Bindiya Chari

Reports for The Times of India, Goa with special interests in tourism and health.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

TOI CONTINUES TO WIN AWARDS: Habits die hard and some are too good that we don't want to let go off it. Once again @TOIGoaNews proved why it is best in the business. From investigative and rural reporting to page design and from best photographs to sports reporting, @timesofindia came out top across various categories, winning a total of 15 awards at the @GoaUJ Journalism Awards for 2023, 2024 and 2025 that were announced on Saturday. 
@MarcusMergulhao @GaureeM_TOI @NewtonSTOI @rakeshmundye @SharmilaCoutino

[The Times Of India @timesofindia]

Nationwide, over 12.4 lakh #chemists are set to strike on May 20, protesting online #medicine sales and deep discounts. The All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists highlights patient safety concerns, citing unregulated #sales and potential misuse of #prescriptions.

Details here 🔗 https://t.co/wjszijdB25

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

RT @RajeshMenon70: The man who drew the world. As we celebrate Mario Miranda's 100th birth anniversary, we look at the genius who turned ev…

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

Lairai Jatra, A Year Later: After last year’s stampede in which six people lost their lives, the authorities appeared to have learned key lessons. @TOIGoaNews photo editor @RajtilakNaik spends the night at the jatra and here is his story from ground zero

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

The power supply to the entire Tiswadi taluka will be affected on April 19 between 6.30 am and 7.30 pm due to urgent maintenance works at 110 KV Thivim I substation and Thivim II substation.

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

The Bombay high court has held that the Ponda byelections beginning on Thursday will not proceed.

[James Lucas @JamesLucasIT]

This is what the internet was invented for

In 1996, a King Penguin named Lala became a local celebrity in Shibushi, Japan. After being rescued from a fishing net by the Nishimoto family, he refused to return to the wild.

He lived in an air-conditioned room in their home and was famous for walking alone to the fish market wearing a tiny backpack.

The fishmonger would feed him a fresh fish and place another in his bag for the trip home.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

The distinct howls of the striped hyena and jackal animated the nocturnal soundscape in the past decades. Over years, they have become rare as the larger mammals seem to have mysteriously disappeared from Goa.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

The @TOIGoaNews story of Goa's beaches polluted and the environmental degradation that comes with it has caught the attention of nature lovers. The latest is actor Zeenat Aman who has written an emotional note to @goacm @DrPramodPSawant . Hope @GovtofGoa acts on it.

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

Congress has declared Ketan Bhatikar as its candidate for Ponda by poll which will be held on April 9. The BJP is yet to announce a candidate though last week it sent two names to the party's central leadership.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

Goa's USP has been its beaches and its culinary palette has fish at its core. But now, both seem to be under threat, as coastal waters in and around all its major beaches have been found polluted and consistently tested high for faecal content, which means the water is unfit for bathing, contact water sports and commercial fishing.

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

Ponda to have by-polls on April 9. The seat had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MLA and minister Ravi Naik in Oct last year.
The by-polls is an opportunity to Goa's fragmented opposition to join forces ahead of the assembly elections.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

Justice Gautam Patel who had said "Goa is a land worth fighting for", in his characteristic style points out all that is wrong with the way land is being converted in Goa. "This land is not a piece of meat in a butcher’s shop to be carved up and distributed. It’s a home, and it needs to be treated like one."
Section 39A is “reducing Goa and its people to irrelevance, land to a backdrop” and is “in full cry the infantilization of an entire populace”. Let there be a referendum on any one of these proposed land-use zoning changes, not just suggestions and objections, he said.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

From women to youths and from housing to infra across sectors, @goacm @DrPramodPSawant, in his last budget of the current term and 7th consecutive one, leaves no stone unturned to reach out to every section ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Tribals and elders are also in focus as healthcare gets a boost
#GoaBudget

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

Corporation of the City (CCP) elections are scheduled on March 11 while the counting will be on March 13.

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

A North Goa court acquitted revenue minister and Panaji MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate of rape charges. In 2016, FIR was registered after the survivor alleged that her mother sold her to Monserrarte who was then St Cruz MLA.

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

Budget session of Goa legislative Assembly summoned from March 6 to 27

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

Mandrem police arrested 37 Year-old Aleksai Leonov, a Russian national for allegedly killing a fellow citizen Elena Kasthanova.
Police found Elena's hands tied and throat slit in her rented room in Arambol. The accused and victim were acquaintances. Motive not known yet.

[Rajesh Menon @RajeshMenon70]

Here is the real story behind Romeo by Birch operations. Our consistent reporting about blatant violations has been vindicated by none other than @goacm @DrPramodPSawant. We @TOIGoaNews published this on Jan 14 on our front page.
#ArporaInferno
#Birch
#goanightclubfire

[Bindiya Chari @bindiyachariTOI]

Complying with the SC guidelines, Goa transport department will issue a circular making helmet mandatory for a rider and pillion rider of two-wheelers: CM Pramod Sawant.