SANGEUM: The Global Centre for Human Health & Research (GCHHR) – a non-profit organization, claims it has detected micro plastics and other pollutants, including chemicals used as pesticides in ground water sources and other water bodies in Sangeum and the neighbouring villages.

The GCHHR conducted several tests after obtaining water samples from various water bodies in the Sangeum belt during the months of April and May after suspicions of water contamination and complaints from locals in the area.

According to Prof. Ashley de Melo, one of the experts with the GCHHR who surveyed the Sangeum hinterland and conducted tests on samples from several ground water sources and water bodies including wells, during the summer months of April and May this year, the presence of micro plastics and other pollutants was much higher than the normally acceptable levels and definitely something that demands serious attention.

“Even though Sangeum is in the mining belt of Goa, this is the first time we have found micro plastics and pesticides in ground water samples in Sangeum, both in urban and rural localities. We had conducted similar tests in 2020 and the situation was much different,” Prof de Melo said, adding that seepage of sewage and waste into the water table is a major issue in the area.

According to social activist and youth leader Mithil Naique Desai from Sangeum, the natural resources of the locality are getting polluted due to the seepage of sewage into the groundwater system. Traditional groundwater aquifers are now mixed up with surface sewage creeping into the lower level water storage which holds accumulated rain water. The presence of micro plastics and other pollutants in groundwater in Sangeum is a cause for concern, Mithil said.

With the threat of water pollution taking a slow and silent toll on human life, Desai is organizing a mega Health Camp in Sangeum in July to screen for hidden diseases like pre-diabetes or developing cardiac issues.

The mega Health Camp is organised by Mithil in association with the GCHHR and a citizen’s group “We Sangekars”, and will offer over 100 free tests including HbA1c (Blood Sugar), LFT (Liver), RFT (Kidney), ECG, GST, Hb (Hemoglobin) and others. The tests would be available to all residents of Sangeum on a first come first served basis and would require re-booking to confirm testing slots.

“The news about groundwater contamination is a cause for concern and we are organizing this medical camp to help our Sangekars to screen themselves for hidden ailments and other health issues,” Mithil said.

The GCHHR report also mentions the increase in the presence of various kinds of microbes and bacteria in the water. “Twenty years ago, one could directly drink the water from many wells in Sangeum, but today it’s impossible to do so. The groundwater reservoirs are contaminated to such an extent that drinking water from most wells is dangerous,” claims Mithil.

BENAULIM: Local leaders of the Congress and AAP met secretly on Friday evening and discussed the Benaulim ZP by-polls to be held later this month. The meeting took place after Congress Goa desk in-charge Manikrao Thakare said the Congress favors continuance of the INDIA alliance in the State.

While one group within the Congress is in favor of continuing the alliance with the AAP post the Lok Sabha polls and in accordance with coalition dharma wants to leave the Benaulim ZP seat to the AAP, another group led by youth leader and social worker Warren Alemao wants the Congress to go alone for the ZP polls. There is a similar rebel lot in the Benaulim AAP unit which does not want to bed with the Congress for the ZP polls.

Congress sources said any decision by the Congress to contest the Benaulim by-poll alone may send a wrong signal to the other opposition parties that the Congress only wanted their support for the recently-held LS polls.

“The party is cautious because any decision to field a candidate in Benaulim merely days after the Lok Sabha polls could be seen as unethical by the Alliance members,” said a senior South Goa Congress leader, adding that elections are due in Maharasthra for the State Assembly polls in about four months and the INDIA alliance would like to present a combined opposition to the BJP-led NDA alliance in the neighbouring state. Similarly, in Maharashtra polls to several Municipal Corporations and other Municipal and local bodies are long overdue and may by held by the end of this year and a combined opposition will be required if the BJP is to be kept at bay.

The Goa leadership will hold consultations and seek inputs of the Benaulim Congress leaders and workers before taking a final decision in a day or two. The Congress in Benaulim seems to be divided with one group wanting to continue the alliance, while the group led by Warren Alemao wanting to go it alone.

Alemao who has been working very aggressively in Benaulim for the last several months is confident of winning the Benaulim ZP by-polls without the help of any other party.

“The Congress leadership will clear the party’s stand on the Benaulim by-poll issue before the Lok Sabha election results on June 4,” said another party leader.

