Episode 41: Republic Day Special: Goa’s Heritage, Unity Mall, Illegal Nightlife & Pollution

On the eve of Republic Day, we dive into the biggest stories shaping Goa & the world — From heritage & environmental concerns to nightlife scandals, governance questions & global power shifts. We begin with this year's Republic Day Celebration with a special display by the Indian Army's Animal Contingent handled by the Indian Amry's Remount and Veterinary Corps. Later, we cover a historic discovery — Goa’s first Konkani inscription found on a stone sculpture, linking it to Old Goa’s rich past & raising urgent questions about how well our world heritage sites are actually being preserved. With the High Court directing TCP to inspect illegal structures in Old Goa, we ask: Is Old Goa truly being respected as a heritage zone? & does Goa now need a serious rethink on cultural spaces after the Kala Academy episode & the rise of OTT entertainment. Next, we break down the latest Unity Mall updates — Its site plan, proximity to the Toyyar/Chimbel lake & why locals are still protesting, even as Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte questions selective outrage over small illegal businesses, huts & houses in the same zone. Environmental alarms continue to ring as conservationists lash out over noise & light pollution driving turtles away from Morjim’s nesting sites, with threats of legal action now on the table. We then tackle a major governance controversy — Has a special law quietly been passed to shield the Birch fire accused? Is it hype or a real blow to public trust? We decode the implications of the Jan Vishwas Bill passed in the recent Assembly session. From there, we expose Goa’s nightlife reality — Only 2 clubs on paper, hundreds on ground — As government records reveal a shocking gap between legal approvals & what actually operates, tying it directly to tourism, safety & the Birch fire episode. This flows into the 10 PM no-music rule announced by GSPCB — Will it truly be enforced, or will nightlife politics once again override the law? We also cover the shocking sports-meets-environment story — World No. 3 badminton player Anders Antonsen withdrawing from a BWF event in Delhi due to severe air pollution, why he was fined $5,000 & what it says about India’s growing public health crisis. This episode connects heritage & hypocrisy, tourism & law, environment & governance, nightlife & safety, pollution & global politics — All in one unfiltered conversation!