News Analysis India

Tag: Pramod Sawant

  • Fires continue to rage in Goa’s Mhadei wildlife sanctuary; could be deliberate act, says Goa CM

    By Agencies

    PANAJI: Multiple fires continue to rage inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, known for its rich bio-diversity, in North Goa. The sanctuary, located in the north-eastern part of the state along the border with Karnataka, has been witnessing fires at multiple sites for the past six days.

    State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said it appears to be a “man-made incident”.

    The fires are being kept under control through the joint efforts of the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and the forest department, state minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday. 

    Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said action would be taken against forest guards if the inquiry finds them guilty of dereliction of duty and the people responsible for the fire. He said that there is a possibility that some people set the fire as a part of their cashew plantation management, which is illegal.

    Apart from fire in Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, fire incidents from other places of the coastal state have also been reported.

    “Fire incidents are taking place at various places. I have instructed officials to register an FIR against those who light fires in forests intentionally. We will not tolerate such cases,” the Chief Minister said.

    Carrying out a Aerial survey with FOGA to asses the forest fires and damage. pic.twitter.com/7GAkvFyhmT
    — VishwajitRane (@visrane) March 8, 2023
    Sawant on Tuesday night had chaired a meeting of the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) given the infernos raging inside the sanctuary for the last four days, where Indian Navy helicopters were deployed to survey the affected areas.

    Fire and Emergency Services and forest department personnel have so far failed to control the blaze which continued to spread to more areas.

    Sawant said all efforts are being made to control the fire. The chief minister said an inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the fire and also the role, if any, of forest guards concerned.

    “If any forest guard is found to have failed in his duty, he would be immediately suspended,” Sawant added. After chairing the meeting, the chief minister visited the fire-ravaged sites along with Vishwajit Rane and MLA Deviya Rane.

    Further to the update on Forest Fire in Madei Wildlife Sanctaury and adjoining areas, today, on request of Forest Department, Navy deployed Helicopters for aerial survey to ascertain the status of forest fire. pic.twitter.com/M9ts0GxfgK
    — VishwajitRane (@visrane) March 7, 2023
    Fire-dousing operations on

    State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said forest department officials are inside the sanctuary as part of the dousing operations, and, as on Thursday, there are three minor fires active in the area.

    “A total of 28 fires were put out on Wednesday. Minor fires at Satrem and Derodem are being doused by Indian Navy helicopters,” the minister informed.

    The Indian Navy has deployed helicopters, with ‘Large Area Aerial Liquid Dispersion Equipment’ mounted on them, to carry out sorties since Tuesday to douse the fires, a defence spokesperson said.

    “Special gear LAALDE (Large Area Aerial Liquid Dispersion Equipment) used by helicopter for this operation was mobilized by Indian Navy from Mumbai and Kochi immediately on receipt of information on 06 Mar from State Forest Dept. More than 26 runs were made over affected areas,” the Navy tweeted.

    #harkaamdeshkenaamA major fire was reported in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday. Upon request by District Administration, #IndianNavy Dornier from INS Hansa undertook survey of the area and localised the fire. (1/2)@IN_WNC @indiannavy @PIB_Panaji @IndiannavyMedia pic.twitter.com/jjYzIqKlJJ
    — Goa Naval Area (@IN_GNA) March 7, 2023
    (With PTI, ANI inputs)

    PANAJI: Multiple fires continue to rage inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, known for its rich bio-diversity, in North Goa. The sanctuary, located in the north-eastern part of the state along the border with Karnataka, has been witnessing fires at multiple sites for the past six days.

    State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said it appears to be a “man-made incident”.

    The fires are being kept under control through the joint efforts of the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and the forest department, state minister Vishwajit Rane said on Thursday. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Meanwhile, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has said action would be taken against forest guards if the inquiry finds them guilty of dereliction of duty and the people responsible for the fire. He said that there is a possibility that some people set the fire as a part of their cashew plantation management, which is illegal.

    Apart from fire in Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, fire incidents from other places of the coastal state have also been reported.

    “Fire incidents are taking place at various places. I have instructed officials to register an FIR against those who light fires in forests intentionally. We will not tolerate such cases,” the Chief Minister said.

    Carrying out a Aerial survey with FOGA to asses the forest fires and damage. pic.twitter.com/7GAkvFyhmT
    — VishwajitRane (@visrane) March 8, 2023
    Sawant on Tuesday night had chaired a meeting of the Disaster Management Authority (DMA) given the infernos raging inside the sanctuary for the last four days, where Indian Navy helicopters were deployed to survey the affected areas.

