TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza on Friday said the government would amend the Goa Municipalities Act before the next civic polls to facilitate delimitation of municipal wards.
Supporting the demand for the delimitation of municipal wards across the state, Francis D’Souza, who also holds the Urban Development portfolio, said the same was long overdue.
“I am of the personal opinion that an ideal municipal ward ought to comprise 1,500 voters. Smaller wards mean better wards. It helps councillors to devote more attention to the civic needs of the ward and the residents”, he told Herald on the sidelines of the Konkani songs and music awards 2013 at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, on Friday evening.
Replying to a question, he said the government would bring about suitable amendment to the Municipalities Act to facilitate the delimitation. Asked whether the government intends to bring about the amendment this year, D’Souza said the amendment to the Act and the delimitation process would be completed before the next municipal polls.
D’Souza’s statement assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of demands from various municipal bodies in support of delimitation of wards. Margao city fathers had recently adopted a resolution demanding delimitation of wards from the existing 20 to 30 wards. Though the sentiments expressed by some of the councillors were found genuine, there were others who were demanding delimitation to beat reservation of their wards for women in the next municipal polls.
