Paul Carvalho
CURCHOREM: Most of the sitting councillors of Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) geared up to contest the election once again as the order on the reservation of seats for women, SC, ST and OBC besides general category has been issued by Urban Development Director Gurudas Pilarnkar announced on Friday for the forthcoming municipal election in the State.
In the jurisdiction of CCMC there were 14 wards and this time one more ward has been carved out by adding around 819 voters from Voddlemol and Ghadiwada-Kakoda wards taking the total wards to 15 and most of the sitting councilors have shown their willingness to contest the election once again.
As the population has been increased and to have better and effective development of the wards of the Municipalities, the government has amended the Goa Municipalities Act in the recently concluded assembly session, to increase the wards.
According to local MLA and Power Minister Nilesh Cabral, one more ward has been increased to existing 14 wards and this has led to an increase in the number of councillors.
As per the order issued, Voddlemol (8), New ward (9), Bethmoddi (10), Sasnamoddi-Akshimoddi (12) and Khandiwada (15) reserved for women candidatea, ward Ghadiwada-Kakoda reserved for ST and Morailem (3), Pongirwal (6), Vodlemol (8) and Khandiwada (15) wards are reserved for OBC candidates.
Expressing his unhappiness over the reservation sitting councillor Shrikant Gaonkar said that his ward has been reserved for women and OBC candidate in order to stop him from contesting. “The wards reservation has been done to accommodate some and to stop some candidates from contesting,” complained Gaonkar and said that first he will see if anybody from the group of his supporters is interested to contest and accordingly will extend his support.
Expressing similar sentiments, the husband of sitting councillor from Ghadiwada-Kakoda, Anand Prabhudessai, said that in order to stop him from contesting his ward has been reserved for an ST candidate when there is only 10 per cent ST population “Not only my ward has been reserved for ST but my neighbouring wards also reserved for women candidates fearing that I may contest from these wards,” said Pranhudessai
Speaking to Herald, Cabral said that these reservations have been done as per the required percentage in the Act without any personal intention to favour, disfavour or discourage anyone.
When asked whether he will put or support any panel as the government has decided not to hold the election on party lines, he said that he will not put nor support any panel. “In my opinion supporting or floating any panel by MLA is as good as contesting on party line and therefore I will not do that. Let anyone contest and get elected and I will give my support to them to undertake developmental activities in their respective wards.” assured Cabral.
Rating the performance of the incumbent councilors as above average, Cabral said that during the last five years period, the elected chairpersons and vice-chairpersons completed their respective term as agreed upon and some councillors did really excellent work. “From 14th Finance and grant in aid, I had given Rs 1.8 to 2 crores to each councillor during their last tenure to provide required facilities in their respective wards and therefore now it is up to the people to see what they have done by utilising that amount and accordingly to vote,” said Cabral.
