Reference news captioned “Tenancy Bill introduced” and “Amend Panchayati Raj Act: Ticlo” I would like to request the Honorable Minister for Revenue and all the MLAs to include following clauses in the Goa Agricultural Tenancy (Amendment) Bill 2017.
Wherever an Agriculturist (s) was rented agricultural field(s) by Comunidade and who have kept these fields fallow for more than 3 years since 1973 and/or 1976 should be returned back to the respective Comunidade. Right of contracting fields should be left to the respective Comunidades.
Tenancy Right should be granted to Agriculturist after 2020 and/or 3 years after passing of the above Bill only after ascertaining these rented fields are being cultivated by conducting a survey and recording the names of the cultivators in the middle of Kharif and Rabi crop season by the Talathis concerned until then, Agricultural Tenancy Right should be kept in abeyance.
As and when Tenancy Right is given to the Agriculturist and/or Ownership created by this Act, by virtue he or she was rented the field by Comunidade, he or she should purchase the field at the prevailing rate as applicable for Stamp Duty x 4 times as stipulated by the Government and as per the latest Government of India law for purchase of Agriculture land.
The above will encourage cultivation and increase output of food grains especially paddy and discourage sale of Agricultural land to outsiders/migrants.
I substantiate my request because today in my village and in many other villages most of the agriculturists have kept their rented fields fallow whereas the Comunidades have not objected to them for cultivating these fields. The main aim is to create Tenancy Right and after few years convert them into Horticulture without the permission of TCP and/or sell same for thousand times premium.
While on the subject I also request the Honourable Chief Minister, his Cabinet Ministers and all the MLAs across the political parties while amending the Panchayat Raj Act 1994 and Rules should give clear cut laws without ambiguities to the Panchayats with ‘No Tolerance’ to illegalities.
Further please also give due diligence and Amend and/or Repeal Article 95A of Government of Goa Health Act 2005.
The Article 95A of Government of Goa Health Act 2005 is nothing but a route to corruption for Health Officers. Presently the Health Officers give NOC to any person, not necessarily a declared bonafide Mundkar or a Legal Tenant to whom the landlord does not give NOC for water and electricity connection, but to whom who has carried out illegal construction without proper licences from the Village Panchayat as well as Town& Country Planning and also where the Title Deed to property is in dispute. One Health Officer had the audacity to tell me verbally that even if he builds a hut illegally on the roadside or in any property even if he does not own the property, he has to give an affidavit saying he will be held responsible if it is proved that he is in illegal occupation of property and illegally constructed dwelling and that he shall abide by whatever action the law imposes on him later, the Health Officer is bound to give such person NOC to get Water and Electricity connection. He even declared that if you go to Court or anywhere nothing will happen as he has the authority to give such NOC. This right to the Health Officers should be withdrawn and the Act should be amended specifically that only genuine Mundkar and/or Tenant to be given NOC by the Health Officer where the landlord refuses to give the NOC for water and electricity connection to such genuine persons after verifying documents.
