NEWS UPDATES

Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the government has completed an audit of rent-a-cab operations and will introduce new SOPs to streamline the sector. The guidelines aim to curb unauthorised operations and ensure a more transparent and structured rent-a-cab system across Goa. • Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho said the government is considering appointing specialised agencies to conduct panchayat mapping and surveys, citing differences in terrain across the state. The government is currently collecting inputs from panchayats before finalising the new survey framework. • Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said the alliance talks with Congress remain suspended and any change will be decided by the party. Rejecting Congress’ appeal, Sardesai said public sentiment is against an alliance, alleging Congress could repeat defections. He announced that the “Jai Gaon Tai Havn” campaign will begin tomorrow across five constituencies in Kushavati district. • RGP chief Viriesh Borkar says the party has been invited by Congress for alliance talks. He said discussions are underway, while a decision on a Common Minimum Programme and seat-sharing will be taken after RGP completes its internal restructuring ahead of the Assembly polls. • Postal ballot papers from the cancelled Ponda Assembly by-election will be shredded on August 21 at 3 pm in Ponda. Candidates or their representatives have been permitted to be present and witness the destruction process. • Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the Goa Assembly will take up around 13 bills, including supplementary appropriation bills, during the upcoming session; while routine questions and other matters will be taken up as per the decisions of the Speaker. • Two Class X students have been apprehended for allegedly murdering school principal Rupa Reddy in Telangana’s Nalgonda district. Police said the juveniles stabbed her 27 times during a planned robbery. Nalgonda SP Sharat Chandra Pawar said the accused had travelled to Goa a month before the crime and were allegedly looking for ways to make money. Police also recovered Rs1.54 lakh and an iPhone from one accused, with bloodstains on the cash reportedly matching the victim. • Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met a delegation from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to discuss key projects for Goa, including coastal erosion, urban flood mitigation and AI-based unified disaster management solutions. The meeting focused on strengthening the state’s preparedness, resilience and response capabilities through technology, better planning and coordinated action. • Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will visit Goa on September 2 and 3 to review election preparedness for the upcoming Assembly polls. During the visit, CEC will guide officials on electoral rolls, voting procedures, and handling queries, while also holding key meetings with poll officials across 40 constituencies. • Pernem Police arrested 26-year-old Nagraj Badrapur after allegedly catching him red-handed with 93.52 grams of suspected hashish oil worth around Rs 1 lakh during a narcotics raid at Chonwada, Dhargal; the substance was allegedly concealed in the dickey of his scooter. Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho said the government has completed an audit of rent-a-cab operations and will introduce new SOPs to streamline the sector. The guidelines aim to curb unauthorised operations and ensure a more transparent and structured rent-a-cab system across Goa. • Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho said the government is considering appointing specialised agencies to conduct panchayat mapping and surveys, citing differences in terrain across the state. The government is currently collecting inputs from panchayats before finalising the new survey framework. • Goa Forward Party president Vijai Sardesai said the alliance talks with Congress remain suspended and any change will be decided by the party. Rejecting Congress’ appeal, Sardesai said public sentiment is against an alliance, alleging Congress could repeat defections. He announced that the “Jai Gaon Tai Havn” campaign will begin tomorrow across five constituencies in Kushavati district. • RGP chief Viriesh Borkar says the party has been invited by Congress for alliance talks. He said discussions are underway, while a decision on a Common Minimum Programme and seat-sharing will be taken after RGP completes its internal restructuring ahead of the Assembly polls. • Postal ballot papers from the cancelled Ponda Assembly by-election will be shredded on August 21 at 3 pm in Ponda. Candidates or their representatives have been permitted to be present and witness the destruction process. • Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the Goa Assembly will take up around 13 bills, including supplementary appropriation bills, during the upcoming session; while routine questions and other matters will be taken up as per the decisions of the Speaker. • Two Class X students have been apprehended for allegedly murdering school principal Rupa Reddy in Telangana’s Nalgonda district. Police said the juveniles stabbed her 27 times during a planned robbery. Nalgonda SP Sharat Chandra Pawar said the accused had travelled to Goa a month before the crime and were allegedly looking for ways to make money. Police also recovered Rs1.54 lakh and an iPhone from one accused, with bloodstains on the cash reportedly matching the victim. • Chief Minister Pramod Sawant met a delegation from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to discuss key projects for Goa, including coastal erosion, urban flood mitigation and AI-based unified disaster management solutions. The meeting focused on strengthening the state’s preparedness, resilience and response capabilities through technology, better planning and coordinated action. • Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will visit Goa on September 2 and 3 to review election preparedness for the upcoming Assembly polls. During the visit, CEC will guide officials on electoral rolls, voting procedures, and handling queries, while also holding key meetings with poll officials across 40 constituencies. • Pernem Police arrested 26-year-old Nagraj Badrapur after allegedly catching him red-handed with 93.52 grams of suspected hashish oil worth around Rs 1 lakh during a narcotics raid at Chonwada, Dhargal; the substance was allegedly concealed in the dickey of his scooter.

POLITICS

CM Reviews Ministers’ 4½-Year Performance, Future Plans

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, along with BJP Goa President Damu Naik, held meetings with ministers to review the government’s performance

21st Aug 2026 • 2 hours ago • 115 views

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, along with BJP Goa President Damu Naik, held meetings with ministers to review the government’s performance over the past four-and-a-half years and discuss preparations for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections.

The meetings focused on the achievements of various departments, future plans, pending projects and Government of India schemes. The government’s electoral strategy ahead of the Assembly polls was also discussed.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, CM Sawant said the review was important and that discussions were held on fast-tracking pending projects and schemes.

“I am confident that the ministers will work up to the mark and that we will be able to fulfil all the promises we have made,” Sawant said.

He added that timelines have been set to streamline and fast-track projects and schemes over the next three to four months.

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