Most municipal councils in state may get more wards

Panaji: In addition to the danger of heat strokes during the extreme heat, the directorate of health services has also cautioned people against taking respite from the heat by swimming in ponds, springs and other water bodies with stagnant water, where they could risk contracting leptospirosis.

State epidemiologist Dr Utkarsh Betodkar said the leptospira bacteria can enter one’s body through a cut in skin or through mucus membranes of eyes, nose and mouth.

He advised against swimming in such water bodies and consuming the water without boiling, as this water could be visited by rodents at night to drink water. Rodents pass the leptospira bacteria through their urine.

“If the water body doesn’t have flowing water, people should not enter such water bodies or drink this water. We also get cases of leptospirosis from farmers, especially those working in rice fields,” he said.

He also asked the public to be cautious about fever with rash, chicken pox and measles, which is seen in higher incidence during extreme summers.

He advised anyone who gets infected with chicken pox to immediately isolate themselves and get checked by a doctor. “Isolation is required till the last postule dries out completely, as until such time the disease can still be transmitted,” he said.

During this extreme hot weather, health centres have been instructed to educate people about staying hydrated and stay cautious of symptoms related to heat strokes. “One may not get a complete heat stroke but may faint, experience dizziness, headaches etc. It is important to stay hydrated,” he said.

Bicholim: The indefinite agitation by Karapur locals against the ongoing work of a mega project entered the 37th day on Monday. Locals have accused the panchayat and the state administration of not initiating any concrete action to issue stop work notice against the mega project.

The residents fear that natural water bodies will be exhausted in the village once the project takes shape and have accused govt for not initiating any action until now. Gauresh Ghadi, a local, said it does not seem that the panchayat has any will to stop the project work as they have not given the stop work notice, despite their assurance at the recent gram sabha.

Ghadi said about 450-500 locals had signed a resolution that the Karapur-Sarvan panchayat shall immediately issue stop work orders for all ongoing and approved works and also issue show cause notices on why the permissions granted should not be revoked.

The locals carried out a morcha to the panchayat office, but the officials could not give satisfactory replies. Police force was also deployed near the panchayat.

Panaji: One or two wards are likely to be added across 11 municipal councils ahead of the upcoming urban civic polls, depending on their classification.

The Goa State Election Commission (SEC) has sought updated population data of these municipal bodies to determine the revised number of wards.

State govt has categorised municipal councils into A, B and C classes, with each category stipulating a specific range of wards.

The SEC has decided to increase two wards for Class A municipalities; one ward for Class B, except Mapusa Municipal Council, which already has 20 wards. An officer said that a municipality can’t have more than 20 wards.

“The final decision to increase the number of wards will be taken in consultation with state govt,” the officer said.

The elections for Bicholim, Pernem, Valpoi, Cuncolim, Curchorem-Cacora and Canacona were held in March 2021, and for Mapusa, Margao, Quepem, Sanguem and Mormugao, they were held in April 2021. State govt has appointed administrators to the municipal councils whose tenure has come to an end.

TOI had reported that state govt has notified the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, which will delay the elections for 11 municipalities in the state scheduled to be held in May. MLAs wanted the municipal elections postponed till the assembly elections are held in 2027.

With the notification, the SEC has restarted the process of delimitation and reservation of wards.

For reservation of wards, SEC is completely dependent on Goa State Commission for Backward Classes (GSCBC). The SEC cannot go ahead with the finalisation of reservations of wards until it gets empirical data pertaining to reservation from GSCBC. There is no clarity on how to go ahead with reservation of wards in case GSCBC fails to submit the data on time.

The commission shall then begin the delimitation of wards in a municipal area within 60 days from the date of publication of the order in the gazette. It shall also prepare a draft of the delimitation of wards and publish it in the gazette, inviting objections and suggestions from members of the general public within 30 days from the date of the draft’s publication.

Objections and suggestions received in writing shall be considered by the SEC, and it shall issue a final notification of delimitation in consultation with govt within 30 days from the last date for submitting such objections.

Empirical data on political backwardness shall be obtained by the SEC from the Goa State Commission for Backward Classes in respect of each or any municipal area and the wards, based on the final notification of delimitation.

Upon the receipt of this, the commission shall once more publish a draft of the reservation of seats in the gazette, inviting objections and suggestions from members of the general public within 30 days.