Panaji: Goa Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserratte said that the creation of third district in the state is under active consideration of the state government.
BJP MLA Ganesh Gaonkar on Friday moved a private members resolution urging the government to carve out third district in the state comprising Sanvordem, Ponda, Sankhali, Valpoi, Priol, Shiroda, and Marcaim constituencies.
Goa currently has two districts, North and South Goa.
Monserratte told the House that proposal for constitution of third district is under active consideration of the government and in order to work out modalities and to examine the pros and cons of new district, the government has already constituted a committee under chairmanship of the chief secretary.
“The committee is directed to access the need for creation of third district in Goa, access whether it will lead to the development of people in general and backward talukas in particular,” he said.
Monserratte said that the committee is also directed to suggest boundaries of the district after considering various aspects such as population, economical status, availability of infrastructure and public opinion.
Speaking on the floor of the House, BJP MLA Nilesh Cabral said that the third district should cover talukas which has ST dominated areas.
“You cannot call Ponda as backward, then you will have to call us super backward,” said Cabral who represents Curchorem Assembly segment in South Goa.
“It is good that the government will conduct survey before taking final call. We are ready to give you land in Quepem taluka (south goa) for construction of the building,” he said.
Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar said that the areas of Canacna, Sanvordem and Quepem are away from the development.
“If we have Quepem as the headquarter for the third district, then it will help all these areas,” he said.
Congress MLA Altone D’Costa said that people of Quepem cannot be called as backward.
“The government has remained backward to give facilities to Quepem, but Goans have excelled in every field. People of this area is not backward,” he said.
