Navy surveillance aircraft crashes in Goa; two officers missing

The Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft, which was on a routine training sortie, crashed about 25 nautical miles south-west off Goa at around 10:8 PM hours on Tuesday.

A full-scale search and rescue operation involving nine ships and few aircraft was launched following the crash.

"One survivor has been rescued. Search is on to locate two more officers -- a pilot and an observer," Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said in New Delhi.

The rescued officer, Commander Nikhil Joshi, has been seriously injured in the crash but is stable, Sharma said.

Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan has rushed to Goa to take stock of the situation.

It is the latest in a series of disasters to hit the navy, and comes just months after a torpedo recovery vessel sank off Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, leaving five dead.

Eighteen sailors were also killed in August 2013 when INS Sindhurakshak burst into flames in Mumbai harbour.

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Get high on booze till 4 am in Goa

The move also makes things easier for the three million tourists who arrive in Goa annually to soak in the night life around the state's coastal party spots.

According to a gazette notification issued on Tuesday, outlets selling alcohol can stay open till 4 am for a fee of Rs.2 lakh per annum in addition to the annual licence fee.

Liquor vendors can keep their stores open till 1 am on payment of an additional Rs.50,000. Bars with a normal licence could earlier stay open till 11 pm.

The new excise norms were listed by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in his budget presented in the assembly in March this year.

(Agencies)

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NCP to take on alliance partner Congress in Goa LS polls

The NCP's announcement came hours after Congress short-listed its candidates for both the seats, shaking the long standing seat-sharing understanding between both the parties.

   

The North Goa seat has traditionally been contested by NCP, while South Goa by Congress.

   

"We have decided to contest both the seats. The formal announcement on the candidates is expected by March 19-20," NCP's Goa chief spokesman Trojano D'Mello said.

   

D'Mello, along with state desk in charge Dipak Kesarkar and party state chief Nilkant Halarnkar, met party chief Sharad Pawar and senior leader Praful Patel in Mumbai on Thursday morning.

   

The spokesman said, "The high command has allowed us to sever ties with the Congress and go ahead with contesting from both the seats".

   

Congress on Wednesday had shortlisted candidature of Ravi Naik (North Goa) and Fransisco Sardinha (South Goa), while the formal announcement is expected anytime from now.

       

NCP sources stated that local leaders have recommended names of Nilkant Halarnkar and Yuri Alemao, son of former minister Joaquim Alemao, to contest from North and South seats respectively.

(Agencies)

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Goa Congress demands removal of state election officer

The party has also demanded that Goa Lok Sabha elections, scheduled on April 17, should be postponed since it is ‘Maundy Thursday - a holy day observed by the Catholic community.

  

Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president John Fernandes said that state joint chief electoral officer Narayan Navti was ‘often seen on BJP dais’.

  

He has been sharing dais with BJP candidate Narendra Sawaikar (from South Goa Lok Sabha seat), Fernandes claimed.

  

The Election Commission of India should immediately remove him from the post for free and fair Lok Sabha polls, the Congress leader demanded.

  

The party would be writing to the Election Commission of India pressing for his removal immediately, he said.

  

He also noted that the Election Commission of India’s decision to hold elections in Goa on April 17 was dependent on the advice by its local officer.

  

"The ECI should investigate the conduct of the officer," Fernandes added.

(Agencies)

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E-auction to see bidding on 15.58 lakh tons of iron ore in Goa

"This e-auction will have 15.58 lakh tons of ore put up for bidding,” said Parag Nagarcekar, Deputy Director, State Mines and Geology Department.

About five lakh tons of iron ore lying at the jetties went under the hammer in the first e-auction on February 18, which saw seven companies participating in it, fetching the state Rs 94 crore.

   

This time, State Mines and Geology department has empanelled 12 companies who are eligible to participate in the e-auctioning process which is strictly monitored by a Supreme Court appointed committee.

   

Nagarcekar said the base price for the ore would be decided a day before the bidding process starts. Metal Scrap Corporation, a central public sector unit, has been holding the bidding.

   

The state, which is currently under a mining ban since September 2012, has around 15 lakh tons of ore lying at various spots including jetties, mining leases and stockyards, which are auction-able.

   

The money collected from the auctioning would be parked in a bank account and would be disbursed to the ore owner after Supreme Court lifts the ban.

(Agencies)

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