PANAJI
Amid mounting public concern over the contentious Section 39A of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has sought to reassure Goans that his government will find a solution, while asserting that the State’s interests will remain paramount.
Speaking to television news channel Prudent, Sawant said the facts and issues surrounding Section 39A, as well as other environmental concerns, should have been debated and answered on the floor of the Legislative Assembly rather than outside it.
“The actual facts and issues on Section 39A should have been answered on the floor of the House,” he said.
Without elaborating on the government’s proposed course of action, the Chief Minister assured that decisions would be taken keeping Goa’s interests at the forefront.
“I will take decisions in Goa’s interest. There will be a solution to Section 39A,” Sawant said.
Section 39A has triggered considerable public debate and criticism, with concerns being raised over land-use policies and their environmental implications.
Sawant’s remarks come amid continuing discussions over governance, recruitment transparency and land-use policies, all of which remain at the centre of public and political discourse in the State.
Sawant also strongly defended the government recruitment process under the Goa Staff Selection Commission (GSSC), describing it as transparent, merit-based and beneficial for the youth of the State.
He said the Commission has brought credibility and fairness to government recruitment and enjoys the confidence of job aspirants across Goa.
While acknowledging that some politicians may have reservations about the system, the Chief Minister said young people have welcomed the process because it is conducted transparently and strictly on merit.
“For the youth of Goa it is a boon. No one can interfere. The marks you get in the test no one can tamper. Candidates themselves get to know what marks they get,” Sawant said.
He said the establishment of the GSSC and the decision to route recruitment for all non-gazetted government posts through the Commission was a deliberate policy decision by his government.
According to Sawant, the mechanism has eliminated doubts about recruitment and strengthened public trust in the selection process, even as he stressed that the system has been institutionalised to such an extent that future governments too will not be able to dismantle it.
“No government in the future will be able to change it,” he said.
Sawant maintained that transparent recruitment is a key expectation of the public and said the Commission has helped ensure greater accountability in government hiring.
Know your limitations, don’t waste
time on surveys, CM advises MGP
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday said the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP), an ally of his BJP-led government and also the NDA, should remain with the alliance but within the limitations of its political strength.
Sawant said the regional party should avoid spending time and resources conducting surveys in constituencies beyond its current footprint.
“They should not waste time conducting surveys in other constituencies to test their strength,” he said.
Referring to reports of MGP surveys in areas such as his own Sanquelim constituency, Sawant said the party had only two MLAs and should recognise that as its present strength.
On speculation that the BJP was trying to induct the MGP's Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar, Sawant declined to comment directly.
“It is an internal matter between him and his party to handle," the Chief Minister said.
However, he reiterated that the MGP should continue with the BJP-led alliance while keeping its political realities in mind.
Sawant also recalled that the MGP had contested the 2022 Assembly elections outside the BJP fold and had attempted to build an alternative alliance with the Trinamool Congress.
“That experiment failed,” he said, noting that the party won only two seats.
“The only time they got three seats was when they were in alliance with us,” Sawant added.
