Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Elected representatives, political leaders and social activists have warned the Goa government not to take the people of Canacona for granted by including the taluka in the newly notified Kushavati district without public consent.
A meeting of elected representatives, political leaders and activists was held at Shristhal to deliberate on the government’s decision to create a third district — Kushavati — comprising four talukas, including Canacona. Participants were invited to express their views on both the benefits and drawbacks of Canacona’s inclusion.
Not a single speaker supported Canacona’s inclusion in the new district. While a few welcomed the creation of a third district, some even suggested the formation of a fourth district with Canacona as its headquarters.
Speakers criticised the government for failing to consult the people of Canacona before taking such a major administrative decision. They said the inclusion of Canacona in Kushavati district has no mandate from the people and demanded that the taluka continue to remain in South Goa district with Margao as its headquarters.
GFP General Secretary and spokesperson Mohandas Lolienkar said, “The government claims it has taken the people of Canacona into confidence, but our MLA Ramesh Tawadkar says he was consulted before the announcement. He believes that since he is the people’s representative, his consent means the people’s consent. That is unacceptable.”
Lolienkar warned the government not to take the people of Canacona for granted over the Kushavati district issue.
The meeting resolved to ask all panchayats in Canacona taluka to pass resolutions opposing the inclusion before a mega public meeting is organised. Speakers also called for a joint public debate with the government.
An unanimous resolution adopted at the meeting stated that representatives of local self-government bodies, along with social and political activists, strongly oppose the inclusion of Canacona in Kushavati district as it would create serious difficulties for the public. The resolution demanded that Canacona be kept in South Goa district and warned of strong agitation if the government fails to reconsider its decision.
Speakers also expressed concern over the absence of most elected representatives, with only two panch members and a few former sarpanches and panchas attending the meeting. They urged the launch of village-level awareness campaigns on the issue.
Organisers said that 99 per cent of elected representatives from Khola, Agonda, Shristhal, Canacona Municipal Council, Gaondongrim, Khotigao, Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem were informed about the meeting.
Among those present were Anant Agni, Prashant Pagi, Sandesh Telekar, Janardhan Bhandari, Vikas Bhagat, Anil Phaldesai, Shailesh Pagui, Mohandas Lolienkar, Pankaj Namshikar, Manuel Barretto, Prashant Naik and Vaibhav Phaldesai.
