Contradicts govt notification issued for Census 2027
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant appeared uncertain and ill-prepared on the Floor of the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday while responding to a query on the freezing of administrative boundaries, offering statements that contradicted an official notification issued by his own government in compliance with directions from the Centre.
During a Zero Hour mention by GFP chief and MLA Vijai Sardesai, Chief Minister stated that the State government has not taken any decision to freeze the boundaries of municipalities or city corporations ahead of the forthcoming municipal elections, asserting that such a decision along with the reservation of wards lies solely within the jurisdiction of the State Election Commission.
“Directorate of Municipal Administration will move a proposal to SEC based on which delimitation and reservation will be undertaken,” Sawant told the House, while maintaining that “the government has not taken decision to freeze boundaries”.
However, his response revealed a lack of clarity about a formal notification issued by the State government’s Department of Planning on October 16, which explicitly announced the freezing of boundaries of talukas, municipalities, revenue villages and other administrative units from December 31, 2025 to March 31, 2027 in view of Census 2027 preparations.
The notification, issued following directions from the Union Home Ministry, is part of the nationwide census exercise which will kick off from April, this year.
The Chief Minister’s statement in the House, however, failed to acknowledge or explain the implications of this decision, creating confusion over whether the government is aware of or standing by its own administrative orders.
With municipal elections likely to be held in March–April, Sardesai brought to the notice of the House the serious consequences of freezing delimitation during the election period. He warned that the move could adversely affect ward restructuring and electoral preparedness, and sought a clear explanation from the government on how municipal polls would be conducted under the existing freeze.
In all, elections to 11 municipalities across Goa are expected to be held in April 2026, while the polls to the CCP are scheduled for March.
The reference date for Population Census 2027 in Goa has been fixed as March 1, 2027. The census will be conducted in two phases. The first phase, involving house-listing operations to prepare a comprehensive inventory of all buildings, structures and housing units in the State, will begin from April 1, 2026. The second phase, which includes population enumeration or headcount, will commence from February 2027 onwards.
The contradictory positions articulated in the Assembly have prompted opposition members to demand clarity.
