MARGAO
Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik has strongly batted for a third district comprising of Ponda and other talukas, saying the administrative move will help take the administration to the doorsteps of the people.
He said a third district will be entitled for a third Zilla Panchayat and a district hospital, adding that the third district may also get another MP seat for the State of Goa.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Millet Festival at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Saturday, the Ponda MLA said the elderly and senior citizens need not go to Panaji or Margao for their administrative work if the third district becomes a reality.
Saying that Ponda already has a sub-district hospital in place, Ravi said the same can be upgraded to a district hospital once Ponda and other talukas are merged into the third district. He said the building logistics are already in place in Ponda, adding that land is available in abundance to create additional infrastructure for the third district administrative building. “We have the facilities in place to house the third district Collectorate building at Ponda. Besides, land is available in abundance at the market yard, which can cater to parking and to house other logistics,” he added.
Saying that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is in favour of carving the third district in the State, Ravi said the committee is on the job to prepare the report on the third district. “Once the panel submits the report to the Chief Minister, the government will take the right decision taking into account the needs of the people of Ponda and neighbouring talukas,” he said.
When a scribe questioned whether the people are justified in demanding the third district, Ravi shot back, “We are creating more panchayats in order to take the administration to the doorsteps of the people. In the same way, a third district will help the people to resolve their issues without going to Panaji and Margao.”
