the goan I network
MAPUSA
Stating that Goa holds the distinction of setting up the first detention centre in a State and second in the country, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said foreigners staying illegally in Goa would be detained and later deported.
“Since there was no detention centre, government could not take action against foreigners with criminal background. In future, foreigners who stay illegally in Goa will be detained and deported to their countries of origin,” Sawant said.
The chief minister was speaking to the media after inaugurating the detention centre in Mapusa in presence of Mapusa MLA Johsua D’Souza, MMC chairperson Ryan Braganza and councillors.
IGP Jaspal Singh, SP Bosco George at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, Mapusa DySP Gajanan Prabhudessai, Anjuna PI Navlesh Dessai and a host of other officials were also present.
Speaking further, Dr Sawant said the incident of Porvorim was still fresh in the minds of the people of Goa and such foreigners should be immediately deported.
“Goans have not forgotten the incident in Porvorim. Any foreigner with criminal background should be detained and sent back home,” he said.
It may be recalled a mob of around 200 Nigerians had blocked the Mapusa-Panaji highway at Porvorim over the death of a fellow national, prompting the government to announce a major crackdown on foreign nationals living in the State.
The CM congratulated the director and the staff of the social welfare department for taking up the initiative and also applauded the police department for providing the space to set up the crucial detention centre.
The old judicial lockup at Mapusa, adjacent to the Mapusa police station, has been renovated and converted into a detention centre, which will be first of its kind in the State.
The detention centre has seven cells with capacity of housing 24 inmates “ 16 males and 8 females.
Foreign nationals who violate visa norms will be lodged at the detention centre until they are deported from the country.
A senior police official informed that foreigners convicted by courts are lodged in jail but in cases where the trial is pending the accused have to be lodged in a detention centre.
The official further said that most of the cases reported against foreigners are related to drugs and overstaying.
Police had several cases of foreigners overstaying on expired visas, but in the absence of a detention centre, they would usually secure bail and continue to roam around in the State, the official said.
The old building has been renovated by the PWD at a cost of around Rs 50 lakh to set up the detention centre. This is the second detention centre in the country after Delhi.
It may be recalled the State administration had put off the opening of the detention centre even as the Chief Secretary Parimal Rai had conducted an inspection of the centre in the first week of this month.
Citing high costs, CM urges judicious use of water and electricity
PANAJI: CM Pramod Sawant advised domestic consumers to use government supplied water and power judiciously, citing its high costs and their highly-subsidised billing.
“Every cubic meter of water costs the government around Rs 15 and the domestic consumer is charged Rs 2.50,” Sawant said and advised Goans to consume it sparingly and wisely.
He said, the piped supply is high quality drinking water and its use should be avoided for gardening and other purposes, while reiterating the government’s commitment to ensuring piped supply is eventually 24x7.
“Cost of electricity too is high. Government buys power at Rs 3.80 to 4.40 per unit and domestic consumer is charged between Rs 1.40 to 2.50 depending on their consumption slab,” Sawant said.
The principle of cross-subsidy is a long-standing principle resorted to by States in India while finalising water and power tariffs, grossly subsidising costs for domestic, agricultural consumers while commercial/industrial consumers are transferred the burden.
