MARCEL, AUG 26
Chief Minister Digambar Kamat on Thursday stated that the government would consider the possibility of creating the State’s third district, consisting of Ponda taluka and surrounding areas.
Kamat was addressing the gathering while laying the foundation stone for the Rs 19 crore renovation project of the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda.
“It has been Home Minister Ravi Naik’s dream of making Ponda a third district and the government will surely deliberate on it,” said Kamat.
Justifying the need for a third district, Home Minister Ravi Naik said: “It will be of much importance if Ponda taluka is accorded the status of third district, especially we don’t have Class 1 officers in our Ponda taluka.”
“Once Ponda taluka is accorded the status of a district, people won’t have to travel to Panjim for their administrative work. It will be very helpful to the people in Ponda taluka,” he claimed.
Unfazed by mounting criticism against Naik, especially over the alleged nexus between the police and drug peddlars, the chief minister was quick to offer support to his beleaguered home minister.
Kamat said there is criticism whenever politicians undertake developmental projects.
“People oppose in different ways, some cannot see the works done,some due to jealousy and some due to publicity. When he (Ravi Naik) was the chief minister, he first undertook two projects, the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir and the Ponda city bypass,” added Kamat.
“People will not forget what Ravi Naik has done in his constituency. Today, voters are educated and they know who is real and who is fake,” claimed Kamat.
