VASCO
Barely a day after Urban Development Minister Milind Naik suggested that Zilla Panchayat elections in the State were likely to be held in mid-December, Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday announced two new dates -- January 9 and 16, 2021 -- for the ZP polls.
Godinho was speaking to reporters at Vaddem while inspecting work to lay a new water pipeline near Vaddem Lake.
"The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) had sent me a file for ZP elections and I have proposed two new dates for ZP elections, January 9 and January 16 in 2021. Both these dates are on Saturday so that we can keep people safe from Covid, and we will follow different SOPs during the elections.”
“We cannot have elections on December 12 because it is too near and we also have a festive season with Christmas and New Year celebrations, where people are in a different mood and we don't want to spoil their festival.”
“Having elections and festivals together may also not be good amid the Covid pandemic and the decision is now with the CM and CEC," said Godinho.
Godinho also said the water supply issue in Dabolim constituency would be resolved.
"There were no tankers with PWD to supply water during the shortage and we decided to lay new water pipelines. All this work will be completed before February end.”
“These new pipelines begin from the airport to Vaddem and go till New Vaddem. The issue of internal networking of these pipelines will be taken up and we had requested the CM to appoint the previous AE Vishwambar Bhende and now after joining, he has taken a personal interest. Slowly but surely, all our water supply issues are being resolved," said Godinho.