    Fire and Emergency Services and forest department personnel have so far failed to control the blaze which continued to spread to more areas.

    Sawant said all efforts are being made to control the fire. The chief minister said an inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the fire and also the role, if any, of forest guards concerned.

    “If any forest guard is found to have failed in his duty, he would be immediately suspended,” Sawant added. After chairing the meeting, the chief minister visited the fire-ravaged sites along with Vishwajit Rane and MLA Deviya Rane.

    Further to the update on Forest Fire in Madei Wildlife Sanctaury and adjoining areas, today, on request of Forest Department, Navy deployed Helicopters for aerial survey to ascertain the status of forest fire. pic.twitter.com/M9ts0GxfgK
    — VishwajitRane (@visrane) March 7, 2023
    Fire-dousing operations on

    State Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said forest department officials are inside the sanctuary as part of the dousing operations, and, as on Thursday, there are three minor fires active in the area.

    “A total of 28 fires were put out on Wednesday. Minor fires at Satrem and Derodem are being doused by Indian Navy helicopters,” the minister informed.

    The Indian Navy has deployed helicopters, with ‘Large Area Aerial Liquid Dispersion Equipment’ mounted on them, to carry out sorties since Tuesday to douse the fires, a defence spokesperson said.

    “Special gear LAALDE (Large Area Aerial Liquid Dispersion Equipment) used by helicopter for this operation was mobilized by Indian Navy from Mumbai and Kochi immediately on receipt of information on 06 Mar from State Forest Dept. More than 26 runs were made over affected areas,” the Navy tweeted.

    #harkaamdeshkenaam
    A major fire was reported in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday. Upon request by District Administration, #IndianNavy Dornier from INS Hansa undertook survey of the area and localised the fire. (1/2)@IN_WNC @indiannavy @PIB_Panaji @IndiannavyMedia pic.twitter.com/jjYzIqKlJJ
    — Goa Naval Area (@IN_GNA) March 7, 2023
    (With PTI, ANI inputs)

  • Goa only state to achieve 100 pc PFMS compliance for Central schemes: CM Pramod Sawant

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa has achieved 100 per cent compliance with the public finance management system (PFMS) for schemes sponsored by the Central government and is the first state in the country to do so, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.

    The chief minister on Thursday chaired a meeting with officers of the state finance department.

    Talking to reporters on Thursday evening, Sawant said Goa has achieved 100 per cent compliance with the PFMS for Centre-sponsored schemes and claimed that it was the only state in the country to do so.

    The state government has received funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore from Rs 306 crore allocated for projects under Central schemes and the remaining Rs 106 crore will be received by next month, he said.

    The chief minister further said that the state government wanted to pitch 56 projects under Centre-sponsored schemes through consultants.

    “At least 46 project proposals were sent to the Centre for approval, of which funds have been disbursed for 18 projects and among these, 16 have been completed,” Sawant said.

    The proposals for 14 projects that were rejected will be sent back to the Central government after making the required changes, he said.

    The state has undertaken the revision of schemes under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and loans have also been revised, the chief minister said.

    He further claimed that the state’s financial situation was good and the government had not taken any planned loans in the last four months.

    “The state government has cleared all the bills of contractors (who were awarded government tenders) and not a single one has been left pending for more than a month,” Sawant added.

    PANAJI: Goa has achieved 100 per cent compliance with the public finance management system (PFMS) for schemes sponsored by the Central government and is the first state in the country to do so, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said.

    The chief minister on Thursday chaired a meeting with officers of the state finance department.

    Talking to reporters on Thursday evening, Sawant said Goa has achieved 100 per cent compliance with the PFMS for Centre-sponsored schemes and claimed that it was the only state in the country to do so.

    The state government has received funds to the tune of Rs 200 crore from Rs 306 crore allocated for projects under Central schemes and the remaining Rs 106 crore will be received by next month, he said.

    The chief minister further said that the state government wanted to pitch 56 projects under Centre-sponsored schemes through consultants.

    “At least 46 project proposals were sent to the Centre for approval, of which funds have been disbursed for 18 projects and among these, 16 have been completed,” Sawant said.

    The proposals for 14 projects that were rejected will be sent back to the Central government after making the required changes, he said.

    The state has undertaken the revision of schemes under the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and loans have also been revised, the chief minister said.

    He further claimed that the state’s financial situation was good and the government had not taken any planned loans in the last four months.

    “The state government has cleared all the bills of contractors (who were awarded government tenders) and not a single one has been left pending for more than a month,” Sawant added.

