PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said that the government is currently in the planning phase for the creation of a third district in Goa.
The final decision, he told the Legislative Assembly, will be made once the government-appointed committee completes its report.
Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate also confirmed that the proposal is under active consideration explaining that a committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary, has already been constituted to evaluate the need for a third district in Goa.
“To work out modalities and examine the pros and cons of the new district a committee under Chief Secretary is already constituted. It will assess the need for creating a third district in Goa, assess whether it will lead to the development of people in general and backward talukas in particular,” the minister replied.
The committee is also tasked with recommending the district’s boundaries, taking into account factors such as population, economic status, infrastructure availability, and public opinion.
During the discussion, Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar suggested that Canacona, Sanvordem and Quepem -- currently less developed areas --might benefit from the new district. He proposed Quepem as the headquarters, a suggestion supported by Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa, who offered land in Quepem for the new district's administrative building.
D’Costa, however, disputed the characterization of Quepem as "backward” arguing that while the government has not provided sufficient facilities, the people of Quepem have excelled in various fields.
"Quepem people cannot be called backward," he stated. Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral also urged the government to avoid labelling Ponda as backward. “If Ponda is considered backward, then we might as well be called super backward,” he said, expressing approval for the government's plan to conduct a survey before making a final decision and that it should include areas with significant Scheduled Tribe populations.
