NEWS UPDATES
Goa Government has notified the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2026, bringing changes to municipal ward delimitation, reservation and election procedures. The amendment raises the population threshold for determining seats from 2,500 to 3,000 and empowers the State Election Commission to undertake ward delimitation within 60 days, followed by public objections and suggestions. • The Goa Government has authorised Rs 1,061.15 crore from the State’s Consolidated Fund for 2026–27 through the Goa Appropriation (No. 4) Act, 2026. The additional allocation covers various departments and services, with major provisions including Rs 175 crore for Electricity, Rs 100 crore for Civil Supplies, Rs 70 crore for Water Resources, Rs 67.50 crore for Goa Medical College and Rs 60 crore for Information & Publicity. • CM Pramod Sawant says the state government will soon begin master planning for rapidly expanding Bicholim. The plan will cover underground cabling, IT networks, sewage infrastructure and overall development to prepare the city for future growth. • CM Pramod Sawant hits out at Congress and other opposition parties, saying they are confused about what to oppose and are targeting the government’s infrastructure projects and welfare schemes. He urged people not to fall prey to such opposition tactics. • A massive jungle tree collapsed onto multiple houses behind Busy Bee School at Desterro-Baina, damaging homes and a godown. A senior citizen was evacuated safely. No injuries or loss of life were reported. Residents said the damage to the house has resulted in loss of around Rs 10 lakh. • Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar said Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar is with the MGP and will not join any other political party. Dhavlikar also said forms for the Gas Cylinder Scheme are available at the MGP office in Ponda and anyone can visit and collect them. • The Centre has dismissed reports suggesting plans to privatise or dilute ISRO’s role, clarifying that ISRO will remain at the core of India’s space programme. Space-sector reforms are aimed at enabling private industry to scale mature technologies while ISRO focuses on frontier R&D, strategic missions, human spaceflight, next-generation launch systems and lunar & planetary exploration. • Crime Branch has taken Mapusa Municipal Council councillor Tarak Arolkar into custody again in connection with the alleged Rs 40 lakh Assagao land fraud case. A court has granted four-day police remand. • Cuncolim Police have registered an FIR against Malcolm Pereira in connection with the alleged assault on AAP Working President and Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Gerson Gomes inside the panchayat office. Gomes is currently admitted to a private hospital, where police personnel have been deployed. • AAP Working President and Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Gerson Gomes has been admitted to the surgery ward of SGDH following an alleged attack inside the panchayat office. Gomes is believed to have suffered hairline fractures and is also experiencing chest pain. He was initially treated at Balli PHC before being shifted to SGDH.
Goa Government has notified the Goa Municipalities (Amendment) Act, 2026, bringing changes to municipal ward delimitation, reservation and election procedures. The amendment raises the population threshold for determining seats from 2,500 to 3,000 and empowers the State Election Commission to undertake ward delimitation within 60 days, followed by public objections and suggestions. • The Goa Government has authorised Rs 1,061.15 crore from the State’s Consolidated Fund for 2026–27 through the Goa Appropriation (No. 4) Act, 2026. The additional allocation covers various departments and services, with major provisions including Rs 175 crore for Electricity, Rs 100 crore for Civil Supplies, Rs 70 crore for Water Resources, Rs 67.50 crore for Goa Medical College and Rs 60 crore for Information & Publicity. • CM Pramod Sawant says the state government will soon begin master planning for rapidly expanding Bicholim. The plan will cover underground cabling, IT networks, sewage infrastructure and overall development to prepare the city for future growth. • CM Pramod Sawant hits out at Congress and other opposition parties, saying they are confused about what to oppose and are targeting the government’s infrastructure projects and welfare schemes. He urged people not to fall prey to such opposition tactics. • A massive jungle tree collapsed onto multiple houses behind Busy Bee School at Desterro-Baina, damaging homes and a godown. A senior citizen was evacuated safely. No injuries or loss of life were reported. Residents said the damage to the house has resulted in loss of around Rs 10 lakh. • Power Minister Sudin Dhavlikar said Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar is with the MGP and will not join any other political party. Dhavlikar also said forms for the Gas Cylinder Scheme are available at the MGP office in Ponda and anyone can visit and collect them. • The Centre has dismissed reports suggesting plans to privatise or dilute ISRO’s role, clarifying that ISRO will remain at the core of India’s space programme. Space-sector reforms are aimed at enabling private industry to scale mature technologies while ISRO focuses on frontier R&D, strategic missions, human spaceflight, next-generation launch systems and lunar & planetary exploration. • Crime Branch has taken Mapusa Municipal Council councillor Tarak Arolkar into custody again in connection with the alleged Rs 40 lakh Assagao land fraud case. A court has granted four-day police remand. • Cuncolim Police have registered an FIR against Malcolm Pereira in connection with the alleged assault on AAP Working President and Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Gerson Gomes inside the panchayat office. Gomes is currently admitted to a private hospital, where police personnel have been deployed. • AAP Working President and Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Gerson Gomes has been admitted to the surgery ward of SGDH following an alleged attack inside the panchayat office. Gomes is believed to have suffered hairline fractures and is also experiencing chest pain. He was initially treated at Balli PHC before being shifted to SGDH.