  • Goa CM welcomes Centre’s move to abolish export duty on low-grade iron ore

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday welcomed the Centre’s decision to abolish export duty on low-grade iron ore, citing that the move will give a boost to the mining sector and fetch higher revenue for the state government.

    Taking to Twitter, Sawant thanked the Union government for considering the state’s request to levy nil export duty on low-grade iron ore.

    ” I thank the Union Govt led by Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for considering our request for levying nil export duty on below 58 Fe Iron Ore. My gratitude to the FM @nsitharaman Ji for the withdrawal of export duty that will give a boost to the mining sector and Goa’s economy,” the chief minister tweeted.

    In another tweet, Sawant thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah stating that the move will fetch higher revenues for the state government during auctioning of mining leases.

    This will also propel the export of low-grade iron ore from Goa, giving relief to various segments in the iron ore business and allied activities, he tweeted.

    The Union government on Friday decided to abolish export duty on iron ore lumps and fines and pellets.

    The export of pig iron and steel products classified under some of the headings will also attract nil export duty.

    Earlier in May, Sawant had met the finance minister requesting her to reduce the export duty to zero on low-grade iron ore.

    The Goa government has already initiated the process of auctioning mining leases in the state, where the industry had come to a standstill since 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 leases.

    PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday welcomed the Centre’s decision to abolish export duty on low-grade iron ore, citing that the move will give a boost to the mining sector and fetch higher revenue for the state government.

    Taking to Twitter, Sawant thanked the Union government for considering the state’s request to levy nil export duty on low-grade iron ore.

    ” I thank the Union Govt led by Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for considering our request for levying nil export duty on below 58 Fe Iron Ore. My gratitude to the FM @nsitharaman Ji for the withdrawal of export duty that will give a boost to the mining sector and Goa’s economy,” the chief minister tweeted.

    In another tweet, Sawant thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah stating that the move will fetch higher revenues for the state government during auctioning of mining leases.

    This will also propel the export of low-grade iron ore from Goa, giving relief to various segments in the iron ore business and allied activities, he tweeted.

    The Union government on Friday decided to abolish export duty on iron ore lumps and fines and pellets.

    The export of pig iron and steel products classified under some of the headings will also attract nil export duty.

    Earlier in May, Sawant had met the finance minister requesting her to reduce the export duty to zero on low-grade iron ore.

    The Goa government has already initiated the process of auctioning mining leases in the state, where the industry had come to a standstill since 2018 after the Supreme Court quashed 88 leases.

  • NITI Aayog’s Goa unemployment figures inaccurate, says CM Sawant; Cong, NCP slam him

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said unemployment figures cited by the NITI Aayog for the coastal state were inaccurate as several persons registered with the local employment exchange had not cancelled their names after getting jobs.

    The opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party accused him of trying to prove the NITI Aayog wrong in a possible bid to hide his government’s failure to provide jobs to people.

    “The NITI Aayog has stated there are 1.10 lakh unemployed youth in Goa. The figure is not correct.

    Some 80,000 are already employed but have not cancelled their names in the employment exchange because they are waiting for a government job,” the CM said.

    “The names of some government servants also figure in the list. As per our information, only 20,000 youth are unemployed.

    The state government will work out a system to cancel the names of people who are already employed,” Sawant added.

    The opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party slammed the CM for his statements on the unemployment situation in the state.

    “Wow! Kudos to BJP Governments Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant for ridiculing Niti Ayog headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its Report of 1.10 lakhs unemployed in Goa.

    You are a genius who invented the 102 per cent Covid Vaccination Theory. BJP need to reward you soon,” state Congress chief Amit Patkar said in a statement.

    He said Sawant was “mocking” his own government by claiming the data maintained by the employment exchange was faulty.

    “I appreciate his honesty. What can you expect from a person who has taken lessons on shakhas,” Patkar further said.

    NCP national spokesperson questioned if CM Sawant, through his statement, was saying the “Aayog is not doing its job correctly.”

    Crasto said the Goa government had either failed to provide correct data on jobs and employment to the Union government or was hiding the situation by claiming people had got jobs elsewhere and had not cancelled their names at the employment exchange.

    The NCP leader said Sawant must make the names of these 80,000 names public and also correct the data available with the employment exchange.

    “If not, it will mean CM Pramod Sawant is trying to prove the NITI Aayog wrong only to hide his government’s failure to provide jobs to the people of Goa,” he alleged.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Sawant held a meeting with NITI Aayog member Dr VK Saraswat in the presence of the state’s chief secretary and other officials here.

