PANJIM: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar was non-committal on whether the Medium of Instruction (MoI) Bill would be tabled during the forthcoming five-day Budget session of the State Legislative Assembly scheduled to begin from March 14.
Addressing media persons after the cabinet meeting on Friday, Parsekar merely smiled when he was asked whether the MoI policy would be tabled during the Budget session.
The MoI policy, to be incorporated in the Goa School Education (amendment) Act, was presented in the House on August 19, 2014. The policy was then referred to the select committee, after a few MLAs from the governing coalition claimed that certain clauses of the Bill are unclear.
With general elections approaching, the BJP-led government has found itself caught between those demanding grants for English (FORCE) and supporters of Marathi and Konkani language (BBSM) who are demanding withdrawal of grants to English medium primary schools.
The Chief Minister, however, announced that the crucial Bill on Regularisation of Illegal/Unauthorised Structures and Encroachment’, which will allow for regularisation of structures existing before February 28, 2014 with conclusive documentary evidence, would be introduced during the session.
The implementation would commence before the elections due in 2017. “The draft is ready. The structures on one’s own property or others property with proper ownership NOC, on government and comunidade land would be considered,” he said.
Parsekar clarified that the structures in Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas and along the road side will not be regularised. “Regularisation won’t be done otherwise,” he said adding that the Bill will also act tough against other illegal structures.
The government also intends to bring in an amendment to the Comunidade Act, allowing it to acquire comunidade land for educational institutions.
Stating that the government is finding difficulty in acquiring comunidade land for educational purpose, Chief Minister said that there is need to amend the Comunidade Act.
