GOA NEWS IN BRIEF – 8 January 2026 - The Voice

The public meeting organised by Justice (Retd) Rebello at the Institute Menezes Braganza Hall on Tuesday presented a 10-point charter to the government

Goa sees political caution after a Ferdino Rebello meet, fishermen seek clarity on fish safety, loan interest relief is approved for SC and OBC borrowers, taxi operators get Mopa relief, and land for a stray dog hospital

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant has announced that Justice SS Shinde has been selected as Goa’s Lokayukta, with the formal appointment process currently underway.

After meeting Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to discuss the People’s Charter, Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello expressed concern over land conversions. He said he had previously raised the issue with MLAs, but inaction had allowed the continued misuse of acquired land.

Sugarcane farmers allege that the government has shifted its focus from sugar production to targeting Sanjivani land, with policies gradually undermining farming and forcing many to abandon cultivation.

MLA Viresh Borkar voiced support for Chimbel residents protesting to save Toyyar Lake, and said the ruling party ignored his Assembly plea to protect the area. He criticised the local MLA and sarpanch for inaction, and warned that voters would respond in the upcoming elections.

MLA Viresh Borkar said the ruling party ignored his Assembly plea to protect the tribal area. He voiced support for Chimbel residents protesting to save Toyyar Lake, criticised the local MLA and Sarpanch for inaction, and warned that voters would hold them accountable in the upcoming elections.

Bicholim police have arrested Gulam Shiraz (a native of Sangli, Maharashtra) and Asadullah Afzal Ali Khan (a native of Bidar, Karnataka), near Assnora junction for impersonating police officers and defrauding elderly women. The accused have admitted to the crime, and police are investigating their involvement in similar cases.

The Silver Jubilee edition of Lokotsav will be inaugurated on 9 January at Amone Poinguinim in Canacona by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, celebrating rural traditions and tribal culture.

A special chartered train under the government’s Dev Darshan Yatra will leave Margao railway station on 9 January, carrying around 1,200 beneficiaries to Vailankanni. It will feature rail hostesses, onboard medical staff and traditional Goan cuisine for pilgrims.

Residents of Chimbel gathered at the village panchayat this morning for a mass protest and hunger strike, demanding protection of Toyyar Lake and the surrounding environment, and urging authorities to safeguard the ecologically sensitive area.

Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil, best known for his pioneering work on the Western Ghats, died in Pune aged 83 after a brief illness.

After a strong turnout at a public meeting in Panjim, led by Justice (Retd) Ferdino Rebello, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant reacted cautiously saying the government would do what the people of Goa want. The session, held at the Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, presented a 10-point charter calling for systemic reforms.

Fishermen in Caranzalem say their livelihoods are under threat after reports suggested local fish may be contaminated with heavy metals. They demand that experts from Goa University and the National Institute of Oceanography confirm within three days whether the catch is safe to eat.

The state cabinet yesterday approved a waiver of Rs 3.20 crore in accumulated loan interest for 500 SC and OBC beneficiaries, who will now be required to repay only the principal, ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has assured taxi operators interim relief at Mopa airport by extending the pick-up zone waiting time to five minutes.

The government has allotted 18,700 sqm at Usgao to Worldwide Veterinary Service to set up a modern hospital for treating and sterilising stray dogs, with an MoU between WVS, Mission Rabies and the state's Animal Husbandry Department.

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GOA NEWS IN BRIEF – 8 January 2026

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