PANJIM: Former External Affairs Minister Eduardo Faleiro on Wednesday demanded that the State government immediately scrutinise all land deals by foreigners in Goa and confiscate illegal properties before the State turns into a base for illegal activities like drug trafficking and prostitution.
Further, in a unique demand, the former NRI Commissioner urged the government to provide Aadhar cards, as well as public distribution system (PDS) cards, to the migrant population by registering them with the concerned municipalities or panchayats.
Addressing media persons, Faleiro pointed out that as per Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, foreigners cannot acquire immovable property in India unless the concerned individual has established a business in the country as per the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). “Yet it is found that many evade this law,” he said.
He said that the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has cautioned that real estate projects by foreigners in Goa might include drug trafficking, gun running and prostitution. “It has even said that some foreign drug cartels are attempting to turn Goa into a base for their illegal activities,” he added.
Faleiro demanded that the government immediately scrutinise all land deals by foreigners and if there is any illegality, confiscate the property and punish the offenders.
The Congress leader further urged the government to bring in regulation to ban the sale of land to non-Goans. “BJP government had promised special status and now it says it is not possible. We were asking special status to grant protection to our land but the present government is comparing the same with financial support,” he said.
“Land being a State subject, the State can bring in legislation on regularising land sale as per 74th Amendment in the Constitution of India. As a result of this legal provision, a State is competent to enact laws to restrict land transactions, so as to protect the interest of local people,” Faleiro said.
Faleiro said that all the migrant workers in the State should be registered in the panchayats and municipalities. “They should be provided with Aadhar card and PDS cards to provide them basic facilities. Government should also hold annual audit of all contractors who employ migrant workers,” he stated.
