Team Herald
PANJIM: A whopping 8,263 number of agriculture lands in Goa have been converted for other activities over last five years. This information was provided in Rajya Sabha by Union Minister for Agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar to a question raised by MP Luizinho Faleiro.
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As per the data, 2,248 number of lands are converted in North Goa apart from 853 in Bardez, 357 parcel of land in Tiswadi, 286 lands in Bicholim, 107 in Pernem and another 15 in Sattari taluka.
In South, Salcete taluka recorded maximum conversions of 1,612 parcels of agriculture land followed by 810 in Ponda, 493 in Quepem, 368 in Mormugao taluka among others. Margao town saw 981 conversions.
The Union Minister said that as per the Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India, land comes under the purview of State government and hence power to enact laws related to land vests in the legislatures of the State. The Minister said that each state has its own State-specific revenue laws to deal with land and matters related thereto.
“The Government of Goa has informed that no proposal of new land use policy is under consideration,” Tomar said adding that State has not undertaken any survey to assess the agriculture land or paddy fields that are left uncultivated.
He also said that the government of Goa has informed that they are providing various types of assistance for promotion of agricultural activities in terms of financial assistance for cultivation of crops, extension of irrigation facilities to farmers, provision of certified seeds, etc.
