CANACONA
Stating that Dharbandora, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona talukas have lagged behind in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and other parameters since Liberation, Tribal Welfare Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar said the inclusion of these talukas in the new Kushavati district would help bridge the development gap in South Goa. He has also appealed to people in Canacona taluka to support the formation of a third district.
Tawadkar who is out of station when Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced the notification of Kushavati district, was responding to sharp criticisms mainly from opposition party leaders over the inclusion of Canacona taluka into the newly formed third district. “I have been out of station for the last three days, and through social media, I have been hearing of different sets of opinions expressed by Canacona people over the formation of the Kushavati district and inclusion of Canacona in this third district,” said Tawadkar in a video message.
Tawadkar said the issue of the third district had been discussed and debated in the Goa Assembly, where most MLAs had expressed their opinions and put forth their suggestions.
“People from different walks of life also expressed their opinion at that time. Also, at an all-party meeting, the chief minister had presented the proposal for the formation of a third district and explained why a third district is required and what would be its benefits. I was also present in that meeting.”
“Since Liberation (I won’t go to the extent of blaming anyone for it), areas in Dharbandora, Quepem, Sanguem, and Canacona have lagged behind in infrastructure, healthcare, education, etc. It is true that development did not reach these areas and we must accept this reality.”
Tawadkar said the Centre had given a directive to identify areas lagging behind and to form independent districts for the development of these areas. “Acting on this initiative, the State government proposed the formation of a new district, so that the talukas of Canacona, Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora should be properly developed. That’s how the birth for third district took place. The proposed Kushavati district will help boost development in these backward regions,” explained Tawadkar.
“In Canacona, since highway passes through Canacona municipality, Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem, there is good road connectivity to Margao, but the hinterland villages like Khotigao, Gaondongrim and even Khola are not well connected to Margao. With the BJP government, some developments in these hinterlands were possible, but a lot of infrastructure, education and healthcare are missing these areas.’
The minister appealed for public support to the new Kushavati district.
