the goan I network
VALPOI
Stakeholders on Sunday demanded more time from the State government for completing formalities stipulated by a recent amendment to the Land Revenue Code to claim title and rights over Alvara lands.
At a largely attended public meeting in Valpoi town, speakers expressed concern over the problematic guidelines to give Alvara land ownership rights and demanded extension of time.
Attended by more than 800 Alvara land occupants at the Kanekar hall on Sunday morning the meeting, which is a first in Sattari to discuss rights to Alvara and other land, passed resolutions seeking extension of time to furnish documents and also reduction of fees from Rs 5 to 40 paise per square metre.
For the last couple of years landowners from Sattari taluka are struggling to get their ownership rights in Alvara, revenue encroached lands. This bit of land reform has been neglected by successive governments since liberation.
In 2017, the government issued a circular to give land ownership rights, especially to Alvara land occupants but those who attended the public meeting said the very purpose of it will be defeated if time to complete the formalities is not extended.
Occupants of Alvara lands have to furnish their documents to claim ownership rights before November 11, the recent LR Code amendment stipulates.
Since many occupants were unaware about the requirement, several of them will miss the bus, they said, as they will be unable to furnish the documents before the deadline.
The meeting at Valpoi was convened to demand extension of time furnish documents besides other issues related to Alvara and other land rights.
Speaking at a meeting social activist Harischandra Gawas said that for the last couple of years sons-of-the-soil are struggling to get ownership rights to their lands but no political party or the Government have been showing any inclination to resolve the issues.
“Since we are owners of our land before Goa’s Liberation, why do we have to pay Rs 5 per square metre as the government circular stipulates,” Gawas asked, adding that this is too high a rate. He said it should be a token fee of 50 paisa per square metre and criticised the guidelines issued by the government.
Social activist Ranjit Rane also blamed the government authorities for not taking the affected occupants of the land into confidence before issuing this circular.
“Now land owners are united and should strive to keep this unity till their goal is met,” Rane said. Noted lawyer Andre Pereira said, the government should rectify the circular regarding the land ownership rights and should also prepare a policy for allotment of other land rights to occupants.
Former Deputy Speaker of Goa Narahari Haldankar, advocate Ganpat Gaonkar, Shashikant Joshi, Sudhin Marathe, Sadanand Kanekar and Krishna Majik also spoke at the public meeting.
Initially social activist Vishwesh Prabhu briefed the motive behind the public gathering and appealed to the people of Sattari to stay united to get their land ownership rights which is pending for the last couple of years.
