PANAJI
More than six months after it was passed by the Goa legislative Assembly the State government has finally notified rules under the law to arrest the sale of agricultural land to non-agriculturists.
The notification containing the rules was issued by the Revenue department on Friday -- The Goa Restrictions on Transfer of Agricultural Land Rules, 2023.
Under these rules, transactions and transfer of agricultural land in Goa will be possible henceforth only if a 'Krishi Card' or alternatively a certificate indicating that the buyer is an agriculturist is produced before the registering authority.
The certificate declaring a person is an agriculturist will have to be obtained from the Mamlatdar of the taluka and the rules prescribe for the latter to conduct an inquiry to ascertain the facts before issuing the certificate.
Also, the rules provide that after the land transaction is done, the buyer is required to take up agricultural activity within three years, failing which, such land shall vest in the government.
The rules also say that the land will vest with the government if agriculture activity is abandoned for three years.
The bill was passed by the House back in March during the budget session amidst a hue and cry raised by the Opposition due to the provision in it which permits individuals, an industrial or commercial entity or a co-operative farming society purchase agricultural land for agriculture.
