Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Forward Party has urged Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju to withhold assent to two Bills passed by the Goa Legislative Assembly on September 2, 2026, raising concerns over land acquisition safeguards, conversion of industrial leasehold properties into freehold assets and several alleged drafting deficiencies.
In a memorandum submitted to the Governor, the party sought reconsideration of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Goa Amendment) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 56 of 2026) and the Goa Ease of Doing Business (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill, 2026 (Bill No. 58 of 2026).
The Goa Forward Party said eight Bills were tabled and passed by the Assembly on a single day, arguing that such compressed legislative consideration provided inadequate opportunity for detailed scrutiny by legislators, stakeholders and the public.
The party has particularly raised objections to provisions in the Land Acquisition Amendment Bill that allow the Government to exempt specified projects from certain safeguards under Chapters II and III of the central RFCTLARR Act, including Social Impact Assessment and protections relating to irrigated multi-cropped land.
It also expressed concern over the proposed extension of exemptions to Public Private Partnership projects and provisions relating to industrial corridors extending up to one kilometre on either side of designated roads or railway lines.
On the Ease of Doing Business Bill, the party has focused on the proposed insertion of Section 28A into the Goa Industrial Development Act, which would enable the Goa Industrial Development Corporation to grant freehold rights over industrial-estate plots and premises on payment of a premium.
According to the party, converting industrial leasehold land into freehold fundamentally changes the nature and value of assets that were originally made available for industrial and employment purposes. It has called for a transparent statutory framework governing valuation and premiums, taking into account factors such as present market value, original acquisition cost, public expenditure on infrastructure, land appreciation, the original purpose of allotment and employment commitments.
The party has further demanded that freehold conversion remain linked to continued industrial use and not become a route for speculative real-estate gains.
Citing the example of Sancoale Communidade land leased to Zuari Industries, the Goa Forward Party questioned whether land facilitated through public intervention for industrial and employment purposes should eventually generate private real-estate gains without adequate safeguards for public interest and original landowners or community institutions.
The party has also raised concerns over Sections 37A and 37B, which it says could make land acquisition for industrial estates easier. It questioned the use of the term “insufficient” in provisions dealing with objections to notifications for new industrial estates, arguing that the terminology lacks clarity.
Another concern relates to the proposed provision placing Pollution Control Board and Fire Officers dealing with preventive measures for industrial estates under the supervision and direction of the Managing Director of the estate. The party said this could create a conflict between industrial profitability and independent health and safety oversight.
The memorandum also points to what the party described as several drafting errors in the Ease of Doing Business Bill, including inconsistencies in references to clauses and provisions of the Goa Industrial Development Act.
The party further alleged drafting errors in amendments to the Shops and Establishments legislation, including inconsistencies involving the terms “worker” and “employee” and grammatical errors in the proposed provisions.
The Goa Forward Party said the alleged errors should have been identified during the legislative and Law Department vetting process, adding that opposition attempts to address some of the issues were unsuccessful.
The party clarified that it is not opposed to investment, industry or infrastructure, but stressed that development must protect Goa’s communities and limited land resources.
“Ease of doing business” should not become “ease of acquiring and monetizing land for real estate business,” the party said in its memorandum.
The Goa Forward Party has therefore appealed to Governor Ashok Gajapathi Raju to withhold assent to both Bills and seek their reconsideration after proper legislative and public scrutiny.
It has specifically called for stronger statutory safeguards on freehold conversion, land valuation, continued industrial use and prevention of speculative diversion of industrial land, while seeking retention of meaningful Social Impact Assessment, public participation and independent scrutiny in land acquisition.
The party said Goa’s land is finite and cannot be recreated once transferred, and legislation with such far-reaching consequences should receive adequate time, debate and scrutiny to protect the long-term interests of the state and its people.
