Latest news with #Halarnkar
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Animal deaths in accidents rise in fiscal year 2024-25, jumping to 582 from 508
Panaji: In the financial year 2024-25, a total of 582 animals died due to injuries sustained in accidents, marking a rise from 508 such deaths recorded in the previous year. Data from recent years shows fluctuating figures with 246 deaths in 2020-21, a peak of 666 in 2021-22, followed by 509 in 2022-23, and 508 in 2023-24. The latest figures highlight a renewed increase in animal fatalities in accidents, raising concerns over road safety. This was shared by minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services Nilkanth Halarnkar in response to a question by Margao BJP legislator Digambar Kamat. Halarnkar said that Goa govt has implemented a multi-pronged action plan to control stray animals, particularly dogs and cattle, on public roads. 'Govt has adopted the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, and Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, under which local municipal bodies, with the help of accredited welfare organisations, are mandated to run continuous sterilisation and vaccination camps for stray dogs,' Halarnkar said. He said, 'These programmes aim to contain the uncontrolled growth of the stray dog population and reduce rabies risk.' In 2024-25, a total of 12,089 stray dogs from across the state were sterilised. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 'The local bodies are responsible for impounding stray cattle from roads, beaches, and fields, and transporting them to cattle pounds,' Halarnkar said. Under Chapter XX of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968, the management of stray cattle in the municipal areas is the mandate of municipal councils. Under Section 112A-F of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the management of stray cattle in rural areas is the mandate of panchayats. The Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme (Amended) has helped impound 8,944 cattle. A total amount of Rs 21.6 crore was released as a grant in aid during the year 2024-25.
Time of India
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ABC programme is all bite and no control: Legislators
Porvorim: Goa's Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme has completely failed to put a leash on the state's stray dog population, legislators told animal husbandry minister Nilkanth Halarnkar on Friday. Speaking during the discussion on the demand for grants for the animal husbandry department, legislators warned that in the absence of serious action, stray dogs will continue to increase. BJP legislators said the department's sterilisation programme needs a revamp. 'Dog attacks on children and tourists are increasing. There is an urgent need for a stray dog policy for Goa. Only when we have a policy will our efforts and this situation fall into place,' said Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar. A child was attacked by stray dogs at Curti on Thursday, the second such incident in the same village within a week. The incident was the fifth case of a dog attacking a resident in the state in less than a fortnight. The minister has not given a satisfactory answer on stray dogs. Take the incident that happened at Ponda seriously,' said BJP lawmaker Nilesh Cabral. They were not the only BJP MLAs to take on Halarnkar. 'The situation is getting worse day by day and I don't know what we are waiting for. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Mass sterilisation has to be started as quickly as possible,' said Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar. Despite MLAs across parties conveying the urgency to address the situation, Halarnkar offered no new strategy. 'The mandate to sterilise dogs is of the local bodies. To facilitate local bodies grant-in-aid up to Rs 9 lakh is provided for the cost of a vehicle, and the total cost of sterilisation, animal shelters, and other expenses,' said the minister.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In addition to manual boats, drones also to be deployed to protect Goa's fish stock: Halarnkar
Porvorim: The fisheries department successfully tested drone technology over two months to monitor bull trawling in the state's waters, fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar told the assembly on Wednesday. A special control room for monitoring has been set up at the fisheries department, and now drones will be used to identify vessels that enter Goa's waters to deplete its fish stock, he said. Chief minister Pramod Sawant said that the drones are being used to identify violations, in addition to the two existing manual boats used by the state. 'We have started taking action against bull trawling. So far, 17-18 boats were seized, and the labourers and others caught are kept in a lock-up for two days as a deterrent,' he said. Halarnkar said such drones are already used effectively by Maharashtra govt. 'The drone capacity is up to 20km, and it gives a clear picture even at night. We have two boats already, and additional force will be provided once we start the drone system full-fledged. The high court has already said that we can act against such bull trawling up to 12km. When violations are caught, we auction the fish stock, and they are fined five times this price,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Won't Believe the Price of These Dubai Apartments Binghatti Developers FZE Get Offer Undo Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco said, 'You will watch the boat from the drone, but how will you attach the boat? This issue has been going on for a long time. Will you be able to stop it? There is a very strong nexus between the department and those bull trawling.' Halarnkar said that the Coast Guard and coastal police will also assist in attaching the violating vessels. Benaulim MLA Venzy Veigas and Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar said that in areas like Baina and Desterro, fishermen don't even have boat parking facilities, sheds for mending nets, or high mast lighting needed. 'Around 500 fishermen are affected,' Amonkar said. Halarnkar said that the required CRZ permission has already been received for the shed, and the work will be tendered within 15 days. 'The high mast map costing Rs 1.43 crore has already been tendered by GEDA,' he said.
Time of India
23-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Bill tabled to let industries boost working hours to 10
Porvorim: Goa govt has introduced an amendment to the Factories Act, 1948, to increase the daily working hours to 10 from the current nine hours, in addition to permitting more overtime hours for employees. Minister for factories and boilers Nilkanth Halarnkar introduced the Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill in the assembly on Wednesday. 'To reform and simplify regulations and procedures to facilitate the ease of doing business, the Factories (Goa Amendment) Bill seeks to amend Section 54 of the Factories Act, 1948, to enhance the daily hours of work from nine hours to ten hours,' Halarnkar said. He said, 'The bill also seeks to amend Section 65 of the act to enhance the total hours of overtime in any quarter from 125 hours to 144 hours.' The bill will come up for a discussion in the coming days. Goa is following in the footsteps of Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, the House also passed the Goa Suits Valuation Bill, 2025, with 31 MLAs voting in its favour. The opposition opposed the bill on the grounds that it will increase the cost of litigation in property disputes. The Goa Animal Breeding and Domestication (Regulation and Compensation) Bill, 2025, was also passed by the House. Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira said that the bill will conflict with the Centre's Dog Breeding and Marketing Rules.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Time of India
Goa set to deploy drones to swoop down on illegal fishing methods, out-of-state anglers
Panaji: Following the successful completion of a two-month trial, the Goa fisheries department is set to procure drones to monitor illegal fishing activities in the state's waters, for the upcoming fishing season, starting Aug 1. 'Goa's coastline is smaller than that of other states. So, we can have this new technology,' fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar told TOI . The trial run was conducted in April and May at the Panaji jetty by the fisheries department's head office. The department plans to expand drone surveillance to crack down on fishing using LED lights, bull trawling, and 'cross border' fishing. 'Now that we have seen the drones operate on a trial basis, we are trying to see how we can utilise them,' Halarnkar said. 'A proposal has to be made to govt following which a tender will be floated to procure them.' But challenges come with innovation. Drones have a flight capability of only a few hours due to battery life. Coastal weather also needs to be factored in while flying them. 'Fishing jetties can also have CCTVs that are able to capture images from long distances and detect such illegalities 24x7,' said a fisherman who has been protesting against LED fishing over the years. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo He added, 'The Coast Guard can coordinate with fisherfolk to impound vessels of the violators.' Fishing using LED lights attracts fish in large numbers, including non-target species, leading to bycatch and the capture of vulnerable marine species. Bull trawling — used to boost the volume of catch — involves dragging heavy nets along the seabed, physically disrupting and damaging benthic habitats, including corals, sponges, and other marine life. 'Cross-border' fishing occurs when fisherfolk from other states fish within the 12 nautical mile zone of Goa's territorial waters. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
