The Goa Cabinet on Friday approved a proposal for the creation of a third district in the state.
As per the proposal, the new district will consist of four hinterland talukas of Sangeum, Dharbandora, Quepem and Canacona, which currently fall under the South Goa district. The district headquarters is proposed to be set up at Curchorem in Quepem taluka.
Goa currently has two districts, North Goa and South Goa. North Goa district comprises five talukas — Bardez, Tiswadi, Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari. South Goa district has seven talukas — Ponda, Mormugao, Salcete, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Quepem and Canacona.
In November 2023, the Goa government formed a committee to examine the proposal for the creation of a third district in the state. The seven-member committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, was tasked with assessing the need for a third district in view of the increasing population and the need for overall development of the state.
The committee was mandated to ascertain whether the creation of a third district would lead to the development and welfare of the people in general, and of backward talukas in particular. It was also asked to suggest the boundaries of the new district after considering several aspects, including population, economic status, availability of infrastructure and public opinion.
Sources said that after considering aspects related to the demography, geographical area, infrastructure and administration, the committee recommended the creation of a third district, carved out of areas falling under the South Goa district. “The existing South Goa district, thus altered, may consist of Ponda, Salcete and Mormugao talukas. The boundaries of the existing North Goa district may remain unchanged,” the committee is learnt to have said in its report.
The committee further said that as per the socio-economic indicators of the area of the proposed district, it meets the criteria for selection for the Aspirational Districts Programme. The panel further said it is likely that the creation of the district would attract central funds in key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, water, infrastructure and financial inclusion to accelerate development in the area.
Story continues below this ad
In January 2021, former chief minister and Ponda MLA Ravi Naik had moved a private member’s resolution in the state Legislative Assembly, demanding the constitution of a third revenue district, comprising Sattari, Ponda and Dharbandora talukas. Naik had argued that the third district was a long-pending demand of the people of these talukas and that it would facilitate better administration, efficient delivery of services and help in getting more funds from the Centre for development projects in the state.
Naik had also said the people of Sattari, Ponda and Dharbandora talukas were largely underprivileged and often found themselves running in the corridors of the collectorate buildings and forced to travel to Margao and Panaji to get their work done. The resolution was defeated after a vote in the House. In February 2020, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the government was considering forming a third district in the state, in view of increasing population and the need for overall development.
