TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza on Saturday said the government is in process of drafting a new Municipality Act, which would be tabled during the forthcoming session of the State legislative Assembly. Except for the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP), all the municipalities will come under the ambit of this Act.
D’Souza also confirmed that the process for amending the CCP Act 2002 has also been initiated. He said that as per the Act, the elections of mayor and deputy mayor shall be held in the first meeting of the corporation, every year, an issue on which the elections to the Mayor had been adjourned by the government in March. D’Souza, who is also Minister for Municipal Administration was speaking to reporters at the sidelines of BJP press conference in Panjim.
D’Souza said that the current Municipality Act, 1968 is based on Maharashtra Municipalities Act, which was applied to Goa without going through the ground realities. “The Act is not applicable to Goa as there is lot of differences between the two States,” he said.
The minister said that a three-member panel of advocates has been constituted to scrutinise the draft of the Act, prepared by the erstwhile Congress government. “The same would be kept open for public scrutiny and suggestion,” he said adding “A new Municipalities Act would be tabled in the next assembly session.”
While refusing to disclose the details of the draft, D’Souza said “the draft will speak about the reservation of wards, de-limitations, funding and other functioning. I personally feel that every third ward should be reserved,” he said.
Says municipal, p’yat elections should be fought on party lines
Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza Saturday asserted that the municipal and panchayat elections in the State should be fought on party lines. He however did not elaborate on the issue but said “I feel that party symbols should be used by the respective candidates for municipality and panchayat elections. If needed anti-defection law should be implemented,” the minister said.
Currently the panchayat and municipal elections are fought at individual level and by forming candidates’ panel. Though they are not fought on party lines, the candidates are backed by political parties, right from national to State parties.
