Planning vacuum continues six months after ZP polls as DPCs yet to be formed

File photo of the South Goa District Planning Committee meeting that was held in 2024.

MARGAO
In a development that has become a talking point in Panchayati Raj circles, the State government is yet to constitute and notify the District Planning Committees (DPCs) for North and South Goa, nearly six months after the newly elected Zilla Panchayats assumed office.
The delay has raised concerns among stakeholders, particularly because the constitutionally mandated committees are responsible for preparing draft development plans for the districts. Their non-constitution has effectively stalled the planning process for both districts.
What has added a fresh twist to the issue is speculation over whether the government is waiting for elections to the municipal bodies before notifying the DPCs. Representatives of municipal councils are members of the planning committees under the prescribed guidelines, and municipal elections in Goa remain overdue, with administrators currently managing civic bodies.
Chairpersons and members of the North and South Goa Zilla Panchayats took office in December last year. However, the DPCs, which are required under Article 243ZD of the Constitution, are yet to be notified.
When contacted, South Goa Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Vikas Kamble confirmed that his office has not received any notification from the government constituting the South Goa DPC.
“So far, the South Goa Zilla Panchayat has not received any notification constituting the DPC. When the government had sought the names of South Goa Zilla Panchayat members for induction into the committee, we had submitted them. But we have no idea why the panel has not yet been notified by the government,” Kamble said.
Director of Panchayats Mahadev Araundekar said the administration had already initiated the process of constituting the District Planning Committees. “I will check with the concerned office regarding the status of the process initiated as per the rules in force,” he said.
While the Director of Panchayats has assured that he would ascertain the reasons behind the delay, sources questioned whether the pending municipal elections could be a key factor behind the government's inability to constitute the committees.
According to sources, the prolonged delay in notifying the DPCs could further push back the preparation and finalisation of draft development plans, particularly for the South Goa district.
Convenor of the Goa Panchayati Raj Institutions, J Santan Rodrigues, has strongly criticised the delay, maintaining that the State government is constitutionally bound to constitute the planning committees.
“The Constitution of India mandates the government to constitute the District Planning Committees. The government does not have the option of delaying their formation, as they are mandatory under the Constitution,” Rodrigues said.
The continued absence of the DPCs has sparked concern among Panchayati Raj representatives, who fear that developmental planning at the district level will remain in limbo until the committees are formally notified.