Panaji: With strong opposition from various quarters over govt’s move to declare 56 villages as ‘urban’ areas, revenue minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate said on Friday that an appropriate decision in the matter would be taken only after due consultation with the village panchayats concerned.In 2020, govt had notified 56 villages as urban areas but subsequently withdrew the notification due to opposition. Recently, the Taleigao village panchayat stated that it fulfilled the criteria prescribed for a census town. In view of this representation, the matter was examined, and the area was notified as an urban area by state govt.Monserrate said that since govt had earlier considered the issue of declaration of urban areas and has now dealt with a proposal based on the request of a village panchayat, it was considered appropriate to ascertain the views of the other village panchayats that were earlier notified as urban areas.“Accordingly, the directorate of panchayats has been requested to obtain comments and views of the respective village panchayats,” he said.Monserrate said that “govt shall take an appropriate decision in the matter only after due consultation with the village panchayats concerned and upon considering their views, so as to ensure that any decision reflects the consensus and aspirations of the affected villages”.
