PONDA: Due to stringent provisions in the past, acquiring agricultural tenancy land for government projects has long been a challenge. However, a recent amendment under Section 18K of the Goa Tenancy Agricultural Act, passed in the last Assembly session, now permits the government to acquire fallow tenancy land for public projects, including infrastructure development for schools, panchayat offices, and other government buildings.
The Wadi-Talaulim Panchayat is the first to utilise this new amendment. The Panchayat has acquired 7,000 square metres of agricultural tenancy land to construct a new ground-plus-two-floor panchayat office.
Power Minister Ramkrishna ‘Sudin’ Dhavalikar, speaking at an event for the distribution of plant saplings to farmers at the Wadi Talaulim panchayat, explained the necessity of the amendment. He mentioned that two locals, Putu Naik and Ramanath Sawant have handed over their fallow paddy tenancy land for the panchayat ghar.
Dhavalikar highlighted that the government faced considerable challenges in acquiring tenancy land for development projects due to the stringent provisions of the old law. The new amendment allows the government to propose projects on fallow tenancy land that has been unused for 25 years, facilitating the availability of land for essential infrastructure while benefiting both tenants and landlords. “This can make available land for school institutions’ infrastructure in every village,” he said, adding that it took him one year of efforts to realise the change.
The amendment aims to address land shortages for governmental projects in villages by converting some fallow paddy land into non-agricultural (NA) land for public use. Despite the government’s assurances, some farmers and office bearers of the Agricultural Tenancy Association have expressed their unawareness of the new 18K provision.
They have stated their intention to review the amendment thoroughly before offering their reactions.
