South Goa

South Goa district
District of Goa
Country	India
State	Goa
Administrative division	N/A
Headquarters	Margão
Tehsils	1.Salcete, 2.Mormugão, 3.Quepem, 4.Canacona, 5.Sanguem, 6.Dharbandora
Government
• District collector	Dr. Sachin Shinde, I.A.S.
• Lok Sabha constituencies	South Goa
Area
• Total	1,966 km2 (759 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	639,962
• Density	330/km2 (840/sq mi)
Demographics
• Literacy	85.53%
• Sex ratio	980
Major highways	1.National Highway 17, 2.National Highway 4A
Website	Official website

South Goa is one of two districts that comprises the state of Goa in West India, within the region known as the Konkan. It is bounded by the district of North Goa to the north, the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka state to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast.

_{The colours in the adjoining image:}

_{Red: Velhas Conquistas (old Portuguese conquests)}

_{Pink: Novo Conquistas (new Portuguese conquests)}

_{Yellow: District Capital}

History

The Portuguese established a colony in Goa in 1510 and expanded the colony to its present boundaries during the 17th and 18th centuries. Goa was annexed by India on 19 December 1961. Goa and two other former Portuguese enclaves became the union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, and Goa was organised into a single district in 1965. On 30 May 1987 Goa attained statehood (while Daman and Diu became a separate union territory), and Goa was reorganised into two districts, North Goa and South Goa.

Administration

Dr. Sachin Shinde, an officer of the Indian Administrative Service, is the Collector and District Magistrate of South Goa. There are Deputy Collectors and Mamlatdars for each Taluka.

The headquarters of the district is Margao.

Divisions

The administrative headquarters of the district is Margao. The district is divided into three subdivisions - Margao, Mormugao (Vasco da Gama), and Quepem; and six taluks - Mormugao, Salcete (Margao), Quepem, Canacona (Chaudi), Sanguem, and Dharbandora.

A spacious district administrative headquarters (Collectorate building) is located on the outskirts of Margao, adjoining the inter-city bus stand. It is named after Mathany Saldanha, a former minister and social activist.

Transport

Frequent buses are available between Margao and North Goa.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census South Goa has a population of 639,962 which is roughly equal to the nation of Montenegro or the US state of Vermont. This gives it a ranking of 515th in India (out of a total of 640). The district has a population density of 326 inhabitants per square kilometre (840/sq mi). Its population growth rate over the decade 2001-2011 was 8.63%. South Goa has a sex ratio of 980 females for every 1000 males, and a literacy rate of 85.53%.

Konkani is the mother tongue of a majority of the people living in South Goa district. Marathi is spoken by a substantial number of people. English and Hindi are understood by a majority of the population. Portuguese is also spoken and understood by a small number of people.

Education

There are many educational institutions in South Goa. The prominent colleges include:

• Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – Goa Campus in Zuarinagar.
• The Parvatibai Chowgule College in Margao.
• Carmel College for Women in Nuvem.
• Govind Ramnath Kare College of Law in Margao.
• Padre Conceicao College of Engineering (PCCE) in Verna.
• Don Bosco College of Engineering in Fatorda.
• Rosary College of Arts and Commerce in Navelim.
• MES College in Vasco da Gama.
• Shree Mallikarjun College in Canacona.
• Shree Katyayani Baneshwar Vidyalaya in Canacona.

External links

• South Goa district Website