PANAJI
Following an uproar from political elements, Directorate of Panchayats has put on hold till March 11 the process for delimitation and reservation of panchayat wards in 190 panchayats as a part of the preparations for the upcoming panchayat polls.
Speaking to The Goan, Director of Panchayats Gurudas Pilarnekar stated, “DoP has put the delimitation process on hold for the time being till a new state government is in place. We will resume the process at some point after March 11.”
As is the official procedure, State Election Commission had recommended to the Directorate of Panchayats May 21 as the tentative date for holding elections to 190 panchayats across the State.
DoP was all set to conclude the process for delimitation and reservation of wards within the jurisdiction of each Panchayat before forwarding the SEC recommendation along with DoP inputs to the State government for final approval.
The entire procedure is likely to be concluded by the DoP within two months with the polls expected to be scheduled two and half months after the new State government assumes power after March 11.
In 2012, 189 panchayats had gone to polls on May 16. However, the number has increased to 190 with the inclusion of Quelossim as a new Panchayat, separated from Cortalim, towards the end of 2016.
As is the norm, one-third of the seats in every Panchayat will be reserved for women. The reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes will be based on the population of these categories in every Panchayat.
