PANAJI
In a controversial move, the Pramod Sawant-led Cabinet on Monday cleared changes in The Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction Act to permit edifices built in green zones, more specifically on cultivable or orchard land in zones marked on the Regional Plan as eco-sensitive zone-II.
The amendment, according to the Revenue Secretary's Cabinet note was necessary to bring in clarity to section 3 of the principal law apropos difficulties faced by 'authorized officers' in interpreting the statute and disposing applications for regularisation.
The law and finance departments had separately okayed the legislation -- The Goa Regularisation of Unauthorised Construction (Amendment) Bill, 2021 -- and will be tabled in the ongoing winter session of the Goa legislative Assembly.
The change excludes 'cultivable land' and 'orchard land' from being labelled as "eco-sensitive".
These changes are likely to face stiff opposition from green activists as well as Comunidades -- Goa's unique local communes -- which own the vast majority of all land in the State.
Meanwhile, Sawant told the media on the sidelines of Monday's sitting of the legislature that the change in the law will facilitate regularisation of some 12,000-odd houses.
He said once the amendment is enacted, all these 12,000-odd applications seeking regularisation of homes involving unauthorised construction, can be cleared.
Sawant also said government departments will be exempted from paying conversion fees before obtaining sanads for land where they are executing public projects. It will speed up paper work as the payment process caused a nearly 2-3 months' delay, he added.
