A number of residents from Sancorda have voiced objections to the proposed renewal of a mining lease in the locality. At an environmental public hearing, presided over by Additional Collector (South Goa) Prasanna Acharya, in the Sancorda panchayat hall on February 15, many residents pointed out that two wildlife sanctuaries, the famed Tambdi Surla temple and schools were located in the vicinity of the mines.

After about two months, the Forest Department finally managed to cage in a male leopard at Kudchirem-Bicholim on Sunday. It may be recalled that leopards had created havoc in Bicholim since last several months. People from Bicholim had spotted the leopard which tried to attack some locals in Bicholim. Earlier, the Animal Rescue Squad from Bicholim had caught a leopard which later escaped after breaking free. On Sunday night, the leopard was caught at Kudchirem in a cage, which placed by the Forest Department some two months back.

Denis Fernander, Ribandar It cost A. Sharfudeen, a Tamilian, his voice box to realize that smoking is dangerous to health. Mr. Sharfudeen lost his voice box to smoking after a larynxectomy necessitated for removal of cancerous cell on his larynx. Now, he tours entire country to campaign against perils using tobacco and causing awareness among the youth, especially in educational campuses.

A stinking creek; clogged drains, stray dogs and cattle loitering on the beach and complaints of tourists about the mess welcomed Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco to Colva beach as he conducted an inspection on Wednesday noon. The Tourism Minister, however, was quick to blame Finance Minister, Dayanand Narvekar for the ugly situation on the beaches, accusing Narvekar for literally sitting on the beach cleaning file for the last three months.

The Bombay High Court has granted additional time to government authorities to ensure implementation of the policy decision taken by government for appropriate cleanliness in the city and more particularly on the beaches of Goa. The collectors of both the districts and the director tourism as also the director of municipal administration have been asked to file detailed affidavits by March 5, 2008.

The movement against the mega township proposed at Carmona gained momentum with local residents under the banner of Carmona Citizens Forum launching a signature campaign against the project. Expressing concern over the project, comprising of 618 apartments, the Forum has said the addition of 618 residences would alter the demographic balance of the vaddo as well as the village. "The present water and power supply is inadequate in areas like Tamdeg, resulting in frequent shortages. The proposed project will only worsen the hardships of the villagers', the Forum maintained.

It may take months before the much-publicised Margao Municipal Council's ban on sale of plastic carry bags in the city finally comes into effect. For, the Civic body on Saturday began an arduous job of stamping the plastic carry bags in possession with individual shop owners. The objective behind the stamping the plastic bags with the Civic seal is to ensure the owners do not bring in fresh stocks of bags after the current stock is over.

Waste not, want not, is a maxim many of us were brought up on.

Government plans to dump dry waste from Sonsodo to the KTC bus stand for land filling came in for strong opposition from the BJP, even as the Margao Municipal Council floated a tender of Rs 17 lakh fo

The Government has sanctioned a grant of Rs 35 lakh to Bicholim Muncipal Council (BMC), to purchase space for the disposal of garbage at Lakherim in Bordem-Bicholim.

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