create job opportunities for locals, the intends to organise an investmentsummitin September, chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Saturday. Sawant said that the Investment meet Invest Goa will be organised in collaboration with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce &Industry(FICCI) and Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI).

Industries minister Mauvin Godinho said that many industry organisations are keen on collaborating with the state government to bring in investments to Goa.

A similar event, Vibrant Goa global expo and summit, was held in October 2019, but was organised in PARTNERSHIP with the Vibrant Goa Foundation.

Farmersin Goa have been showing interest in growingturmericgiven its viability as a commercial spice crop. In a bid to boost turmericcultivationin Goa the directorate of Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture is taking up the initiative of urging farmers to grow turmeric as an intercrop along with cashew. Besides being used as a common kitchen ingredient, turmeric also has a demand for its medicinal properties as well as pharmaceutical value.

Other than arecanut and black pepper, farmers in Goa do not usually opt for other spice crops. Most farmers in the state grow turmeric only in a few pockets with the total area cultivated not exceeding two to three hectares. This is usually organic turmeric that is grown without using Fertilizers. It is planted in the hilly areas of Goa but can be grown in any type of as long as there is no waterlogging in the area.

The , which is trying to curb the disturbance caused by noisy open-air parties and events along Goa’s coast, has finalised a Pune-based firm offering ‘Polish technology’ to help monitor Noise Pollution on 12 beaches, for now.

Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) chairman Mahesh Patil said that it has entered a five-year contract with Velan Technologies, which will install equipment made to meet the norms of the EU and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

The 12 spots include party hotspots like Baga, Calangute, Candolim, Vagator, Colva, and Morjim, among others.