MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The State government will introduce a landmark The Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Bill, 2023 during the Budget Session of the Legislative Assembly starting from Monday, in a bid to prevent non-Goans from purchasing agricultural land.
Taking to his twitter handle, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that in a major decision the Cabinet approved the Bill, which seeks to impose restrictions on the transfer of agricultural lands in the State so as to preserve and protect the land which is presently being used for cultivation of paddy.
Revenue Minister Atanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate said that he will introduce the Bill, which seeks to stop non-Goans from purchasing the land under paddy cultivation in the State.
“If you want to buy land under cultivation then he will have to prove that he is an agriculturist and should start cultivation with three years from the date of acquisition of land,” he said.
“If he fails to do so, the land will vest with the government,” he said.
“If the transferee fails to take up agriculture on such land within a period of three years from the date of acquisition of such land and continue to carry thereon agriculture, failing which such land shall vest in the government upon the expiry of three years from the date of abandonment or discontinuation of the activity,” said Monserrate.
The Minister further said that the person who is in possession of any agricultural land will not be permitted to use the land for any purpose other than agriculture except by following due procedure laid down under any law in force.
Monserrate said that Maharashtra Assembly has passed a similar Bill wherein if agricultural land if not utilised within the given period, then it is returned back.
“Whoever is purchasing land under cultivation in the State will have to prove that he is an agriculturist and start cultivation within three years from the date of purchase. If he fails to start cultivation then the land will be reverted to the government,” he reiterated.
Monserrate said that he will also introduce another government bill to acquire Comunidade lands for public projects. “We are bringing flexibility by amending the Goa Legislative Diploma No 2070 (Code of Comunidades) to help the Comunidades, which are financially not strong. By amending the Code, the government will acquire land from such Comunidades only for government projects, he said.
Cooperation Minister Subhash Shirodkar will introduce The Goa Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023, on Monday.
