NT NETWORK
PANAJI
Minister for Urban Development Francis D’Souza on Tuesday stated that census towns like Calangute and Porvorim could be converted into municipal areas, with full-fledged municipalities taking care of their civic needs.
A census town is one, which is not statutorily notified and administered as a town, but nevertheless whose population has attained urban characteristics. Incidentally, as per the Census 2011, 62.2 per cent of Goa’s population lives in urban areas which is such highest percentage in the country, for any state. The population of Calangute is 13,810, while that of Porvorim is 35,909, as per the same census. Incidentally, the government, in its state budget for the year 2017-18 has announced to draw a comprehensive plan for the development of Porvorim, by appointing a consultant.
Speaking to ‘The Navhind Times,’ the UD Minister said that the population in such census towns is constantly growing and, therefore, they can be considered for the status of municipal areas. “However, to complete this exercise, the village panchayats of such towns need to pass related resolutions, and send them to the government,” he added, pointing out that the state cabinet will then be able to take a decision to dissolve the said village panchayats, making way for setting up the municipalities.
D’Souza also said that after completion of such an exercise, the new municipal areas should not try to revert back to the village panchayats, as is prevalent in the state. The Minister for Urban Development further said that the government proposes to provide full-time chief officers to all municipalities in the state. “Presently Class A municipalities like those in Margao and Mormugao, besides the Corporation of the City of Panaji have full-time chief officers. However, Class B and Class C municipalities have no such facility, since they cannot shoulder their high salaries,” he observed, maintaining that the government will provide chief officers to the Class B and Class C municipal bodies, who would be compulsorily available for at least four days of the week, in these municipalities.