Monserrate rules out Taleigao’s merger with CCP for upcoming civic elections

Panaji: Taleigao will not be merged with the Corporation of the City of Panaji (

CCP

) for the upcoming elections expected to take place in March, Panaji MLA Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate told reporters on Wednesday. He, however, didn’t deny that it wouldn’t be done in the future.

“We may think of it some time in the future, but this is not the time. The process of election has already started as far as CCP is concerned and there is no proposal which has gone to anyone (to include Taleigao panchayat within CCP’s jurisdiction). I know the pulse of the people of Taleigao and I know what’s best for them,” Monserrate said, adding that there will continue to be 30 wards within the CCP.

When asked about the need to bring it under CCP when in fact it was he who took it out of Panaji municipality in the past and made it a panchayat, he said that was almost two decades ago and that times and circumstances had changed.

“That was 18 years back. At one of my public meetings I had promised that. That time the panchayat was forcibly taken. It was taken under the municipality under different circumstances. It was in the municipality for almost six years because there was a clash between two groups there. That was the reason,” he said.

Monserrate said he had promised the panchayat to his electorate.

“When I said that no one actually believed me. I brought the panchayat alone. My clear demand when Parrikar was the CM and when he was forming the government. I had put one demand, if you’re giving me the panchayat I’m supporting you. He had promised and he did it. Now it has been 18 years,” Monserrate said.

Revenue minister and Taleigao MLA Jennifer Monserrate also assured the constituents that there is no proposal to merge Taleigao panchayat into CCP.

TOI on Wednesday had reported that if the Monserrates had their way and increased their wards from 30 to 50, there would be 29 wards in Taleigao and 21 in Panaji.

Replying to criticism, he said, “People know me well. It (criticism) doesn’t affect me. Let me not criticise others. I know the pulse of the people and we will decide what is good for Taleigao. We—Jennifer and me—know what is best for Taleigao. I will not let the people of Taleigao down.”

A group of residents from Taleigao under the banner of Taleigaocho Ekvot Against Merger (TEAM) on Wednesday strongly opposed the move to merge Taleigao panchayat with the CCP.

At a press conference in the city, TEAM convener Pundalik Raiker said that the proposal is against the letter and spirit of law.

Accompanied by the residents, Raiker questioned the Panaji MLA for coming up with the move.

“If Monserrate wanted to merge the panchayat into CCP, then why did he go ahead with the proposed panchayat ghar by allowing fields to be destroyed?” he said.

He also said that if Monserrate wants to include Taleigao into the CCP, then why did he recreate it into a panchayat from then Panaji municipal council. In the 90s, when Somnath Zuwarkar was the Taleigao MLA and minister, the village panchayat was merged into the then Panaji municipal council which Monserrate fulfilled as an election promise.


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