the goan I network
PANAJI
Goa’s top politicians are seemingly engaging in a race of one-upmanship to ‘save’ Goa’s agricultural lands, after decades of allying with real estate and industrial lobbies to convert the State’s green cover.
Former chief minister Luizinho Faleiro of the Opposition Congress on Saturday said he will move a Private Member’s Bill in the upcoming monsoon session of the Goa legislative assembly to ban sale of agriculture land to non-agriculturists and non-residents.
Faleiro’s announcement comes less than 48 hours after two Cabinet ministers -- Vijai Sardesai and Rohan Khaunte -- did the same at a public function at Margao. Khaunte had said that the government will move a bill in the upcoming session of the Goa legislative Assembly scheduled to commence from July 19.
Faleiro distributed copies of his ‘The Goa Agricultural Bill 2018’ and told mediapersons at a news conference in the city that if passed it will help conserve agricultural land.
He said Goa has “caught the attention” of people across the country and the world and unrestricted sale of land was threatening Goa’s distinct identity.
Lack of prohibitory provisions governing acquisition of title, sale and conveyance of property made it facile for Goans to sell properties to non-Goans, Faleiro said, adding that getting ‘Special Status’ under Article 371 of the Constitution is imperative.
“There is need for a small state like Goa to preserve its unique identity and landscape, under Article 371 of the Constitution,” Faleiro said.
Interestingly, all the three politicians -- Faleiro, Sardesai and Khaunte -- are known to have had interests in real estate for years. Also, Faleiro was among those politicians indicted by the Bombay High Court in the case of allocation of vast tracts of land to the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) promoter companies.
With public sentiment growing against large-scale development eating into the State’s dwindling green cover, legislators from both sides are shedding their past pro-development beliefs to make laws to protect farm lands. Whether they can be taken for their word, which politicians often cannot, the proceedings of the upcoming 12-day monsoon session from July 19 will tell.
