GOA

Goa will introduce a legislation making it mandatory for manufacturers selling packaged goods in the state to implement a deposit refundable system (DRS).

Environment minister Nilesh Cabral said that, under the system, manufacturers will add a small additional cost to their products sold within Goa. Once the product is consumed, the consumer will be able to get the additional cost paid or deposit back on returning the packaging of plastic or glass bottle to retailers at certain predesignated spots.

The relaxations announced in the Goa mariculture policy will pave the way for non-Goan investors to set up cage fishing in Goa, which will be detrimental to Goan ramponkars and traditional fishermen, said Goa Forward Party (GFP) in a memorandum to the Directorate of .

The concern of the ramponkars is that big investors from outside Goa will take over the coastal waters in the name of cage fishing and will stop local fishermen from fishing in the waters. Large scale commercial cage fishing activity will cause a lot of pollution due to chemicals, antibiotics used to protect the fish and the waste generated by the fish. This will keep wild fish away from the waters where traditional fishermen venture to catch fish

Transport minister Mauvin Godinhosaid that theGoa Taxi app, which was launched with much fanfare, has evoked a poor response due to the high rates.

The Goa Taxi app, unfortunately, has comparatively high rates, and people are not willing to join it.

However, despite the difference in pricing, Godinho said that the rates cannot be lowered. When there is an audit objection to why rates were lowered despite government regulations, we cannot be found flouting norms, he said.

The Government of India has approved the construction of two concrete floating jetties on the River Mondovi (NW-68) to connect Old Goa and Panjim.

This is the second floating jetty to be built.

The first jetty, located at Captain of , Panjim, Goa, was inaugurated in Panjim in February 2020.

Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday that the has decided to install a20MTliquid oxygentankat Goa Medical College (GMC) within eight days, and that moreoxygencylinders would be made available at the hospital.

He also said that the government has asked Scoop Oxygen, which has been contracted to supply the gas to the states public hospitals, to rope in their staff to load and unload oxygen cylinders.

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