To ban sale of agricultural lands, conversion
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: In a welcome announcement that is expected to have major ramifications for Goa, its land and identity, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Friday said the government will be forced to take over fallow lands, if the fields are kept barren by owners and that he would not allow purchase of agricultural land and its subsequent conversion by outsiders.
“Government will not allow fields to be left barren. The owners should begin cultivating (the land) as soon as possible…” he said while speaking in the State Legislative Assembly on a Private Member’s Bill moved by Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane
Rane, himself one of the most successful and exemplary agriculturists, proposed in the Bill that government should promote contract farming in order to cultivate barren tracts of agricultural land. Parrikar assured to pass an ordinance to this effect.
He also suggested that a House committee should be constituted at every department or minister-level for policy decisions. “The committees will be headed by each minister. The Opposition leader will also be a member of the committee for various policy decisions,” he said.
