Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Dec 31: The decision to set up a third district in Goa has been finalised, with the state government expected to make a detailed announcement, including its name, on Wednesday. Sources indicated that the proposed district is likely to be named ‘Atal’, after former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The decision was unveiled on Tuesday by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at a meeting of legislators from all political parties held at the Ministers’ Block of the State Secretariat. Sawant said a formal notification would be issued soon.

According to the chief minister, the new district will comprise four talukas — Dharbandora, Sanguem, Quepem and Canacona — with its headquarters located at Quepem town. While sources suggested that ‘Atal’ is the government’s top choice for the district’s name, Sawant declined to confirm it, stating that the name would be announced on Wednesday.

Sawant said the creation of a third district would help Goa avail greater benefits under Central government schemes and secure additional funds.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao, who attended the meeting, said the Congress does not oppose the formation of a third district but expressed concern over the haste in taking the decision. He pointed out that a committee had been constituted to study the proposal and said its report should have been made public before finalising the move.

“It is inappropriate to take such a major decision without deliberating the report,” Alemao said. AAP MLA Cruz Silva and RGP MLA Viresh Borkar also echoed similar views, stressing that the people of the state, especially residents of the four talukas concerned, should be consulted.

The idea of creating a third district in Goa was first proposed by former chief minister late Ravi Naik during the 2017–22 term of the Goa Legislative Assembly. Naik, then in the Opposition, had moved a private member’s resolution suggesting a district comprising Sattari, Ponda and Dharbandora, which he later withdrew after assurances from Sawant.

The proposal gained momentum after the Centre recommended the creation of additional smaller districts across the country as per NITI Aayog recommendations. Goa’s third district is among 120 new districts being established nationwide and has already been cleared by the Sawant cabinet and discussed in the legislature.

Art and Culture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar said all MLAs present at Tuesday’s meeting supported the formation of the new district comprising Dharbandora, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona. He added that the district would benefit people of all four talukas and would politically cover the assembly constituencies of Sanvordem, Curchorem, Quepem, Sanguem and Canacona.