The fate of the four mining companies which have applied for ore transportation will be decided on Saturday.

District Collector N D Agrawal has fixed a hearing on the sensitive question of ore transportation on Saturday, which would finally seal the fate of the parties to the issue. Agrawal told Herald on Wednesday that while his office is in receipt of applications from four mining companies to resume ore transportation in the talukas of Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora, applications have also come in from NGOs expressing their reservations on mining transportation.

PANJIM: The number of HIV cases registered between 2009 and 2011 in Goa are reported to be 2445 according to statistics furnished by Health minister Laxmikant Parsekar while replying to queries from Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, at the Goa Assembly’s monsoon session.

In 2009, 959 HIV cases were registered, whereas in 2010 and 2011 there was a declining trend in HIV registered cases from 821 to 665 cases. As far as the number of Goan affected by HIV are concerned, the figure was pegged at 1939 between 2009 and 2011.

MARGAO: Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has urged the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) to insist on waste collection and segregation units within housing complexes before granting co

After his memorable victory, newly-elected MMC Chairperson Arthur D’Silva said he would accord top most priority to streamline the city traffic and set up multi storey parking facility with the help of the government.

He told newsmen after assuming office, that he would take along with him the people of Margao and Fatorda to usher in the development of the city. “We have come together for the development of the city. Monsoons are fast approaching and we have to start working from today on this front”, he said.

The waste treatment plant will now be finally commissioned at the Sonsodo garbage dumping site in July.

Fomento Green CEO Sridhar Kamat said that work on the proposed waste treatment plant at Sonsodo has got underway and the same is expected to be complete in all respects by July. “The civil works to set up the massive shed covering at the site has got underway. The plant and machinery is already ready and will be moved to the site upon completion of the civil works”, he added.

In an interesting development, Ahmedabad- based waste management expert P U Asnani has recommended capping of the Sonsodo waste dumping site in view of the presence of heavy metals in the waste.

MARGAO: With just a month to go for the commencement of work at the Sonsodo waste dumping site, tentatively in the first week of October, no decision has been taken on Fomento’s proposal for capping of the site on the lines of Gorai dumping ground in Mumbai.

PANJIM: Chief Minister Digambar Kamat has said that an amount of Rs 10 crores has been earmarked for the development of Quepem taluka and he has directed the concerned authorities to submit to him a comprehensive plan of development for Quepem town.

MARGAO: If PWD Minister Churchill Alemao thinks he can stop farmers from cultivating acquired fields opposite the Margao railway station through the district administration, agitating farmers are bracing up to intensify their agitation for the return of the cultivated fields.

After a Rs 20 lakh toilet for Margao Bus Terminus, Sulabh is looking to renovate other toilets in the town.