    After the meeting, Sawant tweeted the NITI Aayog lauded the Goa Electric Mobility Promotion policy, adoption of emerging technologies and other policies.

    “The NITI Aayog elaborated on how it can support the state under State Support Mission.

    With enhanced coordination and advisory support from NITI the state surely can develop in multiple sectors,” the CM had further tweeted.

    PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said unemployment figures cited by the NITI Aayog for the coastal state were inaccurate as several persons registered with the local employment exchange had not cancelled their names after getting jobs.

    The opposition Congress and Nationalist Congress Party accused him of trying to prove the NITI Aayog wrong in a possible bid to hide his government’s failure to provide jobs to people.

    “The NITI Aayog has stated there are 1.10 lakh unemployed youth in Goa. The figure is not correct.

    Some 80,000 are already employed but have not cancelled their names in the employment exchange because they are waiting for a government job,” the CM said.

    “The names of some government servants also figure in the list. As per our information, only 20,000 youth are unemployed.

    The state government will work out a system to cancel the names of people who are already employed,” Sawant added.

    The opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party slammed the CM for his statements on the unemployment situation in the state.

    “Wow! Kudos to BJP Governments Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant for ridiculing Niti Ayog headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on its Report of 1.10 lakhs unemployed in Goa.

    You are a genius who invented the 102 per cent Covid Vaccination Theory. BJP need to reward you soon,” state Congress chief Amit Patkar said in a statement.

    He said Sawant was “mocking” his own government by claiming the data maintained by the employment exchange was faulty.

    “I appreciate his honesty. What can you expect from a person who has taken lessons on shakhas,” Patkar further said.

    NCP national spokesperson questioned if CM Sawant, through his statement, was saying the “Aayog is not doing its job correctly.”

    Crasto said the Goa government had either failed to provide correct data on jobs and employment to the Union government or was hiding the situation by claiming people had got jobs elsewhere and had not cancelled their names at the employment exchange.

    The NCP leader said Sawant must make the names of these 80,000 names public and also correct the data available with the employment exchange.

    “If not, it will mean CM Pramod Sawant is trying to prove the NITI Aayog wrong only to hide his government’s failure to provide jobs to the people of Goa,” he alleged.

    Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Sawant held a meeting with NITI Aayog member Dr VK Saraswat in the presence of the state’s chief secretary and other officials here.

    After the meeting, Sawant tweeted the NITI Aayog lauded the Goa Electric Mobility Promotion policy, adoption of emerging technologies and other policies.

    “The NITI Aayog elaborated on how it can support the state under State Support Mission.

    With enhanced coordination and advisory support from NITI the state surely can develop in multiple sectors,” the CM had further tweeted.

  • Congress should have taken up Bharat Jodo Yatra in 1947: Goa CM Pramod Sawant

    By Express News Service

    UDUPI: In a pointed attack against Congress over its Bharat Jodo Yatra, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the liberation of Goa would not have got delayed, had the Congress conducted Bharat Jodo Yatra in 1947.

    Speaking to the media after visiting Sri Krishna Mutt here on Saturday Sawant said, “If the Yatra was conducted in 1947, Goa would have been liberated at least in 1950. Our freedom fighters had to fight against the Portuguese in 1955. Several freedom fighters even lost their lives during the fight. If the Yatra was held then, it could have been avoided. The whole of East India and entire Kashmir would have become an integral part of India.”

    He added, “Leaders from various political parties are joining BJP after realising the long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM has been an inspiration to the country’s youth and their dream of a new United Nations. The youth are joining hands to make PMs programmes like Clean India and Make in India successful. It is the same dream of New India that made political leaders from other parties a part of the BJP in Goa. This same magic may repeat in other parts of the nation too.” Paryaya Sri Krishnapura Mutt Seer Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji felicitated him.

    UDUPI: In a pointed attack against Congress over its Bharat Jodo Yatra, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the liberation of Goa would not have got delayed, had the Congress conducted Bharat Jodo Yatra in 1947.

    Speaking to the media after visiting Sri Krishna Mutt here on Saturday Sawant said, “If the Yatra was conducted in 1947, Goa would have been liberated at least in 1950. Our freedom fighters had to fight against the Portuguese in 1955. Several freedom fighters even lost their lives during the fight. If the Yatra was held then, it could have been avoided. The whole of East India and entire Kashmir would have become an integral part of India.”