By-polls for the Benaulim Zilla Panchayat were announced following the disqualification of Aam Aadmi Party member Hanzel Fernandes after his caste certificate was declared null and void by the High Court on technical reasons.

Meanwhile, Warren Alemao who is the cousin of Congress LoP Yuri Alemao, on Friday opposed any alliance for the Benaulim ZP by-polls on the grounds that the AAP Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas and the AAP ZP member Hanzel Fernandes have done nothing for the constituency.

“The Congress must regain lost ground in the constituencies of Benaulim, Nuvem, Velim and Navelim which were its traditional strongholds. In order to keep its soul alive in Benaulim, the Congress must go solo and not give up the ZP seat to the AAP,” Warren said.

He also warned that a front will be formed in Benaulim to take on the AAP, if the Congress does not field its own candidate for the ensuing by-poll.

In fact, Warren told the media that he is ready to work and make sure the Congress candidate is the next ZP representative of Benaulim constituency, if the Congress party decides to put up its own candidate.

“We do not need an alliance for ZP elections and that’s the opinion of the people of Benaulim as the AAP MLA and AAP ZP representative have done zero development in the Benaulim constituency. We are waiting for the Congress party to decide if they want their soul to remain in Benaulim otherwise a front will be created and will start working in Benaulim,” he said in a written statement on Friday.

MUMBAI: Bringing some relief from the scorching heat, Mumbai, Thane and adjoining areas on Monday afternoon received heavy rains accompanied with dust storm, lightning, gusty winds and thunder.

However, in most parts there was only a drizzle, while some other parts got some decent rain. Dust storms were present at most parts of Mumbai’s western suburbs, including Goregaon, Malad and Borivali.

The Regional Meteorological Center has issued yellow alert for Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. These regions are very likely to receive thunderstorm accompanied with lightning & gusty winds (30-40kmph) at isolated places.

According to the weather department, Mumbai will receive light rain and thunder showers at certain places.

Whereas, an orange alert has been issued for Pune, Satara, Sangli, Nashik, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Jalna and Parbhani districts.

“Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning, gusty winds (50-60 kmph, hail are very likely at isolated places,” said weather forecast.

“Heavy to intense rain ahead for the next 2 hours in Thane & Palghar, Kalyan, Badlapur and interiors. Advisable for residents to stay indoors. Wind speeds will be very high and massive near 40-50 kmph. More intense rain in the interior,” posted Rushikesh Agre, an independent meteorologist on X.

Some districts of Marathwada are likely to witness thundershowers at many places, and gusty winds (40-50 kmph), light to moderate rain.

NEW DELHI, (PTI): Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Friday thanked Lord Hanuman as he stepped out of Tihar Jail on interim bail and sought people’s support in his ”fight against dictatorship”.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener was granted interim bail till June 1 by the Supreme Court earlier in the day.

He walked out of the prison in the evening amid dhol beats and sloganeering by AAP workers and leaders.

Standing through the sunroof of a car, Kejriwal then addressed AAP workers and supporters amid slogans of ‘Jail Ke Tale Toot Gaye, Kejriwalji Chhoot Gaye‘.

Beginning with slogans of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai‘, ‘Vande Mataram‘ and ‘Inquilab Zindabad‘, the Delhi chief minister said, ”I am fighting against dictatorship with all my might but 140 crore people (of the country) will have to come together to fight against it.” He further said that he would visit the Hanuman temple at Connaught Place at 11 am on Saturday and address a press conference at the AAP office at 1 pm.

”I am feeling great to be with you. I had told you that I would come out soon… First of all, I want to pay obeisance to Lord Hanuman. I am among you because of the blessings of Lord Hanuman,” Kejriwal added.

The AAP leader also thanked people for their love and blessings and asked them to come together to fight against dictatorship.

”I want to thank you all. Crores of people of the country sent their blessings to me. I want to thank the Supreme Court because of which I am here,” he added. (PTI)

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday claimed in the Supreme Court that Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who stayed at the Grand Hyatt – a seven star luxury hotel in Goa, ran up bills running into several lakh during the 2022 Goa Assembly elections.

This amount is inclusive of food and beverages consumed by Kejriwal and other AAP leaders who joined him for meetings at the Grand Hyatt, the agency told the court.

A division bench of the SC was hearing Kejriwal’s plea for interim bail.

