Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Goa Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2024, tabled by Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate was passed after a heated debate in the House.
The Bill seeks to amend Section 32 of the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968, to prevent agricultural land, as defined under the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Act 2023, from being converted and used for other purposes. This is aimed at protecting agriculture and promoting cultivation.
Minister Monserrate said that the primary focus is on preventing agricultural land from being converted for other purposes.
The opposition, however, alleged that the bill introduced by govt is to facilitate the backdoor entry to farmhouses for non-Goans.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Ferreira that this amendment could allow backdoor entry to farmhouses on agricultural land.
MLA Vijai Sardesai claimed that the purpose of the Bill was to ruin the state’s agricultural industry.
However, CM Pramod Sawant said that the Bill is to be brought to prevent the sale of paddy agriculture land as defined under the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agriculture Land Act, 2023.
The Chief Minister clarified, saying, “We are not giving conversion sanad.” In the end, a vote on the Bill was held, and it passed with 29 MLAs voting in favour and seven against.
On-demand of the opposition, division of votes were taken up by the speaker, and the bill was passed with 29 voting in favour of the bill and 7 opposing it.
MLA Vijai Sardesai claimed that the purpose of the Bill was to ruin the state’s agricultural industry.
