Daijiworld Media Network- Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, May 1: In a move being hailed as a win for local governance, AAP Goa President Amit Palekar on Thursday commended Inacio Pereira, a member of the St Cruz Village Panchayat, for his successful efforts in affirming the jurisdiction of two key stadiums under the village's domain.

The clarification comes after authorities confirmed that both the Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Stadium and the Athletics Stadium indeed fall within St. Cruz Panchayat limits — a matter of local pride and administrative significance.

Taking to social media, Palekar wrote on X (formerly Twitter):

“Congratulations to Mr. Inacio Pereira and others for getting our land and pride back for our village of St Cruz…”

He further urged the Village Panchayat of Merces to intensify efforts to reclaim land in the Patto area, which, as per land records, belongs to Merces Village (Morombi-O-Pequeno) but is currently under the control of the Corporation of the City of Panaji and EDC.

Palekar’s remarks underline a larger call for correcting administrative oversights and ensuring rightful local control over revenue-generating areas. “It’s time for us to reclaim… what’s ours,” he emphasized, pointing to the importance of local governance having rightful authority over tax collections and civic management.

This development marks a fresh assertion of grassroots-level leadership in Goa’s local governance landscape, particularly over land and jurisdiction matters tied to civic pride and fiscal autonomy.