Goemkrponn desk
.CANACONA – The delimitation process for all the seven village panchayats in Canacona is completed, with only Shrishthal as the only panchayat where the Ward (Seats) is increased from 7 to 9.
It may be recalled that the 186 village panchayats are going for elections to elect a new panchayat body in June.
The Government, in consultation with the State Election Commission, has taken up and accepted the new delimitation of wards throughout the State and recently notified the same.
In Canacona, according to Canacona Returning Officer and Canacona Mamlatdar Manoj Korgaonkar, Shrishthal is the only panchayat out of Seven Panchayat in Canacona taluka to change the new delimitation of Wards. From the existing seven wards at Bhatpal, Mokhard, Voddamoll, Shrishthal, Nuvem Vaizawada, and Gulem-1, two more neighborhoods at Chapoli and Gulem-2 are added to make 9 Wards(Seats) in Shristhal Panchayat. The polling booths in all the 7 Panchayats have increased from 57 to 59, informed Korgaonkar.
Except for Shrishthal, no other Panchayats in Canacona taluka had undergone any changes as far as the increase of wards in the delimitation process.
The panchayat wards are constituted considering geographical continuity, natural boundaries, and the number of voters,
According to residents, the electorate of Chapoli has to travel to the Shrishthal polling booth to vote. Now with the formation of a new ward and a polling booth at Chapoli itself, the voters will have relief from long traveling to vote on polling day. ‘ this is one of the best steps taken by the government to open a polling station for the voters of Chapoli,’ stated Shrishthal BMC Chairman Vinay Tubki.
Incidentally, according to Tubki, a representation was also submitted for delimitation of Gulem and Bhatpal wards, where the voters have swelled over the years.
‘ While some of the Ward has over 800 voters, others have less than 800 voters.
A discussion was also held on these issues in some of the gram sabhas ‘, informed Shrish Pai, a social activist from the village.