PORVORIM: Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate on Monday told the State Legislative Assembly that the government is exploring the possibility of withdrawing the controversial Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, which was hurriedly passed by the House in July 2021 and was never notified following public outcry.
The Bhumiputra Bill had proposed to consider anyone who has lived in Goa for at least 30 years as a Bhumiputra (son of the soil) and allowed them to seek ownership rights to the small housing units in which they live.
“As far as the bill is concerned, the department is exploring the possibility of withdrawing the bill,” Monserrate said during the debate on Demand of Grants for the Revenue Department.
The Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarini Bill, 2021, was tabled and hurriedly passed barely hours after it was introduced in the State Assembly on Monday. According to the proposed law, any person who is a resident of Goa for more than 30 years qualifies as a ‘bhumiputra’ (son of the soil) and can apply for ownership of the house (up to a plinth area of 250 square metres) they have been living in even if the land on which it stands is owned by the government, a private person or commonly owned.
Any structure built before April 1, 2019 qualified for ownership under this law. The government had said that the applicants would have to produce water and electricity bills in their name as proof.
However, following a severe backlash from cross sections, the Chief Minister had announced that the government will reintroduce the Bill after incorporating public suggestions.
The government had initially decided not to withdraw the Bill but allowed it to lapse.
