GOA’S NEW TALUKA, THE 12TH, WILL BEGIN TO EXIST FROM 4TH APRIL

PONDA: South Goa collector Gokuldas P Naik has said that the government has already notified the formation of the new Dharbandora taluka and preparation for the inauguration has already begun. Goa's 12th taluka will officially come into existence on April 4.

The new taluka of Dharbandora will comprise 16 villages of Aglore, Moisal, Bandoli, Codli, Colem, Caranzol, Camarconda, Carmonem, Dharbandora, Molem, Piliem, Sancordem, Sangod, Shigao, Sonauli and Surla from Sanguem taluka while Usgao and Ganjem are from Ponda taluka.  Government has notified Dharbandora on March 16 and Amol Gaonkar has been appointed its first mamlatdar.

The new taluka will comprise village panchayats of Dharbandora, Cirlapal Dabal, Colem, Molem, Sancorda and Usgaon Ganjem. The taluka at present has a population of 30,000 to 40,000 people.

Naik said that the government has handed over the sports complex building and some other buildings in the new taluka to house offices of the mamlatdar, block development officer (BDO), zonal agricultural officer (ZAO), sub-registrar, public works department (PWD) road division and water division. "We have inspected the buildings recently and renovation work of the buildings to house new offices has begun on Wednesday," Naik said.

Once Dharbandora comes into existence, both the districts will have six talukas each. Currently, North Goa district consists of six talukas - Pernem, Bicholim, Satari, Bardez, Tiswadi and Ponda, while South Goa has five - Salcete, Mormugao, Canacona, Quepem and Sanguem.  The Dharbandora sarpanch Anand Shanto Gaonkar has welcomed the creation of the new Dharbandora.