OLD GOA
The Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) has decided to petition the Governor not to give assent to the Agriculture Bill as well as other Bills like the Amendment to Comunidade Act, Highway Bill, etc.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on Saturday, RGP chief Manoj Parab said the Bills were passed in a hurry without proper discussion on the same.
“These are anti-Goan bills and after thorough study, we are going to petition the Governor with details why the Bills should not be approved,” Parab said.
“For instance, the main Bill was the Goa Restriction for Transfer of Agriculture Land Bill, 2023 was touted that it was meant to save Goa’s agricultural land,” Parab informed.
“However, there are many loopholes in the Bill as it defines agriculture as only paddy field. It does not include orchards, cashew plantations, kulagars, horticulture, grazing land, dairy farming, etc,” he added.
“Also, it defines agriculturist as a person who cultivates land personally. There is no mention whether the agriculturist should be a Goan or non-Goan which means agriculturist from any State can buy agriculture land in Goa. So where is the question of saving Goa’s agriculture land?” he posed.
“The next Bill pertains to Comunidade in which the road width between two plots has been increased from 5 metres to 10 metres. This is to promote multi-dwelling projects on comunidade land,” Parab alleged, while also informing that through the Bill, the government also seeks to take powers from the Comunidade.
“In the Highway Bill, the government can acquire land without consent and also demolish structures if they do not have any documentation,” Parab then said while adding that the government intends to bulldoze its way in snatching the lands and houses of the Goans which are located along the highways.
Will move Land Protection Bill in next Assembly: MLA
OLD GOA: RGP MLA Viresh Borkar said that he would move a Land Protection Bill in which it would be well defined on how to protect Goa’s land.
“The Chief Minister has been on record to state that there is no law in the State on protection of land and the RGP has already prepared a Bill called the Land Protection Bill which has all constitutional provisions on protection of Goa’s land,” Borkar stated.
“I only demand that the next Assembly session should be a lengthy one as then I should not be told that there is no time to table the Bill,” Borkar added while stating that once the Bill is tabled, then it would become crystal clear who wants to protect Goa’s land and who does not.
