PANJIM: Deputy
Chief Minister and Minister for Urban Development Francis D’Souza has hinted at
increasing the number of wards in the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP)
from the existing 30 to 33 before the council elections scheduled for March 13,
2016.
Speaking to Herald, D’Souza
said that if there is scope for delimitation, with an increase in the number of
wards, the government can consider it. “We can think of increasing the number
by three more wards. The CCP population has increased in the last five years
and I feel that there is ample scope to increase the number of wards,” he said.
“It is better to have an odd
figure. This will help in deciding the fate of who will rule the council,” the
minister added. The tenure of the present council will end in March 2016 and
the State Election Commission (SEC) has already declared the date for the
elections.
D’Souza said the SEC and the
municipal administration will ensure that a proper procedure is followed while
undertaking delimitation and reservation of wards.
The Minister was speaking in
response to the petition filed by St Cruz MLA Atanasio Monserrate before the
High Court of Bombay at Goa requesting it to direct the government to notify
the delimitation and reservation of wards at least one month prior to date of
filing nominations.
“It is a legal duty to notify
delimitation of any reservation well in advance; at least one month in
advance,” Monserrate’s petition states, pleading that the process be
streamlined.
Panjim is gearing up for the
civic polls, and this election may see three different panels – of the BJP,
Monserrate and Corporator Surendra Furtado – seeking to take control of the corporation.
