PANAJI
The Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the Goa Bhumiputra Adhikarni 2021 Bill to provide for a mechanism to give ownership rights to self-occupied dwelling units in the State.
The Bill provides for a mechanism to give ownership right to the self-occupied dweller of a small housing unit to enable him to live with dignity and self-respect and exercise his right to life.
The ‘Bhumiputra’, who is defined as a person residing in the State for a period of at least 30 years, shall not be evicted from the dwelling unit occupied by him and the dwelling unit shall not be demolished during the pendency of any proceedings under the Act, , save by the direction of the competent court of law.
The person's family members such as wife, son and unmarried daughters also will be termed as Bhumiputra.
The ‘Bhumiputra’ will have to apply within a period of six months from the date of commencement of the Act and all houses existing prior to April 1, 2019, will be granted immunity under the law.
The State government will constitute a taluka-level committee consisting of deputy collector as chairperson and other members, namely an official from Town and Country Planning
Department, Forest department, Environment Department and Mamlatdar of the Respective Taluka, to decide on these matters.
"Notwithstanding anything contained in any other state law, decree, order, custom, usage, contract or any instrument having force of law, the Bhumiputra Adhikarini may by an order declare a Bhumiputra to be the owner of the dwelling unit occupied by him upon payment of an amount equivalent to the value of land calculated at the market rate and such other amounts as specified in section 6 to the Government," the Bill states.
