Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: ‘We have learnt through newspapers that government is contemplating to form a Third district in Goa and the process is almost finalized and the concerned department is scrutinizing/finalizing this issue and in coming few days will be taken up by the cabinet and the third district will be finalized’,
Goa Forward Party (GFP) General Secretary and Spokesperson Prashant Naik addressing a press conference at Canacona.
‘It is, however, the headquarters of this district is not mentioned but in this district, purportedly Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora, Canacona taluka will be there and there is also the name of Ponda taluka.’.
Speaking further , Naik said, ‘Presently as everybody knows the talukas included in the existing two districts and their headquarters at Panjim and Margao. Goa’s total population is between 16-17 lakhs of people. If one tries to find out in the rest of the country there are districts like Thane, 24 Parganas having over 1 crore population, and districts like Bengaluru and Pune having population of over 95 and 90 lakhs, respectively. And many others, but our minister Ravi Naik has been pursuing for a long time for a third district in Goa and we don’t have any objections if his demand for a third district is met but for the convenience of the people and not to create hardships.. Ravi Naik can be conveniently met by the government by taking Ponda, Dharbandora , etc. in the third district’.
‘Our main issue is if Canacona , Quepem, Sanguem and Dharbandora talukas are taken as the third district, where will be the headquarters? Yes, if Canacona is kept as headquarters we are happy and we don’t have any problem, but if you are making the third district’s headquarters at Quepem or Sanguem, or Sanvordem, Dharbondora, Ponda, then we have problems. We will oppose this idea tooth and nail. 16th January is just two days away, on this day an Opinion Poll was taken to decide whether Goa should be included with Maharashtra or will remain as a separate entity. We demand from the government to take an opinion poll of Canacona people whether they are willing to accept headquarters anywhere other than existing place (at Margao), just the way an opinion poll was taken whether Goa should be included in Maharashtra or not, a similar opinion poll can be taken.
‘Canconcars have special relationship with Margao, per day more than 60-70 buses are plying daily between Canacona and Margao, where do we have transportation between Canacona and Quepem or Dharbandora, Sanguem or Sanvordem or Ponda? We don’t have direct connection to these other talukas. We have a history, for decades now though Canacona people live in Margao they continue to keep their voting rights in Canacona only.
‘One more thing we have noticed our MLA who is speaker of GLA is silent and tight lipped over this issue. Our MLA representing our constituency has not yet made any statement on this issue anywhere politically or otherwise. If this happens it will be a great injustice on the people of Canacona. Yes, if Canacona is made headquarter we are happy with it and accept it with open arms. There are examples somewhere in the country where there is a district with just around 10000 people only, some say’..
‘If government still goes ahead and tries to put Canconcars in graves (fondant), then the Goa Forward party will unify the people of Canacona to oppose agitations and andolans.
So, We at Goa Forward want the government to also inform our Canacona MLA not to fall into the trap, but request our MLA to oppose it for the sake of his constituents. Please don’t toe the party line, toe the line of people’s aspirations.’
‘If government wants, let them take an opinion poll on this issue, but if Canacona headquarters at Margao is changed to anywhere else, the Goa forward Party will come out in full strength to oppose it tooth and nail. Taking along the people of Canacona we will raise our voice to stop this government from putting Canconcars to hardships and inconvenience.; Bhagat stated.
Goa Forward Party has no objection nor any problem for the formation of third district,
For the convenience of people 12th taluka (Dharbandora) was formed, truly people of Dharbandora used to suffer, it is a welcome move by the government, likewise if government forms third district for the convenience of people we don’t have problem, but by doing so if they are trying to put us Canconcars in hardships we will not accept it. Let them form 3rd district with Ponda, Dharbandora and other neighboring talukas, and let Canacona as a coastal taluka remain in the coastal belt with Margao as its District headquarters.’.
Along with GFP Spokesperson Prashant Naik, GFP Environmental Cell Chairperson Vikas Bhagat, GFP leaders Remy Borges and Datta Gaonkar were present for the press briefing.
