Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: In an effort to prevent ecological deterioration, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stated that the government recognizes the need to safeguard the environment in the State and strikes a balance between resource usage and protection.
Sawant also said that the Government of Goa is aware of the importance of preserving the state’s natural resources, particularly its land resources and biodiversity and a series of proactive measures have been introduced to ensure the protection and sustainable management of these critical assets.
“Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Act has been enacted to safeguard Goa’s agricultural land, this legislation aims to prevent misuse and restrict non-agricultural activities on farmland,” said Sawant.
He further also explained that the Amendment to Section 32 of the Goa Land Revenue Code has reinforced the Goa Restriction on Transfer of Agricultural Land Act, 2023 which prevents agricultural land from being repurposed for non-agricultural uses, with a focus on protecting farmland and promoting cultivation.
“Conversion Charges have been increased to discourage the conversion of all land types to maintain green cover, and charges for changing land use have been increased from Rs 200 per square meter to Rs 1,000 per square meter. However, the previous rates have been retained for land parcels up to 500 square meters, providing relief to the general public.,” he added.
In an effort to curb land misuse, Sawant said that base rates for land in these talukas have been increased by 2.6 times, while the older rates continue to apply for land parcels under 500 square meters, ensuring that common men are not unduly burdened.
CM also informed that the Government has also constituted a committee to study landslides and propose restoration measures in the State. In addition, the Goa Biodiversity Board has taken up Notification of Biodiversity Heritage Sites, Wetland Conservation (15 Wetlands Notified), State Action Plan for Climate Change, Village level People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR) which are some of the measures taken for protecting Goa’s landscape.
“With these initiatives, we will continue to bring in measures to ensure the preservation of Goa’s natural heritage for future generations,” he added.
