Rather than pay 16 per cent interest on bonds offered to the public, Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane says it is wiser to rely on the largesse of `certain gentlemen' with financial interests abroad. These sources, Rane reveals, will gladly settle for an interest rate of just 10 per cent. Of course, the government will not ask any awkward questions, hoping to net the resources as soon as possible.

Rane says interest rates abroad are a measely two per cent and investors would gladly park their surplus funds in verdant Goa.

But Rane himself may have to answer some awkward questions before he lays his hands on that dough. For one, the Union Finance Ministry will have to clear the state government's proposal. The state government's confidence notwithstanding, the Cenrte will field some delicate posers about the non-resident Indians'antecedents and their `hot money'.

Power equations

Goa's Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred D'Souza and Power Minister Mauvin Godinho have finally decided to bury the hatchet and bring relief to patients at the Goa Medical College.

Ever since the severe power shortage forced the teaching hospital to suspended non-emergency operations a month ago, the duo has been taking pot-shots at each other in public.

After a truce was worked out in the presence of Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane, the Power Department decided to fork out Rs 18 lakh for a 500 KVA generator soon to be installed at the hospital. While the generator will keep the Intensive Care Unit, the operation theatres and air-conditioners running, further upgradation of power supply equipment has also been promised. But till the relief arrives, doctors conducting emergency operations in the summer heat are becoming increasingly desperate, resorting to their own emergency measures. While some wrap towels around their necks and heads to preventsweat from falling into incisions, patients are being asked to cart their own table fans to the hospital as the air-conditioning units are non-functional.

Candles, anyone?

Goa's green lobby is exercised over the proposed Reliance-Salgaocar power project, which is expected to guzzle four million litres of water per day.During a presentation before the Goa Pollution Control Board, which has solicited public opinion on the project, Dr Claude Alvares, the vocal secretary of the Goa Foundation, said the water used for cooling the plant would be lost due to evaporation. Rather than waste fresh water, he said the ocean could be tapped instead.

But the company does not agree. Its officials claim the plant will consume far less water than alleged and all of it will not vanish into thin air. Moreover, they point out, the water can be recycled and used for irrigation. At the moment Goans cannot figure out who is right, expecting the dirt to fly thick and fast once the debate really hots up. Meanwhile,stocks of candles continue to sell like, well, hot cakes.

Action stations!

Encouraged by the sight of trains snaking through Goa on the Konkan Railway route, the state's planners have decided to develop railway stations along the line.

Land has already been earmarked for infrastructure development around a 500-mt radius near Pernem, Tivim, Carambolim, Verna, Bali and Canacona railway stations, which will be accessible through a 30-mt-wide approach road. Also on the cards are water pipes, drainage systems, electricity poles... the works!

The planners are also keeping an eagle eye on commercial exploitation of land in the stations' vicinity, raising hopes among property owners in the area. Only last year, a government notification to acquire land around the stations threatened to snowball into a major agitation. Things appear to have simmered down for the time being but watch this space for further developments.

Tailpiece

Free from the puritanical attitude towards tipplers elsewhere inthe country, Goa is a favourite hunting ground for purveyors of things far from holy spirits. Recently, a beer manufacturer successfully conducted a beer festival ``on the lines of the one in Munich'', says a press release.

The five-day froth fest organised by Arlem Breweries with full cooperation from the state government aims to catch all comers regardless of age, sex or IQ.

Apart from the predictable fashion shows and music concerts intellectuals were wooed with a book-fair and classical music afficionados with Indian music recitals. To add colour to the show, women were allowed free entry.But the events organised for children took the cake. Obviously targeting its future customers, Arlem organised competitions in painting, sandcastle building and the like.

Passenger service

The residents of Vasco Da Gama are an agitated lot. To demand the introduction of the passenger services on the South Central Railway line, they have formed a Railway Users' Consultative Committee. The passenger servicesbetween Vasco Da Gama town and Lona station in Karnataka has been suspended from 1995 as gauge conversion work could not resume due to the Railways refusal to spend Rs 70 crore for installation of additional safety equipment. Prakash Parulekar, a local politician who was also a Railway Users' Consultative Committee member, resigned from the body last month demanding resumption of passenger services.

From Our Goa Correspondent