    He added, “Leaders from various political parties are joining BJP after realising the long-term vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM has been an inspiration to the country’s youth and their dream of a new United Nations. The youth are joining hands to make PMs programmes like Clean India and Make in India successful. It is the same dream of New India that made political leaders from other parties a part of the BJP in Goa. This same magic may repeat in other parts of the nation too.” Paryaya Sri Krishnapura Mutt Seer Sri Vidyasagara Theertha Swamiji felicitated him.

  • ‘Swayampurna Goa’ initiative inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s Gram Swaraj concept: CM Sawant 

    Pramod Sawant was addressing a state-level function held on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

  • Goa mining leases auction to get over by Nov 2022, fresh extraction to start year later: CM Sawant

    The state has now put up four iron ore mining leases for auction. This is for the first time in Goa's mining history that leases are being awarded through auctioning.

  • Goa government says ‘Har Ghar Jal’ coverage now 100 per cent; Congress calls it ‘blatant lie’

    By PTI

    PANAJI: The Goa government on Thursday said 100 per cent of households in the rural parts of the state now have piped water connection, a claim mocked by the opposition Congress which alleged several taps under this scheme continued to run dry.

    A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said an event to provide a QR (quick response) code for water bill payment will be held in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and CM Pramod Sawant on August 19 here.

    It said the initiative is part of the Central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission, which is being implemented in the state by the Goa Public Works Department.

    Hitting out at the state government, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sankalp Amonkar said the claim of “Har Ghar Jal” was a blatant lie.

    “The claim of 100 per cent coverage of Har Ghar Jal in Goa by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is a blatant lie. The scheme is a failure in Mormugao (Amonkar’s Assembly seat). In most parts of the state, there are taps but no water supply,” the Congress leader said.

    “It is a shame the BJP has tweeted that Goa is the first state in the country to achieve 100 percent certification of Har Ghar Jal. This is the biggest joke on the people of Goa,” Amonkar alleged.

    PANAJI: The Goa government on Thursday said 100 per cent of households in the rural parts of the state now have piped water connection, a claim mocked by the opposition Congress which alleged several taps under this scheme continued to run dry.

    A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said an event to provide a QR (quick response) code for water bill payment will be held in the presence of Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and CM Pramod Sawant on August 19 here.

    It said the initiative is part of the Central government’s Jal Jeevan Mission, which is being implemented in the state by the Goa Public Works Department.

    Hitting out at the state government, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Sankalp Amonkar said the claim of “Har Ghar Jal” was a blatant lie.

    “The claim of 100 per cent coverage of Har Ghar Jal in Goa by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is a blatant lie. The scheme is a failure in Mormugao (Amonkar’s Assembly seat). In most parts of the state, there are taps but no water supply,” the Congress leader said.

    “It is a shame the BJP has tweeted that Goa is the first state in the country to achieve 100 percent certification of Har Ghar Jal. This is the biggest joke on the people of Goa,” Amonkar alleged.

  • Temples destroyed in past should be rebuilt: Goa CM Sawant 

    “In every village, there are a couple of temples. We have to take people from the beach to the temple,” Sawant said, adding his government is pushing for “cultural tourism”.

  • History forced upon us is Western propaganda, says Goa CM at Savarkar book event

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said the history that has been forced upon us was actually propaganda of the West and added that such recording of events must be based on “facts” and not “opinion driven”.

    He was speaking at the launch of a book on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar by Vikram Sampath on the second day of the Kumaon Literary Festival here.

    “In my opinion, history should be independent representation of the things that have happened in the past. One can have his own interpretation based on experience and intellect. But (recording of ) history has to be fact driven and not opinion driven,”the CM said.

    “Unfortunately, in our country, the history that has been forced upon us, has been propaganda of the West and what they thought about us. They thought we are a land of snake charmers, they thought we are an impoverished country. My question is did they invade us as we were poor? The answer is definitely no,” he asserted, The first person to challenge this vicious propaganda was Savarkar, who through his book ‘1857 ka Swatantraya Samar’ (The Indian War of Independence), ignited the flame of patriotism among people, which led to the British banning this book, Sawant said.

    Savarkar faced brutal punishment at the hands of the British but, post Independence, a section of people have spread absolute falsehoods about him.

    “We as Indians have failed to applaud the life and work of this glorious patriot. I am happy Vikram Sampat has brought to light some well researched content on Veer Savarkar in the form of this book, which will become a document to inspire the future generations of our country,” he said.

    The CM also said Savarkar had written a book on Goa, which stressed the need for its liberation (from Portuguese rule).

    Goa was always an integral part of India despite being under Portuguese rule, and Savarkar’s book will be reprinted immediately and circulated all over, Sawant said.