Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s announcement of Goa’s proposed third district, named Kushavati, came as a surprise to many. The decision to name the district after the Kushavati River, which flows through the four included talukas (Sanguem, Canacona, Quepem, and Dharbandora), has evoked mixed reactions. While some welcome the move, others oppose the naming, and some have even questioned the necessity of creating a third district at all. Speaking to reporters, Sawant said the name reflects the region’s ancient geographical heritage and cultural identity, noting that the Kushavati River has shaped the lives, livelihoods and ecology of these areas over centuries.
The Chief Minister reiterated that Quepem will be the headquarters of the new district. However, as the formation of the district will take time for administrative systems to become fully operational, the South Goa Collector will continue to oversee the administration of the four talukas in the interim. Addressing concerns that Quepem would be as distant as Margao for residents of Canacona and Dharbandora, Sawant assured improved connectivity. He announced special bus services between Canacona and Quepem via the ghat area, along with plans to widen ghat roads to enable Canacona residents to reach Quepem within half-an-hour. He also said a district road connecting Dharbandora to Quepem would
be developed, along with other special road projects The State government, he added, would seek additional special funds from the Centre to strengthen infrastructure in the new district. Sawant announced that the proposed Kushavati district would be designated as an aspirational district, noting that nearly 120 aspirational districts across the country have received about Rs 15 crore each in additional Centra funding, primarily for infrastructure development. The Goa government formally notified the reconstitution of the State into three districts-North Goa, South Goa and the newly created Kushavat district-by exercising powers under Section 3(1 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. The notification supersedes earlier government orders and will come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.
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The move lacks transparency. There is no need for a new district when infrastructure and healthcare in North and South Goa are already under strain – Carol Mathias, Entrepreneur
The decision lacks proper administrative, infrastructure and financial aspects and it could inconvenience the public – Jana Bhandari, Congress leader
The new district will improve administrative efficiency through a separate Collectorate and hospital, strengthening decentralised governance – Deviya Rane, Poriem MLA
Quepem as headquarters is closer than Margao for people from my area and will save time and aid development – Ganesh Gaonkar, Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker
As per the notification, Kushavati will be Goa’s third district, comprising the talukas of Quepem, Sanguem, Dharbandora and Canacona, along with their respective villages. The government also reaffirmed the headquarters of the existing districts, with Panjim continuing as the headquarters of North Goa and Margao remaining the headquarters of South Goa. North Goa will comprise the subdivisions and talukas of Pernem, Bardez (Mapusa), Bicholim, Sattari and Tiswadi (Panjim), while South Goa will include Ponda, Salcete (Margao) and Mormugao.
In another notification, the government appointed revenue and survey officers for North Goa, South Goa and Kushavati districts under the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968. Issued by the Revenue Department on December 31, 2025, the notification comes into force from its publication and supersedes a 1987 order. Collectors have been designated for all three districts, including a Collector for Kushavati, along with Additional Collectors (I, II and III) and Deputy Collectors. Specialised Deputy Collectors have been appointed for Land Acquisition, District Revenue Office (DRO), Elections and Disaster Management. Sub-Divisional Officers (SDOs) have also been notified-Panjim, Bardez, Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari in North Goa; Ponda, Salcete and Mormugao in South Goa; and Quepem, Dharbandora, Canacona and Sanguem in Kushavati district. The Director of Settlement and Land Records will continue as the survey and settlement officer for the entire State. Officials said these steps lay the administrative framework necessary to operationalise the new district and bring it on par with North and South Goa. However, the announcement has triggered diverse reactions, ranging from support to criticism over planning, transparency and public consultation.
Social activist P Sawant recalled the vision of late Ponda leader Ravi Naik, who had supported the idea of a third district but had envisaged Ponda as the headquarters, with Ponda, Madkai, Shiroda, Dharbandora and Priol forming part of it. Such a configuration, he said, would have reflected the region’s rich art, culture, industry and temple heritage, making it an ideal ‘Antruz Mahal’.
Entrepreneur Carol Mathias criticised the move, alleging a lack of transparency and questioning the need for a new district when infrastructure and healthcare in North and South Goa are already under strain. Congress leader Jana Bhandari said the decision lacked proper planning and clarity on administrative, infrastructure and financial aspects, warning it could inconvenience the public. Goa Forward Party general secretary and spokesperson Prashant Naik strongly opposed the move, questioning the need for a third district in a compact State like Goa and alleging that the government had failed to consult panchayats or the public. Concerns were also raised over the naming and territorial division, with residents questioning why southern talukas are grouped under Kushavati while centrally located areas such as Ponda, Salcete and Vasco continue to be classified as South Goa. Social activist Adv. Hrudaynath Shirodkar said the new district lies in the extreme south, while areas labelled South Goa are geographically central. He suggested that public opinion-especially in Dharbandora should have been sought and argued that Ponda should have been made the district headquarters. Welcoming the decision, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade described the naming of Kushavati as historic, highlighting the river’s role in shaping Goa’s civilisation. He referred to ancient settlements such as Chandor (Chandrapur) and the Usgalimal rock engravings as evidence of early human civilisation, calling the name a tribute to Goa’s civilisational roots. Backing the move, Poriem MLA Deviya Rane said the new district would improve administrative efficiency through a separate Collectorate and hos-pital, strengthening decentralised governance. Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Ganesh Gaonkar also supported Quepem as the headquarters, saying it was closer than Margao for people from his area and would save time and aid development, much like the creation of new talukas in the past. The wide-ranging responses underscore both the historical resonance of the name Kushavati and the ongoing debate over consultation, planning and administrative impact surrounding the creation of Goa’s third district.
