Goa: Michael Lobo allays fears, says no municipality for Calangute

CALANGUTE: Seeking to allay apprehensions over a change in the status of Calangute after it was recently notified as an urban area, ports minister and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo has said the village will not have a municipality.
“Calangute will continue to have a village panchayat. Just because it has been declared an urban area it does not mean it will be converted into a municipality,” he said while talking to reporters recently.
“The locale is highly populated and business area where a lot of locals are self-employed. As an urban area, people in Calangute stand to gain a lot of benefits,” Lobo said.
The state government had recently notified Calangute as an urban area for the purpose of the Goa Land Revenue Code.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (38) of section 2 of the Goa Land Revenue Code 1968 (Act No 9 of 1969), the government of Goa hereby notifies the village of Calangute as an urban area for the purpose of the said code,” the notification issued by the undersecretary, revenue, on May 27, stated.
“Calangute was declared an urban census area 15 years ago because of its large population. Only the notification has been issued now. There are a lot of benefits to this. Only when people realise the benefits, will they appreciate this development,” Lobo said.