MAPUSA
Stating that a lot of people queue up to sell land in Bardez, Law Minister Nilesh Cabral said the government cannot change laws as per the whims and fancies of someone and the system of disposing of sale deeds on a “first come first” basis will continue at the Mapusa sub-registrar.
Cabral also said that efforts are on through the revenue department to fix a uniform land rate to overcome the disparity in rates quoted by two different sub-registrars.
He further informed that the government was in the process of buying additional space for the Mapusa sub-registrar office to take care of infrastructure-related issues faced by the public.
“People are selling their properties like anything there (in Bardez). It does not mean that because there is so much demand we do whatever they say. Of the 12 talukas in the State, there are no issues in 11 talukas. In this particular taluka, there is an issue. Sometimes there may be demand, sometimes there may not. But you cannot change the law. Ultimately, we have to see what is good and what is bad and the process is whoever wants to sell (land) will have to do it on a first come first basis,” Cabral said, adding that right now the sale deeds were being registered through slots which will continue.
He also said that in cases of emergency, people have the option of using the tatkal service by paying a sum of Rs 10,000.
The Mapusa Advocates Forum had recently voiced their concern against issues of functioning at the Mapusa sub-registrar office including the delay in approving online deeds and other infra-related problems faced by the public in Mapusa.
Cabral disclosed that in his last term, he had set in motion a mechanism to fix a standard rate for properties to overcome the issue of quoting two different rates by the sub-registrars.
“I have no problem in implementing a uniform rate, and I am following it up. But it does not come in my domain. It comes under the revenue department. I have already spoken to Revenue Minister Atanasio (Babush) Monseratte. It is a revenue subject. It has to be done and notified by the revenue department. The problem will be solved once the rates are notified,” he said.
The Law Minister further informed that the government was in the process of acquiring additional space for the sub-registrar office in Mapusa to take care of the infrastructure-related issues like toilets and other facilities.
“I cannot do much as the office is housed in a private building. But I have initiated a process of acquiring more space on the floor. We are paying Rs 1 crore for the additional space. Once we get the space in our possession, we will modify and create the necessary infrastructure,” he said.
Stating that the government was alive to the problems faced by the public, he reminded that in his last term he had got the lift in the building repaired.