The ED also said it had evidence to prove that Kejriwal’s stay at the luxury hotel was partly paid for by another person, also an accused in the excise liquor policy case.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, stated that Kejriwal’s stay at a hotel during the 2022 Assembly elections in Goa was partially paid for by another accused Chanpreet Singh, who was arrested in the case on April 12.

The Enforcement Directorate alleged that Singh was the man who managed all funds and payments for the Aam Aadmi Party’s election campaign in Goa.

“We have found that Arvind Kejriwal stayed in a 7-star hotel called Grand Hyatt during the Goa elections,” Raju told the court. “And at that time, part of his bills were paid by the general administrative department of Delhi government, but part of it was paid by Chanpreet Singh.” Raju also alleged that Kejriwal used public funds of the Delhi government for political purpose during the 2022 state polls in Goa.

The SC is likely to pronounce its order regarding interim bail for Kejriwal to campaign for the Lok Sabha polls on 10th May. Delhi will vote on 25th May in the 6th phase of the Lok Sabha polls.

PANAJI: Curtorim independent MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco has confirmed that a letter bearing his photograph and so-called signature is FAKE and FORGED and requested Goans to take note of the same and not circulate or share the fake post.

A fake digital post in the form of a letter was doing the rounds on social media since Monday afternoon. The letter, which is in the form of an appeal, falsely claims that Lourenco has tendered his resignation as the Chairman of the IDC (Goa Industrial Development Corporation) and has withdrawn his support to the Goa BJP government.

Reginaldo confirmed that the entire letter / appeal is fake and his signature is forged. Sources said that the State Election Commission has been informed about the fake post, which has gone viral on social media. Since it involves the signature and name of an MLA and a government official (IDC Chairperson), the SEC is supposed to immediately forward the fake post to the appropriate police authorities for action, including registration of an FIR.

NEW DELHI: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Tuesday issued a heatwave warning for several states across the country, including Maharashtra, North Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal, in its latest weather forecast.

Parts of Maharashtra, North Goa and even some parts of South Goa could experience temperature spikes during the noon hours, triggering massive heat waves that could harm human beings and animals causing them to get unwell, the spokesperson for a private weather forecaster said.

Heatwave conditions will prevail in Goa till the end of the week, the IMD said, advising people to avoid outdoor travel between noon to 5 pm, whenever possible

Additionally, the IMD issued a separate warning specifically for cities in Maharashtra such as Thane, Mumbai, and Raigad, indicating an impending heatwave expected this week.

The weatherman has instructed people to stay indoors between 12 noon and 4 pm and if not possible then to avoid direct sunlight, stay in the shade as far as possible, drink lots of water and even splash water on your face, head and body to prevent a heat stroke while outside.

In Maharashtra, Mumbai and Thane are expected to experience minimum temperatures ranging from 36 to 38 degrees Celsius.

According to the IMD notification, heatwave conditions are forecasted to persist in Odisha and West Bengal until April 19, in Andhra Pradesh until April 18, in Telangana from April 17 to 18, and in North Goa til 16.

The weather department has forecasted hot and humid weather conditions for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala until April 18, and for West Bengal, Odisha, Goa, Gujarat, and Karnataka on April 16.

Both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh are also bracing for high temperatures, with heatwave conditions expected to prevail in both states from April 16 to 18.

MUMBAI: Former MP and Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam, who was expelled from the party, claimed that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai North West seat and win. He is expected to join the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena either tomorrow or day after.

Nirupam was sacked from the Congress, after he used coarse language against Udhav Thackeray for announcing a candidate from the seat which he was eying.

Speaking to media persons, he had also clarified that he would not contest independently but under a party symbol, meaning the ruling ‘Mahayuti’ alliance headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Nirupam, who was interested in contesting from the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency, was miffed with the Congress for handing over the seat to the Shiv Sena (UBT).

In the Mahayuti (BJP group) seat-sharing deal, the Mumbai North West seat has been allocated to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), and for Nirupam to get the ticket from North West, he has to join the Shinde Sena.

The Shiv Sena, under Shinde’s leadership, is still scouting for a suitable candidate for this seat, as MVA ally Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena has already nominated Amol Kirtikar.

The Mumbai North West constituency boasts a significant Marathi voter base, while Nirupam represents a prominent North Indian face with reasonable popularity in the locality.